Change Your Image
04GreatFlick
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
Kaiju sized fun!
I effing loved it! Trying to find time to go watch it again and again! A few years ago, the Academy Awards entertained the idea of introducing a category for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film, which, frankly, seemed quite silly. However, had they followed through, I believe this film would have been a strong contender. Watching it in IMAX was an incredible experience; the cinematography, action, and sound were all elevated to another level. While it may not win Best Picture, it undoubtedly offers an awesome cinematic experience. The audience in my theater reacted as if it were a superhero movie, with plenty of "ooohs" and "ahhhs," and even some cheers. The film has a bit of a slow start, with Kong heavily featured, but Godzilla steals the show. There are numerous surprises, and the story is more substantial than expected. My only minor gripe is that I kept anticipating characters and storylines from other installments and the Monarch show to appear, but they're only vaguely referenced. It's a bit strange how everything is connected yet not fully explored. Surprisingly, there are no mid or post-credit scenes, leaving room for speculation about future installments. Hopefully, there will be more because these kaiju flicks are progressively improving with each entry. Overall, a great flick that I anticipate will exceed its budget and become profitable. Looking forward to what comes next!
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Absolutely outstanding!
I'd suggest revisiting the first movie because this sequel picks up right where we left off in the Dune universe. From the beginning, you're thrust back into the chaotic, unpredictable, and perilous world of Arrakis. The action is swift and meticulously planned, keeping you engaged from start to finish. What I appreciated about the first film carries over seamlessly into the sequel. Despite being a sci-fi movie, it doesn't feel like one; even without the sci-fi action and special effects, it remains a compelling, immersive, and grounded storytelling experience. Clocking in at 2 hours and 40 odd minutes, the movie flies by, with not a single wasted moment. The narrative flows effortlessly, maintaining organized chaos and hitting all the necessary beats along the way. Given that it's a sequel, you might expect a drop-off, but that's simply not the case. Every actor on screen, from Timothy and Zendaya to Josh Brolin and Austin Butler, along with the other talented individuals, delivered exceptional performances. Each of them was on point and effectively brought the story to life. Another standout aspect is Hans Zimmer's score. Each note propels the narrative with intent, effectively enhancing the atmosphere of every scene. Zimmer's mastery is evident in his ability to employ the same theme across various emotional contexts. While we've heard the theme repeatedly, this film allows us to experience it in different emotional nuances, depending on the on-screen events. While it's still early in 2024, this film should definitely be considered an Oscar contender next year. Dune part 2 effectively concludes the first of six books in the expansive Dune saga. Part of me is eager to see the next installment on screen, but if this marks the end, I'm good with that too, considering the saga gets a little weird from here. A big thank you to AMC Theatres and WB for the opportunity to experience this in IMAX tonight. I highly recommend a premium format because the immersive sound truly enhances the viewing experience. I'm already looking forward to watching this again. Great flick!
The Nun II (2023)
Solid entry!
Go watch this in premium format! And if you're a bit apprehensive like me, consider watching it during the day. Let me share a little backstory - I'm not usually a fan of horror films at all, so you might wonder why I decided to watch it in the first place. Well, a few years ago, when the first Nun movie was released, my little sister didn't have anyone to accompany her. So, I was voluntold. I ended up sitting through it and, to my surprise, enjoyed it. The audience in the theater that day had a blast, and popcorn was flying everywhere.
Since then, I've become a fan of this cinematic universe. As you can imagine, I was a bit lost initially because that was the only film I had seen. It was like jumping into the Avengers without watching the previous movies that led up to it. So, I decided to dive into this series, watching all the movies that came before it and catching the newer releases on opening weekends. Now, I am fully invested in this series, and watching 'The Nun 2' was an absolute delight! The crowd that was with me was totally into it as well.
It was a creepy, creepy, creepy delight, I must admit. While I found the first Nun movie slightly better, this new entry did not disappoint. It was more brutal and unsettling, but there was something about the nuns and their actions in the first one that was truly disturbing. 'The Nun 2' continues to build on the lore of the characters and their universe, making it feel like an event movie, like the Avengers or Star Wars films. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Oh, and there's a surprising mid-credit scene that you shouldn't miss. Overall, great flick!
Blue Beetle (2023)
Good start for the DCU!
Great start for the new DC! This movie reminded me of a solid Marvel Phase 1 movie. It really felt like a mix of Ironman 1 and Antman. This movie was a blast, embracing Hispanic culture and style throughout. For those who grew up in Hispanic households, it's likely to trigger many core memories.
The standout aspect for me was the emphasis on family - refreshingly, they're all in the loop about what's happening, avoiding the usual secret identity trope. The trailers showcase their united front, and George Lopez's unexpected role shines as my favorite character, much like Luis from the Ant-Man series - injecting wild fun into the mix.
The movie's soundtrack was another highlight. Balancing original tracks with a variety of Spanish hits, it added an extra layer of richness. The storytelling remains self-contained, peppered with DC Easter eggs. Director James Gunn's choice to kick off the new DC Universe with Blue Beetle seems to be a smart move, given the potential the movie sets up. It's evident that the world-building has begun, introducing significant players already.
Originally planned as an HBO Max stream, the film's promotion to theater release under the new DC regime was a wise decision. Blue Beetle makes for a strong start, both for the character and the new DC direction. The mid-credit scene promises exciting possibilities for future projects, and there's a clever audio surprise if you stay till the very end. I enjoyed it, and my girlfriend absolutely adored it. A solid opening for DC! Great Flick!
Strays (2023)
Freaking hilarious!
Hilarious! That being said, not everyone is going to enjoy this. If you enjoy movies like "Good Boys" or "Kingpin," or if you've ever watched "Family Guy" and enjoyed the character Brian, then this is definitely for you. They used real dogs for 95% of the movie, which was amazing. The animals and voices they chose fit perfectly, and the voice acting was fantastic too. It's great that you can't really see the actors behind the characters - like Will Ferrell as the voice of Reggie the dog - it keeps you in the story. Jamie Foxx is really funny, and his lines will crack you up. The rest of the cast is surprisingly good too; some big names will surprise you. This movie won't win Oscars, but it's entertaining, funny, and perfect for some lighthearted enjoyment. There's a funny mid-credit scene that ties things up nicely. Overall, the movie was fun. The theater had a blast, and we all came out laughing. Good flick!
Gran Turismo (2023)
Good job Sony!
Great movie. Starts off a little slow. The narrative requires significant setup, which might feel a bit slow initially, but once it gains momentum, it becomes quite engaging. The storyline becomes highly enjoyable from that point onwards. The movie is sprinkled with numerous instances that pay homage to the game series, presenting various cleverly placed Easter eggs. Although uncertain whether this will be retained in the final version, the screening I attended included an awesome behind-the-scenes montage featuring the actual driver who serves as the inspiration for the movie. Visually, the film is captivating and avoids any semblance of goofiness or such. I believe this movie would truly shine in a premium format. The intricate sound mixes and effects present in the film would undoubtedly be elevated and enriched by the enhanced audio and visual quality of premium formats. David Harbour, Djimon Hounsou, and Orlando Bloom deliver outstanding performances in this film. Each of them brings a captivating intensity to their respective roles, infusing their characters with a remarkable depth that enriches the overall narrative. I really enjoyed this movie. Hoping to catch it again in a premium format. Good job Sony! Bringing a video game to movie is challenging and this was a great entry! Good Flick!
Haunted Mansion (2023)
It was fun...
Ok where to begin....it was more than fine. I enjoyed it. Not as much as the Eddie Murphy version but there were things I really liked and there were things that just didn't work for me with the 2023 version. So let us start at what didn't work for me. The story setup is fantastic. It provides clear and compelling goals that the characters must achieve, and it effectively engages the audience. However, after these goals are accomplished, the narrative seems to lose direction, leaving us wondering, 'What happens next?' It appears that towards the end, everyone involved in the production had different ideas, resulting in a somewhat scattered and inconsistent storyline. The film had a key moment towards the end that had the potential to be impactful, but unfortunately, it fell flat due to the overwhelming number of simultaneous events occurring. Additionally, some of these events contradicted what had been established earlier in the movie, making it hard for the audience to fully connect with the moment. The movie did have its fun parts. The movie successfully delivered numerous moments that had tremendous audience reactions, particularly with well-executed jokes that hit the mark perfectly. Additionally, the inclusion of effective scare scenes was evident, as the girl seated next to us visibly reacted and fell for each one, adding to the overall thrilling experience. My favorite character was Travis, played by Chase Dillon. He was amazing. Stole every scene he was in. If you are a Disney fan, I think you will enjoy this with all the easter eggs that are peppered throughout. The general movie audience might be a bit more meh about it. No post credit scenes.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Damn near perfect!
Fanf***ingtastic! From start to finish. Absolutely loved every second of this incredible movie! Runtime clocks in at 3 hours but it went by very smoothly because there is so much going on. For those wondering, yes you can just dive right in. There's nothing you need to watch to understand what is going on. In fact, other than my time in school the only other times I've heard of any of the scientists in this movie were from the times they were mentioned on the popular tv sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Nolan is one of my favorite directors. His storytelling style may not be for everyone. So far I've loved each of his movies. Nolan joins a very short list of Directors that I don't need a bunch of anything to get me to watch their next story. Nolan has a very unique way in how he presents to you his stories. This one is no different. This movie is shot beautifully, and the practical set in Los Alamos really brought the scenes to life. It is amazing that Nolan was able to do all of this with the use of practical effects and little to no CGI. Let's talk about the music. The music adds elements of horror and intensity throughout. As a matter of fact, throughout the movie my Apple Watch kept going off because my heart rate had spiked high. That's how intense certain scenes got. Every actor in this movie brought their A game. There was such a great balance between all of them. I did like how a little bit of the movie felt like Seven Samurai and this is shown in the Trailer where Oppenheimer and General Groves go out and start recruiting scientists for this amazing, impossible task. I saw this movie in Dolby. Last time Nolan had a movie out I watched it in every format because I couldn't get enough and Oppenheimer is going to be no different. I look forward to watching this in IMAX once I'm able to get a seat. Great flick!
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Indy being Indy!
That was fantastic! It had a great opening. Great action sequences. The de-aging parts were not an issue to me. I barely noticed and really the action around it was too awesome and fun to even care about it. I had an ear to ear grin the entire time! Not sure what other critics were expecting or watching. For me this movie had a certain checklist:
Fun ✅
Action ✅
Indy being Indy ✅
Mystery ✅
Memorable characters ✅
Humor ✅
It's not perfect or the absolutely best film in the series but it's also not the train wreck that it's being made out to be. Best advice is always to just to watch it and judge yourself. Great flick!
The Flash (2023)
That 3rd act was awesome!
This movie was fanfu**ingtastic! From the moment the film begins, it takes you on a wild, adrenaline-fueled ride. Andy Muschietti strikes the perfect balance between intense action sequences and quieter, character-driven moments that allow the audience to connect on a deeper level to both versions of Barry.
Keaton coming back as the Dark Knight was incredible. I've seen Batman in theater re-releases but seeing him in action in a new adventure was an incredible experience. Sasha Calle was and hopefully will continue to be Supergirl in the new DC. She was amazing! The suit looked incredible and even her fight scenes were just beautifully created.
The Flash is a must-watch for any fan of the genre or anyone seeking an unforgettable cinematic adventure. I saw it in AMC Prime and I don't know if they just switched out speakers in my theater but damn did I feel every single hit, music beat and special effect. The Flash combines thrilling action, engaging storytelling, and mesmerizing visual effects to deliver an experience that will leave you wanting more. Believe me when I say this, you are not going to want to miss this in theaters and especially miss out on that 3rd act! Prepare to be swept away on a rollercoaster of emotions, as this film transcends the superhero genre and becomes a testament to the power of storytelling. 1 post credit scene that wraps this adventure up. I'm looking forward to what DC has up next. I have faith in the new DC leadership to finally get this right. Too many great stories out there in the DC library to not make it to the big screen. Great flick!
No Hard Feelings (2023)
Jennifer Lawrence shines!
Gene Stupnitsky continues his trend in giving us these funny, raunchy and at times touching movies. No Hard Feelings however seems more Dramedy than straight up Comedy. Now, that doesn't mean it wasn't fun. It had its moments that the theater was just bursting in laughter. Then there were moments where the tone shifts to a more serious one and that allowed Jennifer Lawrence's performance to shine. There was more of that serious tone than I was expecting.
I thought I was going to see something to the level of Good Boys but instead it was a bit more drama with various funny moments. Which again was not bad. Some were over the top but that's to be expected with these types of movies. For example there's a beach scene that completely took it to another level. There's a small sample of it in the trailer but the entire scene completely caught me off guard and it's hilarious when you realize that you have an Oscar winning actress doing all of it. Fun flick.
Elemental (2023)
Absolutely beautiful!
Wow! By far my favorite Pixar movie since Soul. This movie was on my radar, but I didn't get to see any promos other than the teaser. June is such a packed month for movies that I was planning on spreading out all the movies throughout the month and this was one of the ones I had penciled in for later in June. My Plans changed towards this weekend's views, and I subbed it in, and man am I glad I did especially because I was able to watch it in the premium Dolby format.
This is definitely a movie that is going to hit harder for the older age groups. It starts with the Carls Date new Short. If you have seen Up and Dugs Days on Disney+ then you will love this. There is a specific part towards the end of the Short that really hits hard. I am assuming there wasn't a dry eye in the theater that early on.
Then you get Elemental, a beautiful love story showcasing the magic of opposites attracting. Silly at times to keep things light but damn it really kicks you in the gut once the final frame hit. It really does take you on a journey. Moves a bit fast in certain spots but it does stick the landing at the end. People around me were in tears including my girlfriend who had a blast watching this. Incredible outing by Pixar. Great Flick!
Flamin' Hot (2023)
Muy chingon!
Great little flick about one of the worlds most popular snack. Hot Cheetos popped up one day out of nowhere while I was in the 5th grade. They were everywhere and everyone was eating them. Leaving the familiar red stains everywhere unless you used the chop sticks but that was much later? Anyway, Eva Longoria did a great job making the movie flow. Keeping things light and entertaining. She did a great job with balancing the whole story with knowing when the scene had to be serious and when it could take those liberties to have some fun. Cast played well off of each other. Jesse García and Annie Gonzales were great together. Fun to see Tony Shalhoub, Dennis Haysbert, Matt Walsh, and Peter Diseth in this. Movie clocks in at 98 minutes but it really felt like not a single second was wasted. I did enjoy this flick with my very own bag of hot Cheetos cos why not? Good flick!
The Little Mermaid (2023)
Good but....
I enjoyed this live action remake probably more than any other live action remake from Disney. It's just hard to recapture that magic from their original version. Little mermaid kind of does that better than the other attempts. This might disappoint those wanting an exact shot for shot remake of the cartoon.
Halle Bailey is absolutely wonderful. Those choosing to skip this entry because of the color of her skin are missing an incredible performance. Halle has some pipes on her. Think broadway singer underwater. I'm glad I saw this in AMC Dolby because that sound was projected beautifully. Halle puts a lot of power behind her vocals and the Dolby captures that perfectly. Melissa McCarthy played Ursula amazingly. Really captures the original version but still adds her style to it. Javier Bardem was wonderful and Jonah Hauer-King playing Prince Eric really balanced out the cast. The biggest surprise though and the one that to me kind of stole the show was Daveed Diggs as Sebastian. Every scene he was in was probably my favorites. Especially the Kiss the Girl song part. That whole sequence had me and the rest of the theater dying. Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay were also great additions to their iconic parts.
Really the only thing that irked me was the visual design. Flounder, Scuttle and Sebastian's design were just nightmare fuel. The underwater shots and final sequence also looked incomplete. I kind of felt like maybe the VFX wasn't finished or as polished. Those that complained about GoT too dark during battle sequences might have the same issue here.
The movie had 3 additional songs and they were fine but the movie could've done without them to cut down on time. This really felt longer than it should have been. Some extra scenes were necessary but others they could have done without.
All in all I had a good time watching this and really that doesn't matter because the kids that attended my screening all seemed to enjoy it as I could hear them burst with excitement. I had the version I grew up with and now it looks like they will have their own. Good flick!
Prey (2022)
Should've been a theater release!
Liked: Great concept and execution.
Loved: Naru being a total bad ass!
I wasn't convinced after the first time I saw the trailer. Word of mouth was positive so I decided to check it out. Usually I tend to stray from direct to streaming because I'm afraid of lack of quality would ruin the movie experience. This film had none of that. At the end of this incredible film I was left wondering how the heck this wasn't a theater release? I think it would have been even better seeing and listening to the action with that theater format. Story wise It slowed down a little bit but not too much to make it less enjoyable. There's a version dubbed in Comanche that really picks it up a bit. No post credit scene but pay close attention to the artistic credits. They use it to wrap up the story nicely at the end. Great flick!
Bullet Train (2022)
Talk about a surprise hit!
Liked: Brad Pitt shines in this but so does the cast around him.
Loved: All the surprises, twists and turns.
This movie wasn't on my radar, but positive word of mouth got to me, and I decided to check it out and man am I glad I did! I saw it in Dolby at AMC and the sounds and action sequences were fantastic! This movie works because you have a great cast. They all feed off, support and build off of each other. My crowd was great. Lots of gasps, laughter, and some cheering during this whole thing. It does feel a tad bit long, but I think that had the Director taken something away it would have messed with the flow of the story. There are a lot of surprises that I am not going to reveal because they were fun and carefully inserted into this movie. Great summer theater movie. Definitely should be seen on the big screen and there is kind of a mid-credit scene that wraps up the whole movie nicely. Truly a Great Flick!
DC League of Super-Pets (2022)
Super Silly but fun!
Liked: It's a kids movie but adults will like it too.
Loved: Kate McKinnon. Absolutely fantastic as a villain!
Great family film. Some spots were borderline not for kids as far as dialogue but for the most part its nice and clean. Loved all the small details such as Krypto wearing his glasses to hide his identity or the Superman hair curl when Baby Clark was in the pod. My favorite thing about this movie was the musical score. Especially in the beginning. That piece of music was a treat to hear in Dolby. There's a mid-credit scene that adds to the movie and a post credit scene that the Rock for some reason has spoiled for all his followers. I would stay off his social media till after the movie if you want to avoid the spoilers Overall it was a fun flick!
Nope (2022)
Big YUP!
Liked: the creepiness of dealing with UFOs.
Loved: The concept. Start to finish.
This is actually the first time I check out a Jordan Peele Directed movie. I liked this movie a lot. He does great with putting you in an uncomfortable position and it has you guessing all the way to the end. This is a genre that I usually don't like because of the amount of disbelief you have to suspend to make it all work. That's the thing with Horror films. You have to just sit back and let the man tell you his story. Keke and Daniel were outstanding. The barn scene was my favorite part. Like I said Peele knows how to put you in that uncomfortable spot. Good flick!
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Nailed it!
Liked: Chris Hemsworth continues to grow in this role.
Loved: Natalie Portman nailed this!
I went into this movie a little gun shy after being burned by Ragnarok. I may be in the minority of those that didn't like Taika's take on Ragnarok. It was too silly and all the jokes felt like they were forced in there. Now Love and Thunder did have humor and it was silly in some spots but they were better laid out. It didn't feel like that annoying kid in class blurting out dumb jokes trying to get attention. It was surprising. At one point it pulled on some threads that Jojo Rabbit pulled on. The title itself you think it is referencing one thing but once you finish the film you'll realize it's true meaning. I really enjoyed this entry in the Thor series. 1 mid and post credit scene topped off the film and both were actually very meaningful. Great Flick!
Elvis (2022)
Epic!
Liked: Style that Baz used for his film.
Loved: Hanks and Butler killed it!
Such an amazing film. I saw this at a fan event. Baz and Austin came out and greeted us. WB absolutely killed it with this film. Such a hard thing to do with such an iconic character as Elvis. I had my doubts about Butler for this role but once he portrays Elvis in the middle of his career that's when I bought in. The music was fantastic. I saw this in Dolby and it was just incredible. There was a part of the movie that felt like we were at a concert. People were singing along, and there was a moment where there was a great crowd pop moment. In the end the film got a standing ovation. Great flick! Can't wait to see it again!
Lightyear (2022)
What a blast!
Liked: Story was fantastic!
Not so much: No Tim Allen. Kidding 😂 could've added a bit more to flesh out some of the characters.
Loved: Sox.
Not sure what movie people are watching but the one that I saw was on par with everything Pixar has made. The opening scene explains the whole thing. Not sure how people are confusing this. I didn't expect that punch to the gut that early. Loved that we got a lot of nods and callbacks to Toy Story. There are post credit scenes and they are both hilarious! Great flick! Will def watch again! Hopefully this time Dolby sound will be working (Shame on you AMC!).
Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Stuck the landing!
Liked: Audio and effects
Not so much: Needs a bit more destruction
Loved: Seeing the original cast on screen.
Fun movie. Great way to end the series. Not sure what critics were expecting but for me it just had to check off on some boxes to be a hit. It had action, death and destruction, little humor, and able to trigger the nostalgia. It checked each one. I would've liked to see more death and destruction but I liked what I saw on screen. Great flick!
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Turn and burn baby!
Liked: Every scene where they're in a fighter jet.
Not so much: Dragged a bit during the first act.
Loved: Watching this in Dolby! Them seats were rumbling!
It was totally worth the wait. This movie wouldn't be the same for a first time viewing at home. Watched it in AMC Prime/Dolby. This format was great as the sounds were enhanced and the theater was rocking during jet fighter scenes. Cruise is Cruise. He's always a win! The support cast was great too. It wasn't cringe as I thought it would be. Definitely looking forward to watching this again! Great flick!
The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022)
I've been missing out!
Liked: How easy the movie was to watch without needing to watch anything prior.
Not so much: slight drag in the second act.
Loved: Voice actors are amazing!
This wasn't on my radar at all. The marketing was hilarious with the mom in the bun swimsuit saying "saxxy boygghas". I've never seen the show and man I have been missing out. I loved how easy it was to just jump into this without knowing anything. The crowd I was with was great too because I noticed that I was laughing when they were so obviously the humor in the movie connects on all levels. There were a few scenes I didn't get, figured they were total Easter eggs for fans of the show. I'm glad I watched this with that crowd because now I am a fan and catching up on this on Hulu. FYI there's a hilarious post credit scene all the way at the end. Great flick!
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
Silly silly fun
Liked: Seth Rogen hahaha
Not so much: A bit choppy with editing
Loved: All the cameos!
First, how did they get all those studios to agree to their cameos!?!? Each one was great. So many spoofs it was just great. Reminded me of Who framed Roger Rabbit but this was was silly and straight up fun. Not sure how anyone else feels but I'd like a reboot of the show! There's no post credit scene but there is a mid credit scene that just adds to all the madness. Good flick!