TRASH IN MY EYE Reviews: Paramount Pictures

Showing posts with label Paramount Pictures. Show all posts

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Review: "SCREAM 7" Will Make You Laugh... and Scream

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 4 of 2026 (No. 2052) by Leroy Douresseaux

Scream 7 (2026)

Running time: 114 minutes (1 hour, 54 minutes)

Rating: MPA – R for strong bloody violence, gore, and language

DIRECTOR: Kevin Williamson

WRITERS: Kevin Williamson and Guy Busick; from a story by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick (based on characters created by Kevin Williamson)

PRODUCERS: Paul Neinstein, William Sherak, and James Vanderbilt

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ramsey Nickell (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Jim Page

COMPOSER: Marco Beltrami

HORROR/MYSTERY/THRILLER

Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, Ethan Embry, Mark Consuelos, Jeremy Connor, Matthew Lillard, and Roger L. Jackson (voice)

SUMMARY OF REVIEW:

“Scream 7” is pure entertainment,a truly scary movie that is also a genuinely funny in all its mayhem and gore.

Neve Campbell makes a welcome return as Sidney Prescott, and dominates the film in a way that recalls that old “Scream” feeling.

I highly recommend “Scream 7” to fans of the franchise and also to people who just want to enjoy a good movie.

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Scream 7 is a 2023 slasher horror film from director Kevin Williamson. It is the seventh film in the Scream film series and is a sequel to Scream VI. In Scream 7, Sidney Prescott is living in a new town, but she cannot escape her past as a new Ghostface killer has emerged to target her teenage daughter.

Scream 7 finds original Woodsboro victim, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), living in Pine Grove, Indiana with her husband, Police Chief Mark Evans (Joel McHale), and their two daughters. Now known as Sidney Prescott-Evans, she has her own small business, tea and coffeehouse, “The Little Latte.”

Despite her new life, Sidney is still vigilante, always expecting “the Ghostface Killer” to invade her life again. Then, it happens; Sidney gets a call from Ghostface, and he is requesting a video call. And right before Sidney's eyes is a ghost from the past, and this time, he declares that he is targeting Sidney's older daughter, teenager Tatum (Isabel May). Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and her new assistants, siblings Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding), come to rescue. Before they can stop this new Ghostface, however, Sidney and company must discover how many Ghostface killers there are and who they are.

Personally, I believe that the previous film, Scream VI (2023), is the best Scream film since the original trilogy of films, and is closest to the original Scream (1996) in terms of entertainment value. So I am surprised by how much I really enjoyed the new film, Scream 7, and I'll say the same for it as I did for the sixth. Director Kevin Williamson, the who created Scream over three decades ago with his original screenplay for the first film, finally got his shot at directing a Scream film. Scream 7 is so good that it makes me think that Williamson should have directed a film in this series long ago.

I saw this film with a predominately Black audience, and we all enjoyed talking to the screen the entire time (Girl, don't put the gun down!) simply because Scream 7 is so freaking entertaining. It is as if Williamson deliberately has his characters do nonsensical things while in the throws of panic and terror in order to give the audience a reason to yell at them. I can't say for certain that Williamson did that, but, if he did, it is like an ultimate meta experience.

Neve Campbell makes a killer return as the ultimate survivor. Isabel May is good as her daughter, Tatum, but she can't help but be in the fearsome shadow Sidney/Neve casts. Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding provide excellent support and comic relief in a film that is, at times, as shockingly gory and gruesome as Final Destination (2000) and its progeny.

I don't want to spoil Scream 7 by talking about all the scenes that held me, thrilled me, kissed me, and killed me. Instead I will tell you, dear readers, that like Scream VI, Scream 7 is easily one of the series' best entries.

7 of 10

A-

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Sunday, March 1, 2026

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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Review: "SCREAM VI" Thrills at Will

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 3 of 2026 (No. 2051) by Leroy Douresseaux

Scream VI (2023)

Running time: 122 minutes (2 hours, 2 minutes)

Rating: MPA – R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, and brief drug use

DIRECTORS: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett

WRITER: James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick (based on characters created by Kevin Williamson)

PRODUCERS: Paul Neinstein, William Sherak, and James Vanderbilt

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Brett Jutkiewicz (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Jay Prychidny

COMPOSERS: Sven Faulconer and Brian Tyler

HORROR/MYSTERY/THRILLER

Starring: Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Hayden Panettiere, Dermot Mulroney, Jack Champion, Josh Segarra, Liana Liberato, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Samara Weaving, Henry Czerny, Andre Anthony, Skeet Ulrich, Max Laferriere, and Roger L. Jackson (voice)

Scream VI is a 2023 slasher horror film from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. It is the sixth film in the Scream film series and is a direct sequel to Scream (2022). In Scream VI, the survivors of the most recent Woodsboro murders move to New York City for a fresh start only to find that a new Ghostface killer is stalking them.

Scream VI opens one year after the latest Woodsboro murders that were orchestrated by Richie Kirsch and Amber Freeman (as seen in the 2022 film). The survivors of the murders: sisters – Samantha “Sam” Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) – and their friends, siblings Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding), have moved to New York City for a fresh start.

Tara, Mindy, and Chad attend Blackmore University and have new roommates and friends: Quinn Bailey (Liana Liberato), Anika Kayoko (Devyn Nekoda), and Ethan Landry (Jack Champion). Sam attends therapy with Dr. Christopher Stone (Henry Czerny), who views her with a skeptical eye. Sam has also become the target of public ire because of an online conspiracy theory that says that she – not Richie and Amber – is the real killer behind the last Woodsboro murders. It doesn't help that many know that Sam is the biological daughter of one of the original Woodsboro killers, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich).

But “the Ghostface killer” (Max Laferriere and the voice of Roger L. Jackson) has returned, more brutal and vicious than ever. And he intends to pick up where the last Ghostface killer left off.

One then I didn't mention in my synopsis is that that two other franchise characters play a big role in Scream VI. They are Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), who has been with the franchise since the original Scream 1996), and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere), a survivor of the Woodsboro murders depicted in Scream 4 (2011).

Personally, I find Scream VI to be the best Scream film since the original trilogy of films. It feels like this film's writers (James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick) and directors (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) had a freer hand to be wild and crazy, relentless and merciless, and imaginative and inventive in a way I don't think they did in Scream (2022). From the opening twist killings to the last act, Scream VI is edgy and adventurous. Only the best and most daring film franchises dig into the dysfunction of franchise characters, and Scream VI does that. The result is a slasher film that is as much a family drama and thriller as it is a scary movie, and it is excellent as all three.

I don't want to spoil Scream VI by talking about all the scenes that held me, thrilled me, kissed me, and killed me. Instead I will tell you, dear readers, that I highly recommend Scream VI, which easily one of the series' best entries.

7 of 10

A-

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Thursday, February 26, 2026

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Friday, February 13, 2026

Review: "FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VI: JASON LIVES" Makes for a Happy Friday the 13th

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 2 of 2026 (No. 2050) by Leroy Douresseaux

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)

Running time: 86 minutes (1 hour, 26 minutes)

Rating: MPAA – R

DIRECTOR: Tom McLoughlin

WRITER: Tom McLoughlin (based on characters created by Victor Miller)

PRODUCER: Don Behrns

CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Kranhouse (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Bruce Green

COMPOSER: Harry Manfredini

HORROR

Starring: Thom Matthews, Jennifer Cooke, David Kagen, Renee Jones, Kerry Noonan, Tom Fridley, Vincent Guastaferro, Tony Goldwyn, Nancy McLoughlin, Darcy DeMoss, Ron Palillo, and C.J. Graham

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is a 1986 slasher horror film from writer-director Tom McLoughlin. It is a sequel to the 1985 film, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, and is the sixth movie in the Friday the 13th movie franchise. In Jason Lives, a former victim decides to cremate the corpse of Jason Voorhees only to inadvertently bring him back to life instead.

Following the events of the last film, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives focuses on Tommy Jarvis (Thom Matthews). As a 12-year-old, Tommy killed Jason Voorhees (as seen in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter). With his friend, Allen Hawes (Ron Palillo), adult Tommy travels to Forest Green County and arrives at Eternal Peace Cemetery where Jason is buried.

Tommy plans to cremate Jason's remains, in order to free himself of the misery that Jason brought into his life. Through a series of unfortunate events, however, Tommy inadvertently brings Jason back to life as a kind of revenant or undead monster with super-human powers.

Tommy flees to Forest Green County Sheriff's Office, where he attempts to warn Sheriff Michael Garris (David Kagen) that Jason is alive. However, the mean-spirited Garris is aware that Tommy is institutionalized and presumes that Tommy is hallucinating that Jason has returned from the grave.

Meanwhile, Camp Crystal Lake (a.k.a. “Camp Blood”) has been remade as “Camp Forest Green,” a camp for middle-school age children – boys and girls. The new camp's teen counselors don't know that Jason is already murdering his way towards them, but Tommy does. Only the Sheriff's daughter, Megan Garris (Jennifer Cooke), believes Tommy's warnings about Jason's return. She is willing to help him stop Jason from turning Camp Forest Green into “Camp Blood,” again, but will that be enough?

In the wake of the box office failure of Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, Jason Voorhees returns as the series' villain in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. It may be my favorite film in the series, if not my favorite.

There are so many scenes and set pieces that I find likable, exciting, or even endearing. I won't spoil the film for those of you, dear readers, who have never seen it by mentioning these moments. However, I will say that I think the idea of making Camp Crystal Lake, with its history of brutal murders in and around the area, a camp for middle-school children, is both charming and crazy. Also, the scene of the first of the camp counselors to be Jason's victims is one of my favorite Friday the 13th moments.

I really like actors, Thom Matthews and Jennifer Cooke, as the heroic duo of Tommy and Megan. At the time, Matthews had recently been one of the main characters in 1985's cult, rock 'n' roll horror movie, Return of the Living Dead. Also, I always enjoy seeing now former actress, Renee Jones (as Sissy Baker), in film or television.

Let's give credit where credit is due. Writer-director Tom McLoughlin delivers one of this series' most unique offerings with its humor and self-referential elements. I consider Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives to be a must-see in the Friday the 13th film series.

6 of 10

★★★ out of 4 stars

Thursday, February 12, 2026

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Saturday, November 8, 2025

Kendrick Lamar Leads the 2026 / 68th Grammy Awards Nominations

2026 GRAMMY Awards® Nominations Revealed: A Celebration of a Landmark Year in Music

From Breakthrough Newcomers to Modern Icons, This Year’s Nominees Capture the Creativity Driving Music Forward

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The nominations for the 2026 / 68th Annual Grammy Awards have been announced. Topping the list of nominees for the upcoming 2026 GRAMMY Awards® are Kendrick Lamar (9), Cirkut (7), Jack Antonoff (7), Lady Gaga (7), Bad Bunny (6), Leon Thomas (6), Sabrina Carpenter (6), Serban Ghenea (6), Andrew Watt (5), Clipse (5), Doechii (5), Sounwave (5), SZA (5), Turnstile (5), and Tyler, The Creator (5).

As the only peer-voted music award, the GRAMMY Awards® are selected by the Recording Academy®’s Voting Membership body of music makers who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, composers, producers, mixers, and engineers. The nominees were announced via a livestream event on live.GRAMMY.com and YouTube.

“The GRAMMY Awards are our opportunity to honor the people who make this community so vibrant and this year’s nominees remind us of the incredible talent that is driving music forward,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “From emerging talent to influential icons, these nominees reflect today’s broad and diverse musical landscape, and I am excited to celebrate them in the coming weeks ahead and on Music’s Biggest Night®.”

This year’s eligibility period includes recordings released between Aug. 31, 2024 – Aug. 30, 2025. The final round of GRAMMY voting, which will determine GRAMMY winners, will take place Dec. 12, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026. The GRAMMY Awards will return to Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sun, Feb. 1, 2026, and will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+* at 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT. Prior to the Telecast, the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony® will be held at the Peacock Theater at 12:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on live at GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel. The 2026 GRAMMY Awards will be produced by Fulwell Entertainment for the Recording Academy. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor and Jesse Collins are executive producers.

The following is a sampling of nominations from the GRAMMY Awards’ 12 Fields and 95 Categories. For a complete nominations list, visit GRAMMY.com. GRAMMY season media assets are available here. Follow Recording Academy/GRAMMYS on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn, and use #GRAMMYS to join the conversation.

Record Of The Year

“DtMF” – Bad Bunny

“Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter

“Anxiety” – Doechii

“WILDFLOWER” – Billie Eilish

“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga

“luther” – Kendrick Lamar With SZA

“The Subway” – Chappell Roan

“APT.” – ROSÉ, Bruno Mars

Album Of The Year

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny

SWAG – Justin Bieber

Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter

Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice

MAYHEM – Lady Gaga

GNX – Kendrick Lamar

MUTT – Leon Thomas

CHROMAKOPIA – Tyler, The Creator

Song Of The Year

“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga, Henry Walter & Andrew Watt, songwriters (Lady Gaga)

“Anxiety” – Jaylah Hickmon, songwriter (Doechii)

“APT.” – Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park, Theron Thomas & Henry Walter, songwriters (ROSÉ, Bruno Mars)

“DtMF” – Marco Daniel Borrero, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Hugo René Sención Sanabria, Tyler Thomas Spry & Roberto José Rosado Torres, songwriters (Bad Bunny)

“Golden [From “KPop Demon Hunters”]” – EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick, songwriters (HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI)

“luther” – Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Ink, Kendrick Lamar, Solána Rowe, Mark Anthony Spears & Kamasi Washington, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar With SZA)

“Manchild” – Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter, songwriters (Sabrina Carpenter)

“WILDFLOWER” – Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)

Best New Artist

Olivia Dean

KATSEYE

The Marias

Addison Rae

sombr

Leon Thomas

Alex Warren

Lola Young

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

Dan Auerbach

Cirkut

Dijon

Blake Mills

Sounwave

Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical

Amy Allen

Edgar Barrera

Jessie Jo Dillon

Tobias Jesso Jr.

Laura Veltz

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande

“Golden [From “KPop Demon Hunters”]” – HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI

“Gabriela” – KATSEYE

“APT.” – ROSÉ, Bruno Mars

“30 For 30” – SZA With Kendrick Lamar

Best Pop Vocal Album

SWAG – Justin Bieber

Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter

Something Beautiful – Miley Cyrus

MAYHEM – Lady Gaga

I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) – Teddy Swims

Best Dance Pop Recording

“Bluest Flame” – Selena Gomez & benny blanco

“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga

“Midnight Sun” – Zara Larsson

“Just Keep Watching (From “F1® The Movie”)” – Tate McRae

“Illegal” – PinkPantheress

Best Rock Song

“As Alive As You Need Me To Be” – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, songwriters (Nine Inch Nails)

“Caramel” – Vessel1 & Vessel2, songwriters (Sleep Token)

“Glum” – Daniel James & Hayley Williams, songwriters (Hayley Williams)

“NEVER ENOUGH” – Daniel Fang, Franz Lyons, Pat McCrory, Meg Mills & Brendan Yates, songwriters (Turnstile)

“Zombie” – Dominic Harrison & Matt Schwartz, songwriters (YUNGBLUD)

Best Alternative Music Album

SABLE, fABLE – Bon Iver

Songs Of A Lost World – The Cure

DON’T TAP THE GLASS – Tyler, The Creator

moisturizer – Wet Leg

Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party – Hayley Williams

Best R&B Performance

“YUKON” – Justin Bieber

“It Depends” – Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller

“Folded” – Kehlani

“MUTT (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)” – Leon Thomas

“Heart Of A Woman” – Summer Walker

Best Rap Album

Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice

GLORIOUS – GloRilla

God Does Like Ugly – JID

GNX – Kendrick Lamar

CHROMAKOPIA – Tyler, The Creator

Best Country Solo Performance

“Nose On The Grindstone” – Tyler Childers

“Good News” – Shaboozey

“Bad As I Used To Be [From “F1® The Movie”]” – Chris Stapleton

“I Never Lie” – Zach Top

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson

Best Americana Album

BIG MONEY – Jon Batiste

Bloom – Larkin Poe

Last Leaf On The Tree – Willie Nelson

So Long Little Miss Sunshine – Molly Tuttle

Middle – Jesse Welles

Best Latin Pop Album

Cosa Nuestra – Rauw Alejandro

BOGOTÁ (DELUXE) – Andrés Cepeda

Tropicoqueta – KAROL G

Cancionera – Natalia Lafourcade

¿Y ahora qué? – Alejandro Sanz

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (Includes Film And Television)

How To Train Your Dragon – John Powell, composer

Severance: Season 2 – Theodore Shapiro, composer

Sinners – Ludwig Göransson, composer

Wicked – John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, composers

The Wild Robot – Kris Bowers, composer

*Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

ABOUT THE RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum®, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares®, and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards — music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators.

For more information about the GRAMMY Awards and the Recording Academy, please visit GRAMMY.com and RecordingAcademy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, "like" Recording Academy on Facebook, and join the Recording Academy's social communities on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. For media assets, please visit the Recording Academy Press Room.

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Saturday, September 13, 2025

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 7th to 13th, 2025 - UPDATE #5

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?: There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

SCANDAL - From Variety: After more than 3,900 industry figures - including Oscar winners Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix - signed a pledge not to work with Israeli film institutions, Paramount released a statement condemning the widespread boycott. Basically, Paramount says that silencing artists does not promote peace.

BUSINESS - From Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav says the company's split into Warner Bros. (with a new name) and "Discovery Global" will be completed by April 2026.

TELEVISION - From Deadline: It seems that Warner Bros. has joined Disney in hating on Sling TV for offering its day, week, and weekend programming passes.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel: Ten years after its bombed at the box office, 2015's "The Last Witch Hunter" is reportedly getting a sequel. Lionsgate is moving forward with "The Last Witch Hunter 2." Friends Vin Diesel and Oscar-winner Michael Caine are returning for their respective roles from the first film. In fact, Caine, at 92, is coming out of retirement for this one.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 9/5 to 9/7/2025 weekend box office is Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Conjuring: Last Rites" with an estimated take of 83 million dollars.

DISNEY - From Variety: Disney and BBC Studios will release the "Bluey" movie on August 6, 2027.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 10th to 16th, 2025 - UPDATE #6

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?: There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

MOVIES - From Deadline: Core "Scary Movie" actresses, Regina Hall and Anna Faris, are coming back as "Brenda" and "Cindy," respectively, for the Wayans Brothers’ restart of the early millennium comedy franchise. The new Scary Movie, a Miramax production, is a big reunion, bringing the Wayans brothers back together for the first time in 18 years to write an all-new original script for the series, co-writing the script with Rick Alvarez. "Scary Movie" is prepping for an October shoot in time for a June 12, 2026 global theatrical release via Paramount. Miramax has a first-look deal with Paramount.

MOVIES - From THR: NBCUniversal announced today that it has acquired all rights, excluding publishing, to Robert Ludlum’s popular "Jason Bourne" and "Treadstone" book series, in perpetuity. As The deal fortifies the future of the "Bourne" franchise across NBCUniversal, paving the way for new installments from the universe of Ludlum’s beloved character and the spy world he inhabits.

ANIMATION - From Deadline: The writing-producing team of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who created Netflix's "Wednesday" series, are working on a new animated film based on "The Addams Family," for Amazon MGM Studios. It will be a reboot and will not be connected to Wednesday.

BOX OFFICE - BoxOfficePro: The winner of 8/8 to 8/10/2025 weekend box office is Warner Bros Pictures' "Weapons" with an estimated take of 42.5 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline: Pedro Pascal is circling a starring role in Tony Gilroy's next film, "Behemoth!," from Searchlight Pictures.

OBITS:

From Deadline: The American actor, Danielle Spencer, has died at the age of 60, Monday, August 11, 2025. Spencer was best known for playing the role of "Deadra 'Dee' Thomas," the sarcastic sister of the lead character, "Roger 'Raj' Thomas" in the former ABC sitcom, "What's Happening!!" (1976-79). Spencer appeared as Dee in a recurring role in the syndicated sequel series, "What's Happening Now!!" (1985-88). After her acting career, Spencer became a veterinarian.

From Deadline: American actor and photographer, Dan Ziskie, has died at the age of 80, Monday, July 21, 2025. A journeyman actor, Ziskie appeared in 18 episodes of the former HBO series, "Treme" (2011-13), and he had a recurring role on Netflix's "House of Cards" as the Vice-President of the United States. Some will remember Ziskie as the character, "Frank Niggar" on the former Comedy Central sketch comedy series, "Chappelle's Show." In 2017, Ziskie released a book of photographs taken in the New York City area entitled, "Cloud Chamber."

Friday, August 1, 2025

Review: "THE NAKED GUN: From the Files of Police Squad!" is Still Comedy Gold

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 33 of 2025 (No. 2039) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

Running time: 85 minutes (1 hour, 25 minutes)

MPAA – PG-13

DIRECTOR: David Zucker

WRITERS: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker & Pat Proft

PRODUCER: Robert K. Weiss

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Robert M. Stevens (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Michael Jablow

COMPOSER: Ira Newborn

COMEDY/CRIME

Starring: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, O.J. Simpson, Ricardo Montalban, George Kennedy, Susan Beaubian, Nancy Marchand, Raye Birk, Jeannette Charles, Tiny Ron, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Reggie Jackson

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is a 1988 American crime comedy film from director David Zucker. The film is also known simply as The Naked Gun (the title I will use for most of this review). It is a continuation of the short-lived ABC sitcom, “Police Squad!” (1982), which was created by the team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, the comedy filmmaking trio known as “ZAZ.” The Naked Gun the movie focuses on the sitcom's lead character, the bumbling and incompetent police lieutenant, Frank Drebin, as he attempts to foil an assassination plot against Queen Elizabeth II.

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! reintroduces Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen), a member of “Police Squad,” a special division within the Los Angeles Police Department. Frank returns from a mission in Beirut to hear some bad news from Police Squad Captain Ed Hocken (George Kennedy). Drebin's best friend and Police Squad colleague, Detective Nordberg (O.J. Simpson), is in a coma after his attempt to bust a heroin operation turned disastrous.

Drebin's investigation of what happened to Nordberg brings Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalban), a highly-successful businessman, to his attention. Drebin soon learns that Ludwig may be involved in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II (Jeannette Charles) during her visit to Los Angeles, one of the three stops on her American tour. Drebin's investigation is complicated by the fact that he falls in love with Ludwig's assistant, Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley). Can Drebin save the Queen, or will his bumbling and incompetence lead to an international scandal?

I first saw The Naked Gun in the old Bon Marche Cinema 11 at the Bon Marche Mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana during a midnight showing. I went with some friends, and we laughed until we cried, doubled-over, chocked, and coughed. Since that first time, I think that I have only seen the film in its entirety once, and that was well over thirty years ago. Paramount Pictures just released a “legacy sequel,” also entitled The Naked Gun, from director Akiva Schaffer and producer Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”), with actor Liam Neeson playing “Lt. Frank Drebin, Jr.” So I decided to give the 1988 film another watch, and I found myself laughing out loud again from start to finish.

The fast-paced slapstick comedy has not slowed with age; in fact, The Naked Gun has not aged, at least to me. It doesn't feel like an “old movie,” and the visual and verbal puns and sight gags are as sharp as ever. The team of Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, and their frequent collaborator, Pat Proft, deliver a film full of gags that are shamelessly unapologetic, goofy, brilliant, and truly hilarious. As the film's director, David Zucker, does superb work, but it is clear that his film editor, Michael Jablow, also does some fantastic work here.

The Naked Gun also has a great cast with Leslie Nielsen as the center of this comic force of nature. Nielsen reinvented himself as the star of parodies and satires during the last three decades of his prolific Hollywood career. As Lt. Frank Drebin, he made The Naked Gun the crowning achievement of his career as comic lead. Priscilla Presley is excellent in her turn as the dry and droll Jane, and George Kennedy is smooth as a kind of straight policeman to Nielsen's Drebin. Every chance he had in his career, actor Ricardo Montalban showed his range, as he does here as the delightful villain, Vincent Ludwig. Even future killer, O.J. Simpson, makes the most of his small role here, six years before the world would look at him differently.

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is one of the greatest American film comedies of the last quarter of the 20th century. I hope this new film encourages audiences to see The Naked Gun for the first time or to see it again for the first time in a long time. The original will make your laughter laugh.

8 of 10

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Friday, August 1, 2025

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THE NAKED GUN, the original trilogy, is available as a set on Blu-ray at Amazon.

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Review: "FRIDAY THE 13TH: A New Beginning" Fumbles a Chance to Be New and Good

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 27 of 2025 (No. 2033) by Leroy Douresseaux

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)

Running time: 92 minutes

MPAA – R

DIRECTOR: Danny Steinmann

WRITERS: Martin Kitrosser & David Cohen and Danny Steinmann; based on story by Martin Kitrosser & David Cohen

PRODUCER: Timothy Silver

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen L. Posey

EDITOR: Bruce Green

COMPOSER: Harry Manfredini

HORROR

Starring: Melanie Kinnaman, John Shepherd, Shavar Ross, Richard Young, Marco St. John, Carol Locatell, Ron Sloan, Tiffany Helm, Jerry Pavlon, Jere Fields, John Robert Dixon, Miguel A. Nunez, Jr., Debisue Voorhees, Dick Wieand, Dominick Brascia, Bob De Simone, Vernon Washington, and Corey Feldman

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning is a 1985 slasher horror film from director Danny Steinmann. It is a direct sequel to the 1984 film, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, and is the fifth movie in the Friday the 13th movie franchise. A New Beginning focuses on a young man who has a connection to Jason Voorhees and who is now living in an area beset by a series of brutal murders that resemble the work of Voorhees.

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning begins with 12-year-old Tommy (Corey Feldman) facing the monster, Jason Voorhees, again. Now, in the present day, teenage Tommy Jarvis (John Shepherd), still haunted by his past, has departed the “Unger Institute for Mental Health.” He is being transported to “Pinehurst Youth Development Center,” where he will receive treatment.

Managed by its director, Dr. Matthew Letter (Richard Young), and assistant director, Pam Roberts (Melanie Kinnaman), the center works on the “honor system” and gives its patients more freedom in their mental health journey. Tommy learns just how different Pinehurst is when he encounters a kid, Reggie the Reckless (Shavar Ross), who hangs around because his grandfather, George (Vernon Washington), is the center's cook.

Not long after Tommy arrives, however, a shocking and savage killing occurs at Pinehurst. That seems to kick off a brutal series of murders in the area. As the bodies pile-up, the area's top law enforcement official, Sheriff Tucker (Marco St. John), believes that Jason Voorhees is the killer. But Tommy Jarvis, as a 12-year-old boy, killed Jason (as seen in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter), didn't he?

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning was apparently going to be the first in a new trilogy of Friday the 13th films featuring a different villain. Disappointing box office returns, however, meant that Jason returned as the villain in the series' sixth film, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986). Thus, A New Beginning remains only the second film in the series in which Jason Voorhees is not the main villain. The original film, Friday the 13th (1980), features (spoiler alert) Jason's mother, Mrs. (Pamela) Voorhees, as the killer.

Like the fourth film, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, A New Beginning has a high body count. I counted at least 15 people murdered. Like many of the films in the series, A New Beginning has an interesting menagerie of eccentric characters, many worth exploring, but all of them exist in the story in order to be murder victims or almost-murder victims.

This film's plot and narrative bounces around so that various characters can be killed. For me, the most interesting thing about this film is that it features some character actors whom I encounter in film and television from time to time. They are Shavar Ross, Marco St. John, and Miguel A. Nunez, Jr.

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning has an interesting plot, characters, and setting, and the film's prologue or opening scene is surprisingly eerie and weird. This film in not really suspenseful, and it wants to be vulgar and raunchy as much as it is brutal and crude. Of course, it certainly is brutal and crude. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning is a beginning that deserved to end after one film... but it could have been something better.

4 of 10

★★ out of 4 stars

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

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Saturday, May 24, 2025

Review: "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING" is a Long Goodbye

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 23 of 2025 (No. 2029) by Leroy Douresseaux

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)

Running time: 169 minutes (2 hours, 49 minutes)

MPA – PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and action, bloody images, and brief language

DIRECTOR: Christopher McQuarrie

WRITERS: Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen (based upon the television series created by Bruce Geller)

PRODUCERS: Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Fraser Taggart (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Eddie Hamilton

COMPOSERS: Max Aruj and Alfie Godfey

ACTION/ADVENTURE/SPY/THRILLER

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, Rolf Saxon, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Charles Parnell, Mark Gatiss, and Henry Czerny and Angela Bassett

SUMMARY OF REVIEW:

-- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a Mission: Impossible film, and fans of the franchise will like it to one extent or another

-- However, even as a fan, I find it to be too long and not as good as the previous film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

-- I think that the possibility of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning being Tom Cruise's final Mission: Impossible film (at least as a lead) added to my desire to like it more than I probably should

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a 2025 action-thriller and espionage film directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise. It is the eighth film in the Mission: Impossible film series which began with the 1996 film, Mission: Impossible, and is based on the American television series, “Mission: Impossible” (CBS, 1966-73), that was created by Bruce Geller. This film is also a direct sequel to 2013's Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. In The Final Reckoning, Ethan Hunt learns that our lives are the sum of our choices as he and his IMF team race to stop an assassin from gaining control of a rogue AI that wants to destroy humanity.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning opens in the wake of the events depicted in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. The IMF (Impossible Mission Force) has failed to put an end to the machinations of either “The Entity,” the most powerful ever AI (artificial intelligence), or the assassin, Gabriel (Esai Morales), who wants to control The Entity. The Entity is plotting global nuclear annihilation against humanity.

IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) turns himself over to authorities and is brought before President of the United States Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett), who was once the Director of the CIA. He asks her for the resources to find the sunken advanced Russian submarine, the “Sevastopol.” There, he hopes to obtain the “the Rabbit's Foot,” the core module that contains the original source code for The Entity. IMF computer technician, Luther Stickwell (Ving Rhames), has created malware in the form of a kind of flash drive that when inserted into the core module will help imprison The Entity where it can no longer be a threat to humanity.

President Sloane gives Ethan permission to act independently, and he brings together a new ragtag IMF team that includes technical field agent, Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg); a professional thief, Grace (Hayley Atwell), a French assassin, Paris (Pom Klementieff), a U.S. intelligence agent, Theo Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis); CIA agent William Donloe (Rolf Saxon); and Rolf's wife, Tapeesa (Lucy Tulugarjuk). Ethan and his IMF team head to South Africa for an epic showdown while the world's nuclear powers await nuclear Armageddon.

I divide the six Mission: Impossible movies into two trilogies. Mission: Impossible (1996), Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), and Mission: Impossible III (2006) make up the first trilogy. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), and Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) form the second trilogy. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning are, for the time being, the two-part conclusion to Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible franchise.

And let's be honest, unlike the original “Mission: Impossible” TV series, which was an ensemble espionage drama, the Mission: Impossible films are a Tom Cruise vehicle / espionage action movies. The Final Reckoning is all about Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt. Heck, the theme of this film is that Ethan's life is the sum of his choices. Yes, the other characters all get their moment or, in some cases, moments to shine, but this film is about Tom/Ethan.

Like Dead Reckoning Part One, The Final Reckoning is a non-stop thrill machine full of heart-pounding races, chases, standoffs, last-second escapes, and near death experiences with Tom Cruise running more than he ever has. I initially balked at Dead Reckoning's runtime of two hours and forty-three minutes, but the film didn't feel that long. The Final Reckoning feels too long at two hours and forty-nine minutes.

I don't really have anything else to say. Like all the previous films, The Final Reckoning is a perpetual thrill-machine. If it were any other film, I'd give it a grade of “B.” However, I am a sucker for both Tom Cruise and for his Mission: Impossible films, which I still, for the most part, re-watch. I will watch Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning again – many times, so it gets a preferential grade.

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

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Sunday, April 27, 2025

Review: Prime Video's "WITHOUT REMORSE" is a Michael B. Jordan Showcase

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 20 of 2025 (No. 2026) by Leroy Douresseaux

Without Remorse (2021)

Running time: 108 minutes (1 hour, 48 minutes)

Rating: MPA – R for violence

DIRECTOR: Stefano Sollima

WRITERS: Taylor Sheridan and Will Staples; from a screen story by Taylor Sheridan and Will Staples (based on the novel by Tom Clancy)

PRODUCERS: Michael B. Jordan, Josh Appelbaum, Akiva Goldsman, and Andre Nemec

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Philippe Rousselot (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Matthew Newman

COMPOSER: Jon Thor Birgisson

ACTION/THRILLER

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Jamie Bell, Lauren London, Jacob Scipio, Todd Lasance, Jack Kesy, Lucy Russell, Brett Gelman, Colman Domingo, and Guy Pearce

Without Remorse is a 2021 American action and military thriller directed by Stefano Sollima and starring Michael B. Jordan, who is one of this film's producer. Also known as Tom Clancy's Without Remorse, the film is loosely based on the 1993 novel, Without Remorse, from author Tom Clancy (1947-2013). Without Remorse was originally produced by Paramount Pictures, which was set to release it. After some delays, Amazon Studios acquired the film and released it as a “Prime Video” original on April 30, 2021. Without Remorse the movie focuses on a Navy SEAL who seeks to avenge his wife's murder only to find himself inside of a larger conspiracy.

Without Remorse opens in Aleppo, Syria and introduces Senior Chief Petty Officer John Kelly (Michael B. Jordan). He is a member of a U.S. Navy SEALs team on a mission to rescue a CIA operative taken hostage by a para-military group. The situation escalates as the SEALs discover that the captors are actually Russian military, and Kelly becomes suspicious of CIA Agent Robert Ritter (Jamie Bell), who led this rescue mission.

Three months later, Kelly is living in Washington D.C. with his pregnant wife, Pam (Lauren London), when Russian FSB operatives invade their home and kill Pam and their unborn child. The attack is part of a series of attacks on members of the SEAL team that took part in the Aleppo mission. With the blessing of his SEAL team leader, Lt. Commander Karen Greer (Jodie Turner-Smith), and Secretary of Defense Thomas Clay (Guy Pearce), Kelly joins a mission led by Greer and Ritter to Murmansk, Russia. There, Kelly hopes to avenge his wife, but he is about to discover that he is really just a pawn in a wide-ranging conspiracy that may lead to a war between the U.S. and Russia.

The late Tom Clancy was a prolific author of military-style action adventures and thrillers. I have not read any of his books, although I actually had or have copies of a few of them. Of the six feature films adapted from Clancy's work, I have previously watched and reviewed three: The Hunt for Red October (1990), Clear and Present Danger (1994), and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014). I saw Patriot Games when it was originally released to theaters back in 1992, but I have never reviewed it. Concerning Without Remorse, I would put it behind Clear and Present Danger, which is one of my all time favorite films (as well as being a favorite of my late mother's), and The Hunt for Red October, which has stood strong over the years.

Without Remorse has a riveting battle scenes and shoot outs. Sometimes, I felt as if I was also there in the film ducking certain death and bullets. Without Remorse's director Stefano Sollima makes excellent use of his film editor, sound team, and stunt performers. I am surprised that the intense and gripping action did not earn Without Remorse better reviews than it received.

There are reasons for that. The film's labyrinth of conspiracies ties the film's narratives in knots and confuses things. Sometimes, I had trouble keeping up with all the Russian bad guys and how they fit in as threats to the U.S. and to the Navy SEALs. Kelly's quest for vengeance and his relationship with Lt. Commander Greer have depth and weight, but most of the other characters are more espionage and military adventure stereotypes than they are full-formed and interesting characters.

Truthfully, I mainly wanted to catch up on my Michael B. Jordan films in the wake of seeing him star in director Ryan Coogler's incredible recent film, Sinners. Its imperfections aside, I really enjoyed Without Remorse and found it to be a very good and very entertaining film in a number of ways. I look forward to the planned sequel.

B+

7 of 10

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Sunday, April 27, 2025

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Saturday, December 21, 2024

Review: "SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3" Finds Jim Carrey Going Super-Sonic

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 59 of 2024 (No. 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

Running time: 109 minutes (1 hour, 49 minutes)

MPA – PG for action, some violence, rude humor, thematic elements and mild language.

DIRECTOR: Jeff Fowler

WRITERS: Pat Casey & Josh Miller and John Whittington; based on a story by Pat Casey & Josh Miller (based on the Sega video game)

PRODUCERS: Toby Ascher, Neal H. Moritz, Toru Nakahara, and Hitoshi Okuno

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Brandon Trost (D.o.P.)

EDITOR: Al LeVine

COMPOSER: Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL)

FANTASY/FAMILY and ACTION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY

Starring: Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Lee Majdoub, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Krysten Ritter, Alyla Browne, and Tom Butler; (voices) Ben Schwartz, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, and Keanu Reeves

SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW:

Jim Carrey makes “Sonic and the Hedgehog 3” the best film of the series by making it his personal showcase. He gives this film dramatic and comedic depth that I was not expecting; he gifts it the best of him.

This is still a Sonic the Hedgehog film, and once again voice actor Ben Schwartz brings Sonic to life in a way that makes him feel like a real-life character instead of being nothing more than one more special effect.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is dynamic and engaging in a way that makes it a family film which can impress adults as much as it entertains the kids.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a 2024 action-adventure, fantasy and comedy film from director Jeff Fowler. The film is based on the Sega Corporation's video game series and media franchise which began with the 1991 “Sega Genesis” game, Sonic the Hedgehog. The film is also the third entry in Sonic the Hedgehog film series. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 finds Sonic and his family taking on two powerful new adversaries, including one with a shocking connection to an old enemy.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 finds Sonic the Hedgehog (voice of Ben Schwartz) celebrating the anniversary of his arrival on Earth with his adopted parents, Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie Wachowski (Tika Sumpter). Also celebrating are the two newest members of the family, Knuckles the Echidna (voice of Idris Elba) and Miles “Tails” Prower (voice of Colleen O'Shaughnessey). Together, Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails form “Team Sonic.”

However, while Sonic and family are celebrating, they don't know that trouble is brewing. In Tokyo Bay is a secret prison run by the “Guardian Units of Nations” (G.U.N.), the military of Earth's government. For decades, they have been holding an alien prisoner. He is Shadow the Hedgehog (voice of Keanu Reeves), an anthropomorphic hedgehog like Sonic.

Now, Shadow has joined forces with the man who freed him, a mysterious scientist who has been stealing tech from Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey), Sonic's enemy. That forces Robotnik to unite with “Team Sonic” in order to stop Shadow and his mysterious benefactor's mission of revenge against the Earth and mankind. But can Sonic and his family really trust Robotnik?

Back in 2022, I saw Sonic the Hedgehog 2 because my niece asked to me to take her to the theater to see it. A few days ago, I saw the first film, Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), for the first time (via Prime Video). It got me in the mood for the new film, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, because, once again, my niece wanted me to take her to the theater to see it.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the best of the series mainly because Jim Carrey, in a dual role, gives one of his best performances in recent years. In the first two films, Carrey relied on his familiar over-the-top shtick and shenanigans. In this new film, Carrey unleashes the breath and length of his talent as a performer and actor. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Carrey is peak 1990s Carrey, and if this were not a Sonic the Hedgehog movie, he would be getting movie awards season notice for his performance in this film. And this film is all the better for what Carrey does.

Once again, voice performer Colleen O'Shaughnessey makes Tails seem like both an innocent kid and a veteran tech expert. In the second film, Idris Elba used his voice acting skills to make Knuckles a tough guy, but here, he gets a chance to brings some gravitas to the character. As usual, Ben Schwartz brings Sonic to life as a fully developed film character and makes Sonic's doubts and dilemmas seem genuine. Schwartz delivers exuberance and drama in his voice performance as Sonic.

Director Jeff Fowler shows that he can play in the big leagues of giant, event action films after directing the bouncy and pleasant first two films. Fowler and his cohorts take the Sonic film franchise from a special effects fun fest to an action-adventure movie with more on the line than eye-popping visual effects (VFX), although there is plenty of that.

So after saying all that, it is obvious that I like Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It is not perfect, and this film is obviously not for certain audiences. It's not really for me, but still, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 manages to surprise and entertain me. And my niece was crazy about it.

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

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Friday, December 20, 2024

Review: Humor Makes First "SONIC THE HEDGEHOG" Film Pleasingly Pleasant

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 58 of 2024 (No. 2002) by Leroy Douresseaux

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Running time: 99 minutes (1 hour, 39 minutes)

MPA – PG for action, some violence, rude humor and brief mild language

DIRECTOR: Jeff Fowler

WRITERS: Pat Casey & Josh Miller (based on the Sega video game)

PRODUCERS: Toby Ascher, Neal H. Moritz, Toru Nakahara, and Takeshi Ito

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen F. Windon (D.o.P.)

EDITORS: Debra Neil-Fisher and Stacy Schroeder

COMPOSER: Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL)

FANTASY/FAMILY and ACTION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY

Starring: James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, Neal McDonough, Tom Butler, Frank C. Turner, Melody Niemann, and Jim Carrey; and (voices) Ben Schwartz and Donna Jay Fulks

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2020 action-adventure, fantasy and comedy film directed by Jeff Fowler. The film is based on the Sega Corporation video game series and media franchise that began with the 1991 Sega Genesis game, Sonic the Hedgehog. In Sonic the Hedgehog the movie, Sonic takes refuge on Earth, but when his speed accidentally knocks out power in part of the United States, he draws the attention of a mad scientist.

Sonic the Hedgehog introduces Sonic (voice of Ben Schwartz). He is an anthropomorphic (which means he is an animal that can walk and talk like a human), blue hedgehog who has the ability to move at superhuman speed. Ten years earlier, Sonic fled to Earth to escape his enemies with the aid of a golden ring that opened a portal to Earth. He carried a bag of more such rings with him to Earth.

Currently, Sonic lives an enjoyable secret life in a cavern under the rural town of Green Hills, Montana. He zooms around the area, and has become something of a local legend, “the blue devil.” He longs to make friends and spies on local sheriff, Thomas Michael “Tom” Wachowski (James Marsden), whom Sonic calls the “Donut Lord,” and Tom's wife, Maddie (Tika Sumpter), whom Sonic calls “Pretzel Lady.” What Sonic does not know is that Tom and Maddie are planning to relocate to San Francisco.

It is Sonic's loneliness which leads him to initiating an accident that causes a massive power outage across the Pacific Northwest. Determined to discover the origin of this power outage, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff reluctantly enlists the services of eccentric roboticist and scientific genius, Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Now, Sonic is forced to seek help from Tom Wachowski, but can this thrown-together duo escape the clutches of Robotnik and his drone army?

I had no intention of watching Sonic the Hedgehog from the first time I heard about the movie's production back in the 20-teens. I also had no plans on seeing its 2022 sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but when it was first released, my niece asked to me to take her to the theater to see it, as she did not want to wait for it to stream on Paramount+. Because she rarely asks me to take her to the movies and because she usually turns down my offers to accompany me when I'm going, I (reluctantly) agreed to see Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with her.

Well, the third film, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, has been released, and my niece wants me to take her to see that one, too. I found Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to be much better than I thought it would be, and I was able to follow it without having seen the first film. However, I decided that it was past time to see the original, and I was able to because it is available via my Amazon Prime Video subscription.

I must say that I found the first film pleasingly pleasant. Sonic the Hedgehog's visual effects (VFX) and humor drive the film's narrative and makes even the most raucous action and chases scenes sometimes breathtaking, sometimes funny, and sometimes both. I think the film's director, Jeff Fowler, and his film editors get the most humor and energy that they can out of a lightweight script. The result is an lighthearted and entertaining family film.

Voice actor Ben Schwartz brings Sonic to life as a fully developed film character. Schwartz makes Sonic's doubts and dilemmas seem genuine, and his exuberant voice performances makes Sonic one of the most lovable CGI movie characters in recent memory.

The second standout performance comes from Jim Carrey. With Carrey, audiences get the good, the bad, and ugly of the actor and former stand-up comedian's constant over-the-top mode. However, in Sonic the Hedgehog, he gives a delightful comic performance. His Robotnik is not so much over-the-top as he is the wackiest of wacky mad scientist; then, Carrey bumps that up a notch. Carrey would actually steal this movie if Ben Schwartz was not pitch perfect as Sonic.

So it turns out that I like Sonic the Hedgehog as much as I liked Sonic the Hedgehog 2. I highly recommend Sonic the Hedgehog for those looking for something that would be quite a treat for family movie night.

6 of 10

★★★ out of 4 stars

Friday, December 20, 2024

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Friday, December 13, 2024

Review: "FRIDAY THE 13TH: The Final Chapter" Now Seems Quaint

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 56 of 2024 (No. 2000) by Leroy Douresseaux

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Running time: 91 minutes (1 hour, 31 minutes)

MPAA – R

DIRECTOR: Joseph Zito

WRITERS: Barney Cohen; from a story by Bruce Hidemi Sakow (based on characters created by Victor Miller and Ron Kurz & Martin Kitrosser and Carol Watson)

PRODUCER: Frank Mancuso, Jr.

CINEMATOGRAPHER: João Fernandez (D.o.P.)

EDITORS: Joel Goodman with Daniel Loewenthal

COMPOSER: Harry Manfredini

HORROR

Starring: Erich Anderson, Judie Aronson, Peter Barton, Kimberly Beck, Corey Feldman, Joan Freeman, Crispin Glover, Lawrence Monoson, Alan Hayes, Barbara Howard, Camilla More, Carey More, Bruce Mahler, Lisa Freeman, Bonnie Hellman and Frankie Hill with Ted White

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is a 1984 slasher horror film directed by Joseph Zito. It is a direct sequel to the 1982 film, Friday the 13th Part III, and is the fourth movie in the Friday the 13th movie franchise. The Final Chapter finds Jason Voorhees revived after being declared dead and then, returning to Crystal Lake where he stalks a group of friends renting a nearby house.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter opens in the aftermath of the massacre at “Higgins Haven,” the old home near Crystal Lake (as seen in Friday the 13th Part III). The police clean up the scene, picking up the bodies of ten victims. They were all killed by Jason Voorhees (Ted White), the killer of Crystal Lake. This time, however, Jason has also been pronounced dead, and his body is picked up and sent to the Wessex County Medical Center Morgue (apparently somewhere in southern New Jersey). Somehow, Jason spontaneously revives and kills a morgue attendant and a nurse on his way out the door and back to Crystal Lake.

Meanwhile, a group of six teenage friends: Paul (Alan Hayes), Sam (Judie Aronson), Doug (Peter Barton), Sara (Barbara Howard), Ted (Lawrence Monoson), and Jimmy (Crispin Glover), have arrived at the house in the countryside near Crystal Lake that they are renting. Right across from that house is another home where Mrs. Jarvis (Joan Freeman) lives with her two children: her teen teenage daughter, Trish Jarvis (Kimberly Beck) and her twelve-year-old son, Tommy (Corey Feldman), along with their dog, Gordon. The visiting group of teens also meets and befriends a pair of twin sisters, Tina (Camilla More) and Terri (Carey More).

Later, Trish and Tommy meet Rob Dier (Erich Anderson), a strapping young man who claims that he is visiting the area to hunt bear, but who is really hunting Jason for killing his sister, Sandra Dier. What they don't know is that Jason is already hunting them all.

[NOTE: Rob's sister, Sandra, and her boyfriend, Jeff, were killed together by Jason in Friday the 13th Part II.]

The first few minutes of Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter are a sequence of highlights from the first three films: Friday the 13th (1980), Friday the 13th Part II (1981), and Friday the 13th Part III. The third film was originally going to be the end of the series, just as this fourth film was going to conclude the series, so the beginning of this fourth film summarizes for the audience what has been going on at and around Crystal Lake. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter was the first film in the series that I saw, and is one of only two in the series that I have actually watched in a movie theater (the other being 1989's Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan).

So forty years later, what do I think of Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter? I remember that I kinda liked it the first time I saw it, although I was shocked by the number of people Jason killed – thirteen by my count, although fourteen is possible. Originally, I was surprised by how fast the narrative had Jason dispatching his victims, and forty years later, I still think that.

Like the third film, I think The Final Chapter actually presents several good characters. In fact, the six teens, the Jarvis family members, and Rob Dier all have personalities and potential that would make for decent character drama or melodrama, as it may be. In the end, however, they are merely meat for this franchise's beast, Jason Voorhees. Also, I think Corey Feldman's Tommy is the only character that really gets a chance at a showcase of character and emotion.

In the final analysis, The Final Chapter is better than most of the films in the series that followed it, but it isn't as good or as classic as the films that preceded. If you want to know which is my favorite, dear readers, it is the second film, although I think the original is still the series' best film. Still, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is a nice way to make a tetralogy out of a trilogy.

5 of 10

B-

★★½ out of 4 stars

Thursday, December 12, 2024

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Monday, November 25, 2024

Review: "GLADIATOR II" Happily Chases the Ghosts of the Original

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 52 of 2024 (No. 1996) by Leroy Douresseaux

Gladiator II (2024)

Running time: 148 minutes (2 hours, 28 minutes)

MPA – R for strong bloody violence

DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott

WRITERS: David Scarpa; from a story by Peter Craig and David Scarpa (based on the characters created by David Franzoni)

PRODUCERS: David Franzoni, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Michael Pruss, and Ridley Scott

CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Mathieson (D.o.P.)

EDITORS: Sam Restivo and Claire Simpson

COMPOSER: Harry Gregson-Williams

DRAMA/HISTORICAL

Starring: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Derek Jacobi,Yuval Gonen, Rory McCann, Matt Lucas, Alexander Karim, and Peter Mensah with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington

SUMMARY OF THIS REVIEW:

“Gladiator II” is slavishly devoted to its predecessor, 2000's “Best Picture” Oscar-winner, “Gladiator,” sometimes to its detriment.

The new film's lead, Paul Mescal, carries this film with help from Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Alexander Karim, and with a delightfully nutty turn by Denzel Washington.

Ultimately, “Gladiator II” does stand on its own because of big action set pieces, heart-stopping gladiator combat, and a crazy final duel.

Gladiator II is a 2024 drama and historical film from director Ridley Scott. It is a sequel to the Academy Award-winning “Best Picture of the Year” (2000), Gladiator. Gladiator II focuses on a soldier-turned-slave who must look to his past if he is going to return the glory of Rome to its people as his late grandfather once wished.

Gladiator opens sixteen years after the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Rome is ruled by the corrupt twin brothers, Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), and the corruption is so terrible that the city of Rome seems near collapse.

Meanwhile, General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) lead's the Roman navy in an invasion of the North African province of Numidia. Acacius is unaware that Numidia is the home of Marcus Aurelius' grandson, Lucius Verus Aurelius (Paul Mescal), who now goes by the name “Hanno.” During the battle, Acacius orders the killing of Hanno's wife, Arishat (Yuval Gonen), and Hanno is taken prisoner.

Hanno is sold to Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a stablemaster who owns and trains gladiators, and Hanno proves to be a talented gladiator. In him, Macrinus sees an opportunity to position himself next to power in Rome, so he offers Hanno a path to revenge against Acacius. However, Acacius' wife is Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), the daughter of Marcus Aurelius, and she is starting to believe that she recognizes this alluring stranger who calls himself Hanno.

In anticipation of seeing Gladiator II, I decided to watch the original film, Gladiator (2000) in its entirety for the first time since I first saw it in a movie theater with some friends back in May of 2000. I have to be honest, Gladiator II is not nearly the film that Gladiator is, and that's okay.

Gladiator II is a very good film on its own. The “battle for Numidia,” which is in the film's first act, is as exciting and as gory as I expected it to be. The gladiatorial events in the new film are quite nice, although admittedly not as nice as the original's.

As the lead in Gladiator II, Paul Mescal as Hanno/Lucius is not as powerful as Russell Crowe was as Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator. Crowe stood astride that film, using his dominating screen presence to carry Gladiator's straightforward, sword-and-sandals, revenge tale to box office and Oscar glory. Gladiator II does not give Mescal a straightforward, sword-and-sandals tale of revenge. The Rome of this new film is a hot mess of corruption, led by two homicidal narcissists. The Roman emperors of this film, Geta and Caracalla, are not as lusciously evil as Joaquin Phoenix's Emperor Commodus in the original film. They are simply petty, murderous, vain, egotistical tyrants. Thus, Hanno/Lucius' revenge story is overshadowed by the hot mess that is Geta/Caracalla's Rome, which is complicated by the shifting schemes of Denzel Washington's Macrinus.

Still, Mescal manages to make Hanno/Lucius the center of Gladiator II, even as director Ridley Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa chase the ghosts of the original film. Mescal brings balance to Hanno/Lucius rage with thoughtfulness and humility that truly makes the character not so much the lone hero, as he is one-of-the-people and a man of the people who can start Rome on a path to redemption.

Gladiator II is also helped by the fact that Denzel Washington, as Macrinus, delivers a dominating performance that makes his supporting character a co-lead. Paul Mescal may be a rising star, but Denzel Washington is the kind of established movie star and Hollywood icon whose presence is fuels a film's theatrical push.

Gladiator II won't get out of Gladiator's shadow, but its wild battle scenes and crazy gladiatorial spectacles combined with some key performances should allow the new film to casts its own shadow. Besides, if you have seen Gladiator, dear readers, you know that you are itching to see Gladiator II.

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

Monday, November 25, 2024

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Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Review: First "GLADIATOR" Film is Still Rockin' the Colosseum

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 50 of 2024 (No. 1994) by Leroy Douresseaux

Gladiator (2000)

Running time: 155 minutes (2 hours, 35 minutes)

MPAA – R for intense, graphic combat

DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott

WRITERS: David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson (from a story by David Franzoni)

PRODUCERS: David Franzoni, Branko Lustig, and Douglas Wick

CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Mathieson

EDITOR: Pietro Scalia

COMPOSERS: Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard

Academy Award winner

DRAMA/HISTORICAL

Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, David Schofield, John Shrapnel, Tomas Arana, Ralf Moeller, Spencer Treat Clark, David Hemmings, and Tommy Flanagan

Gladiator is a 2000 historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott. At the 73rd Academy Awards (March 2001), the film won the Oscar for Best Picture of the Year 2000. Gladiator focuses on a Roman general who is reduced to slavery, becomes a gladiator, and takes on a corrupt Roman emperor in order to exact vengeance upon him.

Gladiator opens in the year 180 AD in the region known as Germania. Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) prepares to end his 17-year campaign against the barbarian tribes in their final stronghold in the region. The Roman general, Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), a Spaniard, intends to return home after he leads the Roman army to victory against the barbarians. After the battle, Emperor Aurelius tells Maximus that he does not wish to make his own son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the next emperor because he is unfit to rule. Instead, the emperor wants Maximus, who is like a son to him, to succeed him and act as the regent who will restore the Roman Republic.

After secretly murdering his father, Aurelius, Commodus proclaims himself the new emperor. After Maximus spurns his request for loyalty, Commodus has Maximus arrested and orders him executed. Commodus also has the Spaniard's family murdered. After foiling the attempt to execute him, Maximus, badly wounded, is unable to save his family. Maximus is later found and sold into slavery and becomes the property of Proximo (Oliver Reed), a man who trains slaves to become gladiators whom he forces into fighting in gladiatorial events.

Meanwhile, in Rome, Commodus decides to stage 150 days of games, including gladiatorial events held at “The Colosseum.” Seeking newfound wealth, Proximo enters his gladiators, which now include Maximus and Juba (Djimon Hounsou), an African Maximus has befriended. Fate has brought Maximus to Commodus. Now, the general who became a slave is now a gladiator who just might save Rome when he exacts his vengeance upon the new emperor for murdering his family.

In anticipation of the upcoming, Gladiator II, I decided to watch the original film in its entirety for the first time since I first saw it in a movie theater with some friends back in May of 2000. Since then, I have re-watched parts of Gladiator of during cable broadcasts more time than I can remember, but I felt that it was time to watch the entire thing again and commit a review.

Gladiator is a great film because it recalls what Hollywood has always done well, historical epics that are more epic than they are history. The screenplay is a collection of familiar tropes (sword and sandals); stock characters (the crazy usurper; the put-upon woman; the wronged hero); and beloved settings (the Roman empire). The script is really nothing to write home about. The cast and crew and the director and his creative cohorts are the people who turn Gladiator into one of those truly great films that gave the twentieth century a grand Hollywood send-off.

Gladiator is probably director Ridley Scott's slickest and most polished Hollywood film. The film's narrative heart beats strong because Scott gets the best out of his film editor, film music composers, production designer and set decorator, and cinematographer. Everyone pulls together to make this film a visually sumptuous masterpiece, the kind that pounds audiences until they stop resisting and give into the bliss of a grand cinematic epic made in a true Hollywood style.

However, I think the actors are the true heart of Gladiator, delivering performances that make even the least famous of them seem like movie stars. Richard Harris is philosophical and earnest as the doomed Emperor Marcus Aurelius, while Joaquin Phoenix turns what could have been a clownish role into an unpredictable, but alluring reptilian super man-beast, the usurper Emperor Commodus. Oliver Reed, in his final role, made Proximo real and really lovable. And it's sad that Djimon Hounsou as Maximus' steady, philosophic friend, Juba, got almost no love from the various movie award-giving organizations.

The king – or emperor, if you will – of Gladiator is Russell Crowe. Maximus Decimus Meridius is one of Crowe's finest roles, even if it isn't one of his most subtle, graceful, and profound performances. Crowe carries this movie, and Gladiator defeats its own warts because Crowe is its true and one and only Gladiator. Crowe is the center and the beating heart of Gladiator, and the passage of a quarter-century has not changed that. Gladiator remains a great work of Hollywood cinema because it has what the great works of Hollywood must have – a movie star that radiates enough light to blind us to the blemishes of film with ambitions to be great.

9 of 10

A+

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

NOTES:

2001 Academy Awards, USA: 5 wins: “Best Picture” (Douglas Wick, David Franzoni, and Branko Lustig), “Best Actor in a Leading Role” (Russell Crowe), and “Best Costume Design” (Janty Yates), “Best Sound” (Scott Millan, Bob Beemer, Ken Weston, and John Nelson), and “Best Effects, Visual Effects” (John Nelson, Neil Corbould, Tim Burke, and Rob Harvey); 7 nominations: “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” (Joaquin Phoenix), “Best Director” (Ridley Scott), “Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen” (David Franzoni-screenplay and story, John Logan-screenplay, and William Nicholson-screenplay), “Best Cinematography” (John Mathieson), “Best Film Editing” (Pietro Scalia), “Best Music, Original Score” (Hans Zimmer), and “Best Art Direction-Set Decoration” (Arthur Max-art director and Crispian Sallis-set decorator)

2001 BAFTA Awards: 4 wins: “Best Film” (Douglas Wick, David Franzoni, and Branko Lustig), “Best Cinematography” (John Mathieson), “Best Production Design” (Arthur Max), “Best Editing” (Pietro Scalia); 10 nominations: “David Lean Award for Direction” (Ridley Scott), “Best Screenplay-Original” (David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Russell Crowe), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Joaquin Phoenix), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Oliver Reed-posthumously), “Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music” (Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard), “Best Costume Design” (Janty Yates), “Best Sound” (Ken Weston, Scott Millan, Bob Beemer, and Per Hallberg), “Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects” (John Nelson, Tim Burke, Rob Harvey, and Neil Corbould), and “Best Make Up/Hair” (Paul Engelen and Graham Johnston)

2001 Golden Globes, USA: 2 wins: “Best Motion Picture-Drama” and “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard); 3 nominations: “Best Director-Motion Picture” (Ridley Scott), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama” (Russell Crowe), and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Joaquin Phoenix)

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