Baywatch

Baywatch follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Johnson) as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

Not going to sugarcoat this one.  This is a bad, bad movie.  Like really bad.  Disappointingly bad.  That being said - all the critics that are panning it as a horrible tv show to movie adaption are clearly forgetting just how bad of a show Baywatch was.  It technically did a great job of adapting the show.  The problem with this is that they didn't follow the same formula that 21 Jump Street did with not taking itself to seriously.  And I never thought I would say this in my life - but The Rock was the problem.  His banter with Zac Efron was honestly the only thing that kept this movie afloat and those were the scenes where his character wasn't being portrayed to seriously.  But outside of that his seriousness was a dead weight that wouldn't allow the movie to break loose fully comedy wise.  

I am sad to say that I wouldn't really recommend people watching this.  It really was disappointing because the commercials for it were so damn funny.  Sad.

Guardians Of The Galaxy: Volume 2

Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.

Once again, Marvel doesn't make bad movies.  They have once again taken what should be a massive sci-fi specific audience into a blockbuster movie with appeal to all audiences.  It's also one of their funnier movies.  I can't tell you how many times this movie had me belly laughing.  Rocket The Raccoon was just as great in this one as the first one.  Baby Groot was definitely more entertaining than in the first.  But Drax completely stole the show in this one.  Still can't believe how former wrestler Batista is so great in this role.  The only knocks I'll make against it is that the group was not on screen together enough and that Chris Pratt's character had way too much solo screen time.  Can't wait to see these characters on screen with the rest of the Avengers.

This movie is a great way to kick off the summer.  It's a very enjoyable roller coaster ride and is another example of Marvel's excellence.

Alien: Covenant

Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with Alien: Covenant, a new chapter in his groundbreaking "Alien" franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

This is a tough one to review.  Overall - the movie was pretty good.  Good story and the alien stuff was awesome.  Probably the best it's been since Aliens honestly.  The problem - and I never thought I would say this - was Michael Fassbender.  Or I guess his character.  It was like a momentum killer every time he showed up on screen and I can't say much more without giving too much away but it seemed like he was the bad guy and the aliens were just his henchmen as the movie went on.  It was very weird.  

It's not that I didn't like the movie.  I liked the stuff that was alien in nature.  That stuff was awesome.  There was just too many pacing issues with all the Fassbender stuff and all of that was done in a way where it was predictable too.  I would still recommend people check this out.  Just know that this is very much a Prometheus sequel - although not really advertised as one - and your liking of this will depend very heavily on how much you liked that movie.

Everything, Everything

What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face…or kiss the boy next door? Everything, Everything tells the unlikely love story of Maddy, a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who due to an illness cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house, and Olly, the boy next door who won’t let that stop them. Maddy is desperate to experience the much more stimulating outside world, and the promise of her first romance. Gazing through windows and talking only through texts, she and Olly form a deep bond that leads them to risk everything to be together…even if it means losing everything.

Decent watch for a teenage girl movie pretty much.  Basically if you saw the trailer - you saw the movie.  There is a little twist that you kind of see coming regardless but I won't spoil it.  There really is not much more to say about this movie.

I would recommend any females between the age of 12 and 17 check this out.  Outside of that there really is no reason to see this.

King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword

Guy Ritchie brings his dynamic style to the epic fantasy action adventure King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Starring Charlie Hunnam in the title role, the film is an iconoclastic take on the classic Excalibur myth, tracing Arthur’s journey from the streets to the throne. When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern (Jude Law), Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy…whether he likes it or not.

This movie started off very choppy and annoying.  The whole explanation of the father and uncle fighting and what not was way too rushed and had a lot of mage effects that were annoying.  Once it got to where Charlie Hunnam was King Arthur, the movie was actually very enjoyable.  The only times that it fell off again was any time that they went hard into the mage effects again.  It really kind of ruined what could have been an awesome movie and ended up making it and up and down enjoyable movie because the parts with King Arthur and his men with all the bickering really was great.  I have always been a huge fan of Charlie Hunnam and he was perfect in this.

I would recommend people checking this out.  Just be aware that the mage stuff is all kind of eh but everything around that stuff is great.

Snatched

After her boyfriend dumps her on the eve of their exotic vacation, impetuous dreamer Emily Middleton (Amy Schumer) persuades her ultra-cautious mother, Linda (Goldie Hawn) to travel with her to paradise. Polar opposites, Emily and Linda realize that working through their differences as mother and daughter - in unpredictable, hilarious fashion - is the only way to escape the wildly outrageous jungle adventure they have fallen into.

I wanted this to be a hilarious movie where you didn't already see all the funny stuff in the commercials.  But that was really not to be.  The movie was definitely watchable and there were some big laughs.  The chemistry between the leads was great but they really did give away way too much in the commercials.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out.  It's not great.  It's not bad.  It's just sort of good but you really feel like you have already seen the whole movie with the 3 minute trailer.

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

In Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, based on the record-breaking book series, a family road trip to attend Meemaw's 90th birthday party goes hilariously off course--thanks to Greg's newest scheme to (finally!) become famous.  

I read all the books and enjoyed the first couple of movies a lot.  But the recasting of everyone in the movie killed the franchise for me.  Especially Rowley and Rodrick.  It just was not the same at all.  Very sad.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone going to see this.  It's a shame because I really liked the old family/movies.

The Circle

The Circle is a gripping modern thriller, set in the not-too-distant future, starring Emma Watson (Harry Potter films), Tom Hanks (Sully) and John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens). When Mae (Emma Watson) is hired to work for the world's largest and most powerful tech & social media company, she sees it as an opportunity of a lifetime. As she rises through the ranks, she is encouraged by the company's founder, Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks), to engage in a groundbreaking experiment that pushes the boundaries of privacy, ethics and ultimately her personal freedom. Her participation in the experiment, and every decision she makes begin to affect the lives and future of her friends, family and that of humanity.

I don't understand why the reviews for this movie were so bad.  Maybe it was that the reviewers are people that were all in on social media and what not?  I don't take part in any social media at all because of this exact kind of thing shown in this movie.  How pervasive and intrusive it all ends up being.  I thought this was actually a pretty good movie and it felt like an extended and more mainstream episode of a series called Black Mirror - which anyone who has not watched - really should!   I liked the cast and thought Emma Watson continued to show her acting chops with going back and forth on her feelings about The Circle.  

I would recommend people checking this movie out.  It's not a must see by any means but it was nowhere near as bad as the critics had made it out to seem.

Going In Style

Oscar winners Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin team up as lifelong buddies Willie, Joe and Al, who decide to buck retirement and step off the straight-and-narrow for the first time in their lives when their pension fund becomes a corporate casualty, in director Zach Braff’s comedy Going in Style.  Desperate to pay the bills and come through for their loved ones, the three risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to knock off the very bank that absconded with their money.

This is a dime a dozen kind of movie.  If you saw the trailer, you pretty much saw the movie. It's not a bad movie.  It's actually a pretty enjoyable movie with well developed characters and chemistry between them.  It's paced well and definitely leaves you with a feel good feeling.  It's just that there is nothing you dont already know what is going to happen.

I would sort of recommend people watching this.  Not sure it's really worth the time or money even though it's a decent watch.  Maybe wait for free access to it.

Sleight

A young street magician (Jacob Latimore) is left to care for his little sister after their parents' passing and turns to illegal activities to keep a roof over their heads. When he gets in too deep, his sister is kidnapped and he is forced to use his magic and brilliant mind to save her.

The movie was a pretty good idea.  Unfortunately, it was too slowly aced at the start and fell flat before getting to the finish line.  They did a good job of hooking you with the characters but there was little else substance to this movie.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not worth the time or money.

The Boss Baby

DreamWorks Animation and the director of Madagascar invite you to meet a most unusual baby. He wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin, and stars in the animated comedy, DreamWorks' The Boss Baby.  The Boss Baby is a hilariously universal story about how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim. With a sly, heart-filled message about the importance of family, DreamWorks' The Boss Baby is an authentic and broadly appealing original comedy for all ages.

This was a very cute and enjoyable movie.   It was almost exactly what you would expect from seeing the trailer in terms of laughs.  The surprise was that it actually had a really good story in terms of having a teachable moment with your kids about little sisters or brothers.  The voices were good, the movie was paced well and most importantly - the nieces I went with to see it really liked it.  

I would definitely recommend families checking this out.  It's not a top level animated movie like Pixar and most other Dreamworks offerings but it is definitely the type of animated movie where your kids will enjoy it and so will you.  Its definitely not one of those suffer through it for your kids type of movies.

Gifted

Frank Adler (Chris Evans) is a single man raising a child prodigy – his spirited young niece Mary (Mckenna Grace) – in a coastal town in Florida. Frank’s plans for a normal school life for Mary are foiled when the seven-year-old’s mathematical abilities come to the attention of Frank’s formidable mother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) whose plans for her granddaughter threaten to separate Frank and Mary. Octavia Spencer plays Roberta, Frank and Mary’s landlady and best friend. Jenny Slate is Mary’s teacher, Bonnie, a young woman whose concern for her student develops into a connection with her uncle as well.

There are times when blatant heart string movies are insulting with how desperately they attempt to hook your emotions.  And then there are times when they are done just right and even though the movie is beyond predictable and formula, it is an excellent watch.  I felt like Gifted is much more of the latter.  They got me very invested in the story and characters.  They did a great job of showing how family should be even if it wasn't an ideal situation.  

I very much enjoyed this movie and recommend people check it out.  It's a great character drama about doing the right thing and listening to your heart.

Ghost In The Shell

Based on the internationally-acclaimed sci-fi property, Ghost in the Shell follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human-cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology. The film is based on the famous Kodansha Comics manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow.

This movie was excellent visually.  They did an incredible job of taking you into this world and making you feel that you are really there.  The action was great and the chemistry between Johansson and her partner was also very well done.  Unfortunately, the pacing of the story was slow as hell and there were several points throughout where the movie dragged tremendously.  It ended up being one of those hour and 45 minute movies that felt more like 2 1/2 hours.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this movie out.  It was great visually but kind of rough story wise.

Unforgettable

Tessa Connover (Katherine Heigl) is barely coping with the end of her marriage when her ex-husband, David (Geoff Stults), becomes happily engaged to Julia Banks (Rosario Dawson)—not only bringing Julia into the home they once shared but also into the life of their daughter, Lilly (Isabella Rice). Trying to settle into her new role as a wife and a stepmother, Julia believes she has finally met the man of her dreams, the man who can help her put her own troubled past behind her. But Tessa’s jealousy soon takes a pathological turn until she will stop at nothing to turn Julia’s dream into her ultimate nightmare.

This movie's title is  a total lie.  I had forgotten all about the movie by the time I got to the car.  You literally have seen the movie by watching the trailer for it.  There are no surprises or suspense whatsoever.  It's the same tired story of an obsessed ex.  Why do they bother churning these out without trying to put any sort of effort into making it interesting?

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's a huge waste of time and should have been called Beyond Forgettable.

Kong: Skull Island

The producers of Godzilla reimagine the origins of one the most powerful monster myths of all in “Kong: Skull Island.” This compelling, original adventure tells the story of a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers uniting to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong.

If you are a fan of monster movies - this was a very enjoyable watch.  Plenty of excellent action and it was quality.  No gimmicky half showing of things or shaky camera work to compensate for the effects.  The effects were legit and not just quick shots and moving on.  These were pretty extended fights that you can't help but be in awe of.  The characters were not necessarily over developed which also helped make the movie enjoyable because you are really just there for the crazy monster stuff.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this bad boy out.  It was a very fun watch and it looks like the Monsterverse is going to be in full effect moving forward.  This was a great follow up to Godzilla from a few years back.