Sicario: Day of the Soldado

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 29 June 2018

Director: Stefano Sollima
Writer: Taylor Sheridan
Running Time: 2 Hours and 2 Minutes

Staring: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine and Elijah Rodriguez

Rating? R

SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS

IMDB: 7.5 of 10

MY RATING: 8

STORYLINE

The drug war on the US-Mexico border has escalated as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border. To fight the war, federal agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) re-teams with the mercurial Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro).

MY REVIEW

Refer to my review of Sicario. I really loved that movie and had high hopes for this one. What had me worried? Well, the original director, Denis Villeneuve was amazing and I think he brought a lot to the movie. This director, Stefano Sollima, is new to me and his repertoire is basically Spanish language writing and directing.  BUT, Taylor Sheridan reprises his role as writer. His long credit list speaks for itself as both a writer, actor and a director.

This movie was a hit on almost all levels for me. The subtle score, the settings and the general idea of the story. It was intriguing and poignant. We're in a world where terrorism is now a daily occurrence and the things that we have to do may not always seem right or even just, but  sometimes the ends justify the means and sometimes they do not. This movie puts your brain to work and makes you think. I love when movies treat me like I know what the hell is going on and not spoon-feed me the story. I have a fucking brain. Great job on that.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• The Brolin/Del Toro combination is on FIRE! They play off of each other so well and the fact that they are uniquely different just makes it that much better. 
• This movie is intense. There are so many things that you just want to be mad at in this film as a human. 
• What movie aficionado would NOT just love the cinematography in this movie? The wide shots on the dead terrain on the other side of the border were brilliant.
• The violence is exactly what is needed in a movie like this. It would have felt less real. 

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• Some basics of the plot I found to be a little less thought out. There were times when as a viewer, I couldn't really tell if the action and sub-action were in the same time period, near each other or days apart.
• There are a few things hat stick out as just off. I don't want to give you all of the pieces, but fi I saw it, you guys will.

On a more personal note..... 

Wore a Hiscox USA T-Shirt to work. Realized that Jinx has become a little too used to sitting on the bookshelf in my office.

Adore

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 3 April 2013
     Watched on Netflix 2018 June 30

Wrier and Director: Anne Fontaine
Running Time: 1 Hour and 52 Minutes

Staring: Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Xavier Samuel, James Frecheville and Ben Mendelsohn
Rating? R, well deserved

SPOILERS? YES

REVIEWS

IMDB: 6.2 of 10

MY RATING: 8

STORYLINE

A pair of childhood friends fall for each others sons,

MY REVIEW

You know those movies where you are basically on the edge of your seat as it ends hoping that there will be some sort of second movie or continuation that will keep the story going? Yeah, this was one of those for me. I just want to know what happens to Lil and Tom and Roz and Ian. It is definitely like watching a trainwreck in progress knowing that this will not end well.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• Sometimes, you just can't help who you are attracted to or with whom you fall in love. This movie is that exact situation played out in just under 2 hours. Passion and attraction can lead you to do insane, crazy things that you can't control.
• The story felt real. There were twists and turns that could not be helped. It wasn't overly sexual or overly dramatic just for the sake of a movie plot. 
• Scenery in Australia cannot be beat. The homes on the cliff leading down to the beach brought an unnamed character into the movie.

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• I felt like the premise was intentionally provocative but did not delve far enough. I mean, yes, it's insane to think that two women could fall for and ultimately begin sexual relationships with their friends adult sons, but the loves end and the young men eventually meet/marry and have children with women their won age. But one of them go back to the familiar love with the older mom next door. It's off somehow.
• The jilted Dad, Roz's husband who has already raised his child with her and has a new job far away, which really allowed his wife to stray, then gets married again to a younger woman and has a new baby and that's not the least bit subversive here. The new step-mom and the sons are roughly the same age. Talk about double standards! Sheesh!

On a more personal note..... 

Just hanging out with the little kittens today. Dex and Oliver bonded a little.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 25 May 2018

Director: Ron Howard
Writer:Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan
Running Time: 2 Hours and 15 Minutes

Staring: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Joonas Suotamo, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Paul Bettany and Jon Favreau

Rating? PG-13

SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS

IMDB: 7.2 of 10

MY RATING: 7

STORYLINE

During an adventure into the criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future co-pilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebellion.

MY REVIEW

I don't know if you guys know this, but I am a huge Star Wars nerd! Crazy right?!?! Well, This movie was much anticipated and the lingering questions for me were: 1) was Alden Ehrenreich going to be acting like Harrison Ford acting like Han Solo or was he going to place his own stamp on the role. Answer Below. 2) What foolishness was Disney going to do to my Han? Again, answers below.

For me, this was a fun ride. Yes, I did find some of it a little over the top and it could have been a little better, hence the 7 and NOT a 10!!

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• It told a story. I will give it that. It was not overly complicated. It was not overly dramatic. It was a story. This is why I give it a 7. Could have been better. I know this was a point of contention and the re-writes were plentiful, even causing almost a year of additional filming. Good job, but you did not wow me Ron Howard.
• Personal Letter to Alden Ehrenreich. You did a good job with Han. I was truly afraid that you were going to be acting like Harrison Ford playing Han Solo. You did not. You brought yourself to the role and I personally enjoyed your spin. It was subtle, but it was Han.  
• Personal Letter to Disney. Okay, you did just about right with this one. Please keep the the middle of the road and DON'T fuck up the rest. 
• Solo/Chewy chemistry.

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• As a Star Wars fan, I did find the fact that they overplayed the moment when Han gets his gun. I mean, seriously, I get it. His gun, I seeee it!! 
• A bit on the predictable side. The story is a bit less dramatic than I would have liked. I understand they are pandering to a  whole new generation of Jedis who don't have the years and YEARS of watching Episodes 4, 5 and 6 a billion times.
• Khaleesi needs to go back to Game of Thrones. Yeah, not a huge fan of her portrayal of Qi'ra.

On a more personal note..... 

So, good for me that I had a special tee shirt to wear to the opening of Solo. It's my swag from Star Wars Celebration last year in Orlando. Star Wars 40th Anniversary. Needless to say... you can see from the pics that I was adorably cute to see Solo!! Perfect timing to get the Perfect middle seat that I love and get my obligatory "shoes on the seat" photo before the movie started.

A Quiet Place

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: Opened in the US on 6 April 2018
     Watched in Theaters 14 April 2018 

Director: John Krasinski
Writer: Bryan Woods and Scott Beck
Running Time: 1 hour and 30 Minutes

Staring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski and Millicent Simmonds

Rating? PG-13

SPOILERS? JUST ONE!!

REVIEWS

IMDB: 8.1 of 10

MY RATING: 4

STORYLINE

A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.

MY REVIEW

I saw a lot of hype for this movie on social media. I mean even Chris Pratt posted on Instagram that we should all stop what we are doing and go see this movie. Thanks Star Lord. Thanks for that!

I love a good Sci-Fi/horror/psychological movie and this had the makings to be that movie. I liked the idea that the trailers were purporting. Silence is the only way they can survive. I gave it a shot. Luckily, I went during a matinee so I saved some money. It was a good concept with some disappointing choices

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• The use of silence was definitely well done with the sound design, camera angle choices and use of the characters motion to further the story. That being said, it DID make the story feel a little longer than it really was.
• Millicent Simmonds was pretty awesome. She really did a great job, in silence, bringing her character to life. 
• I did LIKE how the film did not spend 20-30 minutes explaining what the creatures were and where they came from and just got on with the show. Although it does become a little maddening at a second thought to not really know what brought there here. Are they terrestrial? are they extraterrestrial? Are they a scientific experiment gone terribly wrong? Was this just setting us up for a sequel? (Me thinks the sequel might be the most obvious option)

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• I WATCH movies. I pay attention and I see things that some do not. There were just too many plot devices used that just didn't make sense to me. I'll try to pass a few over without too many details to ruin the movie for you guys!
• So, the whole idea is that the "creatures" hunt with sound. W learn that the family is living in COMPLETE silence to stay alive. We learn roughly halfway through the movie of a place they go to that apparently blocks out the creatures hearing. Why don't they live there? Wouldn't that be a safer apace to live?
• They have a lot of power for a post-disaster sound hunting creature with no hint of a generator. Hmmmm.
• The nail scene. You'll see what I'm talking about. Carpenters daughter here. I know how nails work. That was not good, art/prop master. Not good at all.
• The rules set in the movie change too often. One sound brings a monster in 10 seconds and another seems not to make a difference. It's maddening at a certain point.
• ONE SPOILER!  Why the HELL would you watch your children in danger in this world gone mad and DECIDE to NOT use every precaution in the world to NOT become pregnant? I am dumbfounded by this fact! 

On a more personal note..... 

Spent some time with the kittens this afternoon. I love the little boogers!

Ready Player One

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 29 March 2018
     Watched 7 April 2018

Director:  Steven Spielberg
Writer: Zak Penn and Ernest Cline
Running Time: 2 Hours and 20 Minutes

Staring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, T.J. Miller and a few more

Rating PG-13

SPOILERS? NO 

REVIEWS

IMDB: 7.9 of 10

MY RATING: 8

STORYLINE

When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune.

MY REVIEW

This movie is a near-genius love letter to pop culture penned with a pink feather quill signed with a sparkly heart over the i.  I loved every minute of the 2+ hours of this movie. Yes, there were some spots that I found derivative and even silly, however, the nerd in me was in heaven.
*Please note that I have not read the book!

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• Love, love love the use of pop culture icons all over the place. Prince, Michael Jackson, Star Wars characters and many, many more. This was nostalgia from my childhood on steroids. 
• I saw the 3-D version of this movie and it was almost so subtle that at times I forgot that I was even wearing the silly glasses.
• I CAN'T EVEN! This soundtrack was awesome. I quite nearly sang along, mostly internally, to every song. 
• Steven Spielberg as a director was perfection. He did an amazing job combining the dual settings of a futuristic overly-crowded city to the OASIS where people's every fantasy can be reality.
• THE SHINING!! That is all I am going to say. If you are a horror fan, you will find a smile in a few spots in this movie. I think there was an actual tear!! :)

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• Not overly cheesy, a little cheese but super light.
• Would have loved to see the R-Rated version of this. PG-13 is not something that I typically go for, but the idea of this movie was intriguing.

SaveSaveSaveSave

Slasher- The Executioner

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 2016 Canadian TV Show available in Netflix

Creator: Aaron Martin
Running Time: 8 Episodes, 45-55 minutes each

Staring: Katie McGrath, Brandon Jay McLaren, Christopher Jacot, Steve Byers, Patrick Garrow, Dean McDermott and Jefferson Brown

Rating? Unrated, Made for TV

SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS

IMDB: 6.6 of 10

MY RATING: 7

STORYLINE

A young woman returns to the small town where her parents were murdered, only to find the past re-emerging as a new series of murders begin.

MY REVIEW

BINGE-WORTHY tv horror. No, it's not the greatest thing in the world. No, it
s not going to win an Emmy. But, the story is decent, the casting is average and the gore is above board.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• Violent. Not for kids. This was perfect. Just not a great dinner-time watch!
• It was definitely a fun watch. For those of us who enjoy trying to figure out the "real killer" behind the masked ones. This was an enjoyable task over 8 episodes. It was a little obvious close to the middle, but it was good. I guessed wrong for the first half!

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• Katie McGrath is Irish and it was pretty obviojs
• It's B-level, Canadian Horror TV. Enough Said.

Jekyll and Hyde

GENERAL INFORMATION

View Date and Location: 3 Mar 2018 and the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach

Director: Jeff Calhoun

REVIEWS

MY RATING: 8

STORYLINE

No need to go into the story. We all know Jekyll and Hyde. Perfect Retelling

CAST

Constantine Maroulis as Dr. Jekyll and his alter ego DrMr. Hyde
Deborah Cox as Lucy
Teal Wicks as Emma Crew

MY REVIEW

My most favorite theater companion is the one who called me on a Sunday morning and said.. Hey, I've got an extra ticket to go see Jekyll and Hyde, wanna go? Basically, Lisa is awesome and I love to hang out with her and I jumped at the chance. Put on my fancy outfit and headed to meet her at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Town Center.

What a spectacular show! This was pretty amazing to watch, I had no idea who the main guy was, (American Idol guy) because I really don't watch  it, but man was his voice something else!

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• DIRECTION- Generally the direction was pretty good. There were a few things that were not quote to my liking, but they were not of real consequence.
• COSTUME DESIGN- This felt like a retelling in a Victorian- Steam Punk
• SET DESIGN- Local set artistry felt pretty spot on. I have to give credit to small theaters when they have to change set so quickly. The multi-use sets and wheels were perfect.

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• COMPOSITION- The only that felt a little off was the music styling of loud rock music as the main theme. It was not exactly what I thought I would hear. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but unexpected and not quite right for me. It felt disjointed to the setting for me.

Annihilation

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 23 Feb 2018

Director: Alex Garland
Writer:Alex Garland and Jeff VanderMeer
Running Time: 1 Hour and 55 Minutes

Staring: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson and Oscar Isaac

Rating? R

SPOILERS? NO 

REVIEWS

IMDB: 7.1 of 10

MY RATING: 4

STORYLINE

A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature do not apply.

MY REVIEW

My first thought was that I needed to watch this movie again but I really just don't want to.  I just don't know what this movie thought that it was. It wasn't suspense, horror, sci-fi, action.. It didn't fit into any bucket of common connectivity to a specific genre.  Realistically, at the end I just didn't care.

I understand that they might have been going for artistic license, but this was a tad bit shy of the line, It missed the bar.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• The CGI was pretty good. It's standard at best, but it was a good part of the movie. 
• Production quality. Its sad that the pieces of this movie that I liked the most are the background pieces.

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• I was expecting a mid-bending romp through an alternate reality in the "shimmer" from the trailers. What I for was a hoping for was an existential plot that would make me question my own reality. I mean, Jeff Garland was responsible for Ex Machina {Link to my review}that I found to be absolute perfection. What I got was a slow burn that never quite ignited. 
• Mentioned this already, tonally, this was a hot mess. This movie just didn't know what it wanted to be. The story and delivery were muddy at best. It was as if the writers took a smoke break and let someone else finish.
• This was an R RATED movie. Why the hell did all the flashback sex scenes have little nudity or sex for that matter? 

What QUESTIONS do I now have?

• So a bunch of TRAINED MARINES went in and all dies, so let's send in the lady scientists? Yeah, that made sense.

SaveSave

Midsomer Night's Dream

GENERAL INFORMATION

View Date and Location: 

Premiere Date:
Language:
Composer:
Director:

REVIEWS

MY RATING: X

STORYLINE

X

MY REVIEW

X

DIRECTION-
COMPOSITION-
COSTUME DESIGN-
SET DESIGN-

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• X
• X
• X

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• X
• X
• X

What QUESTIONS do I now have?

• X

On a more personal note..... 

XX

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info: 15 December 2017

Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson based on characters by George Lucas
Running Time: 2 Hours and 32 Minutes

Staring:  Mark Hamill,  Carrie Fisher ,  Adam Driver,  Daisy Ridley,  John Boyega,  Oscar Isaac,  Andy Serkis,  Lupita Nyong'o,   Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels,   Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro

Rating? PG-13

SPOILERS? NO

REVIEWS

IMDB: 7.8 of 10

MY RATING: 8

STORYLINE

Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares to do battle with the First Order.

MY REVIEW

OMG! OMG! OMG! I was waiting for this one to come out for such a long time! I tried to remain spoiler free fro the most part but there were a handful of things that slipped past. Luckily for me, they did not ruin the movie. Since the news that Disney was taking over the Star Wars franchise I had mixed emotions. On one hand, I didn't want them to ruin the legacy that George Lucas created and on the other, I knew that Disney would revive the series and put out a lot more for me to watch. I am still torn.

I wanted to love this movie. I really did. I had the highest of hopes and was ready to write a review and call this movie a 10! I will not be doing so. I left the movie on Friday night with a kind of lack of enthusiasm that I do not expect from a Star Wars movie. It took a day or so and a few more viewings to really let the story sink in and I think that made it go from a strong 6 to a full on 8.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• The Last Jedi proposes a new idea that I absolutely love. YES, the Jedi Order CAN end. The Force does not need to live within a Jedi, but can live independently within us all. This was the strongest of the themes that stuck with me after the movie. I love the idea that each one of us caries some piece that can be awakened into magic!
• JOHN WILLIAMS- THIS IS STAR WARS. The Music off John Williams will always be the glue that hold all of the Star Wars universe together for me. It's classic. Its fun to listen to and it's forever.
• New worlds. New people. New circumstances.
• STAR WARS!!!!

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• I will not say too much as this is a spoiler-- Princess Leia. Seriously. Did that really happen? Couldn't they just let that one go and let us move on? No, so, no what? How are you going to deal with that in the next movie Rian Johnson!?
• Holdo? Hold on! I think the addition of new characters into the SW family is awesome. I love seeing new folks get a chance to love out their dreams in this universe! I think the story arch that she was in would have been more poignant if they had let Admiral Akbar or Leia take on that task. It would have left us with a more meaningful idea.
• There was a bit tooo much humor. I did enjoy some of the laughs as it did bring back some of the fun aspects of Episode 4. But it was a bit over the top.
• Kylo Ren's flip flopping. Just be bad or be good. Pick one and move the hell on!
• Benicio del Toro plays himself. Enough said.

What QUESTIONS do I now have?

• Snoke? I get it, he's just Snoke. He's not a different character reborn as Snoke. I know after the Empire fell the First Order took over with the Knights of Ren but they seems to have their shit together a little more than the Empire. I just need to understand Snoke's origin.
• Rey's Parents? Did Kylo Ten lie to her or are her parents "nobody" just like the young Anakin?

On a more personal note..... 

WE WERE ON THE NEWS! Terry and I were interviewed about our love of Star Wars! 

LINK HERE.

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave