The last two weekends It has completely dominated the box office, so non-surprisingly, the buzz for the promised Chapter 2 is just getting started. For anyone who has read the book or seen the 90's miniseries, they know that the young Losers Club and their encounters with It are only half of the story. The other half happens 27 years later when the kids are all grown up and receive word that their childhood fear has followed them into adulthood. I was a little surprised when I heard that It would not include the adult storyline because I always loved the idea of seeing adult counterparts to the young heroes. Even if their storyline was weaker than the childhood ones, I still loved the idea of having what you feared in childhood come back to haunt you. In fact, the whole time during my first viewing of the film I couldn't help but begin to imagine who in Hollywood could portray the older versions of them. Apparently, I wasn't the only one as fan casting posts similar to this one have been popping up left and right since the movie came out (including suggestions from the young casts themselves.) BEVERLY Amy Adams is one of the most talented actresses working in Hollywood today and happens to look exactly like what one might expect the younger Beverly (Sophia Lillis) to grow up to become. It’s probably a long shot that Adams might be interested in taking part in a horror sequel, but we can always dream of the perfection she would add to Stephen King’s tale in the role of Beverly Marsh. RUNNERS-UP: Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig. BILL For young Bill’s (Jaeden Lieberher) adult counterpart, once again I chose to match who in Hollywood best physically represents the younger actor, so I had to go with Tobey Maguire. Jaeden totally reminds me of a young Tobey in mannerism and look. While Maguire is not always the most charming or charismatic leading man around, Bill’s character doesn’t really require that...in fact, the character needs a little bit more awkwardness to make it believable that he used to be a kid who overcame a stutter. Tobey can nail this and doesn’t seem to be too busy these days. BEN Chris Pratt has been wearing out his charm for me as of late, so I was a little unsure of this choice, but physically I think he’s a great match for this role. Ben is supposed to be completely transformed by adulthood, and Pratt himself has gone through a transformation during his time in the spotlight. I’m sure he can portray those inner insecurities of a man who isn’t used to being the apple of everyone’s eye, even though now everyone sees him as a looker. Pratt is in high demand these days so this choice might not be the most likely to happen, but I think it would be a solid choice. RUNNER-UP: David Denman. RICHIE Richie was the hardest role for me to cast because Finn Wolfhard does such a great job and was such a scene stealer in the younger role, it was difficult to imagine who could do the same in the sequel, while at the same time matching the look. Adam Brody fit the bill for me of someone who often provides comic relief...just usually in more of a sarcastic way. He looks similar enough, and he’s dry enough that it just might work (provided that Richie’s humor changes a bit as he becomes an adult. MIKE Mike was one of the kids in It that we probably saw the least of, and was harder to get a grip on who would match him as an adult as far as personality goes. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a solid actor who could give this character a bit more depth than he was given in the first chapter. Of course, I’ve never really seen him in a horror movie, so who knows if it’s his cup of tea! EDDIE Eddie was a tough character to cast because he has a certain look and a distinct neurotic personality. My pick is Milo Ventimiglia who matches the look, though I'm not positive how he'd do with the personality. Since people change much through adulthood though, I think this could still work RUNNER-UP: Oscar Isaac was actually my first pick, but his ethnicity doesn't completelllly line up with the younger Eddie. STANLEY Is it just me or is Wyatt Olef who plays the young Stan in It, a dead ringer for Tom Hiddleston? For those who have read the book or seen the 1990 version, you’ll know that [SPOILERS HIGHLIGHT TO READ] Adult Stan’s role in the sequel will be very brief since he commits suicide as soon as he hears Pennywise is back. [/end SPOILERS.] Here’s hoping Hiddleston would be up for a cameo because he’d be perfect! And that's a wrap! Let me know what you thought of my choices, and if you have some other ideas of your own feel free to share!

Darren Aronofsky can be somewhat of a polarizing filmmaker. The director behind Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler, Black Swan and Noah is incredibly ambitious and truly loves to make ART films that require much interpretation on the audience's part. Often because of this, critics, for the most, part enjoy his films while audiences find them pretentious and tedious. In mother! Aronofsky teams with Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem to create a very allegorical and bizarre tale that will likely only appeal to the most patient of viewers. It's a frustrating film if you're expecting it to conform to a genre, but a very fascinating one if you're open to its experience and attempting to dissect it afterward. Mother! is all about Jennifer Lawrence's unnamed character, a woman who lives in complete solitude with her much older writer husband (Javier Bardem). She's content to live out her days restoring his home which was once burnt to ashes. However, her peaceful life is soon turned upside down with the arrival of a stranger (Ed Harris) and later his wife (Michelle Pfeiffer), who are desperate for a place to stay. More and more her sanctuary and privacy are threatened, along with her sanity. Mother! is quite honestly, a nightmare put to film....and not necessarily in the way a typical horror movie is. This movie exploits a far different type of horror, and that's the horror of your hospitality being taken advantage of, and your privacy being encroached upon beyond belief. It's filled to the brim with feelings of claustrophobia, hopelessness and being completely and utterly trapped. It made me so completely uncomfortable in a way that not many films have the power to do. Honestly, I was legitimately stressed out. The filmmaking is all very deliberate. Right from the beginning the style here is clear. The camera stays so close to Jennifer Lawrence's face and follows her wherever she goes. There might be more close-ups here than there were in Les Miserables, adding to the claustrophobia. As for the performances here, everyone involved truly turns in some incredible work. This might honestly be Jennifer Lawrence's career-best performance, and Javier Bardem is as solid as ever...just in a more subtle way than he usually is. But it's Michelle Pfeiffer who steals the show with every scene she's in, you can hardly take your eyes off her because you have no idea what she'll say or do next. Really though there wasn't a false note in the cast, even with a surprise cameo near the end of an actress who doesn't seem to fit the genre. Mother! was a completely effective experience, but it certainly won't be a satisfying one for all....especially for people waiting for a big reveal or expecting it to conform to typical horror movie standards. It's in the final third of the film where things go a little crazy that might turn off some audiences. This is because it becomes far less relatable and moves into full allegory territory of something so crazy it would never happen....just like the turns all nightmares and dreams can take. I certainly have my own interpretation of the film, but after reading some others' takes it's clear that this is a film that can take on many meanings to many different people. And that's honestly the best about mother! RATING: 9/10

When I was young, I remember the 1990's tv movie miniseries It, being one of the first scary movies I ever saw. My dad had a VHS copy at his house, and whenever my siblings and I, or my friends and I wanted to freak ourselves out...It was always the movie of choice. As I grew older, the fear of it definitely wore off as I saw Pennywise to be a character who would mostly spout off dad jokes to scare the children. Case in point: "Is your refrigerator running?? Well, you better go catch it!" Not very scary...Plus the scenes when they were adults was pretty much the stuff of soap operas. A lot of people of my generation hold to the nostalgia of It, and see it as an untouchable film not worth remaking. "Why even bother trying to top Tim Curry's unforgettable performance" they'd say. I, on the other hand eagerly awaited and welcomed this remake with open arms, while at the same time keeping my expectations low that this film could go either way in terms of quality. After all, the remake was being helmed by Andy Muschietti, the director who gave the world Mama, an insanely creepy horror film during its first half with tons of potential that missed the mark badly in its finale. So how did I enjoy It? Very much....but maybe not for the usual reasons I love horror movies. Itactually might be stronger in the comedic and childhood bonding aspects than it is in the horror...but that's not to say that it's not effective there too. But the strongest thing the film has going for it is the cast and their natural camaraderie with one another. While a couple of the kids could maybe have used a little more development, (Mike and Stanley respectively), over all these actors totally owned their roles and were clearly having a blast playing off one another. Their language is a bit crass (they're like the kids from The Sandlot if all of them were dropping F bombs all the time.) so this definitely isn't for younger viewers like the original miniseries was. Plus, it's far scarier too. As for Bill Skarsgard's performance stepping into this iconic role, I thought he did a solid job that varied enough from Tim Curry's take to feel fresh. After the chilling opening sequence which was shown frequently in every bit of advertising for the film, each of the children is slowly introduced to Pennywise one by one. Not all of these encounters are created equal, with some of the spooks being far more effective than others. But the longer the film goes along, the scarier things get. By the time the kids enter the creepy abandoned house, the film goes into full carnival fun house mode and the jump scares are constant. It is an incredibly fun film that's definitely tense all throughout, but the main benefit here is that you care about the characters and their journey. While the film could have been edited a bit more tightly (it's about 15-20 minutes too long,) I can't deny that I had a really good time getting scared by a creepy clown. RATING: 8/10

Apparently I'm one of the few people who enjoyed the 2014 Conjuring spin off Annabelle. It wasn't a perfect or particularly memorable horror film by any means, but I enjoyed its Rosemary's Baby homages and some of the creepy sequences it had toward the end of the film. I was pretty forgiving of its flaws and looked a lot more kindly on it than many fellow film bloggers and film critics. However, none of their disapproval stopped the movie from making enough money for the studio to give the green light to another film about the demon doll. Annabelle Creation takes place several years before the original Annabelle film. This time, we delve even further into the story of where Annabelle came from and once again I really enjoyed myself, but this time maybe a little less guiltily so. The film opens with a doll maker putting his finishing touches on his new first edition of a hideous doll that he plans to give his only daughter named (you guessed it) Annabelle. Tragedy befalls her, but her spirit (or something far more sinister) seemingly is somehow linked with the doll. Years later, her parents decide they want laughter in their lives again and allow their home to be used as an orphanage to a small group of girls without homes. Initially overjoyed at having a place to stay, the girls soon discover their new home may have a very haunted presence there, and no one is safe. Annabelle Creation definitely upped the tension and creepiness of its predecessor and as far as scares go, it even felt about on par with The Conjuring 2. The backstory definitely could have been more fleshed out than the brief explanatory scene we got near the end, but all in all, I really enjoyed seeing this group of orphan girls in the very familiar "move into a new creepy haunted house" trope. Somehow, even as familiar of a horror film it should be, it still manages to feel fresh. Plus it really helps that the two youngest actresses that carry much of the film were definitely up to the task. RATING: 7.5/10

So I didn't really have any expectations about this movie one way or another....until the Rotten Tomatoes score came out and totally trashed this film. My expectations plummeted, and I was pretty sure this was going to be absolutely awful. I went to see the film anyway and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as bad as I'd heard, at least the first 20 minutes anyway. But........then I fell asleep and woke up at the very end. So I'm going to allow my husband to take over this review and give his opinion. So from here on out, these are my husband Brody's words. The Dark Tower has many flaws that drag down what could have been a great film. The filmmakers (perhaps on studio orders) shoved way too much into the story which resulted in an incredibly rushed pace that did little to serve the film. Idris Elba's performance as the wounded Gunslinger was the one good thing this movie had going for it, its only saving grace. McConaughey's performance was ultimately forgettable and his intentions for trying to take down the tower were essentially nothing more than because "he's evil!" I was hoping McConaughey would deliver something more nuanced as he has really blossomed as in actor in recent years. But alas, he did not. Having said all that -- I walked into the movie with expectations of seeing the worst film ever, But I can say that I had a good time with it. If for no other reason than all of the Easter eggs to King's other works were a nice treat. BRODY RATING: 6/10

Look. Christopher Nolan is one of my favorite directors working today (if not my favorite and most trusted.) I've loved pretty much everything he's done (though I did feel a tinge of disappointment with The Dark Knight Rises that I did feel better after a second viewing.) When I heard he was doing a World War II film I was really excited to see what he brought to the table. So excited that I even went to a preview screening of this film the day before my wedding. Perhaps this viewing circumstance was a mistake as the film had to compete with a million other things going on in my head, as well as with incredibly high expectations. With that in mind, I couldn't help but leave Dunkirk feeling pretty disappointed and having expected more from my favorite filmmaker. Dunkirk is an amazing visual experience and a film that puts you in the place of these men. It's a tale of survival first and foremost, and in that avenue it's told well. I just wanted a little more heart and some characters I could love and cling to. That's not what Christopher Nolan was envisioning in the way he told his story and I get that, but I still felt like something was missing. RATING: 8/10 Unlike Dunkirk, I didn't have any expectations as to the quality of Valerian other than that the film probably contained impressive visuals. The film got incredibly mixed reviews, and so I went into it pretty open minded. I discovered that the film it's easiest to compare to is Avatar, a film I passionately hate (before it was cool to hate I might add.) So it might be a surprise to reveal that I actually quite enjoyed watching Valerian (though admittedly I fell asleep a couple times, but that was due to a late night showing coupled with comfy recliner seats.) This film really shows me that expectations and hype really are everything. Unlike Avatar, I didn't have a bunch of people hyping up this film and selling it as the next end all be all, though I did see a select few praise it. Like Avatar, it does a fantastic job of world building: the movie presents us with a galaxy that is incredibly creative and the kind you delight in visiting. Also similar to Avatar, the detail in world building comes at the cost of the story, characters, and plot structure. In this case I was bothered much less, mostly because no one was acting like this film was perfect. RATING: 7/10

The prequel trilogy of the Planet of the Apes has been one of the most surprising and solid franchises of the century. I loved the first two films and had incredibly high expectations for this one. While this is the bleakest entry of the series, and not quite as thrilling as its predecessors, I can't really say that this movie disappoints. It tells its story just the way it should and enriches the mythology of the rest of the series. Once again, I'll never cease to be amazed that they can craft this trilogy around the amazing digital performance by Andy Serkis. He brings his Ceasar to life in a way that not many actors in the flesh even do with characters they themselves portray. His story continues to be worth telling, and I love that though we know where this story ultimately heads, it is still told in a way that lends for surprises. RATING: 8.5/10

A couple years ago I wrote a blog post about how I was REALLY against Marvel and Sony coming to an agreement to let Spider-man appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It attracted many Marvel fans to argue against me and my whole life flashed before my eyes. But my stance then and now remains the same, and even more so after seeing the film they delivered in their collaboration, one Spider-man: Homecoming. The first twenty minutes or so was nothing more than all the kids at Peter Parker's high school having constant conversations about how cool The Avengers are. I don't know. I got a little tired of how much they would pat themselves on the back about their other movies. "But Emily, that would happen if those kids lived in that universe. They WOULD all talk about those heroes." Yeah, well it doesn't make it any less eye roll enducing for me to sit through. Besides that, I also wasn't a fan of replacing the iconic Uncle Ben and his death by using Tony Stark as a place holder for guilting him in behaving better, who also comes in to save the day since Peter had to fail constantly. Oh and also making him essentially a mini Iron Man. Okay, I'll stop ranting. On the positive side, Tom Holland was likable enough and Michael Keaton was solid as always. RATING: 5/10. I tried like crazy to be able to see The Big Sick during the Sundance Film Festival. I even got my car stuck in a snowy canyon trying to see this film. Sadly, none of the screenings ever worked out for me, but months later when I got to see it at a critics screening I was happy to discover it did not disappoint! The Big Sick is both hilarious and heartwarming. Critics categorize it as a rom-com, but while placing it in that genre is truthful, it's also very misleading. The comedy focuses much more on the relationship between a man and his love interest's parents than the love interest herself. Based on a true story, the film feels real and honest though the romance is atypical...especially for what you'd find in most rom-coms. I thought this film was incredibly funny, refreshing and charming. More films like this reaaaaaallllly need to be made. RATING: 9.5/10

From the first breathtaking sequence that opens the film, I knew this movie was something special. In fact, when it was all said and done, Baby Driver happened to be my favorite movie of the summer so far and perhaps the year. Now it's not like robbery/heist movies are anything new or revolutionary, but this particular story is told so freshly and so unique it almost feels like the only film of its kind. Most of that is due to its characters. Ansel Elgort turns in a career making performance that has to make Lucasfilm a little regretful that they didn't tap him in the young Han Solo role. The story follows Baby, an unlikely getaway driver with a strong passion for the perfect soundtrack to accompany him, who also happens to be amazingly good at his job. Baby is a kid with a good heart and good intentions, but is never able to leave his life of crime. That changes when he meets a waitress (Lily James) who inspires him to try to make a fresh start. But his employers don't make it so easy on him to walk away. I absolutely loved this film and its soundtrack and honestly, I can't rave about it enough. Plus, as a connoisseur of fine editing, I must say, Baby Driver is an editor's dream film. If this doesn't win best editing come next year's Academy Awards, I'll be crushed. Do yourself a favor, and see this film as soon as you can. It's a blast. RATING: 9.5/10

Last summer brought us The Shallows, and now to top a movie that features a girl being hunted by killer shark on the ocean, we set the action UNDER the ocean and add a couple more sharks and one more girl! 47 Meters follows two sisters on a much needed vacation to help one of them get over a recent breakup. Encouraging her sister to be more spontaneous, the two embark on an underwater cage expedition where they're sure to be surrounded by sharks. What begins as a thrilling escape turns into a nightmare when the cable holding the cage breaks and the two sisters plummet into the depths of the ocean. 47 Meters was totally a guilty pleasure and I had a blast watching it. It was incredibly tense throughout and held my attention all the way through. I'm actually pretty impressed how far the filmmakers took such a simple concept. While the ending could have used a bit more thought, it will be a great edition to Shark Week movie marathons for years to come. RATING 7/10