WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY

Yes, you read that right. Much like COCAINE BEAR, the title tells the whole story. After having grown up with the friendly animals, Christopher Robin soon ventures off to college; however, while doing so, the animals are left to fend for themselves in order to survive. This creates hardship and resentment amongst the creatures until Christopher returns one day with his soon bride-to-be. During the visit, the animals are not the sweet and cuddly friends Christopher expected to greet upon his arrival. No, the animals have returned to their basic nature and kill whatever prey comes their way in order to survive. Knowing you're not going to be graced with a GONE WITH THE WIND type of performance, the film still takes itself seriously and puts forward a fine effort. It's a fun ride to see a much different, darker, and gorier take on the classic characters. I'm sure this will not be for everyone but I appreciate the genre expansion and also look forward to future efforts by director Rhys Frake-Waterfield, as rumor has it characters such as Bambi, Mary from Mary Had A Little Lamb, Peter Pan, and a sequel to this are already being discussed! 5/10

We plan on streaming soon, thanks for the review i12

? Why do you think china has banned this movie…does it have a negative reflection of anything Chinese?

Xi Jinping is always trolled online that he looks like Winnie the Pooh so anything having to do with the character is banned in China.

NEWS OF THE WORLD (2020)

Capt. Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks), Civil War veteran,, makes a living in postwar Texas reading newpaper headlines and articles to local audiences. He agrees to return 10-year-old Johanna (Helena Zengel), raised by Kiowa Indians who killed her family, to an aunt and uncle hundreds of miles away in Castroville. She knows no English and doesn't want to go. The two make the perilous journey, encountering good people and bad, and many narrow escapes, gradually bonding along the way. The film is slow moving at times but it tells the story beautifully, with superb cinematography, and offers a happy ending without being mawkish or sappy. Hanks, always good, doesn't disappoint. Zengel doesn't talk much, but she's exceptionally expressive. Well worth watching.

TETRIS

Taron Egerton stars as Bullet-Proof Software salesman Henk Rogers. Based in Tokyo and struggling to compete with the big boys, he's soon turned onto Tetris. Flabbergasted after just 5 minutes of playtime, he soon scours the globe in order to obtain the distribution rights for PC's, arcades, consoles, and handhelds. But, he's up against media titan Robert Maxwell (Roger Allam) who is equally looking to capitalize on the Tetris brand. Taking place in 1988, towards the end of the cold war and communism in Russia, convincing the communist to sell their game to capitalist will be no small task. The film starts out very fun and visually beautiful, turning actual pieces of film into 8-bit characters. But, once Henk realizes he needs to deal with the Russians directly rather than the middle man he had previously been dealing with in Robert Stein (Toby Jones), the film becomes quite repetitive and political. I understand the political nature due to the politics involved at the time, but again, the story seemed to be going around in circles, bringing the advancement of the story to a school zone pace. Once the issue is resolved, it's quite astonishing the deal that's reached, although, with any film based on actual events, it's always interesting and curious to see how much of what's presented is fact or fiction. 6/10

CHAMPIONS
4 1/2 - stars

I love this feel good movie, it’s one of the Best Movies released in years.

I think Woody Harrelson and the entire cast did a great job.
THIS MOVIE WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF MY TOP 10 OF ALL TIME.

INSIDE

Art thief Nemo (Willem Dafoe) has a simple job: break into a New York City penthouse, grab a couple of pieces of art, and get out. However, the crown jewel of his heist is nowhere to be found and after the security system is activated, he's locked inside of the penthouse. The owner has gone out of the country for an undisclosed amount of time, meaning basic necessities, such as food and water (the water has been turned off) are far and few in between. Abandoned by his team on the outside who helped him get into the penthouse, Nemo must use his wits and determination in order to prevent his current circumstances from becoming his tomb. I love Willem Dafoe and the story looked interesting enough from the trailer so I gave it a try. I think most are curious to see how (or if) he can escape. The story unfolds slowly, showing how limited the resources surrounding Nemo are and how quickly he needs to get creative. No timeline is given as much like Nemo, the audience is stuck with him for the ride and we're not even afforded that luxury. The story essential boils down to the lengths individuals are willing to go through for both profit and survival, determination, and some could even read about the fragility of man (particularly in regards to nature as at times the heat in increased to over 100 degrees, before then dropping to 40). There are many consecutive scenes without dialogue, showing Nemo attempting to break out or preparing food. Dafoe's been better and this is a film even his most loyal supporters can skip. 5.5/10

THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE

After the debacle of SUPER MARIO BROS. (1993), I wasn't sure if I wanted this to be animated or live action? Live action is great but you have more freedom in animation. After watching this, it didn't matter to me because I'm just SO happy they hit it out of the park. So many references and it's oozing with Easter eggs throughout. Originally I was a little upset that Luigi was the one being captured and not Peach (for original storyline accuracy's sake) but looking back, I'm glad they didn't relegate Peach to that role as Anya Taylor-Joy who voices Peach is a delight. This is easily one of my favorite video game movies as the team and studio finally got it right. It's fun, for all ages, doesn't overstay it's welcome, and left me wanting more (which I'm already eagerly anticipating a sequel). If you've ever loved any of the Mario games, you're going to love this film! 8.5/10

AIR

The true story of Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) and his attempt to lure Michael Jordan from rivals Converse and Adidas to sign a basketball shoe contract with Nike. Set in 1984, the wardrobe's are loud, the music is chill, and the world doesn't yet know that Michael Jordan will be the greatest basketball player to ever step onto a NBA court. Surrounded by an All-Star cast featuring the likes of Ben Affleck, Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, and Viola Davis, Damon and Afflect appear to have free rein to do what they do best: craft a great and touching story and they do just that. The story may come as a surprise to some but for those sneakerheads or Jordan obsessed fans (of which I'm a part of), broadly speaking, there's nothing new here except a few minor details. Jordan placed Nike third and wanted to sign with Adidas as he liked their tracksuits and always wore their shoes. However, in an industry changing signing, he would up going with Vaccaro and Nike. And while Michael Jordan (Damian Delano Young) is never properly shown onscreen (only the back of his head is), it's not needed. We know the man and I quite enjoyed not seeing his face as it adds to his mystic. However, while the movie is enjoyable, it's not Affleck's best. I liked it, but didn't love it and the story ran out of stream towards the end when it should have been gaining it unfortunately. Still a very enjoyable film and worthy of your time, but a little disappointed compared to the early reviews I had come across. 6.5/10

RENFIELD

A story that focuses on the relationship of Dracula (Nicolas Cage) & Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) from Renfield's perspective. Set in the present climate, Renfield regularly attends therapy group sessions in order to deal with his narcissistic boss. In addition, he falls for a local cop he helped rescue from assassination (Awkwafina). Honestly, the world didn't need a story about the Renfield character and this output is exactly why. The story is basic and average while there is zero onscreen chemistry between Hoult and Awkwafina. It's marketed as a horror comedy and the only part they got right was the former because this film is not the latter. The death scenes are obscenely over-the-top with bad CGI blood to go along with it. Let's be honest, the only reason you're seeing it is for Cage's Dracula, which of course he nails because he's Nicholas Cage. At times he seems to be channeling a bit of Castor Troy from FACE/OFF because he appears to be having so much fun. Unfortunately, he and his Dracula are not enough to save this. 5/10

CRIME WAVE (1953)

Three escapees from San Quentin (Ted de Corsia, Nedrick Young, Charles Buchinsky aka Bronson) pull off a string of two-bit robberies and murders to mislead the cops as they prepare for a big bank heist. They need Steve Lacey (Gene Nelson), a Quentin parolee living the straight life as an airplane mechanic and pilot, to fly them to Mexico. Lacey refuses, but the bad guys hold his cute wife (Phyllis Kirk), leaving her hostage in the tender care of Timothy (Eternal Lunatic) Carey. Meanwhile, ultra-hardass LAPD Lt. (Sterling Hayden), who's already onto the scheme, tries to force Lacey to rat them out. Director Andre De Toth keeps up the pace and the unbearable pressure on Lacey to build up a first-class film noir with a nice twist at the end. He assembled a choice bunch of plug-uglies and other colorful characters (Dub Taylor, Jay Novello, James Bell), working with a snappy script and giving their all, especially di Corsia, Eternal Thug with Leadership Qualities. Hayden, just about my favorite actor of that era, is perfect for his role. This movie is a little (73 minutes) gem.

Check out Evil Dead Rise. Just a bad ass movie!! If you're an Evil Dead fan, you won't be disappointed. Horror is alive and well ladies and gentlemen!

Thanks Irish, to me the first Mario Bros game on the NES is the best all-time video game.

Yeah saw it last night. That movie slapped lol.
The original will always be my favorite, but it's unreal how good the 2013 version and this new version are.

Oh hell no lol. Ain't nothing better than Vice City. Hell I can think of so many games better than Super Mario

Glad you enjoyed it. I can't wait to watch it again

My favorite is Mike Tyson's Punch-Out for the NES. Really hope they make that into a movie next but I know it'll just be Punch-Out and not Mike Tyson's. I think they should pony up the money and include Mike!

It covers a story of addiction after a life changing car accident.
And if that was not bad enough, it gets worse.

3 stars

Which comedies do you guys love? I think I'll watch something funny tonight

All these yrs. later , TRADING PLACES always still get's a belly laugh from me..among many others...

Been awhile since I saw Trading Places. Yeah, it's definitely one of the more funnier comedies of the '80s. I thought Jamie Lee was kinda hot during that era lol

The Big Lebowski never fails to crack me up.

One of the best. Loved Goodman's intensity

BIG GEORGE FOREMAN: THE MIRACULOUS STORY OF THE ONCE AND FUTURE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD

Yes, just like Big George himself, the title reflects the larger-than-life man and his story. A biopic about the former 2-time heavyweight champion of the world and his call to ministry later in life. Khris Davis stars as George and does a wonderful job embodying him. He has the size and physical appearance but also his gentleness as well. Forest Whitaker is the only name most audiences will be firmly with to lend some respectability to the project. Whitaker plays Doc Broadus, a former superior of his in the job corps who is the one who introduces George to the sport, before being his trainer as well. Like any biopic, this film hits the highs and lows, from his fight against Muhammad Ali (Sullivan Jones) to Michael Moorer (Charles Brewer Jr.) on his comeback bid. However, the film is just as much about George's faith as it is about his boxing as he walked away from the ring while still in his prime in order to minister. It's a well-done, heartfelt, and inspirational film that in today's oversensitive and hyper-politicized climate, we could use more of. 6/10

No one hit harder than Big George

Great review i12

Thanks, will try to catch that this rainy weekend.

Right now streaming The new Scream

Wow, a 7.

We are watching now and enjoying, looks like they did a good job on this one.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3

The band's back together for one final ride, this time in search of The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) who created Rocket in order to save Rocket's life. Vol. 3 follows the same formula we've grown accustomed to from director James Gunn & Marvel: sweet soundtrack, banter throughout, and a film with a lot of heart. This was a beautiful goodbye from Gunn and the cast to these characters and Marvel and it was very nicely executed. This is hands down the best Marvel release since 2021's SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, but yet again I have to take issue with the runtime. Recently Marvel has been pushing the runtimes more and more with their releases but for my money they begin to overstay their welcome after the 2 hours and 10 to 2 hours and 15 minute mark (this comes in at 2 hours and 30 minutes even). Another grip I had with the film was the portrayal of Adam Warlock by Will Poulter. I very much enjoy the actor but his character comes off incredibly weak. Yes, he's incredibly powerful but the man behind those powers is a mama's boy and could have come off so much stronger (but that might be dipping into the "toxic masculinity" waters according to some). Overall, this is a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy and I'm curious what the future holds for any or all of these characters. 7/10

HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE

8 environmental activists from various parts of the country (California, Oregon, North Dakota, and Texas) meet in West Texas in order to, as the title suggests, blow up a pipeline. They believe the only way to get attention to their cause (fighting climate change and protecting the environment) is to make a statement with their actions as opposed to their words. I'll start out by stating I was impressed and a little shocked actually the film was not preachy in any sense. The writers and characters don't mock individuals or audience members who do not believe in their cause (so the film is very watchable from that perspective). It's told with the group meeting up to carry out their mission, while their backstory and how they came to find themselves in this situation, told through various flashbacks. Also, the film had a wide range of actors from various backgrounds so again, it's not another "white man bad/oppressor" even though the word oppressor does sneak its way in at one point. A decent enough story that had me curious from the original trailer but overall, doesn't do anything to move the needle. Seemed more of a voyeur type film. 6/10

BLACKBERRY

Yes, the phone everyone had before the iPhone. I never owned one myself and didn't know too much about the company, other than they're no longer around. The film chronicles the rise and fall of the empire and stars Glenn Howerton as co-CEO Jim Balsillie, Jay Baruchel as fellow co-CEO/co-founder Mike Lazaridis, and Matt Johnson as co-founder Douglas Fregin. The film opens with Mike & Doug pitching their product (then called Phone Link) to Jim. Being preoccupied with another deal he himself is trying to close, Jim blows off the 2 entrepreneurs. However, when Jim is unable to close his deal and is out of a job, he decides to go in with the partners for 50% of the company with Jim being the salesman and Mike & Doug being the techs. The relationship worked well until the networks they were on weren't able to keep up with the amount of Blackberry users data they were consuming. This was their first issue and then Apple came into the marketplace and we all know what happened from there. Glenn Howerton and Jay Baruchel both deserve the most credit for making this film as enjoyable as it was. Howerton is the constant, fiery, takes a lot of risks, alpha male; wheres Baruchel is the painfully shy, unsure of himself, socially awkward but technically genius partner. And while the film didn't drag for me, for those who may find it so, Howerton has enough fire in his belly to keep you awake, engaged, and entertained. 6.5/10