Special: Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Red Notice, Injustice Mini-Reviews

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Synopsis: When a single mother and her two children move to a new town, they soon discover they have a connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

My thoughts: Afterlife is certainly more kid friendly then it's predecessors were at the time they came out. Of course with VFX improvements it's no longer that scary so I'm not condemning you for having your kids watch the original films. On that same note like Shazam, this isn't just a love letter to Ivan Reitman's original films but the 80's family adventure film scene as a whole. Ivan's son, Jason Reitman of Juno fame, takes the directors chair this time around and he's basically the perfect person for the job but the film definitely could've used some trimming in the middle but the opening set up and the conclusion specifically are well executed and the cast is extremely charming all around. 

Final verdict: 4 homicidal mini-pufts out of 5.

Red Notice

Synopsis: In the world of international crime, an Interpol agent attempts to hunt down and capture the world's most wanted art thief.

My thoughts: More style than substance is found in Red Notice. It's clear that Netflix backed a brinks truck up to the 3 stars houses in order to get them to sign on, but style only goes so far. The chemistry found between Reynolds and Johnson works well enough and Gadot knows how to play a mysterious femme fatale perfectly but the script leaves a lot to be desired and the epic twist could be spotted a mile away, and by that I mean very early in the movies runtime. The ending also sets up for a sequel which I feel will happen just as name recognition alone would lead to suggest. It's not all doom and gloom though. The locations they hit are breathtaking and what fight chorography we have is enjoyable but I expected more of it expecially given the around the world heist premise starring Deadpool, The Rock and Wonder Woman.  

Final verdict: 3.5 buddy comedies out of 5.

Injustice

Synopsis: On an alternate earth, the Joker tricks Superman into killing Lois Lane, sending Superman down a path of destruction.

My thoughts: I think we've had enough of evil Superman in the DC Animated Universe. Supes had enough people on his side in this flick that they could've pushed the dictator role home but instead they just wanted to push the Superman violent content instead. Given that this is a DC Animated movie I do expect quite a bit of violence but would it kill them to spread the killings around? The animation was cool and from what I recall it mostly stuck to the original book before skipping to the end to wrap things up. That unfortunately means no sequel is likely so my wishlist will be flushed down the proverbial toilet. Not the worst DC animated movie this year, but not the best either. It's been a while since I was wowed by one. Maybe 2022 will be the year.

Final verdict: 3.5 dead superheroes out of 5.

Special: Godzilla: King Of Monsters, Detective Pikachu, The Dirt Mini-Reviews

Godzilla: King Of Monsters:

Synopsis: The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species - thought to be mere myths - rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity's very existence hanging in the balance.

My thoughts: Lots of action, more than it's predecessors which let's be honest, is what I want out of a Godzilla movie. The human drama angle is a nice cherry on top but shouldn't be the main focus like in the most recent Godzilla. They seemed to have learned from their mistake adding action but the human drama angle was not great, but whatever, I got to see Godzilla throwdown with a few different monsters so I'm happy.

Final verdict: 4 giant monsters fighting out of 5.

Detective Pikachu:

Synopsis: The story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry's former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City - a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world - they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon characters and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.

My thoughts: It's probably the fanboy in me but I really loved this movie. Seeing Pokemon in the real world interacting with humans just warms my heart. The big reveal at the end I seen coming but it still makes for great storytelling and I hope we get to revisit Tim and Detective Pikachu in the future even if this seems like a difficult film to sequel without taking a giant awkward side-step.

Final verdict: 5 Pokemon partners out of 5.

The Dirt:

Synopsis: Based on the bestselling autobiography from Mötley Crüe, the film is an unflinching tale of success and excess as four misfits rise from the streets of Hollywood to the heights of international fame.

My thoughts: This was little more than a reason to show the band doing various things that are considered "bad behaviour" while painting them in a nicer light. It was mildly interesting since I knew nothing about how Motley Crue came to be and their careers but overall this movie doesn't offer too much.

Final verdict: 5 Pokemon partners out of 5.