Paramount+ really wants you to consider a subscription. Another round of movies is up for grabs on the streaming service, and it’s hopefully more tempting than last month’s.
Weirdly enough, this month, they’re getting all the original Star Trek movies back, which seems odd given they’re the exclusive platform for the much-maligned Star Trek: Discovery and Strange New Worlds. At any rate, here’s a whole batch of new movies that have been filtered to the best of the bunch.
Commando (June 1)
So much muscle and testosterone in such a short runtime. Commando is an action-packed story. A bit like John Wick before we had that. Lone operative, known as a scary dude, an unstoppable force of nature, you should know this is not a dull movie by any standard.
Starring Arnie as John Matrix, he’s just a one-man wrecking crew trying to get his daughter back to safety. Of course, how he goes about that is ridding the world of all the bad guys. Quite the overachiever that Schwarzenegger. So if you want 2 hours of gunfights and explosions in pursuit of a daughter, turn this on.
Hoosiers (June 1)
Hoosiers is one of the best sports movies out there. Gene Hackman stars in this small-budget film that he elevates to great heights. It’s the story of a small Midwestern basketball team trying to win it all, and Gene’s Norman Dale is a tough bastard to be under. But he soon shows that his tough methods get results as the team starts on an unstoppable winning streak after he gets them into fighting shape.
It feels less hokey than other sports films, with more focus on the main character rather than 3 or 4 personalities on the team dealing with your typical drama subplots. However, Hoosiers is a very enjoyable film and a sports classic.
From Beyond (June 1)
From Beyond has everything you could ever wish for in a horror movie. Goopy monster men, weird kinky sex stuff, wild visuals, and some genuinely disgusting body horror effects, all wrapped up in a Lovecraftian plotline. Still not convinced? All right, what’s the story anyways?
So this scientist has invented a machine that allows him to unlock the secrets of the pineal gland, which would theoretically allow the subjects to see beyond perceptible reality. What could go wrong, right? Well, the old professor ends up bitten by creatures from another realm and becomes consumed in his quest for more. What happens from there is where the story picks up, but this movie is worth your time. Wholly original, provocative at moments, and utterly shocking at others. From Beyond is a horror movie that begs to be seen.
My Cousin Vinny (June 1)
A pretty fantastic comedy movie from every angle you slice it. Joe Pesci stars as rookie lawyer Vinny Gambini trying to get his cousin acquitted of a murder he didn’t commit. However, he’s never actually stepped in a court of law as a lawyer.
Adding to the difficulty is that he’s from New York, and the trial takes place in Beechum County, Alabama, population: Good ‘Ol Boy. It’s rare, though, that you get a comedy where both the lead and the supporting are equally laugh-out-loud funny, with Marissa Tomei as his feisty fiance. Meanwhile, he’s got the judge ready to grill him on every minor mistake he makes.
The Rugrats Movie (June 1)
Are you feeling nostalgic for your childhood this month? Paramount has you covered. The sequels are going on Paramount, too, but none compare to handing your new baby brother over to the wolves. Oh yeah, it’s a dark one. But it’s certainly memorable with shades of Labyrinth by just hating the very presence of your new sibling.
The Secret of NIMH (June 1)
Praise Don Bluth’s animation! While once a Disney animator, Bluth left the company to do his own thing after getting reamed by creative big whig Michael Eisner. The story is pretty simple. It stars a small mouse mom trying to go on a quest to save her sick son. If you’re a fan of animation, this movie is an absolute must-see, if only for the unbelievable lengths the team surpassed to make this project look as good as possible.
The Star Trek Collection (June 1)
All the original movies are coming home to Paramount this month. If you want a taste of what Star Trek is, watch Wrath of Khan. If you want a taste of what a long, long episode of Star Trek is like, watch The Motion Picture. And if you want a goofy slice of 80s conservation about trying to save the whales in our current time because they float around in the future and threaten to wipe out the universe, The Voyage Home would be your cup of tea.