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Gekijôban Spy x Family Code: White (2023)
two hours of Spy X Family goodness
This movie is two hours of Spy X Family goodness! Everything you love from the show is in here: the fun family slice-of-life dynamic, the ridiculously fun comedy with wacky goofiness from lovable daughter Anya, the suave spy action from Loid, and badass fight action set pieces from Yor. The animation is mostly similar to the show, but there are moments in the final act where the animation is glorious!
However, the story isn't really much to write home about and the villain is very "underbaked" (pun intended).
Overall, this is a very fun movie set in the Spy X Family universe. If you love the show, you'll love the movie.
Trap (2024)
Another dud from M. Night Shyamalan
M. Night Shyamalan has been on another recent surge of just disappointing movies. Glass (2019) was a disappointing sequel, Old (2021) had some of the worst written dialogue ever and Knock at the Cabin (2023) was incredibly bland. All of them had extremely great concepts but was pulled down by the story. Trap (2024) is another great concept with a serial killer trying to escape a concert surrounded by cops. Is this finally a hit or another to add in his disappointing entries?
Firstly, Josh Harnett is phenomenal as the main lead. He manages to convey layers of depth to his character from his performance alone. Josh is absolutely convincing as a serial killer but also a loving man who cares about his family. Not only that, but he can deliver the expected poorly written lines from Shyamalan with such charisma that it actually feels natural. This actor alone was carrying the movie!
I would also say the first half of this movie was very engaging. The cat and mouse games as he plans ways of escaping was such of the most enjoyable moments. There were some very tension-filled scenes that definitely kept me on the edge of my seat as you felt like he was on the verge of getting caught. Shyamalan also continues to give great cinematic shots with some terrific cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom with his use of lighting in the concert.
However, the second half of this movie takes a huge nosedive in quality. The movie starts to lose a lot of its charm and starts to become insanely stupid. Characters start doing things that no humans would ever do. Things start happening that would make no sense when you think about it logically. All the tension-filled and fun is just completely gone in the second half and the movie just isn't enjoyable anymore.
I was also annoyed by the blatant nepotism from the director. His daughter, Saleka Night Shyamalan, plays the singer in this film and she is given way too much screen time. There are so many scenes where it is just her singing for 2 minutes straight and just padding the movie for no reason. This would be mildly acceptable but then he starts giving her a bigger role in the second half and she just isn't a great actress. The movie has some pacing issues with scenes dragging too long and it definitely overstays its welcome in the final act. Could easily cut this movie by 10 minutes.
Overall, it is an improvement over his previous film Knock at the Cabin (2023) but again, not by much. I still appreciate him as one of the few directors who still deliver original and unique movies. However, he needs to execute these better because Trap (2024) continues to be another dud from him.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
fun movie even if it feels like a less interesting Inglorious Basterds
The ensemble cast is terrific. Henry Cavill is incredibly charismatic, Alan Ritchson is funny and badass while Eiza Gonzales is surprisingly very charming. It was clear that a lot of the cast was having a lot of fun. The action scenes are also stunning and I especially love the hand-to-hand combat. Alan Ritchson even goes full Rambo with the bow and arrow in one of them.
Unfortunately, there isn't much depth to any of the characters and you will barely remember any of their names. The second act and parts of the final act are incredibly dull and the pacing is just too slow. The movie could easily cut out 10-20 minutes of runtime to improve the pacing.
Overall, it was a fun movie from Guy Ritchie even if it feels like a less interesting Inglorious Basterds.
Inside Out 2 (2024)
'You made a lot of mistakes, a lot. And you will make a lot more in the future.'
Inside Out 2 is a solid sequel and a great return to form from Pixar. The story feels like a natural evolution from the first with Riley now dealing with puberty and new emotions; Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui.
Anxiety is the big focus in this sequel and it makes for a great conflict with the original emotions from the first film. There is a great message and a very sincere storytelling, just like in the first entry. My only gripe is that the story focuses a lot on the main "do well at hockey camp" story and doesn't go fully into all the puberty stuff. It also doesn't have a satisfying conclusion to the "fitting in with new friends" subplot which makes the ending not as satisfying as the first.
Nevertheless, this is a terrific sequel and I think there is a chance for a great 3rd film in the future!
Kill (2023)
The Raid for Indian Cinema!
I came into this expecting a generic action movie but surprisingly got something that feels like The Raid for Indian cinema!
I love the action choreography and how they don't simply make the main character an invincible beast. He gets hurt a lot during the many fight scenes and he also gradually gets tired as the fight goes on for longer. I also appreciate how they incorporate the claustrophobic setting of the train into the action set pieces. The action in general is very gritty, bloody and brutal which I absolutely adore!
The story is a simple revenge story and doesn't really go beyond that. The main character and the love interest aren't explored in depth either. The movie does surprisingly give a fair amount of depth and principles to the villains which I liked.
Overall, this movie is a blast! I'm not remotely surprised that Hollywood is now trying to do an American adaptation of this.
Twisters (2024)
A fun over-the-top summer blockbuster
Twisters is a standalone sequel to Twister (1996). It being standalone, is actually quite a blessing as we don't get the blatant fan service you would expect from these legacy sequels. This movie knows exactly what it is meant to be, a fun over-the-top summer blockbuster and it succeeds at it.
The main leads played by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell who have a fun chemistry. Glen Powell's character is the douche archetype at the beginning but gets a surprising amount of depth. The actual tornado scenes are exciting to watch and are decent visually. Unfortunately, The plot is very predictable and none of the other characters are remotely interesting. However, the movie is still fun to watch and I enjoyed it.
Borderlands (2024)
They don't care, so why should you?
Directed by a guy who don't care about the game, miscast by a casting director who don't care about the games, containing actors who don't care about the games, written by a person who don't care about the games and produced by a studio that don't care about the games.
They don't care, so why should you?
In an era where we were starting to finally get a bunch of great video game adaptations, they had to give us this stinker. It boggles my mind that they managed to make every single wrong choice while making this movie. Why on Earth this is PG13 when the games were VERY R rated is beyond me...
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Alien Isolation vibes
Crazy to think that the first Alien movie came out in 1979 and is one of the most pivotal science fiction movies in history. It also managed to get a sequel in 1986 that managed to be even better and become another pivotal movie in Sci-fi. Sadly, every other entry in this franchise has not been remotely as good. Is Alien Romulus the first actual good Alien movie since 1986?
The story itself is straightforward but what makes this entry great is the main core of the story, the brother and sister relationship between our main characters. Rain played by Cailee Spaeny is the heroine of this movie. She does a great job and her character is very likeable. It is also a joy to see her not be one of those characters who make dumb decisions which you see in many horror movies. Her brother Andy played by David Jonsson who does a terrific job in the role. Both David and Cailee have great chemistry and you root for their survival throughout the whole of the movie. This entry goes back to the horror roots of the original Alien and it is done very effectively in Romulus. There are some genuinely tension-inducing scenes including one that pays homage to the game 'Alien: Isolation' that is terrific. Fede is well known for body horror and he continues to deliver disgusting scenes here as well.
I appreciate how they bring back the gritty and dark look from the older Alien entries for this one. The world and the ship look dirty and dark which further elevates the creepiness. The practical sets are phenomenal with lovely practical effects for some of the Facehuggers and Xenomorph scenes. CGI is still used a fair amount but they look good for the most part. The cinematography is great with how it conveys the unsettling and claustrophobic nature of the ship. The sound design and the score are amazing in the way they help make the scenes feel incredibly tense.
The movie isn't perfect though. The rest of the crew apart from the main characters are very forgettable. The movie doesn't fully delve into any of the other characters apart from 1 or 2 lines about them. Instead of rooting for their survival, you just know they are fodder and want to see how they die. The iconic Xenomorphs don't start to appear until halfway and even then, they don't appear much. The major threat is really the Facehuggers but they start to appear too much to the point that you want to see something else now. The final act might also be a bit divisive to people. The first two acts are homages to the previous Alien movies but the final act is something else entirely. It is insanely weird and you're going to either love it or hate it. They also bring back an actor from the dead using current tech and it sounds as bad as you think. The CGI is very obvious.
Overall, it is nice to finally have a proper enjoyable Alien movie in such a long time. It does make me wonder where they can go with this franchise though. It will be extremely overdone if we keep getting another survivors who are attacked by Aliens on a ship or planet story again. What made Aliens great was that it did something drastically different from the first. Hopefully, with the success of Romulus, we can get a bolder Alien movie in the future.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
Fine Popcorn fun but very predictable plot
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence continue to have great chemistry as the Bad Boys. This entry does put a new spin on the franchise by having Mike (Will Smith) be the scared one and Marcus (Martin Lawrence) be the chilled calm one which makes for some great comedy and tension. Mike finally has a family and that means something to lose. Martin continues to deliver on the humour and many moments with him got a chuckle out of me.
Unfortunately, the plot is incredibly predictable. The so-called "twist" is not even remotely surprising and every character arc is very generic. The action scenes are fine but lack the octane energy of the first 2 movies. There is one great action set piece but it is not from Will Smith or Martin's character.
Still, it is fun popcorn entertainment and I had a good time with it.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Deadpool is Marvel Jesus
Deadpool 1 and 2 were some of the best things to come out of Fox. When Disney brought Fox, I hoped that Ryan Reynolds would remain as Deadpool. Thankfully this is the case but they also brought back Hugh Jackman as Wolverine despite the perfect send-off in Logan. Does Deadpool continue to entertain or is this a tainting of Ryan and Hugh Jackman's legacy?
Let's get the obvious out of the way, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are still phenomenal as their Deadpool and Wolverine respectively. Both of them have excellent antagonistic chemistry. The contrast between Jackman's serious performance and Reynolds's jokey performance is incredibly fun to watch. What made previous Deadpool movies great is that while it was primarily a comedy, it had a lot of heart too. This is still the case here. Deadpool's love for Vanessa and his friends is still here and despite his stupid antics, it is very clear he is serious about them. Wolverine has immense guilt and Jackman's excellent performance conveys the pain perfectly. Both have great character arcs that are honestly very heart-warming and satisfying.
On that note, the comedy continues to be hilarious! You still get the crude and dirty jokes, the fun meta ones, the downright silly ones. All of which got a chuckle out of me. What I appreciate most though is that the movie doesn't shy away from jokes that point fun at Disney or the current state of the MCU. The movie being part of the multiverse saga did worry me about it being a cameo fest. There are definitely moments with short appearances of individuals but there are also some proper appearances. Some of these "cameos" feel more like a supporting character. The movie also has a killer soundtrack that is used very effectively. There is a great sequence with Madonna and NSYNC that still stick in my mind. There are also some very entertaining action sequences that are well-choreographed. There is an excellent one in the intro and a unique one involving a car.
Yet, for some reason, one of the action sequences in the beginning of the 3rd act is just weirdly bad. This one particular action set piece had such awful cuts and shaky camera that it was nearly impossible to tell what was going on. It is weird as every action set piece before was terrific and even the one after is amazing. None of them had shaky camera, except that one particular one. The Deadpool movies have had a lot of jokes that feel like you would need a bit of knowledge of things that occurred in the real world to understand. In this entry, there are definitely a lot more of these types of jokes. I understood all of it which is why it made me laugh but I was watching the movie with someone else and the jokes flew over their head. It's not a big problem but it is something to note, especially if you plan on watching this with another person.
One of the weakest aspects of this movie compared to previous entries is the story. The stakes are higher than it ever has been with the whole universe of Deadpool being at stake. The problem is that we don't ever really feel it. There is no tension, suspense or urgency to the oncoming doom. Deadpool and Wolverine don't ever feel like they're in any rush. The multiverse setting also results in what feels like nothing is truly ever at stake. Characters could die but it never really feels like their death means anything. It also introduces more rules to the multiverse and it just raises so many questions. Despite this being a Deadpool movie in the MCU, the story is very inconsequential and doesn't really add anything. I also find the villain, Cassandra Nova, to be quite dull. They have cool powers and Emma Corrin gives a lively performance as the character. However, the villain's motive is very weak and they are not given enough depth for us to care one bit about them.
Overall, Deadpool is Marvel Jesus. After a lot of stinkers from MCU movies, we finally get a genuinely great one. It doesn't taint the legacy left behind by Fox X-Men movies. If anything, Deadpool & Wolverine is a celebration of those past movies. It respectfully honours our nostalgia while also giving us hope for the future of MCU movies. I can't wait to see where Deadpool will turn up next!
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Apes together, continue to be strong!
The Andy Serkis Planet of the Apes prequel/reboot was one of the most surprisingly enjoyable modern trilogies. The second movie in particular, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, is phenomenal! It was a great conclusion and didn't need more but when has that stopped Hollywood? The 4th entry no longer has Andy Serkis or director Matt Reeves. It is a whole new beginning of a new trilogy. Does it live up to what was done before?
Firstly, the film is visually remarkable! In an era where it feels common to see bad CGI, it is just lovely to see a movie where the CG is amazing. It also has great cinematography with a lot of gorgeous-looking shots. The movie being set 300 years after War of the Planet of the Apes, results in some great-looking world design. Seeing these old human landscapes covered in green in the background really showcases the time skip. It is also fun to see as well, such as a Baseball Stadium or shopping mall as places the characters go through. I also appreciate that they don't acknowledge it because why would they know what a shopping mall is? These locations are for us the audience to appreciate.
It was also difficult to make a great new protagonist after the amazing Caesar but I find Noa a good new protagonist. He is incredibly likeable and relatable, which is why it was easy to root for him on his quest. Proximus was also a solid villain despite only coming into play in the second half of the movie. He is basically a cult leader who is very charismatic yet menacing. There is also a great supporting character in Raja, an Orangutan that Noa meets. He is a fun character for Noa to bounce off. The actors all do a phenomenal job with special praise to Kevin Durand as Proximus. The first half with the adventure between Noa and Raja is the most fun and engaging part of the film.
Unfortunately, the second half is just not as good. Once the story has the character stuck in one location is when it starts to become kind of dull. There are many scenes where the characters are just sitting around and talking while the plot barely moves. The movie ends up feeling too long when it could easily shave off 10 minutes to improve the pacing. The music score is also very underwhelming. Michael Giacchino sadly doesn't return to compose and is instead replaced by John Paesano. However, he didn't do a great job as I didn't feel like there was a memorable soundtrack that elevated any of the scenes.
One of the strong elements of the Caesar trilogy is the strong human character to balance out with the Apes. Rise with Franco, Dawn with Jason and Gary Oldman, and War with Woody Harrelson. Kingdom has Mae played by Freya Allan but her character is just not that strong. Her story is very vague as it feels like they are leaving that for the sequel. It leads to her not being that likeable or interesting. It gets annoying in the second half when it starts to feel like she is taking the main character role away from Noa.
Overall, Kingdom is not as good as the Caesar trilogy. However, it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. There is a lot of charm in this movie and it is an engaging coming-of-age story. The ending is also intriguing enough that I would love to see where the sequel would take the story.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
You must WITNESS IT!
This is still one of the best action movies I've ever seen!
2 hours of exhilarating action and practical stunts with phenomenal performances from everyone. Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron are both phenomenal as the main leads. The supporting actresses for the wives are great. I love how the wives all have distinct personalities despite the limited screentime. Nicholas Hoult is charming as Nux the Warboy.
I am glad that there isn't so much explanation about everything. The movie throws you straight into the insane world and you just understand it from the get-go. The story has a surprising amount of weight as well.
You must WITNESS IT!
Civil War (2024)
Sadly doesn't do more with its premise
Civil War has such an interesting and even insane concept. The American states are becoming divided because of a fascist president and are now split into multiple factions. You think they will explore how it got to this, all the ideals of the differing factions and how on Earth would Texas and California be willing to team up.
Sadly, this movie doesn't go into depth about any of the political stuff and keeps it vague. Civil War is actually more of an exploration of war photography than the war itself. The characters are all one-dimensional archetypes with the jaded main character, the old wise teacher figure, the cool drunk guy and the newbie. It never goes beyond with the story.
Nevertheless, the action set pieces are incredible. The visuals and soundtrack are also terrific but if you wanted something bold then this is sadly not it.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
A Quiet Place: The Quest for Pizza
A Quiet Place has been one of the few great horror movies in modern cinema. However, the first 2 movies were set over a year after the apocalyptic event that caused everyone to be quiet. So to no one's surprise, a prequel was bound to happen. Does it live up to the previous movies in the franchise?
Firstly, Lupita Nyong'o is amazing as the main lead. She plays a terminally ill cancer patient who is just so sick and tired of being near death all the time. Due to this, her character can come off as quite mean. However, Lupita's great performance manages to make her still come off as very likeable and a character that you will still root for. Joseph Quinn plays the other main character who is quite the opposite, he is absolutely frightened of death. Praise to the director/writer as his character could easily be annoying but due to how he is written and Joseph's confident performance, he ends up being a very enjoyable character. Both the actors have great chemistry and the bonding of both characters is incredibly heartfelt.
The supporting characters are also pretty good. Djimon Hounsou returns as the unnamed character from part 2 but this time has a name! He continues to deliver a terrific performance, no matter how small his screen time. Likewise, I also like Alex Wolff's character and his fun interactions with Lupita's character. The best supporting character though is the Cat and yes you will want this Cat to live no matter what. I also appreciate that they used a real Cat and rarely ever used CGI for it. The set pieces are also incredibly tense and very exciting to watch. There are some great ones such as dozens of aliens chasing our characters into a building which is seen in the trailers or the subway one. It also helps that the music composed for the movie is utilised effectively and never feels like it is too much. The movie is also visually great. Nevertheless, the best moments are the downtime moments where characters are just interacting with one another. It has a very strong final act as well.
However, I do have some gripes. For some reason, this entry has a fair amount of jump scares. I would be fine with it if it was done in a way that it is built up but there are some very cheap and even one nonsensical jump scare. I am also a little disappointed that the prequel concept is not utilised in a meaningful way. We don't get much information on how the government is fighting back against the aliens or how they are figuring out anything about the aliens. It also annoys me that we don't have the characters naturally discover things about the aliens. For example, the characters realise that the aliens can't swim, not because they saw an Alien fail to do it but because military Helicopters told them so. I am also annoyed at Djimon Honsou again having a small role. Apart from getting his name now, we still barely know anything about his character. It is also weird how the Cat doesn't ever make any noise. It also gets weirdly forced into set pieces. There are also some cool scenes in the trailers that are not in the movie for some reason.
Overall, if you liked the first two movies then Day One is more or less the same as that. It being a prequel doesn't feel that relevant but it is still a fun time and I look forward to more in this franchise.
Boy Kills World (2023)
Bill Skarsgard in an action movie? Yes Please!
The story is a generic revenge flick with an interesting concept of a mute and deaf protagonist. The main character has an inner voice which is voiced by H. Jon Benjamin of Archer and Bob's Burger fame. This sounds interesting on paper but the problem is that the lines are so obnoxious and there are too many. It is always some kind of stupid quip or stating an obvious. It has a lot of comedy but most didn't land for me.
However, you are here for the action and it delivers on those. It has a lot of gore, gunplay, martial arts and over-the-top set pieces. It really shines in the 3rd act in both the story and the action. The final fight is a top-tier choreographed fight.
In the end, Boy Kills World knows what it is and gives you exactly that. A bloody, fun action comedy!
Kokoro ga sakebitagatterunda. (2015)
3rd act and ending kind of let this down
I like a lot of Mari Okada's work including Anohana, Maquia and O Maidens in Your Savage Season. However, I came out of "The Anthem of the Heart" with very mixed feelings.
It is a high school drama that feels a bit half-baked. The drama mostly revolves around the main girl, Jun Naruse, who cannot speak because of an event that occurred in the past. This is an interesting premise but the problem is that this is not the main focus as much as it should. Instead, we have a lot of romance subplots with other supporting characters that just aren't developed enough. The third act and even the ending felt incredibly forced as well. I do give props for not being predictable and being a decent message but the execution is kind of poor. This premise feels like it would be better as an anime series than a movie. That way, the supporting characters and even the romance could be more developed.
The movie does have great animation, character design and music. Unfortunately, if you wanted a good high school drama or romance, this is not it.
Challengers (2024)
Quite a challenge to watch but there is some enjoyment here
This is a personal preference but I find it difficult to love a movie when all the main characters are just terrible human beings. Despite Challengers being exactly that, I ended up liking this one.
An engaging love triangle story with tons of drama. Great cinematography and unique camera work. An electrifying soundtrack and terrific performances from everyone. The characters are unfortunately all very unlikeable and this can be a problem to enjoying this. It's a shame how Zendaya's character might actually be one of the worst human being out of the 3 of them. However, if you can get past that or accept this then there is a pretty entertaining Tennis movie here.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
An enjoyable movie but it doesn't quite live up to Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the best action movies ever made. I have been craving for another Tom Hardy sequel for years! I understand that because of the lawsuit with WB is the reason why the sequel still hasn't happened. For now, we have a prequel concerning Charlize Theron's character, Furiosa, from Fury Road. Is this a worthy entry in the Mad Max saga?
One enjoyable thing about the Mad Max films is that they all feel very different. Furiosa is no exception. It is a very gang-driven, political and revenge-filled story. We get a lot of world-building on how the Wasteland is operating with all its factions. Seeing the political tension between the previous villain Immortan Joe and the new villain Dementus is very engaging. It is also interesting to see a calmer and smarter Immortan Joe. I also like that we get to see what "The Green Place" looked like as we only got tiny mentions before. The prequel story also successfully expands more on how Furiosa is where she is by the time of Fury Road. By the end, I do sympathise with her more.
On that note, Anna Taylor Joy does a good job as a younger Furiosa. She doesn't have much dialogue but she does great through facial and body performance alone. Chris Hemsworth is the highlight of this film though as the villain Dementus. He is clearly having a lot of fun and does a great job of hamming it up. His villainous speeches are thoroughly entertaining! The rest of the supporting cast do a wonderful job as well but special praise to Lachy Hulme as a younger Immortan Joe. He does a terrific job living up to the previous actor Hugh Keays-Byrne. One of the most important things of a Mad Max film is the action and there is certainly a lot of it. Every action set piece is a marvellous spectacle with its over-the-top violence and incredibly well-made wasteland vehicles.
Unfortunately, the action scenes here just aren't as great to look at as it was in Fury Road. This is because the CGI and colour grading are just not that well done in Furiosa. Fury Road did a majority of the action practically while CGI was used subtly to enhance the movie. Furiosa has a fair amount of action scenes that are not done practically. We have action set pieces that are entirely CGI or scenes that contain lots of green screens. These CGI are very noticeable and can pull you out of the movie. The colour grading is just orangey for the most part and looks way too clean for an apocalyptic movie. Visually, Furiosa just doesn't look as nice and the cinematography never quite mesmerises me.
Junkie XL returns to compose the music for Furiosa. His score for Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the most amazing things ever. However, his music score is so incredibly underwhelming in Furiosa. It doesn't help that the action scenes are oddly silent when they would greatly benefit from an epic soundtrack. Junkie XL feels wasted this time. The movie also lacks the kinetic and fast-paced editing that you would expect from director George Miller but here it just feels generic. The movie is also 148 minutes long (28 minutes longer than Fury Road) and you definitely feel it. There are a fair amount of moments where the pace is quite slow and the last 20 minutes of the movie does drag a bit.
Overall, Furiosa is still an enjoyable movie but it doesn't quite live up to Fury Road. Still, it is impressive that George Miller was able to make this when he was nearing 80 years old. I am still looking forward to a Tom Hardy Mad Max sequel that will blow me away again because Furiosa doesn't quite do that.
The Fall Guy (2024)
Succeeds in making me appreciate stunt performers even more!
The Fall Guys is a movie that knows what it is: a fun and entertaining popcorn flick. Ryan Gosling is incredibly charming and charismatic as the main character. Emily Blunt is also very lovable as the love interest. Their romance works because both Ryan and Emily have excellent chemistry. The rest of the supporting cast knew what movie they were making and gave a hammy performance that worked for the movie.
What makes this movie stand out is how it is a love letter to stunt performers, with the plot centred around it. It helps that the action scenes are excellent! The movie does suffer from a weak script that has jokes that don't land. It feels like everyone is doing improv leading to weak dialogue scenes.
Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable movie and it succeeds in making me appreciate stunt performers even more!
Fallout (2024)
This era of great video game adaptations!
For video games adapted to movies or shows, I usually have extensive knowledge as I am a fan of the game itself. Fallout is different as I have not ever played the games. This meant that this show was a unique experience for me as I was now coming in from a non-fan perspective. Does this show succeed in pulling in newcomers?
Firstly, the world itself is interesting. The post-apocalyptic world is visually stunning thanks to the phenomenal cinematography. They managed to capture a weirdly unfound beauty of the world but also contrast this with the ugly nature of human beings. We see how humans on the surface survive through these towns or the cruel activities they do. We also see factions such as the Brotherhood who try for some order on the surface and people who become ghouls after becoming mutated by the radiation. The monster designs are creepy and disgusting which is what makes them great. Some humans have also survived by going into vaults underground. The mystery behind the vaults is a big part of this show and kept me guessing about the meaning all the time. The lore in Fallout is captivating but never feels like information overload.
The story also does a great job of juggling multiple character plots. Our central character Lucy MacLean, who is played wonderfully by Ella Purnell, goes to the surface to rescue her dad after their Vault is attacked. The premise is simple but the execution is well done. The series starts as a fish out of water story for Lucy but gradually becomes something different as more mysteries are uncovered. We also have a story about Maximus who is sent on a quest from the Brotherhood to receive a man. There is also The Ghoul, played amazingly by Walton Goggins, who is now a gunslinger also on a quest for the same man. Additionally, Norm MacLean is discovering a dark secret about their vault. All these characters and different plotlines occur in the show but they managed to balance all of it out while keeping all of them engaging. The writing and the dark humour are all great. I love that none of the characters are one dimensional and they all have quite the depth to them. Lucy isn't a badass and is an overly naive idiot. Her growing as she spends more time in the wasteland feels natural. The others also have great character arcs.
The production designs of the sets are amazing. It is clear that a lot of effort went into building them and being as practical as well. It is also very notable that they filmed a lot on location which makes the show feel more real. They could easily just use green screen or CGI for a lot of the show but they didn't and I appreciate that. For example, the Brotherhood power armour is an actual practical suit and looks awesome. The rest of the costumes are also wonderfully designed from the Vault suit to the dirty look of those on the surface. Special praise should also come to the practical makeup of The Ghoul's face which honestly should win awards because it looks amazing. The music score by Ramin Djawadi for the show is very good. He uses excellent 50s and 60s songs for the right moment. He also composes a nice score that doesn't feel overly distracting. The score for whenever The Ghoul appears is honestly terrific! The violence in the show is grim and maybe a little gratuitous but it adds to the charm of the show.
I don't have many flaws to say about this show apart from nitpicks. The second half of the show, except the finale, is a little weak compared to the first half. We don't get any cool action sequences and the story goes on a slight side quest detour for some characters that doesn't amount to much. The dialogue is also a little on the nose and a bit overly silly for the second half. I also kind of wish we got to see more monsters on the wasteland. We get two great monster encounters in the first half of the show but the second half just doesn't have any.
Overall, Fallout is the next in amazing video game adaptations. When you have a show written by someone who seems to respect the games and the fans, you get Fallout. Not only did they write a show that pleases fans but also one that can bring in newcomers like me. I barely have any knowledge of the games, yet I was thoroughly entertained by this show. I can't wait for season 2! Heck, maybe I should get into the games for once.
Abigail (2024)
Successfully delivers on the premise!
Abigail has such a ridiculous yet fascinating premise and completely succeeds in delivering it.
The characters are all pretty flat and one dimensional but they are carried by the great cast and writing. The constant tension between them all and the charismatic performances elevate the story. Alisha Weir is one of the most phenomenal child actors I've seen as her performance as Abigail is stellar!
This is such a fun, entertaining film. The gore is enjoyable and the comedy works well. The 3rd act is a little messy but it does have a pretty heartfelt conclusion. I highly recommend avoiding any marketing for this one!
Monkey Man (2024)
Overstuffed Revenge story but a decent director debut
Dev Patel is an actor I admire so of course I was interested in his directorial debut. There is a lot of great stuff here but there are some issues too.
The first act has a great build-up with its sprinkle of backstory and world of crime. The action scene is fun albeit it is overly edited and has a lot of shaky cams. The movie's pacing then goes to a complete stall with its boring second act that goes on for too long. Nothing of importance occurs apart from explaining something the audience already knows and a pointless side quest. The final act is a full-on action set piece that doesn't use shaky cam but is incredibly predictable.
Monkey Man has an interesting spin with the added Indian mythology but it is just an overstuffed and over-explained revenge story. It is a great start for Dev Patel and I will look at his director career with great interest.
Late Night with the Devil (2023)
Hollywood needs to give us more David Dastmalchian
I adore how this movie is filmed like it was an actual broadcast of the show. They use a 4:3 ratio and a 70s colour grading to make it seem like a 70s camera. They also start the movie in a documentary style to catch the audience up to speed on the talk host. For when the camera is off during ads, they film in black and white to make it seem like archive footage. All of these elements are incredibly clever and well done.
David Dastmalchian is amazing and gives such a believable performance that made me believe he could be a real talk host. I love how he gives a different performance for the character's TV persona and when the camera is off. The movie does a great job of building up the tension as more and more insane things start to happen. The CGI effects aren't great and the last act is a bit of a mixed bag. However, this movie shows how original movies can still thrive in modern cinema.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
I miss The Furious Five...
I love the Kung Fu Panda trilogy! The 3rd movie felt like a nice wrap-up for the series. However, modern movie studios just can't give up on milking a franchise. Now we have a 4th entry in the series. Is this movie justified, or is it just another cash grab?
Jack Black is still great as Po. He still hasn't lost his charm and continues to deliver a hilarious and charismatic, vocal performance. I also love that his character Po is still a badass dragon warrior. He is always the most skilled fighter in the room and I am glad they didn't make him weaker for the sake of it. Awkwafina is again voicing another sidekick character. She is fine but that is mostly because her character isn't written to be unbearable and that makes Awkwafina bearable. Their characters do have a fun buddy dynamic throughout. Speaking of buddy dynamics, it was nice to see James Hong and Bryan Cranston return as Ping the Geese and Shan the Panda again. Po's fathers have their own, fun mini-adventure in the movie.
The animation is beautiful. Not to the extent of other dreamwork animated movies such as How to Train Your Dragon or Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. However, it looks very appealing for the most part. The action scenes are still very entertaining with its well choreographed Kung-fu scenes. It was also nice to see Ian McShane return as Tai Lung even though it was clearly done for nostalgia bait.
Unfortunately, the story is predictable and boring. Po is required by Master Shifu to pick the next Dragon Warrior but Po doesn't want to and wants to remain the Dragon Warrior. This idea in itself, can be very interesting as he could potentially have to choose between his friends, The Furious Five. Sadly, they are not even in this movie so instead we get a new character in Zhen played by Awkwafina. Oh wow, I wonder who Po will pick...
Po and his dynamic with The Furious Five have always been a highlight but removing that, makes this less interesting. The villain, The Chameleon, is also extremely underwhelming. She can steal the Kung-Fu of martial artists, including previous movie villains. Her motives are weak and her presence is just not menacing enough. They try to say throughout that Po might finally meet his match but they don't do a good job of convincing us that this is true. If anything, the big final battle feels like the easiest fight that Po has ever had so far. How is The Chameleon a threat if the Furious Five weren't even needed?! Ke Huy Quan is also in the movie but his character has no depth at all so it feels like a glorified cameo. Additionally, many of the jokes didn't land. I hate that they leave awkward pauses cause they clearly thought we the audience would laugh.
Overall, this 4th movie had no reason to exist. The story is not meaningful enough to justify its existence. This will be the start of the second trilogy but the ending itself doesn't do much to make me interested in more. The ending is a fine ending to wrap up the series (again). Hopefully, the 5th entry is a lot better and this time, make sure The Furious Five are actually in the movie!
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
Unfortunately, Godzilla and Kong do not kiss
I am honestly glad we are getting more movies in the Monsterverse. The movies have been amazing or anything but they have been thoroughly entertaining. After Godzilla vs Kong, we are getting a team-up movie with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Does this continue to be entertaining, or is this finally the entry that bores you?
You came to this movie for big monsters fighting and in this aspect, the movie succeeds. There are a great many fight scenes in this movie, especially with Kong. I love the way Kong fights and how you can clearly see how he is strategizing and planning compared to Godzilla's ferocious animalistic style. They also created a new villain for Kong with "The Scar King". I love the design of him and his more agile style of fighting. The movie builds up to an epic 3rd act brawl and it is insanely entertaining and worth watching for it alone.
The CGI is pretty good considering that this is the cheapest MonsterVerse movie so far. Hollow Earth looks great and Kong looks phenomenal. Godzilla has a new pink design for story reasons and it looks fine. There are some visually great-looking shots by returning cinematographer, Ben Seresin, that capture the mystical nature of Hollow Earth and the Titans. Kong is the main lead in this film and he is the stand-out star. There are many scenes with just Kong and other apes that go on for 10 minutes long with no dialogue or humans and they work so well. Just through Kong's facial expression and body language, you can perfectly understand the emotion and the story that is being conveyed. It is impressive. In terms of human characters, Trapper played by Dan Stevens is a fun newcomer. He has excellent chemistry with returning character Bernie played by Brian Tyree Henry.
Unfortunately, the story concerning the human characters is still incredibly dumb. There are many questionable and stupid things such as why they only brought one armed soldier for a mission or why even a conspiracy podcaster is even involved in the mission. The human characters are still not interesting or engaging enough to care about. They tried to incorporate the mother-and-daughter relationship plot element again with returning characters Dr. Ilene (Rebecca Hall) and Jia (Kaylee Hottle) but it doesn't work well because they don't explore it enough. For the most part, Ilene is again the exposition character. It's a shame as Godzilla Minus One shows that you can do big monsters and engaging human characters in a movie.
The pacing drops off significantly around the second act where it just has a bunch of humans talking and exposition dumps. Additionally, Godzilla is barely in this movie despite being the first in the title. Every fight scene concerning Godzilla barely lasts a minute in the first 2 acts. It is understandable to show how powerful Godzilla is but it would have been nice to see the fights last a bit longer. On that note, while the fights are indeed entertaining, they are not as well choreographed as the ones in Godzilla vs Kong. Junkie XL returns to score the music for this movie but it definitely lacks the impact that Junkie usually does. The music score is a bit forgettable.
Overall, I came to see giant monsters fight and I got exactly that. This feels like a very high-budget B movie and honestly, that is completely fine. Godzilla x Kong is another entertaining movie in the MonsterVerse and I hope more is made in this cinematic universe. The possibilities are endless!