It’s exactly what you think it will be, and for some, that’s a good thing! Thirteen years ago, Cameron astonished the world and gave us a cultural phenomenon. Now it’s time to travel back to Pandora and journey with the Na’vi. Even though they’re blue cat-people, the family drama is relatable. Some parts feel copied and pasted from the first movie, but there’s plenty of fun action to distract you from that. Did you bet against Cameron? Did you?!
Your favorite Kentucky-fried, Foghorn Leghorn drawling detective, Benoit Blanc, swaggers back to the screen to solve another murder. A.Ron rescinds his previously released negative take on Knives Out (2019) because these movies are entertaining! With entertaining twists, genre subversions, and social commentary, you’re sure to have a good time. Think you’ve figured it out? Just you wait!
Stick around for upcoming coverage of Christmas movies and Avatar: The Way of Water!
The awesome presence of Chadwick Boseman is definitely missed, but don’t let that get you too down! Marvel produces yet another gem (or Infinity Stone, ha ha) for their catalog. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is an action-packed movie that also explores delicate levels of grief AND delivers on great CGI. The astounding performances from Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, and Lupita Nyong’o will have you saying, “Wakanda Forever”!
Our next First Run movies will be Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Avatar: The Way of Water!
Ok. Um, ok. Here we go. DC hasn’t quite cracked the Marvel formula for making fun movies. It begs the question, can the most charismatic man on the planet pull off DC’s latest deep cut? Black Adam owes some copyright fines to all those superheroes that you actually like. It’s not great, but it bolsters the Rock’s standing in the Bald Move Badass Hall of Fame…so there’s that!
Keep watch for the next First Run movies, Wakanda Forever and The Fabelmans!
“History repeats itself”, says another David O. Russell film pondering existential themes. When three old friends get wrapped up in a murder-mystery conspiracy, only their wits and friendship will get them out. Along the way they’ll turn ugly things into beautiful things and question the meaning of patriotism all while Christian Bale does his top tier Peter Falk/Columbo impression. This movie has a question for you, “Will you fight to protect kindness?”
And keep an eye out for our next First Run movies: Black Adam and Wakanda Forever!
A.Ron’s is feeling warm and fuzzy and Jim is feeling pretty much nothing. When you can describe a movie as “erotica for the Twilight crowd”, that is going to attract a very particular audience, and that is A.Ron apparently. As if he weren’t magical enough, Idris Elba stars as a djinn granting Tilda Swinton’s wishes. Jim and A.Ron will be back for more first run coverage for Don’t Worry Darling and Amsterdam!
Nope is the latest film from Jordan Peele, one of the few auteurs of modern cinema. This master of horror created another high-concept social commentary wrapped in exciting set pieces and sprinkled with comedy. Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya, and Steven Yeun shine in a movie with so many twists and turns that the trailers could not spoil it. Looking for a movie that grabs your brain and won’t let go? Check out Nope.
We’ll see you soon for our next first run movie, Bullet Train.
Starring Natalie Portman’s arms! Adding to the ever-evolving Thor mythos, Love and Thunder was an addition to the Marvel canon that was bright, mostly fun, and oozes Taiki Waititi’s style. In a crazy GNR backed romp, Thor Classic and Thor Jane take on a villain that makes us go “Wow, Christian Bale should play the Joker.” In a half-good, half-eye rolling movie, there’s fun for everyone, so long as you don’t mind the jokes.
We fell for the cast reunion ploy. It drew us in, it’s not our fault we watched this Tyran-atrocious dinosaur movie. The twinkle in Sam Neill’s eye was squashed by the crush of too many species of dinosaurs. And Chris Pratt is now like that cool guy from high school, he already peaked and now he’s just tired. Listen to A.Ron’s impression of Jeff Goldblum when he’s flirting with a woman, there’s nothing like it. Make sure you’re in the club for our next first run movie: Thor: Love and Thunder.
Top Gun: Mission Impossible does not disappoint. With some astounding face-stretching fighter jet stunts and a story with a good amount of heart, watching this movie is an exciting experience. Though at times formulaic, there are enough cool things going on to distract you from asking, “But does this really make sense?” too many times. Watch the era of the manned fighter jets come to a close in this heart-racing sequel keeping step with its 36-year-old predecessor. We’ll be back in two weeks with another first run movie: Jurassic World Dominion.