I'm a bit surprised by the viciousness of many of the films critics. Even though I agree with many of the criticisms.... It's derivative, the initial aggression against the first village required much more cost and effort than would be retuned in resources, it steals heavily from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, the Seven Samurai and all of its remakes... BUT it looks good. This more closely resembles pulp inspired space opera than most recent sci-fi movies. The action set pieces are well choreographed and the colour palette is attractive and resembles high end graphic novels. There are MANY good films that are derivatives or remakes. Yes, there are some lazy narrative choices but all in all I really enjoyed this and while I respect others may disagree with me, I think many of the critics who have cranked up the bile and the negative superlatives are just examples of the polarisation of discourse where some people think they have to mark to extremes to make a point.
Reviews
9 Reviews
The Whale
(2022)
When a beautiful yet powerful story, a restrained director and an actor in his prime intersect
4 June 2023
The Whale is a movie that genuinely lives up to the hype, but the danger of raving too much about it is that it runs the risk of diluting the simplicity and ramping up expectations. It is a simple, clever, beautiful, heroic, melancholy, sad and joyous story that plays out like a long one act play. The direction is economical, restrained and unrushed, making Charlie's whole world the film's whole world. With the camera on Charlie (Brendon Fraser) for the majority of the time, it allows Fraser to languidly use his entire acting palate, not only supplying the big, dramatic moments but all of the smaller, sometimes intimate and sometimes seemingly inconsequential moments as well.
It feels real, and as simple as that sentence sounds, it's an almost impossible thing to deliver. Director Darren Aronofsky has provided a warm and subtle film that integrates isolation, sexuality, being different, remorse and redemption without waving them like a banner. There are clever reveals and while you may have an inkling where the show is going, I don't think you will fully predict the emotional gut punch coming your way until it's upon you.
With all the superhero films and rushed-to-Netflix movies these days, I don't see much superb film making these days, or many that I think are worth 10 out of 10. This is.
It feels real, and as simple as that sentence sounds, it's an almost impossible thing to deliver. Director Darren Aronofsky has provided a warm and subtle film that integrates isolation, sexuality, being different, remorse and redemption without waving them like a banner. There are clever reveals and while you may have an inkling where the show is going, I don't think you will fully predict the emotional gut punch coming your way until it's upon you.
With all the superhero films and rushed-to-Netflix movies these days, I don't see much superb film making these days, or many that I think are worth 10 out of 10. This is.
Eternals
(2021)
Good... just Too long, too formulaic and too cross promotional
15 November 2021
I saw the latest Marvel movie, Eternals the other day, and I've since read that it has received the worst reviews of any of the Marvel movies.
It's actually not that bad... in fact I enjoyed it. It branches out from the same old characters in Avengers and co., it provides diversity that fits well and makes sense, and it provides a detailed and cool back story to the broader Marvel Universe. And it looked a million bucks... sumptuous colours, great fight scenes, Kumail Nanjiani steals the show...yada yada yada.
But it did provide a few bits that niggled.
(1) The characters. The first three you'll meet are Superman, The Flash and Wonder Woman. I mean, that's not their names, they are Ikarus, Sersi and Thena but that's the power sets and templates they've pinched from DC. Kinda generic and unadventurous, but that's not the movie's fault, that's Marvel.
(2) It's overlong. At 2 hours 36 in a darkened cinema wearing a mask that forces you to rebreath the same carbon dioxide you just breathed out, it's a perfect storm for an unintentional snooze. There was a LOT of padding... a hell of a lot... which, edited better, would have made for a tighter film.
(3) Blatant and repetitive cross promotion. This, in my opinion, is the biggest and most common flaw to the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe. Characters are inserted into storylines with the most tenuous connection and very little need to the narrative, only to promote the next Marvel release. It takes you, the viewer, out of the story, destroys the suspension of disbelief and reminds you that these are just products we are being sold. Christopher Nolan didn't do it in the Batman films, it didn't happen in the Joker movie, so it IS possible to stick to the art and the story in telling a super-hero yarn, without resorting to being a carney telling people to "step right up" for our next show. I also saw Shang-Chi on the same weekend and there it was again... blatant as can be.
On IMDB the aggregate ratings average was 6.9. Sounds about right.
It's actually not that bad... in fact I enjoyed it. It branches out from the same old characters in Avengers and co., it provides diversity that fits well and makes sense, and it provides a detailed and cool back story to the broader Marvel Universe. And it looked a million bucks... sumptuous colours, great fight scenes, Kumail Nanjiani steals the show...yada yada yada.
But it did provide a few bits that niggled.
(1) The characters. The first three you'll meet are Superman, The Flash and Wonder Woman. I mean, that's not their names, they are Ikarus, Sersi and Thena but that's the power sets and templates they've pinched from DC. Kinda generic and unadventurous, but that's not the movie's fault, that's Marvel.
(2) It's overlong. At 2 hours 36 in a darkened cinema wearing a mask that forces you to rebreath the same carbon dioxide you just breathed out, it's a perfect storm for an unintentional snooze. There was a LOT of padding... a hell of a lot... which, edited better, would have made for a tighter film.
(3) Blatant and repetitive cross promotion. This, in my opinion, is the biggest and most common flaw to the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe. Characters are inserted into storylines with the most tenuous connection and very little need to the narrative, only to promote the next Marvel release. It takes you, the viewer, out of the story, destroys the suspension of disbelief and reminds you that these are just products we are being sold. Christopher Nolan didn't do it in the Batman films, it didn't happen in the Joker movie, so it IS possible to stick to the art and the story in telling a super-hero yarn, without resorting to being a carney telling people to "step right up" for our next show. I also saw Shang-Chi on the same weekend and there it was again... blatant as can be.
On IMDB the aggregate ratings average was 6.9. Sounds about right.
Faster
(2010)
Deceptively enjoyable
23 January 2021
I've only discovered this film ten years after its release. One advantage of that is I was unaware of it and had no expectations. The film eschews excessive expositional dialog and relies on action based plot revelation. But there's still a strong story in there, elegantly delivered. Without needing each character to dictate their raisin d'être and motivation, the films shows rather than tells and the large cast of established actors all seem sufficiently utilised in their ensemble sized roles. Despite having few lines, this may be Dwayne Johnson's best dramatic performance and despite being a fairly violent action film, the action and violence scenes are judiciously used and not just an excuse for 'splosions and stunts. The final reveals are delivered fairly with all the clues in plain site for armchair detectives. It's not complex, bu engaging and well crafted. Having expected nothing, I was pleasantly surprised.
Hamilton
(2020)
Electric, entertaining, witty and clever
4 July 2020
I really enjoyed this.
Lyn-Manuel Miranda is widely and deservedly regarded as a genius and this musical/film adds more evidence to support that.
Clever, funny, rapid-fire lyrics blend with an (until this musical was created) under regarded figure of US history. But his genius is even more evident in his decision to pitch a musical where most of the white historical cast are portrayed by Black American performers... with hip hop music at its spine. Originality is king if you want to make memorable art.
The cast in this production are luminescent. They may not all be names theatre goers will readily recognise but you've seen many of them on TV and film. There's even a key figure played by a semi-regular from Glee (singing a song that sounded very Tim Minchin to me).
As a huge fan of musicals I was always going to like this. The flip-side of this is that I judged it against the others I've seen and loved.
So yes, its hands don at least 8 stars (and most people say more than that, and that's fine) but some of the things I regarded as flaws held me back.
Relationships - no real kick-arse relationships of emotional depth except for the one who dies midway through the second act. And while it was portrayed and told well, I felt it failed to resonate as much as it could have by the lack of foreshadowing the bond. The relationship with his wife seemed tacked on and the hinted relationship with another woman (won't add a spoiler here) never delivered. The fact it was never established as fact in the real life story of Hamilton was no doubt part of the reason, but including the hint that goes nowhere served little purpose.
The story - Some stories are light by nature (Grease, Little Shop of Horrors) but they at least have a powerful relationship at their base. Some are significant because of the story they cover (Les Mis, Rent)... and they also mostly have a powerful relationship or two in the midst. I know the purpose of telling Hamilton's story was to share details of an almost forgotten figure, but I kinda feel like he deserved to be forgotten. Definitely an intellect, but his role in the War of Independence was bureaucratic, his additions to legislature were significant, but again bureaucratic. If they had hung some of the story on a significant moment rather than to provide a greatest hits package of his life, maybe there was more power to be had? Having seen it and enjoyed it, I still wonder "why Hamilton?"
Anyway, those are just some of my personal misgivings and I DID love the film/musical. Miranda is the genius in this case and while it's very easy for people on the sideline, like me, to critique or fiddle with the idea, there's no idea at all without his amazing mind.
You really should see this.
Lyn-Manuel Miranda is widely and deservedly regarded as a genius and this musical/film adds more evidence to support that.
Clever, funny, rapid-fire lyrics blend with an (until this musical was created) under regarded figure of US history. But his genius is even more evident in his decision to pitch a musical where most of the white historical cast are portrayed by Black American performers... with hip hop music at its spine. Originality is king if you want to make memorable art.
The cast in this production are luminescent. They may not all be names theatre goers will readily recognise but you've seen many of them on TV and film. There's even a key figure played by a semi-regular from Glee (singing a song that sounded very Tim Minchin to me).
As a huge fan of musicals I was always going to like this. The flip-side of this is that I judged it against the others I've seen and loved.
So yes, its hands don at least 8 stars (and most people say more than that, and that's fine) but some of the things I regarded as flaws held me back.
Relationships - no real kick-arse relationships of emotional depth except for the one who dies midway through the second act. And while it was portrayed and told well, I felt it failed to resonate as much as it could have by the lack of foreshadowing the bond. The relationship with his wife seemed tacked on and the hinted relationship with another woman (won't add a spoiler here) never delivered. The fact it was never established as fact in the real life story of Hamilton was no doubt part of the reason, but including the hint that goes nowhere served little purpose.
The story - Some stories are light by nature (Grease, Little Shop of Horrors) but they at least have a powerful relationship at their base. Some are significant because of the story they cover (Les Mis, Rent)... and they also mostly have a powerful relationship or two in the midst. I know the purpose of telling Hamilton's story was to share details of an almost forgotten figure, but I kinda feel like he deserved to be forgotten. Definitely an intellect, but his role in the War of Independence was bureaucratic, his additions to legislature were significant, but again bureaucratic. If they had hung some of the story on a significant moment rather than to provide a greatest hits package of his life, maybe there was more power to be had? Having seen it and enjoyed it, I still wonder "why Hamilton?"
Anyway, those are just some of my personal misgivings and I DID love the film/musical. Miranda is the genius in this case and while it's very easy for people on the sideline, like me, to critique or fiddle with the idea, there's no idea at all without his amazing mind.
You really should see this.
Nice addition to the saga
4 July 2020
This was well made and a lot of fun. Many sequels, particularly in action and science fiction genres, destroy their own narrative, continuity and mythology by throwing in a retcon. This seemed to follow neatly from the first two films, explaining the revised Judgement Day without really contradicted the second film. It stuck to its formula, threw in a bunch of fan favourite phrases and images. Pretty enjoyable really.
Return to form for Ferrell
28 June 2020
This was a bit of a return to form for Ferrell. He's a very funny man but some of his last few outings, like Holmes and Watson, just weren't funny films. He is a fan, apparently, of ad-libs and Impromptu work and some of the stuff that makes its way into his movies show some poor editorial choices. But this film is a lot of fun and one I could gladly watch again, and soon. The story isn't sacrificed for jokes and as Ferrell is a die-hard Eurovision fan he may have seen it as a duty to deliver something to non-Eurovision fans that honours the contest lovingly with all its colourful bombastic silliness. Good stuff.
Angel Has Fallen
(2019)
Third in trilogy an improvement from second
24 May 2020
The message from all three of the films in this series is that, if you're the president of the United States, someone's going to come very close to killing you. I really like this series...the second, London has Fallen, had a lot of running around, shooting and splosions. This one tried to bring back a bit more story... fairly successfully... bit still with the shooting and the splosions. The good man set up as a patsy storyline isn't new and you can guess who's going to turn out to be bad guys a mile off but it's got good action, likeable characters and told well enough.
Not terrible, but a shadow of the first film
9 June 2019
The franchise started with such promise but seemed to lessen with each film. In this one, the journey towards President Snow was laboured and repetitive. Character development was paint by numbers to non existent. Films 3 and 4 might have been more impactful if retained in one film. But we get the ending... that's something.
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