NEW THIS WEEK
In the fifth installment of Michael Bay’s action spectacle Transformers
franchise, the human race is at war with the titular robo-cars, and Optimus
Prime is missing. The fate of the earth therefore rests, once again, on the
shoulders of everyman mechanic Cade (Mark Wahlberg), who with the help of an
Archiologist, fan-favorite Autobot Bumblebee, and an acclaimed historian
(Anthony Hopkins) searches through the secret ancient history of the
Transformers to discover the origins of the current global threat.
We Said: “The spectacle and
scope of Bay's action sequences don't have much impact anymore, although Prime
still looks hella cool slicing down Decepticons with his gigantic sword. Who
needs Excalibur when you have a sword the size of a building? Not only is Bay on
his way out, but Wahlberg has said he's finished now, too. That's probably for
the best. Transformers: The Last Knight isn't going to send either out on
a high note, but at least their stepping aside will allow others to give this
franchise a fresh coat of paint. ” Rating: 1 out of 5
Summer thriller 47 Meters Down follows sisters Kate (Claire
Holt) and Lisa (Mandy Moore) on their ill-fated vacation to Mexico. After their
supposedly “safe” protective cage detatches from their boat during a diving
tour, the sisters are stuck, sunken at the bottom of a shark-infested ocean
with a limited supply of oxygen.
We Said: “47 Meters Down is the best of
both worlds as we have a ridiculous premise along with weak dialogue. However, the film does give a genuinely scary
environment with plenty of suspenseful moments as you can’t help but jump even
if you are the most jaded horror fan.
The film even gives you a great lesson in scuba diving, equipment,
breathing, the bends, and another surprise in it not worth spoiling: all
scientifically accurate.” Rating: 2.5 out
of 5
Writer/Director Sofia Coppola’s remimagining of the classic
story, The Beguiled explores
the dark sexual tension lying beneth the surface at an all-girls school in the
repressive Confederate South. When the girls discover a Union soldier (Collin
Ferrell) wounded outside their property, they convince their strict headmistress
(Nicole Kidman) to bring him in and nurse him back to health. During his stay,
the tensions rise amongst the repressed women, fighting for the attention of
the only man they’re close with.
We Said: “When it all comes
to light, Coppola's trademark restraint is understood and appreciated. For like
the polite women of Miss Farnsworth's school, The Beguiled's genteel
nature is just a way to lure you in.” Rating:
3.5 out of 5
