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• Ant-Man and the Wasp (PG-13, 2018)

  - by fb733768972

  Pretty much anyone out there who had the chance to see Avengers: Infinity War knows that this franch... read moreise had nowhere to go but smaller (literally) after the events of that movie. With the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp looming around the corner, I found myself quite intrigued in returning to these characters and having a much more relaxing theatre experience. What I'll start this off by stating is if you didn't care very much for the first Ant-Man film, then this addition probably won't do too much to win you over, but I had a blast with the first film. For myself, this film may even be slightly better than its predecessor, due to the furthering of characters and giving itself a solid place in this franchise as a whole. If you enjoy following the Marvel Cinematic Universe, here's why I believe you're in for another fun experience at the movies.
  
  Being a direct sequel to the first film, but taking place after the events of Captain America: Civil War, this movie finds a nice slot to fit into this universe, without coming within close range of Avengers: Infinity War. Discovering that Janet Van Dyne is possibly still alive in the Quantum Realm, Hank and Hope have been working on a plan/machine for years in order to travel there and retrieve her. Scott, being on odd terms with them, eventually teams up to assist them in their endeavors. With the addition of the villain Ghost and quite a few secondary characters, this film never loses a beat in terms of energy and pacing. I can't quite dive into other plot details without ruining the film, so let's dive into one of the biggest aspects that make the films so enjoyable: the comedy.
  
  If for nothing else, I think your trip to the theatre will be well worth it for the laughs alone. Not just for a superhero comedy, but I honestly haven't laughed so hard at the theatre in a while. There are a few sequences throughout this film (with a standout scene taking place in a grade school) that almost had me in tears laughing. The way they use the shrinking technology in certain instances here is absolutely brilliant. The visual gags are what bring these movies to another level and Ant-Man and the Wasp is no exception to that notion. On top of the humour, these characters are just as likeable as always.
  
  Michael Douglas is very solid in his role as Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer is pretty great in the short screen time she receives, and Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly's chemistry is something that just leaps off the screen, but I was sort of fascinated with the character of Ava/Ghost (the villain) played by actress Hannah John-Kamen. When this film begins, she seems like a throwaway villain in order to have a longer running time for the movie, but her backstory is quite strong and I felt that she was one of the stronger characters that this film had to offer.
  
  In the end, it's hard to get into specifics when you're trying to stay secretive about a film like this, but I have no trouble in recommending this movie to everyone. It's a comedy for people who crave good humour, a solid action flick for the junkies out there, and a solidly written superhero movie that fits in nicely within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, there are quite a few plot holes and some of the humour goes a little too far, especially in a few of the dramatic moments, but this movie is just a great ride to take at the movies, plain and simple. On top of having a blast with this movie, there is a sequence throughout the credits that needs to be seen, so stick around. I can't wait to see more of these characters.

• Incredibles 2 (PG, 2018)

  - by bradley2296

  Hype might hurt it but Incredibles 2 is a solid and rousing Pixar sequel. The 14 year wait did the f... read moreilm no favors in building up an almost unbearable amount of anticipation to this sequel to one of Pixar's best efforts. However, what Brad Bird has done has taken the superhero film into a new light, evolving themes to match the modern superhero landscape. The film strikes a perfect balance between domestic familial drama, which is delivered with humanity all too rare in a film about superheroes, with terrific and fluid action sequences. With a nice message of gender equality, this is very much an Incredibles movie of today. If the film doesn't achieve the pinnacle of Pixar, relying on a plot that doesn't cut quite as deeply as some of Pixar's masterpieces, the film is up there with the most purely exhilarating of the canon, and boils the story to superheroic simplicity. There are complex themes about modern technology, but it is ultimately overshadowed by a typical supervillain arc, and aren't deepened beyond the most basic anti-technology level. Incredibles 2 isn't quite Toy Story 3 level as far as Pixar sequels go, but it is on par with Finding Dory, delivering a much awaited sequel that feels organic in its existence and less of a pure cash grab than the Cars films felt. Let's hope, however, Pixar will focus its energies on creating another Coco or Inside Out next time. Rating: 89

• Ant-Man and the Wasp (PG-13, 2018)

  - by fb770380186

  Between the Edward Norton Hulk movie and the first Ant-Man, I have a hard time deciding which is the... read more worst movie in the cancerous growth on modern cinema that is the MCU. I realize that I begrudgingly sneak into these movies just to review them, and I'm tired of them being miserable wastes of my time. After watching the Fred Rogers documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor? I was compelled to, first, take into consideration the perspective of children because imagination and joyousness are traits one should foster in the young, and, second, admonish the societal expectation that children are simply grown-ups in training to become consumers as well as the idea that superheroes, as a construct, are anything but garbage.
  
  This movie is garbage made for grown up children who have had their imaginations co-opted by consumerism. However, it's better than last year's Downsizing because you get to see small things become big, and big things become small, and that is amusing.

• Ant-Man and the Wasp (PG-13, 2018)

  - by fb100000124099262

  Marvel is coming off quite possibly their best streak of 3 films including Thor Ragnarok, Black Pant... read moreher, and Infinity War; Ant-Man & the Wasp found itself in a unique situation. Some people thought all it had to do was be fun and present a different tone than what Infinity War did a few months back, others thought it had even more pressure to continue the streak of greatness. For me, I just wanted a good movie that would make me laugh. Because for the most part, that's what the first Ant-Man did.
  
  Sadly, the sequel barely does anything to separate itself from other superhero films or really make a mark in a crowded field of movies. Let's begin with the humor (which is getting a lot of credit for some reason). There are a few characters in this film that are anything but actual humans. They are caricatures that are only there to spout jokes for ever second they are on screen. Randall Park and Michael Pena no longer feel like real people. Walton Goggins (albeit not there for humor) is a completely useless character that is solely there so that the secondary characters can have a brief action "chase" sequence. You never get a true sense of his purpose or motivations. He's just there.
  
  The villain, Ghost, (played by Hannah John-Kamen) looked like an interesting addition in the trailers and has the ability to phase through anything. Her goal in this movie directly relates to a spoiler-ish mission that Ant-Man & the Wasp go on, but there was never once that she had an imposing presence on screen. In fact, there isn't a single character that even feels like an antagonist or a conflict, which is a good reason for why this movie fails.
  
  Evangeline Lilly is incredible in this movie and is a complete 180 from her role in the first film. She actually gets a chance to do something and every second she's on screen is electric. Unfortunately, a lot of that comes at the expense of Paul Rudd as Ant-Man. He's no longer a nifty bada**, but rather a clumsy guy in a suit that's good for a few punches and one too many jokes.
  
  As a whole, the film is easily the worst and most pointless entry into the MCU. There's no reason this film should get more praise simply because its a lighter movie that comes right after Infinity War. Years from now I think people are going to realize that there is just a lack of substance here.
  
  4.0/10

• Ocean's 8 (PG-13, 2018)

  - by fb720603734

  SHE HATHAWAY ABOUT HER - My Review of OCEAN'S 8 (3 Stars)
  
  I totally support the GHOSTBUST... read moreER-izing of Hollywood classics by recasting them with all-female leads in so much that I recognize that sometimes audiences just want to see their favorite stars skipping through a forgettable lark every now and then. So why not give us the distaff versions? Bring on LADY EXPENDABLES...which...upon reflection...sounded better in my head.
  
  I enjoyed the OCEAN movies for their sleekness, star power, and step-by-step heist instructions and OCEAN'S 8, from writer-director Gary Ross (THE HUNGER GAMES, PLEASANTVILLE), who co-wrote the screenplay with Olivia Milch, entertained me as much as the others. It's a smooth, shiny, night out at the movies, no more, no less.
  
  Okay, maybe a little less, as this entertaining trifle could have been shot through with a little more energy, tighter editing, and humor pass with a script rewrite. It settles for glamour and the mechanics of pulling off a heist, losing some much-needed zip along the way.
  
  The film opens on Sandra Bullock's Debbie Ocean (sister to George Clooney's character), incarcerated for years and pretending full rehabilitation at her parole hearing. Once sprung, her intentions crystalize as she pulls together a diamond heist she'd been planning all those years behind bars. As she gathers the troops, which include Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, and Awkwafina (really funny), all of whom get their moments to shine, I couldn't help but think that Bullock, as the anchor, was giving what I call a Bruce Willis performance. Wan, detached, and kind of phoning it in, Bullock appears disengaged, choosing not to mine her delightful strengths that made her a star. It's odd considering this is a film more about star power than anything else.
  
  The heist, however, is everything, and thankfully, it's fun to watch it all come together. Without it, there's no film. They literally plan a robbery of a priceless necklace to be worn at the annual Met Gala, and then they execute that plan. The end. Sure, there are a couple of unexpected twists and turns, but this movie delights in, as the A-Team used to say, "loving it when a plan comes together".
  
  Luckily, this plan includes Anne Hathaway as the unsuspecting star, the hilariously named Daphne Kluger, who our gang manipulate into wearing to the ball. Hathaway demonstrates the best thievery in the film by completely stealing it. Her self-absorbed, sunny on the outside but dead on the inside character somehow manages to make an ensemble comedy all about her, and as an audience, we can't help but love her. Welcome back Anne! We Les Miz'd you!
  
  Despite the overall fun of the film, I noticed some missed opportunities, not only with a lack of strong jokes, but with giving Blanchett, who looks sensational, a little more to chew on, and there's a specific moment begging for Clooney that left me wanting for more. All told, OCEAN'S 8 proves serviceable, highly watchable, yet somewhat lackluster.
  
  Perhaps we've entered a low stakes, high glamour era in Hollywood filmmaking, but somehow the decision to remove the obstacles and just revel in the heist itself works here. Bonus points for Daniel Pemberton's memorable, mid-century _b_style score. This is old Hollywood glitz at its best. Too bad Bullock didn't quite get the memo.

• Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (PG-13, 2018)

  - by ironclad1609

  Where the park provided a sense of wonder for many films of the franchise, the latest installment ju... read morest sends it all into fiery hell with a big volcano catastrophe. That's spectacular and with great special effects but even at this point already, the films tone is odd at times. Pratt's delivery has been more on point in other projects, but at least his chemistry with Howard works. The second half of the film, which combines the horror tropes of the lab and scary mansion with the dinosaurs feels like a very strange setting. I imagine few viewers signed up for Jurassic Mansion. There are a few Spielbergian thrills here or there and the film is entertaining in every second, but overall, the title almost feels like false advertisement.

• Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (PG-13, 2018)

  - by fb733768972

  The Jurassic Park franchise hasn't really been anything to praise, at least since the release of the... read more original film back in 1993. The two sequels to follow that film were fairly weak in my opinion, but I was actually pleasantly surprised by its return in 2015 with Jurassic World. Many fans dislike that film for being nothing but nostalgia, but I thought they did a solid job in bringing people back into this world (so to speak). For that alone, I have been anxiously awaiting the next chapter, but the trailers made me a little nervous. Sadly, if you've seen any of the trailers for this movie, it gives away the entire film, so I would recommend staying away from all promotional material. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom isn't really the follow-up I was hoping for, nor that I believe many were hoping for, and here's why.
  
  For obvious reasons, the park is now deserted, with the only living things being the dinosaurs themselves. For reasons that I won't disclose in this review, especially for those who have chosen to stay in the dark about the plot, the volcano on the island is erupting and the plan is to get as many dinosaurs off the island as possible. Bringing them back to land (which is not even the dumbest plot point throughout this film) makes for some very big consequences that may or may not be a plan for future instalments going forward. Personally, I did enjoy watching this film, but the plot itself really had me thinking I was watching a spoof at times. The real plot doesn't kick in until about halfway through, which I found to be very stupid, so if that description turns you off, then this movie definitely isn't for you.
  
  Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard both reprise their roles and are easily what makes this movie as enjoyable as it is. There are quite a few annoying new side characters that will have many people cringing at their intentional mannerisms and characteristics. Although, the addition of the Isabella Sermon as Maisie. Not only did she act circles around most of the newcomers, but this young actress has easily one of my favourite arcs throughout the movie. Some viewers may find her character to be quite strange towards the end of the movie, but I thought she was a nice surprise for the film and the Jurassic Park universe in general.
  
  Something that has always been a staple of this franchise is the fact that some of the most memorable dinosaur moments come from the fact that practical effects are used. While this film definitely showcases a lot of (solid) CGI, the numerous sequences that feature practical effects were absolutely a breath of fresh air. From that aspect to the great direction by J.A. Bayona, this film feels far more like a cinematic experience than its predecessor, but that's also a slightly odd decision, as the rest of the franchise has different looks and tones to them. For this film though, it's a huge plus.
  
  Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom will absolutely not win over any newcomers and definitely won't make you change your mind on the franchise if you haven't liked any of the previous movies. That being said, there are some exciting aspects to this film and the core characters are as likable as they were in the previous film. The way the plot moves along is very, very slow, and I almost got bored at times, so I had more of a frustrating experience than anything. This isn't a bad movie by any means, it's just not really all that great, either. The way this film ends gets me excited for the next film, but that's not really enough to warrant a big recommendation, at least in my eyes.

• Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (PG-13, 2018)

  - by ApeneckFletcher

  Not a direct steal from the first Jurassic but rather let's just say that quite a few scenes from th... read moree original have been, er, creatively restructured. The summer blockbuster still remains with plenty of big action set pieces to chew popcorn with the best of them - although this isn't one of the best of them. They did well enough to keep the series alive (because that's their intention), but you won't be running to your chums and telling them that they've got to see this movie.

• Incredibles 2 (PG, 2018)

  - by fb240249622973600

  The movie industry today operates with lots of dependence on sequels, reboots, and franchises, somet... read moreimes with success and sometimes with failure. I have mixed feelings about this trend: some of my favorite films are completely independent of sequels or prequels, but others are entries into large franchises, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. On the flip side, some of my least favorite films (i.e. Transformers: Age of Extinction) are unnecessary entries into dead franchises or lazily-assembled sequels/reboots to successful films. So, I was a little cautious when the first trailer for Incredibles 2 hit theaters. I was worried that it would suffer from many of the things that plague bad sequels, and I wondered if we really needed the return of the Parr family. However, the 14-year anticipation leading up to this long-desired sequel and the obvious dedication of the man in the director's chair, Brad Bird, led me to realize that Incredibles 2 is a great, welcome, and long-due sequel to the 2004 classic The Incredibles, and finally watching it in theaters solidified that realization.
  
  Incredibles 2 features the return of the same voices from The Incredibles, with some exceptions. Craig T. Nelson is back as Mr. Incredible/Robert Parr, Holly Hunter returns as Elastigirl/Helen Parr, Sarah Vowell continues to voice Violet Parr, Samuel L. Jackson returns as Frozone, and Brad Bird (yes, the director) once again voices Edna Mode. Dashiell "Dash" Parr is the only one to be voiced by a replacement actor: Huck Milner, and there are one or two supporting characters that are also voiced differently. Otherwise, all of the great talent from The Incredibles is back, adding to the nostalgia that Incredibles 2 is obviously trying to instill in audiences.
  
  Now, given that I'm a week late to seeing this film, there are probably several things I'll say that you've probably already heard by now. And I'll start with the most obvious point: Incredibles 2 isn't quite as good as The Incredibles. But is it good? Hell yes. Incredibles 2 does all of the things that its predecessor did correctly. To start, it nails the superhero family dynamic squarely on the head. Good films that revolve around a family are good partly because they accurately depict the interactions between parents, between siblings, and between parents and their children. Incredibles 2 is no exception. There is a dinner scene near the beginning of the film that is reminiscent of a scene from The Incredibles that does this very well, and there are plenty of instances of bickering and misunderstandings between various members of the Parr family that acted as stark reminders of my own family (who I watched the film with). And it blends this expertly with the superhero/superpower dynamic. It even has a leg-up on this front over the first film in the form of Mr. Incredible's attempts at being a dad, especially in regard to dealing with Jack-Jack and his newly discovered powers. These scenes were perhaps the funniest in the film: props to Brad Bird and his writing chops.
  
  The way the film depicts the Parr family isn't its only noticeable triumph. The action in the film is... wait for it... INCREDIBLY exciting and boosted by the film's beautiful animation. Honestly, some of the scenes in Avengers: Infinity War could find tough competition with the action in Incredibles 2. One strange thing I noticed, however, was that all of the film's big, bombastic set pieces all involved stopping some sort of large vehicle, like the Underminer's giant drill vehicle in the opening scene. This isn't a major flaw of course but was a little thing that I picked up on near the end that distracted me. Anyway, the film also features humor that can appeal both to kids and to adults: there are plenty of jokes that will appeal to people of all ages, but there are a few slid into the script that only the observant adults in the crowd will get a kick out of, and I appreciated that. Oh, and Edna Mode is back and acting as wonderfully snobby as ever, and her scenes are fantastic.
  
  Now, one thing I've seen a lot of people complain about when talking about Incredibles 2 is the weak villain, especially when compared to Syndrome in The Incredibles. I can agree that the villain, called the Screenslaver, isn't as good, and the reveal of their identity is obvious from five miles away, but I thought that the character's personal motivation was compelling and reason for doing what they were doing - showing the general populace that their dependence on screens is dangerous - was rather interesting and relevant to modern, technology-driven audiences. The film also has a surprisingly tense scene involving Elastigirl and the Screenslaver which I thoroughly enjoyed.
  
  I supposed my only other reason for not awarding Incredibles 2 a perfect score is that the film introduces a small cast of supporting characters that, to me, seemed overly cartoony and did not fit the tone of the film. Thankfully, they don't get too much screen time and I was able to enjoy their presence more by the end of the film, but I thought I would mention it. There are also a couple moments of sloppy/rushed writing that aren't great. But, these are very minor things that don't affect the quality of Incredibles 2 much at all.
  
  Incredibles 2 lived up to my expectations and was definitely worth the long 14-year wait. The film is another fun, family-friendly, beautifully animated story of the Parr family's adventures as superheroes. No, it's not as good as 2004's The Incredibles, but it is pretty close. I can't wait for this one to come out on Blu-Ray, and I'll use the opportunity to buy both this film and its predecessor to add to my movie collection. If you are a fan of the original, or if you just like to enjoy yourself, or if you just need something to do, I highly recommend seeing this film. Incredibles 2 gets 4 out of 5 stars.

• Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (PG-13, 2018)

  - by fb240249622973600

  In 1993, Steven Spielberg released Jurassic Park to roaring success from audiences, critics, and box... read more office numbers. While a fantastic film by its own merits, it led to many of the things that plague the movie industry today: sequels, formulaic franchises, product placement, overreliance on CGI, et cetera, et cetera. The Jurassic Park franchise itself has become one example of the 1993 original's influence on entertainment, and it continued to act as such with the 2015 release of Colin Trevorrow's Jurassic World. Now, in 2018, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom heralds the arrival of the fifth installment in the franchise. Some may argue that the franchise has run its course and is nearing extinction, and Fallen Kingdom provides quite a bit of evidence to this argument. Let's talk about it.
  
  Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom features a few members of the cast from the previous film. Chris Pratt charismatically portrays Owen Grady, a Velociraptor trainer from the now-defunct Jurassic World park. Bryce Dallas Howard returns as Claire Dearing, the former operations manager of the park who now seeks the protection of the endangered dinosaurs on Isla Nublar. The only other returning Jurassic World character that I could remember was B.D. Wong's Dr. Henry Wu, a character that was introduced in the very first Jurassic Park. The rest of the cast are new editions to the universe, with the exception of Jeff Goldblum's extended cameo as Dr. Ian Malcolm. This supporting cast includes Rafe Spall as a villainous businessman, Toby Jones as another villainous businessman, Justice Smith as a phobia-filled IT guy, Daniella Pineda as a paleoveterinarian, Ted Levine as a brainless dinosaur hunter, and James Cromwell as a friend of the late John Hammond (the man who started it all). This brings me to the first obvious offense of the film: its supporting cast. Chris Pratt's Owen and Bryce Dallas Howard's Claire act as the only two mildly compelling characters in the film. Everyone else... well... is pretty terrible. The vast majority of them are nothing more than forgettable cartoon characters that exercise every cliché and genre trope imaginable. I'd love to talk about them in much more detail, but that would add two paragraphs of information that you've probably already heard from many other movie critics on the internet. So I'll summarize my feelings for them by saying that I hated at least four of the supporting characters in the film due to the infuriatingly poor writing that characterized them and the exceptionally predictable fates that each one of them met.
  
  Perhaps the biggest problem with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is its unoriginality. Almost every aspect - plot points, shots, characters, dialogue - are carbon copies of other films in the Jurassic Park franchise. Here are some examples. #1: Dinosaurs are being transported off an island by greedy business people... sounds like Jurassic Park II: The Lost World. #2: Greedy business people who only care about money and themselves are in the movie... Jurassic Park and Jurassic World had the same people. #3: A new, dangerous dinosaur is genetically engineered, breaks lose, and starts killing people... that was Jurassic World's ENTIRE PLOT. #4: Characters have conversations about the rights of dinosaurs and the ways humans misuse them... I'm pretty sure every Jurassic Park film has touched on this. See what I mean? Additionally, the film's structure and execution abide by the formula found in countless other action, adventure, and monster films on the market. This results in the film being predictable and lacking any sort of tension or intrigue. Probably the best proof of this are the countless moments of deus ex machina that happen throughout. Sure, I can forgive a couple of instances of this in a blockbuster film: most of us are used to this by now. But literally EVERY time a "good guy" is in some sort of danger in Fallen Kingdom, some ridiculous thing happens at the last second to save them. And after the first five of these instances, you start to lose interest in the film.
  
  It's pretty easy to rip apart Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and forget that the movie, while bloated with flaws, still has moments of genuine entertainment and spectacle. Granted, most of these moments are given away in the film's trailers, but watching them on a big movie screen was still fun. Probably my favorite of these moments was the scene with the exploding volcano on Isla Nublar. Sure, it was dumb and fueled entirely by CGI, but damn it, it was pretty sweet to see Chris Pratt sprinting out of a forest followed by lava, an ash cloud, and dozens of towering dinosaurs while a mountain was erupting gloriously in the background. The film's third act, essentially a close-quarters monster movie, also had a few thrilling moments and I remember jumping a couple of times in surprise. Still, the parts of the movie that are not adrenaline-fueled popcorn flair are pretty slow and forgettable and showcase the Jurassic Park franchise at some of its lowest points.
  
  Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, while fun and entertaining at some points, is essentially a recycled mess of elements from other films in the franchise. The film certainly does not add anything new to Jurassic Park's legacy and serves as another half-hearted attempt to rake in dollars at the box office. If you're looking for a fun movie to watch with your friends, buy tickets to see Fallen Kingdom in 3D and you will probably get what you came for. But if you're looking for anything else beyond that, you will be sorely disappointed. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom gets 2 out of 5 stars.