What to Watch This Weekend: September 6, 2019

In Theaters: It Chapter Two

I know we called it a rental in the review, but nothing else comes out this weekend.  However, this is not a bad movie to pay to see in theaters if you want to go.  Despite the long story and convoluted plot, It Chapter Two reunites the Losers with the iconic clown, adding a fantastic cast and a ton of tension.  Check out our review for more information!

At Redbox: Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Godzilla is definitely a rental, so make sure to head over to Redbox and check it out this weekend.  Our review praised the special effects, but did not love the convoluted plot or seriousness of this film's story.  

Streaming (HBO): Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Melissa McCarthy's takes on a serious role as a struggling biographer who begins counterfeiting famous author's letters in order to make a quick buck.  The film is a nice change of pace for McCarthy, and tells an interesting and surprisingly true story.  

Streaming (Vudu Free With Ads): Any Given Sunday

With the start of football season this weekend, there is no better movie to scratch your NFL itch than Any Given Sunday.  It has some great football action, fantastic performances from Pacino, Foxx, Cool J, and Quaid, and also one of the best inspirational speeches in film.  

Review: Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Release date: May 30, 2019
Running time: 131 minutes
Starring: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown

The Godzilla cinematic universe (yes, one of the promotional videos called it something to that effect) is trying to reboot itself for a modern time.  Godzilla: King of the Monsters is the first movie in what Warner Bros and Legendary hope will be a revival of this property.  Let's start with the good, Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a visual and auditory treat.  The CG is very well done, with larger than life monsters, explosions, and fights.  When these monsters clash, they take down entire cities with them, which the movie happily depicts.  Accompanying these visuals is some truly immense sound that will make you shake with every massive movement from these creatures.  If this is your kind of movie, you'll want to see it in theaters.  The effects are epic, the sound is fantastic, and the actions scenes are larger than life.

Unfortunately, the effects are the only good thing about this movie.  The plot makes no sense.  The story tries to tie the monsters in the Godzilla universe to a greater human history and the current woes facing our planet, but it is a little too serious for a summer action movie.  The plot itself and the actions the characters take also make no sense.  The story goes to great lengths to travel to exotic locales and have these monsters fight, but in the end the reasons for all this travel are confusing at best and just bad at worst.

The characters are likewise forgettable, with many poor choices being made to advance the plot.  And part of this goes with some lackluster dialogue and justifications for their poor decisions.  Many emotional scenes fall flat because the premise is so ridiculous.  

The problem with Godzilla is that it is a movie that really benefits from being on the big screen, but outside of the effects, there isn't a reason to pay the premium to go see it.  Godzilla: King of the Monsters is an effects spectacle with a convoluted plot and not enough self awareness to save it from the poor story and forgettable characters.

Rent it

Screening: Godzilla: King of the Monsters

In 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX on May 31

SYNOPSIS: Action Adventure. The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.  When these ancient superspecies—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

DIRECTOR: Michael Dougherty

CAST: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O’Shea Jackson Jr., David Strathairn,  with Ken Watanabe and Ziyi Zhang

RATING: PG-13 for sequences of monster action violence and destruction, and for some language.

TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFxN2oDKk0E

WEBSITE: http://www.GodzillaMovie.com

#GodzillaMovie #GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters 

 Screening Details

Monday, May 28
AMC Mazza Gallerie
5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC
7:00 pm

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