jakerl-43504

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Reviews

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
(2023)

Can't wait for part 2!
Tom Cruise's mission, should he choose to accept it was to bring us a kick ass action movie (he accepted fyi). Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One had some of the best stunt work I've seen in modern filmmaking, all thanks to the steadfast dedication of Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie. Having watched some of the bts videos for this film, I can honestly say that it's amazing that Cruise, a man in his early 60's (hence the reason everyone calls him the vampire of Hollywood, right alongside Keanu Reeves, Paul Rudd, and Salma Hayek). I lost track of the amount of gasps, oohs, and aahs among my audience during the entire climax, from Tommy C's mind-blowing jump that would make Evel Knievel cringe to the very end of the third act (hint: it made the train ride home somewhat nerve racking lol). It would be criminal to not view this fantastic action film on the biggest screen possibly.

This movie was meant to be seen in IMAX. Another great sequence was the car chase in Venice, a much more sophisticated version of what we normally get from the Fast and Furious films. Throughout the scene, viewers are treated to great chemistry between Cruise and franchise newcomer Haley Atwell (best known for the MCU, Tom Cruise's next stop lol). She was a great addition to the film, initially portaying a foil to Cruise and the gang, but ultimately being forced to work with them. The film also had a very interesting story, complete with the usual dose of espionage and intrigue. In particular, the primary antagonist of the film was very different than previous entries: this time, a sinister AI, simply referred to as the entity (pretty foreshadowing, if you ask me).

Also, I submit that this film has the best opening of the series, with a nice callback to the original, including the return of CIA director Kittredge, who we haven't seen since the first film. As to the very few negatives of this movie, it probably could have been a little shorter (it clocks in at nearly 3 hours and unlike John Wick: Chapter 4, does not quite warrant that runtime) and not every single joke lands (though I still chuckled quite a bit). Overall, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One is a solid 9/10 (not quite as good as personal favorite MI film, Fallout, but pretty darn close) and is my favorite film this year, ranking closely behind the aforementioned John Wick: Chapter 4. Anyway, great movie! (Lol)

Fast X
(2023)

Fast and Furious is back!
After a few middling entires, the Fast and Furious franchise has finally returned to form. The last two to three films seemed to primarily focus on mindless action with not much of a story. Thankfully, this film toned down the ridiculousness (for the most part) and had a fairly interesting plot line that connected to previous films. From that we receive Jason Momoa as Dante, easily the best villain of the series. I highly anticipate his return in upcoming entries. He brought the right amount of psychotic and goofy energy to the table. After seeing his performance in Fast X, I would be very interested to see him in more antagonistic roles. Aquaman is cool and all, but this was his best role by far. He was also probably the most successful villain of this franchise, given that he did indeed break apart the "family." (What a cliffhanger that movie ended on!). Also, it was pretty neat, if a little impractical, seeing Gal Gadot return just before the credits rolled.

Scream VI
(2023)

Ghostface slices through the big apple
I was fortunate to attend an advanced screening of the latest Scream film, Scream 6. It helps when you have a cousin who works in the film industry (haha). We had seen the previous movie in the franchise together upon release and naturally when tickets for the next entry were available, I asked her if I should buy us a pair. However, I was delighted to discover that she was working on securing seats for us at an advanced screening. A short while later, the seats were ours and we headed to Times Square on Friday, March 3rd! Needless to say, we had a blast! Not only was it awesome seeing a film a week in advance but, like the other films of this consistent franchise, Scream 6 was a ton of fun! There was no shortage of blood or gore, but overall a strong movie that delivered on scares that keep you on the edge of your seat and even a few chuckles. I also thought the New York City setting was a nice touch that added a neat aesthetic to the film. The cast performed well in this movie, particularly the four main characters, denoting themselves as the "core four." Jenna Ortega was likely the standout of the group. Gale also contributed to the flow of the narrative in this outing, which was nice because her character was essentially a glorified cameo in the previous film. As shameful as it is that Sidney Prescott could not appear in "Scream 6", the movie does fine without her and to be quite honest, her character would have felt shoehorned in. And last but not least, the addition of Scream 4's Kirby was nice fan service that did not feel forced. Finally, keep a lookout for that opening scene! Goes in a wildly different direction than you'd expect, unlike other Scream films. If I had to find a gripe with the film, I would say the last 20 minutes slow down a bit and I do feel that that some characters were invincible with plot armor. Apart from those small nitpicks, a really enjoyable Scream movie. Solid 8/10 movie.

Thor: Love and Thunder
(2022)

Fun movie (even if a bit too silly at times)
TLT has received mixed reviews upon release, with praise directed at the visuals and performances and criticism towards the screenplay and overuse of humor. I fully understand people's complaints about the humor but I still had a great time with this movie. At times, it does feel like a spoof of Thor, which does undercut the movie's serious moments(which it does have a few of). However, it's just hard to hate a movie that I saw with my loved ones and put a great smile on my face. And let's talk about those aforementioned performances. I wasn't sure what I'd think of Lady Thor, Natalie Portman did very well in the role. And while it was nice seeing Thor and Jane reunite, the real standout here was Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher. He was extremely creepy and intimidating, which is a slight departure from his performance as the caped crusader but a welcome one nonetheless. If you're looking for a fun time, go see this movie, but if you thought the humor was cranked up too much in Ragnarok, then you definitely won't like this one. Overall, I rank TLT above the first two but not quite as good as Ragnarok. Rating: 7.5/10.

Top Gun: Maverick
(2022)

Faithful to (and maybe even better than?) the original
I took my Dad to see this as an early Father's day gift and WOW! We were absolutely blown away. For context, my dad is not a frequent moviegoer like myself, but as a fan of the original, he was highly anticipating this movie, which did not disappoint. Personally, I thought the first film was a fine action movie, but as a younger viewer, I lacked the emotional attachment and nostalgia that the previous generation has for it. To the few people that read this, I will ABSOLUTELY have that nostalgia for this movie and plan on showing this to my children in the future. Maybe we'll even see Top Gun 3 in 2058!

In my humble opinion, this movie actually improved many aspects of the original (such as the storyline, action, humor and romance/love interest element), which is why I argue that this movie surpassed its predecessor in quality. While viewing this movie, if you find yourself wondering if you feel the same way, the climax (a visually stunning culmination of the two hours that just flew by) will definitely convince you. The phrase "on the edge of my seat" is flaunted about quite often, but this was one of the few movies to literally keep me on the edge of my seat. Easily one of the best 3rd act action sequences I've seen in recent years coupled with a nice rapport between Tom Cruise and Miles Teller (who channels his "Whiplash" acting here). The latter portrays Rooster, the son of Goose from the first Top Gun. Kudos to the makeup department for creating an impressive Goose look-alike.

Speaking of legacy characters, it's well-known that Val Kilmer appears in the movie (for crying out loud, his name is in the opening credits!) Without spoiling anything, I felt that both the character and actor were done justice by the story. It was so satisfying to see him return (albeit briefly) to the role that arguably propelled his career. Last but far from least is the titular Maverick. Tom Cruise was in top form here, even at nearly 60 years old, delivering a great performance, this time as instructor of Top Gun (not a student) and a distant yet caring father figure to Rooster. The class which Pete taught contained a variety of welcome additions to the cast. I also quite enjoyed the aspect of Pete's romance with old flame, Penny Benjamin (the admiral's daughter referenced in the first movie).

Despite my fear of a 35 year-old sequel, Top Gun: Maverick met and exceeded my expectations. Everyone, do yourself a favor and check this one out. Even though I loved The Batman, I have declared a new winner for best movie of 2022. There's a reason this movie got a five-minute standing ovation at the premiere and has a near perfect score on rotten tomatoes, where I will soon release a copy of this review.

Scream
(2022)

Surprise, January!
Well, damn. I did not expect this movie to be as good as it was nor did it have any right to be, especially for a January release. Right after that opening scene, I knew I was in for a treat. Ghostface was probably the most brutal and scary that he's ever been. They didn't hold back with the blood or gore in this one. It seems like this is what Scream 4 was trying to be: a return to the franchise that offered a new set of characters while still respecing the legacy characters. And I actually liked the new characters in this movie, especially the new final girl, Sam. It was nice seeing her estranged relationship with her sister be repaired over this tragedy. The three legacy characters who returned (Sydney, Gale, Dewey) were all great in this movie in their own ways. And be prepared for one of the most bonkers (but fun) 3rd acts you'll see in a movie. I also liked that this movie knew what it was and offered commentary on toxic fandoms. Overall, this is my favorite Scream sequel and an all-around fun movie that I would recommend to any franchise fan. Hope they end the series here since this is a new pretty bow on the franchise. Definitely check this one out!

Halloween Kills
(2021)

Good enough sequel
This movie actually started off great (not to mention the splendid opening sequence). The film began with what I would consider to be a realistic and captivating flashback to 1978. In fact, I would argue that Halloween Kills is connected to the first movie more than the 2018 revival, proved by the plethora of returning characters. Props to John Carpenter & Co for what was another fantastic score. The movie was also ripe with some brutal, gnarly kills, so to quote to AC/DC, "If you want blood, you got it!" Easily one of the most violent movies I've seen on the big screen and I would say it comes close to rivaling the Rob Zombie movies in terms of brutalily in the franchise. Carnage Candy at its finest. Unfortunately, the middle of the film dragged a little bit, but keep in mind, this movie is mainly filler, leading up to the finale of the trilogy. It was more so about the deaths, as indicated by the title. Thankfully, the third act regained the momentum for an edge-of-your-seat climax. And WHOA! What an ending. Really makes me interested what direction they'll take the story in Halloween Ends. Overall, Halloween Kills is a good enough sequel, if you take into account that it mainly exists to set up the next movie.

The Suicide Squad
(2021)

Whoa
Let me start off by saying that this movie was freaking great! Let's be honest, surpassing the original film was not a difficult task, but this movie did it in spades. Gorey, fun, and my second favorite DCEU movie behind the Snyder Cut. Would love to see a third movie if possible, hopefully once again directed by James Gunn. Do yourself a favor and see this movie. I'm genuinely considering going to see it again, which, if I may add, is not something I frequently do with new movies.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day
(1991)

Still a classic 30 years later
This is quite possibly the greatest sequel of all time, with some competition from the Godfather Part II and without a doubt, the best action movie of all time, which easily surpasses the original. There really isn't much else to add. Just take a look at the overall 8.5 IMDB rating from over 1 million users. I just can't believe that this movie turned 30 yesterday.

John Wick
(2014)

Baba Yaga
I'm deciding to review the John Wick trilogy after learning that a fourth film is being made, so what better way to start than the first flick? This movie basically came out of nowhere and surprised the heck out of everyone. The concept of a retired assassin seeking bloody vengeance for the death of his dog is so simplistic yet it works. Keanu kicks ass. Great way to kill an hour and a half.

A Quiet Place Part II
(2020)

Great sequel
Given the standards set by other horror sequels, this movie's phenomenal. It had everything you'd want in a sequel. It expanded the universe and mythos while managing to be as entertaining as the original. Saw it twice in the theaters and will definitely rewatch it once it hits cable.

F9
(2021)

What did you expect?
The Authors of the negative reviews have to understand what this movie is. It's not the Godfather trilogy, for Pete's sakes. It's the F & F franchise, which is fueled (slight pun intended) by insanity. Each movie is more ridiculous than the last and given how ridiculous The Fate of the Furious was, it would make sense that characters would go to space and basically defy every law of physics. If you're looking for the pinnacle of filmmaking and a good story, then this is not the movie for you. If not, go with a group of friends like I did and laugh at the absurdity for 2.5 hours.

Last Man Standing: Time Flies
(2021)
Episode 1, Season 9

Good season premiere
I enjoyed this season opener. It gave us a hopeful glimpse at a future without a pandemic. I hope it doesn't take a few years like the episode indicates, however. The family is doing well. Mike has two new grandkids. I look forward to the rest of this season

Seinfeld: The Serenity Now
(1997)
Episode 3, Season 9

Lemme explain
I've always had a bit of a soft spot for this episode. Many years ago, I saw Jerry Stiller at a restaurant and yelled "Serenity now". I was later informed by his driver that it made his day. It was a funny episode too

Seinfeld: The Chinese Restaurant
(1991)
Episode 11, Season 2

It's alright
Don't hate me, but I always found this episode to be overrated. I understand Seinfeld is a show about nothing, but the whole episode is them waiting for a table in a Chinese restaurant.

2 Broke Girls
(2011)

Seriously???
I'm giving this two stars since that's how many times I laughed in the few episodes I watched. This show is basically just an unfunny, gender-swapped (slightly cruder) version of Two and a half men. This may sound misogynistic, but it's funny when guys use that hunor snd disgusting when women do. If you took a took a shot every time there was a sex joke or sterotype, you'd be dead by the opening credits. How did this make it to network television? I'm actually curious. Thank God it was canceled. Don't waste your time.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(1989)

2nd best Christmas movie ever
This is one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time losing only to Die Hard. It is without a doubt the best of the Vacation series and a timeless classic that is viewed annually by my family, a fun tradition of ours. Clark's rant upon getting stiffed on his Christmas bonus is comedic gold!

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
(2020)

Awesome flick.
I loved this movie and will likely watch it again. Possibly even surpassed the first film. The humor was very funny and this is coming from a Trump supporter. Definitely give this one a watch. You won't regret it. Jasghemesh!

Halloween
(2018)

Great return to form
I really enjoyed this entry in the franchise. It's got none of that Cult of Thorn garbage and has a simple story. Jamie Lee Curtis knocks it out of the park and James Jude Courtney is a great Michael Myers. The kills are awesome as well.

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
(2019)

Well I liked it
I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It was WAY better than TLJ and almost as good as the Force Awakens. There were various twists and turns along the way, some were predictable. The action & visuals were stunning and it made for an entertaining film all around. 8/10. Would recommend.

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