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Blue Beetle – Review
Blue Beetle – Budget of $104 – 125 million – 2 hours and 7 minutes
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Jaime Reyes returns home to his family after finishing his pre-law degree. He plans to land a high-paying job and move his family out of Palmera City. His family anxiously awaits his arrival, but his sister, Milagro, wants the family to be honest with Jaime. Their father, Alberto, and mother, Rocio, tell Milagro to wait until Jaime eats to give him the unfortunate news.
After Jaime takes his first bite, Milagro tells Jaime that his parents must sell their home. And Alberto had a heart attack. Their landlord tripled their rent, and they can’t pay the price hike. Jaime’s uncle Rudy blames Kord Industries for the gentrification. Jaime promises to find a job and move the family to a big house on the hills. But he will put off post-grad school, for now, instead of burdening his family with more debt.
Jaime and Milagro got a job cleaning pools to make ends meet. Jaime hasn’t found a job in his field because he lacks experience. As they scrape gum off the pool furniture, Jaime spots Veronica Kord and her private security, Ignacio, walking inside the home. Jaime can’t work up the nerve to ask Veronica for a job, but Milagro has no problems using Veronica’s bathroom. She asks Jaime to be her lookout.
Jennifer pulls her aunt, Veronica, into a room and watches an ad for the One Man Army Corp (OMAC). Jennifer reminds Veronica that Jennifer’s father, Ted, didn’t want Kord Industries involved in weapons manufacturing anymore. Veronica demands that Jennifer back off. Since Ted left Jennifer and disappeared, Veronica is in charge and wants the business to do what it does best. Jennifer walks towards the door to exit, and Ignacio tries to grab her, but Jaime verbally defends Jennifer. Jaime stammers before Milagro comes out of the bathroom. Veronica fires Jaime and Milagro. Jaime approaches Jennifer, and she tells him that his chivalry isn’t needed. Milagro calls out Jennifer’s ungrateful attitude, and Jennifer apologizes. She tells Jaime to come to Kord Industries, and she will find a job for him.
Jaime arrives with his cheering family in tow. Before he meets with Jennifer, his grandmother, Nana, blesses him. Jaime sees Jennifer running down an escalator and onto an elevator. He mirrors her movements and meets her downstairs. She hands Jaime a burger container. She demands that he guard it with his life and never open it.
Jaime takes it home, and his family encourages him to open the box. They all play with the high-tech scarab inside. When Jaime touches it, it scans his face, goes inside his body, and attaches to his spine. It covers Jaime’s body and takes him on a wild adventure. When Jaime wakes up, he is on his parents’ couch naked. Jaime steals Rudy’s car to get answers from Jennifer. After dodging a hail of bullets, Jennifer sits with Jaime’s family to explain. The scarab is a world-destroying weapon that chooses its hosts. Veronica needs its code to complete her OMAC project. However, Veronica couldn’t find someone to activate the scarab so she could download its programming. With the scarab active, Jaime is in danger. Jaime wants Jennifer to remove the scarab now. The journey to expelling the scarab will make Jaime experience the ultimate sacrifice, learn the truth about Nana, and uncover his destiny to become the Blue Beetle.
First, Nana is a gangster. She keeps the family determined, holds her wits during battle, and gives encouraging words during the darkest time. Jaime may have the suit, but she has the real power. Second, Jaime is a reluctant hero. He stumbled into this power and now wants it removed from him. He has to grow and learn to accept his new destiny. Finally, his family doesn’t sit around waiting for Jaime to save them. They take on Veronica and her goons for Jaime. Also, the graphics are stellar for a DC film. Often, the audience complains the visuals are too dark. This color palette of the film reflects Jaime and his family. It’s fun, bright, and burst with excitement. The downside of this movie is the sound effects drown out Jaime’s suit’s A.I., Khaji-Da. You will miss funny one-liners and hidden information about the exoskeleton. See this film on the best screen possible, and don’t let the detractors keep you away. Also, there are mid and post-credit scenes.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
Everything is going to be okay – Alberto
Now is not that time – Nana
Sacrifice must be made for the greater good – Ignacio
You know the drill, round them up – Victoria
Bad weed never dies – Rudy
We don’t make weapons anymore – Jennifer
How do I look – Jaime
Where were you – Milagro
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Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part 1 – Review
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One – Budget of $291 million – 2 hours and 43 minutes
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Days ago, Ethan got a message to find his ally, Ilsa Faust, and obtain the missing half of a cruciform key. The recording doesn’t tell Ethan what the key opens or to help Ilsa, only retrieve the key. After giving Ethan his instructions, Eugene Kittridge loses contact with Ethan. Kittridge sits in a classified meeting with Director Denlinger and his advisors and reveals information about Impossible Mission Force. Ethan infiltrates a US Intelligence Community conference to speak to Kittridge alone by gassing everyone else inside. Kittridge explains that experimental Artificial Intelligence meant to hack digital information went rogue and became self-aware and self-learning. They call it the Entity, the biggest threat to the world. It can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. They need Ethan to destroy it because other world powers know about the Entity and seek to harness it for global domination. Ethan accepts the mission and calls Luther and Benji to help. Ethan must remain resilient against his past to secure the world’s future. But can Ethan risk the ones he loves?
Based on the TV series, this Mission Impossible installment is the seventh in the franchise and lives up to the crazy stunts and spine-tingling drama of the previous six (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The writers inject the right amount of humor at the most opportune moments. It gives viewers a chance to take a deep breath while watching. New fans don’t need to see the previous movies to understand this film. However, the film replays scenes from earlier installments to keep everyone in the loop. The plot sticks to AI and Machine Learning fears in other films, but the action sets it apart. There are zero mid-credit or post-credit scenes. And yes, it ends on the perfect cliffhanger. The dialog tends to drag with awkward staring moments but picks up with action. Fans of the franchise won’t be disappointed and will look forward to part two.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
I was hoping it’d be you – Gabriel
Details tend to get in the way – Benji
I’ll scream – Grace
Bring her to me – Paris
I’ve heard so little about you – Vanessa
You wanted me to listen. This is me, listening – Ethan
This is where I leave you – Luther
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My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 – Review
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 – Budget Unknown – 1 hour and 32 minutes
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Toula and Ian lost their fathers over the years. Toula’s mother, Maria, has good memory days and bad. Toula tells Maria she and Ian are going to Greece to give her father’s journal to his three best friends. Toula doesn’t know if they are still alive but wants to try. The village of Toula’s father, Gus, is having a reunion, and Toula hopes Gus’s friends will be there. Toula and Ian arrive at the airport to find their daughter, Paris, waiting for them. They are proud of her perfect grades but can’t keep her boyfriends straight. Toula calls her brother, Nick, and ensures he is on his way with their aunts, Voula and Theia. As they board the plane, Paris tries to distance herself from her nosey family, but they invite her ex-boyfriend, Aristotle, to join them. Paris ghosted Aristotle after a great date but never explained why. He wants her back, but Paris is too preoccupied with school.
The family lands and instantly becomes awestruck with Greece. Mayor Victory meets them with coffee and brings them to Gus’s hometown. Toula loves Gus’s village, but only six people live their now. Everyone left after the fountain, providing drinking water for the town, dried up after the rock slide. Mayor Victory sent an invitation to every family, but only the Portokaloses came. The reunion will be in a few days, but Victory believes everyone will come. The empty town discourages Toula, but Ian and her family give her faith to keep going. Toula vows to find Gus’s friends and deliver the journal before returning to the States.
In case you were wondering, Yes. This movie has a Greek wedding in Greece. Like most adults, Toula enters the next phase of her marriage to Ian. They must care for their parents and pass the traditions to the younger generation. But Toula must balance between Gus’s wishes and Ian’s vacation. This trip is the first in years that Ian and Toula got out of town. He must refocus her energy to have fun and not worry about Paris, the family, or the secrets. Yes, there are explosive secrets for the Portokaloses and the Millers. However, viewers will melt and laugh at how they handle the situation. The family packs joy with their open, loving, and caring nature. They love each other no matter if they are shaving at the dinner table, swimming nude, or drinking. This film doesn’t try to one-up the previous movies. It gels with them perfectly. For fans of the Greeks, see this movie in theaters (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
Told ya I’m fun – Ian
I’m in charge. You report to me – Aunt Voula
Why can’t this family respect my boundaries – Paris
Secrets are a waste of time – Victory
How about we share – Nick
So no one will find our bodies – Aristotle
I thought my husband was back from the dead – Aunt Theia
Our family is held together by our sweat. – Toula
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Categories: Adriana Barraza, andrea martin, Blue Beetle, Damián Alcázar, elena kampouris, Esai Morales, George Lopez, Gia Carides, Hayley Atwell, Henry Czerny, Joey Fatone, john corbett, lainie kazan, Louis Mandylor, Mariela Garriga, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, movie, Must Buy, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, nia vardalos, Pom Klementieff, Raoul Max Trujillo, Rebecca Ferguson, review, Simon Pegg, Susan Sarandon, Tom Cruise, Vanessa Kirby, Ving Rhames, Xolo Maridueña
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