Author: moviewarrior

I am an IT Professional who has loved the movie going experience since Kindergarten. My favorite Genres are Action, Suspense/Thrillers, Drama, Sci-Fi, Animation, Art House and Romantic Comedies.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix in AMC Dolby

The X-Men have been enjoying “Hero” status among normal humans when they are called out to use their powers to save and protect. But the X-Men soon find out that they will end up facing their worst foe, one of their own when after a journey into space to save one of NASA’s Space Shuttle crew Phoenix consumes the unknown fire source in space in order to save her team and the shuttle crew. The X-Men are unaware of the danger humanity could end up being in. The story unfolds from there…

First for the good…The cinematography is fantastic, the special effects and action are on point.

The bad… The story lacks emotion and depth and is not very entertaining. The acting seemed a bit dry also. This is supposed to be a “Finale” of sorts. I would have expected much better. I am highly disappointment. The story ends on a whisper. You are left more questions than answers.

“Dark Phoenix” is supposed to be the last installment in the X-Men franchise. It comes in with a whimper and goes out with a Whimper… The movie is not very memorable and does not do the comic book justice.

I think the 2017 “Logan” installment was much better and more entertaining.

This is a 1 Star Movie!!

Godzilla: King of the Monsters in AMC Dolby

It wouldn’t be summer without a Blockbuster Monster Movie to open the season. It looks like “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” is wearing those shoes…

New story centered around the efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members come in contact with and have to battle a wide range of god-sized monsters, including Godzilla.

Godzilla collides with Mothra, Rodan and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species whom were thought to be mere myths actually rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance. The story unfolds from there…

New Story, same outcome. It just took a bit longer to get there… This story involved Scientists actually harvesting the monsters in specific locations around the world and trying to control them via sound waves and other scientific technology.

The monsters that Godzilla fought were a lot more menacing than Godzilla himself. The movie was slow and dragged painfully to the ultimate fight. I found myself a bit bored and ready to leave before the movie was over. At the end, I left disappointed. There are other Godzilla installments that are way better than this one. I even saw this in AMC Dolby which means you feel everything in your seat.

“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” is not the movie to start your summer movie going experience with.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

MA

As you have known, I do not normally review Horror Movies, but I am married to a man who loves them, so it’s Friday Night “Date Night” and away we go to the movies!!

“Ma” is subtle in its approach. The movie starts out on the normal calm side, but once things get going the Horror is “In Your Face” creepy.

Oscar winning actress Octavia Spencer is Sue Ann, a veterinarian assistant in a quiet Ohio town. Things start to heat up when a new teenage girl in town asks Sue Ann to purchase liquor from the local Liquor store for her and her new friends from school. Sue Ann does this and befriends the teens. Soon Sue Ann’s home is the place where all the teenagers go to party. Sue Ann has an ulterior motive though.
What starts out as friendly and fun soon becomes an obsession. The parents of these teens went to school with Sue Ann and Sue Ann has an ax to grind pertaining to some unfinished business from her High School days. The story unfolds from there…

“Ma” is a combination of “Creepy”, “Suspenseful” and “Interesting”. What really makes the movie watchable is Octavia Spencer. She really shows her acting chops. She definitely has range. You definitely get the opportunity to see Octavia Spencer in a new light.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Aladdin (2019) in AMC Dolby

“Aladdin (2019)” is a modern day remake of the 1992 Aladdin that starred Robin Williams.

The story itself is unchanged, this version of the movie is not animated, but “Live Action”.

A street rat named Aladdin (Mena Marwan) frees a Genie (Will Smith) from a lamp. The Genie offers to fulfill 3 wishes, but when the lamp falls into the hands of evil, Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott), her father and the entire kingdom are in peril. The story unfolds from there…

The movie is very entertaining. The cinematography is brilliant. The story does drags a bit, but the cast makes up for it. If you want to see a non-animated (Live Action) version of Aladdin by all means check this one out.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

The Secret Life of Pets 2 in 3D (Early Screening)

I was fortunate enough to be offered an opportunity to attend an early screening of “The Secret Life of Pets 2”.

It’s been 3 years since the 2016 Blockbuster that showed us what our pets are really doing when we leave home. This second installment is no different. The lives of our pets are on full display and take on new meaning after we leave for work and school each day in this second installment.

“The Secret Life of Pets 2” has its moments. The movie is funny, hilarious and entertaining. There is definitely a story.

One of the best elements of the first installment was the Poodle changing the boom box music from classical to “Acid Rock” and inviting his friends over for a party the minute his owner got on the elevator. Disappointingly the Poodle did not appear in this 2nd installment.

“The Secret Life of Pets 2” opens wide Friday June 7th. If you want to know what your pets do when you are not at home, then go see this follow-up to the 2016 Blockbuster hit.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

A Dog’s Journey

“A Dog’s Journey” finds Bailey on the Michigan Farm living the good life with Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Ethan’s wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger). They now have a granddaughter her name is CJ (Kathryn Prescott). Bailey tries his best to watch out for CJ and keep her out of harm’s way. CJ’s Mom, Gloria (Betty Gilpin) does not like dogs. This is obvious to Bailey. The problems really start when Gloria decides to move and take CJ away. This leaves Ethan, Hannah and Bailey very sad. As Bailey’s soul prepares to leave this life, he promises Ethan that he will always watch over CJ no matter what. The story unfolds from there…

“A Dog’s Journey” is very heart-warming, entertaining and enlightening. It starts off a bit light, but half way through the movie you get the idea that a dog’s journey through life is deeper and more meaningful than we realize.

If you saw the first installment, “A Dog’s Purpose” and liked it, you should definitely see “A Dog’s Journey”.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum in AMC Dolby

In this third installment, the super-assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) finds himself with a $14 million dollar price on his head. There is no limit to the number of bounty-hunters on his trail who are trying to take John out so they can claim the prize. After a member of the shadowy international assassin’s guild, the High Table is killed, John Wick is then excommunicado, but the world’s most ruthless hit men and women await his every move. The story unfolds from there…

If you haven’t seen the first two installments you are doing yourself a disservice. This is an action packed non-stop entertaining adrenaline-fueled franchise. Seeing the first two installments will help put everything in context. I love the continuation and references back to the first installment.
Halle Berry makes an appearance in this installment and it’s obvious she trained for this movie. There is tons of action, suspense and edge of your seat entertainment. It’s bloody, but remember this is John Wick.

“John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum” is a must see for all Action Movie Lovers.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!!

Long Shot

Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted Journalist who has an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) is the Secretary of State who plans to run for the 2020 Presidential nomination. They both meet at a party, but wait!! Recognition dawns on them. Charlotte was Fred’s baby sitter when he was twelve. Fred was madly in love with Charlotte at that time. Now Fred wonders if he has any remote chance with Charlotte. Charlotte is going places because she is very influential. The two come together by accident and the story unfolds from there…

“Long Shot” is funny, refreshing and a bit different. I wasn’t sure about the on-screen chemistry between Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen, but it does work. At least they make it work. The comedy is funny.

“Long Shot” is definitely an adult film. Charlize Theron was great in this movie. She is good with comedy.

“Long Shot” is worth a look.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

The Intruder

My husband was so excited about this movie from its trailers that I promised him we would go when it opened. So on Friday night May 3rd there we are in the theater to see “The Intruder”.

Scott (Michael Ealy) and Annie Russell (Meagan Good) decide its time to move away from the hustle and bustle of city life and purchase a home in the country where they can start a family.
Scott gets a line on a beautiful country home with lots of acreage. Scott and Annie go out to check out the home. The owner, Charlie Peck (Dennis Quaid) is there and after some discussion he hesitates to sell the property. The Russell’s decide to leave, but at the last minute Charlie has a change of heart.
Scott and Annie purchase the property, move in and make many changes. This seems to upset Charlie Peck. The story unfolds from there…

The problem with “The Intruder” is that the plot is short and there is really nowhere to go with it, but there is an attempt to stretch it out. You know what is eventually going to happen, you just wonder how long it’s going to take. This makes the movie painful to watch.

There is a more detailed back story behind the character Dennis Peck, but it’s not fully developed in this movie. This forces you to draw your own conclusions.

There are some small thrills and chills, but nothing to really make the movie suspenseful. There is also some light-weight drama, but it too is fluff. Last by not least the ending is strange and abrupt.

The best element in the movie is Meagan Good. She is beautiful and the wardrobe she wears in the movie is fantastic!! Unfortunately that’s not enough to make it worth paying to see “The Intruder”.

“The Intruder” is best viewed on Cable.

This is a 1 Star Movie!!

Avengers: ENDGAME in 3D

I am not as happy with “Avengers: Endgame” as I have been with the other installments. This is not to say the movie isn’t good because it is. It was executed brilliantly! I am just not totally thrilled with the ending. Additionally there are a couple of events that occur in the movie that are very unsettling to me. It leaves me with questions as to what’s next. Where is the Marvel Universe going in the future? You will have to see the movie and make your own assessment.

In the previous Avenger’s installment Thanos rose up and ruled. Much of the universe was wiped out and the Marvel Universe was severely fractured. Time passes and the few Marvel Heroes that are left decide to make one final run at taking Thanos and his army out. The story unfolds from there…

As I previously stated “Avengers: Endgame” is executed brilliantly!! The action is non-stop. There is suspense and intrigue. It’s definitely “Edge of Your Seat” entertainment. The cinematography and special effects are fantastic. The 3-D aspects are very good. There are a few dead spots in the movie where you are not sure what’s coming next, but that does not take away from the over-all execution of the movie.

I am just not happy with the way the movie ended. I found myself a bit confused and deep in thought when I left the theater because I knew I needed to get my thoughts together to write this review. It was very quiet when everyone was leaving the cinema. Usually there is loud chatter, laughter, clapping etc…But not today!

The movie is 3 hours and 2 minutes long. This does not include previews!! I now can understand that the long running time was really necessary. This is the longest movie in this genre that I have ever seen. Previously the longest running movie in this genre was “The Dark Knight” at 2 hours, 42 minutes.

If you are a Marvel Universe fan, you must see “Avengers: Endgame”.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!