MOVIE REVIEW: Star Wars: The Last Jedi

At 2 hours and 32 minutes, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the longest film in the beloved series. Director Rian Johnson (Looper) has made a great entertaining movie from the first part till the last 30 minutes of it. The middle part dragged on a bit. The Last Jedi could have been 40 minutes shorter but it made up for some great visual effects that  is well worth your hard earned cash especially if you watch in premium format theaters such as IMAX. 

The internal conflict of the characters that was missing in the recent Star Wars releases including The Force Awakens is back. Once again, shades of the original trilogy made it presence felt by the leads: from the iconic ones Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher in her final film) to the new ones most especially Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren/ Ben Solo (Adam Driver). The characters arcs of the ones mentioned sets the stage for more engrossing films in the series. Hopefully, they should be helmed by a competent director. The Last Jedi is a good first step. 

Star Wars fans won't be disappointed in The Last Jedi. It elevates the groundwork that The Force Awakens started and it makes you look forward to the upcoming films in the series.

MOVIE REVIEW: Wonder

I read the bestselling book by R.J Palacio months ago and after watching the film, I can truly say that this one of the rare times in which the movie is better than the book. It has full emotion which the book lacked.

Wonder is about August "Auggie" Pullman played excellently by Jacob Trembley (Room), a boy born with a rare facial disfigurement, who has to enter a regular school for the very first time. He had been home-schooled by his Mom Isabel (Julia Roberts) all his life because of countless hospital confinement while his Dad Nate (Owen Wilson) goes to work. Auggie has an older sister named Via (Izabela Vidovic) who cares for him as well. He never runs out of love and affection in his home so a school is something new and alien to him. 

What is beautiful about the film is that it never strayed from its source material. There's a chapter devoted to the characters that will help you get the know them better. It is not only about Auggie and his family. It's also about Via's best friend Miranda (the beautiful Danielle Rose Russell) as well as Auggie's new found friend in school Jack Will (Noah Jupe). Credit is due mainly to writer/director Stephen Chbosky, in his second full length film after his directorial debut in the excellent The Perks of Being a Wallflower in 2012. He also wrote the book itself and the screenplay as well. He is now 2/2

in my book.

Wonder is a great feel good movie without bordering on sentimentality. It makes us realize that by accepting on our differences, we can live in harmony.

MOVIE REVIEW: Coco

Pixar is back with its old creative ways with Coco. A beautiful love letter to Mexico and its culture of honoring the departed loved ones and the people they left behind. It's also about family and the love that binds each member from the present to the afterlife.

Coco is about Miguel, a young boy who dreams of becoming a musician, like his idol the great late Mexican singer Ernesto de la Cruz. For some reason, his family objects anything related to music in general. A trip to the cemetery on Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) suddenly transports Miguel to the other world and there he discovers, with the help of a mischief named Hector (voiced by passion by Gael Garcia Bernal) the truth of everything. The other world is so enchanting that kids would totally forget that it is a world inhabited by the dead. There are some great references to iconic Mexican figures such as Frida Kahlo, the actor Cantiflas and the wrestler Santo.

Coco's script co-written by its director Lee Unkrich is so beautifully written you forget that it's animated movie. I won't be surprised if adults are the ones who are more engrossed in the film rather than the children. The last 30 minutes of the film have the best drama scenes that you can find in any Hollywood movie this year. It has such raw emotions that will leave you teary eyed and make you say a prayer to your departed loved ones.

MOVIE REVIEW: Justice League

I had low expectations about Justice League. This is director Zack Snyder's 3rd film in the DC Extended Universe and the first two films that he helmed: Man of Steel and last year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice were polarizing. There were fans but some people especially those hardcore DC Comics fans were disappointed by the treatment. 

Justice League is different though. There are still some dark, brooding elements that are the signature style of Snyder. Fortunately, writer Josh Whedon  who gave the Avengers series in the rival Marvel Universe, brought some needed humor and vibrance in the film. It also helped that the films running time is only 2 hours which is one of the shortest in superhero comic book films. It sets the stage for more films in the series that hopefully are as entertaining as this one. Gal Gadot fresh from the success of Wonder Woman earlier this year, continues her charm that was a big factor on why her stand alone film was both a critical and box office success. Ezra Miller's Barry Allen/The Flash, Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry/Aquaman and Ray Fisher's Victor Stone/Cyborg were given little introductions in the previous films and now I can say that I'm extremely satisfied with their performances in the film. Miller still has that natural comic timing which made him the breakout star of 2012's The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Momoa has the built and look of a superhero built to live and survive water. Fisher has the fewer screen credits among the cast but his Cyborg has a bright future ahead. I'm now looking forward to see them again on the big screen reprising their iconic characters. 

Ben Affleck's portrayal of the Caped Crusader is arguably one of the best and Henry Cavill's Superman died in the previous film but a movie about Justice League ain't complete without the Man of Steel. Be ready to be surprised and entertained. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Thor: Ragnarok

With the same concept, cast, action scenes, special effects and end credit bonuses, films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe are starting to look and feel the same. Fortunately, the choice of putting the great comedic director from New Zealand Taika Waititi whose films from his homeland include What We Do in the Shadows (2014) and the Hunt for the Wilderpeople from last year elevates the latest saga of the God of Thunder from the rest. The usual ingredients for a comic book movie are there but it is spiced up with marvelous comedy this side of the Guardians of the Galaxy series of Marvel.

Chris Hemsworth is back as Thor and so is Tom Hiddleston as his adopted mischievous adopted brother Loki. It is such a delight seeing the two on the big screen together and they do have chemistry. The heavily promoted bromance between Thor and Bruce Banner aka Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) pales compared to Hemsworth and Hiddleston. Anthony Hopkins still brings prestige even though in only a few scenes. The casting of two time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett as the villain Hela is the icing on the cake. She's having fun unleashing her evil side and it clearly shows. There are some surprise appearances that will make you smile and I won't spoil it.

Thor: Ragnarok runs for 2 hours and 20 minutes and it's well worth your time and hard earned money. It is best seen on the big screen to appreciate the visual effects and it's great cast. Don't forget to stay to the end credits.

MOVIE REVIEW: Blade Runner 2049

The sequel to the 1982 sci-fi cult classic is beautiful to watch on the big screen. Ably directed by Denis Villeneuve who received an Oscar nomination earlier this year for the brilliant Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 is a thinking geek's masterpiece. Be warned though, I had to watch the first one and googled the details because if you don't, you will easily get confused.

In an era wherein a new comic book  or superhero adaptation comes out every quarter of the year, Blade Runner 2049 is an arthouse film compared them. You can't leave your brain outside the theater.

Ryan Gosling anchors the film as Officer K. who hunts down "replicants" - genetically engineered or artificially made beings created to be similar to actual human beings, who are passed their expiration date and actually just live to survive. 

His quest leads him to Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), the original film detective in the first film. Ford doesn't appear till the second half of the film but he gives his best perfomance to date. It easily reminded me of Sylvester Stallone's Oscar nominated role in Creed. His iconic role gives way to an upstart but his soul and will to continue living is still intact.

The movie also stars Jared Leto, Robin Wright and the alluring Ana De Armas as Joi.
If you were a fan and loved the first Blade Runner then by all means go. If you haven't seen it though, just make sure to watch the first or research online before going inside the movie theater. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Victoria and Abdul

From 1997's Mrs. Brown in which she garnered her first ever Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, Judi Dench is back playing Queen Victoria for the second time. Victoria and Abdul feels more like an accompanying piece to Mrs. Brown than a sequel since it is from a recently discovered part of British history that was hidden due to royal protocol.

In her twilight years, Queen Victoria forged an unlikely friendship with an Indian named Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) who was randomly selected in the subcontinent to present the Queen with a ceremonial bauble from a colony she
knows nothing about. Dench nailed a bored and old Victoria and the arrival of the "handsome" young man has brought excitement back to her life bound by royal duties and obligations.

This alarmed the royal household and led by her son Bertie (Eddie Izzard) the successor to the throne, they thought of Karim as a threat to the monarchy. They refer to him earlier as a Hindu when in fact he's a Muslim. Memories of Princess Diana's final years came back to my mind after that revelation scene.

Victoria then made known that Abdul is her "Mushi: or teacher. She learned about Indian culture thru Abdul. She learned a different culture that is the complete opposite of what she's experiencing and opened her eyes to another part of the world.

Judi Dench is movie royalty and in my book, could do nothing wrong playing a queen. Fazal has that old movie school that was reminiscent of the Hollywood stars of the silent film era. Victoria and Abdul is British royalty light.  It was a fun and a learning treat watching it without getting sleepy.

MOVIE REVIEW: Stronger

After his critically acclaimed role as Jack Twist that earned him his ONLY Oscar nomination, Jake Gyllenhaal has always been starring in films that are awards bait. He may finally receive  that elusive nod and most likely his first lead acting nomination for Stronger. It is a raw, gritty, powerful yet heartwarming film about the power of love and family.

Gyllenhall portrays real-life Boston Marathon victim and survivor Jeff Bauman, who lived to tell his tale and co wrote the bestselling book from which this movie is based on.

He was just an average man working at Costco who went to the 2013 edition of the marathon to support his on again off again girlfriend Erin Hurley, masterfully portrayed by Emmy Winner Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black). Bauman was unfortunately in the wrong spot but what's remarkable is that he was able to see and tell the authorities the identity of the bomber. He turned what could had been a life dominated by suffering and misery to a heroic one.

It's so nice to see acclaimed British actress Miranda Richardson back on the big screen playing the mom with a full Boston accent. The film though, still belongs to Gyllenhaal. With similar looks and built to the bombing survivor, he was born to play Jeff Bauman.

MOVIE REVIEW: Battle of the Sexes

I only read in passing the infamous tennis match tagged the Battle of the Sexes at the Houston Astrodome in 1973 between the two tennis superstars of that time Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King. It's to determine which gender is more superior in playing the sport. It's laughable now but back then it was a serious thing, when being a male chauvinist is a badge of honor in society. It was shocking to see how sportscaster can mock not only women athletes but women in general on live TV.  I was glad when I found out months ago that the directing team of the highly entertaining Oscar winning indie Little Miss Sunshine are on board to making a film about it.

Emma Stone, in her first role after winning the Academy Award for La La Land, proves that she's the hottest and smartest actress around in Hollywood. Her physical transformation of Billie Jean King is remarkable but most important she nailed the tennis superstar's struggle to fight for equal rights for women in the sport as well as unmasking her true sexuality. She is married but in love with her hairdresser Marilyn Barnett (played by Andrea Riseborough).

Steve Carell is vintage Steve Carell in Bobby Riggs. Like a comedian, Riggs searches for respect not only in tennis but also being a male. It's so nice to see Elisabeth Shue back on the big screen. She plays Riggs' wife Priscilla who's running out of patience with his boorishness. Sarah Silverman, Alan Cumming and Bill Pullman round up the exceptional cast. 

Battle of the Sexes is a well made crowd-pleaser that deserves to be seen in times of uncertainty such as now. It entertains yet it makes us realize that all of us are equal regardless of sex and gender preference. Bobby Riggs paved the way for athletes such as Michael Jordan on how to market oneself while thanks to Billie Jean King, we now have female tennis superstars such as the Williams sisters, Steffi Graf, Martina Navrativola among others.

MOVIE REVIEW: mother!

Director Darren Aronofsky's filmmaking style has always been out of the box. From his first full-length film Pi (1998) to the Oscar nominated ones Requiem For a Dream (2000), The Wrestler (2008) and to the one that gave Natalie Portman her Best Actress award Black Swan. Unconventional and emotionally draining you gotta have a right state of mind to appreciate his skills.

Now here comes mother! a film that is divided into two parts. The first half is more like a stage play. A newlywed couple played by Javier Bardem a poet and his younger wife Jennifer Lawrence live in a huge Victorian styled house in the middle of nowhere. Then a visitor (Ed Harris) from out of the blue, knocked on their door. He thought that the house was a bed and breakfast place. The husband took a liking into him and asked him to stay the night. The wife (Michelle Pfeiffer) then came and they seem to have something in mind with the man of the house. Their sons (real life brothers Domhall and Brian Gleeson) came as well  and their conflict set the stage for the second half.
 mother! then turns into something that is rarely seen on mainstream cinema. An exercise in extreme filmmaking that is polarizing. You will love it or hate it. References to the Bible and idol fanaticism abound. There's no middle ground to it. Enter at your own risk.

MOVIE REVIEW: Kingsman: The Golden Circle

A sequel was inevitable when the first Kingsman became a surprise hit in 2014. It was an entertaining but unexpectedly violent cartoonish film that stayed true to it's graphic novel origins. It was so different yet fun. Aside from Colin Firth who was part of the original cast, the sequel attracted three Oscar winners (Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore and Halle Berry) and a global music icon (Elton John) to join in and have a great time.

Taron Egerton as back as Eggsy and together with his guardian in the Kingsman Merlin (Mark Strong more endearing here) enlists the help of their American counterparts or "cousins", the Statesman headed by Bridges with Channing Tatum, Halle Berry (both underutilized but from the looks of it, the saga won't end with this film) and Game of Thrones' Pedro Pascal to help them fight an enemy (Julianne Moore having fun and playing it easy as the bad girl Poppy) bent on destroying mankind. The film also tackles the war on drugs which bears some similarities to today's headlines especially in the Philippines and Indonesia.

 Kingsman: The Golden Circle isn't as unpredictable and loud (Samuel L. Jackson took care of that in the first film) compared to it's predecessor but it's still great entertainment and well worth your hard earned money for a trip to the theater primarily of the cast and it's running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes that's worth spending on those comfortable lazy boy reclining chairs that most cinemas worldwide offer now.

MOVIE REVIEW: Rebel in the Rye

Nicholas Hoult (About A Boy, Mad Max: Fury Road) plays the reclusive author J.D. Salinger who penned one of the most controversial books of the 20th Century: The Catcher In the Rye. The movie audience got a glimpse of the time of his life before he wrote the iconic novel.

 From a young man living an affluent lifestyle in New York City until after World War II, the film relied on tidbits that can easily be found on the internet. Fortunately, director and writer Danny Strong, elevated Rebel in the Rye with an excellent cast that also featured two time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey as Salinger's professor and mentor Whit Burnett and Emmy winner Sarah Paulson as Salinger's loyal literary agent Dorothy Olding.

Rebel in the Rye gave us an entertaining glimpse on a forgotten era wherein only a few privileged people were given a chance to write a book due primarily to ones talent.

MOVIE REVIEW: It

Who would have thought that a horror movie which was based  on a book and made into a TV movie 27 years ago will make going to the movies fun again!! It, written by Stephen King in 1986, brought out our fear of clowns. The 1990 version with an iconic performance of Tim Curry as Pennywise the Dancing Clown scared my generation of the circus staple. This year, Bill Skarsgard, son of Stellan and brother of Alexander, steps out of his family shadows to deliver a scary yet funny performance of the character.

However, the real stars are the ones who are a part of "The Losers Club", a group of kids who are constantly being bullied in school. Their banter of jokes and insults among each other brought out their comic talents and makes the film's running time of 135 minutes more bearable. The scenes are shot with an eighties touch yet it does not forget this current time by using drone shots in some scenes.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Hitman's Bodyguard

Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson team up in The Hitman's Bodyguard. An action comedy about one of the world's top bodyguards Michael Bryce (Reynolds) who is tasked to protect an assassin Darius Kincaid (Jackson) as he is about to testify in the International Criminal Court against a ruthless Eastern European leader (Gary Oldman) from his henchmen.

This would have been a standard buddy comedy but the impeccable comic timing and chemistry of the two leading actors elevates it from the plot loopholes. The
scenes in the Netherlands are beautifully shot for an action film and props for having a chase scene in Amsterdam's infamous De Wallen more famously known as the city's Red Light District. It's pure fun to see Reynolds channeling James Bond together with Jackson being Samuel L. Jackson. With Oscar nominees Oldman and Salma Hayek in supporting roles. The Hitman's Bodyguard is pure popcorn entertainment in the dog days of August.

MOVIE REVIEW: Annabelle: Creation

The Conjuring cinematic universe continues it's winning streak with Annabelle: Creation. Forget about the 2014 prequel of the scary doll that was overall a disappointment. The film goes way back when the doll got created. In the able hands of Swedish director David F. Sandberg (in only his second full length feature film after last year's excellent Lights Out), Annabelle: Creation is ten times scarier and yet a lot of fun for those who loved The Conjuring series and horror films in general.

Years after the tragic death of their only child, a dollmaker named Samuel Mullins (Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife Esther (the ethereal Miranda Otto), welcome a group of girl orphans and a nun Sister Charlotte (Stephanie Sigman) into their home to ease the pain of their loss. That's when the possessed doll Annabelle comes out to haunt them.

A doll with the right built and facial design is always scary. Children in a haunted house is scarier. Demon possession is the scariest!! Annabelle: Creation has all of these.

MOVIE REVIEW: Detroit

Detroit starts out with an excellent narration using animation with of the migration of the African-American from the Deep South to the Motor City. I learned something yet I was entertained, which sets the mood for the dark tone of the film. Then we go forward to 1967, when a party was being held at an unlicensed speakeasy for returning servicemen from Vietnam. All guests were African-American. The police came to raid the place. The people were brought outside the street and arrested in full view of the neighborhood thus anger ensued. A bottle was thrown at a police officer therefore starting what was known to be the 12th Street riots of Detroit.

The city was in crisis and the National Guard was called in to patrol the streets. A curfew was implemented and looting continued.

The movie focuses on the Algiers Hotel incident when a guest named Carl (Jason Mitchell) fired a toy gun at the police who mistakenly thought of as a sniper. They found the place and started interrogating all those who were at the building that time, including a member of the singing group Larry Reed (Algee Smith in a breakthrough performance) and his friend Fred (Jacob Latimore) who both decided to spend the night when their show got cancelled because of the riots. Anthony Mackie plays Greene, a Vietnam vet who's also checked in. Together with a couple of more African-Americans and two white girls Julie Anne (Hannah Murray) and Karen (Kaitlyn Dever), they experienced outmost humiliation and maltreatment from the cops Krauss (The Chronicles of Narnia's Will Poulter in an Oscar worthy performance), Flynn (Ben O' Toole) and Demens (Jack Reynor). Star Wars' John Boyega is also in the film as a security officer caught in the middle of the police activity.

The Oscar winning tandem of director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal does it again. Detroit is so gripping and entertaining that one wouldn't realize that it has a long running time of 2 hours and 29 minutes. All the characters from the film had their own flaws and it is up to us the audience to determine who's right or wrong. 50 years had passed since one of the darkest moment of the US had happened and still almost nothing's had changed.

MOVIE REVIEW: Atomic Blonde

The days before the collapse of the Berlin Wall is the setting of Atomic Blonde, an enjoyable action film/espionage thriller anchored by the most believable Hollywood female actress who can do this type of films - Charlize Theron (Mad Max Fury Road).

She stars as Lorraine Broughton, an MI6 agent sent to Berlin to look for their embedded station chief David Percival (James McAvoy having fun in full Eurotrash regalia) and locate a list of Western spies before others get it.

Told in flashback while in a debriefing with British (Toby Jones) and American (John Goodman) as their country's representatives, Atomic Blonde is a stylized violent film with great production design that showcases the gaudy neon lighting and the music of that era. The director David Leitch who's also a stunt choreographer in films such as the first John Wick and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot knows his stuff. Be on the lookout for the extended action scene that is just amazing to watch. 

Just like what Goodman says in the beginning of the film: "Don't trust anyone". The spy thriller part of the film might be confusing at times but the great cast and Theron's scenes with the beautiful Sofia Boutella brings back memories of her Oscar winning performance in Monster.

MOVIE REVIEW: Dunkirk

Dunkirk is director Christopher Nolan's first historical true to life drama. He actually created a masterpiece that's completely different from other World War II films. It is a movie going experience that needs to be watched on the big screen. You're gonna feel the same sound and terror those young Allied soldiers felt when they were being evacuated from Dunkirk Beach in Northern France from the invading Germans. It is a tale of survival and the triumph of the human spirit.

Comparison to Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan is inevitable given the same location and time frame but make no mistake about it, they are two different films. Dunkirk has less gore but you're gonna empathize with the soldiers as they walk the sands with uncertainty. Death maybe somewhere nearby. The movie is shot from three different perspectives: from the land, air and sea. Dialogue is also minimal. There is certainly no time for kilometric dialogues in those times. At a running time of an hour and 47 minutes, Dunkirk is shorter than other war films.

Like in other Nolan movies, he assembled a great set of actors for Dunkirk. From Academy Award nominees Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy to Oscar winner Mark Rylance in another nominee worthy performance. They were as always remarkable. The newcomers also held their own - Fionn Whitehead and One Direction's Harry Styles as the young British soldiers. The fans of the British pop superstar can rest assure that he has a second career as an actor. Nolan regular Cillian Murphy is also in the film.

MOVIE REVIEW: War For The Planet Of The Apes

The film provides the best conclusion in a series (based from what they say) this decade. War For The Planet Of The Apes is the grandest (the battle scenes echoes The Lord Of The Rings series), outstanding Visual Effects (arguably the frontrunner in next year's Academy Awards) that actually compliments the emotional feel of the characters. This is Andy Serkis best work ever and he gave the film its heart with his Caesar portrayal. 

The battle between the humans and the apes shifts to the forest as they face off for the survival of the fittest. The humans headed by a ruthless Coronel Woody Harrelson captured all the apes that they see with some even turning their backs on their kind and joining their nemesis. Caesar as their de facto leader avoids war as much as possible but due to what he sees - he has no choice but to fight for them. There are scenes that echoes the famous jailbreak movies of the seventies and even Schindler's List and that's a compliment.

The movie is a spectacle best seen on the big screen. There is action and emotion in it's full sized glory. The creatures are indeed just like us and War For The Planet of the Apes proved it.

MOVIE REVIEW: A Ghost Story

What happens when we die unexpectedly? There are different answers but the movie A Ghost Story shows it in a lyrical and a beautiful way. Shot on a shoestring budget and filmed on an "Instagram" frame - according to its director David Lowery (Pete's Dragon), it is one of the most original films in recent memory.

The reigning Academy Award Best Actor winner Casey Affleck (in his first film after his Oscar winning performance in Manchester by the Sea) and two time nominee Rooney Mara stars as a young couple simply named C and M respectively. He dies in a car accident and comes as a ghost wrapped in a white sheet from the hospital and comes back to the house just to be with the wife.

The film's title is apt. It really is a ghost story and aside from that, it's also a study on grief on both the deceased and the ones they left behind. It's running time of an hour and 27 minutes is short but make no mistake, A Ghost Story feels long due to some scenes that needs to be absorbed to be one with the characters. It is a divisive tactic and I'm with the ones who loved the treatment. If you're a fan of the lead actors and independent cinema then the film is a can't miss.

MOVIE REVIEW: Baby Driver

Ansel Elgort (The Fault In Our Stars) delivers a star-making turn in Baby Driver. He plays the titular character - a young driver nicknamed Baby who's always on his iPod and earbuds (primarily due to his medical condition) as he drives bank robbers to their heist. He doesn't join them, he's just in the car and acts on the beat on whatever song is playing right now. The car chase scenes are so good that you will totally forget that there was a Fast and the Furious movie this year.

His main boss is Doc (vintage Kevin Spacey) whose henchmen ranging from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea to Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm showing off his comic side, all provide great sinister work without ever resorting to cartoon theatrics. Elgort holds his own against two Oscar winners (Spacey and Foxx) and an Emmy winner (Hamm) and that's no easy feat. Lily James (Cinderella) plays Baby's love interest in a complete turnaround from her Disney Princess role.

In my book Director Edgar Wright has made all good movies ranging from the Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End) to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Baby Driver though is his masterpiece. There are shades of Pulp Fiction, Heat, Drive as well as Wright's previous films. Baby Driver though is the most original, highly entertaining film of 2017. If there was an action-comedy-musical film, this is it!!

MOVIE REVIEW: The House

There is a good comedy film somewhere in The House, a movie about two loving parents Scott and Kate Johansen, played by comic greats Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler, who resort to operating an underground casino in their friend's (Jason Mantzoukas) home in order to pay off their only child Alex (Ryan Simpkins) college tuition fund. 

There are some little funny moments in the film especially when Ferrell and Poehler are on the screen as parents. You can tell that some scenes are improvised and it works well. Another comic genius, Nick Kroll is in the film playing a corrupt local politician. He provides some spark in this film. 

The problem though with The House is that for a film with a short running time (88 minutes to be exact), it felt dreary. The scenes, especially in the underground casino just felt too long and there's a lot of unnecessary violence that's just too gross and repetitive. Not an even a glorified cameo by two time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner, channeling his character in 2010's The Town can save the film. There should have more scenes with him.

Writer Andrew John Cohen, making his directorial debut, penned the excellent Seth Rogen and Zac Efron's Neighbors (2014). Unfortunately, he also did wrote it's poorly written sequel last year as well as the dreadful Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates also starring Efron. The House falls into the second category. Cohen has promise but hopefully on his next film project, he can do better than this. The same goes for Ferrell and Poehler.

MOVIE REVIEW: Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming is a big improvement to the previous reboot by Sony/Marvel starring Andrew Garfield. The casting of Tom Holland as a way younger Peter Parker is just about right. The decision of incorporating it into the Marvel Cinematic Universe gives joy to the million of fans who love watching superheroes joining forces together on the big screen.

Set after last year's Captain America: Civil War where Holland's Spidey made his first appearance, the movie balances well between being a kid and it's pitfalls when you are given superhero powers and trying to prove something to the world. You can feel his angst and insecurities. The casting of Oscar winner Marisa Tomei as a more sultry Aunt May is a breathe of fresh air when you think of the character. It's also fun to see Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. reunite after starring in one of the underrated romantic comedies in the nineties Only You. The flirtation of Aunt May and Tony Stark also started in the last Captain America film and hopefully it will continue in the future films of Marvel Studios whether be it The Avengers or the next Spider-Man film. The film's strength is also in it's diverse cast from newcomers Jacob Batalon as Peter Parker's best friend Ned, the beautiful Laura Harrier and actress-singer Zendaya.

It's surprising to see the Batman of my generation Michael Keaton in a Marvel movie. He plays Adrian Toomes aka Vulture the film's villain. As a film buff, my only concern of his casting is that his costume is very similar to the one he wore in his Oscar winning film three years ago Birdman. 

Spider-Man: Homecoming has a lot of easter eggs hidden for the comic book and film buffs

to discover and you won't be disappointed.

MOVIE REVIEW: Alien: Covenant

Five years after the polarizing Prometheus, the prequel series gets back on the right track with Alien: Covenant. An excellent production design anchored by a strong performance by Michael Fassbender plus all the gore that's missing from the recent sci-fi movies. Director Ridley Scott clearly still has the magic dust left from his last film also of the same genre: the highly entertaining The Martian.

Those who felt confused or haven't seen Prometheus need not worry, there's a good explanation on how this film is connected. Set in a remote planet that resembles earth, Alien: Covenant brought back the fun that went missing in the last three films in the series. It also has the feel of Star Wars: Rogue One being in another uncharted planet where the conflict all happens with more carnage and tension. I'm now looking forward to the next two films that will eventually bring us to the start of the one that started it all: 1979's Alien.

MOVIE REVIEW: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Disney/Marvel took a risk with the first Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014 since it's one of the lesser known comic books in the company, Fortunately it became a big box office hit with its irreverent humor and great chemistry from the cast.

Vol. 2 retains the best qualities of the first film. It however has the beautiful psychedelic like visuals last seen in Doctor Strange and some great cameos that will make you smile. The soundtrack also offers more obscure songs (compared to Vol. 1) from the past yet it worked and blended well in the movie.

This sequel is all about family. From fathers to father figures and friends you consider to call your own. Don't be surprised if some tears come out of your eyes especially in one of the final scenes of the film.

Chris Pratt shines more in this sequel since his character Peter Quill found his father Ego (a magnificent Kurt Russell). The two provide most of the best scenes in the film minus the action and if there's ever an award for casting, this is a surefire nominee.

Guardians Vol. 2 is one fun movie that will make you wish for more of the Marvel misfits on the big screen.

MOVIE REVIEW: Smurfs: The Lost Village

The first fully animated feature film in the franchise, Smurfs: The Lost Village goes back to its TV animated roots of my generation's childhood. It's a delight to see the blue elf like creatures back in their natural habitat devoid of live action and Neil Patrick Harris. The animation is modern yet it doesn't measure up to the charm of the TV series in old school 2D. 

The film is basically about Smurfette (voiced by pop superstar Demi Lovato), the only female in the village. It is a good premise since we were all wondering when we were kids on why she's the only one. The answer lies on this film with the old Smurf gang and the villain Gargamel (voiced by Rainn Wilson this time, a step back from Hank Azaria's commendable turn in the 2 live action animation films) and his cat and sidekick Azrael. The  new additions are the Forbidden Forest and what's inside. I won't spoil it but it certainly preps up for more films in the series.

Smurfs: The Lost Village could have been better as a film but undoubtedly it has a heart. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Ghost in the Shell

I entered the theater without any prior background and knowledge on the original source of the film. I only know the poster of the anime film and that my younger cousins were talking about it before during one of my stays in San Francisco.

Ghost in the Shell is basically a dark film whose brightness only comes from the neon lights and 3D larger than life hologram images in an unnamed city. Scarlett Johansson, in a slight variation of her titular role in 2014's Lucy plays Major, a human saved from an accident and cyber-enhanced to fight crime. She will soon discover that it ain't the truth while a new kind of criminal that can hack into people minds bring havoc to them. 

The production design is awesome but not necessarily groundbreaking. We had seen it before in other films such as Blade Runner and even the first Lego Movie. Oscar winner Juliette Binoche playing Dr. Ouelet is the film's heart and uber cool Japanese actor Takeshi Kitano steals some scenes as the lead's big boss Aramaki. The two mentioned are the standouts among the supporting actors.

Ghost in the Shell is best seen on the big screen. It enhances the films visual appeal. There's bound to be questions on Johnson's casting of the lead character but otherwise it's entertaining to watch.

MOVIE REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast

Disney's live action remake of the first animated film to be ever nominated for the Best Picture Oscar back in 1991 stays faithful to the original material and yet still comes off as fresh, thanks to an amazing cast anchored by the fully grown (from her Hermione days in the Harry Potter series) and beautiful Emma Watson and Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens, hidden 95% in the movie in prosthetics makeup as the Beast. The two leads can also carry a tune!!

Whatever the animated movie lacked, this Bill Condon directed film made it up by adding some new songs also composed by its original songwriter Alan Menken which further enhances the characters feelings. In my opinion, the showstopping "Be Our Guest", sung by Ewan McGregor channeling his Moulin Rouge character Christian, outdid the original one and the iconic dance number with Emma Thompson being a worthy successor to Angela Lansbury's Mrs. Potts singing the title song was beautifully shot and gracefully choreographed.

Luke Evans was born to play Gaston. He showed off his vocal chops that was well known in his stint on the West End stage and Josh Gad provides comic relief with some innuendos as his sidekick Le Fou. The film also stars the great Ian McKellen as Cogsworth and for diversity Broadway's sweet voice Audra McDonald as the new character Garderobe and the ravishing Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette.

The film bridges the gap between those who first saw the first animated film and their kids that they are bringing in watching this new version. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Kong: Skull Island

This is a fresh take on a classic Hollywood icon that delivers a solid piece of entertainment that touches base on every demographic of the movie going public. The setting this time is 1973, after U.S President Richard Nixon announces the withdrawal of American troops in Vietnam. Some were asked to do a one last mission before heading home. Led by Samuel L. Jackson's Packard, they would accompany scientists on an uncharted island in the Pacific and solve some mysteries coming in from that place that left people scratching their heads.

Part monster movie and part war movie, Kong: Skull Island succeeds thanks to its solid cast from Tom Hiddleston as a British mercenary to Oscar winner Brie Larson as a photographer documenting the journey. John C. Reilly is winsome as a World War II survivor stuck on the island and John Goodman is at his usual best as the company that initiated the journey to Skull Island. It's nice to know that the film was partly shot in Vietnam - most scenes in the film echo Apocalypse Now. This only is Jordan Vogt-Roberts second film and I'm looking forward to a few more in the series if we base it on the post end credits scene.

MOVIE REVIEW: T2 Trainspotting

The cast and director of one of the groundbreaking indie films of the nineties Trainspotting reunite for the sequel that absolutely no one asked for but since there's already one then it's worth a look. After the first film, it's director Danny Boyle became an Academy Award winner thanks to 2008's Slumdog Millionaire, it's lead actor Ewan McGregor a global superstar and Jonny Lee Miller tabloid fodder thanks to his short lived marriage to Angelina Jolie.

When Renton (McGregor) goes back home to Edinburgh to reconnect with his old chums Spud (Ewen Bremmer) whose life is still in turmoil and Sick Boy (Miller) who now runs a prostitution and blackmail ring with partner Veronika (cast newbie Anjela Nedyalkova) , he got more than what he expected when Begbie (Robert Carlyle) unexpectedly shows up to settle some score.

Boyle based the sequel from the original Trainspotting book by Irvine Welsh as well as it's follow up Porno. It doesn't do any justice since the film shows lack of coherence. But in signature style of the director, the brilliant shots and editing are there as well as outstanding music.

If you are a fan of the first film then by all means watch T2. It's such a marvel seeing the same cast do it of their love and gratitude from now classic movie.

Just don't have any high expectations.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Great Wall

Legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou's first English language feature is a spectacle. It is beautifully shot with excellent costumes and top notch production design. The hiring of A-list Hollywood superstar Matt Damon is a feat in himself and if I'm the Oscar winning actor/screenwriter, I say "Why not??" Yimou has an excellent filmography among them the visually outstanding spectacles Hero, House of Flying Daggers and Curse of the Golden Flower as well as my personal favorite the quiet and touching Not One Less which proved that he can also tell a story without the aid of visual effects.

There's a lot of stories of how the Great Wall of China was built and for what purpose. The film tackles one that's suitable for the big screen: to protect the land against the Taotie, a deadly lizard like beast with paranormal strength and ability. Matt Damon enters the picture as William, a mercenary caught just outside the wall with his companion Tovar played by Pedro Pascal from Game of Thrones. After the two have shown to the army that they have killed a Taotie and shown them a claw, they all have joined forces to fight the mythical monsters.
The Great Wall is the first collaboration of Legendary Pictures with it's Chinese partners and as a form of big screen entertainment. it's commendable. However with the amount of talents involved both from Hollywood (Damon, Pascal, Willem Dafoe and screenwriter Tony Gilroy among others) and the East (Andy Lau, Tian Jing and Yimou) it could have been better. There's something missing in its writing and despite the visual spectacle, the film is just like one of those CGI Hollywood films that lacks character and emotion.
U.S. President Donald Trump could learn a thing or two on how a wall no matter how tall or strong can still be invaded. Don't discount the element of surprise and teamwork of those who have been persecuted.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Lego Batman Movie

Lego continues to work wonders in the movie world with The Lego Batman Movie. Just like in the first film three years ago where the Caped Crusader was a part of the cast of familiar and endearing pop culture characters, the film is flooded with well known superheroes and villains in the DC and Warner Brothers film universe. Some expected and some will totally surprise you in a pleasant way.

The film begins in a style that echoes last year's excellent comic book movie Deadpool and yet it mocks rival Marvel with a password that put downs one of its famous characters that equals the same traits of Batman and his alter ego Bruce Wayne.

The voice actors from The Lego Movie led by Will Arnett as Batman still remain and unless you still remember the talents behind the voices in the film, you should definitely stay thru the end credits and it will fun knowing who the actors voiced, most especially the new characters that weren't around in the fist movie.

The Lego Batman Movie also pays homage to previous films starring the Caped Crusader and unlike the recent live action ones, this is one Batman movie that brought back the fun in the character that's prominent in the old animated TV series. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Split

Writer/Director M. Night Shymalan is back in the game with Split, his new thriller that also gives us moviegoers a lesson or two about Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. In layman terms, it's multiple personality disorder and actor James McAvoy who probably made this film after an X-Men film since his head is shaved, gives an outstanding performance as a troubled man with different personas (23 of them to be exact) all inside of him.

When three girls, the socially awkward Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), best friends Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula) were randomly kidnapped by one of McAvoy's identity in broad daylight after a birthday party, the rest of the film all comes down to the house by the lead character and the psychologist Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley)'s home/office in which he seeks help. 

Split has the claustrophobic atmosphere that really gets to you and in vintage Shymalan form (aside from his annoying cameo) brings you a pleasant surprise especially if you admired one of his best works after his groundbreaking hit The Sixth Sense. 

MOVIE REVIEW: La La Land

A love letter to old Hollywood and jazz music, La La Land is a beautiful musical spectacle best seen on the big screen. In their third big screen team up after Crazy Stupid Love and Gangster Squad, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone proved even more that they have great chemistry. They made the right decision to do it for this is the best among the films that they made together.

Emma Stone plays Mia Dolan, an aspiring actress who works at a coffee star inside a movie studio in Hollywood. Gosling is Sebastian, a struggling jazz musician/pianist who dreams is to open up his own jazz club. La La Land is basically the story of dreamers who wanna make it big in the city and the challenges that they face in achieving that.

In only his second major film after the award winning Whiplash, director Damien Chazelle proved that he ain't a one hit wonder. His love of jazz still lingers in the film and also he magically combined it with a tribute to the movie musical set today. However, La La Land keeps it grounded providing it with an ending that's real and haunting. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Hidden Figures

Let's start 2017 on a positive note with Hidden Figures. It is the ultimate feel-good movie about a vital element of human history in relation to space exploration that we are not aware of .

The film is the true story of the three African-American lady mathematicians who played a vital role in the Mercury Program of NASA and helped the United States win the race to space against the Soviet Union. It wasn't that easy for them since it was during the time of racial segregation in the U.S. South and they're all women, which it all accounts is a double whammy.

The three lead actresses: Oscar winner Octavia Spencer (Dorothy Vaughan), nominee Taraji P. Henson (Katherine Johnson) and singer Janelle Monae (Mary Jackson) in only her second film after the excellent Moonlight, all give outstanding performances as the pioneering ladies of NASA who broke barriers. Kevin Costner is at his all vintage self as their big boss. Jim Parsons making a 360 turn from his iconic nerd role in TV's The Big Bang Theory, plays one too albeit a racist one. Kirsten Dunst is also in the film playing Spencer's mean supervisor whose heart can easily be melted when the call arises. Monae's Moonlight co-star Mahershala Ali is also in the cast playing Johnson's love interest.
Hidden Figures succeeds because it's one hell of an inspirational tale with all the right elements released in a perfect time where we question equality and tolerance not only in the United States but also worldwide.