"Good Boys" is a Disgusting, but Well-Acted and Often Hilarious Rogen Comedy

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $19.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With an HBO Subscription

ca-times.brightspotcdn-1.jpg

70/100 “sweet/sour”

Producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have hit another money-making success with their newest effort, "Good Boys", which feels like a wild ride focusing on 6th graders swear, play with sex toys, and drinking alcohol. The film is undermined by the tendency to rely upon extensively gross-out humor, and pratfalls generally made for adults--but this middle-school fun-house of a movie benefits on the agreeably juvenile performances, and constant yuks. So yes, if you are a fan of 12-year-old virgins getting sex terms wrong, and fiddling with dildos now and then--by all means, head to the multiplex. However, be warned that eventually, they wear out their welcome a little with anecdotes that seem worn-out. Don't worry, to keep us invested in the solid if an unspectacular picture is the excellent teamwork of its three stars.

Max, played by the brilliant "Wonder" and "Room" star Jacob Tremblay, sets the scene as the guy to put your attention to. He's 12 years old and has just started to get through the "rough life" of sixth-grade. It's a little disconcerting to see such a sweet little boy in his previous films go to a swearing, masturbating, and undeniably hilarious juvenile in his newest role. His other two buds enter soon after, named Lucas (Kieth L. Williams loving lasagna, and digging in) and Thor who is played by a scene-stealing Brady Noon. They"re known as the "Bean Bag Boys", Max is trying to score a smooch with his crush Brixlee (Millie Davis), Lucas is dealing with his parents' recent divorce and Thor is having a grudge with himself on whether to pursue his dream as a singer, or stick with the cool kids. However, they all want one thing--to fit in.

That's when the so-called "Scooter Gang" arrives, who dares them to beat the record of three-sips of beer (Tweens). Max and Lucas are up to the task and take a sip, but Thor fails to meet the "challenge", and is called "sippy cup" for the rest of the picture. Confusing right, maybe when I explain it, but it all goes very smoothly in the cinema. Remember Max and his journey to land a first kiss? Well, the problem is, he doesn't quite know-how. This leads to a funny, but the disgusting scene where the gang finds a "CPR dummy" (a sex doll) in the parents' bedroom. You guessed it, Tremblay's Max gets right in there for the kiss before commenting that his first wet-one was "sticky" and "there were hairs inside." Don't try this at home kids.

Oh, but they are not done. Director Gene Stupninsky will not stop with making the audiences go "eww". After Max destroys his father's work drone (spying), they decide to sell their valuable card for cash to get a new one. They then ring Peter Pan 69 for the deal, who appears in the household moments later, played by an eminent Stephen Merchant. Scared of sexual assault, the three Tweens run to retrieve some "weapons" from the infamous bedroom. These defenses turn out to be an assortment of dildos, anal beads, and the leather mask. Unconvincingly telling the trio that he is in fact, not a pedo, the adult card-collector takes the aforementioned CPR doll after the deal fails. Told ya so, Stupininsky and Rogen try there best at freaking out the theater in a film that features stellar performances, but steadfast gross-outs.

The final opinion is: While "Good Boys" is occasionally taken from greatness by the overly used sexual jokes, a talented young cast and constant enough laughs get the audiences through a roller-coaster of sickening pratfalls...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 21.4m

Domestic Total: 83.1m

Worldwide Total: 110.9m

Related Films:

Easy A, 75/100 “sweet”

Superbad, 80/100 “sweet”

Booksmart, 90/100 “sweet”

"Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" is an Entertaining, Fun Horror Flick for Teens

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 14, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Rent for $5.99 or Buy for $14.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video

6ZZ5PUBAKJHGTDSB6BH64KPLD4.jpg

70/100 “sweet/sour”

A rarity in the film business is a PG-13 rated horror flick done right, their usually shallow and too gory for a training-wheels scare-fest. A fine example of a proper, 100-minute film jock-full of suitable terrors is "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark". The picture is helmed by director André Øvredal while produced and written by the visionary Guillermo del Toro. While it's not as terrifying as it should be, the jump-scares are rarely a bore, the fresh cast does justice to a firm picture and there's an adequate amount of Toro's trademark haunts. The running time is fast-paced, and you'll have more than enough valid frights in this haunted-house horror film. It's better than the average fear-ride, the storytelling is well-constructed, and the script isn't terrible either. A recurring issue is that the whole product seems a little too silly for its own good, but it’s a fun time with some candy, popcorn--and some good old screams in the cinema, an old-fashioned, entertaining flick.

"Scary Stories" is a big-screen adaptation of Alvin Schwartz's '80's campfire stories, laden with corpses, spiders and downright creepy ghosts. Its old-fashioned stuff, but its a solid yarn for teens. The narrative takes place during 1968, in America, the year Nixon was elected, and the Vietnam war was breathing down the necks of the states. Stella (Zoe Margaret Colletti), Auggie (Gabriel Rush) and Chuck (Austin Zajur) are four friends looking for a good scare on Halloween night and after they are chased by their high-school enemy Tommy (Austin Abrams) they are allowed harbor by the mysterious Ramòn (Michael Garza).

Stella then thinks of an old dwelling that is essentially the flawless specimen of a cliched haunted house. The manor used to belong to the controversial Bellows family, who supposedly tortured one of their own, Sarah Bellows. Ya, it's disturbing all right. In the seemingly innocent household, they discover a diary belonging to Sarah. Supposedly, Sarah wrote scary stories during her life in blood. The five teens begin to realize that the stories tend to come to life. "You don't read the book", "the book reads you" Stella recites during the film. The premise does have potential, and Toro does catch the wind frequently. It ain't terrific, and may not please all adults looking for an ultra-gory, R-rated flick--but for teens looking for a suitably bone-chilling experience, it delivers.

Put in a run-in with a straw-laden scarecrow dubbed Harold with a grudge. A terrific scene with an overweight, pale figure slowly creeping on you in a red hallway. A downright eerie yarn about the Jangly Man. Toro and Øvredal are having a wonderful time playing with the younger genre enthusiasts' minds, and it works. Well, most of the time. It gets creative up to a point where audiences may not be as invested as they were during the first hour. "Scary Stories" is another example of one of those films that gets great but disappoints a little in the cliffhanger ending. However, it's a pleasure if the given audience isn't looking for an excellent film. It's no modern classic, but it is certainly something. Come back for a sequel!

The final opinion is: The horror flick is laden with ridiculous jump-scares, but "Scary Stories" is an entertaining, suitably spine-rattling experience with a solid cast and some fresh ideas...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 20.9m

Domestic Total: 68.9m

Worldwide Total: 105.6m

Related Films:

It: Chapter Two, 65/100 “sweet/sour”

Escape Room, 55/100 “sour”

Annabelle Comes Home, No Score Yet

"The Red Sea Diving Resort" is a Dangerously Dull Thriller

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

1_CWWY3VQUtRUNJNAeB4_nXg.jpg

35/100 “sour”

Ever wanted another oversimplified and tired biopic, well here you got one fresh out of the barrel and produced by Netflix. Dubbed "The Red Sea Diving Resort", this sanitized thriller brings in good intentions, a talented cast and beautiful locations to shoot. However, the picture just undermines the positives with thinly written characters and a disappointing tendency to use genre stereotypes. The film is helmed by Gideon Raff, whose first feature happens to be a buffoonish, overlong snoozefest that suffers from tired direction and a horrific screenplay. "The Red Sea" does have its moments, including the action sequences, and a bold performance by Marvel star Chris Evans, but generally, the few ups are watered down by its many, many flaws. The premise is certainly interesting and could've made a wonderful movie, but without the intelligence in the execution, it is just another predictable, dull thriller bereft of almost anything of solid material.

The premise comes from an amazing true story but having it swim in these troubled waters of a film, it's just begging to get out of the ocean. Ari (Chris Evans) is a husky American whose job happens to be illegally smuggling Ethiopian refugees out of a war-tortured 80's Sudan. However, Ari realizes their not evacuating enough refugees to help the cause, and proposes a plan to intelligence officer Ethan Levi (Ben Kingsley). Ari and his team are to use a worn-down tourist attraction called The Red Sea Diving Resort to use as their cover to smuggle the refugees to get them out of Sudan at a much quicker rate. As the importation missions become more and more successful, actual tourists begin to arrive at the resort, and it becomes a business. Despite this, their victories come to slight halt when Colonel Abdel Ahmed learns of the operations, jeopardizing their entire task. Imagine that mixed with all the issues in the movie. Then you get the undercooked "Red Sea Diving Resort".

The predictably almost all-white cast is led by muscle-laden hunk Chris Evans, who is mainly known for portraying Captain America in the MCU. While Evans certainly tries to make an effort on the intriguing role of Ari, the flaw-laden picture drags the un-mistakingly well-matched lead with under the waves with intensely poor screenwriting and embarrassing character development. Furthermore, a single positive in a sea of negatives is how well Chris Evans fits with his chosen role, having the hero-type qualities of the real-life person. He's got it all, the handsome locks, the brawn, and the assuring face. If only director Gideon Raff injected anything on the inside. The conclusion would be for Evans to stick to superheroes.

Although it's marginally beneficial that Evans has the qualities for the position, the whole set-up is conspicuously stereotypical. Yep, its the whole shenanigan, the white main character is a messiah to all the "empty", and almost "dysfunctional" Ethiopians. All the main characters have the same ethnicity which is forced because of the real-life story, but that's still no excuse for the portrayal of the opposite race. The two black supporting/main characters are the Colonel, who is hell-bent on killing refugees. The other is Ari's assistant Kebede whose part barely extends over seconding the main roles. My point is there are no role models of the opposite race, nobody to look up to but Ari. This becomes a major predicament throughout the flick.

The final opinion is: "The Red Sea Diving Resort" is shot beautifully, but the interesting premise and the talented cast are undermined by an overreliance on the insufficient depiction of supporting roles, a lack of character development and shameful direction...$KIP IT

By: Keaton Marcus

There is no box office info because the film provided is produced by Netflix, released for streaming only.

Related Films:

Captain Phillips, 80/100 “sweet”

Sully, 75/100 “sweet”

American Made, 80/100 “sweet”

"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a Comic Late '60's Throwback With Brad and Leo

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $19.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With a STARZ Subscription

ca-times.brightspotcdn.jpg

85/100 “sweet”

It’s great to see Emile Hirsch in a Tarantino film, awesome job playing Jay Sebring!

Imagine a fairytale type telling about '69, a story interwoven with the heinous crimes of the Manson family and an abundance of hippies. If you got that in the nogan, you've got Quentin Tarantino's 9th film, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". Mix that with stars Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, an actor, his stunt-double, and the tumultuous adventures they have in the decade of peace and love, not war. The storytelling is a little simple in the brain, but the comic overtones will likely help audiences get over the fact that it ain't the best a creative team may hook up. Nevertheless, the performances are excellent, the direction ends spot-on and ultimately its a fun throwback to the late '60s. The run-time may seem a tad overwhelming at the beginning of the picture, but as director Tarantino starts to inject his signature violence and humor, you're nearly guaranteed to have a wild time at the theaters. Bring it on a platter, you've got a talented cast, a solid premise and a lot of crack-ups--what could go wrong?

Rick Dalton (Leo) was a booming, Hollywood bred actor in the '50s. The guy was loved for his over-the-top performances as villains in action films and westerns. Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad) we're inseparable together, and they teared up cinema back then. Hopping to the '60s, Dalton is losing some fame, but his mood craters after a tension-filled meeting with the Italian producer Marvin Schwarz (Al Pacino talking business). Schwarz tells him that Dalton's not quite as flourishing as he was a decade or so ago and that he should take some roles in Schwarz's spaghetti westerns and action pics. That does it. Audiences learn that Rick despises Italian films, especially those in the listed genres, he also explains to Cliff that he is a "has-been". Meanwhile, the aforementioned Booth encounters Pussycat, one of the many followers of the dubbed "Manson family". That's the gist of what Tarantino was cooking up the last couple of years, Brad Pitt investigating a murderous cult while Leo Dicaprio ponders over his career.

Again, while there are a couple of plot holes here and there, the comedy, the many brilliant moments and Leo and Brad's chemistry shine. Whether its Cliff reminding Rick of who he is ("remember, you're Rick fucking Dalton") or Dalton scorching Nazis with a flamethrower ("did anybody order fried sour kraut?!"), even a hilarious encounter with martial artist Bruce Lee--Pitt and DiCaprio are astonishing in their chosen roles. They're outrageous together, it's the boys from the 'Wood, the dream team. Especially with the film provided, it's killer. The two all-stars dig up both humor and flounder in a realistic take of white male stardom at the time. If you're not a huge fan of the film or pop-culture references, go to the multi-plex to see Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio's pretty flawless outings in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". If you don't like the stars, well, too bad for you. I say that only cause it's quite literally a 161-minute macho-trip whose job is to put the two actors on a pedestal.

The final opinion is: There are a couple of infrequent issues with the plot, but "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a blatantly successful Tarantino love-letter to the '60s that features penetrating work from both Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, along with a sufficient amount of violence, comedy, and wit...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 41m

Domestic Total: 142.5m

Worldwide Total: 374.3m

Related Films:

Inglourious Basterds, No Score Yet

Django Unchained, No Score Yet

Catch Me If You Can, 85/100 “sweet”

"Shaft" Reboot is Uncomfortably Outdated, and Only Features Sporadic Laughs

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $9.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With an HBO Subscription

Shaft-2019-Frontpage.jpg

40/100 “sour”

I liked the original ”Shaft” picture, a classic 1971 blaxploitation classic starring Richard Roundtree, who played the title character. Really, who didn't? However, who knew it was going to sprout a cheesy, but admittedly fun franchise? In the midst of the African American led series came to a reboot/sequel starring all-star Samuel L. Jackson as Shaft’s son. It did business, proving that audiences were still into the badass private detective. Did we really need another sequel that had foul traces of reboot in it? Well, ”Ride Along,” filmmaker Tim Story thinks so. The director decided to stuff a new ”Shaft” in our face, still starring both veterans Samuel l Jackson, and Richard Roundtree as the father and son duo, also adding in actor Jessie Usher to play the newest, and youngest Shaft in the business. It's not as bad as it sounds, with good-natured performances, and some interesting laughs; but overall, the crudely constructed reboot that feels outdated and a little unnecessary.

In this multigenerational reboot, the plot (if there is one) zooms in on Shaft Jr. He's the opposite of his father, afraid of guns, and women--he works for the FBI as a data analyst. When his friend Karim, a vet in the army, is killed, labeled conspicuously as an accidental death by the police, he decides to go to his estranged father. Enter daddy Shaft, a private detective who spends most of his time drinking and shagging women. After agreeing to help his son on the case, they find that this looks suspiciously like murder. There's the story, familiar and dull, but excusing the painful plot, this new ”Shaft” is a reasonably enjoyable, and forgettable comedy.

One major disappointment about the reboot is the change of leads. Sure the one fault is disposable amidst loads of quips, but Jessie Usher sure ain't got the natural talent of both Jackson, and Roundtree. Usher sure tries to represent the younger version of Shaft, with the script squeezing more swearing in than the film can handle, he even turns out to be an expert shooter; but the performance never hits the right notes. There are moments where Usher is the center of the laughs, but even the yuk here and there fails to make audiences forget about the poorly executed performance.

Most likely the best bits about the film are Samuel L Jackson and Richard Roundtree’s game outings. Jackson’s older Shaft is still the badass he once was, shooting, having sex, swearing, and well, shagging more. Not only that, the mainstream of the yuks come from him, obviously, giving the audiences another taste of the real Shaft. Otherwise, while Roundtree doesn't enter until the last 20 minutes of the film, it's more than enough time to give the actor another satisfying performance, while giving him the usual father-son banter with Jackson.

The final verdict is: The multigenerational “Shaft” reboot delivers some sporadic laughs, but besides that, the outdated plotting, and the unwanted feel of the film drowns the retake in murky, murky waters…$KIP IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info: (a Netflix production, but also released in theaters)

Opening Weekend: 8.9m

Domestic Total: 21.3m

Worldwide Total: 21.3m

"Dark Phoenix" is Another Mess of a Stab at an Interesting Comics Arc

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 14, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $19.99 in SD and HD, or Watch for Free With an HBO Subscription

5cf814be4cf27052f4693083-750-500.jpg

30/100 “sour”

Kudos to all the talented, ensemble cast members who were so gratuitously wasted in the flaming pit of garbage that "Dark Phoenix" is.

"Dark Phoenix" shouldn't have been made. Directed and written by long-time series producer Simon Kinberg, this is the last stand the X-Men take before Disney acquires Fox--and its a rough one. Sophie Turner shows noticeable potential as its undeniably intriguing title character, but a hodgepodge of a storyline and a couple of truly embarrassing performances drown what could have been a solid film. The 200 million production has flashes of what should be demanded of an expensive sci-fi film (visuals), but mainly, not even the special effects shine in this tedious waste of talented people and a notable comics arc. It's depressing, full of unnecessary angst, and it meets none of the criteria of good superhero films today. "Dark Phoenix" isn't even enjoyable, much less funny--unless you're talking about unintentional laughs, and its certainly no "X-Men" film. Sure, the film certainly deserves credit for attempting, but that alone and an acceptable lead performance are not nearly enough to overcome a wave of boredom.

The X-Men are now friends with the people of Earth, with the citizens referring to the mutants as superheroes. When a crew of astronauts gets stuck in space because of a mysterious cosmic force, the President immediately turns to Charles Xavier (a kicked-in-the-head James McAvoy) and his team to save the stranded men and women. However, when one of their own, Jean Grey (Turner) absorbs the so-called "Phoenix force", she becomes Dark Phoenix. After a compelling space-mission sequence, well-directed and scored--the film turns into a jumbled mess. Jean is a disaster after, having a dangerous battle with the evil voice inside her. Then, things get worse. An alien dubbed Smith (Jessica Chastain going Tilda Swinton) corrupts Jean to retrieve her newly acquired powers. Can the X-Men save her from herself, or is she to be considered a dangerous antagonist? Yep, wow, a dramatic twist.

A major issue is the several attempts at faux feminism in the duration of the picture, especially when Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence hoping for a paycheck) confronts Charles.

"Risking our people for theirs", Mystique intones. "It's always the women saving the men around here", she adds soon before she requests that the team should be dubbed X-Women instead. While it's critical that "Dark Phoenix" should have such actions, Kinberg is not the right director to be injecting what a female filmmaker should. Don't get me wrong, Lawrence is an Oscar-winner, and generally a terrific actress. You can just easily tell that she's hoping to get out of the movie fast. A couple of endeavors hint what could have been an amazing experience, but instead of putting the puzzle pieces together, Kinberg's directorial debut will be remembered as an unfinished riddle. Long-time fans of the franchise may find satisfaction here and there, but people who check their expectations at the theater door--or those just looking for a good, 110-minute watch will want their money back.

What disappoints the heck out of me is the lukewarm action sequences and half-assed visual effects. For a budget that soars as high as the 200M mark, you'd think the people behind the film might pay a little more attention to the choreography of the violence. It seems dated, hard-to-see, and all-and-all, there's no fun. Besides the moments of promise, compare the finale to the "X-Men" franchise to the "Avengers" conclusion, there's no parallel, the latter is better in almost every way. It's not impressive, much-less imaginative. The character design, however, for Grey/Dark Phoenix, is undeniably majestically done. Most likely the only memorable bit of the film. Despite that, the film certainly doesn't deserve the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

You want my final opinion, well, here it is: "Dark Phoenix" should have stayed in the far, far reaches of space...$KIP IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 32.8m

Domestic Total: 65.8m

Worldwide Total: 252.4m

ROCKETMAN

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Rocketman.jpg

70/100 “sweet/sour”

So What’s the Story?

“Rocketman” is a fantasy styled rock biopic exploring the ups and downs of Elton John’s life. His friendship with Bernie Taupin, his life as a child, the glory years, the drinking and drugs, his love story, everything that made him become a legend.

Is It Worth Your While?

Based on recent reviews, I was expecting something phenomenal, but solid is all I got from Taron Egerton’s latest. Now here are my reasons. First of all directing by Dexter Fletcher was good. Like the director of “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Bryan Singer) Dexter was able to bring the musical scenes to life showing you what it was really like to be a member of the audience during a show of Elton John, now of course there was not much substance besides that. However, it is hard to execute a perfect concert scene. So for the directing, I give a B. Next I thought that the cinematography was well done mostly for the concerts, and the special effects helped drag you into his world, and although I feel like they could have added more of that fantasy stuff in there, it was fine. For the special effects and cinematography, I give a B as well. The script was messy but sometimes funny and had depth between the characters. The story had too much sexuality and drinking, up to a point where you’re like okay we get it, Elton was a drug addict and alcoholic. Despite this, after watching it continuously you just don’t care. It was creative to tell the story through a therapy session, but they did not go the full way with that. So for the script and story, I give a C+. Overall, the concert scenes and directing do immerse you into the world of Elton John, but the script and story just don’t hit the mark.

How Was the Cast?

Most of the cast did well in the film, the other part, well… First we have Taron Egerton as Elton John. The posters aren’t wrong, Taron Egerton is literally Elton John. The moves, the voice, it was hard to classify him as someone different, when I watched it. I saw an actor who was truly committed to his performance. Next we have Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin. Besides Taron, Jamie had another determined performance in the movie. He was funny, dramatic, and the chemistry flowed between him and Taron. Third we have Richard Madden as John Reid. He was at times over the top, but actually did a pretty good job with the role. Fourth and finally we have Bryce Dallas Howard as Sheila. Way too ridiculous for my taste. The emotion was bland and the chemistry never flowed between the characters.

Aging ‘Rocketman’

The movie’s sexuality, drugs and drinking are way to intense for anyone under the age of 16. Adults would probably consider it as a film you should only see once. It’s more gruesome than a film like “Bohemian Rhapsody” which is targeted towards tweens and teens, and is even entertaining for adults. Overall, I put a strong caution to keep kids, tween’s and young teens away from this movie.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Rocketman" Showcases Taron Egerton's Fierce Performance in a Solid Biopic

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $19.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With an EPIX Subscription

Rocketman-movie-review-and-Elton-John-biopic-is-flashy-and-electrifying.jpg

80/100 “sweet”

Really, another biopic about a famous, flamboyant rocker--even after the disappointment that was "Bohemian Rhapsody”? Well, while people are tired of the whole "great performance, lack of storytelling" shenanigans, "Rocketman", a new biopic about Elton John, not only has a star-making performance by relatively fresh actor Taron Egerton, the drama captures the truly R-rated life of John, with all the sex, drugs, alcohol--and many other ups-and-downs in the rocker's life. "Rhapsody" (mentioned before) was slammed for carrying an MPAA tag of PG-13, accused of sanitizing Mercury's life. If you happen to be an audience member that wants to see the whole show, this new film is the right way to go. There are problems, some performances are off, the writing can be over-the-top, and it's a little long--but, it is most definitely an above-average biopic.

Before much more, we must talk about Taron Egerton's fantastic performance as Elton John. The actor is known for "Kingsman: The Secret Service", and it's lesser, more violent sequel, "The Golden Circle". While he's occasionally been in the spotlight, Egerton truly is the showcase in the new biopic, and he never ever misuses his valuable time on screen. We know the actor can sing lyrics well, considering his performance in 2016's animated picture, "Sing"--but not like this. While Elton John cannot beat Queen for getting the audiences to cheer, Egerton shines as a more timid, passive singer than Freddie Mercury, who is up an at 'em with the likes of "We Will Rock You". So while "Rocketman" is not the fun, crowd-pleaser film of the year--audiences will still feel nostalgic when the actor sings songs such as "I'm Still Standing", or "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", and even "Crocodile Rock". Despite the cheesy outfits, and the occasional over-focusing on his addictions, when Oscar season comes along, audiences should be voting for Egerton.

Also, unlike most pictures in the genre, "Rocketman" tries to be in touch with John's fantastical life, adding fictional bits and pieces here and there. The beginning of the film is hysterical, showing Elton flamboyant as hell, dressed in a devil's outfit (yep, horns and all), heading to a group therapy session. Currently, in rehab, the singer talks about his excessive problems with alcohol, sex, and drugs, and he also mentions his obsession with shopping. Played by Egerton, the actor captures the raw, sometimes emotional life of the titular role with such distinction and realism--also, the first scene abruptly changes into an all-out musical--showing both John as a child, and adult surrounded by smiling women dancing. Yes, it's ridiculous and cheesy--but I appreciate the bold decision, and the singing is fantastic.

The rest of the film captures a lot of his childhood, his parents never really loved him (played by Bryce Dallas Howard and Steven Mackintosh). Also, another fact, John was always a prodigy, he heard someone play, he'd play it--it's fascinating. This is shown wildly when Elton first goes to try out at the Royal Academy of Music, he hears the teacher play for a little while, he copies it, and when the adult asks why'd he stop, John replies "that's how far you've gone", showcasing his brilliant memory, an incredible ear for music. Another iconic character then enters the film, Bernie Taupin, the famed lad who is known for writing most of Elton's lyrics. He's played by a wonderful Jamie Bell ("Billie Elliot"), and their friendship creates some of the best scenes in the film, banter, and even some compelling fights and arguments. "Rocketman" is so not roses and rainbows everywhere, whether it's snorting coke, having orgies with other guys, or vomiting violently because of too much alcohol--it's not for the younger audiences.

One magnificent scene is when John attempts to kill himself, stoned on drugs--the musician plunges into the pool, and at the floor of it, he regards his child avatar, playing the keyboard in a space-suit. This strengthens up the fantastical antics that filmmaker Dexter Fletcher has planned for the film, it's dramatic and visually impressive--and reaches heights that a run-of-the-mill biopic will rarely touch. Fletcher also co-directed "Bohemian Rhapsody", after "X-Men" director Brian Singer was fired. My point is, Fletcher never got to deliver his special, unusual ideas to his previous biopic. In "Rocketman", there are almost no limits to his abundant imagination.

The final verdict is: The rock biopic occasionally disappoints in trying to make a compelling screenplay, but "Rocketman" captures the rocker's life with a bedazzling performance by Taron Egerton, nostalgic music, along with a newly bizarre, and fantastical approach on the genre by director Dexter Fletcher...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 25.7m

Domestic Total: 96.3m

Worldwide Total: 195.1m

"Booksmart" is a Refreshingly Un-Sanitized, Spectacular Coming-of-Age Drama

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Rent for $3.99 or Buy for $9.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video

V19booksmart01.jpg

90/100 “sweet”

Just as it seems that coming-of-age dramas are becoming produced too frequently, or people are becoming a little fatigued about another teen-focused film wallowing in unnecessary angst. Well, "Booksmart" is different, and more real than even the greatest of the genre, delivering triumphant performances, a hilariously engaging story, and an exceptional femi-nerd comedy with girl power and drinking to spare. Actress Olivia Wilde presents a smashing directorial debut about graduation, which stars refreshingly unique stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as the two extraordinarily written main characters. There are so many terrific moments, so much "nerds rock" type shenanigans, and the greatest thing of all: it never slows up on the wildly inappropriate bits of seventeen-year-old life. A must-see overall, but be aware that it certainly isn't for everyone, but to the right person: prepare for a wild ride.

The day of graduation is just beginning to stress out two highschool students, and best friends Molly (Feldstein) and Amy (Dever) who are to be considered, well, bookworms. They are certainly ready to breathe in the pristine years of Ivy League universities, Molly at Yale and Amy at Columbia. One issue is: just when the two buds are about to silently gloat about how all their studies pay off and on their superiority to the 24-hour partiers--they find a little something out. The Jocks, and the popular girls, after all, their misdemeanors in Crockett High, are also ready to reap similarly prestigious colleges. Have they spent too much time with studies? Not enough parties? Are they fun at all? Amy and Molly are determined to flip the switch by heading to Nick's house party.

"Booksmart" doesn't just deliver excellent comic relief with the film's two wonderfully paired stars, the film also does the seemingly impossible--add new things to an already overstuffed genre. Beanie Feldstein, who happens to be Jonah Hill's sister, delivers the laughs expected from an actress who has relations to such a legend in comedy. On the other hand, there's Kaitlyn Dever who plays Amy, a lesbian teen looking at a chance to "scissor" her crush Rian. Molly, however, who seemingly detests popular kids-- is secretly hiding the fact that her life-long crush happens to be Nick, the ultimate Jock. They are born ready to do other comedy duos together, I would personally love to see stand-ups and future feature films.

The direction, by Wilde, is sensational. It's pitch-perfect, authentic, and she certainly doesn't sanitize the R-rated bits of the picture. In one brilliant scene, Molly and Amy are tricked into eating strawberries which have been drugged. Soon after, their brains have been fooled into thinking that they"re bodies have been transformed into dolls, in the scene, Amy especially comments on how her breasts are "perfect", and her legs "long", but Molly can't wait to get out of this nightmare. The latter remarks on how she's lost her "chunk". Oh, but there's much more. However, no more of my descriptions, go watch it on the silver screen!

The final opinion is: Olivia Wilde's "Booksmart" is a sensational coming-of-age comedy-drama with distinguished performances by Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever while adding fresh ideas to a genre seemingly overstuffed with them...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 6.9m

Domestic Total: 22.6m

Worldwide Total: 23.8m

"John Wick: Chapter 3" is a Non-Stop, Violent Theme Park Ride for Two Hours, and it's Brilliant

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $14.99 in SD and $19.99 in HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With an HBO Subscription

85/100 “sweet”

Are you ready for the splitting of heads, the unrelenting sound of gun-fire, bad-ass one-liners...and of course, dogs, lots of murderous dogs. That may be the basic template for "John Wick: Chapter 3", the third installment to the critically acclaimed franchise. Keanu Reeves has become the internet's love interest in real life, in films like "John Wick", or "The Matrix", he's a bad-ass hero that shoots whoever he pleases. Superior to its simplistic predecessor, "Chapter 3" delivers an A-list cast, and excellently directed action sequences, almost making it a theme-park ride of non-stop violence. If you are the person deeply affected by loud noises, and blood--stay away from the film--however, if you're a fan of first-person shooter games, or maybe even the first "Deadpool" film...this will be your paradise. Sure, it's short on story and dialogue--but, it's a "John Wick" flick, there's no need--as long as Reeves is wielding a gun--or even a katana, in this case, it works.

The basic plot that kicked off the franchise was a generic revenge story, the ads for the original looked like a run-of-the-mill "Death Wish", or maybe "Die Hard" sort of schtick. You learned that John, played by Keanu basically goes on a killing rampage after the Russians killed his dog (his dead wife's last present), and stole his 1969 manufactured Mustang. Of course, he makes more, and more enemies on the way, setting up for more, and more films. The plot may sound shallow, but that's how it is supposed to be, the point of the "Wick" franchise is to entertain with violence, not intellectual storytelling. In "Chapter 2", Wick kills Santino D'Antonio in the Continental Hotel, which is considered a safe haven, a place where no "business" will be conducted. In the third picture, after the rule break, John becomes an excommunicado--and gets a large 14 million bounty to his name. The rest of the two hours is literally cocky assassins of all different shapes and sizes going for Wick, and Mr. Reeves on the run. Say what you may, but it's hysterically entertaining to watch.

The cast is also top-notch, led by a brutal lead performance by Keanu Reeves. After "The Matrix" trilogy, which grossed a massive 1.6B worldwide--Reeves went into acting limbo, failing to sprout franchises with "The Day the Earth Stood Still", "Constantine", and "47 Ronin". Critics loved the original "Wick" film, but the box office was more skeptical--and audiences never could have predicted that it would sprout into a franchise. "Chapter 2" did some business, but "Chapter 3" is one of Reeves' biggest films, and features one of his best performances. The action sequences and the consistent thrills may outshine his character development, but the brutality and realism in his performance help audiences care almost as much about the characters than the incredible violence.

The final verdict is: "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" delivers another two-hour theme-park ride of artful violence, with a compelling Keanu Reeves playing the title character, and consistently excellent direction by series veteran Chad Stahelski...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 56.8m

Domestic Total: 171m

Worldwide Total: 326.7m

"The Silence" Wastes Talented With a Derivative Plot and Shoddy Screenwriting

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 14, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

bildschirmfoto-2019-05-10-um-15-32-58-992x560.jpg

30/100 “sour”

Netflix is starting to really grow. After their monster-hit, "Bird Box" which debuted on the streaming website last year, they stuff the film industry with new films such as Beyonce's "Homecoming", "Isn't it Romantic", "The Perfect Date"--and much, much more. Most are successes, and a chunk of them have solid quality--and then there are the films that just plain out flop. The latter is a perfect example of John R. Leonetti's newest horror picture, "The Silence" which opened to Netflix in early-April, hoping to become a cult classic, especially when Academy Award winner Stanley Tucci stars in the picture.

Leonetti is known for directing low-budget horror movies such as 2014's "Annabelle", and 2017's "Wish Upon"--while he even produced "Insidious". Generally, his small, couple of films showcase a few scares--but in the end--land with a resounding thud. Then, Leonetti decided that it would be fun to completely rip-off 2018's "A Quiet Place", and the aforementioned "Bird Box" with "The Silence". The film feels like a prequel to those particular flicks, which could turn out interesting--but the plotting and storyline feel so contrived, and so compelled to create another hit, with a very similar background. The performances are occasionally strong, but the few action sequences, and especially the suspense--are lacking in great areas.

Despite the 90-minute run-time, audiences will still feel like watching a terrible, long epic-- if Leonetti and the crew were trying to make the doomed flick "fun", or "entertaining"--think again--the right response is pure boredom. The film starts off with Ally--a deaf, young girl who lives with her respectable family; and while the kick-off is from time to time promising, "The Silence" cuts right to the apocalypse during the first 15 minutes of the movie--turning the place from happy, little town to madness--terrorized by creatures that look like bats and birds combined with the monsters from the "Alien" franchise. Once again copy-catting the beasts from "A Quiet Place"--these certain creatures hunt with sound, as they are deaf--just like the leading character. In "A Quiet Place", one of the children is a deaf girl--who seems like the only hope for the family--in "The Silence"--it seems exactly the same.

As mentioned, the cast was led by the award-winning Stanley Tucci--who plays Hugh Andrews, the father. Clearly, "The Silence" was trying to create a father-daughter sub-plot between Tucci's Hugh and Shipka's Ally, which is again, dangerously close to John Krasinski's role in "A Quiet Place". The sub-plot never works well--generally courtesy of the dreary screenplay and dastardly derivative plotting. The result is that Stanley Tucci's performance is competent and occasionally impressive--but even the great actor cannot save a film less entertaining than watching cement dry. Even worse, another strong performance wasted is Kiernan Shipka's newest outing--and while the sign language is consistently clever--audiences can't help but compare her to many other horror film daughters. The remainder of the cast cannot help but squeak in a few words between the loud, watered down PG-13 violence.

The final verdict is: Netflix's "The Silence" features a pair of strong performances from Stanley Tucci and Kiernan Shipka--but even a talented cast cannot save the film from becoming a derivative, boring slog that suffers from a tired screenplay, and shoddy direction...$KIP IT

By: Keaton Marcus

There is no box office info because the film provided is produced by Netflix, released for streaming only.

This "Hellboy" Reboot Should Have Been Left Underground

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $12.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With an HBO Subscription

hellboy_2019_david-harbour-thumb-700x394-215410.jpg

25/100 “D-sour”

Did we ask for a remake? I certainly don't think so. Too bad, folks, because director Neil Marshall ("The Descent") has wrapped up a "Hellboy" reboot that should leave Ron Perlman punching in the air with anger. It's got an R-rating, a solid amount of grotesque moments, but with all the gore and slothful computer-generated imagery, its forgotten the heart of the two originals. They were going for an odd horror film with bits of hardcore action, but Marshall ended up with a mess of CGI, a lackluster screenplay and insufficient intelligence. What's even more disappointing was that they decided to cast the brilliant David Harbour as the half-demon lead. Oh, he's good enough to don the strong right hand, but not experienced adequate to overcome the number of groans the cast has to trudge through. What an awful experience in hell.

Here's the pitch. Hellboy (David Harbour in a ruckus of awfulness), a half-demon, works for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, and his adopted father Bruttenholm (a stiff Ian McShane). However, when a fifth-century sorceress named Nimue (Milla Jockovich trying to seduce Hellboy) rises once again, she threatens to end the world, starting with bringing destruction and plague upon England. Hellboy then teams up with powerful spirit-medium Alice, and Ben Daimio to stop the apocalypse. Principally, it's that over-complicated plot plus unnecessary blood and fake-looking monsters produced by a cheap 50 million dollars. Ugh. What the hell, boy.

Take away all that makeup, and we just have the beloved "Stranger Things" star, David Harbour. Whatever did Lionsgate do to you in this two-hour piece of flaming rubble? Don't worry, Harbour still gets a few laughs in, but generally, they happen to be cringe-worthy ice-breakers. He's no Perlman, but whether he's dismembering giants or slaying a massive boar, the cinema should get a kick out of it. The issue is the film itself, the tired one-liners, artificial accents, and messy storytelling. If you're here just to see Harbour decapitate fantastical creatures, head to the multiplex. But if you're an actual fan, beware, this could be the most hellish experience of your life. Good thing it's only wasting 132 minutes.

What's even worse is looking back on Neil Marshall's career, and compare it to this hunk-of-junk. His hits movie-wise were R-rated horror film "The Descent" and "Tales of Halloween" which were extremely well-received by the critics. TV-wise, he directed acclaimed shows such as "Timeless", an episode from "Game of Thrones", "Black Sails" and many more. Clearly, Marshall had a knack for fantasy filmmaking, but that didn't make it in to "Hellboy". Whenever Marshall and Mike Mignola don't want to deal with the inconsistent tone, he throws in a beast and a scene with Baba Yaga. Embarrassing, their meager attempts at distracting audiences from nonsense rarely work, and that just contributes to the failure that is the movie. Roasted.

The final opinion is: “Hellboy" doesn't only lack the flair of the originals, it's also a computer-generated mess that slays the meek attempts at humor...$KIP IT (but really, skip it.)

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 12M

Domestic Total: 21.9M

Worldwide Total: 44.6M

"Never Grow Old" is a Flawed, but Solid Western With a Great John Cusack

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Rent for $3.99 or Buy for $9.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video

NeverGrowOld_FP2.jpg

70/100 “sweet/sour”

In "Never Grow Old", the western sees actor John Cusack return to the big-business, as he takes the role of Dutch Albert--an outlaw that invades a small, peaceful frontier town. After many straight-to-DVD flicks in the past few years, most of them mired in mediocrity--this gritty new picture brings Cusack his first real chance in a while. Remember John Cusack in the beginning, the go-to for romantic comedies, performing in cute pics such as "Serendipity" and "Say Anything"--remember his charming looks, well in "Never Grow Old", his performance screams evil, the malicious Albert is a villain for the ages. Dutch Albert also never plays it safe, and the gore proves so--the character brings back brothels, and whores to a quiet Christian town, turning it to hell on Earth.

Actor Emile Hirsch also plays the supporting role of Patrick Tate, who works as an undertaker in a petite, withdrawn frontier town--he has settled down with his wife Audrey Tate (Deborah Francois), his daughter (Molly McCann) and Thomas, his son (Quinn Marcus). The town is led by Preacher Pike (Danny Webb) who has banned alcohol, prostitution and any violence--as he wants it to be a Christian town. However, when Dutch Albert and his other two outlaws: Dumb Dumb (an amazing Sam Louwyck) and Sicily arrive--and mentioned before, bring back whores, alcohol and death, lots of death-- business starts to boom for Patrick, as the bodies start to pile up.

Emile's appearance is remarkably soft-spoken, tame and placid--his Irish accent works like a charm, and really, the actor brings a reassuring sense of innocence to the film--his chemistry with Cusack is incredible--and the role is very well-scripted. "Never Grow Old" itself could have been better, but the strong performance from Hirsch wholly distracts audiences. Hirsch is also criminally underused and underrated, despite his triumphantly realistic showcase in true-story "Into the Wild"--and over the years, whether it's surviving in the outskirts of Alaska, or driving race cars in a big-budget anime adaptation--the young actor never fails to charm. Audiences will be much more drawn to the fierceness and boldness of Cusack's performance, but members looking for a more timid outing will be more than pleased with Emile Hirsch in "Never Grow Old".

The supporting cast is particularly strong too. Actress Deborah Francois helms the role of Patrick's wife, Audrey--a young French immigrant; while Francois' doesn’t quite have the amount of lines as the leading men, the sheer effort of her performance makes her more than a match for the male characters, a female, European bad-ass. The occasional falters in the script, and sound editing drags the whole cast underneath in fleeting moments, nevertheless, these performances are worth a watch. Besides the over-exaggerated execution for the Preacher and the Sherrif--Dumb-Dumb is the shining star in the aiding members of the cast--played by Sam Louwyck--who is known for a number of TV films, and short features--plays the outlaw with such delicacy, turmoil and with a sharp enough heart to settle it out. His character had his tongue cut off, and he currently carries the body part in a little pocket, bringing it out to scare people--like some sick party trick. While this all sounds too ridiculous for such a dark spectacle, it really works--and never fails to creep you out.

Ivan Kavanaugh also never forgets to add some horror elements to the bleak film. Known for the gore-laden thriller "The Canal" and "The Tin Can Man", both generally well-received--this dark director has not lost a second for his scary origins. These little moments are clearly shown in a terrific execution scene of Emily Crabtree, played by Luxembourgish actress Manon Capelle--the scene is so tear-jerking, harrowing and tragic, it may or may not make you lose your marbles sobbing. The little girl was convicted of murder (but really, self-defense) against a drunk rapist looking for a whore. It's so easy to mess the iconic scene up with the wrong actress, but Capelle does it so right, that it works, really, really works. Otherwise, Preacher Pike (Danny Webb) also has a terrifying dream, featuring Pete (murdered by Dutch Albert) screaming with his face covered in blood--what are they trying to do here? Well, its like a messed-up looking Carrie from Stephen King's novel--but whatever Kavanaugh's hidden meaning was--its effective.

The setting is also very diverse and unique from other films of the genre. Most westerns such as "True Grit", or even last year's "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" always tend to use the same-type of filming locations--dry, dusty and filled with bites--"Never Grow Old" uses the murky, damp location of Ireland to differ, creating a more realistic design of what it was really like concerning the people circa 1849--around when the gold rush happened. Along with the filming locations, the set-pieces and cinematography propped in the country are beautiful and more complex than most other films. Also, another thing, most westerns center around cowboys, played by hunks like John Wayne, but "Never Grow Old" focuses on a quiet undertaker living with his family--also making the film just a heck of a lot more real.

The final verdict is: "Never Grow Old" occasionally suffers from a predictable plot and storyline--but the picture's strong performances, beautiful cinematography, and unique setting make the film another solid western worth a watch...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

"Triple Frontier" Delivers on the Action, Though is a Standard Issue Heist Flick

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

dims.jpg

60/100 “sweet/sour”

An outstanding cast--and many action sequences join J.C. Chandor's action thriller "Triple Frontier"--the fun set-up generally saves the day against an expectedly generic script, and heist film clichès making the film a thoroughly entertaining product, albeit with very little on the mind. Netflix released their newest film for seven days in the theaters, before releasing it on their mega-popular streaming website--the studio has had many successes this year ("Isn't it Romantic") and last year ("Bird Box")--and they tend to be received on the positive side--(despite a few roadblocks). "Frontier" brings A-listers Ben Affleck and Oscar Isaac, and settle for an enjoyably simple film that could have been much, much better--but people seeking a couple of decent thrills will have a good time.

The usually influential Chandor has clearly lost some effort in "Triple Frontier"--which is an action-fueled thriller good with some candy and a soda Saturday night--may be a decent, and forgettable Netflix stream. You would be expecting much more, considering filmmaker J.C. Chandor's acclaimed career, including the legendary survival pic "All is Lost" starring Robert Redford-- but truly--I was anticipating further development. The film is far from good, and that is generally a courtesy from the "playing-it-safe" script from Mark Boal, which clearly had some tweaks made by Chandor--the family-friendly type.

The action sequences are well-directed, as expected, and really, really fun to watch--elevated by some good music, but the film loses lots of steam towards the end, where there are too many clichès--and its characters clearly lose moral and development--as their once honored patriotism becomes tinted by greed for cash, and really, the only thing they do are kill the bad guys, have a laugh, kill some more bad guys, pick up some money...and well murder some more bad guys--not having any regret for their actions. This is generally okay for a movie of this particular genre, though can't help but be a little disappointing. Still, despite its flaws, director Chandor still has some knack for quality thrills, and action fans are sure to enjoy this standard flick.

The story sets up five-ex military friends Tom, Santiago, William, Ben and Francisco who reunite in order to rob more than 250 million dollars from a drug-lord named Loria--who claims that "his house is the safe", meaning the money is stuck in his walls (really, you really needed that). See, the film is exactly like your paint-by-the-numbers action flick, it breaks no boundaries--and well, is really, really stupid--but the execution is still hysterical to watch. The truly unspectacular film still gives some solid suspense and a couple of great scenes--also the sound and scene editing are top-notch which occasionally help the movie tread through the sticky, sticky plotting.

Santiago also was known as Pope is helmed by talented actor Oscar Isaac, who made his big break in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" back in the year 2015. The character is already previously searching for Loria, and the heist is generally for revenge--in one of the early scenes in the film, you see Santiago fight drug dealers in a night club--the scene is tightly filmed and well directed, getting things off to a good start. Isaac's performance is also particularly strong, even if the script can never really keep up, neither can its storytelling. His role is pivotal and is one of the only characters who really get to do anything, like anything at all. Isaac plays out as a cheeky, tough hunk which borrows off of every other trait conceivable in other caper pics--not that it matters to such a bad-ass role. Truly, the lead performance never reaches the height that it should, but it really never needs to--Isaac is strong as Santiago and brings considerable diversity to the cast.

The supporting cast is led by Ben Affleck, who plays a divorced alcoholic Tom--who currently has serious problems with the family--only to be recruited by his old friend Santiago for an unrealistic, high-octane heist. Tom is at first reluctant, but his friends promise that the majority of the cash goes to his poor, struggling family. Affleck shows off his muscles, and action film experience, which can only go so far--but for a recovering actor, "Triple Frontier" is a nice, average return. Otherwise, Pedro Pascal plays ex-pilot Francisco, the actor clearly brings some vibrant energy into the role but is left with nothing to do but the scrap work. It is similar to cage-fighter Ben played by Garret Hedlund, who the film sets up as the joker, but later on, you still focus way more on the two leading men. Carrying more traits to the point is another side character William played by Charlie Hunan--who is at least given some tough-guy traits (especially after his role in "Pacific Rim"), but the script drowns any effort. Really, overall, watch Isaac and Affleck's lead performances, but mainly ignore the supporting portion.

The final verdict is: "Triple Frontier" has generic heist film clichès, and the script is as workmanlike as its simple plot, but the caper flick delivers an outstanding cast led by a strong performance from Oscar Isaac--and some tight action sequences making the Netflix produced movie a fun, macho-power trip that will please audiences looking for a couple entertaining thrills...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

There is no box office info because the film provided is produced by Netflix, released for streaming only.

"Alita: Battle Angel" and its Special Effects Can't Save Lost Storyline

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $19.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With an HBO Subscription

3-format43.jpg

50/100 “sour”

After years of waiting, Robert Rodriguez has finally made manga adaptation “Alita: Battle Angel”, it’s all bells and whistles, with nothing but scraps to go along. James Cameron was supposed to direct this high-concept science fiction film, which does make sense, considering his massive successes with the "Terminator" franchise, "Alien" and especially the groundbreaking "Avatar". However, Cameron ended handing it over to Rodriguez, who seldom works with expensive budgets. Not the right choice. It sure does have the special effects, but any plot gets lost within the manic action.

It may be the least important part in a film such as this, but here’s the story. Alita (Rosa Salazar), was found dismembered in a junkyard by Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz), and brought back to her full form. While attempting to recover her memory, Vector (Mahershala Ali) threatens to use Alita’s advanced technology for spare parts. Acknowledging the danger, she enlists help from the street-smart Hugo (Keean Johnson) to aid her in searching for the true past. Sure, its interesting, but the majority of the intrigue is barely found within this two-hour piece of mediocre cinema. Got to hand it to the visual effects artists, but not towards Rodriguez.

Rosa Salazar, who portrays the cyborg Alita, get’s the basic rules right, but should have been far more exciting. There’s chemistry between Waltz and Salazar, and at times, audiences may get a touching moment or two, but it’s not often. That’s right, the sporadic emotion can too rarely overcome the muddled intelligence. There’s even a love story between the two characters, but as it drags on and on and on, it eventually leads nowhere, decapitating any extra credit. Although the cinema shouldn’t exactly have an actual issue with the performance, those saucer-sized peepers, and a lack of finesse keep Salazar from achieving something greater. That, throughout the picture, never happens.

The movie was written by James Cameron. I mean, what the heck, dude. Mr. Cameron is quite literally the king of sci-fi flicks, and even broke ground in the romance genre with the 200 million “Titanic”. The fact that he couldn’t execute a little production such as this is deeply unsatisfying. The romantic overtones, and the compelling screenplay aren’t there, and all that’s left are bits and pieces of eye-candy, or a couple crack-ups. Cameron may have injected his visual style into the movie, but his first collaboration with Rodriguez didn’t pan out. That’s horribly surprising, and sure isn’t the present you want on your birthday: style, but no substance. Maybe die-hard fans of the genre will be more than sufficiently entertained, but otherwise, “Alita: Battle Angel” fails to hook non-followers. That, my friends, is its greatest fault.

The final opinion is: “Alita: Battle Angel” has a certain amount of visual panache, and style, but a distinct lack of both intelligence and a solid screenplay make the non-stop action sequences its only claim to fame…$KIP IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 28.5M

Domestic Total: 85.7M

Worldwide Total: 404.8M

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

70/100 “sweet/sour”

So What’s the Story?

Based on Yukito Kishiro’s Battle Angel Alita, comes Alita: Battle Angel. In the 26th century Dr. Dyson Ido finds the strange remains of a body in the scrap heap of The Iron City. After bringing this body home and making her new again, the story of a cyborg who is named Alita begins in which she goes on an epic quest to find out who she is, and what she was put on the planet to do.

Is It Worth Your While?

When I first saw the trailer of this, and saw those big eyes, I was like… nope, not gonna happen, I will never see that movie for as long as I live. Until today when that movie that I made fun of became another hit birthday movie for me and my friends. I have to tell you, It did surprise me, but was not entirely perfect, now here are my reasons. First of all, I thought that the directing by Robert Rodriguez provided coherent, and fun action sequences, but extremely cliched love moments between the two main characters. To me the directing style could have put more effort into the story, and less effort into making the action scenes look perfect. Next I thought that the special effects were beautifully done, and were fun to watch on the big screen. Now this was pretty much the only thing that really caught my eye in the movie, and I could not believe how realistic and colorful it all looked, if only there was a proper story to go with it. Third I thought that the story was extremely flawed, it needed more drama, romance, sacrifice and pure humor in the mix, and although the story did (at times) provide some creative ideas. It was a mess. Fourth and finally we have the script. James Cameron is an incredible writer and director, and he could have easily nailed this type of project, but the script turned out to be cliched and completely ridiculous. Overall, I thought Alita Battle Angel was creative and had great special effects, but a messy, cliched story and script.

How Was the Cast?

Overall, I thought that the cast in Alita Battle Angel did a great job. First we have Rosa Salazar as Alita. She gave the real powerhouse performance of the movie. Although her entire body was computer generated, her emotion, and the power to get into character were not. Second we have Christoph Waltz as Dr. Dyson Ido. I thought that his performance had a small, but effective emotional blow to the audience as well as providing a realistic performance that made him seem like he was from that time period. Third we have Jennifer Connelly as Chiren. I thought that her performance was emotionally convincing, and from the audiences POV turned her into the character. Fourth and finally we have Mahershala Ali as Vector. I thought that his character was a pretty kick ass villain in the movie, and his performance was just as good. Providing scares, and dramatic sequences of becoming the other villain.

Aging ‘The Battle Angel’

Alita Battle Angel has tons of action, including gun fights, explosions, robot fighting, and the other usual criteria you would expect. It has brief moments of blood and kissing. An important character dies which may or may not have an effect on you. Alita is an emotionally strong character who does not give up and will protect her friends from harm. Overall I recommend this film for tweens and up.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Cold Pursuit" is an Uncommonly Solid Remake With Liam Neeson at the Helm

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $12.99 in Both SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With an HBO Subscription

Cold-Pursuit-Liam-Neeson.jpg

70/100 “sweet/sour”

Now earning his spot in the small group of effective remakes is Norwegian filmmaker Hans Petter Moland--directing Liam Neeson-starring action comedy "Cold Pursuit"; the flick offers more than enough violence while providing more imagination and sinister pleasantry than the nonexclusive Neeson-vehicle. Notwithstanding, the development still follows the comparable worn-out "Death Wish" sort of storyline--Nels Coxman (Neeson) literally goes on a killing spree after the death of his son, who was murdered by a crime lord. The film is a little better and more intelligent than the common grim vigilante story--which really makes it worth a watch--"Cold Pursuit" is not a must-see, but it's more than suitable for a good time at the movies--with some satirical bite.

Mentioned before--Liam Neeson plays a snowplow driver named Nels Coxman, driving the same road every day in a generic, little town called Kehoe--where nothing ever happens. Coxman lives a happy life with his wife, Grace (Laura Dern) and his son Kyle (Michèal Richardson). The movie was filmed in Alberta, and they were going for a Rocky Mountains-type ski town--it works, and the location is stunning. Coxman's son Kyle is then killed from a heroin overdose, Nels and Grace are shocked at first and insist that "Kyle was not a druggie"--but the investigators note that all the parents incite the line--and close the case. The two lovers almost succumb to the fact that they did not know their own son, and soon after Nels tries to kill himself, only for Kyle's friend to tell him that his son is innocent--and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Neeson then goes into full revenge mode, as you would expect.

No matter how dumb his films are, you will always love Liam Neeson's naturally strong performance. In "Cold Pursuit", the 66-year old action star gives his best showcase in a while, especially with the convincing script, and actually impressive film surrounding. In the "Taken" trilogy, the flicks were so bad, so stupid and so unrealistic--but Neeson's performance kept you on board, at least for a while with his typical deep voice and the ability to always, and I mean always remain serious. It's similar to 2014's Neeson-starring hijacking picture, "Non-Stop", so gloriously dumb that you loved it, especially the tough-guy persona of Liam Neeson. Neeson truly shines in his newest film, along with the sometimes hysterical dark humor, and silly plotting around them--really, if the certain actor is in a vengeance tale, go see it.

Nels wastes no time calling the lukewarm local police--instead, he starts tracking down each of the crime lord's thugs, all cleverly labeled with a nickname (Santa, Wingman, Viking, Speedo). Quickly, he finds the first man in the chain, easily killing him before chucking him over a waterfall--after leaving an impressive body count--the leader is revealed as Trevor 'Viking' Calcote (played by an amazing Tom Bateman). The film playfully gives headstone title cards every time a character dies--another sign that filmmaker Hans Petter Moland knows how to combine impressive action sequences and comedy successfully. Generally, the "Cold Pursuit" is a fun, and entertaining play on different genres, but near the end, even with the film's short length--it tends to feel a little bloated, losing a little steam as it goes on. Still, despite its generic feel and the prolonged finale, it's nevertheless clever.

Foreign filmmaker Hans Petter Moland also never forgets to put some clever satire between the lines of the bloody action film. Remember how in a number of terrible action flicks, it's always so easy to kill someone, or shoot a bad guy--well in "Cold Pursuit", all the clichès are slammed and made fun of--literally making jokes at every other American film in the genre. This may seem too silly for such a serious storyline, but really, it's actually extremely funny, and I mean sometimes laugh-out-loud type. The combo of violence and comedy is rarely used in a Liam Neeson-starring film, and may down its projected box office numbers, but it may or may not persist longer than the standard Neeson-vehicle. Really, Moland's direction is clever enough, that it distracts audiences from how ridiculous the film is--almost playing out like a parody--but with enough brutality to differ from the paint-by-the-numbers "Austin Powers" movie.

The final verdict is: While the film loses steam towards the end, "Cold Pursuit" is an entertaining Liam Neeson-starring movie with enough bloody violence, satire, humor and even a little cleverness to get by--a perfect romp for a good time at the theater...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 11M

Domestic Total: 32.1M

Worldwide Total: 76.4M

"Arctic" is a Harrowing Survival Picture With a Fantastic Mads Mikkelson

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Rent for $3.99 or Buy for $14.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With a Prime Video Subscription

ARCTIC_HS_040317__DSC8758.jpg

85/100 “sweet”

First-time filmmaker Joe Penna directs Mads Mikkelson survival vehicle "Arctic", it is as gripping as it is entertaining, a terrific romp; The film runs just 98 minutes and proves that a survival feature does not need an overlong runtime, or much in the way of scripting to be successful, especially when the entire film takes place in a freezing cold wasteland. The lead performance by Mikkelson is yet another fantastic outing for the skilled Danish actor, otherwise the gritty storytelling and immeasurable direction help "Arctic" get past the somewhat uninspired concept for the pic.

The film follows the story of Overgärd, a downed cargo pilot who lands in the middle of nowhere, inside the frozen wasteland of Antartica. With no help whatsoever, he must find difficult ways to survive in order to last until help comes; However, he is not completely alone for long, when Overgärd meets a Japanese co-pilot, also after crashing, complicating the already remarkably dangerous and unfavorable situation. Overgärd finds that he must care for the woman and now get them both out of the godforsaken location, developing the plot even further.

Compared to other survival pics, generally based on true accounts or stories, "Arctic" surpasses them all in originality--and while I noted briefly that the storytelling is occasionally uninspired, director Joe Penna creates a never-before-seen experience on the big screen--while providing a sufficiency of entertaining scenes. In Tom Hanks-starring "Cast Away", the talented actor plays the role of Chuck Noland, and while Hanks provides an occasionally fascinating performance, most of the film the character rambles on about his problems by talking vigorously to sports balls, including a volleyball--which gets annoying after a while--instead of complaining about the difficult situation--Mikkelson plays Overgärd with conviction, and invests such emotion into the role, that it never gets boring-also, continuing to the main point, "Arctic" runs a concise 1 hr 37 mins, around 35 minutes less than the seemingly "never-ending" "Cast Away". Otherwise, the film does occasionally compare with Liam Neeson survival vehicle, "The Grey" which finds the actor stranded in Antarctica, constantly battling wolves, this particular film is brilliant, but is never quite as amusing as "Arctic" which benefits from direction, emotion and of course, when Mads Mikkelson is the one doing the surviving, it is impossible not to like.

As regarded many times before, actor Mads Mikkelson provides a landmark exposition for the usually familiar genre; Known for mostly villains, such as the title killer in the grisly, and acclaimed TV update "Hannibal", and the infamous Le Chiffre in the best "Bond" installment to-date, "Casino Royale". Elsewhere in his career, the actor played in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", and critically-loved movie "A Royal Affair", along with actress Alicia Vikander--In "Arctic", his role is never fully developed, but it seldom needs to be, Mikkelson's performance is so incredibly executed, that the audience is so keen to forgive the talented actor. There is rarely any dialogue in the film, but when audiences lined up to see "A Quiet Place" starring Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, the film used music, scares and brilliant cinematography to easily cover up the rarity of noise coming out of the character's mouth; "Arctic" is very similar using beautiful filming, and an expressive performance by Mikkelson, proving that a good survival pic does not need much in the way of talking (hum... "Cast Away"...Tom Hanks going nuts).

The final verdict is: The storytelling is occasionally uninspired, but survival flick "Arctic" features an invested performance by blooming Danish actor Mads Mikkelson, jaw-dropping cinematography, a concise running-time and overall a compelling directorial debut by filmmaker Joe Penna...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: N/A

Domestic Total: 2.4M

Worldwide Total: 4.1M

ARCTIC

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

5c6f245dbb321.image.jpg

90/100 “sweet”

So What’s the Story?

Arctic tells the story of Overgård. A man who has been surviving in the arctic after crashing in his plane, overtime he begins to adapt to the frozen wasteland, but will not give up hope that someone will rescue him. One day, a helicopter crashes leaving only one survivor in the wreckage, a girl who seems to be barely alive. After discovering her map, Overgård and the girl go off on an epic journey through the frozen wasteland to get to an arctic base.

Is It Worth Your While?

The answer to that question is a complete yes, Arctic provides all the standards needed to be a great survival film. First we have directing by Joe Penna was done not only with style, but with a sense of adventure. He directed shots and scenes so amazing and beautiful that they proved that Arctic didn’t need a script to survive. Next I thought that the cinematography was incredible, providing you with incredible shots of the arctic and of Mads Mikkelsen struggling to get through it. It gave you a sense of wonder, and how beautiful and terrifying nature really is. Next I thought that the story was so good that it did not even need a script to go with it, it was terrifying, suspenseful, adventurous and just so fun to watch, it was like you were truly there surviving with Mads Mikkelsen.

How Was the Cast?

There is only one cast member I need to review here and that is Mads Mikkelsen. I thought that he truly pulled you into the movie with his power to get into character, and provided a perfect sense of emotion and danger. This is the first film that I have seen him play the main character in, and I can tell you this even if you don’t like the movie, you will love Mads Mikkelsen.

Aging ‘The Frozen Wasteland’

This film has a few scenes of blood followed by anger. The main character goes through many dangers to get him and the girl through the rough terrain. The movie is a perfect example of Man versus Nature, and the main character will not give up on his life or the girl’s in this harsh wasteland.

By: Quinn Marcus

In "Glass", the Cast is Incredible, but Every Other Conceivable Concept Disappoints

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 14, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $14.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch for Free With an HBO Subscription

glass-main.jpg

51/100 “sour”

M. Night Shyamalan decided to make a superhero film, and the result is strictly mediocre and very frustrating; After a drama film called 'Unbreakable' to kick off the series starring Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, Shyamalan made a "kidnapping" horror pic called 'Split' and decided that it would be delightful to have a money-making trilogy; This managed to work out, until the acclaimed director decided to make a comic-themed film called 'Glass' which features all three characters, and hopefully is, the conclusion to the now suddenly tired trilogy. However, while the film has numerous imperfections, there is still some signature Shyamalan bits that make 'Glass' half-full.

The entertainment value in the first half of the film is exceptional in "Glass", featuring more solid performances, and another excellent scene with The Horde (James McAvoy), but when the two are sent to the 'facility', things start to slow down, and the film is quite shattered. The whacky performance from Sarah Paulson seldom works with the ambition of Shyamalan's newest pic, as she plays a psychiatrist with a character twist, but the lack of development, in any of the characters for that matter hammer the attempts to make playful twists by the filmmaker all for not.

The film still follows the story of security guard David Dunn (Willis) who works alone with his son (Spencer Treat Clark) and hunts down criminals one by one, dubbed 'The Overseer' by the media. At the beginning of the film, he is shown tracking down Kevin Wendell Crumb/The Horde (McAvoy), who supposedly has teenage girls tied up; However, when the authorities catch the two fighting, they are sent to an asylum for people who 'believe' they are superheroes; Later, the two meet Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson), and the latter (Kevin) teams up with him to break out of the building, tempting David for a final battle, to show the world that superheroes exist.

Shyamalan's career has had its high points.... and a lot of low points. His first big break was a phenomenal psychological horror film called 'The Sixth Sense' starring Bruce Willis, starting out a potentially successful career, as he once was known as 'the new Spielberg'; The aforementioned film next up for Shyamalan was 'Unbreakable' which also received some fantastic response. Though, after his two best films, the filmmaker also made some truly... appalling films, such as manga adaptation 'The Last Airbender' or Mark Wahlberg-starring thriller 'The Happening', or even Will Smith vehicle 'After Earth'. In 'Glass' his many cracks and his couple intelligent efforts show, a little too much.

'Glass' tries at many points to be an intelligent thriller and a superhero pic, and the film succeeds occasionally, but never really takes control of its very interesting premise. Although the movie is better than your average Zack Snyder DC film (hum... 'Justice League'), but the attempted action sequences are atrociously filmed, and look like the protagonist and antagonist are.... wrestling each other, which sounds fun, until you realize that they are trying to make a superhero film, not a WWE documentary. The film does earn brownie points for ambition and creativity, but is very disappointing, then the anticipated result. Even the names of the characters, David Dunn (DD) stench of superhero names, with both initials sporting alliteration, Peter Parker (PP) Matt Murdock (MM) etc. I appreciate Shyamalan's effort of world-building, but really, it kind of flopped.

The cast is the real must-see for "Glass", and is pretty much the only thing audiences can enjoy in this strictly mediocre film; Featuring Bruce Willis once again as security guard David Dunn, the veteran delivers another solid offering from his career, despite the script falters. James McAvoy plays Kevin Wendell Crumb, and gives a showboating performance worth a watch or two, giving the best performance of his usually quiet career; Playing 24 different personalities in one film, McAvoy is so impressive to see, it may make your eyes burn, and does require an audience willing to take a nutty journey of M. Night Shyamalan. The third main character, a true veteran to the series, is actor Samuel L. Jackson playing the titular role of Mr. Glass, who for one hour+ of the film twitches with his eye at the camera, making a new character tick, that is actually extremely creepy, and silly at the same time, but it rejoins Jackson with the character well enough to watch.

The final verdict is: 'Glass' features fantastic performances by its talented cast, and earns points for sheer ambition, but the misfiring action sequences and the sheer disappointment of the conclusion makes Shyamalan's newest shattered…$KIP IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 40.3M

Domestic Total: 111M

Worldwide Total: 246.9M