Once Upon a Deadpool

My View: Once Upon a Deadpool  (2018)  PG     You may have seen all the promotional material for this film starring Fred Savage. So the added footage is a tied up Fred Savage being read to by Deadpool, like Savage’s appearance in the classic 1980s film The Princess Bride. It is a very creative idea and hysterically funny. The main story hasn’t changed with the exception of most of the language has been cleaned up, and the violence is not as savage as in the first version. While not quite as much fun as the first Deadpool film, it’s still a blast to watch. Stay through all the credits as there are three bonus scenes, one at the end of all the credits that if you are a Marvel fan, you will want to see.    My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again    Once Upon a Deadpool Website

My View:    Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse  (2018)  PG   Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) has been bitten by a radioactive spider and has become Spider-Man. When alternate universe Spider-people start showing up, they decide to team up and save the world from Kingpin (Liev Schreiber). Not only is this one of the best-animated films of the year, it’s one of the best overall films of the year. The storyline is highly creative, and the movie is hilarious. I loved all the ‘Spider-People’ especially Peter B. Parker voiced by Jake Johnson, a sort of sad sack Spider-Man, Gwen Stacy, ‘Spider-Woman’ voiced by Hailee Steinfeld and Spider-Ham a ‘Spider-Pig[ voiced by John Mulaney. The ending is satisfying, and I can’t wait to see the spinoffs that they will be doing.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse Website

My View:   Mary Queen of Scots  (2018)  R  Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan), after many years in exile, decides to return to Scotland and attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie). I can’t quite put my finger on why I didn’t like this film because Ronan and Robbie are fantastic in the parts of rival queens. I think it may be due to all the talk with minimal action making the film feel all of its 2 hours and 4 minutes length. The film is still worth seeing to see Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie battle it out.   My Rating:  Full Price    Mary Queen of Scots Website

Indiefest:  Vox Lux  (2018)  R  As a teenager, Celeste (Natalie Portman) survives a major national tragedy. At the memorial service, she sings a song that starts her pop singing career. We follow Celeste over eighteen years as her journey takes her on the highs and lows of a global superstar. This is a very strange film that is in three sections.  The first third of the film is the horrific shooting at a school where Celeste (played by Raffey Cassidy) is wounded. She and her sister perform a song that they wrote, and it makes Celeste a star. We then see Celeste get corrupted by the star-making machine. The middle portion of the film is a day in the life of the adult Celeste, played by Natalie Portman, who has somehow acquired a New York accent. This Celeste is a jaded and self-important star who abuses drugs and treats everyone around her, including her daughter (strangely played by Raffey Cassidy) poorly. The last portion of the movie is a year later, and Celeste has cleaned up her act. We then see her perform some of Celeste’s big hits. It’s an interesting way to end the film. I think if I were you, I would wait until this film comes out on DVD/VOD and then skip the middle of the film, just watch the beginning and end.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Vox Lux Website

Forgotten Film:  Holy Rollers  (2010)  R  A young Hasidic Jew (Jessie Eisenberg) is sucked into drug smuggling  As the storyline develops, the young man gets more and more involved in trafficking (turns out he is good at it). The reason to see the film is Eisenberg, as he goes from an innocent, wide-eyed young man to a person who is recruiting other Hasidic Jews to help him bring in more drugs. It’s a powerful performance that only someone as talented as Eisenberg can deliver.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Holy Rollers Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of Once Upon a Deadpool:  Specialty Tattoo Designer

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Stan & Ollie  (2018)  PG  Once the greatest comedy team in film, Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Hardy (John C. Reilly) attempt to revive their careers as they go on a stage tour of England. I love the Laurel and Hardy films so you know I am going to see this film.    Stan & Ollie Website

Until Next Time!