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6/10
A Dance Of Mediocre Story, Okay Action, and Comedic Focus
26 October 2024
LIKES:

Funny At Times

Faster Pace

Good Graphics

Hardy

Expands the Universe Some

The Ending Is A Great Finale

Summary: The direction for Venom seems to always be humor in the movies more than anything else. No surprise, the third entry is just as much geared towards the comedy routine as anything else. Eddy and Venom have internal banter, the duo constantly filling your ears with a lot of jokes, gags, and run-on gimmicks that are idiotic, fun, and very quick. It can be a tad hard to hear sometimes in the distorted voice of Venom, but I admit I was laughing at much of the tale with the Guardians-like humor. It goes amazingly in time with the pace of the movie, and for the most part, fans should find very few boring moments as they hop from one location to the next. Of note, Hardy is the man who carries the movie; his voicework as the symbiote is as fun as before, with the same dynamic range he can get out of a growl. Hardy plays very well against himself, and the buddy-cop-like comedy takes full hold.

In terms of the rest of the likes, the movie's story has elements that show promise for something rising from this series. For one thing, the graphics continue to look good, with flowing tendrils and cool creature concepts arising. Some of the extensions they made in this film look really cool in the movie, with the 3-D elements a potential enhancement if you are feeling bold. Past that, the universe extends some as the story introduces some new elements that this series had struggled for so long to incorporate despite all the trailers promising they wouldn't be so poor. This was very promising, and if they can actually pick up the pieces of this trilogy, it could be the starting point for something very promising, especially with the finale that finally started approaching the Marvel majesty. With good action, engaging stakes, comedic relief in the right areas, and some depth to the characters, we finally got an ending sequence that felt worth the wait. Was it perfect? Not even close, but it is the closest thing to success in a long time.

DISLIKES:

Mediocre Story

Poor Antagonist Use

Stakes Being Rather Bland

Too Many Tales In One Movie

Too Much Focus On Comedy

All The Expansion Is Done Before It Even Starts

Trailers Gave Too Much Away

Summary:

The Last Dance is still horrible in the story and, to be honest, is probably the weakest of the three tales for me. There are small elements that work and show merit, primarily at the end, but the film's story overall is very lacking in substance, mainly comedic moments with a few action or chase scenes to mix things up. These supposed threats are in name alone, with only mere minions doing most of the work while the king sits on his throne doing very little but mumbling. It's boring, it's senseless, and without the comedy, it was not needed for much of the film, again making this an almost unnecessary sequel. The stakes are rather mundane, trying to find solutions is super simplistic or conventional, and way too many tales to balance between one another for one film. With so little focus on these elements, the movie just fails to build any lasting impression, especially with the waste of such a devastating antagonist. Venom's focus on comedy continues to kill any incredible story, and they needed to take more risks given the content they had. Even the potential at the ends too quickly. The climactic fight has some cool moves and coordination, but alas, it fails to come together the way Avengers or Guardians did, leading to a lot of background movements that again become drowned by more comedy or simple theatrics that have become stale with the overuse. Much of this also came due to the trailers, with commercials revealing too much and ruining what little surprises the movie still had left to give.

The VERDICT:

Venom: The Last Dance is a movie that continues to tango with the comedic overhaul that Hollywood thinks all comic movies need. Its humor is the same tricks but still works in the hands of Hardy, with a few new elements added to try and spice the antics up. With fun elements, a breakneck pace, and some good design elements built for 3-D. Yet, the movie's potential was wasted with too many comedic gimmicks, an unfocused narrative, and too little time advancing the elements seen in the climactic ending, resulting in this movie again failing to meet the expectations most probably set. I wanted more out of this film, but I don't think that Venom's latest entry is going to appeal to most audiences unless they are mega fans of the movies, die-hard positive movie fans, or just want massive comedy in your face and little else. Those are the target audience members for this movie, and a word of warning for younger fans for scary elements and some language parents might not want their kids to hear. Thus, for visuals alone, the movie does get some theater quality, but this one is again best left for home if you want to optimize your experience, money, and time. My scores for the film are:

Action/Adventure/Thriller/Superhero/Sci-Fi: 6.0 Movie Overall: 5.0-5.5.
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Conclave (2024)
7/10
Even The Vatican Can't Get Away From The Drama
26 October 2024
LIKES

Acting

Realism (To Most Degrees)

Some Dramatic Intervention

Smart Dialogue

The Mystery To Some Degree

Involvement Of Most Characters

The Cinematography

Summary: A legend like Ralph Fiennes is a solid opener for my likes, as the man takes so much of his English heritage and integrates it into the head of the Conclave. Elegant, crafty, poised, but never shy of getting emotional when needed, Fiennes abilities of balance continue to impress me with how he invests in making a good character. Tucci goes a bit more theatrical, his character the voice of the "liberal" side as his aggressions and passions are artfully delivered in a manner fit for the stage to offset Fiennes' calmer tones. Lithgow, on the other hand, is almost a mix of the two extremes, holding his usual support role that keeps so many of the leading sides held and providing perhaps most of the engaging mystery element in the search for the truth. All the cast members excel in this movie, each member vying for the seat, making adequate contributions and performances to present those ideas. I'll use this moment to also say I'm impressed that Conclave is very efficient at keeping all the players introduced at the beginning of the movie ingrained in the story. Conclave is all about the interactions and connections that each Cardinal has to go for the throne, and Berger's team has kept them all engaged in the very complex story. And with such smart dialogue, the characters and performers have plenty of material to bring this realistic tale to life and give one a feeling of being involved in such an established tradition. When the drama is integrated to spice things up, the realism does not lose much merit, resulting in a nice balance that plays well to the character development and office traditions.

Finally, the best thing about this movie is the cinematography for viewers like me. Powerful camera work adds so much emotional support to the film, with impressive coordination of shots, each diagrammed to give you the best visual display. In my viewing, I got wide shots of the church that portrayed the majestic expanse of the historical architecture, close-up shots that give the intensity of a character's stare as they ponder the latest information, and panning shots that give one fleeting shots of someone walking throughout as they seek to make things happen. Brilliant lighting and filters accompany these shots and further add that dramatic touch, but they seldom get in the way of seeing what's going on in the shot. Fantastic editing brings all of this together in smooth cuts, logical storyboards, and not relying on too many effects to enhance the experience.

DISLIKES:

Slow In A Lot of Places

Very Pretentious At Times

Most Of The Mysteries Have Lackluster Finishes

Becomes More About Politics

Contrived Ending That Shatters Some of the Disbelief

Summary: For all the acting and visual strengths of this movie, Conclave does fail for some other elements that take away from the splendor hinted at in trailers. The movie is slow, with other points feeling slower than others, as they do their best to move towards the election of the Pope. Primarily in conversational bantering and repetitive sequences in the same rooms, the film sometimes gets lost in this sequential discovery of facts and, without the assistance of more exciting movie elements, becomes droll outside of drama lovers. A mystery is established somewhat at the beginning, but this quickly fades and starts becoming more of a political drama than the mystery thriller I thought it would be. If you don't care to be reminded of the current political views, this is a major limitation as the movie starts to leave the mystery elements behind, with many of the questions having rather bland and pretentious answers. This is especially true at the end, where politics becomes a key focus and almost takes a major divergence towards feeling like social media debates and a philosophy class rather than an engaging end to the mystery. What could further disappoint is that the movie's ending completely undermines realism at times and again forgoes the logic and just about all the actions and litigation you see in the movie. That stumble led to a very disappointing ending in regards to the selling point of the movie despite the symbolic and characteristic ending they pulled in at the last minute.

The VERDICT:

Conclave is indeed a stunning piece of work for me, primarily for the acting and cinematography that brings this tradition to life in extraordinary detail. I loved the wit, the realism, and the process of electing a pope alongside the earlier moments of trying to figure out the mysteries at hand. It's a fantastic portrayal of characters while also testing the traditions and credos that many discuss about religion in their various media. While the film thrives as a political and religious drama, it fails in regards to a mystery and thriller, and adjusting your mindset may help you enjoy this movie more with that effort in mind. Contrived, pompous, and slow make this film less engaging, and the realistic content is going to provide less opportunity to escape if that is what you are looking for when hitting the movies. In the end, this film is probably best reserved for home vs. A theater trip, but for quality acting, definitely give this one a try.

My scores are: Thriller: 6.5-7.0 Movie Overall: 6.0.
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Smile 2 (2024)
8/10
Time to Smile Again
19 October 2024
LIKES:

Great Cinematography

Fantastic Editing

Story Is Actually Good In A Horror Movie

Great Character Development

New Uses Of The Entity's Tricks

Surprisingly Suspenseful

Good Balance of Scare Types

Some Music Interludes

The Acting

Summary: A horror sequel is seldom worth the ride or investment in your time, with only a few movies that prove worthy of being added to the series. Smile 2 was a movie I found worthy of my time. Finn brings style to the sequel, adding wonderful work in bringing the terror to life with engaging camera angles, horrifying close-ups, and the use of filters that truly engorge the horror genre. Psychological transitions are accompanied by incredible technique, sound, and visual jarring at times, while other times subtle to gradually chip away your barriers of comfort. It maintains the realism of much of the movie, only stretching the disbelief to certain extents to add that flair I like to have to spice things up. Combine this with the impeccable lighting effects, and the atmosphere is set to provide variety in the types of chills you will feel as this movie progresses. Jump scares, mind-breaking thrills, grotesque body horror, and building suspense are in this movie, and the crazy balance of these types (especially when integrated into the story) fully brings the spectacle to life.

The other element of Smile 2 I liked is the story component and the foundation to which all the theatrics are anchored. This sequel focuses on the lore being integrated into each character, and Skye's (Naomi Scott) story is one that is fascinating in a movie such as this one. It's filled with layers portraying her own struggles as a person, alongside the pressures placed on superstars when the spotlight hits them. Those pressures work in tandem with the primary story of Smile and finding a way out of the mess, Skye has fallen into without ever getting in the way of the movie's pace. Finn's writing has incorporated a lot of necessary components, but never in too flashy or distracting of a way, including music interludes that show off Scott's talents and again never dominate the movie. It's fantastic character development and story urgency that, when mixed with the scares, puts this film into a suspenseful and engaging piece that goes beyond the usual scream and gore fest some sequels choose to become. As for the acting, the top cast does their job well, but it's Scott who serves the most recognition from this writer. To see her once more portray such a different character is an acknowledgment of this woman's range. Every shout, every scream, every haunting look and reaction holds such merit to what Finn required of her, and I felt myself drawn to her struggles, silently rooting for her to find a way out of this horror. The hurt, the anguish, the growth, and the authenticity of how tormented Skye was came out on such hauntingly levels, and I can't wait to see more work from her if she can create such believable performances like this one.

DISLIKES:

Predictable

Grotesque To Points Of Being Unnecessary

The Overuse of the F Word

The Ending To Some Degree

Caution With Some Sensitive Content

Summary: However, for all the great things mentioned, Smile 2 is still a victim of predictability in this genre. An engaging pace certainly helps, but if you pay attention, you can figure out the nature of things to come and perhaps even the ending. The finale is indeed intense and still brings all those charms, but when the curtain closes, it's another divisive ending that will either be a fantastic entry or piss you off at the grandiosity that they took with finishing the movie. After the arduous journey to get to the ending, I lean a little more on the disappointing ending side, but that's only due to how well Finn was building on something and my expectations for something of matching wit. In addition, Finn's investment in gore and the F word is a tad too investing for someone like me, and I found it to be excessive at times to the point of either unnecessarily grotesque or annoying. The F word, in particular, was annoying to me, becoming a bland flavor instead of the seasoning spice that I particularly like in my movies, nor as witty or fun as Deadpool and Wolverine. Finally, a warning that this movie is going to handle some serious content in very graphic ways. If you are someone who is affected or perhaps not ready for such material, then I warn you to shy away from this movie until you are with a group or place where you can handle the material.

The VERDICT: Smile 2 turns out to be a sequel that, on many levels, is worth the hype. A story that continues to advance the story of the predecessors but still be a tale of its serves as an awesome foundation for the scares at hand. It contains plenty of horror styles coming together in very dynamic ways and has the technology and technique to execute them masterfully. Alongside a stunning performance by the lead with a talented support system, the risky choices are well worth the time, especially during the Halloween season. Smile 2 does suffer from predictability and excessive language, dark themes, and, at times, gore, but fans of this genre should welcome most of these things despite the predictability. Should you see it in theaters? Absolutely! The effects, story, and acting are worth this being your Halloween movie of the month (not on streaming as of yet). However, just note that this movie may be hard for some viewers, so make sure you ask questions or use caution before taking certain audience members.

My scores for Smile 2 are:

Horror/Mystery/Thriller/Psychological Thriller: 8-8.5 Movie Overall: 7.5-8.0.
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8/10
Connecting Quick Details Piece By Piece In This Fun Documentary
12 October 2024
Warning: Spoilers
LIKES:

Plenty of Pharell Songs

The Cast They Got

Covers A Lot Of His Life

Never Gets Stuck On One Time Period

Loved The Lego Presentation/Combination

It's Emotionally Beautiful

It's Deep And Eye Opening

SUMMARY Pharrell fans rejoice for this movie is all about the man who changed the industry when it came to beats that meshed various styles together and united the genres. The man is super talented, and I learned so much about just what this guy went through on his journey into the stardom he currently claims. The film is fascinating to learn about his origins with his family and his friends as they found their sounds and to see his gradual introduction to the collection of artists that belonged in the world of Hip-Hop that would help his career rise. A fantastic integration that manages to explore emotions and paint the picture of fame's influence, Piece by Piece manages to build a lot of emotion without relying solely on melodramatic tactics. Having such a great collection of artists, each one helping to add some diversity to the film, not only in musical track style but in the energy of the film, helps to get around the problem I have with musical biographies when they get stuck on one period and forget the music. This film avoids that quite well and keeps the momentum up as they continue to push toward the end goal. The best part is all of these qualities are done in Legos, and somehow...it worked for me. Like Pharell's visions, the Lego aspect manages to meet the emotions and keep the movie so fun at the same time. This animated style opens up the mindset much better and keeps things vivid, colorful, exciting, and enjoyable as imagination meets reality. Seeing sound turn into color, watching him and his friends fall into the rhythm zone as they find the beat, several artists getting their own twists into the Lego universe, and Pharell's outlook on his life were all very enjoyable for Sure, it is silly at times, but Neville and his crew have managed to make this documentary stand out from the number of specials that have been rolling into streaming.

DISLIKES:

No Complete Song Numbers

Gets Preachy/Feels At Times Curbed

Never Dives Into The Full Details Of Some Things I Wanted More Details

It's A Documentary, So Niche

Summary: Yet, the movie still has not accomplished getting to see some full song numbers, again trading showmanship for numbers. In a movie like this, it's not as hard of a blow, but I had hoped the movie would have picked a few songs that were key players in his career and give us the creation process or the video from his perspective and add that Lego magic. Though it does better to avoid the fixation on one period, the movie does occasionally get stuck on that preachy message and "heartfelt sensibilities" that feel a tad forced or set up to the point it was eye-rolling and loses a bit of him being real. Sure, I'm up for motivational messages and inspiring words, but the presentation is everything, and I think Pharell could have done it a little better in terms of being natural. In addition, there are facets of his life I wanted to see with a little more detail, especially seeing a few of his startup numbers or maybe his first big project of how they pulled the magic out into a full track, but I did not get these details at times as they crammed a lot of years into a ninety-minute run time. Finally, because it's a documentary about one artist, there's going to be a niche audience to enjoy it, and that is going to curb your approach and appreciation very easily. Thus, the limited scope is going to potentially polarize the audience and lead to reflective scores.

The VERDICT If you are a fan of Pharrell Williams, this movie is going to match the unique character that is Williams' career. Piece by Piece is going to give you a more detailed Spark's Note version of his life, and does it in a charming style that is imaginative, fun, and balanced to keep it entertaining for all ages. It's silly, it's quirky, and if you don't like Lego animation those factors might dilute your enjoyment. However, if you get past that, you get a documentary that I find more entertaining and unique than most of the approaches to this film despite the preachiness, selective editing, and not having the Hollywood magical story that helps add pizazz to it. Should you see it in theaters? Yes, if you are a fan of his work as the theater does give some vibes to the music and the colors. Otherwise, this is one to skip if you don't want a documentary on this artist.

My scores for Piece by Piece are:

Animation/Comedy/Musical/Family/Biography: 7.5-8.0 Movie Overall: 7.0.
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8/10
Saturday Night's Can Be Chaotic
11 October 2024
LIKES:

Great Acting

Mimicry

The Exciting Elements Of The Business

The Drama

The Pace

All The Insight

Surprising Dialog

Just Fun And Shows A Classic

Summary: If you are going to make a movie referencing some of the most established comedians of the time and a historical "documentary), you need to have great acting. And this casting call was sensational in pulling together some amazing talent to play these iconic roles. I won't mention any actors, but the chemistry alone was beyond fantastic in bringing out the chaos and aggressive humor that was known in the show. While the perfect likeness and voice might elude some moments, the mimicry is startingly accurate in much of the cast in how they sing, walk, react, and deliver those solid lines. Belushi, in particular, was the one that blew my mind the most in what they pulled from the past. Still, so many others did their homework to revive these entertainers in all their glory and deliver a performance very reminiscent of the times.

Once you get past the cast, though, you'll find the setting also a character of its own, a beast that demands the most of the performers as they have to get ready for the opening night that seemed fleeting. Saturday Night hits you hard with the facets of making the show, each element providing insight into what was a circus meeting a warzone that might have been suffering the apocalypse (yes, that is how chaotic this night was). A counting clock that interrupts the scene at times adds to the frenzy, alongside so many people clawing their way into this debut with very little to keep the frenzy in control. You'll get so much in a short amount of time at a pace, I feel, matches the intensity of that night and everything Lorne had to get ready. There is drama, comedy, and a little bit of psychological thriller thrown into the mix, giving a character profile movie without diverting too much time away from the big picture. The dialog is surprising on many levels, with some moments going into the old comedy people don't want to talk about and other times into motivational one-offs to help establish the stakes. As the experience continues to evolve and show time starts to get closer, Reitman and Kenan manage to somehow pull the whole thing into a window of the past and bring back the specialty that live TV brought back in the day. Between costumes, props, cultural references, and more, Saturday Night accomplishes fun and classic feels that have been lost to the advancements of technology and business, and I loved that escapism and authenticity.

DISLIKES:

The Language Got Stale

Lots of Dark Sides Of People

So Chaotic A Tad Hard To Believe

More Stories Needed More Time

Niche Audience

SUMMARY: The tales of the sketch show are riddled with the darker sides of humans and how the monster of showbusiness can eat at people. Saturday Night emphasizes that in very relevant ways, again conveying that hastiness and manic nature as everything is trying to come together. The audience needs to be ready for that because, though not the worst use of these elements, it can be a tad overwhelming and overdone in such a compact amount of time. The F word is thrown around a lot more readily, and even in the background is the word to craft a symphony that does get stale at times. Fortunately, there is enough to break that up, and much of it is lighter than I anticipated, but I do want to issue a warning. Another aspect is seeing the ugly side of the movie come out and being bombarded by a lot of the more provocative, meaner, nastier, and often demeaning comments, actions, and hostilities that were present. Accurate as the portrayal seems to be, it can be hard to withstand the onslaught of this irate and ill-tempered behavior at such a colossal speed, and you might find yourself a bit exhausted by the movie (which I'm sure matches Lorne's feelings to a degree. The chaos of the night is so much that, at times, I found it hard to believe, some stretches seeming to be a bit too time dilating, but per the records, they are accurate to a degree and more amazing to see. In movie form, it's a bit fast at times and leads to some hasty editing choices for transitions, but it still maintains a good flow compared to other films. Where I think the film is at a loss is that the stories for all these iconic moments, plot elements, and stakes are a tad diluted, with everything in a roughly 89 -90 minute run time. A mini-series could solve this, but the movie has so many elements you might not get the full experience with a performer you want, nor get the full effects of a cast member that might be promoting the movie and pulling you in. So much in so little of a time might have been real, but to convey that and give everyone their full time needed more time than a limited-run series could have done well. Outside of a few performance drops at times, some preachy finale at the end, and losing that finish they had been building up, I can't make too many other complaints outside of one. It's a niche movie, catered a bit more to those who 1) Like Saturday Night Live, 2) Care about historical preference, and 3) Care about what goes into a production value. That limitation might lead to people avoiding this, and the enjoyment drops significantly when a certain detail doesn't quite float your boat or the story you are engaged in is suddenly dusted over.

The VERDICT:

Saturday Night is a movie that blends Hollywood magic and reality into a package that feels much more balanced than most. A chaotic world of actors, producers, and technical support trying to launch something new is inspiring and daunting, with emotions running high the entire time as to how much the central character faces. Fantastic acting, immersion in the whole process, and an engaging pace that goes alongside a countdown all come together to recreate history as much as possible. It felt good to have fun and find appreciation for what the live-taping shows do before the new age hit, and to see such fortitude and comedy in one, alongside the eye-opening drama, is a good marriage of styles. However, the nature of SNL and getting that first taping is a very aggressive movie with a very chaotic pace that might be overwhelming. With so many stories and characters, you are going to have to process a lot of material and culture that could leave you feeling robbed, depending on what you are going into this movie expecting. A mini-series probably would have offered more time to balance the characters and their tales and maybe expand it to a less niche audience. Outside of that, though, the movie is a solid film to look into, and I recommend giving it a shot if the material interests you, most likely at home for most. My scores are:

Biography/Comedy/Drama/History: 8.0 Movie Overall: 7.0.
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The Substance (2024)
8/10
A Movie With Disturbingly Heavy Substance
20 September 2024
LIKES:

The Artistic Message

The Unique Theme

Cinematography

The Sound Editing

The Makeup/Prosthetics

The Twists/Unpredictability

The Acting

The Horror At Times

SUMMARY My friend and fellow reviewers are correct in that the movie is certainly one of the more unique tails and takes on the Horror genre. Fargeat's writing loads the film with metaphorical content, all about the obsessions, vanity, and imbalance that humans have and the consequences that arise from it. Under his direction, the film is not afraid to show the hardships of life that come with the fickle approaches of fame and present a nightmare in manifesto form. Though we've had plenty of such tales, The Substance makes the material its own, taking familiar media and molding it into a unique story that is one of the more original films of the year. Powerful cinematography helps elevate that horror to new heights as it incorporates excessively long hallways of aggressive colors, dynamic movement that symbolizes the mind, and varying teases of shots that something is amiss. Even some of the aggressive changes were hit with the perfect sot that made my gut twist and bile rise in my throat. The effects are a gorgeous display of practical and computer meshing together to make the ugliness extraordinarily haunting, especially during the transition moments as the twists start to take the film to an aggressive level.

The horror aspect is certainly "elevated" in a manner that isn't traditional, relying more on sadistic material and unsettling body elements, all supported by a sound array that is much of the horror itself. A mind-bending, ear-splitting soundtrack accompanies cringeworthy, hyper-realistic sounds as bones crack, skin tears, and sinew is stretched. The twists and unpredictability help as well, sticking with the bizarre rules but pushing the boundaries with little apology to the audience. It's horrific, and the underlying messages only further amplify the things you are watching and the realization of what he means. And to seal everything up (so to speak), with performances that are quite stellar and some of the best I've seen in a very long time. Dennis Quaid is okay. He plays the extravagant role well, the magnified persona of an exec being satirically funny and purposefully over the top to hit the message hard. He plays that part well, but it's nothing blowing my mind. Qualley is a delight, bubbly and cheerful at one point, and then dives into the dark material the next. She is physically impressive for the role cast, but her acting skills show fantastic merit that is going to continue to bleed into a lot of roles if given the parts. Demi Moore is the star of this movie, though, and she has returned to the big screen with such style, authenticity, and compassion for the role it's like she is living the nightmare. Her screaming, her facial emotions, and the way she has to change so much in this movie are frighteningly spectacular and very worthy of recognition and awards. I loved her in this film, and she was a huge line that kept me reeled into the movie.

DISLIKES

The Artistic Approach At Times

The Pacing At Times Get Slow

Very Sexual To Pornographic Levels

Disturbing Content That Crosses A Line

About Thirty Minutes Of "Fluff"

SUMMARY And despite all the good of this movie, there are going to be things that I feel will not be as enjoyable as it is to a certain niche. Fargeat's artistic approach dives deep into the material, complex, bloated, and convoluted, leading to a semi-stagnant plot that feels like it will go nowhere for those who like a more linear plot. His vision is certainly a higher presentation, and the content that comes with it is going to turn many people away. The pacing got slow for me at points, material that is important but yet bloated, alongside material you might not be interested in, drew the movie out for me and made the movie a tad boring. Dark content as it is, I am not interested in a lot of sexual displays of the body that poke at the addiction to such content, but I felt it could make its point with a lot less aggression or at least fewer minutes dedicated to the visual. If that's up your alley and you love that heavy punch, this will do little to phase you, but for all his creativity, there could have been other avenues to explore. Past the hypersexuality, the material's darkness is already going to be more selective, but it really crosses lines near the end that are tough to watch. No spoilers, but The Substances effects are really disturbing and easily cross several lines that are excessive, ugly, and to many extent again unnecessary. Body Horror fans are going to swim in delight with the tricks at hand, which, combined with the impressive visuals, will make them grin a mile wide. However, a major warning to those with sensitivities is to avoid this movie and any pictures or clips if you can. Such excessive methods do little for me and again bloated the end that could have been trimmed away to help trim back the time limit. And for people like me, there was a lot of fluff that was not needed and, with a little curbing, could have elevated this movie to even greater heights.

The VERDICT: The Substance is a movie that is going to be the talk of the trade for a few weeks. It's a powerful visual essay on the frailty of the human ego and the horrifying elements presented are a powerful message on many levels. A powerful combination of visual and audio tricks alongside an original angle to present the material all work to make one of the scarier stories that I've seen in a while. Add in twists and a fantastic acting crew to unleash the full might of the character study in this dramatic entry. Yet, with such an artistic presentation comes a little more selective audience to enjoy it and I was not one of those who could not relish the entire movie. Fargeat's focus on hypersexuality, disturbing imagery that crosses lines I didn't want, and fluff that only drew out the film. Had the movie been about twenty to thirty minutes shorter, or if they substituted it with some other type of content would have gone very far to improve this movie. This is definitely going to check all the boxes for a lot of body horror enthusiasts who love such graphical prowess over a fully tight story. Is this worth a trip to the theater? If you are into this genre, yes, but otherwise a better use of time at home. Scoring this movie is tough, but factoring everything in, I'm giving The Substance:

Comedy/Drama/Horror: 8.0-8.5 Movie Overall: 7.0.
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8/10
Number one in modern Transformers
15 September 2024
LIKES:

Animation

Voice Acting Is Not Bad

Story Feels Transformers

Surprisingly Good character development

Pace Is fantastic for the Last Two-Thirds Of The Movie.

Good For Kids and Adults (mostly)

Some Great Comedic Timing/Writing

Plenty Of Robots Get Decent Screentime

Action Is Definitely Better Than Live Action Movies

Awesome Musical Score

SUMMARY: The animation is fantastic for me, looking much like a comic book turned CGI film in colors, designs, and movements that are a step above some of the straight-to-TV/Streaming. Fluid motions carry for much of the film, whether they are transforming, fighting, or just shooting the Energon amongst the robots. A strong foundation to build on, the movie takes advantage of the medium to give us more Transformers and gives it that classic cartoon and comic feel. Action scenes are fast, fun, and full of that classic Transformers blasting, but yet have a bit more gruff to them as bots are assaulted without hesitation. Exciting racing scenes are a tad sporadic but, for the most part, hold the same vigor of high-octane speed with a Cybertronian twist to assist.

Outside of the animation, the movie's writing is very Transformers feeling to me in many ways. The comedy feels very 80s, fun, fresh, and very witty, with plenty of sarcastic hits to remove a lot of the tension that comes with this movie. When not being silly, the bots are diving deep into the story well, this time taking some real-life topics but actually incorporating them into a movie instead of forcing them. Many characters have some great dives into their characters, with Orion Pax and D-16 going through the most rollercoaster ride when of emotional changes. It's conveyed well by the voice acting, with Hemsworth surprising me with how well he did following the steps of Peter Cullen. He's not nearly as majestic, but I still felt the honor and hope that the leader of the Autobots is famous for having. Henry as D-16 may not have the sinister tones, hiss, or manipulative malice as Welkder, but when it comes to hurt and being gradually blinded by rage and pride, he nails that aspect alongside the brotherhood that this movie conveys. They work so well together and are my favorite, outside the strong, theatrical prowess of Fishburne when he is character steps in to assist. AS for Johnasson and Key, they are welcome additions in regards to helping add a little fire and laughs to the mix. The former has integrated Black Widow into a robot, and it worked for me in the direction this film took. Key is... well... Key. He is energetic, jabbering, comedic, and, of course, annoying, but he plays the comedic role very well, and it's a welcome component to off-lay the forlorn and morose tones that the others have early in the film. Finally, the movie does a decent job of balancing a lot of bots in this film, and while some of my favorites are not fully integrated this go around, I was surprised at how many had a decent time-fighting in the first fights of the series. What does this add up to? Just a great Transformers adventure that solves the problem of too much focus on the humans and not enough on the big bad machines.

DISLIKES:

The First Third Is Slow

Some Characters Don't Feel Matching To Their Characters

Predictable Plot

At Times, Too Much Comedy

Summary: Though I enjoyed much of the film, there are some components that I feel are going to be less appealing and limiting audiences coming to see this movie. A quick note: this movie is PG, but there is a language that will show up, though not the worst words in the cursing dictionary. Please take caution for those who like to repeat lines with little reserve. Moving to the bigger issues, the first part of the film is a tad slow and uneven, with lots of build-up and details to come, but not the action to help chop up the information and comedy rush that they try to do. This gets solved after the first third, but such a slow opening can be a little grating at times. The next thing that I think was limiting was the movie trying to force a lot of Nickelodeon humor into the mix, feeling like the current writing of Spongebob, where it was more stupidity than actual wit. Those moments were either ill-timed or just too much Key to the point of being annoying. And yet, that cleaned up well in the second half of the movie, with writing and timing much better as the movie finds its rhythm. The biggest hindrance, though, might be a predictable plot that takes a lot of Transformers material and folds it into a newer modality that sadly holds too much familiarity to be surprising. Even more so, I'm not sure how many of the characters match what fans of the series might expect them to be. I have only had a handful of stories in this universe, but I can say that these robots were not as close a match as some of those installments. Therefore, the purists of the franchise will not quite enjoy this direction and may find much of the film frustrating to see how different some of their favorite characters are from the characters they love. Those who just love and want more Transformers, though, are going to get their wishes in this film.

THE VERDICT: Transformers One turned out to be much better than I anticipated, and I quite enjoyed what this animated feature brought to the screen. It's a great adventure with deeper character development than I expected and a story with a little more heart and joy. It's dark at times, certainly, and the first part of the movie is very slow and off-putting as they build their new trilogy. However, once the second part of the movie starts, most of the limitations go away, and the movie really finds its wheels on the road of a Transformers plot. The film has fantastic animation to make everything come to life and is a solid choice to make future films if they can keep this magic up, especially with action scenes like we got in this film. And again, I really did just have fun with the movie despite how predictable the film was. Purists and very loyal fans may hate much of the changes made to the film and the characters, and I can understand that notion. However, this film is far more put together and Transformer-centric, which is what I desired from the Bay Films for so long. Should you see it in theaters? I say yes for many reasons. As for the scores, I give Transformers One:

Action/Adventure/Animation/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Family: 8.0 Movie Overall: 7.0.
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6/10
An Explosion Of Ridiculousness, This Game Is Okay
14 September 2024
LIKES:

Funny

Well-Paced

Decent Acting

Writing

Creative Kills/Characters

Engaging Title Introductions

The Plot Has More Merit Than I thought

Summary: The Killer's Game is tough to review because of the direction Perry had in mind when he was going for (or so I perceive). It's a ridiculous spin to the action franchise with a lot of comedy, but yet still trying to hold heart, and to some degree, I quite enjoyed and felt it was good. It's got a faster pace, leaving little time for rest before the next exciting montage of death starts up, keeping you moving closer and closer to the finish line with each passing second. The plot that comes with it surprisingly has more depth than the trailers let on, primarily in the character development of Flood as he goes from ruthless assassin to maybe seeing more in life than the next kill to come. And those moments, even with a few of the antagonistic characters, even getting some more revelations to their persona. What I feel Perry got right is an almost video game/anime/movie hybrid, primarily because of the feel of the film in looks, movement, and even the transitions as each group is introduced. And though they all share a common blueprint, the characters feel very different in their approaches and presentation of their title cards. Even the untimely demises of many characters have that anime-esque ridiculousness to them, and though destructive and gory, they match the level of fun that went into this film I was expecting. What this boils down to is fun writing and a fun quality to this film that helps it stand out from the more intense films in this genre.

As for acting, everyone does their part well to make this crazy film come to life and not apologize for the colorful characters that have been recruited to make the hit. Kingsley gets a shout-out for his amazing work as the mentor, pulling his quality into thick accents, witty delivery of the lines, and that tough love parent that you like to counter the semi-innocence of Bautista's character. Klementieff is interesting in this film. Dropping much of her Mantis persona, the actress delivers rage-filled acid in each of her lines as she enacts her plans against the agent with little regret for what it takes. In contrast, Boutella manages to draw back on the evilness she normally conveys for someone more collected, sassy, and quite honestly delightful. A stunning display of love mixed with uncertainty, Boutella continues to wow us with her physical and verbal skills, stealing part of the show when she appears. As for the big man, Bautista may not have pulled out the unique factor this time, like his apocalypse movie, but the loveable oaf is still there and bent to new ways to feel different from Drax or his work in films like Stuber. The vulnerability mixed with simplified comedic delivery had me impressed with how he can juggle the two almost effortlessly, all while still showing impressive feats of strength that his muscles bring in full force. All in all, the dynamic he shares with much of the cast is the fantastic structure that does much to anchor the film from letting itself get too carried away.

DISLIKES:

Plot Still Needs More Finesse

A Tad More Violent Than I Had Hoped

Stupid To Many Degrees

Fight Choreography Is Both Creative And Yet Mediocre

Summary: Though there are fewer dislikes than other films, each one holds a bit more punch for me for this review. Despite being surprised by the depth of the plot, The Killer's Game does not quite go to the full level it needs to, given their efforts to make each killer unique. Perhaps it was too many gangs, or maybe just the direction; there was much more balance and time needed to make that effort worth the trip. Outside of the main quartet I mentioned in acting, others felt like bad guys in an anime arc that were gone before we even got a chance to know them. Does it provide variety? Sure, but at times, their intro scenes were more impressive than anything else, and such a flashy show might have more layers, but from the basic level of character use, it feels weaker than other movies. The movie is quite stupid on levels, too. Again, that felt intentional, but the stupidity sometimes gets a little out of hand and disrupts the scene for me, which left me chuckling but annoyed at the consistent comedic relief without the epic tension that films like John Wick can execute better. While this again adds dark humor and cartoon-like buffering, it just wasn't balanced in the best lights it could have been.

As for the fights, well, they are okay for viewers like me. Wick might be violent, but the scenes are connected with good choreography, excellent move-sets, and usually edgy combat that has you cheering in your seats. The Killer's game matches some of this quality in the opening moment but then diverges into quick montages of very forced-feeling fights. Bautista's movements almost look too practiced, and the fights are very mundane outside of the finishing moves that are quite savage to the point several audience members had their own commentary. It picks up at the end and brings some more boom, but even these still pale to other films with much more excitement and suspense without the continuous comedic interludes. And for those who have a low tolerance for extreme violence and language, this movie should be skipped. Wick is violent, yes, but this movie exceeds those films with much more gruesome displays of death, many painting some part of the set in the familiar crimson.

The VERDICT:

Overall, The Killer's Game is a movie that is entertaining in the respect of ludicrous amounts of comedy and action trying to find cohabitation. A fast pace mixed with some diverse profiles, the movie is so many things in one, throwing everything at Bautista to fight and doing it in that Drax-ish, style. To my surprise, there were more levels to it than I had expected, they just needed more time to maximize the potential and not feel too stupid or wasted in some quick finish. Aside from that, there are plenty of action scenes, and to some level, they have their edge and style that I think will be awesome for some people, again with some of the more unique finishers that are reserved mostly for video games. However, the rest of the fights often lack the finesse, complexity, and edge that other films have done so much better, one part due to the comedy aspect, while the other part might just be editing or limitations of time. Either way, the movie is okay. For spectacle and sound effects, a theater visit will make this the best experience; however, this movie may be best watched at home, given the other limitations I found with it.

My scores for The Killer's Game are: Action/Comedy/Thriller: 6.5-7.0 Movie Overall: 6.0.
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Speak No Evil (I) (2024)
7/10
You Don't Have to Speak Evil, McAvoy Does It For you So Well
13 September 2024
LIKES:

The Setting

The Dialogue

The Ending Thrills

The Censorship Is Appreciated

The Music

The Acting

The Story Is Okay

Summary: The movie thrives on realism and pulls you into the drama and theatrics that a Thriller movie can sometimes perfect. It is a quaint and gorgeous cottage in the European countryside that sounds amazing for vacation but can change its tune in a very short amount of time. That innocence and inviting nature are maximized in the movie with fantastic visuals and a set-up that is almost a beast itself. And dwelling within it is a set of actors that hold the keys to unlocking the emotion of this movie. A limited cast means more focused acting, and I was impressed with the way these six interacted together in this very odd circumstance. Scoot's character fits well with the dramatic tones and irritation, crafting a relatable character, if not a bit annoying. Davis is a stunning display of this tension, the character you want to shout at the screen to use her logic to get away from where they dwell, but yet not overpowered (much) that they become a statement. Aisling Franciosi is a lovely addition, that character with mystery, intrigue, and an ambiguous nature that I tried to figure out which side she played in the movie. Yet, McAvoy is again stunning in how well he plays these engaging sociopathic roles. The way he delivers the lines, the creepy scowls, and the erupting bouts of anger are so scarily accurate that, at times, I felt it would be tough to hang with the man for fear of being butchered. He drives the movie well and, with the help of strong dialogue that fits well into the setting, delivers that psychotic edge to another masterful level.

Past these qualities, Watkins' direction manages to incorporate several other qualities that help add to the solid core they are bringing. For one thing, the music is a selection of tracks that incorporate the moods of the scenes and are quite entertaining as well. A few more songs could have helped, but I did enjoy the storytelling elements they held. The story is okay for the most part, more of a drama/thriller that is well laid out, moves in a logical, linear fashion, and comes out with some pretty good moments worthy of the genre. It's not the biggest stretch of conveniences, holding a sort of Lifetime Channel quality, but with a much better set of characters. The material in the movie is sensitive and can be triggering, fair warning there, but handles it with decent censorship that is still tough but not the most threatening or destructive like other films I have seen. Once you get to the end, the climax should help balance things out as well, given it still keeps in time with the theme of the movie but adds a little more edge and suspense that I wished had been in much of the movie.

DISLIKES:

Not Scary

The Idiocy At Times

The Stretches of Plot

Predictable Thanks To The Trailers

Summary: In terms of my dislikes, the movie struggles with the horror element for me and still has not scared someone who has been subjected to a lot of horror films. It holds limited moments that are scary, just awkward, lacks a real twist that is memorable or unique, and the setup doesn't quite have the intensity I was hoping it would have. Part of this was personal, finding that the smart mind was so prone to really stupid moves and wondering how they could make such a choice. Other times, the plot is too convenient, some suspense of disbelief, and that perfect timing or shot just happens to save the day (though these are minimal than other films). Yet the biggest limitation for me is the predictability of the film and the fact that it blunted much of the edge and suspense by giving too much away. Catch the trailers and pay attention to them, and you have about 80% of the movie with only the climactic end and the full scope of the deed left to be revealed. Even without the hints, the movie drops plenty of clues that one can predict easily. This was the factor that I think took the most from the film's enjoyment.

THE VERDICT Speak No Evil is a psychological thriller to some degree, but it feels more like a drama with thriller elements at times. A strong cast and setting are what impressed me the most, with McAvoy being the main thing I enjoyed watching with his stunning performances. Its strong dialogue helps add some boldness to the movie, with realism there to help add more sustenance that doesn't require a paranormal twist. However, the film is not the most spectacular thing to hit the silver screen. A movie with rather mundane elements and lacks something astounding to make it stand out. Though there was a good climatic end, the movie just struggles with most of the movie, bloated with a lengthy set-up that I knew most of the way. And if you have seen the trailer, you sadly have most of the movie as it gives too much a way to make much of the film predictable and that less engaging. Is it a theater movie? I would say this one is best at home to stop if you find the triggering content too much for your liking. My scores for the film are:

Drama/Horror/Thriller: 7.0 Movie Overall: 6.0.
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6/10
Not the Front Runner Of Horror
7 September 2024
LIKES:

Atmosphere Cinematography

Handles Reality Harshly

A Decent Character Profiling For Two Characters

Acting

Some Dark Comedy Theatrics

Summary: I give it to A24 that they know how to make a movie look good with the camera work and editing. The Front Room is not shy of making a horrifying movie by emphasizing the right shots to illustrate the horrors of such a situation. Fantastic filters alongside the use of shadows and close-ups stir the emotions and with it craft the emotional medley that might come with taking care of such a taxing family member. Even during the more...symbolic moments, the Eggers' direction manages to make the most of a simple shot with just the right ominous tones. Alongside those darker moments comes a portrayal of a harsh reality, one part due to fantastic acting, and another part due to the direction of the story and vision. I felt a lot for Brandy's character, watching her go through this hell to handle the pressures faced on her, and getting a lot of glimpses of what someone of Solange's character can be like when given an opportunity. That harsh reality is the true horror of this movie, and I felt every ounce of struggle in their presentation and the perseverance it takes to get through it. In classic A24 fashion, there are moments of darker humor to help alleviate the tension, and though much of it got underwhelming and quite annoying, fans of such comedic presentation should be thrilled with the theatrics at hand. From the occasional jab in dinner time banter, the vengeful acts that humans do, to the more aggressive jokes all await the audience who dare check this film out.

Yet for me, the strongest notion is the acting that carries this film. Will start with Burnap, a character stuck in the middle requiring a lot of flexibility in how his character was directed. He's got great tension delivery, helps add this traumatic effect into the film as it proceeds, and primarily in the first act holds the potential to show just how deep he can go in the well of a complex character. I felt he did well with the material in the latter half, but his stronger performance was near the start (more on that in a minute). Hunter is the next one I enjoyed. Though not her character, she manages to take the "classic charm" of Solange and unleash it in full force as she unleashes the full-on traditions into her new home. Her coughing fits alone are believable, but the way she adapts the accent, puts such ferocity in her tongue as she enacts her antics, and even the physical acting all hold such power as the movie progresses. As for Brandy's return, the actress brings back her chops to marinate in a darker role that shows the fire is still stoked in this actress. Between strong delivery of lines, a fantastic portrayal of mannerisms in an ever-changing body of life, and an incredible inner thought portrayals. Her chemistry with everyone makes the movie's focus on the characters stronger and I felt that she accomplished much to bring the most out of the ordeal. Thus, the character profiling for Solange and Belinda (Hunter and Norwood respectively), is quite endearing and by far the pillar holding much of the movie up.

DISLIKES:

Practically Goes Nowhere

Not Scary/Thrilling

Repetitive Shots

Disgusting Imagery That Is Center Focus

Sometimes Gets Too Political

Warning: Hyper zealous religion May Offend

Pace Felt Slow

One Character Is Confusing

SUMMARY Though there is such strong theatrics and acting, this particular A24 film had other elements that did not resonate with me. My list of dislikes I'll start with is an inconsistent character, Norman (Burnap) who at first seems like is going to be an engaging character, but then falls backward into an element that becomes more a symbolic tool than anything else for me. He was inconsistent and sort of forgettable compared to the other two and that was a shame given how well his first act was. I guess this matches the point of symbolism as the movie becomes swallowed up by the power of Solange to represent the allegory of choice, but I didn't like him getting the shaft.

Once past this though, the movie's other limitations for me start with the focused presentation style of the content. For one thing, the movie isn't scary nor holds the same level of shock value that the more supernatural films like Hereditary and Midsomer (to a degree) hold. It lacks that engaging bite I like in a Thriller, sticking to the realistic approach and dulling the promise the trailers made from their editing. Instead, the movie chose to use more disgusting imagery for their focus, giving us plenty of shots of bodily excretions that are very sad and very inappropriate for the amount of time they spent on it. Though I can handle the horror of it when utilized well, the movie becomes fixated on these tactics and feels like Groundhog Day without the story and fun. I get bored with such repetitive motions, especially when the plot is not progressing to any meaningful degree in the time, especially when it becomes a montage of repetitive shots that are again painting how time crawls in these circumstances. Such limited progress dragged the pace out, and I sometimes struggled to care about the movie. In addition, despite some classy handling of the political topics in this movie, there are moments where it seems some personal angst leaks out into the dialogue. These moments get a tad too in your face, or in some cases are going to get very upset with the way the doctrines are shared with us. Some moments are utilized well and important to the character development and sometimes fall into unnecessary tangents that again do little to promote the story. As such, the movie took a major hit for lacking a moving direction, nor engaging enough content to utilize such repetition to the full extent.

The VERDICT Stylish, seductive, and realistic (to an extent), The Front Room is a prime example of A24's powers to make odd tales others don't quite dare to tell. A wonderful artistic eye and strong performances are by far the strongest elements to paint this picture of such a strange set of circumstances. It's raw, accurate, and captures the trials and tribulations of taking care of an elderly family member. Outside of that, the movie is going to be geared toward those who want to embrace that mental challenge and symbolic adventure of spirit, sanity, and interfamilial drama. With less scare factor and more "shock" factor that gets caught up in the artistic presentation, The Front Room feels rather mundane, repetitive, and bloated with only a finite niche to really thrive on the things presented. It didn't move for me and the focus of watching excrement continue to emit out did little to entertain me, and the other scenes don't do much to move or make me happy. The verdict is... this is not one of the stronger movies and I recommend watching this one at home if you dare face the challenge of sitting through this drawn-out film. My scores are:

Horror/Thriller: 6.0 (better psychological thriller) Movie Overall: 4.0-5.0.
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8/10
The Juice is Spruced Up In Visuals, Campy Like the 80s, and A Jumbled lackluster Story
7 September 2024
LIKES:

The Acting

The Characters Are Still The Characters

The Humor For Much Of It

Some Interesting Twists

The Music

The Visuals

The Nostalgia

The Fun

Summary: For me, the movie thrives big time on the specter himself, and Keaton has done a great job reviving the incredible goofball that Beetlegeuse/Beetlejuice is. His delivery is solid, his gestures are animated and fun, that grin is as playfully sinister as ever, and he just rolls with the role as if he never forgot it. I loved the moments he showed up and had a blast seeing him emerge from the town once more in all his silly idiocy. Ryder plays the adult Lydia to levels I didn't expect, still quirky, odd, and sullen, but losing the teenage angst in her growing up. I liked the side of her and had only wished for more time to see it in its full magnitude. As for O'Hara, the extravagant and overdramatic acting never looked so good in nostalgia. Annoying as it could be, she works it well into Burton's writing and sticks to the selfishness so well and delivers her comments in that dazzling comedic way. Ortega gets a shout-out for being the new girl, and I quite enjoyed her integration into the movie, the parts where she gets emotional showing that same talent of her other work, but never shying from the Wednesday vibes we fell in love with on Netflix. With great acting, all the characters, new and old, belong in the universe and that aspect was one of the biggest enjoyments of returning to the haunted town from so long ago.

Past the characters, the movie holds a lot of the charm that Burton created long ago. In terms of visuals, the movie is loaded with all the spooks taking haunting elements of the netherworld and blending them with the cartoon splendor. The makeup and costumes are eccentric and fashion-forward, the flashing lights and smokey lounges still instill that finality and doom that is terrifying, and even the living world feels dismal with the ashen direction. The music that follows adds those tones at times, haunting pieces by Elfman blending whimsy with woe as the Burton nightmare realm with the bells and string instruments. The non-orchestral work is composed of some very classic songs, and their use is quite amazing in terms of the themes and humor of the movie, especially the song at the chapel. As the movie progresses my fellow viewers crack up as the humor ramps up with some very dark jokes, some extra spicy language, and the silliness that only the Juice could do. The story has a few interesting twists to wind in that help add a little surprise that keeps things fresh, fun, and surprisingly a little more at stake than I expected this comedy to have. If that still wasn't enough, the movie accomplishes that nostalgic twist so well but introduces modern takes that blend well and add the new age edge that surprisingly works at times for some great humor and tactics by the powerful specter. Such balance helps pull more fans in and again gives it some originality to not be just another rehash of an established film. And primary element was... the movie was just fun, and it was an enjoyable time at the theater that thrived in the theater for the effects alone.

DISLIKES:

The Pacing At Times

Character Usage

Going Too Far At Times With Dark Humor

Morbid Concepts At Times

The Subplots Interfering With A Lot Of Things

SUMMARY: For all the phone though, there were some limitations that sort of tripped up the quality of the movie and made it less enjoyable than I had hoped. For one thing, the movie does go too far with the humor and morbid concepts, veering away from the playful fun of death and smothering it with some rather disturbing images of dismay. I hated having fun and then suddenly having the carpet yanked out for some darker dives into mortality. These elements are a bit too gross for my liking and often serve little purpose to the film but another display of modern technology. Yet, these are trivial compared to the main element I did not enjoy... much of the plot. Burton was ambitious in this telling, and though he got the feel of the movie, the story that binds it is much weaker than the first installment. Beetlejuice's second venture has a lot of subplots fighting for the limelight and many of them are portrayed as weaker than I had hoped given all the hype. The woman searching for the Juice is a wasted story with limited effect on anything but a small origin story. Astrid's tale is cute, quirky, and deep, but loses all of that for an attempted climactic obstacle that lost so much steam and died but with a lame chase and an awesome joke. Even the story of Delia's growth felt dulled, with the side comical stories more complete than the main tales themselves. This contradiction means the movie gets in its own way and sort of becomes a jumbled mess of stupidity that though fun was just bland. And that effect makes the pace inconsistent and hastily executed and for that, a less impressive spectacle than the advertising let on.

The VERDICT Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is a movie that is loaded to the nines with fun thanks to Burton's direction of visuals, sound design, and humor all wrapped up into one package. Keaton's return is much welcomed, and alongside the other cast, brings one back to the messy, silly, and dark world that marries life and the afterlife. I laughed a lot and appreciated the balance of past and present to make a modern sequel that is enjoyable. Alas, the story is also a bit more modern, with too many tales crammed into a small amount of time that again doesn't allow any of the elements to fully marinate into the full spooktacular spectacle it could have been. Combine the darker elements and more morbid persona, and you might get a little less enjoyment compared to the campiness of the 80s. Still, it's an enjoyable film that can be enjoyed in the theater if you get a chance. My scores are:

Comedy/Fantasy/Horror: 7.5-8.0 Movie Overall: 7.0-7.5.
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Afraid (2024)
6/10
Be AraAId of the Message, But Not Of The Movie
1 September 2024
LIKES:

Nice Angles/Atmosphere

Realistic Setting

Good Camera Work

The Acting is Not Bad

Does Show Perspective

Some Creative Uses of AI

Short Run Time

Summary: The movie is shot beautifully, giving an artistic flair that Blumhouse always manages to add to its films and provide it with style. Good camera direction helps to give some of the more terrifying elements of the movie, primarily good shadows, and use of corners, and that set up for a good jump scare to come into play. It may not be the most unique camera style, but it works and adds degrees of artistic presentation that I certainly enjoy. As for the acting, the movie has some decent performances to work with the script and idea and they do their best to sell the horror being conveyed. Carradine had the potential to be something great, and for the time he has funny lines and pleasant nature to try and cut through the tension, he just needed more time and development to get more praise. Waterston is fantastic for the dramatic elements, vocalizing the struggles of someone with much pain and regrets, but not so separated from reality to know what she has. Her grief is conveyed well and avoids the annoying elements that sometimes come with dramatic focus. Cho though is the winner, the guy brings so much balance to the film and makes one of the more interesting characters to try and decipher the solution to his problems. He's fantastic with his delivery and I quite enjoy the delivery, even though he could have used a little more range to help.

In terms of the story, the movie accomplishes some okay dynamics in regards to what I extrapolated from the trailers. The realistic setting is, again, fitting, and even more so, a plot that supports being in such an environment and is not reliant on convenient exposure to demonology. Afraid is a movie that digs deep into artificial intelligence topics in a manner that was okay for entertaining me with the potential threats of the creation. Relevant topics found in the news are an excellent medium for the threats that AIA makes, weaving it into an evolving array designed for each member of the family. I was impressed with the creative tactics, some of which come with some jump scares that are thanks to sudden blare of the instruments. Yet, the negative aspects are balanced by some positive components as well, adding some light to the darker elements the movie is about, while also providing some fitting humor. As a result, I found the movie to provide plenty of perspectives about the nature of the AI, and by the end delivers some strong moments that drive the point home about how careful we must be. And if all this puts you in a coma, then be happy that the run time is fewer than ninety minutes, so you get out of there without too much trouble.

DISLIKES:

Mostly Predictable

Not Scary

Dumb Characters At Times

Some Annoying Plot Holes

The Plot is Not Engaging Enough

Pace Is Too Fast For A Complete Center

Too Ridiculous At Times

Summary: Sadly, this is a Blumhouse project, and sometimes those can be sillier than scarier. Afraid falls into that category for me for many reasons, and it starts with the story. Certainly, there are messages and warnings inherent in the writing, but that's about where the excitement ends for viewers like me. The tale is predictable and reduced to stereotypical subplots that are more melodramatic and relevant to a younger audience. These plots are not very engaging, sort of stapled in for the horror of AI, but never really come to a complete, or exciting integration that remains coherent or climactic by the end of the movie. Many elements seem deleted from the main plot or blunted to a concise delivery that felt stiff and incomplete. And some moments are so ridiculous that they are great for a laugh, but sometimes placed at the wrong times to interrupt any building momentum for scares. This winds up taking the edge off of the movie, a boring horror that lacks the teeth I think many are hoping for, except for a few jump scares mentioned earlier. There was potential there, but that short runtime does little to give the movie the full hit they were going for.
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The Crow (2024)
5/10
The Crow Carrying This Film To Mundane Places
24 August 2024
LIKES:

The Visuals

The Acting

The Message From The Books

The Action Scene To A Degree

SUMMARY: Modernization has worked in favor of The Crow primarily in the special effects that such a tale requires. Fantastic visuals are key, using cameras, filters, and whatever other tools to make the dark world feel malicious, evil, and weighing down on me while I watched the film. Such an approach helped me appreciate those little glimmers of light, sort of reinforcing the lessons that this film works to portray. As Eric's journey progresses, the visuals get called upon further as crows emerge in the air (mostly realistic), dark shadows play out, and the action starts to ramp up a bit to require some assistance with crafting the damage being done by our anti-hero. It works on many levels, especially the various injuries and healing of those injuries that somehow display rapid healing in such sinewy delight. These effects primarily come to the full presentation during the climactic action scene, though now they are transitioning into more of the violent kill effects than healing, most of which come out quite effective, with only a few gaining that computer shimmer. This action scene was the primary sequence that matched my expectations from the film, and though not the most exciting, did have some of the more vicious and creatively dark finishes to a majority of the extras cast in this movie.

Outside of effects the movie's primary strengths for me start with the acting. No surprises, but the involvement is limited to Skarsgard over anyone else, and the leading man continues to establish a solid footing in his acting, still finding ways to expand the "Horror" genre he remains invested in. I enjoyed the transitions made in this movie, and he has a look and aura about him that radiates the darker side of love this movie is fixated on. FKA twigs is fine in this movie, she has this light and innocence to her, but drowned in the dark dismay of trauma almost everyone in this universe holds. I wished for more time with her, but the glimpses we get here and there are strong enough to give some great chemistry that helps elevate the movie out of the darkness. And Huston is fine, underutilized, but fine in the standard performance. All of them together help to establish the message the series is famous for, light and love despite all the darkness in the world. It's powerfully reinforced in this movie, albeit a bit cheesy for me in the dialogue, The Crow's modern tale is still enough to pull you into the stronger moral tales that were ingrained in the dark lore before.

DISLIKES:

The Plot Is Mixed

The Action is Limited

The Gore Is A Tad Too Much Of The Focus

A Semi-Weak Antagonist Development

Pacing

More Character Interactions Or Character

A Tad Boring

Lacking A Lot Of Charm

SUMMARY: In terms of my dislikes, much of this has to do with sort of lackluster deliveries on a lot of other levels of a good story. I have not read the novels, nor have I seen the original, but in this rendition, the movie feels a bit too wrapped up in the visuals that so many other things fall through. The story has elements I like, but we seem too fixated on this relationship and not enough on the "anti-hero's" journey to get the full investment of the character as he navigates the dark waters. Many of the character elements feel hastily integrated, hidden gems of motivations, complex deals, and the like that come off one to two lines in a more dramatic theme than anything else. It leads to shallow character development and interactions, primarily in the weak antagonist who once again is more blowhard than engaging. Maybe that's the lore, but to get a talented actor and not let him bring his experience with malicious characters to full exposure was a crime regarding another lackluster opposition. And with such pale and weaker characters, alongside a rather mundane story, The Crow's narrative might be forgettable.

Perhaps the visual effects and action are enough to add that splendor like other films do. For me, the visuals do not offset much as there weren't a lot of scenes that blew my mind or maximized the action components. Much of the action is simplified, unbalanced, and over before it ever really started, often in a quick pull of the trigger and nothing more. Sure, the last scene has those moments, but due to the nature of the protagonist's powers, a one-sided battle loses much in terms of stakes and excitement. Instead of skill and unique sets, I felt a very slogging walking where gore was the focus to make you squirm in your seat, which I think makes the movie even more limited. When combined with the other limitations, the movie's pacing feels a bit lacking and the result is a movie with edge, but a rather dull edge without the charm and campiness of the first film.

The VERDICT

The Crow is another example of a movie with style over the full presentation that hits a lot of movies. I don't think it's the worst thing to come out of theaters, but it certainly is lacking something the earlier entries had when technology wasn't the focus. A good acting crew, edgy special effects, and a message are this film's primary points of light, but they only glimmer rather than shine like in other installments. Instead, the film is a bit more focused on gore and destruction, with cheesier dramatic elements to emphasize the morals and message of the film. With more walking in the rain and talking than action, and rather limited characters and time with those characters outside of this love aspect, The Crow needed more work or a miniseries span to accomplish the goals set out. For the visuals and theatrics, sure the theater will do well, but this one might be best left at home for optimum viewing. My scores are:

Dark Fantasy/Dark Romance/Horror/Action/Superhero: 5.5 Movie Overall: 4.5-5.0.
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Blink Twice (2024)
8/10
A Satircal Mash Up of Genres that Will Make You Blink Twice
23 August 2024
LIKES:

Love the Cinematography

Some Of Satirical Dialogue

The Genuine Concept

The Acting

The Music Utility and Tracks

The Second Half Of The Film

The Conclusion To Most Degrees

Summary: Kravitz's direction is stunning on many levels and the director and her crew seem to embrace the Dark Comedy aspects in several ways as she adds Thriller undertones to it. A nerd like me loved the setting, a beautiful tropical island with a setting that is sunny and delightful, and mysterious and ominous at night. Beautiful lighting and dynamic camera work unfold to grant subtle hints at what is to come without drowning us in tones that wash things out. I felt there were fantastic choices to get the perfect shot that embodies the emotions at hand and yet never gets too artistic or pointless. The various flashes help add that psychological twist, and yet never deter from the focus of the movie like some other independents do. Outside of visuals, the movie uses great sound techniques to help amplify things and often does not go into the ear-splitting violin shrieks that horrors do. I loved the musical tracks, an array of musical styles that fit perfectly on both an enjoyment level and a tone-setting utility that works so well for movies like this. As for the dialogue, again, dark comedy genius wrapped up in one part realism, one part nihilistic, and many parts clever in the way they poke and prod at societal nuances. I liked a majority of the dialogue in this film, chuckling at the quips, with plenty of moments that had me drop my jaw at the lines they crossed in this film. Even better, the acting was awesome for me, and the three leading billings wonderful as they executed the complicated combination of this movie. I quite enjoyed Shawkat's performance as the best friend, the silliness balanced with the skepticism that this role requires. Tatum's creepiness is top-notch, this aloof and yet calming tone that holds elements of something brewing, but yet holds the promise that there is something more than what the trailers showed. It's not the best performance, but I quite enjoyed seeing this type of role that utilizes his other attributes and pushes his skills higher. But Ackie is the best of the bunch, a strong combination of confidence, vulnerability, and fear that all culminate in a character who has her own enigma to uncover. The chemistry is solid between most parties and many execute the writing so well.

As for the story, the movie has an element that is "artistic", but incorporates a lot of content into one package that I enjoyed for the most part. The genuine concept holds serious elements within the satire, a mystery, and a thriller of trying to uncover just what is going on with all parties and a solution to get out of it. However, that's just the wrapping, for within it is something a bit more serious and perhaps traumatic that helps to anchor us to character development. Those elements come out in the second half of the film, the part that hits viewers like me and unleashes everything I wanted and more as the thrills start to pick up and the answers are revealed. I found it exciting, fun amazing, and delivers those moments with attitude, flair, and that edge I was hoping was being built. Rolling into the conclusion, the movie has these awesome moments that utilize much of the setup coming back full circle and ending on that perfect kiss to seal the deal. That was the part of the movie worthy of the theater and found it to be one of the best endings for me in a while.

DISLIKES:

The Opening First Half

The Character Imbalances/Development

The Pacing

Some Of The Asides That Aren't As Clever

I'd Have Liked A Little More Time In Second Part Of The Movie

Summary: However, the movie was not perfect for me and I agree with many reviewers that there are elements that did not impress me to give this movie a perfect 10. The deeper content of the story is a triggering factor that might not be enjoyable for people, though the movie handles it okay, but still a warning more than anything else. True dislikes start with character imbalance, a cast of characters that do enough for inclusion, but I thought would have a lot more involvement given the setup of the movie. However, their use was more along the lines of the dark comedy side and though enjoyable, I had hoped for more given the sinister tones ever-present in this movie. Some cursing and graphic moments aside, there was nothing else outside my main limitation for this film, the first half of the film.

The first fifty minutes of the film are not my cup of tea. A very slow setup, past the first ten minutes, much of the film feels like watching a drug and drinking orgy. With various montages of life, much of the film is just watching the hedonistic charms come to full spectacle with only a few elements of mystery or thriller sneaking in to try to put a story. Does it establish part of the tale and the setting? Sure, but why this could not have been ten to fifteen minutes, or ingrained with more character development, or maybe some parts of the mystery revealed sooner? But this first part was slow and just embracing drugs which does little for me when there is limited movement with it. Then when the transition point occurs so rapidly, the pacing quickly starts to ramp up and suddenly slip past what felt like a very important part. Then as the excitement goes further, it only speeds things up and the parts I relished were over too quick alongside the suspense. The asides that happen too are comedy styles that don't work for me, monologues, and heavy-handed divergences that I already got the lesson for and don't need to be forced to remember. Some of these are funny, but some I see being very annoying for audience members who don't like political topics in their movies.

The VERDICT: Blink Twice turned out to be one of those surprises of the season and I was enamored by much of what Kravitz has executed with her movie. Strong artistic directions and clever writing respect all the genres that are crammed into this film, and I think help establish a more realistic thriller than most films have. The strong acting and a fantastic second half that brings that satisfaction are the best parts of the movie and are worth viewing no matter where you choose to see it. However, the first half of the film might be a limit and was the biggest dislike for me in this film. A rather bland drug fest that didn't quite mirror a good preface, nor did it engage me like the second half, I would have liked Kravitz to skip the spectacle indulgences and have that wit she showed through most of the films. With a few imbalanced and limited character development and some asides that might not work, these are the primary elements I think to take away from a strong movie. Thus, looking at it all, I think this film is worth a theater visit if you are looking for a surprise, but again, please use caution for some of the topics that are addressed in this film. My scores are:

Dark Comedy/Thriller/Mystery: 8.5 Movie Overall: 7.5-8.0.
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8/10
Bloody Chills, Horror Like Thrills, and Fan Fables Rise To The Occasion
16 August 2024
LIKES:

The Graphics

The Sound Editing

A Few Of The Characters

The Thrilling Pace

The Story Is Better Than Anticipated

Some New Twists With Some Quality Skill

Acting

A Cool Action Scene

SUMMARY: Alien did amazing things in those first movies, but the modern-day technological prowess accomplished so much to bring the world to life. Fantastic graphics combined with practical effects have once more built an incredibly horrifying world that feels desolate, cold, and dangerous as our "heroes" progress. The various forms of the aliens have fluid movements, with much more attention to detail that emphasizes the Xenomorph anatomy to higher degrees. Throw in solid technical effects of the station, and new ways to bend water and light to craft a flooded field, among other components and we have a winner when it comes to making the world feel realistic. A personal victory was paying enough attention to detail to not interrupt the graphics of the films that preceded them (a nice nerd touch). As for the carnage, yeah it's pretty vicious and right on point for the fans loving the immersion involved with visceral destruction.

In regards to the tale, Alvarez surprised me with his way of blending the universe into a cohesive story that is familiar, but still a different take from Ripley's campaigns. Several characters have enough merit to attach to and root in hopes they survive the ordeal or at least pull off an awesome move. Their background stories have some depth, we have some tension, and it helps to flesh out the typical guys and girls who venture into the Xenomorph gauntlet. Good acting by some solid leads helps to sell the characters with Jonsson and Spaeny being my favorite in how well they take on their character's mannerisms and the chemistry they share with the others. Tough, vulnerable, emotional, and contained, it was a solid balance for me the likes of which I haven't seen in this franchise in a very long time. The actual plot has got some interesting angles, taking what seemed like a simple synopsis and conforming it into something that helps expand on the universe, pulling inspiration from several other films that play well to the lore. It incorporates good details and has that scientific premise the series has thrived on. Yet the science doesn't detract from the bout of survival that this movie is advertised as. Romulus has plenty of those classic Alien thrills as they do their best to accomplish their goals amidst the derelict space station. There are some decent action sequences, some thrilling scare components, and plenty of that Xenomorph finesse that the fanbase has grown to love. It's got a little bit of everything from several films that adds that homage factor a nerd like me loves.

DISLIKES:

Predictable

More Time With Several Characters

More Of The Station Could Have Been Seen

The Ending's Twist

The Ending's Bloating Of The Time

A Few Plot Stretches

SUMMARY: However, the tale is not devoid of predictability, which thanks to the extensive advertising has resulted in a lot of the deaths and tales being very predictable. If you've avoided the scenes or forgotten the trailers you're in luck, but overexposure takes away part of the suspense that a series thrives on. In addition, I felt there was more to do with the characters, but several felt kind of shortchanged and reduced them to more fodder than meaningful characters. More action and suspense with the characters were welcome, alongside more time to see what else the station had to offer and potentially unveil more of the horror that would culminate in the big reveal. Yet the biggest limitation for me is the final twenty minutes and incorporating the twist into a final bout. Sure, it provided extra scares, a new adaptive structure, and several other facets I can't say to avoid ruining anything. Yet, I for one found it rushed, a bit awkward, and gross, a tad too much from the part of this franchise I'm not a fan of, and bloated the run time when there was a perfect stop point to launch from the next time. These moments are certainly memorable, but the execution felt a bit messy and crossed the line I had hoped to avoid.

The VERDICT: Alien Romulus accomplishes much of what I had hoped to see in the film. It returns to the origins but adds that splash of modernization to rev up the graphics and chaos present in the series. The carnage, the action, the thrills, and the horror have all come together in this film, and with a tale that has some more depth than I expected, it's a welcome addition that did beat most of the recent Alien films. True, the story is very predictable, the full utilization of everything and everyone still falls short, and I did not enjoy the final twenty minutes with the new twist. Yet, most of the film has accomplished a lot that gives me hope the Alien franchise may have more stories to tell in high-quality detail if given the same attention to detail as this one and Prey. Accounting for all of this, my scores for the movie are:

Sci-Fi/Horror/Thriller: 8.0-8.5 Movie Overall: 7.0-7.5.
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Borderlands (2024)
5/10
Bordering On Boredom, Bland, and Botched Material:
10 August 2024
LIKES:

References

Funny At Times

Some Good Action At Times

Liked Some Of The Graphics

Acting Was Okay

I Enjoyed Jack Black

Summary: A video game movie requires a lot of creativity, respect, and fan service all blended into a winning combination that makes a movie iteration worth it. For me, the movie accomplishes some of these things to varying degrees that gain some points. Though it doesn't match the style of the games, the movie does a nice job bringing the local fauna to life, with smooth movement and good textures enough to establish the dangers of the Pandora frontier. Most of the other things requiring CGI use do it mostly well, only stumbling a few times when things got a bit too hectic. The costumes look a tad like advanced cosplay, but they work to represent the characters of the series and help make sure you know who is who. The action also matches some of the chaos known in the Borderland series, quirky gunplay with ridiculous banter as you face hordes of hostile figures. Those moves have those impressive finishing moves and had some of the people hollering in delight. Comedy the movie is mainly the focus of the movie, bombarding you with relentless insults, one-liners, banter, and aggressive dialogue that is much like the writing of the game (though curtailed for a lighter rating). Regardless, the movie is going to do everything to try and make you laugh, and in some ways, it succeeded in having me chuckling at the execution of the lines. Acting-wise, the movie is okay, not really the most invested or curtailed, but fine enough to play these diluted versions of the characters. Blanchett feels in her element as the bounty hunter with a chip on her shoulder. She delivers the attitude well, her sarcasm the best of the bunch alongside the heart of her character. Hart tones down the screaming for the most part but is still all about the reaction comedy which is fine but doesn't sparkle as much in this particular film. And Ramirez is fine, a bit eccentric, and perfect for a Borderlands villain, he just needed more time than he got to help give him more than a comedic boob approach. Jack Black as the yammering robot was a welcome addition, and he was the one I had the most fun with, even if he did not get the character completely right. His styles were the most dynamic, his lines very fun and not entirely stuck on one gimmick that the others get caught in. However, I have to say my favorite part was finding how many references from the games I could find, which they managed to obtain with okay accuracy.

DISLIKES:

Plot Is A Mess

Character Direction Isn't Too Good

Annoying

Boring

Trying Too Hard To Be Funny

Most Actions Scenes Are Bland

Factions Felt Wasted

Not Much To Invest

Summary: My dislikes start with a weak story that suffers several challenges in pacing, depth, and balance which many great stories thrive on. I know this is Borderlands, but the games have much deeper lore and character to them that this movie doesn't seem to capture in my eyes. It's scattered, shallow, and takes shortcuts to try and cram everything below two hours. It's predictable and lacks that authentic character development I liked to help me invest in the characters and their little band of brothers. There are moments, but they are fleeting, shoving any character growth for more jokes and antics that sometimes are too much for me and grow annoying. When the action scenes start to become repetitive, and the finale falls flat for any wow factor, the movie continues to disappoint which no amount of style and jokes can make up for. As several reviewers have said, the movie's characters also feel like they aren't quite cast well, at least to the full extent. Roland is a tad too goofy and spastic, Tina's missing that cartoonish voice and pitch that makes her dancing adorably annoying, Lilith is missing that cool hipster vibe with honor, and our quirky scientist has become more awkward than anything else. Alongside mundane factions and bad guys, so much of Pandora's group feels half-baked and quite disappointing given the potential the games have made. To sum all this up, the movie just felt boring and contained in a game series that is all about not doing such things.

The VERDICT: Borderlands is not the biggest train wreck, but it's a movie that needs a lot of tuning up, development, and studying to execute the project to full capacity. Certainly, there are some things for fans in this film, enough references, comedy, and gunplay to be distracting with visuals that aren't too bad. However, the movie struggles to unleash the full Borderlands effect and resulted in a boring movie that feels like it never gets to the point. It tries too hard to be funny. It lacks any investment in characters, alongside fight scenes that feel so mundane and lackluster. In my opinion, this film should have been animated, and even more so should have been a series rather than a movie. Netflix has proven they can do wonders with animated shows, and Borderlands could be the next series that could benefit from their attention. My scores for this movie are:

Action/Comedy/Fantasy/Science Fiction/Video Game: 5.5 Movie Overall: 5.
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7/10
It Certainly Ends
9 August 2024
LIKES:

Beautiful Atmosphere

Fantastic Acting

Great Setting To Play In

Handles the Material Tastefully

Liked the Transition Points

Pacing Is Good

Emotionally Fulfilling

DISLIKES:

Sort of Underwhelming

Feels A Bit Scattered

Pace Gets Uneven

I Feel There Was More To Be Told

The Ending Is Mixed For Me

The VERDICT/Summary

A story like this will be one of reflection, inner beauty, and some spiritual lifting that will be an anchoring point for the audience. Baldoni's direction accomplishes a lot of the latter, unleashing a torrent of beauty in the movie's atmosphere in cinematography, sound editing, and design. Fantastic acting by the leads with good writing helps to emphasize the strength that comes from trials, utilizing both verbal and nonverbal styles to convey the suffering that arises with trauma such as this. Lively in particular just handles things with such class, working with the book's story to handle the material tactfully, even though there were more avenues to explore regarding domestic violence. The rest of the cast accomplishes much, Slade being supportive but silly, while Baldoni plays his antagonistic role with confidence, build, and believable behaviors of such an abuser. I found the pacing good, the transitions between past and present helping to break up the story into elements that are slightly happier with their young cast acting solidly to explain Lily's story. Together, all of this combines into a movie that is very emotionally fulfilling and left many in my showing crying at the spectacle they witnessed. Though I might be a robot, I have to give my nods for the poetic journey they took us on in the two-hour runt time.

For the spiritual grace success, the story however took hits for me in this movie. I have not read the book, but I feel much of the content was lost in the translation to the silver screen. Despite a good pace, the movie does feel uneven at times, dragging during the setup moments only to quickly fly over the intense moments. I felt a bit robbed that some of those challenges seemed overcome and simplified in this film, never truly feeling the struggle that comes with such moments in life. Much of the transitions were good for me, but then sort of petered off with the memories at the end practically gone, and very disappointing to not see more with the build-up from the earlier moments. The organization also felt a bit scattered at times, with a linear story to follow, but at the same time inconsistently executed and felt difficult to perfectly outline everything in their lives that a book has so much more time to organize. Again, I could follow the story for the most part, but it did not have the full kick and emotion that this movie so amazingly captured. So many events just sort of happened within the confines of the movie runtime, especially at the end, which felt too hasty, underwhelming, and a tie-off that again made me feel cheated.

Overall, the movie was fine for me, enough beauty and emotional fortitude that a night out with a group of friends, a girls' night, or some sort of church/organization meeting would be the ideal audience for a theater visit. Though, in terms of story, the book is most likely the avenue to take to get the full impact of this taxing tale and content. From all of these components, my scores for the movie are:

Drama/Romance: 7.5 Movie Overall: 6.5.
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7/10
Harold and The Cute, Okay Adventure
3 August 2024
LIKES:

Cute

Charmingly Funny

Good Lessons

Loved the Imagination

Feels Like a Kids Book Coming to Life

Fun Music

Zachary Levi

DISLIKES:

A Little Too Kiddy

Odd At Times

Zooey Deschanel

Trying To Be Something Wow and Coming Off Bland

Moved Too Quickly

Summary

Harold and the Purple Crayon is a sequel to the beloved book that somehow is just as charming as the piece of literature. A fantastic and fun movie for families, it holds charming comedy, innocent jokes, and a few adult jokes that are easily G-rated to make this enjoyable for all ages. This sequel takes all of the innocence of the movie and unleashes it onto the real world and in doing so provides plenty of lessons for the world to review and hopefully learn. That heartfelt presentation adds this quaint and enjoyable tone, only amplified by the feel-good music that accompanies many of the "epic" bouts of crayon catastrophe. The imagination of the film is intense in terms of that elaborate wildness of youth and I loved how much they mirrored the inner spirit of a child in the way the drawings transitioned into the items they "semi-resembled". For me, Levi is the star of the show though. Like so many of his roles, he just has a way of unleashing his full potential into the role, giving it this odd man-child that is enjoyable rather than sad or annoying. When combined with the others, he manages to bring a dynamic portrayal of the character without seeming to try too hard.

If only the full imagination was unleashed in this film. A magical purple crayon can create a lot of magic, but it didn't quite craft the masterpiece I think they were shooting for. The innocent humor stays a little too juvenile in tone, lacking the finesse, breaks, and planning that I like in my PG-rated films. The odd humor and awkward styles are perfect for laughs, but in terms of the perfect movie are missing some of the composure that I've seen in other films. Deschanel didn't do much for me outside of a few laughs and some sparkling piano work but feels very underutilized as the source of sarcastic jokes and antagonism to Harold's optimism. And with a short run time and presenting so many things, I think the movie fell flat in terms of standing out as that awesome movie of the year. And though there are some great finishes and a narrative that holds a few heart-tugging lines... it still falls short of the gold for me.

Thus, with all the factors coming in, my recommendation is to catch this one at home with the family to optimize your time and money. As for the scores, here they are:

Adventure/Animation/Comedy/Family/Fantasy: 7.0 Movie Overall: 6.0.
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Trap (I) (2024)
6/10
A Trap Of Lots of Genre Elements Means Mundane Thrills and Decent Drama
2 August 2024
Warning: Spoilers
LIKES:

Decent Pacing Until The End

Funny At Times

Decently Planned Out Well

Good Numbers

Some Decent Character Moments

Unnerving Portrayal of Serial Killer

The Artistic Pokes At Society

Acting is Not Half-Bad

Summary: Shyamalan is a master of artistic prowess in the thriller setting in his approaches to twisting a tale to be semi-realistic and fantasy at the same time to meet this balanced theatrical display. And to an extent he still accomplishes this direction, adding his artistic elements, wit, and unique storytelling devices to have Trap ensnare the audience. This film is more toned down from his other works but still has that unnerving edge at times in this portrayal of a serial killer. The use of cameras adds this psycho, semi-first person perspective that holds elements of being invested in the movie as people converse with "The Butcher". Shyamalan has integrated it into the film too, this flirtation with the monster illustrating the current nature of the world in various points that are hysterical and yet almost as terrifying as the monster we are watching exploit it. Now add the character development moments, certain qualities that work their way in to help touch base with the people surrounding our lead's character and you get an infusion of moral testing. Much of it felt natural to me, not too forced or preachy, but rather integrated into the mind of the mad hunter. However, there are moments where certain characters get a tad more power and focus than I expected, perhaps in a bout of nepotism. Acting wise it's not half bad as well. Pill's part comes very late in the movie, and at times gives this incredible display of emotions that a movie like this requires. Mills is fine when she is on, that same accent, poise, and narrator quality are always enchanting as she tries to coordinate the case. As for Hartnett, not the most engaging serial killer, but I liked how he seemed to mesh with the direction of this film. He feels very much in character with this complicated role and I think he did a great job handling the demands of the gauntlet this movie's story is.

As for the rest of the movie, it's entertaining, to say the least. The comedic undertones help to relieve the darker material, yet not overtake it in some tug-of-war between genres. Surprisingly the movie taps into the concert element outside of just the venue to spring the trap. Saleka is talented in her acting (for the most part), with much of her work being this singing sensation that is enchanting the masses in this stadium (perhaps a representation of Taylor). Anyway, some of the songs are fun and toe-tapping, and the spectacle may be simplified and boxy, but it works in many ways to entertain, with a beautiful voice to match. Yet the most impressive element is that Shyamalan has managed to plan the tale well, giving realistic elements, plans, and moves that someone of a serial killer caliber thrives in, thus adding more to the profiling mentioned above. It was smart, it was diverse, and optimized the concert stadium well to help in this cat-and-mouse journey they were taking.

DISLIKES:

The Camera Approach

Too Much Concert

Bait of Suspense

History Semi-Lacking

Flatter Characters

The Pacing At The End

More Hayley Mills

Too Much Suspense of Disbelief?

Summary: However, the movie still has some areas of improvement for me that rob the spectacle promised in the trailers. For one thing, that artistic camera approach comes off corny at times, with elements that take this constant back and forth that get annoying and excessive when there might have been better ways to portray the terror. In addition, that concert element I mentioned sometimes seemed to take precedence, with the daughter again the focus a tad much without the character driving components until the end where her involvement took some leaps and bounds. Characters also come off a tad flatter than I had anticipated, some potential meat to the story reduced to background lingo and legends rather than actually diving further into the origins and motivation behind him becoming this monster. Sure, some elements are explained as some people just being evil, but it feels like an easy out that is not usually his wheelhouse. Mills also feels ill-used and I would have liked to have seen more planning, integration, and involvement as she adjusts the battlefield to try and corner our serial killer. That would have helped add suspense, thrills, crime elements, and horror to the film which may have compensated for the shallower characters. Yet, this movie was very much a bait of suspense and horror that I didn't find present, nor was there anything remotely close to my expectations outside of the first thirty minutes. Finally, some times seemed to call on great suspense of logic, disbelief, and planning to the point of annoying plot conveniences. Sure, there are some smoothing of reality components that can be understood, but the farther you get to the end, the more you see those leaps to the point that the story gets a tad too fantasy, serving little more than bloating the pacing of the movie. Sure, I like the outcomes and the message, but there seemed better ways to go.

The VERDICT: Trap is a movie that feels like one part Lifetime Drama and one part Law And Order. The combination works and is an entertaining piece, using a unique venue and some cunning story planning from the mind of a serial killer. Its easier content allows this to be watched by many, and having that wit and less blood made this movie more enjoyable from the mind element and ingenuity of these types of people. Throw in fun comedy at the state of the world/society and the artistic lengths he takes in presentation and you again get a dramatic film that should be fascinating to watch to some degree. However, if you are going in here for the next X or Slasher film, then you won't quite get that itch scratched in this film. Shyamalan's tale is a bit too artistic in my books, focusing more on concert, talking, and drama than the actual thriller part. Its character usage, the balance of concert to crime, and the pacing all take dips or are lacking alongside the thrills and chills that a serial killer film is supposed to bring. Though I liked the direction at times, flat characters and a mundane level of thrills mean this movie becomes a slog at times and loses the building potential from the earlier parts of the film. Finally, the extent of disbelief gets a tad too much at times and I would have liked to see that same intelligence and character usage from early on survive until the end of the film. Worth a trip to the theater? Hmmmm, only for those looking for a night out for a fun drama. Otherwise, this feels perfect for Apple or Paramount to hold and present.

My scores are: Psychological thriller/Serial Killer/Crime/Horror/Mystery/Thriller: 6.5 Movie Overall: 5.5.
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8/10
Teaming Up To Leave Me Dead From Laughing So Hard
26 July 2024
LIKES:

Great Pace

Funny

Still Deadpool

References Galore

Acting

Excellent Soundtrack

Surprising Heart At Times

Story Is Okay At Times

Excellent End Credits

Action Sequences Still Hold That Charm/Skill

Summary: If you have seen the Deadpool movies, you know they are about fun, frenzy, and fast-paced antics that the red-clad antihero brings. Teamed up with his X-men "buddy". The pace is just as fierce and fun (if not more) as they go about their quest of handling the MCU/Fox merger and more. The whole thing is loaded with comedy, antics, dialogue, slapstick and more all unleashing the full comedic prowess of Deadpool that is still in your face, but curtailed with the rugged bluntness of Wolverine. Reynolds and his team of writers, alongside Levy's direction, read the Internet, the movie problems, and wrapped the tale into nearly 130 minutes of hilarity I've been missing in superhero movies. They poke fun at everything, willing to cross the lines in true Deadpool fashion to leave this love letter to everyone in that charismatic way. It's loaded to the nines with references to so many aspects of Marvel movies and for fans/geeks like me, I enjoyed finding everything I could from the comics, movies, and more (alongside the jabs that were being thrown with it).

Yet, the movie is not just about the comedy and stammering lines Reynolds has proven a master at crafting. Deadpool and Wolverine have still more surprises and mastery to give you more to this film for fans to enjoy. The soundtrack is still incredible, surpassing so many of the other movies not just in variety, but the use of these songs in ways that most would shy away from adding that fresh factor people seem to crave. The movie is eighty percent buddy-hero comedy, yet it still holds some of Marvel sentimentality to give our two guys some heart and depth that serves to ground some of the exploits that marrie an okay story without impeding on the Deadpool schtick. And the action proves with the right amount of planning, studying, and potentially removing some of the "violence" limits, you can create some of the best fight sequences that somehow stand out in the Marvel Universe. Even the end credits have this iconic balance, not elevating the story, but doing something better that plays right to the strengths of our two leads. And while a lot of this is on the writing, direction, and design team, I have to give it to the two leads for giving it their all to make this movie what it is as well. Corrin's billing deserves a nod, playing her role with the same gravitas as another Marvel counterpart, and injecting other elements that make such a fascinating piece to this complex puzzle. Jackman comes back to Wolverine and seems to have not skipped a beat in the rugged antihero ready to claw his way back to the universe. He's a perfect Yin to Ryan's Yang, crafting this straight-to-the-point, concise, no-nonsense attitude that helps to shut the mercenary up when needed. And Reynolds has pretty much never left the character, only this time bringing even more fire to the role as his character has permission to rebel against the very trends the studios conjure up. Together, the two make this dance of dynamic, dastardly, derogative deeds that remained entertaining the whole way through and was a pair-up that I am very happy to have witnessed.

DISLIKES:

Plot Is Not The Strongest

Super Violet/Aggressive/Crude

Sometimes Too Stupid

More Time Needed For Some Aspects

Very Reference And Other Series Heavy

So many Characters That I Wanted More Time/Development

SUMMARY: The film is incredible on many accounts, but there are going to be some things to mention that might be considered warnings/dislikes depending on your personal feelings. For one, the plot is not the strongest. While certainly not the worst thing to be put together/recrafted, the third installment has a tale that tries to be deep, but comes off as weird, inconsistent, and kind of pointless given everything else happening in the universe. Those hoping it's going to give you full-on glimpses into the direction of the coming Marvel Phases, or looking for that respect towards an arc that will blow your mind need to lower the expectations now. In standing on its own, the self-contained tale is enjoyable, but I can also appreciate the desire to get Marvel back on a fun plot that made Phases 1-3 so enjoyable. My friend and I agreed as well that Deadpool's excessiveness can be hard to swallow, and the third installment doesn't buffer much in the ways of violence and crude displays of debauchery. Those with sensitive ears, sensitivity to very vulgar language, and stomachs not attuned to bloody violence will need to stay away from this movie and the red that essentially floods the screen at all times. In addition, any who don't tolerate ludicrous levels of silliness, ridiculous asides, and banter that could match any monologue fifty times over, should sit this one out. I agree the excess gets a tad much for me at times, but the variety this film brought distracted me from it enough for this to be less of a dislike than it could have been. Where tapering could have been a boon was in curtailing the antics so that we might get more time with characters and stories. Deadpool has a lot of characters who play pieces given everything this film pulls from, and two hours did not give remotely enough time to get the most out of them. Did they serve their purpose and have memorable moments? Sure, but there was so much that could have been done, primarily with Cassio's character. I can't say too much as that would be spoiling. My friend also did not enjoy how reference-heavy the movie was, and I can agree that, unlike other installments, this movie leans very heavily on a lot of cultural knowledge for this very convoluted plot. Again, no spoilers, but fans who know about the politics behind the movies, the pre-MCU days of the franchise, and Deadpool's other films (alongside heavy comic references) will thrive the most, while others may be overwhelmed, confused, and bored by the comedic directions this film takes at some point. Fortunately, Deadpool & Wolverine have enough to mitigate this, but again a limitation for the overall audiences.

THE VERDICT: Deadpool & Wolverine had a lot of things to accomplish, and for this reviewer... they certainly achieved much of what I wanted. Overall, the movie is fun and a solid entry into the Merc With a Mouth's installments that excels at so much of what makes Deadpool his signature anti-hero. The comedy alone is enough to lavish over this movie, but the wit, the action, the surprising heart at times, and the acting make this movie fun. It takes the elements of the MCU I enjoyed in the past, but yet puts that modern twist to defend against the trends and Internet to make a movie that isn't hindered by the world's current preferences. And to give me action and comedy, with some drama, looped in, is a success that a reviewer/fan like me can get on board with. However, it is still excessive, and Deadpool's darker plot lines and gimmicks are more NC-17 than R in the ratings department. Those not ready for the gore, cursing, crude dialogue, and darker elements will not enjoy a film of this caliber, nor will those looking for the advancement of the MCU and X-men franchises that we still await in 2025. It also tries to do so much in a little time and relies heavily on one's knowledge of a lot of things to fully appreciate this homage to the Marvel empire. While fans like me will revel in delight, others without the knowledge may find themselves bored or confused to the level of disliking this movie compared to the other Deadpool entries. From all this, my scores are:

Buddy Comedy/Superhero/Action/Adventure/Comedy/Sci-Fi: 8.5 Movie Overall: 7.5-8.0.
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Twisters (2024)
8/10
Twisting Charm, Fun, Thrills, and Visuals Into a Simple Summer Smash
19 July 2024
LIKES:

Decent Pace

Attempts At Science

Some Okay Character Developing

Fun Jokes

Some Heart To The Aftermath

Good Acting

Impressive Visuals And Modernization

Summary: The first Twister was a film that managed to mix a lot of things into a great storm of character and storm chasing. Twisters manages to keep the pace right for me, fast for the exciting thrills of the profession, but not so fast to not give our leads time to engage and develop. In this adventure, the writers have incorporated plenty of scientific talk, displays, and principles to inspire, impress, and make a "believable" story that gives a little more intelligence than many of the modern-day disaster tales. Such feats give a direction and purpose while helping to extend both characters pact the stereotypes their looks might generate, and for a geek like me, such Science Fiction isn't too eye-rolling in the scope of the tale. I enjoyed the characters, feeling the three leads get some decent time to expand their roles and help give their characters more bite than I had expected, especially Edgar-Jones and Powell who have a fun relationship for much of the film. The acting only further brings the characters to life, Ramos somehow bringing the emotional smoldering of In The Heights alongside the emotional complexities his character finds himself ensnared. Yet it's the leads of Edgar-Jones and Powell who are stealing the show, with tight chemistry that has this realistic and natural flow of two sharp weather fans finding their place in the changing climate. Snappy comebacks, playful teasing, rivalry for getting that scoop, and more unfold with a balanced grace that might be cheesy at times, but for the most part, is enjoyable and certain to check the box for a variety of fans. They deliver their lines with wit and fun, (though the secondary characters are going to deliver most of the funny jokes and knee-slapping antics). Yet, most of what I mentioned is going to be blown away by the visuals and special effects that modern technology has bestowed. Twisters is a movie of prowess, generating beautiful storms, chaotic swells, and gigantic gusts of gargantuan power that look to model the pictures and images science has collected. It fully immerses you in those tense moments and conveys the terrifying force of nature that Twisters are and what they can leave behind. Chung's direction has accomplished much with it, from the opening sequence to the final moments that further reinforce how nature is not to be toyed with or underestimated. Even the aftermath offers a stab at the aftermath, adding heart and sustenance to stroll alongside the character development.

DISLIKES

Predictable

Love Story A Bit Forced At Times

Waste Of Characters and Cast At Times

Lacking Suspense For Much Of The Movie

Too Much of the Old?

Summary: Now comes the dislikes for me. Twisters is good, but it still suffers a bit from some story and edge elements that modern times seem to continue to dull. It's a predictable tale, but the similarities to the first film are a bit too close that some fans may isolate or boycott it because of the unoriginality. Nostalgia kept me in, but the movie would have been good to throw a few more things in to assist the tale and throw in some surprises to mix things around a little. One component is the secondary characters and antagonists being far less utilized, a bunch of potential personalities that could have added some new elements and dynamics to invest my time in pursuing. Several of the talented actors felt a bit underutilized and in doing so turned the focus too much on the three top-billed leads. As a result, the movie also struggled to fully maximize the stakes on the characters when the events happen, dulling the experience a bit that could have helped increase the enjoyment and edge that I like in these movies. Perhaps it's the relationship story that steps in the way, a bit more Hallmark than the first one. While this may be engaging and lovely for the fans who like this element, the movie needed to balance a little more excitement into the mix and the potential fear of loss to help event the stakes and make the moments more memorable. It is too much of the old? Yeah, I think at times it does have that familiarity and a lot of the same elements, but... it's not horrible enough to be the full discord that some might not enjoy.

The VERDICT: Twisters accomplished much for me regarding its popcorn blockbuster movie of the summer. Like most of the summer films I've enjoyed, it's entertaining and holds a lot of elements to engulf the audience in a familiar tale, but fresh given the times and holds a lot of simplicity that movies enjoy. Chung's direction and modern technology have unleashed some of the best graphics to bring you into a storm and certainly offer you a more scientific approach to the disaster movie era. With likable leads, a relevant plot focus, and plenty of exciting storm moments, this film certainly has theater visit written all over it, and potentially with the Imax experience for the stormy elements. Yet, the film's predictability and ties to the first movie don't help to add that fresh element to the tale, nor does the downgrade of character utilization for a relationship story that might make this movie less engaging or fun given the strong front they were building in the first thirty minutes of the film. For me, the movie is fun and worth the time, and for my scores I grant Twisters:

Action/Adventure/Thriller: 7.5-8.0 Movie Overall: 7.0.
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Longlegs (2024)
7/10
Incredible Visuals And Production Value May Not Make This Long Legged Crine Worth The Time
13 July 2024
Likes:

The Filter

Artistic Factors Add Creepiness

Cage

The Main Character

The Mystery/Crime Element

The Music Adds So Much Atmosphere

The Runtime To A Degree

The Acting

Summary: Perkins has done some great work with fashioning a horror-crime film. Longlegs is eerie, to say the least, a film equipped with many elements that elevate the level of discomfort this tale brings to the audience. The camera work alone is enough to make the air heavy from the gravity of darkness crafted in this film. Filters establish that grey overcast feeling to rob the daylight of safety, while the shadows of indoors and night threaten to swallow you up in the unrelenting hold. Visions lit in ominous reds encroach the material, giving a subliminal attack that further peels away any hope as the cases continue to pile up. A matching orchestra score provides further tones of horror, piercing cries of stringed instruments accompanying low pitches that seem to moan as Lee further uncovers clues. Perkins brings that independent artistic flair to the mix, odd, weird, and less-played that helps maximize the terror in the simplest and most horrifying ways. To take something as benign as a toy and turn it into something so soul-torturing that you may never look at it the same way again. Tying all of this together with the elements of mystery and crime adds a layer of realism that makes this movie all the more terrifying in how grounded it can be. Such presentation is rare, and one of the most gripping components of this film.

Story and acting-wise, the movie feels like a crime special wrapped with some Lifetime and Shudder elements. It might not have CGI or eccentric costumes for the most part, but again that realism with enough paranormal elements integrates the horror elements quite to a degree I feel many fans of the genre will appreciate. The main character has a tale semi-shrouded in mystery, with enough clues to establish something is off, but ambiguous enough to seek the answers to the mystery. Lee's character may not be the most unique or deep, but there is still enough quality to follow her in this case. Monroe's acting goes well with the tone of the movie, monotone and cold of someone with such circumstances weighing them down. She is a strong lead and I'd only wished there was more emotion to help that wasn't limited to the story. Underwood is a strong secondary character, his antics well documented with that cop ruggedness, but still etched with lines of caring. But it is Cage that most in my showing seemed to enjoy the most. He plays the character Longlegs, and the man continues to pull his oddities to new levels as he makes the man's insanity so spine-chilling, uncomfortable, and penetrating during the film. His laugh, his movements, and his smile (alongside the movie makeup and elements) are a memorable antagonistic performances. Sure, he shares elements with other characters, but Cage adds his nuances to help make Longlegs an entity of his own that meshes well with the film's presentation style and direction.

DISLIKES:

Needed More Suspense For Me

Very Dark Material That Is Too Real

Not Sure If I Really Like The Twist

The Pacing At Times

More Character Development

Caution With Religion Sensitivity

Too Artistic:

Summary: Yet, Longlegs' direction may also be the biggest limiting factor for me as well, primarily in the storytelling approach that Perkins took. The film's atmosphere works for me, but the tale lacks some things that would have helped me enjoy the film more, and perhaps not limit it to such a niche as well. The main element is that the movie lacks some of the blockbuster appeal to me, primarily in character development/usage and suspense. Longlegs character has some elements to her, but I felt there was more to her story that could have transpired or been unraveled. Agent Carter's involvement was good to start as well, but his "evolution" felt very sporadic, forced and at times too random and hasty to reach the pinnacle. Several other characters, including Longlegs, would have been nice to discover more elements about, and not just accept the psychopathic stipulations that they chose to give them. In addition, I like my murder mystery elements to have a bit more stakes, edge, and close calls to it, as this helps offer some reprieve from the drawl that some artistic presentations choose to do. Instead of having more sequences of moaning music and flashes of the same visual piece, offering a few more cat-and-mouse elements would have done better for audience members like me. Throw in that the darkness of the material only further slows the pacing, and these divergent shots become annoying, stale, and pointless when other elements could have taken place. In addition, the revelation and finale did not feel worth the wait, another artistic direction that is not only dark but also a bit out of left field and rushed with that famous blunt cut-off that I particularly do not like. At this point, I issue caution with those who are sensitive to flashing and even more to those of religion, as this movie crosses both and may be devoid of any enjoyment for the plot elements they take. If this potential blasphemy with this very "unique" presentation sounds unappealing, then I encourage you to skip the film and not risk subjection to this serial murder.

The VERDICT: Longlegs is a movie that certainly holds elements of nightmare-inducing, mind-shocking, and psychotic level of cinema that I've seen in a long time. The presentation is by far intriguing in terms of the environment and cinematography that instills the foreboding emotion that I think Perkins was going for in this film. It's got intrigue and mystery, an ominous darkness, and a true horror element in the way Longlegs works, continuing to bait the viewers to commit to the film and seek the outcome. With strong acting and some characters who stand out, this film is testing new elements to help itself stand out. Nicholas Cage also steals the show again, as his character Longlegs is another dark jester who will entertain in the courts of dark lore. And while many of these risks are rewarding, unique, and visually satisfying, it also hindered the film for me a bit. The artistic sequences of repetitive imaging and Passover shots do little to entertain me or find a point. I would have liked more characters and cat-and-mouse games that serial killers play to build suspense for the lackluster finale. In addition, the dark elements, religious material, and the realism I've mentioned are going to be tough for some people and I warn again to avoid this film if such things might be too disturbing. Thus, this artistic film is one I encourage for a home viewing unless you are a fan of these independent films.

My scores are:

Crime/Horror/Thriller: 7.5 - 8.0 Movie Overall: 6.0.
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7/10
Over The Moon In fun
12 July 2024
Likes:

Decent Pacing

Good Acting

A Fun Relationship

Awesome Immersion Factors

Decent Character Development

Cute

Fun Drama With A Science Twist

Witty At Times

Good Balance Of Characters And Elements

Summary A hybrid movie such as this is very concerning for potentially being too much in one movie, but Fly Me To The Moon managed to do something with the combination. Berlanti's work is a very cute and fun movie that manages to take a very divided subject and turn it into a cushioned and comfortable tale with a lot of heart and quality entertainment components. For fans like me who love a good portal back in time, this film accomplishes the goal of bringing us back to the 1960s during the pinnacle Space Race years. The cars, the fashion, the office settings, and the technology are recreated to have that old-world sheen; with the exception of a few pieces that maintain their modern look. A fantastic cast makes this movie even more of an enjoyment, becoming a supporting pillar for the tale and somehow juggling all the directions into a coherent drive toward the ultimate goal. Harrelson is pretty much Harrelson, a character that is one part cocky wit and one part imposing personality whose tone makes for a good "antagonistic" force to push the tale. Tatum surprised me a bit with this role, managing to pull together a fun rom-com movie with a little more heart and soul than some of his other parts in the past. I had fun following him, despite a few slip-ups and still not quite having the full punch that other actors might have had. Finally, Johansson's acting is the one going over the moon for this reviewer, a stellar blend of comedy, vulnerability, and drive that makes for a very engaging character with incredible chemistry with all the other groups and a spectrum of talents she brings to the mix.

Aesthetics and acting aside, the movie has a good entertaining pace as the three story arcs sort of take off together toward the stars. It's a fun perspective to watch how Apollo 11 came to life from the angle of a public relations officer and see the adventures that may or may not have happened. There are fun relationships, including the main one between the leads, with decent character development that helps take this Hallmark relationship to a level I enjoyed with more interest and excitement. This character development balances well with the other plot elements and does not go too far down tangents to interrupt the overall goal of the Apollo 11 mission. Some added wit with good pacing only further supported the fun of this movie and should be very entertaining for the majority of the audience.

DISLIKES:

Predictable

Missing Some Of The Dramatic Edge

Some Plot Gaps

Some More Involvement with Other groups

Needs A Bit More Unique Factor

A Bit Too Loose At Times With The Background Information.

Summary: However, where the movie may be lacking for some comes from perhaps spreading their hand too thin with all the genres. The movie is entertaining, but it's a predictable tale for the most part and missing that edge and deep dives that historical event films thrive on. While it is nice not being exposed to hyper-dramatic flair, the movie could have used a little more time and development with drama that didn't feel so background information. The details became a tad loose, key moments and obstacles sort of hurdled over without so much as a second look, lost in background shots and dialogue. Other groups and characters needed some investment in time, secondary characters showing potential stories of intrigue that were degraded to cute pictures and shots of a flirty smile and very little more. I felt there were some fairly wide plot gaps, or at least plot holes, that were a tad irritating, but the entertainment factor of this movie buffs things out for the time being. Overall, the movie just feels a little less unique or standing out and may become lost given the limited advertising of this movie outside of theaters and cable ads, resulting in a perception it may be too mundane to give a shot.

THE VERDICT: Fly Me To The Moon surprised me with how much fun I had from this take on the space program. With an engaging pace to drive solid acting, a cute relationship, fun plot elements, and a spread of genres, it's going to be very enjoyable I feel for a lot of audiences. While you'll have to suspend reality and your conspiracy, the movie turned out to be cute and delightful to watch as I returned to a segment of the 1960s. Romance, drama, comedy, and a science/historical plot await everyone who gives it a shot. Is it unique? Not really. The tale is predictable and there is a lack of true dramatic flair and obstacles that movies like Apollo 13 did so well when it came to historical drama. That, with still some lower character development and involvement might lead this feeling way too thin to be the deep investment fans of drama movies enjoy in their series. Still, it's fun and worth a shot as a fun outing to the movies if you are looking for something to do, but definitely worth viewing at home if you get the chance.

My scores are:

Comedy/Romance: 7.5 Movie Overall: 6.0-6.5.
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MaXXXine (2024)
8/10
MaXXXing out on Drama/Feel/Spectacle At the Cost of Horror And Edge
4 July 2024
LIKES:

The Atmosphere

The Setting/Costumes

The Mystery

The Suspense Element To A Degree

The Wittier Comedy

The Run Time

The Actual Plot

The Homage To Hollywood

Quality Acting

Summary: The highlight of this movie is West's appreciation for the history of cinema and the decades that defined the industry. MaXXXine is another display of that love, creating another window into the past of Los Angeles in the 80s when things went to the aggressive nightlife and colors of the mystical age. The stores, phones, and set pieces all scream from the decade, bringing the delights of the retro and what was cutting-edge technology for viewing pleasure. Cutting-edge costumes with that chic vibe further immersed me in the film and I just enjoyed all the effort to bring everything to the forefront of the decade. Add the sultry and dark tones he is famous for, and he accomplishes the goal of bringing the underworld of the city to life with all the horrors such risky lifestyles bring with it. West uses it for eye candy, but also incorporates it into the theme and plot elements that challenge our protagonist in her quest for fame. It's smart and works well to develop the story the way that West has guided this movie series since the first movie a few years ago.

Speaking of the tale, MaXXXine gifts us with a tale I was not anticipating and quite enjoyed. Picking up the pieces from X, the film is a balance of past and future colliding and her trying to address those things holding her back in her goal for fame. This sounds cliché, but West manages to take that story and wrap it up in a mystery and thriller that intertwine in this malice-fueled plot that adds "horror" elements for suspense, but also to challenge her fame on multi-tiered approaches that upon reflection appreciate even more. Such a dive into the psyche expands the rebellious character to something I appreciated much more and found myself rooting for her rather than against her like I thought this movie would be. Goth portrays all of it with such tight control, this mastery of emotion that takes her "Goth" monotone and darker characters and somehow spins them into something more. This plot held many engaging elements, and with it writing that was witty, fun, and well-timed to maximize the dark humor without being drenched in it like some other A24 productions. It runs at a pace that helps to amplify the mystery and suspense and gets the job done in a surprisingly short amount of time at just 105 minutes. When all of this comes to an end, West somehow managed to make this my favorite of the three in many regards and by far one of the better conclusions I've seen to a trilogy.

DISLIKES:

Not Scary

The Mystery Element Needed A Little More

Needed More Involvement With Other Characters

A Bit More Character Development With Her Trauma

The Revelation/Finale Component To A Degree

Summary All of these artistic and well-designed theatrics may be awesome, but is it going to be for everyone? It depends on what you are coming for when you see this studio's work. MaXXXine is not scary, shocking, or terrifying to the degree the previous films relished. This tale may have a suspenseful mystery and threat in the shadows of the star-studded city, but much of their madness is left off-camera with only the aftermath to get a glimpse of the horrors at hand. So those wishing to bathe in the carnage again may be highly disappointed with this installment and less of the psycho-thriller elements that Pearl brought with her aspirations. In regards to the mystery and thriller, I would have loved a little more engagement with it, a few more times of nearly catching this mysterious force while helping Maxine piece on how to solve her problems. The plot with Kevin Bacon's character helps this a bit with comedy, but I felt there was something more to be done to help grant Maxine her attempt to face the demons X bestowed her. In addition, the movie was heavily focused on Goth's character (no surprise given the name of the movie), but there were several characters introduced that I had hoped would have more involvement in the film. These cameos are fine, but I felt there was more there from the opening dialogues that West dropped when it could have further enhanced Maxine's journey. I also would have liked a bit more time with the ghosts of her past and facing those demons with a little more planning than how he had approached it. It's not bad, but given Maxine's character felt a little less flashy than the Diva would normally do. Finally, the film's finale is one point that pinnacle kiss to the chaos of this series and the darker comedy aspects that West works in. And for me, it also was a bit mundane, silly, and hasty with a rush handling of a few characters that almost felt rushed for time and budget. Again, I like the metaphorical embracing she did, but something just felt incomplete for me and again not as fulfilling on the thriller level as it could have been.

The VERDICT: MaXXXine is a film that surprised me in how much I liked it given my limitations with the other two movies. West though has done a fine job of fulfilling his goals taking history and twisting it to his world and making an engaging, character-centric narrative that never tries to escape the ambiance of the movie. It's a cruel and dark portrayal of the decade, yet still contained compared to the predecessors, with wit and quality written into the script and acting that brings West's tone to life, this film was certainly a thriller that I could watch over again. And yet, the movie feels like a director's cut might give me more of what I loved and wanted. The mystery and thriller needed some more time, alongside more involvement from the supporting cast to help maximize Maxine's journey and ordeals. Some more engaging elements to face her drama alongside a less metaphorical finish might have assisted further with that final punch to finish this tale. As for those looking for the same level of gore and grit, you might wish to lower your expectations as the movie has held back this level compared to the others. My scores from this film are:

Crime/Horror: 8.0 Movie Overall: 7.0.
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7/10
A Film With Despicable Balance, But Lots Of Cute Charm And Fun
4 July 2024
LIKES:

Animated Beautifully

Fun Voice Acting

Lots of Fun Movie References

Cute

Entertaining Pace

Some Old Magic Returns

References To Other DM movies

Fun

SUMMARY: Illumination's design is entertaining and unique to make exaggerated features enjoyable, whimsical, and it sticks in your mind with the vibrant colors and light. The fourth movie keeps to these cards and has stunning animation that is familiar, fun, and enjoyable for viewers like me just looking for cartoon antics. Alongside fun voice acting, mainly led by Carell and Coffin, Despicable Me keeps being entertaining quips of complaining, awkward enthusiasm, and gibberish that still hasn't completely left me in being entertained to watch as the humor unleashes. The movie makes cute references to previous installments in the film, while also poking at Hollywood's television and movie traditions and the fans that admire them. It's clever at times and brings that magic of the first film back in balancing witty dialogue, emotional growth of characters, and slapstick humor that had me hooked in this series. In this case, a heist and an operation of the Minions are my particular favorites where things came together in the right way to show potential for this series. These moments are fleeting mind you, but when they do emerge, they shine and remind me why I love this series in terms of entertaining fun. Whatever your interests are in terms of wit vs. Silly, I think this movie still thrives in being cute and fun, perfect for the audiences coming to the theaters to see this in hopes of just taking a break from reality with this entertainment value.

DISLIKES:

The Story Is Choppy

A Bit Too Silly/Messy

Predictable

Mediocre Villains

More of the other characters

Tried Too Much In One Movie

SUMMARY Despite this film being very fun and cute though, it's taken further steps from the magic of that first film. Primarily in story and balance, Despicable Me 4 had trailers portray a tale of new fatherhood and a new place in life after some concerns with the new villain in town. It sounds like something akin to movies one and two, but that fell to the wayside very quickly and became this choppy tale of three different groups that never quite reached the potential they were going for. It's a messy anthology with tales that struggle to fully mesh together, with predictable gimmicks and cliché finishes that did little to wow me. Mediocre villains that have limited involvement or attachment to the plot only weaken the story, making a thin backbone to build on for the sake of more silliness that had the younger members (and young at heart) laughing up a storm. Again, this is cute, but such sporadic handling of the purpose of this movie made it sparkle less than the previous installments. In addition, the movie decided to add more characters to an already loaded piece, and many of these have had a reduction in their purpose, place, and involvement that might disappoint fans. Fans of Agnes, Margo, Edith, Lucy, and even Dr. Nefario or Gru's twin brother will be disappointed to know they do very little in this film, with a focus on Gru, Poppy, and Junior, alongside the merchandised Minions. Without this balance or really looming threat, Despicable Me 4 became another example (to me) of a film trying too much in one movie and hoping it sticks.

THE VERDICT: The fourth "main" installment continues the trend of a fun movie that is just good for passing the time and enjoying the distractions that movies can have. Gru and his family are still as cute, cuddly, and silly as ever, and they continue to bring the silliness that will have families cracking up and enjoying being together in their adventures. Beautiful animation brings the antics alive with good voice acting, delivering some of that wit and charm well, but always keeping it family-friendly no matter the underlying tones they set. However, this movie has merged the silliness of minions with the charm of Despicable Me, which is charming and fun, but fails to balance both of their strengths leading to a very disorganized plot. The fourth movie spreads the story out too much in an attempt to utilize all the pieces that make the film have less drive or purpose outside of just making you laugh. This is of course okay, but compared to some of the other films in this series, it's sad to see that cleverness and storytelling gone in place of 90 minutes of uber-ridiculous antics. Is it worth a trip to the theater? Absolutely. It's got plenty of spectacle to be in the theater, and a group outing maximizes this film's entertainment value. In regards to my scores, the final scoring is:

Animation/Adventure/Comedy: 7.0 Movie Overall: 6.0-6.5.
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