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.