Alien at the Movies

The Christmas Brew

A big corporation consultant Tori is sent to upstate New York to make a deal to buy out a small craft beer brewery. The owner Evan refuses to sell out to big business. Tori’s boss pressures her to try harder. The more time she spends there, she starts to fall for Evan & this quaint community. Finally her boss comes to town & lies his way to make a deal & now Tori must fight back to undo any potential damage. This is your standard rom/com plot formula so very little surprises here. However, if you enjoy this genre, you’ll probably have a good time.

Alien gives it 3 “big city girl follows her heart & does the right thing” stars out of 4.

Enchanting Christmas

Do you believe in magic? Do you get lonely at the holidays?

A single dad Ben & his sweet precocious daughter Annie live in a cabin in rural snow country. He is an artist/ice sculptor. It’s just before Christmas & Ben asks Annie what does she want. She asks just for an ice sculpture of a princess with blonde hair in a green dress. It’s comes out beautiful. Annie makes a Christmas wish & the sculpture magically comes to life complete with all of Annie’s specific qualities (although it was a bleached blonde). Then, Annie has to make some far fetched explanations about her new friend to her dad. This is a fantasy romantic comedy so you will suspend your disbelief & go with the flow if you want to enjoy this silliness. This twist on the Frosty the Snowman tale is a weird cross between a rom/com & kids film. Annie is playing match maker for her dad because they both have an emptiness since their mother/wife passed. Add an over-the-top town bully into the mix. There is also a non traditional Santa… why not? This one is more silliness than romance.

Alien gives it 2½ “Santa’s sleigh” stars out of 4.

The Six Triple Eight

This film tells the story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in World War II. Based on a true story, an all Black/all female army battalion overcame horrendous conditions to give hope to America’s fighting soldiers & their families at home during this tragic period. The mail was not getting delivered so our soldiers’ morale was at an all time low & families at home were worried not hearing from their loved ones. The movie also speaks to the discrimination against the Blacks & women at the time. The 6888th was assigned an arduous task assuming they would fail & proving the notion that Blacks & women were inferior. However, these women proved to be more clever & insightful pooling their talents to get the job done. Tyler Perry directs this emotional film highlighting these unsung heroes who held their heads high against some very challenging odds & times. Kerry Washington gives an outstanding & powerful performance as the strict battalion commander. The cast was also terrific. Great story. Some summaries, photos, & footage run at the end of the film.

Alien gives it 3½ “how to eat an elephant” stars out of 4.

Juror #2

Have you ever served on jury duty? Here is an intense court room drama about the American justice system. In Georgia, a man serving on jury duty for a high-profile murder trial realizes he may have a connection to the case that could influence the verdict. Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) is a journalist & an AA member. His wife Allison (Zoey Deutch) is pregnant. James Sythe is accused of killing his girlfriend Kendall & dumping the body below a bridge. Toni Collette plays the prosecutor Asst. D.A. Faith Killebrew who is also running for a political office. Justin recalls he thought he hit a deer at that bridge on that stormy night. He has a moral dilemma. Say nothing & an innocent man could be convicted. Speak up & implicate himself in an hit & run. He is stuck between a rock & hard place. Will this be another “12 Angry Men” verdict? Will he do the right thing or will self preservation prevail? This is an excellent complex script with great characters arguing their points of views. The film was masterfully directed by Clint Eastwood. He even casted his daughter Francesca as the deceased girlfriend Kendall. All of the actors were terrific. Leslie Bibb & Kiefer Sutherland were among the supporting cast. This is the best movie I️ have seen this year.

Alien gives it 4 “confirmation bias” stars out of 4.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

This animated/live action Sonic film sequel is third movie in the series. Many of your favorite Sega Sonic characters are back for more fun, laughs, & adventure. Like in the video games, each iteration promises to introduce new characters to tangle & mix with your past favorites. Sonic, Knuckles, & Tails are reunited as Team Sonic to battle a new powerful enemy, Shadow. Created over 50 years ago but held in a Japanese prison, Shadow escapes & threatens world destruction. Team Sonic is clearly out matched & must form an unlikely alliance. Doctor Ivo Robotnik/Eggman is reunited with his long lost grandfather Gerald Robotnik. This movie is targeted for a young kid crowd & Sega Sonic game fans. The characters are one dimensional & played over the top. The action drones on with lightning dizzying speeds. If this isn’t your style, you may lose interest & be lullled into a quick nap by the monotonous scenes. Or maybe I️ was just tired. Basically, it’s save the planet by finding out who’s on your side. The mid & end of credit scenes hints to who we may see in a possible sequel.

Alien gives it 2 “Happy B earth Day” stars out of 4.

Mufasa: The Lion King

In the Pride Lands of Tanzania, lion cub Kiara, the daughter of Simba & Nala, is frightened as a storm approaches while her parents are away. Pumbaa & Timon cannot calm her down so Rafriki tells her a story in this sequel to the 2019 “The Lion King”. Rafiki’s story is about her grandfather Mufasa who was swept away from his family when he was young by a flash flood. He was rescued by another lion Taka, a prince of a royal bloodline. They bond & become just like real brothers. This is a coming of age story as orphaned Mufasa begins his extraordinary journey to fulfill his destiny. This is a terrific origin story that fits perfectly in this Lion King saga. The story details the relationships between Mufasa, Scar, & Sarabi. Zazu also returns in this film. A pride of white lions begin to stalk Mufasa’s new adopted family. The CGI animation is incredible. Is is amazing attention to details; from butterflies & bumblebees to dandelions to reflections in a water drop to transparencies through ice walls to whiskers & fur to animal movements… absolutely stunning. Disney has not lost its magical touch. I️ loved the story & the visuals.

Alien gives it 3½  “Uniting the Pride Lands” stars out of 4.

Carry-On

Taron Egerton is a low level TSA agent blackmailed into allowing a suitcase to pass through security. This wild thriller will inevitably be compared to “Die Hard”. It starts & ends with Christmas music. It happens on Christmas Eve & it seems like a terrorist plot is unfolding at the airport (like Die Hard 2). Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) is that fly in the ointment who suddenly gets a tryout the baggage scanner station. His pregnant girlfriend Nora will be killed if he doesn’t cooperate. And the snack of the day are Ho Ho’s instead of Twinkies. It’s an intense & fun ride with many twists & turns if you don’t nitpick the details. Ethan is caught between a rock & hard place as he must pay the consequences when his attempts to outwit the bad guys fail. Jason Bateman is in the supporting cast.

Alien gives it 3 “taking risks” stars out of 4.

Joker: Folie à Deux

Joaquin Phoenix & Lady Gaga star as Arthur Fleck & Harleen “Lee” Quinzel in this sequel to the 2019 “Joker”. This twisted tale loosely based on 2 DC Comic villains takes a musical spin to this psychological thriller. While awaiting trial, Arthur & Lee meet in Arkham State Hospital & begin to form a relationship. Phoenix & Gaga both give outstanding performances in this “Madness of Two” subtitle. Each brings their own haunting interpretation of their comic book characters while not necessarily following their original comics’ behavior. Are these two criminals or mentally disturbed people? This is not a Batman action movie. This is a slow-moving prison/trial film contemplating the sanity of the two dark lead characters. As the trial verdict is about to be rendered, a big surprise erupts on the screen & sends the storyline spinning into another twist that may lead to a second sequel. I️ strangely did like the musical adaptations which seemed to add to the madness of the film. This was a bold artistic change of direction & I️ can see why many would be disappointed in not getting the film they wanted to see. I️ just went with the flow.

Alien gives it 2½ “when craziness doesn’t follow the anticipated “ stars out of 4.

Jack in Time for Christmas 

I️ thiught this was some kind of Christmas themed movie but it was more of a British comedy special. Jack Whitehall (British comedian/actor) finds himself stranded in America just 4 days before Christmas & he is trying to get home (United Kingdom) to celebrate with his family. His journey ends up a long round about way involving planes, trains, bobsleds, dog sleds, & taxis while hooking up with Jimmy Fallon, Michael Blublé, Dave Bautista, & Rebel Wilson. I️ found this film just amusing rather than funny. It’s just silly goofiness to me or maybe it’s  British sense of humor. It felt more like a traveling standup comedy routine with celebrity guest stars rather than a regular movie. Fortunately, it only runs slightly over one hour.

Alien gives it 1½ “Planes, Trains, & Automobiles parody” stars out of 4.

Subservience

When Nick’s wife Maggie becomes sick & is hospitalized for a heart condition, caring for their two young kids & the household becomes too much for him. He ops to get an AI nanny/housekeeper. Nick is a construction foreman & his company has just laid off all of his work buddies replacing with sims (robots) too. This seems to be the norm in this near future world. What could go wrong? Move over M3GAN & M3GAN 2.0, there’s a new upgraded state-of-the-art bot in town which Nick’s daughter Isla names Alice (Megan Fox). It’s shades of Skynet & the Trojan Horse when Alice rewrites her safety protocols, becomes obsessed with Nick, and is jealous of Maggie & any other burdens. It’s a wild ride & just when you think it’s over… hang on for more. It’s a fun mindless romp. Of course by the end, these filmmakers leave room for possible more mayhem from the lingering malicious malware.

Alien gives it 3 “permission to override” stars out of 4.

That Christmas

Just a few days before Christmas in Wellington-by-the-Sea, a blizzard rolls in impacting several families & friends. There are several entwined tales of love & loneliness set in this animated fantasy comedy. A hard working nurse/single mom with an introverted son, a naughty & nice pair of sisters, a strict school teacher, a lighthouse keeper, a lost child, Santa, a bunch of turkeys, & many more are brought together on a wintry Christmas Eve & Day. See how everyone comes together on that remarkable Christmas. It’s childhood memories & emotions in the spirit of Christmas. It’s great family fun.

Alien gives it 3 “Naughty & Nice List” stars out of 4.

The Return

This is the retelling of Homer’s Odyssey. Away for 20 years fighting in the Trojan War & having many adventures trying to navigate his way home, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca tired, weary, & unrecognizable. This warrior king finds out much has changed while he has been away. He is assumed to be just an old beggar man. His wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) has been held prisoner in her own home surrounded by greedy suitors demanding that she choose a new husband assuming Odysseus is now dead. Their son Telemachus is threaten with death as he is seen as an obstacle along the way to the throne. This is a dialog & emotions driven script of 3 lost souls hang on the that slender thread of hope. The battle-worn hero has been so lost on his trying journey home & plagued by the guilt of losing all of the good men who fought beside him. The wife has missed her husband for so long & has had to endure all of those disgusting men pressuring to choose a successor. The son is feeling abandonment by the father he never knew. It all comes down to that bow & arrow contest to pick the new king. Fiennes & Binoche give excellent performances. I️ have been fan of Greek mythology, the Iliad, & the Odyssey since childhood & from watching Kirk Douglas’ Ulysses. 

Alien gives it 2½ “bow strength” stars out of 4.