The American Society of Magical Negroes “Review”

Release date: March 15, 2024 (USA)

Director: Kobi Libii

Distributed by: Focus Features, Universal Pictures

Box office: $1.3 million

Edited by: Brian Olds

Music by: Michael Abels

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.

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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.

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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.

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Drive Away Dolls “Review”

Release date: February 23, 2024 (USA)

Director: Ethan Coen

Distributed by: Universal Pictures, Focus Features

Box office: $3.2 million

Cinematography: Ari Wegner

Music by: Carter Burwell

Drive Away Dolls was an over the top fun road trip with a highly sought after brief case. When Jamie, our overly sex positive lead has been caught sleeping around by her partner. Jamie finds herself getting kicked out and joining her friend Marian on a road trip of random sexual events to their destination Tallahassee, Fla.

For such a short movie it’d be hard not to cover a lot of what the trailer attempts to avoid showing. The main focus is on these two best friends on a sexual journey of self discovery and finding a lot of heart through the endless bouts of raw sexual need.

On the other hand, with such an epic intro to this film before the very R rated sexual nature of Jamie kicks in. We find ourselves on a search for a briefcase at the pivotal point of this film with our (The audience’s) friend Curlie whom gives away the car stowing away said briefcase to the wrong party (Our 2 lady friends) rather than these “mafia” style men.

They to had grown very much on me over this hour and 20 minute film as the writing and development of each of the characters was such a delight to follow and be apart of this long journey.

If a solid R rated sexual, bloody, and raunchy title is suited to you packed with sex and violence then this title is a fun watch. For the length invested I’d suggest this movie if you’re looking to discover yourself, wanting to watch something with a lot of heart or a crazy over the top road trip packed with shock after shock moments. The trailer does keep things well under wraps to leave room for surprise if you’d like to check it out first or go in blind.

A solid 7/10 would be my rating for this fun feature that I could find myself watching again down the road. (Just maybe avoid watching with family members unless this content doesn’t make that awkward).

The only thing I still don’t understand is the trippy psychedelic expositions between scenes that randomly occurred. I’ll let you explore that for yourselves.

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Dune Part 2 (2024) “Review”

Release date: March 1, 2024 (USA)

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Adapted from: Dune

Budget: $190 million

Cinematography: Greig Fraser

The 2024 slump is over as we kick off March with Dune Part 2! Thus far we’ve had Mean Girls in my top movies of 2024, well the place holders can start dropping off as Dune Part 2 has taken the first of 10 slots on my top 10 movies of 2024.

If you skipped Part 1 I think you’d be fine jumping in here and going back for further details later. This literally picks up after the ending of the first part, minus a slight time passing as Paul & Lady Jessica (Paul’s mother) felt apart of the Freman he met up with at the ending of Part 1. After defeating his opponent that challenged him in order for Paul to prove himself worthy to join.

Part 2 is the second half of the first book in this epic sci-fi feature which I’m hopeful and excited to see the remainder of this story on the big screen.

I’m not going to spoil as I want you to go out and watch this on the biggest screen you can find. Beware to bring ear plugs if sensitive to loud music/sound as Part 2 has several LOUD scenes that feel totally epic but LOUD!

Dune Part 2 picks up the War over Spice and turns it to 12. This feature is packed with action of various variety that keeps the pacing engaging which is welcome for a rather lengthy 2 hours and 45minute mammoth war film.

Dive into the War is one layer of this epic, the other follows the titles of later books, if Paul is the Prophet that will lead the Freman to paradise as written.

Again without going into spoilers those that have seen the trailer will be delighted by the epic ness of that arena scene. The action is so good and the second half has so much more to unpack that I look forward to hearing from everyone once you’d enjoyed your popcorn watching this movie.

I thoroughly loved: Spice Wars – How to Train your Sand Worm: Edition 😀 With a mighty 8.5 out of 10 which I’d love to watch once again for those awesome action set pieces as we wait for the next title in this epic series.

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Reviews in bound!

Good afternoon popped readers and I wanted to start with apologizing for the massive delay in reviews. With the lull in February with not such great movies draining my excitement I hadn’t been typing up reviews promptly. Then I got sick with several things which I’m feeling better now and despite awaiting appointments I’m raring to go to get back on track.

Yakuza Infinite Wealth also got in the way along with the upcoming FF7 Rebirth haha so lots and lots. That being said Dune Part 2 is this weekend so I’ll have that up in the next day and I’ll catch up with Argylle, Madame Web & Lisa Frankenstein. Possibly depending on timing I’ll have Drive Away Dolls also. P.S Does Demon Slayer Movie count? Okay maybe I’ll type one up for that also haha.

Now I’ve mentioned before this site is more so for my records of memory to look have and reflect on the year with movies I’ve watched and rated. However the community of popped enjoyers is growing and I’d love to hear from you on movies you’d like me to see or for movies I may have missed and you recommend I catch up on.

Some recommendations I’ve been suggested: The Beekeeper, Ordinary Angels & Anyone But You.

March movies I’ll be watching: Kung Fu Panda 4, Ghost Busters & Godzilla X Kong. – Anything missed I should be keeping an eye on?

Possible list I have in mind are the following – (Click for Poll): Imaginary, The American Society of Magical Negroes, Arthur the King & Problemista.

It’s a juicy month for movies and totally has me excited to get back to the theatre and eat some delicious POPCORN :D. April is a little like so I’ll be able to catch up with my possible list. Movies looking ahead for April: The First Omen, Monkey Man & Civil War. Possible list: Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, Sasquatch Sunset & Challengers. (Click for April Poll)

Thanks for reading to the end and again apologize on the delay but kept the reviews page to start being flooded :D. Let me know if you like the addition of Popped Updates and I’ll catch you next time in the next batch.

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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.

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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.

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