ty-jensen Reviews

The Adam Project (2022)

Awesome Netflix movie!

[8/10 · 12 March 2022]

I love Ryan Reynolds so I was excited for The Adam Project which is really good! This is his third Netflix film after Red Notice and 6 Underground and its the best!

The acting is great! Ryan Reynolds and Walker Scobell are a great duo! The characters are fairly fleshed out.

Adam is a fun, fast paced film influenced by Steven Spielberg films. Maybe the odd person feels its too fast. The humor works, I guess at least two scenes were adlibbed.

The action scenes are fun, no shaky cam. The action is intense but not too much for young kids. The visuals are mostly good not that I gave it much thought.

Overall, Adam is a really good Netflix film! If you like Ryan Reynolds, you really should see it! Adam is a soft PG-13 so kids can see it. Not for nothing but Deadpool 3 should be fun.

Scream (I) (2022)

Good movie

[7/10 · 15 January 2022]

I'm not a horror guy but I enjoyed the first two Scream movies. I should point out I only seen parts of Scream 3 and I seen Scream 4 in 2020. I don't love Scream 5 but its good.

The acting is really good. Yes, the legacy actors are good. The characters are thin but the main character is fairly fleshed out.

The Scream movies are famous for their meta humor and movie references. This movie is really meta mainly in the third act. Reboots are so common so they're a huge topic. The humor didn't work for me but there were a few funny lines.

Scream 5 is tense but not gripping. I was invested, I wanted to know how it ends. Most of the jump scares are dull, I was startled once. I took a quick washroom break during the second act which was bad timing. Yes, this movie is really bloody.

Overall, Scream 5 is a good movie. If you're a fan, go check it out soon. I guess Scream 5 came out in January since its safe. I'm fine with Scream 5 being the last one but Paramount is already developing Scream 6.

Don't Look Up (2021)

Very relevant

[6/10 · 30 December 2021]

I was curious for Don't Look Up since I like the leads and director. Adam McKay is best known for Anchorman and Stepbrothers, I think he will always be best known for those films. Don't Look Up is fine, I understand why some love it.

The acting is great as expected. I think Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence are Oscar worthy! I'm not a Jonah Hill fan but I don't mind him here. Cate Blanchett works with DiCaprio again but I honestly didn't recognize her.

The humor works, I mean its fine. Some jokes naturally fall flat. This movie satirizes social media, the media and politics. Like Matt Stone and Trey Parker, McKay makes fun of everyone.

This movie is 10,15 minutes overlong. The second act and maybe the first act is a little overlong. The third act is dark so some people will be depressed. This movie has two bonus scenes, I think they're lame.

Overall, Don't Look Up is fine. I understand why some people feel its great but its just okay for me. I like dark humor or I'm mixed on it. The leads are Oscar worthy mainly DiCaprio. If you have Netflix, you can see it or skip it.

Hawkeye (2021)

Fun show!

[8/10 · 23 December 2021]

I was really excited for Hawkeye which really delivered! Loki is my favorite MCU Disney+ show but Hawkeye is really good!

Yes, the acting is good. Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld are a good team. Maybe some fans feel Renner phoned it in the first two episodes.

Hawkeye is leisurely paced but some fans may feel the first episode is really slow. This show has plenty of action but its character driven. Kate Bishop is the main focus which probably annoyed some fans. Episode 3 focuses on Echo who is getting her own show. Hawkeye is Christmas themed so its lighthearted.

The action is mostly good. The action in the first two episodes are just okay, I guess those scenes were rushed. Yes, the finale has the best action. Hawkeye is a grounded street level show like the Marvel Netflix shows in fact they all take place in New York.

Overall, Hawkeye is really fun. Hawkeye is lighthearted without being sappy. Its family friendly but not too much. If you're a Marvel fan, you should see it sooner or later. Yes, I'm excited for Echo.

Cowboy Bebop (2021)

Cool space western!

[8/10 · 21 November 2021]

I was aware of Cowboy Bebop in high school but I didn't see this anime till it launched on Netflix. If Blockbuster had Cowboy Bebop, I would of rented it. I knew the movie was standalone but I wanted to see the show first. I enjoyed both versions, yes the anime is better.

The acting is great, I think most fans agree. The cast have good chemistry which is crucial. I probably would be more critical if I watched the anime a few times. The guy who played Vicious was good but I skipped a few scenes, I partially watched this show at night.

I think Cowboy Bebop is fairly faithful to the anime, I seen it only once. I think hardcore fans feel its only loosely faithful to the anime. The show isn't overly serious, I guess it has more humor than the anime.

The cinematography and sets are good, this universe looks lived in like the original Star Wars trilogy. Both versions blend the past and future mainly the weapons and cars. Having said that, the CGI is lame. Maybe some fans feel this show almost looks fan made.

The action scenes are fun, they're well shot and edited. Maybe the first action scene was somewhat choppy. The action is bloody but stylish so it shouldn't offend anyone too much.

Overall, Cowboy Bebop is a fun space western. I recommend it to anime fans and science fiction fans. I guess hardcore fans are disliking this show. Hopefully Cowboy Bebop gets renewed, I see it having three seasons.

King Richard (2021)

Another good sports drama

[7/10 · 21 November 2021]

I like Will Smith and Jon Berthnal so I was curious for King Richard. I enjoyed King Richard but I may not see it again.

King Richard is Oscar bait so the acting is great. I don't watch much Oscar bait so I haven't seen any movie like this with bad acting. Smith gives the best performance, he's Oscar worthy.

King Richard is a feel good movie but its not sappy. The Williams and their struggles feel realistic. They live in a rough neighborhood which is quickly established. Them being Jehovah's Witnesses is a minor aspect but it grabbed my attention.

King Richard is predictable but not extremely. I guess the real life story was more complex but the story isn't so cliche. Let's just say Richard is a loving but pushy father. The film is long but its well paced.

Overall, King Richard is a good movie. If you like Will Smith, you should see it. If you're looking for a feel good movie, see it. Yes, its suitable for Witnesses.

Home Sweet Home Alone (2021)

Really lame reboot

[2/10 · 15 November 2021]

I just watched Home Sweet Home Alone out of morbid curiosity. Home Sweet Home Alone isn't terrible but its really lame.

The acting is fine, I don't think anyone is bad. Archie Yates plays Max Mercer, he was in Jojo Rabbit which I haven't seen yet. Ellie Kemper and Rob Delanely play the robbers, they had small roles in The Lego Batman Movie and Deadpool 2.

Home Sweet Home Alone is similar but different to the original. The robbers are actually a nice married couple about to lose their house and they believe Max stole a priceless heirloom. They're actually the main characters instead of Max.

Home Sweet Home Alone has some callbacks to the original like the score and Buzz McCallister who was naturally shown in the trailer. Buzz is a cop rather than a criminal. Kevin is mentioned but he doesn't show up.

The humor is so lazy, maybe some of the jokes were adlibbed. I wasn't in pain, I never felt the urge to shut if off in fact I honestly wanted to know the ending. A line Max says in the ending honestly moved me.

Overall, Home Sweet Home Alone is really lame. We're all glad this movie is somewhat different but the filmmakers made the wrong choices. If you have kids, you could give it a shot.

Red Notice (2021)

Fun, cliche Netflix movie

[5/10 · 12 November 2021]

Red Notice is Dwayne Johnson's first Netflix movie and its somehow the most expensive so far. COVID was one reason since the film was shut down. I was excited for Red Notice despite the early reviews. Red Notice was okay as expected, its a cliche action comedy.

The acting is good, Ryan Reynolds gives the best performance. Johnson and Reynolds have good chemistry like with Hobbs & Shaw in fact I think their banter inspired Red Notice, Universal was the original studio. Gal Gadot is good but her role is small or you could say its average.

The plot is formulaic, it could of been worse. You know what's going to happen from beginning to end. There are a few twists but they don't work in fact the final twist is forced. Red Notice is exposition heavy so you must pay some attention.

The action is crazy but serviceable which may sound weird. No, its not really crazy like the Fast & Furious series. Nobody dies so there's no tension or grit I suppose.

Overall, Red Notice was okay. Its a goofy Netflix movie which plays it safe. If you like the leads, give it a shot. If Red Notice spawns a sequel, hopefully its better.

Army of Thieves (2021)

Fun heist film!

[8/10 · 29 October 2021]

I'm not a horror guy but I seen Army of the Dead since I like Dave Bautista and Zack Snyder. Army of the Dead was okay, I won't see it again. I was going to skip Army of Thieves despite knowing its not another zombie movie, I reconsidered after watching a few early reviews. I'm glad I gave Army of Thieves a shot, its way better than Army of the Dead!

The acting is good, I don't think anyone is bad. Matthias Schweighofer is the lead and director which is impressive. I'm a huge movie fan so someone headlining and directing a film is noteworthy like Sylvester Stallone. The characters are nicely developed but maybe some people feel they're bland.

The film is lighthearted so some people will call it a caper. The humor works in fact I laughed out loud a few times. One aspect is Dieter being nerdy. I'm really shy so I guess I'm nerdy too.

The film has heist film tropes like planning and flashbacks but they're done well. I guess you can say the film only uses the essential tropes. The story has a few turns so its not extremely predictable. This movie easily could of been PG-13 if the language was toned down.

Overall, Army of Thieves is a fun heist film! Its way better than Army of the Dead and I think most fans agree! You should see it regardless how you feel about Army of the Dead.

Dark Shadows (2012)

Okay movie

[5/10 · 24 October 2021]

I tried watching Dark Shadows back in 2014, 2015 but I only seen 20 odd minutes. No, I'm not a horror guy. Dark Shadows is okay, I won't see it again.

The acting is fine, Michelle Phieffer and Eva Green gives the best performances. Johnny Depp is cartoonish, I heard he rarely plays normal guys. There's so many characters most of them are bland.

Dark Shadows was falsely marketed as a silly comedy. Dark Shadows is a gothic comedy drama, you could call it a dark comedy. The humor is okay, its mixed. I'm sure some people feel the film is tonally uneven.

Dark Shadows isn't family friendly, it really earns the PG-13 rating. The film is dark, violent and suggestive. The film has a unique sex scene which is played for laughs. There's barely any cursing, no F bombs.

Dark Shadows is a Tim Burton film so the visuals are mostly good. The cinematography is good, maybe some fans feel its mixed. The film takes place in 1972, the cars, costumes and hairdos are suitable. The climax has some CGI which is lame.

Overall, Dark Shadows was okay. I guess fans of the 60s show didn't care for it. I'm sure some parents took their kids to the film and they were outraged. If you live in Canada, Dark Shadows is on Netflix if you're curious.

Real Steel (2011)

Fun sports film!

[8/10 · 17 October 2021]

Real Steel was released back in October 2011. The film didn't bomb but it was quickly forgotten. I seen Real Steel opening weekend and I own the DVD. Real Steel is a fun, charming sports film.

The acting is good, maybe some people feel its mixed. Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo are a good team. If they didn't have chemistry, this movie probably would of tanked. After Real Steel came out, I assumed Goyo would make a few big movies but he vanished three years later. Goyo was a teenager so he needed to focus on his education and family.

The story is predictable but I don't think its painfully predictable. Does anyone say "painfully predictable?" The film is cheesy but not extremely, it has the same tone as The Goonies and Back to the Future. The film is family friendly but not too much.

The fights are intense hence the PG-13 rating. A few robots lose limbs which shouldn't scare anyone. The robots are mostly digital, animatronics were used here and there.

Shawn Levy directed Real Steel, he's proud of the film. Levy and Jackman are interested in a sequel, they naturally don't want to rehash the film. Levy's latest film Free Guy which was just released on home media is a huge hit so Disney quickly asked for a sequel. I really enjoyed Free Guy but I rather see Real Steel 2.

Overall, Real Steel is a fun, charming sports film. If you like Hugh Jackman, you may want to see it. Real Steel is family friendly but not too much. If you enjoyed Free Guy, you should enjoy Real Steel.

The Last Duel (2021)

Good film

[8/10 · 15 October 2021]

The Last Duel is another film delayed to this year due to the pandemic. Was the ten month delay worthy? Yeah, the film is grim so it coming out now is better than Christmas. The Last Duel is a good film.

The acting is great, I don't think anyone was bad. Jodie Comer gives the best performance, she gives a tormented performance. Ben Affleck gives a lighthearted performance, I guess you can say he's the comic relief.

The film is non-linear so the audience knows the full story. The film has three chapters, you see events through different perspectives. Several scenes are shown again like the rape scene so some people will feel restless. I think at least one scene should of been trimmed. The film is well paced but you still feel the length.

The Last Duel isn't like Gladiator so don't expect a lot of action. I guess Kingdom of Heaven has plenty of action, I tried watching it twice. The action is good, its brutal. The film is a hard R mainly for sexual content in fact there's full frontal nudity. The rape scene doesn't have any full frontal nudity but it can be hard to watch.

Overall, The Last Duel is a good film. Its a good allusion for the present. Even without rape, women were poorly treated back then. If you like the cast, go see it. Duel is a Fox film or a Century film so it could air on Disney+ soon.

Lego Star Wars Terrifying Tales (2021 TV Movie)

Not bad

[4/10 · 14 October 2021]

I didn't mind Lego Star Wars Holiday Special so I watched Terrifying Tales for the heck of it. Terrifying Tales was okay as expected, I guess Holiday Special was loosely better.

The Lego specials are non-canon sequels to the sequel trilogy and I'm sure some fans want Rise of Skywalker to be non-canon. Poe crash lands on Mustafar where he visits Darth Vader's castle where he's told three spooky tales. The first tale concerns Kylo, the second tale concerns Maul and the third tale concerns Luke.

The humor is okay, its just there. There's plenty of kiddy humor and slapstick. I guess the Holiday special is sillier.

Overall, Terrifying Tales was okay. If you have kids, put it on for them. If Lucasfilm makes another special, I may skip it.

Alice in Wonderland (I) (2010)

Terrible remake

[2/10 · 11 October 2021]

Alice in Wonderland somehow became a huge hit which spawned Disney's live action remake trend. I avoided Alice till now since I heard its bad, I seen some YouTube reviews. Alice is terrible, I honestly feel its worst than Lion King.

The acting is fine, the actress who plays Alice gives the best performance. Johnny Depp was okay, he seemed cartoonish. Helena Bonham Carter was annoying, she was really over the top.

The plot is weak and incoherent. Alice forgetting Wonderland was forced. Alice destined to slay the Jockerwocky was forced since she's an outsider and she isn't a warrior. Tim Burton's goal was simply to be dark and weird.

Alice is too violent for the PG rating, it should of been PG-13. It got away with the PG rating since most of the characters are animated since Burton is a huge director.

The visuals were praised back in 2010 but they didn't age well. The visuals are mostly terrible, I say 80% terrible. This movie looks like video game cutscenes.

Overall, Alice in Wonderland is terrible. If you like Alice, that's fine. Alice spawned a sequel in 2016 which I'm not going to bother with.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

A forgotten Tim Burton movie

[5/10 · 10 October 2021]

I seen Miss Peregrine in the cinema and I praised it but after awhile I realized I was being hasty. I just revisited Miss Peregrine, its okay.

The acting is good, Eva Green and Sam Jackson are hammy. Asa Butterfield is good but I understand why some feel he's lame. Having said that, the characterization is just okay. Jake is likeable but bland, he keeps on asking questions. The kids are bland but you don't want them to die. Enoch is annoying but I still don't want him to die.

The story is messy, some things don't make sense. I'm not a writer but I know writing time travel stories is tricky mainly for movies. I guess the time travel stuff is carefully written in the novel. Jake quickly leaving the loop is forced since his dad doesn't care about him. Now that I think about it, his dad's attitude should of been explained.

The visuals are a mixed bag. The film looks nice except for the present day island scenes which looks similar to most of the Harry Potter movies. The effects are mostly practical since Tim Burton doesn't like CGI. The monsters are awful digital creatures. Burton loves stop motion animation so he includes some here.

Overall, Miss Peregrine is okay. The film is Harry Potter mixed with X-Men in fact its a Fox film. Its family friendly but not too much. If you're looking for a dark fantasy movie, you may want to give it a shot.

Addams Family Values (1993)

Good sequel

[8/10 · 7 October 2021]

I'm a 90s kid but I honestly haven't seen any Addams Family media till I was an adult. I revisited the first film last night and I just watched the sequel for the first time. Addams Family Values is a good sequel in fact its better than the first movie.

The cast naturally slipped back into their roles. Christopher Lloyd once again stole the show for me but I'm sure plenty of fans feel Christina Ricci stole the show. Ricci is good as Wednesday in fact she has a larger role. Joan Cusack is good as the villain Debbie which isn't a spoiler.

Addams Family Values is darker and goofier than the original but it doesn't go too far. The filmmakers take advantage of the PG-13 rating but kids shouldn't be traumatised or hardy any. The family has a new son named Pubert and his siblings try killing him! Maybe some parents were disturbed by that.

The visuals are mostly good like in the first film. The visuals are mostly practical since CGI wasn't exploited yet. I guess Thing is mostly a puppet, he's digital maybe only once. There's hardly any CGI but its awful.

Overall, Addams Family Values is a good sequel. If you enjoyed the original, you should see it sooner or later. Another sequel was planned but Raul Julia died in 1994 from a stroke and stomach cancer. Addams Family Reunion, a direct to video movie was released in 1998 but its not related to these movies.

The Addams Family (1991)

Good dark comedy

[8/10 · 7 October 2021]

I'm a 90s kid but I honestly haven't seen any Addams Family media till I was an adult. I seen the 1991 film on cable several years ago lets say 2015 so revisiting it felt like seeing it for the first time again. The Addams Family is a good movie, I'm sure some 90s kids called it a comedy classic.

The acting was good, you can easily tell the cast had fun. Raul Julia was a charismatic actor, he died in 1994 from a stroke and stomach cancer. Street Fighter was his final film which I want to give another shot. Christopher Lloyd stole the show for me, I guess he stole the show for lots of people.

The Addams Family is a goofy, dark comedy. The filmmakers took advantage of the PG-13 rating without going too far. Maybe some really young kids were creeped out but it happens. If you dislike dark comedy, you probably won't like these movies.

The visuals are good, they're mostly practical since CGI wasn't exploited yet. I guess Thing is mostly a puppet, he's digital at least once. There's some CGI which is awful.

Overall, The Addams Family is a good movie. Its appealing for kids and adults. Check it out if you're looking for a dark comedy.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Okay comedy

[4/10 · 6 October 2021]

I'm a 90s kid but I wasn't aware of Hocus Pocus till Doug Walker reviewed it for Disneycember. Hocus Pocus was okay in fact its close to being lame.

The acting was good, the cast had fun. The actresses playing the witches believed in this movie or they gave it their all to hopefully save it. Omri Katz who plays Max stopped acting, I guess he didn't want to be famous. For those who don't know, Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the role but he turned it down for What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

The humor is okay, its cliche. Have I ever laughed out loud? Only once, during the second graveyard scene. The humor was honestly lazy during the third act. Yes, there are some forced jokes.

The visuals are fine, they're mostly practical since CGI wasn't exploited yet. I thought the cat was digital but he was a real cat whose head was replaced by a digital head. I guess the head looked fine back then and an animatronic cat was used sometimes.

Overall, Hocus Pocus was okay. Its a cheesy comedy aimed at kids. I understand why Hocus Pocus is a cult classic. Hocus Pocus 2 is filming now but its a Disney+ movie.

Cry Macho (2021)

Okay drama

[5/10 · 19 September 2021]

Cry Macho is based on a novel published back in 1975. Hollywood tried adapting it a few times over the decades. Clint Eastwood was offered the role back in 1988, he felt he was too young. Arnold Schwarzenegger was offered the role shortly before his cheating scandal happened. Cry Macho was okay as expected.

The acting is good, I don't think anyone was bad. Eastwood and the kid have good chemistry, I think most people agree. The kid feels off only once during the third act.

The film is slow mainly the second act. The trip stops in the second act so not much happens. The film tries being tense a few times, those scenes are just okay. The ending is underwhelming and honestly forced.

Overall, Cry Macho was okay. I wasn't expecting a good movie since I didn't see any early YouTube reviews. If you like Clint Eastwood, you may want to see it. Eastwood is 91 but he hasn't thought about retiring. I think he will be around for at least five more years.

Code 8 (2019)

Good film

[8/10 · 14 September 2021]

Code 8 finally aired on Netflix Canada! Code 8 is a Canadian film so it should have aired last year. Code 8 is a good film, it was worth the wait.

The acting is good, Robbie Amell gives the best performance. Stephen Amell is good, I don't think anyone feels he's bad here. Having said that, the characterization is just fine. The characters have enough personality not to be bland.

Code 8 is X-Men mixed with Chappie. Mutants or powers are mistreated and America is a police state. The world building isn't bad, its rushed.

Code 8 isn't an action film, its a gritty crime drama. The tone is similar to the first two X-Men films and Chronicle. Code 8 is R mainly for language. The visuals are good except for the CGI blood.

Overall, Code 8 is a good science fiction film. Code 8 is a low budget film but its well made. The sequel was confirmed last July with the leads reprising their roles.

Kate (I) (2021)

Winstead is badass!

[5/10 · 12 September 2021]

Netflix, maybe every major streaming service is cranking out content. Someone at Netflix recently stated they will work harder on their movies. I was excited for Kate but my expectations were low. Kate is another serviceable action movie, its a female version of Crank.

The acting is good or you could say its good for an action movie. Yes, Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives the best performance. The kid is good but some people may find her annoying. Woody Harrelson is good but I'm sure some people feel he phoned it in.

The plot is cliche, you know what's going to happen from beginning to end. There's a huge twist but it doesn't work. I like to see more of Kate's training which easily could of made a film or a miniseries.

The action scenes are fun, they're brutal and stylish. Kate isn't portrayed as a superhero which is nice. If Kate wasn't poisoned, I guess she would still struggle. Winstead is good in the action scenes so she should make more action movies.

Overall, Kate was okay. It's one of those movies you see only once or twice. If you have Netflix, you might as well see it.

Green Lantern (2011)

Terrible movie!

[1/10 · 8 September 2021]

Before Ryan Reynolds redeemed Deadpool, he played Green Lantern. I avoided this movie till now since I heard its terrible. I agree with society Green Lantern is terrible.

The acting is fine, I don't think anyone is bad. Ryan Reynolds was okay, he was miscast. Director Martin Campbell wanted to cast Bradley Cooper but Warner Bros didn't want him so they cast Reynolds behind Campbell's back. Taika Waititi has a small role, he and Reynolds worked together again in Free Guy.

The story is weak and rushed. There's some exposition in fact this movie has a narrator. I'm not famaliar with the Green Lantern mythos but you can tell it was squished in.

Like most superhero movies, Green Lantern is CGI heavy. The visuals are terrible! I guess they were fine back then. Green Lantern's suit and mask are digital which is silly. I'm sure lots of fans said this but the poop monster is suitable for this movie.

Overall, Green Lantern is terrible. I'm not surprised it bombed and was quickly forgotten. Reynolds hated making this movie but he met his wife on the set. HBO Max is developing a Green Lantern series.

Venom (2018)

Fun Marvel film

[7/10 · 6 September 2021]

When I seen Venom in the cinema, I felt it was okay. After seeing some clips on YouTube, I figured maybe I was being too critical. I grabbed the Blu-ray when it was on sale and the film got better.

Tom Hardy is delightfully over the top, he was passionate about the role since his son loves Venom. When the film came out, some critic actually compared Hardy to Jim Carrey in Liar Liar. The cast overall was fine, nobody else had juicy material. Maybe Riz Ahmed had two juicy scenes cut from the film. Anne is another generic love interest but she isn't a damsel in distress.

Venom is a dark comedy, it doesn't take itself seriously. The humor works, I laughed a lot. I guess everyone liked the Brock/Venom dynamic regardless how they feel about the film.

The story is okay, nothing special. Venom is intended to kickstart Sony's Marvel Universe but it doesn't feel that way. Venom is a small scale superhero film which feels like it was made around 2005. The film is short and fast paced but not too fast.

The action scenes are fun, the motorcycle scene is the best. I understand why some fans feel the action scenes are cliche or workmanlike. Some fans were upset the film is PG-13 but the violence pushes the rating. Sony naturally wants Venom to crossover with Spider-Man.

Overall, Venom is a fun Marvel film. Tom Hardy made the film fun, he was passionate. A better story or better villain would of been nice. Venom: Let There Be Carnage comes out next month, it should be better.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)

Good sequel

[7/10 · 5 September 2021]

I watched Sicario yesterday and I thought about watching the sequel then. Sicario: Day of the Soldado or simply Sicario 2 is another good sequel.

The acting is great like in the first film. Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro are still great as their characters. Isabella Merced is great, it may be years before we see her give a bad performance.

Sicario 2 doesn't rehash the first film, it goes in a different direction. Matt and his team starts a war between Mexican cartels. They're fighting dirty since the cartels are smuggling terrorists into America. The film is standalone, you don't have to see the first film to understand it.

The story is morally gray and complex, its not a simple investigation or revenge thriller. Matt and Alejandro especially are anti-heroes so you may view them as bad guys. The film examines war's effects on kids but I was honestly bored by the teenage boy subplot.

The film is quicker than the first film despite the lackluster subplot. I'm not saying the first film was really slow, I'm saying the sequel moves along faster. The film has more action and I use that term loosely. The action scenes are brutal and efficient like in real life.

Overall, Sicario 2 is another good sequel. Yes, the first film was better. If you hated Sicario, don't bother seeing this. A third film is rumored so filming may begin this fall.

Sicario (2015)

Grim, compelling thriller

[8/10 · 4 September 2021]

I was curious about the Sicario films but I was in no worry to watch them. Sicario is a good movie but its really not for everyone.

The acting is great mainly Emily Blunt, her character is the audience surrogate. Kate is an idealistic FBI agent who joins a task force to take down a Mexican cartel leader. The task force is shady, they fight dirty since the cartels are brutal. Josh Brolin's character Matt is a likeable tough guy, he is Kate's mentor in a sense. Benicio Del Toro's character Alejandro is a mysterious, brutal assassin.

Sicario is a grim film, its not meant to be exciting or thrilling. Like any good movie, Sicario lets you know right off the bat what kind of movie you're in for. The film is brutal but the violence serves the story. If you're squeamish, avoid the film.

The story is simple but morally gray. The film is elevated by the strong performances and great directing. The film is compelling so your eyes are glued to the screen. The cinematography is gorgeous but not glossy, I mean nighttime actually looks like nighttime.

Overall, Sicario is another good thriller. The film is grim so you have to be in the right mood. If you like Emily Blunt or Josh Brolin, you may want to see it. If you live in Canada, both films are on Netflix.