Bret Litke

Ahhh yes, The Super Mario Bros. Movie! What an instant classic. Generally speaking, almost all video game movies are winners, but this one takes things to the next level (pun intended)! All the gang is here, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, and of course, Donkkeeeyyy Konnnng! This is as star studded as a video game cast can be and it is so great to see all of the characters we know and love on the big screen. It feels like a high school reunion with all our pals! Decades ago, many people felt that Dennis Hopper was robbed of an Oscar for his portrayal of King Bowser in the live action Mario Bros. movie. Well, karma has officially been restored! I'm here to officially predict that Jack Black will indeed win the 2024 Oscar for best actor, for his role as Bowser in this film. It truly is Jack Black's finest hour! It is safe to say that this is likely the spawn of at least 5 or more sequels, rivaling the Jurassic Park series as the greatest multi-movie series of all time. I give this film the full 5 bags of popcorn that it deserves, but I am also going to throw in a Mario warp pipe, so that I can instantly teleport back in time, whenever I want, and I watch this film again and again. Five bags!

Ahhh yes, Emily the Criminal! What a movie! The only real criminal in this film is the viewer, as you'll feel like you've broken the law for watching a movie that is this good! Aubrey Plaza is at her all-time best in this one, with a performance that signals the likes of Michelle Pfieffer, Halle Berry and more. Is Oscar calling? I think so! This is most definitely a popcorn movie and a popcorn thriller. Overall, I give this film 5 full bags of popcorn and a a lockpick, so that when you are arrested, you can pick the handcuffs, run to the movie theatre, and watch Emily the Criminal again! 5 bags!

Wow, what an incredible film. Suspense, drama, action, and most of all fun!. This is a classic Halloween movie which means all the great characters that we've come to love are here. That includes Michael Meyers, and in my opinion, Oscar is definitely calling this time around. The only criticism that I have is the movie is named "Halloween Ends". This makes me sad as I am not ready for this franchise to end. In fact, i think there could easily be another 4-5 movies here, if not more. I give this film 5 bags of popcorn and a VCR so that you can record this movie, hit the rewind button, and you'll never have to let this movie end.

Ahhh yes, the Empty Man! What a film! This is of course your classical, supernatural, horror film, but it is also so much more than that. Ironically, this movie is anything but empty! It's filled with frights, sights, jumps and even a few laughs. Believe me, the only thing that will be empty after watching this movie, is your lungs from all of the exhilaration you will experience. This is definitely a movie worth catching covid for. There was only one negative I experienced with the film, and it's that the title is just too misleading. As I stated above, this movie is anything but Empty, and so my hope is that a sequel will be called "The FULL Man 2, and then, "The Even FULLER Man 3", etc. Despite this drawback, this movie is definitely a 5 bagger on the Gregg Turkington Scale, and I believe it is a popcorn, thriller classic, just in time for Halloween! I will also throw in a small pillow case that you can take to the theatre, so that after the movie is over, you can fill up the case with leftover popcorn and treats from the floor. 5 bags!

Zing zang zoom! What a fast and ferocious film! In what is arguably Jim Carrey's finest hour, we have the instant popcorn classic, Sonic the Hedgehog! Usually movies based on video games are better than the video games themselves, and that is certainly the case here. Great movies are great because people love to re-visit them, and I am 100% positive that audience's of all ages will be re-visiting this classic film for years to come. Instead of late-night Sega Genesis sessions, people of all ages will be hosting Sonic the Hedgehog VHS watch-parties.. and who could blame them?!? This film will almost certainly go down as one of the decade's best... and it's only 2 months in! If I had one complaint, it is that there was a missed opportunity here to bring in someone like John Cena to play Sonic's human brother or a similar type of character. The inclusion of John Cena in the film would have pushed it to 6 bags, but for now, we'll keep it at 5. 5 bags, 2 sodas, and I am going to throw in a small, portable scooter that you can use to speedily scoot to Wal-Mart and purchase 50 copies of this film, just like your new hero Sonic! 5 bags!

Wow is all I can say right about now because I am having a hard time picking my jaw up off of the floor! Dwayne the Rock Johnson, to you I say Bravo! What an outstanding performance by an all star cast in a movie franchise that has now surpassed the likes of Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and the Clerk's films. Take a bow, Dwayne! Going into this film and knowing that it was a jungle movie, I was expecting to give it 5 bags as most jungle movies are quite good. But this film? Well. This film may have just surpassed that. To be quite honest, I would feel as though giving this film 5 bags would be a slap in the face to Dwayne the Rock Johnson, who with this all-time performance will join Adam Sandler in Oscar contention and be the likely favorite. Based on this fact, I have no choice but to break the scale and award Jumanji: The Next Level a rating of 6 bags of popcorn, the first and only film to have ever garnered a rating that high. I am also going to throw in 2 cans of Mountain Dew. This movie had everything: Action, love, laughs, tears, joy, heartbreak, and many life lessons. But now, this film also gets the honour of being the first ever 6 bag film! Bravo Dwayne and co., and Godspeed on Jumanji 3! We will be waiting!

Wow! What an outstanding film! Ladies and gentlemen, it is raining Oscar statues at the Sandler residence and I have no clue when it will stop! This is certainly not surprising considering that "Uncut Gems" is without a shadow of a doubt Adam Sandler's finest hour, finally knocking "Click" off of the pedestal. Often times, crime movies can be scary and/or intense. Well guess what? Not only is Uncut Gems scary at times, but it is intense, funny, confusing, breathtaking, and ultimately a ton of fun! All the emotions are on display! Normally I would advise not to take your children to a movie like this, but this is such an incredible movie that I think it is appropriate to do so. Classic movies that will live on forever should be seen by all people, regardless of age, for example: "Big", "I Am Sam", and "Cast Away". Therefore, despite some adult themes, I am recommending this popcorn classic to you, your neighbour, and your children. Rating a movie that is as good as this one is extremely difficult. I so badly want to break the 5 bag scale and give this movie 6 bags of popcorn, but in doing so, it is impossible to predict what the ramifications may be. As a result, this film will stick as a 5 bagger, but I'm so going to throw in 15 sodas, as well as a fake diamond necklace. This way, before you watch the film at home, you can give the fake diamond necklace to your wife and feel just like Adam Sandler in the hit film, Uncut Gems. 5 bags!

Ahhhh yes, Dark Waters! Starring Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway. This is a lawyer movie, and as well know, lawyer movies are often a recipe for success. Consider the films, "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Legally Blonde", and "Legally Blonde 2". All three of those movies were instant classics, and I am happy to report that Dark Waters is just as good, if not better. Of course, law movies and movies of the law are often dependent upon a great cast, and that is the case in this film. Mark Ruffalo is phenomenal, likely earning Oscar attention for his role, while Anne Hathaway gives her best performance since "The Devil Wears Prada". Lastly, Tim Robbins shows up which instantly makes the film a popcorn classic. Overall, I am going to give this movie the 5 bags of popcorn that it deserves, but I am also going to throw in a briefcase. You may be asking yourself, why do I need a briefcase? It's so that you can store up to 6 VHS copies of this great movie in your possession at all times, never leaving you without the popcorn classic that is, Dark Waters. 5 bags.

Wow, what a journey! Road movies often make for great films, and it's no exception that "Dutch" fits the highway bill! Most people may approach the movie with caution considering that Ed O'Neil is mostly known for television shows. Fear not movie go-ers, this is Ed's finest hour! And it's proven in that fact that all these years later, this film is the work of art that is pointed to most when discussing Mr. O'Neil's career. In fact, I've often argued that Ed deserved an Oscar nod for his performance in this popcorn classic. It's no surprise why this is such a memorable film either either considering that this movie runs the gamut in terms of emotions. Laughing, crying, fighting, and eventually bonding! All the feels are here with many lessons along the way! As a result, it's no doubt that this is a popcorn movie as well as a certified 5 bagger. I'm also going to throw in a cardboard cutout of a car, as well as a small paper map. This way, when you are watching the film at home on VHS, you can move your little car across the map and join Ed O'Neil and the gang on their road trip journey. 5 bags.

Wow, what a film. For a number of years, "Big" has been strongly considered not only Tom Hanks' best film, but one of the greatest films of all time. I am very pleased to announce that we have a new contender to the throne with, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" starring Tom Hanks. Sometimes movies are good, whereas sometimes they can be great. This film is even better than that! Because of this, it is definitely a popcorn movie and certainly a popcorn classic. This is a movie that will only get better with age, testified by the fact that I kept repeating to myself, "I can't wait to watch this again" all throughout the movie. There was one point of disappointment, in that Tom Hanks does such a superb job of portraying Fred Rogers that you may feel saddened that the real Fred Rogers wasn't actually played by Tom Hanks all along. Regardless, this is a master class in acting courtesy of Mr. Hanks and a role that will go down in the history books as one of the best. Naturally, a film this good will get the 5 bags of popcorn on the Gregg Turkington scale that it deserves, but I think it would be fair to throw in a small piece of chocolate as well. This way, when you go to watch the film with a neighbour (as I so often recommend) you can give them a chocolate treat and be just like Tom Hanks. 5 bags!