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!

Mad Max: Fury Road

Have you ever been driving on a freeway and seen a car collision that you just can't stop starting at it?

You're curious about what happened to the cars. How could it even happen in the first place? Then you try to piece together the actions needed to cause such a collision. You're transfixed. You just can't stop staring.

Well, Mad Max: Fury Road is that car collision, but it involves 100 vehicles all shooting fire with a heavy metal rock concert in the center.

If you remember the older versions of Mad Max, you may also recall the best parts of those movies were the vehicle chase scenes. George Miller (who created Mad Max) noticed that as well, and he decided to make this movie one ENTIRE CHASE SCENE.

Seriously, it is 2 hours of driving, fighting, explosions, crashing, shooting, flames, bullets, explosions, smashing, slashing, scraping, explosions, rock riffs, screaming, yelling, flying and explosions.

I was mentally exhausted after it ended. My heart was racing, and as I left the theater, I felt like I was walking in slow motion. There were a few times in the movie that I said to myself, "What is going on here?" I can't keep up with this speed. How can I digest that much action?

These weren't no ordinary action scenes either. The way the scenes were shot and edited gave you the strange sensation that you were there, involved within the scenes. The use of color tones gives the film a stunning look. The sound was loud. You could feel it thumping against your chest.

JipMix stated that the word of mouth about this movie will spread and within the next few weeks people will pack the theaters. I think he is correct on that one.

Mad Max: Fury Road is ferocious, very loud and at times cinematically beautiful movie.

It gets E - Exceptional. Definitely worth seeing in a theater. Bring your heart medication.

Up Next, Tomorrowland..... hopefully it will have a calming effect after this movie.

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!!

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

I can't believe it took me so long to write out a review of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

It is the best movie of the summer. Right up there with X-Men.

Go see it NOW!!

It is Legendary!!!

More later....maybe. I need to go to another movie first

Also give it up to David for having the most fun at the movies this year!!

EDGE. OF. TOMORROW.........

My heart pounded!

I was on the edge of my seat!

It was surprisingly good!

Sorta like Groundhog Day goes to war!

Much better than I thought it could be!

Edge of Tomorrow was a fun, thrilling movie that is a must see in the theater!


Normally Tom Cruise films are very formulaic. He usually plays the unstoppable kick-ass special agent who is just likable enough to save the day.

Well, this movie doesn't veer to far from that. Instead Cruise plays the highly likable guy who isn't a kick-ass soldier but he has to learn to become one that is desperately needed to save the ONE day.

Going into you should be expecting a plethora of action packed scenes. There is definitely plenty of those scenes to go around. What may surprise you is lighter funny moments. I enjoyed those funny scenes immensely. Made you believe in the character as he tries to navigate the same day over and over.

I'm not going to say much more because I don't wan to spoil any surprises you may encounter. If anything, you should go view this movie just to see Emily Blunt continually beat up Tom Cruise as she trains him to become the ONE day savior.

Edge of Tomorrow gets a E - Exceptional!

You should see in the theater so you can experience all the action in its big, loud glory.

Next up, a comedy..... 22 Jump Street

Star Trek Into Darkness

Are you ready for more Kirk?       More Spock?     More Scotty?!

This movie has presented me with a challenge. Talking about any part of this film becomes somewhat of a spoiler. I don't do spoilers!

Since the day it was announced that there was going to be a sequel to Star Trek, the plot has been heavily guarded in secrecy by director J.J. Abrams. This induced an increased amount of internet rumors over the past few years about how the film would turn out. I for one hate constant internet rumors that tend to ruin my perception of the movie once it is released.

So for the first time in this blog's history, I am not going be providing you with links to directors, actors, or movie profiles. That would only put you in the a spoiler filled situation if you haven't seen the movie yet.

Instead I will recite some one word promotional reviews I've been seeing

"Fun" - Lucy O'Brien, IGN

"Exciting" - Ian Freer, Empire

"Fantastic" - Steve Weintraub, Collider

"Epic" - Alex Billington, First Showing

"Crazy Good" - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

WOW!! Those are some great reviews!!

I am going to add one of my own   "Expectional!!!"- Travelin' Miles - SLMR

Go see Star Trek Into Darkness! It is better that the first movie. Now that we know the characters it is easy to just get lost in the enjoyment of the film. I view Spock as the scene stealer. I was surprised by the villain's power and tenacity. I want you to see this film without having any spoiler material.

So if you haven't see the film. Don't! I mean don't go to any more sites talking about this movie. Go see it! Then feel free to scour the internet clean of all the spoilers you desire.


Here is the new and improved rating system


L - Legendary
E - Exceptional
G - Gratifying 
e - Entertained
n - Nugatory
d - Dreadful


Up Next.... Hangover 3 and Fast & Furious 6