Director: Kyle Balda
Writer: Matthew Fogel
Cast: Steve Carrell, Taraji P. Henson, Pierre Coffin, and Alan Arkin
At 12 years old young Gru already knew he wanted to be a supervillain. When the most famous group of villains loses a member, the young man seizes the opportunity to join them. A disastrous audition sets the wheels in motion for a wild adventure that includes, robbery, kidnapping, shape-shifting, and ultimately a valuable lesson on loyalty and friendship.
Director: Scott Derrickson
Writer: Joe Hill
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeline McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, and E. Roger Mitchell
A young man is abducted by a maniac and shoved into a soundproof basement where his only companions are the disembodied voices coming to him from the black phone mounted to the wall. Each call from the phone provides a clue for how to escape the lunatic’s clutches. Will he uncover the secret to the clues and find his way home? Or will he lose the game and become just another voice on the line?
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Writer: Ehren Kruger
Cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, and Bashir Salahuddin.
It’s been over 30 years but Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is still one of the best pilots the navy has to offer. Heading for an early retirement the esteemed flyboy is presented with the golden opportunity to train the next generation of Top Guns, for an exclusive mission. Among the new airmen,
Writer: Chris Fedak
Director: Michael Bay
Cast: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza Gonzalez, and Garrett Dillahunt
After a poorly planned bank heist goes belly up, brothers Ben and Will Sharp find themselves locked in a high-speed chase with the FBI and the notorious LAPD. Having high jacked an ambulance and taken a wounded officer and EMT hostage, the duo must navigate the treacherous LA traffic to evade the law and escape capture.
Writer: Pat Casey
Director: Jeff Fowler
Cast: Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Tika Sumpter, Jim Carrey, and James Marsden
After almost a year exiled on the mushroom planet, the evil Dr. Robotnik returns to Earth. His return is made possible by an unlikely alliance with Knuckles, an echidna warrior. The duo set off to earth to fight a common enemy, Sonic the Hedgehog. As the evil dr and blood-thirsty echidna plot, his demise Sonic is faced with the challenges of being a superhero. Using his super-speed and otherworldly abilities responsibly aren’t easy, often resulting in mayhem and chaos.
Writer: Garth Jennings
Director: Garth Jennings
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlet Johansson, Tori Kelly, and Bono
After finding success in their hometown, Buster Moon and friends set their sights on bigger stages. Failing to impress a local scout, the crew set out for an ambitious adventure in the big city. Following a disastrous audition, luck shines on the Motley crew as they find themselves presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. Moon strikes a deal with a very rich, very dangerous, hotel owner to perform at his venue. All they have to do is create the biggest show of their lives, overcome lifelong fears and convince a reclusive rock star they have never met to come out of retirement after more than a decade of hiding. What could go wrong?
Sing 2 is the direct sequel to 2016’s Sing in which Buster Moon starts a singing competition in order to save his theater. Since then the world has changed in so many ways. While the first film was about finding your voice and being yourself, this 2nd installment takes a deeper dive into self-confidence, fear, and grief. Though those are much heavier concepts to address the film never strays from its silliness and age-appropriate humor. It’s been five years since the first film and in that time children have been tasked with overcoming so many obstacles and trials some of which are dressed in the film. Fear is a running theme as each of the returning characters has an overwhelming fear they must conquer to get ahead. From fear of failure to a fear of heights, the film is careful in its depiction of fears a how to deal with them. The film also delves into grief and how debilitating it can be. Clay Calloway the recluse rock star suffered a tragic loss that caused him to retreat into the shadows. Though a heavy subject for the children of 2016 it seems eerily appropriate considering the pandemic and the unfortunate losses many have had to bear. Though a great film to start a dialogue about somber subjects, it is NOT all heavy-handed teaching, the music the colors, the pace, and the humor keep even the tense moments light and palatable for children of all ages.
Director: David Gordon Green
Writer: John Carpenter, Debra Hill, and Scott Teems
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Will Patton, and James Jude Courtney
It’s Halloween night and legendary serial killer Michael Myers is on the loose, again. Escaping death once more Myers sets out on a terrifying rampage, murdering all who are misfortunate enough to cross his path. Fear grips the small town but this year will be different. The good people of Haddonfield have had enough, this year the people will unite and fight for their town. Evil dies on Halloween night.
For forty years the legend of Michael Myers has haunted the small town of Haddonfield, Ill. 2018 is the year his reign finally ends. Halloween Kills is the 2nd film of the latest and presumably final, Michael Myers trilogy. It is the follow-up to 2018’s Halloween, in which the serial killer escapes from prison and has a final showdown with the woman he’s been stalking for 40 years, his sister Laurie. The 2018 movie ends with Mike locked in a basement as Laurie’s home is engulfed in flames. She had planned for years how she would end him only to overlook one major detail: the efficiency of the Haddonfield fire department. Halloween Kills begins exactly where we left off, with Myers still in the basement and Laurie escaping with her family. As the women head to the hospital to address their wounds they also witness the arrival of the fire trucks. The poor firemen save Myers and thus his bloodiest rampage yet continue with their corpses.
Halloween Kills depicts some of the most horrific death scenes we have ever seen in this franchise and is as much about Myers as it is about the town. This year the townsfolk band together to try and stop the menace once and for all. Since this is movie two of three you can take a stab at how it ends. With one more film to go this installment allows us to witness the aftermath of Myers assaults, we see a town in turmoil with fearful residents looking for justice. Ordinarily good people are driven to the breaking point as the quaint community evolves into an angry chaotic mob. In one of the most surprising scenes, the mob storms the hospital seeking vengeance. For the first time, we see families identifying their slaughtered loved ones and the poisonous effects of true evil. Though rightfully enraged their actions bear an uncanny resemblance to the Capitol Stormers as they stampede through a hospital in a panic searching for someone they’ve never even seen before. Though the film culminates in a satisfying showdown as per usual, the jubilation is short-lived once realization kicks in: it’s a trilogy, there’s one more chapter to go.
HALLOWEEN KILLS OPENS NATIONWIDE AND ON PEACOCK ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15th! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Summer is definitely over, but the fun doesn’t have to end just yet. Head over to the Baylander Steel Beach and enjoy the last remnants of good weather. Located at the West 125th street Piers, this former aircraft carrier, the Baylander IX-514, is now a lively Harlem Hotspot, filled with good music, stellar drinks, and a casual atmosphere. The Baylander boasts one of the most impressive views of the Hudson River.