Movie Reviews
A Movie Junkies View On Movies
Star Raws: The Acolyte
Story - The first 3 episodes are telling the story of Osha and Mae. Mae is on a mission from an unseen master to murder the 4 Jedi who took her twin sister Mae when they were children. Osha has been dragged in to the story as she is taken in for questioning as she fits the description of Mae. So far I’m curious to see where this thing is going but there is some clumsy storytelling going on here. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - The look of the show is solid but feels identical to what we’ve seen in previous Star Wars shows and movies. a minor gripe but the show is set 100 years before the stories we know. Shouldn’t things look newer like they did in the prequel trilogy? There has been some shoddy CGI which is a shame in such an expensive show. All in all it looks solid though. 8
Writing - The writing has been a big complaint for me. It feels very amateurish. A lot of the dialog feels like it’s directly out of a CW TV series. 4
Directing/Acting - It’s been okay but Amandla Steinberg feels fine as Osha but very forced when she’s portraying Mae. The kids were also given too much dialog. They really needed to keep the dialog to a minimum and really dove into it. 6
Editing - Honestly, it’s been cut very well. It’s easy to get lost on time jumps and story jumps but so far the story has been easy to follow. Good job. 10
Soundtrack - Can’t fault the score at all. It’s been fun to hear on my 7.1.4 Atmos system. 10
Will I watch it Again - So far it has been compelling enough that I’ve watched the first two episodes twice. It’s full of missteps but it’s still enjoyable. 7
My Personal Score - Naturally, being a Star Wars fan, I’ve seen the negative press and I’ve seen the grossly high critics score on RT. I’ve also seen some interesting/strange fan theories that i whole heartedly disagree with. I guess we’ll see how thing really play out in the end, but I don’t want to give away my theories here. I’ve been really upset with the dialog and there have been some serious missteps in use of actors but I’m enjoying the show so far. 7
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 59 of 80 points 73.75%
The Watchers
Story - Mina (Dakota Fanning) is driving through the forest when her tech and car suddenly stop working. Trudging through the forest to find help she becomes lost. She spots a woman who leads her to a strange place. if this doesn’t sound like the beginning of an M Night Shyamalan movie, I don’t know what does. It’s an intriguing story that I’m hesitant to describe further but isn’t without its flaws. There are a ton of unanswered questions in this one that will never be answered. 8
Cinematography/Costumes - I feel like everyone stays a little too clean and well-kept, but the setting is incredible. The forest feels dangerous and scary. The villains are something else. 9
Writing - Cool story but riddled with holes that detract from the overall presentation. 8
Directing/Acting - M Night Shyamalan always gets the best of his actors and this is no exception. Dakota Fanning needs to find more roles because she is really good. 10
Editing - “Solid! Solid as a rock.” I never once felt like I was stuck to my seat. This is a precisely poised movie that held my attention from the first moment. 10
Soundtrack - After being disappointed by Furiosa’s lack of surround sound goodness this was a treat. Great use of effects and bass to make me feel the drama. 10
Will I watch it Again - There will be plenty to look for in at least one repeat viewing but this won’t be an annual revisit. 7
My Personal Score - The Forrest delivers on so many levels that it’s a shame that there are some giant holes. the atmosphere is incredible, and the use of sound is spot on. The villains are something to behold. I’d love to see them used in a scarier movie. I really need to think more about the very end because is makes some implications that don’t make a lick of sense, but I do want to revisit it to decide where I think it’s going. Ultimately, I really enjoyed myself, but I could have waited to see it at home. 9
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 69 of 80 points 88.75%
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Story - Furiosa follows the story of Furiosa who we originally met in Mad Max: Fury Road. After being abducted from an idealistic oasis in the wastelands Furiosa must find a way to survive this brutal version of the world. The story is a ton of fun and a great addition to the Mad Max Saga. 9
Cinematography/Costumes - This is a truly great looking movie marred only by a few obvious CHI moments. The world feels big and dangerous. 10
Writing - I had high hopes for this one since I really enjoyed the last movie, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a shame that it has underperformed in theaters because this is the kind of movie that should be seen on the big screen. 10
Directing/Acting - I feel like the very dainty Anya Taylor Joy was miscast but even though she wasn’t physically convincing her performance was. Both her and the child version (Alyla Browne) performed admirably in a largely silent roll. Chris Hemsworth was also as strong as we’ve come to expect. Seriously great performances. 9
Editing - I did find myself looking at my watch on occasion, so the pacing had a few missteps but largely it was a story very well told in editing. 9
Soundtrack - A movie that is largely a chase scene with monstrous vehicles should be a surround sound extravaganza. Unfortunately, it felt a little flat. Hopefully my home theater will reveal something the theater missed. 6
Will I watch it Again - This should be a big fun movie to see at home but I’m not so sure it will be a surround sound treat once I can see it at home. 7
My Personal Score - The visually magnificent Mad Max series didn’t fail to treat my senses. I’d like to have seen a stronger looking Furiosa but Anya made up for it with her great acting. This really is a great time that you should see in theaters while you still can. 9
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 69 of 80 points 86.25%
Wish
Story - Wish follows Asha as she discovers the King is holding peoples wishes with no intention of granting them. The story unfolds as she makes a wish that brings down a wishing star. 6
Cinematography/Costumes - I for one thought the look of the film was beautiful if not completely perfect. I liked the more painterly look behind the beautifully rendered characters. Asha’s hair moved strangely and was distracting. 7
Writing - I tend to be pretty easy on movies. I’ve handed very strong reviews to movies because I watch movies for entertainment and if they succeed in that I’m usually pretty happy. This was too important of a story not to be a little more critical. Wish is a story that was intended to celebrate 100 years of Disney films. Wish is also a story based on the most significant song in Disney history. “When You Wish Upon A Star.” Unfortunately, in that regard the film fails miserably. This is a completely average story that goes so far as to borrow from films outside Disney’s own work. The story is poorly thought out and honestly feels like it was adapted from an AI story. Shame on you Disney. I know you can do better. 6
Directing/Acting - The performances are solid. I really wish they spent more time following the star. 8
Editing - It’s easy enough to follow and cohesive. 9
Soundtrack - The sound was great but the songs were meh. 7
Will I watch it Again - I don’t expect this to be a regular rewatch. Even in a home full of children. 6
My Personal Score - Disney’s Wish should have been a triumph of writing, songs, and animation and unfortunately it nails nothing. I feel like it represents the direction that Disney has been going the last few years, Directionless. The movie was okay but I still don’t understand why Donkey from Shrek made the cut. I don’t understand why the star wasn’t the focal point. I don’t understand why the king, who clearly was the good guy at the start of the movie had to become the worst kind of villain. I don’t understand how this was released without more oversight from anyone. Too many yes people at Disney that won’t tell it like it is. Wish is a mediocre film with way too important a story to tell to be a mediocre film. I was truly disappointed in this one. 5
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 54 of 80 points 57.5%
Ghostbusters Frozen Empire
Story - Ghostbusters Frozen Empire continues the story of the Spangler family and Gruberson as they move to the Ghostbusters home in New York City. New artifacts are turning up and one is about to unleash an old evil. Can the Ghostbusters save the world from this news evil. 8
Cinematography/Costumes - Absolutely nothing to complain about here. This is a beautiful film to behold. 10
Writing - This is a flim let down by time. The writing is fine but there was so much story to be told and it was crammed into too short of a timeframe. Sometimes it’s better to cut an idea and this one had too many ideas. I really wish they had made it a two part film and left us with a monster of a cliffhanger. The villain had so much potential. 7
Directing/Acting - Great performances from a great cast. I do wish really funny bits would be left out of marketing. It’s a shame when one of the best jokes is spoiled before the movie comes out. 9
Editing - Again this was a movie that tried to cram too much into a tiny space. It’s fun but compressed. 7
Soundtrack - I can’t wait to hear it in my home theater. 10
Will I watch it Again - This will go into regular rotation just like the first three. It may be flawed but it’s still as fun as can be. 9
My Personal Score - Ghostbusters is such a great film franchise. The first one was truly brilliant . And the rest are such a good time. Strap on a proton pack. toss out a trap and have a great time. This is a real Ghostbusters movie and well worth your time. 9
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 69 of 80 points 86.25%
I.S.S.
Story - What if war broke out while you were on the International Space Station. I.S.S. proposes this exact question. Responding to orders from below things turn for the worse for the 6 inhabitants of the ISS. 6
Cinematography/Costumes - I haven’t been up there but I’m sure this is exactly what it looks like. 10
Writing - I feel like a broken record saying that I feel like this was a cool idea marred by average writing. Ultimately this very pretty movie sits with very average thrillers. 7
Directing/Acting - I really like the crew of the ISS. They did a great job of creating the feeling of awe that being on the ISS should be. I just wish they felt smarter. 8
Editing - The story flowed great and is easy to follow. 10
Soundtrack - Good enough. The music was used to create some great misdirection, but it had so much potential for surround sound that I wasn’t getting. 8
Will I watch it Again - I could see myself revisiting this one. It did look great. 7
My Personal Score - I had never heard of this movie before going to it. I was planning a movie visit and checking movie time, and this was an option. I started the preview and instantly shut it down because I didn’t want any spoilers. What I saw had me hooked. I had all these questions. Was this war breaking out. What are these people going to do in such a terrible situation. Unfortunately, this unbelievable situation was translated into a mostly nonsensical reaction by these incredibly smart people. ISS is a fun space thriller with an incredible look but missed the great opportunities raised by this incredible concept. Bask in the glory of space and ignore the silly story. 6
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 62 of 80 points 77.5%
Night Swim
Story - Night Swim follows a young family as they move into a new home with a checkered past. Ray Waller is an ex-pro baseball player who is suffering from MS. After finding the perfect new home Ray shows some miraculous improvements in his health but strange things start happening around the pool. There is a really interesting concept behind the pool that I’d hate to give away. The family doesn’t act the way rational people would in a crazy situation which takes away from the story. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - This modern-day story seemed to be set in a pretty little town and community, but we’ll never know because they never bothered to show it. Lots of shots of an empty swimming pool. Nothing here to get really excited about. 6
Writing - Here’s an example of writing to suit the story but not necessarily the audience. Crazy things happen in and around the pool and these people are completely casual about it. It’s a shame because there was a really great concept behind the story that could be leveraged into a great story. 5
Directing/Acting - The apple didn’t fall far from the tree in Wyatt Russell and the rest of the cast were also fantastic. I hope to see more from this cast in the future. The direction was also rock solid. 10
Editing - The story flowed great and is easy to follow. 10
Soundtrack - This won’t be the demo movie, but the use of music and sound effects were solid. 9
Will I watch it Again - Meh, maybe on a boring lonely night I could see it again, but it won’t be hitting my personal collection. 6
My Personal Score - I feel like the rest of my review has been pretty negative but I had a good time watching this thriller/horror/thriller. I liked these people and found myself rooting for them. I also keep mentioning the background of the location because I really do think it’s a great concept that deserves a better story. I was let down by the casual nature of these people though. If I’m swimming in a pool and someone starts talking to me through the filtering system there’s no way I’m going back into that pool. 7
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 60 of 80 points 75%
Godzilla Minus One
Story - Godzilla Minus One follow the story of Koichi Shikishima. A tortured soul with whose past and Godzilla follow him throughout the story. This Japanese title is all in subtitles ad follows the original stories of Godzilla. This Godzilla is no fried of the people. This is a scary story with real weight and repercussions for the characters. and possibly life as we know it. 9
Cinematography/Costumes - set in the 1940’s this is a beautiful movie. The locations, costumes and cinematography are all top notch. This movie was clearly important to everyone involved and it shows. 10
Writing - We’ve seen so many movies lately that don’t deliver when it comes to character building. This story delivers in spades. The characters feel real and we come to genuinely care about what happens to them. Beautifully written, great flow, and great story. 10
Directing/Acting - The acting isn’t without it’s moments of flaws but very strong overall. I’m not sure the directly really knew what to do with the little girl. There are other little moments that can feel a little off but it’s important to remember that this is a Japanese film. 9
Editing - The story flowed great and is easy to follow. 10
Soundtrack - I saw it in 4DX so I did have the benefit of exciters in the seats but this Godzilla has weight and you know it. This will be a great subwoofer test. 10
Will I watch it Again - Absolutely! I have a hard time thinking this won’t find its way into peoples regular rotation once they give it a chance. 9
My Personal Score - I was personally moved by this movie. The characters were fun and convincing. I found myself at the edge of the seat for long periods of time rooting for our heroes. The movie has real highs and lows that are bound to affect you emotionally. I know it’s hard to motivate to read movies but this was so worth the time. Ironically I tend to find myself pulled into movies more when they have subtitles because you have to devote all of your attention to them. Go See this movie, and see it on the best screen you can. It’s a wild ride that will have you buzzing for hours after seeing it. I’m so glad I didn’t let this one sneak by. 10 10 10!!!!
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 77 of 80 points 96.25%
The Nun II
Story - The Nun 2 continues the adventures of Frenchie and Sister Irene. We already knew that Frenchie left the Abby with the Nun on board but now we get to find out what the nasty old demon had in sore for the poor guy. It’s yet another great story in the Conjuring universe just know that it fully expects that your already invested in the story. 9
Cinematography/Costumes - The locations are really fantastic. Everything feels like it’s meant to be. 10
Writing - Yet another slick Conjuring story. I really enjoy that the writers are clearly working well together and in sync. They have also been careful to weave the different stories together inro a larger universe. Disney should take note. Star Wars should be this cohesive. 9
Directing/Acting - I want to give notice to Jonas Bloquet who plays Frenchie/Maurice. He has a very likeable presence about him. It’s about time we see him in more roles. It was nice to see Anna Popplewell with another good character. 10
Editing - Nice flow and easy to follow. Just like they should Be. 10
Soundtrack - I can’t wait to hear this movie on my home theater. 10
Will I watch it Again - I don’t expect that there will be a lot to dig out of the story with repeat viewings but it’s a fun watch. 7
My Personal Score - I’m biased but I have enjoyed The Conjuring series since it was started This is yet another sharp and scary addition to the greater story and not to be missed if you’re a fan of the series. It had great jump scares and that darned Nun is scary. There is a second big bad in the movie that will make you squirm even more than her. Prepare to be scared. 9
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 74 of 80 points 92.5%
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Story - TMNT: Mutant Mayhem reintroduces us to the ever popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This story starts their adventure as they meet April O’Neil as they fight to save the human race from the new mutant villain Superfly. It’s a heavy handed anti bullying and tolerance. It’s great to have a message in a kids movie but the story forgot how much fun the TMNT of old was. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - The look of the movie is exceptional. It definitely follows in the footsteps made by Spiderman: into the Spiderverse but that’s definitely not a bad thing. 10
Writing - The writing was solid but I have an image in my head of the cowabunga saying, party loving, skateboarding, pizza munching Teenage mutant Ninja turtles. They start this tale with the turtles stealing food and bragging about breaking into concert and basketball games. definitely not the image I want from the turtles. Add to that the overly heavy handed messaging and I just didn’t love the story. 6
Directing/Acting - No complaints here. 10
Editing - The editing was fantastic. 10
Soundtrack - I can’t wait to hear this movie on my home theater. 10
Will I watch it Again - I wish the movie had been more about fun because there was so much to love otherwise. As it is I don’t see myself visiting this one any time soon. 6
My Personal Score - I’ve probably been overly harsh but I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a kid. this was a new TMNT that I couldn’t gel with as much as I wanted to. Your kids might love it but I’m not sure you will feel the same. That said it’s definitely not a bad movie and had plenty of really fun moments to keep you entertained. 7
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 66 of 80 points 82.5%
Gran Turismo
Story - Gran Turismo tells the story of Jann Mardenborough who went from playing the video game to become a decorated professional race car driver. The story is so unreal that it is like something out of Hollywood. The only liberty they took was to move the story to today. 10
Cinematography/Costumes - The movie is set on race tracks all over Europe. The locations are beautiful and the costumes are appropriate. 10
Writing - The story of a professional gamer turned professional driver. The story is is the stuff of Hollywood. The characters are larger than life and well written. 9
Directing/Acting - How can you go wrong when you have David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou. I love that they even brought in Geri Halliwell, the real life wife of Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull F1 to play Jann’s Mom. 10
Editing - Clear and concise. Just the way I like it. All kidding aside the movie could have stalled itself out after Jann’s terrible crash but chose not to fall into the trap. 10
Soundtrack - Fantastic! I can’t wait to hear this movie on my home theater. 10
Will I watch it Again - It’s a feel good movie and looks and sounds great but there won’t much to dig out of it in repeat viewings. 7
My Personal Score - This is what the big screen is for. Big visuals, fun story, and a soundtrack that most home systems won’t do justice too. It’s a fun true story that is so wild it’s hard to believe. I hope this movie does great in theaters and beyond because it was a truly fun movie. 9
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 75 of 80 points 93.75%
Blue Beetle
Story - Jamie Reyes is the first in his family to graduate from college but things at home aren’t what he was hoping for. A chance encounter with Jenny Kord, the owner of a high tech firm leads him to being chosen by the Blue Beetle. Family is strong in this one and Jamie’s family does everything they can to help him as he come to grips with what the Blue Beetle is doing to him. In the Meantime Kord enterprises will do anything to get it back. There is enough here to move the story but I kind of wish they would have waited to tell his origin story. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - This movie loves purple and blue LED lights. The hero and main villain costumes are cool and the locations work for the story. Good but nothing special. 7
Writing - I feel like it is really hard to do a story like this as an origin story and for some reason the movie industry thinks it’s the only way to start. This story does a good job of minimizing the number of characters so it doesn’t lose itself in introduction purgatory. It moves well but I felt like Jamie’s family was more important than Jamie or the Blue Beetle. 7
Directing/Acting - Great cast. George Lopez certainly steals the show but solid across the board. 8
Editing - The story definitely came in chunks that lacked a little flow but it was easy to follow and looked cool. 7
Soundtrack - This will be a spectacle on a great home theater system. It has tons of strong surround effects that you won’t miss. The music was fun too. 10
Will I watch it Again - There’s not going to be a ton to dissect in this one. Also, aside from the Blue Beetle and Rudy none of these characters will be important as it moves into new stories. 6
My Personal Score - I had fun watching this one. It’s a fun action popcorn flick that will challenge your home theater and has a fun enough story to keep you in your seat. 7
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 59 of 80 points 73.75%
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Story - Indian Jones and the Dial of Destiny continues the adventures of Indiana jones as he joins his God Daughter to find the Dial before the Nazzi’s. The story takes us all over the world. as they try to find the second half of the dial. It’s a rollercoaster of a story with epic fights, chases, locations, scenery. 10
Cinematography/Costumes - You would home that an Indiana Jones movie would be beautiful and this one doesn’t disappoint. 10
Writing - The writing and story are fun but with one glaring flaw. Indiana Jones is the greatest archeologist and he’s constantly one upped but the Mary Sue of a character that is his Goddaughter, Helena Shaw. I wish the writers had been more respectful to the Jones legacy. Without this flaw they might have had a perfect movie on their hands. That said the writing is still great. 8
Directing/Acting - With actors like these you can’t go wrong. 10
Editing - The story flows with grace and style. 10
Soundtrack - Huge surround effects and massive punches. This will be a fun one to relive on a great home theater. 10
Will I watch it Again - With some of the best chases, great fight scenes, and great characters I’ll definitely be watching this again. 9
My Personal Score - I waited overnight to write my review for this because the more I thought about it the more it bothered me that Helena Shaw was too good. Otherwise the movie has so many great elements. The way they handled Indies age, the quality of the de-aging, the addition of a Short Round type character, the chases, the adventure. The list goes on and on for all of the great elements that it has. All in all we have been conditioned to dislike Mary Sue type characters. While I do think it’s going to be what everyone’s talking about, it doesn’t detract from the fact that this was one humdinger of a fun movie. Grab your fedora and head to the theater because this movie needs to be seen on the big screen. 9.5
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 77 of 80 points 96.25%
Asteroid City
Story - Asteroid City follows a group of families as they group together to for a special star gazing event and science fair. Nothing will be the same for them as a series of unusual events unfold. The story is presented as a play within the movie. 10
Cinematography/Costumes - The look of the movie is like the cover of a 50’s science fiction book. Set as we are testing the bomb this is a really great looking movie. 10
Writing - It definitely feels like a Wes Anderson movie. I always feel like they need a second visit to take it all in but he creates characters that worm their way into your brain. That said they are also a little too hard to follow. 8
Directing/Acting - It seems like everyone wants to be part of a Wes Anderson film. The cast is incredible and the directing is fantastic. It always seems like the cast have so much fun making these movies. 10
Editing - It’s a little choppy even though it doesn’t seem like too much is missing. There’s a lot of dead air. I feel like the story could be so much more fleshed out if there wasn’t so much wasted time. Definitely a movie where you can go to the bathroom with little fear of missing something important. I wouldn’t call that a compliment. 5
Soundtrack - Aside from some great explosions there’s nothing special here. Not to say that it hurts the movie but you’re not listening to this. 6
Will I watch it Again - I know I will enjoy it better the second go round but it’s not going to be any time soon. 6
My Personal Score - Wes Anderson movies are an unusual thing. The writing is always great but about as dry as trying to eat a spoonful of cinnamon. I absolutely loved the look of this movie but I was also bored for large chunks of it. That said the characters are great. I care about them and want to know more. It’s a shame that there is so much dead air because the cast was there to do so much more with the time. 7
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 62 of 80 points 77.5%
The Flash
Story - The Flash continues the story of Barry Allen as he attempts to save his mother in the past. The story has He and himself fighting with Batman to fix the timeline after he screws everything up trying to change the past. Why is that the MCU, Spiderman, and DC are rewriting their stories with multiverse stories at the same time. Oh, I know. It’s so they can start over. Fun story but a little annoying. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - There’s one thing everyone keeps talking about. It’s the look of The Flash running in the Speed Force. What I want to know is how so many people know what running in the Speed Force looks like. I didn’t have a problem with it. I did have a problem with the usual weight issues of digitally created characters. There was also some wonkiness in the fully digital people. Other than that it’s a beautiful film to behold. 8
Writing - The writing was solid throughout and moved from point to point really well. I have a thing about time travel and this movie brakes plenty of my time travel rules but it certainly wasn’t the end of the world. This is a fun, well written movie. 8
Directing/Acting - I’ve got to give credit where credit is due. I genuinely felt like There were two people on screen playing Barry Allen. Ezra Miller gave a great performance. The rest of the cast was great too 8
Editing - I’m going to call this a triumph in editing. This movie took us to so many places and included two Ezra Millers and was easy to follow and didn’t lose me at all. 10
Soundtrack - The surround effects will be something to behold on a great home theater. 10
Will I watch it Again - There will certainly be plenty to dig out of this story but I don’t see it holding up great to repeat visits. 8
My Personal Score - I have to start with my own frustration with Ezra Miller as a person. Ezra fought with and robbed people he was living with, fought in bars, kidnapped a girl, and it seems like the movie industry didn’t care. Having said that I kind of hate watched the first 20 or minutes. Ultimately this will stand as the best DC movie yet. And yes, I’m including Wonder Woman in my assessment. The acting was great and finally seeing Michael Keaton reprise his roll as Batman was incredible. I could have done without the strange CGI cameo by Nicholas Cage. You’ll See. This is a great big screen popcorn movie that will make any Comic Book and movie fan happy. 8
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 67 of 80 points 83.75%
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Story - Transformers: Rise of the Beasts finally joins the forces of the Optimus Prime and Optimus Primal. We are taken on a massive journey to defeat the terrible new foe Scourge. Unfortunately it tries to tell this huge story over the course of a 2 hour movie. These movies have been bloated and convoluted but this takes it to the next level, Too bad because I think there is a fun adventure in there somewhere.. 4
Cinematography/Costumes - What a cool movie to look at. I expect this to be a video demo for years to come. Beautiful. 10
Writing - This movie had 9 different writers and it feels like it. The story senselessly moves from part to part like everyone had their own idea of the story this movie was telling. The two main characters Noah and Arcee are shockingly unlikable people. Noah is a struggling man that claims to care about his little brother but instantly turns to crime and ditches his brother like an old wrapper. Arcee is an underappreciated museum worker who brakes into the science lab then later takes 100% of the credit for the discovery of a new archeological find leaving poor Arcee with nothing. Literally at one point there is a huge fight that just stops suddenly so they can progress the story. I can go on and on but I have to stop somewhere. Ugh! 1
Directing/Acting - The acting was fine but these are very unlikable characters. I don’t think the director had a whole lot to work with story wise though. Movie by committee? 7
Editing - What were they thinking. This could have been a fantastic trilogy. Instead it’s a barely watchable mess crammed into two hours. This might be the most broken movie I’ve ever seen. 1
Soundtrack - The surround effects will be something to behold on a great home theater. 10
Will I watch it Again - I wanted to leave the theater about 10 minutes into this terrible movie. This will be relegated to AV stores and home theaters across the nation as a really expensive demo. 1
My Personal Score - This movie is exactly why I created my review process. I don’t think its fair that movies don’t get credit for what they did right. This movie is beautiful. The CGI is fantastic aside from the weight of the robots that sometimes are very floaty. The sound effects are amazing. Finally weapons that sound dangerous and explosions that feel explosive. Unfortunately the rest of the movie is a travesty of terrible characters, terrible writing and editing that makes you feel like you missed most of the movie. I’m not sure how this happens. Somehow not one of the hundreds of people involved didn’t say, wow, we might want to rethink this. At least there was a 10 or so minute scene towards the end that I enjoyed. Painful. 2
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 36 of 80 points 45%
Spider Man Across The Spider-Verse
Story - Spider Man Across The Spider-Verse continues the story of Miles Morales. Miles damaged the multiverse the last go round and it’s come back to haunt him. He and the other Spider Man variants must fight the new villain The Spot. The story is the first part in an epic adventure. This story takes us places we don’t expect and will prosper for it. 8
Cinematography/Costumes - The art style of these movies is the embodiment of a comic book on the big screen. It’s absolutely beautiful to behold. Ignore that it’s a comic style movie because it is stunning. 10
Directing/Acting - This casting and direction has been fantastic since the first film. The villains feel like villains and the heroes might just throw you for a loop this time. 10
Editing - It’s such a beautiful style but the story did fall a little at the 3/4 mark. Nothing terrible but it did find myself zoning out a little. 9
Soundtrack - The surround effects will be something to behold on a great home theater. 10
Will I watch it Again - It’s going to need another visit to take the story in completely and should absolutely hold up to repeat visits. 9
My Personal Score - This is what Spider Man and any comic book movie should feel like. Huge adventure and drama. Compelling characters that we want more of. I can’t say this was a perfect movie but it was awfully close. The art style is so cool and pops from the screen in a way that’s unique to this series. I have to admit that I was disappointed to learn that it was the first movie in a series because this will not stand alone as a story but the story so far is fantastic. I’m especially loving the Gwen Stacy character arc and this story will throw you for a loop in ways you will never expect. I can’t wait to see where this is going to take us. 9
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 65 of 70 points 92.85%
The Little Mermaid
Story - The Little Mermaid is the touching tale of a mermaid who falls in love with a human after saving him. We see the impetuous Ariel choose legs but no voice by the evil Ursula after her father explodes in a fit of rage after finding out that she had saved him. It’s a timeless tale. 9
Cinematography/Costumes - This is an incredibly beautiful movie with a few small faults. There are a few scenes where it’s just too dark. This the point in one scene I didn’t see Ariel because she was so camouflaged. Also Flounder was a zombie fish and hard to watch. That said just wait until you see the Under The Sea performance. Absolutely stunning. 10
Directing/Acting - I can’t decide if it was the director or Halle Bailey but her performance was missing the charm when she didn’t have a voice. I have to give a huge shoutout to Melissa McCarthy because she was incredible as Ursula. I hope to see her in an Ursula origin story. I just wish I could have bought the second act of the Ariel performance. 7
Editing - The editing was great. Nothing to fault here. 10
Soundtrack - This will be a fun one on a great home theater system. Big booming bass and classic songs. Fun use of surround sound too. 10
Songs - I’m adding a special category for the songs since they are such an important part of a Disney cartoon. There were times of brilliance but my overall is meh. Under the sea was great in the original but this was one of my favorite movie scenes of all time. 7
Will I watch it Again - It’s not one that’s going to get a lot of replay from me and you’re going to hate the Under The Sea scene after your kids watch it for the 1000th time. 5
My Personal Score - The Little Mermaid is a truly beautiful story and this had so much potential for greatness but misses the mark for me. Halle Bailey was great as a mermaid but felt flat when she got her legs. The real stand outs for me were Sebastian and I can’t say enough good things about Ursula. I shouldn’t spend the majority of the film rooting for the villain. Probably not what they were going for. Oh well. I’ve struggled because there where things that I absolutely loved but there were things that just didn’t work for me. 7
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 65 of 80 points 81.25%
Fast X- Part One
Story - Fast X wasn’t called part one officially but it is the first part of a bigger story. I wish I had known going so I’m adding it to my review. Fast X has Dom and the family in the fight of their lives as they take on the powerful new enemy Dante Reyes. Separated in London Dom will do anything to protect his family. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - What a cool looking movie. We are taken all over the world with the cars and family in tow along the way. 10
Directing/Acting - The ever expanding family keeps getting better and better. These films are filled with heavy hitters. 10
Editing - The franchise has always been a little chaotic and this is no exception. It’s definitely a little hard to follow at times. and I tuned out a few times because of it. 6
Soundtrack - Great effects and latin music abound. This will be a solid test for a good home theater system. 10
Will I watch it Again - I’ll watch it again but a lot of you won’t. It’s just a little too messy. 6
My Personal Score - The Fast and Furious movies are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me and it seems like I’m not alone. They’re far from perfect movies and this is no different. But they’re fun. Sometimes that’s enough. Sit down, eat some popcorn and have a Pepsi. Revel in the noises, beautiful cars, and beautiful people. Laugh at the lunacy of characters that you’ve seen blow up come back for the next movie without a scratch. So far we’ve seen cars catch airplanes, cars surfed as they jump off a bridge, cars rip steel and concrete vaults out of the wall, and cars in space. Where will this crazy series take us next. I always joke about Zombie Han and have a feeling we will be meeting many more zombies. If you love huge action flicks go see this in theaters asap. 8
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 57 of 70 points 81.42%
The Covenant
Story - Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant is set during the Afghanistan war following the story of Interpreter Ahmed played by Dar Salim. I’d divide the story into two halves. First we have Ahmed fighting to save John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) after their troop was attacked by Taliban forces. The second half is John fighting to save Ahmed and his family from certain death by the Taliban. The first half shows the horrors of war in a very realistic and desperate way. It’s scary in the way we should expect from war. The second half is a little bit Rambo. It’s okay but such a letdown after the first half. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - I can’t fault the look of the movie. The American and Taliban outfits are perfect. The locations are amazing the that high desert way. I wouldn’t want to be there. 10
Directing/Acting - Jake and Dar are both fantastic actors. Guy Ritchie clearly has a great way with his actors and it all pulls together into a great performance for everyone. 10
Editing - The movie flows great although it gets dull at the 3/4 mark. There was important world building but it’s been done better and lets the film down. 7
Soundtrack - There was plenty of solid surround effects but where is the impact. There were kick drums that hit harder than the explosions and weapons play. I have this complaint from most war movies. Gun’s are intense and they should come across as intense on screen. 8
Will I watch it Again - If the whole movie was like the first half I’d give it a 10 but it wasn’t. Ultimately the second half drags it down. 6
My Personal Score - I’ve already touched on the two halves of this movie but it’s important. The first half was one of, if not the best war time movie I’ve ever seen. War isn’t fun and this movie shows it at its terrible worst. The fight to survive after being defeated was incredible on screen. The second half became an action hero/one man army story. It looses it’s intensity and I found myself throwing my hands up in frustration. The story also gets really dull at the 3/4 mark and I kept wanting to check my watch. I’m going to rate the first half with a resounding 10 but the second half gets a 6 from me. 8
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 56 of 70 points 80%
Guardians Of The Galaxy 3
Story - Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is the continuation of the story of the Guardians of the Galaxy and MCU universe. 3’s primary story has the Guardians working to save Rocket after he is injured by Adam Warlock while also telling the story of how he came to be. There are a few other subplots that are important for the greater MCU story which is the movies greatest hurdle. If you’re not already versed in the stories it could lose you quickly. That said, if you have been keeping up it’s a very fun adventure that will pull at you’re heart strings. 8
Cinematography/Costumes - As we should expect the look of everything in this movie is top notch. We are taken to several beautiful and imaginative locations throughout the story and the costumes are great as well with the one exception of the Orgoscope Sentries. Those costumes were a bit much. 9.5
Directing/Acting - This is a great cast and it shows. My only gripe is with the cameos of Nathan Fillion and Sylvester Stallone. I love these guys but something should have done to obscure their appearance. As it is, it takes you out of the story but only briefly. 10
Editing - This is a tricky one for me. Don’t expect to come into this story cold because it will leave you behind. There is also a lot going on so bathroom brakes will be a problem because you will miss important details. That said I found the interweaving of the stories great and understand that some of the story has yet to be told. That said the editing was fantastic given the enormity of the story being told. 9
Soundtrack - Come on. The Guardians of the Galaxy series has used classic tunes better than virtually any movie or series. The movie is full of great surround effects as well. Prepare to be dazzled by the soundtrack in this one. 10
Will I watch it Again - There is so much going on here there is no way you are going to take it all in in one sitting. I expect this fun action adventure to hold up very well to repeat viewings. 10
My Personal Score - I left this movie so happy. It’s such a fun Sci fi action adventure that I have a hard time thinking anyone would leave this one disappointed. The characters are over the top and fun. You will laugh and you will cry. The stakes for rocket feel huge even if some of the other characters wear great plot armor. I wouldn’t hesitate to take my kids to it either. I’m happy to say I’ve seen some great movies lately and this is one of them. 9.5
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 66 of 70 points 94.28%
Peter Pan & Wendy
Story - Peter Pan & Wendy is based on the timeless tale of Peter Pan. Peter Pan meets new friends and brings them back to Neverland with him. Once in Neverland they have a swashbuckling adventure with Peter Pan and the lost kids against the terrible Captain Hook. Unfortunately this story takes liberties it shouldn’t have and looses so much of the originals magic. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - The costumes are fantastic and the set pieces are great but it’s all brown. This is supposed to be a magical tale of a magical place. The real world is supposed to be drab to make Neverland all the more brilliant. I’m going to beat this drum a lot here but the magic is lost. 6
Directing/Acting - It’s always challenging to find children who can carry a movie. Unfortunately this movie did not find the cast to carry the film. Even the great Jude Law couldn’t pull this thing together. 6
Editing - This movie is a cutting room mess. The story is hard to follow and ignores its primary audience. Kids. 4
Soundtrack - Hey. Finally a category the movie does right Fun use of Atmos effects and surround sound abound in this movie. 9
Will I watch it Again - It was hard enough to get through this mess the first time. 3
My Personal Score - Peter Pan & Wendy has all of the ingredients for greatness. A timeless story that could have easily been tweaked. Great examples of the story already told on screen in the likes of the original Disney cartoon and the great Hook. It’s a shame to me that a movie like this can get by the higher up's at a giant company like Disney. They should be ashamed to have released it without proper screening. Any good critical group should be able to point out that the magic is lost in this film. 4
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 39 of 70 points 55.71%
Sisu
Story - Sisu is a cautionary tale reminding not to underestimate people Following the story of Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommla) Sisu is a disillusioned Finnish warrior trying to leave a life of violence to be a minor. Striking it rich he is confronted by a band of German soldiers on his way back to civilization. Unfortunately for the Germans Sisu is a man bent on survival. 8
Cinematography/Costumes - this is a seriously beautiful movie. The Germans Nazzi’s are scary and Sisu looks the part. The beautiful locations really steal the show. 10
Directing/Acting - Jorma Tommla is a fantastic silent warrior. everything fits into place nicely and the rest of the performances are strong. 9
Editing - The story unfold nicely on screen.. 10
Soundtrack - I have one gripe and it’s common among gun based action movies like this. The gunshots from the big guns need more impact. otherwise the use of surround sound and sounds is great. 9
Will I watch it Again - It’s not one that I’m going to rush out to see again but it was plenty of fun in a very mindless way. 7
My Personal Score - Sisu is a fun story but know that it expects you to completely shut off the rational side of your brain. Susu is immortal, so no matter what is thrown his way he can defeat it. It’s fun in a cartoon way. It feels great in the same way as a Quentin Tarantino movie. The good guys and bad guys are very clearly defined and the payoff is great. 8
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 61 of 70 points 87.14%
Evil Dead Rise
Story - Evil Dead Rise revisits the Evil Dead stories. This go round a buy finds the Necronomicon and records with readings of the text. After opening the cursed book and playing the records he unleashes an evil upon his family. The story is silly and fun at its heart which is why the originals are so beloved. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - Set in an old apartment building the movie has a little of the originals real world feel even if it’s no longer set in an old cabin. 7
Directing/Acting - Unfortunately the acting and direction were a let down. It picks up mid way through the story but it made the biggest mistake you can make with a movie like this. It forgot to make you care about the characters. 5
Editing - The movie is edited well. It follows Sam Raimi’s style of cuts that do a good job of creating tension. 9
Soundtrack - I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Horror movies have so much potential to tell a great story with their soundtrack. This one doesn’t disappoint with great quiet conversations and surround effects that pull you right into the story. 10
Will I watch it Again - Nope. This wasn’t a great film. There’s not going to be much to dig out of it either. Shame because I love the first two. 3
My Personal Score - We have been on a bit of a horror movie bender lately. It’s strange to me that they almost never come out in October when we expect them. I’ve seen a few that have blown my mind with great stories, direction, art, etc. Unfortunately this isn’t one of them. I found myself waiting for these completely forgettable characters to die so the movie would end. Thankfully it got better as it went but the first half was so ineffective that it didn’t matter. Shame because the original introduced us to Bruce Campbell and he became the Ash we all love in Evil Dead 2. Bummer Sam Raimi. You should have ren the hemp on this one. 6
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 47 of 70 points 67.14%
Nefarious
Story - Nefarious follows Dr. James Martin as he evaluates Nefarious to determine if he is fit for execution. The story largely takes place within a prison cell with Nefarious trying to convince Dr. Martin that he is fit for execution and is a demon bent on taking humanities humanity. It’s a creepy take with a heavy message. 10
Cinematography/Costumes - This is an interesting one because there is nothing special about what’s on screen but it’s completely appropriate for the story. The story is almost completely held within a prison. 8
Directing/Acting - It’s a shame that this is a horror movie with a message because Sean Patrick Flanery puts on the performance of a generation. He is so powerful on screen that it doesn’t need anything else to lean on. Everyone else is great too but Sean’s performance is special. 10
Editing - Beautifully cut this story unfolds in a way never before done to this degree. 10
Soundtrack - Not much here to talk about but nothing that takes you out of the moment either. 7
Will I watch it Again - I want to say yes but I also want to say no. It is a very uncomfortable tale to watch. There is also nothing to dig out of the story aside from that incredible performance. 7
My Personal Score - Immediately after watching this I cheated myself and looked at Rotten Tomatoes reviews and saw exactly what I expected. It’s a shame to see professional reviewers score this so low because it deserves to be seen. The story was sharp and beautifully executed. The message definitely hits hard and might rub some the wrong way but it shouldn’t detract from the incredible film that I just saw. Prepare to feel very uncomfortable when you watch this but it is the most powerful piece of film making I’ve seen since American History X. In a scale of 10 I’m giving this bonus points. 12
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 64 of 70 points 91.42%
The Popes Exorcist
Story - The Popes Exorcist is an interesting horror story that borrows heavily from Christianity and its past. Russell Crowe plays Father Gabriel Amorth, the Popes Exorcist, as he attempts to save young boy and his family from an apparent demonic possession. The story’s tension builds as we learn the history of the Abby that the boy’s family is restoring and the demon gains more and more power. Truly a scary movie the scariest I’ve seen since The Conjuring. 10
Cinematography/Costumes - The costumes and locations are a sight to behold. These are some of the scariest places I’ve seen in any movie and an absolute visual treat. 10
Directing/Acting - What a great cast. I was particularly surprised by Peter DeSouza. The previews did not do him justice. He was every bis as scary as young Linda Blair in The Exorcist. Russell Crowe was his usual great self and there are jokes built into the story that align with his own past. The only dig for me was the daughter. She was good, just not great. 9
Editing - This was a dark and scary story that takes us for a journey and just doesn’t falter. There is a lot going on in this tale and it never leaves us behind. 9
Soundtrack - Scary movies have my favorite use of surround sound and this doesn’t disappoint. I wish our theater had Atmos because it would have taken things up even more. Scary, very scary. 9
Will I watch it Again - This is one that will hold up to repeat viewings. There is so much going on in the Abby and with the demon that it’s impossible to think you wouldn’t find new thing to dig out of the visuals. The story also is sharp and witty. 9
My Personal Score - I can’t praise this movie enough. It’s definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but it was one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. Father Amorth was clearly written specifically for Russell Crowe and I love the digs it takes on his past. The locations were beautiful. The acting was great. The story plays with themes that most people will understand but won’t go over well with certain groups. If you love horror movies give this one a shot. just be prepared to give it all of your attention because there is a lot going on in this one. 10
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 66 of 70 points 94.28%
Renfield
Story - Renfield is a dark comedy following Dracula’s aid Renfield. After hundreds of years Renfield finally wants learns that he needs to fight back from his master as Dracula plots to take over the world. The story is silly but fun and genuinely funny at times. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - A little but of a gore fest the locations are dark and moody where appropriate. I enjoyed the normal locations like the coffee shop and apartment corridor. The costumes were great throughout. 9
Directing/Acting - With such a great cast it is fair to expect great acting the the movie delivers. You can tell Nicolas Cage is having a blast playing Dracula. I wish Shohreh Aghdashloo was given more screen time because her character was fantastic. The direction was also fantastic. 9
Editing - There was a lot of story to be told in a short amount of time. The editing was great. You almost expect to see spliced out moments but this story was very cohesive. 9
Soundtrack - Great use of surround sound and plenty of big action sequences make this a really fun movie to hear. 9
Will I watch it Again - I’m already ready to watch it again. It’s definitely dark and I’m not sure there’s much to dig out of the story but it was a fun and funny dark comedy. 8
My Personal Score - This was the first time in a long time that a dark comedy was actually a dark comedy. The story was a fun gorefest. The kind of movie Cocaine Bear wished it was and it’s very self aware which is something Cage is great at. The rest of the cast fit very well and I had genuine emotions throughout the movie. It’s funny to say that it was telling a morality tale but the movie had a pretty heavy handed message throughout which might normally have been a negative but here I saw it as a positive. 8
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 59 of 70 points 84.28%
Malum
Story - Malum Follows the story Jessica Loren. A police officer on her first night on the job. She volunteers for a night at her fathers old precinct where he had gone mad and killed several fellow officers before committing suicide. He had just saved 3 girls from a cult that intended to use her in a satanic ritual. Things go bad for Jessica as she it appears the evil that followed her father never left the precinct. It’s a fun concept that could have been great but was just mediocre. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - Certainly this was a low budget film but the look of it was fantastic. The building is in disrepair making it an already creepy place to be. The costumes were appropriate for the movie. 9
Directing/Acting - Unfortunately the direction was the downfall of this creep fest. If you’ve ever played a video game it has that feel. That is to say the story moves from scary moments to not scary moments in a instant. It was very jarring to have Jessica go from a terrifying moment to acting like nothing happened. That said I home that Jessica Sula who plays Jessica can find a great roll in another film soon. She was great when she wasn’t ruined by the poor direction. 4
Editing - It;/’s a fever dream of a story that reminds me a lot of the great movie 1408. The editing was great for a horror movie. 9
Soundtrack - The soundtrack di what it needed with creepy sounds and your typical sudden and jarring effects. It’s not a surround sound tour deforce but fine. 7
Will I watch it Again - There’s nothing to dig out of this movie and not one I plan to come around to any time soon. 4
My Personal Score - I’m a bit of a horror movie junkie but this movie misses so bad for me. It had some great jump scares and it would be a blast to watch in a crowded theater but that’s about it. It’s a shame because I really do think Jessica Sula was great. It has its moments but forgets to stay in the moment. 6
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 46 of 70 points 65.71%
Super Mario Brothers
Story - Super Mario Bros. follows the story of Mario, Luigi, as they get sucked through the sewer pipes into a magical works. Mario must join Princess Peach and a band of new friends to save Luigi and the Mushroom Kingdom from the evil Bowser. The story is fun but definitely geared towards kids. It’s smart for Nintendo to keep it pure family fare. The movie fully understands it’s key audience and stays there. The story takes us through the worlds of the games including Super Mario Bros. Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. and more. 7
Cinematography/Costumes - The animators brought the story to life in exactly the way we should expect. These games are already beautiful and vibrant and the animation turns that up to 11. 10
Directing/Acting - With a great cast like this it’s hard to go wrong but I kind of wish they’d have kept the silly accents throughout the movie. It’s a minor gripe but it didn’t feel quite right to me. 9
Editing - It’s a really fun movie but I wish it had had more time to tell the story. I have a feeling there will be a directors cut that fleshes it out a little more. 8
Soundtrack - It’s Super Mario Bros. and it sounds like Super Mario Bros. That’s fantastic. 10
Will I watch it Again - It’s a beautiful movie to look and I think there will be tons of easter eggs to find. 7
My Personal Score - I remember very vividly playing Mario Bros. then Super Mario Bros. and on and on. These have always been fun games and it’s great to finally see these great characters treated right on the big screen. The movie is full of fan service but I do wish that it hadn’t ignored big kids like me as much as it did. I’m not ashamed to profess my love of kids movies but this really feels geared towards little kids. It’s fun and beautiful. It takes us to places that we have explored so much. The movie was close to perfection but there is a little magic that got lost in translation. 7
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 58 of 70 points 82.85%
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Story - Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves follows the story of a band of thieves led by Edgin Garvis (Chris Pine) as he attempts to get back into the life of his daughter. Things get intense as he finds his old team members have lied to his daughter and have a new plot of their own. It’s light and fun for the whole family. 8
Cinematography/Costumes - I felt like I had been propelled into the stories. The books are full of whimsical fantasy imagery and this movie brings it to the big screen. There were so many fun and creative characters thrown into the mix and the art design was spot on for a Dungeons & Dragons story. 10
Directing/Acting - What a great cast. Everyone in this cast is a great up and comer or firmly established actor. The direction was also spot on. 10
Editing - The editing too was top notch. I never once found myself looking for my watch or feeling like things were out of place. 10
Soundtrack - I know I’m easy on this category but the way I see it I start with a 10 and take away if the music and sounds distract me in the wrong way. The sound was fantastic in this movie. 10
Will I watch it Again - This is a hard yes for me. It’s fun and gets better and better until the thrilling finally. There will be tons to dig out of the imagery in this movie. 9
My Personal Score - I have to say I hated the previews. I also felt like the cast interviews were painting the picture of a “woke” mess. Going into the movie I was expecting more from the last attempt to tell a Dungeons & Dragons story. I’m so glad to find out I had nothing to fear. The story dives right into the pages of these fun fantasy books. Sure the stories are a little silly but they are proper adventures, the characters are fun, and the locations are incredible. I think I needed to hate the movie in the beginning but its fun, quirky characters and story sucked me in more and more as the story progressed. It’s a fun, family adventure that I hope draws tons of people back into theaters. 10
Overall Score - This leads me to my graded score 67 of 70 points 95.7%
