NEW THIS WEEK
The
launching-off point for Universal’s new Dark Universe of monster movies, this
new take on The Mummy sees Nick (Tom Cruise), an archeologist -for-hire, who
accidentally unleashes Ahmarnet, an ancient Egyptian princess who seeks
retribution for her betrayal thousands of years ago. As her powers grow
stronger, Nick is forced to prepare for battle. He alone can put a stop to the
ancient monster’s rampage through London .
We Said: “The Mummy is always in a tug
of war with itself to tell a straight-forward self contained adventure story
while also setting up the Dark Universe building blocks. And this does cause
some of the character work to suffer […] This isn't the bleak, grim thriller
that most modern reboots tend to shoot for (Lookin' at you, Warner Bros.); it's
got a sense of humor about it.” Rating: 4
out of 5
Captain Underpants is a whimsical new animated
adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s beloved children’s book series. Following two overly
imaginative prankster besties (Kevin Hart and Thomas Middletich), the movie
tells the story of how they accidentally turn their mean old principal Mr.
Krupp (Ed Helms) into the real-life version of Captain Underpants, an original
superhero the two friends made up. As the dimwitted “superhero” takes to the
streets, the kids chase after him to make sure he stays out of trouble.
We Said: “The movie is very
well paced and not slow moving at all. It gets you through each point and has
you care about each of the main characters.” Rating: 4 out of 5
Set
in the fallout of an ambiguous apocalyptic event, writer/director Trey Edward
Shults’ It Comes at Night continues the recent hot streak of critically
acclaimed indie horror films released in the past couple years. Joel Edgerton
stars as a father, struggling to keep his family safe from the dangers of the
outside world. When another family suddenly comes into their lives, an uneasy
alliance is formed, allowing the two groups to share the space together and try
to survive. Little do they know, the true danger and darkness has been inside with
them the whole time.
We Said: “The claustrophobia that Schults and his
cast are able to project is palpable, ratcheting up to thrilling
seat-of-your-pants conclusion that is surprising even though we knew it was
inevitable. There's a missed opportunity for It Comes at Night to be
truly great, and to do something different with the genre, but the journey is
too empty to leave a satisfying impression..” Rating: 3 out of 5
