Author: crunchonthis

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of October 15, 2018

Ant-Man and the Wasp
Rated PG-13 for some sci-fi action and violence
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
Available on Disc and Streaming
With the moderate success of Ant-Man, Marvel added a second feature, this time with his new side-kick and love interest The Wasp. Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly star as the titular team, along with Michael Douglas as the dad/boss as they go searching for The Wasp’s mother, and original Wasp, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Her you get a healthy dose of back story and a somewhat fun adventure to bide your time in between the big Marvel tentpoles. As you’d expect, the film has some exciting and rather funny big set pieces with lots of humor and mild drama thrown in the gaps. Paul Rudd has always been the perfect choice for this role and any lack of substance is quickly made up with his charm and wit. And while I love Evangeline Lilly, her role here is too much the straight man, which is especially sad since the film is basically about her. The film just feels like a minor movie and definitely not quite the blockbuster type. But it did make an impressive amount of money at the box office and it has certainly won over a lot of fans, so they are obviously doing something right. B-

The Evil Dead 4K
Not Rated but would be strong R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Available on Disc and Streaming
Just in time for Halloween is this 4K restoration of the classic 1981 horror film by Sam Raimi. The ultra low-budget film which started the franchise stars Bruce Campbell as he and classmates make an unplanned stopover gone wrong at an abandoned cabin in the woods. The film came to notoriety due to its humor mixed with gore, which later led to the sequels and television series which got even funnier and twistier over the years. The new 4k version looks and sounds as good as it can (it was originally shot on 16mm after all) but the fun and horror will bring back fond memories for some and maybe even find some new fans. Also available this week is the complete collection of the Ash vs Evil Dead series from Starz which furthers the adventures of Bruce Campbell’s character, Ash, as he attempts to save the world from the evil within. A-

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of October 8, 2018

First Man
Rated PG-13 for some thematic content involving peril, and brief strong language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
In Theaters
From the Oscar-winning director of La La Land, Damien Chazelle, and executive producer Steven Spielberg, comes this retelling of the early days of the Nasa space program, culminating in Neil Armstrong’s iconic landing on the moon. Unlike most previous versions we’ve seen of this legendary piece of history, this narrative focuses on one man and what he had to go through to accomplish the impossible. Ryan Gosling reteams with Chazelle as the iconic Armstrong, a character from history who is as famous as any American, but whom we know little about. Using modern special effects with a visionary young filmmaker at the helm, the story comes off as both fresh and relevant while at the same time monumental. My only disappointment is in the disconnected score by Justin Hurwitz, who created amazing music for La La Land and Whiplash, but just couldn’t pull off the score needed to propel this movie to true greatness. But even with mediocre music, the film still manages a successful lift off, making you feel like you are a part of one of America’s greatest accomplishments. A-

Skyscraper
Rated PG-13 for sequences of gun violence and action, and for brief strong language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 46%
Available on Disc and Streaming
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars in this Die Hard knock off about a security expert who must come to the rescue of his family when they are trapped in Hong Kong high-rise after a terrorist attack. Sure the plot is thin, but the action is huge as Johnson, once again playing the hero with a heart of pure gold, sets out to do anything to rescue his family. So while it’s nothing you haven’t seen before, this variation on a theme does provide some movie comfort movie food which is certain to entertain a large portion of viewers. I can’t say it’s my style, but it certainly isn’t horrible or anything you’ll be embarrassed about for enjoying. C+

Rodin
NR, but would be a strong R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 28%
Available on Disc and Streaming
This look at the famous sculptor’s life shows the careful balance between his art, his warm relationship with his lifelong partner, Rose Beuret, and his passionate affair with his mistress and student Camille Claudel. It is unfortunate that the film comes off as cold and disjointed rather than passionate and truthful like Rodin’s art. I enjoyed seeing the artist at work, and even some of his moments of play, but the narrative just sits and stalls, never really accomplishing the masterpiece it tries to be. C

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of October 1, 2018

A Star is Born
Rated R for language throughout, some sexuality/nudity and substance abuse
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
In Theaters
Bradly Cooper here does a little showing off as writer, director and star of this new take on the tragic love story. Cooper here plays a well-known singer who gets through his days with the help of drugs and alcohol. But when he runs into a talented singer/songwriter, played by Lady Gaga, in a late night bar visit, he quickly falls in love and in the process gives his new girl a boost to her musical career. While I didn’t find the film to be an experience I want to duplicate, I did leave with a huge appreciation for talents I would have never attributed to Cooper. Sure he is a great actor, but the guy can sing, direct and write like a master. And he generously allows Lady Gaga to shine in a role that steals the show and might even give the film the biggest chance for Oscar buzz. For anyone who has ever been deeply effected by a loved one with substance addiction, the film has the potential to take you to dark places that are beyond uncomfortable as Cooper all too realistically portrays this. But while the darkness and sadness take over the story, the music does find a way to elevate emotions to counter the drama. B+

Leave No Trace
Rated PG for thematic material throughout
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Available on Disc and Streaming
Ben Foster plays a veteran who has taken his teenage daughter, played by fantastic newcomer Thomasin McKenzie, off the grid to live in the woods of Oregon. But when they are discovered by authorities, the two of them are placed in social services where they must decide to either assimilate or make their way back to the wild. This is a tough, authentic drama with rich performances that really pull on your heart. And with 185 reviews in, it has actually remained at a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score which is an almost impossible feat in itself. And while it has a PG rating, I wouldn’t call it a family film. It is simply an adult film with zero in the way of objectionable material, which is completely unique in this day and age. A-

Three Identical Strangers
Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
Available on Disc and Streaming
In 1980, three young adopted men in New York discover that they were identical triplets, separated from birth and given to thee different families. Years later they start to understand why. This documentary follows the unbelievable and almost inconceivable true story in a way that moves from pure joy to fascination to despair. It’s a story that I’m glad I was able to experience, but one which you almost wish was untrue afterward. In a year full of absolutely incredible documentaries, this is truly one of the best and one that you will be recommending to friends long after you’ve seen it. A

The First Purge
Rated R for strong disturbing violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54%
Available on Disc and Streaming
This prequel to the hit horror franchise follows the first purge experiment where the government makes all crime legal for one night, in the hopes that they can thin the herd of urban Americans. While the movies in this series have come off as more cheesy and cheap horror than riveting narrative, I’ve always thought that the basic story here could make for a pretty fantastic look at our society and where it could be heading. With this prequel to the other three mediocre films, I was actually holding out hope that they could deliver a story that would almost serve as a warning rather than just a few scares and lots of blood. Unfortunately, the filmmakers took the path of quick and easy violence rather than a shot across the bow. The script and the acting are the only horrific acts on display here and any potential for redemption for the franchise’s past mistakes is unfortunately left for dead. C-

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of September 24, 2018

Solo: A Star Wars Story
Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action/violence
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%
Available on Disc and Streaming
With the success of Rogue One, Disney had big plans with expanding the Star Wars universe by telling back stories that exist outside of the official saga. That is until now. While it made almost $400 million at the worldwide box office, that is a failure when the studio is expecting at least a billion. But I would contend that this is a film worth watching. Going back to Han Solo’s origin story, the very competent but relatively unknown Alden Ehrenreich does an admirable job in the title role, and adding some credible star power are Donald Glover (as the scene stealing Lando), Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton and Paul Bettany. They even got Ron Howard to take over as director when the original directors couldn’t cut it. While it’s a bit cheesy at times, this is a well-made action film with a fun personality. It has its little problems, but they are easy to overlook when viewing the bigger picture. I think its a shame it didn’t find a wider audience, but I would imagine with this release, it will pick up a larger fan base than it did in theaters. B+

Uncle Drew
Rated PG-13 for suggestive material, language and brief nudity
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 62%
Available on Disc and Streaming
Lil Rel Howery (doing his best Kevin Hart impression) plays a height-challenged basketball fan who dreams of coaching a championship street ball team. Just when his life falls apart, he discovers a rowdy gang of elderly players (Kyrie Irving, Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson and Chris Webber) who join up with him to take on the young kids who think they own the game. While some of the jokes don’t hit, and many are fairly mean, once the pros hit the court, the film takes off with a good sense of humor and a fast pace. You could tell there was a lot of fun had by the cast and that chemistry creates a strong likability. It’s certainly not a great film, but it has its moments and its charm. Aside from a little innuendo and language, this actually turns out to be a decent family film with a strong message for kids: you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. And to my surprise, by the end it turns out to be a decently entertaining film. B-

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of September 17, 2018

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49%
Available on Disc and Streaming
Since the events of 2015’s smash hit retread Jurassic World, Isla Nubar has been left abandoned until Owen and Claire (Christ Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard) are tricked into going back to rescue a few dinosaurs before a giant volcano consumes every last one. But once the dinosaurs are off the island, a sinister plan unfolds that only Owen and Claire can foil. While the story on Jurassic World wasn’t that great before, Chris Pratt brought the film up a huge notch, but unfortunately here he couldn’t save it. Here the story is embarrassingly bad and with Chris just phoning in his part, the film turns out to be mostly just a disappointment. Sure the special effects are great and there is some terrific action and even a few funny jokes. But by the end this project seems like nothing more than a money grab. It’s certainly not a story that was dying to be told. C+

Ozark: Season Two
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68%
Available on Netflix
Lately we’ve had a drought in notable home entertainment releases, which is great for me since it allows me to jump into some exciting new Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime shows. The one I was most excited about was Season 2 of Ozark. It is still my opinion that Ozark Season One is the best show Netflix has released to date. In case you didn’t watch the first season, Ozark follows an accountant (Jason Bateman) who is left standing as the only living person in his firm when a Mexican drug cartel finds out they were stealing money. He manages to outwit his predators one day at a time by convincing them that he can take his wife (Laura Linney) and young family to the Lake of the Ozarks where he can easily launder millions of dollars for them. But of course things go wrong, over and over, leaving us with one heck of a cliffhanger that finally resolves in season two. Here Bateman and Linney must use their skills to stay alive a little bit longer while working with the cartel and the local heroine growers, hoping to build a casino until they can launch their escape plan. It’s a complicated mess that leaves you feeling dirty while constantly looking over your shoulder. The second season isn’t as frightening, but the writing and acting are strong as you watch Bateman and Linney go from being victims to crimelords. It is more than apparent that they are aiming for a Breaking Bad vibe, with an almost parallel trajectory, but it is a fun watch to tear through, even with a few faults here and there. A-

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of September 10, 2018

Ocean’s 8
Rated PG-13 for language, drug use, and some suggestive content
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68%
Available on Disc and Streaming
So apparently George Clooney’s character from the other Oceans’ films has died, and his sister, played by Sandra Bullock, is fresh out of jail and ready to take on a huge diamond heist. Along with her seven cohorts, including Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling and Rihanna, the all-female team attempts to steal a $150 million necklace off of the neck of a big Hollywood actress, played by Anne Hathaway. There’s a lot to like about the new film and it has much of the same personality of its male cohort with some interesting characters and a clever sense of humor. The biggest disappointment is how convenient and easy the whole thing ends up being. The almost complete lack of danger and tension also leads to a lack of fun. When nothing goes wrong, or at least next to nothing, its more difficult to appreciate the conquest. And at the end of the day, the project turns out to be an average attempt to entertain. C+

The Tree of Life: The Criterion Collection
Rated PG-13 for some thematic material
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
Available on Disc and Streaming
One of my favorite films of the last 10 years is getting this huge Criterion facelift as director Terrence Malick delivers almost an extra hour of material in this new extended edition. While it was well-received by critics and even won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, it was met with very mixed results by an American audience, much of whom just didn’t understand it. And I’ll admit that its a tough film to comprehend and a lot of thought must go into it. It’s not an easy night at the movies. The story can only be described as a look at God’s complex relationship with humans, as told from a young family in a small Texas Town. Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain and Sean Penn head up the cast and Houston is very prominently featured. The film is the epitome of artsy as it is more poem and aesthetic beauty than compelling narrative, but the film’s nature is what makes it special and an almost ethereal experience for those who are willing to put the effort into it. The new material does give the movie a very different feel as you take a deeper dive into the lives of the young children and the experiences that have created their strongest memories. Aside from the new cut, the film has some great new features including interviews with Jessica Chastain and the visual-effects supervisor Dan Glass. But noticeably missing is a director’s commentary from Malick, which still saddens me with its absence. A+

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of September 3, 2018

Won’t You Be My Neighbor
Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
Available on Disc and Streaming
This incredibly successful documentary follows the life of Fred Rogers, the creator and star of the hit children’s show Mr Rogers’ Neighborhood, a show that ran for decades and left a positive impact on pretty much everyone who ever watched it. In the very cynical world we live in, it’s a breath of fresh air to sit back and appreciate the life of such a good man whose heart was truly in the right place, where hardly a misstep was taken. The film is made up of interviews with the people who knew him best, along with many of his greatest television moments, and you get the honest sense that his life was truly spent in the service of others and those who knew him were even luckier than the folks like me who just grew up watching him. When I was a child, I didn’t even realize he was trying to explore adult issues in order to help me grow up to be a better person. To me he was just educational entertainment that I loved to watch. But that’s the magic and the brilliance behind this legendary figure for whom I now have an extraordinary respect for. A

Beast
Rated R for disturbing content, language and some sexuality
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Available on Disc and Streaming
This low-budget but well-received British indie follows a young girl who wants to escape from her family but can’t seem to find the courage. But when she meets a young loner and falls in love, her dreams of escape are bashed when he is arrested as the leading suspect wanted for a series of grisly murders. What makes the film so intriguing is that it is hard to get ahold of. It starts out like a forbidden romance but moves into thriller territory, only to confuse you into thinking you might have it wrong. The leading couple are atypical but talented leading actors, which only adds to the mystique. I wouldn’t say that it’s a film for everyone, but it certainly is a decent little indie for folks who love to explore the stranger and darker side of cinema. B+

Hereditary
Rated R for horror violence, disturbing images, language, drug use and brief graphic nudity
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
Available on Disc and Streaming
This indie horror/drama follows a truly messed-up family that undergoes an extreme tragedy which puts their life through a horrific nightmare. Thanks in part to a phenomenal trailer and a promising cast, the film hit with incredible buzz and even better reviews from press who loved its novelty and creativity. And while the box office was relatively strong compared to its budget, audiences didn’t quite know how to take it. It doesn’t help that you are convinced, before going in, that the story follows a strange-looking girl with mysterious, possibly satanic powers. But then you find out that the film is about her brother and it almost feels like you were sold a bill of goods. Please notice that I’m hardly going to tell you what the film is really about. How’s that for a film review? I would rather tell you that your expectations should be correct, so that you can better enjoy it. Instead of thinking you are about to see a film that will scare you out of your wits, you should expect to experience a psychological thriller that will creep you out more than it elevates your heart rate. It’s not a frightmare masterpiece as most critics have exclaimed, but it is a genre pic worth checking out. B

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of August 27, 2018

Upgrade
Rated R for strong violence, grisly images, and language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
Available on Disc and Streaming
This Audience Award winner from SXSW follows a technophobe in the near future who loses everything when his wife is brutally murdered and he is left paralyzed from the neck down. But when an eclectic young billionaire offers to place a secret device in his body, he not only gains the ability to walk again, but gets some serious fighting skills as he sets off on a revenge-filled mission to take revenge on the guys who ruined his life. The film may lack stars, but it certainly doesn’t look like a low-budget indie. It is extremely well-written and produced, and the acting is unexpectedly strong for such a genre picture. But what stands out the most is the unique and creative fight choreography, which I can easily proclaim is the best that I’ve seen since The Matrix (which is almost 20 years old by the way). From the first moment when our hero starts his butt-kicking, I started getting not just excited, but almost giddy. What I thought would be a decent sci-fi indie turned out to be a massively entertaining thriller. A-

RBG
Rated PG for some thematic elements and language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
Available on Disc, Streaming and on CNN
Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the star and subject of this documentary which explores where she came from, how she got to the Supreme Court, and what pushes her to be the controversial figure that she is today. To some she is a hero and inspirational figure and to others she is a dangerous and subversive progressive who stands against the status quo. This film represents more of that hero point of view, and in fairness, it could use a bit of counterpoint to keep it balanced. But its message rings true and you definitely come away with the idea that her heart and her intentions are not only honest, but righteous as well. I rather enjoyed getting to know the notorious RBG and what makes her tick, and have a new-found appreciation for this great woman. B+

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of August 20, 2018

Deadpool 2
Rated R for strong violence and language throughout, sexual references and brief drug material
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
On Disc and Streaming
One of 2018’s bright stars is this sequel to the 2016 adult action comedy about a man (Ryan Reynolds) who is killed in an experiment, but brought back to life as a vigilante super hero who, very aware of the audience watching, cracks jokes while cutting off the villians’ limbs and heads with creativity and in expertly choreographed fashion. This time out, he has just lost the person most important to him and as an act of penance he commits to help a young mutant who is being hunted down by a hitman from the future named Cable (Josh Brolin). Just like the first film, the action is fast, as are the constant barrage of jokes, which almost always hit. When the first film came out, it was a risky venture and the studio capitalized big with their relatively small investment. This time though, the production has swagger, like it knows it’s going to be a smash coming out of the gate, and that confidence makes this an absolutely thrilling experience. And for this home release, we also get the new Super Duper Cut, which offers up almost 15 minutes more material which could not be shown in theaters. I would tell you it’s even more offensive, but honestly, the project has a great heart so it’s hard to not enjoy. A-

First Reformed
Rated R for some disturbing violent images
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
On Disc and Streaming
In this indie, Ethan Hawke plays a solitary middle-aged priest at a small church in upstate New York, who turns empathetic to ecoterrorism after counseling a young couple in his church. This is a slow burn for sure, and not your average night on the couch watching a movie. The subject matter is extreme, and honestly hard to watch at times. But I was held captive for almost its entirety, waiting patiently for what would come next. Hawke’s performance was excellent, as is usual for his small-budgeted films, but unfortunately I found the ending to be way too unconventional for my taste. The story is basically straight forward until the last five minutes, which both confuses and distracts from the central message. I understand what writer/director Paul Schrader was trying to say but it certainly lacked coherence in relation to the overall narrative. B-

The Walking Dead: Season Eight
Rotten Tomatoes: 66%
On Disc and Streaming
Back for their eighth season is Rick and company as they battle Negan for control of their region and revenge for the murder of their friends, all while fending off the growing horde of zombies. There is still a lot to like about this franchise including some great action sequences and tons of gore for horror fans. But the eighth season has proven to be too much for many of its fans, and audiences are starting to die off because of it. When making a pizza, more ingredients and more time in the oven aren’t always the best solution, but that’s what we got here. A good storyline from the comics has been stretched too thin and gone on too long. If you’re in it to the end, like I am, you’ll try to ignore the plethora of problems, but unfortunately they are still there as the writing room tries to milk the Rick/Negan war for all it’s worth. C+

Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton

Week of August 13, 2018

Crazy Rich Asians
Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97% at time of writing
In Theaters
Based on the best selling novel by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians follows a young NYU economics professor (Constance Wu) who is invited by her charming boyfriend (Henry Golding) to accompany him to a wedding in Singapore, where she will get to meet his family for the first time. Once the trip starts though, she is quickly made aware of a deep secret he has been hiding: his family is filthy rich – and worse yet – his mother (Michelle Yeoh) is highly protective of who gets to date her son. There is so much to like about this film. First you can tell that the source material is as rich as the family, with a plethora of multi-faceted characters, some lovable and many detestable, all of which are well-acted by the exceptional cast. These characters provide a springboard for comedy with some really big laughs throughout. The production is first rate, with a surprise turn for director Jon M. Chu, who until now has only been responsible for some really lousy pics in the G.I.Joe and Step Up franchises. Here he shows that there was talent just waiting to be seen. Also to like is the fantastic vacation that my mind felt I had in Singapore. I didn’t know much about the country before watching, but now that I’ve experienced this virtual travelogue, I now can’t wait to visit for real. But what is most to like here is the story and how it unfolds. You are Constance Wu as she experiences extreme culture shock, not of race, but of money. You feel the tension upon her first exposure and you can’t help but empathize with her fear, love, joy, confusion, heartbreak and determination. It is certainly one of the best romantic comedies in recent years and will go down as a classic in the genre. If the film has any fault, its in the occasionally cheesy moment or corny character that feels a bit inorganic – but fortunately those moments are forgivable and we are left with a pretty great and memorable love story. A-

Avengers: Infinity War
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language and some crude references
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
On Disc and Streaming
This first of a two-part Avengers mega story brings together all of the Disney Avenger casts to fight the evil Thanos as he attempts to collect all of the world’s Infinity Stones in order take over the universe and kill half of it off as a perverted act of mercy. While the film is fairly long, it moves along at a fast pace as it tries to include as much from the Marvel universe as possible in order to make the plot make sense. And while it is at sometimes ridiculous, it is mostly very fun to watch with not only great action sequences, but also some great comedy to take in as you catch your breath. It is a tad dark towards the end, but I have faith that Disney will make up for it by summer of next year, and any dread we may now feel will slip away. B+