The Lost City (2022)

 

Some light fun if you don’t take it too seriously. Poor casting choice with Sandra Bullock. She’s simply too much older than Channing Tatum to make it a credible love story. 

Rating: C

Guns Akimbo (2019)

 

The setup to this film is completely nuts. I’ve seen my share of death-video-games-come-to-life movies; maybe all of them. But none where the unwitting victim (hero?) has a set of machine pistols brutally attached to his wrist and hands. 

My first thought was “How is this kid going to pee?” Well, it didn’t take long for them to answer that question. How does he get pants on? Check! Eat? Check! I like when movies address the little things. 

The name of the game is kill or be killed. As you might imagine, a lot of bodies hit the floor. It’s aggressively violent to the point where it becomes a little cartoonish. Hits the spot after a long day at the office. 

Rating: C

Now You See Me 2 (2016)

Far more ridiculous than the original. The plot is a disaster. They treat magic like a superpower that defies all logic and reality. This sequel was unnecessary.

Rating: D

Trainwreck (2015)

Amy’s first big foray into motion pictures is a mixed bag. This is not Judd Apatow’s best writing, likely because it was probably written for Amy. That would explain how forced many scenes were. Still, they rounded up a lot of funny people to make appearances in the film and I laughed enough to warrant a C rating.

Rating: C

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

What was cute, funny, creative, and original in the first Potter film, only comes off flat, disjointed, stale, and regurgitated in the second. Much to my regret, the red headed step-child is back, dumbing down each scene with inane comments and a faulty rod.

The "Oh, I'm so VERY evil" slicked back, blonde haired, Nazi mini-wizard plays his one note sneer throughout the entire film. All the special-ed Krippendorf pals are still tripping over themselves to kiss Harry's magical ass. And the featured evil creature looks like a retooled prop taken from the set of Tremors.

Rating: D-

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Thankfully they kicked out that hack Chris Columbus who lost his touch in the second film and brought in a real director, Alfonso Cuarón, who directed "Y Tu Mamá También." How you go from that film to this one is anybodys guess, but at least it saved this series from Disney on Ice.

The tone of Azkaban is much darker. I didn't seem to mind the awkward teenage years our three magicians have entered into like I thought I would. While I still don't feel that these films are anything special, I did enjoy this one.

Rating: C

The Tailor of Panama (2001)

An ok suspense drama surrounding the Panama Canal. The alternate ending on the DVD was weak.

Rating: C

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

I haven't read the books that started all the hoopla, but the movie was ok. Its basic plot stopped it from reaching the heights of say a "Goonies". The only decent thing on the bonus disc was some deleted scenes that you have to go through hell to access. They weren't very good and rightly belonged on the cutting room floor.

Rating: C+