A L I E N  COVENANT   3.0***

     “Alien Covenant” is Director Ridley Scott on all 12 cylinders, unfiltered and unapologetic. Alien Covenant is high octane science fiction, like drinking a gallon of Red Bull. Beyond the adrenaline pace of the film, Covenant is artistic, disturbing and provocative bursting with philosophy, curiosity, life, death, and the concept of perfect killing creatures  whose prey is any living thing especially humans.

Beautifully filmed we see layer upon layer of Ridley's vision unfold, and from the stunning opening scenes, you immediately grasp that he has skillfully resurrected flashes of his 1^st two Alien movies as well as his other visually haunting films like Blade Runner and Gladiator.  And it works, indeed, it works very well.

Alien Covenant is, without question, a very intense film, from the opening sequence, to the final moments before the credits roll. The acting is good and believable, with vulnerable characters that convey what it must be like to have to deal with intense fear at close range. The story line is complex and may be confusing if you have not seen it’s prequel :Prometheus” ( which I had not). Not surprisingly, Alien Covenant is loaded with over the top horrific creatures : Xenomorphs, Face Huggers, and an array of new aliens, all of them visually terrifying and disturbing. Several of the scenes are extraordinarily graphic and gory, so leave the kids at home.

A lot of questions are left unanswered because there will be a 3^rd prequel. Yes the scientists make the same stupid mistakes, and yes there are some plot-holes, but Ridley Scott has rejuvenated the Alien series. .In some ways “Alien: Covenant” plays out like a "greatest hits” of  Alien and Aliens and that was okay with me .But the thing I missed most and expected was that oppressive never-ending-feeling of fear and horror… that on-the edge-of-your-seat scariness of the 1^st Alien movie which ranks in my top 3 of scariest movies.

  Rated R for sci-fi violence, bloody images, language and some sexuality/nudity.  

Clark

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY  Vol. 2  4.0***

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is back and as flashy and bad-ass as ever.  All the lovable and wacky characters return: Peter (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket, the zany raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Baby Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) .

The Guardians are still a dysfunctional family – Peter and Gamora are the couple that you root for but they always seem to find things to fight about; Rocket is so jaded he won't let anyone get too close; Drax (the tattooed giant of a man) is still socially inept, and  the most normal member of the group seems to be the tiny talking tree, Baby Groot, who can only say variations of the phrase "I am Groot." When Rocket steals valuable property from a race of gold skinned aliens, the Guardians are chased around the galaxy until they are intercepted by Ego, a living god played by Kurt Russell, who just happens to be Peter's father. Peter, Gamora, and Drax go off with Ego while Rocket and Groot stay behind to guard Nebula, Gamora's wacko sister. Without giving too much away, eventually a bad guy threatens to destroy the galaxy ( surprise, surprise) and the Guardians have to stop him…save the Galaxy AGAIN !!!

While the plot ends up being pretty conventional, Guardians Vol 2  is really about the characters learning to deal with all of their pent up personal issues. In that sense, it's unusual for a Marvel movie . We get some good emotional scenes here. I was impressed with Michael Rooker's character Yondu, a supporting character from the first film that I did not expect to see again. We get more insight into who he really is. I also have to give a shout out to Batista's performance as Drax. I'm not sure how much range he has as an actor, but he's excellent in the part. He's hysterically funny. Then there’s Baby Root who is sooo cute and adorable. But then  every character is handled  well. Peter's relationships with Gamora and his father are well done, and Gamora's relationship with her angry sister is also well developed.

Overall, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a visually exciting sequel that is as good as the original. It has a fun cast and characters, the soundtrack ( mostly classics from the 80s.. see list below) is awesome, the visual effects are stunning  and the action is exciting.   

Rated PG-!3 for Sci-Fi action, language and a hint of violence. ( But in my opinion it is suitable for 10 and up and especially adults with a sci-fi yen)

Clark

Here’s a list of the classic 1980s songs in the soundtrack: 1. Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra   2. Fox on the Run – Sweet   3. Lake Shore Drive – Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah   4. The Chain – Fleetwood Mac   5. Bring it On Home to Me – Sam Cooke   6. Southern Nights – Glen Campbell   7. My Sweet Lord – George Harrison   8. Brandy You're a Fine Girl – Looking Glass   9. Come a Little Bit Closer – Jay and the Americans   10. Wham Bang Shang-A-Lang – Silver   11. Surrender – Cheap Trick  12. Father and Son – Yusuf / Cat Stevens   13. Flashlight – Parliament   14. Guardians Inferno – The Sneepers feat. David Hasselhoff

   L I O N   3.5***

  If film-art is the pursuit of visual pleasure, strong storytelling and a high emotional experience, then Lion  is one of 2016’s high-water marks( it was nominated for Oscar’s Best Picture). Based on the novel A Long Way Home (2014), this film adaptation is a richly textured movie about the primal human need for belonging and family.

This true story is told in two parts and filmed across two continents. Five year-old Saroo is a constant sidekick to his older brother Guddo, two poor boys who support their family by stealing coal and scavenging trains in their small West Bengal Indian village. They become separated one night and Saroo finds himself alone on a locked decommissioned  train heading 900 miles  to the other side of India. He  joins hordes of homeless kids who must fend off predators while begging to survive. Eventually he is placed in a crowded orphanage, then adopted by two big-hearted and childless Tasmanians (Australia), Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John (David Wenham). Twenty years on, Saroo (Dev Patel) begins to have memory flashbacks of his native land and family.. As they increase in intensity, he becomes obsessed with finding his family.

There is so much that makes this film stand out. The storytelling is excellent and the. acting performances are outstanding: Nicole Kidman is at her best while the five year-old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) is the heart of the film and Dev Patel its soul. The cinematography is brilliant, especially the filming in India.  This film offers a very satisfying cinematic experience.  Lion is one of those films that will appeal to everyone and it stays with you long after the film ends. It is easily one of the best movies of 2016.

Rated PG-13 for distressing material and some sensuality.

No longer in the theaters. You’ll have to find it on TV or a streaming channel or rent it.

Clark 

Colossal  2.9***

Anne Hathaway shines in this sci-fi monster movie that successfully blends a mishmash of styles and sub-genres in a very effective way. Portraying Gloria, an out of work party girl in New York City, she is abruptly kicked out of her posh digs by her boyfriend when he realizes he can no longer put up with her constant drunken antics. She has no choice but to move back home to an empty house in her very small hometown.

There she is reunited with her childhood friend Oscar, aptly played by Jason Sudeikis of SNL fame.. Broke and without friends, Gloria accepts a job at Oscar's bar. Oscar's intentions toward her, though, remain a mystery. Then it is revealed that a giant monster is stomping its way through Seoul,Korea, killing people and destroying buildings. Gloria finds she has a strong connection to this creature, as does Oscar when a giant “iron man”also appears with the monster. Here is where some well-done comedy is thrown into the mix and the film pays quiet homage to the Godzilla films of yore.

The movie is well paced and never slows down for very long. Although flashbacks attempt to explain the reasons for what is going on, this isn't done very well.  There’s another thing; this movie was almost entirely advertised as a comedy. There are definitely comedic elements throughout, but it marches headstrong into some pretty heavy territory. There were at least a couple times where I felt downright uncomfortable due to the surprising  actions taken by both the lead characters especially the way Oscar suddenly becomes an unreasonably violent, sarcastic, controlling mental-case. Things turned very dark at this point.

But, nonetheless, when surrounded by endless sequels and pointless remakes these days, Colossal stands tall as a truly unique film .. all in all it was a pleasant surprise.

Rated R for language .

Clark