Transformers One

 

Greetings once again.  It has been a minute. Hope you had a wonderful summer.

Now, with summer movie season behind us and the Fall films are hitting the big screen, I ventured out to see the latest Hasbro Entertainment offering in the animated film Transformers One. Back in the day, I never watched the old cartoons and only really got into the Transformers back in 2007 through the live action films.  While those films have had varying degrees of success for me, I nonetheless didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see Transformers One's untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, friends bonded as brothers now sworn enemies, splashed across the big screen.

I happily report this PG rated, 1 hour 44-minute film proved to be a major winner.

Transformers One delivers on all fronts.  

The animation is gorgeous, the storyline solid and engaging, great soundtrack, and perfect pacing. The voice cast is stellar, and they do an amazing job breathing life into these characters, filling the film with heart, humor, emotion, and dare I say? Yes, humanity.  The action sequences pack a punch and couldn’t be more thrilling. While the quieter character moments are perfectly balanced and not only ground the movie but really keep you invested.  

I was completely captivated throughout the entire film, emerged in the story, and riveted to the screen. Apologies to anyone I may have offended with any of my “oh sh*t”, “damn, “and “holy crap” outbursts that slipped out, but I was totally into this film, and I couldn’t help it. Actually, no. I don't apologize. It was warranted.

Transformers One looks and feels more like a live action than animated film. It’s intense and I’m all for it. I will say that the fight sequences are fast paced, action packed, and brutal so may not be for younger and or more sensitive kids, but I was certainly all about them.

There’s no doubt for me that Transformers One certainly is more than meets the eye in the best way possible. It’s wholesome and heartbreaking, funny and tragic, thrilling and dramatic.  Total badassery all the way.  

Do yourself a favor and roll out to see this one at the theater in all its glory. it's a breath of fresh air. When you do, be sure to stay ALL the way through the end credits as not to miss the second little sequence that’s sure to have you as excited for this franchise as I am. I definitely want to add this one to my collection.

Transformers One gets a 10 from me.

#transformersone

Deadpool and Wolverine

 

Standard non comic book reader disclaimer applies for the following. 

After what seems like an eternity, Deadpool and Wolverine has FINALLY hit theaters. 

To say that I’ve been looking forward to this one is a bit of an understatement.  For maximum viewing enjoyment I purposely avoided watching or reading anything about the film to avoid spoilers, to the point of even limiting my trailer watching to the original teaser and last trailer.  Even with that I did see headlines from real critics and review sites decrying the film as trash. Not gonna lie, that made me quite anxious, and I thought about bailing on the movie. Nervously, I went anyway and all I can say is...damn!

For me there were a couple of scenes were the pacing dragged and I’m certainly feeling some kind of way about the Cassandra Nova character (I do thank my niece for filling in some key point(s) with that character), but I do declare my overall feeling is YES! It has been too long since a highly anticipated movie delivered the goods like Deadpool and Wolverine.

Apologies for any incoherence as I continue, but I really don’t want to spoil any of the joy to be had seeing this film.

Despite Deadpool and Wolverine writer’s/actor’s strike, superhero fatigue, and whatever else people are complaining about has accomplished what has been lacking in so many films, especially the ‘big” ones of late.  A well-balanced, strong script chock-full of wit, humor, heart, action, three dimensional characters, character development and drama. An absolutely killer soundtrack.  Well placed, surprising cameos that actually elevate the film.  Off the charts meta quotient. Purely chef’s kiss jabs and commentary.  Irreverent sass. Original actors from over a 24 year plus period once again bringing their characters back to the screen as well as new characters we'd like to see. Killer costumes. Action and fight sequences that are worth the wait. Hugh Jackman donning the claws once again and not missing a beat. OMG. Squee! I can go on and on. Believe me I want to, but you’d be better off just seeing the film for yourself.

Does Deadpool and Wolverine pander? Yes. Yes, it does, and I couldn't be happier. It's done in the best, most enjoyable way possible.  D&W is the now rare event movie where the excitement and anticipation are there before, during, and is sustained throughout the film. I was in a packed theater and the “shared experience” vibe was perfect. The entire audience was engaged. We all laughed, ooh and ahh-ed, exclaimed, pointed, cheered, clapped and marveled.  

Deadpool and Wolverine definitely needs to be seen on the big screen. I do, however, warn those of you with kids. This being an R-rated film the theater I went to was stringently enforcing the must be accompanied by parent or guardian rule so keep that in mind. Also, yes, you do need to stay through the entire end credits.  

I really want to see this one again and will be adding it to my person film library when possible.

Deadpool and Wolverine slaps hard, like a Honda Odyssey. It’s a 10 from me.

#DeadpoolandWolverine

Despicable Me 4

 

It’s too friggin’ hot to think so, getting down to tacks of brass for this one.

I’m a fan of the franchise and absolutely love the Minions so I was very excited to see this one. Having braved the 111-degree temps to get to the theater to watch Despicable Me 4 I was left sweaty and with the overall feeling of, “meh.” 

DM4 has its moments: the gas station scene, the pit crew minions, the final prison scene for instance, but overall, the film is flat.  Definite “pockets” of interest over the hour thirty-five-minute runtime, but they’re inconsistent at best. All of this makes the pacing slow as you wait for the interesting tidbits you get here and there in between the dull parts. I’d say maybe it was a “me” thing, but even the kids in the audience weren’t engaged and showed signs of boredom and listlessness throughout the movie.

There’s are multiple plots and themes that are or at least would be interesting except they are underdeveloped, and I was left feeling cheated with each as a result. The lack of focus, story, and character development made for a bland viewing experience.

Once again, here’s another movie where the villain isn’t really worthy of being considered a villain. A weak and forgettable antagonist. New and old characters alike are pretty much glossed over, lacking motivation and interest. A fact that hits the Gru family hard. The premise isn’t leaned into enough to spark much interest into their plight, so you basically don’t care about them.  

The bulk of the entertainment generated watching Despicable Me 4 comes in the form of the minions. Even more so than in the other films. However, that’s not enough. The been there seen that and lack of inspiration keeps even the minions and their antics from be able to save this film completely.  

Once again Pharrell Williams delivers another soundtrack that will bring a smile to your face and have you singing along. Good animation although I do wonder who Sofía Vergara ticked off to have her character look that way. 

Yikes. Scary.

For my time and money Despicable Me 4 is the weakest film in the franchise to date. It’s not horrible, but it’s definitely lacking and a disappointment for me. The few sprinkles of characterization, humor, relatability, and creativity aren’t enough to save this film from being a so-so movie experience easily enjoyed in the comfort of your own home down the line. 

For me, Despicable Me 4 wasn’t worth the effort of actually going to the theater to see, especially not in this heat.

Despicable Me 4 gets a 5.5 from me.

#DespicableMe4

A Quiet Place: Day 1

Time once again to head back to the movie theater to catch one of this weeks’ newest offerings. For me, that meant checking out A Quiet Place: Day 1. This prequel to the popular Quiet Place franchise is a more expansive look at what went down the day the world went quiet. Instead of centering on a backstory of the alien(s), the invasion or any of the things you’d eerily to “get up to speed” with the films, you have a new cast of characters (save for one), new locale, and a new take on how things went down from a metropolitan perspective. Instead of a family, we follow the story of Lupita Nyong'o’s Sam as a seemingly “average day” in New York erupts into fight for survival. 

A Quiet Place: Day 1 has a different feel altogether from the previous films with Michael Sarnoski one of the writers and taking over as director. The larger scope of having events take place in New York, one of the loudest cities in the world and focusing on an urban environment makes an impact. The “sounds”, the crowds, and increased dialogue throughout, undercut the overall tone of the film by comparison. 

The tension, stress, and anxiety are present throughout, but isn’t as concentrated or intense. Not having as much built in silence doesn’t allow for as much of the edge of your seat anxiety. It also draws more attention to the inconsistencies in what noise level draws attention (especially that final climax). That being said, the audience I watched with was still eerily quiet and tense, so much so that when a man a couple of seats away coughed, we all freaked. 

The overall sound design is key and delivers nicely. The CGI is pretty solid, although I will admit I don’t care as much for the redesigned aliens.  There’s a nice tie in with A Quiet Place II which is a nice touch.  Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn’s performances strong and emotional. Plenty of good action even if some of it is a bit silly or springs from "seriously?" moments.

Frodo.

I’m feeling some kind of way about Frodo, not all of it necessarily positive. Though I do admit Schnitzel and Rico killed it with award winning performances.

Not wanting to give too much away, I do feel that A Quiet Place: Day 1 while not as layered or nuanced as the previous films, is still a worthwhile prequel which entertains and keeps you engaged for the runtime of an hour forty minutes.  Questions still remain so a follow-up to this prequel wouldn’t be surprising if the box office numbers deliver. 

A Quiet Place: Day 1 delivers the thrills and is worth seeing on the big screen, however, it’s going to be a toss-up for those who like the simplicity and feel of the first two films. 

For me, I enjoyed it enough to give A Quiet Place: Day 1 a solid 7.

#quietplaceday1

 

Inside Out 2

 

Back in 2015 I fell in love with the charm and heart of Pixar’s Inside Out. Nine years later I’ve been anxiously awaiting the sequel Inside Out 2 to hit the big screen.  Returning voice cast members include Amy Poehler (Joy), Lewis Black (Anger), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Diane Lane (Mom), and Kyle MacLachlan (Dad).  The story picks up a year after events in the original story as Riley becomes a teenager, hits puberty, and begins the transition from middle to high school. Adding the new emotions of Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser) into the mix.

Due to unexpected circumstances, by the time I actually sat down to watch this film, I was over the whole movie going experience and wanting to just go home. Not really an attitude conducive for being open to the film experience. Adding to my pissy mindset, the huge crowd filled with screaming kids running around and I was ready to bolt before the previews were over. However, not wanting to brave the 100 degrees plus heat to get back to the car, I opted to power through my growing aggravation.   

I am so glad I did. Inside Out 2 delivers. Even the baby three seats away, crying for a good hour of the hour thirty-six-minute runtime of the film didn’t manage to dampen my enjoyment of this film.

As expected, the animation and visuals are outstanding. The world building/expansion excellent. And the complexity between the old emotions dealing with, integrating, and balancing with the new ones is beautifully executed. 

Yes, you get all the feels. Pun both intended and not intended.  

Inside Out 2 offers plenty of callbacks, references, and homages that delight. Good humor and relatable cringe moments that will make you smile.

While lacking a bit more in charm and heart than the original, and some of the new characters aren’t as well developed, Inside Out 2 is still a solid, enjoyable film and a worthy sequel. The kids in the audience were engaged (sans baby) and the adults were captivated as well. IO2 is another animated film firmly in the category of kids and adults will both enjoy, but hits differently for adults.

And it hits hard.  

Anxiety is a motengator.  

You will feel seen and validated across the board with this one. The poignant line, "Maybe this is what happens when you grow up, you feel less joy”?  Yeah. Wow. Chef’s kiss. Definitely my “damn” moment where I wanted/needed a hug. 

Adulting is hard.

Bravo Pixar. 

You once again came through and delivered a winner. Inside Out 2 is worth a trip to your local movie theater to check out on the big screen.  FYI, there is a bonus scene after the very end of the credits so check it out if you can. 

Inside Out 2 gets a 9 from me.

#InsideOut2

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Another week, another trip to the theater to check out the latest movie release.  Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the latest from writer-director George Miller.  As the prequel to 2015s highly successful Mad Max: Fury Road, I looked forward to seeing Furiosa on the big screen with great anticipation.

Furiosa for me turns out to be the latest film I’m split on.

The cinematography is a solid, plenty of over-the-top action sequences, and a nice smattering of returning characters/actors over a familiar backdrop highlight this one.  Unfortunately, those are the only true highlights or enjoyment to be had.

Over the course of the two-hour twenty-eight-minute run-time, which felt much, much longer, nothing much happens.  Anya Taylor-Joy as the main character Furiosa doesn’t even appear until an hour into the film as we watch the younger version grow up. Even when she does make her appearance, nothing really occurs.  

Essentially what we know about the character from the previous film is rehashed over the course of this one without adding any kind of new information or character development.  A problem that plagues all the characters across the film.

All the characters, old and new, this time are generic, wooden and lifeless.  There really isn’t anyone to hold on/relate to in any meaningful way.  They just slip past with as much impact as anonymous faces in a crowd. 

They as well as the movie itself is pretty forgettable, which I largely did by the time I got home.  A couple of action sequences came to mind but as a whole thinking about this one isn’t bringing up much in recall.

The pacing in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is rough.  The film is shown as chapters and plods along unevenly at best and is just tedious at worst. I spent the bulk of the film bored, fidgeting, and checked my watch at least half a dozen times wanting it to be over.  By the end of chapter 4 I was done with the whole thing so when chapter 5 appeared on screen I wanted to not only cry but do the one thing I don’t do. Walk out of a film. Yes, a big part of that was the call of nature, but an equal if not bigger part was just wanting to go home, get dinner, and knock out a season finale or two of “my shows”.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is at its best during the action sequences although they don’t pack the punch as in Fury Road with the reliance on more in studio filming and CGI. Furiosa definitely pales by comparison not only to previous films in the franchise but is a missed opportunity. It lacks the magic and excitement of a Mad Max film and is as dry and unwelcoming as the wastelands it features.

My split decision:

Visually - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is an 8.

Overall - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a 5.5.

#Furiosa

IF

 

Greetings once again from the darkened recesses of my local movie theater. This week I took in the latest offering from writer/director John Krasinski, IF, starring Ryan Reynolds and Cailey Fleming.  I went into this one being a fan of Krasinski and Reynolds figuring this would be a fun, lighthearted, innocuous romp.  IF turned out to be more than I bargained for.

IF is a bittersweet, poignant, funny, imaginative, creative, and emotional coming-of-age film that isn’t a coming-of-age film. It’s a film for everyone that won’t necessarily appeal to everyone.  It’s charming and witty, joyful and dark. IF is one of those seemingly innocent “kid” films that’s subversive, grabs you in and by the feels and doesn’t let go. Definitely a film that appeals to kids with its characterization, but the real audience is adults.

The impact of watching IF hits similar to Christopher Robin, Up, or Encanto to name a few.  As an adult I found myself delighted, entertained, and traumatized from start to finish. 

You laugh, you cry, rinse and repeat. 

If you don’t find yourself thinking and feeling deeply there’s something wrong with you. This one got and has stayed in my head, even costing me an unbroken night’s sleep.

In addition to the previously mentioned stars, IF has an embarrassment of riches in its casting. The Michael Giacchino score is perfection. The production design is amazing. The CGI work beautiful and effective.

Krasinski set out to create a live action Pixar film and he definitely succeeded. IF is a film that is hard to pin down in many respects, but works masterfully, nonetheless. It’s contradictory, meandering, whimsical, inspirational, tough, hopeful, and painful. IF is life summed up in one hour and forty-four-minute snapshot. One that deserves to be seen on the big screen.  And certainly, will benefit from multiple viewings, so I look forward to adding this one to my personal film collection.

IF gets an emotional 10 from me.

 #IFMovie