Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

Atomic Blonde

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I will cut to the chase, this kind of movie is just not my cup of tea.  I am not a fan of unrelenting violence.  This is  saying something as I religiously watch Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, so I am no shrinking violet. However, the violence, for me, gets in the way of a story that I found somewhat interesting.  Charlize Theron plays an elite MI6 British spy who uses her considerable skills in Berlin right before the Berlin Wall is demolished.    She is sent into Berlin and makes contact with another spy played by James McAvoy.  The plot also involves  a search for a missing list of double agents, a ruthless espionage ring, nudity and enough blood to fill a bathtub or two.   Even though this movie is not my kind of movie, that is not to say it is bad.  If you like John Wick, Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher, I think you will enjoy seeing a woman playing this kind of character.  Plus, she looks good in all of those different costumes and can do one thing all of those other characters can’t do; fight in and with three inch heels!  Plus, any movie that throws in John Goodman and Toby Jones can’t be all bad.

Kong: Skull Island

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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.

Patriots Day

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I found this to be a very well-done movie that recreates the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013.  This movie reminded me of some of the events and taught me some things about the investigation that I didn’t know.  Mark Wahlberg plays a composite of several police officers who were on site when the bombing took place and helped with the subsequent manhunt.  J. K. Simmons adds a little well placed comedy relief to this story.   The movie also features some of the survivors at the end, including Dun Meng (played by Jimmy O. Yang) whose carjacking and escape ultimately led to the capture of the Tsarnaev brothers.  You will need to dab your eyes several time throughout the story but especially when retired baseball player David “Big Poppy” Ortiz gives a short, inspiring speech at the end.  Also featured in minor roles are Kevin Bacon, John Goodman, Michelle Monaghan.  This is definitely a movie worth watching!