Phil at the Movies 2023
The latest 2022-2023 theatrical feature film releases, seen in the theaters and on streaming services, plus a couple of rereleases.
List activity
155 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
51 titles
- DirectorShinji HiguchiIkki TodorokiStarsTakumi SaitôMasami NagasawaHidetoshi NishijimaAs the threat of giant unidentified lifeforms known as "S-Class Species" worsens in Japan, a silver giant appears from beyond Earth's atmosphere.I first wanted to mention, that this review is based off of the English dubbed version. I hope to see the Japanese version with English subtitles someday, because in most cases, it's better to watch these films in their original Japanese language with English subtitles. I feel the film suffers when dubbed, due to bad acting inflections, low-budget voice recordings or the producers change parts of the story, in order for it to be translated easier. However, I do want to mention, that the English voice production and voice acting talent, did a really good job in this film and the dubbing was just fine. It is one of the better voice dubbing jobs I've seen, of a Japanese film, over the last 45 years, but ultimately, I still want the original Japanese version with English subtitles.
Anyway, off of their success with Shin Godzilla (2016), director/writers Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno return for this film, Shin Ultraman (2022). I personally have not seen any of their other work, other than these two films, but from what I have seen, they do pretty good work. In an attempt to capture the MCU's magic, seen in America, by making their own shared-universe, across some of Japan's biggest intellectual properties, the Shin Universe has met the same obstacles, that were seen in America. The typical legal woes about copyrights, trademarks and who gets the profits, has made the idea of a shared-universe, pretty much in name only for now. Just keep in mind, that this may lead someday to Ultraman, finally meeting the real Godzilla, but for now, the "Shin" title, is all they really share. There also is a Shin Kamen Rider (2023), coming to Japanese theaters next.
There is a slowing down of the pacing in the middle of this film. It was the same problem I had with Shin Godzilla (2016). In that film, there were too many moments of needless dialogue, set-up and description, bogging down the energy of the film. In the case of Shin Ultraman (2022), it was handled better, in the fact that, they did have a lot of territory to cover, but it only slowed things down a little bit. This film covers, pretty much, the entire first series of Ultraman (1966-1967). It condensed 51 episodes into a two hour movie. This also includes the prologue, about the 28 episodes of Ultra-Q (1966), that is seen in the first two minutes of the film. So, there was a lot of Ultra-mythology. that had to be covered in the plot of this film and our two director/writers handle it very well. The human characters' names are all different from the original series, however the Ultra people seen in the film, the names of the kaiju and the evil alien bad guys, all have their original names. I was so proud of myself, noticing the familiar names of the bad guys and the fact that the writers changed all the names of the humans. I did miss Hayata, Ito, Arashi and Fuji, but the new group was pretty good, most notably, Masami Nagasawa as Hiroko Asami. She was the breakout character, in this film, from my perspective.
Being a huge fan of Ultraman, made it such a memorable film for me. It really did capture the magic, that the original had, with that 21st century perfection. They hit upon all the major points, made famous in the original series and string it all together with new ideas about, Ultraman's first appearance, his relationship with the SSSP (the Earth's defense force in this incarnation) and what the world would be like, if this happened in the real world. It was the same approach they went with in Shin Godzilla (2016), which I thought deviated away, too much, from the Toho Studios' Godzilla of old, that I was used to seeing. In this film they still gave you the same Ultraman we are used to seeing. It was the original, that we loved in the 1960s and 1970s. He didn't have extra powers and was the same genuine article, made famous, over the last 60 years. What he did get was a 2023 shot of adrenaline, in the form of brilliant special effects and a killer soundtrack. This film is polished compared to some of the older attempts. It is well put-together and totally keeps the spirit of the classic series. Shin Ultraman (2022), was a very good film to see in 2023.
7.9 (B- MyGrade) = 8 IMDB - DirectorOl ParkerStarsGeorge ClooneySean LynchJulia RobertsA divorced couple teams up and travels to Bali to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago.
- DirectorScott CooperStarsChristian BaleHarry MellingSimon McBurneyA world-weary detective is hired to investigate the murder of a West Point cadet. Stymied by the cadets' code of silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case - a young man the world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe.
- DirectorJ.D. DillardStarsJonathan MajorsGlen PowellChristina JacksonA pair of U.S. Navy fighter pilots risk their lives during the Korean War and become some of the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.
- DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellBrendan GleesonKerry CondonTwo lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.The symbolism in the Banshees of Inisherin (2022), is everywhere. The whole film feels like a commentary on loneliness. First off, the film takes place, exactly 100 years ago, on a tiny island, off of the coast of Ireland. The sparsely, small population, moving about, around this island, either walking, riding a bike or traveling in a horse cart, also have access to the mainland, via boats, at their tiny island port. But, the isolation is felt, all throughout the film. This isolation is the island itself, which enhances the loneliness, but maybe the isolation is a good thing, as the explosions of civil war are heard, just over the hills on the mainland. From here, the loneliness moves further into the story, as we meet our two main characters, Colm (Brendan Gleeson) and Pádraic (Colin Farrell). Colm is a musician, who lives alone with his dog. Pádraic is a boring milk farmer, who lives with his bored, lonely sister, Siobhán (Kerry Condon). She definitely needs a change of scenery. The loneliness carries over into the supporting cast, as evidenced by Pádraic's friend, Dominic (Barry Keoghan). Dominic tries to help Pádraic's situation with Colm, while struggling with his own, dead-beat father, the island policeman, Peadar (Gary Lydon). Their tragic, complicated existence takes place, in another lonely house.
Whenever the plot takes you into any of their homes, the mood feels lonely and isolated, in every scene. One day, Colm decides he doesn't like Pádraic anymore and ends their long friendship. Of course, this makes no sense to Pádraic and our story turns into a complex character study, as we try to unravel why their friendship is over. In-between funny situations and banter between the characters, the plot gets even more, shockingly interesting, as Colm has to increase his threats, because Pádraic won't stay away from him. The cast in this film does a brilliant job with their performances. It's no wonder this film was nominated for nine Oscars. Four of those were for cast members. Farrell and Gleeson, both deserve the Oscar nod, with their totally believable portrayals, of the two sides of this story. The calm clash between these two forces, is ever so incredibly polite, yet you literally feel things, unraveling even more.
This film is a comedy-drama, but it does get serious in places and sometimes does teeter on the edge of fantasy too, especially when we see the image of the island elder, Mrs. McCormick (Sheila Flitton), who resembles any of the classic gypsy-women or witches from Hollywood's past. It's also the ultimatum, Colm gives to Pádraic, that is carried out to its shocking, unbelievable conclusion, which enhances the fantastic angle of the film. This film is well-shot and the island's pale, chilly, isolated loneliness, is still depicted as respectful beauty, because of the excellent cinematography. The mood is represented just right. I totally agree, that the Banshees of Inisherin (2022), deserves its Oscar nods, but what keeps me from giving this film a 9/10, is the lack of a soundtrack, which hampers the pacing of the film, making it slow-down a little, but I did enjoy this film a lot.
8.7 (B+ My Grade) = 8 IMDB - DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael DouglasScott Lang and Hope Van Dyne are dragged into the Quantum Realm, along with Hope's parents and Scott's daughter Cassie. Together they must find a way to escape, but what secrets is Hope's mother hiding? And who is the mysterious Kang?So, I'm not going to say this is a great Marvel film. However, I also won't say it is a bad movie either. There are a lot of good things in this film, but it also has things going on within it, that could have been done better. It definitely is one of those filler-movies, Marvel has to release, every now-and-then, in order to tie things together, for the bigger MCU franchise's main plot-arc. The MCU has a problem due to this, but that problem is born from many good positives, found in the MCU's past. This problem doesn't apply to the fans, but does effect the more general audience. Marvel still needs to get to that point, when they can dazzle the audience again, with a huge block-buster, cross-over event, like Avengers: End Game (2019). In the meantime, they want to take their time and create a build-up to that next huge event. The fans are okay with that, but the general audience might not be.
In the case of Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), it makes sense, that the third film in the trilogy, should center around the quantum realm. It is part of the Ant-Man mythos found in the comic books, plus it plays a huge role in the main MCU story. We leave the setting of San Francisco, where the first two films took place and go to a completely different setting for this film. It's a quick arrival to the quantum realm too. Director, Peyton Reed gets right into it, as the plot takes us into the quantum realm, within the first 15 minutes of the film. This is where some of the problems develop in the beginning of the film. Director Reed has so much territory he needs to cover in this film, that those plot-points, took away time needed, to revisit the main characters. The Wasp was totally overlooked in this film. Other supporting characters suffer too. The beginning of the film is so quick, it looks sloppily forced at us, in order to get into the quantum realm.
The positive side to this approach is, it creates a whole new different Ant-Man film. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), contains a side to his character, that we don't get to see a lot. Rudd was tapped to bring in a comedic-side to the role, much like Michael Keaton was for Batman (1989). Both of these actors were able to sell their characters, as serious, emotional, superhero fodder, but also added that comedy splash into the design of the characters. These are great performances by both actors. It was very evident with Rudd in the first two Ant-Man films. This time however, Peyton Reed decides to tap more into the tough, brave, hero-side of Ant-Man, seen in Avengers: End Game (2019), by showing us a more mature, emotional, serious, successful, liberated Scott Lang. All of his head-aches from the past were gone, however the five year gap he lost with his daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton), weighs in on his mind.
With the comedy-side of Scott Lang subdued, some of the comedy is dished-out to Michael Douglas' Hank Pym in this film. Both of the parents of Hope Van Dyne, the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), play a big role in this film. It was their depictions of Hank and Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), that are stand-outs. Janet is tough and Hank is still cool. They are the original Ant-Man and the Wasp in this film. There are some new characters, that I thought were pretty good, like Veb (voice of David Dastmalchian), a slime creature, obsessed with holes, Quaz (William Jackson Harper), who can read minds and this cool, robot-creature, who's whole head is an energy-blaster. Can't find his name. He had no speaking parts. However, some of the new characters seemed slightly dull. What does pay-off well is the performance of Jonathan Majors as Kang, the Conqueror. His part in the film, is explained well, so the general audience should be satisfied and the fans should see some of the answers they have been looking for, since the end of season one of Loki (2021). This is a film, that is just going-through-the-motions, for the bigger picture and can be dull to some at certain moments. However, it does effectively end Payton Reed's trilogy. I'm sure, eventually, as time goes by, this film will slip down to the lower levels of MCU rankings, but for now, it sets up many interesting scenarios and new questions of things to come.
6.6 (C- MyGrade) = 7 IMDB - DirectorKenya BarrisStarsJonah HillLauren LondonEddie MurphyFollows a new couple and their families, who find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences.
- DirectorShawn LevyStarsRyan ReynoldsWalker ScobellMark RuffaloAfter accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to save the future.
- DirectorRobert EggersStarsAlexander SkarsgårdNicole KidmanClaes BangA young Viking prince is on a quest to avenge his father's murder.
- DirectorDavid F. SandbergStarsZachary LeviAsher AngelJack Dylan GrazerThe film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!" is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.What a difference four years can make. I'm not saying that, because it's a bad thing. I am just mentioning that, because it is important to remember how we got to this point, in order to enjoy this film a little bit more. If you recall, the DCEU had to conduct major damage control for their franchise, in the wake of the release of Joss Whedon's, disastrous film, Justice League (2017). In that wake, DC managed to roll-off a handful of successfully, appreciated features, that helped ease the pain for fans, still reeling from the Justice League film fiasco. DC had to repair its reputation with fans, after releasing a film, that was so badly executed, that it almost felt like a spit in the face. This healing started off with the successful release of Aquaman (2018) and got an even a bigger boost, with the release of this film's predecessor. Shazam! (2019), was well-liked by critics, fans and the general audience. It made a lot of cash at the box-office and was totally touted as a healing experience for most DC fans.
Shazam! (2019), helped the DCEU get out of some of the trouble it had gotten into with the unsatisfying Justice League (2017). It also helped that Warner Brothers eventually allowed Zack Snyder to complete his Justice League Snyder-Cut (2021), which has efficiently removed the specter of the Joss Whedon film from most people's minds. But then, a global epidemic in the real-world caused some problems and delays, that weren't helping the situation. Also, the rift developed between the DCEU's original visionary, Zack Snyder and Warner Brothers executives, ended with huge changes in 2022, making the future of the DCEU unclear today in 2023. There is a lot more to the DCEU's story, involving the real-world affecting this film franchise, causing those changes in direction, but it would take too long to talk about. You should read-up on the backstory of the DCEU. The change in direction for the DCEU also has, pretty much, rendered the Shazam! sequel into a stand-alone movie. Remember that when you watch Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023).
So, what does this mean for Shazam? After having a surprisingly, successful response towards the first Shazam! (2019), coupled with the weird press DC Studios has had permeating in the franchise's background the last few years, Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), means, that this sequel has a lot to cover, involving all the characters' stories, plus big shoes to fill, in order to top the success of the first film. How did Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) do? It is not as good as the first film, but it isn't any slouch either. In order to generate some energy, character development is sacrificed, in an attempt to get the audience excited, with a big fight among gods. Our new big-bad villains in this film are Helen Mirren as Hespera and Lucy Liu as Kalypso. They are 2/3 of the sisters of the titan-god Atlas, who are trying to get their powers reactivated, after they were taken away by the original Shazam Wizard (Djimon Hounsou). Once that is done they plan for, I bet you know, world domination. However, they have to get through Shazam (Zachary Levi) and Philly, before moving onto the rest of the world.
Joining Levi is the same group of young, talented actors/actresses, that showed up at the end of the first film, as Billy Batson's (Asher Angel), adopted family, who also possess the powers of Shazam. The other part of the equation comes from the other 1/3 of the Sisters of Atlas, with Rachel Zegler as Anthea, the obvious good-witch of this trio of sorceresses. It also works out great, that she looks the same age as Billy and his adopted siblings. However, there is no romantic story for Billy in this film (unless you talk about the surprise crush seen throughout the film, that I won't talk about here). In this film the romantic story comes between Anthea and Billy's adopted brother, Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer). Billy's main issue conflicting his mind, is the fear that his adopted family will let him go, once he gets to 18 years old in five months. He's worried about that next step in his life. Adding to his problems is the bad press, that he and his Shazam family garnered recently, after the accidental destruction of the Betsy Ross Bridge in Philadelphia. So, that is your basic plot, involving maturing orphans, angry god-sisters, romance for Freddy and a city of brotherly love, not really ready for its own superhero family.
Personally, for me, what I like about the Shazam movies, is the fact, that they take place in my home megalopolis of Philadelphia or south-eastern Pennsylvania, whichever is more accurate. Albeit, some of the film was shot in Atlanta and Philadelphia is created mostly with CGI, I think the idea of superheroes in a city, other than New York or fictional cities like Gotham or Metropolis, creates a new level of plot points to look for in a film. None is more evident than seeing what Billy and his family have to deal with, after the loss of the Betsy Ross Bridge and the media backlash that follows. It so represents the world we live in now. This film still captures the fun and humorous moments seen in the first film. In its attempt to generate some energy for a healing franchise, Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), tries to set-up a another group of heroes going up against another group of bad-guys, while sacrificing the idea of fleshing out the story of its main character. In fact, Billy is not in the film much. The Zachary Levi form is seen a lot more in this film, than the last film. It was a clear indication that returning director, David F. Sandberg, wasn't going to worry about the Billy Batson side of Shazam! He needed time to set this story up, explain more about the supporting characters and give, some kind of, a glimpse into the future of this franchise. Obviously, there was no way this film was going to reach Shazam! (2019), level status, especially with everything going on in the real world. It actually delivers a fun time at the movie theater and was over quickly, considering its 130 minute length. I have no idea what Shazam's future will hold, but I do know its present was still worth the price of admission.
7.1 (C MyGrade) = 7 IMDB - DirectorDavid LeitchStarsBrad PittJoey KingAaron Taylor-JohnsonFive assassins aboard a swiftly-moving bullet train find out that their missions have something in common.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsDave BautistaJonathan GroffBen AldridgeWhile vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse.
- DirectorElizabeth BanksStarsKeri RussellAlden EhrenreichO'Shea Jackson Jr.An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converge on a Georgia forest where a huge black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.
- DirectorSean McNamaraStarsDennis QuaidHeather GrahamJesse MetcalfeAfter their pilot dies unexpectedly mid-flight, Doug White (Dennis Quaid) has to safely land the plane and save his entire family from insurmountable danger.
- DirectorAaron HorvathMichael JelenicPierre LeducStarsChris PrattAnya Taylor-JoyCharlie DayA plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother Luigi, trying to save a captured princess.The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), is a cool movie. It is slightly sloppy with its plot, but overall it is quite entertaining. The voice-cast is quite impressive, which consists of Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach. To add even more flavor to the story, we finally get Donkey Kong in this film, as a major player, who is voiced by Seth Rogan. Jack Black shows up as bad-guy Bowser. He even gets to do a Jack Black-esque, rockin'-roll, music number in the film. It is good fun. Following the general idea of the Super Mario Bros., the Mario brothers are sucked away from their home in Brooklyn into the crazy world of the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser's Dark Lands. As Mario and Luigi work to get back to each other, they meet Princess Peach and many other characters, in an attempt to stop Bowser and the possible destruction of the kingdom.
Even though the film was made mostly for kids, a filmmaker still needs to remember, that they also have to entertain and not insult the grown-ups, who have to accompany the kids to the theater. Plus, the adults grew up with the Super Mario Bros. So, an adult will spot some of the mistakes seen in the film. Also, the constant CGI makes the film look more like those interactive inter-movies seen in video games, that play between different levels of the game. The film doesn't really feel like a theatrical motion picture, but more like a 90 minute video game shown on a big screen, which made part of the experience, slightly cheap. My suggestion with the next adaptation is to try a happy-medium between CGI and live-action. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), is still a good time and this film is a strong apology for the 1993 version. It will entertain the kids and satisfy the adults, who have been looking for something better since 1993.
7.4 (C+ MyGrade) = 7 IMDB - DirectorMatt Bettinelli-OlpinTyler GillettStarsCourteney CoxMelissa BarreraJenna OrtegaIn the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattChukwudi IwujiBradley CooperStill reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.The team returns for one final installment, so they can wrap-up the story arc of this incarnation of James Gunn's modern classic. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), will also answer some of the questions, about what the future holds for these cherished characters. It's safe to say, that it's not the end, but more of a transition, because the actors might change, but the characters are part of Marvel's canon of characters. They may come back someday, but this is the end of line for this group of filmmakers, performers and this particular storyline. The main ingredient being the real-world reality, that actors age and eventually need to be replaced. If there was no such thing as aging, this group could continue forever. That is a commentary on how loved they are to the audience and fans alike. James Gunn serves up a plate of emotions in this film, that helps the audience feel included in the celebrations.
A very influential entity in Marvel's canon of characters is the High Evolutionary. He is responsible for the creation of many characters from Marvel's history, most notably, the creation of Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper). This is the point where the film takes root or maybe Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), as a launching pad for the rest of the film. It's the desire of the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), to take his evolutionary science to the next level, no matter how atrocious it may be. He needs to capture Rocket, in order to solve the mystery of the racoon's amazing brilliance. It is this part of the film, that shows how good Marvel and Gunn are. Marvel has always been known for having an important message embedded into the plot of their films and comic books. In this case, it is a commentary on animal rights, being humane and that age-old science fiction example of not playing a god. The High Evolutionary thinks he is a god and therefore answers to no one. This is why the Guardians have to stop him and save Rocket.
The set-up begins with Rocket, who becomes injured, after Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), the now, uncocooned super-creation of his creator/mother Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), tries to capture Rocket, from orders from the High Evolutionary. The injury to Rocket sets off a kill-switch inside his robotic implants, thus sending Star-Lord and the gang out to find the file download, that will turn off the switch. We are than introduced to a wide array of unique, sometimes frightening, genetically altered creatures, that the High Evolutionary has created. We also get to see what happens with all of our heroes and what their futures will be. The film has the emotions, the action, the plot, the Marvel magic and the performances of the cast, who express this intellectual property, the way it should be. The problem lies in the pacing, which slows the film down a little. It is still a very good film, but definitely ranks third out of the three films. This may be a good thing though, because the way they marketed this film as a finality, didn't really feel like an end at all, but more of a new beginning. That lack of ending made things feel more like hope. It was all in the emotions.
7.8 (B- MyGrade) = 8 IMDB - DirectorJean-François RichetStarsGerard ButlerMike ColterTony GoldwynA pilot finds himself caught in a war zone after he's forced to land his commercial aircraft during a terrible storm.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsTom HanksMariana TreviñoRachel KellerOtto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.
- DirectorBen AffleckStarsMatt DamonJason BatemanBen AffleckFollows the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan.
- DirectorVasilis KatsoupisStarsWillem DafoeGene BervoetsEliza StuyckNemo, a high-end art thief, is trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn't go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and ingenuity to survive.
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsChristian BaleMargot RobbieJohn David WashingtonIn the 1930s, three friends witness a murder, are framed for it, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.
- DirectorJohn Francis DaleyJonathan GoldsteinStarsChris PineMichelle RodriguezRegé-Jean PageA charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.
- DirectorHideaki AnnoStarsSôsuke IkematsuMinami HamabeTasuku EmotoHongo Takeshi awakens to discover he has been transformed into a grasshopper-hybrid cyborg. Becoming the Masked Rider, he must fight the mysterious evil organization SHOCKER to protect all of mankind.7.2 (C MyGrade) = 7 IMDB
- DirectorChris McKayStarsNicholas HoultNicolas CageAwkwafinaRenfield, Dracula's henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum for decades, longs for a life away from the Count, his various demands, and all of the bloodshed that comes with them.
- DirectorJoaquim Dos SantosKemp PowersJustin K. ThompsonStarsShameik MooreHailee SteinfeldBrian Tyree HenryMiles Morales catapults across the multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.
- DirectorDavid GelbStarsKevin FeigeJack KirbyJ.C. Lee100 years of dreaming. 100 years of creating. 100 years of Stan Lee.6.9 (C MyGrade) = 7 IMDB
- DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsEzra MillerMichael KeatonSasha CalleBarry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without super heroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.In the Flash (2023), we witness the end of the DCEU as we know it. Those films now enter, into film history, as part of the era, that depicted the rise of the comic-book film, in the early part of the 21st century. Now, the next phase of DC's theatrical division moves onto it's next incarnation, in the guise of James Gunn's new DCU, which should launch in 2025. The Flash (2023), ends a 13 film run by the DCEU, that began with the Man of Steel (2013). So, being a Flash film, you already know, that this will be a perfect moment to use the character, most pivotal, in all the stories DC has used during its history, to reboot its brand, either on film or in print. This is a perfect way to segue from the current universe to the next one coming. As seen in the trailers, you also know, that this is a time-traveling film. Barry Allen decides to go back in time and save his mother. It's the quintessential Flash story. We also know this will be another example of a multi-verse film.
So, as this swan song opens up, we also are reminded of the off-screen problems of it's star, Ezra Miller, as Barry Allen, the Flash. Trying to remove that from your mind won't work, because, unfortunately, knowing this, helps enhance his performance. Its an eerie parallel, that is felt in the film, especially since he runs into a younger version of himself, who wouldn't really be considered totally stable, especially by the end of the film. So, removing real-world problems from the equation, the star's performance is not a problem in this film. With that in mind, we move onto the supporting cast. Many characters in the film have to stay top-secret here, but two characters we do know from the trailer is Ben Affleck and returning champion Michael Keaton, as our main Batmen. Barry Allen turns to his Bruce Wayne (Affleck), to get support for his idea, to go change the past. Once Barry gets to the past, it turns out he has entered the wrong universe and while searching for Batman, he finds the Bruce Wayne from the Tim Burton universe, Michael Keaton. Both Batmen do a great job with their performances, but I felt Keaton was held back a little too much. He felt too subtle.
The plot also harkens back to that beginning film, the Man of Steel (2013) and utilizes elements from that film, in order to give us an idea of when this takes place. The day the Kryptonians attacked Earth. This brings back Superman rival, General Zod (Michael Shannon), but gives us a new hero, Supergirl (Sasha Calle). Basically, this boils down to a multi-verse disaster in the making. Forget everything you know, heard or believe, when it comes to the concept of time-travel. This is most evidenced by the shot the writers of the Flash (2023), take, on Marvel's concept of time-travel, as seen in Avengers: Endgame (2019). It is a subtle joke, that speaks volumes. The humor in the film is quite good. It is that infuriating aspect of Ezra Miller's Flash, that is appealing. He was the comedy-relief in the Justice League (2017), much like Paul Rudd was in the MCU's Captain America: Civil War (2016). So, it's not a surprise, that the Flash (2023), has lots of comedy moments.
The Flash (2023), isn't a bad film, but it isn't a great one either. The multi-verse plotline, along with the main plot of Barry attempting to save his mother, coupled with having to world-build another universe in two hours and a plethora of characters roll through, makes for a messy situation, unless you are knowledgeable enough to understand what is going on. Fortunately for me, I have been following DC since the 1970s, so none of that bothered me. It could be confusing for those, who don't know the comics or all the movies from the past that well. The strong point of this film stems from the swan song aspect of it all. Knowing that things will be changing for DC makes this a strong homage to the past ten years of the DCEU. Love them or hate them, whatever the sum total of all 13 parts were for you and for film history, the Flash (2023), is strong enough to entertain and put a decent closing to this era of DC comics theatrical films.
7.2 (C MyGrade) = 7 IMDB - DirectorLee CroninStarsMirabai PeaseRichard CrouchleyAnna-Maree ThomasA twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsHarrison FordPhoebe Waller-BridgeAntonio BanderasArchaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.
- DirectorKyle MarvinStarsLily TomlinJane FondaRita MorenoA group of friends made it their life-long mission to go to the Super Bowl and meet NFL superstar Tom Brady.
- DirectorDaniel KwanDaniel ScheinertStarsMichelle YeohStephanie HsuJamie Lee CurtisA middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.
- DirectorTi WestStarsMia GothJenna OrtegaBrittany SnowIn 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the crew find themselves fighting for their lives.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsCillian MurphyEmily BluntMatt DamonThe story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.Directing great, Christopher Nolan, is back with his vision, of how the events of the Manhattan Project, resulted in the creation of the atom bomb. Nolan film alumnus, Cillian Murphy, plays the titular character in this film, J. Robert Oppenheimer. This film has a great cast in it, which incudes Matt Damon as General Leslie Groves. It is a role originally done by Paul Newman, in the slightly criticized, but still worthy motion picture, about those events, in Fat Man and Little Boy (1989). Oppenheimer (2023), also utilizes the great acting prowess of Iron Man, Robert Downey JR., as Lewis Strauss. Nolan film alumnus, Gary Oldman, gives another brilliant performance as Harry S. Truman.
This film is riveting, stunning, mesmerizing, stressful in some ways and edited together, with a brilliant pace. Its massive three hour runtime moves along just fine. The way Nolan intercuts images, like the mushroom cloud, at pivotal moments of the film, in-between the scenes documenting Oppenheimer's life and the events at the Manhattan Project, is one of the best editing jobs I've ever seen in 21st century cinema. Nolan also shows his prowess, with audio tricks, that help emphasize the images and emotions, coming across the screen. And, speaking about audio, the music soundtrack is perfect for this film. You would think, that Nolan film alumnus, music composer, Hans Zimmer was involved with this film, but he was not. Equally brilliant film composer, Ludwig Göransson does the soundtrack for this film and it is beautiful. This was a memorable three hours at the movie theater. What an epic.
9.4 (A MyGrade) = 9 IMDB - DirectorSteven Caple Jr.StarsAnthony RamosDominique FishbackLuna Lauren VelezDuring the '90s, a new faction of Transformers - the Maximals - join the Autobots as allies in the battle for Earth.The Transformers movies have slowly been dropping in quality and substance for a while now. The first Transformers (2007), was very good. The third film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), was good, but actually the best Hasbro film, since then, has been Battleship (2012). Bumblebee (2018), wasn't too bad either, but it has been a rough-going, since the early days of the Michael Bay-directed, Transformers movies. Things don't improve here with the seventh installment in the franchise either, but there are some good points to be found too. In Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), I was impressed with the special effects and CGI used in the film. Also, the writers and animators, produced a group of interestingly creative characters, directly related to the robot designs and their personalities.
Our main antagonist, is a fan-favorite character, first introduced in movie theaters, in the great animated film, Transformers, the Movie (1986). He is a giant, planet-sucking, Transformer-God, known as Unicron (voice of Colman Domingo). Unicron has an interesting resemblance to Marvel's, planet-eating, cosmic entity, Galactus. Without getting into the plot too much, our main, human character in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), is Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos). Noah, is a guy, with a sick little brother, no insurance and no job. He is an ex-soldier, trained in electronics (of course), who becomes the new Shia LaBeouf, Mark Walberg or even, Hailee Steinfeld, lead character of the franchise. In Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), we are now in the the 1990s. Optimus Prime (voice of Peter Cullen) and the Autobots, find themselves embroiled in another fight, not with the Decepticons this time, but with new bad-guy robots, the Terrorcons. As the film moves along, Noah begins to form a bond with the Autobot, known to fans, as Mirage (voice of Pete Davidson). Eventually, Mirage has to give parts of his body to Noah, in order to create a protective suit, so Noah can fly around, shoot lasers and look a lot like Iron-Man. In order for Unicron to gain the power he needs, towards access to unlimited planets, he has the Terrorcons search for the Trans-warp Key.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), is one of the movies, I will be adding to my E for Effort List. I still recommend "E for Effort" films, because there is still enough in the film, for either, an entertaining night or at least, an interesting one. They are films, that could have been really good, but for some reason or another, one huge blemish, technical problem or a behind-the-scenes stigma, causes the film to go off course. This also could be related to story substance, related to budgetary headaches, which affects the pacing of the film. It is the idea, that if the director, Steven Caple Jr., could change or fix one thing, it could be the difference between a bad movie or a great film. It gets an "E For Effort". In this case, for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), the blemish in the room, develops into a blatant copy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film has its moments, but is bogged-down by a familiarity, that ruins parts of the movie. I still recommend the film, especially if you decide to watch the whole franchise together. You need to include this film in the viewing rotation, especially once you see the very end of this film, because it looks like, Hasbro has some interesting things, in-store, for the future of the franchise. There also is a pretty talented voice-cast in this film too. Along with Pete Davidson, this includes the Maximals characters, Ron Perlman, as Optimus Primal and Michelle Yeoh as Airazor. Peter Dinklage is cast, as the voice of Scourge, the right-hand Terrorcon to Unicron, which looks every bit, like he is a herald for Unicron, just like the Sliver Surfer is a herald for Galactus.
5.1 (E+ MyGrade) = 5 IMDB - DirectorBen WheatleyStarsJason StathamJing WuShuya Sophia CaiA research team encounters multiple threats while exploring the depths of the ocean, including a malevolent mining operation.I read in the box office reports, about this film, before I saw it, that the writers and producers wanted to go heavier, with the comedy angle for Meg 2: The Trench (2023), compared to the amount seen in the first film. This worried me a little, because what I liked the most about the Meg (2018), was its goal to stay out of Sharknado territory (a made-for-TV film from 2013, about tornados, containing sharks) and try to teeter closer to Jaws (1975), type-of-quality territory, instead. The first film managed to do that, but landed slightly between Jaws 2 (1978) and Jaws 3-D (1983). Anyway, I liked the Meg (2018). The plot in Meg 2: The Trench (2023), establishes, that the film takes place in current day, 2023. In this 2023, our team of divers, with their very futuristic-looking equipment, head to the bottom of the sea, this time, to 25,000 feet, to test out the equipment. They also, after just five years, have a pet megalodon. More on that later.
Completely opposite to the first film, this time, Jason Statham's seasoned diver, Jonas Taylor, jumps right into action, rather enthusiastically, for this test run. He wasn't that excited, nor enthusiastic, to get into things in the first film. In the Meg 2: The Trench (2023), Taylor and the gang, have to deal, with multiple megs, a giant octopus, lizard-like Snappers (which are pulled, right out of science-fiction) and a group of bad-guys, who hijack the diver's home base and strand Taylor and crew, on the bottom of the ocean. When I saw the Meg (2018), I was bad, with preparing for the movie, didn't do my homework and found out, before seeing this movie, that the Meg movies, are based off of a group of novels, by a guy named, Steve Alten. I guess, he is the modern-day version of Clive Cussler, with the added touch of dinosaurs. So, knowing that, helps set the narrative more for these films and explains a lot.
In Meg 2: The Trench (2023), I wasn't expecting a classically-designed bad-guy (Sergio Peris-Mencheta as Montes), with aspirations of nefarious goals, leading a group of mercenaries and not worried about wrecking the world. I just thought Meg 2: The Trench (2023), would just contain more sea monsters and dangers of the deep. This was a problem though, because I felt Montes, was one of the clumsiest, laziest, idiot-like, bad-guys, I've seen in a while. In this film, if you look closely, he doesn't accomplish anything. Taylor has no problem, tossing this guy around. It was kind of laughable to watch the Montes character in this film. I mean, really, the closest thing to a human bad-guy in the last film, was Rainn Wilson's, greedy, billionaire businessman, Jack Morris. But, he actually is the best character in that film and one you love to hate. His presence is missed in this film. He also was responsible for some of the best lines and comedy-relief moments from the last film. In this film, the comedy one-liners were dispersed throughout, with the rest of the cast. Rainn Wilson was missed. I know, it's impossible. How about a twin brother? Just kidding.
Along with Statham, other returning champs come back for the second film, such as, Page Kennedy as DJ and Cliff Curtis as Mac. They get to try the jokes out and even though, they couldn't match Rainn Wilson level, they still were good enough. Both guys, especially Curtis, are pretty good actors. One of the problems with Meg 2: The Trench (2023), was the pet megalodon sub-plot. So, I am being a little facetious here, when I say, "pet megalodon". It's actually their captive, baby megalodon, who can be, slightly controlled by audio clicks, produced by scientist-diver, Jiuming Zhang (Wu Jing). This "relationship", which wasn't silly at all, just ended up being a useless part of the story. I kept forgetting about the "good" megalodon. I did like Wu Jing's character though. A nice touch to this film, was the return of Pippin, the dog, which is a great homage to Jaws (1975). Pippin had a hilarious moment in Meg (2018). My fear about Meg 2: The Trench (2023), didn't happen, too much. The comedy usage was about the same, with, maybe, a little more comedy in this one, but that helped dampen the slow start-up, in the beginning of the film. The first film, just flowed, a little bit better. No pun intended.
6.1 (D+ MyGrade) = 6 IMDB - DirectorWes AndersonStarsJason SchwartzmanScarlett JohanssonTom HanksFollowing a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever.7.2 (C MyGrade) = 3 1/2 Stars Letterboxd / 7 IMDB
- DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsBen AffleckAlice BragaJD PardoA detective investigates a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program.What was slightly strange about Hypnotic (2023), was an overwhelming mood, which is felt throughout the movie, of Robert Rodriguez, channeling his own, inner, Christopher Nolan. Every now and then, you would see some of that traditional Rodrigues energy, pop-up in a scene, but overall, Hypnotic (2023), had that methodical, cerebral approach, that Nolan would use in his films. This odd choice to go with a Nolan approach, created a really slow pace for this film. The music used in the soundtrack is really good, but totally adds to the, Nolan-esque approach, seen in the film. It all just seemed out of place. Don't get me wrong. I am a big Christopher Nolan fan, but this time, I'm here for a Robert Rodriguez film. Unfortunately for Hypnotic (2023), it's also the Nolan-effect, the music and the futuristic theme, that keeps this film afloat enough, to be a fair to good, interest-piece, for Robert Rodriquez fans, science-fiction fans, movie buffs, even Christopher Nolan fans or even, Ben Affleck followers. Hypnotic (2023), is actually, kind of, a departure-type of role for Affleck. His performance was something, fresh and new, when it comes to things he has done in the past pertaining to his career.
6.2 (D+ MyGrade) = 6 IMDB - DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsBrad PittMargot RobbieJean SmartA tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.
- DirectorRhys Frake-WaterfieldStarsNikolai LeonMaria TaylorNatasha Rose MillsAfter Christopher Robin abandons them for college, Pooh and Piglet embark on a bloody rampage as they search for a new source of food.
- DirectorGene StupnitskyStarsJennifer LawrenceAndrew Barth FeldmanLaura BenantiOn the brink of losing her home, Maddie finds an intriguing job listing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son out of his shell before college. She has one summer to make him a man or die trying.
- DirectorNia DaCostaStarsBrie LarsonTeyonah ParrisIman VellaniCarol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.
- DirectorAngel Manuel SotoStarsXolo MaridueñaBruna MarquezineBecky GAn alien scarab chooses Jaime Reyes to be its symbiotic host, bestowing the recent college graduate with a suit of armor that's capable of extraordinary powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero known as Blue Beetle.
- DirectorTakashi YamazakiStarsMinami HamabeRyunosuke KamikiSakura AndôPost war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.
- DirectorJosh GreenbaumStarsWill FerrellJamie FoxxIsla FisherAn abandoned dog teams up with other strays to get revenge on his former owner.
- DirectorBaltasar KormákurStarsLiyabuya GongoMartin MunroDaniel HadebeA father and his two teenage daughters find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the Savanna has but one apex predator.
- DirectorJeremy CoonSteve KozakStarsBruce VilanchKevin Smith'Weird Al' YankovicIn 1978, filmmaker George Lucas is persuaded to turn over Star Wars to the world of the '70s variety hour, culminating in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), often cited as one of the worst forms of entertainment of all time.
- DirectorGreta GerwigStarsMargot RobbieRyan GoslingIssa RaeBarbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsSoma SantokiMasaki SudaKô ShibasakiIn the wake of his mother's death and his father's remarriage, a headstrong boy named Mahito ventures into a dreamlike world shared by both the living and the dead.
- DirectorJames WanStarsJason MomoaPatrick WilsonYahya Abdul-Mateen IIBlack Manta seeks revenge on Aquaman for his father's death. Wielding the Black Trident's power, he becomes a formidable foe. To defend Atlantis, Aquaman forges an alliance with his imprisoned brother. They must protect the kingdom.
- DirectorAlexander PayneStarsPaul GiamattiDa'Vine Joy RandolphDominic SessaA cranky history teacher at a prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a grieving cook and a troubled student who has no place to go.