Alien at the Movies

Avatar: Fire and Ash

James Cameron is back for Round 3 of the tremendous Avatar series… and it does not disappoint. Be prepared to be totally re-immersed in the world of Pandora. Filmmakers has again magically transported audiences into the Na’vi environment while capturing those powerful emotional human feelings. The first two films introduced the elements of land, air, & water… and now comes fire. The Sully family is still trying to find their place on Pandora. Old & new enemies are on the attack. A Na’vi volcanic ash tribe is introduced. We discover a hybrid. There is pregnant warrior. The battle between good & evil continues. It’s modern technology versus traditional ancient ways. The film is action packed with stunning visual effects. Emotions run strong in this sequel with the great passions of grief, guilt, love, & hate. You get two villains to boil the blood in your veins. Will these bad guys perish in a blazing ring of fire or will they miraculously return in another sequel (rumored to be a 4th & 5th coming?). Will the Sully family manage to stick together & never give up? Not only is the motion capture fantastic but you can almost feel the emotions looking into the eyes of these strange looking Pandoran animal creatures. Like the Force in Star Wars, their is a strong spiritual energy flowing though all things on this planet. At 3 hours 17 minutes, this is the longest runtime in the series yet.

Alien gives it 4 “pray to the Spiitual Mother” stars out of 4.

The Housemaid

It was a dark & stormy night… Millie and… oops, I’m getting ahead of myself…

Are you looking for a twisted psychological thriller? Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is trying to look presentable for a live-in housemaid job for a wealthy family. Prim & proper Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) is interviewing. Millie is hiding some secrets & is desperate for this job. Of course, she is hired but there something not right about this household & the family who lives there. Audiences will soon learn this may be a house of crazies but you’re not sure who the lunatic(s) is/are. Everyone is a bit weird & a suspect. From the beginning, I️ felt like I️ was being played as my sixth sense started to tingle.. I️ was never sure where the plot was taking me. It is twistedly dark & sadistic. The final scene will make you wonder even more & may hint to a possible sequel. Oh… and see Sweeney naked twice in the shower & in a few sex scenes.

Alien gives it 3½ “the attic room & there are consequences” stars out of 4.

SpongeBob Movie: The Search for SquarePants

It’s SpongeBob SquarePants meets “Pirates of the Caribbean” in “Curse of the Flying Dutchman”. Our silly hero, SpongeBob, awakes to his “big guy” day & goes to Booty Beard’s Fun Park. There, he is unable to face his fear so he sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs. SpongeBob & Patrick search out the legendary Flying Dutchman Ghost. However, SpongeBob will regret the deal he makes. Follow these zany antics on this pirate adventure. This is goofy family fun for kiddies & SpongeBob fans. It seems like every 10 years, SpongeBob & company resurfaces for another oceanic journey in silliness. This makes number 3.

Alien gives it 2½ “curse pipe” stars out of 4.

Rental Family

Philip (Brandon Fraiser) is an American actor living in Japan for the past 7 years. He is a stranger in a strange land. He originally found quirky fame doing a Japanese toothpaste commercial but these days he struggles to find real acting jobs. One day, he is offered an opportunity at Family Rental Inc. to play stand-in roles for strangers. He becomes their token white male character. He is reluctant at first. He gets hired to be a groom for a bride with a secret, a journalist interviewing an aging actor with oncoming dementia, & an estranged father to a young daughter. This is a little movie with a big heart. Philip starts to build strong emotional bonds with those he is supposed to be helping, but knowing eventually he must sever their bond & disappear from their lives. He starts to question if his pretend lie will do more harm than good. Is this agency crossing the line with their charades? This comedy/drama is a  bittersweet story.about the search for purpose, human connection, fulfillment, & happiness.

Alien gives it 3 “pinky swear & kidnaping” stars out of 4.