xXx: Return of Xander Cage

The latest xXx movie is more outrageous than the original. Now, I am a big fan of the first one, I thought it was the perfect combination of ridiculousness and fun. I wasn’t really into the Ice Cube spin off, so I was hoping that the return of Vin Diesel would reignite this franchise fire but I was wrong. It blew out quickly. The plot was unrealistic and not very engaging, the script was clichéd and the acting was terrible. Some of the action scenes were entertaining but overall it was a complete waste of time.

Get Out

I held out on watching Get Out in theaters because the previews made it seem as if it was going to be scary and I can’t really get with that. After watching it I came out with a completely different opinion than what I originally had.
It was a unique and thought provoking plot. There were touches of humor and also scenes that were quite unnerving at times. It kept my attention throughout and the acting was pretty good. If you are looking for something different check this one out.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

It took me three tries to finish Rogue One, always falling asleep during the same part, but as they say, the third time was a charm. Rogue One is a standalone film set within the Star Wars universe. It is supposed to be occurring during the time of the original Star Wars: A New Hope. I never watched the first 3 Star Wars movies but I think if I had seen A New Hope and its two successors from that trilogy, I would probably have had more of an appreciation for the little things in this one. With that said, even though I may not have caught all of the little nuances, I did still feel like I could stick with the story. It had a different tone than the newer Star Wars films, it was darker and had a different maturity. The script had touches or humor and all of the actors, even the relatively unknown ones, did a phenomenal job telling the story. If you aren’t a die-hard fan of this franchise, like me, I think you can still find Rogue One to be enjoyable, therefore I’d still recommend checking this one out.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword had such potential but unfortunately missed the mark. 

This Guy Ritchie directed film had his signature dialogue, cuts and edits. The soundtrack was fitting and the plot was entertaining. 

The acting from the cast was at best not a distraction. Where it really fell flat was the ridiculous amount of over the top fantasy sequences. I would have preferred a grittier, historical fiction, similar to the 2004 version of King Arthur. I’m also not super excited about the fact that they set this movie up for a sequel. 

In the end, this is one that I wish I would have waited to see outside the theater. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was a thoroughly enjoyable movie experience. It was funny, it was heartfelt and it was entertaining. 

The original Guardians of the Galaxy was one of my favorite movies from 2014 and the sequel did not disappoint. The entire cast really brought their A game, the script was well written, the plot was engaging and the score was also a great touch. 

I can’t think of anything critical to say about this movie other than it’s a popular one so be ready for the crowed theaters. Overall, I really liked it and would definitely recommend checking it out. 

Underworld: Blood Wars

Underworld: Blood Wars is the 5^th installment of the Underworld franchise, basically the Fast & the Furious of the vampire genre. I went into this movie knowing it wasn’t going to be as good as the predecessors but still excited because I am a fan of the franchise. What I ended up taking from this movie was that I found it to be predictably entertaining, with high action and a good amount of CGI fight scenes that I was surprising okay with. 

Obviously not a lot of thought was required for this one. I was also disappointed that Scott Speedman didn’t make an appearance in the film and that they left it open for a 6th movie. I was really hoping that they would just wrap this one up with a pretty bow and give us some closure but alas, similar to the Fast & Furious franchise, they just keep coming. 

I’d say that if you liked any of the other movies in this franchise you’ll be okay with this one but will probably feel similar points of pain.