The Jack Ryan Collection is a solid release from Paramount for what I consider a nice franchise, however there never was one that stoodout, each being fine filmmaking and storytelling and nice performances from the respective actors.
First Reformed might be a technically well made drama, and Ethan Hawke does turn in an amazing performance, but I never found the story all that enthralling and in fact some of the scenes were unintentionally funny.
Blue Bloods isn’t a show I routinely watch but when I do, it often features strong enough stories but carried through with sharp writing and characters you genuinely care about and actors giving it their all.
Bound is still my favorite of The Wachowskis movies, even above The Matrix, which itself has also aged quite well. This one has two amazing performances from Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon and Joe Pantoliano for his part was wonderfully chaotic.
Black Water is hardly terrible and as direct-to-video movies go starring aging action stars, is perfectly serviceable but with a bland script and the fact the two stars aren’t on screen together until towards the end and even then, only for about 15-20 minutes.
How to Talk to Girls at Parties certainly does not give away what the movie is about by its title. It’s a combination of the 1970s British punk scene and science fiction. It is a charming flick thanks to Elle Fanning and Alex Sharp.
Deadpool 2 for me actually was slightly better than the first film even when this sequel didn’t technically have a central villain. Ryan Reynolds continues to be in his element and the addition of Josh Brolin as Cable was great, though Zazie Beetz, while fun, was underdeveloped.
Gotham: The Complete Fourth Season is a nice step up in quality for the series and while it still has its problems from Bazouz’s Bruce Wayne to some overacting by a few cast members, I really was entertained by this season.
Where Is Kyra? had a lot of potential but with such a thin story with very little actual plot, Michelle Pfeiffer does help carry the film with a great performance alongside Kiefer Sutherland.
Brainscan is a fun 1990s horror-comedy starring Edward Furlong still on fire post Terminator 2, and has elements of The Nightmare on Elm Street, even if the writing or acting isn’t the best.
Submission had plenty of potential to be great but falters some on the story front, albeit it could be because of the source material and how it was adapted, however is more than worthy of a rental if only for the performances by both Tucci and Timlin.
The first three Predator movies are fine entertainment with the sequels not quite reaching the level of excellence in my book, though I do greatly prefer the first movie over the others if only for the quality direction from McTiernan and Schwarzenegger’s tough man and charm appeal.
On Chesil Beach was admittedly disappointing; it might offer great performances by both Ronan and Howle, but had editing that, while perhaps true to the novel, hindered the character development.
Happy Endings: The Complete Series is another home-run release from Mill Creek providing a home video release, providing it to consumers and fans at a reasonable price and in nice packaging.
Walking Tall is a fine enough action-crime movie and an early film in Dwayne Johnson’s career where he probably was just getting used to becoming the action-filled actor we know him to be today.