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Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
This Movie Should've Never Been Made
Kung Fu Panda 4 the movie we never needed is out. So let's talk about it. After an 8-year hiatus, Jack Black is back with more from the dragon warrior. Or so we thought. In true Kung Fu Panda fashion this movie is action-packed. The colors were epic as usual and of course its full of jokes for the kids. So where do things go wrong?
Well for starters the initial premise of the movie is about Po picking the next dragon warrior. On paper makes sense cause it's a full-circle moment from the first movie. But if we look at Po compared to Oogway when he made his choice. Oogway was on his way out but Po was in his prime. To make that type of decision out of nowhere with a weak constitution set this movie up for failure.
Unfortunately, the pacing also suffered because of that one decision. Once the movie got going they did not slow down. It just felt like lazy writing because there was not much substance to the story. Plus I was not a fan of the way they used certain storylines as a plot device to kind of fast-track the story. Especially if the characters you choose are playing catch-up the whole movie.
Now something I did enjoy was the big bad of the movie. In theory, The Chameleon was a perfect villain but in execution, they had some hiccups. And by hiccups I mean they decided to biggabize them. Now granted this is a kid's movie and kids like monsters and dragons so I get it. I don't enjoy it personally. On the other hand, Viola Davis's performance was great. I wish we could have seen more of her backstory. Especially since The Chameleon has a magical background. Outside of that, I don't have any major critics of the main antagonist.
As fans of Kung Fu Panda, I think we can all admit that sometimes you gotta know when to let it go. This movie should have never been made because Kung Fu Panda was already a legendary trilogy. It ended up feeling like a cash grab. Now if this had stemmed off the show and had more continuity with the overall story of Po it could have worked. But after watching this movie it felt like they just threw paint at the wall to see what sticks. Then if all else fails hopefully Jack Black, Viola Davis, and Awkwafina could carry us to the box office.
Unfortunately, that just was not the case which is why I gave it a 6.5/10 G-Files Score. Don't get me wrong it had all the makings of another classic. But it didn't execute on the small things that made this franchise great. But at the end of the day as long as the kids are enjoying that's what really matters.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
This Movie Was Almost Perfect
Dune Part: 2 was my most anticipated movie of the year and did not disappoint. It's the best movie I have seen this year by far. I dare say it was almost perfect. Okay, maybe not perfect, but it was crazy good, to say the least. My favorite aspect of the movie was the world-building and deep lore segments. The first movie left me with so many questions. But this sequel genuinely feels like they answered many of them. Don't get me wrong, I still have plenty more. Yet I feel satisfied as a viewer for the new information we got. But mainly, I'm excited to learn more.
To get movie-specific Dune: Part Two feels more like a coming-out party for Paul. As the main protagonist or antagonist depending on who you ask Paul's rise was epic. It felt like he couldn't miss in this movie and Stilgar was there to remind the whole movie. Seeing Paul rise to the occasion again and again did have me hyped I can't lie.
The movie has a hero's journey-type vibe with a little "chosen one" energy sprinkled on top. Yet you can tell that the plot is a lot deeper than Paul's storyline alone. Matter of fact you can tell it's a lot deeper than these first two movies. I loved how fluent the cast rotation was for this movie. For the most part, they did a great job establishing new characters as we lose old ones. It makes the movie feel more alive.
One thing that I didn't like about this movie was the big battles or war portions of the movie. It felt way too one-sided and seems to be a continued trend from the first film. The issue is that it makes all the preparations and conversations pointless. Granted, I don't get tired of seeing the Freman pop up out of the ground ready to rumble. I wish there was some real pushback from the opposing sides. I don't care how much prep time they have.
Let's switch up the pace a little bit. I want to talk a little about the love interests. Something we were robbed of in the first movie. They killed it this go around. The newfound triangle between Paul, Chani, and Princess Irulan is going to be one for the ages. The reason is that we spent most of the movie seeing Paul and Chani boo love. While Princess Irulan was playing politics. Things are bound to get tricky with Paul's newfound position. Plus his political union with the princess. Paul is playing a dangerous game if you ask me.
Zendaya's portrayal of Chani was great. She not only grounded the movie but also stuck to her convictions regardless of what Paul had going on. This will set up some interesting conflicts in the future. Paul is going to have to make some tough decisions that are not so black-and-white. I just hope Chani will be around to help make them.
The future looks bright for Dune. Learning about the empire and their roles in the prophecy was poetic. Plus with talks of a holy war things are going to get interesting fast. I am excited to see what Paul can come up with to keep the power he never really wanted. But this movie in general was really good. They made it feel like one big puzzle where you don't know what the image is going to be until the end. It feels like there's still so much to discover which is why I gave it a 9/10 G-Files score.
Seeing Paul becoming one with the desert is one thing. But seeing him gain the trust of the people is a whole other thing. Timothée Chalamet's speech was incredible. This movie takes the necessary steps to fully flush out its characters good or bad. You expect to see Paul embrace the title of Muad'Dib. His pursuit of revenge, vengeance, or freedom from the powers at be. It makes sense. You don't expect to be thrown into this chasm of politics, secret agendas, and visions of people not even born yet. This movie was amazing and I can't wait for the next one to come out.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024)
This Series Is All Bark And No Bite
The live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender is all bark and no bite. Now what could I possibly mean by that? Well keep reading and I will break it down. Avatar: The Last Airbender was one of my most anticipated series set to drop in 2024. So in turn I had big expectations coming into this show. I knew it was going to be fire before I even saw the trailer and all we had were the first set of still images. Once I saw the trailer I was blown away. In comparison to the original cartoon, it passes the eye test. But that still doesn't explain why this series has no bite.
Well, to do that we have to understand what the bark is first. If you haven't guessed by now the bark is how good this show looks on screen. This series is striking. From the colors to the CGI and visual effects to the way they use light in different scenarios. If I'm being honest though the visuals were never really in question. Just because of the amount of technology available nowadays. So I was super confident that they would get it right this time. That's right I said "this time" because their first attempt at a live-action Avatar back in 2010 was a disaster.
This leads me to explain what the actual bite is. The "bite" is the thing everyone loves most about any series or movie and that's the story. Yeah, seeing all the different bending styles is cool. But what makes the series legendary is the story. Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most visually appealing series to drop this year hands down. Even though some of the storylines don't hit like they did in the original series it's still very good. Nostalgia aside the biggest element separating good and bad live-action adaptations is story.
Now, I have found a new appreciation for live-action adaptations. In part due to what Netflix is doing with legacy series like Avatar or One Piece. For one expectations are so high nowadays because of what Marvel has been able to do with the mcu in the past. But it's different jumping from 2D animation to live-action because the gap is so wide. You go from a limitless canvas where your only limitation is your imagination. To then create those same moments in the "real world," with "real people". You know where a thing called gravity exists. Fortunately, technology for the most part isn't the biggest limiting factor anymore.
The biggest limiter in live-action series now is time. Most of these live-action adaptations are condensed to around 8 -10 episodes. They have to be super precise in the episodes they choose to cover because if not. You run the risk of creating major plot holes in the story. Combining complementary arcs in one episode is very difficult in itself. Unfortunately, this formula has its ups and downs so the pacing suffers a tad bit in the process. Nothing major but it's something to improve on for future seasons.
Now by no means does this mean I think this series is trash. I enjoyed watching every episode and something I plan on watching it again. Now I see potential in Team Avatar even though they haven't hit their groove yet. It speaks to underlying chemistry issues that can be fixed eventually. It was just not the bite I was looking for which is why I gave it an 8/10 G-Files Score. I can tell you this though I'm super excited for the next season. One thing they did do a good job of was establishing all the players and motivations. Granted some portrayals were better than others. But with more time they can all take their roles to the next level.
The only thing I wish for is to include more of the journey. Even a short montage would suffice. I want it to feel like time is passing and not fast travel everywhere. Appa didn't get any love this season and he is just as big a part of Team Avatar as anybody even Aang. Plus nobody on the squad has a bigger bite than Appa himself so show him a little more respect.
The Book of Clarence (2023)
The Book Of Clarence Is BETTER Than You Think
The Book of Clarence was one of the first movies I wanted to go see this year. After watching the trailer I was sold. The cast, the director, the subject matter, and the premise enticed me from the jump. One thing that stood out to me immediately was how the movie started. It took away all the preconceived notions you could have going into the film. Then made you sit with that image sinking in your mind for the duration of the film. Jeymes Samuel is known for his creative storytelling. The Book of Clarence is no different.
This story follows Clarence the "13th Apostle" or what he would be later known as the "New Messiah". He is skeptical in nature and has the desire to be a "somebody" like Jesus and his 12 disciples. This movie covers a lot of notable bible stories condensed into this fictional story. So with Clarence as the main protagonist, it brings some friction to the story. Because Clarence is someone who thinks knowledge is more powerful than belief. He thinks Jesus's miracles are just tricks.
But after a little bit of brainstorming of the herbal variety. He has the brilliant idea that with some help he can recreate those same miracles. Well as you would expect things did change for Clarence but it came at a heavy price. I won't get into specifics but things take a turn for the worse. Now what I will sat is the payoffs that are a byproduct of Clarence's circumstance were elite.
This movie is good because of the way they used the setting and subject matter of the film. It enhanced the comedic effect of the film because the jokes have a way of lending themselves to the times. They found a way to ground the project. To put it simply they found a way to make a movie set in ancient times not feel dated. I do think this movie is a little too long but they make up for it in full-circle moment. Plus the amount of underlying messaging in the film was just the right amount.
Overall, this movie is super solid because for one the subject matter alone is tricky. But also the level of execution in the story and character development was one point. I'm super impressed by Lakeith Stanfield's performance. And this movie was a really good watch.
Echo (2023)
I Watched Echo So You Don't Have To
Maya Lopez or "Echo" is a newer addition to the MCU. So naturally, there is some hype behind the project initially. On top of that, your claim to fame comes from being on the run after shooting Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk in the face. Seems like an easy sell to me. Outside of that, we don't know much about Maya. She is not only deaf but also an amputee mercenary who grew up as Kingpin's niece.
Based on that small amount of information, I can't say that I wasn't at least a bit intrigued by learning more about her origin story. But I wasn't running to watch this mini-series either. This is a "Marvel Spotlight," so I was interested in how they would tackle a series. I was pleasantly surprised by the approach. It felt like I was watching a silent movie.
One thing that I appreciated was how the use of ASL was heavy in series at varying levels of fluency. It felt like a genuine portrayal. The conversation between characters was more interesting to watch. The use of sign language is expressive so it felt like I was watching a play during some conversations.
Unfortunately, Maya's character development is the latest victim of the Disney+ formula. It took a backseat to the lore of her ancestors. We had to wait until the last episode for her to stop playing the victim. She spent most of her time blaming others for her actions and refused to take any ownership. It frustrated me because it never gets addressed in a meaningful way.
After watching Echo I am left feeling indifferent about it. I enjoyed watching the show because of its unique approach but, at the same time, I am not the biggest fan of Maya.
The Bear (2022)
The Bear's Secret Sauce
This is the first time in a long time a series made me stop watching because it was so good. The Bear season 2 was an emotional rollercoaster. Especially after finishing season 1 on such a high. You spend so much time hoping they catch a break. So when they found Mikey's secret sauce I was super hype like I worked at The Original Beef.
What made me stop or if I'm being completely honest what made me quit watching The Bear was the "Fishes" episode. This was more than halfway into the season. At this point, I was already committed but this flashback stopped me in my tracks.
It was the music and varying levels of family dysfunction and anxiety-inducing zoom-ins. It created a different level of immersion for me for some reason that made me take a step back to reset. I just didn't expect it to take six months for me to come back to it.
One thing I like the most about "The Bear" is the way they use the restaurant as a canvas. It helped create this story of self-sabotage, evolution, mastery, love, and triumph. From the monologues to the moments that happen but go unsaid. It is a real representation of life and the unsureness of it. The chaos of life can be calmed by a simple act like making an omelet. By focusing on doing the "thing" you can find purpose in anything even if that thing is just cleaning forks.
One Piece (2023)
Netflix's LIVE ACTION One Piece BREAKS The Cycle
Live-action anime has always been a slippery slope. It wasn't because it was something nobody wanted but because it was never done well for a long time. This show has broken that streak. It's scary accurate to the original series, from the outfits to the plot points.
One Piece is one of the longest-running anime/manga series ever created. They did the impossible by curating Oda's greatest hits into a cohesive story with mass appeal. It is nothing short of exceptional. I am an avid watcher of the anime. So my favorite part of the show when I first started watching it was all the easter eggs. Knowing what I know about the show so far gave me a new appreciation for the series.
The fighting choreography was elite across the board. I enjoyed Zoro and Mihawk's fight the most. Even the special effects are pretty good. What stood out the most to me was the title cards being a different Jolly Roger based on the episode. The way they incorporated the wanted posters with introducing key characters was fire.
World Building aside, the pacing for this series was surprisingly good. Considering they fit over sixty anime episodes into an 8 episode season. The chemistry between the crew had me worried at first. Each character was able to bring their dynamic to the table. Their synergy was on point as a collective.
Some characters suffered more than others though. Take Luffy for example. His character development did not benefit from this condensed story at all. Granted, it only makes sense that some of these moments were not going to have the same effect they did in the anime. The build-up didn't have enough time to marinate. I won't say that it was bad but, I will say that it was good enough. I can't deny that the drama is what makes One Piece hit different, and this series was missing a little of that. One Piece has always been about chasing your dreams no matter and, they got that point across so it is a win in my book.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
TMNT Mutant Mayhem is NOT an Animated DISASTER
The TMNT Mutant Mayhem movie is one of the purest takes on the four brothers in the past fifteen years. I enjoyed this take on a younger and light-hearted version of the Turtles. One thing that stuck out immediately was the music choice for this movie. This movie felt very "New York" in the best ways.
I can't speak to how people from New York will feel about it but it felt very innocent from my perspective. When we take a look at the comedy of this movie it is funny in context. They had a little something for everybody in this movie no matter how old you are. My favorite part of the movie was the montage moments because we saw the true beauty of the animation style.
This movie was two hours too long but there are moments to remember. One of the things that surprised me about this film was how simple the plot was. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a legacy franchise. At this point, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles origin story is a story as old as time. The fact they were able to still put a new spin on it says a lot. They did establish a bigger overarching story but I didn't care about the powers at be, to be honest.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Turtles but the biggest win in this movie was Master Splinter's redemption. Even when they decided to biggabize Superfly, they kept his consciousness and let the "bad guy" be the bad guy. That decision allowed Master Splinter to have his moment.
The theme of acceptance was heavy in this movie. Being able to see different characters progress throughout the movie was satisfying. I don't think this movie has evergreen potential per se but for the story they wanted to tell it worked.