The American Society of Magical Negroes “Review”

Release date: March 15, 2024 (USA)

Distributed by: Focus Features, Universal Pictures

Box office: $1.3 million

Usually with movies that show a lot of the story points within the trailer I’ll tune out as I’ve already seen the movie. With this title I still had a good ride throughout. Sadly several moments felt slow due to watching the trailer however I appreciate having those scenes to better connect and learn about each of the characters being introduced into this world.

I enjoyed the messaging and teachings the movie offered while having a fun entertaining world brought to life with fantastic acting and visuals. The trailer had me but the review ratings I saw prior to watching the title had my expectations in check. Maybe that’s why I came out on top of some of these rather low scores.

I’d of loved some more magic however that wasn’t the point nor focus of this story. Now I haven’t read the other reviews giving this feature average to lower scores however I could only criticize a few things mentioned above.

Question for you all though. Would you be able to put your job first or others if it meant any connections with loved ones along the way would be erased and be forgotten? A thread of the movie which is shown in the trailer but a thread that asks a hefty price to either uphold or sacrifice.

Justice Smith (Aren) is a gem along with his supporting cast members, most specifically his mentor along the way David Alan Grier (Roger) & love interest An-Li Bogan (Lizzie). These three actors / characters were what kept me in this world wanting more and enjoying the slow times despite taking this movies score for myself down a couple pegs.

Despite not typing up a review for it yet. I give this movie the same score as that of Argylle 6/10. Despite enjoying this movie overall, the execution of certain slower scenes did kill momentum and excitement in my watch despite loving them for building the other characters and the world.

A double edge sword but a sword I would say keeps me wanting to come back for any potential sequel or continuation within this magical society. Argylle on the other hand had an excellent stellar first hour which nose dived to the bottom of the barrel and would be hard to come back for a sequel unless tempted by a positive word of mouth.

March 17, 2024 0

Imaginary “Review”

Release date: March 8, 2024 (USA)

Director: Jeff Wadlow

Distributed by: Lionsgate, Lionsgate Films

Budget: $10–12 million

Music by: Sparks & Shadows

Production companies: Blumhouse Productions; Tower of Babble

Despite seeing a trailer for IF first, Imaginary was released this month to a fairly quite response. Now think back to January when I mentioned my hopes for Night Swim and I’ll recap those thoughts here.

I’m hopeful that once Black Phone 2 releases we get to understand what Universal is attempting with this horror verse their cooking up. Imaginary would be a great fit and a helpful boost for Night Swim if connected with 5 Nights at Freddy’s along with M3gan etc.

Possibly going in with low expectations from review scores, but I had a pretty good time in this one. I enjoyed the characters and was curious of the plot threads moving the feature forward. It’s not an overly long film but does attempt to throw in some twists and reveals for those invested.

A slight weakening towards the end and overall feature wrap up with repeated content from their competitor studio films. I enjoyed getting to know this family. Somethings that pulled me out at first was the cheap or poor “monsters/creatures” which didn’t feel scary or create tension when on screen.

The ending scenes were probably the weakest in my opinion with quick out of nowhere resolutions and “bow ties” to the story but I’m hopeful this goes somewhere within a horror verse….and please no sequel. Having a universe for the horror franchises will be fun to create a combination original movie using material from these mid movies to hopefully get something truly epic.

I can hope can’t I? Haha with that being said I felt this movie is a 6/10 putting it slightly above Night Swim as this movie actually has some enjoyable content that could bloom into something sinister with some extra cooking.

“Side note I looked up Sinister as this title was in my mind almost the whole movie” – If that interest you, then do yourself a favor and watch Imaginary. If my hopes come true then let’s discuss this movie in the comments as I could see this being my most favorite movie of all time if a potential sequel or sequel verse movie came from these foundations.

March 17, 2024 0

Kung Fu Panda 4 “Review”

Release date: March 8, 2024 (USA)

Director: Mike Mitchell

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Budget: $85 million

Music by: Hans Zimmer; Steve Mazzaro

Produced by: Rebecca Huntley

Kung Fu Panda 4 has returned since it’s last feature length film back in 2016. To my surprise there’s been a tv show spin off for Kung Fu Panda between 2016 and now 2024 which is probably why I was disconnected from the character after all these years.

I did have some fun for about half the movie however that start and ending was a slog to get through. If you want any surprise to the story or what’s going to unfold in this feature then I’d recommend skipping the trailer. It shows the whole plot….which you could probably peace together by the time the adventure gets going.

If you’re finding it hard to get through you wont have to wait to long as about 25 minutes in Po and our newly added character Zhen come across the Happy Rabbit Tavern while looking for passage to the main city. This was when surprise laughs and a spark of fun ignited the film and kept me going until the final few acts.

Happy Rabbit Tavern & The City for me personally was so much fun and kept me in the film. Outside of that I’m reminded this series has defiantly out lived my younger years and stayed with the youth with few jokes for the adults to get.

I probably wont be back for a fifth Kung Fu Panda unless something drastic happens like a cross over with Shrek or Puss & Boots… ? Possible? Na I doubt it but that would totally be fun.

I’d give Kung Fu Panda 4 a 6/10 some fun acts to help with the predictable and sloggy destiny of this movie coming and going in a eh batch of popped reviews.

March 7, 2024 0

Night Swim “Review”

Release date: January 5, 2024

Director: Bryce McGuire

Story by: Bryce McGuire; Rod Blackhurst

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Budget: $15 million

Music by: Mark Korven

Kicking off 2024 with this movie wasn’t very exciting or interesting.

In short this movie felt very mid and average you honestly aren’t missing much by skipping or seeing this one.

What I had hoped for was, “IT” in a pool was very much not the movie I ended up watching. My hope is that this is part of the Universal horror universe that’s speculated to come after the black phone sequel.

I’d give Night Swim a very mid Popped score of 5/10

Honestly I don’t want to keep you here longer and have better films to watch coming up later in 2024 but alas I want to “Review” / Discuss all the movies I watch in the year to document and track my top 10 list.

Stick around as Popped improves in each batch as I add to 2024. Look back at 2021,2 & 3 and track my movies of each year post pandemic.

Watch this movie if you’re interested in killing an evening or have an hour and half free to add another movie under your belt. Night Swim will constantly remind you that this family has a swimming pool.

I’m not going to spoil what little this film can offer so I’ll leave it here and let me know what you thought when seeing this film. Hey if this ends up being apart of that horror universe then I’ll revisit and develop this dicussion.

Thank you all for reading this and let me know what you thought on this entry “horror” film into the year 2024.

January 14, 2024 0

Mean Girls 2024 (Musical)”Review”

Release date: January 12, 2024

Directors: Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr.

Story by: Tina Fey, Nell Benjamin

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Budget: $36 million

Cinematography: Bill Kirstein

Mean Girls 2024 or Musical as you may have not guessed from seeing the trailer but this adaptation is from the Broadway musical made into a feature length film.

When it comes to musicals I’ll usually say “I’m not a fan of Sound of Music but love more modern musicals like sweeney Todd, la la land” etc. Which carry the movie forward via the song rather what I perceived of the little Sound of Music I saw a random song outburst.

It’s been a hot minute since I watched the original Mean Girls but my golly I didn’t realize it had been 20 years :O wowzah!

The actors in this movie did a great job and honestly I loved the lot. My favorites would be Auli’i Cravalho playing Janis Sarkisian & Jaquel Spivey playing Damian Hubbard. Hands down I loved all their scenes the most. Mahi Alam playing Kevin Gnapoor reminded me of a funny character from The Guild Zaboo played by Sandeep Parikh.

I’d totally watch more from these characters in another 20 years if they decide to continue / remake this film once more for a newer generation.

The production team did a fantastic job brining this into 2024 with all the current social media trends and platforms. It was a good time and honestly a fun watch.

My Popped rating for Mean Girls 2024 Musical is a 7/10.

Now ratings may change throughout the year as we start to fill in our top 10 but currently for 2024 this is in my top 10. Stay tuned for more on this and my highly anticipated movies in 2024 in an upcoming post :D.

Thanks for reading and joining us for my review / thoughts on the Mean Girls Musical. Pop a comment on your thoughts with Mean Girls and lets discuss our favorite musical score, scenes and moments.

January 13, 2024 0