Month: July 2017

Atomic Blonde

“Atomic Blonde” is the “Female James Bond!!”

It’s 1989 in Berlin Germany on the eve of “The Wall” coming down. Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) is a Top Level Spy for MI6. She is tasked with going into Berlin to bring down an International Spy Ring that has killed an Agent for no reason. Lorraine has been told to corporate with the Berlin station chief Percival (James McAvoy), but it appears that there is a “Double-Spy” amongst them or a leak because at every turn Agent Broughton has to unleash her many skills and use her arsenal to defend herself as she tries to carry out her assignment. She doesn’t know who she can trust. The story unfolds from there…

“Atomic Blonde” would be a 5 star movie if the plot and narrative were a bit more-meaty. The action is crazy good. There is plenty of intrigue, suspense and unexpected twists. There are even some “Kick Ass” stunts! The sound track is awesome and appropriate for the time period portrayed in the movie.

Charlize Theron is excellent as the “Atomic Blonde”.
If you like “Spy Thrillers” then “Atomic Blonde” is your movie.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

Girls Trip

“Girls Trip” is “Hilarious!!” It’s definitely a “Chick Flick”

Four life-long friends have a chance to hang out in New Orleans at the Essence Jazz Festival. They haven’t seen each other in a while, each living their own lives and dealing with their own problems. They leave their regular lives behind to come together for 4 days in the Big Easy to drink, dance, party and act “Buck Wild”. The story unfolds from there…

“Girls Trip” is “Wild, Hilarious, Shocking and Raunchy!!” There are parts of the movie that will make an adult blush!! There is some really “Raunchy” nudity. I laughed out laugh constantly. I do not usually review Comedies because they are usually so insane and stupid to me, but I had to see what these ladies were up to. There is a relatable story in the movie.
Comedian Tiffany Haddish is in the movie and she is just plain crazy funny!

“Girls Trip” is worth a look, but Adults only Please!!

This is a 4 Star Movie!

Dunkirk the IMAX Experience

Welcome to a Special Edition of “Thursday Night at the Movies with The Movie Warrior”

“Dunkirk” requires Empathy. If you don’t have “Empathy” you will have a hard time viewing this movie.

“Dunkirk” is a World War II movie about the evacuation of 400,000 soldiers who are trying to go home, but are trapped by the enemy at the French city of “Dunkirk”. When it’s plainly clear that the soldiers are not going to get home in the normal fashion. Home comes to get them. Fisherman with boats start arriving, risking their lives as fighter pilots swarm over-head. The story unfolds from there…

“Dunkirk” is executed brilliantly although the story is a bit detached, not allowing you to get too close. The movie is gritty and has non-stop war violence, suspense and intrigue. The Cinematography is wonderful.

Director Christopher Nolan wrote and directed “Dunkirk”. The movie is just long enough without overwhelming you. “Dunkirk should be seen in IMAX to get the full effect. You will feel like you are on the ships, on the beach and on the fighter planes. If you are a Christopher Nolan fan, “Dunkirk” should not be missed.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

War for the Planet of the Apes in 3D

The third installment of this re-booted franchise is probably the best one yet!

Caesar (Serkis) and his people are pitted in an all-out war that causes HUGH casualties to his colony. Caesar is desperate to save his people while still trying to exact revenge upon the Army Colonel (Harrelson) who is leading the charge to destroy Caesar and his people.

A new uninhabited area to live has been discovered by Caesar’s son. It’s decided that all of the colony should move immediately to this new area. Caesar on the other hand is going after the Colonel. A few of Caesar’s men convince Caesar to let them come with him. It’s believed that that the rest of colony has made the journey to the new area.

Caesar and his posse happen upon the Colonel’s camp, but soon they find out that the Colonel has out foxed them and captured the colony. The story unfolds from there…

“Action-Packed, Suspenseful, Intriguing, Heart-Wrenching and Fast-Paced” are the best words to describe “War for the Planet of the Apes”. The movie is entertaining, smart and well-acted, but also a bit bloody. There are many “Epic” moments. This is one of the best rebooted franchises that I have seen in quite some time.

If you are a fan of the Planet of the Apes franchise, than “War for the Planet of the Apes” should not be missed.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!

The Big Sick

“The Big Sick” is a fine display of a well-executed Romantic Comedy!

“The Big Sick” is based on the real-life courtship of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon. Kumail is a stand-up comedian in Chicago trying to catch a break. He also moonlights as an UBER driver. During one of his stand-up comedy gigs he meets Emily Gordon. Kumail and Emily hit it off. They start spending a lot of time together.
Kumail’s family is trying to arrange a marriage for him with a Pakistani Woman. When Kumail goes to visit his family a Pakistani Woman always arrives to meet him. After every visit Kumail places the picture he has received from the prospective bride in a cigar box in his bedroom. The cigar box is full of pictures of women that Kumail’s family has tried to set him up with.

One day Emily happens to take a look in the cigar box when Kumail isn’t around. What she sees upsets her. Kumail and Emily argue and she leaves. A few weeks later Kumail gets a call from a local hospital that Emily has been admitted. Kumail drops everything to go to her. The story unfolds from there…

“The Big Sick” is engaging, funny, heart-warming, entertaining and well executed. It’s an excellent story and reminds us about prejudice in today’s society. This movie is a reminder that “Love has no Color”.

“The Big Sick” is definitely worth all of the hype it has been receiving.

Currently the “The Big Sick” is open in limited-release. It open wide on Friday July 14th.

Check it out!

This is a 5 Star Movie!

Spider-Man: Homecoming in 3D

This installment of Spider-Man is “Fresh and Entertaining”

After six installments and several lead actor changes, Marvel figured out how to energize Spider-Man and make the franchise entertaining again.

Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is fresh off his adventure with the Avengers. He returns home where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei). Trying to get back to a normal life, Peter attends high school, but at the end of each day he can’t wait for school to end so he can don his Spidey suit and fight crime. Each time Spider-Man tries to save someone or stop a criminal he leaves destruction and destroyed property in his wake.

Tony Stark, Iron-Man (Robert Downey Jr.) is Spider-Man’s mentor and tries to keep Spider-Man out of trouble, but Iron-Man often has to swoop in to assist Spidey sometimes needing to rescue Spidey. Peter Parker gets wind of “The Vulture” (Michael Keaton) and a plan of destruction that the Vulture and his men are planning. Iron-Man tries to keep Spider-Man out of harms-way, but to no avail. The story unfolds from there…

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” is “Fresh, Entertaining, Action-Packed, Quirky and at times a bit annoying”.
Out of the previous six installments “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is one of the best.

There is great cinematography and cool special effects. The movie was cast well. Tom Holland is perfect as the young Peter Parker.

BTW…I love Tyne Daly. It was great to see her in this movie!

If you are a “Spider-Man” fan, then “Spider-Man: Homecoming” should not be missed.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!

The Beguiled (2017)

“The Beguiled” is Bewitching!!

It’s 1894 in Virginia. The Civil War is ongoing. On the grounds of a Girl’s Boarding School a wounded soldier, Colonel McBurney (Colin Farrell) is found by one of the students (Angourie Rice) out picking mushrooms. She befriends the soldier and helps him to get to the main house on the grounds. Once there the other students and head master come out to investigate. The soldier is badly in need of medical treatment, so the students help get the soldier into a room in the house.

Once Colonel McBurney is all mended and able to move around on a cane things get interesting as each one of the girls finds the soldier intriguing and he in turn plays on their sympathies. The story unfolds from there…

“The Beguiled” is definitely a great name for this movie. The movie has bewitching qualities. It’s well cast and well-acted. The movie is also a bit bloody. This version is a bit shorted than the 1971 original, but that doesn’t distract from this 2017 version.

“The Beguiled” is open in “Limited-Release”. It’s definitely worth a look.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!