Don’t Let Go

Yesterday I saw this movie and I was not impressed in the beginning. The dialog oozed cheese and I was ready for the murders to happen. Basically, so the story can actually begin. We gathered how much Jack loved his niece and vice versa within the first 10 mins. Didn’t need the other 20 or so mins of unnecessary filler to drive the point home.

When unc finally gets the initial “Help Me” call, the movie had officially begun. A couple of days after he went to their house and peeped the scene, is when he gets the 1st call from Ashley (niece). I love how he didn’t immediately answer the phone, which I think is the most natural reaction to receiving a call from a relative you just buried 0_o. That being said, I was annoyed the next time or two at how long he took to answer and the lack of responses he was giving her. Still very human reactions, but it’s a movie! Get on with it! Lol.

I thought once the niece died we weren’t going to see her anymore, only hear her on the phone, but a little past midway, she reappears and now we can see both points of view; uncle Jack’s which is in the future, and Ashley’s which is the past. Up to this point, we can only see the present (future). This was another turning point for me. Now we could see her carrying out all the tasks asked of her and the close calls that came with it! The last 30 minutes was full of suspense! It was great! This is around the time for me at least when it started to click who the killer was. Marylyn called it from jump though. Kudos to her.

This movie reminded me of a more believable version of “Deja Vu”, and also of the movie “Before I Fall”. Those were pretty good movies as well you may wish to check out if you haven’t already. This one tops them both though.

Kylie’s Rating- B+

 

The Hate U Give

I’ve been waiting on this movie for a little over a year. When the trailer was finally released, I died! From that moment until I saw it last night, I made sure to plug the book and the movie anytime I could in my everyday conversations. For the past two weeks I’ve been in hype mode overdrive! Well, I’m glad to say the movie lived up to my expectations!

The cast was amazing! Everyone nailed their roles! The chemistry between the cast was perfect. So much so, that it didn’t Seem like we were watching a movie, but observing a real family navigating their Situation. Often times, movies require a certain level of suspension of disbelief in order for them to make sense, get their point across, or be enjoyable. It’s not required for this movie because the plot, conflict, resolution and aftermath are so relevant to present day Black America.

Throughout the movie, the acronym  T.H.U.G L.I.F.E is explained. The hate you gave little infants F**ks everybody. I learned what thug life stood for maybe only 5 or so years ago from a random Tupac interview I found when I went down the rabbit’s hole of  “recommendations” YouTube had for me based on my viewing history. After watching the interview i was like “Exsqueeze Me?!…it’s an acronym? It doesn’t mean blood in, blood out, i didn’t choose this life, it choose me, live by the sword, die by the Sword?!” and so on.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QCEf557fNYg

There isn’t many ways you can interpret T.h.u.g L.i.f.e in my opinion, but just in case people were struggling to understand, all confusion was put to rest at the climax of the movie! The best scene hands down! It really drives the meaning home in the clearest way possible.

I think everyone should see this movie. It is worth your time, money, and whatever else!

Kylie’s Rating: A+

Where Hands Touch

 

Last night me and Merlyn saw Where Hands Touch. I’ve been waiting on this movie for about two years! I was going to be super mad had it not been released in my area since the date was for “select cities”. If it’a not playing in a theater near you, it will be available for a while on DirectTv starting Dec. 6, and streaming on Hulu March 2019.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb6XBjBrrq4

The movie is about Lena’s experiences as an Afro-German during Hitler’s reign. Prior to the announcement of this movie, I honestly never thought about the possibility of there being black Germans. While initially she wasn’t treated as badly as a Jew during that time, she was still hassled and hated. I want to use some scenes as examples, but I also don’t want to be a spoiler.

The  runtime is about 2 hours and it’s a pretty well paced movie. At times it may seem slow, but it works. You won’t be checking your watch throughout trying to see how much longer you have, if that helps.

Be sure to stay to the end, because in true Amma Asante fashion, she’s hits you with facts and pictures about Afro-Germans in Germany during that time.

The only thing I didn’t like were some scenes where the fakest sun was used. I originally thought my only beef with the movie would be everyone’s accents. Oddly enough, I didn’t really mind them. For the most part. Like, the lighting was horrible in my opinion. The way they portrayed sunlight at times made everything look like a dream sequence (and not a good one) because it was too fake! The rays of light dancing on Lena and Lutz faces during the more touching scenes…straight cheddar! If anything, it took away from those scenes. Also the horizon from the hilltop looked awful, as well as some scenes inside the camp. Specifally her POV shots while looking through the fence of the camp.

That being said, if it’s showing in a theater near you, you should go see it. It’s worth it.

Kylie’s Rating – A

 

 

A Simple Favor

So last night Merlyn and I saw this and it was more than I was expecting and could have ever hoped for! The cast was perfect! Blake and Anna played their characters to a T!

Ever since they stated running the trailer, I was like, yup, gotta see it. I’m going to see anything with Blake Lively regardless because #TeamSerena for life.

I would describe this movie as a mystery, thriller and COMEDY! It was surprisingly funny! I would have never guessed it from the previews! On top of that, it was unpredictable. Save your brain power and time by not even attempting to come up with theories regarding Emily’s disappearance. You will never guess it!

I also loved how every character, no matter how small the role, was necessary for the movie as a whole.

Go see it!

Kylie’s Rating – A+

Gemini

So I’ve seen the trailer for Gemini a few times this year during the previews of other movies I’ve seen. Well, I love Zoe kravitz so I was like yeah, I’m going to see it. The story looked interesting as well. Well, didn’t come to a theater near me, but it is available for rental on iTunes ($5.99)

The movie is about Heather (Zoe) and her assistant Jill (Lola Kirke). Heather backs out of a movie she was signed on for and now everyone hates her. Her ex boyfriend also wants to kill her as well. She ends up dead, but who killed her?! I really liked the script because it didn’t seem scripted if you get what I’m trying to say. Like yes, it was obviously scripted because it’s a movie, but the dialog between everyone was so natural! I feel like if the situation were happening in real life, and it involved me and my friends, our interactions and dialog would be almost exactly the same. This gave the movie a sense of realness. Although the scene when Jill meets up with Jamie and says “right now” like 4 times within the span of 1 minute. DEAD!

Im glad this movie was good because Zoe has been making questionable indie choices lately. Vincent and Roxxy?! I can not! But I did! It was so awful!!! I wrote about it a while back if you care to search my blog and read about it. Long story short, don’t waste your time on that movie.

The only thing that I didn’t like, which could be a big deal to some, was the ending! I NEED ANSWERS!!! At the end I was like, soooooo….

Kylie’s Rating – B+

Whitney

I finally got a chance to see this movie yesterday and it was amazing. When I saw the preview for the first time about a month ago, I knew I had to see it. I was hoping it would be as good, if not better than the Amy documentary.

I was a little confused at times with some of the filler video they used, but I eventually caught on to what they were doing. Other than that, I have no complaints about this doc.

It was super informative, at least to me because while I knew who Whitney was, and loved her music mainly because my mom played her, I didn’t know much else. I remember her popular songs and movies, but more than anything I remember her downfall. So this documentary shed light on things I never knew, mainly because I was too young to care and I didn’t read tabloids or watch entertainment news, etc. Older people will probably have vivid memories of certain events mentioned.

It was a great movie, but sad as well. I expected it to be a little sad. Long story short, her family is garbage juice.

Amy won the Oscar for best documentary feature in 2015 which I felt was well deserved. Whitney deserves a nomination at the very least.

Kylie’s Rating – A

 

Tomb Raider

Muenster, feta, cheddar, Colby jack, fiesta blend CHEESE!

Kylie’s Rating

D-

Black Panther

I went to the 10:30 showing, decked out in my black by popular demand shirt PRAYING that this movie would live up to the hype. AND IT DID!

I knew really nothing of the Black Panther  going in, but I was still going to see it. I’m so glad they didn’t jump right into a storyline without giving people like me some backstory first. I feared this would cater to the comic book fans by starting off at like issue: whatever. Only they would get it! So I’m glad he was explained as well as Wakanda.

I typically don’t like action movies, or super hero movies, but this one was AWESOME!!! And it was funny too! I’m pretty sure the little sister is my favorite character. Her one liners were top notch, lol. All the actors were great! The only thing I didn’t like, was Forest Whitaker’s accent!!! Omg…it KILLED me! Lmao! Other than that, this movie was fantastic!!! I loved how badass the women were in this film!

This movie is definitely worth the hype! I was a bit sleepy towards the end, but that’s because I’m an old lady who saw it at 10:30 (2hr 15min runtime). The movie itself didn’t put me to sleep, lol.

Everyone needs to see this movie!

Kylie’s Rating

A+

 

I, Tonya

So when I heard they were making a movie about Tonya Harding I was like awww yeah! Then when they said Margot Robbie would be starring in it, i was one million percent sold.

This movie was so good and funny! Everyone did so well! The casting was perfect! I would advise watching the ESPN documentary about Tonya that aired a few years back called “The price of gold”. They literally took that documentary, and made this movie! I thought it was a coincidence in the beginning that it seemed so similar. Then I realized what was going on. I’m telling you, it will make the movie even better if you watch that docu before. You’ll see how they interperted some parts of the documentary and it will make those scenes much funnier, and in some cases sadder.

I still don’t believe Tonya was apart of it, lmao! But who knows?! I feel bad for her. Sure, fine her for her withholding information or whatever, maybe strip her of her titles for that year, but don’t ban her for life!!! Damn!  I feel her punishment didn’t fit the crime. It was too harsh!

Well, go see the movie and have a few laughs and see if she was the mastermind behind this scandal for yourself!

Kylie’s Rating

A

 

 

Mother!

So ever since I saw the first preview for Mother, I knew I had to see it. It was a huge bonus that JLaw was the star. Well it came out today and I went. It was so dope!! Of course, it was weird AF too, because Darren Aronofsky. There is a thin line between super weird and so weird, you’re doing the most. This movie walked the line.

Now that I’m sitting here typing out my thoughts, I don’t think any character had a name! Like, I don’t remember anybody being called by one. They would just start talking to one another. Anywho, Javier’s character is a poet who is struggling to write his next piece. J Law is his meek and mild wife who has spent all of her time rebuilding Javier’s house (now their house) after it previously burned down in a fire.

There is this weird glowing crystal that Javier has on display in his office. We already know something is up with him/them because of it. J Law is somehow connected to the house and can feel it’s life force when she touches a wall. She herself has some type of sickness and treats her symptoms with this glittery powder she mixes with water. So the first time I saw her take that, I’m like so, what is that? Is she a ghost? Not so much a moaning myrtle type ghost, but Casper when he got to be a boy again for the night. And if so, does she know she is? That’s when I started getting suspicious of the husband.

Next, some random man comes and stays and he’s being all weird, the husband opens the house to him and J Law is like, ummmmmm….but goes along with it. Later that night, he is coughing up his lungs in the bathroom and he also has a massive gash on his side towards the back. They never bring that up again in the movie. So why make sure we notice it in the first place if we were never going to get an explanation? The next day rolls around and his wife shows up. Eventually it’s a damn family reunion, because now the sons show up and chaos ensues! No one is listening to her and some shit goes down, and now I’m looking at the husband like, “really”? Then the movie just gets crazier and crazier from there.

I liked this movie because I couldn’t figure out what was going on for the longest. You know how you’re watching a movie, and then you start to predict what’s going to happen next based on what’s happened so far? Well i tried doing that for the first hour and a half was was wrong each time. It wasn’t until about the last 30 mins or so where I was like, “oohhhhh, okkkkkk”. Even then, I was a tiny bit surprised by the ending, I have so many questions. I would type them into this post, but I don’t want to spoil the movie anymore than I have, if i’ve spoiled it at all. Also, there is this once scene that is completely INSANE, so beware. You will know it when you see it.

Yes, this movie is super weird, but I think it’s worth seeing. I think people are either going to hate it, or love it. There is no in between. See for yourselves.

Kylie’s Rating: 4/5