ComicNerd Reviews

Jurassic World (2015)

Wasted Potential

[6/10 · 13 November 2015]

I have no idea how this became the 3rd biggest movie of all time. While the idea of seeing a fully functioning park and using 2015 VFX to open up the movie seemed interesting, the execution was less then stellar.

2nd Rate and Mediocre are the words I would use to describe the movie. The pacing is a mess , characters are not fleshed out and have no personality, the humor falls flat, and there is a lack of suspense throughout.

The script seems to try and throw in ever possible idea for a sequel, weaponized Dinos, engineering Dinos etc.

I also found the direction to be very generic. Spielberg took special care to make sure that shots were kept from the human perspective to make the Dino's larger and more majestic, JW just uses generic CGI shots with out any creative camera placements.

Overall given the talent involved everything just seemed lazy. I just can't understand how a movie that doesn't really have anything that stands out could make so much money.

Ace Wonder: Message from a Dead Man (2014)

Could have been good movie with better acting

[4/10 · 7 November 2014]

I found this movie on Netflix. It looked like it would be a fun family mystery. It wasn't a bad story but not a single person in the movie could act.

It's got a nice mystery, it's well shot, but the character of Ace Wonder was annoying and most of the actors were at about the level of bad community theatre.

I don't understand why every actor has the same name as in real life?

I realize the movie was intended for family audiences but there is no reason to accept such poor acting.

It's a shame it was a pretty well made movie otherwise. I do look forward to future Ace Wonder movies if the can improve the actors in them.

X-Men (2000)

A little to safe and bland

[6/10 · 25 April 2013]

I remember looking forward to finally seeing a big Marvel Comics character on the big screen. While I thought the movie was OK, it really felt to safe and a bit like a TV Pilot. The movie actually starts off well and is well shot and until Sabertooth attacks Logan in the woods and we get a sense of what's to come. The major action sequences in the train station and Statue of Liberty are dark/poorly shot and staged as if there was no time to rehearse or train. The movie also feel like it's missing a middle act somewhere to build up to the finale. The highlight of the production design is the X mansions basement levels which do look pretty cool. It's unfortunate that the movie didn't have a larger budget/more time and a more experience crew. It could really have been a big blockbuster instead of an average summer movie.