My New Blog

 Hey guys sorry, this blog stopped. Life got in the way and I thought this wasn't what I was meant to do. I realize now that I was so wrong and I'm sorry for abandoning my fans but I'm back and better than ever with  Silver Screen Spectacle (triplescinema.blogspot.com) I hope yall will join me there

47 Meters Down: Uncaged Review

47 Meters Down: Uncaged is a bad movie that I couldn't help but enjoy. This movie is about a group of teenage girls who go diving in underwater caves with ancient sharks. Sistine Rose Stallone gives a horrible performance. Her character is so unlikable it becomes impossible to care about her. Brianne Tju gives a bad performance. However, the role gives her so little to do that she is bearable. Corinne Foxx gives an okay performance. Her character is really unlikable at first, but becomes better as the film continues. Sophie Nelisse gives a decent performance. Her character is likable and easy to root for which helps a lot. Johannes Roberts did a good job directing. The underwater scenes actually look cool, albeit, a little too dark. The script is terrible with awful characters and a non-existent plot. However, this movie is no unashamedly stupid that I had fun laughing at it. At 89 minutes this movie will drag on forever if you take it seriously, but if you're willing to laugh at it you'll have a fun time. Overall 47 Meters Down: Uncaged is by no means a good film but in the right mindset is still a lot of fun.
5/10

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Review

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a fun horror movie that suffers from tonal inconsistency. This movie is about a group of kids who find a cursed book full of scary stories. Soon these stories begin happening to all of them. Zoe Colletti gives a good performance. Her character is likable and she plays scared very well. Michael Garza gives a great performance. His character has a lot of layers and a good dynamic with Colletti. Gabriel Rush and Dean Norris do a good job in their respective supporting roles. They provide some much-needed comedy relief. Andre Ovredal did a great job directing. The horror sequences are well done and scary without an over-reliance on jump scares. The script is a bit of a mixed bag. The characters are likable and the horror scenes effective but they never quite feel equal tonally. The visual effects are great, all the creatures are well designed and creepy. At 111 minutes the pacing is good though the first act is pretty slow, but thankfully picks up. Overall, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a fun horror movie but a weak first act and tonal inconsistency hold it back.
7/10

Good Boys Review

Good Boys has a strong start and finish but falters in the middle. This movie is about three middle school boys who must go on a crazy adventure to fix a drone before their parents get home. Jacob Tremblay is fantastic in this movie. He nails every single comedic and emotional beat perfectly. Keith L. Williams gives a really good performance and has some hilarious moments. However, some of the creative choices with his character make him come across as annoying. Brady Noon gives a fine performance. He is easily the weakest of the three leads but still has a good dynamic with Tremblay and Williams. Molly Gordon and Midori Francis are great as the "villains" chasing after the kids. Gene Stupnitsky did a good job directing. The scenes are well shot and escape the TV movie feel most comedies fall into. The script is all over the place. The first act of this movie had me rolling with laughter. The second act while it still had funny moments, also dragged and had a few parts I found annoying. The movie thankfully recovers in time for the third act though and by the end of everything I had really gotten attached to main characters. At 89 minutes the pacing sometimes flies by but can really drag in the second act. However, the movie ends just soon enough that it does not overstay it's welcome too much. Overall, Good Boys is a very funny movie but held back from greatness due to its mediocre middle.
7.5/10

The Kitchen Review

The Kitchen is an enjoyable but flawed crime drama. This movie is about 3 wives who become mobsters after their husbands are arrested. Melissa McCarthy gives a great performance. She plays tough and vulnerable equally well. Tiffany Haddish gives an okay performance. She has some strong moments but overall never felt consistent. Elisabeth Moss gives a good performance. She does well with what she's given, but she needed a big moment to shine. Domhnall Gleeson gives a fantastic performance. He really impressed me here, showing a dark side I haven't seen from him in a while. Andrea Berloff’s direction is fine but inconsistent. Sometimes the movie has a really unique style and other times it's very messy. The script is good with compelling characters. However, there needed to be a couple of scenes of action to really sell certain plot points. At 104 minutes the pacing is fine. While the movie did occasionally slow down, I never got bored. Overall, The Kitchen was a good, albeit, flawed mob movie.
6/10

The Angry Birds Movie 2 Review

The Angry Birds Movie 2 was not as good as the first one but is an enjoyable kids' film nonetheless. This movie is about the birds and the pigs who must now team up to stop the immediate threat from newly discovered Eagle Island. Jason Sudeikis gives a great performance. He manages to sell a couple of emotional moments very well while still being funny. Bill Hader is easily the best part of this movie. His character has almost all of the funniest lines. His back and forth with Sudeikis is a lot of fun. Josh Gad and Danny McBride both give good performances in their respective roles but they never had a chance to really stand out. Sterling K. Brown is enjoyable but underutilized in his small supporting role. Leslie Jones did a fine job voicing the villain but outside of a couple of funny moments, her character was annoying. Thurop Van Orman did a good job directing. The animation is definitely improved from the first film. The script is where this movie really falters for me. It is a way too generic and safe compared to the first film. There are still a few adult jokes thankfully, but nowhere near as much as the shockingly dirty first film. Also, the villain is poorly written and just annoying almost anytime she's on-screen. Overall, The Angry Birds Movie 2 is a perfectly fine kids' movie but is inferior to the shockingly good first film.
6/10

Brian Banks Review

Brian Banks was a surprisingly compelling drama with two strong performances. This movie is about an aspiring football star whose life is changed forever when he is falsely accused of rape and sent to prison. Aldis Hodge gives a fantastic performance. He is so likable and easy to root for that he carries this movie even through it's weakest scenes. Greg Kinnear gives a great performance. His dynamic with Hodge is the heart of this movie and you buy their friendship. Melanie Liburd gives an okay performance. She does fine with what she is given, but I never fully bought her relationship with Hodge. Tom Shadyac did a competent, albeit, unspectacular job directing. The movie just cannot ever fully escape the TV feeling. The script is a mixed bag. When this movie focuses on the legal storyline and Brian's case, I was invested. However I never really was fully sold on the romance and those scenes could drag on. At 99 minutes the movie moves at a good pace though some parts definitely move quicker than others. Overall, I enjoyed Brian Banks thanks to the strong performances from its two leads, but theirs no denying it's flawed.
6/10

ECCO Review

ECCO is overly convoluted and overly long and yet I couldn't take my eyes off it. This movie is about a former covert assassin who goes hunting after the people responsible for the sins of his past. Lathrop Walker gives a great performance. His character doesn't always talk that much but you become emotionally invested in his quest. Helena Grace Donald and Mahria Zook do fine in their supporting roles, but the movie makes them look so similar it's hard to tell them apart. Michael Winters gives a good performance in his small supporting role. Ben Medina did a great job directing. This movie is extremely visually captivating and the action scenes are very unique. The script is the biggest issue here. While it kept me invested throughout with some genuine surprises, it is so overly convoluted in the first half that I struggled to keep up with the timeline. The fantastic cinematography and score kept me invested even when the plot was losing me. At 123 minutes the runtime is way too long, especially in the first half. Many scenes go by with little to nothing having happened. Overall, ECCO is a complete mess but nevertheless an interesting one that held my attention throughout.
5.5/10

The Art of Racing in the Rain Review

The Art of Racing in the Rain is an emotionally manipulative story with strong acting. This movie is about a Dog named Enzo who has a near-human soul and learns about life through his owner, the race car driver Denny Swift. Milo Ventimiglia gives a great performance. He nails the emotional scenes and really makes you care for his character. Amanda Seyfried gives a good performance. She has great chemistry with Ventimiglia and nails her key scenes but I wish she had a bit more to do. Kevin Costner did an excellent job voicing the thoughts of Enzo. This movie works as well as it does because his voice fits what the dog is doing perfectly. Simon Curtis did a great job directing. The racing scenes are really well done and the movie draws you in almost immediately. The script is extremely emotionally manipulative, but effective. The characters are great and the story is compelling. However, if you cry easily be warned you will have a hard time watching some parts of this movie. At 123 minutes the pacing is very good rarely dragging and it always kept me invested. Overall, The Art of Racing in the Rain, despite being emotionally manipulative, is a compelling story with great performances.
7.5/10

Dora and the Lost City of Gold Review

Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a shockingly fun adventure film with a strong lead performance. This movie is about Dora who, as a teenager, goes to experience city life. However, once she and her friends get kidnapped and taken to the jungle it'll take all of them to get back home. Isabela Moner gives a great performance. She truly was perfect casting, nailing every single element of her character, especially the comedic moments. Benicio Del Torro steals the movie voicing Swiper. I was dying laughing every time he was on screen. Jeffrey Wahlberg, Nicholas Coombe, and Madeleine Madden all give good performances as Dora’s friends. Eugenio Derbez is a lot of fun, hamming it up in his supporting role. Michael Pena and Eva Longoria are fine as Dora’s parents but they're underutilized. James Bobin did a good job directing. It comes across a little like a TV movie at times, but it works fine for the movie. The script is a pretty standard kids adventure story with some childish humor. However, there is also a very meta sense of humor that made me laugh quite often when they went for it. At 100 minutes the pacing is good though for adults, you'll wish there was just a little more humor for you. Overall, Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a surprisingly fun throwback to old school kids' adventure films.
6/10

Hobbs & Shaw Review

Hobbs & Shaw is top tier Fast & Furious for the first 2/3 but loses itself in the third act. This movie is about Hobbs & Shaw who must help save Shaw’s sister from a supervillain who is after a world-ending virus she possesses. Dwayne Johnson gives a great performance. He nails the action scenes and his comedic timing his spot on. Jason Statham gives a fantastic performance. His dynamic with Johnson is hysterical and easily the highlight of the film. Vanessa Kirby was a very pleasant surprise here. She keeps up with Johnson and Statham with ease and they make a really fun and likable trio. Idris Elba’s villain is not very well written or developed, but you can tell he is having a blast hamming it up in the role that it becomes enjoyable. There are some surprise appearances from actors in supporting roles that I won't spoil but they practically steal the movie. The script is good for what it is. The story here is pretty flimsy and makes little sense. However, the action set pieces are well shot and a ton of fun and the comedy is hysterical with numerous laugh out loud moments. The movie does lose itself some in the third act when it tries to force the core series family theme in. At 136 minutes the first 2/3 flies by with excellent pacing. The start of the third act really drags but picks up in time for the very last action scene. Overall, Hobbs & Shaw is no masterpiece but for fans of over the top action comedy, there is a lot to enjoy here.
7.5/10
P.S. Stay all the way until the end of the credits.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Review

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of Tarantino's best and one of the best films of the year. This movie is about a fading television actor and his stuntman who seek success in 1969 Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio gives an incredible performance. He nails the comedic and emotional scenes perfectly. One scene in particular really shows his incredible acting. Brad Pitt delivers a career-best performance. His character is so layered and complex yet just oozes coolness. One scene in the third act he delivers one of the best slapstick performances in years. Margot Robbie is great in her supporting role but she does not have a ton to do. Margaret Qualley also did a good job in her supporting role. The entire massive supporting cast does well in their small roles. Quentin Tarantino did a fantastic job directing. This movie just oozes style and is a love letter to old school Hollywood. The cinematography looks like older films which gives it a unique feel. The script is brilliant with fantastic characters and excellent comedic moments. At 161 minutes the movie is extremely well paced. The first act flies by, the movie does slow down a bit in the second act. However, it makes up for it with a third act that is the best thing Tarintino has ever done. Overall, I adored almost every second of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and it's easily one of the best movies of the year.
9.5/10

The Lion King (2019) Review

The Lion King (2019) is nowhere near as good as the animated classic but is still an entertaining movie in its own way. This movie is about Simba who idolizes his father but his uncle Scar has sinister intentions. Donald Glover gives a good performance. Sometimes it's hard to not just hear the actor but he has good comedic timing and does decent with emotional scenes. Beyonce gives a bad performance. She does okay in a couple of scenes, but her singing is way too out of place and distracting. James Earl Jones is still great as Mufasa but he feels like he's sleepwalking through some scenes. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Scar is very different than his animated role but he does a good job with the different take on the character. John Oliver gives a funny performance as Zazu but he is underutilized. Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner steal this movie. Their Timon and Pumba are hysterical. Every single joke with them hits. Keegan Michael Key is also really funny in his supporting role. Jon Favreau did a great job directing. The technical skills on display are nothing short of incredible. The entire movie is visual effects and sometimes it's downright photorealistic. As for the script, there are some new funny comedic moments but for the most part, it's the animated movie's script but worse. As for the musical numbers, the movie screws up a couple of iconic moments but nails the majority of the music sequences. At 118 minutes the pacing is all over the place; sometimes this movie goes way too slow and sometimes it's way too fast. Overall, I enjoyed The Lion King (2019) but I will never choose to watch this over the animated film presented with the option.
6.5/10

Crawl Review

Crawl is a shockingly fun and tense creature thriller despite its weak start. This movie is about a girl and her father who become trapped in their house, surrounded by alligators during a Category 5 Hurricane. Kaya Scodelario gives a great performance. She has a likable presence and nails the physical elements of the role. Barry Pepper gives a good performance. He does not have a ton to do but I bought the father-daughter relationship between him and Scodelario. Alexandre Aja did a great job directing. The creature scenes are extremely intense while never being so stupid that I checked out of the film. He teeters the realism line perfectly. The visual effects on the gators are quite impressive especially considering the lower budget. At 87 minutes the first 15 or so minutes of plot setup is pretty weak but necessary to the film. However, the moment the first alligator shows up I became immediately locked in and the movie never lost me. Overall, Crawl was not cinematic art but it was a really fun creature feature and a lot better than I expected it to be.
7/10

Stuber Review

Stuber is an okay comedy anchored by two likable leads. This movie is about a vision-impaired cop who recruits an Uber driver to take him everywhere to solve the case. As the mismatched duo spends more time together, chaos begins to ensue. Kumail Nanjiani gives a decent performance. His jokes are all over the place. When they hit they are hilarious but when they miss they are very cringeworthy. Dave Bautista gives a good performance. He has  great comedic timing and his dynamic with Nanjiani is the only reason the film works at all. Iko Uwais is wasted as the villain. Michael Dowse did a fine, albeit unspectacular, job directing. The action scenes are fun but have too much shaky cam to ever be fully enjoyed. The script is a mixed bag. This movie has a lot of jokes that completely miss. However, it did have enough that hit and the movie made me laugh often enough to stay invested. At 95 minutes this movie feels way longer than it is and takes far too long to get going. Once the main plot kicks in it remains modestly enjoyable throughout. Overall, Stuber is a mediocre comedy that works purely because of the dynamic between the leads. I enjoyed it enough but this is easily a rental film.
6/10

Midsommar Review

Midsommar is not for most audiences, but film fans will find this is a fun yet extremley disturbing journey you must watch at least once. This movie is about a young couple and their friends who visit a friends rural home for a once in a century festival. As time passes they begin to realize there may be strange things going on unknown to them. Florence Pugh gives an incredible performance. Her character has an insane amount of layers and she plays even the most subtle aspects perfectly. Jack Reynor gives a great performance. This is easily the best work I have seen from him and his strong dynamic with Pugh is the core of the film. Will Poulter brings some much-needed levity to the film with his very comedic performance. Vilhelm Blomgren also impresses in his supporting role. Ari Aster does a fantastic job directing. This is a very slow deliberately paced movie that you have to be patient with as the movie subtlety tells you its story. The script is great but very minimalistic. There are many scenes with just characters having normal conversations or scenes without much dialogue at all. I want to also stress the weird and disturbing nature of this film. If you are not okay with messed up themes and imagery this movie is not for you. The cinematography is stunning with many disturbingly beautiful shots. At 147 minutes the pacing is intentionally a slow build that pays off, but you have to wait through a lot of build-up. That was not an issue for me but it will be for some people. Overall, Midsommar has a very small audience that it’ll work for but for hardcore films fans or experimental moviegoers this is a journey worth experiencing.
8/10

Spider-Man: Far From Home Review

Spider-Man: Far From Home is a fantastic film and the best Spider-Man film yet. This movie is about Peter Parker aka Spider-Man whose European vacation is interrupted when monsters begin causing natural disasters all over the world. Tom Holland continues to be the perfect casting for the title role. He nails Peter’s awkwardness while also not missing a beat as the more snarky Spider-Man. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a fantastic performance as Mysterio, a new superhero who befriends Peter. The way he plays the character will please newcomers and hardcore fans alike. Zendaya gives a great performance and is much improved here from the last film. Her dynamic and chemistry with Holland is off the chart and is easily one of the best romances in any comic book film. Jon Favreau finally gets his chance to shine in a small but crucial supporting role. He is involved in some of the film's best scenes. Sam Jackson turns in yet another strong and funny performance as Nick Fury. Marisa Tomei has less to do this time, but is still quite good in her reduced role. Jacob Batalon and Angourie Rice are hilarious in their side plot. Jon Watts did an incredible job directing. While he already nailed the high school dynamic in the previous film it was lacking in the action department. This movie fixes that issue by keeping the high school element as strong as ever while considerably ramping up the action sequences. This is the best Spider-Man action we’ve ever seen. One sequence, in particular, is one of my favorite scenes in any comic book film ever. The visual effects are all fantastic and never broke my immersion. At 129 minutes the pacing is very good. If I had any flaw for this movie it would be that despite never being boring you do feel the length of the runtime. Overall, Spider-Man: Far From Home is yet another fantastic entry into the MCU and should please casuals and hardcore fans alike.
9.5/10
P.S. There are two post-credits scenes that you must stay for.

Yesterday Review

Yesterday was a fun and unique take on the romance and musical genres. This movie is about Jack Malik who, after waking up from a bike accident, is the only person in the world who remembers The Beatles. Himesh Patel gives a great performance. He is an excellent singer while also handling the dramatic scenes very well. Lily James gives a fantastic performance. She has incredible chemistry with Patel and their dynamic is the strongest part of the film. Ed Sheeran gives a surprisingly strong performance in his supporting role. Kate McKinnon gives an okay performance. While she has moments, for the most part, her character was so over the top it took me out of the movie. Joel Fry is a lot of fun in his small supporting role as Patel’s friend. Danny Boyle did a great job directing. The musical scenes are a lot of fun and the movie just consistently has a really pleasant feel to it. The script is really good but has some weakness. Inherently the premise of this movie is very gimmicky and in the second act of the film, they struggle to keep it interesting. However, the dynamic between the main characters is always strong and carries the movie through weaker scenes. At 116 minutes the movie moves at a good pace though it does drag in the second act. The first act is by far the film's strongest, but not to the point it overshadows the rest of the movie. Overall Yesterday was not without its flaws but was a very fun and enjoyable twist on the romantic musical genre.
7.5/10

Annabelle Comes Home Review

Annabelle Comes Home is one of the better movies in the Conjuring Universe and the best of the Annabelle series. This movie is about the Warren’s daughter and her two baby sisters who awaken the evil spirit trapped in the doll. McKenna Grace gives a great performance. She helps ground the more ridiculous scenes while also making us care about her. Madison Iseman gives a really good performance. There is not a ton to her character but she is likable enough to root for. Katie Sarife gives a decent performance. It improves later on in the film but in the first half she is so stupid she is impossible to like. Michael Cimino is a lot of fun in his small supporting role. The best part of this movie is the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. They are the heart of this franchise and their small role here is no exception. Gary Dauberman did a great job directing. This is a jump scare fest but he wisely fakes us out numerous times so we do not always see them coming. The script is fine with likable enough characters. The story here is minimal and the movie plays more like a haunted house experience than a film. At 106 minutes the movie has slow parts. The start is strong and very intriguing but not a ton happens in the second act. However, the third act is pure horror fun with plenty of new creepy demons and a pace that does not slow down. Overall, Annabelle Comes Home is another fun entry into the Conjuring Universe and the best spinoff yet.
6.5/10

Anna Review

Anna is a needlessly over convoluted spy thriller that kept me invested throughout. This movie is about a model named Anna, who is secretly a spy for the KGB. Saha Luss gives a fantastic performance. She nails the physicality of the action scenes while also selling me on the emotional side of her character. Hellen Mirren gives a good performance in her supporting role. Luke Evans and Cillian Murphy both give great performances but they are severely underutilized. Luc Besson did an excellent job directing. The action scenes are incredibly fluid and brutal and the movie has a very sleek feel about it. Besson's screenplay though has some serious issues. The core story is great and compelling but the movie has a ridiculous amount of time skips with many of them being completely pointless. Also, this movie has an insane amount of sexual scenes which will turn people off. At 119 minutes the pacing is really good hardly ever slowing down though the time jumps make it hard to keep up with how far into the story we are. Overall, Anna is a very flawed movie and will not be for everyone, but I personally remained invested throughout.
7/10