November 2019!!

The Month of November brings two films to review the first beingTerminator:Dark Fate.

Runtime:128 Minutes

Post Credit:None

Plot-"Sarah Connor and a hybrid cyborg human must protect a young girl from a newly modified liquid Terminator from the future".

Starring-Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis and Linda Hamilton


My Thoughts

I am a big fan of the terminator movies good or bad, the film was okay, wasn't great but was better than some of the films from the past (in particular Terminator:Ginisys) This review will be short, the plot for this film was supposed to be a fresh take for the series. In reality it was a variation of the standard terminator franchise we have known to expect just slightly different in how it all comes together. The cast was solid and everyone did a good job in their performances, it was good to see Linda Hamilton back in one of the roles that made her famous and interacting again with -Arnold Schwarzenegger again. The Movie was entertaining in the sense that it was pretty much non stop action if explosions and car chases and gun fights are something that thrills you this film has it in spades, in that respect i enjoyed the film as it kept me entertained. The plot for me was not very good, once it played out on the screen I realized this film wast much different then previous films in the franchise just chanegd a few things and that spoke to unoriginality for me, which was disappointing. The plot took away much from the film for me, I went in expecting something different from the previous films in the franchise and for me it was the same thing in a different way. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 70% saying "erminator: Dark Fate represents a significant upgrade over its immediate predecessors, even if it lacks the thrilling firepower of the franchise's best installments". For me the action makes the movie enjoyable but the tyhin plot took away so much. I reccomend for fans of the franchise but other than that only if you really like action movies.
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Rating

Good action, but a supposedly fresh plot that turned out to be very similar to what we had in the past films just presented differently. 6.2/10!!!


The Second film to review is "Knives out".

Runtime:130 Minutes

Post Credit-None

Plot-"A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family".

Starring-Daniel Craig, Chris Evans and Ana De Armas


My Thoughts 

For me personally I have not seen a good whodunnit since Clue and that film came out in 1985, so it has been a long time. I was looking forward to this film the moment i saw the trailer. I can say this film was one of the best I have seen this year and highly recommend it. starting with the cast, which was a top notch ensemble lead by an excellent performance by Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc but that does not take away from any of the other performances of the other main cast, everyone was strong all around. The plot for this film was filled with twists and turns and misdirection which is what you want for a film of this nature. it kept me glued throughout the over two hour run time. there was not much wrong with this film, the ending for me left it very ambiguous what ultimately happens but other than that i thoroughly enjoyed this film. I am going to keep this review shirt as it was an excellent film and as of now probably the best I have seen this year, I recommend to anyone who wants to see a good murder mystery filled with excellent performances and a plot that keeps the viewer engrossed. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 96% saying "Knives Out sharpens old murder-mystery tropes with a keenly assembled suspense outing that makes brilliant use of writer-director Rian Johnson's stellar".

Rating

Excellent film, as of now the best I have seen this year, highly recommend. 8.8/10!!

October 2019!!

The Month of October brings with it Three films to review the first being The Joker.

Runtime:122 Minutes

Post Credit:None

Plot-"A failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and becomes a psychopathic murderer".


Starring-Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz



My Thoughts

I had high expectations for this film, the Joker is a polarizing figurre in the comic world and i was interested in seeing a origin story. The acting in this film was top notch with very good performances all around. Joaquin Phoenix did an amazing job and was one of the best acting jobs I have seen in recent memory, the depth to his character and seeing what he put his body through (lost 35 lbs for the role) and how real this characters felt and what the character endured during the movie  was really believable and that is what stuck with me. This could happen in real life for the most part, obviously there is some Hollywood magic with some of the scenes but overall this film felt very true to life,which I really enjoyed. The plot of this film flowed together really well it kept me engaged throughout the 2 hour run time, what I really liked about the plot of this film is that it was  part character study and part social commentary. the character study parts relates to the central character of the film and seeing how certain situations that happen in life can shape/mold people into what the become. The- social commentary part for me really stuck with me, the backdrop of this film is set in the 1980's with lots of civil unrest going on regarding the disparity between the rich and poor, this actually ended up playing a big role in how the film played out, and why it stood out to me was the connection this makes with real life as the wage gap increases more and more people are getting disgruntled with trying to survive each day with no money and I liked that connection was made. not everything was great with this film, I will say some of the situations that happen in this film are hard to believe and the outcomes from those stations are a little far fetched but overall believable if you realize its not real life. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 70% saying "Joker gives its infamous central character a chillingly plausible origin story that serves as a brilliant showcase for its star -- and a dark evolution for comics-inspired cinema". I agree that the everything that happens in this film is plausible and that makes it much more relatable to the viewer.. Overall this was a good movie and Juaquin Pheronix did an amazing acting job and I highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to see great acting and a really good plot which made for a really good origin story.


Rating

Very good fiilm, great acting, Juaqin Phoenix steals the show!. 8.6/10!!

The Next film to review is Gemini Man.

 Runtime:117 Minutes

Post Credit:None

Plot-"An over-the-hill hitman faces off against a younger clone of himself".

Starring-Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead amd Clive Owen
 

My Thoughts


I am a big fan of Will Smith and will watch most of his movies, though I will admit a lot of his most recent stuff has not been good. After watching this trailer I had mild expectations and was somewhat looking forward to this movie. Now having seen it, I can say the film was okay. not the worst thing Will Smith has put out recently but noit the best either. I did like the plot of this film in theory it was a cool concept to go against a younger faster version of yourself who intends to kill oyu. but that is where the intrigue ended for me, the film plodded along and the plot started off strong but then slowed down and it got a bit convoluted and just was not that interesting for me. The acting was okay Will Smith was solid and did a god job in the lead role as expected, the rest of the cast did a passable job no standout performances, I will also mention that Will Smith did do a good job in pseudo dual role and the CG used to de age him was for the most part very good i will say when action scenes were going on the movements did not look fluid and it felt cheesy. I love a good film that takes the character to destinations around the world which this film did and its always appreciated. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 25% saying "Gemini Man's impressive visuals are supported by some strong performances, but this sci-fi thriller is fatally undermined by a frustratingly subpar story". I agree overall that other than the few parts where the CG looked cheesy with fight scenes it was good overall and the acting as I mentioned was solid lead By a good performance by will smith, but ultimately the plot let this film down big time and that is disappointing.


Rating


Solid Visuals, Solid Acting lead by Will Smith but a very weak, convoluted and boring plot let this film down.  6.5/10!!!!






The last film to review for the month of October is one I have been looking forward to Zombieland:Double Tap.

Runtime:99 Minutes

Post Credit Scene:Two

Plot"Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family".

Starring-Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson

My Thoughts 

I was a huge fan of the original Zombieland and have been waiting for a sequel for the longest time, and its finally here. I can say for me the movie was worth it for the most part. This film had the same feel to it as the original which was great, the 4 main cast actors still had the same great chemistry with each other and the jokes between them were hilarious just like the first movie, which was amazing to see. My main concern with a sequel was always the plot, I wasn't entirely sure where the plot would go as the first film ended on a pretty good note. The plot was alright it  was not as fluid as the first film but it was easy to follow and throughout the 99 minute run time it flowed together well and as I mentioned it wasn't as good as the first but still solid. There were more characters in this film and it was nice to see the original cast mesh with the newcomers and it led to some good laughs. This review honestly doesn't need to be super long, I will say if uyou enjoyed the original Zombieland see this film, its funny, has a decent plot and if they decide to do a 3rd movie, the way the film ends is plausible. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 67% saying "Zombieland: Double Tap makes up for a lack of fresh brains with an enjoyable reunion that recaptures the spirit of the original and adds a few fun twists". I recommend this film for fans of the original or fans of the zombie genre.








Rating


10 years in the making, good laughs, was great to see the original cast together again. Recommend!!. 8.6/10!!!

September 2019!!

The Month of September brings two films to review the first one is one I  have been looking forward to IT:Chapter Two.

Runtime:169 Minutes

Post Credit:None

 Plot-"27 years later, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back".

Starring-Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Bill Skarsgard


My Thoughts


I was a big fan of IT and was eagerly awaiting the sequel and when I saw the cast lead by Jessica Chastain who I am also a big fan of. Now having seen the film I can say for me it was a disappointment  first off the run time was way too long, the film clocks in at almost 3 hours and for a film like this it could have been 30-40 minutes  shorter and still accomplished the same outcome. there is a big dip in the middle of the film where th4e character s have to find a "relic" from the past and that whole sequence felt like a waste for me. Secondly the cast overall was good with standout performances by Bill Hader and James Rnsone  everyone else in the cast did a solid job. The special effects for me were over reliant on CG and the quality of it wasn't that great which took away even more for me. The film had its good points, a great job was done linking the children to their adult counterparts which was nice to see and appreciated.. I really just feel the filmmakers tried to fit too much into this film and honestly it may have been a better idea to make this this into three movies instead of two. and I was left letdown from this film which I wasn't expecting. Rotten Tomatoes  gave this film a 63% saying "It: Chapter Two proves bigger doesn't always mean scarier for horror sequels, but a fine cast and faithful approach to the source material keep this follow-up afloat". For anyone who saw part one I recommend this film for but anyone else I cannot recommend overall as the length was too long, the plot flow wasn't great.

Rating 

High expectations, let down in the end. 6.8/10!!


The second film to review is Ad Astra.

Runtime:124 Minutes

Post Credit:None

 Plot-"Astronaut Roy McBride travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet".

Starring-Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones  and Ruth Negga


My Thoughts

I am a sucker for a good space epic whether it be Intersteller  or The Martian so when i heard about this film I couldn't wait to see it. first thing I can say about this film is that it really enraptures How I would think exploring outer space would feel like from th4e desolate lonely feeling of the moon to the harsh copper tone of mars to passing  the gas giant Jupiter and its giant Red spot all the way to my favorite planet of Neptune. It really grabbed me and the visuals being some of the best I have seen in recent memory really lend to this feeling, this movie was truly stunning and I applaud the visual effects team for the great work. Brad Pitt did an amazing job in this film and I think he should he up for an academy award for best actor, his role had so many layers to it. On one hand he was the son of a Nasa Legend (Tommy Lee Jones) trying to get out of his fathers shadow and grappling with the expectations on his shoulders to trying to keep a connection with his wife (Liv Tyler) and finally trying to save Earth from deadly attack from space it was such a great performance by him and i hope he gets recognition fort this. the rest of the cast in this film also did a really good job and there wasn't a bad performance I could spot.. The plot of this film flowed together very well and it was entertaining the entire run time of a little over two hours.There wasn't much I didn't like about this film one sticking point I would say was the ending for me felt rushed and was a little cliche I was expecting something different and was disappointed the film makers took the obvious route but endings are e subjective.Rotten Tomatoes  gave the film a 83% saying "Ad Astra takes a visually thrilling journey through the vast reaches of space while charting an ambitious course for the heart of the bond between parent and child". This was a very good film and i enjoyed it overall, it had great visuals, a good plot and great acting lead by Brad Pitt. I highly reccomend

Rating


Very good film. I Highly l recommend 8.7/10!!

August 2019!!

The Month of August brings two films to review the first is a film I have been really looking forward to "Scary stories to tell in the dark".

Run time:108 Minutes

Post Credit:None

Plot-"A group of kids face their fears in order to save their town".

Starring-Zoe Margaret Colletti, Micheal Garza and Austin Zajur


My Thoughts

Anyone who knows me will tell you I love the horror genre, the moment I saw the trailer I knew this movie would be good the tone and setting of the trailer was right up my alley. And i was right this was one of the best films I have seen this year hands down.I didn't know there was a book of the same name, so I went into this film with an open mind and it was very entertaining the whole way through. First the setting of the film was perfect it set the tone for the film very well, the whole film had a creepy feel to it and i loved it, the design team should be applauded. The plot of the film was vert engaging and the acting of the young and unknown cast was superb, I had not known of any of the actors in the film but after watching this movie I  am looking forward to seeing what the becomes of the cast in particular Austin Zajur in his performance as chuck he was the comic relief of the crew and he was very charismatic and stood out from the cast for me, but they all did a great job. What really stood out for me in this film was the monster design, Guillermo Del Toro wrote the screenplay for this film, and anyone who has seen any films he has been involved in will know exactly what I mean, the design of the monsters was some of the best I have seen in recent memory and it really stuck with me after the film was over, Del Toro does it again. With any movie there were some bad parts but the only rteal gripe I had with the film was the ending, it left a few questions unanswered and i am hioping maybe a sequel will rectify those unanswered questions. other than that there were no major flaws in the film for me. Rotten Tomatoes  gave the film a 81% saying "Like the bestselling series of books that inspired it, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark opens a creepy gateway into horror for younger genre enthusiasts". As I said earlier in the review this film was one of the best I have seen this year, and I highly recommend it to fans of horror or Del Toro or the book series.

Rating

One of the best films I have seen this year, highly recommend it 8.6/10!!

The second and last film for the month of August is Ready or not.

Run Time: 95 Minutes

Post Credit:None

Plot-"A bride's wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game".

Starring-Samara Weaving,  Andie MacDowell and Mark O'Brian

My Thoughts

This film came into my radar late in the game. but I am glad that I decided to watch it. the acting in this film was top notch, The entire cast did a great job and the performances were some of the best I have seen this year. What really stood out to me was that the characters all played off of each other very well and with films that have larger casts that can always be a issue and it was nice to see that wasn't the case here. The plot of this film had a premise that wasn't exactly fresh but the way it was executed was refreshing, the film was filled with plenty of laughs with certain characters which his nice to break the serious tone. The film flowed together pretty well and there wasn't much down spots but there were a few moments that slowed down and i felt could have been taken out or presented in a different way. What i really liked about this film was the setting,m the backdrop was a huge mansion that had a very creepy and closed feel to it which lent to this film feeling even more tense and thrilling I loved the use of Gore  in this film and it was nice to see that was not skimped out on. Rotten Tomatoes  gave this film a 86% saying "Smart, subversive, and darkly funny, Ready or Not is a crowd-pleasing horror film with giddily entertaining bite". I agree this was a very good film and one of the better ones I have seen this year, I highly recommend for fans of the horror genre

Rating 

Very Good film, highly recommend thoroughly enjoyed. 8.3/10!!

July 2019!!

The Month of July brings one film to review "Once upon a time in Hollywood".

Runtime:161 Minutes

Post Credit:One mid credits

Plot-A faded TV actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles".


Starring-Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie


My Thoughts  

Anyone who knows me will tell you I am a fan of Tarantino films. I really enjoyed The Hateful Eight
 and was eagerly awaiting his next film. Once the plot details leaked and I found out this film would center around the year 1969 during the Manson/Tate Murders. That intrigued me even more. Now having seen the film, to my surprise it was more of Tarantino's point of view of how things could have gone down during that time. The acting was sublime Leonardo DiCaprio gave a fantastic performance (almost topping his performance in Django Unchained but not quite) his character had multiple layers to it that required variables in his delivery and acting style,  and it was a delight to see, he stole the show for me. Brad Pitt did a solid job but I didn't find his character as layered or having the depth of DiCaprio's but he was still very good and his scene with Bruce lee was pretty funny. The only character from the main cast that i did not like was Margot Robbie as Slain actress Sharon Tate, I found her character annoying personally and this was probably intentional but I didn't t see her as nothing more than eye candy, which seems to be a theme with movies Margot Stars in, overall the cast did a great job and the usual cast of supporting actors in Tarantino's films are all there. The plot overall was solid and was enjoyable through the 2 hours and 40 minute run time, though there are parts of the story that slow down and can feel like they were not needed in the film. but overall the film had good pacing and some light humor mixed in to keep it from being too serious. What was refreshing to see in this film was that the unlike many Tarantino films it was riddled with gore and violence, i went in expecting that as many should but that was not the case and it was a nice change of pace. there wasn't much about the film i didn't like, the ending was shocking for me in the way that i didn't see it coming, for anyone who has done research on the murders in 1969, there is a particular way it played out and that was not the case here, it wasn't terrible by any means bu the surprising nature of it did catch me off guard.Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 84% saying "Thrillingly unrestrained yet solidly crafted, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood tempers Tarantino's provocative impulses with the clarity of a mature filmmaker's vision". I agree that the film is much different than most of Tarantino's work it was refreshing as i mentioned earlier and i welcomed a change of pace.

Rating 


 Superb Cast, Solid Plot and a shocking ending are ingredients for a very good film and one of the best I have seen this year 8.4/10!!

June 2019!!

The Month of June brings two films to review the first being Childs Play.

Runtime: 90 Minutes

Post Credit:None


Plot-"A mother gives her son a toy doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature".

Starring-Aubrey Plaza, Bryan Tyree Henry and David Lewis

My Thoughts


I will keep this review short and sweet, I have seen all of the previous childs play films. And i was eagerly awaiting to see how this reboot would play out. now having seen thi film I will say it wasn't terrible but wasn't great either. the acting in the film was passable for the most part though i will say Gabriel Bateman who played Andy, I found his character to be really annoying at times and for the most part i did not like his performance, i will ay Mark Hammil did a great job as buddi aka chuckie the doll had  very strange look to it which added to the strange feel .  but overall he did a great job and was the standout.The plot of this film is much different than any of the previous plots in the series, the biggest difference is that how chuckie becomes the chuckie we know and love is completely different and it was refreshing if I am honest, the supernatural plot had been played out years ago and it was nice to see a different direction was used. The film overall flowed together pretty well but did have some plot points that bothered me ad took away from the film. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 60% saying "Child's Play updates an '80s horror icon for the Internet of Things era, with predictably gruesome -- and generally entertaining -- results". I agree the changes made to the overall lot made the film feel updated to current times and one aspect I did like about the film was that it was very gore heavy which is always a plus for me. Overall this was a solid film that wasn't great but worth watching.

Rating

Good Gore, updated classic to be relevant to today's times, Great performance by mark hammil, worth watching for fans of the series or fans of gore. 7.8/10!!

The Second and last film to review is one I have been looking forward to Annabelle:Comes Home.

Runtime:106 Minutes

Post Credit:None

Plot-"Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her "safely" behind".

 Starring-Patrick Wilson, McKenna Grace and Vera Farmiga

 My Thoughts

I was a huge fan of Annabelle:Creation it was one of the best films I saw that year. I was eagerly awaiting a sequel, and when this film was announced I couldn't wait to see it. Was this film better than Annabelle:Creation? for me its close but i give creation a slight edge. This film was much better than i thought it would be going off what i saw in the trailer, it had a spooky feel to it the cast all did a solid Job which i come to expect from films in the conjuring universe.The plot was plot was solid overall which again I come to expect from this series. What really stood out for me in tis film was the tone of it, it was very dark from the get go and it continued throughout, the monster design in this film was top notch and I enjoyed the variety in what was coming at the viewer. usually conjuring universe films focus on one main entity, that overall was not the case in this film as there was a multitude of things the main characters had to deal with and that wa nice change of pace to see. As i mentioned earlier the cast did fantastic job all around and there were no weak performances for me in this film. Honestly there was not much I didn't like in the film, the only thing that really stood out for me that wasn't great was there were parts of the film that felt tacked on and weren't really needed but that holds true for most films.Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 69% saying "Fun for fans even if it isn't as frightening as some of its predecessors, Annabelle Comes Home suggests there's still some life left in the Conjuring franchise". for me there is plenty of life in the conjuring series and I will continue to see whatever films the produce as I am a huge fan of the universe. I really enjoyed this film and it was a god blaance of acting/spookiness/ghostly action which is what i wanted.


Rating

 Great addition to the franchise, recommend for anyone whos is a fan of the series or wants to sere a good ghost film 7.8/10!!
 

May 2019!!

The Month of May brings 3 films to review the first being a film that I have been looking forward to for a long time John Wick:Chapter 3- Parabellum.

 Run time:131 Minutes

Post Credit:None

Plot-"Super-Assassin John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassin's guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head - he is the target of hit men and women everywhere".

Starring-Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry and Ian McShane


My Thoughts 

I have loved the John wick films and I was eaglery looking forward to this fan.  After viewing this film I can say to anyone who is a fan of the previous John wick films will enjoy this film. This review will be short, if you have seen a john wick film you know what to expect. it picks up after the the second film with John on the run and we follow him through a Bloody path that is an exciting ride the entire time for the most part. The fight scenes are amazing and well done and the choreographer was a thing of beauty, it wa visceral and sorry and i enjoyed it all. The acting was solid (Keanu Reeves was born for this role and he did an amazing job as expected) the rest of the cast was solid and I have to say Halle Berry's time in the film i actually enjoyed and her character was pretty awesome to see in action (her dogs as well). The plot was kind of weak overall but I don't watch these films for the plot, I watch them to be entertained and that was the case. The only thing I didn't like about this film was the length of it. it was over 2 hours long and it slowed down at some parts and a few scenes felt like filler ,but otherwise the film was good. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 88% saying "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum reloads for another hard-hitting round of the brilliantly choreographed, over-the-top action that fans of the franchise demand". and I agree it hit on everything I expect in a john wick film and I highly recommend it for fans of the series or fans of Keanu Reeves.


Rating


Exactly what I expected overall and I enjoyed it 8.2/10!!


The second film to review is Brightburn.

Runtime:90 Minutes

Post Credit:Yes, Mid credits

Plot-"What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister".

Starring-Elizabeth Banks, Meredith Hagner and David Denman


My Thoughts 


I am going to keep this review short, the film rereeld me in  with the tagline what  if superman were evil. I was very interested to see how this plays out. the plot was very weak for me, it didn't give the audience nothing to go on other than the kid fell from the sky. the Acting was solid and Elizabeth banks lead the way for me, she played the another to this alien boy very well, she showed a lot of emotion and stole the show for me. The CG in this film was used mosrly at night which helped hide any imperfections. with the film being rated R i expected some good gore and this film did not disappoint and i was really impressed with some of the gore we saw. The ending for me was shaping up to be predictable and i thought I saw it coming, but there was a surprise there which i really enjoyed, with ending i can usually see them coming but that was not the case here  and i liked the switch up. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 57% saying " Although Brightburn doesn't fully deliver on the pitch-black promise of its setup, it's still enough to offer a diverting subversion of the superhero genre". I agree that the thin plot failed this film, but it was overall enjoyable and worth viewing for anyone who is fan of gore or of James Gunn's work.


Rating

Enjoyable but a weak plot lets it down 6.7/10!!



The last film to review is Godzilla:King Of The Monsters.

 Runtime:132 Minutes

Post Credit:Yes, at the end of the credit.a


Plot-"The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah".

Starring- Millie Bobbie Brown, Vera Farmiga and Sally Hawkins

My Thoughts 

I enjoyed the Godzilla Film  and was looking forward to the sequel I knew was coming. This review will be short and sweet, was the film entertaining? Yes it was, was the plot flimsy at best? yes it was. a film like this is not watched for great acting or a stellar story. Going in I wanted this film to be visually beautiful and entertaining, did it accomplish this? for the most part yes. My only huge issue with this film is that it was a bit too long, the film could have been 15-20 minutes shorter and the same effect of the film would have been reached in my opinion. If you want to see giant monsters cause mass destruction fighting each other I recommend this film. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 40% saying "odzilla: King of the Monsters delivers spectacular kaiju action -- and reaffirms that cutting-edge effects are still no substitute for a good story". overall like I said the film checked the main boxes I wanted for this, the 2014 Godzilla was a better overall film with a better story but again I don't see this movies to be blown away by acting ability.


Rating

Entertaining and Visually beautiful, with a flimsy plot. 7.0/10!!

April 2019!!

For the month of April there are three films to review the firstr being Pet Semetary.

Run time-101 Minutes

Post Credit-None

Plot-"Louis Creed, his wife Rachel and their two children Gage and Ellie move to a rural home where they are welcomed and enlightened about the eerie 'Pet Sematary' located near their home".

 Starring-John Lithgow, Jason Clarke and Amy Seimetz

My Thoughts 

I wasn't a huge fan of the original "Pet Sematary" (I preferred Pet Sematary II) But i was looking forward to this remake of the Stephen king novel. The buzz about this film is that its better than 1989 adaptation and I have to agree with that statement, I will start with the acting, the cast did a solid job and there wasn't a bad performance from the main cast (the standout for me was Jete Laurence as Elle (particularly after Elle "Comes back") she was haunting from that point on in the film for me and i enjoyed her performance. another aspect that stood out to me was the overall setting of the film, it gave a very creepy/haunting feel and I enjoyed it, i wouldn't say the film was scary for me there but a good number of jump scares are in the film for those that enjoy that type of thing. the plot of the film differs from the 1989 original film and i actually welcomed the change, i was expecting a carbon copy of the 1989 film and overall it as similar but the few curve balls thrown in was pretty nice and i enjoyed that the filmmakers decided to switch it up. One thing that did bother me about this film was the CG looked a little cheesy (in particular when visiting the Indian burial ground" it looked so out of place  for a film of this quality and was al little distracting for me overall, not the worst CG I have seen but i expected a little better than what was shown. one thing with changing the film from the original 1989 film that feel flat for me was the ending, I just did not like how it was left and it left a bad taste in my mouth and took away from the film overall for me. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 60% saying "Sometimes remade is better". Overall as I said earlier this film was better than the original for me despite a lackluster ending, I reccomend this film for any fans of Stephen king or fans of the original 1989 film who want to see a 2019 spin on that story.


Rating

Solid Film, weak ending but solid performances from the cast and a haunting setting lead to a enjoyable experience 7.2/10!!

The next film to review is Hellboy.

Run Time-120 Minutes

Post Credit-Two

Plot-"Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge".

Starring-David Harbour, Milla Jovovich and Sasha Lane

My Thoughts 

I was a pretty big fan of the first two Hellboy films, when news of a reboot was announced I was interested to see where the director would go forgetting everything Del Toro Did. After having seen the film Now If I had to use one word to describe my feelings of this reboot it would "Entertaining" the film didn't have a great plot (pretty weak and disjointed to be honest) but it was entertaining overall. What I did enjoy about this film was the  R rating it allowed the film to be more gory than the Del Toro films which were PG-13. Some of the gore was so over the top and unneeded but it was enjoyable and I appreciate the R rating being used to its full potential. David Harbour had some huge shoes to feel taking over for Ron Pearlman and honestly he wasn't better than Ron Pearlman but I don't try to compare the two this film overall has a different tone to it than the Del Toro films and I judge it as its own film.Looking at it that way David Harbour did a solid job and he had some funny moments d which made me chuckle which is very important when playing Hellboy and I thought he did a solid job overall. As I mentioned before the plot was pretty bad and it was far fetched even for a film of this nature, it was wonky, boring for the mostr part and the villan (played by Milla Jovovich) left much to be desired, I honestly got a very The Last Witch Hunter vibe from this film which isn't terrible but that film wasn't very good wither. The plot had enough blood\gore to keep it interesting though. The run time was a big gripe of mine the film is over 2 hours and I feel a good 15-20 minutes could have been knocked off of this film and it would have got the same desired result. When the film was over I felt it was way too long and that is the sign of a plot that trudged along rather than flowed together.One other problem I had with this film that differed from the Del Toro films was the use of CG, the Del Toro films relied much more on practical effects and that resulted in films that felt more natural with the monsters, this film relied heavily on CG and bad CG at that which always taker away from the film, if that much CGA is going to be used better quality is a must. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 15% saying "Bereft of the imaginative flair that made earlier Hellboys so enjoyable, this soulless reboot suggests Dante may have left a tenth circle out of his Inferno". I don't agree with the rating of the film being that low, while the film overall wasn't great and the run time was too long it was till worth watching for fans of the Comic Book

Rating

Not a great film , plot was bad and Cg was low quality but the R rating and the amount of Gore/Blood was redeeming for me, worth seeing for fans of the comic book or those who want to compare to the Del Toro films 6.8/10!!


The last film to review is The Curse Of La Llorna

 Run Time-93 Minutes

Post Credit-None

Plot-"Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm".

Starring-Linda Cardellini, Patricia Valesquez and Madeleine McGraw

My Thoughts 

This film for me when I first heard about it was iffy, the trailers didn't do much for me and I wasn't anticipating it much, but once I Heard that the film took place in the conjuring universe I decided I had to see it. The film for me was pretty meh overall, the plot wasn't anything knew (sinister force coming after main cast based of f something done in the past) which isn't a bad thing its a tried and true strong plot point for horror films of this nature, and in that sense it did its job. The cast of the film was solid no terrible performances but I will say I did enjoy the performance by Raymond Cruz as "Rafael Olivera the man of faith who tries to help out the family. Other than that the film for me was pretty boring, wasn't scary (which films aren't for me anymore but just pointing that out), like I mentioned the plot was nt great and slowed down at multiple times during the 93 minute Run time, which made an overall boring film feel long which is even worse. I will say the nod to this film being in the conjuring universe was obvious to anyone who has seen the previous films in the series. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 33% saying "Content to coast on jump scares rather than tap into its story's creepy potential, The Curse of La Llorona arrives in theaters already broken". And I agree, the backstory for evil spirit was actually interesting but the execution left much to be desired and this film so far ranks in the lower half of the conjuring films (down there with the original Annabelle and then Nun for me which his not a good thing). I cannot recommend this film to anyone really unless you are a fan of the conjuring films and want to see how this film connects to the other films in the series, but even that is not enough for me to say see this in theaters.

Rating

Underwhelming not much here and not worth seeing when adding it all up. 6.0/10!!

March 2019!!

The Month of March brings with it two films to review the first being Captive State,

Runtime:109 Minutes

Post Credit-None

Plot-"Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, Captive State explores the lives on both sides of the conflict - the collaborators and dissidents".

Starring-Vera Farmiga, Madeline Brewer and Alan Ruck


 My Thoughts


I was not sure what to expect going into this film but the trailer caught my attention and I liked the sound of the plot when i looked into the film.Now having seen the film I can say it was surprisingly decent. The acting from the main cast was very good lead by performances from Ashton Sanders (I liked his role in the equalizer 2 as well) he did a very good job in the lead role and I look forward to seeing more of Ashton in the future, the other standout for me was the always solid John Goodman as the Special agent tasked with trying to quell the rebellion of those against the aliens that have invaded earth. The plot for me was very intriguing and it pulled me in and kept my entertained through the run time, what really stood out to me was the intermix of the alien invasion and the political undertones that worked well together (and this is coming fro someone who stays far away from politics). For a film that has a usual sci fi  heavy genre, this film relied on mostly practical effects (except fora few scenes with the aliens) which was nice to see and i appreciated the lack of CG. One more aspect I really liked about this film was it kept me guessing most of the way which for me is a hard thing to do, There was a big reveal during the climax of the film that I personally did not see coming which was such a pleasure. Not everything was great one aspect of the film i did not like was while the plot was good overall and flowed together pretty well, it did have its slow moments that kind of bogged down the overall pace of the film with scenes I felt weren't needed, I assume this was what the director wanted but there was a lot of s"shaky cam" which I am not a fan of and it bothered me, but that is a subjective matter. the worst part of this film for me was one of the most important parts which was the ending it fell flat for me and that always takes away from the film overall, which was  unfortunate as i enjoyed this film.Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 50% saying "This sci-fi thriller may not necessarily leave viewers in a Captive State, but it offers reasonably diverting alien invasion action with ambitious political undertones". I agree overall as I mentioned earlier that the film did a good job combining sci fi film with political elements. Overall this was a good film that I enjoyed and I reccomend this to anyone who wants to see a well acted sci fi film with political undertones.

Rating

solid film, well acted and engaging plot with a weak ending unfortunately 7.6/10!!!

The Second and final film to review fore the month of March is Us.

Run time:116 Minutes

Post Credit-None

Plot-"A mother and father take their kids to their beach house, expecting to enjoy time with friends, but their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some visitors arrive uninvited".

Starring-Elisabeth Moss, Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke


My Thoughts

I was a Big fan "Get Out" and was eagerly awaiting Jordan Peele's next film. Now having seen the film I will say its the best I have seen this year so far. Starting with the acting it was an excellent Job by the entire cast. Lupita Nyong'o was the standout for me though her performance in a dual role (as Adelaide and Red) was amazing and one of the best I have seen in recent memory, the way she was able to convey the different emotions of the two characters was top notch. Winston Duke was another performance for me that I enjoyed not for his role as Abraham but as Gabe the father, I like the comic relief his character added to the serious tone of the film it was a nice contrast and one I thoroughly enjoyed but in all honesty the entire cast did a great job. The plot of the films can be a little hard to follow if you miss any of the little clues dotted throughout the film, it all connects in the end for the most part but there a few plot points that may not make sense or feel left behind, but overall the plot was engaging and frenetic at points (in a good way) and I enjoyed the fact that the film built up from the beginning it didn't start out at running from the gates it was slow burn which was great. One aspect of this film I enjoyed was that it was a thinkers film, there are a lot of little cues that can be missed very eassily that may not make sense till latert nthe film or even until after the film is over, this film may need to be watched multiple times to make all the connections, references whic his awesome, personally i loved that the film played out this way, it was not a standard horror film (and to be honest it wasn't scary at all but it was still very good). One part of this film that fell flat for me was the ending, there is a big twist that while a but shocking led to the ending of this film feeling a little anticlimactic and it did take away from the film a little bit.Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 94% saying "With Jordan Peele's second inventive, ambitious horror film, we have seen how to beat the sophomore jinx, and it is Us". I agree the film was very good and I don't want to compare it to Get Out they are different types of films and I will rate both instead of comparing. This was a very good film and as i said earlier the best I have seen so far this year, I highly recommend this film for anyone who wants to see a film with an excellent cast and a good plot with a nice twist mixed in albeit with a somewhat weak ending in my opnion

Rating

Great film!! Highly recommend. 8.6/10!!!

February 2019!!

The Month of February only brings one film to review and that is Happy Death Day 2U.

Runtime: 100 Minutes

Post Credit:One Mid credits


Plot-"Two years after the events of the first film, Tree Gelbman re-enters the time loop to determine why she was entered into it in the first place. Not only that but she must face a revenge-seeking Lori Spengler who has been resurrected by the effects of Tree loop-jumping".

Starring-Starring-Jessica Rothe. Ruby Modine and Israel Broussard

My Thoughts 


I did not see "Happy Death Day" in theaters when it came out back in 2017. I finally got the chance to see it on HBO and the film was better than i thought it would be. I decided once a sequel was announced that I  would see it. Honestly this film was interesting to say the least, what I mean by strange is the plot point for this film and how it played out over the 100 Minute run time was a bit of a stretch to understand and it got a little to far fetched for my liking. The acting was solid and the cast did a good job overall there where no weak performances and that was good to see. What I did like about this film was the comedic side to it, normally slasher films are for the most part very serious, this film is not that and i can say i laughed a few times which I appreciated from the original and it was good to see the filmmakers didn't differentiate to far from the original. The plot overall for me  was the weak point, it just did not maker any sense in a film like this and while the film flowed together pretty well, it just didn't work like the plot in the first film did for me which was a shame as I had pretty high hopes for this film. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 67% saying " A funnier follow-up with a sci-fi bent, Happy Death Day 2U isn't as fiendishly fresh as its predecessor, but fans of the original may still find this a sequel worth celebrating". I agree the film was funnier than the first film which I enjoyed but other than that I feel the first film was better, thats not to say this film was terrible, it was solid but I expected something different and while I appreciate the far fetvched nature of this film, it just didnt work for me.



Rating

Not terrible, but I prefer the Original film 6.4/10!!

January 2019!!

Happy New Year!m the first month of 2019 brings with it two films to review the first being Escape Room.

 Runtime:109 Minutes

Post Credit-None

Plot-"Six strangers find themselves in circumstances beyond their control, and must use their wits to survive".

Starring-Deborah Ann Wolf, Tyler Labine and Taylor Russell


My  Thoughts

Going into this film, my expectations were very low but I can say I was honestly surprised. Last year I personally did my first Escape room and it was really fun, I liked how this film played on hte idea what would a group of people do if the escape room was built to kill you. The cast in this film was very well assembled, all the cast played off of each other very well and made an interesting cast of characters which was nice to see. The plot for the film overall was weak as the climax of the film came and went and the ending was also weak for me, but it wasnt the worst plot I have seen for a horror film in recent memory. The film being rated PG-13 is always a problem, for me when it comes to horror films and this film suffered the same fate, the lack of gore for a film like this is always a letdown and this film was no different but I understand why studio release horror films rated PG-13 instead of R still stinks though. The puzzle rooms themselves were pretty well thought out and I enjoyed watching the group come together and solve them it was a change of pace from the slasher/serial killer/supernatural entities films the horror genre is filled with. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 54% saying " Escape Room fails to unlock much of the potential in its premise, but what's left is still tense and thrilling enough to offer a passing diversion for suspense fans". I agree the film could have been much better what the viewer gets isn't terrible by any means and I enjoyed the film overall and if not for the weak ending and a PG-13 rating this would have been a very good film instead of just an okay film.

 Rating

Okay, film with an interesting premise and a solid cast of character, reccomend 7.2/10!!!



The Second and last film to review for January is one I have been looking forward to Glass.

Runtime:128 Minutes

Post Credit:None

Plot-"Security guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has 24 personalities".

Starring-Bruce Willis, James McAvoy and Samuel L. Jackson


My Thoughts

I was a big fan of Split and was eagerly looking forward to a potential sequel. When news was released that the sequel would include characters from "Split" and "Unbreakable" my anticipation meter went even higher. Now having seen the film I can say I was left Disappointed overall. The film wasn't terrible but there where more than a few key points about the film that left a bad taste in my mouth. First lets start with the good. All three main characters (McAvoy, Jackson and Willis) did very good acting jobs  in lead roles, with McAvoy being the standout for me of the three, as with split he did an amazing job playing multiple personalities and seamlessly switching between the personas at a moments notice and each character felt different and had their own different feel to them and t he way he was able to incorporate tense moments with funny dialogue was very appreciated. The plot of the film was easy to follow for the most part but kept it close to the vest till the final reveal towards the end of the film. The plot does build somewhat slowly and can get boring at parts but overall it was a solid plot that wasn't too hard to follow. Some. my biggest issue with this movie and what basically made it a bad movie was the ending, I am not sure what the writers were thinking but the ending of this film was executed terribly and one of the worst endings I have seen in recent memory and it ruiend the film for me. Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 36% saying "Glass displays a few glimmers of M. Night Shyamalan at his twisty world-building best, but ultimately disappoints as the conclusion to the writer-director's long-gestating trilogy I agree that the film had some flashes of being good but overall it was a letdown for me and a disappointing ending to the trilogy. I still say for fans of the previous films to see this as the conclusion of the trilogy but do not have high expectations.

Rating



Letdown overall, coupled with a bad Ending but good performances from the main cast, still worth seeing with tempered expectations. 6.2/10!!!

2019 Watch List

2018 was a good year now its time to see what 2019 has to offer.

January 


4th-Escape Room*

Plot-"Six strangers find themselves in circumstances beyond their control, and must use their wits to survive".

Starring-Deborah Ann Wolf, Tyler Labine and Taylor Russell




18th-Glass***

Plot-"Security guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has 24 personalities".

Starring-Bruce Willis, James McAvoy and Samuel L. Jackson



February 


13th-Happy Death Day 2U*

Plot-"Two years after the events of the first film, Tree Gelbman re-enters the time loop to determine why she was entered into it in the first place. Not only that but she must face a revenge-seeking Lori Spengler who has been resurrected by the effects of Tree loop-jumping".



Starring-Jessica Rothe. Ruby Modine and Israel Broussard




March 


15th-Captive State*

Plot-"Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, Captive State explores the lives on both sides of the conflict - the collaborators and dissidents".

Starring-Vera Farmiga, Madeline Brewer and Alan Ruck


22nd-Us**  

Plot-"A mother and father take their kids to their beach house, expecting to enjoy time with friends, but their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some visitors arrive uninvited".

Starring-Elisabeth Moss, Lupita Nyong'o and Anna Diop






April 


5th-Pet Semetery**

Plot-"Louis Creed, his wife Rachel and their two children Gage and Ellie move to a rural home where they are welcomed and enlightened about the eerie 'Pet Sematary' located near their home".

 Starring-John Lithgow, Jason Clarke and Amy Seimetz



12th-Hellboy**

Plot-"Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge".


Starring-David Harbour, Milla Jovovich and Sasha Lane



 

19th-The Curse Of La Llorona **

Plot-"Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm".

Starring-Linda Cardellini, Patricia Valesquez and Madeleine McGraw


May


17th-John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum*** 

Plot-"Super-Assassin John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassin's guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head - he is the target of hit men and women everywhere".

Starring-Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry and Ian McShane

24th-Brightburn*

Plot-"What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister".

Starring-Elizabeth Banks, Meredith Hagner and David Denman



31st-Godzilla-King Of The Monsters**

Plot-"The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah".

Starring- Millie Bobbie Brown, Vera Farmiga and Sally Hawkins


 June


21st-Childs Play***

Plot-"A mother gives her son a toy doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature".

Starring-Aubret Plaza, Bryan Tyree Henry anmd David Lewis





28th-Annabelle Comes Home***

Plot-"Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her "safely" behind".


 Starring-Patrick Wilson, McKenna Grace and Vera Farmiga


July 

26th-Once Upon A Time In Hollywood**

Plot-"A faded TV actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles".



Starring-Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Luke Perry



August 


9th-Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark**

Plot-"A group of kids face their fears in order to save their town".

Starring-Zoe Margaret Colletti, Micheal Garza and Austin Zajur



20th-Ready Or Not**

Plot-"A bride's wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game".

Starring-Samara Weaving,  Andie MacDowell and Mark O'Brian

September


IT:Chapter Two***

 Plot-"27 years later, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back".


Starring-Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Bill Skarsgard




20th-Ad Astra**

Plot-"Astronaut Roy McBride travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet".

Starring-Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones  and Ruth Negga



October 



4th-Joker**

Plot-"A failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and becomes a psychopathic murderer".

Starring-Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz




11th-Gemini Man**

Plot-"An over-the-hill hitman faces off against a younger clone of himself".

Starring-Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead amd Clive Owen

18th-Zombielan:Double Tap***

Plot"Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family".



Starring-Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson


November 

1st-Terminator:Dark Fate***

Plot "Sarah Connor has returned from far away, and she's gearing up with a team of agents who will fight against T-1000:.

Starring-Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis and Linda Hamilton

27th-Knives out**

Plot-"A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family".

Starring-Daniel Craig, Chris Evans and Ana De Armas


December 

3rd-Jumanji-The Next Level**

Plot "A team of friends return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own but discover that nothing is as they expect. The players need to brave parts unknown, from arid deserts to snowy mountains, in order to escape the world's most dangerous game".


Starring-Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Karen Gillan