Terminator: Dark Fate in AMC Dolby

Calling all “Terminator” Fans!!

It’s been over 20 years since Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton) halted Judgement Day and changed the future for the human race. Now she is going to have to get involved again. The machines have targeted Dani Ramos (Mackenzie Davis) who is living a simple life in Mexico City with her brother and father.
The machines believe that Dani represents the future and they cannot let that happen. A super enhanced human named Grace also arrives in Mexico City. Together Grace and Sarah must save Dani from the machines. The story unfolds from there…

“Terminator: Dark Fate” is an excellent re-boot to this franchise. It has non-stop edge of your seat action and violence. The movie is very entertaining. Great special effects and a good back story tie-in help boost this movie. This installment is definitely better than the previous reboots.

“Terminator: Dark Fate” is definitely worth a look.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!!

Black and Blue

“Black and Blue” is a fast-paced action thriller with many twists and turns.

Alicia West (Naomie Harris) is a rookie cop on the New Orleans Police Department who accidentally observes several fellow officers killing some questionable people execution style. Once her fellow officers realize they have been caught, they try to kill Alicia, but she gets away. The story unfolds from there…

“Black and Blue” would be an awesome movie had there been a back story and more depth into the key characters. There are several unfinished mini stories that you have to use you own imagination as to what may have happened in the past to lead them to where they are today.
All of that being said, the movie has non-stop action, intrigue and is worth checking out.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil in Real 3D

She’s Back!! “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is a visual feast!!

After Maleficent’s goddaughter Aurora gets engaged to Prince Phillip, they each start questioning the complex matters of family. Aurora wants Maleficent to meet the King and Queen and do all of the things that a mother would do when her daughter gets engaged. Little does Aurora know her godmother already knows the King and Queen all to-well. Additionally the hatred between man and the fairies still continues. The story unfolds from there…

As I stated in my opening “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is a visual feast. The cinematography, action and special effects are on point. There is a lot of new ground to cover in this second installment. There are many new cast members and you get a peek at what may be Maleficent’s back story.

The movie is quite enjoyable. It’s sad that it took so long for this sequel. It’s been 5 years since the 2014 Global Box Office hit “Maleficent” hit theaters.
The paid critics didn’t seem to like this installment, but I think it’s worth a look.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

Gemini Man in 3D

I was so excited when I first learned of “Gemini Man”. The movie trailers made the movie seem interesting and intriguing. When I saw the Rotten Tomatoes score of 26, my heart fell. I told myself I was going to keep an open mind.

Henry Brogan (Will Smith) just completed what he felt was his last assassin job for the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency). He planned to retire and enjoy time on his boat. The DIA had other ideas. They did not want to lose their elite assassin, so they decided to take action. The story unfolds from there…

The visuals for “Gemini Man” are impressive. There is a ton of action, suspense and intrigue. Will Smith turns in a strong performance. The problem with “Gemini Man” is the lack of foundation and a back story to tie all of the elements and other people you see into the movie.

“Gemini Man” is not a 5 or 4 star movie. I think it’s definitely worth a higher score than 26.

If you like Will Smith and suspenseful movies, you should check out “Gemini Man”.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Judy (2019)

“Judy” picks up Judy Garland’s life in 1968. Judy has 2 children (a son and a daughter) and is struggling to support them. For a while Judy and her 2 children perform small shows for a few dollars that furnishes cab rides and maybe one or two nights in a hotel. Soon Judy becomes desperate and she takes the children to their father. She leaves them and goes to London where she is given a second chance. The story unfolds from there…
“Judy” is very entertaining, somewhat eye-opening and also a bit tragic. This movie pulls back the layers a bit to show you the addiction that Judy Garland suffered from and potentially how the addiction started.

Renee Zellweger does an excellent job of portraying Judy Garland.
“Judy” (2019) is a nice surprise.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Downton Abbey

From the little screen to the big screen, “Downton Abbey” is a delightful British Comedy/Drama that should be enjoyed with a spot of tea!!

The Crawley’s and their staff find themselves preparing for the visit/event of their lives when the king and queen of Great Britain come to Downton Abbey to stay for a few days. The story unfolds from there…

As I stated in my opening “Downton Abbey” is delightful. It’s funny, interesting and entertaining. The transition from TV to motion picture does nothing but help “Downton Abbey”. Now everyone can enjoy the never-ending drama that occurs with the Crawley’s, their family, staff and friends.

Afternoon Tea anyone?

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Ad Astra in AMC Dolby

“Ad Astra” is about an Astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) who is sent on a Space Exploration out into the Solar System to search for his missing Father Cliff McBride (Tommy Lee Jones) who is also an Astronaut. The mystery of it all threatens the existence of planet earth. On his travels, Roy uncovers secrets that challenge the human existence and earth’s place in the cosmos. The story unfolds from there…

Plain and simple the movie was boring. I did not find anything entertaining about “Ad Astra”. I had hoped it would get better, but except for 2 or 3 scenes that were interesting I found the movie to be dry and lifeless.
Don’t get me wrong I love Space Exploration movies like “Interstellar” and “The Martian”. Those movies were entertaining and had lots of action, suspense and intrigue and kept you on the edge of your seat. I did not get any of these elements from “Ad Astra”.

The paid critics gave “Ad Astra” 4 stars. It will only get 2 stars from me.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

Hustlers

Based on a true story, “Hustlers” shows you that a bunch of savvy former strippers are a lot smarter than you think.

Tired of dancing/stripping and taking home only a fraction of what they made, several former strippers led by Ramona (Jennifer Lopez) put together their own “Hustle” to take the same guys who were previously visiting them at the strip club. Everything is going great, money, clothes, jewels you name it, but after a while little by little things start to fall apart.
Ramona stumbles upon some other women who are trying to copy-cat her system. The story unfolds from there…

The movie is good and well-acted. Just warning you…The nudity is “In Your Face”. Female friendships are on display in “Hustlers”. The movie just scratches the surface of a “Dancer/Stripper’s Life”. There is even some comic relief.

If you can keep an open mind, I say “Hustlers” is worth a look.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

IT: Chapter Two in AMC Dolby

It’s 27 years later and the gang is all grown up and all have left Derry except one. There is a carnival in Derry and folks are out and about. At the carnival two gentlemen are beaten and become part of a hate crime. Soon after, one of the gentlemen is taken by Pennywise the sadistic clown.

When the local Police and investigator come to the scene the lone member of the gang shows up and is doing his own sniffing. He sees some signs that Pennywise has been on the scene, so he spends the night phoning all of the other living members of the gang insisting that they must return to Derry so that Pennywise can be stopped for good. The story unfolds from there…

“IT: Chapter Two” is crazy scary and extremely graphic!! The movie at times is very bloody. Personally I can’t handle another installment. I spent a lot of time squirming in my seat… The movie does its job by making you feel scared and terrified. There are many twists and turns. You can cut the suspense with a knife.
One negative is that the movie is all over the place. They do a good job on the continuation from the first installment, but this installment shows you elements that probably should have been in the first installment so that the stage would be set properly.

If you are a Stephen King fan and you enjoy his books that become movies. You should definitely see “IT: Chapter Two”.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

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!!