Category: Thriller

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!!

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!!

Weapons

Weapons

This is a special edition of Thursday Night at the Movies with The Movie Warrior!!

It’s been 8 or 9 years since I have gone to the movies on a Thursday night.

“Weapons” was not on my original “Watch List”, but when a couple of co-workers mentioned it and asked why I had not reviewed it, I had to look it up and then once I saw a trailer, I decided I would give it a look. I don’t generally do Horror Movies anymore because I just don’t have the stomach for them.

“Weapons” is not your ordinary Horror Flick… 

Strange thing… When all but one child from the same class mysteriously disappears on the same night, it causes all kinds of chaos, finger pointing, accusations and questions as to who or what is behind this disappearance. A Community is torn. The story unfolds from there…

The story is executed brilliantly! I was shocked! Yes, it’s a Horror movie, a bit scary and bloody at times, but not your garden variety type of Horror. There were tons of edge of your seat suspense and intrigue right up to the end. There were a lot of big elements in the movie. It gives new meaning to the Horror Genre. “Weapons” is definitely worth seeing.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Ballerina

Ballerina

From the World of John Wick comes a new installment that introduces and focuses on a new Assassin in training known as “Ballerina”.

After watching her father fight for his life, but ultimately is killed, Eve (Ballerina) is thrust into the world of a Ballerina or so she thought… 

Once Eve finds her footing figuratively and literally, she is sent out on a few “training” missions that ultimately prepare her for her ultimate challenge… Kill the Man who killed her father. The story unfolds from there…

Once out of training Eve (Ballerina) is a BAD ASS!!  

The action is brutal and bloody, but is non-stop. The stunts are spectacular. The suspense is “Edge of Your Seat”. 

The world of Assassins is a bit amazing as they carry on without Police interference. The story and plot are fresh and some parts are a bit familiar.

I am excited to see where this goes as the door is open. I expect another installment sometime in the future.

If you are a fan of the John Wick Franchise, “Ballerina” should not be missed.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

The Accountant 2 in AMC Dolby

The Accountant 2 in AMC Dolby

The “Buddy Comedy” chemistry between Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal continues with this 2nd installment of The Accountant.

 Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. 

Christian and Brax join forces with the U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), together they uncover a deadly conspiracy and become targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried. The story unfolds from there… 

The Accountant 2 has a great plot, tons of action and some suspense. At times though, the movie runs off the train tracks, but always rights its self to bring you back in. The story is intricate and that is what will hold your attention. 

Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal are funny together and play off of each other very nicely. This 2nd installment is better than the 2016 installment.

The Accountant 2 is worth a look.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

A Working Man in AMC Dolby

A Working Man in AMC Dolby

This is the fourth of 4 Movie Reviews that I promised would post before March 31st.

Levon Cade (Jason Statham) left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life working construction. But when his boss’s daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined. The story unfolds from there…

Plain and Simple… This is Vintage Jason Statham. He kicks Butt and takes Names later. There’s tons of Action, Butt-Kicking Violence and some intrigue. There are a few moments where the movie drags a bit, but other than that it’s Edge of Your Seat Action.

The Director David Ayer obviously knows what audiences want from a Jason Statham Action Thriller. He keeps it coming in Spades. BTW… The Screenwriter is none other than Sylvester Stallone. Bravo to Him!! 

For Die-hard Jason Statham Fans, “A Working Man” is definitely worth a look.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Black Bag

Black Bag

Movie Reviews will be coming in HOT over the next 2 Weekends!!

This is the first of potentially 4 Movie Reviews that I will post before March 31st.

“Black Bag” is a gripping Spy Drama about Legendary Intelligence Agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife Kathryn. When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test Loyalty to his country or Loyalty to his marriage. The Story unfolds from there… 

“Black Bag” is definitely “GRIPPING” It does live up to the hype. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett play very well together.

This is a Steven Soderbergh Production. He is an AWESOME Director and his movies are usually very intriguing, “Black Bag” is all of that. The suspense and mystery in the movie build to a fevered pitch that leads to a very interesting ending. If I provide any more details I would be giving it away.

If I have a complaint, it would be that the movie running time was a bit too short.

Run, don’t walk to see “Black Bag”.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

CONCLAVE

CONCLAVE

CONCLAVE follows one of the most ancient rituals of the world, selecting a new Pope.

The reigning Pope has just died. What follows are time honored steps to selecting a new Pope, but during this current season a trail of secrets that are left in the dead Pope’s wake comes to light and if exposed could do great harm to the Catholic Church and the process of selecting a new Pope. The story unfolds from there….

CONCLAVE is Dramatic, Suspenseful and Riveting. Ralph Fiennes is absolutely awesome in his role. 

CONCLAVE is one of the best movies not receiving a lot of hype. The 2 Hour Running Time goes by really fast.

The reason I went to see CONCLAVE is because of the stars, Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini. I love them and they are awesome actors. They did not disappoint.

The movie is loosely based on the Best-Selling Novel of the same name by Robert Harris.

“CONCLAVE” is worth a look.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

1992

1992

It’s April 29, 1992 in Los Angeles, CA. During this time in history, Los Angeles faced a lot of racial and political issues. Those issues are the backdrop for “1992”.

Mercer (Tyrese Gibson) is desperately trying to rebuild his life and his relationship with his son amidst the turbulent 1992 LA uprising following the Rodney King verdict. Across town, another father and son (Ray Liotta and Scott Eastwood) put their own strained relationship to the test as they plot a dangerous heist to steal catalytic converters, which contain valuable platinum, from the factory where Mercer works. As tensions rise in Los Angeles and chaos erupts, both families reach their boiling points when they collide in this tension filled crime-drama. The story unfolds from there…

The execution of this movie starts off well enough, but soon falls off the rails as there are several small stories that are not completed or explained. There is Political Tension / Uprising that is continuous while a major robbery is plotted and attempted. Too much goes unexplained and you are left to wonder the “What, “How” and “Why”.

The Political Uprising that occurred in Los Angeles in 1992 was a very terrible time for that city. To see it depicted in a movie is really eye opening, disturbing and sad.

On a positive note, Snoop Dogg was the Executive Producer, so in some ways what was depicted was to make a point. There was nothing “Sugar-Coated”. 

“1992” is one of Ray Liotta’s final movies. If you are a Ray Liotta fan, check out “1992”.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Equalizer 3 in AMC Dolby

Equalizer 3 in AMC Dolby

Mr. Denzel Washington is BACK!! Reprising his role as Robert McCall in Equalizer 3.

Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has struggled since giving up his life as a government assassin, He has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia. The story unfolds from there…

McCall is back with a vengeance!! The movie is violent, bloody and bone crushingly gory, but that’s what makes the story and the movie intriguing and entertaining. You don’t know exactly what’s coming next. Robert McCall possesses a calm that was never seen in any of the previous installments. He is still guarded and that makes the character even more intriguing.

This installment is messy, but it is one of the best in the franchise. 

You don’t want to miss Denzel Washington as Robert McCall.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!