'Avengers: Endgame' is a film that manages to serve the 21 MCU films before it in a way that is almost magical, and near perfect. The film does a wonderful job at tying up and concluding so many storylines that have been present throughout the last 11 years and 22 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film manages to out-do itself and delivers on absolutely gigantic and epic proportions. While the film isn't perfect and there are some slight gripes and nitpicks I definitely have, it is perfectly satisfying in the way it manages to close itself up. 'Endgame' offers a justifiable conclusion that can best be described as epic.
Reviews
18 Reviews
Captain Marvel
(2019)
A good, but not great entry to the MCU
10 March 2019
Captain Marvel' offers a strong origin story for the titled character. The strengths of the film come from the great chemistry between Larson and Jackson as well as the likability and believability of the entire cast in their respective roles. The film has its flaws and they mostly root from nuances and conveniences that can make a viewer fall out of a scene. There were also several arcs that I would have wished were explored deeper. What the film does well is make me intrigued in the characters journey and potentially where she goes from here. All in all this is a fun movie that serves as a good entry to the MCU, not a great one.
IO
(2019)
The perfect example of "boring" in film.
26 February 2019
IO is a film that can be tough to watch at times. It's slow pace and barely proceeding plot really makes this film a tough one to watch. Margaret Qualley gives a pretty fine performance but her counterpart Anthony Mackie appears at times very unmotivated. The film is simply dull, boring, and almost meaningless. There is slight intrigue through the premise of this film but for the most part not much of anything had any real bite.
Velvet Buzzsaw
(2019)
A mediocre film that left me dissatisfied.
26 February 2019
Looking past a great Jake Gyllenhaal performance, some pretty interesting characters and very quality art direction, this film is extremely unfulfilling. A unique and interesting premise started this film off with some good build up, but as all unraveled, 'Velvet Buzzsaw' became a mess. The film has no payoff, no deeper meaning, no real worth. It left me very disappointed and with a true feeling of unfulfillment. I am all for movies leaving viewers to interpret certain things, but the way this film played out there wasn't much to interpret in the first place, it was all a misfire. I do applaud the cast for truly bringing this film to life with strong performances all around, the set design is also a major factor in this films slight successes.
A worthy final chapter to a very good trilogy.
26 February 2019
The Hidden World serves as a very strong final chapter in a strong trilogy. The film adds more to each and every single one of the major character arcs we have been following over the past two films. The animation is incredible and the action sequences are top notch also. The Hidden World also consists of some very good moments of interaction between the main characters that add to the sheer heart and magic of these relationships. The weakness of the film lies with its villain. I felt he was a very weak 2-dimensional character in a film surrounded by very strong and already established characters.
Serenity
(I) (2019)
Avoid this mess, or give it a wild shot.
29 January 2019
Here's a movie I was hyped for... While there are solid performances and an admittedly interesting premise, the film is messy. There are so many uncomfortable and questionable occurrences that by the end you just are mostly checked out of this film.
Christopher Robin
(2018)
Slow, sweet, simple and enjoyable Disney adaptation
8 August 2018
Christopher Robin is not a film that in my opinion is one to take young kids to unless they are Winnie-the-Pooh fans. The film is a slow burn and a slower paced tale on a grown up Christopher Robin and his difficulty balancing family life and work life. The film may be good at teaching parents to take a break, slow down and appreciate life a little. In that this is a sweet tale that is definitely better suited for more understanding audiences. This film doesn't have the action or in your face comedy of other family films but it definitely is a movie that is worth a watch. The art direction is terrific and Ewan McGregor and the voice cast all do incredible jobs in this film, they truly elevate it. Anytime Winnie is on screen he does truly steal the show. While this film wasn't overly ambitious, it was still safe and rather good. This is a very well made film and for what it was, I definitely had a good time with it. The movie doesn't give the emotional blow that I wish it did but it does pull at the heart strings a little and that is a benefit for the development of the plot. I had a good time with Christopher Robin and it is worthy of a 7.5/10... can't drop it down to a 7 so I will score it an 8.
Perfect Action Movie
30 July 2018
Tom Cruise and company have returned for a sixth installment of the long running (6 films, 22 years) 'Mission Impossible' franchise. Who would've thought they'd save their best stuff for the sixth film? Here is my review of 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout.'
In the sixth film in the series we are reunited with Tom Cruise and his infamous 'Ethan Hunt' character as well as the rest of the gang, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames. This film is directed and written by Christopher McQuarrie. This is the second 'Mission Impossible' he has directed, the first being 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' (2015). Following all the hype mustered up by this film I found myself surprisingly excited to see it. I got to see the opening day viewing and I was not disappointed. Christopher McQuarrie is the perfect director for these films as proven by two back-to-back successful films as well as this being, in my opinion, the best film in the franchise to date. 'Fallout' is a sheer epic. It has everything you want in an action film and it does it all perfectly. While giving the audience some intense and top-notch barrages of action, writer/director Christopher McQuarrie balanced in a very strong and clear pointed plot. This perfect balance made for a perfect action film.
Tom Cruise yet again delivers a strong performance and his stunts continue to be jaw-dropping. McQuarrie's direction with these action sequences are perfect and some stunning and edge-of-the-seat scenes do happen rather frequently in this film. Henry Cavill is also in this movie and it was great to finally see the now infamous-stache on the big screen. I had my slight doubts in him at times during the movie but continuously with each and every passing scene Cavill seemed to just get better and better. He brought a lot to the film and definitely served a strong purpose. Simon Pegg is entertaining as always, as is Ving Rhames. Sean Harris is also in the film and he brings a good strong presence as the films mysterious villainous character. Harris owns the role and brings genuine darkness to the film.
What puts this film head and shoulders above other action flicks is the insane and pristine camera work. Some of the shots that were taken during this film are absolutely stunning and I found myself turning to the person beside me admiring these shots on several occasions. This all made for rather grand and certainly epic scenes. The moment I left the theatre I was ready to turn back around and head back in for more.
While the story isn't necessarily fresh, Christopher McQuarrie does a good job at telling this story and unfolding a very picture-perfect spy film. There are some characters I definitely would have liked to have seen developed more. As previously stated, the brilliance in balance within the film is truly unmatched and story is not compromised at the hands of over usage of CGI or cheap jokes. This is the quintessential action movie of 2018 and the summer blockbuster we needed oh so badly.
In the sixth film in the series we are reunited with Tom Cruise and his infamous 'Ethan Hunt' character as well as the rest of the gang, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames. This film is directed and written by Christopher McQuarrie. This is the second 'Mission Impossible' he has directed, the first being 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' (2015). Following all the hype mustered up by this film I found myself surprisingly excited to see it. I got to see the opening day viewing and I was not disappointed. Christopher McQuarrie is the perfect director for these films as proven by two back-to-back successful films as well as this being, in my opinion, the best film in the franchise to date. 'Fallout' is a sheer epic. It has everything you want in an action film and it does it all perfectly. While giving the audience some intense and top-notch barrages of action, writer/director Christopher McQuarrie balanced in a very strong and clear pointed plot. This perfect balance made for a perfect action film.
Tom Cruise yet again delivers a strong performance and his stunts continue to be jaw-dropping. McQuarrie's direction with these action sequences are perfect and some stunning and edge-of-the-seat scenes do happen rather frequently in this film. Henry Cavill is also in this movie and it was great to finally see the now infamous-stache on the big screen. I had my slight doubts in him at times during the movie but continuously with each and every passing scene Cavill seemed to just get better and better. He brought a lot to the film and definitely served a strong purpose. Simon Pegg is entertaining as always, as is Ving Rhames. Sean Harris is also in the film and he brings a good strong presence as the films mysterious villainous character. Harris owns the role and brings genuine darkness to the film.
What puts this film head and shoulders above other action flicks is the insane and pristine camera work. Some of the shots that were taken during this film are absolutely stunning and I found myself turning to the person beside me admiring these shots on several occasions. This all made for rather grand and certainly epic scenes. The moment I left the theatre I was ready to turn back around and head back in for more.
While the story isn't necessarily fresh, Christopher McQuarrie does a good job at telling this story and unfolding a very picture-perfect spy film. There are some characters I definitely would have liked to have seen developed more. As previously stated, the brilliance in balance within the film is truly unmatched and story is not compromised at the hands of over usage of CGI or cheap jokes. This is the quintessential action movie of 2018 and the summer blockbuster we needed oh so badly.
Skyscraper
(2018)
Another add to the Dwayne Johnson mediocre action film list.
19 July 2018
'Skyscraper' is directed and written by Rawson Marshall Thurber ('Central Intelligence', 'We're the Millers'). The film follows Johnson, who plays an FBI Agent and U.S army vet, and his family. Johnson's character, 'Will Sawyer' is sent to examine the safety of a new tower being built in Hong Kong. Upon his travels, shenanigans ensue and he must save the day. 'Skyscraper' offered a very simple story line that was covered with predictable twists and clichéd villains. Despite these very clear structures within the film, 'Skyscraper' was actually a solid popcorn flick. I enjoyed the movie mainly due to the well inserted intensity and some very solid action sequences. The dynamic of having the film be centered around a skyscraper seemed very silly in the trailers and TV spots but upon watching this film I can attest to it actually making for some cool scenes. I did end up seeing this film in 3D due to the great things I heard about how it looked. I was not disappointed and the 3D definitely enhanced my experience and enjoyment in 'Skyscraper.' That being said, 3D is not a necessity for this movie and it can still be watched and enjoyed in standard 2D.
'Skyscraper' has a plot that is simple enough to follow but not enough to really feel a connection with the film at all. There were times in this movie where certain dialogue was used that was absolutely unnecessary and cheesy, definitely one of the years weakest scripts. At times certain lines even took me out of the movie. One positive thing about 'Skyscraper' I can confidently say is that it did not go out of its way to throw silly jokes in. This is something that other summer blockbusters always go for and it can often feel very misplaced.
As previously stated, Johnson rocks in the action scenes and director Rawson Marshall Thurber did a great job at constructing some very entertaining sequences. At times I felt I had to just turn my brain off and not question some rather convenient moments but that being said I was not taken out of the action sequences all that much. The special effects were great in this movie and some of the rooms in the skyscraper look so damn cool.
Dwayne Johnson delivers a very Dwayne Johnson performance in this movie and his charisma and charm in the lead role continues to be a draw. Not much of the supporting cast did much to enhance this film but the family rescue scenario worked out pretty well. Neve Campbell is in this film and she does a swell job at portraying the mother in the family, she even does a solid job during the action scenes as well. Most of the cast does a good job especially working with the dialogue they had. The score definitely could have been better, thinking back in this film I don't even recall hearing music at all. It's important that a score leaves its touch and enhances intensity but Steve Jablonsky's score in this film did not do that.
'Skyscraper' has a plot that is simple enough to follow but not enough to really feel a connection with the film at all. There were times in this movie where certain dialogue was used that was absolutely unnecessary and cheesy, definitely one of the years weakest scripts. At times certain lines even took me out of the movie. One positive thing about 'Skyscraper' I can confidently say is that it did not go out of its way to throw silly jokes in. This is something that other summer blockbusters always go for and it can often feel very misplaced.
As previously stated, Johnson rocks in the action scenes and director Rawson Marshall Thurber did a great job at constructing some very entertaining sequences. At times I felt I had to just turn my brain off and not question some rather convenient moments but that being said I was not taken out of the action sequences all that much. The special effects were great in this movie and some of the rooms in the skyscraper look so damn cool.
Dwayne Johnson delivers a very Dwayne Johnson performance in this movie and his charisma and charm in the lead role continues to be a draw. Not much of the supporting cast did much to enhance this film but the family rescue scenario worked out pretty well. Neve Campbell is in this film and she does a swell job at portraying the mother in the family, she even does a solid job during the action scenes as well. Most of the cast does a good job especially working with the dialogue they had. The score definitely could have been better, thinking back in this film I don't even recall hearing music at all. It's important that a score leaves its touch and enhances intensity but Steve Jablonsky's score in this film did not do that.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
(2018)
Worthy sequel and edition to the MCU, not stellar
15 July 2018
'Ant-Man and the Wasp' carries such a simple plot that it makes for a good time, the film does a good job at taking you out of the conundrum of grand and epic crowdedness that was 'Infinity War' and lets you take a step back and just focus on something small. Paul Rudd is strong again in the role of 'Ant-Man' but he's even better as 'Scott Lang.' When I say that I mean that Rudd and child actress Abby Ryder Fortson, do a great job with the whole father-daughter dynamic. It gives off strong feel-good vibes. Overall the acting in this movie was solid but it is the writing and comedic timing that let me down.
With 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' you expect light-hearted fun, and you get that. You also expect comedy, and you get that as well, but it isn't as well placed as other recent MCU films. I did laugh in this movie as its light-hearted comedy was effective, but there were definitely more times in the film where timing is missed and jokes fall flat. I enjoy going to these films and having a good time and laughing a good bunch but I find that when comedy is trying to be inserted in times that should really be serious, these films suffer.
Rudd's charisma and the charm of the cast make this film loads more enjoyable. The unlikeliness of 'Scott Lang' being a hero such as 'Ant-Man' and the unlikeliness of 'Ant-Man' being a hero at all makes him much easier to root for. The connection between Rudd and Lilly is well portrayed, but at the same time it is also rather basic and doesn't offer you much of an urge to show support or root for their bond. The villain in this film is rather weak. Unmotivated, or rather unfocused writing makes her more of a missed opportunity than anything.
Good special effects and rather entertaining action sequences make for prime entertainment that is most enjoyed at the movies theatre. The dynamic of our heroes being able to shrink and enlarge in size is really fun to see be played out on the big screen. All gripes aside, I did have a fun time with this film and it was an enjoyable movie. The story was difficult to grab on to but still solid enough that it was buyable and the solid charm and charisma of the cast really sells the movie as a fun time.
With 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' you expect light-hearted fun, and you get that. You also expect comedy, and you get that as well, but it isn't as well placed as other recent MCU films. I did laugh in this movie as its light-hearted comedy was effective, but there were definitely more times in the film where timing is missed and jokes fall flat. I enjoy going to these films and having a good time and laughing a good bunch but I find that when comedy is trying to be inserted in times that should really be serious, these films suffer.
Rudd's charisma and the charm of the cast make this film loads more enjoyable. The unlikeliness of 'Scott Lang' being a hero such as 'Ant-Man' and the unlikeliness of 'Ant-Man' being a hero at all makes him much easier to root for. The connection between Rudd and Lilly is well portrayed, but at the same time it is also rather basic and doesn't offer you much of an urge to show support or root for their bond. The villain in this film is rather weak. Unmotivated, or rather unfocused writing makes her more of a missed opportunity than anything.
Good special effects and rather entertaining action sequences make for prime entertainment that is most enjoyed at the movies theatre. The dynamic of our heroes being able to shrink and enlarge in size is really fun to see be played out on the big screen. All gripes aside, I did have a fun time with this film and it was an enjoyable movie. The story was difficult to grab on to but still solid enough that it was buyable and the solid charm and charisma of the cast really sells the movie as a fun time.
Mrs. Doubtfire
(1993)
Enjoyable, heartwarming.. Robin Williams
15 July 2018
Mrs. Doubtfire is a film I watched several times as a child. It was one of those movies dad enjoys to watch with his kids so he just put it on countless times. As a kid this movie never got old. Yesterday upon watching Mrs. Doubtfire again, I can safely say I can still enjoy this film past childhood. Robin William steals the show and the dynamic of him dressed as a 60 year old women with a British accent is actually executed rather well and it is super funny too. This film has heart, the story told is unorthodox but it's truly touching when you think about it. Although this film is funny and really enjoyable, it doesn't quite hit the mark everywhere. Mrs. Doubtfire has heart but it doesn't have compelling enough supporting performances that make you cry, it doesn't have dialogue that twists your stomach over the drama and emotion, it's just a light-hearted, crazy spin on a serious situation. The movie also has it's cliches and convenient moments that are also seemingly present in kids movies that often take me out of the film. All in all, Mrs. Doubfire is enjoyable, it's funny and it does carry heart. I would recommend this movie.
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
(2018)
Decent enough sequel, step-down from its predecessor.
30 June 2018
SPOILER: 'Day of the Soldado' is directed by Stefano Sollima (did not direct the first) and is written by Taylor Sheridan who helmed the writing of the first film. Josh Brolin and Benecio Del Toro reprise their roles in the sequel but Emily Blunt does not return. The first film was quite the fulfilling tale, it included a well-told story that was portrayed wonderfully by the actors within the movie. Although the first films finish wasn't uplifting or happy, it did feel fulfilling. This sequel did surprise me and it's very clear when watching this film that the story is somewhat abrupt. However, I am thankful for a sequel because Benecio Del Toro really did steal the show in the first film and he truly is such a draw. His character again steals the show in this film despite in my opinion, not being as motivated.
The cartel are now smuggling terrorists into the United States and the U.S government has officially put the cartel on the terrorist watch list. This means the DEA have way more jurisdiction and leeway to go in and basically start a war with the cartel. Here we have our movie. This film in my opinion, is much less layered one than the first and much less motivated as well. The pace lacks at times and that is very evident in the middle portion of the film as it begins to transcend into a very different direction as well as slow down quite a bit. I do believe Sheridan did the best job possible at writing this sequel and I am glad Blunts character was left out of the storyline. She did a great job in the first film but her presence I can tell would feel forced in 'Day of the Soldado' so props to the filmmakers and Sheridan for not being tacky with this movie.
'Day of the Soldado' offers up some good action and some truly brutal sequences. Josh Brolin gets a lot more hands on in this film and he is always fun to watch. This truly is the year of Brolin as he has 'Infinity War', 'Deadpool 2' and 'Day of the Soldado' now out. Benecio Del Toro does awesome again as previously stated and although I strongly feel his character motivations were rather blurred in this film, he offers a well enough acting job that it gets pulled off. Well done again, Benecio. The supporting cast does a solid job and younger actress Isabela Moner does a pretty good job in this movie. The other young actor who plays a larger role in this film, Elijah Rodriguez, also does a good job despite again some flaws in his story arc.
The score is incredible just like the first film. Many of the same riffs are used in this movie and all around the sounds and music really help to enhance the story and the tension. This movie, just like the first, does a great job at building tension and intensity. 'Day of the Soldado' does lose its main drive and waivers from its strongest plot points as the film progresses, and where the first film was a truly realistic take, this one has times that feel far-fetched and a couple sequences that feel out of place. This resulted in a loss of proper pacing and the movie feeling like a stepdown from the first.
The cartel are now smuggling terrorists into the United States and the U.S government has officially put the cartel on the terrorist watch list. This means the DEA have way more jurisdiction and leeway to go in and basically start a war with the cartel. Here we have our movie. This film in my opinion, is much less layered one than the first and much less motivated as well. The pace lacks at times and that is very evident in the middle portion of the film as it begins to transcend into a very different direction as well as slow down quite a bit. I do believe Sheridan did the best job possible at writing this sequel and I am glad Blunts character was left out of the storyline. She did a great job in the first film but her presence I can tell would feel forced in 'Day of the Soldado' so props to the filmmakers and Sheridan for not being tacky with this movie.
'Day of the Soldado' offers up some good action and some truly brutal sequences. Josh Brolin gets a lot more hands on in this film and he is always fun to watch. This truly is the year of Brolin as he has 'Infinity War', 'Deadpool 2' and 'Day of the Soldado' now out. Benecio Del Toro does awesome again as previously stated and although I strongly feel his character motivations were rather blurred in this film, he offers a well enough acting job that it gets pulled off. Well done again, Benecio. The supporting cast does a solid job and younger actress Isabela Moner does a pretty good job in this movie. The other young actor who plays a larger role in this film, Elijah Rodriguez, also does a good job despite again some flaws in his story arc.
The score is incredible just like the first film. Many of the same riffs are used in this movie and all around the sounds and music really help to enhance the story and the tension. This movie, just like the first, does a great job at building tension and intensity. 'Day of the Soldado' does lose its main drive and waivers from its strongest plot points as the film progresses, and where the first film was a truly realistic take, this one has times that feel far-fetched and a couple sequences that feel out of place. This resulted in a loss of proper pacing and the movie feeling like a stepdown from the first.
Thor
(2011)
A worthy entry into the MCU
25 June 2018
Upon re-watching Thor tonight for the first time in nearly seven years, I was thoroughly entertained. Thor is a well made film and a worthy entry of the God of Thunder into the MCU. Tom Hiddleston does a great job as Loki and Chris Hemsworth is awesome as Thor. This film does have cliche, especially with the love story between Thor and Jane (Natalie Portman). It's sometimes silly but doesn't detract too much. This film does a good job at introducing information to us about the outer realms that will be important in the MCU for years to come. The special effects lack at times and there are some lazy edit jobs during some major action sequences. The charm of Thor and his discovery of what has happened to him after he is sent to earth is really a fun part of this film and it is rather enjoyable to watch. In the end I was quite entertained and I did enjoy Thor. It's a good film and a solid entry into the early days of the MCU.
Mediocre, different, fun but nothing special.
23 June 2018
'Fallen Kingdom' is directed by J.A. Bayona and is written by the duo of Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly. The island of 'Isla Nublar', where 'Jurassic World' took place, has a volcano that is just ready to blow. From this, political debate sparks into whether or not the dinosaurs on the island should be rescued. With this we have our movie. I'm a huge fan of the original 'Jurassic Park' and enjoyed 'Jurassic World' when it hit the big screens a few years ago. Going into this I had my doubts... it's not uncommon for a 'Jurassic' sequel to be a dud. Nonetheless, I was very excited by the prospect of heading into the theatres and seeing a different 'Jurassic' film than what I, and millions of others are used to. In that, 'Fallen Kingdom' did not disappoint. This is definitely the most ambitious film in the franchise since the original hit the big screen in the summer of 1993. Despite its attempts at being something different, 'Fallen Kingdom' often fell flat, failing to deliver a savoring taste of dinosaur, and 'Jurassic' magic.
The opening third of this film holds some intrigue, aiming to be a deeper meaning than some of the previous franchise sequels. I did not fully buy into Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howards characters going back to the island but the movie gave a solid attempt and it was somewhat believable. Both Pratt and Howard are a thrill to watch and I am glad the series continued on following those two characters. Despite good acting from Pratt, there was no real structural development to his character in the film which feels a tad like lazy writing. We now have two entire films and Pratt has yet to develop whatsoever. Bryce Dallas Howards character, 'Claire Dearing' did have a bit of a change of heart in this film and it was pleasant to see her character grow. The aim of truly wanting to make this new trilogy into a world is very clear in this film. I do feel however the movie was not fully focused on that and really danced around its main end-game. I do give 'Fallen Kingdom' props for taking some chances and doing different things with the franchise.
The supporting cast in this film, namely the two that join Pratt and Howard's excursion, are rather boring. Justice Smith and Danielle Pineda are the two that star alongside our main duo. At times, both are borderline annoying as they try to convey some unnecessary comedic relief. Other new characters include 'Eli Mills' played by Rafe Spall and 'Sir Benjamin Lockwood' played by James Cromwell. Cromwell's character has an intriguing enough backstory but Rafe Spall's newly introduced character comes off as two-dimensional and generic. Child actress, Isabella Sermon plays 'Maisie Lockwood' aka the granddaughter of 'Benjamin Lockwood' in this film and I must say she did quite a good job. Her arc was also probably the most intriguing of the film and it might well be the thing that sticks with me most in the days and weeks following this movie. Jeff Goldblum also reprises his role as 'Dr. Ian Malcolm' in this film which is always fun as well.
Onto what we are really here for... Dinosaurs! 'Fallen Kingdom' has some very incredible looking sequences on the island that look great on the big screen. The special effects in this movie are also absolutely top notch and the close up combat with the dinosaurs looks really well done. However, many of the same scenes and gimmicks from previous films were used and I did feel like I was watching a rehashing of other 'Jurassic' films at times. So as a truly great action-packed summer blockbuster, this movie does not always deliver. I did have some fun with this movie though and there were undeniably some pretty good, fun sequences.
One of the biggest issues with the first film that carries into the second is the villains. The quality of villains in these films need to seriously be upped in quality as they always detract from the film as a whole. Their cartoony feel, which is present in both 'Jurassic World' and this film 'Fallen Kingdom', really don't do much at all to benefit the story. Michael Giacchino's score is a positive from this film and he is just continuing to show how much of a terrific composer he is.
The opening third of this film holds some intrigue, aiming to be a deeper meaning than some of the previous franchise sequels. I did not fully buy into Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howards characters going back to the island but the movie gave a solid attempt and it was somewhat believable. Both Pratt and Howard are a thrill to watch and I am glad the series continued on following those two characters. Despite good acting from Pratt, there was no real structural development to his character in the film which feels a tad like lazy writing. We now have two entire films and Pratt has yet to develop whatsoever. Bryce Dallas Howards character, 'Claire Dearing' did have a bit of a change of heart in this film and it was pleasant to see her character grow. The aim of truly wanting to make this new trilogy into a world is very clear in this film. I do feel however the movie was not fully focused on that and really danced around its main end-game. I do give 'Fallen Kingdom' props for taking some chances and doing different things with the franchise.
The supporting cast in this film, namely the two that join Pratt and Howard's excursion, are rather boring. Justice Smith and Danielle Pineda are the two that star alongside our main duo. At times, both are borderline annoying as they try to convey some unnecessary comedic relief. Other new characters include 'Eli Mills' played by Rafe Spall and 'Sir Benjamin Lockwood' played by James Cromwell. Cromwell's character has an intriguing enough backstory but Rafe Spall's newly introduced character comes off as two-dimensional and generic. Child actress, Isabella Sermon plays 'Maisie Lockwood' aka the granddaughter of 'Benjamin Lockwood' in this film and I must say she did quite a good job. Her arc was also probably the most intriguing of the film and it might well be the thing that sticks with me most in the days and weeks following this movie. Jeff Goldblum also reprises his role as 'Dr. Ian Malcolm' in this film which is always fun as well.
Onto what we are really here for... Dinosaurs! 'Fallen Kingdom' has some very incredible looking sequences on the island that look great on the big screen. The special effects in this movie are also absolutely top notch and the close up combat with the dinosaurs looks really well done. However, many of the same scenes and gimmicks from previous films were used and I did feel like I was watching a rehashing of other 'Jurassic' films at times. So as a truly great action-packed summer blockbuster, this movie does not always deliver. I did have some fun with this movie though and there were undeniably some pretty good, fun sequences.
One of the biggest issues with the first film that carries into the second is the villains. The quality of villains in these films need to seriously be upped in quality as they always detract from the film as a whole. Their cartoony feel, which is present in both 'Jurassic World' and this film 'Fallen Kingdom', really don't do much at all to benefit the story. Michael Giacchino's score is a positive from this film and he is just continuing to show how much of a terrific composer he is.
Adrift
(I) (2018)
Adrift: Mediocre at best, Woodley does her job
22 June 2018
'Adrift' stars Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin. It is directed by Baltasar Kormakur who also directed 'Everest' which came out in 2015. This film is as previously stated a true story and follows the story of two avid sailors, Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp. With being a true story of course there are potential handcuffs on filmmakers in regards to what they can and cannot do, but overall 'Adrift' offers movie goers a simple to follow lost at sea type film. The movie opens directly from the moments following the storm and it uses flashbacks to help carry the story along. From the get go I saw straight through the relationship that was brewing between Claflin and Woodley. This has much to do with the script and dialogue provided as I found it to be dumbed down and quite clichéd. Woodley and Claflin offer average to well done performances that are otherwise dampened by a weak dialogue. The fact that for the majority of the film these characters are either isolated alone on the boat or just alone on land makes us as viewers only really have two characters to follow. It is rather difficult to legitimately make a movie that only follows two people with absolutely no supporting cast, but Woodley and Claflin made it passable in 'Adrift.'
The visuals and cinematography in this film are really well done. There are some absolutely gorgeous shots of the ocean and horizon that clearly had proper execution and make for pleasant scenes and backgrounds on screen. The pace in this movie is also pretty well executed. Director Kormakur ensured that there was a steady flow and there was never really a dull or boring act in this film. The flashes ensured that the story possessed good movement and they also helped to set up the climactic twist. Speaking more on the strengths of this movie, the twist that does occur, while being quick and arguably predictable, does have good shock factor that really helps to play on your emotions. Although as an entirety, emotions and a strong sense of connection with these characters is sometimes missing from the movie. I mostly blame that on bad writing. It is vital that with these kinds of dramatic romance films that also carry suspense and thrill, that you care for these characters and what they are going through and 'Adrift' didn't do that for me. Due to the fact that these characters' relationship is not all that well built leads this film to lack in terms of intensity and suspense.
The visuals and cinematography in this film are really well done. There are some absolutely gorgeous shots of the ocean and horizon that clearly had proper execution and make for pleasant scenes and backgrounds on screen. The pace in this movie is also pretty well executed. Director Kormakur ensured that there was a steady flow and there was never really a dull or boring act in this film. The flashes ensured that the story possessed good movement and they also helped to set up the climactic twist. Speaking more on the strengths of this movie, the twist that does occur, while being quick and arguably predictable, does have good shock factor that really helps to play on your emotions. Although as an entirety, emotions and a strong sense of connection with these characters is sometimes missing from the movie. I mostly blame that on bad writing. It is vital that with these kinds of dramatic romance films that also carry suspense and thrill, that you care for these characters and what they are going through and 'Adrift' didn't do that for me. Due to the fact that these characters' relationship is not all that well built leads this film to lack in terms of intensity and suspense.
Hotel Artemis
(2018)
A solid flick.
11 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
'Hotel Artemis' is the third film ever to be distributed by Global Road Entertainment, it also happens to be Drew Pearce's directorial debut for a feature length film. It stars the likes of Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Charlie Day and Dave Bautista. Going into this movie I had no idea really what it was about other than the few tweets I saw on Friday when it opened. I had not seen a trailer nor did I read into this film, but I went into it pretty excited nonetheless. 'Hotel Artemis' is set in 2028 Los Angeles during one of the worst riots in U.S history. It centers around Jodie Foster's character who runs a hotel that is meant to patch up and take care of the most elite criminals. From here we have a movie that offers some quality suspense, good performances all around and a decent plot.
'Artemis' as I previously stated has quite the well-rounded cast. Jodie Foster in this movie is quite good, Sterling K. Brown is also really good in this movie, he plays one of the criminals there to get service from Foster. Sofia Boutella plays probably this movie most exciting character and she really played her role well. At times these performances, especially the ones from the criminals, came off as comical or cartoony. I think after processing this film that Pearce and the other filmmakers who worked on this were actually going for that. Dave Bautista is pretty cool in this movie. He plays the hotels security and works alongside Foster. His and Foster's character have quite good chemistry and it was the most believable of the movie for sure. Foster did a really good job at setting the tone of this hotel and what it's all about. I had a hard time being invested in these characters because of the lack of overall development. The characters are for the most part interesting but without any developed arcs, as well as the subplots that just felt useless, I really did not care much for these characters. Jeff Goldblum is pretty awesome in this movie and his talents were put on display once again...(SPOILERS AHEAD, you have been warned, skip to next paragraph)...for about 2 minutes! Yea! They killed off this movie's most intriguing character after maybe three or four minutes tops screen time. It felt like Goldblum was in town and they put out an alert saying we need someone to come by the studio for half an hour! His character felt so wasted in this and that was a disappointment. (SPOILERS DONE)
Pretty much the entirety of this movie is spent in this hotel so it is important that they set a good vibe in there, and thanks to how Foster portrayed the hotel as well as the set design, I was rather pleased and drawn into the world of 'Hotel Artemis.' It was a neat estranged setting and it was quite entertaining to be a part of. The intensity in this movie is build up pretty well but without a sense of payoff. The final parts of this film were somewhat rushed in my opinion and it hurt this movie in terms of emotion and intensity, however, this was still a lot of fun to watch. The main fight sequence was really fun in this movie and it was choreographed very well but because of no connection being developed with the characters in this movie for me, it's essentially just mindless fun. Overall, I was much more interested in this World and hotel not the actual characters and subplots.
'Artemis' as I previously stated has quite the well-rounded cast. Jodie Foster in this movie is quite good, Sterling K. Brown is also really good in this movie, he plays one of the criminals there to get service from Foster. Sofia Boutella plays probably this movie most exciting character and she really played her role well. At times these performances, especially the ones from the criminals, came off as comical or cartoony. I think after processing this film that Pearce and the other filmmakers who worked on this were actually going for that. Dave Bautista is pretty cool in this movie. He plays the hotels security and works alongside Foster. His and Foster's character have quite good chemistry and it was the most believable of the movie for sure. Foster did a really good job at setting the tone of this hotel and what it's all about. I had a hard time being invested in these characters because of the lack of overall development. The characters are for the most part interesting but without any developed arcs, as well as the subplots that just felt useless, I really did not care much for these characters. Jeff Goldblum is pretty awesome in this movie and his talents were put on display once again...(SPOILERS AHEAD, you have been warned, skip to next paragraph)...for about 2 minutes! Yea! They killed off this movie's most intriguing character after maybe three or four minutes tops screen time. It felt like Goldblum was in town and they put out an alert saying we need someone to come by the studio for half an hour! His character felt so wasted in this and that was a disappointment. (SPOILERS DONE)
Pretty much the entirety of this movie is spent in this hotel so it is important that they set a good vibe in there, and thanks to how Foster portrayed the hotel as well as the set design, I was rather pleased and drawn into the world of 'Hotel Artemis.' It was a neat estranged setting and it was quite entertaining to be a part of. The intensity in this movie is build up pretty well but without a sense of payoff. The final parts of this film were somewhat rushed in my opinion and it hurt this movie in terms of emotion and intensity, however, this was still a lot of fun to watch. The main fight sequence was really fun in this movie and it was choreographed very well but because of no connection being developed with the characters in this movie for me, it's essentially just mindless fun. Overall, I was much more interested in this World and hotel not the actual characters and subplots.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
(2018)
Solo is a bit more than "so-so" but still feels forgettable
26 May 2018
I can safely say Ehrenreich played the part justice and offers fans a safe and charming portrayal of 'Han Solo.' I say safe because this movie did not feel the need to take risks, it was quite a basic plot driven film that did not add much to the overall 'Star Wars' universe... we will get into that a bit later. Alden Ehrenreich was not the only individual who took the leap and portrayed a famous character from the past, Donald Glover plays 'Lando Calrissian' and he also did an adequate job at playing this role. When Glover and Ehrenreich have scenes of interaction this movie is at its best. They have a few moments in this film that are simple yet special and quite entertaining to watch. Woody Harrelson is also in this film and he plays a mentor-ish individual who is the leader of the group. Harrelson offers a good performance as always, quite the actor who never fails to impress. I quite enjoyed the story arc between Harrelson's character and 'Han' as in the past we have never seen Mr. Solo have to be in a position where he is under someone's wing. Paul Bettany is in this film as well, he plays the role of our villain and his performance as 'Dryden Vos' is great. One gripe I have about his character though is I feel he is underused. His performance on screen was quite well done and he provided that feel of a menacing vibe whenever he was in the room. This is a feeling that overall I felt was missing from 'Solo' and would have enhanced the film quite a bit.
Special effects in this movie are stunning and it is quite clear that this franchise will not settle for second best when coming to visuals and CGI. Certain chase scenes early on in this film look very clean and crisp and offer good sequences of action. That train scene that is shown in every commercial is as awesome on screen as it is in the trailers. The sequence is an incredible piece of action and was definitely the high of this movie action wise. Other than that, 'Solo' fell flat. Home from the theatre now I can almost recount zero other action sequences that stood out to me.
The opening third of this movie holds its intrigue and stands strong, then we hit the middle third. The middle third of this movie was slow, choppy, silly and boring. It dragged on far too long and felt rather filler. I felt optimistic after what the first third of this film had to offer, just to be disappointed by a rather annoying middle chunk. Deep into the second act of 'Solo' things happen that are just plain stupid. Without giving up too much I felt this movie would have been much more enjoyable without a certain droid...you'll know. The final third of this movie got back on track for the most part. Also, expect references... a lot of references. Personally, I am a fan of nostalgia, but in 'Solo' you feel like you are being force fed things just for fanfare. Sure, we get to learn how 'Han' becomes 'Han Solo', and sure we learn how him and 'Chewbacca' meet and yes, we also learn how the 'Millennium Falcon' becomes Han's, but it was not interesting and those moments didn't feel magical like they should have. In the end 'Solo' feels plain. It did not offer much to the 'Star Wars' universe and it stayed its course, not taking too many risks or jumps. 'Solo' was driven by a tasteless plot that had predictable outcomes. If you are a casual movie goer you might find enjoyable fun in this space western. Big props to John Powell and John Williams for creating a great soundtrack. Williams is often taken for granted now due to being so damn good at what he does, but him and Powell did a great job at bringing this movie to life with the music.
Special effects in this movie are stunning and it is quite clear that this franchise will not settle for second best when coming to visuals and CGI. Certain chase scenes early on in this film look very clean and crisp and offer good sequences of action. That train scene that is shown in every commercial is as awesome on screen as it is in the trailers. The sequence is an incredible piece of action and was definitely the high of this movie action wise. Other than that, 'Solo' fell flat. Home from the theatre now I can almost recount zero other action sequences that stood out to me.
The opening third of this movie holds its intrigue and stands strong, then we hit the middle third. The middle third of this movie was slow, choppy, silly and boring. It dragged on far too long and felt rather filler. I felt optimistic after what the first third of this film had to offer, just to be disappointed by a rather annoying middle chunk. Deep into the second act of 'Solo' things happen that are just plain stupid. Without giving up too much I felt this movie would have been much more enjoyable without a certain droid...you'll know. The final third of this movie got back on track for the most part. Also, expect references... a lot of references. Personally, I am a fan of nostalgia, but in 'Solo' you feel like you are being force fed things just for fanfare. Sure, we get to learn how 'Han' becomes 'Han Solo', and sure we learn how him and 'Chewbacca' meet and yes, we also learn how the 'Millennium Falcon' becomes Han's, but it was not interesting and those moments didn't feel magical like they should have. In the end 'Solo' feels plain. It did not offer much to the 'Star Wars' universe and it stayed its course, not taking too many risks or jumps. 'Solo' was driven by a tasteless plot that had predictable outcomes. If you are a casual movie goer you might find enjoyable fun in this space western. Big props to John Powell and John Williams for creating a great soundtrack. Williams is often taken for granted now due to being so damn good at what he does, but him and Powell did a great job at bringing this movie to life with the music.
Deadpool 2
(2018)
Great fun all around, deeper plot than the first, slightly better than the first.
20 May 2018
After watching this film I can say two things, Ryan Reynolds was born to play this role and R-rated superhero films are absolutely kick-ass. 'Deadpool 2', much like the first, knows exactly what type of film it's trying to be and absolutely owns it. It's quite definite now that the first installment was not a fluke and I am already eager to see Reynolds back on screen as Deadpool again. The film opens with a moment that was very surprising and took me well off guard. This is a spoiler free review but I will say that what happens early on in the film offers our hero a new challenge on many different levels. That's what sequels are all about, giving the main character challenges greater than in the first, and the writers did that perfectly. I will say when I found out director Tim Miller was not returning to direct this sequel I was nervous for where it would go and if the tone would stay the same. When I discovered David Leitch (director of 'John Wick' and 'V for Vendetta') was set to helm the sequel my worries disappeared, and rightfully so. Leitch completely embraces the tone from the first film and did an incredible job directing this movie. He did such a good job that I hope to see him back at the helm of another potential 'Deadpool' film down the road.
The film is flat-out hilarious, one of the reasons the first movie was so much fun was because of its sheer dark comedy and that was back in full force in the sequel. 'Deadpool 2' was extremely funny and it made for yet another fun time at the movies. Keep in mind, not all the one liners in this movie land perfectly and that is expected in a film like this, but overall there is not much of a gripe regarding that. 'Deadpool 2' is able to do something that it didn't do in the first - a balance of heart and comedic tone. Let's face it, these films thrive when it's time for some comedy but this film was able to adapt a more serious, emotionally touching tone than the first and it brought Reynolds' character, 'Wade Wilson', down to earth a little.
The rest of the cast in the movie did an incredibly good job. Josh Brolin as 'Cable' was bad-ass to see on screen. It felt like it took a little while for Brolin to actually start kicking ass in this film but whenever he is on screen, he is quite entertaining. I felt as if the movie should've explored 'Cable' a little more but as the movie progresses you do learn more about this character and it was fulfilling in that way. Zazie Beetz as 'Domino' in this film was rather good and she provides some good action sequences as well as some subtle wit. 'Colossus' and 'Negasonic' are both great in this movie as their characters continued from the first movie, but I wished they explored these characters a little more. I personally found Julian Dennison who plays 'Russell Collins/Firefist' to be the one clear weak spot in this film acting-wise. His role in the film is rather important as he pieces together the big challenge that Reynolds must face but I did not like their chemistry nor did I enjoy his isolated moments in the movie. 'Deadpool 2' got a huge increase in budget from the first film so this movie was clearly a much more extravagant and CGI centered film but there were times when two CGI characters went head to head that I did not fully buy into the special effects being used and I won't go as far to say that it took me out of the film, but it was a notable weakness. The rest of the action sequences in this film are awesome. Much like the first movie, there is gore... and a lot of it. The fight scenes in this movie with Brolin and Reynolds are ridiculously awesome and quite a lot of fun to watch.
The Big Plus: Ryan Reynolds as 'Wade Wilson/Deadpool' is truly the role he was born to play. Incredible stuff from him and he is a thrill to watch yet again... Also, make sure to stay for the mid-credits montage.
Where it lacks: I would've liked to have seen more development from the secondary characters but to keep runtime down I understand why it was pretty much all 'Deadpool' based.
83/100 for me!
The rest of the cast in the movie did an incredibly good job. Josh Brolin as 'Cable' was bad-ass to see on screen. It felt like it took a little while for Brolin to actually start kicking ass in this film but whenever he is on screen, he is quite entertaining. I felt as if the movie should've explored 'Cable' a little more but as the movie progresses you do learn more about this character and it was fulfilling in that way. Zazie Beetz as 'Domino' in this film was rather good and she provides some good action sequences as well as some subtle wit. 'Colossus' and 'Negasonic' are both great in this movie as their characters continued from the first movie, but I wished they explored these characters a little more. I personally found Julian Dennison who plays 'Russell Collins/Firefist' to be the one clear weak spot in this film acting-wise. His role in the film is rather important as he pieces together the big challenge that Reynolds must face but I did not like their chemistry nor did I enjoy his isolated moments in the movie. 'Deadpool 2' got a huge increase in budget from the first film so this movie was clearly a much more extravagant and CGI centered film but there were times when two CGI characters went head to head that I did not fully buy into the special effects being used and I won't go as far to say that it took me out of the film, but it was a notable weakness. The rest of the action sequences in this film are awesome. Much like the first movie, there is gore... and a lot of it. The fight scenes in this movie with Brolin and Reynolds are ridiculously awesome and quite a lot of fun to watch.
The Big Plus: Ryan Reynolds as 'Wade Wilson/Deadpool' is truly the role he was born to play. Incredible stuff from him and he is a thrill to watch yet again... Also, make sure to stay for the mid-credits montage.
Where it lacks: I would've liked to have seen more development from the secondary characters but to keep runtime down I understand why it was pretty much all 'Deadpool' based.
83/100 for me!
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