Rated R

Now, JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX continues the story of Arthur Fleck as he faces Gotham’s justice system. In Arkham Asylum, he meets the mysterious Harleen Quinzel, and she latches onto him for his infamy.

There are some very strong elements here, including compelling performances by both Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. The grim cinematography has a beautiful, gritty look. And the movie channels films like THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST.

However, it also stumbles by not quite nailing the homage like the first film did with Scorsese’s TAXI DRIVER and THE KING OF COMEDY.

Purporting to be a musical version of a twisted romance, the songs are well constructed but overstay their welcome. And that’s a shame because those are some of the best moments in the film. Unfortunately, they put a drag on the bloated running time, which clocks in at well over two hours.

Ultimately worth a look, but loaded with problems, JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX gets three playing cards out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG

Based on the best-selling children’s book, THE WILD ROBOT tells the story of a service droid that crashes on a forest island and has to survive. She takes it upon herself to raise an orphaned gosling and strikes up a friendly relationship with a lone fox. They must learn to live together and unite the animals of the forest against an outside threat.

This film manages to focus on two things extremely popular with kids: robots and forest creatures. Even though these seem very different, they blend together quite well to make a film about finding goodness inside.

This animated gem works great for the kids, but it also juggles some heavier, mature elements that will connect with the adults in the audience.

With a strong but not overpowering cast, and universal themes of community and altruism, THE WILD ROBOT offers a sweet, charming, and uplifting family film.

THE WILD ROBOT gets four cute critters out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG

TRANSFORMERS ONE is a prequel that shows the origins of hero Optimus Prime and villain Megatron. The story goes back to their home world when they were young robots who fought together against an oppressive leader.

I don’t care how much the other movies have made, having a Transformers movie free of the chaos and beer-commercial filmmaking of Michael Bay is a breath of fresh air. Sure, it’s still noisy, cluttered and bombastic, but at least this movie is coherent.

As an animated film, it taps into the sugar-cereal-fueled excitement of Saturday morning cartoons, so it should be a winner for the kids that have these any of these various toys.

It has a limited reach to the adults in the room, but it mercifully doesn’t overstay its welcome… unlike most of the bloated live-action movies in the series.

Come for the robots, and stay for the child-like fun. TRANSFORMERS ONE gets three Autobots out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated R

SPEAK NO EVIL follows an American family who befriend a couple while on vacation in Italy. Weeks later, they accept an invitation to visit the couple at their out-of-the-way farmhouse. However, warning signs begin to mount, and the family realizes they might never escape.

The film is competently made with a healthy dose of suspense and atmosphere. And acting from James McAvoy as one of the antagonists is unsettling and nuanced.

However, this family in danger comprises some of the most insufferable and clueless people imaginable. I mean, it’s like a whole family of Skylars from BREAKING BAD.

Even if the trailers weren’t so loaded with spoilers that you could walk in on the third act and still be able to predict what will happen next, the action retreads so many other similar films that it just feels stale.

I love a good thriller, and there is one hiding in this movie. But to fully enjoy it, you kind of have to have never seen a movie like it before.

SPEAK NO EVIL gets two creepy couples out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG-13

It’s been 36 years, and BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE drops us in on the Deetz family after their patriarch has died. Lydia, her step-mother Delia, and her estranged daughter Astrid return to their old home only to discover their old pal Betelgeuse is reaching out to them from the underworld.

Even with the return of most of the cast, director Tim Burton is clever enough to not just retread the original story. We do get a standard plot about a family in strife, and this can feel a bit mundane. But what makes the movie tick is the title character causing chaos and havoc.

At least the film strikes a good balance with this.

Things get off to a clunky start, but the film delivers the off-kilter goth humor we all want without relying solely on nostalgia.

It’s got a lot of energy, though it’s not nearly as fresh as the original film. But honestly… could it ever be?

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE gets three three and a half half ghosts out of five five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated R

SLINGSHOT is a science fiction thriller that examines the potential challenges of space travel. The story follows a trio of astronauts on a mission to Saturn’s moon of Titan.

However, as they approach a critical moment where they have to slingshot around Jupiter, things begin to break down. The harsh dangers of space and the influence of drugs used for suspended animation start to affect their psychological and emotional stability.

I’m a sucker for movies about a handful of people trying to survive in space. And a strong – but limited – cast featuring Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne helps carry the film.

The paranoia and trauma of the characters is where the meat of the story is. The movie milks the tension a little too much, drawing out the running time. But it kept me guessing, and for an ambitious psychological thriller in the vast emptiness of space, it made its point.

SLINGSHOT gets three gas giants out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated R

The story follows two troubled souls who fall in love. However, soon dark figures from their past show up to put an end to them forever. One finds himself stuck in the middle, and he is brought back to our realm to seek revenge.

It’s been decades since I’ve seen the 1994 film, and I’ve never read the original comic, so I can’t speak for how accurate this adaptation was. It’s dark and dreary, but that’s kind of the point. And Bill Skarsgård gives it his all as the protagonist Erik Draven (though his love interest FKA Twigs is catastrophically dull).

But the fatal flaw is the script and the direction. The story plods along, languishing in its own pomposity. The imagery is fine, but it doesn’t have the same impact of the original film.

Were this a brisk 90 minutes, it might have been fine, but between the convoluted character backstories and the meandering plot, it was just boring.

THE CROW gets one and half bird droppings out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated R

ALIEN ROMULUS goes back to the roots of the original 1979 movie about a monster on a spaceship. The would-be victims are interplanetary miners trying to escape to a better life. They just picked the wrong ship to hitch a ride.

With the exception of the first two films, the ALIEN movies have been a real mixed bag, and that’s kind of true here. Historically, even when they try something new, it doesn’t go well. At least this movie takes some big swings which enriches the overall story and offers loads of Easter eggs.

I did struggle to get past that first half knowing what’s coming. I mean, after 45 years, doesn’t everybody know what the xenomorph aliens are all about?

Fortunately, the film mostly stays fresh, though it can be hampered by some weak characters and murky cinematography. But by the time the credits rolled, I thought it was a worthy installment in the franchise.

ALIEN ROMULUS gets three facehuggers out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG-13

BORDERLANDS follows a bounty hunter hired to rescue a ruthless businessman’s daughter in order to access a trove of hidden treasures.

The story can be incoherent at times and painfully predictable. Rather than delivering a decent plot, it leads the viewer through multiple levels where they fight faceless bad guys leading up to a legendary boss battle. Ya know… like a video game.

While there are some fun action sequences, and the cast does feature two Oscar winning actresses, BORDERLANDS fails where so many video game adaptations have before.

Sure, the movie looks slick, but like some 90s sci-fi action flicks, its impressive design still feels cheap and disposable. Along the lines of JUDGE DREDD? The crummy one with Sylvester Stallone, I mean.

Having never played the video game, I felt left in the dust. This might be great for the ultra fan, but otherwise it’s kind of a mess.

BORDERLANDS gets two stuffed rabbits out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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Rated PG-13

The story follows a serial killer hiding as a normal family man who takes his daughter to a concert only to learn he’s been targeted by police. He must use his wits to escape capture.

I’ve been a fan of Shyamalan since his debut 25 years ago, and he works best when he’s doing straightforward Twilight Zone movies and overt suspense. With this in mind, he weaves a clever game of cat and mouse here.

There are some silly moments, like the casting of his daughter Saleka as the hot young pop star, and a few too many twists that leave you thinking, “Well, that was a coinkidink!” But for the most part, the story keeps you guessing and takes you beyond just a simple sting at a rock concert.

Josh Hartnett is the MVP here, playing a perfect psychopath whose normal demeanor never quite rings true but is still completely believable.

The film goes on a bit too long, but overall it’s a slick summer thriller that kept my interest.

TRAP gets three and a half concert tickets out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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