“You don’t run from your fears. You ride ‘em.”

I should caveat this review by stating upfront that this is a standalone sequel. Which means that Twisters, while existing in the same universe as the 1996 film of the same name (minus the “s”), it has little or no narrative connection to its predecessor. And yet, I found many parallels between this film and its predecessor, which gave it the feel of a modern-day retelling rather than a sequel. This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you loved the original film. In that case, these similarities may invoke feelings of nostalgia. Then again, it could also feel like a cut-and-paste job. For me, I err on the side of nostalgia, as while I did detect multiple similar themes, they seem more like homages than reproductions. This film also serves as a good follow-up for Daisy Edgar-Jones after her leading role in Where the Crawdads Sings. Then there is Glenn Powell, who right now is inescapable with notable performances in Top Gun: Maverick, Devotion, Anybody But You, and most recently Hit Man, all films that he’s done in the last two years.
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“Change of plans. Now that we know the whole world will be watching, we need a backup plan.”

I went into Fly Me To The Moon expecting something like Capricorn One, and I ended up seeing a film that reminded me more of Wag The Dog. The Woody Harrelson role might have been the clincher here. The change was actually a fortuitous one, and in spite of my relative loathing for rom-com syrup, I ended up having a pretty good time and liking the sleeper film more than I had any right to expect. It’s not perfect, and I don’t expect that it will climb on anyone’s classic lists in the next decade or so. But the mishmash film presentation ends up having a pretty wide appeal, and you could do worse than spend a couple of hours here amid what’s been an overall rather disappointing slate of films for 2024. There’s a little something for everyone here.
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We are living in the era of the “legacy sequel”, it seems all sorts of properties that began in the late 70s or 80s are getting sequels and for the most part they have been rather successful at the box office. This is the part that frustrates me with streaming services, a film like Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has been gestating for years, it even went to becoming an a TV series that failed to take off but after the success of Top Gun: Maverick, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and the Creed films it seems Hollywood execs have decided maybe a new Beverly Hills Cop film might be a good idea after all. Then factor that this summer isn’t all that stacked with tent-pole films you’d think Netflix would take a chance and give Axel Foley his time on the big screen like he deserves, but nope this new film is exclusive to Netflix and while I get their motivations, I still think they are stupid for missing out on the potential added income, just like they’ll most likely forego releasing the film on physical media. It is an interesting time in film and I don’t feel it is a good thing, streaming may be huge but most of the films that are direct to streaming whether it is Netflix, Prime, Apple and so on…most of these films just are not very good and unfortunately it seems audiences are fine with settling for mediocrity.
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It’s the little things I supposed. When forced to confront the prospect of your own death, what will you do with the time you have left. Some fight against their own extinction. Some seek help from a higher power. While some cling to the past and seek comfort in their treasured memories. In a Quiet Place: Day One we see a bit of all three. While Day One marks the third installment in the Quiet Place franchise, it serves as the prequel for the series showcasing how the world went silent after sightless aliens with sharp hearing and impenetrable armor plating take over the planet and attack the human population. For me, this is a welcome addition to the franchise because while watching the first two films, one of my recurring thoughts was I would like to see how the world went quiet. Imagine my excitement when I this movie was announced. In my mind, I figured the prequel would continue to follow the Abbott family. However, Day One is comprised of a predominantly new cast, with the exception of Djimon Hounsou, who was introduced in the second film. While I was initially disappointed, I got over it quickly as new blood provides a new opportunity to expand the story rather than restricting yourself. Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, and Alex Wolff represent our new additions to the franchise, and they don’t disappoint.
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“You’re my bad boys. Now clear my name.”

Slipping back into their roles as Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett must be as easy as slipping on their favorite jacket for Will Smith and Martin Lawrence at this point. Their chemistry has been what has sustained this nearly thirty-year franchise, and they continue the trend with the latest installment, Bad Boys: Ride or Die. If this is to be the final addition in the franchise, I would be more than satisfied, and Ride or Die would be a very good high note to go out on in my opinion, as it offers a measure of catharsis for both characters. Not to mention paying homage to an O.G. character who was tragically killed (I’m still upset about it) in the previous film. Naturally Smith and Lawrence are the returning vets for the series, but there are also a few other returning faces, such as Paola Nunez, Jacob Scipio, Vanessa Hudgens, and Alex Ludwig, who were introduced in the last film. However, that’s not all, as the film demonstrates excellent character continuity by including characters introduced in the first movie. Characters like Dennis Greene as Reggie, and even better, a surprise cameo from a very tall former criminal that dates to the original film.
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“Seems like a nice day for a swim.”

Walt Disney Studios has struggled of late. It’s been a while since they’ve had much of a hit, and that includes their Marvel and Pixar components. In the years just before the pandemic the studio was outperforming anyone in the industry. One Disney executive once said that actually printing money would be less profitable than the billions the studio was raking in. But something changed around the pandemic, and it had little to do with a virus. The studio started to flex its muscles in the political arena, and those elements started to dominate the on-screen product. It doesn’t really matter if one agrees with them or not. I think it’s tricky when a part of the entertainment industry starts to get too involved with a particular social ideology. Just ask the Dixie Chicks. The who? That’s my point. It’s cost the studio a considerable sum and an over 50% plunge in their stock value over three years or so.
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My favorite food has always been lasagna.  All those special noodles, layers of cheese and ricotta, beef, sausage, sauce, and more cheese into an absolutely perfect dish.  Furthermore, if you let the dish sit overnight in the refrigerator, it was somehow even better than the day before.  Unfortunately, lack of true gluten-free options for lasagna noodles (Barilla makes one, but they are hard to find) and nobody to really make it for beside myself (my wife and son are lactose intolerant) have created a situation where I haven’t had a true lasagna in years.  But perhaps with today’s film review of Garfield, I can find the inspiration to recreate my favorite dish.  Let’s take a look at the movie.

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“Ladies and gentlemen! Start your engines.”

Back in 2015 when Mad Max: Fury Road was released, it was a film that I don’t think anyone expected audiences to respond to as they did. It was 30 years since audiences had last been to the Australian Wasteland when they previously saw Max, then played by Mel Gibson, play the title hero in a dystopian trilogy that has a very loyal fan base. Fury Road managed to exceed expectations as it delivered on having over-the-top chases through the desert wasteland, spectacular stunts, a great score, and then there was the character of Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron, as a one-armed badass who managed to steal the film from Tom Hardy, who was now starring in the title role of Max. While I do love Fury Road, my major gripe was with the over-simplicity of the film. Basically it is nothing more than one large chase where our heroes spend 2/3 heading in one direction and then in the final portion decide to turn around and continue their chase.
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