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Lightyear was everything I could have hoped it to be. Well worth seeing on the biggest screen possible.

Eternals leaves me very conflicted. Overall, I loved this movie. I had so much fun with it and I loved how it expands the lore of the MCU. That said though - I do have some strong feelings about this movie. One thought being, I really think this story should have been told in 2 parts instead of cramming it into 1 2hr and 38min film. I loved these characters but I don’t feel like I ever got to know them enough to be as invested in them as I did Iron Man, Captain America, or even Shang-Chi. This film is gorgeous. The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking and Ramin Djwadi’s score really brings this story to life. I think this movie deserves every bit of praise it gets, but it also deserves some of the criticism as well. Well worth the price of admission, but just know this is not going to be a movie for everyone.

Free Guy was such a pleasant and well needed surprise! Honestly, for me, it’s the feel good movie of 2021 so far. The message, humor, and story just hit me in all the feels. I can’t believe how much I loved it. Yes. Go see it. While you can.

Pinocchio is one of the most beautiful and unique retellings of the classic story. I was mesmerized by its beauty and charm from the very beginning. Elements of the story seem to be different from the classic tale, offering a new look into the story. This may be a positive or negative depending on your taste. It either works or it over complicates things. The special effects on their film is breath taking. If Disney ever gets around to doing their live action remake of their Pinnochio story - they have some huge shoes to fill. I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job than this. If I might make a recommendation, do not watch the English dub version. Be sure to watch with the original Italian language and English subtitles. The acting in this film is beautiful. Frederico Ielapi is so charming in his portrayal of Pinocchio. As well as the rest of the cast.

For a long time now I’ve been saying we need more movies that can ease kids into horror. Going straight into the “good stuff” may be a little too unsettling for some kids. Nightbooks can easily be added to a list of great kid friendly, family friendly horror movie. The story touches on a lot of notes that I think are important for kids and adults alike to hear. Is the movie perfect? Far from. But there is a lot I appreciated about this movie. 1) Winslow Fegley again proves that incredible acting runs in the family. He and his brother, Oakes, are incredible young actors and I can’t wait to see where his career goes. 2) This movie, very ingeniously, covers a myriad of horror movie tropes. I appreciate this because it may help younger viewers find out what kind of scares they enjoy vs what is a little bit too much. It very much feels like this story would have been more well suited as a series. It feels very rushed in a few places. But, overall, it’s a delightful film. I’d say it’s well worth the watch.

Cry Macho is far from being the next classic Eastwood film. While I do think there is sketching to the story itself, the film never really comes together. Eastwood more than shows his age with the film and the film suffers from it. Not to mention the less than spectacular performance from Eastwood’s young co-Star. Perhaps with a younger more believable lead and a better young actor the film could have been something special. But for me - it was a miss. Feel free to watch the film on HBO Max, don’t waste your time going to the theater for this one.

James Wan returns to his horror roots with amazing thrill in Malignant. As a fan of Insidious, The Conjuring, and the original Saw film, I couldn’t wait to see what Wan would bring in a new, original story. And let me tell you, this story is definitely original. Malignant harkens back to early 2000s horror films without dumbing down the plot or characters at all. And in the end Wan delivers a very surprising ending that is wonderfully satisfying. Do not judge this film by the trailers because it doesn’t even come close to telling you anything about this movie. If you’re yearning for something daring and new - I can’t recommend Malignant more. Not to mention this movie had a sequence that will go down as one of my favorites scenes of any movie from 2021

It’s been a long time since a story has gripped me like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has. Shang-Chi is a beautiful story that blends action, romance, and high stakes in ways we haven’t seen the MCU do yet. The relationships between characters is very believable which makes the stakes that much greater. The action sequences are unlike anything in the history of the MCU, yet not forgetting to add that MCU flair from time to time. By the time I left the auditorium, I was already ready for Round 2. 10/10. I just can’t believe how good this movie really is.

As someone who is a massive fan of the musical prior to it being a film, I was going into this film worried I was going to be disappointed from a lot of the critic reviews. Well, I don’t know what everyone was smoking cause I think the film is a near perfect film adaptation of the play It’s not perfect. Otherwise I’d be giving it 5 stars, 4 songs were removed and replaced by a new song and a reprise for it. Initially, it hit me a bit wrong but I actually really liked the song. However, the reprise didn’t need to be there. The biggest mistake the film makes is removing the song “Anybody Got a Map?” Because it perfectly sets up the stage for both families. But, the film is far from a disaster. Ben Platt gives a stellar, heart breaking performance and everyone else does a fantastic job in their respective roles as well. For me, it’s a win. I would love to see it again in the theater and I’ll definitely be buying the Blu-ray. For any purists out there, you’ve been warned - there are changes. But I think they mostly work. Mostly…

Fear Street: Part Three might easily be the best of the trilogy. The surprises and how the story comes to a close is absolutely incredible. While it may be the best though, I still can’t figure out if it or Part Two is my personal favorite. The whole story is amazing and I can’t believe how well done they are. Well worth the watch.

Fear Street: Part Two was an incredible edition to the story and I actually think it invokes the feeling of old slasher films the best. You can definitely tell where the inspiration came from and everyone did such a wonderful job!

Fear Street Part One was a really fun surprise. Was it the best horror flick ever? No. Did it do anything special? No, not really. But it was fun. And what it did do, they did really well. Hopefully part 2 and 3 will live up to how good part one is.

While The Irishman is indeed another beautifully directed film by Scorsese, the film is a really perplexing film. Let me elaborate. Firstly, I really enjoyed it. It might even crack my Top 5 Scorsese films, however, as great as the story is - the movie is just way too long. With being 3hrs long, you’d have to say something could be cut, but the strange thing is - I couldn’t tell you what to cut... It’s seamless. Each scene flows, for the most part, and sure some of it drags, but it all leads up to one hell of an ending. Each component is necessary for understanding the characters - so... if you have 3 hours to spend on watching a film. Go for it. Scorsese doesn’t disappoint.

While Midsommar absolutely serves up some beautiful cinematography, unfortunately the film fails in many other areas. The acting is amazing. The entire cast is what keeps this film intriguing. Not much else does. I was someone who, while I was very uncomfortable, really enjoyed Hereditary, minus the ending, so I was hoping Midsommar would give me another satisfying film. So, I don’t want anyone to think I’m being overly harsh. For me, the film was nothing but a bunch of beautifully, disturbing images without any substance. If you enjoy Florence Pugh and the rest of the cast, than I’d say proceed with caution because they’re about the only good things about it. In my opinion, skip it, don’t waste your time. Just watch Hereditary again.

So, admittedly, I’m late to the party seeing this because I’m really not much into politics. However, I’m a huge Christian Bale and Amy Adams fan (as well as many others who appear), so I finally decided to give Vice a shot. Leaving real-life politics somewhat aside, Vice is an astounding look at what could possibly be the inter workings of Dick Cheney and his life. Seeing how opportunistic he might have been was actually a very inspiring thing. And despite how you may feel about the man and some of the horrible things he’s done, Bale’s portrayal is absolutely incredible. If nothing else, if you’re a fan of Adam McKay’s work and a fan of good film making, no matter what your political stance may be, I would say give Vice a shot. It’s one of the best made political films I’ve ever seen.

I will be honest. The trailers for Booksmart not only didn’t catch my interest - each new one actually seemed to push me further away from ever wanting to see the film. I am so happy I gave this film a chance. It’s witty, hysterical, and absolutely brilliantly written. By the end of the film, I had not only been swayed to the other side, but I can almost guarantee Booksmart will be added to my Blu-ray collection. If you want a laugh with a little heart, this one’s for you.

Togo is without a doubt a surprise hit, in my opinion. When it comes to dog centric films, I tend to not watch them because let’s just be honest - most of them are sad. Beautiful, but sad. Togo may look like just another Disney dog movie, but it is so much more. This film blew me away from start to finish. And one really interesting fact about this film is it IS based on a true story. I even fact checked the movie after and was floored to find how truly faithful this movie is to the real events. If you grew up with the animated film Balto, I can’t recommend the watch more, it takes the story of a dog mushing adventure that we loved as kids but made for the whole family - and especially us adults. Willem Dafoe again proves his worth as an actor, giving a beautiful performance and Julianne Nicholson was a brilliant cast to back his character up. Give it a watch - you don’t be disappointed.

Togo is without a doubt a surprise hit, in my opinion. When it comes to dog centric films, I tend to not watch them because let’s just be honest - most of them are sad. Beautiful, but sad. Togo may look like just another Disney dog movie, but it is so much more. This film blew me away from start to finish. And one really interesting fact about this film is it IS based on a true story. I even fact checked the movie after and was floored to find how truly faithful this movie is to the real events. If you grew up with the animated film Balto, I can’t recommend the watch more, it takes the story of a dog mushing adventure that we loved as kids but made for the whole family - and especially us adults. Willem Dafoe again proves his worth as an actor, giving a beautiful performance and Julianne Nicholson was a brilliant cast to back his character up. Give it a watch - you don’t be disappointed.

Finally, I got the chance to see one of my most anticipated films of the year - and it didn’t disappoint. Jojo Rabbit is an incredible coming of age film and I think may be my new favorite Taika Watiti film. Roman Griffin Davis was perfectly casted in the lead role and within a few moments steals your heart. I cannot wait to see what he does next nor can I recommend this movie more. Don’t be surprised if the film becomes one your favorites of the year. This film = brilliance.

Sandler, without a doubt, gives the performance of his career in Uncut Gems. Going into the film, even being a huge fan of A24, I really didn’t know what to expect. The film wasn’t on my radar at all, but I decided to give the film a chance - and I’m so glad I did. Uncut Gems is a high-anxiety thrill ride from start to finish. It’s absolutely one of the best films of the year, and even though I am not a huge fan of the ending, I couldn’t recommend this film more. The experience I had with it was one of a kind and I’ll definitely be adding it to my collection upon its home release.

Joker is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in a movie theater. Not just this year - but ever. Phoenix was absolutely brilliant. Phillips directed the heck out of this film. I knew this movie would be good, but I had no idea it would be this good. I loved it. Easily one of the best of 2019.

Going into Dark Fate I had very low expectations. The last Terminator movie that I actually loved was T2: Judgment Day, and I honestly didn’t think this film would change that. I had accepted the idea that I was never going to see another engaging Terminator film. Coming out of the film I was earnestly shocked at how much I enjoyed this film. I definitely had my issues, I won’t go into spoilers, but overall I had a really fun time. Don’t expect a masterpiece like the original 2 films, but if you’re a fan of the franchise I think you may be surprised at how enjoyable this film really is.

I had no idea what I was going into when I pressed play to watch this film on Netflix. By the end, I was emotionally wrecked. Driver and Johansson without a doubt gave the best performances of their careers. And, I’m pretty sure at the very least Adam Driver secured himself an Oscar nomination. The apartment scene. That is all. Know going in that this is not a fun movie. It’s very raw and very real and it’s one of the most beautifully horrific films I’ve ever seen. I highly recommend it, but it won’t be for everyone.

Within the past handful of years Johnson has become one of my top 5 directors. In his minimal career so far, he has managed to capture my love of film every time. Whether it’s his first film Brick or Looper or even The Last Jedi, Johnson just has a way of engaging me that few directors do. Knives Out is without hesitation my favorite film of 2019. Is the best? Maybe, maybe not. Someone could argue Joker or The Irishman or maybe even Marriage Story, but for me Johnson’s throw back to noire mystery was absolutely everything I wanted in a film. There are so many turns you don’t see coming, and even some you do and as time goes on Johnson leaves you dangling on the string time and time again. It was one of my favorite experiences in the theater this year and I couldn’t recommend it more. The entire cast was perfect. Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Toni Colette, and Chris Evans show just why they are some of Hollywood’s elite. And, Daniel Craig is absolutely sublime. Trust me, when I say - go see this on the big screen.

As a major fan of The Last Jedi, going into The Rise of Skywalker I was very nervous after hearing a lot of things critics were saying about the film. I was a big fan of The Force Awakens and I love most of Abrams’ work so I went in with high hopes. Coming out of the film, I was on cloud nine. From start to finish, the film had me on the edge of my seat as it whirled me around this amazing Star Wars galaxy. While I agree that this film, compared to its predecessors, has the most criticisms, I found myself realizing that some of what you hear others say should be heard with a grain of salt. At most, this film’s major problem is it’s break neck speed. From it’s first moments to its last, it barely gives you any time to breathe - or the characters for that matter. Twenty to thirty minutes would have made this movie that much better, however, all of what you need to enjoy this film IS there. Even if it’s a little fast. In the end, for me, spending any time in a galaxy far, far away is a good time, and if you go in ready to go on an adventure - I think you’ll enjoy it. It’s not just a wonderful end to the sequel trilogy but a beautiful reminder of how special all 9 films in the saga are.

The Vault was a fun little heist film. Going into it I half expected it to be a throw away film. I was mainly watching it because I’m a huge Freddie Highmore fan and I also have come to love Liam Cunningham’s work. I’m very happy to say this film is anything but throw away. Is it a masterpiece of film? No. But I don’t think anyone set out for it it be that either. It’s very fun and I think if you want to have some fun you should check it out.

Going into Mortal Kombat all I really was hoping for was some fun action. I honestly didn’t expect it to be “Oscar” level filmmaking, and well...I wasn’t wrong. The film is a **** ton of fun. Anytime action was going on, I was having a blast, but past the first 7 minutes of the film, the story just sort of loses any bit of weight. I couldn’t have cared any less for the main protagonist, who is a new character created just for the movie. The film works best when focusing on characters that we know. Some characters fall more short than others, but again I kind of expected that. Scorpion and Sub-Zero are by far the characters the film-makers took the most time and care with, with Kano and Raiden falling next in line. The rest of cast fall into various levels of **** - but again I had a blast watching it. I have to be honest, though I personally will be buying the film first chance I get on Blu-ray. So that should tell you something. But I also totally get why this movie is a pure failure for a lot. For me, it’s just so much fun, and I hope they continue to expand this world with more films.

Well, all I can really say about Godzilla vs. Kong is this: the film delivers on the action and not so much anything else. I had a blast. I’ve enjoyed all the films leading up to this to varying degrees with Godzilla: King of the Monsters probably being my personal favorite. I didn’t expect it to be any different than it ended up being, but I had hoped they finally got it right. They didn’t. Humans ****, monsters are awesome. And ya know, as disappointing as it is, I personally am ok with it being that way. Well worth the watch if you’ve been watching up until now and have enjoyed yourself. Otherwise, I’d say staying off the track is probably the best decision for you.

Walking into Cruella I had no idea what to expect. I’ve personally mostly enjoyed the Disney Live-Action movies, minus a few, but reading some of the reviews for it left me with worry walking into the theater. But boy am I glad I took the plunge! Cruella is easily my 2nd favorite movie of 2021 so far. Emma Stone is absolutely breathtaking as Cruella and is so perfectly cast. The film is so much fun and I cannot wait to add this to my home collection.

Black Widow is a film that very much leaves me conflicted. I cannot say to you that it’s a bad film and unenjoyable. Nor can I tell you I didn’t have fun with aspects of the film. What I can tell you is this - walking out of the theatre I was very much asking myself if this movie needed to be made at all. I wish I enjoyed it more than I did. The cast is wonderful. The action is fun. But it very much felt like “too little, too late” for me. I’m hoping on repeat viewings I’ll come to appreciate it more, but right now that’s where I am.

As a huge fan of the first film, it being my number 1 film of the year it came out, naturally I was ecstatic to get the chance to finally see this in the theater. As of writing this, I have seen this film twice in the cinema. Once on a big XD screen and again on a regular sized screen. Both times I was 100% enthralled and taken into the story-telling. Prior to both viewings, i rewatched the first film and I have to say - it’s such a perfect follow up. And I even think, for me, I might even like it a little bit more. I think Part 2 does for A Quiet Place what Empire Strikes Back did for Star Wars. Sure, you need that first film. Without that, some of the emotional elements might not work as well, but this film follows through so brilliantly until it’s conclusion which leaves you hanging on hoping that there is more to come. I really hope there is a part 3 on its way. By far my favorite film of 2021 so far. I highly recommend watching it/these movies.

Here’s the thing. Despite what I might say about this film - please note, I am indeed a fan. I like these movies. And I’m not even a car guy, but I just find these movies to be so much fun. Especially on a big screen. But… F9 is just ridiculous. Not only does it jump the shark, it body slams it, kills it, brings it back to life, and then does it all over again. Sure, it’s fun. And I would be lying if I didn’t say I enjoyed myself. BUT, this franchise has officially left behind what made Fast+Furious and Fast Five so wonderful. I won’t say it’s not worth seeing. But… don’t go into it for anything special.

Luca is delightful. It’s everything I wanted it to be. After a few viewings, it’s found its way into my top 10 Pixar films. It touched my heart and soul and I fell in love with these characters. Is it breathtaking like Coco or emotionally driven like Inside Out or Toy Story 3? Does it break your heart in the first 5 minutes like in Up? No… but what it does do is take you on a fun, innocent journey and I couldn’t recommend it more.

Jungle Cruise was a very pleasant surprise for me after hearing a lot of the reviews from critics. For most it seems this movie is very mixed, but I absolutely enjoyed myself. For me Jungle Cruise harkened back to movies like Indiana Jones and The Mummy (no, not the Tom Cruise one), and that is a huge complement. Johnson and Blunt are absolutely fabulous and the supporting cast is a lot of fun too. Was it as good as the first Pirates of the Caribbean film? No, but it also wasn’t as disappointing as The Haunted Mansion either. They could easily turn this into a franchise and I’m absolutely all in for it. If you want a whimsical adventure movie meant for the whole family, this is a good one to watch.

Old is, I think, the 2nd film that we have gotten from the famed director M. Night Shyamalan that harkens back to his old glory. First, being The Visit. And that’s no knock on Split and I haven’t seen Glass yet. Old is a very enjoyable movie. The premise is unique, but often gets ahead of itself. Spoken dialogue is very choppy and unrealistic. Most of the speaking parts are spoken exposition which at times is very boring. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I enjoyed the journey. It’s far from perfect. It’s no Signs or The Sixth Sense, but for anyone clamoring for some new M. Night, I definitely think it’s worth the price of admission - and more importantly, your time. Just know it’s clunky. It’s far from perfect. And I think what ruins the movie most is M. Night’s need to re-create his former glory.

Whimsical. **** Bloody. Hysterical. Did I mention the gore? The Suicide Squad is exactly what happens when a studio lets a creative do their thing with little to no interference. James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is not going to be for everyone - and you should know that up front. It’s very niche and 100% Gunn, so if you’re a fan of his previous work and projects I think you’ll like it. If you’re not, good luck, cause it’s a lot. The story is fun. It makes sense and what’s great is every single character (mostly) gets their chance to shine. Personally, I fell in love with Polka Dot Man, but every single character was absolutely brilliant. It’s fun. And it’s also actually a good movie, unlike the disastrous, studio meddled 2016 film. If you’re a fan of DC, Gunn, and/or superheroes, this is most definitely up your alley, but if you’re not a “nerd” than I would approach this film with caution. 2nd best film of 2021 IMO so far.