Movie Review Archives

Science Fition Movie Review: Wild Robot

Movie Review / M Pax / February 14, 2025

🌟 A Heartwarming Journey, On and Off the Screen

As someone who adored the book The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, I went into the movie with high hopes—and I’m thrilled to report that it didn’t disappoint. The film captures the heartwarming essence of the story, delivering a visually stunning and emotionally rich experience that left me with the same warm glow as the book.

Heart Meets Adventure

The movie retains the heartfelt story of Roz, the robot who finds herself on a deserted island and learns to adapt, survive, and connect with her new surroundings. While the book delves more deeply into philosophical questions about humanity, survival, and the nature of relationships, the movie leans into the emotional journey, making it a touching experience for viewers of all ages.

Visually Captivating

The visuals are nothing short of spectacular. The island comes alive with vibrant colors, stunning landscapes, and detailed animation that captures the wild beauty of Roz’s new home. The design of Roz herself is both mechanical and endearing, perfectly blending her robotic nature with her emotional growth throughout the story.

A Worthy Adaptation

While the book provokes deeper thoughts (as books often do), the movie stands as an excellent companion to the original. It may not explore every nuance of Peter Brown’s writing, but it succeeds in capturing the heart and message of the story. If anything, it’s inspired me to pick up the rest of the series—I’m eager to see where Roz’s journey leads next!

Wild Robot earns the coveted “beer is optional” rating. I would happily watch The Wild Robot again, just to immerse myself in its world and experience Roz’s story unfold once more. It’s a testament to the film’s ability to stay true to the spirit of the book while carving its own path as a beautiful piece of art.

If you haven’t yet seen The Wild Robot or read the book, I highly recommend both. Together, they create a powerful and heartwarming tale of connection, growth, and what it means to be alive.

Here’s the trailer:

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#SciFi #MovieReview: Infinite #sciencefiction

Movie Review, Science Fiction Movie / M Pax / January 17, 2025

When a movie has Mark Wahlberg front and center, you go in expecting a certain level of action-packed fun. And Infinite delivers on that front… but not much else. Unfortunately, the story was so thin it barely existed. Any time the plot started to get remotely intriguing, it was interrupted by explosions, vehicle chases, or flashy fight sequences.

There’s no denying that some of the action was impressive. If you enjoy watching cars fly through the air and nifty sword maneuvers, there’s plenty of eye candy here. But action alone can’t carry a movie, and Infinite tries to coast on adrenaline without giving the audience anything to latch onto. Even my Husband Unit—who usually loves action flicks—said this one was a dud.

The concept of the Infinite, people who can remember their past lives and accumulate knowledge and skills over centuries, should have made for a fascinating story. But instead of exploring that cool idea, the movie shoves it to the side in favor of what feels like “action porn”—endless stunts and set pieces with little substance tying them together.

Because I almost fell asleep, it gets a 3.5 beer rating. One scene involving a plane and a sword saved this movie from a 4 beer rating. The movie is worth watching for that alone. It’s near the end of you just want to fast forward to that part. Infinite ended with the potential for sequel. Please don’t!

In the end, Infinite is the kind of movie you’ll watch for the explosions and stunts, not the story. If you’re looking for mindless entertainment with a lot of running, driving, and sword-swinging, this might be up your alley. But if you’re hoping for an interesting or thought-provoking sci-fi adventure, this one might leave you feeling empty.

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#Thriller #MovieReview Jaws: The Revenge #scifi #sciencefiction #shark #jaws

Movie Review, Science Fiction Movie / M Pax / December 23, 2024

thriller movie review Some movies transcend badness to become pure entertainment. For me, Jaws: The Revenge—the fourth installment in the Jaws franchise—is one of those movies. It’s not just my favorite Jaws sequel; it’s a masterpiece of ridiculousness. And honestly, ridiculous + shark is the perfect formula in my book.

Let’s be clear: this movie is not scary. At all. In fact, it’s mostly hilarious. Somehow, the shark—yes, the shark—develops a personal vendetta against the Brody family, following them from Amity all the way to the Bahamas. That alone raises several eyebrows, but it gets even better when you realize this isn’t just any shark. Oh no, this is some kind of psychic shark. It’s like the fish can smell bloodlines, hunting only the Brody family while leaving most of the locals to sip cocktails in peace. Sure, a few other unlucky souls get munched along the way, adding to the film’s body count, but it’s clear this shark has a very specific hit list.

The shark’s abilities are truly something to behold. It doesn’t just swim fast—it swims supersonically from New England to the Caribbean with mind-boggling speed. And it’s not just a mindless predator; this shark seems capable of plotting intricate revenge schemes like it’s some kind of villain mastermind. But the pièce de résistance? The shark roars. Yes, folks, the shark roars. I’ll never forget that sound—a bellowing beast from the deep, defying science, logic, and marine biology all at once. It’s priceless.

This movie earns the coveted “Beer is optional” rating. In the end, Jaws: The Revenge is bad in all the right ways. It’s cheesy, nonsensical, and over-the-top—and that’s exactly what makes it so entertaining. If you’re looking for serious scares or intense thrills, this isn’t the film for you. But if you love a good laugh and can appreciate a shark with a flair for the dramatic, this movie is a wild ride worth taking.

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#SciFi #MovieReview: Atlas #sciencefiction

Movie Review, Science Fiction Movie / M Pax / November 22, 2024

If you’re looking for a movie with high-octane action and an easy-to-follow plot, Atlas fits the bill perfectly. While it’s neither groundbreaking nor terrible, it’s a very watchable film. The action sequences are well-executed, with plenty of fight scenes, chases, and explosions to keep you engaged throughout.

That said, if you’re expecting clever twists or moments that will catch you off guard, you might leave disappointed. Atlas sticks to a familiar formula—good guys versus bad guys—with no major surprises along the way. In fact, the predictability of the plot is its main drawback. It’s the kind of movie where you can see where things are heading well before the characters do, but the ride is enjoyable enough.

What Atlas lacks in originality, it makes up for in sheer entertainment value. It’s the type of movie you can throw on at the end of a long day, knowing that it’ll deliver a satisfying blend of action, albeit without any deep storytelling or thought-provoking moments.

It did get me to space and give me a look at an alien planet, so pluses for that. So, I’d give Atlas a 1.5 beer rating. A wee dram will make Atlas more entertaining.

Here’s the trailer:

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#SciFi #MovieReview: The Circle #sciencefiction #thriller

Movie Review, Science Fiction Movie / M Pax / October 22, 2024

Hmm, thankfully, The Circle wasnt watching me back…

The Circle, starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks, had all the makings of a thought-provoking, tech-dystopian drama. Unfortunately, it ended up feeling like a long, dull ride to nowhere. The film, based on Dave Eggers’ novel, tries to address the dangers of unchecked technology and the erosion of privacy, but it doesn’t quite land the punch it was aiming for. Well, if it was aiming for one.

Let’s start with the plot. Watson plays Mae Holland, a young woman who lands a dream job at The Circle, a tech company that feels like a Google-meets-Facebook utopia. With surveillance and transparency as its core principles, the company’s goal is to push society toward a more “honest” world. But as Mae rises within the ranks, she embraces these ideas a little too enthusiastically. By the end, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she had fully drank the Kool-Aid—and she wasn’t just sipping. She was guzzling it and handing it out to others. Her character’s arc went from cautious participant to blind follower without enough of a meaningful reckoning for me to buy into it.

The ending was particularly frustrating. What could have been a powerful critique of tech-driven surveillance instead felt like a non-ending. It leaves you wondering if anything really changed, or if Mae just became a mouthpiece for the very system she initially questioned. Rather than breaking free or taking a stand, she doubles down, pushing the same dangerous ideals with a shiny, optimistic veneer. It’s as if the film wanted to make a statement but didn’t know how to finish the conversation.

One of the biggest issues I had with The Circle is its confusion between transparency and democracy. The movie seems to suggest that making everything visible leads to a better, more just world. But transparency alone doesn’t ensure democracy. It doesn’t hold power accountable in any meaningful way, especially if the people pushing for it are the ones holding all the cards. The Circle’s version of transparency feels more like control than freedom, and Mae’s willingness to impose this on the world felt chilling rather than revolutionary. And, she ends up distancing herself from the people she was closest to, to be responsible to her followers. She was basically indoctrinated into the cult and decided that’s where she wanted to be. As a free-thinker, this ending creeped me out. Well, if that was an ending. It was hard to tell.

Tom Hanks, as the Steve Jobs-like founder of The Circle, was fine in his role, but he wasn’t given much to work with. His character was more symbol than substance, and it felt like a missed opportunity to dig deeper into the motivations behind someone who would build a tech empire like this.

The Circle earns itself a three beer rating. There wasn’t the fun distraction of dancing or singing. I didn’t get to go to space. And the ending makes me want to push Mae out of her kayak. Another dunk in the ocean might do her good. Have you seen this movie?

Here’s the trailer:

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Saturn 2: Science Fiction #MovieReview #scifi #sciencefiction

Movie Review, Science Fiction Movie / M Pax / August 20, 2024

Saturn 3 (1980), directed by Stanley Donen and starring Kirk Douglas, Farrah Fawcett, and Harvey Keitel, is a science fiction film set on a remote space station on Saturn’s third moon. The plot centers around two scientists, Adam (Douglas) and Alex (Fawcett), whose tranquil existence is disrupted by the arrival of Captain Benson (Keitel) and his menacing robot, Hector.

Saturn’s third moon is Tethys, but I’m not sure if that is the moon the title refers to. The space scenes didn’t give any strong evidence as to which moon the story was set on. The space science used was pretty poor, and it wasn’t clear what Kirk and Farrah were doing in the space labratory. It was mentioned they were growing food for Earth and they were falling behind on production, so Captain Benson arrives with Hector to help.

Umm… if this mission is so important, why were there only two people growing the food? There are lifeless planets and moons closer to Earth. Why not grow food on one of those? And, the space habitat was huge for just two people.

The movie attempts to blend elements of suspense, romance, and sci-fi but ultimately falls short in delivering a cohesive and compelling story. Like Keitel kills someone at the very beginning of the movie. Why? What for? The killing had nothing to do with the rest of the plot.

Near the beginning, a bunch of folks seemed to walk onto a stage to load up the shuttle going down to Saturn 3. To me, it looked like they were going to dance. Husband was alarmed, but they didn’t dance. So, I was disappointed. I would bump this review up a rating if they had danced.

One of the film’s more notable aspects is its visual design. The space station’s set and the special effects, though dated by today’s standards, offer a nostalgic glimpse into the science fiction aesthetics of the late ’70s and early ’80s. The design of the robot Hector, in particular, is both intriguing and unsettling, contributing to the film’s atmosphere of unease.

However, Saturn 3 struggles with pacing issues and a plot that feels underdeveloped. The narrative lacks the depth and complexity seen in other sci-fi classics of the era, leaving viewers with a sense of unfulfilled potential. The romantic subplot between Adam and Alex feels clichéd, and the film’s attempts at exploring deeper themes of isolation, humanity, and technological advancement are overshadowed by its more superficial elements.

They run through the tunnels of their habitat. A lot. Run. Run. Run. The robot does some amusing things, but we always guessed the surprises ahead of time. The acting is good, but could not save the thin story. And, it has a typical sci-fi indie film lame ending. There was some gratuitous nudity, and the robot was kind of cool.

I give this a 2.5 beer rating. Saturn 3 is a so-so sci-fi film that offers some interesting visual elements and moments of tension but ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression. While it may appeal to fans of vintage science fiction and those interested in the era’s cinematic style, it doesn’t quite measure up to its contemporaries in the genre.

Have you scene this one? Here’s the trailer:

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