I'm not usually a fan of the sport film genre but I was very interested in the story and I love biopic films so I saw it and I really liked it.
I wasn't overly interested in the racing scenes or the facts about cars but the story kept me interested throughout the whole film. Once I knew what direction the film was headed it, I understood the story perfectly. James Mangold nailed it as director and the direction he took it in felt like the perfect way to tell this story.
Christian Bale and Matt Damon give fantastic performances and portray their characters perfectly. Especially Bale. I also really liked the subtle humour subjected in places and the production of the 1960s setting. It was so believable and the car designs were spot on.
Now I know I said I wasn't particularly interested in the racing scenes but what I was really impressed by was how realistic they were. There were a lot of scenes which made me wonder how they made this film.
Now although I really like this film, there's one thing I didn't like and that was the ending. Now I know Ken Miles died in real life but the way it was executed so metaphorically cheap and out of place. They could have easily ended it after he finishes the final race then say he died in the fact cards that come up before the credits in biopic films. Instead what they did just felt cheap, unnecessary and out of place like they needed more scenes to make up for the remaining runtime.
Overall, besides the ending, this is a fantastically directed and acted film that I'd highly recommend to everyone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Friday, December 13, 2019
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Knives out
I love a good whodunit and mystery film so I was really looking forward to this film being released but what I did not realise was how brilliant it was going to be.
I'm very unfamiliar with Rian Johnson's previous work besides Star Wars: The Last Jedi (which by the way I didn't think was as bad as people say it is) but he has created one of the best films of this year.
If I had to describe this film in one word, it would be unique. The directing style; unique. The characters; unique. The twists; unique. It's a very unique and one of a kind film that we may never get again. I say that coz this was perfectly cast and just so fun to watch. There are characters who are just so unlikable but that also helps the film work. There's even a piece of scripting about a doughnut that is somehow written so hilariously.
What impressed me further was it twists it's own twists. Daniel Craig plays someone who's supposed to be an amazing investigator but comes across so naive and dumb but ends up showing how brilliant he is. The story seems to reveal the conclusion halfway through the film and ends up revealing not all is it seems. Everything this film does is so clever, so funny and it never ever comes off as unconvincing or forced.
For once I can't even say anything bad about this film. I enjoyed it so much and I couldn't find any bad moments in it. It doesn't over do it with the humour, it doesn't overdo the twists. It keeps the story simple whilst adding in the twists so it doesn't convolute the story.
Overall this is the most fun film of this year. It's fun, cleverly written, has a brilliant cast and is always entertaining. I'd highly recommend this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm very unfamiliar with Rian Johnson's previous work besides Star Wars: The Last Jedi (which by the way I didn't think was as bad as people say it is) but he has created one of the best films of this year.
If I had to describe this film in one word, it would be unique. The directing style; unique. The characters; unique. The twists; unique. It's a very unique and one of a kind film that we may never get again. I say that coz this was perfectly cast and just so fun to watch. There are characters who are just so unlikable but that also helps the film work. There's even a piece of scripting about a doughnut that is somehow written so hilariously.
What impressed me further was it twists it's own twists. Daniel Craig plays someone who's supposed to be an amazing investigator but comes across so naive and dumb but ends up showing how brilliant he is. The story seems to reveal the conclusion halfway through the film and ends up revealing not all is it seems. Everything this film does is so clever, so funny and it never ever comes off as unconvincing or forced.
For once I can't even say anything bad about this film. I enjoyed it so much and I couldn't find any bad moments in it. It doesn't over do it with the humour, it doesn't overdo the twists. It keeps the story simple whilst adding in the twists so it doesn't convolute the story.
Overall this is the most fun film of this year. It's fun, cleverly written, has a brilliant cast and is always entertaining. I'd highly recommend this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Frozen 2
Now I love frozen so when a sequel was announced, I really wasn't sure if it was necessary. The first one worked so well as a standalone film with a wonderful conclusion. Now before I give my verdict on Frozen 2, I want to give a brief verdict on the first frozen.
First the animation was just stunning, the themes explored in the film were powerfully executed, the songs were brilliantly written and fantastically sung and the final twist at the end was such a clever plot point that worked so well. Also surprisingly, my favourite song wasn't Let it go, it was actually For the first time in forever. I think Kristen bell sings it so beautifully whereas Let it go I feel is more impactful is you watch the film.
Now I do have one little criticism for the first film and that's the character of Olaf. He's so likable and sweet and Josh Gad plays him brilliantly but he's only used for comedy. He has no vital plot in the film. You could just take him out of the film and it would not have gone any different. We'd have got the exact same film without Olaf. Also Olaf got the weakest song in the whole film.
Now my verdict on frozen 2; I liked it but I didn't love it. As always the animation was just stunning, the vocal performances and voice acting was fantastic, especially Kristoff. He got one of the best songs in the whole film and he's got a fantastic voice. I also preferred Olaf in Frozen 2 because as well as some standout comedy, the main stand out is his unique interpretation of the first film, he also gets a nice subplot that a lot of young people can relate to.
I also like how it ended with Anna and Elsa's different new directions. Particularly with Elsa, it felt quite an interesting move and a move that also makes sense for the character.
Now it's time for the criticisms; First the plot definitely was not as strong as the first film. If I had to describe it in one word, I'd say underdeveloped. I say that because it feels like the whole film is building up to a climax that reaches the stakes of the first film but it ended up leaving me feel underwhelmed.
Another criticism for me are the songs. Whereas most of the songs in the first film were so memorable and impactful, the songs in this film just felt so forgettable. Also with some of them, it felt the actors put too much range into their vocal performances like they were trying too hard to make them standout and once again, Olaf gets the weakest song in the whole film.
One final critique is I felt we didn't got enough of Kristoff. In the first film, he had the right amount of screentime without feeling overused and was vital to the plot. This film Kristoff just didn't feel that needed for the plot. Like Olaf in Frozen, if you take Kristoff out of Frozen 2, we'd still get the exact same version of Frozen 2. Nothing would change.
Overall this is a fun, likable, beautifully animated and entertaining sequel that although isn't as good as the first film and has some flaws, it's still good enough to be enjoyed.
⭐⭐⭐
First the animation was just stunning, the themes explored in the film were powerfully executed, the songs were brilliantly written and fantastically sung and the final twist at the end was such a clever plot point that worked so well. Also surprisingly, my favourite song wasn't Let it go, it was actually For the first time in forever. I think Kristen bell sings it so beautifully whereas Let it go I feel is more impactful is you watch the film.
Now I do have one little criticism for the first film and that's the character of Olaf. He's so likable and sweet and Josh Gad plays him brilliantly but he's only used for comedy. He has no vital plot in the film. You could just take him out of the film and it would not have gone any different. We'd have got the exact same film without Olaf. Also Olaf got the weakest song in the whole film.
Now my verdict on frozen 2; I liked it but I didn't love it. As always the animation was just stunning, the vocal performances and voice acting was fantastic, especially Kristoff. He got one of the best songs in the whole film and he's got a fantastic voice. I also preferred Olaf in Frozen 2 because as well as some standout comedy, the main stand out is his unique interpretation of the first film, he also gets a nice subplot that a lot of young people can relate to.
I also like how it ended with Anna and Elsa's different new directions. Particularly with Elsa, it felt quite an interesting move and a move that also makes sense for the character.
Now it's time for the criticisms; First the plot definitely was not as strong as the first film. If I had to describe it in one word, I'd say underdeveloped. I say that because it feels like the whole film is building up to a climax that reaches the stakes of the first film but it ended up leaving me feel underwhelmed.
Another criticism for me are the songs. Whereas most of the songs in the first film were so memorable and impactful, the songs in this film just felt so forgettable. Also with some of them, it felt the actors put too much range into their vocal performances like they were trying too hard to make them standout and once again, Olaf gets the weakest song in the whole film.
One final critique is I felt we didn't got enough of Kristoff. In the first film, he had the right amount of screentime without feeling overused and was vital to the plot. This film Kristoff just didn't feel that needed for the plot. Like Olaf in Frozen, if you take Kristoff out of Frozen 2, we'd still get the exact same version of Frozen 2. Nothing would change.
Overall this is a fun, likable, beautifully animated and entertaining sequel that although isn't as good as the first film and has some flaws, it's still good enough to be enjoyed.
⭐⭐⭐
Saturday, November 23, 2019
21 Bridges
This film isn't really my sort of genre but with Chadwick boseman in the lead role, it got me excited so I saw it and I've got to be honest, I was quite disappointed.
I'll start with the positives and the standout is the impressive cast. As well as Chadwick boseman, you have Sienna Miller, JK Simmons, Taylor Kitsch etc and they all give some fantastic performances. Also the action we got was directed quite nicely and were thoroughly entertaining.
Now that's all the positives I can give because the rest of it falls flat. First it feels like director Brian Kirk is trying to tell two stories into one; one story about the cops trying to track down two cop killers and bring them to justice and a story about corrupt cops and unfortunately it's not executed well.
If it was just the former, it would have been a better film but because they added in the corrupt cop story, it feels jumbled up, underdeveloped and quite rushed towards the end. I think a different director like Martin Scorsese would have been better for this film if that's the story they wanted to do.
Also the characters aren't great. The majority of them feel bland and very underdeveloped and Chadwick Bosemans character Andre Davis had the potential to be an interesting character but all we got was a brief flashback scene and a scene with him caring for his mother and nothing else for the rest of the film. It felt really forced and a bit disappointment.
What frustrated me the most was the trailer made this out to be a big cop thriller combined with character study and though it was entertaining, it certainly wasn't thrilling or exciting. Just dull, bland and very forgettable.
Overall this is a disappointing, underdeveloped and forgettable attempt at a cop thriller which fantastic performances can't make up for.
⭐⭐
Friday, November 22, 2019
The Good Liar
This is a film I've wanted to see since I saw the trailer. It looked like a really nice love story and I'm a sucker for a love story. However what I saw really surprised me. In a good way. I'm gonna try not reveal spoilers as this films has a lot of twists.
This was such a charming and interesting film. I was never bored or disinterested. Ian Mckellan playing a career con man who begins to really fall for his next potential victim played by Helen Mirren. These two leads had such fantastic onscreen chemistry. When they first meet, it feels like they've known each other for much longer. Even though you know McKellans character has ulterior motives, there are some very sweet scenes between these two.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this film that at times you can predict and others you won't see coming. There's plenty of foreshadowing to help these twists not feel random or sudden. Besides the fantastic scripting and another standout performance by Russell Tovey, what impressed me even more was that the trailer actually hid certain plot elements. I avoid trailers coz they can spoil too much at times so that was a very pleasant surprise.
Now there are a couple of negatives; first at times McKellans character can feel a bit like a soap villain and what I mean by that is even though you know he's done a lot of evil things, most of the time in this film, he's just doing what he can to stop his secrets being exposed. And finally the final twist at the end at times becomes quite convoluted and you may need to rewatch it just to make sense of it.
Overall this is a well written, beautifully acted film with a lot of twists. Apologies for not revealing more but I do not want to spoil this film.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was such a charming and interesting film. I was never bored or disinterested. Ian Mckellan playing a career con man who begins to really fall for his next potential victim played by Helen Mirren. These two leads had such fantastic onscreen chemistry. When they first meet, it feels like they've known each other for much longer. Even though you know McKellans character has ulterior motives, there are some very sweet scenes between these two.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this film that at times you can predict and others you won't see coming. There's plenty of foreshadowing to help these twists not feel random or sudden. Besides the fantastic scripting and another standout performance by Russell Tovey, what impressed me even more was that the trailer actually hid certain plot elements. I avoid trailers coz they can spoil too much at times so that was a very pleasant surprise.
Now there are a couple of negatives; first at times McKellans character can feel a bit like a soap villain and what I mean by that is even though you know he's done a lot of evil things, most of the time in this film, he's just doing what he can to stop his secrets being exposed. And finally the final twist at the end at times becomes quite convoluted and you may need to rewatch it just to make sense of it.
Overall this is a well written, beautifully acted film with a lot of twists. Apologies for not revealing more but I do not want to spoil this film.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Doctor Sleep
I really think 2019 is my favourite year for films since 2008. We have had so many exciting and interesting films this year and Doctor sleep is definitely in the top 10. This is a fantastic and worthy sequel to the 1980s The Shining and probably when of the best sequels ever made. This is how you make a sequel to a film released nearly 40 years ago.
I am a big fan of films that explore and develop the main characters and this film did exactly that. Dan Torrance starts off as an alcoholic still traumatised over what happened to him years and it makes so much sense he'd still be affected by it. This film does a great job covering the issue of substance abuse and how an addict can head onto the road to recovery.
The performances are absolutely brilliant. Ewan McGregor is perfectly cast as Dan Torrance and Rebecca Ferguson gives a standout performance as the films main antagonist. Where a lot of film villains can fall flat and remain forgettable, her villain makes a big impact and is one of the best things about the film. Film newcomer Kyliegh Curran is also fantastic as Abra Stone.
The main star of this film though is director Mike Flanagan. He gave us a better and at times clever sequel to 2014s Ouija and he created Netflixs The Haunting of Hill House so i had a good feeling once I heard he was directing it. As someone who is able to create genuine scary moments and craft superb stories, I knew this film was in safe hands and I was not wrong. He's able to professionally craft the story and help expand the mythology of 'The Shining'. He also cleverly adds in old footage of the shining which makes sense storywise and they are very welcome throwbacks. The editing is also fantastically done.
Now I only have one bit of criticism which is i would have liked the characters get to the hotel a bit sooner than they did and spend a bit more time at the hotel but thats it. The cast and crew gave it their all and did it justice as a sequel to the shining and an adaptation of Stephen Kings novel.
The performances are brilliant, the story is plausible and the direction is incredible. Mike Flanagan has another hit on his CV and I feel this is just the beginning for him. I'm looking forward to his next production.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Friday, November 1, 2019
Countdown
I'll be honest, when I saw the trailer for this film, I assumed it would be your basic Hollywood generic horror film and even though I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, I was not wrong.
Let's get the negatives out of the way. It's very generic and predictable, it's filled with jump scares, some characters are cliched, the writing is a bit sloppy and rushed at times, there's some humour inserted that feels out of place and at times, the direction can seem a bit lazy where characters make stupid decisions which leads to their deaths.
However it's not all bad. First of all, the concept is very interesting. Someone having a time clock which tells them when they're going to die. It's a great concept which I feel could work as a survival horror film, not a supernatural horror. What I mean by that is i think the deaths would be more plausible if they were the result of life based accidents or disasters like the final destination films.
Even though this film is flawed, the acting is fantastic. Elizabeth Lail and Jordan calloway are fantastic and surprisingly, their characters are given some sympathetic backstories which can help connect with their characters.
I also liked the design of the ghostly figure that was stalking everyone who come close to their deaths. It's was very creepy. The final confrontation with the future also leads to, which I feel, was a very clever final move.
Overall, this is a very generically flawed unscary horror film that relys way too much on jump scares. However it is thoroughly entertaining and it's worth seeing at least once and I would watch it again.
⭐⭐
Monday, October 28, 2019
Zombieland: Double tap
I'll be perfectly honest. When I first heard a sequel to zombieland was coming out, I didn't want to believe it. After 10 years after the first film, it sounded too risky whether it would be worth the wait but how wrong was I.
This is by far the funniest film I have seen this year. The one liners are cleverly scripted and performed, the comic reactions are perfectly timed and the physical comedy is spot on. Ruben Fleischer finds so many brilliant ways to make us laugh with so many standouts.
However this film would never have worked if it weren't for the original cast from the first film. After 10 years it's a worry if the cast can bring us the same characters we remember but there's no worries necessary. It's doesn't even feel like 10 years afterwards. They are just as funny, charismatic and memorable as they were before. Woody Harrelson is the big standout with his over the top reactions and as I stated above, his one liners are the best. It's very easy to forget Harrelson can do comedy after all the films he's done.
There's are some nice newcomers as well. On paper, Zoey Deutch as the annoying dumb blonde Madison should, well, be very annoying and unbearable and when I first saw her, I wasn't sure if I'd like her but by the end of the film, I loved her. She also has some funny one liners and even though she's a very exaggerated dumb blonde, somehow that's what makes her even more brilliant and also makes her another standout. Rosario Dawson is another good newcomer as a fearless woman not afraid to stand up for herself but she doesn't much screentime as we'd hope.
What this film does with the zombies is also really good. Now I saw the first film 5 or 6 years ago so I could be wrong but when I remember the zombies, they're all entirely the same as dangerously mindless creatures with some humorous features. In this film, some are dangerous, some are clever and some are very dumb which also provides us with some entertaining and creative action sequences.
However I was disappointed with some parts of the film. First the newcomers were a big missed opportunity. Zoey Deutch got the screentime she deserved but Rosario Dawson clearly should have had much more screentime. All together, I would estimate she had around 15-20 minutes of screentime. Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch only had around 5 minutes of screentime and it's so clear these two had so much potential. In fact I felt maybe they could have done a spin-off with these four newcomers as a different version of the the 4 main characters.
I was also disappointed Abigail breslin wasn't in this film as much. She was only in it a little for the first act, spent the second act driving in a car and even though she had a big role in the 3rd act, she didn't really get that much to do. That frustrated me quite a bit.
There's also an underdeveloped sub plot in the middle of the film that's hinted but doesn't go anywhere like the writers forgot all about it which is disappointing as that could have provided some good laughter.
Overall this is definitely a worthy sequel which is definitely the funniest film of the year with some standout moments, great action and a fantastic script but just has some missed opportunities with the newcomers.
⭐⭐⭐
This is by far the funniest film I have seen this year. The one liners are cleverly scripted and performed, the comic reactions are perfectly timed and the physical comedy is spot on. Ruben Fleischer finds so many brilliant ways to make us laugh with so many standouts.
However this film would never have worked if it weren't for the original cast from the first film. After 10 years it's a worry if the cast can bring us the same characters we remember but there's no worries necessary. It's doesn't even feel like 10 years afterwards. They are just as funny, charismatic and memorable as they were before. Woody Harrelson is the big standout with his over the top reactions and as I stated above, his one liners are the best. It's very easy to forget Harrelson can do comedy after all the films he's done.
There's are some nice newcomers as well. On paper, Zoey Deutch as the annoying dumb blonde Madison should, well, be very annoying and unbearable and when I first saw her, I wasn't sure if I'd like her but by the end of the film, I loved her. She also has some funny one liners and even though she's a very exaggerated dumb blonde, somehow that's what makes her even more brilliant and also makes her another standout. Rosario Dawson is another good newcomer as a fearless woman not afraid to stand up for herself but she doesn't much screentime as we'd hope.
What this film does with the zombies is also really good. Now I saw the first film 5 or 6 years ago so I could be wrong but when I remember the zombies, they're all entirely the same as dangerously mindless creatures with some humorous features. In this film, some are dangerous, some are clever and some are very dumb which also provides us with some entertaining and creative action sequences.
However I was disappointed with some parts of the film. First the newcomers were a big missed opportunity. Zoey Deutch got the screentime she deserved but Rosario Dawson clearly should have had much more screentime. All together, I would estimate she had around 15-20 minutes of screentime. Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch only had around 5 minutes of screentime and it's so clear these two had so much potential. In fact I felt maybe they could have done a spin-off with these four newcomers as a different version of the the 4 main characters.
I was also disappointed Abigail breslin wasn't in this film as much. She was only in it a little for the first act, spent the second act driving in a car and even though she had a big role in the 3rd act, she didn't really get that much to do. That frustrated me quite a bit.
There's also an underdeveloped sub plot in the middle of the film that's hinted but doesn't go anywhere like the writers forgot all about it which is disappointing as that could have provided some good laughter.
Overall this is definitely a worthy sequel which is definitely the funniest film of the year with some standout moments, great action and a fantastic script but just has some missed opportunities with the newcomers.
⭐⭐⭐
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Joker
Now this is a film I have wanted to see done for a long time. An origin story for the joker. He has always struck me as a very interesting character and an origin story could work really well for him but I also understand it's very risky because he's such a complex character, a film could ruin anything interesting about him and this film could have gone wrong in so many ways. However this is not the case.
This is a very interesting take on the joker that just works so well. The character Arthur Fleck becomes a very interesting character from the moment he appears onscreen. You can see he's someone who wants to be heard but no one listens, he wants to be understood but no one does understand him and he's just a lonely man who people see as a freak and stay away from.
Now in my personal opinion, there will never be a joker like Heath ledger. However Joaquin Phoenix comes incredibly close. He is perfectly cast as Arthur and he brings such commitment to the role. You can see the weight Joaquin lost brings impact to the role and that laugh becomes creepier the more he does it. You can clearly tell he's a psychopath but at the same time, he's someone who wants to be noticed and you can't help but feel for him.
The rest of the cast are fantastic. Robert De Niro is great as Murray franklin, Brett Cullen plays Thomas Wayne well as a despicable liar and you can see why a lot of people hate him but the real standout is Frances Conroy as Penny Fleck. She is instantly believable as Arthur's mother and there's a certain creepiness about her.
The slow pace for this film suits it really well. I really love films that study it's characters and spends time to develop them and this is what Joker does so well. It takes it time to develop Arthur and the story which makes total sense for his character. As the story goes on, it becomes more interesting as Arthur descends further into psychopathy.
However there are two real standouts; first Director Todd Phillips expertly crafts and explores the character really well. From beginning to end, everything that happens just feels right for the character and theres a lot of twists that are a little predictable and are very unexpected. It really feels like he knows the character and you can just tell by watching this film, he really wants to do it right.
The second standout is the cinematography from start to finish. What's interesting is the cinematography changes a lot. When Arthur is in my apartment, the camera follows him like it's documenting his life. There's one scene where he's on a bus and the camera zooms into him and you can see the eerieness in his eye's. The best scenes though is when he kills people who have wronged him. The train scene is shot fantastically with the ominous soundtrack supporting it. The scene where he kills someone in his apartment is incredibly tense and unpredictably chilling. It is a full on joker moment.
As the film builds up towards the final act, it does not disappoint. The moment he slaps on the makeup, you feel he's the Joker. The scene where he murders Murray Franklin is brilliantly because he finally gets Gotham city to listen to him about what his life is like and whats it's like to be him. The script is so hard hitting because everything he's says is so true. Mental health in the 80s and even in this day and age is overlooked so easily and not taken as seriously as it should be.
By the end of the film, Joker makes his impact in Gotham City and it really feels his story has been told and fulfilled. He has his followers which stays true to the comics and it's quite satisfying to see he finally has people who understand him and he is no longer alone. What is also very clever is it's his actions that leads to the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne, starting Bruce Waynes journey as Batman.
I think my only criticism for this film is Arthur does these dances an awful lot during the film which start off as nicely but the more he does them, it becomes laughable and cringeworthy.
Overall, Joker is a dark, slow paced expertly acted and directed film that's takes the most iconic character from DC comics and gives him the origin story that he deserves.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Ready or not
When I first saw the trailer for this film, I was very sceptical to see it. It looked very weird and not that interesting. Then I heard the really good reviews and decided to give it a chance and I'm glad I did because it's a good film with a lot of surprises and twists.
First the cast and acting are fantastic. The two standouts are Samara Weaving as Grace and Henry Czerny as Tony. Grace goes from a happy blushing bride to a total badass. She brings confusion, grit, terror, tension and pain to her performance so so well. Tony is very OTT with his outbursts and that's what makes him so good. His outbursts are very funny and memorable and he's a psychotic villain who you just find entertaining to watch. Adam Brody and Mark O'Brien were also fantastic but Samara and Henry were my standouts.
The plot sounds weird reading it but watching it, it all becomes very entertaining to watch but there are two things this film does that really works; Character development and smart humour. Adam brodys character Daniel is the most developed in this film because he is very interesting and unpredictable. You know he doesn't want to kill Grace but he has to so it ensures the families survival and you just left wondering whether he'll help her or kill her.
The humour is also spot on. There's some memorable laugh out loud and scripted comedy moments and character reactions that really steal the show. One scene involving one of the family members and a crossbow is the funniest scene and perfectly timed and all of this just works because of the directors. I'm not familiar with their work but they are serious rising stars for the future. How they mixed the tension, humour, scares and OTT moments shouldn't work but does brilliantly. The tone and cinematography reminded me of a gothic type genre film.
What also impressed me was the film was at times it plays with our expectations and twists them. We think grace going to spend the entire film at the house and instead at one point she actually makes it out. She's seen wielding a shotgun to defend herself and the gun turns out to be a fake.
My main criticism though is the character of Helene. I feel she was underused too much in spite for comedy. She is a seriously creepy woman and has some tense scenes with Grace but I felt there was a showdown due between them but they mainly used her for comedy which I felt was a missed opportunity. Also I mentioned she was a creepy woman but I think she was a bit too creepy. Some scenes made her a bit either non human (which is saying something considering the family are psychopaths) or a bit pantomime creepy.
Also I thought some of the gore was forced at the end. Throughout the film, the gore we see is very storyline and character led but the ending made me feel the gore was forced to make it even gorier. I also at first had an issue with the ending but after reading the plot and really thinking it through, I'm more satisfied with the ending than I was before.
Overall this is a risky but very well made film which is entertaining, funny and will please a lot of movie goers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
First the cast and acting are fantastic. The two standouts are Samara Weaving as Grace and Henry Czerny as Tony. Grace goes from a happy blushing bride to a total badass. She brings confusion, grit, terror, tension and pain to her performance so so well. Tony is very OTT with his outbursts and that's what makes him so good. His outbursts are very funny and memorable and he's a psychotic villain who you just find entertaining to watch. Adam Brody and Mark O'Brien were also fantastic but Samara and Henry were my standouts.
The plot sounds weird reading it but watching it, it all becomes very entertaining to watch but there are two things this film does that really works; Character development and smart humour. Adam brodys character Daniel is the most developed in this film because he is very interesting and unpredictable. You know he doesn't want to kill Grace but he has to so it ensures the families survival and you just left wondering whether he'll help her or kill her.
The humour is also spot on. There's some memorable laugh out loud and scripted comedy moments and character reactions that really steal the show. One scene involving one of the family members and a crossbow is the funniest scene and perfectly timed and all of this just works because of the directors. I'm not familiar with their work but they are serious rising stars for the future. How they mixed the tension, humour, scares and OTT moments shouldn't work but does brilliantly. The tone and cinematography reminded me of a gothic type genre film.
What also impressed me was the film was at times it plays with our expectations and twists them. We think grace going to spend the entire film at the house and instead at one point she actually makes it out. She's seen wielding a shotgun to defend herself and the gun turns out to be a fake.
My main criticism though is the character of Helene. I feel she was underused too much in spite for comedy. She is a seriously creepy woman and has some tense scenes with Grace but I felt there was a showdown due between them but they mainly used her for comedy which I felt was a missed opportunity. Also I mentioned she was a creepy woman but I think she was a bit too creepy. Some scenes made her a bit either non human (which is saying something considering the family are psychopaths) or a bit pantomime creepy.
Also I thought some of the gore was forced at the end. Throughout the film, the gore we see is very storyline and character led but the ending made me feel the gore was forced to make it even gorier. I also at first had an issue with the ending but after reading the plot and really thinking it through, I'm more satisfied with the ending than I was before.
Overall this is a risky but very well made film which is entertaining, funny and will please a lot of movie goers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Friday, September 13, 2019
Crawl Review
I had quite a bit of anticipation for this movie since I'm a fan of these type of films but I didn't realise how much I'd like it. It's very well made, plausibly written and well acted. Yes the plot of a category 5 hurricane hitting where the main characters live while getting attacked by alligators in their basement is far fetched but it's fun and entertaining.
The star of this film though isn't any of the actors or the alligators but in fact director, Alexander Aja. I've seen and liked a lot of his films and like this one, you can see how well he's directed it. One thing I've noticed watching his films is he likes to develop his characters and this film is no exception. The two main characters are very well developed to the point you actually hope they make it out alive.
He also manages to avoid any cliches or any predictable scare moments. There are scenes you think the alligators are going to strike and instead they actually appear where you least expect it. There's one scene where one character swims through a pipedrain and you start to predict the worst case scenario but that doesn't happen either. I was very impressed how he avoided these moments.
The main actors of this film are also standouts. Even though you can imagine other actors in these roles, Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper give fantastic performances. Scodelario's character, Haley is very likable and she proves to be quite selfless and caring when she goes to extreme measures to check on her father. One key element in her character is she's a swimmer and she's able to use that to her advantage with some dangerous situations. I'm glad this element wasn't underused or forgotten.
Her father, Dave starts out as a jerk at first but as the film progresses, you start to see he does love his daughter even if he doesn't show it at times. As the film progresses, the dialogue between the two characters helps us care for them more and as I said before, makes us hope they make it out in one piece.
What is also great about the film is it has that tense feeling that the alligators could to strike when the characters are forced to venture into the water. There are also some clever set ups where Haley and Dave have to use the house to help avoid the alligators, the bathroom scene is my favourite. What's also entertaining is somehow things start to get worse and worse for them as the water rises constantly and it's fun to see them both get out of these situations.
Now my only criticism is even though it's revealed how the alligators haven't gotten into the basement, it's not exactly revealed how the alligators got into the area of where they live. What was also frustrating was the amount of people we saw the alligators kill and they couldn't even kill Haley or Dave. At least one of the side characters could have provided some help to the characters and instead they were killed within 5 minutes of appearing.
Despite these little criticisms, this is a very entertaining, tense and fun film that has a fantastic cast and a satisfying ending.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The star of this film though isn't any of the actors or the alligators but in fact director, Alexander Aja. I've seen and liked a lot of his films and like this one, you can see how well he's directed it. One thing I've noticed watching his films is he likes to develop his characters and this film is no exception. The two main characters are very well developed to the point you actually hope they make it out alive.
He also manages to avoid any cliches or any predictable scare moments. There are scenes you think the alligators are going to strike and instead they actually appear where you least expect it. There's one scene where one character swims through a pipedrain and you start to predict the worst case scenario but that doesn't happen either. I was very impressed how he avoided these moments.
The main actors of this film are also standouts. Even though you can imagine other actors in these roles, Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper give fantastic performances. Scodelario's character, Haley is very likable and she proves to be quite selfless and caring when she goes to extreme measures to check on her father. One key element in her character is she's a swimmer and she's able to use that to her advantage with some dangerous situations. I'm glad this element wasn't underused or forgotten.
Her father, Dave starts out as a jerk at first but as the film progresses, you start to see he does love his daughter even if he doesn't show it at times. As the film progresses, the dialogue between the two characters helps us care for them more and as I said before, makes us hope they make it out in one piece.
What is also great about the film is it has that tense feeling that the alligators could to strike when the characters are forced to venture into the water. There are also some clever set ups where Haley and Dave have to use the house to help avoid the alligators, the bathroom scene is my favourite. What's also entertaining is somehow things start to get worse and worse for them as the water rises constantly and it's fun to see them both get out of these situations.
Now my only criticism is even though it's revealed how the alligators haven't gotten into the basement, it's not exactly revealed how the alligators got into the area of where they live. What was also frustrating was the amount of people we saw the alligators kill and they couldn't even kill Haley or Dave. At least one of the side characters could have provided some help to the characters and instead they were killed within 5 minutes of appearing.
Despite these little criticisms, this is a very entertaining, tense and fun film that has a fantastic cast and a satisfying ending.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Friday, September 6, 2019
IT Chapter 2 Review
This film could have been one of those films where it's highly anticipated but once released turns out to be highly disappointing. It has happened so many times, however this is not the case. Now this is not as good as Chapter one but it is just as good. It's a definite worthy sequel which captures the same heart, soul, humour and scares.
Now I'll start with the negatives to get them out of the way. Now I get Henry Bowers is a big part of the book and the original adaptation but in this version, he seems very out of place, irrelevant to the plot and doesn't make the impact it should. It feels like they forced him into the film just because he was part of the book where really, he could and should have been cut out of it.
Also there's some development of Richie thats hints the character is gay but it's left to the viewers to decide whether it's true or not but I would have liked Richie to confirm it himself as I feel that would have really deepened his character.
Now the rest of the film is pure praise. Let's start with saying chapter 2 is a lot better than the original second half of the adaptation. The second half back then felt rushed at times and the ending was disappointing. IT took the form of a giant spider, Eddie died of a heart attack and remaining survivors tipped the spider over and ripped it's insides out so the characters never got the closure of the evil clown who made their childhood a misery. This sequel is so much better and you definitely get the sense of closure for the characters.
Now let's move onto the cast. I don't know how but the actors are all perfectly cast as the Losers. Its like they were all made for the roles but the best two actors of the group are Bill Hadar as Richie Tozier and James Ransome as Eddie Kaspbrak. As soon as these two appear onscreen, you instantly know who these two are playing and the chemistry between these two as friends are fantastic.
Ransome really captures Eddie's insecure, paranoid and germaphobic personality and Eddie gets a great character arc which makes his death much betterly handled and a really sad moment but Hadar really is the star of the show. Richie was the best character in chapter one and that doesn't change in chapter two. He has some hilarious one liners and some real comedic moments. When Hadars casting was first announced, I felt he was more of a comedy actor and was unsure he could do horror but how wrong was I. He brought some genuine terror to his performance as well as comedy.
Also as I mentioned before, there some hints that Richie is gay which as first seems out of nowhere but if you really think about it, it's very clever. Richie, in chapter one was always the loudmouth of the group, always going on about having a "long lang" and joking about his friends being virgins which can be seen as him trying to prove he's straight. Plus it was the 80s. Homosexuality was still something a lot of people wanted to hide in those times.
Now Bill Skarsgard was once again phenomenal as Pennywise. In this film, as well as terror and charm, there's one scene where he brings emotions to the point where some of us can actually feel sorry for him. Yes he uses this to manipulate a little girl for him to eat but it's still a touching, genuine moment and Skarsgard really pulls it off effortlessly.
There's also a lot of genuine scares and some very creative entities. The horrific old naked lady is horrible to look at, the demon Pomeranian is a clear stand out and the Stanley Uris spider head (no I didn't just make that up) is extremely gruesome and it's hard not to watch it without looking away and director Andy Muschetti really does a fantastic job with these scares and telling this story. He creates such tension and in the 3rd act, he crafts it perfectly. There are times in the 3rd act where it gets very psychological and how Muschetti directs it all fantastically. He's really delved into tbe world of Pennywise and created such brilliant and loveable characters.
As well as chapter one, there's some really touching and beautifully filmed moments between each character and they all get their moment to shine. They also venture on their own to rediscover themselves and the cleverly edited flashbacks really help with that.
This is probably one of the longest horror films ever but I didn't mind the runtime. It felt really nicely paced and came naturally with the story that was being told. The scenes with the adults going on their own journey was a genius decision as it helps viewers really connect with them just like we connected with the kids.
Ultimately there may be some misteps which prevents this installment from being better than chapter one but it still contains the humour, scares, heart, soul and such captivating performances which makes this a truly worthy sequel and a fantastic and pleasant conclusion to the story of Pennywise.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Now I'll start with the negatives to get them out of the way. Now I get Henry Bowers is a big part of the book and the original adaptation but in this version, he seems very out of place, irrelevant to the plot and doesn't make the impact it should. It feels like they forced him into the film just because he was part of the book where really, he could and should have been cut out of it.
Also there's some development of Richie thats hints the character is gay but it's left to the viewers to decide whether it's true or not but I would have liked Richie to confirm it himself as I feel that would have really deepened his character.
Now the rest of the film is pure praise. Let's start with saying chapter 2 is a lot better than the original second half of the adaptation. The second half back then felt rushed at times and the ending was disappointing. IT took the form of a giant spider, Eddie died of a heart attack and remaining survivors tipped the spider over and ripped it's insides out so the characters never got the closure of the evil clown who made their childhood a misery. This sequel is so much better and you definitely get the sense of closure for the characters.
Now let's move onto the cast. I don't know how but the actors are all perfectly cast as the Losers. Its like they were all made for the roles but the best two actors of the group are Bill Hadar as Richie Tozier and James Ransome as Eddie Kaspbrak. As soon as these two appear onscreen, you instantly know who these two are playing and the chemistry between these two as friends are fantastic.
Ransome really captures Eddie's insecure, paranoid and germaphobic personality and Eddie gets a great character arc which makes his death much betterly handled and a really sad moment but Hadar really is the star of the show. Richie was the best character in chapter one and that doesn't change in chapter two. He has some hilarious one liners and some real comedic moments. When Hadars casting was first announced, I felt he was more of a comedy actor and was unsure he could do horror but how wrong was I. He brought some genuine terror to his performance as well as comedy.
Also as I mentioned before, there some hints that Richie is gay which as first seems out of nowhere but if you really think about it, it's very clever. Richie, in chapter one was always the loudmouth of the group, always going on about having a "long lang" and joking about his friends being virgins which can be seen as him trying to prove he's straight. Plus it was the 80s. Homosexuality was still something a lot of people wanted to hide in those times.
Now Bill Skarsgard was once again phenomenal as Pennywise. In this film, as well as terror and charm, there's one scene where he brings emotions to the point where some of us can actually feel sorry for him. Yes he uses this to manipulate a little girl for him to eat but it's still a touching, genuine moment and Skarsgard really pulls it off effortlessly.
There's also a lot of genuine scares and some very creative entities. The horrific old naked lady is horrible to look at, the demon Pomeranian is a clear stand out and the Stanley Uris spider head (no I didn't just make that up) is extremely gruesome and it's hard not to watch it without looking away and director Andy Muschetti really does a fantastic job with these scares and telling this story. He creates such tension and in the 3rd act, he crafts it perfectly. There are times in the 3rd act where it gets very psychological and how Muschetti directs it all fantastically. He's really delved into tbe world of Pennywise and created such brilliant and loveable characters.
As well as chapter one, there's some really touching and beautifully filmed moments between each character and they all get their moment to shine. They also venture on their own to rediscover themselves and the cleverly edited flashbacks really help with that.
This is probably one of the longest horror films ever but I didn't mind the runtime. It felt really nicely paced and came naturally with the story that was being told. The scenes with the adults going on their own journey was a genius decision as it helps viewers really connect with them just like we connected with the kids.
Ultimately there may be some misteps which prevents this installment from being better than chapter one but it still contains the humour, scares, heart, soul and such captivating performances which makes this a truly worthy sequel and a fantastic and pleasant conclusion to the story of Pennywise.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Scary stories to tell in the dark review
When I saw this film, all I knew of it was the title and it was a horror. I didn't know the plot, the cast, I didn't see a trailer so I had no idea what to expect. I suspected it was an anthology type horror based on the title but that was the most I could guess at and what I saw was a very well made and genuinely scary film with a really good ghost story.
First the film is quite fast paced. It wastes no time getting to the 6 main characters of the film and most of the characters are quite likable. A chain of events leads them to explore a haunted house and just them being in the house is creepy enough. One of the characters takes a book filled with scary stories from the house and that leads to the rest of the plot of the film.
Now this could have been a lazily written ghost film where the ghost kills most of the characters for taking the book and leaves just one so she can return the book, apologize and move on. Instead the development of the story is very well done and written. You can understand the origins of the main antagonist and why she is doing what's she's doing.
Also the casting is also very well done. There are some real rising stars in this film who can act really well. You really feel for them as they fear for their lives. The character of Zoe is very sympathetic as we learn more about her and she becomes more interesting. I was also very impressed with the clever scripting and editing towards the films 3rd act.
Now what this film gets right are the clever twists and overshadowing to the characters fates. One character hates a scarecrow so much, he beats it constantly and he ends up becoming the scarecrow and can I just say that transformation was so harrowing to watch, one characters is obsessed with body parts in food and ends up actually eating a body part in a stew, another has a spider bite which gets ends up becoming a spider nest. All of this sounds like something from a bad tv movie but is executed so well, at times you can't help but look away as it happens.
Now I cannot continue this review without mentioning the creepy villains in this film. They are bloody scary to look at let alone watch them cause chaos. Whoever designed these visually terrifying and nightmare inducing creatures deserves more recognition. Possibly an award. The final monster in the 3rd act was a little cartoonish but it was still terrifying.
However there are some misteps that occur throughout the film mainly some cliches that make you question the characters decisions. In fact some fates are quite avoidable. One major cliche that occurs is the characters split up at one point. Have these kids never seen a horror film? You never split up during a horror film especially if you're next to die. The best thing to do is to stay together.
Another cliche there happens is the characters don't run away or do anything until it's too late. They literally stand in one spot and wait until the monster starts coming for them or stops forming before they realize it's time to run. One final cliche I need to point out is one character realizes there's a monster in his house so he decides to run upstairs, go into his room and hide under his bed. Why he didn't think of running out of the house to his friends is beyond me. It's like these kids want to experience to gruelling events that happen to them.
The final scene does hint at sequel being made but personally I don't think it should happen. This film seems perfect as a standalone horror film and I fear making a sequel would ruin it. Some sequels can appear risky and turn out to be great or just as good but the majority of horror sequels don't end up being that good..
Despite the cliches, this is a very well made and creative film that gives plenty of scares and is an enjoyable watch.
⭐⭐⭐
First the film is quite fast paced. It wastes no time getting to the 6 main characters of the film and most of the characters are quite likable. A chain of events leads them to explore a haunted house and just them being in the house is creepy enough. One of the characters takes a book filled with scary stories from the house and that leads to the rest of the plot of the film.
Now this could have been a lazily written ghost film where the ghost kills most of the characters for taking the book and leaves just one so she can return the book, apologize and move on. Instead the development of the story is very well done and written. You can understand the origins of the main antagonist and why she is doing what's she's doing.
Also the casting is also very well done. There are some real rising stars in this film who can act really well. You really feel for them as they fear for their lives. The character of Zoe is very sympathetic as we learn more about her and she becomes more interesting. I was also very impressed with the clever scripting and editing towards the films 3rd act.
Now what this film gets right are the clever twists and overshadowing to the characters fates. One character hates a scarecrow so much, he beats it constantly and he ends up becoming the scarecrow and can I just say that transformation was so harrowing to watch, one characters is obsessed with body parts in food and ends up actually eating a body part in a stew, another has a spider bite which gets ends up becoming a spider nest. All of this sounds like something from a bad tv movie but is executed so well, at times you can't help but look away as it happens.
Now I cannot continue this review without mentioning the creepy villains in this film. They are bloody scary to look at let alone watch them cause chaos. Whoever designed these visually terrifying and nightmare inducing creatures deserves more recognition. Possibly an award. The final monster in the 3rd act was a little cartoonish but it was still terrifying.
However there are some misteps that occur throughout the film mainly some cliches that make you question the characters decisions. In fact some fates are quite avoidable. One major cliche that occurs is the characters split up at one point. Have these kids never seen a horror film? You never split up during a horror film especially if you're next to die. The best thing to do is to stay together.
Another cliche there happens is the characters don't run away or do anything until it's too late. They literally stand in one spot and wait until the monster starts coming for them or stops forming before they realize it's time to run. One final cliche I need to point out is one character realizes there's a monster in his house so he decides to run upstairs, go into his room and hide under his bed. Why he didn't think of running out of the house to his friends is beyond me. It's like these kids want to experience to gruelling events that happen to them.
The final scene does hint at sequel being made but personally I don't think it should happen. This film seems perfect as a standalone horror film and I fear making a sequel would ruin it. Some sequels can appear risky and turn out to be great or just as good but the majority of horror sequels don't end up being that good..
Despite the cliches, this is a very well made and creative film that gives plenty of scares and is an enjoyable watch.
⭐⭐⭐
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Spiderman: Far From Home Review
I have been looking forward to this film after I saw Homecoming. I am a massive Spiderman fan and I have loved all of his films. Yes even Spiderman 3 and The Amazing spiderman 2 and I am pleased to say Far From Home was far from disappointing. In fact I would say it was slightly better than Homecoming.
Let's get the only criticism I have out of the way which is I thought the start of the film was a bit slow and wasn't as strong as Homecoming. However once we got to the scenes in Prague, it started getting stronger. Like Homecoming, the story was very relatable from a teenagers perspective, the fact that Peter wanted a break from being a superhero and be a normal 16 year old kid is told very well and connects really well with other young teenagers and possibly adults.
The story also focuses on Peters grief for Tony Stark and his pressured belief that he has to be the new face of the Avengers and that leads to him being smartly manipulated by Quentin Beck AKA Mysterio.
Jake Gyllenhaal is perfectly cast as the villain who's actions is first seen as sympathetic since Tony stole his invention ideas but as the film goes on, it becomes clear he's a psychopath who will stop at nothing to make people believe he's a hero. The writers decisions to borrow elements from Mysterios actions from the comics is both clever and very faithful.
The humour is spot on and perfectly timed and each cast member is given a moment to have their shot at a comedic moment in this film; from the hilarious relationships of Aunt May and Happy and Ned and Betty (which was just cute) to Mr Harrington being the naive easy going teacher who all students will probably love.
There's also some foreshadowing which seems irrelevant at first but actually becomes very clever and very meaningful when it arrives but what struck me the most is the character development. In the previous film, Peter wanted to prove he could be a big time superhero and he's not just a little kid. In this film, we see Peters vulnerable side a lot as he grieves for Tony and his desire to be normal for once before accepting he can be a normal teen and be a big time superhero.
Zendeya is also given more screen time as the awkward, down to earth but adorable at the same time MJ who is just as developed as well. We get to understand her as a character and she becomes a more fleshed out character. Yes she is essentially a love interest but she's not your one dimensional damsel in distress love interest. Plus Zendeya and Tom Holland have fantastic chemistry and they fit together just perfectly.
What made this film better than homecoming for me was it took bigger risks. The illusion scenes should be too much for this type of Spiderman film yet they work just right. These scenes become really psychological with mindbending visuals and Easter Eggs from the comics and the scripting part of it just hits you really hard which also shows what a menacing villain Beck really is. It feels like they directly come from a video game and it really pays homage and stays true to the character of Mysterio. There's even a zombie Avenger nod from the comics. Director Jon Watts constructs them really well and also does fantastically with the action sequences.
What I loved most about the 3rd act superhero showdown was the drones Beck uses to try to kill Spiderman have a reminiscence of the comic book robots Spider Slayers and realising it the 2nd time watching it, I definitely felt a big sense of nostalgia. I really hope Beck wasn't actually killed off because he seems to good a character to get rid of and I would love to see a Sinister six adaptation sometime in the future. We already have The Vulture and Mac Gargan who becomes The Scorpion in the comics introduced in homecoming, Mysterio in this movie and the minor character Dimitri who becomes The Chameleon in the comics. Marvel studios would maybe need at least two more sequels before adapting the storyline but I have faith it can work and the more films we have Tom Holland as Spiderman the better.
There's also the mid credit scene which is by far the best MCU credit scene teased. With a hilarious cameo by a classic character, the 3rd film is teased which also makes Beck Spidermans biggest enemy so far. and it's looking like it'll centre on a story that's never been told before via screen adaptation or comic book wise. I really hope it isn't a highly anticipated moment that gets swept under the carpet in the first act otherwise I will be very disappointed.
Overall this is a fantastic and worthy sequel to its predecessor that boasts fantastic visuals, a memorable villain and a very relatable story and teases a potentially fantastic story. Let's just hope the film is better than the anticipation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let's get the only criticism I have out of the way which is I thought the start of the film was a bit slow and wasn't as strong as Homecoming. However once we got to the scenes in Prague, it started getting stronger. Like Homecoming, the story was very relatable from a teenagers perspective, the fact that Peter wanted a break from being a superhero and be a normal 16 year old kid is told very well and connects really well with other young teenagers and possibly adults.
The story also focuses on Peters grief for Tony Stark and his pressured belief that he has to be the new face of the Avengers and that leads to him being smartly manipulated by Quentin Beck AKA Mysterio.
Jake Gyllenhaal is perfectly cast as the villain who's actions is first seen as sympathetic since Tony stole his invention ideas but as the film goes on, it becomes clear he's a psychopath who will stop at nothing to make people believe he's a hero. The writers decisions to borrow elements from Mysterios actions from the comics is both clever and very faithful.
The humour is spot on and perfectly timed and each cast member is given a moment to have their shot at a comedic moment in this film; from the hilarious relationships of Aunt May and Happy and Ned and Betty (which was just cute) to Mr Harrington being the naive easy going teacher who all students will probably love.
There's also some foreshadowing which seems irrelevant at first but actually becomes very clever and very meaningful when it arrives but what struck me the most is the character development. In the previous film, Peter wanted to prove he could be a big time superhero and he's not just a little kid. In this film, we see Peters vulnerable side a lot as he grieves for Tony and his desire to be normal for once before accepting he can be a normal teen and be a big time superhero.
Zendeya is also given more screen time as the awkward, down to earth but adorable at the same time MJ who is just as developed as well. We get to understand her as a character and she becomes a more fleshed out character. Yes she is essentially a love interest but she's not your one dimensional damsel in distress love interest. Plus Zendeya and Tom Holland have fantastic chemistry and they fit together just perfectly.
What made this film better than homecoming for me was it took bigger risks. The illusion scenes should be too much for this type of Spiderman film yet they work just right. These scenes become really psychological with mindbending visuals and Easter Eggs from the comics and the scripting part of it just hits you really hard which also shows what a menacing villain Beck really is. It feels like they directly come from a video game and it really pays homage and stays true to the character of Mysterio. There's even a zombie Avenger nod from the comics. Director Jon Watts constructs them really well and also does fantastically with the action sequences.
What I loved most about the 3rd act superhero showdown was the drones Beck uses to try to kill Spiderman have a reminiscence of the comic book robots Spider Slayers and realising it the 2nd time watching it, I definitely felt a big sense of nostalgia. I really hope Beck wasn't actually killed off because he seems to good a character to get rid of and I would love to see a Sinister six adaptation sometime in the future. We already have The Vulture and Mac Gargan who becomes The Scorpion in the comics introduced in homecoming, Mysterio in this movie and the minor character Dimitri who becomes The Chameleon in the comics. Marvel studios would maybe need at least two more sequels before adapting the storyline but I have faith it can work and the more films we have Tom Holland as Spiderman the better.
There's also the mid credit scene which is by far the best MCU credit scene teased. With a hilarious cameo by a classic character, the 3rd film is teased which also makes Beck Spidermans biggest enemy so far. and it's looking like it'll centre on a story that's never been told before via screen adaptation or comic book wise. I really hope it isn't a highly anticipated moment that gets swept under the carpet in the first act otherwise I will be very disappointed.
Overall this is a fantastic and worthy sequel to its predecessor that boasts fantastic visuals, a memorable villain and a very relatable story and teases a potentially fantastic story. Let's just hope the film is better than the anticipation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Fast And Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw Review
Before I saw this to film, I expected a nonsense plot with OTT action, unbelievable stunts, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham chemistry and a whole lot of humour and unsurprisingly, that's exactly what I got.
This film is absolutely absurd but it works. Its not to be taken seriously, it's not trying to win Oscars, it's just trying to be fun and fun is exactly what it is. It moves at a nice fast pace, it never seems to drag on, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham seem to be having a very good time shooting this film as Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw and there's never an opportunity for them to be bored. To think before fast and furious films, these two have never acted together before is shocking. There are also some very funny cameos that weren't announced during the production or trailers so that was a very lovely treat.
The performances are very nice. Obviously the two main stars are superb and their chemistry is off the scale but it's the newcomers who are equally impressive Vanessa Kirby is greatly cast as Deckard Shaws sister Hattie Shaw. As well as an absolute stunner, she's also a rising action star and it's nice to have another female action star in the Furious franchise. We could have done without the forced Luke and Hattie sexual desires that are clearly played for laughs though and Hobbs referring Shaw as brother at the end felt a bit rushed considering they've hated each other in two films and throughout this film.
Idris Elba is another good addition to the cast who plays the main villain Brixton very well. When it's revealed he works for someone else more sinister than him, that's where it gets interesting but unfortunately I can't help but feel Brixton was a bit underdeveloped. First I think he could have been villainous enough without being a cybernetic human. Even for fast and furious, that seems a bit too much in the OTT department.
Also when it's revealed Brixton and Shaw has past together, they seemed to invest that mostly from Shaws perspective. I think it would have been nice to see it from both characters point of view. As well as Shaw talking to Brixton about the past, we could have had scenes with Brixton having flashbacks of the past. That could have made him a more memorable villain. What we got instead was a good villain but I just felt there was more depth to him that the film held back.
What really polarized me was the action sequences. Now I know this is fast and furious, it's in the era where we all now expect OTT stunts. I thought the action was spectacular and very creative but it felt like they went a bit too far with the action and it was a bit too overblown. Even with the finale act, they had an opportunity to do a sequence where less is more but they threw that away for more explosions and action.
Also bringing fast cars into the mix seemed a bit forced for me to bring nostalgia and what the series is known for. Hobbs and Shaw are not Dominic Toretto and his crew. They're not interested in fast cars. Only guns or a nice cold can of whoopass. There are some seeds planted for a sequel which is quite risky but hopefully it all pans out.
Overall this is a very funny action packed fun film with charismatic leads and a good enough villain with some missteps but since this is just supposed to be a fun film and nothing too serious, it doesn't hold back the film too much.
⭐⭐⭐
Friday, August 9, 2019
The Lion King review
When it was announced a live action remake was going to happen, I was mildly intrigued. Then Jon Favreau was announced as the director and I was officially excited. He did a fantastic job with the jungle book so I had faith in the movie. I defended it, I told people to wait for it to come out before judging it, I was confident it would be a great film. Then I saw it and walked out just before the 3rd act.
I have never been so disappointed watching a film. I became bored once Simba and Mufasa were patrolling Pride Rock. What made the Jungle book so fantastic was it told the same story but in a different way. It gave the characters more development and motivations. It had so much heart and originality at times and the only thing I can praise of this film is the visuals and design of the characters.
In no exaggeration, this remake is more than a shot for shot remake. It is quite literally a exact copy of the original. Exact same script. Exact same score. Exact same music and songs. Exact same story. There is nothing new whatsoever. It's like the makers put the original copy into a live action projector and waited months to build it all up. What angers me more is when you watch it, it's clear there was no effort made and they made it just for a summer cash grab.
Watching this, I found so many ways they could have made it new fresh and still faithful. They could have made Scar a villain with a redemption arc, they could have made Simba aware of Scars villainous ways but can't prove it, they could have explored why Scar hates Mufasa and why he's an outcast, we could have seen how Timon and Pumba first met and how they became friends, we could have even see Simbas journey growing up once he meets Timon and Pumba but no, they chose the lazy route.
The fact this film is a exact rehash, the emotional scenes all feel cheapened and quite frankly, very dull. Scar, in this film, is very dull, boring and a one note villain whereas Scar, in the original was a multi complex character with humorous one liners, cunning and charisma.
Now I don't like criticising acting. I defend actors all the time but on this occasion, it's necessary. The best actors in the film is Seth Rogen as Pumba and Billy Eichner as Timon. They are easily the best actors and the best thing about this film. They manage to get through a predictable script very well and quite humorously but not as funny as I would have hoped. James earl Jones as Mufasa is a nice throwback to the original but that's it. Chiwetel Ejiofor is such a talented actor but his performance is very one note and very bland though he's not entirely to blame when he's basically just repeating lines from the original.
The rest of the actors such as JD McCrary and Donald Glover as Simba, Beyonce Knowles as Nala and John Oliver (him especially) sound like they're reading the script whilst recording their lines. The worst thing about having an exact same script is at times during the film, it doesn't make sense such as the new rendition of "i just cant wait to be king" and Simba and Nalas play fighting. Its small and minor but still noticeable.
Ultimately this film could have had so much potential and could have been a massive mega hit like The Jungle book was but instead it's a lazily produced and dull remake with good visuals but no heart or soul.
⭐⭐
I have never been so disappointed watching a film. I became bored once Simba and Mufasa were patrolling Pride Rock. What made the Jungle book so fantastic was it told the same story but in a different way. It gave the characters more development and motivations. It had so much heart and originality at times and the only thing I can praise of this film is the visuals and design of the characters.
In no exaggeration, this remake is more than a shot for shot remake. It is quite literally a exact copy of the original. Exact same script. Exact same score. Exact same music and songs. Exact same story. There is nothing new whatsoever. It's like the makers put the original copy into a live action projector and waited months to build it all up. What angers me more is when you watch it, it's clear there was no effort made and they made it just for a summer cash grab.
Watching this, I found so many ways they could have made it new fresh and still faithful. They could have made Scar a villain with a redemption arc, they could have made Simba aware of Scars villainous ways but can't prove it, they could have explored why Scar hates Mufasa and why he's an outcast, we could have seen how Timon and Pumba first met and how they became friends, we could have even see Simbas journey growing up once he meets Timon and Pumba but no, they chose the lazy route.
The fact this film is a exact rehash, the emotional scenes all feel cheapened and quite frankly, very dull. Scar, in this film, is very dull, boring and a one note villain whereas Scar, in the original was a multi complex character with humorous one liners, cunning and charisma.
Now I don't like criticising acting. I defend actors all the time but on this occasion, it's necessary. The best actors in the film is Seth Rogen as Pumba and Billy Eichner as Timon. They are easily the best actors and the best thing about this film. They manage to get through a predictable script very well and quite humorously but not as funny as I would have hoped. James earl Jones as Mufasa is a nice throwback to the original but that's it. Chiwetel Ejiofor is such a talented actor but his performance is very one note and very bland though he's not entirely to blame when he's basically just repeating lines from the original.
The rest of the actors such as JD McCrary and Donald Glover as Simba, Beyonce Knowles as Nala and John Oliver (him especially) sound like they're reading the script whilst recording their lines. The worst thing about having an exact same script is at times during the film, it doesn't make sense such as the new rendition of "i just cant wait to be king" and Simba and Nalas play fighting. Its small and minor but still noticeable.
Ultimately this film could have had so much potential and could have been a massive mega hit like The Jungle book was but instead it's a lazily produced and dull remake with good visuals but no heart or soul.
⭐⭐
Friday, August 2, 2019
Toy Story 4 Review
Toy Story 4 Review:
When I heard Disney was doing a 4th imstallment of Toy Story, I was outraged. For me it seemed like an obvious and lazy cash grab and an unnecessary sequel since the 3rd film was the perfect way to end the franchise. Now that I've seen it, I take most of it back. It's still an unnecessary sequel but it's a great film.
The story is surprisingly fresh and interesting but not as strong as the previous installments. Woody, when we first see him, is no longer a favourite toy. He has no direction and seems forgotten. He then finds himself a new job by looking after and guiding Bonnies new toy, Forky who is a welcome and hilarious addition. The scenes with Woody trying to stop Forky running away is just hilarious.
After a chain of events leads Woody and Forky to a carnival, they bump into Bo Peep who is a much better character in this than the previous films. Before she was a one dimensional and boring character but now she's a breath of fresh air and very interesting. She seems like a strong character who represents women in a great way. Keanu Reeves as Duke Kaboom, Keegan-Michael Keane and Jordan Peele as Bunny and Ducky are also great and funny characters.
What is so interesting about this film is it actually leaves room for more films. The ending leaves potential for a Toy story 5 but some characters would have be left behind, I want to see a Duke Kaboom spinoff and I really want a Bo Peep prequel or trilogy. I'm really interested to see how she went from a boring character to one of the best things about Toy Story 4.
Now I said I take most of it back because there was some disappointments. There is literally a 2 second scene that cheapens the ending of Toy Story 3 and that is a big flaw. Also, I found the character of Gabby Gabby frustrating. She's a good character but an annoying villain. I could see how the film was developing her but I just didn't like her. Also I heard the ending was really sad. Sadder than Toy Story 3. I personally didn't think it was. It was a sad ending but it not as sad as I've seen in other films.
Ultimately this is a surprisingly great film though not the best, with lots of laughs, good vocal performances and a good story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
When I heard Disney was doing a 4th imstallment of Toy Story, I was outraged. For me it seemed like an obvious and lazy cash grab and an unnecessary sequel since the 3rd film was the perfect way to end the franchise. Now that I've seen it, I take most of it back. It's still an unnecessary sequel but it's a great film.
The story is surprisingly fresh and interesting but not as strong as the previous installments. Woody, when we first see him, is no longer a favourite toy. He has no direction and seems forgotten. He then finds himself a new job by looking after and guiding Bonnies new toy, Forky who is a welcome and hilarious addition. The scenes with Woody trying to stop Forky running away is just hilarious.
After a chain of events leads Woody and Forky to a carnival, they bump into Bo Peep who is a much better character in this than the previous films. Before she was a one dimensional and boring character but now she's a breath of fresh air and very interesting. She seems like a strong character who represents women in a great way. Keanu Reeves as Duke Kaboom, Keegan-Michael Keane and Jordan Peele as Bunny and Ducky are also great and funny characters.
What is so interesting about this film is it actually leaves room for more films. The ending leaves potential for a Toy story 5 but some characters would have be left behind, I want to see a Duke Kaboom spinoff and I really want a Bo Peep prequel or trilogy. I'm really interested to see how she went from a boring character to one of the best things about Toy Story 4.
Now I said I take most of it back because there was some disappointments. There is literally a 2 second scene that cheapens the ending of Toy Story 3 and that is a big flaw. Also, I found the character of Gabby Gabby frustrating. She's a good character but an annoying villain. I could see how the film was developing her but I just didn't like her. Also I heard the ending was really sad. Sadder than Toy Story 3. I personally didn't think it was. It was a sad ending but it not as sad as I've seen in other films.
Ultimately this is a surprisingly great film though not the best, with lots of laughs, good vocal performances and a good story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
X men Dark Phoenix review
X Men: Dark Phoenix review.
When it was announced X men would be redoing this hit comic storyline, there was global excitement from so many fans. Then it started going wrong.
First Simon Kinberg was announced as the director. Kinberg has had a long future with X men including some disappointing films and even produced the major misfire of the remade Fantastic Four and considering this is his directional debut, it's understandable why fans became worried.
Another worry was the constant date push backs the film received. First it was supposed to be released last November but then got pushed back to February. Then it received a 3rd push back to June which stayed it's permanent slot but since its a sign bad films get constant push backs, it was another worry for fans.
Finally Disney bought the rights to 20th Century Fox which made it likely this would be the final x men film produced by Fox and the X men would start appearing in the MCU so it's fair to say Dark Phoenix had it's fair share of problems before it was even released. And unfortunately it seems it's fate was sealed with the constant push backs.
The film starts off really well. It is a million times better than The Last Stand and it does the first half of the story justice. Sophie Turner does a fantastic job as Jean Grey as she struggles with her powers and emotions and finally succumbs to her devastatingly powerful abilities. The rest of the cast are impressive especially James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lensherr, Nicholas hoult as Hank McCoy and Tye Sheridan as Scott Summers.
Unfortunately after the first half, the film starts to fall apart. First Jennifer Lawrence deserves so much better as Mystique. She had a fair bit of screen time but really had nothing to do but bark orders and criticise decisions. And her death should have been a powerful moment but since it was spoiled in the second trailer, it's impact was really meaningless and afterwards it turns out to be a pointless plot device to turn Hank and Magneto against Jean, which if you think about it doesn't make much sense especially for Magnetos point.
Then we have unnecessary characters that bring the film down further. Jessica Chastain is a brilliant actress but she plays such a bland and pointless villain who ends up becoming very annoying. The shapeshifting alien race really did not need to be in this film. Also Evan Peters as Peter Maximoff in usually fantastic and charismatic but he feels really out of place and underused. Apart from the opening act, he has no place in the film and it's a wonder why he still appeared in it.
What was so much more disappointing about the second half was the major U turn in the film. It went from the X men trying to save jean from herself to them saving the world from the shapeshifting alien race and although that's the meaning of superhero films, it completely overshadows the original meaning of the Dark Phoenix story. This should have been an opportunity to reinvent the superhero genre but instead it's like the writers decided they got bored halfway through the original story and decided to change it entirely.
This really should have been the best and most powerful entry in the franchise but it ends up falling flat that can't be saved by fantastic performances or decent action. 2/5 Stars.
Another worry was the constant date push backs the film received. First it was supposed to be released last November but then got pushed back to February. Then it received a 3rd push back to June which stayed it's permanent slot but since its a sign bad films get constant push backs, it was another worry for fans.
Finally Disney bought the rights to 20th Century Fox which made it likely this would be the final x men film produced by Fox and the X men would start appearing in the MCU so it's fair to say Dark Phoenix had it's fair share of problems before it was even released. And unfortunately it seems it's fate was sealed with the constant push backs.
The film starts off really well. It is a million times better than The Last Stand and it does the first half of the story justice. Sophie Turner does a fantastic job as Jean Grey as she struggles with her powers and emotions and finally succumbs to her devastatingly powerful abilities. The rest of the cast are impressive especially James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lensherr, Nicholas hoult as Hank McCoy and Tye Sheridan as Scott Summers.
Unfortunately after the first half, the film starts to fall apart. First Jennifer Lawrence deserves so much better as Mystique. She had a fair bit of screen time but really had nothing to do but bark orders and criticise decisions. And her death should have been a powerful moment but since it was spoiled in the second trailer, it's impact was really meaningless and afterwards it turns out to be a pointless plot device to turn Hank and Magneto against Jean, which if you think about it doesn't make much sense especially for Magnetos point.
Then we have unnecessary characters that bring the film down further. Jessica Chastain is a brilliant actress but she plays such a bland and pointless villain who ends up becoming very annoying. The shapeshifting alien race really did not need to be in this film. Also Evan Peters as Peter Maximoff in usually fantastic and charismatic but he feels really out of place and underused. Apart from the opening act, he has no place in the film and it's a wonder why he still appeared in it.
What was so much more disappointing about the second half was the major U turn in the film. It went from the X men trying to save jean from herself to them saving the world from the shapeshifting alien race and although that's the meaning of superhero films, it completely overshadows the original meaning of the Dark Phoenix story. This should have been an opportunity to reinvent the superhero genre but instead it's like the writers decided they got bored halfway through the original story and decided to change it entirely.
This really should have been the best and most powerful entry in the franchise but it ends up falling flat that can't be saved by fantastic performances or decent action. 2/5 Stars.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Annabelle 3 review
When Annabelle 3 was first announced, it left me very excited but also nervous. Annabelle has always left me with chill with just once glance at her but also because the conjuring franchise has had some hit n miss films. I do love Annabelle 1 and The Nun but I'll agree they're not the best installments of the franchise and after seeing Annabelle Comes Home, I am majorly happy with what I saw.
Annabelle still has the ability to be scary just by looking at her. When the film forces you to look at her, you start theorizing what could be about to happen. In this film, McKenna Grace steps up as the Warrens daughter Judy being babysitted whilst the Warrens are away. Unfortunately things go wrong when the babysitter, Mary Ellens friend manipulates her to invite round to the house.
Daniela is first seen as a nosy teenager who wants to cause trouble but it's soon revealed she has an ulterior motive for wanting to go to the Warrens house which is actually really unstandable. She blames herself for her dad's death and wants to contact his spirit to apologise but ultimately she causes all the events that happens. For this movie, the scares are at times predictable but other times genuinely surprise you. The Warrens house is perfect for the movie because at night, especially in there secret artefacts room, it's so atmospherically chilling. Just imagining being on your own in that room really gives you the creeps.
The acting is fantastic and very believable. McKenna Grace is perfectly cast as Judy and the other main stars get a chance to show what they can do. Gary Dauberman does an impressive job at delivering these scares very creatively and by the final act, he has a lot to juggle around but he does a very good job. Not as good as James Wan but good enough. Now as much as it pains me, there were some missteps.
First off, the character of Bob was extremely pointless. He's nice but dull. Bob provides nothing interesting to the movie and it's a wonder why he was even given an extended role. The movies biggest flaw though is, although it doesn't seem possible, Annabelle gets overshadowed in her own movie. At times, this doesn't feel like an Annabelle film. It feels more like another conjuring film with Annabelle in it and introducing all the spirits from the Warrens cases, it makes them more intriguing and interesting than Annabelle herself. I really wanted to see more of the fairyman, the wedding dress demon and that samurai armour.
Generally this is a very good horror film with plenty of scares and a good plot but as well as Annabelle brings this film up, she also drags it down. 3/5 stars.
Annabelle still has the ability to be scary just by looking at her. When the film forces you to look at her, you start theorizing what could be about to happen. In this film, McKenna Grace steps up as the Warrens daughter Judy being babysitted whilst the Warrens are away. Unfortunately things go wrong when the babysitter, Mary Ellens friend manipulates her to invite round to the house.
Daniela is first seen as a nosy teenager who wants to cause trouble but it's soon revealed she has an ulterior motive for wanting to go to the Warrens house which is actually really unstandable. She blames herself for her dad's death and wants to contact his spirit to apologise but ultimately she causes all the events that happens. For this movie, the scares are at times predictable but other times genuinely surprise you. The Warrens house is perfect for the movie because at night, especially in there secret artefacts room, it's so atmospherically chilling. Just imagining being on your own in that room really gives you the creeps.
The acting is fantastic and very believable. McKenna Grace is perfectly cast as Judy and the other main stars get a chance to show what they can do. Gary Dauberman does an impressive job at delivering these scares very creatively and by the final act, he has a lot to juggle around but he does a very good job. Not as good as James Wan but good enough. Now as much as it pains me, there were some missteps.
First off, the character of Bob was extremely pointless. He's nice but dull. Bob provides nothing interesting to the movie and it's a wonder why he was even given an extended role. The movies biggest flaw though is, although it doesn't seem possible, Annabelle gets overshadowed in her own movie. At times, this doesn't feel like an Annabelle film. It feels more like another conjuring film with Annabelle in it and introducing all the spirits from the Warrens cases, it makes them more intriguing and interesting than Annabelle herself. I really wanted to see more of the fairyman, the wedding dress demon and that samurai armour.
Generally this is a very good horror film with plenty of scares and a good plot but as well as Annabelle brings this film up, she also drags it down. 3/5 stars.
Monday, July 29, 2019
Godzilla: king of the monsters review
This movie had a lot of potential but I always had fears it would be an all action, no plot film and when I finally watched it, I was right.
Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing since there are lots of action fans out there. And this film does provide some fantastic action. Most of the time, you'll be wondering how the film was actually made. The action scenes are fantastically done, we see a lot more Godzilla than the first film, the special effects and CGI are beautifully constructed and the cinematography is spectacular.
Now it's time for the criticisms. Sometimes during the first and this film, I've wondered if it's worth having human characters because they either have nothing to do or overshadow the main plot. Vera Farmiga does a great job at playing another unlikable character who believes humans and monsters can co exist peacefully even if her motivations are questionable. Kyle Chandler is also fantastic but Millie Bobby Brown is so underused, it's a real shame. She is fantastic in Stranger things but in this film, she has nothing to do but get in the way all the time.
The same goes to Charles Dance. He is a fantastic actor who plays the human villain well but he is also an unnecessary character. Take away all the human characters and I believe the film will have the same plot and ending. Another problem the film has is that it's extremely overstuffed. Introducing all the titans feels like they should have saved it for another Godzilla film.
It just feels all too much to take in and introducing Atlantis as Godzillas home really doesn't help as that felt it was part of another film. Ultimately this is an action packed visually stunning film let down by useless characters and no plot. 2/5 stars.
Now it's time for the criticisms. Sometimes during the first and this film, I've wondered if it's worth having human characters because they either have nothing to do or overshadow the main plot. Vera Farmiga does a great job at playing another unlikable character who believes humans and monsters can co exist peacefully even if her motivations are questionable. Kyle Chandler is also fantastic but Millie Bobby Brown is so underused, it's a real shame. She is fantastic in Stranger things but in this film, she has nothing to do but get in the way all the time.
The same goes to Charles Dance. He is a fantastic actor who plays the human villain well but he is also an unnecessary character. Take away all the human characters and I believe the film will have the same plot and ending. Another problem the film has is that it's extremely overstuffed. Introducing all the titans feels like they should have saved it for another Godzilla film.
It just feels all too much to take in and introducing Atlantis as Godzillas home really doesn't help as that felt it was part of another film. Ultimately this is an action packed visually stunning film let down by useless characters and no plot. 2/5 stars.
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Child's play review
Child's Play Review:
When it was first announced there would be a child's play reboot, I was worried instantly. So many reboots rely on lots of scenes from the originals and are often shot by shot remakes.
This remake however, though does has some reminiscence from the original, also has new ideas and creativity. It does suffer some character cliche setbacks such as the abusive stepfather and the overweight perverted Janitor but what overcomes it is the rest of the film.
First the cast is absolutely superb. Gabriel Bateman won our hearts in Lights Out and he is proving to be a rising star as Andy Barclay, a shy lonely troubled teen. Mark Hamill, who has had a successful career in voicing villains mainly in animated shows, is perfect as Chucky. You instantly know it's Hamill. The most surprising casting for me was Aubrey Plaza. I have always seen her as a comedy actress and wasn't sure if she could do horror. However I was happily proved wrong as she brought comedy and tension to her role and Gabriel and Aubrey have fantastic mother and son chemistry. You feel it from their first scenes together.
If I had to criticise anything, it would be Andy being suspected of the murders sounds good to bring back nostalgia and be faithful to the original version but it feels a bit shoehorned in and underdeveloped. But the biggest risk was the pacing. It does take it's time to get to the main plot but that's what made the film work.
The films developes the friendship between Andy and Chucky and at times it seems really sweet. They have fantastic chemistry as friends until Chucky does something silly like tormenting and killing the family cat and killing the abusive stepfather before cutting off his face and giving it to Andy as a present. It's always the little things isn't it?
The development of Chucky is also impressive because you start to see why chucky starts killing people. Being insulted, tortured and rejected does that to a person or in this case AI (Artificial intelligence) doll.
Child's play is a risky reboot that could have fallen flat but instead boosts a strong cast, tense scenes and lots of gory and sadistic scenes. That Janitor scene is still in my mind. 3/5 Stars
This remake however, though does has some reminiscence from the original, also has new ideas and creativity. It does suffer some character cliche setbacks such as the abusive stepfather and the overweight perverted Janitor but what overcomes it is the rest of the film.
First the cast is absolutely superb. Gabriel Bateman won our hearts in Lights Out and he is proving to be a rising star as Andy Barclay, a shy lonely troubled teen. Mark Hamill, who has had a successful career in voicing villains mainly in animated shows, is perfect as Chucky. You instantly know it's Hamill. The most surprising casting for me was Aubrey Plaza. I have always seen her as a comedy actress and wasn't sure if she could do horror. However I was happily proved wrong as she brought comedy and tension to her role and Gabriel and Aubrey have fantastic mother and son chemistry. You feel it from their first scenes together.
If I had to criticise anything, it would be Andy being suspected of the murders sounds good to bring back nostalgia and be faithful to the original version but it feels a bit shoehorned in and underdeveloped. But the biggest risk was the pacing. It does take it's time to get to the main plot but that's what made the film work.
The films developes the friendship between Andy and Chucky and at times it seems really sweet. They have fantastic chemistry as friends until Chucky does something silly like tormenting and killing the family cat and killing the abusive stepfather before cutting off his face and giving it to Andy as a present. It's always the little things isn't it?
The development of Chucky is also impressive because you start to see why chucky starts killing people. Being insulted, tortured and rejected does that to a person or in this case AI (Artificial intelligence) doll.
Child's play is a risky reboot that could have fallen flat but instead boosts a strong cast, tense scenes and lots of gory and sadistic scenes. That Janitor scene is still in my mind. 3/5 Stars
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