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Mr-Topshotta
Reviews
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
"EDGE OF TOMORROW" REVIEW
Directed by Doug Liman. A runtime of one hour and fifty-three minutes. Streaming on Netflix with a PG-13 rating. Based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka's novel "All You Need Is to Kill."
"Cage," played by Tom Cruise, is a high-ranking officer. His only task is to promote the armed forces and to get people to join. He's pretty much a high-class recruiting officer. But this isn't your normal recruitment situation.
After talking to "General Brigham," played by Brendan Gleeson, "Cage" is enlisted by him and given a bogus story to make sure he doesn't run. What might "Cage" be scared of? Well, on top of having no battle experience, let alone training. The human race is at war with an alien species, and D-day is tomorrow.
After pleading with "Master Sergeant Farell," played by Bill Paxton. "Cage" is forced to go into battle. Once encountering one of the aliens during battle, the alien accidentally gives him a blessing and curse.
"Cage" no longer can die. Well, he can; it just won't last. Every time he dies, he wakes up the morning of D-day, reliving this day over and over. You watch him try to link up with the best soldier they have, "Rita," played by Emily Blunt. Together they try to come up with a plan to annihilate the aliens before the human race goes extinct.
"Edge of Tomorrow" was a top-tier action film. I mean, it had Tom Cruise in it. He doesn't mess around when it comes to action flicks. Emily Blunt held her own as well. Making the film a lot of fun to watch.
The script was great, the plot was intriguing, and it never had a boring moment. I was intrigued from the start. Even with you having to watch particular scenes over and over. It was done right.
I can't say anything bad. I just wish they would make a second one. There've been rumblings of them doing a sequel, but it never comes to fruition. I give this film five mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯.
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Logan Lucky (2017)
"LOGAN LUCKY" REVIEW
Directed by Steven Soderbergh. A runtime of one hour and fifty-eight minutes. Streaming on Netflix with a PG-13 rating.
"Jimmy Logan," played by Channing Tatum, is a man with so much potential, but somehow things never work out. His brother "Clyde," played by Adam Driver, got hurt in the Iraq war. He lost a hand and is currently a bartender at the local bar in North Carolina.
Their sister "Mellie," played by Riley Keough, works at the local saloon. All three of them could've been something more than they are. But locally, everyone associates them with the "Logan Curse."
Regardless, "Jimmy" is fed up and refuses to accept that reasoning anymore. His ex-wife "Bobbie Jo," played by Katie Holmes, needs more money for their daughter "Sadie," played by Farrah Mackenzie. "Bobbie" is threatening to move and to take "Sadie" with her.
"Jimmy" comes up with a plan with his brother to pull off the ultimate heist during a NASCAR race. He just needs the expertise of a criminal already locked up named "Joe Bang," played by Daniel Craig. Once he joins the team, he gets his brothers "Fish," played by Jack Quaid, and "Sam," played by Brian Gleeson, to also join the team.
Watch as this odd group of county folk try to pull off an unthinkable heist.
"Logan Lucky" wasn't necessarily my cup of tea. It was already county, but they leaned into it. They wanted to come off; the more the backwoods, the better. The accents and the stupidity a lot of the characters displayed weren't for me.
On the flip side. The cast was amazing. Full of talented actors, and technically they acted their butts off. It was a clever film that showed actors playing parts you would've never guessed.
The ending had an "Ocean's 11" feel to it, or any "Oceans" film for that matter. I was glued to the ending to see how it all played out. The subject matter and the characters might not have been my cup of tea, but it was a good film. It didn't take much objectivity to see that. It's not your everyday heist film, which is the intriguing part about it. I give it four mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯.
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River Runs Red (2018)
"RIVER RUNS RED" REVIEW
Directed and written by Wes Miller. A runtime of one hour and thirty-four minutes. Streaming on Peacock and Prime Video.
"Judge Charles Coleman, Sr." played by Taye Diggs is married to an Asian woman named "Eve," played by Jennifer Tao. They have a son together named "CJ," played by Joseph Belk.
This family had a dream life. But this wasn't where they started from. They had to work hard for this.
"CJ," a bright young man, wanted to follow in his parent's footsteps. With a judge for a dad, a cop for a mom, and a family friend "Horace," played by John Cusack in law enforcement. "CJ" had nothing in his presence that would and could stop him, or at least that's what he thought.
Two cops, "Rory," played by Gianni Capaldi, and "Von," played by Luke Hemsworth the younger brother of Liam and Chris Hemsworth, stopped "CJ" for a bogus traffic stop. This resulted in them killing this kid with all this promise and getting away with it.
After "Judge Charles Coleman" tried to bring them to justice the right way. He ends up taking matters into his own hands to make sure justice is served.
"River Runs Red" was a triggering mess. It took me a couple of days to watch it because it was so triggering. Then, when I finally finished it, I felt even worse. Not only was it triggering, but it was a Godawful film.
It's nothing worse than actors in a film that you know can act and still deliver a crap performance. This was some of the worst acting I've seen from professionals in a while. On top of that, the script didn't do them any favors.
The plot I could somewhat get with, but the execution was the worst. The transitioning from one scene to the next. Then the overall ending was terrible. You can't have George Lopez in a film without some humor. His character was as serious as they come, but he still had comedic timing even without trying.
The film was serious in the first half. I had to double-check and read the synopsis again. Because it didn't seem like it was headed in that direction. But after the serious part was over and Taye Diggs's character decided to go a different route, the film went to hell in a handbasket.
The monologues got wonky. It was like Taye Diggs was trying to be hood. Nothing was explained; they just rushed things on. Then a lot wasn't believable. Not sure what Wes Miller was trying to do. I could go on and on. Like if a judge went crooked, you would think they know how to move. Has no one watched "Your Honor"?
This film pissed me off in ways I didn't think I would or could get pissed. All accumulating to make one horrid piece of cinema. I give this film one mor fire π₯.
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Incoming (2024)
"INCOMING" REVIEW
Directed and written by Dave Chernin. A runtime of one hour and thirty-one minutes. Streaming on Netflix with an R rating.
Four freshmen friends, "Benj," played by Mason Thames; "Eddie," played by Ramon Reed; "Connor," played by Raphael Alejandro; and "Koosh," played by Bardia Seiri, are trying to navigate high school.
"Benj" has a crush on "Bailey," played by Isabella Ferreira. She's "Benj" sister "Alyssa," played by Ali Gallo, best friend. All the boy's hormones are raging and they are having a hard time adapting to high school. "Koosh" older brother "Kayvon," played by Kayvan Shai, is throwing the party of all parties at just the perfect time.
The hottest girl in school, "Katrina," played by Loren Gray, will be there along with people who shouldn't be there, like the science teacher, "Mr. Studebaker," played by Bobby Cannavale.
This is the night for these four friends to make a name for themselves. Especially for "Koosh" to get out of his brother's shadow. It also gives the potential for "Benj" to finally make a move on "Bailey." In this new age, "Superbad."
"Incoming" was surprisingly funny. I thought it would be cheesy. Don't get me wrong, the ending had a whole Smorgasbord of cheese, but the film as a whole still provided a lot of humor.
It was like a gumbo of a diet "Superbad," "Project X, "Good Boys," and "American Pie." I saw elements of all those films in this film. It wasn't on par with those films. It was clearly in the same family though. It's like a third cousin.
I liked the majority of the film. The ending was kind of weak. It went from funny to strictly canned cheese by the very end. That still didn't take away from what I previously watched. I give it a surprising four mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯.
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Uglies (2024)
"UGLIES" REVIEW
Directed by McG. A runtime of one hour and forty minutes. Streaming on Netflix with a PG-13 rating.
In a world that's pretty simple. Either you're ugly or pretty. Technology is rampant everywhere. People are still obsessed with social media like they are today, but it's more high-tech.
"Tally," played by Joey King, is about to turn sixteen. When you turn that age, you can ascend to a new world, which is really across the bridge. This place has nothing but pretty people. At that age, you can leave the new-age boarding school you're living at.
A high-tech company run by "Dr. Cable," played by Laverne Cox, runs the show. They provide any augmentation you want. You can become your perfect self. At least that's one of their slogans.
"Tally" best friend "Peris," played by Chase Stokes, turns sixteen a few months before her. But they promised one another that once it's time, they will be best friends in the pretty world too.
After "Peris" left, "Tally" got close to another student, "Shay," played by Brianne Tju. Their bond grew so much that when the time came to ascend to the pretty world, "Shay" asked "Tally" not to go. Instead go to a place run by a man named "David," played by Keith Powers.
In the place he runs, you can live a normal life away from the superficial world and live the life God intended you to. Since in the pretty world, you can't age and you'll be that way forever.
"Tally" will not only be forced to make an ultimate decision, but she may also find out that the pretty world isn't all that it's cracked up to be in this odd film.
"Uglies" wasn't for me. I didn't watch the trailer and just saw that it was a new release. I saw Joe King in it, which I liked in her last film. But this film was meant for someone younger.
Originally, this was a novel by Scott Westerfeld. I'm sure it was a young adult book. Regardless, it didn't convert well to film. The premise seems dumb. Yes, it has some underlined truth and a bigger message, but it was too ridiculous to convey that.
This film seemed like a diet or wannabe "Divergent" "Hunger Games" blend. I did not enjoy any of this and frankly couldn't comprehend the fact I was watching it. The funny part was that everyone looked good.
They weren't ugly, and after their transformation, most of them turned ugly. I guess you can't take that gem with you. A hard pass for me. I give this film one mor fire π₯.
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Transformers (2007)
"TRANSFORMERS" REVIEW
Directed by Michael Bay. A runtime of two hours and twenty-four minutes. Streaming on Paramount+. With a PG-13 rating.
"Sam Witwicky," played by Shia LaBeouf, is a dorky high school teenager. He has a crush on the hottest girl in school, "Mikaela," played by Megan Fox, like most kids do. "Sam" recently got his first car, a yellow Mustang, but something is off.
Meanwhile in the Middle East, "Captain Lennox," played by Josh Duhamel, "USAF Tech Sergeant Epps," played by Tyrese Gibson, and the rest of their unit were attacked by an unknown force. That has never been seen before.
"Maggie Madsen," played by Rachael Taylor, works for "Defense Secretary John Keller," played by Jon Voight. "Maggie" enlists the help of her friend "Glen," played by Anthony Anderson, when she discovers a secret hidden signal.
What do all these different people have in common? "Sam's" new older car he just bought. His car is a soldier from an ancient alien race from the planet "Cybertron." His name is "Bumblebee," voiced by Mark Ryan. He can transform into a robotic being.
"Bumblebee" fights for the good side called the "Autobots" under his leader named "Optimus Prime," voiced by Peter Cullen. When there is a good, there is also a bad. They are called the "Decepticons," led by "Megatron," voiced by Hugo Weaving. He is currently being held by a secret agency led by "Agent Simmons," played by John Turturro, and "Tom Banacheck," played by Michael O'Neill.
"Sam" has something vital to both sides. It's a lot of moving parts and miniature battles going on, on all fronts. It's up to "Sam," his new friends in high places, and his alien allies the "Autobots" to stop the "Decepticons" from causing certain destruction.
"Transformers" was legit. Now almost eight films in. This was the first live-action film based on the 1980s cartoon.
I love "Transformers." I still have some old-school toys that I robbed from my brothers. I remember when the teaser trailer first came out. It just showed the letters in the title transforming.
My boys and I would hit up the biggest screens we could find and watch the film multiple times. I did this for the longest. The original films were a lot of fun. My brother used to give me crap about these films but I didn't care. They eventually went through a dry spell. But it seems that they found their groove again.
Michael Bay was the perfect director for the job. Shia LaBeouf was young but talented. He was the right person to carry this franchise. This film was always meant to be on a massive scale, and it was. The humor was spot on, even though there were a lot of moving parts. It flowed effortlessly. Megan Fox was the perfect leading lady as well.
I used to love hearing Linkin Park toward the end of the film. When I was looking for something to watch, I stopped on this and had to throw it on. It's been almost twenty years since it originally came out, which is nuts to think about.
This film is just as good as it was back then. The jokes still hit, the action is still grand, and it's still entertaining. I give this film five mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯.
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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
"BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE" REVIEW
Directed by Tim Burton. A runtime of one hour and forty-four minutes, with a PG-13 rating.
"Lydia," played by Winona Ryder, is all grown up. History repeats itself as now her daughter "Astrid," played by Jenna Ortega, not only hates her potential stepdad "Rory," played by Justin Theroux, but her mom "Lydia" as well.
"Astrid" isn't as dark and twisty as "Lydia" was when she was her age, but she is her child. "Astrid" doesn't believe her mom. She thinks if she truly had powers she would see her father, "Richard," played by Santiago Cabrera. But instead, she feels "Lydia is making millions from scamming people that she sees ghosts. Little does she know.
After a recent death in the family."Delia," played by Catherine O'Hara, who has a much better relationship with "Lydia" now. Along with the rest of the family, head back to Winter River for the funeral.
On the other side of the spectrum, "Beetlejuice," played by Michael Keaton, is being hunted by his ex-wife, "Delores," played by Monica Bellucci. "Astrid and this boy she met in the winter river, "Jermey," played by Arthur Conti, gets into some trouble after opening a door to the afterlife.
Old acquaintances "Lydia" and "Beetlejuice" will reunite again to help each other's problems. While also being hunted by "Wolf Jackson," played by Willem Dafoe and the afterlife police. In this sequel to Tim Burton's classic "Beetlejuice,".
"Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" felt like it did when I was younger. Just with better graphics and more going on. Shout out to Catherine O'Hara and Monica Bellucci, whom you might remember from that infamous kiss scene with Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix Reloaded." They both are aging gracefully and look great.
This film had a lot going on, but it gelled perfectly. I won't lie, at times I didn't know if I was watching "Beetlejuice" or "Wednesday." Jenna Ortega and Tim Burton mesh well. She was pissing me off during the film. I couldn't wait until she got a dose of reality in the film. Trust she got it.
It was interesting seeing an adult "Lydia." She was so different than when she was younger. "Lydia" was a people-pleaser now, and that wasn't like her. She still brought the "Lydia" vibe, just in a different way.
I can't end this without talking about the legend Michael Keaton. He did not disappoint as "Beetlejuice." Still wacky as ever with the wild one-liners. Winona and his connection were perfect.
The new cast members added what needed to be added. Some stuff was predictable but it didn't matter. Overall, you're getting a wild experience with a lot going on. Buckle up for the ride. It brought a lot of nostalgia while adding new elements for the new fans. I enjoyed it with my family. It's probably one of the last films we will see together for a while. It was a good send-off. I give this film five mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯.
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Gary (2024)
"GARY" REVIEW
Directed by Robin Dashwood. A runtime of one hour and thirty-one minutes. Streaming on Peacock.
This documentary explores the once-child actor Gary Coleman and a litany of issues that plagued his life.
They dive into his rise to fame and the magnetic energy Gary had at such a young age. You find out about the critical medical issues he had. Also how fame was a blessing and a curse. Then the tragic events that led to his financial strain and his suspicious death.
Open the door and look inside the life of such a complicated human who was done dirty from the beginning of his life. In this Peacock documentary.
"Gary" wasn't what I expected. I vaguely remember hearing about it from the "Joe Budden Podcast." I threw it on frankly because I was always told when I was younger I looked like Gary Coleman and Emmanuel Lewis from "Webster" too. But mainly Gary. I'm assuming because I was dark-skinned and had chubby cheeks.
Regardless, I put this on and didn't realize the rollercoaster I was about to experience. I didn't know Gary had a kidney transplant at age five and that he spent quite a bit of time with no kidney in his body. Which is crazy.
I learned about his relationship with his fellow castmates Todd Bridges and Dana Plato. How they had bets on who would die first. Then learned about how the relationship started to sour as he got a little bigheaded.
Then to learn about his parents and the people who were supposed to look out for him were robbing him. I vaguely remember that court trial too. Seeing that was a little surreal.
If that wasn't bad enough Gary had no money from all the hard work he put in. He filmed multiple episodes sick. His health was poor, then his mental health followed. He had nothing to show from his career but still had the fandom of someone you would think is rich. Then resenting his fame altogether. So much so that Gary constantly got into altercations from it. People treated him like a prop instead of a human being.
Gary lost so much trust in people. He only trusted his good friend Dion Mial. But because of his mistreatment by the people that should've cared for him the most. Gary put too much trust in a specific woman, Shannon Price, his ex-wife.
This woman was heartless and did stuff that would get you a First class ticket straight to hell. The stuff she did, like making him make her pizza rolls after getting dialysis. Not put pressure on his wound when he fell because it was too much blood. To even her being the one to officially end his life but take a selfie to sell beforehand. Which honestly made her look even more suspicious.
This documentary infuriated me. Everyone took advantage of Gary and sucked him dry until he had nothing left. Gary was depressed and hated what fame brought to his life. He died alone with a leach sucking him dry even to his death bed.
I'm sorry so many people failed you, Gary Coleman. Thank you so much for everything you contributed to the entertainment world. A good documentary; just be prepared to be sad and mad. I give this documentary four mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯. RIP Gary Coleman.
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Rebel Ridge (2024)
"REBEL RIDGE" REVIEW
Directed and written by Jeremy Saulnier. A runtime of two hours and eleven minutes. Streaming on Netflix.
"Terry," played by Aaron Pierre, is an ex-marine who used to be a part of a specific elite force. He just sold a small business and is traveling through a small town in Alabama on a mountain bike with thirty-six thousand dollars. "Terry" plan is to bail his cousin "Mike" played C. J. LeBlanc out with part of the money.
Until "Officer Evan Marston," played by David Denman, runs "Terry" down. When his backup arrives, "Officer Steve Lann," played by Emory Cohen, arrives. They not only threaten him with a bunch of false charges. They seize all of the money. The same money that "Terry" needs to bail out his cousin before it's too late. These officers, matter of fact, the whole department is being run by a crooked police chief, "Chief Sandy Burnne," played by Don Johnson.
After trying to get his money back the right way and even going to a local lawyer in town, "Summer McBride," played by AnnaSophia Robb, "Terry" still can't get his funds back from this racist police chief. After exhausting all options, he puts his tactical training to use and goes toe to toe with this corrupt police department.
"Rebel Ridge" started with a bang. Before I even get into it, Aaron Pierre needs to be the leading face of an action franchise. Marvel or DC, someone needs to pick him up. He was a bad motherlover the entire film. As my daughter said, he was also fine. Aaron is the perfect actor to lead something magnificent.
When it comes to this film, it starts heavy and forces you to be invested. You immediately hate these racist officers and can't stand the chief when he enters the picture.
I remember hitting to see how much time was left and noticed there was still quite a bit of time left. Both my daughter and I were pumped because the film was so good. But as more time went on, we felt like hamsters on a hamster wheel. The film was going nowhere.
I get it; it might be problematic to show a black guy killing police officers. They made sure to say and show that Aaron Pierre's character "Terry" didn't use lethal force. They still could've given us more hardcore scenes more often.
I wish Jeremy Saulnier got some help with the ending. Not only could they have cut thirty minutes off, but they could've used some of that time elsewhere. Then the witty one-liners eventually got redundant. I was waiting for this ultimate standoff between "Terry" and this police force that never really came, honestly.
At first, I couldn't tell if one person wrote and directed it, but by the ending, I sure could. Eventually, the writing started to take a dip. It was clear he didn't know how to end it. Some of the scenes didn't make sense. He even started to take away some of the mystic "Terry" built up throughout the film.
Both my daughter and I were extremely disappointed by the end. There were multiple flaws in the script. If someone had told me at the beginning this film would be lower than five mor fires, I would've said that's blasphemy. No way. But indeed it was. I give this film four mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯. It's still a good rating, but this had so much promise for more.
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Alien: Romulus (2024)
"ALIEN: ROMULUS" REVIEW
Directed and co-written by Fede Alvarez. A runtime of one hour and fifty-nine minutes with an R rating.
"Rain," played by Cailee Spaeny, and her Android brother "Andy," played by David Jonsson, live in a mining colony. Their parents are dead, just like most people their age. "Rain" has a dream of getting out there and going to a planet where "Andy" and she can see the sun.
"Tyler," played by Archie Renaux, is "Rain's" ex and comes with the perfect plan to speed up their wishes. It was a perfect plan, at least to him. "Tyler," his sister "Kay," played by Isabela Merced, their cousin "Bjorn," played by Spike Fearn, and his girlfriend "Navarro," played by Aileen Wu, have a plan to scavenge a derelict space station.
When they get there, they'll wish they never stepped foot on that space station. They will encounter terrors they've never seen or could imagine before.
"Alien: Romulus" was a perfect monster horror flick. I wasn't scared most of the time, only sometimes. They did have a scene that I wasn't expecting, and it made me jump out of my seat.
If you like the "Alien" franchise, then you will love this one. Fede Γlvarez did an excellent job directing and co-writing. Even with not having the full responsibility of writing the whole script. That can be a lot for people sometimes. Not for Fede.
It was disgusting, and it had a subsequent number of those scenes. They also had a lot of low-key sexual scenes. Which, of course, was mixed with the disgusting scenes. So it added to that feeling of yuck it gave you.
Now that we have so many "Alien" films, if you ever wondered about the chronological order, here you go.
"Alien vs. Predator" (2004)
"Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem" (2007)"Prometheus" (2012)
"Alien Covenant" (2017)
"Alien" (1979)"Alien: Romulus" (2024)
"Aliens" (1986)
"Alien 3" (1992)
"Alien: Resurrection" (1997)
It was nice seeing Ian Holm reprise his role as "Rook," even if it was through AI. I enjoyed this film a lot. The plot and script were spot-on. It gave you that nostalgic "Alien" feeling. We all know about this franchise from top to bottom at this point but it's cool that it can still reinvent itself after all these years.
I saw it on IMAX, which made the experience grander. Even with the screen messing up a couple of times. I had one issue with the script, but that's me nitpicking. I give it five mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯. RIP Ian Holm
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A Simple Favor (2018)
"A Simple Favor" Review
Directed by Paul Feig. A runtime of one hour and fifty-seven minutes. Streaming on Netflix with an R rating.
"Stephanie Smothers," played by Anna Kendrick, is a single mother to her son, "Miles," played by Joshua Satine. "Stephanie" lost her brother "Chris," played by Dustin Milligan, and her husband "Davis," played by Eric Johnson, to a horrible accident.
She is bored and having trouble trying to get traction for her parenting vlog. One day she sees "Emily Nelson," played by Blake Lively, picking up her son "Nicky," played by Ian Ho. "Emily's" husband, "Sean," played by Henry Golding, is a writer.
This family seems well-off and interesting. Especially to someone like "Stephanie," who's living a boring life now. After befriending "Emily" and them seemingly growing a tight bond, "Emily" randomly vanishes. This prompts "Stephanie" to investigate. Which only opens up Pandora's box, letting both "Stephanie" and "Emily's secrets out for the world to see. In this psychological thriller.
"A Simple Favor" truly started infectious. Both Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively were playing up their characters perfectly. In Anna's case, it's a little too perfect. But regardless, it was entertaining, and you wanted to know more.
As you got to the middle, nearing the end, it looked like a high-rated film. Then the ending took place. Which made absolutely no sense. They could've opted to take the meal out of the oven so everyone could enjoy it. Instead, they took the meal out of the oven and threw it in the air fryer on high for an additional twenty minutes. Overcooking the hell out of this meal(film).
It just makes you wonder why. Not only were they trying to do too much to make their twist at the ending, But it made it more predictable when they were trying to go the other way.
What Anna Kendrick's character "Stephanie" was doing at the end made zero sense. "Stephanie" was a completely different character than she was in eighty percent of the film. The decisions they were making were all wrong. It turned a joyous film into a miserable one.
I'm finding this issue becoming more and more common. It's like they don't know how to wrap up a film. I'm especially seeing this issue in writer-director Combo. That didn't apply to this film surprisingly, but this has happened a few times with Paul Feig films. Just saying.
I gave this film a low three mor fires π₯π₯π₯ know I wanted to give it two mor fires honestly. The only reason I didn't was because of how much I enjoyed most of the film. Which should also show you how bad the ending must have been.
I watched it with family, and everyone felt the same way. We were all flustered by the drastic turn of events. Beware of the high and low journey this film will take you on.
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Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024)
"HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA, CHAPTER 1" REVIEW
Directed, co-written, and starring Kevin Costner. A runtime of three hours and one minute. Streaming on MAX with an R rating.
"Frances Kittredge," played by Sienna Miller, her daughter "Elizabeth," played by Georgia MacPhail, and the rest of her family are new settlers in this "Horizon" settlement. A bunch of settlers were sold land in the mid-1800s.
There was only one problem. This land was run by "Pionsenary," played by Owen Crow Shoe and the Apaches. They did not want anyone on their land, and they handled that accordingly.
This prompts "Trent Gephart," played by Sam Worthington, a high-ranking officer in the Union Army, to come to the aid of the people at "Horizon."
While this is going on, "Hayes Ellison," played by Kevin Costner, a trader, finds himself in the middle of a family feud. He links up with "Marigold," played by Abbey Lee, who's currently looking after a young child. "Hayes" does his best to keep them safe, falling for "Marigold" in the process.
You also have a few other storylines spanning fifteen years of pre- and post-civil war in the American West.
"Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1" is Kevin Costner's baby. Originally, he had issues with the pay discrepancy on "Yellowstone." I think he was banking on this massive project. Originally, this was supposed to be a four-film franchise. With the first film having a budget of over $100 million.
The only thing is that I think some missteps were taken. The budget is one, too much going on, and timing. I also wonder if he was back on "Yellowstone," which is a popular western TV series on Paramount+. But people were pissed that he wasn't coming back.
After watching this film, I think the cast alone was expensive. They already started filming the second film, which stopped, and all plans for sequels have stopped. It was a massive flop. This should have been a TV series. Something they could take their time with and slowly build.
If he wanted to do films, then start small and build up from there. The way the film ends is confusing, along with the film as a whole. Way too much is going on. Time jumps; it's a lot to follow. But it ends with the assumption of the story continuing because nothing gets resolved in the first film, mind you, it's three hours long.
The acting was good, and it was shot well. It looked like a true western. I just think he tried doing too much too soon, and his other main show played a part in the success or lack thereof. Also, when it came out, it was horrible timing. This summer was filled with blockbusters. This wasn't the right time for this film.
I don't know if the sequel will ever see the light of day or not. Warner Bros. Took a chance on it, and they immediately sent it to streaming. Maybe it will do well there. If so, then there is a chance for at least a sequel, but I doubt you will ever see the four film installments. A decent western with too much going on, I give this three mor fires π₯π₯π₯.
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Blink Twice (2024)
"BLINK TWICE" REVIEW
They were directed and co-written by ZoΓ« Kravitz-a runtime of one hour and forty-two minutes with an R rating.
"Frida," played by Naomi Ackie, and her best friend and roommate "Jess," played by Alia Shawkat, barely make it as cocktail waitresses. "Frida" is obsessed with tech billionaire "Slater," played by Channing Tatum.
It's "Frida" lucky night as "Jess" and her are working a bougie event that's honoring "Slater" of all people. "Slater" has a checkered past but seems to have turned a new leaf. He invested a lot of time in his therapist, "Rich," played by Kyle MacLachlan. His assistant, "Stacy," played by Geena Davis, also seems to make sure he stays on the right path.
After "Frida" bumps into "Slater," literally. They hit it off. After a night of what should've been working, turned into a night of bliss. Before the night is over, "Slater" invites "Jess" and "Frida" to come to his island with his good friends "Vic," played by Christian Slater, "Cody," played by Simon Rex, "Tom," played by Haley Joel Osment, and "Lucas," played by Levon Hawke.
Along with three beautiful women "Sarah" played by Adria Arjona, "Camilla" played by Liz Caribel, and "Heather" played by Trew Mullen.
With only the workers up keeping the island, "Slater" assistant "Stacy" and his bodyguard "Stan," played by Cris Costa.
This group of people are poised for the time of their lives. But soon, unexplainable, strange things will start to happen, and reality will start to become a blur. In this psychological thriller.
"Blink Twice" was ZoΓ« Kravitz's directorial debut. Not only did she direct, but she also wrote this film, which is a huge task. ZoΓ« Kravitz did not disappoint. It was only fitting that she had her fiancΓ©, Channing Tatum, play the lead role. He did a phenomenal job, by the way.
The cast was small, but it had a handful of seasoned and skilled actors. Everyone played their part and did it magnificently.
I truly enjoyed this film. The plot and script were captivating. There weren't any dry spots. Everything seemed purposeful, with no wasteful shots. Then, when the film started to kick up, it only further enticed your appetite.
The ending was great and not what I expected. It was clever. ZoΓ« Kravitz truly knocked it out of the park her first time at bat. It's going to be hard to top this, but that's a good problem to have.
This film made you wonder why someone as rich as "Slater" would act this way. You can have the pick of the litter, especially if women willingly come to your island. The odds of you being able to get with them are naturally higher. Why do certain despicable things?
Unfortunately, this was believable. Point in case Jeffery Epstein. At the root, people are sick and greedy, no matter how much they have. Zoe Kravitz did an excellent job of having some harsh scenes done tastefully. I give this film five mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯.
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The Union (2024)
"THE UNION" REVIEW
Directed by Julian Farino-a runtime of one hour and forty-seven minutes. Streaming on Netflix with a PG-13 rating.
"Roxanne Hall," played by Halle Berry, is a part of a secret intelligence agency like the FBI run by "Tom Brennan," played by J. K. Simmons, called "The Union." After a mission goes sideways involving a fellow agent, "Nick Faraday," played by Mike Colter.
Something is going on, and it seems like the bad guys have their number. With agents on the team like "Athena," played by Alice Lee, "Frank," played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and "Foreman," played by Jackie Earle Haley. They need to think outside the box.
The union already has an unusual way of recruiting agents. But this one will hit a little closer to home. "Roxanne" gets the help of her old high school boyfriend, "Mike McKenna," played by Mark Wahlberg. "Mike" is a construction worker and a homebody. He still lives in Paterson, New Jersey. It's the same town "Roxanne" and he was raised in.
There is an auction going on run by "Juliet Quinn," played by Jessica De Gouw. She is auctioning some highly classified items in a short time frame. It's a steep learning curve, but "Roxanne" and the rest of her counterparts will try to get "Mike" used to the world of espionage in this spy comedy.
"The Union" was an odd film. The premise of the film didn't make much sense. The script was cheesy and didn't utilize the capabilities of these seasoned A-listers. It's not every day when you can say Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg are starring in a film together.
Despite them knowing each other in real life for multiple decades, I didn't think they displayed a lot of chemistry. They were high school sweethearts but didn't have one kissing scene in the entire film. They're good friends, and that's how it came off.
This applies to both actors. They are amazing, and they're forever immortalized for the decades of work they contributed to cinema. But the films they've been choosing as of late have been horrible. They are overqualified for most of the films they've been doing.
I feel like their talents are going to waste. But at least the pay is good. This was, at best, a mediocre film with cheesy and forced dialogue. I give this film three mor fires π₯π₯π₯.
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Untold: The Murder of Air McNair (2024)
"UNTOLD: THE MURDER OF AIR MCNAIR" REVIEW
Directed by Rodney Lucas and Taylor Alexander Ward. A runtime of fifty-seven minutes. Streaming on Netflix.
This documentary starts on the fatal day of July 2009, when the superstar NFL quarterback Steve McNair and Sahel "Jenni" Kazemi were found dead by Steve's friend Robert Shaddy.
You watch as Nashville Detective Charles Robinson breaks down the case and his findings as the case progresses. While diving into Steve McNair's early days enrolled at Alcorn State University. Showing you how he chose a historically black college that let him develop and display his God-given talent of being a quarterback. Rather than going to a bigger university and playing a defensive back like they wanted him to.
You see him become a high first-round pick in the 1995 NFL draft. Hearing first-hand thoughts from his head coach at the time, Jeff Fisher. Watching how Steve maneuvered as his team moved from Houston to Tennessee. Along with the magical journey, he took this team on.
They show you a healthy blend, going back and forth about what was currently happening after his murder along with the events that led up to it.
"Untold: The Murder of Air McNair" was a decent documentary. In the "Untold" series specifically, it was one of the ones I was most anticipated for. But the final cut wasn't better than other "Untold" documentaries I've watched in the past or documentaries in general.
A lot of the information I already knew. I was hoping to get new or more information altogether. I've seen 30 for 30's done better than this. I don't mean to come off like it was terrible but I felt like they left a ton out.
Even when they were talking about Adrian Gilliam, who was another person of interest in the murder. It just ended with them diving into that person. Like, hello, what happened after they looked deeper into this person of interest?
I just felt short-changed. I felt like I'd seen this story already and told better. I'm a Colts fan. I always wanted the Titans to lose when we played them, but when we weren't playing them, you had to appreciate Eddie George and Steve McNair killing their competition. Shout out to my boy Andre, he's a Titan fan.
A lot of meat was left on the bone. I expected more from Netflix's "Untold," I'm not going to lie. I give this documentary three mor fires π₯π₯π₯.
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The Crow (2024)
"THE CROW" REVIEW
Directed by Russell Sanders. A runtime of one hour and fifty-one minutes. With an R rating.
"Eric," played by Bill SkarsgΓ₯rd, is a bit of a screwup. "Shelly," played by FKA Twigs, is a rebel with a wild past. Both of them find themselves in rehab. It doesn't take long as their energy pulls one another toward each other.
Before rehab, "Shelly" was mixed up with some bad people. Specifically, a man known as "Vincent Roeg," played by Danny Huston.
Trying not to let her past actions affect her. "Shelly" and "Eric" have a whirlwind romance. But before they could stay in bliss, "Shelly's past caught up to her. Taking the life of "Eric" and her.
In between the realms of living and dead, "Eric" is approached by "Kronos," played by Sami Bouajila, with the ultimate proposition. Now with the power of not being able to die. "Eric" will go down a path he can't return from to save the love of his life before it's too late and get revenge on everyone responsible for their murder.
"The Crow" is the remake of the 1994 film of the same name starring Bruce Lee's son, Brandon Lee. This film is a poor representation of what that film was.
I remember when the first film came out. On top of thinking it was an interesting concept, you had the massive news of the lead actor dying by being accidentally shot. Something that was depicted in his father's film. This is also the same situation that recently happened on the set of the Alec Baldwin film "Rust."
Even with all the major issues the first "Crow" went through, the final product was way better than this film.
You wouldn't think they could mess up a film that's pretty cut and dry. But this film was everywhere. I wish it took the approach the new "Twister" film made. They said it wasn't a sequel or remake. It's something new while still paying homage to the original.
This film would have been better off doing that. First, the connection between Bill SkarsgΓ₯rd and FKA Twigs characters wasn't built up enough. You mean to tell me you're going to sacrifice everything for a woman you just met? "Eric" comes off as the biggest simp. As the kids would say.
Then what's up with the Danny Huston character? That was never in the original. It pissed me off that they never explained who or what "Vincent" was. It was highly confusing. The background storyline made zero sense to me. It made it worse because it was never truly explained. The original gave you the template, just follow it geez.
There weren't as many action scenes as I thought they would be. Some of them were okay, but they didn't last long. The main action scene toward the end was wild. It started dope, but then it became a little overkill. Just a gruesome mess. I thought with the advancements in technology they could have hit those action scenes out of the park.
For a film that was laid out very well, it dropped the ball in so many different ways. I was looking forward to seeing this film and was extremely eager to watch it after seeing the trailer. But the trailer was another smoke and mirror show. They could've cleaned up any of the shortcomings from the original film and took it to another level. Instead, they made things worse. I give this film a high two mor fires π₯π₯.
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1992 (2022)
"1992" REVIEW
Directed and co-written by Ariel Vromen. A runtime of one hour and thirty-six minutes with an R rating.
The year is 1992. "Mercer Bey," played by Tyrese Gibson, is a triple OG. If you don't know what that means, it just means he's a seasoned gangster. He's been around the block more than a few times.
"Mercer" recently got out of prison six months ago. He has a job that was given to him by a retired police officer and now head of security, "Joseph Francis," played by Michael Beasley.
"Mercer," on top of just trying to get on his feet, recently got full custody over his son "Antoine," played by Christopher Ammanuel. All "Mercer" wants is to keep his son on the right path and not follow in his footsteps, whether he likes it or not.
"Riggin," played by Scott Eastwood, and his little brother "Dennis," played by Dylan Arnold, are trying to pull off a heist with "Riggin" war buddy "Copeland," played by ClΓ© Bennett. The only thing is they need approval from "Riggin" and "Dennis" dad, "Lowell," played by Ray Liotta.
"Lowell" runs the crew, and after casing the potential Job "Riggin" setup, he shuts it down. But today the verdict from the Rodney King trial is in. After the officers were found not guilty, Los Angeles erupted. This was the perfect distraction to pull off the heist.
"Lowell" adds two more men to the crew: "Titus," played by Oleg Taktarov, and "Murphy," played by Ori Pfeffer. Watch "Mercer" try to keep his son safe during the LA riots while "Lowell" and his crew attempt to pull off a massive heist. Oh, did I forget to mention their trying to rob "Mercer" job! In this powder keg of a day.
"1992" was a unique film with a wild concept. Tyrese said that originally it was supposed to be a straight-to-streaming film. But Snoop Dogg became a part of the project, and the trailer had a massive amount of views. They decided to change course and not only give it a premiere but a theatrical release.
Tyrese might be on your social feed a lot for reasons other than film or music. But this film brought you back to why Tyrese is an actor in the first place. He's talented. His character "Mercer" didn't have long monologues to showcase his acting talents. Regardless, Tyrese embodied this role. Pulling it off effortlessly.
I thought Ray Liotta's last film was a couple of films ago. I don't know what his actual last film will be, but it was great to see him on the big screen again. Scott Eastwood and the rest of the cast played their parts well.
I could see why this was a straight-streaming film at times. Ariel Vromen wrote a decent script, but there were some glaring holes. The ending was also kind of flawed. It was at least not what I expected. Ariel's vision was interesting, to say the least. You could tell where Snoop Dogg laid his hands in the pot.
I enjoyed this film and thought they made the right decision to put it in theaters. I loved that they sprinkled in a little bit of Tyrese heritage being from Watts. I'm probably going to check out the soundtrack as well. As a side, I would like to see a film strictly done on the LA riots. I give this film four mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯. RIP Ray Liotta
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#1992.
First Man (2018)
"FIRST MAN" REVIEW
Directed by Damien Chazelle. A runtime of two hours and twenty-one minutes. Streaming on Netflix with a PG-13 rating. Based on the book by James R. Hansen.
"Neil Armstrong," played by Ryan Gosling, and his wife, "Janet," played by Claire Foy, experienced a lot of hardships and monumental moments.
Before he was the first man to walk on the moon on July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong was an experienced pilot who had some familiarity with the Earth's atmosphere.
Neil recently lost a child. His wife and he were trying to deal with that hardship. Right before being named as a potential astronaut. Along with "Ed White," played by Jason Clarke, "Deke Slayton," played by Kyle Chandler, and "Buzz Aldrin," played by Corey Stoll, to name a few.
You watch the story of all the hardships and adversities it took for this man to be cemented in the history books.
"First Man" put on an acting clinic. Ryan Gosling submerged himself in that role. He was so wound up in the film I started playing music just by watching it.
I heard of the story, and I've watched different films that talk about the moon landing. I've even seen films about other space missions after the moon landing. But nothing about the man, the myth, the legend himself.
It was fascinating watching what Neil had to go through. I think the whole cast raised the bar, but Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy were the bar. It gets a little slow in spots, but for the most part, it was a good film. I give it four mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯.
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The Boy Next Door (2015)
"THE BOY NEXT DOOR" REVIEW
Directed by Rob Cohen. A runtime of one hour and thirty-one minutes. Streaming on Netflix with an R rating.
"Claire Peterson," played by Jennifer Lopez, is mulling whether to get divorced or not from her husband, "Garrett," played by John Corbett. They are currently separated. Their son, "Kevin," played by Ian Nelson, lives with his mother, "Claire."
"Kevin" isn't taking the separation well, and he also gets bullied at school. Which is the same school his mother is a literature teacher at and his aunt "Vicky," played by Kristin Chenoweth, is the vice principal there.
"Kevin" could use a good role model, and conveniently, their neighbor's grandson "Noah," played by Ryan Guzman, just moved in. But he's no role model. Originally hiding his true personality, after "Claire" and "Kevin" hooked up, things take a drastic turn for the worse.
"The Boy Next Door" was a fun little steamy film. A remake of the 1985 film. This film brought Jennifer Lopez and the sex appeal. Especially her love-making scene with Ryan. The script was cool, and the plot was pretty simple.
It's what you would expect from a barely legal psychotic young adult getting with a seasoned woman. It was funny to see the havoc he was bringing. Of course, the end got wonky. If not for the ending, it wouldn't have been such a terrible film. With that ending, though, I gave it three mor fires π₯π₯π₯.
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Jackpot! (2024)
"JACKPOT!" REVIEW
Directed by Paul Feig. A runtime of one hour and forty-six minutes. Streaming on Prime Video with an R rating.
Shortly, states were broke and needed an influx of cash. California came up with an idea that involves killing and money. Which sounds bad, but that did the trick. They came up with a jackpot lottery. Everyone can legally kill the winner, and whoever does takes their winnings. If you make it to sundown, then the jackpot is yours.
"Katie," played by Awkwafina, used to be a child actor. She moved and stopped acting to take care of her sick mother. Now she's back in California but doesn't have a clue about the new lottery rules. After accidentally claiming her Airbnb host, "Shadi," played by Ayden Mayeri,. "Katie" becomes the winner of the biggest jackpot yet, a 3.9 billion dollar prize.
Not knowing what's going on and having everyone try to kill her. The only thing saving "Katie" is her stunt training class skills and a former mercenary now bodyguard, "Noel," played by John Cena.
"Noel" used to work for a bigger security company run by his frienemy, mostly enemy "Louis Lewis," played by Simu Liu. Now he's freelancing, and the only thing stepping in the way of certain doom for "Katie". But it won't be easy because she has bad trust issues.
Watch how these two form a bond and try to prevent being killed and losing "Katie's" multi-billion-dollar jackpot.
"Jackpot!" was cringe-worthy and funny all at once. The way it started with Seann William Scott's character running from a lot of opposition trying to kill him already made you think, What the heck am I watching? Then it gets into the dialogue, and it's interesting.
You could tell this was a low-budget film with established actors in it. John Cena is comedy gold. Sprinkle in Awkwafina and action; you should have a hit on your hand. Regardless of the obvious lack of funding, this film received,
Between the walls that looked like foam boxes, they were shooting in Atlanta, which was supposed to be California. Even they made fun of that fact on top of the obvious life-size dolls they used for action scenes. I didn't know if it was low-budget or if it was supposed to be that way. I think it lies somewhere in the middle.
They dragged it out, and a lot of the film was improvised. That could be good or bad, depending on who you ask. This was a copy and paste of previous John Cena films. When it comes to comedy, he has the perfect comedic timing. The magic he usually brings to these films was only there in spurts with this one.
There are a lot of ridiculous scenes that don't hold up. I will say it still provided some entertainment. They lost some originality though because they took a lot from the "Purge" films. Side bar I need Simu Liu to start filming "Shang-Chi 2" or something. I'm tired of getting teased with his martial arts skills. His hands are nice, and I need to see him getting busy. I give this film a high two mor firesπ₯π₯.
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57 Seconds (2023)
"57 SECONDS" REVIEW
Directed and co-written by Rusty Cundieff. A runtime of one hour and thirty-nine minutes with an R rating.
"Anton Burrell" played by Morgan Freeman is a tech genius. He's the equivalent of Steve Jobs. "Anton" is having a showcase of his new product. A struggling tech blogger named "Franklin" played by Josh Hutcherson not only finds himself at this showcase but even backstage with the possibility of interviewing "Anton". Even though he had to do some shady stuff to get there.
"Franklin" being at the right place at the right time was able to stop an attack on "Anton". In the chaos, he finds a ring that must have come from "Anton" pocket. This ring is special. It can go back in time, by fifty-seven seconds.
Which helps him in every aspect like obtaining and keeping his out of his league girlfriend "Jala" played by Lovie Simone. It also helps him plot his revenge on pharmaceutical billionaire "Sig Thorenson" played by Greg Germann. Whose product gravely affected his family's life.
"Sig", his bodyguard "Calvert" played by Sammi Rotibi, and his assistant "Renee" played by Bevin Bru are all behind a lot of shady ordeals.
With originally a clear focus will "Franklin" be able to stick to his plans or will he let the ring's power corrupt him into being the people he despises so much?
"57 Seconds" had an interesting concept. Even though at times it had a B film or low-budget type vibe. It was still enjoyable and those scenes didn't last long. I was intrigued by the plot but a lot was still predictable.
Rusty Cundieff had a good concept but once again I think he had too much responsibility doing both. The vision got lost to me in the end. Like I said it was predictable but then it got cheesy. That ending was terrible. The way it came together, the acting but I'm going to put that more on the script and of course how the film concluded. That could've been way better.
Besides the couple of scenes that could have been cut out and some holes in the script, I thought it was a decent streaming film. Morgan Freeman is obviously "HIM" and will always be "HIM." I do wish he was in the film a little more. I give this film three mor fires π₯π₯π₯.
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The Incredible Hulk (2008)
"THE INCREDIBLE HULK" REVIEW
Directed by Louis Leterrier. A runtime of one hour and fifty-two minutes. Streaming on Disney+ with a PG-13 rating.
Picking up where the first "Hulk" film left off, "Bruce Banner," now played by Edward Norton, is hiding out in Brazil. He works at a soda factory, trying to stay off the grid and keep his emotions in check.
"Bruce" is having encrypted conversations with a scientist named "Samuel Sterns," played by Tim Blake Nelson, in hopes of getting a cure for his little rage issue inside of him called "The Incredible Hulk."
His ex-girlfriend "Betty Ross," now played by Liv Tyler, has moved on and is currently dating a psychiatrist named Leonard, played by Ty Burrell. Everything seemed to be going fine until a freak accident exposed "Bruce" identity and location.
It's not long before "Betty's" father, "General 'Thunderbolt' Ross," now played by William Hurt, was on his trail. An eager veteran soldier named "Emil," played by Tim Roth, is willing to do whatever it takes to take "Bruce," but preferably "The Incredible Hulk," down. In this exhilarating sequel.
"The Incredible Hulk" was amazing. Five years after the first film, the improvements they made were spot on. I liked Eric Bana, but Edward Norton brought something different to the role. The three main characters they replaced all seemed like better overall fits for those characters.
The CGI was better. This version of "Hulk" was scarier and left a lasting impression on you. The overall plot and story took you on a thrilling ride. The action was intense. It felt like a "Hulk" film.
I wish Edward Norton could have worked it out with Disney/Marvel. Similar to Terrance Howard the negotiations fell apart, and Edward Norton was replaced by Mark Ruffalo. He did a great job. But this version of "Hulk," played by Edward Norton, will always be my favorite. He brought a seriousness to the film that the latest version doesn't have and might not be capable of doing. Not saying acting wise but talking about the character as a whole.
This film also had an actual ending, while fighting an actual villain. They also alluded to potential villains. Marvel says they want to do another film, but it's hard because they don't outright own the rights. They better work something out like they did "Spider-Man" with Sony. Because the viewer kind of got shortchanged.
I've seen the capabilities they can do with this character, and I want more. A great rebound from the "Hulk" film. I give this film five mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯. RIP WILLIAM HURT
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Hulk (2003)
"HULK" REVIEW
Directed by Ang Lee. A runtime of two hours and eighteen minutes. Streaming on Peacock with a PG-13 rating.
"Bruce Banner," played by Eric Bana, is a genetics researcher, along with his girlfriend "Betty," played by Jennifer Connelly. They don't realize that "Betty's" father, "Ross," played by Sam Elliot, is a high-ranking general who was part of a tragic accident involving "Bruce" when he was younger.
This accident caused "Bruce" to be exposed to gamma rays. That same day, his father, played by Nick Nolte, did something terrible to "Bruce's" mother. As adults, the only person who remembers all of this is "Ross" and "Bruce's" father.
Getting exposed again to Gemma Rays trying to do something heroic. A hidden monster they call "Hulk" that laid dormant inside him finally reared his massive green head. Now the cat is out of the bag, or should I say the "Hulk" is out of the bag? Exposing a dark secret that happened decades ago and showcasing a monster that appears once "Bruce" gets angry.
Now "Ross" is trying to kill it; a wannabe tough guy researcher named "Talbot," played by Josh Lucas, wants to control it; "Betty" wants to understand it, and "Bruce," father, wants the power for himself. In this "Hulk" origin story.
"Hulk" is inspired by the Stan Lee Marvel Comic. It's the first attempt at a live-action film. Before that, it was a TV series in the late 1970s and early 1980s starring Lou Ferrigno.
When the trailer first hit a year before it came out in 2002 I and everyone else were clamoring to see it. When I first watched the film, I wasn't feeling it completely. Now that I rewatched it, I respect what they did and tried to do. They took a unique approach. The CGI was terrible, but the acting was good.
I loved how they showed certain aspects of the "Hulk." It was a unique experience and take on this acclaimed Marvel character. I wish they would give "Hulk" another film. As a whole, I respected the creativity of the film, but I hated the ending and the CGI. Some aspects were fun to watch. A valiant effort. I give this film three mor fires π₯π₯π₯.
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Night Shift (2023)
"NIGHT SHIFT" REVIEW
Directed and written by Benjamin and Paul China. A runtime of one hour and twenty-two minutes. Streaming on Starz with an R rating.
"Gwen Taylor," played by Phoebe Tonkin, who you might remember from "The Originals," is trying to find a fresh start. She's dealing with a lot of trauma from a horrible past.
"Gwen" takes a job offer from "Teddy Miles," played by Lamorne Morris, who you might remember from playing "Winston" in the sitcom "New Girl." "Miles" offers her a night shift job working at his motel in a remote, random place in America.
After giving "Gwen" the lowdown and informing her of one guest named "Alice," played by Madison Hu, who's checked in for the night, He leaves her to it. But it won't be long before "Gwen" notices that something is off with this motel. Not only is it a piece of junk, but it's extremely haunted. In this thrilling slasher horror film.
"Night Shift" was not what I expected. At least the last twenty-two minutes. From the trailer, I was expecting something scary. Unlike other films that have a bigger budget and come with notoriety for whatever reason, this scared me. I'm not the hardest to scare, but lately, that's been a challenge, even for me, and that's saying a lot.
I watched it with my family, and we were all invested in the film. I'm usually a great guesser about what's going to happen. I didn't even have any guesses, to be honest with you. But I definitely wouldn't have guessed what happened.
This film had multiple jump scares. The plot was good, and it seemed to be leading up to a great climax. Then that plot twist came that no one was expecting. They should have left it there or maybe continued for another five minutes to wrap things up.
I've seen a lot of films lately with the common thing being the director and writer being the same person. Then those films, most of the time, have a crap ending or are just not good overall. In this case, the film was good. At least to a certain point. But when that plot twist happened, it all went to crap.
The ending was so bad, that I had to fight hard to not lower the overall grade of the film. I wanted to give it two mor fires so badly, but everything before that was good. I struggled with the rating.
Not only was it foolish, but it kept going. Then, when you thought it was finally done, it went on some more. It was easily possible to have three endings. Those last twenty-two minutes were so bad, that you started thinking back on all the nonsense you didn't like throughout the film. You just let it go because the overall product was good.
It's one thing to be unrealistic and a whole other thing to be ridiculous. They did a number on that ending. Learn when to leave something alone. I give this film a low three mor firesπ₯π₯π₯.
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Caged Birds (2021)
"CAGED BIRDS" REVIEW
Directed by and written by Fredrick Leach. A runtime of one hour and twenty-six minutes. Streaming on Prime Video with an R rating.
"Jordan," played by Kamil McFadden, is a bit of a dork. His parents are financially well off. This is "Jordan" senior year, and he's trying to hopefully be a Princeton legacy like his father.
His cousin "EJ" played by Bentley Green is a good basketball player. His father wants him to go to Duke, but "EJ" knows if he does that, he'll ride the bench. He has a different path to hopefully get to his end goal of being in the league.
Then you have "Kevonte," played by Christian Menace, and his sister "Keyaira," played by Aaliyah Muhammad. They live in the hood and are just trying to keep their heads above water. "Keyaira" has the possibility of getting some higher learning, but that seems like a long shot since she always puts her family first.
What do these groups of black seniors from different backgrounds have in common with a fellow senior named "Blake Highsmith," played by Justin Duncan? He's a racist white boy who takes pleasure in bullying them all.
The three boys come up with a plan to prank "Blake," but it goes all wrong. Resulting in "Blake" and his friend being accidentally killed. Now these three will try to cover up this murder, as some of their promising futures are in jeopardy if they're found out. Loyalties will be tested, and strain will be put on friendships.
"Caged Birds" was a good film. I didn't know what to expect. The way it started, I was worried it was going to be cheesy, but it came together nicely. I wasn't feeling the ending, though.
I question some of the script choices too. But as a whole, the main plot made sense. How they got to that point was a bit suspect. Other than that, mostly everything flowed together. I didn't like everything, but I liked it enough for it to be a solid film.
A good streaming film that showcases a lot of talented young actors. I give it four mor fires π₯π₯π₯π₯.
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