Film Reviews - what have you seen lately, what did you think?

Spider-man: Far From Home - Snuck off to see this right when I was done with work today. Lets just say its a nice marvel filler movie while they figure out what epic they will work toward next. Starts off shortly after endgame and they actually take a few comedic routes in answering some of the questions about those that came back that many of us have been asking. This one starts out with Peter just trying to get a break on his vacation as the weight of everyone's expectations of him are very hard for a 15 year old to deal with, while also grieving for the father figure Iron Man was to him.

When they get on vacation of course trouble follows him and he is recruited to help Quinton Beck/Mysterio fight off the elementals before they destroy the planet while he's also trying desperately to get close to MJ. He also has to deal with an extremely angry and paranoid Fury who is desperate to not let another snap like event happen. Everywhere he goes trouble follows and he of course makes a bad decision. He immediately realizes it, but not before the bad guys can put their plan in motion, which by Marvel standards is not that far fetched, but not epic either. Will Spider-Man be able to overcome all the weight on his shoulders and feeling like he is letting everyone's expectations down to save the day?

The cast was great with some of the classmates from the first movie getting some more story arc to their characters. The villain played his role well when they are revealed. Holland is still a great version of Spider-Man as the comedic moments were timed right and the awkwardness he has still comes out. This was a well done movie for coming off the snap. Not epic, but a nice reboot if you will for the MCU as they move into new territory.

Now not that anyone leaves before the credits in these things they might be two of the better parts of the movie. The mid-credit scene is fantastic with the cameo that shows up, the revelation it creates, and the possibilities they could go with (including exploring the multi-verse more) if they want to. The end credit scene brings in some certain scene stealers from another Marvel film and changes how you view certain characters from the movie after the fact. Enjoy it because I thought it was hilarious.

All in all a solid Marvel movie. Top 10 of the MCU, mabye not, but pushing for a spot close to their in my opinion. 7.5/10

PS - While I would have no problem letting my 6 year old see this movie as he loves Spider-Man, there is one scene that might get a little intense for younger kids. You all know your kids so approach as needed, but other than that its another parent approved MCU movie.

The Man who Killed Don Quixote - Stars Kylo Ren and was much more than I expected. He is a pompous commercial director who is making one around Don Quixote. Caught with losing his creative side he finds a copy of a student film he made on the same subject years prior in a village not far from where they are filming. When he goes to see his old friends he finds that the old man who he had star in it now truly believes that he is Don Quixote. This leads to many hi jinks as he helps him go on adventures to try and save the girl all the time hoping he doesn't fall into madness himself.

This movie was more than I expected, but not beyond a one time viewing for me. The first half of the movie is much better than the second half and the ending is just kind of meh. It has some turns in it as he goes on his "adventure" and is a descent flick if bored. This is Kylo Ren's attempt at making something artsy I guess between Star Wars movies. 5.5/10

The Front Runner - Wolverine plays Gary Hart and follows the derailing of his 1988 presidential bid by an affair. Not much here that is mind blowing. He got caught and had a tough time trying to trick the media while getting combative. If anything is shows that at one point politicians didn't want to be in the spotlight like movie stars unlike today. Gets a little into how it affected his family and how his campaign team tried to spin it, but if you miss this one your life will not be missing anything. 5/10

We saw Spider-Man last night. From having general knowledge of Spider-Man villains, the “twist” wasn’t surprising, but the movie improved drastically after it happened. First half was so-so, second half might have been the best Spider-Man action we’ve gotten in a movie.

Destroyer - Stars Nicole Kidman and a pretty good supporting cast. I was really looking forward to this one based on the preview, but came away a little disappointed. Kidman plays a burnt out detective that years ago was deep undercover in a bank robbery ring. When a murder happens she realizes the leader is now back and starts going through all the old members to get to him.

The movie starts out promising, but toward the end starts to loose steam. Most of the movie is Kidman in old woman ugo makeup while there are plenty of flashbacks to her younger years where she looks pretty hot. 6/10

The Spy Who Dumped Me - I watched this movie for one reason only. It stars Mila Kunis. It's a comedy based around a woman who unknowingly is dating a CIA agent. He dumps her on her birthday and of course things start to happen, she and her best friend have to go on a mission and she gets caught up in an international spy ring of trying to find out who is telling the truth and who is not. Did I mention it stars Mila Kunis. It has it's moments of being funny, but for the most part its a forgettable comedy that stars Mila Kunis. 5/10.

The new Robin Hood - Godawful except for some nicely shot action scenes. It’s a rehash of the Kevin Costner story sort of, the noble Muslim straightening out all the evil white Christians. The sets and costumes look like a mash-up of GOT and Rogue 1. Modern haircuts. Stupid dialogue. Complete disregard for the tech of the era. Just dumb everywhere you turn.

Really enjoyed Widow, a series on Prime starring Kate Beckinsale. Good story, good acting.

A Star is Born - really impressive work by Bradley Cooper in writing, singing, directing and a joy to watch Lady Gaga seize a role that drops her initial makeup and persona. In a sense she WAS that young woman who was told she didn’t have a good enough look. She is so crazy talented. I didn’t like the twist at the end, but overall well worth a watch.

Bohemian Rhapsody - I am 57 and always liked Queen on the radio but never bought their albums. This movie is an extraordinary account of their rise and Freddie Mercury’s insane talent and sad death. I’d heard the Live Aid recreation was perfect - and it was. We watched the original right after the movie and they nailed EVERY detail and movement. The actors look just like the band. AND the bassist was the boy in the original Jurassic Park!

Enjoyed season 3 of Stranger Things, but it got a little too slapstick at points and I still find Mike supremely irritating.

Working through season 3 of Jessica Jones. So far a very interesting plot.

Detroitgator said:

ANИA -

I have been waiting for this because it’s my thing and because I’m a HUGE Luc Besson fan, especially as a writer, only sometimes as a director. He did great in both roles on this one. It’s La Femme Nikita (Besson), Leon: The Professional (Besson), SALT, Red Sparrow, and John Wick I rolled into one (Sash > Keanu in fight scenes that were really seamless... never that one guy waiting to be hit while she hit another). If you liked any of those, you’ll like this. Really interesting timeline jumps too. Several good plot twists too, not going to say more. With 45 minutes left, I really didn’t know how they were going to sew things up, but he did it well and complete, not rushed or jammed in.

Personally, I liked because it was another Russian female survivor story done right (played by an actual Russian for once).

I liked the cover of David Bowie’s “This is not America” Platini really quietly AT the end too.

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Where is it?

Theologator said:

Where is it?

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It just left theaters, so should be out in other formats soon

Theologator said:

I still find Mike supremely irritating.
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He's treading in useless character territory.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019): This movie is the last chapter in this iteration of the MCU. It starts to bridge to bridge the gap to what is going to happen next. The first half of the movie is about the changes in the world seen through Peter's point of view. Being a person who is five years behind the world around them, and also with intimate knowledge of what caused and the sacrifices made to keep the world as we know it. The second half of the movie is about Peter moving forward and the start of the "new" world also through Peter's perspective. The "surprise" isn't that great if you have ever picked up a Spider-man comic, watched the 90's cartoon, etc... The movie is a solid effort, being anything would be a bit of a letdown after the two part Infinity saga. I give it a solid 7/10.

Threat Matrix matrix: No boobs or bush in this film.

Lion King (2019): This is a Disney cash grab and a well done one at that. The kids loved it, and the cgi is amazing. It's almost a beat for beat recreation of the original, so if you have seen the original you aren't missing anything. The voice acting is really well done, and the songs are re-done with the voice talents. It was a solid outing, but felt it lacked some of the heart that the original had (mostly because you can do more with animation than life like animals). As an adult that knows the original I have it a solid 6/10 the daughter gave it an 8/10 not having known the original for decades.

Threat Matrix matrix: no boobs or bush.

TheDouglas78 said:

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019): This movie is the last chapter in this iteration of the MCU. It starts to bridge to bridge the gap to what is going to happen next. The first half of the movie is about the changes in the world seen through Peter's point of view. Being a person who is five years behind the world around them, and also with intimate knowledge of what caused and the sacrifices made to keep the world as we know it. The second half of the movie is about Peter moving forward and the start of the "new" world also through Peter's perspective. The "surprise" isn't that great if you have ever picked up a Spider-man comic, watched the 90's cartoon, etc... The movie is a solid effort, being anything would be a bit of a letdown after the two part Infinity saga. I give it a solid 7/10.

Threat Matrix matrix: No boobs or bush in this film.

Lion King (2019): This is a Disney cash grab and a well done one at that. The kids loved it, and the cgi is amazing. It's almost a beat for beat recreation of the original, so if you have seen the original you aren't missing anything. The voice acting is really well done, and the songs are re-done with the voice talents. It was a solid outing, but felt it lacked some of the heart that the original had (mostly because you can do more with animation than life like animals). As an adult that knows the original I have it a solid 6/10 the daughter gave it an 8/10 not having known the original for decades.

Threat Matrix matrix: no boobs or bush.

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Oh yeah. Far From Home? For me, best Spider-man ever. It balanced humor and action really well.

I kind of expect the MCU to continue making good movies, but it will be awfully hard to keep me as engaged now that my favorites (Hulk, Cap, Iron Man and Thor) are either gone or morphed into comic relief. Maybe in another decade we’ll be ready for a universal threat again.

Spider-Man is THE giant of comic book characters and Holland is perfect, so there is that.

And are the MCU folks getting X-Men now? THAT would be interesting. I haven’t been thrilled with the movies so far, except Logan.

Theologator said:

Oh yeah. Far From Home? For me, best Spider-man ever. It balanced humor and action really well.

I kind of expect the MCU to continue making good movies, but it will be awfully hard to keep me as engaged now that my favorites (Hulk, Cap, Iron Man and Thor) are either gone or morphed into comic relief. Maybe in another decade we’ll be ready for a universal threat again.

Spider-Man is THE giant of comic book characters and Holland is perfect, so there is that.

And are the MCU folks getting X-Men now? THAT would be interesting. I haven’t been thrilled with the movies so far, except Logan.

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They announced Phase four and part of 5 last week at Comic Con... now with the right to Fantastic Four and X-Men, and more importantly their villians it's going to be fun.

GatorJ said:

Saw Once Upon a Time in Hollywood tonight. It was okay. Disjointed for the first 30 minutes or so. Even more so than a typical Tarantino movie. Didn’t seem to have much plot.

The last third of the movie is really good.

It sometimes takes me watching a Tarantino movie a couple times to really appreciate it but this movie is strangely meandering.

You find out what the title means in about the last 15 minutes.

6/10 I guess.

Disappointing. I really expected more.

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Not good to hear. I feel like this year has just been flat on movies I’m looking forward to seeing and that was one of them.

I liked Once Upon A Time in Hollywood a lot. It wasn’t Tarantino’s best by a long shot, but compared to most movies being put out recently, it was outstanding. It definitely had some of that standard QT meandering in the middle of the film, but as always, everything from the beginning and middle ends up tying into the ending, which very possibly could have been his best ending ever. It was also impeccably shot with tons of long single takes and terrific cinematography, which comes to be expected from him.

It’s still a bit early to give them the award, but Leo has to be the clear cut front runner for the Best Actor Oscar, and Pitt should be the clear front runner for Best Supporting Actor. They were both phenomenal.

Captain Sasquatch said:

I liked Once Upon A Time in Hollywood a lot. It wasn’t Tarantino’s best by a long shot, but compared to most movies being put out recently, it was outstanding. It definitely had some of that standard QT meandering in the middle of the film, but as always, everything from the beginning and middle ends up tying into the ending, which very possibly could have been his best ending ever. It was also impeccably shot with tons of long single takes and terrific cinematography, which comes to be expected from him.

It’s still a bit early to give them the award, but Leo has to be the clear cut front runner for the Best Actor Oscar, and Pitt should be the clear front runner for Best Supporting Actor. They were both phenomenal.

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I think DiCaprio should have a fistful of Oscars by now... don't like his politics, but love just about every role he's ever done. I think it's like that the scene in "Extras" (underrated show) where Kate Winslet explains why she's playing a nun...