This film is nowhere near great, but I had a good time with it. Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis carry this film with their chemistry, up until the end at least, and that's where I have my problems with the film, that and some of the plot conveniences along the way. This film is kind of confusing on what it wants to be, it's definitely not a sci-fi film, it's barely a monster movie, it's not a romance, and it's not a comedy. The best way I can describe this is a fantasy set on our Earth with the monster being the only fantastical element with a random supernatural event that occurs between our leads. The film tries its best to explain why this phenomenon in the film happens, but it's very bleak. Two character relationships go from one thing to another in a matter of minutes, it happened so quickly I was worried I missed a part of the film. Once it goes that direction, the film becomes very predictable and cliched. Luckily the first half is solid, creative, and inventive with its premise. The music is really well done, it helps create an atmosphere, and the supporting cast with Tim Blake Nelson, and Austin Stowell are great. I always enjoy seeing Nelson in anything even if the film is not good. This one is a good movie with some obvious, and gaping flaws that keeps it from reaching a higher level. The film is short, so if you are looking for something casual to watch, with some entertaining moments enough to satisfy a two hour sit-through, this is worth the time. As for me I had a good time with it.
Reviews
126 Reviews
Kung Fu Panda 4
(2024)
The Good, the Bad, and the Kung Fu
10 March 2024
The return of one of the best non-Disney/Pixar animated franchises is certainly welcomed. I personally have enjoyed every film up to this point. But as the films progress there's always the possibility they will eventually begin to lack in quality as we've seen in previous animated franchises (I'm looking at you Ice Age). While I do feel this way with this new film it's still a good film worth watching. After an 8 year stint, the franchise may have lost some of its steam but still has enough to keep me interested. This film isn't anywhere near as emotional, and heartfelt as the other films, with those depths definitely playing a major factor in what made the others so special. I do not consider this a spoiler since the filmmakers themselves have confirmed that the Furious Five (Tigress, Viper, Mantis, Monkey, and Crane) are not in this pretty much at all. And there absence is very much felt throughout especially when it gets to the final battle. However I do also appreciate the maturity, and overall bravery of the franchise to be able to move on from these beloved characters, it's just would have been better if what they replaced them with had the same amount of potential as they did. What we ended up getting with Awkwafina as Zhen the Fox is not that. She is an appealing character but is she a promising alternative to the Furious Five? No, By a mile she is not. So I can't fall in love with this new character if all I'm thinking about is 'where are the Furious Five?" I can't help that I've just grown to love those characters, and now I'm having to accept something far less impactful. Viola Davis as the Chameleon works well voice wise but just felt like a lesser version of Lord Shen. Her shape-shifting ability is interesting but despite that she is defeated way too easily. She's certainly not the most memorable villain in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. I'd even say she's the weakest of the four. On the positive side, Jack Black always makes me smile, and at this point owns the role of Po. It is a perfect marriage of character and actor. He is clearly having a great time in this film which makes me all the more happy to be in the company of Po. Dustin Hoffman making his return as Master Shifu is always a warm welcome, and has not lost any of his touch playing the character. I love that even though we are in the fourth film Shifu still struggles with patience and inner peace which makes him a three dimensional character to me. Ian McShane returning as Tai Lung was a major reason I went to see this, and even though he didn't have much screen time, he still leaves a big impact on the story. McShane plays him with such grace, and ferocity its quite remarkable to hear. The backgrounds of this film are amazingly done, water looks realer than ever, and the color pallet is widely varied. From the bright pinks and green of the peach tree to the dark grays and blacks of the night. Beautifully done, and a joy to look at. The music by Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro is very nostalgic to me as they reuse some of the previous themes from the past films. Zimmer collaborating with Jack Black to recreate a Britney Spears song is absolute genius. So in the end this film was definitely not a waste of my time, but I would be lying if I didn't say I did end up leaving the theater unfulfilled. I look forward to what this franchise does next. Skadoosh!
Elemental
(2023)
Elemental Movie Review
21 October 2023
This films seems to combine all the elements (no pun intended) of what makes Pixar great, mixed with the weaknesses as well. It's a been there, done that story we've seen a million times. What makes it different and worth watching is the amazing work done by the animators. The character animation, effects animation, coloring, lighting, all work beautifully. This just shows how animation has come from such a long way, from struggling to animate fur in Monsters Inc, to the difficulty of animating water in general no matter the animation style. This film triumphs over all of that, showing they can do anything with animation nowadays. Making characters out of fire and water, or clouds and grass is a major step forward for the medium. So on that front, this film is groundbreaking if you can appreciate the history of animation overall. However, while the animation is groundbreaking, the story, and characters themselves are not. Dipping into romance is a tricky pool to do so, because if the chemistry doesn't work, then the film overall doesn't work. I never felt truly connected between the two romances and didn't do anything outside of the many times I've seen this done many times before. This movie is basically Zootopia if only Judy and Nick had any romantic interest. Then Pixar as always has to hit you over the head with the sappiness and pulling your heartstrings without making me care about the characters first. Funny thing is, the characters are more interesting to me when they're not together, but being their own individual characters. The dilemmas they face to get to their romance is something that I enjoy. The voice acting is fine. Overall, Elemental is not Pixar's greatest effort, but still worth a look if you have nothing else to do with your time.
The Nun II
(2023)
The Nun II Movie Review
21 October 2023
So here we are with yet another blasé attempt at a film from the overall blasé "universe" that is the Conjuring. Barring the first two Conjurings, and maybe the second Annabelle, this has been such a frustrating experience watching such a mediocre franchise that started with such promise. I feel like Wan is the only one who understands this world he created. I'm saying all this because I'm tired of complaining about the same things over and over again when it comes to this baseless nonsense. Boring storyline, uninteresting characters, ineffective scares, lazy direction, and many others make me wish they should've left the original Conjuring alone. The Nun II is the same things I just complained about. The only thing that saves this from being amongst the bottom, is the acting. Taissa Farmiga, Anna Popplewell (who was awesome to see in this, I haven't seen her since Narnia, so it was a nice thing to see), and Bonnie Aarons who kills it as the Nun as always. I do acknowledge the mythological aspects of the narrative, I just wish I cared more. When you deliver too much mediocrity, or just pure negative experiences it's hard to get invested in a film I can tell is really trying, even though it's still bombarded with the same old issues that plague this franchise. I'm not sure how much more I can take before I check out, my only hope is that this film is a trend in the right direction.
The Equalizer 3
(2023)
Style with Substance
21 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The Equalizer trilogy for me has quietly become a solid one, a trilogy that knows what it is and doesn't try to step outside of that box. Meaning, The Equalizer 3 is no different. Fuqua and Washington once again team up for another effective film in their longtime collaboration. I do understand however that these are not on the same level as John Wick or any others like that, but I honestly don't think this franchise cares. And it's one of the elements that make these films and this one so charming and worth watching overall even though I know there is better out there. To break down the film, I must start with the action and clever combat scenes, which is something the others did well and this continues with it. Washington like always commands the attention of the audience every second he's on screen. He is ultimately the reason why this film works. I really appreciate the time it takes to slow down and give some character moments that don't feel forced or unnecessary, this includes a really surprising and delightful appearance of Dakota Fanning which adds a flair to the film. In my opinion, because of the things I mentioned before, this is the best film of the franchise since the first, almost on par with it. Overall, I had a good time with this one, I'm not rushing to see it again or anything, but appreciate the making of more than just an average, run of the mill action flick.
Mr. Harrigan's Phone
(2022)
A Tale of Two Halves
29 April 2023
When it comes to Stephen King adaptations we usually associate them with either the horror or suspense genres but every now and again we get ones like these that are more character driven with a bit of a supernatural twist similar to films like The Green Mile or The Dark Tower. Mr. Harrigan's Phone fits right in with that. A story about connections never dying through of a supernatural event. However, where those elements worked in films like The Green Mile, I thought those elements in here didn't really work. I found the first half to be very interesting and heartfelt seeing this relationship build between an elder and a youngster. I really think that if the film wasn't a Stephen King adaptation and it was just its own thing, and making the entire film about these two characters and their relationship it would have been much better. Donald Sutherland and Jaeden Martell have wonderful chemistry together and the relationship wonderfully evolves with thoughtful direction from John Lee Hancock. But as soon as we reach the second half of the story where the supernatural elements take place, the film just grinds to a halt like smacking a brick wall. I felt so bored and un invested the emotions I had from the first half were sucked away, and was just waiting for it to end soon so maybe I can be salvaged, but it just kept going and going, dragging on for much longer than I hoped. Nothing happens in the last half, a typical bullying dilemma we've seen a thousand times already, and the rest is just sitting around moping and doping, boring conversations, no chemistry between any of the other characters. Martell tries to keep it afloat with his acting skills, but the story more than lost its way. In the end, I was so disappointed. I really enjoyed the first half, thought the rest of the film would live up to it, it didn't, and rarely do I go from liking a film so much, to feeling quite annoyed I wasted my time on it when I could have watched something more fulfilling. I hate saying all this because I really like John Lee Hancock and his direction for the most part. Sutherland is excellent in here, Martell still has his best years ahead of him. The second half of the story is what hurt the film badly for me. I think this is one of the rare moments where Stephen King's influence got in the way.
Evil Dead Rise
(2023)
Intense Thrill Ride and Blood...Lots and Lots of Blood
27 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
After a decade since the previous Evil Dead entry I'm glad to see the next film in this iconic franchise. This film fits among the others like a glove. This sings like an Evil Dead movie, sounds like an Evil Dead movie, and quacks like an Evil Dead movie. This doesn't do anything new or inventive but it does not need to be. What works is the ruthless direction by Lee Cronin, amazing performance from Alyssa Sutherland and Ally Sullivan, gross makeup work, intense moments of terror, excellent lighting, and great cinematography, all this work together to bring me a very good horror flick. The opening title revel is completely badass, and there's also a sense of tragedy involved since this has to do with people who are family members. The opening scene however was completely unnecessary, and added nothing to the overall plot, feeling like a waste of a good 10 minutes where it could have been used more effectively elsewhere. Some of the decisions a few characters make are painstakingly stupid especially one in particular, unfortunately Evil Dead can't avoid this tired cliche. The film was the perfect length never once feeling it dragged on too long, or felt unfulfilled because it being too short. I've never seen so much blood probably since Tarantino's Django Unchained. If you like bloody films, there isn't a more obvious one. I love that this didn't rely on the lazy trope that is jump scares, but used the atmosphere, scenery, and makeup to execute the scares in an effective manner. This is a true horror film for real horror films who are not afraid to get a little bloody and dirty.
The Whale
(2022)
The Brendan Fraser Show
18 April 2023
Welcome back Brendan Fraser! After years of hiatus, he returns bigger (no pun intended) than he needed to. Going from a Hollywood action star to a prestigious artistic performer with this film. Darren Aronofsky is the hero of the story that is bringing Fraser back into the light. The important thing is does this film do Fraser justice? The subject matter of this is pretty heavy and not one everyone will be able to handle. It has nothing to do with violence, blood, or gory which this has none of that. It's the sheer amount of honesty, and in-your-face approach to the subject matter. This film deals with the issue of guilt, tragedy, loss, and regret, but also hope. It deals with those in such a way that even if you haven't experienced the problems, you still feel the weight of the pain, and difficulties the main character goes through. Every character in this have good morals, no one is the bad guy here. It's just a group of people dealing with a horrible situation resulting from a terrible tragedy that emotionally damaged the main character and finding a possible resolution. The emotion is felt throughout the entire film from the first shot to the last. All of the actors bring their A-game starting with Brendan Fraser who unleashes a barrel of talent he didn't have a chance to display before. Every scene he's in he executes them all with such precision that I immediately get attached to him. The supporting cast wonderfully complimented Fraser's performance with a deep, emotional from both Hong Chau and Sadie Sink. At first I didn't care for Sink's character but once I got to the end of the film, I understood what Aronofsky was going for and then I was on board and appreciated Sink's performance and character. Hong Chau is just incredibly subtle, contained, and although fed up with Fraser's character and his stubbornness and setbacks still deeply cares about him. That to me it what makes me like this movie, is the acting, the character interactions, and Aronofsky's honest direction. The only issue I have is at the very end, literally the last shot before the end credits. The moment felt out of place, and compromised the full potential impact of the ending. But because it's so quick it doesn't ruin anything including the ending. If you are a fan of feel good movies and seeing a chagrined actor return in a massive way, this is for you.
Avatar: The Way of Water
(2022)
Worth the 10+ Year Wait?
18 April 2023
As for someone who loved the first film; after waiting, and waiting; witnessing pushback after pushback on its release date I at one point was worried about if this film would ever see the light of day. For which the pandemic didn't help with that issue either. The film is finally released and I finally got myself to the theater to watch it. Was the wait well worth it? Ehh...kind of. I'm going to get the obvious out of the way. The film looks outstanding, and beautifully articulated. I think everyone who's seen and reviewed this movie has said that. For me only one character stood out which was Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles, he was more or less the main character of the film and got the most screen time of all of the others. He did a good job at making his character feel more complex than the previous film and going a little bit beyond the typical villain characteristics. Along with that, some of the action scenes; especially one with a shark; are great. That too isn't a surprise knowing James Cameron's history with producing great action scenes. Simon Franglen does a good enough job replacing the late James Horner as composer, even though they reuse some of Horner's themes. Sigourney Weaver is good as always with her character distinguishing herself from her previous character from the first film. So all of the positives with this all are pretty unsurprising. But I will always give credit where credit is due. On the other hand, the story suffers so much at the hands of the attention to the visuals it's pretty much nonexistent. In fact, it has a very similar story rhythm of the first film. Absolutely no originality, no reason to get invested, just a frustrating experience sitting there waiting for that feeling the first film gave me. And a lot of that had to do with the story itself. To me, that is the biggest problem, so much it almost saturated the whole experience for me. By far the worst movie James Cameron has made in his impressive filmography, even though this is middle of the road and not an actual bad movie. In the end, I'd say the wait wasn't worth it. The disappointment is heightened because of how long I've waited and anticipated for this movie. Because of this my enthusiasm for the next film has been negatively affected. Overall, I love the visuals, some actions scenes, and Stephen Lang. I don't like the story, and the other characters (Worthington and Saldana are wasted). This sucks because I loved the first film so much and for it to see it fall so far is really disappointing. 7/10 because of the visuals.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
(2022)
Joyously Entertaining
13 April 2023
A killer year for DreamWorks producing two great animated films first with "The Bad Guys" and now this. But this is the best of the two. This is a sequel that vastly exceeds the original film from 2011. The story is very imaginative thanks to it being in a fairytale world. The animation is charmingly designed, and colorfully animated that elevates the overall feel and atmosphere of the film. The characters are all very likable from Puss in Boots himself, to Kitty Softpaws (who I was very happy to see return), to the many villains the protagonists encounter. Usually having too many villains or characters in general can make the film feel cluttered and unfocused. However, the writers and director both do a good job of executing the pacing to allow room for all the characters to feel significant and interesting. The voice acting is excellent, my favorite actually being Salma Hayek as Kitty Softpaws who makes her character feel much more elevated in terms of personality. The relationship between Kitty and Puss is a little like Bonnie and Clyde. Their chemistry is so good that they can be the only two characters on screen in a scene by themselves and I will be happy to see them. I can't go on without mentioning that one of the villains in this is something straight out of a horror movie and it's one of the most unique experiences I've had in an animated film were I as a fully grown adult was legitimately intimidated by it. But what should you expect from the company that made "How to Train Your Dragon" and "The Prince of Egypt?" Overall, this movie has a mixture of everything from comedy, gripping drama, intense moments, great character interactions, and outstanding animation. If this film doesn't get you excited for the potential of the Shrek franchise, then nothing will.
John Wick: Chapter 4
(2023)
Brassy, Classy, and Sassy
10 April 2023
Watching this film is like drinking a fine wine that tastes like a spicy Bloody Mary. The impressive feat of the fourth film of a film franchise being this good is unheard of. Not only is it good, it may be the best one yet. Everything that I loved in the first three films are brought here, but the story and layers is so deep, the characters are legitimately compelling. The stakes keep getting raised, the tension tightens as the films progress. Violence is still just as brutal as the first. I'm feeling emotional towards some of the characters outside of John Wick which means the side characters are really good. And yet all of this began after a foolish child killed Wick's dog. However at this point, it's gone beyond just a revenge tale. Now, it's all about survival, the insurmountable obstacles John Wick has to endure to achieve ultimate redemption and finally peace. That's why these films work, because we are all still routing for Wick to make it through and maybe find solace. With that said, the things that also work have to do with Stahelski's amazing direction for someone who was a stuntman is very impressive. Reeves has embedded this character into his own being so much it's now so iconic for him much like what Indiana Jones did for Harrison Ford. Donnie Yen comes in and steals all the scenes he's in, and a great addition to the Wick franchise, creating even more possibilities of where this can go. Clancy Brown makes a welcomed appearance and make the most of his screen time like the true veteran actor he is. Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne complete the cast of solid side characters and both give great performances in this as well. The only reason why this has an 8/10 is because of the runtime. The other films were short and sweet and were effective without the long runtime. This did feel like it dragged on at parts. Nothing that derailed the whole thing or anything, but broke some of the momentum the film built up but luckily the great scenes brought me right back. I'd also like to pay my condolences to Lance Reddick who passed away way too soon. I will remember him for his great scene in the first John Wick film, and he will be missed.
A Pure Blast
10 April 2023
I have no idea how to play the role-playing game this is based on. But I sure know how to watch a movie, and this movie is so much fun. I watched a movie where I laughed, bit my nails, dropped my jaw, and laughed some more. The world feels Lord of the Rings-ish but is still unique enough to standout. The imaginary creatures are intriguing to see, there was a few I really liked in particular. The acting is great from everybody all around. Chris Pine is the comedic element, Hugh Grant doesn't feel out of place like I thought he would be. Justice Smith showed some talent. Sophia Lillis holds her own, and Daisy Head is menacing. The comedy is this is one of the main reasons why I love this movie so much. Thanks to the directors of this movie who each have comedy backgrounds. John Francis Daley, and Jonathan Goldstein are their names, and they craft this thing like a fine painting. One comedic scene in particular is one I'll remember for a long time. The action scenes are a mixed bag, some are nail-biting and entertaining, while some are either too short, convenient, or leave little impact, sometimes both sides occur in the same scene. The music by Lorne Balfe is different from your typical fantasy score and goes more along the lines of what Howard Shore did with the Lord of the Rings trilogies than what John Williams did with Harry Potter. It's not in your face, and the music does take a back seat in a lot of the movie, but has some scores that do get noticed especially the opening theme, one that is short but effective. The camera work is also beautiful, I love panning shots of massive landscapes and this film has a few of those and it pulls me in making me feel engaged. In the end, aside from some weak action scenes, this film is darn near perfect. The direction, acting, cameras, visuals, and mixture of effect modules such as animatronics, costuming, puppetry, and others; which is something I majorly respect the filmmakers for doing. It just really shows the amount of love that was put into this. I noticed it, and it makes me want to watch this again and again. Good job to all who were involved. This is how you get people back into theaters. I'm glad not all of movies are good because it allows us to fully appreciate it when they are good. Never take a film for granted.
Air
(I) (2023)
More Than a Film About a Shoe
10 April 2023
Sure, in its surface the film is about a shoe and it's journey to prominence, which that alone sounds uninteresting, bur when you add elements like Affleck's masterful direction, he getting the most out of his actors through their performances, a solidly written script from a first time writer, and a rich, and often charming story about beating the odds. Surprisingly though, a film about something associated with Michael Jordan doesn't have many showings of Jordan in anyway. There is an actor who plays him but we don't even see his face, and I'm sure there's a reason for it, it was just something that I noticed. The film focuses more on the parents of Michael Jordan especially his mother. Without any scenes between Michael and his mom I still get a sense of the relationship between the two. However, where the film really shines is the interaction between the characters. Affleck does a good job of making me feel engaged with the characters through their relationships and building those as the film progresses. I also really enjoyed seeing some of these actors that haven't been around in a while such as Chris Tucker who I thought held his own against powerhouses like Damon, Affleck, Davis, and Bateman. I do think his character abruptly left the film midway through the second half it kind of felt sudden and made me feel saddened because I was enjoying his performance so much. Viola Davis again shows why she is one of the best actresses working today. She does the exact opposite of what she did in "The Woman King", instead of going big, and grand, she went and did something subtle and dramatic. I'm always amazed how glued I am to the screen when she is present. Jason Bateman shows his versatility with some incredible scenes with him in it, making me interested in any movie he appears in, because I know he can turn in a great performance. I became a fan of his after "The Gift" but this one was next level stuff. Overall, I had a great time with this film. The direction, acting, writing, compelling scenes and character moments, a nice harken to the 80s and the phenomenal time to be a basketball fan due to Jordan's rising star, funny moments all tie in together to put a nice bow on the nicely wrapped film.
The Bad Guys
(2022)
DreamWorks Still Got It
1 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
See, this is what happens when DreamWorks focuses on something that has nothing to do with Boss Baby, they deliver another fun, charming, clever, stylistic film with top notch writing and superb voice acting. The Bad Guys is a premise I believe only DreamWorks could've pulled off and make it work. It has the right amount of comedy, with a sweet mixture of clever storytelling and original animation style. The combination of 3D animation and 2D animation with a bit of an anime feel to it and a fast paced delivery keep this film rolling on all cylinders. From the very start to the end credits the film does not slow down albeit a few moments, but 90% of this film is fast paced, which works for this kind of setting. The casting for this film is near perfection, Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf seemed like an odd fit at first, but when paired with his character, I can totally believe Rockwell is a wolf in disguise. But to me the standout was Marc Maron as Mr. Snake (the names aren't too original I'll admit), you want an example of when a character and a performer match perfectly, you show Maron as Mr. Snake. There was a joke having to do with flatulence that I feared would downgrade the film's quality, but I must say, and I don't say this often, the fart joke was actually cleverly articulated into the outcome of the film, and wasn't just a tired gimmick used when the writers ran out of ideas. That's another thing, the writing in this is very smart, whenever there was a point in the film where it could've easily have taken the lazy route, it surprised me and went a different direction. By avoiding the cliches, this ends up being one of the most original animated films of 2022, and makes this an engaging film for all audience members, and a nice break for parents who could have easily found enjoyment too. A nice break because we have Minions 2 to painfully get through...ugh! Those yellow tic-tacs will never go away. So for the time being, go see a quality animated film both young and older audiences can enjoy together and actually have a good time doing it. DreamWorks is still capable of making great animated films, and rout for their success in the future.
The Northman
(2022)
Vulgar, unforgiving, yet beautifully told
1 May 2022
Robert Eggers find a screenplay that fits perfectly in his wheelhouse tackling an epic with Vikings surely had him licking his chops. The opportunity to display his unique abilities and talents as a visionary director who knows how to deliver the impact of the world while still telling a wholesome story. Of all the films he has made, this is so far his most maturely, and subtle films with some of his unpleasantness still very much present but doesn't engulf this film. And yes his visuals are beautiful to look at from a gorgeous mountain backdrop, to the smoldering fires that burn. The imaginative imagery, while weird still do provide a purpose rather than just vomit splattered at the screen. Eggers also knows how to get the best performances out of this actors and all seem to have a good time acting out the complex scenes. Not only does Skarsgård do a good job, the smallest character is well acted like Willem Dafoe who appears for 5 minutes of the film steals the scene he is in. When the film started, I knew I was in for a wild ride, but I didn't expect the level of maturity Eggers displayed not allowing his schtick to compromise the film. After seeing this, the sky is the limit on what Eggers can do, and look forward to seeing what he does next. 8.4/10.
Old Henry
(2021)
A Case of Hidden Identities
7 January 2022
Are you who you say you are? Are you a plumber, but really a hitman? Are you claiming you name is Bob, but later find out your actually Jesse James? This is a film that makes you wonder these things. People can't always be trusted no matter how nice or generous or naive you may be. Getting into the film itself, I find I quite enjoyed this little gem. First of all, a standing ovation to the director of this film, who's name is slipping my mind, but I will memorize it because he deserves and I hope to see more films made by him in the future, and not just be a one hit wonder. I always believed in the main star of this movie can carry a movie on his back and expose the talents he possesses. Tim Blake Nelson has shown me he isn't to be taken for granted. He plays his character with such wreak of vengeance, and grit he completely changes himself from the character he was in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Nelson isn't a muscular or big person, but due to his gritty, but yes sometimes vulnerable portrayal he is as intimidating as if he were Dwayne Johnson himself. The other performers are also really well articulated, and carefully molded in to complex characters with showings of reasonability, vulnerability, but never crossing the point of being trustworthy. This is why the film works ultimately. You never buy for a second that anybody is trustworthy, and that anybody and turn on anyone at any given time. One wrong move, and it all turns haywire. It also shows what happens when you let your guard down, and naivety rears it's ugly head, what transpires is an unthinkable nightmare where the past catches up to you, and there is nowhere to run. Overall, this is one of those movies that's going to be left under the radar, and be referred to as a hidden gem, and rightfully earns that title. Anyone lucky enough to come across will have a good time. Just don't pretend to be Bob when you're really Jesse James.
Copshop
(2021)
A Good Time
7 January 2022
This action-thriller film has got to be one of the surprises of the year. The movie has its flaws for sure, but this is an action-thriller that does it right. What makes this film work so well is the careful direction from Carnahan to attempt to actually make each character their own, and let's the movie have moments to breathe without compromising the pacing. Making sure the slower scenes are filled with interesting story points, and great acting from the main leads. Carnahan did this so well it showed the true acting talent of both of the main stars Frank Grillo, and Gerard Butler, both known for constantly appearing in mindless, sometimes irrelevant pieces of noisemakers, both are allowed to shine here. Newcomer Alexis Louder does a great job at keeping up with them and helps create a trio of an acting battle which like I said before keeps the slower scenes engaging and entertaining, all rotating back to Carnahan's precise directing. This film is by far one of the best action films of the year, it's won't win any awards, which it isn't meant to, but it may leave you thinking about the film long after the credits role. Check this little gem out, there is a good chance you will enjoy it too. Oh, I forgot to mention, this has a lot of inspiration from Tarantino with its witty dialog, and unapologetic violence. Have fun!
Candyman
(2021)
Enjoyable Enough
30 December 2021
Creepy? Yes. Innovative? Yes. Original? No. That's were the problem lies. But also it does offer some creepy and unsettling moments sprinkled throughout. Anything having to do with the Candyman himself was well done and made the movie worth seeing. So it did do its job as being a good Candyman movie, a respects the source material pretty good. Nia DaCosta shows potential as a director in this industry, but horror may not be the right genre. Even though the film did have an eeriness to it I never found myself totally engrossed in the film like I was with Get Out. Just watched it go through the motions admiring the set design. The set design is quite nice, but that's not what I paid to see. I'm not really sure whether I like this movie or not. On one hand it's a solid Candyman movie, on the other it's just not gripping, and somewhat forgettable. I'm not even sure who to recommend this to. Even die hard Candyman fans of the original will be better off watching the original. Die hard horror fans will be bored out of their minds, kids certainly can't watch it. I guess for the ones that's never seen the original can serve as a decent introduction, but after you get done watching I will just tell you to watch the original for you will have a better time. As it stands, it has very little purpose to exist. DaCosta does a good job as a debut, and it does respect the Candyman himself. Other then that I has nothing else to offer. 6.3/10.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
(2021)
Fan Service Done Right
30 December 2021
I'll just say this right off the cuff, just so everyone can get an idea where I stand on this film. This is so far my favorite MCU movie taking over the throne from Thor: Ragnarok. I loved almost everything about this movie. And a movie that shows exactly how to deliver on fan service, and not just service to the fans but using it to interweave into the story and overall film. I won't spoil anything, but I'm just going to say, it doesn't matter if your a fan of the Maguire Era, or the Garfield Era, you are going to have a good time. I'm more of a Maguire Era person who grew up loving those movies, yes even three, and I adored this and may even surpass the Maguire movies for me. Jon Watts does a fantastic job meshing all of the elements together, keeping it focused, creating good pace, not causing a convoluted mess like so many films that try to have so many elements meshed. I liked also that they kept the MCU humor to a minimum, which I don't mind the humor, it's just got to be used in the correct movie. This isn't the correct movie to have humor, and did a good job of keeping it minimal. Overall, I had a blast with this movie and deserves every eye that watches it. A true masterclass of a job by everyone involved. 10/10.
American Underdog
(2021)
A Feel Good Story, but Nothing New
29 December 2021
I gave a very average rating for a very average movie. I went into this hoping that maybe it can have the same effect as 42 did. While it had some elements it just wasn't anything memorable or anything unique about this. It's not the best football movie, it's not the best Christian-based movie, it's just very run-of-the-mill. The acting is average, Levi does a fine job trying to exercise his dramatic skills, but was never hooked into his performance. Anna Paquin plays your typical wife with typical problems and some of it is very cliched, and the one guy I was looking forward to seeing was Dennis Quaid, but even he didn't turn in a mind-bending performance, sometimes came across as awkward and silly. The only two things that did impress me however was the young actor who played Zack who's name is Hayden Zaller, I thought he did a fantastic job, giving the only standout, most genuine performance in the film. The last thing is the editing at the end of the film was very subtle and caught me off guard, but at the same time I do feel like the ending was compromised as it just didn't feel complete, I appreciate what they were going for and I like the editing itself but what it resulted in for the ending as a whole didn't work for me. Overall, I was very unimpressed by this film, I don't hate it or want it to be burned from human existence. However, it was just very generic, very mundane, nothing about the movie is anything I'll remember, certainly not in the same way as 42. The acting was subpar minus Zaller, the story was uneventful and flat, but on the same token, it's a very harmless film. If you just want a movie that's not too complex and is told in the simplest way, and a movie you can just sit back and relax with as your full attention is not required, then you may enjoy. For people like me who likes to get engrossed in the story and ask for a lot more to be offered, this is not the movie for me. If seen better movies similar to this, and I don't need to talk about it any further. 6.1/10.
West Side Story
(2021)
Nailed It
28 December 2021
All personnel in the Hollywood world take a seat as Mr. Steven Spielberg will show all of you how you properly make a remake and a modern musical. This is truly one of his most impressive outputs in his already monumentally legendary career. Pure direction, understanding the source material, and fleshing out the screenplay beyond its capabilities. Spielberg once again shows me why he will always be the greatest film director of all time and one of the greatest storytellers in history up there with Shakespeare and Disney. The sheer masterful style, subtlety, substance, gravitas, choreography, cinematography, music, lighting, acting, beautiful storytelling, a romance that is always convincing makes this perhaps my favorite film of the year. I love this film, and I want to watch it again and again when it's available on Vudu. An what makes this even more incredible, is I'm not a huge fan of musicals. But this is the perfect way to execute a musical in a way that I can get engaged when others simply could not do it. I can go on and on and on about this movie. But I will just let you experience this pleasure for yourself. Well done Spielberg...again!
Nightmare Alley
(2021)
Cooper vs. Blanchett
28 December 2021
Not only did this film feel like a battle between their characters, but also a battle between themselves. Cooper and Blanchett are wonderful together, though I wish it was present in more than just the last half of the film, both are quite brilliant still. Dafoe, Strathairn, and Perlman do good jobs as well, but it was Cooper and Blanchett that my attention. I think that the way this film is constructed is very detailed and has some dark and sinister moments that only Del Toro can deliver. The whole film is cleverly thought out leading to one of the most powerful and dynamic endings in the last few years. It's not Del Toro's best efforts but certainly his 5 best. Dark, detailed, brave, insightful, powerful, and brutal at times make this a film worth seeing whether in theaters or on streaming.
King Richard
(2021)
Smith is Amazing
29 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Some might call this "The Will Smith Show," but I'd call it a world class, top of the line, king of the crop performance that I knew Smith was capable of pulling off. After years of film after film failing to execute on the greatness that Smith possesses finally this film showed me what a powerhouse Smith can be in any given role. This is by far the greatest performance I've seen in Smith's entire career that includes "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." He portrays Richard Williams with the grace, and determined attitude the man conveyed. Will Smith disappeared into the role. I didn't see Will Smith portraying Richard Williams, I saw Richard Williams. A true example of raw talent that was held back for so long, I'm just happy to see Smith really show his true talent and it is limitless. The great thing about this film is also that Smith isn't the only thing that makes this film shine brightly. The cinematography and the lighting in this film is absolutely brilliant. There was always this hue and the colors weren't always the brightest, but very hazy and dusty. It felt like I was in the time period the film is set in. The choice to cast unknown young actresses to play Venus & Serena Williams was a smart one, it made it easier for them to own the role and made me believe I was really watching Venus & Serena. The director did a really good job at making sure the film stayed focused on being about tennis and the development of the Williams' sisters and found a way to make it interesting and engaging. Mrs. Ellis who plays Richard's wife is given the most pedestrian role, but she manages to keep up with the others and holds her own in many scenes. She did such a good job I actually remember her character and her importance to the overall story, even if she wasn't on screen as much as her husband. Jon Bernthal who appears unrecognizable also blends in with his character, and too gives a worthy performance and showed Bernthal is ready for the next phase of his career, which is to prove he can carry a starring role in a major film. The costuming is perfect, and captures the time period which complements the cinematography. The only nit-pick I have is the unnecessary involvement of the young punks that intimidate Richard. It didn't really go anywhere other than to show why Richard is so determined to make his daughters tennis greats so they don't have to endure the suffering he had to. But this element of the film just suddenly comes to a halt after a final short confrontation. Then Richard and the punks become allies after this altercation. But once that's out of the way, the film focuses on what the film is about and that is tennis and the fight Richard had to provide Venus & Serena with the best chance to thrive and survive. I can't recommend this film enough. If you like Will Smith, a heartfelt sport drama, phenomenal acting, beautiful cinematography and costumes, and one minor story hindrance, I hope you see it. 9.8/10.
Encanto
(2021)
Different World, Familiar Feel
28 November 2021
That probably my favorite thing about this film, or the general idea of Disney making movies that take place in other countries that don't usually get the recognition. The setting in Colombia is perfectly captured and I really enjoyed being there. The vibrant colors, and the culture of the country are all on display. However, that's were the different ends, and the familiar begins. The story and characters feel very familiar and typical of Disney. Characters feeling left out or have everything they want but are unhappy. We've dealt with the outcast character before which is what the main character is. She's treated like the black sheep until a disaster forces her family to see her true purpose. It's all been done before in many other Disney films, heck not just Disney but other companies as well. DreamWorks, Illumination, they all have done it before. So unfortunately, Encanto doesn't feel that unique other than the country of Colombia. The songs are generic, and it's just not a film I'm going to remember. I'm ready for Disney to do something different entirely, actually go outside their comfort zone and give us something truly memorable. This is not it. I will say the animation however is gorgeous, the water looks so real it's good enough to drink, the animal design could use some work, and no leopard would ever be that friendly and upbeat. Another typical Disney trope where everything even a leopard is all sunshine and rainbows with sugar plums and unicorns on top. My final score is: 7.7/10.
Eternals
(2021)
Better Than I Thought It Would Be
28 November 2021
Eternals is a weaker film when it comes to the overall scheme of the MCU, clearly I've seen better, but for what I got as a stand-alone, it was better than I thought, still mediocre in many ways. I appreciate the attempt at being a slower, more melodramatic compared to the other MCU films. Lots of time characters are just sitting or standing around and talking and lots of it. The only thing that kept me from getting really bored was the occasional fight sequences they'd throw in. I'm not saying I need all action and no substance, but the dialog between the characters was uninteresting, and nothing was really grabbing me emotionally. That brings me to my next issue, I personally know nothing about the Eternals, I went into this film completely blind hoping that maybe the film can help introduce these new characters to me. Unfortunately, that also failed in my eyes. I left the movie knowing only what each character's abilities are, and a few of their names. I was driving home from the theater and I couldn't remember all of their names. That's how forgettable the characters and character development was for me. Also, there was no need for this film to be almost three hours long. Why does every Marvel film have to be near three hours long, some actually reach three hours, but that was the Avengers film which I can understand because they have to cram so much story, characters, and information in such a short period of time, however the Russo brothers did a much better job at delivering and executing those things. Chloe Zhao has shown she is a very gifted filmmaker with Nomadland, but apparently she had plenty of creative control, so I have to criticize Zhao for the overall execution of the character development, and too much exposition. However, I do really appreciate the execution of the action and fighting sequences especially having to do with the Deviants. There was one in particular towards the middle of the film that I was having a good time with. Some of the background shots are absolutely breathtaking, and the cinematography was beautiful as well. These things are so strongly executed that they almost outweigh the negatives I mentioned earlier. But as it stands, it is a mediocre film with bad character development, uninteresting interaction between characters, too much exposition, and too long of a running time; but also has exceptional fight sequences, breathtaking backgrounds, beautiful cinematography, and the score are all that make this film what it is. Therefore I reward it with a solid 7.2/10.
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