Recent theatrical viewings

[Rev. Powell]

FROZEN 2 (2019): Elsa and pals investigate an ancient injustice in a nearby enchanted forest. The plot has almost nothing to do with the previous installment and is really just an excuse for a bunch of (mediocre) songs and (excellent) visual effects. I see no need for FROZEN 3. 3/5.

[Alex]

Rise of Skywalker. The final film entry in the story of the Skywalkers. At least until someone decides that Han & Leia had more than one kid, or that Luke had children or some such retcon. Better than expected but not perfect.

[Rev. Powell]

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (2019): The Emperor Palpatine has risen from the grave, and Rey must discover the secret of her past to defeat him and his massive fleet of star destroyers. The goofy designed-by-committee plot is just an excuse to string along a bunch of chase scenes, lightsaber battles, and about 10 minutes of congratulatory hugging at the end. 3/5.

[kornula]

Jo Jo Rabbit. 

Holy crap!  I have been dissapointed in movies the past 5 years that I haven't bothered watching a new release in the theater until Jo Jo Rabbit. I hear nothing about it except that My roommate asked .. out of the blue, if I wanted to see "Jo Jo Rabbit"  I asked him what is it about:  He said its about a 10 year old boy who's imaginary best friend is Adolph Hitler.   

That was all I needed to get into the car and head to the theater. 

If you have not seen it in the theater.. shame on you... but do get it on DVD.

[Rev. Powell]

CATS (2019): If any tells you this is a camp spectacle and the next SHOWGIRLS or THE ROOM, don't believe them. It's simply mediocre middlebrow pap. A lame plot is used to tie together a series of songs about various "jellicle" cats. This can't be that much worse than the Broadway show, can it? 2.5/5.

[Rev. Powell]

THE GENTLEMEN (2019): Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) wants to retire and sell his multi-million pound weed growing operation in the UK, but between double crosses, a tabloid extortionist, a Chinese gang that wants a piece of the action, and other players, it won't be a simple transaction. This snappy, zippy caper is a welcome return to his roots for Guy Ritchie. 4/5.

[Rev. Powell]

GRETEL & HANSEL (2020): Cast out by their poor mother, Gretel takes her brother Hansel into the woods, where they come upon a house inhabited by a witch. Starts out a little bumpy, but then the eldritch atmosphere takes over, resulting in a pleasantly chilly fairy tale update.  I'm giving it 3/5, but I'm thinking some might find it too slow, and 2.5/5 might be more appropriate.

[Trevor]

CATS (2019): If any tells you this is a camp spectacle and the next SHOWGIRLS or THE ROOM, don't believe them. It's simply mediocre middlebrow pap. A lame plot is used to tie together a series of songs about various "jellicle" cats. This can't be that much worse than the Broadway show, can it? 2.5/5.

I was going to say that the last recent theatrical viewing I had was people running out of the cinema screaming after seeing this crap fest. 

[Rev. Powell]

"Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn": Harley Quinn splits up with the Joker and finds Gotham City's entire underworld after her now that she is no longer under his protection. No idea why D.C. wanted to ensure this kids' movie got an "R" rating, but despite the goofiness of the whole concept (embodied in the overdone title) you can't deny Margot Robbie's bad girl magnetism in the role. 3/5.

[Alex]

"Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn": Harley Quinn splits up with the Joker and finds Gotham City's entire underworld after her now that she is no longer under his protection. No idea why D.C. wanted to ensure this kids' movie got an "R" rating, but despite the goofiness of the whole concept (embodied in the overdone title) you can't deny Margot Robbie's bad girl magnetism in the role. 3/5.

They went for an 'R' rating because Deadpool.

[Rev. Powell]

"Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn": Harley Quinn splits up with the Joker and finds Gotham City's entire underworld after her now that she is no longer under his protection. No idea why D.C. wanted to ensure this kids' movie got an "R" rating, but despite the goofiness of the whole concept (embodied in the overdone title) you can't deny Margot Robbie's bad girl magnetism in the role. 3/5.

They went for an 'R' rating because Deadpool.

Yeah, I understand why they did it from a marketing perspective. I was just being snarky.

[Rev. Powell]

THE INVISIBLE MAN: Either Cecilia is going crazy, or her abusive partner has faked his own death, developed an invisibility suit, and devoted himself to turning her life into a nightmare. The metaphor here is far from invisible, but it doesn't impede the suspense. 3/5.

[Rev. Powell]

INCITEMENT (2020): A movie told from the perspective of assassin Yigal Amir, who searches for a theological justification to do what he wants to do anyway: kill Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, whom he sees as a traitor to the Jewish people for seeking peace with the Palestinians. We don't watch Amir become radicalized; he's already radical when the film starts. As the title suggests, the movie implicitly criticizes the extremist rabbis who quietly plant suggestions that killing Rabin might be permissible or even mandatory, without having the guts to come right out and put themselves in harm's way. 3.5/5.

[Rev. Powell]

All movie theaters in KY close after today, so I was one of the last people in the state to see a movie in the cinema for a while.

SWALLOW: Newly pregnant, a bored, pampered young housewife begins swallowing non-food items---first a marble, then a thumbtack and worse---putting her marriage and health at risk. (This is a real psychological condition called pica.) I had some issues with the script---the husband is too much of a caricature, some of the social indignities are awkwardly forced, etc.---but Haley Bennett is completely convincing and empathetic as a pica sufferer. 3/5.

[Ticonderoga 64]

King Kong(1933) special cinema event from FATHOM EVENTS..

Wonderful to see on the big screen, ironic , as it may be the last film I see in cinema for a while.