SPOILER FREE

It’s been 11 years since we last experienced the ‘Scream’ franchise. It’s safe to say the new ‘Scream’ flick is one you’ll want to see!

Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has emerged with the infamous Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.

We do welcome back some franchise favorites such as Neve Campbell, who played Sidney Prescott, then Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers and David Arquette as Dewey Riley. They return to portray their iconic roles in Scream alongside the newest victims Melissa Barrera, Kyle Gallner, Mason Gooding, Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Marley Shelton, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sonia Ammar.

Now while the franchise does involve the expected scares, blood and murder, this film has to be by the the goriest of the entire franchise. You’ll see a lot of the actual killing with the camera focusing in on the kill scene rather than panning away like we’re used to.

Many grew up watching the ‘Scream’ Franchise and thought this film would be a disappoint and we’re happy to say it’s not at all! Some ask, ‘Is this something I can wait to see when it’s released on a streaming service?’ The answer is you will get a better experience watching it in theaters because there are so many scenes that will make you jump and grasp your seats. Oh yea… don’t watch it alone!

If you plan on watching the film, it gives you a good excuse to brush up on the past films so you can understand what’s going. The film does touch base on quite a few things from the past leading all the way back to the first film.

‘Scream’ hits theaters on January 14th.

Rating: R (Some Sexual References|Language Throughout|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre: Mystery & thriller, Horror
Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Runtime: 1h 54m

The 355 is based on a dream team of bad ass women coming together in a globe-trotting espionage genre.

The film takes a turn when a top-secret weapon falls into mercenary hands, wild card CIA agent Mason “Mace” Brown played by Jessica Chastain joins forces with rival badass German agent Marie, played by Diane Kruger; Former MI6 ally and cutting-edge computer specialist Khadijah, played by Lupita Nyong’o, and skilled Colombian psychologist Graciela, played by Penélope Cruz on a lethal, breakneck mission to retrieve it, while also staying one-step ahead of a mysterious woman, Lin Mi Sheng played by Bingbing Fan, who is tracking their every move.

As the action takes them around the world from the cafes of Paris to the markets of Morocco to an extravagant auction house of Shanghai, these bad ass women form a type of loyalty towards each other that could help them in protecting the world or get them all killed including the ones they love.

Don’t worry, The 355 also stars some dashing men, Édgar Ramirez and Sebastian Stan who play a key part in the film. They’re pretty to look at, but don’t get your hopes up because you might end up hating them.

While the film hosts all these beautiful amazingly talented women doing some hardcore action scenes, the film does fall off a bit on the action. It almost leave you wanting more out of these kick-ass ladies. You have all these women and it almost feels like you were ripped off. The film is is good and does the job to entertain you, but there could have been more for this star-studded lineup.

If you’re up for a date night or just looking for a film to catch in theaters, this is one to see on the big screen to feel the action rush.

Genre: Espionage Thriller
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Bingbing Fan, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong’o, with Édgar Ramirez and Sebastian Stan
Director: Simon Kinberg
Runtime: 2h 2m
Rating:PG-13 (Suggestive Material|Sequences of Strong Violence|Brief Strong Language)

SING 2 is coming out in theaters just at the right time! This will be the film for the entire family to enjoy in theaters during the holidays.

You have music for every generation, that will surely make you want to get out of your seat to dance. There’s so many of today’s chart toppers featured in the film, it’s great to see and hear them in a different context. Not only that, you’ll be transported into 80s and 90s with chart toppers that will make you reminisce on the good old days, all while visually seeing a beautifully crafted film.

The film does make it return after the success of the first one with the same characters and more! It’s safe to say this one may be better than the first.

The leader of the pack can-do koala Buster Moon and his all-star cast of animal performers are preparing to launch a dazzling stage extravaganza in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There’s just one speed bump they have to overcome, he has to find and persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star, voiced by U2’s Bono to join them.

What begins as Buster’s dream of big-time success soon becomes an emotional reminder of the power of music to heal even the broken hearted.

Don’t wait to watch this one, it’s definitely worth it to watch on the big screen with your loved ones, the kiddies are sure to love it. Not only that, you might get them hooked on some classic hits!

Rating: PG (Some Rude Material|Mild Peril/Violence)
Genre: Kids & Family, Musical, Animation, Comedy
Director: Garth Jennings
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2021 Wide
Runtime: 1h 50m

SPOLIER FREE

Filled with thrilling scenes, sarcasm, surprises and comical dialogues, ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ proves to keep fans guessing even when you think you know what’s going to happen next.

Although there are some scenes that may seem to drag, it does get the whole story across during the 2 1/2 hour run and fans are sure to walk away satisfied and wondering what’s to come.

If you recall, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, which came out in 2015, left fans with a closing scene of Rey, played by Daisy Ridey finding Master Luke Skywalker, played by the infamous Mark Hamil. During this encounter you see her returning his lightsaber to him, which if you remember belonged to his even more infamous father, Anakin, who we all know as Darth Vader.

‘Th Last Jedi’ does pick up from this long awaited meeting but also incorporates her friend, Finn’s recovery, played by John Boyega. The last time she saw Finn, he was in a somewhat coma recovering from a battle after saving Rey against Supreme Leader Snoke and Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver.

The situation for the Resistance led by General Leia, played by the late Carrie Fisher seem to be getting worse and worse. As the situation worsens by them being followed and attacked by the First Order, Finn and new character Rose, played by Kelly Marie Tran embark on a mission. A mission they believe will help save the last of the Rebels and by them time until Rey can return with Luke Skywalker, their last hope.

Some may get discouraged with the film’s length of 2 hours and 32 minutes and it’s dialogue, but I promise you the film in it’s entirety is worth watching, especially this being the last film for the late Carrie Fisher; so many moments that will just give you chills and goosies. It’s full of surprises and will leave you questioning what will happen next. It truly does not go the way you think, just like Skywalker says to Rey during the trailer and the film.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro. Directed by Rian Johnson.
Running time: 162 minutes
Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence.

The highly-anticipated Spielberg take on ‘West Side Story’ will not disappoint those who have been eagerly waiting to see this film.

While it is a remake, it does honor the original. The main stars of the film, Ansel Elgort who portrays Tony and Rachel Zegler who portrays Maria do a superb job carrying on the torch of these iconic characters. But perhaps it’s Ariana DeBose who shines the most in this film while portraying Anita. Her acting, the singing, the emotion and the drama is sure to land her some type of recognition during award season.

For those who have no seen original, this is the typical ‘Romeo and Juliet’ story line. So you already know where this story is headed while being set in the late 1950s into the 1960s, especially when a young woman of Puerto Rican descent falls in love with the forbidden boy. Many thought this would be a fresher take, set in a later year or even current times, but that’s not the case. They story still remains loyal to the original.

The cinematography in this film is beautifully crafted, it’s just beautiful to look at. The choreography and the precision is absolutely stunning. What’s not too beautiful to look at is that the violence seems to have been ramped up a bit more than the original. Granted, we know during that time that situation was probably just as bad as it was in the film if not worse. But it was a tab bit odd to see the boy dancing and prancing beautiful on their way to their ‘hate crimes’.

Now a scene to look forward to is watching the dazzling Rita Moreno who portrays Valentina, the grandmother of Tony who sings, ‘Somewhere’. the song, the scene, the characters bring a sense of deep emotion as he clutches a photos of her deceased husband who was white. Throughout the film the tries to tell Tony to be his own person and to stop hanging around the group of boys who caused him to be incarcerated, when you watch the film you’ll see how that advice turned out.

The film is similar to the original and definitely honors it, while those who have grown up with the original will say why do a remake? It is a great film to introduce this iconic story to to the next generation. It’s hard to say did they do well or not, because everyone is biased when it comes to remakes especially when it’s a classic. It is a must-see!

Rating: PG-13 (Some Strong Violence|Brief Smoking|Strong Language|Suggestive Material|Thematic Content)
Genre: Romance, Musical
Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Kevin McCollum
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 2021
Runtime: 2h 36m

Licorice Pizza is a surprisingly intriguing film that will suck you right in when you notice what’s going on with the characters. Talk about sexual frustration!

Paul Thomas Anderson is the genius behind this less talked about film that’s competing with other highly anticipated films being released, but in reality it’s right up there with them. His new film involves an age-gap funky type of romance and yes your might be a little creeped out by the age-gap, but it works for the film. The film stars Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, and Benny Safdie.

Alana Haim portrays Alana Kane, a photographer who becomes the love interest of Gary Valentine, a young actor and hustler. They meet while she’s doing photographs at Gary’s school and immediately have a somewhat weird but sweet connection leading them to becoming friends, starting a waterbed company together, then auditioning for films, and even end up getting involved with Joel Wachs’ mayoral campaign.

Throughout the entire film they go through a changing time politically and culturally while also having to deal with a gas crisis. Valentine and Kane’s journey leads to them interacting with figures of both Old and New Hollywood, including Jon Peters, played by Bradley Cooper and Jack Holden, played by Sean Penn.

Perhaps the one thing that stands out the most in the film is Alana and Gary’s age difference, which we never really know but we estimate to be about 8-10 years with little hints that the characters drop throughout the movie. It’s fun and frustrating at the same time to see these two characters interact because they’re sort of playing cat and mouse with each other and they can’t decide what they want. One time her wants her but then she doesn’t then vice versa, but you know that both of their hearts are in it and yes the age-gap thing is an issue but Gary has done more in his 18 years than a lot of grown men have done in their entire lives. Overall, you will definitely enjoy this film and the outcome, at the end you’ll be cheering… FINALLY!!!

Catch it in theaters on November 26th!

One of the most highly anticipated films of the year is one to watch this Holiday season!

With a roster of big names, it was impossible for this film to be a flop. Fans will be pleased to watch this film that is campy and over the top with everything from the acting, to the fashion and the story line. It’s a little mind blowing that some of these scenes actually happened some years ago. The film tells the story of the demise of the Gucci brand, the family, the love, the drama, the lies, the deceit and the murder that ultimately ended the life of Maurizio Gucci.

The film stars Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani, the wife of Maurizio Gucci portrayed by Adam Driver, as their once sweet romance transitions into a fight over control of the Italian fashion brand Gucci. Also starring in the film are Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek, and Al Pacino.

If we’re being completely honest, the star of the film Lady Gaga lacked a bit of identity when it came to her portrayal of Patrizia Reggiani. Sources have said she spent months perfecting her Italian accent, but throughout the film it felt like she couldn’t decide if she was Russian or Italian. Despite the accent, her portrayal of Mrs. Gucci was just as it should have been, extravagant and eye-catching and at times a tough pill to swallow, which means she did the job right! You absolutely did not see the singer side of Gaga, but you saw her acting chops being put on display while playing the role of the woman who ordered a hit on one of the founders of the infamous brand Gucci.

Now Adam Driver, who we’re used to seeing in action films such as Star Wars put on a superb performance while playing the role of Maurizio Gucci. The accent, the mannerisms all came together perfectly to show the whirlwind romance Maurizio Gucci had with Patrizia, the woman who would ultimately end his life. There were times you wanted to shake the man to get him to snap out of it and there were even times you grew to dislike the character, which again shows Driver did the job right.

Now, perhaps the real star of the film was Jared Leto, who took on the role of Paolo Gucci. Many have made fun of the part he played in this film, but boy oh boy! Leto DELIVERED! For someone who did not watch the trailer before viewing the film, it was hard to point out who Leto was actually portraying in the film. When it was discovered who Leto was, it was slightly mind blowing, amusing and absolutely pleasing! Leto was perhaps the one actor who unexpectedly stood out the most.

Jeremy Irons takes on the smaller role of Maurizio Gucci’s father, who was one of the founders of the brand but seemed to no want much involvement in the further development of the brand. Salma Hayek plays the role of Pina, a fortune teller who forms a wicked relationship with Patrizia Reggiani, sending them both down a black hole. Now Al Pacino also stars in the film and it’s safe to say we wanted more of him, as he played the role of Aldo Gucci the uncle of Maurizio Gucci who mostly ran the empire of Gucci.

Don’t overlook this film, as it will definitely be a huge contender for award season with a lineup and story line like this one.

Disney’s latest film release Encanto dives into the beautiful diverse culture of Colombia with the star of the film, Mirabel.

Mirabel is a young girl trying to find her place in the world and even in her very own family. She has spent her entire childhood trying to help and prove herself to her family. The one person she is trying to please to most is the matriarch of the family, her grandmother. The family was blessed with a miracle of magical powers that each family member gains at a certain age. Unfortunately for Mirabel, she has been the only family member to not receive a power, leaving her as an outsider in her own family.

Trouble appears when for some strange odd reason everyone’s powers start to deteriorate. Mirabel sets out on conquest to figure out why this misfortune is happening to her family.

I really wanted to love this film as much as Disney’s hits, Frozen and Moana. You simply can’t compare those films to Encanto. It’s a beautiful thing to see Disney exploring the different cultures the world has to offer by bringing them to the big screen for audiences of all ages to view. The details that were included are phenomenal such as the arepas con queso and then the Spanish rhymes many from Latin countries grew up singing. The film is filled with vivid and vibrant colors that mesmerize you along with beautifully written songs performed by Carlos Vives and Sebastian Yatra. Perhaps those should been the only songs to be featured within the film. The film had too many songs that could have been cut short and at times made it too busy for the younger audience to understand. Encanto would perhaps be more suitable for children above the age of 8, as the story line and message get a bit too deep for the kiddos to understand and you might even lose their attention along the way; as the film is one hour and thirty-nine minutes long but felt longer.

Despite it all, Encanto does provide the message of uniting family and that family is the one thing that matters in the end. You can catch this film in theaters on Novenber 24, 2021 and on Disney+ on Christmas Eve.

Rating: PG (Some Thematic Elements|Mild Peril)
Genre: Kids & family, Comedy, Musical, Animation, Fantasy
Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel
María Cecilia Botero as Abuela
John Leguizamo as Bruno Madrigal

We all know the story of Venus and Serena Williams but “King Richard” does a masterful job at balancing a strong family picture/with a well-placed hint of racial tension, of the time.

Watching a man, of limited means, simply will his daughters to be the greatest, through struggle and heartache was inspiring. My daughters are 12 and 14, and immediately took to the mirrored bond, between the Williams sisters but as a dance dad, watching his focus on education, faith, and family, as well as their athletic gifts, has this picture perfectly tee’d up to be present at award time.

Kudos to Will Smith, who simply can’t do wrong (except for WiLD, WiLD West, and a stellar performance from Aunjanue Ellis as mother, “Brandy Williams”. Will Smith put on a superb performance by embodying the strong character of Richard Williams. Aunjane Ellis was a smaller character in the film, but WOW… She definitely will be getting a nod during award season. While the film is mostly centered around a young Venus, played by Saniyya Sidney, both she and Demi Singleton who played a young Serena put on an exemplary portrayal of duo. Both girls acted and played the game of tennis with such grace that you felt like you were watching the real thing.