Wish Upon (2017)

Directed by: John R. Leonetti

Written by: Barbara Marshall

Starring: Joey King, Ryan Phillippe, & Ki Hong Lee




Clare (King) ends up with this Chinese music box given to her by her father, Jonathan (Phillippe).  After reading the box, she sees that she can make seven wishes.  But after a few wishes, she notices that everyone she loves is starting to die.  Is it connected to the music box?  And if so, can she stop making wishes to save the ones she love.

I was so entertained by this film even though it was kind of predictable.

The movie basically has this overall theme of be careful what you wish for, original right?  King as well as her costars make the film feel more like a thriller than a horror film, but the horror comes from the Final Destination type deaths that come with each wish.

I liked the backstory given with the music box as well as how literal the wishes were.  Plus everything she wished for is typical for a teenager to wish for.  It's a great little horror flick that will entertain you and give you the creeps from the graphic deaths.  The film as a whole was a little predictable, but still good overall.  4 popcorns.

The Mummy (2017)

Directed by: Alex Kurtzman

Written by: David Koepp, Christopher McQuarrie, Dylan Kussman, Jon Spaihts, Alex Kurtzman, & Jenny Lumet

Starring: Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, Annabelle Wallis, Sofia Boutella, & Jake Johnson



Aye, where do I begin!

Tom Cruise stars as Nick Morton, a thief and adventurer.  After a thieving mission gone wrong, he discovers, along with his friend Chris Vail (Johnson), an Egyptian tomb located in Iraq.  Once opened, Nick is announced as the chosen one by Ahmanet (Boutella) that will supposedly be sacrificed so the god Set can have a human body.  In an attempt to break the curse, Nick along with his friend with benefits Jenny (Wallis), go in search of entrapping the mummy that's escaped as well as breaking the curse.

Let's get to it:

THE NEGATIVES -

1) I miss Brendan Fraser! Tom Cruise should not have been casted in this film.  The writers tried to make him funny, but he just isn't funny.  Every time he makes a joke, he just comes off as cocky.

2) The relationship between Nick and Jenny was terrible in comparison to Fraser and Rachel Weisz.  With Fraser and Weisz, there was basically a whole film of them just bantering until the moment of falling in love.  With Nick and Jenny, this was how the relationship went:

You slept with me and then stole my map!  I hate you.
Yeah, okay.  DANGER DANGER!

That was it.  There was not enough communication or banter to actually establish a relationship the audience could see.  Then they were like "I love you,"  but don't.  It was confusing and dumb.  I didn't like either of them, nor their relationship with each other.

3) Jake Johnson was in this film, why?  He was there to provide most of the comic relief, but it would have been so much better if he wasn't in it at all or they took out Tom Cruise.  Them together, to me, did not have chemistry.

4)  The mummies looked like zombies.  They're probably supposed to, but it was confusing. Maybe they were zombies?  What makes a zombie?

THE POSITIVES -

5) Best thing about this film was the implementation of other storylines.  Universal seems as if it is attempting to replicate Marvel and DC, but instead of superheroes, it's monsters.  Crowe plays Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  How awesome is that!  Plus there were indications that they plan on making a Dracula film and more monster films.  Do it Universal!  Just don't cast Tom Cruise.

6) Sofia was amazing.  She projected an innocence and fierceness that brought the film to life pretty much.  She was a great mummy.

Anyway, those are my notes.  If you're going to see it, I suggest you rent it.  2 popcorns.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Directed by: Patty Jenkins

Written by: Allan Heinberg, Zack Snyder (story), & Jason Fuchs (story)

Starring: Gal Gadot & Chris Pine





When Steve Trevor's (Pine) plane goes down in Themyscira, Diana a.k.a. Wonder Woman (Gadot) has a choice to make on whether she wants to stay with her family or venture out into the world to save the human race from the God of War, Ares.

Overall, Gadot is the perfect new Wonder Woman.  Her character is naive and as she ventures off she learns lessons that enable her to become the Wonder Woman that is a part of the Justice League.  As for Pine, he works well with Gadot, and her powerful nature does not intimidate him nor bring down his character.

At the same time though, the villain, Ares, was a strange choice casting wise.  I would have hoped they picked someone else.  Preferably anyone else, but perhaps that was the whole plan, to make him look not villainy.

The film is dark like previous DC films.  In addition, don't stay towards the end, there is nothing there.

4 popcorns due to some dragging portions of the film mostly because of the repetitive nature of her explaining her goal and him disagreeing with her actions.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

Directed by: Joachim Ronning & Espen Sandberg

Written by: Jeff Nathanson & Terry Rossio

Starring: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush, Brenton Thwaites, & Kaya Scodelario




Depp is back as Captain Jack Sparrow in this ride-like movie.  Sparrow is on the run from Captain Salazar (Bardem), the dead man that rules the sea.  Salazar is on a quest to get revenge on Sparrow since Salazar and his crew were destroyed by Sparrow when he was young and new captain.  Meanwhile, Will Turner's (Orlando Bloom) son, Henry (Thwaites), is on a quest for Poseidon's trident that is supposedly able to break any and all curses on the sea. In order to find it though he needs a girl, Carina (Scodelario) and a Sparrow.

It wasn't a terrible film.  The film kept the audience entertained and didn't have any dragging parts.

The only issue I had was with a scene between Captain Barbosa (Rush) and Carina, which seemed odd.  I can't tell you much since it contains spoilers.

The film felt like a ride because of how many adventurous parts there are.  The dynamic between Kaya and Brenton worked well and imitated Bloom's and Keira Knightly's performance way back when.

Probably the best part of the whole film was the ending.  If you do intend to see it, make sure to stay until after the credits.  Just like the previous films, there is another scene.

4 popcorns.

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Directed by: Bill Condon

Written by: Stephen Chbosky & Evan Spilliotopoulos

Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGreggor, Stanley Tucci, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Audra McDonald, & Gugu Mbatha-Raw


This live-action remake brings to life the original fairy tale along with the Disney classic animation version.  There are so many things that I loved about this film.

Ok first, my favorite princess was always Jasmine.  But as I grew up and took a bunch of "What Disney Princess are you?" (I always got Belle) my favorite changed to Belle.  So when I heard that this film was coming out, I was very excited.  So excited that I got advanced tickets in 3D.  (I recommend seeing it in 3D.)

Anyway, one of the positives from the film is how I said that it incorporates the original fairy tale...at least a little bit.  Belle (Watson) still doesn't have siblings, but the reason for Maurice (Kline) leaving is the same as the original story.  So rather than trespassing as the original, Maurice is imprisoned for being a thief.

Second, it is pretty historically accurate.  In the cartoon it is difficult to figure out when the film takes place, but in the live-action it is pretty evident that it takes place during the 18th century a.k.a. during Marie Antoinette time.  The costumes were outrageous and the antiques that the king has are for sure during that time. (I used to work at an antique lamp shop.)

Third, it is a very modern version with there being interracial couples as well as more than one gay character.  It brings it into this time period.

Plus the additional scenes that weren't in the original are fantastic.  They answer the questions that we have like what happened to Belle's mother?

So it's a must: 5 popcorns.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Directed by: David Yates

Written by: J.K. Rowling

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Collin Farrell, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, & Dan Fogler




Newt (Redmayne) travels to America in order to mate one of his fantastic beasts with another.  Unfortunately while he is there, he ends up releasing some of his beasts out into the No-maj world.  He tries to capture them, but gets captured himself by Tina (Waterston) who is trying to redeem herself in the workplace.  After some convincing, Newt and the rest of his friends search New York for the rest of his beasts while being blamed for a mysterious dark force terrorizing the city.

This film is definetly darker than the rest of the Harry Potter films.  But then again, this isn't a "Harry Potter" film.

I expected Newt to be more extroverted and talkative, but instead he was shy and quiet.  But, hey, I'm not the writer.

I thought the creatures were very creative.  All of them had their own unique trait and were beautiful...for the most part.

You can also tell that there will be more movies to come.  Can't wait for them, the cast, magical creatures, and costumes to come back in the following films.  5 popcorns.

Doctor Strange (2016)

Directed by: Scott Derrickson

Written by: Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, Stan Lee (comics), & Steve Ditko (comics)

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, & Tilda Swinton




Loved this film.  The main reason I loved it was because it was completely different than the other Marvel films.  It wasn't just fighting to save the world, but it also had great information about how there is this other hidden universe as well as had more emotional scenes.

Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) is a great neurosurgeon and he knows it.  He owns fancy cars, great place to live, but is rude and unappreciative of those in his life.  While driving, he is distracted and ends up in a major car accident.  Therefore he needs to undergo surgery for various body parts and in the end loses his precise hands that performed these expensive surgeries.  In order to get his life back, he begins searching for this place that healed the impossible so that way they can heal his hands.  But he gets more than what he expected.

I felt this film was very creative and was very Inception like.  Swinton was amazing and seemed like "The Ancient One."  She definitely brought that character to life.  Also this film made me like Cumberbatch way more, since I didn't like him much before.

Not much else to say about this film.  If you see it, make sure to stay after the credits...and I mean the whole credits.

5 popcorns.

Ghostbusters (2016)

Directed by: Paul Feig

Written by: Katie Dippold & Paul Feig

Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, & Leslie Jones








When I first saw the trailer for this film I was not impressed.  It looked like a dud and not very funny. But trailers can be deceiving.

Erin Gilbert (Wiig) is a professor up for tenure.  But when she realizes a book that she made a while ago is up on Amazon, she becomes afraid that it might jeopardize her career.  She finds her used to be friend and co-author Abby Yates (McCarthy) to tell her to take it down and stop selling it.  But when they hear of a ghost nearby terrorizing a museum, they have to look into it.

Oddly enough, I thought this version of Ghostbusters is better than the original.  I was laughing throughout as each character added something to the film.  They all made the movie hilarious with their jokes and physical humor.

There are some people though that feel Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) was unnecessary and too dumb.  I liked Kevin.  He was a good contrast to the original secretary Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts), who was more negative, but also had the uncaring attitude that Kevin carries.  I thought he added more humor to the film since the women have to interact with the "dumb blonde" character that usually women play.  Instead, this film flips the stereotype and lets the women have the smarts and Kevin be the eye candy.

As for the other minor characters, such as the mayor, his secretary, etc...sometimes they were trying to compete with the main characters for laughs.  Sometimes it worked since usually Kristen Wiig had to play off it and it made her that much more humorous, but sometimes it seemed too much.

Other than that, the CGI was great and I loved how they brought the actors from the original into this film.  4 popcorns!

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Directed by: Bryan Singer

Written by: Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty, & Dan Harris

Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, & Jennifer Lawrence






So this film is good; it wasn't amazing or anything, but overall entertaining enough.

The plot line is cohesive and clear.  The first mutant, En Sabah Nur/Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), wakes up from a long sleep to see that the world is ruled by humans rather than mutants.  Enraged, he finds four mutants who he can make into the four horsemen of the apocalypse: War, Death, Famine, and Pestilence.  (Although it's unclear which is which.)  In an effort to connect to the world and control all the mutants, they kidnap Professor Charles Xavier (McAvoy).  The X-Men get together to save the Professor as well as the world.  Yadda, yadda, yadda...

It's basically the same as the other films just a different problem to overcome and fight.  I don't know if it is me, or the stupid people talking behind me, but I just thought the film was okay.  Like I said, it wasn't amazing or blew me away or anything.

I did like though the new characters that they put in.  Well maybe not new new, but you know, like Jean Gray (Sophie Turner), Scott Summers/Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Orono Munroe/Storm (Alexandra Shipp), and Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee).  It was interesting to see how they all came together and the romantic tensions that arise between Scott and Jean as well as with Raven/Mystique (Lawrence) and Hank McCoy/Beast (Nicholas Hoult).

Of course the action is amazing with the explosions, destroying of buildings, the powers, etc...  The acting is well enough as well.  I didn't notice any technical mistakes.  But it just seems like this film isn't as good as the previous two.  Plus it's starting to get annoying with the continuity problems such as with Angel, Nightcrawler, and more.

Is this the end for X-Men?  Probably not.   I read this article that has a good point of what they can do with the franchise from now on.  You can see it here.  Anyway, it's going to be 3 popcorns.  It is good, but not as good as Days of Future Past and First Class, which in my opinion are 4 popcorns each.

Oh, and of course, stay till the end of the credits.  If you have a question about the end, leave a comment or you can Google it.

Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)

Directed by: James Bobin

Written by: Linda Woolverton & Lewis Carroll (books)

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, & Sacha Baron Cohen







This sequel is surprisingly good.  Maybe even a little bit better than the first.

In the beginning, the Mad Hatter (Depp) finds the first hat he has ever made.  With that, he gets the belief that his family is still alive, but no one believes him and with each disbelief, he dies a little each time.  Meanwhile Alice (Wasikowska) is having her own problems with her family and views of society on independent women.  As she steps through the looking glass, she finds herself immersed in Wonderland and on a mission to cure the Hatter.

Let's start with the positives.

I loved how they incorporated time travel into the film.  Alice needs to go back in time to save the Hatter's family and she goes back to different time periods rather than just one.  In addition, the way it is incorporated is very creative.

Also, the character of Time (Cohen) is well played.  At first I thought, oh great he's a fool, but his foolishness makes sense since it coordinates with his time aspect.  He has no time to waste so he predicts answers before others say what they want to say.

I also loved the backstory of the Queen of Hearts/Red Queen (Carter).  They explain why her head is so big.  Plus they give the backstory to the Hatter and how he came to make hats.

There is even one portion of the movie where they bring up a scene in the 1951 version.  Let me know if you catch it.  If not, I'll fill you in.

Okay the negatives.

First, Anne Hathaway's acting at the beginning of the film seemed ridiculous to me.  I don't remember her being like a fool in the first one, but this time she seemed really ditzy.  But after the climax, the acting improved.  Maybe it's just me.

And secondly/lastly, the plot seemed too predictable.  Not necessarily for the explanation of the Queen's big head or what was happening in the real world, but just the plot line with what happened to the Hatter's family and Alice's actions to save him.  Perhaps it's because I watch too many films and just can sense what is going to happen or maybe the writer wanted it to be predictable.

Let me know what you think.  4 popcorns.