Alien at the Movies

Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny

Indy is back! Go get ‘em, Indy! It’s more fun & adventure while hunting for artifacts, visiting ruins/tombs, solving puzzles, & of course, avoiding the Nazis. It’s “Back to the Future” meets “It’s About Time” when the Antikythera (Dial of Destiny) is the MacGuffin plot device connecting 1944, 1969, & 212 BC in this 5th film of the famed franchise. Watching the previous films isn’t absolutely necessary but many nostalgic memory moments are imbedded into this storyline. John Williams’ rousing Indy score just punctuates & excited the thrilling chase scenes. The show starts off in the de-aged last days of the Hitler’s reign. There are familiar old faces & some new faces: Helena (cash driven Goddaughter, Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Teddy (Helena’s pickpocket accomplice & Short Round reminiscent), Jürgen Voller (German astrophysicist, Mads Mikkelsen), & Mason (US government agent with that black exploitation era vibe). Time is a fitting theme with the aging Henry Jones Jr/Harrison Ford & likely last Indy appearance. Indy has lost his son, Mutt, causing his separation /divorce from his wife, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) & he retires as à university professor. Will Indy die & pass on the torch to another? Will he ride off into the sunset? Will he find peace & happiness with what he has chased all of his life? It’s another thrill ride adventure with fun characters in a battle between good & evil.

Alien gives it 3½ “Eureka! Archimedes’ fissures in time” stars out of 4. 

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

Ruby Gillman & her family are trying to live quietly among humans in the town of Oceanside. She is a shy & awkward 16-year-old high schooler who just wants to be normal & attend the prom with her cool friends. Except her overprotective mom forbids her. Ruby does not know that she is a descendant of a line of Kraken warrior queens destined to protect the oceans & high seas. When she meets Chelsea, a  new student, she forms a friendship that leads her into trouble & she must learn to release her inner Kraken powers to save her friends & family. This cute & charming coming of age animated feature about breaking out of your shell is geared for the kiddies. 

Alien gives it 2½ “trident powers” stars out of 4.

No Hard Feelings

Bartender/Uber driver Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) loses her car due to delinquent back property taxes on her home. Desperate for transportation, she answers an ad to “date” the anti-social, socially awkward son, Percy, of 2 wealthy helicopter parents for a Buick as payment. It’s a predictable storyline but very funny as Lawrence plays the hired cougar who throws herself at the introverted & clueless Princeton-bound student. Lawrence has the acting range to be convincing as the emotional tide changes when the inevitable deceit is discovered. By the end, they both learn to grow up & move on without losing the friendship that they have developed. There are some surprises but the most shocking is a beach scene. This film was better than I️ expected. This raunchy dramedy is rated R for sexual content & innuendos, graphic nudity, & brief drug use. Surpringly, the premise was based on a real-life Craigslist ad.

Alien gives it 3 “The Mantauk Maneater & The Chinese Finger Puzzle” stars out of 4.

Elemental (3D RPX)

Pixar’s latest animated world focuses the elements of water, fire, earth, & air as its featured characters. Fiery Ember is the daughter of Bernie & Cindy Lumen, immigrants who settle in the Fire Town part of Element City & open a convenient store after facing discrimination from the other elements. Growing up, Ember aspires to take over running the store from her father. However, her uncontrolled explosive temper is always getting her into trouble. One day, her temper creates a problem & she meets free flow, sappy Wade Ripple, the building inspector. Thus begins this romantic comedy exploring how opposites like fire & water can coexist in the world. This is a cute & charming film, like “Inside Out”, as human personalities are assigned to other things to teach their lessons. Here, we learn that the parent’s dream of success isn’t necessarily their child’s. Everyone must follow their own path. This is a terrific family film, kind of a cartoon kids version of “Kim’s Convenience”.

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

The Boogeyman 

What child afraid of the dark hasn’t imagined the boogeyman hiding in the closet or underneath the bed? Based on a Stephen King short story, this supernatural horror film exploits this idea. The Harper family recently lost the family matriarch in a car accident. Teen sister Sadie, young sister Sawyer, & father Will are all still grieving in their own ways. After the therapist dad is visited by an unscheduled potential client who dies on the premises, one by one the family begins to hear & see something in the dark. The terror builds as the film progresses. This movie follows the classic horror genre formula as it build suspense. Who will survive this living nightmare? Will they kill their haunting terror? Can you really kill a supernatural creature? It ends with a suspicious noncommittal conclusion.

Alien gives it 2½ “Mom’s lighter” stars out of 4.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

In this sequel to Into the Spider-Verse, we get a little background on Spider-Gwen in her multi-verse world & an intro to the Spider Society along its numerous Spider-individuals before Gwen returns to revisit Miles Morales as he tangles with the Spot. However, when Miles secretly follows Gwen on her new mission, his actions may have disrupted some multi-verse canon & may be unraveling the fabric that connects all of these dimensions together. If you aren’t familiar with the Spider-man multi-verse, this can be a lot to absorb with all of these Spider-individuals & their parallel universes being tossed at you. Not being a follower, I couldn’t keep up with all of the character names or which hyphenated number version of Earth was being visited. It’s action packed & visually simulating. I️ read that a new sound mix version is going to be issued due to audience complaints. I️ may have to rewatch this one. It does end cliff hanger style, so look for the return of Miles Morales in Beyond the Spider-verse & see if he can untangle this sticky mess he gotten himself into.

Alien gives it 3 “Captain must die” stars out of 4.

Flamin’ Hot

This is the rags-to-riches story of Richard Montañez, son of a Mexican immigrant who while working as a janitor at Frito-Lay & had an idea. This wonderful comedy/drama, directed by Eva Longoria, focuses on how a man with limited education & from a poor minority background can persevere & succeed with his curiosity & an innovative ideas, even when the odds are stacked against him. This a great true story family film about an innovative man & his supportive family. This film about the creation of a spicy treat is heavily flavored in Mexican culture to expand people’s horizons. Dennis Haysbert & Tony Shalhoub are among the supporting cast.

Alien gives it 3½ “3, 2, 1… breathe” stars out of 4.

Mending the Line

A Marine, John (Sinqua Walls), is wounded in Afghanistan & is sent to a V.A. facility in Montana to deal with his emotional & physical trauma. When group therapy doesn’t work for him, his physician, Dr. Burke (Patricia Heaton), suggests fly fishing with a cranky old retired war veteran, Ike (Brian Cox). John also meets Lucy (Perry Mattfeld), photographer turn librarian who sometimes reads to patients at the V.A. This is a little film with big emotions as these 3 individuals interact & help each other move forward. The film focuses the problems of our wounded warriors & traumatized individuals as well as helping these people get pass their pain & suffering. The movie title “Mending the Line” is a fly fishing term about how to cast into the current. Here it is also a metaphor about dealing with your past & moving on. This emotional & touching film also co-stars Wes Studi. You’ll see some beautiful fishing scenes.

Alien gives it 3 “catch & release” stars out of 4.

The Flash

It’s “The Butterfly Effect” meets “Back to the Future” meets “Frankenstein” in DC’s latest attempt to match the Marvel juggernaut’s success. The film opens with Barry Allen/Flash (Ezra Miller), Batman (Ben Affleck), & Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) showing off their talents in some thrilling rescues & captures. After a hard day’s heroics, Barry’s thoughts turn to sadness as he laments the death of his mom & the imprisonment of his dad for her murder. Barry misses his mom & knows his dad is innocent so he goes back in time to correct a minor shopping mistake & save his mom & dad from their destinies. What could go wrong in a time travel story trying undo something? Of course, everything. He ends up trapped in the past with his 18-year-old self pre-Flash powers & in alternate timeline with no meta humans. With the appearance of General Zod (Micheal Shannon), Barry & other Barry seek out Batman & another Krytonian to battle Zod & his army. DC fans will love this action-packed superhero film as it highlights nostalgically back through DC history & what-ifs. Twists & turns along with its humor will keep audiences entertained. Michael Keaton shows up recreating his version of Batman. By the end will Barry undo his mistake & set things right? Look for surprise cameos & a post credit clip that may or may not mean anything.

Alien gives it 3½ “can of tomatoes” stars out of 4.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Autobots, Maximals, & Terrorcons… oh my!

In 1994, it’s “Night at the Museum” meets “Indiana Jones” meets “Avengers” meets “Iron Man” when an ex-military electronics expert/reluctant car thief, Noah (Anthony Ramos), & a museum intern/artifact researcher, Elena (Dominique Fishback), join the battle to save planets & assist to keep the Transwarp Key out of the clutches of Unicron. Their wild adventure takes them from Brooklyn to Machu Picchu, Peru, to prevent Unicron from devouring more planets. This is one of the best Transformers movies. The morphing of these transforming robots is always fun to watch. Adding to the fun is the film’s sense of humor. Some of your old favorite bots are back & some new ones are introduced. It is action packed with some surprise twists & turns. Who will survive? This one is about the burden of being the big brother, promises made, & the choices you make to save your planet. At the end, there is a hint to a possible crossover sequel. Stay for an “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over” mid-credit clip. 

Alien gives it 3½ “Optimus Prime vs Scourge” stars out of 4.