Streaming Standard: Shadow in the Cloud (2020)

 Any trip where I stay in a Motel requires me to watch a Movie.
I was only in one for a single night, but I still found time for this...

Ms. Moretz plays a woman who hops a ride during WWII out of New Zealand.

She has vague, but firm orders and a mysterious parcel that nobody is allowed to open.

The guys- save one- treat her like dirt, sticking her down in the rear gun canopy.

It's basically like sitting in a see-through canopy while you look DOWN at the Ocean.

They soon find out that she can hear them on the in-plane Radio.

One of them is Byron from VLDL.

She spots something, but they don't believe it.

She's a dame...a broad...a chick with a bad wing.

Even when she spots a Japanese Zero- and saves them- they still don't believe her.
Why?

Well, she just spotted a Gremlin, which is basically a giant bat/rat monster here.

Nobody believes in them, since The Twilight Zone didn't come out until 1959 (and the Episode you're thinking about is from 1963).

Can she convince them of the threat before it is too late?

What is the secret of what she's transporting?

Oh yeah and what exactly is the difference between a 'dame' and a 'broad?'

To find out the answer to 2 of the 3 questions, stream it now (on Netflix at time of writing).

A very enjoyable and fresh Film.  I'm happy to be surprised!

The Film isn't the most original Film in the World- obviously- but does a mix of things you don't see all that often.

How often do you get Period Horror Films- let alone ones that aren't set in the 1970s?

Early in the Film, they really deal with the Sexism of this Era, especially in a group that can be truly toxic in their masculinity.  It doesn't shy away from it.

Once it becomes more of an Action Film and Creature Feature, it keeps the same Themes.

Does it get a bit silly at times?  Yes.
Do I still love it?  Kind of, yeah.  If not more for it.

Shadow is a Film of two parts.  You may like one more than the other, but they were both interesting/fun to me.

Besides, any Film with animated foreshadowing is good in my book.

A Film that puts a new spin on a familiar- if forgotten- creature.  How much you like the Film will depend on how you feel about the transition about halfway through.

Holiday Flix- Top Gun- Maverick (2022)

 A Film that has the need- the need for speed.  That's why it took 4 years to finally come out in Theaters after they shot it.

This is Top Gun- Maverick, the Film that 'saved' Theaters.  That was the hype, wasn't it?

Thanks to my Illinois Family for getting me a free Digital Copy of this one- and the Original too.

Tom Cruise is back in the role of Maverick after (roughly) 30 years and he's here to teach the next Generation how to do it.  That's what Flight School is for, but.... shut up.

In all seriousness, the Plot involves a super-dangerous mission and they want him to prepare them for it.  Can he stop being a, well, maverick and learn to teach?

To find out how this Legacy Sequel turned out, read on...

In 2018 (when this one was actually shot), Maverick is testing a new plane, but the Military wants to put the money into drones.

Thanks, Obama!

He is told that they will only extend the program if they can get it to go Mach-10.

He does it- as the General arrives to shut things down- and then goes to 10.1 and the plane explodes.

Of course he's fine- why would you ask?

See you never again, Ed Harris.

The mostly-offscreen Iceman (Val Kilmer) keeps Maverick in the Navy, as he apparently is the Commander of the Atlantic Fleet.

He gets him a new job- as a Trainer for Top Gun (which is still NOT a real thing).

He's got to teach a whole group of Navy Pilots, including a bunch of future MCU Stars.  The first meeting of Sentry, Mr. Fantastic and new Falcon- neat!

The key person is Rooster, aka the son of his Wingman Goose.

Assuming that the timeline is 1-to-1 here, he's pushing 40 (as we see him as a 4–7-year-old kid in the Flashback) here.
Also, his Mom died between Films, since we couldn't bring back Leading Ladies from Top Gun.

The Mission is next to Impossible (see what I did there?) and he trains them for it. 

 
He also makes them simulate dog fights against him, in spite of the fact that the whole point of the mission is to get out BEFORE the enemy planes arrive.

Oh, well- an excuse for 'the old dog' to teach the young ones some new tricks.

Maverick does have a support system, including his old buddy Sundown (recast from Clarence Gilyard, since he mostly-retired from Acting in 2002).

However, hee keeps butting heads with another authority figure in the form of John Hamm.

He's never happy, until he's proven wrong by Maverick (naturally).

Back in his old stomping grounds, Maverick reunites with Charlotte to.... oh right, she aged differently than Cruise, so she's out.

Instead, he reunites with Penny, who he totally has a long-term relationship with.  Honest!

The whole thing builds up to the mission, which is to keep some Country from getting nukes.  What country, you ask?

Anyhow, it all comes down to Cruise leading the Pilots to save the day.

Can they do it?

To find out, stream it now.

A pretty enjoyable Film that really excels when you see them fly.

Did I care all that much about whether Maverick would get to keep flying?
What about Rooster and his drama?
Whether Maverick will end up with Penny?

Not that much.

They spent lots of time and money really making the interior shots of them in the jets look great.  No question- it is amazing work.

My issue is that this Legacy Sequel never quite wants to admit that the new, younger Characters can be his equals.  We get a line about them 'all being great, but this mission is difficult' to explain why he needs to lead the mission.

Wouldn't it be better if they could do it on their own and he helped them out somehow?  For all its many faults, that last Jurassic World did that right.
See also that last Indiana Jones Film.

For pure spectacle, this is great.  I saw it on 36 inch TV, so I can imagine what a Theater one was like.  I just wish that it led its newer Stars shine more.

A Film that looks amazing on so many levels and is genuinely thrilling.  As far as Legacy Sequels go, however, it is a bit noncommital.

Tubi Thursday: Tales from the Hood 3 (2020)

 A Horror Anthology?
Yes, please!

One anchored by the late Tony Todd.
Double yes!

This is...

In the Framing Device, Tony Todd is transporting a young woman away from 'the bad men' and to 'her Mother.'

She tells him Stories along the way...

In 'Ruby Gates,' a guy hires an arsonist to force out a family so that he can sell the building for a profit.

Things go horribly awry and they die, leading to him being haunted by visions and sounds.

In 'The Bunker,' a lone white man shouts to himself and people over a Radio about how he's surviving in a wasteland against the government.

Of course, it's not that simple and remember that this is Tales From the Hood...

In 'Operatic' a young woman wants to be a Singer and is lead to an older woman who used to be an Opera Singer.

Her boyfriend has some bad intentions for the old lady, but is it that simple?

In 'Dope Kicks,' a guy makes his 'living' by attacking and robbing strangers.

He's cursed by an angry Voodoo Woman and things go crazy when he steals some shoes.

As for the Framing Device, things reach a climax in the basement.

I'm sure that the little girl telling stories of murder and mutilation is not up to anything.

The End.

A random mix of stories that don't actually connect together.

Do Horror Anthologies usually have a full Theme? I feel like the last one did.

In that case, let's look at the Stories...

The first one is a pretty basic tale, but the Effects really sell it.  No shocks, but good scares.
The second one is right out of Black Mirror.  It's not exactly subtle.
The third story is a bit drawn out, but features some creative dark magic nonsense.

The final tale is a decent one about revenge, punishment and kinda like that middle part of Constantine.

Tony Todd is thankfully a delight in his Supporting Role.  He doesn't do much, but...he's also Tony Todd.

All in all, the Film isn't structured smoothly, but is quite enjoyable.  Now to put up my yard sign...

Another mix of random stories that vary from Sci-Fi to classic Horror.  It would be nice if there was a stronger throughline, but it is still fun.

Streaming Standard: A Quiet Place- Part II

 A watch/review I meant to get up before the new Film came out.  Life got in the way.

Let's take a SPOILER-FREE look at the Sequel while you ponder whether or not to see the Prequel.

The Film begins with a Flashback to how it all began for our Heroes/Heroines.

I guess this part did so well that people demanded a full Film like this perhaps?

This gives us a brief look at life before everything changed and more of a look at the creatures.

Did I miss the point in both Films that they are called 'Death Angels' or is that just from the new Film?

The Film proper follows our Leads as they leave the Farm to spread the word about how to defeat the creatures.

I was getting real 'Walking Dead Episodes where they follow the train tracks' vibes, but thankfully this isn't spread out nearly as long.

They find that the creatures- whatever they are called- aren't the only danger, as they walk into a trap.

However, it turns out to be someone they knew before things got all terrible.

The Plot splits when the Daughter- who is deaf- is convinced to follow a radio signal.  
The man they met- Cillian Murphy- reluctantly goes with her to keep her safe.

Back at the other place, keeping a baby quiet and safe in this World proves to be just as difficult.

To find out what happens, stream it now.

A solid Film that builds upon the same formula and expands it a bit.

To start with, the Flashback Intro is really good.  If that really was the reason to greenlight a Prequel, I get it.

The creatures get time to shine and the chaos is well-orchestrated.

What's also nice here is that plenty of Characters get Arcs here.

The Daughter is the most obvious one, as her confidence is tested and maybe she learns to be careful too.

The Son gets to go from a familial liability to a brave helper.

Cillian's Arc is a mixed one, as it is the fairly standard 'Survivor who has suffered loss' one.  No need to reinvent the wheel, I suppose.

Part of me thought at first that having him as the reluctant Father Figure was a bit lazy, but he's so good that I got over it.

All in all, this does what a Sequel should do.  It expands the Story and Setting, it has bigger moments, and it leaves you wanting to see more.

Just don't SPOIL the new one for me now.

A good Sequel that seemed to fly under the radar a bit.  Why did that...oh right, COVID.

Tubi Thursday: Jiu Jitsu (2020)

 Remember when one of those Trailers comes out online and you're like 'Wow, that's weird.'  
Now remember when you forget about the Film actually coming out and then just move on with your life.

That's what happened to me until today with...

A man runs from...something and falls into the water, hitting his head.

He's stitched up and brought to a Military Base in Burma, but he has amnesia.

Meanwhile, a, well, let's just call it like it is, a 'Predator' is on Earth and killing people.

It is a cross between a Predator, a Guyver and those CGI Suits that that Kryptonians in Man of Steel wore.

After meeting his old allies (who he doesn't remember) and engaging in around 26 different Fight Scenes, he ends up meeting the real Star of this Film.

Nic MUFUGGIN Cage.

He reveals the truth to our Hero- after another Fight Scene, of course.

An Alien Not Predator comes every 6 years to fight the best Earth has to offer.  If they don't fight, he destroys, well, everything.
Cage ran away from his fight and hid.

Apparently, our guy did as well- see the beginning- but now he's willing to work with the others to save the World.

Can our Hero master the art of Jiu Jitsu to stop the Not Predator?

Will I lose count of how many random Fight Scenes take place?

Did I only review this because it has Nic Cage and Tony Jaa in it?

To find out the answers to the first 2 questions (#3 is obviously 'Yes.'), stream it now.

It is fine...I guess.  You really just need to know what to expect.

Basically, it is a series of good to alright Fight Scenes involving lots of people.  In the brief bits without fighting, you get some silly Plot.

That's pretty much it.

I do like watching Tony Jaa (clearly, if I made it through Ong Bak 2 & 3) and Cage was good fun here.  Too bad our Lead- like most in these kinds of Films- has to be about as exciting as watching paint dry in someone else's house.

Seriously, you really do appreciate the naturally charismatic Leads like Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee (to name the obvious) when you get so many that can fight...but you just kind of accept them as Actors.
Thankfully, they got 'Crab Man' from My Name is Earl to liven things up at times.

The Film has a wacky premise, a wacky performance by Cage, a cool-looking villain and... a pretty so-so execution.  This is just less bonkers than I was expecting.  

Kind of like the alternate Title really.

A good series of Fight Scenes that don't connect to make that great of a Film.  At least Cage and Jaa are good here.

Tubi Thursday: Sky Sharks (2020)

 Well, I did mention Flying Sharks last Review, didn't I?

It is time to deliver with...

A passenger plane full of random Actors and Extras- Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa and Robert LaSorda- are attacked by strange men on flying sharks.

Yep.  Why not?

They kill everyone as we get the Titles.

This is, I guess, the 4th Reich making their big move.  They made sharks that can fly...somehow.

Why they attacked a random plane, thus revealing themselves, is anyone's guess.

Our Heroes are an old Scientist- who worked on the original Flying Shark Program- and his two Daughters.

Can they lead a ragtag group of Soldiers to victory?

Will you enjoy Tony Todd's remote scenery chewing as much as I did?

As the World is in peril, nobody seems to be up to the task.

If you have to stop Flying Sharks and Nazis, what would you do?

To find out what they do, watch the Film now.

It is a fun, if disjointed mess of a Film.  There are many things to like here...with a big caveat.

If you are the kind of person, like me, who would click on a Film called Sky Sharks, you will like what the Film has to offer.

If you are not, then you won't be a fan.

The draw here is the crazy visual of the Sharks, the Nazi Zombies and lots of gore.  It is full of practical effects, so I'm not going to complain.

That said, the Plot is pretty much a series of random Scenes.  To put it into context, after the final Battle, I was expecting one more thing to happen.  So, when the Credits started, I was like 'Oh, that's it?'

Sky Sharks is a dumb, but enjoyable bit of Sci-Fi bollocks.  It has lots of loud music- some of it good- to distract you from the, well, nothing that is happening sometimes.  

That said, I watched this instead of a Mark Polonia Film, so I still win in the end.  No delays here.

A fun, stupid Film in the vein of Kung Fury.  That said, it has good CGI Sharks and enough nonsense to fill up 90 minutes.

Tubi Thursday: Malignant (2021)

 WB/Discovery's loss is your gain- at least for the next week or so.

I decided to take a break from Chinese Monster Movies for a recent release lent to Tubi.  

I have bad news.  It's...

The Film opens with some freaky stuff at a Hospital in 1993 involving Gabriel.  They say that they have to 'remove the Cancer.'

In the Present, a pregnant Nurse is hit against the wall by her abusive boyfriend, and he's killed that same night.

She starts to see herself in strange places, seeing visions of a coat-wearing man killing and abducting people.

What's going on?!?

Well, she's seeing real attacks, so it is not in her head.

And, to save you time, this is not Bill Fagerbakke (aka Patrick Star).
I checked.

Things don't get cleared up as our Heroine's grasp on reality seems to be getting even more tenuous.

How does this connect to her childhood and why can't she remember it?

When in doubt, use the power of Google.

Just don't use it to SPOIL the Film, since I'm not going to here.

To see the Film, stream it really soon (or go to Max).

This one is pretty damn weird.  Admittedly, I kind of got the 'Second Viewing Experience' on the first one, since I got this one SPOILED for me long ago in a YouTube Video.  It was my choice, so be it.

That said, I'm still not going to SPOIL it for you here.  I really want to, but I won't.

The Film has all of the best and worst aspects of James Wan's work here.  If you can't stand his style, you probably won't like this one.  That said, he does crib quite a bit from Argento- the Camera Angles and Tracking-, Bava- the lighting-, Cronenberg- the visceral nature of the body stuff- and Carpenter- the Music.

So, for me, it is the best James Wan experience since it was 'inspired' by so many good Directors.  I never hated Wan's stuff, to be clear, but I always found the praise for him to be pretty grandiose.  He never sucked or anything.

Non-SPOILER bit- the Film is very violent, freaky and pretty fun.  When you find out the true Story, you'll either love it or hate it.  I lean more towards the former, at least right now.

Now how can I get you to stick around to read my less popular Film Reviews?  Oh yeah...

A freaky Film that really 'goes there.'  Yes, I have many, MANY questions, but I enjoyed the ride all the same.