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 –
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.
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 –
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 –
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
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