The Cinematic Review-verse

Courtesy of imdb.com 9/10 overall. While combining major action scenes with amazing beach babes and a happy ending for most of the main male and female characters, Baywatch was an overall sensation and great way to kick off the summer with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron! In this adaptation of the NBC-turned-syndicated television series, Mitch Buchannon (Johnson) leads an elite team of lifeguards of a Florida beach (Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Jon Bass, Kelly Rohrbach, and Ilfenesh Hadera) to try and save their beach from being closed down and under the control of a corrupt businesswoman running a secret drug ring (Priyanka Chopra). By filming intense rescue scenes, wild partying, and occasional explosions, the cast and crew of Baywatch proved that excitement comes from being on land and watching and protecting citizens from any dangers in the sea. It was summertime excellence in almost every kind of way they could put it, and I was grateful to see it.

Photo Courtesy of imdb.com Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was an excellent combination of action, humor, and entertainment for me today. The film revolves around Peter Quill/ Star-Lord continuing to discover his heritage, while a mutinous group of Ravagers and an ensemble of bounty hunters, royals, and other aliens come to wreak havoc across the Cosmos. With amazing visual effects, an all cast of reprisals and new additions, classic rock and pop music, and a great piece of direction courtesy of one James Gunn, it was bigger and just enough to match the first Guardians film 3 years ago. A- for all the performance. Marvel, keep up the good work.

The Fate of The Furious was an excellent eighth edition to the fast-paced and furious-fueled franchise. Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson led an amazing ensemble cast, the explosions were lethal, the plot and technology blew my mind, the jokes were comical, this franchise truly HAS gone fast for 16 years, and t his time, a cyberterrorist named Cipher (Charlize Theron) comes into Dom's (Diesel) civil life and coerces him into betraying his family on a threat that will plunge the world into darkness. But, his family will not stand for this and will bring back the Dominic Toretto they know and we love. Sill, it wasn't that easy to watch a film without Paul Walker as Brian O'Conner, but I loved watching it anyway. I can't wait for who knows what comes next for the crew!

Photo Courtesy of traileraddicts.com Logan  was a spectacular yet tragic ending for Hugh Jackman's 17 years as Wolverine. Even with Professor X, he's still confronting his own demons and finding what it truly means to be an immortal hero. Combined with all the language, violence, and drama, Logan is an action-packed, shock-and-awe, kind of movie, and I love it. Set long after X-Men: Days of Future Past, Logan is now older, weary, and his adamantium is poisoning his body, leading him to finally wither and pass away. But, he must bring back the fight for one final time when enemies from his past come to attack him, an older Professor Xavier, and what may be left of the mutants. While trying to savor his health, he must also deal with the needs of a clone of his (Dafne Keen). With robust action, excellent new casting additions, effective makeup and visuals, and a superb score by Marco Beltrami, this film really brought a fitting ending for Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. 

Photo Courtesy of imdb.com The Lego Batman Movie deserves a 4/4 star rating. In this spinoff of The Lego Movie , Batman (voiced by Will Arnett) is still a major crime-fighter, but doesn't know how to be a part of a team or even a family. But, it takes a village, not just a Batman, to save Gotham City from the evil, creepy-smiling Joker (voiced by Zach Galifianakis). And maybe his butler, Alfred (Ralph Fiennes), adoptive son and sidekick Robin (Michael Cera), and Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) can teach him a thing or two about not flying solo anymore. Combining elements of family, comedy, and taking down bad guys brick by brick, Batman truly HAS aged phenomenally! Can't wait for a sequel!

I'd say that Vin Diesel sure had his share of thrills bringing Xander Cage back after 15 years in this movie. After years of hiding out, Cage (Diesel) was finally found and recruited by the government to help stop a device that controls satellites to crash-land in any part of the planet. He does this with the most extreme team ever. All that action, stunts, and lovely women by his side, it was great to spend my 19th birthday watching this one. This'll be one great movie to bring up to him on his 50th birthday this year!

Monster Trucks was like How to Train Your Dragon; a teenager sought to change his whole future by befriending an unseen creature who could be his one-way to ticket to fame! High-school student Tripp (Lucas Till, X-Men: First Class ) befriends a squid-like creature he dubs, "Creech", and hides him under his truck to save him from the authorities. Through visual effects and a great set of co-stars, Lucas Till sure rides wild and free in this animated feature directed by Chris Wedge of Ice Age !