Ghostbusters (2016)
3 out of 5 stars
No need to compare to the original. Still,it knows its roots w/ a fabulous cast enlivening this frivolous yet diverting reboot. Maybe not in full force, but its spirit is there & can be savored. Believe it or not, Hemsworth nearly steals all of the laughs from the ladies.
Our Kind of Traitor
2.5 out of 5 stars
McGregor & Skarsgard give enthralling performances in a tightly wound, yet generic tradecraft thriller. Its trepidation simply needs a boost from a bit more intrigue & volatility.
Zero Days
3 out of 5 stars
Cyber warfare is at its most alarming in this doc where a virus can physically make a country crumble. The thrills & espionage is charging until it becomes an intricate,overly informative lecture, eventually forcing comprehension further & further away. But good luck shaking it’s dread & terror of future wars.
The Infiltrator
2.5 out of 5 stars
This undercover drug story is not nearly as riveting or tension-filled as Cranston’s excellent performance. The film settles on being secondhand, battling if it wants to cut loose or stay confined within its genre. Regrettably, it can’t smuggle itself out if it’s comfort zone.
Swiss Army Man
4 out of 5 stars
An absurd yet anomalous movie experience where amazing music & duo performances give life to a vision of fantastical escapism. Despondency, loneliness, & acceptance gives breath to a harsh realism of trying to be anyone else but yourself.
The Fundamentals of Caring
2.5 out of 5 stars
You can never go wrong w/ Paul Rudd. His charm & humor adds warmth to a very basic, predictable movie that’s quickly forgettable.
The Purge: Election Year
1.5 out of 5 stars
Its politics are meant to stir, but instead, get buried under senseless action & cartoonish gimmicks w/ dumb masks playing into laughable “scares”. There’s not a drop of blood left in these messy massacre movies.
Star Trek Beyond
3.5 out of 5 stars
A not so bold, yet entertaining chapter in the historic sci fi adventure series. Director Lin’s fluent story takes flight early with warp speed. It remembers where it came from & what made Star Trek popular 50 yrs ago.
The BFG
3 out of 5 stars
Spielberg’s vision is spectacular, filling each scene with dazzling beauty. And while Rylance is spellbinding as the titled character, the movie was born to posses bigger dreams. Galvanization is low by being too kiddie & hopes were too high.
Dark Horse
4.5 out of 5 stars
A small, luckless Welsh community breaks all of the rules in horse racing in this incredibly inspirational doc. A horse fueled by hope, these unlikely champions spiritedly let their Dream run.
The Shallows
3 out of 5 stars
Blake Lively fights like hell w/ a stirring performance in a primitive shark survival tale. But it’s lean w/ stunning scenery & thrills that kill.
Independence Day: Resurgence
3 out of 5 stars
Like its predecessor, this out of this world sequel goes bonkers w/ detestable aliens & an abundance of explosions lighting up the screen. Your smarts may be demolished, but if carnage is what you want, that’s absolutely what you’ll get.
Lights Out
3 out of 5 stars
Believable, hypnotic performances w/ truly spine-chilling moments lift this horror movie scrabbling to make a lot out of a little. Total credit to the director for keeping it lean & brisk.
The Legend of Tarzan
2 out of 5 stars
Vine swinging. Chest-pounding. It’s all there. But while there’s scraps of a grand adventure, this recreated tale is never revitalized on ideas or execution.
Central Intelligence
3 out of 5 stars
A dumb, fun-loving knockabout where Johnson & Hart’s combined charisma sends us on an entertaining, but inconsistent ride. An action comedy where some jokes don’t stick & most of the action doesn’t electrify.
Warcraft
2 out of 5 stars
It’s impressiveness fades fast, & the realization you’re not witnessing an epic hits you like an Orc hammer. Duncan Jones’ proven brilliance,along w/ his beamish enthusiasm, is squashed by this dull, soulless fantasy.
Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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