Acrimony

Where do I begin?

First Tyler Perry movie on this show, huzzah I guess. I actively do not go for his movies by any stretch, however after hearing Brad Jones' unbelievably positive and passionate review on his site I knew damn well I had to see this movie. It took a little while but I finally saw it. Holy f***. Oh my f***ing God, this movie. I don't know where to start, I almost say just go watch his review cause I can't top it and I genuinely don't know what to rate it. I'll try. So the story is unfolded by way of flashback where Taraji P. Henson (Oh my merciful stars...) basically tells the story of how she met this guy Robert when they were both in college, they got together, he cheated on her and she went mental proceeding to smash her car into his home, they get back together (Yep. Makes sense to me.), they get married, and the relationship falls apart over the years. See Robert is an inventor and is working on a clean source battery, and becomes highly, almost criminally neglectful in their marriage leading our beloved Taraji to slowly lose her shit. I know, this is a trip already but wait, there's more! I can't talk about everything, I want to, but I can't. So much happens in this movie and I would pay eleventy zillion bajillion dollars to watch this in a theater, full house, with terribly reactionary people. It would be the greatest night of my life. Now comes the inevitable part where I shamelessly and embarassingly fawn over Taraji P. Henson, sweet Christmas I can't stand how beautiful this woman is. I wouldn't even care if she was as crazy in real life as she is in this movie, cause honey...lord have mercy! Her performance is goddamn award worthy, this movie is kind of a piece of thriller fluff but it is the performance, the sheer acting chops of her that elevates it to all time highs for me. I wish more actors were this convicted and passionate in their craft. I can't write half the things I'm thinking now, this is a review show I can't say that. But anywho! Lyriq Bent plays Robert and it is utterly fascinating seeing the split between audiences on who is in the wrong here, and I feel that just goes to show how good our leads are, cause Robert is not this stereotypical abusive son of a bitch who you're waiting to see vengeance be visited upon, he loves his wife, he puts his entire life's work into making it big with his battery, and while he undoubtedly cheated and was a neglectful husband too focused on his work, he never is framed in a negative way despite the narration saying anything but nice things about him. I know people get triggered something fierce over people who cheat, men are bastards sometimes I know, but I feel both parties have a hand in her going nuts and the failing of their marriage. Because she has rage in her that terrifies me and does other things of the hey hey variety to me, she is ruthless and utterly vehemently in contempt of this man, it's beautiful in an acting standpoint but horrifying in a realistic standpoint. I'm serious man, I haven't been this vocal (Easy now...) with a movie in awhile. I had a blast watching this! But I'm not sure how to appropriately recommend and rate it, in terms of entertainment 9/10 if not 10/10, in terms of the movie as a whole which includes production, story, characters, direction, and acting....like a solid 8/10. This is probably the only Tyler Perry, or at least God I hope so before I die, movie I'm reviewing and it isn't getting better than this. No way, no how, this is top tier. I recommemd it if you're either familiar with his filmography, or if you really just want a wild thriller watchparty with friends. I have no such qualms stating I watched this for Taraji, and mother of God above I was not disappointed.

In Retrospect: Ralph Breaks The Internet

I think it got better.

I can seriously spend the next 3 hours of my life endlessly praising the story of Ralph Breaks The Internet, not the progression of the story but more deeper readings. There's tons to love in this movie, you have such a diverse and fun atmosphere in the form of the internet so it never feels dull or like you need more. A lot of people gave Tron Legacy good grief because it didn't go into the internet and was still the closed off server of The Grid, and I didn't take much grievance with that, because the internet is too big a thing. I can appreciate what this movie did but it couldn't have squeezed more of the world and culture of the internet in the time alloted. It was not the point, the point was to take the relationship of Ralph and Vanellope further. And that is the beauty of it, throughout the whole movie Vanellope kinda comes to a crisis in her life, not only does she get kinda existential and asks if there is more to her life than the same old same old with Ralph, and wants more. That is something rarely talked about, let alone in a Disney movie, I mean the closest we got was Belle's big song about wanting something bigger than she can explain in life, but it does such a better job doing it because of their relationship. It's done so well, and the way it ends warrants the price of admission. They have to part ways, Vanellope goes out on her own to a new game and Ralph has to go back to the arcade, but their friendship doesn't end and they acknowledge that it sucks to see a friend go. That's a very important thing for people of all ages, not just kids. It's a very depressing fact of life that the older you get the harder it is to make friends. When you're a kid, you go to school and have homework, that is what stops you from going outside or over to a friend's house and play. And that pretty much stops when you get to high school, then you have to get a part time job and contend with school which makes it a bit harder but certainly not impossible. You can absolutely forge new relationships in college, but when you're full on working it's damn near impossible to go out with friends. So to go back and see such close friends have to go their seperate ways is rough to watch because they build their relationship so well, it's kind of a bummer ending but you know it will be okay. That's....fantastic. I can't see many complaints for this movie, besides we need more Star Wars and Tron because I'm a fanboy and I love me some sci-fi but that's nitpicking like, extreme nitpicking. The animation is excellent, the story is wonderful, the voice acting is perfect scores across the board, I just friggin' love this movie. I have no clue what they could do next but I am certain the wait will be worth it, even if this was the last one I wouldn't complain that much. I'm so happy I saw it again and I hope more people get to, it's worth your time and money and leaves an impact on you. What more could anyone ask? Well we got one more before birthday week, so stick around.

What Men Want

I'm gonna be honest this movie has the worst posters I've ever seen for a movie. I mean there is nothing to them.

But aside from that little nitpick how was the actual movie? I liked it, it's fine, nothing great but nothing terrible either. Do not let the ratings on IMDB sway you, it has a 3.8 rating on there with the majority of users putting it as a 1 or a 2. No. ****ing Manos is a 1 or a 2, Alone In The Dark is a 1 or 2, not this movie! It's hilarious, the user reviews are either bottom of the barrel or 10s across the board, like really? I don't think they know how ratings work. The movie is a 6 or 7, it's average but nice. If you've seen the trailer you know the movie and, yeah it does fall into some cliches here and there but the movie is totally fine. If you wanna see it go see it. What I liked about it was the performances and not so much plot, and I'm pretty sure you would feel the same. Taraji as Ali is wonderful, I absolutely adore her and would see any movie specifically just to see her in it, she's funny and can do the drama and is gorgeous to boot, like seriously that woman deserves every bit of love and accomplishment she gets. I like Aldis Hodge as her boyfriend, I think they make a good couple and can get some laughs in with the romance. Josh Brener as her assistant Brandon is...marvellous, very funny and very loveable and really bounces off Taraji like a pro. But my absolute favorite character is Ali's dad played by Richard Roundtree, he has so much warmth, love, compassion, and wisdom, like we are talking Bridget's dad competition he is that outstanding and every scene with him in it is my favorite scene. The comedy is fine, my absolute favorite joke I dare not spoil just keep your eyes on the psychic's cards the first time round, and I gotta say most of my laughs came from Ali's 0% putting up with anybody, she has no problem cussing out anybody and it's beautiful. She will kick your ass and enjoy every minute of it, I mean talk about hardcore! So yeah, it's more the little things that I like than the comedy scenes or the story, the characters are what brings the enjoyment factor. Plus the soundtrack isn't too shabby either, it's pretty much hit after hit and even the slow more jazzy instrumental music is greatly appreciated, I mean I love that stuff to the moon and back. I mean if I was being completely objective I would just wait until it hits Redbox then rent it, not unless you are really interested to see it but it's a decent movie like I said so just remember to take opinions with a grain of salt. Cause they could be talking straight outta there ass! But not me. Would I lie....?

Ralph Breaks The Internet

Well shoot, they topped the first one.

So not only does Ralph Breaks The Internet top the first movie, it is a contender for my top 10 films of 2018. Like I'm serious, I can scarcely believe how great it is. Set 6 years after the first movie (Can you even believe it's been that long?) Ralph and Vanellope have been hanging out in the arcade and things have been pretty good, but unfortunately disaster happens and Vanellope's game could be unplugged. Ralph takes it upon himself to find a new working part and venture's into the newly founded connection to the internet to help his friend and be a hero once more. Now I strongly urge you, do not fully trust the trailer. Now what I mean by that is, it the trailer sets up this lighthearted romp around the interwebs, but it does so much more than that and actually has weight and importance in this world that Wreck-It Ralph created. The friendship between Ralph and Vanellope is explored more and put to the test, and it ends in one of the most bittersweet ways imaginable. It's like if you took the ending to Lost In Translation, but instead of it being completely soul crushing, it's soul crushing with a bit of happiness. And that is the reason why this film will probably make top 5 on my list, not just because of that ending because it made me think of another perfect movie. They throw references left, right, and center, like showing off the original 1982 Tron Lightcycle grid which made me fanboy so hard it was like seeing Tarkin all over again in Rogue One. Even my inner fanboy cannot claim, "Oh this whole movie should be just Tron and Star Wars!" because it would detract from an excellent, excellent film. I have to say I was expecting more burning satire of the internet and the current society we live in, but nothing really came of it but that's okay. They thread the story so well it makes sense why Vanellope would be in Disney, and I have to say though I'm not a shall we say great fan of the Disney Princess movies, just to see dang near every original actress for each Princess all together on the big screen is incredible! No one would have ever expected to see such a thing in their lifetime, least of all me, so that's just really impressive work from Disney. They put their heart into this story, they wanted you to love the story, they wanted you to connect and enjoy these characters, and they do it so well. I am immensely proud of the ending of this movie, because you just never see it in a Disney movie or hell really any movie! The last Disney movie I saw that did something this real and life experienced was flippin' Lilo & Stitch! This film put me in a mood, I was already quiet, a bit melancholy, and appreciative of my day, now I'm just a bubble of emotions and feel even more happy yet sad then I was! 5/4 stars!! Glorious movie! Go see it!!!