TC Mooney

An unparalleled bizarre cinema masterpiece that approaches the multiverse in a fresh, new, ingenious way. I have no idea what I just witnessed. Everything Everywhere All at Once is unlike anything anyone has ever seen before. This brilliant goofy, zany, ridiculous genius movie will fry your brain cells. This film instantly establishes itself as a necessity for any true cinema lover. Ground-breaking writing that feels like a Christopher Nolan script with no limits and some eccentricity mixed in. I’m not sure if I fully enjoyed the movie, but I also can’t say I fully understand everything Everything Everywhere All at Once is. Not a film for everyone but an absolute must for movie fans or sci-fi enthusiasts.

The Menu began with a tone and tension that made me want more but ultimately ended with confusion and disappointment. The hype for The Menu intrigued me. The reviews celebrated its genius. So I had to see it. And when I sat in the theater and the credits began to roll, all o could say was, "Huh?" The Menu starts with Ready or Not vibes with a fish-out-of-water real-world character who ends up at a fancy dinner with a collection of high society foodies and critics. The trailer gave me expectations of cannibalism cult or Most Dangerous Game-type plots, but instead, nothing really happened. I think I understood what The Menu was trying to convey with its deeper meaning, but I still came up disappointed. Anya Taylor-Joy and the rest of the cast gave great performances, but there was little that really brought the movie together. Maybe the subversion of the cannibal or hunting expectation was the movie's brilliance? The Menu definitely tried to be clever, but whether it was or not might be open to interpretation. Ironically, I sat through the whole movie and left wanting more… left hungry.

Now You See Me is a fun genre-mash-up with a fresh new take for heist film fans. You have seen magician movies like The Prestige and The Illusionist. You have seen heist films like Ocean's Eleven and The Italian Job. Now You See Me decides to combine the genres and make money disappear with a little Abra Kadabra. This clever and fun film puts its robberies on center stage for the crowd to marvel at their magic shows, making their audiences believe it's all part of the show. A cast of up-and-coming stars like Dave Franco and Jesse Eisenberg are coupled with high-caliber Hollywood veterans like Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Woody Harrelson. Great laughs, fun characters, and an exciting plot really do the trick for Now You See Me. There are some pretty major plot holes, but if you don't take a movie about magicians pulling off complex heists in public before crowds while being hunted by authorities too seriously, you will love this movie.

Fall is 47 Meters Down but with heights instead of depths - 47 Meters Up. Fall keeps your stomach in your throat with its dizzying heights and anxiety-inducing peril. The movie’s plot is extremely thin, but that’s what you would expect from a film with this premise. Grace Curry and Virginia Gardner’s despair seemed authentic through their convincing performances. Panic and distress filled every shot as the camera soaked in the unbelievable heights and endless landscapes. Scott Mann once again directs an emotional suspense-laden film that feels incredibly similar to 47 Meters Down, even borrowing an identical plot twist. Fall stretched on a little longer than needed, but I appreciated the staggering suspense and character development that elevated a meager concept to vertigo-inducing heights.

Black Adam might not reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t have to. It just wants to take you on a fun, entertaining, exciting superhero ride! Black Adam has its haters, and I can understand why. It doesn’t necessarily break new ground in the superhero genre, but that doesn’t stop it from being awesome! Action-packed from start to finish. The effects are incredible. I kept myself from saying Wow out loud on multiple occasions. Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam is absolutely ruthless, ripping armies of henchmen with ease and speed. I was worried a PG-13 rating might soften his brutality, but it did not! The action sequences looked amazing and were well done. I really liked the Justice Society characters, although they all felt a little stereotypical with a SpiderMan jokester, a wise old Professor X, and a quipping leader in the vain of Wolverine or Deadshot. Pierce Brosnan was perfect at Dr. Fate, making me wish he hadn’t been relegated to special guest star status. The movie didn’t waste a ton of time giving background on each character which was wise with so many new heroes on screen. The film had its moments of cheese but didn’t overdo it. Definitely watch the mid-credit scene. It’s stupendous! Black Adam was a fine addition to the superhero genre, and I look forward to what comes next.

Red Notice might be imperfect, but it is definitely enjoyable with its mega-star cast and grand adventure. Red Notice is a fun adventure film with the biggest stars, beautiful locations, and spectacular effects while missing the mark in a few places. Still, it is an entertaining movie that is wildly enjoyable if you don't take it too seriously. With a cast boasting three of the most sought-after A-Listers of its day, Red Notice wisely focuses on these characters giving each actor a chance to grace the screen with their unique charm. The movie advances rapidly from action set piece to action set piece. The moments in between are filled with Reynolds and Johnson's playful banter that is funny but not as natural as Kevin Hart's chemistry with Dwayne Johnson. Ryan Reynolds does a great job playing his character that fits his strengths, but there are times when Johnson and Gadot's characters start to venture into Batman and Robin levels of cheesiness. Yes, Red Notice has flaws, but it really is an enjoyable film, and I look forward to its sequels.

The Princess Bride is truly a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that everyone can and should enjoy. There is nothing quite like The Princess Bride. It’s classic, timeless, charming, clever, hilarious, well-done, and just an all-around excellent film. The Princess Bride is good, safe, fun for the whole family, filled with romance, adventure, comedy, fantasy, action, and heroism. It’s a film for everyone and can be enjoyed by all ages. This film stands as an icon because of its touching romance, hilarious satire, and unforgettable characters. If you haven’t seen this movie, do yourself a favor and watch it now!

Hitch finds clever ways to make us laugh at all of our horrible memories of dates gone wrong while telling an endearing story full of heart and hilarity. Hitch makes complete use of Will Smith’s charm and Kevin Smith’s goofiness in a story reminding us that true love can only be found when we are truly ourselves. As Will Smith’s love doctor tries to win Eva Mendes’ heart, all of his sophisticated attempts at romance end up at hilariously embarrassing failures that make for some side-splitting laughs. The story is simple but sincere as Hitch learns that finding love isn’t about changing his clients into someone lovable instead, it’s about helping people see how lovable his clients already are. Hitch is earnest, charming, fun, and a must-see for anyone that loves a good rom-com.

Jurassic World captures the delight and suspense of the original films while adding a fantastic new cast, an epic new park, and bigger, scarier dinosaurs. Jurassic World perfectly blends the nostalgia of the original movies with a new grand scale, incredible effects, and big stars. Hollywood’s flood of reboots and remakes rarely capture the heart and quality of the original source, but Jurassic World stands out as one of the best. Chris Pratt’s tough and lovable rogue, Owen Grady, brings the action. At the same time, Bryce Dallas Howard’s high-stung and successful business executive, Claire Dearing, grows and develops from selfish career focus to respecting nature and valuing family. Every scene feels grandiose and epic, with a bigger park, bigger attractions, and bigger dinosaurs. The childlike wonder still shines through, with kids giddy at a dino petting zoo and crowds cheering as the Mosasaurus feeds on a great white shark. The scares are back, too, with deadlier predators and plenty of hapless park employees to hunt. While the Jurassic series has its ups and downs, Jurassic World is at its peak!

One of my favorite Bond films with surprising villains, more profound character development, great action, and a fitting farewell to a beloved character. The World Is Not Enough's massive box office success resulted from its excellent villains, beautiful filming locations, great characters, and endearing send-off of Desmond Llewelyn. This Bond film surprised with a masterminding, manipulative, and powerful female antagonist (the first in the Bond franchise since From Russia with Love in 1963). Sophie Marceau's portrayal of Electra King was innocent and vulnerable while cunning and ruthless - one of the best Bond villains of the last 30 years. The World Is Not Enough develops its female characters much more than a typical Bond movie by spending time exploring Elektra's complex character and introducing a confident, guarded, and beautiful nuclear physicist, Christmas Jones. Denise Richards' Dr. Jones isn't a helpless damsel but partners with Bond to stop catastrophe rather than immediately falling for his charms. Pierce Brosnan returned to his iconic role balancing his suave charm with icy brutality. Without a doubt, Brosnan is my favorite Bond. The action stands out as one of the best action offerings of the 1990s, and the pacing keeps the movie thrilling and engaging. The World Is Not Enough is a great Bond film with an exceptional villain and a friendly farewell to a series great.