Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning

This week after embarking on a couple of impossible missions myself (finding an enhanced viewing at a reasonable time - epic fail and sneaking in and out of the house without tripping the security system (rotten dog) - success) I made it to Mission impossible: The Final Reckoning. The big question, after 29 years could this 8th film in the franchise deliver the goods and give a satisfying end to Tom Cruise’s run as Ethan Hunt? Overcoming my mental block of doing a late-night viewing, I’m happy to report that over the course of the 2-hours and 50-minutes, Cruise and company most certainly earned my trust and respect one last time.

Mission impossible: The Final Reckoning is the ultimate love letter to the franchise and its characters in the best possible way. The highest of stakes, jaw dropping and breath-taking action, out of this world visuals, surprise twists, homages, and going full circle going back the film franchises roots. All wonderfully executed in the manner that’s come to be expected (there is one scene that threw me off in its wtf/nonsensical vibe, but it was small and I’m overlooking it). 

Best of all? The heartwarming/heartbreaking emotions of, by, and for the characters. I’m not ashamed to admit, this film not only had me repeatedly on the edge of my seat. It broke me.  I choked up, I fought back tears and outright cried several times. Emotional damage alert! If you can hear the final message and not be affected, there’s something seriously wrong with you. 

There’s a nice balance of humor throughout. The pacing for such a long film is on point so there’s never a moment of boredom and you don’t “feel” the length weighing on you as you watch.  The script is great and does something so many films fail to do. You get swept up in the story to the point where logically you know it will work out, but emotionally you doubt it. You really buy into the possibility/probability this mission will fail.

While signs of Cruise’s 62 years are starting to show on his face a bit (enhanced screening is no one’s friend on that point) that’s pretty much the only place it’s showing. He gives us what we want and have come to expect.  “The run” is highlighted throughout without missing a step or slowing down. Cruise runs his ass off in these one folks. His refusal to take a knee or pull back on any of the crazy stunt work and action sequences pays huge dividends and it’s glorious.

The casts and their characters across the board are an embarrassment of riches that deliver on every level. Even some of the smallest roles that would be throwaways in most films are impactful and memorable, making you wish there would be more to come. I mean the soldier just wishing him luck? Hello, I wanted more of her backstory, please.

I can go on and on about this one (the current state of the world and political climate for one) but I won't. 

If this is truly the last Mission Impossible, Mission impossible: The Final Reckoning is a satisfying, worthy, chef’s kiss of a swan song. As the movie said: our lives are the sum of our choices. Mission impossible: The Final Reckoning is indeed the sum of all the previous films wrapped up in a memorable, sentimental, entertaining, and masterful bow.

Slow clap for Cruise and everyone associated with bringing this franchise to the big screen for the last 29 years over 8 films. Thanks for the memories. 

Do yourself a favor, accept the mission on last time and see Mission impossible: The Final Reckoning on the big screen as intended.

Mission impossible: The Final Reckoning gets a 10 from me. This review will not self-destruct in 5 seconds.

#missionimpossiblefinalreckoning

Lilo & Stitch (2025)

 

Ignore the calendar. 

The rising temperatures and the fast and furious new releases at the box office say summer movie season is upon us. This week I took to the theater to check out the latest Disney live action film release, Lilo & Stitch (2025). 

First, a small bit of housekeeping. When the original film came out in 2002, I thought it was cute and enjoyed it, but it never held a particular place in my heart. Still, being a Disney “kid” and having seen all their other live action takes, I didn’t want to miss seeing this one on the big screen. 

Onwards.

Like the other Disney live action releases, Lilo & Stitch (2025) takes heavily from the original, tweaks, and expands it and I for one found myself loving every minute of its 1-hour 48-minute runtime. 

Solid casting pays off.

Chris Sanders once again works his magic not only as writer but as title character Stitch. His fleshing out the character of Nani (Sydney Agudong) and adding Tutu (Amy Hill) brings new depth and richness to the story which ups the "feels" quotient. Tia Carrere returning to the film this time in the role as the social worker Mrs. Kekoa is a special bonus. Billy Magnussen (you can tell he had a blast) and Zach Galifianakis are delightful as Pleakley and Jumba. Courtney B Vance’s Bubbles isn’t as intimidating but nonetheless works fine since his role is now split with Carrere. 

Then most importantly is the casting of Maia Kealoha as Lilo. Not all child actors are equal and having the right on will often make or break a film. Kealoha makes this one. She's the perfect blend of sweet, sassy, infuriating, and heartbreaking. 

Missing is the character of Captain Gantu, but I didn’t have an issue with that choice. Unpopular opinion I’m sure, but with the tweaks and changes to the story his presence was neither required nor missed.

Great CGI work, beautiful cinematography, and kicking soundtrack all mesh together beautifully to bring this film to life. Lilo & Stitch (2025) feels more grounded and organic yet remains heartfelt and fun. 

I laughed. I had fun. I got verklempt and ended up fighting back tears. 

Dammit.

My theater was packed with families, many with young kids and all of them along with the adults had a good time. It was a rowdy viewing for sure, but the fact that I was so into the film that the clamor not only didn't bother me, but actually added to the experience, speaks volumes. 

I’m sure Disney “purist” will take exception to this version of the film, but I actually liked it better than the original. It captures the spirit of the original and adds the right amount of freshness to keep it entertaining, energetic, and relevant. Lilo & Stitch (2025) is still very much a touching story about love, loss, and the meaning of 'ohana

Far from broken, Lilo & Stitch (2025) gets an 8.5 from me.

#liloandstitch

Thunderbolts*

Once again let me start with my standard comic book disclaimer. I went into this film with no previous knowledge of the characters or story beyond previous films or television shows.  For that I defer to my man Ruben’s knowledge and insights (if he so chooses to comment). So, yes, my review is based solely on what appeared on the movie screen.

Onward.

My expectations going into Thunderbolts* was pretty basic. I wanted a solid film with decent writing that didn’t make me regret leaving the house to go see. Bonus points for having Sebastian Stan once again inhabit the character of Bucky Barnes.  Fairly low expectations to be sure, but let’s face it, Marvel Studios has been hit or miss for a minute.  What Thunderbolts* delivered, however, was all that and happily quite a bit more.

Thunderbolts* quite aptly for mental health awareness month brings the trauma, healing, and redemption in this emotionally heavy and dark team up. Stan’s Bucky is the chef’s kiss I wanted and came as no surprise. 

But for me, it was the rest of the cast, especially Florence Pugh as Yelena who gloriously shines.  I haven’t really given much of a crap for Yelena going back to Black Widow. Personally, I’ve been harboring some real resentment of the way her character has been shoved down our throats with Scarlett Johansson’s Marvel departure. But Thunderbolts* has changed that for me and I’m now excited about this character and thrilled with Pugh’s performance. 

Adding to my excitement this go around is David Harbour’s Alexei (his turn in Black Widow did little for me as well), and Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost (Ant-Man and the Wasp make her nothing more than a plot device). Both actors/characters are actually utilized to great advantage this go around and their fleshed-out characters shine and add depth and texture to the story.  As for Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, simply seeing him get his ass handed to him time and again just gives me a perverse sense of joy. 

Julie Louis-Dreyfus continues to shine as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, and the glimpse of her past is a nice nugget to help unravel some of her mystery. Lewis Pullman’s Bob is engaging and intriguing in the best ways.

Speaking of joy, for all the heaviness of the film’s subject matter the joy of making it shines through. The script is solid, the actors are engaged, everything and everyone feels committed to the process of making a good film. The action sequences are fun, the character moments/beats are nicely balanced, and the pacing is good.  The humor works well; I especially enjoy the self-deprecation.

 All told Thunderbolts* does fire on all cylinders. It’s definitely a solid, enjoyable, and entertaining film. While it lacks some of the spectacle of many of the earlier phase Marvel films, it certain gives me hope that things are back on track and excites me for future films. 

Thunderbolts* is worth a trip to your local theater to escape the heat, get all up in your feels, and be entertained for 2-hours and 6-minutes. As always, if you do check it out, stay through the credits. There’s one mid credit and one post credit sequence. 

Thunderbolts* gets an 8 from me.

#thunderbolts

The Accountant 2

 

As the weather is heating up, so are the choices at the theaters. This week I decided to venture out to check out the sequel to 2016s The Accountant.  The Accountant 2 is set eight years after the original film left off.  Clocking in with a 2-hour 4-minute runtime The Accountant 2 brings more action, more violence, more humor, and more family along for the adventure.

The “feel” and narrative A2 is different from the original so it’s not simply more of the same with a bigger budget. Having Jon Bernthal as co-lead to Ben Affleck works well and the two have good chemistry and play off one another brilliantly. Their character moments elevate the entire production and give heart to the film. 

I'll never be able to hear Copperhead Road the same way. Certainly, put a smile on my face and made my heart happy.

J.K. Simmons shines to no real surprise. As for Cynthia Addai-Robinson’s return as Marybeth Medina, it works well, but only to a point. For me it feels like her naivety this time round is a step backwards for her character and undercuts her overall character arc.  She’s seen and been through too much at this point.

Justine and company are next level badasses that take “the guy in the chair” to scary levels and it’s awesome and exciting to watch.  

The story line is pretty straight forward this time around and it works but also loses some of the flavor the original film possesses. The villains are pretty one dimensional and generic, a problem indicative of many films these days.  They serve as plot points more than characters and are quite forgettable in and of themselves.  There's no "can't wait for this s.o.b. to get it" desire a worthy villain evokes. 

It’s all about the Affleck and Bernthal show.  

The Accountant 2 is entertaining. It’s a solid film overall and a worthy sequel that for my money falls just a tad short of the original but is well worth checking out on the big screen.  If you’re in the mood for some good action, violence, and humor be sure to check this one out.

The Accountant 2 gets a 7 from me.

#TheAccountant2

 

A little housekeeping here. Full disclosure, I’m a Disney kid/adult and do own stock in the company.

My, my, my!

Where to start?

Disney’s live action Snow White (2025) has been nothing but one lightning bolt of controversy after another for the last five years.  My interest in seeing the completed film in all honestly ranged from pure apathy to genuine curiosity at best.  This week, curiosity won out and I made the trip to the theater to see a discounted matinee showing along with a handful of other viewers.

I was actually ready to leave before the movie started, gawd damn they’re adding too many ads before, during, and after the previews these days! I stuck it out and with an open mind, sat back to see what Disney has wrought. 

The long and short of it, and much to the dismay of many I’m sure, I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed my viewing experience.

Snow White (2025) is one of the better live action remakes that Disney has made. 

The music, both old and new, is delightful. All is Fair and Princess Problems are fun compilations that musically and lyrically really add to the overall film. The performances were engaging (I’ll take Rachel Zeglar’s Snow over Kristen Stewart’s any day of the week and twice on Sunday). Gal Godot was wickedly good fun as the Evil Queen and those costumes are killer. Her capes alone are characters on to themselves. The expanded, updated, and fleshed out storyline and characters work well. The pacing throughout is good. I had zero problem getting pulled into or staying engaged with the film. I was entertained.

I absolutely loved how many moments/visuals from the original 1937 Snow White were captured, recreated, and brought to life. Pure delight on my part. Yes, I even bounced in my seat and quietly clapped over this. Honestly, I spent the hour forty-nine-minute runtime smiling, laughing, tapping my feet and glad I actually took the time to go to the movies to see this one. 

I did have a couple of issues. 

The timing of Snow’s costume change. Seriously, make that make sense. And girlfriend not only having pockets in her dress, but they’re apparently waterproof?! 

Then there are the dwarves...I just don’t know about them. 

I’m feeling some kind of way about them. Their looks fluctuated between creepy as hell and okay, nicely done leaving me a bit unsettled any time they were on the screen. It was also nice that they were more characters than affectations in this version.

The messaging in the film can get a bit heavy handed and saccharine at times, and I’m sure the messaging in particular will piss people off. But, oddly enough, neither really bothered me. Both work and are appropriate for this film.

Snow White (2025) is definitely not the Snow White of 1937, but it takes the bones from the original and does a solid and entertaining job of modernizing this classic fairytale. External controversies aside, the film itself is a good watch, a fun way to spend a couple of hours, and I’m glad I went to see it.

Snow White (2025) gets a 9.5 from me.

#SnowWhite

Paddington in Peru

 

Once again, the Brown family (sans Sally Hawkins) have hit the big screen in a new Paddington adventure, and I for one happily made a trip to the theater to see it. I even had the bonus pleasure of my movie adventure being a private screening, so score!

In the franchises’ third installment, Paddington in Peru, most of the original cast from the first two films return save for Hawkins (by choice) with Emily Mortimer taking over the role of Mary Brown. Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman lend their considerable talents this time around and clearly had a blast in the process. 

Not surprising, this Peruvian adventure of searching for a missing Aunt Lucy quickly becomes a misadventure filled with fun, heart, mayhem, silliness, humor, and good feels.  With a new director and writers taking over, Paddington in Peru has a different feel than the previous two films, but it still works.  And works well.

There’s a good balance of action, humor, and heart. The CGI work is tight. The story simple and charming with good pacing and a satisfactory conclusion.  Plenty of whimsy and good thrills and much needed messaging that’s not heavy handed. The song and dance number are a pure delight and had me grinning from ear to ear and seat dancing along. 

Paddington in Peru is more sentimental with less humor, but there are definite laugh out loud moments.  One scene had me absolutely screaming with laughter. There’s also less of the Brown family members which is a bit of a letdown, but it is what it is. It would’ve been nice to have more of the Brown’s but what you do get doesn’t disappoint.

The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous and having been granted special access to Machu Picchu and surrounding areas pays off in spades. 

Paddington in Peru is a charming, delightful, family film that’s a much-needed hour and forty-six-minute escape from reality. It's touching, sweet, relatable, fun, and simply joyous. A soothing balm for the soul. A feel-good movie that will make you feel glad you made the effort to see it on the big screen. 

Fair warning as always, stay to the very end. There are a couple of mid and post credit scenes that are an unexpected bonus that are sure to please.

Paddington in Peru not only entertained, but it also made me happy and gets a 10 from me.

#paddingtoninperu

Captain America: Brave New World

First movie outing of 2025 for me and I started with the latest offering from Marvel Studios, Captain America: Brave New World.  As usual, standard non comic book reader disclaimer applies.  But I’m also going to switch things up a bit and add an additional personal bias/personal baggage disclaimer as well.  Feel free to skip down to the actual movie review.

PERSONAL BAGGAGE DISCLAIMER:

I’ve been both highly anticipating and dreading the release of the first non-Steve Rogers Captain America movie since Avengers: End Game.  I was quite emotional and thrilled when Steve/Chris handed the mantel to Sam/Anthony. Tears galore, immediately wondering if the powers that be were really going to hand the shield to a black man (canon be damned).  True to the world we live in, the push back started immediately, escalated with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and has only grown. Adding the cries of boycotting the film due to the presence of Shira Haas’ casting, the haterade and efforts to make sure this film is a failure for reasons other than the actual film itself has been epic and heartbreaking to me.  

Yes, as someone who has spent their entire life as a proverbial fly in the buttermilk, I’m invested, probably too invested, in wanting this not to end up being a one and done scenario. Growing up, I didn’t see the kind of diversity (eww, gross, I know) in films and movies and the thought that there are so many determined to make sure that my experience once again becomes the norm, frankly, pisses me off. Everyone’s stories deserve to be told/seen/heard.

Whether or not you chose to listen/engage with them is your right.  

When I pulled into the movie theater lot yesterday, I was thrilled to see people turned out to see the film opening weekend. I didn’t even make it out of the car before I ended up in tears. I'm old, and emotional. But the sight/sounds of a little white boy of 4 or 5 clutching his Sam Wilson Captain America action figure, babbling about how awesome he is, both broke me and gave me back some of the hope and faith in humanity that’s been missing for the last 16 years of my life.

ACTUAL REVIEW:

Okay, enough of my bullshit.  You’re here for the movie review, not my existential crisis.

Captain America: Brave New World, is it an out of the park home run?

No.

Is it a solid film that entertains and is a good foundation to build on? 

For me. 

Definitely.

Over the course of its hour and fifty-eight-minute running time, Brave New World delivers great action, wonderful character moments, picks up and expands on previous story lines, and ties into what’s come before while giving hope to what comes next.

Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson/Cap is as grounded, empathetic, dignified, relatable and integrity filled as ever. Harrison Ford restored my faith after his turn in the last Indiana Jones film and seemed to actually want to be involved in the project and had fun. Danny Ramirez shines as he continues to step into his new role in the MCU. Carl Lumbly, damn. There’s a reason he’s had such a long and illustrious career. Giancarlo Esposito chewed the scenery and spit it out with a vengeance, and I was there for his every scene. Xosha Roquemore, Takehiro Hira, and William Mark McCullough were all engaging characters who left me wanting more.

Which is one of the shortcomings of the film. 

I wanted more of so many of the characters. More scenes, more character development, more info on who they are and how they fit in. From Esposito’s Sidewinder to Ford’s Red Hulk there’s definitely room for development/fleshing out. As for Shira Haas, honestly, I’m apathetic towards her character.

Being more grounded, the action/fight sequences are grittier and intense. With the lack of enhancement people get jacked up and add to the realism.  I've always been drawn to the characters that can get hurt/killed yet step up anyway. There are scenes and moments that really hit hard emotionally.  There’s some good humor thought it’s a bit too few and far between for my taste.

The first third of the movie while serviceable, didn’t engage me as thoroughly as I wanted but did have its moments. I wasn’t restless or bored. The pacing throughout was fairly consistent with some lags here and there but nothing too bad. I admit that the soundtrack didn’t do much for me either, so that’s a shame. The political intrigue/mystery aspect is nice but is undercut a bit relying on characters seemingly “forgetting” or ignoring what by now should be common knowledge.

Captain America: Brave New World does deliver a good time. I’m glad I made the effort and saw it on the big screen both as a fan as well as for personal reasons. There are some hard truths addressed not too heavy handedly, thrills to be had, and hope for the future. If you have any interest in seeing this one, make an effort to see it at the theater. Be sure to stay all the way through the end credits for the bonus scene.

Captain America: Brave New World gets a biased 7.5 from me.

#captainamericabraveneworld