Movie Theater at South Point
Cinemark Century 16 in Las Vegas

Movie Guru's Current Movie Briefs

• From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
  

  Written by Michael Harris

  When a franchise is successful, it never wants to end. However, at one point or another it needs to reset itself. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, is the series’s new direction. Following the same story structure, it has many improvised weapons, gory kills, a fight with the right-hand man, and the overall themes of vengeance and consequences. Yet, Ballerina is not John Wick. She does not fight as gritty, relying more on the explosives permitted by the movie’s large budget, rather than being an unstoppable force. Her speech does not demand respect like John Wick’s, but still sends the viewer on an emotional rollercoaster. In conclusion, Ballerina is a flawed but recommended movie for John Wick fans but I would not recommend it as someone’s introduction to the franchise.
• The Phoenician Scheme
  

  Written by Michael Harris
  The Phoenician Scheme is a Wes Anderson film, making it especially difficult to talk about. His films are focused on quirky humor, visually appealing scenes, and complex characters, creating a niche but faithful fan base. The visuals of this movie do not disappoint that feel natural and exotic at the same time, making it seemingly compelling. However, all the depth of the characters are undermined by an unorthodox humor that was as unfunny as the pre-movie commercials. The Phoenician Scheme does not make the common mistake of trying too hard to make the viewer care about the characters, but it does not try enough to fully support the actors’ impressive performances. In conclusion, this film is excellent at taking the viewer into a different world, but is no masterpiece.
• Karate Kid: Legends
  

  W@ritten by summer intern Michael Harris
  The Karate Kid franchise, starting with the nostalgic cult classic, had some high and low points with its greatest successes being The Karate Kid (1984) and The Karate Kid (2010). Because of this, the franchise decided to unite its fans by intertwining the two families through a new protagonist, named Li Fong, who grew up with Kung Fu but needs to learn Karate to fight in an American tournament. A good film doesn’t just pull at your heartstrings, but plays them like a harp. Karate Kid: Legends tries extremely hard to do this, but it was unable to fit all it wanted to in a two hour window, resulting in flat character development and a predictable plot. However, what it could include was done very well. This is a movie with outstanding actors, some comedic relief, and fight choreography, making it a worthwhile watch for anyone who likes an underdog story.
• Bring Her Back
  

  Recently a well regarded horror thriller, Talk to Me, from Danny and Ryan Philippou was released and while fans of this scary movie have been waiting for the sequel, the brothers have released a scarier original, Bring Her Back.  Starring British actress Sally Hawkins, who is definitely in the top tier of actresses, whatever villainy she explores in this film, I want to see it, but I am afraid.
• Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
  

  Tom Cruise is a brute.   In his Mission Impossible movies his stunt work really is impossible.  The movies themselves have deteriorated over time, but the action is young Jackie Chan but with millions of dollars in preparation and invention backing up every death defying moment.  This “final” impossible and the one before ir are more than I can handle though I am sure I will leave the theater in awe of an old man astounding us all.
• The Last Rodeo
  

  Angel Studios keeps releasing faith based family films that are so much more than concurrent animated mayhem.  Neal McDonough is recognizable, though lightly known.  When he turns up in low budget movies and TV shows, I always find his performances worthy of much larger feature roles.  I look forward to seeing him play this 50 year old retired bull rider making a comeback attempting to win the prize money and save his desperate family.
• Lilo & Stitch
  

  This live action remake of the original animated hit is a no brainer.  And there is good news.  Disney has put an A+ effort into this sure thing, and families will get their money’s worth.
• Final Destination: Bloodlines
  

  Watching the preview for this latest Final Destination iteration is more than enough.  What a shame that this corrupter of young minds will be a hit.  
• Thunderbolts
  

  Do we really need new Marvel characters finding their way into the Marvel movie universe?  What are they doing?  Throwing the comic books against the wall and seeing which ones stick.  Grinding out less than special non-stop releases trying to find another pot of gold damages the brand forever.  However I am known to be wrong fifty per cent of the time. 
• The Surfer
  

  Another Nick Cage movie comes out of nowhere.  And I am glad.  Cage continues to step up to the plate and hit homers in movie after movie surrounded by young filmmakers all putting forth maximum efforts creating low budget genre hybrids.  I could tell you a little bit about this movie but, as always, the less you know the better.
• Sinners
  

  Michael Jordan stars as twins in what is certainly not a comedy.  Following in the footsteps of Jordan Peele’s heavyweight horror oeuvre (Get Out, Us, Nope), Sinners director Ryan Coogler moves on from Black Panther and Creed in this stylish vampire flick that attempts to beat out not only Peele but also Robert Eggers and his most recent Nosferatu   
• Drop
  

  I do not join in with those who enjoy mental/physical torture films.  Heretic and Opus with Hugh Grant and John Malkovich respectively are exceptions because their presence elevates the mental and diminishes the required physical.  Drop takes place on a first date with Glen Powell at a fancy high rise restaurant which somehow leads to the lucky lady having to make the choice – either she murders Glen Powell or her son will be murdered by a sicko.  I am intrigued, though I do not particularly enjoy seeing children placed in jeopardy for the entertainment of the masses.  
• Minecraft
  

  Written by Michael Harris
  A Minecraft Movie is a film children and diehard fans will enjoy. The success of this movie is perhaps the wide audience to which it appeals. Even though Minecraft is old, it is still a household name, easily recognizable for this newer generation. This movie does not have a clear theme with its mix of drama, sentimentality, and juvenile humor unless the balatent emphasis on creativity is counted. Yet, A Minecraft Movie does not play itself too seriously and is focused more on being an amusing tribute to a legendary game than a masterpiece. Even though A Minecraft Movie was criticised for having the main characters live-action, the film explores a different, creative perspective on Minecraft. However, it is faithful to game mechanics and even includes a reference to the now deceased Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade for long-time fans. Overall, if this movie is understood as nothing ground-breaking, A Minecraft Movie is a definite movie to watch for families and fans.
• A Complete Unknown
  

  Written by Holiday Season Intern Michael Harris
  I am not going to pretend I can give A Complete Unknown due justice. Going into this film, I knew nothing about who Bob Dylan was or the 1960s, specifically the Cold War. However, this movie spoke for itself. With the outer appearance of a well-made romance drama, it is packed with a deeper meaning. A Complete Unknown is the story of people finding something to put their hope in during a time where uncertainty imprisoned the world. They were looking for freedom, and this well-made film questions what this truly means. No matter how much or little you know about this movie, you will be touched.
• Sonic 3
  

  Written by Holiday Season Intern Michael Harris
  In 1949, a book called A Hero with a Thousand Faces was published by mythologist Joseph Campbell. This piece argued that all stories follow the same story structure. Sonic 3 stood out to me for this reason. It is essentially the PG adaptation of the Spider-Man movies. Humor, action, power, and responsibility, the major themes of the Spider-Man movies, are all intertwined perfectly. The stakes are never higher in this dramatic film of anger, honor, and loss, ending in the ultimate sacrifice. This is a movie that will not only entertain your children, but make you laugh at the pop culture references. This is the first movie I am going to honestly and wholeheartedly recommend. Happy Holidays everyone.
• Moana 2
  

  Written by Holiday Season Intern Michael Harris
  As the Lion King has Hamlet, Moana 2 has The Odysseus. Disney has always had a custom of turning classic literature into children’s movies, and this is no exception. The sequels of successful movies are always difficult to make, so aligning this movie with a great work seems like a safe move. However, in the attempts to add depth to the series, it has lost some of its identity. The songs were forced and the humor did not land, but the animations were still incredibly impressive. The climactic scenes are intense, but still enjoyable for a younger audience, as the movie does a good job at keeping the viewer mesmerized. I would rate this movie as the best written children’s movie this year, and definitely a movie your children will enjoy. It is ultimately your choice whether to see this movie this Thanksgiving.