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Thursday, March 30, 2017

Gifted

Frank Adler (Chris Evans) is a single man of modest means trying to give his math prodigy niece Mary (McKenna Grace) a normal childhood. However, his prim & proper, rich, well-to-do mother fights him for custody because she believes the child's abilities need special nurturing. Little McKenna Grace is absolutely adorable in this heartbreaking & heartwarming story about wanting to do what's best for a gifted child. Octavia Spenser  is among the supporting cast. This predictable story is heavy handedly stacked with which characters who you are going to love & the ones you want to boo & hiss at. Follow the struggle in this a delightful & agonizing feel good film where you know from the beginning that all will be well in the end. This one definitely plays to your heart strings.

Alien gives it 3 "one-eyed Fred" stars out of 4.


Wednesday, March 29, 2017

The Ghost in the Shell

It's "Jason Bourne" meets "Ex-Machina" meets "Black Hat" meets "The Bride of Frankenstein" in futuristic Japan where humans opting for cyber enhancements is common place. Based on a Japanese manga (comic) unfamiliar to this critic, this dark sci-fi crime drama has a "Blade Runner" backdrop feel to it with a cyborg weapon called Major Mira Killian (Scarlett Johansson) who leads a cyber crimes task force trying to find a mysterious hacker who killing robotics scientists. Major is the first of her kind, a human brain successfully implanted into a synthetic body; thus, a ghost, or soul, in a shell. ScarJo kicking butt in a form-fitting nude full-body suit is the big draw here. I don't understand the Asian role controversy here. I don't think the Major's manufactured shell was necessarily specified as being required to be Asian looking & ScarJo already had Black Widow training on her resume. Look for some spectacular special effects in this basic crime drama under the wild high tech disguise. Will Major catch the hacker? Will she recover her memories? Do your memories define who you are?

Alien gives it 3 "cybernetic salvage" stars out of 4.


Monday, March 27, 2017

CHIPS

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

Television's beloved motorcycle cop show gets a modern makeover in which the only resemblance to the classic original is the two main characters' names. Producer/director/writer/star Dax Shepard (as officer Jon Baker) is at the helm of this "Odd Couple" buddy cop action/comedy & he puts the raunch in Ponch (Michael Peña). It's a veteran undercover FBI agent & a screw-up rookie cop searching for dirty cops involved in a series of armored car robberies. Shepard's love of fast cars & motorcycles is evident in his wild chase & crash scenes. Apparently, he doesn't seem to need a stunt double on either a Harley or a Ducati. Vincent D'Onofrio costars with Adam Brody, Jane Kaczmarek, Adam Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, & real life wife Kristen Bell in bit parts. When Shepard runs out of bullets, explosions, crashes, severed body parts, & legitimate funny gags, he resorts too often to crass sexual natured, homophobic, & women objectifying jokes. It is a predictable plot & an excuse for Shepard to be macho goofy, play with his boy toys, & make out with a woman not his wife. Look for a surprise cameo. Rated "R" for brief nudity, sexual content, language, violence, & gore.

Alien gives it 2½ "titanium humerus" stars out of 4.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Saban's Power Rangers

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

It's "The Breakfast Club" meets "The Green Lantern Corps" meets "Dinobots" meets "Voltron" when 5 misfit teens uncover 5 colored coins buried 65 million years ago in a battle between good & evil for the Zeo Crystal. This is a nostalgic trip back to one's 1990's fond childhood memory of their favorite Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. It's actually a good thing that first two thirds of the movie is spent exploring these 5 diverse youths & their backgrounds before the cheesy overdriven CGI action sequences take over. Elizabeth Banks is terrific as the evil Rita Repulsa & plays it over-the-top with lots of relish. Bryan Cranston & Bill Hader are mainly voices for their CGI roles. Fans of the original shows will probably love this remake but novices like me will miss some of the more subtle nuances & references. Fans will also see notice some cameos. Look for a possible sequel hint in the middle of the credits.

Alien gives it 2½ "Goldar versus Megazoid" stars out of 4.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Life

It's "Alien" meets "Gravity" when a Mars core samples recovery team mission goes terribly wrong. Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, & Ryan Reynolds are among the International Space Station astronauts who discover a new life form, nurture its growth, & gravely underestimate it's danger. There really isn't much surprise here because you get pretty much know what you expect. It's on-the-edge-of-your-seat terror from a creature you have no idea of what it is capable. Of course, it gets loose & lurks about the ship ready to attack crew members picking them off one by one. How do you kill or get rid of this Martian thing? Desperate & driven by the survival instinct in this life or death situation, who will outlast the others? Remarkable special effects had these great actors simulate floating in space & traversing the corridors hanging from digitally removed wires. The film capitalizes on one's fear of the unknown & the self preservation mechanism.

Alien gives it 3 "Fail Safe 3" stars out of 4.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Wilson

Woody Harrelson stars as Wilson, a middle-aged lovable loser. When this lonely guy suffers some personal losses, he reaches out to his sister-in-law (Cheryl Hines) & ex-wife (Laura Dern) trying to reconnect & re-establish some semblance of a happy family life, especially when he suddenly discovers he is the father of a teenage girl. Harrelson is terrific as this annoyingly blunt & honest guy who doesn't appear to have any filters as he always speaks his mind. He is the backbone to this hilarious odd ball humor in this "R" rated comedy that's peppered with f-bombs. If you are looking for some laughs with a side of quirkiness, you might want to check out this funny film about trying to make amends for lost opportunities.

Alien gives it 3 "peculiar people person" stars out of 4.

Monday, March 20, 2017

The Belko Experiment

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

It's "Saw" meets "Die Hard" meets "The Purge" meets "Survivor, Bogotá" when 80 employees of Belko Corp become trapped in their office building isolated remotely in Colombia. With orders from a mysterious intercom voice, they must begin killing each other or face the consequences in this evil experiment on morals, human nature, & the survival instinct. Film maker James Gunn wrote this script for those horror genre fans with a sadistic streak who love their terror bleeding red. But after a while, this senseless mayhem seems almost laughable at times due to death by office supplies. Who will to be lucky enough to survive this gory game? Can you figure out where the plot line is going? As expected for this genre, you won't find any real answers but just more questions at the end. Is it bloody good or bloody awful or just bloody? That may depend on how twisted your mind is.

Alien gives it 2½ "Business Without Borders" stars out of 4.

Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Boss Baby

Where do babies come from? Under this scenario, they come from BabyCorp but some are sent to families & others are destined for management. On the surface, this looks like a children's show where the new baby wears a suit & carries a suitcase for some reason. However, this animated feature leans more heavily towards adult humor with iconic references & nostalgic sound bites from yesteryear and many of the gags will likely sail well over the heads of young kids. This film is about finding the meaning of family while poking fun at parenthood, sibling rivalries, & the spy genre. Hopefully, it's not too sophisticated for the kids & there is enough simple action & fantasy imagination sections to keep children entertained. There is a brief clip at the end but unfortunately the sound was switched off midway through the credits so the joke could no be heard in our viewing.

Alien gives it 3 "brotherly love" stars out of 4.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The Sense of the End

An old curmudgeon (Jim Broadbent) reflects back on his past when he becomes a recipient of a small inheritance with missing attachment. Thus the mystery begins as his story ever so slowly unravels layer by layer but seemingly never ever going anywhere. Told in flashbacks to his school days with his girlfriend & 3 best buddies but contrasted against the present with his ex-wive & pregnant single daughter. Ironically, the plot seems to make no sense at the end. Or did I miss something when my mind wandered while wondering where the script was going? Or did I unintentionally doze off as the story dragged on? Was it only moderately funny or was it just British humor? The fine cast of talented actors included Michelle Dockery, Matthew Goode, & Emily Mortimer. This philosophical themed film probably played out better in the book that this film was based on. It looks like a well-made interesting puzzle to solve, but in reality, it's more of an unsatisfying disappointing conclusion.

Alien gives it 2 "history lesson" stars out of 4.

Monday, March 13, 2017

Beauty & the Beast (3D)

Disney's live action remake of it's animated classic fairy tale is a much darker adult version that may be a little too scary for the wee little ones. Parents beware if your child has fear of peril, attacking wolves, large scary beasts, angry mobs, and/or falling from high places. The cartoony version will be gentler on their innocent eyes & even some of these CGI-ed talking object creatures seem a bit on the creepy side. Nevertheless, this remake is highly entertaining, especially for those who grew up loving Disney's original & aren't looking for just another kiddie show. Audiences will get more backgrounds on the Beast & Belle, some new songs along with those wonderful unforgettable favorites, & some stunning sets. Emma Watson is the perfect Belle & a passable singer (although this tin ear shouldn't be the judge). She projects a strong intelligent modern independent woman image. Other big names like Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, & Josh Gad are among the supporting cast but most are hardly recognizable due mostly voice work & extreme period piece makeup & costuming of their live action portions. Gad steals all of his scenes. A surprising dose of humor helps to lighten up this darker script. This film deals with themes about not judging a book by its cover, making relationships work through compromises, & true love is willingness to make sacrifices.

Alien gives it 3 "your childhood favorite fairy tale has grown up with you" stars out of 4.

Tuesday, March 07, 2017

The Shack

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

A young boy with an abusive father grows up to be a loving husband & father (Sam Worthington). Then one day, a tragic loss impacts the family & this man becomes stuck, unable to move on, & just wallowing in his sorrow. When he receives a mysterious letter, he sets off on a journey to revisit the "shack", the symbol of his pain. This religious themed movie is about finding God & faith as well as learning to forgive & moving ahead. This Sunday church sermon with visual aids is a creative piece that gives you a new perspective on an age old concept. Olivia Spencer & Tim McGraw costar. It's a touching & moving film showing how God can move in mysterious ways.

Alien gives it 3 "miracle or hallucination" stars out of 4.

Thursday, March 02, 2017

Logan

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

It's 2029 and where have all the mutants gone, long time passing? Old man Logan (Hugh Jackman) is laying low as a limousine chauffeur trying to earn enough money for him & the ailing Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) to make their planned escape. Mutant hunters track Logan down as they attempt to locate a mysterious little girl named Laura. Thus, the chase & trail of bloodshed begin as Logan, Xavier, & Laura head north for sanctuary. It's a great story with a balance of action, emotions, & humor. Jackman & Stewart are terrific as aging mutants approaching the final stages of their lives. The young girl playing Laura is absolutely amazing. Rated "R", this movie is also not like any other superhero film you have seen before. Look for a surprise cameo, sort of. Also there is a special humorous clip that appears not at the end of the credits. 

Alien gives it 3½ "Transigen's X-24 project" stars out of 4.

Wednesday, March 01, 2017

Kong: Skull Island (3D IMAX)

Echoing the 70's rock & roll sounds from the President Nixon/Vietnam war era, it's super-sized Kong meets mutated "Jurassic Park" meets "Castaway" on "Mysterious Island" with shades of "The Flight of the Phoenix". A man on a secret mission (John Goodman), an obsessed military man (Samuel L. Jackson), a hired tracker (Tom Hiddleston), and a photojournalist (Brie Lawson) journey to explore an uncharted South Pacific island where they meet a seemingly crazy man (John C. Reilly), some colorful natives, a ginormous ape, & some huge freaky prehistoric creatures. Intense run-for-your-life action explodes on to the big screen as this geologic survey team with a hidden agenda threatens to upset the balance of nature on Skull Island. It is a fun massive rumble in the jungle. In this latest version, Kong never leaves the island, but please stay seated until the end of the credits for hints to what's coming next.

Alien gives it 3½ "Monarch" stars out of 4.

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