The Fantastic Four: First Steps

My View:  The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) PG-13    The Fantastic Four: First Steps is about four people forced to balance the life of a family with being superheroes. The Fantastic Four must defend Earth from an evil space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his Herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). I am a huge fan of Jack Kirby, who, in the early days of Marvel, was one of their leading artists and helped shape and create many of their iconic superheroes. Kirby had a unique drawing style, one that could be identified in almost any panel he drew. The scale and monstrousness of his villains was always impressive. So I was thrilled to see that Kirby’s influence was very present in this latest attempt at bringing us The Fantastic Four to the screen. First Steps is not an origin film, as it takes place four years after the four gained their superpowers in that accident in space. The world has accepted the four, and they have saved the world many times before Galactus and his servant, the Silver Surfer, show up intending to consume the Earth and all its inhabitants. The film is set in the 1960s, but it’s a comic book setting with tall, streamlined rocket ships, flying cars, and black and white TVs. The Fantastic Four is composed of Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). I was content with Pascal’s portrayal of Reed, and I thought Ebon Moss-Bachrach had the right amount of humor and clumsy grace for The Thing. I wasn't happy with Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch, feeling that he gave a rather wooden performance that didn't give Johnny much personality. Vanessa Kirby's performance as Sue Storm is the driving force behind the film. Kirby is the glue that keeps the team focused and moving forward, even when things seem bleak. I was never a big fan of the Silver Surfer when I read comic books, and Julia Garner isn’t given much to do other than show up and make a few pronouncements, along with wrecking about everything she comes in contact with. I had a great time with this film and feel that Marvel is back on track with a group of superheroes that have personality (except Johnny), humor, and can carry a movie. I look forward to seeing more from this gang. And by the way, stay through all the credits. There is a substantial mid-credit sequence and a fun end-credits sequence. My Rating: Full Price  The Fantastic Four: First Steps Website Now playing in theaters nationwide, including IMAX.  

My View:  Happy Gilmore 2 (2025)  PG-13  Happy Gilmore 2 takes place thirty years after Happy (Adam Sandler) won his first Tour Championship. He now must come out of retirement to pay for his daughter’s ballet school. I knew we were in trouble from the very beginning when just two minutes in, there's a joke about how Happy and Virginia had four kids in four years, followed by Virginia landing Happy a gig for a condom commercial. With a ton of cameos, numerous callbacks to the first film, loads of bad jokes, and Happy as an alcoholic, the film tries too hard to capture the magic of the first film and fails for almost its entire two-hour length. Bad Bunny as a waiter who becomes Happy’s caddie is about the only bright spot in this mess of a sequel. However, I’m not sure even golfers will find this film amusing, although one joke about Scottie Scheffler getting arrested did elicit a brief laugh (you might want to Google it). Ultimately, Happy Gilmore 2 feels like nothing more than a vehicle for Sandler to create another film with his friends, similar to his previous unfunny works like Murder Mystery or Grown Ups 2. Just like Happy's golf game at the beginning of the movie, Happy Gilmore 2 is a big slice that goes way out of bounds.  My Rating: Cable   Happy Gilmore 2 Website Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

Indiefest:  Oh, Hi!  (2025) R  In Oh, Hi! Iris (Molly Gordon) and Isaac (Logan Lerman) go on a romantic weekend road trip. On their first night at the rental, they engage in some playful bondage scenarios. While Isaac is tied to the bed, he reveals to Iris that he is not looking for a relationship at this point in his life. Talk about the wrong time to mention that, Isaac! I thoroughly enjoyed this film, even if it occasionally pushes the plot a bit too far, because Molly Gordon is brilliant in the role of Iris. Seemingly the perfect girlfriend, Iris goes overboard when she finds out that Isaac is not only not interested in a relationship, but that he has been dating other women. Gordon is perfect as the funny and impulsive Iris, who is convinced that if she makes a case for herself (after a night of googling what seems to be every self-help guru out there), Isaac will come to his senses and see that she is perfect for him. The film would be a bit of a chore if it were just these two characters, but it has a great supporting cast in David Cross as a nosy neighbor and Geraldine Viswanathan as Iris’s best friend, who drops everything to come and try to help Iris. However, this is Gordon’s movie, and she rises to the challenge and shows off a dance move or two to our delight. The main question is whether you will feel sorry for Isaac or join Iris in her quest. Wait until the end to make your decision. My Rating: Full Price    Oh, HI! Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  Shoshana  (2023)  R  Shoshana is set in 1930s Tel Aviv, during the period of British control over the region. The story follows Thomas (Douglas Booth), a British police officer who falls in love with a beautiful Israeli woman named Shoshana (Irina Starshenbaum). As Thomas investigates the whereabouts of a Zionist independence fighter, he suspects that Shoshana’s family may be supporting his ideas. Shoshana is a fascinating film about the start of Israel under British rule and how complex the idea of a Jewish state even then was, full of so many factors that made it almost impossible to solve. The film is based on a true story of star-crossed lovers who attempt to stay together despite the world conspiring against them. Shoshana has the love story at its center, but it’s really a film about just how fractured that part of the world was — and still is. Booth and Strashenbaum have excellent chemistry, and we do root for the two to find happiness, but we also know that in that part of the world at that time, that happiness was going to be short-lived. Shoshana is a thriller that has a romance at its heart, and that heart can be broken when the world continues to fight.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Shoshana Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Forgotten Film: The Patriot  (2000) R  Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) is a widower who is raising seven boys on a farm. He has preached peace with the British in the past, but when a British officer murders one of his sons and burns his home down, Benjamin takes on the British, joining the Colonials on their quest for independence. This film harkens back to the blockbuster that could open big on the back of just one star like Mr. Gibson. Nominated for three Oscars, the cinematography is magnificent, and the battle sequences are thrilling (though I doubt how authentic they are). With a cast that includes Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson, Chris Cooper, and Logan Lerman as one of Benjamin’s sons, the film works well as a big blockbuster film featuring a score by John Williams. There are worse ways to spend an evening than watching Gibson beat the British almost single-handedly.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Patriot Website The film is available on many streaming platforms. 

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Fantastic Four: First Steps:  Prop Hand Improver

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Together  (2025) R  Together follows Tim (Dave Franco) and Millie (Alison Brie), a couple who, years into their relationship, relocate to the countryside in hopes of saving their marriage. As tensions rise to an all-time high, they confront an unnatural force that threatens to disrupt their relationship, their lives, and even their physical well-being.  Franco and Brie are married in real life.  Together Website   In select theaters on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Until Next Time!

I Know What You Did Last Summer

My View:  I Know What You Did Last Summer  (2025)  R   In I Know What You Did Last Summer, five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident and decide to cover it up, choosing to 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. The original 1997 film had a script by Kevin Williamson (Scream, creator of Dawson’s Creek and The Vampire Diaries) and featured a cast that included Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Anne Heche, Johnny Galecki, and Freddie Prinze Jr. While not as creative as Scream, it was still a fun movie with a cast that was talented and that knew what they were doing. I can’t say the same for this movie. This version is a re-tread of the original film but without any creativity. We go to these types of films to be scared and for the inventive kills. The only scares in this drab film are the ‘jump out of the dark’ moments, accompanied by loud music to cue us to the scary moment. The killings are unimaginative and poorly done. And don’t get me started on how the accident occurs and why they hide it, which brings down the film from the start. And if you haven’t figured out who the killer is by the first third of the film, you don’t watch a lot of this type of film. The dialogue was terrible (at my screening, some of the lines were laughed at), and none of the cast members had the charisma to carry the film. Fans of the series might enjoy this film, but the rest of us will likely find it a snore. And yes, there is a bonus scene in the middle of the credits, which sets up another film to come, and that one scene was better than the movie that just followed.   My Rating:  Cable  I Know What You Did Last Summer Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide. 

My View:  Eddington  (2025)  R  Eddington is set in a small town in New Mexico in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) is running for Mayor against incumbent Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal). As the election unfolds, the town descends into chaos, with mask mandates, conspiracy theories, and a sense of society unraveling in the background. I am not a big fan of filmmaker Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar, Beau is Afraid). I feel that too often he goes too far in trying to make a point, and his films have a tendency to start strong but falter in their third act, which ultimately brings down the rest of the film. Eddington is the story of a small town grappling with COVID-19 and the Eddie George killing, featuring a Mayor who advocates for mask-wearing and a Sheriff who refuses to wear a mask and dislikes, maybe even hates, the Mayor. I enjoyed the first half of this film, with a cast of characters that are funny and weird. It’s a war of wills between the Sheriff and the Mayor, and we want to see who will win. Unfortunately, the film falls apart in the second half, shifting from being an amusing black comedy and satire to something that feels directionless—perhaps like a roadrunner cartoon? The film, which starts so smartly, devours itself with absurdity that goes overboard. After viewing Eddington, you realize it did not provide any answers to the questions that were constantly popping up in your mind. That’s disappointing, especially in this day and age when we could all use a few answers. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Eddington Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight  (2024)  R Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight is about 8-year-old Bobo (Lexi Venter), whose family’s Rhodesian farm and their way of life are threatened by the Bush War. This is about a family that is being torn apart at the seams by a country that doesn’t want them and a mother who refuses to leave. Lexi Venter delivers an incredible performance as Bobo, a young girl who rides a motorcycle, smokes cigarettes, and questions everything around her.  It’s a riveting performance by a young actress that carries the whole film on her shoulders. The narrative unfolds through Bobo’s eyes as her beloved country undergoes rapid change, and her way of life hangs in the balance. Embeth Davidtz, who serves as writer and director, provides Venter with a unique voice that highlights the contrast between the mother, an alcoholic refusing to give in, and the father, who recognizes when the battle is lost.   Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight features a groundbreaking performance by a young actress, Lexi Venter, that has to be seen to be believed. Bobo is a character who will win your heart, even as her family's story may break it.  My Rating: Full Price   Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight Website  Now playing in select theaters. 

Indiefest:  Sorry, Baby (2025) R  Sorry, Baby takes place over five years following the life of Agnes (Eva Victor), who is trying to put her life back together after a trauma that almost destroyed her. Sorry, Baby is one of those films that you fall in love with almost from the first frame. This film captivates you from the very first frame. Eva Victor has created a remarkable piece for a first-time director, especially one who also stars in it. Sorry, Baby is a film that deals with a horrible situation, but with such a deft touch that you come away feeling good about the character surviving, especially since she mentions dying a lot. It’s a film that tackles a sensitive subject with humor and compassion. Some scenes will make you cry, and others will make you laugh, and that’s to the credit of Eva Victor, who gives us a performance and a character who is witty, resilient, and warm-hearted, whose sense of humor comes out, sometimes at the strangest times. Additionally, Sorry, Baby highlights the importance of friendships in overcoming difficult times. This is a remarkable film that you won’t want to end, as you’ll find yourself wishing to continue Agnes's journey alongside her friends. You know she will keep moving forward, fighting the good fight, and striving to live fully. Sorry, Baby is definitely destined to be among my this year's top five films directed by a first-time filmmaker.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Sorry, Baby Website  Now playing in select theaters. 

Forgotten Film:  Boy (2011) Note: This is my review from 2011 and is a film that I talk about all the time, telling everyone to see this film:   Boy, an 11-year-old, who lives in Waihau Bay, New Zealand with his younger brother, Rocky (who thinks he has superpowers), and his grandmother, is obsessed with Michael Jackson. His mother died giving birth to Rocky, and Boy spends a good deal of his day thinking about what his long-lost father is doing.  Is he a spy, a famous rugby player, or maybe a brilliant artist?  Boy’s world is changed when his father suddenly shows up, and he must come to grips with the realization that his father will never live up to the image he created of him over the years.  The director (who also stars as Boy’s father), Taika Waititi, gives us a wonderful world of interesting characters, where Boy’s fantasies about his father come to life, and cartoon drawings illustrate what Rocky thinks is going to happen when he applies his imagined superpowers. It’s no wonder that this film won the Audience Award at the American Film Institute Festival in 2010. My Rating:  Full Price  Boy Info  The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime. 

Weird Credits: From the credits of I Know What You Did Last Summer:  Marine assistant

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: The Naked Gun (2025) I am just going to quote the press release for the film: “Only one man has the particular set of skills... to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. follows in his father’s footsteps.”  The movie stars Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., and the supporting cast comprises Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, and Kevin Durand.  The Naked Gun Website The movie will be in theaters on Friday, August 1, 2025.

Until Next Time!

Superman

My View:  Superman  (2025)   PG-13  In Superman, Superman (David Corenswet) must reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his life as the human Clark Kent. As always, Superman embodies truth, justice, and is a force for good, battling forces of evil, including Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). This 2025 Superman is not your Zack Snyder Superman (I am convinced that Snyder hates Superman (the hero), nor is it your old origin story like the 1978 Christopher Reeve film. We don’t see Superman as a baby, his Earth parents (tiny spoiler alert) are both still alive, and he has been working and living as Clark Kent for the past three years. Instead, we are transported to a weak and hurt Superman, who has just lost a battle to a mysterious bad guy, The Hammer of Boravia, who seems to be Superman’s equal. Right from the start, we also see that this film, like director/writer James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, this film will have a lot of humor in it as Superman whistles for the Superdog Krypto, who proceeds to jump and try to play with the hurt Superman. And from that start, we get one of the better superhero films in the past years and certainly one, if not the best, Superman movie. We are given a Superman film that is entertaining, filled with emotion, and features a superb villain in Lex Luthor, played to perfection by Nicolas Hoult. Hoult portrays Luthor as someone who is convinced that Superman is the bad guy and needs to be taken into custody because of his excessive power. To take on Luthor and his band of henchmen (some of which are just computer nerds), Superman has in his corner fellow reporter and girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi). I will tell you right now that two characters steal the movie. The first one is Krypto, who is darn cute and always getting into trouble. The second is Mr. Terrific, a character that you might not know a lot about (unless you watched the CW show Arrow). Mr. Terrific, brilliantly portrayed by the cool and calm Edi Gathegi, is a tech wizard who utilizes various gadgets to fight crime.  Rachel Brosnahan is delightful as Lois Lane, the girlfriend of Superman, who has doubts that their relationship can last, especially since she is a tough-as-nails reporter who must cover Superman’s exploits, both the good and bad. I loved the chemistry between Brosnahan and Corenswet, shown in a back-and-forth scene where Lois interviews Superman, and they have to keep turning off the recorder due to arguments. David Corenswet is just what you want in Superman —a believable Man of Steel who perhaps trusts mankind too much and struggles to understand the complexities of living in a world where right and wrong are not always set in stone. I had so much fun watching this film, with a great bad guy, lots of humor, plenty of great action sequences, and a dog that not only flies but also can save the world almost as well as Superman. And yes, there are two post-credits scenes: one in the middle and one at the very end of all the credits.    My Rating: Full Price  Superman Website  Now playing in theaters, including IMAX. 

Indiefest:  Sovereign  (2025) R  In Sovereign, father Jerry (Nick Offerman) and son Joe (Jacob Tremblay) are members of a group of anti-government extremists called the Sovereign Citizens. The two soon find themselves in a standoff with a chief of police (Dennis Quaid) that sets off a manhunt. Buoyed by a riveting performance by Nick Offerman, Sovereign is a slow turn into madness by an anti-government extremist who makes his living giving talks around the country in small groups about how to take on the government. Jerry is raising his son to follow in his footsteps, homeschooling him, and using every moment to underscore how the American government is taking away his money and his liberties. It’s a chilling performance of a man who thinks he is always right and everyone else is wrong. Jacob Tremblay plays Joe as a young man who idealizes his father but wonders if he has gone too far and is tired of being isolated from the world. Sovereign is a film that ramps up the tension and dread as Jerry is convinced that he will win in the end, and his son starts to have doubts about his father’s beliefs and his future. Based on a true story, Sovereign is a tale that is destined to be sad for both the father and son, as well as the lawmen who attempt to force Jerry into something he doesn’t believe in.   My Rating: Full Price  Sovereign Website  Now playing in select theaters. 

Indiefest:  Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story  (2025)  R   Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story follows Abraham Van Helsing (Titus Welliver), who has relocated his family to America in an effort to escape his troubled past after battling Dracula. However, the past has a tendency to resurface when one least expects it. The film offers an intriguing premise about what happened to Van Helsing after he defeated Dracula, but the pacing is so slow that viewers may find themselves wishing for something—anything—to happen. Abraham’s Boys focuses more on a man who is haunted by his past while he and his wife raise their two sons in isolation. The film hints at the presence of vampires from time to time, but the scares are never there, and this is more a film that promises more than it can deliver. Fans of horror would likely have more fun watching one of the classic Hammer Dracula films from the 1960s or 1970s than spending time with Abraham’s Boys. My Rating: Cable  Abraham's Boys Info  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  Daniela Forever  (2024) R  Daniela Forever is about Nicolas (Henry Golding), who struggles to cope with the tragic loss of his girlfriend, Daniela (Beatrice Granno). In an attempt to heal, Nicolas joins a clinical trial of a new drug, which starts delivering a reconstruction of Daniela through lucid dreams. What would you do if you had the ability to bring back a loved one in your dreams that felt real? Would you choose to remain there? That’s Nicolas’s dilemma as he starts dreaming about his lost love, Daniela, and doesn’t want it to end. It’s an interesting premise that never finds its footing in this film. However, the film struggles to engage its audience due to the lack of depth in Daniela's character. We see very little of her before Nicolas begins his dream journey, leaving her almost a blank slate. This makes it difficult for viewers to understand why Nicolas was so madly in love with her in the first place. The film squanders a believable and enjoyable performance by Henry Golding, who once again shows his ability to dominate a scene with his charm and charisma. However, that’s the problem, as his character is far more interesting than Beatrice Granno’s Daniela, and it makes you wonder why someone would want to spend all their time with them. The film drags on, taking too long to come to an ending that, while satisfying, ultimately feels anticlimactic given the emotional journey we experienced for nearly two hours. I doubt I’ll be dreaming about Daniela tonight.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Daniela Forever Website  Now playing in select theaters.

Forgotten Film:  In the Mood for Love  (2000)    Two married couples move into apartments next to each other. Mrs. Chen (Maggie Chueng) and her husband who is always on the road. Mrs. Chen works as a personal secretary for a businessman and spends her free time going to movies.  Mr. Chow (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) and his wife, who is always working late, leaving Mr. Chow to fend for dinner on his own. In the Mood for Love is an outstanding love story of two people who realize that they aren't happy with their lives and that their spouses are cheating on them. They find solace in each other, but (here's the catch) they don't want to be like their unfaithful partners, so they refuse to cheat, but this doesn't stop them from falling in love. The film is visually stunning, boasting incredible cinematography. The two lead actors have such charisma that it’s almost painful to watch. Their love story theme is Nat King Cole singing in Spanish, and it hits you right in the heart each time you hear the song. It's easy to see why this film consistently appears on many top 50 lists and was recently restored.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  In the Mood for Love Info  The film is currently in some regional theaters due to it’s restoration. 

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Superman:  Journeyman Sign Writers

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Eddington  (2025)  R  Eddington is set in a small town in New Mexico in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) is running for mayor against incumbent Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal).  As the election unfolds, the town descends into chaos, with mask mandates, conspiracy theories, and a sense of society unraveling in the background.  Eddington Website  In theaters on Friday, July 18, 2025.

Until Next Time!

Jurassic World: Rebirth

My View:  Jurassic World: Rebirth  (2025)  PG-13  In Jurassic World: Rebirth, scientists are on the brink of a groundbreaking medical breakthrough. The only problem is that they need DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures that are living on an isolated and forbidden island. Zora (Scarlett Johansson), a mercenary-for-hire, is tapped to lead a group of scientists to obtain the samples. I am going to call this film “Island of the Misfit Dinos.” While I think this is a better film than the last two Jurassic World pics (Fallen Kingdom, Dominion), primarily because of the action sequences, the plot is razor thin, with the film telling us that dinosaurs were genetically cross-bred to give the viewing public more exciting and thrilling dinosaurs to stare at (or get killed by when things go wrong) as if Raptors and T-Rex weren’t scary enough! The film blends two groups of people: one, a family out on a sailboat trip (along with one lazy boyfriend) and a group of mercenaries hired to take a paleontologist (Jonathan Bailey) to an island to get DNA samples from three gigantic dinosaurs to make a heart cure that will save millions and make even more money. The two groups come together when some dinos decide that they don’t like boats or people trying to take their DNA. The film makes numerous callbacks to the original film, but the sense of wonderment and stunning visuals we experienced then are not matched by this film. There is a lot of needless setup, mostly to let us know that the pharmaceutical rep Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) is a bad dude and that some of our heroes have lost people in the recent past. Adding to the fun is a family that, in most films, would be chomped by the dinosaurs in the first few minutes because they keep doing really stupid stuff. And don’t get me started on the dinosaurs, some of which are genetically modified creatures, including the big, bad dinosaur that we are supposed to be terrified of at the end of the film. The problem is that its head looked a lot like Sloth from The Goonies, and it looked to me to keep changing sizes in the last fifteen minutes of the film. There are some fun action sequences, and there is some good chemistry between Johansson and Bailey. However, Jurassic World: Rebirth takes too long to get going and then throws in lots of nostalgic vibes while also introducing numerous dinosaurs that we know nothing about.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Jurassic World: Rebirth Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide.

My View:  The Old Guard 2  (2025)   R  The Old Guard 2 is about Andy (Charlize Theron) and her team of immortal warriors who continue on their mission to fight evil and protect humanity. They have to face a formidable new foe who threatens the very fabric of the Old Guard and, at the same time, deal with the return of an immortal thought to be long lost. Just one catch.  Andy is now mortal, and so the stakes are much higher. In my review of the first film, I mentioned I wouldn’t mind seeing the gang from The Old Guard make another film. I got my wish, but it would have been nice to have been here sooner. If you haven’t seen The Old Guard film or only saw it when it was released in 2020, I recommend watching it before seeing this film. I didn’t rewatch the film, and I will admit that I was lost for about the first fifteen minutes before I got my bearings and figured out what was happening. The film features two new principal characters: one, played by Veronica Ngo, is from Andy’s past and may be out for revenge, and the other, a new villain in Discord, is played by Uma Thurman. While not as enjoyable as the first film, as it forgets how good the banter and chemistry was between the gang of immortals, the action sequences still are kick-ass, and Theron doesn’t disappoint with her star power in commanding a scene. Add in the fact that we get to see a couple of nasty battles between Thurman and Theron’s characters, and it still makes it an enjoyable film to watch. A bit of warning: there is a setup at the end of the film for a third movie to follow.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Old Guard 2 Website    Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

My View:  Heads of State  (2025)   PG-13   In Heads of State, the UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and US President Will Derringer (John Cena), who don’t like each other, must form an alliance when they escape from a terrorist attack and are stuck out in the world where they are targets of a powerful enemy. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent, Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world if they can just get along. This is a fun comedy/action film reminiscent of the buddy cop action films of the 1980s and 1990s. It’s a film where two characters don’t like or respect each other but are forced to work together for the good of keeping the world safe from evil forces. Cena is perfect as Will Derringer, a former action star who, because of his popularity and nice-guy persona, has been elected President of the United States. Idris Elba plays Sam Clarke, a career politician who openly supported Derringer’s opponent, and resents the fact that Will’s idea of politics is what he used to do up on the screen. Added to the mix is Priyanka Chopra Jones, playing a British MI6 agent who shares a past with Sam. I wish I had seen this film on the big screen instead of my TV as the action sequences are fun and thrilling, with a great opening sequence when Noel and her agents take on the bad guys during the La Tomatina festival in Spain, where everyone joins in a tomato throwing battle that turns into a real fight. When President Derringer and Prime Minister Clarke barely escape an assassination plot, they are forced to band together and try to find their way back to safety, but the bad guys aren’t far behind. I will admit the banter between the two leads gets a little overdone, with some lines feeling forced. However, the action sequences are fun and exciting, with an outstanding car chase sequence that is thrilling to watch. Heads of State is a fun action film to watch with the family over a weekend, accompanied by lots of popcorn and maybe a bit of fish and chips for an after-movie dinner.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Heads of State Website   Now playing on the Amazon Prime platform. 

My View:  40 Acres  (2025)  R  40 Acres takes place in a famine-decimated future where Hailey Freeman (Danielle Deadwyler) and her family are the last remnants of African American farmers who settled in rural Canada in 1875. Their descendants survived the first Civil War, and now the Freemans must make their own stand against those intent on taking their home. Danielle Deadwyler gives a spellbinding performance of a single-minded leader of a family who she constantly drills into her family that they can’t let their guard down in order to ensure their safety in a world where the only thing they can depend on is each other. Right from the opening sequence, when we see Hailey and her family take down an invading force with skill and precision, without remorse or hesitation, it becomes clear that this is a very different world in which the family is living in. It’s a world where everyone wants what the Freeman family has: a farm that provides them with food. What sets this film apart from other recent horror films is that the invaders coming aren’t zombies, but ordinary people desperate to take what the Freemans have. The film constantly ups the tension, fueled by Hailey’s constant paranoia as she keeps watch from the outside world invading her beloved farm. 40 Acres features some outstanding twists and turns, some of which I didn’t see coming, culminating in a final sequence that offers heart-pounding action sequences that will have you wondering if you can survive this movie, much less if the Freeman family can.   My Rating: Full Price  40 Acres Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Forgotten Film:  North Country  (2005)  R  Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron) takes her two kids, leaves her abusive boyfriend, and moves back to her hometown in Minnesota. Josey takes a job as a miner, but she is not welcome by the men in the mine, as she has ‘taken a job from a man.” There are other women miners in the company, but most keep their heads down and suffer from harassment and obscenities hurled at them. Josey is picked on because she is new and because she shares a past with her supervisor, Bobby (Jeremy Renner), who wants her to quit. Her only ally is a union rep, Glory (Frances McDormand), who tells her the only way is not to confront the men. Josey can’t take it anymore and hires a local lawyer (Woody Harrelson) to take the owners of the mine to court. Based on a true story, North Country is anchored by two Academy Award-nominated performances by Theron and McDormand. It is a movie that will make you mad and cheer when Josey gets the better of the men and the mine owners. It’s a moving film that packs a powerful punch. My Rating: Full Price  North Country Info   The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon. 

Weird Credits: From the credits of Jurassic World: Rebirth:  Personal Hair to Miss Johansson 

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Weapons  (2025)  R   One morning, at 2:17 am, every child except one from Mrs. Gandy's class woke up and left their homes, never to be seen again. What happened to the seventeen children, and how can a community discover their fate? The cast includes Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan, and June Diane Raphael. Weapons is from filmmaker Zach Cregger, known for his award-winning 2023 film Barbarian.  Weapons Website The movie is in theaters nationwide on Friday, August 8, 2025. 

Until Next Time!