When The Bough Breaks

John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall) are a young, professional couple who desperately want a baby. After exhausting all other options, they finally hire Anna (Jaz Sinclair), the perfect woman to be their surrogate – but as she gets further along in her pregnancy, so too does her psychotic and dangerous fixation on the husband. The couple becomes caught up in Anna’s deadly game and must fight to regain control of their future before it’s too late.

This movie was pretty much a massive waste of time.  It was basically a wannabe Fatal Attraction or Hand That Rocks The Cradle.  If you saw the trailer - you saw the movie.  I wanted to leave after like 20 minutes and thinking about all the other things I could be doing instead of watching this.  There was no suspense.  There was no surprises.  There was nothing positive to say about this movie.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this total time vacuum and I saw it for free.  The thought of paying for this would lead to me probably having to punch someone in the face.

Sully

On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger (Hanks) glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career. Clint Eastwood is directing the film from a screenplay by Todd Komarnicki, based on the book "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters," by Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow.

This was a great movie across the board.  The direction, the acting, the way the story was told were all really top notch.  I was curious to see how they would make this in to a full length movie that wouldn't just tell you the story that you already knew and they did an exceptional job of telling it from the pilot's point of view and in a non-heart string pulling kind of way.  The fact that I enjoyed this movie so much is that much more impressive when you take into account that this story/movie took my biggest fears (flying and birds) and combined them in the most horrible of ways and I was still loving every second of it.  

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It's a great reminder of how awesome Tom Hanks still is and is easily one of the better movies to come out this year.

The Magnificent Seven

Director Antoine Fuqua brings his modern vision to a classic story in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures' and Columbia Pictures' The Magnificent Seven. With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns - Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Jack Horne (Vincent D'Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.

This movie was great for being exactly what it was supposed to be.  This is a popcorn western movie.  There is a bad guy.  A crew gets rounded up to fight him.  Said crew bonds together.  They fight the bad guy.  No extra nonsense.  No pointless filler.  Straight and to the point and a very enjoyable ride.  The cast had great chemistry and you find yourself attaching to several of the characters.  It's exactly what it was supposed to be and that really is a rarity in today's movies.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It's a very enjoyable ride with great on screen chemistry.  

Storks

Storks deliver babies…or at least they used to. Now they deliver packages for global internet giant Cornerstore.com. Junior, the company’s top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when he accidentally activates the Baby Making Machine, producing an adorable and wholly unauthorized baby girl. Desperate to deliver this bundle of trouble before the boss gets wise, Junior and his friend Tulip, the only human on Stork Mountain, race to make their first-ever baby drop – in a wild and revealing journey that could make more than one family whole and restore the storks’ true mission in the world.

This movie was a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be.  With its September release date I kind of expected one of those family movies that kids like but the adults are tortured through.  This one was plenty fun for the adults as well and the movie had lots of laughs throughout.  It wasn't Pixar or Dreamworks level but it was definitely better than expected.

I would recommend families checking this out.  It was a decent watch for all and is a good family trip to the movies.

Snowden

Oliver Stone, who brought "Platoon," "Born on the Fourth of July," "Wall Street" and "JFK" to the big screen, tackles the most important and fascinating true story of the 21st century. Snowden, the politically-charged, pulse-pounding thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley, reveals the incredible untold personal story of Edward Snowden, the polarizing figure who exposed shocking illegal surveillance activities by the NSA and became one of the most wanted men in the world. He is considered a hero by some, and a traitor by others. No matter which you believe, the epic story of why he did it, who he left behind, and how he pulled it off makes for one of the most compelling films of the year.

I have to give this review an incomplete for now because out of total exhaustion I passed out like 15 minutes in and woke up with about 15 minutes left.  DAMN YOU, COMFY RECLINING CHAIRS!!!   Anywho, the opening and closing both felt very powerful and I know that I felt hooked by the movie even though I had missed most of the it.  I will reference Wonder Woman's thoughts on the movie for an actual perspective.  She loved it.  She was definitely hooked and is still talking about the movie a couple of days later.  It didn't seem like too much of an Oliver Stone movie in that his usual biases come into play and he is showing a specific perspective.  He definitely provided a much more human side of Snowden than we have seen before and you come away from the movie with a much better understanding of everything that happened.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out . . . . . . including myself again so I can see the whole movie.  WW definitely gives it a big thumbs up and I can't wait for it to show up online so I can finish watching it.

Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. Based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel, "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ." Also starring Morgan Freeman and Rodrigo Santoro.

This movie wanted to be an epic film but it absolutely was not.  It didn't even really have the budget to be so or it was massively misspent.  The acting wasn't epic.  The action wasn't epic.  The movie ends up just kind of being there.  It's a textbook end of summer type of movie.

I wouldn't really recommend people wasting their time with this.  There are much worse things you could watch but this just really isn't worth your time and definitely not your money.

Suicide Squad

It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?

This was a tough one to review as are pretty much all DC Comic films.  Lets start with the positives.  The characters were great.  Will Smith was the best and was finally back to being the Will Smith of old.  Didn't realize how much I missed him until seeing him in this one.  Margot Robbie was great as Harley Quinn even if she was a little "softer" than the character usually is.  Jared Leto was great as a mibster version of The Joker.  The other characters were greatly too (especially El Diablo) as well as Viola Davis as the government official pulling the strings.  The chemistry between all of them was awesome and the first 45 minutes of this movie really made you think DC finally got something right.  And then came the villain.  And thats where the cons start.  The whole mystical and magical villain thing sucked.  DC always screws the pooch with villains because they insist on having too many of them and going CGI crazy with them.  Just like with Batman Vs Superman.  Yes, Lex Luthor being overacted was one of the more annoying parts of that one but if it was just him versus the superheroes instead of Doomsday and all the chaos that brought it probably would have been a better movie.   It was the same with this using Joker and the villain (without giving too much away).  In all honesty - they pretty much forced Joker into this movie and they eould have been better off going all in with him or not having him at all until the end as a tease or something.  It should have been Suicide Squad against Joker and his goons or them against the movie's main villain.  It messed up the story by working towards the villain story but forcing the Joker in every once and a while regardless of how goid Jared Leto was as him.  

My ranting is done now.  I would still recommend that people check this movie out.  It is definitely one of DC's better movies if not the best one.  The characters were great and the movie was enjoyable.  It just once again could have been better if DC would stop overdoing it every time on the villain front.  

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

From visionary director Tim Burton, and based upon the best-selling novel, comes an unforgettable motion picture experience. When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.

This was Tim Burton finally getting back to his roots.  While not as dark as his best stuff it wasn't as bright and fluffy as some more recent efforts.  It was a very enjoyable fantasy movie with characters that you got hooked to and a story with great visuals as it plays out.  Again - not as big of a hook as his best stuff but more than good enough to keep you invested in how it turns out.  

I would recommend people checking this out who are in to these kinds of movies.  I thought it was a very enjoyable watch.  There is some pretty creepy stuff in this for anyone with younger kids just to warn those this would pertain to.

Morgan

A corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) is sent to a remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate a terrifying accident. She learns the event was triggered by a seemingly innocent “human,” who presents a mystery of both infinite promise and incalculable danger.

This was a decent idea with some pretty decent action/story progression.  The problem was that there was no need for this to be a wide release film or honestly to be made at all.  It's not that it's a bad watch.  It is just there.  It's a textbook September release in that you forget about it within 48 hours and that brings you back to why did they spend time even making this?

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this in theaters.   It's not worth the time and definitely not the money.  It's a decent watch if you have some down time at home when it's on cable or netflix but still no rush in having to see this.

Bridget Jones's Baby

After breaking up with Mark Darcy (Firth), Bridget Jones’s (Zellweger) “happily ever after” hasn’t quite gone according to plan. Fortysomething and single again, she decides to focus on her job as top news producer and surround herself with old friends and new. For once, Bridget has everything completely under control. What could possibly go wrong? Then her love life takes a turn and Bridget meets a dashing American named Jack (Dempsey), the suitor who is everything Mr. Darcy is not. In an unlikely twist she finds herself pregnant, but with one hitch… she can only be fifty percent sure of the identity of her baby’s father.

Why is this a movie franchise?  Was there really a demand for another Bridget Jones movie?  Besides the fact that if you saw the trailer you pretty much saw the movie.  There really is nothing more that needs to be said about this rather turdly movie.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  Hopefully that will mean they don't bother making any more of these.

Florence Foster Jenkins

Set in 1940s New York, Florence Foster Jenkins is the true story of the legendary New York heiress and socialite (Meryl Streep) who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great singer. The voice she heard in her head was beautiful, but to everyone else it was hilariously awful. Her "husband" and manager, St. Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant), an aristocratic English actor, was determined to protect his beloved Florence from the truth. But when Florence decided to give a public concert at Carnegie Hall, St. Clair knew he faced his greatest challenge.

I really didn't get this movie.  Was it a comedy?   Was it a drama?  So she couldn't sing well but thought that she could?   That was it.  I still don't get it.  Why would Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant do this movie?   I would think that there should be much more substance to it, no?   Maybe this is just one of those not my cup of tea type of movies and people that are more familiar with these historical people or time era that it took place in will really like this.   I pretty much sat there for the vast majority of the movie thinking "huh?"

Like I said above - I'm really not sure how to review this one.  It's just kind of there and I have no idea why it was made.  But maybe I'm just ignorant about the times/characters and people that are not would like it more?

The Secret Life Of Pets

For one bustling Manhattan apartment building, the real day starts after the folks on two legs leave for work and school. That’s when the pets of every stripe, fur and feather begin their own nine-to-five routine: hanging out with each other, trading humiliating stories about their owners, or auditioning adorable looks to get better snacks. The building’s top dog, Max (voiced by Louis C.K.), a quick-witted terrier rescue who’s convinced he sits at the center of his owner’s universe, finds his pampered life rocked when she brings home Duke (Eric Stonestreet), a sloppy, massive mess of a mongrel with zero interpersonal skills. When this reluctant canine duo finds themselves out on the mean streets of New York, they have to set aside their differences and unite against a fluffy-yet-cunning bunny named Snowball (Kevin Hart), who’s building an army of Ex-Pets abandoned by their owners and out to turn the tables on humanity…all before dinnertime.

My friend was spot on when he said that this was pretty much a pets version of Toy Story.  I still enjoyed the movie very much and there was plenty of laughs throughout.  The characters were great and definitely will catch on tremendously with kids that see this movie.  But it really was the same story and everything as Toy Story.  

I would still definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a fun watch and is pretty much a must for anyone with kids.  Although I thought that the movie would be funnier than it was it was still very much enjoyable.  

Jason Bourne

Matt Damon returns to his most iconic role in Jason Bourne. Paul Greengrass, the director of "The Bourne Supremacy" and "The Bourne Ultimatum," once again joins Damon for the next chapter of Universal Pictures’ Bourne franchise, which finds the CIA’s most lethal former operative drawn out of the shadows.

This was yet another excellent entry in the Bourne franchise.  If you like the others you will certainly like this one.  More twists and turns and new characters were fluidly introduced.  The fighting and car chases continue to be the most realistic ones I've ever seen.  You can't watch them and not see it as actually happening with no additional special effects.  

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is a very enjoyable and action filled roller coaster ride.

The BFG

The BFG (Mark Rylance), while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country. Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part. Giants like Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumber and Frobscottle. Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie, a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions. The BFG brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams.  Having both been on their own in the world up until now, their affection for one another quickly grows. But Sophie’s presence in Giant Country has attracted the unwanted attention of the other giants, who have become increasingly more bothersome.  Sophie and the BFG soon depart for London to see Queen Victoria (Penelope Wilton) and warn her of the precarious giant situation, but they must first convince the Queen and her maid, Mary (Rebecca Hall), that giants do indeed exist. Together, they come up with a plan to get rid of the giants once and for all.

This was a very cute movie.  It had that special kind of a feel to it.  You could tell that this was a Spielberg movie made for kids.  It had that feel.  Visually, the giant scenes were amazing.  Especially the ones where he was roaming the streets and hiding.  It was done so fluidly.  You couldn't help but get hooked by the friendship between the little girl and the giant and wanting to see how the story would play out.  

I would definitely recommend people with children taking their kids to check this out.  It's a very good family watch that will unfortunately probably get buried because of being released between two huge animated movies this summer.

Pete's Dragon

A reimagining of the 1977 Disney classic, Pete’s Dragon will blend live action and CGI to tell the story of the special bond between an orphaned boy, Pete, and his best friend, Elliott, who just happens to be a dragon. 

The original Pete's Dragon was one of my favorite movies growing up.  I used to watch it over and over again at my grandmother's house.  I was a little worried about them messing the movie up by reimagining it.  Thankfully, I was dead wrong.  This movie was an awesome family film.  It was the type of movie that made me fall in love with movies way back in the day.  Sure it was cute and fluffy at times but it was all about imagination and love.  I laughed, I cried, and I connected several aspects of the boy's adventure to moments throughout my life.

I would absolutely recommend people check this movie out.  This is especially true for families looking for a great all around movie going experience.  

Don't Breathe

A group of friends break into the house of a wealthy blind man, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect heist. They’re wrong.

See how simple that synopsis was?   That's easily what made this movie so great.  It had a short running time, didn't waste time with over development, and jumped right into the creepiness and thrills.  The movie was very enjoyable and had you sitting on the edge of your seat plenty of times.  Just when you think the movie is going to get a little played out, it switches gears and gets you hooked for the second part of the story.   

I would definitely recommend this movie to thriller fans.  Its short, well directed and paced in a way that keeps you hooked and makes you jump plenty of times.  

The Wild Life

From the over-exuberant parrot Tuesday to the snack-obsessed tapir Rosie, from the persnickety echidna Epi to the acrobatic pangolin Pango, from the ditzy goat Scrubby to the commonsensical kingfisher Kiki and the always-cool chameleon Carmello, things are larger-than-life on a tropical isle that is pure wild animal paradise. Then Robinson Crusoe, a marooned human, arrives in the midst of a furious storm, and their lives are forever changed by this bewildering new “creature.” No matter their differences, castaway human and quirky animals embark on an hilarious new adventure, building the island’s first tree-house and surviving together. But when two conniving members of the animal kingdom — the savage cats Mal & May – pounce into a battle for control of the island, Crusoe and his animal posse must uncover the true power of friendship against all odds (even savage cats).

This movie was eh.  It was kind of watchable but there really was not the necessary hook that comes with most animated movies today.  The characters had moments but there were none that really carried the movie.   It almost felt like the animators kind of mailed it in on this one.  

I wouldn't really recommend people checking this out.  It's just kind of there and is one of those blatant money grabs by it being released when there really are not any other options out there for kids or families.

War Dogs

War Dogs follows two friends in their early 20s (Hill and Teller) living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War who exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts. Starting small, they begin raking in big money and are living the high life. But the pair gets in over their heads when they land a 300 million dollar deal to arm the Afghan Military—a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people, not the least of which turns out to be the U.S. Government.

This was a great movie due to the awesome chemistry between Miles Teller and Jonah Hill. I actually think this was one of Jonah Hill's better overall performances.  The story was paced perfectly and was given the proper time to develop.  You get really hooked by the friendship and it was a perfect balance between Teller's WTF type of reaction to everything and Jonah Hill's nothing to worry about reaction.  Even though it really was a drama movie due to the subject matter and Jonah Hill's character development, there were a ton of laughs throughout.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a great watch and very surprising to find such a great movie in theaters in late August.

Kubo And The Two Strings

Kubo and the Two Strings is an epic action-adventure set in a fantastical Japan from acclaimed animation studio LAIKA. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson) ekes out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town including Hosato, Hashi and Kamekichi. But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey and Beetle, and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen - a magical musical instrument - Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King and the evil twin Sisters to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family and fulfill his heroic destiny.

This was an awesome movie.  It's not your normal animated movie for kids because the subject matter will probably go flying over their heads.  But the animation was amazing and kept getting better as the movie went on.  And the story of the boy and his parents and finding out about your ancestors and history was great.  

I loved this movie and would definitely recommend people checking it out but it really is not a mainstream movie in any way.  Kids won't necessarily like it because it is a pretty deep story overall but it was incredibly well done and told.

Mechanic: Resurrection

Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) returns as the Mechanic in the sequel to the 2011 action thriller. When the deceitful actions of a cunning but beautiful woman (Jessica Alba) force him to return to the life he left behind, Bishop's life is once again in danger as he has to complete an impossible list of assassinations of the most dangerous men in the world.

Pretty much your standard Jason Statham entry.  Lots of action.  Good pacing.  No reason to bother with overdevelopment of story or characters.  Some of the stunts and the inventive ways of him taking out the opposition were crazy and really hooked you a little more than just the usual hand to hand combat movies he churns out.

If you are a fan of Statham movies, you will like this one.  Like I said - not much substance just more of the usual stuff from him.  If that's your thing - check it out.  If not - definitely pass.

Finding Dory

Finding Dory reunites Dory with friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?

I was afraid of Pixar giving this the mailing it in treatment of Cars 2 as opposed to the Toy Story sequels and Monsters Inc prequel.  Happily - that was not the case.  While the move was nowhere near the greatness of Finding Nemo, it was still a great ride with lots of laughs, emotions and new characters.  This one definitely felt more forced when compared to the natural progression of Finding Nemo but the story was still good and the pacing was great.  As with all Pixar movies, the film was just as enjoyable for the adults as it was for the kids that take them.

I would absolutely recommend this movie to everyone.  It's a great ride with characters you are used to and flawlessly introduced new ones.

Sausage Party

Sausage Party is a raunchy animated movie about one sausage's quest to discover the truth about his existence. After falling out of a shopping cart, our hero sausage and his new friends embark on a perilous journey through the supermarket to get back to their aisles before the 4th of July sale.

The movie had several moments of absolute hilarity that had the whole audience laughing.  The innuendos and references made were so well written and off the charts funny.   But there were definitely times where I would have probably preferred the innuendos as opposed to them actually showing some stuff.  At one point there was like an actual food orgy and it was weird as hell to watch.  The movie was definitely raunchy as hell but like I said so damn funny at times.  The only movie that I can compare this to with its laughs and wtf moments of what you were actually watching was Team America.

I would recommend people checking this out if they are interested in some big laughs and total raunchiness is not a turn off for them.  Otherwise you should absolutely not see this.  And parents of young teenagers be warned - this is absolutely a R rated movie that you don't want your kids to see or for you to foolishly go with them to see it.

Star Trek Beyond

Star Trek Beyond, the highly-anticipated next installment in the globally popular Star Trek franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry and reintroduced by J.J. Abrams in 2009, returns with director Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious franchise) at the helm of this epic voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her intrepid crew. In "Beyond," the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

I was never a huge fan of Star Trek growing up.  Star Wars was pretty much my religion.  I never watched any of the Star Trek shows but did see the movies.  They were not bad but they just always seemed too sci-fi for my tastes.  When JJ Abrams reintroduced Star Trek to movie theaters a few years back with a great, young cast he made me a fan.  I have enjoyed both films that he did and I enjoyed this one alot too.  It had a lot of great actions, great laughs with characters bickering and great visuals throughout - especially the space attack scenes that looked amazing.  It was very well paced and was an enjoyable ride overall.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very fun movie and I continue to be surprised that I can refer to myself as a Star Trek fan now.

Bad Moms

In this new comedy from the grateful husbands and devoted fathers who wrote The Hangover, Amy has a seemingly perfect life - a great marriage, over-achieving kids, beautiful home and a career. However she's over-worked, over-committed and exhausted to the point that she's about to snap.  Fed up, she joins forces with two other over-stressed moms on a quest to liberate themselves from conventional responsibilities – going on a wild, un-mom-like binge of long overdue freedom, fun and self-indulgence – putting them on a collision course with PTA Queen Bee Gwendolyn and her clique of devoted perfect moms.

This movie was hilarious with a heart.  The mom stuff was great and very touching at times but the laughs were off the charts.  The three leads really played their parts to perfection and their chemistry was perfect.  That being said - Kathryn Hahn stole the show.  She was as hilarious of a supporting character in this as Will Ferrell was in Old School and Zach Gallifinakis in The Hangover.  She really was that damn funny.

If you are looking for laughs I absolutely recommend this movie.  It's pretty raunchy at times but really was hilarious.

Lights Out

From producer James Wan (The Conjuring) comes a tale of an unknown terror that lurks in the dark. When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has reemerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger…once the lights go out.

The trailers for this movie were terrifying so I was expecting to pretty much crap myself from this movie.  There definitely were plenty of scary moments.but not as much as I expected.  That's not to say the movie was no good.  It definitely was.  I'm just saying it could have been even scarier.  The good thing though was how simple the story was and how short the running time was.  They didn't waste any time and they didn't have a whole convoluted story.  Always a fan of that.

I would absolutely recommend that fans of horror movies check this out.  It was a great watch but was not as scary as I had thought it would be based on the trailers.

Nerve

Industrious high school senior, Vee Delmonico [Emma Roberts], has had it with living life on the sidelines. When pressured by friends to join the popular online game Nerve, Vee decides to sign up for just one dare in what seems like harmless fun. But as she finds herself caught up in the thrill of the adrenaline-fueled competition partnered with a mysterious stranger [Dave Franco], the game begins to take a sinister turn with increasingly dangerous acts, leading her into a high stakes finale that will determine her entire future.​

This was a decent movie.  It really puts into perspective how screwed up the YouTube generation really is that this could be a legit game/app that would be a HUGE success with everyone's addiction to their five minutes of fame.  The chemistry between the leads was definitely there making the movie watchable for the appreciated short running time.

The movie was a decent watch like I said but I don't know that I would necessarily recommend it.  Watchable doesn't really make it worth time and money.

Alice Through The Looking Glass

Alice Through the Looking Glass reunites the all-star cast from the worldwide blockbuster phenomenon, including: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter along with the voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. We are also introduced to several new characters: Zanik Hightopp (Rhys Ifans), the Mad Hatter’s father and Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen), a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.  Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) has spent the past few years following in her father’s footsteps and sailing the high seas. Upon her return to London, she comes across a magical looking glass and returns to the fantastical realm of Underland and her friends the White Rabbit (Sheen), Absolem (Rickman), the Cheshire Cat (Fry) and the Mad Hatter (Depp), who is not himself. The Hatter has lost his Muchness, so Mirana (Hathaway) sends Alice on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere, a metallic globe inside the chamber of the Grand Clock which powers all time. Returning to the past, she comes across friends – and enemies – at different points in their lives, and embarks on a perilous race to save the Hatter before time runs out.


This movie was very much like the first one.  All scenery but not a lot of substance.  Visually the movie was just as great as the first one, but there just fails to be a big enough hook for you to care.  It feels very much like an unnecessary and forced sequel.   I thought the first one was decent but this one would be just okay or maybe even worse.  It's funny that Alice In Wonderland is the movie that started Disney turning all their animated classics into live action movies but the two Alice movies are probably the worst ones.

I would not recommend people bothering with this movie.  It's really not worth the time or money.  It's sad to see how far Johnny Depp has fallen.

Independence Day: Resurgence

We always knew they were coming back. After Independence Day redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.

Wow!  This movie was off the charts awful.  Like I expected garbage but what I got was like hot steaming garbage that was covered in a massive layer or poop.  It was literally that bad.  I loved Independence Day.  I remember seeing that and it feeling like an event.  You couldn't help but get hooked and enjoy the crazy ride.  This sequel to that is downright insulting and should never have been made.  It had nothing in it that made the first movie awesome except for the pointless returning characters.  But even they were awful because they were just there and pushed on you.  If they were trying to hook the next generation of viewers, those viewers have no idea who these characters are or why what they are saying should be considered funny.  The new characters were even more forced.  Will Smith said no to the movie (Side note - probably should have pulled the plug on this right then and there) so you kill his character off in memorial and have his son be a fighter pilot now?  UGH!!!   A huge part of what made Independence Day a successful movie was because it was us (current world society) verses them.  This movie took place 20 years later - which would make it the current time period we are in but the world had made much more sci-fi related advances and we were fighting them with their technology.  This pretty much caused an immediate disconnect with the audience that was the root of the first one's event feel.  And the ending?  All I will say is that the main action scene at the end was a huge mother alien chasing a school bus full of kids.  Yes.  You read that right.  That was the finale chase.  School bus vs alien.  

I would only recommend people seeing this to take in how god awful it was.  It is easily the worst movie of the year so far and will go down as one of the sequels that absolutely should never have been made.   

Ghostbusters

Thirty years after the original film took the world by storm, Ghostbusters is back and fully rebooted for a new generation. Director Paul Feig combines all the paranormal fighting elements that made the original franchise so beloved with a cast of new characters, played by the funniest actors working today. Get ready to watch them save the world this summer!

It goes without saying that this movie was probably the most scrutinized in advance movie of all time.  Any time that you are "rebooting" one of the most beloved movies of all time you are going to go through that.  Ghostbusters is probably one of my favorite movies of all time and I was beyond skeptical about them being able to pull this off.  I was fine with the all woman cast and I'm actually a huge Melissa McCarthy fan and love Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones on SNL too.  I've never been a big fan of Kristen Wiig so that was lowering my expectations for this alot too.  Regardless - all of the knocking of the movie in advance ended up being wrong as this movie was actually good.  Not great - but good.  It didn't destroy the movie or whatever that they were all women.  I was fine with that.  My only real complaint was that Melissa McCarthy was kind of wasted by playing the straight character.  She could have delivered much bigger laughs in the Bill Murray-ish part as opposed to the Dan Aakroyd one.  And Kristen Wiig was the exact disappointment that I expected.  It was like they both played the Dan Aakroyd part honestly.  Kate McKinnon was easily the best part of the movie and stole every scene she was in.  Leslie Jones was good.  The cameos were all good.  Again - the movie was good.  Not great - but good.  And the bottom line is that this movie is more for the next generation not ours.  My niece who is 10 years old saw this movie with us and watching her reaction to it all was exactly how I remembered reacting to the original one.  She was crazy scared at the ghost like parts but loved the movie overall and was talking so excitedly about it.  That is what Ghostbusters is all about.

Pretty sure that most people are going to see this regardless of my review.  It was a good watch.  The knocking of it ended up being unwarranted.  The women were funny.   It could have been better but it was still enjoyable and the new generation will undoubtedly love this movie.

The Legend Of Tarzan

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.

This was a slightly different take on the traditional Tarzan story.  The raised by apes stuff was all in flashback form with the movie taking place after the whole going back to civilization thing.  He is going back to his roots after adjusting to the world.  That different take along with Christoph Waltz being such a great villain made this movie much more enjoyable than I expected.  I'm not saying this was a great movie or anything.  It was beyond predictable and pretty formula across the board but it wasn't as bad as a movie as critics made it out to be. 

I would somewhat recommend people checking this movie out.  It's not a must watch and there are definitely better options out there.  But it's a pretty good watch and different take on the Tarzan story and nice to see Skarsgard finally get his shot at leading man status.