My Favorite Movies of 2021

 Okay folks, as the year winds down, Here's my list of my favorite movies of 2021:

1. Dune (this one was automatically my favorite coming out of the theater) Release Date: Friday October 22, 2021 Review: Missouri Movie Lover: Dune
2. No Time to Die (One of the better James Bond movies that I've seen) Release Date: October 8, 2021 Review: Missouri Movie Lover: No Time to Die
3. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (This film is a pretty good, enjoyable installment of the Ghostbusters franchise) Release Date: November 19, 2021 Review: Missouri Movie Lover: Ghostbusters: Afterlife
4. A Quiet Place Part II (A proper kickoff to the 2021 summer movie season, and the first movie on this list to get released) Release Date: May 28, 2021 Review: Missouri Movie Lover: A Quiet Place Part II
5. Cry Macho (A good coming of age story for adults) Release Date: September 17, 2021 Review: Missouri Movie Lover: Cry Macho

Sing 2

 Rated: PG

Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes

Release Date: December 22, 2021

Director: Garth Jennings

Featuring the voices of: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johannson, Taron Edgerton

     This film is about Buster Moon (McConaughey) who, along with his friends, decides to do a Science Fiction musical, and they need to persuade former rock star Clay Calloway (voiced by Bono) to join them.

    Even though I've never seen the first Sing, but as a movie this film is pretty good. I know that one thing that this film deals with, is the fear of heights, and never letting anyone stop you from following your dreams. Parents, I think this is a film the whole family can enjoy! So, take everyone to see it!

Final Grade:

A+

Spider-Man: No Way Home

 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes

Director: Jon Watts

Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, Jamie Foxx, Benedict Cumberbatch

    In this latest Spidey adventure, Spider-Man (Holland) Asks Dr. Strange (Cumberbatch) for help when His identity as Peter Parker is revealed. However, All Heaven breaks loose when a spell goes wrong, and Dangerous foes start to appear. Now, Peter has to discover what it's like to truly be Spider-Man.

   I think it's one of the best Spider-Man movies in recent years, and I think all you Marvel Fans out there should see it! There were two actors in this film which I will not reveal, that I didn't expect to see. Parents, I didn't see anything that maybe questionable to young kids, but if you wanna know before you go, then click here. But, I think your older kids are gonna like it.

Final Grade:

A

Encanto

    Rated: PG

Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes

Release Date: November 24, 2021

Directors: Jarod Bush, Bryon Howard

Featuring the Voices of: Stephanie Beatriz, Maria Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo 

    This latest Disney animated feature is about a young girl named Mirabel, who live in a magical place called an Encanto, where everyone in her family except her, has a special, magical ability. Like Super Strength, to talking to animals. But, when the magic, and home, is in danger, will she be able to save the day? This is a fairly good movie. not Disney's best, but one that I think is worth taking the whole family to. Parents, Like I said, take the whole family to this one, I think there's Family-Fun for everyone!

Final Grade:

B+

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 2 hours 4 minutes

Release Date: November 19, 2021

Director: Jason Reitman

Starring: Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd

      Set 30 years after Ghostbusters 2, a single mom and her two kids move to a small town, and they discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters, and the legacy their grandfather left behind. This is a good movie, It does have a rather emotional ending, although I didn't cry. But it does pay tribute to the late Harold Ramis (Rest In Peace) (that's the only spoiler your getting from me). Parents, Your teens or pre-teens might like this, but your little ones may not understand about what's going on on the screen. Although there's not much cursing, and I found no sexual content, but just in case, you might wanna click here and check the parents guide on IMDB, before taking your kids.

Final Grade:

A-

Clifford The Big Red Dog

Rated: PG

Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

Release Date: November 19, 2021

Director: Walt Becker 

Starring: Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Izaac Wang

     Based on the Classic Childrens book series, Clifford the big Red Dog is about a New York girl named Emily Elizabeth, who struggles to fit in at home and at school, finds a small red puppy from a magical animal rescuer, and that puppy is destined to become her best friend. When he suddenly grows into a giant dog, he grabs the attention of a genetics company who wishes to supersize animals, Emily Elizabeth and her clueless uncle Casey, fight the forces of greed while clifford (the big red dog) affects the lives of everyone and teaches Emily the true meaning of acceptance.

    This is a wonderful movie, and I think that there's a hidden message in here about acceptance. Parents, take the whole family to this film! There's family-fun for Everyone! And I think everyone's gonna have a great time with this film at the movies.

Final Grade:

A-

Eternals

 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 2 hours 37 minutes

Release Date: November 5, 2021

Director: Chloe Zhao

Starring: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harrington

     Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces a group of aliens known as the Eternals, who have been living secretly on Earth for thousands of years, to come out of hiding to fight mankind's most ancient enemy, the deviants. I thought it was a good movie. Not as good as Endgame, but not a bad one either. it does however, have good looking visuals. Parents, I'd click here if I were you before deciding to whether or not take your kids to this film. I mean there is at least one scene, that I think you may or may not be offended by. So, there's the warning. Overall, I think the average marvel fan, or or average moviegoer in general may be ok with this film.

Final Grade:

B+

Ron's Gone Wrong

 Rated: PG

Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes

Release Date: October 22, 2021

Directors: Sarah Smith, Jean-Phillippe Vine

Featuring the voices of: Zach Galifinakis, Jack Dylan Grazer

     This animated adventure is about a young man named Barney (Grazer), who is an average middle schooler, who does not have the extremely popular social media device called a B-bot. When he finally gets one, it malfunctions and learns that the true meaning of friendship is not through Social Media, but through having an actual friend around like a family member.

     This is a good story about how Social Media, and Technology can distract us from being with others. Parents, this is a good film to take the whole family to, and I'm recommending it to you if you can't find anything else at the box office to take your kids to.

Final Grade:

A+

It's the great pumpkin Charlie Brown

 Release Date: October 27, 1966

Runtime: 25 minutes

      I've decided to end my horror marathon, on a family-friendly note. I feel that the fall/winter months is the time of year for Charlie brown, and I'm ending this marathon with everyone's favorite half-hour, Halloween special: It's the great pumpkin Charlie Brown. Now, you should know what this short film is about. It's about everyone's favorite peanuts characters, who are celebrating Halloween by trick-or-treating, and attending a Halloween party, while Linus, who believes in something called "The Great Pumpkin," decides to go to the local pumpkin patch, and wait for "him" to appear.

Final Grade:

A+

Dune

 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 2 hours 35 minutes

Release Date: October 22, 2021

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Furguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Zendaya

      This adaptation of the classic 1965 novel of the same name, Paul Atreides (Chalamet) is the son of a noble family who travels to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. I think it's my most favorite movie of the year. It's got really good looking visuals, it's better than the 1984 film, and I think it should definitely be seen in a theater, and NOT on HBO Max! Seriously people, if you wanna see this film (if you can), see it in a theater with the biggest screen, and the best sound system you can find (and afford). Parents, click here to decide whether or not let your kids see this film. Overall, I think it's my most favorite movie of the year, and it definitely lived up to the hype!

Final Grade:

A+

The Turning

 Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes

Release Date: January 24, 2020

Director: Fiora Sigismondi

Starring: Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard

     A young governess is hired to look after an orphaned girl, but the return of the girls problematic brother uncovers secrets from the past. I don't think I really care for this movie. I do think, it's better than what everyone says. But the problem is that, you know when you see a movie for the first time, you sit there and your like "This is the ending. Nope, this is. Nope! This is! Finally, the movie's over!" Well, I don't think the studio could make up their minds on how to end this movie. Because, I think there are two endings! Parents, this movie is really intense. Towards the end of the film, I think the main character goes completely paranoia!. So, unless your teens are horror fans, keep your kids away from this film!

Final Grade:

D+