“Passengers” Review

Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence star in an epic romantic adventure where something goes horribly wrong on their way to another distant planet to begin life again.  The problem is they wake up 90 years to soon when the ship, set on autopilot, is struck by an unidentified object that causes a series of malfunctions to go off in the ship, jeopardizing the life of all 500 passengers aboard.

Now it’s up to Pratt and Lawrence to figure out how to set things right and ultimately figure out life aboard the ship.

At just about 2 hour run time, Passengers will have audiences sitting on the edge of their seats as it is a race against time to figure out how to save everyone and make a life for themselves at the same time.  Overall the special effects are phenomenal as it really feels like they are in outer space at all times.

The Sony Film came out Christmas day and has thus earned over 68 million domestically at the box office.

It is currently playing at a theater near you.

“Children” Reach 55 Million

After it’s second weekend at the box office, Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is still bringing a fair amount to theaters worldwide as the fantasy film has topped the box office with over 55 million for its second weekend though it has dropped to second for its second weekend.

The fantasy adventure based on the book by Ransom Riggs, stars Asa Butterfield as Jake, a young boy who discovers a magical world from the stories of his beloved grandfather (Terence Stamp) and releases for the first time that he isn’t just “ordinary” as he embraces is “peculiar” trait in order to save Miss Peregrine (Eva Green) and her mysterious school from the Hollows including Barron (Samuel L. Jackson) who only seeks one thing to become fully human again by using the children’s gifts.

At 2 hours and 7 minutes Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is truly a unique tale about using one’s gifts to save everyone and discover where home really is.  It’s a film that full of adventure, mystery and even a little foretold romance in the most innocent way imaginable.

It’s a film that is definitely worth seeing in a theater near you.

Western Remake Review

Warner Brothers has their eyes set on the prize with the Magnificient 7 reboot starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke as a band of outlaws set to save a town from thieving gold miners who wish to dig up the land for profit.

The high action adventure kicks off with a bang as the robbers come in and demand the land, killing several people when they don’t get their way.  They give them three weeks to change their mind.  Meanwhile widow, Emma Cullen, played by Haley Bennett, is determined not to let her husband die in vain.  She enlists the help of Chisolm (Washington) who agrees but not without a little back up.  It is what is called the most unlikely team of seven,  that will serve as the little towns last hope of redemption.

Magnificent 7 is a film that has all the ingredients of a good old fashion western including a bar room brawl, standout and gun fighting.  It’ll keep one on the edge of their seats from the first minute through including a few surprise twists that one might not see coming.

The film opened officially in theaters Sept. 23 and is a close front runner for the number one spot at the box office this week.  See it in a theater near you.  It won’t disappoint.

The original Magnificent 7 came out over 50 years ago and starred Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach,  and Steve McQueen.

“London” Hits 60 Million

The Focus Films sequel, London Has Fallen is still drawing movie goers to theaters nearly a month after it premiered on the big screen, bringing in over 61 million dollars in revenue.

The movie follows secret service agent, Mike Banning, played by Gerald Butler as he is sent on one final protection detail to protect the president of the United States, Benjamin Asher, played by Aaron Eikhart, who is among the top political figures that are called to attend the funeral of the former prime minister in London.   While there, a botch assignation attack on the leaders nearly destroys the city and causes Banning to go into full protection mode, when he discovers the terrorist mission to publicly assassinate the president.

At an hour forty minute run time, its and action adventure, that has a lot of bang for its bucks as the first explosion is just the beginning and for those who never saw the original Olympus Has Fallen, one won’t be missing too much to see London Has Fallen.  In addition to being a high action drama, there are a few humorous banter that will break the monotony of the action.

London has Fallen is still currently playing in select theaters near you.  For an action suspense drama, this is the movie for you.

“Jungle Book” Remade

Disney has done it again, this time bringing Rudyard Kipling’s beloved tale to the big screen in an all new live action Jungle Book.  The movie picks up with Mowgli, played by newcomer, Neel Sethi, being raised by a pack of Wolves.  Everything is peaceful, until Shere Khan, voiced by Idris Elba, discovers the man cub and because of a deep run in that he had with an explorer and the “red flower”, Khan is determined to end young Mowgli’s life before he can end his.

Now it is up to Bagheera, the panther, voiced by Ben Kingsley, who has been watching out for Mowgli all his life as well as Baloo, a lazy, carefree bear, voiced by Bill Murray, who lives by the “Bear Necessities”, to join together and bring Mowgli back to the “man village”, but will they succeed and will Mowgli want to go back, after living with the wolves for so long.

At 105 minutes, its a movie that will keep you engaged with the scenery of the forest as well as beloved characters that show up along the way, including King Louie the Orangutan, voiced by Christopher Walken and Kaa the python, voiced by Scarlett Johansson.  Overall, the director, Jon Favreau, did a good job of sticking to the original animated movie.  With familiar songs like “Bear Necessities” and “Trust In Me” generations will be taken back to their childhood, while new generations equally will experience the magic of the Jungle Book.

Jungle book opened in theaters April 15, 2016 and earned over 32-million in revenues its opening day.  It is currently playing in one near you.  See it and relive your childhood again.

Drama Gives Lucasfilm Run At Box Office

The latest drama based on true events has movie goers racing to see it opening weekend and rightfully so.

20th Century Fox’s The Revenant stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, in an exceptional portrayal of a frontiersman as he battles nature, weather and ultimately each other in a survival of the fittest action adventure film.   When DiCaprio finds himself on the verge of death after being viciously attacked by a giant mama bear, he is eventually left for dead and finds refuge and aid in a few friendly natives as he fights to get back to the base camp.   The movie also stars actor Tom Hardy who plays alongside DiCaprio as fellow frontiersman who ends up being DiCaprio’s worst nightmare, when he turns on Glass and his native American son, ultimately stabbing the to death.  As revenge for his son’s murder, DiCaprio has a new will to survive in his son’s honor.

The Revenant came out in limited theaters Dec 25 and everywhere January 8 and it’s first full weekend debut brought in an estimated 38 million, just barely behind Star Wars.

In addition, The Revenant took home three Golden Globes on Sunday night for best drama, best actor for Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio and best director, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

See The Revenant in a theater near you.  It’s a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seats with anticipation and wonder and though it’s not a movie for everyone, those that see it will not be disappointed.  At 2 hours and 36 minutes, it’s one of those movies that time doesn’t matter.

Lucas Has Done it again

From the creativity of Lucasfilm, comes an epic sequel that was long overdue for Star Wars fans and thus set an all time record for its opening weekend debut.  Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens brought in over 238 million domestically with another 279 million Worldwide making it top grossing of all time and knocking Jurassic World to the number 2 top grossing spot.

It was expected as fans began to line up weeks ahead in anticipation and they were not disappointed.  The Force Awakens picks up three decades after Episode Six.  The Republic has fallen into the control of The First Order who attempts to control the entire galaxy, but the resistance fights back while trying to find Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and the last of the Jedi.

The cast reunites  Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Chewbacca ( Peter Mayhew) as they lead a new generation including Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger from Jakku, who knows very little about her past, but is destined to hold the coveted Jedi sword as she battles the new dark apprentice, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) in order to destroy the new “death star”, with the help of her new friends, a defected storm trooper, Finn (John Boyega) and a resistance soldier, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), but will she be able to save the galaxy and find Luke Skywalker?

With a runtime of 135 minutes, The Force Awaken, will truly be a pleasure for all Star Wars Fans as old friends reunite with new ones with just one goal to save the galaxy and restore order amidst chaos.  It’s packed with hours of adventure through the galaxy as well as a bit of romance that in true fashion will have everyone sitting on the edge of their seats as they discover the secrets and truths of their most beloved characters.

Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens is playing exclusively at any theater near you.  Don’t be the last to see it.  You’ll regret it.

Disney Goes “Inside Out”

In the latest animated film by Disney Pixar, creators have brought a truly original story to the big screen in the film called Inside Out.  The adventures stars, voice actors, Amy Poehler (Joy), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Bill Hader (Fear), Lewis Black (Anger) and Mindy Kaling (Disgust) as we see for the first time what happens to a young girl named Riley who is uprooted from her home town of Minnesota to the Big San Francisco City.  The emotions run wild as they attempt to help Riley navigate and figure out just how to feel in this new place.

Overall, the story is amazing, truly one of a kind and the voice actors were spot on.  The 3D effects really make you feel like you are inside Riley’s head, even without the glasses.  It is definitely worth seeing as it holds an important message for kids and adults both.  See it to find out what that message is!

Inside out has brought in over 284 million in box office revenue and was in third place for its second week in theaters.  It’s currently in any theater near you.

“Max” Melts Hearts

The family drama about a war dog who comes home after his owner/handler dies in combat is pulling the heartstrings of its audience. Though it was no match for the three blockbusters including Jurassic World, Inside Out and Ted 2, that dominated the box office with nearly 150 million combined total, it still had a fair amount flooding in to rank number 4 with over 12 million.

Max stars Josh Wiggins as Justin Wincott, the brother of the Marine, who dies in combat and was handler to Max.  After the death, it is clear the dog recognizes Justin at the funeral of the soldier, though Justin wants nothing to do with Max.  His mother, played by Lauren Graham and his father, played by Thomas Haden Church, insist that the dog is now his and Justin and Max begin to form a bond that is stronger than one can imagine.

But when a rumor about what happened to the brother starts circulating around the family and Church doesn’t want to have a dangerous animal threatening the life of his other son, it’s up to Justin to do some investigating to save Max’s life as well as his father’s.

Max, with a run time of 111 minutes, is a family adventure that will bring tears to your eyes.  As good as Old Yeller with an even  better ending.

Max is currently in a theater near you.

 

Fans Go ‘Furious’

The seventh installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise hits theaters Easter weekend with vengeance as fans of blockbuster showed up in droves to watch the latest sequel and ultimately pay respect to the late Paul Walker, who died over a year ago in a street race up in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The film reunites the characters in a final race as Deckard Shaw (played by Jason Statham) seeks revenge on Dominic Toretto (played by Vin Diesel) and his family.  Meanwhile Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) begins to regain her memory as the group battles Shaw in a fight that is purely fast cars and big explosions as Toretto’s Team tries once and for all to silence Shaw for the sake of everyone.   Furious Seven also stars Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson as Hobbs, Paul Walker as Brian O’Conner, Jordana Brewster as Mia, Tyrese Gibson as Roman and rapper, Ludacris as Tej.

Furious seven is a movie for the records, with surprises around every turn as Toretto and the gang thrills us for a final time and concludes with a fitting tribute that reminds fans of what they loved most about the Fast and the Furious saga.  It’s a movie that will delight crowds, as it brought in over 143 million for its opening weekend debut, making it the second all time grossing movie for its opening day total and is currently playing in a theater near you.