Alien at the Movies

Disney magic brings us an animated version of animal utopia where predators & prey have learned to peacefully cohabit until mammals go missing & fear drives species apart. It's a buddy cop film where a clever ambitious bunny, Judy Hops, tries to break stereotypes & leave the farm to become a police officer in the big city. As a rookie cop she encounters & coerces assistance from a sly fox con man, Nick Wilde, in her hunt to solve her case & save her job. Issues of bullying, stereotyping, drugs, & kidnapping are explored while poking fun of civil servants & "The Godfather". It's is hilarious fun with human/animal behavior humor made for adults & kids, but parents beware of the sense of peril if you have little ones who may be easily frightened. Sight jokes continue to run during the credits.

Alien gives it 3 ½ "night howlers" stars out of 4.

London Has Fallen

The movie begins with an innocent wife dying and President Asher (Aaron Eckhart) & secret service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) exercising together; then all hell breaks out & threatens the life of the President while Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) is stuck in the war room with a bunch of generals waiting for Banning to save the day & scream "RPG". Wait, isn't that the same plot as "Olympus Has Fallen"? Well, yippie-kai-yay, cowboy! Audiences won't care because the wild crazy action is ramped way up with a change of venue. This time, they are blowing up & shooting up London. The film isn't realistic but fun to watch this super human secret service agent beat up on the bad guys in symbolic patriotic act of revenge against today's world terrorists. It's a nonstop heart pounding thrill ride with extreme violence & f-bombs dropped as much as the ones destroying London's landmarks.

Alien gives it 3 "live stream execution" stars out of 4.

It's "Cleopatra" meets "Clash of the Titans" meets "300" when gods battle to rule Egypt. Don't worry if you are unfamiliar with Egyptian mythology because the film starts out with a quick introduction of Osiris ruler of the Nile valley, his son Horus, his brother Set (Gerard Butler) ruler of the desert and his father Ra (Geoffrey Rush). Driven by love, a mortal must team up with a god to rescue his girl & prevent the world from being thrown into chaos. The special effects have a Ray Harryhausen's "Jason & the Argonauts" feel but are over produced & supercharged by today's high tech CGI methods. The visuals are stunning in this journey featuring: a huge battle between good & evil; an exploration of life, death, & the afterlife; and a love story. The film focuses more on glitter & glamor than following the true Egyptian lore or even attempting to cast any actual Egyptians. However, it's still fun & entertaining to watch.

Alien gives it 3 "riddle of the Sphinx" stars out of 4.

This film is a dark gritty cops & robbers drama involving a bank heist, dirty cops, the Russian mafia, Homeland Security, gangbangers, and some brutal violence. Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Aaron Paul, Chiwetel Ejiofor, & Woody Harrelson are featured. Gal Godot only has a bit part but Kate Winslet is amazing in a role almost unrecognizable. The plot is confusingly unclear in the beginning as you try to figure out who is who & how they are connected. However, the big action scenes will grab your attention & certain shocking moments will leave you with an indelible image. In the end, will justice be served?

Alien gives it 3 "officer down" stars out of 4.

This is not a sneak preview. This film has already released. 

With it's double edge meaning title, this movie is "42" meets "Eddie the Eagle" as the Jesse Owens story unfolds and climaxes at Hitler's controversial 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. This true life story feels tailor made for a big screen drama with a poor minority student facing discrimination at home & deciding whether to participate abroad in the biggest worldwide sporting event that may be tainted by the Nazi regime. There are no outcome surprises here because it is all part of recorded history. But it is a fascinating personal story of a man facing great pressures involving discrimination, world politics, & the Olympic spirit. There is also the terrific stories of the Ohio State coach Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis), Avery Brundage's (Jeremy Irons) anti-boycott struggle, and the German film crew's efforts to capture history being made. Whether the personal details portrayed are totally accurately is immaterial because the film captures the essence & spirit of the man and the times to effectively characterize a true American hero in this crucial moment in history. Summaries of the key players play at the end.

Alien gives it 3 ½ "Gold Medal Winner" stars out of 4.

This is not a sneak preview. This film has already released.

Banished from the pilgrim plantation, a very religious family settles on the edge of the woods when strange events begin to befall them. Is their farm cursed, do demonic beings haunt the family, has someone made a deal with the devil, or is this Paranormal Activities: Plymouth Rock? This period film is well made & feels so authentic that you may wish you had brushed up on your Old English to fully understand the pilgrim speak. Missing people, crop and livestock problems, mischievous kids, scary medical cures, and family squabbles set an uneasy mood as the audience tries to make sense of the events. Expect some nudity & blood spilling as the mysteries unfold very slowly. Some may or may not like the ending but is it a setup for a sequel?

Alien gives it 2 ½ "witch hunt" stars out of 4.

This is not a sneak preview. This film has already released.

A girl (Dakota Johnson) on a "break" from her boyfriend runs to New York to discover who she really is. Her coworker (Rebel Wilson) tries to educate her on how to play the single girl in the big city. Leslie Mann is hilarious as the single doctor/older sister whose biological clock is ticking. Rebel is her typical riotous raunchy self. Dakota is looking for her Mr. Grey. This funny romantic comedy is about dating, boy/girl relationships, and the complexities of love.

Alien gives it 3 "checking it off your bucket list" stars out of 4.

This film is not a sneak preview. This film has already released.

A Montana girl gets more than she bargained for when she accepts a babysitting job from a peculiar elderly couple in the UK. It seems that her job is to care for a porcelain doll. This well made film has an unknown cast but stars a beautiful mansion with mysterious noises & strange occurrences. The film plays like a spooky supernatural thriller. There is a scared pretty girl, a handsome grocery boy, an odd couple, secrets from the past, a creepy doll & house, and a stormy night.  Is the the doll possessed? Is the house haunted? Is the girl mentally unstable or does she drink too much red wine? Or is there a reasonable explanation for the "things that go bump in the night"? It's entertaining but not necessarily what everyone is looking for.

Alien gives it 2 ½ "follow the rules" stars out of 4.

Does Twentieth Century Fox step it up a notch with their latest unconventional Marvel superhero movie with a "R" rating or is it a desperate move to catch up with the Disney/Marvel juggernaut? Maybe, it is a little of both. Deadpool is a lesser known Marvel character but has a strong cult-like fan base. First introduced in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine"(Ryan Reynolds in both films), but this time the "Merc with a Mouth" has his lips unstitched to unleash some of the most outrageous lines & references. Unencumbered by the "PG-13" constraints, this over-the-top film pushes the usual expected boundaries to new limits. It is a revenge/save the damsel in distress/love story with a combination of high speed & super slo-mo intense action & violence interlaced with hysterical lines you'd never expect to be heard from a superhero. Two X-Men characters, Colossus & Negasonic Teenage Warhead, are introduced. Deadpool narrates & talks directly to the audience throughout the movie. Deadpool is really an anti-hero in a film that pokes fun at its own genre.  Don't be surprised at the language, nudity, violence targeting an adult audience & not toned down for the younger crowd. Look for Stan Lee in another iconic cameo. If you stay until the end of the credits, you'll hear some parting words from Deadpool. This February 4, 2016 review is being suspended for a later time at the request of the studio. Apparently, the studio claims there will be 2 teasers clips at the end of the final theatrical release version.

Alien gives it 3 "regenerating degenerate" stars out of 4.

Nicholas Sparks brings another of his cookie cutter romance novels to the big screen. A guy, a girl, a love triangle, a water scene with a flock of birds, a hospital, a moment in the rain, a budding romance, a tragic event. What else do you need to know? Yes, his stories are fairly predictable but true romantics go to see if they can connect & share the emotional ride he plans for his characters. A charming country boy veterinarian (Benjamin Walker) competes with a handsome rich doctor (Tom Welling) for the affections of a pretty intern (Teresa Palmer) with a dog. It's also "Meet the Parents" related to this love triangle. Look for a little side romance for a supporting character. If you like the main characters, you'll probably like the film.

Alien gives it 3 "a basket of puppies" stars out of 4.

The Coen brothers are at again with their latest quirky offbeat comedy poking fun of Busby Berkeley geometrically choreographed productions, Roy Rogers/Gene Autry singing cowboy westerns, Fred Astaire dance numbers, and Esther Williams swim related films. If you don't recognize those names, maybe this isn't the film for you. Josh Brolin plays a Hollywood film industry "fixer" who covers up any sandals involving their big box office draw stars. While filming a picture about a Roman tribune meeting Jesus Christ (Joseph Fiennes' role in the soon to be released "Risen"), their star (George Clooney) is kidnapped & held for ransom by a mystery group claiming to be the Future. Toss in some religious leaders, some communist screenwriters, hush money, a chain smoking film editor, & a Hedda Hopper/Dear Abby/Dear Abigail gossip columnist dual role by Tilda Swinton into the mix. Ralph Fiennes, Tatum Channing, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, & Frances McDormand have small supporting roles. This is a fun silly romp through the Golden Age of film making.

Alien gives it 2 ½ "Capitol Pictures Studio" stars out of 4.