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Logan (2017)
Decent entry
This was a decent entry in the X-Men and Wolverine movies. No one can play Wolverine and Professor Charles Xavier like Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart! I liked the idea of Wolverine and Professor Xavier aging, the X-Men starting to "die out" and the torch starting to be passed to a new generation of mutants as children. Patrick Stewart does a good job portraying the professor showing signs of Alzheimer's disease, and the interaction between him and Wolverine/Logan is superb. This is also good as a standalone for Jackman's character, and his interaction with his daughter and the actress is first rate. Good for any fan of the X-Men and Marvel comics movie series.
**1/2 out of ****
War of the Worlds (2005)
Good update
Anyone familiar with the classic story will be able to follow this movie and be able to enjoy it. I did both. I loved the battle scenes between the humans and Martians as well as the action sequences. Tom Cruise and his family, especially Dakota Fanning as his daughter were good, and I liked their characters as Tim Robbins's character as well and their interactions, especially in the underground bunks. The action rarely lets up during the battle scenes and is good from the character's' points of view, which is the main focus. If you remember original see it coming but it still might surprise you. This was a good alien and human movie.
*** out of ****
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)
ok for a sequel
This movie wasn't as good as the original as can be said for most sequels but sort of held its own. The original was hilarious and this one had laughs every now and then and a subpar plot as Sandra Bullock and a few other original cast members reprised their roles from the first movies. Bullock saved it from being much worse than it could have been, and Ernie Hudson and William Shatner brought it up a little bit with their roles. My favorite scenes were the Vegas scene towards the end where they were performing and the airport scene. If you want to see Sandra Bullock in a good role and an ok sequel, give this one a try. It was average at best.
** out of ****
Madame Web (2024)
Decent
This was a decent superhero movie that explores the origins of the character of Madame Web with obvious ties to the character of Spiderman. I think it did a decent job of explaining the characters with lots of clairvoyance scenes and action and chase scenes to boot. It wasn't a great movie but wasn't horrible either. I was glad I saw it and took it in stride as an ok superhero movie. The cast was good and worked well together, and I enjoyed the clairvoyant scenes. Those were well done. If you are in a mood for a superhero movie and are not expecting too much, give this one a try.
** out of ****
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)
-
I will admit this was not a good movie but it did have its moments, especially the killing scenes. Those scenes were pretty memorable, especially the car death scene and the first scene. The movie basically explores how Winnie-the-Pooh and his gang go feral and have to find food on their own after Christopher Robin grows up, goes to college and abandons them. When he returns to 100 Acre Forest, he finds what they have become and shortly afterwards so do some campers, and a killing spree ensues.
The idea of Winnie the Pooh as a serial killer might not be the best one, and the idea is poorly and silly executed, but if you want to give it a try please do.
** out of ****
Imaginary (2024)
Decent
This was a decent horror movie about a lady who goes back to her childhood home with her husband and stepdaughter in tow and finds a teddy bear and her childhood imaginary friend waiting for her. Things have some surprises in tow for her. I liked the idea of ties from the past to the present and ties to the spirit world, and there were some decent scares, but the overall experience could have been executed better. The teddy bear was a nice touch and a good tie in with the characters. If you want a decent mystery/horror story you might like it;just don't expect a horror classic. It was slightly below average at best. The cast was good.
** out of ****
Amber Alert (2012)
Could have been better
This movie obviously was amateurishly made and that was one of its main drawbacks. It could have.also made its suspense scenes a bit more suspenseful. It was an ok movie about a couple who had just made a reality tv show and then spotted a car that had been reported in an Amber Alert and took it upon themselves to follow it with police reports and "your word against the other person's" situations along the way.. it winds up with the usual showdown in a secluded place. This movie could have been better. The cast was good as were some of the scenes on the highway but this is simply a merely passable way to pass your time.
** out of ****
Trap (2024)
Decent
The identity of the culprit might seem obvious from the get go, but this is still a good movie. It was more of a psychological thriller than those of M Night Shamayalan's previous film entries. It does have plot holes but does work. A man takes his daughter to a pop star's concert to reward her good grades and learns that there is a lockdown due to a serial killer in attendance. A tight thrill ride ensues. You might have seen this before and you will love the concert sequences, and there are plot holes during the rescue scenes, but it will seem like an Alfred Hitchcock movie by the end. Enjoyable if you like thrillers. It was sort of like Psycho without the shower scene.
** 1/2 out of ****
Hatchet II (2010)
Gory horror movie
This.is a typical horror movie that relies on grossing you out and hatchet murders. The chop up scenes were well done but pretty gory and gross. I liked the swamp chase scenes, however. Those were well done. I also liked Tony Todd's character and the zombie character, and I like the reference to the director's movie Frozen with the scene in the shop where the Parker O'Neal was seen on television settling with the ski lift company! If you are into zombie, murder, and gross out horror movies, this movie might satisfy you, but not if you have a squeamish stomach. It was okay otherwise. You might like it.
** out of ****
The Changeling (1980)
Scary
The scariest part of this movie is the atmosphere, and I enjoyed watching it. George C. Scott plays a musician who recently lost his wife and daughter in an accident and moves into an old Victorian type mansion, and things start to go eerie form the beginning as he is haunted by the spirit of a small boy. He does his best to deal with it. You don't need a bunch of blood and gore to make a movie scary, as a very creepy atmosphere and scary ghost will do. The cast, especially George C. Scott, is excellent and everyone does well in their roles and works well together and the story really clicks. You will like this if you are a horror fan.
*** out of ****
Joker (2019)
Interesting
This provides an interesting take and back story into the Joker character. It shows a bit of mental illness and his mother's illness as his deterioration happens, as he tries his hand as a comic and a clown for hire. The scenes in the subway and where he brings a gun into the children's hospital are top notch, and the riot scene towards the end will get you. You can spot the tie in to Batman as well. Joaquin Phoenix gives a great performance in the title, and the story is terrific as well. Everything about this movie is great, and I enjoyed watching it and guarantee you will too. This is not a movie to be missed.
*** out of ****
The Marvels (2023)
Decent
This was a decent entry in the Marvel Comics universe movies as Brie Larson reprises her role as Captain Marvel. She gets her powers entangled with other characters' powers, and they have to work together to save the universe. The movie relies more heavily on that, action sequences, and special effects than a great story, but I thought the movie was ok. I liked the cat scenes and Samuel L Jackson bringing in his character of Nick Fury. It wasn't too bad a way to spend your time, and you might be glad you saw it. Larson was good as Captain Marvel, and the special effects were first rate.
** 1/2 out of ****
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Decent
This is a decent entry in the spiderman and Marvel Comics movies. It features a decent story with lots of action and has a great cast. Peter Parker is just starting to get used to his new identity as Spiderman and is trying to be a normal high school student when a new threat arrives in the form of nemesis The Vulture. He has.to interrupt the school dance to do battle. Overall this wasn't too bad a movie as Tom Holland gives a good performance as Peter Parker/Spiderman, and everyone else is good too especially Michael Keaton as the bad guy. I loved the mid credits scene. If you are into superhero movies, this one will satisfy you. The special effects are great.
** 1/2 out of ****
Timecop: The Berlin Decision (2003)
Average
This was an average sequel to the original Timecop. While it wasn't quite as good as the original (sequels rarely are), this one sort of holds its own with a good story, decent characters, good special effects, and a good ending that redeems its shortcomings. I like the lead role and the story follows the original formula as a Time Enforcement Commission officer has to prevent a bad guy from altering the past while facing something from his own past. Jean Claude Van Damme could have made a difference if he had appeared in this movie, but the movie was ok nonetheless. If you are into sequels and liked the first movie, you might like this one.
** out of ****
Mystic River (2003)
Excellent movie
I consider this movie to be a modern day classic. It starts off with three boys playing hockey in the street. After they carve their names in the sidewalk, one of them is kidnapped by men pretending to be police officers and sexually abused for several days before he manages to escape. Flash forward to the present day. The victim is still traumatized, they are still in touch, and they are all having their own difficulties, and one of the boy's daughters is kidnapped and murdered. Things start to mount up during the investigation.
Clint Eastwood did a great job in directing this movie, and the cast delivers a great performance in this good story of a movie. I recommend it.
*** out of ****
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Decent
This was a decent entry in the X-Men movie series. In this movie, a cure is found for "mutant syndrome," and mutants have to decide whether or not to take it. Some do and some don't with varying consequences, and a battle results between the good guys and the bad guys. I liked the "cure" scenes and the battle scenes, and the scenes with Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine were first rate as always. The movie overall could have been a little bit better, but I think they did a good job making it. The cast was good, and i enjoyed watching it. You might like it too if you like the X-Men movies.
** 1/2 out of ****
Elsbeth (2024)
Enjoyable
This is a watchable show as Carrie Preston gives a good performance as Elsbeth. I like the character (sort of a female Columbo with shades of Sherlock Holmes and Encyclopedia Brown thrown in) and the format of the episodes. Each mystery and episode features a good story and "villain" to deal with, and Elsbeth does a good job in figuring it out with what she has to work with, and the character is fun to watch. Her supporting cast is too, especially Wendell Pierce. The episodes are certainly unique. If you like a spunky character with decent cases to work through, give this show a try. You might like it.
** 1/2 out of ****
Tracker (2024)
Decent so far
This reminds me a bit of the old shows The Lone Ranger and Stingray as a guy travels around the country helping people. It also applies an interesting premise as Justin Hartley's character applies his survivalist skills and relies a bit on his team to help solve his cases. The cases and episodes are all well done, and Hartley's character is well developed with an interesting past. I think the first episode set things up nicely, and the subsequent shows have continued things well. If you watch this, you will like Justin Hartley as the main character. I have enjoyed watching this show. Colter is certainly a good character, and everything about this show is impressive.
*** out of ***
Frozen (2013)
Good Disney film
This ranks among the decent Disney movies for me. It features good characters with the usual comic relief character (Olof the snowman) with a decent story and average conflicts. A princess and her friends are trapped when her sister casts a spell over her kingdom and turns it into a perpetual winter and frozen wasteland. She has to find her true love to break the spell (shades of Sleeping Beauty) and tries to find it. It wasn't too bad a movie, and I enjoyed it. Olof made a pretty good and funny character, and the animation was impressive and one of the main highlights. The songs were good too. Any Disney fan will like this.
** 1/2 out of ****
Falling Down (1993)
Relatable
This is a decent movie about a man who gradually cracks as things start to "happen" to him.he abandons his car in the middle of a traffic jam, is having problems with his wife, is attacked by gang members, will not be given change by a store employee for a pay phone, and my favorite scene is when he pulls a gun when he is not served breakfast at a fast food place because he is a few minutes late for the meal. All this causes him to break down and crack. Michael Douglas gives a terrific performance, and Robert Duvall also gives a good performance as a cop suspecting this is the same person. A good commentary on what the pressures of everyday life can do to you.
** 1/2 out of ****
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Good movie
A guy travels to Paris with his fiancée and finds himself being transported back to the city in 1920 each day at midnight. The famous people there wind up giving him advice on his writing and life. The was a terrific little movie with a good cast as Owen Wilson gives a good performance as the writer. The Paris settings were first rate, and I loved seeing Martin Sheen and Kathy Bates in it. They were good in it too. Everyone was good in it. It was basically a movie and story about following your dreams and taking advice on how to do it. Woody Allen knows how to give a good film, and this was no exception!
*** out of ****
Second Act (2018)
Decent
This was an average movie with multiple storylines. It is basically about second chances. Jennifer Lopez plays a lady who gets passed up for a promotion at a Wal Mart type store where she has worked at forever because she does not have a college degree. A relative then "bloats things" a bit so that she can get a job a prestigious consulting firm, and she winds up working on a big project and uncovering some surprises. The movie is pretty formulaic, as most movies and comedies are, but you can forgive it for that. Jennifer Lopez does a good job in the lead and is given a good character. It has a good cast too. Not too bad a way to spend an hour and a half.
** 1/2 out of ****
Uncle Buck (1989)
A classic
This is a John Candy and John Hughes comedy classic featuring a typical John Candy character-but it is a good character. Candy is a commitment phobe and slob who is a last resort to look after a family's children when a family crisis pops up. He doesn't exactly impress the semi delinquent teen, but the younger kids love him and he does his best and his heart of gold shines through as he bumbles his way through looking after the kids in a mostly successful manner. My favorite scenes include the scenes with the enormous pancake and the tool drill. This is a good movie for Candy and a showcase for his comedic talents and a good family film.
*** out of ****
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Good marvel comics movie
I enjoyed this movie, as it serves as a good entry in the Marvel Comics movie world and sequel to Spiderman:Far From Home. Peter Parker's identity as Spiderman has been exposed by J Jonah Jameson, and he asks Dr. Stephen Strange to cast a spell to help people forget that he's Spiderman. Problem is that the spell goes awry and leaves the world and multiverse open to new villains and new threats. I enjoyed watching Tom Holland working with the actors from the previous Spiderman movies, both those who played Spiderman and the villains, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange. The action scenes were fun to watch, and Dr. Octopus and Green Goblin were terrific. It was overall a great movie.
*** out of ****
Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)
Decent
This was a decent follow up to Avengers:Endgame as Peter Parker travels to Europe on a class field trip and winds up having to use his Spiderman alter ego to fight off evil. I liked the use of Quentin Beck/Mysterio and Jake Gylenhaal's portrayal of that character. Most of this movie clicks, including Gylenhaal, Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spiderman, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Zendaya as MJ Watson. The story was decent too, and the special effects were good, and things were worth seeing for things involving Mysterio's character. It is a decent entry in the Marvel Comics movie series.
** 1/2 out of ****