Category: 2024

REVIEW: ‘My Old Ass’ overplays generic romance angle

It’s usually a good sign for a movie when Aubrey Plaza is in the lineup. When that’s the case, though, one usually expects her to have more screentime.

Plaza’s time in “My Old Ass” is rather limited, though, as the main star of this movie is Maisy Stella, who plays the character Elliott. A teenager in rural Canada, Elliott is wrapping up a summer of working on her family’s farm before going to Toronto for college.

Before she takes off, her and her friends decide to experiment with some hallucinogens and in Elliott’s case, her trip allows her to speak with her older self (Plaza). Now with a connection to her future personality, she starts getting advice about her future while also sparking a new relationship in her present.

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REVIEW: ‘Megalopolis’ is a mega misstep for Coppola

Director Francis Ford Coppola’s latest film was an ambitious project, huge in scope and scale. Unfortunately, it’s also a bit of an unmitigated disaster

“Megalopolis” is a film that blends political drama and science fiction. The movie is set in the sprawling city of New Rome, the epicenter of the American Republic. Outwardly, it has all the looks of New York City, but inside, it has aesthetics and fashion reminiscent of ancient Rome.

The film centers on Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), an architect hoping to build a biomechanical utopia via new technology. He’s challenged, though, by Mayor Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), and his cousin Clodio (Shia LaBeouf). Though he has support from his uncle Crassus III (Jon Voight).

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REVIEW: ‘Transformers One’ is fun, but has small screen vibe

After making the jump to live action in 2007, the “Transformers” series has gone back to its roots, once again going to the big screen in animated style.

Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) are two best friend robots living in the mechanical world of Cybertron. The duo are at the bottom of the robotic hierarchy on the planet, working in the mines to collect energy resources vital to the population’s survival, after depletion due to a war.

They get a chance to prove themselves to Cybertronian leadership, though, when they discover a potential solution to the planet’s energy problems. What they and friends Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson) and B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key) find, though, changes their destinies forever.

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REVIEW: ‘A Different Man’ succeeds with dark comedy, superb acting

Depressing, awkward, funny, cringey and shocking. They’re all words that can be used to describe “A Different Man,” in a good way.

The movie stars Sebastian Stan as Edward, a man who’s not only struggling to make it as an actor in New York, but also suffering neurofibromatosis. The condition leaves him with tumors that have grown on his face.

However, he manages to enter a trial run for a new procedure that can remove the tumors and completely treat the condition. The treatment ends up working, giving Edward the life he’s always wanted, at least that’s what he thinks.

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REVIEW: Double the ‘Beetlejuice,’ double the fun? To an extent, yes

After more than 35 years, the Ghost with the Most (Michael Keaton) is back on the big screen, getting a legacy sequel of his own.

In addition to Betelgeuse, Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) also comes back, though she has traded her gothic, rebellious attitude for a TV personality, albeit still wearing black. She has to step away from her paranormal-centric show, though, as she has to attend the funeral of her late father.

Joining her is her stepmother Delia (Catherine O’Hara) and daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega), though the latter isn’t as excited to be there as she has a strained familial relationship. However, when the family goes back to their old house, some dangerous afterlife shenanigans begin, forcing them to not only band together, but call on help from the titular character.

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2024 Summer Movie Awards

I think it’s pretty safe to say Summer 2024 is in the rearview.

OK, maybe not technically, as the official date to start fall is closer to Sept. 21. However, Starbuck’s is out with Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Oktoberfest beer is on the shelves and football is on the TV. More importantly, all of Hollywood’s big releases for the summer have been rolled out, marking the end of the season.

It turned out to be a pretty good one too when it comes to the movies. No, this year didn’t have a total gem like “Past Lives,” but it had plenty of other good cinematic experiences. So, it’s time to hand out awards celebrating the best movies had to offer in Summer 2024.

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REVIEW: ‘The Crow’ is a colossal disaster

It’s probably more accurate to call this “A Self-Insert ‘Crow’ Fanfiction” than “The Crow.”

Like the 1994 film with the same name, “The Crow” is an adaptation of the 1989 comic book written by James O’Barr. The picture stars Bill Skarsgard as Eric, a recovering addict with a troubled past. The movie introduces him at a rehab center, where he meets a young woman named Shelly (FKA Twigs).

The two end up falling in love and leave the rehab center together. They’re happy and begin living a new life, but unfortunately, a dark part of Shelly’s past emerges. In an ambush, both she and Eric are killed. However, Eric is given the opportunity to return to life and take vengeance.

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REVIEW: ‘Alien Romulus’ successfully returns series to its roots

As much as I like Michael Fassbender, I’m glad he was nowhere near this “Alien” entry after the last two.

Set between 1979’s “Alien” and 1986’s “Aliens,” “Romulus begins on a space colony called Jackson’s Star where the protagonist Rain (Cailee Spaeny) resides with her surrogate android brother Andy (David Jonsson). Life for the two is difficult, as they do grueling work on a harsh mining colony to pay a debt.

They get a chance to leave, though, when they join with a group of friends on a sort of escape mission that involves getting some equipment from a defunct space station. It’s necessary to go there as it will allow them to make a long space voyage, but unfortunately, a certain life-form is waiting for them.

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REVIEW: Despite some quality, ‘Didi’ isn’t endearing enough

Where’s a neighbor with a Gran Torino when you need one?

This coming-of-age film tells the story of Chris Wang, a 13-year-old who spends time making Youtube videos with his friends. When not out with a camera, Chris is at home with his mother (Joan Chen), grandmother (Chang Li Hua) and sister (Shirley Chen) in the Bay Area while his father works in Taiwan.

As his summer off from school progresses, Chris (Izaac Wang)has his ups and downs with his family, friends and even with his hobby. With the latter, Chris starts to film some skateboarders, but even then, fitting in can be tough. Continue reading “REVIEW: Despite some quality, ‘Didi’ isn’t endearing enough”

2024 just finished a throwback summer

For well over a decade, the summer movie season has been mostly held up by several film series.

It had a start in the 2000s with the rise of comic book movies, but really took off in the 2010s as the MCU became fully established. It hit overdrive in the last 10 years. Since 2014, there have been 41 movies released in the following movie series:

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