What're we talking here, half full or.....?

Jan 16, 2019

GUESS THE QUOTE

"Trial by stone.
TRIAL BY STONE!"

Sooo, about that A Dog's Way Home Rotten Tomatoes score.

To be fair, this was counted as a positive review... "Although it might be a stretch to categorize this as a movie [emphasis ours], "A Dog's Way Home" is harmless enough and a nice little adventure that's fit for the whole family. But you might want to have the tissues ready."

Clearly standards are low for January movies. And for anyone asking, we didn't say when we'd walk around on all fours.

NOTE: make sure and peep that High Life trailer. Looks excellent. Also, apparently there's a Ghostbusters 3 teaser. As in a sequel to the originals - we think?

Gettin cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."

GLASS

AKA
"walkin' on, walkin' on broken..."

PG-13 / 1 hrs 50 mins

Suspense-Drama-Superhero / Universal

WHAT'S THE DEAL

It feels like the culmination of M. Night Shyamalan's career comeback. Which is impressive for any director who's had some box office / critical flops - but it is something else entirely when you've seen his take on The Last Airbender. Let's just say he had some (a lot of) work to do.

Shyamalan eased his way back into directing via the low budget horror comedy The Visit and then went full M. Night with 2017's very successful Split - James McAvoy playing a bajillion different personalities, central one being the young girl loving, "The Beast." Also key is how, and to kinda, but not really, spoil it, that movie nods back to Unbreakable. So yeah, Mr. Nighty Night is goin full circle in combining his latest hit with one of his first to form some super duper twistmaster fest. Planned all along or opportunistic? Um, both?

Since Bruce Willis already had his turn , the star this time (at least in film title) is Samuel L. Jackson's Mr. Glass - also from Unbreakable. Who apparently pulls the strings on The Beast and Willis' David "never seen a poncho I didn't like" Dunn resulting in the inevitable mysterious outcome. Quick Pause: if you've never seen either Unbreakable/Split and are really confused right now, just know these are kinda like arty superhero movies. Unpause.

Does all this mean Shyamalan and fans waiting nearly twenty years for a proper sequel to Unbreakable get a happy ending? Not if you're a reviewer (see below), but if you're already invested on some level, it can't hurt to see how it all folds out, eh? *remembers particularly painful scene in The Last Airbender and reconsiders*

REVIEWS

Samuel L. Jackson's face (above) encapsulates most reviewers feelings on this one.

"On a purely practical level, Glass is drawn-out and disjointed, with disparate plot threads (some of them leading to, yes, a perfunctory rug pull) that seem dictated more by its stars' availability than narrative cohesion." - Slate

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 37%
(101 reviews @ publish)

WHO'S IT (NOT) FOR?

For: completists and hardcore Shyamalan fans (like the ones who even liked Lady in the Water and The Happening).

(Not): for people who've yet to see Unbreakable OR Split

SHARE THIS FLICK W/ FRIENDS

ALREADY IN THEATERS + BOX OFFICE
(3-Day Weekend / Domestic Total - $ = millions)

1) The Upside ($20.4) NEW
Kevin Hart/Bryan Cranston unlikely friends
40% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

2) Aquaman ($17.4 / $288)
Superhero who can talk to fish and kick ass
64% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

3) A Dog's Way Home ($11.3) NEW
Puppy gets lost, has adventures, is found
57% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

4) Spider-man: Into the Spi.. ($9 / $148)
Lots of Spideys save lots of universes
97% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

5) Escape Room ($8.9 / $32)
Horror movie about well, you know...
53% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

6) Mary Poppins Ret... ($7.7 / $151)
She back
78% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

7) Bumblebee ($7.2 / $109)
Origin story / Transformers reboot
92% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

8) On the Basis of Sex ($6.1 / $10)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg early years biopic
71% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

9) The Mule ($5.7 / $91)
Clint Eastwood hauls drugs
66% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

10) Vice ($3.2 / $36)
Dick Cheney satirical biopic
63% RT -  Trailer - Showtimes

THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING

Cheeky modern"ified" King Arthur story for kids. Next movie from Joe Cornish who directed the really excellent Attack the Block (also about kids in abnormal situations). Limited early reviews, but they're saying it's a solid entry for younger kids looking for adventure.

The Trailer

SERENITY

This is a weird one - mostly cuz it feels like a direct to VOD flick, yet has big stars. Which is probably the only reason it made it to theaters. It's billed as a "sexy thriller," so take that for what it's worth. It's part 90's movie, part Matthew McConaughey sayin' weird grand statement shit (a la Lincoln ads), part big twist at the end. See, a weird one.

The Trailer

HIGH LIFE
April 12, 2019

This is a mindf*ck. Claire Denis has Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, André Benjamin (aka André 3000) on a craft in space, they may be convicts, a baby is involved, they grow weed.... just watch. Plus, lots of (very good) reviews already.

ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
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LITTLE WOODS
April 19, 2019

Tessa Thompson and Lily James are sisters who aren't in the best situation - abortions are needed, prescription drugs are sold, cops are afoot. Early reviews are quite warm.

ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
Apple Google Outlook

SPIDER-MAN:
FAR FROM HOME
July 5, 2019

Spidey does Europe, and well, stuff goes wrong, so that's cool. But more cool is that Jake Gyllenhaal shows up as bad guy Mysterio. Note: apparently this takes place after the next Avengers. I.e. it may be slightly spoilery.

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GHOSTBUSTERS 3
Summer 2020

THIS one came outta nowhere. To be clear, it is not a sequel to the 2016 Ghostbusters, but apparently in the same world as the original two. Does that mean the original busters are back? Very TBD. Jason Reitman, original GBs director Ivan Reitman's son, is doing this one.

ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
Apple Google Outlook

What's In Theaters +

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