Category: Adventure

Angel Has Fallen in AMC Dolby

“Angel Has Fallen” is a good Action/Adventure flick with a tightly wound plot that unravels it’s self at the end.

Not everyone agrees with President Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) of the United States on his views about war and combat. Little does the President and his Security Detail know that the trouble maker is right in the President’s cabinet. When there is an Assassination attempt on President Trumbull, his best and most experienced Secret Service Agent, Mike Manning (Gerard Butler) is framed and ends up on the run. The story unfolds from there…

As I stated in my opening lines, “The plot is tightly wound”. You will scratch your head for a while trying to figure things out. Once it becomes clear everything goes downhill quickly.

There is lots of action, suspense and intrigue and some nice cinematography. There are times when the scenes will get on your nerves and you will want to wring your hands. That’s the reason “Angel Has Fallen” is not a 4 or 5 Star movie.

That being said, “Angel Has Fallen” is an enjoyable movie and still worth a look.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

The Angry Birds Movie 2

Although I did see/review the first installment, “The Angry Birds Movie 2” was not on my original “Watch List”, but after seeing a couple of deep trailers I decided to check it out.

The Flight-less Birds and Pudgy Pigs are back and they are taking their feud to a new level.
The Birds are unaware that a long time ago one of their own had a romance and left the bride behind. In present time the jilted Eagle who was left at the Alter, is planning and executing her revenge. Everyone is fair game. The story unfolds from there…

This installment is hilarious!! There is everything from “Speed Dating” to “Star-Crossed Lovers”.
Adults will get and understand the story, young children will not. While this is animated, it’s still plays for adults.
Next to “Toy Story 4” and “The Secret Life of Pets 2”, “The Angry Birds Movie 2” stands tall.

There is great cinematography and excellent special effects. There is a story, a plot and raw humor. What else do you need in an animated movie?

“The Angry Birds Movie 2” will offer comic relief and animation for those who need it.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

The Kitchen

Three Hell’s Kitchen Housewives soon find themselves husband-less because their husbands tried to rob a liquor store and failed. Once their husbands were sentenced to spent time behind bars, the three wives went about hatching their own plans to make money in Hell’s Kitchen. The story unfolds from there…

I had high hopes for “The Kitchen” when I first saw trailers of the movie, I thought wow this should be interesting.
My hopes were dashed only 20 minutes into the movie. The movie was dry and lifeless, almost listless. I found myself a bit bored.
There was no real back story. Each housewife had a story, but it never really came to the surface. Those stories should have come to the surface even for just a few scenes so you could understand the events that happened.

There is some suspense and intrigue, but not nearly enough to justify a $15 dollar movie ticket. I was very surprised given the cast in the movie, but it just goes to show that a great cast does not always translate into a great movie.

I say wait for cable for “The Kitchen”.

This is a 1 Star Movie!!

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw in AMC Dolby

Finally an entertaining movie!! I will admit I was a bit concerned when I first learned that the “Fast & Furious” Franchise was continuing. I tried to image what was coming next…
It’s great that they went back to the drawing board and figured out how to put out a new fresh installment/spin-off. I am a big fan of the “Fast & Furious” Franchise. I am glad they are back!!

This installment brings sworn enemies lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and lawless outcast Shaw (Jason Statham) together when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever. The usual bickering ensues between Hobbs & Shaw, but at the end of the day it’s all about saving the world and humanity. The story unfolds from there…

The movie has non-stop action, is extremely entertaining, funny at times and has some stupidly wild stunts. The kind of stunts that are “Don’t Try This at Home” type of stunts. The cinematography is fantastic!! Great camera angles put you right in the mix of the action. There is even some cool computer hacks. This is a good start to a “Fast & Furious” spin-off. I am sure we have not seen the last of Hobbs & Shaw.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Spider-Man: Far from Home in AMC Dolby

“Spider-Man” is back!! He misses the guidance of “Iron Man”, but gets on with his life. Far from Home is the next installment of the Spider-Man Homecoming series.

Peter Parker and his high school pals, Ned, MJ and the rest of the gang go on a European vacation. Unfortunately peril is not far behind. Nick Fury shows up asking for Spider-Man’s help. Begrudgingly Spider-Man is forced to make an appearance several times during the vacation.
The story unfolds from there…

The action, entertainment and intrigue are non-stop. The cinematography and special effects are on point! All I can say about the camera angles are wow!!

The story is a bit long and at times drags a bit, but the movie is still very good. There is a bit of a surprise with the plot line. If you are a Spider-Man fan, this installment should not be missed.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

Anna

Anna (Sasha Luss) is a beautiful woman who has many talents. She works as a model and receives assignments from the KGB and eventually from the CIA in the US. When Anna needs to be, she becomes a deadly government assassin and possesses deadly skills that any ordinary person coming in contact with her would not believe she possesses.

“Anna” was not on my original “Watch List” I found out about the movie a couple of weeks ago. There was very limited advertisements/trailers.

The movie is a wild ride!! You have to paid close attention because the back story is played out in different sections of the movie. You are shown something in the present and then taken back to how it came to be. Often, movie goers don’t like their movies to be shown this way. Once I saw what was happening, the back and forth did not bother me. There is a ton of action and suspense. It’s very bloody at times.

The Paid Critics did not like “Anna” at all. I personally do not think the movie was that bad, in fact I thought it was pretty good. It’s definitely NOT a 4 or 5 Star movie, but it’s passable.

This is a 2 1/2 Star Movie!!

Toy Story 4 in AMC Dolby

Woody and the gang are back!! Nine years ago Bo Peep was separated from Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang. As time moves along Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang are now the favorite toys of a little girl named Bonnie. Bonnie plays with them all every day. Soon it’s time for Bonnie to go to Kindergarten. She doesn’t want to go, but after some prodding from her parents off she goes. Bonnie doesn’t realize that Woody is in her back pack to help make sure her first day is a success.

During Arts and Crafts Bonnie makes a new friend. She actually builds a friend using a plastic fork, some felt tubing, glue, clay and some toy eyes. Bonnie calls her new friend “Forky”. Bonnie absolutely loves “Forky” and refuses to be separated from him.
“Forky” meets Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang, but “Forky” soon decides he is better off if he’s in the trash, so he constantly puts himself in the trash while Woody gets him out. The story and adventure starts from there…

“Toy Story 4” is fun, cute, lighthearted and very entertaining. The cinematography is great. I honestly did not think this franchise would go on this long, but the story continues to have meat. There is a life lesson in “Toy Story 4”.
Pixar has managed to keep us adults all engaged in this franchise. There was definitely more adults in the theater than children. I am not sure if there will be a “Toy Story 5”, but if there is I will go.

If you like the “Toy Story” franchise than “Toy Story 4” is a must see.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

Shaft

This next installment of Shaft find John Shaft Sr. (Samuel L. Jackson) with a son “JJ” (Jessie T. Usher) who is an MIT Graduate and works in Cyber Security with the FBI. When JJ’s best friend is found dead of an accidental drug overdose, JJ starts an investigation of his own, but soon finds he needs the help of his Dad who he has not seen in 25 years. The story unfolds from there…

The paid critics did not like this installment, but I found it to be pretty good. The movie has a time capsule backstory which helps to set the stage. There are some holes in the plot and the overall story is a bit disjointed, but it does all come together toward the end. There is some comic relief, but you have to pay close attention to get it.

There is some NOT SO great acting, but not from the headliners. Samuel L. Jackson plays a good Shaft.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

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!!