News of the World

 
 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes

Release Date: December 25, 2020

Director: Paul Greengrass

Starring: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel

In a post Civil War era, a civil war veteran (hanks), who now travels from town to town, sharing the news of presidents, queens, etc. encounters a young girl named Johanna (Zengel), who was taken by the Kiowa people 6 years earlier, and and agrees to take her home to her biological aunt and uncle. This movie, is a good movie. I saw this movie this past week, and originally planned on seeing "Wonder Woman 1984", but changed my mind last minute, and I'm glad that I did. This movie, is probably the best new movie that I saw this year. Parents, the film is rated PG-13, but there is some gunshot violence, and a little foul language, so I advise you to not take your young kids to this film. It's a western film, so I don't know if your young kids would be interested in it anyway. But, if you are into western films, I think this one would be good for you.

Final Grade:

A+

A Charlie Brown Christmas

     Okay, to conclude my Christmas movie review journey, I've decided to review this half-hour Peanuts TV classic. This short film is about the loveable Charlie Brown, who doesn't understand the true meaning of Christmas, is chosen by his friends to direct their annual Christmas play. Eventually he learns that it means more than just presents, parties, decorations, commercials, etc. He learns, that there's a true meaning to the holiday. Parents, I'm sure watching this film every year is probably a tradition in your family. So, you all know what I'm gonna say: There's family fun for everyone!

Final Grade:

A+

White Christmas

 Release Date: November 15, 1954

Runtime: 2 hours

Director: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney

        A successful song-and-dance team (Crosby and Kaye) were two war buddies that later became buddies, who then fall in love with two sisters. They team up to save a failing inn, that's owned by their former commanding general. People, this is a timeless classic that I think can be enjoyed by the whole family! So gather the whole family together this (or next) holiday season, and watch this film.

Final Grade:

A+

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

 Rated: G

Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes

Release Date: November 3, 2006

Director: Michael Lembeck

Starring: Tim Allen, Martin Short, Elizabeth Mitchell

      Santa, aka Scott Calvin (Allen), is trying to keep his new family happy, while trying to stop Jack Frost (Short) from creating havoc and absolute chaos, and from taking over Christmas! I think this is a nice family-friendly film for the whole family. It's not great but good on it's own terms. Parents, this is a G rated film, so there's obviously family-fun for everyone! So, check it out if you like, or can.

Final Grade:

C+

The Santa Clause 2

 Rated: G

Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes

Release Date: November 1, 2002

Director:  Michael Lembeck

Starring: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell

                After ten years of being Santa, Scott Calvin (Allen) learns that he must find a Mrs. Claus by Christmas Eve, otherwise his tenure as Jolly Old St. Nick will run out! I think this is a worthy sequel to the first film, in fact, I vaguely remember seeing it in theaters, and my dad saying that it was funnier than the first film. Parents, this obviously a G rated Disney film, so there's family-fun for everyone!

Final Grade:

B

Monster Hunter

 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes

Release Date: December 18, 2020

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Starring: Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa

        Based on the video game by Capcom, a Lieutenant and her soldiers are mysteriously transported to a new world. While there, they battle enormous enemies with incredible powers. I can't believe that I saw another good movie that's being trashed by The Internet because of "too many edits"! This is a movie based on a video game, and Sure fans of it will probably hate it, but i thought it was a good movie. In my opinion, it has the spirit of the movie Stargate a little bit. Parents, there's lots of action, violence, and the creatures in the film may be a little scary-looking for young children, so I advise you to keep your little ones away from this film.

Final Grade:

B+

A Christmas Story

 Rated: PG

Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes

Director: Bob Clark

Starring: Peter Billingsly, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin

        When Ralph (Billingsly) tells his mom, teacher, and even santa that he wants a Red Ryder BB gun for christmas, they all tell him that he'll shoot his eye out! But, that didn't stop him from wanting one! I actually saw this movie, not at home, but at a movie theater! Because of COVID-19 forcing studios to hold a lot of new movies off, theaters have been showing some Christmas classics. Films like this one, Elf, White Christmas, and maybe even The Polar Express, I think that doing so is a good idea. A Christmas Story I think is a timeless Classic, that can be seen no matter where, or how! No matter in a theater, or at home. Parents, show this film to your young ones (In a movie theater, or at home), because I think there's (nearly) family-fun for everyone!

Final Grade:

B+

Krampus

 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes

Release Date: December 4, 2015

Director: Michael Dougherty

Starring: Toni Collette, Adam Scott

     This film is based on a Christmas legend known as Krampus, which is a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing those who don't believe in Christmas. As he has been for thousands of years, he comes not to reward, but to punish. he comes not to give, but to take. Krampus is not a Christmas film that I think kids should watch. It's very intense, and there are scenes that may fright young children. The Nightmare before Christmas may take the Christmas movie genre toward the Halloween movie genre, but Krampus takes that to a whole other level. So Parents, I strongly advise you to not show this film to your kids.

Final Grade:

B

The Nightmare Before Christmas

 Rated: PG

Runtime: 1 hour 16 minutes

Release Date: October 29, 1993

Director: Henry Selick

Featuring Voices of: Danny Elfman, Chris Srandon, Catherine O'Hara

    This Christmas-Halloween crossover film is about Jack Skellington, who's the king of Halloween town, discovers Christmas, and decides to bring the holiday to his hometown, not knowing what the consequences would be. Even though I'm reviewing this film during the Christmas season, but I wonder if it should be considered either a Halloween film, or a Christmas film. I mean, it does bring together both holidays together in my opinion, but it does bring Christmas toward the Halloween genre. Parents, this is a ok film to show to your kids, so give it a shot!

Final Grade:

C+

The Santa Clause

 Rated: PG

Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

Release Date: November 11, 1994

Director: John Pasquin

Starring: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson

    When Scott Calvin (Allen), a advertising executive becomes Santa Claus, even though he's initially a scrooge, he eventually becomes a true believer in this family-friendly comedy. I have decided (at the last minute) to start reviewing Christmas films this year, and I started with this one. I think this movie, is a good, enjoyable comedy for the whole family! Parents, show this film to your little ones if you haven't already! There's family-fun for everyone!

Final Grade:

A-

Stay tuned, because there will be another review tomorrow!

Come Play

 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 1 hour 36 minutes

Release Date: October 30, 2020

Director: Jacob Chase

Starring: Azhy Robertson, Gillian Jacobs, John Gallagher Jr.

    In this intense PG-13 horror flick, a monster named Larry decides to manifest itself through technology. Mainly devices like Smartphones, and tablets. And decides, that it wants to become friends with a non-verbal autistic kid. The best way to describe this film, is that it's basically a horror version of E.T.. I watched a video review of this film, and that's pretty much how the person reviewing it describes it, and I agree with him.

      Parents, this is the most intense movie, that I've seen in a theater since A Quiet Place. It is a good movie but, I strongly encourage to keep your children (even if they're autistic) away from this flick. There are some really intense scenes, that might want them to stay away from mobile devices. Horror fans, if your brave enough to return to the movies during this pandemic, go see this film. It's a good one, and it'll probably be something that I'll rent from Redbox when it comes out on Blu-Ray.

Final Grade:

B+