Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is about four teenagers who get transported into the video game world of Jumanji. A sequel to the original with a twist, instead of the world of Jumanji coming to the real world it's in reverse and with video game elements.

Director, Jake Kasdan, is probably best known as the director of Bad Teacher and Sex Tape (the bad Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel movie, not a porno). While the film is pretty straightforward with the shots used and imagery, Kasdan focuses on the performances of his actors. Smart movie Kasdan.

I've been enjoying Chris McKenna's writing for a long time now. If you consider since 2010 long. He did a TV show called Community and The LEGO Batman Movie which has grown on me since it's my eldest daughter's favorite movie. Oh, and he also did a little movie called Spider-Man: Homecoming. The dialogue in the film is great. Look forward to his writing in the upcoming movie Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Dwayne Johnson is perfect for the role of as the main character in a video game. The delivery of his lines are expectedly on point. His interactions between Hart's character and Gillan are just how a shy teenage boy would be. It's almost like he knew how that felt.

Kevin Hart was the hardest sell for me since he was just being himself instead of being Fridge. The way Fridge acted when not in the game was nothing like how Hart acted. It's only a small problem but it's noticeable if you think back.

Jack Black and Karen Gillan are great as video game characters being played by two young teenage girls. Sure they're stereotyping but everyone knows a girl like that in their high school. I teach for a living, I know students that are like these two. One is self-absorbed and the other a shy antisocial rebel. Black has some of the best lines while Gillan is hard to take your eyes off of.

Result: B+ (I recommend this as a comedy, that's saying a lot)

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Roma (2018)

Roma is about the life of an upper-class family living in Mexico seen through the eyes of a servant in the 1970s. Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón . Cuarón was born in Mexico and has even said that this film depicts a lot of his childhood. It certainly has a feel like Y Tu Mama Tambien. More average moviegoers might recognize his name from the movie Gravity where he won his first Oscar. He also did the underappreciated Children of Men. The cast is mostly unknowns. The main character is named Cleo and is played by Yalitza Aparicio . She is wonderful and stoic. She is reserved in her emotions to make them more impactful when they do rise to the surface. Her character has to put up with a lot of shit, literally. Her life goes from bad to worse throughout the movie. At the end of the movie, you'll be attached to this maid. The first part is hard to watch because it's just setting up future moments. At the time it just feels like you're watching a ...

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

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It Lives Inside (2023)

It Lives Inside is a low-budget horror film about a demonic Indian spirit. Written and directed by Bishal Dutta for a modern audience. I imagine he draws upon personal experiences for a film like this. I'm not talking about the demonic part but perhaps fitting into the US education system. There were some progressive talking points that seemed wedged into the film, the main character even talks about homogeneous cultures at one point with her teacher. There were some good empathetic scenes once the introductions were over, especially about going against your mother's wishes to go to a party with someone she wouldn't approve of. Megan Suri plays the main character Sam. She's infatuated with Russ played by Gage Marsh . He's probably best known for being in Batwoman the TV show. You might remember Megan from a movie called Missing. She does a pretty good job here since she's given a lot to work with. Dutta has some good horror moments for her to work with whi...

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