Special: Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Candyman, Pixie Mini-Reviews

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings:

Synopsis: Marvel Studios' "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings" stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi's friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan.

My thoughts: Saying I had low expectations for this film would probably be wrong but they were low by Marvel movie standards and all Shang-Chi did was completely destroy them to give us not only one of the best stand-alone Marvel movies in years but definitely in the running for best of 2021. The visuals were spectacular as you can tell they took their world creation inspiration from Black Panther but with an Oriental twist and the acting was top notch as the actors had a lot to play with given the strong script with loads of heart, humour and emotion as well as the typical real life issue angle which they went with Millennial careers and family structure which was not the obvious choice.

Final verdict: 5 sealed gates out of 5.

Candyman:

Synopsis: For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago's Cabrini-Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, visual artist Anthony McCoy and his partner, gallery director Brianna Cartwright, move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials. With Anthony's painting career on the brink of stalling, a chance encounter with a Cabrini-Green old-timer exposes Anthony to the tragically horrific nature of the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to maintain his status in the Chicago art world, Anthony begins to explore these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence that puts him on a collision course with destiny.

My thoughts: I liked the angle they took with Candyman, not seeing the original I'm glad they built off it without leaving new viewers confused. The twist wasn't too much of a shocker but it had enough elements that I didn't see coming to be entertained and although horror isn't my preferred genre I wasn't upset I watched this even if the script could've drawn out more story instead of showing some random killings of characters we barely know.

Final verdict: 3.5 hook hands out of 5.

Pixie:

Synopsis: Pixie Hardy sets out to avenge her mother's death and attempts a heist that will give her the means to leave her small-town life behind. When the plan goes horribly wrong, she's forced to team up with a pair of misfits who are clearly in over their heads. On the run from a criminal gang of priests and nuns, the trio tries to scheme and swindle anyone they come across.

My thoughts: Pixie was just a little too weird for me. I'm not sure if British fare isn't for me, or it was just this movie in particular but Pixie sounded like something up my alley but this just didn't do it for me. Not to say this movie is all bad. The actors did well with what they were given, the cringe parts were meant to be that way and there was some genuine laughs I'm just not sure I'll ever revisit this flick.

Final verdict: 3 interrupted threesomes out of 5.

Special: The Suicide Squad, Luca, Breaking News In Yuba County Mini-Reviews

The Suicide Squad:

Synopsis: Welcome to hell--a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out--even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today's do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone's favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave...and Amanda Waller's government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they're dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone's laying down bets, the smart money is against them--all of them.

My thoughts: I actually enojyed David Ayer's previous adaptation of the Suicide Squad to the big screen it had it's issues but was an enjoyable romp. James Gunn's turn in the directors chair brings back fan favourites Harley Quinn, Rick Flagg Jr and Captain Boomerang to pair with a new cast of characters lead by Bloodsport. Gunn did a fantastic job turning expectations on it's head throughout the film and giving us reason to care about these characters even more than this DC fanboy did before. R-Rated gore, language and even a nude man's penis shows that comic book movies can be anything you want it to be.

Final verdict: 5 bags of dicks for liberty out of 5.

Luca:

Synopsis: Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar's original feature film "Luca" is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca (voice of Jacob Tremblay) shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, Alberto (voice of Jack Dylan Grazer), but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water's surface.

My thoughts: Pixar gives us a beautiful picture with a story full of heart and hope. I feel like that can be copy and pasted into any of their pictures. Luca doesn't try nearly as hard as last year's Soul but executes it better. It shoots straight for your emotions, sometimes too much as it gets caught up in the attempt to make you feel something rather than just try to move the story forward. Overall a super fun Italian romp with sea monsters getting their land legs.

Final verdict: 4 stupido's out of 5.

Breaking News In Yuba County:

Synopsis: A woman takes advantage of her growing celebrity status when the police and the public think her dead husband is just missing.

My thoughts: This one is hard to pin down as it's a bit of a quirky comedy that knows it's quirky and throws itself into that fully. In the end though it seems to get lost in itself and ends up looking like a parody of a better movie. The script had some good dialogue and the performances by the ensemble was strong but this group of actresses deserved a better end product.

Final verdict: 3 ignored wives out of 5.

Special: Raya And The Last Dragon, Godzilla Vs. Kong, Bad Trip Mini-Reviews

Raya And The Last Dragon:

Synopsis: Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned and it's up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the last dragon in order to finally stop the Druun for good. However, along her journey, she'll learn that it'll take more than dragon magic to save the world--it's going to take trust as well.

My thoughts: Sometimes Raya takes the message it's pushing too far and it disrupts the storytelling that we're getting but that's about where the negatives end. This might be Disney's best output since 2016 but we'll see if Raya can stand the test of time over the next few years but the animation is certainly the best the studio has managed since that time if not longer.

Final verdict: 4 ancient dragon spirits out of 5.

Godzilla Vs. Kong:

Synopsis: Legends collide in "Godzilla vs. Kong" as these mythic adversaries meet in a spectacular battle for the ages, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home, and with them is Jia, a young orphaned girl with whom he has formed a unique and powerful bond. But they unexpectedly find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla, cutting a swath of destruction across the globe. The epic clash between the two titans--instigated by unseen forces--is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the Earth.

My thoughts: Godzilla Vs. Kong gives us what is promised, two big monsters fighting each other. They give us this at the expense of human character development, which honestly I wouldn't hate if executed properly but it still makes us spend a large amount of time with these human characters we don't know enough about to care, with the exception of Millie Bobby Brown who was fleshed out in the previous film.

Final verdict: 3.5 fighting titans out of 5.

Bad Trip:

Synopsis: Hidden cameras capture two best friends pulling hilarious and inventive pranks on an unsuspecting public.

My thoughts: I'm notoriously hard on hidden camera movies as it's only half acting. That being said Bad Trip is one of the better ones, though as noted, that's not saying much. Eric Andre, Tiffany Haddish and Lil Rel Howery run through the states causing chaos along the way. Unfortunately there's equally as much cringe as there was laughs.

Final verdict: 3 prank shows turned into movies out of 5.

Special: Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, Secret Society Of Second Born Royals, Vampires Vs. The Bronx Mini-Reviews

Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm:

Synopsis: Released from prison for bringing shame to his country, Kazakh funnyman Borat risks life and limb when he returns to America with his 15-year-old daughter.

My thoughts: I remember seeing the original Borat movie and thinking it was hilarious at the time but as time went on and I didn't revisit it I wondered how it held up... Was it really that good or did I outgrow the comedy with age? I probably should've revisited that film first but I figured I remembered it well enough to dive into the sequel and I can now say it: Borat is still funny. There are lots of uncomfortable laughs that you'd expect from Sacha Baron Cohen. The underlining themes and the heart he and newcomer Maria Bakalova brings to them is undeniable as is their chemistry together throughout the film.

Final verdict: 4 shirt tucks out of 5.

Secret Society Of Second Born Royals:

Synopsis: A rebellious princess is stunned to learn that she has superpowers and belongs to a secret society with a longstanding tradition of covertly keeping the peace throughout the kingdom.

My thoughts: Disney owns Marvel yet they still went ahead and created their own superhero team. I'm not sure the general public will care about this film enough for it to become a franchise but it was a fun enough romp complete with powers, jumpsuits and high stakes action... Well high stakes for kids I guess. In a past life this would've been a Disney channel original that is quickly dismissed but in the age of streaming Disney could up the budget to make a better movie watching experience. The actors do well and will likely be the next wave of Disney kids (if they aren't already).

Final verdict: 3.5 crowns out of 5.

Vampires Vs. The Bronx:

Synopsis: A group of young friends from the Bronx fight to save their neighborhood from gentrification...and vampires.

My thoughts: Vampires Vs. The Bronx wasn't a bad movie. It certainly had big plans with the script tackling societal issues in a comedy-horror about Vampires. Unfortunately a lot of the jokes didn't work and since it's based on children the horror elements are pretty tame which throws this into B-Movie territory which looking at it through that lens, if intended, isn't that bad of a watch. The actors and directing throttles the line between over the top and playing it straight in an awkward fashion but the script itself is still a fun enough journey that you don't feel cheated or a waste of time even though you may not come back to this one on Netflix again.

Final verdict: 3 B-Movies out of 5.

Special: Onward, Impractical Jokers: The Movie, Bad Boys For Life Mini-Reviews

Onward:

Synopsis: In "Onward," teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (voices of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) get an unexpected opportunity to spend one more day with their late dad, embarking on an extraordinary quest aboard Barley's epic van Guinevere. Like any good quest, their journey is filled with magic spells, cryptic maps, impossible obstacles and unimaginable discoveries. But when the boys' fearless mom Laurel realizes her sons are missing, she teams up with a part-lion, part-bat, part-scorpion, former warrior -- aka The Manticore -- and heads off to find them. Perilous curses aside, this one magical day could mean more than any of them ever dreamed.

My thoughts: Pixar has done better but it's also done way worse. Onward is definitely formulaic but it's a great story about family, alienation and of course magic. Director, Dan Scanlon, pulls the best out of his impressive voice cast and the emotional punch at the end is a great way to leave off after a fun, action and laugh filled adventure.

Final verdict: 4.5 80's rock vans out of 5.

Impractical Jokers: The Movie

Synopsis: The film tells the story of a humiliating high school mishap from 1992 that sends the Impractical Jokers on the road, competing in hidden camera challenges for the chance to turn back the clock and redeem three of the four. The film stars The Tenderloins--Joe Gatto, James Murray, Brian Quinn and Sal Vulcano.

My thoughts: I am usually very harsh on this format, I thought doing Jackass movies was ridiculous as it was just an episode stretched out to 90 minutes and although Impractical Jokers gives us a plot line it is not a particularly good one and because of the plot you wonder if the challenges were fixed to fit into the plot. All that being said, I enjoy the show and the Tenderloins as a whole so although I won't hold this up differently than the show it was a good watch even if it barely made for a movie.

Final verdict: 3 80's pop stars out of 5.

Bad Boys For Life:

Synopsis: The Bad Boys Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are back together for one last ride in the highly anticipated Bad Boys for Life.

My thoughts: Bad Boys For Life is completely over the top in all facets, but unlike most movies that have Michael Bay's fingerprints this one knows it and takes full advantage without going full Bay as he has luckily stepped away from the director's chair in this installment. Sure maybe it's mostly nostalgia that drove me to enjoy this movie, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Final verdict: 4 90's duo reunions out of 5.

Special: Noelle, Klaus, Let It Snow Mini-Reviews

Noelle:

Synopsis: After Santa Claus decides to retire and his son gets cold feet on Christmas Eve, it falls to his daughter Noelle to take over the family business.

My thoughts: Noelle is a fantastic entry into the yearly Christmas movies to watch in December. It might be a tad on the silly side but it's likeable leads and great job of balancing everything you could want in a Christmas movie more than make up for it. I was shocked the reviews for this film weren't strong since the closest comparable title I could think of is the much beloved Elf. Obviously Grinches won't enjoy this film but honestly I don't think they would want to but in the event they do, their heart may just grow 2 sizes after a singular viewing. If this and Lady & The Tramp is any indication, Disney+ Original films are going to be top notch.

Final verdict: 4.5 snowcones out of 5.

Klaus:

Synopsis: When Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) distinguishes himself as the postal academy's worst student, he is stationed on a frozen island above the Arctic Circle, where the feuding locals hardly exchange words let alone letters. Jesper is about to give up when he finds an ally in local teacher Alva (Rashida Jones), and discovers Klaus (Oscar winner J.K. Simmons), a mysterious carpenter who lives alone in a cabin full of handmade toys. These unlikely friendships return laughter to Smeerensburg, forging a new legacy of generous neighbors, magical lore and stockings hung by the chimney with care.

My thoughts: The animation was beautiful and the story was sweet but the first hour or so could've been better but the final 40 minutes is among the best time I've spent watching animation this year. If only they could've stretched that over the film's entire runtime this would be the best Christmas film this year.

Final verdict: 3.5 post offices out of 5.

Let It Snow:

Synopsis: When a snowstorm hits a small midwestern town on Christmas Eve, a group of high school seniors find their friendships and love lives colliding thanks to a stranded pop star, a stolen keg, a squad of competitive dancers, a mysterious woman covered in tin foil, and an epic party at the local Waffle Town. Come Christmas morning, nothing will be the same.

My thoughts: Featuring a laundry list of "Hey I know them from something". This ensemble is really good, and it has the perfect amount of holiday cheer. The only thing that really holds this back is all the teenage cliches it contains. I tried to ignore most of it for the sake of the film, which is usually something that can be done, especially in holiday films but it's still hard to do. But in saying that it's still worthy of a once a year watch like Klaus above to fill us with some Christmas joy.

Final verdict: 3.5 waffle houses out of 5.

Special: Lady And The Tramp, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Glass Mini-Reviews

Lady And The Tramp:

Synopsis: In Disney+'s "Lady and the Tramp," a timeless retelling of the 1955 animated classic, a pampered house dog and a tough but lovable stray embark on an unexpected adventure and, despite their differences, grow closer and come to understand the value of home.

My thoughts: As always with Disney live action remakes I look forward to a different movie than the animated one. If they make the exact same movie (Beauty & The Beast) I'm not down for it. Lady And The Tramp had the advantage of being largely forgotten by me so I can't hold that against it (or praise it for being different) however I will say the talking dogs had an initial shock at how bad the CGI looked but as the movie went on I forgot about. The action scenes with Tramp were well done as was the acting and the cinematography choices but I'm just not sure I'll ever come back to this one though I hope I'm wrong.

Final verdict: 3.5 spaghetti and meatball dinners.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood:

Synopsis: Quentin Tarantino's ninth feature film is a story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don't recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor...Sharon Tate.

My thoughts: This movie was strange as you sat there for 2 hours thinking this is the most mature Tarantino flick ever made! His love letter to old Hollywood seemed to be just that, until the last 40 minutes came and Tarantino decided to make up for lost time with spectacular overkill. The characters were strong, the story was for the most part interesting (but there were a flew blips). Tarantino overall did a good job and this likely supplanted Django as his film of this decade.

Final verdict: 4 Flamethrowers out of 5.

Glass:

Synopsis: From Unbreakable, Bruce Willis returns as David Dunn as does Samuel L. Jackson as Elijah Price, known also by his pseudonym Mr. Glass. Joining from Split are James McAvoy, reprising his role as Kevin Wendell Crumb and the multiple identities who reside within, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke, the only captive to survive an encounter with The Beast. Following the conclusion of Split, Glass finds Dunn pursuing Crumb's superhuman figure of The Beast in a series of escalating encounters, while the shadowy presence of Price emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.

My thoughts: I didn't get on the Split bandwagon like everyone else did and I can now report I'm not on the Glass one either. M. Night does a good job of combining the worlds of Split and Unbreakable but there was nothing here that excited me. There were a couple minor twists I didn't see coming but I can't say overall I was shocked at the outcome. If you liked Split this will probably be up your alley. If not you can safely skip Glass without missing anything.

Final verdict: 3 superhumans out of 5.

Special: Point Blank, Dumbo, Stuber Mini-Reviews

Point Blank:

Synopsis: When his pregnant wife is kidnapped and held as collateral, Paul, an ER nurse, must team with the badly injured career criminal and murder suspect under his charge in order to save the lives of his wife and unborn child. Pitted against rival gangs and a deadly ring of corrupt cops, the unlikely duo find a way to survive together in the fight of their lives.

My thoughts: I've honestly never seen the original but sticking Anthony Mackie and Frank Grillo together in a film again (throwback to The Winter Soldier) and I'm on board. I generally like all Grillo's films I've seen and this one is no exception. The action was fast, almost too fast at times but overall I never found myself not enjoying this film even though it's flaws are apparent if was never enough to take away from the viewing experience.

Final verdict: 3.5 "good" bad guys out of 5.

Dumbo:

Synopsis: Circus owner Max Medici enlists former star Holt Farrier and his children Milly and Joe to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere, who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant, until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.

My thoughts: Like all Disney live-action remakes I enjoy the films that change up the source material and Dumbo does just that even though it follows a similar over arching story the tone and feel is different. The attention to the human characters and Tim Burton's visual flair makes this a great watch.

Final verdict: 4 Pink elephants out of 5.

Stuber:

Synopsis: When a mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) picks up a passenger (Dave Bautista) who turns out to be a cop hot on the trail of a brutal killer, he's thrust into a harrowing ordeal where he desperately tries to hold onto his wits, his life and his five-star rating.

My thoughts: Stuber is a nice throwback to the 80's buddy cop movies where it was all about over the top comedy and gritty action. It does modernize it, tackling the subject of toxic male masculinity throughout and the pairing of Nanjiani and Bautista is gold. If we don't get a sequel, these 2 better be paired up again soon. With comedies, I always worry that all the "funny" parts are shown in the trailer but there was more than enough material to keep me laughing throughout.

Final verdict: 4.5 Uberpools out of 5.

Special: Aladdin, The Last Laugh, Reign Of The Supermen Mini-Reviews

Aladdin:

Synopsis: A street rat frees a genie from a lamp, granting all of his wishes and transforming himself into a charming prince in order to marry a beautiful princess. But soon, an evil sorcerer becomes hell-bent on securing the lamp for his own sinister purposes.

My thoughts: Aladdin was quite the spectacle to experience. Will Smith did great as his own version of the Genie (RIP RW). Aladdin and Jasmine (Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott respectively) had great chemistry and did extremely well. I expected a bit of Guy Ritchie flair that was not included and I really wish they did away with Jafar's creepy wedding to Jasmine that makes zero sense but all in all my complaints are minimal as Disney added enough to not make this feel like a simple retelling of the classic story (a la Cinderella and Beauty & The Beast) even if they didn't do a complete 180 like Maleficent that remains the gold standard of Disney live-action remakes.

Final verdict: 5 lion-shaped caves out of 5.

The Last Laugh:

Synopsis: When retired talent manager Al Hart is reunited with his first client, Buddy Green, a comic who quit show business 50 years ago, he convinces Buddy to escape their retirement community and hit the road for a cross-country comedy tour.

My thoughts: The last laugh appears to have happened before the film starts since there is very little that is actually funny in this movie. Near the end they pivot to a sweet endearing angle and it would've worked had Chase and Dreyfuss or the writers give us a single reason to care. In the end we get a senior citizen buddy comedy that relies on viagara/erection jokes to get by. Perhaps the target audience, old men who feel like their life passed them by, would find something of value in this film, but where I'm sitting I just don't see it. Ask me again in 40 years I guess?

Final verdict: 2 creepy old men out of 5.

Reign Of The Supermen:

Synopsis: It's been months since the unfathomable death of Superman, and the world is still shaken when four Super Heroes arrive in Metropolis, all battling to be the reincarnation of the Man of Steel. Even Metropolis isn't big enough for these brawlers, it's only a matter of time until dark forces make their moves from the shadows

My thought: Part two of the Death of Superman storyline is just as good as the first even if they didn't stray too far from the storyline everyone knows and loves but they give us enough easter eggs to get excited about the future of the DCAU even if they started skirting away from it more and more in every passing year I'd rather have this then just a barrage of Batman and Justice League films every few months.

Final verdict: 4 clones out of 5.

Special: Captain America: Civil War/Finding Dory/The Conjuring 2 Mini-Reviews

Captain America: Civil War

Synopsis: With many people fearing the actions of super heroes, the government decides to push for the Hero Registration Act, a law that limits a hero's actions. This results in a division in The Avengers. Iron Man stands with this Act, claiming that their actions must be kept in check otherwise cities will continue to be destroyed, but Captain America feels that saving the world is daring enough and that they cannot rely on the government to protect the world. This escalates into an all-out war between Team Iron Man (Iron Man, Black Panther, Vision, Black Widow, War Machine, and Spiderman) and Team Captain America (Captain America, Bucky Barnes, Falcon, Sharon Carter, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Ant Man) while a new villain emerges.

My thoughts: Not nearly the action-thriller The Winter Soldier was, but it provides more no holds barred action than the typical Marvel film (Avengers films excepted) but although this can be construed as Avengers-lite it is anything but, giving us the struggle of humanity we come to expect from the man-out-of-time films of Cap. Not the best Marvel-flick but still worthy of a spot on the mantle.

Final verdict: 5 new Avengers out of 5.

Finding Dory:

Synopsis: Dory is a wide-eyed, blue tang fish who suffers from memory loss every 10 seconds or so. The one thing she can remember is that she somehow became separated from her parents as a child. With help from her friends Nemo and Marlin, Dory embarks on an epic adventure to find them. Her journey brings her to the Marine Life Institute, a conservatory that houses diverse ocean species. Dory now knows that her family reunion will only happen if she can save mom and dad from captivity.

My thoughts: Not Pixar's finest film, though I'm admittedly not as fond of it's predecessor as most others. Dory is colourful and fun but although I wasn't invested emotionally in the characters or their problems as much as I usually am when Pixar makes a film. I feel like it was a step down from Nemo, and certainly a step down from last summer's Inside Out but it proves that Pixar can competently make sequels for films not named Toy Story.

Final verdict: 4 shells out of 5.

The Conjuring 2:

Synopsis: In 1977, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren travel to London, England, where single mother Peggy Hodgson believes that something evil is in her home. When Peggy's youngest daughter starts showing signs of demonic possession, Ed and Lorraine attempt to help the besieged girl, only to find themselves targeted by the malicious spirits.

My thoughts: Wasn't a huge lover of the first film and expected about the same, but just like director James Wan's Insidious franchise, he made me a believer with the 2nd installment. You usually don't see horror movies running 2 hours but The Conjuring 2 did and it's paced fantastically and had me on the edge of my seat throughout and even had a series of good scares placed perfectly for maximum effect. The acting came off a little campy, though this is a horror film. It's unfortunate Wan didn't stick with his "less is more" style as the budget of $40 million was twice as high as his previous high for a horror flick (The Conjuring and Dead Silence) and seriously dwarfs the combined $16.5 million spent on the 3 Insidious films combined (though he didn't direct the third installment).

Final verdict: 4 supernatural spirits out of 5

Special: The Jungle Book/Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice/Ratchet & Clank Mini-Reviews

The Jungle Book:

Synopsis: In this re-imagining of the classic collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling, director Jon Favreau uses visually stunning CGI to create the community of animals surrounding Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a human boy adopted by a pack of wolves. The appearance of a villainous tiger named Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba) forces Mowgli's guardian, the panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), to shepherd the child to safety in the "man village." Along the way, the boy meets an affable, lazy bear named Baloo (Bill Murray), as well as a snake with hypnotic powers (Scarlett Johansson) and an orangutan (Christopher Walken) who wants to harness the power of fire. Lupita Nyong'o, Giancarlo Esposito, and Garry Shandling also lend their voices to this adventure tale.

My thoughts? It'll be hard to beat Maleficent when it comes to these remakes but TJB is a big improvement over Cinderella. The CGI was beautiful and rather than recycle the same story we all know, they changed it enough to give it a whole new feel while keeping the originals greatness in tact.

Final verdict: 4 talking jungle animals out of 5.

Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice:

Synopsis: Batman and Superman clash over differing philosophies about what kind of heroism is needed to protect the world, while the public they're defending is becoming increasingly mindful of the damage that superheroes and masked vigilantes cause. However, the duo are soon forced to confront an even greater threat created by nefarious billionaire Lex Luthor.

My thoughts? I have now officially watched this film twice and I can say it still holds up. Is it a perfect movie? No, most films aren't, especially comic book films (Iron Man, The
Winter Soldier and TDK Trilogy being the exceptions). The shots are framed beautifully. Wonder Woman is a breath of fresh air in a male dominated industry (even Black Widow was reduced to love interest in Avengers 2). The CGI is great, although a bit overwhelming at times. Batfleck was great, Eisenberg's Luthor was eccentric, but at least if they aren't going to do him right they can change it up a bit so that was nice.

Final verdict: 5 superhero throw-downs out of 5.

Ratchet & Clank:

Synopsis: Ratchet and Clank tells the story of two unlikely heroes as they struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way they'll learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one's own identity.

My thoughts? I have no background on Ratchet & Clank going in, the good news is this movie explains everything for me, It shows how they get together and what their motives are. The animation is reminiscent of the video games, unfortunately other than that it doesn't do a whole lot really well. It is what it is, a basic video game adaptation that'll make a few bucks on namesake alone so they don't put too much effort into it, Here's hoping the upcoming Assassins Creed and Warcraft can give video game films the leap forward we've all been expecting for years. Just have to wait for a "Spider-Man" to come through and breakthrough.

Final verdict: 3 devoured planets out of 5.

Special: Inside Out/Ted 2/Spy Mini-Reviews

Inside Out:

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions - Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley's mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.

My thoughts? The exploration of the human mind of a 12 year old girl lead by her eccentric and colourful emotions was a lot more fun than I expected it to be. I was fortunate enough to know about the "sadness" this movie entailed, and no I don't mean Riley's somber emotion, I mean the emotional punch of the movie, so when it happened it was expected and it hot me less than Up, Toy Story 3 or How To Train Your Dragon 2. Overall it was one of Pixar's better films in my eyes as the animation and voice-acting was top notch to go along with an original, albeit difficult, story to tell. Inside Out is a complex piece of art that will appeal to both children and adults alike, in other words it's typical Pixar.

Final verdict: 4 out of 5 emotions.

Ted 2:

Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he's a person in a court of law.

My thoughts? Like it's predecessor Ted 2 is absurd and hilarious most of the time. There are points when it reaches too far and crosses a line it shouldn't but in the end we forgive it. What it lacked that it's predecessor nailed was it's ability to take this bonkers scenario and have the audience want to invest emotionally into the characters. When it does eventually try to flip the switch in the third act it's not a smooth transition and it leaves us feeling disconnected and worst of all we are no longer laughing. Luckily they throw in a thunder buddy reference for the first time in the film and all is forgiven. I'd be amiss to say that Ted was a great movie but I'd be lying if I said I never laughed during it's nearly 2 hour runtime.

Final verdict: Barely 4 out of 5 bongs.

Spy:

Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency's most dangerous missions. But when her partner (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham) is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent a global disaster.

My thoughts? I'm not really a McCarthy fan, outside of her brilliant role in Hangover III I'd have to say my favourite film has been The Heat, a movie I'd probably grade a 3. But I'm happy to say Spy won me over, sure she's still playing essentially the same role but this time she brings style and a slew of on-point co-stars to the party. Statham hasn't done anything to write home about recently but this role reminds me of the old Ritchie flicks that made me like him in the first place. Law is as charming as ever and Byrne plays the bad guy role so well, surprising since we never get to see her do that. The script is paced well and the director never misses a shot.

Final verdict: 4 out of 5 intelligence agencies.

Special: The Book Of Life/Interstellar/Big Hero 6 Mini-Reviews

I've spent my last few nights at the multiplexes taking in a bunch of movies... You know what that means... Mini-Review time!!

The Book Of Life:

Manolo (Diego Luna) and Joaquin (Channing Tatum) are longtime friends both in love with the same girl, Maria (Zoe Saldana). They catch the attention of La Muerta and Xibalba, ex-lovers and rulers of separate worlds in the afterlife. Xibalba bets that Maria will marry Joaquin and if he wins he gets to rule La Muerta's world and if Manolo marries Maria, Xibalba has to stop interfering in human affairs, when it becomes clear that Maria has fallen for Manolo, Xibalba sends him into the afterlife where he must embark on a fantastical journey to win back the girl of his dreams.

My thoughts? The animation was phenomenal, the bright colours and accents were a wonder to see on the big screen. The voice-acting was well done but considering this was a completely Latino cast plus Channing Tatum, Tatum felt horribly out of place. This was simply a very happy movie despite the death that takes place since it's put to the back drop of The Day Of The Dead celebration in Mexico so we're meant to celebrate the dead. All that being said the themes of the film were incredibly obvious and a lot of the time I felt like I was being beaten by them which was an annoyance... We get it! Family is important... The ending was absolutely perfect however and we rarely see an entire cast of characters in a film be happy.

Final verdict: 3 (bordering on 4) double headed snakes out of 5

Interstellar:

Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) is a former engineer and rocket pilot forced to work on a farm to provide for his kids. The earth is slowly dying and there is little food to be had which forces most citizens to become farmers so the world has corn to eat. After stumbling upon a hidden NASA base, Cooper gets an offer he can't refuse, go into space and try to find a planet that humans may continue to live on.

My thoughts? I don't claim to be a science expert, but some of the stuff just seemed to far out there to comprehend, and although that might as well be director Christopher Nolan's mantra, when the plot hinges on the audience's understanding of such matters it ends up hurting the overall product. The visuals of space were very much an ode to 2001 which I'm again not sure if that's a good thing. The acting was spot on and all the actors played their characters given perfectly, even the robotic TARS. But it just always felt like there was something missing, the runtime wasn't really an issue, despite pushing 3 hours it didn't feel like it as you genuinely cared for the characters and the story kept you intrigued all through.

Final verdict: 4 worm holes out of 5

Big Hero 6

Hiro is a brainy teenager with dreams of getting rich, his family implores him to use his brain for good but it's not until he's challenged at the San Fransokyo Robotics Institute to create something that will change the world, the night of his presentation a mysterious fire claims the life of his brother, after finding out that someone is using his invention he's determined to find out why and avenge his deceased brother with the help from his brother's robotic creation Baymax, Hiro and his friends transform into Big Hero 6 to save the world.

My thoughts? This was a shameless crowdpleaser, tons of action, tons of laugh and tons of heart. Big Hero 6 doesn't quite touch the upper echelon of Disney movies, but damn does it ever come close. Baymax is the centre of the movie and immediately becomes one of the most lovable characters in recent movie history. The film does suffer from some pacing issues early on but it successfully overcomes that thanks in part to excellent animation and direction. I think it's safe to say that Disney Animation Studios rebound is still going strong as their last 7 features, this included, have scored at least an 83% on Rottentomatoes.com. You have to go back to 2005's Chicken Little to find a movie that didn't hit at least 60% and 2004's Home On The Range to find a movie that didn't make it's budget back at the Box Office.

Final verdict: 4 fist bumps out of 5... buh luh luh luh luh