A Scoundrel, A Heist, and Some Dinosaurs

I know, I know. It has been a few weeks since I have made the last post. I fell behind. I got busy.
Life comes at you fast... yada, yada, yada.

Although, we did see some movies during that time. So here is a super quick summary, that way we all can continue the summer season moving along.


SOLO: A Star Wars Story

I wasn't expecting much from this movie. I was hoping it would surprise me, and it did... at least for the first half of the movie. Right from the start I was hooked into the film, and I was generally excited to see all the back stories that we all dreamed about seeing from the original Star Wars trilogy.

How did Han Solo become the greatest smuggler in the galaxy. When did he meet Chewbacca? When did he meet Lando?! How did he accomplish the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs?!!!

All of these questions and more get answered. In many ways that should appease any Star Wars fan. Then as the film went through the second half, I caught myself saying, "What's going on?" "Why does this matter?" Well, that's just silly and stupid."

Then I finally came to realize that the movie wasn't half bad. It was enjoyable. It could even be great, if only there was one adjustment... it should have been made 30 years ago, starring Harrison Ford!!!


SOLO gets e - Entertaining

Wait for it to come to streaming, so you can watch it over and over and over; analyzing how it ties into the original Star Wars trilogy.

Ocean's 8



Have you seen any of the Ocean's 11 movies? If so, then you probably already seen this movie.

I get what they were trying to with if one. They wanted to create an all female version of the Ocean's crew. I think it was a great remodeling on the franchise, and I actually liked the whole cast. But it is hard to make a spinoff/sequel to a franchise without re-doing the same movie. And that is exactly what this was. It was the same Ocean's heist movie just with different characters.

Ocean's 8 gets e - Entertaining

You can wait until it hits streaming, or you can re-watch Ocean's 11, 12, or 13.



Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

We were super excited about this one. I love all the Jurassic Park movies. It always seems when ever the original Jurassic Park comes on television, somehow we are always drawn into watching it. Even though we own it on blue ray. Sometimes I even like watching part 3, which most people hate.

Then Jurassic World came out in 2015. Chris Pratt was great in it and so are Bryce Dallas Howard's heels. Life finds a way. The dinosaurs live once again!!

But this is going to be the 5th movie in a franchise, and a sequel to a movie that restarts the dinosaur fascination. Something needs to change. It has to be different from the rest, right?

I believe going with the horror tone was exactly what it needed. This movie has plenty of intense horror built ups with satisfying scares throughout the entire movie. I felt like I was waiting for dinosaurs to jump out at me in every scene. It was fun. I really liked it.


Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom get G - Gratifying


You should see in a theater if you get a chance. Bring friends, but only 50% of them may like it. At least that is what I discovered with my friends.

Tonight, We are seeing Ant-Man and the Wasp!!!!

The Mummy

So begins the Dark Universe.

For those who didn't know, The Mummy is the beginning of a new cinematic universe containing every monster in the Universal Studios catalog. Classic monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman, the Invisible Man, and Creature from the Black Lagoon will soon be reintroduced to movie audiences. Each getting new stand along movies with hopes to have all the monsters exist in the same  movie universe.

Although this isn't the first attempt to re-boot the monster universe.
Remember The Wolfman (2010)?
Maybe you heard of Dracula Untold (2014)?
Of course, what ever happened to the blockbuster The Mummy (1999)? Which had two sequels!

Ironically displayed at the theater where we viewed The Mummy last night.

So why is there a need to re-boot the previously re-booted? More importantly, should you even go see it?

The Mummy get G - Gratifying

Tom Cruise gives the movie enough star power to entice an audience. Plus there are a few seat jumping scares, and the mummy character is creepy and terrifying at moments.  I think it helps that we sat close to the screen for those scares. I only had a problem with the ending. I feel the movie was going one direction and then takes an odd turn with no way to resolve it.

The classic monster movies of the 1930s were considered popcorn movies of their era. This movie is no different. You should grab a large bag of popcorn, sit real close to the screen, and enjoy the ride. Just don't expect the story to blow you away. It's just suppose to be two hours of fun.

Next week we have Cars 3.... I barely remember the second movie!

*NOTE* Baby Driver has moved from August to June 28th, and Dark Tower has moved  to August 4th. Don't know why??

ALIEN:COVENANT

It has been a strange week for SMS. First, everyone skipped on seeing King Arthur last week. Then this week no one could decide on which movie to go see. Of course I was pushing Alien: Covenant because...Come on, it's an ALIEN movie.

As for everyone else, the theme of it being too scary kept surfacing. So I decided to make it extra scary by seeing the movie alone. (Those silly wusses!)

I have a slight confession to make. I love the ALIEN franchise. There is just something about these movies that thrills me. It may be because of the first time I saw the movie ALIENS way back in the late 80's. I can't tell you the exact date and I didn't see it in the theater. You see, the late 80s was the rise of home VHS rentals and premium cable channels like HBO and Cinemax. Back then movies would be released in theaters. Then maybe a year later you would see those movies available at the video rental stores. Then, shortly after that the movies would then premiere on the cable channels, and if it was a good movie, it could play on those channels for years!!

That is where I saw ALIENS for the first time. It was awesome! It was an action packed thriller that involved a group of military people fighting a giant alien monsters with this legendary scene.


YES! Get away from her, you bitch!

Following this movie there were releases of video games, and action figures all based on ALIENS. I was a fan of all it.
Then I heard that it was actually a sequel. Well I had to see the original! So I begged my mother to let me rent ALIEN (1979) from the local video rental store. She didn't want me to see it because she thought it would be too scary for me. After plenty of more begging and assurances that I wouldn't be scared, she finally broke down and let me rent it. And it didn't disappoint.

ALIEN was a much different film, and it most definitely terrified me. But after that I was hooked. I saw every Alien movie that was released after that. When Ridley Scott announced he was returning to the franchise that he created, I was extremely excited. Prometheus was released and I more confused than entertained so I was really hoping this next chapter in the franchise would return to its glory.

ALIEN: COVENANT does indeed return the franchises to its roots. There is a little bit of combining themes from both of the first and second films to give a good balance of action and terror. But I wouldn't say it is really that scary. Sure there are parts you may jump out of your seat, but there isn't any built up tension that gets the hairs on your neck to stand up. I would say the theme is more sinister than scary. The best character by far is the one played Michael Fassbender. He does a great job at being a malicious android.

ALIEN: COVENANT gets a G - Gratifying 

I would suggest viewing it in a theater. Maybe try a late night showtime to make it extra creepy.

Next week we have a double feature week with Baywatch & Pirates of the Caribbean 

Hopefully all SMSers can get on the same page this time!

Entourage

Not having seen any bit of the show (because I didn't have HBO then), I decided to watch the first few episodes and then go straight in to the movie. Sorta like when you start a book and then skip to the last chapter to truly see if the butler "did it".

Entourage was a surprising funny and entertaining movie. It is filled with a lot of great humorous moments including a bunch of cameos from a lot actors, musicians, and pro athletes. I laughed loudly multiple times throughout.

I was actually really surprise how much I liked it. Because I have to admit that when we put this film on the list, I had no desire to even watch the trailer. Like I said, I never seen the show so I couldn't really get too excited. But now after seeing this movie I can say I really enjoyed the main characters. They are very relatable as if they could be your own friends. That is of course, if you and your friends had the that fabulous Hollywood lifestyle. I can see why the show was so popular.

Although nothing about this movie really stands out, it is what it is. There isn't going to be any substance of a story, or outstanding acting, or a massive revelation that changes the core of any of these characters. It actually plays like a extra long episode of the show. It's purely an enjoyable funny popcorn movie.

B-Dub and LoWo, two fellow #SMS mates, told me that there were many jokes, or Easter eggs if you will, that are connected to the show. That will be a plus for fans of the series. They also advised me to go back and watch the show, then re-watch the movie to make these connections. Not promising anything, but I just may.

But don't worry. If you're like me and haven't seen the show, the movie does a good job at introducing you to the main characters in the first few scenes.

Entourage gets G - Gratifying 

It is worth a ticket and a small bag of popcorn.

Also with the studios trying hard to get as many tickets sold as possible, we all seem to glaze over the fact that the summer movie schedule is filled with family friendly PG-13 and lower films.  So sometimes it's just great to watch an enjoyable Rated R comedy.

Next week - Jurassic World

Lucy or Hercules?

This week the Summer Movie Squad had a tough choice to make. Which movie to see together, Lucy or Hercules?

The vote was split even 2 - 2. No one would budge on their position, so it came down to a last minute executive decision.

Lucy was the winner!

It also seems that we weren't the only people making this decision. Lucy topped the Box Office this weekend beating out Hercules by $15 million.


Lucy is a movie that has a very interesting premise. A women somehow gets kidnapped to become a drug mule with drugs surgically placed inside her abdomen. Then, the drugs leak into her bloodstream giving her the ability to access more capacity of her brain. The movie quickly becomes an action thriller with some great action scenes, and great visual effects as Lucy transforms her world with her new super human abilities. Yet it lacks any real plot.

The beginning of the movie was quite entertaining in the way it was edited together, and Scarlett Johansson plays a great terrified hostage. She makes you believe what a person would actually go through being unexpectedly kidnapped. Although as the movie progresses it loses a bit of steam. Johansson is still acting great. As her character advances quickly into a emotionless superior life form, the story gets watered down and becomes quite predicable. As if I've already seen this movie sometime before, i.e. Limitless, Matrix.

Lucy is G - Gratifying

Scarlett Johansson is starting to pack a lot of star power punch. I think audiences are ready for her to start become a leading role, and by beating The Rock (who is supposed to be the next great action star) in the Box Office proves it. You can go see it in the theater but it would play just as well at home.

I will try to see Hercules sometime in the next week, but the SLMR is going to get intense in the coming four weeks.


Next week Guardians of the Galaxy!!

The Internship

Did you like Wedding Crashers?

Then you'll most likely will enjoy The Internship.


This movie feels very familiar. Vince Vaughn plays a fast talking salesman who enjoys his life. Owen Wilson plays his best friend who is a smooth talking hopeless romantic. Together they will embark on a wacky adventure. The the end results into your laughter

Don't feel cheated when you think that you've already seen this schtick. Truth is. You did. It is the similar formula used in Vaughn and Wilson's other very popular and very funny movie, Wedding Crashers. Still this movie is filled with laughs. Vince Vaughn is hilarious like only he can be.  Owen Wilson is still very charming, although not as funny since he plays the straight man.

It is G - Gratifying

It deserves to be seen in the theater, but you don't have to waste the hard earned cash. It could be enjoyed just the same at home.

This week we got a big blockbuster coming out. Man of Steel is released. It is anticipated as the reboot to the Superman franchise. I hope so....

Fast & Furious 6

The best way to wipe out complete memory of seeing that awful previous movie was seeing Fast & Furious 6.

"Ride or Die!"

Non-stop thrilling popcorn fun!!

There is no need to really get into any plot details in this movie. All you need to know is that Vin Diesel and Paul Walker drive some Fast cars into some Furious action.

Who doesn't like car crashes, explosions, and snappy dialogue?! This series has made a successful transition from underground car racing drama to action packed crime caper.

Gratifying 

Let you mind go. Go see it and forget about limitations and possibilities for a few hours.