Jurassic World: Rebirth directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla 2014) starring Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow 2021) and Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), takes place 5 years after the events of Dominion. A team of scientists and military explorers set out to return to the deserted Theme Park to extract DNA from 3 of the most ferocious dinosaurs, to use for groundbreaking medical research.
It was great to see Scarlett Johansson in this role, however compared to the action portrayed in some of her past films, I was a bit underwhelmed by her part and the movie as a whole. There were exciting scenes but I think that this franchise has overdone it with too many sequels. There is only so far you can take the concept of genetically engineered dinosaurs and it think this is the end of the line for the franchise or at least it should be.
The supporting cast wasn’t anything out of the ordinary and the special effects were average considering a film at this caliber. Visually the movie impressed with world building and mood. It was an added bonus to see it in 3D, but it is worth watching via streaming service. Despite having some issues with writing and the repetitive storyline, it was still a fun movie that families will enjoy.
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, directed by Len Wiseman and starring Ana de Armas as Eve, Keanu Reeves as John Wick, and Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine, follows a young girl brought into the world of the High Table as she hunts for the people responsible for her father’s death.
A riveting storyline, compelling action, and fight scenes; Ballerina takes place between the previous films John Wick 3 and 4. The director does a great job of simultaneously interweaving the stories of Eve and John Wick.
The writing offers a detailed examination of the John Wick universe from a completely different perspective. We get to see deeper into the world how the mark impacts their lives, as well as how living an everyday life is out of the question.
Overall, Ballerina was fire in every sense of the word. Armes presented an awe-inspiring presence on screen. The thoughtfulness and sheer nature of her personality were magical. Her fighting style created an energy of fluidity and precision, while the supporting cast held the story together.
The special effects were remarkably realistic, while the score delivered a tone befitting the John Wick universe.
It was terrific to see Keanu grace the silver screen in the role of Legendary John Wick. Norman Reedus presented an impactful role that delivered a great addition to the cast.
Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning, directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, and Angela Bassett, is the eighth installment of the action-adventure franchise.
This movie follows super spy Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his exceptional team as he accepts the mission to fight against an artificial intelligence system that aims to destroy humanity.
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning is a mind-bending theatrical masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of human experience while blending elements of superhero characteristics within the main protagonist. Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Ethan Hunt is a manifestation of magnificence as he ventures off into a world of unknown dangers, searching for a way to defeat a computer-generated villain called The Entity.
The special effects and storyline were well done and delivered the elements of movie magic within every scene. The action sequences were phenomenal, and the supporting cast was filled with familiar faces that created a beautiful cinematic melody. The new additions to the cast danced with grace and fluidity throughout the film, all creating a cohesiveness that strengthened the plot and mood.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING delivered an impactful conclusion to the franchise while kicking off the summer blockbuster season.
This movie was a lot of fun. It has heartwarming, hold-your-breath moments, heart-stopping thrills, and shocking revelations.
The Accountant 2, directed by Gavin O’Connor and starring Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, is the sequel that follows a genius Assassin as he and his brother team up to solve the murder of a Treasury Secretary.
The film opens with a sketchy situation unfolding as gunfire erupts at a local nightclub.
Affleck (Christian Wolf) and Bernthal (Braxton) make a fantastic team kicking ass as they fight their way to solve the murder and to free children that have been wrongfully held captive.
An Action-packed, witty thrill ride is all that makes this film a fabulous prequel to the Summer Blockbuster season. The chemistry between Affleck and Bernthal is magical.. The fight sequences were impressive, and the score helped to create a thrilling balance within the film.
This is a great, action-packed film.
I gave this movie 5 stars. I am hoping for another sequel.
Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler (Black Panther) and starring Michael B. Jordan, (Creed) Wunmi Mosaku,(Deadpool & Wolverine) and Hailee Steinfeld, (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), tells the story of twin brothers Smoke and Stack (played by Jordan) who open a local Juke Joint only to find that their dreams of being Black Business owners in the Jim Crow South are not what they hoped for.
From Dusk Till Dawn meets John Carpenter’s Vampires; this movie lifts the veil between supernatural and reality. This horror story reveals and exposes the history and traditions of African Americans in a time when fighting for the liberties of black people created a never-ending energy of a deep-rooted strength uniquely displayed within the characters.
Sinners is a film that horror fans will love. The cast was engaging and energetic. The musical elements added depth and culture to the story, while the cast was connected and brought a freshness to the screen.
The creature design was done well, and the special effects and sound added to the historical horror’s nature.
The Wolfman, directed by Leigh Whannell and starring Julia Gardner (Ozark), Christopher Abbott (Kraven The Hunter), and Matilda Firth (Disenchanted), follows a family as they travel to the remote mountains in Oregon to Blake’s childhood home to pack up his father’s things after being declared deceased.
The moment Blake reaches his family estate, things go bad as the family suffers from a terrible accident, leaving Blake with an injury that he is unable to recover from.
The situation continues to spiral out of control as Charlotte (Garner) and their daughter Ginger (Firth) try to help Blake while attempting to make sense of their current circumstances.
Overall, this was a pretty good movie. The storyline was interesting and presented a nice backstory into the past of our antagonist. The balance between Blake’s humanity and his relationship with the monster within created an internal struggle that was projected beautifully on screen.
Charlotte’s character is strong yet flawed. The fast-paced horror film did not disappoint, as its structure had many classic elements interwoven within. However, the creature design for the Wolfman did miss the mark for me. Parts of the character’s transformation reminded me of Seth Brundle from 1986’s The Fly. The concept of Blake living between human and wolf was conveyed, but I was hoping to see more elements of the wolf transpire.
The special effects were solid, and the film was thrilling in many ways.
Alien Romulus, directed by Fede Alvarez, produced by Ridley Scott, and starring Cailee Spaney as Rain, David Johnson as Andy, and Archie Renaux as Tyler, was a horror thrill ride that took franchise fans on a journey to space and beyond.
Following events after Alien (1979), This film follows a group of space columnists searching for a better life. To return to their home planet, they plan to obtain a cryostasis chamber to put them to sleep for their journey. They board an abandoned space probe only to learn something terrible happened to the crew.
As the space columnists explore the ship further, they soon realize that they have boarded the nesting place of an otherworldly creature with only one mission: to destroy anything and everything in its path.
Alien Romulus is the seventh film in the franchise. The movie blended fresh with familiarity within the elements of storytelling and cinematography. The visual effects and structure of the film were stunningly impressive, while the acting and character delivery provided layers of emotional depth and vulnerability. The directing was spot on, and the overall film provided the horror that fans anticipated. This movie was exciting and a lot of fun. I recommend this to any horror fan or franchise devotee.
A Quiet Place: Day One, starring Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, and Djimon Hounsou and directed by Michael Sarnoski (Pig), takes place at the beginning of a major extraterrestrial invasion in the heart of New York City.
Terminally ill Samira, portrayed by Nyong’o (Us), is a poet living on borrowed time as she attempts to manage her Day-to-day life while creeping closer to her death. A routine day trip to a Marionette show in the city soon becomes a fight to survive as the city becomes utterly unhinged with chaos and destruction. While seeking refuge with other patients and a nurse on the trip, the will to survive suddenly becomes a journey to get Pizza from Patsy’s in Harlem. With her emotional support feline in tow, Samira meets a man named Henri, portrayed by Hounsou (Blood Diamond), who helps her learn how to move among the aliens undetected.
Surrounded by death and loss, Samira finds herself trapped in a tight situation; her feline companion comes to the rescue as he finds someone who can bring her to safety. Eric, portrayed by Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), helps Samira by bringing her to safety and helping her get the medication she needs. Together, they set off to get Pizza in a world on the verge of ruin.
This film was exciting, packed with explosions, jump scares, thrills, and, most importantly, an emotional energy that radiated off the screen and into the hearts of moviegoers. Lupita’s performance not only delivered but also made such a deep connection between her character and co-star, Quinn, in such a profound way that it brought Samira and Eric together so quickly. It shows that despite the lack of dialog within the film, two actors can carry a movie without much conversation. Strangers can grow to care for one another in a way that impacts their lives beyond their shared traumatic experiences. This film gave me vibes from The Last Us, Alien, and Cloverfield.
A Quiet Place: Day One was deeply moving; the cast, cinematic view, score, and visual effects created an experience only the theater could bring.
TWD: The Ones Who Live was an epic ending to an epic love story.
Rick and Michonne head back to the CRM to obtain the dossier and to sabotage the Echelon Briefing. Each is responsible for their mission. Determined to return home, Rick is fueled with the hope of what he once was as he embarks on getting into the CRM to change things from the inside.
As their journey expands and their personalities shift into more complex individuals, we can still see the Rick and Michonne that we fell in love with in previous seasons of The Walking Dead.
Rick and Michonne overcome many obstacles throughout their journey while closing in on their most significant victory. The power couple beats all the odds to complete their mission. Rick nervously embraces his new lease on life and quickly reconnects with the people he loves.
The Ones Who Live intensely focused on Rick’s trauma and the CRM’s position and purpose in society. Michonne’s journey is centered on her love for Rick, who created a force of nature to change their world and the world beyond them.
The Ones Who Live was a masterpiece, as it continued to tell the whole story of Rick Grimes. Starting from the day he was shot and woke up from a coma, Rick’s intent to “find his family” and protect them has been at the forefront of his arc. Rick’s journey has led him to find his family and “focus on the future.” Rick’s desire to “thrive and fortify” will forever be etched into the astounding theme that love conquers all, and love is what makes people thrive and fortify. Rick has been through many trials and tribulations, but the one thing that has gotten him through is the love he shared with Michonne and his love for all the people who have come and gone throughout this time. Since Morgan saved him, Rick’s life has been shaped by each person who has played a role in his story.
Rick was born to lead.
Leadership is part of Rick’s DNA. As a Sheriff’s Deputy, the Leader of the Survivors, the town Leader of Alexandria, and a sergeant of the CRM, we see how much Rick’s Leadership has evolved. Rick’s personality is complex yet gentle. He is also edgy, determined, fierce, powerful, haunted, broken, hurtful, doubtful, and hopeful. He is a character who will heal from his pain but will always be a powerhouse in the world of The Walking Dead.
The last episode of Ones Who Live was a stunning example of how Rick’s story of survival can and will continue to live in the hearts of The Walking Dead Fandom. I’m still hoping for season 2 where we see Rick rebuild his life and reunite with Morgan, Daryl, Maggie, Carol, Ezekiel, Aaron, and even Negan. There is always more story to tell, and I would be honored to experience it again.
Check out The One’s Who Live on AMC+. Can’t get enough of The Walking Dead? Check out season 2 of Daryl Dixon coming Summer of 2024!
L.L.
Here is a sneak peek of season 2 of Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol:
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, starring Norman Reedus, is a sequel series to the Zombie flagship show, The Walking Dead.
We last see Daryl at the end of season 11 of The Walking Dead as he says Goodbye to his beloved friend Carol, then rides off, setting his sights on a journey to find Rick.
Daryl Dixon opens with him lying on a small, capsized boat, floating towards an unknown land. He ends up on the shores of France, where he tries to figure out how to navigate this new situation.
Secure behind the walls of a convent, Daryl contemplates the decisions he has made. Isabella, a nun who helped bring Daryl to safety, slowly reveals his purpose for being there. Skeptical and reluctant over the nun’s faith in him, an earlier incident with some people comes back to haunt Daryl and the nuns in the worst possible way. During his stay in the convent, Daryl also meets a unique child named Laurent, faced with a destiny that could possibly save the world. With Daryl’s help; he begins a new journey to return to America as soon as possible. I got some Last of Us vibes, but I believe Laurent’s story will be interesting.
Daryl Dixon is a show where boundaries are pushed, and adventure awaits around every corner. We were taken back to the days of old when Rick was left to find his family, and along that path, Rick was faced with seen and unseen dangers. We see Daryl as he embarks upon a new venture to save the people he loves while he is faced with new dangers, new friends, and new territory.
This show is a breath of fresh air. Just Norman alone is enough to carry this show; however, just by viewing the first episode, I can see how the cast of characters mesh well. The expansion of the Walking Dead universe works in France, and I see the possibility of multiple seasons from this. The show feels different compared to Dead City, which is not bad.
Norman is great. We see a fully developed character with many layers and complexities within him. We see a person we know well but still want to know more about.
This show excites me, and I am very proud of Norman and Daryl for giving us such a heartfelt character to love.
The World According to LaTaeya 