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.