Creed 2 Review

Creed 2, while a step-down from the first film, is still a great sequel. This movie is about Adonis Creed and Rocky, who must face ghosts of their past, when Ivan Drago’s son challenges Creed to a fight. Michael B. Jordan gives a fantastic performance. He is extremely convincing in the boxing scenes and also sells the emotional moments. Sylvester Stallone gives a great performance. While he has less to do this time around, he remains as compelling as ever. Dolph Lundgren and Florian Munteanu impressed me with their performances. They take what could have been a very cheesy side plot and ground it in reality. Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad give really good performances in supporting roles. Their characters are crucial to Creed’s story and they play off Jordan well. Steven Caple Jr. did a great job directing. The boxing scenes are well shot and thrilling to watch. The script is overall quite strong with characters that are easy to root for. At 130 minutes the pacing is good, but flawed. The first half is good, but never reaches greatness. The second half is much improved with an absolutely incredible finale that took my breath away. Overall, while Creed 2 is not quite as good as the first, it still is a great sequel, especially for Rocky fans.

8/10

Wreck-it-Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet Review

Wreck-it-Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet is a hilarious and heartfelt movie throughout. This movie takes place six years after the first film and is about Ralph and Vanellope going on a quest to the internet to fix her game. John C. Reilly gives a great performance. His voice fits the character perfectly, though due to some writing choices, he can come across as unlikable. Sarah Silverman gives an incredible performance. Her character is hilarious and adorable, yet she is also able to carry some heavy emotional moments. Gal Gadot gives an excellent performance. She makes her character very memorable without a lot of screen time. Taraji P. Henson and Alan Tudyk give fantastic performances in supporting roles. Directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston do a great job directing. The movie is filled with a sense of fun and adventure from the moment it starts. The script is filled with plenty of laugh out loud hilarious moments and some heartfelt ones as well. The more you know about internet culture, the harder a lot of the jokes will hit. However, they do make Ralph come across as extremely unlikable at times which hurts the movie. The animation is fantastic. Everything is so bright and colorful and yet unique looking. At 112 minutes the pacing is good though the first half is stronger than the second. The highlights of the movie are anything involving the Disney Princesses. Any scene involving them was comedy gold. Also, make sure to stay all the way through the credits for two well worth it scenes. Overall I had so much fun with Wreck- it Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet that its small flaws rarely affect the experience.

8.5/10

Robin Hood (2018) Review

Robin Hood (2018) is a lot of fun thanks to exciting action scenes and a great lead performance. This movie is another retelling of the classic story as Rob, a crusader returning from war, becomes a thief to get revenge on the Sheriff of Nottingham. Taron Egerton gives a fantastic performance. He does an incredible job in the action scenes and has a perfect sense of comedic and dramatic timing. Jamie Foxx gives a great performance as a new interpretation of Little John. His character motivation is great and his back and forth with Egerton is a highlight. Ben Mendelsohn gives a really good performance as the villain. He is not doing anything new but is easily despicable and a lot of fun to watch. Jamie Dornan and Eve Hewson give okay performances in supporting roles. They do their job, but their characters are not developed enough to care much. Tim Minchin is a lot of fun in a small supporting role. Otto Bathurst did a great job directing his first Hollywood movie. The action sequences are well shot and thrilling. However, they do occasionally rely on using slow motion too much. The script is good but nothing special. The story is simple and easy to follow with a few fun twists on the classic story. The editing is great, though a couple of scenes have a few too many quick cuts. The cinematography was very cool and unique giving the movie a realistic and fantasy feel simultaneously. At 116 minutes the movie moves at a fairly quick pace rarely slowing down. As for flaws, while I enjoyed the first act, the movie really picks up once the Robin Hood part of the story begins. Overall Robin Hood (2018) is a lot of fun and might be the best live action interpretation of the story yet.

7.5/10

Instant Family Review

Instant Family is a funny and heartwarming comedy perfect for the holiday season. This movie is about a young couple who decide to start a family by fostering a child. They end up with a rebellious teenager and a young boy and girl that might be more than they can handle. Mark Wahlberg gives a fantastic performance. He is believable as a dad while still bringing his signature comedy style to the role. Rose Byrne gives a great performance. She has great comedic timing and has fantastic chemistry with Wahlberg. Isabela Moner continues to impress with another really good performance. She especially sells her emotional scenes well. Gustavo Quiroz Jr. and Julianna Gamiz are adorable and likable as the two small kids of the family. Octavia Spencer is a lot of fun in a small supporting role. Sean Anders does a competent, albeit, unspectacular job directing. There is nothing bad about it, but it is very bland and standard. The script is fantastic. Almost every single joke made me laugh and the likable characters have plenty of heartfelt moments. At 120 minutes the pacing is good. While the movie never flew by I was never bored either. Overall, Instant Family is a hilarious and heartwarming gem that deserves to be seen this holiday season.

8.5/10

Widows Review

Widows is a thrilling heist movie with fantastic acting held back by some poor directorial decisions. This movie is about four women who must perform a dangerous heist to fulfill their dead husbands' debts. Viola Davis gives a fantastic performance. She makes a very complex character as relatable as she can. Elizabeth Debicki gives an excellent performance. Her character had the most development and you believe her character growth. Michelle Rodriguez gives a great performance. She plays a very realistic role really grounding everything in a sense of realism. Cynthia Erivo gives an okay performance. She is doing her best, but the script gives her very little to work with. Brian Tyree Henry and Daniel Kaluuya give good performances playing standard, but menacing villains. Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall are great in small supporting roles. Steve McQueen does a decent job directing. The action and heist scenes are so tense and thrilling. However, he makes some baffling creative decisions during simple dialogue scenes that come across as pretentious. The script is fantastic, filled with compelling characters and a plot that constantly keeps you guessing. The editing is overall fine, but there are a few truly terrible editing choices. At 128 minutes the movie moves at a consistent pace though it does occasionally slow down. Overall Widows is a great heist thriller with compelling characters despite some directorial problems.

8/10

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Review

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is yet another fun exciting addition to the Wizarding World.  This movie is about Newt Scamander as he must race against time to find a boy, Creedence, before Grindelwald gets to him. Eddie Redmayne gives a great performance.  He is not the typical protagonist, but he remains lovable and compelling. Dan Fogler remains delightful as the main source of comedic relief. Alison Sudol and Katherine Waterson give really good performances. However, their characters are given much less to do this time around. Ezra Miller gives a unique performance. He is forced to convey numerous emotions at once, but he does it well. Claudia Kim gives an okay performance, but the inclusion of her character is pure fan service. Callum Turner gives a great performance in a smaller supporting role and I am excited to see where they take his character. Zoe Kravitz gives a really good performance though her character is mainly used for exposition dumps. Jude Law gives a fantastic performance playing young Dumbledore. He steals every single scene he is in. Johnny Depp gives a great performance as our villain. He plays the role very subtly and becomes infinitely more menacing because of it. David Yates continues to be an excellent director for this series. He is a pro at directing the magical action sequences by this point. J.K. Rowling's script is great, albeit, a bit overstuffed. There are plenty of likable characters with great development and plenty of great plot reveals. However, due to the sheer amount of information given here, I do highly recommend rewatching the first film as this movie jumps right in. The visual effects are all fantastic and really help transport you into this magical world. The costume and set design are stunning. The cinematography is also incredible. This is a visual feast for the eyes in all aspects. As for flaws, the movie starts off rough and it takes about 15 minutes to get going. At 134 minutes the pacing moves at a good pace, though slower than the first film. However, the movie ends on a strong note with one of the best third acts of the franchise. Overall, I had an absolute blast with Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and recommend it to all fans of the Wizarding World.

8/10

The Girl in the Spider's Web Review

The Girl in the Spider’s Web is a very mediocre movie saved by a strong third act. This movie is about Lisbeth Salander as she gets caught in a government conspiracy ring while also dealing with the ghosts of her past. Claire Foy gives a decent performance. She is not doing a bad job, but she rarely ever completely grabbed me. Sverrir Gudnason gives a good performance. He did not blow me away, but he kept me engaged. Sylvia Hoeks gives a weak performance as our main villain. Lakeith Stanfield gives a great performance. Everything with him was easily my favorite part of the movie. Fede Alvarez did a good job directing. Some of the action scenes were unique and thrilling, but some were filled with so many quick cuts I could not tell what was going on. The script is a mixed bag with a story that is sometimes engaging and sometimes dull with weird character decisions. At 117 minutes the pacing is all over the place. The opening 15 minutes are really intriguing and then the movie barely touches on it again. There are some fun, thrilling scenes sprinkled throughout but for the most part, everything just felt mediocre. Thankfully the last 20 minutes come to life out of nowhere with an extremely strong and unique finale. Overall The Girl in the Spider’s Web is a mediocre movie saved by an extremely strong third act.

6/10

Overlord Review

Overlord has a slow second act, but overall is a big dose of crazy fun. This movie is about a group of American Paratroopers, on the eve of D-Day, who is on a mission to destroy a Nazi communications tower. However, when they discover a secret lab they must face horrifying creatures created in a Nazi science experiment. Jovan Adepo gives a great performance. He has the only character arc in this movie, but it is a compelling one. Wyatt Russel gives an excellent performance. He is playing a very straightforward action role, but he plays it perfectly. John Magaro and Iain De Caestecker give good performances in supporting roles. Mathilde Ollivier gives a great performance in her film debut. Julius Avery did an excellent job directing. He is able to successfully blend multiple genres seamlessly. The script is very straightforward but keeps you engaged throughout. The cinematography is great and is able to constantly keep you excited and tense. The action sequences are well shot and extremely thrilling. The visuals and practical effects are all incredible, especially the creature design. At 110 minutes the first and third acts are fantastic and fly by. However, the second act while still very good, definitely has some slower moments. Overall, I had so much fun watching Overlord and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun unique movie experience.

8/10

The Grinch Review

The Grinch is a fun extended look at the classic story kids will love. This movie is about the Grinch who hates Christmas and one year decides to steal it from the residents of Whoville. Benedict Cumberbatch did a great job voicing the title character. His voice blends with the character well and I never found it distracting. Cameron Seely did a good job voicing Cindy Lou. I was not sold on her character changes at first, but I bought it by the end. Pharell Williams did a good job narrating the movie. Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier did a great job directing. The movie has a Christmas feel from the start. The script is essentially an extended version of the classic special. There are plenty of funny and heartfelt moments to keep you from getting bored. However, I was not a fan of some of the character updates to make the story more modern. The best part of this movie is easily Max the dog and Kevin the reindeer. Every scene with them is an easy highlight. The animation is great and beautiful to look at, especially the scenery shots. At a short 90 minutes, it does drag at times as the basic story is very short. However, despite the fact that the pacing does slow down, I was never bored. Overall The Grinch is a perfectly innocent and fun update of the classic story for a new generation.

6.5/10

Bohemian Rhapsody Review

Bohemian Rhapsody has a ton of problems, but still remains a fun film for Queen Fans. This movie tells the true story of Freddie Mercury and the rise of the band, Queen. Rami Malek gives a great performance. He plays Freddie perfectly, making us love him and hate every poor decision he makes. Gwilym Lee did an excellent job portraying Brian May. Out of all the other band members, he stood out the most. Ben Hardy and Joseph Mazzello round out the band with serviceable performances. Lucy Boynton and Allen Leech give really good performances in crucial supporting roles. Aidan Gillen and Mike Myers give fun performances in smaller supporting roles. Bryan Singer did a great job directing, especially in the concert scenes. You can feel the energy and enthusiasm for Queen’s music during those moments. The script is good, but has a lot of flaws. They nailed the banter and relationship between the band members. However, for a movie that takes such a deep look into Freddie’s romantic interests, its portrayal of his sexuality can be problematic at times. The sound design is excellent getting you completely immersed in every musical sequence. At 135 minutes the pacing is all over the place. I found the first act, before the band got together, extremely dull and boring. Once the band gets together the pace picks up quite a bit. The highlight is easily the third act which is an exact replica of their famous Live Aid concert performance. Overall Bohemian Rhapsody is a good movie that has a few, rather big flaws saved by a fantastic lead performance.

6.5/10

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Review

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is not without its charms, but overall does not work. This movie is about a young girl, Clara, who is transported to a magical world based off the Nutcracker Ballet. Mackenzie Foy gives a great performance. She makes her character instantly likable and carries a lot of this movie by herself. Jayden-Fowora-Knight gives a really good performance playing the nutcracker soldier. Morgan Freeman and Hellen Mirren give okay performances, but the script gives them very little to do. Kiera Knightly gives an awful and extremely weird performance. She is talking in this weird high-pitched baby voice that is super distracting. Co-directors Lasse Hallstrom and Joe Johnston do a very mediocre job directing. The flow of the movie feels very unfocused. The script is very scattershot with so many random sequences and poor writing decisions that leave you baffled. However, I must admit the opening 15 minutes are quite good, but I lost interest quickly. The visual effects are overall great though a few moments are really poor. The costume and set design should be applauded for how unique and beautiful it is. At 93 minutes the pacing is really odd, yet thankfully never super slow. Overall The Nutcracker and the Four Realms has some strengths, but not enough to earn a watch.

4.5/10

Nobody's Fool Review

Nobody's Fool was a surprisingly funny comedy, but did not achieve greatness due to getting too serious at times. This movie is about a woman who reunites with her sister after getting out of prison. As she bonds with her sister, she suspects that her online boyfriend may be fake. Tifanny Haddish gives a really funny performance. Her comedic timing is spot on here and is a huge reason why any of this movie works. Tika Sumpter gives a good performance, but the script seems determined to make us dislike her as much as possible. Omari Hardwick and Amber Riley give okay performances, but are just there to give the main characters someone to interact with. Whoopi Goldberg is a lot of fun in a small supporting role. Tyler Perry did a competent, albeit unspectacular, job directing. For the most part he wisely just sets the camera down and lets the actors’ just play off each other. However, this movie does include one of the most hilariously awful sex scenes I have seen in a long time. The script is filled with dumb character choices and way too serious in parts. However, I cannot deny there are numerous moments in this movie that had me gut-busting with laughter. Around 70% of the jokes hit with 30% making me laugh really hard. At 110 minutes the pacing is decent, but definitely slows down in the second half. Overall Nobody’s Fool was not even close to a great movie, but it made me laugh a lot so I left the theater satisfied.

6/10

Mid90s Review

Mid90s is a unique and fun film despite its lack of story. This movie is about a 13-year-old boy named Stevie. As he searches for where he belongs, he finds a home at a local skate shop. Sunny Suljic gives a fantastic performance. You care about his character immediately and he carries you through the weaker moments. Na-Kel Smith gives a great performance. While his character appears one dimensional at first, his development grows as the story progresses. Katherine Waterson and Lucas Hedges give okay performances. However, their roles are so small they never stand out. All of the other skaters give a decent performance, but none of them are memorable. Jonah Hill did a good job with his directorial debut. He shoots the movie in 4:3 boxed ratio and while I never loved it, I was never distracted by it either. The script is good but overall pretty hollow. Outside of a couple emotional moments, it is just nonstop 90s references and skating lingo. Also worth noting, there were a couple of scenes in the third act that I found uncomfortable and unnecessary. At 84 minutes the pacing is good, but sometimes slows down too much. Overall, I had a good time with Mid90s even though it never rises above its surface level entertainment.

6/10