Sonic: The Hedgehog 3

 

Movie Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 3

A bit of housekeeping first. 

Standard gamer disclaimer applies. Not a gamer. Have been aware of Sonic but know nothing of the characters beyond what’s appeared in the films. I only got into this film franchise after streaming the original 2020 film out of pure boredom one weekend and loved what I saw.

Anywho. Moving on.

As the 2024 film season draws to a close, I headed to the theater for what will probably be the last time this year, to take in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Loved the original and its sequel and had high hopes for a three-peat, especially with Jim Carrey returning (retirement my @$$) and Keanu Reeves joining the fun.  I was pleasantly surprised and reassured to see the theater parking lot and more importantly the theater itself full so early in the morning.  Both boded well.

Getting down to tacks of brass, I’m thrilled to report that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is definitely a winner! Yes!

This hour and forty-nine-minute movie is easily the best film in the franchise which says quite a bit given the strength of the previous two films. From the opening shot through the final credit sequence, I was not only fully engaged, entertained, and emotionally invested, but delighted as the story unfolded.

The music is great. Yes, there was seat dancing and quiet singing to be had. I apologize to no one for either of those things.

The upgraded CGI work delivers a powerful visual punch that allows you to just get lost in the world of Sonic and be swept up in the story. 

Score! 

Speaking of the story, Sonic 3 has a solid script with snappy dialogue, humor, heart, inside jokes, and pop cultural reference that work. Emotion coupled with well-balanced storylines, which do justice to both new and returning characters. 

Great action sequences which thrill and expansive world building without skimping on characterization. Ahhh, the characters...kudos all the way around. The returning crew are at the top of their game and deliver once again in spades. The performances are complex, nuanced, dark, emotional, fun, heartbreaking etc. Three dimensional performances from top to bottom and everyone gets a chance to shine.

Adding Keanu Reeves in the mix as Shadow? A chef’s kiss of casting. Think John Wick as a brooding, vengeful hedgehog. It works. 

As for Jim Carrey returning? He definitely brings his A game. There’s a reason he has the additional credit of “artistic consultant” after becoming more involved in this project than ever before. His impact is significant and power up the entire production.

Sonic 3 is simply a joy from beginning to end. Appealing to young kids up through grandparents. I and everyone in my showing had a blast. There were cheers, applause, speculation on a fourth film, and consternation of having to wait at least a couple of years for any hope of a new installment.  

According to overheard conversations in the bathroom after, the fan service is on point. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 does sequels right. 

Obviously, all involved in this project really care about the product they put out. They’ve taken feedback from the fans, their own love for the characters, and have delivered the goods. No one is resting on the franchise name alone to carry the project, and it shows.  Very refreshing.

Sonic 3 made me glad I made the effort to venture to the theater and see it on the big screen in a packed house. Check it out if you have the need for speed and be sure to stick around for the 2 credit sequences, one mid, one end.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in three words.

Fun. 

Feels. 

Fantastic. 

A satisfying end to my 2024 film season which had me grinning ear to ear. A true Christmas treat. Looking forward to watching this again,

As such Sonic the Hedgehog 3 gets a 10 from me.

#sonicmovie3

Mufasa: The Lion King

 

Since the release of the original animated film in 1994, I’ve been a huge fan of The Lion King. Upon seeing the first trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King, I was choked up with emotion and stoked to see it in the theater. The opportunity to see the origin story of the lion who would become king and would go on to be part of one of my favorite Disney movies filled me with joy.  As the release date neared, rumblings of less than stellar reviews began, and I started to get anxious about the film living up to my hopes. I still showed up at y local theater opening day, with an open mind and high expectations.

Upon arrival, I was nervous seeing how the showing was largely empty. I caught the first show which happened to be in 3D (not that anything in the film was enhanced in my opinion), but even later and cheaper showings were sparsely attended when I checked online. 

Almost 24 hours later and I’m still mulling over and sorting out my feelings/views on this one. Here's where I'm landing and I'm sorry it's not more positive.

Visually, with the exception of a couple of instances, Mufasa: The Lion King is stunning and another triumph in photorealistic animation. It's really beautiful to look at. The actual premise is solid and does well functioning as both a prequel and a sequel. However, that’s pretty much the highlights of the film and also where the wheels fall off.

The execution of Mufasa just falls short and definitely left me wanting. 

Crafting a prequel is a daunting task since we already know the outcome going in, but Mufasa feels clumsier in its handling than most.  The storytelling through flashbacks is disjointed and uneven with seemingly random bouncing around between past and present continually pulling you out of the narrative. The use of Pumbaa and Timon is distracting to say the least and downright annoying. 

While the plot is solid, the narrative fails to fully get and keep you engaged, especially during the first half of the film.  Forty minutes into the 2-hour runtime, multiple checks of my watch, and I pretty much resigned myself to the fact I really didn’t care about any of these characters.  I wasn't given any real reason to. I know where the story is heading, give me a reason to care about the characters and where they started. That doesn't happen and the character development is cursory at best. 

There’s a lack of heart, emotion, or depth across the board, which left me disappointed. I really wanted to be drawn in, involved, and to care, but other than a handful of brief moments here and there, none of that happened. The second half of the film is better, but even with that, overall, I never got fully invested in the story.

Even the music fell short this time around. There were a couple of songs I enjoyed but the rest were...meh. Nothing too memorable when all is said and done.

And that right there is the crux of it for me. 

Mufasa: The Lion King isn’t awful, but it isn’t memorable either. It’s shiny and eye catching, but bland and uninspired. It’s telling that James Earl Jones himself passed on the opportunity to reprise his role in this film when offered the chance. It’s dedicated to him nonetheless but doesn’t live up to the legacy he helped create with this character. There's just no meat on the bones of this story and it's a crying shame.

Mufasa: The Lion King gets a 6.5 from me, mostly due to visuals and nostalgia.

#Mufasa

Moana 2

 Movie Review: Moana 2

Back in 2016, Disney worked its animation magic and delivered the endearing film Moana. This week they went back to the well to deliver its sequel, Moana 2.  This time around, after receiving the call from her sea faring ancestors, Moana must assemble a crew and journey to the far seas of Oceania.  I again, hit the theater to check it out on the big screen.

Not surprising the animation and visuals are stunning. The colors and textures really leap off the screen.

 The world building both figuratively and literally works well. The expansion of cultural elements, myths/stories, and themes lend themselves to the storyline. The returning characters/actors are on point. I do wish, however, Moana and Maui reunited sooner. The pacing and direction are fine. Plenty of music including a couple of real bangers. 

All good, right?

Well, here's the thing. Moana 2 was originally conceived as a television series in 2020, with plans for the series to air on Disney+. In February 2024, the series was transformed into a theatrical sequel. A move I think caused Moana 2 to fall a bit short overall.  

All the beautiful animation and other positives aside, Moana 2 is watered down.  

The new characters are underdeveloped and definitely feel like they were meant to be explored and fleshed out over a longer period of time. The hour and forty-minute runtime don’t do justice for so many new characters. So, they’re sadly generic and don't add much depth to the story.

While the song offerings encompass something for various musical taste, their execution is uneven and many lack the spirit and “wow” factor. There's also a certain lack of cohesiveness to the score.

The humor is more hit and miss. Some of the running gags have grown stale. There are still good laughs to be had though. 

Moana 2 gives an overall impression of being a prequel or a series spinoff, especially given the mid credit sequence (stick around for that) than a full-fledged standalone film. But, given that Disney pivoted on this, it’s understandable. Speaking of Disney, fair warning, they do go dark and some of the action sequences get intense for younger/sensitive viewers. 

My take, while Moana 2 isn’t as inspired as the original, it is still a delightful and colorful adventure worth seeing on the big screen. The feels don’t run as deep, but they’re there and the film finished strong and left me curious and wanting more.

Moana 2 gets a 7 from me.

#Moana2

Wicked part I

 

I’ve always been one to enjoy a good musical. My mother imparted in me a love for theater as well. Thanks, mom. And the twist-ory that comes with deconstructing a familiar tale is a special treat that never grows old. So, it’s unexpected given all these things that I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing/hearing the tale that is Wicked. I’ve been interested in the stage production for years but never had the opportunity to see it. Never heard a single song. And never saw more than the initial teaser and original trailer for the film.  To say that I’ve been stoked to finally see a version of Wicked on the big screen is an understatement. The excitement was enough for me to once again break protocol this weekend and venture to my local theater, along with half the city seemingly, to pop my Wicked cherry.

I enjoyed the film, but upon reflection I must admit I wasn’t blown away as much as I expected or hoped to be. Based on what’s in the movie and having no other basis for comparison, I’m sad to say I'm left a bit underwhelmed.  

The commitment to practical sets and a reduction in green screen technology is noticeable and it does create a more engaging look to the film. The costumes and set design are rich and textured. The musical numbers solid and well-choreographed. There’s a lot of fun and charm with a nice touch of whimsy. Good direction and cinematography.  

The surprise passing of the torch was a welcome, happy bonus.

The casting.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Galinda are a mixed bag for me. Both definitely have the singing chops without a doubt. But for me Grande’s acting didn’t exactly blow my skirt up. There are definite moments that really work for me, but overall, there’s just something flat and superficial in her performance I found off putting. Cynthia Erivo's performance is one of the most effective things in the entire film and the contrast between the two upset the film’s balance and undercut the chemistry between the two actors/characters.  It could’ve been much worse, but I wish it had been better.

The biggest issue with Wicked by far is the length and pacing. The two-hour forty-minute runtime is excessive. Especially given this is part one of two films.  I’m fine with long films if that’s what’s needed to effectively tell a story. But here there’s a lot of padding with little payoff. More character development, less fluff. 

Please and thank you.

The editing in Wicked was done with love rather than with an eye to creating a tight film. There were many scenes that would have benefitted from some cuts, without losing any of the overall delight and making for a better narrative altogether.

For instance, the plot points around the animals and also of Elphaba wanting to meet the wizard, just didn't carry as much weight as they should. There was just too much time between the emotional beats of the story due to the added run time, which lessened their impact. You easily forget about these, and they become more throwaway than story. The connective tissue doesn’t hold up as well as it could as a result.

While Wicked I wasn’t the slam dunk hit, I hoped for, it’s good and worth seeing on the big screen if you’re interested. You’ll definitely want/need to pace your beverage intake to make it through comfortably.  While I’m not really sure why they split this one into two movies short of a money grab, I’m glad I went and look forward to seeing what they do in part II. 

For this previously uninitiated movie goer Wicked gets a 7 from me.

#Wicked

Gladiator II

 

Twenty-four years ago, Ridley Scott brought his epic sword and sandal film, Gladiator, to the big screen.  After numerous attempts to write a sequel, writers David Scarpa, Peter Craig, and David Franzoni have delivered the newest installment, Gladiator II to the franchise. This week, the story of what happened in Rome following the sixteen years since the death of Maximus.  Scott once again takes the helm as director, and I headed to my local theater to check out the result.

Gladiator II is definitely a companion piece to the original. Yet, you can’t help but be reminded and compare every element to its original. Complete with returning characters, flashbacks in the form of original film scenes, continuing themes and setups.   Here they’ve taken the original and doubled down. Hard. To the point of having twin emperors. The comparisons quickly make it clear that while Gladiator II is solid, it’s by no means Gladiator.

Gladiator II while solid, just isn’t epic.

It’s engaging. It’s entertaining. It’s also generic. We’ve pretty much been there and seen that at this point. Combined with an overall lack of depth to this film’s characters and storyline, Gladiator II is rather bland. If the film were a meal, it needs more salt, oregano, or something. 

The battles are brutal, thrilling with plenty of carnage to spare, but somehow never come across as being high stakes because most of the characters are merely underdeveloped background characters, largely expendable, and unremarkable. With a two-hour twenty-eight-minute running time, you know nothing is going to happen to the main character until the end so there’s very little tension to create drama. 

They don’t establish the identity of the main character early enough in the movie and that also works against the overall story. I knew going in but was left feeling blase towards whether or not he lives or dies because it all felt so inconsequential the way the movie unfolds. Peter Mensah plays Jubartha and without giving away any spoilers the attitude of his character sums up the feeling I had toward the film as a whole.

While the sets, costuming, cinematography, direction, and score are homeruns, some of the CGI work is bad enough it distracts and takes you out of the story. 

Something that very well be a “me” issue this time around is the politics. While politics was at the heart of the first film, this time round it’s the primary focus. I wanted/expected it to be more of a backdrop to a film about a gladiator, but it was front and center and shoved down our throats at every turn.  

Gladiator II looks and feels expensive. It’s visually impactful and exciting. But struggles with the character development and storytelling aspect.  There are sparks of gravitas here and there, just not enough to truly satisfy. 

Maximus once posed the question, “Are you not entertained?” After much consideration, my answer is somewhat. 

Gladiator II gets a 6.5 from me.

#GladiatorII

Red One

After an absolutely horrendous week that left me feeling gutted and the holidays barreling down upon us, I needed a mind cleanser. So, I made the rare decision to hit my local theater over the weekend.  Opting to rip the holiday band-aid off early I checked out Red One’s early access release. Starring Chris Evans and Dwayne Johnson, Red One is the newest film from Amazon, originally intended to be released on streaming,  

I went into this one with no expectations and while I wasn’t blown away, I did find the film enjoyable, nonetheless. 

The pacing is slow at the beginning, and I feel they really dragged out the who/what aspect of the plot much longer than necessary for my tastes, but the storyline is there and works. The dialogue and some of the acting is a bit on the “meh” side and is hard to get past and the two-hour three-minute runtime definitely felt longer. 

While watching Red One there’s quite a bit that’s cut and paste from various other films, but the packaging with Evans and Johnson makes for a fun watch. Added bonus of good, if underutilized casting with J.K. Simmons (wanted so much more of him), Lucy Liu, Bonnie Hunt, and Kristofer Hivju. 

The humor isn’t rib tickling but is solid. Some of the CGI work gets a bit messy here and there but is easy enough to ignore.

The biggest and brightest aspect of Red One for me is all the behind-the-scenes, technical aspects, and imagination of how Santa and the North Pole operations really work. The creativity and execution are joyous.

Speaking of joyous. The theater was packed with a good mix of young kids (even a baby) up through grandparents. All were engaged and no one seemed fussy or bored.  The elderly woman sitting next to me was laughing, clapping, and bouncing with joy. Seeing her reaction made me happy.

I personally wasn’t as enamored with Red One, but that may just be me being in a funk personally. It’s generic and derivative, but appealing. Not necessarily a need to see in the theater film, but a I don’t regret having done so film. Make sense? Ultimately, Red One has it flaws. But it also has enough pluses, so it isn’t a total waste of time.

Red One gets a 6.5 from me.

#RedOne

Venom: The Last Dance

 

Movie Review: Venom: The Last Dance

Another work week has drawn to a close and has ushered in another set of new film offerings. After a three year wait, this week I headed out to see Tom Hardy return in his final(?) appearance as Eddie Brock in Venom: The Last Dance.  

My standard comic book disclaimer applies, yadda, yadda, yadda.

I’ve enjoyed the last two films to varying degrees and went in just hoping this one wasn’t a total disaster.  On that account, Venom: The Last Dance pretty much delivers. It’s nothing mind-blowing or earth shattering by any means. It’s pretty much more of the same old same old with everyone involved not trying to reinvent the wheel.

The beginning of the film is a bit long in the tooth setting up everything and getting all the players in place, so it takes too long getting to the point and letting us know where the film is heading. However, at least there is a point and a direction that actually gets established. Yeah, I’m looking at you Joker: Folie a Poo. 

Anywho, once all the setup is done, the rest of the film is enjoyable.

Hardy is again fun to watch as he plays against himself. There are the expected Venom moments/tropes we expect to see. The humor is solid. The soundtrack brings joy. Fast-paced action sequences are nicely juxtaposed with the emotional, character moments. 

The Bromance between Eddie and Venom is the star attraction.

The biggest downside of VLD are characters and events that are never developed/explained or give much of a payoff.  I was really hoping for more on Spidey among other things. It’s also predictable and suffers from the same issues many films, especially comic book films have these days. Too much emphasis on setting up for the next phase of the Whatever-verse to the detriment of the current film. A shadowy villain who is nothing more than a generic plot point which weakens the threat factor.

Venom: The Last Dance is also a lot like life. It’s a loud, messy, random hot mess. The film is dumb, fun, emotional, and an entertaining ride for what it is, a popcorn movie that’s a fine way to spend a couple of hours outside of the house.  If you’ve watched and enjoyed the first two films, it’s worth catching a matinee and seeing on the big screen, otherwise, waiting for home viewing is just fine.  If you do head to the theater, there’s a mid-credit sequence and an end credit sequence to catch.  

I’m giving Venom: The Last Dance a 6.5 - 7.