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Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)
A generic sci-fi movie with shooty things and a lacking script
A few tldr comments to make before I expand further:
"Visual effects with a small side of story"
"Sci-fi for the sake of profit"
"Generic lines lead to a lack of a cohesive character"
"Too much telling instead of showing"
"Too much story for 2 hours of screen time"
"Worldbuilding a toddler could achieve"
Before I start the detailed review to save some of you some time, if you wish to turn off your brain and watch some flashy lights dance around the screen then this movie is for you, if you wish to watch something with engaging content then this movie isn't for you.
Ok so starting this review I'd like to say that the visual effects are fairly good, between the group I watched this with and myself we could only note one scene where it felt the CGI was rushed and poorly done, and even in that scene the portion of rushed background effects only made up a few frames that easily could've been cut and had no real meaning in the movie. Cutting those frames would've had no effect on the movie so why post production chose to keep those frames in despite the lacking visuals? Who knows.
Besides those few frames however the visuals and cinematography were stunning. Which is what leads to my first point. That this movie felt like a whole lot of visual effects with little storyline. Given that writers strikes didn't affect this film and that production was complete by the time the strikes started it's arguable that this movie stands as reasoning to not give in to writers demands as they seem to contribute very little.
Elements of this movie felt disjointed like we were hopping from one franchise to another with very little inbetween leading to the thought that this movies was sci-fi for the sake of profit; get as many action figures and cool sci-fi things as you can slap them together without any consideration of whether they actually fit together and hey presto, you get this film.
To add to this when a movie heavily relies on visual effects and disjointed sci-fi elements you'd at least expect the individual one-off lines to be unpredictable, fresh and embody the emotions they're meant to convey. Unfortunately the individual one-off lines that're part of this script don't even sound like something a living thing would say, the robot in this film that got 2 minutes of screentime conveyed more humanity than any of the leads as main characters were given generic lines expected of any modern action sci-fi movie.
While speaking of the script I feel it's appropriate to point out that outside of these one-off generic "I'll get you next time" lines the script heavily leans to exposition as filler. Instead of showing us what had happened or what is going to happen the movie loved telling us, as if the audience had no brains, what was happening.
For example instead of showing us a scene in which menacing and powerful character, cloaked in black, silently ignites a threatening red laser sword to then proceed in ruthlessly cut down rebelling forces in a small hallway, the director instead would chose to have a scene where the rebels sit around a fire and say things like "they has a big red laser sword", "they're very scary" and "they're the most dangerous person in the universe". If the movie was this review I'd follow that example with something like "this is just an example to show the level of exposition in the movie and neither scene is actually in the movie."
If you're now wondering why there is so much exposition in the film and the director doesn't show rather than tell, it's simple showing the audience what happens would take much longer. In the example above the hallway scene, where the director 'shows' us the menacing character in action, would take about 2 minutes, but the campfire scene, where the director 'tells' us about the menacing character, would take about 20 seconds, which leads into my next point that this movie simply has too much story for a 2 hour movie.
During the span of this movie as pointed out earlier, it felt like we were hopping from one sci-fi movie to another, giving some characters lengthy well thought out introductions and other supposedly "main" characters about one minute of introduction that felt meaningless. If instead each "main" character was given a 1 hour movie to introduce them and the sector of the universe they come from, then the franchise could've lead up to something of more significance later, where deaths, betrayals, love stories and other conclusive actions would've meant more to the audience as we would've been able to relate to them and build actual emotional investments. However the movie was clearly cut short so that all of that potential emotional investment and character relation was scrunched up in a ball and flushed down the toilet.
To end let's revisit the world building in this movie where we previously stated that this movie got in as many action figures and cool sci-fi things as possible and smashed them together. Well, it's just that; most of the world building feels borrowed like something that's been done before, you have mythical creatures, an generic evil army, a lost prince/princess who gives the promise of a better future, some compassionate robots and a small group of highly talented individuals that have some random reasons to fight against this big bad army. Boom big blockbuster movie goes pew-pew and bang!
In conclusion this movie feels like the epilepsy inducing version of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, a weak script with some big action scenes and the audience goes "wow look at those big flashing lasers I've never seen before" or "wow some cool CGI animals I've never seen before". One thing the audience won't be saying is "wow that story was really compelling and interesting."
If you got bored while reading this lengthy review, then trust me; the review is more interesting than this movie.
Extraction 2 (2023)
If you can turn your brain off for the second half the movie is good, but too many details don't make sense.
The movie is ok, it has decent dialogue and very well thought out action. However in spite of great action scenes and excessive violence the plot is poorly thought out relies on many unrealistic factors.
So firstly the good: the action is mostly well thought out with wounds affecting the fighting styles as the movie progresses, characters get tired and worn out showed by a slowing of pacing. Unlike recent action movies characters in a fight don't necessarily come at the main character one at a time. Whilst there are occasions where "bad guys" come at the "good guys" one at a time because they're preoccupied. Alternatively when the opposition are available to fight they do. In some scenes you can see multiple people fighting in a 2v1, group pile-on, 3v2's etcetera.
Next character arcs for some characters make sense. Tyler, the protagonist's, arc throughout the movie is one of self hate due to the inability to be there for his own child. But by the end he forgives himself. The main antagonist is self-destructive for the sake of revenge on the protagonist, forsaking everything in order to destroy the protagonist and his accomplices.
However despite the good, many aspects of this movie hang on the head of one character who extends this movie from being 55 minutes long into a 1 hour 50 movie. This character of course is the inexplicably stupid teenage boy named Sandro. Now don't get me wrong, Andro Japaridze does a great job of acting and none of the fault falls on his head. In fact for the script and dialogue given to his character, Andro Japaridze out performed the role. However due to the producers need to extend the movie and lazy writing, his character, Sandro, is turned into a plot device.
Firstly do the writers actually expect a elite spec-ops mercenary crew member to be reckless enough to leave a tactical cell phone on a table in eyesight of an angsty teen, but they also believe that the same teen who so far has demonstrated no functional capability to be able to sneak off with the phone and then send a message to the same "bad guys" that've abused his mother his entire life. But let that go and the movie continues to use this well-acted character as a poor plot device.
Next we get to a scene where Sandro is seemingly apologetic and reveals that he's been messaging the antagonist. But do any of the mercenary crew search him for the tactical cell he's been using? No. Let's just recall that one of the "highly trained spec-ops" crew is missing their tactical cell, and not one of the crew even thinks to confiscate it from the kid later? Then Sandro who's just admitted that he made a mistake decides to take off and surrender himself to the antagonist, leading to the final standoff.
During the final standoff Sandro, our all important plot device, decides to agreeably wear a suicide vest just to help out the antagonist.
So in conclusion the movie is good, but one character ruins it. Because of the lines and plot put into this one character. I have no dislike towards the actor who did a brilliant job, but the character was not well written enough, and it's a shame that they were forced into being a plot device used to extend the movie by an hour.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Innovative, captivating, masterful; and yet a future classic.
TL;DR: I strongly recommend you don't miss out on this film. Go watch it now!
Every single aspect of this movie is spot on; from the unique and innovative animation styles, to the subtle and narrative score, to the captivating writing and grounded voice acting, the team behind this masterpiece hit the nail on the head. Lord, Miller, Pascal, Arad, and Steinberg have done it again!
Let's start with the elements that're going to be on everybody's lips, the animation and art styling. Before the first film in this amazing series released, it seemed as if almost every Hollywood animation studio desired the "Disney look", and just as Hollywood started to adjust to the shock waves made by Into the Spider-Verse, expressing interest in a more stylized, hand drawn and expressive animation technique, and where every other studio would replicate the previous movies art style, Across the Spider-Verse moves the goalposts, building on their previous success instead of attempting to duplicate it. Even after finding a secure and familiar recipe for success, the Animation, Visual Effects, and Art Departments weren't afraid to explore new art styles and develop even more interesting animation techniques. This ability to give animators and artists the freedom needed to compose beautiful brush strokes, blocky structures, and classy cutouts really allowed this movie to stand out amongst an industry where it's easier to play it safe.
However, if animation isn't your thing then don't watch this movie for it's animation. Watch it for the beautiful story telling, script writing and voice acting that lets the movie captivate and stimulate the audience. Beyond the casts amazing ability to bring these characters to life as if you're watching a true story, the writing is impeccable. At no point is there a cheesy or tacky line. Every word is masterfully crafted and expertly timed, the superb script let's anybody transport themselves into the world of the movie as if it were real life. At any point this movie can bring you to tears or make you howl with laughter. The combination of expert script writing and exquisite voice acting will never disappoint.
Finally this review could not be complete without a take on Pemberton's score and the sound teams flourishes. The music throughout the movie is key to bridging our world with the world of the movie. Musical notes and sound effects are timed to perfection. The score and musical soundtrack, composed by Daniel Pemberton and Metro Boomin respectively, both evoke the greatest senses of wonder, weightlessness, awe and dread. Pemberton's use of leitmotif's carries the viewer through the journey. Combine these musical elements with the sound's of swinging, swooshing, and slamming. The auditory aspect of this movie can tell the story without you even opening your eyes.
Overall this movie isn't just a movie. It's an experience. It's an expression. It's an escape from reality.
I strongly recommend you don't miss out on this experience.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Brilliant reintroduction to pre established characters.
Despite having already seen most (if not all) of the characters in previous Marvel works, each character felt like a lot had happened to them inbetween this movie and their last appearance. As a result, many of the characters were constantly being reinvented in front of the viewers eyes.
Actors performances were phenomenal, creating so much familiarity with the characters that if viewers were to meet the performers in real-life, they'd be surprised if the actors personalities and mannerisms bore little resemblance to their character counterparts.
Character dynamics were interesting to explore as enough has happened inbetween appearances that gave writers much to toy with. You get to reexplore previous dynamics that have since monumentally shifted creating inner conflicts, emotional resolutions and funny encounters through the duration of the movie.
The antagonists were well written such that the viewers could see at all points the power-scalings determining the outcome of this David and Goliath storyline. At any given scene you were reminded of who held the power in that scene, and equally, who was at the mercy of others choices.
The movie kept as constant feeling of wonder and awe whilst also remaining amusing and comedic throughout. In addition to brilliant quips and jokes that were appropriately timed, the viewer's were made to feel on edge at all times as if being revealed the last card of the river at a high stakes poker game where two players have the potential for royal flushes. A constant air of suspense loomed over the movie allowing the audience to question whether this was the end multiple times.
Well written and performed even better, this movie has to come in as one of the better superhero movies in past years.
The Mandalorian: Chapter 17: The Apostate (2023)
Great introduction to the direction the season will take.
Within the episode the writers establish the quest for the season, with a finite goal in mind. This allows us the viewer to set our expectations and understand what kind of story we are going to see. Is it going to be a action filled fighting heavy season, an explorative season? Is it going to be scary and dark or light and joyful? As a first episode the viewers understandings of the direction have been clarified perfectly.
In addition the viewer is reintroduced to many of the characters that we've seen in previous seasons who may return later, so that we, as an audience, know the character's goals, where they are in the galaxy, and what their relation with the protagonist is.
Furthermore whilst appropriately setting the stage for the following episodes, a couple brief action scenes are written in to keep the viewer engaged that act two-fold as a source of entertainment and a reminder of the protagonists skills and abilities. Within some of the action scenes the audience are introduced to a potential antagonists that viewers may or may not expect to see later on in the season, encouraging viewers to keep watching the show through to the end.
Whilst there was a lack of what we've come to expect from the previous seasons, this was a good introductory first episode to a season that could develop into a much larger story also containing enough material to be entertaining to watch as a stand alone episode.
Guns Akimbo (2019)
Hilarious watch
Brilliant to just switch off and view. The lines and acting are hilarious. Daniel, Samara, Ned and Rhys do brilliant jobs and hit ever note. This movie is definitely wacky and strange, but is probably going to become a cult classic one day!
Castlevania: It's Been a Strange Ride (2021)
A nice end
There are few words to review this episode. It's calm, it shows peace and it has a lovely ending to the show. This episode wraps up this show perfectly.