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jonnaharkenson
Reviews
Mortal Kombat (1995)
Basically like an Avengers superhero team movie before it even existed
Watching this movie as a kid in movie theaters was one of the most memorable experiences ever, especially being a big fan of the video game in the early 90's and seeing my favorite characters come to life (just the same way comic book fans see their favorite characters come to life on the big screen for the first time). Maybe me being a fan of the material makes this review somewhat biased, but rewatching the movie again in 2023 made me realize that this movie is in fact organically good when comparing it to fighting, action, and superhero movies today.
Video game movie adaptations are very difficult you need to please the fans of the games, and at the same time, you also need to please the wider audience who don't play video games, and this movie did just that. Plus the story in the video game can get pretty complex with so many different characters with their own backstories and have it all fit into one movie is not easy. The movie certainly paid homage to the video game with loads of easter eggs fans are more than pleased to see, especially all of the catchphrases from the game. But even someone who has never even heard of the game or plays video games, this movie is certainly a great martial arts flick that's enjoyable to watch. The fight choreography is very well made, especially since many of the actors are actually stuntmen and/or fight choreographers (including Robin Shou) who also help the other inexperienced actors in their fight scenes. Nowadays, good martial arts choreography is rare, the only exception would be Marvel's Shang-Chi film. I really missed the martial arts movies from the 90's, I think people today still enjoy seeing good fight scenes and this movie had more than plenty.
I see that some reviewers are rating this movie a low score because of the poor quality CGI. Well this movie was released in 1995, and was filmed in August 1994... That is only a few years away from the 80's. The computer graphics technology they had at the time was very limited, heck Microsoft Windows 95 wasn't even around during the time the movie was produced. They did an impressive job given what technology and resources they had at the time. I didn't even know they spent a whopping $1 million on an animatronic puppet to portray Goro (the ugly creature with 4 arms), and 13-16 people were taking turns using the costume. This was far better than trying to do a CGI fight with Goro which would've looked awful, I'm glad they took the effort to make it look realistic as much as possible and the end result was well worth it (given the time the movie was released). Even today in 2023, I still highly prefer costumes and makeup over CGI because there is just a sense of realness to it.
The casting was absolutely perfect. Robin Shou played the humble Liu Kang perfectly, and I'm glad they picked an Asian actor as the main lead hero which was pretty rare for an American film in the 90's. One of the best performances was from Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa who played the main villain, Shang-Tsung. Even if you hate cheesy superhero movies, you have to admit that his performance as the main villain was perfect; there was nobody in the world that could have played this character any better. The rest of the cast were perfect and I think most people would agree. Linden Ashby was hilarious as Johnny Cage, Bridget Wilson as Sonya Blade was a strong, sassy, and very beautiful woman, and Christopher Lambert as the God of thunder, Lord Raiden, had a stellar performance as the wise man and teacher of the group of heroes. Even the bad guys were awesome, including Kano who was very iconic in this film with his Australian accent mixed with an arrogant and crude personality.
The setting of the film was also fantastic as they actually filmed in Thailand which is refreshing to see as nowadays, they rarely film on location and instead film behind a green screen, in a studio, or in a different location than what's in the story. The Mortal Kombat tournament is a secret fighting tournament that takes place on a remote island somewhere in Southeast Asia, and there is a very mystical, mythological, and ancient aesthetic to the film. Every scene was a treat to watch, I just can't describe how amazing it is to see all the different locations and sets, including the depiction of the
dark and gloomy "Outworld" which is a barren wasteland realm full of hostile creatures and evil emperors. The film was visually stunning, and it looks better than superhero films today that relies so much on using green screens, it just doesn't feel real, while Mortal Kombat really feels like it takes place on a mystical island in Southeast Asia (where they actually filmed it in).
The amount of easter eggs is more than sure to please fans. Every character from the first Mortal Kombat game was featured in the film, including the secret hidden character, Reptile, who apparently was added to the film last minute after fans were disappointed he wasn't in the film. There were plenty of catchphrases from the game in this film which didn't come out being too cheesy. The soundtrack was well made, with the main theme song being a favorite tune even till this day. This was the 90's and techno music and martial arts was and still is very cool.
As mentioned earlier, the film not only reached out to the fans, but they also reached out to the wider audience. With it's campy humor that is actually pretty funny (with Johnny Cage's character) and plenty of beautiful choreographed fights which is already enjoyable enough for the mainstream audience to watch. I mentioned that this movie is basically the original superhero team movie (like the Avengers) which I feel inspired many of the modem day superhero team movies today. You have a team of heroes each with backstory, a team of villains with a clear motivation, and a mix of fun humor with seriousness. I really enjoyed the storyline with Liu Kang and his brother, especially the ending which I didn't think was uninspiring, unoriginal, or cheesy. I also like how Liu Kang is not really just seeking revenge, but actually is trying to save his brother's soul. He even attempted to spare Shang Tsung's life which shows a lot about his virtuous character which is a common characteristic in all super heroes.
This film blew me away when I watched it in 1995 in theaters as a kid. And rewatching it again in 2023 as an adult made me appreciate the film even more, knowing how much passion the film creators had when making the film. Comparing this film to big superhero films today, I realized where Marvel got the inspiration from and followed its success. This film is great, regardless of the fact that it is a video game adaptation. It is an original film on its own, paying homage to the original source material but at the same time, it made its own unique interpretation of the story. That is exactly what makes a good comic book superhero film, the film needs to pay homage to the original comic books, but it also needs to bring something fresh and new to the story. It appeals to the wider general audience with the humor and martial arts like the Rush Hour movies. Out of all of the video game movie adaptations, this is the best video game movie to date and there is a reason why. As said earlier, video game adaptations are difficult as you need to reach out to both the fans and wider audience, and there needs to be a balance of both. Plus, the story in video games can be complex and hard to adapt into a film. This movie is one of my favorite "superhero team movie", as it did everything right as much as it could possibly do. I give this movie a 10 out of 10 for the category it is in (video game movie, superhero team movie, 90's action/martial arts movie). And since the film was made in 1994, I don't blame them for the bad CGI as the technology was not really there at the time and they couldn't fully avoid using CGI but they tried to as much as possible. This movie has a sense of realness to it, especially filming on an actual location, and putting a lot of effort in the costume designs and animatronics. Watching superhero films today just doesn't have that same sense of realness as they heavily rely on using green screens and CGI characters. I'm very glad this movie exists because it proves that video game films can indeed be good and successful if there was passion being it. Most video game films are terrible as they are mostly meant to be cash grabs and Hollywood running out of ideas, plus they often dismiss the original source material or don't even bother to play the game to know what it's really about. The director of Mortal Kombat (1995) was actually very excited and interested in making this film, and it really shows in this film.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
It just didn't work
Ant-Man 1 and 2 were much better movies for many reasons compared to Ant-Man 3 Quantumania. The first film felt more like a non superhero film with low stakes but still a lot of character building, Scott Lang recently gets out of prison but is trying hard to win back his daughter. The first and second Ant-Man film as laugh out loud funny, and especially the second film which probably is the funniest Marvel superhero movie ever (yes, funnier than Deadpool 1 and 2 which I didn't think were all that funny). The 3rd Ant-Man film was not that funny, though there were a few funny moments but I didn't really laugh out loud, the humor felt more like cartoon humor for children while the previous films were funny for both adults and children alike. Speaking of it being for children, the Ant-Man 3 film felt like it was heavily "Disneyfied" with much less violence and the violence seem like it has been toned down, plus there was no kiss at the end when Ant-Man and the Wasp saved the day which made it feel like there's no chemistry between the two. Hope's father, Hank, was barely in the 3rd film, while he was integral in the first two films. The 2nd Ant-Man film had way more action sequence, and the buildup was much better (especially when Hank finally reunites with Janet after like 30 years, getting into the Quantum realm to save her finally, and plus they actually kissed unlike Hope and Scott in Ant-Man 3... so the the love between the characters felt more real in the previous films). The boring thing in Ant-Man 3 is they used the same old trope of inspiring the common folk to rise up and fight back against the oppressors, very similar to many movies like Star Wars, Dune, Lord of the Rings, etc. It just felt outdated for a big movie in 2023. It seems like Disney is going to far with the campiness, just like they did in Thor 4 Love and Thunder which that film and Ant-Man 3 felt like it was a movie mostly meant for kids to watch. I guess it's a money making strategy to make it very family friendly and light hearted but it starts to become stale and people get sick of it. A lot of people diss the DC films like Man of Steel (2013) or Zack Snyder's Justice League saying it's too serious and not funny/campy enough, but looking back, I think people are now realizing that these films have more depth and an artistic feel to it.
But enough of the bad stuff, the movie did do some good things. Paul Rudd has great comedic timing as always, and he is always likable no matter what. There were some funny scenes such as when Hank gets jealous of Lord Krylar (played by Bill Murray). Jonathan Majors did a great job as Kang, the acting was good.
Disney and Marvel kind of ruined this film. The thing that makes Marvel so big and popular is also the thing that is ruining their movies, they are a double edged sword. They wanted everything in the MCU to connect, so they used Ant-Man 3 to introduce the big bad guy, Kang... And they want to introduce a future young hero, Cassie (Ant-Girl), and have her in a future young Avengers movie. The first two films didn't really have anything to do with the main story of the MCU, except only in the end credits scenes. And then Marvel and Disney's obsession with making campy kid friendly films, and the heavily reduced violence disliking kissing in the movies for some reason (no kiss in Ant-man 3, no kissing in the first Disney Star Wars movie). Many have said people are "burnt out" seeing superhero films... But I don't think that's necessarily true, I think people are tired of the same old stuff and the movies becoming far too light hearted to the point where people don't even take it seriously anymore. Hence why I mentioned earlier about the early DC movies (ones written by Christopher Nolan, like the Dark Knight trilogy and Man of Steel), these films feel more than just superhero films as they have more seriousness and depth which makes it feel like a non superheroe film. But if you're going to make a funny movie, then make it funny like the first and second Ant-Man films, maybe they should have gotten Paul Rudd involved with the writing to help the jokes land better... And they need to make a movie that adults could enjoy, not just only for kids. I give it a 6 out of 10 because I still enjoyed it somewhat but it was disappointing.
The English (2022)
Blown away! Modern take on a Western film with lots of drama and complexity
The BBC really knows how to do drama, romance, and period pieces. I'm glad Amazon is partnering up with the BBC and other UK film production companies more often, they're pumping out great content with the BBC's expertise and talent in making excellent drama films, and Amazon's big budget. Although the story is mostly fiction (with the exception of the traveling circus), you could imagine this was what it was like during this time period in the Wild West where it was gruesome and gritty. It was all about survival. Most people are only looking out for themselves but there are a few who have good in them, putting other's needs before their own (which is a good analogy to the real world). Just like in real life, love is the biggest motivation and reason why people continue to move forward despite tragedy, and this film captures this concept beautifully.
Emily Blunt's character, Cornelia, lost her child and was intending to seek revenge, but ends up falling in love with the least expected person who reminds her that love is stronger than hate. Cornelia is a bit of a mysterious woman who goes through a journey of transformation, being in the desolate wild west of America during a period of violence and conflict. Emily Blunt was phenomenal as always, as well as Chaske Spencer. Both characters have their tragedies, but it was in small moments where they embraced the moment and good times. In the last episode, Chaske Spencer's character, Eli, had some powerful words in the final episode which moved me. Some reviewers say that the film was not sentimental and there was no romance but they are wrong because there was very strong chemistry between the two main characters which felt real, and the epic ending scenes did pull the heartstrings quite a bit. This may be one of my favorite (yet unexpected) romance films as of yet. It was one of those beautiful tragedies, though actually more beautiful than tragedy at the end. Although Chaske Spencer's character, Eli, didn't speak much and was more reserved, you can see his feelings and emotions on his face, which this kind of acting deserves much more attention and praise as it is communicating complex feelings without using dialogue. Eli was definitely more of an introverted character who brought a lot of contrast to Cornelia who was more of an extroverted aristocrat, and the odd and unexpected pair goes on a journey of a lifetime. You can tell his character was really trying to hold back, trying to mind his own business and not get involved in other people's lives but he always ends up doing the right thing when asked as that shows is his true character. And plus, Eli is haunted at his past wrongdoings, so he goes on a journey of redemption (in which he finds in the end. Emily Blunt's character, Cornelia Locke, goes through transformation from the beginning of the series until the end. She was on a mission to seek revenge on her son's death, though she ends up getting something much better. The two lead characters were not heroes in the beginning. Eli had a dark past but after meeting Cornelia, she helps change him into a better person and he (and Cornelia) ends up becoming a hero. Both find redemption in the end.
The soundtrack is amazing, especially during the final episode near the finale. The lead actors just make the show so much better with their superb acting, and the chemistry between the lead characters felt genuine. Overall, it is one of the best series I've seen in 2023 although it is a little short with only 6 episodes, the story felt long and thorough however, and each single episode is a treat to watch. You really need to immerse yourself in this film and you'll enjoy it, especially in the final episode.
Top Gun (1986)
There's something special about this film
Many praise it because it is a classic but it has good elements to it. It's a beloved nostalgic movie for many to watch, but the newer generation of people may find it to be too slow paced, and think the quality is too low (especially the dogfight scenes). The soundtrack is perfect, and it only brings out the 80's nostalgia even more. The relationships between the characters is what makes this movie really good. The characters don't get along at first but eventually form a close bond as they progress through flight training school... and the main charatcer (Maverick played by Tom Cruise) loses his close friend which makes it heart breaking but reminds him to continue moving forward and gain more inspiration. There is just a classic charm to this movie, and it just brings back memories of a more simple time. I am glad a sequel was made and it was better than expected, brining the nostalgia back and tying the original film with the new film beautifully.
Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2021)
Way better than what the haters say
There could be a lot of bias with these negative reviews, especially since the lead character is a strong female character and the writers and directors are Japanese. This series pays a lot of respect for the two original movies (the original 1982 and 2017 BR movies) and if you ACTUALLY watched all of the episodes, there is certainly a direct connection to the main Blade Runner films (especially BR 2049). The series takes place in-between the first 1982 film and the 2017 film. One example is *SPOLIERS AHEAD* in the end of the series, evil genius guy Niander Wallace gets his eyes slashed out by Elle with a katana blade. And in the Blade Runner 2049 film, you could see that Wallace is blind but has artificial eye implants... so that's a pretty direct tie and we now know why he's blind. Also, the story focused on Wallace's "Angels" which we've already seen in the Blade Runner 2049 film with Luv being one of his best "angels", just like Elle was SUPPOSED TO BE, hence why she has ultimate fighting abilities and super strength, and also she is designed to be unable to hurt Wallace as angels are designed to (or so we originally thought until she slashed his eyes). And also, the Somali guy "Doc Badger" was voiced by the SAME GUY who played the same character Doc Badger in the BR 2049 film, both the character and the actor was in BR Black Lotus and BR 2049... AND Elle's memories were implanted and not real but they felt real, just like Officer K's memories (played by Ryan Gosling). So I'm not sure why people say "there's little relation to the main BR films", there is a lot.
This film explores the Blade Runner universe a little more which I am more than happy to experience. The only off-putting thing is just the cartoony video game looking faces of the characters, but the 3D objects and environment looks sort of realistic to me. The atmosphere and aesthetics has a combination of the original 1982 film and the 2017 film. The voice acting was fine, though it has a slightly generic Saturday morning cartoon sound to it.
I really enjoyed the fighting in this series, which I felt the original two movies lacked (but to be fair, this was an animation so the epic fighting scenes were easier to do). As mentioned, I was really impressed by the visuals and 3D environment (just not the face of the characters which the mouth just doesn't look natural when speaking, plus they look too much like video game characters). I loved the details in the futuristic cyberpunk city of LA in this series, just as I did in the original two films. One of my favorite things about the series is the depth of the characters and learning about their backstory, just as the characters are also discovering more about themselves. The story wasn't that predictable to me (except a few parts) and each episode got me excited to watch the next episode. It ties in a lot of elements, themes, and similar character arcs of the two BR films... such as the (former) Blade Runners feeling guilty about what they've done "retiring" replicants, falling in love with replicants (and/or artificial AI) and believing they may have a soul and also have dreams and independent feelings and thoughts, etc. Despite being artificially made by humans. It goes back to the same debate about whether or not replicants have souls of their own like humans and wanting to be treated the same way as humans (just like the source book by Philip K. Dick, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"), and what makes a human a human (ironically, sometimes replicants display more human qualities than actual humans).
Overall, I think this film deserves way more credit, especially since the writers and directors made it with respect to the original two films. It is an animated film, so it can be very easy to criticize the flaws with animation... but if you imagined that they made this into a 2-3 hour live action movie, it would be considered good. This film does explain some of the story that happened in-between the two Blade Runner movies, and yes they do relate (it mostly focuses on Wallace's "Angels" and how he came to power after taking over from his father, and how he designed his "angels" to never disobey him). I just love how we finally get to know how Wallace got blind, now we know that Elle slashed his eyes but still spared his life because she didn't want to become a killing machine like he designed her to be (by the way, she didn't feel better when she got revenge on all the people who wronged her, she began to feel guilty after her revenge spree). There's also love stories which ties into the themes of the original two films: replicants falling in love with replicants, humans falling in love with replicants, making ultimate sacrifices for the ones you love, protecting those you love, etc. I am now more interested in the Blade Runner universe, and I'm glad this series gave us more to explore with some new (and old) characters. I also feel empathy for these characters and their longings, and I also want to see more of Elle and her life after the ending of the series.
Blade Runner (1982)
Great set design & atmosphere, poorly paced & weak action
This movie historically has helped shaped the entire sci-fi genre, creating the "cyberpunk" futuristic atmosphere which many other media gained inspiration from. The set design, atmosphere, background extras, etc. Is amazing. Even watching it in 2023, I was amazed by the amount of work put into the set design to give the streets a more dark and futuristic cyberpunk look. I watched this film a long time ago as a kid and I nearly forgot that I watched it, but I rewatched the remastered version recently and remembered it again. There is literally zero sunlight and it's always dark due to the decades of human activity causing the sky to be covered up (nuclear war) and all animals are extinct except for artificially made animals. And there's neon lights everywhere, and large neon advertisement signs that make up for the dark skies. There's also a lot of Asians and Asian themes used in the movie which is looks very cool. Young Harrison Ford did a phenomenal job acting and played his role well, and so did all of the other lead actors. The Blade Runner story was originally from the legendary sci-fi writer, Philip K. Dick. The concept of the story was very captivating, especially for its time.
However, aside from the beautiful set design and atmosphere, the movie was a little slow and the action sequences weren't very good. I do try to forgive the film a little due to the fact that it was made in 1982, but I thought to myself that it they could put in the hard work to make such beautiful sets, they could have choreographed better fight scenes and action scenes. For example, when Harrison Ford's character was chasing a replicant in the busy streets, it wasn't really too epic and I felt it could have been more thrilling. And also, the final fight in the movie was also far from epic, though it was the best action in the whole movie. At the beginning of the movie, it got me very excited about the story but I was basically waiting and waiting until the good part of the movie comes and it never came (which kind of made the movie feel short because I was just anticipating for some good action or story). Even the 1975 Jaws movie had way better action, and it was a movie about a killer shark... And Star Wars came out in 1977. So I'm sure the action and direction of the movie could've been better. If this movie was made in 2023 but with different actors and updated technology and kept the exact same plot and story, it would have gotten a pretty low rating... so the good ratings for the 1982 Blade Runner movie was due to other things about the film.
Obviously, there are also a lot of let's say "outdated concepts" in this movie, such as the actor who played that old Asian man who obviously doesn't look like an Asian man (maybe Middle Eastern, West Asian looking but not Japanese), this is typically known as "yellow face". There was an old Asian lady in the movie (who was actually Asian) who had a speaking role, but the camera did not focus on her face while she was speaking which was a little weird. And of course the uncomfortable kissing scene with Harrison Ford's character (which I'm not sure if that was something normal back in 1982 when men force women to kiss). So these were just some weird minor things about the movie but I try to forgive the film due to it being made in a different time. I am surprised at least the film used a lot of Asian extras in the background and Asian imagery (Japanese neon signs and ads, Japanese restaurants, etc.).
Overall, I still like the film due to the beautiful set design, atmosphere, and themes. The concept of the story was very good, but it just didn't play out very well in this film. The Blade Runner films do spark my imagination about a futuristic cyberpunk world with flying cars and dark skyscraper cities with lots of neon lights, but I wished the film did a better job with the story and action.. considering it is a movie about cops chasing after human robots.
Dune (1984)
Got everything right except the film director
This movie was too weird and boring to sum it up. It almost had everything right: attractive looking actors, good acting, beautiful aesthetics and set design and costume design, having the legend Patrick Stewart in the film, great 80's rock music theme song (at least I really liked it), and great sci-fi story concept adapted from a popular book. But the film was not directed very well, even the director said it himself that he hates this movie and doesn't want to think about it ever again, and refused to help do the special edition re-release of it.
I'm a big fan of sci-fi films, and I understand that this movie tried to cram hundreds of pages of story from a book into a 2 hour movie which is not easy. But the issues with this movie isn't related to that fact. One example that was weird for me was when the characters had an inner self talk dialogue (which was when they speak to themselves inside their heads), we the audience could hear their thoughts spoken outloud. This sometimes could work in films but the way it was implemented, it just didn't work. Also, there were some weird and unnecessary scenes, such as when the Baron spits on Lady Jessica's face which was disgusting, and the way that the Baron had oozing cystic acne over his face and his fingernails and toenails were painted, plus the concept of the plugs they had on people's bodies which if unplugged, it meant instant death. I don't know if these things were actually in the original Dune books but it could have been left out if it were. Again, none of these pertain to the problem the movie tried to fit hundreds of book pages into a 2 hour film. The director himself dislikes this movie and it's his biggest regret and I could see why. The movie had so much potential and could have become another Star Wars like franchise but it flopped.
There were actually 2 other films made about the Dune books: 'Frank Hebert's Dune' (2000) and 'Children of Dune' (2003), both were made by the SciFi channel (now known as SyFy) and they are both a 3 part mini series with each episode being 1 hour and 30 minutes long. These mini series actually did the Dune franchise some justice, it was much better than the 1984 Dune film and they did cut out some of those weird things I've mention about earlier with the 1984. There's also a recent modern day Dune movie (from 2021), which also had good ratings as well (about 8/10 rating), and it is a 2 hour and 35 minute movie while the 1984 Dune movie runtime was 2 hours and 17 minutes. I really don't think that extra 15-18 minutes really gave the 2021 Dune movie an advantage over the 1984 Dune film, the 1984 film had obvious flaws.
I still kind of like this movie and it does has its charm, especially since it was from 1984. But it was very boring and some scenes and concepts were too weird and/or unnecessary for me and it could have been left out. The film could have been organized a little better to help the viewer understand what's going on better, especially if they've never read the books. If they couldn't cram the whole Dune books into a 2 hour 17 minute film, they could have removed unnecessary parts and just focused on the main story. Since the 2021 Dune film got great ratings, it shows that this movie could have been better.
It's possible that the 2000 and 2003 SciFi channel Dune films, plus the 2021 Dune movie might need to owe their thanks to the 1984 Dune film which may have inspired these subsequent films, plus helped them avoid the same mistakes. So it may be a good thing that the 1984 film was created. Either way, I really love the theme music and I'm constantly hearing the tune in my head, so there are some great things about this film and it's not entirely bad, but I don't know if I'll ever rewatch it again.
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Good if you understand the meaning, and why the movie was made
Before we get started, it's important to say that both the Wachowski sisters didn't want to make another Matrix sequel after the 3rd film. They've been hounded at for years for another one, both by the film studio and fans, and they were persistent in saying no. Lana Wachowski didn't want to do it at first but finally agreed, after Warner Brothers stated that they were going to make the Matrix 4 movie with or without the Wachowskis, so she agreed but she was going to make the movie her way (plus her parents died recently, so it was a way for her to grieve by bringing back the beloved characters she created). She also used the opportunity to put a lot of meta in this film, poking fun at the idea of Hollywood movies always rehashing past successful films for the sake of profit or for the sake of just remaking another film and pretend it's different, and question why we want sequels so much. She also mirrors how Neo (Thomas Anderson) feels so overwhelmed by being a famous video game creator inside the matrix, and feels pressure to create another sequel to the games and the expectations that come with it, and feeling overwhelmed by the people in the real world of Io whom many worship him as a legend. Lana feels this pressure and is often overwhelmed by the successful Matrix trilogy she help created, plus there's some themes of identity and transformation, just like now Lana changed her identity after coming out as trans. So this is a very meta way of telling a story about her life and it isn't just all about "wokeness" (ironic to use that word when the Matrix movie is all about waking up by taking the red pill). It gives a chance for her share her personal story, and deal with her emotions and grievances (overwhelmed by the successful Matrix trilogy, pressured by the constant hounding for another sequel, her story of her own identity and transformation, and helping her grieve the loss of her parents by bringing back Neo and Trinity). Once you understand the backstory of why this film was even created, you'll be able to understand the movie better and get the themes and references behind it. Keanu Reeves said he would only do this movie if the Wachowskis directed the film again. Lilly Wachowski flat out refused to be a part of the sequel at all as she didn't believe in the idea, and as mentioned, Lana Wachowski originally turned down the role as well but Warner Brothers said they will make the movie with or without her, so she decided to finally do it.
So with that said, this movie is critiquing capitalism and the desire for for remaking and rehashing films, making countless sequels and franchises, and even poke fun at Warner Brothers in the film. There's an constant desire for profit in Hollywood, hence all of the film remakes, rehashes, and sequels. There's an abandonment of the art behind these films when sequels are constantly being made, so the movie outright questions and criticize the whole notion of it.
The movie, just like the original, is another reflection of the whole Matrix franchise (the first film had themes of mirrors and reflections). Lana Wachowski is standing firm in her philosophy and beliefs from the original films, which consists of always striving for the truth and the real, waking up from the false reality created by a system designed to control, having strong personal beliefs and finding deeper meaning, and love being the ultimate power which transcends all. Like the first film
there's also a battle between the idea of if people actually want the truth and be set free from the matrix, or do they want to stay in their comfortable bubble and live inside the matrix not knowing the real world.
In the movie, Neo (now Thomas Anderson again) and Trinity (now known as Tiffany in the Matrix) were brought back to life in the real world by "the machines" after they both died, and they put them both back into the matrix because they needed them as they were both very powerful sources of energy for the machines but they needed to erase their memories and keep them inside the matrix. Keeping both of their emotions suppressed and trapped helps the machine continue stabilizing the matrix and drawing power. Now Neo is back in the Matrix working as a famous video game designer in San Francisco in which he recreated the story of himself from the Matrix trilogy films in these games, but this was actually all part of a plan created by the machines which created the program "The Analyst" (played by Neil Patrick Harris) to make people think how absurd the idea is of the matrix actually being real, thus making it more difficult to actually believe the truth that the matrix is real and they are living in a fake simulation world. The Analyst also plays as Neo's psychiatrist who makes him believe his memories of the matrix is all in his head and gets him to take his medications which is the "blue pill" which he takes everyday which keeps him trapped in the matrix. But Neo is still subconsciously yearning for the truth and for Trinity as he is kind of depressed and unhappy working in his office and doing the same thing every (just like the first film).
In the movie, the city of Zion has crumbled as they were stuck in the past, stuck in the idea of "us versus them" (humans versus machines). While a new city called "Io" was created and was thriving, and they were now the first to live alongside the machines, which these machines are living in exile because they believe in peace with the humans. The humans greatly benefit from these machines because their advanced technology helped them progress (such as growing better tasting food). There's a new group of young people who have heard about the legend of Neo and they looked up to him. One of the leaders was named Bugs (a play on the WB rabbit) and she found Neo and helped bring him back out of the Matrix, along with the help of the "new" Morpheus that Neo subconsciously created and the new crew.
Many people are upset that Laurence Fishburne wasn't in the movie and didn't understand why. His character, Morpheus, actually died in the story, though he was still alive in the end of The Matrix Revolutions movie which may be why people are confused. He actually dies in the video game, The Matrix Online, which was the sequel to the Matrix Revolutions story. So while working at the game company, Neo unconsciously recreated Morpheus using the code from the original Morpheus mixed with a little bit of Agent Smith. He subconsciously did this because he wanted Morpheus to return and help him wake up from the Matrix. Bugs discovers Morpheus first and together, they planned to help bring back Neo and then later, Trinity.
The movie once again pokes fun at the absurdity of the need for sequels and remaking the same thing again and again. The movie makes it clear about its original message from the first film, looks back and replays a lot of scenes and sequences from the first film and has a self reflection about itself. There's a lot of themes and meanings to talk about in this film but I'm not going to cover all of it, but for those people who have metaphorically taken the "red pill", these people will understand the meaning and message behind The Matrix Resurrections. The people who take the "blue pill" are those who only like the first film and hate the rest, they like big budget Hollywood action movies and a more complete and easy to follow and understand story... but the sequels like the Matrix Reloaded, Revolutions, and Resurrections dig much deeper into the philosophy, too deep that these people think it is incoherent, random, and meaningless... when these films have deeper philosophy and hidden themes and messages behind it. But even without the philosophy stuff, the Matrix Resurrections still has pretty decent action and fight sequences, thanks to the more modern day CGI technology.
I think only those who are true fans of the Matrix Trilogy will like this film, as well as those who understand the meaning behind this film. If you recently rewatched The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions and you hated both of those films, then you're likely probably not going to like The Matrix Resurrections either, and you might want to skip this film and just only watch the first Matrix film. But if you are deep into the Matrix universe and are a big fan of all 3 previous Matrix films, then you're going to enjoy this movie, especially seeing Neo and Trinity come back to life with a new team of red pill believers who bring hope for the future of humanity. Just like the Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions which people didn't like at first, I think people will later come to appreciate the genius behind Lana Wachowski's Matrix Resurrections. I think it's a good movie, not in the traditional big Hollywood blockbuster film way, but it's a movie that makes you think more about the meaning of it, long after you've seen it and understand it.
Venom (2018)
Fun Spin-off Marvel film! Great Action & Humor!
A solid 8/10 rating. I am not a hardcore comic book guy nor am I one of those nitpicking film critics who criticize films too hard. The film was certainly entertaining and enjoyable, it was not a solid 10/10 rating like you'd expect from 'The Avengers' films but I personally think it's good and the story was creative.
I grew up watching Marvel cartoons and collected their toys as a kid. This is a great spin-off film about Venom, which from my memory is supposed to be one of Spider-Man's prominent archenemies... though in this film, he is (or they are) the good guy(s) and not a bad guy.
I liked the backstory of the film, and I really liked how the film was shot in San Francisco (they actually filmed on location for some scenes) and it's a nice change from New York City. The buildup and conflicts of the relationships of the characters were good: both the guy Eddie and Venom, and also Eddie and his supposed love interest, Anne (which was played by Michelle Williams whose acting was very good). And there's a good amount of humor between Eddie and Venom, and Tom Hardy who plays Eddie does an amazing job acting as both characters.
There's a balance of action, humor, and a slight dark tone (though more action and humor). If anything, you'll at least enjoy the action scenes which were a combination of live action and CGI which looked pretty decent. The fiom is very easy to follow along with, especially if you have zero knowledge of any of the Marvel comics or films, there were no plot holes that I recall.
Overall, I recommend this film.
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021)
Enjoyable Movie, Great Action Scenes! Classic GI Joe Franchise.
This movie was enjoyable. Not perfect, but I think it deserves more credit. It would have been something that I would have really enjoyed as a kid in the 90's (I was a big GI Joe fan as a kid, but it was so long ago, I barely remembered it). The movie's strong points are its action sequences, the good looking filming locations and set, and the Japanese culture inside the film. The casting was great, the actors did a good job (and many of them are pretty good looking as well). I really enjoyed the underground Japanese theme and scenery, the streets of Japan mixed with traditional Japanese towns. I think the storyline and script could have been a little better, and there were a couple of oddities in the film which I thought were very weird and the film didn't really explain it (but I understood they had limited time for a movie, I'm sure there's a lot of deleted and extra scenes). The lead actor, Henry Golding, did a great job; he is always enjoyable to watch on the screen.
I think many hardcore retro and comic enthusiasts are mad that the lead character is not white like how it was originally supposed to be in the original franchise, but I don't think they realize that Henry Golding is half white and has a white father in real life (though Henry Golding does look more Asian). I'm actually glad they casted an Asian lead character, I felt that it worked out very well with the casting and I can't imagine it being someone else. Many films in the past like Dragon Ball Z, Avatar: The Last Air Bender, and Ghost in the Shell live action films all had white lead actors, many Asian people felt very upset about all of these films that cast a white character in place for an Asian character, and the lack of Asian lead characters in mainstream western films. The only issue is the script and storyline which could have used improvement (which I mentioned earlier). But the overall film, especially the action sequences, was very good and enjoyable. I think people sometimes get way too into movies and critique and nitpick every single small thing about the film, but at the end of the day, a movie is entertainment and I was definitely entertained well enough. To be fair, this movie was way better than the last two GI Joe films which were disappointing, so I think they did a much better job this time with this origin story film. There are many films that get very user review high ratings but I didn't really like those films that much, and there are films that had low review ratings but I ended up enjoying it and thought it was decent. So film reviewers have their biases, I rate based on entertainment value.
The Prestige (2006)
An entertaining semi sci-fi psychological thriller l!
The film was directed by Christopher Nolan and all of his films never disappoint, his films always keeps the viewers thinking a lot and guessing the whole time, and his films are the kind of films that makes people want to go back and rewatch it because there is just so much complexity in the story and interesting themes/symbolism in it (and I like how he really tries to make the symbolism to be a little more obvious so it's easier for most to understand and not too complicated).
The film explores the field of magic/illusionist acts during the last decade of the 1800's. It is very interesting to explore this topic and it gets you more interested in magic performances during this time period and what people did for entertainment at the time. The story has a lot to do with revenge and one-upmanship between one guy who was a skilled illusionist, and the other who was a skilled showman and presenter. They both started their careers working on stage for a magic show manager who puts together the magic performances. One day during a live stage performance, it went terribly wrong and one of the guy's wife dies in the act (she also worked with them as a performer) which caused him to seek revenge on the other guy because he thought that guy was responsible... but upon seeking revenge, he gets very obsessed and goes great lengths to do it. But who will outsmart the other? You'll have to see the film.
Another great classic semi sci-fi thriller by Christopher Nolan (I said semi sci-fi because you'll later find out why when you watch the whole film). His films always keeps me thinking, even days after I finished watching the film. I makes me want to go back and rewatch the film so that I could better piece together the story and symbolisms/themes behind it. And it also has stellar actors that you'll probably recognize, during the period when they weren't super famous yet. After you finish watching the film, you'll want to go and read up more about the film to better understand it fully, and that's why I love Christopher Nolan's films. I am the biggest fan of his and think he's one of the greatest directors of our time (he directed the movies, 'Inception' and 'Interstellar' which are many people's favorite films, including mine).
Agatha and the Truth of Murder (2018)
A fun mansion murder mystery with Agatha Christie!
The film has a very classic *whodunit" mansion murder mystery feel to it. I like how it tries to imagine what may have happened during the time frame when the real life famous murder mystery writer, Agatha Christie, went missing and told people she didn't remember where she was. She had writers block since people were able to figure out who the murderer is in her murder mystery books too easily and she needed something to help her improve her novels (plus, she needed a distraction from her marriage which was falling apart). Then, someone who is a nurse, approaches Agatha Christie to ask her to help solve the murder of her friend (who was also a nurse during the war period) who was killed in a train (and she was her lover I guess, it was Florence Nightingale who was based on a real life person that was murdered). Then Agatha wrote to and invites all of the possible suspects to this manor or mansion that she rents out, and hides her identity by using a different name and wears eyeglasses, pretending that she was there to interview them about the possible large sum of inheritance from the woman who was murdered (the suspects all had some kind of relation or family lineage to her). Many of the characters were based on actual people but the story was a made up imagination, so I really enjoyed the imagination of the film's story writers. The film wasn't perfect and I felt that it could have been written better to make it more suspenseful and keep the viewer better guessing who the murderer was. But I still liked it and it took me back in time on an mystery adventure with Agatha Christie and it was enjoyable to watch. As I've said, I really think they could have done a better job with the film and made it much better, I felt like they didn't give us enough clues to guess who the real murderer was so it wasn't fun... so I was a little disappointed in that. But it was enjoyable either way as it kept me guessing and I liked it (I always love whodunnit mansion murder mysteries).
The Durrells (2016)
Sweet fun memories with the Durrelles family & friends, in the beautiful and magical Corfu Island!
It's a beautiful story and a fun show about a family living in the magical and beautiful island of Corfu in Greece, taking place in the 1930's near the brink of war in Europe. After watching the entire series, you will fall in love with the main characters and feel like you've been on an adventurous journey with them. I didn't read the book or read up on the actual story it was loosely based on, so I'm reviewing it as I saw it; I'm not comparing it to the book and I'm reviewing it as a person who has never heard about the Durrells or have any strong political opinions.
All of the family members, you will come to love. I really liked Louisa, the widowed mother of the four children and the main character. She is very kind hearted and loves her children more than anything else, she misses her late husband dearly but is open to finding love again; she is also very human and can make mistakes like we all do. You will be rooting for her the whole way as she faces difficult challenges and is forced to make hard decisions. You'll feel her happiness and heartbreaks throughout the series. In the series, she is learning to become a better parent and a better person overall (as a recent window and single parent). She moves her family to Corfu on a whim to hopefully start a new life, seek new opportunities, and to create new experiences for her family (especially since her window pension doesn't give her much, it was more affordable.. the family was not very rich at first but they all found different ways to earn a living in Corfu). She's a very likeable character and the actress who plays her character has done an absolute stellar job. She is an imperfect parent who learns to become a great parent to her very difficult kids by trying unconventional and non traditional methods, and she also is on a journey to find love once again.
Larry is the oldest of all the four children. He is the smartest and most intellectual of them all. And he's also a free thinking, politically radical (liberal if you want to say), sensual, and artistic person (at least he thinks so). He is a writer, a novelist who writes about his passions and interests, and is far from the conservative standards (and Corfu at the time was a bit more conservative and traditional, though the family did help change the views of the locals). He's a bit of a ladies man, and enjoys the pleasures of the female body and often writes about it in his books. He's also very funny in his own way, I enjoyed laughing at his frustrations and outbursts. He is the oldest brother who's smart, he keeps himself informed with the ongoings of world events and politics, and the rest of the family looks up to him (Louisa feels like she could speak to him about her life because he's an adult like her, and he's an intelligent intellectual person but still can make mistakes too).
Leslie is the second oldest of the family. He starts out in the series as a teen and is growing into a man; he is learning to understand what matters to him the most in life, and learns to become more responsible as an adult and becomes a man. He happens to be a gun fanatic (has a gun obsession) and is a little more conservative compared to his siblings (especially his older and youngest brother). He doesn't have much talents compared to the rest of the family and that's why he often feels like a screw up and feels like he isn't good at anything (other than guns and shooting). He tries doing different things throughout the series to help find his passion and talents, and he also is on a quest for finding love. His character is definitely very likable and stands out, we get to watch him grow into a grown man and we laugh and cry along with him as we witness the story of his life. He is always there for the family and always lends a hand when he could. He loves his mother and all his siblings, despite not getting along with some of them due to vast differences in character, beliefs, and interests. He also comes up with crazy ideas that sometimes don't go very well. He makes mistakes often, but he has a good heart and always tries to do what's right. He's naturally funny too, and the actor that plays him is an absolute top notch actor, they couldn't have found a person better to play Leslie than him.
Margo is also the middle child (younger than Leslie), and she also starts off as a teen, and later in the series becomes a young woman. She is beautiful, funny and very goofy in her own way, and often comes up with crazy whacky ideas, which makes her a lovable character. She's learning to become a woman and is trying to discover herself and wants to achieve higher things other than the traditional role of a woman during that time period which she finds boring. She has boys always chasing her, and she is looking for true love, passion, purpose, and happiness, just like all young women. I just love the goofy face she often makes, she has one of the most likable personalities of the family.
Gerry is the youngest child and often is treated like a baby sometimes which he doesn't like, but he is indeed very mature for his age (he is a child but later the series gets into his preteens and early teens). He has a strange passion for animals and creatures, and his best friends are animals and a few older adults who share the same passion and curiosity with wildlife, and he doesn't really have much friends of his age (except one). I think there are people in real life that could relate to Gerry, people who are passionate about a certain thing and get along with animals better than humans. He is much more introverted and a bit misunderstood compared to the rest of the family who are all extroverts (so that's why I said he is relatable to some people in real life who are very similar to him, he may seem boring but he does reflect people in real life and is a lovable yet peculiar younger brother). He definitely feels like the younger brother of the family, and feels like the peculiar younger brother I never had.
The recurring characters featured on the show are also very great, I liked the consistency of the recurring characters as well as seeing guest characters throughout the show. The acting is certainly superb, as with all Brit actors and TV shows. As a man, I definitely felt the happiness and sorrow of the entire family, especially the romantic scenes with Louisa, it definitely made me feel emotional (especially towards the series finale). We literally get to see the children grow up (both in the story and in real life as they got older). I laughed and cried with the Durrells family, and the views of Corfu is absolutely breath taking, from the views of the local town marketplace, to the beautiful simplistic and rustic villa home of the Durrells family, and to the crystal clear blue ocean water which is located right next to the villa home and you could see beautiful views of it from the bedroom window. There was so much work put into this film, I had no idea that they film parts of it in the UK inside a studio they built and digitally replaced the background with a realistic looking background (I couldn't even tell the background was swapped); they filmed on location and also on a studio set in the UK. I appreciate the amount of detail, research, and hard work put into this film series, and very appreciated the superb casting of all the characters, and the acting which made the story feel real and made it come to life. All of the main characters, recurring characters, and guest characters are likable to some degree. It's a show that definitely moves you and makes you feel the same emotions as the characters do; it's a getaway adventure to a beautiful and magical island of Corfu during a more simplistic time period, though the problems the characters faces are no different than what we face today in modern times. I understand the show is far from perfect, but it was beautifully done and it's a show that I will never forget; all the characters in the show I have grown to love and will remember their quirks, silliness, passions, and dreams.
American Assassin (2017)
Good action thriller, script not too great
This movie is a solid action thriller movie with great action scenes and stunts. They did use pretty okay CGI for parts they couldn't do in real life, but it didn't look that good. The storyline is a little messy in my opinion, especially when the beginning of the film. They had characy.
American Assassin (2017)
Good action thriller, script not too great
This movie is a solid action thriller movie with great action scenes and stunts. They did use pretty okay CGI for parts they couldn't do in real life, but it didn't look that good. The storyline is a little messy in my opinion, especially when the beginning of the film. They had characy.
How I Live Now (2013)
Scary War Dystopia & Romance, Edgy, Transformational Character
This movie is really good and it has good societal lessons from it. The main character is very relatable to some people (introverted people, people with social anxiety, or people with mental health issues or overthink too much). The main character goes through massive personal transformation through the film and you see her break out of her shell and becomes brave and focused. The movie had a really good message behind it, showing what reality would be like if there was a war and when the country falls into chaos, losing loved ones, and it makes you think about what matters most in your life and how far you are willing to go for it. I like how the movie was filmed and scripted, you get to hear what's going on inside the main characters head, hearing her nonstop voices with negative self talk, and even seeing her dreams in her sleep. The main character never had any real motivation or direction in life until she finally found something worth fighting and living for, and you see her change throughout the film. The movie has a pretty romantic storyline as well. The movie might to too disturbing for young children so I wouldn't recommend young kids to watch it, but I think it's fine for teens and adults. The movie left me with wanting more, I would have liked to see what happened prior to the film's story and what happens afterwards, and follow the main character's life and watch her transformation. A great dystopian war film where you go along with the main character and hear the thoughts inside her head. Some people are giving it a bad review just because it has young people in it and think it's an immature romance movie for teens, the young people in the movie did a stellar job with the acting and the entire movie was very believable, and the movie isn't all about romance, and I really think this movie is for young adults, not children. I think some people don't like the political part of the movie, but the movie isn't really political in my opinion, it's more about survival, transformation, and purpose.
2:22 (2017)
Great Romance & Thriller, Interesting Concept
This movie was good, it wasn't the best movie in the world and there isn't a bunch of action and explosions but it's a very decent romance and thriller film and for some people, it kind of gets you to think about the universe and time, and how the universe can be sending you messages through patterns. The movie was pretty romantic too, and I really like the overall concept of the film. I think it has a bit of an philosophical theme, connecting the dots in your life and finding the right path in life. And lastly, one big thing to mention is the soundtrack was beautiful and moving, I really think it had a great soundtrack. And also, the CGI was very good too. I don't think this film is for everyone, only a few will appreciate it, it isn't Hollywood enough for most people and it can be too slow for some.
There was a similar type of movie with Justin Timberlake, it was called "Out of Time" and it apparently got a better IMDB rating of 6.5 and this movie got 5.8, I personally think this movie was better than Out of Time which I think has a worse romantic plot and a pretty weak script.. 2:22 is good and I really liked it.
Funny Face (1957)
Disney Princess Movie + New Yorl Broadway Musical
This movie is impressive for a film that was made in 1957. The movie is a combination of a musical and a drama/romance, it reminds me of a Disney princess movie but a live action version for adults (hey, maybe this was where Disney got inspiration for all their movies?). The musical parts are like a New York Broadway musical with singing and dancing, and Audrey Hepburn sings the songs in her own voice. Audrey really made the entire movie good, otherwise I don't know if I would liked the movie as much, she brought the magic in her performance and personality (and she looked very beautiful as usual). The movie was filmed beautifully in different places but mostly in Paris, France. I watched the remastered version in color and it looked very good, otherwise I really don't know how people could watch this in black and white back then when the scene where they sang the song "everything's better in pink", you wouldn't even be able to see the colors but I'm glad the remastered version showed the movie like how it was meant to be seen. Watching old movies like this, there's a lot of things that would be considered out of touch today, especially the age gap difference between the two romantic characters and other things. But as I've said, it's very impressive for a 1957 made film, and Audrey Hepburn really made this movie enjoyable, she just has some magic in her that makes everything shine. If you're an Audrey Hepburn fan, it's definitely a must watch.. she is talented in so many different ways: acting, singing, and dancing, it's too hard to not love her.
The Children's Hour (1961)
EMOTIONAL & ahead of it's time!
I watched this movie in 2021 and this movie was released in 1961 which was 60 years ago! This movie discusses very important topics in regards to the taboo of lesbianism, especially for school teachers during the time. The movie is about school children from a small boarding school run two two female teachers, the kids then spread rumors about their two female school teachers having a sexual relationship and thus ruining their reputation and causing an emotional stir in the women's lives. It's beautiful and tragic at the same time, and deeply emotional as you will see when you watch the movie.
Back in the day, a movie like this would be very risky and would not be very well received by the majority of the population who are traditional and have old school ways of thinking. I think this movie is important and it helps teach people to become more understanding and less judgement of others, and that love is love and it shouldn't be limited to just a man and a woman. So I'm very surprised that there was a movie like this that existed in 1961, even today this topic is still important.
The acting was superb, it was one of the best acting I've seen in a 60's movie (again, like I said, it's ahead of its time). Everyone in the film had top notch acting, it made the film much more real and emotional. The film is in black and white but I hope they can remaster this film someday and make it into color. It's a very good movie and I think everyone needs to watch this film!
To Catch a Thief (1955)
BEAUTIFUL Sceneries, Virtual Vacation Film!
I watched the remastered version in high definition with color and the scenery of the coastal town of France was absolutely gorgeous. I love how Alfred Hitchcock films, he does a very good job at capturing every little detail in the background; for example, he filmed the scene with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in a room with a gorgeous balcony view of the ocean with a fireworks show out in the sea in the background which was not only romantic but it looked absolutely beautiful! I also enjoyed the driving scene where Grace Kelly's character drives very fast down the long stretch of a highway road along the mountain cliff coast, and the part where they sit down and enjoy some fried chicken and beer from a picnic basket which looked very appetizing! The movie was almost more like a virtual vacation, with scenes of beautiful villas, casinos, beaches, cruising down coastal mountain highways, and lavish costume parties... it looked like so much fun, especially for the 1950's.
The overall movie itself was okay, it wasn't super funny and fun as 'Rear Window' or in dark and in depth like 'Vertigo', but it was still very enjoyable with a light storyline, romance, some mystery and suspense, and a little bit of comedy. As I've said, this movie is more like a virtual romantic vacation and you'll love the beautifully filmed background and scenery of coastal France. I highly recommend that you watch the high definition remastered version, you'd be surprised how good the scenes were filmed! Another great fun classic by Alfred Hitchcock!
Mallrats (1995)
A cult classic, fun comedy movie!
The fact that it features Stan Lee in the movie, that alone already makes it an instant cult classic (and it also has Ben Affleck who is a very notable celebrity and actor). I've only recently seen this movie in 2021 for the first time and the film brings back very nostalgic memories of the 1990's! Everything looks just like how I remembered it was in the 90's. I used to spend a lot of time at my local mall in high school, so I could relate to the characters always hanging out at the mall and finding escape.. though the only thing I didn't see was an arcade!
Going back to the movie, I think it probably was much funnier at the time it was released, though I still think the movie is funny. The movie mentions comic books a lot and it features Stan Lee, so anyone who is a huge comic book or Marvel fan will enjoy this film. The storyline was pretty decent, I think it is a good "buddy comedy" movie and it's entertaining.
I think the movie looks like it was meant for kids, since the cover is a comic book drawn cover.. but it's really a comedy movie for grown adults or many teenagers.. not young children. It is kind of crude humor, but I don't mind.. but I'm sure there are a lot of people who would be easily offended by it.. it is rated R so hopefully parents actually pay attention to that.
This movie I could relate to a lot: growing up in the 90's as a comic book fan, spending all day at the mall not buying anything, hanging out with friends at the mall, and attending special events at the mall.
I like this movie and the nostalgia just makes it so much better, and the fact of has Stan Lee just makes it a cult classic. I don't think it's perfect and think it could have been a little better, but it was very enjoyable and now I'm very interested in watching the spin-off movies now! And I can't wait until the Mallrats 2 movie finally comes out, which I hear features the late Stan Lee and all of the original cast!
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2020)
Plenty Of Hard Laughing & Jaw Dropping
This movie made me laugh hard, more than I usually do with comedy films, and my jaw dropped and I covered my mouth many times in disbelief of some of the outrageous scenes. This movie is very similar to to the movie, 'Bad Grandpa'... it has a scripted storyline with plenty of unscripted reality comedy, the reactions from people were 100% real and they had no idea it was going to be a movie! This kind of film is extremely difficult to make, it takes tremendous effort, bravery, and patience.. and they risk their lives to make this film (in the scene where Borat sings his new song, he had to wear body armor, and he was chased out by an angry mob which you can watch the behind the scenes video clip of this online). Both Sacha and Maria Bakalova only had one chance to film some of the scenes, and they never broke character.. so I give them tremendous props for their stellar performance. The storyline was a little generic and it wasn't that great, but the interactions with people was very good and funny.. you will see a variety of people in the movie, some are totally disgusting people, but some are very genuine.. Sacha is a genius in a way he gets people to show their true colors, he lets their guard down and make them comfortable (or uncomfortable) enough to act out their real selves.
Overall, I never have laughed so hard with any other films besides reality comedy films from Sacha, there is just very interesting dynamic between the Borat character and everyday ordinary people he meets and interacts with. Sacha is just pointing the cameras at people, how they act and respond are totally 100% who they really are. It's a difficult movie to make and the two lead actors did an incredible job doing something that's very difficult and sometimes dangerous to do, and they did make millions of people laugh very hard, including myself!
Rear Window (1954)
Peering into the lives of people through the window
I'm not a movie buff so I'm not going to overanalyze the film, I'm just a casual viewer. I heard about this film from one of 'The Simpsons' episodes (the one where Bart broke his leg and spied on his neighbor from his bedroom window), so then I was curious about this movie. I watched the remastered version of this film in high definition and I'm blown away at how good this movie was. I haven't seen much classic films but I think this movie was ahead of its time, Alfred Hitchcock puts a lot of effort into his art and it really shows.
The view from the window of the apartment out into the courtyard is absolutely beautiful, there's a clear view of everyone's apartments and what they're doing and you can even see people dining in the restaurant in the far distance of the background, I applaud for this much attention to detail. This film takes me back in time to New York City in the 1950's, it gave me a taste of what life might've looked like back in the day (especially watching the remastered version in color and high definition). The acting was surprisingly good and the storyline is good (though the ending was not what I expected, but it was still good). There is a little bit of romance and humor in this film, and lots of suspense. The Alfred Hitchcock knows about human behavior and how we love being curious and looking at other people's lives and seeing their happiness and pain.
It felt like I was there in the movie, watching these people's lives through the window and bring curious, just like the main character, and wondered what will happen next. This movie made me an instant fan of Alfred Hitchcock's films and got me more interested in watching classic movies. I definitely recommend it and this is one of the best classic films of the 1950's, I recommend you watch the remastered version.
An Inspector Calls (2015)
Great British Mystery with Life Lessons!
It is absolutely brilliant, the story and the acting was superb! The film gets you guessing the entire time about who did what and what happened, and the story and drama slowly unfolds as it goes along while you sit there waiting to know what happens next. The story really shows the class difference during that time period, and how there's an uneven distribution of wealth, and the rich often taking for granted their privileges and not being aware of it (and the values and lessons of the film still can apply to today's society). It's about what an upper middle class family did to ruin a beautiful but poor lower class girl who struggled to make ends meet, the rest I won't give away. Overall, it's a good entertaining film that really draws you into the story, getting you to feel empathy for each and every one of the characters and seeing their point of view. I think this movie can do everyone good if they watch it, with the bad things we experience, there's always someone who has it far worse than us and we take for granted our privileges in life and barely give a thought about those who are struggling. A+ movie and it's another classic British mystery that sure is entertaining.
Dorian Gray (2009)
Dark Victorian era thriller!
I've never read the book so I'm reviewing the movie based on seeing it and hearing about it for the first time.. yeah I'm sure the book is better than the film but I'm just judging it by how entertaining it was. The movie was dark and it explores the dark sides of being a human being, getting addicted to pleasure and beauty and how far someone will go to maintain those things, it is sort of relatable to real life and how we always strive for pleasure and our innocence changes. The lead actor was great, you can see him changing throughout the film, he swings between being good and being bad and everything in-between. The movie has a lot of violence and sex, so those who get easily offended by nudity and violence should not watch it; it captures the dark adult themes, just like how Oscar Wilde originally imagined it to be although it was heavily censored at the time due to how vulgar it was back in the old days. Overall, I recommend this movie, it's a good dark film, a very dark and classic adult Victorian fairy tale that captured the true work of Oscar Wilde. I think some give it a low rating because it wasn't the same as the book, others give it a low rating because if the sex and violence, well first if all as I've said, the book was censored and they had to change things and this was how Oscar Wilde originally imagined it.