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!!

Late Night

“Late Night” is about a Late Night Show host, Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson) and answering the Diversity question when she hires her first female writer, Molly Patel (Mindy Kaling) and the interactions that occur with the “All Male” writer staff. At first the men think Molly is an office assistant until they are told that she is a writer and will be working with them. This does not go over very well at first. The men actually use the restroom marked “Women” among other things.
Show host, Katherine Newbury is in danger of losing her job due to ratings so she is hoping that Molly can help find that spark again so that the ratings will climb back up. But Katherine and Molly clash due to a generation and cultural difference. The story unfolds from there…

There is a lot of real-world workplace scenarios that are played out in this movie. We are living in a time where Diversity is a big deal. A Woman working in an all-male group/department is becoming a thing of the past. This movie illustrates that.

All of that aside, the movie is fun and there is definitely comic relief. Great acting from Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling make this a good choice.

This is a 3 ½ 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!!

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!!