Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

L I F E

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

Astronauts aboard an international Space Station discover the first evidence of life on Mars while looking at samples in their research laboratory-a unicellular organism.  It is also dormant until they wake it up and start to nurture it.  It is a wonder…extraterrestrial life!  And it even seems cute at first, they name it “Calvin.”  But apparently, this organism is smarter, faster growing and far more dangerous than they first realize.  It inevitably escapes and runs amok, with not unexpected devastation.  Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds and Rebecca Ferguson are three of the astronauts who realize the danger and try to destroy the life form before it continues to grow and, perhaps, pose a threat to earth itself.  Sounds a lot like the Alien movies, doesn’t it?  This sci-fi, horror movie isn’t up to the same standard of suspense and terror as those movies, and not simply because this one lacks a hero like Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley.  There was too much gut wrenching gore and not enough character development or plot for my tastes.  SPOILER ALERT:  The ending of this movie is a big cop out and not what I want to see in my movies.  I would say skip this one and find a rerun of Alien or Aliens.

Beauty and the Beast

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

Well, they did it!  They actually remade a beloved classic that is worthy of becoming a classic  itself!  The dazzling special effects are eye popping (even more so in 3D)!  The enchanting rendition of “Be My Guest” was enhanced by the voice of Ewan McGregor who was wonderful as Lumiere.  Emma Watson made a perfect Belle, pretty, fiesty and compassionate.  Dan Stevens is seamless as the gruff Beast who just longs for love…. and finally earns it.  Other notable cast members include Emma Thompson, Ian McKellan, Josh Gad and Kevin Kline.  Gaston, the man you love to hate, is played to narcissistic perfection by Luke Evans. I must admit that I thought I would hate anyone other than Angela Lansbury singing “Beauty and the Beast” but Emma Thompson’s rendition had just the right amount of pathos and sweetness.  There is room on your DVD shelf (if people even have such a thing anymore) for the animated and live action versions of Beauty and the Beast.

Kong: Skull Island

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

This was an interesting remake of the familiar Kong story.  I loved how we don’t have to wait until the movie was half over to catch a glimpse of Kong, we get to see him right from the beginning.  Everyone knows the basic story:  people come to the mysterious Skull Island, find the legendary beast, there is a pretty girl involved, and then mayhem ensues.  But this movie adds some interesting twists and avoids the classic Beauty and the Beast theme.  It turns out Kong is really protecting us from some bad creatures who have the capacity to overrun the world and destroy humanity in the process.  The cast is excellent. John Goodman plays Bill Randa, a scientist who believes there is ‘something’ to be found on the island, and he wants to find it, though not for the most altruistic reasons of course.  Samuel L. Jackson is perfect as the too gung-ho Army officer leading the troops escorting the mission to Skull Island. Tom Hiddelston and Brie Larson really don’t have that much to do as the tracker and the photographer.  Larson does get a brief scene with Kong, but it is quite different and very subdued compared to previous outings.  John C. Reilly adds some comic relief as a WWII pilot who was shot down over the island and is more than ready to get back home.  The special effects are pretty amazing; we saw this in 3D and so should you.  If you go, stay to the very end of the movie to see a teaser for a likely sequel.  By the way, any movie that features Credence Clearwater Revival singing “Run Through the Jungle” can’t be all bad.

The Great Wall

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

The Great Wall finds Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal as European mercenaries who come to China in search of black powder.  They discover that the Great Wall was built, not as a defense against other people, but to protect the country from nasty monsters who attack every sixty years.  The special effects were excellent, and the visuals were impressive, but I  found the whole movie a little silly.  My apologies to Matt Damon, who I like as Jason Bourne,  but I felt he seemed too nice to be a mercenary.  Willem Defoe is also featured.  The movie was directed by the great Chinese director Yimou Zhang and I understand that it was his first English-language production and the largest film shot entirely in China.  I would be willing to give Zhang another try because the scope and breadth of the scenery was pretty amazing.  I just hope that next time he has a better script and  a main character portrayed by a more credible actor for that sort of role.

Get Out

By Leave a Comment

Apple Rating:

Who knew that Jordan Peele could write and direct a horror-thriller that brilliantly skewers race relations in modern America?  Well I am here to tell you that he can AND he did!  Get Out is highly entertaining and heart-pounding from beginning to end.  Daniel Kaluuya plays Chris, a sensitive black man who  agrees to accompany his white girlfriend to her family’s estate for the weekend.  Chris  find some creepy goings on as the parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener) and perhaps even his girlfriend, may have sinister intentions.  Peele’s script is top-notch and infused with wit and unexpected but welcome humor.  Chris’s best friend played by Lil Rey Howery is a delight as the TSA agent who doesn’t give up on his friend.  If Alfred Hitchcock were alive today, this is the kind of movie he might have made.  Well done Mr. Peele!