Alien at the Movies

Thunderbolts*

Where does Marvel Studios go now that the multi-movie contracts on their major Avengers stars have expired & some of these characters have been written off as dead or retired? Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is back as the CIA director fighting impeachment. In an attempt to cover up her activities, she is disposing any incriminating information. A misfit group of antiheroes (Black Widow, Red Guardian, super soldier John Walker, Taskmaster, & Ghost) find themselves ensnared in a deadly trap pitting themselves against each other. There is also this seemingly ordinary guy, Bob, stuck in this room just before more evidence is about to be destroyed. With the clock ticking, they must work together to escape. This movie is action packed demonstrating the skill sets of these secondary characters. Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, shows up during the big chase scenes. Great visuals & thrills entertain the audience as we try to figure out where this script is going. Who will survive & who will die? Who is Bob? It was hard to figure out where all of this 2 hours plus wild adventure was going throughout the film. But we do get to know these Marvel characters better. There is a funny mid credit clip. However, the final post credit clip explains it all. The final message reads: The New Avengers & Bob will return.

Alien gives it 3 “still feeling a little duped though” stars out of 4.

Robots

Not to be confused with the 2005 animation with the same tile, this film begins in 2032, when a government official celebrates the great wall separating the U.S. from Mexico keeping illegal immigrants sneaking across the border & stealing jobs from American citizens. Now, robots are commonly used to do jobs without having to pay them. In this sci-fi rom/com, Charlie (Jack Whitehall) is a womanizer & Elaine (Shailene Wooodley) is a gold digger . Each have their own illegal robot facsimile of themselves (C2 & E2) to do their bidding on unpleasant tasks they don’t want to do themselves. Things start to go wrong when sticky note addresses get switched. C2 & E2 accidentally become sexually connected, become more human, & want to get married. C2& E2 manage to dupe Charlie & Elaine and steal their lives. Charlie & Elaine plan a counter attack to regain their lives. It’s goofy fun as these partners-in-crime eventually fall in love just like their identical bots.  

Alien gives it 2½ “green with pink door” stars out of 4.

The Parenting

It’s “Meet the Parents” meets “The Amityville Horror” when a gay couple, Josh & Rohan, invites each of their parents for 3-day weekend at farmhouse rental with a dark history. Rohan plans to propose to Josh while introducing their parents to each other. At first, it’s that typical new rom/com acquaintance awkwardness, but soon things escalate in a bad way when a 400-year-old demon is conjured up & terrorizes the guests. It’s zany dark poltergeist humor in this goofy horror comedy. Edie Falco, Brian Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, & Parker Posey are in the cast. Will this demon be vanquished? Will Rohan get down on one knee? Will someone/someones not survive the weekend? Was this someone’s evil plan? Look for a mid credit clip.

Alien gives it 2½ “Ego Sum Tibi Andras” stars out of 4.

Bullet Train Explosion

Here is Japan’s answer to the 1994 “Speed” movie where a city bus with passengers onboard will explode if the speed drops below 50 mph. Of course, why not go bigger & faster. Someone plants a bomb on one of Japan’s speedy bullet trains loaded with passengers. If the train’s speed drops below 100 kph, it will explode. They have less than 6 hours before the train reaches its Tokyo final destination to develop a feasible rescue plan. Tempers flair as panic on the train erupts. Can they save the passengers? Can they find & defuse the bomb? Will they find the bomber? Fortunately, the audio was dubbed in English. The plot is fairly predictable but I️ liked how they MacGyver-ed the rescue.

Alien gives it 2 “slowing down the bullet train” stars out of 4.

Another Simple Favor

That psycho bitch is back! Emily (Blake Lively) is back, out of prison, getting married on the isle of Capri, & asks Stephenie (Anna Kendrick) to be her maid of honor. What could go wrong? Actually, quite a bit in this black comedy sequel. From the original, we know Emily/Hope can’t be trusted after killing her identical sister Faith so she could collect on her $4 million dollar insurance policy on herself. Of course, Anna accepts & attends the lavish wedding. Anna was once a cooking show vblogger & now is an author/crime solver. Emily is always stylishly & chicly dressed. Emily’s fiancé is a rich & powerful businessman. Emily’s future mother-in-law hates her. Emily’s ex, Sean (Henry Golding), & her son Nicky are also attending. Surprise guests are Emily’s mother & her Aunt Lucy. Even with hired security, murders occur & the fun begins as this now becomes a who dunnit. There are so many possible suspects & lots of twists & turns. Can you predict the victims & point to the finger at the bad guy/guys? It’s a great cast & script. Lively & Kendrick are wonderful. There is a naked butt & another simple favor requested at the movie’s end.

Alien gives it 3½ “Best Friends Forever “ stars out of 4.

Call of the Void

A young woman, Moray, escapes to a remote cabin in the woods to be by herself after the death of her brother. She meets an old man searching for his dog. The man warns her about danger in the woods. Late that same night, a college band moves into the unit next door disturbing her peace & quiet. New neighbor Lucy apologizes to Moray for the noise the next morning. Music from the band rehearsing attracts Moray to visit & listen. Moray joins the group on a hike in the woods. Then this slow moving film going nowhere just becomes weirder & hard to figure out what is happening & why. Lucy, Sterling, & Cole act like they are in a trance. Daryl is scared & is trying to drown out some sound he hears. Moray finds the old man dead & a dog collar. The group eventually catches up with Moray & converts her. In the end they all sign a folk song. That’s pretty much it & I️ did not get it. I️ could not figure out what or why anything was happening. For me, this was a pointless low budget horror film where nothing much happens & feels like a waste of time.

The following is someone else’s description:

After the tragic death of her brother, Moray retreats to a remote mountain cabin to try and escape her work, her family, and her old life. However, her quiet retreat is quickly diverted by a college band moving into the unit next door and a suspicious professor studying a local phenomenon involving a mysterious hum.

She discovers that the Hum is a gateway to something otherworldly, unnameable, and once heard–there is no return. The Hum is a sonic experience that asks the question: How can you escape your own senses?

The term “call of the void” is defined as a brief, unwanted impulse, often described as an intrusive thought that can be unnerving. Like the sudden & unsettling urge to jump, even from a great height, when one is standing in a high place, with no intention of actually doing so.

Alien gives it ½ “Mr Moon, Mr Moon, cuckoo, cuckoo, don’t drink the water) star out of 4.

The Last Rodeo

Joe Wainwright (Neal McDonough) is a retired legendary bull rider. He is a widower & has an adult daughter, Sally, & a grandson, Cody. When tragedy strikes the family & their medical bills mount, Joe’s solution is to enter a high-stakes bull-riding competition in hopes to help pay for medical treatments. In professional bull riding, one must hang on for 8 seconds without their free hand touching himself or the bull. Joe asks his long time friend & rodeo partner, Charlie (Mykelti Williamson), to join him on this journey. Over 50 years old, he becomes the oldest rider competing against those much younger. His body takes a beating but he refuses to give up. Through it all, he learns to deal with his past, confirms his faith, & finds strength in his love of family. 

Alien gives it 3 “Tussle in Tulsa” stars out of 4. 

Sinners (IMAX)

It’s “From Dusk to Dawn” meets “Let Me In” in director Ryan Coogler’s demon horror tale inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s 1996 vampire movie. In 1932 Mississippi, identical twins, Smoke & Stack (Michael B. Jordan in a dual role), return home from Chicago to open a juke joint. They are rich black gangster types hoping to profit from opening an establishment catering to the local blacks. All is going according to plan on opening night until the party crashers come knocking. Then it seems like all hell breaks out, when good must face evil. Jordan is outstanding as usual & we get double dose here. Coogler has crafted another masterpiece. It is such a combination of exquisite pieces blended marvelously together. It’s the story, this period piece, the music, the dancing, the pieces of culture displayed, the stunning visuals, as well as these scary creatures. There are the blues songs, some Irish stepdance, & almost a hint of a Chinese opera. Coogler has a unique way of merging it together for his story. So who will survive the night? Will this vampire infection be stopped? Don’t get out of your seats too soon. A mid credit scene takes us 60 years later & wait to see who pops up. Then, after the final credits, there is one more musical scene.

Alien gives it 3½ “Clarksdale” stars out of 4.

In Flight 

Claire has been struggling with life lately so she had decided to fulfill one of her dreams & booked a 2 week solo trip in Paris. Just before her trip, she meets with her best friend. While chatting with her friend, a mysterious handsome stranger comes over to talk. They hit it off, buy each other some drinks, & share a ride to the airport. Next thing she remembers is waking up on the plane already in flight & a medical emergency is in progress. She is dazed & confused about how she got on board. She chats with her fellow passengers & the flight crew. She finds a warning message threatening her & the flight. She tries to stop the threat. The audience will be as confused as Claire as to what is going on & why. This seems to be some kind of mystery thriller for us & Claire to solve. But don’t waste your time because the assumed premise is a cheat. I️ had my suspicions that we were being set up with false information as nothing seemed to be coming together. I️ won't spoil it for those who still want to play their game. But I️ felt cheated & deceived that I️ was going to be entertained. I️ was hoping for some clever plot storytelling but I️ just got ripped off.

Alien gives it ½ “Marco…” star out of 4.

G20

It’s “Air Force One” meets “Die Hard” when terrorists hijack the G20 World Summit Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, holding world leaders hostages & planning to disrupt the world financial market. U.S. Madam President Danielle Sutton (Viola Davis) must save & rescue her family, fellow world leaders, & the world. Fortunately, she is that badass fly-in-the-ointment disrupting the bad guys’ plan. The plot is action packed with many on the edge of your seat moments. There are some twists & turns. But there are just too many convenient resolutions to solve their situations to make this feel believable. However, it is fun to watch & cheer for the good guys; more of a popcorn guilty pleasure movie. There is even a helicopter on the rooftop with hero & villain battling it out. Yippee Kai Yay!

Alien gives it 2½ “cryptocurrency” stars out of 4.