The Mosley Review

Perhaps the most egregious thing a film could do is try to reshape, rework and ultimately repeat the same story again. Follow me and tell me if this sounds familiar. A flawed, drunken and depressed hero somehow finds themselves thrust into a mission to help another seek absolution. Along the way, the hero's loved one is attacked and faces certain death unless they can find the main antagonist with the only knowledge and/or device that can save their life. As the race against time begins, the reluctant hero and their new companion will both go on a bombastic journey of self reflection and eventually, both will reconcile deep wounds and find new purpose in life that inspires each other to be better. Sounds good and like a standard template right? Well somehow this film figured out a way to deliver that template, but without enough emotional depth to make me care for the overall scope of this space trotting adventure. Don't get me wrong, there is heart in the film, but it only exist in the first quarter and the final sequence of the film. The rest of it was so melancholy and lost all sense of momentum or purpose. I'm familiar with the titular character and how her life differs from her more famous cousin, but I truly felt what could've made me fall in love with this iteration of the character, was sadly left on the cutting room floor.

Milly Alcock was great and kept me invested as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl. She tackles the traits of a more broken, depressed and careless Kara as we get a more unique perspective of being one of the last living Kryptonians. I loved that we get the see her life on what was left of Krypton and how it effected her emotionally and mentally. Her physicality was fun and once she finally gets free of her drunken stupor, she slowly becomes a force. I really wish there was more to her personality though. At times, it felt like she was undercooking the gravity of the overall plot and I wish she had just a bit more polish in the last half of the film. There is more to improve on with Kara and I hope that Milly gets a chance with a better written script. Eve Ridley was good as Kara's unlikely companion, Ruthye Marye Knoll. For the most part, her motivation was all encompassing and sort of hindered her character progression. At times she was an insufferable brat, but there was a spark of some hope for her yet. Both of them were mirror images of each other and I liked how they brought the heart out of one another toward the end. David Krumholtz as and Emily Beecham were fantastic as Kara's parents, Zor-El and Alura In-Ze. They really captured the desperation and pain of sending away their only child to safety. For the time we spend with them, the chemistry was the strongest between David and Milly and the most heartbreaking. Matthias Schoenaerts was decent as the main antagonist, Krem of the Yellow Hills. He nailed the slimey and sadistic nature of the human trafficking space pirate leader, but that's it. He had nothing else to do but be menacing and make the same threats over and over again. He truly felt like a second in command instead of a leader. Now the one that nearly stole the film and perhaps the most faithful adaptation I've seen of a character, was Jason Mamoa as Lobo. From the moment he springs to life to the last shot of him blasting off in his iconic roaring space chopper, I was enthralled. Jason truly captured the look, imposing presence, dark humor, blood thirsty and intense personality of Lobo. My main concern was that we were gonna get too much of him and we got the perfect amount. I can't wait to see more of him in the future.

Here's a fun fact. Second only to Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood is the most adapted character in media to date. That is quite an accomplishment given that he has always been at the example of a hero of the people. The life of an outlaw has always been glorified and glamourized by Robin Hood and eventually cowboys, but what isn't spoken about is the reality of the lifestyle. The amount of blood shed, bodies piled up overtime and the effect on the later generations of those slain weighs on you. The constant fear of hunted down by the law or others never leaves. That's what this film highlights the best and I loved every bit of it. The first 15 minutes shows you exactly the type of brutal world that the famous outlaw lived in and how sometimes, not all killing was justified. I loved the themes of mortality, regret and melancholy in a time where nobility was not so easily defined.

Hugh Jackman was outstanding as the older, grizzled and weary Robin Hood. The exploration of a legend of this caliber can go in the direction of all out hero or villain, but Hugh plays as something I’ve never seen done with the character. Hugh plays him as just a regular man that is plagued by his bloody legend instead of empowered by it. The pain of living almost eternally on the run from the relatives of those he killed was fascinating to explore and how each kill did not bring him joy, but sorrow. In his youth, he may have enjoyed the thrill, but with age comes wisdom and reflection. Hugh does a magnificent job portraying the weight of Robin's past. Bill Skarsgård was great as Robin's oldest and most loyal companion, Little John. Little John has always been a man of action and I liked seeing the arrested development of the character. He's always been a family man and that rings true here, but through him, you see that he never really grew out of that mentality of always wanting a glorious adventure that leads to bloodshed. You can feel the years of friendship between him and Robin and how their skills have never dulled. There is one scene in particular that showcases the subtle distain Robin has for violence and the ravenous joy Little John gains in contrast. Jodie Comer is always wonderful and as the prioress of a rural nunnery, Sister Brigid, she exceptional. There was a calming nature to her as she tended to those on the island with her, but also a heavy tension. The moments that build between her and Robin were wholesome and peaceful. Brigid's healing words bring such calm to Robin and I loved that he didn't take it all for granted and wanted to protect it. Faith Delaney was great as Little Margaret. Its a hard achievement to portray such a range of emotion at a young age with very little dialogue. Faith was a natural and I loved her scenes the most once she opens up to Robin. Noah Jupe was really good as Arthur / Godwyn. There was so much indecision in his eyes as he was on a mission and I liked the subtlety of it. Murray Bartlett was good as The Leper and was a voice of perspective for Robin. There was more to the character that took me by surprise and I loved how he impacted the lore of Robin's past.

Its truly a damn shame that we don't have martial arts films any more in cinema. Particularly, American cinema. Many will point to the John Wick franchise, but that was gun fu and not kung fu. Films like Ong-Bak and The Raid revitalized the genre and were really the last time we had a proper and original martial arts driven film. I'm truly saddened by it, but partially happy because every time we get one, it is fantastic and truly scratches the eternal itch for hand to hand combat. This film truly scratches that itch deeply with its brutal and hard hitting fighting styles that showcases the technical, physical and visual storytelling missing in the action cinema today. The story itself may be simple, but it was not without the perfect amount of drama, heart, tension and charm. Hopefully, this will signal the world that the genre needs to return.

Xie Miao was fantastic as the honest tradesman with a past, Wang Wei. He was a hard working dad in place that wasn't so peaceful and he did his best to make a life for his daughter. I loved that the decision to make the character mute due to an brain injury and how it effects him as the film goes along. Yang Enyou was outstanding as his daughter, Rainy. The chemistry and heartfelt moments between them were wonderful. He may speak through sign language, but he could hear her every gripe with her training. The moment Rainy is taken from Wang, it was truly heroing to watch him fight so hard to get so close to saving her in the inciting incident of the film. As the story goes along, Xie delivers some of the most impressive combat and physicality I've seen so far this year. He was a brutal, efficient and creative fighter in some of the most fluid and sometimes comedic ways possible. Joe Taslim was great as the journalist, Navin and I liked that his story was sort of connected to Wang's. Joe delivers his alarming amount of charm to Navin and I enjoyed his investigative and strategic mind. When its time for him to get into the fight, he doesn't disappoint. He was equally powerful in all of his fight scenes and I loved that he showed the physical strain of the intense movement. The skill of both him and Miao were a treat to witness during the finale of the film. Brian Le stole the film as one of the main henchman, Ho. The man was truly unstoppable and truly a physical force to be reckoned with. He had a childish charm about him that was funny and intimidating as well. Joey Iwanaga was great as the sociopathic child trafficker, Paklung. Joey nailed the spoiled child of a crime lord archetype very well and his fighting prowess was equally unhinged. Yayan Ruhian is always awesome and scary when he is on screen and as the bow caring right hand man of Paklung, Tak, he delivers yet another powerful performance. He was the most deadliest killer in the film and by far the bloodiest as he truly puts his bow to work. I haven't seen this much carnage with a bow on screen before and it was glorious.

One of the biggest questions that I've asked throughout my life is what would the world do if all evidence of alien life forms were ever released to the public and how would we react? Well, a number of films, television shows and even YouTube videos are dedicated to that answer and I've come up with my own over the years. Do I believe they're real? Yes. Do I believe their among us? Absolutely! What I believe the public would do is simple. Alot of us would be curious and want to know everything and the other half would be so fearful of change. Not of the environment or what it would do to our economy, but what it would do the devout religions of the world. If there's one filmmaker that has been at the forefront of this belief and not afraid to explore those themes, its Steven Spielberg. He’s the only director, to my knowledge, that has given us almost all the different variations of human responses to the idea of aliens. All range from the perspective of wonder through a child’s eyes to the curiosity of an archeologist and to the protective nature of a father. This time around, we have the rebellious nature of a few ex-government employees wanting to disclose everything and I have to say that is was thrilling for the most part. I loved that the story didn't shy away from questioning humanities faith in God and the overall theme of having control. Where I think the film sort of falls apart though is when all the reveals begin and even though its the most interesting part, I think less would've been more here.

Josh O'Connor was great as the brave and charismatic, Dr. Daniel Kellner. He was dedicated to the mission of disclosure and I loved that he cared for the people he works with. He may have been reckless, but his heart is what kept him going. Josh is really great at showing sincerity with only his eyes. He brings to life the disturbing weight of knowledge in one particular scene and I loved his reactions. Eve Hewson was great as Daniel's girlfriend, Jane Blankenship. As former woman of the cloth, her backstory perfectly highlighted the questions on faith and what it could do to a person. Her chemistry with Josh was good and she really gets put through the ringer a bit in the film. There is a decision that should've been made sooner with her character that happens way too late as it was the basis of Daniel's recklessness and frankly stupidity. Colman Domingo is always great and as the leader of the disclosure team, Hugo Wakefield, there was such an aura of earnesty and warmth to the character as he finds the excitement of the event approaching intoxicating. He never used Daniel or anyone else on his team as a sacrifice and treated them like equals. Colin Firth was cool as the main antagonist and the head of the Wardex corporation, Noah Scanlon. He represented the somewhat oppressive and suppressive nature of the government. You come to understand why he wants to keep the truth a secret because of the ramifications of it all. He also had a creepy tone to him as he would use the alien tech to infiltrate and track Daniel in a brilliant scene between him and Jane. He wasn't as menacing or violent as he could've been and there in lies the problem with his character. I wanted more of something to be afraid of instead of intrigued. Now the real star of the film was undoubtedly Emily Blunt as Margaret Fairchild. The transition from her regular day to odd things happening to her was so seamless that it was perfectly jarring as you realize she's changing. The emotional and psychological toll it takes on her was very engaging and powerful during the second half of the film. Emily has an ability to bring out the most haunting and stressful part of the human condition while conveying the beauty of vulnerability. She does that here and by far, this was one of her best performances to date.

I believe its gonna take maybe another year or two before we get massive variety of films in the comedy genre. Until then, I'm enjoying the trickling of all different types of comedy. That being said, I think I speak for everyone when I say that this was an often requested and anticipated return of the Wayans family to the comedy genre that we've been waiting for. In my opinion, the Scary Movie franchise was the last pillar of good spoof comedy and when it was taken from them, the rest of the industry horribly copied their style. Seeing almost all of them comeback and deliver what they're best at was so refreshing. Not all of the jokes were funny as it were, but for the majority, I was having fun and eagerly waiting to see where the story was gonna go. The references, callbacks, and cameos all range from great and unexpected surprises to maybe it should've stayed on the cutting room floor. This may not have been the best return the franchise needed, but it was a welcomed one nevertheless.

The main crew are all back and they haven't skipped a beat. Anna Faris was great once again as the classic weird and sweet Cindy Campbell. She is more seasoned now as she deals with a new killer and I loved her spoof combination of Laurie Strode and the mother from Final Destination: Bloodlines. Regina Hall returns as Brenda Meeks and once again she delivers a stand out performance. She gets to play her older now and not the same young loud friend even though that side of her does comeback for a bit. The chemistry between her and Cindy continues being the best and funniest part of the film and it was a blast to see them together again. Olivia Rose Keegan joins the cast as Cindy's oldest daughter, Sara and it was astounding how much Olivia looks like a younger version of Cindy. For a second, I actually thought she was Anna's real daughter. The strained relationship was fun to explore and I liked that Sara got to have an adventure of her own. Savannah Lee Nassif was good as Cindy's youngest daughter, Tuesday. Her character was pretty self explanatory, but I did enjoy the physical comedy with her in the hospital the most. Gregg Wayans and Sydney Park were great as Brenda's son and daughter, Brad and Dei Meeks. They both get their moments to shine in the film, but I loved the dichotomy between them of what it means to be black in current society. Marlon Wayans returns as our favorite stoner and Brenda's brother, Shorty. Shorty comes off as the same, but he also grows a bit smarter this time around as he shockingly takes charge in the finale of the film. Shorty gets one of the best sequences in the film that not only spoofs Get Out, but another popular film that certain fans will go nuts for. Shawn Wayans returns as Ray, Brenda's gay ex-boyfriend. Honestly, he's all over the place in this film and I liked it. He just sometimes randomly appears and goes all out with the gay jokes while claiming he is straight now. Cindy, Brenda, Shorty and Ray all come together once again and their chemistry was the best and made for some of the best laughs and physical comedy of the film.

Oh the 80's. Perhaps the most innovative, creative and stylish era of all time that bore the most iconic and epic stories in entertainment that are still beloved to this day. Being a true 90's kid, I too grew up on live action and animated films, tv shows and franchises like Ghostbusters, G.I. Joe, Transformers and the list goes on. One series that was in my peripheral, but sadly never truly caught my eye, was He-Man and the Master of the Universe. I saw the toys and a few moments here and there, but the iconic catchphrase I knew and repeated. So I had a pretty fresh set of eyes walking into this film and I knew to expect a fun sci fi fantasy adventure that lived for the silly and thrived in the scope of its lore. I was thoroughly entertained for sure, but saddened by the insane amount of mistakes made by other franchises that share the same spirit of fun, infect this film. What I wanted was to live in Eternia the entire time. I wanted to explore the plains and dungeons of this new world as we get a taste if that in the awesome opening. Unfortunately, we are thrust into suffering an ungodly amount of time on Earth. The mistakes I mentioned also range from an inconsistent tone across the first half of the film. I love good humor as much as the next person, but whenever there is a moment of character development, emotional depth or a sliver of darkness that gives the film gravitas outside of the action sequences, a horrible amount of jokes are shoved in to distract or derail. At least the cast knew what type of film they were in and nailed it.

Nicholas Galitzine was outstanding and fun as Adam Glenn / He-Man. I loved that from the moment we meet him and to the very last shot of the film, we see the natural progression of him yearning to return home and understand his destiny as the champion of Eternia. He never forgot where he came from and was still that kid at heart that was good and believed in giving everyone a chance. When he eventually gets the iconic sword of power and becomes He-Man, Adam never forgot the man underneath the muscles. We don't get a true evolution of a character like this in movies that often anymore and Nicholas handled it very well. Camila Mendes was a bit of a mixed bag for me as Teela. Camila brought to life her great physicality and commanding presence but unfortunately, that was the majority of her progress. She was that one note for the majority of the film and there were moments where she would relent and not be so harsh to Adam or her father. There is a heart underneath that tough exterior and I wish I saw a bit more if it. The chemistry between her and Adam was good, but it could've been better. Idris Elba was having the time of his life as Teela's adoptive father, Duncan / Man-At-Arms. There was a great deal of compelling storytelling trying to pry itself free of the joke’s maw as he was dealing with the guilt and shame of losing the battle for Eternia with alcoholism. The heart to heart moments between him and Adam were good as he finally started feeling alive again as Adam tries to level with him. The relationship between him and Teela were truly stomped on by the comedy and I hated that. It was a good opportunity for him to have a reconnection with his daughter and his inner strength that Adam inspires, but like I said, jokes. Alison Brie was good as Evil-Lyn, but really got the short end of the character development stick. I loved that she was the right hand sorceress of Skeletor and how abusive that relationship truly was. I just wish she had more of a motive or something else to do instead of posturing. Jared Leto has always been a great and committed actor, but recently hasn't been cast in the best roles to show off his skills. As Skeletor, he was beyond perfection as he captured the characters' menacing presence, innuendos and wonderful dark humor. He knows what and who he is and he doesn't relent at all. Jared nails that balance between evil and mustache twirling comedic timing with ease. When He-Man and Skeletor eventually meet and clash, it is the highlight of the film as they both deconstruct each other in the best way.

WOAH! It is takes alot for a film in the horror genre to surprise me and make me say WOAH! Now, I'm not trying to come off all high and mighty, but you have to admit that there are alot of safe and honestly boring horror films out there that may have one or two qualities worth rememberance. Every once in a while a new entry comes along and takes a fresh concept to a level that doesn't go for the easy and choses to tell an intimate story that is relatable, terrifying and sad. This film truly took me for an unexpected ride that I truly couldn't get enough of. I loved the stillness and the classis trick of using the edge of each frame to build the tension and unsettling presence of danger that isn't predictable. The most basic of basic mistakes that many horror films fail to remember is to set up your rules, follow them to the letter and let the story naturally escalate while not contradicting the rules. This film does that expertly and in one particular scene, it introduces a great point of lore that was so satisfying and gut wrenching.

Michael Johnston was fantastic as the sheepish lead, Bear. The complexity of this character was not surface level by any means. He was the classic definition of the nice guy that has pure feelings for someone, but his neurotic nature truly holds him back. What I loved about the character is that even he knows what he wished for was wrong, but the way he deals with it was based in true terror and trauma as he sinks into himself. He was the perfect case of a selfless person becoming selfish, destructive to others and overall lost in his despair. Michael delivered an outstanding performance that was restrained and explosive in the best way possible. Cooper Tomlinson was great as their douchey friend, Ian. He is one of the best guys to have on your side as he would stand up for those he cares about while also not being afraid to poke fun. He gives a mixture of good advice to Bear while also giving him the absolute worst advice as well. He wasn't without a brain though. Even he was starting to question the situation that Bear asked for and his reaction was logical and hilarious at times. Megan Lawless was great as another part of the friend group, Sarah. Honestly, I loved her character the most as she was a very chill person and I loved how she had a future she was striving toward. The chemistry between her and Bear was greatest during a scene when all of them were at work together. If anything, she was the only innocent person of the story. Now the real standout and terrifyingly heartbreaking performance came from none other than Inde Navarrette as Nikki. From the beginning, you can see the light of her fun and welcoming personality shine through as her chemistry with the entire cast was perfect. The real terror begins once you see that light in her eyes instantly get snatched away from her. Every once in awhile there is a performance that instantly becomes so haunting that it stays with you. Inde delivers such a performance and I loved how it slowly progresses from lovingly weird to creepy and finally demonic. The back and forth between her and Bear was the heart of the film and it was truly sad and wrong on so many levels. Once you realize who the real villain of the story is, it changes the whole perspective of the film.

Now this one was interesting. I only have a very slim amount of knowledge of the origins of the series this was based on, but from what I saw, I enjoyed. This film captures what most horror films attempt and slightly get right. Not only do we get a slow burn of atmospheric tension, but we get the best of what found footage films used to be. Those moments were genuinely creepy and almost scared me because its not what's in front of the camera, but what's on the side of the frame that freaks me out. I loved the sense of disorientation when we are in the titular location and how each corner featured something odd and intriguing. The film tries to balance the tension and thrills with a very grounded human story that sometimes doesn't really have a resolve or progression. The onscreen talent do guide us through those themes of depression and desperation, but they truly sale the terror of discovery in this new parallel universe of unknown origin.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is always a welcomed sight on screen and as the furniture store owner, Clark, he delivers yet another compelling performance. There is alot of depression and strain going in Clark's life and it may not seem like we get alot of time with him, but what we get is a fully developed character thanks to Ejiofor's outstanding performance. I felt I understood him more once he finds the door to the backrooms. The mental journey he goes through in record time and how he helps us the audience understand that place was fantastic. Finn Bennett and Lukita Maxwell were great as his only employees Bobby and Kat. They were a good couple and I loved their reactions when they witness Clark's discovery. Through them, you get the full experience of the found footage genre and how fun and scary it used to be. Mark Duplass was great as Phil and I won't spoil his part in the film, but what we got with him was equally important and fun. Renate Reinsve was fantastic as Clark's therapist, Dr. Mary Kline. I liked that there is an unresolved trauma within her that’s visually explored and how it is linked to the backrooms was great. The doctor and patient relationship between her and Clark was explored in a simple but effective way in one of the most twisted scenes of the film. I loved seeing her explore the backrooms the most because she shows an a great deal of empathy in her discovery toward the last half of the film.

It is always a good day when I can wake up, go to the movie theatre and see a new adventure in a galaxy far far away . From the moment I could recognize the magic of this beloved franchise and to the day I die, I will always be a die hard Star Wars fan. That being said, I can whole heartedly acknowledge its greatest achievements and its abysmal faults. Now comes a new film that sort of falls in between those lines and I was okay with it. We come to these films hoping to see an advancement in the lore or to see character development of those we love and we get crumbs of that, but not enough in my opinion. Its false to say that the spirit of adventure was missing, but it is true that this film didn't feel like a story that was either groundbreaking or sadly, necessary. I hate saying that because I know that there is a lot love that goes into these stories, but I can't shake the shocking amount of ambivalence that washed over me once the credits began to roll.

Pedro Pascal, Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder all return as Din Djarin/ The Mandalorian. Pedro delivers the same level of stoicism to the character we all love and further explores his father like feelings to his adopted son Grogu. Brendan and Lateef continue to bring the amazing physicality to the character in some of the best stunt work I've seen for the character. From his classic cowboy swagger to his quick and brutal fighting style, its all a show stopper in the great action set pieces we get along the way. Grogu is still the cute foundling and I liked that he has become more confident and effect. He gets his own amount of side quests and I found one particular scene with a fisherman the most compelling scene in the film. Steve Blum returns as Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios and it was great to see the character enjoying his job as a pilot for the New Republic. His charm was intact and I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing him absolutely destroy stormtroopers left and right. Sigourney Weaver was good as colonel and leader of the New Republic's Adelphi Rangers, Ward. Her commanding presence was great and I like that she doesn't really where her heart on her sleeve. She is a war time leader and she shows it subtley, but her performance was a pretty hollow. Martin Scorsese provides the voice of Ardennian shopkeeper, Hugo and he was a fun addition to the film. He pretty much was himself the entire time, but you could tell he was having fun. Jeremy Allen White was great as the voice of Rotta the Hutt and I liked that he took the character in a familiar, but new direction. Rotta breaks the stereotype of the Hutt race and truly has his own motivations and dreams. I loved his physicality as his story was more Gladiator influenced.

Oh this film hit a special place in my heart. Not only was this film immediately my most anticipated once I saw the trailer, but it reminded me of one of my favorite 90’s films as kid that I couldn't get enough of. Babe was one of those special and delightful films about identity, finding and protecting a family that may not be yours, but they were your home. It also feature deeper themes and realities of farm life and by all accounts, an achievement in storytelling for using real animals. This film carries on that wonderful tradition and succeeds where all the "live action" animated films fail. Yes, the animals in Babe were a mix of real and animatronics where as this one features mostly CGI animals, but their emotional face expressions match the incredible voice acting and tone of the story. I'm always up for a good murder mystery and this film gives you a very cute story that all can enjoy. The perfect blend of themes of mystery, societal bias and even willful compliance to divert from a problem instead of facing and learning from it, rarely is executed so well in one story. This film perfectly executes all of this and more.

The voice cast on the sheep side was astounding and all did wonderful work. Julia Louis-Dreyfus was truly wonderful as the empathetic and smart sheep, Lily. She was more of the den mother of the flock and I loved that she was so warm and kind. I loved her journey as she started to take the lead in the investigation of her shepherd's death and her chemistry with him was magical. Chris O'Dowd was great and wise as Mopple. He carries the heaviest burden in the film as the one sheep that knows all and remembers all. Chris delivers his more dramatic chops as he bring to life the sadness in his eyes. Regina Hall was fun as Cloud. She was the more dainty diva sheep and she nails it. Bryan Cranston was as striking and powerful as you'd expect as Sebastian. He has a very violent backstory that does not shy away from the horror of it and it highlights one of the biggest themes of the film. I loved that he called out everyone for their prejudice and cowardice. He was the voice of reason and stole the film for the most part. Patrick Stewart was having the time of his life as Sir Richfield. He was eldest protector of the flock and so shakespearean that it was hilarious as he would constantly proclaim to know whom the murderer was. Now the one that'll steal your heart and definitely break it was the talented child Tommy Birchall as The Winter Lamb. The themes that I expressed earlier hit the hardest with him as Sebastian sees himself in the kid. Such a great performance from Tommy and the rest of the cast as they brought a human touch to the sheep.

Hugh Jackman is always a joy to watch and as the shepherd of the flock, George Hardy, he brings out the wonderful and wholesome nature of the character. He truly cares for every sheep in his flock and it brought him genuine joy to nurse them and protect them. I could've watched an entire film of him interacting and reading to the sheep. Nicholas Braun was fun as the bumbling and slow town police officer with a heart of gold, Tim Derry. I liked that he evolves a little faster towards the end and wasn't a complete dumb dumb. Nicholas Galitzine was good as the journalist, Elliot Matthews. He was always curious about the town and his scene in the "festival" was great. Molly Gordon was good as George's daughter Rebecca Hampstead. She was the sweet and not always innocent daughter that comes to town, but her real story explains why. I enjoyed her chemistry the most with Tim as you kinda see something sweet brewing between them. Hong Chau was great the innkeeper, Beth Pennock. There is a connection to be discovered with her that explains her obsession and I loved how Chau delivered the somewhat sadder side of her truth. Emma Thompson was just her jolly self as George's lawyer, Lydia Harbottle. She may have been the mediator of George's estate, but Emma was just there for fun and I enjoyed it.

Second chances are rare in the movie business. They're even rarer when adapting a well known and beloved property. I'm all for films getting a second chance at redemption or even listening to the fans and improving on what worked and fixing what didn't. Such a rare case has now occurred here and I have to admit, this was a vast improvement over the abysmal first film in this new franchise adaptation. We all know the lore of the Mortal Kombat game is rich with mysticism, violence and characters we all know and love. I was happy to see almost that same love and reverence was captured in this film. The action may be satisfyingly gory, the recreation of famous fighting stages were fantastic, but it all came down to what this film needed over the previous film, a better written, emotional and focused story. I wasn't going into this film looking for a cinematic masterpiece, but what I ended up getting was exactly what I hoped for. This was a bloody good fun popcorn flick that has the right amount of camp and takes itself not too seriously. Now of course the film isn't perfect. There are some performances that save it from the depths of the Netherealm while others keep it treading the most viscous pit of acid.

Adeline Rudolph was fantastic as Kitana. She truly surprised me as she nailed the conviction and emotion of the character. Adeline showcases Kitana's warrior spirit and wasn't afraid to tackle her more steadfast yet good heart. When she begins her journey through the tournament, her physicality was excellent and I loved how accurate her use of her bladed fans translated from the game to screen. She bore the most dramatic weight of the film wonderfully. Tati Gabrielle was good as her best friend, Jade. Tati's take on the character was fun and I enjoyed her loyalty to Kitana, even when she is forced to follow her Emperor's command. There was chemistry there that is simple but good. Ludi Lin and Max Huang return as both Liu Kang and Kung Lao and they were better this time around. The sense of brotherhood between them was unfairly weak in the first film, but in this I felt more connected to them during their fantastic fight sequence. Jessica McNamee and Mehcad Brooks return as Sonya Blade and Jax and I was a little disappointed. The both of them really didn't get enough time to develop their partnership further. And honestly, their fighting skills have not improved. They're the best special forces operatives and they fight like school kids. Mehcad brought out Jax's charm, but Jessica was pretty hollow this time around as Sonya. Lewis Tan returns as Cole Young and I never hated the character, I just hated that he was added when you already have your star characters to pick from. That being said, Lewis Tan does a good job with time we spend on him in this film. His physicality has always been great and it was here too. Tadanobu Asano was great as the ever insightful and strong Lord Raiden. I'm glad that he got to show how much he cares about the champions he loses. Hiroyuki Sanada returns as Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion and he rocks the screen once again with ease. He may not have much to do, but what he does is spectacular. CJ Bloomfield was really fun as Baraka. He embodied the Tarkatan warrior spirit and tribalism. Josh Lawson returns as Kano and he is just as hilarious and ever the scene stealer. He was always perfectly cast and he reminds you why. Martyn Ford was fantastic as the looming and dangerous, Shao Kahn. Not only does he nail his brutality, but he also nails his ruthless and cunning nature. He is an almost unstoppable force to be reckoned with and I loved every second he was on screen. Now the other main star of the film truly captured an older version of the beloved character and I was all for it. Karl Urban was perfect as Johnny Cage and I loved how he made him more modern day as an aging action star in a time where martial arts films have all but disappeared from the mainstream. Its a fun redemption story that has been featured in the games and I loved seeing it here. Karl was an excellent choice and I loved his comedic timing.

Like the shifting winds of Santa Ana, a change may have actually arrived. I always go into sequels to a very popular film, released 20 years ago, very cautiously because of the spotty track record. It could be a sequel that serves no purpose than to line the pockets of studio heads or a story that advances the characters and builds upon what made the original great. Welp, this was one of those rare occurrences where a sequel was warranted and it avoided the typical pitfalls others willingly dove into in. The member berries are unavoidable, but thankfully they didn't rule the story. This film felt more like a fun high school reunion where everyone is wiser and evolved while some still remain the slick and unlikely friend you truly missed. The spirit and heart of the first film was lovingly retained and I found myself sinking back into the world of high fashion and stress these unforgettable characters live for.

Anne Hathaway returns as as Andrea "Andy" Sachs and she excels at bringing back that loveable and plucky attitude the character is known for. She has truly become a strong and respected journalist and I loved that she never gave up her will to strive for the best. There is a hardship that is thrust upon her that is topical and is currently effecting every industry today. Anne has this unique charm and emotional awareness to keep the character grounded and I loved that she didn't allow her character to regress. Tracie Thoms returns as Andy's longtime friend, Lily and she doesn't skip a beat. We all have that one friend that has been with us through the majority of our lives and has kept us leveled. Lily is that friend and I loved the fun back and forth with them. Lucy Liu was cool as Sasha Barnes and I loved that even though she may be one of the richest women in the film, she didn't let it control her. I liked Patrick Brammall as Peter and Andy's new love interest. Their story doesn't overtake the overall narrative, but its that fun instant rom-com chemistry that is almost non-existent these days that wonderfully fueled their scenes. Emily Blunt was fantastic yet again as Emily Charlton. To see her finally in an executive role at Dior, was delightful and she never ceased to have that cutthroat and sarcastic humor. The moment her and Andy reunite, there is a bond there that is kismet. How they explore their friendship is devious at times, but never spiteful. Stanley Tucci is still one of the greatest and smartest actors out there and his return to Nigel Kipling was sorely missed. He continues to be that perfectly honest and charming pulse of the fashion world and friend to Andy you love to see. He retains his indestructible wit, charm and heartwarming devotion to doing the best for those he cares about. The chemistry between him and Andy was the major highlight of the first film and it's even more so here. The one and only Meryl Streep returns as the iconic and devilish director of Runway Magazine, Miranda Priestly. Her same cold, brash and unforgiving personality is still wholly intact and I loved that she is brought to task as she faces the current social climate in her own way and doesn't compromise. We got to see a few slivers of her humanity in the first film and now a little more than half of her mystique dissipates as Andy comeback to help her. Meryl always delivers and I genuinely could feel the fun and joy radiating from her as she inhabits Miranda once again. I've always thought of Nigel and Emily as living manifestations of her sarcastic and stylistic business driven self. Andrea represented that young, spunky and warm side of herself that she completely forgotten. That's why their chemistry works the best and it sores to new levels in this film. All of them together were the reason you came to see the film and they don't disappoint.

I want you to understand something. For this current generation, none of your minds could fathom the career, the legacy and the power one man had over the entire world. There isn't and they'll never be anyone that will match the majesty of the one true King of Pop. For the rest of us that were alive to witness it all, we know that when Michael Jackson announced he had a new album release, we bought it immediately. When he had a new music video about to air on television simultaneously, we planned our lives accordingly and the world stopped! I was born into a home filled with movies and at any given moment, music was playing and of course The Jackson 5 and Michael's entire catalogue was playing. I was born after the beginning of his solo breakout career and it was glorious. That being said, I have seen almost every documentary, news report and biopic that aired and they all gave you an insight into the origins of the Jackson family. Now comes a new biopic that celebrates the creation of the iconic songs, albums and performances, but somehow was a disappointment. This film celebrates Michael in his earlier years, but lacked the required exploration into him as a human being. We get slivers of his anxieties and pain when dealing with his family drama, but it quickly shies away from the most important moments and goes into another song or business deal. I did enjoy myself, but it was unfortunate how fast this film blitz through his formative years.

Colman Domingo was outstanding and perfectly overbearing as Michael's father, Joseph Jackson. Domingo captured the relentless dedication to push his children to be the best in the most abusive ways. There was a level of venom in his voice and body language that was undeniable and scary at times. Nia Long was great as Michael's mother, Katherine Scruse-Jackson. She was the needed gentle and nurturing voice in the film and even though we didn't get too deep into their marriage, Nia embodied her strength. Larenz Tate was excellent as the legendary producer and president of Motown, Berry Gordy. For the time we spend with him, Tate brings out the charm and commanding presence of the character. I loved that we saw his supportive and constructive nature in a great scene between him and young Michael. Miles Teller was very chill and strong as Michael's entertainment lawyer and manager, John Branca. You see the strong business relationship between him and Michael begin and all though it was glossed over quickly, it showed that he actually cared about him as more than an artist. Deon Cole was a surprise as Don King. Not only did he nail his cadence, but he nailed the cutthroat nature as one of the most iconic businessmen and promoters of all time. KeiLyn Durrel Jones was awesome as Michael's personal bodyguard, Bill Bray. What I loved is that we got to see how much he cared for him and was sort of his council when needed. He was there from the beginning and as the story progresses, so does Michael's trust in him. Juliano Krue Valdi was amazing as young Michael Jackson. From the moment he's on screen, he captures the innocence and energy of the young icon. I loved that he highlighted the yearning for him to be a normal kid and that self realization that he’ll never be normal. Now the film moves quickly and once we get into the teenage years, the film takes off with an incredible performance.

Jaafar Jackson not only portrays his uncle, but he becomes his uncle, Michael Jackson. The complete transformation was undeniable and somewhat scary how many times I forgot I wasn't watching the real Michael. He nailed his speech, mannerisms and of course his iconic style of dance. I enjoyed that he kept the sweetness of Michael intact. He was a jovial man that embraced all not matter your race or belief. I enjoyed the scenes where Jaafar showcased his charity work as a humanitarian. Beyond the iconic outfits, songs and music videos, Jaafar got the chance to portray his loneliness for a bit. That's where I wish the film slowed down and focused a little harder. We get to see his internal and external demons at work when dealing with his father and the pressures of fame, but not enough in my opinion. Jaafar celebrates the icon, but I felt he didn't get enough time to showcase the young man growing into his independence. His chemistry with Nia Long was emotionally charged and every scene with Colman was fueled with tension. The kitchen scene between Michael and Joseph was where I felt the most tension and the hardest amount censorship. The actual recreations of Michael's legendary performances, music videos and creation of his biggest album, were showstopping indeed. Jaafar resurrects the legend to a point that was supernatural. Its what you came for and he delivers.

I’m at a bit of loss here as to what I just saw. I don't think this film knew what it wanted to be in the first place. Don't get me wrong, this was a well made horror film, but it was truly missing so much that would've given it a lasting appeal. All horror films have multiple themes and any good storyteller will use at least 2 of those themes to tie together the entire narrative. Well this film had at least 5 different story plots and themes happening at once. So the question is, what was this film? Was it a supernatural horror film? Was it a family driven missing persons mystery? Was it a gore driven film that was just there to push the envelope without any substance? Well, yes to all. Ironically, it wasn't structured enough to break out of the same old song and dance that the Evil Dead franchise created and has been duplicated by others for years.

The cast do the best they can with they have and honestly, they were perhaps the worst family on screen possible. Jack Raynor and Laia Costa were good as the Father and Mother, Charlie and Larissa Cannon. Given that Charlie was an investigative journalist, I wish he actually put those skills to better use more throughout the film to find his daughter. For the most part of the film, he just stands there with the same look of shock on his face until the end of the film when he finally makes a decision. Larissa was the caring nurse and I did like seeing her try to take care of Katie, but what I would've enjoyed seeing is the emotional toll. Let her have a moment where she even doubts her daughter’s chances or even a moment to herself to break down. The two of them together had pretty good chemistry for the first half of the movie and then after that there wasn't much time to get to know them. Shylo Molina was good as the oldest son, Sebastián Cannon. He does a good job handling the standard angst and troubled teen arch that doesn't really go anywhere. Billie Roy delivers the perfect sweet and innocent personality of the youngest daughter, Maud Cannon. She eventually becomes apart of the darkness the plagues the house and joins in on the gross out moments. Together, they were perhaps the most dysfunctional family I’ve seen in a while. I didn’t feel any connection to them or a sense of family bond. May Calamawy was awesome as Detective Dalia Zaki and I enjoyed her side of the story the most. I always enjoy the story of a rookie investigator becoming a detective over time. Through her, I felt the story was actually going somewhere and possibly had some stakes to it. She was drastically underplayed in my opinion. Natalie Grace delivers a fantastic physical performance as Katie Cannon. She delivers on the creepy and grotesque nature of her condition and I enjoyed her dedication. I would've like to have had more suspense around her condition instead of going for the obvious demonic tone.

Without a doubt the number 1 genre to receive the dreaded sequelitis treatment is none other than animated films. What is sequelitis you ask? Well, for the uninitiated, sequelitis is when a popular film receives a sequel or many sequels that greatly expand the franchise while forgetting what made the first entry special and overcrowding the often none existent story with flash and not enough grace. Like the straight to VHS sequels of the 90's and the current Despicable Me and Minions franchise, I feared this would happen here, but not this soon. I really enjoyed the simplicity and yet complex nature of the storytelling of the first Super Mario Brothers film. Sure it had its moments of fan service thrown at you, but it made sense. Now comes the new sequel and from the trailer and title I knew this film lost the plot. I wanna say halfway through the film, I was wondering what the point of this film was again and why are we here. Its a planet / galaxy trotting adventure that has so many plates spinning that not even the person that set up the plates knew where it all began. I'm not looking for Shakespeare when it comes to these film, but at least a coherent and engaging story. Not to say that I didn't enjoy the visuals, but I just wish this improved on what worked in the first film.

Chris Pratt and Charlie Day return as Mario and Luigi and they both were good as they were in the first film. I did enjoy that they got to play around more, but I kind of didn't like how weak was Mario this time around. He was sort of a side character in his own story. Luigi got more time to shine as he delivers some great comedic moments. Donald Glover joins the cast as our favorite dinosaur, Yoshi. Yoshi steals the film as expected and he was fun to watch as the loveable companion to Mario and Luigi. Anya Taylor-Joy continues to be the awesome action heroine of the franchise, Princess Peach. I enjoyed the possible love story brewing between her and Mario in the first film and this film addresses it a bit. I hated that he was friendzoned for the majority of the story, but by the end there is hope. Brie Larson was great and loving as Princess Rosalina. She was the adoptive mother of the Lumas children and enjoyed her motherly treatment and defense of them. Jack Black returns as Bowser and I loved that he had a different side of him. He was more friendly, but his rage and hatred for Mario wasn't too far underneath the surface. It was cool to see a villain become an ally for a bit. Benny Safdie was fantastic as his long lost son, Bowser Jr. Benny brings so much energy and venom to the sinister personality of the character and I loved it. The instant chemistry between both of them was the best evil paring you could ask for. Their family bond was both heartwarming and darkly hilarious. Glen Powell joins the franchise as Fox McCloud and he was perfect as our favorite hotshot pilot. When he bursts onto the screen, it brought a smile to my face.

Perhaps the time has come again where Hollywood starts releasing similar movies in the same year or back to back. In the 90's, we had Volcano and Dante's Peak, Armageddon and Deep Impact, then, in the year 2000, we had the criminally underrated Mission to Mars and Red Planet. The themes of all those films are similar, but they all have different rules and unique stories. Now we have another situation where 2 films are similar, but one definitely takes a wild swing into a different direction and I loved every bit of it. Ready or Not was a game of cat and mouse, but this film has the mouse fighting back against the cat in the most surprising, brutal and satisfying way possible. This film knew exactly what it wanted to be after the first 15 minutes and it doesn't let up one bit. I haven't laughed out of pure disbelief and joy like this in a while. The brilliance of this film is not only in the action sequences, but in the stylistic creativity and the grindhouse feeling it gives off. Honestly, I believe the Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino would gleefully applaud this film.

Zazie Beets kicks serious ass as the main protagonist Asia Reaves. Her story is simple and her motivation is justified as we are introduced to her in a vulnerable state. It is not long before we get to see the real powerful and protective nature of the character come to life in an amazing first fight sequence. Zazie has always delivered a great performance, but this film truly shows off insane physicality and dedication to the art of film combat. Underneath the aggression, the emotional core of the character is explored very well once we focus on her main objective. Myha'la was great as her younger sister, Maria Reaves. The both of them came from an abusive home and although their survival tactics differ, their shared trauma was sad to experience. Their chemistry was really good as I felt the bond between them, even if the story doesn't dwell on them for too long. Patricia Arquette was good and commanding as the Irish superintendent at the Virgil and the leader of the Satanic Cult, Lilith Woodhouse. Even though her accent kept slipping in and out, I still enjoyed her tight rope performance that teetered between undercooked and overplayed. I liked Paterson Joseph as her weary husband, Ray. Through him you get the necessary lore dump and it was perfectly straight forward. I did feel the history between him and Lilith as they bickered about how long they've been doing this. Heather Graham was great as one of the cult members, Sharon. She really gets destroyed for the majority of the film and the comedic affect of it was fantastic. Tom Felton was having a blast as the most aggressive member of the cult, Kevin. Like Sharon, he was frothing at the mouth to kill Asia and it was fun to see his frustration as she kept slipping away. Angus Sampson was awesome as Asia's unnamed private investigator and lawyer. He doesn't have much to do, but he gets enough time to shine in the end.

Sometimes I wish that films that were successful upon release, that gained a following and were herald as one of the best of that year, never get the sequel treatment. Now I could rattle off so many different films in all genres that certainly didn't need a sequel, but that'll take all day. It is widely known that the horror genre is the home for sequels that expand the stories and increase the bloody body count with each entry before they get tired. The same question applies though: Why? Well this film answers that question in a way that left me more indifferent than satisfied. The first Ready or Not was a fresh, darkly hilarious and fun take on the game itself with a setting that lent itself to a great funhouse of violence and chaos. This film tries to up the scale by diving deeper into the satanic cult another set of families made and it worked for a bit, but something was missing. The first film was a survival film and this one was more about dysfunctional family trauma across the board and I ended up not really feeling much empathy for anyone in the film. The story was crafted well in the beginning, but the further it went on, the story and the characters just got dumber and meaner. It was unfortunate because I truly enjoyed the first film and this felt like a sort of cash grab.

Samara Weaving returns as Grace MacCaullay and she continues to be a powerhouse on screen. Grace's trauma and survival instincts are intact as we catch up with her almost immediately after the first film. I like that she was tired and barely even healed as she faces off with a new set of killers. She is smarter this time around, but also dumber. After all that happened in the first film, you would think she wouldn't waste time talking as much to her opponents and just dispatch them quickly. Kathryn Newton joins the chaos as her estranged sister Faith and she did excellent. The constant bickering and hatred between them was understandable throughout the film, but almost unbearable with the lack of any care for one another during the majority of the film. Nobody cuts deeper to your core than family, but by the time the finale rolls around, I almost didn't buy their bonding experience. Its a testament to their acting prowess for sure. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy were great as the twin brother and sister duo Ursula and Titus Danforth. Sarah excels at bringing out the cunning nature of Ursula and Shawn was insanely brutal and hard edged as Shawn. The rivalry between them was the other side of the dysfunctional coin they shared with Grace and Faith and I enjoyed the boiling pot of contempt they had brewing the entire time. Néstor Carbonell is always a welcomed addition to any cast and as the head of his family, Ignacio El Caido, he was just having the time of his life. Maia Jae was beyond wrathful as Ignacio's daughter, Francesca El Caido. The beef between her and Grace goes deeper than the game and I loved their messy and hilarious fight scene the most. Olivia Cheng was great as the head of the Wan family, Wan Chen Xing. For a moment, she reminded me of Adam Brody's character in the first film as the only one that actually had a heart. Now the one that stole just about every scene effortlessly was Elijah Wood as "The Lawyer", a representative of Le Bail. The man was basically the lore and order keeper of the film and I loved his calm and charming demeanor. Even though the he was evil, you can see the part of him that was secretly rooting for Grace and Faith.