CAYOM YEAR 9 - PART I - MOVIE SUBMISSION

[YM!]

The Baddest of Them All

Studio: Infinite Studios 

Release Date: 12/12/Y9

Genre: Concert 

Director: Bruce Hendricks

Original Song: “Empress” by Doja Cat.

Rating: PG-13

Budget: $7M

Theater Count: 2,450

Format: 2D and 3D

Runtime: 98 minutes

 

Plot: Doja Cat does a concert with 3D and stuff. We also learn more about her as well as the debut of her new song. Nuff said.

[YM!]

Martian Manhunter

 

Endless Entertainment 

DC

Release Date: 5/2/Y9

Genre: Superhero/Sci-fi/Action

Director: Matt Shakman 

Writers: Matt Shakman, Craig Luck, and Ivor Powell

Score: Michael Giacchino

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence and peril

Budget: $155m

Theater Count: 4,287

Format: 2D, 3D, Dolby Cinema and IMAX

Runtime: 118 minutes

 

Cast:

Lance Reddick as J’onn J’onnz/John Jones/Martian Manhunter

Marcus Scribner as Ronnie Raymond

Rose Bryne as Sally Erdel

Tracee Ellis Ross as Eliane Raymond

Lee Majdoub as Rudy

with

Jamie Lynn Curtis as Dr. Marnie Stein

and

Lawrence Fishburne as Ma’alefa’ak J’onnz/Mal Jones

 

Spoiler

Lyric Ross as M’gann M’orzz/Miss Martian

 

Plot:

Spoiler

Mars was once a thriving and highly advanced planet but faced extinction due to resources becoming scarce due to the previous conflicts between the upper-class White Martians and lower-class Green Martians due to White Martian extremists who often caused riots or racial violence. Although peace between the Green and White classes was found, the planet was dying.

 

J’onn, a Green Martian, was a police officer, investigating a powerful bioweapon alongside his brother, Ma’alefa’ak, a genetics scientist who lacked the biological telepathic abilities, which everyone but J’onn ridiculed. The duo lost their parents to White Martian extremists as young children. Ma’alefa’ak got wind of the experiment; “H’ronmeer’s Curse.” The virus spreads when Martians telepathically communicate with each other and spontaneously combust and die. In the middle of surveillance of the source of the virus with Ma’alefa’ak, J’onn was whisked away into a portal that sent him to 1967 Earth in Roswell, New Mexico, thanks to Dr. Saul Elder’s attempt to work on a multi-planet transportation device. 

 

J’onn is scared, but Saul calms him down as J’onn scans his brain to communicate with the scientist in English. Saul promises to get him home, but the portal goes haywire due to the stress. Saul pushes J’onn out the way, saving the Martian but dies in the process, trapping J’onn on Earth. Area 51 soldiers found out about this and hunted J’onn, assuming the alien to be the cause. J’onn hides within the base for a few days and, in an attempt to contact his home, has learned his entire species was wiped out, thanks to the virus rapidly mutating. J’onn roams the desert that night as he flies off into the night, dismayed that he is the last of his kind.

 

Martian Manhunter

 

In present-day Middletown, New Mexico, J’onn takes on the secret human identity of police detective John Jones through his shapeshifting powers. John is investigating a series of kidnappings of children with metahuman genes. John deduces that the area is the marina as it is near an open body of water to traffic and the locations of where the kidnapping has occurred. 

 

The police are ready to investigate, but John points out that they don’t want to cause too much of a scene as they don’t know what these dealers are doing. John offers to do some reconnaissance which the police allow. A rookie questions this as a veteran cop notes John has been on the force for ten years, and though he keeps to himself, his unorthodox methods miraculously save the day. John heads to the marina later that night. John then sheds his disguise and shapeshifts into a green-skinned alien with a blue cape and red harness. John then becomes intangible and goes inside to find a hidden bunker with the children. The children wear power-nullifying collars to dismiss their superpowers as a group of armed traffickers aim to sell the kids to countries wanting their superpowered soldiers. 

 

John uses his psychic powers to plant suggestions and hysteria into a trafficker to separate him from his group. John quickly knocks out the trafficker with a punch as he begins picking them off one by one. John also disables the children’s collars, telling them to leave the exit. The leader notices his goons are gone as he soon comes face to face with John. The two fight as the trafficker’s bullets phase through John. John has the upper hand, using his mind’s illusions and blasts of psychic energy. The croon fires a stray bullet that hits a gas tank, making it explode, weakening John. Learning John is weak against fire, the trafficker ignites a steel pipe and subdues John with it, but before he can land a finishing blow, a child returns, saving John with a supersonic blast.

 

The child thanks John for the rescue as she asks if he is a metahuman. John points out he’s from Mars and is an alien, informing the child to keep it a secret. However, the weakened trafficker is conscious. Out of spite, the trafficker records this and uploads this to Instagram as it becomes viral.

 

John apprehends the traffickers and prepares to take them away, but the police surround the marina hoping to arrest both. John reads the minds of the police to confirm his identity is hidden but acknowledges he has to leave. John asks if the children that are freed are safe, which the officers confirm. John does a brief five-second mindwipe to disorient the police as he becomes intangible and flies off into the night.

 

The incident soon gets wind to the government as Sally Erdel, a high-ranking communications government official for Area 51, gets wind of this. Sally recognizes the alien’s description is the same as the incident 55 years ago, which resulted in her father’s death, Dr. Saul Elder. Sally decides to personally capture the alien herself as she, her overzealous scientist Rudy, and a strike team leave.

 

A distraught John returns to his home on the outskirts of suburban Middletown. John goes through memorabilia showing he’s gone through five different identities since he arrived on Earth in 1967. John prepares to start a new life elsewhere but is interrupted by his neighbors, college sophomore Ronnie Raymond and his mother, medical doctor Eliane Raymond, who have come over for Wednesday night dinner. John apologizes for forgetting but invites them in, happy and melancholy, to see the Raymonds one last time. 

 

John recalls meeting the Raymonds back in 2010, as he had just moved to the neighborhood, having had to flee another town. John oversaw a funeral nearby for Robert Raymond, a local police detective. John never really understood humans, despite his fascination with them though he preferred to keep his distance not to be discovered. On Mars, a funeral was a celebration of life rather than a mourning. John notices Elaine looking for her son Ronnie; she has lost as John agrees to help her.

 

John, using heat signatures, finds Ronnie hiding in the church. Ronnie doesn’t want to see his daddy buried in the ground. John sympathizes with Ronnie as he, too, lost his parents when he was a child. Ronnie asks what it was like; as John said, he admits it was hard but had always remembered the love, and as long as that remains, no one ever truly is gone. Ronnie feels a bit better and admits it is true, but he wanted to learn more from his dad, like bike riding. John offers to teach Ronnie how to ride a bike, as Ronnie wipes his tears, smiling.

 

Eliane made a big dinner as Ronnie explained that his progress with Dr. Marnie Stein is going well, as they think they have the formula for teleportation down. Elaine also had a pretty big week of surgeries. John is happy for them as it’s revealed the two are the only humans John is close to. John was a father figure to Ronnie after Ronnie’s father passed when Ronnie was 7. John also became fast friends with Elaine, with the two harboring feelings for each other but never acting on them. Ronnie also asks if anyone has heard the news about the alien today, noting the news calls them the “Martian Manhunter.” John attempts to reveal the truth as he states. Unfortunately, he must move. John senses danger as he tells them to get down. A man bursts through the door, lunging at the Raymonds. John holds off the man while also accidentally revealing his superpowers to the shock of the Raymonds.

 

John quickly pieces together that the attacker is a Martian as he speaks Martian. The attacker says he’s looking for his brother: J’onn J’onnz. John recognizes the person as his brother, Ma’alefa’ak. John apologizes, saying he should’ve been honest from the start, as he shapeshifts back into his Martian form J’onn. J’onn admits he has explaining to do as he reveals his past to the Raymonds living on Mars. J’onn is perplexed about how Ma’alefa’ak survived. Ma’alefa’ak explains he went in after John, noticing the virus’ potential to adapt drastically. Ma’alefa’ak tried to warn him, but he too got teleported to Earth in a different location and decided to hide under the name Mal Jones. Mal roamed the Earth for the past few decades. Mal always wondered if there was someone to reconnect with their kind. Mal smiles as he exclaims he’s finally found it.

 

Mal pulls out some Martian tech as a hologram of their planet shows their heat signatures underneath Mars. Mal learned about this a few weeks ago as John expresses hope and optimism that the two aren’t the last of their kind. John is concerned about H’ronmeer’s Curse being an issue. Mal points out that he’s formed a cure. John apologizes to both Ronnie and Elaine for his lies, while Elaine is hurt and cold to John; Ronnie forgives John as John helped him through a tough time and is still the same John. Ronnie suggests they speak to Dr. Stein as she could probably have the knowledge and equipment to help them. 

 

Ma’alefa’ak thanks the humans for their kindness; if they give the location to Dr. Stein, they will be on their way. J’onn agrees as Ronnie insists on going with them. Ronnie points out that they may need his help, as he knows his science. Ma’alefa’ak disagrees, not wanting a human to slow them down, and Elaine doesn’t trust J’onn or Ma’alefa’ak. J’onn is convinced to let Ronnie go with them as his intuition is good but warns him of the risks, but Ronnie doesn’t care. Elaine also goes as they’ll need a medic to ensure Ronnie’s safety. 

 

The group heads on a road trip to the University of Arizona. J’onn and Ma’alefa’ak don their human disguises as both John and Mal Jones. There is an obvious silence over what happened as Elaine drives them to their destination. John attempts to smooth things over with Elaine, but every time he tries to talk to her, Elaine plays songs about betrayal on the radio to drown John out.

 

Meanwhile, Sally, Rudy, and the team have made it back to J’onn’s house. Rudy quickly determines that they are two Martians through DNA tracing, pointing out that one of the two has strong psionic powers. Sally is amazed at this but understands the Martians are likely highly dangerous. Sally says if push comes to shove, Rudy can download any data they learn for Project: Goliath, to which Rudy agrees. Rudy finishes a tracker as they go after the aliens.

 

The Raymonds and the Jones make it to the University of Arizona. Dr. Marnie Stein is giving a lecture on interplanetary travel. Most students are engaged, but a few are sleeping. Marnie then decides to mess with the sleeping students by joking about an exam being over, as those who are sleeping jolt awake and start to beg for another chance. Marnie says they’ll get another chance in three weeks when the exam is, and they should study up on what they slept through. Marnie dismisses the class as she greets Ronnie, who introduces her to John and Mal.

 

Ronnie explains they want to see the laboratory as Ronnie forcefully rushes everyone into Marnie’s physics laboratory. It is pretty big for a traditional university as Marnie grows curious about whether Ronnie wanted to show off the teleportation thing; it’s barely ready and has only worked on a ball so far. The apple they tested it on exploded.

 

John and Mal disable the cameras as Ronnie explains that he has two Martian friends trying to get back home. Both John and Mal shapeshift back into their original Martian forms; J’onn and Ma’alefa’ak. Marnie is fascinated to see real-life aliens and agrees to keep the discovery a secret. Marnie asks J’onn his power set and how he uses them, as J’onn simply states his powers are genetic, whereas Ma’alefa’ak wasn’t born with them.

 

Marnie says she studied Erdel’s theories, claiming she was a fan of his work, and it inspired her teleportation machine. Ma’alefa’ak is unimpressed with the setup, calling it pretty primitive, noting Mars had mastered teleportation years ago. Marnie argues that if he knows so much, maybe Ma’alefa’ak should lend a hand. Ma’alefa’ak notes he is a biologist but says for organic matter, and you do need a cooling matrix as the stress would likely cause the organic cells to rupture. Marnie points out the snarky Martian has a good scientific mind. 

 

Ronnie also notes they should make the device handheld if possible to streamline it. Marnie is gleeful to try this as she makes a list of materials, noting they can get most of the material at scrapyard and pawn shops, and with the materials at the lab, they can finish it by the end of the day. Sally, Rudy, and the government agents arrive at the college having tracked the heat signatures of the aliens. 

 

Learning this, the group makes an escape in Marnie’s van with the equipment in tow. A car chase begins as government agents try to apprehend the truck. Ma’alefa’ak wants to destroy the enemies as J’onn refuses but has an idea. J’onn and Ma’alefa’ak fly outside the truck as they approach a complicated highway. The Martians let the agents chase them as they continue delicate aerial stunts, with J’onn doing some illusional trickery to help fool the agents that the highway is splitting in multiple different directions. 

 

By the time the agents get wise, they’ve lost the vehicle. Sally thinks it’s best to barricade the town and to put out a search for the Raymonds and Marnie. Rudy got a small piece of J’onn’s cape, showing it’s organic. Rudy whisks the data to the lab as his drones work on Project: Goliath to prepare against Martian powers. Unbeknownst to the agent, J’onn and Ma’alefa’ak made the van invisible and intangible by holding onto it as they escaped down the highway. Marnie suspects the agents will be onto them, so she disables the trackers in everyone’s cell phone. Marnie says there’s another lab that students use in the woods of Phoenix, and they will use that to house the portal generator.

 

The group arrives in Phoenix as they collect supplies but do their best to go discreetly. Realizing that the government only knows of his and Ma’alefa’ak’s human forms, J’onn suggests they use their shapeshifting powers to get the goods. Marnie agrees that this is a smart move. J’onn and Ma’alefa’ak scurry around Phoenix in different alter egos (J’onn chooses a teenage girl, a construction man, an athlete, and Sasha Lane, whereas Ma’alefa’ak chooses a normal human male, but every time the hairstyle changes). With enough time to stop for lunch, the humans meet up with the Martians doing their best not to draw attention. 

 

The group has fun (minus a rather grumpy Ma’alefa’ak) and manages to avoid government detection as J’onn comes to terms with humans. J’onn does things he has always wanted to do on Earth, such as visit the Space Needle, try out some foods and spend the last day with his loved ones. J’onn even gets to spend some brotherly time with Ma’alefa’ak, whose uptight demeanor slowly but surely melts away. The group settles in the forest during the late afternoon as they work on the portal. Ma’alefa’ak even admits Marnie is pretty smart for an earthling as the two work almost in tandem with Ronnie to build the portal, pointing out potential errors and ways to improve. Marnie asks Ma’alefa’ak how he feels being without the psionic powers as Ma’alefa’ak said he would like to gain them back; he has found comfort in his own skin, thanks to J’onn.

 

A forest fire happens upon a group of school kids’ campfire going awry. J’onn rushes in to save the kids despite the protests from the humans and Ma’alefa’ak’s unwillingness to help out the humans. Sally, Rudy, and the agents get wind of J’onn’s location as they suspect he is part of the forest fire. The blaze spews out of control as the agents help one side of the burning forest as J’onn helps the others where the rest of his group has come to help. As J’onn saves the last children, Rudy winds up pinned under some burning logs as Sally struggles to get him out. J’onn recognizes Rudy and flies to the other side to save him, despite Ma’alefa’ak’s protests. Despite his weakness in fire, J’onn saves Rudy but becomes weakened from the flames. J’onn struggles to move as Sally stares him down as Ronnie comes in to help J’onn. Noticing peace within J’onn’s eyes, Sally decides to let him go. Rudy is confused by this, as is Sally; besides, Sally notes it is likely the Martian was too weak and likely perished. They call off the search for now and head back to their Area 51 base.

 

Elaine tends to J’onn’s burns as J’onn thanks her for all her help while Ronnie, Marnie, and Ma’alefa’ak build the new portal. Elaine said she took an oath to heal the injured, so it is no big deal. Elaine asks J’onn why he helped her with Ronnie; she knows J’onn couldn’t let the Raymonds know his alien identity for safety, despite her hurt feelings. J’onn admits it was nice to be part of a family again, and he genuinely did like both of them. J’onn assures Elaine that the comradery they share is real. Elaine decides to forgive J’onn but admits she will miss him, to which J’onn agrees. Elaine admits she always wanted to fly as J’onn offers to let her experience that dream. J’onn takes Elaine flying into the night as she holds his hand. The two fly over the trees, gaze at the various rivers and even fly alongside a flock of birds. 

 

 

When the two arrive back, they try to test the portal once more. The portal generator is finally built as they attempt to try it. However, it does work for a brief moment, as they throw an apple on the planet, and it does not turn to goo. The portal generator then shorts out; as Marnie points out, they need a large power source in order for it to work continuously. 

 

Ma’alefa’ak suggests they head to Area 51, as they have a lot of alien technology, suggesting they may find a power core. J’onn asks how Ma’alefa’ak knows as Ma’alefa’ak claims he has been spying on the area since he went into hiding. Everyone is in agreement but J’onn as he worries about the humans’ safety. J’onn relents, though, as everyone goes in for the night.

 

J’onn also has a heart-to-heart with Ronnie, who asks J’onn what he’ll do once he gets back to Mars. J’onn says he has no idea but wonders, with all he has missed, could he still fit in. Ronnie says it is not a matter of fitting in but just being authentic, recalling J’onn taught him that. The two recollect on past memories, including one where J’onn taught Ronnie how to shave despite J’onn himself being unable to grow hair. Ronnie asks J’onn how he feels about humans; as J’onn notes, at first, for the longest time, he found them to be nuisances, but over time he grew to find them fascinating. It also helped that he met the right group of people. Ronnie thanks J’onn for everything he has done for him. Ronnie decides to head to bed. J’onn, conflicted on his next move, gazes at the moon before Ma’alefa’ak confronts him.

 

Ma’alefa’ak tries to convince J’onn to come with him to Area 51 and get the parts themselves. J’onn points out they should work as a team, as Ma’alefa’ak questions if J’onn even wants to go home. Ma’alefa’ak thinks J’onn living amongst the humans has made him soft, as J’onn denies this. J’onn does admit he’s grown fond of humans over the time he’s been on Earth, but compassion for other species isn’t a weakness. That said, he doesn’t want his friends to be hurt for his existence in a world hostile against him. J’onn agrees to go with Ma’alefa’ak as they take the portal generator.

 

J’onn leaves behind a farewell letter to Ronnie, Elaine, and Marnie, thanking them for everything but doesn’t want them to lose their lives on Earth, nor does he want them to be forced to assimilate to Martian culture. In the morning, the humans read this and are heartbroken. Ronnie even loses faith in J’onn.

 

Upon reading Ma’alefa’ak notes that he left, Ronnie notes the former was looking for ways to protect himself from psionic powers, learning about something called Project: Goliath. Martha questions this as Ma’alefa’ak lacks powers and maybe it was special protection but Elaine points out Ma’alefa’ak didn’t know more Martians existed until a few weeks ago as Ronnie pieces together, theorizing that H’ronmeer’s Curse doesn’t affect Ma’alefa’ak as he can’t telepathically communicate. Ronnie quickly deduces Ma’alefa’ak helped with the virus and has something horrible in store for the Martians as the trio rushes over to warn J’onn.

 

J’onn and Ma’alefa’ak sneak into Area 51, becoming invisible and intangible to slip past the guards and security systems as the two head to the study area to check for the Martian energy core. The two have no luck until Ma’alefa’ak “accidentally” trips the alarm.

 

Sally and Rudy learn from this in another room as Sally dons Project: Goliath, an eight-foot-tall battle-suit that allows her to fly, shoot out fire and block out mental attacks. Rudy said he only finished updating it last night and it still needs testing. Sally says she’d be glad to volunteer Sally confronts J’onn and Ma’alefa’ak as the three fight. The two Martians struggle against Sally where even J’onn’s powers are countered. Sally even knocks out Ma’alefa’ak as she and J’onn continue the duel as J’onn uses his intangibility to his advantage but Sally’s battle-suit overheats and warns her it’ll explode. Sally attempts to leave but is stuck. 

 

J’onn saves Sally from the battle-suit which fizzles before nothing happens. Sally is confused why J’onn would save her but before J’onn can answer, Ma’alefa’ak steals Sally’s battle-suit, mocking her for faulty wiring as he reveals he phased through the suit to switch the wires. J’onn says that they don’t want to kill Sally, which Ma’alefa’ak disagrees as he gladly would. J’onn demands Ma’alefa’ak to tell him what is happening. Ma’alefa’ak notes Sally is too dangerous to be left alive. J’onn asks if he’d ever do this to a fellow Martian as Ma’alefa’ak admits he would gladly. 

 

Join pieces together; they never came here for just the parts. Ma’alefa’ak says there’s, unfortunately, no artifact at this base with enough energy to power the generator. Ronnie, Eliane and Dr. Stein rush in to warn J’onn but are too late. Ma’alefa’ak says he came to finish his job; the extermination of Martians, revealing he made H’ronmeer’s Curse. J’onn, heartbroken, asks why his brother would do this.

 

Mal explains that it wasn’t the racial tensions, or despite his anguish, the years of bullying and abuse for not being able to have telepathic powers but their planet Mars was dying. Resources were almost exhausted, racial tensions were distracting from it, and Martian society as a whole had grown lazy due to their “advancements”. Mal made the cure to trigger an extinction level event, and hopefully, Mars would start over; as he noted, the one good thing about Earthlings is that the planet kills their dominant before too much damage is done. Ma'alefa'ak notes that humans should’ve been gone about 5-10 years ago but notes there’s still time.

 

Ma’alefa’ak explains that while he found the signatures, drones show Mars has stayed the same, with little signs of growth on the ground or above ground. Ma’alefa’ak points out he’s going home to finish the remnants of Martians and hope for a better-evolved successor. Due to his lack of telepathic powers, he needed something to keep him powerful enough to finish off the survivors. J’onn asks if he’s come to kill him as Ma’alefa’ak says he’d never kill his brother but wanted to die alone together as the last Martians. J’onn coolly says Ma’alefa’ak is not a Martian. 

 

Ma’alefa’ak lets his guard down as J’onn prepares a psionic attack but this infects J’onn with H’ronmeer’s Curse, causing J’onn to collapse in exhaustion. Ma’alefa’ak notes since he can’t be telepathic, the virus doesn’t affect him but rather gives it J’onn, saying at least J’onn no longer has to suffer being the last of his kind. Ma’alefa’ak tearfully flies off, becoming intangible as he escapes with both the device and Sally’s battle-suit as he leaves J’onn to die.

 

Sally, Rudy, the Raymonds, and Marnie take John to a secret laboratory in hopes of saving his life as his body overheats. Marnie, Rudy, and Ronnie prepare a pool of solutions in an open status pod in which they add aluminum oxide (AlO) as H’ronmeer’s Curse contains magnesium carbonate as the AlO will help neutralize the combustion. Elaine tends to his injuries as while it’s close, J’onn makes it.

 

J’onn wakes up to see Sally looking over him. Sally asks him why he is here and why he saved her. J’onn explains he was stranded and trying to go home; J’onn saved her because it’s not in him to kill others no matter their actions. Sally explains that J’onn knew her father Saul and asks him what happened. Sensing her pain, J’onn explains that he never meant to hurt Saul as he recalls the situation. J’onn said when he met Saul, the scientist approached J’onn with wonder and offered to help him get home, but the transporter was too unstable. Saul sacrificed himself to save J’onn. Sally cries as J’onn emphasizes to her as he lost his parents at a young age. J’onn offers to ease the pain by trying to remove the sadness from her, but Sally refuses as good or bad; those are her memories, filled with love for her father. This touches J’onn, as he feels great guilt for Ma’alefa’ak’s actions and asks Sally if she can help him save his people. Sally agrees but can’t guarantee what his fate will be as J’onn accepts it.

 

Ma’alefa’ak fires up the portal at abandoned Area 687 located just under Middletown, which causes Middletown’s electricity to be sapped off as well as causes structural damage, making minor shockwaves in the process. J’onn flies in and saves a few citizens while Sally and her team, the Reynolds and Marnie, save the people, tend to injuries, and escort them out. 

 

J’onn arrives and fights Ma’alefa’ak one more time. The two Martians have an airborne flight over the desert, trading superpowered punches. J’onn uses his telepathic powers attempting to fire off brain blasts, craft psychic shields and create illusions, but Ma’alefa’ak’s battle-suit allows him to handle J’onn’s psionic powers. Ma’alefa’ak gains the upper hand, temporarily phasing J’onn as he prepares to use the suit’s built-in flamethrower on J’onn. However, J’onn damages the machine, which causes it to lock into the sun. 

 

This distracts Ma’alefa’ak as J’onn phases his hand through the suit, disabling the suit’s power core as he then unleashes wave upon wave of psychic energy, bombarding Ma’alefa’ak with memories of J’onn and Ma’alefa’ak’s brotherly love to disarm him, begging Ma’alefa’ak to change his ways and choose love. Filled with guilt as well as rage, Ma’alefa’ak declines, attempting to kill J’onn one last time but collapses from fatigue. Ma’alefa’ak falls near the portal, but his cape latches on, saving him from falling into the sun.

 

However, despite all that Ma’alefa’ak has done, J’onn can’t kill his brother. J’onn pulls the dangling and unconscious Mal out from the portal so that he wouldn’t be engulfed by the flames and heat of the sun. J’onn shuts the portal off as he holds his unconscious brother.

 

The townspeople thank J’onn for saving him as Ronnie gives him a spacesuit that both he and Dr. Stein was working on at the last minute, that’ll let him traverse the Mars atmosphere as well as rations to help him find his kind. J’onn thanks Dr. Stein for helping him, even though she could have faced trouble. Ronnie admits he’ll miss J’onn, which he agrees with as J’onn says Ronnie saved his life and that he loves him. The two hug as tears flows down their cheeks. J’onn admits to Elaine that he has always loved her as the two share a kiss.

 

J’onn decides to stay on Earth as the planet needs its protectors… and he needs his family. Sally keeps his identity a secret, expunging the video of John from the internet. Sally also promises J’onn that they’ll keep Ma’alefa’ak in status as well as keep Ma’alefa’ak safe and hidden from being probed and experimented on. The town decides to keep J’onn identity a secret as thanks for all he’s done. John thanks Sally as Sally wishes him the best. Rudy also apologizes for making a machine to kill him and thanks J’onn for saving him as J’onn understands, smiling. 

 

Two months later, John has adapted to Earth life, having been accepted by the townspeople and enjoying his newfound family with the Reynolds. John and Elaine even start to date. Together, they and Marnie have a nice dinner as a Martian spaceship crashes outside.

 

A green-skinned Martian teenage girl pops out of the ship as she introduces herself as M’gann M’orzz (Lyric Ross). M’gann explains that she is here to help, as she has come to warn J’onn of an invasion coming to Earth. 

 

Post-Credit Scene: Maxwell Lord (Jay Baruchel) is released early from prison due to new evidence found in favor of him. Confused, Maxwell accepts this offer as when he leaves the prison, he’s greeted by Vandal Savage (Benecio del Toro), who has a new job for him, asking him how good he is with alien communication.

 

 

Edited July 17, 2022 by YM!

[YM!]

Endless Animation’s 

Inspector Gadget and Penny 

Studio: Endless Animation (This is a very cartoony CGI, think Hotel Transylvania lots of squash and squish technique is used)

Release Date: 11/26/Y9

Genre: CG Animation/Comedy/Action

Writers-Directors: Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath

Score: Alexandre Desplat

Original Song: “Go Go Gadgets” by Pharrell Williams and Dua Lipa

Rating: PG for action, violence, brief language and rude humor

Budget: $85M

Theater Count: 4,023

Format: 2D, 3D and Dolby Cinema 

Runtime: 93 minutes 

Cast:

Darby Camp as Penny Gadget

Jack McBrayer as Inspector Jonathan Gadget 

Kimiko Glenn as Lieutenant MADdie

J.K. Simmons as Chief Quimby

Linda Cardellini as Principal Elizabeth Foster 

Cedric Yarbrough as Dr. Claw

Jackie Buscarino as Cassie

Dee Bradley Baker (the sounds of) as Brain Gadget and Mad Cat

 

Spoiler

 

The infamous leader of terrorist organization MAD, Dr. Claw, invades a secret headquarters in Antarctica in his giant cat-shaped Jet. Dr. Claw (whose face we never see throughout the movie, just his chest down) and his MAD goons, dressed in purple jumpsuits, aiming to steal a reality-warping glove known as the WarpGlove. The goons and the guards face off as Dr. Claw makes it to the room with the glove. Two large guns guard the room. The room also has half of the floor opening to an alligator and piranha pool, two comically gigantic circular saws, acidic rain, and an electrical barrier around the whole thing. For added comical effect, an abyss forms with 7-feet-tall spikes.

 

Dr. Claw yawns and tears through the system with his clawed hands with ease. MAD escapes as they head back to their secret underground bunker. Dr. Claw praises his crew for competence once as they've earned a five-minute break. The goons comically collapse as Dr. Claw heads to his study, greeted by his beloved grey tabby, Mad Cat. The WarpGlove is a birthday gift for Dr. Claw's newest asset to world domination; a 13-year-old purple-haired cyborg dubbed MADdie. MADdie loves the gift and affectionately hugs her father with her extended limbs, squeezing Dr. Claw's air, who barks that the hug is too tight. MADdie apologizes, releasing her father as she excitedly asks who she gets to kill with this as Dr. Claw installs it for her. Dr. Claw says that MADdie will make her debut tomorrow, which MADdie hopes will make Dr. Claw proud. Dr. Claw admits he hopes so too, for MADdie's sake at least.

 

The next morning, Inspector Gadget, a clumsy but ultimately well-meaning cyborg man with wily hair and a fedora, tries to make pancakes for his 11-year-old niece/adoptive daughter/child prodigy Penny. Brain, their smart golden retriever, assists Gadget with the cooking. Gadget insists on using his tools despite Brain trying to warn him against it (Gadget can't understand Brain as he's a dog).

 

Gadget uses his Go-Go-Gadget-Whisk, which spits out a grenade into the mixing bowl. Gadget tosses the bowl into the backyard, making an explosion. The explosion wakes up Penny. Penny asks her uncle what word he said. Gadget explains he said whisk, which gives him a grenade. Penny adds whisk=grenade to a checklist of what tool goes with which word (Net=Bubble Wand, Marker=Weedwhacker, Pistol=Squirt Pistol). Penny helps her uncle cook breakfast, which turns out to be successful. Gadget and Penny have a fun day at a carnival where Gadget has been the hero of Metro City for the past five years as onlookers lavish him with praise. However, praise is focused mainly on him despite Gadget's attempts to redirect praise towards Penny and Brain. Penny's smarts have gotten Gadget this far, as Penny even came up with the designs and helped rebuild Gadget after an accident. 

 

Penny confides to Gadget her insecurity about being valued, as Gadget assures her that he has never taken her for granted. Gadget says they're a team and encourages Penny to go have some fun, as he will sample the funnel cakes, which makes Brain excitedly tag along. Penny attempts to socialize with other kids her age, which Gadget notices from afar. Sadly, Penny's social skills are not as strong as her smarts as Gadget asks Brain if he has ever let Penny be a kid for a day. The gluttonous canine shakes his right paw as Brain uses his left paw to steal Gadget's funnel cake.

 

Gadget's boss from HQ, the surly Chief Quimby, informs Gadget that MAD has sent out their latest henchmen, a bratty teenaged cyborg named MADdie, who is donning a stolen WarpGlove. The three rush off in their supercar, the Gadgetmobile. MADdie robs a bank with the WarpGlove as Gadget, Penny, and Brian arrive on the scene to stop her. MADdie notes those must be the heroes her dad told her about, saying that Gadget's skull would be a good birthday gift for Dr. Claw.

 

Gadget doesn't want to hurt a kid, despite MADdie insisting she is a teenager. Gadget decides to use a nonviolent approach as Penny hands him the sheet. Gadget tries his net, freeze laser, and glue bombs, but MADdie counters each of his weapons perfectly. MADdie uses a flamethrower to torch the list as she uses the WarpGlove to turn the ground into quicksand as she makes her escape.

 

Gadget makes a quick escape using his helicopter fedora, chasing after MADdie, but not before telling Penny to stay behind, concerned for her safety, much to Penny's annoyance. MADdie uses the glove to throw construction material at Gadget, who dodges them. Penny chases after the two and uses a weapon on the Gadgetmobile to try to knock off the WarpGlove, but this goes the machine to go haywire. MADdie drops the bag of cash, but a blast hits the Gadgetmobile, making it change into a cube.

 

Gadget lets MADdie escape to save Penny and Brain, using his Go-Go-Gadget-Poopscooper (this summons a crowbar he uses to pry open the car before it's too late.). Though Gadget saves his family, Penny has a cut on her left arm. Later that night, Penny is depressed for having failed the mission. Gadget tries to cheer her up to no luck, as he recalls an old photo of the three being a family. Flashbacks show Gadget raised Penny since her parents passed at 3. Blaming himself for Penny getting hurt, Gadget has a meeting with Penny and decides to put her off the team. Penny is hurt and mad as she was trying to help as Gadget doesn't want her hurt or to end up like he is now. Gadget says it is only through September-May, as he enrolled Penny in a gifted middle school. Penny points out she graduated high school last year.

 

Gadget encourages Penny to try being a normal kid for a minute, as Penny takes it as Gadget doesn't think she's normal. Gadget tries to make it right but fails. MADdie returns home expecting praise, but Claw chews her out for being sloppy and losing the money as Claw fixes the WarpGlove. Claw says she did okay as he unveiled his plan to MADdie, saying he paid to enroll her in Metro City Best Minds Middle School. MADdie will use the school's resources to craft VRmmagedon, a VR app that will paralyze the victims by projecting their worst fear while MAD robs the world blind.

 

MADdie asks how they are paying for school as Claw notes he cares a lot about education despite being evil. Besides, some of the evilest minds come from private schools. Penny heads to school the next day with Brain in disguise as a human student.

 

Penny attempts to make the most of her new school, and while her smarts put her at the top of the game, she struggles to make friends. Penny also clashes with the no-nonsense principal, Elizabeth Foster, and the middle school queen bee, Cassie. Things become complicated when Penny recognizes MADdie having enrolled at the school, disguised as Maddie (who looks like MADdie without her cyborg parts). Penny tries to expose MADdie during lunch which creates a food fight, giving both of them detention.

 

Penny and MADdie fight during after-school hours, with MADdie having the obvious upper hand as Penny remarks she'll never be able to prove to Gadget her capabilities. MADdie sympathizes as her dad, Dr. Claw, is not proud of her. The two become quick friends, as both have helped be the brains of their team as the two tell funny stories. MADdie points out Dr. Claw doesn't even know their WiFi password as Penny recounts Gadget took them to a stakeout at a steakhouse.

 

The two are then picked up by their guardians, not before exchanging cell phone numbers. Penny says she does not have one as MADdie gives her one she may or may not have stolen, not before warning Penny to turn off location tracking. Both of the girls return to their homes. Gadget, not recognizing MADdie, is delighted Penny made a friend but tells her not to get detention again. Penny confirms she's happy to have a friend as she tells Brain her secret plan to use MADdie's friendship to figure out her plan. Penny admits it's shady, but she's got to do this. Penny calls Quimby, asking him for surveillance tools, attempting to lie it's for school. 

 

Quimby sees through her obvious lying as Penny explains the plan. Quimby understands youthful rebellion allows it but warns Penny if it goes awry, he'll inform Gadget. Meanwhile, a stressed Claw pets Mad Cat roughly as he chews out MADdie for befriending a hero as MADdie explains her plan to betray Penny. The planned betrayal delights Claw as he allows her to go through with it.

 

The next day, Elizabeth informs all students of the upcoming science fair. MADdie convinces Penny to be her partner as MADdie comes up with the idea of a versatile VR app that projects what the user is thinking. The two head to the science lab during study hall hours as they clash with Cassie, who wants the lab for her makeup experiment on how to make the beautifully challenged more appealing. Cassie demands they leave and bullies Penny, but MADdie stands up for her as the two manage to pull on over, tricking Cassie into getting the equipment they don't want and giving them the stuff they do want.

 

Tests for VRmaggedon go well; MADdie uses the WarpGlove's power to fuel it with Penny using coding to translate it to reality. MADdie asks Penny why Brain is here as Penny reveals Brain is a dog skilled in disguise, which even fools MADdie. MADdie does treat Brain with kindness as she does love dogs. The three take a break at a local mall as Penny and MADdie find out they have a lot of common interests as MADdie introduces Penny to the world of pranks and scams. The two hack into the arcade to release multiple tickets but get caught by security. The two, along with Brain, evade the mall cops due to some quick thinking and Penny's hacking skills. The group celebrates by getting Slushies at a gas station. The girls play truth or dare, revealing fun secrets. MADdie confides that she's very lonely to Penny, which Penny does admit she's lonely too, but the two have each other now. 

 

Penny and MADdie's friendship grows as the two bring out the best in each other as the days pass. MADdie's rebellious nature helps Penny stand up for herself, and her more savvy social skills help the two boost their popularity amongst their peers. Penny's good nature helps keep MADdie in line as well as helps with her reading homework. Their work on VRmmagedon goes well as Penny learns how to deactivate it, making a kill code. The two do get into mischief though, pulling a lot of pranks. One of the pranks allows them to get even with Cassie through a prank that causes her makeup to rot and explode, humiliating her. However, Penny does get caught in some trouble and grows distant towards Gadget. Gadget is aware it's part of growing up but does discipline Penny a little.

 

On the science fair day, all the parents show up. Even Gadget, who has come to root for Penny. MADdie is uncharacteristically nervous as her father wasn't there even though he said he would. Penny motivates and encourages her villainous friend. The two win the science fair with VRmmagedon, which dazzles the judges. MADdie invites Penny to her house for dinner, which Penny agrees to as both enact their secret plans. MADdie informs Claw to put on his best impression in front of her friend as she never had a friend over. Claw disguises himself as the mild-mannered Mr. Klaue, hiding his claws in gloves to resemble normal hands. Claw questions MADdie's loyalty as MADdie decrees, "Friends are meant to be betrayed."

 

Gadget, Penny, and Brain arrive at Claw's house for dinner. The house is pretty normal with the MAD secret base underground. MADdie hugs her friend as Claw struggles to maintain his Mr. Klaue persona. Luckily for the villains, Gadget still can't recognize either of them. 

 

Claw makes various attempts on Gadget's life during the dinner (poisoning the pizza, rigging his chair to have restraints as a Gatling gun fires, and a conveniently loose chandelier). However, Penny, Brain, and MADdie's interference prevent Gadget from being harmed as Gadget tries to converse and befriend Dr. Klaue.

 

HQ agents and Quimby invade the MAD base as the Gadgets, and the Claws eat dinner, easily dispatching goons. Quimby uses the WiFi password Penny gave them as they hack into MAD computers to access VRmmagedon and tries out the kill code Penny made. 

 

Penny, Brain, and MADdie head to MADdie's room to hang out, leaving Gadget and Claw to themselves. Penny warns Gadget to be aware of Mr. Klaue. When the girls leave, Mr. Klaue removes his gloves to reveal his clawed hands as he decides to kill Gadget. Gadget is confused, asking Claw what he did to Mr. Klaue.

 

Penny and MADdie sing along to K-Pop as both girls decide to be honest about their friendship, revealing both plan to double-cross each other. The two share different reactions; MADdie is ecstatic her friend did evil while Penny is hurt. MADdie reveals the kill code Penny made was an activation code and was revealed of the double cross through tapping her phone line. VRmmaggedon goes online as the HQ agents and Quimby fall prey to their virtual reality fears as MAD goons lead the paralyzed agents into jail cells.

 

Gadget fights Claw, as Claw gains the upper hand to his knowledge of many martial arts and sharp claws. However, Gadget gets Claw's hand stuck in an armrest trap Claw made for Gadget. Gadget rushes off to save Penny from MADdie. MADdie constricts Penny in blankets just as Gadget comes in. Gadget frees Penny, escaping through a laundry chute as they reach the Gadgetmobile.

 

The Gadget family escapes the MAD base as MADdie, despite being evil, doesn't want to hurt her frenemy, does not activate the defense system that Claw demands her to do. Claw calls her out for her lack of total brutality. MADdie points out Penny treated her better than him; in fact, Claw treats Mad Cat with more love. Claw states compassion is a weakness for a villain, grounding her from the mission. Hurt by Claw's lack of care for her, MADdie betrays him and uses the VRmmagedon device early, which installs itself to every mobile device, computer, tv, and gaming system in Metro City, including the MAD base. VRmmagedon traps everyone's mind into a VR nightmare as MADdie prepares to rob Metro City blind and use the satellite tower to transmit VRmmagedon, whatever feels right for her. 

 

Penny comes clean about everything as Gadget is upset at Penny's misbehavior and lying. Gadget sadly decides to make the mission ban permanent, grounding her and taking her phone. Later that night, Penny goes for water to find a catatonic Gadget from VRmmagedon. Penny and Brian are unaffected as Penny had her phone taken. The two take Gadget with them in the now password-protected Gadgetmobile, using Gadget's DNA to bypass it. The two drive to the heart of Metro City to find MADdie, alone, behind the chaos. MADdie wants to give Penny a chance to join her. Penny declines, vowing to stop her as the two end their friendship. MADdie then uses the WarpGlove to summon a fleet of drones after Penny. Penny and Brain try to outmaneuver the drones in the Gadgetmobile but are forced to hide in a dumpster.

 

Penny frees Gadget from the VR nightmare of his fears of being not a failed hero but a failed father. Penny reminds Gadget of his job to watch her grow and be the best, and he is not a failure. As VRmmagedon uploads to the satellites, MADdie has her drones fight the heroes. Thanks to Gadget using a copy of the list that he and Penny made of which weapon and tool are which, they alter between normal weapons such as blasters and grappling hooks and the more unorthodox like silly string and bubbles.

 

However, MADdie's reality-warping skills overwhelm Gadget, despite him being more in-sync with his phrases. Penny manages to beat MADdie by tricking her into installing Gadget's newest upgrade, which gives her the same malfunctions Gadget has. MADdie's malfunctions allow Gadget enough time to defend himself and find the right phrase to put MADdie in handcuffs while Penny stops the upload.

 

The citizens cheer, but Gadget explains Penny deserves all the credit. Gadget tries to apologize for not letting her go on missions and is worried he is failing her. Penny says there's no need as Gadget was looking out for her, and his heroism has always inspired her to be better, calling Gadget dad for the first time. The uncle and niece then hug. Penny decides she wants to keep her schooling and be part of Team Gadget, which Gadget renames "The Gadgets." Authorities apprehend MADdie as Penny, and MADdie also decides to reconcile their friendship as Penny convinces her it's the ultimate rule break. MADdie agrees but adds on a new twist: the two also being arch-nemeses which Penny agrees, ecstatic to have her first enemy.

 

The end credits show the new adventures of The Gadgets facing off against MAD, Penny dealing with middle school, and Gadget doing some homelife things. The song "Go Go Gadgets" by Pharell Williams and Dua Lipa plays which acts as a funk/pop theme song remix about the team of our heroes.

 

Mid-Credit Scene: MADdie is held in a maximum security juvie. Dr. Claw and the MAD goons break into their as Dr. Claw approaches MADdie, who is still upset with Dr. Claw's treatment of her. Dr. Claw calls her a twisted and treacherous snake, making him very proud of MADdie. In his very twisted villainous logic, he knew she could be a great villain with the right push. The two escape as they devise their next scheme against the Gadgets.

 

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by YM!

[YM!]

 

From the studio behind Gateways and the minds behind Coraline and Get Out

 

Endless Animation's

Sleepy Hollow 

 

Studio: Endless Animation

Monkeypaw Productions

Blumhouse Productions

ShadowMachine

Genre: Stop-Motion Animation/Thriller/Mystery/Horror

Director: Henry Selick

Producers: Jordan Peele and Jason Blum

Writers: Henry Selick and Jordan Peele

Composer: Bruno Coulais

 

Cast: 

Michael B. Jordan as Gareth Ichabod Crane

Aimee Carrero as Catalina Van Tassel

Joe Manganiello as Lieutenant Abraham "Bones" Brunt

Dolly Parton as Mayor Burnswood

Charlie Barnett as Quickhand Glenn

Karen Fukuhara as Dr. Lois Yang

KiKi Layne as Erica Forrmund

Zeno Robinson as Albert

Andrew Rannells as Armond

Kristen Wiig as Katrina Pressling

with

John Goodman as Baltus Van Tassel II

and

Matthew Rhys as The Horseman

 

 

 

Release Date: October 10th, Y9

Theater Count: 3,925

Format: 2D (2.39:1), 3D (2.39:1), and Dolby Cinema (2.39:1) 

Budget: $70 million

MPAA Rating: R for disturbing images, bloody and gory violence, language, and sexual content

Running Time: 138 minutes.

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ECYaiGLxkGlfnGYCu87GPzG4_Ss6_YvMijFtl3eRY18/edit
 

Special thanks to @MCKillswitch123 for prereading this.

Edited July 23, 2022 by YM!

[YM!]

Father III - All Hell Breaks Loose

Studio: Infinite Studios

Release Date: 12/5/Y9

Genre: Horror/Thriller/Action

Director: Anna Foersted

Rating: R

Budget: $25m

Theater Count: 3,666

Runtime: 91 minutes

Previous Films: DOM/WW

Father II: Resurrection (Y7) - $36,012,751/$80,115,694
Father (Y3): $40,189,306 / $59,900,134

 

Cast: 

Dakota Fanning as Sister Mackie

Ellen Burstyn as Mother Teresa

Keith David as the voice of Zuhj

Lyric Ross as Sister Toni

 

After the events of Father 2, the demon Zuhj possessed Sister Mackie and created a hosts of disciples by tainting the Easter mass in small town Rockburg, Connecticut. Zuhj has gained a sizeable amount of control over the town as there’s one week until Christmas looms, preparing to kickstart the End of Days, so he can allow his father Satan entry back to Earth. However, he needs fresh blood of the innocent and holy on Christmas Day, when Jesus was born to raise Satan.

 

Luckily, Zuhj has chosen a newcoming transfer from out of state Sister Toni to be his sacrifice. Toni is welcomed with open arms by the town’s people but their off behavior makes Toni believe something is amiss.

 

Meanwhile, Sister Mackie’s soul is in hell. Hell is designed for every person to experience the most fear. Mackie is attacked by a more demonic version of her abusive father but is saved by Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa is bonded to her as a guide as she teaches her how to harness her spiritual powers, and she can exit Hell once she makes it to the final level.

 

Teresa warns Mackie of Zuhj’s goal, as the two contact Toni to warn her and gain her help. Mackie battles her personal demons while perfecting her powers. Teresa teaches her how to master via the Bible which has hidden spells and tools only spirits can see. Toni also prepares her assault, crafting holy water weapons and wooden stakes while she avoids the suspicions of Zuhj and his possessed minions.

 

On Christmas Eve, Mackie and Teresa reach her greatest fear: inadequacy which is represented by a huge gelatinous black mass that can absorb any life force. Meanwhile, Toni is found out and brought to church by Zuhj as he prepares the sacrifice. Mother Teresa sacrifices herself to further motivate Mackie. Mackie then finally harnesses her powers to defeat the blob as she leaves Hell.

 

Mackie’s spirit returns from hell as she manages to possess a child’s body in the meantime. Mackie rushed to the church as Zuhj and his possessed congregation prepare to sacrifice Toni. Mackie, having mastered her astral powers, fights off Zuhj as Toni breaks from her restraints to pull the fire alarm. 

 

The fire alarm sprays the hidden holy water Toni got in which frees the possessed people. Mackie also gains the upper hand and beats Zuhj. However, Toni does get a non-fatal cut from Zuhj slashing her with a knife and this frees Satan.

 

Mackie has an idea using a powerful incantation that may make her spirit stuck on Earth but it’ll defeat the demons. Toni helps cover Mackie with holy water balloons and wooden stakes to fight off Satan’s demonic goons. Satan briefly pushes Mackie aside but is helped by Toni as the two use the chant to Toni and damn Satan back to hell and kill Zuhj once and for all. Come Christmas morning, all is normal in Rockburg with the citizens purified and demons are gone. Toni continues to both hunt and train others to kill demons with the wisdom of the spirit of Mackie.

Edited July 19, 2022 by YM!

[YM!]

Mother Knows Better

Studio: Infinite Studios 

Release Date: 11/7/Y9

Genre: Comedy

Director: Tyler Perry 

Rating: PG-13 for mild language 

Budget: $20M

Theater Count: 3,785

Format: 2D 

Runtime: 98 minutes
Cast:

Michael Ealy as Taeshawn Smith

Regina King as Harriet

Evan Alex as Jayson

Faithe Herman as Tabitha

Previous Film: Father Knows Worst (Y7) (DOM/WW) - $65,092,181/$65,901,102

 

Taeshawn Smith has done good job as a single father these past few years with his 14 year old twins; the eldest troublemaker Jayson, and the savvy Tabitha. Taeshawn has rose to new hip-hop glory with Jayson being an excellent lyricist.  However, Taeshawn feels very lonely despite his new life. Seeing this, Jayson and Tabitha try to set him with many women with most failing but notice Harriet, Taeshawn’s assistant has secret had feelings for him. The teen twins play matchmaker which works at first with Harriet and Taeshawn falling for each other. However, the relationship sours when Harriet worries if Taeshawn is into her or if he just wants a mom for his kids (who while she does care for regardless, doesn’t want a relationship based on a lie). Harriet leaves based on this after a date gone wrong but Taeshawn wins her back with a love rap. Harriet and Taeshawn get married, the twins have a mom and all is good.

 

Edited July 19, 2022 by YM!

[YM!]

Home Invasion: Part IV - Curtain Call

Studio: Infinite Studios 

Release Date: 9/12/Y9

Genre: Action/Sci-fi/Thriller

Director: Joe Carnahan

Rating: R

Budget: $35M

Theater Count: 3,029

Format: 2D and 3D

Runtime: 110 minutes

Cast:

Jason Statham as Walter Peck

Liam Nesson as Steve Lewis

The rest are unknowns

 

Previous films: 

(Y8): Home Invasion: Part III - Hunted - DOM/WW - $25,938,683/$80,020,932

(Y6): Home Invasion Part II: Abduction - $13,739,487/$30,579,700/$81,066,429 (OW/DOM/WW)

(Y4): Home Invasion- $17,680,973/$45,406,739/$89,316,109 (OW/DOM/WW)

 

Walter Peck, the former MI6 agent without a hand and Steve Lewis, the former Navy Seal are stranded on the Apuxes’ (the 8-feet-tall hostile lizard people) home planet, a desolate and desert like place. The two face the hatchling Giga-Apuxes, Apuxes combined with our heroes’ DNA and deal with the planet’s harsh heats and sandstorms, acidic seas and a carnivorous giant plant.

 

Walter and Steve manage to survive the odds, using the wit, strength and skills but soon learn that the Apuxes were species similar to humans in advancement but greed made them burn out their planets resources, eventually forcing them to evolve into the Apuxes. The Apuxes then went to planets and decimated them for the resources. They soon learn a spaceship that could them home but pregnant Giga-Apuxes that followed them inside. Walter and Steve decide to stop any more invasion by rigging the ship to explode, so no more Apuxes will spawn.

Edited July 19, 2022 by YM!

[YM!]

Landslide

Studio: Infinite Studios 

Seven Bucks Productions

Release Date: 2/14/Y9

Genre: Action/Thriller 

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber 

Rating: PG-13

Budget: $70m

Theater Count: 4,022

Format: 2D, Dolby Cinema, and IMAX

Runtime: 100 minutes

Cast: 

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Marshall Keaton

Alisha Boe as Abigail Keaton

Wyatt Russell as Todd Scott 

Previous Film: Turbulence (Y6 - DOM/WW) - $62,577,332 / $210,775,119

 

Taking place about 5 years after the last movie, Marshall Keaton is still retired as he helps his daughter Abigail run as a house member in Florida. Abigail runs a very progessive platform and is doing pretty well in the polls. However, she runs against super-conservative former army member Todd Scott who has been benefiting from the recent surge of alt-right candidates, earning the support of the Proud Boys. This causes a lot of online harassment for Abigail but she rolls with it. 

 

On the day of Abigail’s  town hall at FLA Live Arena, against Todd, Marshall gets a tip from a friend that The Proud Boys will plan an attack. Marshall brings a pistol with him as he tries to warn Abigail who won’t back down against terrorists. Abigail and Todd square off during the town hall as the Proud Boys burst inside, shooting everywhere. Abigail and Marshall run to safety as The Proud Boys hold the guests hostage until they find and kill Alisha. 

 

Marshall and Abigail work together to take down the Proud Boys by dividing them up, physically outmaneuver them, steal their weapons and incapacitate them. This strategy works and they manage to stop them and get back to the crowd. However, it is soon revealed Todd was in league with The Proud Boys. Todd never really cared about the white nationalist mantra but it gave him an army. With the two out of bullets, Marshall and Alisha run away from Todd. Thankfully, their hit and run tactics prove useful as they manage to disarm Todd with Marshall subduing him. Alisha wins the house seat and enacts the change she’s been wanting to make as Marshall continues to enjoy his retirement.

Edited July 19, 2022 by YM!

[4815162342]

Heremias

 

Genre: CGI Animation/Fantasy/Adventure/Drama

Voice Cast: Ashley Johnson (Selena), LaKeith Stanfield (Marcus), Peter Dinklage (Cobben), Ashly Burch (Catherine), Kiernan Shipka (Anna), Aimee Carrero (Myria), Khary Payton (Sylvarius), John Noble (King Julius), Ian Alexander (Kristos), Wil Wheaton (Eckit), Liam McIntyre (Garosh), Phil LaMarr (Rektor), Anjali Bhimani (The Hermit), with Sumalee Montano (Heremias), with Sam Witwer (Lord Methyr), and Mae Whitman (Lavendra)

Directed By: Brenda Chapman

Written By: Bryan Cogman

Original Music By: Justin Bell

Release Date:  July 2, Year 9

Theater Count: 4,185 Theaters

Budget: $150 million

Running Time: 116 Minutes

MPAA Rating: PG for scenes of adventure peril, thematic elements, some use of alcohol, and some language

 

Prior Film: Sylvarius (Year 5):  $65,716,108 OW/$259,033,760 DOM/$590,054,123 WW

 

Setting: The film is set in a fantasy world where there is a mix of magic and Industrial Revolution technology. Five years have passed following the events of Sylvarius.

 

Plot Summary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zlc6LmBD0kCjtqiKJda8CPy_Bikik9ARJFvOfPd7Cng/edit?usp=sharing

[YM!]

By The Seaside

Studio: Infinite Studios 

Release Date: 1/31/Y9

Genre: Teen Romantic Comedy

Director: Karen Maine

Rating: PG-13

Budget: $25m

Theater Count: 3,433

Format: 2D

Runtime: 100 minutes

Cast: 

Iman Vellani as Norma

Jacob Bertrand as Barry

 

Teenager Norma and her family are immigrants from Pakistan who have just moved to Los Angeles. As her family tries to make do, Norma works at a seaside coast park. Norma, despite her shyness gets a job at the food court. A boy her age named Barry is trying to earn enough money for a car as his parents refuse to get him a new one, works at the same food court.

 

At first, the two struggle to get along, especially as the day gets busy but Norma’s organizational skills helps them get through the day. With the nights off, the two decide to goof around at the pier, bonding. Weeks go by as the teens serve up concessions by the day and hang out at night becoming fast friends, as the two gain feelings towards each other.

 

As the last week of summer approaches, Norma and Barry try to confess to each other but miss their chance due to the lunch rushes, nerves or interruptions. Things get complicated on the last day, a misunderstanding causes Barry to be cold to Norma. However, on the last day, all is made right as Norma finally pools her feelings as the two become a couple, sealing the relationship with a kiss. 

 

 

[YM!]

Bugcatcher Boys

Studio: Infinite Studios 

Release Date: 3/7/Y9

Genre: Family Comedy

Director: Thor Freudenthal

Rating: PG

Budget: $15m

Theater Count: 2,877

Format: 2D

Runtime: 85 minutes

Cast:

Unknowns

 

12 year olds Benny and Billy are two best friends who love catching bugs. When an invasive species of bugs invades their town, it soon becomes up to the boys to round them up and put them in a safe habitat. The kids succeed at the end.

Edited July 19, 2022 by YM!

[SLAM!]

 

Studio Groundswell

Director: Aaron and Adam Nee

based on the games by Electronic Arts

Genre: Action/Sports

Release Date: December 12th, Y9

Theater Count: 4,253

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for Language, Violence, Peril, and Suggestive Themes

Budget: $100 Million

Runtime: 1 hr 52 min

 

Cast

Alex Wolff as Mackenzie "Mac" Fraser

Brianna Hildebrand as Zoe Payne

Tatiana Maslany as Elise Riggs

John Boyega as Moby Jones

Lyrica Okano as Kaori Nishidake

Lucas Bravo as Jean-Paul Arsenault

Hiro and Jurgen played by unknowns

 

Plot Summary
 

Spoiler

Opening logos; the story begins at a snowboard halfpipe competition at the X games, with young men performing great tricks to get great scores. The crowd's going wild! (By the way, we see a mysterious ray-bans-wearing woman (Maslany) in the crowd as well.) Mac (Wolff), a snowboarder with a New York accent and attitude, pumps himself up before his turn, and he boards down the halfpipe, performing well until the fifth trick, and that's when he crashes, meaning his score's gonna fall. He reaches the end of the course and sits on a bench, beating himself up for losing. Meanwhile, the woman smirks and saunters away.

 

Back in his neighborhood in Mercury City, Mac gets into a bar fight after someone insults him, so he calls his best friend, fellow snowboarder Zoe (Hildebrand), to bail him out of jail, because there's no other options. "You owe me one," says Zoe, who tries to convince him to apply for the SSX snowboard racing tournament, which has a grand prize of one million dollars. "You can do that if you want, but I need to train for the X games" is a summary of Mac's current position on the subject.

 

Mac goes to his apartment, where the woman from before turns on a lamp, introduces herself as Elise, and tells him she's putting together a team of SSX tournament racers that can make it to the final course in the Elysium Alps (somewhere in Europe). There's a cave near the course that allegedly holds a priceless artifact, and this tournament is an inconspicuous chance to have no suspicion placed on you by authorities. Elise promises that if Mac accepts, she'll split however much the artifact sells for with him and Zoe. But if not, she'll have to kill them both because Mac knows too much and Zoe's guilty by association. (Mac relays all this to Zoe, who's kind of annoyed but rolls with it because there's no choice; plus, it sounds like an opportunity to make more money than they would by winning the tournament outright).

 

So Mac and Zoe both apply for the SSX tournament and join the qualifying race in Mercury City, which they both pass with flying colors. They're both snowboarding through streets and grinding on rails, with Zoe practicing questionable ethics by pushing down other racers during the race (and she somehow doesn't get disqualified). They both place high enough to fly to Canada for round one of the official tournament. Tournament participants meet each other, with a British snowboarder, Moby (Boyega), introducing himself to Mac and Zoe and showing him around, talking about other racers like optimistic Japanese prodigy Kaori (Okano) and Frenchman Jean-Paul (Bravo), the latter being especially hungry for the tournament. (There's also Japanese racer Hiro and German racer Jurgen, but they're minor characters.)

 

The Canada race happens in three heats, with ten racers each, and Mac and Zoe find each other in separate heats. It's a tough race for Mac, and at one point he's boarding next to Elise, who tells him that if it's a choice between leaving him behind and risking her placement by helping him, she'll leave him behind in a heartbeat. This motivates Mac, and he's able to finish third, which is more than enough since each heat accepts six racers. Mac gets to watch Zoe's heat near the finish line, and Zoe barely passes by beating Hiro in a photo finish.

 

The eighteen semifinalists are flown to Japan, where they race in an indoor snowpack called the Tokyo Megaplex, which is complete with outlandish contraptions like wind tunnels and doors that open and close at random. [During the race, Mac and Moby establish a rivalry, while Zoe acts out of character by coordinating with Kaori to cut off Jurgen at a crucial moment, and Jean-Paul acts more pompous; meanwhile, Elise shows off by clutching first place.]

 

So Jurgen's eliminated, but Mac, Zoe, Elise, Moby, Kaori, and Jean-Paul all make it to the final round. However, things get awkward between Mac and Zoe because they both have a crush on Elise, and they criticize each other for crushing on the girl who's forcing them to do their dirty work. The conversation ends with Mac storming out of the room, and surprise, Moby overheard them talk about "dirty work." Moby tells Mac that some people have been training their whole lives for this tournament and that Mac should be more focused on the opportunity to race.

 

They all get flown to Europe (we get shots of Kaori on the plane, who's happy to see the mountain vistas through the window), and then the Elysium Alps race begins. But at one juncture, Mac, Zoe, and Elise break off from the course and head to the cave. They find the artifact, but Elise pulls a gun on Mac and Zoe, and she's all like, "do you really think I'd split the value that easily?" Elise handcuffs Mac and Zoe's hands together, and she runs out with the artifact. Without a key, Mac and Zoe decide to follow Elise by snowboarding down the mountain while handcuffed together, which leads to a lot of close calls. But it eventually becomes too much to handle, and they fall. Kaori comes up and unlocks the handcuffs to free them, and Mac's like "how does she know that," and Zoe's like "I knew I liked this girl," and Kaori just giggles.

 

Then... Uh-oh. There's an avalanche, and Mac, Zoe, and Kaori have to board away from it. Mac spots Elise, who's trying to get up after falling; despite protests from Zoe, Mac boards over to Elise and grabs her by the hand. Elise drops the artifact, which is promptly buried by the avalanche. They all escape from the avalanche, but know that they can't get money from selling the artifact, the characters (especially Elise) are setting their sights on the tournament prize money. All the characters race to the finish, and it's neck and neck, with the race coming down to a photo finish between Mac and Moby. Moby wins, and Mac's okay with this because he's learned a lesson: doing what he loves isn't about winning; it's about having fun while doing it.

 

Elise gets arrested by the police, and Jean-Paul cries to his mom over the phone. Mac and Zoe apologize to each other. Mac, Zoe, Moby, and Kaori all become friends and make a vow to participate in the next SSX tournament together. Credits.

 

[4815162342]

Pulling something out way from the 1.0 library, with some moderate changes and totally updated casting.

 

Land of the Crescent

 

Genre: Period Adventure

Stars: May Calamawy (Nadia), Marwan Kenzari (Omar), Omid Abtahi (Navid), Saïd Taghmaoui (Faltan), Yasmeen Fletcher (Jamilla), Tomer Capone (Anwar), and F. Murray Abraham (Farouk)

Directed By: Mohamed Diab

Original Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams

Release Date: November 7, Year 9

Theater Count: 3,933

Budget: $90 million

Running Time: 105 Minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence and some disturbing images

 

 Plot Summary

 

Spoiler

In 1401 A.D., the lands of the Fertile Crescent in modern-day Iraq were plentiful and full of life and culture. In Basra, a prosperous trading town near the mouth of the Tigris River, Nadia (Calamawy) lives a happy life with her husband Sadesh and her father Farouk (Abraham), and her much younger sister Jamilla (Fletcher).

 

After some establishing scenes showing the hustle and bustle of the trading town and the more peaceful and pastoral outskirts, and some family life, thing are shaken up a bit by the return of Nadia’s brother Navid (Abtahi) from his travels around the world, as he has spent much of his life as a scholar. Accompanying him is a friend he made along the way, Omar (Kenzari). Navid is very bookish and very talkative, and talks the ear of his family of all the wonders he’s seen from Europe to India, and Omar is much quieter and pensive, but also fairly charming, and he befriends the family easily, though there is some friction with Nadia regarding how quickly he makes himself at home.

 

But we see Omar slowly win Nadia over as a friend, since from his foreign travels he has picked up some knowledge that helps the family business and along with Navid solves some issues with local infrastructure. Things seem to be settling in nicely.

 

This changes when Basra is visited by Faltan the son of the vizier to the Caliph of Baghdad, and who wields enormous power and prestige. He is accompanied by a troupe of bodyguards, including his right-hand man Anwar (Capone), and they are on a tour of the area to report back to Baghdad as to their findings. As part of the tour, they come across the business of Nadia’s family and Faltan, upon seeing Jamilla, is taken with her and extends his stay in Basra to try and court her. Jamilla is polite to Faltan, but has no interest in marrying him, and this causes a large argument in the family as different family members take different sides about whether it is smart to turn down the courtship, with Farouk and Navid pointing out the benefits of having a marriage connection to someone so connected, and Nadia arguing that Jamilla should be married to someone she has interest in and whom has interest in her more than just as a trophy. Omar and Sadesh weigh in in support of Nadia, and after a little more discussion, it is agreed to turn down the marriage offer.

 

Faltan does not take the news well and confronts the family about this, with Nadia standing up to him and when he gets in her face, both Sadesh and Omar go to her defense and Sadesh actually pushes Faltan to the ground. Anwar immediately wants to attack to defend the honor of his leader but Faltan has him halt, and he warns there will be consequences.

 

The following night, a couple of Faltan’s men set the family shop on fire, and Sadesh, Omar, and Navid go to put the fire out with the help of other locals while the rest of the family stays home. With the home undefended, Faltan, Anwar, and some men arrive to kidnap Jamilla. Nadia is held back and when Farouk tries to get in the way, Anwar pushes him aside and Faltan hits his head and goes limp.

 

Sadesh returns early to give news about the fire and comes across the kidnapping as Jamilla is being dragged out of the home. He tries to intervene and call for him, and Faltan stabs him with a sword. As they ride off, Nadia rushes out and sees Sadesh in the street, and holds him as he dies.

 

The film has a funeral for Sadesh and Farouk, and once it and the necessary mourning rituals are complete, we see Nadia preparing a horse to ride. She is going to go after Faltan and get her sister back. Navid tries to convince her this is foolishness, but she does not care, and we see Omar lead a horse to join her, saying he will help. Navid sighs, and says he will go see if anyone else is willing to help, and the film shows the three of them, plus a few other minor characters from the town we’ve met, riding on the road towards Baghdad.

 

We get a few scenes of the characters traveling and interacting. Omar gives his condolences to Nadia, and she asks him questions about his travels and he shares stories. The initial hostility between them has turned into friendship.

 

The heroes arrive in Baghdad, which at this point in time was one of the grandest cities in the world, and they hole up and make plans to scout things out to find a way to rescue Jamilla. We see that Faltan has taken Jamilla to his father’s palace, and while his father thinks Faltan is being childish for what he has done, he has more important things to worry about. Faltan continues to try to woo Jamilla, but when she rebuffs him and spits in his face, he decides to instead slowly break her into becoming obedient.

 

We get a bunch of scenes with the heroes doing spy missions, recon, making friends, scoping things out, with a couple mini-heists of tools they need and chases through the streets evading city guards. The spying on the palace indicates it may be near impregnable, with many guards and few possible entrances.

 

Navid brings some distressing news that he has learned from merchants fleeing westward: The army of the Central Asian warlord Timur is on its way to Baghdad, and the grand city is the latest target for the warlord’s path of destruction. The army will be here in a matter of days, and when it comes, the city will quite possibly fall. Nadia however is undeterred, and says that the more soldiers there are fighting Timur’s army, the less there will be to protect the palace and guard Jamilla. She tells Navid if he can figure out a plan to get them over the palace walls, she and Omar will get to Jamilla. The other townspeople who came with them she says can go home if they wish, she does not want them to come to harm. They all decide to stay, and will have horses ready for an escape.

 

After a few more scenes showing preparations, and Faltan and Anwar being forced to help in plan for the defense of the city, the vast army of the warlord Timur arrives outside the city walls of Baghdad. The assault on the city begins and we see some battle scenes and siege warfare as catapults fire flaming shot and massive stones at the city, soldiers try to scale the city walls with ladders, and men take battering rams to the gates. Faltan is forced to participate in the defense, and after a tense confrontation with Jamilla where she taunts him about being afraid to take part, he leaves her with Anwar and tells him to kill her if the city falls, since he will not have her live if he dies.

 

As Faltan and many soldiers leave the palace grounds to help defend the city, the heroes take their chance, with Navid having fashioned crossbows that shoot grappling hooks that let Nadia and Omar climb the walls of the palace. On top, Omar uses his sword skills to take out a few guards, and Nadia with a bow shoots a couple more, and they go into the palace.

 

After some more battle scenes, Timur’s army breaks the defenses and pours into the city. Faltan is fighting with his father against the army and his father is badly injured, and asks for his son to help him. Faltan instead leaves his father behind and runs for it, as the invading soldiers push forward and kill Faltan’s father and the other soldiers with him.

 

Nadia and Omar press into the palace, which is now in a state of panic as people are grabbing what they can to flee before the invading army arrives. Anwar, hearing the news of defeat, decides to go through with Faltan’s orders and tries to kill Jamilla by strangling her, and she tries to fight him off. In the middle of this, Nadia and Omar burst into the room and Nadia shoots Anwar in the chest with an arrow, and when he tries to attack her Omar stabs him with a sword, killing him. Nadia embraces Jamilla and says they need to go, now. They flee the palace just as invading soldiers start to storm it and have to fight off a few to get away. They reunite with Navid and run for it through the streets, which are full of fleeing people, and finally in the chaos find where the other townspeople are waiting with horses, and they all ride out of the city.

 

Faltan meanwhile finds the palace sacked and Anwar dead, but no sign of Jamilla. He finds a wounded guard, and, questioning him, learns that Jamilla was rescued. He finds and gathers what soldiers he can who are loyal to him, and when they ask if they will regroup to defend the rest of the region, Faltan says no, they are going to defend his honor.

 

We then get a series of scenes showing the characters fleeing from Baghdad, Faltan’s group chasing the heroes on horseback, and both groups trying to avoid detection from bands of scouts belonging to Timur’s army, and there is one tense chase scene where the group of heroes have to reach a ferry across a river and get to it in the nick of time as it pushes off, just before enemy soldiers arrive. But in an exchange of arrows between the groups, a couple of the townspeople who came to help are killed

 

The heroes wind up that night taking shelter in a shepherd’s hut, and the characters interact. After Navid and Jamilla go to sleep, Nadia and Omar talk more about everything, and it is clear an attraction is forming between them, though Nadia keeps a distance because she is still mourning her husband.

 

Faltan’s men, after their own fight with the invaders, cross the river and try to track the heroes. One soldier picks up a trail that leads in the direction of the shepherd’s home.

 

One of the remaining townspeople, who is a scout, notices the group on their way and alerts the others that trouble is coming. They try to sneak away unnoticed, but are discovered and another chase on horseback ensues, but Faltan was clever and split his force into two, with the other part going on ahead to trap them, which forces the heroes to ditch their horses and leave the road and flee on foot through a marsh.

 

What follows is a tense sequence of hide and seek in the marsh, as Faltan’s numerous men comb the area for them. We get one scene where Nadia and Jamilla have to hide underwater, using reeds to breathe, as soldiers come within feet of finding them in the night. Navid and Omar are not as lucky, as they are found and in a struggle a few of Faltan’s men are killed, but Navid is captured and Omar knocked out and he falls unconscious into the water.

 

Nadia and Jamilla hear Faltan calling out for Jamilla, saying he has her brother, and he will kill him if Jamilla does not give herself to him. Jamilla tells Nadia she has to turn herself in and Nadia says Faltan will just kill Navid anyway, but Jamilla says she cannot leave him to die. She leaves, and Nadia finds the couple remaining townspeople.

 

Cut to Faltan waiting on the road with most of his remaining men, Navid bound and gagged, when Jamilla appears. She says she will come, once he releases Navid. Faltan says he release Navid when she comes to him. He is a man of his word. She steps forward, and then arrows fly out, killing multiple guards. It is Nadia and the others townsfolk, and Faltan is distracted by the occurrence, so Jamilla pulls out a knife and tries to rush him and stab him, but he blocks her and throws her to the ground. Nadia rushes in as her allies continue to shoot at the guards, and she tries to stab Faltan as well, and the two sisters do get in several minor wounds before Faltan backhands Jamilla, stunning her, and then tackles Nadia to the ground. She wants to know, with his father dead, city ravaged, lands invaded, why is he wasting his time and his men’s lives on this petty chase. Faltan snarls because he won’t let anyone take what belongs to him, and starts to choke Nadia.

 

At this point Omar emerges, having recovered, and tackles Faltan, and the two have a swordfight as Nadia checks on her sister. Omar holds his own, but Faltan’s superior training and equipment wins out, and he wounds Omar. But before he can deliver the killing blow, Nadia shoots him with an arrow, and Faltan goes to his knees, and then Jamilla walks over and stabs him in the heart, and Faltan dies. Seeing their leader fall, the remaining guards book it. The main characters catch their breath, and Nadia and Omar hug.

 

The film shifts back to Basra, with some time has passed and the main characters having re-started the family business, and the other townsfolk who went with them being celebrated as heroes for their role in things. Nadia and Jamilla talk and Jamilla says Sadesh would not want Nadia to mourn forever. Nadia, seeing Omar work some equipment, says she knows. Later, she goes to talk to Omar, and says that while she is still mourning her husband, she would like to start something new. Omar says he would like that too, the two kiss, and walk hand-in-hand back towards where the rest of the family is.

 

Edited July 19, 2022 by 4815162342

[MCKillswitch123]

THE MAN OF THE JUNGLE

 

Based On: Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Buroughs; Tarzan, by Chris Buck and Kevin Lima

 

Studio: Phoenix Fire Entertainment

Director: F. Gary Gray

 

Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama/Musical

Release Date: May 16th

Theater Count: 3956

Rating: PG-13, for disturbing images and themes, bloody violence and foul language

Format: 2D, 3D

Budget: $175 million

Runtime: 115 minutes (1 hour and 55 minutes)

Original Song: "I Feel What They Feel" by Phil Collins

 

Cast:

- Trevante Rhodes as Tarzan

- Daisy Edgar-Jones as Jane Porter

- Yara Shahidi as the voice of Terk**

- Trevor Noah as the voice of Tantor**

- Jason Isaacs as Professor Archimedes Porter

- with Morgan Freeman as the voice of Kerchak**

- with Frank Welker as the voice/noises of Sabor**

- and Oprah Winfrey as the voice of Kala**

 

** indicates mo-cap character

 

Plot: 

Spoiler

In the late 1880's off the Western coast of Africa, a large ship burns down. A number of people, mostly Black, jump down to rowing boats, while we hear and see white men on the boat catch fire and die. We focus on a Black couple, a man and a woman, in their 30's, with the woman carrying a baby on her arms. The three are able to jump on a boat, and row away to Africa. They make camp there. The song "Two Worlds" by Phil Collins starts, as we jump between the family of three make a wooden treehouse inside the jungle, as well as a family of gorillas, led by Kala (Oprah Winfrey, voice) and Kerchak (Morgan Freeman, voice). Kala and Kerchak take care of their newborn baby gorilla, and the playfulness of both the human and gorilla babies is shown.

 

The song stops at 2:14. It starts to thunderstorm on the jungle. The gorilla baby, while its parents are sleeping, escapes to play with a chameleon. However, we see a predator, a leopard, Sabor (Frank Welker, noises), lurk behind the trees. Sabor jumps at the baby gorilla, and we get an intense chase sequence that finishes with the gorilla being hit by Sabor's paw. We get a shot of the gorilla back against a tree while the shadow of Sabor on the tree gets larger and larger. Kerchak and Kala wake up and notice their baby is gone and run after it, but it's too late. By the time they find its body (which we do not see), they hug. Later in the same night, it pours rain. Sabor is not satisfied yet, and she smells the scent of human flesh. As it thunders and rains heavily, Sabor attacks the treehouse. The male human tries to shoot it down, but the shotgun is quickly knocked off his hand. Sabor mawls the man and the woman to death, and leaves only the baby alive.

 

The song restarts at 2:37. The next day, the still-heartbroken Kala hears a distant child's cry and, following it, stumbles upon the treehouse. She enters the treehouse to find it trashed, and blood covered paw prints (as well as the corpses of the couple) on the floor. Kala rescues the baby from a predatory, stalking Sabor and returns with it to the rest of the group, but Kerchak despises the boy for his appearance. Nevertheless, Kala decides to raise the boy as her own, naming him Tarzan, and singing him "You'll Be in My Heart".

 

A few years later, Tarzan befriends Kala and Kerchak's niece, a feisty young female gorilla named Terk. One day, Terk and two of her friends go to a pond where the elephants are. Terk tells Tarzan he can hang out with them if he gets a hair from an elephant being sarcastic hoping it would get rid of him, but Tarzan takes her seriously, so he tries to get a hair but he starts to cause a commotion with all the elephants including a young elephant named Tantor thinking Tarzan is a piranha. Eventually, he gets the hair and sends all the elephants (except Tantor) into a stampede right into the gorillas, almost killing a baby gorilla. He then befriends Tantor and goes on adventures with Tantor and Terk, where the song "Son of Man" plays - highlighting how "son of man, a man you will be.". Despite his inability to compete with the rest of the gorillas, Tarzan perseveres and eventually grows into a strong, capable, and gorilla-like grown man.

 

Tarzan is now a young adult. On adventures out on the wild, he notices the arrival of two humans: Professor Archimedes Porter (Jason Isaacs), a scientist with a machete on his hands, cutting away bamboo trees; and Jane (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a kooky woman who is the Professor's daughter. The two humans are terrified of the jungle, but the Professor mocks being strong. Jane and the Professor are stalked by Sabor, who tries to kill them. Tarzan saves the humans from Sabor in an intense fight. Afterward, he comes closer to Jane and the Professor. Jane is awestruck at Tarzan, while the Professor despises Tarzan for the color of his skin, calling him a tribal cannibal. Tarzan does not fully understand their speaking, and takes Jane to a tree (her screaming in panic, the Professor vowing to get her back). Hysterical, Jane tries to run, but Tarzan befriends her quickly. It soon starts to rain, and the two come palm to palm with each other. Tarzan begins to realize that this stranger like him might be what he is too, and the song "Strangers Like Me" starts.

 

Tarzan admits to Terk and Tantor that he is feeling something new, something strange toward Jane, whom he leaves in a camp with the Professor, who is still belligerently racist. Terk and Tantor don't fully blame Tarzan, although Terk is more judgmental and Tantor is more scared that something bad will happen. Terk calls Tarzan out because he is an ape, not a "thing that might be really bad and they don't know what it its". Tarzan is confused and ends up speaking with Kala about it. Kala tries to convince Tarzan of his origins, that he is not a human, he is an ape. Kerchak finds Jane and the Professor and, deeming them as threats to the gorilla family, tries to scare them off the jungle. Tarzan saves Jane and the Professor. The Professor is ashamed that Tarzan saves him, but Jane finally snaps and berates her father for being racist. Tarzan sort of starts to make up what they're saying, and threatens to hurt the Professor, who is scared.

 

Jane and Tarzan become more confident on each other, and Tarzan introduces her to the family. Jane and Kala are surprisingly friendly, as Jane is too with Terk and Tantor, but Kerchak sees this from a distance and feels like Tarzan is betraying the family - however, he does not have time to express himself, as Sabor attacks again. This time, she nearly wounds Jane and Kerchak. Tarzan is able to scare her off for the moment - at that point, Kala finally reveals to Tarzan that not only did Sabor kill Tarzan's parents, but she also killed Tarzan's baby gorilla brother. Tarzan, in an act of wrath, follows Sabor to her hideout, where it turns out that she is taking care of two baby leopards. Sabor is bringing them food, when Tarzan, with a spear, attacks and wounds Sabor. He then threatens the two baby leopards with death, but Jane and Kala are able to knock sense into him before he does. Tarzan runs, crying. Later, Kala brings a grieving Tarzan to the treehouse, where we hear "I Feel What They Feel", an original song about how Tarzan does not understand his emotions - he feels both the anger of an animal, but he understands that he is not an animal like his family; he is, in fact, a human, and he feels love for Jane, while also hurt for the tragedy of his life. Tarzan and Kala have one final moment, where Tarzan admits what he feels. Kala simply asks him to never forget his origins, but if he wants to be human, he can go with Jane back to where she came from. Tarzan considers this and says he might.

 

Tarzan tells Jane that he wants to go with her back to (she completes, to England), Jane accepts, while the Professor, who gets a death stare from Jane, accepts Tarzan coming with them, even muttering to himself that he is not a tribal cannibal at all, but rather a good person. However, before they go, Sabor attacks the pack again, brutally wounding Kala. Sabor is relentless in her attempts to kill Tarzan, while Tarzan, realizing his own humanity, tries to apologize to Sabor for almost killing her children, even if she did do him a lot of damage. Sabor nearly runs off, but she comes back, and she and Tarzan fight, until Tantor, with newfound courage, jumps the train and attack Sabor himself. Tantor is more than able to hold his own against the leopard. Jane, Kala and Terk help as well. With all the distractions, Tarzan finally kills her with his spear. Everyone in the family + Jane and the Professor cheer, but they end their cheers, when Kala is in his final moments. Kala, proud of Tarzan, calls him his son, and Tarzan sings her "You'll Be in My Heart (Reprise)", until she peacefully dies. Kerchak and Tarzan hug, Kerchak distraught at ever believing Tarzan wasn't one of his own or his son, but Tarzan lets that go and holds him tight. Kerchak tells Tarzan that it's his choice to depart with Jane and the Professor. Jane smiles at him, the Professor smiles as well. Tarzan, after pondering, makes the decision to stay with his family. Jane's heart is initially broken, until she decides that she's going to stay too. The Professor, begrudingly, stays too, but says that it'll be easy to accomodate, and he and Tarzan have a tense-ish but friendly hug. Tarzan hugs Terk and Tantor as well, thanking Tantor for helping with Sabor, making Tantor cry (and Terk ugh).

 

Tarzan and the rest of the family bury Kala, a human costume, in their camp, and, another human costume, they burn Sabor's ashes and drop them in the ocean. Tarzan visits Sabor's cubs, who are scared of him, but he brings them in with kindness, and he and Jane decide to adopt them, despite their hesitation and need of their mother. The family promises to take care of the cubs, as Tarzan and Jane swing across vines and surf trees. "He is not just a man... he is Tarzan. The Man of the Jungle."

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 2022 by MCKillswitch123

[SLAM!]

Well, nothing else is being submitted today so we are now officially

 

CLOSED

 

aside from a few IMAX reallocations

[YM!]

On 6/2/2022 at 12:08 AM, SLAM! said:

Temporary Updated Y9 Schedule

 

So this updated schedule is meant as a way to keep track of new posts on the submission thread for the time being; the schedule on the other thread may be updated in the future, but this schedule will tide over players eager for an updated top-down look at how the year's shaping up so far. This is a living post that I plan to update as more films get submitted in the lead-up to the June 27th deadline. Whenever films are posted in the submission thread, I'll add them here, and if you have any other requests about the schedule, you can tag me in this discussion thread and I'll make changes; my goal is to do either of those tasks within twenty-four hours of the film getting posted or the request being made. 😎

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Friday, January 3rd

Winner Takes All - Thriller/Black Comedy - Directed by Stefan Schwartz - R - $12.5m budget - 3,088 theaters

Friday, January 10th

Socksucker - Romantic Comedy - Directed by Paul Fieg - R - $25m budget - 3,278 theaters

Friday, January 17th (4-Day MLK Weekend)

Interceptors - Sci-Fi/Action - Directed by Simon West - PG-13 - $100m budget - 3,625 theaters - In IMAX (2 Weeks)

Super Monkey Ball - Animated Comedy - Directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn - PG - $91m budget - 3,770 theaters

Friday, January 24th

Go-Kart Gottlieb - Drama - Directed by Tom Tykwer - PG-13 - $40m budget - 2,370 theaters

Friday, January 31st

By The Seaside - Teen Romantic Comedy - directed by Karen Maine - PG-13 - $25m budget - 3,433 theaters
Grand Theft Auto - Crime/Thriller/Action/Satire/Drama - Directed by Liz Friedlander - R - $60m budget - 3,883 theaters - In IMAX (2 weeks)

Friday, February 7th

The Crummy Shindig - Comedy/Musical - Directed by Ol Parker - PG - $30m budget - 3,317 theaters

Friday, February 14th (4-Day President’s Day Weekend)

Landslide - Action/Thriller - Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber - PG-13 - $70m budget - 4,022 theaters - In IMAX (12 weeks)

Whinge & Cringe - Live-Action & Animation Hybrid/Black Comedy - Directed by Peter Avanzino - R - $75m budget - 3,179 theaters

Friday, February 21st

Scales of Justice - Legal Drama - Directed by Scott Frank - R - $30m budget - 3,160 theaters

Friday, February 28th

Death Is Not My Friend - Surrealist Drama - Directed by Emily Harris - PG-13 - $25m budget - 2,589 theaters

Friday, March 7th

Bugcatcher Boys - Family Comedy - Directed by Thor Freudenthal - PG - $15m budget - 2,877 theaters
Deep Sixed - Action - Directed by Patrick Hughes - R - $30m budget - 3,432 theaters

Friday, March 14th
The Last Victim - Horror - Directed by André Øvredal - R - $30m budget - 3,150 theaters

Friday, March 21st

Alakazam! - Animation - Directed by Sarah Smith and J.P. Vine - PG - $125m budget - 3,875 theaters

Friday, March 28th

American Spy - Spy Thriller/Romance - Directed by Ava DuVernay - PG-13 - $45m budget - 3,289 theaters

Friday, April 4th

Bikini - Drama - Directed by Kelly Reichardt - R - $10m budget - 1,475 theaters

Molly and Emmett - Animation/Family/Children's - Directed by Dan Walker - G - $10m budget - 1,500 Theaters

Friday, April 11th

Heart of the Amazon - Nature Documentary - G - $5m budget - 2,491 theaters

Friday, April 18th (Easter Weekend)

The Boy Who Hated Books - Family/Drama - Directed by Thea Sharrock - PG - $42m budget - 3,356 theaters

Devil Bean - Action/Comedy - Directed by Doug Liman - PG-13 - $75m budget - 3,361 Theaters

Friday, April 25th

Shadow of the Comet - Action/Science-Fiction - Directed by Harold Kingsley - PG-13 - $25m budget - 2,086 Theaters

Friday, May 2nd

Martian Manhunter - Superhero/Sci-Fi/Action - Directed by Matt Shakman - PG-13 - $155m budget - 4,287 theaters - In IMAX (Three Weeks)

Friday, May 9th (Mother’s Day Weekend)

Kirby and the King's Caper - Animation - Directed by Pierre Perifel - PG - $100m budget - 4,042 theaters

Friday, May 16th

AeroMobil: The Future Is Now - Documentary - Directed by Josh Lowell and Peter Mortimer - PG - $5m budget - 2,115 theaters

The Man of the Jungle - Action/Adventure/Drama/Musical - Directed by F. Gary Gray - PG-13 - $175m budget - 3,956 theaters

Friday, May 23rd (4-Day Memorial Day Weekend)
Revenge Ex - Romantic Comedy - Directed by Will Gluck - R - $37m budget - 3,925 theaters

Rocket Hero - Action/Thriller - Directed by Christopher McQuarrie - PG-13 - $110m budget - 3,657 theaters - In IMAX (2 weeks)

Friday, May 30th

Fatal Error - Horror/Sci-Fi - Directed by M.J. Bassett - R - $15m budget - 2,842 theaters

Friday, June 6th
Matilda and the Night Children - Computer Animation/Fantasy/Musical - Directed by Ashton Corbin and Everett Downing - PG - $135m budget - 4,239 - In IMAX (1 week)

Friday, June 13th (Father’s Day Weekend)
Xenoblade Chronicles: Power of the Monado - Sci-Fi/Adventure - Directed by Wes Ball - PG-13 - $150m budget - 3,850 theaters - In IMAX (7 weeks)

Friday, June 20th
The Next Good Day - Drama - Directed by Tom McCarthy - PG-13 - $15m budget - 2,820 theaters

Friday, June 27th

Second Dimension: Last Hope - Action/Fantasy - Directed by Chloé Zhao - PG-13 - $160m budget - 4,105 theaters

Wednesday, July 2nd (5-Day Independence Day Weekend)
Heremias - CGI Animation/Fantasy/Adventure/Drama - Directed by Brenda Chapman - PG - $150m budget - 4,185 theaters

War on Drugs: America's Modern Conflict - Documentary - Directed by Lyric Cabral - R - $5m budget - 2,150 theaters

Friday, July 11th

The Mirage - Western/Horror - Directed by Fede Álvarez - R - $20m budget - 3,664 theaters

Friday, July 18th

HOOOOOPs - Sports Comedy - Directed by Charles Stone III - PG-13 - $25m budget - 3,392 theaters

Friday, July 25th

Hearts of Fire: Vengeful Heart - Action/Thriller - Directed by Natália Grimberg - PG-13 - $30m budget - 3,123 theaters

Friday, August 1st

Dinosaucers - Animation/Fantasy/Children's - Directed by John M. Carrigan - PG - $45m budget - 3,104 theaters - In IMAX (4 weeks)

Friday, August 8th

Gran Turismo - Sports - Directed by Jamie Babbit - PG-13 - $60m budget - 3,462 theaters

Friday, August 15th

The Excursion (Limited Release) - Portuguese Drama - Directed by Sérgio Graciano - PG-13 - $942.6k budget - 3 theaters

Someone's Grace - Faith-Based - Directed by Roxann Dawson - PG - $10m budget - 2,824 theaters

Friday, August 22nd
The Excursion (Limited Expansion #1) - Portuguese Drama - Directed by Sergio Graciano - PG-13 - $942.6k budget - 10 theaters

The Talons of the Hawk - Horror/Thriller - Directed by Gareth Edwards - R - $50m budget - 3,170 theaters

Friday, August 29th (4-Day Labor Day Weekend)

The Excursion (Limited Expansion #2) - Portuguese Drama - Directed by Sérgio Graciano - PG-13 - $942.6k budget - 567 theaters

The First Water War - Family Comedy - Directed by David Bowers - PG - $20m budget - 3,201 theaters

Scythe - YA Dystopian/Thriller - Directed by Matthew Vaughn - R - $100m budget - 3,845 theaters - In IMAX (4 weeks)

Friday, September 5th

Acne - Body Horror/Psychological Drama - Directed by Jake Hammond - R - $7m budget - 3,231 theaters

Seals of Honor - Nature Documentary - Directed by Drew Fellman - G - $5m budget - 2,491 theaters

Friday, September 12th

Home Invasion: Part IV - Curtain Call - Directed by Joe Carnahan - $35m budget - 3,029 theaters

Tumbleweed - Western/Slow Cinema - Directed by Gus Van Sant - $10m budget - 2,545 theaters

Friday, September 19th

Raven Island - Animation/Fantasy/Family - Directed by Rebecca Daintree - PG - $20m budget - 2,055 theaters

Friday, September 26th
Invader Zim - Animation/Sci-Fi/Black Comedy - Directed by Owen Dennis - PG - $120m budget - 3,701 theaters - In IMAX (2 weeks)

Friday, October 3rd

Fore! - Comedy - Directed by Tom Gormican - PG-13 - $30m budget - 3,036 theaters

Warmth (Limited Release) - Drama/Fantasy - Directed by Alfonso Cuarón - R - $45m budget - 4 theaters

Friday, October 10th (4-Day Indigenous People’s Day/Columbus Day Weekend)

Mechamen - Sci-Fi/Action - Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra - PG-13 - $150m budget - 4,019 theaters - In IMAX (7 weeks)

Warmth (Limited Expansion #1) - Drama/Fantasy - Directed by Alfonso Cuarón - R - $45m budget - 500 theaters

Sleepy Hollow - Stop Motion/Animation/Thriller/Mystery/Horror - Directed by Henry Selick - R - $70m budget - 3,925 theaters

Friday, October 17th

Guinea Pigger - Comedy - Directed by Ron Oliver - PG - $7.5m budget - 3,019 theaters

Warmth (Wide Release) - Drama/Fantasy - Directed by Alfonso Cuarón - R - $45m budget - 666 theaters

Friday, October 24th

Red Rabbit - Spy/Drama/Thriller - Directed by John Madden - PG-13 - $60m budget - 3,544 theaters

#Spooked - Horror/Comedy - Directed by Jeff Wadlow - PG-13 - $10m budget - 3,432 theaters

Warmth (Wide Expansion #2) - Drama/Fantasy - Directed by Alfonso Cuarón - R - $45m budget - 1,478 theaters

Friday, October 31st

Grace and Mercy - Dramedy - Directed by Stella Meghie - PG-13 - $20m budget - 2,754 theaters

Warmth (Wide Expansion #3) - Drama/Fantasy - Directed by Alfonso Cuarón - R- $45m budget - 2,978 theaters

Friday, November 7th

Land of the Crescent - Period Adventure - Directed by Mohamed Diab - $90m budget - 3,933 theaters

Mother Knows Better - Comedy - Directed by Tyler Perry - PG-13 - $20m budget - 3,785 theaters

Friday, November 14th

Tongue Tied - Fantasy/Romantic Comedy - Directed by Armando Iannucci - PG-13 - $60m budget - 3,215 theaters

Friday, November 21st

Runaway Train - Biographical Drama - Directed by James Mangold - R - $35m budget - 3,132 theaters

Wednesday, November 26th (5-Day Thanksgiving Weekend)
Inspector Gadget and Penny - CG Animation/Comedy/Action - Directed by Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath - PG - $85m budget - 4,023 theaters

Ultraman: Dark Future - Superhero/Sci-Fi - Directed by Jonathan Liebesman - PG-13 - $110m budget - 3,973 theaters - in IMAX (5 weeks)

Friday, December 5th

Father III - All Hell Breaks Loose - Horror/Thriller/Action - Directed by Anna Foersted - R - $25m budget - 3,666 theaters

Friday, December 12th

The Baddest of Them All - Concert - Directed by Bruce Hendricks - PG-13 - $7m budget - 2,450 theaters

SSX - Action/Sports - Directed by Aaron and Adam Nee - PG-13 - $100m budget - 4,253 theaters

Friday, December 19th

Dancing in the Doghouse - Thriller/Drama/Romance - Directed by Karyn Kusama - R - $85m budget - 3,301 theaters
The Queen Who Never Was - Fantasy Drama - Directed by Michelle MacLaren - R - $200m budget - 4,013 theaters

Thursday, December 25th (4-Day Christmas Weekend)

Among Us - Comedy/Mystery - Directed by James Gunn - PG-13 - $100m budget - 3,850 theaters

Vixen and the Castle of Doom - Animation/Fantasy - Directed by Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman, and Gianluigi Toccafondo - PG - $15.8m budget - 2,867 theaters

 

The film roster is here, just for easier navigation.