Alien at the Movies

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

A 5-year-old Indian boy (Sunny Pawar) becomes separated from his older brother & ends up some 1,600 kilometers away in Calcutta. Alone & unable to speak the local language, he survives for months as just another one of tens of thousands of lost children in the overcrowded city. Eventually, adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman & David Wenham) & raised in Hobart, Tasmania. Twenty-five years later, the now young man (Dev Patel) is overcome with guilt for deserting his beloved mother & brother and is compelled to find his roots & family, but has no clue to where home is. Rooney Mara has a small part as the girlfriend. Based on a true story, this powerful, emotional, & inspiring story is a tribute to all those adoptive parents & children out there & will touch the hearts of mothers everywhere. The acting is superb & the plot takes us on an amazing journey. Photos & footage of the real life characters portrayed appear at the end of the film as well as the explanation of the movie's title.

Alien gives it 3½ "the power of Google Map" stars out of 4.

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

Set in Miami, this film follows a young black boy growing up in the hood, bullied by the bigger boys, neglected by his drug addict single mom, & befriended by a local drug dealer. This sad & depressing film is well crafted & contains some excellent award deserving performances. From child to teen to young adult you'll feel the pain, loneliness, fear, & anger of this poor individual trying to figure out who he is. This gritty emotional film is awkwardly uncomfortable at times. This artistic & critically acclaimed film will doubtfully be popular with the general public. It's rated "R" for language, drug use, & sexual content. "In the moonlight, black boys look blue."

Alien gives it 2 "Little, Chiron, & Black" stars out of 4.

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

It's "World War Z" meets "Road Warrior" meets "Attack of the Clones" with a "Robocop" moment when this "Rogue One" band of rebels infiltrate a high security guarded enemy installation to retrieve the vital key to stopping the evil Umbrella Corporation empire's "Noah's Ark" scheme to save the planet. With the clock ticking for humankind, can Claire (Ali Larter) & Alice in "Zombieland" (Milla Jovovich) trust the Red Queen? This is the sixth installment of the video game spinoff involving the Hive, Raccoon City, the T-virus, & blood thirsty zombies. If you are a fan, you know what to expect. A quick summary & some flashback clips are used to bring the uninitiated up to speed as the nonstop action explodes onto the big screen. Of course, this guilty pleasure story is full of holes, but who cares because the viewers came to see the unearthly monsters, the outrageous fight scenes, & the spectacular special effects. Yes, it's fairly predictable as the movie attempts resolve all those unanswered questions raised through the series. So, is this going to be the last we'll see of Alice? Well, you'll have to run to the theater to find out for yourself. There is only an audio message at the end of the credits.

Alien gives it 3 "Trinity of Bitches" stars out of 4.

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

Everyone knows the McDonald's hamburger chain. Some may know about the McDonald brothers & Ray Kroc. But who knows about how this iconic American franchise began? This is the fascinating, highly entertaining, & smartly told story of how a 52-year-old struggling traveling salesman Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) met the McDonald brothers Mac & Dick (John Carroll Lynch & Nick Offerman) & spun their innovative "speedy" process into the restaurant empire we all know today. See the key moments & players involved as Kroc struggles to make his bold vision a reality while arguing with these small time thinking brothers. Keaton is charismatic as the hard driving Kroc. The conflict with 2 brothers is told with a more humorous tone to soften that dark side of this cut-throat business. Budding entrepreneurs could learn a lesson or two from this great American success story, but note that the script has been sanitized so not to antagonize the now huge corporation. See photos & summaries of some key real life figures in the McDonalds story.

Alien gives it 3 "persistence" stars out of 4.

The highs & lows of dreamer & gold prospector Kenny Wells (Mathew McConaughey) is told in this inspired-by-a true-event film. In the 1980s, Wells teams up with geologist Michael Acosta (Edgar Ramirez) in the jungles of Indonesia where they claim to have finally struck the mother lode. Soon big time investors are clamoring at their door & their company Washoe Mining stock skyrockets on the New York Stock Exchange. Then the FBI steps in & the ending casts some doubts to people's guilt or innocence & their death or survival. Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach, & Bruce Greenwood are among the supporting cast of this interesting but uninspiring movie. This slow-to-develop story does prove that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

Alien gives it 2½ "mother lode strike or fool's gold" stars out of 4.

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

"Silence" also could have been called Finding Father Ferreira or The Japanese Inquisition or The Last Priest in Japan. Two Portuguese Jesuit missionaries (Andrew Garfield & Adam Driver) go to Japan to seek their missing mentor (Liam Nielsen) & spread the word of Christianity when foreign religion has been outlawed & its followers executed. At nearly 3 hours long, this film about testing man's faith is also about testing the audience's patience to endure witnessing some cruel & unusual punishment. However, the acting is tremendous by Garfield as well as by the actors who play the guide & the Inquisitor. Producer/director/writer Martin Scorsese has crafted a beautiful but uncomfortable film about disturbing times in 17th century feudal Japan. It is steeped in Japanese culture. This film may not be everyone's cup of tea but you may want to give it a try if you have an interest in history, different cultures, and eternal faith.

Alien gives it 3 "apostatized" stars out of 4.

It's the "Mission Impossible" assignment meets the "Fast & Furious" crew if they were into extreme sports instead of cars. A CIA official (Toni Collette) seeks out Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) because someone is dropping satellites out of the sky. As expected, you'll witness some outrageous stunts and highly stylized & choreographed fight & chase scenes in this game of betrayal & deceit. Besides Donnie Yen & Tony Jaa, look for some cameos & surprises in this slick action flick. Samuel L. Jackson also returns as recruiter Gibbons to explain to the Triple X Program to those xXx movie novices who missed the first two films. It's just a guilty pleasure over-the-top extreme stunt show to cheer for the bad boys who don't necessarily play by the rules but their hearts are in the right place. The film is a fun blast to watch with witty one-liners to make us smile. It's formula but who cares.

Alien gives it 3 "Dial 9 for help" stars out of 4.

They say a cat has nine lives, but what about dogs? Are you a dog lover? Do you believe in reincarnation? Do you ever wonder what man's best friend is thinking? Well, this cute & wholesome family film allows people to see the world through a dog's eyes. It's a dog's life, or rather, a dog's lives, as we follow Bailey's spirit as he is reborn as other dog breeds with different owners & new missions. It's comedic canine commentary as we listen to the dog's inner thoughts, frequently quite different from how humans perceive them. All the joys, frustrations, & heartaches of owning a dog are explored. Who can resist those cute little puppies? See the bond between a boy & his dog. Britt Robertson, Peggy Lipton, & Dennis Quaid are among the more recognizable names in the cast with Josh Gad as the dog's voice. You may want to bring along some tissues for the more emotional moments.

Alien gives it 3 "Bossdog" stars out of 4.

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

It's "Sleepless" in Sin City when an undercover cop Vincent Downs (Jaime Foxx) gets mixed up in drug deal heist gone bad that leads to his son being kidnapped. Then things just go from bad to worse when Internal Affairs (Michelle Monaghan) mucks up the mess. Yes, it's predictable, contrived, & unrealistic but it's fun to watch if you are just into outrageous action. Downs quinces, can barely catch his breathe in the hallways & stairways, & should have rightfully bled out, but he can still stand toe to toe in hand to hand combat with multiple foes; it must be the adrenalin. Surprisingly, Foxx manages to have 4 wardrobe changes in this wild night at the casino. This absentee husband/dad finally gets to spend some valuable father/son time with his boy & it also becomes sort of a family reunion when nurse/wife (Gabrielle Union) shows up at the underground casino parking garage. Tip "T.I." Harris & Dermot Mulroney are in the supporting cast. Does "whatever happens is Vegas, stays in Vegas" count when this film was actually filmed in Atlanta? This poor man's Jason Bourne film is more of a mindless guilty pleasure than a legit cop action drama.

Alien gives it 2½ "dirty cops" stars out of 4.

The Bye Bye Man

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

It's the "Boogeyman" meets "Final Destination" when students stumble upon the name of the Bye-Bye Man & become doomed by the curse. The catch phrase "Don't say it, don't think it" leads them to making sacrifices in order stop this mysterious figure from appearing. If you are easily scared & love to be scared, this horror film may be suited for you. A seance, shadowy figure, a big hound, hallucinations, & paranoia drive this simple plot. The feeds on fear story is entertaining enough & keeps you guessing who will become the next victim(s).

Alien gives it 2½ "silver coins" stars out of 4.

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

Death Dealer Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is back for the fifth installment of the Vampire vs Lycans series. Now she is an outlaw hated by both sides but vows to end this centuries old war even if she has to make the ultimate sacrifice. For those unfamiliar with the other 4 installments, an introductional summary attempts to bring you up to speed. Convenient blood memory recalls are used to fill in the other gaps along the way. It is a bloody tale of revenge & betrayal as individuals struggle for power. Underworld fans will get what they are looking for. Will this evolutionary step lead to a sixth installment with or with Selene? Only time will tell.

Alien gives it 3 "Nordic Coven" stars out of 4.

Split

It's "Sybil" meets "The Room" when a disturbed man (James McAvoy) kidnaps 3 teenage girls for some unknown purpose. Suspense arises as the terrified teens try to escape after meeting some of his many identities. Betty Buckley plays the doctor trying to treat & help resolve these 23, or maybe 24, disassociated personalities. Director & writer M Night Shyamalan strips down layers to make the captives more vulnerable & ramps ups the craziness to make the captor creepier. It's an eerie look at the dark psychological effects created by childhood abuse. Of course this a M Night Shyamalan film, so expect the unexpected twist & stay to the end for a surprise cameo & reference.

Alien gives it 3 "release the beast" stars out of 4.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Patriots Day

Mark Wahlberg & director Peter Berg have teamed up again to recount the events & the people surrounding the tragic bombing at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Berg has crafted a powerful film honoring Boston, Boston's Finest, & the bombing survivors. Meet the key players hours before the two explosions that rocked the world, follow the intense manhunt for the bombers, & witness explosive confrontation in Watertown. John Goodman, JK Simmons, Kevin Bacon, & Michelle Monaghan are among the wonderful supporting cast. This is a terrific behind the scenes look at the emotions felt on that terrible week. It's still a gripping story even when you already know the outcome because this film tells the human side of the story about the lives effected by this event. At the end, meet some of the real people portrayed in the film through photos & videos.

Alien gives it 3½ "Boston Strong" stars out of 4.

It's the making of a mobster when Joe Coughlin (Ben Affleck), son of a Boston police superintendent/WWI veteran/two-bit robber, rises to power through bootlegging & rum running during the Prohibition Era. Joe is a man driven by the love of the women in his life. Seemingly always caught between a rock & a hard place, but don't worry about Joe because he is smart. Don't underestimate him. Affleck produces, directs, screen writes, & stars in this beautiful looking, sometimes slow moving film with bursts of violence & a big time blood bath. Elle Fanning, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, & Chris Cooper are among the outstanding supporting cast. The film magically transports you back to Boston & Tampa during the 1920s-30s where the Italian mob & the Irish mob are muscling in on each other's territories with the Ku Klux Klan tossed into the mix. 

Alien gives it 2½ "Riders of the Eastern Ridge" stars out of 4.

A 12-year-old boy is haunted by a recurring nightmare that resembles a gigantic Groot that sounds like Brian Mills. This monster is a manifestation of the boy's fears & anger although he believes it's the healing tree & the answer to his hopes. This is a film of surprises. First of all, it may appear to be a children's film, but it's not delightful fun & adventure for young kids. There are issues of bullying & uncontrolled fits of anger as a young person wrestles the realities of life. There are fairy tale like stories with unexpected results. This is a well crafted film with artistic illustrations & tremendous special effects but it is a sad movie about a troubled boy trying to handle an overwhelming situation involving his mother (Felicity Jones) & grandmother (Sigourney Weaver). This beautifully dark & dreary tale feels more therapeutic than entertainment as connection to ones past are made.

Alien gives it 3 "12:07" stars out of 4.

During America's Space Race against the Russians, everyone knew the names of Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, & John Glenn but this story is about 3 unsung heroes. They were 3 black women working at NASA at the time; a want-to-be supervisor (Olivia Spenser), an aspiring engineer (Janelle Monae), & a math whiz (Taraji P. Henson). Based on true events, this entertaining & enlightening film reveals how these proud, intelligent, & determined women persevered with dignity under an era of unjust prejudice & segregation. Kevin Costner, Jim Parsons, & Kirsten Dunst are among the wonderful supporting cast. Even though this inspirational film contrives situations to dramatically & humorously make its points, it's still a highly enjoyable feel good movie. This is one of the greatest stories never told & a behind the scenes look at the US space program. Look for photos & summaries about the real people portrayed at the end of the film.

Alien gives it 3½ "Mercury-Atlas 6,  Friendship 7" stars out of 4.