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The Meg Movie Review

August 10, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

‘The Meg’ is as entertaining and campy as any remake based on a huge success is; in that you’ll enjoy seeing it for what it reminds you of but then you’ll be irritated by its lack of living up to the goal you undoubtedly set for it. Here, you’re looking for that other film, I’m obviously speaking of ‘Jaws,’ and what you get is a cheap knockoff. I say that because what bothered me most was Meg, herself. Speilberg did a better job in the ‘70’s of making Jaws something to fear than Turteltaub does here. You never get a true sense of the beast except in what the people have to say. When you do see her, its digital performance isn’t all that beastly, to be honest.

There are elements of indulgence that make ‘The Meg’ the perfect film for your youngsters to view because they need to have something to talk about when they go back to school. They can talk about their first scary movie and they will also learn some things they can take back to science class. There were several younger viewers at our screening, ages around nine and ten, and they were thrilled and excited by the film. This could be because they don’t have anything to compare it to. That being said, it’s not a bad movie, it’s just not a good ‘remake.’ Since it isn’t a remake and you just want to watch a nonsensical action/horror, you could definitely do worse. Jason Statham brings you a believable enough hero to root for and the little treasure, Shuya Sophia Cai, plays a darling character for you to hope is ultimately saved.

Meg is a Megalodon, a prehistoric shark that’s discovered when scientists, who should know better by now, move beneath what has been thought to be the ocean floor but is really a freezing thermal cloud that houses a new ecosystem and keeps new species safe below. They intend to find these new species by cruising a sub down and busting into this ecosystem. When they actually do this, they never prepare for the worst, of course. They’re happy they made the discovery but that’s short-lived when Meg, bothered by their lights, finds them and isn’t interested in letting them tell the world about her home. Morris, (played badly by Rainn Wilson) an annoying billionaire who is interested only in his profit margin, insists the team do whatever it takes to keep the operation going. Jonas (Statham) enters because one of the team members below is his ex-wife. He comes to the rescue because he has been in the position before and this ends up being a chance to prove himself… not that he needed one. You’ll learn about as the film opens.

There are a lot of incredibly tense scenes in the film, especially after Meg is tagged. When this happens, the action never stops, but it is a bit slow to get started. There’s a lot of humor, as well, which surprised me. One hysterical moment that the entire audience chuckled at was when Jonas tries not to think about the beast as he’s swimming in her waters. To himself, he sings Dora’s ‘Just Keep Swimming’ song from ‘Finding Nemo.’ There are several well-placed jump scares to keep you on the edge of your seat and when you think they’ve done about all they can, they give the audience a little more so don’t think it’s over just cuz Morris thinks it is. If you go to see ‘The Meg,’ please pull for Pippin. She’s the cute little pup who falls in the water during the trailer. I won’t tell you if Meg finds her to be an adequate snack or not, but I was heartbroken by her fear, as I’m sure you will be, too… I hope.

In the mood for some action with Statham? Check out ‘The Meg.’ It’ll be a better view if you can catch it on IMAX but if you’re not a huge Statham fan, you’d probably do well to watch during a matinee or wait and see it at home. It’s too predictable to be mind-blowing but Turteltaub gives you enough with a few characters to keep you interested and amused. One last note. Just about everything out of the mouth of Morris is weak and tired. This character could have and should have been improved.

Far from the Tree Movie Review

August 10, 2018 (updated August 9, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

“Far from the Tree” is a documentary based on a widely praised book by Andrew Solomon. His book, and now this movie, documents several families where there have been difficult circumstances – specifically when a child is not entirely like the parents. That is, when the apple falls ‘far from the tree’. In these cases, it shows that patience, acceptance and love will bring all the members back into the fold.

Solomon first explains that his own childhood was unique and he felt different. He realized that the ‘normal; life of his parents would not work for him, because he was gay. This devastated his mother and his father was not at all impressed. But the story from Andrew Solomon is nothing compared to the other families that are investigated.

Jason Kingsley is a Down’s syndrome child, who was even featured on early episodes of Sesame Street when he was a kid. He never lacked the love and support from his mother, and now in his early 40’s Jason lives a full life. He lives with two other roommates (who share his condition). He has a job and he loves his friends and his family. But he has difficulty knowing that Disney’s “Frozen” is really just a movie. He has a major crush on Elsa, and he cannot ‘Let It Go’…

Another person we meet is Jack, who was a normal little boy – until he wasn’t. About age 2 years old he stopped communicating, and he seems to be in his own world. He had a severe case of autism, and his parents tried again and again to get some help. One thing they tried finally had some success. Jack was soon able to use a device to select letters, and then he created full sentences. With a voice-box, he was able ask and answer questions. He is now able to live as a functioning high-school student.

Then the journey takes you to the Little People of America conference. These folks who have dwarfism can lead quite normal lives. They just do it a little closer to ground level. A couple named Leah and Joe are married and are planning on having a child. Joe’s parents are ‘normal-sized’ people, and all of them think is nothing unusual to have a family with various sizes. Joe is not worried or depressed about his condition, so he takes it all in stride. Again, there is that theme of acceptance and love. It is really the cement that holds these stories together.

The one other family situation that gets reviewed is the story of Trevor. He was a nice kid, with wonderful parents, and had a trouble-free childhood. But, when Trevor was 13, he killed an eight-year old child in the neighborhood. There was no warning and no foreshadowing. He still says that he does not know why he did it. Obviously, this has taken his family, parents and a bother and sister, and given them a brutal situation to deal with. They have no easy way to explain anything to anyone. The parents still love their son, but they know that he will never be a free man.

Overall, “Far from the Tree” takes a look at some unusual family circumstances and shows that it does not need to be the end of the family. All of the different ways that some people might consider ‘disabled’, these people and these families prove that they can be-able, just in a unique way. It is done in a consistent manner, and moves along with great ease.

Some family situations are more intense than others. But they all show that it does not matter if you are near to the tree, or far from the tree. It only matters that the tree has some really deep roots…

In Phoenix, playing exclusively at Harkins Shea in Scottsdale

BlacKkKlansman Movie Review

August 9, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

Getting straight to the point, no credits or anything to distract from the message the filmmaker is presenting, ‘BlacKkKlansman’ starts with an old fake news clip. An actor, played by Alec Baldwin, tells his audience about how white American children have been forced to go to school with an inferior race, the black race, who are listening to Martin Luther ‘Coon,’ and have become super predators. I’m actually being nice in telling you what the despicable character and his distorted vision of reality says as he looks straight into the camera and into the racist soul of certain people in that period of time. However much the film may depict a particular year in the past (BlacKkKlansman is based in the 70’s), it’s really showing you our present, especially at the end of the film… it’s shattering to see, on the big screen, who we are today.

Director Spike Lee gives us the racial issues going on in the Black Power movement by introducing us to strong activists trying to get the message of their struggle through to people while showing that they are no different than Black Lives Matter, a group born from the police brutality and racial discrimination of today. Juxtaposed to that is their KKK and white supremacists and today’s very vocal and bigoted alt-right. He does so this is a powerful way that’s emotionally disturbing and will have you thinking way beyond the theatre doors.

The film is set in Colorado Springs and is actually based a retired African-American police officer Ron Stallworth’s (played expertly by John David Washington), book which is hard to believe is true, though it all is. Stallworth, tired of being treated like a second-class citizen and participating in infiltrating the rallies of the Black Power Movement, he decides to turn the tables. With help from fellow officers, he dupes the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, and eventually David Duke (Grace) himself, to become a card-carrying member of, the KKK. His skin tone would never allow him to get close to members of the Klan so Stallworth sets everything up via the phone and his partner, Flip (Driver), who has to deny to the members that he’s Jewish, meets with them. Though the film has plenty of comedic moments, here is where it gets really intense and shows what a master of the narrative Spike Lee is. This is the best piece of work he has put out since his earlier films and you won’t want to miss this on the big screen.

Throughout the film, images and verbal messages are used to get an incredibly important directive out to the audience. People are people, you are powerful and, chief among them, believe what you see. The alt-right and the KKK and white supremacists exist, they’re not something made up in a film or by a news channel, who is just trying to tell the American people the truth. Racism is a horrible thing yet more common than anyone wants to admit and ‘BlacKkKlansman’ has been made because the people that racism targets are tired of it. There is no superior race as characters in the film, in scene after scene, suggests and SAYS there is but there are a great many people out there who honestly believes there is. This film is fascinating and incredibly entertaining but also, it’s a reminder that what we have done in our past, can be… is being mirrored in our streets today. I can’t possibly express to you all the reasons why but as an American with an open mind, it’s crucial you don’t miss this eye-opening, impressive film.

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Dog Days Movie Review

August 8, 2018 (updated August 14, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

“Dog Days” is a movie named after the dead of summer, when many times things come to a crawl and life slows down. But this mixed breed of a movie has a theory that new friends can be found and romance can be kindled, with just a little canine help. Using a large ensemble cast and interweaving story lines, they are trying to go for the loosely connected Rom-Com style. Perhaps you could call it: “Love, Arf-ily”. The main connecting thread is a group of dogs; Mabel, Sam, Charlie and Gertrude.

These dogs are in the care of some humans. Mabel (a very overweight pug) is with a retired professor named Walter (Ron Cephas Jones), who lives alone after the passing of his wife. He meets a pizza delivery boy named Tyler (Finn Wolfhard), and when Mabel runs away, Walter and Tyler team up. A childless couple named Kurt (Rob Corddry) and Grace (Eva Longoria) adopt a little girl. But the child is unhappy, until she comes across a stray very overweight pub – yes it is Mabel. Walter is very sad with his dog gone, but Kurt and Grace are happy that their new child is now also happy.

Dax is a slacker musician who has to take care of his sister’s dog Charlie. Dax slowly becomes attached to the shaggy mutt. But his apartment building does not allow dogs, so he needs to hide Charlie all the time. Also living at the same place is Tara (Vanessa Hudgens), who find s stray little Chihuahua dog with no name. She brings the pup to a no-kill shelter run by Garrett (Jon Bass) – who has secretly pined for Tara for ages. He names the dog Gertrude, for the author Gertrude Stein. But the shelter is having major problems, when the landlord decides to sell out and kick the tenants out.

But at the same time, Liz (Nina Dobrev) – a popular morning host on an L.A. TV program, has a sweet little mutt named Sam. Sam is sweeter than her boyfriend who is cheating on her. Liz gets new co-host on the program, and it is Jimmy (Tone Bell). He is an ex-football star with an older dog of own named Brandy. Brandy and Sam get along great, but it requires a little bit more time for Liz to warm up to Jimmy. Liz is so afraid to get her heart broken again; she feels that Jimmy might just be using her. But don’t worry, all of these seemingly unconnected plots will be brought together at the end…

But as things always go in these types of movies, the various groups get pulled together slowly. The romances grow and the new friends are there to always help. A little family gets bigger and the dogs have a way of making everyone chill out. The story line is busy with several plots and sub-plots all running together. Some are much more interesting than the others, so that weighs the movie down slightly. The director tries to make the various plot threads come together near the end, and tries to keep all the stories moving forward. It has some hiccups along the way, but it mostly works.

“Dog Days” is not a pure-bred, and not in the same league as “Love, Actually”. But for people who like romantic comedy movies — and they really like dogs — then “Dog Days’” is one that you might want to take for a walk around the block.

McQueen Movie Review

August 3, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

This is top notch documentary filmmaking. It’s both incredibly entertaining and highly inciteful. It’s exceptionally well done not only in its value for its own artistic endeavors but its ability to show how truly talented fashion designer Alexander McQueen was. You may not be into fashion but you don’t have to be to enjoy this you just have to want to see an entertaining documentary on an interesting subject… that would be this film.

Alexander McQueen was an artist who, at a young age, was bitten by the fashion bug. Once he realized what it was he wanted to do he never let the fantasy of doing it die. At the age of seventeen, he was making his sister skirts. From very humble beginnings, he knew he didn’t have the money to go to expensive schools for his craft, so he got a job tailoring suits and thus began his dream. Realizing his talents, his aunt (who always supported and encouraged him), helped him get into Saint Martin’s School of Art. There, he felt he could let his true self out and it wasn’t long before he expressed what that was for the entire world to see. He had a legitimately dark side and after reading ‘Perfume,’ a book about the murder of women, he started doing research on Jack the Ripper and out of these influences came his ’92 graduation show in London called, ‘Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victim’s.’ It’s here where he catches the attention of Isabella Blow who was enamored with the craftsmanship, intensity and passion in his work. His ability to capture beauty and violence made her decide to take him on as her prodigy to which a deep friendship developed, one peppered, sadly, with ups and downs until her death at only forty-eight years of age. I don’t want to get into that too much here but know that their relationship was, most likely, more important than either one of them ever realized. This is stated and captured very well in this film.

McQueen was so good at what he did, such a uniquely complex visionary, that he didn’t even have to measure people before he made their clothing. He could size a person up and make something for them by just his eye just as a pianist might play a piece of music they’ve heard only once. His gifts were noticeable and vast as he always had a natural, physical association with what he crafted.

In this documentary we see him move from England, who loves him, to Paris, France where his work isn’t quite as understood. He is asked to be the creative director of Givenchy and with boyfriend Murray Arthur in tow, he goes to expand his technique and portfolio. He has more money than he ever dreamed of, but it hasn’t changed him… not yet. He tries the best he can to fit into the world of Paris fashion and does this by exposing a softer side. As far as fashion went, it didn’t matter which side he disclosed, it was always brilliant… but not necessarily for him.

Of all people, he deserved to be successful and by the end of this documentary, you’ll wish, for yourself, he had left one move in his life behind. If he had, we’d still be enjoying his broad, unconventional completely stunning work today. God knows how far he would have gone. That said, his last show will devastate you. What Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui reveal is a man crying out for help but too quietly to be heard. You can tell the filmmakers appreciated and loved him and his work because you can feel it in the way the movie was shot. By the time it’s over, you’ll feel the same way and want to Google everything you missed. So, do that and watch this, too. It’s a good way to get to know Alexander McQueen and it’s the least he and his intellectually complicated collections deserve.

Official Website: www.McQueen.film

The Spy Who Dumped Me Movie Review

August 3, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by Shari K. Green

‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ is entertaining but highly predictable. It isn’t a terrible movie, hence the reason the rating I gave it didn’t destroy this comedic narrative, but outside of the two leads making you chuckle, there isn’t a lot to be thrilled about. Mila Kunis seems to be top billed, but Kate McKinnon definitely steals the show as Audrey’s (Kunis’) best friend, Morgan, who would do anything to protect her friend… just as McKinnon does anything to make an audience laugh. McKinnon alone is responsible for why the film will have a modestly successful theatrical run because she lives a breathes insanity into unpretentiously deranged characters. She’s a treasure. Which leads me to the story.

Audrey’s recent break up with Drew (Theroux) and her being angry at him, gives license to her bestie, Morgan, to determine the worth of Drew’s things that had been left in Audrey’s apartment. Once defined as worthless, Morgan wants to burn his possessions to rid her friend of this slug once and for all. Drew is warned and, as expected, shows up to stop it. This is when the women learn he’s a secret agent. During all of this, we flip back and forth as to who he’s working for and whether he’s a good guy or not. Suddenly, Audrey and Morgan are being followed, dodging bullets and being shoved into vans. Again, it’s unclear as to whether or not Drew is a good guy, a question we are left to ponder until the very end of the film. They learn who Drew is, around the same time they meet the hunky Sebastian, (Heughan), who Audrey can’t help but drool over. Drew says he’s a spy; Sebastian says he’s intelligence. Who to believe? It isn’t easy so, as Morgan puts it in the film, they’re going to own their intelligence and figure everything out on their own. It’s on to Europe to sort out the mess. They’re told a lot of people will die if a trophy in their possession isn’t at a certain location on time. That won’t happen on their watch.

To make a film an action/comedy, and that’s what ‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ is billed as you must have fight sequences and car chases and such. You’ll be quite impressed with how well director Susanna Fogel embraced that convention when, after viewing the trailer, it seemed as if the movie originally sold itself as a chick flick of sorts. Leaving the bad digital blood aside, they’re superbly choreographed, well shot and in beautiful locales, all the things needed to please today’s action audience. Another highlight for some may be the addition of Gillian Anderson as the head of the British Secret Service. Though it was great to see her in the role of a boss who pulls no punches, it was hardly a stretch for her. Perhaps she took the part to remind us all that she’s out there to which she does in spades.

I liked the film, but I didn’t love it. Having said that, you should see it at a matinee because what works is worth seeing. McKinnon. Anderson. Strong characters and complete insanity. It will work for you as a laid-back, informal summer spy thriller during your easygoing, passive summer weekend.

The Darkest Minds Movie Review

August 3, 2018 (updated August 6, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

“The Darkest Minds” is a movie adaptation of a book series, and it follows a typical Young Adult dystopian narrative. The world has gone very, very bad – and the main character(s) will be the only one(s) who can set things right. Or maybe just survive. The adults of the world either caused the dystopian disaster, or did nothing to stop it. Now the adults/government/group/agency are actively working against the main character and his or her friends. The adults will use the power of force and weapons if need be to stop the valiant heroes as they defeat the people they rise against. If this is done right, or it has some twist or a clever hook, then it is something interesting and fun to watch. Otherwise…

Ruby Daly (Amandla Stenberg) is one of a very small fraction of the world’s children to survive a horrible disease. Even the President’s son – Clancy Gray (Patrick Gibson) – has been affected, but he survived. He was supposedly cured of the wretched sickness. Other youngsters who have survived now possess unusual side effects. A large majority is affected with increased intelligence, and then another group has telekineses powers. And even above them are smaller groups with the most special abilities, but they are considered dangerous. Like a Homeland Security pyramid chart of risk, the top are labeled Orange and Red. Ruby is an Orange, but she is hiding as a Green (the lowest level).

Ruby has been removed from her parents and is confined at a military work camp for six years. Her powers have remained under wraps, but the job might be up. A doctor named Cate (Mandy Moore) seems to help Ruby escape. Ruby has super mind control, and does a sort of Jedi Mind Trick on the officer in charge. Cate wants Ruby to be part of the Children’s Alliance – a paramilitary type group that will spread the truth about the harsh work camps. But Ruby wants to get away, and then she finds a small group of other ‘special’ kids. They are led by Liam (Harris Dickinson) who also has powers. He travels with Chubs (Skylan Brooks), who is a super-smarty and also with Zu (Miya Cech) who can control electricity. Ruby joins with this little band of renegades, and she finds they are always chased by bounty hunters and threatened by government agents. But they hear about a special camp for the young gifted survivors. It is code-named EDO, and it is somewhere out in the woods. The group finally gets to the EDO camp, and they find it is run by Clancy Gray, the President’s son who was thought to have the disease but was cured. But he actually has the Orange level powers, just like Ruby.

This movie has some attractive leads, and the story moved quickly from one crisis and confrontation to another. But it lacks the deep emotional punch that a better movie would have. The Bad Guys are over-the-top insane, and the kids have all the ‘Stranger Things’ powers to get the upper hand. So there is no big threat. A couple of forced relationships are too pat, and the there is the wanna-be love interest stand-off between Liam and Clancy. At the end, there is Jedi Mind Trick that used in a very heartbreaking fashion. But even that (erasing memories) has been seen before, in the Harry Potter movies.

Amandla Stenberg does a very good job in this role. Harris Dickinson and Patrick Gibson are just OK. The rest of cast goes between just all right and over-the-top bad. The pacing keeps the story moving, but there is the forced love-triangle aspect that is a clunky add-on. The look and feel of the childless future looks a little eerie. Funny how in a dystopian future, everyone has perfect hair and shiny clean teeth!

This is lukewarm rehash of ideas served up with a very attractive cast, but without any fresh ideas from those Darkest Minds.

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Christopher Robin Movie Review

August 3, 2018 (updated August 2, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

“Christopher Robin” (also known as “Disney Christopher Robin”) is a movie about Winnie the Pooh’s friend. But when Christopher has grown up and has lost the feeling of wonder in the Hundred Acre Woods, he gets very moody. Chris is now married and has a family, but his job is making demands on him that make him testy and short-tempered. The kind little boy from the children’s books is nowhere to be found. Perhaps a visit to grown-up Christopher from his old childhood friend Pooh would be just the thing to cheer him up.

Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) is a manager at a London luggage factory. He is under the gun all of the time. His playful childhood memories are a thing of the past. He and his wife Evelyn (Haley Atwell) and their daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) are many miles away from the Hundred Acre Woods. But Winnie the Pooh still plays there and waits for the return of his best friend. One day, all of Pooh’s other friends go missing, including Tigger, Piglet, Owl, Kanga and Roo. Winnie the Pooh is very afraid and he thinks that only Christopher Robin could help to find them. So, Pooh goes to find Christopher.

Pooh does find Chris in London, and the two of them decide the only thing to do is get back to the Hundred Acre Woods. Chris is on a tight deadline to make drastic changes at work to cut costs. So, the last thing he needs is to go traipsing in the Woods to locate Pooh’s other pals. But he decides that that is what Pooh needs him to do. Chris takes all of his important work papers with him, just he can keep them safe. You know, what could go wrong?

Christopher finds Pooh’s friends, and then he realizes that they are still also his friends. A burden is lifted from his mind. He gets back to London to show his evil boss all the work that Chris accomplished over that weekend. But of course, the papers are with his friends back in the Woods, and Madeline meets up with the talking stuffed animals, and they decide to sneak back to London, and soon Evelyn must also follow them to London, and Chris is about to give an important presentation, but all the important papers are… well, let’s just say that a mild level of chaos ensues.

This is a very nostalgic appeal to those who grew up with Winnie the Pooh and still want more of him. This movie gets you quite a lot of Pooh and his friends. But is also gives you a look at might have happened to Christopher Robin as he grew up and more removed from the Hundred Acre Woods. The movie takes a long amount of time to get moving, but it rewards with beautiful scenes of the Woods and of the English countryside. Ewan McGregor does a very pleasant job with being a guy stuck in a mid-life crisis – but who needs a stuffed bear to show him what is most important in his life. All the acting is very good, including the voice acting for Winnie the Pooh and for Tigger (both voiced by Jim Cummings).

Perhaps your life will not be changed by watching this movie. But it has a similar feel to the movie ‘Paddington’, also about a stuffed bear that walks and talks around London. And if you really stretch it, there is a resemblance to ‘Hook’, with the older Peter Pan reconnecting with the joys of his youth. And if you enjoy a movie like those other two, then “Christopher Robin” will be a new friend that will take you back to your childhood…

“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day” – W. Pooh

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Mission: Impossible Fallout Movie Review

July 27, 2018 (updated November 16, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

Mission: Impossible – Fallout” takes a lesson from the fictional rock band Spinal Tap, and the movie action gets ‘put up to 11’. That means the movie is a non-stop E-Ticket thrill ride for nearly the entire run time (over 2 hours). Yes, it does stop occasionally to explain this situation or go over the disastrous outcome if that other thing happens. The main focus is on the action sequences and fight sequences. All of the over-the-top action, piling even more and more onto the plot that will threaten to make it burst with adrenaline. There in the center of it all is Tom Cruise, making stuntmen everywhere proud…

“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” takes a couple of character from prior movies and also bring them into the action. But the main Impossible Mission Force is back together as in the past. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is the leader, and he also needs the talents of Benji (Simon Pegg) and Luther (Ving Rhames). There is stolen Russian plutonium and Hunt blows a chance to buy it off the black market. He instead chooses to save the lives of his team members. IMF is called into action, as directed by the new IMF secretary Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin). But current CIA chief Sloane (Angela Bassett) will not allow IMF to operate on its own. She embeds a CIA asset named August Walker (Henry Cavill), and he is there to terminate the operation (and Hunt) if things go south.

So as soon as things could go wrong, they do… Hunt and Walker do a High Altitude (HALO) jump into a party held in Paris by White Widow (Vanessa Kirby). She is a black market operative who can obtain the missing plutonium – at a price. Hunt assumes the identity of a rogue operator who is part of a new terrorist group. White Widow buys the cover story that Hunt is the right guy. But the price is steep. Hunt and Walker must capture a police-held ex-British spy named Solomon Lane (Sean Harris). But there is another person interested in finding – and killing – Lane. That is Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) who is a British MI-6 agent who went deep undercover into Lane’s group. She must eliminate Lane to prove her worth.

Hunt and his crew get Lane, and are almost killed by Ilsa. But there are deep moles and turncoats and double-crosses around every corner. Ethan Hunt finds that he can trust almost no one. They team travel to London, where they will exchange Lane for the black market plutonium. But the twists come hot and heavy, and soon they are left empty-handed. Hunt and his team, along with Ilsa, travel to where Solomon Lane might be going next – Kashmir. They trace him to a volunteer temporary hospital. Hunt finds out that Lane specifically chose this location – Hunt’s ex-wife Julia (Michelle Monaghan) is there. They find that two of the nuclear cores have been constructed into bombs. There is a very complex way to defuse these two bombs, but only once the countdown has started. So will the team be able to find the bombs, and get them de-armed – before — FALLOUT?

Each Mission: Impossible has been a wild ride that relies a lot more on thrills than on a simple cohesive plot. But it always works out better than way. The more outrageous the premise, the more dire the outcome – it makes the M:I team come together and beat the odds. Odds that are Impossible, naturally. But always leading this pack is Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. His steely-eyed focus on an over-the-top goal makes everything more interesting.

Cruise has partnered with Christopher McQuarrie who has now become the only director to helm two M:I movies. Plus McQuarrie as this film’s only writer takes the story-line into treacherous places with treacherous people undermining Hunt’s Mission. But with many capable actors joining them (many going back for quite a few movies) – the results are spectacular. Sure, the overall details may not make perfect sense, but they propel the action forward, usually at breakneck speed.

Or perhaps it moves at break-ankle speed, referring back to the stunt that Cruise did over the London rooftops, where is landing was a little too rough. He suffered a few broken ones there, but he would not give up and – like this movie – there is nothing that will stop a Great Action Sequence!

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies Movie Review

July 27, 2018 (updated July 22, 2018) Published by JMcNaughton

“Teen Titans Go! To the Movies” is nifty little animated production that shows you DC Comics can ‘extend their universe’ by creating a comical superhero movie. These smaller teenaged versions of superheroes can deliver a decent production with some pretty pointed jabs at the big boys (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, etc.). Based on the Cartoon Network animated show, this team of small fry heroes will grab a rung on the ladder that is the DC Franchise, and pull them selves up to the — well maybe not exactly to the top, but it will be close…

All the Teen Titans are led by a young Robin (Scott Menville), known mostly as Batman’s sidekick. But he is joined by other young kids with special powers. There is Beast Boy (Greg Cipes) who can transform into any type of wild beast or animal. There is Cyborg (Khary Payton) who a mechanical human with high-tech powers. Also part of the team are Raven (Tara Strong) who is a half-human, half-demon sorceress and also Starfire (Hynden Walch) – an alien Tamaranian princess with super-human powers. They all hang out together and wait to fight crime.

But because of their ages and size, the regular superheroes never give them much of a chance. The last straw for Robin is when he finds out all the other superheroes are getting their own movie. Even Batman’s butler is going to get a new movie! The producer and director of the big movies is Jade Wilson(Kristen Bell). They all attempt to persuade Wilson to get them into a movie. But she refuses, because they do not have super arch-nemesis. That is someone who is planning for an evil world-changing event – so if they find someone like that and stop that evil-doer, well then, maybe a movie would be in order.

The next thing you know is that the Teen Titans cross paths with a major super villain who has a complex maniacal plan to rule the people of Earth. This fiend is none other than Deadp… opps, sorry – it just looks a lot like him – This fiend is none other than Slade (Will Arnett). Slade is going to brainwash the whole world into doing his bidding; causing mayhem in the street, robbing banks, disarming police stations, and picking him at the airport on short notice…

Jade Wilson then starts to make the movie about the Teen Titans. But wires get crossed and loyalties get tested. Wilson gets rid of team and only wants to work with and use Robin. But are there some underlying nefarious things that are going on? Is Slade somehow in involved to divide the Teen Titans team and get Robin to deliver some final piece of Slade’s ultimate Earth take-over plan… Will the Teen Titans be able to overcome any differences and unite to fight off a bad dude and prevent global chaos?

This movie is a light and breezy treat of DC Comics cotton candy, as opposed to the usual DCEU movies that are dark foreboding meals of burnt steak and thick ale. But it is more fun to see something fun, so this version could attract a decent audience beyond just kids and teenagers. However, there are plenty of fart and poop jokes. So that way you do not forget that the target is for kids and teenagers. The whole DC Universe is given a nice satirical look, and it evens gets a big NON-DC player into the act. (Enough with the cameos, Stan Lee!)

The voice acting is right on target, and the colors and images on screen are all very vivid. Most of the character voices are from the TV series, but a few big names are brought in. Kristen Bell does a good job with Jade Wilson, and Will Arnett is totally funny when he is voicing Slade. There is also a wonderful bit of trivia cameo. Back in the 80’s Nicolas Cage was considered for the role as Superman. But now, Cage does get a chance to lend his voice-over to get this done. Good job, Teen Titans! You have righted a wrong in this universe!

Category: Reviews