Aquaman - 水行俠

Aquaman (水行俠) is an 2018 film. The movie stars Jason Momoa and Amber Heard, reprising their roles from Justice League (正義聯盟). The supporting cast include Randall Park, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman. This is the sixth film of the DC extended universe. This film is directed by James Wan



The different kingdoms of the underwater world have long stayed hidden from the surface world. However, with mounting discontent, two kingdoms seek to unify them all for an all out attack on the surface world. But many do not and seek the help of the now famous Aquaman. When mounting disasters caused by huge tidal waves hit the shores of the world hard, Arthur, the Aquaman, makes a trip to Atlantis to see what he can do. Arthur needs to find the original trident and take over the throne to stop the war. Can the Aquaman live up to expectations of him in order to save the world?

I like this movie a lot. It was a fun watch. BUT you do need to put your realistic hat away and just go with it. It IS a super hero movie and you should set your expectations so forth. The underwater realm was realistic and I like how it was easy to tell between land and sea. The acting was what you expect. James Wan's makes improvements to his action repertoire after his first turn with Furious 7. It's Wan's world and we're just living in it.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout - 不可能的任務:全面瓦解

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (不可能的任務:全面瓦解) is an 2018 film. The movie stars Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Michelle Monaghan, Alec Baldwin, Henry Cavill, and Vanessa Kirby. This is the sixth installment of the Mission: Impossible film series. The storyline doesn't take place much after the 5th movie, at around 2 years.



The movie starts with Ethan and group trying to get back three stolen plutonium cores in Berlin. However, when the plan fails, the cores are back on the market. Now the CIA get involved and they don't particularly like the IMF. So, they plant an CIA operative that will assist Hunt to get back those cores. They find out about a buy that's happening and go after the cores. But the buy doesn't go as plan and find out about the Syndicate connection. When they go after that connection, all hell breaks lose and Hunt has to save the world again. Can he make it out alive and save the world?

This 6th installment was fun. I think they are trying to top each other with each one. I was gifted 1-5 for xmas and plan on rewatching them again in the near future. I think I have a special place for John Woo's 2nd installment. It's impact of that movie on the action genre was more intense than the other 5. Howevet, action these days are so over the top, its hard to impact anything these days.

This installment had all the elements of mystery, not knowing the whole story until the end, and lots of spy drama. The story does take many twist and turns that confused some of the people I watched the film with. But they still got enough to know the impact of the storylines to the ending.

I highly recommend this film if you like spy action thrillers.

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation - 尖叫旅社3:怪獸假期

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (尖叫旅社3:怪獸假期) is an 2018 animated film. The movie voices include Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, David Spade, and Steve Buscemi. As the title suggest, this is the third film in the franchise. The third installment follows Dracula and his family on a vacation cruise.



Feeling a little out of sorts, Dracula is convinced to go on a vacation, a vacation cruise. While there, the family gets to relax instead of having to take care of guests like at their hotel. While recharging, the scion of an former foe lurks in the background. That scion has a master plan that will destroy Dracula and his family. Can they relax and avoid this disaster?

This third installment was the weakest of the three. It might even be the last unless really want to milk this franchise even more a la Ice Age. The first two had pretty unique storylines that could have held with any fiction-zed character. However, the vacation cruise storyline is not unique and was ultimately quite boring.

I would stick to re-watching 1 and 2 and don't bother with the 3rd.

Ocean's 8 - 瞞天過海:八面玲瓏

Ocean's 8 (瞞天過海:八面玲瓏) is an 2018 film. The films stars an ensemble cast of Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, and Awkwafina. The movie is not a direct sequel to the other George Clooney and Brad Pitt Ocean movies, Sandra Bullock plays an Ocean in the same universe. Just like the trailers, this is a heist movie through and through.



Sandra Bullock plays Debbie Ocean, the sister of Danny Ocean, George Clooney's character in the other Ocean movies. Debbie was sent to prison and the movie starts with her release from confinement. Debbie immediately seeks out her old friends to a big heist that she's been plan for all her time behind bars. Debbie gets her Brad Pitt counterpart in Cate Blanchett playing Lou Miller. Together they get their target, build their team and the heist. The heist is to steal the Toussaint, a $150 million Cartier necklace, from the Met Gala, 3 weeks after her release. Pretty crazy! Let the recruitment begin! You saw the list above, its a bit of a who's who of female actors that have their own skills and thieving ways. Do they have enough skills to carry this out and steal the Toussaint?

Entertaining movie. If you like the Ocean's Eleven remake, you'll definitely like this one. The ensemble cast make for an entertaining ride. Sure, all the characters play a bit to a certain stereotype. But so what, that's are more personality driven than the race or creed. I recommend a watch. I got this via T-Mobile's Redbox promotion.

Tag - 貼背戰

Tag (貼背戰) is an 2018 film. The movie stars Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress, Jon Hamm, and Jeremy Renner as the main tag players. The supporting cast include Annabelle Wallis, Isla Fisher, Rashida Jones, and Leslie Bibb. The movie is based on a true story of a bunch of friends whom have played tag well into their adulthood.



Jeremy Renner plays Jerry, whom has never been tagged in the 30 years they have played the game. Ed Helms as Hoagie and Jon Hamm as Bob are determined to get them. Hoagie convinces the group to team up saying that Jerry is going to retire after his upcoming wedding. They all head back to their hometown to get Jerry. Hi-jinx ensue. Do they eventually get Jerry? Can their friendships last after all this?



This movie was super fun. The main stars of the film are all around my age and their life stage are the same. Made for me really connecting with them. The cast played well off each other in the midst of the story that was embellished. The bonus features also has a short story of the true story that this film is based on.

If you're in your late 30s and over, you'll really enjoy this.

2018 December Blockbuster Movie Guide

Here are the movies to look out for this month, US Edition.

Mary Queen Of Scots (雙后傳)



Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (蜘蛛人:新宇宙)



The Mule (賭命運轉手)



Mortal Engines (移動城市:致命引擎)



Once Upon a Deadpool



Aquaman (水行俠)



Bumblebee (大黃蜂)



Mary Poppins Returns (愛-滿人間)



Holmes And Watson (福爾摩濕與滑生)



Sources:
IMDB Coming Soon
Box Office Mojo
Wikipedia.org
Taiwan Yahoo! Movies
WMoov Hong Kong

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - 侏羅紀世界:殞落國度

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (侏羅紀世界:殞落國度) is an 2018 movie. The film stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. This is the fifth film of the Jurassic Park series and the second of the Jurassic World trilogy. This is the direct sequel to Jurassic World (侏羅紀世界).



Years later and after Owen and Claire have broken up. The society wants to eliminate the dinosaurs. But Claire finds a benefactor willing to bring some back to a habitat. Claire convinces Owen to go back to the island to retrieve Blue whom has eluded capture. While there, they find out that the benefactor has other more ominous plans for the dinosaurs. Basically a black market on exotic goods that go for millions. When they follow the trail back the mainland, they have to battle not only the black market trade, but the dinosaurs escape. Can they help save the dino world?

This movie was like the first, lots of action. But this time, the time spent on character development is much less as they focus on the black market storyline for the majority of the film. There are a couple of other important storylines that didn't get as much time. Maybe they will get their loose ends tied up in the third installment.

If you like action movies, Chris Pratt, and the Jurassic universe, watch it. If you are jumping in with no context, make sure you like Jurassic World (侏羅紀世界) first. And yes, B. D. Wong continues his streak of Jurassic appearances in cameo form.

Ready Player One - 一級玩家

Ready Player One (一級玩家) is an 2018 film. The movie stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance. The film is also produced and directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie is based on a novel of the same name. The film did well enough that if the novel sequel is released, a movie will be made too.

In the future, the world is now into a virtual world. Where movie could be made. When the founders of this virtual world puts a game to find the prizes to own the world, it sets into motion the events of the film. The main stars wants to win the prize to make the game free while the antagonist want to monetize the system to make themselves richer. As the two battle it out for the prizes, three coins, they try to one up each other.

This was an interesting movie that takes the world that's former around us today of virtual worlds and escaping reality. With any movie, creating that world and it being all digital is doable today, but should it be done. It started to look like a video game vs a movie for me. But you could say the same thing of an SFX movie like Infinity War. However, this was no Avengers type movie.

Escape Plan 2: Hades - 鋼鐵墳墓2

Escape Plan 2: Hades (鋼鐵墳墓2) is an 2018 movie. The film stars Sylvester Stallone, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Dave Bautista, Huang Xiaoming, Jaime King, Jesse Metcalfe, Titus Welliver, and Wes Chatham. The movie is a sequel to Escape Plan.

Huang Xiaoming as Shu is taken to a jail. Sylvester Stallone as Ray needs to break them out. The then go through the motions of trying to find the weakness and of course, you break out. Huang ends up being the main star of the movie with even more screentime than Sly in the first half. Eventually Sly's role increases and it ends with him.

A third installment is already in the works and this installment was released to Redbox, digital, and the box office at the same time. If you like Sly and b-movies, you'll be slightly entertained. I for one didn't really enjoy this. Got this via Redbox T-Mobile Tuesday gift.