Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

My View:  Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom  (2018)  PG-13  When the island’s once dormant volcano starts erupting, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) race to save the remaining dinosaurs of the isle. This film has so many problems, I don’t know where to start. Hollywood has taken a film franchise and just destroyed it. So, the movie starts with a volcano erupting on the island. So, you build a billion-dollar resort on an island that has a volcano? This stupid stuff happens throughout the film. The first Jurassic World film was fun, and I especially enjoyed Chris Pratt’s performance. Well, Pratt can’t save this one. By the way, the movie thumbs its nose at the critics and fans who made fun of Bryce Dallas Howards’ footwear (she is running from dinosaurs in heels throughout the first film) by showing us a close up of her shoes. (The second time when she gets off the plane on the island, she wearing boots.) There is a very annoying girl (Isabella Sermon) in the film who spends most of the movie screaming and thinks she can get away from a dinosaur by hiding under the covers (but still doesn’t cover her head). By the way, spoiler alert, the characters only spend the first half of the film on the island. The film feels as long as its 2 hours and 8 minutes length and has some of the worst dialogue I have ever seen in a major motion picture. There is a slightly funny scene at the end of final credits, but it’s not worth seeing, and neither is the rest of this film.    My Rating:  Cable   Jurassic World Website

Indiefest:  Hearts Beat Loud  (2018) PG-13   A father, Frank (Nick Offerman) and his daughter, Sam (Kiersey Clemons) bond over writing and performing songs before she goes off to college. I loved this film when I saw it at the 2018 Atlanta Film Festival. The chemistry between Offerman and Clemons is dazzling and makes the film work. Fans of Nick Offerman will not be disappointed as he is perfect in the role of Frank, who is trying to raise his daughter and run a struggling record store. The music is lovely and was recorded live as they were filming, making the performances breathtaking and inspiring. Clemons is a star on the rise, and her performance in this film is striking. The impressive, supporting cast includes Ted Danson as Frank’s best friend, Blythe Danner as Frank’s mother, Sasha Lane as Sam’s best friend and sounding board, and Toni Collette as a neighbor and possible love interest of Frank. Go see this movie and bring along your teen daughters because they will fall in love with this film, just as I did.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See It Again   Hearts Beat Loud Website

In Case You Missed It (A movie just released on DVD/Blu-Ray):  The Circle  (2017)  PG-13  A young tech worker (Emma Watson) gets a job at a dominant internet company and quickly makes her mark in the business.  She learns that her company is involved with getting and keeping information on everyone, information that could be used to hurt her friends, family and even threaten the future of humanity. The Circle is a dull film that never creates the tension that it needs to make us care about what happens to Mae. Emma Watson plays a character who shows some smarts on how quickly she picks up her job but is so gullible that it becomes laughable.  Then we are supposed to believe that she can pull off what happens at the end of the film. Tom Hanks basically plays Steve Jobs but is, at least on appearances, nicer. Karen Gillan is wasted as Mae’s best friend who gets her the job, as she almost sleepwalks through her role. This is a film where main characters just disappear for stretches, which makes it seem that one or two more rewrites were needed. Co-writer/director James Ponsoldt is one of my favorite directors out there (my love of his The Spectacular Now is well-known), but he really misses the mark in this movie.  My Rating: Cable    The Circle Website

Forgotten Film: The Theory of Everything (2014) PG-13  Since Stephen Hawking died this year, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit this film. The love story between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his wife, Jane (Felicity Jones). Redmayne and Jones are extraordinary in this film about the love between two people who decide to live every day like it could be their last. They give unbelievable performances and have incredible chemistry on screen. It's a beautiful story and has a lot of up and downs, as two people team up to achieve remarkable things, not only in their professional lives but also in their personal lives. If you are a fan of romantic films, this one is for you.  My Rating: Full Price   The Theory of Everything Website    

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom:  Stunt Scaffolder

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Catcher Was a Spy  (2018) R  A major league baseball player in the 30s and 40s, Moe Berg (Paul Rudd), lives a double life as a spy. I read the book that this film is based on, and he led a fascinating and sometimes dangerous life. Moe Berg toured Japan as part of a baseball goodwill tour and was able to give the American government information about Japan’s ramping up for war.    The Catcher Was A Spy Info

Until Next Time!