Aladdin (阿拉丁) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, and Will Smith. The supporting cast include Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, and Nasim Pedrad. This is an live action adaption of the same animated movie from Disney.
Aladdin makes his living on the streets of Agrabah with is pet Abu. When the local Princess Jasmine decides to have some fun in the city, they help each other out. Aladdin is captured and tasked with get a magic lamp for the evil Jafar. But Aladdin accidentally releases the Genie and is given three wishes. Can Aladdin have it all?
The live action film was enjoyable and there were the songs. Good for one watch.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (蜘蛛人:離家日) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Tom Holland, Jake Gyllenhaal, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, and Cobie Smulders. The supporting cast include Jon Favreau, J. B. Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr, and Marisa Tomei. This is a sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming (蜘蛛人:返校日), the 23rd film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and the last film of the MCU's phase 3. The movie effectively ends the Infinity Saga.
As school ends, Peter deals with the lost of Tony Stark. A summer science trip to Europe with his schoolmates seems like the perfect get away for Peter. Peter decides to leave his suit at home. However, when he gets to Europe, Nick Fury pulls him into fighting the elementals. Along the way, Peter tries to tell MJ his feelings for her. Can Peter fight the elementals and get the girl?
This film feels so different than the last two Avengers film that its a bit of fresh air. I will say that the demo for this film is more for my teenage daughter than it is for this middle age man. BUT it was still a very enjoyable film.
The story itself was actually pretty complicated, but the movie was able to keep most people on board. However, the whole MJ romance thing was a bit of a bore as the MCU doesn't deal with that as regularly recently.
This movie ends the current Phase 3 of the MCU and the boarder Infinity Saga that spanned Phase 1 and 2 as well. What an amazing run of 23 films to end this saga. Spider-man does a good job of capping this chapter of the MCU.
Cold Pursuit (酷寒殺手) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Liam Neeson. The supporting cast include Tom Bateman, Tom Jackson, Emmy Rossum, Domenick Lombardozzi, Julia Jones, John Doman, and Laura Dern. If you look at his interviews, Neeson sees this film as a 360 from his Taken films.
Neeson plays a snow plow worker for a city outside of Denver, a ski resort town of Kehoe, Colorado. When his son is killed, he finds enough to start going after those that are responsible for his death. However, he plays a character that's on the straight and narrow and doesn't do crime well. As he goes, he ends up bumbling his way to revenge.
If you like Neeson, you'll like this film. The film takes the best of his Taken series and his more recent films as he's over 10 years older than his first Taken film. A interesting Neeson film that is worth a watch.
Instant Family (速成家庭) is an 2018 film. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, and Isabela Moner. The supporting cast include Gustavo Escobar, Julianna Gamiz, Margo Martindale, Julie Hagerty, Tig Notaro, and Octavia Spencer. The movie was a surprise hit of the 2018 holiday season.
A married couple, Pete & Ellie Wagner, are alive and well without children. They seem happy with their careers until a snide remark about them and children send them down the path of considering fostering. The explore it and give it shot. When they like Isabella, they ended up taking her two younger siblings. From no kids to 3 kids. The comedy ensues and the kids test them and their parents. In the end, will these two untrained and unqualified individuals want to stay in the thick of things with these children?
I watched this via digital purchase around Christmas time and my kids have watched it at least a couple more times since. So I feel they really liked the story. I was pleasantly surprised myself as I am not the biggest Mark Wahlberg fan. The kids ended up stealing the show and made for us getting on their side.
An entertaining family movie that you can watch over and over again.
Hellboy (地獄怪客:血后的崛起) is an 2019 film. The movie stars David Harbour as Hellboy. The supporting cast include Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim, and Thomas Haden Church. The movie is a reboot and is not a sequel to the previous Hellboy movie series. The character is based on the comic version.
Hellboy is part of a US government squad that fights paranormals. When lent out to the UK, he's framed and nearly killed. Now, he must stop a King Arthur era witch from reforming. Along the way, a medium and werewolf help him out. Will Hellboy be tempted to birthright calms or grander or will his human father have succeeded.?
Not sure what to say about this movie. Just trying to write a summary for it was hard. The movie was going for an Hellboy origin story that does a poor job or making us care for him. In the end, all the fighting was a bit meaningless.
Stylistically, this movie didn't have the same feel as the previous film series. But went more gore style and it was a little bit off. I can't really recommend this movie.
