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‘RED ONE’ a Christmas movie with mythical powers – Review

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RED ONE is a Christmas movie with a Marvel superhero feel from another time, another place, another dimension. It starts off with a young Jack O’Malley finding Christmas presents hidden in a closet, proving that there is no Santa Claus. Jack is then mocked by his cousin telling him that if he can find the presents, then he can then find his estranged father. From this point on Jack becomes disgruntled with Christmas. Fast forward 30 years, adult Jack (Chris Evans) is a conceited grifter and still despises Christmas. He also has a son, Dylan (Wesley Kimmel) that he somewhat neglects. Jack’s cockiness resembles the personality of Johnny Storm – Human Torch from Fantastic Four.

Santa Claus (J. K. Simmons), aka Nick, code name RED ONE, has his personal bodyguard Callum “Cal” Drift (Dwayne Johnson), which serves more like a secret service agent. The movie picks up momentum when RED ONE is kidnapped by a witch named Gryla (Kieran Shipka), and Jack is hired to track him down with the help of Cal. In the quest to save Nick, our Christmas heroes Jack and Cal encounter Krampus (Kristofer Hivju) who happens to be Nick’s brother. There is a lot of hilarious action fight scenes and cool gadgets. Honorable mention to ELF Agent Garcia, the huge adorable polar bear. Do not mess with this bear!

RED ONE has a lot of entertaining similarities to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Gryla looks like Storm from X-Men, Dylan’s resemblance to Bucky Barnes (The Winter Solider), Cal shrinking like Ant-Man, Nick’s jumping moves like Spider-Man, and a bridge very similar to Bifröst (Thor). There were even snowman creatures that look familiar to the Night King from Game of Thrones. Surely, Director Jake Kasdan and Writer Hiram Garcia had fun making this film.

In general, the movie is about making life choices, good and bad. Jack and Cal each come to a pivotal moment where they have the opportunity to make amends within their personal affairs. Due to some intense scenes and language, this Christmas movie is recommended for teens and adults, especially for the Marvel fans.

Sabrina - Kiddo is the newest member of Countdown City Geeks and is a contributor of movie and television show reviews. Her passion for film derived from her college days where her rhetoric-writing professor focused on the aspects of screenwriting and music lyrics. She also has a knack for saying movie quotes.

Movie Reviews

Final Destination Bloodlines – This wild horror film takes you down memory lane where it all makes “cents”. (Movie Review)

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While patiently waiting and strategizing over a decade, the mysterious entity of Death finally settles the score. Final Destination Bloodlines takes you back to 1968 where it all began. Brec Bassinger makes a solid entrance in the film portraying the young Iris Campbell – The root of all chaos from messing with predestined mortalities.

Richard Harmon takes charge of holding the film together with his role as the rebellious Erik. Harmon knows how to deliver the fright in this arrogant heavily pierced character.

Final Destination Bloodlines has a great storyline, but unfortunately, the remaining cast seemed sapless like twigs.

On the other hand, watching Tony Todd’s last film appearance as William John Bludworth brought out emotions in the theater.  The mystifying backstory of Bludworth was revealed along with his connection to Death’s design – those last words were haunting.

Final Destination Bloodlines is all about the details. It focuses on the small elements that trigger the chain of events making it “crystal clear” the characters will slip through the cracks trying to defy Death. The numerous disaster scenes are truly worth watching in IMAX format. Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein made great use of the color red throughout the film, with an excellent choice of needle drops to set the tone for the characters’ gruesome fatality. One moment I was singing and in a split second screaming.

Nonetheless,  this movie has many shocking twists and plenty of blood splatter to keep horror fans gasping and on the edge of your seat. Unlike the other films in the Final Destination series, this one blends in humor to relieve the tension to create an elevating viewing experience. It also brings back the original tactics that Death had planned to put into motion – careful driving behind a trailer hauling massive logs.

Just like the overall basis of the series, no matter how hard  the characters tried to escape and challenge their fate, Death’s retribution ultimately concludes in Final Destination Bloodline.  

Final Destination Bloodline will be released in theaters May 16, 2025.

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In theaters May 9th is the fascinating sci-fi film, ‘Watch the Skies’ – Review

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Watch the Skies is a heartfelt sci-fi film with a remarkable ensemble cast, showcases the impressive talent of rising star Inez Dahl Torhaug. The story centers on a young protagonist as she unravels the mystery surrounding her father’s disappearance years before. This all happened while he was conducting investigative work on UFOs. The film balances whimsical and quirky moments with deeply profound emotional scenes that are captivating.

A unique blend of British-European humor and sci-fi adventure, Watch the Skies draws inspiration from a real-life Swedish extraterrestrial research group. Sci-fi enthusiasts will find themselves particularly well-equipped to enjoy this charming and thought-provoking cinematic journey.

Synopsis: A rebellious teenage woman’s father went missing years ago and she believes that he didn’t run away but was abducted by aliens. She joins forces with a funky UFO club made up of a lovable group of weirdos and rejects. Together, they embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond the boundaries of the law and ultimately, our world.

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Blake Lively brings extravagant fashion to this murder-mystery comedy movie in ‘Another Simple Favor’ – Review

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When it comes to making a grand entrance in a movie , Blake Lively definitely kills it in Another Simple Favor. She looked sophistically stunning in those posh outfits and lavish shoes! Lively really steals the spotlight portraying the charming and deceptive Emily Nelson / Hope McLanden who disrupts Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) during a book reading to ask for a simple favor. Kendrick is a master in emerging into roles of the sweet, impulsive and vulnerable characters.

This saga takes place in the beautiful Island of Capri, where the extravagant wedding of Emily (Lively) to the handsome Italian mobster Dante Versano (Michele Morrone). When Aunt Linda (Allison Janney) makes a surprise appearance with Emily’s deranged mother Margaret (Elizabeth Perkins), well you know sparks will be bursting. Stephanie (Kendrick) is determined to seek answers to the mysterious occurrences and disappearance of Emily. The plot thickens with mind-bending, jaw-dropping twists, which leads the possibility of a trilogy.

The entire cast was amusing. This movie has a lot of dark raunchy humor, which at times could be a bit “tmi”. From feuding scenes with Henry Golding as Sean Townsend (Emily’s ex-husband) to Blake’s bedroom scene where she playing a dual role – uncomfortable, awkwardness. However, it received plenty of laughter from the audience.

Another Simple Favor will be available on Amazon Prime Video starting May 1, 2025. It will sure be a great suggestion for a girl’s night movie party.

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