It's national sequel week!
GUESS THE QUOTE
"You mean the secret password is Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch?"
Did you know it #nationalsequelweek?!
It's not really (and those made up "national whatever" things are silly), but it sure does feel like it.
Gettin cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."
EQUALIZER 2
AKA
"BadAss Denzel"
R / 2 hrs 9 mins
Action / Sony
WHAT'S THE DEAL
First sequel Denzel Washington has been in. That's a list of over 50 movies that included plenty of remakes, lots of Oscar nominations, but no numero dos. Why this one? "I haven't been asked" ....that much. Goes on to say he was for Inside Man (didn't make sense) and Safe House ("my character died" *spoiler alert*).
Could also be he likes being a badass, because that's basically this movie. And if you like BadAss Denzel (BAD), you're gonna get tons of BAD in this part two because the evil people kill someone he loves. And that means we get full on revenge mode BAD - which includes lots (and lots) of gnarly fight scenes and gruesome kills.
If you missed part one, BAD is an ex-CIA black ops (oh aren't they all) who uses his skillZ to help people being taken advantage of.
Note: first Equalizer director Antoine Fuqua back too (also directed Washington in Training Day).
REVIEWS
Lots of "let's hope this is his last sequel" comments. Which, to be fair, doesn't get to the point (and is lazy), but suffice to say, they are not huge fans.
Mostly critiquing bad writing and unoriginal"ness" of it all. No real knocks against Denzel though.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 38%
(56 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
Denzel, he's fun to watch. So it has some appeal. But even without the reviews it kinda stinks of unoriginal - but for many, maybe that's some of the draw?
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MAMMA MIA!
HERE WE GO AGAIN
AKA
"here we go again *said sarcastically*"
PG-13 / 1 hr 54 mins
Comedy-Musical / Universal
WHAT'S THE DEAL
There are few movies with such an obvious you're in or you're out quotient. So for the in crowd, here are the quick updates...
It's a sequel prequel sequel, meaning it takes both before and after the first. The before being how Meryl Streep's character (Donna) met the three fathers of the first. And the after, well, you can find that out by going.
Yes, Meryl is in it (kiiinda), but Cher is the big new addition - don't expect lots of screen time from either though.
The biggest surprise is that there won't be any Abba songs in it. Crazy, right?! Almost as crazy as you believing us. :)
REVIEWS
Good enough for a sequel that could've been a lot worse - and so far, better than the original. Basically saying if you're a fan, you'll enjoy yourself.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
(54 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
We're not necessarily Abba fans, but we're not NOT Abba fans, so we're mostly just... confused? But the reviews are good (enough) and the music is loud, so all you in crowders enjoy.
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UNFRIENDED:
DARK WEB
AKA
"so it's not about spiders who don't get along?"
R / 1 hr 28 mins
Horror / BH Tilt & Universal OTL
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Original was the first major theatrical movie to do the whole "everything happens on a screen" thing - and did it decently well. And while this is a sequel, it's more anthology than plot continuation.
This time the dark web brings us another killer(s?) that mess with people through their comps and phones until they snuff them out as their friends watch.
It may not be original anymore, and it's probably just ok, but it'll probably get the job done if you're 15, with friends and want to get away from your screens for a while... to watch someone else's. /shrug
REVIEWS
Some fans, but not calling it anything but a decent movie if you like the genre.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 63%
(19 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
Do you spend all of your time on the internet? Do you like scary movies? Do we need to keep asking questions?
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INDIE"ISH" SPOTLIGHT
BLINDSPOTTING
AKA
"TBD"
R / 1 hr 35 mins
Drama-Comedy / Lionsgate
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Daveed Diggs, who played Marquis de Lafayette in original production of Hamilton, made a movie with his buddy (from growing up in Oakland - also the setting) that takes on police shootings & gentrification in a slightly more commercial manner in an effort to broaden their message.
And as you'll see below, seems to mostly succeed.
REVIEWS
While appreciating the film itself, it's noteworthy that many endorsements coming with calls of "because it's important" or some form that they're on board with the message in the film.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
(40 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
We were unsure after the trailer, but reviews are saying it handles the tone well, which has us intrigued.
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ALREADY IN THEATERS + BOX OFFICE
(3-Day Weekend / Domestic Total - $ = Millions)
1) Hotel Transylvania 3 ($44) NEW
Monster crew is on a boat, on a boat
59% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
2) Ant-Man and the Wasp ($29 / $133)
Big problems need small heros
87% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
3) Skyscraper ($24.9) NEW
Less good Die Hard w/ The Rock
49% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
4) Incredibles 2 ($16.2 / $536)
A family affair, of the superhero kind
94% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
5) Jurassic World: Fallen... ($16.2 / $364)
The island goes buh bye
51% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
6) The First Purge ($9.3 / $50)
Origin story time for the wicked night
53% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
7) Sorry to Bother You ($4.2 / $5.3)
Cheeky social satire on race/capitalism
95% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
8) Sicario: Day of the Soldado ($3.9 / $43)
Drug war gets (even) nastier
64% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
9) Uncle Drew ($3.2 / $37)
Pepsi ad goes full length
66% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
10) Ocean's 8 ($2.9 / $132)
This time the women get sticky fingers
67% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
FALLOUT
Impressively (partly because it's the sixth), already being called the best in the series.
TEEN TITANS GO!
TO THE MOVIES
TV show based on some of the smaller (literally) DC characters gets a full flick.
INDIE"ISH" SPOTLIGHT
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS
If this movie didn't have Timothée Chalamet in it, it'd be significantly less noteworthy, but it does. Plus it has A24 releasing, the 80's, drugs, sex and cool cinematography. #sothere
ASSASSINATION NATION
Sept 21, 2018
Full trailer - FYI it's red band (i.e. NSFW). Everyone's digital life is put out in the open and people go bonkers, like real bonkers. Heroes are a group of teenage girls.
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BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
November 2, 2018
Full trailer. Authorized (by the band) story of Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury. Dude from Mr. Robot plays Mercury.
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BOY ERASED
November 2, 2018
Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe are religious folk (Crowe plays a pastor) and parents of Lucas Hedges (Manchsester by the Sea, Ladybird) who is gay; they send him to "conversion therapy."
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OVERLORD
November 9, 2018
J.J. Abrams produced flick where US soldiers happen upon Nazis creating zombie/supernatural creatures. Per Abrams, this isn't another "Cloverfield" (buuuut).
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ROBIN HOOD
March 15, 2018
Full trailer. Another version, but this time with that "hyper-modern" take - think Guy Ritchie (he didn't direct). Taron Egerton is Mr. Hood and Jamie Foxx his teacher.
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MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
December 7, 2018
The Scottish Queen Mary (Saorise Ronan) wars with her cousin Queen Elizabeth (Margot Robbie).
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WELCOME TO MARWEN
December 21, 2018
Second trailer. Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump etc.) directs Steve Carrell as a guy who gets beat up by neo-Nazis, but uses art to get back his humanity. Lots of CG motion capture imagination scenes with dolls.
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ON THE BASIS OF SEX
December 25, 2018
Biopic of Notorious RBG - aka Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (played by Felicity Jones).