“The Naked Gun” (2025) – silly fun is back on the menu

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Denise

“Who’s gonna arrest me, another cop?” (Damn. That’s almost too accurate for laughs.)

Story: Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jr. is on a brand new case; a bank robbery that saw the theft of an extremely important Plot Device. So Frank – and his trusty cup of coffee – decide to find out whodunnit, no matter what his Chief says. Oh, and across town, there’s a dead guy in a self-driving car, and his sister wants answers. One thing you’ll surely come to understand; don’t call Lt. Drebin Jr. Shirley.

Genre I’d put it in: Respectable Reboots
Release Date: 2025
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: A sequel/restart of the original The Naked Gun series of films, and the Police Squad TV show.

Gotta say: I’ve never seen any of the original Gun movies. Sure, I’ve seen clips, but I never sat down and watched the films themselves. Feels good to share this soul-baring honesty with you. I considered binging the film series last weekend before I hit the screening, I really did. But then I decided I’d walk in with no prior knowledge, like many of the Gen-Z folks may be doing. [NO I WASN’T LAZY, MOM.] And y’know what? It was silly, stupid, juvenile, and refreshing as hell. So yeah, if you haven’t seen the OG films, or don’t really know much about the whole Naked Gun backstory? You’ll be just fine sinking into this one.

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “The Naked Gun” (2025)!

Posted on July 19, 2025 by Denise

Let’s see what this remake has in store… Synopsis!

Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father’s footsteps in THE NAKED GUN, directed by Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and from producer Seth MacFarlane (Ted, Family Guy). Joining the case are cast Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, with Danny Huston.

Ready? Let’s go!

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“Jurassic World: Rebirth” – Stupid. Fun.

Posted on July 9, 2025 by Denise

“Nobody cares about these animals anymore.” [*I* LOVE YOU DOLORES]

Story: Seventeen years after a tragic accident that devastated the research island for Jurassic Park, the “Neo-Jurassic Era” has become passé. But as the dinos die out in most areas of the world, there are still uses for the living beasts who reside around the equator. Medical uses. Ka-ching! So when hotshot businessman Martin Krebs throws money at paleontologist Henry Loomis, “covert operative” Zora Bennett, and her team? Well, blood samples from the three largest bois out there sounds like a bad idea; let’s grab the boat! Meanwhile, a family decides to sail too close to the area. Will they all meet the Mosasaurus? Of course they will. And that’s just for starters.

Genre I’d put it in: Sequels With A Lower Budget Feel But Are Still Fun
Release Date: 2025
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Part of the whole Jurassic Park *waves hands around vaguely* thing.

Gotta say: In psychology and economics, there’s a little thing called the Sunk Cost Fallacy. It’s when you believe you should stick with something simply because you’ve already invested so much time in it. Book series, that painting you began in lockdown and haven’t touched since, that relationship/friendship/familial entanglement, your money pit of a condo. Stick with it, even if it’s no longer serving you. A few folks asked me if I was hitting Rebirth simply for this reason, as I’d seen all the other Jurassic films. And sure, that was part of it.

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “SMURFS”!

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Denise

Ready to get Smurfy? Synopsis!

When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (voiced by Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

Ready? Let’s go!

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Movie Review – “28 Years Later”

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Denise

“Run, Jimmy! RUN!”

Story: On Lindisfarne Island, Northumberland, a group of survivors of the Rage Virus seem to live as regular an existence as anyone in post-apocalyptic Great Britain can. 12-year-old Spike is set to visit the mainland, in order to move to adulthood…even though that’s a rite typically saved for 14 and 15 year olds. His dad Jamie goes with him, understanding that if they’re not back in four hours, they’re stuck on the mainland until the next low tide. Well, let’s just say they’re stuck there. What’s that noise? And that smoke?

Genre I’d put it in: Post-apocalyptic Infected-NOT-ZOMBIES-YOU-GUUUUUYS [lighten up, Francis.] Sequels
Release Date: 2025
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Third film in the 28 Days Later series.

Gotta say: I’ve been trying to keep my expectations low for this sequel. Which has been pretty tough, considering we’ve got Danny Boyle back in the director’s chair and Alex Garland on writing duties after sitting out Weeks (though Garland did do some rewrites on the second film.) I was wondering how these two would move out from the typical run-run-run storyline most zombie films stick to, and what themes they’d focus on in this third film. And Years not only finds it’s own message, but delivers one hell of a gut-punch.

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In Queue Review – “Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster”

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Denise


“Why is ego and arrogance more important than safety? The irony is not lost on me, that titanic sank for exactly the same reason. History repeats itself.”

Genre: Disaster Documentaries
Release Date: 2025
Where I Watched: HBOMAX/Discovery GO

Gist: Stockton Rush, a man with more money than God, and the inability to hear warnings like a toddler, decides he’s gonna start up “see the Titanic” submarine tours. But with zero serious consideration of the consequences if things were not up to safety specifications. So in 2023 things went bad. Very, very bad.

Gotta say: I remember being glued to social media when the Titan went down. And how I was horrified, yet unsurprised, when the Titan wreckage was found. My heart still breaks for young Suleman Dawood, a teen who just wanted to make his dad happy by going on Titan with his dad. But I was not prepared for the sheer deluge of warning bells that Disaster unveils. I only wish the crew had had this knowledge before they were locked into that sub.

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“How to Train Your Dragon” (2025) is live-action done right

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Denise

“Figure out which side you’re on.”

Story: On the isle of Berk, there are tribes from all over the world. Their one connection? They’re the very best at what they do. Which is dragon killing. But when young Hiccup wounds a dragon and gets to see the dragon for what it is? Hiccup changes history. But y’know, not without a few…hiccups along the way.

Genre I’d put it in: Actually Great Live-Action Remakes
Release Date: 2025
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on the 2010 film of the same name, characters and story from the novel by Cressida Cowell.

Gotta say: I love Toothless. He’s my kindred spirit, my familiar, my sweet kitten-dragon baby of love. So the original How To Train Your Dragon is a particular favorite of mine. I want you to fully understand the gravity of the situation when I say that this live-action remake? This one right here? I love it more than the original film. And yes, I’m as surprised as you are. How’d this film do that? By focusing on real-life human emotion, allowing the remake to become a more realistic – dare I say grown-up – version of the story that the whole family can still enjoy wholeheartedly.

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In Queue Review – “Mickey 17”

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Denise


“Oh, sauce is the true litmus test of civilization!”

Genre: Offbeat Sci-Fi Social Critique
Release Date: 2025
Where I Watched: HBOMAX

Gist: Mickey Barnes is a guy whose whole life seems to have been one bad decision after another. So when he gets in deep with a loan shark – who knew macarons wouldn’t become the next hamburger – he and his friend Timo get sent to Niflheim, a hot new planet/colony four years away by spaceship. Timo becomes a pilot, but Mickey? He’s an Expendable; someone whose sole purpose is to die and get re-cloned over and over again, so the colony can avoid pesky things like viruses and space death. But hey, he’s got a girlfriend! And this new planet has aliens that are definitely not humanoid! So that’s cool, right? Is our dinner Soylent Green? Sure looks like it.

Gotta say: Robert Pattinson and Bong Joon Ho is a match made in surrealist comedy heaven. Add in Toni Collette and Steven Yeun and Mark Ruffalo hamming their asses off, and boom. You get one hell of a wild ride. If, like me, you missed this at the multiplex, now’s the perfect time to catch it from the comfort of your own sofa. In this year filled with absolute craziness in real life? 17‘s look at fanatical devotion of one’s leaders feels like dramatic realism. With aliens. Well, we don’t have aliens here. OR DO WE? [Pauses for effect. Hears crickets.]

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “Ballerina”!

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Denise

Ready for the expansion of the Wick Universe? Synopsis!

Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.

Ready? Let’s go!

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “How to Train Your Dragon”!

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Denise

Who doesn’t love Toothless? Y’all, this is the one live action remake I’ve actually been stoked for. Synopsis!

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.

Ready? Let’s go!

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