Alien at the Movies

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

No one puts Baby in the corner... because he belongs in the driver's seat.

It's "The Transporter" meets "Ocean's 11" meets "Bonnie & Clyde" meets "The Getaway" when a hearing impaired young man named Baby (Ansel Elgort) is coerced into being the getaway driver for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey) & his gang of thieves. Jaime Foxx, Jon Hamm, Eiza Gonzalez, & Lily James are well cast in the major supporting roles. Director/writer Edgar Wright has married a fabulous sound track to a slick action thrill ride. Key music selections flow through the film driving the action & pacing the rhythm of some elaborate choreography. It's a feast for the ears & eyes. Colorful & intense characters light up the screen. Spacey, Foxx, Hamm, & Gonzalez play very scary bad guys that you wouldn't want to hang around. James is the sweet waitress that captures Baby's heart. The stunts are absolutely amazing & done without any CGI aid. Just when you think you are breaking for the finish line, another twist keeps the wheels spinning. With a hum in the drum & the beat on the street, you'll hear the squeal of the wheel so just buckle up, hang on, & enjoy the ride.

Alien gives it 3½ "talented wheelman" stars out of 4.

Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man was first introduced in "Captain America: Civil War" & now stars in this second reboot of the Spidey franchise. As Tony Stark's pet project, Parker is fresh off the Berlin mission where he mixed it up with the Avengers. But now he's back in Queens, New York, as ordinary high schooler Peter & trying to fight local crime with hopes of impressing Stark & getting a shot at becoming an Avenger. Of course, he's quite green at the superhero business & needs a lot of seasoning before taking off the training wheels. Michael Keaton plays Adrian Toomes aka the Vulture, a man out for revenge & who would do anything to protect his family. It's a fun action adventure show as we watch this awkward adolescent/budding superhero struggle to find himself & his role in life. Look for some surprise twists & some familiar faces turning up. Stan Lee has a funny line, but Aunt May has the funniest last line. There is a mid-credit clip hinting at a future villain & a PSA at the end of credits poking fun at the audience. 

Alien gives it 3½ "just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man" stars out of 4.

It's "The Pink Panther" meets "The Parent Trap" meets "Mission Impossible" meets "The Great Escape" meets "Pacific Rim" when Gru, Lucy, & those adorable little girls return for more fun & wild adventures. A has-been child star turned evil villain, Balthazar Bratt, is out for revenge while Gru & Lucy struggle to be good responsible parents, the minions mutiny, and Gru discovers he has a twin. On the surface, it's a entertaining kids film but deep down to its core, it's really a hilariously smart movie for adults as it pokes fun at parenting, sibling rivalries, & espionage films. Those fan favorite minions are also back for more wacky verbally unintelligible nonsense. It's laugh out loud, fast & furious, sight gags galore, a whimsical search for unicorns, and a nostalgic trip back to the 80s. 

Alien gives it 3½ "family tradition" stars out of 4.

Three years into the Civil War, it's southern hospitality meets ''The Bachelor'' when the ladies of a Virginia finishing school take in a wounded Union soldier. As the injured corporal (Colin Farrell) recovers, these seven females isolated from the real world take an interest in & compete for the attention of this handsome & charming stranger. Sophia Coppola directs an all star cast including Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, & Elle Fanning in this remake of the 1971 Don Siegel/Clint Eastwood/Geraldine Page gothic film. However, this slow-paced film with hopes of bringing some new special female perspective fails to justify the need for a remake. No real chemistry develops between any of the characters. Farrell's accent is perplexing in this American story. These refined Christian females just seem too desperate for a man to be believable. By the film's end, audiences may feel like they will have suffered more than that poor corporal.

Alien gives it 1½ "blue rag tied to the gate" stars out of 4.

Earth has declared war on all Transformers & has formed the TRF, Transformers Reaction Force, to hunt down these Cyberton robots. Autobots & Decepticons battle it out in a desperate search for a "magical" talisman & staff that can be traced back to the days of King Arthur & Merlin. An inventor, an astronomer, & a Oxford professor must team up to save our planet. This action packed special effects extravaganza is chalked full of chases, battles, & explosions. It's 2 hours 30 minutes of rock 'em sock 'em robots. The film's featured players are Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, & Laura Haddock with many returning familiar faces. Tune in to discover who is the last knight, who is Nefarious Prime, & who or what is Unicron. Stay seated at the end for a hint to what's next for this popular franchise. 

Alien gives it 3 "the chosen one" stars out of 4.

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

It's been 37 years since Diane Lane debuted as that cute little American girl involved in journey to Italy with a charming French boy starting in Paris in a film titled "A Little Romance" & now she stars as a married American woman traveling to Paris with a flirty Frenchman in this gastronomical Tour de France. Is this any more than a excuse for making a vacation travelogue exploring France through its beautiful countryside, museums, & fine dining restaurants? It's a feast for the eyes as the most delicious meals with fine wines appear before us. Artistic photo snapshots along the way are also visual delights. The always-in-a-hurry-and-let's-just-get-there American mentality is contrast by the just-relax-and-enjoy-life French philosophy. Could there be more than a platonic relationship building here as these two travelers spend time & learn more about each other?

Alien gives it 2½ "smoking & chocolates" stars out of 4.

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

It's "Days of Thunder" meets "Thunder Road" as Lightning McQueen hits the oval track again in this "Rocky" version of the auto racing world. NASCAR fans will love the racing action. New characters, Jackson Storm & Cruz Ramirez, are introduced & many of your old favorites return too. Pixar's realistic animation is always top notch. This is a story about veterans being phased out as new rookies enter into the game. It's old school versus high tech methods.

Alien gives it 3½ "tribute to Doc Hudson" stars out of 4.

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

Two sisters, Kate (Claire Holt) & Lisa (Mandy Moore), looking for some adventure thrills while on vacation in Mexico, decide to go shark cage diving 5 meters submerged in a steel cage. Of course, one disaster after another sends the girls to the bottom of the sea & they must to get rescued as sharks lurk about & their oxygen supply runs out. It's gripping suspense as the situation becomes more complicated than you would expect. It's "The Shallows" but underwater with twice the potential victims, one fourth of the distance to swim, & in one twenty-fourth of the time. Holt & Moore do a great job acting under the added complications of performance while wearing breathing masks. It's a shark movie so you can expect the usual jump scares as those chomping teeth spring suddenly upon you. You also get a simplified crash course on SCUBA 101.

Alien gives it 3 "chum the waters & shark bait" stars out of 4.

It's Straight Outta Oakland in this biopic of famed hip hop rapper Tupac Shakir (Demetrius Shipp Jr). Born in Harlem & moving to Baltimore & then to Oakland, see how this young mind was shaped & influenced by the Black Panthers & his environment. Even non gangsta rap fans can enjoy the beat & the excitement of the meteoric rise to fame & fortune of this talented poet, actor, & musician. Witness his controversial life as it leads to his too early demise. This can be a fascinating introduction to the world of rapping for the uninitiated. This well acted film does feel a bit biased but that's not entirely unexpected in a story honoring a music legend.

Alien gives it 3 "East Coast versus West Coast" stars out of 4.

It's "Bridemaids" meets "Weekend at Bernie's" when college freshmen besties (Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, & Zoe Kravitz) & an Australian bestie (Kate McKinnon) of the bride-to-be reunite 10 years later in Miami for a wild bachelorette party weekend. Cocaine & alcohol, a case of mistaken identity, a male stripper, & a terrible accident lead to a comedy of errors as these party girls misguidedly try to cover up their tragedy. This is a R-rated dark comedy based on that raunch factor but it tries too hard & it doesn't pay off. Bell tries to be that funny character usually played by Melissa McCarthy but she can't pull it off as well. Ty Burrel & Demi Moore only have bit parts as swinging neighbors of the girls' rented beach house. Though it has its funny moments, it still feels like an extended SNL skit drawn out way too long. But I'm a guy & this is a female written, directed, & acted project so maybe I just don't get it. Look for a mid-credit clip & a final clip at the end of the credits explaining one last unsolved mystery.

Alien gives it 2½ "get me a tampon" stars out of 4.

It's "Gifted" meets "Disturbia" meets "The Stepfather" meets "How To Get Away With Murder" when almost 12-year-old Henry (boy genius, mature well beyond his age) recognizes a case of child abuse & tries to do something about it. Henry is super smart & caring as he looks out for little brother Peter & his single mom (Naomi Watts). Watts & these 2 adorable kids give amazing heart-breaking performances (tissues recommended). After a great introduction to the unique family dynamics, the story takes an unexpected turn, tears will flow, then the suspense will build until that big climax. It is a charming & wonderful bittersweet story with some surprises. There is humor in the "Freaky Friday" type juxtaposition here. This terrific movie is about trying to be a good parent, taking care of your love ones, & stepping up when it counts. You may regret it if you overlook & dismiss this little gem.

Alien gives it 3½ "the little red book" stars out of 4.

Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) is an aging western icon trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter Lucy (Krysten Ritter) after some bad news from his doctor. His life is further complicated when he meets a young women named Charlotte (Laura Prepon) through his neighbor Jeremy (Nick Offerman). Katherine Ross (Elliott's real life wife) plays the ex-wife in this touching senior citizen story about reflecting on ones past & moving forward. 

Alien gives it 2½ "life time achievement award" stars out of 4. 

In this mystery/dark romance, a young Englishman Phillip (Sam Claflin) rushes to see his ailing guardian & cousin Ambrose only to learn of his sudden demise. Phillip becomes suspicious of the wife Rachel (Rachel Weisz) & plots revenge until he meets her & falls under her spell.  Thus a romance begins but then motives start to be questioned. Is she a gold digger and/or a black widow? Or is he just being paranoid? Is it illness, accidental, or murder? This is a fabulous looking period piece & well acted but it moves along like a sloth with a few loose ends/plot holes. The film is guaranteed to generate much discussion about the events that have transpired. Depending on your point of view, each may choose a particular side & some may just be confused.

Alien gives it 2 "inheritance" stars out of 4.  

Universal Pictures attempts to give their 1930s monster movies a modern reboot thru mimicking the Marvel superhero template & interlinking these proposed creature feature remakes. Featuring Tom Cruise & Russell Crowe, The Mummy kicks off this Dark Universe series. Hidden tombs in ancient London & Mesopotamia lead to reviving a buried alive princess who had made a pact with Death & unleashing an Egyptian curse. Expect wild Tom Cruise action (including his patented run-Tom-run), incredible stunts (I.e. real zero gravity vomit comet 2-day shoot), amazing special effects, & some creepy horror situations with a little humor on the side to break up the tension. Sofia Boutella is perfectly cast as the evil Princess Ahmanet, Annabelle Wallis is the required damsel in distress, & Jake Johnson takes on a more humorous ghostly role. Vintage monster fans can enjoy the hunt for those Easter eggs. It's a fun thrill ride that some may view holding their fingers over their eyes. See how it all began & witness how it all plays out.

Alien gives it 3½ "Egyptian prayer for redemption" stars out of 4.

A husband (Joel Edgerton), his wife, & their teenage son hold up isolated in a remote cabin in the woods. With a mysterious deadly contagion lurking about & a scarcity of survival resources, this family is fearful & paranoid of strangers, but ultimately invite another family into their home hoping to bolster the security of their stronghold. This psychological thriller is full of suspense & uneasiness as the uncertainty of the situation slowly unfolds. This low budget film is well crafted & acted but after awhile the ultimate course direction of the plot seems apparent.

Alien gives it 2½ "the horrors on the outside & from within" stars out of 4.