Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 the 3D IMAX Experience

In this installment the team continues their adventures as they make their way across the galaxy. “The Guardians” must fight to keep their family together as they are confronted with challenge after challenge, but one challenge made by Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) supposed father “Ego” (Kurt Russell) proves to be more than the team bargained for. The story unfolds from there…

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a CGI feast. The special effects and cinematography are off the charts. There is plenty of action, suspense and intrigue. I did not review the first installment, but saw it later. This installment is a lot cruder and a lot more violent than the first installment, so Parents beware.

The movie is fast-paced and will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is plenty of humor, probably more than in the first installment. Normally sequels lose some luster, but I would say this installment kept it real and fresh. My favorite Guardian is “Baby Groot”. He looks like a miniature Mummy.

If you are a die-hard Marvel Comic Fan, you will love “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

The Circle

“The Circle” was an utter waste of my time. It’s a let-down considering the cast!

Mae (Emma Watson) gets hired by the world’s largest and most successful Tech Social Media Company. Mae grips this opportunity like it’s a life line. She starts off slow, but soon rises thru the ranks. The Company Founder, Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks) encourages Mae and her ideas. Mae soon embarks on an experiment that is groundbreaking and also pushes the boundaries of how we live life today, but this new experiment could also alienate her from her family. The story unfolds from there…

“The Circle” is one dimension. There is no plot and no story. The movie just goes along its merry way. You could take from the movie that not everyone is going to like you on social media, not everyone is going to agree with your opinions on social media and not everyone cares what you do on social media even if your millions of so-called friends are watching your every move every single day on social media…

“The Circle” has great actors in a bad movie. “The Circle” is the late Bill Paxton’s last movie.

This is a 1 Star Movie!

Gifted

“Gifted is a very cute and moving movie”

Chris Evans plays Frank Adler a single man who is tasked with raising a seven year old little girl who is a prodigy. Frank is raising his niece Mary at the wishes of his sister who is no longer living. Frank promised is sister that he would make sure that Mary had a normal life and did the fun things that little girls do growing up.

Mary is anything but a normal little girl. She can solve mathematical problems without blinking an eye. The school she attends wants to send her via a scholarship to a school for gifted children, Frank refuses because he feels that Mary would not adjust well because she would be viewed as different. Soon Mary’s Grandmother Evelyn comes calling from Boston. Evelyn wants to take Mary away to live with her. Frank is not about to allow that to happen. Soon Attorneys get involved and everyone goes to court. The story unfold from there…

The story is moving, heart-warming and at times a bit comical. There are a few places where the movie drags a bit, but that doesn’t deter from the story. It’s cute to see little Mary working mathematical problems the way a child would color in a coloring book. Chris Evans does a good job of transcending to a different role than Captain America.

All in all I say “Gifted” is worth a look. It’s open in a minimum number of theaters around the country. Check it out if you can.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!

Fate of the Furious: The IMAX Experience

“The Fast & Furious Franchise Lives On…”

I was actually stunned to hear that another installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise was coming our way after the great sendoff that was given for Paul Walker during Furious 7. I thought it would be tough for the original cast to continue without him, but I guess I was wrong. It is really all about making “Dead Presidents”.

So here we are two years later and the original cast minus Paul Walker with about five new faces ventures into another realm. There is some very good casting although this installment moves further away from its roots.

The story starts off great with Toretto (Diesel) and Letty (Rodriguez) together doing their thing in Cuba living what appears to be a normal life. The rest of the team is no-where around. The peace that Toretto and Letty enjoy can only last so long. A new villain makes its way into Toretto’s life. This villain needs Toretto’s special driving skills to pull of some major international jobs. In order to get Toretto’s help, this villain has already procured something that is very precious to Toretto, so how can he refuse? The story unfolds from there…

In order to keep this franchise going there needed to be a fresh new story, with fresh new characters. On a very small scale this story is fresh with new characters, but on the larger scale it’s a “Been There, Done That” sort of story. Unfortunately Jordana Brewster did not reprise her role as “Mia”. She is one of the original cast members.

There is a ton of action, serious car chases, crashes and cool moves. The computer age is rampant in this movie as there are many high-tech maneuvers made and used. There is even some comedy relief. During the opening credits the music that plays is off the chain…

“Fate of the Furious” is a must see in IMAX. The camera angles, sound and the cinematography are excellent and you will feel like you are in the cars and planes riding right along with the gang.

The movie is not bad, it’s just not as fresh as it needs to be with an eighth installment.

“Fate of the Furious” is definitely worth a look.

I am almost sure there will be a ninth installment.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!

Going in Style

“Going in Style” is Hilarious!!

Just imagine you are in your “Golden Years”. You have retired after working 30, 40 years at the same company. You have a pension that you expected to last as long as you do. The company you worked so hard for is having problems and has been purchased. The new company has decided to freeze all pensions from the purchased company. This leaves all of the current retirees without any money.

Desperate times calls for desperate measures. You get together with your retired pals and decide to rob a bank. There is planning, getting into shape and learning to shoot a gun among other tasks that you need to undertake, but first you need some help from someone with a criminal mind. The story unfolds from there…

The paid critics are very Luke-warm about “Going in Style”. What could possibly be Luke-warm about a movie with Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin as its stars?
I thought it was funny, entertaining and lighthearted while potentially ringing in some truth. In America today, pensions disappearing does happen. It’s funny to see 70+ year old’s putting together a plan and robbing a bank.

“Going in Style” is an entertaining movie and worth a look.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!

The Ghost in the Shell in 3D

“Ghost in the Shell” is the live-action, big screen adaptation of the popular Japanese Manga series. The 3D aspects are very good. The story lags a bit and the plot is non-existent, but the movie is not bad.

Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the first of her kind. She was saved from a terrible accident and through surgical procedures was “Rebuilt” as a Cyber-being, part human, part robot. Major is enhanced to be the perfect crime fighter. She has the speed, agility, flexibility and combat instincts to thwart many bad guys.

Things go awry when Major starts to show signs of having memories from her former life. She is trying to figure things out and understand more about her being. She also discovers that she has been lied to. Major will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of who she really is, but the people who created her can’t allow that. The story unfolds from there…

The action and special effects are awesome! The story is a bit off and lags at various points. This is what keeps the movie from being 4 stars.

I am a fan of Scarlett Johansson, so I wanted to see how she would do. She was good as Major.

If there is another installment, there needs to be a deeper story, more intrigue and suspense.

This is a 2 ½ Star Movie!

Life

Ever since the 1979 box office hit “Alien”, there has been attempted replications and duplication’s. Some have come close, but most have failed.

“Life” is nothing more than an attempted replication with A-List Actors and far more stupidity and nonsense.

We as humans on earth continue to be fascinated with the possibility of life on Mars. A team of astronauts and scientists operate a space station near Mars. Exploration is done and what appears to be a life form is found. Our curiosity gets the best of us as we poke, prod and attempt chemical modifications to the form we have found.

Too much poking and prodding with the wrong instruments leads to growth stimulation of the life form. We then try to kill what we have tampered with, but to no avail. The life form sustains its life by feeding on us. The story unfolds from there…

The outcome of “Life” is pretty obvious. Is there ever a good ending to a Sci-Fi Thriller that has any sort of Alien being?

After the first 70 minutes I was bored and actually considered leaving. I did go and stand near the exit because the movie was getting on my nerves. I had seen it all before. There is nothing really new except several A-List Actors in the movie. There was no real suspense, some action, a lot of stupidity and nonsense.

The paid critics believe “Life” is fresh. I think it’s as stale as 2 week old bread.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

Beauty and The Beast in 3D

Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast” is a “Live Action Visual Feast”!!

Belle (Emma Watson) goes in search of her father Maurice (Kevin Kline) after his horse returns to the village without him. The horse leads Belle through the forest to the castle where her father disappeared. Belle finds her father being held captive inside the castle. The Beast approaches, but Belle isn’t afraid of the Beast and offers to trade places with her father. The Beast doesn’t want to make a trade, but allows Belle to say good-bye to her father. Once she is inside the cell with her father she pushes him out and slams the door. The story unfolds from there…

“Beauty and the Beast” is an old animated story being told in live action with tremendous visual effects, beautiful cinematography and wonderfully updated music.

The movie is very entertaining and will hold your attention. The 3D aspects are very good. The cast is excellent with the enchanting servant voices being played by the likes of Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

This is a grown-up version of the classic tale, but can be enjoyed by everyone!!

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!

Kong: Skull Island in 3D

“Kong: Skull Island” is “Crazy Stupid”, but it’s fast-paced, has lots of eye candy and tons of action.

Set in the post-Vietnam war era, a group of explorers/scientists and a team of military specialists are brought together to go on an exploration assignment to an uncharted island in the Pacific. It’s not really explained ahead of time what the group might be looking for, but it was made known that they needed to go before Russia went. At first glance the island looks to be a paradise, but the parties soon find out the island is as dangerous and treacherous as it is beautiful. The story unfolds from there…

The special effects are awesome. The action is non-stop. The 3D aspects will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s in your face violent.

“Kong: Skull Island” offers you another rendition of the King Kong saga. It’s the first creature-feature of the year.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

Logan

Wow! “Logan” is Action-Packed, Intense, Gritty and Intriguing.

It’s 2029 and all Mutants are supposedly gone. “Logan” (Jackman) lives on the outskirts of the Mexican Border and has a job as a Chauffeur. Professor X (Stewart) is ailing and needs constant care. Logan uses whatever cash he makes purchasing the medication that helps keep Professor X’s brain calm and quiet.

Logan is approached by a woman who says she desperately needs his help. At first Logan refuses indicating that he does not know the woman and does not know how or why she thinks she knows him. Logan soon finds out that the reason the woman needs his help is that she is harboring a young little girl who is a mutant with skills like Wolverine.
There are bad people looking for the little girl. The woman offers Logan 50,000 dollars saying he is the only person who could keep the little girl safe. Mysteriously the little girl shows up at Logan’s place without him knowing about it. This brings the bad people to his place also. The story unfolds from there…

“Logan” is entertaining, suspenseful, very bloody, and violent and has some cool special effects. Hugh Jackman puts so much of himself into the character “Logan” that it’s almost painful to watch.

“Logan” is so intense that it’s not for young children. This is truly an adult Marvel Comics installment.

If you like Marvel Comics, “Logan” is for you!

This is a 4 Star Movie!