5 Sheep Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
May 5, 2023

Directed By: James Gunn
Screenplay: James Gunn
Stars: Chris Pratt, Chukwudi Iwuji, Bradley Cooper (voices Rocket), Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillian, Vin Diesel (Voices Groot)
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, strong language, suggestive/drug references and thematic elements (add animal abuse).
Running Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Genre: Comics, science fiction, action-adventure, horror
Guardians of the Galaxy | Facebook
Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.

*As a warning for those out there, the film does have some animal abuse, as the villains in this story are scientists operating on animals and not for helping them. So, these villains get what they deserve. Still, PETA has cheered that, saying:

“Through Rocket, James Gunn has put a face, a name, and a personality on the millions of vulnerable animals being cycled through laboratories as we speak. PETA is celebrating this as the best animal rights film of the year for helping audiences see animals as individuals and suggesting that just because we can experiment on them doesn’t mean that we should.” 

I agree, ecause it does happen and most of these animals are not real but computerized. Help stop animal testing for real out there. Enough of that.

The movie begins with the GOTG team being attacked by Adam Warlock, a Sovereign warrior created by their high priestess Ayesha. After Adam overpowers them and seriously wounds Rocket, he is stabbed by Nebula and forced to flee. The Guardians are unable to tend to Rocket's wounds due to a kill switch, made by the company Orgocorp, embedded in him. 

Possible spoilers - highlight to read

They travel to Orgocorp's headquarters to find the override code. The alternate version of Gamora, who has joined the Ravagers, helps the Guardians infiltrate Orgocorp, which is owned by the High Evolutionary. They retrieve Rocket's file, but discover that the code has been removed. The group speculates that Theel, one of the High Evolutionary's advisors, has it, so they depart for Counter-Earth. They are followed by Ayesha and Adam, who are ordered by their creator, the High Evolutionary, to retrieve Rocket for his brain. 

The flashbacks in the movie show Rocket unconscious and obviously dreaming about when he was with other baby raccoons at an animal testing facility in space. All this builds to a climax where Rocket confronts the abusive scientist, the High Evolutionary, who is responsible for putting him on the road to becoming a hero and putting him and his friends through unspeakable pain, resolving, in the end, to prevent other animals from suffering the same fate.

The last film in this trilogy will have some sadness for folks at the end but happiness too. This last hurrah for our ragtag band of heroes is one that adds the finishing touch to a trilogy that was a wild, psychedelic-colored ride from the first film onward. This is a popcorn movie to see, just keep tissues on hand, but do know the villains get it and the heroes win. And isn’t that how a good movie should be?

I gave Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 5 space-hero sheep.

Reviewed by Pamela K. Kinney

Double Movie Review: The Tomorrow War (2021)

The Tomorrow War

Release Date: July 2, 2021
Directed By: Chris McKay
Screenplay: Zach Dean
Stars: Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, Sam Richardson, J. K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin
Produced: Chris Pratt (executive producer), Rob Cowan (executive producer)
Amazon Prime Video
Running Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes
Genre: Science Fiction
Time travelers arrive from 2051 to deliver an urgent message: 30 years in the future, mankind is losing a war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians to be transported to the future and join the fight. Determined to save the world for his daughter, Dan Forester teams up with a brilliant scientist and his estranged father to rewrite the planet’s fate.

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Reviewed by Pamela K. Kinney

I gave The Tomorrow War 4 sheep.

The Tomorrow War is set in a futuristic conflict that finds humanity losing the fight against an alien invasion. It begins with husband, father, and former Green Beret, Dan Forester. Young people in military uniforms leap into the middle of a football game and announce they are from 30 years in the future and mankind losing to an alien race that is killing and eating all human life (and I assume animals and birds too). They are putting out a call for their parents and grandparents in the past to join the fight to stop the Whitespikes. Otherwise, life dies on the planet. The draft is reinstated and Dan gets drafted. They are jumped into the future via a wormhole called a “jumplink.”

This reminded me somewhat of the Tom Cruise movie, Edge of Tomorrow, where Cruise’s character was put into the military where the soldiers jump to a time in the future to fight exterritorial life, where once a soldier is killed, they return to the beginning again. 

The Tomorrow War has some of the same themes. Parts of the movie are good, others, such as how long the movie is, not so much. But since it's a Prime Video, you can hit the pause button to get snacks or go to the bathroom. I do feel it would have been better to start straight at the football game and skipped the first 10-15 minutes with the Christmas party scene.  

All in all, it not the world’s great time travel science fiction movie, but as a popcorn flick, it was an enjoyable time.

Reviewer: SharonS

 4 "Conspiracy Santa" sheep

My husband and I enjoyed it! You need to watch it for the action and awesome CGI. Those aliens are wicked! The story is pretty predictable but they throw in a nice twist at the end about the alien origins and follow that up with some really stupid writing...but the action scenes are big-screen worthy. So shut off your critical thinking and tap into your lizard brain and enjoy!

Sheep Movie Review: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

June 22, 2018
Directed by: J. A. Bayona
Screenplay by: Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow
Produced by: Frank Marshall, Belen Atienza, Patrick Crowley, and Thomas Hayslip.
Executive Producers: Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow.
Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall
Production Company: Amblin Entertainment, Legendary Entertainment, Perfect World Pictures, and Universal Pictures.
Official Site: http://www.jurassicworld.com/
Four years after the Jurassic World theme park was closed down, Owen and Claire return to Isla Nublar to save the dinosaurs when they learn that a once dormant volcano on the island is active and is threatening to extinguish all life there. Along the way, Owen sets out to find Blue, his lead raptor, and discovers a conspiracy that could disrupt the natural order of the entire planet. Life has found a way, again.

Years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing return to the island of Isla Nublar to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that's about to erupt. They soon encounter terrifying new breeds of gigantic dinosaurs, while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire planet.

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return as Owen Grady and Claire Dearing from the first movie. Claire is now behind a campaign to save the remaining dinosaurs from an extinction-level event of as once dormant volcano threatens to erupt on the island. She travels to a mansion in Northern California to talk to Benjamin Lockwood (played by James Cromwell), last of the two men behind Jurassic Park (the other was Hammond). He lives at the place both him and Hammond started cloning the first dinosaurs below the mansion. His granddaughter, Maisie, lives with him and Eli Mills, the businessman who works for him.

Claire then goes to convince Owen to come help her and find his velociraptor, Blue, the last of her kind on the island, and help save some of the dinosaurs for transport to an island sanctuary for them. Of course, they will learn nothing is as it seems.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was better than I worried it would be. There are more of the scary moments like in the first film to start it all, Jurassic Park, with some new stuff added that if I said anything, would give it away, plus maybe for the possible plot of the next film I hope they will make. Though I know these movies are for the kids as well as adults, maybe a darker and a bit bloodier version film (more R-rated?) would have worked more realistically when dinosaurs attack a human or another dino. But again, this is more Spielberg than the two original novels by Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park and The Lost World. Still, it’s a good popcorn movie for the summer time, something worth seeing on the big screen, while darker in tone than its predecessor. 

I give Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 41/2 Jurassic sheep.

Pamela Kinney

Sheep Movie Review: Jurassic World

Jurassic World 

Directed By: Colin Trevorrow 

PG-13 

Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D'Onofrio and B.D. Wong 

Plot: 

Steven Spielberg returns to executive produce the long-awaited next installment of his groundbreaking Jurassic Park series, Jurassic World. Colin Trevorrow directs the epic action-adventure based on characters created by Michael Crichton. The screenplay is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Derek Connolly & Trevorrow, and the story is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley join the team as producers. 

This is less of a review and more along the lines of why you should watch this summer blockbuster! Freling amazing! I loved every minute of this epic dino tale, finally the Jurassic franchise has redeemed itself! 

Huge nods to the original film which launched this whole empire were given throughout the movie. Bringing one of the main doctors back to the park was genius. He's not only a brilliant actor but one of the founding Jurassic Park members. You can love or hate the guy, but you have to respect his huge science balls for going back to the genome board. Again and again. 

Epic action, fun interaction with main characters and vibrant dinosaurs. A bike chase scene that was killer and nail biting all at once. Chris Pratt is hands down the man! There's really not much to complain about in the CGI parts and overall writing. If you love action and jumping in your seat, then hang on puny humans cause the OG lizards that will make you shiver are back! 

My only nitpick would be the head park gal (Bryce Howard) runs around the whole time in high-heel shoes. While she slowly messed up all her other clothing, the shoes stay on. And we're talking jungle running in mud, high speed cement running, jumping over debris and leaping. They must have been glued to her feet! The dinos were more realistic then her shoes. Just saying. 

Overall, go see this movie if you want to remember what it's like to actually ENJOY the movie experience. 

Getting 4 and 1/2 "Raptors are my new friends" Sheep 

KD

Sheep Movie Review: The LEGO Movie

The LEGO Movie

Directed By: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Staring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson 

PG

Plot: 

"The LEGO Movie" is the first-ever, full-length theatrical LEGO adventure. The original 3D computer animated story follows Emmet (Chris Pratt) an ordinary, rules- following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared. 

It's always a blessing when kids and adults alike can enjoy a fun warm hearted flick. The Lego Movie delivers all the brick laying foundation of being one of the best kid comedies I've seen in a very long time. It's hilarious with non-stop laughs! Everything is awesome!

Aside from the laughs, kitten posters and fun variety of LEGO action figures, you have a story about being creative. Follow your own path and use your individual imagination to make something new and awesome. Cause everything is awesome!

This is truly a meaningful story at it's core and that journey takes a kids toy and turns it into a whole world of wonder. Sure, Toy Story did that too but this is Legos....and they are awesome! The ending was surprising to me, which only endears this tale even more. 

It's a witty, crazy, excitingly manic ride of CGI awesomeness, including a moody Batman and Liam Neeson having a split personality disorder, all wrapped up in a lesson on letting go and I loved every second of it! 

Try to get this song out of your head after watching the movie. I dare you! 

Getting 4 and 1/2 'space ship' Sheep

KD 

Sheep Movie Review: Moneyball

Moneyball is a 2011 drama film directed by Bennett Miller, starring Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Chris Pratt and Casey Bond. It is based on the true story of Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics, and his attempt to create a competitive team despite Oakland's unfavorable financial situation. Hands down one of the best movies I have seen this year, I can almost smell the Oscar nominations rolling in. And I'm not just saying this because I'm a die-hard A's fan (ok maybe a little bit), but this film is truly well worth the ticket price.

Movie Info:

Based on a true story, Moneyball is a movie for anybody who has ever dreamed of taking on the system. Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's and the guy who assembles the team, who has an epiphany: all of baseball's conventional wisdom is wrong. Forced to reinvent his team on a tight budget, Beane will have to outsmart the richer clubs. The onetime jock teams with Ivy League grad Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) in an unlikely partnership, recruiting bargain players that the scouts call flawed, but all of whom have an ability to get on base, score runs, and win games. It's more than baseball, it's a revolution - one that challenges old school traditions and puts Beane in the crosshairs of those who say he's tearing out the heart and soul of the game.

To call this film wonderfully written seems almost like an understatement, the script has a flow you long to see in films these days that showcases the absolute finesse of the writers. The movie is done in such a way as any person, baseball fan or not, can come into the movie and get everything that's going on behind the scenes of a MLB clubhouse. It's pure, solid entertainment. Pitt blew me away with his portrayal of General Manager Billy Beane, this was probably one of the least showy characters of his career but he shot this one out of the park with believable charisma.

You'll laugh quite a bit at Moneyball, snickering at the absurdity of the situations and the often more ridiculous responses. The film inspires with a message that people who get picked last are sometimes worth a second look, and taking a different approach to something when everyone else has been doing it the same way for years can work in your favor. Personal regrets and the intense pressures of professional sports collide in Moneyball making it one heck of a ride. For all the concentration on numbers, and there is a bit, the film never loses sight of the fact that this is a game of people. It shows the management making connections with players and then the pain of having to let them go, as well as the unique issues of how you deal with a failing ballpark that has to share use with an NFL team.

Shot at the Oakland A's stadium in The Yay Area (or Bay Area for those that don't know) I throughly enjoyed seeing my town on the big screen and major love being given to a team most may laugh at. It sure isn't easy being an A's fan but I've never been one to take the easy road. Adding to the film was an equally wonderful music score that flowed with the overall feel of the film. I have only one little nit pick...towards the end where a few of the game scenes take place they almost get mashed together into one montage, and as someone who was around and invested at that time I would have liked to see more dedication to how the A's achieved what they did. That being said this film is a must see!

Getting 4 and 1/2 Oakland A's Sheep

KD