Trepidation is the first emotion felt in my first viewing of Zack Snyder's Batman vs Superman. The second time not so much. I can describe the joy of seeing a spectacle of filmmaking like this pepper with great choreography, effects, and homages to not only comic book source material but great films and literature. It opens strongly with a familiar yet poignant retelling of Bruce Waynes two births- his parents deaths tinged with a little Citizen Kane and his introduction to the Superman giving rebirth to his newly unforgiving alter ego. This film cannot be discussed or analyzed without addressing the critical smear campaign surrounding it. In my first go round I feared that the film wouldn't be good. I was wrong to worry. However it does not mean the film is perfect. The reviews for this film are either mostly below a fair score or overblown to 10's from very protective fans. This film is so strongly divisive that I can say objectively they both are valid simultaneously. The editing, particularly one or two scenes out of place or unnecessary, characterizations, and tone are the film's real problems. Acting and visuals were far from it. From scenes of Perry White randomly asking where Clark Kent is, to Justice League post-credit scenes popping up in medias res, a lot more time in the editing room wouldn't be so bad. Manic Lex Luthor is hate it or love it but Eisenberg goes for it. Instead of explaining his every action he uses allegory and scripture. This will frustrate anyone who can't read between his complex motivation. As is with most of the film it won't hold your hand through any context and requires you to use clues sprinkled in not only this film but also Man of Steel. For example there is a strange cut back to Luthor spilling blood over general Zod, that will go over your head. However it hearkens back to the Macguffin codex from MoS, and Luthor using his own blood as such with Zod as the Doomsday clone's host. Kryptonian clones designed with singular purpose, remember? And that is less of a problem for fans but a huge issue for general audiences who may not get the film's many references, callbacks, and allegories it puts forth with very little exposition. That is the true flaw of the film. Upon second view, the ending and story choices toward the end don't improve but the overall themes when analyzed work really well. 75 percent of this film is a masterpiece of art cinema. Feeling more Birdman than Furious 7. Even if you dislike Snyder, you must acknowledge the cinematography, choreography, and his boldness to unflinchingly go for comic book adaptations no one has ever seen so vividly. Don't go in expecting the fight but oh wow the Batman highlights in this is are out of All-Star or other brutal interpretations. 7.5 is the perfect score for this. But for Affleck I will personally score 8 of ten. The fans will survive the public shaming of this film but we know. Look around we are it's monument.
Reviews
9 Reviews
Spring Breakers
(2012)
Spring Break Forever....
1 July 2013
Let me just begin by saying this movie is trash. Upon first viewing I was like oh so this is unconventional, artsy, and preachy but weak in standard storytelling markers. Its like a long music video or an extended trailer. Then I let it marinate.
This film is only genius, BECAUSE its trash.
If you hate this movie, like I was about to- then guess what, you're supposed to. The movie begins with 4 girls. Faith and three other nameless bimbos try to escape the commonality of college life and for faith her overbearing religious surroundings for some time of fun on spring break. And right from the jump the movie asks, what would you do to escape. Three of the girls rob this place for "a good cause" and at first you the audience are supposed to think and sympathize with their thinking but hope they get set on the straight and narrow. However this movie employs a different tactic, Harmony Korrine (KIDS) takes the anarchy of youth and cranks it to Sodom and Gomorrah-like levels to make not only the characters but you ask: When do we say when its enough, when should we walk away, when should we turn this off? The characters kept this psychotic high regard for spring break and told themselves that they can do anything they want with no consequences cause "its like a video game" so nothing matters. It should be said that the intention behind the film is to make us question what that limit is, though seeing that the film is rated R; Harmony's target audience can't see the film. Genius as it may be, They casted former well known Disney actresses in these dark roles to try to get kids to see the film, how ever illegal it may be. All in all its an extremely flawed movie even if some of its flaws are on purpose. Its dark, independent, its preachy, exploitative (Harmony probably wanted to put more porn in it) its 80% visual torture to your morals and beliefs. When or if you make it to the end, did you enjoy what you saw? When did you decide to just go home? Think about it.
This film is only genius, BECAUSE its trash.
If you hate this movie, like I was about to- then guess what, you're supposed to. The movie begins with 4 girls. Faith and three other nameless bimbos try to escape the commonality of college life and for faith her overbearing religious surroundings for some time of fun on spring break. And right from the jump the movie asks, what would you do to escape. Three of the girls rob this place for "a good cause" and at first you the audience are supposed to think and sympathize with their thinking but hope they get set on the straight and narrow. However this movie employs a different tactic, Harmony Korrine (KIDS) takes the anarchy of youth and cranks it to Sodom and Gomorrah-like levels to make not only the characters but you ask: When do we say when its enough, when should we walk away, when should we turn this off? The characters kept this psychotic high regard for spring break and told themselves that they can do anything they want with no consequences cause "its like a video game" so nothing matters. It should be said that the intention behind the film is to make us question what that limit is, though seeing that the film is rated R; Harmony's target audience can't see the film. Genius as it may be, They casted former well known Disney actresses in these dark roles to try to get kids to see the film, how ever illegal it may be. All in all its an extremely flawed movie even if some of its flaws are on purpose. Its dark, independent, its preachy, exploitative (Harmony probably wanted to put more porn in it) its 80% visual torture to your morals and beliefs. When or if you make it to the end, did you enjoy what you saw? When did you decide to just go home? Think about it.
Warm Bodies
(2013)
Unbiased Look at Warm Bodies
11 June 2013
I didn't have high hopes. Its not that it wasn't an interesting concept in the premise but its the low budget "please don't let this be twilight" aspect of it. I was surprised at the amount of heart the film had. My first problem with the film is that it had a lot of plot holes. Meaning unanswered and in-explainable gaps in logical storytelling. However, because of the dark comedy mix genre, I didn't take this to heart. The film is free minded and is more about personal interactions and gestures than dialogue or plot. Although its mostly about the humor, it does take itself a bit seriously at times which works sometimes but not every time in execution. It took me until the balcony scene to realize what R stands for, so I guess I wasn't looking too hard before hand. My main concern was trying to grasp what the difference between the bonies and the corpses were. We never really get a detailed answer, and that hurt the film for me. Even though I liked it overall, I totally can see how someone would outright hate it. Nicolas Hoult did a good job hope to see him in more projects.
We all wanted to hate this show. (Some still do)
30 April 2013
Ever since this show was announced I wanted to hate this show. The fact that I enjoyed the first two episodes surprises me. Its zany, its childish, but its got some chops. Storytelling-wise it has some crazy angles that tie into the original series as well as neat comic references. In the episodes I've seen so far however the only thing I don't like is how far they're willing to go for a joke- like flying a car out of space. Other than that they've been spot on with the references and jokes. If you can catch the callbacks this show wont disappoint you. I still want to see the serious series return, but this has proved that this cast is still good no matter what.
Iron Man: Rise of Technovore
(2013 Video)
It Could-No Should Have Been Good
19 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Iron Man Rise of the Technovores. Art was very good. Lots of experimental animation was used to show the nano based enemy. Designwise it scores high with me. The voice acting was pretty badly synched and delivered. The battles and dog-fights were decent, although some of them are only a bunch of random explosions and exterior backdrops. But the plot made no sense. And even at multiple times during the movie admitted that it didn't know what it was talking about or even getting at. For example, in the beginning of the film the main villain's plan included destroying the all-seeing eye satellite plot device, however as the movie progressed it became clear that the boy didn't know what to do with it; going from destroying it calling it a "transgression," to ultimately trying to take it over. I will say the cameo of the Punisher vigilante was a good part of the film that actually worked,but the sheer amount of plot holes in this could keep me reviewing for days. In the end, the lack of a coherent plot or motive for the insane villain kept the film from moving forward, and kept us scratching our heads at the way everyone responded to his shenanigans. Came in with no expectations, hoping to be surprised? 5/10.
Death Race 3: Inferno
(2013 Video)
In Terms Of Being Fair
27 January 2013
If you didn't like the original mainstream Death Race or its sequel, don't bother watching this. Now if you liked what the b-movie sequel brought to the table then this movie may be worth watching only to see the loose ends get chained up, literally... while also being slightly hard to watch.
Carl "Frankenstein" Lucas(Luke Goss)is finally able to get out of prison if he wins "one last race" except since the Weyland company is bought out by a whole new boss, Lucas is now expected to perform in a slightly different race with a slim promise of freedom.
All the characters from the prequel are here and while its fun seeing them together there is a lot of cheesy moments where a lot of the tension from the last film is distastefully undone and the audience is left wondering "well what next?."
The main villain is a one dimensional prick. There is a lot of unnecessary use of the F-word in odd dialogue. I mean the dialogue is bad at times. The action is pretty much summed up as South African local ,slo-mo impacts, choppy cuts, some strangely incited explosions, and death... While I can nitpick the movie's logical flaws all day, you can't ignore the bad acting and behaviors of most of the disposable characters. It leaves the audience going "why would ____ do this?" many times over.
Dialogue, concept, and execution are poorly done. The only thing it does right is finally connect the previous films- if not through insane conditions. Its entertaining at least if you turn off your brain and watch the conclusion unfold.
Carl "Frankenstein" Lucas(Luke Goss)is finally able to get out of prison if he wins "one last race" except since the Weyland company is bought out by a whole new boss, Lucas is now expected to perform in a slightly different race with a slim promise of freedom.
All the characters from the prequel are here and while its fun seeing them together there is a lot of cheesy moments where a lot of the tension from the last film is distastefully undone and the audience is left wondering "well what next?."
The main villain is a one dimensional prick. There is a lot of unnecessary use of the F-word in odd dialogue. I mean the dialogue is bad at times. The action is pretty much summed up as South African local ,slo-mo impacts, choppy cuts, some strangely incited explosions, and death... While I can nitpick the movie's logical flaws all day, you can't ignore the bad acting and behaviors of most of the disposable characters. It leaves the audience going "why would ____ do this?" many times over.
Dialogue, concept, and execution are poorly done. The only thing it does right is finally connect the previous films- if not through insane conditions. Its entertaining at least if you turn off your brain and watch the conclusion unfold.
Surprisingly better than I had thought.
7 July 2011
First of all unlike most people this review will not be biased. I'm not a fan of Michael bay; personally he's not the greatest mare in the stable but I can say I finally can feel closure to the adventure that began in the first film. Truthfully that's all that matters. I didn't and won't ever expect to go into a movie about giant alien transforming sentient machines thinking it will top Inception or tease me intellectually. The initial plot is the worst possible idea of all time, and it has got to be the longest rant about false history I've ever endured..Its so annoying and it lasts the first 20-30 minutes.But After we get over the fact that Sam (Lebeouf) had been dumped by his girlfriend and the FIRST moon landing and outer space adventure was staged to retrieve something it soon becomes safe to retract your hand from your face. Because after the pleasantries are over its all a big thrill ride of sarcasm, robots, Bad ass revenge, explosions, and actually a surprisingly good subplot in my opinion. I went to see this to be entertained. Its a film based on a cartoon, not a documentary. If you wanna criticize physics, locality, and even the social standing of women I think you'd ought to check out the cartoon for yourself. Transformers is what it say sit is. And this one "and then some". I could complain all day about it but it was 100% worth watching. Except for Rosie, at least Fox was an actor. Five things say this movie deserves an 8: The cliché but unexpected betrayals, The death scenes, The worm, Sam's coming of age subplot,and the Cole Train.
Full Metal Jacket
(1987)
"Coarse" we take in life.
19 February 2011
An ultra-violent homage to an era where racism and horrid American ideals are the norm. The age of Vietnam and the fear and pressure on the American psyche. The film focuses on dual acts--both starring the main character who is a deadpan joker named Sgt. Joker. Stanley Kubrick has created an instant classic taking familiar cues from Clockwork Orange and Pulp to create a working satire of the dark age of the American military. Most cannot see the connections between each "act" but I can explain it shortly without going through every nuance. The main idea for the film's entirety is that, and I quote; "though we live in a world of s**t, we are happy to be alive. Because it is better to be alive in s**t than dead in hell(though repeatedly stated that war in fact is hell)." Act one establishes the brainwashing of the marines and (Pyle) whom eventually kill his commanding officer and himself.This sets up for the Full Metal Jacket symbolism that training is all about being ready to kill as if a gun and NOT going back; something Joker has to realize when he is "in the s**t". By the end of the film Joker sees the horrid world for what it is but unlike Pyle, chooses to live in it rather than die for he is not afraid.
Death Race 2
(2010 Video)
the Best Straight to DVD title out there!
26 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I wasn't expecting much out of the film but wow I was impressed. Great dialogue, passionate characters, under generic outcomes and scenarios, cameo from the other titles, and a well bloodied story. My only faults with this are continuity based:
Lists' ending(he wouldn't have done that), Danny Trejo's and Tanit Phoenix's characters surviving at the end (not referenced in the 1st film), The rivalry between Machine Gun Joe didn't exist yet either, and the fact that much of the film's villain (Ving Rhames) was never seen in the first film or even referenced--in dialogue the Warden Hennessy from the first film tries to say she created it but they were prepared for that. all in all an excellent film with a great ending that would've been worthy for theaters. 8 out of 10; 7.5 out of 10.
Lists' ending(he wouldn't have done that), Danny Trejo's and Tanit Phoenix's characters surviving at the end (not referenced in the 1st film), The rivalry between Machine Gun Joe didn't exist yet either, and the fact that much of the film's villain (Ving Rhames) was never seen in the first film or even referenced--in dialogue the Warden Hennessy from the first film tries to say she created it but they were prepared for that. all in all an excellent film with a great ending that would've been worthy for theaters. 8 out of 10; 7.5 out of 10.
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