The movie is boring, unoriginal, and manages to make a once creepy monster feel completely unintimidating. The acting is laughable at best and a drag at worst. Nothing about the writing is coherent or offers any sort of satisfying conclusion.
'The Meg' is one of the more flat out fun movies of this summer, even if it’s also incredibly scary at times. It manages to strike an excellent balance and plays into its clichés very well. While this film may lack depth, it’s stellar cast and generally good acting makes up for the lack of originality that pierces the film.
'Teen Titans Go! To the Movies' is a caped comedy that tries its’ hardest to stand alongside the rest of this summer’s tentpole features, and to an extent, it succeeds. While it’s still weighed down by the trappings of its’ source material and tonal issues, it’s great for kids who are still new to the superhero genre and their parents who long for a bit more in the entertainment they share with their kids. There’s still a lot of better choices out there, but you’ll have a good laugh or two with this one.
‘Christopher Robin’ is a hard film to judge. It plays on nostalgia so well and perfectly brings The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh to life in a more modern setting. There are plenty of funny lines, great moments, and great characters to make the film a treat for those who grew up with Winnie the Pooh. But that doesn’t excuse the heavy-handed, sloppy delivery of a message that’s overdone in family films. It also doesn’t excuse the actual war flashbacks that happen in a movie with talking stuffed animals. Plus, if a child was brought to see the film, they’d be asleep before the movie even got good. It’s a solid watch, but maybe not the best film for the whole family.
"The Driver is Red" tells the tale of one of history's most impressive secret agents. It has the emotional stakes and the gravity of the best of the best spy stories. Fantastic animation and vocal performances help make this film one to remember.
This 20-minute narrative film is filled with stunning writing, amazing cinematography and editing, and great interplay between light and color. It is a gripping thriller that is a must-see for anyone interested in an exciting yet moving cinematic experience.
"Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation" is a fairly inoffensive children’s film with very little to give towards those unfamiliar to the franchise. While the visuals are impressively done and make the film at hand far more tolerable than its’ predecessors, poor writing, juvenile comedy, and a staunch adherence to tropes of Adam Sandler’s prior work hold back a film that could have been more than it was. If you’re a fan of the franchise, Adam Sandler, or simply need a break from the sun, there are FAR better choices out there. However, if you are dragged to see this, it won’t make you beg for an intellectual exorcism- at least, not until the climax.
All in all, 'The Equalizer 2' is an excellent sequel, which improves on the strengths of the original. Although suffering from problems with its plot and pacing, the film exceeds with Denzel Washington’s performance and the acting of its supporting cast, character interactions in its subplots, and intense and interesting action scenes. A fun, worthy sequel that is a blast to watch.
