Child's Play (2019) (watched June 20, 2019)

The famous Chucky doll from the original 80's and 90’s movies was one of my first obsessions as a fan of the horror genre. I always found it oddly interesting that a kid’s toy with whom he/she spent so much time and built (somewhat of a) human connection with could, for whatever reason, become the impetus for so much fear and violence. For a lot of viewers from my generation and other Chucky fans alike, this film will engender some serious feelings of nostalgia. 

Instead of simply remaking the original “Child’s Play” film from 1988, “Child’s Play (2019)” goes a similar route as other 2019 horror movies with an existing origin story; bringing the Chucky franchise into the present day era. However, aside from some pretty obvious allusions to said original arch, this year’s installment has little else directly tying it to the original, meaning you don’t even need to know about the original Chucky storyline to watch this one because it stands alone as the "new age" Child's Play Part I.

In it, the supremely talented Aubrey Plaza (who made a name for herself in NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” and continues to act in films and such TV shows as another mutant fan favorite “Legion” on FX) plays Karen Barclay, a mother desperate to bring some joy to her son Andy for his birthday. Karen finagles one of the revamped “Buddi” dolls preparing to be released for Andy, setting the stage for both Andy and Chucky to develop a friendship much more real than anybody expected. We also see Brian Tyree Henry (who plays “Paperboy” in FX’s hit TV show “Atlanta”) play a prominent role as Detective Mike Norris, who eventually realizes they’re dealing with much more than a malfunctioning doll.

The 2019 Chucky has certainly evolved with the times, just as technology has. The scope of his terror is heightened by the technological advances made since we last saw him running amuck with Tiffany and their child. At a very reasonable 90 minutes long, the violence comes fast and often after about 30 minutes in. Once the blood starts to spill, it quickly begins to OVERFLOW. The deaths themselves are surprisingly more gory than I imagined (more so even than the originals) and boast a mixture of the more classic “slasher” kills with more modern age “WTF” moments that simply weren't possible in the original movies. As with other 2019 horror films, I found this one to be both more interesting and more entertaining than I imagined, garnering it 3.5 reps out of 5 from this horror movie buff. As I’ve always espoused, if you go into it with an open mind, you will at least find several enjoyable parts to the film. Because of the murders and the role technology plays in them, I would certainly recommend seeing this one at least once in theaters because you’re not going to get the same experience at home. I will certainly be seeing it again a number of times.

So, have you faced the new and improved 2019 Chucky? Or are you still stuck in the past thinking nothing can make you cringe and squirm the way the original did? Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts, although if you don’t, I might send Chucky after you so you have a real reason to be scared! And, if anybody needs protection, I'm glad to join you as you face your fears in theatre! Just leave me a comment below and we can make this happen... unless you're scared, of course.

Ma (watched June 11, 2019)

Ey- yo, ma! While this cat call has been a part of many females’ lives from a very young age, this film gives most of the power to one female in particular who plays by nobody’s rules but her own. “Ma” tells the story of a peculiar, middle-aged woman who goes out of her way to be nice to younger members of a community that is quite small and, thus, inextricably tied to each other- for better AND worse.

The film starts with an introduction to the new kid in a town completely foreign to her during the middle of the school year. When a former new kid extends her an offer to hang out with a group of “cool kids,” Maggie (played by the FAST rising, talented and eerily reminiscent of Julia Roberts star who also just crushed it in Booksmart, Diana Silvers) reluctantly accepts. As Maggie’s mother Erica (played by another film OG in Juliette Lewis) becomes aware of her daughter’s making friends, she warns her to be very careful of who she befriends. In a series of most unexpected events, Sue Ann aka Ma (played by the perfectly creepy Octavia Spencer) becomes one of those very people. What ensues is an unraveling of weird events that weave an increasingly complex web of lies and secrets between all parties involved.

I cannot emphasize this enough: when watching a fictional movie, everyone is better served doing so with a heightened suspension of disbelief. Of course what a film’s characters do are not always going to be in line with what we would- that’s not what I go to the movies for. I go to be ENTERTAINED. And, while there are head-scratching moments in this one, overall, it’s actually pretty entertaining. Sue Ann is just quirky enough that you not only want to see what she is capable of doing next, you’re also at least nominally interested in the “why.” The film also boasts a nice mix of “jump” scares and “psychological” frights that sustain, at the very least, an interest in seeing how the next one plays out. 

Honestly, I was expecting this film to be much cornier and a bigger “waste” of a movie outing than it was. The small town dynamic reminded me of high school/college towns I’ve been a part of where it’s almost impossible to live outside of a far-reaching microscope. And the less pervasive themes including racism and sexism help make the plot even nominally more relatable. For being surprisingly entertaining and much more thought-provoking than I ever imagined, I give Ma 3 reps out of 5. At around 100 minutes long, the film is an easy watch in theaters- although many will safely wait to catch it in the comfort of their homes once available. It also helped my experience that I was among the audience members in the first group of seats closest to the big screen. There were times I thought Sue Ann might approach me next!

Has Ma done you any favors yet? Or are you steering clear of her “kindness”? Let me know in the comments section either way! Remember, there are NO spoilers up in here... NOT UP IN HERE!

Dark Phoenix (watched June 7, 2019)

The X-Men universe is one that has been around on-screen for decades, as its famous television series brought consistent life to the comic books. And, while the initial X-Men live-action movies came with a ton of hype and were largely satisfying to most fans, there has been a palpable dip in excitement.

From an admittedly confusing timeline to an unclear direction, the once revered X-Men movie franchise has left fans with a lot of mixed emotions. Well, although the latest of said movies, “Dark Phoenix” has been the movie fans have been begging for the longest. The Phoenix character is among the most popular and widely viewed as the strongest of X-Men; so, a lot of comparisons can be made to the recent “Captain Marvel” film that finally dropped as well. However, whereas Captain Marvel is poised to lead the new wave of Avengers movies, Dark Phoenix is reportedly the swan song of the original wave of X-Men characters and films. So, does it do her character justice?

Absolutely. From the very beginning of the film it is made clear that Jean Grey (or “Phoenix”) has had something particularly special about her, which makes her stand out even among mutants. The film not only brings to life a number of anecdotal scenes that depict her might, it does so in a methodical way that builds up the anticipation of viewers and has us anxiously waiting for the next physical display of power. And those displays of power are nothing short of being absolutely awesome. The action scenes and CGI are incredible, while seeing Sophie Turner who plays Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones back in action is immensely satisfying for fans of both franchises.

Dark Phoenix gives X-Men fans what they’ve wanted for so many years, even if much later than perhaps should’ve been done. And, despite how incredibly murky the franchise’s future is, as a stand-alone film, it is immensely satisfying and works very well as the last of a very up-and-down first wave of mutant films. At just under two hours, the action in this movie carries it so well that not only does it feel like much less than two hours, you want to stay at least another two if it meant seeing more of the same. The culminating final series of scenes is so charged up that you wish it would never end. This film is one that X-Men and non-X-Men fans alike should see in theaters and is one that I look forward to seeing often. It gets 4 out of 5 reps from me largely for its entertainment value and deeply satisfying general plot, which has been a long time coming.

Did you fly to the movies and catch “Dark Phoenix” yet? Let me know what you think of it and the future of the franchise. What do you hope happens next? For those who haven’t seen it yet- come back and let me know how much we relate in opinion. Did I offer any spoilers or, as I proudly say, did I keep this a spoilers-free safe haven? I better have because it’s NO SPOILERS up in here ... NOT UP IN HERE!

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (watched May 30, 2019)

As you probably guessed, I most certainly watched this film in 4DX. But, the movie itself feels much like a roller coaster no matter what setting you watch it in. Firstly, if you aren’t too familiar with the entire cast of “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” then you will probably be as pleasantly surprised as I was every time a different big-name actor popped up on the screen. Dr. Emma Russell (played by a favorite of mine in Vera Farmiga who absolutely crushes it as Norman Bates’ mother in the “Bates Motel” series) and her daughter Madison (played by fast-rising “Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown, whose real name has to be one of the coolest in existence) form an on-screen duo that works so seamlessly you would think they’ve worked with each other for years. But there are a number of other actors and actresses who don’t figure as prominently into the trailers/previews who really add another sense of legitimacy to the crew.

If you aren’t too well versed in the world of Godzilla, Godzilla exists in a world where he is far from being the only “monster” roaming the earth. However, he is universally revered as being the king of them all for his unmatched power and strength. This latest film adaptation is by far the most complex and involved of any Godzilla movie to ever release. While a group of government officials are hot on the trail of another mythic monster known as Ghidorah, they haven’t seen or heard of Godzilla since the last film adaptation to release in the US back in 214. (This approach helps lend some legitimacy to the last film as well as establish a connection between the two.) Convinced that Godzilla is no longer to be seen of again, these officials are quick to try and restrain Ghidorah themselves; but, as their efforts prove increasingly futile, Godzilla is the only one they can find hope in. However, just as Godzilla makes his return, they learn of another layer of complexity that makes all hell break loose on our planet.

I didn’t think I would see as much action as I saw in John Wick Chapter 3; but, I was VERY mistaken. While human combat is featured more prominently in John Wick than in Godzilla, this actually helps distinguish between that sort of action and the one that occurs between the monsters in this film. Once the first fighting scene in this film erupts, it is followed by a FLURRY of others, each somehow increasingly more terrifying and destructive than the last!

Due to the discoveries made by the government and scientists throughout the movie, the plot most certainly becomes jumbled and quite difficult to fully grasp. But, I have never cared less about the holes in a film’s plot than I did about these because however they come about, the MONSTROUS battles are everything audience members want to see and THEN some. Honestly, I gave up all hope of making sense of everything halfway through the film, which I feel actually made the action scenes even better because I was unencumbered by any other mental exercise. It’s not necessarily that the plot is broken; but, more so that it is so complex one would rather give it the benefit of the doubt in anticipation of the next hellacious struggle between monsters. A full two hours long, Godzilla: King of the Monsters does NOT let up and keeps you on the edge of your seat for the entire second half of the film. Even for just attempting the most complex Godzilla plot, this film gets props. But, as I mentioned before, the constant friction, visual depictions thereof and CGI are absolutely incredible and nothing short of stellar. For being the most visually satisfying and monstrous Godzilla film I have ever seen, I give this one an easy 4 reps out of 5 and ABSOLUTELY recommend catching it on the biggest, best screen you possibly can!

Have you come face to face with the King of the Monsters yet? If not, then what are you waiting for? If so, what did you think about the plot in comparison to the action? Let me know in the comments section; and, as always, feel free to spread the word about my page and encourage others to Check With E before deciding what films to catch in theaters because there are NO SPOILERS here... NOT UP IN HERE!