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!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Opening weekend of the summer movie season always has a feeling of anticipation and excitement. It also helps to start the season with a great movie that sets the bar for the rest. For the past few years, Marvel Studios has been the standard with movies like Civil War and the Avengers 1 & 2. This year is no different.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the best comedic Marvel film to date. It is intensely funny. Every character has an unique charm that will keep you cracking up. This sequel has also turned up the volume of the emotional investment toward each character. By the end of the movie you will learn more about each character and their past.

Although this film is part to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is no real need to watch anything other the first GOTG before going to this one. I'm sure there are going to be Easter eggs and ties in, but nothing of great importance.... so far. There are a few good cameos, so be on the lookout for those.

This movie gets an E - Exceptional

You definitely should go see it in the theater.

It was teetering on the edge of Legendary status due to its exceptional soundtrack. The creators have picked out some great songs from the 1970's that help drive the emotions felt throughout the film. These songs were likely hits when they were release but all feel newly discovered, as if you are on the journey with Star-Lord.

Here's a reminder of the well tested ranking system

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

NEXT WEEK: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

SLMR IS BACK!!!!

Welcome to the new and improved Summer Legendary Movie Review!!

After a very long sabbatical, it is time for the entire Summer Movie Squad (SMS) to reassemble!

For any newcomers wondering, each and every week during the Summer Movie season the SMS crew gather together to view a new film on opening night. Then the next day a new post will be released on this blog documenting our movie going experience.

Typically, movie reviews tend to describe way too much information. You simply want to know if a film is worth spending your time and money, and then some over zealous critic spoils the whole film by detailing the entire plot. Not on this review! There will be NO SPOILERS given on any of the movies reviewed here.

This review is all about enjoying the movie experience. Each week's post will simply have a recommendation based on our well establish personal ranking system.

Here is the official SMS 2017 list.

May 5 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

May 12 - King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

May 19 - Alien: Covenant

May 26* - Baywatch

      - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

June 2 - Wonder Woman

June 9* - The Mummy

             - World War Z 2 (possible date)

June 16 - Cars 3

June 23* - Transformers: The Last Knights

      - The Bad Batch

June 30 -  The House

July 7 - Spider-Man: Homecoming

July 14 - War for the Planet of the Apes

July 21* - Dunkirk

      - Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

July 28* - Atomic Blonde             

August 4 -  The Dark Tower

August 11 - Baby Driver

August 18 - The Hitman’s Bodyguard

August 25 - Tulip Fever

Bold - Must see Blockbusters

* - Double Feature week

The time has come to kick off this year's schedule. Make sure to check back later this week because first post of the the season will be Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2!!!!

Also feel free to revisit any of the previous season's posts.

Fantastic Four

The best thing about this movie is this poster.

Look at it! It's pretty bad ass. It has a dark and gritty feel. Finally The Thing looks like his proper size. All the characters are doing their best to be intimidating. Too bad this movie does absolutely no justice to the poster.

How can a movie about superheroes be so boring? 

I don't know, but Fantastic Four has discovered a way to pull it off.

By now everyone knows that Fox needed to reboot the Fantastic Four franchise just to keep the film rights from returning to Marvel. Also by now you should have heard that this new FF film is horrible.

It is boring, predictable, and frankly uneventful. The pacing is slow, and there is very little action that only occurs at the end of the movie. You would think with the slower pacing that the characters would have a good chance to develop some chemistry. Nope. All of the relationships feel forced. This whole movie is just an origin story attempting to set up a future sequel. (yeah, right!)

It is SO boring that there is a scene were Sue Storm (Kate Mara) just stares at computer monitors for a sequence lasting at least a minute. No one wants to watch characters slowly getting smarter. 

Fantastic Four is d - Dreadful

It was the worst film of the summer. I know earlier I stated San Andreas was awful, but after seeing the total train wreck that is Fantastic Four, I have updated San Andreas to at least entertaining. I laughed and that is worth some entertainment. 

It would have been better off to not make this movie and let Marvel have the rights back.

Next week  - The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Rogue Nation is the best Mission: Impossible to date.

When I am 53 years old, I want to look half as good as Tom Cruise does at that age. Seriously, he is ripped and he is running constantly in this new M:I movie.

Some people may say, "See one M:I movie, and you seen them all."

That is completely untrue and literally impossible.

You need to see Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation purely for the outrageous stunts.

Tom Cruise has prided himself in doing most his own stunts in these movies. Although with Hollywood films getting increasing more CGI, one could think that standing in front of a green screen isn't so dangerous. That is unless the stunts are done practically.

As seen in the trailer of this M:I, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) holds on tight to an airplane as it takes off and he begs for his teammates to open the door. It looks pretty cool, right? Then I found out after I saw the movie that Cruise did that stunt himself on the side of a real plane.

Let me break this down for you. Cruise was strapped to the side of an airplane. That airplane then took off from a real runway. All while cameras recorded the REAL stunt. Cruise even had to wear special contacts in his eyes to protect them from debris thrown from the airplane propellers.



That scene alone is worth a ticket and a bag of popcorn. Now add some running, jumping, fighting. Throw in some car chases, car crashes, and motorcycle madness. You got yourself a fun exciting action packed movie to enjoy.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation gets E - Exceptional

This franchise is great. Each movie keeps adding more to the M:I legacy, and it gets better with age. Cruise has been playing Ethan Hunt for two decades now. There is no stopping him!!

Next week, Fantastic 4!!

Ant-Man

The question still remains. When will a Marvel Cinematic Universe film fail? The answer may say be never!

Marvel has done it again! Ant-Man is great!

Although Ant-Man is not like the other super hero movies. It is more like a heist movie filled with amusing comedy. The acting is very solid. Paul Rudd plays a great Scott Lang. Michael Peña is especially funny which surprised me. I thought for sure that his character would be the one that ruined the movie for me. But I was wrong. You will enjoy his scenes the most. Of course, Michael Douglas is great.

You know it is sorta interesting that before its release many media outlets were stating that Ant-Man a lesser known character in the Marvel Universe and it may not do well with audiences. That's funny. The same thing was said about Iron Man before 2008. 

Marvel succeeds because their movies are fun to watch. These are super heroes that have extraordinary abilities, yet the stories are just grounded enough to make you relate and believe in this universe.

The visual effects are spectacular. You are easily taken into the shrinking world of Ant-Man. The scope of this world is mind blending as if it was seen through a super wide angle lens. Just like DPW here as he shrinks smaller than Ant-Man.

Ant-Man gets E - Exceptional

It is definitely worth the popcorn. 

Up next... Pixels

Terminator Genisys

My. Mind. Is. Blown!

Stop whatever it is you're doing right now, and ask yourself these three questions.

Have I seen The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)?

If so, do I need to re-watch them both?

When will I go to see Terminator Genisys?

If you haven't seen any of the Terminator movies, you need to get on Netflix, and watch T1 and T2 as soon as you can. Forget about T3 and Terminator Salvation. They are not relevant.

You say to yourself that you have seen them before, but you don't quite remember exactly what happen. Watch them again! Now!

After that, get in your car, catch a cab, ride your bike, take the bus, or by any means possible get your ass to the theater! You need to watch Terminator Genisys now!!

Terminator Genisys is L - Lengendary!!

It completely reboots the franchise while paying tribute to its roots. It has plenty of action. The CGI work is superb. Arnold Schwarzenegger does another amazing job playing a cyborg future. Emilia Clarke gives us a Sarah Connor character that we haven't seen before. You will not be disappointed.

Next week.... I just may see Terminator Genisys again.