There Goes The Neighborhood..."10 Cloverfield Lane"

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr.

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg

The Story:

Michelle (Winstead) is driving home late one evening and becomes involved in a car crash. When she awakes, she finds that she is being take of by Howard (Goodman). Apparently Emmett (Gallagher) is also being looked after by Howard as she learns that he rescued them both from some horrendous disaster and they should be thankful to even be alive in an underground bunker that he built. Michelle doubts the sincerity of the story and begins to think that Howard is making the entire story up, so she begins planning on how to break free.

But what if he's telling the truth?

Well, that was something alright.

The spiritual sequel to the 2008 found footage hit Cloverfield, this takes place almost entirely in the bunker as the 3 characters get to know each other.

It starts off creepy enough, wondering if you can actually trust Howard at his word.

But then you think you can.

Or can you?

And that twisting, back and forth logic propels most of the movie.

Then, it feels the need to loop back to the original movie, and nearly all of the suspense and tension just flies out of the film, like letting loose a balloon.

Perhaps not an unjustifiable ending, but one that a psychological thriller that makes up the majority of the run-time didn't deserve.

But when you switch gears, and genres, that quickly, you get what you deserve.

So a pretty good movie gets a markdown for an ending that underwhelmed.

Final Grade: B-

Whatever Happened To Spielbergian Aliens? "The 5th Wave"

The 5th Wave (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Zackary Arthur, Liev Schreiber, Maria Bello, Ron Livingston, Alex Roe,

Directed by J Blakeson

The Story:

The aliens have made contact, and after 4 waves (Darkness, Destruction, Disease and Invasion) it's time to unleash...The 5th Wave!
But after so much destruction, what could possibly come next?

Cassie (Moretz) is desperate to find her brother (Arthur) who she lost when the Army came to round up survivors and take them to a training facility. There, Colonel Vosch (Schreiber) plans on training the young kids to be the soldiers of the future that can find and destroy the enemy. They shall be...

The 5th Wave!

So, now we know what the 5th Wave is.

How is it as a movie?

Meh, not bad.

It takes the trappings of the dystopian future and places a young female lead into the center of the conflict.

Her quest to reunite and rescue her little brother are the driving force behind the movie, and whether she helps save the world or not is only secondary.

Filled with an ensemble of fine characters to supplement that story, it's nothing earth-shattering and reinventing the sci-fi / action / dystopian future genre...

But entertaining nonetheless.

Probably nothing you haven't seen in one shape or form already, but it's done with enough gusto this go round, you won't feel like you wasted your time.

Final Grade:  C+