An American gymnast travels to a foreign country to compete in a deadly game not won by anyone other than a native in more than 900 years.

So that's what it was really about! Got it.

The plot's a mess. It feels more like a series of scenes from different places, mostly there to showcase Kurt Thomas athletic abilities than anything else, but it does have something else, too. Charm? Raw talent?

The fights and athletics might be its biggest merit (maybe this was actually the one that inspired the recent flipping trends in martial art movies), but it does have characters with charm, and a compelling albeit chaotic storyline that'll at least leave you entertained.

And hey, it has Michael Jai White! If but for a short moment. Uncredited...?

It also has Tetchie Agbayani and Richard Norton, and it's based on The Terrible Game by Dan Tyler Moore, 1957. Not that any of this necessarily makes it a better movie but maybe it's cool to know.

The Cuckoo's Nest was the definitely the most memorable part though. It stands out. That single scene builds up an atmosphere that leaves me in awe. Silent Hill and Resident Evil movie-franchising attempts should take note, and I wouldn't be surprised if it inspired the Resident Evil 4 reboot.

Ground-breaking more than good? Maybe! But it's one of those movies you'll have to see at some point in time... if these are the kinds of movies you like watching. Martial arts. Fighting. That kind of stuff. It's special. Not all especially good but: it's not your typical action movie at all.

B-movie or no, it's well worth a watch.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

I don't remember much from the original Predator at this point but the new one wasn't bad! No matter what people say about it. It might not have been as great as the first one, but it's not a remake either, more so an 'inventive sequel', so there's no need to actually have a stand-off between the two. I liked the grindhouse vibe it had to it, and the bad-ass team, but maybe not so much the suicidal elements. Those are just sad. Man.

The plot in this one? A predator lands on Earth again, people discover him, again, and from there on out the intrigue thickens, a bit...

It's all about natural evolution in this one. The best aren't necessarily the buffest, but rather the ones with brains, and Jacob Tremblay has plenty of the latter. Promising acting skills too. It's a basic but working premise.

As for the rest of the cast: Olivia Munn is getting some bad-ass roles lately, Boyd Holbrook reminds me of that guy in Gymkata, and Keegan-Michael Key... a comedian in a movie like this...? OK. It works. They're all looneys, and he's the funny way so that's OK. They're a good team.

If you start analyzing the details too much I feel like I might end up being disappointed, so I won't. I enjoyed it for what it was, and that was: a good dose of action, and a blast from the past.

I am looking forward to a sequel too. In this age of very fake-looking action blockbusters this one felt appreciatively authentic. Over the top or no. Good watch.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?

I was going to dismiss this as just another sequel, as the black John Wick look-alike with yet another Transporter intro, but in the end... it really stood out after all, and it brought out the best in me.

I appreciate the silence. No words unless they really matter. Gestures. Bits and glimpses in addition to savage action - because those bits are really the ones that make the biggest difference. And props on making a firefight of a storm! The explosions aren't bad either. Sound work, special effects and props: it's all solid. John Wick-level professional but somewhat... more professional. Less sci-fi. More realism. More like Jack Reacher... but with a black person, and black culture? A darker tone? Is that the only difference? And yet though it comes off as one of the realest action movies of recent days it still has that superhero-style title. I guess you'd call that irony.

I can't say for certain it's worth a five all the way through, but it grows on you if you let it, and at the end I can't give it anything less. At that point the only thing that feels unfitting is the title. Should've been way more personal than that. But then again I guess he is a hero, isn't he? And as silent as he is be brings with him an air of secrecy too. He doesn't wear a mask, but then again maybe you just don't see it.

I'm hoping for a third one of these too, though I fear there's no way it'll match up to this one.

 rated 5/5: friggin awesome

Get ready for a feelgood movie! In a world where creatures with big feet live: one big-footed creature ventures outside the village and finds one with small feet, and it all spirals on from there...

It's a noticeably cliche-rich story about greed and misunderstanding, but it's presented in such a fresh and feelgood way! With an air of mystery, in a world of ice, where the scenery looks nice and the characters come off cozy in their little corner of the world. There's some really powerful songs too, and a strong message. Hate it or love it - I definitely did the latter.

I thought I'd hate the stereotypes and overused bits of comedy (even if the scenery is all new those things do stay the same), but maybe this was one of the better ways they've used them in a while now. The little bits of same-old-same-old keep it from a perfect score, but the overall delivery and characters keeps it high up anyway. Great watch. Fo icicle.

A life that's full of wonder... is a wonderful life.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

A group of troublemakers are forced to attend night school in hope that they'll pass the GED exam to finish high school.

Now this one was kinda like The Breakfast Club. Coincidences huh?

But they actually learn something in this one. It may not be as classy, but it felt genuine. It had feeling - just like the former. Whenever Kevin Hart's involved you know there's going to be some crazy too, but it's the good kind in this one. Mostly. He doesn't talk too much either. Could've done fine without the vomit and some of those other bits but hey... the rest makes me consider those bits as minor disturbances, and when it's all over you feel like you really want to grab life by the neck and take a hold of it for real. I'm doing it. Motivation. Even if you did your school and graduation.

The cast basically consists entirely of comedians, excluding Fat Joe who, oddly enough, actually comes off as one of the most entertaining ones in the bunch. And most intense. And most truthful. Props.

The chemistry good between all of them, though that does go in phases, and I like to think that all the disturbing bits were Rob Riggle. Not Hart. What can I say? Just doesn't seem like his style... props Tiffany Haddish, Bresha Webb and Romani too. And the others. They make a good crew.

There are some loose ends though. The roof, for one. How did they get out of that one? And hey, wait for the outro. ;) It's not all flawless, but it's a blast all the way through, and with a good message to boot. Not bad.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

I wrote a massive wall of text in my resolutions post, so I'll keep this one slim, as the fireworks still occasionally brighten the dusty skies of overdue dusk outside, and the first few minutes of the New Year fade away.

It's a New Year! It really is. A new anno. 2019. An' you... what you gonna do?

Myself I'm both hyped and fearful of what this one might bring; if it'll lead me the right way or put up new roadblocks on this wobbly walk of life. But I shall meet it with resolve and great expectation, as should you, as we should all with any new phase of days we get! Yes!

Not just years, but months too, and weeks, and days. Treat each one like it might be your last, and live it to the fullest... but also note that tomorrow might be your last, so don't live this one in a way that you won't appreciate that one, too. And whatever daze of days may follow.

Here's hoping for only great things in the New Era that now starts! The last one passed way too fast, but I'm (cautiously) hopeful about this one.

Happy 2019.