Category: The Twenty-First Century
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Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse [2018] ★★★½
Believe the hype. “Into The “Spider-Verse” isn’t some animated spin-off that will eventually get lost in the shuffle. It’s one of the best “Spider-Man” movies ever made and my personal favorite since Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2”. It gave me a lot to cheer for: a fresh concept and an incredible execution to match it. Credit…
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The Possession Of Hannah Grace [2018] ★½
I was compiling my list of the year’s worst movies when I noticed that this film was playing at the local multiplex this week. So naturally, I had to see it. And I wasn’t disappointed at all: this is one of my favorite “bad” movies of the year; Generic, far from scary, and downright silly.…
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Ben Is Back [2018] ★★½
“Ben is Back” is at once intriguing and frustrating. While the first half grabbed me, I found myself losing interest after the hour mark. But at least I can start on positive note. Writer director Peter Hedges opens his movie with a bang: Julia Robert’s drug addicted son shows up unexpectedly on Christmas eve. It’s…
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Instant Family [2018] ★★½
It doesn’t reinvigorate the comedy genre in any way, but there’s something truly irresistible about “Instant Family”. I was drawn instantly to its appeal, and I had a good time watching the story unfold. Also, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed seeing Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne in a movie. They play a…
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Creed II [2018] ★★★
It’s easy to throw the word “predictable” at any boxing movie these days. After all, if you’ve seen the 6 Rocky movies and 2015’s terrific “Creed”, then you probably know what to expect from “Creed II”. So to say that it’s all about the journey and not the destination would really be the understatement of…
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Green Book [2018] ★★★½
Simply put, “Green Book” is one of the best movies of the year. It celebrates friendship and family in a way that feels irresistible, thanks to a clever script, and, above all, a pair of terrific performances by Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. They’re both a marvel, and watching them inhabit their characters brought me (and…
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Cam [2018] ★★½
This Netflix movie came out of nowhere. I had no idea what it was, I wasn’t familiar with most of the actors, but somehow I ended up clicking play. Much to my surprise, it was an intriguing thriller, a bit similar to “Searching”, but not quite as good. Still, it kept me on the edge…
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Robin Hood [2018] ★½
It’s been a few hours since I’ve witnessed this atrocity and I only have one question: why the hell would they make a bad “Robin Hood” movie in 2018? Either do it right or don’t do it at all. I’ll cut right to the chase: This movie has no reason to exist; it’s dull, generic,…
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Ralph Breaks The Internet [2018] ★★★
If there’s one animated movie that truly appealed to me these past few years, “Wreck it Ralph” would be it. Here’s a character straight out of an 80’s arcade game, and as someone who loves retro games and owns an arcade cabinet at home, you can tell just how happy I was with that first…
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![The Grinch [2018] ★★½](https://tlkabtmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/grinch_ver3.jpg?w=477)
The Grinch [2018] ★★½
I’ve been around long enough to remember seeing the 1966 short “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on TV and in “Home Alone 2” in the 90’s. And I still have fond memories of Christmas 2000, when my mom took me and my brother to see the live action version starring Jim Carrey (Yes, it sucked,…
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Overlord [2018] ★★★
I’m not a big fan of “zombie” movies, but “Overlord” might be the best I’ve seen in quite a while (along with the Korean film “Train To Busan”). Part of its charm is its B-movie feel. We’re in WWII, and a group of American soldiers are about to enter dangerous territory. Nazis? Try fucked up…
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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald [2018] ★★★
It lacks the freshness of the first movie, but “The Crimes of Grindelwald”, the second installment in the “Fantastic Beasts” series (and 10th movie if we’re including the Harry Potter films) has all the right ingredients to satisfy diehard fans. I say that with full confidence because all the fans at the worldwide premiere I…
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Bohemian Rhapsody [2018] ★★★
I rarely feel the need to defend a movie, but with “Bohemian Rhapsody”, I’m willing to make an exception. Early reviews were far from encouraging, and there’s no denying that the movie feels rushed at first, uneven at times, and doesn’t include all the songs that made “Queen” the band we all know today. Know…
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The Nutcracker And The Four Realms [2018] ★★½
Familiar as though it may be, there’s something charming and irresistible about Disney’s version of “The Nutcracker”. From the beautiful production design to the eye-popping visuals, I was in constant awe. Here’s a movie that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible, even if the story borrows a lot from other Disney films…
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Halloween [2018] ★★★
First some background: the original 1978 “Halloween” movie is highly regarded as a classic in the horror genre. So much in fact that it was followed by 7 sequels and a reboot in 2007 (which in turn had a sequel as well). Most of these films were mediocre at best, which brings me to “Halloween…
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Private Life [2018] ★★★
At last a good Netflix film. I know I’ve expressed my dissatisfaction with their recent releases, but as soon as I saw Paul Giamatti’s name in the credits, I knew this movie would be at least decent. And I wasn’t wrong: this is a solid adult drama, very reminiscent of Woody Allen movies and featuring…
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![First Man [2018] ★★★½](https://tlkabtmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/first_man.jpg?w=477)
First Man [2018] ★★★½
You’d think a movie about Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on the moon, would be your typical Hollywood blockbuster. That’s where director Damien Chazelle steps in, by making this trip to the moon a personal journey, fueled with superior performances, beautiful cinematography, and a quietly profound score by Justin Hurwitz. Chazelle and Hurwitz…
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Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween [2018] ★★½
It was never going to top the 2015 original, and if we’re being completely honest, this sequel isn’t as memorable. But it gets the job done, especially if you’re watching it around Halloween season with your family. Jack Black stole the show in the first movie as writer R.L Stine, who wrote so many best-selling…
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Hereditary [2018] ★★★½
I’ve heard the buzz, but nothing could have prepared me for “Hereditary”, a brilliant horror movie that ranks as one of the best films of the year. It’s incredible to think that there’s still room for originality in an already exhausted genre. But first time writer-director Ari Aster had other ideas. His movie gets in your…
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The Wife [2018] ★★★
As if we needed more proof of her talent, Glenn Close delivers a masterful performance as the wife of a renowned author (Jonathan Pryce), who is about to receive the Nobel prize for Literature. Over the course of a couple of days in Stockholm, old wounds are reopened and secrets are revealed, as we begin…
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