Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

Spyro Rating: 5,6 /10 as "bad sequel" 

Director: Jake Kasdan 

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) is a direct sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017). The same players who succeeded in the first movie to escape that life-threatening video game are getting a reunion. Somehow they are foolish enough to enter Jumanji for the second time.

This time something complicated happens and the game does not start as expected. There were some changes in the characters that were neither helpful to Jumanji players, nor good for the movie audience. Those poor changes were fixed later -but too late- in the movie.

Same as the previous movie, there is an A-Cast and a B-Cast. The reason to watch both movies is the A-Cast, those are the awesome video game characters. The B-Cast are the boring teenagers that we have to endure for more than 15 minutes until the actual movie begins.

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) trailer

Dark Shadows (2012)

Dark Shadows (2012)

Spyro Rating: 8,2 /10 as "Recommended" 

Director: Tim Burton 

Stars: Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter
Stars: Bella Heathcote, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee, Alice Cooper

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Dark Shadows (2012) is another good movie with a ridiculous title. Before the word "shadows" you do not need to add the word "dark", it is excessive.

Things begin two centuries ago when Eva Green "the witch" feels rejected, curses Johnny Depp to become "a vampire" and seals him in a coffin for 200 years. Eventually he gets out, meets his descendants and vows to restore his family in it's former glory.

 The script might not sound unique or appealing but who cares. Dark Shadows is a Tim Burton movie with top tier cast who know how to make every scene very pleasant to watch.

Dark Shadows (2012) trailer

Insomnia (2002)

Insomnia (2002)

Spyro Rating: 9,0 /10 as "Nolan" 

Director: Christopher Nolan 

Stars: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, Maura Tierney

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Insomnia (2002) is Christopher Nolan's adaptation of the 1997 Norwegian film under the same title. In short, this is one of those movies that everyone should watch at least once.

The plot begins when a seventeen year old girl is murdered in Alaska and two LA homicide detectives arrive to assist local police in solving the case. However there is a complication as one of those detectives is planning to testify against his partner about a different thing that happened in the past.

Sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you need to select a movie and that movie must be "superb". In those occasions there can be a safe choice,  just go through Nolan's filmography as you might realize that you have missed a gem.  

Insomnia (2002) trailer

Star Trek (2009)

Star Trek (2009)

Spyro Rating: 5,1 /10 as "not impressed" 

Director: J.J. Abrams

Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Bruce Greenwood

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

As one of many with absolute zero idea regarding Star Trek franchise, I was told the best place to start is the Kelvin Timeline. Within that timeline, first movie is Star Trek (2009), followed by "Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)" and "Star Trek Beyond (2016)".

Star Trek fan or not, we should appreciate production's choice in not erasing all existing continuity with a hard reboot. Instead they sent the bad guy back in time. An event that alters the timeline from the point of his arrival. Being from the future, he has the technological advantage over the good guys and intends to use that advantage to destroy planets.

Usually movies about fictional worlds try their best to show the audience how their world can look realist. This movie does not try at all and assumes that we do not need it. Instead it feels like the movie tries to impress the audience on every scene but cannot succeed in that one. When the scenery is only described in the title, characters personality is not developed early on, then all events happening cannot be seen as important to the viewer.

Star Trek (2009) trailer

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Spyro Rating: 7,3 /10 as "hilarious" 

Director: Jeff Fowler 

Stars: Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Tika Sumpter

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Sonic the Hedgehog is another average gaming franchise that turned into a successful movie. Today digital characters interacting with real world actors can make an established comedy recipe when are done right.

Sonic was just a kid when he was forced to flee his own planet, found shelter on Earth and needs to stay hidden until he grows up. As every small town resident, Sonic likes watching other people lives but nobody can know his own existence so things get lonely. Then an accident happens and mad scientist Jim Carrey learns about Sonic and wants to capture him and make him a lab rat.

Watching this movie I understood why people compared it with Detective Pikachu (2019). Though both movies come from different franchises, I think those who liked either one, will also enjoy the other.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) trailer

Cypher (2002)

Cypher (2002)

Spyro Rating: 5,9 /10 as "shallow" 

Director: Vincenzo Natali - Writer: Brian King

Stars: Jeremy Northam, Lucy Liu, Nigel Bennett, David Hewlett

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Cypher (2002) is one among many films that divided the audience and received mixed reviews. Was mostly described as a "Sci-Fi Thriller" but I will call it just "Thriller". There is not much fiction going on due to the scenery been set in a near possible future.

The theme is about corporate espionage using optical media and other ancient recording devices such as spy pens, same to James Bond's gadgets back in the 60s. Lie detectors sound a bit more modern and what makes this movie special is the counter measure to beat them. The counter measure is brain washed agents who can pass any lie undetected as it would be the truth.

It is a movie that tries to sell a script but in the end it was the scenario that disappointed me. It is never enough to see people doing things based on a motivation. When it comes to insane decisions, I need the reasoning explained thoroughly but Cypher (2002) is as shallow as a two word term -corporate espionage.

Cypher (2002) trailer

Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (2011)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Spyro Rating: 4,8 /10 as "below average" 

Director: Rob Marshall

Stars: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

On Strange Tides (2011) is the 4th film in Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and falls short compared to previous ones. How could a pirates themed movie, produced by Disney, and having this cast be boring? Somehow the production managed to fail a winning recipe and presented a movie that does not have a single notable moment.

The first minutes are the good part of the movie as we get to see scenes from 18th century London, inside the palace and a chase through the city streets. Then all characters take the same quest, they sail to find The Fountain of Youth somewhere in Caribbean sea.

When high-budget Disney movies are bad, usually it is still recommended to watch them just to enjoy the scenery. However this movie even missed to show any scenery that could resemble Caribbean's sea and tropical islands because most action was filmed during night time. The changes in casting did not work On Strange Tides (2011), so they were reverted in sequel movie Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) where Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom will return to the franchise.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) trailer #1

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) trailer #2