MLDinTN Reviews

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

too long and stupid

[1/10 · 19 March 2023]

After several recent reviews, I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks this movie is pointless and don't understand how it could win any awards. First acting, I saw nothing outstanding about any of the acting, especially Jamie Lee Curtis. How could this movie win a bunch of acting awards? I'm going to say it's the wokeness of Hollywood willing to give awards to any film that has lead actors that are anything other than white.

The plot is too much, too much of everything that is makes no sense and leaves way too many plot holes. And at over 2 hours, it's like the same thing over and over, this has to be one of the worst editing jobs of the year.

FINAL VERDICT: Horrible plot, too silly, and makes you understand why awards shows have lost millions of viewers over the past several years because they choose films to win that don't deserve it. Please do not watch this.

Old (2021)

the explanation of events....

[5/10 · 30 May 2022]

Was too silly. So we are supposed to believe that high reaching rocks cause some kind of magnetic force that causes cells to age on a secluded beach. I needed a better explanation for the supernatural elements. The movie was OK, but there was a lot of talking about nothing, the people arguing on the beach about what to do.

The death of Chrystal was cool as she broke her bones and then time healed them in all sorts of wild angles. The best part of the film was to learn that big Pharma were the evil doers.

FINAL VERDICT: I thought it was OK, a little slow. Watch if you need to kill close to 2 hours.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)

this franchise keeps getting worse

[4/10 · 30 May 2022]

There is not much to say that was good about this movie. It needed a few more of the freak monsters. And how about another civilian survivor not on the police force. It's basically a shoot-um up movie with humans turned to zombies. And more people survived till the end. If they do another film, they should focus on some of the Umbrella employees and the development of the T and G virus.

FINAL VERDICT: Bad story line and needed more special effects. Only for those that like zombie video games.

Dune (2021)

story starts a little slow, but still entertaining enough

[7/10 · 4 April 2022]

I thought this movie was pretty good. About 30 minutes should have been cut to speed up the plot. It's a story we've seen before, but cinematography still makes it compelling. Son of a duke , Paul, is forshadowed as being the leader of the Freman whom will rule the universe. He has some kind of special powers inherited from his mom. His father is set up by the emperor to move to a new world and overtake the harvesting of spice. The emperor really wants him to fail because he fears his popularity. The previous rulers invade and wipe out a lot of the Atreides people. Of course Paul survives as well as his mom and they join the Fremen at the end. Set up perfect for a sequel.

F9: The Fast Saga (2021)

this franchise just gets dumber and dumber

[2/10 · 17 March 2022]

For an adventure movie to be good, it still needs to be somewhat plausible. This movie is so out there and unrealistic it just makes the whole thing dumb. Some examples, driving a jeep across a falling bridge but still makes it to the other side (forget gravity), flying a car into space and destroying a satellite by ramming it with the car, using magnets to take over a truck. Movie also introduces John Cena as Dom's younger brother whom just happens to work for the guy that wants to take over the world. Of course there is history with Dom blaming Jakob for their dad's death. And they have a big fight on top a big rig, just silly.

FINAL VERDICT: Not worth your time.

Voyagers (2021)

typical follow the leader story, this time set in space

[6/10 · 30 October 2021]

This movie was OK. Some travelers are going to another planet that takes 86 years to get to. So they create babies on the way. And when they get to be 20 somethings, they soon learn they are being drugged so they won't have emotions. So Zac and Chris stop taking the blue and soon their true personalities emerge. Zac is rather psychotic and is responsible for the chief officer's death which sends everything into chaos. He pretends an alien is onboard and starts making threats. Soon they break into 2 groups. Zac's group finds the weapons and when they learn guns kill, the chase is on. Chris and Sela come up with a great plan and get Zac to charge through a door and they have the door to space open. So Zac gets sucked out but not before drama. And how did Chris make it back after being sucked out. I don't think that would be possible because in space the ship would be moving at a high rate of speed. Andyways they reach the new planet. The end.

FINAL VERDICT: A young adult take as to what happens when people get cooped up for too long and their crazy personalities emerge. Worth a watch.

Spiral (2021)

what a disappointment

[3/10 · 30 October 2021]

What was Chris Rock thinking? He's a comedian starring in a Saw movie and the worst one by far. I think there's about 3 games, plus the final death with Marcus. We needed more of Jigsaw. And none of the deaths are that great except the last one. It was cool seeing Marcus strung up like a puppet and then a gun barrel shoots out his arm. And you pretty much could guess whom was behind jigsaw from the beginning.

FINAL VERDICT: Definitely a spin off that didn't need to be made. I can't recommend it because it just fails compared to the other films. This is a bleak spot on the franchise.

The Unholy (2021)

any movie in which you get deceived by the devil has got to be good

[6/10 · 30 October 2021]

We've seen this type of plot before. A young girl, Alice, undergoes a miracle and can now hear and talk after being a mute her whole life. She supposed sees the Virgin Mary. Reporter Gerry, in town to do a story on cow mutilations, picks up this story. She heals a disabled boy and cures the priest, her uncle, of cancer. Soon, the media runs with the story with Gerry as the main access point. Soon, he starts to realize something dark and evil is going on. The priest finds an old book that reveals whom the real Mary is. Mary kills the priest but Gerry and the friendly doctor lady is on the trail and they find the book and learn Mary is really a witch/demon doing the devil's work. At the end they have to stop thousands from giving their souls to Mary.

FINAL VERDICT: Ok. Some scary scenes and some decent special effects of Mary. If you like horror, check it out.

Greenland (2020)

finally a disaster movie that relies on story rather than special effects

[7/10 · 15 May 2021]

I thought this was a good disaster movie and yes the wife does do stupid things. About the only special effects are when a asteroid hits Florida and the blast takes out everything. John is a building engineer whom gets an emergency message to bring his family to a military base for a flight out. Meanwhile, the news is filled with stories of asteroids hitting the earth, most are small. Soon, the government finally reveals that a life ending sized asteroid is expected to hit earth. So, of course, chaos ensues. They make it to the airport, but the wife stupidly lets the officers know the son has diabetes and chronic conditions are not allowed. Meanwhile, the husband has gone back to the car to get the insulin that was left, how could someone in that situation let that happen. Anyways, planes blow up and the 3 get separated and are going to meat at the wife's dad's. So the wife and son get help, but then those people turn on them and the wife miraculously meets up with her son again. And John gets a lift but people want to steal his bracelet, which leads him to do something he never would have imagined.

So they meet at the dad's and decide to take a chance and drive to Canada to get on a plane to the underground safe houses. Well, they make it after several obstacles, then the world is destroyed and 9 months later the survivers emerge. Question, how do they think they are going to get more insulin for their son to live. Everything has been wiped out. Well, I guess there's no reason to ponder that. In movies like this, I always question why do all these people want to live? Everything is gone, there is no going back to life, probably only a few thousand people survived around the world with no way of ever meeting up with them.

FINAL VERDICT: nice to have a end of world movie that isn't just about the special effects. Good for 2 hours to relax.

Mortal Kombat (2021)

better than expected

[6/10 · 30 April 2021]

I was expecting absolutely no plot, but we actually get a small one. It seems it's time for the Earthrealm fighters and Outworld fighters to square off. Outworld has won 9 times in a row and if wins again will take over Earth. So not only do the fighters have to save themselves, they must also save mankind. Sub zero beings to hunt down Cole, whose ancester was Scorpion. Jax and Sonya Blade hunt him down and tell him about the Mortal Kombat tournament. Sonya has captured Kano whom has the mark of the dragon like Cole and Jax. From there, they go to the temple of Raiden to seek training and learn their secret powers. Shang Tsung tries to cheat by engaging in combat before the tournament, so all our characters end up taking each other on. We get some good fights and gore( not very realistic) but still cool. Scorpion shows up at the end and breathes fire, cool. I think you need to know something about the video game and its characters to really enjoy this movie.

FINAL VERDICT: If you like the video game, I think you will like this. You can still enjoy the fights if you don't know much about the game. Worth a view.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

not as good as the first

[5/10 · 25 December 2020]

This sequel simple doesn't have the story. The first wonder woman was much better. The plot is too crazy, making wishes with a stone and then the wishes destroy the world? Didn't get it and didn't like how they brought Chris Pine back. Not good enough story. Just a let down.

FINAL VERDICT: Not a lot of action and not a very good story. Skip it.

The Invisible Man (I) (2020)

Evan with all the plot holes, this is still a ....

[7/10 · 21 September 2020]

Tense, creepy movie. I thought it was quite good for a thriller, jump in your seat type of film. Cecilia is the girlfriend of some rich tech guy. She's tired of him being so controlling so she leaves him and hides out at a friend's house. Mean while, she learns her ex, Adrian, killed himself. So, she thinks she can go back to living a normal life, but she still has this creeped out feeling. She starts hearing noises, sees foot prints, Sydney gets slapped. She starts to believe Adrian is still around and some how used his tech knowledge to make himself invisible. Her sister receives an email from her computer in which it says hurtful things. Cecilia tries to convince her she didn't send it. She gets her sister to meet her at a restaurant, but before she can explain that Adrian may be alive, a knife cuts the sister's throat and people blame her. She knows Adrian followed her to the psych ward. She meets with Adrian's brother, Tom, and admits what she knows as true and wants her to agree to have a life with Adrian. Later in her room she stabs Adrian and escapes. He kills quite a few guards as his suit goes from being visible to not visible. Cecilia chases him and goes to her friend's house to protect Sydney. Sydney is already under attack, but from Tom, whom also has an invisible suit. She kills Tom and they find Adrian looked up in the basement of his house. She still believes it was Adrian whom killed her sister and was behind everything else. She goes to his house to have dinner and excuses herself after he wouldn't admit it. She puts on an invisible suit that she had found in his house earlier and makes it look like he committed suicide. And she gets her life back.

Some of the plot holes: you have an invisible suit and all you do with it is stalk someone? Come on. After Adrian supposedly dies , his dog is still at the house? When Cecilia goes to the house via uber, how come Adiran doesn't see the SUV waiting in the driveway.

FINAL VERDICT: Good for a thrill, just don't expect it to be completely logical. Worth a view.

Birds of Prey (2020)

a fun film with some laughs

[7/10 · 23 August 2020]

I thought this was a pretty good movie. I liked the comedy thrown in: like the egg sandwich, the wacky criminal, the hyena. Basically, Harley Quinn has just broken up with the Joker, so now she doesn't have his protection. Her enemies are after her. She's kidnapped by Roman Sionis, whom wants her dead. He's also after a diamond that holds secret codes to a vast fortune. She makes a deal to get the diamond for her freedom. A pickpocket has stolen and swallowed the diamond. So, Harley tracks her down and protects her and is soon by joined by 3 women, Birds of Prey. All of them have their own unique talents and join up to prevail.

FINAL VERDICT: Fun movie, lots of action, and entertaining story. Check it out.

Doctor Sleep (2019)

good story till the end

[6/10 · 29 June 2020]

I thought this movie was OK. I liked the story till the end when they go to the Shining hotel. That was trying too much to bring together 2 separate stories. And really, there's an ax right there waiting for Danny? Why didn't Danny just try to surprise Rose and shoot her like the others. Just attempt another setup. I liked how they showed Abra's powers. Having her "talk" to Danny , then meeting him, and them helping each other to beat the "shining" eaters. I also liked the introduction of the "shining" eaters in the woods creeping out the little girl.

FINAL VERDICT: Ok, but 30 minutes too long. Did have several good creep out scenes.

Joker (I) (2019)

Phoenix is awesome, but movie needed more action

[7/10 · 17 May 2020]

J. Phoenix must have lost a lot of weight for this role, which I guess was one of the biggest reasons he won all the awards. Yes, he was awesome, but the movie wasn't. It needed more action. The film is about the descent of a mentally ill man, failed by society, as he becomes more unstable and eventually leads to murder. He learns his mother has been lying to him and becomes unglued around her. The only thing I didn't get was this supposed to be the same Joker whom squares off with Batman. Because Bruce Wayne is just a kid and Arthur already looks to be 40 something. so how is that. And at the end he is in a facility, well how does he do the things the Joker did. Are we to assume he escaped or the Joker in Batman was a copy cat.

FINAL VERDICT: Good film, but overrated. Worth checking out.

It Chapter Two (2019)

some good gore but 60 minutes too long

[3/10 · 20 April 2020]

This movie was an hour too long and too many scenes from the past spliced in between the current events. First part of the movie is the friends coming together again and they've forgotten what happened in the first film except for Mike whom stayed in Derry. As the movie goes on, they keep seeing visions curtsy of Pennywise, not a lot makes sense. Then there is some good gore scenes of Pennywise biting people's heads and hearts. But the part about the town wondering what's happened to missing people isn't even touched upon. Then the last 45 minutes is the crew battling a spider like clown and back in that creepy house and it is just dull and not clever.

FINAL VERDICT: Skip this

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

too long and needed more of a plot

[5/10 · 3 April 2020]

Not to much happens in this movie. It's about a washed up tv western star, Rick Dalton, and his sidekick, Cliff Booth, a stuntman. Cliff doesn't get much work any more, so his friend, Rick whom lost his driver's license, hire up to drive him around town. Rick gets a part to play a villain in a western movie. Meanwhile, Cliff gets into a beef with Bruce Lee, why? Rick lives next door to Roman Polanski and his wife Sharon Tate. Cliff gives one of the Manson girl's a lift to the ranch and has a look around. Eventually Rick goes to Italy to be in shows over there. When he, his new wife, and Cliff return home in 6 months, it happens to be the night the Manson groupies plan on killing he residents of the Polanski house. But instead they break into Rick's house have a run in with Cliff and his dog. And Rick breaks out his flame thrower. A comic twist on what really happened.

FINAL VERDICT: To long at over 2 1/2 hours, and like other Taratino movies, too many scenes that are just talk, Like Rick talking to the kid on the movie set. The dialogue is just too long. As well as the dialogue at the ranch. If you see it, split it up into 2 days.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

a let down for the franchise

[5/10 · 22 March 2020]

I feel like this movie is a let down for the Fast and Furious franchise. The story is so basic. Keep bad guys from getting a pathogen that liquifies your insides. The biggest problem is all the jokes between Hobbs and Shaw fall flat. It's just not funny. And of course all the stunts are just crazy and not realistic. What about the truck, helicopter tug of war at the end. Just ridiculous and then none of the main characters die when the copter crashes. Best part is when the bad guy is chasing them on a motorcycle. Lots of crazy things with sliding under trucks, crazy jumps.

FINAL VERDICT: Skip it, you won't miss a thing.

The Dead Don't Die (2019)

a zombie movie without a point

[2/10 · 10 March 2020]

This movie has basically no plot. Sure zombies appear and that's about it. The film is filled with lame jokes, the only thing I found funny was the different characters repeating "it was a wild animal or several wild animals". The chief and his deputy do nothing. And what was with the kids in the detention center. They get no conclusion. Then the space ship and picking up the mortician with the samurai sword. What was that supposed to mean. All this movie showed was how a bunch of lame characters get killed by zombies and they do very little fighting back.

FINAL VERDICT: Pretty bad. I don't think even zombie fans will like it. You're better off watching the Walking Dead.

Anna (II) (2019)

hot girl spy thriller

[6/10 · 10 March 2020]

This is one film that uses double crossing to its advantage and the out of time sequences make sense. Anna, a hot Russian girl, is recruited into the KBG. And in a very unbelievable short time span, she becomes one of the top agents. She is sent under cover to Paris as a model and has orders to elimanate bad guys that don't favor the Russians. And some where along the way, she gets made by the CIA. Then the double crossing begins quite a few times. And she has plans at the end to live the free life she has longed for.

Action scenes are quite cool. Of course, it's one of those movies that is like how can the one girl shoot everyone, but the other guys always miss. So she escapes some pretty impossible scenarios.

FINAL VERDICT: Good spy flick with some twists. Worth watching.

Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

the new spiderman movies just ...

[4/10 · 11 February 2020]

Are no where near as good as the Toby Maguire versions. The first film with Maguire is still the best Spiderman film. This new version is just silly, a dumb villain, bad jokes, and underwhelming actors. And what's awful is teenagers continue to see these types of films so they continue to get made. I'm glad I didn't pay to see it.

FINAL VERDICT: Just skip it. lots of better action films out there.

Ma (I) (2019)

underwhelming psycho befriends teens for revenge

[6/10 · 11 February 2020]

Sue Ann is approached by some teens to buy them alcohol. Once she recognizes the name on their van, she decided to "help". Eventually she invites them to her house to party since it's "safer." So the teens begin to throw parties at Sue Ann's house and becomes known as Ma. Once she gains there trust, so starts going a little cra cra. She steels things from them and becomes a little stalkerish on social media. The teens start to distant themselves from Ma. Then Ma seizes the opportunity to get back at one of the teen's dads, Ben, whom humiliated her when they were teens. Once Ma gets a hold of Ben, she then goes really crazy. Did I also mention she has a daughter than she forces to ride around in a wheel chair and take meds because she is supposedly sick. Then at the end, Ma gets the teens back to her house and goes wacko on them. Only real disturbing scene is the sewing of the lips.

FINAL VERDICT: Good message to teens about the dangers of drinking. Worth a watch.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

good special effects, needs better story

[6/10 · 25 January 2020]

I liked the special effects. Godzilla very cool. The other Titans needed more screen time. Basically the human story is some woman scientist decides to turn rogue and side with environmental terriorists. She has a daughter she brings with her but of course doesn't like it when she realizes what is going on. Her dad, the ex husband, is trying to stop all this with help from the military. The plan is to wake up other Titans around the globe. What I didn't understand is what kind of power did the terriorists think they would have if most of the world was destroyed.

FINAL VERDICT: OK monster flick. I'm sure 13 year olds will love it.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)

starting to get stale

[6/10 · 15 January 2020]

The third movie in the series was OK, but it is starting to get stale. The 4th installment needs to be the last. Mainly because this movie doesn't have much of a story. It's just John Wick getting chased by the high table with a bounty of millions on his head. Lots of cool action scenes but some were just silly, particulary the stunts with him on the motorcycle killing the bad guys. Hallie Berry is laughable as the tough killer, should have got someone better. I liked the character of the Adjudicator, she had the perfect attitude. Eventually, Wick gets to meet the guy over the high table and he wants him to kill Winston. Wick agrees but upon meeting Winston again, changes his mind. So the Intercontinental loses its protection and we get a lot of gun and long sword fights at the end. You have to admit they are well choreigraphed.

FINAL VERDICT: Good for what it is, but they need to come up with a story if they are going to continue to make sequels.

Men in Black: International (2019)

reboot, same ideas, new actors = mindless entertainment for 2 hours

[6/10 · 30 December 2019]

This movie was a little better than expected. The special effects were very good, making it better than expected. Also Chris Hemsworth was perfect as the arrogant agent, not needing help but soon accepting it. In this reboot, a girl, named Agent M, finally finds the Men in Black headquarters and convinces them to take her as a recruit. So, she gets H to pick her as a partner and they are trying to find a traitor. It's pretty easy to guess whom the bad guy is. And the rest of the movie is pretty much the same as its predecessors.

FINAL VERDICT: good for 2 hours of popcorn entertainment