I.S.S.

Rating: Empty

Genre: Thriller, Sci-Fi

Studios: Bleecker Street/LD Entertainment

Cast: Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr, Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin and Pilou Asbaek

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Writer: Nick Shafir

Producers: Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon

Music by: Anne Nikitin

Rated: R for some violence and language

Release Date: 01/19/24

Runtime: 1h 35m

Tagline: The War on Earth will be Decided in Space.

Favorite Character: Dr. Kira Foster

Quote: N/A

Fun Facts: N/A

Summary: When the war between The American and Russian broke out, their astronauts received a message to take control of the I.S.S., whatever it takes.

The One Liner Review: The are 200 tons of trash orbiting the earth, and one of them is a script for a good premise but a bland low quality space movie called ‘I.S.S.’

The Beekeeper

Rating: Full

Genre: Action, Thriller, Adventure

Studios: Metro-Goldwyn Mayer/Miramax/Cedar Park

Cast: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Bobby Naderi, Jemma Redgrave, Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad and Jeremy Irons

Director: David Ayer

Writer: Kurt Wimmer

Producers: David Ayer, Bill Block, Chris Long, Jason Statham and Kurt Wimmer

Music by: Jared Michael Fry and Dave Sardy

Rated: R for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use

Release Date: 01/12/23

Runtime: 1h 45m

Tagline: Expose the Corruption. Protect the Hive.

Favorite Character: Adam Clay

Quote: “Why are you calling me on the ‘never call me on this line’ line?”- Janet Harward

Fun Facts: N/A

Summary: A retired agent that used to work in the organization that is known as “Beekeepers’ seeks vengeance against a company that scams their customers out of their money.

The One Liner Review: Remember, you do not want to mess with Jason Sathman’s beehive or else he give you some of his thrilling action sequence attacks (and stings) and some of the other things that would make John Wick want to join the Beekeepers.

Maestro

Rating: Full

Genre: Biopic, Romance, Drama, Comedy

Studios: Netflix/Sikelia Productions/Lea Pictures/Amblin Entertainment

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer and Vincenzo Amato

Director: Bradley Cooper

Writers: Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer

Producers: Fred Berner, Bradley Cooper, Amy Durning, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Martin Scorsese and Steven Speilberg

Music by: Leonard Bernstein

Rated: R for some language and drug use

Release Date: 12/20/23

Runtime: 2h 9m

Tagline: N/A

Favorite Character: Leonard Bernstein

Quote: “I love music so much it keeps me glued to life even when I’m most depressed, and I can get very deeply depressed.”- Leonard Bernstein

Fun Facts: Steven Spielberg was gonna direct the film.

Bradley Cooper did not attend the premiere due to SAG-AFTRA strike.

Bradley Cooper has been interested in conducting at 8 years old, thus making him excited for the main role.

Bradley Cooper spent six years trying to duplicate Bernstein’s conduction of his piece that’s over six minutes.

Summary: Maestro tells a true story of a romantic relationship between American conductor Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felica Montealegre.

The One Liner Review: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan and the film’s Cinematography are the real stars of this artistic biopic but i must warn you, it’s not for those who easily doze off at a symphony concert (like me).

Night Swim

Rating: Empty

Genre: Horror, Suspense, Thriller

Studios: Universal Pictures/Blumhouse/Atomic Monster

Cast: Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amelie Hoeferle and Gavin Warren

Director: Bryce McGuire

Writers: Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire

Based on: the 2014 short film

Producers: Jason Blum and James Wan

Music by: Mark Korven

Rated: PG-13 for terror, some violent content and language

Release Date: 01/05/24

Runtime: 1h 38m

Tagline: Everything you fear in under the surface

Favorite Character: Ray Waller

Quote: “The Pool is fine. The pool is the greatest thing that has happened to me.”- Ray Waller

Fun Fact: The film is based on the 2014 short film of the same name.

Summary: A former baseball player moved into the house with his family that has a backyard pool…which has an evil secret.

The One Liner Review: From what it looks like, Jason Blum and James Wan supported a so-weird premise that does have a few scares but is more of a campfire story told by the kiddies, yeah it’s pretty lame.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nuggets

Rating: Half-Full

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Adventure

Studios: Netflix/Aardman Animations

Cast: Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, David Bradley, Jane Horrocks, Romesh Ranganathan, Danial Mays, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Mohammed and Miranda Richardson

Director: Sam Fell

Writers: Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’Farrell and Rachel Tunnard

Producers: Leyla Hobart and Steve Pegram

Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams

Rated: PG for peril, action and some thematic elements

Release Date: 12/15/23

Runtime: 1h 41m

Tagline: This time, they’re breaking in!

Favorite Character: Mrs. Tweedy

Quote: “Looks like we’re gonna needa bigger bucket!”- Frizzle

Fun Facts: There were a lot of recasts for various reasons.

This will be Aardman’s final film to use Newclay Products since the factory shut down last March.

The penguin from Wallace and Gromit makes an appearance in the final shot (pause that part and see if you can find him).

In the original film, they were gonna show Ginger and Rocky having a son, but ended up getting cut and for the sequel, it is decided that Ginger and Rocky will have a daughter.

Summary: Taking place after the first film, the chickens plots to break in Mrs. Tweedy’s new factory to rescue Ginger and Rocky’s daughter from being turned into chicken nuggets.

The One Line Review: As it’s good that Aardman decided to continue the story and add some charming new characters, the final product certainly wasn’t as fresh as the original and was and fell into the kinda of a repeat, but hey not everyone wins.

Leave the World Behind

Rating: Full

Genre: Apocalyptic, Thriller

Studios: Netflix/Higher Grounds Productions

Cast: Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon

Director: Sam Esmail

Writer: Sam Esmail

Based on: a novel by Rumaan Alam

Producers: Sam Esmail, Lisa Gillian, Chad Hamilton, Julia Roberts and Marisa Yeres Gill

Music by: Mac Quayle

Rated: R for language, some sexual content, drug use, and brief bloody images

Release Date: 11/22/23

Runtime: 2h 18m

Tagline: There’s no going back to Normal.

Favorite Character: Rose Sandford

Quotes: “I think I’m done waiting.”- Rose Sandford

Fun Facts: You probably didn’t notice but the painting in the living room and the bedroom’s wall art changes as the film goes along.

Mahershala Ali’s role was originally gonna be played by Denzel Washington

Barack and Michelle Obama executive produced this film.

Summary: A family getaway turns haywire when two strangers show up at the door and at the same time, the cyberattack hit NYC.

The One Liner Review: Yes, the audience probably won’t be pleased but the film about a cyberattack doesn’t fail to entertain me and i am pleased with suspense filled scenes and who knows, that mysterious ending may mean something.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Rating: Empty

Genre: Superhero, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Studios: Warner Bros/DC Studios/Atomic Monster

Cast: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Martin Short and Nicole Kidman

Director: James Wan

Writers: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Jason Momoa, Thomas Pa’a Sibbett and James Wan

Based on: the DC Comics

Producers: Rob Cowan, Peter Safran and James Wan

Music by: Rupert Gregson-Williams

Rated: PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some language

Release Date: 12/22/23

Runtime: 2h 4m

Tagline: One King will Lead us all

Favorite Character: Arthur Curry/Aquaman

Quote: “I’m a father, a brother, a warrior…I’m a King of Atlantis!’- Arthur Curry/Aquaman

Fun Facts: This is the final film in the DCEU.

Fans wanted Amber Heard out of the film due to her and Johnny Depp’s trial, but despite that, she appears in the film for the total of 20 minutes.

Summary: The King of Atlantis was forced to team up with his imprisoned brother to stop Black Manta from taking his revenge.

The One Liner Review: While not exactly at the bottom of the DC barrel, the Overloaded CGI, a not so exciting climax and Aquaman’s obnoxious characteristics is quite enough to mark James Wan’s lowest point of his career.