Category: 2025 Movie “Reviews”

The Bad Guys 2 “Review”

Release date: August 1, 2025 (USA)

Director: Pierre Perifel

Running time: 1h 44m

Prequel: The Bad Guys

MPAA rating: PG

Adapted from: The Bad Guys

3/6 of the rapid fire “Review” batch and here we have Bad Guys 2 😀 Loved the first title so how’d the sequel do to follow?

Watched this panel at Comic Con and was very much excited to watch this.

Overall this was a fun time. Even moments of greatness and some nice surprises.

Enjoyed the first one then you should watch this because the next title has the setup to be a master piece :D… I hope haha.

You know what was missing… a solid sound track. Bad guys playing in a Bad guys movie was awesome and just hit! This time around everything was good, but didn’t match the original.

Between the music and the villains which again were still good but just didn’t hit like our evil Professor Rupert this movie was a solid good, almost great with a 7.5/10.

Let’s keep with comedy…some zany comedy 😀 you know it at – The Naked Gun

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Together “Review”

Release date: July 30, 2025 (USA)

Director: Michael Shanks

Producers: Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Erik Feig, Tim Headington, Andrew Mittman, Mike Cowap, Julia Hammer, Max Silva

Running time: 1h 42m

Distributed by: Neon

MPAA rating: R

I think my experience was affected by the Talk to Me experience – Let’s explain in this rapid fire “Review” batch.

Reviews for this title came out hot like 99/100 % hot. It was hyped as the greatest horror known on earth! Well…. I found Substance executed it way better. The trailer had me hooked…but the trailer showed the movie. Yea there’s some extra deets sprinkled in from the trailer which is a good watch. However it doesn’t push the bar past what’s already been shown.

It’s a good watch but very little replay value for me personally. Placing Together at a 7/10.

How’s that for a rapid fire? – Let’s discuss more in the comments if interested.

Next up a very much different change of vibe – Bad Guys 2 😀

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps “Review”

Release date: July 25, 2025 (USA)

Director: Matt Shakman

Running time: 1h 55m

Adapted from: Fantastic Four

MPAA rating: PG-13

Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

It may have been just over a week since my last “Review” but I’ve been watching a lot of movies. Let’s catch up shall we with a rapid fire “Review” session…..that doesn’t bold well for what’s to come :S.

The short of it was that I found the movie to be, just okay. Yea the marketing killed this for me just like Captain America Brave New World…… kind of a buzz kill after actually enjoying Thunder Bolts :S.

Since this is a rapid fire to catch up let’s put it this way.

It’s better than BNW but story and plot points I felt like it could have been skipped. I enjoyed the family but Incredibles did it better.

Fell asleep during space birth and felt like I didn’t miss much with silver surfer.

My wife thoroughly enjoyed it though having not even seen a trailer and likes this version of Fantastic 4 more than any previous version.

So if you want to enjoy Disney Marvel movies I need to avoid the trailers…somehow :S. 6/10

This batch isn’t bad but it’s certainly a luke warm batch.

Appreciate you coming by Popped and apologize for the rapid fire catch up. 6 movies in under 2 weeks was a grind after returning from Comic Con :D.

Love to discuss more thoughts in the comments if anyone’s interested.

Next up – Together

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Smurfs “Review”

Release date: July 18, 2025 (USA)

Director: Chris Miller

Music composed by: Rihanna, Henry Jackman

Producers: Rihanna, Tyran Smith, Ryan Harris, Jay Brown

Running time: 1h 32m

MPAA rating: PG

Going to make this quick as need to pack for Comic Con! 😀

Quick thoughts. Movie was overall okay. It had good content and fun scenes within it. For a short movie it sure got boring at moments. Could have cut the Rihanna songs personally for the classics but we eventually got some :D.

Loved the Sponge Bob short at the beginning. Also cool setup for a sequel in the mid credit scene. Thought the multiverse stuff would be explored more from what’s shown in the trailer but alas it’s mainly the worlds been shown from the trailer.

MVP goes to the turtle, loved him. Also was cool for No Name Smurf to have his journey. Was a little distracting having James Corden be the voice as a No Name character. His voice actor certainly isn’t.

It’s got some lore building to the world which is cool and I’m down for a sequel. It’s an okay to fine movie at best. 6/10 for Smurfs Popped.blog “review” :D.

Thank you all for coming by Popped.blog. I’ve seen an increase in traffic to the sight recently and appreciate all those recent subscribers 😀 Once live and Comic Con have been caught up on. Let’s dive into the second half of the year like I WANTED TOO back in late June early July :D.

A las until next time movie goers. I’ll see you, next time. Happy Fantastic 4 viewings this weekend and excited to see if this keeps momentum for the MCU or the ride to Dooms Day is going to be a dry spell of nothingness.

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I Know What You Did Last Summer “Review”

Release date: July 18, 2025 (USA)

Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Prequel: I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 1h 51m

Distributed by: Sony Pictures Releasing

Watched this on Thursday and here we are on a Tuesday night so you can probably see my thoughts of this title from that. Let’s quickly get into this…..

If this was Thursday I’d have a rant and a comparison for you in two routes. Borderlands & Final Destination. How this movie joined one while the other was the how to tale of bringing old properties back the right way.

Yea this movie freaking sucked and it could have been okay. But once the scooby doo nature was revealed and the incredibly awful writing continued to expose this awful story. You come away having wasted your time and been insulted by the movie.

To say this was a streaming movie doesn’t do it this movie right. I’m considering switching a 1 and a 4 around. This movie to be fair is a 4 at best. 1 Currently ranking would be a awful streaming movie to have on in the background. I wouldn’t even waste my time with it even in the background.

Check out the most recent Final Destination and forget this property existed. Worst yet. They want a sequel :S.

Gotta be quick as I need to pack for Comic Con so here’s you rapid fire “Review” – Up next – Smurfs 2025 :D. (Sorry Eddington, I may not get to you :S. – Fantastic 4 Hopefully Sunday I’ll be checking it out)

With that a 1 / 4 you pick out of 10. Stick around for Smurfs and as always, thank you for coming by Popped :D.

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Superman “Review”

Release date: July 11, 2025 (USA)

Director: James Gunn

Starring: David Corenswet; Rachel Brosnahan; Nicholas Hoult; Edi Gathegi; Anthony Carrigan; Nathan Fillion; Isabela Merced

MPAA rating: PG-13

Running time: 2h 9m

Distributed by: Warner Bros.

Today’s the day we finally have James Gunn’s Superman, the first of many Gunn DC Verse movies. So how was it? How’d the trailer do? Did I like it? Let’s discuss shall we 😀

The short Answer – Did I like it? (Non Spoiler)

Yes! I did like the movie, had moments of greatness I’d like to watch again. Overall – It’s a good movie worth checking out.

A little more? – Sure, lets discuss before splitting open the…

For a Superman Movie….why is Superman & Lois Lane my weakest felt component? – That’s not to say I didn’t like them. It took some time to grow and work on me. But having the relationship be already established, the magic wasn’t felt…nor was it ever but I’ll let you experience that for yourself to decide.

Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor was awesome and nailed the role. Love to have more of him in this universe. Love the Harley Quinn animated show and Lex is great in that. Mister Terrific was also awesome and loved his scenes. At first I wasn’t digging his intro but then I got it!

The trailer does a good job by the way also which is rare for some comic book movies….. cough … Marvel.. cough :D. Had some surprises and treats to enjoy specially in the second half. Although she feels young for her character. I did enjoy Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl. It’s interesting as 6 years ago she was playing Dora in Dora the explorer. At 24 years of age I kept thinking of Hawkman & Hawkgirl combo which are adults. Yes 24 is an adult but she’s playing alongside 40 & 50 year old actors which makes her feel even younger. She’s great, I’d like to see more down the road but felt odd when comparing to the animated shows of the past I was raised on in my youth. She’s the weakest member of the Justice Gang though sadly.

Let’s split open the ….. 😀 and dive in deep – Turn away if you’ve got what you’d like from this “Review”….

The origins of the universe / story was quickly summed up in a few sentences at the start of the movie. I’d love to have seen some of it as a rapid fire play through but it’s fine. You see Superman starting off being beaten down badly. To then get backup and destroyed once more.

David Corenswet is a good Superman but took awhile for me to get into as those intro moments setting up Lex and his gang. I wanted more! But had to get through the Lois and Clark parts before getting back to the villains which totally carried this movie at the start (For me personally).

Lots of profanity in this movie for those with small children. Heads up – Sh*t is used several times.

I haven’t mentioned it but… Krypto was great! Loved him 😀 Such a good boy. Had lots of fun scenes and I’m ready for more of Superman and Krypto… 😀 hehe. Enjoy!

Go have fun! I want to chat more but don’t want to get into spoilers soooooo go have fun. Get your popcorn, sit back and enjoy the ride. From the lowest of okays to good to the highs of greatness. There’s going to be something or someone for your enjoyment in this movie.

Two end credit scenes. A mid and a end scene. Both are fun but the end is a gaff. Mister Terrific was the main MVP of this movie along with Lex Luthor for me personally :D. Let’s see how this weekend does as Popped score Superman a 7.5/10.

Thank you as always for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Have you checked out Superman yet? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

This is my biggest Summer Movie of 2025 so curious to see how it goes. We have 3 movies out next week then the following week is Fantastic 4 before pretty much wrapping up Summer. Bad Guys 2 first week of August.

Almost time to retrospect the first half of 2025. Comic Con may or may not drop some exciting news for movies and shows to come for the second half. But thus far what’s been your fave ?

Until next time though, happy movie going!

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F1 “Review”

Release date: June 27, 2025 (USA)

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Producers: Brad Pitt, Joseph Kosinski, Lewis Hamilton, Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad Oman, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner

Production companies: Dawn Apollo Films, Apple Studios, Plan B Entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Monolith Pictures

Running time: 2h 36m

MPAA rating: PG-13

Excited by Brad pits last Apple TV movie…. before they put Wolfs on digital release. We’re back with F1, a jam packed emotional roller coaster of character growth and insane journey for the APX GP team. So what did I think? Let’s Discuss shall we.

Ruben Carvantes (Played by Javier Bardem) long time friend in this career to Sonny Hayes (Played by Brad Pitt). Has visited Sonny to recruit him to be a partner driver alongside his rookie Joshua Pearce (Played by Damson Idris) for their failing team APX GP. Half way through the season and cant keep their second racer and at risk of loosing their jobs. Sonny Hayes is here to save the day?

There’s great performances from the entire crew. I loved the emotional journey from each of these racers along with the overall team. I wish we had longer with some of the other characters but they managed to have a relationship for Kate (Played by Kerry Condon) in this movie while leaving Jodie (Played by Callie Cooke) to have some scenes but I’d loved to have explored more without going into spoilers.

For someone not into Formula 1, this movie does it right. The action, sound & Music, come together and create a edge of your seat experience where the entire audience was leaned into the theatre screen awaiting outcomes and verdicts. It was such an experience where I was back and forth on 8.5 or 9/10. This is a movie to check out on the biggest screen. Not only filmed in IMAX but just the visuals and shots in F1 were a visual spectacular to behold.

Let me know what you thought of F1 but I’m locking this title in as a weaker 9/10 for Popped. blog score. 😀 What more surprises will we have coming this year? We sure are filling up the top 10 list. Will Smurfs continue this 7+ /10 craze or end the streak to be saved by Fab 4 / Bad Guys 2 ? Only time will have to tell.

Thank you all for coming by Popped. blog for your movie “Reviews”. Happy movie going out there and enjoy your epic weekend of movie releases, M3gan 2.0 & F1 are here but did anyone check out Hot Milk? RT has it at 29% from critics but no general audience yet. Is this a job for Popped? 😀

See you next batch!

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M3GAN 2.0 “Review”

Release date: June 27, 2025 (USA)

Director: Gerard Johnstone

MPAA rating: PG-13

Prequel: M3GAN

Running time: 1h 59m

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

M3gan is back in M3gan 2.0. A PG13 movie that pushes that boundary to it’s limit. I can easily see a R rated version releasing on digital like the 1st feature did. Did I enjoy it? Let’s discuss 😀

I dug this movie from the intro. A darker entry into this world focused on the military and corporate control over AI tech and the sequel of M3gan’s design being used for their purpose.

With how strong this intro was. I personally felt the shift in tone and pacing when we visited Gemma and the gang during the first hour. It took a minute for these two fronts to merge into unity but that second hour was golden.

Great performances for this cast once again. Violet McGraw playing a slightly older Cady is back and this time prepared to protect and defend herself without M3gan in the picture. So awesome action and cinematography used in those scenes. When robots / AI fought one another it was epic 😀 finger licking goodness. But even a nice surprise from the human fights scenes also.

Lots of surprises in store that the trailer leaves out (Thank you marketing) but also some cut scenes which I really missed as my most anticipated scene from the trailer was cut… maybe in the R rated version? Enjoy the first title? Then you’re going to have a fun time in the sequel. Maybe we can push this franchise to get another and wrap it up in a trilogy? Or….maybe be apart of the Blum house verse 😀 please please please haha

It’s a solid good watch. Maybe nothing great but a solid one time watch with a Popped score of 7/10. Maybe a 7.5/10 if you’re re-watching this as a trilogy but I’m happy with the 7. It’s a worthy fun watch to be enjoyed this weekend at the theatre.

One feature left to go for June and thus wrapping up the half way mark of 2025 with F1. All going well I’ll check this out Friday. Thank you for coming by Popped.blog for your movie “Reviews”.

62/63 movies for 2025 thus far Reviewed ” 😀 well on our path to 100 for 2025. How is your movie going thus far? Have a goal and on track? What did you think of M3gan 2.0. Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Until next batch though, happy movie going!

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Jurassic World Rebirth “Review”

Release date: July 2, 2025 (USA)

Director: Gareth Edwards

Starring: Scarlett Johansson; Mahershala Ali; Jonathan Bailey; Rupert Friend; Manuel Garcia-Rulfo; Ed Skrein

MPAA rating: PG-13

Running time: 2h 14m

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Massive Disclaimer before we discuss this feature. My experience was utterly impacted and ruined by 2 peoples commentary throughout the ENTIRE movie. ENTIRE MOVIE. Want to hear how bad talking ruins the movie going experience then stick around. Otherwise wanting to know my frustrated “Review” – The movie is fine. Not worth sitting through someone talking for 2 hours. If my wife and I wasn’t blocked in by other parties I’d have been fine walking out and wouldn’t have missed anything not seeing this title. (We had earplugs in too btw)

Let’s discuss shall we :S

Disclaimer / PSA

With this being an early “Review” of this title I’ll be brief with any and all spoilers. But mind you. Remember the above and hold that with a pinch of salt. If you’re someone that likes to talk, please stay at home and wait for streaming. If you’re someone that likes to discuss what’s happening on the screen with your party. Please wait for the streaming platforms to release and have your own watch party in your own space and not a public viewing. Want to watch it as the theatre? RENT YOUR OWN ROOM. Please don’t impact others in a PUBLIC showing. This shouldn’t need to be said but come on!

Characters

The intro to this film setting up characters was tough. There’s two groups. One a family and the other an organization going to this area for (Reasons). There’s 1 member from each group that absolutely makes this a hard entry point as I hated them both. Mix them together and there’s some qualities from the “Good” characters that balance the awful. But I really didn’t care about the characters.

Story

From the intro this movie felt like a re-skin of the recent Ghostbusters movies. When the nostalgia music hits it’s the member berries doing the emotional pull to childhood memories of the originals. It had moments but sadly feels to be on trend of the decline we’ve been having with the 2nd trilogy sequels. But the franchise has us coming back again and again.

Overall

I really wish I had just walked out rather than stick through the entire movie. I know my wife is done with release / early access titles from this experience. We bring earplugs for a reason as we often get some talking. But not the entire movie being commentated over.

The movie had fine moments. Specially once the team gets to the island. Prior to then it was a hard watch. Then you get those Jurassic moments and maybe I’ll re-watch this title to check those scenes out without being totally frustrated.

What’s to come? We shall have to wait and see, but I’m feeling the same feelings from this franchise as I’ve had for the MCU of late (Until Thunder Bolts). I’m indifferent if I even check the next title out. I could honestly skip it and watch a recap video if I need that info for the next installment if I were to check it out.

I’m hoping my experience isn’t yours and you’re able to enjoy this title and have a good time. I didn’t stick around after to chat with the other movie goers and I often do so I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below once the movie releases July 2nd.

Popped score of 6.5/10 – It’s a fine movie. Not bad but not a fully good experience / ride. Some moments of boredom was experienced but had moments worth checking out.

Thanks for coming by Popped. Blog for your movie “Reviews”. Apologize this wasn’t the positive experience / “Review” you usually get but hey, it’s an experience and hopefully a warning to those out there on how much there chatter can and will impact other movie going audience members.

Don’t forget to drop your experiences below and love to hopefully hear better experiences and ratings :D. Stay tuned for tomorrow when my M3gan 2.0 “Review” drops and sometime over the weekend / next week for F1 :D. Depends if I can fit it in during work/Pokémon Go Global Fest :D.

Until next batch though, happy movie going 😀

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Bride Hard “Review”

Initial release: June 20, 2025

Director: Simon West

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 1h 45m

Production companies: Bride Hard Films, Copper Island, Balcony 9 Productions, Gramercy Park Media

Producers: Joel David Moore, Colleen Camp, Cassian Elwes, Bob Yari, Max Osswald, Jason Ross Jallet

When I saw the trailer I thought it was a Pitch Perfect sequel then saw the title and said…Spin Off? After watching it, this wasn’t true, but I did have some surprises in my experience and for that I may have a Joker 2 experience compared to others out there with the 4.4/10 & 20% RT.

Let’s discuss shall we 😀

Rebel Wilson playing Sam and childhood friend to Betsy played by Anna Camp. Re-uniting 30 years later after Sam moves away, Betsy is getting married with Sam as her maid of honor. The intro of Bride Hard will be your first test. Did you enjoy the jokes or did you enjoy the action?

I personally enjoyed Rebel Wilson in her action scenes and physical jokes over that of her usual comedy that just didn’t land this time around for me. I actually enjoyed the action with her to the point I felt like she could have her own Bond series from this. (Think origins of M from the James Bond franchise.)

On the comedy front, I loved all the bride maids (Actors: Anna Chlumsky, Gigi Zumbado & Da’Vine Joy Randolph.) They had fun lines and even got to enjoy some of the action once the movie cooked.

Anna Camp was kind of the middle ground playing off both fronts. I thought to myself, if they made a sequel I can see them doing it together but there’s an additional character that had fun moments with Rebel Wilson ( Sherry Cola – Keep your eyes on her going forth 😀 ).

Didn’t pass the test? Maybe get a refund here. It’s probably not for you. However… if one of those sides did entertain. Stick around, as the kids say, this film cooks and really gets into it’s strides once you enter the wedding.

It’s stupid fun popcorn movie. That may offer something to those into Naked Gun or wanting to see the cast from Pitch Perfect trying their hand at something a little different. Even if the comedy side was awkward at first finding the groundwork to play off.

Well you made it to the end and it’s time for the Popped score 😀 For today’s movie which was a total surprise to myself and probably many many others. I’m giving it a weak 7/10. It was almost 6.5 at a fine movie. But movie had many fun moments good enough to get it to a good 7 rating.

That’s the fun of movies. What works for me, may not for someone else. But we all have those certain movie going techniques to get something out of a movie even if it’s not the overall blockbuster or AAA 100’s of Millions of $’s being spent.

When the actors are having fun the audience will most likely get something fun out of the experience also.

Lost me or not on this one. Love to hear yours thoughts below. Seen a movie that everyone disliked that you enjoyed? Let us know below.

Until next batch we meet, thank you all for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”

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