"Escape Room" is an Entertaining, but Foolish Film Based on a Beloved Pastime

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

58/100 “sour”

Adam Robitel directs "Escape Room", a decent, but a ridiculous popcorn flick based on fun pastime; The premise is interesting, if simple-minded and foolish, and the film never really takes control of it, which is a little irritating. However, the remainder of the film is fun and extremely agile, standing at a run-time of just 1hr 40 minutes; The performances are solid if audiences can forgive the mind-numbing script, and the low-budget set-pieces are creative and entertaining to watch, pretty much the only praise you can give for a film literally called "Escape Room". The cliffhanger ending is unneeded, and while a sequel could be intriguing, I am betting the execution will be atrocious, the storytelling and plotting around the characters are amateurish, as expected. Pretty much, if a group of teens is looking for a couple of scares, "Escape Room" could be suitable, not to promise any surprises. The film follows the story of six strangers, a shy Physics student named Zoey, a former soldier called Amanda, a truck driver named Mike, escape room enthusiast Danny, grocery store packer Ben and corporate hot-shot Jason Walker, who each receive a mysterious cube, containing a ticket for Minos' most immersive escape room yet. The six-meet up at Minos only to find out that the rooms are no games, and they must solve the complicated puzzles before the time runs out.

There are six rooms, made for the six strangers entering the "competition"; Having similar set-ups to "Saw", but sporting significantly less gore, "Escape Room" plays like a low-budget "Hunger Games", that never really enters the torture porn genre. The 9M cost immediately proves you do not need expensive visual effects to create creepy atmospherics, as each of the rooms has their own purpose, and while the film lacks any intelligence, it is still hysterically funny to watch a bunch of different people thrown into a horror fest. There are more action sequences than jump scares, making it less of a horror pic and more of a thriller, but there are some effective scares, and moments of suspense--this is not enough to save the lack of substance. The first room happens to be the lobby--where the pillars and the ceiling turn into a literal oven, almost burning them alive; The second death trap is the opposite and takes place in a frozen wasteland, threatening to kill the characters from hypothermia--eventually, "some" make it out and exit to the third room, which happens to be an upside-down pull room, the best of the bunch, and very inventive, full of surprises; The remaining characters exit to the fourth room which is a doctor's office where they must solve the puzzle before the time runs out and the room is filled with poison gas. The last two rooms are a black-and-white stained place and a study, both of which are quick, and they never get much depth. Overall, however, it was still entertaining to watch the film, and the creepy set-up is more than enough for a really average movie.

The cast is refreshingly unfamiliar, keeping the budget low; the company consists of actresses Taylor Russel and Deborah Ann Woll, and actors Jay Ellis, Nik Dodani, Tyler Labine and Logan Miller; The performances struggle to come out against the fast-paced movie, and even the strongest, who principally come from the two females, Russel ("Lost in Space") and Woll ("Daredevil") who barely steal a scene, disappointingly. The males are stricken from the poor scripting by Bragi F. Schut who phones it on the screenplay, as expected.

The final verdict is: "Escape Room" features a couple of noteworthy performances, and has a few scares, along with signs of creativity, but the poor scripting, the ridiculous plot and the unnecessary set up for a sequel makes the film a hit-or-miss with audiences...$KIP IT

Box Office Info:

Opening: 18.2M

Domestic Total: 57M

Worldwide Total: 155.7M

"The Irishman" is the Perfect, Dramatic, Epic Goodbye to the Great Martin Scorsese

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

100% “Perfectly Sweet”

Martin Scorcese's digitally-enhanced, masterful, impressive, long, and compelling capper to his gangster filmmaking just became one of the best films of all-time, and the best of 2019. This movie that I'm ranting on about is "The Irishman", which after being released for several weeks in a few theaters, has spectacularly moved to streaming giant Netflix. It reunites the likes of Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci into one mob flick. Scorcese de-ages the former and the latter with fantastic attention to detail and nostalgically makes DeNiro into his middle-aged, "Godfather Part II" type self with one of the most brilliant performances of all-time. You may age three and a half hours while viewing, but not only does the film hit all the bars flawlessly, it also manages to be worth every second, every minute and every hour. You can dub it the gangster twin of "Avengers: Endgame", which clocks three hours, but even the likes of that can barely compare to the utter epicness of this experience.

It plays exactly like a true story, but that's only correct to a fault. We originally focused on former WWII veteran Frank "The Irish" Sheeran (DeNiro), brilliantly CG'd to look in his thirties. Sheeran begins with an average job of delivering meats, however, quickly after, he makes an acquaintance with Skinny Razor (Bobby Cannonvale treating DeNiro like an adopted son). This get's him a step further towards "painting houses". But the first massive leap is meeting Philly capo Russel Buffalino (Pesci in a more quiet, but excellent role), and far later the infamous President of the Teamsters, Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). He swiftly finds that his skills with weapons aid him greatly in the world of crime, making himself at home with Buffalino and Hoffa. Oh, boy, it doesn't end there, I've briefly covered the first third or so, there's got to be a signature Scorecese plot turn.

The big reveal is Hoffa's inability to create concrete allies in the mob, and his increasing level of instability in maintaining control. The role of Jimmy is both hilarious, and possibly a tour-de-force. One moment he's succumbing into a tantrum, and another he's tackling his enemy with full force. Pacino's monumental portrayal is un-predictable, off-putting and having a certain charisma that features the actor's immense talent. So what are Buffalino and Sheeran planning to do with him? Google it or be brave enough to watch all 210 minutes of it, but there will be no spoilers. Readers may believe that just performances aren't enough to entertain sufficiently but believe me, that's not the only thing carrying the production. I'm currently telling you to sprint to the TV room with you're closest friends with soda, candy, beer, whatever, and watch the hell out of this movie. Everything is worth it.

While both Pesci and Pacino shine, it's Rob DeNiro that gives audiences closure, till his death due to cancer at 83. Covering all the nuances as a war veteran, and playing the heck out of a mob soldier, Mr. DeNiro is tremendous in his newest role. Normally, a lesser actor would quite literally be hammered into the ground by the computer-generated twist, but DeNiro proves to us once again that he isn't to be put down. Maybe for a couple of folks, the CG is a little distracting, but it's the most accurate, and vivid outing I've seen in a while. Anyway, it's specifically the performance that gives you the chills. From his scenes with his young, and adult daughter (portrayed well by Lucy Gallina, and then Anna Paquin respectively) to his painful last moments. It's certainly not easy to see, but if anybody deserves a massive award, it's him.

To back that voice up is the beautiful editing by Thelma Schoonmaker, the incredible cinematography work by Rodrigo Prieto, and a commanding soundtrack. Additionally, to make sure nothing's boring in the film event of the year is the raw script, written by Steven Zaillian. The screenplay is so glorious that it has reached the achievement to deliver unimaginable dark comedy, and contribute to an artfully shot, superbly done gangster flick. The performances are impeccable, and it plays as something far beyond the simple idea of Oscar bait. In a more concise way: "The Irishman" is a picture like we haven't seen before. Nevertheless, I never thought that Scorcese would be that ambitious as to develop a 160-million production (more than the 150M from "Blade Runner 2049).

That's the trick, though, the acclaimed filmmaker has found a way to make one of the most expensive movies of the year stay amazingly close with his old roots. Principally, Mr. Scorcese has gone to the chemistry room, and mixed classic movies such as "The Godfather", or "Raging Bull", and made a hybrid with the technological advancement that is "The Irishman". It's quite a difficult process, but with winning costume-design, and a knack for sound, Scorcese nearly makes it look basic. People could argue that a beast such as this "could never match up to the good old days", or "a big-budget doesn't mean a solid film", however, it's still the modern classic that we have been waiting for. Expensive, or not. This drama is to be considered art, technology and intelligence wise. It's an unmissable event that should have the entire population on its knees. An ode to the perfect movie.

The final opinion is: Martin Scorcese's long goodbye to his incredible career, "The Irishman", features gripping performances, impressive sound, cinematography, and direction--hitting all the expected bars, and doing so much more...$PLURGE IT, and then watch it again.

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

65/100 “sweet/sour”

So What's The Story?

22 years after the events of "judgment day," a terminator from the future is sent to kill a young girl named Dani Ramos who is said to lead the uprising against the organization called "Legion." However, an enhanced human named Grace is sent from the future to protect Dani. Soon when all seems hopeless on the highway, Sarah Conner joins the team. Together they must decide to keep running from this bloodthirsty machine or to face it with all the firepower they have.

Is It Worth Your While?

I have not yet seen the previous Terminator films, so this was all pretty new to me, but that does not mean that I won't review this fun, dumb and highly explosive blockbuster. First of all, we have the directing by Tim Miller director of Deadpool (no score yet). I thought that the action sequences were probably one of the best things about the film, and dang were they directed nicely. Plus, the director had a lot of good stuff to work with such as a dedicated cast and epic special effects. Next, I thought that the special effects were satisfying and fun at the same time. Nonetheless, I still felt like the film was restraining itself from its full potential. Third, I thought that the script and story were fun but also predictable and generic. I was expecting some bigger themes that it was trying to produce. However, no one can deny its awesome one-punch lines. Overall, Terminator: Dark Fate has excellent directing, fun special effects but a story that met below expectations for me.

How Was The Cast?

The cast in Terminator: Dark Fate was committed and ready to go in the film. First, we have Mackenzie Davis as Grace. I thought that she successfully pulled off being an enhanced human with emotion and the ability to work well with the cast. Next, we have Linda Hamilton as Sarah Conner. She was the real star of the film. Providing nothing but sheer power, intense emotion and bringing to life the role of one of the strongest female characters of the 20th century. Third, we have Natalia Reyes as Dani Ramos. She seemed more like the noob of the movie but the other cast members seemed to work well with her so it wasn't a total loss. Fourth and finally, we have Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator. He was hilarious and perfect for the role of the Terminator as he always has been.

Aging 'Legion'

Terminator: Dark Fate has explosions, gunfire, and death. The bad Terminator stabs multiple people throughout the film. Some intense and dark themes are hard to understand. There is a whole lot of swearing and just a ton of violence. Overall I recommend this film for teens and up.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Terminator: Dark Fate" is Slickly Made, Explosive Fun

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Rent for $2.99 or Buy for $9.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video

70/100 “sweet/sour”

Get ready for some one-liners, over-the-top violence, and some ridiculously good special effects because the “Terminator” franchise is back with their sixth film, “Dark Fate”. Forget the two previous installments, or even the original trio, Tim Miller’s take is a completely new game, and it’s also back to the R rating the series was made for. Linda Hamilton is bad-ass as ever, and the new Terminator is just as wonderfully familiar as fans were hoping for. Don’t worry, the film is entertaining and fast-paced enough to overcome the franchise fatigue, and the rehashed plotting. Maybe the series should end, it’s been going on since 1984, but “Dark Fate” makes moviegoers desire to see the story go on.

After Sarah Connor (Hamilton) saved three billion lives from the so-called Judgement Day, the world has survived. However, the film focuses more on its new main character, Daniella (Natalia Reyes), who after finding that an advanced “liquid” Terminator (whatever that means) has been sent from the future to kill her. To combat the threat, enhanced human Grace (a stunning McKenize Davis) was sent to protect her from the same time period. While on the run, Grace and Daniella run into the face of nostalgia, the definition of a tough grandma, Sarah Conner. Conner finds that similar to her, Daniella will be the mother of the child that saves the world. That’s when it becomes prophecy time.

How does something so familiar become so damn fun the sixth time around. Right when the film starts to wear out its welcome, right when the movie starts to become chase, banter, chase, Arnold comes to save the day. Schwarzennegger returns as the iconic T-800, and that’s when things start to pick up. He’s dubbed himself Carl, and is a professional in Draperies. The James Cameron-invented machine has also got himself a cliched family, a dog, wife and a single child, and a massive stash of guns. “It’s Texas”, he argues. From there, Arnold gets audiences through the affair, and surprisingly, but surely, it works effectively.

Tim Miller, director of “Deadpool”, has all the right tools to make a successful “Terminator” film, and he uses them well enough. While not taking full advantage of the MPAA rating, Miller expertly directs action sequences full of excellent visual effects spectacle. There’s a sufficient amount of gory fun, and he plays around well with the talented cast. There’s not much to say about the storytelling, but honestly, that isn’t necessarily crucial for a film such as this. Also, it’s great to see the series back in action, especially after the fourth and fifth films completely failed. Yes, “Salvation” and “Genisys” both were expensive slogs. Who knows, “Dark Fate” could be a new beginning for the franchise, just don’t screw up the potential.

The final opinion is: While the plot is rehashed as always, “Terminator: Dark Fate” is a dazzling, over-the-top and welcome installment that features some notable performances…$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 29M

Domestic Total: 62.2M

Worldwide Total: 261.1M

THE KING

75/100 “sweet”

So What's The Story?

After Hal, prince, and son of England's brutal King Henry IV dies. Hal is named Henry the 5th or Henry V. England, knowing that a child of 18 can easily be seduced tricks Hal into invading France by sending a ball to represent a child and a fake assassin to make him believe that France is threatening him. Doing so forces Hal to lead the charge into one of history's most bloody battles.

Is It Worth Your While?

The King is not incredible, I thought that it got better as it went along. First of all, we have the directing by David Michôd, director of War Machine (no score yet). I thought that the directing was sometimes inconsistent and also did not make sense, but a well-made battle was pretty much all I needed to satisfy myself. Next, we have the cinematography and production value. The cinematography of castles, the battle, and even just the countryside was beautiful. The production clearly showed the hardships of knights as they went into crowded battles with heavy armor. The set was realistic and in a way inspirational. Third, I thought that the script and story were at times ridiculous and at other times dramatic, intense and thought-provoking. It even taught me things that I didn't know before. Overall, I thought that The King had decent directing, great production and cinematography and a good script and story.

How Was The Cast?

The cast was no doubt one of the best things about the film. First, we have Timotheé Chalamet as Hal. His performance was intense, real and made me completely apart of his life. I understood his emotional depth between other characters. What it must have felt for a child to take on that great burden of responsibilities. Second, we have Joel Edgerton as Falstaff. The main jokester of the movie sure made me laugh. He also managed to carry out his character in a truly real way. How he was basically a father-like figure to Hal teaching him how to lead. Third, we have Sean Harris as William. He was in a way the villain of the movie. His performance was shocking and at the same time subtle as his character should be. Fourth and finally we have Robert Pattinson as "The Dauphin." He did a great French accent in the film making the performance even more unique and at the same time ridiculous.

Aging 'Henry V'

The King has bloody battles and some violence. People are stabbed, murdered or just seen dead. Hal stabs a character in the head and another in the neck. However, Hal is brave and a good leader to his army. he cares for his friends and will protect them. Overall this movie is meant for teens and up.

By: Quinn Marcus

"The King" is a Solid Adaptation With a Brilliant Timothèe Chalamet

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

By: Keaton Marcus

75/100 “sweet”

“A king has no friends, only followers—and foe” mutters Falstaff, one of King Hal’s companions. That’s one of the main themes of David Michod’s “The King”, a lengthy and above-average biopic that benefits from impressive performances, beautiful cinematography and some compelling battle sequences. However, it’s still a little bit of a missed opportunity. It just isn’t fantastic. The adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic is true to its word, but the execution is too depressing to really get audiences listening for over 140 minutes. Of course, this is a Netflix film, so again, bravo to the streaming giant that keeps getting more ambitious by the day. Nevertheless, despite a couple missteps with the tone, Timothée Chalamet’s performance, and the sharp direction aid the solid, if unspectacular film.

If you are a fan of Shakespeare you know the story, but what the heck, here we go. We head to England in the beginning, with a dramatic set-up. Prince Hal of Wales’ father, King Henry IV (a limited, and grumpy Ben Mendelssohn) is dying, and will soon pass on the crown to one of his sons. Hal is the rightful ruler, since he’s the oldest child, but the teen is a complete drunken fool and considering this, the King gives the thrown to his younger son Thomas. Don’t worry, that little affair doesn’t last long. I don’t want to give out too many spoilers, so I’ll stick to what works and what doesn’t. However, what I will say is that a certain someone will go on a rampage against The Dauphin of France (Robert Pattinson with a distracting, but hilarious accent).

Really, if you’re not in to dark themes, or troubling royal drama, “The King” may be a dead end, but otherwise, this grim whirlwind of terrific acting will be your jam. Screenwriter Joel Edgerton (who also nabbed a starring role) sets the affair up exactly like this. The overwhelming angst of the plot will give you little room to breath, but Edgerton and Chalamet makes sure that once or twice the thrilling battle sequences, and the crispness of the camera-work are made worth a watch. It’s comparable to the likes of 2018’s “Mary, Queen of Scotts”, but better, and more than something solely lavish. The costume-design, Chalamet’s Oscar winning outing, and the pure intrigue of the whole thing is enough to outweigh infrequent silly dialogue. Therefore, it’s worth a debate to call it disappointing, but you can’t dub it a failure.

I’ve mentioned this before, but in terms of awards season, this Netflix production really has a chance. Perhaps not Best Picture, but the movie deserves at least nominations in the actor, costume and cinematography categories. So what if it doesn’t have a 350 million budget, or at least CGI galore, “The King” deftly blends both emotion and a substantial amount of grit to create a firm product that could have been better, but it is more than worth the price of admission. See it for the shining cast, the production value, or just the interesting history behind it—either way, this R-rated take on Henry V earns its stripes fair and square.

The final opinion is: Despite being a tad dark for an entertaining watch, “The King” makes up for it’s small loss with various brilliant performances, excellent camera work and sharp direction…$PLURGE IT

"Dolemite is My Name" Might Be Eddie Murphy's Best Film

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

90/100 “sweet”

"Dolemite is my name and f..king up motherf..kers is my game!" screeches Eddie Murphy in his best performance. After so many flops, so many disappointing releases, Mr. Murphy is back, and he's better than ever portraying Rudy Ray Moore a.k.a Dolemite. It's got nudity, swearing galore, cheesy violence and most likely some of the most competent comedic relief I've seen in a while. Brought to life by excellent direction from Craig Brewer, and kindled well by writers Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander, "Dolemite Is My Name" doubles down on everything distinctive about comedy movies. Audiences will laugh out loud, be in shock on how far the raunchiness flies, and be immediately intrigued with Murphy's glorious accomplishment. In a few words: it's one of the best pictures made all year.

Taking place in the mid-'70s, "Dolemite" focuses on Rudy Ray Moore (Murphy), a portly, struggling comedian looking for a breakthrough to stardom. However, after grabbing some quotable quotes from the homeless, Moore is over the moon, ready to try out his brand new act in the local night club. When his performance is a success, Rudy then adopts his raunchy alter ego Dolemite and begins to make his hilarious stand-ups on vinyl for the community. It's a hit after another, the Dolemite act is deemed terrific, but Murphy's Rudy still isn't content with himself. What do you do when you're feeling down? You turn your sorry little face to Hollywood for the movies. That's right, Dolemite is attempting to taking his stand-up to the silver screen.

That's when the supporting performances get kicking. Frequent "SNL" host Craig Robinson shines as rapper and friend to Dolemite Ben Taylor and Keegan Michael Key delivers as playwright Jerry Jones, but it's Wesley Snipes who carries it to the succeeding level. Snipes depicts actor D'Urville Martin, and nearly parallel with Rudy Moore, his part is one of the most brilliantly written roles in both the film and the comedic industry. Martin considers himself a "big-time" actor, as he claims to have worked with Roman Polanski in "Rosemarie's Baby", nobody really believes him, but its thrown out there randomly. Another performance worth noting is Da'Vine Joy Randolph's delicious appearance as Lady Reed. She proves an exceedingly amusing and crucial part of the seemingly abnormally healthy chemistry within the talented cast.

While this is no picture for the entire family, it's worth a watch on a Sunday night with older teens and adults, and despite all the inappropriate ways of entertainment, the film feels completely innocent and fun. That's just one of the tricks that Bewer (the director, remember) plays on audiences. The guy has succeeded in something that rarely works, making both comedy and drama share the same template. It's the emotion where you feel safe to crack up, while occasionally expecting more than solely gross-out yuks. Think a hybrid of "Jerry Maguire" with the drama, and maybe "Austin Powers" or "King of Comedy" with the parody-type side. Generally, you can rely on the humor to get you through the 118-minutes. To be honest, "Dolemite" has smarts up its sleeve.

The final opinion is: "Dolemite Is My Name" not only features some commanding work from Eddie Murphy, but the film deftly blends drama and comedy excellently in this gross-out, but intelligent biopic...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

There is no box office info because the film provided is produced by Netflix, released for streaming only.

GEMINI MAN

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

50/100 “sour”

So What's The Story?

Henry Brogan a hitman, the age of 51 decides to retire after his 72nd kill. However, the people that he works for don't take the loss easily. Soon Henry is on the run with Danny Zakarweski an agent. Plus an old friend named Baron. Henry soon finds out that he is being hunted by a younger cloned version of himself. Henry must decide whether to keep running or to face himself.

Is It Worth Your While?

Gemini Man is not the incredible experience that it should be but it's entertaining enough to keep you interested. Now here are my reasons. First of all, we have the directing by Ang Lee, director of Life of Pie (no score yet). He could not piece together the incredible story that was made for the film. However, he managed to direct action sequences with flair and passion, providing sheer entertainment for the whole audience. Next, we have the special effects. I thought that the special effects and camera work were stunning and remarkably realistic. Although, sometimes the clone (Junior) looked a little bit rubbery with the emotion but was mostly okay. Third, we have the script and story. The ideas are inspiring but not well executed, the writing is most of the time bland but often engaging. After a while, you feel as if you are in an endless loop of indifference. Soon enough, Will Smith is the only thing keeping the film together. Overall Gemini Man's Directing was great with action but bad with the story. The special effects were dazzling and the script and story were usually uninteresting but breezily entertaining.

How Was The Cast?

The cast in Gemini man gives it's all to try and stick the movie back together. First, we have Will Smith as Henry Brogan/Junior. Will Smith can do anything, whether it's a Genie or a Fresh Prince, he'll always find a way for you to enjoy him. In this film, he was on it immediately. He seemed focused and never got out of character. Next, we have Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Danny Zakarweski. Funny, great with Will Smith and suiting the role perfectly were the three things needed for another hit performance of the film. Third, we have Benedict Wong as Baron. Not a huge character of the movie and yet, he tried his hardest to make the best version of Baron that he could make. Occasionally humorous and bringing a surprising feel-good touch to the film. Fourth and finally, we have Clive Owen as Clay Verris. Possibly the worst character and performance of the movie. The villain of the film was not what I had anticipated in terms of depth and a cool backstory.

Aging 'Project Gemini'

Gemini Man has scenes of violence. Vehicles explode, there are multiple chase scenes. Gunfights and hand to hand combat are also significant in the film. A woman is seen without clothes and there is some flirting. However, Henry is a brave and morally strong character and there is some teamwork within the main characters.

By: Quinn Marcus

"Gemini Man" is a Visually Whacky, but Tedious and Dull Sci-Fi Romp

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Rent for $2.99 or Buy for $7.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video

35/100 “sour”

I didn't know Ang Lee was capable of creating an inadequate film. Did you? Well, that flick is "Gemini Man", a visually arresting, but bothersome and tasteless high-tech sci-fi thriller starring Will Smith. In a concise opinion, it's an expensive dud that happens to occasionally impress audiences. Smith continues his career of solid performances, but that's not quite sufficient to put an end to his prolonged streak of mediocre movies. The idea is intriguing, they have a talented star, and a critical darling of a filmmaker--where did the production go wrong. A genuine place to start is that you don't believe anything, a couple supporting performances, the overuse of set-pieces and the poor execution of a somewhat usable premise. There's also the sad-but-true fact that filmmaker Ang Lee is becoming more and more obsessed with delivering big things budget-wise than screenplay wise. In the beginning, the little magic trick (you'll see in the premise) entertains you, but that particular gimmick begins to wear out it's welcome long before the picture closes.

A-lister Will Smith portrays the role of hitman Henry Brogan, who after a grueling 72 kills in the field, is ready to retire. On a supposed fishing trip in Georgia, Brogan flirts or at least tries to with a 20-something boathouse employee, soon before finding that she's a Defense Intelligence Agency operative named Danny Zakarweski (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), sent out to spy on the poor guy. Henry also finds that Clay Varris (Clive Owen seemingly begging to escape the movie), a biotech profiteer, wants him dead. It turns out that the assassin Clive sent, is a younger, 23-year-old clone of Henry Brogan (also portrayed by Smith, with some iffy CGI). Moviegoers can geek out all they want about an "epic battle" between Will Smith and himself, but it seems very different in the film, and not in a positive sense.

With Junior (the clone), Hollywood goes full freak-out on trying to make the Will from "The Fresh Prince of Belair" as realistic as possible. The end product looks a little curious, definitely impressive, but not quite human enough to satisfy cinemas. Nevertheless, Will Smith delivers undeniably strong performances as the two Brogans. The issue is, it's not worth your precious two hours to pay nearly ten dollars (more for refreshments) if the only reason to see the film is for Will Smith's performance. Your response is: what about the promising visual effects? Still not adequate. The movie itself is a ballistic mess produced by all-action no-brain Jerry Bruckheimer. As a critic, however, I do give a certain amount of credit for the chemistry between Will Smith and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, but that does not excuse the distinct lack of entertainment value.

That's right, this action film not only doesn't deliver on intelligence, from time to time, the urge to fall asleep takes over. Director Ang Lee assumes that the visual effects will hook audiences from the start, but honestly, "Gemini Man" could be used as an excuse to take a 119-minute nap. Whether it's a thrilling motorcycle chase in 120 frames-per-second or an excellent hand-to-hand combat scene in the catacombs, you realize that while this picture has its moments, there's no way that the sporadic pleasure is enough to the immeasurable fact: it's not a good movie. Fine, clone Will Smith, put in a high-frame-rate, audiences will get fatigued of "Gemini Man" either way.

The final opinion is: "Gemini Man" has sufficient visual splendor, as well as a game Will Smith, but the outcome is a high-concept, expensive sci-fi dud that suffers from poor execution, a tired screenplay and a lack of entertaining moments...$KIP IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 20.5m

Domestic Total: 48.5m

Worldwide Total: 173.4m

"Joker" is Marvelous, Dramatic, Horrific and Features a Grand Outing for Joaquin Phoenix

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 17, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

An Exclusive Prime Video Member Discount Available for Joker: Rent for Just $2.99 or Buy for Only $9.99 in SD and HD

90/100 “sweet”

I never knew that a DC comic-book adaptation would go down as one of the most controversial, stupendous, incredible films of all-time. The film given is "Joker", a dark origin story on the iconic villain, dialing down the big-budget and bringing out a gritty, horrific character study. In 25 years or so, we will not only look down at it as an excellent movie, we will recognize Joaquin Phoenix's manic, chillingly realistic lead, stand-alone performance. If director Todd Phillips can go from emotional drama to no-holds-barred horror, then the audience has realized the guy has achieved what few filmmakers even aspire to. Combining multiple, complex genres in one picture. Pin it down for its unwieldy violence, or mishandling of weapons, it is nearly impossible to deny that "Joker" is truly something to awe. Warning: it's utterly not for the common person, but those willing to brave the controversy will worship it.

Phillips introduces our lead as Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), a mentally-ill, struggling loser nearly disregarded by the city of Gotham. Arthur is a poor clown-for-hire who dreams to be a stand-up comedian and meet the famous comic Murray Franklin (Robert DeNiro reliving "The King of Comedy"). However, after he is fired from his low-life job because he brought a gun to a children's hospital, Arthur starts his dwindling journey into madness. Both the sound work and cinematography are key in setting the scene, expertly done by Hildur Guðnadóttir and Lawrence Sher respectively. They both make the tone a little bit modern, a tad '80s, and above all, freakishly terrifying. Whether Phoenix is dancing on the stairs to Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll 2", or inflicting chaos in the city, you won't be able to withstand the Oscar-worthy performance.

There have been many attempts to create the perfect Clown Prince of Crime, most have failed, but a couple has made it onto the list. This notably includes Jack Nicholson in 1989's "Batman", and especially the fantastic, late, Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight". Sure, the latter won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, but nothing and I mean absolutely zilch can compare to Phoenix's outing. One major advantage Joaquin has above his predecessors is the director's unique approach to dig deep into the life of the character, and make Joker the main character. Yep, not another supporting role under the reign of Bruce Wayne, a stand-alone, haunting focus on solely him.

There's one massive set-up with Mr. Wayne, however. I won't blabber on much about spoilers in the end, and generally hope to stick to what worked, and what didn't, but this is important. The finale of the 115-minute, show-stopping event may include a tie-in to the remainder of the DCEU franchise. Meaning that the upcoming "The Batman" starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, Zöe Kravitz as Catwoman, and Paul Dano as the Riddler, may merge universes with Phoenix's Joker. The set-up is subtle, unconfirmed, but largely possible. The one risk is the possibility of upstaging the only, truly real comics adaptation with a 200 million budget, and special effects galore. So while that dims our excitement, you can still put on a happy face for "Joker".

The final opinion is: "Joker" is something of dreams, featuring a compelling, horrifying performance by Joaquin Phoenix, impeccable direction by Todd Phillips and a nearly-perfect, realistic origin story...$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 96.2M

Domestic Total: 335.4M

Worldwide Total: 1.074B

Ad Astra

By Quinn Marcus

(2019)

AGE: 13+

70% SWEET/SOUR

So What's the Story?

Set in the near future… Ad Astra is about astronaut Roy McBride, son of the legendary astronaut Clifford McBride. Clifford had undergone an expedition in space called ‘The Lima Project’ to find extra terrestrial life beyond our solar system, the mission would last for years. The members of ‘The Lima Project’ never came back. Years later a new global disaster begins known as “The Surge.” Roy, now a man has also become an astronaut and is assigned to join a crew of men and women to find ‘The Lima Project’s’ ship and destroy it. Emotional, intense, dark. If these are the things you are looking for in a space film, this is the one for you.

Is It Worth Your While?

Ad Astra aspires to be the space epic of 2019, but production values and a game Brad Pitt are the only things keeping this movie going, now here are my reasons. First of all, directing by James Gray, director of 'The Lost City Of Z' (no score yet), really liked to see Brad Pitt walking down dark hallways in slow motion. I mean I get it, we all would love to see an epic actor looking dramatic, but who cares. To add on to that Brad Pitt's left side of the face was also a very popular subject that the director wanted to cover. I guess Brad Pitt just has a good side. Also, that narration filled me with so much boredom, I fell asleep for a few minutes. Now don't get me wrong, Brad Pitt's voice was actually kind of relaxing, but him talking about his father again and again was unnecessary. However, some scenes were directed very well, the opening satellite tower scene was amazing, the moon battle was great, and then there was the crazy monkey scene which made no sense at all. Next, we have the special effects. Outer space looked amazing, the planets, the ships, the stars all looked incredibly realistic. Also, the no sound in space thing made it very logical. Because in space, there is no sound, so it was replaced by a fantastic soundtrack. Third, we have the script and story. Boring but occasionally interesting, the script and story captured my attention sometimes and made me fall asleep others. There were also too many plot points, he's dealing with his wife, his dad, the mission, staying focused and having his psychology evaluation approved. It was all too much. Overall, Ad Astra benefits from an occasionally interesting story and impressive production value but suffers from a slow story and repetition.

How Was the Cast?

The cast in Ad Astra did a solid job. First, we have Brad Pitt as Roy McBride. Amazing as always, Brad Pitt truly shined in this movie regardless of the narration. He was dramatic, robot-like to support his overall character and seemed to work with the cast perfectly. Next, we have Tommy Lee Jones as Clifford McBride. Although having a weird character to play, Tommy Lee Jones finds a way to make that character work performing with pure passion and raw emotion. Third, we have Donald Sutherland as Thomas Pruitt. He was wasted, not given enough screen time which his character deserved. It was almost like, they tried to find a way to get him out of the movie just so they could focus on Brad Pitt.

Aging 'The Surge'

Ad Astra has some bloody scenes, Astronauts are killed. Roy and Clifford have an intense relationship, there is some mild violence. Roy goes a little crazy whilst being on a long voyage. However, Roy eventually learns to become a better person after learning a few lessons during his travels, overall I recommend this film to teens and up.

"Ad Astra" is an Epic, Dazzling Space-Opera With Brad Pitt

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Rent for $5.99 or Buy for $19.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video

85/100 “sweet”

Well, now it’s safe to say that Brad Pitt has had a terrific year. With James Gray’s undeniably slow, but mesmerizing space epic “Ad Astra”, we have one of the best films of the year. Thought-provoking and sporting a high-concept plot, while backed up by terrific production value, Pitt’s first journey through the solar system is something to watch. I’m warning you: it’s no blockbuster and more of a study of how dazzling special effects are these days. If you’re a fan of films such as “Blade Runner 2049”, and “2001: A Space Odyssey”, this could be the weekend ticket, however, if you are looking for a film to help you wait for the next ”Star Wars” installment, perhaps it's not the choice. ”Ad Astra” is entertaining in its own way, interesting, and beautifully put together. Featuring one of Pitt’s best performances, and a compelling father-son story, it succeeds in almost every way.

In the near future, Earth has started to collapse because of several power surges, which the Government creatively calls ”The Surge”. That's when the opening scene hits. We have built a massive skyscraper type antenna that rises all the way to the stars. One of those surges suddenly hits the tower, knocking Roy McBride (Pitt), back down to the soil. Some may call it an excuse to show off incredible visuals, but you cannot deny that cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema, known for “Dunkirk” has a knack for wowing audiences, which is especially showcased in the enthralling beginning. Roy is then informed that his estranged father, Clifford (a peculiar outing for Tommy Lee Jones) has possibly survived after a long while in space looking for intelligent life for something dubbed the Lima project.

Things start to get really spicy when Roy is ordered to take to the stars to search for his father, and not to draw attention to himself, telling the public that it’s a commercial trip to the moon, and nothing more. After the trip, Roy is traveling by rover across the lunar surface, only to be attacked by space-pirates in another scene of many that catch your attention with tension, and excellent uses of sound editing. After a narrow escape, it’s off to Mars. Motivated that his old man might be out there, Roy begins to suit up for Neptune, which is the cause of these power surges. Loneliness is the key factor of the last half, all alone in the outer reaches of space, deadly quiet, eerie and crazing.

Gray’s newest film recalls the hypnotic slowness of “Gravity”, or even Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar”. From there on out, the audience is sitting alone with Roy McBride, regarding his epic journey to find the father that never really loved him. It’s the cinematography, special effects, direction and the impeccable performances that keep the common person invested in this brilliant space-opera. Gray has really kept a solid directorial style, excellently shown in his last film, “The Lost City of Z”, a study of exploring based on true events. The filmmaker focuses more on exploring the main character’s feelings, and less on excitement, or thrills. It’s not for everyone, but it’s something different, and unique in his own way, so it indefinitely works.

To complete the picture, Gray got star Brad Pitt to portray McBride, and the 55-year old actor was the right choice, whether you like it or not. Earlier this year, Pitt starred in the excellent Tarantino film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, which was a throwback, in his latest effort, it’s all about the outcome of the future. No matter how different the two pictures are, Pitt never had a bad scene. Two films in one year, a possibility of an Oscar nomination, and a pair of amazing outings, things are getting better and better for the middle-aged guy. He digs deep into the seemingly emotionless Roy, it’s just as tear-inducing as it is incredible. Maybe the long quest to find his jerk of a dad gets a little annoying, but Gray weaves the tale in with a picture that can make the cinema cry, wonder, and be lost in awe.

The final opinion is: “Ad Astra” is a slow, but thrilling, father-son embankment that features emotional storytelling, dazzling visuals, flawless cinematography and a one-of-a-kind performance from Brad Pitt…$PLURGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 19m

Domestic Total: 50.1m

Worldwide Total: 132.8m

Related Films:

Interstellar, 80/100 “sweet”

Gravity, 90/100 “sweet”

Blade Runner 2049, 90/100 “sweet”

"It: Chapter Two" is Overlong, but Bill Hader and Fun Steal the Show

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16, YOU MUST ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Buy for $19.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video, or Watch it Free With an HBO Subscription

65/100 “sweet/sour”

While I'm pleased to say that both Stephen King adaptations have proved wholly satisfying, I am sad to complain that both times around, the films still have not caught the terrifying behemoth that is King's epic novel. "It: Chapter Two" definitely captures the "big" part of the book (standing at 1,166 pages), clocking at nearly three hours long--but that's the picture's biggest issue. Sure, there are a couple of great frights along the way, and the performances, as well as the casting-choices, are spot-on--its just the fact that you can barely stand up after that amount of time spent in the theater watching a horror flick. Some could argue that its faithful to the book, which at times, is completely the right answer, but it’s still slightly disappointing. However, one thing that the sequel encapsulates well is the utter geek that Stephen King is, embracing the "so bad, its good" type shenanigans. "Chapter Two" certainly isn't a bad film, its decent enough for a solid time at the cinema. Just don't look for "The Shining".

Three words to describe this massive film are: Pennywise is back. Set 27 years after the events of "Chapter One", the Losers are now adults--most living elsewhere in the states. However, after a call from Mike Hanlon, who is the only Loser still living in Derry--they are once again face to face with the twisted, murderous Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The serial killer circus star has returned, and so is actor Bill Skarsgård for the title role. Skarsgård is once again an astonishing showcase of an involved performance, and ridiculous as his character might be--you might end up with chills down your spine. The structure of the film plays almost the same as the novel, for better or for worse. If it were not for the excellent performances by the adult Losers club, or the guilty pleasure you consistently get out of the picture, "Chapter Two" would be an overlong mess.

The cast is not only remarkably chosen, but they are also expertly executed with a careful screenplay. James McAvoy portrays the grown-up counter-part of Bill Denebourough, who has moved past his traumatic childhood and has become an acclaimed writer (they hate his endings though). McAvoy, after nabbing roles in M. Night Shyamalan's final two installments to the "Unbreakable" trilogy and the "X-Men" franchise, has proven over and over again that the actor is fully capable of blowing audiences away. It's Bill Hader who steals the show, playing with the beloved character of Richie "Trashmouth" Tozier. The guy deserves an Oscar, whether he is handling a puppy-turned-skeleton or making a "Die Hard" reference, he's got it covered. The remaining Losers include Beverly (Jessica Chastain bringing the grit), Ben (Jay Ryan making the character look like "a team of Brazilian soccer players put into one") and of course, Mike Hanlon (Isaiah Mustafa as the only African-American club member, and the remaining one who still lives in Derry, Maine). There are scares, but not quite enough--so it's the exceptional cast that gets this film out of the dirt.

One thing both Andy Muschietti and Stephen King try to address is abuse. It's very common in both the novel and the two films, whether its father-to-daughter, husband-to-wife or even discrimination against gays. Of course, there are good intentions somewhere in the rough waters, which may just be enough to cover for the fact that it's completely unnecessary for this type of movie. Beverly getting abused by her whacko dad, or her rich husband--it’s a little much. Even in the brilliant, but grotesque opening scene, where a gay teen called Adrien is thrown into the sewers left to die, soon before Pennywise gobbles his first meal in a while. It certainly is bold, and it's not for everyone.

The final opinion is: "It: Chapter Two" isn't as terrifying as it should be, and the film is certainly overlong, but extraordinary performances and its entertaining jump-scares make it a more-than-satisfying, faithful adaptation and sequel...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening Weekend: 91m

Domestic Total: 211.5m

Worldwide Total: 473m

Related Films:

It, 80/100 “sweet”

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, 70/100 “sweet/sour”

Pet Sematary, No Score Yet