GOAT in AMC Dolby

GOAT in AMC Dolby

FINALLY I am providing my 1st movie review in 2026!!

From the Studio that gave us Spider-Man across the Spider-Verse comes a new entertaining Animated Film, Goat.

The story follows a small Goat (Will) who has big dreams about joining the Pro League. Will soon gets a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to join the pros and play “Roar Ball” a high intensity co-ed, full contact sport that is dominated by the Fastest, Fiercest animals on the planet.

Will’s team mates are not thrilled about having a small goat on the team because he is small and his skills are unproven. But of course Will is determined to prove he belongs and he wants to revolutionize the sport and prove once and for all that size does not matter and “Smalls can Ball”. The story unfolds from there…

The voice cast is outstanding. The animation is excellent and the story provides a solid message for young and old. There is enough familiar action in GOAT to show it belongs among the best animated movies.

Goat is worth a look!!

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another

You know that old saying, “Better Late than Never”. It applies to this review.  I had every intention of seeing “One Battle After Another” when it opened in Theaters in late September, but I was under the weather and I did purchase the tickets twice, but had to cancel both times. So, I decided to just wait. 

Here I am on Christmas Eve and I have FINALLY seen this movie. I love Leonardo DiCaprio and usually make every effort to see his movies during their opening weekend.

Leonardo Is “Bob” a washed-up Revolutionary who lives in a state of paranoia and panic all the time. He survives off the grid with his daughter, Willa that he has been raising after her mother vanished. Soon Bob’s evil nemesis resurfaces and Willa goes missing. Bob scrambles to find her. A seeming parallel as Father and Daughter both battle for their lives. The story unfolds from there…

The movie is very good. I am so glad I finally was able to see it. The story is intriguing and there is lots of action, suspense / mystery and it’s a bit bloody at times.

For some reason there are parts of this movie that remind of the 2000 Crime/Thriller “Traffic”. If you never saw that movie, you should look it up.

“One Battle After Another” is definitely worth a look. It’s on HBO Max.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Zootopia 2 In IMAX

Zootopia 2 In IMAX

In this 2nd installment detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find themselves on the wild twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia and turns the Mammal Metropolis upside down. 

In order for Judy and Nick to crack the case, they must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before. The story unfolds from there…

Zootopia 2 is another Crackerjack Caper that is action filled and hilarious! The cinematography, action and suspense were spot on.

What makes the Zootopia Franchise so fun and interesting is that there is a Message, a Back Story, a Plot, Bad Guys, Good Guys and Heroes.  These are elements that are often left out or not clear in regular non-animated movies.

I did not feel that the IMAX aspects were worth the ticket price, but Zootopia 2 is definitely worth a look.

If you saw the 1st installment you will definitely want to see this one because there is a nice lead-in reminder of what previously happened…

BTW… There were tons of Adults without Children in the Theater.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

Wicked for Good in AMC Dolby

Wicked for Good in AMC Dolby

This final installment is darker and gloomier than its predecessor and a lot less dazzling, but that does not diminish the movie.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo still dazzle.

This installment finds the Wicked Witch, Elphaba living in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for freedom of the silenced animals and desperately trying to expose the truth that she knows about the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).

Meanwhile Glinda has become the glamorous symbol of all things good for the Land of Oz. She lives at the Palace in Emerald City and revels in the perks of fame and popularity. Madame Morrible deploys Glinda to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz. Reassuring the masses that all is right with the World, but is it really… The Story unfolds from there…

It’s a good story; the music, costumes and set designs are breath-taking at times. The cinematography is on point. If you saw the first installment, then you do not want to miss the finale.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

The Running Man in AMC Dolby

The Running Man in AMC Dolby

In a near future society, The Running Man TV Show is the top-rated show on Television. It’s a show of survival, not surviving is not an option because if you don’t survive the 30 days necessary you are dead. The participating contestants are Runners that are hunted by Assassins on live broadcast TV. This does not deter people from wanting to sign up. Contestants still line up to take the required tests to see if they will pass because the millions of dollars that can be made represent a “Way Out” to a better life.  

Ben Richards (Glen Powell) needs a better life for his family. His baby daughter is sick and the prescription medication is unaffordable. So, Ben is determined to get on “The Running Man” TV Show. He believes he can survive the 30-day requirement. The story unfolds from there…

The movie starts off great. The execution is on point and then half way through the movie the story derails. It does pick up again, but by that time the movie is almost over and some of the scenes are ridiculous. There is tons of action and intrigue. The movie is very bloody at times.

Unfortunately, Edgar Wright’s The Running Man does not live up to its predecessor or the action extravaganza that was displayed in the trailers.

If you saw the first Running Man from the 80’s, this installment is worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t in AMC Dolby

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t in AMC Dolby

This was a “Highly Anticipated” movie for me. I scheduled 11/14 off 8 months ago just so that I could see this movie because Morgan Freeman had reprised his role along with the other original members from previous installments, plus there is a new generation of illusionists who join the team.

This installment does get the gang (The Four Horseman) back together and you get a repeat of the franchise’s familiar tricks along with some mind-blowing illusions, mind-melding twists, turns, surprises and magic not previously seen in any of the other installments.  

There is an interesting story. The movie is fast paced, but the plot is weak. The cinematography and camera angles are breath-taking. There are some nice scenes in Brussels and Antwerp Belgium.

I was very disappointed that Morgan Freeman’s role was very limited in this installment compared to previous installments. 

If you are a fan of the “Now You See Me” Franchise this installment should not be missed. There is an open door for a 4th installment.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

Sarah’s Oil

Sarah’s Oil

After a Month of “No Movies” I am back and the reviews will be coming in “HOT” in the month of November!!

“Sarah’s Oil” is based on a true story about Sarah Rector, an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900’s who believes that there was oil deep in the barren land that she was deeded. She had deep faith that if she could find an oil company who was willing to listen to her and work with her that her beliefs would come to be.

Once the word got out greedy oil sharks started to circle. Sarah turns to her family, friends and a couple of Texas Wildcatter’s to help maintain control of the oil-rich land and keep her deed safe. The story unfolds from there…

This is a very good, moving and compelling story. It’s executed very well.

Sarah Rector eventually became one of the first female African American millionaires at the age of eleven years old.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in AMC Dolby

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in AMC Dolby

This final installment follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930’s. When Mary (Michelle Dockery) finds herself at the center of a scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household struggles with the possibility of social disgrace. The Crawley’s must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future. The story unfolds from there…

If you have a fondness for Tea and Scones, grab a freshly made pot of your favorite Tea, Scones, Clotted Cream and Jams and settle in for a 2-hour drama filled sartorial adventure.

This 3rd installment delivers a satisfying and heartfelt closure to the much-loved saga. It’s a farewell that is truly befitting the Crawleys. 

If you are a fan of the Downton Abbey Franchise, this final installment should not be missed.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Caught Stealing

Caught Stealing

Austin Butler plays Hank Thompson, a high school Baseball phenom who due to an accident can’t play Baseball anymore. Everything is ok with Hank’s life, he has a nice girlfriend (Zoe Kravitz) he tends Bar at a neighborhood pub and his favorite Baseball team is making a run at the pennant. Hank’s Punk Rock next-door neighbor Russ asks Hank to watch his cat while he makes an emergency trip to see about his Dad. All Hell breaks loose when a Motley Crew of gangsters comes looking for Russ. As the next-door neighbor, Hank soon finds himself having to dodge the gangsters and fears for his life but he does not know why. The story unfolds from there…

I will be perfectly honest; I was not feeling this movie during the first 30 minutes… It was coming across as a “B” movie. But… The dots started to connect and the movie became really interesting and edge of your seat entertaining. It’s like a really slow-moving train that soon moves past some obstacles and is able to find a rhythm on the tracks and speeds up for a smooth fast ride.

The movie is “In Your Face Bloody” at times. There is a decent amount of action and intrigue. As I stated the story starts off really slow, but does pick up and become interesting. The cast is pretty good.

I was excited to see actor Vincent D’Onofrio in this movie. I loved him on NBC’s Law and Order Criminal Intent (2001 to 2011)

“Caught Stealing” is worth a look!

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Highest 2 Lowest

Highest 2 Lowest

“Highest 2 Lowest” is about a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington) who is known for having the “best ears” in the business is targeted with a ransom plot. He is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. The Story unfolds from there… 

“Highest 2 Lowest” is a Spike Lee “JOINT”. This is the 5th Spike Lee / Denzel Washington collaboration. This film particularly showcases the mean streets of modern-day New York City. Additionally, this installment is actually a reinterpretation of filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Crime Thriller “High and Low”.

The movie has great execution, plenty of drama and suspense. The storyline is meaningful and will hold your attention. This movie is not playing in the usual mainstream theaters. I saw it at a Dine-In Theater. The movie opened August 15th. Try to catch it if you can.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!