Murdock High

March 27, 2020
Joe Williams

So the Toy Story franchise now has four installments. Is the fourth movie better than the first three? Well, it’s not as strong as the end of the third movie.

Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky (Tony Hale). The adventurous journey turns into an unexpected reunion as Woody's slight detour leads him to his long-lost friend, Bo Peep (Annie Potts). As Woody and Bo discuss the old days, they soon start to realize that they are worlds apart when it comes to what they want from life as a toy. Toy Story 4 also stars Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Madeleine McGraw, Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn, Ally Maki, Kristen Schaal, John Ratzenberger, Blake Clark, and Estelle Harris.

Toy Story 4 is a good movie, not great, but good. It is more annoying than the other films in the series. It’s definitely not gonna be a friend with me anymore if they keep making mostly the same film.

Performances

Tom Hanks is still the Sheriff Woody that we all know and love, but he is less reliable in this film than in the others. He seems to make bad decisions which is not what the Woody character is supposed to be. He does have some great moments. His mention of Andy is heartbreaking, but because it happens so frequently, it causes a bit of eye-rolling. On the other hand, he finally gets back together with Bo Peep and it is truly heartwarming. His conversation with Gabby Gabby regarding being loved by a child is really good. Even so, Woody seems so weak in this movie, but the ending of the movie is good for Woody. Tim Allen again voices Buzz Lightyear. He is still a great character, but like Woody, he just isn’t his best. He stupidly listens to his inner voice for ideas when Woody told him that he had one. Instead, he listens to his buttons. I was not impressed at all; it was just sad. But still, Buzz is a fun character when on screen. I’m just not sure if Buzz is supposed to be funny anymore? On the other hand, a new character, Forky, is voiced by Tony Hale and is hilarious. I almost died laughing when he was on screen. Just the words that come from his mouth would set me off. My favorite scene is when he meets everyone. When he called them trash, I started to love them. It is also funny when Woody finds him bathing. Some of the things that he says to Gabby Gabby are also funny. He steals the show. It is nice to see Bo Peep (Annie Potts) return into this installment. I think Potts is really good, showing the character’s changes this time around. When she talks with Woody, she is sometimes frustrating, but some of her ideas are genius. It is clear how much she cares for Woody. I am glad that their relationship continues even years later. Keanu Reeves voices Duke Kaboom. Other than Forky, he is my favorite. His poses are hilarious. And it is insane that he thinks he can make a difficult jump. Many of his lines are great. Christina Hendricks voices Gabby Gabby. She shows how much she wants to be a part of a kid’s life. But why does she torment Woody and Forky instead of asking nicely? It is uncalled for even though I see what she is getting at. My favorites are Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele who voice Ducky and Bunny. They steal every joke. Maddy McGraw is good as Bonnie. The supporting cast has its moments here and there, but nothing very interesting.

Animation and Voice Work

The animation is beautiful and realistic. The rain scene looks real. The animation is better than the other movies. The carnival and store scenes are gorgeous, things of beauty. The voice work is well done. Some of the animation looks as if it could be framed.

Soundtrack and Score

Of course you are going to hear Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” but he adds another emotional song, “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” to this soundtrack, and it will get you. The score is really good, a reminder that this is 100% a Toy Story film.

Ratings

Performances 8.9/10

Animation and voice work 9.1/10

Soundtrack and score 8.6/10

Overall movie 9.0/10

This is the weakest of the Toy Story films. It is ultimately forgettable, primarily because the first three are much more memorable. I just hope there won’t be another one; I can’t stand feeling sad in the theaters watching more of these.

May 20, 2020
Joe Williams
Pixar, thank goodness you didn’t rip my heart out again. You did make me cry. It’s about brotherhood and having an older sibling as a role model...but with pretty cool magic scenes.

Onward is set in a suburban fantasy world. Two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot (Tom Holland and Chris Pratt), go on a journey to discover if there is still a little magic left out in the world so that they can spend one last day with their father who died when they were too young to remember him. Onward also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Lena Waithe, Ali Wong, Mel Rodriguez, Wilmer Valderrama, John Ratzenberger, Kyle Bornheimer, Tracey Ullman, Annette Frier, Grey DeLisle, and Leonhard Mahlich.

I was expecting my heart to be ripped out like almost every Pixar movie until today. But it's more like crying happy tears, and that's ok with me because I need it these days. It also includes plenty of humor.

Spoilers inside.

Performances

Tom Holland is Ian Lightfoot, a relatable character who reminds me of myself sometimes. It’s thanks to Holland's performance that makes Ian that way. It is interesting that he seems closer to his father and wants to be like him on his first day at high school. It’s funny and reminds me of how some kids today still want to be like their parents. Throughout the film he has a list of things that he wants to do to be more like his father. His desire to spend more time with him is very emotional. It is interesting that he can use the staff that their father left for both he and Barley. I wondered why he is the only one who can use it. I laughed at some moments where he believed he could use it because he was so confident that it would work. Chris Pratt voices Barley Lightfoot. OMG! He reminds me so much of my siblings and even myself. Pratt's performance is hilarious. It is interesting that Barley is more interesting in the magic and mythical elements than Ian. It’s sad that Barley is the older of the two. When his father was sick, he didn’t bother to say goodbye; it’s hard to say goodbye. The scene is even more emotional that I’m discussing here. As I said, the sibling relationship reminds me of my own siblings, especially the ending where it is clear how much Barley serves as a role model. It almost made me cry, but don’t worry. I want to let you know that you will cry happy tears for these brothers by the end. I enjoyed what Ian does to Barley’s car at the end. Overall Tom Holland and Chris Pratt make me believe they are brothers. Their mother, Laurel Lightfoot, voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, is impressive. She gets a lot of screen time even though mothers in movies like these are often minimized. She is great as a caring mother. I like when she attacks the stone dragon. It is great. I also like when she teams up with someone who her sons meet on their journey. It is hilarious. Julia Louis-Dreyfus makes a great mother. Octavia Spencer voices the manticore (Corey). She is funny but violent. Her fearful moments made me smile. Her character on screen with the others is a pleasure to see. I won’t spoil too much about the father, but he doesn’t talk at all during the film’s runtime. His presence, however, is hilarious and emotional. The supporting cast has their standout moments as well.

Animation and Other Details

Like almost every Pixar movie to date, the animation is beautiful. I love the houses. The animation is charming, and it makes me want to look around. One other thing--those magic scenes, oh boy, they are awesome. I love each time when Ian gets a spell wrong, especially the scene where he shrinks Barley by accident, hilarious. The magic makes me want to have that ability as well. The dragon scene near the end is also cool to watch. Overall, everything is well done, no sloppy animation.

Soundtrack and Score

The score is perfect for this film’s universe. When magic is happening is when I most noticed the score. “Carried Me with Your” plays over the end credits. It sounds like a country song, but it is still great to listen to. I think it was a good pick for the credits.

Ratings

Performances 8.9/10

Animation and other details 9.4/10

Soundtrack and score 8.4/10

Overall movie 9.7/10

I think Onward is Pixar's best in a while that didn’t make me cry. Thank you, Pixar, for not making a sad movie. Onward is in my top 10 animated films of all time. 

May 18, 2020
Joe Williams

This movie was a long shot, and it won. It turned out to be a hilarious romantic movie deserving to be selected as one of the best comedies of 2019.

Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted and free-spirited journalist who has a knack for getting into trouble. Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) is one of the most influential women in the world, a smart, sophisticated and accomplished politician. When Fred unexpectedly runs into Charlotte, he soon realizes that she was his former babysitter and childhood crush. When Charlotte decides to make a run for the presidency, she impulsively hires Fred as her speechwriter, much to the dismay of her trusted advisers. Long Shot also stars June Diane Raphael, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis, Alexander Skarsgård, Bob Odenkirk, Ravi Patel, Tristan D. Lalla, Randall Park, Lisa Kudrow, and supporting cast.

Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron added to their catalog of comedy classics. These include Pineapple Express, Neighbors, Atomic Blonde, and Bombshell. Long Shot belongs in the top five of these films.

Performances

Seth Rogen plays Fred Flarsky. Rogen is not just a comedy star any more; he emerges as a rom-com star with this performance. but now a rom com star with his performance. He plays such a caring and hilarious character as can be seen when typing up hilarious speeches for Charlotte. There are many funny scenes, from the situation with anti-Semites to his romantic reunion with Charlotte at the beginning of the movie. He explains his childhood and the feelings he had for Charlotte. This film features one of my favorite Rogen performances. Charlize Theron plays Secretary of State Charlotte Field. This was a no brainer. Theron always does a great job, and she is pretty funny in this movie. Field’s campaign shows that she would make a great president. I really like when she tries to avoid Andy Serkis’ character, Parker Wembley when he wants to get information out of her. Fred and Charlotte’s romance is at the heart of the movie, beginning with their first meeting as kids (the younger Fred and Charlotte are well cast). Their reunion and dance scenes are romantic. At a party, there is a really touching scene in a closet with just the two characters; it gave me the feels. The support that Fred gives to Charlotte is a great emotional scene. One of the funniest scenes in the movie is when they get high and, well, let’s say that the whole scene is straight up great. The chemistry between Rogen and Theron is at the heart of why I love this film. The supporting cast is really good. O'Shea Jackson Jr., who plays Fred's best friend Lance, almost reminds me of one of my friends. If my friend watches it, they will know exactly why. He also reminds me of myself, the same is true of Fred. It’s the bonding moments that make me feel this way. Lance’s support really is great to watch on screen. Andy Serkis is Parker Wembley, and yeah, he is a jerk, but Serkis is great in this role. Bob Odenkirk plays the president. He, the president, is a complete idiot. Either Charlotte or Fred could beat him in an election because he was just that stupid. But he is funny at moments, like when he decides to endorse Charlotte for president, a real surprise to her. The other standout is June Diane Raphael as Maggie. Maggie is an awesome and funny character throughout. Her pick for Fred at the dinner ceremony is hilariously funny. She is a bit rude but that's ok. That's what her character is supposed to be, and I like it. There are cameos from other actors that are fun to see.

Costumes and Set Design

Fred’s jackets are by far one of my favorite things about the movie. The different colors, including the blue, purple, and white one that he wears at the start of the movie, is a standout, but my favorite is the light and dark blue one he wears near the ending of the film. I would love to own it one day. The suit he wears during the dinner speech is hilarious. The tuxedos and suits are really nice. Charlotte has quite a lot of nice clothing. The two red dresses she wears in the movie, the same with the black dress when she meets Fred, are beautiful. I also though all the different clothing the rest of the cast have on was really nice overall. Long Shot is filmed on location. It is really well done. I really like the dance and building scenes because they really make me want to look around and be there.

Soundtrack and Score

The soundtrack has some romantic songs from years past, including “It Must Have Been Love” by Roxette which is effectively repeated in romantic scenes. My favorite is Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” which plays over the end credits. I am playing it on repeat; it has a great beat. Other songs, such as “Moon River” and “Can’t Do without You,” are also great, but I have to mention Boyz II Men, who add two great songs to the soundtrack. The score is upbeat and a little different but really nice when it plays over the end credits and the film runtime.

Ratings

Performances 8.9/10

Costumes and set design 9.6/10

Soundtrack and score 8.8/10

Overall film 9.5/10.

This is the actor’s best work yet, filled with plenty of humor and romantic moments. It is a must watch for anyone who likes Rogen’s work. It’s a perfect pick for a date night or for fans of romantic comedies.

May 6, 2020
Joe Williams

People say Vin Diesel can do anything, and after watching him in a comic book movie, I have to say, “ Yeah, it actually could be true after all.”

After marine Ray Garrison (Vin Diesel) and his wife are murdered, Ray is resurrected by a team of scientists. Enhanced with nanotechnology, he becomes a re-animated superhuman with superpowers, a biotech killing machine known as Bloodshot. As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he cannot recall anything from his former life, but when his memories flood back, he remembers the man who killed him and his wife. He breaks out of the facility to get revenge, only to discover that there's more to the conspiracy than he thought. Bloodshot also stars Eiza González, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, Guy Pearce, Lamorne Morris, Talulah Riley, and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson.

Bloodshot is one of the rare comic book movies that no one knows is based on a comic book. Even my best friends didn’t know, even though it says it in the trailers). Bloodshot is based on an actual comic book series and character; it is not just a random character that Diesel is playing, as he does in his action films.

The following contains spoilers.

Performances

Vin Diesel plays Ray Garrison, aka Bloodshot. Bloodshot is a cool character, and I’m quite happy that it is well-delivered by Diesel. He is on top of his game with plenty of action scenes and really well delivered lines. It keeps you engaged and interested in the character. I also think that Bloodshot’s powers are awesome (this coming from a comic book fan). His interaction with the other characters on screen, including Eiza González, Lamorne Morris, and villain, Guy Pearce, are fun to watch. Diesel is at his finest.

Pearce plays Dr. Emil Harting, a very evil scientist. He brings people back from the dead, making them stronger with tech abilities. For a villain who wants to use the people he brings back as killers, he is pretty good. He’s a villain with a great plan. Overall he is pretty good. Eiza González is KT, another of my favorites in the movie. I like when she works with Bloodshot during some hard times, but I won’t give that away. I will say that is an emotional scene. Her abilities are cool. I totally nerded out during a scene where Bloodshot takes down Jimmy Dalton while KT is doing something for Wilfred Wigans. Sam Heughan is Jimmy Dalton. He is an angry character. I’m not joking; he hates everyone. That is ok because he gets what he deserves in the end. His robotic legs and arms, however, are cool. The fight with Bloodshot is pretty cool. Heughan brings his game when he is on screen. Last but not least, Lamorne Morris plays Wilfred Wigans. He is also a favorite. He is a cool and funny tech person. I like what he does to help Diesel and González near the end of the movie. It is one of my favorite parts of the movie. He steals every moment he is on screen, including those with Diesel. The overall cast is pretty great, but it could have been stronger.

Costumes, Set Design, VFX, and Action Sequences

The clothes are pretty darn cool, from Diesel’s black jacket to the clothing that everyone wore. The costumes really make it feel like a real sci-fi action comic book movie. The movie, I believe, was filmed on location at moments but was mostly on an actual set. The visual effects are the other best thing. Sam Heughan's feet, Guy Pearce’s hand, and Eliza Eiza González’s small swords hands are all well done and seem real. well done. The coolest things, however, are the microbites in Diesel’s body during the slow motion action scenes, especially the stunning elevator scene, and the tunnel scene is a beautiful thing to see. This movie is filled with the color red and it is really nice to see in the scenes.

Score

The score is pretty cool, mostly during the action sequences and shocking scenes. The score is better than I expected. There is a song that plays during a key part of the movie, a Bloodshot character flashback scene. l don’t know the song, but it made those scenes interesting.

Ratings

Performances 9.1/10

Costumes, set design, VFX, and action scenes 9.2/10

Score 8.3/10

Overall film 8.7/10.

This is a comic book movie that deserves a watch from anyone who loves comic book movies. Please don’t just look at it and think it is just another Vin Diesel movie. It definitely is not: it is an actual COMIC BOOK MOVIE.

May 1, 2020
Joe Williams

This movie is so good...

Elizabeth Moss does a fantastic job in this suspenseful horror thriller. You will want to watch it over and over again to find more great stuff (because it could be invisible to you) that this movie has going for it.

When Cecilia's abusive ex, Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), takes his own life and leaves her a fortune, she suspects his death is a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia (Elizabeth Moss) works to prove that she is being hunted by someone who can’t be seen. The Invisible Man also stars Storm Reid, Aldis Hodge, Harriet Dyer, Michael Dorman, and Anthony Brandon Wong.

This film kept me on the edge of my seat. Expect plenty of jump scares and intense moments. This is probably one of Blumhouse Productions greatest. It’s up there with Happy Death Day.

Performances

Elizabeth Moss plays Cecilia Kass. She really went full out in this role; it was like watching yourself in the same situation. Along with her role in The Kitchen, Moss shows that she is a true movie star. Her reactions to all the twists and turns surrounding her ex make the movie interesting. I was never bored. Moss’s facial reactions are outstanding as she feels she is being watched and when bad things are happening. Cecilia is a great horror character. It makes me wonder what will happen to her after the film ends. I won’t spoil anything, but her fight scenes with the invisible man are scary and unique as compared to today’s horror movies, similar to Ready or Not. Aldis Hodge plays James. Hodge does a good job selecting roles, from What Men Want to this film. His character is great, someone who cares about the ones around him. James and Cecilia’s characters’s friendship makes a big impact on the story’s progress. I really like that James is a father. His daughter Sydney, played by Storm Reid, gives her best performance. I didn’t like her in A Wrinkle in Time, but in this movie she is super cool. I really like that she is not like the typical horror movie teen girl who makes stupid comments and doesn’t care. The movie does a great job avoiding those stereotypes. I like how she appreciates her father’s caring and understanding, but my favorite thing is that she has a special spray in her room for intruders. It is hilarious and comes into good use later in the film. Oliver Jackson-Cohen plays Adrian and Michael Dorman plays his brother Tom. They are interesting characters but evil in their own way. I really don’t want to spoil anything about both their roles in the film, but it is obvious that Adrian is the invisible man. When both are on screen, it really gets intense. Harriet Dyer plays Emily Kass and is just annoying; you will agree. I really liked her at the beginning of the film, but as the movie progresses, she gets more and more annoying. Overall everyone does a terrific job.

Costumes, Set Design, and VFX

The clothing is contemporary, but it is nice to look at. The set design is really well done. It is mostly filmed on a set and is spooky and keeps you at the edge of the seat. The visual effects can be seen (or not seen) in the invisible man’s suit. You are unable to locate him. I need to rewatch it to try to find where he is because it is so hard to see where he is. The house and hospital scenes are intense and awesome to watch; all of the house scenes are intense and shocking. I must mention that the title card is really well done; the water waves are beautiful.

Score

The score is the thing that made me a little scared. It highlights the jump scares. It is perfectly used in the scenes where Elizabeth Moss' character is being watched. The score basically stands out on its own during those moments.

Ratings

Performances 9.2/10

Costumes and set design also VFX 9.6/10

Score 9.3/10

Overall film 9.6/10 I

I like this movie a lot. I think Blumhouse has a mix of great and bad horror movies; I can say this is up with the greats. This is one of my new favorite horror movies. It’s right behind Ready or Not. It is a must see. 

April 29
Joe Williams

Marriage Story is one of those movies that makes you question your life choices. How will those choices affect you and the people around you? This movie made me think about this.

A stage director (Adam Driver) and his actor wife (Scarlett Johansson) struggle through a gruelling, coast-to-coast divorce that pushes them to their personal and creative extremes. Marriage Story also stars Laura Dern, Julie Hagerty, Ray Liotta, Alan Alda, Merritt Wever, Azhy Robertson, Wallace Shawn, Mark O'Brien, Kyle Bornheimer, Martha Kelly, Brooke Bloom, Mickey Sumner, Matthew Shear, Robert Smigel, Tunde Adebimpe, Lucas Neff, Rich Fulcher, and Mary Hollis Inboden.

Watching this movie will fill you with many emotions, but after watching it, I feel like I understand what it is like to be a parent of a child but not have feelings for your spouse. Yes, it’s going to make you cry.

Performances

Scarlett Johansson plays Nicole. She is an understanding character, not just because she is a parent, but because she thinks she knows what is best for her husband and herself. Her bond with her son is heartfelt. Being an actress also makes Nicole an interesting character. But I definitely question her love for her husband. It made me think, “You're not in love with him; you just want a divorce for a different reason.” But thanks to Johansson, I was able to understand the character’s feelings. Adam Driver plays Charlie. Charlie is also an understanding character. I really love the bond he has with his son. I hope that I will deal with these events as well as Charlie were I to be in that position. I want to cry every time he looks at the photos on the wall of their house. The arguments between Charlie and Nicole are difficult to watch and, as a viewer, difficult to choose sides. Overall both give a great performance. Laura Dern also puts in a great performance. She plays Nora Fanshaw, the lawyer. She is awesome. I love all of her scenes and her funny lines. The best thing is the courthouse scene. It is so good. It is really well delivered, and it is all thanks to Dern’s performances. Her relationship with and empathy for Johansson's character is well done. It is also worth mentioning Azhy Robertson who plays Henry. He is adorable as the son of Nicole and Charlie. He is believable as their son, but I also wish that he would treat both parents the same. I feel bad that he is stuck in the middle of a divorce. Again, it is hard to watch; you can feel his pain. I also enjoy Julie Hagerty as Johansson’s mother, a role similar to the one she plays in Instant Family. She is good in those roles. She and Nicole have some lines that are worth a chuckle. The overall cast was great.

Costumes and Set Design

The clothing is contemporary. I do like the costumes Henry and Charlie wear when they go trick-or-treating. Charlie’s costume is really well done. I won’t say what it is, but when you see it, you might actually have a costume idea in the future. I know I do. The clothing is really nice. I want to know where the lawyers get their suits. Marriage Story is filmed on location. Everything on the set looks really nice. The courthouse and the family house are nice, the family house is beautiful.

Score

The score is beautiful and emotional. You can feel the happy and sad moments in the movie. I also thought about how the score plays in the intro and the ending is tearing at spots. Driver performs a rendition of the song, “Being Alive.” It is well done and emotional.

Ratings

Performances 9.6/10

Costumes and set design 8.9/10

Score 8.5/10

Overall film 9.3/10

This movie is an emotional ride from start to finish. Make sure to bring out the tissues in case you cry a little, but remember it also teaches you about life in general and the decisions you make as a human being.

April 23, 2020
Joe Williams

In this must see romance, Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield make you believe that you can fall in love, that you are worthy of love. The Photograph is like a mix of films like The Long Shot, Isn’t It Romantic, and Nobody’s Fool (2018). It’s filled with romantic movie cliches wrapped in a 100% great story.

Famed photographer Christina Eames (Chanté Adams) dies unexpectedly and leaves her estranged daughter, Mae(Issa Rae), hurt, angry and full of questions. When Mae finds a photograph tucked away in a safe-deposit box, she soon finds herself delving into her mother's early life, an investigation that leads to an unexpected romance with a rising journalist (Lakeith Stanfield). The Photograph also stars Y'lan Noel, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Chelsea Peretti, Teyonah Parris, Lil Rel Howery, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Rob Morgan, Courtney B. Vance, and Marsha Stephanie Blake.

It is rare to see a movie this good that received such little interest from viewers.

Performances

Issa Rae plays Mae Morton, and, along with co-star Lakeith Stanfield, steals the show. She is fantastic and incredibly likable, and you can empathize with her. You can feel what she is going through when she finds out that her mother left her envelopes of photographs with notes. It does make you wonder if your parents would leave something for you when they know they are going to die. Her mother is a talented photographer and the photos she leaves Mae make a major impact on the overall movie, as well as Rae’s character. This is Issa Rae’s first film outing after 2019’s Little. I hope she keeps trying different projects because this film is different from Little. This is her best work yet. Now Lakeith Stanfield plays Michael Block. I really like his character, not just because he is a journalist, but because he seems like a character who wants that special somebody in his life. Additionally, he has a strong bond with his brother, played by Lil Rel Howery. Lakeith Stanfield is perfect on screen with Issa Rae. Their chemistry is the main reason to watch this film. Every conversation is funny and romantic at the same time. I left the theater feeling happy. Lil Rey Howery plays Michael's brother who is a treat and has great chemistry with his wife. Their kids are adorable as well, but I feel bad for them during the heartbreaking flashback scenes. Overall really great work from the cast.

Costumes and Set Design

OMG! The clothing is beautiful. I like Lakeith Stanfield’s jackets. They are great. I want them, same with Lil Rel Howery’s jacket he wears during the bar scene. The men’s clothes, both current and flashbacks, are nice. Issa Rae looks great in this film, from her hair and clothing to the dresses she wears. I can’t pick which one I like more. Overall they all look great. But like the guys, the women’s clothing is nice. The movie is beautifully filmed. The house and apartment scenes are great. The same is true of the place Lakeith Stanfield works. It looks well put together. The same is true of Issa Rae’s workplace. The flashback scenes look like the actual time period they are trying to replicate. I think this film was partly filmed on location because it looks like it.

Soundtrack and Score

The score is beautiful during the romantic and emotional moments. The soundtrack features good pop and romantic songs. Two songs stand out. “Fade Away” by Lucky Daye is great, as is “Comfortable” by H.E.R. which plays over the end credits. H.E.R. is also featured on soundtracks for other romantic films like Nobody’s Fool. Overall great soundtrack.

Ratings

Performances 9.6/10

Costumes and set design 9.3/10

Soundtrack and score 9.1/10

Overall film 9.7/10.

This is my highest rated romantic film. No other romance films have approached this number. The Photograph is just about perfect. I would say if you are looking for something that doesn’t involve a loved one’s death (other than the mother) then The Photograph is the perfect romance. I really had a blast watching it, and I know everyone will.

April 22, 2020
Joe Williams

This film version of the 1978 TV show, Fantasy Island, is a bit of a mixed bag, but when I left the theater, I felt like it was a fun resort with spooky elements.

In Fantasy Island, the enigmatic Mr. Roarke played by Michael Peña makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests (Lucy Hale, Maggie Q, Austin Stowell, Portia Doubleday, Jimmy O. Yang, and Ryan Hansen) come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island's mystery in order to escape with their lives. Fantasy Island also stars Michael Rooker, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Charlotte McKinney, Kim Coates, and Robbie Jones.

Performances

Michael Peña plays Mr. Roarke, a great character, made interesting by Peña's performance. His character seems like a very nice guy, but the film also displays his evil side. This is different from most of Peña’s other work. We learn much about his character near the ending of the film. We discover why he does these things to his guests; it is shocking. Peña has some great moments while interacting with Maggie Q’s character, Gwen. Her interest in visiting the island relates to Roarke’s own reasons. This is one of the reasons I like the movie. There are so many things I would love to spoil about Roarke’s character, but Peña's performance is the reason I was excited to see this movie in the first place. Overall Peña does a terrific job. One of his guests, Melanie played by Lucy Hale, is another interesting character. She is both funny and annoying. Her character’s motivation, however, needs a little more explanation. Her revenge fantasy is understandable but near the ending it is too much. I think Hale gives a solid performance, but there are moments when her character feels a little flat but she is still a pleasure to have on screen. Maggie Q as Gwen is another favorite, and she stands out. I think that she makes better decisions with how she wants her fantasy to go, but I won’t say what they are, but it makes me really like her character. I think that she has great chemistry with Parisa Fitz-Henley (Julia). There are certain scenes where Q’s performance is similar to Peña’s; they stand out when she is on screen. There are scenes when other characters’s fantasies are being played out where I would rather be watching Q. I like Maggie Q’s performances a lot. Austin Stowell as Patrick is a good character. His fantasy is ok and emotional. He does a pretty good job on screen, but when he is on screen with his co-stars is when he stands out. I did like his performance. Portia Doubleday plays a bully named Sloane. It is easy to understand why Lucy Hale hates her; she seems nice, and again, there are moments when she stands out but also times when her performance falls a little flat. I actually like her more than Lucy Hale’s character. Jimmy O. Yang as Brax and Ryan Hansen as J.D stand out when both are on screen. They seem like best friends and have great chemistry. There is a scene at the end featuring Yang that will remind viewers of the original TV show. I won’t say any more. An overall decent job from the cast.

Costumes and Set Design

Michael Peña’s white suit is reminiscent of the suit which Mr. Roarke wears in the original TV show. Because of the hot temperatures on the island, most of the characters wear light clothing such as Lucy Hale's red shirt and black pants. One of the things that works is the way the different scenes are put together. This includes the elevator scene in Lucy Hale’s fantasy that includes all the gadgets and all of the buttons used to torture the bully. These make the scene spooky. Each fantasy is well filmed. The film was shot in Fiji. Overall the film is very beautiful and mostly well filmed.

Soundtrack and Score

The score has its standout moments, mostly when a fantasy happens on screen or when the characters interact with Mr. Roarke. The soundtrack only has a couple random songs that play during Brax and J.D’s fantasy. “Don’t Wish Your Life Away” by Jared Lee plays over the end credits. It is okay, but I do not think it is perfect for the end credit. It seems more fit for a different film. It reminds me of the song that plays over the end credits of Pet Sematary. It just does not fit. I do really really like the song; it just wasn’t fit for this film’s end credits, but it is worth the listen. Overall pretty good music.

Ratings

Performances: 7.1/10

Costumes and set design: 8.7/10

Soundtrack and score 8.4/10

Overall film 8.2/10

Fantasy Island is not a perfect film adaptation but it could have been with a better team behind the camera and a script with more jump scares. Maybe there will be a sequel. It’s possible but unlikely. I guess I have my own fantasy about it. Who knows? It could happen because it sort of sets up for a sequel.

April 13, 2020
Joe Williams

This is such a fun and entertaining video game based movie with Jim Carrey returning to form. This 2020 video game movie is so good and sets up a second movie. My favorite video game movies are Tomb Raider (2018) and Detective Pikachu, but Sonic the Hedgehog moves up to number two on my list.

In Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic (Ben Schwartz) tries to navigate the complexities of life on Earth with his newfound best friend, a human named Tom Wachowski (James Marsden). They soon join forces to prevent the evil Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) from capturing Sonic and using his powers for world domination. Sonic the Hedgehog also stars Tika Sumpter, Neal McDonough, Adam Pally, Natasha Rothwell, Frank C. Turner, Tom Butler, and Bailey Skodje.

I really like this movie a lot even though there are some problems,

Performances

Ben Schwartz plays Sonic. Schwartz is a well-known and hilarious actor, but some of his lines seem forced and some of them are eye rolling stupid. But not all of his lines are bad. There are some that really make me laugh. Schwartz does a great job as the voice of Sonic. Schwartz’s friendship and interactions with Marsden’s, Tom, works well. Sonic’s backstory is a little bit weird, but it works, and it explains why he is on Earth. The power up scenes are great to watch, but the one near the ending is a pleasant surprise. Jim Carrey, on the other hand, as Dr. Robotnik, is my favorite thing about this movie. If you plan to watch this movie for Jim Carrey’s performance, you won’t be the only one. He steals the show. This is Carrey’s best role in a very long time. Carrey has great comedic timing. He made me laugh so hard. I can’t remember the last time he did that. Itt seems like he really enjoys playing the character, like he wasn’t forcing anything. But the dance scene in the film that can be seen in the trailer is really hilarious. His most evil moments are really well delivered as well. He looks like he puts forth his best effort in his performance. James Marsden as Tom Wachowski is pretty good. He seems like a relatable character. He also has a good and believable relationship with Tika Sumpter (Maddie). His friendship with Sonic is where Marsden stands out the most. Overall, Marsden is solid. The other cast members have their moments, like Tika Sumpter as Maddie and Dr. Robotnik’s assistant. but this is mostly about Sonic, Tom, and Dr. Robotnik.

Costumes, Set Design, and VFX

The clothing is really nice. I love Jim Carrey’s black coat and black gloves that have power buttons on them are really cool. But no spoilers here, what Carrey wears at the ending makes him look like the character from the video game. His mustache is neat but obviously fake; it almost looks like it is going to fall off of his face a couple times. In general the characters wear typical, everyday clothes. The same is true of Carrey’s henchmen who wear similar clothes to Carrey’s. The set design is well filmed, and the awesome Dr. Robotnik vehicles and tech truck are really something special. The film is likely filmed on location and obviously some is filmed on an actual set with a green screen. I know you want to know about the redesign of Sonic. Is it great? Well, yes and no. It seems weird at moments, but I do believe it looks like Sonic. I think everyone will agree that it is better than the first design. I love the power up moments because it reminds me of the video games. I must say that baby Sonic is adorable at the beginning of the movie. The end credits are really cool. It will remind you of video games. No spoilers.

Soundtrack and Score

The score stands out during action scenes and emotional moments in the film. The soundtrack features some great music, including a song that plays during one of my favorite scenes, Jim Carrey hilariously dancing on the tech truck. The music at the bar scene with Sonic and Tom also stands out, but my favorite song plays over the end credits, “Speed Me Up” by Wiz Khalife. It feels like a song that Sonic would listen to, but it makes you want to run as well.

Ratings

Performances 8.4/10

Costumes and set design and VFX (redesign) 8.7/10

Soundtrack and the score 8.8/10

Overall movie 9.1/10

This is a must watch. It’s not 100% a great video game movie, but it has moments that put it in the top 5 with Tomb Raider and Detective Pikachu. Sonic fans will adore it and put it on repeat like Sonic would definitely do.

April 10, 2020
Joe Williams

This version of Hansel and Gretel features outstanding performances and adds horror to the fairy tale genre that it currently lacks. It is such a great scary fairy tale horror movie that it makes me want more of Gretel’s story.

A long time ago in a distant fairy tale countryside, a young girl, Gretel (Sophia Lillis), leads her little brother, Hansel (Sammy Leakey), into a dark wood in a desperate search for food and work only to unwittingly stumble upon the house of a terrifyingly evil witch (Alice Krige). Gretel and Hansel also stars Jessica De Gouw and Charles Babalola.

Performances

Sophia Lillis (Gretel) is a surprise. She is rapidly becoming one of my favorite upcoming actors. I really like her. Her characters in the It movies and Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase do her justice. Gretel is such a likable character. It is easy to empathize with her; you simply understand how much she cares about Hansel, especially in the way she reacts in the witch’s house. When she talks to the witch, you will get goosebumps. The witch’s response is scary. I even like how Gretel discovers she has powers and shows how she uses them with the witch. The main question is how will she use them, for good or for evil. I wasn’t bothered by some flaws in her character. Her little brother Hansel is played by Sammy Leakey. He is an adorable little brother. I wish he would listen to his sister before the power gets to her because he notices something is wrong and wants to leave. The differences between the two characters works perfectly. He has some annoying moments, but these are understandable. Gretel and Hansel communicate with pig noises which is funny and enhances their bond. The Witch or Holda is played by Alice Krige. She is a disturbing and interesting character. The witch needs a more evil plan, and it makes no sense that she doesn’t prevent some of the attacks. It would make it scarier. But I do like her character. She seems so nice to Gretel and Hansel by giving them food and beds to sleep in and telling Gretel that she is special. It is somewhat difficult to understand her talking, and it is weird that she keeps smelling Hansel's head. Overall, however, the witch is impressive. Everyone does a great job.

Costumes and Set Design

The costumes and set designs are the things that make me really like this movie. The witch costume is creepy, and the makeup on her face is outstanding, as are her black fingers. I really like how Gretel and Hansel have clothes that match when and where the fairy tale takes place. It makes them and the people they interact perfect. I thought the overall clothing was well done. The set design was special. The witch house was really well built inside and out like it made you want to walk you to it and look inside like Gretel and Hansel did. I thought that each room in the witch house was creepy and weird but unique in a way. I thought the forest scene was creepy as well but the scene that made me say “okay, that witch is weird '' is when Hansel sees children's shoes, clothes, and dolls in the trees near the house. It left me feeling uncomfortable. Also, the evil demon that Gretel and Hansel bump into is a surprise, creepy and unforeseen. The lighting in the scenes is pretty cool and interesting and makes you think this movie is reaching for a piece of film art. But overall the costumes and set design stand out the most.

Score

OMG! The score is heart pounding, like The Shining score and the Halloween scores. It is most impactful when Gretel and Hansel are in the forest and when Hansel sees the witch in the forest. Her lines and the score in the background made me really feel like I was watching a horror film. The score is freaky and would be at home in the Halloween movies.

Ratings

Performances 8.9/10

Costumes and set design 9.8/10

Score 9.3/10

Overall film 9.3/10.

This movie is one of the best I have seen so far, but at moments, it does feel at moments as if more story is needed, and some lines need to be more understandable. Despite that, I do highly recommend this to horror fans. This is a must watch. I’m already looking forward to the Blu-ray/DVD and digital releases. I can get creeped out again and see how things are set up for a cinematic horror fairy tale universe. It makes me want more of the Gretel story.

April 4, 2020
Joe Williams

Birds of Prey is a fun DC film, but it is not as good as Shazam!, Wonder Woman, or Aquaman. It probably would be near the bottom of this list but above Justice League.

In Birds of Prey And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn, it's open season on Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) when her explosive breakup with the Joker puts a big fat target on her back. Unprotected and on the run, Quinn faces the wrath of narcissistic crime boss Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), his right-hand man, Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina), and every other thug in the city. But things soon even out for Harley when she becomes unexpected allies with three deadly women: Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) and a young girl add(Ella Jay Basco). Birds Of Prey And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn also stars François Chau, Charlene Amoia, Ali Wong, Bojana Novakovic, David Ury, Sara Montez, and Isabel Pakzad

I had a fun time with this movie. The problem is that Harley Quinn, as well as some other characters, is being used wrong while others were used right. However, it doesn’t hurt the film too much.

Mini-spoiler Alert

Performances

Margot Robbie’s fund and beloved character Harley Quinn is great on screen and has been since Robbie started playing her in 2016’s Suicide Squad. Harley is well cast but she is in the wrong movie. Harley Quinn needs a much better character next to her, such as Poison Ivy or Catwoman. That is one of the things that I have a problem with.

First, the good stuff. Robbie plays Harley better than anyone else can do. She is still a funny, crazy character that made me chuckle in the theater, fantastically delivering her lines. This movie does a great job of including things that are part of the comic, especially the hysterical scene when she buys the hyenas. She does well in her action scenes.

Now, the bad. Harley’s break up with the Joker hurts the movie at moments as does her interactions with some of the other characters. It doesn’t work.

Ewan McGregor as Black Mask is shockingly good. I did not like what happened to his character at the end, not one bit. I said to myself, “Why did you do that? he was great. He could be used in another film or two.” I thought McGregor was evil and sarcastic. I like his lines and his interaction with Harley Quinn. I like when he hired Black Canary to drive him around. It really helps to build up his character. McGregor needs more time to be in DC films going forward. His character has potential. His partner, Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina) is a good character who is wasted in this film. He is evil but just not as good as his character in the DC universe’s tv show, Gotham. That version of the character was great. This was just tiring.

Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) is really really good, but this canary (Dinah Lance) is different from the character as portrayed in Arrow the tv show. She is super cool. I think making her work for Black Mask at the beginning of the film is a good fit. It is surprising that she went undercover for Montoya who works at the police station, giving her information about Black Mask. This scene is really well delivered, but her action scenes left me speechless. However, the fainting after the canary cry near the ending was eye-rolling, this from someone who likes the character. She was my favorite. Another favorite is Huntress played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. She is awesome. It is super funny when they call her the crossbow killer. She delivers some great lines. I wish she had a bigger role in the film. The Huntress scenes are the thing worth rewatching. Renee Montoya played by Rosie Perez is not a great cop, not at all,but does have solid moments. I think her interactions with Black Canary are my favorite moments in the movie. But let's talk about the joker in the room and that is Cassandra Cain. She was a terrible character although well acted by Ella Jay Basco. I just was saying to myself, Black Mask should just kill her. I really could care less. This character doesn’t need to be continued, even though I like how she interacts with Harley. Overall everyone does a pretty good job.

Costumes, Set Design, and Action Scenes

The outfits for Harley are something I think girls will really want to try after watching this movie. The costumes with the pom pom with the pink sports bra and striped jeans are really beautiful. The same is true of the outfit with a white shirt and golden checked overall. These are beautiful to look at. The rollerblade outfit which is only seen once is beautiful as is the blue and silver star spangled outfit. But don’t get me started with the jacket she wears at the ending. The makeup crew did really good with the tattoos on her legs and body, and her hair looks great as well. The Huntress outfit is really cool. The bow and arrow on her motorcycle is something to behold. Black Mask wears really nice suits. The same is true with his employees' clothes, like Victor Zsasz. Black Canary really needs a clothing wardrobe. She does have a nice jean jacket, and her gold tank top and black pants are really nice as well. Montoya and Cassandra wear basic everyday clothes.

The action scenes are well done. My favorite scene features Harley going through the police station with a confetti blaster trying to save Cassandra Cain. The funhouse scene goes by too fast; I wish it was longer. All of the action scenes are well done. The movie is filmed on location, and the locations, from Black Mask’s bar to Harley Quinn’s apartment, are nice. The funhouses make you want to look around more. All the locations are well filmed.

Soundtrack and Score

The soundtrack is very hip hop with a little bit of rap and alternative. Songs like “Diamonds,” “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” that Black Canary sings to Black Mask. The songs are reminiscent of the soundtracks I love from the Suicide Squad, Black Panther, and Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse soundtracks, as well as the Deadpool films. The score is well used though rarely heard because of the soundtrack played during the film, but it is is really nice to listen to.

Ratings

Performances 9.1/10

Costumes/set design and action scenes 9.3/10

Soundtrack and score 8.6/10

Overall film 8.5/10

I don’t really love Birds of Prey, but I did have a fun time seeing these characters on screen once again. I can’t wait until the next Harley Quinn film

March 30, 2020
Joe Williams

Blake Lively delivers an outstanding performance as an assassin out to get revenge for her family. This movie might grab viewers’ attention with great action. They might feel like it is like the Jennifer Garner movie, Peppermint, but I can say this is far better. It is more like the John Wick movies. This is such a good action/revenge film, better than those that I have seen recently. I wanted more after leaving the theater.

The Rhythm Section is about Stephanie Patrick (Blake Lively) who veers down a path of self-destruction after a tragic plane crash kills her family. When Stephanie discovers it wasn't an accident, she turns to a former CIA operative (Jude Law) to help her find the culprits. But Patrick’s quest to uncover the truth soon turns into a full-blown quest for vengeance as she decides to punish those responsible. The Rhythm Section also stars Sterling K. Brown, Raza Jaffrey, Max Casella, Daniel Mays, Richard Brake, and Tawfeek Barhom.

SPOILER ALERT

Performances

Blake Lively plays Stephanie Patrick. Patrick is a great character. Lively’s character is much different than other characters she has played in movies like The Shallows or A Simple Favor. She is featured in great action scenes, primarily an impressive car case. Blake Lively’s impressive use of facial expressions helps convey her sadness. Lively’s interactions with Jude Law in the training scenes is well done. It is shocking to see her reaction to being told to swim in cold water. It makes you feel like you are her. Lively’s transition from a weak young woman to an assassin is the reason you should check out this movie. Her missions are thrilling to watch, and the ending leaves you wanting a sequel.

Jude Law plays Iain Boyd. Boyd is messed up. I really like when Boyd tells Stephanie that in order to get her rhythm section working she must stay focused when shooting and attacking someone. However, I did not like Boyd’s actions that occur near the end of the film, but due to circumstances I was able to move past it. The movie is at its best when he is on screen with Blake Lively, either during the training moments or during a mission, instructing her on what to do. Blake Lively does her best with and without Jude Law. The supporting cast is mostly inconsequential except for Sterling K. Brown. He is part of an important twist. No spoiler here.

Costumes, Set Design, and Action

Blake Lively's hair is interesting throughout the movie. She wears black wigs. The black hair is best when paired with the white coat she wears when she starts going undercover. Blake Lively's looks are the finest thing about the film. Jude Law stands out when he wears a nice black coat when he is at the apartment with Blake Lively. But the male characters’ clothes are great. The set is well filmed, especially the car chase scene where you feel like you are in the car with Blake Lively. The filming highlights this exciting action scene. It appears that most of the film was shot on location, but some scenes may have been filmed on a set. The action scenes are the reason I enjoyed this film. It is, like I mentioned above, similar to John Wick and Peppermint. It is a bit scary and humorous when Stephanie is fighting, has a gun, and is out to shoot someone. But the training scenes with Jude law are impressive as is the fight in his house. But the fight on the bus at the end of the film is edge-of-your-seat action.

Soundtrack and Score

The score is epic when something exciting or bad happens. The score during the bus fight scene us gripping, as well as the scene where Blake Lively points a gun at a man’s head. The songs on the soundtrack feel new and are fitting in an action film. The song at the end and into the end credits is good, and the song featured in the trailer, “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” performed by the Sleigh Bells, is really great.

Ratings

Performances 9.3/10

Costumes, set design and action 8.7/10

Soundtrack 7.9/10

Overall film 8.6/10.

The Rhythm Section comes very close to John Wick. It features a great performance from Blake Lively and must watch action scenes. It is something worth watching if you are a fan of the John Wick films like I am.

March 11, 2020
Joe Williams

The Gentlemen is another great UK-ish gangster film that feels like it could be part of the Kingsman franchise or perhaps, the Ocean’s Eleven series, but by the end you want it to have a franchise of its own. This film is sooo good. I won’t spoil it, but the events that unfold near the end are shockingly good.

Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) is an American expatriate who became rich by building a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he's looking to cash out of the business, it triggers an array of plots and schemes, including bribery and blackmail from shady characters who want to steal his domain. The Gentlemen also stars Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant.

Performances

Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Pearson is a really good character. He is so smart and the location of his marijuana empire is interesting. This is McConaughey's best work in a while. His character acts like great business people act today. His wife, Rosalind Pearson, played by Michelle Dockery, is very good and also smart. She isn’t the stereotypical passive wife; she takes action. They are a great couple. Charlie Hunnam plays Ray. He is one of my favorite characters. He is smart to go after people that have evidence of Mickey’s empire, but he is also a great butler/bodyguard for Mickey. My favorite scene occurs when he is on screen with Hugh Grant's character, Fletcher, explaining a script he wrote whose subject makes the movie interesting. Henry Golding is okay but not that interesting . He is just in it to win Mickey’s empire so that he can sell it and get the money for himself; the same is true of Jeremy Strong. My favorite character is Coach played by Colin Farrell. OMG! His character is so cool and funny at the same time. I love that he has his own gang, and the interactions between Coach and his gang are well delivered. He is hilarious when he talks to one of the guys in his gym. Colin Farrell's character stands out. Hugh Grant's character, Fletcher, is really really good but sneaky as well. He figures out what is going on behind the scenes. This has to be watched throughout the film to understand how he figures things out. It is impressive. Hugh Grant does an outstanding job of making his character unique to the film. Everyone does a great job.

Costumes and Set Design

The clothes are wonderful and perfect for the film’s content. Almost everyone wears plaid. I really like Colin Farrell's blue plaid gym suit. It looks like something, mainly the jacket, that I own. The hats look so British, like those you might see in fancier films. The shoes are nice, including Michelle Dockery’s heels. Her clothes are nice as well. The film is shot on location. The guns that are used in the film are perfect. I thought that the small guns with small bullets were hilarious; they are that small.

Soundtrack and Score

The soundtrack features a song that Colin Farrell’s gang sings in the movie and over the end credits. It is okay but mostly used for humor. The score stands out during the scene where Ray goes after someone on a street. When something interesting is happening with the characters, the score is great, like when Mickey talks to Henry Golding’s character.

Ratings

Performances: 8.9/10

Costumes and set design: 9.6/10

Soundtrack and score: 8.5/10

Overall film: 9.5/10.

If you enjoyed the Kingsman movies, this is one you will enjoy.

March 6, 2020
Joe Williams

Bad Boys for Life is chock full of action, comedy, and twists. It helps you understand why the classic Bad Boys movies are so iconic today. I can’t even say that there is anything wrong with it.

Bad Boys for Life is about old-school cops Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) who team up to take down the vicious leader of a Miami drug cartel. Newly created elite team AMMO (Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, and Paola Núñez) of the Miami police department, along with Mike and Marcus, go up against the ruthless Armando Armas (Jacob Scipio). Bad Boys for Life also stars Joe Pantoliano, Theresa Randle, Kate del Castillo, Massi Furlan, and John West Jr. And there are some surprise cameos.

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about Bad Boys for Life. It's just that good.

SPOILER ALERT*****SPOILER ALERT

Performances

Will Smith is and always will be Mike Lowery. The character evolves throughout the films and, it is all thanks to Smith’s performance. He has great lines that he delivers normally when Martin Lawrence is on with him. Smith's bond with Lawrence in these movies is still special, including when Smith's character, Mike, gets shot and goes into a coma. The way these characters communicate is the reason this series is still strong. Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett is still an angry frustrated father and best friend to MIke. Lawrence is still on his game, but it seems like he is funnier. I’m not going to spoil the joke, but when Mike and Marcus are on a plane to Mexico near the ending of the movie, Lawrence has a line that made me laugh my head off for sure. But he shows a caring side when Mike is shot. He prays that he won’t cause violence by using weapons, etc. He just tells God that he wants his friend to make it through. Lawrence and Smith still got game even though one of the friends is retired throughout most of the movie, and the other is still working with the police. It is great seeing these characters on screen once again. Great performances by the two leads. Joe Pantoliano plays the captain of the LA police department, and he is still a great character. He is hilarious, but something happens to his character in the movie that is sad (I won’t give it away). Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, and Paola Núñez play the AMMO team. They all are great. They each have comedic moments, but it’s the action that is great. It's hard to say which of these characters I like more. Jacob Scipio (Armando Armas) and Kate del Castillo (the witch) are cast as the villians. These two are so good at being bad. Jacob Scipio is great as the one who hunts Mike down. He has great action scenes but you can understand why this a character is doing these things on screen. His mother, on the other hand, isn’t a good person, not one bit. She forces her son to get revenge for her, and she betrays him. She is a bad parent. Everyone in this film does a terrific job.

Costumes and Set Design

The outfits for the characters are a nice mix of black and colorful clothing. Smith’s jackets are awesome. I also like the Martin Lawrence’s jacket in the film. It is also really nice. The outfits sometimes do get a little too revealing, but of course, it is rated R. That’s part of this franchise. The movie is filmed on location. The action scenes are why I love this movie, and my favorite scene is the chase near the ending after they leave the bar. It is a really well done chase scene.

Soundtrack and Score

I know lots of people are going to get the album because it has a mix of hip hop and rap that most people like today. I can say this: I love that they still play the classic Bad Boys theme song throughout the film. The score stands out during the action scenes where it gives hypes up the viewer.

Ratings

Performance 9.6/10

Costumes/set design 8.9/10

Soundtrack 8.6/10

Overall film 9.7/10

This film is a great return to the franchise, and I can’t wait until Bad Boys 4 happens because we need another as soon as possible.

March 6, 2020
Joe Williams

Dolittle is one of those family movies that you expect to be great going in based on what audiences are saying. It also features Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role. You expect that it’s going to be great, but still, there is the possibility of being awful. Actually, it’s both. I can say this doctor ain’t gonna have a great conversation with future animals, the same with audiences.

Dolittle is about Dr. John Dolitte (Robert Downey Jr.). He is a physician that lives in solitude behind the high walls of his lush manor in 19th-century England. His only companionship comes from an array of exotic talking animals, voiced by Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, John Cena, Kumail Nanjiani, Octavia Spencer, Selena Gomez, Craig Robinson, and Tom Holland. He speaks to them on a daily basis. But when young Queen Victoria (Jessie Buckley) becomes gravely ill, the eccentric doctor and his furry friends embark on an epic adventure to a mythical island to find the cure. Dolittle also stars Ralph Fiennes, Michael Sheen, Antonio Banderas, Marion Cotillard, Frances de la Tour, Jim Broadbent, Carmen Ejogo, Carmel Laniado, Jason Mantzoukas, Kasia Smutniak, Ralph Ineson, and Joanna Page.

Performances

Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. John Dolitte is good, but he’s hard to understand at moments. It seems he and Anne Hathaway really have a hard time doing different accents. It just gets annoying, but it seems like Downey actually puts forth more effort than Hathaway does. I felt bad for his character at times. I really like that they actually made him seem like a doctor that talks to animals, more so than the Eddie Murphy films and its straight to DVD sequels. It feels as if they are actually doing something here, and Downey is trying. I think Downey had his moments in this movie. He especially shines when he communicates with the animals. His interactions with the supporting cast is also a high point. It was an overall good job from Robert Downey Jr. Emma Thompson who voices Polly the parrot, is very good and funny. I like how she talks to Downey’s character in their scenes together. It is hilarious. She stands out in her scenes. Even though Thompson has performed other voice work and played humorous characters in her career, this adds to this list. Overall she is really good. Rami Malek as Chee-chee the gorilla isn’t good at all. Come on Rami Malek! You can do better. His character just seems stupid, even though the yelling scene was funny. It definitely isn't Malek's best work. He has done better. But you know something? John Cena as Yoshi the polar bear was, like Emma Thompson, so funny. I really like his character. I think his communication with Kumail Nanjiani’s character, Plimpton the ostrich, is great. They make a great duo. They should consider doing a buddy comedy film together. They are such a hilarious duo when they are together, but Cena alone and Nanjiani do great jobs here. Overall these two actors were outstanding. Octavia Spencer as Dab-Dab the duck and Selena Gomez as Betsy the giraffe are unrecognizable and nothing to talk about. Craig Robinson as Kevin the squirrel is hilarious. He so wanted revenge on that kid in the movie. He is like an angry squirrel. It made me laugh. Tom Holland as Jip the dog is ok, but he wasn’t as good as he has been in other movies. Other standouts include Antonio Banderas as King Rassouli. He is evil and funny at any moment, but like Spencer and Gomez, you can’t really tell who he is until he finally starts talking.He helps the movie a little bit, but Antonio Banderas always gives a performance. Harry Collett is ok as Tommy. Dolittle lets him become his partner, sort of. He is good but I wish he had a better role. The same is true with Carmel Laniado as Lady Rose. Both of these child actors seem like they are trying, but they need better lines. The performances of the supporting cast are mixed.

Costumes/Set Design and CGI

The clothes are nice. I really like Antonio Banderas’ clothes because all the others seem the same, from a different time period. The hat Robert Downey Jr. wears is cool. The animals are CGI, and they are well done. It feels like the characters are almost there. I think the island scenes are nice. The same is true of the gold treasure scene where Antonio Banderas keeps his gold. It is very beautiful. The Dolittle house has to be seen to be believed. The beginning scene with the animation is beautiful to watch. The other scenes were filmed on an actual set, not location, but all the location scenes do look real.

Soundtrack and Score

The score is good during action scenes on the ship. The score during the scenes at the Dolittle House is used wisely. The score only stands out when something happens on scene. The soundtrack features only one song which plays over the end credits. It is “Original” by Sia, and it is really good. Sia really does a great job with music for film soundtracks, but this was her best. The way the song is played while the characters are shown in pictures is well done.

Ratings

Performances 6.7/10

Costumes/set design and cgi 8.1/10,

Soundtrack and score 8.6/10

Overall film a 7.8/10.

Dolitte should consider having a better team behind it if they want to make a sequel, which they should. There is potential for this Robert Downey Jr. version. I would say it is a good family film to watch together. I just don’t think it is as good as the Eddie Murphy Dolittle films.

A long time ago... Star Wars was a beloved franchise, but this final installment of this sequel trilogy to the original trilogy should have made me feel the force, but it left me with a broken lightsaber of a franchise. I don’t hate it; I’m just disappointed.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker centers upon the discovery that evil Emperor Palpative did not die at the hands of Darth Vader. The rebels must race against the clock to find out his whereabouts. Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac) lead the Resistance to put a stop to the First Order's plans to form a new Empire, while Rey (Daisy Ridley) anticipates her inevitable confrontation with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker also stars Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong'o, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Keri Russell.

SPOILER ALERT*****SPOILER ALERT

Performances

Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey throughout the three movies, makes you curious about who she really is. Guess what? We get a somewhat shocking answer. She’s a Palpatine or a Skywalker, which is confusing. At the end she says, “ I’m Rey Skywalker.” This makes no sense because she is not a Skywalker. There is not a clear answer. But Daisy Ridley makes a great female Jedi. Her skills seemed to have improved since Star Wars: The Last Jedi. She delivers the action sequences, showing that she can do it. I wish we learned more about Rey. This was a missed opportunity. John Boyega and Oscar Isaac have great chemistry on screen. John Boyega as Finn is a good character, but it seems like he should have been a Jedi as well. It makes no sense that in Star Wars: The Force Awakens he holds a lightsaber to fight Kylo Ren. He has moments that make him stand out. Oscar Isaac as Poe isn’t a bad character, but it makes you wonder why he thinks he is a great leader when he gets everyone in trouble and dies. I think Oscar Isaac does a great job acting the character, but I think he is best when he is on screen with Finn. I like this duo. Adam Driver plays the villain Kylo Ren. I really like this character a lot. He is really good as he works with Emperor Palpatine, and he finally decides to be good. But wait; they did the exact same thing with Darth Vader, but instead of saving Luke, Kylo Ren dies when he uses the force to heal Rey. I was upset because it was like the original trilogy. I believe the series would benefit by keeping Kylo Ren. In future films, he would be great.I thought that they made him very likeable throughout this trilogy, despite the fact that he is the villain. It hurts that this character will not be moving forward. Driver portrays Kylo Ren as evil and a bit weird when stalking Rey. Overall he was great. The supporting cast wasn’t bad. Mark Hamill (Luke Skwalker) is only on screen for a short time. Carrie Fisher doesn’t even have a role.* Because they simply used footage from the other movies, they should have just killed her at the beginning of the movie, but I can understand why they wanted her to be a part of this film, but it was just a waste of time. Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) returns and is pretty good, but I hate the cameo on the ship with Kylo Ren after Rey healed him. Why did you return as a force ghost? There was no point. The other cast members were good.

Costumes and Set Design; Visual Effects

The costumes are one of the reasons why I love the franchise. Poe and Finn, wearing the clothing of the resistance, look really nice. But a Kylo Ren rebuilt helmet with cracks is really cool because the cracks are red, but the black clothes he wears, cloak, boots, pants, etc., are really cool. Rey wears the same white outfit as in the previous films and it isn’t bad, just nice. nothing to say, basically just nice. I will say that she needs a new wardrobe. But Chewie and the droids look great, including a new droid that was added. The set design is all CGI. It features special effects that look decent. The wipes are nice and the lightsabers are still cool. Rey has a gold one at the end which is awesome, but she only turned it on. The fight scenes featuring the lightsabers are really entertaining this time. The guns and blasters are still mega-cool as in the other movies. The visual effects for the characters like Emperor Palpatine are still well done. But the added footage of Carrie Fisher looks bad. It looks like it wasn’t her, just a stand in.

Score

There aren’t really any songs to mention. This is all about the score for the scenes. John Williams always does a great job with the Star Wars music in the action scenes and of course the introductory and end credits. This is why people love to buy these scores; it is classic Star Wars(ish).

Ratings

Performances 8.3/10

Costumes/set design 8.4

Action and visual effects 9.1/10

Overall film 7.4/10

So yeah, I have problems with this trilogy, but I wish we had more time with these characters and had better chances to see the original cast in this sequel trilogy. There was so much potential, but it was wasted. If people want to finish this trilogy and I don’t see why they shouldn’t, be warned. Don't expect a great finale to this trilogy.

*Editor’s note: Readers, in case you are unaware, Carrie Fisher died before the filming of this movie.

March 2, 2020
Joe Williams

Like a Boss is a raunchy comedy. It features a great deal of inappropriate humor throughout the film, but it doesn’t really affect how great it is, even in parts where it doesn’t add much to the film. It feels like it is the new Night School or Nobody’s Fool, both of which star Tiffany Haddish, but it does come close to being the new Girls Trip, again starring Haddish.

LIke a Boss is about best friends Mia (Tiffany Haddish) and Mel (Rose Byrne). They run their own cosmetics company, a business they built from the ground up. But they're also in over their heads financially, and the prospect of a buyout offer from an industry titan proves too tempting to pass up. The beauty business is now about to get ugly as the proposal puts Mia and Mel's lifelong friendship to the ultimate test. Like a Boss also stars Salma Hayek, Billy Porter, Jennifer Coolidge, Jacob Latimore, Ari Graynor, Karan Soni, Natasha Rothwell, Jessica St. Clair, Jimmy O. Yang ,and Ryan Hansen.

Performances

Tiffany Haddish plays Mia. As she does in Girls Trip and The KitchenI, Haddish brings her A-game, but this time she combines the comedic and serious elements of her characters in those movies. Mia is in charge of the beauty company she shares with her best friend Mel (Rose Byrne). Haddish excently plays the role of kingpin of the company. She nails each hilarious moment, like when she is making a deal with two guys and when she breaks Claire’s glass window in her office. It is laugh out loud funny. Overall Haddish delivers. Rose Byrne plays Mel. Mel’s character isn’t that funny, but she is kind of relatable. She has her moments, mostly when she is on screen with Haddish or the other cast members. Rose Byrne and Tiffany Haddish on screen are not a bad duo. They seem like actual best friends and will do anything for each other. They do have a fight or two in the movie, but still the duo made it to the end of the movie. They remind me of my own best friends. Overall, great performances from the two leads. Salma Hayek as Claire Luna is really good as the villain. She is believable as the head of a beauty company that she built from the ground up. She is hilarious in a scene when she says, “Let’s celebrate with music.” She also is funny in a scene where she breaks one of her drones. She does evil very welI. She also has a great interaction with a surprise cameo. Billy Porter as Barret is so funny. I almost fell out of my seat. The same is true of Jennifer Coolidge as Sydney. Both are hilarious. It's sad that Sydney is on screen more than Barrett, but they both deliver great one liners that will stick in your head.

Costumes and Set Design

The outfits in the film are beautiful. Tiffany Haddish wears a couple of great outfits, from a white animal fur to a cheetah dress. Her hair is beautiful as well. Rose Byrne has beautiful blond hair. She wears nice colored shirts and jackets, and she wears a beautiful red dress near the end of the movie. Salma Hayek wears a wig to give her character brassy red hair, and it doesn’t look great in every shot, but her clothes make her standout as well. The film’s sets are beautiful. Claire’s company’s building and Mia and Mel’s shop have the appearance of actual places. The products that are seen on screen are well put together and believable. The other locations are nice as well, including Claire's beauty deal scenes which feature beautiful sets.

Soundtrack and Score

The score stands out when Claire is on screen telling the girls how they should change and proceed with the beauty deal, but it stands out the most when she is trying to be evil. The soundtrack features some great songs. My favorite song, “Sister” by K. Fla, plays at the end. It is also featured on the red-band trailer. Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne sing a duet at the ending, and it's great. Haddish also has a pretty good song that plays over the final credits.

Ratings

Performances 8.2/10

Costumes/set design 8.6/10

Soundtrack 8.5/10

Overall movie 8.9 /10

The movie comes close to being great but doesn’t quite make it. It is, however,a really good movie, especially if you really love raunchy movies or like this cast. I would say it is a great pick to watch with best friends.

February 26, 2020
Joe Williams

WARNING--SPOILER ALERTS AHEAD

With six film adaptations, it is clear that there is great interest in Little Women. Add a great cast to an already great story and viewers will leave the theater feeling Like they just read a great book. Little Women is a great adaptation of the beloved novel that makes this film version stand out from the rest.

Little Women takes place in the years after the Civil War. Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) lives in New York and makes her living as a writer, while her sister Amy (Florence Pugh) studies painting in Paris. Amy has a chance encounter with Theodore (Timothée Chalamet), a childhood crush who proposed to Jo but was ultimately rejected. Their oldest sibling, Meg (Emma Watson), is married to a schoolteacher (James Norton), while shy sister Beth (Eliza Scanlen) develops a devastating illness that brings the family back together. Little Women also stars Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, Louis Garrel, Bob Odenkirk, Tracy Letts, and Chris Cooper.

Performances

Jo March, played by Saoirse Ronan, is a great and relatable character. I mostly love that her character is a writer and that she makes a story to read to her sister Beth. It is heartwarming to see on screen. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where she goes and tries to get her book published. Ronan’s facial expressions in those scenes are great. Ronan really delivers those moments. I didn’t understand why the character is presented as stupid at moments. I found that annoying, but overall her performance is great. Florence Pugh plays Amy March. She does a great job portraying Amy’s jealousy of Jo, who seems to get everything she wants. I also found it cool that Amy is a painter. Pugh’s great performance shows Amy’s evolution into a mature and caring character. Emma Watson plays Meg March. Meg is a rule follower. She gets married unlike Jo, who runs away. Watson plays this well, one of the reasons that her character is great. Eliza Scanlen plays Beth March. (SPOILER ALERT) I was sad when she died at the end, but her character is wonderful. I love how she enjoys playing piano and enjoys listening to her sister read. When Beth says, “...after I die, you just keep reading those stories to me,” I was heartbroken. For someone who has siblings, this will definitely bring on a case of the feels. It was touching. Timothée Chalamet plays Theodore or, as some of the girls call him, Laurie. He is great but somewhat weird at times. He is definitely an interesting character. Laura Dern plays Mary March, the girls’ mother. Dern is perfectly cast as the honest and caring mother everyone wants. I like how she is a nurse to people. Meryl Streep plays Aunt March, a great character. She is the rich lady of the town. I love the scene when she tellsJo that she has to get married one day. When Jo asks her why she isn’t married, and she says, “Because I’m rich; that’s why.” That's when I noticed that she helps the movie in her own way. Overall a great job from the cast.

Costume and Set Design

The dresses are perfect for the time period. I can hardly believe how big they look on the girls. The guys wear very nice suits and coats that give the movie the look of a classic film. Everything looks great, including the shoes and hats. The movie was actually filmed in Massachusetts, and the story itself takes place there as well. The outdoor scenes are beautiful, but the indoor scenes are outstanding. The March house at Christmas is my favorite. I also enjoyed seeing how books were made. Overall Little Women has a really nice set and costume design.

Score

The score stands out throughout the movie. The score makes a huge impact, highlighting the exciting and sad moments. My favorite part of the score is when it begins, forecasting that I was about to see and exciting and heartfelt film. The score is nearly perfect.

Ratings

Performances: 9.4/10

Costume/set design: 9.5/10, the score 9.6/10

Overall film 9.8/10

I think this is the best adaptation from a book to screen that I have seen in a while. It will make you want to read the book as soon as possible.

February 14, 2020
Joe Williams

Spies in Disguise is one of those movies that, going in to it, you really aren’t sure what you are going to get. Is it going to be the new Despicable Me? It does come close, but it’s more like the new Megamind. This movie is better than most animated spy/action movies, but it is more like the two movies I mentioned above, each great in its own right.

Super spy Lance Sterling (Will Smith) and scientist Walter Beckett (Tom Holland) are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is not. But what Walter lacks in social skills, he makes up for in smarts and invention, creating the awesome gadgets Lance uses on his epic missions. But events take an unexpected turn when Lance gets turned into a pigeon by Walter's new invention. Now Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other in a whole new way. And if this odd couple can't learn to work as a team, the whole world is in peril. Spies in Disguise also stars Rashida Jones, Karen Gillan, DJ Khaled, Ben Mendelsohn, Rachel Brosnahan, Reba McEntire,and Masi Oka

Peformances

It is a pleasure to see (or hear) Will Smith as Lance Sterling because he rarely does voice work. He is the voice of Oscar in Shark Tale but that film is nearly 15 years old, and he does a better job in this film. Smith has great lines and hilarious moments in the movie, including when he turns into a pigeon and learns to be one. He doesn't like it one bit. Through the course of the movie, his character learns that being a spy doesn’t mean you are on your own. It is never wrong to ask for help even (especially) when you're a pigeon and friendly with a scientist. Will Smith does a great job with his role. Tom Holland plays Walter Beckett. Holland’s performance makes Beckett very relatable. He shows his mother gadgets that he created. I could feel his excitement. Rachel Brosnahan does well as Walter’s mother. Walter’s mother is only on screen during the first five minutes of the movie, and she delivers a great performance as Walter's mother. Rashida Jones as Marcy has reasonable time on screen and delivers. She does everything she can to get Lance arrested. She is great as the agent and her true motives aren’t revealed until the end. Ben Mendelsohn plays Killian, the villain. He is super evil and does it well, reminding me of other evil characters in animated movies because it feels like he knows how to be a big time villain. Like everyone else, he is great.

Animation and Voice Work

The animation is beautiful. Each frame is outstanding, like other Blue Sky films, but it almost feels like Dreamworks or Illumination Entertainment, both of which I love. The action scenes are my favorite because the animated fight scenes and explosions are well done. But the character design is really nice because it makes the characters look different from other animated films. The audio for the film is well done throughout.

Soundtrack and Score

The score is great for the action scenes and the emotional scenes. The way the score matches the mood of the scene is impressive. The soundtrack is fantastic and funny as well. The theme song, “Freak of Nature,'' which plays at the beginning of the movie, reminds the viewers that they are about to see a spy movie. It is really cool. “It Took Two” is a funny song. The way it is used throughout the movie is hilarious. My favorite song on the soundtrack is “Fly” by Lucky Daye which is a perfect song to end the movie and for the end credits. The soundtrack is so good that it makes me want a sequel just for the music.

Ratings

Performances/voice work 9.2/10

Animation 8.6/10

Soundtrack/score 8.7/10

Overall film 9.3/10

Spies in Disguise is the new Megamind. It features great humor and action packed animation. It is perfect for a family movie night.

February 11, 2020
Joe Williams

Bombshell is a revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time. It is the explosive story of a group of women (Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson, and Kayla Pospisil) who decided to take on Fox News’ infamous president, Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) and the toxic atmosphere over which he presided. Bombshell also stars Kate McKinnon, Mark Duplass, Liv Hewson, and Brigette Lundy-Paine.

Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman are outstanding in this great film about Fox News that will make you disgusted by the head of the network. His actions towards the women that occur behind the scenes will make you want to yell at the screen. This movie is a gamechanger, a movie that mostly deals with sexual harassment andhardly touches upon politics, which I wouldn’t have enjoyed as much.

Performances

Charlize Theron is Megyn Kelly, someone who knows right from wrong. (It’s worth noting that some of Kelly’s questionable activities are glossed over.) She does whatever it takes to get this craziness to end. She delivers serious moments when she is on screen criticizing the treatment of women at Fox News. She is impressive and makes the viewer understand why she left Fox News. This may be Charlize Theron's best work to date. Nicole Kidman plays Gretchen Carlson who inconceivably tries to keep this information about Roger Ailes a secret. I was surprised. It is also surprising that Ailes doesn’t know about the embarrassing tapes of his harassment of these women, a real gotcha moment that makes you want to cheer. Ailes clearly underestimated these women. Even though Theron is the main star, Kidman has great quotable one liners. Margot Robbie plays Kayla Pospisil, a fictional character that is a conglomerate of several real people. Robbie delivers as Kayla. It is powerful to see her vulnerability and discomfort in a scene in Ailes’s office, emotions with which the viewer can empathize. Much of this is superbly exhibited through Robbie’s facial expressions. This can also be seen in her interactions with Jess Carr (Kate McKinnon) with whom she shares a friendship at the start of the film. Their conversation concerning the pros and cons of working for Fox News and the importance of staying focused is quite funny. Overall Robbie gives a great performance. Though McKinnon has a relatively small part, her performance is outstanding. John Lithgow as Roger Ailes gives an outstanding performance. Wow! Ailes’ treatment of the woman at Fox News is surprising. More surprising is that no one spoke out until Carlson started to take action. Ailes’ reactions to these accusations are hilarious to me. I thought to myself that he shouldn’t have done these things in the first place. Like I said, John Lithgow really delivers as he does in his other work.

Costumes and Set Design

Every outfit in Bombshell is beautiful. Charlize Theron’s red, white, and blue dress at the beginning of the movie is my favorite because it had the American flag colors. Margot Robbie wears a nice black and red dress. Nicole Kidman dresses mainly in suits, mostly a nice pink one. Each outfit is in the dressing room and the viewer gets to see the dressing room for the on camera reporters. All of the men wear nice looking suits with colorful ties.

Bombshell is filmed on an actual set and location for outside scenes, but the set for Fox News almost makes you believe it is the real thing.

Soundtrack and Score

The score is beautiful and enhances the uncomfortable moments. The same is true of the live scenes on Fox News where it gets a little intense. The elevator scene which features typical elevator music, similar to other shows and movies which mostly do it for laughs, this time lands in a serious scene, and it is great. The main soundtrack features a random song that shows up throughout the film, but Regina Spektor’s “Little Soldier,” which plays over the end credits is great. It fits this movie perfectly.

Ratings

Performances: 8.9

Costumes and Set Design: 8.4

Overall Film: 9.4

I recommended Bombshell to anyone who has ever been abused or harassed. Although it is not 100% accurate, it is still a great film that anyone can. People can relate to this movie, and I know I really can’t wait to watch it again.

February 10, 2020
Joe Williams

This animated movie based on the popular children's toy brand was so close to receiving a great review but ultimately it is a bit of a mixed bag.

Playmobil: The Movie is about Maria (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her younger brother Charlie (Gabriel Bateman) find themselves magically transported to the fantastical world of Playmobil. While there, they encounter robots, Vikings, knights, pirates and other colorfully amusing characters. But when Charlie winds up in the clutches of an evil emperor (Adam Lambert), Maria joins forces with a bumbling secret agent (Daniel Radcliffe)and an adventurous truck driver (Jim Gaffigan) to rescue her beloved siblings. Playmobil: The Movie also star Meghan Trainor, Lino DiSalvo, Kenan Thompson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kirk Thornton, Maddie Taylor, and Dan Navarro

This movie should have been STX Entertainment's best animated movie yet, but it turns out not to be, mostly because UglyDolls is great.

Performances

Anya Taylor-Joy as Maria was pretty good. I felt bad when she finds out about her parents, especially when she is going to go out and explore the world. She even sings a song about it. When she is left to take care of her brother, I was sad for her. She gives a great performance in the live action scenes. She also has some good moments in the animation scenes mostly when with other characters. Meghan Trainor is very good as the fairy godmother. Gabriel Bateman is annoying as a little brother, but that’s understandable because he only just wants his older sister to be happy and for them to have fun together like before. However, when he goes into animation land with Maria, I couldn’t understand why he took over the character of the Viking. It was a head scratcher. Why wouldn't he just be a little kid? Now Jim Gaffigan as Del isn’t a bad character. His character is out for the money, which is common in most movies, but he has some great moments with Maria. Those two are mostly interacting with Rex Dasher. Overall, not a bad performance from him. Daniel Radcliffe as Rex Dasher gives the best performance, funny and entertaining at the same time. Radcliffe does great voice work as a spy making his scenes the most enjoyable. Adam Lambert as the emperor isn’t a bad villain, but he could have had a better plan but still enjoyable. I wish, however, that someone else did the voice because it felt weird after a while. Again, Meghan Trainor as the fairy godmother makes me like her scenes as well. She is a bit funny and but not a bad fairy godmother, great voice work from her. Kenan Thompson has a small role as Bloodbones, the pirate. His performance is good but not great.

Costume and Set Design and Animation

The costumes in the live action scenes aren’t bad. My best friend likes Maria’s clothes. When she is happy, they are pretty. Charlie's clothes were cute because little kids' clothes are cute one way or another. But his older self’s clothes are really nice preteen clothes and they look great.

The design of the house scenes is nice, from Maria's room to everywhere else. It was impressive and well directed. The museum is pretty nice. The same goes for the streets at the beginning and end. They are well done.

The animated characters do look like the toys but definitely could have been a little better. The scenes at the locations should have more layers to them, but it was okay. The animation is the quality of a show aimed at young viewers. The animators could have done better by not making it like something from PBS Kids. The animation should have been better.

Soundtrack and Score

This is one of the other things I did like about the movie. The music was well done. It is basically musical numbers, one live action and the rest in the world of Playmobil. I like the one that kick starts the movie, “So Much World,” performed by Anya Taylor-Joy as Maria. She has a beautiful voice. It made me like her character right from the beginning. at the beginning of the movie when she is excited to tell her brother and parents about her passport. The other standout is Meghan Trainor’s Fairy godmother singing “Running like the River. It is so beautiful. It is one of the reasons I like her role. Trainor also performs another great song in The Hustle, and it is difficult to tell which one is better. She should do more for film soundtracks down the line. Adam Lambert performs a villainous song that leaves an impression. You believe he is an evil guy. There is also a theme song for when Daniel Radcliffe’s Rex Dasher comes on screen. It is funny and helps you believe (100%) that he is a spy. The score is alright, nothing huge but still enjoyable when it comes on.

Ratings

Performances: 8.2

Costumes and Set Design: 7.7

Soundtrack and Score: 9.1

Overall film: 6.9

There are times when I could care less about this movie, but it has a pretty good soundtrack. It’s a film aimed at kids. It’s a good enough film to watch with a younger sibling or cousin. You will likely enjoy it more while watching it with them so you can experience it through their eyes. 

January 31, 2020
Joe Williams

Uncut Gems is about a charismatic jeweler (Adam Sandler) who makes a high-stakes bet that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. In a precarious high-wire act, he must balance business, family and adversaries on all sides in pursuit of the ultimate win. Uncut Gems also stars Idina Menzel, Kevin Garnett, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Jonathan Aranbayev, Keith Williams Richards, and a cameo from musical artist The Weeknd.

This film is made to appeal to a certain type of audience, ones who enjoy gritty independent films. It took some time for me to settle in and enjoy this great film.

Performances

Adam Sandler's performance as Howard is outstanding. Howard gets himself in and out of precarious situations. It is surprising that he survives them. Sandler’s role is much different than his traditional comedic parts, and he is outstanding. The viewer can see that he feels that his life is coming apart. At moments it is so sad that it is hard to sit through, but thanks to Sandler’s acting and his ability to deliver a serious (with some comedic moments) performance, the viewer can’t help but stick with it. Even though Sandler is the main reason to watch this movie, there are other strong performances. Kevin Garnett basically plays himself and his ability to communicate with Sandler in the shop is great. Howard’s bravery in loaning Garnett the gem for the day results in Garnett’s wonderful portrayal of happiness. This is Garnett’s first film having never acted before and his outstanding performance is a bit shocking. Idina Menzel plays Sandler’s ex-wife. She is great as an angry version of the ex-wife often seen in dramatic films. She only wants her kids to do great. I must quickly mention that both kids do a great job as Sandler and Mezel’s children, though I prefered the son. He and his father get along perfectically. Overall, great performances from the family.

Another favorite performance from the movie was that of Julia Fox who plays a character named Julia who is Sandler’s girlfriend. Though I did not like her character at first, my opinion changed as the film neared its ending. She is great in the scene where she participates in a heist to get money for a bet.

The Weekend has a quick cameo. He sings and is part of a fight scene. Though his part is small, it was a pleasure to see him in a movie for the first time.

Costume and Set Design

Adam Sandler wears a nice leather jacket until the middle of the movie. He also has two really nice pairs of glasses. It made me wish that I owned a pair of those. Some of the other characters wear lots of jewelry and colorful clothes that are great to see. The same goes for the dresses on the ladies. The set design is really beautiful, from Sandler’s jewelry shop to the nightclub where The Weekend performs. Everything else is filmed on location.

Soundtrack and Score

There is little to the soundtrack. It features The Weekend singing in the nightclub, and there are some other scenes with random songs. Overall, this helps to make the movie entertaining. The score is thrilling in the heist scenes. Some of the score sounds like something from a futuristic movie such as Blade Runner. This makes the movie unique in its own way.

Ratings

Performances 9.4/10,

Costumes/set design 8.5/10

Soundtrack/score 8.2/10

Overall movie 9.1/10

I wasn’t crazy about the ending, but with a great story and an outstanding performance from Adam Sandler, this is a movie that deserves a watch because this is Sandler at his finest.

January 27, 2020
Joe Williams

Knives Out is one of those movies where you think it’s over, but it turns out to have more to come. It ends on a great note for a murder mystery. This is one of the best murder mysteries I have ever seen. It’s even better than the Murder on the Orient Express remake, which I liked. Knives Out is way better.

A crime novelist (Christopher Plummer) dies just after his 85th birthday, and an inquisitive detective ( Daniel Craig) arrives at his estate to investigate. He soon sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind the writer's untimely demise. Knives Out also stars Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Lieberher, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Edi Patterson, Riki Lindhome and a few cameos.

Performances

Ana de Armas is the main star in knives out. I was surprised even though she is in the trailers. Even if you were expecting something else, Ana de Armas performance as Marta was amazing. She is Christopher Plummer’s character’s nurse and that makes the viewer feel like it was her fault all along. Even as her character changes throughout the movie, she still keeps us in our seat while watching. Like I said, she was great. Daniel Craig as the detective is really good at trying to solve the case, and I love how he tries to look for clues and sometimes gets confused. And you know what? I bet a lot of detectives get confused, and I believed it, especially when he finally solves the crime. It left me in shock. He is my favorite character in the movie.The other cast members have almost the same amount of screen time. I wish they had more. Chris Evans as Ransom is funny. Near the end we discover something about him. I won’t give it away, but wow! Jamie Lee Curtis is always good. She plays Linda, Ransom’s mother. She has great moments, the same with Toni Collette as Joni, Katharine Langford as Meg, Michael Shannon as Walt, and Don Johnson as Morris. Overall everyone did a great job.

Costumes and Set Design

The costumes are current and designed to make the movie feel like a murder mystery. Lots of jacket types and dresses highlight the scenes. The clothing matches the wealth of the family, nice dresses and suits. Knives Out was partly filmed on location but mostly on a regular set. The set was really cool, featuring a really nice house with furniture that is beautiful.

Soundtrack and Score

The soundtrack is mostly score, and it is really good, perfectly matching each scene. It makes a real impression of the film.

Ratings

Performance 9.1/10

Costume/set design 8.8/10

Score 8.4/10

Overall movie 9.6/10

This movie was so good that I will watch it more than Murder on the Orient Express. I really hope we get a sequel. It deserves it.

January 14, 2020
Joe Williams

This 2019 reboot is so good, way better than the 2000s movies with Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu. Wow! This was by far the greatest version of the angels yet, and I’m not joking. It left me wanting a sequel as soon as possible.

Charlie’s Angels is about a brilliant scientist who invents Calisto, a sustainable energy source that will revolutionize the way people use power. When Calisto falls into the wrong hands, the angels (Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska, and Kristen Stewart) must retrieve it before it can be used as a weapon of mass destruction. Charlie’s Angels also stars Elizabeth Banks, Patrick Stewart, Noah Centineo, Djimon Hounsou, Luis Gerardo Mendez, Sam Claflin, Jonathan Tucker, Nat Faxon, Chris Pang and more. Look out for cameos near the end.

***SPOILER ALERT

Performances

Naomi Scott’s character Elena is different from the other two. She is the tech person and the new recruit to the angels’ service. She had her stand out moments but not much to talk about, but when you see her scenes, they are good. Kristen Stewart plays Sabina, the funny/goofy angel on the team, but she also has her serious moments. She stands out in fight scenes such as the one in the hotel apartment at the beginning of the movie.There is also a running gag between her and Jane about killing a certain character. It is hilarious. Stewart’s performance is great.. Ella Balinska as Jane is a surprise. She is the angel with lots of action scenes. It left me wanting more. She also has a couple little scenes with Noah Centineo’s character that made me chuckle. You will too. Elizabeth Banks plays Bosley. She delivers with her one liners and her dramatic scenes, a really strong performance. Last but not least is Patrick Stewart. He is the previous Bosley of the agency, and it was shocking that he was the bad guy. You never see it coming. Although he has some funny lines, he is total evil at the end. Overall everyone did a great job.

Costumes and Set Design

Each angel is outfitted with her own unique gadgets. There is a scene that shows different closets of gear and weapons. It is a funny scene. Elena, as mentioned above, is a tech person who can hack into stuff, pretty cool. Jane has her weapons and performs lots of impressive action scenes. The same is true of Sabina. She has her own action scenes with a motorcycle at the beginning that are impressive. Her gadgets are impressive as well.The movie was filmed on location, and it was well done. It is all thanks to director Elizabeth Banks who also directed the Pitch Perfect movies.

Soundtrack and Score

The soundtrack features original songs from Ariana Grande collaborating with a variety of other artists. My favorite songs on the soundtrack, “How It Done” and “Don’t Call Me Angel,” are featured in scenes that only made me like them more. I even liked it when one of the songs repeats over the end credits. The score is beautiful. It keeps the viewer engaged.

Ratings

Performances 9.4/10

Costumes/set design 8.9/10

Soundtrack 9.1/10

Overall movie 9.5/10

If you aren't sure if you want to watch this reboot, I hope this review persuades you because it deserves a watch. I really hope the series continues with these characters.

January 09, 2020
Joe Williams

This sequel to the 2014 hit, Maleficent, is fun, but it’s a bit of a bumpy ride. Fans might return for this sequel even though the movie is not perfect.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is about Maleficent's ( Angelina Jolie) travels to a grand old castle to celebrate young Aurora's (Elle Fanning) upcoming wedding to Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson). While there, she meets Aurora's future mother-in-law ( Michelle Pfeiffer), a conniving queen who hatches a devious plot to destroy the land's fairies. Hoping to stop her, Maleficent joins forces with a seasoned warrior (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and a group of outcasts to battle the queen and her powerful army. The movie also stars Ed Skrein, Juno Temple, Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville, Robert Lindsay, and Sam Riley.

Performances

Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent is still a great character, as in the first film, but she hardly ever speaks on screen. When she does speak, it is okay, but nevertheless, she still entertains while on screen. But it is Michelle Pfeiffer who shines in this movie. She is great. She appears nice, but she turns out to be the main villain. She is so very evil; I can’t believe she rules the kingdom. What an evil queen she is. Elle Fanning has her moments with Harris Dickinson making it enjoyable when either one is on screen. The same is true with Sam Riley. Everyone else does their best here.

Costumes and Set Design

The costumes are, as in the first movie, very beautiful, very fitting for the fairy tale genre. Maleficent has quite nice outfits in the forest, dinner, and battle scenes. They all look great. The queen has nice outfits as well, and everyone else looks great too. The movie was mostly filmed on a soundstage with a green screen, but it still makes you feel like its real..

Soundtrack

There is a score for each scene. It works great with the final battle and the dinner scene. The end credits feature an original song by Bebe Rexha called, “You Can’t Stop the Girl,” to which I have recently been listening. It matches the drama of Aurora and Maleficent’s relationship throughout the movie.

Ratings

Performances 6.9/10,

Costume/set design 8.3/10,

Ssoundtrack 9/10 and

Overall movie 7.7/10.

So yeah, this sequel isn’t great, but it’s still a fun fairytale movie and a sequel to a blockbuster hit that still make you want one more movie with these characters.

January 4, 2020
Joe Williams

This Christmas horror movie (second) remake is impressive and entertaining enough that some horror fans might prefer it to the previous versions..

In Black Christmas Hawthorne College is quieting down for the holidays. One by one, sorority girls (played by Imogen Poots, Brittany O'Grady, Madeleine Adams, Lily Donoghue, Aleyse Shannon) on campus are being killed by a stalker. But the killer is about to discover that this generation's women aren't willing to become hapless victims. Black Christmas also stars Cary Elwes, Caleb Eberhardt, and Simon Mead.

Performances

The actresses playing the sorority girls do a great job, even if some of the characters are a bit annoying. Imogen Poots is the main star of the girls and does a great job portraying Riley, a sorority girl who was raped by her abusive boyfriend, eliciting sympathy and anger from the viewer. Her interactions with the other girls show she really cares and worries about them. When she fights back, it made made me cheer her on. It is pretty great work. Aleyse Shannon as Kris is also a favorite of mine. Her sarcastic remarks made me chuckle a little. But when Kris starts to help Riley hunt down the killer in the house, it made me like her more. Brittany O'Grady as Jesse is pretty good. Lily Donoghue as Marty is really good when on screen. The other girls also have their moments. .Caleb Eberhardt as Landon is perfect as Riley’s love interest. It is pretty great and a little funny because she wasn't sure if he was stalking her. Cary Elwes as Professor Gelson wasn’t bad, but he did not seem like a nice teacher, especially when we learn more about him at the end of the movie. But Simon Mead as Riley’s abusive ex-boyfriend is good as a jerk, and he is good when leading a fraternity ritual. I said to myself, “Yeah Riley, thank, goodness you broke up with him.” Overall, great performances including the jump scares.

Costumes and Set Design

Each of the girls wears a Santa Claus outfit that you see lots of girls wear. They are nice. The sorority guys’ robes are a nice reddish color. The killer wears a black robe with a creepy black mask that is spooky and makes an impression on screen. The movie is set during Christmas Christmas and features plenty of lights and decorations. There were a variety of weapons, a crossbow for the joker, not just knives, and a type of stick Riley holds when going after the killers. The movie features great props in the sorority girls house, and the school campus is really nice.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack features Christmas songs such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” and the girls perform a Christmas song which insults the audience, a tradition of the school. It is well performed and a little funny. The score is intense when the killer is on screen or when one of the girls is being stalked. The score and soundtrack work, combining the sounds of Christmas with the score of a horror film..

Ratings

Performances: 8.9/10

Costumes/set design 8.3/10

Soundtrack 8.5/10

Overall movie 8.8/10

This isn’t a bad horror remake. What you been hearing online isn’t really true. My best friend and I really enjoyed the movie a lot because we are into horror. It is still a must watch remake.

December 19, 2019
Joe Williams

Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding are outstanding in this great, if somewhat flawed, and Christmas movie based on the George Michael song of the same name.I will keep you entertained and make you feel like sitting in front of a Yule log with a cup of hot chocolate. Even with its flaws, it will still make you say it is pretty good

Kate (Emilia Clarke) is a frustrated Londoner who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop, and nothing seems to go right for her. But things soon take a turn for the better when she meets Tom (Henry Golding), a handsome charmer who seems too good to be true. As the city transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, Tom and Kate's growing attraction turns into the best gift of all, a Yuletide romance. Last Christmas also stars Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh, as well as Ritu Arya, Rebecca Root, Lydia Leonard, Jade Anouka, Fabien Frankel, Peter Mygind, Patti LuPone, Rob Delaney, Peter Serafinowicz, and Ingrid Oliver

Performances

Emilia Clarke is and should be one of the main reasons to watch this movie. She steals each scene. Wow! such a great performance. Whenever she is upset because of the circumstances of her life, If felt bad. But when she starts to get her life together in the middle of the movie, I knew why I went to see the movie in the first place. Henry Goulding, as Tom, plays the boyfriend, and he does it well, as he does in Crazy Rich Asians and a Simple Favor. When he is on screen with Emilia Clarke, you feel the attraction. The interactions between the actors makes you want to see more from them in the coming years. I also want to mention Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh. Emma Thompson gives a typically great performance as the mother, as she does in the movie Late Night. She plays the sad mother who becomes happy when she sees her daughter in a scene towards the middle of the film. I felt their strong family bond rising up again. Michelle Yeoh is both funny and serious as the Christmas store boss. It is enjoyable to see her on screen, especially when she flirts with a man in her store (hilarious). The performances are great.

Costumes and Set Design

The costumes create the feeling of Christmas. Emilia Clarke wears a Christmas store elf costume, and everyone else dresses in coats and winter gear. It feels like a cold Massachusetts winter. The set is shockingly filled with Christmas declarations everywhere. I wanted to go look at Christmas lights. Most of the movie was filmed on location.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is all from George Michael and Wham! and mostly fits the scenes, but when the title song begins, I knew we were getting some great George Michael music. Emilia Clarke performs the Wham! song, “Last Christmas” at the end of the movie. However it isn’t available to buy, which makes no sense because it is so good. It makes you believe she can sing like that. There is little score throughout the movie because of the George Michael songs, but when it is heard, it is beautiful.

Ratings

Performances: 8.7/10

Costumes/set design: 9.4/10

Soundtrack/score: 8.4/10

Overall movie 8.9/10

Even with problems with the twist at the end, it is still a must watch Christmas movie. It’s fun and beautiful and has great music. You will most likely want to add this to your Christmas movie collection. I already did.

December 16, 2019

Joe Williams

Booksmart features great and promising performances from its two leads, making it one of the best comedy releases of the year.

Booksmart is about academic overachievers Amy and Molly (Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein) who believe that keeping their noses to the grindstone gives them an advantage over their high school peers. But on the eve of graduation, the best friends suddenly realize that they may have missed out on the special moments of their teenage years. Determined to make up for lost time, the girls decide to cram four years of not-to-be missed fun into one crazy night for which no amount of book smarts could prepare them..

Performances

The performances from the two main leads make the movie work. Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Amy, is the serious one who develops feelings for another girl, which is different for Molly. Molly, played by Beanie Feldstein, is Amy’s best friend and is by far my favorite character. She has an appealing sense of humor that makes her relatable. She is a stand out in every scene from when, like Amy, she focuses on school to when she makes the big decision to go to a party. It is interesting to watch these characters change as the movie progresses. I also want to mention Jason Sudeikis who stands out as the principal of their school. Even though the part is small, he is funny when on screen. Overall everyone does a great job.

Costumes, Set Design, and Soundtrack

The costumes are unique to each character, allowing them to stand out in each scene. The set design was done in a nice manner making the scenes look nice and entertaining while the characters are on screen. The soundtrack features songs that fit each scene, especially the pool scene. It is well done.

Ratings

Performances: 9/10

Costumes/set design 8.9/10

Soundtrack 9.1/10

Overall film 9.8/10

This is one of the most important movies of the year and deserves to be seen.

December 11, 2019

Joe Williams

Tiffany Haddish, Melissa McCarthy, and Elisabeth Moss deliver great performances as the wives of Hell’s Kitchen thieves who are arrested, leaving them in charge in this DC Comics movie.

The Kitchen is about the Irish mafia who run 20 blocks of a tough New York City neighborhood known as Hell's Kitchen. For mob wives Kathy (Melissa McCarthy), Ruby (Tiffany Haddish), and Claire (Elisabeth Moss), things are about to take a dramatic and radical turn. When the FBI sends their husbands to prison, the three women take business into their own hands, running the rackets and taking out the competition.

Performances

Melissa McCarthy is believable and gives a great performance as the kingpin of Hell’s Kitchen. Tiffany Haddish is also great. She changes from someone who just wants peace into someone who wants to take matters into her own hands. Elisabeth Moss has a problem: she keeps getting beaten by guys, but her character transforms into one who gives bad characters what they deserve. Overall the performances were great.

Costume and Set Design

The costume design is well done. Their outfits make the three leads stand out. Haddish and McCarthy’s outfits are especially cool. The Kitchen is shot on location and it accurately portrays the time period. The hotels, bars, etc. look accurate.

Soundtrack and Score

The score was pretty good. The Highwaywomen sing the classic Fleetwood Mac song, “The Chain,” and in some of the scenes. It also plays over the end credits.

Ratings

Performances: 7.9/10

Costume/set design: 9.8/10

Soundtrack: 7.8/10

Overall film 8.4/10

The Kitchen is a must watch for people who like this type of film.

Spider-Man: Far from Home is a great epilogue to the events of Avengers: Endgame. The great performances and entertaining story make you want to re-watch it. This is an epic film.

Spider-Man: Far from Home takes place following the events of Avengers: Endgame. While on a class trip to Europe, Spider-Man/Peter Parker (Tom Holland) must step up to take on new threats in a world which has changed forever. Spider-Man: Far from Home also stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Samuel L Jackson, Cobie Smulders and John Favreau.

SPOILER ALERT.

Performances

From his first appearance as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland’s performance as Peter Parker (Spider-Man) continues to improve. In this film his interacts with the whole cast and delivers a great performance even when his beneath the Spider-Man mask. Zendaya still makes us happy that she is in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is the love interest of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. She delivers plenty of great one-liners like she did In Spider-Man: Homecoming. But do you know who did a better job? Jake Gyllenhaal. His performance as Quinton Beck, aka Mysterio, is excellent to see on screen. The revelation that Mysterio, despite seeming to be a nice guy to Peter, is actually the main villain. Wow! Overall, everyone did a great job.

Soundtrack and Score

There is only a small soundtrack. The focus in on the score. It is well done and matches each scene, as a result making the movie more exciting and enjoyable.

Costumes and Set Design

The new costumes that Spider-Man wears in the film are great. The awesome stealth suit and a red and black suit, like the Homecoming suit, are great to see on the screen. The Mysterio costume also looks better than the comic book version. The improvements are well done. The sets are well designed and make the characters stand out on the screen.

I do want to tell you that there is one great scene that features Mysterio’s illusions. This was taken right from the comics. You need to experience it. It is unbelievable.

Ratings

Performances: 8.9/10

Costumes/set design: 7.9/10

Overall movie 9.3/10.

It’s not Avengers: Endgame, but it is a great epilogue to it. I would watch it over and over again.

November 26, 2019
Joe Williams

Ready or Not is a horror movie with a little humor, but it’s still scary and tense, and it might become a film series down the line. Ready or Not was so tense and funny that it may be one of the best horror comedies that I have seen since the Happy Death Day movies.

Ready or Not is about a girl named Grace, Samara Weaving, who couldn't be happier after she marries the man of her dreams, Mark O’Brien, at his family's luxurious estate. There's just one catch---she must now hide from midnight until dawn while her new in-laws hunt her down with guns, crossbows, and other weapons. As Grace desperately tries to survive the night, she soon finds a way to turn the tables on her not-so-lovable relatives. It also stars Adam Brody, Andie MacDowell, Henry Czemy, and more.

Performances

Samara Weaving’s as Grace makes you feel bad for her and what she is going through. At the same time viewers will cheer her on all the way. She delivers by not simply being the typical passive and scared female of horror movies but by evolving into one who takes action. The other cast members have stand out moments of their own.

Costumes and Set Design

Grace’s wedding dress is beautiful even though it gets ripped and torn as the movie progresses. It is unbelievable that it gets that messy. It’s almost unrecognizable when you see how it looks at the end of the movie. The setting of the movie is a stand out. The house reminds the viewer of old haunted/spooky movies.

Score and Soundtrack

The score fits the scenes. It never feels out of place at all. There is a song that serves as a joke that runs twice during the movie. It is super funny. The last song i want to mention, “Love Me Tender” by Stereo Jane, plays over the end credits. It is so good. It would be great to add to your Halloween playlist. I highly recommend it.

Ratings

Performances: 7.1/10

Costumes and set design: 8.7/10

Soundtrack: 8.6/10

Overall: 9/10

This is a movie that you need as part of your Halloween collection. You won’t be disappointed.

November 26, 2019
Joe Williams

This new Quentin Tarantino gives a new twist to a real event in Hollywood history.

Once upon a Time in Hollywood takes place in 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing. Television star and director Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way through an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The movie also stars Margot Robbie, Dakota Fanning, and Kurt Russell.

There are lots of great moments in the movie. The movie is based upon a real Hollywood historical event, but in the end it is a bit different than the event itself.

The Cast

Leo DiCaprio did an excellent job as a TV star who normally works on westerns. He has a very difficult time dealing with people in the business. Even though his performance fell flat at moments, overall he did a good job. Brad Pitt‘s performance as a stunt man was believable. He has lots of great moments with some action scenes near the end of the film that are really well done. Finally, Margot Robbie plays movie star, Sharon Tate. She is really great. Even though there are some moments where it is better seeing Pitt or DiCaprio on screen, she still delivers a great performance as a different version of Sharon Tate.

Soundtrack, Costume, and Set Design

The soundtrack features music that came out around that time period of the movie making the viewers feel like they are in that time period. It never gets boring at all when the music comes on. The set design is well done. It looks like Hollywood back in the day, and the movie has a movie theater scene that shows how films from yesterday are different from today. So the outfits on each character are well chosen to make each of the characters stand out.

Ratings

Performances 5.9/10

Set and costume design 8.4/10

Soundtrack 9.5/10

Overall film 7.8/10

Final Thoughts

I would say if you like anything about Hollywood or the business of movies this is up your alley.

November 19, 2019
Joe Williams

Disney’s live action remake of Aladdin answers some of the questions that the animated classic didn’t with great music including a new song. Aladdin has many great things going for it like the soundtrack, the performances, and the set and costume design

Aladdin is about a lovable street rat (Mena Massoud) who meets Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott), the beautiful daughter of the Sultan of Agrabah. While visiting her exotic palace, Aladdin stumbles upon a magic lamp that unleashes a powerful, wisecracking, larger-than-life genie (Will Smith). As Aladdin and Genie start to become friends, they embark on a dangerous mission to stop the evil sorcerer Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) from overthrowing Jasmine's kingdom.

The Cast

Mena Massoud as Aladdin looks and sounds like a character from the original classic, including when he sings in the movie. Between his action scenes and his interactions with other characters, it is clear that the part was really well cast. Princess Jasmine (Naomi Schott) is quite different from the original. This was surprising, but in my opinion it was great. She has a couple of great moments in the movie including when she sings and when she is with her friend Darlea. Will Smith as the genie is perfect in delivering his one-liners. The characters now must rub the lamp to have their wishes granted; they never do this in the original version. Several other scenes with Smith are great as well. Marwan Kenzari was not bad as Jafar. He has some good moments including a back story. Aladdin also stars Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, Alan Tudyk,and Navid Negahban.

The filmmakers do a pretty great job bringing Abu, Rajah, the genie, and the carpet to the live action format. I feel like I am watching a new movie as I did when I saw the original.

Costumes and Sets

The outfits on everyone, including Aladdin, Jasmine and genie, are accurate to the time period in which the film takes place, and they were visually appealing. The set design was well done, bringing Agrabah to life. The inside of the palace looks even better than in the animated film.

Soundtrack

The original songs from the animated film are respectfully updated. The film also includes a great new song for Jasmine who didn’t have her own in the animated version. It is hard to pick which song is the best, but I have two favorites. The first is “A Whole New World” which was well performed by Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott. Jasmine’s (Naomi Scott) song, “Speechless,” occurs in two differnet parts of the film and is quite outstanding and worth hearing.

Ratings

Performances: 8/10

Costumes and Set Design: 9/10

Soundtrack: 10/10

Overall film: 9.6

This is one of the best films to check out this year and is worth watching over and over again.

November 14, 2019
Joe Williams

Jillian Bell delivers an outstanding performance of which no other comedic actresses is capable. So let's talk about how great she truly is.

Brittany Runs a Marathon is about a hard-partying woman, played by Jillian Bell, who receives a startling wake-up call when a visit to the doctor reveals how unhealthy she is. Motivated to lose weight, she soon takes up running to prepare for her ultimate goal of competing in the New York City Marathon. She even learns life lessons about health, appearance, and life in general. The movie also stars Michaela Watkins, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Micah Stock, Alice Lee, and Lil Rel Howery, with Kate Arrington, Patch Darragh and Mikey Day.

Wow! this is probably one of the most motivating and relatable movies I have seen. It left me speechless, and it is based on a true story. It changed my perspective on life.

Star

Let's talk about the performances and everything in this movie that made me say “GO BRITTANY!” throughout the movie. Jillian Bell as Brittany was so relatable that she makes you want to cheer for her. But you also want to cry for her when someone is cruel or she’s down or ashamed. Jillian Bell made this role one that only she could pull off; no one else could do it

Supporting Cast

Her supporting cast also stands out. Michaela Watkins plays Catherine. Catherine is Brittany’s neighbor and best friend. She plays this part well. I would not mind having her as a friend. I thought the interaction between Catherine and Brittany was well performed by both actresses. Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jaren delivers a fine performance as a normal jerk into a friend/love interest. Micah Stock, as Brittany’s other best friend, Seth, was likable, and everyone else was excellent.

Costumes and Set Design

The costumes were perfect for each character. Brittany wears different clothing that makes her stand out by highlighting her weight loss throughout the movie. All other costumes are just regular clothing. The set design is perfect for each location. The scenes at the fitness gyms where Bell and her two friends go are great props that look real. The same is true of the apartment scenes. They are well put together. The running scenes are filmed on location.

Soundtrack and Score

The film features great music, basically the score and some contemporary music. The score is perfect for the scenes in which Brittany is running. It helps you cheer her on. This is mostly when the music stands out. The song at the credits, Tove Stryke’s “Number One,” was pretty good. It wasn’t made for the movie because it came out a couple years ago, but it feels new. It was a perfect pick for the movie.

Ratings

Overall performances: 9.5/10

Costumes/set design 7.8/10

Score/soundtrack 7.9/10

Overall film 9.9/10. I can’t wait to rewatch it again and again, and hopefully everyone else will check it out too and have the same reaction.

June 13, 2019
Joe Williams

Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway deliver hilarious lines in The Hustle that will make you laugh and want more.

Josephine Chesterfield (played by Anne Hathaway) is a con artist British woman who takes gullible rich men’s money out of their hands and into her own. Then along comes Penny Rust (played by Rebel Wilson). Contrary to Josephine, she is a crass, fun-loving Australian woman who lives to swindle money from guys. Despite their different skills, the two con artists soon join forces for the ultimate showdown a young and naive tech billionaire (played by Alex Sharp) in the South of France.

The Hustle is a divisive movie. Whether you like it or not, I say it a good movie with some flaws. The performances from Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson were amazingly good, and how they met at the beginning of the movie on the train was perfect. Regarding Anne Hathaway’s character she really was good at how she steals guys’ money and valuable items. She stole many of the movie’s scenes with humor and unexpected twists. Rebel Wilson delivers on plenty of humorous lines, too, that will make you cry of laughter. When we meet her character at the beginning of the movie, she really was good at being a con artist. Overall everyone did an excellent job.

One interesting part of the movie is that the opening is animated. I can’t spoil anything, but it looks cool and well done.

Now let’s talk about the costume, set design, and the soundtrack. The costume designs are really nice. They were used for comedic purposes for certain scenes, but are still nice to look at. The set design was unique to fit every scene to make it look perfect including the furniture around different parts of Josephine’s house. Now the soundtrack in the movie was really good, including the different scores. They fit every scene perfectly.

Overall, I give the costume/set design 7.7, the soundtrack 8.1, the acting 8.5, and the overall film 7.9. It a must watch if you love these actors and it is worth the time.

May 13, 2019
Joe Williams

Shazam! is a exciting superhero movie that will make you want to say ‘Shazam’ like Billy Batson and send you to the theater.

Shazam! is about 14-year-old Billy Batson (played by Asher Angel), who, after meeting a wizard, is given the power to shout out one word to transform into the adult superhero Shazam (played by Zachary Levi). Still a kid at heart, Shazam revels in the new version of himself by doing what any other teen would do - have fun while testing out his newfound powers. But he needs to master them quickly before the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (played by Mark Strong) can get his hands on Shazam's magical abilities. Shazam also star Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Grace Fulton, Marta Milans,and Cooper Andrews.

Shazam! has quite a lot of great things going for it. The action scenes where really well done, such as when Billy tries out his powers and the fight in the store. The fight scenes with Dr. Thaddeus Sivana vs Shazam were really good and the culminating battle was a surprise. Regarding the performances, Zachary Levi as Shazam was perfect, with great one liners and humorous moments; I thought he was the best. Also, Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana was really believable. You know he is really evil. Overall, everyone did a great job.

Now let’s talk about the costumes and set design. The Shazam costume looked like the comic book one and Dr Thaddeus Sivana’s costume made him look really bad, and the jacket he was wearing was really cool!. The set design was really nice looking, and many were quite beautiful. Overall, I give the costume/set designs 8.2, score 6.8, acting 8.4, and the overall movie 8.8. Shazam! is a must see comic book movie that you can’t miss. It really worth the time checking out.

April 29, 2020
Joe Williams

Little is an important but humorous movie about someone who is mean and gets a piece of her own medicine.

Little stars Regina Hall as Jordan, the tech boss of a company who torments her long-suffering assistant, April (Issa Rae), and the rest of her employees on a daily basis. She soon faces a threat to her personal life and career when she magically transforms into a 13-year-old version of herself (Marsai Martin) right before a big presentation. Jordan now needs to rely on April more than ever to take over the company until she finds a way to turn back to normal. Little also star Justin Hartley, Tone Bell, Luke James, Mikey Day, and Rachel Dratch.

Little is a great movie with lots of really good features, and some minor flaws. First, let’s talk about the good stuff. The story is well explained at the beginning, and it has a really good ending that will make you want to watch it over again. The viewer can relate to the characters, like how Issa Rae’s April is trying to be a really good assistant and friend to Jordan (she and Jordan are my favorite characters). Regarding the performance from the actors, Regina Hall delivers her best when she is on screen as adult Jordan, including when she acts mean at the beginning of the movie. WOW! I really did believe she was mean. Young Jordan, played by Marsai Martin, is perfect playing the role. My favorite thing about her was how she kept refusing to act like a kid and act like her older self. Now I did mention how Issa Rae as April is my favorite in the movie, and this is because her performance was the best in the movie including some of her humorous lines.

Let’s now talk about the costumes design. The outfits in the movie are pretty modern, but they are very pretty and very funny to look act but it fashion. At the beginning of the movie, Regina Hall’s Jordan wears a professional blue button up with red pants, and at the ending she wears a dress that looks like an egg yolk, which you’ll have a hard time believing that it a egg until you look at it far away. Young Jordan wears basic clothes so nothing huge to talk about same, with Issa Rae’s clothing.

My favorite scene is probably when older Jordan let April tell her idea to everyone at the end of the movie because normally assistants aren’t employed for their ideas. This shows just how much Jordan has learned over the course of the movie.

Overall, I give Little’s set and costumes design 7.8, acting 7.4, and overall movie 8.1. Little is definitely worth checking out.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is the final conclusion of the popular Dreamworks franchise, and it a perfect note to end the series. Make sure to bring the tissues!

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World takes place a year after the second film leaves off, with Hiccup now chief of Berk alongside Astrid, his friends, and Toothless. One day, Toothless falls in love with a Light Fury, which affects his and Hiccup’s friendship. There is also a new threat. The villain Grimmel wants to kill all the dragons on Berk - especially Toothless. So Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World stars Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Ferguson, F. Murray Abraham, and even a small role for Gerard Butler.

There are a lot of good aspects to talk about with this movie. First, let’s talk about the acting. The performances from the actors played these characters are really good. F. Murray Abraham, playing Grimmel, stole the show as the villain, and the returning cast still did a wonderful job. Now we have to talk about the animation. It is beautiful, including how nice looking the dragons are. The characters’ animation look like they aged them perfectly after the second movie. That not all when we get to the Hidden World scene it is outstanding. You will say “WOW” because I know I did! And we can’t forget to talk about the musical score. It is basically the same from the other installment,s but still enjoyable to listen to, and fit perfectly with the scenes.

Additionally, I love how they continue the love relationship with Hiccup and Astrid and how it develops throughout the movies. I also thought they ended the franchise on a perfect note but you never know if there will be another movie. I did have some problems too with the movie but nothing huge.

Overall I give the acting 8.5, the animation 9.3, the score 9.0, and the overall film 9.4. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is perfect movie to bring the family to.

March 11, 2019
Joe Williams

Isn’t It Romantic starring Rebel Wilson is rom-com magic, making this a perfect valentine movie - just don’t hit your head like Rebel did!

Isn’t It Romantic is about a young women name Natalie, played by Rebel Wilson, who is a New York architect. She works hard to get noticed at her job, but is more likely to deliver coffee and bagels than design the city's next skyscraper. One day on her way home on the subway, somebody tries to mug her, but when she tries to run she hits her head and wakes up in a romantic comedy. Now, she has to figure out how to get out of it, while at the same time learning a very important message. Isn’t It Romantic also stars Adam Devine, Liam Hemsworth, Priyanka Chopra, and Betty Gilpin, with a small cameo by Jennifer Saunders.

The movie delivers a excellent performance from Rebel Wilson, playing someone who really doesn’t care about herself until the end when she learns to find happiness in loving herself and others. The movie played beautifully in reality and then fantasy in the romantic comedy world. I find that Liam Hemsworth and Adam Devine as Rebel's lovers in the movie are perfect for her, though I’m not going to say who she ends up with (you will have to see to find). Some scenes evolve with jukebox musical numbers that were really catchy and made you want to sing along. My favorite of these scenes features Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" sung by Rebel Wilson. It was really good and hilarious at the same time. The costume design featured standard modern clothing, but it really flattered Rebel and her character.

To be honest I give Isn’t It Romantic 8/10 for the jukebox scenes, set design and costumes 7/10, acting 8.5/10, and overall movie 8.9/10. If you love rom-coms, this is definitely worth a watch.

February 7, 2019
Joe Williams

Mary Poppins Returns just needs 1 spoonful of sugar to make it a perfect a sequel, but it missed some marks.

Mary Poppins Returns stars Emily Blunt in the main role, along with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, and Angela Lansbury, with a cameo from Dick Van Dyke. The movie takes place several years after the original movie. Jane and Michael (Emily Mortimer and Ben Whishaw) are grown up, and Michael is now a lonely widower with three kids. One day, Michael finds out that his house will be repossessed in five days unless he can pay back a loan. His only hope is to find a missing certificate that shows proof of valuable shares that his father left him before he died. That’s when Mary Poppins come in to help recreate the magic with the family.

The movie has lot of good moments with the music, set design, and costumes,. The movie costumes were very cool. For example, in one scene they go into the bowl that was from the kids’ mother and it was rendered beautifully hand drawn animation. When they went in, the costumes look like they were painted on them, and most of the costumes were well done for the time period that they are in. The soundtrack had some good songs, like “Can You Imagine That?”, “Nowhere to Go But Up”, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic,: and “A Cover Is Not the Book,” and a couple others. One of them is pretty funny, with Meryl Streep singing. Finally, the set was really well done. It was designed to look like the original, but with a much different take on it.

There were, however, a couple of problems with the movie. The mother’s death affects the whole film, which didn’t fit the tone that the movie supposed to have. Also, Lin-Manuel Miranda wasn’t really as good as I expecting. I thought he really wasn’t as good as Dick Van Dyke was in the first movie. I can tell you he can sing and write songs, but he have a hard time acting like a movie actor.

Overall, I give the soundtrack plus audio 8/10, set design and costumes 10/10, and the film and acting overall 8.5/10. It is worth the time checking out if you like the original, but don’t have your hope up that it gonna be a masterpiece.