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johnptomai
Reviews
Mortal Kombat (2021)
FINISH THIS already!
The Original 1995 Mortal Kombat experience is the best and only Mortal Kombat experience. .Hiroyuki Sanada (Last Samurai) opening scene as backstory for Scorpion was amazing, and promising of a movie that never followed through. Lets compare this new movie to the original 1995 movie. The Original has an opening and an ending which are an emotional arc. Tsang Tsung kills Chan Kang at the temple (Angkor Wat -ancient Cambodian Temples) in a visceral scene. "Your Soul is Mine!". Tsang Tsung brutally murders Liu Kang's brother in order to lure the prophesied tournament Champion Liu Kang into the tournament. The original story actually makes sense, if you will. The opening of the original sets up the character of Liu Kang (Robin Shou) as protagonist (who is far superior to the protagonist in the 2021 movie) wakes up in a dream where his brother has been murdered by Tsang Tsung and returns home for vengeance in the tournament. The original movie has an emotional resolution. Liu Kang becomes the Champion of Mortal Kombat, vanquishes Tsang Tsung and releases his brothers soul in an emotiional and uplifting sweeping moment with music by. Orbital "Halcyon"
Audiences cheered at the end of the 1995 film. Characters were directly out of the original saga's canon. Fighting was more brutal and visceral. Scorpion vs Johnny Cage fight was wild. The Martial artists were better, far better. The original 1980's Moral Kombat theme sound-bytes from the video games were still intact: "TEST YOUR MIGHT!"... "Finish Him!" -followed by high adrenaline techno music... In comparison despite all that the modern 2021 version had going for it, - Hiroyuki Sanada and his scenes with Sub Zero.. all the modern CGI technology, the movie used up because the emotion behind the story and its characters were lacking. I found the 2021 movie to be moderately entertaining but ultimately unmemorable. After 25+ years I can still enjoy the original and get excited when I hear "Finish Him!" -Not so with the latest.
Drone (2017)
Political Propaganda, One Sided Point of view of Crucial Issue
This movie shows only one side of the issue, leading to viewer to sympathize with the antagonist. Where the antagonist might be equally guilty one could argue for outright supporting, hiding, and tolerating those among them who design to kill innocent people in the west. If you want a drama about the collateral damage involved in US actions against Terrorism, lets have it out on screen about the whole story. What a fantastic drama, and informative thematic event "Drone" could have been had it told both sides of the story.
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
A moving drama about real human hardship and survival
Don't buy into the bad reviews just yet. I read the bad reviews telling me this movie is so sad and slow...etc... and I avoided watching it because of those reviews until my wife insisted on watching it. Im nearly 2/3 of the way through Manchester by the Sea as I write this review and I am blown away by the touching drama. The story is well developed and the screenplay unwraps the events in a fashion that leads us to want to know more and more about the characters. I can see why certain reviews didn't like it. Its a matter of what one appreciates. I appreciate quality drama, and the subject of loss is one ripe for quality drama. On this level Manchester by the Sea delivers very well. If you're looking for something up beat, then perhaps this isn't your show. But that is not justification for a poor review. And as I stated in my opening, I avoided this movie, and watched it begrudgingly yet the story and acting has moved me to the point I feel that Manchester by the Sea deserves my vote for a very positive review. Casey Afleck is becoming a great drama actor, perhaps even better than his brother.
Silence (2016)
Misguided, Incomplete portrait of Feudal Japan
I was expecting an Epic on the level of "Shogun" and got a lecture on the rejection of Christianity in feudal Japan which was shallow and unexplained . The subject matter of Japan in the 1600's as Japan is introduced to Western Culture and Christianity is ripe for an in depth and detailed portrait of the clash between Bushido and Western thought, and is well documented- elsewhere. I was expecting a more detailed study of the resistance to Christianity by Japanese culture of the time to preserve the order of Bushido. Nowhere in the film are the traditional concepts of Bushido and Budhism represented in the film, except for implicitly.
The movie seemed to force the viewer to the conclusion that Christianity was the best thing for Japan without explaining how Christianity was in-congruent with Japanese Culture and Social Structure of the time. I began to wonder, are the beliefs implied by this movie born out empirically? A quick survey of Modern Japan today says no. Despite all the strife of the Christian Missionaries in "Silence", a mere 1% of Japanese are Christian today. Apparently the writers overlooked core Japanese culture in the making of this movie.
A more pertinent theme would take place in the Modern Middle East where massive numbers of Christians are being murdered in the modern world and ignored by the Media.
The case of a few Missionaries in Japan back in the 1600's is intriguing only if we study and compare the influences of Bushido and Christianity to the Social/Political normalities of the time.
The 1980's Mini Series Shogun delivered this and far more drama than you'll ever find in "Silence".
Interstellar (2014)
Interstellar FLOP and over-rated mess
What a promise of greatness this film posed. In fact, the film seems to deliver on its promise for the first 30-40 minutes. I was enthralled by act One. But, then the film goes off the rails in a truly "Stellar" manner late in Act Two! I mean, WACKO time. The things they ask us to believe are unexplained and implausible. A good film manages to deliver on far fetched plot twists by cluing the audience in on key details, it provides the viewers with the knowledge they need to buy into the big reveal. In the case of Interstellar, I found myself in total disbelief, angry at the writers for taking the movie off in one unexplained implausible tangent after another. In the end, it was a total mess. -Despite all the promise of the idea.
Third Person (2013)
The Most Powerful Character Drama I can Remember
"Third Person" is the most powerful character drama I can remember seeing in many years. The characters are well developed -and slowly developed in detail. Each of them are uniquely human, with deeply rooted emotional motives. As the yarn unwinds we learn more about each character and begin to wonder about how their stories will ultimately collide. The success of this story lies in a cast of well developed character studies, portrayed by actors performing at the top of their game, scripted by a writer -who's style reels us in scene by scene, compelling the viewer to relate to, and ultimately 'care' about where the story is going. Ultimately, we are awarded with a conclusion delivered in a climactic "bang". The conclusion of this movie is notable, including some of the most raw human emotion and absolutely raw fertile ground for provoking emotion in the viewer as I have ever seen recently on screen.
If you like character dramas that unwind like a slow yarn and delivers the goods in the end, you wont be disappointed.
Two Big Thumbs up for this excellent Character Drama.
Hercules (2014)
Fair, but could have been Epic
Yet another movie falls to the formula method of Hollywood. The story of Hercules at it's core is a saga of a bastard son. Born as the illegitimate son of the God Zeus and a mortal woman, Hercules has to struggle to survive the challenges of the gods, thrown down to him on earth and ultimately choose if he wants to be god or man.
Its a Jesus saga. A superman saga.
The premise of the core story of Hercules could have become a masterpiece movie in the hands of a great writer and director.
In terms of the story & characters: I would have liked so seen the authors flesh in the drama of Zeus and Hera at the birth of Hercules. -Shakespearean drama. -aka.. Marlon Brando scenes at the birth of Kal-El. -Mother, Father, and evil Hera collide and conspire to ruin/save the life of young Hercules.
From there, I would have introduced the "Rock" with detailed scenes of the challenges his "parents" through at him. -The Dydra, the Lion...etc.
Instead, these amazing opportunities for character development were given the 15 second treatment.
Intelligent viewers want to watch characters evolve into heroes. We want to see why they are who they are. We want to see them evolve from nothing, against the greatest odds to become champions.
From that foundation, the entire second half of the movie -Hercules Conquests- would have meant so much more. And this movie could have been one of the greatest character dramas ever.
-In my opinion, Dwayne Johnson possesses all of the acting skills to be the character of a much larger, more deeply founded story.
Pacific Rim (2013)
A Story by Cheech n' Chong after two bongs.
Here is the *spoiler* to the 'story' behind Pacific Rim, the story itself really is a joke but its worth a laugh and and maybe you will save $50:
An ancient race of aliens live inside the earths core where its 12 million degrees and molten lava (???!!!!) They have been here since the time of the Dinosaurs and in fact WERE responsible for the Dinosaurs as their first genetically engineered creatures unleashed by to wipe out man. (???!!!!! Are you #$% kidding me!). Since then, man kind has thrived and now they've cloned a new generation of super creatures to unleash on mankind. To combat the creatures they blow part of ones brain open, and have a human scientist do a 'mind meld' with it, a.k.a. Mr Spock! LOL! No really! And it gets better! -as if the pot they were smoking when they started writing this story was beginning to kick in: The Creatures now sense the plans of mankind because, AS YOU GUESSED IT, -a mind meld is a two way thing. (heavy bong smoke, choking and coughing heard in the theater) Finally to destroy the creatures, we send a nuclear bomb to the center of the earth, only to do so, we had to sneak in with a dead creature in order to pass their DNA test. !!!??? Finally they detonate a 150 megaton nuclear blast at the earths core (!!!!!) and every body celebrates. Roll credits, my wife almost leaves me in the parking lot at the theater as she's that angry that I brought her to see this movie.
Jack Reacher (2012)
Starts out strong, and dies.
I've seen a lot of movies, so I am an educated viewer. Jack Reacher starts out with less than all cylinders firing, yet still I was intrigued for the first 30-45 minutes. After the honey-moon of the first 30-45 minutes I expect an intelligent plot to develop. An intelligent plot consists of a developed protagonist, antagonist and reasonable conflict. Jack Preacher lacks all three. After an hour I started wondering "what's the point?". Finally, they bring in Robert Duvall in the final act. I found myself thinking that they brought in a big name actor to save the film. This movie is over-rated at a "7" and the story is lacking. Motives are lacking. Who are "the bad guys" goes unexplained, as well as character development for Jack Reacher himself. In my opinion, a below average movie.
Red Lights (2012)
Another Review where I disagree with Rodger Ebert
This is a great movie with suspense and a third act you never see coming. Before I watched this movie, I checked the Rodger Ebert review, as I always do. Ebert said this movie had "a great first and second acts" yet devolved "into an action movie in the third act". The third act was an absolute blind side revelation twist in the story, a twist you never see coming and questions the 'doubt' about the existence of psychic powers. -trust me on this w/o revealing spoilers. Then entire movie builds to the third act, where something you never saw coming occurs. And I want to emphasize, Ebert says that the third act devolved into an "action movie", I watched the movie with a skeptic eye and it never devolved into an action movie. Perhaps Ebert needs to retire. The surprise third act is nothing you will see coming.
Battleship (2012)
Best time I had at the movies as I can ever remember
Lock your seats down, fasten your seat-belts and get ready for the ride up to the top. Only 20 minutes until the background story and characters are established before the ride hits full momentum and doesn't let go. This movie does an over the top job of what it sets out do do: Entertain and thrill you like no other. The Special effects are insane, the soundtrack was awesome. The imagination of the creators was fantastic. The alien craft were truly amazing to behold, and equally so was the emergence of the USS Missouri from retirement *Spoiler*... In my showing the audience went crazy when the USS Missouri pulled out to sea after 70 years in retirement to an AC/DC "Thunderstruck" sound track. Battleship is a "balls to the wall" "Rock n' Roll" all out smash mouth action movie with amazing eye candy from beginning to end. -And yes! I loved the characters, they were well developed. Go see it while its in theaters. I loved this movie and it was the absolute best time I can remember at the movies. My final thoughts are that Battleship is the ultimate combination of over the top special effects with a story that works. Bravo! To those that gave this a negative review: Go back to "Gone with the Wind" and "Bridges Over Madison County" because clearly you weren't at Battleship to have a FUN TIME at the movies. I'll be going back again!
Dark Tide (2012)
Totally Underrated, a very good thriller, realistic & believable story
If Great White Sharks thrill you and you like Ocean stories you will enjoy this one. Ignore the poor ratings, I did and Im glad. The story is realistic, unlike others like "Deep Blue Sea" this one is not a Hollywood exaggeration. Cimatography is excellent in Dark Tide. If you fear the idea of swimming with Great White Sharks out in the open ocean of South Africa, you will be biting your nails and holding your seat. The night shots are especially scary -and all done by situational context -not CGI or gross exaggerations. -I almost had to Fast Forward through the night scenes because I was so on edge. The character drama and the relationships between the characters was well developed. Acting was excellent. What else would you expect from Holly Berry and Oliver Martinez? I am literally 1 Hour and 28 Minutes into the movie where the final climax is about to start, when it hit me that this movie deserves a GOOD review. No way its a 4.3 rating. If you like Ocean thrillers, based on realistic plot then check this one out, you wont be disappointed.