Category: 2.5/4
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The Mule [2018] ★★½
If I had to give you one reason to see “The Mule”, Clint Eastwood would be it. It’s a joy and a privilege to see him in top form at 88, playing a Korean war veteran who somehow ends up transporting drugs for a Mexican cartel. He is also a man who is trying to…
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Bumblebee [2018] ★★½
Forgive me readers for I have sinned: I enjoyed a “Transformers” movie for the first time since 2007’s entertaining film starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox (feels like a long time ago now). We had 4 sequels since then, and they all sucked. So, what’s so different now? I’d say “Bumblebee” wisely turns back the…
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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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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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![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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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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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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Night School [2018] ★★½
It’s not original in any way, but “Night School” has the most important ingredient of them all: Kevin Hart. I wasn’t thrilled with the early reviews, but having seen it myself, I can already categorize it as a “guilty pleasure”, the kind you find yourself coming back to every now and then. Hart plays a…
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The House With A Clock In Its Walls [2018] ★★½
If you’ve seen Jack Black in “Goosebumps”, then you probably know what to expect from “The House With a Clock in its Walls”, a fun-filled family film with a dose of “spooky” to keep the adults just as entertained. Black is in top form once again as good old uncle Jonathan, who takes in his…
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The Predator [2018] ★★½
I gotta be honest with you folks: I didn’t expect to have so much fun with this movie. While the original 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is highly regarded as a classic in the action genre, the sequels/spinoffs were pretty terrible (except 2010’s “Predators” which was pretty entertaining). Enter director Shane Black, who, incidentally, has…
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Alpha [2018] ★★½
It’s an age old tale: prehistoric man meets man’s best friend for the very first time, and the rest, as they say, is history. That’s the story at the core of “Alpha”, a familiar but visually stunning film that has to be experienced on the biggest screen possible. Director Albert Hughes knows that his material…
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Justice League [2017] ★★½
Forgive me fanboys for I have sinned: I didn’t see “Justice League” upon its release, and it took a long plane ride to Canada to convince me to watch it. Early reviews weren’t too encouraging, to say the least, but now that the dust has settled, it’s interesting to look at “Justice League” from a…
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Crazy Rich Asians [2018] ★★½
It would be tempting to call this comedy the “Asian” version of “Meet the Parents”, but considering the thought process that went into it, I won’t. For those who may not know, “Crazy Rich Asians” is Hollywood’s first major film in years starring an all-Asian cast. This is a big deal for Asians around the world…
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![The Spy Who Dumped Me [2018] ★★½](https://tlkabtmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/spy_who_dumped_me_ver6.jpg?w=490)
The Spy Who Dumped Me [2018] ★★½
It’s the dog days of summer. Some people take advantage of this period to spend some time on the beach. But if you’re anything like me, you’d be looking for the next “summer” film at your local multiplex. There was nothing about “The Spy who Dumped Me” that encouraged me to seek it out upon…
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The Meg [2018] ★★½
Want to see Jason Statham kicking some giant shark ass? “The Meg” is clearly the movie for you, a mix of B-movie material coupled with spectacular special effects (and they look glorious in IMAX 3D). As a sucker for shark movies, I had a blast watching it. Statham doesn’t even have to say a word,…
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The Equalizer 2 [2018] ★★½
Denzel Washington kicking ass is probably everything you need to see this summer. This sequel to the 2014 hit follows the same formula, which means you won’t go in expecting a fast-paced action flick like “Taken” or “Mission Impossible”. But director Antoine Fuqua, who is often hailed as a lyrical filmmaker, does things his way,…
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Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again [2018] ★★½
We can sit here and debate for hours whether this sequel should have been made or not, or you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy it for what it is: a fun, light-hearted continuation that surprisingly works, with beautiful scenery and unforgettable music. For die-hard fans of the original, it’s a good opportunity to…
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Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation [2018] ★★½
It goes like this: if you enjoyed the first two “Hotel Transylvania” movies, then you have no reason not to enjoy this one. It follows the same formula we’ve come to expect from this colorful series, while adding a few characters to spice things up a little bit. Among the newcomers is Count Dracula’s arch…
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Ocean’s 8 [2018] ★★½
Call it a sequel or a reboot, it doesn’t really matter here. What truly matters is that “Ocean’s 8” defines summer escapism: it’s light, it’s fun, and it features an array of talented actresses who steal the show. In fact, it’s all these women who make the movie enjoyable enough. The interaction among Sandra Bullock,…
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