The Secret Life Of Pets 2

The Secret Life of Pets 2 will follow summer 2016's blockbuster about the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day. Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy will produce the sequel to the comedy that had the best opening ever for an original film, animated or otherwise. "The Secret Life of Pets 2" will see the return of writer Brian Lynch ("Minions") and once again be directed by Chris Renaud ("Despicable Me" series, "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax").

This is pretty much just an extension of the first one.  There were some laughs.  There were some cute characters.  Not really much else to say about it.  I liked the first one but didn't think it was the greatest animated movie like the high quality stuff that has come out.  And I feel pretty much exactly the same about this as that one.

I would still recommend people check this out - especially pet lovers and parents with their kids.

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters

Following the global success of 2014’s “Godzilla” and this year’s “Kong: Skull Island,” comes the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ cinematic MonsterVerse: an epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history. The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

This was very enjoyable for what it was - a summer popcorn monster movie.  I enjoyed it just like the last Godzilla movie but nowhere near as much as Kong: Skull Island.  It's basically the same problem I have with all Godzilla movies.  Why is it that they are never able to film anything Godzilla close up?  Everything is always from far away and with a wide angle type of lens.  In Kong you actually believed that there was a giant ape doing all these things.  They way it was shot made you feel like he was there with the humans in the movie.  I never feel that way in Godzilla movies though and it's always kind of annoyed me.  This movie had that same problem.

I would still recommend anyone interested in these kinds of movies checking this out though.  It is a good summer popcorn movie watch and worth checking out.

Rocketman

Taron Egerton is set to star as Elton John, aka "Rocketman." The film will focus on Elton John’s beginnings, starting when he was a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music and carrying over to when he reached global stardom through his influential and enduring musical partnership with his songwriting collaborator Bernie Taupin. It will be a biopic that looks at the performer’s life past the glitter saturated image we have grown so accustomed to associating with the performer.

This was a tough one to review.  I like Taron Egerton's performance a lot.  I liked how true the movie was to Elton John's life and NOT like the holding back that they did in Bohemian Rhapsody with Freddie Mercury.  I love Elton John's music BUT the playing of it in this movie felt extremely forced.  Like it was a musical that was not fluid at all with the music and that always annoys me.

I would lukewarmly recommend this movie to people.  It's not bad.  It's actually pretty good but the forced music thing held it back from being truly great.

Brightburn

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.

This was an awesome concept, the trailer looked great and the movie absolutely delivered.  I love when a movie goes superhero but on a simple budget like this.  It had you on the edge numerous times.  There was not crazy special effects throughout and the movie was that much more intense and creepy because of it.

I would definitely recommend both scary movie fans and superhero movie fans checking this out because it is a very original take on the whole Superman story.

A Dog's Journey

Audiences are invited along on A Dog’s Journey, the next chapter of the beloved bestselling series by author W. Bruce Cameron. The family film told from the dog’s perspective serves as the much-anticipated follow-up to the soulful story of one devoted dog who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.

This was literally just more of the same from the first movie like this.  Total heartstrings but very cute from beginning to end.  Any animal lover is guaranteed to love this movie and any fan of the first one should obviously check this one out.

I would recommend this to all animal lovers.  It's a very cute family film that plucks every right heartstring along the way.

The Hustle

Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson are nasty women in the big screen update of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." They’ll play variations on the roles originally played by Michael Caine and Steve Martin in the 1988 original. The new version will update the story by putting the focus on two lady cons attempting to get money from a rich tech prodigy.

This movie was massively disappointing.  I am a big fan of both of the leads and the chemistry between them was really good but it was an absolute waste in this movie with zero substance around them whatsoever.  Like nothing.  It was just the two of them and garbage.  Very disappointing.

I would not recommend anyone bother with this.  It is absolutely not worth your time or money.

The Sun Is Also A Star

An adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s novel "The Sun is Also a Star." College-bound romantic Daniel Bae and Jamaica-born pragmatist Natasha Kingsley meet—and fall for each other—over one magical day amidst the fervor and flurry of New York City. Sparks immediately fly between these two strangers, who might never have met had fate not given them a little push. But will fate be enough to take these teens from star-crossed to lucky in love? With just hours left on the clock in what looks to be her last day in the U.S., Natasha is fighting against her family’s deportation as fiercely as she’s fighting her budding feelings for Daniel, who is working just as hard to convince her they are destined to be together. A modern-day story about finding love against all odds, “The Sun Is Also a Star” explores whether our lives are determined by fate or the random events of the universe.

This was a decent "young adult" book adaption about the debate of science verses destiny.  There was a lot of cute romantic moments but unfortunately the movie lacks a true hook that prevents you from forgetting about the movie mostly five minutes after you have finished watching it.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  It's not a bad watch necessarily.  It's just not really that memorable either.

Avengers: Endgame

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.

Wow!  This is one hell of a massive wrap up to the 21 movie story that built up to it.  Like this movie was just an experience.  A massive experience that is so much bigger than seeing a movie.  Especially with the writing layers on top of layers in this movie.  Don't want to spoil anything but they really respect pretty much everything that came before this movie and then move forward effecting anything that will come out in the future.  This ride has truly been amazing.

I would of course absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a truly amazing watch and you really forget that you are sitting there and taking it all in for three hours.

Detective Pikachu

"Detective Pikachu" is the first live-action film based on the globally popular Pokémon franchise and will star Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith ("Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom") and Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies). Smith will star as a teen whose father is kidnapped which leads him to Reynolds’ Pikachu and Kathryn Newton as a young journalist who team up in order to find him.

I was never into Pokémon so I'll be honest here.  I have absolutely no idea what I watched.  It was cool visually and Ryan Reynolds as the voice of a smartass Pikachu was entertaining but I have legit no idea what I just watched.

I'm really not the one who should say yay or nay to this because again I have no Pokémon knowledge whatsoever.  This is one of the only pop culture phenomenons that I was just never able to wrap my head around.

The Curse Of La Llorona

La Llorona. The Weeping Woman. A horrifying apparition, caught between Heaven and Hell, trapped in a terrible fate sealed by her own hand. The mere mention of her name has struck terror around the world for generations. In life, she drowned her children in a jealous rage, throwing herself in the churning river after them as she wept in pain. Now her tears are eternal. They are lethal, and those who hear her death call in the night are doomed. La Llorona creeps in the shadows and preys on the children, desperate to replace her own. As the centuries have passed, her desire has grown more voracious…and her methods more terrifying.  In 1970s Los Angeles, La Llorona is stalking the night—and the children.“Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope to survive La Llorona’s deadly wrath may be a disillusioned priest and the mysticism he practices to keep evil at bay, on the fringes where fear and faith collide. Beware of her chilling wail…she will stop at nothing to lure you into the gloom. Because there is no peace for her anguish. There is no mercy for her soul. And there is no escape from the curse of La Llorona.

This is one of those pretty watered down scary movies.  They had some good sight or moment scares but not really much past that.  The story was decent and had a pretty good build but it was just one of those watered down scary movies that could have been so much better if they really went all in for frights instead of making something for all audiences.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's just background noise and not really worth anyone's time or money.