On Earth, Don’t Scream When Xeno Comes Calling!

Jim Henson Company’s Creature Shop brings Croak to life with practical charm and heart. Xeno thrives on Lulu Wilson’s performance, though its predictable story keeps it from soaring.

Xeno movie poster featuring Croak the alien by Jim Henson Creature ShopBlue Fox Entertainment
Spoiler Alert

When Xeno features designs from Jim Henson Company’s Creature Shop, there’s every reason to check out this film. I couldn’t help but think of the Xenomorphs from Alien and even Marvel’s Venom. And what we see works best in shadow, where we’re not meant to see every detail. Parts of the body suggest something more amphibious than skeletal, slimy than decayed, and once you see its face, you’ll either be unsettled or charmed.

Even in the press, this film is labelled a darker riff on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and it’s easy to spot the Spielbergian tropes director Matthew Loren Oates is leaning on. The premise of a teen bonding with an alien is competently handled, but rarely feels new. What’s presented is less about Beauty and the Beast and the leanings towards How to Train Your Dragon are noticeable. I like my pets/companions to be more feral.

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Who Needs John McClane when Kevin Hart Proves He Can Die Hart 3 Times Over?

There’s no need to watch Die Hard this Christmas. Instead, let’s enjoy Die Hart 3: Hart to Kill as a replacement for an all out action-adventure-comedy that’s sure to thrill. When J.K. Simmons is involved, there’s plenty to ho-ho-ho about!

Die Hart 3 Hart to Kill Promotional PosterKevin Hart has been through a lot since season one of his fictionalised life, and when this series is up to Die Hart 3, I’ll gladly tune in to watch what this actor is up to next!

To recap what happened before, this comedian wants a change of career, and wants to switch from being a comedian to that of an action-star. In season one, he learns the ropes, and the training he underwent was tough (review link)! Season Two shows him elevating that training so that he can be like Jackie Chan  (review link), and the stakes are a lot higher. Not only does he want to produce that movie but also, he wants top billing.

In this latest instalment, he’s now wanting to star in a serious drama. After getting laughed off stage with his work as a narrator for what looks like a nature documentary. And in order to do that, he’ll have to convince the renowned director, Jackson Pepper (J. K. Simmons), to give him the chance. However, this producer doesn’t think this actor has what it takes. Until he graduates from the Pepper School of Hard Knocks, nobody in Hollywood will take him seriously.

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The One Detail That Might Have Saved Borderlands from Being a Dud Is…

For the Sake of the Curious, Not Even Jack Black Can Save Borderlands from Mediocrity. What’s explored here is why I think it failed.

Borderlands Movie PosterLionsgate Films

Eli Roth should stick to making splatterpunk films than dabble with properties that he’s not likely to include his trademark scares with. The reason I like the Borderlands game is because of the archaeology. Those legends to explain why the tech exists are a lot more fascinating than the characters, and in this film, it’s lightly touched upon instead of gone nose deep!

Here, the idea concerns Vault Hunters in the search for artefacts from a forgotten civilization strewn around the world of Pandora. Any weapon they find can help “enrich” them in later missions. I liked the world building but didn’t feel I had to play through them all. The characters who populate this world are misfits. Some cry foul language, and there’s a bubblegum pop culture aesthetic which made the game come alive.

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Die Harter is full of ♥ and Craziness

Even though the number of episodes in Die Harter is shorter than season one, maybe eight is enough so the inevitable movie cut doesn’t trim any story out.

Die Harter Movie PosterAvailable on Roku

Fans of Kevin Hart‘s style of comedy and John Cena being weird will certainly Die Harter of laughter at how this series is continuing. The fictional version of this comedian believes he can become the star of his own film.

After reinventing The Jeffersons as an action television show, people are talking about him. But he wants to go further and have a movie that is completely unscripted. He pitches it to Jordan (Nathalie Emmanuel) in hopes she’ll join him, but little does he know his stunt in a public place drew the attention of a hater.

When this series is presented in 15 minute chunks, I could take a breather and process the chaos that’s going on when Hart gets knocked out, threatened by a villain over a loudspeaker, escapes and tries to figure out who is after him!

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Is It Die Hart or Die Harter? Movie Version Review and Sequel News.

Kevin Hart’s manic exuberance in Die Hart gets played up for different reasons. Can he become a different kind of talent that he’s not?

Die Hart 2 Movie PosterNot everyone knows Kevin Hart starred in a TV series which follows a fictional version of himself as he learns how to become an action star. Die Hart was released in 2020 on Quibi as 10 minute shorts, and to find an edited together movie on Amazon Prime is more of a reminder. That’s because Die Harter is set to debut on Roku on March 31.

From the official synopsis:

After achieving his dream of becoming a bona fide action hero in Die Hart, Kevin Hart now wants to cement his legacy as the greatest action star of all time. He’s developed a concept for a revolutionary movie where the action is so unscripted and unexpected that even Kevin won’t know what’s coming next. But his myopic dream comes with a blind spot, and he soon finds himself the victim of an evil revenge plot, orchestrated by someone from his past.

In the sequel, Kevin must enlist the help of his favourite co-star Jordan King (Nathalie Emmanuel, returning for season 2), his over-eager assistant Andre (Ben Schwartz), Andre’s mom Cynthia (Paula Pell), and legendary Hollywood stuntman Mr. 206 (John Cena) if he wants to survive.

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Taking Jumanji to the Next Level …

To up the ante in what Jumanji

Jumanji Movie PosterSpoiler Alert

The world of Jumanji is dangerous, and The Next Level proves just how vicious it can be. This third film of the series shows that “players” from our reality are not simply transported there for fun. It’s sentient and the reason is with how it recognizes select individuals and helps them out in crazy vicious ways.

When it was first discovered, it was a board game. But when it realizes that video games are the in thing, like a Motherbox from the DC Comic book world, it reconfigured itself so anyone finding it will try the game out. Usually those who are baited in discover for themselves how much life is better afterwards.

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