Good evening! Due to the pandemic, film releases are still an odd situation with various indie movies and random flicks that are being dumped on streaming or VOD. However, it already seems like 2021 has a slightly better outcome than 2020 with more films and somewhat better quality. Today, I’m reviewing the reboot of Wrong Turn and the latest Tom & Jerry movie. Are these films actually good or did studios have a backhanded reason to release them online? Here are my thoughts. Wrong Turn had a limited release in theaters and now it’s available for purchase through iTunes, Amazon Prime, and other digital retailers. A group of friends get lost in the woods and encounter a reclusive, self-sustaining community who isn’t friendly to outsiders. As expected in any slasher movie, bloody violence ensues. Basically, this movie is okay. It’s not good, bad, or particularly memorable. But it’s completely watchable and probably better than most films in the Wrong Turn series. In fact, it’s not a terrible watch for pandemic fare. Wrong Turn is a decent way to kill ninety minutes if you like slasher films. This movie is gory with a solid number of exciting scenes. It’s a surprisingly decent blend of bloodshed and action with a pretty good representation of wilderness horror. Also, this reboot is oddly topical for our political climate. Our country has a severe cultural divide right now and this movie addresses these issues. It doesn’t side with either the left or right. Both sides must work together and fight a completely different counterculture who’s even worse. It’s easy to label one side or the other as evil incarnate, but don’t forget, something worse can always rear its ugly head. Despite being a little better than most pandemic releases, Wrong Turn has a number of problems. It has some pacing issues in the middle of the story and none of the characters are memorable. Most of the characters come from modern tropes and stocks with very little depth. The characters also make every stupid decision possible to get killed. Granted, this is a typical problem in slasher flicks. I can’t say this movie is particularly scary either. It’s not boring, but this film is definitely more gross than frightening. Also, the cultural and political commentary is heavy handed. I didn’t mind, but many audiences are sensitive around this type of subject matter. Is the new Wrong Turn movie worth your time and money? Possibly. I would recommend it for horror fans and anyone who’s bored enough to spend a little money on iTunes right now. It’s actually pretty cheap. I bought it for $9.99. Stay away if you don’t like gruesome horror films or the Wrong Turn series in general. Don’t freak out about the political elements. It’s simply not offensive enough to matter. Let’s head in a completely different direction with Tom & Jerry. It’s a kid friendly movie about a mischievous cat and mouse who are raising trouble in a New York hotel. Perhaps, this unlikely duo can sort out their differences before they ruin the hotel's reputation.
This film was a pleasant surprise with a decent story, fun characters, and a convincing blend of live action and animation. All of the actors were good, including Chloe Grace Moretz, Michael Pena, Colin Jost, and Pallavi Sharda. Everyone was entertaining and it genuinely seemed like they had entire conversations with cartoon characters. Some of the humor was a bit hit or miss, but it was mostly witty. I actually laughed out loud a handful of times. The trailers were stupid, but don’t let it cloud your judgment. I was genuinely surprised with the story, which had a decent amount of substance and heartwarming moments. This movie was a nice way to bring Tom and Jerry to modern audiences. Regarding negative elements, some people might find this movie juvenile or dumb. After all, kids are the target audience and the humor reflects those ideals. It’s not a highbrow film by any means, but that’s not the point. People who watched the old Tom and Jerry cartoons might not appreciate the humor because it’s different. Basically, Warner Bros. watered down the franchise's violent, mean spirited, and infantile humor. Did you ever watch the old Tom and Jerry cartoons? They’re quite violent, stupid, and the characters are super naughty. The 2021 movie is a lot more wholesome and some of the violence has been toned down. I don’t consider the changes awful, but some fans won’t appreciate it. Tom & Jerry is the perfect movie for a family viewing at home. It’s available on HBO Max and suitable for all ages. So far, it’s one of the better releases of the year. Shocker, right? I recommend a subscription to HBO Max this year because Warner Bros. is releasing all of their 2021 films on streaming. Take advantage of it! I’m also going to review Godzilla vs. Kong and Mortal Kombat within the next several weeks. Have you seen any good movies lately? Are movie theaters opening up in your home town? Tell me in the comment section. Be safe and don’t be afraid of the COVID vaccine. It literally saves lives. Take care and I’ll see you guys next week.
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May 2019
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