Ready or Not 2 manages the rare feat of being a sequel that honors the chaotic spirit of the original while expanding its wicked mythology in unexpected directions. Picking up with Grace, who is now a hardened survivor of the Le Domas family’s ritualistic madness, the film flips the script by placing her back in the crosshairs of a different, yet equally deranged, high-society cult. Samara Weaving returns with her trademark blend of feral desperation and dry wit, proving once again that she is the ultimate modern final girl. The action is punchier, the stakes feel more global, and the dark humor is as sharp as a sacrificial dagger.
The sequel’s greatest strength lies in its world-building, which avoids the trap of simply repeating the "hide and seek" gimmick. Instead, it dives deeper into the supernatural pacts that govern the world’s elite, introducing a fresh gallery of aristocratic monsters who are as bumbling as they are lethal. The cinematography shifts from the claustrophobic corridors of a single mansion to a sprawling, gothic estate that feels like a character itself, dripping with atmosphere and inventive deathtraps. While the first film was a tight survival thriller, this installment leans harder into the "splatstick" horror-comedy genre, delivering gore that is both shocking and hilariously over-the-top.
By the time the explosive finale rolls around, Ready or Not 2 cements itself as a rare follow-up that might actually surpass the original for some fans. It’s a cynical, bloody, and riotously fun critique of inherited wealth that never takes itself too seriously. Even as the body count rises and the plot takes a turn for the truly bizarre, the movie stays grounded in Grace’s sheer will to survive. It’s a relentless adrenaline-fueled ride that leaves the door cracked just enough for more mayhem, making it a must-watch for anyone who likes their horror served with a side of pitch-black irony.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is available now on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Movies Anywhere and Fandango @ Home. The home video release on Blu-ray and DVD will be June 16, 2026. This horror flick is rated R by the Motion Picture Association [MPA].
Thank you to Walt Disney Studios for providing a complimentary Movies Anywhere code for READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME to use for my movie geek horror flick review. This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!
The Fall Guy (1981 - 1986) was must see TV for me as a '80s kid. Watching The Six Million Dollar Man actor Lee Majors team up with sultry actress Heather Thomas always had me geeked to tune in for the prime time airing of a new episode each week. The stories about a Hollywood stunt man who moonlights as a bounty hunter may have been corny but the show was filled with great stunts involving the hero's tricked out pickup truck and what schoolboy didn't have a crush on Heather Thomas during the years The Fall Guy aired on ABC.
Based upon my childhood fondness for the show and nostalgia, I admit to being intrigued about the premise of a major motion picture inspired by The Fall Guy television show starring hot Hollywood commodities Ryan Gosling (Barbie, La La Land) and Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place, Mary Poppins Returns). Like many people though, as it appears from the movie's marginal box office receipt showings, I wasn't enticed enough to go see the film in a theater. While not watching it on the silver screen, I did have a family movie night to watch this film over the Memorial Day weekend courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment providing it to me to watch for free to promote THE FALL GUY digital release.
My takeaway from watching the digital release of THE FALL GUY movie? Wow! I was wrong and should have gone to see this action flick at a movie theater. This movie is fantastic ... and it is filled with big stunt scenes that would have looked even more impressive in a theater on an IMAX screen.
Honestly, THE FALL GUY is in my opinion the best movie I've seen in a while. It is hands down one of my favorite films to have been released from Hollywood post-COVID. Filled with humor, physically orchestrated stunts, and a plot twist tied to the title of the movie, THE FALL GUY has an aura of originality to it that many motion pictures these days seem to be lacking. From a kick-ass sidekick dog that pokes fun at martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme to on-screen unicorn appearances, THE FALL GUY doesn't take itself too seriously providing a fun summer action romp. It is the type of flick that is meant for people to grab a bucket of popcorn and lose themselves in a couple of hours of Hollywood escapism. THE FALL GUY fits that niche perfectly.
Now that summer is here, my recommendation for seeing THE FALL GUY is find an evening with some nice weather and if you still have a drive-in movie theater go see it outside as that just seems like a perfect setting for taking this film in. We have a great one about a half hour from our house that is located in Fenton, Michigan called US 23 Drive-in Theater. A very well-run place that shows double features of first-run films. A real bang for your buck!
THE FALL GUY is also still showing at theaters across the country including AMC, Emagine and MJR. The movie is now also available to add to your home entertainment library, available to purchase or rent online digitally or via on-demand cable. The digital home video release includes an Extended Cut with additional 20 minutes of never-before-seen footage featuring more action, more laughs and more stunts. This version is only available when you purchase from participating retailers nationwide including Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox and Microsoft Movies & TV. The original film is available wherever you rent or buy movies.
After leaving the business one year earlier, battle-scarred stuntman Colt Seavers springs back into action in THE FALL GUY to help a floundering movie. When the star of the film suddenly disappears, the actor's agent begs Seavers to bring him back to the set before studio executives learn about it and shut down production. As the mystery surrounding the missing actor deepens, Colt soon finds himself ensnared in a sinister plot that pushes him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt.
THE FALL GUY is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for action and violence; drug content; and some strong language. From real-life stunt man and director David Leitch, the blockbuster director of Bullet Train, Deadpool 2, and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, comes his most personal film yet, full of over-the-top action and jaw-dropping, practical stunts. The theatrical version of the movie has a runtime of 2 hours and five minutes.
SPOILER WARNING: THE FALL GUY has a mid-credits scene tied to the original television show with appearances by Lee Majors and Heather Thomas that provides an explosive ending to the movie as well. As the credits scroll there is also a nice split screen which also shows behind-the-scenes footage of some of the stunts as they are filmed.
A few final thoughts. The movie which Colt Seavers is recruited to come out of retirement to work on is called Metalstorm and it has a sci-fi theme to it. This science fiction fan actually would be interested in seeing Metalstorm being made into a real movie or at least maybe published as its own comic book story. Metalstorm also has a special cameo that pays tribute to the current popularity of superheroes in cinema. I really like the sci-fi vibe that the Metalstorm aspect of THE FALL GUY added to the movie dynamic.
Finally, in addition to the movie's stunts catching my eye, its soundtrack caught my ear. The music in THE FALL GUY nicely compliments the action sequences and storylines of the movie. Even the song sang during a karaoke sequence. Music really does add to the overall movie watching experience!
Oh, one final note! The Miami Vice Stunt Show was a real thing that ran at Universal Studios Hollywood from 1987 through 1995. Watch THE FALL GUY and you'll know what I'm talking about.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital code to redeem THE FALL GUY from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.
Sony Pictures invited me to attend a free screening of their upcoming GRAN TURISMOmovie which officially which begins its theatrical run on August 25, 2023. The film is inspired by the true story of a Nissan-sponsored Gran Turismo video game competition that gives its winner the chance to become a real-life professional race car driver. Gran Turismo is a highly detailed auto racing simulator video game for Sony PlayStation consoles that allows players to compete online against one another utilizing accurate recreations of actual cars and tracks. This movie isn't a "video game" movie though it is a bio pic about Jann Mardenborough, who has been involved in both triumphs and tragedies driving cars on race tracks.
The Gran Turismo movie is a nice underdog story that will rev up your spirits. Rudy with race cars! It earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval because you don't need to be a gamer or gearhead to enjoy cheering on the movie's hero to the film's finish line. Taking in Grand Turismo's high octane race scenes are an exciting way to enjoy the last stretch of the summer season.
Veteran actors David Harbour (Stranger Things) and Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean) compliment the performance of the movie's youthful central figure Jann Mardenborough played by Archie Madekwe (Midsommar). Harbour and Bloom do an excellent job of creating for audiences a sense of drama that creates an element of intensity for the challenges that Madekwe's character must overcome. I realized as the end credits began rolling that I had become so immersed in the action of the show that I'd bought into feeling as if these actors were actually the people they were portraying and their scenes were real events rather than Hollywood reenactments. I became invested in wanting to see Madekwe's character succeed with the film having the air of a reality show documenting his career progression rather than actors going through the lines of a script.
I also learned in the end credits that Jann Mardenborough served as a stunt driver for Grand Turismo. The credits include pictures of him with various cast members. That really reinforced the true story aspect of this film in a nice way.
This film is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for the following reasons: intense action and some strong language. Gran Turismo has a runtime of 2 hours and fifteen minutes. For more information about this motion picture visit www.granturismo.movie
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Thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures, I was able to attend an advance screening of THE FLASH which opens in movie theaters across the U.S. on June 16, 2023. I found THE FLASH to be an entertaining superhero flick worth the price of a movie ticket, as well as a bucket of popcorn and ICEE to snack on, to see it on the silver screen at a theater. It won't be the best or worst film being released this year, but THE FLASH earns a Geek Daddy nod of approval for providing a good time summer outing to a movie theater.
While superhero movies are known for epic battle scenes against daunting, monstrous villains, movie goers will be disappointed if that is what they are wanting to see in THE FLASH. Instead, this movie's focus is one the time traveling encounters that the title character has and the chaos that erupts as a result. Instead of being a clash between super powered heroes and villains, THE FLASH instead uses a cast of DC Comics characters to portray a variation of Ray Bradbury's science fiction short story "A Sound of Thunder" in which the acts of time traveler going into the past changes the future they return to. In Bradbury's sci-fi tale, when one of these travelers accidentally steps on a butterfly it has a more profound effect on impacting history's timeline than you would expect a minor incident to have.
Thus, the term "butterfly effect" has been coined when referring to how time travel could disrupt and create chaos in reality. Some physicists believe even the most minor of alterations to a timeline could create multiple dimensions of reality which are referred to as multiverses. In going back in time to try and stop a tragedy from impacting his family, the Flash alters the fate of billions of other people. Rather than fighting a "bad guy" the central theme of this movie has the Flash as his own adversary trying to reverse a mistake he has made. Some may find these dramatic elements being the driving principal of THE FLASH to be disappointing; but I found this aspect of the film refreshing and a nice differentiation from other superhero adventure films that have been released during this recent comic book movie era we find ourselves in.
That is not to say there isn't action in the film. Ironically, Batman steals the limelight from the movie's title character in a number of scenes. There are some spectacular action scenes in THE FLASH featuring both Ben Afflick and Michael Keaton where both actors are equally impressive in the role of Batman. I found the Batman scenes to be exciting and a nice counterbalance to the slower pacing of some of the dramatic storytelling aspects of the film. For a film based on a super fast hero, I do have to say the movie could have been a bit faster paced.
Michael Keaton was the "movie Batman" when I was in high school, so there is a lot of nostalgia for me with his return to the DC cinematic universe in THE FLASH. He didn't disappoint! I am GEEKED about Keaton's performance in this movie and very glad I didn't miss out on seeing it.
I really don't like Ezra Miller as an actor, but his portrayal in this movie was bearable. As the end credits began rolling, my thoughts were he did an "ok" job performing. He had some nice humorous and dramatic moments in the film, but I'm not sure if I would have liked the movie as much without the Batman scenes incorporated into the script. That being said, I didn't not like the film because of Ezra Miller's role in it. So, in that regard THE FLASH actually exceeded the expectations that I had before going into the theater to watch it.
For the most part the special effects are equivalent to similar major Hollywood "comic book" adventure motions pictures, though I do have to say there is one "baby rescue" scene that has the worst CGI I've seen in a theatrical release. It is like the cabbage patch dolls make a cameo! Other than that the special effects provided a fairly good immersive experience to provide audiences with a sense of realism to a fantasy movie about super powers, time travel, and divergent histories that create a multiverse of realities.
Speaking of cameos, there are a number in the film that enhance the fun factor of watching this movie. Diehard comic fans are sure to be delighted by easter eggs and cameos within this movie. Plus, casual moviegoers will also appreciated some unexpected actor appearances within the show. Additionally, don't race out of the theater until the credits have finished scrolling. There is a post-credit scene featuring an actor cameo for a Justice League character who otherwise doesn't appear in THE FLASH.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gives THE FLASH a PG-13 rating for sequences of violence and action, some strong language, and partial nudity. From this dad's perspective there isn't anything in this film where a parent should feel uncomfortable letting elementary school aged kids see this flick. There really isn't sexual content, scary scenes, or gore in the film; but death is a major theme of the film and people are killed in it so parents should be sensitive to that when evaluating if this movie is a good fit for their child.
Inspired by the 2011 comic book event Flashpoint, written by Geoff Johns, which incorporates the butterfly effect and chaos theory elements of Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder," THE FLASH sees Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) tapping into the Speed Force to move so fast that he's able to travel back in time. Worlds collide when the Flash's attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, he becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation. With no other superheroes to turn to, the Flash looks to coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian -- albeit not the one he's looking for.
From my experience viewing the movie, you should have a goodtime watching it and leave the theater not feeling a sense of regret that the film's 2 hours and twenty-four minutes is time you'll never get back. If you are looking to see the next "Best Picture" Oscar winner this film isn't for you. If you on the other hand are looking for summer fun by having Hollywood magic transport you away from your day to day life for a couple of hours this is a good pick. THE FLASH will have audiences laughing and rooting for its heroes and maybe even cause you to shed a tear or two. A nice selection to choose for a fun summer outing to a movie theater filled with both adventure and drama.
Tracy Butler has been the Cat's Meow with her webcomic LACKADAISY which has been nominated for an Eisner Award, the comic industry's equivalent of an Oscar. Based upon the popularity of Lackadaisy, a Kickstarter campaign funded the creation of an animated short film to serve as a pilot to market Butler's stories into a tv series or feature-length movie. That animated short film was just released and is available to view on YouTube for FREE. Check it out!
Set in St. Louis, Missouri in the midst of Prohibition, Lackadaisy features the Lackadaisy, a speakeasy tucked away in a cave beneath the Little Daisy Cafe, where flashing the club symbol from a deck of cards grants everyone in-the-know access to to all the moonshine and music they desire. The joint’s packed full of gangsters, flappers, crooked cops, rum-runners, and wide-eyed ingenues. And they are, literally, all jazz cats. The sepia-toned story features action and adventure, comedy and crime, and a colorful (if somewhat shady) cast of felines, including the Lackadaisy proprietors Atlas and Mitzi May, rumrunner Rocky Rickaby, and the sharp-tongued, fleet-footed con artist in training, Ivy Pepper.
Lackadaisy: The Animated Short Film is the first ever multimedia endeavor from Spike Trotman’s Iron Circus Comics. The short film was crowdfunded to the tune of $330,000, thanks to almost 6,000 backers. It features the vocal talents of Michael Kovach as Rocky Rickaby, Belsheber Rusape as Calvin "Freckle" McMurray, Lisa Reimold as Ivy Pepper, Ashe Wagner as Mitzi May and SungWon Cho as Mordecai Heller. Theme music by Sepiatonic, the Portland-based music and dance experience that performs Electro-Vaudeville, provide the film’s theme music.
“The shift from sole writer and artist on Lackadaisy to crew member among more than 150 people working on the animated adaptation wsas nothing short of jarring,” remarked Tracey Butler to ageekdaddy.com. “The amount of work laid out before us seemed impossible at times. Meanwhile, a global pandemic raged in the backdrop. It was the best time of my life. Throughout production, it hasn't escaped me that I've been existing on some surreal plane of privilege and luck. To be surrounded by a team of incredible artists, all collaborating with me to imbue these characters, this story and setting with all of the motion, voice and music I dreamed in my head? Amazing. I hope viewers will enjoy the film even fractionally as much as I have loved making it.”
I have to say that the artwork for Butler's Lackadaisy web-comic is amazing eye candy complimented by a story whose tone and theme are a captivating read. The animation for the short film does an exceptional job of replicating the visual appeal of the web-comics and providing viewers with an intriguing plot. Lackadaisy: The Animated Short Film earns a Geek Daddy nod of approval for being refreshingly original and entertaining to watch. Plus, it is FREE to view!
Good luck to Tracey Butler and Iron Circus Comics in getting their pilot picked up by a television network, streaming service or movie studio! It would be fantastic to see more Lackadaisy adventures produced as an animated tv series or film. For more information about the web-comic and animated short, head over to lackadaisy.com
Thank you to Paramount Pictures for inviting me to an advance screening of the new Dungeons & Dragons movie before it officially begins its run at theatres on March 31st. This live action adventure flick based upon the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for language, fantasy action and violence. I found Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves to be a fun dungeon crawler romp that balances including elements of the Forgotten Realms to satisfy diehard game players with comedic overtones aimed to amuse mainstream audiences.
This new film has the whimsical vibe of the Saturday Morning Dungeons & Dragons cartoon that those of us who grew up in the '80s remember with gleeful nostalgia. Those cartoons utilized Dungeons & Dragons mythos to establish the setting for the show's adventures; but viewers didn't need to care about the roleplaying game to appreciate and enjoy the tv series. It was just a bonus if you liked both!
Similar to the cartoon, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves utilizes the rich history of the game to tell a story that most anyone who is looking for a couple of hours of cinematic escapism watching an action movie will find entertaining. In fact, the cartoon's inspiration on Honor Among Thieves producers is evident as the animated series' characters make a cameo in the film. Though, I have to say the live action portrayal of Bobby, Hank, Diane, Eric, Hank, Presto and Sheila was much better portrayed in a 2019 car commercial by Renault. That being said, this Dungeon and Dragons movie was fantastic enough to support future additions to a movie franchise that hopefully includes an actual live action adaption featuring the adventuring party from the cartoon. If Hasbro can transform Transformers into a blockbuster movie franchise, they are off to a good start in replicating that success with Dungeon and Dragons.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a campy movie filled with humorous moments, nicely choreographed fight sequences, and impressive special effects that is meant to have audiences laughing and cheering on its heroes while enjoying a big bucket of buttery popcorn. The movie doesn't take itself too seriously nor is it a dark, brooding horror film. It is meant to provide an entertaining experience by eliciting laughs, cheers and sometimes jeers within the theater without people worrying too much about the plot but rather having them appreciating being along for the ride with the film's charismatic cast.
While rated PG-13 from this dad's perspective I'd say this film is suitable for a family outing to the movie theater with kids as young as elementary school aged children. Parents should be aware though that there are some scenes that could be scary to young viewers involving death and the "undead." Plus, the villainous Red Wizards in the film are menacing! This is a film though that for the most part kids, teens and adults can all appreciate making it an especially nice movie for the whole family to see together.
Honor Among Thieves features a band of characters portraying the Dungeons & Dragons classes of Barbarian (Michelle Rodriguez), Bard (Chris Pine), Druid (Sophia Lillis) and Sorcerer (Justice Smith). More misfits than heroes, these outlaws are just trying to steal back the normalcy of life that has been taken away from them and inadvertently become tasked with stopping a monstrous plot to destroy the world as they know it. A mysterious Paladine uplifts this motley crew of thieves to unlock the honor that lurks within them. On the run from both lawful authorities as well as minions of an evil wizard, this band of thieves big score is becoming heroes.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves earns a Geek Daddy nod of approval for the simple reason that I left the theater with a smile on my face having enjoyed seeing it. Simply for being an example of fun and funny Hollywood magic, Dungeon and Dragons Honor Among Thieves is worthy of your time and treasure to see it in a movie theatre. Catch it while you can before this film disappears from big screen showings. Oh, and if you go see it while the film is showing in theatres stick around for a mid-credit scene.
Thank you to Warner Bros Pictures for inviting me to an advance screening of their newest DC Comics inspired superhero flick, SHAZAM: FURY OF THE GODS before it flies into movie theatres on March 17th. This sequel to 2019's SHAZAM! is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for sequences of action, language and violence. From a dad's perspective this movie seems fitting to go see for most mid-elementary school aged kids up to middle aged geek dads like me. Parents beware though that there are some murder and other death scenes that may be traumatic for young viewers and swearing including a "Motherf*ck#r" shoutout at a pivotal moment in the movie. Just a heads up!
SHAZAM: FURY OF THE GODS is a high-flying superhero action flick. In fact, I think there were more scenes of the film's heroes flying through the sky than in any other recent comic book themed movie that I can remember. Flying is one of the key powers of the character who has been attributed with characteristics of ancient gods and heroes from Mediterranean lore:
S - Wisdom of Solomon allows him to speak any language & guides him with a moral compass.
H - Strength of Hercules provides muscle power equivalent to Superman or Wonder Woman.
A - Stamina of Atlas gives extraordinary endurance against damage from physical attacks.
Z - Power of Zeus grants electrokinesis to generate and control lightning.
A - Courage of Achilles gives an edge to overcoming fear.
M - Speed of Mercury allows for superhuman movement including flying.
What would it be like to have the powers of S.H.A.Z.A.M. and be able to soar through the air? In addition to attending an advance screening of this new action-adventure film, my kids and I had the chance to participate in a Warner Bros. Pictures event that let us fly like SHAZAM! We had a super time at iFLY Detroit which let us experience skydiving in a state-of-the-art indoor wind tunnel.
We also had a super time watching SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS. It is great show for grabbing a bunch of snacks, like a movie theatre-sized box of Skittles or a big bucket of popcorn, kicking back in your seat and enjoying some Hollywood cinematic escapism. Laugh at the jokes, cheer on the heroes, and you may even shed some tears too. No spoilers though in this review.
SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS is a fun, zany movie. I really enjoyed it! Especially because it shoots a lot of good-humored jokes at Marvel including tossing to the wind copyright and trademark concerns in one scene calling the hero by his original name ... Captain Marvel.
A high energy flick if you go into the movie appreciating it for what it is, an adaption of comic book stories originally written for kids, you'll find yourself entertained by a satisfying escape from reality. What kid hasn't dreamed of being a superhero with extraordinary abilities and SHAZAM! is that child who suddenly finds himself thrust into greatness. SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS earns a Geek Daddy nod of approval for being worthy of a family outing to the movie theatre. Plus, I loved the mythological creatures and some other cameos featured in the film.
The only gripe I really had with the movie is that it portrays Billy Batson, the kid who transforms into the adult superhero SHAZAM!, as an 18 year old getting ready to face actually becoming a grown up. In the comics this character is normally depicted as a 12 to 16 year old to contrast the immaturity of his normal persona compared to the more mature superhero identity. Zachary Levi who plays the SHAZAM! role acts more like a young teenager than a boy on the verge of manhood as we see Billy Batson in the film played by Asher Angel.
If the film showed Billy at a younger age than Levi's performance would have made more sense as he acts like a kid in a man's body. Of course, being that more then three years has passed since the first SHAZAM! movie was released it is understandable why it took this approach to the character. If another movie comes out with this same cast, it will be interesting how this age issue is addressed as having the boy transform into SHAZAM is a big aspect of the character.
Directed by David Sandberg, SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS has a running time of 2 hours and 10 minutes. Plus make sure to stay for a mid-credits scene you won't want to miss. The film's cast includes Levi (SHAZAM!), Angel (Billy Batson), Jake Dylon Glazer (Freddy Freeman), Adam Brody (Super Hero Freddy), Helen Mirren (Hespera), Lucy Liu (Kalypso) and Djimon Hounsou as The Wizard.
Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with their adult superhero alter egos. When a vengeful trio of ancient gods arrives on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of the world.
For more information about the film, visit dc.com/shazam
The Fabelmans are looking to have a big night at this year's Academy Awards with seven Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay and Best Production Design. So, we were geeked to see what all the buzz regarding the film is about with a family movie night watching The Fabelmans. The movie is available now on digital to add to your home entertainment video library and will be out for Valentine's Day date nights (February 14, 2023) on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD.
Animated movies, comedies, superhero adventures and flicks tend to be the focus of what my family watches together. In fact, I don't recall the last drama that my kids may have watched. With that in mind, I wasn't sure how my children were going to react to watching this coming-of-age tale written and directed by Steven Spielberg. My kids actually were captivated by The Fabelmans with their eyes fixated on the show and both said "that was a great movie" as the credits started rolling. Their appreciation of the show earns it a Geek Daddy nod of approval.
The film rekindles the awe and specialness of Hollywood magic from a time before everyone carried a video camera around town with them. It highlights the artistic elements of filmmaking. Plus, The Fabelmans delves into the human interactions that have made drama a fascinating aspect within generations worth of storytelling. Having to cope with bullying, biases and bizarre family members are subject that are both intriguing and relatable for most of us.
The Fabelmans is a deeply personal portrait of a 20th century American childhood through the lens of a semi-autobiographical story inspired by Steven Spielberg’s own youth. It is about a young man uncovering a shattering family secret and the power of film and imagination to help us see the truth about ourselves and each other. The movie rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America. The MPAA rating is for some strong language, thematic elements, brief violence and drug use.
With a star-studded cast featuring Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea, My Week with Marilyn), Paul Dano (The Batman, There Will Be Blood), Seth Rogen (Steve Jobs, An American Pickle), Gabriel LaBelle (The Predator, “American Gigolo”) and Academy Award nominee Judd Hirsch (Uncut Gems, Ordinary People), The Fabelmans tells a timeless tale of heartbreak, healing, and hope for the dreamer inside all of us. The movie's story is complimented by a marvelous musical score from maestro John Williams. The Fabelmans has a runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Extras on the home video release of The Fabelmans include:
The Fabelmans: A Personal Journey - Steven Spielberg reflects on how the movie is inspired by his own personal story and family.
Family Dynamics - Discover how the film's cast brought The Fabelmans to life as Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen and more build a bridge between their onscreen personalities and their true-life counterparts.
Crafting the World of The Fabelmans - From costume and set design to music and cinematography, the filmmakers reveal how they created movie magic while capturing the film's unique look.
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Thank you 20th Century Studios for providing ageekdaddy.com with a free digital movie code for Ron's Gone Wrong
We had an enjoyable family movie night watching the animated flick Ron's Gone Wrong and my 12-year-old twins especially appreciated the film because they found it very relatable to where they are in their lives right now as middle schoolers. The movie's parody of a technology company very similar to Facebook that launches a product with the goal of promoting people abandoning in-person interactions to instead socially connect with others solely through technology rings true in both a funny and also somewhat scary retrospect of today's times. Why talk to someone face-to-face when you can do it instead through an app, or in the case of this movie a robot, is a central theme of this comedy which explores if technology may be devolving our humanity rather than accomplishing goals of actually bring people closer together. While this may seem a heavy topic, Ron's Gone Wrong addresses it in a humorous way through a heart-warming story.
Middle school can be a tough time where people are changing both with puberty and in developing a sense of who they are with their personality and place in the world. My own kids are struggling with being bullied and finding themselves in uncomfortable social situations navigating through school hallways during the tween and early teen years of middle school. Many of the troubles the main character faces in the movie are similar to circumstances my son and daughter have also faced when it comes to navigating friendships in middle school. They both expressed while we watched Ron's Gone Wrong how much they appreciated how the scenarios in the film hit home with struggles they themselves personally are going through and were appreciative of the inspiring positive messages portrayed in the story. Plus, they were laughing throughout the movie; so this comedy hits the mark when it comes to being funny based upon all the giggles floating around the room.
In Ron's Gone Wrong, things go hilariously awry when Barney, a socially awkward middle schooler, receives a malfunctioning, digitally connected device that’s supposed to be his “best friend out of the box.” In this action-packed animated story set against the backdrop of the social media age, a boy and his robot discover the wonderful messiness of true friendship. Ron's Gone Wrong is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America and has a run-time of 1 hour and 47 minutes.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this movie because it didn't get a lot of buzz. When hitting play to watch it we didn't have a lot of expectations. I was pleasantly surprised with Ron's Gone Wrong being a totally enjoyable family-friendly flick full of laughs and characters that are developed so the audience cares about them and is invested in the film's conclusion. Ron's Gone Wrong captured the whole family's attention throughout the film making for a great movie night selection.
While the critics didn't provide rave reviews of Ron's Gone Wrong, audiences seem to agree with this Geek Daddy as the film has been certified FRESH on Rotten Tomatoes with a 94% audience approval score. Taking into consideration all the laughs and positive messages incorporated into this family-friendly adventure/comedy, Ron's Gone Wrong has absolutely earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval. Watching it made for a great movie night with the wife and kids!
Ron's Gone Wrong is available to add to your home entertainment video library now on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. Buy Ron's Gone Wrong through a Geek Daddy affiliate link and this dad blogger will receive a small commission at no additional expense to your purchase. Your support of ageekdaddy.com is appreciated!
In addition to being able to watch Ron's Gone Wrong when-ever and where-ever you want with your own copy of the film, you also have to appreciate that home video releases of movies also include bonus content that you can't see at theaters in addition to the feature presentation. Ron's Gone Wrong on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital includes the following bonus content:
A Boy and His B*Bot: When Jack Met Zach – Zach Galifianakis and Jack Dylan Grazer, the voices behind Ron and Barney, sit down to chat about a fun assortment of topics. From social media to skateboarding, the two actors from two very different generations tell us all about when Jack met Zach.
Making Ron Right – Join cast and crew behind the scenes as they reveal the skill, dedication and friendship it took to bring this film to life. From writing the script to the voice-over booth, Locksmith’s artisans detail how they made Ron right.
“Sunshine” Music Video – Song from the motion picture Ron’s Gone Wrong, performed by Liam Payne.
Summer blockbusters are meant to be a way to escape the realism of the world around us for a moment in time by being thrilled over watching a movie and snacking on popcorn. They don't need to have a life altering impact on their audiences or masterfully written award-winning scripts. What these movies must have are mind-blowing special effects, pulse raising action scenes, incredible stunts, and comedic situations. People aren't looking for the film of the year but rather to have some summer fun where they'll be wowed and made to laugh while watching a movie. TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT fits this mold perfectly!
The fifth movie in Michael Bay's cinematic saga, based upon the Hasbro Transformers toys that were popular when I was a kid growing up in the 1980's, THE LAST KNIGHT is a roller coaster of a movie that is meant to be a thrill ride. It has adorable characters called baby dinobots that will make you go aww! Incredible vehicles that you wish you could drive or fly. Stunts like Mike Wahlberg hanging out the door of a speeding car inches from the ground making the audience exclaim whoa! Along with plenty of moments that will have you chuckling in your seat. And let's not forget the stars of the show, incredibly detailed CGI fighting robots that while watching the movie you'll forget aren't real.
While TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT is based upon children's toys, parents should be aware that it is rated PG-13. I took my eight year old twins to see the movie and personally didn't have any problem with them seeing anything contained in it. There isn't any gore or nudity in the movie but it gets the PG-13 rating for intense action scenes, violence and cursing. Because most of the violence is robot-on-robot in my opinion there isn't anything over-the-top concerning for parents to worry about when it comes to grade school aged and older children viewing it. If you let your kids watch the Harry Potter or Star Wars films this movie should be just fine for them to see.
I wouldn't recommend taking preschool aged children to this movie for a few reasons though. First there is a lot of swearing that young ears probably shouldn't hear. You'll have to make a parent judgment on your comfort level about profanity. Second, while there really isn't any sexual content in the film there is a lot of innuendo which you may want to avoid young kids being exposed to. Of course it may just go right over their heads like it did with mine. Finally, there are some characters, robots and humans, who die in the film. If death is a topic you want to steer clear of here's your heads up about that.
For adults if you enjoy action adventure movies with explosions and battle scenes go see this! If you are more interested in movies with great dramatic plots than you'll probably want to go see something else. I'll be honest the plot is full of holes like a piece of swiss cheese. The script is OK while you are racing through THE LAST KNIGHT but afterward it will be hard not to think back and say that didn't make a whole lot of sense. Of course it is a movie about larger than life alien robots so the script doesn't need to be more than meets the eye.
My son and daughter really enjoyed this movie, and my wife who normally doesn't share my appreciation of sci-fi/superhero type stuff admitted she had a good time too. I really liked how King Arthur and Merlin were incorporated into the story and thought the dragon transformer featured in the show was just darn cool. Being from the Motor City it was also interesting to see all the Detroit locations that were used in filming the movie. That combined with my really wanting to own a baby dinobot now gives A Geek Daddy nod of approval to TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT. If you sit back and enjoy the ride you'll have a fun time!
For more information about THE LAST KNIGHT please visit www.transformersmovie.com. You can also find out more about TRANSFORMERS by visiting the movie's social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Click here to take a look at the newest Transformers toys from Hasbro.
My son and I were invited to an advance screening of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 by Marvel Studios before the movie officially opened to the public. We're both big sci-fi fans and seeing the movie together made for a great father-son outing. Going to see Star Wars at the theater with my dad as a kid was what made me into a wide eyed fan of futuristic space fantasies and taking my son to see the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie spurred a similar love of cosmic adventures with him.
He's been asking to go see this movie since its trailers started coming out. So what did he thing of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.? I asked him after the movie concluded what he thought of it and received a one word review ... "AWESOME!"
Picking up where the original movie left off this sequel continues the adventures of Star Lord and his eccentric band of misfits who after having saved the planet Xandar have been able to line up some lucrative mercenary work. The story starts with these Guardians of the Galaxy in the midst of a gig for a race of arrogant aliens known as the Sovereign who have genetically modified themselves to "perfection." The Sovereign don't want to risk injury to any of themselves in confronting an inter-dimensional monster that is feeding off their planet's power sources so they call in Star Lord (aka Peter Quill), Drax, Rocket, Gamora and a baby version of Groot that sprouted from the splinters of that hero's sacrifice in the first film. Of course things quickly go amiss!
The movie has an incredible soundtrack based upon the Awesome Mixtape #2 that was a present from Quill's deceased mother had given him at the time of her death that he had long ignored until finally unwrapping it at the conclusion of the first movie. The soundtrack along with the movie's visual elements and script provide it with a campy '70s / '80s vibe. The film is a wacky space adventure which is meant to be fun to watch and doesn't take itself too seriously. Director James Gunn does an excellent job of incorporating classic science fiction elements from comic strip, pulp fiction, television and movies such as Buck Rogers, John Carter of Mars, and Flash Gordon while still providing a unique sense of originality to the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
People have asked me if Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is better or worse than the first film. I wouldn't say this sequel is better or worse that its predecessor but rather it is an enjoyable show to watch in its own right. As a negative, the movie at some points has a slower pace and the plot drags on compared to the constant fast-pace of the original. On a positive note this is because the film has more of a focus on developing the characters and immersing the audience into their lives. Gunn doesn't want audiences to just be excited about the action scenes in the movie but rather have an emotional connection with the characters so people have a personal attachment to this franchise and wants to keep following its adventures. There of course is a Vol. 3 in the works plus the Guardians will be teaming up with Earth's Mightiest Heroes in the next Avengers movie.
There are two underlying themes to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 --> family and redemption. The movie really delves into how though people may not be biologically related they can still consider one another family. It also explores the difficulties of maintaining a family dynamic when dealing with a variety of dysfunctional elements within the group. A number of the characters in the movie also have moments of redemption. Whether it is making up for past misdeeds, healing a relationship or changing a behavioral trait there are a lot of situations where characters are redeeming themselves in this movie.
Baby Groot is the star of the show! "I am Groot" is still his catchphrase but he's a miniature version of the tree-like alien character from the original movie now. His hilarious antics are sure to put a smile on your face and there are a lot of scenes where you just find yourself saying aw! You'll want to check out this young version of Groot now because by the time the next movie comes out the character will most likely be gigantic in size again.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is full of the wisecracking and physical comedy that made the first movie standout. David Bautista had perfected a deadpan delivery for his lines as Drax the Destroyer that will leave you in stitches laughing at his awkward lack of a filter and strange way of looking at life. Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper, provides the foul mouth of a stand up comedian contributing to the movie's PG-13 rating. This rowdy racoon instigates a lot of the situations that will get you chuckling. This is the type of movie filled with action sequences and comedic situations where you don't think a lot about what is going on regarding the plot but just enjoy the ride!
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive sexual content but I have to say that there wasn't anything in the show that was concerning for my eight year old son to see. To be honest, kids will be exposed to more troubling content watching many of today's prime time network sitcoms compared to anything contained in this movie. That being said there really should be some parental discretion to determine if the movie is appropriate to see for children younger than elementary school age as it does have scenes that could be too scary or intense for them that include monsters and people dying.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 gets A Geek Daddynod of approval because my son and I really enjoyed watching it...simple as that! This franchise is the Star Wars for a new generation of science fiction fans and I applaud James Gunn for expanding upon the current fad in comic book super hero films to create something that not only enhances the Marvel cinematic universe but is really special in its own right. Go out and see this movie while its still in movies so you can really take in its high octane stunts and special effects that truly stand out on the big screen. I guarantee you'll be leaving the theater with a smile on your face!
** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review **
We had a nice family movie night as our friends at Shout! Factory introduced us to one of Australia's most recognized characters, an adventurous koala named Blinky Bill, by sending us a copy of BLINKY BILL -- THE MOVIE before its official release on blu-ray and dvd. The Adventures of Blinky Bill is a beloved children's book series in Australia and he has also been featured in television series and movies Down Under. Now Shout! Factory is importing him to America with the blu-ray, dvd, and digital download release of BLINKY BILL -- THE MOVIE within the United States on October 11, 2016. Endorsed by the Dove Foundation as family friendly entertainment, BLINKY BILL-- THE MOVIE really is an enjoyable romp through the Outback featuring an entertaining ensemble of animated animal characters that children will adore including kangaroos, koalas, emus, frill-necked lizards, kookaburras, and a wombat who drives a wicked tricked out pickup truck. In addition to providing an exciting adventure story, the movie is also filled with important lessons on the importance of community, survival in harsh climate, the love between children and parents, and 'mateship' -- an Australian cultural idiom that embodies equality, loyalty, and friendship. Our family may not be that fond of Vegemite but after watching this movie we're now very big fans of another quintessential Australian favorite -- Blinky Bill.
To share my family's enjoyment of BLINKY BILL -- THE MOVIE, A Geek Daddy is giving away a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital to one one lucky winner. To be eligible for this giveaway you must follow
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Blinky Bill is a little koala with a big imagination. An adventurer at heart, he dreams of leaving the little town of Green Patch and following in his missing father's footsteps. Mr. Bill went missing in the Outback some time ago and Blinky is the only one who believes his father is still alive. When Blinky discovers a mysterious marker that hints at his dad's whereabouts, he embarks on a journey that takes him beyond the boundary of Green Patch and into the wild and dangerous Outback. He quickly makes friends with Nutsy, a zoo koala, and Jacko, a nervous frill-necked lizard. Pursued relentlessly by a vengeful cat who has a personal score to settle with Blinky, the trio must learn to work together if they ever want to survive the rugged Australian landscape and find Blinky's father!
BLINKY BILL: THE MOVIE is rated PG and has a run time of approximately 80 minutes. For more information about BLINKY BILL: THE MOVIE, please visit BlinkyBillMovie.com
My son and I were delighted by the chance to see an advance showing of Laika Animation Studio's newest movie KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS prior to its August 19, 2016 theatrical opening weekend. It is always refreshing to see a film produced by Laika because the studio uses digital special effects to enhance its movies rather than be dependent on them. Like the studio's previous films(Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls), Kubo and the Two Strings is filmed using stop motion techniques. Stop motion is when physical objects are moved in small increments between individually photographed frames to create the illusion of movement when all the frames are played in a continuous sequence. Utilizing stop motion means that unlike in most animated movies where the characters and backgrounds are all drawn with computerized software in Kubo and the Two Strings the majority of the images captured on film are of real physical puppets, props and sets. This provides for stunning visual elements in the film which make it well worth going to see the show.
The movie takes place in 17th century Japan, where a young boy named Kubo lives with his ill mother in a cave on top of a mountain overlooking a village. Each day to earn money to support himself and his mother Kubo wanders down to the village and entertains its people with stories of his deceased father, the great samurai warrior Hanzo, battling monsters. These aren't just ordinary stories though because he tells them accompanied by his playing a shamisen (a Japanese three-stringed guitar) and the music from the instrument transforms pieces of paper into magical figures that act out his tales for the audience. These sequences of the movie are incredible with my son and I agreeing they were the highlight of the film for both of us. These enchanted origami really come to life on the screen and provide for a magical movie watching experience. They are one of the most creative and enjoyable aspects to a movie that I've honestly seen in awhile.
Kubo and the Two Strings isn't all bright and cheery though. It turns out that the Moon King, a mystical deity type being, was threatened by Hanzo's power and sent one of his daughters to kill the samurai. Instead of murdering him, she fell in love with Hanzo, married him and gave birth to his son, Kubo. Outraged that his grandchild would live in a world filled with the images of mankind, the Moon King attempted to blind Kubo ripping out one of the baby's eyes. Hanzo stopped the Moon King from taking the other eye while his wife and son got away. Unfortunately it seemed Hanzo sacrificed his life so his family could get to safety.
Using the last of her magic to escape, Kubo's mother began to loose touch with reality as they hid from her father in a cave. The Moon King and her two witch sisters were on the lookout for them but they could only traverse the Earth during the darkness of night. So Kubo most always return to the cave by dark. One night Kubo doesn't get back in time and is confronted by his mother's very scary sisters. Just as they are about to rip out his other eye, Kubo's mother intervenes using the last of her magic to rescue the boy by transporting him far away. Awakening in a foreign land he is joined by a talking monkey and cursed beetle in setting off on an adventure to find a legendary suit of armor, helmet, and sword that Kubo can use to defeat the Moon King so as to live the rest of his life in peace.
Kubo and the Two Strings is rated PG for thematic elements, scary images, action and peril. While this film is meant to be a family movie the sister witches are particularly scary and I found my seven year old clutching my arm during the several scenes they were in. The plot involving evil, murderous family members attempting to kill Kubo's parents and steal his eyes could be disturbing for some children. There is also scary creatures such as a giant skeleton monster and the moon beast which could be terrifying to young children. Kubo wearing an eye patch throughout the movie could be offsetting for some kids too though it could also be motivating that a child with a disability is portrayed as the hero of a movie for others. Primary characters die in the movie and the film doesn't conclude with a stereotypical movie happy ending. Parental guidance in evaluating how well a child can tolerate scary scenes, violent behavior, and the topic of death would be highly recommended for children under eight years old. I didn't notice any foul language, alcohol or drug use, or sexual content that would make parents wary of taking a child to see Kubo and the Two Strings.
The originality and creativity of Kubo and the Two Strings make it a wonderful selection for an outing to the movie theater. For those who appreciate things that are out of the ordinary Kubo and the Two Strings is a must-see movie. It's artistic achievements make a ticket to Kubo and the Two Strings well worth the price of admission. For more information about the movie, visit kubothemovie.com
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