Tag: film

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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REVIEW: ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ entertains and exhausts

The Marvel Cinematic Universe sure could use a shot in the arm lately. What better shot of adrenaline than the Merc with a Mouth?

Better known as Deadpool, that wise-cracking, fourth wall-breaking character returns to the silver screen for third time. In “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the red-clad anti-hero gets roped into some multi-universe shenanigans, and in the process, learns his own world is under threat.

To prevent a cataclysm, he needs the help of the iconic mutant Wolverine. The only problem is the Wolverine in his universe is the same one that died in 2017’s “Logan.” So, he goes to another universe to find a different one. The only problem is the one he finds is in a bad and not so helpful mood.

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REVIEW: ‘Twisters’ has sufficient entertainment as stand-alone sequel

Most Americans enjoy a calm, cool summer breeze, but those winds are far too tranquil  for the characters in this film.

“Twisters” is, unsurprisingly, about tornadoes. It serves as a follow-up to the 1996 film “Twister” which starred Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. The new release stands on its own, though, outside of a few slight references.

Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kate, a meteorologist who gave up storm chasing because of a tragic incident, but returns to help her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) with a project. As they’re going about their work, they have run-ins with Tyler (Glen Powell), an internet influencer who streams his storm chases.

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REVIEW: ‘Despicable Me 4’ doesn’t offer full cinematic experience

“Despicable Me 3” went unseen and unreviewed at this site in 2017 because of a busy schedule. Considering there’s not an ongoing arc in the series, it doesn’t look like it’s a necessary watch.

That’s certainly apparent in “Despicable Me 4,” as the animated sequel gives the family an entirely new scenario to deal with, and there’s little mention of any unresolved matters from 3. So, in part four, Gru (Steve Carell), an Anti-Villain League agent, manages to put a former rival of his behind bars.

That rival, Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), escapes prison and vows revenge. The villain’s action forces Gru, his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) their daughters and new-born baby to go into a sort of witness protection program. However, plenty of shenanigans still ensue.

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REVIEW: As a thriller, ‘Longlegs’ is laudable, but not quite legendary

Sometimes Nicolas Cage plays a character who’s just a little off. That’s not the case here, because the character he portrays in “Longlegs” is completely off.

In this film, Cage plays a serial killer known as Longlegs who’s been on the loose for decades. To help catch him after a recent family massacre, the head of Oregon’s FBI office brings in Agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe). 

Awkward in social situations but completely dedicated to her profession, Harker begins the case with vigor, going over every clue, including letters left by Longlegs. Eventually, she’s able to decode them, but they only lead to more mysteries and memories from her own past.

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REVIEW: After strong start, ‘Maxxxine’ loses moxie in third act

After a trip to the past in “Pearl,” the “X” series has gone back to the present, which for the franchise’s characters, is the 1980s.

“MaXXXine” is set in 1985, with its titular character trying to make it in Hollywood after the events of the film “X,” which took place in 1979. With the stage name Maxine Minx, the protagonist (Mia Goth) is an adult film star who gets a chance at the studio system via a role in a horror flick.

It’s a dangerous time for women in Los Angeles, though, as the Night Stalker murders have recently been taking place. It only gets more dangerous for Maxine, when a mysterious person with knowledge of 79 begins stalking her, leaving dead bodies in their wake.

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