AnimatedCritic Reviews

Glass Onion (2022)

not enough glass onions tbh. still good

[8/10 · 23 December 2022]

After just watching the first 'Knives Out' and now watching 'Glass Onion, I can saw that Benoit Blanc could be in contention as a modern classic of a character. But besides that, 'Glass Onion' almost lives up to the original film, with a clever script, a great cast, and an entertaining mystery, but with a few flaws that hold it back in terms of being great.

Like before, the cast is fantastic. The standouts are Daniel Craig, and especially Janelle Moane, who both are able to add depth to each of their respective characters. The supporting cast, including Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., etc., all also do a good job portraying each of their characters.

The film also is able to provide commentary on billionaires and their methods of manipulation, and how people often rely on them too often, in order to fulfill their goals, which is definitely needed. The comedy is also tight as well. It isn't laugh-out-loud funny, but it was still a good time. The dialogue throughout the film was also well done, thanks to the script.

I would say that the mystery is the film's biggest strength and its greatest weakness. The mystery in this film was not too predictable, making it more intriguing. However, after the supposed death scene, the film takes a complete 180 in terms of the story, and while it did a good job providing depth and reasons to the story, it was too abrupt in terms of where the story was, and that aspect felt distracting.

This film is much more cinematic than the first film, and while it suits the story immensely well, but it does get a bit loss in the scale of the film.

Overall, while it does have some flaws, the Knives Out franchise is one of the best today, and 'Glass Onion' proves that, in terms of its clever writing, its great cast, a more cinematic story, and a great mystery.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

An Amazing Ride, but a Flawed Film

[7/10 · 23 December 2022]

After over 13 years, James Cameron finally makes his return to the big screen, with 'Avatar: The Way of Water', the sequel to the highest grossing film of all time. And after seeing the film a few days ago, I would say that this film is a visual marvel, and a breathtaking experience. However, this film does have its share of issues.

One thing I loved while watching the film was the experience it provided for the audience. With the visual effects team, James Cameron's directing, and the score giving it their all throughout the film, it makes the experience of seeing it almost unforgettable. Experiencing the Sully family adapt to the Metkayina's lifestyle and learning what is considered 'The Way of Water' was a visual treat. The film didn't even feel that long. I did feel the length briefly at some points, like when Lo'ak being abandoned at sea. But for the most part, this film had me hooked for most of the film.

The finale of the film, while derivative of Cameron's other works (via 'Titanic'), it's still a visual marvel, and was immensely more intense than the first film's finale, and had more stakes, due to the death of Neteyam. Even while I saw this film in a regular format, it was still a fantastic experience, thanks to the visuals, the directing, score, and the sound.

I may sound like I love this film, but I do have some issues with it, mainly within the script. My main issue with the writing was how it was derivative from the first film, and the plot did feel a bit repetitive. It took many of the same beats as the first film, like the family adapting to the Metkayina's way of life, Lo'ak acting impulsive, and a brief conflict between Jake and a tribe.

It also felt a bit repetitive at points, with Lo'ak constantly taking risks, Jake Sully lecturing his kids, and with them facing conflict with the Metkayina. It didn't completely take me out of the film, but it did bother me a bit.

Even besides his problems, Lo'ak did grow on me throughout the film, due his character arc being realized near the end, Kiri and her conflict involving her abilities, and Zoe Saldana's acting.

Overall, it's a flawed film, with a repetitive and derivative script, but was a great experience. Easily one of, if not the best movie-going experiences of 2022.

Strange World (2022)

A Strange Film for a Strange World

[5/10 · 23 December 2022]

Out of all of the DIsney films ever made, this is definitely one of them that exists. I can't stress enough how painfully average this film is. Some of the things in it are pretty bad, some decent, but most things are just passable.

One thing I had a problem with was the relationship between the three generations of sons, among Jagger, Searcher, and Ethan. The main theme which mainly exists between them about letting each other be what they want to be. But these characters, especially between Searcher and Jagger, is not subtle at all. It blatantly states the main theme constantly, not letting you interpret it by yourself, and their dialogue just comes off annoying and oddly petty.

I did enjoy some of the side characters. Splat, Legend, and Meridian were all fun, if not unmemorable. The animation was also stellar, and the visuals of the 'Strange World' are great. The character designs aren't great though, but it's not that noticeable.

But besides those things, there's almost nothing to say about this film. The adventure aspect is generic, but serviceable. The environmental theme is done fine. Ethan Clade is fine. Lucy Liu's character being the twist villain briefly was odd, but fine.

Overall, this is one of the weakest films amongst modern Disney films. It's so bland, and immensely average, that there's almost nothing to be discussed about it. I bet that this will be forgotten quickly on Disney+ and will not explode in popularity like 'Encanto'. It's harmless, but nothing worthwhile.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)

A Lovely Film

[9/10 · 18 December 2022]

I don't have a lot to say about this film, but I will state how beautiful this film is. Jenny Slate and the stop-motion all are able to portray the nuanced world of Marcel in a compelling way. The Message of the film is also well done, with Marcel needing to come out of his shell, and explore the world. It also explores loneliness, community, naivete, and your loved ones. I would definitely show this film to young children, to help them to introduce them to these themes.

-I still need some characters, so I'll just say that between this and Everything Everywhere all at Once, I'm really looking forward into seeing more indie films in the near future.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

After the Hype-Just as Good as Everyone's Saying

[9/10 · 18 December 2022]

After hearing the immense amount of hype for this film since March, I wasn't sure if it would be as good as many people were saying. Now, the hype has died down, and I finally got the chance to watch it.

And from what I've say, it absolutely lived up to the hype. My only few problems were that it became a bit too wacky at points, and I thought the misunderstanding between Evelyn and Waymond about the divorce papers were a bit contrived. But besides that, this film is an absolute spectacle.

The Daniels did a phenomenal job directing the film. So many scenes and shots throughout the film are shot with attention to detail, with so much personality throughout it. The editing is the best I've seen this year. The visual effects are great, especially for a $25m budget. It also manages to utilize a minimum number of sets, and still manage to utilize those sets to their potential.

The movie is also immensely clever, both intellectually and emotionally. The writing for the multiverse was very well done, introducing many concepts and ideas, such as the verse-jumping, flawlessly. And I adore the many messages of the movie. My interpretation of the theme was how even if life does seem worthless, and doesn't make any sense, the one thing that we can find sense in is the people close to us, and embracing each other.

Overall, my few gripes with the film hold it back from a perfect 10, but it is an amazing film, with fantastic directing from the Daniels, a profound message, and while I didn't mention it, Michelle Yeoh, Key Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis are all able to deliver subtle nuances in their performances, and I feel like all of them at least deserves a nomination.

Thirteen Lives (2022)

A Tense Film

[8/10 · 7 September 2022]

Most people are talking about the film "Prey". And while I get the excitement, I don't hear enough people talk about "Thirteen Lives". And in my opinion, it's a very tense film was fantastic cinematography and directing from Ron Howard, and while it does drag a bit in its first act, it does get much better in acts 2 and 3, which makes up for the first act. I love the underwater scenes in the cave, and the editing and cinematography really help give those scenes a sense of depth and tension, which adds greatly to this film. Overall, it's an immensely tense thrill-ride, which I think is the best film of August.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: The People vs. Emil Blonsky (2022) Season 1, Episode 3

Worst MCU Show To-Date (Episodes 1-3)

[4/10 · 7 September 2022]

After seeing all of the promotional material for "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" my expectations were already pretty low. And somehow, this show managed to be worse than I thought it would be. I think the main problem with this show is that it has nothing good to offer. At least with the other MCU Disney+ shows, they had a least something to them that didn't make them a waste of time, like some of the directing in "Ms. Marvel" or Oscar Issac's performance in "Moon Knight". But with this show, it mostly offers mediocre comedy, some I got a short chuckle at, some that made me question the integrity of the MCU (like She-Hulk twerking, or the joke about Steve Roger's virginity). But most of them miss the mark, and not getting a laugh out of me. I also think that while Tatiana Maslany does the best she can with what she's given, the material she had was just mediocre. While she wasn't as unlikable as she was in the 1st episode, I never really cared for Jennifer Walters (or She-Hulk). The most development she's given is how people see her as a monster, and how her life will never be the same. But they only focus on that for only about 3-5 minutes of the entirety of the 3-episodes. So overall, I'm only going to continue watching the show for review purposes, and hoping that it gets better. But for now, it's just more MCU shlock from the slump it can't seem to get out off.

Elvis (2022)

A Fun, Well Directed Elvis Bio-Pic

[8/10 · 7 September 2022]

A someone who isn't big on Elvis or his music, I was still excited for this movie since Baz Lurhrmann's directing it. I do like his directing, but him and Elvis were a match made in heaven. I do think that the pacing could've been done better. At points, it felt as if the movie was coming to an end, but it kept going for another 20 minutes or so. And I didn't really like Tom Hank's performance as the Colonel. It did feel at times he was forcing it, and it didn't feel natural. But besides that, I do think the frantic energy the film has makes the film immensely more enjoyable, and it really fits with an energetic musician like Elvis Presley, and for the most part, I think it did do a solid job showing Elvis's entire life, including his highs and lows, and really shows how overworked he was in his relationship with the Colonel, and the impact it had on him. The editing in this film cuts like every 4 seconds, and for a lot of the scenes, I think it did work to show off the energy of the feature, and the visual presentation was also done well. So overall, the pacing is a bit wonky, but it's a highly entertaining film with great directing, and a fantastic performance for Austin Butler.

Venom (2018)

Kinda Sucks

[4/10 · 28 June 2022]

There seems to be a huge divide between critics and audiences about this movie, and while I don't think it's a bad as critics say, I wouldn't say that it was good. Tom Hardy did the best he can in this movie, and I would say he did a pretty good job, and brought charm to this film, and his relationship between Venom was also pretty nice.

But the rest of the film doesn't fare so well. The first 15 minutes are extremely rushed, and the first part is crucial to the to first act. The first act of the film feels like 50 minutes, the 2nd act feels like 15 minutes, and the 3rd act feels like 20. The movie overall feels disjointed, and it feels as if over an hour of the film had been cut out. The other characters, besides Venom and Eddie, are extremely bland and uninteresting. The actors did the best they could, but they couldn't make up for their poorly-written roles.

Venom does have a good lead character, and delivers a little charm, but is overall a slog of a movie. The pacing is very off, and the other characters are as bland as they get. This film might be for some people, but not me.

Top Gun (1986)

It Has Its Moments, But is Forgettable

[5/10 · 28 June 2022]

This movie has a reputation of being a classic film from the 80s, and I think that it came around the perfect time, because if it was released in any other decade, it would've been forgotten about, because it isn't all that good.

This does have some decent stuff in it. The flying sequences are pretty good, the relationship between Maverick and Goose was endearing, and the emotions of Goose's death were strong, but everything else is just average. The movie only feels like it's gets started 30 minutes into it, and the characters in this film were either uninteresting or had little development. Maverick's arc only really kicks in around Goose's death, and doesn't have a strong presence. The love interest is bland, and all the other characters don't offer much. I will say that the directing was pretty good, and the cinematography was also very well done.

But overall, it does have it's bright side, but it also has a lot of negatives, and I was kind of disappointed by it. I wanted to love it like a lot of other people, but I thought it was just average.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

A Fantastic Blockbuster

[9/10 · 28 June 2022]

I'll admit, I'm not really a fan of the original Top Gun film. I enjoyed it enough, but I thought that it was just okay, and I didn't see why this film was so beloved. And honestly, if Top Gun: Maverick was the original 1984 movie, I would totally understand the praise. Top Gun Maverick is a great film, and is one of the most tense in a while. While modern films use tons of CGI, the practical effects in this movie serve in it's favor, making it one of the most memorable theater experiences in a while. And it's not just that either.

The characters in this film were also very enjoyable. The arc Maverick and Rooster went on, while a little rushed, was fleshed out enough to make it satisfying. Val Kilmer also did a great job in this movie. And the side characters, while forgettable, had their own charm to them.

The story can also get a little predictable, but is still engaging from beginning to end, and had a solid amount of depth. One more thing I want to say is that the editing in it was also superb.

Overall, Top Gun: Maverick is a great summer blockbuster with thrills, heart, and charm. One of the few films nowadays that you must see in a theater.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

The Good is Really Good, But the Bad Can Get Pretty Bad

[6/10 · 28 May 2022]

After the MCU has been disappointing me for a lot of Phase 4, this is a huge mixed bag. One one hand, the directing is some of the best of the MCU, the acting, some visual effects, and great cinematography, acting, and editing. But on the other hand, the writing, character arcs, and cameos vary from mediocre to just plain clunky.

Like I said, thanks to Sam Raimi, the directing, cinematography, etc, are some of the best of the MCU. It's inventive, creative, and when Sam Raimi gets to direct, he does what he can do under the MCU, and have some decent horror and some surprisingly gory scenes.

I also liked Doctor Strange's arc during the movie, and how he doesn't have to be the one who has to be in charge, and take control of the situation, as shown by the other Doctor Stranges. Elizabeth Olsen does the best she can with the script, and delivers on a menacing villain.

But the writing can get really, really messy. The story has tons of plot devices, character inconsistencies, and is too rushed. America Chavez is just one big plot device, that can travel the multiverse. She's given little to no character, and her arc about learning to use her powers is generic, and dull.

While I wouldn't say character assassination, Wanda's arc through the movie is wildly inconsistent from WandaVision, where she did do very bad things, but wasn't evil. But in this, she's pure evil, beginning to end. She felt too one-note as the villain, and her arc is just Kingpin's arc from "Spiderverse".

While there is good madness in the film, the multiverse wasn't done to it's fullest. We only visit 2 bland universes, and worse, we get a glimpse of really creatives ones, so it feels like a mis-opportunity.

Overall, I did enjoy the film. I really liked the filmmaking from Sam Raimi and the rest of the grew. Doctor Strange had a good arc, and the acting was pretty good. But the multiverse, plot, and Wanda's character were big flaws, and if they were better, this could've been one of the best from the MCU. But what we got was at least alright.

Moon Knight (2022)

An Intriguing Show, But a Little Disappointing

[5/10 · 8 May 2022]

Moon Knight was the first MCU show I was really looking forward to since Loki, and while it was a cool show, it was disappointing.

My biggest issue are how the stakes are so low. The show doesn't develop Harrow, or the enemy enough for me to feel invested in the show.

So while the main story was underwhelming, the relationship and development between Marc and Steven was very well developed, especially in the episode "Asylum". Their progression was natural, and was very sweet.

The action was also mixed bag, While a lot of it was really good, some scenes has really bad editing, and was laughable.

So while Marc and Steven, and some of the action was really good, the stakes weren't developed enough to make it as intriguing as it should've been. But while it has some weak elements, it is a decent watch.

Moon Knight: Gods and Monsters (2022) Season 1, Episode 6

A Fun, But Underwhelming Finale

[6/10 · 8 May 2022]

I wouldn't say this finale is bad, but it's an extremely underwhelming episode. I though the action was really good. The scene where Mr. Knight fought of Armit's goons in a single shot was really well done.

The biggest problem with this finale was how it was extremely rushed, as of it wanted to reach the end as fast as it can. Plot points and moments, such as Layla getting an avatar, kind of just happen, and the plot keeps moving. The biggest example of that is when Jake took over off screen, and it cuts to Harrow being dead. This felt like a cop out to a serious degree.

Not all was bad. The kaiju battle, while nonsensical, was somewhat fun. The CGI was good as well.

Overall, while it was fun, it was a finale that should've been much longer. So many plot points were resolved in an underwhelming way, and it was somewhat disappointing.

When Billie Met Lisa (2022)

It Didn't Work the First Time

[2/10 · 30 April 2022]

They already did this with Lisa Goes Gaga, and look how that turned out. Like seriously, why does Disney keep airing these shorts that only exist as advertisements. First the MCU, then they literally did a commercial for Disney+, and now Billie Eilish. It's boring, with extremely weak jokes, but luckily it's only 3 minutes. Don't waste your time on this.

The Batman (2022)

A Very Strong Batman Movie

[8/10 · 25 April 2022]

Sadly, I couldn't get the chance to watch it in theaters. But even at home, the Batman is still an really strong movie, that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I really liked the direction Matt Reeves took this version of Batman, making him a detective. It works really well with the story, and also matches his more violent nature, thanks to the performance of Robert Pattison, who does a great job as Batman.

The Story was also solid too. The main problem is that it was too long, and could've had about 15-20 minutes cut to make it tighter. But even with that, the story is still engaging, and is an is an intriguing and fun mystery to follow. Also, the cinematography and action were stunning, thanks to Greig Fraser.

The characters were also solid. I liked the arch Bruce Wayne/Batman went on, discovering his parent's past, and learning to acknowledge the past, but also focus on the future. Zoe Kravitz also does a good job, but when the third act hinges on Batman and Selina Kyle's romance, it didn't work for me, because they didn't have the best chemistry. Collin Ferrell, Jeffery Wright, and Paul Dano also did a good job as well.

Overall, while with it's flaws, the Batman is still an solid, and engaging mystery, with great cinematography, and acting. I would highly recommend this.

Pinocchio: A True Story (2021)

Pretty Good

[9/10 · 25 April 2022]

While I had my doubts over all the memes, I still believe Pinocchio: A True Story is a fantastic movie, that I think has Oscar chances First off, Pauly Shore does a great job in this movie. He delivers his lines in a way that Leonardo DiCaprio or da Vinci could never. There's so much emotional, and honestly, he deserves an Oscar.

The story is also great. I love how this is the true story of Pinocchio. I always known that the REAL Pinocchio would go off onto a circus, and was immortal, surviving gun shots and fire. It's about time Lionsgate introduced that.

Overall, Pinocchio a True Story is on the same level as Norm of the North and Morbius. Its a great film, and I would love to see a Pinocchio vs. John Wick movie, Hunger Games style someday. MAKE THAT HAPPEN LIONSGATE.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Not Perfect, But A Very Satisfying Movie.

[8/10 · 1 April 2022]

This definitely isn't the best made film, even of the MCU, but then again, I had such a great time with this film.

While nostalgia done badly can just feel like pandering, No Way Home manages to mostly turn nostalgia into something great. There were some times, like the apartment scene, where it relied to much on nostalgia, but for the most part, it includes it very well into the story, to the point where it made sense, like with Tobey and Andrew's Spider-Man.

While I am fan of Tom Holland's Spider-Man, this movie really enhances is story, especially near the end, where everyone forgets him, and Aunt May is dead, and he still willing to be Spider-Man.

I will admit that some of the writing in this film isn't strong. It rushes through the story where Peter's identity revealed, and the reason why the multiverse broke is because Doctor Strange is to impulsive to talk to Peter about it was just lazy writing. It's also worth noting that the Visual Effects aren't really good, especially the Bridge scene.

Overall, while this film does have problems, it's an absolute joy ride with well-executed nostalgia, and the story of Tom Holland's Spider-Man becoming something great.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)

A Decent Biopic

[7/10 · 1 April 2022]

It's not the greatest biopic, even of the year, but it is a good film with a strong cast, but not without problems.

Just to start it off, Jessica Chastain does a fantastic job on this movie. She delivers on the comedy, the heartbreak, and the personality of Tammy Faye. Andrew Garfield also does a great job in this film. He also delivers on his role as well.

Something that's weird about this film is that even though it's called "The Eyes of Tammy Faye", it's more like a Tammy and Jim movie. Nothing wrong with that, but it's a little weird. The writing did have a solid core, but it doesn't fully deliver. It doesn't go deep enough into Tammy Faye's story, and it felt rushed. And while the hairstyling and makeup is great, the directing isn't strong. But I can at least say that it's a really enjoyable film.

Overall, while the script and directing isn't the best, Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield do a great job, and it is a sweet and enjoyable watch.

Belfast (2021)

Not The Best

[5/10 · 1 April 2022]

I wanted to like this film more than I did, but it didn't work for me.

I thought the writing, while has some solid parts, weak. I find the way it portrayed events through a young boy's eyes was done well, but the rest wasn't strong. It never really got me hooked to the story, and I never connected to the characters. But Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds did a great job with what they were given. I know the point of the story was to make it about the regular life of a boy, and while it's a good premise, the execution doesn't do it any favors.

I will say that Kenneth Branagh did a good job directing this film. I believe the directing is the best part of the movie. It helps a lackluster script become something more special, and unique.

Overall, while the directing was good, and Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds did a great job, it doesn't fully save the weak writing, and boring characters. And to add to it, it didn't even need to be in black and white.

CODA (2021)

Beautiful

[9/10 · 1 April 2022]

I wasn't expecting this film to be as good as it was. It's a love letter to Children of Deaf Adults, and incredibly moving.

The story is pretty good, but not the strongest. It pulls off it's message very well, but there are some parts of the movie that felt basic, like the boy. But even with that, the characters carry this movie. Ruby's family do a great job conveying their roles, especially Troy Kotsur. With the scene where the screen goes quiet, and he see's other people's reactions to Ruby's performance, to the point when he feels her vocal cords when she sings, he does a phenomenal job.

Overall, CODA is a great movie with a simple story, carried by wonderful characters. And I believe it deserved the Best Picture win.

Moon Knight: The Goldfish Problem (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

A Solid Start

[8/10 · 31 March 2022]

I haven't been this excited for the rest of an MCU Disney+ show since WandaVision. This episode does exactly what it needed to do; be intriguing, and set the bar for the series.

I thought Oscar Isaac did a great job in his role(s). He has a lot of charm, and the techniques he pulled off was done very well. He also conveys his problem in a very convincing way. The others also do a good job, including Ethan Hawk.

One thing I like about this show is how unique it is from the rest of the MCU. Like WandaVision, but with a twist, it's really trippy, and mysterious, which had me very interested in the show. While the CGI isn't impressive, the action scenes are at least decent, and a lot of fun.

Overall, while not without issues, it's a great start to a show, and has me very excited. Unlike some of Phase 4, this has me interested in what happens next.

Turning Red (2022)

An Odd, But Solid Addition to the Pixar Canon

[7/10 · 11 March 2022]

At first, I was a little skeptical by the trailers they put out. I thought that this film would either be a good film or a cringe-fest. Luckily, it was the former.

It wasn't Pixar's best though. It did have some tedious scenes, some of the dialogue felt forced, and the whole ritual plot felt misplaced and rushed, so we could have this big finale.

But other than those points, I really liked the movie. While Mei can be a little annoying at times, she's a lot of fun, and it's intriguing to see her grow. Her other friends, while not memorable, were fun as well.

I also found this to be one of Pixar's edgiest films, with a lot of edgy jokes, and references to puberty, I'm honestly surprised Pixar allowed some of this stuff.

I believe that the puberty metaphor this film displays was handled pretty well. I could see it being relatable to many kids, and I thought the message of growing up and accepting the new you was done great, with Mei accepting the Panda.

Overall, while definitely not Pixar's best work, it's still a good time, and a solid message that many people could relate to. It's too bad Disney wouldn't let this go to most theaters, because I felt it deserved it.

tick, tick... BOOM! (2021)

A Spectacular Musical

[9/10 · 10 February 2022]

To be honest, I'm not really familiar with Jonathan's work I heard of Rent, but not much else. With that said, I thought the movie was great. Some of my issues is that the story moves a little slow, some of the songs aren't that strong, and an underwhelming emotional scene.

But the positives about this film heavily outweigh the negatives. Andrew Garfield was absolutely fantastic in this role. He delivered a lot the the emotion in every scene, and in a compelling way, to the point where I hope he wins Best Actor. While it isn't perfect, the story was a compelling ride with lots of emotion, and excitement. Most of the songs in it were great, and well preformed.

Overall, while not perfect, it's a great musical with stellar acting, and a compelling story.

The Simpsons: A Serious Flanders (2021) Season 33, Episode 6

Surprisingly Good

[8/10 · 15 November 2021]

With all the mediocre Simpsons episodes coming at us, It was refreshing to get an entertaining and engaging episodes for one. I really liked how the episode plays out like a TV drama, making it stand out. I thought the parody was done, well, being gory and violent. I also enjoyed the focus on Ned Flanders, and seeing if the money he donated, and taking pride for it was a bad idea. Never found Homer really interesting, but I really like the bad guy.

In all, I just really liked this episode for giving us something new, and being a good time.