Sal Torres

Slices of comedy served with extra heaping ounces of action. One of the most creative and non-standard action films in years. Skaarsgard is head over heels into this film and must have hit the gym relentlessly to achieve those 8 pack abs. Some of the goriest fight scenes coupled with creative use of kitchen utensils make for unforgettable battles. This movie has touches of weirdness (a la Deadpool) but the unending action more than makes up for any part of this movie that does not make sense It kept me in my seat and my thoughts were not on work stress but on the action and the fun. Mission accomplished.

There’s one or two good scenes in this flick and I am not even thinking of Ms Sweeney getting bathed in the shower by a nun. One or two jump scares seems to be the bar that Hollywood sets now. It’s too bad What might have been suspenseful was whittled down to the ridiculous. I could not help but feel someone thought this might be the next Exorcist 1. It’s not. It’s one film that sucked 90 minutes of my life I will never get back.

Madame Web is a decent flick. Like most super hero films, it goes to great lengths to make us care about the protagonist played by Dakota Johnson. That was the films first challenge. She has no range at all. No emotional up or downswing even though the script would have us believe that she goes from normal every day paramedic to a future seer and semi-spider woman. What saved the film for me were the performances of Isabel Merced and Sydney Sweeney. Isabel is exceptional as usual. She is believable in her role albeit little attention was given to her character. Sydney was outstanding and half way through the movie I was wondering why she was not Madame Web. I could have done without the snappy attitude of Celeste O Connor but someone has to play the “mean teen”. The script overall lacks the charm of a Captain America and the forceful verve of a Thor or even WandaVision but it’s not trying to be either. For what it’s worth it’s a decent add to the Marvel universe. Maybe the sequel will prove that this first foray into the Web will not be in vain.

A fitting end to what was and always will be one of the greatest adventure stories on film. The story was brilliantly told in a complete 360 style starting with a CGI-enhanced Harrison Ford. The technology allows us all to see him as he was back in the 80s and it was at once refreshing and melancholy. No spoilers here but suffice it to say this movie did not disappoint. Sure, he is 80 and moves a little slower even in the film but the story telling and the exceptional performance by Phoebe Waller-Bridge more than makes up for the lack of spring in his step. She is a delight to watch and I hope we see her in the next series (if one is made) I think she has the chops to pull it off, maybe, on the Disney+ channel a-la National Treasure style. In any case, we saw it in 4d and it made it more fun and interactive. Irregardless, the film has a steady pace and is filled with cameos, albeit quick ones, of Jon Rys-Meirs, Karen Allen and Antonio Banderas. Good fun for all. See it on the big screen as it will lose its luster on a TV.

This entry into the Transformer universe does not disappoint In fact, new life is blown into the story via the wonderful rapport between Mirage and Noah, played with brillo by Anthony Ramos; a rising star himself. His female counterpart, Elena (played so well by Dominque Fishback), have a tender chemistry that is subtle and sweet but not overtly obvious. The CGI is extraordinary and the storyline, while not as smooth as Bumblebee, is clean and easy to follow. EXTRA special shout out to the filmmakers for shooting this in Peru- a lush, wonderfully warm country. That they tied the film story to the Incas was especially heartwarming for yours truly. The action sequences are simply marvelous. Overall, a timely reboot to a franchise that lost its way and, now, seems to be well grounded again.

Overall, I would wait until this movie hits Tubi. Yes, Tubi ....so it costs you nothing inasmuch as the filmmakers gave as much making it. Throughout this whole movie, I could not help but ask "why are two minors alone, ALL of the time?" It is so devoid of reality that suspending it does not get you to a point where this film is enjoyable, let alone scary - which for me was not at all. This flick gets two stars for the only two actors who gave it their best: Sophie Thatcher and Madison Hu. Sophie's fear and emotions feel real and when she is on screen there is a sense of honesty in her performance. There is something really compelling about Madison Hu. She is lovely and enigmatically cryptic all at once. Not sure why they did not put her in more scenes. She is going to be a good actress if she can score more roles tapping into her acting chops. Chris Messina was just boring. I felt he was just dialing it in. It's as if he showed up on set, waited for "action", and then walked through his lines and then back to his trailer. Lastly, American horror films focus way too much on the "monster" and not hardly enough time on suspense and fright. The "fright' scenes were painfully obvious (open closet doors -- really? This is not Monsters Inc). The last third of the movie spends too much time revealing the monster and it looks like all of the others and with a tinge of Alien. We are experienced moviegoers by now. Another Alien-looking monster is not what scares us. Korean and Japanese movies always scare better because the suspense is plentiful and the "not knowing" what "it" is is way more horrific than seeing a CGI monster drooling into a hot teenagers mouth.

There is a line in the film when the protagonist says, "plants rejuvenate, that's what they do. Some people do, also." It is there the movie, which moves slowly, but methodically, captures the essence of itself. Humans, like so many of the varieties of flowers and plants the Gardener tends to, are multi-faceted. Roses are beautiful, but have thorns; just like the main character, Narvel, played with absolute subtlety and grace by Joel Edgerton. Other plants are lovely and soft to behold, but underneath they have an enigmatic smell, just like Maya, played by Quintessa Swindell in a nuanced perfection. The Master Gardener is an allegorical tale of the breeding of one boy into a man of hate who finally finds a way to rejuvenate. That discovery is not without some pain and sacrifice which explains how he got to this garden estate. Maya is also a product of breeding, like the garden, like Narvel, she, too, has a past from which she must rejuvenate. The supporting cast of Sigourney Weaver and Amy Le are amazing but I wish they had more screen time. It was refreshing to see Esai Morales playing a supporting role here as one of the only characters who knows exactly where he is from and where he is going. Too bad Hollywood has never leveraged the brilliant talent Esai possesses. This film moves at a snail's pace so your patience will be rewarded if you stick it out. Do not try to understand its meaning; only see how the lives of the characters, like the garden itself, were tended to and still have a lot of tending left. 3 stars because I wanted to see more of Quintessa; she is a star in the making. Not sure why the story muted her performance.

Fast X is just that a fast- written, fast-action, fast-money grab by a studio fresh out of plot lines for the characters in this franchise. First the bad then, ending with the good. The BAD. -Bad plot. They leveraged what is by far the very best entry — Fast Five — and juxtaposed new characters in that version to squeeze out a razor thin plot for Fast X. Okay ……but we don’t really go for the plot do we? It’s the cars. -Bad Acting. —mainly by the one who has been the weakest character this entire time: Tyrese Gibson. His one dimensional persona gets even more one dimensional if that’s possible. -Jason Mamoa. Not sure was it bad or just that good? I will let you decide. There is one scene he just stole and that was with the two guys whom he has used to carry out his plan. Gold. OKAY. THE GOOD -Vin Diesel is one of the few actors who can magnetize a role that can only be performed by him. He does not disappoint. He was born to be Dominic Toretto. -Nathalie Emmanuel. Is there a woman who plays an intellectual on screen with more brillo and endearing charm? -Daniela Melchior. Lovely and absolutely riveting. Small part but she plays Elena’s sister with subtle grace and electricity. Hope we see more of her. -Of course, GAL GADOT. …. every man’s heart skipped a beat when her number was called. Whew. I’m still smiling. -The cars and chase scenes. Yes you must suspend belief but it’s alright. It’s what hooked me into this film series so I’m okay with mind numbing explosions and feats with cars that are seemingly impossible. LASTLY. Not going to say how it ends, but if the mid credit scene is any hint, I cannot wait.

It's too bad there was not a lot of marketing for this flick. It might have done better. The best part of the film was watching Alice Braga doing her best with the often paint-by-numbers script. Were it not for her nuanced thespian skills, this film might have put me to sleep. She is a joy to watch. She steals every scene. Ben Affleck, however, cannot seem to break out of the "broody and bored" look and acting style. Overall, there is some suspense and one does need to follow the "clues". So, not a terrible movie but one that was likely best suited for a stream-only release.

EPIC. That is the way to accept the sheer majesty of this film. If you are going into this film trying to believe this can happen in real life, save your money and go see "Coco" or some other fantasy. This film is tailor made for people who love action. Not just any action. Not the kind of machine guns and machetes being shot and thrown. The type of action that appears on screen in a loud, yet somehow subdued manner. The best part of thee action film franchise continues to be Keanu Reeves. Keanu was born to play this role, like Sean Connery to James Bond and Matt Damon to Jason Bourne. Keanu is the nuanced, calm yet violently vengeful protaganist. Throughout the film his mood is a genteel brood; as if he wants this all to finish just so as to mourn his beloved Helen. There is a slow start to this 4th installment but it only serves to amp up the excitement because any JW fan know there WILL be action. Patience is rewarded with terrific fighting sequences in which JW takes on a seemingly endless array of bad guys. But I love that. Keenu demonstrates a level of martial art form that clearly shows years of research and practice. For anyone who practices martial arts, you will appreciate the gloriously filmed fight scenes in the Osaka Continental. In one scene, Keanu displays a strong skill with his use of nanchaku The film does does not try to recreate the famous Bruce Lee scene from "Enter The Dragon" (as so many films forcefully do) Keanu just uses them. The addition of Donnie Yuen is a stroke of genius. Donnie is absolutely spectacular and his scenes steal the thunder of any other actor in it with him and rightly so. Many martial arts fans will be fooled by the role Scott Adkins plays; I was. Scott is wonderful and makes use of his thespian skills in the first scene and then fully displays his own martial arts mastery in the fabulously shot fight scene in the dance club. I could fill the internet with more praise and comments about just how good this film is. Suffice it to say that if you are a JW fan you will love this version and the symphony of violence and action that is choreographed like a well oiled ballet..... If you have never seen this JW series; take a weekend and binge them on a Saturday and see JW4 on Sunday. Yes, your mind will be numb from so much action. But the needed disconnect from a world that is slowly imploding around us will be well worth it.