They're Baaaaaaaack..."Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising"

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)  

Rated R

Starring Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Chloe Grace Moretz,

Directed by Nicholas Stoller

The Story:

Mac and Kelly (Rogen & Byrne) are moving out of the neighborhood and into a new house. They just need to wait 30 days for their current house to close.  And that's when Shelby (Moretz) rents the place next door. She starts her own sorority where the girls are allowed to party and have fun. And if you're going to start a sorority and throw a party, who better to have as your consultant than Teddy (Efron), the guy who made life miserable for Mac and Kelly a few years earlier?

If you watched and enjoyed the first Neighbors film 2 years ago, you pretty much know what to expect this go round.

It pretty much stays right on path with parents against college students, until decisions are made that cause Teddy to switch allegiances.

It's not high art, but the artists will get high.

A lot.

That's what they do.

This is Seth Rogen after all.

:)

However, his chemistry with Efron is fun to enjoy, and if you had a good time with the original, you're likely to have as good of a time this go round as well.

I found it to be just about as good as the first one, with a new mix of old and new cast members and a satisfying conclusion to the story.

Will there be a 3rd movie?

There shouldn't be, but if they do, or if Efron and Rogen team up again in something else, I'll swing by and check it out.

Final Grade: C+

A Road Warrior Returns..."Blood Father"

Blood Father (2016)  

Rated R

Starring Mel Gibson, Erin Moriarty, William H. Macy, Diego Luna,

Directed by Jean-Francois Richet

The Story:

Lydia (Moriarty) is in some serious trouble. She's in the wrong place at the wrong time, and some drug dealers want her dead. With nowhere else to turn, she calls her dad (Gibson) that she hasn't seen in years and asks for his help. Lucky for her, her dad is an ex-con, and it may be just the edge she needs to stay alive.

Call it a comeback vehicle if you will, but it's time for that nonsense to stop.

Gibson is still a great actor and a talented director, and if the public is going to continue to crucify him for things he said in a drunken stupor...

A DECADE AGO!

Americans seem more forgiving of politicians and world leaders who actually kill people and lie for a living than an actor. (see the recent outpouring of love for Fidel Castro for just the latest example)

He's back in fine form, imagine a burned out Riggs with nothing left to care for in the world but his little girl, and you'll have an idea of the intensity he'll bring to the role.

Moriarty holds her own as the troubled teen who is trying to stay alive all the while trying to re-establish a relationship with her dad while they are on the run.

It's an interesting dynamic that the movie pulls off mostly well.

Sometimes it's torn between being a thriller/drama/action flick, and is never quite sure what genre it wants to embrace fully.

But it tries hard enough, and has a competent cast that keeps you interested till the end.

So if you haven't given up on Mel, or are curious if the guy's still got it, give it a whirl, you might be surprised.

Final Grade: C+

It Was A Banner Year For Badness... "The 2016 Turkey Of The Year Awards"

Welcome to the FIFTH ANNIVERSARY of our annual Thanksgiving tradition celebrating the worst Hollywood had to offer.

Another year has just flown by.

Looking back at last year, only 6 movies made my worst of the year list.

This year, I've currently reviewed 185 movies, and will probably get to 200, give or take, by the end of the year.

Those movies that received grades of F through D+: 21

So about 10% of the movies I watch are lousy.

I can live with those odds, because at least the other 90% are at least passably entertaining to just plain amazing.

However, I'm not going to relive all of that pain and suffering.

There were a lot of smaller budget/never heard of it before films that can easily be overlooked, and in hindsight, should have been for my sake.

:)

I'm going to concentrate on the would-be blockbusters that should have impressed, but missed their marks, or at least on those films you probably heard about.

Either way, the list is twice as long, and twice as bad, as last year!

And that makes the fifth annual Turkey of the Year the WORST YEAR ever in movies, topping the previous record holder of 10 from 2013!!

So on that note, let's start the list by going BIG!

# 12

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice 

Sure, you say, "well, it wasn't that bad..."
I counter with you're right, and it also wasn't that good.
There was no enjoyment in watching this movie.
No thrill, no awe, no wonder.

No joy.

It was watchable, but this movie should have been the greatest movie of all time.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

Superman.
Batman.
Wonder Woman.
First. Time. Ever.
Together. In a film.

How do you go wrong?

Well, you had it to Warner Brothers and they go dark with director Zack Snyder.

There were some interesting ideas and moments in the film, and I totally approve of Affleck as Batman and Gadot as Wonder Woman.

Cavill, however, is not given a whole lot to do, and this Superman sequel becomes a Batman reboot.

If DC was trying to "not be Marvel" well, they fully succeeded.

And if trailers for Justice League (and even Suicide Squad) are indicators, Warner Brothers/DC have realized that these are comic book characters. It's okay to have a little fun with them.

The audience really doesn't mind, and neither do the actors.

# 11

Hail, Caesar!

 An ode to the Golden Age of Hollywood, the Coen brothers recreate a big budget epic with lots of little subplots and bit characters to take a sliver of an idea and turn it into a movie. My biggest problem, was aside from Josh Brolin's character, I really didn't have any emotional investment or care in any of the other characters that he associated with throughout the movie.

However, I'm inclined to agree that I'm probably just not a big fan of the Coen Brothers library of films, as I've seen but a handful of them, not seen most of them, and really haven't been thrilled with those that I have seen.

I know, shame on me.

:)


# 10

Everest 

The hardest movie that I reviewed this year, because the people were real.

And they were real idiots.

So to type things like that in a movie review, you feel bad because they were real people.

But at the end of the day, they made a lot of stupid decisions that cost themselves, and others, their lives.

And as you watch that unfold, entertainment begins to argue with logic, and you realize that you're not being entertained, and you're just kind of sick and irritated that people would make dumb decision after dumb decision, and so you want the movie to be over with, and when it is, you almost think...

You totally got what you deserved.

And this was one untold true story that should have stayed that way. 

I told you, I'm heartless.



# 9 

Black Mass 

It wouldn't be a "Worst of the Year" list without Johnny Depp, now would it?

Breaking the tie with Leonardo DiCaprio for most appearances on these lists, Depp now has the distinction of being the worst of all time. :)

Or, at least the last 5 years.

And yes, I've debated for more than a few minutes to include the highly overrated The Revenant to this list.

So what was wrong with the film?

Hard to put my finger on it exactly, but let's start with it not being very entertaining. 

I watched a documentary shortly after this, and it was better put together and more suspenseful than anything this film had to offer.

Had I watched it first, it would have possibly been a best of the year documentary contender, but by the time I saw it, this movie had pretty much soured my mood on the subject matter, so I don't think I was able to enjoy that documentary to its fullest extent.

Depp gives another performance that isn't Jack Sparrow, so there's that, but it's also one with no depth.

The real Whitey Bulger was charismatic and had people on both sides of the law in awe and fearful of him.

I never sensed that in this film.


# 8 

Joy

Ah yes, this one.

Congratulations on being the only movie on this year's list that I didn't watch past the 20 minute mark.

Gold star for that, I suppose.

Just didn't care for any of the characters, though I was mildly interested to stick around for DeNiro's character.

He was the only one of the bunch I had any desire to see continue on screen, but it wasn't enough to endure this one. 



# 7 

The Brothers Grimsby

I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again:

I have no problem with R rated comedies if they want to be crude and vulgar, as long as they are funny while doing so.

This one was crude.

However, it was only funny about 3 different times, and that's not a good average or a film that runs under 90 minutes.

Bonus points for at least putting the audience out of their misery quickly by having a short movie.

That said, when they concentrated on parodying the spy genre, the film wasn't half bad.

But then Cohen took over again, and the movie just came screeching to a halt.



# 6

Rock the Kasbah 

Another based on a true story.


Wow, that actually makes 4 of the films based on real events.

That's a really bad average considering most movies based on actual events are really good and enjoyable.

1/3 of the movies I didn't like this year actually happened.

So come on folks, have better, more interesting things happen in your life, or don't bother making a movie about it.

Awe inspiring.

Heart wrenching.

That's what makes a good story.

This dramedy wasn't funny enough, nor dramatic enough, to effectively work as anything.

Seemed like just a chance to get Bill Murray to goof his way through a movie and it would be winning just based on his charm.

Then throw in lots of big name, small role co-stars and you'll have an indie smash.

Color me unimpressed.


# 5

High Rise

The film captured the look and texture of the 70s. 

Which is really good, since that's when the movie takes place.

Maybe that's the problem.

Had this movie been made in the 80s or even 90s, you could think, why yes, it's still a strong parable for class warfare.

Waiting this long however, the tale just seems to be a goofy cautionary tale that isn't really warning us of anything, and if it's a black comedy/satire...

Well, it's just not that good, period.

Tremendous cast, thrown to the wolves.

Pity.



# 4 

The Good Dinosaur

Pixar finally hits rock bottom for yours truly.

A miss-mash of attempted gags, dangled loosely together with a storyline that feels very familiar.

Which it should, because it borrows, heavily, from so many other, better films that came before it.

By the time it flipped into a western, even Sam Elliot couldn't save this one, and I began laughing at the film, not with the film.

That said, the background scenery in this film is AMAZING!


# 3 

Pan

Ugh.


Just the thought of watching this one makes me ache again.

It started off great with snatching the boys during the Blitz in London.

Then they went to Neverland, broke into a Nirvana musical number, and they lost me as a viewer from that moment onward.

If anything else happened that could have salvaged the film, it was too little, too late from this movie.

I will happily endure just about any of the Disney Tinkerbell movies before I would ever even think of trying this one again.

Of course, those films are absolutely fun to watch, while not destroying the entire Peter Pan concept.

No such luck here.



# 2

The Ridiculous 6For those without Netflix, finally some good news.

:)

Sandler's first outing on Netflix was just not that good.

I've defended most of his films over the years because I often found them to be amusing or really funny.

He seemed to be an automatic punching bag that a Sandler movie was just plain awful, and that's just not true.

Until now.

Aside from the invention of baseball scene, there's not a single funny bit in this entire film.

I worried that Netflix was getting a bad deal, but they said no worries, it was their most viewed movie in history.

Aha.

A bunch of closet Adam Sandler fans after all.  :)

And thankfully, his more recent efforts have returned to being much more humorous.


# 1 

Fantastic Four (2015) 

No.

This is not acceptable.

As we are just weeks away from 2017, superhero movies cannot be this bad anymore, by any studio with any sort of budget.

Dear 20th Century Fox, you either don't know how to make a good Fantastic Four movie, or don't care to even try at this point.

Which is one thing, if you're going to do some low-budget sci-fi / comic-book type hero story with no major implications in the grand scheme of things. Pretend these characters are anyone OTHER than the Fantastic Freakin' Four, and it's almost a decent movie.

But couple it with the rejuvenation of the X-Men franchise with Days of Future Past and Deadpool, and it just seems like this franchise either needs to be given a chance to live and breathe on its own with a more faithful adaptation and less studio meddling...

Or create a Sony-like deal where the first family of Marvel comes back to Marvel Studios.

At least it would get a fair shot at giving the team their best film outing yet.

And this from a guy that really enjoyed the first film, because I thought the relationship between Ben & Johnny was just about perfect. The rest was just extra.

Oh, and one last word of advice: leave Doom alone for now.

He's been done (poorly) to death at this point.

That's it, that's all for this year.

As always, thanks for reading, and hopefully next year will be turkey-free!

But somehow, I doubt it.

:)

Join The "Hunt For The Wilderpeople" !

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Rated PG-13


Starring Sam Neill,  Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House,

Directed by Taika Waititi

The Story:

Ricky (Dennison) is a foster kid who has bounced from home to home throughout New Zealand. He's pretty much facing his last chance when he arrives at the farm of Bella (Wiata) and Hec (Neill). Over time, he begins to think of the place as home, but then, tragedy strikes and rather than facing being taken away again, he decides to make his way through the bush and survive on his own. Soon the subject of a manhunt, Ricky and Hec must stay ahead of the law to keep their names clear.

This is an offbeat buddy road movie meets coming of age story mashed up into the beautiful New Zealand countryside.

It's fun, it's touching, it's definitely worth watching.

Sam Neill is his usual gruff persona, think of him as an older, maybe less wise, Dr. Grant from Jurassic Park.

Dennison is such a likeable character, and while this may not be his first role, it is likely the one that will help propel his career forward.

Finally, the director is once again hitting me with an end of the year contender for most entertaining films of the year.

He scored last year with What We Do In The Shadows, and he's been tapped for Thor: Ragnarok next year.

If he brings his light touch to the Marvel Universe, I think fans will find the third Thor outing to be the best one yet, and Waititi will hit this list 3 years in a row.

Final Grade: B+

The World's Greatest Rockumentary! "Popstar! Never Stop Never Stopping"

Popstar! Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

Rated R

Starring Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Shaffer, Tim Meadows,

Directed by Jorma Taccone and Akiva Shaffer

The Story:

Once upon a time, The Style Boyz were America's favorite pop/rap group. Success broke the band apart, and now Connor (Samberg) is about to release his newest release since going solo. Thankfully, the camera crew is on hand to document the success...

However when things don't go as planned, Connor must work twice as hard to stay relevant, and he's willing to do anything...

Except reunite The Style Boyz.

From the talented minds of The Lonely Island by way of Saturday Night Live, Samberg, Taccone and Shaffer release a mockumentary that is well produced and allows seamless cameos of musicians and celebrities, then and now, to give accolades to The Style Boyz and Connor.

The characters are hopeless, yet endearing, and as the movie progresses, you know where the film is headed, and they make you enjoy every roadblock and stumble on the way to the inevitable reunion.

Filled with wonderful supporting player, they bring the movie vividly to life, each adding another strange piece to a weird celebrity lifestyle that is both embraced and parodied, all at the same time.

Is it this generation's Spinal Tap? Probably.

Whether it meets or exceeds that one will be in the eye and taste of the viewer.

That said, the more I watched the movie, the more the characters grew on me and by the end of the film, I too was waiting for the inevitable reunion.

Can't ask for much more than that.

Final Grade: B-

Eventually They Will Finish... "The Nice Guys"

The Nice Guys (2016)

Rated R

Starring Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Margaret Qualley, Angourie Rice,

Written and Directed by Shane Black

The Story:

Holland March (Gosling) has been hired to find a girl (Qualley) who has gone missing. Coupled with the recent death of a porn star, it seems like everyone is trying to find this girl, including another private eye, Jackson Healy (Crowe). The two cross paths, exchange blows, and soon thereafter reluctantly team-up to try and solve a pair of cases that seem intertwined while navigating around some crazy people that make up Los Angeles in the late 1970s.

This is a strange one.

The trailer seemed like it would be a really good movie, but it failed to connect with audiences when it came out.

My only guess on that would be that perhaps Shane Black made the movie too dark and seedy, centering a great bit of it around the porn industry in the tale of a missing girl and a murdered starlet.

Not exactly the best date material for starters, or I guess, at least not out in public.

:)

Plus, when the smartest character in the movie is March's daughter (Rice) that also doesn't bode well.

That said, there are several great moments scattered throughout the film, and it's also bogged down by several stretches of "meh" as well.

It's a game effort by all involved, especially Gosling who is possibly the most nuanced private eye ever to grace the silver screen. How he managed to get, and keep, his job is a wonder.

Crowe gets to play the requisite heavy, and the two share a pretty good chemistry together.

It's no Lethal Weapon, but we've been waiting to see a buddy team-up like that for nearly 30 years to no avail.

Black tries to catch lightning in a bottle again, but comes up a bit short.

Bottom line, I liked it, but didn't love it like I hoped I would.

Final Grade: B-

Everyday Is Filled With "Miracles From Heaven"

Miracles From Heaven (2016)

Rated PG

Starring Jennifer Garner, Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, Brighton Sharbino, Courtney Fansler, Queen Latifah, Eugenio Derbez,

Directed by Patricia Riggen

The Story:

Anna Beam (Rogers) keeps feeling sick. Hospital visit after hospital visit turns up nothing, but the poor thing is getting worse. Her mom (Garner) finally manages to get her to see one of the top specialists (Derbez) in the States and diagnoses Anna with a rare, non-treatable disorder. The pain gets worse, and little Anna is ready to throw in the towel. Her mom breaks down and begs God for a miracle.

Based on a true story, naturally!

However, that's not to say this movie doesn't have a few hiccups along the way.

They condense Anna's 4 year journey into a condensed to fit  your movie running time year.

Naturally, there are a ton of skeptics that feel and believe that Anna was never sick to begin with, and this is just a cash grab by the Beam family to make a buck off the Christian market.

Well, judge not lest ye be judged.

:)

I can, however, judge the movie, and it's not too bad.

There are naturally a few heartstring tuggers along the way, which is par for the course in most movies like this.

I don't think it beats a Christian message over the head of those that are skeptical, and it even briefly launches into the "why do bad things happen to little kids" endless debate.

There's also a few clunkers that keep the movie from reaching the full potential. One that pulled me out of the movie completely and made me start laughing was when a tearful, angry mom yells at the doctor "no, you calm down!"

The doctor was already calm and explaining why he couldn't help the daughter any further.

So a few misfires like that keep the movie from being a must-see and relegate it to a could-see.

That said, the movie does emphasize that your life is filled with little miracles every day that you may be too busy to notice and realize they were miracles at the time, and that is a message that's worth repeating over and over until the world gets it.

Final Grade: B-

A Work Of Fiction...Or Is It? "True Memoirs Of An International Assassin"

True Memoirs of an International Assassin (2016)

TV-14

Starring Kevin James, Zulay Henao, Ron Rifkin, Kim Coates, Maurice Compte, Andrew Howard, Yul Vazquez, Andy Garcia, Rob Riggle, Leonard Earl Howze, Katie Couric

Directed by Jeff Wadlow

The Story:

When Sam Larson (James) has his first book published, one minor change leads his tale of assassin Mason Carver from the works of fiction to an autobiographical triumph. The problem? People assume he is indeed "The Ghost" and he is suddenly thrust into a web of international intrigue where he is expected to be the assassin he has written about.

The latest Netflix Original, Jeff Wadlow brings a humorous touch to an action film... or an action touch to a comedy and adds his own fun spin to the "fake spy" genre.

He's aided with a wonderful cast that is led by James as the writer turned assassin who calls upon his knowledge to get him out of the sticky situations that he finds himself in once he's been kidnapped.

It doesn't hurt that he gets some help from an undercover DEA agent (Henao) to try and keep him out of trouble.

There's also a great CIA duo (Riggle & Howze) who watch Larson at work and can't decide if he's a real assassin or really going to die, and they spend most of the movie wagering on his survival.

So, if you've enjoyed Kevin James films in the past, you're going to like this one.

He's well received around these parts and while it didn't measure up with Here Comes the Boom or the first Paul Blart movie, it was definitely worth a watch.

Final Grade: C+ / B- range

Reality TV..."Money Monster"

Money Monster (2016)

Rated R

Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O'Connell

Directed by Jodie Foster

The Story:

Lee Gates (Clooney) is a charismatic financial adviser with his own high profile cable show. His producer (Roberts) is getting ready to leave after the show is over, when a man (O'Connell) sneaks into the studio and pulls out a gun. Suddenly this live show takes a decidedly darker turn and viewers are stunned as they watch Gates work to get out of this situation alive.

Overall, this was a pretty effective dramatic thriller.

It unfolds pretty much in "real time" as the show descends from what was planned to an unexpected hostage situation.

Clooney and Roberts work extremely well together, though their chemistry is a bit dampened by the fact that they don't share the screen with each other, they communicate through an earpiece.

Clooney gets a chance to run the gamut of emotions, though he seemingly is almost too cool at times, considering the danger he is actually facing.

That's probably the one thing that is mostly lacking from this film, is that actual sense of an edge that the gunman might snap and kill everyone.

We know he's not going to kill Clooney, so much of the dramatic tension is false.

You sucker yourself in as the audience to buy into the dread and despair of the situation, but you're well aware that killing the star of the movie makes for a pretty lousy movie, so you have to pretend something bad could happen to stay in the right frame of mind.

That's just my take on it though.

Not a bad effort, but could have ratcheted things up a notch or two to make this even better.

Final Grade: B-

Since Half Of America Is Going To Move There Now..."Being Canadian"

Being Canadian (2015)

Not Rated

Written and Directed by Robert Cohen

The Story:

Cohen left Canada to come to America and become a comedy writer. Along the way, the more he met people, the more he began to realize how misunderstood the world sees Canadians. He set out on a cross country trek across his homeland to see if he could discover what it truly means to be a Canadian.

Now, as I'm not Canadian, I cannot vouch for the confirmation of 90% of all stereotypes that Canadians are known for that Cohen runs across in the film.

But yeah, he pretty much ticks them off, like a checklist, and most are confirmed as true.

However, don't let that get you down, as the majority of Canadian stereotypes are not exactly a bad thing.

Excessively polite.
Very funny.

You could actually stop right there, and yes, those two are indeed addressed in the documentary.

Each trek of his journey tackles another facet of being Canadian, and he gets answers from everyday Canadians as well as many who have become quite famous on either side of the border.

It's light, it's breezy, it's fun.

Final Grade: A-

How Timely... "The Purge: Election Year"

The Purge: Election Year (2016)

Rated R

Starring Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Joseph Julian Soria, Betty Gabriel,

Written & Directed by James DeMonaco

The Story:

Leo Barnes (Grillo) is now head of security for Senator Roan (Mitchell) in her bid for the presidency. Her first order of business should she be elected: ending the annual purge - the government endorsed 12 hour annual night when all crime is legal and no emergency services are available. Meanwhile, Joe (Williamson) finds out his Purge Insurance rates have gone up through the roof the night before the Purge, so he decides to stick it out on his own and protect his business.

James DeMonaco concludes his trilogy that began in The Purge and continued in The Purge: Anarchy.

Both were compelling thrillers that kept viewers riveted to the end of the film wondering what would happen next.

I actually preferred the sequel to the original, as I felt it gave the story more life as you could see what kind of chaos really happens outside in the world of the purge.

The first was claustrophobic, but almost too dark to feel the tension being raised, instead I was frustrating trying to remember who was who as they moved about in the shadows.

Once again, in our third trip back to the Purge-Verse, the storyline is split into pieces, and eventually the characters run into one another.

It's believable, and given their backstory, it's also important that these civilians decide to help the Senator stay alive.

What comes next for The Purge films?

Hard to say, I don't know if DeMonaco wants to continue them or not. He's put a nice bow on it, so it could be a self-contained trilogy.

However, where studios are concerned, franchises sell, so I'm betting we haven't seen the last of these chilling tales of a depraved society.

Final Grade: B-

"Doctor Strange" Is Not Covered By Your Affordable Healthcare Plan

Doctor Strange (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen,

Directed by Scott Derrickson

The Story:

Doctor Strange (Cumberbatch) is an extremely accomplished neurosurgeon who is as brilliant as his ego suggests he is. In an instant, his world comes crashing down, and he loses everything. In a last-ditch effort to regain the full use of his hands, he heads east in the hopes of healing, and winds up learning ancient mystic arts. Of course, when another former pupil is trying to learn a dark spell that will wind up destroying the earth, it will fall upon Strange's shoulders to see if he's learned enough to stop the threat.

Full disclosure, I never really cared for Doctor Strange when I was growing up. Aside from guest starring in the books that I read, I never sought his own comic out to read.

Just a character I never truly cared for.

However, much like Daredevil, give him to the right hands, and I might find myself really digging the character.

When I saw the trailer(s) for Doctor Strange, I was also less than overwhelmed.

They did nothing to alleviate my fears, unlike the killer trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy that made me realize THAT movie is going to be amazing, and I MUST see it in theaters.

Nope, this looked like one I could probably miss in theaters and catch on DVD, much like I did with Age of Ultron.

However, I wound up at the theater with one of my kids Friday afternoon, and we sat down to watch.

Neither of us hoping for much, other than to not be let down.

Part of me wonders why we even worry about anything Marvel touches anymore.

: )

In short, it exceeded any and every expectation that we had.

There was great characterizations, there was fun, Marvel dialogue.

The special effects are nothing short of amazing, and they keep the fight sequences fresh and visually stunning.

I've seen handfuls of reviews, both professional and not that actually recommend this one be seen in 3-D if possible.

I can only imagine how crazy that's got to look!

The final "boss battle" in the movie is really good, and keeps within the character that Doctor Strange has been and becomes as the movie progresses.

What else?

Doctor Strange sounds an awful lot like Dr. House. Apparently that is the default voice for grumpy brilliant doctors. : )

And if the Academy ever decides to create a Best Supporting Prop category, I nominate the Cloak of Levitation.

: )

Go see it.

You'll be glad you did.

Final Grade: A-

I Had Almost Forgotten The First One..."The Huntsman: Winter's War"

The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt, Nick Frost,

Directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan

The Story:

A sequel and a prequel, all in one. This tells the story of Eric (Hemsworth) growing up under the "care" of Queen Freya (Blunt). His affection towards Sara (Chastain) caused him to be removed from the kingdom, and you know what happened next if you saw Snow White & the Huntsman. The rest of the movie shows Eric on the search for the Magic Mirror before it can be used to bring Ravenna (Theron) back to life.

First, they did the best thing by not bringing Kristen Stewart back for the sequel.

She was my least favorite part of the original, and she is definitely not missed.

:)

The new additions to the cast are enjoyable, but it's almost like they couldn't decide if they wanted to tell a prequel or a sequel.

Splitting time between both gives you enough storyline bouncing back and forth to make for one movie, but it seems a little less coherent that way.

At times there was almost too much plot going on with attempted plot twists and turns seemingly around every corner.

The cast is game though, and the movie looks great.

But at the end of the day, it's just an average movie, and doesn't inspire any reason to rush out to see it.

Final Grade: C

Look Who's Back... "Now You See Me 2"

Now You See Me 2 (2016)  

Rated PG-13

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Lizzy Caplan, Daniel Radcliffe, Jay Chou, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine,

Directed by Jon M. Chu

The Story:

The Horsemen (Eisenberg, Harrelson, Franco) are in hiding. Rhodes (Ruffalo) is doing his best to keep the FBI at bay, but with the Horsemen down a man, he sends a new recruit (Caplan) to join the team. Of course with Thaddeus Bradley (Freeman) vowing revenge from behind bars, it appears that the walls are closing in, and the Horsemen may have performed their final trick.

Well, that was fun.

I quite enjoyed the original Now You See Me a few years back, and it wound up being one of my favorites of 2013.

As with most sequels, it does not quite reach the lofty heights of the original, and NYSM 2 is no exception.

It's good, and if you enjoyed the first one, there's nothing that's going to stop you from enjoying this return engagement.

The illusions are fun, and even if you know how they pulled the trick off, they are executed very well and are fun to watch.

The cast is great, and while I'm not a big fan of Jesse Eisenberg, he meshes well with this group.

Caplan is a breath of fresh air to the team as she tries to fit in and find her role with the team.

Probably my biggest complaint is the double-duty of Harrelson in the movie. I think I would have simply preferred that he have a brother rather than a twin. There was no identity swapping required, so it seemed silly to me.

But still, good times, and I enjoyed it.

While this one won't make the best of the year, it was still enjoyable and I will likely add it to the library down the road.

Plus, if rumors are to be believed, there will be a Now You See Me 3.

I look forward to it.

Final Grade: B

What Are The Odds..."Dark Horse"

Dark Horse (2015)

Rated PG

Written & Directed by Louise Osmond

The Story:

In the Welsh village of Cefn Fforest, the townsfolk band together and pledge £10 a week to dream the impossible dream of raising a horse to run in competition.

This is their story.

And it's a heartwarming story to be sure.

Add up the cliches, the underdog story, and you've got the formula right here.

A bunch of poor townfolk, many unemployed dare to join the sport of the aristocracy and enter a world they could only dream of.

Nobody had a clue what they were doing.

Not the owners.

Not the horse.

But with a good trainer, could the impossible happen?

Well, they rarely make movies like that unless it does.

So sit back and get ready to laugh a little, maybe cry a little and enjoy the love and camaraderie of some of the most enjoyable cast of characters you'll see all year.

Final Grade: B+

Luke Cage Is Looking For Work... "Barbershop: The Next Cut"

Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Anthony Anderson, J.B. Smoove, Common, Nicki Minaj,

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee

The Story:

Calvin (Cube) and the rest of the regulars are back, but things have gotten darker in neighborhood since we last visited the shop. The place is now co-ed, with the ladies taking half the space, and at least half the conversation. And the neighborhood is getting more dangerous, and Calvin's thinking that a move might be what's best for his business, and his family.

Well, couple this with My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 as  two sequels I was not expecting in 2016. Considering the originals came out clear back in 2002, it's rare to get one sequel that far removed, let alone two different movies from that same year.

But, much like that one, this was also a nice trip down memory lane with most of the cast returning and you ease right into the storylines because you're already familiar with who they are and what they will be doing or saying.

Lee steps in to helm the franchise, and does right by everyone involved. It's funny, but has heart. There's a message, but it's not going to be bashed over your head. It doesn't approach the manic fun of his best film, Undercover Brother, but again, it's a worthy addition to the franchise and not just a cheap cash grab on name recognition.

The chemistry amongst the cast is still excellent, and the new cast members integrate seamlessly into the storyline. Pretty much everyone who has been in the series is back, either for a really brief moment or to propel the storyline to the finish.

As usual, Cedric the Entertainer gets most of the great lines, but not all of them.

If you've ever enjoyed any of the previous installments, you'll enjoy this return trip to the shop.

Final Grade: B-