Starring Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders
, Jacob Batalon
Screenplay by Erik Sommers, Chris McKenna
Based on the comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Cinematography by Matthew J. Lloyd
Edited by Leigh Folsom Boyd, Dan Lebental
Produced by Kevin Feige, Avi Arad, Stan Lee,Victoria Alonso
Directed by Jon Watts
Released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
When I first saw SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING two years ago, I thought to myself, "Finally!! They did it right!! We finally have the Spider-Man we the audience have been waiting for!!" And it was glorious!! Unfortunately, the bad part was that we were gonna have to wait a while for the sequel, since the AVENGERS films would be released first. After the emotional rollercoaster that was AVENGERS: ENDGAME, I finally got to see the final chapter of the now called "The Infinity Saga" that first began with IRON MAN back in 2008. And needless to say, SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME lives up to the hype and is a fitting epilogue to this first epic conclusion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
The film's official synopsis: Our friendly neighborhood Super Hero decides to join his best
friends Ned, MJ, and the rest of the gang on a European vacation.
However, Peter's plan to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are
quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury uncover
the mystery of several elemental creature attacks, creating havoc across
the continent.
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME is a high intense, action packed, hilariously funny, ultimate superhero comic book movie sequel you've been waiting for! It's also a very satisfying and logical conclusion to the "The Infinity Saga" and sets up the next phase of the MCU perfectly!! So grab the family and go see the last MCU film of the year on the big screen!! 5 out of stars!! Highly recommended!!
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME is currently playing in theaters in 2D, 3D, and IMAX nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Starring
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Madeleine McGraw, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves
Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Stephany Folsom
Cinematography by Patrick Lin, Jean-Claude Kalache
Edited by Axel Geddes
Produced by Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich, Mark Nielsen, Jonas Rivera
Directed by Josh Cooley
Distributed by
When I saw TOY STORY 3 back in 2010, I balled my eyes out! Seriously balled my eyes out! If you saw that movie and said that that last half hour of the film didn't leave you a weeping like a little girl, then you are lying your monkey ass off!! Everyone I spoke to since the film's release have stated that they cried like a three-year-old. As I walked out of the theater all those years ago, I thought for sure that this would be the last time I would see Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Slinky, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and the rest of the gang. Then in 2018, Pixar announced that they were making TOY STORY 4, for a 2019 release. And yes, I went and saw it this past weekend, and it was very good, just not great.
The film's official synopsis: Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) has always been confident about his place in the world, and that his priority is taking
care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. So when Bonnie’s beloved new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky (voice
of Tony Hale), declares himself as “trash” and not a toy, Woody takes it upon himself to show Forky why he should
embrace being a toy. But when Bonnie takes the whole gang on her family’s road trip excursion, Woody ends up on
an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep (voice of Annie Potts). After years of
being on her own, Bo’s adventurous spirit and life on the road belie her delicate porcelain exterior. As Woody and
Bo realize they’re worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, they soon come to find that’s the least of their
worries.
So, let's get down to the nitty gritty of this movie. The computer animation is absolutely, mind-blowingly stunning!! I am always taken aback on just how awesome and realistic the animation looks! It's just astounding!! It's light years from what the original film looked like! You can see the blades of grass, hair blowing in the wind, individual rocks and pebbles, dust bunnies, it's all there for you to behold with your own two eyes!!
As for the story itself, it was OK. Truth be told, I found the film to be more of an epilogue than a true sequel. The third film ended on such an emotionally satisfyingly conclusion that there was no way this film could top it. And it doesn't even come close to that. With TOY STORY 3, we were on such an emotional roller coaster of ride, especially those last twenty minutes. Here, I felt like this was more of, "Hey, let's see where these characters are now. Just in case you were wondering." I wasn't wondering at all. In the years between the third and fourth film, we've been treated to some hilarious shorts and a couple of half hour specials, and I was fine with that. I didn't need, nor did I want, this sequel. It's totally unnecessary, but I can see why Pixar made it. I just wasn't emotionally invested in it, but if you have kids, then they are gonna love this! And that's why it was made: this is a love letter for all those kids who have now grown up with it, thanks to their parents, who watched these when they were kids. TOY STORY crosses generations, and it brings families together. It doesn't matter if your a child or a parent; there's something for everyone to love and enjoy. And. in the long run, that's all that matters. So pay no attention to me, I'm just sounding like "Old Man Phil" but I'm still glad I saw the movie. It made me want to bring my family to see.
TOY STORY 4 is
a solid entry to this beloved franchise and is Pixar's best animated film to date!! You
have never seen a film like this before!! And FYI, you might cry during
the film, especially at the end!
Anyway, this was a great movie for fans of the series! So take the family to your favorite theater
and go see this movie!! 4 out of 5 stars!! Recommended!!
TOY STORY 4 is currently playing in theaters in 2D, 3D, and IMAX nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo,
Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson,
Karen Gillan, Josh Brolin
Based on the Comic Book by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jim Starlin
Written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Cinematography by Trent Opaloch
Edited by Jeffrey Ford, Matthew Schmidt
Produced by Kevin Feige, Jon Favreau, James Gunn, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso, Trinh Tran
Directed by
Anthony and Joe Russo
Released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
After a long five days of watching silent films in San Francisco, I decided to treat myself to a flick at the Cinelux Theaters. Because I was attending the 24th San Francisco Silent Film Festival, I was itching to see a new movie! A plethora of new movies were released, and I was super excited to see them all! But instead, I went and saw AVENGERS: ENDGAME again! Why did I see it again, some of you are asking? Because I felt like it!! Plus I really, really liked the movie!
When I saw it at the Thursday Night Preview screening, I didn't have the best seat to really watch the film and to pay attention to all of the details within its frames. One was why did the Avenger fly Star-lord's ship to confront Thanos when Thor's new battle-axe Stormbreaker can open the Bifröst? How was Steve Rogers able to return the Infinity Stones in their current state when they were all in their original forms? And when Steve returned the Soul Stone to , what was his confrontation with the Red Skull was like? These are just some of the questions that popped in my head upon my second viewing. But overall, I love this freaking movie!
AVENGERS: ENDGAME is currently playing in theaters in 2D, 3D, and IMAX nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Josh Brolin
Based on the Comic Book by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jim Starlin
Written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Cinematography by Trent Opaloch
Edited by Jeffrey Ford, Matthew Schmidt
Produced by Kevin Feige, Jon Favreau, James Gunn, Stan Lee, Victoria Alonso, Trinh Tran
Directed by
Anthony and Joe Russo
Released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
On Tuesday, April 29, 2008, I attended a special advance screening of Marvel Studios' first feature film IRON MAN, starring
Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and directed by Jon Favreau. It was on this day that I witnessed the birth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eleven years and twenty-one films later, I found myself at the Cinelux Almaden Café & Lounge to watch the final chapter of what Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige
has called "The Infinity Saga." I suddenly realized just how fast time goes, as I have seen every single MCU installment in the cinemas. And here I was, eagerly awaiting the closure of what has become one of the most important chapters in my cinematic experience, and it did not disappoint. It goes without saying that AVENGERS: ENDGAME will go down as one of the important and entertaining films of all time!
The film's official synopsis: The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half
the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining
Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios' grand conclusion to
twenty-two films, AVENGERS: ENDGAME.
I'm not going to spoil the film here in my review. Instead, I'm just going to issue the following statement: THIS WAS THE BEST MCU FILM OF ALL TIME!!
As I write this post, the film has broken several cinema records. First, it broke the record Thursday Night screenings, earning an impressive $60 million, breaking the previous record held by STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, which was $57 million total. On Friday, it grossed $305 million internationally, combined with Thursday Night's earnings for a staggering $365 million! As of Sunday morning, it has been reported that the film has now grossed globally an incredible $1.2 BILLION!! The breakdown from that is $350 million domestically and $859 internationally!! It now has become the first film in cinema history to surpass $1 billion in its opening weekend!! I seriously doubt that this record will be broken anytime soon!!
AVENGERS: ENDGAME is one of the most epic, satisfying, blockbuster and film of the year and a fitting conclusion to the Marvel Cinematic Universe that fans could ever wanted or hoped for!! It's also an end of an era, has this closes the chapter of the MCU, and is the beginning of the next phase that will entertain us with new characters, new adventures, and new films!! But before that, I would like to say "Thank You" to everyone who has been involved with the MCU and applaud you for all your hard work these past eleven years!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
AVENGERS: ENDGAME is currently playing in theaters in 2D, 3D, and IMAX nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Starring
Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Tim Heidecker, Elisabeth Moss, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon
Written by Jordan Peele
Cinematography by Mike Gioulakis
Edited by Nicholas Monsour
Produced by Jordan Peele, Jason Blum, Sean McKittrick, Ian Cooper
Directed by Jordan Peele
Released by Universal Pictures
Jordon Peele made a huge impact in the horror genre with his 2017 directorial debut film GET OUT. Addressing racial, political, and social commentary, the film was herald as one of the most polarizing films in last few decades, and becoming an Academy Award winning movie for Best Original Screenplay. Soon, Peele was all over the media, news, and online platforms discussing his debut feature, what was the inspiration for it, and, most importantly, what would be his next project! This past weekend, moviegoers all over flocked to their local theater to witness the latest creation from this talented filmmaker, and I was one of those people. It was at the Cinelux Almaden Café & Lounge where I saw the slow burn US from Universal Pictures.
The film's official synopsis: Haunted by an unexplainable and unresolved trauma from her past and
compounded by a string of eerie coincidences, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong'o) feels her
paranoia elevate to high-alert as she grows increasingly certain that
something bad is going to befall her family: husband, Gabe (Black Panther’s Winston Duke), and their two children (Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex). After spending a tense beach day with their friends, the Tylers (Emmy
winner Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon),
Adelaide and her family return to their vacation home. When darkness
falls, the Wilsons discover the silhouette of four figures holding hands
as they stand in the driveway. US pits an endearing American family against a terrifying and uncanny opponent: doppelgängers of themselves.
Words cannot describe just how much I enjoyed the movie! Once again, Peele demonstrates that he is one of the most talented filmmakers within the genre, and a new voice in modern day horror. While watching his sophomore feature, I found myself comparing him to the late, great George Romero; combining social commentary with avant garde storytelling. His camera literally grabs the viewers by the throat and drags them into the movie.
As I am writing this review, the film has just been dominating at the box office! Right at this moment, the movie
has earned an overwhelming $128.2 million here in the states and Canada,
and another $46.3
million in other countries, grossing a worldwide total of $174.5
million! Remember, the budget was only $20 million!! That is some
serious box office business!! But it also means that there is an audience for horror films with minority casts! This is something that will no doubt change the landscape for not only horror films, but for all Hollywood movies to come!
US is one of the very best horror films of 2019 thus far!! The bar has been set to insurmountable heights that it's, again, going to be very difficult to top this movie! Now, there are a plethora of horror films being released this year, so my opinion might change, however, nothing will take away from the emotional experience I had watching Peele's latest masterpiece in my local theater! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
US is currently playing in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Starring Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, Annette Bening, Clark Gregg, Lashana Lynch, Lee Pace
Written by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Nicole Perlman, Meg LeFauve
Characters created by Roy Thomas, Gene Colan
Cinematography by Ben Davis
Edited by Debbie Berman, Elliot Graham
Produced by Kevin Feige
Directed by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
It's been a rewarding experience to have seen every single film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the theaters. Ever since I attended a special preview screening of IRON MAN at the Century 20 Oakridge all the way back in 2008. Since then, we have been treated to some of the most iconic characters ever created in the comic book world, having major Hollywood stars bringing these iconic heroes and villains to life on the big screen, and seeing some major first and record breaking debuts in those eleven years. Today, audiences were once again treated to another first: Marvel Studio's first female starring film that will be loved by female audiences worldwide. Taking place in that awesome year of 1995, let's take a ride with the MCU's newest superhero CAPTAIN MARVEL at the Cinelux Almaden Café & Lounge.
The film's official synopsis: Captain Marvel (Larson) is an extraterrestrial Kree warrior who finds
herself caught in the middle of an intergalactic battle between her
people and the Skrulls. Living on Earth in 1995, she keeps having
recurring memories of another life as U.S. Air Force pilot Carol
Danvers. With help from Nick Fury (Jackson), Captain Marvel
tries to uncover the secrets of her past while harnessing her special
superpowers to end the war with the evil Skrulls.
So I had a blast watching this movie! Now, I was surprised when Marvel Studios announced that Brie Larson was cast as our heroine. Reason being that she's an Academy Award winner, star of ROOM and the THE GLASS CASTLE. These are amazing dramas! Of course she's been in other movies like TRAINWRECK, KONG: SKULL ISLAND, and FREE FIRE, but I figured she would go on to star in these lavish time period dramas and arthouse type films after her big win. Thankfully, she embraced her inner superhero and she nailed her performance as US Air Force Pilot Carol Danvers, her new alien identity Vers, and the most powerful entity known as Captain Marvel! Samuel L. Jackson once again return as Nick Fury, but this is 1995 and Fury is not yet the man in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. but we get to see how he came to be (and why he wears that patch). Also back on the big screen is Clark Gregg, who has been portraying Agent Coulson since the first IRON MAN back in 2008! While he died in THE AVENGERS, he was brought back to life and has been appearing of the hit television show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. since 2013. Now, with the Marvel Studios, there's always a legendary Hollywood actor or actress making their MCU debut, and with this film, they can add the iconic Annette Bening, who plays Supreme Intelligence in the movie, to that list. Add Jude Law as Yon-Rogg to the mix, along with GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY alumnus Djimon Hounsou and Lee Pace
(Korath and Ronan, respectively), and you've got yourself a kick ass Marvel movie!
As I write-up this review, the movie has garnered acclaim from fans of the MCU and from female audience members alike. But the big news to come out of this weekend was its boxoffice haul. The movie has grossed a freaking unbelievable $455 million worldwide and became the sixth-highest worldwide debut ever!! It also scored a whopping $153 million domestically and is the studio's latest best-performing opening weekend of the year!! That is outstanding!! And to all those dipshit trolls who were trying to boycott the movie, guess what boys? You lost big time!! Now shut the hell up and go get a life!!
CAPTAIN MARVEL is another fun-filled, superheroic blockbuster of a movie that will make fans rejoice and chat for more!! And in case you've been living under a rock, she will be appearing in the upcoming conclusion AVENGERS: ENDGAME. The film serves its purpose as an awesome origin film, but it sets up an epic battle to come as well! If you're excited to see Captain Marvel square off against Thanos, we only have one month to wait! In the meantime, make sure you see this one at least three more times, and if it's playing in 3D and IMAX, then see it that way as well! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
CAPTAIN MARVEL is currently playing in theaters in 2D, 3D, and IMAX nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Starring
Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Phi Vu, Suraj Sharma, Sarah Yarkin, Rachel Matthews, Ruby Modine, Charles Aitken
Written by Christopher Landon
Cinematography by Toby Oliver
Edited by Ben Baudhuin
Produced by Jason Blum
Directed by Christopher Landon
Released by Universal Pictures
When I first saw HAPPY DEATH DAY back in October of 2017, it became one of my favorite horror films that year. It boasted a clever script, fantastic acting from its cast, especially from its lead actress Jessica Rothe, and was awesomely directed by Scott Lobdell. The film went on to dominate the boxoffice, as both horror fans and moviegoers alike helped the film earn a whopping $56.3 million worldwide! Blumhouse, the production company that helped produce the movie, announced last year that they were planning a sequel to capitalize on the fandom of the first film. Low and behold, I found myself making my way over to the Cinelux Almaden Cafe & Lounge to see the latest installment of the series entitled HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U!
The film's official synopsis: Having survived the farcical but utterly life-threatening events HAPPY DEATH DAY, the feisty sorority sister, Tree Gelbman, finds herself in the
same college dorm, thankful to be alive. However, this time, it's
Carter's roommate, Ryan, who claims that he is reliving the same
paradoxical day over and over again, as a mysterious paranoid killer in a
single-toothed baby-faced mask with a big kitchen knife has made a
habit of murdering him. Under those circumstances, a valiant but vain
attempt to face the challenge, once more, will send Tree back to square
one, trapped in an all too familiar and blood-drenched time loop. How
many deaths separate Tree from a truly happy birthday?
I must give credit to the filmmakers, the cast, and crew: They went there! They went there, took pictures, and came back! Writer/director Christopher Landon took the sequel in a totally different direction, one that I did not see coming, which was very clever on his part. Landon is no stranger to the horror genre, having helming films like PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE MARKED ONES and SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE and was the writer for DISTURBIA, VIRAL, SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2-4 and the THE MARKED ONES.
Landon 's script borrows more from films like BACK TO THE FUTURE: PART II (which was referenced in the film, like GROUNDHOG'S DAY in the first film) and leans more towards the sci-fi/comedy genre than the slasher genre. However, I found this quiet refreshing! It's no different than what Sam Raimi did with 1987's EVIL DEAD II: DEAD BY DAWN and his 1993 cult hit ARMY OF DARKNESS. It's this progression that really made me sit up and take notice. Landon is one evil genius and I'm hoping that he gets to make the third film of this new series!
Our heroine Tree Gelbman is portrayed by the very talented Jessica
Rothe. Tree isn't your typical sorority rich bitch. There's a reason
she's a self-absorbed, snotty and downright rude; she's been through a
lot and throughout the movie she evolves and changes, but still has that
cunning and at the end, she becomes that bad ass final girl horror fans
have grown to love. Her companion on this never-ending day trip is Carter Davis, played by Israel
Broussard. Both have great on-screen chemistry and it was great to see
their characters interact with one another, especially Tree remembering
everything and Carter always is the same person but not in the same
sense as the previous day.
As I mentioned earlier, I hope that Blumhouse gets Landon to make the next sequel, and let's face it, if this film blows up like the first one did, then it's a given! Also, this has nothing to do with the film's after credit scene that sets this up for a sequel. But, it's tongue-in-check and it might have been taken seriously, but you never know! It could very well become a reality in the very near future!
HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U
is a clever, funny, and entertaining sci-fi/horror/comedy/thriller that will keep you
guessing all the way to the final scenes!! Don't give this movie a
pass! Go to your local theater, grab some popcorn, snacks and drinks,
and then sit back and have a good time!! 4 1/2 out 5 stars!! Highly
recommended!!
HAPPY DEATH DAY is currently playing in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
It's safe to say that John Carpenter's 1978 horror classic HALLOWEEN (which I saw last week) changed the landscape of cinema when it was released to theaters and remains a milestone in the gnere. It scared the hell out of audiences everywhere, spawned a franchise of films and merchandise, put Carpenter's name on the map, and ushered in the slasher genre that dominated theaters throughout the 1980's. Granted, several installments of the series were less than we were anticipating, and don't get me started on the whole Rob Zombie's reboot and sequel. Then on May 24, 2016, Blumhouse Productions and Miramax announced that they would be co-financing a brand new film for the series, and that Carpenter himself would be both producing and scoring the film! And that original star Jamie Lee Curtis would also be returning along with the original Shape Nick Castle! Boy, did that excite me! And now, 40 years later, I'm here at the Cinelux Almaden Cafe & Lounge to attend the special Thursday night screening of the latest chapter in the story of Micheal Myers, simply titled HALLOWEEN!
The film's official synopsis: Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes
to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has
haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween
night four decades ago.
Holy crap I loved the hell outta this movie!! This surpassed beyond my expectations! Jamie Lee Curtis returns to bring a new dimension to her iconic character Laurie Strode. Life has been hard on Laurie, and we learn the sacrifices, consequences, and loss that she has lived through these past 40 years. Her relationship with her estranged daughter Karen (Judy Greer) is almost non-existent, but she tries to reach out to her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak). But when Micheal Myers (the returning Nick Castle) returns to Haddonfield to finish what he started all those years ago, it's up to Laurie to save her family and to end the terror of The Boogeyman.
Curtis and Castle are not the only ones to return to the franchise. The series creator himself, John Carpenter, returned as not only as one of the executive producers, he also scored the film! And it sounded freaking awesome! His new take on the movie's theme was awesome and it just sounded like a Carpenter score! This elevates the movie to a higher level, and increases the intensity and dread in the final product. I was so happy to have the man himself back on board to help guide the film back to its roots, which leads me to my next topic.
I felt like the movie (and the series) returned back to its roots, and that's thanks in larger part to director
David Gordon Green and screenwriters Green, Danny McBride, and Jeff Fradley. Together, the crafted a simple, yet very effective, tour de force that hasn't been seen in the series for a very long time.
Since this was a Thursday night screening, the audience that I saw it with were loud, rambunctious, rowdy, and vocal. This was the perfect way to see this movie! They were cheering, screaming, laughing, and we were all having a great time! This is why going to the cinemas and watching a movie with a group of like-minded strangers is so important! We get to share an experience together rather than watching a movie alone. Where's the fun in that? That's so damn boring! Watching a horror movie with this type of audience makes going to the theaters so damn fun!
HALLOWEEN is my pick for Best Horror Film of 2018!! This is the sequel that we have been waiting for for the last 40 years!! Everything in this movie was phenomenal!! The acting, the directing, the cinematography, the film's score, there wasn't anything wrong with the overall presentation! And the kills were graphic, gory, and gorgeous!! You need to experience this movie on the big screen!! So make plans with your friends and loved ones and celebrate October the way it was meant to be: by spending time with the return of Michael Myers!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
HALLOWEEN is playing in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Welcome back to Day Three of my Halloween Horror Watch! Sometimes, serendipity finds you when you least expect it. So I was in Morgan Hill today, calling on one of my accounts when I look across the parking lot and see the Cinelux Tennant Station Stadium 11. And I thought to myself, "Man, I haven't seen a movie there in a long ol' time. I wonder what's playing there?" So I walked on over and I saw they're screening the new Lionsgate/CBS Films fright film HELL FEST!! And then I said to myself, "Holy shit!! I wanna see that!!" I then preceded to go inside, purchased a ticket, made my way to Theater 5, found a comfy chair and awaited the movie to unfold before my evil eyes.
The film's official synopsis: A masked serial killer turns a horror themed amusement park into his
own personal playground, terrorizing a group of friends while the rest
of the patrons believe that it is all part of the show. College student Natalie (Amy Forsyth) is visiting her childhood best friend Brooke (Reign Edwards) and her roommate Taylor (Bex Taylor-Klaus
).
If it was any other time of year these three and their boyfriends might
be heading to a concert or bar, but it is Halloween which means that
like everyone else they will be bound for Hell Fest – a sprawling
labyrinth of rides, games, and mazes that travels the country and
happens to be in town. Every year thousands follow Hell Fest to
experience fear at the ghoulish carnival of nightmares.
But for one visitor, Hell Fest is not the attraction – it is a hunting
ground. An opportunity to slay in plain view of a gawking audience, too
caught up in the terrifyingly fun atmosphere to recognize the horrific
reality playing out before their eyes. As the body count and frenzied
excitement of the crowds continues to rise, he turns his masked face to Natalie, Brooke, Taylor and their boyfriends who will fight to survive
the night.
I came into this screening dead cold, meaning I didn't know anything about the film. Now I had heard the title mentioned on a couple of podcasts that I listen to, but didn't have a clue. I walked out of that screening, thinking how much fun the movie was!
First, I really enjoyed the performances of all of the female actresses. Amy Forsyth was fantastic as out heroine Natalie. She looked and sounded like a real young adult in her 20's, not Hollywood's two-dimensional, cookie cutter caricature of one. She brings a level of believability to her performance, and I found it refreshing to see. Reign Edwards does her best to make her character Brooke not the token black person who gets killed first. At first, she doesn't believe Natalie's claims, but she sure as hell does when the killer comes for her. She's the goofy and lovable best friend and I liked that. Bex Taylor-Klaus's Taylor was the one I related to the most, because I saw myself in her. I'm that horror loving fanatic who loves to get scared, gets in on the celebration of the park, and thrives in its environment. And I know quite of few women who Taylor reminded me of as well. Together, these ladies keep the film grounded and made me emotionally invested in them.
Kudos to filmmaker Gregory Plotkin, who makes he directorial feature length debut with the film. It's visually beautiful, framed stylistically, and captures all of the awesome gore and kills. He also pays tribute to films of horrors past. There is a killer eye scene that is haunting familiar to the late, great Lucio Fulci's ZOMBIE 2! The color pallet is very reminiscent to Dario Argento's SUSPIRIA. The killer's body language reminded me of both Micheal Myers from HALLOWEEN. The tone of the movie feels like an 80's slasher flick; it doesn't take itself seriously, the kills are bloody awesome, the tension was cool, and, I had a good time watching it. It's not going to change the slasher genre, or the face of the horror as whole, but it's contributing a rich legacy of movies that diehard fans love and does a great job of being exactly what it is.
Another contributing factor I really liked about the film was the ending. So I won't be spoiling the film, but it did not end the way I thought it was going to!! Holy crap I was not expecting this kind of ending!! It leaves the film wide open for a possible sequel, and I'm very interested of where it could go! Kudos to the entire cast and crew for making an awesome horror film!
HELL FEST is a fun-filled, gory, faced-paced, slice 'em and dice 'em, slasher flick that will entertain fans this Halloween season!! Again, it's not gonna change the horror genre, but will be remembered as one of the better horror films from Hollywood that isn't a remake or sequel! I hope this does become a new franchise, as there's so much potential for expansion! So go see this film on the big screen this month and just have fun!! 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
HELL FEST is playing in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
In 1987, the film PREDATOR, starring former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, and Shane Black, the film hit theaters and became a huge blockbuster. Combining action, science fiction, and horror, it has become a classic among fans. Then came PREDATOR 2 in 1991. It was OK, but not great. Then came ALIEN VS. PREDATOR and ALIEN VS. PREDATOR: REQUIEM in 2004 and 2007 respectively. They both sucked ass. And then came filmmaker Robert Rodriguez's 2010 sequel PREDATORS. It was OK too. It seemed like fans of the franchise were never going to get a film that would be on par with the original. Enter actor Shane Black, who starred in the first film, who teamed up with co-screenwriter Fred Dekker to give us THE PREDATOR, which I saw over at the Cinelux Almaden Cafe & Lounge.
The film's official synopsis: From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of
suburbia, the hunt comes home. Now, the universe's most lethal hunters
are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically
upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a young boy
accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of
ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the
human race.
OK, first things first. DO NOT COMPARE IT TO THE ORIGINAL! Nothing will be better than the first PREDATOR!! NOTHING!! So don't go into the film think it's gonna be a masterpiece of fine cinema, because it is so not. But, if you like your movies filled with blood, violence, raunchy and vulgar language, big explosions, and Olivia Munn running around looking all sexy, then this is right up your alley.
Black keeps the action, humor, and violence fast as lightening with very little emphasis on character development. As I said earlier, he co-wrote the screenplay with the legendary Fred Dekker, the man responsible for two of the greatest 80's films of all time: THE MONSTER SQUAD and NIGHT OF THE CREEPS! Legend has it that both Dekker and Black have been friends for decades and Black recruited his long time friend to help craft the script, filled with generic one-liners, clichés, over-the-top bloodshed, and for some stupid reason, it fucking works.
The cast itself does a nice job of trying to give their respective characters some depth and personality, but the real reason we want to see the movie is the Predators! And in this film, we get not one but two of them! Both look awesome, especially the Mutant Predator! But also, Olivia Munn looks so damn sexy playing nerd doctor Casey Bracket, who also knows how to shoot shotguns and assault rifles. Hey, wait just a second! How the hell does she know how to use a gun? I don't remember the movie explaining this! Oh, forget about it! Just watch Olivia Munn look all sexy and nerdy while she shoots at the Mutant Predator.
So far, the movie hasn't been performing well at the box office. As I am writing this, the movie has only earned $56.6million worldwide. This isn't good news, since the film's budget was about $208million, which included advertisements. The film's producer, John Davis, says this movie would set up two more sequels that he hopes Shane Black will direct. Let's see if this comes to fruition.
THE PREDATOR is an entertaining, action packed sci-fi flick that hardcore fans of the franchise will enjoy! But in the end, it's just another typical Hollywood popcorn
movie! I was just expecting something more to it is all! 3 out of
stars! It's worth a look!
THE PREDATORis playing in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
I recall seeing THE PURGE (the first film) at a special advance screening at the Cinemark Century 20 Oakridge way back in 2013. While I sincerely enjoyed it, I thought it would be a one-off film. Never did I imagine that it would become a horror franchise, and now a television mini series on the USA Network this fall. So this past 4th of July, Blumhouse and Universal Pictures released the latest chapter of the series. Or should I saw prequel. Yes my friends, I went and saw THE FIRST PURGE over at the Cinelux Almaden Café & Lounge.
The film's official synopsis: After the rise of a third political party,
the New Founding Fathers of America, an experiment is conducted, no laws
for 12 hours on Staten Island. No one must stay during the experiment
yet there is $5,000 for anyone who does.
Ok, so let me say this about the film. It is, without a doubt, the most ghetto ass horror film of the series!! And I don't mean "ghetto" because the movie takes place in the ghettos of Staten Island, nor because it's cast is mostly African Americans, or that it contains a hip hop/rap soundtrack. None of this means it's "ghetto." I'm calling it "ghetto" because it is one of the most lazy, disenchanting, hollow, horror film I have seen in a long time!! Now, let me explain my disposition. Given the political and social climate the country is currently in, I am completely shocked that the film doesn't address the issues that are plaguing America today. We are on the verge of a revolution, fighting against the tyranny of the Trump Regime. We are facing trade wars, alienating our closest allies, families being ripped apart, children being kept in cages, environmental polices being undone; this country is coming apart at the seams. Now, with the previous three installments, there was some form of political and social commentary, especially with PURGE: ANARCHY and PURGE: ELECTION YEAR. However, there wasn't any of that in this movie. None whatsoever!! How the hell do you make a PURGE movie and not have any commentary about the state of the country currently?!? To me, that is offensive! Whenever the country falls into despair or when it is under conservative control, horror films have been there to offer not only escapism, but comment on what is wrong with the world. From addressing racism in George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD to commenting on AIDS in David Robert Mitchell's IT FOLLOWS, there has been a conscience voice within our films. Whether you agree with the filmmakers or not, you have to respect them for voicing their concerns and opinions! This movie doesn't have a voice!! And that pissed me off!! But wait, there's more!! The other reason I called it "ghetto" was that it offers nothing to the series, nor to its fans. Screenwriter James DeMonaco's script totally sucked shit; containing no real attributes to help make this movie relatable. The story was awful, there was no real character development and all of them were just basic stereotypes, and the story lacked any real sense of threat or danger. It's hard to believe that this is the same guy that wrote all the other PURGE films, but it felt like he only did this to get a paycheck. It showed in every single frame of the film!
Even more grotesque is director Gerard McMurray's set-ups and compositions, which looked unimaginative, sloppy and amateurish at best. Granted this is only his second feature length movie and his fourth film he's directed (he made two shorts prior to making features), it looked so damn bad that I was completely taken out of the movie almost right at the start. Of course, DeMonaco's lackluster script helped speed up my checking out. How McMurray got the job to direct is beyond me, but his style is still very green. Overall, THE FIRST PURGE is a total piece of shit, waste of my time type of movie!! I was so looking forward to watching this movie, only to regret my decision immediately after the opening credits!! That's how early I knew that this was going to suck, and how painful it was to sit through the whole damn thing!! So stick with the first three films, and just forget about seeing this in theaters!! But if you really want to see it, then just watch the trailer! 1 out of 5 stars!! It sucked shit!!
THE FIRST PURGEis playing in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Yes, I saw AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR for the third time! You would think I'd be tired of seeing it. Well then, you don't know me very well. I'm the type of person that can watch the same movie over and over and over again. Yup, I'm weird!
Another reason I wanted to see it again was that this past weekend Disney announced the release date for the Blu-Ray for the film! Already!! It's been in theaters for only a month for crying out loud!! Sure, the movie made a shitload of money, but still?!? WTF!! That's why I went to see it again. However, I am planning on seeing it several more times before it's gone for good. So keep an eye peeled here as I'm planning to see it at other theaters, like for example, the brand new Pruneyard Cinemas, formerly known as the Camera 7! I still would like to see it in an IMAX theater too!
AVENGERS: INFINITY WARis playing in 2D, Real 3D, and in IMAX in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
I was a big fan of Deadpool long before the first film came out. He was one of the most unique, funny, and original characters in the Marvel Comics Universe (which is ironic because he was a rip off of the DC Comic's character Deathstroke). So when DEADPOOL was released to theaters, I was also one of the first ones who saw it an immediately became one of my favorite films of that year. Fast forward to today and I'm back at the Cinelux Almaden Café & Lounge to see the highly anticipated sequel DEADPOOL 2.
The film's official synopsis: After surviving a near fatal bovine attack,
a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his
dream of becoming Mayberry's hottest bartender while also learning to
cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for
life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the Yakuza,
and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the
world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor -
finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug
title of World's Best Lover.
Dude, seriously, this was a hilariously fucking awesome movie! The jokes come fast (pun intended) and funny, the action is a hybrid of THE MATRIX and JOHN WICK, and it builds off what the first film established. It does what a sequel should do, and all this comes courtesy of screenwriters Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Ryan Reynolds (yeah, that surprised me too) and the film's director David Leitch, who also helmed ATOMIC BLONDE and is the uncredited co-director on JOHN WICK. So, good job fellas. You guys made a lot of fanboys and fangirls very, very happy.
As for our players, they all knocked it out of the park! Reynolds brings his "A" game to out favorite "Merc with the Mouth", but this time, old Deadpool has some pathos and sympathy to go along with his wise cracking, fowl-mouthed, fourth wall breaking, ass kicking shenanigans. Josh Brolin IS Cable: the look, the voice, the mannerism, and is a badass all the way! Newcommer Zazie Beetz shines as the lucky mutant Domino, and does quite a bit of ass kicking herself. Returning actress Brianna Hildebrand is back as our favorite X-Men Negasonic Teenage Warhead, but now has a super awesome girlfriend Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna), who has a super cute friendship with Wade Wilson. Also back are Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), Weasel (T.J. Miller), Blind Al (Leslie Uggams), Dopinder (Karan Soni), and Stefan Kapicic as the voice as Colossus.
So, as always, there are end credit scenes, cause it wouldn't be a Marvel Film without end credit scenes. However, these are mid-credit scenes. There are two of them, and are fucking hysterically, gut busting fantastic!! After that, then leave the theater so you can go pee! There, I saved you five minutes of doing the "Pee-Pee Dance" in your seat. DEADPOOL 2 is wickedly funny, outrageously funny, action packed, superhero comic book movie sequel you've been waiting for!! So shit your pants and call in sick for work, then change your pants and go see this bad boy before it comes out on Blu-Ray next week!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
DEADPOOL 2 is playing in 2D, Real 3D, and in IMAX in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Yes, I saw AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR again. Four days later. Yeah, it took me a couple of days to mentally prepare myself to view the movie again. You see, this one hit me in the feels. It really did. Reading the original comics was one thing, but to see it on the big screen, with real actors and actresses bringing these characters to life, and watching them grow for the past ten years, it hits you when they fail and fall. So I journeyed back to the Cinelux Almaden Café & Lounge to watch the film again.
So, after watching the movie again for the second time, I have decided it that it's my favorite Marvel movie, for the following reasons. Warning: spoilers ahead.
1) Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely laid it all on the line and crafted an out of this world, action packed, story driven, character driven, high stakes story that had me on the edge of my seat. The story had a riveting three-act story arc, life and death situations, big time action, and characters we've grown to love. And to watch them fight for their lives as well as for the universe, and to see them fail, was absolutely heartbreaking.
2) Filmmaking brothers Joe and Anthony Russo directed the hell out of this movie! Their framing and pacing fits the film's look and action. They give the right amount death-defying action and much needed humor. And they make it awesome to watch!
3) All the actors and actresses were fantastic!! And to finally see them all in action in the same film made me scream like a little girl at a Beatles concert (and yes, I sort of dated myself there, but let's be honest, music today blows just as bad as Trump. Yup, I went there!). To see Iron Man, Dr. Stranger and Spider-Man interact with one anther, and then with the Guardians of the Galaxy, watching Captain America, Falcon and Black Widow team up with Black Panther, seeing Thor with Rocket and Groot, and seeing how evil Thanos is, it's enough to make you gush with joy! This movie was ten years in the making!! Holy crap, I'm old!!
4) It's such a great entertaining movie! Period!
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR is the film that changes the MCU forever! And it will leave you emotionally devastated and drained to the point of exhaustion! AVENGERS: INFINITY WARis playing in 2D, Real 3D, and in IMAX in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
So after ten years of bringing their beloved (and obscure title that made bank) comic book characters to the big screen, Marvel's Cinematic Universe has come to an end (well, majority of the actors and actresses are still contractually obligated to appear in a film or two) and the world will never be the same. Now, I've been a watching the MCU since the very beginning, since I saw an advanced screening of the first IRON MAN back in 2008, and now, in 2018, I witnessed the climatic conclusion in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR at my local haunt: The Cinelux Alamden Lounge & Cafe. So buckle up kiddies, cause your gonna cry like a baby!
The film's official synopsis: As the Avengers and their allies have
continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero
to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A
despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity
Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his
twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for
has led up to this moment - the fate of Earth and existence itself has
never been more uncertain.
So, for this review, I'm gonna relive for you all my inner monologue while watching the film. Now, since I am a sensitive bastard, this will be a spoiler-free review. However, there might be some vulgar language, so you have all been warned.
*Oh man, I almost forgot I bought a hot dog! (Takes a bite of said hot dog) Mmmmmmmm......I love movie theater hot dogs. They're so delicious and so bad for my cholesterol. (bite, bite, swallow) And now for a sip of my root beer. (Takes a big slurp) Oh yeah, that's so refreshing. Ok, back to the movie*
*Credits roll. Ok, so let's check out this bonus scene and see how it sets up the next film.* HOLY FUCKING SHIT!! *Lights go up. I think I need therapy after watching this movie.* AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR is this summer's "Holy fucking shit!!" blockbuster that will make you cry like a bitch, seek counseling and question the meaning of life. And it's a fucking badass movie!! So if you see one film that will make you hide in the corner till the next AVERGERS film, then go see this today!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
AVENGERS: INFINITY WARis playing in 2D, Real 3D, and in IMAX in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Marvel Studios has been on an unstoppable winning streak for the past several years and they continue their MCU juggernaut at theaters this past weekend. It goes without saying that not even Satn Lee or Jack Kirby could've predicted that their creation would become so successful and becoming already a pop culture phenomenon. With the release of BLACK PANTHER, Marvel Studios and Wald Disney have released on hell of a film!!
The film's official synopsis: After the events of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, King T'Challa returns
home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of
Wakanda to serve as his country's new leader. However, T'Challa soon
finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own
country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as
Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members
of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from
being dragged into a world war.
I never thought that I would see a film like this: an African cast, filled with African clothing, African beliefs and traditions, and the lead is an African superhero. When "The King" Jack Kirby and Stan "The Man" Lee unleashed the Black Panther in The Fantastic Four back in 1966, little did they know that they were making history. He was the first black superhero to appear in mainstream American comics. That is something truly revolutionary. This year marks T'Challa's and his superhero alter ego 52nd anniversary, and for this special occasion, Marvel Studios has brought us his solo movie.
Everything in the movie is perfect! Absolutely perfect! Chadwick Boseman returns as our hero who brings class, intelligence, and dignity to the role. His adversary Erik Killmonger is played by the talented Michael B. Jordan, who's resume includes RED TAILS, FRUITVALE STATION and CREED. Marvel fans will also remember him as Johnny Storm in the infamous 2015 movie FANTASTIC FOUR. Like Ryan Reynolds and Chris Evans before him, Jordon is given a second chance and is redeemed in one of his best performances! Killmonger is the best MCU villain since Tom Hiddleston's Loki!! Vicious, ruthless, and brilliantly evil, I sincerely hope we get to see this character again!
Another aspect that sets this movie apart from the competition is the strong female cast! Angela Bassett shines as the captivating and regal Ramonda, mother of T'Challa. Letitia Wright portrays T'Challa's little sister Shuri, who gives Tony Stark a run for his money as she's supremely intelligence and an uncanny inventor and scientist. Lupita Nyong'o's character Nakia is not only T'Challa's love interest, but is a former Dora Milaje who became an international spy for Wakanda. She is both beautiful and dangerous! Lastly, there's Danai Gurira who plays Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje regiment. Fans know her well as Michonne from AMC's The Walking Dead. To put it bluntly: Okoye would kick Michonne's ass completely!! Okoye is one of the toughest women I have ever seen in any of the MCU films!! She is fearless in the role and is just awe inspiring!!
The film was directed by Ryan Coogler and was co-written by him and Joe Robert Cole. Coogler made a name for himself with the 2013 indie film FRUITVALE STATION, a true story about "Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths
with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008." The film (as well as his lead actor Michael B. Jordan) became a sensation, which led him to his next project CREED. Starring Jordon and Sylvester Stallone, the film received critical acclaim, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Stallone, but won four awards at the African-American Film Critics Association! Coogler has been tapped to direct the much anticipated sequel CREED 2.
BLACK PANTHER IS THE BEST MARVEL STUDIOS FILM OF ALL TIME!! For a long time my favorite MCU movie was the Russo Brothers' CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE WINTER SOLDIER, but know it has been moved to my #2 position. With its fast paced action, beautiful cinematography, entertaining script, larger-than-life characters, talented and diverse cast, and fantastic directing, the movie is now the measuring stick for all other MCU films to follow, not to mention movies from Hollywood! Here is a black cast, directed by a black director, is one of the highest grossing films of all time!! It's time to wake up Hollywood and smell the change!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
BLACK PANTHER is playing in 2D, Real 3D, and in IMAX in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Being born and raised here in San Jose, I grew up with hearing about the history of the most infamous haunted house in all of North America: The Winchester Mystery House. I am one of those who has taken a tour there - even their Halloween flashlight tour, which terrified my friends that I went there with. Its owner Sarah Winchester believed she was being haunted by ghosts, therefore, she continuously kept adding rooms to her home, housing the spirits that were taken by her family's rifles. Her life and legacy is tied to the history of San Jose, becoming a local folklore and legend. It was no surprise that Hollywood became interested in making a movie based her and her historical mansion. And thus, I went to the Cinelux Almaden Cafe & Lounge to see WINCHESTER and witness the story of Sarah Winchester unfold on the big screen.
The film's official synopsis: Inspired by true events. On an isolated stretch of land 50 miles outside
of San Francisco sits the most haunted house in the world. Built by
Sarah Winchester, (Helen Mirren) heiress to the
Winchester fortune, it is a house that knows no end. Constructed in an
incessant twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week mania for decades, it
stands seven stories tall and contains hundreds of rooms. To the
outsider it looks like a monstrous monument to a disturbed woman's
madness. But Sarah is not building for herself, for her niece (Sarah
Snook) or for the brilliant Doctor Eric Price (Jason Clarke) whom she
has summoned to the house. She is building a prison, an asylum for
hundreds of vengeful ghosts, and the most terrifying among them have a
score to settle with the Winchesters.
Helen Mirren carries the movie with her outstanding performance as Sarah Winchester. She brings class, vulnerability, and strength to her role, elevating the movie to a higher level. The other contribution comes from Jason Clarke, surprisingly. He does a fine job of bringing Doctor Eric Price to life on screen, giving him faults and demons that we want him to overcome as to help Sarah with her supernatural situation. Sarah
Snook portrays Sarah's niece Marion Marriott and is decent in the role. Truth be told, these three individuals helped being humanity and realism to their respective characters and raises the film beyond its PG-13 rating.
The film was directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig, aka The Spierig Brothers. Coming off from last year's Halloween horror film JIGSAW (which you can read my review here), the brothers beautifully direct the film with grace, style, and fear. They do a wonderful job of combining character development with gothic thrills, much like the old Hammer Horror films from yesteryear. The brothers also co-wrote the film along with screenwriter Tom Vaughan. Though I liked the story, to me, it felt a little bit rushed and wasn't structured more soundly.
While I enjoyed it for the most part, and I did like the story and characters, something was missing. And all throughout the screening I couldn't figure out what the hell was missing. Then it occurred to me: the house itself wasn't represented very well in the film. While locals may know the life of Sarah Winchester, the only thing we know very well is the Winchester Mystery House itself. Fans and tourists of the mansion have been coming here for decades, taking the tours and seeing first hand how amazing and mesmerizing it truly is. The house is a character and should have been more predominate since it's now all we have to explore. WINCHESTER is an entertaining ghost story, but lacks the necessary ingredients to make it a supernaturally thrilling film! With so much history, both Sarah Winchester and the Winchester Mystery House deserved more than just a run-of-the-mill, scary, PG-13 ghost fright flick. The acting was great, but that was about it. I hope Sarah won't be too mad about how the movie turned out. 3 out of 5 stars! It's a future rental at best!
WINCHESTERis currently playing in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
Back in 1995, one of the biggest films that year was JUMANJI, starring the late Robin Williams and the soon-to-be-star Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt, David Alan Grier and Patricia Clarkson. The movie has gone on to become a classic among adults and kids alike. So when Sony and Columbia Pictures announced that they were making a sequel, I thought what the hell for? Seriously, am I the only one here that thinks Hollywood has no original ideas left and now all that they are making is remakes, sequels, and comic book movies? Well, it seems like everyone else liked the idea and rushed out to see the movie when it debuted back in December 2017. Everyone, except for me. I didn't want to see it. Nope, not interested. Then, everyone was talking about it. Then, it started to climb up the box office. Even my brother loved the damn thing. And so, I finally caved and went to my home away from home, Cinelux Almaden Cafe & Lounge, to see JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE.
The film's official synopsis: In a brand new Jumanji adventure, four high school kids discover an old
video game console and are drawn into the game's jungle setting,
literally becoming the adult avatars they chose. What they discover is
that you don't just play Jumanji - you must survive it. To beat the game
and return to the real world, they'll have to go on the most dangerous
adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago,
and change the way they think about themselves - or they'll be stuck in
the game forever, to be played by others without break.
Ok, so, like....hmmmmm....fine....I really enjoyed the damn movie! There, I said it! Ok? The whole thing was a blast to watch!
Dwayne Johnson once again proves that he's out to take over the world, one role at a time! His comedic timing and action packed fight scenes show off his acting chops perfectly. First, he has to portray the awkward nerdy teenager Spencer. Then he has to grow the character from this to a strong and confident young adult who must save the day while trying to gather up the courage to ask his high school crush out on a date. Karen Gillan has been on a role since I first saw her a Amy Pond from the beloved BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who. Coming off the success of Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY franchise, she role as Martha is also a nerdy high schooler who is also shy and somewhat of a introvert. Over the course of the film, she discovers her inner bad ass and confesses her love for The Rock. Kevin Hart does his Kevin Hart schtick with his character Fridge. Jack Black plays the role of Bethany perfectly. Seriously, he acts and talks like a self-absorbed bitchy girl. Together, these four individuals will have you cheering and entertained all the way to the final end of the movie!
Director Jake Kasdan has made some hilarious comedy gems over the years. With titles like ORANGE COUNTY, WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY, BAD TEACHER, and SEX TAPE, Kasdan proves he has the comedic touch. Here, he combines both comedy with high-paced action and adventure and the results have been proven extremely profitable!
As I am writing this review, the movie has grossed an impressive $317 million here in North America, and a whopping $450.8 million overseas. Altogether, the movie has earned a worldwide gross of $767.8 million!! Holy crap I did not see that happening at all! I really thought it was going to bomb at the box office. Yup, I was so wrong about that!
Overall, JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is one of the most entertaining, action packed comedy flicks of last year and this year thus far!! Boy, did I really enjoy this popcorn movie!! So grab the family and go see this on the big screen!! 5 out of stars!! Highly recommended!!
JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is currently playing in theaters nationwide,
including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view
showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.
