The Kid Detective (as I like to define) is Nancy Drew, but with a male detective. Adam Brody is Abe Applebaum, and he has got a brilliant mind, a quiet personality, and is a detective that can put puzzles together to help him solve many cases. The Kid Detective I found relatively entertaining. Spy and detective films appeal to me, but this one was different from many of the spy thrillers I love. Many spy and detective films make the main detective look like they live the lavish lifestyle. Not in The Kid Detective.

Abe Applebaum is a detective in a small town. He is one who has become a detective at a young age. That is because he has helped his community throughout the years to solve cases and conflicts. He becomes one who the town knows as the lead detective of the community. He starts with a treehouse for his investigation appointments, and then the town gives him his own office space for his business and his detective consulting. He is one that solves cases like small crimes, fraud, or suspicious activity. He has solved a few murders, but not many. Abe’s life starts to face a challenge for him as a detective when a girl Caroline (played by Sophie Nelisse) seeks Abe’s detective help to solve the murder of her boyfriend. Abe is up for the challenge, but with mainly doing trivial mysteries, this one overwhelms him.

When I mentioned that The Kid Detective is not one’s typical setup where most detectives or spy workers have a lavish lifestyle, Abe truly does not. He shares a house with a roommate, is not popular, does his work, but outside he has no social life. What appealed to me was how Brody’s performance is a detective who has never had serious cases. And has made his entertaining life solving small cases and making his income out of that for ages. Abe is just an introverted detective who likes to solve cases, get his pay, and call it a day. I found the film had me to be curious when Abe takes on the job to solve a murder. I wondered if his mellow mood could handle the tension of a murder case. The film has unexpected surprises that are both funny, dark, and clever, and they come around at the unexpected times.

The Kid Detective is a spy film that is done different in the right way. It uses its small-town setting to make the cases seem predictable (but is the opposite). I found myself wondering how much anxiety is there for Abe take on a small-town with a dangerous murder scenario, when he has only solved minor crimes and few murder cases. Brody’s performance is witty, and his reactions are just funny and ambiguous. The Kid Detective is a fun mystery with some dark elements. But it keeps the laughing moments. Three stars.

Eleven years ago, now (this year is celebrating the ten-year anniversary due to the pandemic and cinemas being closed last year), Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World hit cinemas and had many fans in obsession with its brilliance of technology and captivation among the world with its fans of video games. I saw Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World again in the cinema, but this time in Dolby Digital (a premium format usually at AMC locations). In Dolby Digital, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World felt my experience from many years ago took me to a whole new world of the works of Edgar Wright. With the cinema and videogame like feeling, many pulsating moments of action, and I felt like I was playing a video game with the immersion of the film. I also felt I was experiencing a videogame being played in front of me. The experience was pure adrenaline!

To recap the plot, the film takes place in Toronto, Canada, and gears on Scott Pilgrim (played by Michael Cera), an introverted and shy guitar player who has a nerd group of friends, and he lives with his roommate Wallace (played by Kieran Culkin). Scott always struggles to overcome his shyness and that is why he sticks with his nerd friends who are obsessed with video games and music. Many times, his sister Stacy (played by Anna Kendrick) always finds she needs to give him insight on how to move forward with his socially awkward attitude that he carries with him every day. His life starts to see some light when he meets the women of his dreams. That women Ramona Flowers (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Once Scott starts to get to know her, he realizes he has got a small issue he has to deal with. Ramona’s seven evil ex-boyfriends come around and put him up to battle for Ramona. Scott now must use his powers and charisma to defeat them and win Ramona.

From re-experiencing Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, I come to realize the films technological elements is where the film’s continuation of the different evil ex-boyfriends is where the film only becomes more awesome as it progresses. In the fighting moments lines of the sound effects are thrown in. It is like a comic book and videogame combined. The scenes are setup like it is a new level. The world of Wright’s film is glorious with making its audience feel in the moment. I was not wanting the film to end. Also, the entertaining dialogue between Scott his friends, Ramona, and the evil ex-boyfriends add to the laughter and entertainment.

For fans of the films of Edgar Wright and that love Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, this is one not to be experienced again in Dolby Digital. I feel it being in Dolby Digital is where these videogame adaptation movies are the format it is made for. Fly through the fighting moments in the mountains of Toronto, follow Scott in his storyline of taking apart the exes to win the women of his dreams, and do not even think about missing this opportunity. After a weird year of movies and experiences coming back, this is one that is worth it! Four stars!

From a video game spanning over two decades, there is now a film that is a decent introduction to a universe of potential other films. Mortal Kombat has the elements that fans will expect including the crazy comic violence, the beloved characters from the games, the signature fighting moves, and a film that involves non-stop combat. Mortal Kombat is a film in which the violence comes with consequences.  However, the over-done violence is an excellent representation of the evolution of the Mortal Kombat gaming. The movie is directed by newcomer Simon McQuoid who has taken the perfect steps to evolve the story and set it up to continue.

The video game we love starts with the story of an MMA fighter who fights for a living. His name is Cole Young (played by Lewis Tan). He also has a marking on him that he assumes is a dragon birthmark.  Suddenly, he starts to get hunted down by other warriors who have this same symbol because those who have it have been chosen to fight in the underworld known as Mortal Kombat. Cole finds himself training with other warriors who have been in his position before in a realm that seems far removed from this world. However, Cole must adapt to the forces he is given in order to stop what evil enemies may come his way. The enemies are Sub-Zero (played by Joe Taslim, a name that is always popular in the video games) and other chosen ones who have taken an evil side. The film becomes a suspenseful bloodbath just like a comic book.

Mortal Kombat had me hooked. The choreography is brilliant and the action is non-stop. This movie is a true adaptation from the video game and it is done right. Throughout the film, the action grows as the danger becomes more serious. On top of that, the movie offers insight into why the main character is being chosen for the competition which is an important aspect of the series. There were moments where I felt a little lost, since some of the suspense was done differently than I expected. In retrospect, I believe that is because this Mortal Kombat film lays  the foundation for what is to be continued.

Overall, Mortal Kombat is a thrill ride of action, blood, and guts, but delivered in the video game comic book way. Seeing this in IMAX added to that experience. I felt during all the suspenseful scenes I could feel the sound. It was a cinematic experience I have been eager for after many months of wondering when big titles would be shown on the big screen again. The movie is also on HBO MAX, but for Mortal Kombat fans, I highly recommend the big screen experience. Three stars.