Alien at the Movies

It's "The Intern" meets "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" when a shy lonely woman (Sally Field), resistant to change & dealing with her mother's death, develops an attraction to the new young hire (Max Greenfield). Field gives a delightful performance as Doris, the senior co-worker who decides to explore a new direction in her life. The talented Field flexes comedic/dramatic range to make her character a lovable oddball that you will want to root for.  With Tyne Daley in a supporting role, this charming comedy probably has more appeal to an older audience than the young hipster crowd. Will a December/May romance work or is it just a fantasy day dream?

Alien gives it 3 "Baby Goya and the Nuclear Winter" stars out of 4. 

Alien returned to the IMAX for a 3D viewing and found that while the effect is enjoyable, it ceases to make a noticeable impression for me after about 20 minutes as I became more absorbed into the story. Therefore, I wouldn't spring for the extra bucks unless your ego requires that you go for all the bells & whistles. Alien did relish a second opportunity to search for those little Easter eggs hidden in plain sight.  

Director Zack Snyder gives the DC Universe a major jump start in an attempt to catch up with the Disney/Marvel Avengers juggernaut. Who hasn't speculated who would win in a battle between these two superheroes? Is Metropolis' Man of Steel a false god? Is Gotham's Dark Knight an uncontrollable vigilante? The tone is dark in this story that has its roots in the more recent graphic novels. Ben Affleck may surprise you with his physical performance as Batman. You got to love all of the bat gadgets. Henry Cavill's Superman has self doubts. Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman holds her own fighting among the big boys. Jesse Eisenberg is an odd choice for Lex Luthor (envision a very quirky psychotic Mark Zuckerberg). Amy Adams is Lois Lane & of course she is constantly the damsel in distress. They went with Laurence Fishbourne as the black Perry White. If you take the hint from the title, it takes a team of superheroes to stand up to the monstrous seemingly unbeatable villain. Will the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg make an appearance? This 2 ½ hour film is super-sensational, wonder-licious, and bat-tastic. At the IMAX, the sound level were cranked way up. True DC Comic fans will probably get a kick out of spotting the Easter eggs planted in the film. Expect some surprises, but Snyder requested no spoilers on social media until the movie releases on this Friday.

Alien gives it 3 ½ "meta humans" stars out of 4.

After 15 years, that great big crazy Greek family is back for more hilarious laughs & fun examining close family relationships and you won't guess who is getting married this time. Writer/actress Nia Vardalos returns as Toula who is the strong woman feeling the pressures of being a mom, a wife, & the responsible sibling. The humor is relatable because most have felt those run-away-and-hide moments when they so are embarrassed by their relatives. However when help is needed, this family will come together for each other.  It's wholesome laughter generated by overly loud, pushy kin just trying to help but only make the awkward situation worse. The supporting cast includes John Corbett, Laine Kazan,Andrea Martin, Michael Constantine, Rita Wilson, & John Stamos.

Alien gives it 3 ½ "one, two, three... neck pull" stars out of 4.

Not to be confused those other young people from the Hunger Games & the Maze Runner trying to survive & save their worlds, Tris (Shailene Woodley), Four (Theo James), & the gang (Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, & Zoe Kravitz) are back to go over the wall & break out of dystopian Chicago. What will they find on the outside? A nuclear wasteland or a futuristic city? Humanitarian rescue or unjust kidnapping? Divergent or damaged? Truth or lies? Who are the good guys & who are the bad guys? Naomi Watts & Jeff Daniels are leaders trying to control their situation but will they succeed? The plot is not hard to predict as the events unfold in front of yours eyes but the special effects & action scenes are awesome. Alien thinks this is the best of the series so far but stay tuned for Part 2 of this final book installment.

Alien gives it 3 ½ "controlled experiment" stars out of 4.

A Texas family searches for answers to the mysterious illness that befalls their middle child. Jennifer Garner stars as the mom determined to find help at any cost but begins to lose her faith. Queen Latifah also has a small part. From the beginning, this huge hollow tree looms over the family property & becomes an integral part of this amazing true story. This is an emotional tearjerker as the audience experiences a parent's pain watching their child suffering. However, a little levity here & there is used to lessen this dismal situation. Featuring family, church, & community, it's an incredible inspirational story with a meaningful message about how to live your life & not take the little things for granted. Photos of the real Beam family run at the film's end.

Alien gives it 3 ½ "pseudo-obstruction motility disorder" stars out of 4.

It's "The Room" meets "The Fifth Wave" meets "War of the Worlds" when Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up chained in an underground bunker after an automobile accident. John Goodman is superb as the suspected wacko extreme survivalist Howard who believes the world is under attack by possibly Martians who have poisoned the air so his bunker is the only safe place to be. Michelle is an intelligent girl running away from her life & boyfriend. She fears & doubts Howard. Together with a not so bright under achiever Emit (John Gallagher Jr,), Howard's hired hand, they form the trio of main characters in this slow burn psychological thriller. Brady Cooper has an unusual cameo that producer JJ Abrams has used before. Find out whether it is more dangerous inside or outside as suspicions grow, claustrophobia sets in, and the plot thickens. Although they share a title word in common, this is not a true sequel to "Cloverfield" (thank goodness, no shaky cam found footage), just a blood relative connected by DNA. This well acted & well told movie was adapted from a book called "The Cellar". What would you do to survive?

Alien gives it 3 "living life in a bunker" stars out of 4.

A copy writer (Tina Fey) for a big television news agency tires of her hum-drum routine & accepts a war correspondent assignment in Afghanistan. This fish out of water/culture clash/war story starts out looking like a light comedy but takes a more serious turn by the end. It's a behind the scenes look at life in Afghanistan as experienced by a novice reporter who becomes seasoned by her 3 year tour. Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, & Billy Bob Thornton have supporting roles. Fey does a great job of balancing comedy & drama in an attempt to present some of the realities of this war environment. The humor is used to draw the audience into film, diffuse the depressing portions, and provide a positive spin on certain situations. WTF, some may be misled by Fey's starring role but if you give it a chance, you may get the message of self growth, friendship, & moving forward.

Alien gives it 3 "TFW - The Forgotten War" stars out of 4.