28 Years Later

My View:  28 Years Later  (2025)  R  28 Years Later takes place almost three decades after a virus was unleashed on the world. A group that has survived has been housed on a small island connected to the mainland by a causeway. A father, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and son, Spike (Alfie Williams), leave the island on a mission to go into the heart of the mainland, and there they discover the secrets, wonders, and horrors of the outside world. Back in 2002, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland unleashed 28 Days Later, a horror film that gave us zombies created from a virus that weren’t your old-fashioned slow-moving, leg-dragging creatures but one who could move with speed and had intelligence. In other words, a nightmare that unfolds before our eyes on the screen. Now that directing/writing duo has come back with a new film to explore what has happened since the original film. Unlike the first film, where we, along with the main character, slowly figure out what is happening to the world, 28 Years Later puts us in the middle of a small settlement that has flourished because of its isolation and strict rules. The film follows Jamie and Spike as they leave for a rite of passage for Spike. He is about to go to the mainland to kill his first zombie. They leave the safety of the island and travel inward, where Jamie cooly guides Spike into killing a zombie, but soon, they are confronted with a group of zombies that the two can’t handle, and it’s now a race for life or death. And that’s just the first 30 minutes of the film. 28 Years Later is a very different film from the 2002 film. This is more of a coming-of-age film about Spike and what he will do to save his family. The film is centered around courage, love, and the decision of someone to put their life on the line to save a loved one. I don’t want to give too much away, as the plot makes this a very different type of film from your ordinary zombie apocalypse movie. It is scary, though I will admit I was expecting more scares than it actually delivers. However, it more than makes up for that with a storyline that is moving and rich in feeling. Alfie Williams is outstanding as Spike, who is determined to do whatever he can to help his family, even if it means defying his village. Williams gives us a hero to follow, one who makes mistakes but whose heart is in the right place and makes the best decisions he can. So go and get engrossed in a zombie tale that has incredible cinematography, a bombastic soundtrack, and an ending that you will not see coming.      My Rating: Full Price  28 Years Later Website   Now playing in theaters nationwide.  

Familyfaire:  Elio  (2025)  PG   Elio is about an 11-year-old orphan named Elio, whose love for space is so strong he dreams of being abducted by aliens. One night, his wish comes true when he is taken aboard an alien ship and transported to the Communiverse, a place inhabited by intelligent life from across the galaxy. Mistaken for Earth’s leader, Elio must navigate through a crisis that threatens to destroy the new friendships he has just formed. When adults go to see a Pixar film, we expect to see imaginative storytelling, brilliantly done animation, and a plot that will move you (and possibly make you cry). Elio works on the first two points but misses badly in the emotional department, as we never achieve the impact we needed to create the desired emotional impact. I liked the storyline, as Elio is a fun kid who, while he is in over his head, is still willing to help his newfound friends against an evil warlord who wants to take over the Communiverse. Youngsters are going to love the action and all the trouble that Elio gets into. The cast of characters are fun and the evil warlord, Lord Grigon, is impressive looking in his armor but isn’t scary for young kids to be afraid of. I loved the meeting between Elio and his soon-to-be best friend, the giant-worm-like blob named Glordon (voiced by Remy Edgerly). Elio instantly realizes that Glordon, though weird-looking and with lots of teeth, is someone he can not only be friends with but also understands what Glordon is going through with his father, Lord Grigon. The animation is visually stunning and brilliantly executed.   However, I never got that catch in my throat from any emotional impact in this film that I wanted. I think the writers missed the boat by not emphasizing Elio’s life with his parents, who he lost recently and is now being taken care of by his aunt (voiced by Zoe Saldana), who apparently has had to sacrifice her dreams to take in Elio. We get glimpses of how hurt Elio is, but those are brief and miss that emotional point that we needed to make the final scenes have more impact. While much better than, say, Lightyear, Elio isn’t up there with the classic Pixar films that we all shed tears at, and that’s too bad. I could have used a bit of a cry. There is a bonus scene after the first portion of the credits and a rather strange promo trailer at the end of all the credits.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Elio Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide. 

My View:  Bride Hard  (2025)  PG-13  In Bride Hard, Sam (Rebel Wilson) is serving as the maid of honor at her childhood best friend Betsy’s (Anna Camp) destination wedding. When a mercenary group takes the extravagant wedding hostage, chaos ensues. However, what the mercenaries don’t realize is that Sam is actually a secret agent, ready to unleash hell on anyone who threatens her best friend’s special day. I have already added this movie (in pen) to my list of the worst films of 2025. The plot is devoid of anything remotely funny, and it absurdly suggests that Rebel Wilson is the agency's top spy. If you think that using hair curlers like nunchucks is entertaining, or if you find it hilarious when Sam kills another bad guy and then takes a piece of wedding cake, saying “peace of cake,” then you won’t mind the hour and forty-five-minute runtime that feels much longer. I couldn't tell if this film was intended as a parody of action films (and perhaps wedding films) or simply a poorly executed comedy. I know it was painful to watch, almost as painful for the guy in the fight with Sam, who kept getting burned by the hair curlers. My Rating:  You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   Bride Hard Website Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  The Queen of My Dreams  (2023)   The Queen of My Dreams is about Azra (Amrit Kaur), a Pakistani Canadian woman who has had a fractured relationship with her parents since coming out as a lesbian. Azra travels to Pakistan after her father’s passing, guided by memories of her mother’s youth, her love of Bollywood films, and her own experience in rural Canada. The Queen of My Dreams is a film about how, in the blink of an eye, a relationship can change, in this case, when a mother realizes that her daughter is interested in girls and not boys. Through Bollywood fantasies Azra has, flashbacks to her childhood, and scenes from her mother’s past life in Pakistan, we see how the two, mother and daughter, are so alike.  We see how Azra’s mother (played in these flashbacks by Amrit Kaur) was a fiercely independent modern woman who, like her daughter in the future, rebelled against what was thought a woman should be like in the Pakistani culture, eventually breaking away from her parents, just like Azra in the present is doing. I loved the interweaving of the Bollywood musicals into the film, often with Azra taking over a role to show us how she is feeling and experiencing life. The Queen of My Dreams is a lovely tale of two women who blazed their own trail and followed their dreams and not the dreams of their parents.  My Rating: Full Price  The Queen of My Dreams Website   Now playing in select theaters.  

My View:  Surviving Ohio State  (2025)  Surviving Ohio State is a documentary based on Sports Illustrated reporter Jon Wertheim’s cover story on the decades-long abuse scandal of male athletes by a doctor, Dr. Richard Strauss, at Ohio State University. The film features extensive interviews with members of the wrestling team that first brought the scandal to light and then goes into detail on how the abuse wasn’t just concentrated on the wrestling team but on other male athletes and even students who weren’t on scholarship but sought treatment at the student medical center. The film highlights how the university was aware of the doctor’s misconduct yet took no action for ten years, allowing him to have significant freedom. This included taking long showers with teams, conducting full-body exams during every visit with male athletes, and even making inappropriate advances in the showers alongside referees.  Surviving Ohio State has gotten some publicity because Ohio congressman Jim Jordan was an assistant coach on the team while the abuse was going on and claims he knew nothing about the allegations. The first half of this film is a shocking first-person tale through interviews of how the abuse started with each person and how they reacted at the time. It’s a sickening tale of abuse of power and taking advantage of teenagers who don’t have a way to fight back. The second half of the film explores how the university has handled the allegations over the years and how it still has not taken full responsibility for its lack of action. Surviving Ohio State is a film that will sadden you to think how many lives were ruined, how many young men suffered in silence, and how a university kept quiet.My Rating:  Full Price  Now playing on the HBO Max platform. 

Forgotten film:  I Am a Hero  (2015)  TV-MA  Hideo (Yô Ôizumi) is an artist who works on Japanese-style comic books called Manga. He once had a promising future, with a girlfriend and an award for “newcomer of the year” from his employer. However, his life has gone into the dumps, working as an assistant on other people’s work, his girlfriend has thrown him out, and now the world is being attacked by zombies. Hideo is an unlikely hero, though he fantasizes he is, and more often than not, he cannot pull the trigger (literally, in most cases during the film, he fails to shoot his shotgun at critical times). All Hideo wants in life is to be a man of action and courage, but he is more a man of indecision, often freezing when he should act. Yo Ôizumi is pitch-perfect as the ineffective Hideo. He seems to show every emotion broadly on his face, so we are aware of what he is thinking without having to have it explain it to the audience. The reason that this film is a blast to watch is the zombies. The zombies keep some of the characteristics of who they were when they were alive. A gifted athlete is still capable of performing fantastic feats as a zombie. Someone who like to shop, in zombie form, will attempt to enter stores with a determined purpose. The zombies can also talk, so very often they are muttering phrases that they often said while they are alive, like a zombie barista to kill Hideo while also trying to take his order. I Am a Hero is a brilliant, action-packed film that will make any zombie lover want to see this film repeatedly, hoping that if the zombie apocalypse happens, we can also say, “I Am a Hero.”    My Rating: Full Price   Surviving Ohio State Website  Available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video. 

Weird Credits: From the credits of Elio:  Additional Sweatbox Coordinator

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)  Five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident and cover it up, keep it a secret rather than face the consequences. A year later, they are confronted by a horrifying truth: someone knows what they did and is out for revenge. The friends discover this has happened before and ask for survivors of the Southport Massacre of 1997 for help. This film features Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., two of the stars of the 1998 film.   I Know What You Did Last Summer Website  The film will be in theaters on Friday, July 18, 2025.

How to Train Your Dragon

My View:  How to Train Your Dragon  (2025)  PG  How to Train Your Dragon is a tale about Vikings and dragons, who are mortal enemies on the isle of Berk. That is until Hiccup (Mason Thames) meets a hurt Night Fury dragon that he names Toothless. Little do the two know that their future together means that they will save the lives of both species. The 2010 animated film is one of the best-animated movies of the 2010s, with a story that was touching and filled with thrilling animated scenes that showed the love between a boy and a dragon, all the while exploring the themes of legacy, father/son dynamics and finding out that our enemies are sometimes misunderstood. This live-action film follows the same themes and does it well, but the nagging question is, why do the same movie if it isn’t going to bring anything new to the story? While the performances are good, and the CGI animation of Toothless is fine, this version doesn’t give us anything new; it’s the same story, just in a longer version (beware, parents of young kids, this movie is over two hours long). I will say that I felt the flying sequences weren’t as thrilling as the animated version, and I missed Craig Ferguson’s performance as the bombastic Gobber (played this time by a less enjoyable Nick Frost). Will parents and kids enjoy watching this version? Sure, because it’s a great story. Was the production of this remake worth all the money and effort? Doubtful.     My Rating: Bargain Matinee  How to Train Your Dragon Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide. 

My View:  Materialists  (2025)  R   In Materialists, Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a famous New York City matchmaker who has always been lucky in making the perfect match for others but has been unlucky in love herself. Lucy may have met her perfect match in suave and rich Harry (Pedro Pascal) until her ex, John (Chris Evans), comes back into the picture. What’s a matchmaker to do? I am a big rom-com fan, and I was excited to see this film after watching the trailer. While I loved this film because of the phenomenal performances by the three stars, this is not your typical romantic comedy. Materialists is a more of a harsh reality romance than a comedy, though there are some laughs along the way. The film is about how hard and sometimes cruel dating can be, as seen through the eyes of someone who deals in the romance game and views marriage as a business agreement. Lucy is not actively looking for a mate, but she admits she will settle for one if they can ‘check all the boxes,’ including being rich. Dakota Johnson portrays a woman who is jaded but enjoys her job of finding matches for men and women seeking love, provided they meet certain requirements. It’s a marvelous performance that immerses us in Lucy’s world and her mindset, giving us a woman who is lovable yet troubled and flawed. Harry enters Lucy's world, and he is convinced that she is the one for him, no matter how many times Lucy tells him she isn't right for him. To make matters more complicated, her ex, John, comes back into her life. Evans, as Chris, portrays a man who is love-struck and has never stopped loving this complicated woman. John knows Lucy better than anyone; they have a connection, and we see that when something happens to a client of Lucy’s. Lucy doesn’t go to Harry, but to John for support and comfort. This is not a movie for everyone because its lead character is not always likable and is frustrating, doesn’t follow the usual romantic playbook and our heroine falls for a man who we know isn’t right for her and she doesn’t care. The title alone tells you a lot about Materialists. It’s a film that gives us the down-and-dirty on dating, matchmaking, and whether someone is truly perfect for someone. You will have to watch until the end to help you decide.      My Rating: Full Price  Materialists Website    Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  The Life of Chuck  (2024) R  The Life of Chuck explores the life and adventures of Charles Krantz, a man who is experiencing the end of his life while being celebrated by his friends and family. The Life of Chuck is one of those films that’s hard to review because its structure is complicated, and I don’t want to give away any of the surprises (and there are a few). One clue to this film is that it is based on a Stephen King novella, although more in the vein of The Shawshank Redemption or Stand by Me, rather than horror films like The Shining or It. The film is told in three parts and unfolds in reverse to tell us the story of Chuck. I will warn you that the first part is a little off-the-wall strange, and while Chuck makes an appearance, that part of the film is about two exes (Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan) who are trying to cope with a world gone off the rails and find support in re-connecting. Part two is about Chuck as an adult (played by ever-charismatic Tom Hiddleston), and part three is about Chuck as a teen (played by Jacob Tremblay) and as a kid (played by the adorable Benjamin Pajak). Along the way, there are some fantastic performances by Carl Lumbly, Mia Sara, and Mark Hamill (which I think is so good it could get him an Oscar nod). While not a musical, the film features some incredible and exciting dance numbers, with Hiddleston performing a thrilling and moving dance alongside the delightful Annalise Basso. The Life of Chuck is a film that slowly reveals its secrets, and while it throws you into a world that doesn’t make much sense at first, it becomes a joyful and life-affirming film that makes you feel glad you experienced the life of a man named Chuck.   My Rating: I Would Pay to See It Again    Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Echo Valley  (2025)  R    Echo Valley revolves around Kate (Julianne Moore), a horse ranch owner in the beautiful and isolated Echo Valley. Her world is shattered when her estranged, drug-addicted daughter, Claire (Sydney Sweeney), shows up at her doorstep in hysterics and covered in someone else’s blood. Echo Valley is a film whose pedigree, with Director Michael Pearce (Beast), Writer Brad Ingelsby (creator and writer of Mare of Easttown), and stars Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, Domhnall Gleeson, and Fiona Shaw, should have been a slam dunk. Instead, we get a mess of a film that feels like it is two or three different movies pitched separately and put together by the studio to make one ‘Oscar bait’ film. Julianne Moore (who delivers a fantastic performance despite the material) plays Kate, a grieving widow struggling to keep her horse farm afloat. Sydney Sweeney portrays Claire, a troubled, drug-addicted girl who repeatedly returns to her mother for money, only to disappear again without notice. Sweeney’s character doesn’t have much depth; she mostly wanders around moping and runs back to a troubled relatioship. We get our villain in Domhnall Gleeson, who portrays a drug dealer who mostly sneers threats and keeps showing up to make mom Kate's life hell. The film is packed with so many twists and turns that it seems Brad Ingelsby may have drawn inspiration from too many 1970s TV mysteries before writing the script. It's frustrating when the major plot twist is something you can deduce halfway through the film. While I’m no detective like Mannix or Columbo (references to 1970s shows), I realized that Echo Valley desperately needed a stronger script than the one Julianne Moore was given. My Rating: Cable   Echo Valley Info   Now playing on the Apple TV+ platform.

My View:  Deep Cover  (2025) R    Deep Cover is about three struggling London improv actors (Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed) who are hired by the police for a series of sting operations. Can they say their usual improv phrase “yes, and…” and still survive as they find their way into joining a criminal gang? As someone who appreciates improv and had dabbled in it during my acting days, I found the premise intriguing. Little did I know the jokes would be flat, and what improv there is is so poorly done it’s painful. The only character that you have fun watching is Marlon, portrayed by Orlando Bloom, who isn’t exactly known for his comedic chops. He brings life to the film with his portrayal of Marlon, an actor stuck in small commercial roles but dreaming of being like Brando or De Niro. Marlon’s character tends to go over the top, crafting backstories so dramatic they could bring any hardened criminal to tears. Regrettably, the rest of the cast fails to shine, and actors like Paddy Considine, Ian McShane, and Sean Bean are underutilized in a script that recycles every poor cop movie trope without delivering any real comedy. I considered improvising a joke here at the end of this review, but this film took me out of the moment. Can anyone out there say ‘yes, and’ for me?  My Rating: Cable  Deep Cover Info  Now playing on the Amazon Prime platform. 

Indiefest:  Prime Minister  (2025)   The documentary Prime Minister chronicles Jacinda Ardern’s tenure as New Zealand’s Prime Minister, during which her terms she had to navigate a mass shooting, COVID-19, and giving birth to a first child. Prime Minister is an outstanding documentary about a person who never expected to come into power, but when she did, she went all out, even while having a child while in office. The film commences with Jacinda's leader resigning, resulting in her becoming a top contender for her party's Prime Minister nomination. We then follow Jacinda through the election, which she barely wins, a reeelction in a landslide, putting her in office for five years. Prime Minister is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how leadership can work and how it can just as quickly be undone. We also get to see how she managed a relationship and the birth of a baby while in office. We get personal footage, which I loved because her partner shot a lot of it (they didn’t get married until after her stint as Prime Minister), and we see up close and personal their back-and-forth conversations about everything that is going on in their lives.We gain insight into her decision-making process and the reasoning behind her conclusions. While some of her decisions led to great successes, we also witness her struggles, including the impact of COVID-19 and the influence of Trump supporters reaching all the way to New Zealand. Throughout the documentary, we hear recordings she made during her years as Prime Minister, and we also see what she is doing now—hint: she’s teaching at a university in the U.S., which has been making headlines. Prime Minister is an inspiring film about a political figure who genuinely cared for people, prioritized their needs, and was willing to share her thoughts and feelings on pressing issues. What a novel concept.  My Rating: Full Price    Prime Minister Info  Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Titan: The OceanGate Disaster  (2025)  Titan: The OceanGate Disaster is a documentary about Stockton Rush, whose quest to become the next billionaire inventor led to the development of the Titan, a doomed underwater deep-sea sub that he hoped would bring oceanic exploration to the masses.Titan: The OceanGate Disaster is a fascinating and infuriating story about a man who had a vision to take the world down into the sea and share its wonders. Unfortunately, stupidity, ego, and money got in the way and ultimately cost the lives of five people. The film utilizes extensive footage and interviews with most of the principals behind the creation of the sub and its attempts to become a means for the world to see the Titanic’s wreckage up close in person. The film gives you a detailed look at both the lead-up to the accident and the investigation by the Coast Guard into how the deaths happened. I won't use the word 'accident' to describe what caused people to lose their lives because the disaster that happened was going to happen that day or weeks/months later. From the start, the idea of using a carbon fiber hull instead of steel or titanium was destined for failure. Stockton Rush was a man who thought he knew more than anyone else and was convinced, even when the testing told him otherwise, that the hull would stand the pressure. There is some horrifying footage of a dive the sub took that is as scary as what we experienced in the recent theatrical film Last Breath. There is a reason it took so long to discover where the Titanic was because it was resting so deep in the ocean floor. Maybe we should just let the ship stay at the bottom of the sea and stop trying to disturb its slumber. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Titan: The OceanGate Disaster Website  Now playing on the Netlfix platform. 

Forgotten Film:  Safe  (1995)  R  As a well-off housewife, Carol (Julianne Moore) devotes her time to remodeling her home, attending charity events, and gardening. Carol starts experiencing physical symptoms, such as coughing uncontrollably after being exposed to exhaust fumes or getting a nosebleed when getting a perm at her hair salon. Carol's condition continues to worsen, and doctors are unable to determine the cause. She then, encouraged by friends, to go to a retreat that specializes in allergies. There, she continues to get worse, finally isolating herself in a completely sterile environment. The film was directed by Todd Haynes, known for his engaging and sometimes controversial films, including Far From Heaven (2002), I'm Not There (2007), Carol (2015), and Wonderstruck (2017). Safe is a film about a woman who embarks on a path where she is constantly given reasons why the problem is in her head, but the symptoms persist and worsen. Julianne Moore is outstanding as Carol, whose life keeps getting worse and worse. The film can be viewed as a horror film, as for someone like myself who has dealt with severe allergies all my life, not knowing the cause of your problems can be horrifying, especially when everything you do compounds the problems. Critics and the Hollywood establishment saw in her performance in Safe that Moore would become a force to be reckoned with as an actor. My Rating: Full Price  Safe Info The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime.

Weird Credits:  From the credits of How to Train Your Dragon:  Lock Off PA

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You: Superman  (2025)  PG-13  Superman (David Corenswet) must reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his life as the human Clark Kent. As always, Superman is the embodiment of truth, justice, and trying to be a force for good while battling forces of evil, including Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). James Gunn, the man responsible for the amazing Guardians of the Galaxy film series, is behind the film.  Superman Website   The film will be out in theaters on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Until Next Time!

Ballerina

My View: Ballerina  (2025)  R   In Ballerina, Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) was lost and alone when her father was cut down by an assassin’s hand. She is found by a man who sees she is in trouble and takes her to a ballet school. However, the school is a facade, and Eve is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. I am a huge fan of the John Wick films and felt that John Wick 4 was a successful and satisfying ending to a character that we loved to see kill and maim bad guys while getting the crap beat out of him. John Wick was a character who took more punishment than anyone could survive, much less stand up immediately afterward. I mean, how many times can a guy get run over by a car or two or three? So when you watched the Wick films, you had to suspend quite a bit of believability, but you were constantly amazed by the staging of the fighting and the ability of Wick to keep going. In Ballerina, we meet Eve Macarro, who has been trained since childhood in both ballet and combat, with an emphasis on no-mercy-style fighting. Wick was a legendary assassin/fighter who spent years perfecting his craft. Ballerina wants us to believe that Eve is on the same level as Wick after one assignment. The film feels like one long fight sequence with battles that make little sense and action that feels like trying to top itself with each new fight. There is a sequence with two high-powered flamethrowers that is laughable in how badly the fight is produced. Ballerina is what my father would call an all-hat-and-no-cowboy film. It attempts to make everything flashy and shiny but fails to deliver a coherent storyline. Look at all the fancy moves and forget about any plot item we throw out the window with a hand grenade or two. Don’t get me wrong, I love Ana de Armas. She was great in Knives Out, and I thought her performance in No Time to Die was worthy of giving her the mantle of Jane Bond. However, in this part, she is asked to maintain one emotion at all times. Pissed off and not much else. And yes, Mr. Wick shows up (this takes place before John Wick 4), but even his actions don’t make this film believable, even in the John Wick universe.   My Rating: Cable  Ballerina Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide. 

My View:  The Phoenician Scheme  (2025)   PG-13   The Phoenician Scheme is about wealthy businessman Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro), who has survived plane crashes and attempts on his life by rivals, so he knows his days are numbered. He appoints his only daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton), a nun, as the sole heir to his vast estate. As Korda embarks on one last venture, he and his daughter will have to deal with scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, assassins, and a few distraught family members. I am a huge Wes Anderson fan, with his Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and The Royal Tenenbaums battling out to make my Top 25 Films of the Past 25 Years list. I love Anderson’s use of deadpan dialogue and scenes that slowly develop into madness. Unfortunately, I left the theater feeling that this film is one of Anderson’s lesser works. There are some outstanding performances in the movie, including a love-struck odd tutor played magnificently by Michael Cera, and I loved Mia Threapleton as the nun who finds herself an heir to a man she has just met. Threapleton is incredibly funny in a very deadpan way, as Liesl, who wants to remain a nun but will bend a rule or two to keep close to her father. The cast is extensive, including a Bill Murray role that fits perfectly in the oddball world that Wes Anderson has created. I didn’t find the film as funny or as enjoyable as Anderson’s past films, feeling that it sometimes went too hard into the jokes and at other times not hard enough. Del Toro is fun and is up for anything that Anderson wants to put him through, though I did get a little tired of his delivery. I enjoyed a couple of running gags that appear throughout the film, but I came away from it ultimately feeling a bit disappointed. Unlike most of Anderson’s films, I didn’t want to see it again right away. If you are a fan of Wes Anderson, then you might enjoy this film. If you disliked Asteroid City (2023) or particularly The French Dispatch (2021), you may want to steer clear of this one.      My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Phoenician Scheme Website    Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Dangerous Animals  (2025)  R  Dangerous Animals takes place off the coast of Australia, where surfer Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) has traveled to ride the waves. She encounters Moses (Josh Heuston), who falls for the girl almost instantly and is upset when she suddenly goes missing. Little do the two know that there is a captain of a local “swim with sharks” tour boat (Jai Courtney) who plans to feed the sharks with more than just chum. Sharks in films are often portrayed as scary and perceived as threats, almost always seen as evil. Well, how about a serial killer that uses sharks to do his dirty work? I’m not giving away too much (that fact is shown in the first minute of the trailer and in the first ten minutes of the film itself); instead, this is a film about a battle of wills and wits between the serial killer captain, played a wonderfully creepy Jai Courtney and our heroine, played by Hassie Harrison, who gives us a view of a woman who has been through a lot, doesn’t want ever to settle down, and this serial killer has picked the wrong woman to mess with. The film offers plenty of thrills, a few twists, excellent pacing, and a memorable performance by the two leads, along with some rather gruesome kills and an ending that must be seen. Dangerous Animals is a film for horror fans who love a bit of blood, and it sure makes you rethink going out on a boat with a stranger, especially to look up close at a shark.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Dangerous Animals Website  Now playing in theaters.   

My View:  Predator: Killer of Killers   (2025)  R  Predator: Killer of Killers is the story of three warriors throughout history, a Viking, a Samurai, and a World War II pilot, who take on Predators who have hunted humans for sport. This is an animated look at the world of the Predators that have visited our Earth through the years. They come to our Earth to take on our warriors, seeking them out in battle to prove just how mighty a warrior they are. The story is told across different time periods, focusing on a Viking warrior mother and son seeking revenge against another Viking outpost, a pair of samurai brothers battling each other, and a World War II pilot struggling to make his mark as a Navy pilot. All three stories are about their encounters with a Predator, who has selected them to prove that the Predator, by besting them, is the greatest warrior. I loved this film and its storytelling, concentrating on giving us backgrounds on each person who is going to battle the Predator and then showing how each fare in the battle against a warrior that has superior firearms and armor but is an even match for humans who use cunning, luck and skill to even the odds. Dan Trachtenberg, who gave us the incredible Prey (2022), does it again with a story that is thrilling, fast-moving and has incredible fight sequences that make this film work from beginning to end. And by the way, there is a cool surprise at the end before the credits roll.    My Rating:  Full Price  Predator: Killer of Killers Website  Now playing on the Hulu platforms.

Indiefest:  White with Fear  (2024)   The documentary White with Fear explores the quest of America’s conservative political machine by exploiting racial fault lines and fueling the flames of white victimization. This is an unflinching look at how conservatives have, throughout the history of this country, used white victimization, made-up or distorted facts, and racial prejudice to marshal votes and support. The interviews from both sides of the political spectrum provide an eye-opening perspective. White with Fear is a documentary that reveals this is nothing new, as Nixon employed similar tactics in the 1960s and 1970s to instill fear and bring voters to the voting booth. White with Fear is a documentary that doesn’t pull punches but gives us insight into who is behind the movement and why. It’s an insightful film that will bring chills and maybe a few nightmares.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  White with Fear Website  Now available On Demand. 

My View:  Wick is Pain (2025)  Wick is Pain, which comes from a saying on the set, is a documentary on the making of the John Wick films, focusing on how the first film came about, overcoming funding and creative problems, using first-time co-directors to become a massive franchise that has generated over one billion dollars globally at the box office. This is a fascinating and illuminating documentary on the John Wick films, focusing mainly on the first film and how, by a surprising last-minute financial Hail Mary by a Hollywood star, the film was saved days away from not being shot at all. This film gives credit to not only its star Keanu Reeves, its co-directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, and screenwriter Derek Kolstad, but also all the stuntmen/women, the art directors, and line producers who also gave their blood, sweat, and tears to a film franchise that is one of the best action films series out there. With plenty of behind-the-scenes footage and a ton of stories about all four films, it makes you realize filmmaking is not for the weak or the passionless. The John Wick series was created and nurtured by action film lovers who know their movies and want the audience to feel the passion they had for making the films to be up on the screen for everyone to see. Fans of Keanu are going to eat this film up, as we get to see him in a massive amount of behind-the-scenes footage of Keanu practicing for hours on end the moves for the film. What’s thrilling is that Keanu was willing to change things up with the stunts once they were on the set, and we see time after time Keanu and the stunt people practicing and coming up with moves that they had just figured out would work better in the scene. I loved the back-and-forth discussions that director Chad Stahelski (David Leitch dropped out of the series after the first film) and Reeves have as they riff back and forth on each other. The passion the two have for the films comes through whenever they talk about what they went through to get them made. This is a film that will be studied by action film fans for a long time. Wicked is Pain is a brilliant look at how movies are made and the people who make them.   My Rating: Full Price  Wick is Pain Website  Now available to rent on Amazon, Apple TV+, and other streaming services. 

Forgotten Film:  Parenthood (1989) PG-13  Gil (Steve Martin) is trying to be a great father, and a good husband to his pregnant wife (Mary Steenburgen) and three kids while also juggling a job that doesn’t give his due and a relationship with his father (Jason Robards) that has never given him respect or love. Add into the mix Gil’s three siblings (Dianne Wiest, Harley Kozak, and Tom Hulce), all of who have kids, and it’s a big mess of a family that has lots of problems and also lots of love. I recall not liking this film when I saw it in theaters, but on a recent rewatch, I enjoyed it immensely, especially the performances of Dianne Wiest and Tom Hulce. Parenthood has some hilarious moments, some incredible lines, and at its heart, it's a story about family, love, and acceptance.   My Rating: Full Price  Parenthood Info  Available to rent/buy on most online platforms. 

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Phoenician Scheme: Helping Hands

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  How to Train Your Dragon  (2025)  PG  How to Train Your Dragon is a tale about Vikings and dragons, who are mortal enemies on the isle of Berk. That is until Hiccup (Mason Thames) meets a hurt Night Fury dragon that he names Toothless. Little do the two know that their future together means that they will save the lives of both species. This is a live-action adaptation of the 2010 animated film.  How to Train Your Dragon Website  In theaters nationwide on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Until Next Time!

Karate Kid: Legends

My View:  Karate Kid: Legends  (2025)   PG-13   In Karate Kid: Legends, Li Fong (Ben Wang) has been studying Kung Fu under Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). Li and his mother are forced to move to New York after a family tragedy uproots them from their home in Beijing. Li tries to fit in, but trouble keeps finding him, and he enters a karate competition to change his path, and Mr. Han arrives to help but sees that Li needs the skill of a karate master. They ask for help from no other than Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). The original Karate Kid (1984) is a favorite of mine, particularly because it gave the world Elisabeth Shue. It was an outstanding against-the-odds, fish-out-of-water story that hit all the right notes and had a tremendous and completely gratifying ending. Following the success of Cobra Kai, the studio decided that the time was right to revive the Karate Kid format, blending the old with the new. For the first two-thirds of the film, this approach works. From watching the trailer (numerous times in theaters), I had no idea how significant a role both Joshua Jackson and Ming-Na Wen had in the film. Jackson plays Victor, a former boxer who now owns a pizza place in the neighborhood where Li and his mother have just moved in. Li makes friends with Victor and his daughter, Mia (Sadie, Stanley), who attends the same school as Li. He gets involved with Victor when he is attacked by some thugs who want the money that Victor owes to the local mobster and LI steps in with his Kung Fu moves to save the day. Victor is so impressed with his Kung Fu skills he begs him to help him train for a fight that he hopes will win enough prize money to get the mob off his back. Li's mother's job as a doctor is the driving force behind their move to New York City. She wants to get Li away from the Kung Fu school that Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) runs and give the two of them a new start, away from something bad that happened to their family (which we find out later). Jackson, Sadie Stanley, and Ben Wang have fantastic chemistry together, and their scenes are fun, touching and make the first hour of this film work. Sadie Stanley is reminiscent of a young Jennifer Lawrence, with great comic timing and lots of charm. Then, the storyline forces the past to come into the film, with Daniel LaRusso's appearance, and the film begins to unravel. The thing that worked so well in the original was the bonding that went on between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi while he taught Daniel not only how to do karate but also about life and friendship. We don't get any of that when Daniel shows up to train Li for a Karate tournament. The film tries too hard to be light and fun, leading to some cringeworthy scenes of training as Daniel and Mr. Han put Li through the paces. The film attempts to create tension between Mia and Li with a breakup (you knew one was coming from a subway ride away), which is forced and out of the blue. Then we get the tourney, which is completely rushed through, with the fighting sequences over in a matter of seconds, not minutes. There isn’t any tension at all in the tournament scenes, unlike the first film, and the air is let out of any attempt to create some sort of ending other than a happy one. Is Karate Kid: Legends worth seeing? Yeah, I just wish Daniel LaRusso had stayed home in California with Mr. Miyagi’s cars. There is a bonus scene after the first bit of credits at the end.     My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Karate Kid: Legends Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide. 

My View:  Bring Her Back  (2025)   R  Bring Her Back is about Andy (Billy Barratt), who has just lost his father and therefore, he and his younger disabled sister, Piper (Sora Wong), go to live with a foster mother, Laura (Sally Hawkins), and her foster son Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips). From the beginning, things start to look odd, and Andy quickly realizes that he and his sister are in danger. I was excited to see this movie because of the great work done by the Australian brothers Danny and Michael Philippou in the hit 2022 horror film Talk to Me. Like that film, this one also deals with the occult, but in a much more uncomfortable and gruesome manner. I will warn you I am a horror fan, and I am accustomed to seeing some disturbing content, but I had to look away a couple of times during this film. Sally Hawkins is exceptional in the role of the foster mom, who, from the start, we know is up to no good. However, this film is all about grief and how Laura manipulates the two grieving siblings, ultimately for her own plan. The film feels mean-spirited throughout, and the horror scenes aren’t terrifying but just gross and off-putting, making for a distasteful viewing experience. I was both thrilled and scared by Talk to Me. In their follow-up film, I was just troubled and uncomfortable.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Bring Her Back Website  Now playing in theaters. 

My View:  Bono: Stories of Surrender  (2025)  Bono: Stories of Surrender traces the life of rock star Bono from his humble beginnings in Ireland to his international fame as the lead singer of U2. I am a fan of U2, but I am not a fanatic. I think that if you saw in person the performance of Bono's stage play, telling stories and singing bits and pieces of his hits, you would have a great time. Unfortunately, the film lacks the dynamic vibe that you need from an in-person performance. The film gives us brief versions of the classics and too much of Bono playing to the audience with stories that seem meandering and sometimes self-serving. Yes, there are times when Bono sings that you are mesmerized by his stage presence and voice, but I grew tired of the staging and the fact that we often get stripped-down versions of his songs, which seemed too vacant, much like the stage he was on. I think only those who are super-fans of Bono and U2 will be thoroughly entertained. The rest of us desire a bit more.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Bono: Stories of Surrender Website  Now playing on the Apple TV+ platform. 

Indiefest:  Tornado  (2025)   R  Set in Britain in the 1790s, Tornado tells the story of a young Japanese woman named Tornado (Koki), who travels the country with her father’s (Takehiro Hira) traveling puppet show. When the two cross paths with a gang of ruthless criminals led by Sugarman (Tim Roth) and his son, Little Sugar (Jack Lowden), Tornado’s father is killed, and she escapes into the countryside. Little does the gang know that Tornado’s father was a Samurai who trained his daughter in the ways of the sword, and she has now vowed revenge. I am a massive fan of Samurai films (I even took a class on them in college), so I wanted to see this film in a theater. John Maclean's film looks gorgeous, and it's clear that he has a fondness for Kurosawa in the way he filmed the sword fights. Unfortunately, the film fails to deliver on character development. The film spends a lot of time with Tornado running away, hiding, and getting people hurt who are trying to help her. Tim Roth talks a lot but rarely delivers any excitement to the role, and Jack Lowden, as Sugarman’s son, mostly broods while hiding behind trees and only gives us a glimpse of why he wants to get out from under his father’s thumb. Despite Koki's impressive swordplay at the end of the film, the battles are all one-sided and short. It’s a long cinema walk for a very short climax for this Samurai fan.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Tornado Website    Now playing in theaters.   

My View:  Lost in Starlight  (2025)  PG  Lost in Starlight is set in Seoul in 2050, where Nan-young dreams of following in the footsteps of her late mother and becoming an astronaut. Her mother failed to return to Earth after a mission to Mars, and Nan-young longs to go to Mars, hoping to find a trace of her mother. Jay, a musician, comes into her life just as her dreams are beginning to come true. Will someone who has always dreamed of the stars stay on Earth to be with the one she loves? Lost in Starlight is a brilliant and beautiful love story about two damaged individuals who find each other and then must let each other go to follow their destiny. This is a stunningly visual film with an excellent soundtrack that enables you to fall in love with the two characters as they slowly explore their relationship, all the while trying to overcome the pain of their past. Lost in Starlight is a sweet love story that remains engaging from start to finish, mostly because the two characters are fun to be with, and the love between them feels genuine and authentic. The film is filled with twists and turns as we learn about their pasts, insecurities, and the necessity to overcome them. Ultimately, the two realize that they are committed enough to each other to overcome whatever the future holds. With strong, exquisite animation and a soundtrack that complements the moods of the characters, this is a love story that will touch you and bring a few tears along the way. My Rating: Full Price  Lost in Starlight Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

My View:  Pee-Wee as Himself  (2025)  TV-MA  Pee-Wee as Himself is adocumentary on the life and trials of the beloved creator of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Paul Reubens. This is a fascinating glimpse into the man behind the character he created, which ultimately took over his life. Rubens was an extremely private man, someone who stayed in the closet and sacrificed almost everything, including his love life, to become a character on TV and in films. Directed by Matt Wolf, Paul Reubens did over forty hours of interviews with Wolf, but it was not an easy shoot, as Rubens constantly fought with Wolf over control of the documentary, including continually answering questions with more questions, at times avoiding the subject matter or making Wolf and us having to decide what was truth and what was fiction. From an early age, Reubens had a deep love for TV, particularly shows such as Howdy Doody and Captain Kangaroo. He was an art student who gravitated to standup comedy and improv; at one time, he had many characters that he created besides Pee-wee, and some of them even ended up on The Gong Show, an old, bizarre variety game show, which he and his partners kept winning. When he invented Pee-wee, the character and what Reubens was doing with him took off, and almost overnight, Rubens became famous. But here is the rub: he became famous as Pee-wee, not as Paul Reubens. This, as we see in the documentary, becomes something that Ruebens never got over. Pee-wee, the character, was given all the praise and attention; Paul, the man, was left in the background. And how quickly the world came to judge him when he had some trouble with the law, which the media ran with abandon. I learned so much about Rubens and the sacrifices he made to make the world happy with a strange little man called Pee-wee. What is shocking about this documentary is Matt Wolf had no idea that Paul Reubens was battling cancer (for 6 years) and was as shocked as the rest of the world by his death. That we have this documentary, which gives a glimpse into the strange and wonderful world of Paul Reubens, is a miracle in itself. The fact that we were able to visit Pee-wee's world through his live performances, movies, and TV show is a miracle that will remain a source of joy for years to come.     My Rating: Full Price  Pee-wee As Himself Info  Now playing on HBO Max.

Forgotten Film:  28 Days Later  (2002) R  Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up in a hospital bed to an empty building. While walking through the empty streets of a once bustling city, he learns that a virus has been unleashed on the world, causing unimaginable monsters. He meets a couple of survivors (Naomie Harris and Noah Huntley) who explain that the virus has created zombies that are out to kill everyone. This horrifying film is about people trying to band together and survive just for one more day. That’s all they can think about; anything else is inconceivable. 28 Days Later was instrumental in creating a new genre of zombie movies and TV shows. The opening sequence is one of the great film scenes, and the final battle is both horrifying and thrilling. The film has a lot to say about paranoia, how we treat each other in times of struggle, and what is amazing, is still relevant today after our struggles in the world of Covid. 28 Days Later is a gritty film that truly gives you chills throughout.   My Rating: Full Price  28 Days Later Info  Available to rent on most streaming services. 

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Karate Kid: Legends: Thanks to the Jackie Chan Stunt Team

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: 28 Years Later (2025) R  Almost three decades have passed since a virus was unleashed on the world. A small island that is connected to the mainland by a causeway has been home to one group that has survived. A father (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and son (Alfie Williams) leave the island on a mission to go into the heart of the mainland, and there they discover the secrets, wonders, and horrors of the outside world. Danny Boyle has finally provided us with a movie to uncover what transpired after his horror classic 28 Days Later (2002). And I can't wait to see it!  28 Years Later Website   The film will be out on Friday, June 20, 2025.  

Until Next Time!