Atomic Blonde showcases a hot and icy Charlize Theron

Movie Title:
  Atomic Blonde

Grade:  B

Rating:  R, 115 minutes

In a Nutshell: 
Payback goes atomic.  Based on the 2012 graphic novel Atomic Blonde: The Coldest City , this stylish spy flick takes place in 1989 when the Berlin wall fell.

Charlize Theron is gorgeous, stylish, and cold as ice.  She is why you see this movie.  Her character and John Wick would be the ultimate power couple in the spy world.  In fact, one of the directors of John Wick also worked on this film.

Uplifting theme: 

• Umm....not sure.  Don't trust anyone?

Things I liked:

• Charlize Theron is stunning.  With flawless skin and a body with practically no body fat, she looks amazing in this movie.  Her clothes, boots and shoes are smoking hot.  She did some solid stunt training to prepare for the movie and it shows.  I couldn't take my eyes off of her.
• James McAvoy is also fantastic, as always.  He was so fun to watch in the movie Split and may earn an Oscar nomination for his impressive work on his role in that film.  Well, at least he should.
• Amazing stunts.  The action scenes are intense and impressive.
• Sofia Boutella and Charlize Theron make-out.  This movie is steamy, along with the brutal storm. Sofia also stars as the seductive mummy in this summer's The Mummy (2017). Good for Sofia for having two movies in theaters at the same time!
• I love a twists and turns.  This movie has several.

Things I didn’t like:

• SPOILER: The storytelling could use some work.  When you see Charlize being interrogated in the beginning, the film then loses some of its tension, because you already know she survives the whole ordeal.
• There are some subtitles you need to read quickly.
• Everyone smokes a LOT of cigarettes.  Yuck.
• Everything looked real, except for one scene where the fire looked totally fake on a green screen.
• Sometimes you can’t understand what people are saying because of their thick accents.
• The music choices are fun 80’s hits, but don’t always fit what's happening on the screen.  The movie Baby Driver nailed that concept!

Funny lines:

• “Don’t shoot!  I’ve got your shoe.” – David Percival (James McAvoy)
• “My G-d, I think I F-en love you.” – David

“That’s too bad.” – Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron)

• “If I had known he was going to call the police, I would have worn a different outfit.” - Lorraine

Interesting lines:

• “I chose this life and some day it’s going to get me killed, but not today.” – Lorraine
• “Women are always getting in the way of progress, aren’t they?” – David
• “The world is run on secrets.” – David
• “It’s a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.” – Lorraine, David

Tips for parents: 

• This is a true rated R movie that children should not see. Even the trailer is super violent.
• Charlize is naked in a bath tub full of ice and then she walks around naked in her bathroom.  She looks great.  If I looked like that, I might be tempted to walk around naked too.
• Cultural slurs and crude language, including a zillion F-bombs.
• Lots of violent, brutal fighting.  Some bloody, gory deaths.
• Lots of destruction and car crashes.
• Topless girls in bed during a threesome.
• Talk of pornography.
• Smoking, drugs, alcohol, sex, dangerous and bad behavior.

@trinaboice

Movie Review Mom

Split showcases a fantastic James McAvoy

Movie Title:  Split

Grade:  B+

Rating:  PG-13, 116 minutes

In a Nutshell: James McAvoy thrills in this psychological horror story by M. Night Shyamalan, a director who knows how to take his time unfolding a story.  

The camera work by cinematographer Michael Gioulakis adds to the intrigue.

Uplifting theme: 

• “We are what we believe we are.” – Patricia
• “Have these individuals, through their suffering, unlocked the mysteries of the brain?” – Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley)
• “The thrill is whether you can or can’t outsmart this animal.” – Casey's father (Sebastian Arcelus)

Things I liked:

• McAvoy delivers an amazing performance.  He displays 24 distinct characters, not with simple costume changes, but more with transforming accents, facial expressions, and impressive physicality.  The audience got a kick out of Hedwig and Patricia in particular. Watch them as if they are an amalgam of animals in a zoo...
• M. Night Shyamalan has been beaten up by movie critics for many years.  I’ve always enjoyed his work and appreciated his talents, so I’m happy that he has been receiving praise for this new film.  I love how he always puts himself in a scene in each of his movies.
• There is a fun surprise at the end that made the audience gasp.  Hint: You’ll want to watch the Shyamalan’s 2000 film Unbreakable as a refresher.  If the ending means what I think it means, then we're in for an extremely interesting sequel that takes us back in to the Unbreakable universe.  Mind blown.
• Some of the characters do really dumb things, so I loved it when the audience would yell, “No!”  ha ha
• Dissociative Identity Disorder is addressed.
• There are some fun Easter Eggs in the movie that point to other Shyamalan movies.  For example, did you notice Mr. Pritchard's name on the computer screen?  That's a character in the movie Signs, which I thought was brilliant.
• I thought Casey Cooke's character arc was really well done.  Anya Taylor-Joy did a great job and out-shined the other teen girls.
• Hedwig's dance scene was pretty awesome, etc.

Things I didn’t like:

• Bone-crunching sounds.  The entire audience groaned and squirmed in their seats.
• I hate it when victims sit around crying.  Stop crying and make a plan! Don’t be a victim.  Get out of the car and run! Everyone needs to learn how to pick locks.  Here’s a crazy tip: Look up from your cell phone to see what’s going on. Check out my son’s class called Spy Escape and Evasion.

Interesting lines:

• “Only through pain can you achieve your greatness.” – Beast
• “The broken are the more evolved.” - Beast
• “There must be limits to what a human being can become.” – Dr. Karen Fletcher  
• “You like to make fun of us, but we’re more powerful than you think.” – Dennis
• “I’m trying to be good.” – Barry
• There is an interesting discussion of the “light” that is used when characters emerge.  Patricia said, “In the sun, we will find our purpose.” 

Funny lines:

• “You guys lied to me.  You made me scared, etc.” – Hedwig (The audience laughed every time he said “etc.”)
• “You might be pregnant now.” - Hedwig after an awkward kiss

Tips for parents: 

• There are some dark themes that are not very family-friendly, such as bullying, child abuse, kidnapping.
• Blood, violence
• Profanity, including 1 F-bomb.
• Some of the girls are forced to take off their clothes, so you see them in their underwear.

@trinaboice  

Victor Frankenstein features spit and stitches

Movie:    Victor Frankenstein

Rating:    PG-13, 1 hour 49 minutes

Grade:   C-

In a Nutshell:    “You know this story….” Says the narrator (Igor),  except that this version isn’t as good as others we’ve seen before.  

The twist is that it’s told through the eyes of Igor, played by Daniel Radcliffe.   He and James MacAvoy give good performances and have a certain…forgive me..spark when they’re together.

It’s supposed to be a “re-imagining”, but overall, it’s an unnecessary remake.   I find it odd that Director Paul McGuigan said that he thought Mary Kelly’s original Frankenstein story was “dull as dishwater”, so why would he want to direct a movie that didn’t inspire him?  Ironically, his own film falls in the dull category.

Uplifting Theme:

·         “The greatest creation is your own life.” – Igor

Things I liked:

·         I liked learning a backstory about Igor.

·         Good for Daniel Radcliffe for trying to reinvent himself and move on from Harry Potter.

·         There is some light humor.

·         Those who love steam-punk will appreciate all the gears and gadgets and turn-of-the-century machinery backdrops.

Things I didn’t like:

·         James McAvoy has been criticized for over-acting in this film.   I wonder what the spit count is.  He screams most of his lines with saliva splattering everywhere.

·         Frankenstein's famous monster only gets 7 minutes of screen time and it's not worth waiting for.

·         Yawn.  I kept looking at my watch.  I don’t wear a watch.  Yawn.
      The story didn't flow well.  It felt...forgive me again...poorly stitched together.
      Too bad this movie didn't come out in time for Halloween.

Interesting lines:  

·         “That man is in allegiance with Satan and must be stopped.”  - Roderick Turpin (Andrew Scott)

·         “I will turn the tide of human existence tonight.” = Frankenstein

·         “You and I are on the threshold of immortality.” – Finnegan (Freddie Fox)

·         “There’s no Satan, no God, only humanity, only me.” – Frankenstein

·         “We’re weak.  We’re fragile and we’re destined to die.” – Frankenstein
       "Life is a temporary condition.  Why should death be any different?" - Frankenstein

Tips for Parents:

·         As you can imagine, there are body parts and tissue sewn together, so you see blood and guts and icky stuff.  Some kids may think that’s really cool, while others may be frightened. 

·         There are some creepy moments which might scare younger audiences.

·         Some profanity and violence.

X-Men Days of Future Past gets thumbs up from fans

Movie Title:  X-Men: Days of Future Past

PG-13, 2 hours 11 minutes

 Grade:  B+

 

In a Nutshell:  Some are saying this new edition of the beloved X-Men franchise is the best one yet.   Some of the popular Marvel characters make sacrifices to protect their future by going back in the past.  Young Charles yells “I don’t want your suffering!  I don’t want your future!” but learns that pain and experience bring wisdom.

 

The story jumps from past and future, which could confuse newbies who haven’t seen prior X-Men movies.   Some of the character development will also be lost on those who are unfamiliar with their growth throughout the movie installments.   Otherwise, expect lots of cool special effects and fight scenes.  With a little bit of a The Matrix feel to it, fans will enjoy the journey through a perilous timeline.

 

Uplifting theme: 

 

• “Can we evolve fast enough to change ourselves?  Change our fate?”
• “Just because someone stumbles, loses their way doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.  Sometimes we all need a little help” explains Charles Xavier, illuminating the need for hope in our lives.
• “Pain will make you stronger” says Charles Xavier to his younger self.  “It’s our greatest gift: to bear their pain without breaking, and it’s born from the most human part…hope.”  I’m a sucker for movies about hope.
• Even heroes need to be saved sometimes.

 

Things I liked:

• The X-Men franchise hit a gold mine when they cast Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine.  He is so ridiculously talented that he has never been stuck in type-cast mode, but continually pumps out successful movies in a variety of genres.
• James McAvoy does a fantastic job portraying a young Charles Xavier and Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique/Raven wows, as always.  She speaks Vietnamese and offers some fancy fight moves to scenes that might otherwise just provide flying bullets.   That’s a brave actress who is willing to wear the skin-tight blue suit of Raven.
• I’d love to have one of those cool portal bomb things that allows you to instantly pop in and out of locations.  Imagine how much I could get done!
• I cracked up when I saw the guy duct-taped to the wall.
• I loved the “Time in a Bottle” slow-motion scene, featuring QuickSilver, the film’s introduction to a witty mutant who can move so fast that time seems to slow down.  This scene sequence is the funniest in the entire movie.  The faster my kids grow up, the more often I wish I had the mutant power of slowing down time.
• How would you like to have that one mutant’s power to make people start throwing up instantly?  (About 22 minutes into the film.)
• Directors Bryan singer and Matthew Vaughn create a look that feels like you’re back in the 1970’s with kitchy gags and an old news reel atmosphere.  There is some interesting commentary about the Vietnam War and even a glance at Nixon recording tapes during a meeting.  (Mark Camacho does a terrific job as President Nixon.) 
• Logan travels to the 1970s and wakes up in a waterbed and, of course, slices it accidentally with his claws.  Haha  I grew up on a waterbed and often worried I’d pop it.
• I got a kick out of the short Star Trek clip of Captain Kirk saying “We’re going back in time.”
• Peter Dinklage does a great job as Bolivar Trask.  Way to rock the 70’s ‘stache.
• Marvel fans will appreciate the meaty motivations beneath the action sequences.

Things I didn’t like:

• Some of the graphics and fight scenes happen so fast you can’t appreciate everything on the screen.
• Some of the film’s most profound lines are uttered in a whisper so that you have to really strain to appreciate them.
• I feel bad that an actress as talented as Halle Berry has to play a mutant whose power isn’t very exciting and who doesn’t get much screen time.

Interesting lines:

• “You and I are going to be good friends.  (Punch in face)  You just don’t know it yet.”  - Wolverine to Hank McCoy/Beast
• “Get off the bloody chandelier, Hank.” – Young Charles Xavier to Beast
• “You built these weapons to destroy us.  Why?  Because you’re afraid of our gifts.  We are different.  Humanity has always feared that which is different.” – Erik Lensherr/Magneto
• “Countless choices define our fate.  Each choice, each moment, a ripple in the river of time.  Enough ripples and you change the tide, for the future is never truly set.”  - Charles Xavier
• Bishop says “You can’t stop that many.”  “No, but we can slow them down” replies Storm.
• Charles Xavier says “Tell whoever it is that sent you that I’m busy.”  Logan reveals “The person who sent me was you.”

Tips for parents: 

*  Hugh Jackman fans will be treated to a full rear view of a naked Logan.  Parents, be warned.  There is not very much profanity, but a lot of violence and fight scenes.  Young children won’t be able to follow the story line, but will enjoy the action and cool special effects.

 

If you've never seen an X-Men movie, you've got a lot of catching up to do!  Here's a start: