“Now You See Me 2” (Action/Comedy: 2 hours, 9 minutes)

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman

Director: Jon M. Chu

Rated: PG-13 (Violence and profanity)

 

Movie Review: The first “Now You See Me” (Director Louis Leterrier, 2013) had plenty of twists and turns, but it was enjoyable.

“Now You See Me 2,” with Jon Chu as director, is an eclectic mix of twist and turns. None are magically impressive.

The Four Horsemen, led by FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes (Ruffalo), resurface. They are reluctantly recruited by a tech genius Walter Mabry (Radcliffe) to pull off a major heist. Mabry has an insidious plan that remains mysteriously hidden.

Meanwhile, Agent Rhodes grudgingly recruits a former adversary, Thaddeus Bradley (Freeman), who has an agenda of his own.

Director Chu (“Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” 2011; “Step Up 2: The Streets,” 2008; and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” 2013) has an assorted mixture of movies on his resume. “Now You See Me 2″ is just as eclectic.

The movie is a messy story that appears more implausible as it happens. The character and plot twists are nonsensical frequently. The elements are convoluted script material, leading to implausible situations.

Despite a fine cast of good talents and some entertaining moments, “Now You See Me 2” offers nothing new worth seeing. It offers tricks already seen in the prequel. Ed Solomon’s screenplay is a magician pulling money out of your pockets rather than a rabbit.

Grade: C (No presto-change-o, abracadabra moment.)

“The Conjuring 2” (Horror: 2 hours, 14 minutes)

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Madison Wolfe, and Frances O’Connor

Director: James Wan

Rated: R (Violence, gore and thematic elements)

 

Movie Review: Entertainingly engaging, nothing new is conjured here, but it pieces together horror moments to cause frightful moments.

Still, the story feels all too familiar. It is formulaic and a continuation of previous horror films such as “Insidious” (Director James Wan, 2010), “Sinister” (Director Scott Derrickson, 2012), and its prequel, “The Conjuring” (2013), also directed by James Wan.

A short time after their investigation of the 1976 Amityville Horror case in New York, Lorraine and Ed Warren (Farmiga and Wilson) traveled to a house in Borough of Enfield in north London. The Warrens go there hoping to aid a family of five who believe their house is haunted. They detail a story of a poltergeist tormenting them.

“Conjuring 2” provides plenty frightful moments. Part of this is accomplished by the use of light or lack thereof to create tension-filled moments. It also uses a cast that is delightful to observe. The cast and the use of cinematography are gratifying, but the story appears familiar.

While the story may be true, the narrative and too many special effects make the film appear to be just another horror flick. If a malicious entity tormented this family, the horror trivializes the moments.

Special effects and multiple stunts make the screenplay more of the same, demonic beings causing fear and chaos. It is good on fright, but lacking in originality.

Grade: C+ (It conjures up little difference from mainstream modern horrors.)

“Warcraft” (Action/Fantasy: 2 hours, 3 minutes)

Starring: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Schnetzer, Toby Kebbell and Ben Foster

Director: Duncan Jones

Rated: PG-13 (Violence and gore)

 

Movie Review: Based on the video game by Chris Metzen, “Warcraft” plays like an adaption of “Lord of the Rings” that kills characters like “Game of Thrones.”

It has humans, elves, dwarfs, wizards and orcs. It offers some nice visual effects, yet the story is something one would see on the Syfy channel. The plot is lackluster, the makeup is less than par and lines are quick quips.

Azeroth is a peaceful realm where many species of humanoids strive for a better planet. War arrives and threatens civilization when conquering orc warriors use a portal to bring them Azeroth.

Cmdr. Anduin Lothar (Fimmel), King Llane Wrynn (Dominic Cooper) and novice mage Khadgar (Schnetzer) lead brave humans in a battle against orcs, yet they are not the only ones. Several orcs led by Durotan (Kebbell) also realize their orc leader, Gul’dan (Daniel Wu), is destructive and leading his followers on a path of evil.

“Warcraft” could be an interesting tale, but several aspects interfere. The makeup, especially the wigs, need better enhancements. The computer-generated effects are grand, but they occasionally appear like that of a video game or animated feature.

More important, this photoplay has a script that is scattered. It is all over the place but nothing appears emotive. Characters exist, but none have a lasting affect.

Grade: C- (Other than a few engaging visuals, it crafts a poorly executed narrative.)