Halloween Ends

Four years after her last encounter with masked killer Michael Myers, Laurie Strode is living with her granddaughter and trying to finish her memoir. Myers hasn't been seen since, and Laurie finally decides to liberate herself from rage and fear and embrace life. However, when a young man stands accused of murdering a boy that he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that forces Laurie to confront the evil she can't control.

What the hell was this?   They legit just wanted a final battle with Laurie Strode and Michael Myers and tacked on a whole other movie a year later in order to show that scene during the last 15 minutes of the movie.  Everything up to that was beyond pointless, beyond crap and honestly became like comedic material.  I am baffled as to what their plan was here.  Totally baffled.

I would not recommend anyone watch this.  Ever.  This has to be the odds on favorite for worst movie of the year.

Smile

After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

This preview has tormented me for months.  Might be one of the creepiest trailers of all time.   That had my expectations pretty high for this movie and that might have ended up hurting it in the end.  I liked the movie alot but there was too much down time between the crazy intense parts.   Too much fleshing out of a story that could have been explained simpler.

I would still recommend people checking this movie out.  There are some huge jump scares.   Just was not as good as I expected or as I think it could have been.  

Ticket To Paradise

A divorced couple teams up and travels to Bali to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago.

This was a textbook rom-com.  There is nothing about this movie that you didn't know from the trailer.  You saw that and you pretty much saw the movie.  That being said - the chemistry between Clooney and Roberts was very legit and Madde the movie watchable/enjoyable even with how predictable it was in every way.  I wish that there would have been more laugh out loud moments during the movie like the beer pong scene but it was a decent watch regardless.  

I would recommend this to any fan of rom-coms.  It is a decent watch.  Not a must see by any means but enjoyable enough.  

The Woman King

The Woman King is a 2022 American historical epic film about the Agojie, the all-female warrior unit who protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries. Set in the 1820s, the film stars Viola Davis as a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies.

I admittedly did not expect to enjoy this movie as much as I did.  It had great action, very well developed characters and relationships that you grow to care about.  Add that on top of how it was based on a true story and real people and the movie was just that much better.  Kudos to Viola Davis for being so badass and training so much for this.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a really enjoyable watch especially for a September release.

Lyle Lyle Crocodile

When the Primm family moves to New York City, their young son, Josh, struggles to adapt to his new school and friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle, a singing crocodile that loves baths, caviar and great music. The two become fast friends, but when evil neighbor Mr. Grumps threatens Lyle's existence, the Primms must band together to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places.

How is this a thing?   How the hell is Javier Bardem in this!?!?!?!  This movie was basically a massive insult to family movies.   They should be brought up on criminal charges for taking parents' hard earned money.   

This movie is beyond not recommended.  It is honestly criminal.

Amsterdam

Set in the '30s, it follows three friends who witness a murder, become suspects themselves, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.

This was one weird ass movie.  If I would have reviewed this right after watching it I probably would have ranted about how ridiculous it was and all over the place with you watching the whole thing saying what the f am I watching.  But when thinking about it overnight I realize that it was all by design.  It was taking a bunch of very dedicated method actors and putting them in this where you can't help but think a bunch of it is improvised and even though you have no idea where it is going or what is happening at so many points - you are definitely. hooked and invested and at no point entertaining pulling the plug.  Credit where its due that is actually pretty impressive.  

I would strangely recommend people checking this out.  Its a very enjoyable watch with awesome actors even though it is quite random and off the wall.  

Clerks III

Clerks III is a 2022 American comedy film written, produced, directed, and edited by Kevin Smith. It serves as the sequel to the 1994 and 2006 Clerks films.

Listen . . . . . this movie was meant to be nothing more than a full circle kind of nostalgia trip for fans of the original.  That's why it didn't get a legit wide release.   The movie is just as horribly bad as the original was.  But even though the first one was one of the most garbage movies ever made it became a staple and a cult classic for my generation.  There are few movies that I have seen more and there are few movies that I quote or reference more than the original.  This movie was for us and it worked.  It actually worked on an emotional level which was honestly the last thing I expected to experience when seeing this. 

I can't openly recommend people checking it out because A - it's not in theaters because of a limited day release thing and B - its not a good movie.  Again - just like the first one this is not a movie that you recommend based on how well done or acted it is.  But if you know the person will like it then you insist that they will.  I really enjoyed the fan service nostalgia trip.

Don't Worry Darling

In the 1950s, Alice and Jack live in the idealized community of Victory, an experimental company town that houses the men who work on a top-secret project. While the husbands toil away, the wives get to enjoy the beauty, luxury and debauchery of their seemingly perfect paradise. However, when cracks in her idyllic life begin to appear, exposing flashes of something sinister lurking below the surface, Alice can't help but question exactly what she's doing in Victory.

It's a shame that there has been so much behind the scenes drama for this movie kind of tainting it.  The movie is actually a very enjoyable watch in a dystopian world/Stepford Wives kind of way.  Florence Pugh is great and Harry Styles was actually really good too.  They succeeded in taking you to this place where it all felt possible/real.

I would recommend people checking this out.   It is an enjoyable watch and don't let all the drama from behind the scenes effect watching the movie

Bros

Bobby is a neurotic podcast host who's happy to go on Tinder dates and content not to have a serious relationship. That all changes when he meets Aaron, an equally detached lawyer who likes to play the field. Repeatedly drawn to each other, both men begin to show their vulnerable sides as their undeniable attraction turns into something resembling a commitment.

This movie was a decent watch overall.  It started as being very homosexually specific but then hit its groove when it really embraced the Rom Com formula.  The tough thing with this movie is that no matter how accepting you are of LGBTQ community, this is still a targeted watch.  Like heterosexual couples wouldn't see this as their date movie.  Families are not going to go see it.  I like that they put it out there for the targeted audience but it is a very targeted audience watch.

I would recommend this to anyone who is homosexual or is open minded enough to take it for what it is.  It's a decent rom com overall outside of some extreme sexual content.

Pearl

Trapped on her family's isolated farm, Pearl must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Hoping for a more glamorous life, Pearl's ambitions, temptations and repressions all collide to horrific effect.

X was a surprisingly good movie that came out of nowhere and now less than a year later it has a sequel that honestly has an incredibly unnerving creepiness to it the entire time - like even when something necessarily scary is not happening on the screen.   The actress playin Pearl is downright terrifying when she flips that switch and you see it multiple times and it just gets more and more creepy.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  Especially horror fans because there are some nuts scenes and visuals in this.  Very impressive how in less than a year this has turned into one of the better horror "franchises" with a third one already on the way.

Three Thousand Years Of Longing

While attending a conference in Istanbul, Dr. Alithea Binnie happens to encounter a djinn who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. This presents two problems: first, she doubts that he's real, and second, because she's a scholar of story and mythology, she knows all the cautionary tales of wishes gone wrong. The djinn pleads his case by telling her fantastical stories of his past. Eventually, she's beguiled and makes a wish that surprises them both.

This was an incredibly weird watch which you kind of figured from the trailer.  They tried to do a good job of fleshing it out but ultimately this was an incredibly long conversation between the two characters.  Like when you look back that is legit all it was.  LOL!  

I would not really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's ALOT of heavy material on mythology and what not and again - its really just a very long conversation.

Top Gun: Maverick

After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.

Wow!  This movie was awesome in every way.  And for the record, I am not one of those people that thinks the original is one of the best movies ever or puts it up on a pedestal.  I liked it but this one was the old school kind of movie that made me fall in love with going to the movies in the first place.  It was fun, you got connected, you go emotional both sad and massively happy at times.   You were invested in all the characters and the respect paid to the original was just insane.   

I would absolutely recommend everyone checking this one out.  This is a lock for my top ten list at the end of the year and would currently be the best movie of the year so far with ease.

Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.

Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. is a 2022 American comedy film written, directed, and produced by Adamma Ebo, in her feature directorial debut. It is a feature-length adaptation of Ebo's 2018 short film of the same name.

What was this?  Advertised as a comedy.  Felt much more like a drama.  Advertised as a rockumentary.  Felt more like a not interesting documentary.  Regardless a massive waste of the talent involved.  

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.   I couldn't even make it halfway through without turning it off.

Nope

Caretakers at a California horse ranch encounter a mysterious force that affects human and animal behaviour.

This was a tough one.  I'm a huge fan of Jorden Peele and LOVED Get Out and Us.  Visually - this movie had a lot of his similar direction and was great.  Unfortunately, that was the only real hook I felt by this movie.  Outside of that it was just a lot of build up to something that just didn't pay off.  On top of that one of the best parts of the movie was this flashback thing that I couldn't wait to see how it connected . . . . . . and it never really did.  

I wouldn't recommend people checking this one out.  It was very disappointing.  Hopefully it is just a misfire and Peele can get back on track with his next one. 

The Invitation

After the death of her mother and having no other known relatives, Evie takes a DNA test and discovers a long-lost cousin she never knew she had. Invited by her newfound family to a lavish wedding in the English countryside, Evie's at first seduced by the sexy aristocratic host. However, she's soon thrust into a nightmare of survival as she uncovers twisted secrets about her family history and the unsettling intentions behind their sinful generosity.

This movie made no sense.  They pretty much gave away the payoff or the curve of the movie during the trailer.  They then took like a hour and 20 minutes to get to said payoff . . . . . . and then the movie ends like 15-20 minutes later.  Like what the hell is that?  How was this a feature film.   Total waste of time.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It was your textbook August/September horror movie release. 

Breaking

Desperate for money and running out of options, Marine veteran Brian Brown-Easley holds several people hostage inside a bank, setting the stage for a tense confrontation with police.

This movie was a good watch with great acting across the board.   The only issue I had was that it was so beyond formula.   Like you knew exactly everything that was gonna happen the second the movie started going.  Still though - the performances made it good regardless.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It is a good watch although incredibly predictable.  Not a must see by any means but also not a bad movie.

Bullet Train

Ladybug is an unlucky assassin who's determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs has gone off the rails.

This movie was an incredibly simple concept that played out awesomely.  Throw a bunch of assassins on a fast train, mix in a ton of over the top violence and a bunch of witty banter and just enjoy an incredibly fun ride.  There really isn't anything else to say about that because that mixture worked so well and was done so right.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  Is it over the top?  Of course it is.  Is it believable?  Of course its not.  Is it the most fun you will have at theaters this summer outside of Top Gun 2?  Yes it most definitely is.  

Bodies Bodies Bodies

When a group of 20-somethings gets stuck at a remote mansion during a hurricane, a party game gone very, very wrong ends with a dead body on the ground and fake friends at every turn as they try to find the killer among them.

This movie was much much better than it had any business being.  I went into it with pretty much zero expectations but was very surprised that I didn't find myself trashing or making fun of it at all.  I wouldn't say that the movie was remotely scary but it an enjoyable suspense movie with the current generation getting highlighted in a bunch of different ways.

I would actually recommend people checking this out.  I'm shocked but it really was a pretty enjoyable watch.

Easter Sunday

A man returns home to celebrate Easter with his riotous, bickering, eating, drinking, laughing, loving family.

This movie is about as formula as could be.  It honestly played out like more of a sitcom then a legit movie.  Had some laughs but it was all very forced overall.  

I wouldn't really recommend that anyone bother with this.  The movie is the perfect example of just kind of being there and forgettable the second its over. 

Fall

For best friends Becky and Hunter, life is all about conquering fears and pushing limits. However, after they climb 2,000 feet to the top of a remote, abandoned radio tower, they find themselves stranded with no way down. Now, their expert climbing skills are put to the ultimate test as they desperately fight to survive the elements, a lack of supplies, and vertigo-inducing heights.

This movie is pretty much exactly what you thought it would be from the trailer.  It's mostly a one trick pony of a movie with the whole fear of heights thing.  There are some really incredible shots that definitely make you kind of tighten up stress wise and it honestly wasn't as dragging as I thought it would be.   

I would somewhat recommend this movie.  It's not a must watch by any means but was a decent and simple watch if you have the time.

Beast

Recently widowed Dr. Nate Daniels and his two teenage daughters travel to a South African game reserve managed by Martin Battles, an old family friend and wildlife biologist. However, what begins as a journey of healing soon turns into a fearsome fight for survival when a lion, a survivor of bloodthirsty poachers, begins stalking them.

This movie is exactly what you would think it would be.   Short movie about a Cujo version of a lion that keeps attacking family trapped out in the safari.  Couple of jump scares.  Couple of violent cuts.  Roll the credits.  Just a very simple and enjoyable popcorn movie that didn't run too long.  

I would recommend people checking this out.  It was a decent enough watch.  Not a must see by any means but a decent watch.

Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank

A down-on-his-luck hound finds himself in a town full of cats who need a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain's evil plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant trainer, the underdog must assume the role of fearsome samurai and team up with the felines to save the day. The only problem is -- they all hate dogs.

Contrary to what the trailer made you think - this was an animated movie that was pretty much just for kids.  Was excited to see a Dreamworks animation type of movie and this was very much not that.  The characters were pretty disappointed and honestly the movie dragged . . . . . . alot.

I would not really recommend anyone bothering with this.   Not worth the time and certainly not worth the money.

League Of Super Pets

Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime side by side in Metropolis. However, when the Man of Steel and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped, Krypto must convince a ragtag group of animals to master their own newfound powers for a rescue mission.

This was a fun animated movie for all ages.  The kids will obviously like it and the adults that take them end up laughing just as much.  They did a great job of making fun of comic book movies and characters in little ways to create plenty of laughs.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  Especially families.  It's a fun trip to the movies for this movie.

Thor: Love And Thunder

Thor embarks on a journey unlike anything he's ever faced -- a quest for inner peace. However, his retirement gets interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods.

This is a tough one to review.  I actually sat on it for three days.  My love for Marvel movies is well documented so I was struggling with if I was just accepting this movie because it was Marvel or if I did actually like it while not loving it.  After thinking about it I think its more of the second part.  There was still plenty to like about this movie.  Christian Bale was awesome.  Korg is still one of my favorite MCU characters.  Natalie Portman was probably the best she has been so far as Jane Foster.  And there were plenty of laughs and silliness similar to Thor: Ragnarok.  The problem is that there was too much silliness and there is a part of my brain that massively struggles with Thor being like the Benny Hill of the MCU.  I mean he is Thor.  The sarcastic comments and great timing of delivery is top notch but the slapstick kind of stuff just hits me as off.   That is not to say that the movie was bad or that I didn't like it.  I definitely did but like I said I expected to love it and there were a lot of points that I was watching it with a confused dog face because of how slapstick silly it was.  

I would obviously still recommend people checking this movie out.  It's definitely an entertaining watch even with the "offness" in it.  Will this be ranked in the upper half of Marvel movies?  No.  But it will also not be at the bottom of said rankings either. 

Vengeance

A journalist and podcaster travels from New York City to Texas to investigate the death of a woman whom he hooked up with.

This was a very simple independent film.   Take the craziness of online dating and turn it into a fish out of water story with a guy going from busy city life to small town Texas life and let it play out just like you think it would.   Add in that its a developing mystery podcast being told and you get some pretty decent laughs.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by any means but it is a decent watch if you decide to do so.

Elvis

From his rise to fame to his unprecedented superstardom, rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley maintains a complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker, over the course of 20 years. Central to Presley's journey and happiness is one of the most influential people in his life -- Priscilla.

Always been a big fan of Baz Luhrman movies and this one was no different.  His very specific filming style meshed very well with the story of Elvis and his manager.  The actor playing Elvis was incredible and although the fat neck makeup of Tom Hanks was annoying as hell he did a great job of playing someone you didn't like for what felt like the first time ever.

I would definitely recommend people checking this one out.  It was a very enjoyable watch even though it was close to three hours long.

Lightyear

Legendary space ranger Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure alongside ambitious recruits Izzy, Mo, Darby, and his robot companion, Sox.

This was a great set up.  Making it that this was the movie that Andy saw that made him want the Buzz Lightyear toy was such a simple but awesome launching point.  The characters were all great - especially Sox, who stole every scene it was in.  The story was a little overcomplicated with the time travel and what not but you are able to let go of it because Pixar is just so good at what they do.  

I would absolutely recommend everyone checking this out.  It's a very fun ride and a great family watch like only Disney/Pixar can do. 

Where The Crawdads Sing

Abandoned as a girl, Kya raised herself in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. For years, rumors of the marsh girl haunted Barkley Cove, isolating the sharp and resilient Kya from her community. Drawn to two young men from town, she opens herself to a new and startling world.

This movie was a decent story that you can definitely invest in but the pacing was kind of brutal and there was no way that this should have been two hours long.  Trim a half hour off of this and you have an excellent young adult novel based movie but it just plodded along way too much.

I would not really recommend anyone rushing to see this.  Its a decent story that is dragged out and loses its emotional hooks along the way. 

Minions: The Rise Of Gru

In the 1970s, young Gru tries to join a group of supervillains called the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader -- the legendary fighter Wild Knuckles. When the interview turns disastrous, Gru and his Minions go on the run with the Vicious 6 hot on their tails. Luckily, he finds an unlikely source for guidance -- Wild Knuckles himself -- and soon discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.

I have been a massive fan of the Minions since day one.  They do not get old to me at all.  That being said - this back and forth that they do between the current time based Despicable Me franchise and the prequel franchise of the Minions is so well balanced/done.   You end up loving the current adventures but also loving the backstory of how they all came to be because they do a really good job continuity wise for an animation franchise.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.   It was a very fun continuation of the backstory to these lovable characters.

Jurassic World: Dominion

The future of mankind hangs in the balance as humans and dinosaurs coexist following the destruction of Isla Nublar.

Ugh.  Just plain ugh.  This franchise has totally gone the way of the Transformers franchise.  The second Jurassic World was very cringey and then this one was off the charts.  The massive overacting, the way too long run time, the creation and forcing of new characters that we have not known from the previous 5 entries, and that damn hand thing to an oncoming dinosaur was just painful at times.  I went into this with super low expectations and it definitely met them.  Even the nostalgia stuff pretty much fell flat.  If it wasn't for making fun of a lot of the movie I probably would have left.  

I don't think my recommendation really matters at all.  People are gonna see this regardless but I definitely am happy that this franchise is allegedly closing its doors.

The Black Phone

Finney Shaw is a shy but clever 13-year-old boy who's being held in a soundproof basement by a sadistic, masked killer. When a disconnected phone on the wall starts to ring, he soon discovers that he can hear the voices of the murderer's previous victims -- and they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn't happen to Finney.

This movie was awesome.  I had a hunch from the trailer - which terrified the hell out of me but the movie wasn't just another horror movie with a good premise that doesn't deliver.  Even with some supernatural elements involved this movie was very grounded in fear or those things that were pushed on all of us as a child.  Ethan Hawke killed it as The Grabber and I was very happy that even thought I jumped out of my chair several times that it didn't mess me up so much that I couldn't sleep that night.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was an awesome watch all around and very well done.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove that he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns with a new partner, Knuckles, in search of a mystical emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

This was pretty much more of the same from the first one.  They didn't change anything that worked.  They perfectly introduced new characters from the video game series and they continued the story.  My only knock would be that there was no reason for this movie to be two hours long but any extra time seeing Jim Carrey be the Jim Carrey of old shouldn't be questioned.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It's entertaining family time for the kids and the adults.

Crimes Of The Future

As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. Accompanied by his partner, celebrity performance artist Saul Tenser showcases the metamorphosis of his organs. Meanwhile, a mysterious group tries to use Saul's notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.

What the hell was this?  I tried.  I really did.  I made it about halfway through but this shit was so weird that I just couldn't keep watching and pulled the plug.  

I wish anyone the best of luck that wants to finish this.  Incredibly strange watch that doesn't do a good enough job of hooking the viewer.  Or at least this viewer. 

Men

In the aftermath of a personal tragedy, Harper retreats alone to the beautiful English countryside, hoping to find a place to heal. However, someone or something from the surrounding woods appears to be stalking her. What begins as simmering dread soon becomes a fully formed nightmare, inhabited by her darkest memories and fears.

What the hell was this?  This is another one of those movies that looks intriguing based off of the trailer and gets great reviews for its originality and creativity and blah blah blah but you sit down to watch it and from start to finish find yourself asking what the hell is this.   This movie was very artistic and very weird. I guess I could see how it was good from a filmmaking standpoint but I honestly thought it was just trash.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It was a weird waste of time that you will forget pretty soon after getting off the weirdness annoyance. 

Doctor Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness

Dr Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens a portal to the multiverse. However, a threat emerges that may be too big for his team to handle.

Marvel never fails.  It's like a given.  They are so good at storytelling and interweaving all the stories together.  This movie served as an awesome sequel to Doctor Strange and Wandavision while capitalizing on things started in Loki and the last Spider-Man movie.  The pacing was great.  The action was so intense that at times it felt like a legit horror movie with a couple of massive sight scares.  The cameos were not as crazy as expected but awesome.   No spoilers but they made me so beyond happy with a casting choice I had wanted to see forever.  

I would of course recommend everyone checking this out.  I will definitely be seeing this a couple more times in theaters. 

The Lost City

Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city's lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her.

This was a total throwback romantic action comedy.   It was formula in every possible way but it didn't matter.  The chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum was perfect.  Sandra Bullock's physical comedy was priceless yet again.  Even Daniel Radcliffe's overacting as the villain was very enjoyable.  The movie was just a lot of fun with a bunch of huge laughs.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a very fun watch and just a good time while turning your brain off and enjoying the ride.