“The Critic” REVIEW
“Asteroid City” REVIEW
“Rampage”: REVIEW
Scientist #1: It’s weird you like hanging out with animals more than people.
Davis Okoye: Yeah, well, animals get me.
Rampage stars Dwayne Johnson as Dr. Davis Okoye, a scientist who develops more of a relationship with the animals then with people. The opening scene shows how his relationship with George, the silverback gorilla will ultimately be the number one key that drives the film. That and the witty humor in the humanistic characteristics that are given to George. There are some scenes and lined that are definitely more for an adult audience, despite the PG 13 rating.
Starring as Johnson’s partner is James Bond’s Naomie Harris as Dr. Kate Caldwell who quickly takes on the same co partner role that she is most familiar in the latest 007 films. She quickly captures more of a serious, yet flirtatious role as one can definitely see that there is something there, though Johnson is to distracted by his ape and saving the world to get it. That being said, one see why Harris was chosen. She fits with Johnson perfectly to round out the adventure and ultimately save the ape.
Based loosely on the 1986 video game about a series of monster set out to destroy cities, the WB blockbuster is bringing life and story to why. In short, the film pays homage to the classic monsters in a new way. Sort of like a Dr. Dolittle meets King Kong, Godzilla and the werewolf, the film captures elements of the films all in one. Just one word of warning, if you go into the movie expecting more video game references, one might be disappointed.
That being said, Rampage came out in theaters April 13th and is already giving last week’s box office winner, A Quiet Place, a run for its spot as its Friday totals were exactly one million away with 11.5 million in box office revenue. It’s currently playing in a theater near you.
Viewer discretion is strongly advised as it may not be suitable for young children.
“Every day” Review
It’s a tragic love story of an individual doomed to live in a person’s body every 24 hours, though the audience doesn’t understand why, they see a struggle in the person as they fall in love with a girl only to have to convince her that they are still them only in a new body.
Based on the best selling novel by David Levithan, Every day stars a long cast of teenagers including Angourie Rice as Rhiannon, the girl that A falls in love with as well as Justice Smith, who plays Rhiannon’s boyfriend, whom A first possesses and creates the perfect first date for them, as well as Jeni Ross as Amy, Lucas Jade Zumann as Nathan, Rory McDonald as David, Katie Douglas as Megan, Jacob Batalon as James, Ian Alexander as Vic, Sean Jones as George, Colin Ford as Xavier, Jake Sim as Michael, Nicole Law as Kelsea, Karena Evans as Hannah, Owen Teague as Alexander and Hannah Alissa Richardson as Katie.
15 days and 15 bodies inhabited and A for the first time wishes to stay in them to be able to fully love Rhiannon, but the question is can they really live in another body and be their full self?
At an hour 35 minutes, Every Day is a typical teenage love story similar to others including The Vow, where we see how deeply teenagers and first loves can be, but ultimately it stands out, because the outcome is not at all what you would expect. It’s a daily journey that shows the importance of living for the day and not for the week or even month and it’s a great message for any adolescent to cherish every moment, because you never know when it might me your last.
Every day was produced by Orion Pictures as it’s first full length motion picture to be produced and distributed by the company. It came out February 23, 2018 and is currently playing in a theater near you.
“The Last Jedi” Scores Powerfully
The Latest franchise sequel of Stars Wars VIII: The Last Jedi is showing no competition at the box office as it took number one with more than 220 million domestically, though it only came in second for the largest opening after the previous Star Wars VII, which brought in 247 million. Theater goers stood in line for days awaiting the blockbuster and most were not disappointed.
The Latest film stars, Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kilo Ren, John Boyega as Finn and Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron as the new faces of the Star Wars trilogy who must attempt to bring balance in the force. Of course no Star Wars would be complete without a little history as the film begins with Rey finding Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and persuading him to train her on the ways of the force. Through this, we find out what went wrong the first time when Skywalker took his nephew, Ben Solo into the Jedi temple and attempted to train him. Because of his mistake that lead to the creation of Kilo Ren, Skywalker fears the strength of Rey and hesitates training. Meanwhile, his sister Leia (Carrie Fisher) is struggling to recover after the ship is hit by the resistance as they discovered how to find them at light speed.
At just a little under 3 hour run time, Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi is packed with all the same flare that Star Wars fans remember and love with a few twists and turns that one would not see coming. It’ll have one sitting on the edge of their seats in the theater with suspense as new love sparks out of the most unlikely of circumstances as Rey ultimately takes up the Jedi role once and for all in order to defeat the Supreme leader Snoke (Andy Sarkis) while trying to save Ben Solo from Kilo Ren. The question is will it be too late?
Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi came out December 15th and is currently playing in a theater near you.
“Ferdinand” is back
The beloved children’s tale from the creativity of Munro Leaf is coming to life on the big screen. Coinciding with it’s 75th anniversary, Ferdinand makes its debut in theaters December 15th and had a fair number of audience, bringing in over 3.5 million at the box office for Friday, considering that its release was the same weekend as the much-anticipated Stars VIII.
Sony’s Ferdinand stars John Cena as the flower loving bull and follows the story fairly closely with just a few minor changes. One of those changes is the role reversal of his father presence in the movie, versus being raised by his mom. There are still some iconic scenes that those familiar with the book would instantly recognize including the memorable tree on top of the hill where Ferdinand sits to smell the flowers.
Overall, Ferdinand welcomes new characters, including a wise cracking goat voiced by Kate McKinnon, while bringing life to his fellow bulls that he grew up with in this all new adventure to the one thing that every bull accept Ferdinand dreams of going to, the bull ring.
With a run time of 1 hour and 46 minutes, it’s a movie for all ages as it strives to go up against all odds similar to what Ferdinand does in the book. It’s currently playing in a theater near you.
“Star” Review
The feel good movie of the season is Sony’s The Star, though it’s not a front-runner at the box office it is still bring a few faithful viewers to the theaters in time for the holiday season and has thus far brought in just over 28 million domestically at the box office.
Sony’s The Star is an animated tale about the first Christmas through the eyes of the animals that witnessed the miraculous occasion. The feature stars,Steven Yeun as Bo, the little donkey with big dreams of carrying a king one day. He escapes the confounds of a mill and finds Mary (Gina Rodriguez) who takes him in expectantly, though her husband Joseph (Zachary Levi) only sees him as trouble. Throughout the tale, the audience sees glimpses of the Biblical account with funny humor from the animals as they try to understand what is happening.
All in all, it’s a tale that will have kids watching it over and over as the animals are always a hit for the young ones, while the parents can also be entertained with beautiful music and a touching storyline from Nazareth all the way to Bethlehem.
Sony’s The Star came out in theaters November 17 2017 and is the perfect movie for the holiday season as it is still playing in a theater near you.
Audiences “Sing” To Theaters
The animated musical comedy with a heart for entertainment is continuing to draw crowds to theaters with great music and an even better story about never giving up and doing what you love to do.
Universal’s Sing, starring a long list of big names including, Matthew McConaughey as Buster Moon, the business savvy Koala who desperately wants to save his family’s theater from foreclosure by putting on one last performance, ‘a singing competition’, but through a mistype of the flyer, it appears to be more of a disaster for everyone. But will Moon be able to save his theater, especially when everything seems to be going wrong.
The animated movie also includes the voice talents of Reese Witherspoon as Rosita, the mother pig, who wants more then just being a housewife, her partner in the competition, Nick Kroll as Gunter, the pig with the dance moves, Scarlett Johansson, as Ash, the porcupine with the dream to break free of her boyfriend and just Sing, Taron Egerton as the Soul singing gorilla who wants more then the “family business” and Tori Kelly as Meena the shy elephant with the mighty set of pipes.
Overall, Sing will have audiences laughing, inspiring and thoroughly enjoying all the songs of the entire movie as you go on a journey with a few different kinds of animals that have to band together to just do what they love to do and that’s ‘Sing’.
Sing came out in theaters Dec. 21, the same week as Rogue one and has been trailing the Star Wars film at number two consecutively, bringing in close to 200- thousand to date. It’s a movie that is good for all ages and is highly recommended to all. It’s still currently playing in a theater near you.
Magic battles Video game
It was a race this week at the box office as two movies with very different crowds vie for the number one spot at the box office this week.
Universal’s Warcraft, starring newcomers Travis Fimmel as Anduin Lothar, Paula Patton as Garona and Dominic Cooper as Llane Wrynn, brings the video game world to the big screen as fans watch the orcs fighting for survival as they try to make a new home in the land of humans, but when a magical force threatens the planet, it’s time for orc and human to band together and save their home for the future.
At 2 hrs and 3 minutes, Warcraft will have you sitting on the edge of your seat as one is fully engaged in the epic battle and comedy that makes Warcraft a true joy to watch on the big screen.
But if magic is more your forte, the much anticipated sequel, Now You See Me 2, is bringing enthusiasts to the theater this weekend. The four horsemen are back as their show is being threatened this time by a tech genius (Daniel Radcliff) who is looking to put a stop once and for all to the thieving team of hustlers and tricksters.
But now it’s up to the four horsemen, played by Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenburg, Woody Harrelson, and Lizzy Caplan to pull off the greatest and most impossible heist yet. As hypnotizing as the first, Now You See Me 2, has tricks and flicks that will keep your mind reeling as you ask yourself time and time again, how can they possibly do it. It’s magic in the truest and most believable sense.
Both Now You See Me 2 and Warcraft came out June 10 and were only a couple million dollars away as of Friday’s estimates. See them both in a theater near 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.