Alien at the Movies

It's July 1967 in Detroit & a police raid has set off 3 days of riots, looting, arrests, deaths, & destruction as the racial tension powder keg explodes. Director Kathryn Bigelow has masterfully recreated the time period with the focus on the deadly incident at the Algiers Motel. This powerful & intense film will make any fair-minded person cringe & be revolted by the abuse of power & the injustice that plays out here. John Boyega, Anthony Mackie, & William Poulter have key roles. See these individuals caught in this extreme turmoil. This movie is hard to watch & will make you so angry but it is an important history lesson not to be forgotten. Wrap up summaries give some closure to this true story at the end of the film.

Alien gives it 3½ "police overreach" stars out of 4. 

In Berlin during November of 1989, it's Cold War spy vs. spy as top undercover agent Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) is debriefed on her mission to recover a missing list of double agent operatives. She is a real bad ass in this action packed thriller behind the Berlin Wall where you can trust no one. Call her Jane Bond, Jan Wick, or Jaimie Bourne with Jackie Chan stunts as she mixes it up the bad guys & anyone else who jeopardizes her mission. It may not be realistic, but it's certainly fun to watch the car stunts & the hand-to-hand combat scenes. James McAvoy, Sophia Boutella, & John Goodman costar. See if you can figure out who is on which side in this stylish espionage world of double agents.

Alien gives it 3 "killer red stilettos" stars out of 4.

Spacial-temporal agents Major Valerian (Dane Dehaan) & Sargent Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are sent on a mission to protect Alpha, the city of a thousand planets, from an unknown dark force. Based on characters from a 1967 French comic book series, director Luc Besson has recreated an eye popping hipster styling sci-fi action adventure. Audiences will be mesmerized by strange alien creatures, elaborate foreign settings, & unusual weaponry. The images created of these futuristic cultures are fascinating & visually stunning. It has kind of an "Avatar" feel to it but the leads are only adequate when compared to the film's scope. It's not the actors but how their characters are written & how they relate to each other. Clive Owen, Ethan Hawke, & Rihanna are in the supporting cast. One has a key role & the other two have rather bit parts. It's a fun, mind blowing, thrill ride.

Alien gives it 3 "a pearl & the converter" stars out of 4.

Four life long friends (Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, & Tiffany Haddish) have gone their separate ways since attending school together but reunite for a girls trip to the Essence Festival in New Orleans. It's girls gone wild in the Big Easy as liquor loosen up these lovely ladies who become involved in a zip-line incident, a sexual escapade, & a barroom fight. When a scandal threatens to break up their friendship, the girls realize what must be done. It's R-rated for F-bombs, some nudity, & sexual content which includes a graphic demonstration of a technique that many may not have heard of before. These girls all bring it, but Haddish steals her scenes.  For fun & hilarity, go check it out.

Alien gives it 3 "grapefruit & a banana " stars out of 4. 

Director Christopher Nolan chronicles a historical day in May of 1940 where Allied forces are surrounded & trapped at Northern France's Dunkirk beach. It's 2 hours of anguish & agony watching these poor soldiers & rescuers being sitting ducks on the beach & in the waters targeted by German gunfire, air bombing attacks, & U-boat torpedoes. This is also the story of the nameless soldiers who jumped from the frying pan into the fire just trying to escape & survive as well as the unsung heroes who made their sacrifices count for something. As their darkest hour approaches, a sea of civilian boats arrive to aid in the rescue of more than 300,000.  This is an intense, powerful, & emotional movie filmed on an epic scale. It is a masterful tribute those whose fought, died, & survive at Dunkirk. Nolan puts you there in the middle of mass confusion & desperation.

Alien gives it 3 "sacrifice & never give up" stars out of 4.

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

It''s humor in the midst of tragedy as a young Pakistani man (Kumail Nanjiai) struggles with living in America as part of Muslim family. Cultural differences & relationships are explored as this want-to-be standup comedian meets & falls for a girl named Emily (Zoe Kazan) with whom his family would not approve. Things get awkwardly tense & funny when she must be put under a medically induced coma because of an unknown infection. Ray Romano & Holly Hunter play Emily's parents.  It's a very funny romantic comedy & a hard-to-believe true story, but it was written by Nanjiani & his real life wife Emily Gordon. Kazan gives a standout performance balancing Nanjiani's low-keyed delivery.

Alien gives it 3 "whooped interjection" stars out of 4.

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

After Rise & Dawn, War completes this mutating virus trilogy reboot version of the 1968 classic. Leader Caesar & his group of apes attempt to live peacefully in the woods but the ruthless Colonel (Woody Harrelson) view them as a threat to mankind & relentlessly hunts them down. The motion captured special effects are amazing as this film that explores concepts of revenge, family & humanity. Told from the nonhuman perspective, you will believe these CGI simian creatures are real on screen. Those familiar with the older series of films can look for the hidden Easter eggs. 

Alien gives it 3½"the great ape escape" stars out of 4.

It's "Mean Girls" meets "Aladdin" meets "Final Destination" when little Ramona Quimby grows up to be a bullied teenager Clare Shannon (Joey King) struggling to get through high school. Loosely based on a short story called "The Monkey's Paw", Clare's life takes a horrific turn when her dumpster diving dad (Ryan Phillippe) gives her an old Chinese music box which magically grants her 7 wishes, but at what price. Looking for revenge, fortune, & popularity, she gets more than what she bargained for. When the music plays, it's time to pay the piper. Audience can pretty much predict each key event outcome because the setup so blatantly telegraphs its intent that it becomes almost laughable. Nevertheless, the film uses this to build tension & that dread factor just before you cringe a bit. This is basically a drug abuse metaphor with the user so addicted to the self gratifying highs that they can't see how they are hurting those loved ones closest to them. Look for a mid-credit clip that is totally expected in this genre.

Alien gives it 2½ "Yao Guai" stars out of 4.

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

When Scott (Will Ferrell) & Kate (Amy Poehler) Johansen realize they can't afford the college tuition for their daughter Alex, in desperation, they scheme to open an underground casino with the help of a soon-to-be divorced neighbor. With the team of Ferrell & Poehler, you should know to expect wacky comedy. As the film progresses, their illegal operation turns more Vegas-like. It's sight gags galore with even Jeremy Renner making an appearance in this insanity. It's R-rated for it's F-bombs & some bloody over-the-top violence. 

Alien gives it 2 "the Butcher & the Burner" stars out of 4.