Power Rangers

Power Rangers

Rating 6 out of 10

The Power Rangers have been around for quite some time as the tv show started in the US back in 1993.  I have never watched an episode but my oldest son (31 now) I feel sure watched every one.  I am surprised this is the first large scale movie released in theaters.  The movie while clearly aimed at young males and big fans of the old tv show does hit the mark for that.  I had a cute little granddaughter that wanted to see it so no matter what I was going to have fun.

The movie starts with a super hero version of the Breakfast Club.  All five of our future Rangers are in High School detention for various reasons.  When the nerdy kid gets the cool kid to go to a rock quarry with him to look for I'm not sure what it turns out the two females and Asian kid are at the quarry at the same time.  As luck would have it when they are digging in the rocks they find five crystal type rocks all of different colors.  So each one of the Rangers get their own crystal that gives them each super powers.  Super strong and can leap small buildings with a single bound.

The problem is when they unearthed their super crystals they also awoke a really mean female that loves gold and (surprise) is determined to wipe out all humans and take over earth.  When she builds her golden giant to kill everyone the five rookie Power Rangers are all there are to save the world.

The final showdown is cool for this type of movie.  I was mildly entertained.  Little Rylee Rose gave it an enthusiastic double thumbs up.  Although she gave the video games in the lobby the same approval.  If you have a young child that you want to take to a movie or an older child that grew up on the tv shows you won't be completely bored.  Definitely worth seeing on the big screen.

CHiPs

ChiPS

Rating 5.5 out of 10

Conversation
Me: That CHiPs movie looks sooooooo stupid.  I didn't even like the tv show when it was on in the 80s.  I like Dax Shepard but has he EVER been in a good movie???  I'd rather you just hit me in the head with a bat right now and get it over with.

Hottie: I'd really like to see that CHiPs movie

Me: There is a 130pm showing...

Needless to say I set the bar very low for this movie.  Surprisingly it was mildly entertaining and harmless.  The movie uses actual characters from the old tv show.   The story is not much more silly that any episode that hit the air on NBC.

Shepard plays Jon Baker.  An ex-pro cycle rider that wants to become a CHiPs officer to impress his distant wife (true life wife Kristen Bell).  Frank "Ponch" Poncherello (Michael Pena) is an FBI agent sent in to investigate some possible bad cops.  He gets partnered with Baker since he is a rookie and can't be one of the bad ones.

The story is elementary and predictable, but there are some funny parts that do land even tho most are aimed at 14 year old males.  Vincent D' Onofrio (one of my favorites) plays a good bad guy.  We laughed and as long as our popcorn and diet coke didn't run out we didn't look at our watches.

As I said I was mildly entertained.  This would make a decent rental for some laughs.

Life

Life

Rating 5 out of 10

I was on the fence on this one, but the good cast and some time on my hands got the better of me.  One of my movie pet peeves is movie previews that tell the whole dang movie.  That is mostly the case here.  The previews tell the whole story.

There is a group of astronauts on a large expensive Space Station not far out of the atmosphere.  They are attempting to gather a probe from Mars that somehow they know has a possible life form.  In the matter of hours they have the thing in the lab and are poking at it. They treat it like a pet and even give it a name.  Turns out the little guy is not so friendly after all and when he grows like crazy.  Starts killing the good guys and is way smarter than they thought.

You can pretty much guess the rest of the story.  It comes across as a low rent Alien movie.  If it were not for the good cast this would go straight to DVD or never been made. It's not bad, but it's not good either.  If you are bored you can rent this one at RedBox in a couple months.  I was mostly bored.

Beauty and the Beast

Rating 7 out of 10

I have seen the Disney animated Beauty and the Beast atleast twenty times since it's release in 1991.  Can it really be twenty six years ago???  One of my all time favorite animated movies.  I was hooked on this one from the first preview.

I like the idea of a mostly live action version of this movie. I figured Disney would do it right.  For the most part they did.  Emma Watson was absolutely spot on as sweet Belle.  I was surprised that she sang as well as she did.  The story is mostly like the original but not completely.  They added atleast three new musical numbers and a few new twists to the story.

Anyone that saw my La La Land review knows I am not a big fan of musicals yet this is in my opinion how musicals are supposed to be.  There were probably three or four musical numbers too many for my taste yet still let the movie highly entertaining.  There are some scary parts early on where people are attacked by wolves but nothing most small ones can handle.

On the down side I didn't care for the actor the played the Beast (Dan Stevens) much at all.  Didn't really feel he had the singing chops to be in a movie like this.  Especially how well Emma sang.  The animation was mostly good.  There were a few times when the Beast looked like Emma was talking to a video game.  But overall it was above average.

I was entertained.  Doesn't make me want to throw away my dvd of the original but I was entertained.  It will make a bazillion dollars and kids will be singing the songs for years to come.

Kong: Skull Island

Kong: Skull Island

Rating 7 out of 10

I have seen all the King Kong movies before this one.  I told my friends if this Kong movie is good it will be the first.  I'm glad to say this is the first good Kong movie.  Great cast, better story and clearly CGI graphics are much better than before.

Unlike past King Kong movies no one is trying to take the jumbo sized ape to NYC and the Empire State building stays intact.  If you have seen the previews you know the basic story.  It takes place in 1973.  The Vietnam war has just ended and Bill Randa (John Goodman) has cashed in his last favor to get a military escort to an uncharted Pacific island.  The island is surrounded by a perpetual storm system that keeps people away.  Randa has a feeling there is something else there to see and everyone else is unsuspecting.

Once they bust thru the cloudy electrical storms there is a 100 foot monkey waiting on them.  Then all hell breaks loose.  As I said the cast is very good.  Any movie with Samuel L Jackson is worth buying a ticket.  Tom Hilldeston plays the hunky guide out to protect everyone.  Brie Larson is showing up in many movies now and does a good job as the photographer along for the ride.

No big story here.  Lots of action.  Fun to watch.  I was entertained.

Logan

Logan

Rating 9 out of 10

Like most of us I have been a Wolverine fan from the start.  Not all the Wolverine movies have been great but I think most will admit Hugh Jackman has made the movie better.  I thought from the first preview it looked good.  Sad to see him go but from all indications a good send off.  Then it got all the great reviews.  Always makes me nervous when liberal reviewers give any type of superhero movie a thumbs up.  Logan is currently sitting on 93% at www.rottentomatoes.com.  I am glad to report this is a great movie from start to finish.

The movie takes place in the future.  Something has happened to kill most all the mutants on the planet.  Dr. X is having seizures and going nuts.  Logan is the only one to take care of him.  His goal is to make enough money to buy a big boat and take X out to sea where he hopefully can't hurt anyone.  When a little girl shows up needing his help he wants nothing to do with it.  Turns out there is a mad scientist in a lab in Mexico creating mutants from DNA (of course for military purposes).

Logan goes on a road trip with Dr. X to get this girl to South Dakota to what may or may not be safety.  A couple good surprises and lots of great action.  I know these type movies never get Oscar nominations, but it would be a travesty if Jackman does not get a nomination.  He is fantastic.  Most all the acting is above average.

If you have been pleased with any of the X-men movies you need to go see this one.  It's probably the best of the bunch.  Definitely the most gritty.  Not for small kids.