Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn

Written by: Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn, Mark Millar (comic book), & Dave Gibbons (comic book)

Starring: Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, & Julianne Moore






This film was just as interesting as the first one.  Same qualities: crazy, adventurous, and funny.

After the Kingsman headquarters gets blown up, Eggsy is on a quest to find out who did it and why.  He discovers that their emergency plan is the Statesman, Kingsman American cousin.  With their help  they begin their investigation to ultimately end with a blue rash plague slowly killing people around the world.

Just like Samuel L. Jackson in the first film, Julianna Moore is similar in being quirky and an all-around unconventional villain.  Her master plan though is smart and the whole plot makes sense.

It kept me entertained with laughs and action.  There was one part that seemed very aggressive to put in the film, sexually I mean, so perhaps seeing this film with family wouldn't be the best advice, i.e. parents.

5 popcorns.

American Assassin (2017)

Directed by: Michael Cuesta

Written by: Stephen Schiff, Michael Finch, Edward Zwick, Michael Herskovitz, & Vince Flynn (novel)

Starring: Dylan O'Brien & Michael Keaton






I wasn't going to see this movie because it's definitely a guy movie.

After Mitch's (O'Brien) fiancé dies, he becomes determined to get revenge.  He begins investigating who killed her and then gets recruited to join a counter terrorism group, led by Stan Hurley (Keaton), a former Navy Seal.

It was a gruesome film.  After it ended, the guy next to me said, "Mike Tyson got nothin' on Michael Keaton."  Keaton was that intense.

It was a great action flick with good guys, bad guys, shooting, explosions, torture, etc., but I didn't see the reason as to why Mitch decided to stay in this group because the group was investigating counter terrorism, which apparently had no link to his girlfriend's murder. Or did I miss something?  So what was the motivation?  That's the only thing I had a problem with.  There wasn't enough character development to explain his motivation.

3 popcorns.

Brad's Status (2017)

Directed by: Mike White

Written by: Mike White

Starring: Ben Stiller & Austin Abrams






Brad's (Stiller) son Troy (Abrams) is finally going to college.  As a result, they begin scouting and getting interviews to help his son's college applications.  As they go from school to school, Brad contemplates his life and wonders: was it a waste?

This philosophical film is relatable as an audience member.  Has our whole life been a waste up to now?  What achievements have we made?  Are these achievements for ourselves or are they for society?  And what guarantees an achievement?  Is it happiness?  Money?  Contentment?

Okay, maybe I'm being too philosophical, but that's this movie.  It's pretty funny though seeing Brad go through a mid-life crisis while his son is barely beginning his.

4 popcorns.

Mother! (2017)

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

Written by: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, & Ed Harris






The movie without character names.  Thanks Aronofsky.

Lawrence plays a housewife that is remodeling her husband's childhood home.  Bardem, her husband, is a famous author trying to write his next book without any success or inspiration.  After a husband shows up unannounced, it goes down hill from here.  Bardem, being a great host, allows Harris in to stay the night.  Lawrence, deeply upset by this fears the strangers and wonders their intention.  Next thing you know, more guests show up, causing Lawrence deep anxiety.  The film spirals out of control to end up with (SPOILER below)...

...Lawrence dying and Bardem claiming her heart to restart the whole cycle again.  It was confusing for the most part.  Was Bardem God?  Was he the devil?  Was he mother earth?  Was she?  There wasn't a definite answer, which I guess is supposed to make it brilliant, but from what I heard, it made it some people very upset.

For example, if he was God, why would he allow his wife and child to die, especially all the violence that led to that.  But at the same time, religiously speaking God did sacrifice Jesus.

But then there are theories of him being the devil.  That would explain his charisma and the violence. Plus, the claiming of all the souls and pretty much life being destroyed.  But is the devil capable of love and to love all his fans and wife?

Then the theory of mother Earth.  Is each wife mother Earth?  That would explain the title and how her heart can recreate life.  But he's the one that does it.  And if the crystal that broke in the movie representing balance and peace didn't break, would Lawrence still be alive?

I don't know.  And this is why it's 3 popcorns.  It's an artistic film with an unconventional ending as well as confusing and mostly unsatisfactory one.  But I still liked it.

Home Again (2017)

Directed by: Hallie Meyers-Shyer

Written by: Hallie Meyers-Shyer

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Michael Sheen, & Pico Alexander






This was a typical Nancy Meyers film, except it's by her daughter.  Still, basically the same.

Alice (Witherspoon) is going through the motions of being a single mom when she meets three young men that basically teach her how to still have fun.  She begins a relationship with one when her ex, Austen (Sheen), wants to get back together.

It's a feel good movie with a moral that life doesn't have to end when your marriage does.  Spend time on yourself and live life.  But overall, that's it, there isn't anything that "really" happens.  It's a see on tv type movie.

I wasn't impressed...only with Michael Sheen's hair.  Damn it looks good.

2 popcorns.

It (2017)

Directed by: Andy Muschietti

Written by: Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, Gary Dauberman, & Stephen King (novel)

Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, & Wyatt Oleff




I saw the original and this version is way better.

A group of students begin noticing that people are missing and after doing their research, they find that it happens every 27 years.  After discovering that something is abducting kids, each of the group members begins having their greatest fear haunt them, controlled by the evil clown/demon Pennywise (Skarsgård).

To me, and to others, the film is not scary.  It's creepy, but also funny.  The kids make the film and have great chemistry with each other as well as emulate how kids are, picking on each other, but still being friends.

Other than the kids being great, Skarsgård also did a great Pennywise.  Apparently, from looking at the trivia, he did a lot of his own stunts and like the part where he contorts his body is real and not CGI.  That makes it even creepier.

4 popcorns.

Tulip Fever (2017)

Directed by: Justin Chadwick

Written by: Deborah Moggach (novel) & Tom Stoppard

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, & Christoph Waltz








In order to support her family, Sophia (Vikander) marries a wealthy man Cornelius (Waltz).  Unhappy and eager to have a child, she has an affair with an artist (DeHaan) and plans on a way for them to be together.

This film was not heavily advertised, but it should be.  Vikander does it again with a marvelous performance during this period piece.  Her interaction with Waltz and DeHaan was so contrasting that, as an audience member, you sympathize with her and her endeavors that she goes through to be happy.

Besides this main storyline, the film had a few other subplots that were interesting since they revolved around the tulip mania that occurred during the 17th century.  Tulips were a rarity and were being exchange for money, similar to art, gold, and other valuables in modern times.

I enjoyed this film very much and loved how the film interconnected the characters and plots.

5 popcorns.

Birth of the Dragon (2016)

Directed by: George Nolfi

Written by: Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, & Michael Dorgan (article)

Starring: Billy Magnussen, Yu Xia, & Philip Ng







I had originally gone to see "The Hitman's Bodyguard" for the 3rd time, but didn't check the movie times in advance therefore bought a ticket for this film.  Nevertheless, we just thought hey, let's just check it out and it turned out to be a pretty good film.

The film has been advertised to be all about Bruce Lee, but it isn't.  Technically, Bruce Lee's (Ng) student Steve (Magnussen) falls in love with a girl brought over from China and being kept away and owned by Auntie Blossom (Xing Jin), an Asian mobster.  In order to set her free, Steve asks Bruce and another Kung Fu master Wong Jack Man (Xia) to fight against each other.  But despite them fighting, Steve's plan doesn't work out like he originally thought.

So, technically yes, the film is about Bruce Lee and Wong Jack Man's famous fight, but that is not the core focus.  It mostly talks about Steve and this girl he loves.  It was still entertaining and I liked the fighting scenes, but I wish Steve was less in it.  He was a little annoying and I didn't like how a Caucasian actor stole the show from these Asian actors.  But hey, maybe that's how the story truly went.

3 popcorns.