Charlie's Angels (2019)

Okay...

So...

This happened...

I... am lost for words...

This did the impossible...

It makes the Charlie's Angels (2000) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) looks like masterpieces of cinema... (They were entertaining, not masterpieces of cinema)

What was Elizabeth Banks thinking!

What was Drew Barrymore (executive producer) thinking!?!

I am now afraid for He-Man, Master of the Universe (who is actually in this... Noah Centineo, and Sony is making it).

What the heck is Sam Claflin doing in this!!?!

And Sir Patrick Steward... I really REALLY hope he at least got a lot of remuneration for this!!!!!

It only bright spot is Jonathan Tucker proves that he can managed baddie roles..

Bad script, really REALLY bad script.

This movie... is a disaster.

This is Just My Two Sen.

The Invisible Man (2020)



I have not visited a cinema for quite some time now.

Firstly, there was not much offerings I was interested in (Eg. Fantasy Island was trashed by the critic and The Rescue was pulled from the cinema because of the Covid-19)

So, I went to the cinema today and thank goodness I did.

This is an excellent movie.

Director is Leigh Whannell

Writers is also Leigh Whannell (screenplay by), Leigh Whannell also did the screen story by... you see where this is going?

For the uninitiated, Leigh Whannell had been partner in crimes with James Wan since the Saw (2004).

He wrote Insidious and also directed one of them (the third one, if memory serves)

Back to this movie. Whoever is involved with the casting for this movie should also be commended (well I can think of one I would change, and have to add, I would be nitpicking)

Prior to the release of The Mummy (2017), Universal announced their monster unified universe, Dark Universe, trying to give MCU a run for their money. Many a project was announced and many a big names, named and signed to appeared in these high profile projects.

The Mummy (estimated budget of $125,000,000 made only $80,227,895 at the US box-office. Do bare in mind such big budget movies, have big budget marketing fund, usually in the USD100 millions range, you can see what kinda loses it was for Universal) bombed at the box-office (I honest think it was a decent movie, and would have faired much better, if it was NOT called The Mummy). With that, alot of people (including the creator, Alex Kurtzman) thought that the Dark Universe would go out with a whimper...

Well, Universal with Blum House made this, with a budget of USD 7,000,000 (bare in mind, each episode of Mandalorian is costing Disney+ USD 13,000,000...) and at last count, has a cumulative worldwide Gross of $102,226,015.

That is a GREAT return of investment and I hear, that Universal and Blum House is currently talking about a Dracula movie...

I enjoyed this movie immensely.

The amount of information that audience gather, in the first 10 mins of the movie, is equivalent to the storyline of the last Insidious movie. I was wondering why with Leigh Whannell writing the story for Insidious: The Last Key (2018), the story was so.... lean. After watching this, I suspect he was putting more effort into this script compared with that Insidious movie...

As mention, I like the cast. Elisabeth Moss was perfect for Cecilia Kass. She just fit the part, perfectly.

Haunted eyes, a ball of nervous energy, so.... broken.

With such limited budget, the "invisible" parts/effects were very convincing.

The ending...



2020 movies have been underwhelming.

If this indicate what is to come, for the rest of the year, I can only say, bring them on!!

My Two Sen

Onward (2020)

Pixar makes good movies.

Their ideas are usually unique, and they know how to deliver

They also, in Disney tradition, know how to deliver a family oriented movie, again, this movie deliver.

They are porpular movies and can attract big names to their production.

The "it" guys Tom Hollands and Chris Pratt are in this, playing brothers.

The movie has a comtemplorary feels with magic mixed in.

Because the MacGuffin in this movie is.... "so out there" I am not sure if the really young audience will "get" it.

I enjoyed this.

Not sure I will remember it in glorious details 6 months down the line, and have to emphasize, while I was watching it, I enjoy it.

My Two Sen

Midway (2019)

This movie had everything going for it.

Big Budget USD 100,000,000 (estimated)

Big cast Patrick Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Luke Evans, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Darren Criss? (miscast), Nick Jonas?? (another miscast). With this liast, you can see how much testosterone, was, on set.

Known director, Roland Emmerich.

In terms of script, the main character's name, says it all Dick Best (played by Ed Skrein), all the guys on the movie, spends most of the time comparing their "private's" sizes... Funny as it sounds, not easy to sit thru (no offence to the really Dick Best)...

Alot of historians have the opinion that WWII is the last just war America went into and I don't think this movie does that justice.

No offence to Nick Jones, I did the same thing here, I did when I saw him on the 25th Anniversary Les Miserable concert, I went.. "HUH"????

Every person in this movie is so... pedestrian. The movie viewers just... DON'T CARE...

I am watching the making of, now, and have to see, everything the producers/actors/script writer is saying about the movie, the opposite is true...

What a waste of the movie...

I can say nothing redeeming about this movie..

My Two Sen

I am NOT a war movie person, so my review of Midway is probably bias, having said that I have to say, I am obsess with 1917 at this point in time

Knives Out (2019)

Okay!

I admitted it, I am a BIG murder mystery fan.

I love the last Murder On The Orient Express (2017) based of an Agatha Christie's book.

I am looking forward to Murder on the Nile.

Columbo, A Murder She Wrote (that was an easter egg on this), Monk Alfred Hitchcock, et cetera, et cetera.

Rian Johnson (director) seems to be a dirty name to Star Wars fan (because of the diversive Last Jedi), this movie proves he is an amazing director.

To... purge himself of the Star Wars project, he did this. A story he had been toying with for a long time! What a story!!

The Cast, of my goodness, the cast, here is who is in this?

Daniel Craig (as Benoit Blanc)
Chris Evans (as Ransom Drysdale)
Ana de Armas (as Marta Cabrera)
Jamie Lee Curtis (as Linda Drysdale)
Michael Shannon (as Walt Thrombey)
Don Johnson (as Richard Drysdale)
Toni Collette (as Joni Thrombey)
LaKeith Stanfield (as Lieutenant Elliott)
Christopher Plummer (as Harlan Thrombey)
Jaeden Martell (the kid from IT) (as Jacob Thrombey)

Mind Blown!!!

Everyone one BROUGHT IT!!

Not in a competitive but a complimentary way.

Chris Evans has proven there are good roles after Captain America.

Christopher Plummer is still so good.

Ana de Armas a relatively new actress and went toe to toe with all these veteran actors!!

Daniel Craig, why I do declare, is he s southern colonel here!!?!

I don't want to spoil this for you.

Watch this.

You will not regret it

My Two Sen

Dolittle (2020)

I am actually flabbergasted...

Why?

The original movie, Doctor Dolittle (1967) did NOTHING at the box office...

Dr. Dolittle (1998) did okay, with Eddie Murphy.

What possess Robert Downey Jr to think that pumping his own money to make this movie, with him as the starer and the movie would make a mint?

Worst off, the whole movie, if you look at the movie poster, that is all Robert Downey Jr. did... Bored out of his mind...

Okay, I get he is trying to get the next generation opportunities

Namely, Harry Collett as Tommy Stubbins.

Okay, so he and Tom Holland hit is off in Spiderman.

I get it, it is good to have new blood to bounce things off...

It is a shame, the movie actually looks gorgeous (Robert Downey Jr. money at work) and have to add, everything else is just so .... meh...

My Two Sen

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

It is very hard to be original nowadays.

Who would have thunk, the person who I thought destroyed the Thor Movies, Taika Waititi, would develop a parody of WWII, which I would like.

The concept of a WWII parody movie isn't original. Just think Life Is Beautiful (1997) and Inglorious Basterds (2009, wow, that was 11 years back).

What Taika Waititi managed to achieve with this WWII parody through a fresh pair of eyes...

Instead of an amusing Jewish father, with a positive sense of humor or rewriting history from the perspective of America, this movie shows how, in wars, the characters are not one/two dimensional. There are many facets to a person... People do things in life, to... survive. Person are sometime "victims" of circumstance (eg from a perspective of a Nazi??)

I know, believe me, I am as surprised as you are, as I am typing this.

This is an excellent movie.

Will I revisit this again, probably not, because of the subject matter, and also because of what happens to Scarlet Johannson's character, that hit too close to home...

Having said that, it does not reduce how good a movie is.

I do not read up too much on movies that I have not seen, nowadays, so movie can still surprise me.

I am very glad I did that, because this movie, really a jolt to me.

If you have not watch this, I strongly recommend that you do.

My To Sen

My Spy (2020)

Dave Bautista (best known for his portrayal of Drax the Destroyer, in Guardians of the Galaxy movies, headlines this movie.

He seems to have transit to the movie world much better compared to John Cena who was last seen in the really bad Playing with Fire (2019).

This is directed by Peter Segal, who had directed comedic movies like Get Smart (2008), The Longest Yard (2005), 50 First Dates (2004) and Anger Management (2003) [to name some].

My main issue with this movie is, Dave Bautista was already in a similar movie call Stuber (2019)...

Is he being type cast??

Overall, okay movie, but why does Dave Bautista think he can dance??? He is so sure of himself, he does it TWICE here!!

The silver lining of this movie is Chloe Coleman, who plays Sophie Newton. She actually delivered. If she survived this movie, it may prove she has got what it take to survive ths jundgle call "The Movie Business"

A movie I recommend for a lazy Sunday afternoon. is you have got nothing else better to watch...

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Apr 19 2020, 02:32 AM

21 Bridges (2019)

So, what do you do when you had directed the most profitable movie of ALL time?... You go on to produce movies and you invite people you like back to you new sand box. Brothers Joe and Anthony Russo produced this.

Chadwick Boseman is now and forever be most recognised as T'Challa (Black Panther, sadly I understand he may not come back for Black Panther 2). He plays a cop here that has issues with cop killers.

And one night 7 were killed, so he goes after them.

Interesting also, Taylor Kitsch does nothing but bad guys roles now!!

Amazing what starring in two major bombs in one year can do to your career.

Also appear is everyone favorite JJ Jameson in Spidey, J. K. Simmons flex some acting skills here.

This movie got very mixed reviews, and have to add, I did not really pay attention during the first viewing, paying closer attention the second round, I did find the movie... gripping...

I found myself entertained by this.

This has one of the best gun shot sound in a movie in 2019.

My Two Sen.

Fantasy Island (2020)

When I first heard of this, I was ecstatic.

Then I found out it was by Blumhouse and they were giving it a horror treatment, I was over the moon!!

Then news trickled in that the reviews were poor... and then Covid-19 and then MCO, I missed it at the cinemas...

I had just finished watching this and it is...

**Sigh**

It started off promising. (Anyone watched it at the cinema? How did they show the two brother's bits?? The pool party, Their attraction to the opposite sex (or otherwise...)???

You usual quadrilogy structured movie, each character goes off and have their fantasy...

The middle happened and I went... huh?

And then the horrible third arch...

Over-reached much...

Great idea.

Terrible script.

Most horrible Cast (Why would you hire Michael Pena for this???? It is like hiring Jerry Lewis for Macbeth???? WHY???!!!???)

This movie actually made money.

Budget of 7 million made 35 million...

They should just make more Invisible Man (2020) rather than this...

Remember the Hervé Villechaize (Tattoo) running and excitedly proclaim, "The Plane, The Plane!"

I literally rolled my eyes when

Do they really expect to make a sequel of this... Kaka!?!

My Two Sen

The Goldfinch (2019)

Hot off his Baby Driver (2017) role, Ansel Elgort cast as Theo Decker in this early Oscar candidate for Best movie... turn out to be... NOT?

I... did not "get" the movie, until I worked on this review and discovered that the tagline for this movie is The Story of a Stolen Life...

That's when I "got" it?...

The movie is multi facet...

It could mean the life of the character Theo Decker.

It could mean the life of the character Pippa...

It could also mean the painting Goldfinch!!

So there movie is actually multi facet?...

I am getting ahead of myself.

This movie is well cast.

When the characters work, they work.

I understand that the source material, the book with the same title, is well received and Warner Bros paid a pretty penny for the movie right...

Unfortunately, the script was not well done or the direction... lost the plot?... One sec

The director, John Crowley, did Intermission (2003) and also some episodes of True Detective...

The movie is really choppy and the worst thing is that, you as an audience, are really not sure, who you should root for...

I really could NOT relate to... anyone?

And the weird thing is, I still got the ending...

Paint me... confused...

One other thing I have to get off my chest, what the heck was Nicole Kidman doing in THIS movie, in an almost nothing role...

Seriously, can someone tell me what I am missing?...

My Two Sen

Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion (2018)

I have read some of Asterix comic.

Truth to be told, I could never afford much comics or toys (Lego) growing, and any comics I read was from library source, and the libraries I have access to do not have a wide range...

I am not sure if you are familiar with the source material, so I will give you a little bsckground info.

Asterix is a brave Gaul warrior.

With his best friend Obelix and dog, he protects his Gaul village from the invading forces of Rome!


How is that possible you ask.

Well, the have a secret weapon, this village Druid can brew a special potion, that gives the drinker the strength of 40 men.

With this strength, this Gaul village has been successful in stopping the Romans from occupying their village.

Are you with me so far?

This movie start with druid Getafix, collecting the ingredient for his special brew.

During this period, he had an incident that made him decide, perhaps it is time for him to... retire, and before he can do so, he has to look for a successor.

Sounds intriguing?



I like this movie.

Really brings me back to the good old days, when I was able to find a copy of the comic and would read and enjoy an adventure of Asterix and gang.

I watch this is french and was able to get an English subtitle (after much tweaking) for it.

So be aware if this.

Okay the ending was a little to much, and have to add, I still enjoy this.

My Two Sen

The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)

Okay

This movie did something rare

It made me... feel

Note to directors out there, this is how you should approach movie about being inclusive.

Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz.

Starring
Zack Gottsagen ... Zak (as Zachary Gottsagen)
Dakota Johnson ... Eleanor
Shia LaBeouf ... Tyler
Thomas Haden Church ... Salt Water Redneck

About Zak, with Down Syndrome...

Shia LeBeouf proves, he can act.

He is not just "Optimus!!!!" and then run

Or is called "Mutt" in another franchise

This movie has.... depth and his character has a major input to that.

I have to say, I am impressed by this movie and truly enjoyed it.

My Two Sen

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

It is difficult to make sequels

More specifically, it is hard to make a good sequel...

And unfortunately, this sequel is not very good.

The gang came back for this (everyone has to pay rent/mortgage)

It tried to be "clever" and unfortunately, the opposite occurred.

Some new characters had been introduced, and have to add, I do not think they work...

If you love the first one, chances are you will not like this...

My Two Sen

P.S. The ending is a ripped off from one of the Resident Evil...

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Apr 23 2020, 03:03 PM

Skylinelover, The Good Son.

Ford Vs Ferrari (2019)

I don't like war movies.

I don't like sports movies.

2019 did something strange to me...

I absolutely love 1917 and now, I also absolutely love Ford Vs Ferrari!!!

You CAN teach old dogs new tricks...

Originally, the intention was to get Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt to star in this.

This movie ended up with Christian Bale and Matt Damon, and my goodness, they are magnificent!!

Ferrari has a racing pedigree.

Ford has mass production, American know how and We can do anything if we put our minds to it pedigree...

In the 60s, Ferrari was on the verge of financial ruin and Ford wanted in, at the racing arena.

Ford offered to buy Ferrari, they pitch them an offer, which Ford thought Ferrari could not refuse.

Fiat caught wind of this, and gave Ferrari a better offer, and Enzo Ferrari not only drop Ford's offer like a hot potato, he let Ford company know what he really thought about them and their owner (eg. Not flattering).

Henry Ford II took it personally and decided to hit back at where it will hurt Ferrari, by winning the Le Mans racing...

Ford started a racing division and invited the only American Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) to be part of the racing car design team.

Carroll Shelby invited British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) to be in this team as well...

Will the mavericks survive the corporate culture of Ford Motors?

This movie grabbed me (in a good way) from the start to finished.

Oh Noah Jupe is Peter Miles (Ken's son) in this.

Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe and Josh Lucas all brought their A game!!

So to sum up this movie, I will subject you to my singing,

I'm H-A-P-P-Y,
I'm H-A-P-P-Y,
I know I am,
I'm sure I am,
I'm H-A-P-P-Y!

That, is my Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Apr 27 2020, 11:56 AM

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

I say this once, I say this again, Warner Bros. Animation in terms of story telling, is running rings around the Warner Bros Feature Films.

It really did go... dark.

Darkseid mixed Doomsday into his Para-Demons, making them, Para-Dooms.

And the main characters here are John Constantine and the magical characters from DC...

So what happened to the other heroes?

Superman
Batman
Shazam
Green Lantern
Wonder Woman
Hawkman
Nightwing
The Flash etc?

Well... Seeing would be believing...

I don't want to spoil this for you, if you like DC and you like the animation done by DC so far, you should like this.

Saw this on 1080p, video and sound is actually good.

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 16 2020, 02:17 PM

Trolls World Tour (2020)

Director: Walt Dohrn

Voice Actors: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, James Corden, Sam Rockwell, Kelly Clarkson and many many more...

This is basically one continuous music video, one after another, squandering all the talents above...

Why????

And having Kenan Thompson as Tiny Diamond, a comic relieve, in a basically light-hearted, techno-colored, endless music videos, is just so... pointless.

So in short, lots of talents in an ultra sugar coated MTV.

You should have a glazed over look on your face while you watch this.

And after viewing, I don't think you can recall anything you had just watched...

Am I making sense...



My Two Sen...

Scoob! (2020)

Okay!

Another V.O.D. animation (well at least in the States), this time spreadheaded by Scooby Doo.

Another origins movie (about how Scooby Dobby Doo and Shaggy ended up as besties)

Truth to be told, there really is no reason for any form of continuity for Scooby and Gang, each has its merit (or otherwise) and truthfully, I... am getting ahead of myself!

It does actually channel the "spirit" of the original Scooby Doo TV series and surprisingly, updates the different characters to more present day environment...

This movie is also attempting to expend the universe of Scooby Doo (basically all the Hanna Barbera series, may in the future, appear in Scooby Doo as well), which is great!

Scooby Doo's... heritage is surprisingly also touch on, and what a heritage it is!

Who knows, maybe in the next one, Shaggy's heritage maybe revealed!

II actually enjoyed this.

I hope they make more, along the lines of this, in the future.

My Two Sen