Monthly Archives: December 2016

Scott Returns to Direct “Alien: Covenant”

action, horror, science fiction, sequels, space opera, suspense, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

With Alien: Covenant, a new chapter in his groundbreaking Alien franchise, Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created.

The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise and a dark, dangerous world. They must attempt a harrowing escape when they uncover a threat beyond their imagination.

This movie roars. Yikes!

The movie blends creature horror with a larger, more unsettling story about creation and identity. It’s a philosophical journey about what happens when creators lose control of their creations. Reviews point to Michael Fassbender’s David as the film’s bewitching element. David shifts the storyline from a standard survival mode into a strange, intellectual showdown between synthetic beings and their makers.

Plus, the dark visual perspective and bursts of violence create an edgy, memorable atmosphere despite the uneven plot.

I watched a nice, long clip titled “The Last Supper.” I was surprised to see James Franco. He is the captain, too. There are some other familiar faces. Check out the movie.

“How to Be a Latin Lover”

comedy, romance, , , , ,

Directed by Ken Marino, How to Be a Latin Lover stars Eugenio Derbez in a cross-cultural movie with more of a Latin flair than a true American comedy.

Eugenio plays a very handsome and very young Maximo, who dreams of being rich without ever having to work a day in his life.

Having made a career of seducing rich older women, he marries a wealthy woman more than twice his age. 25 years later, spoiled and bored from waking up next to his now 80-year-old wife. He gets the surprise of his life when she ends up dumping him for a younger car salesman.

Forced out of his mansion and desperate for a place to stay, he must move in with his estranged sister, Sara, played by Salma Hayek, and her nerdy but adorable son, Hugo, in their small apartment. Eager to return to the lap of luxury, Maximo uses his nephew’s crush on a classmate to get to his new target-her grandmother, Celeste, a widowed billionaire.

As Maximo tries to rekindle his powers as a Latin lover, he bonds with his nephew Hugo, and he learns that being a Latin lover means that loving money isn’t as important as the love of your family.

Suspense and Horror “A Cure for Wellness”

horror, suspense, , ,

Directed by Gore Verbinski, A Cure for Wellness follows an ambitious young executive sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from an idyllic but mysterious “wellness center” at a remote location in the Swiss Alps.

He soon suspects that the spa’s miraculous treatments are not what they seem. When he unravels its terrifying secrets, his sanity comes to the test, as he finds himself diagnosed with the same curious illness that keeps all the guests here longing for the cure.

The movie is streaming now,  or you can get the Blu-ray/DVD.

The film’s foreboding undertones make it feel like a psychological thriller, while it appears intriguing.

Verbinski won both the Academy Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film. He has directed Mouse Hunt, The Ring, the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, Rango, and Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die For Rango.

Verbinski took on a challenge by directing a distinctly different genre.

“Everybody Loves Somebody” Mexican Romantic Comedy

comedy, foreign movie, romance, , , , , ,

Written and directed by Catalina Aguilar Mastretta, Everybody Love Somebody follows the young and beautiful Clara Barron, played by Karla Souza.

The film has English subtitles, but it is in Spanish. Clara seems to have everything, such as a great job as an OB-GYN. She even has a magnificent house in LA and a big, fun-loving Mexican family.

But the one thing Clara hasn’t figured out is her love life. Pressured by a family wedding in Mexico, Clara asks a co-worker to pose as her boyfriend for the weekend festivities. The only surprise is when her ex-boyfriend (and family favorite) suddenly shows up after disappearing from her life completely.

Torn, Clara must decide between going back to the past or opening her heart to new and unexpected possibilities.

In an adventure full of laughter, she learns that sometimes it takes the whole crazy family to help you find crazy love.

Goldie Hawn in “Snatched” Trailer

action, comedy, , , , ,

I know we should think Snatched is funny, but being kidnapped in a foreign country doesn’t seem like a funny situation.

It all starts after her boyfriend dumps her on the eve of their exotic vacation. Impetuous dreamer Emily Middleton, played by Amy Schumer, persuades her ultra-cautious mother, Linda, played by Goldie Hawn, to travel with her to paradise.

Opposites, Emily and Linda realize that working through their differences as mother and daughter – in unpredictable, hilarious fashion – is the only way to escape the wildly outrageous jungle adventure they have fallen into.

Kidnapping occurs in our cities, not just in other countries.  It is hard for me to get excited about this movie, even though Goldie Hawn is starring in the comedy.

Horrific Drama “The Bye Bye Man”

drama, horror, legend,

People commit unthinkable acts every day.

Repeatedly, we grapple with understanding what drives a person to do such terrible things. But what if all the questions we’re asking are wrong? What if the cause of all evil is not a matter of what… but who?

The Bye Bye Man seems to be a chilling horror-thriller that exposes the evil behind the most unspeakable acts committed by man.

Directed by Stacy Title, the film cost around $7 million to produce and grossed $29.9 million worldwide.

When three college friends stumble upon the horrific origins of the Bye Bye Man, they discover that there is only one way to avoid his curse: don’t think it, don’t say it.

But once the Bye Bye Man gets inside your head, he takes control. Is there a way to survive his possession?

Baldwin Voices “The Boss Baby”

adventure, animation, based on a book, children movies, comedy, family movies, kid movies, , , , ,

Directed by Tom McGrath, The Boss Baby is a hilariously universal story about how a new baby’s arrival affects a family, told from the delightfully unreliable point of view of a wildly imaginative 7-year-old named Tim.

He wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin, and headlines in the animated comedy with a sly, heart-filled message about the importance of family. The Boss Baby looks hilarious and should appeal to the entire family.

Its core message is about adapting to a new baby in the family. Families can’t divide their love, which makes it easy for parents and kids to relate to the film. The movie also highlights selflessness and sibling bonding. Parents see a positive theme beneath the exaggerated comedy.

The Boss Baby is a family movie since it gives children the enjoyment and silliness they want while offering parents a narrative about family learning to adjust and build togetherness.

“Despicable Me 3” Blu-ray/DVD

animation, children movies, comedy, family movies, kid movies, sequels

Gru is back for the third time, and this looks funny.

The Blu-ray/DVD is out on the streets, and you can get the entire package with all the special featurettes. The featurettes include a mini-movie for some more laughs.

Despicable Me 3 is a physical comedy. The absurd villain antics and the contrast between Gru’s deadpan personality and the chaos around him. A lot of the humor comes from the Minions’ nonsensical antics. Then there’s Gru awkwardly dealing with his twin brother Dru. Let’s not forget Balthazar Bratt’s extensive 1980s villain vibe.

The movie delivers visual gags more than clever dialogue. Children can relate to the jokes and follow them even if they miss some words. The scenes with the twin-brother dinner awkwardness, identity mix-ups, and the Minions are the main sources of laughs.

The film draws laughs from faces, timing, slapstick, and over-the-top characters rather than witty writing. It’s a movie that the whole family can enjoy together.

“The Fate of the Furious”

action, sequels, thriller, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Directed by F. Gary Gray, The Fate of the Furious begins where Dom and Letty are on their honeymoon, and Brian and Mia have retired from the game. And the rest of the crew are exonerated.

The globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman, played by Charlize Theron, seduces Dom into the world of crime, he can’t seem to escape, and a betrayal of those closest to him, they will face trials that will test them as never before.

From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, our elite force will crisscross the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing chaos on the world’s stage… and to bring home the man who made them a family.

Also joining Vin Diesel is a returning all-star cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky, and Kurt Russell. Besides Theron, the series welcomes newcomers Scott Eastwood and Helen Mirren.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” Trailer

adventure, remakes, , , , , , , , , ,

Directed by Jon Watts, I am not sure how to take the next Spider-man movie’s overall slant.

Spider-Man Homecoming is a little too goofy for me and seems nothing like the comic strips I used to read in the daily paper when I was a kid.

The movie has a great cast, so I am hoping for a better trailer soon. One that shows more of the story and a good reason to go to the theater and see another Spider-man remake.

Check out the interviews with the director and cast just after the two trailers.