Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation ***

Christopher McQuarrie wrote and directed this Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Ferguson, Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Simon McBurney, Tom Hollander. Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, and brief partial nudity. Running time is two hours and eleven minutes.

Ethan (Cruise) and team (Pegg, Renner, Rhames) take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate – an International rogue organization committed to destroying the IMF. Aiding them, perhaps, is a disavowed British agent (Ferguson) and hindering them is the head of the C.I.A. (Baldwin).

Fans of the previous four Mission Impossible films should be well pleased with this rendition. Production values are high, the cast is very good and there is plenty of action along with a reasonably intelligent plot. Many of the scenes were shot on foreign locations which gives it an international flair. Swedish actress, Ferguson, adds a nice touch and blends seamlessly with the rest of the cast. My only real complaint (and the reason it only gets *** instead of ***½) is that it's too long for a film that is basically non-stop action. By the time I reached the end of the film I was worn out! But the pacing was so well done I never felt the need to look at my watch. The soundtrack was a pleasant surprise for me, containing a snippet of a Beethoven symphony and several snippets of a Puccini opera. I watched this in IMAX although this wasn't filmed in that process so the picture doesn't quite fill the top and bottom of the screen. For summer action entertainment, this is almost as good as it gets.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen is preferable. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.

Vacation *½

John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein co-wrote and co-directed this Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann, Beverly D'Angelo, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins, Chris Hemsworth, Chevy Chase. Rated R for crude and sexual content and language throughout, and brief graphic nudity. Running time is one hour and thirty-nine minutes.

A grown-up Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Christina Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.

I enjoyed the original 1983 Vacation but this current rendition completely misses the mark. It's yet another film that thinks crude behavior and constant profanity are all you need to have a comedy. For teens that may work. But most adults are going to get weary of that long before this film ends. Compound that with the fact the cast is unappealing. Rusty appears to be truly clueless, his wife evidently was the campus slut before they were married and the youngest son has a mouth on him that would make a longshoreman blush. And it appears to run in the family, as Rusty's sister is married to an egomaniac who likes to strut around with his genitalia on display.  On the positive side, this mess is only a little over an hour and a half long so you won't have wasted too much time if you decide to go. There are a couple of laugh-out-loud visual scenes but they are not capable of compensating for the lack of a reasonable plot or intelligent dialogue.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 7/31/15

MetaCritic indicates Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (75) is the top ranking film this week,  followed by Vacation (33). I watched both of these and found found one very entertaining and the other easily forgettable. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses. 

Opening 7/29, 31/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Wednesday 7/29 

Vacation [R]  1 hr. 39 min Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann, Beverly D'Angelo, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins, Chris Hemsworth, Chevy Chase. Plot: a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Christina Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Friday 7/31

Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation [PG-13] 2 hrs. 11 min. Action film Watch Preview Cast: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Ferguson, Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Simon McBurney, Tom Hollander. Plot: Ethan (Cruise) and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate – an International rogue organization committed to destroying the IMF. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 7/30/15

Movie Machine - Ant-Man, Trainwreck
Palace West - Aloha
Warren East 13th - Magic Mike XXL, The Gallows, Ant-Man 3D
Warren West 21st - The Gallows, Terminator Genisys, Ant-Man IMAX
Warren Old Town - Jurassic World, Magic Mike XXL, Pixels 3D, Ant-Man 3D

Paper Towns **½

Jake Schreier directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Nat Wolff, Halston Sage, Austin Abrams, Cara Delevingne, Justice Smith. Rated PG-13 for some language, drinking, sexuality and partial nudity - all involving teens. Running time is one hour and forty-nine minutes.

Centers on Quentin (Wolff) and his enigmatic neighbor Margo (Delevingne), who loves mysteries so much she becomes one. Based on the best-selling novel.

This a teen oriented coming of age film which basically focuses on three high school seniors who know they'll be soon parting ways and are sad about that. One of them thinks constantly about a neighbor girl and when she invites him to be her getaway driver while she gets revenge on some fellow students, he agrees. When she disappears the next day, he starts looking for her, soon accompanied by his friends , convinced she's left clues as to her whereabouts.  Sp far, so good. But, this is a film where the trip greatly overshadows the destination. For me, at least, the end of the film wasn't worth the time it took to get there. Teenagers may well feel differently but I'm guessing adults are not going to put this on their hit list. Production values are good as are the cast members, but none of them have achieved stardom (well, perhaps Delevingne, as a model) although that's certainly a possibility. I wouldn't wait too long to see this if you're so inclined.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not)

MetaCritic indicates Paper Towns (57) is the top ranking film this week, closely followed by Southpaw (56), The Vatican Tapes (43) and Pixels (27). I watched one of these and found it mildly entertaining. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses. 

Opening 7/24/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Paper Towns [PG-13] 1 hr. 49 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Nat Wolff, Halston Sage, Austin Abrams, Cara Delevingne, Justice Smith. Plot: centers on Quentin (Wolff) and his enigmatic neighbor Margo (Delevingne), who loves mysteries so much she becomes one. Based on the best-selling novel. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Pixels [PG-13] 2D/3D 1 hr. 39 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Adam Sandler, Brian Cox, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad. Plot: when aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack Earth. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Southpaw [R] 2 hrs. 4 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rachel McAdams, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Clare Foley, Miguel Gomez, Victor Ortiz, Rita Ora, Naomie Harris. Plot: a boxer enters the hardest battle of his life as he struggles with redemption and to win back the trust of those he loves. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Vatican Tapes [PG-13] 1 hr. 31 min. Horror film Watch Preview Cast: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Michael Pena, Dougray Scott, Djimon Hounsou. Plot: when the Vatican is called upon to exorcise a demon, the possession proves to be an ancient satanic force more powerful than ever imagined. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 7/23/15

Movie Machine - Inside Out, Jurassic World
Palace West - Entourage, Insidious Chapter 3, Cinderella, Hot Pursuit
Warren East 13th - Max, Ted 2, I'll See You In My Dreams, San Andreas, Self/Less, Amy, Minions 3D
Warren West 21st - Self/Less, Minions 3D
Warren Old Town - The Gallows, Ted 2

Worthwhile (or not) 7/17/15

MetaCritic indicates Amy (85) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Trainwreck (75), Mr. Holmes (67) and Ant-Man (64). Had a pulled muscle that made it impossible to get around so there's no review(s) this week.. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses. 

Opening 7/17/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Amy [R] 2 hrs. 8 min. Documentary Watch Preview Cast: Amy Winehouse. Plot: the incredible story of six-time Grammy-winner Amy Winehouse – in her own words.  Showing at: Warren East.

Ant-Man [PG-13] 2D/3D/IMAX 3D 1 hr. 57 min. Sci-Fi Action Film Watch Preview Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, David Dastmalchian, T.I. , Judy Greer, Bobby Cannavale, Martin Donovan, Wood Harris, John Slattery, Gregg Turkington, Abby Ryder Fortson, David Dastmalchian. Plot: master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Mr. Holmes [PG] 1 hr. 45min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Frances de la Tour, Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Hiroyuki Sanada, Roger Allam, Hattie Morahan, Patrick Kennedy, Philip Davis, Milo Parker. Plot: Holmes faces the end of his days tending to his bees, revisiting the circumstances of the unsolved case that forced him into retirement. Showing at: Warren East.

Trainwreck [R] 2 hrs. 4 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast:Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Mike Birbiglia, Colin Quinn, Tilda Swinton, Ezra Miller, John Cena, Vanessa Bayer, Jon Glaser, LeBron James, Method Man. Plot: a commitment-averse woman trys to get past her self-sabotaging ways. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 7-16/15

Movie Machine - Terminator Genisys, Max
Palace West - Woman In Gold
Warren East 13th - Faith Of Our Fathers, Avengers: Age  Of Ultron, Terminator Genisys 3D
Warren West 21st - Faith Of Our Fathers, San Andreas, Terminator Genisys IMAX 3D
Warren Old Town - Terminator Genisys, Spy

Worthwhile (or not) 7/10/15

MetaCritic indicates Minions (56) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Self/Less (35), and The Gallows (30) None of these appealed to me this week so there will be no reviews. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses. 

Opening 7/10/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

The Gallows [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Horror film Watch Preview Cast: Cassidy Gifford, Ryan Shoos, Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown. Plot: students at a small town school resurrect the stage production in which the lead actor died in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy—but ultimately find out some things are better left alone. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Minions [PG] 2D/3D 1 hr. 31 min. Family Animated Film Watch Preview Voices: Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Allison Janney, Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm. Plot: a trio of minions embark upon a thrilling journey to find their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock), the world's first-ever female super-villain. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Self/Less [PG-13] 1 hr. 57 min. Sci-fi Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Ben Kingsley, Derek Luke, Victor Garber, Matthew Goode, Natalie Martinez, Michelle Dockery. Plot: an extremely wealthy man (Ben Kingsley), dying from cancer, undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into the body of a healthy young man (Ryan Reynolds). Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 7/9/15

Movie Machine - Ted 2
Palace West - The Age Of Adeline
Warren East 13th - Love And Mercy, Dope, Mad Max: Fury Road, Me And Earl And The Dying Girl
Warren West 21st - Pitch Perfect 2, Insidious Chapter 3
Warren Old Town - Terminator Genisys 3D

Terminator Genisys ***

Alan Taylor directed this Sci-Fi Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney, Matt Smith, Emilia Clarke, Byung-hun Lee, J.K. Simmons, Sandrine Holt, Dayo Okeniyi, Michael Gladis. Rated PG - 13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and gunplay throughout, partial nudity and brief strong language. Running time is two hours and five minutes.

When John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline.

The biggest problem this film has is that 'fractured timeline' thing. Perhaps if you had a few hours and a spreadsheet you could figure it all out but my advice is to just ignore it and go along for the ride. Just assume nothing is quite what it seems and you'll be fine. Action fans will find all they want. There's almost no romance involved but Clarke's character does provide a strong female presence. Speaking of her, it was nice to see her without her blonde wig and dragons and she was perfectly capable in her role. Schwarzenegger was a pleasant surprise in that he wasn't his usual one dimensional self and actually made me laugh out loud a couple of times. The rest of the cast is fine although Simmons was basically wasted in his bit part. The pacing is good so the film never seems to drag. While the rating talks about partial nudity, it's so partial as to be meaningless in my opinion. I saw this in IMAX 3D and the 3D was very good, as usual.

There is a film sequence in the middle of the credits that changes the original ending just a bit. A large screen is required for maximum action impact. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 7/1/15

MetaCritic indicates Magic Mike XXL (59) is the top ranking film this week, followed by Terminator Genisys (39). Faith Of Our Fathers (0) doesn't have enough reviews to get a rating but the one review it has thought it was poor.  I saw one of these and found it more entertaining than did the national critics. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.