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Transformers One (2024)
All Are One!
This is a movie for us old Transformers fans. This is what we wanted to see in the theaters before Spielberg and Bay decided to recreate our favorite characters into an over-the-top action/disaster films with bland story lines. Now they have decided to create a more fun adventure story for all ages with all the cartoon characters that we remember from the cartoons from 40 years ago. Some of those old favorite characters are now somewhat unrecognizable as they are younger with different monikers to surprise us later. The story of Orion Pax and D-16 is a mirror image of the plot of Ben-Hur; two characters, like brothers become arch enemies. This story made me feel young again. I call to all my generation viewers to go and see it. All are one in this movie!
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Everyone Deserves a Happy Ending
This is the movie that I had been waiting for a very long time. 24 years ago I saw the X-Men in theaters and I kept wondering why they were all dressed in black. Wolverine finally gets to use his correct costume, the one we all love from the comic books and cartoons. This movie is plenty of fun, with Ryan Reynolds constantly breaking the fourth wall and just being himself. The multiverse is the perfect plot device to bring back dead characters and explore dead movie franchises which this movie does beautifully. I am glad the Hugh Jackman is back. I recommend seeing this in 3-D as not many movies are made this way anymore.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
A Full Ghostbusters Team
The Ghostbusters are back to save the world again, and this time they have a full team of people. Zeddemore invested in a team of engineers to maintain the ghost-busting equipment now that Spengler is fully gone.
Old and new characters return for an even bigger film now set again in New York City as it should be. The ancient demon Garraka has been unwittingly released from his trap and is hell-bent with frozen revenge.
This is once again a fun movie with a full cast that any Ghostbusters fan will enjoy. It is good to see Annie Potts in a uniform to help the team. It is even a good surprise to see William Atherton as the mayor. Many scenes make homage to the first film, even Slimer returns for a few slimes. The only one still missing is Rick Moranis.
Napoleon (2023)
The World, for Josephine
I have seen many Ridley Scott films and they are always in a grand epic scale. For that reason he was the right reason to select him to film this. He can do science fiction, historical, fantasy, horror and thrillers.
This film runs almost three hours long and it mostly focuses on the personal life of Napoleon Bonaparte. The battles are few and they don't dominate the film as I expected that they would. Glory (1989) is what comes to mind about what I was expecting to see.
Joaquin Phoenix does not look the part, in my opinion though that is not a requirement in any film. I always wish they would cast actors who are from that part of the world that they represent.
The performances were great and I was entertained. Movies are never accurate to what is written in history and this one is no exception. I recommend it as there hasn't been a full biopic film about this man in this century.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Heroes Aren't Born, They're Mutated.
These are not the Turtles from my childhood. I was skeptical as to how this story would turn out given that all previous incarnations of the beloved Turtles on film seem to come up short.
I like the story. It entertained me and it kept me engaged. The animation looks rough; like pages of a modern comic book mixed with stop-motion clay figures.
Things I don't like are the changes to the story that I remember when I was young, but that is expected with every remake. Familiar characters are replaced as Black characters in a feeble effort for "progress" which I only see as pandering.
What I disliked most was the gross humor which really isn't necessary. The original TMNT from 1985 was more dark in tone. The 1987 Turtles were hilarious and that was my favorite version of TMNT.
Blue Beetle (2023)
He's the First Superhero in his Family
I am happy that Latinos are finally getting roles as superheroes. For some reason we were always overlooked. Few actors like Ricardo Montalban could achieve super stardom.
Now a new generation of young actors are getting their chance to shine. I applaud Warner Brothers and DC Comics for being more inclusive to minority groups.
This movie is a typical action/sci-fi movie filled with special effects. Overall it was very funny and I enjoyed every aspect of it. Xolo Maridueña as the hero Jaime Reyes did a beautiful performance as a young college graduate struggling to find work. George Lopez is there to support the younger cast members.
One thing was missing and that was a blue Volkswagen Beetle. Instead a Toyota Tacoma is prominently featured.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Now I am Become Death the Destroyer of Worlds
Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. A beautiful quote at the start of this grand and highly anticipated film. It is filled with an excellent cast, great acting, amazing cinematography and good visuals.
This is part of the story of the Manhattan Project, the codename for.a top secret military program to create a super weapon.
I had to see it in theaters because I understood the importance of Julius Robert Oppenheimer's contribution to our history. The world has never been the same since his creation.
I found the film a bit boring as it focused excessively on.his interrogation regarding his security clearance and to his political connections with Communists. This will probably win Best Picture at the.96th Academy Awards. I was not completely satisfied and it fell short of my expectations.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
A Legend Will Face His Destiny
The pentalogy is complete. The adventure was fun and entertaining with Indiana Jones as an old man finally retiring. The ending is sad and I was somewhat unsatisfied with the final scene. Karen Allen was reduced to a cameo. Many other big stars like Antonio Banderas suffered a similar fate with a short screen time. I wish some elements could have been different.
The Antikythera mechanism is used as a magical instrument which I thought was very interesting. One thing that was never explained is how Archimedes incorporated magic into this device. I don't want to give out spoilers. Watch this movie without analyzing things in a serious manner. This is fiction.
The Flash (2023)
Worlds Collide
DC finally enters the multiverse the way Marvel did on the big screen. There are many bad reviews of this movie. I did not have a problem with it. I had a blast! Michael Keaton steals the show reprising his role as an old eccentric Batman.
Barry Allen goes back in time and ends up in an alternate timeline. Many references are made to Back to the Future. This movie creates a mess of a timeline in the process yet I found it very entertaining. It is filled with cameos. New characters are created and they interact with the old ones that we love.
I don't want to give away spoilers. Don't take the movie too seriously. This is a fun movie.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)
Unite or Fall
This movie was not too bad. I enjoyed it. It was good to see Optimus Prime in his Freightliner alternate mode with some minor additions to his cab. The addition of the Beast Wars was a good touch though I would have preferred that to be a separate story later in the future. I loved the multi-ethnic cast. I am especially happy that a Hispanic actor was included as the main character. There are many new elements added including an explicit reference to Indiana Jones. Other elements are familiar to those who saw the 1986 Transformers: The Movie.
The weakest element was Unicron. I did not sense the fear that came when he approached Earth. Unicron was supposed to be a threat to the planet Cybertron in the cartoons and comic books. One thing that bugs me is the fact the no reference was made to the Matrix of Leadership which originally was the only thing that threatened Unicron.
These movies are not meant to be Academy Award winning stories. This is a fun ride that kept me entertained. Rise of the Beasts is for all Transformers fans.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
The Mario Movie that We Were Waiting For!
This is the Mario movie that should have been made long ago. I never saw the 1993 fiasco and I don't care to. This was pure nostalgia for me. I actually shed a tear when I heard the Starman music at the end; it brought back a rush of good memories of me playing this game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Playing video games with my sister and brother and even with close friends were great times in my life.
This movie is filled with video game references from many Nintendo classics. The best thing was the inclusion of the rap intro from the Super Show! From 1989. I loved "Captain" Lou Albano and Danny Wells in the live action sequences as Mario and Luigi. The song was used for the plumber's television commercial in this movie. It was a beautiful touch.
Watching this in theaters made me feel like a kid again. I am a child of the 80's who lived in a time when games were simple. This movie brings back that simplicity in storytelling. Pac-Man and Super Mario were the kings of video games. Don't call me Generation X, call me Pac-Man generation or Child of the 80's.
Life of Brian (1979)
I Couldn't Get Past the Second Scene
I couldn't get past the second scene. This is not my cup of tea. The scene with those people arguing during a sermon got on my nerves.
The DVD that I checked out from the library made the experience all that much worse. The DVD controls leaves much to be desired making simple selections a chore to figure out. The trailer is included. That made me happy. I love watching trailers before starting the film.
Everyone seems to love this and find it hilarious; I don't. Perhaps I am being unfair, or perhaps I don't understand British humor. What is it about this that people find so amusing and I cannot see it?
Les mystérieuses cités d'or (2012)
How Not To Do a Sequel to a Classic
The original Mysterious Cities of Gold is a gem in animation and a beloved part of my childhood. The producers waited 30 years to do a sequel and it does not fully live up to the original. The most heartbreaking thing is the voice casting; they sound horrible. Tao had the husky voice and Esteban had the sweet high-pitched voice. What really grinds my gears is that Disney makes a huge effort in keeping their voice casting consistent with every generation yet this French production does not put in the same effort to maintain consistency.
There are other inconsistencies. Mysteries that had a basis in science and physics have been replaced by magic. The Golden Condor, for example does not operate the same way and the medallions also act differently.
Kokapetl is the most irritating character. Previously he served a useful purpose of warning everyone when danger was near. Here he is a loud squawking screaming chicken always in your face. He also interrupts during the documentaries. To top it off, he has his own short documentary following the educational part where he asks a question from something seen in that episode.
The story overall is not all bad. This could have been a better sequel if not for those dreaded points I mentioned. If you can get past those cringeworthy shortcomings, you will be able to enjoy this. The animation is very glossy aided by modern technology.
This should have been done in 1992 and then we would not have those problems mentioned here. The production would have been more consistent in all of its elements.
Taiyô no ko Esuteban (1982)
Children of the Sun
This program is everything that represents my childhood and I dare say more so than my all time favorite The Transformers. The Transformers had the best toys, however The Mysterious Cities of Gold was special; it was animation magic.
This was a multinational effort by France, Japan and Canada where the English dub was recorded. Together they made something wonderful and unforgettable.
This story follows the adventures of three children who are in search of the Cities of Gold along with three Spanish sailors. Each is searching for these mysterious cities for their own reasons. There are many mysteries they have to solve along the way, including the mysterious circumstances of the main character's past.
I give thanks to my mother who encouraged me to sit down and watch this while it was airing on Nickelodeon in the late 1980's.
Few people here in North America are aware of this gem in animation. Kudos to you if you are a fellow MCoG fan; we are kindred spirits.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
The Real Ghostbusters are Back!
The true sequel to Ghostbusters II. The real Ghostbusters are back as well as many of the other cast members. A younger generation takes the spotlight, though I am not surprised given that everything now is made for them.
I am happy that a true sequel was made to honor the original continuity with the correct cast. I had been praying for Ghostbusters 3 since I was in middle school and my prayers have been answered three decades later. The story was interesting and I was mostly pleased, yet it is based on the events of the first film with many plot points reused. Instead of a large metropolitan city, this takes place in some small town and many of the events will be very familiar. This story leaves fans with more questions and there are some minor inconsistencies. In short, it is worth seeing.
This film is dedicated to Harold Ramis, may his soul rest in peace.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
A New Era of Wonder Begins.
There is a pandemic going on and I had to see it in my house by streaming it thanks to a friend.
I like the plot about getting your every wish. I loved the cast too. Pedro Pascal played the role of the obsessed megalomaniac villain beautifully and the return of Chris Pine was nostalgic. Everything about this movie was nostalgic. I love the 1980's and this movie reminded me of my childhood.
Gal Gadot and Chris Pine together had a Quantum Leap feel as well as a sad element that showed that even Wonder Woman is susceptible to her own desires and shows her in a very human way.
Haven't you ever desired at least one wish in your life? Imagine if there were a magical object that could grant that. Don't take it too seriously and enjoy a good story like you did in your childhood.
Amazing Space (1993)
Amazing Documentary from TLC
This is the program that aroused my interest in astronomy. It was narrated by the lovable actor, Mark Lenard of Star Trek fame! The computer generated images were impressive for 1993. It was the first time I saw the planets in full color and in motion.
The music by Ernie Wood was intriguing. The 1990's had very good documentaries on cable TV. The Learning Channel and the Discovery Channel were doing great work up until the 21st century. I miss the good old days. This has never been released on video. I was fortunate to have recorded the eight episodes on VHS cassettes.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The Saga Concludes
This completes a more epic Star Wars saga. It was kind of strange to see the Roman numeral IX on the big screen. My generation is getting old. Yet I always feel like a child sitting in the movie theater with at least one of my parents next to me. Star Wars makes me feel young and it is sad to see this is the real end. I was overall pleased and this sequel trilogy finally redeemed itself after a shaky start. I complained about The Force Awakens, then I saw improvement in The Last Jedi and finally The Rise of Skywalker makes it feel like the old Star Wars with old characters returning for nostalgia.
One thing is that having J.J. Abrams returning to write and direct had me worried. He went back to the winning formula of Return of the Jedi which is a big part of the reason why Episode IX works. It was nice to see recycled and unused footage of Carrie Fisher to complete the trilogy. Some of the mystery plot points in this saga are solved and it opens up other questions.
The Rise of Skywalker does this trilogy justice. Go see it with your family and a new generation.
Blade Runner (1982)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
When I first saw this on TV as a child, I thought it was boring. Later in my early college years I began to appreciate what a masterpiece this is. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? What a concept for a title. Philip K. Dick was original. The score by Vangelis sets the mood and is unforgettable.
The 5-Disc Collector's Blu-ray set from 2007 is the ideal set since it includes many versions including the theatrical cut from 1982 and the Director's Cut from 1992. The International cut is the same as the US version with more graphic violence.
There are a multitude of special features including deleted scenes, and many documentaries running over three hours long!
I love the restoration that this movie deserves. I was disappointed by one thing only: The Final Cut is not complete on my set. The documentaries clearly showed new special effects with some scenes restored to their intended glory. The Workprint and Final Cut clearly did not have the finished restoration effects that were promised. So much hype and in the end they seemed to have forgotten to include them. I checked disc 1 and 5; both are unfinished.
Maybe the Final Cut Blu-ray edition from 2011 has the completed scenes. My favorite version will always be the Director's Cut because it includes the unicorn dream sequence.
Take the Voight-Kampff test and put this cyberpunk classic in your collections if you are a replicant or a Blade Runner!
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
They Took the American Dream for a Ride!
I love this film!!! I experienced this in 4DX for the first time in Pico Rivera, California. The high price of $20.25 for admission was really worth it. 4DX put me in the driver's seat. This is a cinema technology from Korea that gives motion to a group of seats in the theater. The cinema that I attended had the seats arranged in groups of four. Imagine a roller coaster simulated in a movie theater. The seats also let you feel the rumble of the car engines and lights in the auditorium add the finishing touches such as sparks.
Ford v Ferrari is a movie about the Le Mans, France 24 hour race that pitted the Ford Motor company vs. the all-time winner Ferrari. More than that, it is about the friendship between American car engineer Carroll Shelby and the unsung hero English car racer Ken Miles.
Have you ever wanted to experience what it's like to be in the pilot's seat of a race car? This is the perfect film to test drive the 4DX system at a theater near you. I recommend it.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
I Have a Good Feeling About This One!
As the title reads, this one is about the man and the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. I loved this movie so much. Composer John Powell made my eyes watery whenever he made excellent use of those familiar themes at the right moments. The young actors do not resemble too much the big names of the past yet they do their very best. You will love all the colorful characters, the action, the danger, the space flights, the laser shootouts and everything else. That Han Solo is a real space cowboy.
This film speaks to me. I am very much like Han Solo; always alone in my adventures. But at least he has his good buddy Chewbacca who is the best copilot in the Skyriver galaxy so far, far away. Here we see much of Han Solo's youth. His hard life on Corellia, the origin of his name, the people he cares about and loses, how he wins his prize in a game of Sabacc, how he gets his iconic Blastech DL-44 and the decisions he makes that ultimately make him a hard man.
If you are a true Star Wars fan or a Jedi, go see it in IMAX and in 3-D or maybe even in both formats at the same time. This movie is a blast!
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Star Wars is Back in Full Force
Disney did the right thing to replace J.J. Abrams and bringing back the master George Lucas to show them how it's done right. Episode VIII is really good and Mark Hamill really pulls off his best acting. Luke Skywalker is awesome!! The crowd in the movie theater cheered when he dueled and beat Kylo Ren. I was satisfied with "The Last Jedi" as part of the big saga. I will not bore you with a detailed summary. There are a few noticeable problems. There is some prominent feminism in the scene involving women commanders. You can really feel the estrogen in the room and how these women were poorly chosen just to make Carrie Fisher look good. Back in the good old days Princess Leia was a tough character who was much more than just a doll face. Laura Dern is badly miscast as Vice Admiral Holdo. Her character is weak but she does what she can with the material that she was given. Other than that, this film is a super blast! Go and see it!!!
Mörkret faller (2016)
Promising Sci-Fi Short
This looks like a pilot episode for a television program. Similar in ways to the X-Files, it ends open-ended hinting there might be a sequel.
It starts out like a mystery about a woman who does not remember her identity and it turns into a chase thriller. It has a Hitchcock twist and ending. It is a well done story on a very low budget yet it has very high production values.
This is a short film by Swedish film director Jarno Lee Vinsencius. It has won a number of awards at film festivals and his work looks promising. The only films I have seen from Sweden are The Seventh Seal and the Magic Flute both by Ingmar Bergman. I never imagined that Sweden had a big interest in science-fiction. This is the kind of writer and director that we need for Star Wars and Star Trek. J.J. Abrams has failed us to bring the true vision of my favorite sci-fi franchises and I believe Mr. Vinsencius will get the job done right.
Rogue One (2016)
Star Wars Reawakens
This is how you reawaken the Force. This is what happens when you take out Jar Jar Abrams out of the production: you get a better picture. Whenever I used to go to see a Star Wars movie, I felt like a kid again. I loved going with my parents to the movies and having a good time. I miss those good old days from the 1980's and 90's. Upon seeing Episode VII I felt disappointment. Something didn't click right. The problem was Abrams directing in the wrong direction and writing for the wrong generation audience and Disney not caring for Lucas' true vision of the saga.
Here we have a fresh new start. Disney went totally rogue! I love the multi ethnic cast. Episode IV's prologue is retold in this film. Simple formula and it works. At first I was against the idea. I felt an in-between chapter was not necessary fearing it would cheapen A New Hope. Clearly I was wrong and as a Star Wars fan I am satisfied with the story. I felt like a kid again at the conclusion of this movie! I hope Disney does not make it a habit, though. May the Force Be With You Carrie Fisher. RIP. You will be missed.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
Star Wars for A New Generation
I am a big Star Wars fan and I like almost everything about it, from the movies to the toys. Most people disliked the prequels from last decade feeling that Lucas was losing his touch. I liked Episode I just fine. Now Episode VII is a different story. Lucas made a mistake in selling his franchise to Disney. This story was OK but not great. The villain most of all feels weak and I cannot understand his intentions for turning to the Dark Side. It seems to me that Lucas and Disney have turned to the Dark Side. This Star Wars is for a different generation than my own but why did they forget about mine? We are the loyal fans from the good old days when things were done right. Now our favorite characters are forced to take a back seat while younger nobodies take the helm. Perhaps Abrams is the wrong choice for this type of production. I hope Disney changes writing and directing staff in a more correct direction for the remaining two sequels.