Relay

Through the decades Hollywood has made quite a number of surveillance or espionage or closer films to get the fill of most audiences out there. Films such as "Wolfs", "Amateur", "Body of Lies", "Three Days of the Condor", "The Day of the Jackal", to mention a handful, are films that can leave the audience either wanting more or have gotten a bit too much, "Relay" carries a nice in between whereas it is quite the cat-and-mouse game.

In this story, Ash (Riz Ahmed) plays a world class "fixer" who specializes in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin, He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning through a "relay" service and always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from a potential client, Sarah Grant (Lilly James), needing his protection just to stay alive, because of her employer, Optima Pharmaceuticals made a supplement that could potentially kill many customers through side effects, headed up by Steve Dawson (Sam Worthington), Ash's rules quickly start to change. 

Others to round out the cast are Willa Fitzgerald as Rosetti, Jared Abrahamson as Ryan, Pun Bandhu as Lee, Eisa Davis as Wash, Matthew Mayer as Hoffman, Seth Barrish as Morel, Victor Garber as McVie and Jamil Haque as Tariq. 

This was intensely directed with a ton of suspense and grit by David Mackenzie ("The Last Great Wilderness" '02, "Young Adam" '03, "Asylum" '05, "Hallam Foe" '07, "Spread" '09, "Perfect Sense" '11, "Tonight You're Mine" '11, "Starred Up" '13, "Hell or High Water" '16, "Outlaw King" '18) plus TV and shorts. This filmmaker certainly knew how to sequence, stage and pace this film with extreme expertise and precision. Every scene led the audience right to where he wanted them to be, in order for them to feel the full impact nearing the end. It was written by a newcomer to feature films, Justin Piasecki ("TV and a short). Even with his limited experience in the TV and short biz, he must've been mentored by others in the field, unless he is a true natural. This story had one gripped to their proverbial seat wondering what was coming next. This fixer, Ash was seemingly always one step ahead of the corporate baddies. This guy mostly spoke to his client via through a relay service where the client spoke, the service would send the fixer a message and visa versa. This way, there would be less leaks released. So, his actual spoken word was minimal. And by the writer doing it this way, not only does it give him a 'moody feel', but keeps the cat-and-mouse game even more suspenseful. This writer will receive more work, especially if this movie profits. Riz Ahmed as Ash.the fixer was riveting as he was captivating. 

If you're into these types of films, this is the movie for you. It has a certain amount of painstaking suspense that will keep its audience biting their nails til the film's end. Could there be a sequel> Probably not, unless it makes a ton of money. In any rate, enjoy this gem, and I'm not sure why it's rated R, since there was next to no bad language or any sex. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this and I believe others will as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                           Rated: R                                       102mins.

Eden

When it comes to survival films, Hollywood doesn't hold a plethora of them as opposed to other genres, but when these types of films are released, they certainly can pack a wallop. One is the case of "Eden", whereas, it starts as an idyllic situation, but as in most of these films, all hell finally breaks loose.

1929. Fascism was coming into vogue. By 1932, this unravels the shocking true story of a group of disillusioned outsiders, namely Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law), Baroness Eloise-Bosquet (Ana de Armas), Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby), Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Bruhl), Margeret Wittmer (Sydney Sweeney) and others who abandon modern society in search of a new beginning. Settling on a remote island--Galapagos, which was then uninhabitable, their utopian dream quickly unravels as they discover that the greatest threat isn't the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other. What follows is a chilling descent into chaos where tensions spiral, desperation takes hold, and a twisted power struggle leads to betrayal, violence, and the deaths of half the colony.

Others to round out the cast are Jonathan Tittel as Harry Wittmer, Friedrich's son, Felix Kammerer as Rudolph Lorenz, Toby Wallace as Robert Phillipson, Ignacio Gasparini as Manuel Borja, Richard Roxburgh as G. Allan Hancock, Paul Gleeson as Stampa and Thiago Moraes as Captain.

This was directed by the comparable, seasoned Ron Howard ("Grand Theft Auto" '77, "Night Shift" '82, "Splash" '84, "Cocoon" '85, "Gung Ho" '86, "Willow" '88, "Parenthood" '89, "Backdraft" '91, "Far and Away" '92, "Apollo 13" '95, "Edtv" '99, "A Beautiful Mind" '01, "Cinderella Man" '05, "Frost/Nixon" '08, "Rush" '13, "In the Heart of the Sea" '15, "Solo: A Star Wars Story" '18, "Hillbilly Elegy" '20, "Thirteen Lives"'22, "Jim Henson: Idea Man" '24) plus other films, TV movies, TV and shorts. Howard has certainly come a long way from "Grand Theft Auto", and with every film he has helmed, he has only become more polished, more concise, and with more delineating expertise. He has that innate ability to learn as he starts another project more than a number of other directors which is smart and we are the victors for it. It was effectively written well by Noah Pink ("The Show" '17, "Tetris" '23) plus TV, shorts and a video, based on a story by Noah Pink and Ron Howard. For the lack of writing experience Pink has, he certainly was able to write quite an effective yarn. Of course, with Howard's assistance, it surely helped. After seeing this, I can't help but think about the 1963 film "Lord of the Flies" which is based on the novel of the same name. That film involved adolescent boys, whereas this film involved grown adults. In both films, we were able to see, once these individuals were taken out of a civilized culture, they become wild and unmanageable no matter how proper and dignified they were. That film as this one was and are societal films to teach us a lesson. There were certainly other aspects to "Eden" that "Lord of the Flies didn't have, but the overall premise seemed similar which possibly could've been a homage--not sure. Really, other than it was a bit long-in-the-tooth--could've been about 5 minutes shorter, it certainly found itself as the movie unfolded. This was based on a true store as aforementioned, but obviously by the individuals that were were left who could tell the tale. 

If survival films are your thing--and they can be exciting and gripping, this is a must see. Ron Howard's direction was spot on down to the last frame as the writing by Noah Pink showed expertise and a ton of promise. It's a bit darker of a film for Howard, but this makes it even more gripping. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: R                                    130mins.

East of Wall

While we've seen many films based on a true story, "East of Wall" not only is based on a true story, but is considered a 'docu-fiction' film, meaning it blends real events and people with fictionalized elements, such as Tabatha Zimiga stars as herself, whereas Scoot Mcnairy and Jennifer Ehle are used as professional actors. 

This film explores Tabatha's life managing her horse ranch after the death of her husband John, her financial struggles, her unresolved grief and her role in providing refuge for a group of wayward teenagers. As she and her daughter Porshia, as herself, are somewhat estranged and the different traits of these teens make it even more difficult to make ends meet, their mom/grandma, Tracey (Jennifer Ehle) and a rich horse manager, Roy Walker (Scoot McNairy) who come into their lives, attempt to help in their different ways to help them financially, emotional--really anyway they can.

Others to round out the cast are Jesse Thorson as Jesse, Chancey Ryder Witt as Ryder, Clay Pateneaude as Clay, Leanna Shumpert as Leanna, Brynn Darling as Brynn and Wyatt Mansfield as Skylar.

This was directed by virtual newcomer Kate Beecroft (shorts and a music video), who spent three years living with Tabatha's family and community, which inspired the script and shaped the film's authentic portrayal of rural life in the Badlands, South Dakota. Certainly this trek helped her shape the direction of the film, but I certainly would like to see what she could do next, which this film was handled which such pathos and poignancy. It was equally well written by Kate Beecroft (shorts). As aforementioned, because of her residing with the Zimiga family for three years, this helped shape the script as well. It carried the personal touch because it was a very personal film.There were a small place of choppiness, but clearly not enough to detract from the overall film, and it was just a bit slow in a couple of places also.  All in all, this filmmaker will receive more work, because she is basically a natural and with that should be rewarded with more work. The performances by both Scoot McNairy as Roy Walker and Jennifer Ehle as Tracey were riveting and definitely were captivating in their respective roles. The cinematography by Austin Shelton showed the expanse of the Badlands with sweeping photography. 

If you're into films based on true stories, or better yet, films that give one the feeling as though you're peeking into their lives since many of the characters are playing themselves, this is certainly the film for you. The acting, writing, directing and sweeping cinematography are simply amazing and this is definitely worthy of the price of admission.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                     Rated: R                                         97mins.

Nobody 2

When "Nobody" was released in 2021, I must've been besieged with several films to review, so I just didn't around to viewing it. But, after seeing the trailer of "Nobody 2", I actually felt it was a definite possibility. And now, viewing this film, I was correct--this film was action-packed, funny and simply slickly done.

Workaholic assassin Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) takes his family including his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen) and kids, son, Brady (Gage Munroe) and daughter, Sammy (Paisley Cadorath) on a much needed vacation to the small tourist town of Plummerville, however, he soon finds himself in the cross hairs of a corrupt operator, Wyatt (John Ortiz), a shady sheriff, Abel (Colin Hanks) and a bloodthirsty crime boss, Lendina (Sharon Stone). These events soon unravel secrets about Hutch and Becca's past. 

Others to round out the cast are Christopher Lloyd as David Mansell, Hutch's dad, Michael Ironside as Eddie Williams, RZA as Harry, Colin Salmon as The Barber and David MacInnis as Tobey. 

This was cleverly directed with humor and action by Timo Tjahjanto ("Macabre" '09, "V/H/S/2" (segment: 'Safe Haven') '13, "Killers" '14, "Headshot" '16, "May the Devil Take You" '18, "The Night Comes for Us" '18, "Portals" '19, "The Big 4" '22, "The Shadow Strays" '24) plus others. I'm not sure if the original film carried a similar feel as with this film--hopefully did, but this filmmaker's ability to stage, pace and create his actors in a humorous, yet fluid way was amazing. The pace of this simply kept the audience glued. It was penned, again in a slick way by Derek Kolstad ("One in the Chamber" '12, "The Package" '12, "John Wick" '14, "Nobody" '21, "Die Hart" '23) plus others, TV, shorts and a video game, and Aaron Rabin (TV and a short), based on a story by Derek Kolstad, which is based on characters created by Derek Kolstad. Considering this is the same writer (Kolstad), that brought us the mind of John Wick, this was devised in the same vein. It too, was processed in that slick, action-packed, not holding back any punches kind of a film which makes it that much more entertaining. Really, other than a couple of very small places of continuity issues, this script was captivating as it was funny which added to the entertainment factor. Bob Odenkirk pulls off this assassin who's like this 'nobody' kind of guy, hence the mane, and does so with convincing fervor.

Seemingly, if you liked the predecessor of this, this will please. This film was like, 'can't a guy go on vacation with his family and not feel like he doesn't has to work?' These types of films are made with the sole purpose of escaping into a story that will take you away from ones' own problems even if it's just for an hour and a half.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                  Rated: R                                          89mins.

My Mother's Wedding

During the summer film season where we are besieged with big-budget films, once in a while, we are offered an independent film or two. It certainly gives a relief of all the CGI, explosiveness, big stars and sound effects--so it's nice to see an indie film such as "My Mother's Wedding" come along.

Heartfelt and funny, this film follows three sisters who return to their childhood home for a momentous weekend: the third wedding of their twice-widowed mother, Diana Frost (Kristen Scott Thomas). The three daughters are from vastly different walks of life: Katherine (Scarlett Johansson) is a Captain in the Royal Navy; Victoria (Sienna Miller) is a Hollywood star; and Georgina (Emily Beecham) is a hospice nurse. Over the weekend, the family gathers to celebrate the new marriage, but mother and daughters alike are forced to revisit the past and confront the future, all with the help from a colorful group of unexpected wedding guests. 

Others to round out the cast are Freida Pinto as Jack, James Fleet as Geoff Loveglove, Samson Kayo as Steve, Mark Stanley as Charlie, Joshua McGuire as Jeremy, Ziggy Gardner as Skylar, Fflyn Edwards as Marcus, Lydia Jones as Clara, Michael Spicer as Ted Schenlker and Elliot Warren as Second in Command. 

This was poignantly directed by virtual newcomer behind the camera Kristen Scott Thomas. Being a veteran actor (she also starred in this) obviously allowed her to be able to connect with other actors in order to encourage them to dig deep to reach into themselves to convince the audience that they are these characters they are portraying. She will receive more work if she decides to go down that road. It was executed effectively by writers Kristin Scott Thomas and John Micklethwait. Again, these writers have no experience penning a screenplay, and with that, their attempt at producing an effective script was certainly better than I had expected. Not that I believe that the more one does, the better the work, but like the old adage goes, "practice makes perfect".There was a certain amount of continuity issues and at times, the different subplots had a difficult time in connecting with each other, but otherwise, it was a valiant attempt at an interesting story. There are scenes when it comes to Katherine's character where she reflects back to her past which is indicative by being presented in animated form which is interesting. These characters definitely were dysfunctional where it made one wonder what their problem is--Charlie was probably the most grounded character in the flick. These writers simply need more work since potentiality is certainly present. 

Certainly if you are into films surrounding a wedding, like many films are, you'll be comfortable with this.  This did have some issues, however not so much that one couldn't enjoy the story along with the acting. It's worthy of the price of admission, but since this is a 'small' film, it wouldn't lose any impact if seen on your home screen. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                         Rated: R                                             95mins.

Sketch

There have been many films that have been produced that have utilized the plight or concern of kids (whether it be dramatic or comedic), and with that, has created a fascination with people to enable them to be pulling for the little tykes. The list can be endless: "Home Alone", "The Goonies", "School of Rock", "Stand and Deliver", "Spare Parts", "Coach Carter", "Stand by Me", "Hardball", "Rudy" to mention a few. So now we have as an offing, "Sketch". 

When a young girl, Amber's (Bianca Belle) sketchbook accidentally falls into a nearby strange pond, her drawings come to life--unpredictable, chaotic and dangerously real. As the town unravels, she, her brother, Jack (Rue Lawrence) and their classmate, Bowman Lynch (Kalon Cox) must track down the creatures before they leave permanent damage to the town. Their father, Taylor Wyatt (Tony Hale)and his sister, Liz Wyatt (D'Arcy Carden), racing to find them through the fallout, must navigate a town in crisis to reunite their family and stop the disaster they never meant to unleash. 

Others to round out the cast are Jaxen Kenner as Demarcus Davidson, Genesis Rose Brown as Carson Quinn, Randa Newman as Miss Thompson, Allie McCulloch as Ally Wyatt, Nadia Benavides as Dr. Land, Dajanae Cole as Maggie and Josh Inocalla as Rick.

This was whimsically directed by Seth Worley (TV, shorts and a video). Even though this filmmaker has no feature films under his belt, he certainly was able to stage, pace and have the innate ability to get his actors to show the worry, concern and fear they needed to exude in order to pull off the representation of this fantastical film. It was equally well written also by Seth Worley (TV, shorts and a video). Really, other than an area  that didn't show enough continuity, this film rocked. And it wasn't even enough to deter away from the impact of this film. As one sees this film unfolding, they end up realizing that this film is much more than creatures coming to life out of a child's sketchbook, but to clue you in would constitute a spoiler alert. Suffice it to say that. even though, again this writer has no feature film experience for writing, he goes much deeper that what is seen on the surface. The creatures simply cause these two siblings to have to grasp what's really going on in their respective lives, and Worley pins it down royally. This is done by Angel Studios; you know, the same company that brought us "Sound of Freedom", "The Last Rodeo", "Sight"."Cabrini", "His Only Son", "The Shift" and others. They seem to have tapped into the audience's taste in what they want to see and that's smart!

Certainly if you're a fan of Angel Studios, like the other aforementioned films, you'll love this one. It has fantasy, humor, originality and redemption all rolled up in a captivating movie. And the visuals predominantly created by Fin Design + Effects and OD Studios were stunning as they truly appeared as though a young child drew them. It's a fun flick for all to see! 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                      Rated: PG                                      92mins.

The Bad Guys 2

Dreamworks Animation has produced many well known animated films, i.e. "Shrek", "Kung Fu Panda", "The Boss Baby", "Dog Man", "The Wild Robot", "How to Train Your Dragon", "Madagascar", "Home", to mention a handful, so when "The Bad Guys" showed up in 2022, I was not surprised to see a sequel on the horizon, simply titled "The Bad Guys 2".

Everyone's favorite felons are back including Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson) and Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and this time they've got company. In the new action-packed chapter from Dreamworks Animation's acclaimed comedy smash about a crackerjack crew of animal outlaws, our now-reformed Bad Guys are trying (very, very hard) to be good, but instead find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes, global-trotting heist, masterminded by a new team of criminals, including Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks), Doom, aka Susan (Natasha Lyonne) and Pigtail Petroya (Maria Bakalova), they never saw coming: The Bad Girls. 

Others to round out the cast are Zazie Beetz as Governor Diane Foxington, Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade, Lilly Singh as Tiffany Fluffit, Colin Jost as Mr. Moon and Alex Borstein as Commissioner Misty Luggins. 

This was directed with crisp staging and pacing by Pierre Perifel ("The Bad Guys" '22) plus shorts. Even though he has only one feature film to his credit, all the shorts he was involved with certainly served him well, and this film's predecessor was simply brilliant--well sequenced and paced. His expertise in the animation world definitely has a clear future. It was co-directed by JP Sans (a short). Even though the directing was predominantly on Perifel's shoulders, this filmmaker still had input. It was executed well by writers Yoni Brenner ("Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" '09, "Rio 2" '14, "Ice Age: Collision Course" '16) plus shorts and a video and Etan Cohen ("Idiocracy" '06, "Tropic Thunder" '08, "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" '08, "Men in Black" '12, "Get Hard" '15, "Holmes & Watson" '18, "The Bad Guys" '22, "Brothers" '24) plus TV and a short, based on books by Aaron Blabey. I believe what made this premise works was that of predominantly Etan Cohen, being the seasoned writer he is. Certainly Yoni Brenner was pivotal with the script, but typically with a filmmaker having the resume that Cohen has, the conclusion is that quality can reign. And in this case, other than a couple of very slow places in script, this story rocked. The cohesiveness, conciseness and tightness of the story was remarkable. The returning Bad Guys cast was amazing--the chemistry was spot on. Dreamworks Animation has turned out to be the premiere studio they started out to be and continue to do so. 

If you liked this film's original, you'll love this. Like with other films, wait until the credits roll--there could be a surprise. Will there be another sequel? Certainly if it makes a truckload of money, assuredly it will. But so far it's looking good for Dreamworks. It's also presented in a 3-D format as well. This, like its predecessor, is a fun flick!

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                     Rated: PG                                         103mins.

The Naked Gun

When the film series of the TV series of "Police Squad" started with "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad" in 1988 with two sequels, we will see if this is pulled off well with "The Naked Gun". It's been 27 years since that first film and now we have the son of Lt. Frank Dreben played by Liam Neeson. It's like the feel of the past hasn't changed. 

Following in the footsteps of his bumbling father, Detective Frank Dreben Jr. (Liam Neeson) he must solve a murder case to prevent the police department from shutting down. As with the original, this has hilarious sight gags and lines that we've come to expect from the Police Squad. Neeson's Dreben's femme fatale in this is that of Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), with Dreben's police partner which is the son of Dectective Ed Hocken played by George Kennedy which in this version is Hocken's son, Ed Jr (Paul Walter Hauser). These and villain, Richard Cane (Danny Huston) are brilloant in their roles. It's a fun ride. 

Others to round out the cast are CCH Pounder as Chief Davis, Kevin Durand as Sig Gustafson, Liza Koshy as Detective Barnes, Eddie Yu as Detective Park, Michael Beasley as Detective Taylor, Moses Jones as Not Nordberg Jr., Chase Steven Anderson as Police Squad technician, Cody Rhodes as bartender and Busta Rhymes as bank robber. 

This was directed with the same feel as the early film series by Akiva Schaffer ("Regarding Ardy" (TV movie) '03, "Hot Rod" '07, "The Watch" '12, "SNL Shorts" (TV movie) '14, "SNL's NFL Saturday" '15, "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" '16, "SNL Presents: Halloween" (TV movie) '17, "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers" '22) plus TV, shorts, videos and music videos. This filmmaker has certainly found that place where when watching this, the timing, pacing and staging is so close to its predecessor that it staggers the brain. He must have studied the prior series a great deal since Leslie Nielson, George Kennedy and even O.J. Simpson have all passed away. Timing of these lines is what this film is all about and Schaffer pulled it off in spades. It was effectively written by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Akiva Schaffer, based of the TV series "Police Squad" by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker. As with the TV series and earlier film series, this was written with an almost vaudevillian feel about it, such as 'please take a seat. No thanks, I have one at home', and many others. It's uproarious since we just don't see this humor anymore. Along with the visual gags, this film is simply funny and something fun to see in an afternoon to escape into. The laughs weren't necessarily 'belly laughs', but did leave one laughing at humor we aren't used to. Was it flawless? Certainly not. There was a couple of fantasy scenes that became too silly, even for a film like this, but one comes to expect it considering the material. 

If you're a Police Squad/Naked Gun fan, you will like this. Liam Neeson is amazing casting for Nielson's son--it is so easy to believe Neeson in that role since so many roles he has played were dead-pan. Anderson's Beth was wonderfully played as well. This is simply silly, fun and pure escapism. Grab the popcorn. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                      Rated: PG-13                                         85mins.

 

Sorry, Baby

For decades, Hollywood has produced a vast array of independent films that span the spectrum of topics that hopefully stimulate the imagination and the wanting for more of these films. I've seen many indie films--both good and not so good--but "Sorry, Baby" is assuredly one of those films that will present a 'tug of war' feel to it.

Something bad happened to Agnes (Eva Victor) that shouldn't happen to anyone...ever. But life goes on in whatever way they are able to endure life. Everyone around her, specifically her best friend, Lydie (Naomi Ackie) seemingly had an OK life all the while Agnus' life is coming to an insurmountable level of attempting to deal with it. Her neighbor, Gavin (Lucas Hedges), her intolerable classmate, Natasha (Kelly McCormack) and her austere professor, Preston Decker (Louis Cancelmi) all try to be a friend, but considering their own issues, Agnus became more and more withdrawn. What is a woman to do?

Others to round out the cast are John Carroll Lynch as Pete, Hettienne Park as Eleanor Winston, an attorney, E.R. Fightmaster as Fran, Cody Reiss as Devin, Jordan Mendoza as Logan and Anabel Graetz as Professor Wilkinson. 

This was directed with careful precision and sobriety by Eva Victor (TV series). Since this is her only feature film behind the camera, it's difficult to foresee the kind of films she will endeavor--maybe she will not be able to be pigeon-holed. The emotion in which she was able to extract from her actors (her included) was amazing in that they were as realistic as one would see people today. As her direction was convincing, her writing needed work, This was written by Eva Victor (TV series) in that it, after a short while, became disjointed and choppy. It was sectioned into 'the year of' and one wasn't sure if the years mentioned were in chronological order or if they jumped around according to the script. The story wasn't at all clear until 30 minutes into the running time, and even at that point, became straining to watch. It was truly difficult to feel sorry for just about anyone in this film--even poor  Agnus. When it was all said and done, these characters don't really improve--their dysfunction is crystal clear. Was this a total loss? Of course not. This writer has true potential, and this being her first feature film as a writer, she has it, but maybe she should hone her innate talent more on TV or shorts before going in head first into feature films. The actors involved were crisp and professional, especially Ackie, Victor and Hedges. 

If the independent film is your liking, especially if it's odd and quirky, this is the film for you. As aforementioned, Eva Victor has an amazing amount of potential, and with either more TV or maybe films that she can have a mentor to consult with, she will be a contender. Her directing abilities are right on. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2                                         Rated: R                                        103mins.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

When 'The Fantastic Four' first started beyond its Marvel comic book days, it was 1994, then a TV series was spawned in 1967-1968, then again in 1978. Then an animated TV series which ran from 1994-1996. Then it received a restart in 2007 with "The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer", and yet another in 2015. This is just a handful of all the other TV, videos and other films based on this franchise. Now, we are offered "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" to add to Marvel's never ending list. 

This Film is set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro futuristic world. The film follows Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus' plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren't bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal. 

Others to round out the cast are Natasha Lyonne as Rachel Rozman, Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder, Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols, Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert, Ada Scott as Franklin Richards and Matthew Wood as H.E.R.B.I.E.

This was directed with action, explosiveness and humor by Matt Shakman ("Cut Bank" '14) plus a plethora of TV. Considering this filmmaker has only one other feature film to his credit, this was staged and paced with extreme delineation from beginning to end. Although he does have a TV resume that seemingly goes on and on forever, this kind of film would still be difficult to direct considering all the staging, angle shots, the cameras used, set design and editing that is the responsibility of any director. Shakman will receive more work. It was written by Eric Pearson, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer, based on a story by Kaplan, Springer Pearson and Kat Wood, which is based on the Marvel comic, based on characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. As with most films, it's the writing that ends up having a couple of flaws in that there were a couple of places where (I know it's sci-fi), a certain situation wouldn't have been carried out the way that it did, but then it would've either ruined the scene or could've potentially killed or screwed with the premise, so I get it. And there were at least one place of slight slowness, but otherwise this was certainly better than I ever thought possible. Eric Pearson has the lion's share of the writing, and it showed here. I really went into the theater with trepidation assuming it was going to be like another one of its predecessors and it wasn't.  And, of course, the visual effects that were predominantly designed by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) and SPI (Sony Pictures Imageworks) were seamless as they truly enhanced the story. Also, this having a retro look, the production design by Kasra Farahani was designed incredibly well--their car was amazing.

If you are a 'Fantastic Four' fan, or even a Marvel fan, this is one you must see, and you definitely have to see it on the large screen (it's also presented in an IMAX format as well) to breathe in that grandiose feel. This is definitely one of the best films of this franchise, and don't worry, there will be a sequel, so stay for the credits. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                         Rated: PG-13                                      114mins.

 

Eddington

We've all seen independent films where the premises are quirky, odd all the while fulfilling our expectations for a cutting edge story with fine acting.Well, "Eddington" definitely gives its audience that feeling, however it's a story that is reckless in its premise while obtaining little to no empathy for its characters. 

In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff, Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and Mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico. Considering how politically volatile 2020 was what with the pandemic and the arguments of wearing or not wearing masks, the six-foot distancing, the different riots due to the death of George Floyd to name a few incidents, it's no wonder that the country was so divided, and where there was seemingly no end of it all. There was racial tension, skepticism and with that...rage. What is a small community to do?

Others to round out the cast are Deirdre O'Connell as Dawn, Emma Stone as Louise Cross, Micheal Ward as Michael Cooke, Luke Grimes as Guy Tooley, Cameron Mann as Brian, Austin Butler as Vernon, Matt Gomez Hidaka as Eric Garcia, Ted's son, William Belleau as Ofcr, Jimenez Butterfly, Amelie Hoeferle as Sarah and Clifton Collins Jr, as Lodge. 

This was directed with conciseness and underlying intensity by Ari Aster ("Hereditary" '18, "Midsommar" '19, "Beau Is Afraid" '23) plus shorts. This filmmaker's staging and pacing is certainly second to none where these characters were in the scenes that called for them and others, if not needed, were not there. His sequencing was appropriate and these characters obtained this rock-bottom gutsiness which was credited to both actors and director. This film was also written by Ari Aster (Hereditary" '18, "Midsommar" '19, "Beau Is Afraid" '23) plus shorts. As one can see by his resume, even though he doesn't have a plethora of experience, his work is definitely quirky, odd and somewhat irreverent. I felt that, considering the length of running time, this film was obviously too long-in-the-tooth--about 10-15 minutes could've been cut from this to achieve the impact it was striving to convey. There were places that, either something different could've been used or was an absolute impossibility, but if they went another path, it probably would create a problem script wise. It definitely had some interesting scenes and the acting was first rate, but after a while, one would grow weary of this story--as aforementioned, it was severely difficult to have empathy with just about every character in this film. Usually the audience could root for someone--usually the good guy, but here, it was hard-pressed. 

If you're into this filmmaker's style of storytelling and direction, you'll revel with this, however I'm not a true fan. The acting, directing and photography by Darius Khondji were all executed with expertise and clarity.

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                        Rated: R                                    148mins.

Superman

When the TV show "Superman" was released back in 1952 for six seasons, little did anyone know then that it would ultimately be as popular as it has become. Shoot to 1978, and we have the first of many incarnations of the franchise called "Superman: The Movie". It's been a beloved franchise that now we have, yet another, film by the same name simply named "Superman".

When Superman (David Corenswet) gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and Superman's four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him bring down Luthor and his cohorts before it's too late?

Others to round out the cast are Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Terence Rosemore as Otis Berg, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr. and Bradley Cooper as Jor-El.

This was directed with exuberance and clarity using amazing sequencing by James Gunn ("Slither" '06, "Super" '10, "Movie 43" (segment "Beezel") '13, "Guardians of the Galaxy" '14, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" '17, "The Suicide Squad" '21, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" '23) plus TV, a TV short, shorts and videos. For a franchise that has gone through the 'keyhole' in the many plots and premises it has endured, this was treated in a way that brought these different characters to life. Several of these actors don't have a tremendous amount of experience, but through the amazing talent of Gunn's direction, each and every one of these characters were paced and staged perfectly. It was also penned well by writer James Gunn ("Tromeo and Juliet" '96, "The Specials" 2000, "Thir13en Ghosts" (additional writing) '01, "Scooby-Doo" '02, "Dawn of the Sead" '04, "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" '04, "Slither" '06, "Super" '10, "Movie 43" (segment "Beezel") '13, "Guardians of the Galaxy" '14, "The Belko Experiment" '16, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" '17, "The Suicide Squad" '21, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" '23) plus TV, shorts, video games, music videos and a TV short, based on the creation "Superman" by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, which based on the DC comic. By his very resume, Gunn has certainly earned his ability to write clever stories. He also would be difficult to pigeon-hole since his resume is a 'who's who' of premises. This script was tight, concise and kept the audience's attention. Really, the only thing I can say negatively about the screenplay is that there were areas that if a character did something other than what they did, it would make more sense, but then again. it would probably impede on the flow of the film. And there were a couple of very small places of slowness, but otherwise the film rocked. And, as usual, the visual effects predominantly designed by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) were seamless as they were effective. 

Will there be a "Superman 3"? There is a small clip after all the credits roll, and it doesn't spell out sequel, but could. I think this was purposely done in case this film didn't profit as much it it needed to make, So this leaves it open-ended. But considering how this film has been raking it in, my guess would be that there will certainly be a part 3. If you like that up and close feeling, it's also presented in an IMAX, 4DX and a 3D format as well. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: PG-13                                       129mins.

Jurassic World: Rebirth

Ever since this franchise started back in 1993 with "Jurassic Park", Hollywood and fans alike have had a fascination, if not an obsession with the films. "Jurassic World: Dominion" was supposed to end the 'World' trilogy. However, because of the fans and the fact that this franchise has made well past a billion bucks, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment decided to "do it again" with "Jurassic World: Rebirth". 

Five years after the events of "Jurassic World: Dominion", the planet's ecology has proven largely impossible to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-changing benefits to humankind. Corporate, Martin Krebs (Rupert Krebs) commissions Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), whereas she hires scientist, Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), and others to go to this island and to extract DNA from three different dinosaurs to use toward this new drug to help people, Can they succeed and leave the island before they succumb to the dinosaurs left?

Others to round out the cast are Manual Garcia-Rulfo as Reuben Delgado, Luna Blaise as Teresa Delgado, Ed Skrein as Bobby Atwater, David Iacono as Xavier Dobbs, Audrina Miranda as Isabella Delgado, Bechir Sylvain as LeClerc and Adam Loxley as Williams

This was intensely directed with grit by Gareth Edwards ("End Day" (TV movie) '05, "Monsters" '10, "Godzilla" '14, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" '16, "The Creator" '23) plus TV and a short. This filmmakers doesn't have a plethora of experience behind the camera, but what he does have proves he can certainly handle a large, high-adrenaline film (check his resume). His staging and pacing are delineated well with tight timing. He was very much excited to direct this and he's proven he was definitely ready to do so. It was penned by seasoned writer David Koepp ("Apartment Zero" '88, "Toy Soldiers" '91, "Death Becomes Her" '92, "Jurassic Park" '93, "The Paper" '94, "Mission: Impossible" '96, "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" '97, "Stir of Echoes" '99, "Panic Room" '02, "Spider-Man" '02, "Secret Window" '04, "War of the Worlds" '05, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" '08, "Premium Rush" '12, "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" '14, "Inferno" '17, "The Mummy" '17, "Presence" '24, "Black Bag" '25) plus other films, TV, video games, a TV short and a short, based on characters created by Michael Crichton. Koepp certainly created an interesting premise for this installment--doctors, scientists and thrill seekers being drawn back to the island where the studying for the new Jurassic Park took place. This island housed the dinosaurs they needed the DNA from. Since Koepp wrote the original script for "Jurassic Park" and subsequent "Lost World: Jurassic Park", it's no surprise that this would be smartly and deftly written. Was it flawless? No, there were a couple of very small slow places, but surely not enough to detract from the story at hand. It was presented in IMAX and 4DX for your viewing pleasure--I decided to see it in 4DX and it rocked. And the visual effects were designed predominantly by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) and, as usual, were seamless. 

Certainly if you like the Jurassic franchise, this film will give you that fix and then some. It had it all: high-adrenaline, explosives, grit, intensity and even some humor to break up the tenseness. You must see this on the large screen in order to fully enjoy the grandiose of it.  When I left the theater, I was totally drained--wow, what a rush!! Grab the popcorn and enjoy this ride. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                        Rated: PG-13                                        133mins.

F1: The Movie

Hollywood and fans have had a fascination with racing, whether it be car, horse or person, for decades of making films; the list is endless, however when seeing my first trailer of "F1: The Movie"I knew it was going to be a film to contend with--and I was right. This quintessential underdog film ultimately becomes the stand up and cheer film which we all love.

Dubbed "the greatest that never was", Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1's most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he's a nomadic racer for hire when he's approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving this team and being the best in the world. He'll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team's hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny's past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition--and then the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone. 

Others to round out the cast are Kerry Condon as Kate McKenna, a race car designer, Tobias Menzies as Peter Banning, Sarah Niles as Bernadette Pearce, Joshua's mom, Samson Kayo as Cash, Kim Bodnia as Kaspar Smolinski, Will Merrick as Nickleby, Joseph Balderrama as Fazio, Callie Cooke as Jodie, Abdul Salis as Dodge and Simon Kunz as Don Cavendish. 

This was directed with grit, excitement all at a grandiose pace by Joseph Kosinski ("Tron: Legacy" '10, "Oblivion" '13, "Only the Brave" '17, "Top Gun: Maverick" '22, "Spiderhead" '22) plus videos, music videos and a short.  After his stint on the film "Top Gun: Maverick", I clearly had no doubt of this director's ability to direct this film. His sequencing, cohesiveness and his ability to keep a large production in check is amazing. Of course, the film is part based on his story, this was still helmed in such a way that the film was incredibly fluid. It was equally well penned by seasoned writer, Ehren Kruger ("Killed in the House" (TV movie) '98, "Arlington Road" '99, "New World Disorder" '99, "Scream 3" 2000, "Reindeer Games" 2000, "Impostor" '01, "The Ring" '02, "The Ring Two" '05, "The Skeleton Key" '05, "The Brothers Grimm" '05, "Blood and Chocolate" '07, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" '09, "Transformers: Age of Extinction" '14, "Tin Man" (TV movie) '14, "Ghost in the Shell" '17, "Dumbo" '19, "Top Gun: Maverick" '22) plus TV and videos, based on a story by Joseph Kosinski and Ehren Kruger. What makes this writer so prolific is that one cannot pigeon-hole him since his resume is as diverse as it is. The sequencing in this film was amazing and the the story simply fell into place like a jigsaw puzzle. It exceeded two and a half hours, and I didn't even feel it--it absolutely moved right along. As aforementioned, this was an underdog flick, replete with characters coming to grips with their issues and finding redemption through them, trials, success and much more. The cinematography by Claudio Miranda asc ("Life of Pi" '12, "Tomorrowland" '15, "Only the Brave" '17, "Top Gun: Maverick" '22) and others, was crisp and concise--certainly one professional Kosinski has used more than once.

What also made this film rock was that I also viewed it in the 4DX process--where the seats shake and there's wind synchronized together to give one quite the ride, and it was filmed in IMAX, although you can view it on a regular screen. This film rocked. It was the reason we go to see films in the theater so as to be entertained!!

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                          Rated: PG-13                                        156mins.

The Unholy Trinity

Back in the day, the western genre was very popular--many were made, but as the decades unfolded, so did the genre's popularity. Then, as certain things recycle, the genre became a 'thing' back in the late 80s to early 90s. We've seen a number of them--some good and others not so good. Of recent , westerns have waned a bit, but if something comes along, it could be profitable. "The Unholy Trinity" has been fairly panned, however after seeing it, I felt it truly worked more than others gave it credit. 

This story promises to deliver an exciting blend of action, suspense and western grit with an all-star ensemble ready to capture audiences this summer. A tale of revenge, dark secrets and buried treasures, the film is set against the turbulent backdrop of the 1888 Montana Territory. It picks up in the moments before the execution of Isaac Broadway (Tim Daly), as he gives his estranged son, Henry (Brandon Lessard), an impossible task: murder the man who framed him for a crime he didn't commit. Intent on fulfilling his promise, Henry travels to the remote town of Trinity, where an unexpected turn of events traps him in town, and leaves him caught between Gabriel Dove (Pierce Brosnan), the town's upstanding new sheriff, and a mysterious figure named St. Christopher (Samuel L. Jackson).

Others to round out the cast are Veronica Ferres as Sarah Dove, the sheriff's wife, Gianni Cabaldi as Gideon, Q'orianka Kilcher as Running Club, Katrina Bowden as Julia, Beau Knapp as Asa Benton, Ethan Peck as Sam Scarborough, David Arquette as Father Jacob and Paris Brosnan as Thomas.

This was directed with grit and realism by Richard Gray ("Fish Out of Water" (TV movie) '07, "Summer Coda" '10, "Mine Games" '12, "Blinder" '13, "The Lookalike" '14, "Sugar Mountain" '16, "Broken Ghost" '17, "Robert the Bruce" '19, "Murder at Yellowstone City" '22) plus TV and shorts. The way this filmmaker was able to put his actors in such compromising situations was brilliant and gave that feeling as though we were seeing real life instead of a film. His pacing and staging was certainly strong as was the photography by Thomas Scott Stanton. It was executed well by writer Lee Zachariah ("Election 2007: Countdown to a Letdown" (TV movie) '07) plus TV and shorts. Even though this writer has limited experience, especially this being his first feature film in the writing category, it was still a suspenseful and amazingly gritty story surely to hold the audience's attention. The way that there were a couple of different subplots involved, by films end they did ultimately connect whereas it made one wonder beforehand. Was it flawless? No, there were a couple of places of continuity issues and some cohesiveness issues as well, but certainly not enough to detract from the interest this film had. This writer has potential given he is handed more work to hone his talent. 

If you can appreciate or even love westerns, this will be the film for you. The performances by Brosnan, Jackson and Lessard were well cast and strong. Certainly Jackson must've yawned through this role since he does many of these types of characters: nice guy, but proves to be untrustworthy in the end--a sort of anti-hero. And I personally have never heard of Lessard--possibly does TV which I typically don't keep up with, but was very convincing. This is definitely worth the price of admission for sure!

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                      Rated: R                                               95mins.

28 Years Later

When "28 Days Later" was released back in 2002, it was one of those many apocalyptic films that was fairly popular for its day, although Danny Boyle directing, simply made the film sing. Well, it's now been 22 years later and we are offered "28 Years Later" which was equally well directed by the incomparable Danny Boyle.

It's been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When two of the group leaves the island, Jimmy (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his son, Spike (Alfie Williams), on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, they discover secrets, wonders and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well. After a point, young Spike decides to take his sick mom, Isla (Jodie Comer) to see if he can find a doctor he's heard of on the mainland, Dr Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) to see if he can heal his mom, without the knowledge of anyone, including his dad. And they end up getting more than they bargained for. 

Others to round out the cast are Rocco Haynes as young Jimmy, Jack O'Connell as Sir Jimmy Crystal, Edvin Ryding as Erik, Christopher Fulford as Sam, Haley Flaherty as Jimmy's aunty and Harriet Taylor as Jimmy's cousin Delilah.

This was clearly well dissected and delineated by director Danny Boyle ("Shallow Grave" '94, "Trainspotting" '96, "A Life Less Ordinary" '97, "The Beach" 2000, "28 Days Later" '02, "Millions" '04, "Sunshine" '07, "Slumdog Millionaire" '08, "127 Hours" '10, "Trance" '13, "Steve Jobs" '15, "T2 Trainspotting" '17, "Yesterday" '19) plus TV, TV movies, a music video and a short. Considering this filmmaker's resume, it's no wonder that this was precisely directed with such intensity that crept up on the audience in such a subtle way that, after a point, it takes one by surprise. It was executed well by writer Alex Garland ("28 Days Later" '02, "Sunshine" '07, "Never Let Me Go" '10, "Dredd" '12, "Ex Machjna" '14, "Annihilation" '18, "Men" '22, "Civil War" '24, "Warfare" '25) plus TV, music videos and novels. Since this writer has been involved in other Boyle's projects, including this film, undoubtedly was the obvious choice to write this film. Certainly it was strongly written, but other than a couple of places that were slightly inconsistent and some issues of continuity, this was the film that anyone that is a fan of this franchise would expect. I really don't think that Boyle could get any other writer that could follow his way of thinking than Garland. Even though there was a good deal of gore (hey, it's a zombie film), it was still toned down a bit. In my opinion, I feel that creating this premise as being its root being a virus makes this even more 'believable', instead of it being just another horror film, kind of like "World War Z". 

Certainly if you like zombie films, or more to the point, this film's predecessor, you will revel with this next installment. It has all a fan would expect, and best of all, Danny Boyle directs. And with that, how bad could this be? Could there be a sequel? Not sure, but it does leave the audience with wondering.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                          Rated: R                                         115mins.

Elio

When Pixar Animation Studios produced their first feature film completed designed by computer back in 1995, who knew that it would become the phenomena of the year. Actually, it has produced animated feature films for the past 30 years with an incredible track record. We've seen "Toy Story", "Monsters Inc.", "A Bud's Life", "Up", "Onward", "Brave", "Cars", "The Incredibles", "Inside Out" "WALL-E", "Soul" to mention a handful. So now we are offered "Elio" to revel with.

Elio Solis (Yonas Kibreab) is an 11-year old who doesn't feel like he fits in on Earth. He loves his Aunt Olga Solis (Zoe Saldana), and he knows she loves him too, but she doesn't really get him. Obsessed with space, Elio's favorite pastime is trying to make contact with with aliens. He desperately wants to get abducted, so he's over the moon, literally, when he's beamed up to a special place in space where planetary leaders convene. Mistaken for the leader of Earth, Elio will do anything to prove his worth, even if it means spearheading negotiations with a slightly crazed space warrior, Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett). As Elio attempts to negotiate with Grigon, Elio ends up meeting Grigon's young son, Gordon (Remy Edgerly) which he and Elio become fast friends, So, at least Elio feels he has some help. 

Others to round out the cast are Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa, Brandon Moon as Ambassador Helix, Dylan Gilmer as Bryce, Jake Getman as Caleb, Matthias Schweighoffer as Ambassador Tegman and Ana de la Reguera as Ambassador Turais.

This was incredibly well paced and staged by directors Madeline Sharafian ("2021 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animation" '21), Domee Shi ("Turning Red" '22) plus a short and Adrian Molina ("Coco" (co-directed) '17) plus a short. This is where the more people involved, the better, since then they are able to cover effectively the many aspects of this animated marvel. There is so much going on that three directors are warranted. These filmmakers don't have a plethora of feature film experience, but they actually pulled this off. It was cleverly written by Julia Cho, Mark Hammer and Mike Jones, based on a story by Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Julia Cho. As with the directors of this film, the writers also don't have extensive feature film experience, but what they lack in experience, they more than made up for quality. These writers will undoubtedly receive more work, In fact, not to give any spoilers, this movie leaves its audience with the possibility of a sequel, and we would be the victors for it. Their sequencing, cohesiveness and originality makes for great storytelling, and Pixar Studios animation is, as usual, remarkable. 

If you're a fan of Pixar, you'll love this. It has that amazing feeling one gets after seeing one of their films. It's original, fresh and just plain FUN. I've said it before and I'll say it again, how do those guys at Pixar do it?

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                        Rated: PG                                        98mins.

 

Hpw to Train Your Dragon

When Dreamworks Animation released "How to Train Your Dragon" back in 2010, I actually thought it would be one film and that would be the end of it. However, it produced two sequels, and, after enough years, it was then made into a live version. This version "How to Train Your Dragon" has been so popular, a sequel of this live version is in pre production for a 2027 release.

As an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the friendship between Hiccup (Mason Thames), an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the key to both species forging a new future together. Hiccup clearly doesn't have the heart to kill a dragon, like a good Viking much to the chagrin of his forceful father, the chief of the tribe, Stoick (Gerard Butler). So, in order to attempt to convince his dad to understand him, he enlists other Vikings namely Astrid (Nico Parker) and Gobber (Nick Frost) to help convince.

Others to round out the cast are Gabriel Howell as Snotlout, Julian Dennison as Fishlegs, Brownwyn James as Ruffnut, Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut, Murray McArthur as Hoark, Peter Serafinowicz as Spitelout, Naomi Wirthner as Gothi, Ruth Codd as Phlegma and Andrea Ware as Burnheart. 

This was directed with familiarity with a  recognizable style by Dean DeBlois ("Lilo & Stitch" '02, "Sigur Ros: Heima" '07, "How to Train Your Dragon" '10,"How to Train Your Dragon 2" '14, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" '19, "Ten" '22) plus a video. I say familiarity due to the fact that this director also directed the animated version, so the similarity followed suit.This certainly was helpful in order to keep that same feel with this version which made it that much easier to follow. It was also written by Dean BeBlois ("How to Train Your Dragon" '10, "How to Train Your Dragon 2" '14, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" '19, "Lilo & Stitch" '25) plus TV, video games, a video and a short, based on Dreamworks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" by Will Davies, Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, which is based on the book by Cressida Cowell. Again, the writing was, obviously, familiar, but this is positive, especially since it's been a while since the last sequel. The casting was credible, especially that of Thames as Hiccup and Butler as Stoick. The sweeping music by John Powell was engaging and captivating. And, of course, the visual effects by Framestore were seamless and truly added to the story. It was shot and presented in IMAX, but you can view it on a traditional screen as well. 

If you liked and appreciated Dreamworks Animation's version of this story, you'll love this version. It will be interesting to see the sequel of this in 2027. It's the quintessential summer flick, so grab the popcorn with this. What a Ride!

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                      Rated: PG                                          125mins.

The Phoenician Scheme

When it comes to the world of Wes Anderson, one has to conclude that a film is going to be original--unlike so many films out there. Another very original filmmaker out there is M. Night Shyamalan whereas everyone of his films are original. Original doesn't always equate with quality or likability, however original is something Hollywood has all but abandoned. We now have been handed "The Phoenician Scheme" and again, it's quirky and weird, but original.

Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro) appoints his only daughter, Liesl, (Mia Threapleton), a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins. There are some that attempt in assisting him, such as Bjorn (Michael Cera), Leland (Tom Hanks) and Marty (Jeffrey Wright), but is there assistance simply a ploy in order to rid of Korda? He's constantly in plane crashes and seemingly never dies, so who, if anyone, is responsible for that? The story is laid out in particular segments showcasing all these individuals in cahoots to bring Kurda down. 

Others to round out the cast are Bryan Cranston as Reagan, Mathieu Amalric as Marseille Bob, Richard Ayoade as Segio, Scarlett Johansson as Cousin Hilda, Benedict Cumberbatch as Uncle Nubar, Rupert Friend as Excalibur, Hope Davis as Mother Superior, Bill Murray as God, Stephen Park the pilot and Willem Dafoe as Knave. 

This was directed with originality and weirdness by Wes Anderson ("Bottle Rocket" '96, "Rushmore" '98, "The Royal Tenenbaums" '01, "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou '04, "The Darjeeling Limited" '07,"Fantastic Mr. Fox" '09, "Moonrise Kingdom" '12, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" '14, "Isle of Dogs" '18, "The French Dispatch" '21, "Asteroid City" '23) plus shorts, videos and music videos. Anderson certainly has that distinct style to his films with not only the photography, but the production design and even the acting where his actors implement a 'dead pan' look to themselves as they say their lines. His staging and pacing is spot on and is again, similar from film to film. This film was also executed well by writer Wes Anderson (See above resume), based on a story by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola. Anderson, like Shyamalan, and others, write their own films which creates more continuity and strength. I'm not expressly an Anderson fan, however I can surely respect his work in that it is fresh and original. A fair amount of his storylines are odd and bizarre, hence the originality, and they are bent with paranoid characters, but certainly I have appreciated many of his works. This had some places of slowness and inconsistencies which made it a bit difficult to wade through. 

It is evident that when these actors convene to make any Anderson film, they come across as though they are truly enjoying themselves, and this comes across to the audience in spades. Surely, Anderson has a strong following and that is encouraging, because this means that there are moviegoers that are into something different than the typical sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots, franchises, installments and the like, and that is definitively encouraging. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                      Rated: PG-13                                    101mins.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina

When the first 'John Wick' waltzed into theaters back in 2014, I really thought it wouldn't ignite certainly enough to produce the many films that it did. Since then, I have been intrigued with the franchise mostly because of Keanu Reeves and its director Chad Stahelski--a well renown stunt coordinator. Now, we have "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" to grasp a hold of.

Taking place during the events of "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum", the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. Before all this, she is protected by her father, Javier (David Castaneda) since he was entrenched in a tribe (almost a cult) of assassins. He did not want his daughter to belong to it, so he attempted to leave while being followed. The daughter, young Eve (Victoria Comte) unfortunately witnessed his death and subsequently was enlisted by Winston (Ian McHane) to be trained. She, as an adult, goes on a killing spree to avenge the death of her father only after the Director of the organization (Anjelica Huston) attempts to get her to stand down since she and the leader of the tribe she's after, the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne) have an understanding of not interfering into each other's personal affairs. So the Director hires John Wick (Keanu Reeves) to find her and gets her to stop even if her death has to be an option. What happens now?

Others to round out the cast are Catalina Sandino Moreno as Lena, Ava McCarthy as Ella, Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine, Juliet Doherty as Tatiana, Lance Reddick as Charon, Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Nogi and Robert Maaser as Dex. 

Even though Chad Stahelski didn't direct this installment, it was still directed with intense grit by Len Wiseman ("Underworld" '03, "Underworld: Evolution" '06, "Live Free or Die Hard" '07, "Total Recall" '12) plus TV, videos and music videos. Certainly by reading this filmmaker's resume, one could come to the realization that he was in his comfort zone. Being one of the producers of this film, Stahelski certainly held on to his creative control, but it was still Wisemans' expertise to provide to his audience the similar feel of the characters that were created, and this isn't easy to do. The energy was electric and defining. It was also well written by Shay Hatten ("John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" '19, "(Future) Cult Classic" '19, "Army of the Dead" '21, "Army of Thieves" '21, "Shift" '22, "John Wick: Chapter 4" '23, "Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire" '23, "Rebel Moon - Part 2: The Scargiver" '24), based on characters created by Derek Kolstad. One of the best aspects of this franchise is to implement many of the same people to produce each installment so as to create fluidity from one film to the next. Even though Wick supposedly died in the last film, this, as the plot indicates, takes place during installment three, so it makes this possible. The only issue I might have with is that it was just a bit too long-in-the-tooth. And there were a couple of places where it would've made more sense to do something another way, but then the movie would be considerably shorter, otherwise this film simply rocked. The stunts by supervising stunt coordinator Stephen Dunlevy were incredible and precise in every way. 

Certainly if you liked the previous 'John Wick' films, you'll revel with. It is fairly predictable, but so is the character of  Wick. It has it all: drama, high-adrenaline, explosiveness and even some humor to round out the story and add some comic relief. It's also offered in an IMAX format as well for that up close and personal feel. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: R                                          125mins.

Karate Kid: Legends

For a franchise that has lasted for 41 years starting with "The karate Kid" in 1984, "Karate Kid: Legends" is yet another film continuing with a new generation that is as entertaining as the original. There have been other sequel films and a TV series since, but this film was delineated with the kind of precision one would certainly hope for. 

This film unites the iconic martial arts masters of the most beloved film franchises of all time to tell a completely new story full of action and heart. When kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) relocates to New York City with his mother, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen) to attend a prestigious new school. He finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate, Mia Lupani (Sadie Stanley) and her father, Victor Lupani (Joshua Jackson). But his newfound peace is short-lived after he attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion, Conor Day (Aramis Knight). Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate yearly competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown. 

Others to round out the cast are Wyatt Oleff as Alan Federman, Nicolas Carella as Fat Jerry, Shaunette Renee Wilson as Ms. Morgan, Tim Rozon as O'Shea and Yankei Ge as Bo Fong, Li's brother. 

This was directed with just the right amount of action and heart by Jonathan Entwistle ("Mulligatawny" '10) plus TV, shorts and music videos. This filmmaker certainly has the ability to stage and pace his actors well, and simply captured the same feel of Macchio's character from the other 'Karate Kid' films. With only one other feature film to his credit behind the camera, his TV and shorts experience served him well. Typically this is the mark of a smart director to hone their talent in TV, etc before taking the leap into the feature film biz. It was equally well written by Rob Lieber ("Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" (screen story) '14, "Peter Rabbit" (screen story) '18, "Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween" '18) plus TV, based on characters created by Robert Mark Kamen. May I start with the trailer doesn't sell this film? When I saw my first trailer, I felt that it didn't look like a movie to waste my time, however not terrible, but certainly nothing great. After reviewing this, it was far better than the trailer led on. Was it without flaws? Definitely not. It started out as just "The Karate Kid" x 2-- the next generation coupled with a yawn. However, as the film progressed, it suddenly became the film that this writer meant it to be. It wasn't a sentimental, maudlin drama, but it carried the audience to a place where different techniques were implemented that Han and Daniel found that would work instead of us presuming that everything was going to be tied up with a nice bow--it became more real, and this spoke volumes.

As with the original, this was the quintessential underdog film replete with reexamining Li's past in order to help his present and hopefully his future. It has action, heart, redemption and enough humor to give it that sense of reality. And aren't these types of films the reason why we go to the theater so as to escape?

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                    Rated: PG-13                                   104mins.

                                     

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

When I used to see the TV series of Mission: Impossible, it was considered a cutting edge show when it came to 'stinging' the bad guys by shows' end. Now that the film franchise has been in existence for 29 years, we now have been offered the eighth installment appropriately titled "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" as the follow up to the 2023, "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning". 

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF team including Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), Grace (Hayley Atwell) and Paris (Pom Klementieff) continue their search for the terrifying AI known as the Entity--which has infiltrated intelligence networks all over the globe--with the world's governments and a mysterious 'ghost', Gabriel (Esai Morales) from Ethan's past on their trail. Joined by new allies including Capt. Bledsoe (Tramell Tillman) and armed with the means to shut the Entity down for good, Hunt is in a race against time to prevent the world as we know it from changing forever. 

Others to round out the cast are Henry Czerny as Kittridge, Holt McCallany as Serling, Angela Bassett as President Erika Sloane, Janet McTeer as Walters, Nick Offerman as Gen. Sidney, Hannah Waddingham as Adm. Neely, Shea Whigham as Briggs and Greg Tarzan Davis as Deeds.

This was directed with the same precision and expertise as with the many other 'Mission Impossible' films we've all seen by Christopher McQuarrie ("The Way of the Gun" 2000, "Jack Reacher" '12, "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" '15, "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" '18, "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning" '23). McQuarrie actually got his start in writing screenplays and ultimately graduated to behind the camera with much success. He sequences well and his staging, pacing and ability to handle a large production simply is second to none. If you like his form of directing, his "The Gauntlet" is in pre production. It was well penned by seasoned writers Christopher McQuarrie ("Public Access" '93, "The Usual Suspects" '95, "The Underworld" (TV movie) '97, "The Way of the Gun" 2000, "Valkyrie" '08, "The Tourist" '10, "Jack Reacher" '12, "Jack the Giant Slayer" '13, "The Mummy" '17, "Top Gun: Maverick" '22, "Mission: Impossile - Dead Reckoning Part One" '23) plus other films and TV, and Erik Jendresen ("Deadlocked" (TV movie) 2000, "Crazy as Hell" '02, "Sublime" '07, "The Big Bang" '10, "Ithaca" '15, "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" '23) plus other TV movies, based on the TV series created by Bruce Geller. These writers gave an incredible send up for this films' closure--replete with a graduated story that builds slowly and then all hell breaks loose. For a film that runs almost three hours, this movie certainly moved. There was a couple of very small slow places about two-thirds the way through, but otherwise was a great popcorn flick. The visual effects predominantly designed by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) were seamless and the realism was off the charts. Both Cruise and McQuarrie produced this film and they certainly knew what the audiences wanted and they produced.

If you're a Mission: Impossible fan (whether the TV series or the films), this is the film for you! It has it all: drama, explosions, adrenaline, and even humor which makes for that perfect summer flick where we all can go and escape into. Grab the popcorn--this is quite the roller coaster ride!

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: PG-13                                       170mins.