Alien at the Movies

Rye Lane

Dom & Yas indirectly meet by chance in an uni-sex bathroom at an art exhibition. They bond over their personal breakup stories as they spend the day at the Rye Lane Market area in Southern England. This is a delightful rom/com shot artistically with splashes of color. He is emotionally broken. She is bold & positive but she harbors a secret. They develop a chemistry together.

Alien gives it 3 “karaoke” stars out of 4.

The Lost King

Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins) is an ordinary housewife with 2 teenage boys, an estranged husband, & a medical condition. When she attends a play about Richard III, she identifies with the character & become fascinating to learn more about this king. She acquires many books about him & joins the King Richard Society. She becomes obsessed with discovering what happened to his remains & wanting to give him the proper burial. It’s an uphill struggle as authorities give her little credence to her hunches & theories. Along her journey, she has visions of the late king seemingly as her guide. Director/writer Steve Coogan also co-stars. This improbable quest to set history right is based on a true story. 

Alien gives it 2½ “parking lot” stars out of 4.

Spinning Gold

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Based on the popular role playing game, a charming thief & his band of unlikely adventurers go on a quest to retrieve long lost relics in this fantasy heist action comedy. Tricked & imprisioned, Edgin (Chris Pine) & Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) escape from their dungeon & go on a quest to retrieve the resurrection tablet & find his daughter, Kira. Along the way, they team up an amateur sorcerer, Simon, & a shaped-shifting druid, Doric. They must do battle against enemies like rogue/con man, Forge (Hugh Grant), Sofina, the Red Wizard, and, of course, dragons. With dazzling special effects, it’s ancient times with magical modern upgrades to appease today’s audiences. It’s a fun film. Will this terrific cast of adventurers with great chemistry be back for more adventures? Look for a humorous mid credit clip.

Alien gives it 3 “pivot” stars out of 4.

Champions

Marcus Marokovich (Woody Harrelson) is a skilled but temperamental assistant coach of a minor league basketball team in Iowa. When he gets a DUI & fired, he begrudgingly must accept 90 days community service coaching an intellectual disabilities team. Move over “Rocky” & “Bad News Bears”, there’s a new heartwarming underdog story to be told in this feel-good sports comedy. Yes, it’s fairly predictable & meant to tug at our heartstrings, but you can’t help but want to root for this coach & his the Friends team as they battle their way to the Special Olympics Championship in Winnipeg. Kaitlin Olson, Cheech Marin & Ernie Hudson are in the supporting cast. The kids on The Friends squad are terrific. As Marcus & audiences get to know them, their personalities, & special behavior/quirks, hopefully everyone will have a better understanding & appreciation for all people. Marcus comes to see each person as they are & what they each need to be properly motivated. Also there is a nice little rom/com story mixed into the game plan. Look for a fun music video played during the credits & one last Showtime stopper at the very end.

Alien gives it 3 “hard-on for the pick & roll” stars out of 4. 

65

A long, long time ago (65 million years ago) in a galaxy far, far away, a dad/pilot, Mills (Adam Driver), promises his wife & daughter that he will be back in 2 years. He signed up for long-range space mission so he can afford to provide the medical attention needed for his sick daughter. But it’s “Robinson Crusoe” meets “Jurassic World” meets “Asteroid” when Mills’ ship is damaged & crash lands on an uncharted planet (Earth). He, along will a 9-year-old girl, Koa, are the only survivors so they must depend on each other until they are rescued or find a way off this planet. It’s high tech devices & primitive methods versus prehistoric terror on a planet alien to them.

Alien gives it 3 “catastrophic extinction event” stars out of 4.

Shazam!: Fury of the Gods

Nearly 4 years later, Billy Bateson/Shazam (Asher Angel/Zachary Levi) & his foster family of champions must do battle with the daughters of Atlas (Helen Mirren, Lucy Lui, & Rachel Zegler) in order to save the world. Also returning is the Wizard (Djimon Hounshou) & his magical staff. Among the spectacular special effects are a ferocious dragon & some evil mythical monsters. Billy struggles with self doubts & uniting his foster family as they are growing up & facing their own personal problems. Look for a cameo tease & surprise. See familiar Philadelphian landmarks destroyed. Will Shazam save the day or will he have to make the ultimate sacrifice? A mid & a post credit clip hint to future possibilities with new & old characters.

Alien gives it 3 “all or none” stars out of 4.

John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is back for his fourth film appearance. He has been declared “ex-communicado” with a bounty on his head that keeps being raised. He is caught between a rope & a dead place as he fights to earn his freedom when there seems to be no way out. From New York to the Arabian desert to Osaka to Berlin to Paris, the overwhelming action sequences are stunning & just get bigger & better. Battling with guns, knives, swords, nun-chucks, & hand-to-hand in hotels, night clubs, on the steps, & in the streets. He has some old & new allies. The rules & code of the High Table complicate decisions. There’s a blind assassin & a tracker with a dog. The villain is the Marquis who doesn’t play fair. It’s unbelievable, practically nonstop action choreographed to perfection & very loud. So many groans & “oh shit” moments. It’s breathtaking. Like a Timex watch, John Wick takes a licking but keeps on ticking… at least to the end, maybe? Will the Baba Yagga finally earn his freedom or will this be the last of John Wick? Can he find a win, win, win in a no win situation? There is one final post credit scene to tickle your senses.

Alien gives it 4 “don’t be late to the church” stars out of 4.

Scream VI

Ghostface is back for its 6th installment of more & bigger slasher movie blood & gore. Like its previous franchise films, the characters will fill you in on what to expect to keeping you on the edge of your seat, not sure of what comes next. I’ve only seen random clips of the franchise so past references mean little to me. The two half-sisters, Sam & Tara, have moved to the Big Apple thinking they have left their troubles behind. Of course the body count quickly mounts as it’s Halloween & the ghostface mask has become hugely popular. The premise here is to trust no one because you can’t rule out anyone in this twisted black comedy horror film. Lots of mentions from previous episodes, of other horror film references, some retuning familiar faces, as well as some twists & turns to keep the audiences off balanced & guessing. Who will die & who will survive? Will there be another sequel? If you like B-movie horror stabby, stabby blood & gore along with a who-dunnit mystery or if you just love this franchise, you’ll probably be entertained. They are still messing with your mind in a post credit clip.

Alien gives it 3 “core four” stars out of 4.

The Sea Beast

It’s adventure on the high seas as Captain Crow of the “Inevitable” with his adopted son Jacob & their crew hunt the sea monsters that have wreaked havoc against humans for hundreds of years. Then, an orphan girl named Maisie steals away on board & changes everything. This is a delightful animated film where a little girl’s insight & compassion effects a centuries old misunderstanding.

Alien gives it 3 “Red Bluster” stars out of 4.

Moving On

When Claire (Jane Fonda) & Evelyn (Lily Tomlin) reconnect at their dear old friend’s (Joyce) funeral, memories from nearly 50 years ago resurface & a plot to murder Joyce’s husband, Howard (Malcolm McDowell), begin to formulate. This senior citizen revenge comedy is perfect for the AARP crowd. It’s told realistically & humorously from the point of view of today’s aging individuals & how these older people relate to the younger generations & their real world realities. Fonda & Tomlin are hilarious as the plot carefully deals with some sensitive topics. Richard Roundtree is in the supporting cast & plays an ex. For me, this was the perfect film to preview on one’s 72nd birthday. Check it out & enjoy.

Alien gives it 3½ “guns, knives, & poison” stars out of 4.

Luther: The Fallen Sun

London is being terrorized by sadistic psycho-maniacal killer. Disgraced British detective John Luther (Idris Elba) & counter intelligence operative Odette Raine (Cynthia Erivo) are on the hunt to find this killer. Andy Serkis excels at playing creepy characters. It’s digging up dirt & using it as your trump card. This crime mystery starts out slow & puzzling but picks up steam by the end. 

Alien gives it 2½ “Red Bunker” stars out of 4.

Dog Gone

A aimless socially awkward college graaduate with no job prospects loses his best friend/dog on the Appalachian Trail. Thus begins a tremendous search & rescue effort headed by the father, mother, & son. This film was inspired by true events. Dog lovers will understand the lost & enjoy the many handy tips & useful information in case you find your dog missing. There is also a father/son bonding side story. Rob Lowe & Kimberly Williams-Paisley play the parents. This is a touching family film.

Alien gives it 3 “Addisons disease” stars out of 4.

Big George Foreman

You may know of George Foreman from his boxing ring wins or from his George Foreman Grill infomercials, but here is George Foreman’s life story about where he came from & what led him to those successes. From his troubled youth to his days with the Job Corps, follow Foreman’s boxing days with trainer Doc Broadus (Forrest Whitaker) to his retirement as a preacher. See how financial disaster, inspired his entrepreneurial business & his return to boxing after 10 years. This is an inspirational story of a man who finds Jesus Christ & is determined to believe in himself.

Alien gives it 2½ “Youth Club” stars out of 4.

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guere (Strategy of War)

Producer/writer/director Guy Ritchie brings his version of “Mission Impossible” meet “Goldfinger” to the big screen when an unknown high tech device is stolen by persons unknown & to be sold to an unknown highest bidder to do who knows what. The British government assigns Nathan Jasmine (Cary Ewes) to assemble a task force to recover the device. Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) is the main muscle/hand-to-hand combat expert. Sarah Fidel (Aubrey Plaza) is the computer hacker expert/femme fatale. J.J. Davies (Bugzy Malone) is the backup/covert sniper. They track the device to billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmons (Hugh Grant). To crash Simmons’ charity event, they bring along movie superstar Danny Francesco (Josh Harknet) as a diversionary tactic. Along the way they run into stiff competition from a secondary spy operation. All of the actors play their roles excellently in this action comedy spy thriller. It’s funny & fun to watch. The ending points to another assignment but our heroes are in no hurry for the next mission. There is a mid-credit clip of a movie in a movie.

Alien gives it 3 “The Handle” stars out of 4.

Rodeo

It’s shades of “Fast & Furious” when Julia runs away from her dismal life to explore her passion for motorcycles. She poses as a buyer for a bike being sold online & steals it. She ends up stumbling upon the high-octane world of urban Rodeos, illicit gatherings of cycle/quad enthusiasts showing off their bikes & daring stunts. But when an accident occurs & the police arrive, she gets taken in by a bike gang running an secret chop shop. She gets drawn in deeper & involved in more riskier tasks. Will she ride off into the sunset or crash & burn? This is a French film with subtitles. The French speak fast & I️ read slow so it was challenging for me to keep up.

Alien gives it 2 “for passion, not money” stars out of 4.

Hot tempered and fiercely independent, Julia finds escape in a passion for motorcycles and the high-octane world of urban 'Rodeos' -- illicit gatherings where riders show off their bikes and their latest daring stunts. After a chance meeting at a Rodeo Julia finds herself drawn into a clandestine and volatile clique and, striving to prove herself to the ultra-masculine group, she is faced with a series of escalating demands that will make or break her place in the community.

Creed III

At the top of his game, Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has stepped away to train the next generation of elite boxers. He is enjoying his family & the fruits of his labor. However, a childhood mistake has returned to haunt him & backs him into a corner so he must come out swinging. Jonathon Majors is introduced as old friend Damien Anderson from the neighborhood. Tessa Thompson & Phylicia Rashad return as wife Bianca & Mary Anne Creed. Jordan also directs this film. A chid idolizes her dad. A mom tries to protect her son. A man tries to bury his past. This story fits the “Rocky” mold and carries on the Balboa-Creed legacy. Is Donnie too busted up to re-enter the ring? Will Donnie be able go toe-to-toe for the full 12 rounds? Will there be a Creed 4? 

Alien gives it 3 “checkmate” stars out of 4.