Migration

With the waning days of 2023 at hand, I ventured to my local movie theater one last time to see the latest family film from Illumination: Migration.  Migration took five years to bring to the big screen due to COVID delays and all the voice actors recorded their lines separately, never meeting.  A practice that became the new norm during the pandemic (Luca, Raya and the Last Dragon).

I’ve taken a few extra days to ponder on this one trying to figure out how I feel.  I’m pretty much drawing blanks. 

For me, Migration is just okay at best and largely forgettable.

The film’s animation is spectacular, with fantastic colors and textures that leap off the screen.  Yet most everything else about it rolled over me like the proverbial water off a duck's back.

The story isn’t new by any means (Finding Nemo). The majority of the characters aren’t engaging and come off as flat and even annoying with the exception of Carole Kane’s Erin. The hour twenty-three-minute runtime felt much longer.  The “cuteness” and “humor” didn’t land.  

Much like the minion short prior to the film, Migration is bland, uninspired, and standard fare at best. Three fourths of the way through the film there are moments which had some life and interest in them, but it was much too little, far too late.  

There’s little beyond the animation to hook adults.  Only the youngest audience members seemed engaged with let alone enjoyed the film in the showing I took in.  Older kids and the vast majority of parents were restless.  

I opted to utilize my time deciding what I was going to have for dinner. FYI, I went with a creamy tomato basil soup and a three-cheese grilled cheese sandwich. Comfort food.

Migration is the animation equivalent of an eye-popping meal that readies your tastebuds for a culinary delight only to leave you disappointed and unsatisfied with each bite.  A lot of empty calories with little enjoyment. 

Save yourself some time and money and wait until this one is available on one of your streaming services.  

Shouldn’t take long.

Migration gets a 4 from me.

#migration

 

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

 

Once again, I emerge from the darkened movie theater to share my thoughts on my latest film viewing: Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom.  

First let me apologize for keeping this one short, it’s a cold rainy day and my desire to curl up with a hot mug of tea, cuddle under a blanket, and watch one of my annual Christmas movie films supersedes spending too much time on this review.  Second, it should be noted that any and all desire to see this film evaporated months ago. Too many controversies plaguing it for too long and the trailers weren’t exactly screaming “must see”. 

So why go?

Umm, Jason Momoa and curiosity of course.

Yes, there was a fair amount of dread going into this one for sure, but I admit it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. Nice surprise there. However, when it comes down to it, I didn’t find ATLK as good as it could or should have been.

Momoa does his best to bring the fun and joy from the first film and does a pretty decent job, but it still feels flat and forced overall.  Pretty much the case for the entire film actually. 

Everything about Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom is a very hit and miss proposition.  

Returning cast of Momoa, Wilson, Abdul-Mateen II, Kidman, Morrison, Lundgren and more? Great.  The elephant in the room? Not so much. Clearly not in the film as much as originally intended, but more than should be with cringe worthy results.

Humor throughout? 

Yes. Sadly, it falls flat as often as it lands. 

CGI eye-popping or downright gawd awful depending on the scene. 

Great action sequences interspersed with pure silliness. 

A plodding “been there seen that got the t-shirt plot” that’s both simplistic yet overly convoluted, somehow managing to do too little and too much simultaneously.  

Dialogue that offers up a few tasty morsels but is arguably mostly trash. 

There’s a weird boring energy that persists throughout the film and a sense of laziness from all the things you’ve definitely seen before in other films which did it better.

While more watchable than I expected, Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom suffers from all the delays, numerous studio recuts, and an identity crisis surrounding what kind of film this wants to be.  All which hang over the end product like the sword of Damocles and you never get past that feeling of dread/doom while viewing. 

Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom has its moments, they are definitely few and far between. I enjoyed the music, a lot of the back and forth between Orm and Arthur and, seeing other returning characters, and various other bits and bobs that pop up. But I never found myself fully engaged with the film. I didn’t hate it, but I’m far from clamoring for more.  ATLK is leftover DCEU fair, and it shows. No one involved seems invested in the end product and I left the theater feeling the same way.  

Still, I’m going to give Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom an overly generous 6, largely based on my fondness for Momoa and several other cast members alone. The snacks were also particularly tasty too. 

In actuality Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom is more of a 4.

BTW, there’s one credit scene.

#Aquaman2

Wonka

 

Seasons’s greetings!

I once again emerge from my darkened, local movie theater to share my thoughts on the latest family fare offered up by writer/director Paul King, Wonka.  Being a huge fan of Gene Wilder's 1971 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory I couldn’t wait to see what King (Paddington) came up with for this companion piece to the original.  This go around, the story is an origin story focused on the young, idealistic, and naive Willy Wonka as he pursues his dream of becoming a chocolatier and the friends he makes along his journey. 

As an origin story, Wonka is a fresh and interesting take which is simultaneously original and familiar. A combination that makes for an overall pleasant and enjoyable movie experience. 

The cast, peppered with frequent collaborators of other King films bring the energy, laughs, and whimsy.  Well-acted and cast across the board. Once I got out of my own head (as a fan of The Good Place Timothée Chalamet takes me a minute to get behind) I enjoyed Timothée Chalamet's portrayal of Wonka. The chemistry with Calah Lane’s Noodle is great. Olivia Colman continues to live her best life onscreen. Paterson Joseph makes villainy fun. Hugh Grant as the Oompa Loompa is a long time making an appearance, but well worth the wait. And Jim Carter is a delight and possess some serious pipes. 

The new musical score fits this new take while having a couple of callbacks to Pure Imagination theme from the original tying the films together.  However, while well done and catchy, these songs and their accompanying dance routines aren’t nearly as memorable.  

Overproduced perhaps? 

Don't get me wrong. I definitely enjoyed them during the movie but didn’t leave the theater singing any of them.

Visually the film is eye-catching and leaps off the screen.  The costumes and sets are vibrant and whimsical bringing the "magic" of the film to life. Yet somehow the use of visual effects over practical definitely undercuts the impact in some places toning down the “wow” factor.  The awe and wonder become noticeably flat.

When all is said and done, Wonka delivers what it sets out to do.  Namely gives the audience an hour fifty-six minutes of entertaining escapism the entire family can enjoy.  Can’t complain about that. So, I'm not going to. I will say while I did have a good time watching Wonka, I was left with a sense of being underwhelmed.  

Why?

My take? Wonka is a solid, entertaining piece of work, but it’s safe.  

Too safe.  

There’s no edginess or darkness lying below the surface. I missed that in this version. It's a little too sweet. For me it keeps Wonka in the good category, not great.

Wonka gets a 7.5 from me.

Yes, there’s some credit sequence action that you need to hang around for.

#Wonka

Wish

 

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: 

Full disclosure. I do own stock in the Disney Company.  

With Thanksgiving happening this week in the United States, Disney’s latest family animated film Wish has hit the big screen.  Billed as being 100 years in the making Wish, takes the Disney theme of wishing upon a star to new levels in a new original, nostalgia filled musical homage.

Despite being a Disney fan and stock owner, I can’t say I had any sense of anticipation or great interest going into this film.  The trailers looked okay but didn’t exactly scream “must see” for me, more, “eh, could be cute.”  Combined with the only recently ended actor’s strike there hasn’t been much buzz around this one.  Hell, I had no idea who any of the voice actors were until I actually watched the film.  Still, I opted at the last minute to check Wish out on a last-minute whim before holiday crowds pack the theaters.

I’m so happy I did.

Wish is an hour thirty-five-minute joy to behold.

The old school watercolor animation combined with CG animation is beautiful.  It’s classic and comforting, yet fresh and lively.  When they said 100 years in the making, the film’s creative teamed leaned in hard and the result is amazing.  

Wish is filled with overt and subtle references that cover the history of Disney animation that warm the heart and soul, but don’t detract from the original story or characters.  So, yes, there’s plenty to make you think of Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Frozen, and so many more Disney films, these elements and references are combined in such a way they bring new life to each film and elevate the current one. If you like Easter eggs and pop culture references, you’ll have a blast with Wish.  

POP QUIZ/SPOILER ALERT

Asha's seven friends are a direct reference and exhibit the characteristic of the Seven Dwarves.

END SPOILERALERT

Filled with great musical numbers, Wish had me seat dancing and head bobbing from beginning to end with a very apt, soaring musical score.  There are definitely two songs destined to be the latest Disney earworms driving you crazy for the next few months.

Wonderful casting with Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, and of course Disney (and my favorite) Alan Tudyk leading the way.  DeBose was actually the inspiration for the character of Asha, so it’s no surprise she does a beautiful job bringing her to life.  Tudyk is well, Tudyk and makes Valentino as charming and endearing as possible.  Then there’s Chris Pine.  He goes full tilt and absolutely nails Magnifico.

Speaking of leaning in hard, Disney goes all in and gives a delightful, scary villain that doesn’t pull any punches.  

And I was all for it.  

So many films these days are giving such weak, watered down baddies they undercut the overall film.  Happily, not the case here.  In fact, there are a few scenes that had me “damning” out loud and wondering if young kids may find it a bit much.  Hence the PG rating I’m guessing.

Wish is fun, entertaining, and classic Disney at its best with a twist.  A perfect tribute to all the creators and artist that have contributed to the magic of Disney animation for the last 100 years.  Thoroughly a job well done and definitely worth a trip to the theater to see at least once on the big screen.  And when you do, heads up, there is one post credit scene at the very end. It’s not long, but it’s sweet and sure to give Disney fans the feels. I know it brought a smile to my lips and a tear to my eyes. 

While I may not make it back to see it again during its theatrical run, but Wish is on my list for repeated viewings going forward and I can’t wait.  It’s a crowd pleaser.

Wish gets a 10 from me.

#wish

The Marvels

 

Wow, it’s been a minute since I’ve ventured out to the theater to check anything out.  The whole life gets in the way thing and all.  

True confession time. I wasn’t particularly interested in going to see this one. I felt like viewing was more of an obligation than a desire. I certainly feel like the MCU has been hit and miss as of late.  Also, try as I might, I simply haven’t gotten into Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel.  There’s just something about the portrayal that fails to garner any more interest from me than... I dunno. Apathy?   As for Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, I liked her and her series (love the family) overall but have issues with parts of the character portrayal.  Teyonah Parris’s Monica Rambeau has me curious.  

Anywho, with this in mind, I nonetheless geared up and headed out to catch the latest offering from Marvel Studios, The Marvels.  

It’s been almost 24 hours since I watched The Marvels and I’m definitely feeling some kind of way about the film.  What exactly that is, however, I’m still not sure.

I didn’t hate it.  If anything, I feel it was better than I may have expected.  But I also don’t think it’s the greatest either.  I will admit that I’m feeling more hopeful and positive about what’s coming next in the MCU and the direction they seem to be heading than I have felt in a minute.  The one credit scene hit me in the feels, took me to my happy place, and got me really excited. This scene alone made the entire film worthwhile.

Other positives and there are quite a few.

Samuel L. Jackson.  Love him.  Love his portrayal as Fury and he killed me again and again every time he’s on screen.  His dialogue and delivery are pure perfection.  The humor and the humanity he brings to each situation had me laughing, cheering, and vibing throughout.  

As previously mentioned, the Kahn family.  Having them on the big screen is a joy.  Also loved them bringing in some of the Ms Marvel stylistic elements to this project.  

Nia DaCosta’s direction is impressive. Especially how she handles all the amazing fight sequences.  Kudos to her and the editing team pulling off all the body/power switching shenanigans.  

Goose and the Flerkens. 

Good humor. 

Good cameos.

I won’t call them negatives, but I do file these under “my issues”.  

I still don’t have any particular interest in Captain Marvel after this film, but in fairness this is the most engaging portrayal of the character to date. 

Ms Marvel. I understand she’s a “kid” but between the series and events of this film, the endless, over-the-top fawning/fangirling has gotten tedious to me.  She’s been through and seen enough $#@! at this point she shouldn’t still be on 11.  Dial it down and bring it to at least a 6 or 5.  Character development and growth are good things.  

Yes, The Marvels is a more lighthearted and fun film, but the one bit that was just plain silly? No, just plain stupid didn’t do the movie any favors.

The continuing big bad issue.  Once again, our villain, Dar-Benn played by Zawe Ashton is lacking. The character doesn’t have my character development, takes way too long to explain her motive, and for all intents and purposes doesn’t come off as being more than a generic threat.  Lackluster is now the norm, I guess?  They've forgotten the better the villain our heroes to overcome the better the story.

While the writing is strong for the more humorous and lighthearted elements of the film, the dramatic bits are more hit and miss.  There are moments in particular with the three main characters that really come off as forced and contrived.  

As I stated, these aspects of the film may simply be no more than me being a grouchy old woman. So, grain of salt.

My final stance.

Yes, I did enjoy the film. Yes, I’m glad I saw it in the theater. I certainly laughed and left the theater feeling hopeful for what has been set up.  Yet, my overall feelings remain, apathetic toward the film as a whole. 

As such, The Marvels doesn’t get a rating from me.

#TheMarvels

A Haunting in Venice

 

I’ve been an Agatha Christie fan since my elementary school librarian turned me on to her novels.  I’ve been thrilled that Kenneth Branagh has been bringing the stories to the big screen as both actor and director since 2017. However, I’ve also felt the last two films results were a bit of a mixed bag for various reasons.  Still, with this new original adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel Halloween Party I went into A Haunting in Venice with high hopes that the third time would be the charm and Branagh would’ve successfully cracked the code on delivering a great Agatha Christie movie.

Point of fact. A Haunting in Venice is again a mixed bag for me.

The pros. 

Good cast. Strong acting by Branagh (easily his best turn as Poirot to date) and Jude Hill (Belfast). Wonderful cinematography. Terrific set design. Location, location, location! Top notch atmospherics capture the supernatural, brooding darkness perfectly.

The cons.  

Much like the last two films, A Haunting in Venice is a slow burner that’s an absolute slough to get through at least the first third if not half of the film. From the beginning I was barely engaged and really struggled to not only be interested but stay awake.  Like Death on the Nile, it took ages for the first body to drop and the movie to get going.

For such a good cast, the bulk of them are underused and feel wasted.  Then there’s Tina Fey.  Love her, but feel she was miscast in her role of Ariadne Oliver. Her performance came across as more of a SNL skit version of the character.

The overuse of jump scares becomes silly and undercuts the overall eerie disquiet the film creates.  There’s also an overall lack of energy to this one that pulls the entire production down. 

The mystery and the clues to solve it are fairly obvious this go round so the “whodunit” aspect is fairly weak.  What's the fun in that?

At the end of the day, A Haunting in Venice is a good effort and mildly entertaining but isn’t a film you need to get to the theater to see.  It should be available for home viewing before long, check it out then.

A Haunting in Venice gets a 5 from me. 

#AHauntingInVenice

The Equalizer 3

 

This week Denzel Washington re-teams with director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Magnificent Seven) purportedly for the 3 and final time, in the role of Robert McCall. There’s not a lot to say about this one, so I’ll keep this short and sweet.

The Equalizer 3 is the movie you want and expect going in, only with a different approach than the other two.  This time around McCall’s completely international. We’re also left in the dark as to what’s going on and why until the very end of the film which delivers a different flavor to the storyline.  E3 overall is a slower burner as a film as well in terms of the pacing.  But it actually benefits the film in the process.  Washington is almost 70-year-old now so having more exposition and character development as opposed to non-stop action makes sense, keeps the film grounded, and makes the action sequences pack and even harder punch.

In regard to the action, yes. 

Yes. 

YES. 

It’s intense, no holds barred, gory, and shockingly brutal in its violence.  In short, everything I wanted and expected.  Juxtaposed against the calm and quiet of the majority of the film it really stands out and makes these moments even more satisfying.  Robert McCall takes to peace and quiet and retirement about as well as John Wick and you don’t want to be on the wrong side of this character as a result. 

The settings are gorgeous, the cinematography beautiful.  The good guys are good and the bad guys deliciously wicked so the brutal force in which they are dispatched is a pure delight.  If anything, there are couple I wished suffered a bit more before their demise, but that’s just me.  

The international cast all deliver strong and engaging performances.  Having Dakota Fanning re-teaming with Washington 19 years after their last film together (Man on Fire) is a bonus treat.

The third time is certainly a charm for The Equalizer 3.  It’s fun, entertaining, and you get what you came for in a satisfactory experience.   I had the pleasure of seeing this film with a great crowd and the interaction made it even more enjoyable. It was one big watch party in the best sense.

It’s a solid 8 from me.

 #TheEqualizer3

Gran Turismo

I am not a gamer.  

I also couldn’t care less about auto racing. 

However, seeing the trailers and having a cast including David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou, I wanted to see this underdog story based on true events.  

Glad I did. 

Gran Turismo is a much-needed palate cleanser and a thoroughly enjoyable film from start to finish.

First, it's an interesting story.  Completely far-fetched on the surface, but the fact it really happened makes it intriguing. While there's tons of exciting action, the film doesn't skimp on heart, emotion, or humor. Gran Turismo has it all in a crisply directed, chaotic entertaining package.  The soundtrack is surprising and evening shocking but works like a charm.  My heart and appreciation go out to the sound mixers on this one. These folks did an incredible job capturing the intensity, thrill, and excitement of auto racing.  

Really gets the adrenalin pumping.

The casting and acting are great. Archie Madekwe’s performance as Jann Mardenborough is powerful and engaging.  You feel for him every step of the way, delighting in each triumph and lamenting every setback. David Harbour is definitely on a roll.  While underused, Orlando Bloom nails it. The emotional performance of Djimon Hounsou took me to my happy place even as he brought me to tears.  

Yes, Gran Turismo gives us characters to invest in and care about.  If anything, I wanted to delve deeper into several of the characters. 

Score! 

With a two-hour 15-minute runtime, Gran Turismo isn’t overly long in reality, but there are some pacing issues making it feel longer.  The film never quite drags, but it definitely gets too close for comfort in places and had me wondering/feeling things should be wrapping up and how much longer I'd be sitting there. Not great, but far from terrible.

As far as racing films go, I’d say Gran Turismo isn’t quite on par as say, Ford v. Ferrari, but it’s definitely up there. It's a solid, thrilling, inspiring, and well worth a trip to the theater.  

Gran Turismo gets a 7 from me.

#GranTurismo

Blue Beetle

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: I’m not a comic book reader and have no knowledge or insight of this character above or beyond what is shown in the film.

This week two new films hit the theater, I opted to see DC’s latest superhero offering Blue Beetle.  I’m going to make this review short and not so sweet because frankly, like the film’s writer, I don’t feel like putting much time, effort, or thought into it.  So yes, I didn’t choose wisely.

The pros.  

The soundtrack is good.  Once you get past the initial, clunky setup, George Lopez’s Uncle Rudy is enjoyable.  You have to sit through three fourths of the film to see it, but once she steps into the spotlight, Adriana Barraza’s Nana also delights and shines.  Nana is easily more interesting and engaging in her limited screen time than the main character.  

And... that’s pretty much it for the pros.

The cons.

There are many. 

Too many.  

First, the film is just boring.  The two hour seven-minute runtime feels like an eternity.  From the jump, nothing pulls you in or makes you care about what’s going on.  I was fidgeting, looking at my watch, and starting myself analysis of why I wasn’t engaged within the first twenty to twenty-five minutes.  Forty minutes in I was itching to pull out my phone and start scrolling.  It wasn’t just a “me” thing either. The majority of the audience was squirming in their seats, getting up to get refills or hit the restroom, or like the gentleman in front of my, just slumped over with his head resting on his hand barely awake.  And yes, I did see a couple of people sleeping.

The script is generic.  There’s little to no depth of anything.  It’s predictable and the dialogue takes cringe worthy to a new level. Plot holes upon plot holes.  Ugh. If this was really the final draft for the script, I’d hate to see what the rough drafts were like.  Nothing is developed or explained.  There’s no meat on these bones. The film relies on telling us every five to ten minutes what it’s aiming at instead of just showing us.

The entire film is nothing more than tropes and stereotypes held together by CGI.  Our villain, Susan Sarandon’s Victoria Kord is cartoonish and cliched.  What a waste and a disappointment.  The other characters lack characterization and development and are reduced to mere caricatures.  Stupid, annoying caricatures.   

With the exception of a couple of lines, the humor misses like a Stormtrooper in a hallway battle.

The post credit sequence is even weak and predictable.

Yes, I can go on and on with this one. But, like film itself, there’s no reason. I can't and won't recommend seeing this one.

Blue Beetle gets a 3 from me.

#bluebeetle

The Last Voyage of the Demeter

 

Movie Review: The Last Voyage of the Demeter

The summer movie season is starting to wind down, but anticipated films continue to hit the big screen. My latest trip to the theater had me checking out the second Dracula film released this year. Namely, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, based on The Captain's Log from Bram Stokers’ 1897 gothic novel Dracula. 

The production values on this film are great and really set it apart.

Gorgeous sets, great lighting, a haunting Bear McCreary score, rich audio mixing, and strong direction. All combine with beautiful cinematography, strong performances, good CGI and creature effects to create the perfect tone for the harrowing tale to be told.

Sounds promising.

However, the overall film fell/felt flat.

No doubt a large part of that can be attributed to the film’s pacing.  

The Last Voyage of the Demeter clocks in with a runtime of 1 hour 58 minutes, but feels much, MUCH longer.  It takes the better part of an hour before things pop off and there really isn't much going on during the setup.  That’s just too long to wait for the action. Especially given the audience awareness of what’s behind the “mystery” on the ship.  Even once the crew is aware something is off, things continue to drag out before there’s a true sense of urgency or danger.  Undercutting the suspense and tension.  

Precisely what you don’t want to do with a horror film.

The script is thin and lazy as is the resulting character development.  For the all the great acting, there isn’t much to the make you care or root for the characters.  As for their actions (and inaction), to put it mildly they’re nonsensical at best. Silly at worse.

I really had high hopes for an epic Dracula story with The Last Voyage of the Demeter.  I got a visual feast that lacks any real punch.

No need to rush to the theater for this one. It should be streaming soon. 

The Last Voyage of the Demeter gets a 5.5 from me.

#demetermovie

Meg 2: The Trench

 

We’re still deep in the throes of summer.  It’s hotter than blazes. Shark Week has just concluded. Sounds like the perfect time to hit the theater and indulge in the next popcorn film offering, Meg 2: The Trench. That’s exactly what I did this week.

There isn’t a lot to say about Meg 2: The Trench.

2018's The Meg is absurd and silly fun. I expected Meg 2: The Trench to go bigger and be more of the same.  It delivers.

Yes!

Returning casts members Jason Statham (Jonas), Cliff Curtis (Mac), Page Kennedy (DJ), and Sophia Ca (Meiying) return as to the franchise as their characters pick up where their characters left off 6 years prior. This time around the group is working for the Oceanographic Institute exploring the trench and fighting to save the world’s oceans. Obviously and much to my delight, things quickly go wrong, and the chomping soon begins.

Meg 2 wastes no time getting to the action with the opening Cretaceous Period a sequence. Not only does it set the tone for the rest of the film, it has more satisfying dino action than in the entirety of the Jurassic World Dominion.  

Things only go up, or rather down from there.  Over the next hour fifty-six minutes, three megalodons, various other prehistoric creatures spend the better part of the film hunting and trying to chow down on the crew. Only to be thwarted in more over-the-top ways. Adding to the fun is a group of mercenaries on the mix, so nowhere is safe. In other words, exactly what is expected, and I wanted.

Meg 2: The Trench, like the original has a bit of everything. Action, humor, drama, and heart. The deaths are quick, brutal, and largely bloodless to keep the PG-13 rating, so once again if you want more gore, you’ll be disappointed. 

Fast pacing and chaotic direction. Elements harken back to The Abyss and Deep Blue Sea work to good effect. Strong SFX. 

The soundtrack is more lacking this time around, I wanted more foreign versions of popular songs, but it’s still effective.  Can’t get more meta or on target than the closing credits song Chomp. Like the rest of the film, it’s loud, brash, a bit brainless, and entertaining as hell.  

While the main characters have grown figuratively and literally (shout out to Kennedy’s DJ in particular), Meg 2: The Trench doesn’t pretend to try and re-invent the wheel.  It is what it is.  And that’s exactly what movie goers want heading it.  Think Fast and Furious in the ocean.  

Grab your snacks, shut down your mind, and enjoy the ride.

Meg 2: The Trench gets a 9 from me.

#Meg2

Haunted Mansion (2023)

 

Yes, I am a self-proclaimed Disney fan.  

I also admit for me no trip to Disneyland or Disney World is complete without out three things. 1) Going on the Pirates of the Carribean Ride; 2) Going through The Haunted Mansion; and 3) A hug from Mickey.

I was excited twenty years ago when Disney released The Haunted Mansion.  Based on the popular theme park attraction and starring Eddie Murphy the film was expected to be a major hit. As with many expectations in life, the reality fell short, and the movie was largely considered a flop. Such a disappointment on many levels. Now, Disney has once again looked to the popular attraction for inspiration and released the movie, Haunted Mansion. Being a fan of the ride, I wanted to see if this Justin Simien directed version delivered a more entertaining experience.

In the immortal words of Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, “Good news, everyone”! Haunted Mansion does indeed deliver an enchanting, fun filled, entertaining movie experience.  I was hoping for an improvement on the original but got more than I expected. 

Schweet!

The films’ casting choices are perfect. LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, Chase Dillon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, and Owen Wilson fire on all cylinders and make for a great ensemble. Not for nothing, I especially enjoyed Owen Wilson essentially going through the movie as himself and stealing every scene he’s in.  His presence on screen is pure joy. 

Haunted Mansion works successfully this time around because writer Katie Dippold gave the script the Pirates of the Carribean treatment and let the ride inspire the story, not dictate it. Unlike the 2003 film where elements from the attraction are directly “lifted” and the movie feels created around them, Dippold went the opposite direction and delivers a solid, fully fleshed out script, independent of familiarity of the ride. If you’ve never experienced the ride, the film still engages and entertains.  If you have experienced the ride, you're in for an even bigger treat. All the details and Easter eggs are subtly and gloriously interwoven into the story seamlessly, enhancing the and elevating the movie. The result is more satisfying and feels much more organic.  The film taking place against the backdrop of New Orleans' rich culture and flavor also packs a nice punch tying it all together nicely.

Speaking of the story, it’s well crafted, humorous, and surprisingly deep.  The central themes of loss and grief, connections and relationships hit all the right notes without being overly morose. Haunted Mansion delivers the “feels”.  The overall tone is well balanced between the humor, the heart, and the spooky. The pacing is good, and I never felt a drag during the 2-hour 2-minute runtime. 

Haunted Mansion is a fun, entertaining ride for the family.  If you have more sensitive kids, I’d recommend adhering to the PG-13 rating, some of the scary elements may be a bit much.  There are some nice twice and turns adding to the layers of the film. Great effects, plenty of humor and charm, a definite crowd pleaser for me.  I want to see this film again and again, and have it earmarked to add to my personal movie collection.

I gotta give this new and improved Haunted Mansion its props.  It’s a 10 from me.

#hauntedmansion

Barbie

 

In all honesty, I don’t know why I went to see this film.

Yes, I grew up playing with and loving Barbie.  Until recently, I still had all my dolls, a suitcase full of all her shoes, clothes, and accessories, not to mention her toys: Sunsailer Catamaran, cruise ship, beach bus, and mobile home. I’m also still sad I never got her dream house, but there were only so many chores, allowances, birthdays, Christmases, and summers of jojoba picking to make money to placate my Barbie love. 

Regardless, from the first moment I saw the movie trailer, I wasn’t impressed.  It was more a hard eye roll, snort of derision, “seriously?” exclamation, knee jerk reaction from me.  Even with the building hype over months I have been less than enthusiastic about seeing this film, continuing even as I pre-purchased my ticket the first day they went on sale. It was with less anticipation and excitement than normal; I headed out into the 110°+ temperatures to see writer/director Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.

First, Barbie is definitely not for everyone.  

It’s not a kids film even though at first blush it looks like and has been marketed as one.  

Second, there will be plenty of detractors based on the “treatment” of the male characters/masculinity.

Third, the female empowerment message will no doubt turn lots of folks off.

With that all out of the way, much to my surprise and utter delight, I loved Barbie and am so happy I got out of my own way and went to see it.

Barbie is subversive, poignant, profound, heartfelt, deliriously humorous, unexpectedly deep, and thoroughly entertaining. From Helen Mirren’s opening prologue to Barbie’s last remarks the film is an hour fifty-four-minute ride that doesn’t disappoint.  

Fantastic casting in Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as the primary Barbie and Ken.  Watching them is a delight in and of itself, adding America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, and Will Ferrell kicks everything up a notch.  Actually, kudos to all the Barbies, Kens, and various discontinued/unpopular dolls.  Everyone leaned into this film, hard, and it pays off in spades.

The soundtrack is excellent.  The costumes and art design are incredible. Amazing dance numbers and wild action sequences. But it’s the set design and props that do the heavy lifting in creating the magic of Barbieland, grounding the film in the imagination and magic of all things Barbie.  There are so many details and subtle touches that brought me so much joy seeing.  

No, I do not apologize for my squeals of delight seeing so many Barbie items I owned recreated and on the big screen.  

Barbie capitalizes on smart writing, snappy dialogue, strong direction and cinematography. It also contains unflinching truth, making it a winner. America speech alone is well worth the price of admission. It's a resounding slap in the face (think Encanto) that I felt with every fiber of my being. Leaving me stunned by its impact.

I went in not expecting much and questioning why I was going.  I left happy and thankful for having gone.  I applaud everyone connected with bringing this movie about this particular icon to life.

Barbie, for better or worse, has endured for so long for a reason.  The fun and nostalgia of this film, I suspect this film will ensure that her legacy continues. 

Barbie gets a 10 from me.

#Barbie

Oppenheimer

 

This week film release featured two highly anticipated movies, collectively called 'Barbenheimer', on the same day.  Given the three-hour runtime of writer-director Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and not wanting to spend at least 6 hours at the movie theater I opted to see Oppenheimer, first.

There’s not a lot to say about Oppenheimer, so this will be short and sweet.

This is a Christopher Nolan film through and through.  

Meaning you have a stellar all-star cast from top to bottom, acting their butts off as you exclaim, “damn, that’s so and so”! Yet. You’re still shocked when you watch the credits and see how many folks you missed. Gary Oldman?! Yep.  

The direction, visuals, and cinematography are stunning. Soundtrack sweeping. The characters well developed and engaging.  

Also, like a number of Nolan’s films, the epic nature comes with some pacing issues and gets a tad boring.  While not completely awful, there are definitely areas where the film feels a bit tedious. One gentleman sitting next to me did doze off a couple of times (he made a point of mentioning it to me after the movie) and I don’t think it was entirely due to the hot temperatures or his age.  

A couple of unexpected points.  First, while the film is called Oppenheimer and is billed as the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb, it’s almost a secondary feature consequence of the film.  The politics is the primary driving force.  Interesting overall, but the heavy focus was somewhat disappointing as I went in expecting/wanting to learn more about the person and the project.

Second, the audio. The audio editing is on par with Dunkirk and effective, but damn it’s unbelievably and at times uncomfortably loud. I’m talking, the lady sitting next to me who was deaf in one ear and wore a hearing aid in the other (she told me this as she asked me if I found the movie loud), took her hearing aid out and still put her finger in her ear to muffle the sound loud. According to second had reports from other viewers it wasn’t just the screening I attended.  So, consider yourself warned.

Oppenheimer gets a 8.5 from me.

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I

Good day movie goers.  The highly anticipated film this week, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I, has hit the big screen.  For the seventh time in the last 27 years, Tom Cruise as   Ethan Hunt once again leads his IMF team around the globe in an effort to save the world.  

Re-teaming for the third time in a row with writer/director Christopher McQuarrie, Cruise and company set out to deliver the biggest adrenaline rush of the film franchise to date.  And boy did they deliver.  From the opening underwater sequences to the final parachute landing, Dead Reckoning Part I, grabs you by the throat, pulls you in close, and never lets up. 

Clocking in at 2-hours 43-minutes, Dead Reckoning Part I, uses every cent of its 292-million-dollar budget to thrill, entertain, and enthrall the audience with gorgeous cinematography, spectacular never before seen practical stunts, a timely and relevant storyline, wonderful soundtrack, and amazing cast.  

In addition to Cruise, series favorites Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg (personal fave), and Rebecca Ferguson revise their respective rolls, each getting their moments to delight and shine.  Newbies to the franchise Hayley Atwell, Esai Morales slide in effortlessly and are more than up to the impossible mission challenge. Among the new popping up this time around are actors Cruise has previously worked with as recently as Top Gun Maverick adding to the fun.  It’s also pure joy seeing the likes of Vanessa Kirby, Cary Elwes, Pom Klementieff, and Henry Czerny.

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I not only has all the thrills and actions expected, but there are also nice touches of humor and character moments.  It’s also a bit of a reset in terms of delving in how Hunt specifically and other IMF agents came to be and what makes them tick.  So yes, there’s plenty of action, but also more expansive, smart dialogue and character development, making it one of the most serious, less action-packed films in the franchise. The pacing, however, is good and the balance between all the moving parts is handled well so you never tire of or feel bogged down with the exposition and have time to catch your breath with the action.

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I is a solid setup for the second half of the movie scheduled to be released June 28, 2024. I do feel that because the film is being cut in two, this first half overall feels flatter than previous films because of the need to hold off for resolution.  The stakes are high but don’t feel as if you’re ever at a true tipping point. And while the stunts/action are amazing there’s a bit of a letdown from all the behind-the-scenes videos and marketing leaving no surprises.  

If you decide to accept this mission, hurry to your local theater and see this epic on the biggest screen you can. 

This review will not self-destruct in 5 seconds.

Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part I gets an 8.5 from me.

#missionimpossible

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

 

Forty-one years ago (yes, 1981) Harrison Ford teamed up with the likes of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg in bringing the titular character of Indiana Jones to the big screen in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.  The world took notice, and a global icon was born.  I like so many was enthralled with the character and loved the film. Unfortunately, the resulting sequels have been very hit and miss in nature.

After the 1984 misstep of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, lightning in a bottle would be captured again eight years later in what was at the time billed as Indy’s last ride in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. For my money the perfect Indy ending if ever there was one.  Sadly in 2008 Lucas and company resurrected the franchise with dismally disappointing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.  This week Ford once again hits the big screen in the latest Indiana Jones film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, this time under the direction of James Mangold (Logan, Ford v Ferrari) and written by siblings Jez and John-Henry Butterworth (Edge of Tomorrow, Ford v Ferrari). Given the past track record of the franchise, new director and new writing team, I approached Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny with hope of a strong finish, but no small amount of trepidation that the stank of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull would not only not be vanquished but worsen.

Good news!  

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is definitely an improvement on The Crystal Skull.  By comparison, it’s a watchable, pleasant, and enjoyable.  Mads Mikkelsen delivers once again as our big bad. John Williams naturally hits it out of the part with his film score.  There's lots of action, familiar characters, plenty of nostalgia and callbacks. Woo hoo!  

Sounds like a winner. However, despite that being the case, I wasn’t anywhere as into this film as I wanted/hoped to be.

Bad news!

The 2-hour 34-minute runtime is excessive. There are a number of scenes, particularly chase scenes that are bloated and drag on much longer than needed and don’t add any extra bang for the buck and become tiresome.

A big part of this film is the nostalgia which I’m all for, but some of the “Indy tropes” have gotten long in the tooth and embarrassing at this stage.  Others are disappointing for being skimmed over or sidelined.  They were able to get John Rhys-Davies to return as fan favorite Sallah. Sweet! But why? He's underused and has more of an extended cameo than an actual part. 

Very disappointing.  

Speaking of underutilization, Ford as Indy. I get that he’s older, that life and circumstances have taken a toll on both Ford and his character, but Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny makes him feel more like a sidekick in his own film rather than the main character.  Smacks of Black Widow in that regard.  In addition, there’s no real spark in either his character or his performance.  Ford looks the part, he goes through the motions, but there isn’t any joy in it.  He’s a shadow of his former self thematically so it should work, but watching the film feels like he’s begrudgingly taking part first and foremost to take the stank off the franchise left by Crystal Skull and secondly to usher in Phoebe Waller-Bridge as possibly the next iteration of Indiana Jones.

As for Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena, I simply did not like her.  At all.  Her character did nothing to draw me in, endear herself, or make me care in any way, shape, or form.  Helena is just awful. Beyond being the plot device to pull Indy into this adventure there's no need for her.  I found her character to be awful and unappealing from start to finish.  If she does end up donning the fedora, I have no desire to follow her adventure.  I feel pretty much the same about Ethann Isidore’s Teddy. I could not care less about these characters. 

The humor couldn’t be more hit and miss if they wanted.  There are some solid laughs, a few chuckles and smirks, but more thuds and cringes than anything else. 

The story.  

Overall, I’m fine with it and it works for the most part. Right up to the climax which it is just plain silly and undermines everything.  Crystal Skull had aliens, and this has...really? 

I’m glad I saw Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny on the big screen.  It’s a decent to okay film, but definitely a one and done one for me.  I’ve watched it, it has redeemed the franchise from the Crystal Skull fiasco, but I have no interest in seeing it again.  In fact, I’m choosing to live in a world where the Indiana Jones franchise consists of three films.  Where the movies started out strong with Raiders of the Lost Ark and stuck the landing ending perfectly with The Last Crusade.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny gets a 6 from me.

#IndianaJones

Elemental

Pixar burst on the scene with their 1995 Oscar winning animated hit Toy Story and has been innovating and kicking butt ever since. With few critical and audience misses these films have established themselves as safe bets not to be missed. With this in mind I happily headed to my local theater to check out this summer’s offering, Elemental.  A film about the love story between two anthropomorphic elements (fire and water) against the backdrop of immigration.

Things start off with a new short prior to the film, Carl’s Date featuring Carl and Dug from Up. I definitely feel some kind of way about this short and none of it is particularly good.  Maybe I’m just old, but the whole thing felt cheap and disrespectful to the trauma dump of Up and Ed Asner.

As for the main attraction, things didn’t get much better. I'm keeping this one short and not so sweet because honestly, I feel no desire to spend much time thinking about this one.

As expected, the world building animation, rich and vibrant colors of Elemental are beautiful and a joy to behold. The animation and the musical score are by far the best things about this film.  As for the other elements of Elemental there’s not much to be desired.

The story is far from new and pretty standard rom-com opposites attract blah, blah, blah fare.  Ok, I can hang with that.  

The problem is in this rendition I simply didn’t care.  

The main characters of Ember and Wade are boring, uninspired, and lifeless.  There was nothing to like about either of them individually let alone together, making it hard to be invested in the story at all. I had serious The Good Dinosaur vibes (not a fave) watching this.  Both films being co-written and directed by Peter Sohn may be the common factor.  Perhaps stick to the acting for a while my man? 

As stated, except for the visuals Elemental and soundtrack is an hour forty-nine minutes of pure unadulterated, meh, and sadly, a completely forgettable film.  An example of a good idea that is never fully executed and done so poorly. 

Bland script, heavy handed messaging. Weak underdeveloped characters. Little to no Pixar/Disney magic to be found.  

End of the day, Elemental, it’s not fun. It’s not entertaining. It’s not worth a trip to the theater to see. 

Elemental gets a 4 from me.

#elemental

The Flash

 

One of this weeks’ highly anticipated and controversial films, The Flash, has hit theaters.  Two things.  First, my knowledge/familiarity of the title character is limited to what takes place in this film as well as Justice League (both versions) and Peacemaker. And 2) my reason for wanting to see this one can be boiled down to two words: Michael Keaton. With those things in mind, I have mixed feelings on this one.  Onto the good, the bad, and the ugly that is The Flash.

The good.  

The really good.  

No, make that the amazing and easily the biggest saving grace of The Flash is exactly what I wanted to see in the first place.  Michael Keaton.  Pardon my language but Keaton’s appearance is the absolute shit and his presence alone makes this movie worth watching. There have been numerous actors that have donned the cape and cowl as Batman, but for me Keaton is the one that made me love the character and, in The Flash, I fell in love all over again.  Every moment on screen as either Bruce Wayne or Batman took me to my happy place, made me smile, made me feel, and made me thankful to still be alive to bear witness to his performance.  Keaton brings gravitas, warmth, compassion, and elevates this film immensely.  So much so I feel bad for Ben Affleck returning as Batfleck.  He may have to stature and the overall “look”, but for my money he once again falls short on everything else. 

Ezra Miller.  

Whew.  

As far as their dual role performance did a good job overall.  My biggest issue came in the characterization of 18-year-old Barry.  Maybe it’s my lack of a deeper knowledge/understanding but it seems off to me.  Barry’s established as smart kid, over thinker if anything.  Flash/Elder Barry is also highly intelligent.  18-year-old Barry is to put it mildly something of an idiot in comparison and I often found annoying and off putting.

Sasha Calle as Supergirl is fine.  I’ve never really cared about this character, but I really don’t have an issue here.  She’s there.  She’s fine.  She gets to kick some ass and looks good doing so.  She’s not much more than a MacGuffin, so...whatever.

Speaking of MacGuffins, The Flash is rife with them.  

Michael Shannon’s General Zod, the multiversal worlds, and numerous cameos.  They all play towards fan service, but disappointingly so in how they fall short. For a 2-hour 24-minute movie there was an opportunity to really do something with these things beyond a quick “looksy” and move on.  Nice to see, but overall disappointing. 

The bad and the ugly.

The humor. 

While there are some good laughs, there are too many thuds to ignore.  One of which is so cringe I felt like I was watching a meme being made before my eyes.  I could see and hear David Caruso doing his best CSI: Miami starring at the camera, pulling off his shades, and delivering the line in place of Miller. Yep, it took me completely out of the film and seeing how early in the movie it occurs, not good.  Not good at all.

The CGI work has issues and combined with script issues is problematic at best and ridiculous at worse. In one instance I not only shook my head and was muttering “seriously?” over and again but made a mental not to see who wrote this film because it seems like the people behind Fire Country’s season finale had reared their heads. The tonal balance between trying to be light-hearted and fun and deep/meaningful is often choppy.

Again, maybe it’s me, but the biggest issue I have with The Flash is I’m left wondering, what’s the point?  The overall story doesn’t feel like it does much beyond throwing various elements together in the name of fan service.  Fine.  I love fan service as much as the next person, but honestly this didn't even feel like good fan service. It also never felt like there was anything resembling high stakes at risk throughout the film.  There’s quite a lot of sizzle, most of which washed over me, with little substance.  I didn’t hate The Flash, but I certainly didn’t love it the way I hoped either.  

In fact, the more I think about the film the more I’m disappointed. I left the theater feeling overall I should’ve gone to see Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse again. With the exception of Michael Keaton that film has everything and did it better. 

The Flash gets a split vote from me.  

The overall film is a 5.

Michael Keaton gets a 10.

Oh yeah.  There is one post credit scene, you have to sit through the entire credit roll to see.

#theflash

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

 

Transformers (2007) marked the beginning of what seemed to be a promising movie franchise.  Sadly, the following films with one, maybe 2 exceptions, quickly began to lose their luster, culminating in the eye-rolling, craptastic low Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) marking what should have been the final nail in the proverbial coffin. A year later hope and interest was rekindled when Bumblebee went back to basics and re-energized the franchise. Never being one to shy away from a sequel, this year Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is now in theaters just in time for summer movie goers.  

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is both a sequel to the aforementioned Bumblebee and prequel to the original Transformers.  This time around it’s 1994, joining the Autobots in a globe-trotting battle are Maximals and Terrocons in an effort to secure the Transwarp Key hidden here on Earth.

What takes place is a 2 hour 7-minute, heavy effects laden, character driven joy ride.  

Once again there’s a nice balance between the human characters in Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) and Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback) and the Transformer characters.  Both sets of characters are nicely fleshed out with clear motivations, and a story that makes sense. Though I do admit that Elena's character got shortchanged and it would've been nice to go deeper on her. A popping soundtrack that had my feet tapping and brought a huge grin to my face add s to the mix. I’m talking serious nostalgia y’all. Solid humor that will make you laugh-out-loud.  And action.  Lots and lots of well-done action sequences that pair nicely with the exposition.

Rise of the Beasts has a lot of heart and emotion.  I really felt for the characters (both good and bad), unexpectedly got choked up a couple of times and was thoroughly invested in the story. All courtesy of a great cast. The CGI work is on point.  As is the strong direction and great cinematography. 

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts pacing gets a bit wonky in places and there are definitely some lulls. There’s quite a lot in this film that feels straight up lifted from other movies, including Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen that dampens the originality and feels lazy. Not the first film to do this, nor will it be the last.  Still disappointing though.  

By the times the credits rolled, and yes there’s a credit scene that happens fairly quickly so don’t bolt for the exit too fast, I was happy for heading to the theater to see Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.  It was fun, entertaining, and worth the trip to be out amongst the public.  While I admit I like Bumblebee a smidgen more, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts ranks up there as one of the better Transformer films overall.  So, Autobots, roll out and catch it on the big screen.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts gets a 7.5 from me.

#TransformersRiseOfTheBeasts

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

 

In 2018 I went to the movies and saw the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse because it looked interesting and seemed like a nice way to spend a couple of hours. I was treated to one of if not the best Spider-Man films I’ve ever seen and couldn’t wait for a sequel.  Now five years later, following seemingly endless delays and push backs Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has finally made it to the big screen.  I couldn’t get to my local theater fast enough to see it. 

Holy crap!

They say that patience is a virtue, be that as it may, in this case it also pays off.  In spades.

I’m still reeling from watching this one and I definitely need/want to see it again.  Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is phenomenal.  I was hoping for a repeat of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in terms of quality and viewing experience, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse easily meets if not exceeds that.  

Once again there’s an amazing soundtrack. The visuals are eye popping and jaw dropping. Spectacular animation that goes multimedia. The story is dense (in the best way), textured, layered, and intricate. The writing is incredible replete with twists and turns that had me audibly gasping, clueless to where the story was heading and happy to just be swept along. The acting mesmerizing, delivering first class characterization and development. Altogether Across the Spider-Verse is a film that just keeps on giving in every aspect.

While expansive, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse keeps Miles Morales (Shameike Moore) his family, and his journey front and center. A true linchpin in the unfolding story. We also get treated to a deeper dive into Gwen Stacy’s (Hailee Steinfeld) Spider-Woman role in an unexpected and rewarding way.  

The voice acting is glorious. The amount of heart, warmth, depth, vulnerability, etc. the cast brings is unparalleled. Simply put all the characters in this film are more believable, more three-dimensional, relatable, and nuanced than most films.  The pacing is on point, even the numerous young kids had no problems staying engaged. For 2 hours and 20 minutes, in a packed movie theater, they pulled me in and had me completely absorbed in their story to the exclusion of all else. I may as well have been in the theater by myself because it was all about the movie. When the film ended, I was shocked. I actually cried in surprise, “What?! No!” and suffered my only movie disappointment.  

Talk about leaving ‘em wanting more. And how. 

It really doesn’t get any better than that.

By the way, no credit scenes this go round. Just a promise of a return.

That’s an apt sentiment for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.  There are quite a few multiverse films floating around these days, but it doesn’t get any better than this.  There are so many things happening within (as a non comic book person, I especially appreciated the little popup info to keep me in the know) and about this film that I haven’t mentioned that are stellar, I don’t feel like I’m doing it justice. But I really don't want to say too much for fear of giving away some of the fun. 

Just go see it for yourself. 

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse from start to finish is an embarrassment of riches that needs to be seen and heard on the big screen to truly appreciate what a perfect movie masterpiece has been created.  I can’t wait until March 29, 2024 for Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a 10 without a doubt.

Minor SPOILER ALERT:

In case like me you didn’t know. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a part 1, so you’re left with a cliff hanger at the end. 

END SPOILER ALERT

#spidermanacrossthespiderverse

The Little Mermaid (2023)

This weeks’ trip to the theater had me checking out the latest Disney live-action adaptation The Little Mermaid. I remember reading the story as a kid and like so many, absolutely love the 1989 animated version so I’ve been looking forward to seeing this take for the last couple of years. As I do with every film I see, I went in with an open mind and hopes for a positive movie experience.  However, despite my best efforts to ignore, avoid, and otherwise tune out all the “controversy” and haterade, I also went in with a large pit in my stomach and a sense of dread instead of excitement. I wanted/needed this one to be good.

Disney’s live-action remakes have been hit or miss to put it kindly.  They’ve been really good or total garbage, nothing in between. While The Little Mermaid didn't blow me away it has bucked that trend, so yay! The Little Mermaid (2023) is a solid and overall enjoying film. It’s also a mixed bag.

The expansion of the story by fleshing out Eric’s character and motivations is a welcome change as is giving Ariel more depth in hers as well. However, with a running time clocking in at 2 hours and 15 minutes there’s definite room to cut things. The Little Mermaid (2023) is too long. I never tuned out, but I did get antsy and felt the film dragged in places. The younger kids in the audience certainly got squirmy as well.  

One of the most beloved aspects from the animated is the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman soundtrack.  With Menken returning and the addition of Lin-Manuel Miranda I once again had high expectations.  I hate to admit it, but again it was a mixed bag.  Bailey has a beautiful singing voice and while I got actual chills when she belts out Part of Your World there are a few spots I wanted her to rein it in a bit.  And having her sing during Under the Sea not only undercut the song thematically, frankly it messed it up for me. The Scuttlebutt I can go either way on. It’s a bit of fun, but really unnecessary and easily can go.  Kiss the Girl remains stellar.  Eric’s Wild Uncharted Waters...wow.  The politest way I can put it is, it’s a hard pass.  

The casting for the most part is strong.  Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, and Javier Bardem deliver strong performances as Ariel, Eric, and King Triton. Kudos all around. For me it’s Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula and Daveed Diggs’ Sebastian that had really big shoes to fill and definitely delivered bang for the buck.  Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay didn’t add much to the mix.  Scuttle and Flounder are "just there" in a more limited capacity this time around.

Great direction, wonderful costumes, and overall good visuals with a few hitches.  Speaking of the visuals, I do want to know what the deal was with the Ursula/Ariel/Eric showdown. I don’t know if it was the print of the film I was viewing or an intentional decision, but I went from watching a Disney film to something straight out of DC.  Things went dark.  Literally.  Super-sized Ursula in all her evil glory can barely be seen in the lighting, clouds, and rain.  A disappointment for sure.

This is not your childhood The Little Mermaid. It’s an updated, expanded, inclusive, retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  

Just like the original story the 1989 animated movie still exists and can continued to be enjoyed. The Little Mermaid (2023) isn’t perfect but has its merits, is enjoyable and entertaining.  I do have my issues with the film, but I’m also glad I took the time to go see it in the theaters.  

I’m giving The Little Mermaid (2023) a 7.

#thelittlemermaid

Fast X

 

Summer is officially just around the corner and the blockbuster film releases are picking up steam. This week at the theater it’s all about family.  Yep, Dom and company are back on the screen in what’s being billed as the beginning of the end of The Fast and Furious franchise. So, I hit the theater, buckled up, and turned off my brain to indulge in the ridiculous, over-the-top 2 hours and twenty-one-minute End Game-esque spectacle that is Fast X.

Real talk. 

This franchise and the movies within them aren’t regarded as master pieces of fine cinema.  I’m well aware of that and I’m completely fine with it.  These films are full of eye-rolling dialogue, unbelievable action sequence that hit absurd and keep going, and CGI work that can be truly terrible. Yet, with the notable exception (mandatory dis here) of Tokyo Drift I love these films and get a kick out of them.  Why?  They’re fun and entertaining.  There's also something comforting about their predictability and mindlessness. The formula they follow is simplistic and it works.  And yes, while not being anywhere near Citizen Kane, the Furious films have brought the feels along with the fun and funny and produced characters to like and care about. 

Popcorn movies through and through.

Fast X is no exception. 

From the jump Fast X does a great job reworking the events from 2011s Fast Five into the setup for what unfolds in this film.  So yes, if you aren’t up to date, have forgotten, or just didn’t care but are watching Fast X it all makes sense.  As much as any of these make sense. In fact, they did a great job summarizing key points from the entire franchise.  The call backs, homages, references, and flashbacks bring joy.  

Part of that joy comes from the return of so many of the characters that have appeared throughout the franchise as well as the new additions. In the latter category while Rita Moreno, Brie Larson, and Alan Ritchson are nice additions to the mix, it’s Jason Momoa that steals the show. And how. Momoa’s Dante is unhinged, overly dramatic, and bigger than life in the best way possible.  It’s clear Momoa had a blast with this part, and you can’t help enjoying watching him having fun chewing the scenery.  

As usual there's a bumping soundtrack, lots of action sequences, a few twists making for a good beginning of the end. Along with the standard Furious tropes are surprise cameos and a mid-credit scene not to be missed. 

Fast X doesn’t cover any new territory and sticks to the tried-and-true Furious formula, buy hey if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.  The big exception here is like Infinity War/Endgame, Fast X ends by not ending. Yes, folks we get an old-fashioned cliffhanger. The next installment is currently scheduled for a 2025 release, so we have a bit of a wait to find out what happens next. I for one look forward to seeing what’s next for the family.

Fast X gets an 8 from me.

#FastX

Book Club: The Next Chapter

 

In 2018 Bill Holderman introduced me to the pure delight that is Book Club.  Five years later he’s reunited the ladies in a new, international adventure Book Club: The Next Chapter.  I couldn’t wait to see what shenanigans Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and Mary Steenburgen got into this time around.  Snacks at hand I settled into my seat at my local theater ready to be entertained.

No point in dragging it out, Book Club: The Next Chapter is not the delightful sequel I hoped.  

The first half of this one hour forty-seven-minute comedy is a letdown.  

The humor is subpar at best with few of the jokes landing.  The chemistry between the characters is lacking.  The story just lies there lifeless.  Other than my snacks the only saving grace that kept me watching is the absolutely beautiful cinematography that makes for a gorgeous travel log and the terrific soundtrack of jaunty tunes that not only had me bobbing along and seat dancing but brought the bonus of being done in Italian.  Always fun to hear familiar pop tunes in another language.

On a positive note, halfway through the film, Book Club: The Next Chapter does find its footing and rhythm and the movie clicks, finishing strong.  Like a flick of a switch, the heart, humor, and characters pulled me in and I found myself completely entertained and engaged.  I suddenly cared about what was happening and was invested in the story.  While the conclusion is predictable it’s nonetheless satisfying and had me wanting to see more of these characters going forward.

Only wish it hadn’t taken half the movie to get there.

Book Club: The Next Chapter isn’t a film I can recommend you take the time or make the effort to see at the theater, unless you want to see the scenery.  It’s definitely a stream from home on a lazy day viewing.  If you do so, be sure to watch the first half of the credit roll for all the behind-the-scenes photos.  Those are fun and even feature an unexpected famous face.

Book Club: The Next Chapter gets a 5.5 from me.

#bookclubnext chapter

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

 

With the temperatures continuing to rise we have the start of summer movie season in Marvel Studios much hyped and eagerly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.  The final film in James Gunn’s trilogy got my butt to my local theater ready for an emotional send off to much beloved characters. I’ve taken a little extra time mulling over my thoughts and feelings on this one, and it’s admittedly still a work in progress.  

Apologies for my unfocused ramble.

I love Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. They’re the perfect blend of action, humor, emotion, sentimentality, and drama so I saw no reason for Vol. 3 not to deliver the goods one more time.  For me, while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 delivers an entertaining and enjoyable movie experience it isn’t the slam-dunk I wanted, hoped for, or expected.  The balance just isn’t there?  I’m still trying to put my finger on it, but the film is just a bit off.

Rocket’s storyline is as deep, heartbreaking, and emotional as anticipated, doing justice to his character.  The High Evolutionary makes for a wonderfully awful villain that’s truly reprehensible, so yay!  Good bad guy.  Quill’s a bit hit and miss for me this time around as is, dare I say it? Gamora.  Nebula is solid.  Sadly, for me Mantis and Drax don’t evolve or bring anything new to the table until the end and their characters get cheated as does the audience.  Kraglin also falls into the category.  Worse of all are The Sovereign and Adam Warlock.  Neither pays off and definitely left me underwhelmed and disappointed.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 has a runtime of 2 hours and 30-minutes and while it doesn't feel too long, story wise it’s either too much. Things needed to be pared down and focused.  Or not long enough, expand the scope, give more time and development to the characters we’ve come to care about.  As is I find this one a bit frustrating.

The throwbacks, Easter eggs, and homages are great.  The humor is more hit and miss.  Pacing overall is good. Tonally things are a bit wonky, and the film just doesn’t flow as smoothly as its predecessors.  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is also more violent and dark than previous films, disturbingly so in places.  A bit of a heads up for folks taking their kids to this one.  

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is easily my least favorite film in the trilogy.  That being said, it’s still a fun watch, especially on the big screen.  While I don’t think Gunn stuck the landing on this, I do appreciate his bringing these characters and their adventures to life and thank him and all involved for their hard work and dedication.  Vol. 3 is largely a success and is a messy, but good ending to the trilogy.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 gets a 7 from me.

Oh, yeah.  Almost forgot.  There are 2 end credit scenes.

#guardiansofthegalaxyvol3

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

 

Puberty sucks!

Yes, it’s been more decades than I’d like to admit since I’ve had to deal with it, but growing up in general and puberty specifically was rough.  The awkwardness, insecurity, changing body, and so much more.  Judy Blume captured it brilliantly in her 1970 book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and Kelly Fremon Craig has picked up the mantle and delivered the movie adaptation brilliantly.

As previously stated, it’s been more than a minute since I was a pubescent girl, but Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret still hits and hits hard.  Throughout the hour forty-five-minute film I not only believed every moment Abby Ryder Forston’s portrayal of Margaret Simon, but I also felt it.  Felt it and had literal flashbacks of going through the same experiences.  The laughter, the tears, the embarrassment, and the friendships. Forston nailed it all with razor sharp precision that grounds the story and brings the film to life.

Rachel McAdams shines as mom Barbara Simon, but for me it’s Kathy Bates’ grandma Sylvia Simon that really lights up the screen and steals every scene she’s in.  The warmth, the comedic timing, the drama!  Bates is perfect, loveable, and fun no matter how exasperating.  

The set design, costumes, and music bring the 70s to life for better or worse as the case may be and the resulting nostalgia/familiarity serves as another warm hug.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret doesn’t do anything new or extreme.  The story remains the same and has just as much impact as ever.  Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret stays true to its roots and therein lies its perfection.  I laughed. I teared up. I remembered. I was thankful, entertained, and left the theater thoughtful and happy.  

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret gets a 10 from me.

#areyoutheregoditsmemargaret

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant

 

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and I’m not really in the mood for anything too heavy in a number of ways, including on the big screen.  However, the trailer for Guy Ritchie’s new film The Covenant looked too good to pass up, so that was this weeks’ movie adventure.

Let me start by saying, DAMN!

A feeling and sentiment that I felt and expressed repeatedly throughout the 2 hour and 3-minute film.  Along with some accompanying F bombs.   

The Covenant isn’t really a war movie in the typical sense, it’s about the covenant, the bond, the commitment between a solider (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his interpreter (Dar Salim) toward the end of the US War in Afghanistan and honoring your debts.  

To put it mildly, The Covenant is intense, stressful, anxiety inducing, impactful, and thought provoking.  My anxiety/stress level didn't subside until I was back in my car headed home.  With the sudden and often brutal action "The Covenant" reminds me a bit of Lone Survivor and left me without a shadow of doubt that I would be totally worthless in any capacity in the situations the characters find themselves in.  The was a great deal of breath holding and butt puckering.

The pacing in this one is a bit unusual in that over half the film is devoted to the setup for the ambush and heroic escape with comparably little focus on the rather brisk conclusion, but it actually services the film beautifully.  A true example of it's about the journey not the destination if ever there was one.

The Covenant is well written, beautifully shot, the directing is amazing, and has an incredible pulse- pounding musical score that resonates, amplifies, and elevates the film perfectly. 

Fantastic acting.  

Gyllenhaal delivers spectacularly which is no surprise.  But Salim (Game of Thrones) is the real surprise and delivers a riveting performance that’s breathtaking. The scene following the initial escape when his Ahmed wants/tries to say something to Kinley (Gyllenhaal)...DAMN.  I felt everything and it just broke me.  And his performance just gets amplified from there.    Couldn’t tear my eyes from the screen is I wanted to, which I didn’t.

The Covenant is a gripping, gritty, and at times hard to watch fictional story that ties into recent history and is most definitely worth viewing.  I sadly can’t truly convey just how intense a movie going experience this film is, so you really need to see it in a movie theater on a big screen with a killer audio system to get full appreciation.  

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant gets a 10 from me.

#guyritchiethecovenant

Renfield

The premise of Renfield is pretty straightforward.  Nicholas Hoult’s Renfield has the suckiest boss ever, literally, in Nicolas Cage’s Dracula, and wants to break the cycle of co-dependence between them.  Sounds like a good time so I ventured forth and checked it out.

With a runtime of a mere hour thirty-three minutes, Renfield is the rare movie that feels longer than it is but that’s actually a good thing.  It neither feels too long nor does it feel rushed so you’re missing out overall.  

I say overall in that I definitely left the theater wanting more of Cage’s over-the-top, campy, Bela Lugosi-esque performance.  Cage leans in hard and the result is deliciously ridiculous and purely delightful to behold. Nicolas Cage is dead and loving it and so was I. 

Not to be out done, Hoult’s hangdog Renfield is the perfect foil in this wacky, ultra-violent gorefest. You can't help relating to what the poor guy is going through and feel for him every step of the way. The chemistry between the two makes the entire film.

Sadly, a little less engrossing is the buddy cop dynamic with Awkwafina’s Rebecca.  Awkwafina gives it her all, but her character drags down the film and dampens the joy of the film.  The self-righteous angry cop on a mission doesn’t quite gel with the rest of the film. There are some nice moments, but truth be told the film suffers from the character’s presence. The tonal disconnect is too much and the sub-plot doesn’t get explored enough to really make you care.

Great, frenetic action sequences.  Fantastic makeup and effects.  Good music and direction.  And gore.  Lots and lots of gore.  Think Tarantino rivers of blood, guts, and sinew. Be warned.  Not as humorous as I hoped, but Renfield does deliver the funny, especially during the therapy group sessions.

While I wish the sub-plots and characters were better integrated into the film and packed more of a punch overall, there’s still plenty to enjoy in Renfield and it was certainly worth the trip to the movies.  The two Nicks are perfectly cast and their performances/dynamic more than makes up for any of the film’s shortcomings.  If you do check this one out, do stay and watch the credits.  No, there’s no bonus scene(s) per se, but there is bonus footage the credits roll over that’s fun to watch.

Renfield gets a 7 from me.

#Renfield

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

 

True confession time.  While I am a self-described geek and proud of it, I’ve never played Dungeons and Dragons and don’t really know much about this world. Sad, shameful, and tragic but true.  Nonetheless, loving fantasy, the cast the cast (especially Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Hugh Grant), and the rave reviews of audiences and critics alike I headed to my local theater with hopes that my streak of seeing wining films would continue.

No sense in trying to sugar coat it, my hopes and winning streak were dashed quickly. 

While the visuals and the sets are good, the plot is decent, the script itself is dry, soulless, and flat. Within the first twenty minutes of this bloated 2-hour and fourteen-minute Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves had me not just bored but actively fighting to stay awake.  And hour in I had not only long since stopped caring about anything going on with this film. I did, however, decide on tacos for dinner. 

Pine and Rodriguez give it their all, but there’s just no saving this one.  A total lack of chemistry with any of the actors/characters is insurmountable, making suspension of disbelief impossible. I didn’t buy into the group’s “thanks for coming to the movies” introduction before the film let alone during the epic quest rife with life and death situations within.  No true character development as well does no one any favors. The most interesting character blows through quickly and is a wasted opportunity, while another is heavily focused on but is just tiresome and annoying.

Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves has been hyped for being fun, playful, and funny. I’ve got to disagree. There are too many jokes and few of them land.  I scoffed a few times and along with the rest of the audience had precisely one laugh-out-loud moment towards the end of the movie, though I’d be hard press now to tell you what it was.  

There was little joy watching this film.  

There’s no spark. No magic. Little world building. Hell, there’s hardly even a dragon and even on that account, I’ve seen better.  And recently.

I really wanted Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves to be entertaining and the start of a new franchise to look forward to seeing.  I tried to get into it and have fun.  I couldn’t.  I just couldn’t. Instead, Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves is nothing more than big budget eye candy that’s all sizzle and no steak, cashing in on a built-in fan base.  

First film of the five I've seen this year where I can say, not worth the effort, time, or money to see in the theaters. But if you do, because you absolutely HAVE to, yes there is a credit scene.  Thankfully it’s at the top of the credits so you don’t have to wait too long.

Mainly for the visuals Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves gets a 4 from me.