Merry Christmas 2019

    It’s that time a year again and boy did it seem to come out of nowhere.  One minute it’s Thanksgiving and then bam, it’s already Christmas.  It hasn’t been an easy year for me but I have also been blessed with amazing people in my life who have been there for me in some of my darkest hours.

    Christmas time is difficult for me, having lost my oldest brother and parents.  The only immediate family I have left is my one older brother who needs help taking care of himself.  Still, Christmas is a time to thankful for the things I have.  I have an amazing girlfriend who has helped me through the years even though it’s been more difficult for her.  She is beautiful and sweet and could be with anyone she wanted and yet she loves me.

    I started this blog as a sense of escapism to some degree.  I guess my love for cinema has also been a sense of escapism over the years.  Still, it is something I have enjoyed doing and I feel like I have grown as a writer over the last few years.

    Thank you to the people who support me, the people who read my blogs, people who also enjoy cinema in general, and for distribution companies like Mill Creek Entertainment who provided me review copies.  Thank you everyone and have a very Merry Christmas.

“Togo” Movie Review

    Sled dogs have a very special place in my heart and always will.  This year, I unfortunately lost both of my Siberian Huskies within months of each other.  Though they were both older and I knew their time was near, the pain from losing two of my best friends was devastating.  While I was very much looking forward to this film, I knew that it would be an emotional experience regardless of how the film turned out.  That being said, I also felt like my dogs would have wanted me to watch this film in their honor.

    The film tells the story Leonhard Seppala and his team of sled dogs led by Togo as they brave death to deliver antitoxin to Nome, Alaska during the diphtheria epidemic of 1925.  During their run, the film uses flashbacks to depict the relationship between Leonhard and his lead dog Togo.  During these flashbacks, we learn a great deal about the complicated relationship between Leonhard and Togo.

    I thought this movie was extremely well done and I am a little surprised this was released on Disney+ instead of given a theatrical release.  I feel like this movie would have been profitable enough given Disney’s past success with dog centric films.  I also honestly feel like “Togo” would have been more likely to be an awards contender if it was released in the multiplex (I still think there is a chance it could garner some awards if it is given enough of a push).

    While most people associate the serum run of 1925 with Balto due to the children’s animated movies made featuring him (and the statue of Balto in New York), many mushers and dogs were responsible for saving countless lives during the epidemic.  Leonhard and Togo were responsible for covering far more miles than any other musher on the relay however.  The film does a terrific job showing the possible cost of life the epidemic might have cost without the sacrifices Leonhard and Togo risked to save the town of Nome.

    Perhaps what the movie showcases best is the character development Leonhard goes through in the film.  Leonhard starts the film as a harsh and even sometimes cruel musher due to the unforgiving nature of Alaska.  Leonhard doesn’t like Togo at first, seeing him as an unhealthy runt not fit to survive and then a trouble making Hell hound as he grows older.  After unsuccessfully trying to give Togo away, Leonhard begins to realize Togo has the heart of a survivor and is lead dog material.  As time passes and Togo gives more and more of himself to Leonhard and to the serum run, Leonhard begins to regret how he had treated Togo and grows as a person to be more loving and less harsh.

    The film has a lot going for it aside from a great story.  The music is haunting and the cinematography is marvelous.  The only complaint I would have is that the computer animation is less than stellar and the film relies on the subpar computer animation a bit too often in key scenes.

    The cast is led by Willem Dafoe as Leonhard Seppala and he does a magnificent job.  Dafoe has a way of conveying normal dialogue in an almost Shakespearean manner that shouldn’t work but Dafoe somehow pulls it off.  Julianne Nicholson also delivers a strong performance as Leonhard’s wife.

    Disney has a streaming hit on their hands with “Togo” in my opinion and I am glad I got to see it.  If “Togo” is any indication of the quality Disney+ movies are going to have, perhaps Netflix should be very worried.

Grade: B+

“Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker” Movie Review

    To call the supposedly last Star Wars film in the ‘Skywalker Saga’ one of my most anticipated films of 2019 is a bit of an understatement.  Star Wars have been an important part of my life since I was a kid.  I watched the original trilogy countless times growing up and enjoyed the expanded universe material with dreams of what that universe had to still explore.  When the prequels and later the Disney era films came out, “Star Wars” has continued to hold a special place in my heart.

    This review will continue no spoilers, only brief descriptions of events already shared through trailers or plot summaries before the film’s release.  The film follows our new generation of heroes Rey, Finn, and Poe as they seek to bring peace to the galaxy from the grips of Kylo Ren (formally Ben Solo).  A mysterious force from the past may prove a greater challenge, and danger, to both the Resistance and the First Order than anyone could have imagined.

    There was a lot for me to process upon finishing the movie but long story short, I enjoyed this movie quite a bit and I don’t feel the movie deserves the negative reviews it has been getting.  That being said, the movie is not without some flaws (some minor, a few major).  The film has many moments of jaw dropping visuals and moments fans will discuss for a long time to come but some of those moments will surely divide fans.

    The film is paced at a breakneck speed with little time to rest and makes the film feel a bit rushed at times.  Some of this was the fault of the last film, “Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi”, for not building towards a climax in regards to the trilogy.  J.J. Abrams was forced to set up a conflict and resolve it in a satisfying way over the course of this single film.  For the most part I feel like Abrams has succeeded in his efforts.

    Another divisive element this film will face is the same complaint people had against Abrams’ first Star Wars film,  “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens”, in that it feels like a copy of an original trilogy film.  Instead of borrowing story elements of ‘A New Hope’, this film borrows elements from ‘Return of the Jedi’.  Abrams has always seemed to struggle with originality, regardless if it’s Star Wars or Star Trek.

    One interesting note is that this film also seems to borrow quite a bit from the non-cannon expanded universe material from years ago.  Parts of this film feels lifted from the pages of “Star Wars: Dark Empire”.  Fans who have read that and have seen this film will know what I am referring to but if you haven’t, trust me, it does.

    The main complaint people will have about this film is the ending.  Of course I can’t really talk about what happens, but for a film that bills itself as ‘the end of the Skywalker saga’, it certainly leaves plenty of obvious doors open to continue.  I am not even saying that is necessarily a bad thing, but it will make some fans upset.  From Finn’s secret that never gets addressed (though hinted at) to mysteries that are left unsolved, there are plenty to explore in regards to more Star Wars films.

    I will say that I love the way this film manages to tie all the episodes together.  While most of the fan service is in regards to the original trilogy, this film doesn’t shy away from the prequel trilogy.  I also absolutely loved what this film did with the character of Chewbacca.

    The cast did an excellent job in this film with the highlights being Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Oscar Isaac, and Billy Dee Williams.  Carrie Fisher’s scenes were handled well and very carefully crafted into the movie in an organic way which was a huge concern of mine.

    “Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker” isn’t a perfect film but it is still very fun and a step above ‘The Last Jedi’.  Like this film or hate it, this was a Star Wars film clearly made for the fans so we have no one to blame but ourselves if we don’t like it.  I had a good time personally and while I think most fans will need some time to digest the film, I think they will ultimately look at this film favorably.

Grade: B

“Jumanji: The Next Level” Movie Review

    Every December, especially around Christmas, the multiplex tends to be fairly crowded with a slew of new releases.  One could say it’s a bit of a jungle out there in the theaters, so another Jumanji movie seems like a no brainer.  I finally got a chance to catch “Jumanji: The Next Level” and I can finally give you my take on the film.

    The film takes place a few years after the events of “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”.  Spencer, Martha, Fridge, and Bethany are now separated from each other and going to different colleges.  The group decide to get together but Spencer is reluctant to meet back up with them because he feels insecure and inadequate now.  Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, Spencer patches the Jumanji video game together and returns to the game in an effort to regain his confidence.  Unfortunately, Spencer becomes trapped in the game again and it’s up to his friends to rescue him by returning to Jumanji.

    Let me start off by saying that I enjoyed this film quite a bit.  The film has it’s flaws, but it is hilarious at times and makes for some great escapism.  The main flaw of the film isn’t with it’s humor, it’s in the movie’s lack of an original story.  Despite a great deal of terrific new gags, the film is essentially more of the same plot overall with little new to offer aside from it’s humor.  Thankfully, it very much delivers in that department.

    “Jumanji: The Next Level” is the fourth overall film in the franchise following “Jumanji”, “Zathura: A Space Adventure” (which was the official book sequel but more of a spin-off in regards to the adaptation) and “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”.  I sort of hope the inevitable next film in the franchise takes the story in a different direction with more ties to the first film (and possibly Zathura).

    The core cast of “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” all return including Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillian, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Nick Jonas, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, and Colin Hanks.  They are joined by new cast members Awkwafina, Danny Glover, and Danny DeVito who all add a lot of humor and heart to this film.

    One of the funnier gimmicks of the film is that the youngsters of the film end up in different avatars this time around except for Martha (Morgan Turner) who once again becomes Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillian).  Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain) is now in the avatar of Sheldon Oberon (Jack Black) and Bethany initially gets left out of the game completely.  Spencer’s grandfather Eddie (Danny DeVito) isn’t so lucky and gets sucked into the game and becomes Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson) while his friend Milo (Danny Glover) is now in the avatar of Frank Finbar (Kevin Hart).

    Dwayne Johnson does a great job channeling Danny DeVito and is given more to work with in this sequel.  Kevin Hart also sounded and acted identical to Danny Glover which was often hilarious.  I really enjoyed Awkwafina in this film as well.  The only actor to get the raw end of the deal was Jack Black because the gifted comedian isn’t given as many funny lines due to his character now being Fridge’s avatar.

    This installment of the popular franchise doesn’t take us to new places or advance the story much but it is still very fun.  When it comes to monkey business, no franchise excels at it quite like “Jumanji”.

Grade: B

“Marriage Story” Movie Review

    When you love passionately in love with someone and decide to spend the rest of your life together as husband and wife, does that love ever die, even in the face of divorce?  Can you love someone as much as you grow to hate them?  “Marriage Story” is a character study of a couple in the middle of a divorce and how the separation effects each of them and their child.  Divorce is a painful and heartbreaking experience that is far to common these days so this movie is sadly very relatable to a large chunk of audiences.

    The film tells the story of a young married couple named Charlie and Nicole currently going through a divorce.  The couple have a child and decide to keep things simple and negotiate anything between themselves.  Things grow complicated when Nicole hires a divorce attorney on the recommendation of a friend and things spiral out of control.  Rival lawyers, court dates, skyrocketing costs, and broken dreams are only but a few of the hardships face in order to start new lives apart.  Unfortunately their child is caught in the middle in a nasty custody battle when all the couple really wanted was for child not to be caught in the middle of their divorce.

    This film isn’t a movie I would normally be much interested in and if this wasn’t on Netflix, I wouldn’t have went out special to see it.  Films such as “Kramer vs Kramer” are well done and beautifully acted but they don’t tend to emotionally connect with me.  Much to my surprise, “Marriage Story” actually managed to connect with me and left me caring about the couple.

    A lot of the strength of this film comes down to the performances of Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson and how vulnerable they make their characters feel.  This isn’t about a couple trying to destroy the other person (though on the surface it might appear that way), this is about a couple terrified to have to start all over again and admit their own failings.  Added to Driver and Johansson’s powerful performances, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta all deliver strong performances as the couple’s lawyers.

    What makes this film standout is that it plays all the characters as real and avoids going over the top.  Each character is deeply flawed but also lovable.  You could understand what the couple saw in each other and loved, and also what tore them apart.  The film also sends an important message about the importance of communication in a successful relationship and marriage.  Once someone builds walls up, they can’t always be torn down.

    I also preferred that the film decided to focus more on the couple’s love for their child and how that can turn toxic over the couple’s hatred over each other.  The divorce gets ugly but only to prove their love for their child.

    “Marriage Story” isn’t a movie I would normally enjoy which is perhaps the best testimony to how powerful it is.  With some of the strongest performances of the year, Netflix has another win this awards season.

Grade: B+

“Klaus” Movie Review

    Over the past few years, it has seemed like less and less Christmas movies have been released in theaters.  I looked forward to possible new Christmas classics but they seem to be few and far between these days.  Sure, you get a movie like “Last Christmas” this year, but nothing that really screams Christmas tradition.  When I saw Netflix released “Klaus” this year, I knew I had to give it a shot.

    The film tells the story of a spoiled post officer worker named Jasper Johansson who gets assigned to the small freezing town of Smeerensburg by the head postmaster (and Jasper’s father) in the hopes that the job will straighten him out.  Jasper has to make the town’s post office successful before he is permitted home.  When Jasper encounters a local woodsman named Klaus, Jasper hatches a scheme to make his post office a success by manipulating the townspeople and their children.

    This film is an interesting spin on the Santa Claus legend and is very unique as a result.  Sometimes a break from traditional Christmas stories make for the best new traditions.  “Klaus” manages to teach children the values of the holiday while still telling a new origin for Santa Claus that is original.

    What helps “Klaus” the most is it’s animation style which isn’t like anything you have seen before.  It is an English language film made by Spanish animators.  Sergio Pablos actually made his directorial debut with this film and he certainly impresses.  Pablos managed to obtain a skilled voice cast led by Jason Schwartzman as Jasper and J.K. Simmons as the title character Klaus.

    “Klaus” has the honor of being Netflix’s first original animated film and it couldn’t have been more impressive.  It should be noted that “Klaus” clothing can actually be currently purchased at an Old Navy by you.  The film is a winner all the way around and is destined to be a new Christmas tradition for many families.

Grade: B+

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Movie Review

    I never really grew up watching “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” a lot as a kid but I was familiar with the show and I did catch it occasionally.  Still, anything with Tom Hanks automatically gets my attention and Mr. Rogers was a very culturally important figure so “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” was a must for me to see.

    The movie tells the story of Lloyd Vogel, a cynical investigative journalist for Esquire magazine, who gets assigned a job to do a fluff piece on children’s show host Mr. Rogers as a part of the magazine’s heroes issue.  Lloyd is having personal issues with his father when he is tasked to interview Fred Rogers and refuses to believe someone could really be as good as Fred Rogers seems and seeks to prove he is as flawed as everyone else.  During the process of interviewing Mr. Rogers, Lloyd ends up learning more from the children’s host than he ever thought he would.

    The film surprised me because I assumed the film would be more focused on the character of Mr. Rogers but it instead focused on Lloyd Vogel.  The film uses the character of Fred Rogers as more of a mentor figure to Lloyd.  I was just shocked that Tom Hanks wasn’t given as much screen time as possible.  With that being said, Tom Hanks is still very much one of the leads and is very effective in the film.

    Tom Hanks once again delivers an incredible performance that will be hard for voters to ignore come award season.  Hanks’ Fred Rogers is compassionate and flawed but embraces his imperfections and learns from them.  When dealing with a figure like Mr. Rogers, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Tom Hanks being able to pull him off.  Matthew Rhys was also stellar as Lloyd Vogel which is a sigh of relief since the movie relies primarily on their performances alone.

    I found the production design of the film whimsical and I liked how they managed to make the movie feel strangely like it was set in “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood”.  In fact, the filmmakers use the old children’s show as a framing device for the events of the movie in a really inventive way.

    I really enjoyed the film and felt the film delivered some heavy and powerful messages that no one is too young, or too old, to learn.  Sometimes we just have to let our guards down and let people in.  This movie is definitely a nice look back at our childhoods and teaches us that some lessons are timeless.

Grade: B+

“The Irishman” Movie Review

    I have been waiting to see Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” since it was announced.  I have to admit that I was surprised to learn that it was going to be a Netflix film since Scorsese is such an old school filmmaker.  I will fully admit that on Tuesday night, I stayed up so I could watch the film (although at roughly three and a half hours, I ended up having to finish it in the morning).  This film has received wide spread acclaim so I had to see if the film is really the masterpiece it is being made out to be.

    The film tells the story of Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran and his connections to the Mafia and the labor unions under the leadership of the infamous Jimmy Hoffa.  Sheeran gets his start in the criminal underworld working under Mafia boss Russell Bufalino.  Sheeran quickly gains favor with Russell and becomes one of this most loyal hitmen.  Bufalino introduces Frank to Jimmy Hoffa and the pair become friends shortly after their introduction.  Frank becomes Hoffa’s primary bodyguard while he is head of the Teamsters.  The film chronicles Frank’s torn loyalty to his friend Hoffa and his boss Bufalino as Hoffa begins to clash with the Mafia families who helped him rise to power.

    Let me start this review by stating that this movie is long.  That isn’t to say the film doesn’t make the best of every second or that I necessarily think it would have been better if they edited the film down, but at the three and a half hour long runtime, it is still difficult to take it all in during one sitting (I couldn’t even manage to do so).  One advantage to this being a Netflix film is that it is possible to pause it and come back to it if you have to take a bathroom break without missing any of the film.  I would recommend taking a bathroom break roughly one hour into the film right before Jimmy Hoffa is introduced (it makes for a good intermission in my opinion).

    The film definitely feels more like a classic Martin Scorsese film in the vain of “Goodfellas” and “Casino”.  Scorsese is definitely the master of the Mafia epics and this film joins the long list of his classics.  Scorsese has always been a very visual storyteller and this film is greatly enhanced by his eye for detail.  The depiction of Detroit, Michigan during the mid 70s was very accurate for instance.

    What makes “The Irishman” so captivating is it’s performances.  Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci all deliver powerhouse performances in this character driven motion picture.  Robert De Niro knocks it out of the park as Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran right on the heels of his standout performance in “Joker”.

    In a supporting role, Al Pacino is the best he has been in years.  Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa is a charismatic leader without the foresight to know when to quit.  It was nice to see Al Pacino actually care about a role for a change.  It was great seeing Pacino and De Niro’s natural chemistry together on screen.  Rounding out the main cast was Joe Pesci.  Pesci has famously been retired for years and had turned down several projects before Martin Scorsese was able to persuade him out of retirement.  On a side note, I thought it was interesting seeing someone playing David Ferrie in this film was a bit distracting considering Joe Pesci famously played Ferrie in the movie “JFK”.

    The film digitally de-aged it’s three lead actors for several scenes fairly successfully.  There were only a few scenes with an uncanny valley effect but it was primarily with De Niro’s scenes and it was one of the best uses of de-aging technology overall I have seen to this date.

    “The Irishman” deserves the acclaim it has received and is a return to form for many of the actors headlining the film.  Though the runtime makes it feel a bit more like a mini-series than a movie, it is an excellent character study.  If you have a free afternoon (or day), “The Irishman” is worth the watch.

Grade: A-

“Lady and the Tramp” (2019) Movie Review

    With “The Mandalorian” seemingly taking the world by storm, it is easy to forget that the streaming service Disney+ also launched with two original movies, a live action remake of the Disney classic “Lady and the Tramp” and the Christmas themed “Noelle”.  Being a huge dog person, I had to check out “Lady and the Tramp” for myself.

    The film opens with a dog named Lady as she quickly warms her way into her owner’s hearts (and bed).  Lady is part of the family and enjoys being an indoor dog with all the comforts that come with it.  By contrast, we are introduced to a canine simply known as the Tramp who seemingly enjoys the freedom he has being a street dog.  Lady and the Tramp soon cross paths when Lady helps the Tramp escape a dog catcher who has it out for him.  Soon after their encounter together, Lady finds her place in the home threatened when a new baby is born and takes all of her owner’s attention.  When Lady ends up getting loose one day, the Tramp ends up helping her find her way back home as she worries if she even has a home to return to.

    The film is more or less a more politically correct live action update of the classic cartoon.  The new film removes the controversial ‘Siamese Cat’ song with an updated new song.  While I certainly understand and even support some of the changes in the film, it still leaves the film feeling as if they played everything a little too safe.  I am not saying Disney films need or should be edgy, but a little cultural subtext like Disney cartoons used to have wouldn’t be the worst thing either.  Maybe that is just the cynical adult of me talking though.

    The dog actors used in the film did an incredible job (with some help from the cgi department).  I loved the fact that Disney actually used real life shelter dogs for this film and the studio was smart enough to spin that into headlines.  Good publicity can go a long way.

    The remake has currently been hit with mixed reviews stating it lacked the heart of the original cartoon classic, much like the criticism of the latest “The Lion King” remake had.  While I fully admit that I think the cartoon is overall superior to this live action remake, I still found this film to be quite entertaining and I think it had the same amount of “heart” as the original did.

    This remake was enjoyable overall and a fine attention to Disney+.  While I do wish the new streaming service had more original content out of the gate, I do prefer quality to quantity.  “Lady and the Tramp” won’t change your life or make you think but it will provide you (and especially your young ones if you have them) a cute movie to enjoy for a few hours.

Grade: B-

“The Peanut Butter Falcon” Movie Review

    After seeing the trailer for “The Peanut Butter Falcon”, I knew I really wanted to see it but I just never got around to seeing it in the theaters.  Unfortunately, I just don’t have the time to see every movie in the theaters considering I work full time.  When the film got released to DVD and Blu-ray, I knew I would end up picking it up and I did just that.  So after a long wait, I am finally able to review this film.  Hold your applause please.

    The film tells the story of Zak, a young man with Down syndrome who longs to become a professional wrestler like his hero the Salt Water Redneck.  Watching old VHS tapes of the Salt Water Redneck, he dreams of attending his wrestling school.  Unfortunately for Zak, he is living in a nursing home under the supervision of Eleanor.  Zak escapes the nursing home with some assistance from his fellow resistances.  On the run, he meets up with small town crook Tyler and the pair set off on an adventure together before eventually forming a bond along the way.

    This film feels very much like a retelling of “Huckleberry Finn” (deliberately so by the filmmakers in fact) which is sort of refreshing in this day and age.  As much as I love big blockbusters, it is nice to see small and personal films every now and then, especially a film like this.  This film was made with love and it shows.

    The film stars Zack Gottsagen as Zak and he is very much the heart and soul of the movie.  The filmmakers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz cast Zack in the lead role after meeting with him at an actors bootcamp and becoming inspired by him.  The filmmakers were actually offered money not to hire Gottsagen, but they stood by their choice and it paid off beautifully.

    Shia LaBeouf also stars as the troubled Tyler.  LaBeouf is excellent in the film and this film stands as a testament to how great he can be.  LaBeouf actually got into legal trouble due to his drinking problems during the production of this film and in a case of real life mirroring film, it was the friendship he formed with Gottsagen that helped straighten the actor out.  Dakota Johnson also shined as Eleanor and proved she has more to offer than the “50 Shades” franchise.  I should also point out that Bruce Dern was a real standout despite a short appearance.

    If I had any criticism of this film, it would just be that some of the relationships depicted in the film seemed a bit rushed and because of this, I didn’t feel they felt as organic as perhaps they could have felt.  That being said, the performances of the three leads helped gloss over that some.

    On a side note, as a WWE fan, it was sort of cool seeing a film depicting wrestling as one of it’s main story elements.  The fact that Mick Foley and Jake “The Snake” Roberts also make appearances in the film just makes it that much better.

    “The Peanut Butter Falcon” almost feels like a throwback film these days.  It’s personal and heartfelt and the performances really help make the film feel special.  If you are a Mark Twain fan (or WWE fan for that matter), “The Peanut Butter Falcon” is a must.

Grade: B+

“Doctor Sleep” Movie Review

    Can a movie serve both as a sequel to a classic film while at the same time distancing itself from that movie enough to be a faithful adaptation of a novel?  “Doctor Sleep” is the latest film to be adapted from a Stephen King novel.  The novel is a sequel to his classic novel “The Shining” which Stanley Kubrick adapted into a classic horror film.  The problem “Doctor Sleep” faced was that Stephen King hated the film version of “The Shining” because of the liberties it took with his source material.  Can the sequel manage to bridge the book and the film successfully together?

    The film tells the story of Danny Torrance as he grows up dealing with the trauma he experienced as a child with “the shining” at the Overlook hotel.  He is still haunted by the ghosts of the hotel and learns to deal with them by boxing them up.  As an adult, Danny has turned to alcoholism in order to mute his gifts.  He decides to stop drinking for eight years and begins to form a psychic pen pal relationship with a young girl named Abra.  Abra lives a peaceful life until a cult of “shiners” become aware of her and seek her out to feed on her energy.  Danny decides to protect her from the cult and takes her to the one place they might be able to have a fair fight, the Overlook hotel.

    Let me start by saying that this film probably shouldn’t work but it somehow does.  The film manages to honor both the work of Stephen King and the late Stanley Kubrick in a very satisfying way while still being it’s own movie.  It also goes a long way to explain certain aspects of “The Shining” that were left deliberately vague.  These answers help expand the world of “The Shining” and “Doctor Sleep”.

    The film has an excellent cast led by Ewan McGregor as the adult version of Danny Torrance.  McGregor is able to convey a feeling of post traumatic stress disorder masterfully.  McGregor’s Danny Torrance is a lost soul just trying to find his place in the world.  Rebecca Ferguson is wonderful as Rose the Hat, the leader of the evil cult.  She brings a menacing sense of superiority to her performance that I really enjoyed.  Newcomer Kyliegh Curran was a real breakthrough as Abra Stone.  I expect big things for her soon.  Lastly, (SPOILER WARNING) Henry Thomas takes over the role of Jack Torrance from Jack Nicholson and I have mixed feeling about the portrayal.  He looked enough like Nicholson to pull it off, he just didn’t sound much like him which is my one complaint.

    Mike Flanagan wrote, edited, and directed this film and he did a stellar job with his work behind the camera.  There were shots that felt very much like Stanley Kubrick’s style but a bulk of the film felt very much like an episode of “The Haunting of Hill House” as well.  If I had one complaint about the movie, it’s that it’s pacing slowed down a bit midway through the film and it felt almost like two different films (the last act taking place at the Overlook hotel felt very different to the rest of the movie to me).

    “Doctor Sleep” is an entertaining followup to “The Shining” and I would be curious to see if it’s legacy lasts as long as it’s predecessor’s legacy has.  This is definitely one of the better and more faithful follow ups to be released based on a classic film recently.  I would definitely recommend seeing this if you are a fan of Stephen King or “The Shining”.

Grade: B+

“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” Movie Review

    There is just something about monster movies that brings a smile to my face everytime I watch them.  Even if they aren’t my favorite movies, seeing a giant monster destroy a city is fairly breathtaking.  Seeing a monster fight another monster is just that much better.  Kaiju films are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me.  Even though I didn’t catch it in theaters, “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” was a bit of a must for me to watch.

    Set after the events of 2014’s “Godzilla”, “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” starts with the scientific organization Monarch tracking the likes of Godzilla and Kong as well as several other titans who have yet to arise.  Monarch scientist Dr. Emma Russell has created a device that can communicate with these titans but the device is stolen by a terrorist organization who also kidnap the doctor and her daughter.  Soon the device is used to awaken the hibernating monsters.  Monarch soon enlists the help of Emma’s ex-husband Mark to figure out how to rescue Emma and stop the titans.  When everything else seemingly fails, Monarch must put their faith in Godzilla to restore the natural order.

    This film is influenced by the 1968 film “Destroy All Monsters” which sees Godzilla and several other monsters battle King Ghidorah.  This film scales back the monster mayhem a bit to focus primarily on Godzilla vs King Ghidorah with a smaller scale battle between Mothra vs Rodan also happening at the same time.  The monsters are the clear stars of this film but it was also nice that the human co-stars had a slightly more satisfying role to play in the sequel.

    On the subject of the human co-stars, this film primarily focuses on the Russell family played by Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler and Millie Bobby Brown.  Farmiga and Chandler both give good performances but it was a bit odd seeing Chandler in the role considering he also co-starred in Peter Jackson’s “King Kong”.  Millie Bobby Brown was wonderful in the movie and proved her career past “Stranger Things” is just beginning.  It was also nice seeing Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, and David Strathairn all return for the sequel.

    Michael Dougherty took over directing duties for the sequel and delivered a superior sequel.  This film is the third film set in this new monsterverse after “Godzilla” and “Kong: Skull Island”.  This movie will be followed next year by “Godzilla vs. Kong” which should be an interesting film considering how both Godzilla and King Kong are depicted as protagonists in their films.

    While I enjoyed how the Monarch organization managed to allow the human characters to appear in the film in a logical way without taking away from the monsters, the monsters were still what everyone came to see and they didn’t disappoint.  Toho favorites King Ghidorah, Rodan, and Mothra all join the battle in this sequel.  Rodan is given the least screen time and feels almost like an after thought.  King Ghidorah on the other hand is the main antagonist and is depicted incredibly.  Still, for me, the main standout was Mothra, Queen of the Monsters.  I won’t go into spoilers, but one of the most emotional scenes in the movie for me involved Mothra.

    “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” doesn’t have much plot but also has the good fortune of not requiring much story either.  These monsterverse movies provide good old fashion spectacle and that is fine by me.  I would recommend this movie for anyone who just needs to sit back and relax.  Enjoy the show (down).

Grade: B

“Terminator: Dark Fate” Movie Review

    It’s been four years since “Terminator: Genisys” was released to mixed critical and audience reaction.  For the past few decades, it seems like the Terminator franchise has been desperately trying to find it’s footing after the events of “Terminator 2: Judgement Day”.  “Terminator: Dark Fate” once again tries to set the franchise on a new course.

    The film follows the events of “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” and picks up shortly after those events (a major character death that would spoil most of the film happens at this point).  The film then shifts to modern day and focuses on a young woman named Dani as she finds herself the target of a new Terminator model (the Rev-9).  Dani is protected by an enhanced human named Grace as well as Sarah Connor as they try to protect Dani from the dark fate that lies ahead of her.

    Let me start by saying that this film negates “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”, “Terminator: Salvation”, “Terminator: Genisys” and the television show “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”.  Those additions to the franchise now take place in an alternate timeline.  I know some franchises have worse continuity (Highlander and X-Men come to mind) but this film further tarnishes what little continuity the franchise still had.  The film itself almost serves best as a stand-alone film as opposed to a sequel as a result.

    The movie was directed by “Deadpool” filmmaker Tim Miller and he once again delivers an adrenaline rush with this film.  Many of the action set pieces felt original and intense in the film.  The movie also delivers pulse pounding stunts that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats as the Terminator franchise often does.

    James Cameron returned to consult and help develop this sequel.  I find some of his choices a bit odd since some of his decisions contradict scenes he filmed for “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” in which Sarah and John Connor were seen older and happy in 2029.  These scenes actually appear in a cut of the movie so why he retconned his own masterpiece for this film is beyond me.  It sort of takes the message of the second film away that we can create our own destiny and instead copies the ending of the third movie, that judgment day is inescapable.  I prefer to think we make our own destiny.

    The new characters and actors in the movie are somewhat lackluster compared to the returning characters and stars.  Natalia Reyes was serviceable as Dani but wasn’t very convincing as ‘future Dani’.  Gabriel Luna was completely wasted as the Rev-9.  The highlight among the new cast members was Mackenzie Davis as Grace.  Davis brought an intensity to the role that the other new cast members did not.

    This brings me to the highlights of the film, Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger.  It was so refreshing to see those two share the screen together again after so many years.  Hamilton plays a wonderfully seasoned (and grizzled) Sarah Connor who’s only purpose is to kill every Terminator she comes across.  Schwarzenegger plays a Terminator model T-800 and actually provides the most interesting subplot of the film.  After this T-800 was set free from Skynet, he attempted to seek a purpose and become more ‘human’.  In my opinion, this should have been the main story of the movie.  Some of the best episodes of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” revolved around Data’s quest to become more human.  This film could have used more of that.

    When all is said and done, this film is ultimately a good sci-fi action movie that is handicapped some by it’s own brand name.  If you view this film as more of a stand alone movie, it is far more enjoyable.  If you look at this film as a sequel to any of the other movies in the franchise, it will probably just leave more questions than answers.  I would still recommend seeing this movie in the theaters, just know what you are getting yourself into first.

Grade: B-

“In the Tall Grass” Movie Review

    It’s official, 2019 in now officially the year of Stephen King adaptations.  What is most amazing is that many of them have actually turned out well.  So when Netflix released their own Stephen King adaptation, “In the Tall Grass”, I felt extra compelled to check it out.  After watching the film, I also felt compelled to write this review.

    This film starts with siblings Cal and Becky (who happens to be pregnant) as they stop by a church.  From the nearby field, they hear the voice of a small boy named Tobin who appears lost in the grass field.  The pair are concerned as they hear Tobin’s mother pleading with him not to call for help.  Cal enters the field and Becky soon follows.  The siblings are separated and the distance between the pair seems to increase by the second.  The pair try to make their way back to the road but neither of them can find their way out.  While in the field, Cal encounters Tobin around the same time Becky comes across Ross, Tobin’s father.  Things clearly aren’t as they seem as Travis, the father of Becky’s baby, goes looking for them in what seems to be one day later but is actually weeks later for Travis.  The things the group discovers next can only be explained as supernatural as they try their best to find a way out of the tall grass.

    The film is based on a novella by Stephen King and his son Joe Hill and is full of all the suspense you might expect from the duo.  The film is sometimes shocking and horrifying in ways that took me aback some.  These graphic moments sometimes go a bit too far in my opinion but the film doesn’t shy away from some stomach turning moments so if that is your cup of tea, you are in luck.

    The film is intriguing from the beginning, giving the viewer the same sense of confusion that the main characters are going through.  The film does a good job of keeping the audience’s attention until revelations start to unfold.  While this style of storytelling does a decent job of retaining the viewers attention, it unfortunately creates a great deal of pacing issues throughout the film.

    The film definitely has an interesting premise but the answers provided in the film felt too simplistic to justify the film’s overall runtime.  As a storyteller, I personally believe that you shouldn’t open a mystery box if you aren’t willing or are unable to provide satisfactory answers.  It’s a shame since the field being at the center of a space and time warp of some kind is an interesting plot device.

    “In the Tall Grass” was directed by Vincenzo Natali and this film feels very much like one of his works.  I found his directing a bit frustrating in this film because he had some really interesting shots throughout some of the film but they were so poorly lite that it was hard to make out what was going on in the film.  As for the cast, they all do serviceable job with only Patrick Wilson really standing out.  Patrick Wilson is so over the top in this film and hammy yet it somehow works perfectly.  The man can do no wrong.

    The film is definitely not the best Stephen King adaptation this year but far from the worst overall.  The film doesn’t hit the heights the premise suggests it could but it is still enjoyable.  If you are looking for a spooky film with some good scares, this film is definitely worth a watch.

Grade: C+