Reviews

Full disclosure: I could watch Ana de Armas read a dictionary. Now, here's my otherwise objective take on this movie. It's not as bad as the reviews here generally indicate. I actually thought there was pretty good chemistry between them and that the dialogue was pretty funny. The set up was too long however before we got to the "hook". Agree with comments here about the music choices - not only were they poorly chosen but came in at odd jolting moments. The editing of this movie is also strange. Did they just cut out the part that gets them from a cave in London to a cave in Pakistan - or is that just a really long cave? Also seems convenient that they were able to parachute out of a plane onto a lovely island. So it comes down to how much are you willing to put those issues aside and just enjoy the decent action and funny, well-timed cameos. We're also watching the The Night Agent - which has a 7 or 8 rating on here and I was picking a ton of things apart right from the start. Still enjoy that show and you should here as well.

As many have said this could have been a lot better. I don't necessarily think the phone's link to the past victims needs further explanation but everything else does. The phone had something to do the Grabber's past. Was he kept down there as a victim of something? What is wrong with his eyes? Why is he taking these kids? Why was Finn "different" and the one he liked? I noticed the previous victims all seemed strong and tough (why else did we need to see Vince beating people up). Was the Grabber trying to "help" the weak. Also, Finn seemed pretty tough and courageous during his capture. Where was that kid when he was getting picked on by some kids? Finally, with this many kids taken in such a short time in such a small area, wouldn't the parents have all the kids walk in groups or something?

It's The Ring, with sinister smiles instead of black hair and water and a 4-7 window instead of exactly 7 days. Although, this movie kind of channels the black hair too at the end. There are plot holes - watching a suicide that continues the chain but maybe also witnessing a family member's (the Dr and also the first patient); and who killed the cat and then rewrapped the present?? Dr could have easily researched the same information that the prisoner did, but that wouldn't have allowed the dramatic seen. End was the corniest - this was the house they grew up in out in a random field and then left to be the creepiest house on the planet. Please.

Let's get one thing out of the way first: Margot Robbie can save any movie. Good lord.

Ok, I think there are wo ways to review this movie - one is to compare to the first attempt. In that respect, this one deserves 50 Oscars. The first one tried to be serious when the premise was absurd and cliche. Recognizing that and having fun with it is was made the second one better. We've all seen King Kong and Godzilla destroy everything. Why not a giant one-eyed Starfish then? Having the first - more ridiculous -squad be introduced first was great and original. Not sure what the point of Michael Rooker was though.

The second is to look at it on its own. Suffers a bit here. As some have said here, the banter was a bit forced as they tried to get the GOTG vibe that Gunn was previously successful at. Not so much here. Bloodsport alternated from being too serious to a tad humorous. Didn't work. Could have done more with Polkadot man.

I won't pile on all the other reviews about how derivative this plot is - which it is. Just want add a few more points: 1. Common couldn't act his way out of wet paper bag.

2. why did he and Ava stop right outside of Toni's club to talk after they just tore up the place.

3. Ava works out and runs - but also smokes?

4. Speaking of, why did it look like she didn't know how to run?

5. The "top" assassin sent to kill Ava planned to run up behind her out in the open and kill her with a knife? That was his plan?

Caveats: I'm a big Orville fan. I love the show and the writing and the characters. The nod to ST TNG is an homage, not a copy. This episode did keep with new trend of hitting you with a curveball towards the end and I agree that the Borg-esque true identity of the Keylons is cool.

However, this episode felt a bit derivative. The red vs blue dots adorning the Keylons was reminiscent of IRobot. The piles of bones in the caves reminded me of Guardians of the Galaxy 2. I also found it hard to believe that the Union would allow Issac to join the fleet despite knowing very little about the Keylons and allowing him to send reports back to them which apparently included code to get into the Orville computer (?)

Let's see how Part 2 brings it all home.