Labor Intensive Viewing..."Ghost In The Shell"

Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbaek, Juliette Binoche, Michael Pitt, Takeshi Kitano

Directed by Rupert Sanders

The Story:

In the future, Major (Johannson) is an elite soldier that has been cybernetically enhanced to face criminals that mean to do the world harm. However, while most people get enhanced parts, Major is the first to have her life put into a completely cybernetic being. Now someone is killing those behind her creation, and it's up to Major to stop them.

I enjoyed this one a lot more 30 years ago when it was called RoboCop.

:)

I can't tell how this compares to the Manga series of the same name, I would imagine that having the lead Japanese character played by Scarlett Johannson is the first of many departures from the original.

Because, oh yeah, when they recreated Major, she was previously a Japanese girl, and the body they opted to put her in was decidedly not Japanese.

They also decided to put her in a movie that really seemed overlong, rather boring, and completely uninteresting.

I did watch the whole thing instead of shutting it off, but at the end of the film, I have to ask myself, "did I enjoy what I just watched" and "would I ever want to watch it again" ?

The answer to both, a resounding no.

I hope this doesn't hurt Scarlett's shot at a solo Black Widow movie.  That, I do want to see!

 Final Grade: D+

Well That Was Awkward..."All Nighter"

All Nighter (2017)

Rated R

Starring Emile Hirsch, J.K. Simmons, Analeigh Tipton, Taran Killam, Kristen Schaal, Shannon Woodward

Directed by Gavin Wiesen

The Story:

When Ginnie (Tipton) introduces her boyfriend Martin (Hirsch) to her father, Mr. Gallo (Simmons), it's basically the worst first impression you could possibly hope for. Fast forward 6 months, and Mr. Gallo is knocking on Martin's door looking for Ginnie. The only problem... Ginnie and Martin aren't together anymore. Mr. Gallo doesn't mind, Martin needs to get up, get dressed, and come help him find his daughter.

What follows next is a buddy comedy of epic proportions!

Okay, maybe not epic, but there is some smiles and laughs to be had with Hirsch and Simmons running around L.A. looking for his daughter.

As they run into one friend after another, nobody can quite put their finger on where they last saw Ginnie, and the night becomes a blur or crazy characters and situations as the two have to get past their mutual annoyance of one another and work for the bigger picture - where is Ginnie?

Simmons is as great a comic actor as he is a dramatic one. He makes any picture better just by being in it, and Hirsch provides able support as the beleaguered ex who still hasn't gotten over his old flame, but just might before the night is over.

You won't be doubled over in laughter, but you likely won't regret taking the time to spend watching this one.

Final Grade: C+

Guardianship Matters..."Gifted"

Gifted (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer,

Directed by Marc Webb

The Story:

Frank (Evans) has been taking care of his niece Mary (Grace) for the last seven years after his sister died. However Mary is now old enough to go to school. The only real problem, Mary is a math genius, and the public school curriculum is a bit... redundant for her. That's when the grandma (Duncan) shows up and demands custody of little Mary, so she can put that brain to use and become famous.  Sounds like this one is heading to court.

Ah, contesting guardianship...

That's a fun subject for a film! : /

That's the underlying theme for this film though as the grandmother who has never been there shows up demanding what she deems best for the child.

On the other side, the uncle who has been by her side the entire time, trying to make sure that she isn't just some "weird kid" because he already knew what that was like growing up, and he wants Mary to be as close to normal as possible.

Would this even be necessary if Mary were any less than a mathematical genius?

I think you'll figure out that answer long before the credits roll.

It's a sweet, caring film that is carried by Grace and the subdued performance of Evans. Proving that he's more than just a guy with a shield, Evans carries a weighty burden on his shoulders as he constantly doubts whether what he's doing is right or not, but always erring on the side of what he believes to be the best interests of Mary, and honoring what he believes his sister would have wanted.

It's quite likely you missed this in theaters during the winter.

Now's the time to make up for it.

Final Grade: B+

Well, That Was Disappointing..."Shin Godzilla"

Shin Godzilla (2016)

Not Rated

Starring Godzilla, Thousands of Screaming Japanese People

Directed by Hideaki Anno & Sean Whitley

The Story:

Some great disturbance under the ocean floor unleashes a worm unlike the world has ever seen. At least it seems like a worm. Eventually it makes landfall, and in short order begins to evolve, stand tall, and begin to destroy Japan!  How will the Japanese government stop...

Godzilla!

Hey look kids, it's a film about Emergency Management planning!

Sound fun?

Well, it's not. 

It's basically 2 hours of governments attempting to figure out how to stop Godzilla, and which arm of the government should take the lead on it. 

Yeah, not very exciting. 

Then you've got Godzilla, who looks really ridiculous at first, until he finally evolves into something that mostly resembles the Godzilla we've come to love over the last 50+ years from Toho. 

But, it still doesn't really feel right. The face is off, enough... perhaps too big of a mouth opening.

And then I kept laughing at the ridiculous length of the tail as it flailed around in the movie.

However, keep a close eye on it, as it apparently holds the key to the sequel...

that I will probably watch, but don't look forward to seeing. 

:)

Unlike Kong: Skull Island, this one was very much a disappointment for me. 

While they've allowed different takes with each movie, it doesn't seem like they can decide what direction they're going with for Godzilla at this point. 

Instead, they freeze him like a statue and wait for the next film to probably start all over again. 

Godzilla is getting more origin stories than Spider-Man at this point! 

I'm hearing rumblings of another cinematic meet-up with Kong in the future. 

We'll see how that goes...

Final Grade:  D

There Are Worse Places To Be..."Table 19"

Table 19 (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Anna Kendrick, Wyatt Russell, Lisa Kudrow, Craig Robinson, Tony Revolori, Stephen Merchant, June Squibb

Directed by Jeffrey Blitz

The Story:

Eloise (Kendrick) has just been dumped by her boyfriend, Teddy (Russell). She decides to go to the wedding of her best friend anyway, even though Teddy is the best man and she was supposed to be the maid of honor. Now she's relegated to Table 19, home of the misfit guests. Perhaps she should have burned the RSVP card after all.

For a comedy, this film isn't fall down funny.

Instead, it rolls steadily on an even keel of amusement.

Nothing too outlandish, nothing too out there.

Just a lot of people at a wedding who really don't want to be there, or at least aren't sure why exactly they are there.

Ah, but wouldn't you know, that as the night wears on, there is a bit of camaraderie that takes place and the guests at Table 19 end up bonding, slowly and reluctantly, with one another.

Each one works through the issues that they have, and they all depart the wedding better than they were when they arrived.

It's a good cast that could have used some stronger material to work with, but it's still entertaining enough to enjoy.

Final Grade: C / C+ range

Clearly This Is Not Your Father's "CHiPS"

CHiPS (2017)

Rated R

Starring Dax Shepard, Michael Pena, Vincent D'Onofrio, Kristen Bell,

Written and Directed by Dax Shepard

The Story:

Jon Baker (Shepard) is a former motocross legend who's trying to get a real job to impress his ex (Bell) so she might take him back. Ponch (Pena) is an undercover Federal agent investigating the possibility that there are some dirty cops on the job at the California Highway Patrol. Let the crashes commence!

I grew up watching CHiPs. Loved that show. Jon and Ponch were a great team, and the crashes were always fantastic.

This is not that show.

This is:  what if Dax Shepard wrote, directed and starred in a movie about the California Highway Patrol?

So depending on what you expect, that might very well determine whether you enjoy this one or roll your eyes in frustration at it.

If you saw his 2012 film Hit and Run, you know what to expect.

I did. I liked it. It was a crazy film, and Shepard showed a lot of skill as the man of many hats, writing/directing/producing and starring.

He's back for more, and this one is just as fun, possibly even moreso.

A lot of the credit for that goes to Shepard himself, but also to Pena who plays his partner, who has no interest in being partners, yet the two manage to bond almost in spite of themselves.

Pena is gold in just about any role he touches anymore, so whenever he's in a film, it's already better just for his involvement.

Don't believe me?

Tell me Ant-Man would be as good without his character.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

Sure, it's stupid, crude... but when it's funny, it's spot on.

And the crashes, well they do the memory of their namesake proud.

I saw this one awhile ago, and whenever I see the logo on Amazon or Vudu, I still smile thinking about the movie.

For me, that says a lot about how fun it really was.

Final Grade: C+/B-

Hail To The King..."Kong: Skull Island"

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly, John Goodman, Corey Hawkins, John Ortiz,

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts

The Story:

With the Vietnam War ending, a team of scientists are using a military escort to a previously uncharted territory in the South Pacific before the Russians discover them on satellite. They will encounter things the likes of which no one has ever seen before...and lived to tell about it.

Loki (Hiddleston), Captain Marvel (Larson) and Nick Fury (Jackson) head to a deserted island...

Whoops, wrong cinematic universe.

Say what you will about reboots, cinematic universes and whatnot...

When they work, they are amazing, and when they don't, they are often colossal failures.

For me, the relaunch of (King) Kong may very well be my favorite iteration of the giant ape to appear on screen.

I know, blasphemy for the 30s original, but this is simply a technically superior storyline.

Or at least one with a much more satisfying ending.

I hate to give too much away for those that haven't seen it, but I never particularly cared for the whole "beauty and the beast" notion that has been a constant in the films.

Nor have I ever enjoyed the cage him up and take him to New York plot device.

Skull Island erases both of those shortfalls and gives as as plausible of a storyline for Kong, how he exists, why he exists and why he's never been found before.

That a sequel will invariably come from this is a good thing.

I just hope they realize they've set the bar fairly high for themselves, and unlike another giant monster franchise, I hope they can continue putting out a quality product.

Vogt-Roberts nailed it as only his 2nd feature (the excellent Kings of Summer - still streaming for those with Prime) and first blockbuster/franchise tent-pole right out of the gate. Hope he's brought back along with whatever cast may have survived their first encounter with Kong.

Count me as a huge fan of this one.

Final Grade: B+