Tag: reviews

The Magic Faraway Tree “Review”

Release date: August 21, 2026 (USA)

Director: Ben Gregor

Producers: Pippa Harris, Jane Hooks, Danny Perkins, Nicolas Brown

Running time: 1h 50m

Distributed by: Entertainment Film Distributors, Vertical

Almost skipped this but the 83% critic score got me in the seat….glad it did 😀

Depending on the connection you build with this family, I was between a 7.5 and 8. Honestly, the touching and emotional story with its beautiful whimsical vibes got this to an 8 without spoilers.

The worlds and set designs- I can see why they chose the creation team behind Wonka. There’s a specific scene in the trees that created a ha moment 😀 I’d love to have seen more worlds, but maybe that’s for a potential sequel? The story being told was perfect with all that they used.

The land of goodies had my childhood candy store memories hitting hard when penny sweets were a thing :D. Loved that world, remember not to be greedy ;). Either way, the two / three stories being told I loved. For the parents, their children, and for those living in the Magical Faraway Tree.

I could get lost in these worlds and be totally fine with it (Minus 1 :P). There’s a small scene before the crawl, but otherwise, unless you’d like more wine. You don’t need to stick around. Unless it’s to continue being immersed in this feature’s beautiful music. Have fun dancing and jigging along after this beautiful story :D.

Appreciate you all coming by. Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Possibly more to come throughout the week but stay tuned for next week as so many movies drop next weekend!

Until next time though, happy movie-going fellow movie-goers :D.

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Insidious: Out of the Further “Review”

Release date: August 21, 2026 (USA)

Director: Jacob Chase

Running time: 1h 46m

MPAA rating: PG-13

Distributed by: Sony Pictures Releasing

2026 is jam packed with horror so let’s keep it going in August with Insidious (6?)..

Horror rarely scares these days anymore. But this entry’s intro has some solid tension and a scene that got me :P. Sadly, the remainder of the movie doesn’t keep that same energy. But there are moments for sure :D.

Out of the further felt like a second phase or saga of the Insidious franchise. Going from the established traveler to now introducing carriers, individuals who were able to bring things to and from the material plane from the further.

The story focuses on a family over a 20-year generational timeline. The intro sets up some rewarding scenes that I appreciated in this latest installment. Some old favorites return; however, it mostly felt like filler.

That’s all dependent on the franchise’s next direction, based on the ending without spoilers. Popped score of 6.5/10. It’s almost good, but that ending could have been epic. Discuss that further in the comments after you’ve experienced this latest edition.

Appreciate you coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”.

Stick around for the “Review” on The Magical Faraway Tree.

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All Wishes Come True! “Review”

Release date: August 14, 2026 (USA)

Director: Zhengyang Mu

Running time: 2h 24m

Production Companies:

Pearl Studio & CMC Pictures

Poster caught my eye, then I heard it’s for those that enjoyed Ne Zha… well enough said, I had to check it out 😀

I need to learn my lore because I felt like we visited areas that were in Ne Zha 2, but this is taking place in its own space. For those that enjoy the Monkey King & Ne Zha, there’s lots of fun easter eggs in this title for you.

That being said, these 8 immortals were so fun to be around and explore throughout this 2-hour 24-minute movie. The main brothers have such a rich history and character plot that I’d love to see more. There’s less action than Ne Zha, but there are some incredible action scenes. Chase scene early on and the most fantastic heist that’s going to make this long movie well worth checking out.

I mention the length as it does feel long. The first hour felt long (Not boring, just jam-packed with goodness that I felt the movie had played longer than it had.) Then some slowdowns draw out the run time but pick momentum up towards that last 30/40 minutes, making such a fun movie. Totally worth the watch to be surrounded by this beautiful movie.

8.5/10 for Popped score – All Wishes Come True! Playing in theatres right now. Stick around for a mid-credit scene. Nothing at the end of the credit crawl. Plan to check out All Wishes Come True? – Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Come back tomorrow for our Insidious “Review” and potentially – The Magic Faraway Tree. Anything else releasing this weekend I should be checking out? Let me know in the comments.

Until then, fellow movie-goers, happy movie-going 😀

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The End of Oak Street “Review”

Release date: August 14, 2026 (USA)

Director: David Robert Mitchell

Producers: David Robert Mitchell, J.J. Abrams, Hannah Minghella, Matt Jackson, Jon Cohen, Tommy Harper

Cinematography: Mike Gioulakis

MPAA rating: PG-13

Genres: Science fiction, Adventure, Thriller, Mystery

I wasn’t prepared for how good this movie was going to be!

Ever wondered how life would be, transported millions of years to the past, surrounded by Dinosaurs and having to survive alongside your family which has cracks and fractures but now you’re banding together to survive or die?

Yea, The End of Oak Street is going to setup and explore this family amongst the first 30 minutes. Setting up our characters, their dynamic and side characters that we’ll experience along this hour and 40 minute movie. No need to stick around until the end of the credits but you may find yourself doing so. Either in aww of how good this movie was or finally being able to relax after this actually pretty intense movie that for me personally, has come out of no where.

Loved Anne Hathaway (Playing the mother Denise) & Ewan McGregor (Playing the father Greg). They had great chemistry and the dynamic between Greg and his children really hit hard with the dynamic of their mother during the movie. Maisy Stella plays Audrey Platt while Christian Convery play the son Brian. Loved this family along with Starbuck their loyal companion dog. (I’m not saying nothing about Starbuck, you’ll have to watch the movie to find out).

Pretty quickly I locked this feature into an 8. I didn’t expect the movie to have my mouth wide open with such intensity. I even jumped at a scene which horror movies barely are able to do these days. This aspect totally caught me off guard and wow did I have a great time. If it wasn’t for a couple of details I’ll leave out for spoiler reasons I’d have given this movie a 9/10. Alas, due to that with some insane scenes in the second half of the movie. The End of Oak Street Popped “Review” score is an 8.5/10.

Also bumping up Spider-Man Brand New Day to a 9 as I shouldn’t have compared it to No Way Home while giving it it’s score. Either way I’ll update that on my second viewing and focus on Oak Street’s 8.5 for now. I had a blast and excited to hear your thoughts over this weekend in the comment below.

Thank you for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. What surprise hits await us for August/September? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Until next time though fellow movie-goers. Happy movie-going 😀

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Ice Cream Man “Review”

Release date: August 7, 2026 (USA)

Director: Eli Roth

Language: English

Running time: 1h 27m

Producers: Eli Roth, Christopher Woodrow, Kate Harrison

Distributed by: Iconic Events

Wish they didn’t reveal AI was used in the making of this film. Saw no hate before that announcement. Then I see 31% on RT. I’ve got a different score for Popped. Let’s dive into the scoop …unless the prior comment puts you off. For everyone else – Let’s discuss… 😀

Eli Roth & Snoop Dogg have the makings to entertain a small niche audience, and I’m here for it. Between this and what I saw during the trailers for “Don’t go in that house, Bitch!”. I honestly enjoyed their humor. This isn’t a great movie by any means. Yeah, some effects were weak, and the story wasn’t the best. But that’s okay when it comes to horror, especially on a small budget or horror like this, where you may have seen it on Shudder before but fits well in theatres with an audience ready to be entertained…. even if the audience doesn’t show up :(. Think it was me and 2 others in there.

There are moments I thought were honestly great. Scenes where I felt like I was watching an awesome zombie movie but with kids being kids while the gore was turned up to an 11. Playing jump rope with intestines. Massing up children to kill their parents in brutal ways. The humor was spot on, and I loved it.

[*Small Spoiler* – The kids believe they’re watching cartoons and the horrific scenes the audience is watching are a part of the show.]

This fits on the B horror shelf, and I’d honestly not be mad watching it again if someone asked me to come check it out or watch it later at home with a group. You’re not going to praise it for an Oscar nomination. I couldn’t imagine the creators thought it was when revealing the use of AI.

About the use of AI. I’m not trained to see when AI is, or isn’t, used. But, honestly, if anyone watched this movie without knowing that prior. What are you complaining about to give it a 30%? A critic on RT said it’s the worst movie of the year…. Gosh darn, I wish it was because I was hoping that to be true with the hate on AI….but alas for Popped, I’m giving Ice Cream Man a 7/10. Very curious to see the audience score on this one.

Do you plan to, or have you watched, Ice Cream Man yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Thank you for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Also releasing this weekend is One Night Only, which I “Reviewed” last week. Go check it out if you’re lactose intolerant for this title. Next week I’ll be getting my implant, so we’ll see if anything releases that brings me back to the theatre. Maybe a second round of Spider-Man BND? I do need to re-review it for that potential 9….hmmmm let’s see shall we.

Until next time though fellow movie-goers, happy movie-going! 😀 Be careful not to get brain freeze…

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One Night Only “Review”

Initial release: August 7, 2026

Director: Will Gluck

Running time: 1h 42m

Producers: Will Gluck, Jacqueline Monetta

Screenplay: Travis Braun

Cinematography: Yaron Orbach

Got to check this out early, thanks to Harkins Secret Movie 😀 What a nice surprise!

Honestly thought the trailer gave a lot away, but after watching it. I had a blast! One Night Only was super funny. Totally raunchy, and I loved the chemistry between Allie (Played by Monica Barbaro) & Owen (Played by Callum Turner).

The government imposes a mandate that once a year, they allow sex to be legal outside of marriage. It’s this night we get to follow Allie & Owen through their journeys and exploration; however, their paths continuously cross time and time again. Maybe destiny or fate is calling?

This movie had so many laugh-out-loud moments and emotional attachment that I’d honestly love to watch it again.

Popped score of 8/10 – Coming out next week on August 7th – Stick around next for this week’s juggernaut – Spider-Man! Brand New Day :D.

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The Odyssey

Release date: July 17, 2026 (USA)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Producers: Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas

Music composed by: Ludwig Göransson

Adapted from: Odyssey

Story by: Homer

I’d love to chat more, but have ants to deal with… blasted!

No spoilers but what an epic of a film. From the incredible cast. Sound design. Scale / Scope of the story. This 3 hour movie despite feeling a little long at moments. Kept you engaged and entertained throughout.

With a serious bow tie ending. The Odyssey is a must-watch. I’m excited to jump back in again. Moments of exploration had me wanting to replay Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. By the end, I was banging my foot along. My audience was locked in and silent the entire ride.

Some story of what this epic tale is all about? A son’s search for his father. A father & husband embarking on a perilous journey home, returning from the Trojan War. Obstacles to be faced are an understatement. Such deadly circumstances await our characters that need to be seen on the biggest screen!

Easily a 9/10 – My joint first place #1 movie of 2026 thus far!

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews” – I’ve got to dash but excited to return for Spiderman….hopefully with the ants dealt with :S.

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The Invite “Review”

Release date: June 26, 2026 (USA)

Director: Olivia Wilde

Producers: Megan Ellison, David Permut, Ben Browning

Screenplay: Will McCormack, Rashida Jones

Executive producers: Glen Basner, Saul Germaine, Patrick Chu, Alex G. Scott, Shayne Fiske, Andy Kim, Alex Astrachan

Story by: Cesc Gay

Didn’t expect ants to be invited over during my hiatus! So let’s make this quick!

This was a lot of fun. Barrels of laughs with some genuine surprises throughout. Combined with the music/sound design, it felt like a tango back and forth between our 4 cast members.

Getting to the end unlocks a second watch. No spoilers, but I honestly want to watch it again to pick up on little nuances established at the start, prior to the couple’s meeting.

Imagine coming home from work to find your wife has invited the neighbors over. Which are very much not your typical neighbor… or are they 😀 :P.

7.5/10 solid good time with this one. Possibly a weak 8/10.

Stick around for The Odyssey – My joint contender for movie of the year thus far 😀

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Moana 2026 “Review”

Release date: July 9, 2026 (USA)

Director: Thomas Kail

Producers: Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia

Running time: 1h 56m

Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Thought I was going to hate this but that sound track carries this movie hard…let’s discuss!

As mentioned above, the soundtrack is amazing, just as it was 10 years ago. Everything with Catherine Laga’aia, who’s playing the live-action Moana, was amazing. Honestly loved her. The rock wasn’t even as bad as I had expected prior. He’s still not Maui to me. But he doesn’t do as bad a job as I thought prior to watching.

I had a good time with this. A personal 7/10 one time watch good time. It doesn’t hold a candle to the original. But, going in with a 36% RT score my expectations were set extremely low and I walked away honestly having a good time with the soundtrack. Maybe I had rose-tinted glasses on due to it? But if I pulled up the original alongside this like I did getting home from live action Lilo & Stitch, maybe I can tear it apart. But watching it as a movie with the animated version deep into my past memories I walked away having a good time.

Nothing at the end of this title, so maybe no live-action Moana 2. Honestly, Disney needs to stop with these live-action remakes. They’re never done better or add anything to the discussion. The soundtrack carries it, and the lead, Catherine, does a great job of capturing this story in live action.

Thank you for coming by Popped for your movie “reviews”. Did you checkout Moana in theatres? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Still to come from this weeks batch is The Invite. Next week we have the 3 hour long Odyssey before having a week away with no/limited releases for Comic Con weekend then the big Spider-Man to wrap up July :D.

Looking forward to those yet to come. What movies are you looking forward to after Spiderman at the end of the month? Let us know in the comments below.

Until next time though, fellow movie-goers. Happy Movie-Going :D.

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Evil Dead Burn “Review”

Release date: July 10, 2026 (USA)

Director: Sébastien Vaniček

Producers: Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert

Screenplay: Sébastien Vaniček, Florent Bernard

Cinematography: Philip Lozano

Production companies: Ghost House Pictures, New Line Cinema, Screen Gems

Preferred this over Lee Cronin’s The Mummy – Was actually good gory fun 😀

Watched a ScreenCrush recap before watching this yesterday. Was a good watch. Plenty of gory gory moments, kills, action of variety 😉 was a good time despite weak character depth / attachment.

New to Evil Dead maybe this is a hard watch. Otherwise this is very much inline for an Evil Dead feature. Got the gore, horror, comedy (Thanks grandma :D) and action to boot. Sadly weak on the characters but did enjoy the connection between the two intros we get connecting our cast and villain together.

Deadites are back and their after the family of their grandfather that stole from them many many years prior….. nothing at the end to stick around for from what I saw but otherwise a good one time watch of 7/10. Gore fest lovers will enjoy :D.

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Stick around as we dive from the depths of hell into the depths of the ocean with Moana live action :D.

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