Film Review: The Devil Wears Prada 2

 

Sexuality/Nudity Mature

Violence Acceptable

Vulgarity Acceptable

Anti-Catholic Philosophy Mature

Even after 20 years, the original The Devil Wears Prada is still popular among fans.  

And those same fans will thoroughly enjoy the sequel.

The Devil Wears Prada 2  takes place two decades after the original.  Andy (Anne Hathaway), is an award-winning New York journalist whose paper gets unceremoniously shuttered suddenly.  At the same time Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) and her brand "Runway" have just been hit by a scandal.  In order to bring back integrity to the publication, Andy is hired without Miranda's consultation.  At the offices, Andy reuintes with her old friend and mentor Nigel (Stanley Tucci).  She also eventually encounters her old posh co-worker Emily (Emily Blunt), who left "Runway" and is working for Dior.  The movie shows Andy re-adapting to the changed world of fashion while at the same time trying to bring journalistic idealism and integrity to the brand, all the while struggling for Miranda's elusive approval.

Part of the strength of a movie like this is that it makes me fascinated about a subject I would normally ignore: fashion.  I am not someone who keeps up with the latest trends and fancies.  I think my own fashion sense ended in the early 1990's.  So it is a credit to this movie and the original that I found myself deeply invested in the ins and outs of the industry.  Since the original, print magazines have become obsolete.  "Runway" is a style brand that seeks to move the needle with its online presence and its large, splashy events.  Miranda herself has had to pivot not only her business model, but also her style.  No longer can she throw around coat and abusive comments.  She is caged by modern HR practices.  This feels like a mixed bag: the enviorment is less unpleasant, but crucible that forged Andy into the competent person she became seems to be missing.  Like most Gen-Xer's, it is almost sad to see the adversity disappear because we know that as much as it hurt, it also helped build character (if it didn't crush us completely).

The studio was incredibly smart to bring back the entire main cast and crew together.  Original director David Frankel and original screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna returned, which gives such a great continuity of tone, character, and look.  Sometimes when a legacy sequel like this happens, there is a bit of disjointedness between the first and the second.  But with exception of the age of the actors, this movie could have been filmed almost immediately after the first and I would have believed it.  

Much of the movie follows many of the same story beats from the original: Andy gets the job, Andy tries to do a good job, Miranda criticizes her, Andy gets upset, Andy pushes herself harder, Andy does something excellent... etc.  Some may see this is a deficit, but with such a time difference since the first one, I see it more as a comfort.  They remembered what people enjoyed about the first and tried to give them the same experience.  It reminds me of how Rocky II also hit a lot of the same beats as the original for the same reason.

What the story does do as an improvement is that it allows for more catharsis.  The first film had everyone at a slightly professional distance from each other.  But in this movie, with the characters older, it allows for them to be a bit more reflective about the relationships in their lives.  Kenneth Branagh, one of my favorite actors, has a nice turn as Miranda's husband.  Unlike her previous spouse, he brings out her softer side with his gentle encouragement.  There is one moment towards the end, where a character finally gets a much-desired cathartic moment that I could not helped but be touched.

I also like that the film has something to say about modern life.  I don't always agree with it, but it has a voice.  Benji (Justin Theroux) is Emily's dopey billionaire boyfriend.  But even he has a moment in the third act where he talks about how technology bears down on us like the fires of Pompeii and we cannot stop the change.  The world is changing and the question becomes how much do you adapt to it before you lose what you value.  There is a scene where Andy goes into a recently renovated apartment building and complains to a man there Peter (Patrick Bramwell) that the gentrification was everything wrong with the world: taking something beautiful and gutting it for a profit.  Peter turns out to be the renovator and he says that the building was vacant and in disuse and would have been lost anyone unless he brought it into the 21st Century.  There is a constant give and take in the movie about its relationship to the changing world.  This is something that the Catholic Church is constantly wrestling with especially post-Vatican II.

The performances are as good as the original, if not better.  Time and the layering of the relationships gives the actors a lot more to do.  Hathaway is as good as always.  Here Andy is complicated and flawed.  In an argument she has with Peter, her self-centered side comes out and there is something ugly about it.  Hathaway does not try to embrace this selfishness like a girl-boss, but allows the audience to see the downside to her ambition.  Streep steps back into the role of Miranda very well.  Though I would imagine that some people my be disappointed at the slightly less ferocious lioness from the first one.  I remember my wife did not like seeing Miranda having to hang up her own coat.  I think this disappointment would be the same that people felt at the aged Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part III.  Blunt still plays Emily as shallow, but she does it with great comedic timing.  But the standout is Tucci, who really is the heart of the film.  He carries a quiet grace, always tinged with a sense of sadness that time has passed him by, so he is content to enjoy his time in this art.  He never goes for big, maudlin emotional beats.  Instead, he shows incredible restraint in a way that seems almost paternal.

My biggest head-scratcher is why Andy is so desperate for Miranda's approval.  Nothing about it feels false, but I could not find an explanation other than, like most over-achievers, she is in need of constant validation.  The movie also seems to celebrate divorce in some areas as something empowering of women and their independent identity.  As a child of divorce, this was not a particularly pallatble theme to me.  Children also seem to be pushed to the sidelines.  Miranda's twins are barely seen.  Emily has children that she pawns off on her ex-husband so she can globe-trot.  And Andy mentions that she has her eggs frozen because she chose not to start a family.  It just seemed like children were more of a luxury or a burden to the main goal of fame and success.

However, this does not ruin the good aspects of the movie.  In the second half there are a few twists, some I saw coming and some I did not.  The overall effect was surprisingly cathartic experience.  I didn't realize how much I missed these characters and how much I would hope to see them again for a third film.

Sunday Best: Top 5 Karl Urban Performances

 In honor of Mortal Kombat II coming out, I thought I would take a look back at Karl Urban's career and talk about his best performances.

Urban is an excellent actor who I don't think has ever really gotten his due.  He should be an A-lister with his talent and charisma.  I find that he elevates everything that he is in, especially his most recent work.

So here are his top 5 performances.  To be clear, I am not saying that these movies or shows are good or bad.  Some of them are amazing and some are awful.  But Urban is fantastic in all of them.  

5. Eomer - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

While he does not have nearly as much screen time as much of the cast, he carries with him a seething anger at the injustice happening to Rohan while maintaining a powerful presence and strength.  In the extended edition, it was very powerful to see how that stoic exterior broke down at the sight of his injured sister.  

4. Johnny Cage - Mortal Kombat II

He is the heart of this film.  A reviewer recently said that his Johnny Cage is the Jack Burton of this movie and that fits perfectly.  He is funny and charming in every scene, using all of his charisma to light up the scenes he is in.

3. Butcher - The Boys

I really don't like this show at all.  I dropped out in season 1 because of the content.  But that is not a reflection of Urban's performance which is excellent.  He is ostensibly a protagonast, but he has all the characteristics of a villain.  And that edge is something he constantly plays with so that the audience doesn't quite know what to make of him.

2. Dr. "Bones" McCoy - Star Trek, Star Trek: Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond.

His impression of DeForrest Kelly is spot on with his cadence and mannerisms.  But if that is all that it was, it would only be an empty impression.  Instead, Urban gets at the heart of the character so that you really feel how he sees and feels about the world.  My favorite moment is in Star Trek Beyond when he says that at least he won't die alone.  But then Spock gets beamed away and there is this wonderful frustration and sadness and resignation when he responds by saying, "Well, that's just great!"

1. Judge Dredd - Dredd

One of the great things about this performance is its degree of difficulty.  Most of his face is covered for the entire movie.  Some of the most important acting tools are taken out of his arsenal.  But he gives us the best onscreen version of the character with his amazing control of voice and body language.  If it was not for Urban, this movie would not be nearly as good as it is.  After this, I thought he deserved to be a star, and I maintain that I am not wrong.

Thoughts?

Film Flash: Mortal Kombat II

 

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

Kano and Johnny Cage are the coolest, stealing every scene in this fun action film.

 

Film Flash: The Sheep Detectives

   

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

Surprisingly charming, funny, and touching murder mystery.  May be too scary for little kids.

 

Film Flash: The Devil Wears Prada 2

   

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

Fans of the original will love the sequel.  Same story/character beats with more catharsis.

Film Review: Michael (2026)

   

Sexuality/Nudity No Objection

Violence Acceptable

Vulgarity Acceptable

Anti-Catholic Philosophy Acceptable

As a child of the '80's, I can tell you that Michael captures the magic and mystique that was Michael Jackson in his prime.

The movie tells the story of the pop icon from his beginnings as the child lead singer of the Jackson 5.  The patriarch of the family, Joe Jackson (Coleman Domingo) is a beaten-down steel worker in Gary, Indiana.  He has decided that his ticket out his dead end life is to make his children into a hit band.  Young Michael (Juliano Valdi) is full of life and optimism and exudes charisma.  But if he does not follow his domineering father, he is met with physical consequences.  As he grows up, adult Michael (Jafar Jackson) grows up popular but alone, with his mother Katherine (Nia Long), his only real companion.  But as he finds his artistic voice, he yearns to break free from his father and find his destiny as one of the greatest, if not THE greatest pop star of all time.

It is important to understand that this movie is basically a hagiography of Michael Jackson: the main character is a saintly, soulful artist where all the bad things in his life are brought to him from without.  As a character, Michael has very few flaws of character.  Everything in this movie is meant to portray him in a positive light.  If you go in expecting a film to explore his dark side, this isn't for you.  Personally, regardless of whether or not it is historically accurate, it was a bit refreshing.  A number of musical biopics that I've seen lately (e.g. A Complete Unknown or Deliver Me From Nowhere) depict the musician as a jerk with questionable morals, but we are supposed to waive those away as the eccentricities of artistic genius.  Not so with Michael.  It is was a relief to be able to sympathize with the main character for a change.

Director Antoine Fuqua does a great job of bringing Jackson to life.  The most important thing was to capture the feeling of what it was like to experience Michael's talent.  There is a scene in the movie when they are filming the video for "Thriller," where Michael gives a note to the director about how best to shoot the dancing in order to capture choreography.  It is a moment to show how Michael is not only a student of his art, but is in control of how he presents himself.  But the moment also reminds us that there is an art to filming music on camera, which Fuqua does incredibly well.  I would not have thought that a director whose resume is mostly action films like The Equalizer series and The Magnificent Seven remake would have such a knack for this type of film.  But Fuqua is able to make every Michael Jackson song come alive.  Without shame, my feet were tapping to the beat of hit after hit being played out on the screen.

While this movie nails the spectacle of the singer, the movie would not be good unless it also gave us insight into the character.  For me, this is what gives the movie its strength.  Writer John Logan depicts the violence and tyranny of Joe Jackson as the root of Michael's problem.  Because Joe forced his son to torturous rehearsals to prefect his performance, Michael missed out on his childhood.  As a result, he had a permanent arrested development.  He never grew up.  This is seen in his perpetual affinity for Peter Pan and Neverland, where he is Peter and Joe is Captain Hook.

For me, the most important and moving scene in the movie is a small one.  The adult Michael just went on a small shopping spree at a toy store.  He comes home to see his brothers playing basketball.  Michael announces to them with excitement that he has Twister and that they can all play that night.  But his brothers look at him incredulous and say that they all of more adult things to do, leaving Michael dissapointed.  They aren't mean or bullying in any way.  But they grew up when Michael couldn't.  He's stuck as a child, trying to find joy in child-like things.  But in that way he is so incredibly lonely.  But he turns that loneliness into artistic passion.  We see how he finds his musical inspiration and how he develops hit after hit.

The script also does something so incredibly interesting with the character of Joe.  To be sure he is a selfish tyrant.  But that doesn't mean that he doesn't know his son.  Both of these aspects are at play.  In one scene, Joe says to Michael that if he leaves his family then he would be surrounded by "yes men" who will only do what he says and that this would destroy him.  This is heartbreaking, because we know that in the end that is what happens.  In another part of the movie after Michael is injured, Joe asks the doctor how soon until he can perform.  When the doctor is appalled by this question, Joe says that the only thing that will save Michael is getting back on stage.  The thing is, Joe is right, but that doesn't change the fact that he uses that insight for predatory reasons.  

Because of this music becomes Michael's salvation and damnation at the same time.

The performances are excellent, especially Domingo.  He captures the look of Joe, but also that constant bullying stare.  Even in his smile, even when he is affectionate, he is Mr. Hyde ready to attack.  But Domingo lets you feel his weariness and frustration, even as you feel him as a tyrant.  Long does a good job as Katherine, especially as she finds her voice to stand up to Joe.  Valdi is just as charismatic as young Michael.  But Jafar Jackson had the unenviable job of trying to channel one of the greatest performers in history.  And in terms of the singing and dancing, he nails it.  For those who didn't live through Michael's Motown performance or seeing his music videos for the first time, Jafar gives us the closest thing we could get to reliving it.  Outside of the musical numbers, his performance is also good.  Michael Jackson was unique that any performance of him will always feel a bit more like an impersonation than performing a character.  That isn't Jafar's fault.  If you break from any of Michael's mannerisms, the movie would ring false.  But if you know that the actor isn't Michael, there is always a part that rings a little false.  This becomes less of a problem as the movie goes on and you accept Jafar's interpretation.  By the end, there is a shot of Jafar looking at the camera and I could have sworn that it was a shot of Michael himself.

A difficulty with the movie is that outside of Michael and Joe (and a little bit of Katherine), all of the other characters get no depth.  We never get a sense of how Michael's brothers feel about his fame or his success.  Janet Jackson is completely absent from the movie.  To be fair, the movie is not called The Jacksons.  It is called Michael because the entire narrative is about him.

The movie reminded me why godly parents are so important.  We know that Michael's life eventually ends in tragedy, and we can see that he is set on that path because Joe sees his children as means to an end rather than the end itself.  Towards the end of the movie Katherine apologizes to Michael for not protecting him as a child.  You can't help but feel that without Joe's punishing presence, Michael might not have been the world's biggest star, but he might have had a chance to live a normal, happy life.

After the movie, I found myself spending time on YouTube going through Michael Jackson's music catalague.  Michael has given me a renewed appreciation for the man and the music.

And it is a reminder why there will never be another Michael Jackson.

Summer Box Office Predictions 2026

  After going over the movies that are coming out this summer, I always enjoy trying to predict the summer box office for the following year.

Michael Crichton once said that studios spend millions of dollars every year trying to predict box office.  But in the end, it is all guess work.  There is no magical formula and no one gets it right all the time.  

That is certainly the case with me.

In 2016, I got 6 out of 10 right.  By 2017, I improved to 8 out of 10. 2018 was my best year, where I made it to 9 out of 10 and my order of highest grossers was even more accurate.  2019 I did great with the top 7, but the bottom three I had all wrong.  I didn't do it in 2020 because of the pandemic.  2021, my top 3 were all accurate.  If Hotel Transylvania hadn't been pulled, I believe my top 5 would have been accurate.  However I WAY over guessed the appeal of In the Heights and I underestimated Free Guy.  

In 2022, I once again got 8 out of 10, but I only correctly predicted the #2 movie as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.  I had no clue that Where the Crawdads Sing would make it to the top 10.

In 2023 through 2025, I got 7 out of 10, but I didn't correctly predict any in the correct position.  

I am going to try again this year.  I may be wrong about my number one and two, but we will see.

Some years I include April movies, but this year I am not.  So hits like Super Mario Galaxy and Michael will not be on this list.  This will only cover May-August.







1.  Toy Story 5

Every Toy Story sequel has made more money than the one before it.  Toy Story 4 made $434 million, and that was with tepid word of mouth.  This movie looks like it has something incredibly interesting to say, so I am thinking it will do even better.  

2. Spider-Man: Brand New Day

 

The last MCU Spider-Man film made over $800 million domestic.  But I think that was hyped as an Avengers level event.  I think this one will do closer to the other films in this series, which would be around $300-$400 million.

3.  Minions and Monsters

The last Minions movie was the highest grossing in the series at $370 million.  I don't see this franchise fatiguing or slowing down.

4.  The Odyssey

I don't bet against Christopher Nolan.  He turned a historical drama about the father of the atom bomb into a runaway box office smash.  Now he has one of the oldest and most revered adventures in human history to tell along with an all-star cast.  I saw a six-minute preview with the sacking of Troy and it looks amazing.  

5.  Moana

I would have placed this lower, but I did not predict that Lilo & Stitch would be the highest grossing film of last summer.  There is an appetite in the movie-going public for these Disney live-action films (Snow White being the exception).

6. Mandalorian and Grogu

The Star Wars franchise is not what it used to be.  Be even the lukewarm reception of Solo: A Star Wars Story still made over $200 million.  If this movie can deliver a fun adventure for the whole family, it will do well (as long as it isn't like The Acolyte)

5.  Masters of the Universe

This is a big gamble on my part.  I know that these toys still sell with the little kids and Gen-Xers have a lot of nostalgia.  It will depend on word of mouth, but if it is even half-way decent, I think it could do very well.

8.  Disclosure Day

It has been several years since Spielberg has made a great movie.  This sci-fi thriller has all the elements that could make this a great comeback film.  I am rooting for him and I'm hoping it will be tense, thought-provoking, heart-felt and original.

9.  The Devil Wears Prada 2

There is still a giant fan-base for the first one that I think will definetely carry over into the sequel.  I don't think it will do quite as well as Barbie, but this might be the woman-focused hit of the summer.

10. Supergirl

A lot of people have been bagging on this movie, but as long as the focus on the fun adventure aspect of the character, I think people will enjoy it and maybe see it multiple times.


ALTERNATES


 Scary Movie 6

People are betting bigger on this movie doing well, but the trailers are not just naughty, they are downright vulgar.  I don't know if that will translate as funny.

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie

I can see a lot of parents taking their little ones to see this as their first movie.

 
The End of Oak Street

This is my long-shot.  I don't know much of anything about this.  But if they have a family adventure that parents and kids can enjoy, it might work.  Although being released so late in the summer may hurt its box office.


Thoughts?

Film Flash: Michael (2026)

  

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

This hagiographic movie is toe-tapping pop entertainment with heart that captures Michael Jackson's magic.

New Evangelizers Post: The ABC's of Mercy

                                          

I have a new article up at NewEvangelizers.com.  

Two Sundays ago we celebrated the Feast of Divine Mercy.

On that Feast, we remember that the Mercy of God is offered to us and that it can transform our lives and the world. One look at the world around us today, and there is little doubt that we could use all the mercy that we can receive.

I don’t know about you, but I like things simple. And I’ve found that this devotion breaks down into simple ABC’s. (to be clear, this is not my original idea, but comes from the devotion itself).

A. Ask for Mercy

Our Lord desperately wants to forgive us and bring us home. The only barrier to this is that we have to choose this. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the father waited patiently for his wayward child to come home. But he could not force his son to return. The son had to choose to swallow his pride and return to the father to seek forgiveness. The good news for us is that, just like the father in the parable, God will rush to us if we return to Him. The entire treasury of Divine Mercy is waiting for us if only we ask. It seems unbelieveable that God’s generosity can fall on us like this, but it’s true.

Think of Peter and Judas. Both greatly betrayed the Lord on Holy Thursday. Both ran out into the darkness when they sinned. But Judas gave into despair. Peter went back to the Lord. And at that charcoal fire on the sea shore, Peter told Christ he loved Him for each time that he betrayed Him. Peter was completely forgiven because he sought God’s mercy. Judas did not. But I have no doubt that forgiveness would have been his if he returned like Peter did. As (soon to be Beatified) Fulton Sheen said, the great tragedy of Judas’ life is that he is not St. Judas.

B. Be Merciful

Once we have received mercy, it is our responsibility to be as Christ and give mercy to others. I have found that this is so much easier when we come face-to-face with our own sinfulness and experience the full mercy of God. In that light, how can we not be merciful to others? In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, a master forgives one servants large debt, but that servant does not forgive another servants much smaller debt. If we ask and receive God’s mercy for our sins against Him, then I must forgive others when they sin against me.

This is difficult, to be sure. For this reason, we must pray constantly for the grace to be forgiving. You may be a much better person than I am, but I have to struggle against pettiness and resentment for every hurt and slight, whether real or imagined. I have to constantly ask God to give me a forgiving heart. And when Our Lord reminds me of how much mercy He has given me, it becomes so much easier to be merciful to those who do me wrong.

C. Complete Trust in God’s Mercy

For me, this is the most difficult. I am someone who becomes overwhelmed by the full weight of my sins. But we are called to trust in God’s mercy.

I think it is telling that at the bottom of the famous Divine Mercy portrait of Jesus, the words are “Jesus, I trust in You!”

We have to trust in God’s mercy, otherwise we will let sin hold sway over our lives. This is a common tactic of the evil one. After he tempts us to sin, he hits us with overwhelming guilt. Now there can be a healthy guilt that brings us to repentance. But there is an unhealthy guilt that overburdens us and obscures the light of God in our lives. Remember our Lord said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) CS Lewis said that “I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.” (Letters of CS Lewis) And of course we must remember the words of Pope St. John Paul II who said “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.”

You can read the whole article here.

Sunday Best: Summer Movie Season 2026

   It is now April, so it's time to look forward to one of my favorite seasons of the year: Summer movie season.

It used to be that Summer movie season would begin in June.  But then it became standard for the big movies to come out in May.  

I know as a cinephile I should be more interested in when the "important" movies come out just before the major awards.  But I think the movies of summer are pure cinema and tend to be the ones remembered long after people have forgotten the plot of whatever film won the Oscar for Best Picture.

Here is a list, with a few brief thoughts of my own, including on a scale of 1-5 stars my likelihood of seeing it in theaters (1 being “Not at all” 5 being “Cannot wait!”).


MAY 1

Devil Wears Prada 2

 

It always surprised me how much I enjoyed the original film.  I care nothing for fashion, so it is a testament to the film makers that they got me to care so much.  And the movie still holds up after so many years.  So I will definitely see this movie in theaters.  (*****)

Animal Farm

 

It is hard to overstate how thematically inverted this film looks.  First of all, the novel is a dark and serious allegory for Russian communism.  This movie looks like a children's film about the dangers of western capitalism.  I cannot understand the insanity of this move.  (*)

MAY 8

Sheep Detective

 

This has a unique idea set in a traditional British murder mystery.  It could be cute and enjoyable.  I love the cast (***)

Mortal Kombat II

 

The most recent Mortal Kombat was enjoyable, but became to gory/violent and they killed off the best character in the movie.  This one looks like an improvement with a fantastically cast Karl Urban as Johnny Cage.  If it wasn't for that, I probably would not be interested (***)

MAY 15
In the Grey

 

This looks like a typical heist movie, but nothing special about it yet (**)

Obsession

 

I am not into horror movies. (*)


MAY 22

The Mandalorian and Grogu

 

A lot of people have been dumping on this movie, but I am excited.  I know that Season 3 of the show was not the strongest, but with Jon Favreau (who was instrumental in the success of the first season) directing this one,  I think this could be a fantastic Star Wars movie.  (*****)

 

MAY 29

Pressure

 

A war movie about meteorology.  I get it, but it just isn't grabbing me.  (**)

The Breadwinner

 

Nate Bargatze has quickly become one of my favorite comedians, so I am going to give this movie a try.  From what I have seen, he does not have a lot of acting skill.  But neither did some of the greats like Adam Sandler in the beginning of their film careers.  I'm hoping the the funny outweighs everything else in this film.  (****)

JUNE 5

Masters of the Universe

 

The first trailer left me lukewarm.  But something about the most recent one has me excited.  I think it was the shot of Trapjaw, who looks the way I always imagined a live-action version of that character to look.  That one moment transported me to my grade-school self playing with my He-Man action figures.  I think they hooked me.   (****)

Scary Movie 6

I've liked some movies in the series, but I have the feeling this one is going to be awful.  The trailer was more vulgar than funny.  (*)

JUNE 12

Disclosure Day

 

I am always up to see a Spielberg movie.  Granted, he has not been up to the height of his powers in the last ten years or so.  But because this one has a lot more story influence from him, I'm hoping that it will be good.  (****)

JUNE 19
Toy Story 5

 

I like that this movie has something relevant to say, but not in a political way.  It is talking about technology and its affect on imagination.  For that reason, I think this is more interesting that many recent PIXAR films (****)

The Death of Robin Hood

 

The cast looks good, but I am so over the demythologizing of heroes from the Western cannon.  It has not been edgy or interesting for a long time.  (**)

JUNE 26
Supergirl

 

This is another movie that the online geek community has been bagging on.  I don't know that it will be great, but I think it looks enjoyable.  I especially love Jason Momoa's Lobo, which is perfect casting. (****)
 

JULY 1

Minions and Monsters

Whoever thought of the insanity of joining The Call of Cthulhu  to a Minions movie is either crazy or a genius.  Or both.  (***)

Young Washington

This could be an interesting historical drama.  But I might wait for streaming. (***)

JULY 10

Moana

 
I am not the biggest fan of the original, so I am not terribly excited for the live-action remake.   (**)



JULY 17

The Odyssey
 

Why does every Christopher Nolan movie seem like an event?  Right now, I think he is the only director that can get people hyped based on his name alone.  I was fortunate to see an early clip of the sacking of Troy and it looks amazing!     (*****)

JULY 24

Evil Dead: Burn

 

Not into horror movies. (*)

JULY 31

Spider-Man: Brand New Day 

Of the MCU franchises, I think this is one of the strongest.  Tom Holland's Spider-Man is the most like the one I pictured from the comics.  I like that this feels a little more "street-level" like Spider-Man: Homecoming.   (*****)

August 7
Fall 2

 

Didn't see the first one (*)

One Night Only

 

I'm not sure I can get my head around the premise about adultery being excusable for one night or something like that.  Anyway, I think this is a pass for me. (*)

AUGUST 14

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie

 

Not for me (*)

The End of Oak Street 

I need to see more before I get interested(**)

AUGUST 21
Spa Weekend

 

The movie has a pretty decent cast, but I need to see a trailer first.  (**)

AUGUST 28

Coyote vs. Acme

I more curious about this one than anything.  This was a movie that was shelved for years by Warner Bros, so it could be terrible.  But if it isn't, it would make the studio look very foolish.  I like the idea of Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation.  (**)

Cliffhanger

This seems like a pointless remake.  But I'll wait for a trailer before deciding. (**)

Thoughts?