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Reviews
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
I predict no sequels as this movie remains SOLO
The bad thing about Solo is the villain...there really isn't one, at least consistently. The thing that seems to really driving the film is time, a constant need to beat the clock...and sure Han has a fast ship, but no one is really consistently chasing him. We all race against time, which is why we dont want to watch someone else do it, it's just not that gripping. The cast is good, the characters are there, I liked the throwbacks and the Chewie and Han buddy blossoming... There were some good jokes, some nice Easter eggs, but no clear adversary. They had two or three good candidates, but rather than promoting them front and center, they are relegated to minor character status. I was in the mood for some mindless fun, and the movie is that at least.
If I had one piece of advice for script writers it would be to start with the villain...
BTW Hans military career might have been interesting, but I guess we'll never know.
The film isn't doing that we'll, and I feel bad for the fans and Ron Howard, because the right story could have made this a winner, but I predict no sequels as this movie remains....solo
Deadpool 2 (2018)
Some good laughs, story plays second bannana
There is plenty of action in this movie, but the intent was the dialogue, and the actual story is almost wedged in at places as not to cut one zinger. The first Dead Pool found a much better balance between personality and action than this sequel. The plot is pretty simplistic and sort of reminds me of a simpler version of Looper. I thought James Brolin was really good as Cable, much more personality than Thanos. The real reason I only gave it 7 out of 10, is that the movie tries so hard to go over the top, it was in danger of jumping the shark. Even the opening credits are all about the comedy only. So if you liked Dead Pool, you'll like this movie, but leave the theater wondering how they could do a 3rd film without beginning to either start revamping the same jokes or becoming a parody of itself.
Jason Bourne (2016)
WOW Lots of paid good reviews on here
This film really gets 5 stars from me, I only put 10 stars so it would be included in the obvious paid reviews section. I mean some people claim it is the best in the series? Give me a break. First of all, everyone looks old including Jason himself. Next it is so lazily made, they obviously did not put effort into the story. Its just basically give Bourne a reason to come out of hiding and be Bourne. I liked all the Bourne films, even loved Bourne Legacy and was interested in seeing more Jeremy Remmer as Aaron Cross, but this Jason Bourne movie is so sloppy it has turned me off on future chapters. There are a bunch of small plot avenues this film could have explored in more depth, but instead it just uses cardboard character cutouts and gives them a sign stating "this is my motivation", rather than showing any more of the story off their motivation....ugh
Spectre (2015)
Bond goes backwards
I was really a fan of the Daniel Craig Bond movies until this one. They proceeded to improve with each outing. However, this is a call back to the Tim Dalton, Pierce Brosnan days and here's why. Though all the elements are here to make a dynamic Bond film, the arch nemesis, the cruel henchman, the high stakes, and the fantastic settings, each scene leads to continuous let down after let down. Everyone was just going through the paces in this flick. Daniel Craig gives an underwhelming performance, the writers take the easy way out of every corner, the call back to Bond's glory days are just tossed in without any real ties to the plot. When Bond goes to see Q, he leaves a bit let down, this is the way the viewer feels through the whole film. It was a good idea to try to tie the Daniel Craig series together with this last film, and it was poorly executed. Spectre is supposed to be an "all in" type of term for Bond, and here it could have been interchanged with "Ralph" or "hot dog", its meaningless. Sad to say that its time for another reboot.
Poltergeist (2015)
Wow, worst remake I have ever seen
Just completely awful, everyone involved with this should be ashamed of themselves. There should be a class action suit to return the money this movie made. The only reason to see this movie would be to compare what good film makers do with a script compared to what bad film makers do with a script. I have to fill 10 lines to warn you off of this movie, so I would say that everyone who paid to see this should file a class action lawsuit for the producers to return their money. It was obvious that they saw horror remakes were pulling in some good cash so they went out and tried to find a horror movie to remake and decided on this one. There was one problem, unlike the other horror remakes, the original of this film had good production values, a great cast, and great director. PASS UP THIS FILM
The 'Burbs (1989)
Just found this on Netflix haven't seen it in a while
This movie holds up well even after the social media age. From the first shot showing a zoom in to a neighborhood that could be almost anywhere to the homages to old horror films, famous directors and comedians. The characters are great representatives of those neighbors that are just a bit quirky, but you become friendly with them because they live next to you. When the neighborhood gets a case of stranger danger after a new weird family moves in, a bunch of bored middle class suburbanites take action and hilarity ensues. Tom and the gang are great, and even Carrie Fisher looks good in a post Star Wars appearance.
Good Kill (2014)
Great premise fizzles
What starts out as real strong premise slowly fizzles into a cliché' burned out soldier story. Despite what some of the reviews by users might tell you, it is not an anti-war film. There are plenty of statements about why the war is necessary, and in truth most of the airmen in this movie are fine with their mission until the CIA becomes involved. Ethan Hawke's character is pushed past the breaking point because of this turn, but he is already well on his way before this. Even a passing thought might tell you that drone warfare is actually better because you are able to discriminate your targets better before deciding to attack. It also places the decision to attack higher in the chain of command. So what the movie cheaply does is to add an element where the mission is subjugated by morally wrong orders. It would be much better to have left it a gray area where people could make up their own minds about what is right and what is wrong. If you are going to make this type of film, don't make it easy on the audience. So after the interesting part of the film is ruined, we are left to watch Hawke's character spiral down the typical alcohol abuse-nobody understands- my life sucks story line. Its kind of hard to feel sorry for someone who has a nice house, a beautiful wife, great kids, a cool car, a hot coworker who hits on him, and a job he really doesn't even have to do. We are meant to sympathize with him because he wants to fly real jets, when that's something that most people will never get to do. In the end I think he's pretty selfish, and kind of a jerk for slapping January Jones around when she plays a completely understanding and in love housewife. He even gets out of a DUI, people are so eager to be nice to him. The film would have done much better to focus on the Drone war aspect and to present realistic non CIA bad guy missions then let the audience decide the morality. As I said starts out with great premise but quickly dies when it changes gears.