Detroit

This is a mini-review of a movie that I saw on a plane.

Plot: This movie plays out scenes from the 1967 Detroit riots focussing on abuse by police officers at a hotel where there were thought to be sniper shots.

Review: Racial hatred and institutionalized racism is not pleasant or cheerful. Detroio can be very hard and exhausting to watch, but it is a great movie, and I highly recommend it. The torture scenes are welloacted, and very emotional. Emotionao for me when I watched it

It is not a peofect movie, and it can get a little one-note and a little preachy, but it is still powerful.

Rating: 3.5 stars

3 Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

This is a mini-review for a movie I saw on a plane.

Plot: Milred's kid (Frances McDormand) is missing, and she rents three billboards on the edge of town to put pressure on the cops to solve the crime.

Review: I liked it. I think Frances McDormand is great, and the interaction with Sheriff Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) is also great. I liked Milred's heart-felt emotion, and her humorous obscenity.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Jumanji -- Welcome to the Jungle

Plot: Four high schoolers become characters in a video game. They must beat the game to win, and game over has serious consequences.  [imdb]    [photos]

Review: It has the adventure story in the jungle, the sitcom jokes of its absurd premise, plus a teen soap opera. All together it works pretty well.

The movie is self-aware of its silliness, but near the end it gets a little cheesy.

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, 

Directed by: Jake Kasdan

Written by: A staff of twelve featuring Chris McKenna; based on the 1981 kids book by Chris Van Allsburg

The Music: Drum and horn heavy tracks by Henry Jackman

The Visuals: Well done, but not top quality.  I loved the rhinos. The visuals aren't quite trying for realism; they look like animated animals. The jungle shots looked like paintings.  

Rating: 2.5 stars: Its not great, but it is fun

 

More: Jumanji was made with Robin Williams in 1996. Apparently there was a dramatic rhino stampede like in this movie.

Even More: I didn't know that Karen Gillian played Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy.

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