“The Last Black Man in San Francisco” is a small independent movie about the power of a house when you consider it home. But the house in question is a quaint little place in a very old section of San Francisco. Read more
“Men In Black: International” demonstrates that the whole world still needs to be saved from some truly awful aliens. But MIB is no longer only in America, eh – mostly in New York City – but now in London, Paris and other exotic locations. Read more
“Shaft” is the current 2019 version of the continuing story of John Shaft that was started in 1971. “He’s a complicated man – But no one understands him but his woman” – you know, the theme song by Isaac Hayes. Well then, “Shaft” later appeared in 2000, when Samuel L. Jackson took over the main role from Richard Roundtree. Read more
“The Secret Life of Pets 2” is very similar to the first movie in this series (the first one was just named without the “2”). It has mostly the same animated characters, and (mostly) the same actors doing the vocal work of those characters. The same cheerful animation style is used to tell a cute and engaging story about several pets who live in New York City. Read more
“X-Men: Dark Phoenix” is, well – of course – an X-Men movie. That brings with it all excitement (or baggage) that you think of for an X-Men movie. It is part of the new-ish iteration of X-Men, begun in 2011 with “X-Men: First Class”. These are the younger versions of the special Mutant superheroes, including Professor X, Magneto, Beast, Raven, Storm, Cyclops and others. If you are not enamored with X-Men, then your interest level might have already peaked. But since X-Men might perhaps now have a better future integrated with other Marvel superheroes, the outcome may not be “Dark” after all…
Professor X is Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) run a school for the special children in the Mutant community. The Mutants are now well-respected and a big part of the world’s crisis management. Since the ‘bad’ Mutants, led by Magneto (Michael Fassbender) have been self-isolated, there is a peace between the Mutant groups. But when a space rescue mission goes really bad, Mutant Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) takes on some uncontrollable powers. There is concern that Jean is not doing that well. Her fellow Mutants are really upset, including Raven (Jennifer Lawrence), Hank McCoy/Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Scott Summers/Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) and Ororo Munroe/Storm (Alexandra Shipp). Jean Grey finds out some things that Professor X has hidden from her since she was a child. She leaves the school and wanders aimlessly.
Jean Grey is being watched by an alien being who has taken over a human form. Vuk (Jessica Chastain) knows that Jean Grey’s new powers are what her race needs to survive, so they will be able take over the Earth. So, the human-looking Vuk and her followers are traipsing around to get Grey and take over her special powers. Jean Grey leaves Professor X but she soon tracks down Magneto. He and his group of hardened Mutants live alone on a deserted island. She finds out that her powers overpower even Magneto, so she leaves him. The military and government agents are after all the Mutants now that Jean has fought and killed a fellow Mutant. Jean Grey has left a path of destruction in her path.
The Mutants are all captured in New York. They are placed in confinement on a train to a Colorado holding facility. But the alien forces, led by Vuk, are ready to attack the train and take over the Mutants. When they get to Jean Grey, they plan on draining all her special powers and destroying all the Mutants. Then they will be free to take over the Earth and wipe out mankind. But will the Mutants still have enough Mutant powers to make “The Last Stand” and avoid an “Apocalypse”? When the “Days of Future Past” are gone by, will the X-Men still be up in the “First Class”? Even when the train is attacked, and many people are killed – will it still be a statistical fact that train travel is by far the safest mode of transportation?
This group of X-Men Mutants has produced some very enjoyable movies lately. Staring with “First Class”, and then “Days of Future Past” – the writing and acting was very enjoyable. The next one was “Apocalypse”, and that one dropped a little in quality. But X-Men has returned to the upswing with “Dark Phoenix”. Of course, being a Superhero/Mutant type movie, it might not be your cup of darjeeling. But the ensemble cast is up to speed, and the production values are really good. There are some really creative fight sequences, and the movie moves along at a quick pace. There a few high points: the acting of Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, the acting of James McAvoy as Professor X, and the acting of Michael Fassbender as Magneto. Some points not as well-developed: Jessica Chastain as the alien Vuk is off-putting, the tragic death of a very popular Mutant is quickly passed over, the choppy editing of the fight sequences. Also, the most glaring missing item – Wolverine!
“X-Men: Dark Phoenix” is ready to establish a new common ground for all of the Marvel characters into a more fully-integrated Marvel Universe.
‘Ma’ is a moderately gripping, riveting movie with a few good jump-scares but can’t quite live up to the genre that it’s labeled as. IMDB has it listed as a Horror/Thriller and the trailer sold us on the fact that this would be a terrifying movie. I generally count on a movie defined as a Horror to scare me at some point. Read more
If you’ve always liked Elton John songs, recently discovered his music or have no clue as to who he is, you’ll enjoy the way this movie presents his life story. Most biopics tell you about the person using dialogue to describe them but since Elton John was such a big star, director Dexter Fletcher allows the songs to tell you who Elton, originally named Reggie Dwight, is. Read more
This is charming… just darling. I’ve made it a point to keep an eye on what Netflix has been putting out and I’ve been pleased. However, I’m not quite sure why they’re not releasing all their films in the theatres nationwide instead of only in select theatres. Read more
Legendary talk-show host Katherine Newberry (Oscar® winner Emma Thompson) is a pioneer in her field. The only woman ever to have a long-running program on late night, she keeps her writers’ room on a short leash ― and all male. But when her ratings plummet and she is accused of being a “woman who hates women,” Katherine puts gender equality on her to-do list and impulsively hires Molly Patel (Mindy Kaling), a chemical plant efficiency expert from suburban Pennsylvania, as the first and only female on her writing staff.
With rumors swirling that Katherine is being replaced by a younger, hipper male host, she demands that the writers make her funny and relevant again. A lifelong fan, Molly is determined to prove she’s not just a diversity hire, but the one person who can turn her idol’s career around. Going against everything Katherine has staked her reputation on, she urges her to make the show more contemporary, authentic and personal, a move that could make Molly’s career ― or send her back to the chemical plant for good.
#LateNightMovie
See more advance movie screenings from tmc
Find your chance to receive special advance movie screening passes below.
Movie Screening Date: Wednesday, June 5
Location: Harkins Tempe Marketplace
Movie Screening Time: 7:00pm
[button link=”http://www.amazonscreenings.com/TMCLateNtPhx” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Get Passes[/button]
Movie Screening Date: Wednesday, June 5
Location: AMC Town Square
Movie Screening Time: 7:00pm
[button link=”http://www.amazonscreenings.com/TMCLateNtLV” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Get Passes[/button]
To redeem a pass, simply click the Get Passes button. You will taken to our movie screening partner site (where you can sign up for a free account). Once you’ve done so, you’ll be able to print out your pass and bring it with you to your screening or event.
Admittance into a screening or event is not guaranteed with your pass. Events and advance screenings are filled on a ” first come, first served ” basis. To ensure that you stand a good chance of being admitted, we recommend that you show up 30 minutes to one hour early.
The number of admissions that are permissible for each pass are printed clearly on the ticket that you print out. You are allowed to bring as many guests as is indicated on your pass. For example, if your pass is for ” Admit Two, ” you can bring yourself and one guest. If you have an ” Admit One ” pass, you can bring only yourself.
If you have any other questions or comments, please contact us.
“Aladdin” is a new Disney live-action adaptation of the original Disney 1992 animated movie. The story is the ultimate in wish fulfillment, after all – who couldn’t use a Genie that can grant you three wishes? But the very successful animated version had several things going for it. There was a great story. There were great songs. And it had the great vocal talent of Robin Williams. With the updated version, it has two of those three.
Aladdin (Mena Massoud) is a ‘street rat’ in the desert city of Agrabah in a vague Mid-Eastern country. He is thief and a street hustler, making friends of the other poor folks in town – all while avoiding the palace guards. His little helper monkey Abu is with him everywhere. He runs into a person pretending to be just another poor beggar. But she is really Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott) who can never escape from the palace to see the people in the street. She is saved by Aladdin from a dangerous situation, and he goes with her to the palace.
Later that night Aladdin sneaks in and finds Jasmine with her loyal servant Dalia (Nasim Pedrad). But he is captured by Jafar (Marwan Kenzari), the trusted consultant to the royal Sultan (Navid Negahban). Jafar and his equally evil parrot Iago find that Aladdin might be the one to get a special Lamp out of the Cave of Wonders. This Magic Lamp is said to contain a Genie, one that can grant three wishes to the owner of the Lamp. Aladdin is able to get the Lamp, and it is almost stolen by Jafar.
Aladdin finds the Magic Lamp does hold a Genie (Will Smith). He is all Big and Blue and he is waiting to take Aladdin’s order. He tricks the Genie to get them all out of the Cave, including a new member of the group – a Magic Flying Carpet. Aladdin does not want much, but he does want to meet and impress Princess Jasmine. Maybe if Genie turns Aladdin into a Price, then he could have a chance. Sure thing, he becomes Prince Ali, from Ababwa. The Sultan is very impressed, as well as all the people of Agrabah. But Princess Jasmine thinks that something is a little off with this new Prince. Jafar knows it is Aladdin and he begins scheming about how to seal back that Lamp.
Dalia is impressed with Prince Ali’s man-servant, who is actually Genie. Genie also becomes smitten with Dalia, so they both want Ali and Jasmine to get something going. But Jasmine thinks Ali is holding a secret, so he takes her on the Magic Flying Carpet to see the world, a ‘Whole New World’, that is. But before Aladdin can confess who he really is, Jafar decides to eliminate him form the picture. Genie is able to save Aladdin, as another wish gets used up. Aladdin had promised to use his final third wish to set Genie free, but that might not happen.
Jafar become more evil and more powerful, as he takes over from the Sultan. Hes has grabbed the Magic Lamp and he is now in control. Genie is no longer able to help Aladdin, so Aladdin and Jasmine might as well call the whole thing off. But does Aladdin have the street smarts to convince a powerful sorcerer like Jafar that he could become even bigger and more powerful? Could that be a way out for everyone?
This version of Aladdin has a nice cast and it redoes all of the great songs from the original animated version. There is even a new song for Princess Jasmine – one that gives her a stringer voice in her situation. Will Smith seems out-of-place at first as Genie. But within 15 minutes he takes this version of the Genie and makes it fit with his charm and sassy attitude. Naomi Scott has a very soaring voice that works wonders with her Jasmine songs. Mena Massoud is also charming as Aladdin and has a good voice.
Guy Ritchie as the director and co-writer is used to movies that have a rougher edge. His family-friendly version still has a couple of his visual traits (super slo-mo camera work). But most of the dirty and gritty features of his other films are glossed over with wild and bright costumes and bazaar scenes. The big musical numbers have a wild and over the top feel, like a cross between a Vegas show and Bollywood.
Remakes are becoming a big thing at Disney Studios, but rather than getting “A Whole New World”, this one just serves up “A Whole Lotta Sameness”.
