2019 Summer Movie Season - Month By Month Recaps

*Dora and The Lost City of Gold moved to August. Will Be Covered in Tomorrow's Month 4 preview*

Summer Movie Season 2019 Month 3 Recap

Happy Humpday Followers!!! Month 3 of 4 is done as the season continues forward. Plenty of discussion and excitement transpired as we get closer to what has been an eventful SMS thus far. Let's take a closer look at how the movies of July did in our recap of month 3 recap.

Spider-Man Far From Home 

After the events of Avengers Endgame, Marvel Studios and Sony ended the third phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a bang. Packed with incredible action, deep emotional stakes and a game-changing twist that is sure to forever change the journey that Peter Parker will go on, Spider-Man Far From Home delivered big time as the big-time summer adventure the world sorely needed.

Midsommar

Note to self: Never go to a rural area with a cult-like establishment cut off from society. Ari Aster brought the unease and knawing tension of daylight horror in the outright unsettling yet visually visceral horror film sure to make you feel on edge when the sun is out and about.

The Lion King

Little can really prepare you to experience a classic in a new way. Through breathtaking visualization and incredible respect for the original that came before, The Lion King reintroduced itself to a new generation and invites everyone to take their place in the circle of life.

Once Upon a Time In Hollywood

Always a master of his own style, Quintin Tarantino assembled an all-star cast for his penultimate cinematic experience before his presumed 10th and final film. The laughs and shock value was in full swing as one of the best craftsmen in Hollywood continues to show why he is still a force on the silver screen. 

Here is a Breakdown on How the Following Films Did Financially and Among Critics

Best Box Office Numbers (As of July 31st, 2019)

1. Spider-Man Far From Home: $1.037 Billion

2. The Lion King: $968.5 Million

3. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: $41.1 Million 

4. Midsommar: $29.1 Million 

Best Critical Success (via. Rotten Tomatoes)

1.   Spider-Man Far From Home  (90% Certified Fresh) 

2. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood   (84% Certified Fresh)

3. Midsommar (82% Certified Fresh)

4.The Lion King (52%)

What was the movie you loved watching this month? Check back tomorrow as we prepare for the final month of the summer movie season. See you soon

2019 Summer Movie Season - The Lion King: Review & Analysis

Long Live The King!!!! Live-Action Rendition of 1994 Classic is Respectful and Visually Breathtaking Nostalgia Trip!!!!

Review by Brandon Porter

Behold The Future King

Story Description

It is a time of celebration in the Pride Lands. King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and Sarabi (Alfie Woodard) are introducing the world to their newborn son and eventual heir to the throne Simba (JD McCrary and Donald Glover). For Simba, little can be done to temper his excitement about being king and having the freedom to do whatever he wants with his best friend Nala (Shahadi Wright Joseph & Beyonce Knowles-Carter). But in the shadows, Mufasa's younger brother and Simba's uncle Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor), angry at being denied the title of King despite being next in line, plans to seize the throne by disposing of his brother and nephew. After a tragic event that claims the life of his father, Simba finds himself grappling with the tragedy he believes he caused and the burden of living up to his responsibilities as King. With the Pride Lands in jeopardy, Simba must return home where he faces his biggest challenge yet: Run from his past or take his place in the circle of life.

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Mufasa and Simba Check In With Zazu For The Morning Report

Critical and Financial Analysis

Few films in Disney's animated portfolio can evoke emotional reverence and epic scale majestic grace like The Lion King. Highly regarded as one of the greatest if not the great film in the Disney Renaissance era, The Lion King has a generational landmark on animation and cinema itself. Now, the film returns in the form of Disney's latest edition to their live-action line-up. With Director Jon Favreau leading as director and a cast that nearly rivals the original, Fans were eager to return to pride rock and experience the story in a whole new way. From the critic's point of view, it's surprisingly divisive. The film earned a below-average score of 54% from critics via Rotten Tomatoes. The main factors in this split are despite the praise for the visual effects the story follows the same beats as the original classic without adding anything new. That didn't seem to bother general audiences who scored the movie with a much more favorable 89% fresh rating. As for the film's box office, the film none the less devoured the competition with a massive $185 million dollar opening weekend haul making the movie the biggest opening weekend release of July taking the title from the previous record-holder Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. The film also racked in an additional $346 million in international territories giving the film a global total $531 million. Looking at all of the aspects, The Lion King still has a ton of power in terms of the long-lasting footprint it has on an entire generation of fans. With an all-new set of fans traveling to pride rock to experience these characters and these stories, this timeless tale still has a profound place in the circle of life.

Staring Into The Eyes of A Queen

Film Review

It's no secret how much The Lion King means to me and how much of a staple it left on my childhood. The imagery, the beautiful animation, the life lessons, and the chill-inducing score and songs still fill me with emotion and joy to this day. Now on the 25th anniversary of the original's release, Jon Favreau takes the breathtaking photo-realistic visual style of The Jungle Book and applies it to this new iteration of the 1994 classic looking to both pay homage to the original but also make it fresh for the next generation. After watching the film, I can say that the movie is great in its execution despite it clinging out to its predecessor a bit too heavily. For starters, the movie is drop dead freaking gorgeous surprising absolutely no one. By now, we should all be familiar with Jon Favreau's eye for photorealistic visual prestige after his work on The Jungle Book 3 years prior. But seeing a film I love so much realized like this thrilled me and immersed me in the world despite experiencing the sights, sounds, and visuals I've always known. This also points to something that is both a strength and a weakness of this movie. It is no secret that Favreau is doing his best to honor the 1994 classic. He does a great job. Too great of a job almost to the point of copy-paste at times. The entire first act of the movie is about 90% beat for beat like the animated film. Not that there is anything wrong with that but the reliance on what has come before really hinders the narrative liberties at times. Thankfully, the movie starts veering off from relying on its animated counterpart at the beginning of the 2nd act much to my relief. Aside from the visuals, the voice cast is stellar throughout the film. Donald Glover and JD McCrary are terrific as both versions of Simba each adding their own flair to the role. James Earl Jones once again commands the screen as Mufasa despite not quite having the power and punch as he did in the 1994 version. That said, it was awesome to hear his iconic voice and see him in the role again. Chiwetel Ejiofor also brings a lot to the table as Scar. Though not at the level of Jeremy Irons, Ejiofor does manage to bring an unhinged menace making him an intimidating presence every time he's on-screen. Beyonce brings some soul to the story exhibiting Nala's fierceness and headstrong mentality effectively. A few standout performances include John Oliver who is perfectly cast as Zazu and Florence Kasumba as a more harder-edged and menacing version of Shenzi with Eric Andre and Keegan Michael Key delivering some solid comedic beats. Others like Alfre Woodard and John Kani do well as Sarabi and Rafiki despite the latter's comedic playfulness being toned down significantly for this film. However, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen steal the show as the iconic duo of Timon and Pumba. It's not easy to follow up on the iconic comedic one-two punch of Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella but both do a fantastic job adding laugh out loud humor whenever they are both on screen in banter that is hilarious, fast-paced and clearly off-script. One other thing I appreciated about this version of The Lion King was the added edge to the story's tone. The film's visual aesthetic made even familiar sequences in the film much more intense and gritty. Having the story told in a more grounded and realistic light really adds some tension to the action and emotional moments in the movie. Overall, I found The Lion King to be a fun and engaging nostalgia trip as well as a feast for the eyes and ears. A lot of love went into the film both visually and vocally in a fun retelling of an old classic. It may never dethrone the original but it's more than welcome in the kingdom.

Rating and Final Thoughts

A fun and visually astounding rendition of the beloved classic that should satisfy longtime fans
and introduce a new generation to the circle of life.

No Sleep For The Lion Tonight.

2019 Summer Movie Season - Spider-Man: Far From Home: Review & Analysis

A Whole New Web!!!! MCU Spider-Man Sequel Delivers Heart, Thrilling Action, And Game Changing Twist!!!!

Review by Brandon Porter

His Legacy Lives On.
But Will He Carry It Forward?

Story Description

Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is in a place of uncertainty. Despite him and the Avengers stopping Thanos once and for all, he lost the only real father figure he ever had in Tony Stark who bravely sacrificed himself to save everyone. Months later, Peter has taken full ownership of his role as Spider-Man stopping criminals and protecting the city. When an opportunity to go on a school trip to Europe comes up, Peter makes the bold choice to step away from superheroing electing to just enjoy a nice summer trip with his friends and finally express his true feelings to his crush Michelle  (Zendaya Coleman). However, his obligations catch up to him when Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) enlists Peter to take on an important mission. Matters are made even direr when Peter discovers the snap might have opened up the possibility of a multiverse which results in a man from an alternate timeline named Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal)  appearing as a mysterious ally. With his friends in danger and the fate of an entire continent at stake, Peter must face the biggest decision of his life: Stay close to the ground or step up and be the face of a new era. 

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Peter and Ned In Route For Some
European Fun and Maybe Some
Mayhem.

Critical and Financial Analysis


After the monumental success of Avengers Endgame, Spider-Man Far From Home is the definitive conclusion to Marvel Phase 3 and the unofficial launch of Phase 4. Jon Watts returns to direct the next adventure of Spider-Man's MCU adventure which finds the character grappling with the responsibility of potentially leading the next generation of Marvel heroes. A lot of anticipation surrounded this movie in what is sure to be the biggest Spider-Man movie in recent memory. Critically, the movie soared high. Far From Home earned an incredibly favorable 91% Certified Fresh rating from critics and an even stronger 96% rating from audiences. Financially, the film dominated the July 4th week at the movies. The film earned a stellar $185 million dollars resulting in the largest six-day box office haul for a Tuesday opener. The film's international total of $244 million in 66 markets and a total cume of $395 giving Far From Home an opening weekend total of $580 million. It is already on track to outperform its predecessor Spider-Man Homecoming and is on track to continue its box office reign well into its second weekend. Spider-Man Far From Home looks to be riding the coattails of its large scale predecessor quite well as fans are hungry to get a Marvel fix after the conclusion of Avengers Endgame. With the Spider-Man brand finding some rejuvenated relevance last year, The web slingers appeal and star power seem to have elevated higher than ever before.

Putting the Suit Wings To Good
Use.

Film Review

As the current era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe came to a close in Avengers Endgame, all signs point to the future as the MCU enters the post-Infinity Saga era. Spider-Man Far From Home has Peter Parker dealing with the aftermath of the battle that saw the end of Thanos and the passing of his mentor Tony Stark. Now caught between life and duty, Peter must make a choice that could shape his future and the future of the Avengers. After watching the movie, I am both heavily entertained and genuinely shocked with how the film turned out. I say that in the most positive way because the movie is not only a genuine action-packed and engaging Spider-Man movie, Its final moments change the game for the character and possibly the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole going forward. To start, Tom Holland really comes into his own as Spider-Man in what is technically his 5th time playing the character. The journey his character goes on is engaging and emotional as Peter comes to grips with the world he inhabits after the battle with Thanos and the struggle living up to the legacy of Tony Stark. He plays the balance of shy, awkward, good-hearted kid and heroic young hero very well and it is awesome to see him continue to grow and develop in the role. The supporting cast does solid with most of the main players such as Jacob Batalon's Ned, Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury and Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan taking a back seat but still being effectively great in their roles. Zendaya is given a little bit more to do in this film and plays off of Tom very well creating a genuine and sweet-natured relationship that builds throughout the film. It's authentic and refreshing to see the awkwardness of two young teens struggling with love and the movie uses it to further develop her character and of Holland's. I look forward to seeing how she grows through the next few films. Jake Gyllenhaal is awesome in the film really selling the act as both quirky con artist and genuine threat. His performance is fun and engaging and his final act will be one to remember for years to come. In terms of the action, this is hands down the most visually stunning and thrilling Spider-Man movies I've seen this decade. While Homecoming's action was small scale but still fast-paced. Far From Home ups the ante with large scale sequences that truly create a sense of epic scale not seen from a Spider-Man film in years. This is truly one of the most action-packed films in the web slingers line up for sure. All that said, the real thing that makes Far From Home a special type of Spider-Man experience is the jaw-dropping ending. The twist is set up well and when the moment comes its earned and genuinely had me exclaiming in disbelief. The implications this could have on not only Perter's story going forward are huge but it could have even bigger ones within the Marvel Universe as well. Never have I felt this much of an impact to a twist in the MCU since Captain America The Winter Soldier. In terms of high emotional impact and game-changing status, this ranks as one of the best in the franchise for sure. Overall, Spider-Man Far From Home is a terrific sequel to Homecoming and a great closer to Phase 3. The next stage of storytelling within Marvel could see Spider-Man dealing with a more complex set of obstacles thanks to the ending presented and the MCU looks to be on track for an explosive start to the next Phase of the Cinematic heroverse.

Rating and Final Thoughts

A thrilling, heartfelt and epic continuation of Spider-Man's Adventures in the MCU that delivers big on large scale spectacle, amazing action and with a jaw-dropping ending that could have bigger repercussions moving forward.

Spoiler Alert: HE'S BACK!!!!!!!!

Re-Porter Blog 2019 Summer Movie Season - Month 3 Preview (July 2019)

Loud and Proud!!! Spider-Man, Lions, Cultists, and Tarantino Look To Bring Some Much Needed Bang To Summer Movie Season!!!!

By Brandon Porter

Happy Monday Followers!!! Things are moving fast as we already in month 3 of the Summer Movie Season. This offers up some much-needed silver screen adrenaline as we head into the home stretch. Two major blockbuster releases and two high-end filmmakers are set to light up the box office with some explosive film fireworks. Let's get a look at them in our preview for July. 

Spider-Man Far From Home (Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios, July 2nd)

The Next Big Swing

Thanos's reign of terror was successfully thwarted by the Avengers but not without devastating repercussions. With painful losses comes the realization that the world may never be the same. For Peter Parker, the aftermath of that fateful battle left him at a crossroads on where to go next. With a highly anticipated class trip on the horizon but a new threat lying in wait, Peter will face his biggest decision yet with the results altering his life forever. Serving as the official conclusion to the Infinity Saga and the unofficial kickoff of Marvel Phase 4, Sony and Marvel Studios bring you the next adventure that is sure to alter the future of the MCU. Witness the beginning of the next chapter in the Marvel heroverse when Spider-Man: Far From Home arrives in theaters tonight.

Here is The Latest Released Trailer

Midsommar (A24, July 3rd)

Paradise Inn

There is nothing like the great outdoors. Clear skies, rustling trees, a mysterious town of folk people preparing for a ritual done every 90 years. When a group of friends travels for what is assumed to be a weekend getaway, they discover their place of rest seems to have more going on than they thought. Now they must uncover the mystery of this place and its inhabitants and potentially try to escape...with their lives. Ari Aster, the visionary director of Hereditary, returns to deliver a tense and psychologically unhinged horror experience that is sure to leave viewers on edge throughout. Come join the festivities at your own risk when Misommar arrives in theaters on July 3rd.

Here is The Latest Released Trailer

The Lion King (Walt Disney Studios, July 19th)

Circle of Life

The music, the emotion, the characters, the majestic majesty of one of the true animated masterpieces of a generation. Rarely do people not associate one of Disney's most beloved cinematic triumphs as anything but the gold standard for epic animated storytelling. Now a quarter of a century later, Disney prepares to return fans to pride rock to experience the timeless tale in a whole new way. Jon Favreau leads an all-star voice cast in what promises to be one of the summer's most visually stunning and emotionally engrossing films of the year. Take your place in the pride lands when The Lion King roars into theaters on July 19th.

Here is The Latest Released Trailer

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (Colombia Pictures/Marvel Studios, July 26th)

Hollyweird

Summer of 1969. Hollywood has the best names in the business. But business like this brings both pleasure and pain. A former Hollywood heavyweight and his stuntman are struggling to recapture the magic of their old ways in what is becoming an increasingly competitive market. Opportunities are scarce but a deadly scandal rocks tinsel town and threatens to darken the once bright lights of the Hollywood. Quentin Tarantino returns for his ninth directorial outing in a period piece set in the backdrop of one of the industry's most notoriously terrifying crime cases. Witness a story of triumph and tragedy when Once Upon a Time in Hollywood arrives in cinemas on July 26th.

Here is The Latest Released Trailer

A lot of big-time flicks coming in hot this month. Tell us the movies you can't wait to see and be on the lookout for these movies and more in the coming days. Have a safe and Happy 4th of July!!!