Movie Theater at South Point
Cinemark Century 16 in Las Vegas

Movie Guru's Current Movie Briefs

• Hurry Up Tomorrow
  

  Weekend was a singer popular enough to get his own gig performing during halftime at a recent Super Bowl.  So what is this Weekend movie all about?.  I am not certain but it seems to be the deconstruction of Weekend  the celebrity which might make for an interesting movie.
• 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.  
• Fight or Flight
  

  This Josh Hartnett action flick has been advertised as an over the top crazy with Hartnett running down the aisle of a plane obviously insane and wielding a chain saw.  And he is the hero.  Good luck with that.  
• Shadow Force
  

  Kerry Washington and Omar Sy star in an action thriller that looks predictable, but you never know.  I usually give everything a try.  However I usually walk out of everything (even Thunderbolts, I get in free)) so make up your own minds.  Recently I sat all the way through Nick Cage’s The Surfer.  Nobody else was in the theater.  Same with Anora.  Now that was a funny movie, lightly attended.  But it did win the best picture Oscar.
• Clown in a Cornfield
  

  The title is interesting.  In a cornfield instead of in the corn field.  This leads me to believe that clowns are running free in lots of cornfields.  Many years ago there was a scary cornfield movie with a storyline and suspense and a fun time was had by all.  I will be out of this cornfield at the first worthless slasher moment which probably comes sooner rather than later.  
• 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.  
• Warfare
  

  A Seal veteran involved in this battle and writer/director Alex Garland (recently of Civil War) recreate an Iraqi War engagement using only actual scenarios as supplied by the actual Seals themselves.  Warfare presents one horrible slice of war in real time.  The conflict starts and ends.  That is the movie.  This is not a movie for everyone, but everyone should see it.
• The Amateur
  

  Rami Malek plays a computer nerd government worker who wills himself into an undercover government operative taking revenge on his wife’s terrorist killers.  Laurence Fishburne is Malek’s frustrated tutor in what looks like a fun supporting role.  Jason Bourne comes to mind, but this is a spy flick where the hero only uses the muscle between his ears.
• 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 Minecraft Movie
  

  Jason Momoa and Jack Black seem to be digging the movie in which they are participating.  And I have three different groups who want me to take them to this videogame extravaganza: the three little grandkids, the teenage grandkids, and my son who buys concessions like a group.  (My son wants to go immediately and cannot wait for either of the other groups.)  The preview did not excite me but Minecraft is not my thing.  Oh well.  It is off to the movies which is good all around.  (I think you can tell I have nothing to say about this movie while the market crash is devastating all our retirement funds.
• 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.