Se7en

Se7en; Sordid, bleak investigation pairs two very different cops, played marvellously by Freeman & Pitt, captivates via a tight script, unraveling at just the right pace. Moody, stylistic work by Fincher makes it all unforgettable & burned into your brain by the time you’re asked what’s in the 📦; A+
 

Batman Begins

Batman Begins; An origin that leans heavily into the comics & the psychological aspects of the Batman mythos. Plays characters and world as if it were real, grounding it in what would most logically replicate the fiction in reality. Cleverly uses two rogues new to the films to serve Wayne’s story; A

The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption; Two leads fabulously cast take a powerful prison story and create a beautifully told, uplifting, funny, yet still tragic meditation on the various prison states of mind. Fantastic adaptation excelling in all aspects of cinema; A+

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms; Lavish production and costuming can’t dress up or disguise this dud. The film’s best aspects are its hundred years old musical score and brief dance performance. Disney would have been better off filming and releasing the stage ballet; D+

Now You See Me 2

Now You See Me 2; Over the top tricks makes this less enjoyable as plot spirals around the players too conveniently connected. Still fun; B

Dolphin Tale 2

Dolphin Tale 2; Dramatization would be better as a documentary, child actors can't hold their own. Suitable for a niche crowd of 8-10 yrs; C

The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie; Overly kinetic to the point where it becomes hard to appreciate the animation. The two Wills generate plenty of laughs; B

Now You See Me

Now You See Me; Fun film full of misdirection that isn't as clever as it wants to be. Cast is superb and elevates the drama and suspense; B

Chain Reaction

Directed by:  Andrew Davis
Starring:  Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman, Rachel Weisz, Fred Ward
Running Time:  1h 46min

Well, Morgan Freeman's run of successful and interesting movies couldn't last forever.  After starring in the best two movies of the past two years he is limited to play the same character that he played in Outbreak and without any other talent in the film he languishes in his own talent.  Reeves is neither believable nor charismatic as the star of the film and we can thank him for not taking the Speed 2 role seeing as his acting abilities wouldn't help the fact that yet another dumb sequel is being made.  Back to this movie, it suffers from traileritis, where the trailer promises action you've never seen before but the movie isn't half as exciting as the trailer.  Hopefully, you'll have rented another movie with this preview and can save the $4.00.

Grade: C+