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Rocketman (2019)
A Glorious Celebration
"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
- Proverbs 28:13
from the first minute I was astounded. having watched no trailers or promotional material, I had no Idea that the lead would be Taron Egerton. I could not even recognize him at first because of how he wore the role on himself like wearing a costume. Giving a thousand-mile-stare behind flashy spectacles and a 5-o'clock shadow, which a wide chin that makes him appear even more like the beloved singer, and singing in a voice that can go high like young Reginald and low like Elton.the visual styling, choreography and musical adaptations all play homage to Elton John's lifetime of musical performances. making it flashy, memorable, quilt-woven and operatic, incomparable with Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) which fails many levels.as for the story-line and narrative, the film becomes an achievement by completing was every biography should accomplish - a character driven story that does not rely on the audience recognizing the protagonist. in that way, Rocketman (2019) delivers a character that people will relate to, with a message they can love - in the simplicity of self-love and it's importance for the addicts and lost souls everywhere.
Us (2019)
A sore dissapointment
"And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together." - Samuel I 11:11
Seeing the trailer got my hopes up to no end, incepted my mind with theories and expectations on how Writer\Director Jordan Peele would re-imagine the Doppleganger trope that was his inspiration from TwilightZone 1x21.
The movie played it's concept well in matters of characters, musical setting, and the visual themes involving duality in both scissors and bunny ears (as well as the whole hands around america paper-men being cut by scissors)
the creepyness vibe was highlighted in the third act when the protagonist entered the secret passage of madness beneath the surface...
...down the rabbit hole.
and that's when it went down the toilet
suddenly the movie went from the unexplained to the soft SciFi boring-mystery of faux-conspiracy that has made no sense in either writing, theory, execution, alternative world-building and hypothetical situations.
while the previous cinematic work of Get Out (2017) was worthy of praise for it's surprisingly intriguing psychological thriller aspect that subverted contemporary ideas of racism and privilege... US (2019) destroys it's own premise by trying to explain it
in interviews, Peele wanted this movie to act as an allegory to the idea of privilege, and thus certain leaps of logic were used as bridges for the flow of story-line that ends with a twist so moronic that it almost seemed like it was conjured during a bathroom break.
overall, this movie is wonderful as a horror movie, capable of causing a chill when not being taken with the same seriousness of Get Out (2017), and with that, the social commentary it was intended to explore fails miserably, as a worthless sacrifice on an altar that prefers substance over flavor.
Bumblebee (2018)
Great strengths in old school kid-centered plot
"the gold incense altar, and the gold statue of a chariot for the winged creatures which were on the lid of the sacred chest." - Chronicles I 28:18
I have no doubt in my mind that this Movie tops any transformers movie that came before it. From the first minute of watching it, and seeing how all the Autobots have regained their Gen1 look, made me feel like the people behind the scenes really know what the people want to see. The Autobots design always bothered me because since the first Transformers in 2007, the Autobots and Decepticons looked less like toys that can speak and more like trash-piles that can walk. In this new redesign, the look of Bumblebee as a full plated sentient machine-like-creature has enough depth to it to feel like it's not only there but it is also the ACTUAL bumblebee and not a Michael Bay explosion-toy.
Also the cast has been great. Hailee Steinfeld makes for a great rebellious teen, does not top her role in True Grit but she brings a whole lot to the role which have been wasted with less competent actresses. John Cena is highly likable in a role that shifts from fun-luvin soldier to tough military-man with fine comedic timing, almost makes me want to see his next comedy gig.
The filth of Bayism is washing away from the Transformers franchise which has been illuminated in Bumblebee (2018) by a heartwarming combo of Christina Hodson and Travis Knight. A pair that always "had the touch", and now "had the power"
even if there will be no sequel film in the current decade, this film gives all we needed from the Transformerverse, and leaves a good taste in our mouths
Robin Hood (2018)
Enjoyable but Forgettable
"Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet" - Pslams 45:5
Never have I seen a more blatant example for deliberate anachronistic stew, including Darren Aronofsky's NOAH (2014). Sending Robin Hood to what would seem to be Operation Desert Storm with Bows instead of assault-rifles, dressed in a post-apocalyptic lookin armored vest and being fired at by a crossbow-torrent
it carries on with CGI horse-car-chase, bad-guys in business-suits, and flat commentary on the catholic church while wasting a perfectly fine F. Murray Abraham.
this kind of sillyness is not ridiculous, it is "ridonculous"
which is a step up from ridiculous because it makes one feel part of the joke
that's why this movie gets a 5/10 - because even though it did the effort to try and be enjoyable, it ended up being quite forgettable
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
An excuse for a film
"And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him." - Luke 23:27
There is nothing wrong with a biopic that twists the truth a little to keep the plot going. but when the story of a people, icons, is interesting enough to make a movie about them, why create false drama where there is none? why tell lies about how they handled their career or when they got sick and how? eventually these stories would be considered as true stories and the lies of Hollywood will blend into the history books. I do not want a world where we learn history from movies. I want a world where historical biopics focus on the truth, without making vomit-inducing-cut-storms and crazy wacky false tales about a rock-god just because they want to recreate a famous live performance
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
A simpler story for simpler audience
"A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" - Revelation 12:1
Strays far from the original in terms of essence. but keeps some of the feeling intact. though it keeps the formula straight and true it tends to mess the whole way through. a kinder touch should be allowed to not mistreat the minds of crowds with boring tales of banking schemes, instead should show us how the dreams will guide three children and their folks into the happy loving home they wish to make. don't spoon-feed us the message, dear. and don't play dumb because it's wrong, to waste the talents of E. Blunt with such a stunt that bares no fruit beside an ill-gained production loot
Childhood's End (2015)
A very lovely shadow of the novel
"Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." -Matthew 24:30-31
having known the original story, it seems quite a pity that it could not be made into a longer series that is more loyal to the author's work. a story which should have spanned for generations have been shortened, and the difference shows. while it is a gorgeous piece in it's visual splendor of the aliens and their home world, and with Charles Dance wonderful performance, the change to the plot is too great and loses it's prowess.
can still be seen as more than a loose adaptation to something that deserve a greater insight
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Well made, well written
"their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work" - Corinthians I 3:13
though the movie began by establishing the flaws of the presumed antagonizing police force, it very quickly balanced the conflict between the main characters as two troubled anti-heroes who fight for justice toward the same outcome. this movie exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it for anyone who wants a good character study
A Christmas Story (1983)
For Christmas Nostalgia
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth." - Psalm 127:3-4
the film is simple but whimsical. I wouldn't want to read the original book but I can definitely see why it is very culturally significant for Christmas-Time in America
Albert Nobbs (2011)
the Play must be Awesome
"So she took off her widow's garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife" -Genesis 38:14
This movie is ok. It doesn't stand out but it has mighty fine actors and actresses running around doing their thing.
Glenn Close is spectacular. and it was very good to see Mia Wasikowska and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in such serious dramatic deep accent roles. Janet McTeer was like some hard boiled badass with a paint-brush overall
the thing about this movie is that it is fitted to be a play and reshaped to a movie. the pacing is slow and the set pieces are few, which is a fault because I think it could use a few more.
overall it's good for a day-time viewing
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
very enjoyable
"From the time Amaziah turned from following the Lord, conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him and they killed him there." - Chronicles II 25:27
Surely for those who aren't book-fans but are still aware of the original story, this construct of a movie is amusing and fun. Kenneth portrays a charming witty and sometimes childish detective on one of the most memorable detective stories of the 20th century
and for newcomers, be not afraid - the mustache will blend into the scenery once it is fully digested
xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017)
Returned for nothing
"Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword..." -Amos 1:11
this film fives nothing back to the fans of the originals or the followers of the sequel. a film that is quite forgettable with a lame twist and a flimsy story-line. what is almost saving this half-arsed xXxplotation is a cameo from Ice-Cube that returns as the previous xXx agent (just to cement the fact that the two share a universe) and the opening scene with Sammy L Jackson.
other than that - pretty weak flow
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
A total waste of a franchise
"Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan." -Job 3:8
Problems with Jurrassic world 2 are repeating the same flaws of StarWars VIII
- disregard for the existing world building
- actively rewriting the history
- weakly formed philosophical standpoint
- insufferable comic reliefs
- straw-men antagonists
- ridiculous choices from characters and dinosaurs
- embarrassing choices from film-makers
Rampage (2018)
A nice matinee
"and sent against you the beast of the field, and it hath bereaved you; and I have cut off your cattle, and have made you few, and your ways have been desolate."
-Lev 26:22
Let's be real, this is based on a pretty obscure video game. personally, I only played it once, 20 years ago, in an arcade, of an amusement park, that was being foreclosed. so I had no good expectations
video games are difficult to make with a narrative. but this game had no narrative, it was simple. so the writers actually came up with a way to building this as an actual movie on the sci-fi angle, with themes of animal-experimentations and government intervention.
So expect to see a simple movie with interesting visuals and a pretty nice opening scene as well that sets the mood quite nicely
extra points Jeffrey Dean Morgan's memorable performance