The Terminator (1984) --- “The Thing That Won't Die, In The Nightmare That Won't End.”

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     In 2029, the world has been taken over by Skynet, a computer AI that has achieved sentience and now seeks to launch a global nuclear holocaust in order to wipe out humanity for good. However, John Conner leads the human resistance and is on the verge of stopping SkyNet from achieving its goals. In an effort to ensure that their goals are achieved, SkyNet sends an indestructible cyborg known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) back in time to the present day to kill John Conner's mother, Sarah (Linda Hamilton) before he’s even born. But all is not lost as John sends his own soldier, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), into the past to save his mother the killer machine. Can Kyle save Sarah and her unborn/unconceived child from an unstoppable menace? Or will the human race be extinguished before it even had a chance to fight back?

     It’s crazy to think that The Terminator (1984) - directed by James Cameron (Terminator: Dark Fate, Avatar series) and co-written alongside Gale Anne Hurd (Terminator: Dark Fate) - almost didn’t make it to the big screen - the Terminator was almost terminated. Fortunately, Orion Pictures liked the premise of the film and it’s a good thing that it did because it became one of the greatest films of the ’80s. Filled with iconic catchphrases like “Come with me if you want to live” and “I’ll be back,” the Terminator is a piece of pop culture that has inspired and entertained audiences for years, and each new installment only adds to the hype. The story continually builds at an even pace towards its endgame with expertly choreographed action and deep characterization. It is a perfectly constructed sci-fi horror that doesn’t let go of its intensity. Even though this is one of the first films that James Cameron has directed, it is no surprise that he hit the nail on the head.

     The cast performances are incredible. This is one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's (Terminator: Dark Fate) most iconic roles and it is clear early on that he was the perfect person to play the Terminator. Although she reminds me a little of Joe Dirt, Linda Hamilton (Terminator: Dark Fate, Dante’s Peak) is suited perfectly for the role of the feeble and ruggedly beautiful girl next door, Sarah Conner. It is a shame though that, until recently, her film career didn’t extend beyond this film and its sequel because she would have been great in similar action-packed films and made even a few rom-coms. Michael Biehn (Aliens, The Abyss) is great as Sarah’s protector Kyle Reese, but his performance is secondary and he tends to sit in the background when both Hamilton and Schwarzenegger are on scene.

     Overall, The Terminator (1984) is a relentless, gripping, action-packed sci-fi horror film that was almost ended before it even had a chance to begin. At close to 35 years of age, this film has come a long way and yet the story still remains to be just as entertaining now as it was back then, especially since it is a source of some of pop culture’s most iconic catchphrases. All in all, this film was a success and I highly recommend that you check it out if you have not done so already, especially if you have plans to see Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) in a few days.

Final Vote --- 8 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar

Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

The Terminator (1984)

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

Terminator Genisys (2015)

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Tolkien (2019) --- “A Life Of Love, Courage, And Fellowship.”

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     At his boarding school, an orphaned J. R. R. Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult) befriends a group of artistic outcasts (Ty Tennant, Albie Marber, and Adam Bregman), with whom he finds inspiration and courage. Over the years, the fellowship’s bond grows stronger as they experience life and love in pursuit of their artistic dreams. But when World War I breaks out, Tolkein and the fellowship are tested beyond breaking point. From his childhood to his school days, to his love life, to seeing the horrors of war, watch as these life experiences provide a foundation that would later inspire Tolkien to write one of the most beloved and iconic fantasy series to-date, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. 

     Tolkien once wrote in the preface of The Lord of the Rings, "One has indeed personally to come under the shadow of war to feel fully its oppression; but as the years go by it seems now often forgotten that to be caught in youth by 1914 was no less hideous an experience than to be involved in 1939 and the following years. By 1918 all but one of my close friends were dead." And this film - directed by Dome Karukoski (Tom of Finland) and written by David Gleeson (Don’t Go, The Grimm Legacy) and Stephen Beresford (Pride) - effectively captures that concept. The story bounces between different points in his life, primarily going between his present, as he is soldiering in the trenches of WW1, to his past, when he was just another schoolboy, before the war. It tells how through our lives, we make connections with other people and events that inspire creativity and fuel our imagination; that is how it was for J.R.R. Tolkien. All in all, this was a great story about accomplishing one’s goals, overcoming obstacles or adversities, and letting our experiences inspire us to create something beautiful.

     The cast performances were great. Nicholas Hoult (The Current War) plays Tolkien with restraint and sympathy that makes him an excellent choice for the role, while Lily Collins (Les Miserables on PBS) was lovely as his future wife and muse, Edith Batter. Anthony Boyle (Ordeal by Innocence), Patrick Gibson (The White Princess, Darkest Minds), and Tom Glynn-Carney (Dunkirk, The King) were memorable as the adult versions of Tolkien’s friends. The youthful counterparts of the fellowship - Harry Gilby (Casualty), Mimi Keene (Close), Adam Bregman (Genius), Albie Marber (Outlander), and Ty Tennent (War of the Worlds) - were also impressive.

     Overall, Tolkien (2019) is a conventional and predictable biopic that cares very deeply for its subject matter. The story was far from perfect and yet it demonstrates how our life experiences not only shape us into the person we are today but also show how they can inspire us to create something beautiful. The cast performances were great and the characters knew how to play off each other’s strengths. Would I watch this again? Maybe, maybe not. Do I recommend it? Yes, but only under the stipulation that you prepare yourself for something a little more thought to provoke than action-packed.

Final Vote --- 6.7 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar

The Aftermath (2019)
Born of Hope (2009)
Colette (2018)
The Hunt for Gollum (2009)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)
The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002)
Red Joan (2018)

Zombieland 2 (2019) --- “Home Isn't A Place. It's The People You're With."

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     Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) have spent the last 10 years surviving in a post-apocalyptic zombie-infested America by taking what they want, living where they want, and killing any zombie that happens to cross their path. Now they have decided to put down roots in their new home: the long-abandoned White House, but not everyone is thrilled with this decision. Tired of being treated like a child and longing to find someone her own age, Little Rock decides to run away and ends up falling for Berkeley (Avan Jogia), a hippy, stoner guy who has a non-violence rule towards everyone, including the zombies. Determined to find their missing family member, Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita and their newfound friend Madison (Zoey Deutch) set off to find her. Along the way, they encounter new faces such as the Elvis enthusiast Nevada (Rosario Dawson), the eerily familiar duo Albuquerque (Luke Wilson) and Flagstaff (Thomas Middleditch), and some evolved zombies that prove to smarter, stronger, and more dangerous than all the rest. Can this quirky family reunite in time to stop a swarm of evolved zombies from taking over and eating their brains? Or is it already too little too late? 

     Director Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Jekyll) and writers Rhett Reese (Deadpool franchise) and Paul Wernick (Deadpool franchise) return along with fellow writer Dave Callaham (Wonder Woman 1984) to helm Zombieland: Double Tap (2019), the sequel to the 2009 classic Zombieland. The first film was a lot of fun with a gleeful self-referencing nature that effectively balances between being gory and humorous. It was a zombie film that knew it was a zombie film and had fun re-establishing that in every scene. Now all of our favorite characters are back and the story continues exactly 10 years since we last saw them. Thanks to the witty writings by Reese, Wernick, and now Callaham, Double Tap proves to be just as fun and entertaining as the last film. The story diverts from most sequels by not rehashing many of the same elements, there is a lot more humor, and the horror to this horror-comedy is set to the max with plenty of creative zombie kills that make for a messy cringeworthy experience. Throughout the story, the characters are consistently distracted from their main mission by other forces, and while this is used character development, it also gives the film a roaming or meandering feel, which doesn’t help for the film’s fast pace. Nevertheless, Double Tap is still the same fun and stupid zombie film that captures the same tone as the first but it also manages to add a few new elements and expands upon the zombie world that was established in the first film. 

     The cast performances are great and the cast itself is much larger. Woody Harrelson (Midway), Jesse Eisenberg (Now You See Me franchise, Resistance), Abigail Breslin (Scream Queens), and Emma Stone (Cruella, The Croods franchise) fall back into their same easy chemistry and snappy banter that we enjoyed the last time. There were a number of new additions to the film that helped improve the story. Zoey Deutch (The Politician) as Madison, a dippy and dumb blond who has managed to stay alive the last 10 years by hiding in a mall’s Pinkberry freezer. And while she is a one-joke idea dressed in her pink velour Juicy Couture sweats and her dim-witted Valley Girl voice, Madison is a sunny and guileless character that is a welcome respite in a cold and bleak world. Rosario Dawson (Jane the Virgin, Rent) as Nevada, and Elvis-enthusiast and Tallahassee’s love interest, is great but the romance between her and Harrelson’s characters is barely there. Avan Jogia (Now Apocalypse, Ghost Wars) was the perfect choice to play hippy pacifist Berkeley who is much funnier then one might expect, however, he is outshined by the other new additions. Luke Wilson (The Goldfinch) as Albuquerque and Thomas Middleditch (Godzilla: King of Monsters) as Flagstaff greet funny as the eerie doppelgängers of Tallahassee and Columbus. The only issue that I found with the characters is that they never fully given the chance to develop in more meaningful and compelling ways. Perhaps, if this film had come out a year or two after the first film then the filmmakers would have been able to get away with it but since its been 10 years audiences are looking for more fleshed out characters maybe even with a little more backstory as to what has been going on since we last saw them.

     Overall, Zombieland: Double Tap (2019) is an entertaining sequel that defends its existence by delivering another hilarious zombie film that knows its a zombie film. The story is filled with references from the first film and the horror aspect has been taken up a notch. The cast is much larger this time around, featuring new additions that add to the storyline and gives the main characters a chance to interact with other people. All in all, Double Tap is still the same fun and stupid zombie film that captures the same tone as the first but it also manages to add a few new elements and expands upon the zombie world that was established in the first film. I highly recommend this to fans of the first film and I also advise parents that due to the gore, blood, and profanity, this is not suitable for children.

Final Vote --- 7.7 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar

Kick-Ass (2010)

Kick-Ass 2 (2013)

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

Superbad (2007)

World War Z (2013)

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The World's End (2013)

Zombieland (2009)

Zombieland (2000) --- “Superbad Meets Shawn Of The Dead!”

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    Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is your average guy with regular gaming addiction but his serious people phobia has caused him to never had a real friend and develop the habit of running away from everything. When an incurable virus has turned the majority of the population into zombies, Columbus decides to brave the outside world in an attempt to find his parents in Columbus and developed a set of rules to keep himself alive. He soon runs into Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a large and gruff Texan with a craving for Twinkies in search of a way back to his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida. Along the way, they come across Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), two sisters who have nothing but each other and since becoming con artists. Despite their differences and getting off to a rocky start, this group of perfectly evolved survivors embarks on a road trip in search of a fabled sanctuary amidst a world torn apart by insane flesh-eating zombies. But soon they will have to face down their biggest foe yet, each other.

     Directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland: Double Tap, Venom) and written by Rhett Reese (Zombieland: Double Tap) and Paul Wernick (Zombieland: Double Tap), Zombieland (2000) is one of the best zombie horror-comedy films since Shaun of the Dead (2004). The opening is flashy and the build-up is anything but subtle as the audience is immediately dropped into the action. From its opening sequence, Zombieland presents itself as a fast-paced cartoon fantasy filled to the brim with a multitude of montage sequences. The writers use aspects which are considered to be taboo for zombie films is used wholeheartedly and thanks to their unique ability to make almost anything comical, the film is filled to the brim with laugh-out-loud moments. And as faced paced as it is, there is one particular moment when the pace slows down for a second and in its place, the audience is met with one of the best comedic cameos of all time. 

     As far as the cast performances go, they were great. Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson make a great comedic duo. Their different styles of comedy play off each other nicely and only affirms that their compatibility started long before they did the Now You See Me series. Eisenberg’s character narration throughout the film adds a nice touch to the film and his chemistry with Emma Stone (Battle of the Sexes) is believable. Stone and Abigail Breslin (Zombieland: Double Tap) are also terrific as the sister-conning-duo who almost makes you believe that they could actually be sisters. The rest of the cast is pretty small considering that the main characters mostly interact with each other and the occasional zombie or two but the few humans that they do come across leave a lasting impression.

     Overall, the writers of Zombieland (2009) may have been inspired by 2004’s Shaun of the Dead but it still manages to be a sort of a rom-com-zombie film that is entirely its own. The story is filled to the brim with laugh-out-loud moments and primarily follows a fast pace that only slows down long enough to deliver an unforgettable cameo. The chemistry and compatibility between the 4 main characters is spot on with its believability. If you had ans doubts or reservations about seeing this film then I highly recommend that you do, especially if you're a fan of zombie films.

Final Vote --- 7.6 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar

Kick-Ass (2010)

Kick-Ass 2 (2013)

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

Superbad (2007)

World War Z (2013)

Warm Bodies (2013)

The World's End (2013)

Zombieland (2009)

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) --- “Go Beyond The Fairy Tale.”

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     It’s been 5 years since we last saw Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) and Aurora (Elle Fanning) who is now Queen of the Moors, and their relationship - one born of revenge, heartbreak and ultimately love - has flourished. While the impending marriage between Aurora and Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson), the future king of Ulstead, is meant to unite two worlds into a new era of peace, the hatred between the humans and the fairies is not so easily forgotten by some. When an unexpected encounter introduces a powerful new alliance, Maleficent and Aurora’s relationship is put to the test as they are pulled to different sides of a Great War that will change the lives of everyone around them, both human and fairy. Can this mother-daughter duo find their way back to each other before it’s too late?  

     Directed by Joachim Rønning (POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales) and written by Linda Woolverton (Lion King, 2019), Noah Harpster (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), and Micah Fitzerman-Blue (Transparent, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood),  Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) is an entertaining family fantasy film that surpasses its 2014 predecessor. Unlike other Disney films that did a reboot of the classic animated film, Maleficent delivers a well-known story with a unique and memorable twist that makes it its own. The first film follows themes of revenge and heartbreak, and how true love can develop in unexpected and powerful ways. This film focuses on some new themes such as Aurora falling in love and Maleficent having trouble accepting that new change. It explores the hatred between mankind and fairy in a new way and gives Maleficent the opportunity to discover more about her origins (which was in the trailers). There is a predictable plot twist in the form of revealing the story’s villain early on but since this is a family film that comes as no surprise. Plus it made for an interesting character arc because the audience gets to see the evilness of this new villain and just how far they're willing to go in order to eradicate an entire species. In that sense, the film does get surprisingly dark, and yet it still manages to add in moments of humor and emotion to help brighten up the atmosphere. The story’s message is that anyone can be good or bad, to not judge a book by its cover because villains can come in many different forms, and even villains can become heroes.

     The action sequences are much more grand and expansive than the last time, which made for more dramatic and lively battle scenes. In fact, the climactic battle scene takes place in broad daylight, which is something that is very rarely seen in films. The cinematography by Henry Braham (The Legend of Tarzan, Guardians of the Galaxy 2) is dazzling and beautiful and uses appropriate lighting to convey the tone of each scene. The costumes by Ellen Mirojnik (The Greatest Showman, Behind the Candelabra) are brighter and more colorful with details and styles that showcase the characters’ personalities.

     The cast were great in their performances. Angelina Jolie (By the Sea, Eternals) is perfect as Maleficent, who has taken on the role of mother to Aurora instead of simply being Godmother. Elle Fanning (A Rainy Day in New York) provides a more mature Aurora than the one we saw in the last film, she is not as naive as she once ones, especially when she learns some hidden truths. Sam Riley (Radioactive) as Diaval is given more screen time which allows him to be both cool and humorous. Michelle Pfeiffer (Ant-Man &  the Wasp) is one of the few actors I know of that can expertly play a villain with sneer and swagger that is hidden behind a regal facade, it kind of reminds me of her role as the witch Lamia in Stardust (2007). Harris Dickinson (Trust, Darkest Minds, The King’s Man) replaces Brenton Thwaites (POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales) as Prince Phillip and he seems to be a better fit for the role. The chemistry between him and Fanning is a lot better than it was in the last film. New additions, Chiwetel Ejiofor (The Lion King) and Ed Skrein (Midway) were great in their respective roles that had completely different views about war with the humans. However, I do wish that they were given better character arcs and a chance to tell more of their backstory. Perhaps if there is a third film, we will get to delve more into their characters. The rest of the cast did great in their respective roles.

     Overall, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) is an entertaining and adventurous family fantasy that appeals more towards the adults then it does the kids. The plot explores more into the story that was established in the first film and gives the already established characters a better story arc. There are moments of humor and some bright scenes throughout but even the seemingly cheery scenes are overshadowed by a dark tone hidden in the background. The action sequences, cinematography, and costume designs have greatly improved since the last film. Not only is this an incredible sequel that easily surpasses the original film in every aspect but it is also one of Disney’s more unique live-adaptations films to date. I highly recommend this film, especially if your a fan of the series or you're looking for a different take on a Disney Princess film.

Final Vote --- 8.2 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass (2016)

Beauty and the Beast (2018)

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