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The Mummy (2017)

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This third iteration of the Mummy is better than I expected. We get a bit of an introduction to the ideas of Universal’s shared monster movie universe, Dark Universe. And we get a setup for Maverick and Jor-El to appear in many or all of the future Dark Universe movies

I do have to admit that my expectations for this movie were extremely low.

Nick and Vale stumble across the tomb of Ahmanet. Nick ends up freeing her and hijinks ensues. Ahmanet was imprisoned when she tried to bring the Egyptian death god, Set, into the mortal world. This movie equates Set with all that is evil: Lucifer, Satan, etc. Since Nick freed her, she needs to use him as the vessel for Set in the modern day.

The rest of the movie revolves around Nick and Jeckyl’s organization working for a resolution. Just at cross purposes.

Starring:Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis, Russell Crowe, Jake Johnson

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Wonder Woman

This is the best DC movie since the Dark Knight, in my opinion. Easily blows away Man of Steel and Batman v Superman.

We are introduced to Dianna as a child. The only child on Themyscira. Literally portrayed as a paradise island – protected by a magical barrier. We see her learning the art of war from her fellow Amazons as she grows older.

The Captain Steve Trevor crashes his plane into the waters off the coast of Themyscira. Steve’s entry to the island ultimately leads to Dianna joining him in “Man’s World”. His mission – to stop a new deadly gas attack that is not stopped by gas masks. Her mission – to kill Ares, god of war.

The movie starts out light in tone, but gradually darkens. First as Diana leaves the bright colors of Themyscira and enters the grey fog of London. And from there to the horrors of World War 1.

Any more would totally spoil the movie. And you should see this one in theaters.

I would say that Wonder Woman earns the dark tone it holds. It is set during World War 1, after all. But it does get back to a lighter tone at the very end. Not quite as bright as it was before Dianna experienced war firsthand, but not as dark as wartime.

Wonder Woman has taken some of the trepidation I felt for the upcoming Justice League movie away.

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Saïd Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, Eugene Brave Rock, Lucy Davis, Elena Anaya

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The Void

The Void is an interesting indie horror movie. It’s a Carpenter-esque reverse siege movie with a Lovecraft bent. I found the practical effects very enjoyable. If there were any CGI effects, they blended in very well.

The Void is currently available on VOD. There is a DVD disc available, but there are many reports of issues with the disc. The blu ray is only available at diabolikdvd.com.

The Void opens with 2 men gunning down a woman exiting a farm house. A young man gets away on foot. He makes it to a road where Sheriff Daniel Carter is sitting in his patrol car. Daniel takes the young man to the closest hospital – which is in the process of shutting down and is extremely short-staffed.

Hi-jinks ensue. From the hospital being surrounded by cultists in white garb with a black triangle on the face masks to tentacles.

I think this is worth a watch. Is this a perfect movie. Nope. You do not get a complete picture of the events on some of the people that are part of the story. But you can infer a lot. And it can be that ambiguity in a story where what you come up with is worse than anything shown that can make a movie.

Starring: Aaron Poole, Kenneth Welsh, Daniel Fathers, Kathleen Munroe, Ellen Wong, Mik Byskov, Art Hindle, Stephanie Belding, James Millington, Evan Stern, Grace Munro, Matthew Kennedy, Trish Rainone, David Scott, Mackenzie Sawyer

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Alien: Covenant

I have discovered that I am not a fan of prequels made decades after the original series began.

Alien: Covenant looked nice. But baring one or two scenes was very predictable. And not in a good way. Kind of Paint-by-numbers. Unfortunately, my tendency to see all things Alien and Predator were my undoing.
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy vol.2 is all about family.

GotG2 opens on a fun action scene set to music off the Awesome Mix 2. This sets us up nicely for the B Plot group that will be after the Guardians. This setup brings Nebula into the mix and introduces us to Star Lord’s biological father, Ego.

Ego the living planet. Ego is portrayed beautifully by Kurt Russell.

We also get more Yondu in this installment. We see him with a more traditional look as well.

GotG2 brings the laughter and some tears. I have not laughed more at a Marvel Studios film. There were multiple instances of someone cutting onions in the theater. Very surprising for the light-hearted franchise in the MCEU.

Ego and Star Lord’s relationship is at the heart of this movie. And all the implications along with it.

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Kurt Russell, Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Stallone, Sean Gunn

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