Coming 2 America- I won’t say this is the sequel no one wanted. But, it is one nobody was expecting. A film 33 years in the making, we are taken back to the fictional African nation of Zamunda for more royally wild shenanigans as the newly-crowned King Akeem has just learned he has a son conceived from an unhinged one night stand during his last journey to America. Traveling back to America to retrieve his adult offspring, he brings his son and “extended family” from Queens back to his native land to teach the newly minted prince how to be…well, a prince, much to the chagrin of his wife/Queen, Lisa, and their three daughters. Add in a neighboring general who fluctuates between wanting to kill and ally with Akeem and you have the makings for chaos in the royal castle. Coming 2 America recycles many of the same jokes from the 1988 film. They’re still funny, but, don’t have quite the bite of the original. The story was a tad lacking for me when the focus was on the “extended family” from Queens. Fortunately, the focus wasn’t on them for long periods of time. I’ve stated in prior reviews that comedies don’t lend themselves well to sequels. Coming 2 America is a solid effort. You will laugh, but, likely not as hard or as often as you did in 1988. Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall play multiple roles again with a couple of new characters added. Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, John Amos, James Earl Jones, and Shari Headley co-star. Wesley Snipes gives the breakout performance of the movie as the flamboyant General Izzi. And, yes. There is a Sexual Chocolate sighting.
***1/4 stars
Tom and Jerry: The Movie- Arguably the most famous cat and mouse duo of all time get their shot on the big screen in a live action film that works if you don’t think about it too hard. The rascally feline and rodent are up to their usual tricks being absolutely horrible to each other. By accident, both stumble into a chaotic situation at a New York hotel where they alternately help and make life miserable for the guests and staff, particularly the hotel’s new event planner who is trying to coordinate the wedding of the century for a celebrity couple. The mayhem that ensues between the animated frenemies threatens to destroy careers, the wedding, and the hotel itself in spectacular fashion. The one thing I did enjoy about the film is that the makers stayed true to Tom and Jerry themselves. They didn’t give them cutesy speaking lines or voices. For the most part, Tom and Jerry didn’t speak in their classic cartoons, a point that was a running joke in the movie. If they did have voices, I think I would have found it a little off-putting. The two were also ultraviolent to each other (particularly Jerry to Tom) which brought back that old time nostalgia. The story itself is cute but nothing to write home about. The actors are adequate, but, be honest. We’re all here for the cat and mouse. So, I must reiterate. Don’t think about this one too hard. Let your spirit soar at the sight of a mouse hitting a cat in the face with an iron and leave it at that. Just like you did when you watched their cartoons. Chloe Grace Moretz and Michael Pena star.
*** stars
Zack Snyder's Justice League- The infamous "Snyder Cut" finally walks among us! Snyder's vision of the DCEU hasn't always been met with enthusiasm. While I haven't thought it was terrible from Man of Steel to Batman v Superman, I never thought it was all it could have been. The culmination of his vision was supposed to be in 2017's Justice League. It was never fully realized as he was pulled off or left the project mid-stream (still not quite sure what happened with that). Joss Whedon of Avengers/Buffy fame came in to relieve and the rest was unfortunate history for Warner Brothers and the DCEU. JL flopped as it it had a ten ton anchor around it's neck at the box office. Personally, I didn't think it was a bad movie and it would have been a perfectly fine movie by most standards prior to 2011's Avengers. But, it was made when it was made, and it did what it did. The question the Snyder Cut of the film had to answer is could he somehow find the magic that Whedon could not. When comparing the two visions of the film, Snyder's does feel decidedly more epic in scope. The theatrical version was a cookie cutter rendition that felt that it had a definitive runtime that was to be strictly adhered to. Now don't get me wrong. The Snyder Cut's 4+ hour run is a daunting marathon on its face. But, I can't say I was ever bored watching it. One of the biggest complaints of the theatrical cut was new characters were introduced with little set up and no backstory. Now one way to solve this kind of issue is to give new characters their own movie before introducing the group dynamic. I still think this is overall the best course of action. But, plan B is exactly what Snyder did. Provide all the backstories in one very long film. To his credit, Snyder provides each of the six protagonists their time to soar. Honestly, the character of Cyborg, who felt like kind of a throwaway hero in the theatrical version, is the heart and soul of the film. Even the Flash, who I found extremely annoying in the theatrical cut, had his place here. And that's the main strength of Snyder's version. Each hero had a role to play and no one felt overshadowed. Even with Superman's return, it still felt like a collaborative effort by the JL instead of everyone being a mediocre stand-in until the Man of Steel comes in to wreck the bad guys. Speaking of bad guys, a big thumbs up to Snyder making Steppenwolf a credible and frightening villain. And, I give him credit for adding, dare I say, a bit of a humanizing effect to Steppenwolf. His primary motivation is getting back in his master, Darkseid's, good graces after some epic screw ups on his part. And yes, there are a few Darkseid sightings in the film, along with his right hand man, Desaad. In fact, the overall CGI was so much better than it was in the original which was another major complaint. Now as much praise as the Snyder cut deserves, it wasn't without a few snags. While Snyder does an excellent job fleshing out the motivations of most of the JL, I think the theatrical version did better in weaving in how Batman came to know of this threat from the stars. In the Snyder version, Bruce Wayne is just out recruiting the rest of the league from his first appearance. No explanation. Just "I know something you don't." And then there is the epilogue which doesn't make much sense if Snyder isn't allowed to continue his vision of the DCEU. There are two separate stories introduced here, one involving a pact between Lex Luthor and Deathstroke, the other involving the apocalyptic future introduced through Bruce Wayne's dreams in BvS. Both could be interesting, but, again, it depends on Warner Brothers allowing Snyder to continue and that's not a guarantee at this point. The Snyder Cut is a significant investment of your time should you choose to undertake the challenge. But, it's a story that finally feels worthy of "the world's greatest heroes." If Warner can keep producing quality material like this, it's only a good thing for geeks worldwide to have both the MCU and DCEU running on all cylinders. As far as the cast? You know who they are. 😄
**** 1/4 stars
Godzilla vs Kong- In the annals of Ali vs Frazier, Tyson vs Holyfield, Hearns vs Hagler, Dogs vs Cats, comes the ultimate in bright light big-time smackdowns. The Kaiju beat down of the millennium is here. Now I'm going to approach this a little differently than I normally do. I've said in other reviews that a movie such as this isn't measured by the film's plot. Story is merely a tangential element to the tooth gnashing, right crosses, and uppercuts of the combatants involved. All you need to understand is that the plot is essentially a nonsensical one involving a large suspension of disbelief related to where we last left Kong in 2017's Kong: Skull Island to where he is at the start of this film. There's a little girl who has developed a rapport with Kong. Godzilla has suddenly started going on unexplained rampages. All the Titans in this Monsterverse apparently were born on an uncharted island of immense power under the center of the Earth. There's a mustache twirling CEO who the audience knows immediately is bad news. Unfortunately, no one in the movie exactly knows until it's too late. You have returning characters from 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters who are just as inconsequential now as they were then. In other words, when you sit down and watch this, you know what you're watching it for. We're here for the humongous lizard and gigantic ape trading haymakers. And, that, fortunately, is the one thing this film does very well. For three (maybe 3 1/2) separate fights these two go at it with each other and a very large, recognizable third party if you're in tune with Godzilla lore leaving sweet wanton destruction in their wake. Seriously, I was asking myself how the smallest microorganism could have survived the last clash in Hong Kong. As far as who emerges as the winner, I won't spoil it for anyone. Let's just say, there is a winner (sort of). Or, at the very least, they end with a grudging respect for each other. As for why they're fighting? Something about two ancient alphas wanting to show the other who's King Kaiju. Yes. Makes about as much sense as Batman vs Superman where the conflict could have been resolved with a mere conversation. "Hey Supes, let's rap." "Hey Bats, why the hostility?" I take nothing away from the Legendary imprint at WB responsible for this universe as far as sparing no expense for spectacular creature effects and gnarly monster clashes. But, the weakness is the human element and always has been with this universe. The humans aren't interesting and tend to get in the way. There was a slight exception with Kong: Skull Island which, in my opinion, remains the best in this four film endeavor. Godzilla vs. Kong will give most moviegoers what they came for if you aren't expecting much more than two legendary powerhouses body slam each other. I would tell you who stars in this movie, but, do any of you really care outside of the lizard and ape?
***1/2 stars
Thunder Force- Strange phenomena I experienced here. As I watched this Netflix feature, I enjoyed it well enough in the moment. But, a couple days removed from it, I can't recall a single thing I truly enjoyed about it. I think I have one of the blandest feelings about this movie than I've had in a long time. I didn't hate it. It's not awful. But, this superhero comedy is (1) not exciting enough for the superhero genre and (2) not really funny enough to be a true farce. The two leads can be very good actresses in the correct roles. And they do their best with what they have to work with here. But, the film leaves you a little flat. One thing I will say, and maybe I've already said this before, it's time for Melissa McCarthy to breakaway from her husband's (Ben Falcone) productions. I feel like she pretty much plays the same character in every movie he's involved with, that rough-around-the-edges shlub with a heart of gold. And don't forget to add a few comedic pratfalls along the way. She's better than this. I've seen her better than this with the right material. Now that the rant is over, onto the plot. A random meteor imbues some people on Earth with criminal tendencies with superpowers. Terrorizing the populace for years, a new super duo bursts on the scene to oppose them. Two estranged childhood friends, one a brilliant scientist, the other a somewhat crass, unsophisticated laborer who accidentally bungles into her powers in her friend's lab. Like I said, a couple chuckles, but, nothing terribly exciting or funny that lasts. In addition to McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Jason Bateman, Pom Klementieff, Melissa Leo, and Bobby Cannavale star
Mortal Kombat- Warner Brothers is hoping the third time will be the charm in this third installment of the martial arts franchise based off the wildly popular video game. Stuck in developmental hell for approximately 20 years since the woefully awful 1997 Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, WB decided to add the extra challenge of handing the directorial reins to first-time novice, Simon McQuoid. Hey, you have to start somewhere, right? And being new doesn't necessarily mean he'll do a bad job. And, he didn't. The problem here is the same as with many a film based off a video game. Paper thin plots are fine in he arena of game play where you spend hours just playing and not thinking about it. Trying to fill the length of a two hour feature film is another story. Embellishments have to be made to flesh out a plot that's held together by nothing more than spit and glue. Of course you have some exceptions like Sonic the Hedgehog, or, granted I may be the only one who says this, Silent Hill, but, very often the results are less than stellar. Twenty years after the last film, the plot to this reboot remains the same. The sinister denizens of a realm called Outworld are close to their goal of conquering Earth through a series of fighting tournaments called Mortal Kombat. The last of Earth's champions in the modern world are led into the final conflict by elder god, Lord Raiden. But, this motley group of misfits, while tremendous individual fighters, must learn to function as a team and find their arcanas (superpowers) if they hope to survive against the otherworldly humanoid monsters of Outworld. The film gives you a little bit of Highlander, a moderate dose of the superhero genre, and a truckload of martial arts loosely strung together. They even give you a brand new character in Cole Young who's supposed to be the movie's heart. Personally, I thought the character added nothing except an added opportunity for merchandising. Now, what we're all watching this for. Fight scenes. Good. Fatalities. Brutally good if a bit corny at times. You get the signature Scorpion "GET OVER HERE!" which is fun. Speaking of Scorpion, the best sequence of the film is the prologue featuring the centuries old animosity between Scorpion and Sub-Zero. Unfortunately, the remainder may not excite you as much. As far as MK movies are concerned, I still prefer the 1995 edition. But, this was infinitely better than Annihilation, so that's positive. Admittedly, that bar is extremely low.
A Quiet Place 2- This sequel to the low key 2018 horror success continues to follow the Abbott family and their will to survive in the terrifying new world order of staying under the radar of menacing creatures who hunt by sound. This is part Walking Dead as the Abbotts discover the deadly beasties aren’t the only things they need to fear. For me at least, the world expansion in the second chapter also harkens back to The Purge series as the terror that was already established at the beginning of the first film is fleshed out a little bit more. The sequel starts with a magnificent 10+ minute opening establishing how this small American town came under siege over a year prior. But, even with the world expansion, comes more questions (or the same ones depending how you look at it). Where did these creatures come from? Is this an alien invasion? A biological experiment gone horribly wrong? How many of them exist? Do these creatures plague the entire Earth? Their weakness is fairly simple. Why hasn’t the government figured out how to deal with them when a deaf teenaged girl learned the secret? Speaking of the deaf girl, this is another great underrated performance from Millicent Simmonds as the oldest Abbot child, Regan. I can’t imagine it’s a simple task to not naturally react to things happening around you as if you couldn’t hear them. And the film really shines when the action happens from her point of view. The audience is left to experience it as she would, in total silence. That and the abrupt suddenness of when the creatures attack will make you jerk in your chair a couple of times guaranteed. And, since this is Hollywood, successful movie franchises are envisioned as trilogies now. The ending of chapter 2 seems incomplete. We’re almost assuredly guaranteed a chapter 3. I, for one, will be looking forward to that. John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and Cillian Murphy co-star.
***1/2 stars
Wrath of Man- Director, Guy Ritchie, and action star, Jason Statham, team up once again in a feature that is decidedly different in many ways from the dark action-comedy, Snatch. There is very little that’s amusing about Wrath of Man. Sure it still has some of Ritchie’s signature elements of grand heists and tough guy thieves who are more than willing to kill anyone who gets in their way. But, the film unfolds in such a non-linear way you would almost think you were watching a Tarantino film at times. This isn’t your typical actioner as the current storyline flashes back twice significantly to show how the protagonist and antagonists came to be on their current collision course in the modern day. Revenge is on the menu when a mysterious man takes a job with an armored truck company. Not trusted by most of his co-workers due to his off-putting nature, the man, “H”, proves he’s more than meets the eye when he foils a robbery of one of the company trucks. But, what’s his story and who is he after? Who is he for that matter? This is a story where good guys are few and far between. Mostly there’s bad guys and worse guys. But, Ritchie brings all the elements together quite nicely and ruthlessly. If you’re a fan of either Ritchie’s coldhearted violence or Statham’s stoic, intense action, you’ll be a fan of Wrath of Man. Andy Garcia, Josh Hartnett, and Jeffrey Donovan co-star.
***3/4 stars
The Unholy- I wondered as I was watching this if the film would have fared better if Sam Raimi had a directing credit rather than a producing one. At the very least, I think the director of horror classics such as Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, and Drag Me to Hell would have subjected a little subversive comedy in the mix. But, The Unholy is a horror movie that just sort of limps along to its ending despite what could have been a promising start. Outside of one or two jump scares, the movie elicits zero dread. It’s actually fairly boring for most of its runtime. A disgraced journalist crosses paths with a deaf/mute teenage girl in a small Massachusetts town who is suddenly able to hear and speak. Claiming to have been healed by the Virgin Mary, Alice begins performing healing miracles on others which attracts attention from the Catholic Church. But, is the source of Alice’s newfound power truly divine? Given the name of the film, you can probably take a wild stab in the dark and correctly answer that question. Events occur in The Unholy that make you take tremendous leaps intellectually. You’re not sure why certain people act the way they do or do the things they do all the time. The movie plods along to its final minutes offering very little that chills you or engages your brain. One thing I particularly didn’t like was the miscasting of Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He works best in a role where he can use the arrogant swagger he can do so well. I thought his talents were wasted in this. He’s better than this material. Cary Elwes and William Sadler co-star.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It- There comes a point in every successful long running entity where you say to yourself, maybe they’ve done all they can do with this story. And I think this film in the Conjuring universe might have hit that mark. It starts out fabulously with the supernatural busting husband/wife duo of Ed and Lorraine Warren facilitating the 1981 exorcism of an eight year old boy. This leads to a harrowing adventure for the Warrens involving multiple possessions, the occult, homicide, and an unsolved murder mystery. It sounds like a lot on the plate which it is. But, it all somehow felt very…basic. The movie is creepy, but, it doesn’t drip with the sinister intent of the previous installments. It feels like there’s too much mundane between the chaos at times. This could possibly stem from the changing of directors as James Wan did not have the reins of this third chapter. Directing duties were taken by Michael Chaves who was at the helm of the extremely mundane, The Curse of La Llorona in 2019. This was a swift departure from Wan’s kinetic style which is usually slapping you in the face with something new every few minutes or so. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are still great as the Warrens. These two have always had good onscreen chemistry. They aren’t the issue. For me, this story wasn’t as interesting outside of the first 20 minutes. I don’t know if I’ve been “conjured out” or not, but, this one didn’t have the gusto of the previous entries.
**3/4 stars
Batman: The Long Halloween Part I- One of the most iconic Batman stories ever told (or at least in the last 30 years) is brought to life by Warner Brothers Animation. Joeph Loeb and Tim Sale's classic story of mafia, murder, and mystery in the early days of the Dark Knight is a risk. Produce a lackluster rendition and you will be vilified in droves by fandom. Look at what happened with the Dark Phoenix storyline. Twice. Fortunately, WB got this one right (as they do more often than not with their animated features). Batman, Captain Jim Gordon, and D.A. Harvey Dent (pre Two-Face) team up to track down a serial killer dubbed Holiday who has been executing henchmen of the Falcone crime family on, you guessed it, holidays. Part I advances through four holidays, four executions as Batman tries to untangle the mystery that becomes an obsession for Dent. This is a tale from Bruce Wayne's early days as Batman. He isn't the polished detective he will come to be. In fact, Batman himself is self aware as he mentions in the film the persona was meant to scare people straight, not to be a detective. Much less a good one. My biggest complaint about the feature is there isn't always a smooth transition to indicate how much time has passed between killings. It's a little clunky. But, it's a minor annoyance. The animation has an old school gangster feel to it, much like the mini-series did. The voice talent is excellent even though we don't have mainstays like Kevin Conroy and Mark Hammill. Overall, Bat-fans should be very satisfied. And, as an added bonus, there is an end credits scene. Jensen Ackles, Josh Duhamel, and Naya Rivera are among the voice talent.
Jungle Cruise- As I was watching this, I couldn't help but think about the parallels to another film, 1999's The Mummy. You have the rough and tumble adventurer hired to lead a sibling duo comprised of a smart, sassy sister and a prissy, snobby brother on a potentially dangerous expedition. Then, while on that expedition, a centuries old curse throws the entire adventure into flux a la Pirates of the Caribbean. So, what's the takeaway from Jungle Cruise? It's an amalgam of other, in some cases, better movies. But, that's not to say Jungle Cruise isn't fun in its own right. It goes without saying the star has an effervescence that takes over many scenes he's present in. And he has that Schwartzenegger quality where he can get away with being corny as all get out. So, pair that with a female lead who doesn't get swallowed by his presence and hangs with him in her own likable way, and what you get is another huge promotion for the House of Mouse's Disneyland/World attraction that's a decent enough time waster you'll forget about in T minus 3...2..."What's that Disney boat movie the Rock was in?" Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt star.
The Suicide Squad- Director James Gunn's sequel (I'm assuming) to David Ayer's 2016 film bears little resemblance to it's predecessor with the exception of some character crossover. But, Gunn makes quick work of one of those holdovers (Captain B, we hardly knew ye). However, you couldn't put a story about primarily unknown and mismatched "heroes" in better hands than Gunn's. Just as he did with Guardians of the Galaxy in the MCU, Gunn made a group of C and D level comic book characters fascinating. And, unlike with Disney, Warner Brothers allowed him to go wild with an R rating. And wild this was. Bloody, often gory deaths litter this film's hellscape. You could make an argument that Suicide Squad is a pseudo horror movie the way it revels in its death and destruction. It's a movie that's a few different things, hilarious being one of them. Seriously, who came up with the concept of brutally murdering an encampment of people only for the killers to discover they unwittingly butchered good people who should have been their allies? And, you're laughing every step of the way because the kills are so over-the-top absurd. As for the storyline, most of you know the deal. A team of criminals and superpowered misfits are recruited by a shadow government agency for a covert mission that's sure to be certain death for most of them with the threat that their "benefactors" will kill them just as surely as their enemies if they deviate from said mission. This is Deadpool meets the Dirty Dozen sprinkled with a hint of Mission Impossible. The complete irreverence is what makes this so much fun. Literally, no character is safe. Well, except for Harley Quinn who's probably the only known commodity to the non-geek set. Speaking of Harley, I am glad Gunn refrained from making this "Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad." As the only known commodity to most, the film could have very easily taken this turn in another director's hands, and, I don't know about any of you, but, I'm a little Harley Quinn'd out at this point. She does get her fair share of screen time, but, it's not at the expense of the other characters. And, this is definitely not the vanity project the Birds of Prey movie was. The only thing I would say was a weakness for me was I would have liked to have seen a few of the characters more fleshed out as to how they came to be prisoners prior to their recruitment. I think Superman being taken down with a Kryptonite bullet by Bloodsport could have been a ludicrous masterpiece in Gunn's hands. But, I do appreciate the no frills way the director just gets into the main story from the start. This was a much better turn for the Squad than the 2016 film. Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, and Viola Davis star.
Don't Breathe 2- 2016's exceptional horror-thriller, Don't Breathe, could have lasted until the end of time as a standalone gem. But, that's not how Hollywood thinks. So now, five years later, the tragic creepy blind man with killer (literal) survival skills returns in a new fight-in-the-dark chiller this time as a protagonist anti-hero (or maybe anti-villain). Now, if you've seen the first film, that will come across as a bit strange. He was no one's savior in that film. But, I suppose you could grant he garnered a certain amount of sympathy given the reasons for his actions. But, make no mistake. The blind man (Norman) was a very broken and bitter individual. In this installment, he still is as we find that he has been busy the last eight years since we last saw him caring for a young girl he passes off as his daughter. Now, it would be difficult to believe this murderous curmudgeon could have found love and produced offspring. And, the story of this girl is told in the movie's runtime. Much like the 2016 film, trouble comes to Norman's home when a group of unsavory criminals arrive for his daughter. What do they want with her? One thing is certain. They're going to get more than they bargained for coming to that house. Don't Breathe 2 is an unnecessary sequel, but, not an unentertaining one. The visceral nature of the combat draws you in. You truly feel every conflict is a vicious fight to the death. And, it feels more real when the "good guy" suffers massive battle damage himself when ultimately emerging victorious. This is a story with no true good guys (except for the girl). As is the case with so many movies in this age, stay through the end credits. If you like this series, you might be ecstatic. Don't Breathe 2 isn't the film the first one is, but, it is solid entertainment nonetheless. Stephen Lang returns as Norman.
Free Guy- Navigating life can be difficult. But, for Guy, living in Free City is a daily hoot, if mindnumbingly mundane. He wakes up at the same time, wears the same clothes, sips the same cup of coffee, works at the same Bank, and pals around with his best friend, Buddy, after work all while trying to avoid being dusted by random chaotic violence that seems to be the norm in Free City. Then he wakes up the next morning and completes the same routine. Over and over and over. Until the day he runs into a striking woman who is very different from the others in Free City and is instantly drawn to her. Through his pursuit of her, Guy discovers the truth. He's a non-player character (NPC) in a popular video game. And, the woman, Molotov Girl, is the avatar of an actual real life player who's in the game in search of something. And, that's when the story goes bonkers. Free Guy is so many things. It's a comedy. It's an action movie. It's a romance. It's a movie with several layers that makes you think about life itself at times and the meaning of having free will. The most shocking thing about it? It handles all these concepts quite well. It's genuinely funny, laugh out loud in some instances. There are outstanding action sequences. The fact that much of the movie takes place in a video game gives the director license to go crazy because there are no boundaries. It's heartfelt. There's a creative love triangle of sorts occurring between two worlds. This is just a deftly made film that pleasantly surprised me in every way. It's one of the best movies of the year. It's the amalgamation between real world and video game fantasy I was hoping a film like Ready Player One would have been. Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, and Taika Waititi star. Two big thumbs up to the wacky, but, soulful chemistry between Reynolds and Comer.
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings- The 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces the "Master of Kung Fu" to film. It's an eclectic mashup of martial arts, mysticism, kaiju, and, of course, the usual Marvel comedic element which works to varying degrees in each film. Shang Chi is the son of a centuries-old warlord who possesses ten incredibly powerful rings that grant their user godlike might. Trained intensively in martial arts since he was a child, teenage Shang Chi fled his father's criminal empire settling for a mundane life in San Francisco for several years. That is until dad comes calling for his "lost" prince. This was a tale of two films for me. Not that any of it was bad, but, I did enjoy the first half of the film more than the second half. The first half felt more "earthy" and grounded. The runaway bus sequence was phenomenal and one of the true highlights. It was a tribute of sorts to the movie "Speed." Shang Chi and his best friend , Katy, had wonderful comedic chemistry. Even though it's hinted that these two might go down a romantic road at some point, it was refreshing that they remained friends and didn't get moony-eyed for each other from the beginning. Somehow their eventual pairing will feel more earned this way and less scripted. At least that's the story I'm going with. The movie rolls along fairly well until it moves to his mother's mystical village. The sets and CGI are absolutely beautiful, but, the story itself feels like it comes to a bit of a halt. It's a sequence that lasts a little too long for my taste and takes you out of the incredible actioner that's presented in the first half. The final battle is a mixture of mystical martial arts combat with strong kaiju "King of the Monsters" vibe which felt very busy and a little unfocused at times. But again, it was beautiful visually. How does Shang Chi fit into the greater connected MCU? Outside of a humorous cameo by two supporting characters from previous films and a very surprise appearance from a controversial figure, you're really not sure how the pieces of the movie fit until the mid credits scene. The mid credits scene not only entrenches Shang Chi in the Marvel crazy, but also serves as an omen to something sinister on the way in the future. The final credits scene assures that something seen within the film's confines will return under new management. One thing I have to give to Shang Chi is very often the criticism of MCU movies is they have disposable unmemorable villains. There is a meaningful effort here to add layers to Shang Chi's father. A criminal? Yes. Ruthless? Yes. A loving, but, flawed father? Also yes. Shang Chi is a solid entry into the MCU pantheon. Is it one of the best? I would say no. I could go along with upper middle tier. In any case, Marvel's demise, per some corners of disgruntled social media, has been greatly exaggerated. Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeogh, and Tony Leung star.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw- I'm probably in the minority, but, I happen to like the first seven movies in this franchise. The Jigsaw Killer was always good for a gory, bloody good time. However, 2017's "Jigsaw", and this film indicate to me the franchise should be given a rest for a good long time now. Spiral follows a good, but, unorthodox detective trailing a copycat Jigsaw Killer down a winding increasingly brutal path. The kills in Spiral are as cringe-inducing as ever. The story isn't a bad one. But, the overwhelming negative of this venture is its star, Chris Rock. Yes, that Chris Rock. Hats off to him for trying something different, but, if this is any indication, stay in your lane with comedy, Chris. He's a brutal dramatic actor. His constant scowling didn't make him look tough. His incessant screaming didn't make him feel more intense. It just wasn't working for him. And, unfortunately, he did bring the movie down. Samuel L. Jackson co-stars.
Vacation Friends- How do you ditch annoying "friends" who make your life spiral out of control every time you're around them? That's the dilemma of Marcus and Emily, a mild-mannered couple from Chicago, on vacation in Mexico where Marcus plans to propose in this Hulu original. Their lives are disrupted by Ron and Kyla, a freewheeling carefree couple where no action or thought is out of bounds. After spending a wild week together involving several types of intoxicants, Marcus and Emily depart back to the U.S. hoping (at least on Marcus's part) never to see their newfound "friends" again. Several months later, just days before their wedding, you'll never guess who finds them and invites themselves to the festivities. I won't say Vacation Friends was a laugh-a-minute type of spectacle, but, I did laugh and laugh pretty hard at some points. Plot wise, the movie is nothing special. You've seen this story play out in a million comedies. Straight laced person encounters crazy person and grows to like crazy person in spite of him/herself. There's a big blow up when crazy person oversees events that get too out of control. Straight laced person realizes that crazy has taught him/her valuable life lessons along the way and they reconcile. That's it. Like I said, you've seen it a million times and probably in better movies than this one. But, the bottom line is, it's a comedy and it did make me laugh. John Cena and Lil Rel Howery star.
Batman: The Long Halloween Part II- The second half adaptation of this classic Batman tale continues to chronicle The Dark Knight's pursuit of the serial killer, Holiday. This whole piece (parts 1 and 2) is also a character study of sorts of the fictional Gotham City itself. It's a city once ruled by organized crime that descends into madness when Batman's Rogues Gallery gains prominence. Crime stops being "polite" and gravitates to the unhinged. As with the part one, some of the transitions in the elapse of time are a bit awkward. But, the story is intense and tragic. It's a worthy adaptation of Joeph Loeb and Tim Sale's epic story.
Malignant- 2021 hasn't been kind to the horror genre to this point. There have been a few decent thrillers, but, nothing I would necessarily say that was chilling. This latest release on HBO Max at least had a shot to be pleasing to the horror connoisseur. After all, it is directed by the modern-day maestro of the genre, James Wan. And I can honestly say, Wan delivered on this one. Malignant isn't necessarily scary, but it is maniacally creepy. And it graphically shows you a thousand ways bones can break which is cringy at the very least. A young woman is plagued by dreams of people she doesn't know horrifically dying. She becomes convinced the mysterious killer is somehow stalking her. She might be right. But, not in the sense she might think. Or the sense that anyone thinks. Guaranteed you will not see this coming until the reveal. And, then the movie really gets splendidly bizarre. Wan knows how to bring the "creep" in horror which is why he's currently one of the best in the business. After the previous disappointments of the year, this one put a smile on my face. This is more like it. The unknown, the creepy, the dread. Malignant has it. This is what the horror genre is all about.
Kate- This Netflix original might invoke memories of the wild and crazy 2006 Jason Statham film, Crank. A highly skilled assassin is poisoned by a vengeful enemy. She then proceeds to murder her way through the Osaka-based Yakuza Wick-style to avenge her inevitable death. Kate is mostly a good, bloody tale of betrayal and redemption. If blinding violence without much plot is your thing, you can't go wrong here. It will keep your attention. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Woody Harrelson star.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage- I'll be the first to admit I wasn't initially excited about Sony's foray into the "Venom-verse" with their first release featuring the symbiote with a bad attitude in 2018. Without Spider-Man, why bother? And, Sony's last attempt at bringing Venom to the big screen in Spider-Man 3 wasn't a winner. After watching the 2018 film, I had to grudgingly admit it wasn't terrible. Not great, and, I still had some of the same reservations about it. But, it was entertaining on a small level. The sequel does go bigger and bolder just as you would expect. While I can't say I'm a card carrying fan of the Venom-verse just yet, I was very entertained at times by this one. As the title indicates, serial killer and longtime enemy to both Venom and Spider-Man, Cletus Kasady, takes center stage. In an altercation with Venom's "other", Eddie Brock, Kasady bonds with a symbiote of his own. Bigger, stronger, and far more sinister than his "father", Kasady and the new symbiote calling themselves "Carnage" wreak havoc on San Francisco in order to free Kasady's longtime love from a mental facility and kill dear old dad. One thing I didn't care for in the first installment was Tom Hardy's itchy twitchy performance as Eddie Brock. I like Hardy as an actor, but, I just wasn't feeling him in this role. I don't know if I've subconsciously accepted it or not, but, I didn't find him as off-putting here. The plot itself doesn't make a lot of sense sometimes. For instance, why does the Carnage symbiote hate the Venom symbiote so much? It was just "born" evil? There's a more understandable conflict between Eddie and Cletus than with their others. And, even that relationship is a little sketchy as to why Cletus is so fascinated with Eddie. But, as uneven as the plot is, we must once again be honest with ourselves. Why are you sitting in front of the big screen? It's the same reason you did it for Kong vs Godzilla. Freddy vs Jason. Alien vs Predator. It's that need to see the big bad monsters lay into each other with no abandon. There's only one big fight between the two, but, it's as chaotic and vicious as you probably expect. The one thing that could have made this better would have been an R rating. A movie that has "carnage" in its title needs to have some gore. Overall, the sequel is a solid effort that is superior to its 2018 predecessor. One final note. If you are someone who is hoping this character is destined to be part of something greater, you might want to stick around for mid-credits scene. Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, and Woody Harrelson star.
Halloween Kills- The middle section of the "real" sequel to 1978's slasher classic picks up shortly after 2018's "Halloween" which found long-suffering series heroine, Laurie Strode, trapping infamous serial killer, Michael Myers, in her own version of a burning murder house. Well I'm really not letting the cat of the bag by saying a little fire isn't going to keep a good psycho killer down! After piling up an impressive body count against the responding fire department, Michael is soon on another murderous rampage through his hometown of Haddonfield, IL. But, Haddonfield has something waiting for its least favorite son this time. An equally murderous mob of scared, concerned citizens led by Laurie and the two now grown children she protected on that fateful night in 1978 "when he came home." Halloween Kills could have been a fascinating peek into the dynamics of mob mentality and how easy it can be to whip frightened people into an unglued frenzy even the law can't contain. That is, if the film wasn't sooooo damn cheesy! Overacting, scenarios that are painfully scatterbrained and unrealistic, frothing drama that's unintentionally comical. This is what sums up Halloween Kills. Honestly, you'll be waving a Shatner-mask banner openly cheering for Michael to slaughter all of these clowns. The best part of the movie is the end scene of Michael vs the mob where he lets his killer rage fly. All of this is leading to the final confrontation of Michael vs Laurie in next year's finale "Halloween Ends." Let's hope that isn't as mindnumbingly idiotic as this one became. Seriously, these two "real" sequels so far are not nearly as good as 1981's Halloween II or 1988's Halloween 4, two of the best slasher sequels ever made in my opinion. Jamie Lee Curtis, Will Patton, and Anthony Michael Hall star.
The Night House- A husband inexplicably commits suicide leaving his widow to ponder why. In drunken bits of depression, she begins rifling through his possessions and begins discovering some disturbing details about her late spouse. Was he having an affair? Why is she finding several photos of women who look like her? What of the biggest question of all? Why does she feel there is another presence in her home? Psychological horror can be very hit or miss. For me, unfortunately, this was a miss. This was a 100+ minute slog that barely held my attention 15 minutes in. In the right hands, the twist in this film could have been thought inducing, as well as, dreadfully macabre. What it really feels like is a myriad group of scenes loosely held together with flimsy plot strings. The cardinal sin of horror. Rebecca Hall stars.
Antlers- It's Halloween. And what would the holiday be without a big horror theater release? This supernatural chiller takes place in a small Oregon town where a meth supplier discovers way more than he bargained for in the abandoned mine he runs his lab out of. Something wicked exists there. An evil older than the myths told by the indigenous people in the area. And, it's just been unleashed with an insatiable hunger that places every living thing in the area in grave danger. Antlers is a visibly bleak film. Much of the scenery where the movie takes place is dilapidated. The weather is always overcast. Everything about Antlers fits a mood which is what a good horror movie should do. So, why didn't I like this more than I did? That's not to say I disliked it. There are copious amounts of gore when those moments happen. But, I wasn't always riveted by the moments between the bloodshed. And, that's disappointing because mostly this film does everything a horror film should do. Antlers was an interesting movie to watch once, but, it's not one I necessarily want to visit again. Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, and Graham Greene star.
Eternals- The third of four MCU theatrical releases in 2021, Eternals features Oscar-winning director, Chloe Zhao, taking a crack at a little known super group unless you are the most ardent of comic book fan. Granted I only know some bare bones lore of the Eternals, enough to know some liberties have been taken with some of the characters. So, who are the Eternals? They're a race of godlike beings from the planet, Olympia, who have been given grand purpose by an actual cosmic god, a Celestial by the name of Arishem. Ten Eternals have been assigned by the Celestial to Earth to protect it from a race of predators known as Deviants. Arriving on Earth 7,000 years ago, the Eternals have assimilated into human life nudging humanity along the path of evolution, but, barred from interfering in major events. Believing the Deviants finally eradicated, the Eternals go their separate ways waiting to be called back home by Arishem until new Deviant sightings force the group back together. Why are the Deviants back? Is there more to their history than meets the eye? For that matter, is there more to the Eternals' legacy as well? In some ways, Eternals is your standard MCU movie. There's comedy, well choreographed action sequences, and sprawling landscapes. The film looks very good. Try as she might, Zhao has mixed success fleshing out each character. Even at a two and half hour runtime, giving the proper screen time to 10 main characters in an origin movie is a challenge. That said, Eternals surprised me. There are a few plot twists and betrayals that make this a little more than your standard fare. There is genuine intrigue created in Eternals that you don't find in the MCU very often. It was also a refreshing change of pace from the current multiverse narrative running through the franchise's phase 4 storyline. Eternals ventures more into the cosmic aspect of the MCU which I imagine will play a significant role in the future. Another thing that surprised me is that despite its long runtime, I never felt bored with the film. In fact, I was intrigued enough to not even notice how long I was watching the screen at all. So, overall what does all of this mean in my head? Of the three MCU releases this year, Eternals is the best of the three. Black Widow was a decent film, but, felt entirely unnecessary. Shang Chi was a tale of two halves. I was down with first half, a little "meh" on the second. I was invested from beginning to end with Eternals and what lurked behind the veil. There were questions from the beginning. Some of them are answered. The rest? Well, you have to hand it to Kevin Feige and company for audacity. You introduce a group of relatively unknown characters that really don't appear to have much to do with greater narrative running through the MCU at the moment, and proudly proclaim at the end of the credits, "The Eternals will return." That's confidence in your product. Particularly given the mixed reviews the movie has received thus far. There is a mid-credit and end credit scene as there are with most MCU films. Those not familiar with the comics will likely not fully understand the meaning or significance onscreen as you're taken into the deep waters of new characters entering the fray. Longtime Marvel fans will geek out. No, it's not the X-Men or Fantastic Four. I said deep waters. One character introduction is particularly intriguing because it raises a few questions on a major player from the previous slate of films. And when I say major, I mean arguably THE most major player from the past. The large ensemble cast includes Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harrington, Brian Tyree Henry, Richard Madden, Don Lee, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, and Kumail Nanjiani.
Injustice- What happens when the Man of Steel loses his humanity? Based on the popular video game and comic series, this feature is the newest adapted film from DC animation. The Justice League is ripped apart when the Joker comes to Metropolis and perpetrates an act so insidious, Superman makes the fateful decision that he must become the sole arbiter of what is right and wrong in the world. The only hero who has the courage to lead the charge against him? You guessed it. The Dark Knight himself. It's Superman vs Batman for the fate of Earth in a fight that will claim the lives of several heroes before all is said and done. There are such huge stakes in this story and the creators don't shy away from some exceptionally brutal deaths. It's a tale of sorrow as arguably the world's greatest hero sinks deeper and deeper down a rabbit hole he may never come back from. There is true heartbreak between both Superman and Batman as despite wanting to reconcile their differences, they just can't under the circumstances. It also examines the debate between what is more effective, lethal vs non-lethal justice. The movie moves briskly and even finds some room for humor in spite of the dour atmosphere. This is another overall classic from DC's animated wing. Warner Brothers has it together in this particular format. Now if they could just translate this same magic consistently to their live action films. Justin Hartley, Anson Mount, and Kevin Pollak are among the voice talents.
Red Notice- So. We have a Netflix original movie starring three of the biggest names on the planet right now. From all outward appearances, the film is a rollicking comic action/adventure. Seems like a movie right up my alley. So why did I feel like something was missing from Red Notice? Maybe it's due to two thirds of the star cast usually having impeccable comic timing not being overly funny. I barely cracked a smile and that disappointed me to a degree. I was expecting a farce and got something very standard in its place. On the other hand, the other member of this star trifecta offered the most range I've ever seen from her in any movie. She was playful, evil, vampish, dangerous, duplicitous. For much of the runtime, she was what I thought made the film pop a little while she was onscreen. This wasn't a bad movie by any means, it was just a little "meh" from what I anticipated it to be. What moves it to a place of solid ground is the twist that reveals itself near the end. There's no doubt the ending leaves room for a possible sequel. The premise? An FBI profiler recruits a master art thief to track and capture another master thief in search of a rare treasure that hasn't been accounted for in centuries. It's worth a look given the star power. And those stars would be Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot.
Copshop- Now this is more like it. For most of the year, I haven't had much to truly sink my teeth into. Not that what I've seen in 2021 has been awful. There just hasn't been much that's blown my doors off and that's including a year that's seen three MCU features. Copshop is a simple movie, but masterfully executed. A rookie cop in Nevada, a con artist, and a professional hitman become intertwined in each other's lives when the con artist assaults the cop to get off the streets. The hitman in pursuit deliberately gets collared by the police to follow his target. From there a hellish night of betrayal, gun play, and brutality ensues. Director, Joe Carnahan, has crafted a cat and mouse tale here that has an actual payoff. As I was watching this, I couldn't help but think "This is what 'No Country for Old Men' should have been. Characters that make the narrative fascinating aren't unceremoniously killed offscreen. There's no grand speechifying that talks about a bunch of nothing. This is just a simple cat and mouse thriller that's darkly funny and brutal when it needs to be. Sure, some things you see onscreen are preposterous, but it did put a smile on my face. Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo star.
Last Night in Soho- Trippy doesn't begin to cover this horror-thriller from director, Edgar Wright. Taking place in London, a young fashion design student begins having vivid dreams of a life lived 40 years prior by a young aspiring singer. The more she dreams, the more she becomes inspired in her waking life to emulate the singer, and, most importantly, the more she begins to unravel a tragic mystery. One thing I can say about this film is that once you move past the set up, the weirdness begins to come at you rapid fire. The final truth is a rather shocking revelation. My issue with the film is you're just expected to accept what's happening at face value. In a way, I guess it's a good thing because you're left to your own imagination as to why the protagonist is experiencing the things she is. I would have just appreciated a more concrete explanation. However, all things considered, this is a solid thriller that does provide an eerie creep factor you can buy into. Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Diana Rigg (in her last film), and Terence Stamp star.
The Harder They Fall- This Netflix original gives us something we don't see everyday, a true western with a predominantly African American cast. As the opening crawl of the film states, while the events depicted are fictionalized, people like this did exist. It was nice to see a different perspective of a genre that has been dominated by one through much of motion picture history. That said, not only is this a western, director, Jeymes Samuel, has also delivered a competent revenge film as well. Eleven-year-old Nat Love's parents are murdered before his eyes by the outlaw, Rufus Buck. Flash forward several years later and we find Love leading his own merry band of outlaws with one goal in mind. Find Buck and put him in the ground. Events are manipulated to force the final inevitable confrontation between Love and Buck in the town of Redwood. Does good (or at least morally questionable) triumph over evil? Is the evil what you think it is? This movie has several goodies to sink your teeth in. You have the aforementioned vengeance, brutality, intrigue, intensity, wild gun play, bravado, a sympathetic protagonist, and a chilling villain. Honestly, the villain neither physically nor verbally does much. But, when he does act or speak, there is unbridled cruelty. And, his minions follow his lead to the letter. I love a scene chewing villain just as much as the next guy, but, there is something to be said for the calm silent killer, for the Michael Corleone-type of bad guy. Watching the antagonist here invoked memories of the song, "Damn, It Feels Good to be a Gangsta'." This was entertaining from beginning to end. I've rarely found westerns this fascinating. Simple, yet not simpleminded. Brutal, but not grotesque. This movie was one of the best watches of the year. Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beets, Delroy Lindo, and Jonathan Majors star.
Cruella- Continuing the House of Mouse's new cinematic trend of making antiheroes out of villains from their classic animated features, the infamous Cruella de Vil takes center stage in this action comedy that fleshes out the character's history from birth up to a time just before 101 Dalmations. Cruella, born Estella, is an intelligent child with a talent for fashion design and a bit of a wicked streak that rears its ugly head from time to time. After a tragic event, young Estella meets Jasper and Horace on the streets of London and begins a life of petty crime to survive with the two boys who will one day become her loyal bungling minions. Through a series of events, Estella becomes the hottest new designer for haughty, authoritarian fashion mogul, Baroness von Hellman. And, this is where the "fun" begins. Dark secrets are revealed and cruel plots are devised as Estella takes steps transforming herself into the woman with an unhealthy obsession with dalmations. What struck me about this feature is, despite its comedic elements, Cruella went to some surprisingly dark places. The film attempts to make her a sympathetic character, and they do. Somewhat. Miss de Vil always maintains that slight touch of evil, but, she's not evil incarnate. There are more than adequate reasons for her actions. The one thing I will say is the right actress was chosen for the titular role. I don't think many others could have pulled off being fun, vulnerable, and sinister with same aplomb. Emma Stone is the monochrome-haired titular character. Emma Thompson co-stars.
The Power of the Dog- This along with my previous review is a tale of two Netflix-created movies that have both been touted as early Oscar contenders. Where Don't Look Up is a subversive gem, Power of the Dog is all kinds of "What the Hell?" In 1920s Montana, George and Phil Burbank are wealthy ranch-owning brothers. George falls for a local innkeeper and brings her and her teenage son into the family through marriage. Phil, a caustic but charismatic individual, isn't pleased with the union. Some stuff happens. George's wife becomes an alcoholic. Some other stuff happens. Phil begins to mentor George's stepson. Tragedy strikes one of the brothers. The stepson might have manipulated events causing the tragic outcome. The End. I really wish I could add more nuance to this two-plus hour slog, but, if you can find the purpose to this film, you're a better reviewer than me. And I reiterate. This is considered an early Oscar contender. Benedict Cumberbatch (why, oh why Strange), Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Jesse Plemons star.
The Last Duel- Here's something you don't see every day. Ridley Scott directing a Medieval "Me Too" movie. Based on a true story, two French knights in the 1300s fight to the death when the wife of one of the knights accuses the other of assaulting her. Told from the point of view of the accused (Jacques Le Gris), the accuser (Marguerite de Carrouges), and the accuser's spouse (Jean de Carrouges), The Last Duel is split into three lengthy chapters depicting the greed, hedonism, chauvinism, and brutality of the French court in a time just prior to the Crusades. Three very different perspectives come to life as the audience is taken on a journey of how the three main characters view the world and themselves. Delusion, arrogance, and pride are on display as each chapter plays out culminating in a royal-sanctioned duel to the death where the stakes are high for each player, even the accuser. It's a well-acted narrative by all involved. You actually wonder how any human female survived this era in history past the age of 20. Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Ben Affleck, and Jodie Comer star.
0*= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Worth a look. Better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. I'm doing my happy dance!
5 *= Pure eye candy. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good
