Ready Player One

My View:  Ready Player One  (2018)  PG-13    The world in 2045 is a desolate place and, to escape it, people use the virtual reality software OASIS to engage in work and play. While playing in the OASIS world, Wade (Tye Sheridan) discovers a hidden game that promises the winner full ownership of OASIS. Now, Wade and a few allies try to compete in the game and pass all the tasks before someone else does. This film moves at such a quick pace that you don’t notice that it is two hours and twenty minutes in length. There are so many characters from pop culture in this film, like the Iron Giant or the Big Foot monster truck, that you would have to watch this movie a hundred times to see all of them. The action sequences are a blast, and the film is much funnier than I thought it would. I really enjoyed Tye Sheridan’s performance and his on-screen chemistry with Olivia Cooke, who plays a fellow gamer who aids Wade. I loved how vital Cooke’s character, Art3mis, is, right there side-by-side with Wade in fighting the bad guys. Is this one of Steven Spielberg’s best films? No, but it is so much fun to watch.    My Rating:  Full Price   Ready Player One

Indiegest: Isle of Dogs  (2018)  PG-13  Set in Japan, a young boy goes on a search for his lost dog that has been sent to an island by an evil government official. This film is gorgeous, and the stop-motion animation is brilliant, bringing all the characters to life on the screen. The movie is funny, touching and, at times, a little sad, but the storyline is so perfect you will enjoy every minute of it. This is probably the best voice casted film I have ever seen led by Bryan Cranston, who voices the leader of the pack, Chief.  Isle of Dogs is an brilliant film that kids and adults will equally enjoy.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   Isle of Dogs Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea): Blockers  (2018)  R  Three parents try to stop their teens from having sex on prom night. I like the cast which includes John Cena and Leslie Mann, but I didn’t laugh once watching the trailer.   Blockers Website

Forgotten Film:  ‘Buffalo ’66’  (1998)  R  A recent parolee (Vincent Gallo) kidnaps a dancer (Christina Ricci) and makes her act as his wife in front of his crazy parents (Ben Gazzara, Anjelica Huston). The film, written and directed by Gallo, is funny and slightly romantic. It’s about two people falling in love in spite of themselves. Gallo and Ricci play off each other, which makes their relationship strange but real.    My Rating: Full Price   Buffalo 66 Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Ready Player One: Crowd Junior Hair

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Lean on Pete  (2017) R  A troubled teen named, Charley (Charlie Plummer) , starts working for a cantankerous horse trainer (Steve Buscemi). Ray falls in love with a quarterhorse named, Lean on Pete, that, if doesn't start winning, the horse will be sold.  I love Steve Buscemi, so count me in.   Lean on Pete Info

Until Next Time!

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

My View:  Maze Runner: The Death Cure  (2018)   PG-13   Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his band of escaped Gladers must travel to and break into the legendary 'Last City' to find a cure for the zombie bites. The 'Last City' becomes their most complicated maze yet. Will Thomas and his gang find what they are looking for?  I liked the first two films in the series but, I find this one dull, and it feels longer than its 144 minutes run time. It’s been almost three years since we saw the 2nd film in the series, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, so it’s a little hard to remember who everyone is and their relationships to each other. I liked the action sequences, which are exciting to watch but there are long sections between them. The end seems very contrived and not well thought out. I think fans of the YA book series are going to be disappointed in this film.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   The Maze Runner: The Death Cure Website

In Case You Missed It (Movies just released on DVD/BluRay): Goodbye Christopher Robin  (2017)  PG  A.A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) has returned from WW I to his wife (Margot Robbie) but is suffering from PTSD.  After the birth of his son, Christopher Robin, he moves his family to the country. There, as he interacts with Christopher, a book idea springs up. That book would become the beloved Winnie the Pooh. This film only works when Christopher Robin and his dad are out in the woods playing. The rest of the film is a depressing view of a very dysfunctional family who exploits their child for fame and money. The film never finds its voice, and Will Tilston, as the eight-year-old Christopher Robin, isn’t up to the spotlight shining on him, as his performance is one dimensional.  I don’t think fans of "Winnie the Pooh" are going to be happy with this very un-Pooh like film.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Goodbye Christopher Robin Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers but Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Samson  (2018)  PG-13  The story of Samson (Jackson Rathbone) from the Bible, where he takes on a cruel Philistine prince (Billy Zane) who is responsible for killing Samson’s love of his life. When the biggest stars of the film are Billy Zane, Rutger Hauer, and Lindsay Wagner, you just might have a bad movie.   Samson Website

Forgotten Film: The Thin Blue Line (1988)  This documentary by legendary filmmaker Errol Morris, feels more like a drama because Morris uses actors to recreate the murder of a police officer and then the actions of the police department to wrongly try and convict a man of a crime he didn’t commit. This is a different type of documentary as there isn’t a narrator. Instead, the film uses newspaper clippings and other documents to fill in the story. Many of the recreated scenes are shown from two or three perspectives, giving you all the information you need to make up your own mind about who killed the police officer. This engrossing film is one of the best documentaries that I have ever seen.  My Take:  I Would Pay to See it Again   The Thin Blue Line Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Maze Runner: The Death Cure:  Animal Coordinator

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:   Isle of Dogs  (2018)  Set in Japan, a young boy goes on a search for his lost dog.  Hey, it’s directed by Wes Anderson, and it’s animated, so I’m in.    Isle of Dogs Info

Until Next Time!

SaveSave