Harold & the Purple Crayon

Harold & the Purple Crayon (2024)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a cute rendition of the popular children's book by the same title come to life. Harold isn't entirely sure why he was created, and sets off on an adventure to find the "old man", his creator. Along the way, he learns a lot of things about this world and the world of stories like where he comes from. Not everything is as it seems, but there's definitely an adventure waiting at any moment with a little imagination and a special purple crayon. Surprisingly, it was my son who really wanted to watch this and seemed to genuinely enjoy it. A good family friendly movie to add to the collection.

Jumanji 4: The Next Level

Jumanji 4: The Next Level (2019)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Jumanji is now a video game rather than the board game it's been in movies past. You still are dragged into the game if you start playing until the end, but with a little tweak... each computer generated character has a set number of lives they can die and come back as a video game character, where in the original, dying one time would be fatal on it's own. Your character might not necessarily be human either, which may come as another surprise. Some characters have played the game multiple times, others are new to the experience, and others may choose to stay rather than returning to the real world. An odd choice, but to each their own in this strange adventure. Just be sure to watch out for the wildlife, among other things...

Men in Black 4: International

Men in Black 4: International (2019)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Agent M was determined to join the MIB, basically forcing herself into the ranks against all odds after an encounter of the intergalactic type when she was a child. This encounter ends up paying off for her and her new partner, Agent H. Didn't expect a lot coming into this given the critiques I'd overheard. There are a lot of inconsistencies with the original trilogy, however, if you watch it just as a stand alone movie within the same universe, it is entertaining.

Pixels

Pixels (2015)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


A slightly different twist on a common aliens destroying the earth theme. A space capsule is sent out containing videos of old arcade games. The aliens take these games to be a declaration of war and set out on creating pixel versions of these "soldiers" to eliminate earth following the 3 lives per game rule to take over. Interesting how a little misunderstanding can lead to very strange and complete chaos. It's like watching a train wreck - it's so insane and horrible you can't look away even though there are times when you really want to.

Men In Black 2

Men In Black 2 (2002)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Increase the humor, make the villain a sexy lady the boys all want to stare at, throw in a doomed love interest and possible planetary destruction: you have MIB 2. The catch? The only person who knows the information needed to save the planet is Agent K, who had his memory erased and is now "living normally" while working at an alien infested post office (though this time he's in the dark about his co-workers). Now it's a race both to find Agent K and to get his memory back in order to save the Last Light before time runs out and/or their newest enemy kills them. The acting isn't as good this time around and some of the effects get a little sloppy. The story line doesn't blend or catch as well as the first time around, and some of the humor feels forced or a little too easy. An amusing watch, but not measuring up to the first installment in the series.

Men In Black

Men In Black (1997)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The original is still the best. Will Smith plays Agent J, newly recruited partner for Agent K, who is apparently a bit of a legend among the MIB. Originally part of the NYPD, J has a lot to learn about the differences in policing interstellar activity instead of just earth activity. Good thing he deals relatively well with weird. Their biggest opponent - the world's largest cockroach out to destroy the planet... well, a couple of them actually. Hope you aren't afraid of bugs, because this film is crawling with them. Turns out J might not have a partner for long after all since he was actually recruited as a replacement.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As expected from the previews, Electro is the main villain this time around. The Green Goblin and Rhino will also make appearances while you'll also see gear for Vulture and Doc Oc if you pay attention. The only purpose to bringing in these other two villains was Gwen's death (Goblin) and Spider-Man's subsequent return to the field (Rhino). If not for these two details, it makes little to no sense to show them at all. Granted, the end of the film hints at Osborn playing a larger role as more villains are brought to the surface with a third installment, if it happens, but that still leaves the overall movie feeling rather disjointed in comparison to the original. Gwen was a great complimentary character to Spider-Man, portrayed much better than how M.J. was done in the original trilogy. Still, original fans of the comics will recognize the way the arc came together and may still approve of sticking closer to the original story line as opposed to the larger deviations that were taken before. Just disappointing that they chose not to do so while keeping it on par with the first release.

The Smurfs 2

The Smurfs 2 (2013)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Naughties are Gargamel's favorite creations. Why? Because they can be turned into real smurfs, complete with the blue essence he needs to use his magic. This has already been proven with Smurfette, the real reason why there has previously only been one female in all of Smurfdom. Her birthday leaves the perfect opening for Gargamel to kidnap her using her newly made "siblings," and get Papa Smurf's magical recipe from her. Just how naughty is Smurfette still? At the same time, both the smurfs and their human friends will be learning some hard lessons about what family really means.

Godzilla

Godzilla (1998)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Found this airing on TV at the hotel. It's been awhile since I last saw it, but I do remember not really caring if I saw it again or not. That feeling didn't change catching it again on TV. Can't say I've ever been a big fan of the rampaging monster movies. Reminds me now of Cloverfield, which I really did not enjoy. Don't think this is my type of movie.

After Earth

After Earth (2013)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Heard some complaints early on about the boy, Jaden, only getting the part to act with his father for the film. While certainly not as good as Will Smith has been on many occasions, I didn't think he was bad by any means. The story is interesting as Earth has become the ultimate challenge - where everything has adapted to kill humans. Still, the son must step up and learn how to conquer fear if both he and his injured father, the renowned perfect soldier without fear, are to survive. Rather predictable, it's a little hard to really measure the performance as Will is shown far too little with all seriousness and emotion locked away, while Jaden is literally windmilling through unknown terrain and making a ton of mistakes that sheer luck doesn't kill him for.

xXx

xXx (2002)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Extreme sports and thrill seeker, Xander Cage, ends up in a forced recruitment for the government, helping in a rather drastic, dangerous and undercover mission. Don't get distracted by all the girls. This is all about espionage and danger. The bad boy image definitely fits his character and personality.

Jumanji

Jumanji (1995)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a wild story if you ever saw one. The jungle comes alive and tears the city apart. Meanwhile the game that brought it to life is the only way to send it all back and return everything to normal.... and not just the normal of the current time. Turn the clock all the way back to when the game started.... 26 years previously when a young boy disappeared inside the game, only to help them survive to finish it years later.

Resident Evil 2: Apocalypse

Resident Evil 2: Apocalypse (2004)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


My husband loves these movies. They're a little gory and repetitive for my tastes however. More zombies, more fleeing for your life, more of Alice saving the day, and more fighting. It feels like this series is just stuck on repeat.

Casey's Shadow

Casey's Shadow (1978)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


A family of drunk hicks goes back on everything they know of good and kind horse care in favor of their minute of fame crossing the finish line. In the end, it looks like the price for this family may be too steep. The damage is already done to Shadow, their winning runner, but that doesn't stop their father from grasping at straws to try and bring them all together again. The boys seemed cheered by the prospect of trying to save Shadow, even knowing he'll never run again. Nothing is shown beyond this however. Overall it's poorly done and very crude.

You Don't Mess With The Zohan

You Don't Mess With The Zohan (2008)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Zohan was a special agent for Isreal who only wanted to cut and style hair. He didn't expect to also find love when he moved to America in pursuit of his dream. More than a little suggestive, this has a mix of very off the wall humor and bad accents throughout. Mindless entertainment that is certainly not everyone's cup of tea.

Total Recall

Total Recall (2012)

My rating: 3 of 5 stares

This is an interesting and somewhat confusing question as rouge agent Douglas Hauser learns his life as Quaid is a lie. Then it begs the question - is he really a rouge agent or an undercover spy to aid the government. In the end he must decide which persona to keep and if he'll help the government or the colony. Doesn't help that the woman he thought was his wife also turns out to be an undercover agent and decides to kill him out of jealousy, against orders, when she learns his original identity. Maybe being anonymous was better for him after all.

Resident Evil 4: Retribution

Resident Evil 4: Retribution (2012)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I walked in on the last part of this and wasn't impressed enough to want to go back to the beginning. These movies seem repetitive, lacking in any new story line or character development. The daughter was interesting for a moment, but being one of many clones just like her mother, quickly lost appeal as they continued with yet more gunfire, trying to get away from the company, and staying out in no-man's-land to escape the flesh eating "zombies." Can't help but hope they don't make another as all that's really put into is more gore, and that's already old news for this series.

The Adventures of Milo & Otis

The Adventures of Milo & Otis (1986)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I used to love this show as a kid. Can't remember how many times we must have rented it from the local video shop growing up. Not sure why my brother enjoyed it so much as he's not nearly into animals as much as I am, but the main characters being a cat and dog likely had a large part in my love of the film. Watching it now, it's highly amusing as the narrator changes his own voice to different pitches and speeds to differentiate the animal's tones. Rather different from more recent animal films where each character really does have their own voice and it isn't so much narrated as acted out. Still, brings back a lot of memories.

The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Despite being a re-launch, this film was put together beautifully. They still took several liberties with the storyline, as movie adaptations often do. However the main characters are much more true to their original design, which was wonderful to see. Overall I have to admit currently prefering this new adaptation to the original trilogy.

Matilda

Matilda (1996)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a cute family film for all ages about a young girl who doesn't fit in with her family and learns some amazing things through some very unusual circumstances that make her life better than she ever dreamed it could be. I remember seeing this as a child myself and enjoying it. Now it's on the list of films for my own daughter to watch - nothing to worry about on the screen with this one.