“Spider-Man: No Way Home”

Posted on December 28, 2021 by Denise

“You know what’s cooler than magic? MATH!” [No. Sorry. – your math-stupid eds.]

Story: Spider-Man is having a really bad time of things right now. First, he’s blamed for the “murder” of full-on nutter/con artist supreme Mysterio/Quentin Beck, who then outs Spidey as Peter Parker. So Peter, his Aunt May, girlfriend MJ, and BFF Ned are put through the wringer big-time. Wouldn’t it be great if that name-drop never happened? Wouldn’t it be great if there was, say, a Sorcerer who knew how time could be manipulated? No, and oh gods no. Just…NO. Oops, too late. Hey, what’s that rumbling noise?

Genre I’d put it in: Sequels That Better Their Origin Stories
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: The third film in the Tom Holland-helmed Spider-Man films. Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Gotta say: As an immunosuppressed gal who had no access to an early screener for Home, I could barely wait ’til the first week’s moviegoing onslaught died down. But now that I’ve seen this film? I want to see it again. Immediately. Hey Marvel, why not just release the Blu-Ray right now? I need it. And you will too. Home is the very best an MCU film can be, and though there have been a few missteps in Phase 4 – I’m still mad that Black Widow’s movie got dumped in this phase – here’s hoping this is the film that sets the bar for the rest of the films this round.

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In Queue Review: “The Power of the Dog”

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Denise

“For what kind of man would I be if I did not help my mother? If I did not save her?”

Genre: Westerns With A Complex Underbelly
Release Date: 2021
Where I Watched: Netflix

Gist: Brothers Phil and George Burbank have been riding the range together for years. They’ve got everything; a wealthy family, a ranch that pulls in even more dough, and plenty of ranch hands to help them succeed in just about anything they set their minds to. Phil is the consummate cowboy with an Ivy League education…and a misogynistic, grandiose air that’s thisclose to sadism. George is everything Phil isn’t; quiet, sweet, and kinda educated, with a penchant for things Phil doesn’t seem to enjoy, like kindness and bathing. When George decides to wed local widow Rose, bringing her and her son Peter to the Burbank ranch, Phil is less than pleased. In fact, Phil makes it his top priority to make Rose’s life a living hell. Happy ever after? Not even.

Talky talk: This is a film I should have pounced on the second it hit Netflix. But I hemmed and hawed. “Meh, I’m not feeling a Western right now.” “I should probably take a look at a holiday movie instead, ’tis the season.” “Ooh – Wheel of Time just dropped a new episode!” I had a million reasons to lodge this firmly in my Laters Babe Queue. I was an idiot. Because Dog is incredible. The story takes its sweet time to get from plot point to plot point, but as with Bone Tomahawk and Unforgiven, if you give this film your time, you will be rewarded with a wicked yet satisfying tale.

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In Queue Review – “Don’t Look Up”

Posted on December 26, 2021 by Denise

“This is nuts! This is so crazy!”

Genre: Dark Satire That’s A Bit Too Close To Home
Release Date: 2021
Where I Watched: Netflix

Gist: Kate Dibiasky is just your average, run of the mill astronomy grad student, kicking back at the Subaru Telescope and singing along with Wu-Tang. When she notices a new comet, her professor Randall Mindy does the math and realizes that comet – soon to be known as Comet Dibiasky – is on a collision course with earth, and will cause an extinction level event. Before anyone can say Armageddon, the world pulls together to stop imminent disaster. JK; the population of the US is torn into fractious sides who’ll do anything but take this threat seriously. Parallels, I see you.

Talky talk: Up is a choppy, overly busy, fourth-wall-breaking storyline along the lines of The Big Short, which works well within this absurdist comedy. A star studded cast that seems to be enjoying the hell out of goofing on the myriad of ways human beings can be short-sighted and self-interested makes this an enjoyable watch. But there’s a whole lot of filler here, with characters pulled into directions that may mimic our real live divides, but looks way too crazy on screen. Those jokes about how the tenure of a certain former guy would feel like bullshit if it were fictionalized? Yeah. Put Idiocracy, Armageddon, and Wag the Dog in a blender, hit frappé, and then sift out everything but the histrionics. Boom, you’ve got this film.

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In Queue Review – “Til Death”

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Denise

“Figured you’d want to spend your last moments with the old ball and chain.” 

Genre: OH CRAP Thrillers Suitable For Holiday Season Viewing
Release Date: 2021
Where I Watched: Netflix

Gist: Emma’s spending the weekend with her hubby for their tenth anniversary, mazel! But she’s just broken things off with her side guy, her hubby is a controlling douche, and when she wakes up the morning after a strangely overkill romantic evening? Her hubby blows his brains out…after handcuffing himself to her. So I guess it’s as bad as things can be, unless you count the hired killers gunning for her. Tis the season for dragging your dead jerkwad hubby around?

Talky talk: Death had me sucked into giving it a look the moment I saw the bonkers trailer. Weekend At Bernie’s: Psychopath Edition? I’m here for it. The story take a while to truly hook me, but once it does, I was pretty impressed. Bloody, fascinating, and with moments of pitch-dark humor, this might not be the perfect holiday thriller, but it’s a very good time.

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TrailerWatch – “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” gets BONKERS

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Denise

“Your desecration of reality will not go unpunished.”

DEEEEAM y’all. This looks crazy in the best way. Madness seems to be tying together threads from earlier stories into one wild ride. And I’m here for it.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters May 6th, 2022.

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“The Matrix Resurrections” – by a gal who’d forgotten the original trilogy ( #SpoilerFree )

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Denise

“Maybe this isn’t the story we think it is.”

Story: You remember Neo, right? The One? Well, it’s been twenty years since Neo sacrificed himself for the good of humanity. And he’s a game developer whose weekly appointments with this therapist make him just regular folks. But wait – didn’t he die? And what is this, if not the Matrix itself? And who are these new rebels? WHOA.

Genre I’d put it in: Mind Boggling Sequels
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: The fourth film of the Matrix series. Also takes in bits of the Animatrix series and the Matrix video games.

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“Ghostbusters Afterlife”

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Denise

“There is no mom, there is only Zuul.” (Yep. They go there.)

Story: Callie and her kids Trevor and Phoebe are barely making ends meet in a run-down apartment. Scratch that; they’ve just been evicted. So why not head out to the middle of nowhere, Oklahoma, and check on the inheritance her father left her? Surprise – no money! Seems her dad was penniless too. Except for two things; a ramshackle old farmhouse, and a bunch of weird equipment. Did I mention her dad’s name was Egon Spangler? And did I also mention that a nearby town dug too deep when mining, and before anyone could say Reign of Fire, “earthquakes” started? I’m sure these two plot tidbits won’t intersect in any way.

Genre I’d put it in: Sequels That Successfully Introduce A Next Generation
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Third film in the Ghostbusters series. A part of the Ghostbusters franchise.
Release Date: 2021

Gotta say: Afterlife is that rare beast of a film; both a “sequel” that harks back to the originals without an over-reliance on them, and a modern-day retelling whose characters are interesting enough to deserve leading a story of their own.

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“Sing 2”

Posted on December 20, 2021 by Denise

“Let’s go spread a little New Moon Theatre magic!”

Story: Buster Moon and his company of excellent singers are doing well at their theater. But they have visions of bigger and better things. So why not head to Las Vegas Redshore City and audition for the a show on the strip? Who cares if Buster has to promise that the incredibly popular/reclusive singer Clay Calloway will make an appearance? What’s the entertainment bigwig who runs the show gonna do, kill him? Um…

Genre I’d put it in: Candy Colored Hyperactive Sequels That Somehow Work
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Second film in the Sing series.

Gotta say: A blinding pace with the storytelling, all the flashing colors (every single color), and silly sight gags? Hello children’s film! 2 is of the More = More Better genre of sequels, and yet damn if I didn’t get pulled into it. From the Willy Wonka-esque glory of the theater numbers to the way it made me tear up at the climax of the film (YOU’RE CRYING), 2 might be leaning into the Fast & Furious method of batshit crazy sequels, but it does what it says it’s gonna do, and in terms of getting kiddie butts in seats? It definitely understood the assignment.

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “American Underdog”!

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Denise

Go sports! Let’s grab the ball and to all the things! And more importantly, let’s dig into a feel good story! Synopsis!

American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. The film centers on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player – but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is. American Underdog is an uplifting story that demonstrates that anything is possible when you have faith, family and determination.

Ready? Let’s go!

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In Queue Review – “Afterlife of the Party”

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Denise

“Think of it as Cassie-palooza, the afterlife edition!”

Genre: Human Makes Right After Death Comedies
Release Date: 2021
Where I Watched: Netflix

Synopsis: Cassie is THE party animal. Not only is she a party planner, she’s up for anything and everything. Except maybe staying in with her BFF/roommie for a low-key 25th birthday hang. But you only turns 25 once, amirite? And after Cassie slips and conks her head on the toiler but hard? It’s Cassie’s last birthday. And it seems she’s in spiritual limbo, with three folks back on earth she needs to “fix” before her next birthday in five days (hey, time works differently upstairs.) Her Dad, her estranged mom, and that BFF she blew up at right before that whole toilet thing. Easy-peasy, right? Sure.

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