Flashback Friday: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)

When a film franchise becomes successful, the audience becomes more discerning. Based on the previous movies in the series, we have certain expectations of where the narrative will go.

Night of the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014) is the third movie in the Night at the Museum trilogy. Following the events of Night at the Museum (2006) and Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian (2009), Larry Dailey (Ben Stiller) has to save the magic before all is lost. Along the way, he is helped by old friends Jedediah (Owen Wilson), Octavius (Steve Coogan), and Teddy Roosevelt (the late Robin Williams in the next to last role before his untimely passing) and new friends. These new friends include Sir Lancelot (Dan Stevens) and Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek).

Though this movie is not as good as its predecessors, it is not all bad. It has the same energy and comedy as the first two films. But there is something missing, though I cannot put my finger on it.

Do I recommend it? Maybe.

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Bohemian Rhapsody Movie Review

Queen is one of the greatest rock and roll bands in modern music history and Freddie Mercury is without a doubt one of the top five vocalists that music fans have ever heard.

The new film, Bohemian Rhapsody, follows the rise of and near fall of the band and their charismatic front man, Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek). As they climb to the heights of success with their iconic and revolutionary songs, there are troubles behind the scenes. Freddie is gay, but is  unable to accept that part of who he is, at least for part of the film. Though he loves Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton), they both come to accept that their relationship will never be a traditional relationship. While this is happening, Freddie is falling to the dark side, led by Paul Prenter (Allen Leech). The band nearly breaks up, until they join the lineup for Live Aid, forever cementing Queen as one of the respected rock bands in history.

Someone who saw the film before I did said that it is best viewed as a concert film and not as a traditional biopic. I agree with that perspective. Though it could be viewed as a traditional biopic, some biopics are rather boring and predictable. This film is neither. Much of the kudos goes to the film’s leading man. While another actor might have simply played the role, Rami Malek inhabits Freddie’s skin. It’s as if Freddie is still alive, instead of being alive in our collective memories.

I absolutely recommend it.

Bohemian Rhapsody is presently in theaters. 

Thoughts On The Bohemian Rhapsody Trailer

There are rock bands and there are rock bands. Queen is a rock band. Their music is everything rock and roll should be.

The trailer for the Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody hit the internet with a bang today.

Starring Rami Malek as Queen’s legendary front man Freddie Mercury, the film tells the story of the band up to 1985 Live Aid concert.

The buzz so far is that of excitement for the film and frankly, based on the trailer, I couldn’t agree more with the buzz. Rami Malek looks very much like the real Freddie Mercury, I can only hope that both he and the film can hold a candle to the real life people whose story they are telling.

Unfortunately, we will have to wait until November to find out.