STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

85/100 “sweet”

So What's The Story?

The Resistance is in pieces and The First Order keeps getting stronger by the minute. That's not all, Emperor Palpatine is back and ready to take his revenge with the biggest fleet ever seen. When Rey discovers that to find Palpatine and end his plan she must find something called a "Wayfinder." Rey, C-3PO, Poe and Finn go on an epic journey through new lands and challenges to find it. Meanwhile, supreme leader Kylo Ren learns about Rey's past and is determined to track down and kill her before she finds the Wayfinder.

Is It Worth Your While?

This saga has been going on for decades. Even so, every fan has always wanted to come back for more after so many films. On my seventh birthday, I asked to watch Star Wars: A New Hope on the big screen and I have to say it made me feel full of joy and even now, it still gives me that same feeling. J.J. Abrams, director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (85% sweet) had the hardest job of all, that was to create a film that brings together the stories of 11 films. Expertly doing so, he brought heartbreak to old-timers and pure adrenaline to newbies of the franchise. As well as this he focuses on pure devotion to the fans who have been expecting something awesome. Every scene of the film felt classic, from Chewie running down the hall shooting Storm Troopers. To Rey and Kylo's saber fight on the Death Star. I have seen critics despise this movie, but only because they took it way too seriously. The film encourages you to just relax and think about the tears and laughter that the franchise has brought to you. The dazzling visuals are like nothing you could ever imagine seeing from a Star Wars movie. Some of you may kill me, but I didn't like The Last Jedi. I felt this movie as redemption from it. The script was genius especially with the new characters and when C-3PO loses his memory. The story is one of the smartest, most rebellious and dramatic of the franchise. Rey experiences thought-provoking internal conflicts, and the final battle gets your heart pumping pretty quickly. Overall Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will bring the one thing that you feel every Star Wars movie has provided for you and an instant must-see on the big screen. Thanks, J.J for bringing this beautiful story full of amazing characters together for the conclusion to this epic saga.

Unanswered Questions

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker closes and opens some interesting questions but here are some that weren't answered during the movie. 1. Who is or was Palpatine's wife? In the movie, we find out that Rey's father is the son of Palpatine making Rey his granddaughter. However, we never find out who his wife is, he could have adopted Rey's father, but that would not explain why Rey has Palpatine's crazy lightning powers, maybe she's just really strong with the force. If you think about it though, Palpatine “doing it” will leave a bad taste in your mouth. 2. What was Finn going to say to Rey as they were in the quicksand? Just before the group sinks into a giant snake tunnel, Finn, believing that they would probably die tries to say something to Rey. He says "Rey I never told you..." and then they sink. The obvious answer would be "Rey I never told you how I felt." Considering that they're relationship has grown during each film, it could be possible that Finn likes her, however, does Rey feel the same? Then again, we see Finn portray some feelings of the force later on, so maybe he could have been trying to say “Rey, I never told you that I feel the force.” 3. Why did Leia quit Jedi training with Luke? In the film, there is a small scene showing Luke and Leia battling each other for training when they were young. Although Leia does seem like she had the potential, she stopped. This could be because she had some insane vision of the future like so many apprentices and Jedi have had, but it's hard to see that. 4. Is Jannah Lando's son? In the film, we get another badass female character played by Naomie Ackie named Jannah who we found out was a stormtrooper with Finn. In the end, she says that she doesn't know who she is and then Lando smiles and says "Let's go find out." This could lead to a possible spinoff with the two characters which could be very cool. It all just depends on whether Star Wars is willing to extend the story even further. 5. Why didn't Kylo and Han appear with Luke and Leia as force ghosts? At the end of the movie, Rey goes back to Luke's home on Tatooine and put's Luke and Leia's lightsaber's in the earth now that she has an awesome double-sided gold one. Then a person walking by says "Who are you?" Rey responds by saying "Rey." The old lady then asks "Rey who?" She hesitates and looks off into the distance where she sees the ghosts of Luke and Leia, but no Kylo who is a Skywalker! Plus no Han who did have a part earlier in the film when he convinces Kylo to become good. It could have been because Luke and Leia are more important, but I feel that they all should have been there which could have made an impressive effect. Finally, number six. How did Mav obtain Luke’s lightsaber? Remember Mav, the little old alien lady with the big goggles? Well in The Force Awakens Han asks Mav where she got the saber in the first place, Mav responds with “a good question for another time.” When will that other time ever happen. Could she have had an encounter with Luke beforehand? Could she have been a Jedi given her intelligent knowledge of the force? Who knows? All I know is that this simple question wasn’t answered over the course of three movies.

How Was the Cast?

The cast has evolved within each movie. In this they give it they're all. First, we have Daisy Ridley as Rey. The hero of the new chapter of the franchise is not an easy role to undertake, but Daisy Ridley has done an amazing job of doing it. This is a deep and conflicted character and Daisy Ridley does it right. She manages to balance her emotions and little sparks of comedy really well. Overall, she was a perfect fit for the saga's final hero. Next, we have Adam Driver as Kylo Ren. Ren is one of the most developed characters of the new films and Adam Driver has adapted to that change extremely well. He's basically the new Darth Vader in this one. This could only be carried out by one of the most dramatic actors of the decade. Third, we have John Boyega as Finn. His character is much more fun in the film. In addition, his chemistry with the cast has gotten much stronger especially with Oscar Isaac (Poe) who together have some great scenes.

Aging 'Skywalker'

The film has basic Star Wars action. Explosions, laser fights, lightsaber fights. It has gotten darker in terms of story though. The cult that worships Palpatine is scary and so is he with the life drained from his eyes to his missing fingers. Darkside Rey's reveal is intense and there are moments of peril. However, the characters are full of hope and will do anything to bring peace to the galaxy.

By: Quinn Marcus

"The Rise of Skywalker" is a Visually Slick, but Rushed Conclusion to the Franchise

By: Keaton Marcus

60/100 “sweet/sour”

Yes, it’s here, the ninth and final installment (for now) to the epic Skywalker saga, "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker". Director J.J Abrams is finally back in the chair to film a conclusion that benefits from its visually slick action, and performances—but is also a stuffy, chaotic and rushed end. It’s truly a dash to the finish line, which is jam-packed with action and storyline, but never truly reaches greatness. Scream your heads off for the nostalgia, stare in awe at the final battle, and cry for the loss of iconic characters, but audiences may not be able to shake off the missed opportunity. Overall, the cinema will be all over the place, negative, mixed, positive, you won’t be able to tell. Abrams did his best, and who was expecting a perfect final. It’s far from the worst installment, but it’s nowhere near the classics. What’s good is that it's just 144 minutes, around forty minutes less than "Avengers: Endgame", not nearly as good, but at least you don't have to sit in a theater for three hours!

Taking place directly after the events of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi", Abrams continues to cleverly focus on the three main characters. The gang is back, Rey (another strong outing from Daisy Ridley) is progressing in her training with the force, obeying her new master Princess Leia (the late Carrie Fisher) and getting notably more powerful. Meanwhile Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac as always, stiff-chinned, serious, etc.), Finn (John Boyega nailing every line), Chewie (Joonas Suotamo) and of course, the beloved droid BB-8 attempt to get info on the First Order. Kylo Ren (a superb Adam Driver), now supreme leader, is on a journey to discover the whereabouts of the assumed deceased Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), desperate to destroy him. To a lot of people, the special effects and heavy reliance on fan-service will be enough, but they stuffed way to much for one 2 hour 22 minute film.

Abrams nails a lot of things, and gets farther than expected on course-correcting Rian Johnson’s “The Last Jedi”. Yes, its true, Abrams got so many things right, yet so many incorrect. It's a film that has the positives fight with the negatives. Ridley and Driver's performances are excellent, and the scope is solid, but it’s also an objectively messy movie. Some of these factors make it worth seeing, but some also deserve a note of the possibility of disappointment. Audiences just can’t go into the theater expecting the best film in the saga, they are going to do it for the excitement of seeing the conclusion. Fans of the controversial “The Last Jedi” will despise this movie, however, if you truly want to see everything in that movie as side-lined as possible, this is for you.

It's more than reasonable to comment that Ridley's Rey and Driver's Ren are the two shining stars of the turbulent movie. Throughout the non-stop action sequences, and eye-candy, we get sufficient moments of intimacy, emotion, and conflict between the carefully constructed two main characters. There's a tremendous light-saber battle near the finale, and the entire arc of Rey combating against the temptations of the dark side is nothing less than stellar. It’s not without its flaws though as we get a sneak peek of the satanic version of her, donning the double-bladed, red saber, and boasting retractable teeth. It’s as silly as it sounds, and frankly unnecessary. Perhaps not what we've been hoping for. However, Ridley and Driver have successfully become the new iconic duo, after Harrison Ford’s Han Solo and Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia.

You already confirmed that the 2015-2019 trilogy boasted some spectacular visual effects, but honestly, you've seen nothing as much of a spectacle as "The Rise of Skywalker". From the gothic, horrifying design of Palpatine's resting hideout, to the classically retro, yet completely modern Resistance vs. First Order fight, cinematographer Daniel Mindel pegs every shot with beautiful attention to detail. There’s something euphoric about it all, but if only the crew knew how to make an airtight final chapter. We all expected that Episode IX wouldn’t please everyone, but they still could have executed it better. What happens to be a recurring issue is the production gets lost in exposition, and as an excuse, the movie bombards viewers with nostalgia. To be fair, the film is not without some great moments, with signature franchise humor popping up frequently. This will be enough for some fans, but for others wanting excellency, binge the best of the franchise at home.

The final opinion is: “The Rise of Skywalker” brings gorgeous visuals and some noteworthy performances to the table, but despite Abrams’ best efforts, it ends a cluttered and rushed final…$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 177.3M

Domestic Total: 515.2M

Worldwide Total: 1.074B

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL

60/100 “sweet/sour”

So What's The Story?

It’s Christmas and Stanley still feels a sense of insecurity and decides to block himself out from the rest of the group. After a visit from his grandpa Eddie, Spencer decides he wants to go back in the game to become Dr. Bravestone again. Bethany, Fridge, and Martha find out that he did so and go back in to get him. However, nothing is as it seems in their newest and most challenging adventure yet. A bonus, they've got two old men tagging along.

Is It Worth Your While?

Although beautifully done, the film seems rushed and not as thought out as the first one. First of all, we have the directing by Jake Kasdan, director of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (80% sweet). The directing of this film seemed more crazed and confused than the original. It seemed as if the special effects blocked out the opportunity for any great work to be done or noticed. That is, until the last 45 minutes of the film when everything comes back together. Next, we have the special effects. They spent a ton of money on the visuals, and I got to tell you, they made them perfect. The ostrich chase scene and the monkey bridge scene were both excellently done. This all goes to show what can be done with the right team. Third, we have the script and story. The story was not nearly as compelling as the original. The hype that made me want to see the first again and again (4 times) was gone. Also, nothing was at stake, or at least it felt that way. Some scenes were great though. The script had its moments but was not as funny or original as the first. Overall, great special effects but a subpar story and script, plus meh directing made the film a lesser sequel.

How Was The Cast?

Jumanji: The Next Level's cast stepped it up a notch at the end of the movie. First, we have Dwayne Johnson as Dr. Smoulder Bravestone. This movie proved that The Rock can't do everything, and try as he might, he could not pull off Danny DeVito's character. He seemed more in tune and aware of what was going on when he returned to Spencer. By the way, the trailer made me highly anticipate Dwayne Johnson pulling this off, but he couldn't. Next, we have Kevin Hart as Franklin Finbar. He did so much better than Dwayne Johnson at playing an old man. His whole thing about finishing sentences so slowly was hysterical. He seemed committed and ready to play this role. Third, we have Karen Gillan as Ruby Roundhouse. Being the only one without a changed character was the only thing that made her performance and chemistry work as well as it did in the original. Fourth and finally, we have Jack Black as Professor Sheldon Oberon. He's so much better playing Bethany's part and as Fridge, he didn't seem as much of a character. The final 45 minutes of him as Bethany were hilarious

Did 4DX work this time?

Avengers: Endgame did not work because of its deep story and 3 hours run time. However, Jumanji: The Next Level provided a solid 4dx experience, especially with its awesome action sequences. It did not distract me from the movie this time, but rather made it a little better and immersed me into it more than before. The lights, water, snow, and smoke were not nearly as intense as before and the seats moving was cool for the film.

Aging 'Bravestone'

Jumanji: The Next Level has some violent action sequences, people are killed in every way imaginable from being stabbed to being crushed by a giant rock. There is some hand to hand combat, flirting and kissing. However, the film has a lighter premise than the original and should be able to distract hardcore fans from the ages 12 and up.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Jumanji: The Next Level" is an Enjoyable, Well-Acted and Solid Sequel

By: Keaton Marcus

70/100 “sweet/sour”

When the 1995-released, Robin Williams-starring "Jumanji" flick came out, I don't believe that audiences were expecting any reboots. Well, they thought wrong, as we now have two, in theaters 2017 and 2019 respectively. The one is given, dubbed "The Next Level", is not as fun as the original, but in its respects, it plays as a suitably entertaining sequel that greatly relies on the talented cast's chemistry. What especially clicks for both pictures is the excellent comedic relief, both highly-regarded in the first, and second film. The performances are top-notch, and it is a funny flick, but it suffers from severe sequel fatigue, and a couple of moments weren't as exciting as anticipated to be. What keeps it from truly being an average movie is the visually dazzling special effects and the beautifully-done action sequences featured many times throughout the 125-minute adventure comedy.

This time around, the old gang has returned, but there's a clever twist put into the mix. It's the holidays, and Martha (Morgan Turner), Fridge (Ser'Darius Blain), Bethany (Madison Iseman) and Spencer (Alex Wolff) agree to meet up at Nora's diner. However, Spencer fails to show and is nowhere to be found. The remainder visits his house and quickly realizes that he has been sucked into the infamous video-game called "Jumanji". So much for catching up on life, huh. Immediately, they transport themselves into the game to find their lost friend. Have I mentioned Spencer's grandfather, probably not, well his name's Eddie, and he ends up a major part of the plot? Portrayed by a hilarious Danny DeVito on Earth, and being character-swapped with Dr. Smolder Bravestone in the game, which happens to be The Rock attempting the nuances of playing a decrepit old man.

You may already think this is a little much to swallow, well, there's more. Eddie's friend-turned-enemy Milo (a fantastic Danny Glover) also got absorbed into Jumanji, character-swapped with Kevin Hart's Mouse Finbar. Yep, Spencer isn't the main role, and its the two grumpy, nearly deaf old men who arrive to save the day. Ridiculous as it may seem, Glover and DeVito's banter makes the twist more than welcome, and its the air-tight ticket to differing itself from its predecessor. The one issue with the special turn is the lack of nostalgia for the original, which is, sad to say, far superior to the sequel's surprise. Despite this, however, the fun and games director Jake Kasdan has with "The Next Level" is wildly appreciated, yet a tad disappointing.

What you've been waiting hear was: how was Dwayne Johnson's New Yorker accent? Odd, but entertaining is my response. The trick is, Johnson has that rare ability to make anything watchable, and it is exhibited highly in this movie. Not only that, but you will likely get serious kicks out of Mr. Johnson impersonating Danny DeVito. "Are we in Florida?" Bravestone irritatingly asks after finding it impossible to grasp his appearance in a video game. The multi-plex will be roaring in laughter in several scenes, but it just doesn't work enough. Although there are many imperfections, I adored The Rock and co-star Karen Gillan's chemistry, a shocking outing from rapper Awkwafina as Ming and the ultimately exhilarating computer-generated-imagery.

I'm not done. Why you may ask? Well, this "Jumanji" sequel doesn't only depend on the stellar performances, it has its moments as well. One that especially stood out was a thrilling Ostrich-chase in the middle of the desert, perhaps, fifty minutes in. The sound-effects, attention-to-detail, and enjoyable aspects from the clip help garner one of the best scenes in the film. Additionally, we find ourselves in a cat's cradle of bridges, soon to be overrun by computer-generated monkeys. It's all dazzling effects and Jack Black screeching nonsense about Geometry from there. These are all expertly delivered by Mr. Kasdan, who also directed "Welcome to the Jungle", and has a keen eye for expensive productions. Mock it for its ambitious plot twist, or a brainless decision or two, "The Next Level" is still a competent enough, often pleasant sequel that will keep us waiting for a third installment.

The final opinion is: While it's not much of an achievement, "Jumanji: The Next Level" makes for a visually-impressive, interesting and fun sequel that features an excellent, ensemble cast...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 59.2M

Domestic Total: 316.8M

Worldwide Total: 796M

THE AERONAUTS

80/100 “sweet”

So What's The Story?

The Aeronauts brings a story inspired by the heroic and true events. That of which brought mankind closer to the moon and stars than ever before. The scientist James Glaisher who longs to prove that the weather can be predicted decides to fly in a gas-powered balloon. To do so, he needed a pilot, luckily at a party, he meets air balloon pilot Amelia Rennes. Who at first hesitates due to her husband's death on her last flight, but then agrees to help him. Together they must get through the dangers of flying higher than anyone has ever gone before as they fly beyond the cloudline.

Is It Worth Your While?

There have been many great films about flying, Sully (85% SWEET), Airplane! (80% SWEET), but almost none were as unique as this. First, we have the directing by Tom Harper, director of Wild Rose (No Score Yet). It's very difficult to handle a film such as this, especially when your 2,000 feet of the ground sometimes while filming. That's right, they flew into the sky for some shots of the film. The planning of each scene was precise and ready to inject pure adrenaline into the viewer. After an action-packed scene, Tom Harper expertly places a calm or heroic type scene to help you relax. Although sometimes I wondered if the movie would be better off without the backstory scenes and just them flying, they needed the plot to build. Next, I thought that the visuals were impressive and the cinematography was beautiful. The storm scene showed rough and intense effects. Whilst scenes such as the butterflies in the sky scene were peaceful due to the immediate change in character and the setting. This was something they did well. The effects were able to smoothly transition and adapt from one scene to another and worked well with the committed cast. Third and finally, we have the script and story. The story, although not paying homage to the actual Felicity Jones character Dr. Henry Tracey Coxwell, they managed to structure it well. The script was moving and made the characters unique traits pop. Overall, impressive directing, good visuals and a solid script and story are what formulated a great film.

How Was The Cast?

Not only was this stellar group of cast members committed, but also some of the best work of the year. First, we have Felicity Jones as Amelia Wren, and Eddie Redmayne as James Glaisher. Eddie Redmayne and her have done some amazing work together over the years, The Theory of Everything (85% SWEET). Together they have proven to be one of the most amazing duos of the decade. While the rest of the cast including Himesh Patel do what they can in the small roles they have, the two stars are the ones to look at. They're complex characters were handled well in the hands of the two extremely talented leads. They produced raw emotion in scenes of danger and were always alert.

Aging 'The Balloon’

The Aeronauts has scenes of extreme peril and danger, but also scenes of heroics performed by Amelia Wren. Portraying a great role model for young women. Most scenes are calm and beautiful. However, the characters get frostbite and are seen fighting against the climate which only grows colder and colder as they continued upwards. Overall, I recommend this film for kids aged 11 and up.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Knives Out" Features an A-List Cast, and is a Fun Installment to the Whodunit Genre

By: Keaton Marcus

85/100 “sweet”

Wasn't it deemed nearly impossible to shake off the cobwebs of both the moderately-budgeted film and the whodunnit genre after the adaptation of "Murder on the Orient Express" was released in 2017? Nonetheless, director Rian Johnson and an ensemble cast are back for some delicious, terrific, mystery fun with "Knives Out". We've got all the Agatha Christie clichès, utterly awesome performances, and a twisty, entertaining and enjoyable story led by retro costume design and impressive production value. Yep, just as you thought that nobody was creative enough to reinvent mystery flicks, Mr. Johnson has done it. With a 130-minute, fast-paced, often hilarious and surely welcome addition to the undusted genre, think of an aggregate of the comic "Pink Panther" franchise, and a Christie-written thriller. Impressively hitting all the marks, a silly/serious crime picture has finally become one of the most distinguished releases of the year.

Surely you know the genre stereotypes, there's a mansion, an old man, and unexpected death. Developing into that, the pic originally focuses on a cumbersome estate home to the legendary crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (a brilliant Christopher Plummer), who on his 85th birthday, was conspicuously slain. Enter the suave private detective Benoit Blanc (one of Daniel Craig's finest outings) donning a southern accent and a perfect, Poirot-type entrance. Blanc proceeds to question all of the residents, including maid Marta (shy, but a break-out performance by Ana de Armas). Furthermore, there are more A-listers, with an excellent Toni Collette playing Joni Thrombey and the boy-scout Captain America (Chris Evans) as the loud-mouthed Ransom Drysdale. Oh, but there's more, we still have Linda Drysdale (Jamie Lee Curtis), and Meg and Jacob Thrombey arguing about politics (Katherine Langford and Jaeden Martell) to interrogate.

It's a little much to take in, but trust me when I say that everything becomes worth it in the end. If you must be against Chris Evans yelling "eat shit" to his family, Mr. Craig intoning "I suspect foul play", or Ana de Armas vomiting every instance she lies, head to see "Frozen II", but if not, experience it. Primarily, this is the movie event of the year if you"re looking for underrated, Oscar-worthy performances. There was Bill Hader in "It: Chapter Two", Brad Pitt in "Ad Astra", Joaquin Phoenix in "Joker", and now there's James Bond and Captain America fighting for a slot in the list. It's gotta be a tough choice, but Craig, Evans, Armas, Collete, Curtis and even the supporting Plummer sure do make a convincing pick. It isn't just guaranteed to be a critical darling, but "Knives Out" is truly a film for the people. It deftly blends comic relief, sporadic thrills, and a fantastic cast into one hell of a movie.

Johnson, known for delivering the time-traveling thriller "Looper", and 2017's intermittent, but truly epic "Star Wars: The Last Jedi", has moved from the sci-fi genre spectacularly. Working with yet another talented bunch, and an innovative storyline. Maybe its 40 million budget doesn't quite construct it into quite the show "The Last Jedi" was, but the pic given efficiently proves that if there are no 300 million costs involved, its still very possible to wow the cinema. That's what Johnson (the director and screenwriter) have acheived, giving life to the genre with a certain panache that defies an "Avengers" movie. The first half seems like basic stuff but as the plot deepens, twists, and turns, "Knives Out" becomes more then what it seems.

The final opinion is: The rusty whodunnit genre is compellingly brought back to life with "Knives Out", a humorous crime thriller with an all-star cast, clichès and another winning outing for director Rian Johnson...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 26.7M

Domestic Total: 165.3M

Worldwide Total: 312.6M

FORD V FERRARI

95/100 “sweet”

So What's The Story?

Car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles decide to team up to take on Ferrari in the 1966 “Le Mans” race located in France. To do this, they must build the most magnificent car they can make. That car would be made by Ford. As the tension between the two-car companies rises, Ken has to deal with matters at home, whilst Carroll must try and hold everything together. This race would go down as one of the greatest in history! Two different cars from different parts of the world, who will win?

Is It Worth Your While?

Martin Scorsese once said in a New York Times article that Marvel films are not cinema. "In many places around this country and around the world, franchise films are now your primary choice if you want to see something on the big screen." I once thought he was clinically insane, as did many of the people that I told about the article. Well, the thing is he's not wrong. There are fewer independent films than ever and it seems that the big franchise films are taking over. However, the point of cinema is not to see it in "art form," it’s to see whether it will entertain you. Decades have passed since the first movie ever made came out which was the Roundhay Garden Scene made in 1888. Since then, people have developed a taste for what movies they want to see, and why they want to see them. Some go for the laughs, some for the drama or action. A few even just go when they have nothing else to do! There have been many films since the first one created and they have all evolved and changed over time. Nevertheless, they all have one thing in common, their sole purpose is to entertain. If a horrible film has the capacity to entertain at least one person on this planet, it's done its job. Most of the people on Earth love Marvel films, that is true. Although they may not seem like real films in Martin's eyes and possibly a ton of others they get the job that a film needs to do done. Cinema takes many different forms if every film were the same, we would live in a very sad world. This is why cinema changes, to keep people entertained enough to come again. In a way, there is a balance between movies, sometimes it shifts or tilts but its never damaged enough to destroy what cinema truly is. Marvel films and others just like them are a shining example of the mass shift in cinema. Even so, films like Ford v Ferrari are not different at all. Every film project anywhere has the opportunity to become true cinema. It's not a matter of good enough, it's just a matter of will it entertain that one person on Earth just enough, to make them come back. Ford v Ferrari is entertaining, stylish, beautifully done and an amazing example of cinema at its best. It will make you want to go back to the movies, trust me.

How Was The Cast?

A great cast is something that really fuels the tank for this film. First, we have Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby. Matt Damon brings some of his best work into his performance. He has a great accent, is funny and worked amazingly well with Christian Bale. He portrayed his character with such emotional and physical intensity, that I want to say that his performance is easily one of the year's greatest. Next, we have Christian Bale as Ken Miles. Hysterically funny and definitely knowing what he was doing makes his performance positively incredible matching the sheer skill of the other actors. Third, we have Jon Bernthal as Lee Iacocca. The scene where he asks Caroll for help in “Le Mans” really propelled him to work well with the other cast members. To me, his character was made real. Fourth, we have Caitriona Balfe as Mollie Miles. The emotion in her face and just the way she acted was absolutely wondrous. She and Christian Bale did amazing work together and were well picked to work with each other.

Aging 'Le Mans'

Ford v Ferrari, has a little more action than one might expect, and some intense themes and one major character dies. However, the movie is quite tame and will be easy enough for kids from the ages of 12 and upwards to understand.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Ford v Ferrari" is an Entertaining, Dramatic and Phenomenal Film

By: Keaton Marcus

90/100 “sweet”

Ever wanted to see the Americans pitted against the high-class Italians, well here you have it, radiantly showcased in James Mangold's "Ford v Ferrari". Mangold didn't take one false move in this loud, dramatic and often hilarious film based on the true story of Le Mans '66. The cast is expertly chosen, the screenplay and direction fierce, while still maintaining trust in the racing genre. Heck, that's not even the most impressive factor, that goes to the fact that it still manages excellent entertainment value despite a long running-time. Sure, it clocks for 154 minutes, but this wonderful addition to the cinema is worth every second. I wouldn't blame movie-goers to at first believe that this is a slow production, but oh, will you be wrong.

Ford is struggling, losing badly. Their rival Ferrari have won four out of the last five Le Mans, and they are getting ready to take the trophy for 1966. That's when Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) decides to take on Enzo Ferrari in making the company's first hot, fast, and sleek race car. That's when racer Carroll Shelby comes in (an astonishing Matt Damon), who is a former, 1959 Le Mans champion and a born and raised Texan. Shelbey is to hire the perfect driver for this year's 24-hour race, ending up finding British loud-mouth Ken Miles (a flawless outing from Christian Bale), who knows automobiles inside out and is determined to win. That's the basic, yet so intense formula for "Ford v Ferrari", fast cars, a 60's setting, and the two leading men showing people who're boss.

That's what you've been wanting to hear. Were the two main leads as incredible as they should be? Well, you should hope so, especially with stars of this caliber. Don't fret now, Damon and Bale make for a comedic, and stunning duo. The former as the cool, calm and collective champion, and the latter as a dirty, know-it-all. Nevertheless, while they have their differences, this biopic is almost as much about bonding as it is about race cars. With his most recent masterpiece being "The Martian", Damon can turn a seemingly dull role into a conundrum of excitement. This is while Bale has the talent to both play a square-faced Batman, and a charismatic race-car driver. Putting it in a broken-down way: these two should be your first choice in any situation.

James Mangold, Quentin Tarantino, and the two modern-classics this year about the vibrant '60s. You don't know what the heck I'm talking about, do you? I'm vaguely referring to both "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and "Ford v Ferrari" both being some of the best pictures of 2019, and being hip throwbacks to the same period. Additionally, the films have an A-list cast. There's Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in the former, along with Christian Bale and Matt Damon in the latter. One thing that audiences will know is that Mangold knows how to get down, dirty and make a nearly-perfect production, with his talents featured wisely in the pic given. What's for certain is that the theater will be dizzy after such a gem has been projected.

The final opinion is: "Ford v Ferrari" is a delightful addition to the genre while highlighting incredible cinematography, sharp direction, and keen performances...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 31.4M

Domestic Total: 117.6M

Worldwide Total: 225.5M

MIDWAY

35/100 “sour”

So What's The Story?

The attack of Pearl Harbor was one of America's greatest intelligence failures. Midway is the immediate counter-attack that occurred after the attack of Pearl Harbor. Midway is the story of an epic battle told through the eyes of sailors, pilots and code breakers.

Is It Worth Your While?

Midway's flaw's undeniably overwhelm the pros. However, its visuals are something to look at. First of all, we have the directing by Roland Emmerich director of White House Down (no score yet). The version of the shocking story that they tried to handle relied way too heavily on the special effects. Besides the scenes about planning the attack, the director did not have much to work with. Leaving this quality slot relatively blank. Next, we have the special effects. The repetition of planes flying downwards through hordes of bullets was a popular topic that they covered. However, the battles, ships, and planes set a new standard for war special effects. Third, we have the script and story. The story struggled to find any space for just a little bit of information on the actual event. I learned more about Pearl Harbour than I did of what they were trying to explain (Midway). Also, the script's noticeably laughable dialogue threw me off course completely. Lines like "No more of that cowboy s--t." These types of lines made me burst out in laughter. I was sitting with my friend in the theatre and even he, not even being a critic stated the reasons why he hated the film. "Next time" I assured him, "we'll see something different." Overall Midway's stunning special effects are a sight to behold, but it's lousily handled story and awful script were the flaws that put the film to shame.

How Was The Cast?

It looked to me like the cast of Midway just wanted their paycheck and leave. First, we have Ed Skrein as Dick Best. A block of wood is the best way to describe his performance. He seemed inconsistent with the rest of the cast and looked as though he didn't realize he was in a war film or any film in particular. He's supposed to be playing a war hero, at least provide a solid set of acting skills. Second, we have Patrick Wilson as Edwin Layton. He was decent. At least he knew what role he was supposed to be playing and managed to provide a stable performance the whole way through. Third, we have Woody Harrelson as Chester W. Nimitz. Let me give this to you straight, when I saw this, Woody had two films out. One of them was supposedly a good performance whilst the other was completely bland and wasted. Guess which is which.

Aging 'Midway'

Midway has some blood, explosions, gunfire. People are seen burned or shot. There is destruction everywhere. However, compared to other war films, Midway keeps it pretty tame. Overall I recommend Midway for tweens and up, if you want to see it.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Jojo Rabbit" is a Solid, if Not Spectacular Film With Stellar Performances

By: Keaton Marcus

75/100 “sweet”

Yes, while Taika Watiti's take on Nazi Germany with a comedic twist could have been far better, "Jojo Rabbit" excels in certain areas, especially the number of strong performers, and the comic relief. The movie is jacked with stars, but the abrupt tonal shifts didn't prove satisfying for my taste, one scene was hilarious, and then the very next one was horrifying. Despite a blend being needed between drama and comedy, Watiti hasn't quite mastered it yet. However, Roman Griffin Davis is a scene-stealer as Jojo, Scarlett Johansson is excellent, Sam Rockwell is superb and the entire supporting cast is brilliant as well. Of course, there are several issues with the execution, but overall, it proves often enjoyable, and suitably emotional. The picture truly hit all the bars with satisfactory success... and more on specific criteria, I just wish it was a tad more magnificent. Audiences will be split in half, between the humor, and the tear-jerking bits.

The cinema will be taken back nearly to the end of WWII when the Nazis were scrambling for their lives after the Allies have begun to corner them. However, for Johannes "Jojo" Betzler (Davis), the Nazi party looks like they have victory in their clutches as the 11-year old boy is nervously preparing to proudly be apart of the Hitler Youth. Of course, with help from his imaginary bud, the Führer (played by director Watiti spectacularly). After he throws a bomb, and it ricochets off a tree and nearly blows him to pieces, he's told to stay at home. That's when he finds that his mother, Rosie Betzler (an amazing Scarlett Johansson) is secretly hiding a Jew named Elsa Korr (a wonderful job by young star Thomasin McKenzie). That's when the movie really begins to take off.

Don't you remember the kid actors back in the day, like Macauley Culkin in "Home Alone", Corey Feldman in "The Goonies" or even Matthew Brodrick in "Ferris Beuler's Day Off"? Well, Roman Griffin Davis' performance as Jojo shall go down in history as one of the greatest outings for young actors, ever. Davis not only does the job, but he has injected the heart-and-soul of a boy just trying to get through life. Nothing feels forced, and Davis could be on the shortlist of underrated performances, that may or may not deserve the Oscar; nothing's impossible. He might not be iconic just yet, but if you give it another twenty years or so, with more flicks under the belt, Davis is definitely on track.

While Watiti gives us a double-dose of humor, both in the director's chair and as Hitler, several other factors steal the show. The aforementioned Sam Rockwell is thoroughly entertaining as Captain Klenzendorf, while both Rebel Wilson and Alfie Allen play his minions splendidly. Jojo's pudgy friend Yorkie is portrayed terrifically by Archie Yates, and there are many more little quips that the movie repeats. Watiti knows how to make fun of the Third Reich, forcing them to go on repeat with "heil Hitler", and cleverly adding in the Gestapo in a scene that's both terrifying and comedic. It's genuinely a kind-hearted tale of war that has its flaws but outweighs them with an application of spirit, and really, it's just a good time at the movies. But be warned, while this 108-minute flick is packed to the brim with laughs, there are some unexpected, intense moments. So don't go in expecting all rainbows and butterflies, and you'll be fine!

The final opinion is: The film's tonal shifts may not be satisfying for everyone, but "Jojo Rabbit" is a solidly-woven tale with tons of laughs, excellent performances, and beautiful cinematography...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: $349,555 (limited release)

Domestic Total: 33.3M

Worldwide Total: 90.3M

"Downton Abbey" is a Silly, Entertaining Study of Good Costume Design

By: Keaton Marcus

75/100 “sweet”

Fans of the long-running "Downton Abbey" show have finally found gold on the silver screen with this year's rightfully enjoyable TV adaptation. This 122-minute soap-opera of a film is not just downright fun, the performances, and the costume design also fit its anticipation. The run-time, which was recently mentioned, never feels like a drag-on, and to be honest, "Downton Abbey" is a nice, despite short of excellent time at the movies, especially on a rainy day. Of course, the plot is simple, and it can get cheesy infrequently, but the pure amusement value of the picture delightfully excels past its simplicity. The real enigma is: whether you are up to the task to listen to soapy family drama for a little more than two hours, yet once you get easily intrigued with the vast amount of characters, the time goes by like a snap. Die-hard fans, elderly couples, even the children, movie-goers of nearly all-ages will appreciate the event adequately enough.

Taking place after the events of the final season in the year 1927, the Abbey receives news that King George V and Queen Mary of England will be lunching, dining and spending the night at the estate. This has the Crawley family most literally out of their minds. However, their excitement quiets when their majesties arrive, this is because the snobbish butlers, servants, and chef (a hilarious Phillipe Spall) alike have seemingly taken over Downton. The faithful manservants and such, however, are not letting their respective jobs be taken and plan to sack the opposing. Don't worry, between the lines, the corny but ever-so amusing sudsy drama remains. This is superbly presented by the hilarious Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, who is having a dispute over Maud Bagshaw's (Imelda Staunton) maid Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton). So what if the entire film relies on back-and-forth banter between Violet and Maud, or the luscious set-pieces, it's truly worth a watch.

Oh, but that's just the first layer of the onion. Various actors have a ball with the film, and it shows. The Violet and Maud constant quarrel, the battle of the manservants, and Hugh Bonneville's welcome supporting performance, its all just for entertainment. The thing is, both on screen and in the cinema's seats, both sets of folks will have fun. Surprisingly, and supposedly similar to the show, you will be in constant laughter at these undeniably pleasurable arguments. The whole affair may seem like a slog for audiences past even middle-age, but maybe after the first 20 minutes or so, the public is too intrigued in the family tree to wonder whether it's worth the price of admission. To be fair, it is.

Director Michael Engler knows that the general purpose for the release of the movie is for the enjoyment for fans and some tag along as well. Both Engler and screenwriter Julian Fellowes take advantage of the idea sufficiently enough for a more-than-satisfying movie experience. The screenplay is strong enough to take on the shortcomings of the storytelling, and the movie itself is a solid, rock-hard art. Whether you will be in awe from the beauty of the fictional estate, the high-end ball gowns, and the returns from the original cast--"Downton Abbey" is a perfectly well-rounded film that features a splendid return of the civilized.

The final opinion is: While the plotting is expectantly bland, "Downton Abbey" highlights a couple of notable performances, entertainment value and deliciously beautiful costume design...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 31m

Domestic Total: 96.8m

Worldwide Total: 194.1m

HOBBS & SHAW

75/100 “sweet”

So What’s the Story?

A spinoff to the world known franchise Fast and the Furious comes the story of two key characters, Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw on a mission to save the world. A virus also known as “The Snowflake” with the ability to liquify your organs is taken by Shaw’s sister Hattie. A genetically enhanced soldier known as Brixton is assigned to recapture the virus and use it upon the world. In this action packed spinoff full of fast cars and epic special effects, Hobbs and Shaw are teamed up to stop Brixton, and stop a whole lot of organs from melting.

Is It Worth Your While?

For a Fast and Furious film, it ranks pretty high, however it does have its issues. Now here are my reasons. First we have the directing by David Leitch, director of ‘John Wick’ and ‘Deadpool 2’. He knows how to make a great action scene, it becomes pretty clear when you see his films, and he finds this way to balance to the laughs and the action together to make a good film. The comedic scenes are directed brilliantly and the action is over the top and just what everyone wants. So for the directing, I give an A. Next we have the special effects. With a 200 million dollar budget, the only way to see this type of film is in IMAX and that is what we did. The effects were realistic, insane, and fills you with adrenaline the whole way through. So for the special effects, I give an A. Third we have the script. The script was hysterical up to a point where you just feel tired of it. Some scenes between the actors were great but then it just gets repetitive and tiring. I will give points for Hobbs and Shaws first meet up scene, I laughed so hard during that time. So for the script, I give a B. Fourth and finally we have the story. Like most Fast and Furious films, the story was dumb, but the story is not the thing you expect to be good in a film like this, but the idea did entertain and was fun the whole way through. So for the story I give a B-. I just want to point out a mistake I discovered in the battle of Samoa. The first 10 seconds of the fight are night, but then you blink and it's daytime, and I don’t mean like early morning, I mean noon, I did go with it given the fact that the next few scenes were badass, but the mistake was just so clear that it was hard not to think about it. Overall ‘Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw’ had kickass directing, great special effects, a hysterical, but tiring script and a dumb but fun plot.

How Was the Cast?

The cast in ‘Hobbs and Shaw’ were well matched and all made committed performances to the film. First we have Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs. Dwayne Johnson can do any type of project, and in this he really let it all out. The stunts, the comedy, the drama everything that he needed to do, he did with style. Him and Jason Statham had excellent chemistry together and altogether just had a great performance. Next we have Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw. Playing a more serious role, Jason Statham managed to produce a handful of comedic chemistry with Dwayne Johnson, as well as provide excellent action sequences. Third we have Idris Elba as Brixton. As a villain he was scary, freaky and gritty. A good addition to the Fast and Furious franchise, and definitely comfortable playing this character. Fourth and finally we have Vanessa Kirby as Hattie Shaw. She could do pretty much any action movie role. Because in this, she was badass. Performing stunts perfectly and using great chemistry with the rest of the cast to make it even better.

Aging ‘Fast Cars’

A practical Fast and Furious film with darker themes, more explosions, gunfire etc. There is some flirting and kissing between characters. There is some language, but there is tons of comedy and entertaining characters to make it perfect for young teens and up.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Hobbs & Shaw" is Fast, Furious and a Whole Lot of Fun

By: Keaton Marcus

70/100 “sweet/sour”

A shout-out to the terrific cameos by Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart, who add to the film of the film considerably.

After seven other films in the "Fast & Furious" franchise, Universal now expands the universe again with another spin-off, "Hobbs & Shaw". Even after the flop that was "Tokyo Drift" 13 years ago. The series dates back to 2001, where the likes of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker quite literally birthed the nine-chapter franchise. If you've seen at least one of the nine films, you would know that the franchise zooms on street-racing, action sequences, and lots of big, dumb plots. While the franchise's second spin-off isn't great, it delivers the standard quota for the overlong series, a ludicrous villain, violence, and more violence. The spin-off put's the two most enjoyable characters in the series, hulking lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), and rogue military operative Shaw (Jason Statham), who proves to have terrific comedic chemistry, which both that and the kick-ass action sequences can drive the film. The picture may be a little overlong, clocking in at 135 minutes, but the banter and the non-stop violence keep the audiences going far enough to enjoy the picture without using their intelligence.

Okay, imagine this. Along with the charming chemistry and robust action, MI6 operative Hattie Shaw ( a kick-ass Vanessa Kirby), has injected herself with a virus dubbed "Snowflake" which is currently threatening to terminate half the globe. Don't mention the Thanos vibes. Soon after the incident, the CIA calls in Hobbs and Shaw, the two best trackers in the business to find Hattie. Throw in an evil cyborg named Brixton, played by Idris Elba, who is having a ball playing a character dubbed by himself as "black superman". Brixton is hell-bent on creating a new world, conquering half the planet with the deadly virus. Hobbs and Shaw realize that to get the virus out of her system, they must eject it at a heavily-guarded fortress called Eteon. Imagine watching something as dumb as that, but with rap music, beautiful cars and a charming cast providing entertainment. It's completely irresistible and everything you need in a Summer blockbuster.

In 2001, when the first "Fast & Furious" film debuted starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, it was all about the cheesy street-racing. As the money-making franchise plowed on (the other eight films have grossed over five billion worldwide), the action became more and more like a "James Bond", or "Mission: Impossible" flick, and the racing became less and less of a must-have. Now, 18 years later with "Hobbs & Shaw", the series has gone from street-racing to a massive, stylish, 200M budgeted action flick with evil cyborgs. Audiences still seem to be invested, but it's almost too ridiculous to be a die-hard fan of the nine-part franchise. Despite the laughable timeline, director David Leitch ("John Wick", "Deadpool 2") keeps the action and comedy going with brilliantly choreographed violence, and banter that works. The corridor sequence, the final battle in Samoa, the opening scenes, etc. No one knows how to film the action as he does, and it's wonderfully showcased here.

The chemistry by Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson is just off-the-charts hilarious, if repetitive. The two give loads of creative insults to each other, but the two that stand out is Hobbs' resemblance to a "tattooed baby", and Shaw's "hobbit legs"--yes, the film has its moments. Shaw also gets at "The Rock" for his lack of stealth, and body-shames him constantly. Basically, they fight as teenage girls do, it's ridiculous but its something that audiences can enjoy. Hobbs cooks up more tick-offs about his height, calling him Mini-Me at one point, and his little sidekick. Yes, near the end of the film, the pair begin to wear out their welcome--and it's completely tedious. However, when all seems lost, "The Rock" finds another way to keep us invested with a killer Samoan war dance near the final battle. No more spoilers, but you may just want to film Dwayne Johnson doing an awesome shirtless dance, abs and all.

The final opinion is: The plot may be absurd, and it's not the best of the nine-chapter franchise, but "Hobbs & Shaw" delivers brilliantly directed action sequences, and considerable banter to make it another solid installment to the series...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 60m

Domestic Total: 173.9m

Worldwide Total: 759m

Related Films:

Furious 7, 75/100 “sweet”

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, 85/100 “sweet”

Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 80/100 “sweet”

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

85/100 “sweet”

So What’s the Story

Following the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame’, our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man is the supposed next Iron Man. Peter does not know if he can bare the pressure. Peter is then invited on a class trip. There he discovers a mysterious man named Quentin Beck who stops Venice from being destroyed by an Elemental. Peter is taken on an operation to take down the Elementals led by Nick Fury. There he must discover whether he is ready to be the next Iron Man.

Is It Worth Your While?

The film is inferior to the predecessor, but still has its qualities, now here are my reasons. First of all directing by Jon Watts, director of ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ (90% sweet) was as good as it was in Homecoming. The action scenes may have been a little overcrowded, but Jon Watts managed to direct them with style. The teen romance and comedic moments were directed perfectly. So for the directing, I give an A. Next I thought that the visuals were a little over the top, but looked as satisfying as any Marvel film. The Elementals seemed a bit overkill at times, but then you have to remember, that they are preparing Peter for Avengers level threats, so overkill is what they needed. So for the special effects, I give a B. Third, I thought that the script was funny, awkward in a good way, and worked pretty well with the chosen cast. So for the script, I give an A. Fourth and finally, I thought that the story was not as clever, unpredictable, nor as meaningful as ‘Homecoming’. It was fine for any average Marvel film, but after seeing ‘Endgame’ you feel disappointed with it. So for the story, I give a C-. Overall, Spider-Man: Far From Home had solid directing, a great cast choice, a hilarious script but a story that lacks the brains of its predecessor. 

How Was the Cast?

The cast in Spider-Man Far From Home was funny, and perfectly selected for a Spider-Man film. First we have Tom Holland, as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Like in the original, Tom Holland produced a natural flair into this movie, providing humor, teen romance, and superhero stunts on another level. He is the Peter Parker everybody imagines, dorky, smart, awkward, the whole package. Next we have Zendaya as MJ, she provided excellent chemistry with Tom Holland, making scenes funny and romantic in a weird way. Third we have Jake Gyllenhal as Quentin Beck/Mysterio. Jake Gyllenhal is possibly one of the most hysterical, laugh out loud villains of the MCU. Jake Gyllenhal expertly handled Mysterio’s deceiving and crazy personality with talent and power. Fourth and finally we have Samuel L. Jackson, as Nick Fury. As a person who has stayed with the MCU a long time, he’s still doing a great job keeping his intense character through the film cracking a few jokes here and there.

Aging ‘Spider-Man’

 Like any other Marvel film, Spider-Man: Far From Home has loads of superhero action, explosions, gun shots, supernatural weather, the usual. It also has teen romance, flirting and some kissing. Peter parker is asked to change in front of an australian woman, but nothing is shown. However the film contains loads of humor, courage and friendship. Peter Parker will do anything to protect his friends or loved ones from harm.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Spider-Man: Far from Home" is a Solid, Breezy Palate Cleanser With a Terrific Tom Holland

By: Keaton Marcus

75/100 “sweet”

Teen romance, buddy comedy, silliness, and of course...lot's of carefree superhero action, "Spider-Man: Far From Home" is the perfect palate cleanser after the "Endgame" era. Sure, occasionally, this super sequel falls into CG overkill, but it happens to the best of Marvel films, and while that's no excuse to sometimes chaotic action sequences, the number of flaws never match the overwhelming feeling of entertainment throughout the film. Brit Tom Holland brings buckets of good humor and winning chemistry with actor Jake Gyllenhaal which both bring another compelling screen pair to watch. The villains, plot, and special effects are all top-notch, and the issues only occasionally keep this live-action Spidey film from swinging solidly high. It may not be nearly as good as last year's animated feature "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" which received an Oscar, but it matches up to many of its predecessors and claims another successful production for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the joyful achievement that is the film.

The film opens with a hilarious, comedic memoriam of the deaths in "Endgame", including Black Widow, Captain America, and of course Iron Man. The clip tells the story of how the dubbed "Blip" (the disappearance of half the universe) has changed Midtown High with a terrific sense of signature "Homecoming" type humor. Following, the plot zooms back on Peter, who's excited to go on the school's end-of-year trip to Venice, Italy (hello, set pieces!), and leave the web-slinging behind him (especially after Tony's death), and confess his feelings to MJ (a wonderful Zendaya) in the duration. Then, at the hotel, Nick Fury (another charismatic performance by Samuel L. Jackson) hijacks their trip and drags Peter once again to a superhero adventure. This time, its to contend relentless creatures dubbed the "Elementals", that form with Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Doing so with Gyllenhaal starred Mysterio, another superhuman from a different planet Earth. Mysterio turns out to be another instant fatherly figure in his life... but for how long? While he's no Iron Man, its all Peter has in the film after the tragic death of his mentor.

While the entire cast, leading and supporting, does a superb job, Tom Holland shines once again as the famed web-slinger. What "Homecoming" misses that "Far From Home" has are romantic comedy type elements and many hilarious shenanigans to try and get close to Peter's new crush, MJ. Also, as mentioned, Holland has terrific chemistry with the surrounding cast, especially Gyllenhaal, while bringing laughs, and another energetic outing amidst the fantastic visuals. The actor is 23 and has always been the ideal image of Peter/Spider-Man, and he outpaces both Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield in wit, emotion, and giggles, creating the best Spidey yet--on the inside and out. While this new outing isn't better or worse than the previous film, generally because of the massive time spent in the Elemental-action sequences--it still brings many things to the table, more romance, and buddy comedy with Nick Fury, Ned, and newcomer Mr. Beck.

Declared before, the aiding piece of the cast is more than enough to take the leading role. First and foremost was a delightful newcomer performance by Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio, who brings wit, humor, and lots of compelling pathos with a side of winning chemistry, despite missing the mark as the new Iron Man. Samuel L. Jackson also gets his share of screen time as Nick Fury after the lack of it in "Avengers: Endgame", and a delightful character plot, to hijack a teen's school trip. Ned also gets an instant girlfriend on the duration of the flight, Betty, and the pair have great chemistry, posing as an old married couple of sorts. Despite the lacking of a cameo by Stan Lee, we still have a surprise cameo by J.K. Simmons in a shocking post-credit scene, again at the Daily Bugle--look on Keaton's the Surprising News Page to see more about the terrifying, and interesting post-credit sequence.

Director Jon Watts returns after the small-scale "Spider-Man: Homecoming", this time providing more big action, than small scale friendly neighborhood crime. The scenes with the Elementals are often exhilarating, but they also tend to be overcrowded, CG overkill that's rarely the right decision for easing fans into Phase 4 Marvel. Comparing it to another palate cleanser of sorts, "Ant-Man and the Wasp", there was never the need for big-budget, massive action in the film. What "Far From Home" needed to be was a friendly, but fun action flick--and it decided to go bold. Still their technical marvels, and that's not what keeps the film on board, Holland and the remainder of the cast keep audiences invested. Again, there's lots of good-natured humor, and actually some distinct emotion in the post-"Endgame" world. The performances, laughs and brilliant romantic shenanigans keep the world watching on what the MCU does next.

The final verdict is: The big action sequences and occasional CG overkill keep "Far From Home" from its best self, but this Spidey picture delivers wonderful teen romance, plenty of laughs, and another winning performance by British actor Tom Holland to save the day (enough) to make a breezy MCU palate cleanser...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 92.5m

Domestic Total: 390.5m

Worldwide Total: 1.131 billion

Related Films:

Spider-Man: Homecoming, 80/100 “sweet”

Captain Marvel, 75/100 “sweet”

Avengers: Endgame, 85/100 “sweet”

"Yesterday" is an Occasionally Charming, but Dull Romantic Comedy

By: Keaton Marcus

50/100 “sour”

If you've read the large tag lines on the banner or even observed one or two of the trailers, you would know that Danny Boyle, the director of "Trainspotting" has been cooking up a fantastical comedy about a world without the Beatles. Yep, no Fab 4. "Yesterday" has a wonderful premise, but never get's off the floor enough to create a compelling film. There are laughs here and there, and the music...as expected, is terrific--but the execution of the plot and the drama disappoint. The cast played their part, but Kate McKinnon is the star of the show, bringing wit, and realism to her role. It's harmless and cute, but those two words never excuse the fact that the film feels a little rushed; the direction is off, and the plot points feel fake. If you're a die-hard fan of the Beatles or a rom-com fanatic, this film is a good bet for you, but if you're planning to see a real film...it's best to bring the pillow.

Right, the premise, thought up admirably and ending up slightly undercooked. Jack Malik (Himesh Patel), a struggling musician, is hit by a bus one night during a 12-second global blackout. The songwriter awakes in a hospital and soon finds that yesterday everyone knew the Beatles, and the next day, no one does. He commences to re-create their precious music and sell them as his own music, as Jack is the only person on Earth to remember them. Malik soon becomes a massive hit, but under the hood, he feels loads of guilt for deceiving the public that the Fab 4 music was conceived by him--also struggling with his love life with Ellie Appleton (Lily James), a small-town school instructor. Jack begins a conflict between the ambitious life of fame or a small life in Liverpool with Ellie, the love of his life. The premise sounds wildly unfamiliar, but taking in the clichès, "Yesterday" ends another bleak romantic comedy.

Danny Boyle earned his bones with films like "Trainspotting", and "28 Days Later", showing that he's able to do a jaunty comedic and dramatic blend; it just never shows here. Sure, the comedy bits are clever enough. It's when it comes to the serious moments, which is when director Boyle comes in, he stiffens up and turns the scene into a pretentious, and uncomfortable job. What keeps the film from being a complete disaster is the considerable chemistry between Himesh Patel and Lily James, who both prove worthy as a solid screen couple in the popular genre, this is, of course at the expense of being undermined by the incompetent screenplay. It's really McKinnon (mentioned before), who steals the show as Jack's agent, Debra Hammer, who brings substantial irony to the power and money-hungry role.

The final verdict is: "Yesterday" brings a considerable amount of laughs, and a game Kate McKinnon, but the film never hits the bar of its wildly unfamiliar premise, boggling it with crude direction, and a makeshift screenplay…$KIP IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 17m

Domestic Total: 73.2m

Worldwide Total: 153.7m

Related Films:

What Men Want, No Score Yet

Love Actually, No Score Yet

Isn’t it Romantic, 60/100 “sweet/sour”

Visually Slick "MIB" Reboot is Tuned Out by a Lukewarm Plot and Execution

By: Keaton Marcus

35/100 “sour”

Remember the blissful paradise that was the 1997 version of "Men in Black", starring both Will Smith, and Tommy Lee Jones as hysterical partners. The film was entertaining, and a clever twist of two genres: buddy comedy, and sci-fi action--and it worked. Then, obviously, cause of the hit it was in the box office, the retro cop flick sprouted two other money-makings and expensive sequels--both of which disappointed with the quality. After the finale of the worn-out trilogy, nobody was really praying for another MIB installment. Well, too bad folks, F. Gary Gray decided to reboot the franchise; this time starring Tessa Thompson, and Chris Hemsworth. The two fine cast members shined in the likes of "Thor: Ragnarok", and had terrific chemistry together. The two clearly have not completely lost their comedic touch, however, its the film around them that disappoints. Let's see...the reboot looks great, has an extremely talented cast, yet it's so so shallow on the inside and even dulls at moments. Yes, there is the occasional yuk here and there, but the sporadic amusements cannot quite save the sheer disappointment that was the film.

In "International", the uninspired reboot that was decided to be made whatsoever--has a globe-trotting hodgepodge of a storyline. One of the first few scenes tells the origin story for Molly, aka Agent M--played by Thompson. One night, a small alien broke into her childhood home--and of course, the MIB responded immediately, wiping the parent's minds; however, they forgot to wipe Molly's brain of the creature, and thus began her grand search for the Men in Black. Around 20 years later, Molly finally found her treasure, and easily broke into the organization, only to be caught by Agent O (Emma Thompson), and brought into questioning. When she convinces O into letting her into training, Molly gracefully passes the classes--and becomes Agent M. Soon after, her and Agent H (a brilliant Chris Hemsworth) become crime partners. Their focused case is to exploit an alien species called the Hive, who can shapeshift into humans, including other MIB agents. The plot ends so complicatedly and uninspired, most will not follow. The audiences, well, they"ll just ride on the substantial chemistry of the two charming stars.

Mentioned many times before, Hemsworth and Thompson are an incredible duo, possibly the only memorable bit of the film. When the dialogue gets dull, or the around-the-globe storyline becomes too complicated, you rely on the two stars to bring you occasional moments of a fun, popcorn flick-type buddy comedy. In fact, it saves the film from being a total disaster, offering laughs here and there, and the ability to look "damn good" while donned with MIB suits. Hemsworth's last major role was in this year's "Avengers: Endgame", playing Fat Thor, he was hysterical and had surprisingly elaborate make-up--otherwise, Thompson had a minor part in "Endgame", and partook a sizable role in "Creed II". As said beforehand, both have shown solid significances of comedic force, and it's well shown here.

The supporting cast also has considerable chemistry with our leaders--it includes Liam Neeson, who plays High T, the leader of the London branch--and mentioned before, Agent O, who is played by a decent Emma Thompson. Otherwise, we also meet Agent H's ex-girlfriend, who turns out to be an alien of sorts who has multiple limbs. Her name's Riza and is played by a stiff Rebecca Ferguson, who really shouldn't be in a sci-fi film. The most memorable of the supporting bunch is a little alien dubbed "Pawny" by Agent M and is performed by a superb Kumail Nanjiani, who has the most giggles out of the all-star crew and blends naturally with the remnant of the cast.

Filmmaker F. Gary Gray has directed many bad-ass sorts of flicks, including the likes of "The Italian Job" (75% "sweet"), "The Fate of the Furious" (65% "sweet/sour"), and even "Straight Outta Compton". Really, he's perfect for the film, which blends action and comedy--it was truly a smart choice by Sony. However, the actually skilled director is let down by an underwhelming screenplay by Art Marcum. Not only is the script irritating, the plot and the character development fail to amaze in this forgettable reboot--making it a dazzling, but brainless adaptation. Yes, for the cast, and the visuals, I'll watch--but, for the remainder of the film, well, you can neutralize me, make me forget everything that happened.

The final verdict is: "Men in Black International" delivers elegant chemistry by both Chris Hemsworth, and Tessa Thompson--along with with some dazzling set-pieces, but the forgettable reboot has immense troubles with the screenplay, it's globe-trotting storytelling, and the disregard of the heart shown brightly in the original...$KIP IT

By: Keaton Marcus

GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS

55/100 “sour”

So What’s the Story?

After the disastrous events of Godzilla in Chicago, “King of the Monsters” follows a different family and an organization known as Monarch trying to keep the monsters safe. However, when Alan Jonah releases an ancient creature, and an alpha rival to Godzilla named Ghidorah or Monster Zero. Godzilla is immediately on the job to take him and other released monsters down to prove who the true king of the monsters is.

Is It Worth Your While?

It is definitely the Godzilla movie all fans have been expecting, but some moviegoers more intrigued by a plot and story might not find themselves satisfied. Now here are my reasons. First of all, directing by Michael Dougherty, director of “Krampus” (2015) and “Trick r’ Treat” (2007) was mixed. He knows how to execute a Kaiju battle scene, that’s for sure, but when it comes to human drama, the first director of the original “Godzilla”. (75% sweet) was much better. Every scene the humans were either running around or screaming, it was like watching my younger brother and sister. It was all up to a point where I was like, cut the humans out of this movie and let the monsters fight. Now of course it wouldn’t be much better of a movie, but still way more entertaining. So for the directing, I give a C-. Next I thought the special effects were pretty much the thing that the movie was running on. The monsters looked stunning, sometimes they went a little out of control, but with the right care it worked. The cinematography that went with the effects was also well done and beautiful. So for the special effects and cinematography, I give an A-. The script and story felt like they were made by monkeys, but they weren’t all bad. The script’s line of “You’re out of your goddamn mind”, was repeated twice, both times me and my papa laughed so hard. Later in the movie we asked ourselves, are they trying to make this movie hilarious, or can they just not write a script. If the movie was funny, it would have been better. The story was interesting at times, but then just got annoying and boring. So for the script and story, I give a C-. Overall, if you are willing to just shut off your brain and get immersed into the world of Godzilla, you will have fun, if not, well good luck getting through that then.

How Was the Cast?

I thought the cast in “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”, did a poor job. First we have Kyle Chandler as Mark Russell. Kyle Chandler is an incredible actor, but in this movie he didn’t have much to work with. All he did was yell out names or shout “You’re out of your goddamn mind”! The entire time, so well you get the picture. Next we have Vera Farmiga as Dr. Emma Russel. Over the top and bland, Vera Farmiga was a very poor choice for a Kaiju movie such as this, because again both actors are great in movies and shows they would actually know what to do. Third we have Millie Bobby Brown as Madison Russel. Her role in Stranger Things is supposedly amazing, and although I have not yet seen Stranger Things, I can tell that she tried her best to do well in this movie, with disappointing results. Fourth and finally we have Ken Watanabe as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa. He was the only good actor in this entire movie. He managed to bring a little snip of emotion into the movie, and seemed to be the only one knowing what he was doing.

Aging ‘The King’

The movie includes god sized monster action, explosions, gun fire, little swearing, human drama (in their own way), but overall the film is a ridiculous and fun distraction for tweens and teens looking to see monsters destroy each other for two hours.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Godzilla: King of the Monsters" is Big, Dumb, Expensive Fun

By: Keaton Marcus

55/100 “sour”

The trailers, the character posters, and well, the title explains everything for once. "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" is big, feeble-minded fun--without compelling human characters, but bumbling, grand scale, and dazzling kaiju encounters. For some, yes, it's a complete yawn--but concerning kaiju fans angry at the horrific "Pacific Rim: Uprising", this is the film to go to. The general criticism of the 2014 reboot was that Godzilla never gets his fair share of screen time, in the messy sequel, the Titan's in almost every action sequence. Of course, the screenplay, and the storytelling are just embarrassing--but, it's a creature-feature, what can you expect? What I'm saying is it may be long, and brainless, but the third installment to WB's MonsterVerse is hysterically entertaining, generally because of it's rock-em-sock-em kaiju fights.

Mentioned before, the characters such as Godzilla and King Kong were originally meant to be handed to Universal, however, that studio got busy cooking up the Dark Universe. Instead, the franchise was handed to WB, whose the biggest series seems to be "Harry Potter". "Godzilla" was released in 2014, and was a box office success--an expensive one too. The film opened to generally positive critical reception, sprouting the MonsterVerse. A spin-off in the saga, "Kong: Skull Island", debuted in 2017--opening to similar victories with both reviews and profit. "King of the Monsters", the next installment, is arguably world-building, but paper-thin. The next film in the series is titled "Godzilla vs. Kong", and features both famous creatures battling against one another.

Already repeated many times in my review are the supposedly spectacular kaiju battles; we need to talk. This "Godzilla" sequel seems like the perfect address to the "not enough screen-time issue" that the previous film had--bringing together many behemoths like Titans, such as Ghidora, Mothra, and even Rodan. Yes, it delivers what we were waiting for, a massive, dazzling battle between the four titular creatures--Godzilla in the ads, was always set up to fight his mortal "enemy", Ghidora, as they fight for dominance over the lesser monsters. While the battles were expensive, the detail put into the monstrosities is extraordinary, and surprisingly realistic. The 200M budget was surely not put to waste. If you turn your brain on, you're literally watching one of the worst films on planet Earth, however, if you came to just enjoy the sheer spectacle, and scope of the picture, you'll have a fantastic time cheering for the iconic lizard.

The performances, as expected, are extremely under the bar. Not usually what you expect from a monster showdown, the cast is actually extremely talented--led by "Friday Night Lights" star Kyle Chandler, along with a performance from Vera Farmiga. Frequently courtesy of the incompetent direction by Michael Doughtery and the terrible writing making the audiences care less and less about the human characters. However, “Stranger Things” lead Millie Bobby Brown delivers a subtle, but clever supporting performance as Madison, who is a hot-headed, ambitious daughter grieving over the death of her brother. Generally, the issue is the generic dialogue and underdeveloped backgrounds, but the cast is wasted with a resounding thud. The supporting portion is also solidly well-known, adding more and more non-monster roles that the audiences flick away like they're nothing, such as Ken Watanabe's Japanese scientist, Dr. Serizawa or Sally Hawkins' Dr. Graham--completely left into the dust. Really, the humans are the lesser part of the film, in fact, they shouldn't even be there, just let the monsters do their thing--and let the fans be entertained.

The final verdict is: "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" delivers beautiful cinematography, spectacularly dazzling kaiju action, and some good old-fashioned fun--of course at the expense of its underdeveloped human characters, and the embarrassing screenplay.

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 47.7m

Domestic Total: 110.5m

Worldwide Total: 386.6m

ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE

55/100 “sour”

So What's the Story?

'Always Be My Maybe' follows the story of two childhood friends who over time fall in love and drift apart. You will see the two characters continue through life secretly wanting each other, but never showing it.

Is It Worth Your While?

'Always Be My Maybe' has a few genius moments and its qualities but is a clear rom-com disappointment. Now, here are my reasons. First, we have the directing by Nahnatchka Khan. some moments of the film, are handled with style, others are annoying and were irrelevant to the film. An example of one of these scenes is the game that the characters play with Keanu Reeves, which after a while gets tiring and not amusing. So for the directing, I give a C. Next, we have the script. I thought that the script was occasionally funny, but a little over the top and ridiculous. It did have tons of potential to be a non-generic and fun creation, but it was mostly wasted. So for the script, I give a C- Finally, we have the story. Like most romcoms the story was generic, boy meets girl, they fall in love, break up, get back together, and live happily ever after. Then again that's the whole point, the story isn't the thing of these types of movies. It's the cast and script that make it great, but the script wasn't perfect making it flawed in many ways. So for the story, I give a C Overall 'Always Be My Maybe' has its significant qualities but is flawed throughout making it a very average rom-com.

How Was the Cast?

The cast in 'Always Be My Maybe' pretty much carried the entire movie. First, we have Ali Wong as Sasha Tran. Her performance was pretty solid, it was funny, realistic and suitable for her type of character. Next, we have Randall Park as Marcus Kim. His character was nerdy, and probably the best of the film, and so was his good performance, he was entertaining and all-out great for this type of movie. Third, we have Keanu Reeves as himself. Keanu Reeves has so much talent, and in this film, he was a little over the top, but the way he performed worked. Fourth and finally, we have Michelle Buteau as Veronica. As the kind of sidekick character of the story, she was hysterical and truly fitting for the part.

Aging 'The new rom-com flick'

'Always Be My Maybe' has flirting, kissing, some sex, a few inappropriate jokes are made, there is occasional swearing. However, the film does show integrity and other positive themes. Sasha is a good role model, successful, and not afraid to do what she wants to do. Overall I would recommend this film for younger teens and up.

By: Quinn Marcus