Wonder Woman

My View:  Wonder Woman (2017)  PG-13  Before she was Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), she was Diana, Princess of the Amazons and a trained warrior. When a pilot named Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crashes his plane on the Amazons island, he tells Diana about a war that is going to end all wars.  Diana decides to go with Steve to help defend liberty.  Wow, we finally have a DC film that gets it right. All it took was a woman director with a story about a female superhero. What has been severely lacking in the DC universe has been a lack of humor in their films (something Marvel excels at). Due to incredible chemistry and timing of the two principles (Gadot and Pine), this movie works. I loved the fight scenes, and we already knew from her appearance in Batman v. Superman, that Gal Gadot can do action sequences.  The first big fight sequence is a spectacular example of choreography and directing, with Amazon warriors flying off of massive cliffs while shooting arrows at their enemy.  This big, dramatic action movie is meant to be seen on the big screen, but it was not shot in 3-D, so save a few bucks.  There is no bonus scene in the closing credits.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   Wonder Woman Website

Family Faire:  Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie  (2017)  PG   When two school pranksters (Kevin Hart, Thomas Middleditch) are threatened by the Principal (Ed Helms) to be sent to separate rooms, the boys use a magic ring to hypnotize the Principal and turn him into the superhero Captain Underpants. I loved the first half of the movie, with the friendship of the two boys being the center of the film and they creatively use three types of animation. My problem with this movie, though, is it starts to go downhill when they introduce the bad guy, Professor Poopypants (Nick Kroll), whom I found very annoying and one dimensional.  From talking to kids at my screening, the film does an excellent job of making the characters of the book series come alive. This is another one of those family films that kids will love, and parents will be very bored.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Website

Indiefest:  Obit  (2017)  A look at the staff obituary writers at the New York Times, having, to sum up, a life in a 500-word article.  Obit is a fascinating film about one of the last newspaper obituary staffs. The writers of the obituaries often have to do research, question loved ones of the deceased and write a story in a matter of hours.  What I adore about this movie is you get to hear the stories behind the writing of the obituary, why the writers write what they write, how they pick the pictures they use, what the writers leave out, and whom they talked to. Some of the obits in the film are about very famous people, and then others are about equally interesting people who are not well known.   My Rating:  Full Price   Obit Website

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):  Before I Fall  (2017)  PG-13  Samantha (Zoey Deutch) is a high school student who keeps reliving the same day over and over. If you had one day to do all over again, how would you do things differently?  This is a “groundhog” type of movie which doesn’t work because the main character keeps doing the same things. This film wants us to root for Samantha, but the problem is she isn’t a likable person. She is part of a “mean girls” group of friends who are self-centered and only concerned about having a good time.  The storyline is boring and predictable with an ending that is too simple to work.    My Rating: Cable   Before I Fall Website

Forgotten Film:  Top Five  (2014) R  It’s sad that this film only made 25 million at the box office (it got lost on a weekend that Wild got released). This amusing and touching film is about a comedian (Chris Rock) who is trying to make it as a serious actor. His fiancée (Gabrielle Union) convinces him to allow their wedding to be broadcast on her reality TV show. Everything is going well until a reporter (Rosario Dawson) shows up to do an interview that just may change his life. I loved this witty, sometimes raunchy comedy written and directed by Chris Rock. The film, while very funny, also has a lot of heart.  There is great chemistry between Dawson (in one of her best performances) and Rock. The film also looks at what it’s like to be successful and still have doubts about your life and your career.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Top Five Facebook Page 

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Wonder Woman:  The filmmakers would like to thank Linda Carter.

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Mountain Between Us  (2017)   Two people (Idris Elba, Kate Winslet) are in a small plane that crashes on the side of a remote snow-covered mountain. These two strangers must now come together to survive a perilous journey across miles of wilderness. Two incredibly gifted actors and a trailer that looks stunning makes me wish this film was coming out today and not in months.   The Mountain Between Us Info

Until Next Time!

Logan

My View:  Logan  (2017)  R  Logan (Hugh Jackman) is tired of all the battles he has fought. He is holed up with Professor X (Patrick Stewart) on the Mexican border when a young mutant (Saber Bankson) being pursued by dark forces arrives. Logan is the X-Men/Wolverine movie that you have always wanted. It’s gritty, bleak and incredibly well done. A bit of a warning, this is a hard R rated film with a ton of very gory violence and quite a bit of cussing, so do not take young kids to see this movie. I loved the action sequences in this film, as its fast paced and doesn’t use a lot of “shaky cam.” Hugh Jackman puts everything he can into the role of the world-weary Logan. While there isn’t a closing credit sequence, don’t be late to the theatre because there is a great opening sequence that is not to be missed.   My Rating:  Full Price   Logan Website

My View:  Before I Fall  (2017)  PG-13  Samantha (Zoey Deutch) is a high school student who keeps reliving the same day over and over. If you had one day to do all over again, how would you do things differently?  This is a “groundhog” type of movie which doesn’t work because the main character keeps doing the same things. This film wants us to root for Samantha, but the problem is she isn’t a likable person. She is part of a “mean girls” group of friends who are self-centered and only concerned about having a good time.  The storyline is boring and predictable with an ending that is too simple to work.    My Rating: Cable   Before I Fall Website

Indiefest:  Table 19  (2017)  PG-13  Ex-maid of honor Eloise (Anna Kendrick), after being dumped by the best man who is the brother of  the bride, Eloise decides to attend the wedding anyway and is assigned to the losers table, table 19.  This is an entertaining movie that is smart and whimsical. The film starts out like it’s your normal, big cast funny event movie, but soon the tone of the film changes and gives us clues to why each member has ended up at the table of people the wedding party invited but hoped wouldn’t show.  Kendrick is her usual dorky, adorable self. The rest of the cast is outstanding with June Squibb as the bride’s former nanny, giving a dazzling performance.  I loved the ending which is as brilliant as the rest of the film.   My Rating:  Full Price   Table 19 Website

Indiefest:  Kedi  (2016)  Istanbul is famous for its cats, most of which live on the streets. The film focuses on seven cats and how people interact with them. On the surface, this documentary looks like it would be boring and stupid, but it’s just the opposite. It’s a fun look at the lives of cats that roam the streets of a very colorful city. Using unique camera angles and close-ups, we get to know and love seven very different cats and the unusual people that interact with them. Each cat profiled in the film has a distinct personality. There is the polite cat that never begs for food, the bully cat that is always protecting her turf and her man. Some cats in the film love to be petted, others almost disdain any contact with humans. All the cats profiled in the movie are “homeless,” but each have marked territories that they frequent. This is a funny and fascinating film that even a person who doesn’t like cats will love.    My Rating: Full Price    Kedi Website

Forgotten Film:  Michael  (1996)  PG  Three reporters (Robert Pastorelli, William Hurt, Andie MacDowell), working for a tabloid newspaper, are sent to Iowa to investigate reports that an angel is living at a small, remote motel. They discover that yes, an angel named Michael (John Travolta) is living there, soaking up earth on his last visit ever (angels can only visit a set number of times).  Travolta is the reason to see this film, as he plays an angel who is living it up, sometimes at the expense of others. He’s there to help these reporters rediscover love and a reason for living. Michael is an enjoyable and charming film that is just fun to watch.    My Rating: Full Price   Michael Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Logan:  Stunt Pre-Viz

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Zookeeper’s Wife  (2017)  PG-13  During WWII, the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo helped save hundreds of people and the animals during the German occupation.  You had me at “starring Jessica Chastain.”   The Zookeeper's Wife Website

Until Next Time!