Movie Review: Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Ghostbusters: Afterlife
November 19, 2021

Directed By: Jason Reitman
Writing Credits: Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman
Stars: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Logan Kim, Celeste O’Connor, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, Sigourney Weaver

Columbia Pictures
Running Time: 2 hr, 4 min (124 minutes)
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Paranormal.
When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

Film Website-Official FB-Official Instagram-Official Twitter

Ray Stantz: I remember Revelations 6:12...? And I looked, and he opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became as black as sack cloth, and the moon became as blood."

Winston Zeddmore: "And the seas boiled, and the skies fell."

Remember that quoted in the 1984 Ghostbusters movie? Well, it’s 2021, and it appears Judgment Day is coming again, not to New York City this time, but a little town in Oklahoma called Summerville. 

One day Egon Spengler said that the end of the world was going to happen, and he tried to tell his fellow Ghostbusters, but they didn’t listen and he took all their equipment and the Ecto-1, and took off for Summerville, leaving his family behind. 

His daughter, Callie, and her two children, teenage Trevor (Finn Wolfhard who we all know as Mike from Netflix’s Stranger Things series) and middle schooler Phoebe (McKenna Grace of Gifted). After Egon dies, Callie is forced by penurious circumstances to take her family to live in his creepy-looking farmhouse in the middle of nowhere.

The local folk referred to Callie’s late father as “Dirt Farmer.” Because he never grew anything (well, there was that cornfield). Trevor gets a job at the local car hop, Spinners, and fixes up the only vehicle in Grandpa’s garage that has an engine—which is the Ecto-1— and gets it running. 

This is a good third companion to the first two Ghostbusters films from the ‘80s, and there is humor here, but this is a scarier film than the first two. And stay to the credits and the end after that—think Marvel and DC—it might be worth your while. And if at the ending of the film, you feel tears in your eyes like I did, well, you’ll see why.

I gave Ghostbusters: Afterlife 5 ghostbustin’ sheep.

Reviewed by Pamela K. Kinney

Sheep Movie Review: Bloodshot (2020)

Bloodshot (2020)

Mar 13, 2020
On Disc/Streaming: Mar 24, 2020
Directed By: David S. F. Wilson
Written By: Jeff Wadlow, Eric Heisserer, Bob LaytonCast: Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, Guy Pearce, Talulah Riley

Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence, some suggestive material and language)
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Studio: Columbia Pictures

Based on the bestselling comic book, Vin Diesel stars as Ray Garrison, a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation. With an army of nanotechnology in his veins, he's an unstoppable force -- stronger than ever and able to heal instantly. But in controlling his body, the company has sway over his mind and memories, too. Now, Ray doesn't know what's real and what's not -- but he's on a mission to find out.

I'm a fan of Valiant Comic's Bloodshot series. It is action-packed with drama and humor. So I was excited to see the movie. Vin Diesel wouldn't have been my first pick as Ray Garrison but that kind of star power bought a big budget.

I watched it on-demand with my husband. He hasn't read the comics. It was entertaining. A basic CGI sci-fi action movie. Valiant Action Comics are well written and scream big-budget action movies. But Bloodshot had a generic feel. I saw it two weeks ago and I'm struggling to recall details. I know the ending was fun and exciting and I didn't regret watching it.

People either love or hate it...but it certainly isn't hate-worthy. If you enjoy some mindless action fun then check this one out. My husband and I agreed on the rating.

I do recommend checking out the comics. How you can not want to read something with a cover like this!

My 5 sheep review

3 1/2 "Nano" Sheep 

SharonS

Sheep Movie Review: Men In Black: International

Men in Black: International

Directed By: F. Gary Gray
Written By: Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Jun 14, 2019
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rafe Spall

Rating: PG-13 (for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material)
Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction & FantasyRuntime: 120 minutes

Studio: Columbia Pictures
The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.

*Whine* I liked Men in Black: International, but I really wanted to love it. I think the problem is I compare it to the Will Smith/Tommy Lee Jones version which was better. Jones was the perfect straight man to Smith's comedy. That was missing from the Hemsworth/Thompson pairing. They didn't have the right chemistry. And Pawny seemed like a gimmick for the kids.

And it moved a little slow compared to the original...

I don't know if I can give this a fair review because I can't stop comparing it to the original. So if you haven't seen the previous movies then it might work for you. If you have...Chris Hemsworth is a beautiful man and a joy to watch no matter what the movie is like.

My husband and I give it 3.25 "pink pants wearing" Sheep

SharonS

Sheep Talk: My Christmas Experience! (Plus a movie review—Jumanji—as a sidebar...)

Reviewer Jeanie G shares her story... as well as a review of Jumanji and SharonS adds her thoughts on Jumanji too!

Traveling to our children's homes for Christmas is always packed with a myriad of activities and rushing. Wrapping then packing a truckload of gifts and hoping for decent weather is always the first hurdle. This year, not so bad. We made it to our daughter's the 23rd of December and had plenty of time to prepare for our Christmas Eve get together. We are her "basement renters" in the winter when we visit the area...as my 7 year old grandson reminds me! It's easier for him to visit us in his basement than it is to travel 4 hours...plus he thinks he can play by Nana's rules down there instead of Mom's rules upstairs. Sly dog!

Anyway, Christmas Eve afternoon and evening was hectic with the adults, two 7 year olds, a 5 year old and 2 one year old children. Trust me, you couldn't walk through the house without kicking a kid, dog or present. My son in law is a little OCD so the wrapping paper was his nemesis for a couple hours. It all was heartwarming and fun of course.

Christmas for us was up at 5:30 to be at our son's by 6 to watch the 3 other grandchildren open their gifts. Then back to our daughter's to finish watching the other 2 finish their gifts and help put some supper together. Trust me after those 3 days, I was ready for some quiet time! SOOO...the day after Christmas my husband and I asked two grandchildren (7&5) if they wanted to see a movie. I figured "Great", two hours being entertained then some supper then home to kick the feet up. HMMMPH.!

We get to the theater about 20 minutes early for the 1:30 showing of "Jumanji". I noticed the parking area was packed so as my husband was parking the car, we went in to get tickets. Not a long line (Whew). But that was because the 1:30 showing was already SOLD OUT! The ticket sales lady said "we still have some seats for the 3:00 movie but they are almost gone". Of course I ask for 2 seniors and 2 children before she had time to put out the closed sign!

We decide to eat a late lunch before returning 30 minutes prior to show time. Hey, I saw the lines at the first visit! Again my husband drops us off to park and while walking in I take the tickets from my purse and YIKES, there are only 3 tickets. Now, I didn't count the tickets when I received them earlier, nor did I even look at the amount I paid while swiping my card. I rush to the ticket window and plead for just ONE more ticket..even if it's just a space along the wall...but NOOOO. So, I have to give my husband the bad news that only one of us gets the pleasure of seeing the movie with our angelic grandchildren! I could tell how crestfallen he was as he hurried back the way he came yelling..."I'll be back in a couple hours" over his shoulder. Traitor.

Remember, we are 30 minutes early (25 by this time) and as we go find the theater number I notice a snaking line down one wall turning to snake down the opposite wall... hmm... I'm thinking maybe it's for the bathroom. No such luck. It's the line to enter the theater for the showing! Again, remember I have a 7 and 5 year old that I am sure are going to ask for candy or popcorn any minute and I am NOT giving up my place in line. As luck would have it, they didn't, I didn't have to leave the line, and they opened the doors after 15 minutes of waiting in line.

Trust me, if I hadn't already promised the movie, I would never go through all this headache. I couldn't understand why it was so crowded on a Tuesday afternoon with 2 theaters showing the same movie. Then I looked at my tickets again and someone said: "it's always busy on $5.00 Tuesdays!" OOOHHH, school is out and all movies, all day are only $5.00! Sort of makes me wish we were staying one more day and went to the movie on Wed.!

Jumanji (2017)

Directed By: Jake Kasdan

Written By: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Scott Rosenberg, Jeff Pinkner
Dec 20, 2017

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Bobby Cannavale 

Rating: PG-13 (for adventure action, suggestive content and some language)

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Runtime: 112 minutes
Studio: Columbia Pictures

When four high-school kids discover an old video game console with a game they've never heard of--Jumanji--they are immediately drawn into the game's jungle setting, literally becoming the avatars they chose: gamer Spencer becomes a brawny adventurer (Dwayne Johnson); football jock Fridge loses (in his words) "the top two feet of his body" and becomes an Einstein (Kevin Hart); popular girl Bethany becomes a middle-aged male professor (Jack Black); and wallflower Martha becomes a badass warrior (Karen Gillan). What they discover is that you don't just play Jumanji--you must survive it. To beat the game and return to the real world, they'll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago, and change the way they think about themselves--or they'll be stuck in the game forever...

Jeanie G's Review

SO, on to the movie. "Jumanji " was worth the wait. I am glad I bought the 3:00 tickets and I'm glad I waited in the line to get a seat. I really loved the first Jumanji movie with Robin Williams and I also loved the sequel. They did a great job of making the old new and keeping the humor and excitement alive. The first movie took place in real life "outside" of the game. This edition takes place "inside" the game and I thought that was brilliant. If you are any type of gamer (experienced or not) you will appreciate the storyline and innuendos written into the script. High school students serving detention find an old Atari game (ancient to them) while cleaning out a storeroom and decide to play. After choosing their characters then get "transported" into the game and must save the world of Jumanji to get out alive. The "Rock" Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart are hilarious. I had not seen any reviews or looked at any ratings and didn't even know who was starring in this film. If I had I might have been a little leery of the type of humor but I was pleasantly surprised. 

Now even though they kept it clean (even for a PG-13), I counted a couple of "Oh shits" and a couple "bad ass" and two chaste kisses. No harsh foul language or nudity or sexual innuendos. WHEW! Of course, what does my 5 1/2 year old (going on 20) remember most about the film? One of the high school girls was a "bad ass" and there were two kisses. Plus, one of the girls was turned into a male character and she had lost her phone that had been "attached" to her hand!

I don't know the critic's rating nor do I care, the three of us laughed out loud during the move, neither of them asked to get out of their seat for anything and the movie was highly entertaining! I would see it again and I rarely give that kind of accolade. Only "Dirty Dancing" and "Sixth Sense" earned that from me.

If you get a chance, grab a grandchild and spend the day eating, standing in line and laughing at a really well done movie!

The whole day got 5 "gleaming" sheep from me!

Sharon's Review

The Breakfast Club meets Tomb Raider.

Went to see Jumanji with my husband and 16-year-old daughter. The trailer pretty much sums up the movie. It was silly fun with 13-year-old boy humor (dick jokes galore) but predictable. Pretty much a cookie-cutter action comedy with stereotype characters aimed at the preteen crowd.

It is worth checking out if you like that kind of movie, but you can wait for the DVD. It would have gotten a 3 Sheep rating from me, but Dwayne Johnson is nice to look at, and the ending was touching.

We all gave it 3 1/3 "Dance fighting" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: Hotel Transylvania 2

Hotel Transylvania 2

Release date: September 25, 2015 
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Production company: Sony Pictures Animation
Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Now that Dracula (Adam Sandler) has opened the Hotel Transylvania's doors to humans, things are changing for the better; however, Drac is secretly worried that his half-human grandson, Dennis, isn't showing his vampire side. So, while Mavis and Johnny are away, Drac enlists his friends to help him put the boy through a "monster-in-training" boot camp. But things really get batty when Drac's cantankerous, old-school dad (Mel Brooks) pays an unexpected visit.


If you plan on seeing this movie...just...don't. *shakes head and walks away*

1/2 sheep (cause I might have laughed once)