Bumblebee

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.

I swore off on seeing any more Transformers movies in theaters after walking out of the last one.  Well this one showed up online so I decided to check it out.  It was not great, but it was definitely better than all of the Transformers sequels by far.  It wasn't as annoyingly over the top with effects like them and gave you a backstory.  The problem was that a lot of the backstory you already knew as the viewer.  Like Bumblebee communicating via the radio.  Like when that was a revelation it was like um . . . . yeah.

I would sort of recommend this movie but honestly just because it wasn't as bad as the other Transformers sequels.  Transformers is still one of my favorite movies ever but its just been so bad every movie since then.   This was a welcome much less painful option.  But again not great.  Just watchable.

The Mule

In The Mule, Clint Eastwood stars as Earl Stone, a man in his 80s who is broke, alone, and facing foreclosure of his business when he is offered a job that simply requires him to drive. Easy enough but, unbeknownst to Earl, he’s just signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel. He does well—so well, in fact, that his cargo increases exponentially, and Earl is assigned a handler. But he isn’t the only one keeping tabs on Earl; the mysterious new drug mule has also hit the radar of hard-charging DEA agent Colin Bates. And even as his money problems become a thing of the past, Earl’s past mistakes start to weigh heavily on him, and it’s uncertain if he’ll have time to right those wrongs before law enforcement, or the cartel’s enforcers, catch up to him.

Clint Eastwood continued his streak of his movies being so much better when he is in them and directing them at the same time.  This was a great story that was well paced and you totally connect with the character and his reasoning.  And you totally get caught up in the building tension and not wanting Earl to get caught.

This was an excellent movie across the board.  Not sure why I didn't hear more awards buzz about this movie because I'm pretty sure that this will end up on my top ten list at the end of the year.

Vice

The project reunites award-winning director and co-writer Adam McKay with Christian Bale and Steve Carell, as well as Amy Adams. Bale will be headlining as former Vice President Dick Cheney, with Adams as his wife Lynne Cheney, Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush, Carell as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Tyler Perry as Colin Powell, and Bill Pullman as former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. Cheney is regarded as one of the most powerful and influential U.S. Vice Presidents in history, having served under (and, as many regard, OVER) George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. The former Halliburton chairman/CEO — who also served in the Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush administrations — was a hawkish proponent of the War on Terror and the Iraq War, and eventually left office with a 13% approval rating.

I am at a total loss of how to review this movie.  I'm not really a political or history kind of guy so was not interested from that standpoint.  The filming style was weird as hell and I found it pretty annoying throughout.  I also could not remotely tell if this was supposed to be a drama or a comedy throughout the movie and that annoyed the hell out of me too.  I just really was not a fan in any way of this movie.

I wouldn't recommend anyone checking this out but this is one of those things where I'm probably not the best reference because of me not caring at all about politics or history.  So you should probably check out some other reviews.

Aquaman

An icon for over 70 years, Aquaman is the King of the Seven Seas. This reluctant ruler of Atlantis, caught between a surface world constantly ravaging the sea and Atlanteans looking to lash out in revolt, is committed to protecting the entire globe.

I seriously hate DC Cinematic Universe so much.  Like its my biggest ranting trigger ever.  I will never understand how they churn out such garbage and refuse to follow the Marvel model that is 20 films in and has yet to churn out a single subpar movie.  Aquaman was always one of my favorites.  And honestly - how can you not enjoy Jason Momoa.  The dude is just awesome and charismatic as hell.  But they literally just had that.  Everything else was corny as hell.  The CGI was WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY too much.  The dialogue and jokes were cheesy as hell.  The movie was crazy too long.  And it gave ZERO hope for DC Universe moving forward.

I'm sure everyone will see this regardless but I wouldn't recommend it.  It's just like other DC Comics movies that I will probably never watch again because of my annoyance levels when watching it this one time.   I will just never understand how they can screw these up so bad.

Second Act

Second Act is a comedy in the vein of "Working Girl" and "Maid In Manhattan." Jennifer Lopez stars as Maya, a 40-year-old woman struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams. Until, that is, she gets the chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts, and that it is never too late for a Second Act.

Never in a million years did I imagine that I would enjoy this movie as much as I did.  I totally expected a run of the mill formula and predictable movie.  And honestly for the most part - it absolutely was exactly that.  However, the chemistry between all the actors really made this movie a lot of fun.  You get hooked by the relationships.  There are plenty of laughs - especially from Leah Remini as the best friend and how she talks to her kids.

I would actually recommend people checking this out.  Again - never expected to be saying that after seeing this but this was a very, very enjoyable comedy even though you know exactly how its all going to play out from the start.

If Beale Street Could Talk

Based on the novel by James Baldwin, If Beale Street Could Talk is the story of Tish, a newly-engaged Harlem woman who races against the clock to prove her lover’s innocence while carrying their first-born child. It is a celebration of love told through the story of a young couple, their families and their lives, trying to bring about justice through love, for love and the promise of the American dream.

I was a little bit sketchy about seeing this movie because it was from the guy that did Moonlight.  So I totally expected one of those movies that you know is a good movie but is boring as hell.  I was pleasantly surprised though.  This movie was actually really good and did a great job of showing the effects of what was going on through several different sets of eyes and ages.

I would recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by any means but it is a very well acted and scripted movie.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind "The Lego Movie" bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe, with a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.. Jake Johnson is Peter Parker, Shameik Moore will voice Miles Morales, and Liev Schreiber will voice a mystery villain. Cage will voice Spider-Man Noir, an alternate Spider-Man from the 1930s. Kimiko Glenn as SP//dr aka Peni Parker; John Mulaney as Spider-Ham.

I am shocked at how much I enjoyed this movie.  I figured it was a throwaway animated movie that was coming out during a down time as sort of a money grab.  Not the case at all.  This was better than most live action comic book movies (especially from DC) and showed along with Teen Titans Go To The Movies earlier this year how cartoon comic book movies can still be an awesome watch.   Loved the story told here and how well it worked across the board.

I would definitely recommend people checking this bad boy out.  It was a very enjoyable watch and a very pleasant surprise.

Mary Poppins Returns

In Disney's Mary Poppins Returns, an all new sequel with a fresh sensibility that celebrates the spirit of the original, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light -- and life -- to the streets of London.

This was a very decent watch.   The music was good.  Emily Blunt was great as Mary Poppins.  It will easily be the family film of the holidays this year.  The only problem is that there isn't much else to say about it.  It's not amazing.  It's not a must see.  It's not bad at all.  It's just kind of there and a redo of sorts of the first Mary Poppins.  

I would still recommend anyone with kids check this out - just like the first one.  It is an awesome family movie that drives home lots of points.  But honestly - it doesn't massively stick with you or anything outside of how good Emily Blunt is which is pretty much accurate for anything she does.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Holy crap they crammed a lot of stuff into this movie.  I had a headache after watching it trying to keep up with everything.  The special effects were great.  The casting was still great.  The story moved along well and had lots of twists and turns but I definitely think that they tried to do too much.  They should have held back a little because it was definitely difficult to process all of the info that you were being given.

I would still recommend that fans of the franchise obviously check this out still.  It is a very good watch and I think I actually liked it more than the first but they definitely put too much info into it and made the movie too convoluted overall.

Mortal Engines

Hundreds of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, a mysterious young woman, Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), emerges as the only one who can stop London — now a giant, predator city on wheels — from devouring everything in its path. Feral, and fiercely driven by the memory of her mother, Hester joins forces with Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan), an outcast from London, along with Anna Fang (Jihae), a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head.

Very surprised at how much I was able to enjoy this movie.  I thought it would just be an overdone fantasy movie with great visuals and at its core - it definitely was that, but it was also very watchable from beginning to end.  There was good enough action and the story progressed well enough that at no point did the movie get bloated and blah.  I was very surprised.

I would actually recommend people checking this out.  It is not must see by any means but it definitely is a better than average watch that can be enjoyed.

Green Book

When Tony Lip (Mortensen), an Italian-American bouncer with a seventh-grade education, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class African-American pianist on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on the “Negro Motorist Green Book” to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for Blacks. Confronted with racism, danger—as well as unexpected humanity and humor—they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime.

This was an excellent movie that told so many excellent stories from different viewpoints.   The chemistry between the two leads was perfect and so believable.  I see this movie being nominated for a TON of awards come the end of the year and it massively deserves all the accolades it has coming.

I would absolutely recommend people check this movie out.  It's pretty much a must see and will certainly make my top ten list at the end of the year.  Probably in the top 5 at a minimum.

Creed II

Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

This movie was pretty much a replica of Rocky IV.  If you liked Rocky IV (my favorite Rocky movie) then you are sure to love this one too.  The performances were all great.  The pacing was great.  The boxing was awesome.   I really enjoyed it.  Might have  even liked it more than the first Creed in all honesty.   Again - its based on my previous favorite of the franchise.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is a very enjoyable watch even if you know damn well how it is all going to play out.

Instant Family

When a couple decides to start a family, they are inspired to pursue adoption through the foster care system. They feel like wonderful, altruistic people until they suddenly have three wild kids in their home. Now they must learn to love and parent children who have no interest in being parented in this heartwarming comedy.

Wow!   I really enjoyed this movie a lot.  It was just as predictable and formula as you would think from the commercial but the on screen chemistry between the two leads and the kids was very good and there were ALOT of big and unexpected laughs throughout the movie that kept everything fresh.
I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It really was a perfect family friendly movie.

The Favourite

The Favourite is a bawdy, acerbic tale of royal intrigue, passion, envy and betrayal in the court of Queen Anne in early 18th century England. At the center of the story is the Queen herself (Olivia Colman), whose relationship with her confidante, adviser and clandestine lover Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz) is turned upside down by the arrival of the Duchess’s younger cousin Abigail (Emma Stone). Soon the balance of power shifts between the women as they jockey for influence with the Queen and the court.

These movies are just not my thing.  I always try.  Especially when they get the crazy buzz around award season.   But it is extremely rare that I am able to give a positive review to these period pieces.  I know that the movies are well done and this one was.  I know that the acting is top notch and it definitely was in this one.  But I just can't really get into them no matter how hard I try.

I wouldn't really recommend peeps checking this out but my opinion again is pretty biased with these movies.  If you are into period pieces like this - I am pretty sure you will like this one.  If you don't like me - this one will not sway you.

Mary, Queen Of Scots

Mary, Queen of Scots explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart. Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth 1. Each young Queen beholds her “sister” in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence. Determined to rule as much more than a figurehead, Mary asserts her claim to the English throne, threatening Elizabeth’s sovereignty. Betrayal, rebellion, and conspiracies within each court imperil both thrones – and change the course of history.

Like I said recently with my thoughts on The Favourite.   These period piece movies are just not my thing.  I just have such a mental block that I can't get past all the pomp and circumstance stuff to really enjoy the movie unless the movie is knock it out of the park great.   This one came pretty close and it was because of the acting of the two leads.  They really did an awesome job and kept me interested in the historical development of their roles and the connection between the two.  The pacing and story were told very well too.

I would recommend that people check this out.  Again - these are not really my kind of movie but this one was definitely done well enough with great acting in order to keep me hooked.  So I would give it the nod.