"The Rise of Skywalker" Movie Review

by John Zenoni

Ok, most people who know me really well know that sci-fi is not really my bag as far as movies -- with the exceptions being the Alien films and the Star Wars series (don’t even get me started on Star Trek - no!). Anyway, tickets were bought back in October for the showing of the latest entry in the Star Wars saga, this one called, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and tonight was the premiere. I will have to say that the excitement was very much present in the theater while everyone was waiting for the show. I did see quite a few people wearing Star Wars t-shirts as well as a few people in costume. This is the one film I know of where you can pretty much expect that to happen.

Let me start by saying that my familiarity of the series goes back to the original entries from the late 70’s to mid 80’s as I grew up with my brother watching Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, Yoda, Wookiees, Darth Vader, etc. While I've seen all the other entries since then, needless to say I haven't been as enthusiastic about them - starting with “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” as so many new characters, plot lines, and changes have taken place it's been hard for me to keep up.

With that being said, I will do my best to give my insight and thoughts about this latest entry. Let me begin by borrowing a quick synopsis of the film from IMDB: “The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga.”

I think there are a couple of areas I shall focus on that impressed me. First of all, the special effects. How can you see a Star Wars film and not be impressed? While nothing I saw was mind blowing- with the exception of one scene where Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) is in the desert and is running away from a TIE fighter, piloted by Kyle Ren (played by Adam Driver) - everything is still excellent. Speaking of that scene, to quote Lindsey Romain, from an article in Nerdist magazine, April 18, 2019, ‘The teaser opens with a shot of Rey, panting and pumped with adrenaline, running from a red-faced TIE fighter on an unnamed desert planet. As the fighter, likely piloted by the villainous Kylo Ren, barrels towards her, Rey leaps into the air and elegantly flips over the ship, avoiding collision. The moment is a beautiful offering of the Force power she’s learned to wield since her clumsier handling of a lightsaber in The Force Awakens, evidence of her growing mastery.’

The other thing I enjoyed was the action as there was plenty of it in this film. The interaction between the characters is full-throttle and never fails to keep your eyes glued to the screen. The fighting scenes between Rey and Kylo with light sabers are especially intense and very well done.

The last thing I particularly enjoyed was seeing some familiar faces from the past in this film. It's amazing to think that this series has been around as long as it has and this film re-introduced some of the characters I grew up with.

Now, as far as the ranking of this film in comparison to the others in the Star Wars saga, I don’t think this one will be as well loved as compared to others. The reason being I believe is because of the turn taken with some of the main characters. At least I was surprised by the ending I will put it that way. Also, some of the characters in the previous film played very pretty significant parts but in this film they played minor, if even useful, roles. Finally, the storyline. I don’t know, it seemed to neatly wrapped up to me. I can't help but think tha there are other film goers who would have expected more with this being the last in the Skywalker saga.

"Jumanji: The Next Level" is the Best in the Series

The third time's the charm. The Rock and company are back in the jungle (and the desert and mountains) in a new adventure that easily tops 2017's nearly billion dollar-grossing trip to the video game world of Jumanji. Hoping for lightning to strike twice, the whole gang returns in this sequel that once again pits them against a Star Wars flick in a quest for big profits. While Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle debuted after The Last Jedi two years ago, this time around Jumanji: The Next Level is up to bat a full week prior to The Rise of Skywalker's release.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Although Fridge destroyed the titular dimension-teleporting console with a bowling ball at the end of the last movie, a year later, a depressed Spencer assembles the pieces and heads back inside the game in an attempt to regain his mojo. However, when Spence is unpleasantly surprised by Jumanji's new features and finds himself trapped, his friends -- Fridge, Martha and Bethany -- throw caution to the wind and hop back into their avatars in order to rescue their amigo. Except that not only are the mission locations different but so are the characters -- Dr. Bravestone, Mouse, Shelly and Ruby Roundhouse -- that they inhabit. Also along for the ride are Spencer's grandfather Eddie and Eddie's former best friend Milo. Once again faced with the challenge to beat impossible odds with only two lives to spare apiece, the group must work together in order to make it back to the real world.

Set at Christmas, The Next Level is sort of like an Indiana Jones holiday special (except much better than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and is superior to Welcome to the Jungle -- not to mention the original Jumanji -- in every way: the action is more exciting, the animals are meaner, the jokes are funnier and there are three times as many exotic but dangerous locales. Aside from the action, the flick also delivers some pretty decent messages about friendship and growing older.

The Next Level isn't deep but if you're looking for an adventure-comedy with a Christmas chaser that doesn't ask you to think too much then you could do a lot worse than Jumanji 3.

February 2020 Movie Trailers

February 7

Birds of Prey

February 14


Sonic the Hedgehog

February 21


Bloodshot

The Call of the Wild

January 2020 Movie Trailers

January 17

Dolittle

The Last Full Measure

Bad Boys for Life

March 2020 Movie Trailers

March 6


Onward

The Way Back

March 20


A Quiet Place II

"Knives Out" Movie Review

by John Zenoni

Wow! What a joyride Rian Johnson's modern whodunit “Knives Out” is. This is a great mystery that engages you from the get-go and, for me at least, keeps you guessing until the end. 

This film has so many things in its favor - the storyline is great, the pace of the film itself is perfect for a murder mystery, the big reveal at the end is satisfying and the cast is a brilliant ensemble of great actors.

Of the films directed by Mr. Johnson, “Brick”, “The Brothers Bloom”, “Looper”, and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, the only one I had seen is “The Last Jedi.” He definitely has my attention now based on his direction of this particular film. He did a very good job of providing great entertainment by keeping the audience guessing .

The film is based on the death of a very successful mystery writer, Harlan Thrombey (played by Christopher Plummer), and his money hungry family. After the unexpected death of this family patriarch, an investigation ensues and master detective, Detective Benoit (played by Daniel Craig), is brought in to figure out what's happened. From this point on we get to see the family with the ugly sides coming out and everyone anxiously waiting for the will reading to see who, if anyone, will get any of Harlan’s fortune. It only gets more involved from this point with the tension building as each of the characters interact with each other.

The cast consists of so many good actors: the already mentioned Christopher Plummer and Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Katherine Langford, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Lakeith Stanfield and Jamie Lee Curtis. All of them do an amazing job in their roles and I'd definitely watch another film featuring this particular ensemble.

This is one of the best, fun murder-mystery films I've seen in a long time.