I Kill Giants (2018)

I Kill Giants (2018)

6/10

Starring

Madison Wolfe

Imogen Poots

Sydney Wade

Zoe Saldana

Directed by Anders Walter

I Kill Giants is a fun movie that delivers a moving fantasy with enough depth to keep you intrigued and entertained throughout its runtime.

The movie is like an onion—there are many layers to uncover as you peel back each one. It’s an adaptation of Joe Kelly and Ken Niimura’s graphic novel I Kill Giants and tells the tale of a young girl dealing with both internal and external demons. By her side are her sister, therapist, and only friend, as they try to keep her from going off the deep end in her struggles.

This magical journey comes with good graphics, and the directing is something to admire. The director did a great job merging reality with fantasy, creating a seamless blend that enhances the story.

Our hero and giant killer is Barbara. She’s convinced that she’s the one chosen to save the world from the giants coming to destroy everyone. She sets traps for them and hunts them with her specially crafted weapon designed to kill giants. In her little bag is her hammer-like weapon named Coveleski.

Barbara knows everything there is to know about giants—the different kinds, what they eat, and how they hunt. She carries a book filled with her extensive research on these creatures and is hellbent on stopping them to save the world.

Her problem is further compounded by her behavior. She distances herself from others and isn’t afraid to stand up to bullies. Her many antics to avoid being around people showcase her deep imagination, and her internal struggles often cause her to break down on screen.

One day, she meets Sophia, a young girl who moved to America from Leeds, England. Their relationship faces many bumps, largely caused by Barbara’s instability. Sophia is a good person, and no matter how bad things get between them, she always has Barbara’s back when it matters most.

Then there’s the therapist, Mrs. Molle. She’s also trying hard to be there for Barbara, but Barbara’s outbursts and constant instability make it difficult. Finally, there’s Karen, Barbara’s sister, who bears the brunt of the burden. She’s working hard to care for the family, doing her best to be there for Barbara, her brother, and everything else.

The movie is a cool rollercoaster, deeply revealing the struggles people face in getting by. I advise you to take the time to see this movie—you’ll be glad you did.

Venom (2018)

Venom (2018)

6/10

Starring

Tom Hardy

Michelle Williams

Riz Ahmed

Directed by Ruben Fleischer

Okay, some sloppy writing and plenty of killings are the traits of this Venom movie, and I have to say it was fun to watch.

The movie didn’t have the Disney/Marvel magic, but Sony has found another goldmine, and the end-credits scene introducing Carnage was awesome. Sony has decided to turn this into a franchise, with many more Venom movies to come.

Our Eddie Brock is played by Tom Hardy, and he’s well-suited for the role. For me, he was the best thing the movie had to offer, and it was fun seeing the way he and Venom merged and took on the world.

You might not be a fan of the movie’s frequent changes in pace—one moment we’re in a high-speed chase, the next there’s a long monologue. Then we’re climbing skyscrapers, only to leave a note and move on. Aside from the inconsistency in tone and the fact that no one else really matches up to Tom Hardy’s performance, this was a fun movie.

Marvel might have to wait a long time before they can get their hands on the Spider-Man franchise again. As we all know, Sony has a huge well of characters in this franchise that they can spin off into their own stories.

The movie starts with an intro into Eddie Brock’s life. He’s an investigative journalist who goes after bad guys and doesn’t seem to care how he gets things done. Brock is given a case to cover a man named Carlton Drake. To the world, Carlton is a good person trying to make the world a better place, but as we soon see, the opposite is true. Carlton has a moral problem—he’s focused on results, and it doesn’t matter to him who gets hurt in the process.

Brock decides to go after Carlton, and it costs him his job, his livelihood, and his girlfriend, who also loses her job.

Carlton is the one who brought the symbiotes to Earth, and he’s been testing them on humans, hoping to find a suitable host. Things get dark very quickly, and one of the research scientists reaches out to Eddie to investigate. Eddie breaks into the facility and, while searching around, sees a homeless woman he recognizes. He breaks her out, but she attacks him, transfers her symbiote into him, and then dies.

That symbiote is Venom. Eddie and Venom begin a relationship that doesn’t go well at first. Venom, like the other symbiotes, initially plans to turn Earth into a feeding ground, but he later changes his mind (yeah, the mind-changing was a bit silly), and he and Eddie decide to work together to bring down Carlton.

The movie has been a huge financial success for Sony, and we can rest assured more movies will follow.

Searching (2018)

Searching (2018)

8/10

Starring

John Cho

Debra Messing

Directed by Aneesh Chaganty

There are great movies, and there are good movies… Searching is a great movie. I just never could tell what was going to happen at every turn. The determined father who refuses to let anyone stop him from finding his daughter is such an inspirational tale, and this movie tells it brilliantly.

The ending of this movie is a twist you’ll never see coming. I could never, in my wildest imagination, have predicted such an ending. And just when I thought I had a handle on what really happened to Margot (that’s the name of the missing girl), the movie wasn’t done yet. There was another twist waiting, followed by an ending that provided full closure.

The movie revolves around two main characters, played by John Cho and Debra Messing. Cho plays David Kim, the father of the missing girl Margot, and his portrayal is out-of-this-world amazing.

The movie starts with the introduction of David Kim (John Cho) and his family. He’s married to Pamela, and they have a daughter named Margot.

David is struggling to maintain a good relationship with his daughter since Pam’s passing. We see this struggle as he chats with Margot. One day, David wakes up to two missed calls from Margot. He calls back, but there’s no answer. He waits and sends her a bunch of messages, but still no response.

He calls the cops, and Detective Rosemary Vick (Debra Messing) is assigned to the case. They continue their search for Margot, with David always leading the charge. He breaks into his daughter’s social media accounts and contacts everyone who might know anything about her.

At first, this doesn’t help much, but Debra keeps investigating and uncovers things about Margot—like a secret cash account, a fake driver’s license, and a money trail that suggests Margot ran away.

David refuses to give up and keeps digging, uncovering clues that make it seem like something bad might have happened to Margot. But what?

The “what” is something you’ll have to watch to find out.

The movie was written and directed by filmmaker Aneesh Chaganty, and I can see great things coming his way if he continues like this. The directing is top-notch, and the way the movie is put together is impressive. We see the actors through live streams, video calls, and webcams, experiencing things from their perspective. It’s just brilliant.

Searching was a critical success and, commercially, made over 70 million from a 1 million budget. It goes to show that you don’t need a mega-budget to make a great movie.

If you haven’t seen Searching, go watch it now—you’ll be glad you did.

Blindspotting (2018)

Blindspotting (2018)

6/10

Starring

Daveed Diggs

Rafael Casal

Directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada

Blindspotting isn’t a movie for every screen, even though this drama-comedy can resonate with anyone who watches it.

What I really enjoyed is how two lifelong friends of mixed race (one Black and the other white) grow and have their lives redefined by what they experience. While, like me, you might not be fully on board with some of the dream sequences and cutaway scenes that delve into the lead’s mind, the movie itself showcases excellent screenwriting.

The film’s transition from what initially appears to be a comedy to a dramatic, soul-searching journey of two men trying to understand life’s dynamics is cool to see.

The movie’s plot revolves around a man on parole named Collin (Daveed Diggs). Collin has three days left on his parole and wants to keep his nose clean to finish it without issues. What seems like a hindrance to this is his childhood friend Miles (Rafael Casal). Miles refuses to let go of his old, childish ways and be responsible, and Collin fears that Miles could become a problem.

That fear is deepened by Collin’s ex, who keeps saying that Collin wouldn’t have gone to jail if Miles had been a better friend.

Collin was involved in a fight that he initially handled alone. Miles, who was sitting nearby, saw the fight and jumped in to help his friend beat up the other person. Collin ends up going to jail, but Miles never stopped being there for him. However, Collin’s ex sees it differently—she left him when he was thrown in jail and believes Miles is Collin’s biggest problem.

Collin’s life doesn’t get any easier when he witnesses a white cop gun down a Black man who was running away from being arrested. Adding this to the current issues swirling in his head, Collin is trying to deal with everything—including Miles—while looking out for himself.

The movie does one thing right that I really enjoyed: it addresses the difficulty of being there for your friends. People always have ideas about how best you can support them or someone else, but they rarely consider whether the other person knows better. They also don’t care if the person is being there for their friend in the best way they know how.

Blindspotting is fun, enjoyable, and a good movie to watch anytime. It has gained great critical reviews from both critics and audiences, as well as award recognition for its work.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

7/10

Starring

James Franco

Brendan Gleeson

Zoe Kazan

Liam Neeson

Tim Blake Nelson

Tom Waits

Directed by the Coen brothers

Wow!!!

That’s how I felt when I got to the end of this film. This American western anthology film is written, directed, and produced by the Coen brothers. They felt it best to have Netflix finance their movie, as no other studio dared to take on their unique project.

To be candid, this is a masterpiece of a movie. The storytelling is engaging at every turn, and the brothers love to keep the suspense going, with each tale ending in a way you could never have imagined.

Add to that the music included in some of the stories—especially the first one—which is just magical and entertaining.

The movie is a collection of six short western stories. It starts with a view of an old book titled The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and Other Tales of the American Frontier. Each story kicks off with a picture of a scene from the tale. A hand then appears to turn the page, revealing the story, and we’re transported into its world.

Now, Buster Scruggs’ story is just the first. His tale is about him going around singing and killing anyone who isn’t friendly. His story has an ending you’ll find very amusing.

Next, we witness a bank robber who picked the wrong bank to rob. He goes in expecting to leave with all the money, but the cashier has more than a few screws loose. He stops the robber, who is then sentenced to be hanged. The hanging doesn’t go as planned, and neither does anything that follows. The tale comes full circle for our bank robber.

The third tale is titled Meal Ticket, which perfectly describes it. A traveler goes around with a performer who has no arms or legs. The performer’s gift is his ability to recite Shakespeare and other literary works. Their tale is one I’ll leave for you to see.

The fourth tale was somehow my second favorite, right after Buster Scruggs’. Here, we see a man digging for gold, determined in his pursuit. It’s how his tale ends that makes this story so cool.

The fifth tale ties for second place with the fourth for me—I can’t seem to separate the two. This is a tragic story about a woman who lost her brother and is struggling to get by on her travels. A man takes her under his wing to care for her.

The last tale is my third favorite. It takes place in a stagecoach where five passengers discuss life and their views on it. It also features some beautiful songs.

So, the first tale takes the top spot—very entertaining. The fourth and fifth tales tie for second place. The sixth tale comes in fourth, the second tale is fifth, and I didn’t fancy Meal Ticket much at all.

Go see this movie on Netflix—you’ll be glad you did.

Destination Wedding (2018)

Destination Wedding (2018)

4/10

Starring

Winona Ryder

Keanu Reeves

Directed by Victor Levin

Well, two people who happen to be meant for each other meet on the way to a destination wedding and fall in love. You know, that thing that never happens ever? Everything that never happens ever happens in this movie.

You could argue that’s the point of movies—creating an atmosphere where dreams and wishes come to life. But I beg to disagree. A little bit of reality helps ground movies and makes them more fun and entertaining.

The movie itself wasn’t that funny—it was everything but that. Romance is also something I wondered about, as its presence was barely noticeable.

The lead male character, Frank (Keanu Reeves), was rude, annoying, and just not the kind of person you’d expect anyone to like. The lead female character, Lindsay (Winona Ryder), was too pushy with him, and I didn’t see why that was allowed to continue after the two had sex.

The movie seemed overly excited about the two getting together, so we spend a long time watching them talk about things you could easily skip through. The director was so caught up in the idea of his characters discovering themselves that he forgot we, the audience, couldn’t care less.

This romantic comedy, as I described above, is about two people, Lindsay and Frank. They’re invited to the wedding of Frank’s stepbrother, who happens to be Lindsay’s ex from over five years ago.

The couple meets at the airport on their way to board a small plane to the wedding location. The plane seats eight, and from the moment they meet, standing beside each other, things don’t go well.

They have a banter at the airport and another on the plane. When they get off, one car is sent to pick them up and take them to the hotel, where they end up in rooms next to each other. They’re also seated together at the rehearsal dinner.

The two never stop going at each other, with Frank being the sort of person you’d bet you’ve read about somewhere. He probably has some kind of socializing issue, but he manages to get over that after the two have sex.

What led to the sexual encounter is the most annoying thing ever, and the act itself was not fun to watch—it went on for way too long. They kept talking and discussing things that were just awkward.

In the end, like every romantic movie, they couldn’t do without each other. What a load of crap.

Sorry To Bother You (2018)

Sorry To Bother You (2018)

4/10

Starring

Lakeith Stanfield

Tessa Thompson

Jermaine Fowler

Directed Boots Riley

Sorry to Bother You starts off by presenting itself as a movie trying to attack how much we rely on ignorance about what wealthy companies do with our freedom. It also critiques the way capitalism consumes the existence of those who aren’t in the top one percent. Finally, the movie tries to address racial discrepancies in how people are treated based on how they sound.

All of the above makes it seem like you’re about to watch a movie with a strong political statement, masked with enough comedy to keep you glued. I have to apologize to those who found this movie entertaining and its message worth experiencing because, to me, this movie was crap.

The acting didn’t jump out at you. Our lead, Cassius (Lakeith Stanfield), is looking for a job in an economy that seems to have drained the whole society. He lives in his uncle’s garage and is barely getting by. He lands a job in telemarketing and tries to make as many sales as possible to earn enough commission to build a life.

On TV, there’s a constant ad for a company offering people free food, accommodation, and no utility bills—if they’re willing to sign their lives away. The catch? You’ll live in a dormitory-like setting with no privacy.

Cassius considers this but chooses not to be trapped. At work, his colleagues are organizing to push back against the company, but instead of joining them, he stabs his friends in the back. He takes a promotion due to his outstanding performance, choosing money over loyalty.

Things start to unravel quickly. He loses his girlfriend and soon discovers the cruel intentions of the company offering a “free life.” He then realizes who he’s really working for.

If you still choose to see this movie, I wish you luck because I think the message has been better extracted here in this review.

To me, it felt like a short film stretched over too many reels. The message could have been delivered in 15 minutes instead of the over-an-hour-and-a-half runtime they used to convey it. People are already aware of these issues and, frankly, don’t care.

Yes, we know what Facebook is doing with our personal data, but we still don’t care. We continue to post on social media despite all the negative things we’ve heard.

Fake news is spreading, and we’ve become workhorses for these companies. We don’t get paid for the money we help them make but are fed anxiety and fleeting pleasures instead.

Yes, everyone is aware of the crimes committed by these tech giants, but we don’t care because we’re hooked. We’re hooked, and this movie kept losing itself in the obscure reality of things, failing to entertain even a little.

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Death Becomes Her (1992)

6/10

Starring

Meryl Streep

Goldie Hawn

Bruce Willis

 

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

In 1992, we got to see Meryl Streep in a comedy. She decided to branch out into a role she’s not well known for, and honestly, it wasn’t so spectacular.

It’s not that she doesn’t have the artistry to pull off comedy—it’s just that we’re not familiar with that side of her. That said, Bruce Willis and Goldie Hawn were completely comfortable in their roles in this comedy.

Produced and directed by Robert Zemeckis, this fantasy comedy is about two women obsessed with making each other unhappy. Their rivalry didn’t sit well as they aged, and both decided to take a dip in the fountain of youth.

The story starts with Madeline (Meryl Streep) stealing Helen’s (Goldie Hawn) man, Dr. Ernest (Bruce Willis). Helen was sure Madeline would do such a thing because, since they were young, that had always been Madeline’s goal.

Helen is heartbroken and ends up in a mental institution after Madeline marries Ernest. All she could think about was getting even with Madeline. Years later, Helen wrote a book and got her life back on track.

She invites Madeline and Ernest to her book launch, but when Madeline sees her, Helen isn’t the same overweight woman she once knew. Helen has transformed into a skinny, sexy-looking lady who appears to be in her thirties despite being in her fifties.

Helen starts pulling the strings of her game, telling Madeline that she has forgiven her and blames Ernest for not being faithful. The twist is what she tells Ernest—that she has forgiven him and blames Madeline for stealing him away. Together, they start planning Madeline’s murder.

Madeline goes to see her plastic surgeon, hoping for more surgery, but she’s turned down. However, a man gives her a card for someone who can perform miracles. Madeline visits the woman, who looks thirty but claims to be seventy-one.

The woman reveals the secret to her beauty and youth: an expensive potion. Madeline pays a hefty sum for it and, after drinking it, her youth is restored. The woman explains the conditions for using the potion, the most important being that Madeline must take good care of her body.

Madeline returns home, and her newfound youth makes her prideful. She looks down on Ernest and starts insulting him. Ernest loses it and pushes her down the stairs, killing her—or so he thinks. The surprise of the day is that Madeline, with a broken wrist and neck, gets up and isn’t dead.

The movie was fun to watch, even if Meryl seemed out of place in her role. The focus was mainly on the three characters, and despite Streep’s discomfort, the movie was still enjoyable.

Willis and Hawn were on point, making the comedy hit home. Honestly, I’m surprised this movie hasn’t had a reboot yet.

Soapdish (1991)

Soapdish (1991)

7/10

Starring

Sally Fields

Kevin Kline

Robert Downey Jr.

Cathy Moriarty

Directed by Michael Hoffman

Done almost entirely on a soap opera set, this movie is just off-the-hook funny. There’s nothing negative to say about it other than there was too much drama—great drama, though.

What’s not to like in this movie? Comedy was everywhere and was everything this movie was about. Dramatic scenes were tossed around, and the acting was so good it made you appreciate movies even more.

The movie was filled with beautiful actors, all delivering fantastic performances: Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Robert Downey Jr., and Cathy Moriarty. They were supported by a talented cast, including Elisabeth Shue, Whoopi Goldberg, and brief appearances by Teri Hatcher and the late Carrie Fisher.

The movie’s plot takes place on the set of a soap opera called The Sun Also Sets. The star of the show is Celeste Talbert (Sally Field), who has won the Daytime Drama Award for Best Actress multiple times. She’s gathered a following of fans and enemies alike.

A duo, David (Robert Downey Jr.) and Montana (Cathy Moriarty), team up against Celeste, aiming to take her down. Montana wants to be the new face of the show, while David’s goal is to get Montana into bed, bending to her every will.

Their plan was going smoothly until a young woman, Lori (Elisabeth Shue), broke into the set and luckily landed a role. David and Montana planned to create a scene where Celeste kills a young homeless woman, casting Lori in the role. However, things didn’t go as planned when they discovered Lori was Celeste’s niece.

Lori was happy to take the role to be close to her aunt and surprise her, which she did. This forced David and Montana to change the script. This time, they decided to bring back someone from Celeste’s past: a former lover and cast member, Jeffrey Anderson (Kevin Kline).

Jeffrey had been kicked off the show by Celeste two decades ago. His return made Celeste unstable, and she started acting out. Things escalated when Jeffrey began dating Lori. He wanted to take advantage of Lori to get back at Celeste.

When Celeste flipped out over their relationship, David and Montana tightened the screws by writing a scene where Jeffrey and Lori share a passionate kiss.

I have to stop here because this is where everything in the movie gets really interesting.

The movie wasn’t much of a hit when it was released, but to me, it’s one of those films that just missed the recognition it deserved.

I advise you to go see this movie—it’s totally worth the time.

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

7/10

Starring

Tyler Labine

Alan Tudyk

Directed by Eli Craig

At first glance, the thought that crossed my mind was, “Darn, another movie about young adults getting killed in the woods.” Well, it is another movie about young adults getting killed in the woods, but this time, the teenagers are the bad guys.

Tucker and Dale vs Evil is a movie that turns things on their head very quickly. It’s a film that takes the phrase “looks can be misleading” and builds an entire castle with it. It starts with an idea of how everything is going to end and then takes you on a wild ride to get there. The whole topsy-turvy dynamic of the characters is something that will take you by surprise. It’s like everyone assumed the worst about everyone else and ran with that idea instead of stopping to consider other possibilities.

Guaranteed to leave you smiling by the end, this movie is well-scripted to be entertaining, thrilling, and packed with fun on all sides. The acting is top-notch, and the characters seem tailor-made for each actor—kudos to the casting director.

The movie’s plot starts with a nosy reporter trying to get juicy details about a crime scene where multiple murders took place. Then, we’re taken three days back to see what led to the incident that landed the reporter in the morgue.

A group of young adults is heading on a trip to the woods when, on the way, they come across two scruffy-looking men, one of whom is staring at the girls.

They realize they forgot to buy beer and decide to stop nearby to pick some up at a store. Meanwhile, the two men they saw—Tucker and Dale—are also going on a trip. They just bought an old, abandoned house in the woods and decided to go fishing and have some fun (innocent fun, just two friends chilling).

Tucker notices that Dale has a thing for one of the girls in the group and tells him to walk up to her and say hi. Dale’s nervousness makes him come off as scary as he mumbles, which frightens the girl and her friends.

Later, in the woods, the same girl decides to go swimming with her friends. She jumps into the water and hits her head. Tucker and Dale save her from drowning, but when they’re retrieving her unconscious body from the water, her friends see something else entirely. To them, the hillbillies look like they’ve killed their friend and are taking her body away. Tucker and Dale see her friends scream and run off, leaving them confused about why they’d abandon their friend.

They take her to their vacation home and care for her, while her friends start plotting ways to save her and kill the two hillbillies they believe are holding her against her will.

The movie wasn’t a box office success, even though it was a critical hit. It’s one of those films that never gets the attention it deserves. This is a movie that will slip under the radar for many viewers, but I hope you get to see and enjoy it as much as I did.

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

6/10

Starring

John David Washington

Adam Driver

Directed by Spike Lee

The idea of this movie—a Black man infiltrating the KKK—didn’t sit well with me at first. I dragged my feet before going to see it, but after watching, I have to say it was enjoyable. Now, to see this movie, if you happen to be black like me, you will need to suspend the idea of this actually being possible.

For me, this stands out as Spike Lee’s best work. The movie stars John David Washington and Adam Driver, both of whom delivered performances that deserve recognition. The film ends with footage from the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. We also see former KKK leader David Duke giving a speech to white supremacists and counter-protesters, followed by the car attack that led to the loss of life. The film concludes with a memorial to Heather Heyer, the victim of the attack.

The movie doesn’t hold back, presenting hate and racism in a raw and unflinching way.

The plot is set in the 1970s. Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), a local African-American, joins the Colorado Springs police force. Eager to be part of something significant, he requests a transfer to the intelligence unit.

While there, he sees a newspaper advertisement inviting people to join the Ku Klux Klan. He calls the number and, posing as a racist, uses the “N” word and other racial slurs to make his pre-interview go well. The problem arises when he’s asked to attend an in-person interview. How can a Black man show up for a KKK meeting?

He strikes a deal with his commanding officer: his colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), will be the face of Ron Stallworth, while Ron remains the voice. They pull it off, and the fun—and comedy—of the movie comes from the events that unfold as both men play the role of Ron Stallworth.

Their investigation takes them deep into the KKK, and they even get to meet David Duke himself.

The movie does a fine job with its writing, keeping you glued to the screen throughout. That said, the scenes focusing on Ron’s personal life and his romantic interest felt like the dull moments of the film.

In the end, this movie is worth the watch. At over 120 minutes, it’s a bit long, but you’ll make it through.

It’s been both a critical and commercial success for Spike Lee, and I hope his next movie is just as good.

Blade II (2002)

Blade II (2002)

6/10

Starring

Wesley Snipes

Kris Kristofferson

Ron Perlman

Directed by Guillermo Del Toro

With David S. Goyer penning a sequel to the critically successful Blade (1998) and Guillermo del Toro stepping in to direct, all you can expect is a good movie day.

Del Toro’s signature style—making everything warm and fuzzy at the start before diving into dark tragedy—is on full display here. He doesn’t disappoint, as this sequel starts with a huge battle involving what seems like too many players, only to clear the field for the major characters later on.

This was a solid follow-up to the first Blade. If you recall, Blade is a Dhampir (half-human, half-vampire). The movie steps up in terms of performances, action sequences, and directing, with del Toro proving himself a master of the craft. The only downside is the lack of character depth and a somewhat forced union that didn’t quite work on screen.

The plot doesn’t pick up directly where the first movie left off but instead jumps two years ahead. We see Blade (Wesley Snipes) searching for his mentor, Abraham Whistler. Blade has a new weaponsmith named Scud, who isn’t thrilled about Blade finding his mentor and bringing him back into the fold. As for Whistler’s condition—well, I won’t spoil that for you.

In the vampire underworld, a new virus called the Reaper Virus is causing chaos. Infected vampires are turning into Reapers, a mutated form of vampires immune to traditional vampire weaknesses—except for ultraviolet light. These creatures kill both humans and vampires. If a vampire survives a Reaper attack but is bitten, they turn into a Reaper too.

The vampire world has failed to contain the outbreak and decides to call a truce with Blade. They send their best warriors—trained to kill Blade—to ask for his help. They must stop the Reapers because once the vampires are wiped out, humans are next.

Their reluctant alliance leads them to capture a Reaper and dissect it to understand its weaknesses. They discover that Reapers look hideous and drained because their bodies feed on themselves if they don’t get external food. This gives them a half-day window to feed or die. They also find that the Reaper’s heart is protected by a bone at the front, leaving it vulnerable from the side. Additionally, Reapers heal faster and are stronger than regular vampires.

Blade must now find a way to stop this new threat before it spirals out of control. Along the way, he uncovers the true origin of the Reaper virus.

This is a good follow-up and a solid movie. As for the next sequel after this one—I won’t even bother mentioning it.

 

Blade (1998)

Blade (1998)

7/10

Starring

Wesley Snipes

Kris Kristofferson

Stephen Dorff

Directed by Stephen Norrington

Before we were dazzled by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the first true Marvel superhero movie to grace the screen was Blade in 1998. By this time, DC had already given us Superman and Batman movies that would forever be considered classics.

Released 20 years ago, Blade was such a masterpiece that it set the pace for every Marvel movie that followed. Written by David S. Goyer and starring Wesley Snipes in the titular role as Blade the vampire hunter, this dark superhero film has gained a cult following and was both a critical and commercial success at the time of its release.

The movie is about a Dhampir named Blade (Wesley Snipes). A Dhampir is half-human, half-vampire, and Blade possesses all the strengths of a vampire along with their weaknesses—except one: he’s a daywalker. Blade can walk in the sun without feeling the burn that other vampires experience.

Blade was raised by Abraham Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), a vampire hunter who became his weaponsmith, trainer, and mentor. Whistler took Blade under his wing after sparing his life when he noticed something different about him. Together, they became a force to be reckoned with, raiding vampire hideouts and standing as the only barrier keeping the vampire world at bay.

The movie focuses on a new threat rising within the vampire hierarchy. Vampires are divided into two groups: those born as vampires and those turned by being bitten. The born vampires believe they are superior to the turned ones. Among the turned vampires is a young, ambitious vampire named Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff). Frost wants to end the vampires’ life in the shadows and start a war between humans and vampires. He goes against the vampire elders, killing anyone who stands in his way. Frost’s strength comes from the support of younger vampires who share his beliefs.

To bring about this war, Frost needs to upgrade his power, which requires sacrifices. Blade, along with his team—Whistler and a young doctor who joins them after Blade saves her life—must stop Frost’s plans.

The movie culminates in an awesome final battle, making it a fun and thrilling watch. It was so successful that it paved the way for two sequels.

This is a cult classic and a movie you should watch as often as you can. This was the time we did not have the MCU or the DCEU churning out superhero movies one after the other, this was when to make one was a risk, so it needed to be done well.

The Grinch (2018)

The Grinch (2018)

5/10

Starring the voice of

Benedict Cumberbatch

Rashida Jones

Kenan Thompson

Directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney

Staying close to the source material, this 2018 adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is produced by Illumination, the studio behind the Despicable Me franchise.

This is the third adaptation of the book, and for me, it’s too bland. It never finds its own rhythm—or any rhythm at all. Yes, the Grinch’s heart was two sizes too small, and so was the fun this CGI animation delivered.

The 2000 live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey was a masterpiece of Christmas fun. It created its own story, added plenty of humor, and became a movie you could watch every Christmas alongside Home Alone.

The plot of this version goes like this: After a horrible childhood (of which we only get a glimpse), we meet the Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), who lives in the mountains above Whoville. The Grinch is mean, cruel, and very unlikable. What he hates most is the holidays, especially Christmas. He despises the singing and joy so much that he’d rather no one celebrate Christmas at all.

In Whoville, the town below, the residents have decided to make this year’s Christmas celebration the best ever—three times bigger than last year’s. The Grinch discovers this during a trip to town for food and decides to do everything he can to stop it.

His plan is to steal Christmas from the town, replacing happiness and cheer with gloom on Christmas morning. To do this, he dresses up as Santa Claus, but instead of giving presents, he plans to take them all.

Everything would have gone perfectly according to his plan, and his heart might have stayed its small size, but then she showed up. The “she” is Cindy Lou Who, a little girl who wants to give back to her mother by asking Santa for a special gift.

The voice acting is on point, and the animation style is familiar to what we’ve seen from Illumination’s previous films. Pharrell Williams serves as the narrator, but the musical score could have been better. While the animation will likely be a box office success, for me as a viewer, it wasn’t as enjoyable as I had hoped.

When it comes to the Grinch, the Jim Carrey version is still the one that stands out. For years I have been wondering if a second part will ever get done, but since the release of this, I doubt it.

Sierra Burgess is a Loser (2018)

Sierra Burgess is a Loser (2018)

6/10

Starring

Shannon Purser

Kristine Froseth

RJ Cyler

Directed by Ian Samuels

The movie is a nice, average emotional ride with twists and turns that would never happen in real life. Sierra Burgess Is a Loser has an ending straight out of a fictitious romantic novel.

Before you jump on Netflix to watch this movie, note that the story is very loose—so loose that sometimes one thread runs amok and never gets tied back up properly.

The movie’s high point is Shannon Purser’s powerful performance. She seems to be the only person in the movie who delivered a performance that went beyond the concept of her role. When you think back on this movie, her face and voice will likely be the only things that stand out.

The movie’s plot starts with the introduction of Sierra Burgess (Shannon Purser), a high school student preparing for college applications. She’s on the bigger side and struggles with the pressure of living up to her father, a popular, successful, and genius writer, and her mother, a highly capable overachiever. Sierra is a regular student who does well in school, but because of her weight and looks, she’s labeled as one of the “losers.”

One of the popular girls at her school, Veronica, plays a mean joke on Sierra by giving her number to a boy from another school. The boy, who was hitting on Veronica, thinks he’s texting her, but he’s actually texting Sierra. Sierra, realizing the mix-up, decides to play along, and soon, the two start falling for each other—all without ever meeting in person. Sierra knows she has to do something quickly before she loses him.

Veronica, the head of the cheerleading squad, has her own insecurities. Despite being mean to others, she’s heartbroken after being dumped by a college student. Sierra offers to help Veronica win him back by teaching her about college life and philosophers so she can appear smart and informed. In return, Sierra asks Veronica to be the “face” while she acts as the “voice” when talking to the boy she’s fallen for online.

What starts as a trade between two girls who would never be seen together in school turns into something good, then sad, and then bad. The movie doesn’t just focus on Sierra and her love interest; it also explores Veronica’s struggles.

For me, this movie feels like an old-school rom-com from the early ’90s. It may not fit into the kind of movies we see today, but it’s average nonetheless. You’ll enjoy it as long as you don’t pull on any of the loose threads this movie leaves lying around.