Category Archives: Movies

Jan24

Groovy Movies: Zootopia 2 Edition

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Groovy Movies: Zootopia 2 Edition

Hi! This past weekend was full of entertainment for me. Some excellent and some that actively sucked – just take a look at yesterday’s Stereophonic review lol. On Friday, I took my big nieces to see Zootopia 2 together and we had the best time. My bestie girls and I love going to the movies. Of course, we all love the snacks but that time spent watching a show together on the big screen, laughing, and cheering the characters on can’t be beat! I have to admit that I don’t remember the first Zootopia very well as it has been several years since I watched it with my oldest niece. However, that did not deter from my enjoyment of its sequel one bit. It was such fun! Let’s discuss:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Thanks to the ingenious invention of weather walls to control the climate, Zootopia is a home for all creatures big and small. All creatures except for snakes, of course. Snakes have not been seen in Zootopia since forever and any member of the reptile family is looked down upon. However, after Judy and Nick make a bust at a loading dock, they believe that a snake has touched down in Zootopia after finding its shed skin. No one believes their discovery as a snake being in Zootopia would be simply impossible, but Judy and Nick work the case anyway. Through their detective work, they learn that the snake might be going to a gala to celebrate Zootopia’s centennial anniversary. It’s time for them to go undercover.

The party is hosted by a powerful family of lynxes who are descendants of Zootopia’s original founder. Our snake friend named Gary would say otherwise and that is why he is in Zootopia. To prove that the lynx family are frauds and to help his own family who has been in hiding since they took something very important away. A journal that would show where the original patent for the weather walls is located. A patent not created by the lynxes at all. Gary manages to get the journal back but in the chaos Judy and Nick are accused of aiding him. Now, they are all on the run to clear their names.

With the help of countless new friends, the unlikely trio sets to work to solve the mystery of the missing patent. They race across Zootopia seeking information about how it was founded and just what happened to all of the reptiles. And, wouldn’t you know that there was a time when they coexisted with the other animals peacefully despite their differences? Little does Judy and Nick know, the real snakes are not the snakes at all. If the patent is not found, there will be nowhere safe for the reptiles to go and the powerful will remain so based on a farce. Will Judy, Nick, and Gary save the day and make Zootopia a home for all once more? Watch the movie and find out!

From start to finish, Zootopia 2 was an absolute blast. It was hilarious, exciting, and had an all star cast to voice all of Zootopia’s inhabitants. Not to mention that the adults in the audience would find shocking similarities to our current political times. It was incredibly apparent and I was living for it. But the best thing about Zootopia 2 is its message. That being different isn’t a bad thing. It’s a beautiful thing that makes the world colorful and special. And when you dare to be different and let your true self shine is when magic and changes can happen.

I wasn’t sure if my girl squad was going to sit through Zootopia 2 in its entirety without getting the jitters. It was a bit longer at one hour and fifty minutes and I sometimes get the jitters with too long movies! That was not the case in the slightest. This movie completely held our attention and I think we were all a little sad when it was over. Zootopia 2 was an amazing family flick that will be just as enjoyable for the adults as it is for the children. Highly recommend!

My Zootopia 2 outing was a ten out of ten stars experience hands down. We all loved it and are planning on watching the first one together next time!

What is your favorite animated movie? Have you seen anything at the theater recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan16

Groovy Movies: Primate Edition

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Groovy Movies: Primate Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of the newest horror flicks called Primate. When it comes to horror, I am not a huge fan of the creature genre and much prefer a good old fashioned slasher. However, Primate turned everything that I thought I knew on its head. This movie was absolutely insane from start to finish! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on Primate. The only words I can use to describe it are brutal and gruesome. It is not for the faint of heart! Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Lucy is a college student and is back in Hawaii with her dad, little sister, and a few friends who tagged along for summer break. She is also returning home to Ben, the family’s pet chimpanzee. Not the usual choice for a pet, but her deceased mother was a linguistics professor who was studying communication between humans and animals. One day she just brought Ben home and he has been a family staple since. He’s clever, silly, and completely harmless, right? So wrong. Ben recently got infected with rabies and his once beloved family is now his prey.

While Lucy and her friends enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, Ben begins his rampage and gravely injures her little sister. As he cannot go into the water, that is where they remain. But they can’t stay there forever and medical help is needed immediately for Lucy’s sister. The only thing that can be done is to get to a phone. Phones that are all in the house. Phones that they will have to get past Ben to use. His blood lust is palpable, his strength is unmatched, and his kill count is rising rapidly. Will Lucy be able to rescue what remains of her friend group? Or will Ben destroy his family in one night? Watch Primate to find out!

Long story short, Primate was a wild ride. I didn’t know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn’t all of that! About three minutes in is Ben’s first kill and if you thought that scene was bad, wait until you see the rest because holy shit lol. Brutal is seriously the only way to sum this movie up. I have seen countless horror movies in my day but I can’t recall any with kills that compare to Primate. Some of them were legit throw up worthy and all of it came from a pet chimpanzee.

I had to laugh when I saw the initial trailers for Primate that showed people in the theater reacting to the movie. It reminded me so much of when Paranormal Activity came out! In these trailers, the people watching Primate were jumping, screaming, and at the edge of their seats. My sentiments were exactly the same! My heart was pounding and my stomach was clenched for the entire duration of this one and a half hour powerhouse. Honestly, thank goodness it was a short movie because I genuinely don’t know how much more I could take and that’s really saying something!

Overall, I am going to award Primate with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was a game changer to horror and not just the specific creature genre. Best of luck if you go to see it!

What were your thoughts on Primate if you have seen it? Are there any movies you are looking forward to seeing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan7

Groovy Movies: Anaconda Edition

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Groovy Movies: Anaconda Edition

Hello! Johnny and I are lucky enough to have the most amazing downstairs neighbor. We hang out often, so much so that we formed a club called Friday Night Dinner Club. FNDC is exactly what it sounds like: We go out to dinner or order in and watch a movie and round robin who is paying. This past Saturday we shifted into Saturday Afternoon Lunch Club for a meal at Chipotle before hitting up the movie theater to see Anaconda. It was great fun but even better because of the company. In a spoiler free setting, as always, let’s discuss this silly popcorn flick further. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning for snake carnage. Here we go:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Doug (Jack Black) and Griff (Paul Rudd) spent their childhood making movies with their best friends, Claire and Kenny. They had dreams of making it big and Doug and Griff semi realized their goals. Doug makes wedding videos that he calls “films” and Griff works at Lowe’s while taking any bit acting job he can… And not getting fired. What they need is a change of pace. Something to reignite their creative passion. So, they decide to do an entirely self funded and self staffed remake of Anaconda.

After some convincing, the ragtag crew is on their way to the Amazon. They have a boat with a captain and a snake expert hired and their initial days of filming have gone better than expected. The boat captain may seem a bit sketchy but she is getting them from Point A to Point B. As they continue filming, a snake situation has left them in need of… Well, a new snake. As they search for a replacement in the Amazon jungle, the crew becomes the hunted of an Anaconda that has a taste for humans. Doug, Griff, Claire, and Kenny have literally stepped foot into the actual movie and it’s up to them to get out unscathed. Will they survive the Amazon jungle and the Anacondas that inhabit it? See Anaconda to find out!

Anaconda was a short and sweet flick that was barely over an hour and a half. AKA my kind of movie because any longer and I would have needed a bathroom break lol. Was this the best movie I have ever seen? No, not by a long shot. Was it still a good time? Yes! Anaconda was full of fast paced action, funny jokes, and classic Paul Rudd and Jack Black. Johnny and I love both of those actors so much and their roles were basically themselves. What’s not to like? 😀

If you are looking for a groundbreaking remake, you’re not going to find it in Anaconda. If you are looking to be entertained for a little while, it is definitely worth the watch. I genuinely can’t say if I liked this movie a lot because I liked it or if I liked it a lot because of the people I was with. If that makes sense! It was just such a nice afternoon out with my two favorite guys and I enjoyed myself very much. All I know is that I will be looking forward to our next Lunch/Dinner/Movie Club meeting to see the new Jason Statham flick coming out at the end of the month!

Overall I am going to rate Anaconda with a six out of ten stars. It was pretty good but not great. If you are Paul Rudd and Jack Black fans too, this one is for you!

What was the last movie you saw in theaters? How was it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec23

Groovy Movies: Silent Night, Deadly Night Edition

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Groovy Movies: Silent Night, Deadly Night Edition

Howdy! My blogging bestie, Kate, is the Christmas Queen and I’m pretty sure she has been prepping for the holidays since the last holiday season lol. She has a deep love of Christmas movies and I love that for her because she watches enough for the both of us! I have a handful of holiday flicks that I enjoy but my favorite of all is a good seasonal slasher. I was SO excited to see Silent Night, Deadly Night in theaters and it did not disappoint. Before we begin our discussion in a spoiler free setting, as always, I’ll be placing a trigger warning for graphic violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ I have no rights to this video!

Our main character, Billy, has lived a… colorful life. As a child, he witnessed the murder of his parents by a man named Charlie who was dressed as Santa. Since that fateful night, Santa Charlie has lived on in Billy’s head. With Billy’s eyes, Santa can see all and guides Billy to the people who have been naughty. Their punishment? Death. For every day of the Advent calendar, Billy must kill one person on the naughty list or someone innocent will take their place. After the seasonal murder spree, Santa and Billy can rest until next year’s holiday season.

Due to these unusual circumstances, Billy is a drifter and finds himself in the small town of Hackett to continue his holiday justice. He snags a gig at a local antique store and uses his job to scope out potential victims. And, oh yeah, scope out the gorgeous Pamela whose family owns the shop. Billy doesn’t want Pam to think of him as a bad person but he doesn’t want innocent blood to be shed, either. However, their two worlds are about to collide in a major way and they might be able to do some good after all. Will Billy have his happily ever after? Or will he drift through life alone with Santa Charlie forever? Watch Silent Night, Deadly Night to find out!

I have to admit, I have never seen the original Silent Night, Deadly Night *gasp*. I guess I am going to have to add it to my watch list because I absolutely loved this flick! This was a perfect slasher with a healthy mix of camp, comedy, and gruesome kills. It followed a classic slasher playbook to the T with a holiday twist and it was most definitely my kind of Christmas movie. It was a wacky story, yes, but it was also scary fun. 😀

The first fifteen minutes or so of Silent Night, Deadly Night had me feeling a bit ambivalent. Then, the pace picked up and it was nonstop thrills for the rest of the movie. There were great jump scares, a little romance, and two unlikely characters that you couldn’t help but want a happy ending for. This was a short and sweet flick at barely over an hour and a half and I wish it was longer. After the stage was set, I felt like I blinked and the movie was done. Once I was in, I was so in and I can’t wait to watch it again!

Overall, I am going to rate Silent Night, Deadly Night with an eight out of ten stars. If you love a seasonal slasher too, this is a must see!

What is your favorite Christmas movie? How about your favorite seasonal slasher? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct5

Groovy Movies: The Strangers – Chapter 2 Edition

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Groovy Movies: The Strangers – Chapter 2 Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! If you are a horror movie fan like me, now is your time to shine. There are countless new scary flicks on the horizon that look awesome and previous releases that share the same sentiments. One movie that I was particularly looking forward to is The Strangers – Chapter 2 because I absolutely love that franchise. I saw it this past week and I really enjoyed it despite the reviews raking it through the coals.

I never go into watching a horror movie with the expectation of a masterpiece and view them as popcorn flicks instead. Regardless of the outcome, I will be entertained and that was very much the case for the newest addition of The Strangers. It was a popcorn flick through and through! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as always. But, before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on the film for harm to animals, disturbing content, and graphic violence. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!!

The Strangers – Chapter 2 picks up exactly where Chapter 1 left off. The lone survivor, Maya, is recovering in the hospital after her terrifying first ordeal with The Strangers and is grieving the loss of her beloved fiance. She is wounded, in pain, and an emotional wreck but her problems are far from over. She is the only one who has ever survived an encounter with The Strangers and they aren’t going to let it stay that way. They have already infiltrated the hospital and the mad chase begins.

As Maya becomes the hunted once more, she emerges from the hospital into the rainy night in Venus, Oregon. Is there anyone she can really trust, though? Everywhere she turns, it seems like the whole small town is in on it and The Strangers know her every move before she even makes it. During moments of blessed solitude when Maya tends to her wounds, we learn flashbacks about Pin-Up Girl and Scarecrow when they were children in school as well as the origins of the question on everyone’s mind: Who is Tamara? Maya’s time alone is always short lived and she is outnumbered and has no one or nowhere to turn for help. Will she survive her second night being hunted by The Strangers? We’re going to have to wait for Chapter 3!

As I mentioned earlier, the reviews for The Strangers – Chapter 2 were anything but flattering and it scored a whopping eighteen percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The main qualms being that The Strangers should have been a stand alone film and that we don’t need a backstory into the three villains. My thoughts? The first Strangers movie was brilliant. It’s actually one of my favorite movies and I can see why people would say that it should have just been left alone. Its predecessors pale in comparison but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t entertaining. As for the backstory on The Strangers themselves, I am so there for it. Yes, it’s harrowing that their original reason for their murderous spree was “because you were home”. However, it is enticing to me to learn exactly why that is and how the whole town plays a part in it.

The Strangers – Chapter 2 was fast paced and clocked at just under an hour and forty minutes. For its entire duration, I was on the edge of my seat. It had plenty of good jump scares and the fact that The Strangers always seem to be everywhere was so suspenseful. Even more so because it was easy to root for Maya – seriously can that poor girl catch a break? I was genuinely bummed out when the movie ended on a To Be Continued because I wanted it to keep going and wanted to know more. I don’t know, I really liked it!

Overall, I am going to rate The Strangers – Chapter 2 with a seven out of ten stars. If you are a fan of this franchise, go into it with no preconceived notions. I think you will like it too!

What is your favorite scary movie? What did you think of The Strangers – Chapter 2? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct3

Groovy Movies: Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie Edition

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Groovy Movies: Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie Edition

Hello! My two big nieces are HUGE fans of the adorable show on Netflix, Gabby’s Dollhouse. And, honestly, so am I. It’s just pure fun and cute as can be and I love all of the kitty cat friends! Ever since we learned that there was going to be a Gabby’s Dollhouse movie coming to theaters, grand plans were made to see it altogether. I went this past weekend with my sister and two little besties and our girl squad had the best time! Of course, we had to get ALL the snacks because no movie is complete without popcorn, candy, and an Icee. With our haul in tow, we made our way into the theater and were treated to a fabulous experience. This movie was hilarious, darling, and one that adults will enjoy too because my sis and I were in stitches. Let’s discuss:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!!

Our Gabby girl is SO excited because her and the dollhouse are heading to Cat Francisco for a week to spend time with Grandma Gigi. She is Gabby’s best friend and all of the cats in the dollhouse love her too. Gabby, Gigi, and the cats set out for their big road trip and have a blast sightseeing and snacking! Once they arrive at Gigi’s home, the dollhouse is still attached to the back of the car and CatRat is getting impatient to get out. So, he detaches the straps and the dollhouse takes a wild ride through Cat Francisco and ends up in the front of an antiques store.

Immediately, an ultra posh and super serious cat loving woman named Vera takes a shine to the dollhouse and lays her money down. Vera has no intention to play with the dollhouse. Rather, it is deemed as a “collectable” as everything in her cat decorated home is. She scatters the cats throughout her home and the dollhouse becomes a new place for her old toys to explore. While Gabby doesn’t know where her dollhouse ended up, she can still get tiny with the help of the audience and Pandy and comes to be in Vera’s cat museum for her rescue mission.

With Pandy’s help, Gabby begins to locate her missing cat friends and bring the dollhouse back home. She instructs CatRat and Vera’s old toys to stay at the dollhouse in case any of the cats come back on their own. Trouble is brewing, though. It has been so long since Vera’s favorite toys have been played with and they refuse to give it up that easily. The dollhouse has officially been taken over and all of its old residents will be kicked out. It is up to Gabby to save the day but she can’t do it without Vera. Somehow, Gabby is going to have to get her to unleash her inner child, use her imagination, and bring play back into her life. Will she succeed? See Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie to find out!

Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie was just a delight from start to finish. I love going to the movies with my nieces and to laugh, sing, and cheer together is so special. And, this movie was certainly worth cheering for because it was an absolute blast. Kristen Wiig as Vera was so perfectly cast and literally everything she did and said was funny. I don’t think I have ever laughed this hard during a children’s movie before and as I retold some of the parts to Johnny, he was cracking up too. This really is a movie that parents can sit down and watch with their kiddos and not be counting down the minutes until it’s over.

For all of the fun of Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie, there is such a sweet message behind it. That people do grow up, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t play, be silly, and dream big. For all of her quirks, Vera deemed herself as a serious businesswoman and had no time or desire to go crazy and be creative. So much so that she forgot what it meant to use her imagination. With Gabby and the dollhouse crew’s help, she learned that you are never too old to have fun and Gabby learned that growing up is okay… As long as she continues to never give up on her friends and keep her own magic alive. This is a good lesson for everyone and it came in the form of a nonstop fun flick!

Overall, I am going to award Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie with a ten out of ten stars. A ten for the experience of being with my nieces and a ten for being one of the best children’s movies I have seen. Highly recommend!

What was your favorite show growing up? What do your kids like to watch? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep25

Groovy Movies: Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Edition

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Groovy Movies: Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Edition

Hello! I absolutely love going to the movies and I have been particularly excited for the newest addition to Demon Slayer called Infinity Castle. Thanks to my brother, I am a HUGE Demon Slayer fan and have beaucoup tattoos to prove it! As you can see, Demon Slayer is easily one of my favorite animes and I knew I was in for a treat with Infinity Castle. It exceeded every expectation and I left the theater speechless as I took everything in. It has been close to a week since I’ve seen it and I still can’t stop thinking about it! As always, this review will be spoiler free and a trigger warning will be placed for graphic animated violence. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!!

The Infinity Castle is Muzan Kibutsuji’s stronghold. It is a shifting, sprawling dimension that seemingly goes on for all eternity. Every step taken causes the castle to move and brings you closer to upper rank demons who want nothing more than to make a meal of the Demon Slayer Corps. Death looms around every corner and it is up to Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and hashiras to defeat the upper ranks and find Kibutsuji. As the Demon Slayers make their way through the castle, their limits will be pushed to the extreme in heated battles that could end with certain doom or the glory to fight another minute. Will our beloved characters pull through in the most intense battles they have ever faced? See Demon Slayer Infinity Castle to find out!

Infinity Castle was a straight forward plot: Breach the castle and fight like your lives depend on it. Due to its simplicity, it allowed you to sit back and watch every single frame amaze you. Demon Slayer has always been visually beautiful but I view Infinity Castle as its piece de resistance. It was thrilling to see the Infinity Castle expand to no ends and change on a whim, forever pushing the Demon Slayers forward or back as it saw fit. The castle was a character in itself and you never knew what it was going to do next – provide our team with a moment of contemplation or shove them headfirst into a battle with an upper rank demon. Every second of this movie was a cause for celebration – the colors, the angles, the anguish or compassion in our heroes’ eyes. It was bold and so in your face that all you could do was enjoy the ride. I was so engrossed that by the time the two and a half hour flick was over, I would have given anything to see more.

Of course it was exciting to see the epic fights our core three got themselves into but one thing I really loved was the different hashiras who finally got their day in the sun. The Demon Slayer Corps is compiled of so many hashiras we haven’t seen extensively and it was awesome to be reunited with Mr. Giyu and meet Gyomei and Obanai for more than five seconds. Watching a showdown with Giyu and Tanjiro battling together was a major highlight and it was so cool to watch their specialties work in tandem with each other… And also fan girling about how strong they each have gotten!

My favorite thing about Demon Slayer isn’t just the fighting, but the emotion that comes with it. Tanjiro has the gift of finding the good in everyone and everything he encounters. He is able to sympathize with demons in a way that no character can and by the time you are done seeing as Tanjiro does, you find yourself feeling sorry for them too. Sorry that their lives were so dark and cruel that it resulted in a lifetime of causing other people pain. It’s such an interesting juxtaposition that Demon Slayer creates. You go from rooting for the good fight to feeling an intense rush of empathy so quickly you get whiplash. It makes for a spectacle that is both stunning and exciting to watch but leaves you rethinking how you originally felt afterwards. I sure can’t seem to get my mind off of it!

I am going to award Demon Slayer Infinity Castle with the coveted ten out of ten stars. From start to finish, this movie was perfection and I would absolutely love to see it again!

What is your favorite anime? What did you think of Infinity Castle? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep18

Groovy Movies: Spinal Tap II Edition

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Groovy Movies: Spinal Tap II Edition

Howdy!! This past weekend was an absolutely fabulous one for yours truly. Johnny and I went on a Middle Class Fancy date night on Friday and on Saturday we went to see Weird Al at Blossom with my big bro. Be sure to check in tomorrow and on my TikTok for more from the show! For mine and Johnny’s date night on Friday, we went to Applebee’s for dinner and then hit the movie theater for opening night of Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. Spinal Tap is one of Johnny’s all time favorite movies and he has been eagerly anticipating the sequel that was made forty years after the first film. Being reunited with the boys in the band was well worth the wait and we were in stitches from start to finish! Let’s discuss:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap are now in their seventies and have gone their own separate ways. Each of them has new jobs and interests like selling cheese or creating a glue museum and they haven’t spoken in years. However, a contractual hiccup has required them to do another show. A reunion and farewell, if you will. Spinal Tap must be reassembled, find a new drummer, and practice for their final gig in New Orleans. Differences artistic and otherwise must be put aside to give the people one more taste of their classic hits like “Big Bottoms”, “Stonehenge” and “Hellhole”. Will the band succeed and forever be sealed in history as one of the greats? See Spinal Tap II: The End Continues to find out!

Going to see Spinal Tap II was an hilarious experience because of the movie, yes, but the situation Johnny and I found ourselves in too. We expected to either A) Be the only people in the theater or B) The theater would be jam packed. It was neither of the two and we were seated with roughly seven other Spinal Tap enthusiasts. We couldn’t get over how funny and perfectly appropriate to Spinal Tap that turnout ended up being and it was liberating to laugh like crazy and sing along with people who really get it lol. Trust and believe I couldn’t resist belting out to Big Bottoms! 😀

If you are a fan of Spinal Tap, you are in for such a treat with its sequel because it truly is just as good. This hour and a half flick was nonstop laughter from the very first minute and it didn’t subside until the end credits were complete. It paid homage to characters new and old including Fran Drescher as well as appearances by Paul McCartney and Elton John. Spinal Tap II may have been forty years after the original but it felt like the movie could have been made immediately afterwards. The members of Tap didn’t miss a beat and stepped back into those roles like greeting old friends. I can’t wait to watch it again. ❤

I am going to award Spinal Tap II: The End Continues with an eleven out of ten stars. This movie was an absolute gift to Spinal Tap fans and I enjoyed every minute!

What is your favorite Spinal Tap song? Have you seen The End Continues yet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep13

Groovy Movies: The Conjuring Last Rites Edition

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Groovy Movies: The Conjuring Last Rites Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! If you are a horror movie fan like me, it is your time to shine because there are SO many good scary flicks that have come out or are due to be released soon. One that I was particularly looking forward to was the fourth installment of The Conjuring called Last Rites. I think we can all agree that the first movie was excellent, the second was so so, and the third one sucked on ice. However, those sentiments did not deter me one bit from wanting to see what happens next and I’m glad for it. The Conjuring 4 was better than the second and third one combined! As always, this will be a spoiler free review but I’ll be placing a trigger warning on the movie for pregnancy difficulties, injury to an animal, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ I have no rights to this video!!

Ed and Lorraine Warren are getting older and have decided to put their paranormal investigations on an indeterminate hiatus for Ed’s declining heart health. Their days are now spent lecturing and doting on their beloved daughter, Judy, who is now all grown up and dating a young man named Tony. Like her mom, Judy is increasingly having visions of the dead and things that have already happened and are yet to come. It’s a balancing act but both of the ladies manage it the best that they can. Aside from these visions, the Warren’s lives are quiet and peaceful which is in sharp contrast to the Smurl family in a small town called Pittston in Pennsylvania.

The Smurl family compiles of the parents, four daughters, and the father’s parents. They are a devout Catholic family who is in the process of celebrating the confirmation of Heather. The family has a good meal, cake, and Heather is treated to a huge gift from her grandparents: An antique mirror that is as beautiful as it is creepy. Just as soon as the mirror is unwrapped, the entire family begins experiencing paranormal activity to the highest degree. We’re talking levitation, items moving, terrifying spirits, injuries to the family, and a puke storm that would make the little girl in The Exorcist jealous.

Try as they might, the Smurl family cannot find help to rid their home of the angry spirits and take their scary story to the news. The Warren’s are none the wiser about this case but Judy has been keeping up to date and feels the Smurl household drawing her in. After tragedy strikes a dear friend who tried to help the Smurl family, Judy heads to Pennsylvania and her parents follow suit. By the time they arrive in Pittston, Grandma Smurl is being wheeled into an ambulance because something pushed her down the stairs. Judy has already offered her assistance and Ed and Lorraine reluctantly agree to help too. What happens next? You’re going to have to see The Conjuring: Last Rites to find out!

For the most part, I enjoyed this movie. My main qualm I had with it was the pacing because this was a slow burn and I mean slow. The first forty minutes or so of Last Rites was a back and forth situation. It got you up to speed on the Warrens and Judy’s relationship while showing minor instances of the Smurl family haunting. All the while, I was mentally willing this part of the flick to hurry the hell up because I wanted to get to the good stuff. The scary stuff! What transpired in the Smurl home really was scary but it felt like it was over before it even began. The major portion of their haunting consisted of roughly the last thirty-five minutes of the movie and it didn’t feel like it was enough. I always felt like The Conjuring films had an issue with pacing and Last Rites was a shining example of my complaints.

Other than the choppiness of the movie, it really came together once all of the key players of the film were together. Last Rites provided scares reminiscent of the first Conjuring movie – perhaps even more scary. I will never forget my level of fear seeing the first one in theaters and definitely was having similar reactions all of these years later. Also, it is worth saying that any movie with Patrick Wilson is alright by me because he is a dreamboat! If you are a fan of The Conjuring franchise, Last Rites is definitely a must see. Was it great? Absolutely not. But all in all it was a pretty good conclusion to the series.

I am going to rate The Conjuring: Last Rites with a six out of ten stars. It was certainly above average and I will happily watch it again when it comes out on streaming services!

What is your favorite scary movie? What is the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul26

Groovy Movies: I Know What You Did Last Summer Edition

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Groovy Movies: I Know What You Did Last Summer Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the latest summer slasher, I Know What You Did Last Summer. When I ordered the tickets for the flick, the employee told me “I doubt it” lolol. Nice! This is bad but I did not see the original movie so I went into this reboot with zero expectations. I was, however, a huge fan of the author of the book, Lois Duncan, back in the day and knew I was in for a fun afternoon at the movie theater! Let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Southport is a lux ocean town for the ultra wealthy, but that wasn’t always the case. In 1997, brutal murders of a group of friends by a hook wielding fisherman took place. Two survivors remained who will never forget while the Southport police did everything in their power to erase the past. After a fancy land developer took the reigns on the town, it turned into the posh place to be with stunning ocean views. Southport is moving forward and the heinous crimes that took place are the last thing on anyone’s mind as they day drink their lives away. It’s certainly the last thing on bride to be, Danica’s mind.

Danica and Teddy are soon to be married and their old crew is back for the celebrations. There’s Ava and Milo as well as a straggler of the group, Stevie, who joins them before the night is out. After a big engagement party, the friends decide to keep the party going with some drinking and driving, sparking up blunts, and heading to a winding road with the best view of fireworks for the Fourth of July. Teddy has gotten turnt and a dangerous game of chicken as fireworks light up the sky brings a car crashing down into the rocky cliff. Rather than call the police, Teddy calls his dad who is the police and will make it look like this never happened. All they have to do is keep their mouths shut.

Fast forward to a year later and the gang is back for Danica’s bridal shower. As she opens her prezzies, she picks up an envelope expecting cash inside. What she receives is a card with the warning “I know what you did last summer” and just as we were all expecting, shit is about to hit the fan. The hook and harpoon wielding fisherman is back with a vengeance and whoever it is won’t stop until Danica, Teddy, Milo, Ava, Stevie, and a newcomer are six feet under. Their only choice is to stick close together and seek out advice from a survivor of the 1997 massacre. Her answer is simple: Kill whoever it is before they kill you. Who will make it out alive? Watch I Know What You Did Last Summer to find out!

Now, I am well aware that I Know What You Did Last Summer has gotten extremely lackluster reviews. Myself, on the other hand, liked it a lot! Maybe it’s because I didn’t see the original or maybe it’s because I saw the movie for what is was: A straight to the point summer slasher. A popcorn movie that requires nothing from you but to jump in and put your hands up for the ride. Was it the best movie I have ever seen? Of course not. Did I have fun watching it? I sure did!

I Know What You Did Last Summer was often hilarious, had insane kills, and a cast that worked really well together. The core group of friends was easy to root for which allowed for me to literally jump in my seat during the jump scares. It was a classic story with fresh and exciting twists and turns that had me hooked (Pun intended!). If you are feeling wishy washy about seeing this movie because of an attachment to the original film, think of it as watching something completely different. Something brand new that’s meant to entertain. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to watching it again with Johnny!

Overall, I am going to give I Know What You Did Last Summer a seven out of ten stars. I absolutely think it is worth seeing and I don’t think this movie’s reviews did it any justice!

Have you seen any movies this summer? Is there a movie coming out that you would like to see? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah