The Pliley Review

  Genre:  Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi Rating:  PG-13  Synopsis:  After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife. *** The juice is loose once again and this time it brings a teenage daughter along for the ride.  I was torn about viewing this movie as the first is a classic and I hate the idea that they would ruin it. Thankfully it was better than I thought it would be. Having most of the original cast definitely helped. Each original cast member fell into their roles seamlessly and picked up right where they left off. Catherine O'Hara and Winona Ryder were simply a joy to watch as mother and daughter once again.  On the other hand, a huge disappointment for me was some of the new characters they introduced. Though Jenna Ortega and Justin Theroux trie...

  Genre:  Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller Rating: PG - 13 Synopsis:  A young woman, alienated from her community, finds herself in an action-packed face-off with a host of extraterrestrial beings threatening her future while forcing her to deal with the past.  *** I had very little information going into this movie and honestly, I think that is the best way to enjoy it. The main character, Brynn, is played beautifully by Kaitlyn Dever, who until this movie I had not heard of. I am definitely paying attention now.  Though the movie has almost no dialogue so much is said with facial expressions, situational awareness, and body language. Without words, you can almost hear what she is thinking and for the most part, I was thinking the same things.  Right from the opening scenes, you get an understanding of Brynn and how she does not fit in with her community, though she really tries. Thankfully I did not have to wait long until the action started and the first watch o...

Genre:  Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Family Rating:  PG Synopsis:  When Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll and he has burned through eight of his nine lives, he launches an epic journey to restore them by finding the mythical Last Wish. Honestly, I am seriously shaken to my core by this movie. I love the Shrek movies and when I heard they were making another Puss in Boots I was not expecting much. The first movie was great, about a 7.5, but I wasn't rushing out to watch this one.  I was so wrong to wait. This movie has everything. Action, romance, fantasy, a great storyline, a terrifying villain, and an amazing twist. Once I finished watching it, my son and I had to watch it a second time.  I honestly could write a crazy long post just gushing about how amazing the villain of this movie is. Wagner Moura is a name I will most definitely be on the lookout for. His portrayal was just terrifying and awesome all at the...

  Genre:  Drama, Fantasy, Mystery Rating:  TV-MA Synopsis:  A full moon rises in Beacon Hills, and with it a terrifying evil has emerged. The wolves are howling once again, calling for the return of Banshees, Werecoyotes, Hellhounds, Kitsunes, and every other shapeshifter in the night. But only a Werewolf like Scott McCall, no longer a teenager yet still an Alpha, can gather both new allies and reunite trusted friends to fight back against what could be the most powerful and deadliest enemy they’ve ever faced. Being a huge fan of the TV show I was looking forward to this as I was intrigued as to what my favorite supernatural beings were up to and what they would face.  Honestly, for the villain of the story, I was somewhat confused by the choice, especially with the fact that the character highly connected to it in many ways, was missing entirely. Now I know that not all actors want to return for a follow-up, whether it be a sequel or whatever, however with this...

  Genre:  Drama, Horror, Mystery Rating:  TV-MA Synopsis:  Bizarre nightmares unfold in eight tales of terror in a visually stunning, spine-tingling horror collection curated by Guillermo del Toro. As a huge fan of Guillermo del Toro, I had high hopes for this. The opening is visually stunning and the music reminds me of the nightmare before Christmas.  There are some huge stars present and regardless of the story, I personally think everyone did an incredible job showing each character. The problem with a collection of short stories, such as this, is you run into a time problem. Some stories did not get enough time, while others wasted time on things that did not progress fast enough for the time allotted.  Here is a quick breakdown of my thoughts for each episode.  Lot 36 - A very slow start and quick end. Lots of build up very little reward, but the monster was cool. 6 out of 10. Graveyard Rats - Very cool visuals, great story, and straight to th...

Genre:  Science fiction, Action, adventure Rating:  PG 13 Synopsis: A biochemist with a rare blood disease in search of a cure injects himself with a dangerous serum that gives him super strength and a thirst for blood.  The trailer for this movie had me invested from the get-go. I mean who doesn't like vampire-type movies, especially ones that are old school with carnage and blood. The PG-13 rating does restrict some of the action, but honestly, I don't think it would have helped overall.  Each actor did a good performance and of course, props have to go to Jared Leto as he really does carry the movie in places. Loved seeing Tyrese Gibson in a more serious role and Matt Smith was a great backup for Jared's character.  I do have to say that this movie is pretty predictable early on so don't expect any major twists or turns. The fight scenes are very blurry so it's hard to tell what's going on, which for me pulled me out of the moment a little. And the after-cred...

Genre: Family, Adventure Rating:  PG Synopsis:  In an Italian village, the wooden puppet Pinocchio is brought to life by the Blue Fairy and seeks a life of adventure while striving to be a real boy. Pinocchio's life is turned upside down when he leaves his father to follow the circus. I'll be honest right upfront. I hate the original cartoon movie and I didn't want to review this one as I had no desire to watch it. However, I'll try and be as neutral as I can.  Tom Hanks is a super cute   Geppetto, though he is a little mumbling in the beginning. My first impression of the blue fairy,  Cynthia Erivo, freaking amazing. Such an incredible voice. All the characters are portrayed perfectly as from the original cartoon, which in this case is a good thing. A few new character additions were welcome and didn't take away from the story. I have to give extra credit to Luke Evans as The Coachman, is perfectly creepy and fits the role well.  If you're familiar with th...