"Superman"

Superman.  A superhero with no need for introduction.

A story that has been told so many times yet there's always more to the story.  A new creative direction. An origin, an alien in the real world, a team-up of superheroes, a superhero with a family of his own.

From Christopher Reeve to Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill ("Mission Impossible: Fallout," "Justice League," "Man of Steel," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Immortals") to Tyler Hoechlin, each man embodies Man of Steel and Clark Kent in his own way, spanning over decades.  Now David Corenswet ("Twister") is carrying that super mantle superbly.

Although arguably, there's still unexplored story about Cavill's Superman and he could have carried on splendidly. Corenswet makes Superman his own, however, a brighter one brimming with warmth, humanity and humor, coming out of the darker, grittier superhero era.

Director James Gunn took a wise approach in not repeating Superman's origin story.  Instead, the movie opens with a prologue that monsters and metahumans have been living among humans for three hundred years, although Superman has just made his appearance known three years ago.  

What is Superman's true purpose on earth?  Have you ever thought what actually would happen if Superman's life-saving business gets in the mix of political affairs? 

For the first time, Superman has lost a fight.  His nemesis is called the Hammer of Boravia and there's far more than meets the robotic eye.  It's no secret that Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult; “The Menu,” “X-Men” series) has always been Superman's archenemy, but here he's utterly unhinged in his malicious masterminding mode.  

You wouldn't guess how exactly the Hammer of Boravia has been able to beat Superman.  Lex also has his powerful tentacles over international relations, national security and social media.  His obsession in getting rid of Superman is breathtakingly brutal.  

After Lex's vile media campaign going viral and his right-hand the Engineer (Maria Gabriela de Faria) and secret, masked meta-henchman are after Superman, the Justice Gang – Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabella Merced), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) – show up to lend their superpowered hands to Superman.  

The best aspect here is the quixotic relationship between Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan).  Not only Corenswet and Brosnahan have an electric chemistry, their characters' contrasting personalities make a lively dynamic.  Brosnahan nails the role perfectly as the whip-smart, spitfire question-everything journalist, against Corenswet's trust-everyone, idealistic do-gooder.  Lois's on-the-spot, challenging interview of Clark as Superman is argumentatively engaging.  

The central conflict is Superman believes that he represents himself and himself only, and as a Godlike being, why couldn't he just use his superpowers for good, to stop wars and save people?  We're talking about human lives here.  Why should he consult with world leaders?  Sounds simple, right?

Well, the world is not black or white.  Beyond moral obligations, there's also politics.  Simply stopping wars, while saving lives, will not stop the root cause of the escalated conflict.  It may stop the loss of human lives in that point in time, but it will not stop people from killing one another in the future.  And what if it's a war to defend one's country from being attacked or gaining independence?  Who's to judge that country is wrong?  Many nations were built on bloodshed.

The other theme explored is Superman's true purpose on earth.  Is Superman the way he is because of his heritage, a baby alien sent to earth with a noble mission from his Kryptonian's patrician parents?  Superman is Superman and all that is good because of his choices and actions.  He may be an alien, but Superman's impassioned speech, heartfeltly delivered by Corenswet, is quintessentially human.  

Gunn's version has a very busy story, often chaotic and overstuffed with all the metahumans (along with Krypto the super dog, Kaiju and robots), and thus lack of character development, but this version offers something new.  It's got an intriguing premise, a central conflict and unexpected twists.  

“Superman” is decidedly different from Zack Snyder's straightforward, dramatic version.  It's somewhat too silly for my taste, especially as someone who absolutely adored “Man of Steel."  But there's also something refreshing here.  And it never gets old seeing Superman soaring into the skies and flying over icescapes.  The iconic score soars with optimism.  

"Superman" is unabashedly comic-booky.  A colorful scattershot and entertainingly exuberant in its silliness, it also brings a renewed hope and joy for what's next.

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San Diego celebrated "Superman" in style... with a sandcastle, true to its beach roots, and complete with its own Superman and Krypto.  

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Movie Reaction: "Superman"

*From 7/7/2025 press screening:

What is Superman's true purpose on earth?  Have you ever thought what would happen if Superman's life-saving business get in the mix of political affairs?  It's a busy story, often chaotic and overstuffed with all the metahumans, and James Gunn's style is typically a bit out there for me, but this version offers something new.  It's got intriguing premise and central conflict, along with twists. Lex Luthor is terrifying in his masterminding mode. Superman remains all that is good because of his choices and actions. 

 

*Full review will be published this weekend.  

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"Jurassic World Rebirth"

“Jurassic World Dominion” did the impossible with dinosaurs co-living with humans in modern times and it’s as if all the stories have been told  From the original invention birthed by “Jurassic Park” more than three decades ago to the opening of the surreal theme park in “Jurassic World." 'Dominion's' point-of-no-return didn't end things and there's more story to tell, which surprisingly seems plausible from a creative viewpoint. 

Five years after ‘Dominion,’ the earth’s ecosystem has been largely inhospitable to the revived dinosaurs.  Those who survive mostly remain near the equator, where the environment resembles the prehistoric period from 65 million years ago.  

ParkerGenix, a pharmaceutical company hungry for unlimited profit recruits mercenary Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson; the “Avengers” series, “Hail, Caesar!,” “Her”) and paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey, “Wicked”) to collect DNA samples from the largest living dinosaurs in order to develop a cure for heart disease.  The blood and muscle tissues need to come from the largest dinosaur, each living in the ocean, on land and in the skies.

Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) is the evil face of ParkerGenix, a man who puts profit above all else, including human lives around him, which is shown later in his abominable actions.  Zora needs and wants money to secure her for life, but she has a good head on her shoulder.  She connects with a longtime friend and boat captain Duncan Kinkaid (Mahershala Ali) and a few crew members.

Henry is a true dino-loving fan, who truly loves his work, and gets onboard to see these larger-than-life animals in the wild and for an expedition with an eventual life-saving mission.  Although he's conflicted about the end goal.  If it's truly a cure, shouldn't everyone have access to a life-saving medication and not a select few who can afford it?  

Conveniently, all three largest dinosaurs are now living in the Ille Saint-Hubert island, where a large swath of the areas is forbidden and no longer patrolled by the government due to the extreme hazard. 

Parallel to the dino-hunting boat trek, a family on a sailing vacation – sisters Theresa (Luna Blaise) and Isabella (Audrina Miranda) with their dad, Reuben Delgado (Manel Garcia-Rulfo) and Theresa’s boyfriend, Xavier Dobbs (David Iacono) – gets stranded on water when their boat capsized.  The ragtag team ends up rescuing the family, although their sense of safety is short-lived when they spot a monstrous Mosasaurus approaching, which is exactly what the team is looking for.  

The extended action sequence begins on a splashy note.  It’s thrilling to see the giant sea creature flipping through the air and seeing how exactly the sample extraction works.  It’s not as breezy as throwing a dart gun and have it launched back into their hands.  When a group of scary Spinosaurus circle the boat, the thrill turns into terror.  Even crashing into the island doesn’t guarantee their safety either since they are amphibious.  The group gets separated and there are multiple close calls and body counts. 

Even more anxiety-inducing, the waterfall-filled jungle island turns out to be an experimental laboratory where InGen, the defunct theme park's former operator, experimented with cross-breeding dinosaurs for the park's newest attractions.  Those genetically engineered that were malformed and most dangerous were abandoned on this island.  

You’d never know what’s lurking behind those lush vegetations, in the river, up in the air, outside of the  cave, or what could get inside the underground bunker or tunnel.  It never gets old to jump scared or see hapless humans cornered in tight spaces with unpredictable danger all around.  A mysterious movement could be a cute baby dino, menacing Mutadon, terrifying T-Rex or ravenous Raptor mutant.  

The land mission is one moment of genuine amazement though.  It pays homage to the first Jurassic where you looked up and saw the first, beautiful Brachiosaurus for the very first time.  While the land portion is a walk in the park, the sky is trickier by nature.  

Rappelling down sheer rock face where you could fall to your death or get snatched away at any point by flying, frightening predators while having to figure out how to get the DNA sample is no easy task.  

Even after all the samples are collected, the group still needs to find ways to get off the island and fast.  As in other Jurassic movies, there comes a moment where the biggest baddie shows up.  If you think you've seen all the big bads, Distortus (aka D-Rex) is something else.  Alien-like, distorted monster, it doesn't even look like a real dinosaur, and maybe that's the point, considering this is the most disastrous hybrid.  

The original river raft scene, cut from “Jurassic Park” all those years ago appears here, and is excellently executed.  Another standout scene with a kid in peril is situationally humorous.  The movie milks the tension and emotional moments. There's one particular character where you feel they might die heroically.  The ending, which doesn't exactly go out with a bang, may divide fans.  

When movies typically go bigger with each sequel, 'Rebirth' goes small.  It excels in the low and slow mode, predators quietly stalking and creeping up before the pursuits turn relentless and escapes may or may not be possible.  While the movie is created as a standalone story, 'Rebirth' gives birth to another Jurassic world of possibilities.  

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To learn more about all the dinosaurs and their mutated counterparts that appear on 'Rebirth,' check out:

https://ew.com/jurassic-world-rebirth-dinosaur-guide-d-rex-mutadon-dolores-exclusive-photos-11762569

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"Materialists"

What does match made in heaven mean?

Does dating come down to math calculation or business transaction?  Probabilities that add up to certainty when all the superficial boxes are checked?  

For men - height, body type, income.  For women - age, weight, beauty.  That people will likely fall in love and get married based on similarities of socioeconomic factors, political alignment, and well-matched in attractiveness?  Is love even needed if someone matches everything in your checklist and can offer you a life of forever comfort, even luxury?

Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a successful matchmaker for the Adore agency in New York City.  Mid-thirty,  stylish, single and cynical, she's responsible for nine marriages.  Her secret sauce lies in her math adding up those factors.  

At the wedding of one of her clients, there's a telling conversation when the bride breaks down before walking down the aisle.  And Lucy, a self-proclaimed judgmental and calculating, may just meet her match in Harry (Pedro Pascal, "Wonder Woman 1984"), the groom's brother.  Absurdly rich financier, tall, good-looking with good manners, mature and super stable.  In other words, a fantasy.  In the matchmaking world, he's called a unicorn and would be very sought-after by her asset-focused clients.  

Not to say that her clients aren't picky or irrational.  Those who expect to compose their checklists, adding up to a custom-built match, like a house or car or build-a-bear workshop.  

Like a 48-year old guy who complains that 21-24 girls are too young for him and wanting an older, more mature woman; as in 27, 28 tops.  39 would be way too old for him, 31 is a no and even 29 is pushing it.  Or a woman who insists on a conservative, weekly churchgoer and cat-hating man in Manhattan.  Or a man who demands 20 BMI max or a woman who will not even consider any man under 6 feet, even if it's an inch shorter and everything else checks out.  

On the other side of the coin, there's John (Chris Evans; "Avengers" series, "Captain America" series, "Red One").  Her ex-boyfriend of five years and they broke up on their fifth year anniversary over a heated argument about the cost of parking and late arrival for restaurant reservation.  They broke up because they're broke.  Specifically, John, a struggling theater actor in his late 30s trying to make it the city that never sleeps, holding side jobs as a waiter.

The story is not merely a simple love triangle. The emotional plot twist and reveal serve a purpose in the central characters' evolution.  Lucy, for taking stock of what she's looking for and making conscious decisions.  Harry, beyond his wealth, turns out to not be one dimensional.  John, for setting boundaries and asking the hard questions.  

People are people.  They come as they are and there's no magic wand.  Some things you can change, some things are permanent.  Either you accept them as they are or you don't.  You can't make people love you either, even if they appear to be a great match on paper and in person. You can always strive to be the best version of yourself, still, you can only be who you are.  

Material assets, to a certain extent, can be bought.  And looks and youth will eventually fade.  Beyond physical attributes, income, profession, status, social circle and even similar upbringing, there are always the intangibles.  Chemistry, connection, intimacy that are deeply felt but not measurable.  And the way someone makes you feel is intangible.  

At the end of the day, regardless of the reasons why people couple up and marry, wouldn't you want someone who not only gets you, understands you and accepts you, but also makes you feel deeply and you'll know that they will be by your side until the end of time?  That in your lowest or darkest moments of your life, it would be that person you'd call first over anyone else?  

When you find the right person, even if they don't check all your must-have requirements, love wouldn't be a struggle.  They will love you anyway even if they know who you are when no one's watching and with all your flaws.

"Materialists" masquerades as a light rom-com in trailers.  It's a sharp and sincere, germane and poignant examination of modern romance in the materialistic world we live in.  Dating may be hard, but the right kind of love will feel easy, even if it's a little messy.

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Movie Reaction: "F1® The Movie"

From 6/16/2025 press screening:

It's a movie made for car racing fans.  Lap by lap, extreme speed mixed with fiery crashes and daredevil danger.  I feel it's light on the story or character development.  Directed by Joseph Kosinski ("Top Gun: Maverick"), it's certainly a visceral experience, especially with the cool shots behind the wheel riding the curvy turns and with fist-pumping music. The score throughout is elegantly outstanding!      There's one scene in particular where everything is quiet and you'll be flying along in the zone.  

"Rush" remains the good standard though.  And for inspiration, "Gran Turismo."

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"Ballerina"

Ana de Armas (“Knives Out”) action star-making turn begins as a rookie spy in James Bond's “No Time to Die.”  In “Ballerina,” not only she steals the scenes, she owns every one of them as ballerina-turned-killer Eve Macarro, including holding her own, when the legendary Keanu Reeves (“John Wick” series) shows up to contain her in order to keep the peace between the rival criminal tribes. 

After witnessing the murder of her father and escaping from the scene as a young girl, Eve was found by Winston Scott (Ian McShane), the owner of Continental Hotel, an honor-and-rule based hotel that functions as a neutral territory for criminals.  Winston drops her off at Rusko Roma, an elite ballet academy that also serves as an assassin training ground, headed by the Director (Angelica Huston).  

Eve is trained to dance and fight ferociously.  At one point, the Director gives the petite and lithe Eve one simple advice, “Fight like a girl,”  She will always be smaller and weaker, physically, so she will need to be quick on her feet, ruthless and outsmart her opponents.  

This advice serves her well and her fierceness first shows in her solo mission to protect the daughter of a rich family from kidnapping in a neon-drenched nigthclub with an icy floor.  There are no quick cuts here.  Every beat-and-throw down is shown and felt.  Eve then spots a scar on the hand of one of the bad guys, the same scar that she saw on one of the men who killed her dad all those years ago.  The sports car's getaway scene is memorable.  

From here Eve is on a vengeance to to find her dad's murderer, even after explicitly being ordered by the Director to stand down, as she would break the peace truce with a major criminal syndicate led by the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne).  Eve finds an operative, Pine (Normal Reedus), who escaped the Chancellor's Cult to provide a normal life for his young daughter, Ella (Ava McCarthy), just like her dad had tried to do for her.  When Pine is injured and Ella gets kidnapped, Eve will stop at nothing to save her.  

Eve's quest leads her to a picturesque Austrian lakeside village, where the Chancellor is holed up.  It turns out that the entire village is occupied by his army of assassins.  And here, Eve also learns about her tragic, true origin and faces the ultimate choice of fight or flight.  Hunted and cornered by the vicious townspeople, Eve is undeterred.  

Eve hits, stabs, slams, shoots, slices, slides, kicks, throws, falls, rolls, reloads, and uses every arsenal available to her at the moment to outmaneuver her pursuers and enemies.  Doors and tables, pots and pans are used for offense and defense.  Guns, knives and swords are rivaled by ice skates, grenades and flamethrowers.  The firepower here is incredible, especially with the blazing fire contrasting with the falling snow on a dark wintry night.  Both the choreography and cinematography are equally cool and beautiful.

Stylishly blending into the John Wick world, Armas is fiery and carries the movie like an action star.  Brutal, quick, inventive and explosive.  Steeped in underworld lore and heritage, and with a definite denouement that births a continuing chapter, Ballerina is a smashing spin-off, and no doubt, will return.  

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Movie Reaction: "Ballerina"

*From 6/2/2025 press screening:

Stylishly blending into the John Wick world, Ana de Armas  carries the movie like an action star... Brutal, quick, inventive and explosive.  Guns and knives are rivaled by ice skates and flamethrowers.  The amount of fire  power is incredible, especially contrasting with the picturesque snowy village. 🎥 🩰 🔥 🖤😎

*Full review will be published this weekend.  

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$5 Movie tickets (2) 

There are TWO (2) tickets of "Ballerina" currently available through Atom app (download the app on your smartphone) and redeem - any time, any day until Sunday, June 8, 2025.  First come, first served.

Redemption codes:  

496Y5FWT7

MG2B8Z416

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FREE Movie Screening: "How to Train Your Dragon" (San Diego, CA)

In partnership with DreamWorks Pictures, exclusive to The MovieMaven -  FREE movie screening of the live action "How to Train Your Dragon," if you're in the greater San Diego area:

June 3, 2025 - 7 p.m.

AMC Mission Valley, 1640 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego, CA 92108

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Get your FREE movie passes here: (LIMITED availability - get your pass ready at the door)

Redemption code: DRAGONMAVEN (1 pass = 4 seats) 

https://gofobo.com/screenings/movie_landing/RHJhZ29uTWF2ZW4%3D//

If you haven't seen the animation versions (2010, 2014, 2019), highly recommended! 

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On the rugged isle of Berk, a Viking boy named Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless.  However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future.  Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

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Rooftop Cinema

Rooftop Cinema Club offers a one-of-a-kind outdoor movie experience - complete with skyline views, wireless headphones, gourmet popcorns with unique flavorings, and sunset cocktails under the stars.

In San Diego, located at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, just steps from Seaport Village, rooftop movie nights combine cult classics, new releases, and crowd favorites with laid-back lounge vibes and scenic skylines.

Tickets: $11-28 (depending on selections) 

Schedules: https://rooftopcinemaclub.com/san-diego/venue/rcc-embarcadero/

Parking is partially validated at the hotel ($11).  

Rooftop Cinema Club also has locations in Chicago, Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and it's planning to expand to other cities.  For update and to get 10% off, visit: Rooftop Cinema Club

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2025 FREE Summer Movies in the Park (San Diego, CA)

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, FREE movies in the park and under the stars! Shows run from May through October, in neighborhoods from the beach to the desert, and everything in between. Movies start approximately 15 minutes after sunset.  

Full schedules: https://www.summermoviesinthepark.com/wp-content/uploads/2025_SMITP_Schedule_052025.pdf

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"Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning"

From 5/12/2025 press screening:

The fate of the world and billions of lives… in a blink of an eye.  

That sums up the plot of “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning,” a direct continuation of “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning.”  And that blink of an eye?  It’s in a literal sense of the word.

To refresh, in 'Dead Reckoning,' superspy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise, “Top Gun"series, "Edge of Tomorrow," "Oblivion") and his team (tech duo Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Luthor Stickell (Ving Rhames), former MI6 operative and sharpshooter Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), and scrappy yet sophisticated pickpocketer, Grace (Hayley Atwell), are battling a pervasively invisible enemy, Entity.  Entity is a sentient artificial intelligence that has penetrated social media, communication, financial, banking, military and security systems at a global level.  

Entity corrupts and manipulates data, distorting truth, creating or erasing history - for anything digital or electronic, which is anywhere and everywhere these days.  The sought-after solution is a two-part key, which would unlock the source code, and whoever has both pieces would have the ultimate power over the world.  The faceless AI manifests into a terrorist from Ethan's past, Gabriel (Esai Morales).

In “Final Reckoning,” Ethan is joined by new team members Paris (Pom Klementieff) and Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis).  The storyline gets convoluted with tons of moving components and parts of Ethan’s past, which in some ways, trying to connect and tie loose ends from moments with characters from the first film nearly 30 years ago and somewhere in between.  It includes a lengthy cameo, montages and flashbacks to those secretive and explosive events from then to the present time.  

The present time involves globe-spanning herculean efforts to get to and unlock the AI source code in a hard drive entombed inside a sunken Russian Sevastopol submarine in the Arctic Ocean, while Entity gradually but rapidly is taking control of countries’ nuclear arsenal and ready to launch them for total annihilation, as well as tussling with powerful people with incongruous interests wanting to wrap their arms around Entity.

The bottom line comes down to this: the team, frenemies and real enemies, government officials – U.S. President (Angela Bassett, “Black Panther" series), Kittridge (Henry Czerny), Briggs (Shea Whigham), and military officers are faced with conflicting choices regarding what to do with the villainous and infectious AI – destroy, control or contain. 

Destroy means destruction of the cyberspace and the interconnected world as we know it.  Control means putting unlimited, utter power of the world on the hands of the fallible few (or one individual). Contain means impossibly racing against time-bomb ticking Entity and risking billions of lives.  At one point, there are only four countries left with their own nuclear missiles and Entity is on track to quickly take hold of every single one of them.  

The final reckoning journey takes the team to contrasting landscapes of the frozen Behring Sea and stunning South African gorges and sea cliffs down to a doomsday server bunker in an underground cave.

There’s a coordinates conjecture, AI-trapping plan, poison pill of a computer virus, a source code hard drive and containment device, nuclear missiles ready to fire, potential pre-emptive strikes, explosives ready to explode, onerous wires to be cut, mercenary shootouts and sneaky close-quarter hand combats, dog-sledding across a frozen tundra, navy carrier jet mission, deep diving into a collapsing sunken submarine, ice fishing out expedition, in-between-wheels climbing and wing-walking of biplanes, as well as life threatening  injuries.  Yep, it’s a lot!

It's not always easy to keep up with and decipher every element, but the movie does a tremendous job in lining up key pieces, crafting tension and explanation of complex scenarios with complicated consequences that make them seem real and plausible (by Mission Impossible standards).  The juxtaposition of critical scenes are effectively tensed, portraying characters one after another or side-by-side completing sentences and actions simultaneously.  

Especially on IMAX, Cruise’s dare-to-die stunts with the submarine and biplanes are breathlessly out of this world.  The seafloor submarine escape is claustrophobically suffocating and testing the human limit underwater.  At 8,000 feet in the air and 140 mph wind without CGI, the blow-by-blow, biplane aerial acrobat and dogged pursuit are clearly shot, capturing heart-stopping contortions, and surprisingly, with situational humor.  

If there’s any actioner where every second counts, this is it.  Not just every second, but with precision in almost every scene.  And with ‘Final Reckoning’ being billed as possibly the final installment and knowing that not everyone may survive adds to the emotional stake.  Call it a calling or destiny.  These people truly live and die in the shadows, for those they hold close, and those they never meet.

By any standard, there will never be another super series franchise like this.  More than a cinematic spectacle, Cruise chiefly has made it iconic and irreplaceable. 

“Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning” is both thrillingly taut and sprawling, packed with high-stake suspense and intensity, and connected with threads of nostalgia.  A crashing force to be reckoned with and exhilarating to the hilt, you won’t be able to exhale until the last minute.  

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FREE Movie Screening: "The Last Rodeo" (Nationwide)

Atom Tickets and Angels Studios are partnering to provide FREE movie screening nationwide, from May 22 through May 29, 2025.

Claim your FREE movie tickets here: (2 tickets/person, pre-order tickets no later than May 20, 2025)

https://www.atomtickets.com/movies/the-last-rodeo/379335?ref=LastRodeoFreeTixEmail&lid=4o4070p2veqz

Redemption code: ATOMRODEO

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A retired rodeo legend risks it all to save his grandson. Facing his own painful past and the fears of his family, he enters a high-stakes bull-riding competition as the oldest contestant ever. Along the way, he reconciles old wounds with his estranged daughter and proves that true courage is found in the fight for family.  Starring: Neil McDonough.  

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FREE Movie Screening: "Another Simple Favor" (San Diego, CA)

In partnership with Amazon MGM Studios, exclusive to The MovieMaven -  FREE movie screening of "Another Simple Favor," if you're in the greater San Diego area:

April 29, 2025 - 7 p.m.

Regal Mira Mesa, 10733 Westview Parkway, San Diego, CA 92126

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Get your FREE movie passes here: (LIMITED availability - get your pass ready at the door)

Redeem link: (1 pass = 2 seats) 

https://amazonscreenings.com/movie_landing/TW92aWVNYXZlbkFwcHJvdmVk

Stephanie Smothers agrees to travel to Italy to be the maid of honor for the devious and cunning Emily Nelson. However, she soon suspects Emily's good will is part of an elaborate plan for revenge.  Starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick.  

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Check out full review and Italian sojourn pictures from SXSW: https://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/2025/04/another-simple-favor.html

A glossy noir, "Another Simple Favor" is wildly twisty and fabulously fun.  

"A Simple Favor:" https://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/2018/09/a-simple-favor.html

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"Another Simple Favor"

From 3/8/2025 SXSW festival screening:

"Revenge is a dish best served chilled with a twist."

Do yourself a favor.  If you haven't seen “A Simple Favor,” stream it.  If “A Simple Favor” is a wicked whodunnit dark comedy, “Another Simple Favor” is another flavor of bizarre, darker comedy that will guarantee a bonkers time.  Capri is its own character and the cinematography alone is worth the price of admission.  

Emily Nelson (Blake Lively; "The Shallows," "The Age of Adaline," "The Town") and Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick; "Into the Woods," "Up in the Air") are back as the best frenemy.  They entangle themselves in each other's life and messier relationships, upping the ante on sass, snark and suspicion.

Cashing in on the deadly fallout in “A Simple Favor,” mommy vlogger and influencer Stephanie is now a rather famous real crime book author, “The Faceless Blonde.”  In a signing event, she's surprised by an unexpected visitor's appearance, supposed-to-be imprisoned, former public relations executive, Emily.  

Emily got out of prison after the murder she committed only after five years.  She's bailed by her new, mysterious fiance, getting married in Capri, Italy, and she is inviting Stephanie to be her maid of honor.  Stephanie is voluntold and doesn't have much say in the matter, as Emily would sue her for using her likeness and real life story for her crime novel if she doesn't come along.  Besides, this would boost Stephanie's popularity with her followers from all over the world.  

Sounds suspicious?  It is. Stephanie is no dummy.  She knows Emily is up to no good.  But what?  Would Emily bring Stephanie to Capri to murder her as a revenge?  That would be too obvious, considering the trip and wedding are made public online.  What about trapping her in Capri so she can't return home and separating her from her son?  Or framing her for a bad deed?  Figuring out the motives and scenarios is part of the fun.  You'll be in for one bombshell after another with what transpires, twists and spirals.  

Stephanie gets a taste of luxury jetting off on a private jet and speeding off on a boat cruising the azure waters of scenic Italy.  She finally meets Emily's fiance, Dante Versano (Michele Morrone), a wealthy scion of a prominent conglomerate (read: mafia) family.  

Emily claims that they actually met and had a brief dalliance many moons ago when she was living in Italy.  When Emily went to prison and Stephanie wrote a sensational book about their sordid shared story, it raised Emily's profile internationally.  Dante purportedly tracked down and they rekindled their relationship.  The betrothed couple appears lovey-dovey, but when it comes to Emily, who knows how Dante comes to be under her spell.  

The glamorous guests are who's who to avoid.  Rival mafia, long lost family members and inimical in-law.  Stephanie's exasperated ex-husband, Sean (Henry Golding, "Crazy Rich Asians"), who coupled up with Stephanie in "A Simple Favor," is forced to tag along because of Emily's and his young son.  The panoramic vista along the craggy coastlines and posh clifftop villages is sweepingly spectacular. 

The decadent wedding location is every bride's dream.  Pre-nuptial meet-and-greet is draped with soft spring flowers and fresh wreaths and bright lemons from the vines.  Pastel petals rain on the wedded couple, gorgeously giving way to crimson roses adorning the opulent garden reception.  The air is rich with secrets and splendor.  

Lively is glamour-personified.  Stylish and extravagant ensembles with dainty chain of pearls, flowers and laces, oversized hat and gloves, floor-sweeping white veil lined with blood red edges, as if signaling what's to come.  Mysterious personal  relationships, deep dark family secrets, betrayal and entrapment, identity ideation and deception, double crossing and multiple murders.  

While all these may seem ominous, the characters drip with humorous dread, contempt and sarcasm, trading barbs with wry wit and poisonous edge, making it enjoyable to watch, even with the crude language, and as the story grows more outrageous and goes off the picturesque rail.  Even the crimes are committed in slightly comical ways.  The simply wrapped ending sets up another favor misadventure.  

A glossy noir, "Another Simple Favor" is wildly twisty and fabulously fun.  

"Another Simple Flavor" will be released on Amazon Prime Video on May 1, 2025.  

2025 SXSW Amazon Prime Video Italian Sojourn:

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"Drop"

From 3/10/2025 SXSW screening and red carpet premiere:

First date.  Fancy restaurant.  What could go wrong?  Beyond your craziest nightmare.  

Violet (Meghann Fahy), a single mom, therapist and domestic abuse survivor, is nervous prior to going on a first date with a photographer she meets online, Henry (Brendan Sklenar).  While Henry looks like a nice guy, this will be the first time in years she puts herself out there and leaves her five-year old son at home for the evening.  With a push from her sister to babysit and a killer outfit to wear, off she goes.  

The swanky restaurant is located on the top floor of a skyscraper, with glassy floor-to-ceiling cylinder views.  Violet makes small talk with an older gentleman waiting for his blind date and an encouraging bartender, trying to calm her nerves.  

When Henry arrives, the two seem to hit it off only very briefly, since Violet starts receiving provocative digi(tal) drops on her cell phone.  Those texts and pictures escalate from annoying to taunting and threatening, culminating in a live camera of a masked and armed man inside her house, holding her son and sister hostage.  And whoever behind these seems to be able to predict what Violet’s going to do, and hear and see every move she makes.  

Imagine sitting in front of a new love interest in person for the first time, trying to hide the panic, threats and horror since you’re told to not tell your date or anyone about what's going on, and unable to drop a  signal or call for help.  Not only that, Violet is now instructed to get something out of Henry’s work bag and destroy it, without him knowing it.  She’s eventually ordered to kill him, or her son dies.    

Violet is making up excuses – from being on her cell frequently, answering airdrops and texting, misplacing her belonging, excusing herself to the ladies’ room, wanting to switch tables, going to the bar to chat with the bartender, trying to get the pianist’s attention from across the room, using makeshift items to get herself out of the increasingly dire situation – while making awkward chats with Henry. The overly chirpy and talkative new server doesn’t help.  

Violet looks around the restaurant, observes the guests and their manners, starts the identity guessing game and even finds ways to talk to a few people.  Everyone is a suspect at this point.  A red herring occurs.  Violet tries every trick she could think of, until the first victim drops dead at the restaurant.  If there’s any doubt that this sick shenanigan is for real, this clinches it.  And if she doesn’t do what he says, more innocent people will be dropping like flies.  

From the onset and the outside, while Henry seems to be more than patient and understanding of Violet’s severely distracted appearance and excuses, seemingly due to first date jitters and an anxious son at home, he finally takes the cue to drop out of the evening and start leaving.  Being drop dead gorgeous could only carry a conversation so far.  Only problem?  Violet needs to keep Henry in his spot so that she could kill him, which of course, she absolutely does not want to do.  But what other choice does she have?  

Fortunately, Violet is able to prevent Henry from leaving by sharing a vulnerably authentic side of her and Henry opens up as well.  By now he could see that Violet is acting strange and senses something is not right.  Unfortunately, this means that Henry remains in the murderer's crosshair.  

With a flushed face, racing pulse and running out of excuses, terror-stricken Violet refuses to give up and is determined to outsmart the merciless murderer figure, while not clueing in and killing Henry, and saving her son and sister at the same time.  Time is running out.  Talk about mission impossible.  When the mysterious killer’s cover is uncovered and the abhorrent end game is blown apart, violent actions come to a deadlier head.  

The movie does a killer job in keeping the whodunnit mystery up and ratcheting up the nerve-racking tension.  The acting is convincing all around.  Fahy carries every frame with suppressed intense emotions and anyone looks like they could potentially be the assailant.  It's satisfying to see her having a mic drop moment when she comes face to face with her tormentor.  

“Drop” is a suspenseful hell hath no fury like a trapped woman whose son is in danger.  You’ll be in for a precarious ride and rooting for the heroine to withstand and win.  

"Drop" will drop into theaters on April 11, 2025.

SXSW red carpet movie premiere:

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2025 SXSW Festival

As a regular and longtime Comic-Con attendee (check out the fabulous blast from years’ past here) and someone who had never been to Texas (now 29th state visited!), I always wanted to visit SXSW, but the timing was never right.  

The stars were aligned this time.  With a complimentary, all-inclusive film & TV press badge, and coincidentally, a free flight voucher from Southwest Airlines, I boarded to Austin and had a grand time!  Austin is a cool city with an outdoorsy-barbeque-music vibe.  The early spring weather ranged from super warm to cool and cold and windy, not much different than San Diego.    

I was only available to be there for several days (less than half the nine days allotted) and a tiny fraction of the massive festival (intersection of film, television, music, business and technology) had to offer, but it satisfied my curiosity.  It’s nice to be able to get away into a new part of the country and also immerse myself in all-things film and television.  If you think Comic-Con is pricey, I got a major sticker shock when I realized my badge was worth at $1,395! 

As always, there were too many things to run concurrently and too little time to experience everything you'd want.  As a member of the press, I was also invited to a variety of VIP parties, live music and interactive business-related events, but I wasn’t able to make it.  That’s how it typically goes – you win some, you lose some.  

Unlike the flat grid of downtown San Diego, Austin’s downtown area is pretty sprawling and with some hilly parts, so rideshare was my go-to method in order to be able to hit events in time, although it still took time due to congested streets.  They did have free shuttles that go from the convention center to major hotels and theaters in the area during the festival, which was a great service for those who weren't rushing.  The lines were managed with people having primary and secondary access based on their respective badge, so it’s clearer than Comic-Con’s one giant lines for everything.   

The exhibition floor was nothing to write home about; it's small and more like a state or summer fair type of exhibits.  The rooms in the convention center had electronic placates (with what appeared to be real-time information about the session and capacity in the room) by the door that I don't see at Comic-Con.  

As far as pop culture celebration goes, it’s not comparable to Comic-Con since SXSW is so much more than film and television and nobody wore any costume.  Although there were a few buildings wrapped (with giant film or television banners) and few pop-up activations here and there.  Plenty of photo opportunities and fun to be had.  

Most prominent activations were Alien, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+ Lodge (similar to the one hosted at Comic-Con), The Accountant 2, Love is Blind, Museum of Future House (Dubai) and Whattaburger.  

Some of these events provided tasty treats and drinks (such as slider, lemon sorbet, desert chocolate, soda, lemonade, martini).  Goodies I got include patches, bracelet, charm, T-shirt, hoodie, cowboy hat, regular hat, books and totes.  Among photo shoots, catching clues and solving puzzles, the most fun I had was trying out line dancing! (coming from someone who doesn’t dance at all).  I skipped the paintball gun activity due to time. They were only running these pop-up events for as few as a couple of days to several days, not for the entire duration of the festival, so it was perfect timing I was there during the beginning of the festival.  

What SXSW does best compared to other, smaller film festivals is red carpet premieres.  Yes, Comic-Con (and even WonderCon) has star-studded panels (hello, Hall H and Ballroom 20!), but it’s a different kind of vibe there.  

We’re talking major cast and crew of feature films on the streets.  There’s something exclusive and glamorous about lining up to see the world’s premiere of a movie, with the stars walking out onto the literal red carpet outside of the theater, and standing on stage for Q&A after the movie.  The frenzied atmosphere on the streets with the throngs of cheering fans, press from around the world, and security surrounding the theater was electric.  

SXSW required the very limited, ticketed general audience going inside the theaters to only bring one transparent bag per person in order to move lines through security quickly, although I couldn’t tell if it was enforced. Press was allowed one regular bag and one camera bag, and assigned ‘working press’ tag for each.  

I didn’t look for information or plan to attend any of the red carpet premieres (like Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick for “Another Simple Favor”). My goals was a respite from the routines from work, a change of scenery, and to basically chill and enjoy what might come my way.  

I ended up at the right place and the right time for the premieres of “Holland” (Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, Gael Garcia Bernal) and “Drop” (Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar, and co-stars).  I heard from a journalist next to me when and where Ben Affleck would appear (for “The Accountant 2”), but it was so late in the evening and I decided to ditch the effort to get there.  I was planning to get to “The Death of a Unicorn” premiere and had to miss it due to “The Accountant 2” activation running late.  

One-word impressions of the movies I did see: “Another Simple Favor” – wild, “The Accountant 2” – solid, “Drop” – intense, “Holland” – quirky, “It Ends” – creepy.  I did end up seeing “Death of a Unicorn” in a press screening back in San Diego this week – brutal (in a ‘eat the rich’ way).  Some of the screenings.were held in an ornate, historic theater with a stage.  “Another Simple Favor” and “Drop” reviews are forthcoming.  2025 is turning out to be a banner year for films and television!

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