When it comes to movies gearing on peril, I have always been a sucker. Especially when the film involves airplanes in menacing situations or on the verge of finding safety with little time and no assistance, I am a fan.  Some of the films in this genre include Flightplan (2005), Con-Air (1997), Flight (2012), and United 93 (2006). United 93 is hard to watch given it is based on the 9/11 events, but the realism is what makes the film engrossing. The others are not based on actual events, but they have a variety of hazardous airplane scenes that make viewers feel they are part of the action. Patrick Vollrath’s 7500, however, is just average. While it has a chilling setup and structure, it is dry and probably one of the quieter movies with airplane danger that I have seen.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Tobias Ellis, a pilot en route to Paris from Berlin.  Shortly after the flight takes off, terrorists try to take control of the flight deck killing Tobias’s co-pilot, but Tobias manages to keep them locked out of the pit. With one pilot dead, terrorists on the plane cause much harm to the passengers to get Tobias’s attention in order to let them take control of the flight deck, Tobias finds himself having to talk to the flight tower to try to get help from below along with constantly wondering how much danger the passengers are in. Although the premise is a good setup, it is not as suspenseful as I expected, most of the suspense came from the consistent banging on the cockpit by the terrorists along with dialogue via radios.

As always, I try to be fair with my reviews, and I am trying to be positive here even though it is a challenge for this one. 7500 keeps its viewers on edge (albeit quietly), but it is more irritating with repetitive sound effects than suspenseful. I found myself wondering if Tobias would ever leave the cockpit cabin, or if there would be slightly more physical action.  Unfortunately, there was only a light amount of physical action, and not much of a change of scenery. This film just seemed rushed.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivered a solid performance, but the script was not very well written and not very memorable.

7500 is a mediocre action/thriller film that could be better, but it was just rushed. The premise had potential, but the filmmaking, the writing, and the setup of the hijacking was where it all lacked. Therefore, I give 7500 just two stars.

In Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, the opening scenes link to historic moments in the fight against racism. Beginning with clips including Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., the movie then moves on to a tragic backstory that gears on redemption and winning on a hunt for gold. This film is what most viewers have come to expect from a movie directed by Lee, a film which features cultural tides and tension.  Da 5 Bloods takes those elements to a level that is invigorating and powerful.

Da 5 Bloods centers on four African American veterans who include Paul (played by Delroy Lindo), David (played by Jonathan Majors), Otis (played by Clarke Peters), and Eddie (played by Norman Lewis). These veterans reunite for a new mission in Vietnam after the death of their friend Stormin’ Norman (played by Chadwick Boseman). The goal of their mission in returning to Vietnam is to find what was left of their fallen soldier, and to recover fortunes of gold that Norman helped them hide. Paul is a soldier who has witnessed countless disturbing scenes in Vietnam. David, Paul’s son, is concerned that his father may be going insane. The truth is, everyone is going insane, not just because of trying to find the gold, but because of the PTSD from their previous mission in Vietnam.  Now, they find themselves back in a place and encountering scenarios that have irreparable consequences.

I was hooked on this movie right from the start because the way Lee’s direction explores multiple elements from the past to the present. This happens in sequences in which there are moments of truth or despair which made me reflect upon how historic scenarios connect to the present conflict. The performance by Lindo is superb as he is the one who burns up the screen with being self-absorbed and macho.  Paul, his character, believes that he is the one who deserves the glory based on what he has endured. The rest are more dead-pan, and believe Paul is going crazy. Lee does a solid representation of how the past muddies up the present in the return to this dangerous world for the veterans.

During the moments of hunting for gold, there are unexpected surprises that lead to life and death conflicts. This includes land mines, nature’s wild animals, and more soldiers. The only veteran that finds himself afraid is David (because he joins them last minute). With David’s father being so focused on himself, he does not have much sympathy towards his son as he does towards his own earnings if he is able to find gold. The father and son disconnect made Da 5 Bloods an engrossing, yet disheartening journey as the film hits uncharted territory. Lee is an expert at portraying uncharted territory.

I give Da 5 Bloods three and a half stars. It is close to being excellent, but it is at times a bit over-done. However, given that we’re in the midst of a pandemic, it is an inviting thrill-ride that has a Full Metal Jacket (1987) mixed with Apocalypse Now (1979) feel, but with more cultural tides and historic moments blended in to make a more suspenseful film. I have respect for Spike Lee, because his surprises that come out of the blue consistently take his directing to another level. For those who are fans of his other films, then Da 5 Bloods is not to be missed.

Pete Davidson is a comedian, comedy-writer, a star on Saturday Night Live, and an actor that is one-of-a-kind. In Judd Apatow’s The King of Staten Island, Davidson delivers a witty, lethal, and charming performance that is probably one of the best comedies I have watched during this pandemic. I saw Davidson do stand-up live which made me an even bigger fan. I find that his humor and character traits make The King of Staten Island a heartfelt film that many fans will cherish.

The film focuses on a man in his mid-twenties named Scott (played by Davidson as himself). The character has struggled with addictions due to his habits of experimenting with drugs and smoking weed which help him get by due to the mental health and anxiety issues he has faced for years. His struggles are impacted by the fact that his father died when he was a young boy. His mom, Margie, and his sister, Claire (Marisa Tomei and Maude Apatow), feel that Scott needs more motivation in his life, but with his altered mind-set he keeps becoming distracted. While he has artistic skills as a solo tattoo artist and wants to open a tattoo business, he still lacks many skills to achieve that goal and become successful. Scott has no filter in conversations, is negative without realizing it, and prone to making poor decisions based on his lifestyle which includes consistently smoking weed.

Davidson is so true to this movie because it is based on two real aspects of his own life. His father was a firefighter and died on 9/11 when Pete was young.  Also, the film takes place in Staten Island which is where he grew up. The film is faithful to those two elements and Davidson is brave to perform a role based on heavy issues that he has faced in his own life. He has never been afraid to be fierce by turning despair into hope for himself. Many will see that in his stand-up comedy, his Saturday Night Live performances, and in The King of Staten Island. In this film, he makes the conflicts revealing, but then also features joyful resolutions.

I loved The King of Staten Island. It is the perfect role for Pete Davidson. The fact that Tomei and Apatow play key roles makes it even more special. They both have charming personalities that add light humor to the film’s subject and the concerns around their son and brother.   Davidson’s character does a fantastic job at always finding excuses to not be successful.  In the absence of Tomei and Apatow, the film is would not be nearly as inviting and would leave the  audience wondering if there would ever be positive outcomes to the crazy scenarios created by the hysterical mindset of Davidson. I give The King of Staten Island four stars.