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Reviews
IF (2024)
An uneven film!
If had so much potential but ultimately falls flat. With an allstar cast and a great Director behind the camera, had all signs of being a great film, instead the opposite happened. This movie was marketed as a family film for all ages, instead it really is more for adults then anything due to the serious tone of the film. The story is disjointed and all over the place throughout. If Dom's.mt know what it's identity is supposed to be. One minute it seems like a kids movie and the next moment it takes a little mature tone. If probably should have been developed just a little bit longer before being created. If gets a low 4 stars out of 10.
Brothers (2024)
A very uneven film.
Brothers boast a strong cast but sadly it doesn't all add up to a good movie. In fact the film is somewhat of a trainwreck with it's cringe worthy dialogue and unfunny scenes. I really was looking forward to this movie when I watched the previews and thought it would be a good way to spend a couple hours turning my brain off. Instead I was counting down for this movie to end. Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage do not have good chemistry in this one. The action is generic and plot predictable. I can see why this movie was sent straight to streaming on Amazon Prime. Brothers gets a failing 4 stars out of 10.
Gladiator II (2024)
A solid and entertaining sequel!
Gladiator II is the long awaited sequel to the first perfect epic film Gladiator. There have been a lot of rumblings from audiences of there should have even been a sequel to the first film. I'm glad to report this film is very good. Now it might not be perfect or is good as the original but it still is a very entertaining sequel. I really enjoyed the cast here but Denzel Washington really shines the most and seems to be having the most fun. Paul Mescal does a solid job as the lead here but not on the same level as Russell Crowe's character from the original and that's ok. Ridley Scott has shown with this movie that he has not lost a step behind the camera. My only minor complaint is the storyline is very similar to the first film. I ultimately wish they would have moved away from any connection to Russell Crowe's character and went in a different direction. Other then that I really loved this film. The action scenes are brutal and top notch. Gladiator II gets a very high 9 stars out of 10.
Gladiator (2000)
A perfect epic!
Gladiator is a film that I can watch multiple times and it still holds up everytime. This was the film that really cemented Russell Crowe as a big time movie star. Here he really shines with his acting chops and charisma. All performances from the cast and production are top notch. This is Ridley Scott at his highest peak with filmmaking. The drama and battle scenes are hard hitting. Every scene carries so much weight and so much at stake. Even if you're not a fan of this genre of film you will probably be hooked by the storyline of lust for power and revenge. Gladiator is one of those rare perfect epics. Gladiator gets a perfect 10 stars out of 10. This film also goes into my top 10 favorite movies of all time.
Music by John Williams (2024)
A great documentary!
Music by John Williams is a terrific documentary about the greatest music composer who has ever lived. Think about the most legendary music for a film and it will be from John Williams. From Jaws, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, Jurrasic Park, Home Alone, etc, the list goes on. John Williams has made memorable music for all of his life and we should all be greatful to have had the chance to listen to it. This documentary really does a good job of showing where John came from and the journey he traveled to get where he is today. I really enjoyed this documentary a lot and it's one for the whole family. Music by John Williams gets a perfect 10 stars out of 10.
Champions (2023)
A heart warming film!
Champions was a very enjoyable film with moments that will make you laugh and also melt your heart. Woody Harrelson is our lead who is sentenced to community service time due to a drunk and driving incident. Rather then spend time in jail Woody opts to coach a local team whose players have intellectual disabilities. I went into this movie thinking it was going to be a total slapstick comedy due to the fact that it's from one of the creative minds behind comedy classics like Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin, and Something About Marry. Instead this movie had moments that will really tug at your heart strings. Champions is a great watch and I would certainly see it again. Champions gets a high 7 stars out of 10.
Woman of the Hour (2023)
A solid directorial debut!
Anna Kendricks's directorial debut of "Woman of the Hour" is a solid and sometimes flat experience. There are strong performances throughout and the storyline is based off of real life events of a real serial killer who may have killed up to 130 women in the 70's. When the movie ended I ended up asking myself what did I really get from this film. I felt fristurated as law enforcement did nothing with tips that they were getting and just discarding early on. They could have prevented more murders from happening but they failed to act. The whole dating game segment in the film is pretty interesting and there are some really intense Assualt/killing scenes in the film. Anna Kendrick does not show blood/gore but her talent behind the camera captures the emotional scenes that happen. This was a nice directorial debut from Anna Kendrick but I probably wouldn't rewatch this film anytime soon. Woman of the Hour gets a solid 7 stars out of 10 from me.
Trap (2024)
Don't fall for the Trap!
Trap is a very interesting film. It may not be good but it is certainly interesting. I got to give it to M. Night Shyamalan that he comes out with original storylines and creates something different from the typical Hollywood template. The problem with Trap is that nothing comes to a surprise because the previews have already ruined the surprise of the film or at least what I thought was the surprise of the film. If you don't know already our lead character played by Josh Hartnett who lives two different lives, a family man by day and a serial killer by night known as the Butcher. The film confirms this early on and takes the fun out of the film. Josh Harrnett is the only one here who delivers a good performance. Everyone else seems to be reading off of the teleprompter. The ending is absolutely ludicrous and unbelievable by any means. Trap was a film that I was looking forward to but ended up not enjoying at all. Trap gets a low 4 stars out of 10.
Twisters (2024)
Entertaining but Original was better.
Twisters is a fun, wild, and entertaining ride following a bunch of young storm chasers. The CGI and special effects here are top notch with action throughout. The movie even has a few twists and intense moments where you believe our leads can be killed off at any moment. My complaint here is the storyline is a little half baked and not as strong as the original. I felt like I connected more with the original film's cast compared to this new entry. Still I had a fun time overall and would say this movie has rewatchability. Twisters is the long awaited sequel that may not always live up to it's predecessor but still you can have fun with it. Twisters gets a solid 7 stars out of 10 from me.
Venom: The Last Dance (2024)
100% harmless entertaining fun!
Venom: The Last Dance appears to be Tom Hardy's last solo Venom movie of his 3 film trilogy. The latest film ups the ante on the humor, action, and ludicrous storyline that has so many plot holes and predictability. Still this is probably the most entertaining Venom movie of the series. Tom Hardy is having so much fun in this movie and wants the viewer to enjoy themselves as well. As lot of recent comic book movies take itself seriously this one certainly does not. One of my biggest complaints of the film is the main bad guy is a minor footnote throughout almost as if they are setting up for the Villian to reappear in another Marvel film. I applaud this movie for having a very brisk runtime at 109 minutes. I think alot ot other movies need to follow the blueprint here of shorter runtimes instead of 3 hour epics. I had a good time with Venom: The Last Dance and was able to turn my brain off during it and enjoy everything. Venom: The Last Dance gets a entertaining 7 stars out of 10.
Copshop (2021)
An entertaining action flick!
Copshop was a surprisingly good action film from start to finish. Director Joe Carnahan know's how to craft a good action movie and does so very well here. Alexis Louder really shines as the standout here and is fun to watch in every scene. Frank Grillo and Gerard Butler are also really good here. In fact this may be some of Gerard Butler's best work in a while. The story is pretty easy to follow here and won't win any awards for best screenplay. Still the action and the dialogue are very entertaining. The movie also flys by fast with a very nice runtime. I really enjoyed Copshop and I know action fans will enjoy it as well. Copshop gets a solid 7 stars out of 10 from me.
The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024)
Insults the audience
The Strangers: Chapter I should have never been made. The first movie a few years back wasn't even the greatest but did it's job. Now fast forward to where we are at now with this unwanted sequel. The movie adds nothing to the first one and is very predictable and insults the viewers intelligence. Also the performances in this movie are very bad. Our leads break all the rules for being in a horror film. Also this film is really not scary at all and fails to even have any jump scares. The ending leaves off with a part 2 which I really hope never sees the light of day. The Strangers: Chapter 1 gets a very low rating of 2 stars out of 10.
Speak No Evil (2022)
A very dark thriller!
Speak No Evil is a very dark and morbid thriller that mostly does things right but does have some missteps. The movie has very strong performances from all of it's actors. The movie is mainly in English but there are some subtitles because technically this is a Danish film. The reason why most of the film being in English is because the other family in the film is a Dutch family. Be aware this movie is very dark in tone and has multiple scenes that can be very hard to watch from the viewer. I was not a huge fan of the ending. Still this is a very well made thriller. Speak No Evil gets a very positive 8 stars out of 10.
Speak No Evil (2024)
A great remake!
Speak No Evil is a remake of 2022 Danish film which was also very good. This remake is dark, thrilling, and a bit different then the original. James Mcavoy gives a chilling and scary performance here. You just never know when his character is about to snap. This movie is about a family who befriend another family while on a trip to Italy. Soon the family we are following is invited to James Mcavoy's family farm house. Soon it becomes clear that something is quite off. This movie is very dark, thrilling, and an edge of your seat type of film. I enjoyed the differences that the Director implemented into this movie compared to the original. Speak No Evil gets a positive rating of 8 stars out of 10.
Inside Out 2 (2024)
A perfect sequel!
Inside Out 2 is the latest Disney Pixar film that is a massive hit for the studio. Even after getting this sequel 10 years later it was still worth the wait. Perfect writing and a compelling story is what makes this such a joy to watch. You will laugh, relate to, and probably shed a tear or two. I was a big fan of the the first movie and I feel like this 2nd entry elevates the source material to another level. Pixar seems to always have the perfect formula for it's films and Inside Out 2 is certainly no exception. This is a perfect movie for the whole family. Inside out 2 receives a perfect 10 stars out of 10 from me.
The Mummy (2017)
Not the worst but takes itself to seriously.
The Mummy certainly isn't the worst movie ever but isn't really that good either. It's really in between and somehow is one of my least favorite Tom Cruise movies. Tom Cruise can't even save this movie from hitting the bottom. What was supposed to be the kickstart of Universal's monster films ended up sidelining that plan permanently. The problem with this film is it doesn't know what it quite wants to be. Does it want to be that Tom Cruise action flick or does it want to go more on the horror side? The film does have some cool moments and nice action set pieces but nothing that will raise the bar. This might have been a film where The Mummy remake sounded much better on paper then on the screen. The Mummy gets a mediocre 5 stars out of 10.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
The Franchise is not letting up yet!
With so many movie franchises getting to be so tiresome and exhausting, Bad Boys: Ride or Die continues to be the exception. The last film was an entertaining return to form action film that was well received by the fan base. This latest entry is is very similar but somehow is even better then the last movie. This one brings the chemistry, laughs, and action that we all know and love from our Bad Boys while also trying to be a little deep as well. I will say I was fully entertained throughout the entire runtime of the movie. Bad Boys: Ride or Die features some cool camera shots and creative action scenes that made my jaw drop. I reccomend this movie! Bad Boys: Ride or Die gets a high 8 stars out of 10 from me.
Rebel Ridge (2024)
A perfectly made film!
Rebel Ridge is certainly one of Netflix's best films of 2024. This movie is very well written, casted perfectly, all the actors bring their A+ game, and is very intense. Some may find this film a little on the slow side or boring but I found it to be very intense. After the first 20 minutes this movie really puts it in high gear and never lets up. You really start to dig deep into the characters and what their motivations are. Aaron Pierre is the huge standout here as he really elevates in every scene he is in. I see more projects coming for him in the near future. Rebel Ridge is a great way to spend a couple of hours and gets a perfect 10 stars out of 10 from me.
Caged Birds (2021)
A very good independent film!
Caged Birds is a very good independent film with strong performances throughout from it's young leads. The film takes a realistic approach in showing how a group of young teens stay together after killing two other teens who were bullying them in a prank gone wrong. The movie is a perfect length at 88 minutes. My only complaint is some of the other side characters in this film do not match the energy and strong performances as our leads. Other then that this movie is a very good watch and I'm glad I came across this while scrolling through Amazon Prime. Caged Birds gets a very high 9 stars out of 10 from me.
The Hunted (2024)
Could have been better.
The Hunted feels like a movie that should have been a short instead of a full length feature film at 90 minutes. The movie starts off with inserting you right into the middle of the action with migrants on a boat when it capsizes. Soon the migrants are rescued by Europeans another boat who take them in and feed/shelter them. Soon they realize that not everything is as it seems. They learn the Europeans are going to hunt them for sport. You can try and make out what the film is trying to say here but never quite really gains enough traction. Instead what we get is our the migrants running while being shot at constantly. The movie is difficult to watch with it's content and feels unnecessary. I am giving The Hunter a low 2 stars out of 10.
The Union (2024)
A very bad film!
The Union which should have been pretty decent with Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry instead becomes a trainwreck real quick. The story feels like it was completed by A. I. and the action scenes are very generic. Nothing about this film is enjoyable until you get to the end credits. I feel like I wasted over an hour of my time watching this because you can tell the stars in this were not even invested. The acting is very wooden throughout and not believable for one second. In fact I guessed the whole plot and twist within the first 10 minutes of the movie. The Union is another movie did from Netflix. The Union gets 2 very low stars out of 10.
Arthur the King (2024)
A feel good film!
Arthur the King is a film based on a true story about a professional adventure racer and his team who befriend an abandoned dog during their race. The team names the dog Arthur and he helps motivate the team through the rest of the race. The movie's premise sounds like it should be a total cliche film but it's actually pretty heartfelt/warming movie. Mark Walhberg does his best to deliver a decent performance here and he delivers for the most part. There are moments of laughter, sadness, and drama throughout. I really enjoyed how they shot this race in the Dominican Republic. Arthur The King gets a high 8 stars out of 10 from me.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
One of the best in the Alien series!
Alien: Romulus exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed it very much. This was the Alien movie that I have been waiting for. The scares were there and the action was top notch. It amazes me how much they were able to do here with such a low budget. The practical effects were amazing and looked very much real. This film also does a great job with connecting all of the other Alien movies together. What I really enjoyed here was how the cast was not supposed to be military trained and were just like your average young adults trying to make a living. There are some really awesome moments in this film where my jaw had dropped, especially during that zero gravity scene. Alien: Romulus is a perfect example of how you can make a great film with a lower budget. It gets a high 9 stars out of 10 from me.
Challengers (2024)
Strong Performances!
Challengers is drama/sports film that is invested more in the characters then the actual sport they are playing. Don't get me wrong there are plenty of tennis moments throughout the film but it's how our characters interact with each other is what is more fascinating. Zendaya leads in this movie where she gives a very strong performance and you can't always tell what her motivation is as she plays the part so well. I felt the script was a little uneven here and there but for the most part it works because of the actors on sceeen. Challengers may not be your typical sports film and it's not supposed to be which is ok. Challengers gets a solid 7 stars out of 10 from me.
Banshee (2013)
An Entertaining Action Ride!
Anthony Starr (Homelander fame) stars in in this action tv series, Banshee. This series is not known for it's dialogue but more for it's extravagant action set pieces and intense romance scenes. The series goes by so fast at 4 seasons just under 40 episodes. Anthony Starr really shines here as the lead who anchors this series. If you like a good series where you can turn off your brain and just enjoy the action then Banshee is for you! The action is over the top, very violent, and crazy. This is a real entertaining series from start to finish. Banshee gets a solid 8 stars out of 10 from me. Check it out!