Top 20 Movies to Look Out For In July (2018)

According to: Cat

20 – Bleeding Steel (7/6)

Tag Line: One man must unravel the past to save the future.

Production Companies: Village Roadshow Pictures, Sparkle Roll Media, Heyi Pictures

Director: Leo Zhang

Writers: Siwei Cui, Erica Xia-Hou, Leo Zhang

Actors: Jackie Chan, Nana Ou-Yang, Erica Xia-Hou, Show Lo, Callan Mulvey, Tess Haubrich, Damien Garvey, John Jumane

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated: R

Length: 110 minutes

Moviefone Blurb: Hong Kong police inspector Lin Dong learns that a biochemical invention has been surgically implanted into his missing daughter. With help from a hacker, Lin tries to connect the dots between the device, a sinister army and a strange phenomenon.

Normally, a Jackie Chan (Rush Hour, The Foreigner, The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature) movie would rate far higher on my list. But, frankly, I’m confused by the trailer and blurbs. I can’t tell if the girl Chan’s character needs to protect is his daughter, as the blurbs suggest – or someone else entirely. All the same, I love the sci-fi blending with action genre. While some of it feels like it might come across a bit over-the-top, it’s certainly interesting. I’m willing to give any project he’s involved in a try. 

19 – Damascus Cover (7/20)

Tag Line: His only weapon is his cover.

Production Companies: Cover Films, Vertical Entertainment

Director: Daniel Zelik Berk

Writers: Daniel Zelik Berk, Samantha Newton,

Actors: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Olivia Thirlby, Jürgen Prochnow, Navid Negahban, Yigal Naor, John Hurt, Aki Avni

Genre: Action, Thriller

Rated: R

Length: 93 minutes

Moviefone Blurb: Agent Ari Ben-Sion receives an assignment from Mossad to smuggle a chemical-weapons scientist out of Syria. When the mission goes wrong, Ben-Sion soon learns that he's a pawn in a much bigger plan.

John Hurt (Immortals, Jayne Mansfield's Car, Doctor Who the Time War) was one of the great actors of our time. (I promise I’m not biased just because he played one of the incarnations of The Doctor.) He always brought such an interesting sage quality to his roles. This is his final credited film listed on IMDb. It’s unclear whether or not he was working on anything else that wasn’t announced at the time of his death; so this very well may be it. That’s what got my attention here first.

Of course, there’s much more that this movie has to offer. Jonathan Rhys Meyers (London Town, Black Butterfly, Vikings) is always intense and intriguing in his roles – protagonist and villain alike. Though, admittedly, most of his characters tend to walk a darker path even when they aren’t the primary nemesis of a story. His screen chemistry with Olivia Thirlby (The Darkest Hour, Dredd, The Wedding Ringer) appeared to be on point, from what the trailer revealed. I’m excited to see her involved with this project.

The intrigue runs thick in this tale, and its mysterious aire is appealing almost as much as the action within the feature. 

18 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (7/13)

Tag Line: How now, spirit?

Production Companies: Empyrean Pictures, 5B Productions, Dream Movie

Director: Casey Wilder Mott

Writers:  Casey Wilder Mott, William Shakespeare

Actors: Rachael Leigh Cook, Paz de la Huerta, Avan Jogia, Fran Kranz, Ted Levine, Hamish Linklater, Lily Rabe, Mia Doi Todd, Finn Wittrock

Genre: Comedy

Rated: NR

Length: 104 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Mistaken identity, unrequited love, and the supernatural are combined in Shakespeare's classic set in the woods of Greece on a moonlit night.

I absolutely love to watch film adaptations based on Shakespearean plays. This particular one is one of my favorites of his comedies. It seems like it will be a lot of fun. The moviefone.com blurb for the film reads as “Film students, fairies and a hippie sprite experience a night of enchantments, flirtations and unrequited love.” 

That sounds like one wild ride of a modern take on the tale. Here’s a twist – the dialogue in the movie follows the play as it is written, rather than an adaptation to current vernacular. I understand that means it is not going to be for everyone. The beauty of watching the plays or films in this way is that actions and body language can fill in some of the blanks that linguistic confusion creates when simply reading the text. 

17 – The Row (7/27)

Tag Line: They're going to get in.

Production Company: Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films (EFO Films)

Director: Matty Beckerman

Writer: Sarah Scougal

Actors: Colin Egglesfield, Dylan Sprayberry, Randy Couture, Lauryn Kent, Lexi Atkins, Mia Rose Frampton, Sarah McDaniel, Malea Rose

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Rated: R

Length: 82 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A college freshman trying to get into a sorority discovers a dark secret about the house she's pledging for after a series of murders terrorize the campus.

I waffled a bit as to whether or not this movie made the cut this month. The trailer gave me the impression that it’s going to follow the recipe of most sorority horror movies. I’m not sure that it’s going to be as scary or disturbing as I’d like it to be – but it does, at least, look interesting.  I was left wondering what the big dark secret in the past was going to be when I watched the trailer. They were at least successful in hooking me there. That ray of hope I always cling to often brings bitter disappointment – and yet, I live for the times my faith is rewarded.

Another stand-out in favor of this film is the fact Randy Couture (The Expendables, Stretch, Hawaii Five-O) is in it. His Olympic-level wrestling, military service, and stellar UFC career have served him well in the action movie genre. I enjoy seeing actors step out of their normal wheelhouse occasionally. OK, well sort-of in this case. His character is a police detective, so it’s not THAT far removed from military service.  I think the protective dad role will suit him well. 

16 – Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (7/13)

Tag Line: A Gus Van Sant film.

Production Companies: Iconoclast, Anonymous Content, Big Indie Pictures, Amazon Studios

Director: Gus Van Sant

Writer: John Callahan, Gus Van Sant, Jack Gibson, William Andrew Eatman

Actors: Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, Jack Black, Carrie Brownstein, Beth Ditto, Kim Gordon, Udo Kier

Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama

Rated: R

Length: 113 minutes

IMDb Blurb: On the rocky path to sobriety after a life-changing accident, John Callahan discovers the healing power of art, willing his injured hands into drawing hilarious, often controversial cartoons, which bring him a new lease on life.

 Jack Black (The D Train, Goosebumps, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) you say? I’m already interested. Then there’s Joaquin Phoenix (Hotel Rwanda, Walk the Line, You Were Never Really Here), Rooney Mara (The Social Network, Her, The Secret Scripture), and Jonah Hill (How to Train Your Dragon, The Lego Movie, War Dogs) involved as well. This movie certainly packs in an eclectic star-studded cast.

Even though the cast may be full of heavy-hitters, it’s really the story that caught my attention. This biopic is about a guy that found the inner strength and ability to make that lemonade out of life’s lemons that everyone’s always talking about. It’s inspirational, and it looks like Phoenix is going to be capturing the essence of the role well – of course, he usually does.

I didn’t even recognize Jonah Hill in the trailer until his name was flashed across the screen. His character looks to be both charming and insightful. I might usually roll my eyes a bit at his projects, but it looks like I’m really going to enjoy this one.

15 – Our House (7/27)

Tag Line: Houses Are As Haunted As You Make Them

Production Companies: Prospero Pictures, Senator Film Produktion, XYZ Films

Director: Anthony Burns

Writers: Matt Osterman, Nathan Parker

Actors: Thomas Mann, Nicola Peltz, Percy Hynes White, John Ralston, Christine Horne, Lucius Hoyos, Allison Hossack, Carlyn Burchell

Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated: PG-13

Length: 90 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A young genius accidentally invents a device that amplifies the paranormal activity within his family's house, possibly bringing back the spirits of loved ones, and unleashing things far worse.

The concept of wireless electricity is not a new one. It’s something that those on the bleeding edge of energy technology have been chasing for quite a while. In some areas we’ve taken baby steps in that direction – for example: those charging stations you just set your phone on rather than plugging it in. The big picture application would ideally provide electricity to a larger environment, such as the main character in this movie experimenting with a light bulb; or across greater distances. It all has to do with electromagnetic fields – at least some leading theories do. But I digress…

Needless to say, I’m rather geeked over the science aspect here. Fans of paranormal research may start connecting the dots as to why this plays well into a horror movie. If the sci-fi element of the movie isn’t what’s appealing, it looks like there’s plenty of genre staple chills and thrills. It’s extra creepy to think that in some ways the theories involved might make the scenario plausible …ish; but you don’t have to understand that aspect of it to get what’s going on, if they’ve done this right.

I can’t say that I’ve seen this particular concept played out quite this way before, and I’m thrilled and intrigued. I recognize some of the young cast and I can’t wait to see how this story unfolds.

  

14 – Puzzle (7/27)

Tag Line: From the producer of Little Miss Sunshine

Production Companies:  Sony Pictures Classics, Big Beach

Director: Marc Turtletaub

Writers: Oren Moverman, Natalia Smirnoff

Actors: Kelly Macdonald, Irrfan Khan, David Denman, Bubba Weiler, Austin Abrams, Liv Hewson, Myrna Cabello, Helen Coxe

Genre: Drama

Rated: R

Length: 103 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Agnes, taken for granted as a suburban mother, discovers a passion for solving jigsaw puzzles which unexpectedly draws her into a new world - where her life unfolds in ways she could never have imagined.

This move ensnared my attention unexpectedly. I practically had a profound epiphany while watching the trailer because what one of the characters was saying resonated so profoundly. I’ve always enjoyed puzzles, and these wise words gave some perspective as to why I find it such a zen experience. I’m hoping there’s significantly more of that throughout the movie, and that the trailer didn’t already give us all the best parts of puzzle philosophy.

Aside from that, I think a lot of us can relate to how repetitive and monotonous the daily grind can be. The journey to finding something you’re passionate about can be an interesting one. That is, at the essence, what this seems to be all about. It looks to be a story with warmth and wit.

13 – No Postage Necessary (7/13)

Tag Line: Sometimes love rewrites the code.

Production Company: Two Roads Picture Co.

Director: Jeremy Culver

Writers: Jeremy Culver, Morgen Culver

Actors: George Blagden, Charleene Closshey, Robbie Kay, Stelio Savante, Michael Beach, Raymond J. Barry, Michelle Moreno, Matthew Cornwell

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rated: PG-13

Length: 104 minutes

Moviefone Blurb: A convicted computer hacker helps make ends meet by stealing mail while disguised as a postal worker. Then, a letter written by a heartbroken widow to her husband changes his world.

The film concept of a con-man trying to get their act together when they meet someone special isn’t a new one – but this dramedy seems to have elements that make it feel fresh. The element of crypto-currency involved in the story is very ‘now.’

I really enjoyed the trailer and it got me excited to see how things unfold, so it seems to be worth a real chance. It’s got some really stiff competition on its release date, however.

12 – Eighth Grade (7/13)

Tag Line: Written and directed by Bo Burnham

Production Company: A24

Director: Bo Burnham

Writer: Bo Burnham

Actors: Elsie Kate Fisher, Daniel Zolghadri, Fred Hechinger, Imani Lewis, Luke Prael, Catherine Oliviere, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson

Genre: Comedy

Rated: R

Length: 93 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A teenager tries to survive the last week of her disastrous eighth-grade year before leaving to start high school.

This movie, written and directed by comedian Bo Burnham (Adventures in the Sin Bin, Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous, Bo Burnham: What.), feels important. I think this is something my daughter needs to see post-haste. She just graduated eighth grade and is high school bound in the fall. (Seriously, time needs to slow down!) Not only does this story seem funny and endearing, it speaks to kids on a level that’s relevant to the vast majority – and not just girls.

I originally thought I was reading it wrong that this movie is Rated R – but that’s correct. It’s cited that the reason is due to language and some sexual references, and the like. Nothing’s seeming to set off my parental alarm bells, though parents may wish to screen the film before having their kids partake.

11 – Blindspotting (7/20)

Tag Line: What Do You See?

Production Companies: Snoot Entertainment, Lionsgate, Codeblack Films

Director: Carlos López Estrada

Writer: Rafael Casal, Daveed Diggs

Actors: Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Ethan Embry, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Rolanda D. Bell, Casey Adams

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rated: R

Length: 95 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Lifelong friends Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal co-wrote and star in this timely and wildly entertaining story about the intersection of race and class, set against the backdrop of a rapidly gentrifying Oakland.

My husband grew up in and around Oakland, CA and the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve heard all sorts of stories, and movies set in that area always fascinate me. This movie’s story might use Oakland as its framework, but I don’t think you have to be from there or familiar with it to get the impact.

The film looks both funny and full of grit and relevance. I’ve read that the character of Miles is actually based on a man that walked across the set on their first day of shooting. From what I see of that character in the trailer, I can only imagine how that went down.

10 – Bleach (7/20)

Tag Line: None

Production Companies: Cine Bazar, Warner Brothers

Director: Shinsuke Sato

Writer: Tite Kubo

Actors: Miyavi, Masami Nagasawa, Hana Sugisaki, Erina Mano, Sôta Fukushi, Ryô Yoshizawa, Yôsuke Eguchi, Seiichi Tanabe, Yû Koyanagi, Taichi Saotome

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rated: NR

Length: Unknown

IMDb Blurb: A high school student by the name of Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see ghosts for as long as he can remember. When an unusual ghost appears he must take the powers of a "Death God" or Soul Reaper to destroy it. He uses these powers to protect his friends and defeat major enemies.

Bleach (2004-2012) just happens to be one of my favorite anime series of all time. It also holds the distinction of being the only anime series I actually went out of my way to try to read the manga it originated from when I got impatient between seasons airing on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.

While the series creator has been reluctant over the years to bring the story to a live-action experience, it seems that he finally was presented with a production he could get behind. He worked closely with the movie to ensure that it stayed as true as possible to the manga and anime. I am hoping that this will translate into giving fans a reason to rejoice… if a bit cautiously. We all realize that translating animation to live-action is a dicey prospect. I sincerely hope that this is one of those rare gems that actually gets it right. So far, the trailer seems to indicate that’s the case.

While this movie is releasing in Japan this month, it’s possible that there might also be some limited release here in the States. I can’t wait for it to become available on one of my streaming services – I think I’m even more excited about this than I was the live adaptation of Fullmetal Alchemist (2017).

9 –  Shock and Awe  (7/13)

Tag Line: The truth matters.

Production Companies: Acacia Filmed Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, Savvy Media Holdings

Director: Rob Reiner

Writer: Joey Hartstone

Actors: Woody Harrelson, James Marsden, Rob Reiner, Milla Jovovich, Jessica Biel, Tommy Lee Jones, Luke Tennie, Richard Schiff

Genre: Drama

Rated: R

Length: 90 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A group of journalists covering George Bush's planned invasion of Iraq in 2003 are skeptical of the president's claim that Saddam Hussein has "weapons of mass destruction."

Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men, The Bucket List, LBJ) is one of my very favorite directors. Seriously, this is the man that brought us The Princess Bride (1987) – which is one of the films I find myself randomly quoting on a regular basis; second only to the works of that merry band of British comedians that had us chasing the Holy Grail with coconuts… but I digress.

My silliness aside, this seems to be a rather serious dramatic flick focusing on the reports of those infamous ‘weapons of mass destruction’ that were supposedly in Iraq and the dance of journalists with White House intrigue. The cast looks amazing, and the trailer really sucked me in. Given today’s political climate where the truth wars with ‘alternate facts,’ this seems to be a movie on a mission with its message.

  

8 – The First Purge (7/4)

Tag Line: Witness the birth of an American Tradition

Production Companies: Platinum Dunes, Perfect World Pictures, Blumhouse Productions

Director: Gerard McMurray

Writer: James DeMonaco

Actors: Y'lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, Steve Harris, Marisa Tomei, Luna Lauren Velez, Patch Darragh

Genre: Horror, Action, Thriller

Rated: R

Length: 97 minutes

Moviefone Blurb: To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the others, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.

The political and social climate within the U.S. seems to be drawing scarily close to the insanity portrayed in franchise launched by The Purge (2013). It’s rather terrifying, really.  That’s part of what makes this series so chilling – it’s crazy but just plausible enough that it could be our future.

As the title suggests, this is a prequel taking us back before the events of all the other films. None of the characters from the other installments appear in this movie, but that really is to be expected because this is an origin story. Each of the other sequels seem to take a different perspective, also; so this wasn’t anything really unexpected.

The First Purge has some stiff competition at the box office this month, but perhaps it will get lucky with some staying power with its holiday release and that particular alignment of 4’s. 

7 – Sorry to Bother You (7/6)

Tag Line: A film by Boots Riley.

Production Companies: Annapurna Pictures, Ten Acre Films, Cinereach, Forest Whitaker's Significant Productions, MACRO, The MNM Creative Space Program

Director: Boots Riley

Writer: Boots Riley

Actors: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Armie Hammer, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Kate Berlant, Michael X. Sommers, Danny Glover, Steven Yeun

Genre: Comedy

Rated: R

Length: 102 minutes

IMDb Blurb: In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success, propelling him into a macabre universe.

I’ve got to say this movie looks absolutely hilarious. I spent many years working in a call center – and this takes having a ‘professional voice’ on the phone to an entirely new level.

This seems like a really good film to cut loose and have a good laugh with.  

6 – The Equalizer 2 (7/20)

Tag Line: There Is No Equal

Production Companies: Escape Artists, Columbia Pictures

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Writers: Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim, Richard Wenk

Actors: Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Jonathan Scarfe, Tamara Hickey, Abigail Marlowe

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Rated: NR

Length: 129 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?

The Equalizer (2014) was a fantastic movie with an unexpected depth beneath all the action. I can’t wait to see what its sequel brings to the table. It must be something special, considering this is the first sequel ever for Denzel Washington (Unstoppable, Safe House, Fences) and the first time Antoine Fuqua (Tears of the Sun, Olympus Has Fallen, Southpaw) has directed a sequel to one of his own movies. That’s saying something profound all on its own.

Washington’s character of an unassuming guardian – and sometimes, avenging – angel is riveting. The action looks spectacular, even aside from all the explosions in the trailer. I enjoyed the banter as the bad guys get taught their lesson. I also love the element of comedy woven through all the badassery.   

5 – Siberia (7/13)

Tag Line: What would you sacrifice for love?

Production Companies: Buffalo Gal Pictures, Company Films, Summerstorm Entertainment

Director: Matthew Ross

Writers: Stephen Hamel, Scott B. Smith

Actors: Keanu Reeves, Molly Ringwald, Ana Ularu, Aleks Paunovic, Veronica Ferres, Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Eugene Lipinski, Dmitry Chepovetsky

Genre: Crime, Romance, Thriller

Rated: R

Length: 104 minutes

Moviefone Blurb: An American diamond merchant and his lover get caught in the crossfire when a business deal goes wrong in Russia.

A bonus for the cast of Siberia was that they didn’t have to go there to film it! The movie was shot in Canada. I guess cold is cold, though. Moving on!

Keanu Reeves (John Wick, The Neon Demon, To The Bone) and Molly Ringwald (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Bad Night, Riverdale) in the same movie? This isn’t the first time that’s happened and I’m hoping it won’t be the last. Honestly, I’m already sold regardless of what the story might be.

All the same, the trailer paints a rather intense picture of this story with twists and turns, and a sprinkle of romance.

4 – Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (7/13)

Tag Line: Family vacation. It will suck the life out of you.

Production Companies: Columbia Pictures, MRC, Sony Pictures Animation

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky

Writers: Michael McCullers, Genndy Tartakovsky, Todd Durham

Actors: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Keegan-Michael Key, Molly Shannon

Genre: Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Animated, Comedy

Rated: PG

Length: 85 minutes

IMDb Blurb: The monster family embarks on a vacation on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can take a summer vacation from providing everyone else's vacation at the hotel. It's smooth sailing for Drac's Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions, and catching up on their moon tans. But the dream vacation turns into a nightmare when Mavis realizes Drac has fallen for the mysterious captain of the ship, Ericka, who hides a dangerous secret that could destroy all of monsterkind.

My family and I have really enjoyed this series. That being said, I hope they don’t run it into the ground to where people roll their eyes at the name as they ask what number it’s up to now, ala a certain animated dinosaur franchise.  Yet, this third installment looks like a lot of fun in the same vein as the prior two installments. (Yes, that was on purpose. Vampire jokes. I slay myself… ok ok back to the movie!)

I like that this movie transplants the Dracula clan and friends to new environs rather than the same hotel space. I think this will be a great movie for the whole family to see this summer. 

3 – Mission: Impossible – Fallout (7/27)

Tag Line: Some missions are not a choice.

Production Companies:  Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, Bad Robot

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Writers: Christopher McQuarrie, Bruce Geller

Actors: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rated: NR

Length: 147 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Ethan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.

I honestly can’t get enough of this franchise. I loved the television series, and have really enjoyed all the movies. The action and level of the stunts in these films is insane. It’s definitely one thing that Tom Cruise (Knight and Day, Rock of Ages, American Made) has going in his favor that he performs his own stunts. Unfortunately, that resulted in a broken ankle during the filming of this installment. It caused an 8 week filming delay, but they managed to maintain the release date. It’s said he had to train for a year in order to do the HALO jump shown in the trailer. Color me impressed. If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it many more times – regardless of how loony the man might be in his personal life; he remains one of my favorite actors.

Though, this 6th Mission Impossible movie also features Henry Cavill (Man of Steel, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Sand Castle) in his second role as a CIA agent. It’s reported he had a lot of fun working on this movie and with the training, as it was far different from his usual prep for his role as Superman in the DC Cinematic Universe. He’s explained that training for those films is more focused on body sculpting to fit the character’s aesthetic rather than the fight choreography and the like required for films such as this. I’m excited to see his adversarial role pitted against Ethan Hunt here.

Cruise has mentioned that if this film does well, they’ll likely continue making them. I can certainly keep my fingers crossed but I don’t think it’ll be necessary. I have faith this franchise will remain around a good while yet. I can’t wait to see this installment, and to learn what craziness they might have planned in the future. I’m also highly curious if this movie actually has a nuclear incident, as the name seems to suggest.   

2 – Skyscraper (7/13)

Tag Line: The sky is the limit.

Production Companies: Seven Bucks Productions, Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures International, Flynn Picture Company

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber

Writer: Rawson Marshall Thurber

Actors: Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Noah Taylor, Roland Møller, Byron Mann, Pablo Schreiber, Hannah Quinlivan

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Rated: PG-13

Length: 103 minutes

IMDb Blurb: FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran Will Sawyer now assesses security for skyscrapers. On assignment in Hong Kong he finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly ablaze, and he's been framed for it. A wanted man on the run, Will must find those responsible, clear his name and somehow rescue his family who are trapped inside the building...above the fire line.

I’ve heard a lot of scuttlebutt that this film is supposed to be a remake of some sort. Dwayne Johnson (Snitch, San Andreas, Moana) has gone on record stating clearly that it is not – this is a stand-alone movie. I happen to see both sides here. This film’s plot is somewhat similar to Die Hard (1988), but that movie lacked the whole massive fire scenario. Of course, you can’t help but think of The Towering Inferno (1974) in that aspect. That film is closer to The Poseidon Adventure (1972), however, but with a burning building rather than a boat. This movie seems to be a little bit of a mashup of some elements from both stories to make something new.

That being said, I’ll watch just about anything that The Rock (Johnson) is involved in. It’s sure to be packed with crazy action and wit. I just hope that my fear of heights isn’t going to kick in while watching. I entirely skipped that movie about the tightrope walker. That was a giant nope. I want to see this movie badly enough, however, that I might white knuckle my way through it all the same.

1 – Ant-Man and the Wasp (7/6)

Tag Line: Real heroes. Not actual size.

Production Company: Marvel Studios

Director: Peyton Reed

Writers: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari

Actors: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michael Peña, Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Pfeiffer

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy

Rated: PG-13

Length: 118 minutes

IMDb Blurb: As Scott Lang balances being both a Super Hero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.

It’s a new movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – is there REALLY a need for me to say more?

I will, though, even if it’s not a lot. Not only does this new installment of the Ant-Man story look to be hilarious, I love what they’ve done with the tech and the whole shrinking and enlarging factor. The shrinking the building into something portable with wheels and the car chase scene where the small car re-sizes to launch the other vehicle are some of my favorite bits from the trailer. I’m sure the movie is packed with quite a few of those moments.

Movies to Look out For

According to: Selina

Bleeding Steel .20

Siberia .19

The Row .18

Puzzle .17

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation .16

Occupation .15

Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind .14

Mission: Impossible – Fallout .13

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again .12

Bleach .11

Shock and Awe .10

The Equalizer 2 .9

Eighth Grade .8

Far From the Tree .7

Unfriended: Dark Web .6

Sorry to Bother You .5

The First Purge .4

Blindspotting .3

Skyscraper .2

Ant-Man and the Wasp .1