Geostorm
This movie is doing a pretty good job disguising itself as a real blockbuster action movie, but it's not.
I had never heard of this movie before the trailer showed up online, and for a movie this big, that's a red flag. It basically means that it's an overblown SyFy channel original. You see, if there are any heavy hitters involved, or any serious action movie pedigree, people would have reported on it, the casting would have been announced, and I would've heard about it. But with this there was nothing at all, and then the trailer.
The second red flag is that all of the actors in this movie are either well on their way to the direct-to-video market, or have already dabbled once or twice.
The third red flag is that it's a disaster movie NOT directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012). Emmerich's films have become cheesy, but they're rarely unwatchable, and these days they stand firmly in the guilty pleasure sub-genre of action films. Geostorm is directed by Emmerich's writing and producing partner, Dean Devlin. His main qualifications for directing this movie? He's chummy with Emmerich.
It's gonna be lame, you've been warned. I'm sure the visuals will be striking, but not worth it.
Geostorm is rated PG-13 for destruction, action and violence.
Only The Brave
Brace yourself. It's a true story and the real ending wasn't pretty.
Joseph Kosinski directed this movie. His last two movies were science fiction, and because he's a trained architect, he has a lot to do with the design of those fictional worlds he worked in (Tron: Legacy and Oblivion). So for him to switch to a movie that is not only a true story, but takes place in the woods a lot of the time, is curious. I wonder how he will create a strong aesthetic like he has before.
On the less encouraging side of things, one of the writers is Ken Nolan, who worked on Transformers: The Last Knight. That writing was maybe the worst I've ever seen in a studio release.
Only The Brave is rated PG-13 for thematic content, some sexual references, language and drug material.
Same Kind of Different as Me
This could be the one. This could be the next Christian film to elevate the genre. Also, Renée Zellweger isn't squinting anymore!
It's about a married couple who help out a homeless man. It all looks very tearful. The trailer still has WAY too many suspended cymbal rolls (a mainstay of trailers for faith-based films), but it looks like a well made film with solid acting.
Same Kind of Different as Me is rated PG-13 for thematic elements including some violence and language.
The Snowman
Think of it as Se7en's little brother. Or, if David Fincher's films Se7en and Zodiac were two friends hanging out, The Snowman would be the annoying neighbor kid who really wishes he was as cool as them.
It's a police vs serial killer movie.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if the word "Fincher-esque" was thrown around during the making of this film. You can tell it wants to be smart, but it looks like it indulges too much into horror elements.
Now that I think about it, I'm guessing the word "Fincher-esque" is how they got Michael Fassbender on board. It's also a shame that Rebecca Ferguson can't get better roles.
The Snowman is rated R for grisly images, violence, some language, sexuality and brief nudity.
Tyler Perry's Boo 2! A Madea Halloween
I just can't say anything bad about a Tyler Perry movie. I just can't do it! Tyler Perry's Madea movies are so reliably goofy and unobtrusive. He doesn't reach for a wider audience than he needs, and therein lies the key. He knows not to push it and try to advertise his movies as something they're not.
In case you didn't know, it's just a spoof of any and all Halloween slasher horrors.
Boo 2! A Madea Halloween is rated PG-13 for sexual references, drug content, language and some horror images.
Big Shot Critic
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