Alien at the Movies

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (IMAX)

And now for the follow up to the 2023 “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning  Part 1”. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) & his IMF team are back to stop Gabriel (Esai Morales) & the Entity from world domination or annihilation. It’s intense action with twists & turns. Just as you start seeing things go bad, it just gets worse. It’s sitting on the edge of your seat gripping your arm chair tightly stressful excitement. I’m not sure why any insurance company would allow Cruise to hang on to the outside of planes for all of those thrilling hair raising aerial stunts. He is such an adrenaline junkie. Also, look for more skin shown than Cruise usually reveals in his movies. You got to be in shape to pull off his amazing stunts. What is in the mystery box? Who will live & who will die? How close to nuclear warfare will the world be pushed to? With Part 1, I️ already saw the beginnings of changes to Hunt’s team. And here, I️ see possible new team member faces. They do some quick visual flashbacks to past missions. Some key team members face life threatening situations. A returning old faces will surprise you. The movie’s title also includes the word final. I started to get the feeling that this was a subtle look back at the journey to get here & maybe this was a hint to a new IMF future. Will there be more impossible missions? Is Cruise being phased out for a new leader?

Alien gives it 3½ “May 22, 1996…We will figure it out… This message will self destruct in 5 seconds” stars out of 4.

Sister Midnight

An Indian arranged marriage, a sudden death, & a woman asking her neighbor for a few favors… could this be India’s version of “A Simple Favor” or the sequel “Another Simple Favor”? I️ think not. It’s quite bizarre & hard to tell where this story was going. At first, I️ thought it was going to be some comedy satire on the exaggerated difficulties of an unhappy arranged marriage. Then the plot veers off to stranger events. It’s black comedy that takes kind of a horroresque bend with lots of deadpan humor awkwardness. This film may be too weird for most. But maybe something is lost in translation… Indian/Hindi humor that I️ don’t get. I️ did enjoy seeing the Indian way of life & culture. The scenes were picturesque & kind of reminded me of Wes Anderson’s film style. I️ did like the lead character Uma, although she was weird. The film was visually stimulating but it did not feel like it was going anywhere even though things were happening. By the end, I️ just wondered… huh?

Alien gives it 2 “goats & birds” stars out of 4.

Watch The Skies

Do you believe in extraterrestrial life?

Denise is a rebellious teenager who believes that her missing-for-years father was abducted by aliens. He was a member of a quirky UFO club trying to uncover government secrets related extraterrestrials & get to the truth. She used to accompany him on his fact finding missions until one day he vanished. Years later after noticing strange phenomena possibly connected to her dad, she teams up with his club members to investigate further. It’s quite a journey she experiences trying to find her dad, especially when many don’t believe her theories. Will she find her dad? Does she really know what she is talking about? The Swedish film “UFO Sweden” used artificial intelligence to dub it in English & was retitled “Watch the Skies”. I️t gives off a “X-Files” vibe. 

Alien gives it 2½ “4th dimension” stars out of 4.

Aa lovechild and they called it UFO SWEDEN!

Clown in a Cornfield

Shotguns, chainsaws, & cattle prods… oh my!

It's “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” meets “Founders Day” meets “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” in this latest entry into the teenage slasher horror genre. A single dad/doctor & his 17-year-old daughter Quinn move to the small midwestern town of Kettle Springs for a fresh start. It’s the city girl feeling out of place trying to fit in. On Quinn’s first day at school, she meets & starts hanging out with some new friends. However, her new buds are pranksters causing minor incidents so the locals have it out for them. On Founders Day, their prank ruins the parade featuring the town mascot, Frendo the Clown. They are also being unjustly blamed for burning down the Baypen Maple Syrup Factory. They have been posting fake videos of Frendo being a serial killer terrorizing teens. Well, it seems like these kids have really irritated someone because a Frendo dressed clown begins to stalk & kill these teens one by one. Who is this clown? Who will die & who will survive? If you enjoy this genre, you may have a good time. I️ find it more cheesy predictable stupid. At certain scenes, I️ almost wanted to wince & laugh. The story felt very contrived & I️ never would have suspected the Midwest was so full of assholes & clowns?

Alien gives it 2 “telescopic tactical baton” stars out of 4.

Adult Best Friends

Katie & Delaney have been BFFs since they were 12-year-old, but now Katie’s boyfriend, John, has proposed & they are now engaged. Katie is thrilled & excited but doesn’t know how to tell Delaney. Katie plans a beach getaway with Delaney to one of their favorite spots in order to soften the anticipated blow. Of course, it’s a comedy of errors & nothing seems to go right. This is the story about two besties who seem to be on different paths in life as they grow older but they still love & care for each other deeply. Katie Corwin & Delaney Buffett happen to star as Katie & Delaney as well as being producers & writers along with Delaney directing. Zachery Quinto costars as Katie’s brother. This film is funny & emotional.

Alien gives it 3 “love finds a way” stars out of 4.