Bird Box

Bird Box is a Netflix distributed post-apocalyptic thriller starring Sandra Boullock, based on the novel of the same name. When a mysterious force has taken over the world, causing people to commit suicide, a woman and her two children must take a dangerous trip in the hopes to find safety. 

The plot resembled A Quite Place, but with vision as the weakness instead of sound. Even though the story wasn’t entirely original, I did still find the movie to be very entertaining. The editing and cinematography were well done; it helped to create a good amount of suspense for the viewer. Additionally, there were also some good twits throughout that helped to keep me engaged.

I thought that the script and acting from the entire cast were well done, making it easy to connect to the characters. They were all able to project the fear and desire to survive.

All in all I thought that the movie was well made and one that I would recommend.

The Princess Switch

The Princess Switch is a Netflix distributed romantic comedy starring Vanessa Hudgens. It’s the story of Stacy De Novo, an anal-retentive Chicago baker, who has been invited to compete in a world famous Christmas baking competition in the fictional country of Belgravia. During the trip she runs into the prince's fiancée, the Duchess of Montenaro, whom she looks exactly alike. In an effort to experience something different than their normal lives, they agree to a switch for 2 days.

The movie has a Parent Trap vibe to it. It is family friendly and fun. The theme of "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” was all about going outside your comfort zone, trying new things and opening yourself up to unexpected love. I thought they were all great and positive points placed throughout the movie.

Hudgens did a pretty good job in the lead roles as De Novo & the Duchess. Her English accent at times was a distraction but it wasn’t terrible. I also enjoyed seeing Nashville’s Sam Palladio in a new role as Prince Edward. They had good chemistry so it was easy to root for them.

Overall I thought that the move was cute and entertaining. Not something that will turn into a classic Christmas movie, nor something I’d see again, but not something I regretted seeing.

Aquaman

Aquaman is the origin story for, Arthur Curry, the title character, played by Jason Momoa. It follows him as he comes to terms with his lineage and the decision to either get involved in an upcoming underwater war or not, with his half-brother.

I thought that it was high action, full of heart and a touch of funny. Some of the fight scenes looked like a video game but overall looked pretty realistic for what it was. It was visually stunning, reminding me of Avatar with its bright colors and hues of blue.

The plot was interesting and had a couple of good twists so it wasn’t as predictable as I thought it would be. It had great themes about family, humility and embracing your destiny.

The acting from the entire cast was pretty good. Specifically, Momoa was able to successfully carry the load of this role. He makes for a really great super hero. He physically fit the part and was able to successfully make this character into something more than a punch line.

I liked that the cast was diverse and full of talent. Unfortunately, the character development could have used some work for the supporting cast. They were fairly one dimensional while they focused so heavily on the main character.

Toward the beginning, the soundtrack was very Tron, which was cool. Then later in the movie the soundtrack turned really poppy and didn’t really fit the scene or the overall theme, which I found odd.

You could tell early on that the director was trying to go for a more family-friendly style movie. At times the script was really cheesy. There were also some repetitive shots, which I think were used to add more drama to a scene, but in the end came off really corny and overkill.

What I came to at the end of this movie was that it’s hard to live up to the competing Marvel franchise. The DC movies will always be a notch or so below the quality of most Marvel films. There were some critics saying that this movie could save the DC franchise but I don’t think that this was it. By no means was the movie terrible, I actually that it was a well-made, you just have to come in with certain realistic expectations with this franchise. Once you wrap your head around that, I think that people will still find this movie enjoyable, therefore I would still recommend for all. I don’t think that most would see it again but it would be something that I would be happy to see again.

Braven

Braven is an action, drama starring Jason Momoa. It follows Momoa as the title character, Joe Braven, a lumberjack and mountaineer who must defend his family, after he intercepts a package hidden in his cabin, from some unwelcome guests.

I thought that the cinematography was vast and beautiful. There were a couple of the action sequences were really creative and cool. The plot was interesting but unfortunately it was very predictable from the beginning. Even though I did enjoy the movie, it’s definitely best as a straight to DVD type of movie; I would not have been happy if I paid money to watch this in a theatre. The script was pretty basic and the acting was okay. Jason Momoa has definitely been type cast at this point so Momoa fans already know what they are getting into with this movie.

In the end, I think that this movie did enough to keep me entertained. I would say that it is one that is not necessary for everyone to see but one that fans will still enjoy.

Creed II

Creed II is the sequel to the 2015 hit starring Michael B Jordan, Sylvester Stallone and Tessa Thompson all reprising their roles as Adonis Creed, Rocky Balboa and Bianca, respectively. This film picks up a few years after the first. It follows Creed as he must decide who he is fighting for when he is challenged by his father’s killer’s son, Viktor Drago. 

The story was entertaining and emotionally charged. The script, at times, was a bit corny but overall well done. There was once again, really great character development and acting from the entire cast. It was almost to the point where you didn’t want anyone to lose because you could see both sides and really feel for both the protagonist and the antagonist. The themes surrounding family and picking yourself up when you are down, were also really positive and relatable. Because of that, I thought that the director did a great job at pulling at the heartstrings.

This movie also managed to successfully bring in new characters while also having cameos from the original Rocky movies, which will bring back some positive nostalgia for those fans.

Ryan Coogler didn’t direct this one and I noticed almost immediately. There was a change in the fight sequences that made it look fake, almost like a video game. The imagery wasn’t as sharp or realistic. Additionally, the actor cast as Drogo’s son was way too large to be a realistic competitor to Michael B Jourdan’s Creed. They are easily 2-3 weight classes apart which was a bit of a distraction at times.

Even though there were a couple of misses, I did still really enjoy this movie. This is definitely one I would recommend everyone check out. And for those that did not see Creed (2015), I would recommend seeing that one first.

Blindspotting

Blindspotting is a socially conscious drama based in present day Oakland, California. It stars Black-ish actor Daveed Diggs, as Collin, a young man, just released from prison who is trying to live a straight laced life while on probation. One night, while heading home, he witnesses an act of violence that will change the course of his life and his friendships.

The backdrop of this movie was an homage to the city of Oakland. I thought the director, Carlos López Estrada, did a great job bringing that to life with the cinematography, the sets and the soundtrack, which were all very authentically Oakland.

This movie showcased a lot of underlying themes about the effects of gentrification and racism. In that, I thought it was provocative and honest. There were also parts that were funny which helped to lighten up the mood a bit.

There were only a couple of pieces that I thought this movie could have improved upon. One was the character development. There were a lot of one dimensional characters that I would have liked to see expanded upon. Even Collins friendship with Miles, played by Rafael Casal, lacked some validity because there wasn’t enough of a backdrop to really let the viewers know how their friendship evolved. Additionally, the script was a bit odd. I wasn’t quite prepared, when it turned into a hip-hop musical, but once I wrapped my mind around its purpose, I thought that the lyricism was quite poignant and very hyphy.

In the end, I think that this movie was well made and did a great job of tapping into the viewers emotions through its intensity. It is relevant to the current social climate, and is the type of eye opening film that should be shown more often and seen by all.      

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second, of a planned 5 part series, the direct sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and prequel to the Harry Potter films. This story follows Gellert Grindelwald, played by Johnny Depp, as he escapes captivity and proceeds to raise an army of pure blood witches in 1927. Newt Scamander, repised by Eddie Redmayne, has to decide if he will sit on the side lines or pick a side as an impending war is near. 

I thought that the plot was very entertaining and engaging. It picked right up where the last one ended. It was full of action, drama and plot twists. The script was well written. There was a scene where Grindelwald was recruiting his army and the words he used were very similar to language used by dictators of the past and present. It was a fascinating way to transition this fantasy into something that can be related to on a very real front.

The CGI, once again, was very well done and the acting from the entire cast was phenomenal. Similar to last time I really enjoyed Redmayne’s quirky, slightly socially awkward Newt. I liked the diversity in the new additions to the cast and thought that they were also great. Zoe Kravits’ beautiful, mysterious, gilt ridden, Leta Lestrange, Jude Law’s young, smart, beloved, calculated yet conflicted Professor Albus Dumbledore and Johnny Depp’s cunning and ruthless Grindelwald.

The only thing I wish was that there was more character development and screen time for Leta. All in all, however, the film was great fun and something I would recommend for all Harry Potter fans. Just be sure to watch Fantastic Beasts 1 first.

Outlaw King

Outlaw King is the story of Robert the Bruce. This historical drama takes place in 14th-century Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence. It’s basically the sequel to Bravehart.

The plot was very entertaining and the script was well written. I didn’t know much about this well renowned warrior and king, so it was interesting to see his story on film.

I thought that the cinematography was well done in this movie. The sets, costumes and the locations were all visually appealing and believable for the time period. The action sequences were filmed well, some even as extended single take shots that looked really realistic.

The character development was pretty good throughout the main cast. In regard to the acting, I thought that Chris Pine did okay as the title character. His lack of a Scottish accent was a bit of a distraction though. It would go in and out from time to time but was never quite there. Definitely not even close to the caliber of Mel Gibson’s in Braveheart. In the end, I found the supporting cast to be the ones to really carry this movie and what really brings you in to the story.

Additionally, even though I really enjoyed the story I felt like they rushed the end. There were so many other pieces that they could have told that they missed. Now, I understand that the time line they are trying to cover spanned about 12 years, so I get why, with something that massive, it would be hard to get every little detail in, however it would have been nice to see some more things covered or explained in further depth.

Overall, even with a couple of misses, I’d still say that this was a good film. It was action packed and engaging. I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.

Venom

Venom is the origin story for anti-hero, Eddie Brock, a controversial journalist, who in an effort to expose the creator of the Life Foundation, Carlton Drake, encounters the symbiote, Venom. 

I thought that the best parts of this movie were the plot, the action sequences and the CGI. The plot was interesting and engaging. The CGI throughout was really good. Anytime any of the characters morphed into their symbiotes it looked really realistic. There was also a great car chase scene that was full of high octane action sequences and really creative CGI.

In regard to the acting, there were some misses. Even though Tom Hardy, was a good choice to be at the helm of this movie, his love interest, played by Michelle Williams, was not.  She was not a convincing Anne Weying. This isn’t the type of genera that I would expect her to be in. I think that her talents were misplaced and on top of all of that the chemistry between her and Tom Hardy was painful throughout. The first 20 minutes of the movie was like pulling teeth, because of their scenes together. Additionally, her wig was terrible. It was a distraction; they should have just let her rock her natural short hair, like to comic book character.

The script also lacked quality. There was really corny dialogue all thought out the movie. I think at times they were trying to be ironic or comedic but it didn’t really hit well. It was almost like they were dialing it down for a younger audience. Some of the cut always also made me think that this movie was watered down from its original version which was probably rated R but because of all of the editing ended up being PG-13.

Although there were a couple of miss steps, I thought the movie was still entertaining and fun. Like I’ve said for most action movies, these aren’t running for an Academy Award, they were just meant to amuse. So for those that have enjoyed previous Marvel movies, I think they will like this one too.

Paid In Full

Paid In Full is the story of Ace, a young man from Harlem in the 1980s. With the influx of drugs in his neighborhood he sees his friends around him making a lot of money while he is making minimum wage working an honest job at a laundromat. After an encounter with an influential dealer, he builds his own drug empire but soon realizes that lifestyle might really not be for him.

I thought that the cinematography was well done, it had an older movie vibe to it. I thought that the acting convincing and that the plot was realistic and gritty. I also think that the movie wrapped up properly.

Where I think that the movie fell off was, even though it was only an hour and a half long, it felt so much longer than that. There were parts that really dragged.

Even though this is not my favorite genera, I thought the movie was okay, but not something that I would seek out again.

The Resistance Banker

The Resistance Banker is a World War II drama based in the Netherlands. It’s the untold true story of two brothers, who are bankers, helping to fund the underground fight against the Nazis.

I had never heard this story before so I found the plot to be very informative and thought that the Dutch men and women being portrayed in this movie were incredibly smart and courageous.

The script was in Dutch which I found more realistic than most WWII historical drams told in this region. Additionally, the locations and costumes were also appeared to be very historically accurate which helped to really propel you to this incredibly stressful and fearful time.

I thought that the acting from the entire cast was emotionally jarring and compelling. Even though most of the actors were relatively unknown to me, I was still immensely engaged in their story.

Overall I found this movie to be a very well told piece of history. Something that everyone should see and appreciate the sacrifices willingly given for so many.

Nappily Ever After

Nappily Ever After is the Netflix distributed drama/romance/comedy starting Sanaa Lathan as Violet Jones, an ad executive with an obsession with perfection. When her long term boyfriend doesn’t follow through with her expectations combined with a hair mishap, her life starts to unravel.

There was strong character development among the entire cast which helped to push the story along enjoyably. Sanaa’s acting in particular was relatable and at times quite powerful. I thought that she did a great job leading this all too familiar story of how mainstream expectations of beauty effect black women. I liked the underlying messages about loving yourself, not needing a man to be happy, and embracing your natural hair, no matter what others think or say about it..

I thought that the plot was interesting but a bit extreme when it came to the reactions that Violet had to her hair changes. It was also lacking in the wrap up. The end was abrupt and I would have liked some extra time provided for some additional content to properly close out this movie.

Overall I thought that it was cute, and worth seeing once, but not something that I would seek out again.

Message From The King

Message From The King is a revenge thriller/crime drama distributed by Netflix. It stars Chadwick Bosman as Jacob King, a mysterious South African man looking for his sister in Los Angeles.

The plot and cinematography had a Man on Fire vibe to it. Even though there were parts that were predictable and other scenes that didn’t make sense, by how easily the clues were put together, it was still engaging and edgy.

The character development was pretty good and I thought that the acting from Bosman and the rest of the cast were convincing and genuine. Bosman always delivers emotionally, so I found it easy to connect to his character. The only thing I would say was a bit distracting, was the fact that he was using the same accent he had as Black Panther. I know this movie was made around the same time as Black Panther, so I can see why he would want to keep the same accent but I thought it was lazy.

Additionally, the fight sequences were not anything athletically spectacular but they were all realistic and intense.

In the end, I thought that it had a good twist and a proper wrap up. Even though this wasn’t the greatest movie ever, it wasn’t the worst. So if you are a fan of this genera I would still recommend checking this one out.

The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water is the Best Picture Oscar winning story of a mute cleaning woman who falls in love with an amphibious man, being held captive at the facility that she works at in Baltimore, during the 1960s.

I found the story to be simple yet unique. It had a little bit of everything in it, sci-fi, romance and drama. The cinematography was very appropriate for the concept of the movie. There was this oceanic hue filter that was in each scene that really helped to keep that theme clear.

I thought that the script was well written and that the acting from the entire cast was entertaining. I liked that this was a female driven script with Sally Hawkins & Octavia Spencer taking the lead. Hawkins portrayal of the mute Elisa Esposito was phenomenal. Without words she was able to convey this very strong willed, curious, empathetic and courageous woman. Octavia Spencer played, Zelda Fuller, fellow cleaning lady, close friend, protector and confidant to Elisa. Though it felt a bit like a type cast for her, I still found her role to be full of depth and properly delivered. It was also nice to see fellow Boardwalk Empire alums, Michael Shannon and Michael Stuhlbarg in the movie. Shannon, I am noticing, is also starting to get type cast with his role as the ruthless and cruel Richard Strickland. Stuhlbarg played a more unique role as the as the smart and caring scientist, Dr. Robert Hoffstetler.

Even though I enjoyed this movie and I liked that it was different, I don’t know if I would have necessarily have awarded this film Best Picture. In part because I think the script had missed a key piece about the civil rights movement. There were a couple of hints made toward the movement and the ongoing segregation within the city of Baltimore, throughout the film, however it was never properly divulged into. I would have liked that backdrop to have had a clearer presence in the film and more of a discussion around how it affected the lives of the characters.

Although that historical detail was missed, I still think that those looking for something off the beaten path would definitely enjoy this one. Therefore, I would still recommend checking this movie out.

Anon

Anon is a Netflix released, futuristic crime/sci-fi/drama film starring Clive Owen and Amanda Seyfried. It tells the story of a world where technology has advanced to the point where there is no privacy or secrecy. Everything is recorded and can be seen though anyone’s perspective. When a hacker, who has figured out how to be hidden from police, goes on string of murders, it is up to detective, Sal Frieland, played by Owen, to figure out what is going on before it’s too late. 

I found the plot to be very unique and interesting. Additionally the script throughout had twists and turns, so it was hard to predict what would happen next and who the true villain would end up being.

I thought that the way the technology was portrayed on screen was like an evolved version of Minority Report. It was creative and cool cinematography.

Additionally, I thought that Clive Own and Amanda Seyfried did a great job playing off one another in their roles, both troubled in their own way, trying to run from their pasts, yet also very much in need of each other to solve the case at hand.

Overall, I really did like this movie. For those looking for an innovative, science fiction drama, I would definitely recommend streaming this one.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Solo: A Star Wars Story is the origins story for Han Solo. It stars relatively unknown actor Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo.

I thought that the story line for this movie was great, and though some minor parts were foreseeable, the majority of the film was unpredictable. The movie was high action and fun to watch.

Additionally, the acting from the entire cast was well done. I especially enjoyed the fact that people you wouldn’t normally expect in a Star Wars movie were in this movie. Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover and Thandie Newton were all surprise additions that did a fantastic job in their roles.

I thought that all of the women played strong roles who didn’t need men to save them or make their decisions for them. The scene-stealer with all the comedic one lies was again a robot, L3-37, voiced by comedic actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I thought that her script was really funny and progressive. I would have liked to see more of Thandie’s character, Val, but the part that she played was impactful. The person, however, who stole the show for me though, was Emilia Clarke, in her role as Qi'ra. She was mysterious, manipulative, and resourceful and was just an overall refreshing role.

I felt like watching some of the late 70s and early 80s Star Wars movies would have helped to add additional context to this movie but it wasn’t a requirement. This is the second origin story that I felt like was better than the new Star Wars sequels. In the end, even though, this wasn’t as good as Rogue One (the original origin story), I do think that this was another well done film that everyone can enjoy.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is the sequel to Jurassic World, which is a spin-off of the Jurassic Park trilogy from the 90s. This takes places a few years after Jurassic World ends. The Jurassic World Park has been abandoned, the surviving dinosaurs are roaming free, and the island is threatening to have a volcanic eruption. Because of this Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen (Chris Pratt) are forced to re-unite as they are tasked with saving the surviving dinosaurs on the planet before the volcano erupts.

I found this movie to be entertaining and fun, yet very predictable. I’m not one to predict movies but this one was too simple. You knew who the bad guy was within minutes and you could figure out the way scenes would play out before they ended. The script was literally a photocopy of the last 4 movies.

The lack of creativity in this film made me disappointed that it will be getting another sequel in a couple of years. Due to that I really think that this series has run its course and really should stop before they get worse. For die-hard fans, you'll still enjoy it, but for everyone else I say this one could easily be skipped.

Chicago

Chicago is a 1920s themed comedy, crime drama, musical that stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger who enlist the talents of a shady lawyer, played by Richard Gere, to get them off for their respective murders.

Even though this movie came out 16 years ago, I thought that it was still very entertaining. The cinematography was well done and the score was catchy and fun. Additionally, the script was engaging and the choreography was very appropriate for the time.

One of my favorite things about this movie was that it was led by two very strong leading ladies. The acting, dancing and singing from both Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger were fantastic. I also enjoyed Queen Latifa’s role in this film. The underlying message about girls coming together was also a great theme.

There were only a couple of things that I didn't agree with. For one, the movie was categorized as a comedy but I didn't find anything really funny about it. There were a couple of cheeky parts but not enough to really warrant a comedic categorization. Also, the main distraction in this whole movie was the singing from the males. Those couple of scenes should have been drastically shorted.

Overall though, I thought that this movie was timeless. If you haven’t seen it I’d definitely say that this is one to watch.

Pitch Perfect 3

Pitch Perfect 3 is the much needed final film in the Pitch Perfect trilogy. It follows the Barden Bellas, now college graduates, who are all unhappy in their new post-graduate careers. Still holding on to their World Finals Championship, they get together to complete one last time during the USO tour.

The things that I liked about the original Pitch Perfect movie were its originality, strong, diverse female characters, comedic timing and relatability. I thought that the plot in this movie was interesting and believable, to a certain extent. The acting from all of the women was entertaining and at times there were some really funny parts. I also liked how they wrapped up the end, with a really heartfelt message about not being afraid to take a leap of faith to try something new that will make you happy.

What I wasn’t a huge fan of is how toward the end of the movie the story just kept getting more and more extreme for no reason. Similar to the second Pitch Perfect movie, I thought that there were parts that didn’t make much sense and were just randomly thrown in for a cheap comedic affect.

This I really feel, is one of those movies that should not have had sequels. The first one was so original and fun they couldn’t really get better than that. Therefore I feel like, this movie is only for the true diehard fans. Those just passing by can easily skip this one.

Sierra Burgess is a Loser

Sierra Burgess is a Loser is another coming of age, romantic comedy from Netflix. When high school outcast, Sierra (Shannon Purser), receives a text from a cute boy (Noah Centineo) from another school, due to a case of mistaken identity, an unexpected friendship develops into something more. In order to keep this Catfish-like romance alive she decides to team up with her bully, the most popular girl in school (Kristine Froseth), to try to win her crush.

Netflix has been peddling a lot of the same Sixteen Candles esque movies lately. This movie unfortunately was not like their hit, To All the Boys I've Loved Before. Though it had a similar theme and a great 80s themed soundtrack, it missed the mark in quality acting, a coherent plot and diverse character development.

The acting from the main cast wasn’t very impressive. The lead, Purser, did a decent job until some of the dramatic parts hit. When she needed to show more emotion it wasn’t very convincing. Centineo, who I have seen twice now in the same love interest type role, really showed me how much he needs to expand his artistic range. 

Parts of the plot made zero sense and the script, at times, was not well written. There was also blow-back from the Catfish theme and what was perceived as members of the deaf community being made fun of. There were a lot of other stereotypes in the film as well, such as the most popular girl in school wasn’t very smart, the smart girl wasn’t pretty and the jock only wanted to peruse the cheerleader.

There was also a lack of overall character development among the cast and a shortage of diversity in the film. Loretta Devine's part was small but enjoyable. I would have really liked to see more from her character. Sierra's best friend, Dan, played by RJ Cyler was another character that had potential but was reduced to a smaller than ideal role. The 2 other minority actors in the film were co-leads that could have also had larger roles but instead were something so minimal that they might as well have not even been there at all.

Therefore, even though the theme was interesting and the soundtrack was great, it could not, in the end, save this movie. Because of that, I think that this one can be skipped.

The Immigrant

The Immigrant is a story based in 1920s New York, of Polish nurse, Ewa, played by Marion Cotillard, and her sister, Magda played by Westworld actress, Angela Sarafyan. It opens as they arrive to Ellis Island only to be separated. The story then follows Ewa as she has to navigate the manipulations of the men around her and making undesirable sacrifices to be reunited with her sister.


I thought that Marion Cotillard did a stunning job, portraying the role of Ewa. She mastered the Polish accent and language along with also portraying a soft spoken, desperate yet very driven character. I thought that the supporting actors, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner, also did a pretty good job following in her lead.

The plot was interesting but a bit long and dry. It was also predictable from the beginning. Due to these things, I’d say that the movie was good enough to check out once, but not one that I would seek out again.

Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians is a romantic comedy based on the book of the same name. It follows Rachel Chu, played by Constance Wu, a NYU professor, and her boyfriend Nick Young, played by Henry Golding. When Nick asks Rachel to go with him to his friend’s wedding in Singapore she agrees right away. Not knowing that Nick is the heir to a famous Chinese dynasty and that some of his family members are not too keen to meet her.

I really enjoyed everything about this movie. I thought that the plot was really entertaining and relatable, the script was well written, it pulled at the heart strings, and at times was quite funny. I thought that the cinematography was stunning; it was the perfect promotion to encourage visitors to Singapore. The showcasing of Chinese culture throughout the film was also very fascinating. It was beautiful to see the traditions in a natural, non-stereotypical way, on a national stage. Additionally the character development was strong and the acting from the diverse all Asian cast was really great.

This is a movie that I would definitely see again and I hope that they make more of in the future. If you are looking for a beautifully filmed, super cute and fun chick flick I would recommend checking this one out.

How It Ends

How It Ends is a disaster, thriller featuring Forest Whitaker, Divergent star, Theo James, and Vampire Diaries star, Kat Graham. It begins with Will, played by James, who flies from Seattle to Chicago to visit his pregnant finance, Sam’s, parents, played by Whitaker and Nicole Air Parker. After he arrives something unknown causes country wide power outages and chaos. Will and his future father-in-law then decide to take a road trip back to Seattle to find Sam, played by Graham.

I thought that the majority of the movie was very interesting and suspenseful. It also seemed pretty realistic. The post-apocalyptic theme and cinematography reminded me of the Book of Eli. The acting and the character development were also pretty good.

Where this movie unfortunately fell flat was at the end. I felt as if the writers had this really great idea that they didn’t know how to finish. They ended up just leaving the audience hanging, but not in a good Inception kind of way, but more of a disappointing lack of imagination type of way. And because of that there were a lot of questions left unanswered at the end.

Therefore, even though the majority the movie was really good, because they couldn’t wrap it up properly I will have to say that this movie is not worth the time and should be skipped.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a Netflix coming of age rom-com based on the novel of the same name. It follows high school Junior and outcast, Lara Jean, as her world is turned upside down when love letters she wrote to her crushes are mailed to them unbeknownst to her.

This movie was like a new age Sixteen Candles. The character development for this uniquely diverse cast was full of depth. Even though they were all lesser known actors, they were all very entertaining. I especially thought that the lead actress, Lana Condor, did a great job carrying this film. She had a very likable and charming personality. The soundtrack was also a great mix of John Hughes like 80's gems, mixed with new pop and indy hits. Even though the plot was predictable, I did still found it to be realistic, engaging and fun.

For those looking for a fresh, lighthearted romantic comedy I’d definitely recommend checking this movie out.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is the 6th and final film of the video game turned horror film franchise. It is the direct sequel of Resident Evil: Retribution and stars Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter. The story follows Alice, played by Milla, as she heads back to the Umbrella Corporation to find an anti-virus to end the world wide infection. 

I thought that the movie was mildly entertaining at best. The action sequences were well choreographed and the cinematography was better than its predecessors. I also liked that this film, similar to the rest in the franchise, was female driven with two strong, leading female characters.

Where this film dropped the ball for me was in its character development and plot. I thought that the character development wasn’t as in-depth as I would have liked for the majority of the cast. A lot had to do with the fact that certain characters were killed off too soon, so I wasn’t given a chance to get to know them better. Additionally, the plot was predictable and at times not very creative. Some scenes were even taken from earlier Resident Evil movies, which may have been a nod to the original, but I was hoping to see something different.

Overall I was not very engaged in this movie and am glad that it’s the last one. For those feeling nostalgic check it out, but for everyone else, you can avoid this one.

BlacKkKlansman

BlacKkKlansman is the true story of Ron Stallworth, the first African American police officer to work for the Colorado Springs Police Department, in the 1970s. He and his small undercover team were able to successfully infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.

I thought that the purpose of the movie was powerful, Spike Lee was able to tell a true story, that most people don’t know, while also showing an evolution of racism throughout the years. He was able to interweave the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, the ear of the film, the 1970s, and current day. In that he did a great job of showing how if you don’t learn from your mistakes how history will repeat itself over and over again.

The acting from the entire cast was well done, especially that from John David Washington as the main character, Stallworth, Adam Driver as his partner, Flip Zimmerman and Laura Harrier as his love interest and political revolutionary, Patrice Dumas. The character development from the entire cast was done in a way where you could see the complexities and humanity in everyone.

I also appreciated the interwoven comedic moments that helped to lighten some of the heavier acts in the film.

What I didn’t necessarily enjoy was some of Spike Lee’s editing. There were a couple of really impactful parts that I felt didn’t get their true weight of importance because of how he would edit the scene. He had the floating heads like a Queen album cover, in one poignant scene and in another he did the floating bodies, where they are moving but not walking, during other. These editing techniques were distracting and retracted from the importance of those very important parts.

Overall, I thought that the movie was well made and the timing for this film couldn’t have been any better. You can really see the parallels in this movie to our current political climate. And with that being said, I do think that this movie is definitely something that everyone should see.

Gone

Gone is a thriller starring Amanda Seyfried. She plays the lead character, Jill, a woman, who after surviving a kidnapping is convinced that her abductor is back when her sister goes missing. 

I thought that the theme of the movie was interesting, it reminded me of Shutter Island. I thought that the acting from Amanda Seyfried was pretty believable and that the story was suspenseful.

However these couple of things were not enough to warrant an endorsement for this movie. It lacked proper plot depth. The motives were unclear and the story progression didn’t make a lot of sense. Additionally there was zero character development, the supporting characters were so one dimensional that at times I was wondering why they were even there. I’m not sure if the writer did that on purpose to make the villain more difficult to spot but it wasn’t executed very well.

Overall this wasn’t a terrible movie but definitely not one that I would want to watch again.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Mission: Impossible – Fallout is the 6^th movie in the franchise with an all-star cast including Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg and Rebecca Ferguson. It picks up where Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation left off. In this story Ethan Hunt and the MI6 are paired with a member of the CIA, played by Cavill, to stop members of The Apostles, a restructured former terrorist organization known as the Syndicate, from activating nuclear bombs in major cities.

I thought that the plot was easy to follow and engaging. There were plenty of the twits and turns, some predictable but most were a surprise. The character development was strong which helped to make you feel the level of suspense, which in my opinion, was higher in this movie than its predecessors. I also liked that some characters from the past were brought back and I thought that the acting from the entire cast was well done.

By far the most visually impressive part of this film were the stunts and high impact action throughout. It’s amazing that at 56 Tom Cruise still does his own stunts. The fight scenes and action sequences were so well choreographed that I think even stunt doubles would have hard time garnering believably. But like all of his films, Tom Cruise was able to pull all of it off.

Overall this was a really great film that I would recommend checking out. If this is your first Mission Impossible movie you might get a little lost in the weeds, but I still think it’s worth seeing. Just know, this is a popular one so get there early.

The Snowman

The Snowman is a thriller starring Michael Fassbender and Rebecca Ferguson. They play detectives who take on a case of a serial killer who leaves behind snowmen after each of his kills. 

I thought that the plot was interesting and that the cast did well portraying each character, but unfortunately it didn’t quite meet my expectations. I felt like the beginning was hard to follow and lost me at certain points. There were parts where Fassbender’s character, Harry Hole, figured out certain clues but it didn’t really make sense how he got there. I pushed through though hoping it would get better and it really just dragged. Even though the twist at the end was good it couldn’t really make up for the rest of the film. This is one that I’d recommend saving your time and skipping.

The Equalizer 2

The Equalizer 2 is the sequel to the 2014 hit starring Denzel Washington. It’s the story of Robert McCall, retired CIA agent, who in his off time, takes it upon himself to anonymously avenge the weak. When he finds out that his friend and fellow CIA agent has been murdered, his new mission is clear, solve her murder and kill those responsible.

The theme was the same as the original but the plot was different. I liked that the story was an engaging thriller full of action and suspense. Additionally, the fight choreography was done well. For an older guy, Denzel was still pretty believable. I also enjoyed the acting of the rest of the cast especially that from Game of Thrones star, Pedro Pascal and Moonlight start, Ashton Sanders. It was nice to see both of them in roles different from what they were known for. In the end thought that it wrapped up nicely.

The only thing that I think could have used some extra work was making the story less predictable. I’m not one to guess the ending of a movie but this one was way too easy to figure out. Even though I was able to anticipate a majority of the plot, I still enjoyed it. Therefore, I would still recommend checking this one out.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a spin-off of the 1995 classic Jumanji. I initially didn’t want to see this movie when it came out because I didn’t want it to ruin my childhood love of the original. 

Lately I haven’t really been a fan of The Rock nor Kevin Hart. I find them both to be too much on screen but I thought that the balance of the rest of the cast helped to tone both of them down quite a bit. It was strange seeing grown adults speak like high school students, and a good chunck of the script was corny, but every once in a while a bit dialog would prove to be funny, especially that from Jack Black.

Although the movie lacked originality, a realistic plot-line and was incredibly predictable, I thought that the movie wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. If you go in with low expectations, as I did, you will come out of the movie thinking it was entertaining enough but probably not one that you would want to seek out a second time.

Vincent N Roxxy

Vincent N Roxxy is a crime drama starring Emile Hirsch and Zoë Kravitz. The story starts with Vincent, a small town guy, saving the life of a woman whom is involved in a car accident. He then chooses to befriend her and invites her to stay with him. Little does he know that this act of kindness will end up changing and haunting both of their lives.

I thought that the plot was engaging and unpredictable. The filming had an indie vibe to it and the acting was pretty good from the entire cast, but to me Zoë Kravitz's Roxxy stole the show.

Toward the end it got pretty extreme and turned out a lot darker than I had expected, which I wasn’t a huge fan of. It was like they took a page from the 2012 movie Spring Breakers, which isn't a good thing. Because of how it ended it is also not something that I will want to watch again. For those who do like this genera I would just say that this is not a movie that you will want to watch without seeing something lighter afterward.

The Secret Life of Pets

The Secret Life of Pets is a super cute animated movie about how pets behave when their owners leave the house. It follows a dog named Max who lives in Manhattan with his owner, Katie. When Katie goes to work he hangs out with his friends, other pets, in the building. One day Katie comes home with a new dog, Duke, whom becomes quite the disrupter to Max’s quite life. 

I thought that the story was engaging and the ending wrapped up nicely. The graphics were well done and I enjoyed and recognized most of the voice actors.

The only missteps were that it was a little long and I could have done without Kevin Hart’s voice, but overall a light-hearted, sometimes even funny movie. I’d recommend this one for anyone looking for something heartfelt and family friendly.

Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange is the origin story for Marvel character Dr. Stephen Strange. A neurosurgeon turned space and time manipulating sorcerer. 

I was impressed with the cast, it starred some really well-known, respected actors including Benedict Cumberbatch as the main character, along with Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benjamin Bratt, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton. They all did a really great job working with each other, I just didn’t really like the character of Doctor Strange. He’s kind of an anti-hero. His whole persona is arrogance and selfishness. On top of all of that the jokes were dry and I didn’t find them to be particularly funny.

This is one of my least favorite Marvel movies. The effects were a more extreme version of Inception and the story-line was sort of hard to follow. This is one that I’m glad I saw to get some background to some of the future Marvel movies but it’s not one that I would see again.

I Love You, Beth Cooper

I Love You, Beth Cooper is the story of a high school student, who wasn’t very popular, and on graduation day decides to make himself memorable by declaring his love for the most popular girl in school, Beth Cooper. Little does he know that she decides to take him up on his declaration and offers to show him the best time of his life. 

I wanted to check out this movie because I was looking for something funny. I also like Hayden Panettiere, who played the title role, in her newest project, so I wanted to give this one a chance.

Little did I know how terrible this movie would be. It was bad from the beginning. I just sat there hoping it would get better, which it never did. Instead, it actually got worse. It wasn’t funny at all, the plot didn’t make any sense, as it got later in the film it just got more obnoxious and the acting was terrible. I would not recommend anyone waste their time watching this movie.

Waterworld

Waterworld is the fictional story of what would happen if all the ice caps melted and the world flooded. It stars Kevin Costner and Jeanne Tripplehorn, two actors that I have enjoyed over the year, so I decided to give this movie a shot. 

This movie turned out to be far from the quality of a Costner hit like The Bodyguard or even one of my favorite HBO shows staring Tripplehorn, Big Love. I remember hearing that they went over in the movie budget and that the ticket sales couldn’t cover it, now I know why. The hair and costumes were overkill, the soundtrack was terrible, the script was poorly written, the CGI in some parts looked really cheap, it was unnecessarily misogynistic, and parts of the plot made zero sense. The movie was almost 3 hours long and there really wasn’t enough content to even warrant the time. Overall a terrible movie. Honestly, I knew better, but I guess I couldn’t help myself. Save yourself the 3 hours of torture and just avoided this one.

Silence of the Lambs

Silence of the Lambs stars Jodie Foster as FBI trainee, Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Agent Starling is tasked with interviewing “Hannibal the Cannibal” in the hopes of gaining information from him to capture another wanted serial killer that is on the loose, Buffalo Bill. 

I never saw this movie in the past because I thought it would fall more within the gory, horror genera but I was wrong. This is definitely more of a 90s classic psychological thriller. It was cool to see a young Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in their 1991 Academy Award winning film. Both did a phenomenal acting job. The script was well written, the plot was interesting, and there was a lot of suspense.

Obviously because it was made over 20 years ago there were some parts that looked lower quality but overall a very interesting film. If you haven’t seen this movie already, I’d recommend checking it out.

12 Rounds

12 Rounds stars John Cena as New Orleans cop, Danny Fisher & Game of Thrones actor, Aidan Gillen as criminal, Miles Jackson. In the film Miles blames Danny for the death of his girlfriend so in an effort to get revenge, he takes Danny's girlfriend, Molly, and then forces Danny to go through 12 deadly rounds in the hopes of saving her.

This movie had the same feel as typical 90s action movie, like a Die Hard or a Speed. This was an early John Cena movie, so he didn't give as much range as he has now, but he did a good enough job with what he had to work with. The script wasn’t the best, how he got to the answers of some of the puzzles was unbelievable and some of the CGI was pretty terrible. Additionally, parts of the plot were also pretty predictable.

All in all, not the best move ever but not the worst. If you are looking for something to just veg out on that doesn’t require a lot of brainpower or thought, maybe check this one out.

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 is loosely based on the novel of the same title. The plot is centered on a dystopian future after a second Civil War in the United States. The fire fighters are now the law and order. They are tasked limiting the knowledge of the public through censorship by burning books instead of dousing fires.

I never read this book in high school but I knew roughly what it was about so I wanted to check it out. I thought that the plot was really interesting and could definitely be something that could happen in the future. Additionally, the acting was pretty good, with the star power of Michael B Jordan and Michael Shannon.

Where the movie dropped the ball for me was in its delivery of the story. I thought that it was rushed, that there were pieces missing and that they should have divulged a little deeper with the character development. Also, I thought that end was a bit weird and turns out it wasn’t the same way the book ended. Because of these things it was easy to tune out and I would say that this is one that can be skipped.

Coco

Coco follows Miguel, a young boy who has to hide his love music because of his families generational ban on music. His life takes an interesting turn when accidentally ends up in the Land of the Dead where he is able to uncover his families true history.

I normally don’t watch animated movies nor musicals, but chose to make an exception for this one. This movie had a lot of great reviews when it had come out. It’s the first Disney/Pixar film with an all Mexican led cast. The movie portrays authentic Mexican culture by giving you a little insight into Día de Muertos. I thought that the movie was visually appealing. The cinematography was full of vibrant, bright colors. I also thought that the story was well told and engaging. Additionally, the soundtrack was also quite catchy and appropriate for the theme.

All in all, I thought that this was a very well made and enjoyable family-friendly film. This is absolutely one I would recommend everyone checking out.

You Again

You Again is the story of Marni, a woman who has come a long way since high school where she was bullied incessantly by the most popular girl in school. When her brother announces that he is getting married she realizes that the woman he is planning to wed is the very same girl who bullied her so many years ago. She then decides to take it upon herself to protect her brother by doing whatever it takes to stop their wedding.

I thought that this movie was a super cute chick flick. It’s a female driven story with some really well respected actors including Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, and Betty White. They all did a great job playing off of each other.

There were some parts that were a bit awkward that could have been cut out but overall I thought it was a really nice story about family and forgiveness. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a fun and lighthearted chick flick.

Deadpool 2

In the second installment of the Deadpool franchise, Deadpool 2 picks up where the first one ends. It follows Deadpool as he comes upon challenges that force him to decide what type of mutant he wants to be, an anti-hero or a superhero.

I was really excited to see this one because I loved the first one so much. This movie had a great musical score, I thought it was cosmetically well placed and eclectic. The plot was engaging and not entirely predictable. I also thought that the post credit scenes were really funny and probably the most humbling part of the entire film. I also liked that they did include some additional X-Men cameos.

Throughout the movie it had the same hyperaware, raunchy, self-deprecating humor as the original. Although I enjoyed it, it didn’t have the same punch that the original had. The original actually caught me off guard and generated real hearty laughs. This one didn’t quite provide that same amount of unbridled hilarity. Additionally, there were parts that were really over the top that I think could have been cut out.

Even though this movie was a bit of a disappointment, because it appears the franchise is turning into a one trick pony, I will say that it was still enjoyable. The parts that I liked still outweighed the parts that I didn't like. So if you liked the first one, I'd say still give this one a shot, just come in knowing it’s not going to entirely live up to the original.

The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker is a military drama that follows members of a bomb squad in Iraq. At the time when this movie came out it was praised for its storytelling, editing and cinematography. It also won the 2010 Academy Award for best picture and best director, which was a big deal, because the director, Kathryn Bigelow, was the first female in history to accomplish that feat. 

At the time Jeremy Renner who played, Sergeant First Class William James, and Anthony Mackie who played, Sergeant J. T. Sanborn, were relatively unknown. The roles they played in this film were compelling. They did a great job of really bringing you into their reality. Showcasing the intensity, stress and fear that is wrapped into their job. The film is 8 years old but still very relevant today. Roger Ebert said it best "a great film, an intelligent film, a film shot clearly so that we know exactly who everybody is and where they are and what they're doing and why. The camera work is at the service of the story. Bigelow knows that you can't build suspense with shots lasting one or two seconds. And you can't tell a story that way, either -- not one that deals with the mystery of why a man like James seems to depend on risking his life.”

What I don’t necessarily agree with was the movie winning an Academy Award for best picture. Although the cinematography provided for a very realistic feeling, personal and gritty film there were times when the movie moved too slowly for me. Additionally, even though I knew by that point why the William James character was making reckless decisions it didn’t make sense to me why he was able to get away with so many poor decisions, thus causing me some frustration. So because of those couple of things, I would say that, it was a good movie but not one what I would seek out to see again.

13TH

13th is an incredibly well researched documentary by filmmaker Ava DuVernay. She helps to break down the institutionalized racism within the United States and how that affects the disproportionate population of minorities, especially African Americans, in the prison system. 

It was compelling in detailing how the people in power have oppressed minorities for hundreds of years. It shows how easy the passing of the 13th amendment turned slaves into criminals. The documentary addresses laws that were dressed up a certain way but were really just ways of further disenfranchise the minorities in this country. They talk about the rise of the KKK and Jim Crowe laws, the way the FBI and other police sects would attack any minority political figure during the Civil Rights Movement all the way to the current state of the prison system and how Ronald Regan and the Clintons made it even easier to put minorities into prison for minor crimes. They also found ways to monetize the system thus making it even more lucrative to imprison minorities.

The documentary was easy to follow and engaging. Although what I saw was incredibly overwhelming, disheartening and depressing, I’m glad that it was brought to light. Hopefully documentaries like this will help to wake some people up and encourage more discussions on ending institutionalized racism and making some real change on prison reform. This is definitely a documentary that I think that everyone should see.

Breaking In

Breaking In is produced by and stars Gabrielle Union. It follows her character, Shuan, who is tasked with selling her recently deceased father’s tech savvy family home. She brings her children along, for the weekend, to assist with the sale, not realizing that they are not alone in the home. She then has to fight to protect her family from the invaders.

I thought it was great that Gabrielle Union choose to take the reigns as producer and star. I was hoping with that extra incentive that something really great would be brought to the screen. I thought that the acting from Gabrielle and the two who played her children were good and the casting of her daughter, Jasmine, played by Ajiona Alexus was spot on, but unfortunately that couldn’t save the movie. What I was hoping to be more like a new generation’s version of Jodie Foster’s Panic Room mixed with Jennifer Lopez’ Enough turned out to be more like one of Halley Berry’s recent barrage of D List movies that you wouldn’t even want to watch at home for free.

This movie had so many misses, it lacked strong character development, which made it hard to connect to any of the characters or care what happened to them. It also made it hard to understand the motive of the story. The plot was interesting and I kept hoping it would get better but dropped the ball when it became unbelievable. Additionally, the script was written terribly and at times very corny thus causing me to no longer want to be engaged in the movie.

Even though I really wanted to support this cast, this is a movie that I would suggest saving yourself the hour and a half of disappointment and the $20, by avoiding this one.

Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War is the story of Thanos, a villain looking to correct the plants overpopulation by destroying half of the souls on it. The Avengers, currently disbanded, try to rebuild in order to prevent him from ending it all. 

This movie picks up where Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther left off. This is the third Avengers film and so far the best of its series. Infinity War was an action packed blockbuster with an amazing cast. I liked that they mixed up the character groups and had heroes from different franchises interacting with one another.

I thought that the plot was unlike any other in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was unpredictable, clear, concise and at times, quite funny. It was a great mix of the last 3 hits, Captain America Civil War, Thor Ragnarok, and Black Panther.

The only issue I had was I thought that it was a bit overwhelming with the cast so large. I felt like we had to do a lot of jumping from scene to scene and planet to planet because we were following so many different characters. I really wanted to stay longer in certain scenes, and see more of some of the characters, but couldn’t because of all of the moving pieces. The crazy part is that we were Avengers characters that didn’t even make it into this film.

In the end though, this movie was really entertaining. The cliff hanger ending made me want more and I can’t wait to catch part two. I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.