Final Update

Hello everybody. I've decided to start reviewing on YouTube instead of this blog. I will not be updating this site anymore, but I will try to upload on my YouTube channel as much as possible. Please subscribe to the Jay the Movie Guy YouTube channel if you want to hear more from me.

Link to the channel

Avengers: Infinity War Review

Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Community)

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt

Written by: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)

Review: Infinity War brings together almost everybody in the Marvel universe together for one three-hour epic. And epic is the perfect word to describe it.
This movie juggles these characters with surprising ease. It involves several stories involving groups of these characters, which eventually converge into the final battle. Despite this structure, the movie never feels crowded, which may have been helped by its long run-time.
The rest of the movie is an amazing spectacle. It's funny at times, but it also gets into some dark drama, which we'll get into later.
The villain, Thanos, (played by Josh Brolin) is a surprisingly sympathetic character. Despite his undeniably evil goal of destroying half of the universe, he is doing it to solve overpopulation, and you get the idea that he honestly believes that he is doing the right thing. There are also several moments where he shows that he has emotions. While his character is not as strong as the villain in Black Panther earlier this year, he is still a lot more memorable than in most other superhero movies.
And now I guess it's time to get to the elephant in the room with this movie. This is intended to be only part one of a two part Avengers story, and it ends on a cliffhanger. Except it doesn't exactly feel like a cliffhanger. There is no indication that there will be some kind of resolution to what happens at the end. It's the exact definition of a downer ending.
Not all of the characters make it out alive. Sure there are a lot of deaths that they will probably find some way to undo. But then there are others before the ending that will probably be more permanent. Either way, not everybody in the theater was prepared for it, and if you have kids who want to see it, make sure that they understand that there will be more movies. Because this is a depressing movie, but that's part of what makes it feel so different.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The Ritual Review

Directed by: David Bruckner (V/H/S, The Signal, Southbound)

Starring: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier

Written by: Joe Barton (Humans, Our World War, iBoy) Based on the book by Adam Nevill

Released: On Netflix

Review: Going into the woods never works out well in these kinds of movies.
The story of this British movie follows a group of men who go hiking in Sweden. They decide to take a shortcut, and are stalked by some mysterious force along the way.
This is a tense and effective horror thriller. It starts out as a slow burn thriller, but gradually amps up the intensity until the end. The first hour or so is reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project, but the third act delves into a more Lovecraft aspect. However, this final act, despite having some great monster design, is not as subtle or scary as everything before it, and the ending leaves something to be desired.
But this is still a decent horror movie.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

A Quiet Place Review

Directed by: John Krasinski (The Hollars, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, 3 episodes of The Office)

Starring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds

Written by: Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, John Krasinski

Released: In theaters

Review: Sometimes, a movie doesn't even need sound to be good.
A Quiet Place takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, overrun with monsters. The monsters are blind, and rely on hearing to track their human prey. So, the main characters have to be sure to make as little sound as possible to avoid attracting them.
Therefore, most of the movie takes place in almost complete silence. On the rare occasion where the characters talk, it is in sign language (with subtitles), with only a couple exceptions. But every time a sound is made, it is intense because you know that it could attract the monsters. In other words, the tone and atmosphere are perfect.
The last forty-five minutes or so of this movie is constant suspense, that never falters. It's very well put together, and the characters feel real enough for you to hope they get out alive.
A few complaints I have with the movie is that there are a few character decisions that don't make a lot of sense, a common issue with a lot of horror movies. Also, ironically, it relies a little too heavily on jump scares.
But this is still an excellent and original horror movie. However, a major issue a lot of people are going to have is that since it is so quiet, you will be able to hear every little sound from within the theater. I know I was able to hear the sounds of people eating popcorn and shifting in their seats. But just know that throughout the second half, the entire theater was as quiet as the screen.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Isle of Dogs Review

Directed by: Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, The Royal Tenenbaums)

Starring: Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bob Balaban, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand, Scarlett Johannsen, Harvey Keitel, Tilda Swinton, Liev Schrieber

Written by: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, and Kunichi Nomura

Released: In theaters

Review: Wes Anderson delivers another great stop-motion animated film with Isle of Dogs.
It takes place in a near-future Japan, where all dogs have become the carriers of a disease called canine flu, and are quarantined to a island. The mayor's nephew runs away to the island to look for his own dog, with the help of a band of dogs.
The story is told mostly from the perspective of the dogs. Most of the human characters, including the boy, only speak in Japanese, translated by a completely different character, if at all. But, as we are informed at the beginning, "all of the dogs' barks will be heard in English." But it also very closely follows a related story on the mainland, about a government conspiracy behind the quarantine.
Even though it is an animated comedy about talking dogs, this film has a lot of dark material, mostly about the poor living conditions on the island, and certain parts of the conspiracy. This is probably the main reason for its PG-13 rating.
But despite all that, there is plenty of humor and much of it has a light tone. It has all of the trademarks of a Wes Anderson movie. It's kind of funny and kind of sad, and has a fast paced and consistently interesting story.
It may possibly be more for adults than it is for children (although I think that older children can watch it if they want to), it is still a great animated film with a lot of Wes Anderson's style.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Icarus Review

Directed by: Bryan Fogel (Jewtopia)

Written by: Jon Bertain, Bryan Fogel, Mark Monroe, Timothy Rode

Review: This Netflix documentary, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, is an intriguing, riveting, and somewhat unsettling look at the Russian doping scandal right from where it was leaked.
It starts out innocently enough, with little mention of Russia for some time, with the director Bryan Fogel setting out to make a documentary simply about steroids in sports. He sets out to prove how easy it is to get away with doping, by doing it himself with the help of Russian scientist, Grigory Rodchenkov. However, after some time, Rodchenkov reveals that Russia had a state sponsored doping program for the Olympics, and the focus shifts away from Fogel and to Rochenkov as the scandal becomes public.
It then turns into a tale of conspiracy and international intrigue. It goes in depth into the alleged doping, its effects, and the whistleblowing, while making several allusions to George Orwell's 1984. It also makes you fear for Rodchnkov, who has gone into the witness protection agency, under suspicion that Russian agents might be after him for leaking this information.
This is a very moving documentary, and very deserving of that Oscar.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Also, from now on I've decided to post every Sunday instead of Saturday to give me more time to write these.

Annihilation Review

Written and Directed by: Alex Garland (Ex Machina) Based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer

Starring: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson

Review: Annihilation is one of the trippiest science fiction movies since 2001: A Space Odyssey. 
It focuses on a group of scientists who go on a dangerous mission into a forcefield from space. The rules of nature do not apply here, and this leads to some very bizarre occurrtences.
The overall experience is very cerebral, and full of beautiful special effects. There is very little action or anything intense, but when it does try to be intense or frightening, it succeeds with flying colors.
Unfortunately, for anybody reading this outside of the US, you will not be able to see this movie in theaters. The studio does not have a lot of faith in it, and have decided that for international distribution it will go straight to Netflix.
It isn't difficult to see why it may not be fully embraced by the average moviegoer. It is a very bizarre and artistic movie. The ending is very unclear, and raises more questions than it answers. However, unlike The Cloverfield Paradox, another movie Paramount sold to Netflix to cut their losses, it doesn't feel like things are happening simply for the sake of things happening. But this is still a movie that definitely isn't for everyone.
However, if you want a more intelligent sci-fi movie, and don't mind if it's a little surreal, then this is the movie for you.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Black Panther Review

Directed by: Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station)

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Guira, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis

Written by: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, Based on the comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Review: For the most part, very few mainstream superhero movies have taken on themes that are particularly current themes. But Black Panther is the most socially conscious superhero film in years, as well as one of the best movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The movie takes place in the fictional African country of Wakanda, which is technically advanced, but keeps its technology a secret from the rest of the world. It is a visually stunning place that mixes futuristic and tribal settings seamlessly. The story is also brought to life with a memorable soundtrack from Kendrick Lamar, and the rest of Top Dog Entertainment.
The story brings up difficult and relevant questions. The morality of Wakanda keeping their technology for themselves is brought into question for the vast majority of the movie. This could easily be applied to the real world, but the message is never preachy.
It also features a mostly black cast, who not only do a great job of representation, but are also great actors and interesting characters. Particularly memorable is the villain, played by Michael B Jordan. He is a very sympathetic villain, who legitimately believes that he is doing the right thing throughout. It is for this reason that I think that he is the most interesting villain that the MCU has had so far.
Black Panther has a more different feel from other Marvel movies. It is slightly more intellectually challenging, and less comedic, while still being upbeat and fun. But it is because of this difference that it is so interesting.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Before I Wake Review

Directed by: Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Hush, Gerald's Game)

Starring: Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane, Jacob Tremblay

Written by: Mike Flanagan and Jeff Howard (Gerald's Game, Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil)

Review: Apparently, the US release of Before I Wake has been long delayed since its initial 2015 release. Now, it's available for streaming on Netflix. Normally, this would be a sign that the movie is really bad, but that is not the case here.
I was interested in this movie after finding out it was directed by Mike Flanagan, who is quickly becoming my favorite horror director working today. I haven't seen all of his movies, but  I really liked Oculus and Gerald's Game, and also enjoyed Hush, another Netflix original. Before I Wake is the weakest of these movies, but it is still better than most horror movies out there.
It is about a couple (Bosworth and Jane) who adopt an orphan played by Jacob Tremblay (who after filming, got his big break in the Oscar-winning movie Room). They find out that whenever he is asleep his dreams materialize in the house. For the first third or so of this movie's run time, it comes across as almost whimsical. But later on, his dreams become much darker, and have real impacts on the world around him.
What sets this movie apart from other horror movies is the characters. The movie fleshes them out and you often feel for them, especially the kid. In the end, we get a good glimpse into the kid's mind, and it becomes something more than just a mindless horror flick.
Unfortunately, even though there is some pretty disturbing imagery, there are also a few jump scares. Also, the ending is a little too sentimental, to the point where it comes off as cheesy.
But despite all these flaws, and the bizarre premise, this is still a very moving horror story.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Cloverfield Paradox Review

Directed by: Julius Onah (The Girl Is in Trouble)

Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Oyelowo, Daniel Bruhl, Chris O'Dowd

Written by: Oren Uziel and Doug Jung

Review: As most of you know, this movie has made a big splash by unexpectedly airing a Super Bowl commercial, announcing, not only its existence, but that it would be available for streaming on Netflix right after the game. And so, of course, several people who previously had no idea it existed were eager to rush to their Netflix accounts to see it. This was helped by the fact that the trailer promised that the movie would explain how the events of the first film happened. It didn't. Or at least not very well.
It takes place in the future. There is a global energy crisis, and a bunch of astronauts go into space to test out a new source of energy. Things go horribly wrong.
The rest is a really confusing story about parallel universes or something like that. Weird things happen, but we never know why. The movie never explains the rules of the parallel universe, and it just feels like bad things happen to the crew just for the sake of things happening.
But the biggest mystery is how does any of this connect to the other movies. After 10 Cloverfield Lane, I had accepted that these movies may not have taken place in the same universe. But this shows scenes on Earth, where apocalyptic things are randomly happening, and in the end it's revealed that this is the same universe. But was the main story even related to what happened? Did they even land in the same universe. Because the first movie didn't seem to take place in such a bleak future. If it did, then it would probably be even worse that the characters kept filming for so long.
Basically, this is the kind of movie where you think things are going to be explained in the end, but they never are.
The characters are entertaining, but they written pretty generically. The standout is the main character (Mbatha-Raw), who has a troubling past and the performance shows emotional depth. Also, Chris O'Dowd is good at delivering the comic relief moments.
This is still an entertaining movie, but its a very confusing one, that often feels like a second-rate Alien. It was not originally intended to be in the Cloverfield universe, but was re-written to include references to the original, and it shows. The references are forced, and none of it comes together in a way that is satisfying or even makes any sense.

Review: 2 out of 5 stars

The Shape of Water Review

Directed by: Guilermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Pacific Rim)

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon

Written by: Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor

Review: The Shape of Water is a story about a mute woman who falls in love with a human-like aquatic creature held captive in the government facility where she works. Yeah, that's probably not the best sales pitch. But this is still an amazing film.
It is directed by Guillermo del Toro who's known for creating affecting monster movies. He does his usual excellent job in fleshing out the creature. It is a sympathetic, lovable character, and I cared about him throughout. Also, he is made with practical effects that never once seemed fake.
The story is basically a romantic fairy tale. The fantasy elements mesh well with the Cold War setting, much like they did in del Toro's masterpiece Pan's Labyrinth. It keeps a whimsical tone throughout, and features a few scenes that are surreal. It's like Pan's Labyrinth meets ET meets a romantic drama.
Some people might be put off by its more surreal moments, and the ending which raises a few questions. But those who just want a sweet fantasy romance should definitely see this movie.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters Review

Directed by: Hiroyuki Seshita and Kobun Shizuno (Knights of Sidonia)

Starring: Chris Niosi, Martin Billany, Edward Bosco


Written by: Gen Urobuchi, Sadayuki Murai, Yusuke Kozaki

Review: Godzilla's latest outing shows that he can be a menacing force in an animated format. It's a shame that it couldn't have been in a more interesting movie.
The movie is being distributed in America and several other countries via Netflix. It may initially look like a series, because it will ask to play "Part 1, Episode 1", but it is just one ninety minute movie that was released theatrically in Japan. It is expected to become a trilogy, which may be the reason it is shown like this, with Parts 2 and 3 to be added afterward.
This movie has a different feel from previous Godzilla movies. It starts after the monsters have rampaged the cities. Humanity has fled the Earth with help from an alien species, after giant monsters have taken over the world. Now, they have returned to kill the worst monster there was, Godzilla. The movie feels more like a space anime, even when Godzilla shows up near the end.
The animated format suits the monster, keeping him from looking as fake as he does in certain live-action outings. The scenes also show him in an effectively menacing light. He is a very powerful force, and the animation style emphasizes that.
But the rest of the movie is not as good. Before the final Godzilla fight scene, there is over an hour of things that are not as interesting. The concept is kind of intriguing, but the characters feel flat. This is not helped by the fact that there is very little action, and a lot of space jargon.
That is not to say that it was completely boring. It still has some great science fiction visuals, and a unique take on the Godzilla story. It just doesn't have the pull that it should. But the climax is really good, and the ending, while it is obvious sequel bait, did make me interested in seeing what happens next. Hopefully, the sequels would have more interesting characters.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bright Review

Directed by: David Ayer (Suicide Squad, End of Watch, Fury)

Starring: Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace

Written by: Max Landis (Chronicle, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, American Ultra)

Review: I went into this movie not knowing what to expect in terms of quality. While most critics have panned it, it seems to be much better received among other viewers. I guess I am in the latter group.
This movie takes place in an alternate world where humans and fantasy creatures live together in a modern day setting. This world is very intriguing and is shown in a way that feels real. The elves make up the richest class, and the orcs are often discriminated against. This offers up some admittedly not-so-subtle commentary on racism. My main complaint with it is that the movie never lets us explore it more.
The story revolves around a cop played by Will Smith, who is partnered up with an orc, played by Joel Edgerton. At the scene of a crime, they find a magic wand which they need to keep out of the hands of an evil organization. The result is a unique mix of Training Day and Lord of the Rings, that works better than that combination may sound.
The action and visual effects are good, and while it's rarely hilarious, it does have a few good moments of comedy. But unfortunately, there are also a few lines of dialogue that sound cheesy or cliche. However, it does an overall great job of taking the viewer into an interesting new world, even if it does leave you wanting more.
Despite its flaws, this is something that is rarely seen in theaters anymore. A good, original, R-rated blockbuster. It kept me consistently interested, and I'm actually interested in seeing a sequel.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Also, from this point on I've decided that I would try to upload my reviews every Saturday afternoon (Pacific Standard Time). I just want to keep my reviews on a consistent basis.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Review

Written and Directed by: Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths)

Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, John Hawkes, Peter Dinklage

Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is the perfect mixture of dark comedy and very dark drama.
It follows Frances McDormand's character who rents... well, three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, to shame the chief of police (Woody Harrelson) for not being able to find the man who raped and murdered her daughter. Although the chief is making it clear that he is doing his best, she is blinded by anger, and is persistent, even though he is dying of cancer.
This is not like In Bruges or Seven Psychopaths, the director's two other movies. While the Coen Brothers style comedy is still there, it also has a heavy dosage of effective melodrama. The story is unpredictable, and the characters are likable. Even Sam Rockwell's character, who is initially not a very good person, is sympathetic near the end. It is, at its core, a story of the grieving process, compassion, and redemption.
I will admit that even though I was definitely interested in seeing it before, it took the movie being the big winner at the Golden Globes this Sunday to actually get me to see it before it left theaters. But I am very glad I did. It is an incredible dark comedy-drama, and the best movie of 2017 that I've seen so far.

Rating: 5 stars

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Review

Directed by: Jake Kasdan (Walk Hard: The Dewy Cox Story, Zero Effect, The TV Set)

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black

Written by: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Scott Rosenberg, Jeff Pinkner, Based on the book by Chris Van Allsberg

Review: As you might be able to tell from the ads for this movie, this is not the same Jumanji from the original nineties movie, but it does a good job at its own thing while still staying true to the original's spirit.
This is still a sequel though. It is the same board game, but there's a scene at the beginning where it turns itself into a game cartridge after a kid decides he'd rather play video games. The story begins when four teenagers find the game, play it, and are put into the bodies of their avatars.
This is a very fun movie filled with lots of action and comedy. But the real show-stealer is Jack Black, who plays a teenage girl in the body of a middle-aged man. His performance is hilarious, and the funniest character in the movie. Dwayne Johnson and Karen Gillan are also convincing as meek characters in strong bodies. Kevin Hart's character is similar to his characters in his other movies. Whether or not that's a good thing is up to you.
There probably weren't a lot of people who were dying to see a new Jumanji movie before they found out that it was happening. But now that it's here, it's a very fun time. It's a little more inappropriate than the mostly family-friendly original (hence the PG-13 rating), but older kids should be okay with watching it. All in all it's a fun, funny, and exciting surprise.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars