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Category: New Releases

  • Aladdin (2019)

    Aladdin (2019)

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    There’s been a recent trend where Disney has been remaking several of their animated classics, for better or for worse. While live-action Disney remakes had been done before, what kick-started this latest trend was the 2014 film Maleficent. A loose remake of their Sleeping Beauty, the film was a reinterpretation focusing on the villain and making her sympathetic. That film was such a huge success that more live-action remakes started coming out, almost one per year. There was 2015’s Cinderella, 2016’s The Jungle Book, 2017’s Beauty and The Beast, and 2019’s Dumbo, with more coming soon. Though many have received mixed to positive reviews, they’ve all been massive successes at the box office. As with most remakes, many audiences aren’t fond of them, and some have gotten tired of them. Continuing this trend, we have the considerably divisive remake of the 1992 animated classic, Aladdin.

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    Synopsis

    In the far off land of Agrabah, street rat Aladdin (Mena Massoud) and his monkey Abu steal to survive. One day, they meet a young woman (Naomi Scott) who says her name is Dalia and is the princess’ handmaiden. Turns out she’s actually the sultan’s daughter, Princess Jasmine, who’s been kept away in the palace after her mother’s death. While the sultan is searching for a prince to marry him, his adviser Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) plots to take over. He seeks to enter the Cave of Wonders, but only a “diamond in the rough” may enter. Jafar tricks Aladdin into going into the cave to retrieve a magic lamp, only to leave him to die. However, Abu manages to steal the lamp, and Aladdin rubs it, which ends up summoning the Genie (Will Smith). With the Genie’s help, Aladdin hopes to become a prince and marry Jasmine.

     

    Review

    While I do have my issues with the film, there are some things that work, such as Will Smith. Before the movie came out, people were upset over his genie, which was a CGI recreation of the animated genie. That weird CGI genie is here, but there’s also regular Will Smith as the genie, and he’s actually pretty entertaining. Though no one can replace Robin Williams’ performance, Smith does just enough to make this genie his own version. Speaking of the cast, Massoud and Scott do a serviceable job, and they have decent chemistry with each other. However, Marwan’s Jafar is easily the weakest part of the film, lacking the menace the character should have. From a film-making perspective, the production design is fairly elaborate and colorful, and Guy Ritchie’s direction helps give it style. There’s plenty to like, but also plenty to dislike about this version.

    Probably the biggest problem is the common problem that what works in animation doesn’t translate well to film. While the animation made the original feel more dynamic and epic, here it feels somewhat flat and more scaled back. Story-wise, if you’ve seen the original, you pretty much know what happens in this version, though there’s some changes. For one, Jasmine is given a more active role, aspiring to be sultan, instead of being a damsel in distress. Also, whereas the Genie was just a genie in the original, here he’s actually a human turned into a genie. The Genie even has a love interest, which is an odd addition as it seems like a slight afterthought. While I think this film isn’t nearly as bad as the internet predicted, I wouldn’t actively watch it again. Overall, families with young children will enjoy Aladdin, but I’d recommend just re-watching the original.

     

    Buy Aladdin from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JEoDSM.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Aladdin (2019)

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  • John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)

    John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)

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    Ever since the release of John Wick, a series of films revolving around the formerly retired assassin was being planned. Even before the John Wick: Chapter 2, plans were already being set in motion for a third installment. Luckily for the filmmakers, not only was the sequel critically acclaimed, but the film also made over $170 million worldwide. Given how the last film ended (minor spoilers ahead), they certainly have a lot on their plate. For this installment, original director Chad Stahelski returned along with original writer Derek Kolstad, plus new and returning cast members. According to star Keanu Reeves, the title is taken from a Latin phrase, “Si vis pacem, para bellum.” The phrase means, “If you want peace, prepare for war”, which is appropriate given what happens. So, without further delay, here’s my review of the highly anticipated sequel, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

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    After the end of the last film, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is marked excommunicado and is on the run. Every hitman and assassin in New York City is after him and wanting to get that $14 million bounty. Going to the New York Public Library, Wick grabs a crucifix and marker, and seeks help from an old friend. Said friend is The Director (Anjelica Huston), who accepts his crucifix as a “ticket” to send him off to Casablanca. Meanwhile, for giving Wick an hour’s head start, an Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon) is sent to confront Winston (Ian McShane). At the same time, she’s sent to confront the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), who gave Wick the gun. In Casablanca, Wick meets Sofia (Halle Berry), a former hitman that reluctantly helps Wick find someone who can help him. It’s a fight for survival as Wick seeks to confront the High Table.

    Even though I had problems with John Wick: Chapter 2, I still enjoyed it and was excited for the follow-up. Given how the last film ended, it really got me excited to see how they’d follow up on it. Not only does this installment live up to that, but it exceeds all expectations I had and is phenomenal. As with before, the cast still does an excellent job, particularly Reeves, McShane, Fishburne, and Lance Reddick amongst others. Halle Berry, who previously didn’t do well in action roles, is awesome here, fighting alongside Reeves and dominating her scenes. Anjelica Huston does well in her limited screen time, and Mark Dacascos makes for a good opponent against Reeves. As with before, the fight scenes are incredibly well-choreographed, and there’s a nice variety to the action sequences. There’s gunfights, fistfights, knife fights, motorcycle chases, and even a chase involving a horse.

    Honestly, there isn’t much that’s wrong here, but this movie does have a few flaws that slightly hinder its enjoyment. For one, Asia Kate Dillon, when compared to Michael Nyqvist and Riccardo Scamarcio,is weak as the villain. She’s pretty flat, and her over annunciation of words makes it seem like she’s trying to hard. It doesn’t help either when she shares scenes with Fishburne, McShane, and Huston, all of whom are giving their all. Also, while there’s much more world-building, some of it can be confusing and can be a bit overwhelming. Otherwise, this is still a fantastic action film with a great visual style and awesome action set pieces. Without going into spoilers, the last few minutes set up an epic war for the next installment. Overall, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is yet another awesome entry is an already awesome action franchise.

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  • John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

    John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

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    Much like its title character, the first John Wick came from nowhere and was a force to be reckoned with. The action-packed tale of revenge was both a critical and financial hit, and was considered one of 2014’s best films. Naturally, a sequel was bound to happen, and luckily everyone involved with the original were more than willing to return. Derek Kolstad returned as screenwriter, and Chad Stahelski returned to direct, and Keanu Reeves returned to the title role. Much of the original cast returned, with some new additions to the cast to make a bigger and better sequel. While this was being filmed, former co-director David Leitch went on to direct Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2. As with any sequel, there’s a lot of pressure to live up to the quality of the original. After being in development for roughly two years, John Wick: Chapter 2 was finally released.

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    After the events of the first film, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) gets his car back, though not without some trouble. He returns home to enjoy retirement with his new dog when he’s visited by crime boss Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio). Turns out he helped Wick retire, but in exchange, Wick would have to complete a task for D’Antonio. Their agreement was solidified with a “Marker”, which Continental owner Winston (Ian McShane) reminds Wick must be fulfilled. After his house burns down, Wick agrees to the task: travel to Rome and kill Santino’s sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini). While Wick manages to complete the task, Santino puts out a contract on him to maintain his innocence. Along Gianna’s bodyguard Cassian (Common) and Santino’s mute enforcer Ares (Ruby Rose), Wick is on the run trying to survive. With help from The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), Wick must find Santino and stop the contract.

    Though not as fresh as the original, John Wick: Chapter 2 still succeeds for the same reasons the original did. Keanu Reeves still excels in the title role, delivering the same level of intensity and emotion to the character. Ian McShane, who had a supporting role in the first film, is expanded upon here and plays a vital part. Many of the newcomers to this series also stand out, particularly Scamarcio, Gerini, Common, Rose, and Fishburne. While not as intense as Nyqvist, Scamarcio is still fun as the villain, though he comes off a bit petulant. Ruby Rose, even without any lines, easily goes toe-to-toe with Reeves, and even has some funny bits using sign language. Common also has great scenes with Reeves, and FIshburne is fun as a boisterous underground mob boss. In a way, he’s almost a homeless version of his Morpheus character from The Matrix.

    Unfortunately, as much as I loved this film and highly recommend it, there are some issues I have here. In the first film, the story had a more personal connection, namely that it was centered around Wick’s revenge. Here, the reason why Wick gets back into the fray is because he’s forced into it, losing that personal connection. Also, whereas Wick was smart and sensible before, much of what happens to Wick here is somewhat his fault. Granted, that does end up making him a stronger character, showing him recovering from losing so much. Plus, the events of this film do tie in with the next, much like the original did with this film. Honestly, many of my gripes don’t take away from how well-crafted and action-packed this entry is. Overall, John Wick: Chapter 2 continues what makes this series stand out and proves modern action can work.

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  • John Wick (2014)

    John Wick (2014)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” column_structure=”2_3,1_3″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Since he was teenager, Derek Kolstad had been working on screenplays hoping to one day make it in the industry. While he was struggling in Hollywood, a script he had written called Scorn caught the attention of Keanu Reeves. He was so impressed he brought it to Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, the stunt coordinators on The Matrix series. The two were interested in becoming directors after doing stunt work on films like The Crow, Blade, and Fight Club. After being impressed with the quality of the script and seeing Reeves’ enthusiasm, the two agreed to direct the film. While this was going on, Kolstad continued refining the script with additional input from Stahelski, Leitch, and Reeves. The directors offered their own story changes, while Reeves suggested changing the title to the main character’s name. So with that, 2014 saw the release of the neo-noir action film, John Wick.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”90″ bar_bg_color=”#7cda24″ _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ hover_enabled=”0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is a former hitman who retired after the death of his wife Helen (Bridget Moynahan). Following her death, John receives a package his wife sent him prior to her death: a puppy named Daisy. Though reluctant at first, he starts to grow quite fond of the dog and accepts it as his companion. One day, his super sweet ride catches the attention of Iosef (Alfie Allen), who tries and fails to buy it. Upset by this, Iosef and his friends break into John’s house, kill his dog, and steal his car. Word gets back to Iosef’s father Viggo (Michael Nyqvist), who scorns his soon for pissing off the wrong person. Fueled by anger and rage, John suits up and sets out to exact revenge on Iosef. That won’t be easy as Viggo sends his own men and several hitmen to stop John from killing his son.

     

    Review

    In an era where the action genre is dominated by quick-cuts and weakened violence, this is what the genre needed. The story, which is a simple revenge tale, works well thanks to its simplicity and moves at a good pace. Keanu Reeves is awesome as John Wick, adding a layer of intensity to the part, while adding some emotional moments. Alfie Allen works as a villain you love to hate, and Michael Nyqvist is intimidating as the ruthless crime boss. Willem Dafoe is also memorable as an old friend of Wick’s who saves him despite being hired by Viggo. Adrianne Palicki is fun as a hitwoman who tries to kill Wick and easily goes toe-to-toe with John Wick. Noteworthy character actors like Dean Winters, Ian McShane, David Patrick Kelly, and John Leguizamo also have their moments to shine. Honestly, there isn’t a single bad performance here, each one just as memorable.

    Given their background as stuntmen, Stahelski and Leitch film the action with a style and fluidity that makes it dynamic. You really feel every punch, every gunshot, and every other hit the characters take because it all feels so real. The movie takes time out to flesh out the story and characters, but knows when to return to the action. There’s some interesting world-building here that offers more opportunities for future installments, but doesn’t distract from the main story. Honestly, there isn’t much that’s wrong with this movie, as it’s easily one of the best action films in years. Probably the only complaint one could have is that, as memorable as they are, there’s not much to the villains. Even still, this is a fantastic modern action film that’ll satisfy anyone who’s been disappointed at other recent entries. Overall, John Wick proves that modern-day action films can still work.

     

    Buy John Wick from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3YxfjDB.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Dragged Across Concrete (2019)

    Dragged Across Concrete (2019)

    [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ inner_width=”auto” inner_max_width=”none”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.7″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″]

    After the release of Bone Tomahawk in 2015, S. Craig Zahler was starting to receive a lot of attention. His cannibal western received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for various industry awards despite its limited release. Zahler followed that up with the neo-noir crime thriller Brawl in Cell Block 99 released in 2017. Starring Vince Vaughn as a man double-crossed and put in prison, the film received similarly positive reviews from critics. It completely changed the way people saw Vaughn as an actor and showed that he was capable of much more. Around the same time, Vaughn had a role in Mel Gibson’s 2016 WWII film, Hacksaw Ridge, which received high acclaim. While working on that film, Vaughn told Gibson about a new project Zahler wanted to do and Gibson signed on. That project went on to become Zahler’s 2019 crime thriller, Dragged Across Concrete.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_circle_counter _builder_version=”3.22.7″ title=”Rating” number=”80″ bar_bg_color=”#7cda24″ text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_vertical_length=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_blur_strength=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″ /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.7″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″]

    Officers Brett Ridgeman (Mel Gibson) and Anthony Lurasetti (Vince Vaughn) have recently been suspended after a news leak. Their superior, Lt. Calvert (Don Johnson) suspends them for six months as the news labels them as racist and unfair. Having been on the force for over 20 years, Ridgeman feels that he’s entitled to more for his hard work. Through an old contact named Frederic (Udo Kier), he learns of a massive score and invites Lurasetti to tag along. While Bridgeman has a daughter being hassled and his wife has MS, Lurasetti has reservations given his situation. Meanwhile, recently released ex-con Henry Johns (Tory Kittles) is invited by his friend Biscuit (Michael Jai White) for a job. The two are being hired by Lorentz Vogelmann (Thomas Kretschmann) to be getaway drivers for a bank robbery coming up. Both groups eventually collide and all hell breaks loose in a fight for survival.

    After seeing Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block 99, I was excited to see what Zahler would do next. Having seen this, while this is easily his weakest film to date, this is still a fantastic crime thriller. First thing to mention is the cast, all of whom do a phenomenal job, even if some aren’t given much. Gibson and Vaughn are fantastic together as two morally-conflicted cops who have good intentions despite their actions. Tory Kittles similarly does a great job, and his scenes with Michael Jai White are engaging and even funny. Jennifer Carpenter, previously in Brawl, has a small but memorable role as an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. While Johnson and Kier only have one scene, it’s still a pleasure to see them given their legendary status. There’s some pretty intense scenes and the storyline is suspenseful and engaging all throughout.

    Unfortunately, what makes this film not work as well is the runtime, which is over two and a half hours long. Apparently, the studio wanted to cut the film down to 130 minutes, but Zahler insisted on his 158 minute cut. While I stand behind a director releasing their preferred version, I think some trimming would’ve greatly improved this film. There are several scenes that feel like padding and the pacing tends to drag at times, almost halting the film. Also, while scenes like Jennifer Carpenter’s offer a unique perspective on the situation, it feels somewhat pointless given what happens. Even with that said, this still has the trademark grit and grime that were part of Zahler’s other films. If you enjoyed his previous films, you would definitely enjoy this film, though be prepared for a long runtime. Overall, Dragged Across Concrete is a fantastic if somewhat drawn-out crime thriller.

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  • Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

    Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

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    Love it or hate it, Pokémon is one of the most popular worldwide phenomenons that’s still going strong today. Originally created by video game designer Satoshi Tajiri, Pokémon has gone on to become the most profitable media franchise ever. The franchise has spanned over numerous video games, manga, trading cards, and an anime series that’s still going on today. An amalgamation of “Pocket Monsters”, the basic concept is about capturing creatures with extraordinary powers and engaging them in battle. While there have been numerous animated movies, including some theatrical films, there’s never been a live-action film of the property. Most of the time, video game movies tend to not be of high quality, and Nintendo knows this well. After the Super Mario Bros movie in 1993 failed, Nintendo has refused doing any live-action movies based on their properties. With the growing popularity of Pokémon, we now have Pokémon Detective Pikachu.

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    After learning of his father’s death, Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) travels to Ryme City to collect his father’s things. In Ryme City, humans and Pokémon live together in harmony and Pokémon battles are deemed illegal and outlawed. While searching his dad’s apartment, Tim finds a Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) who can understand him and vice versa. Pikachu has a hat with Tim’s father’s name written on it, but he has amnesia and is looking for clues. He believes Tim’s father is still alive, but Tim isn’t interested since the two drifted apart after his mother’s death. Soon, they get caught up in a mystery involving a toxin that makes Pokémon go crazy and attack their trainers. Along with ambitious want-to-be reporter named Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton), they set out to figure out what’s going on. They soon find that it leads back to the enigmatic Clifford Enterprises and a mysterious Pokémon.

    Like many who grew up in the mid to late 90s, I was super into Pokémon and obsessed over them. As I grew older, I lost interest in them, but when I found out about this movie, I got curious. Having seen it, I can say that while not perfect, this was better than I was expecting and very entertaining. What easily makes this film work is Ryan Reynold’s performance as Pikachu, who essentially repeats his Deadpool shtick. Obviously, there’s none of the violence or cursing from those movies, but he has the same wit and sarcastic attitude. But while he’s entertaining and makes the experience worth it, Justice Smith doesn’t quite hit the mark and falls flat. Granted, he’s not as bad here as he was in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but he’s mostly uninteresting and bland. Kathryn Newton has fun moments, and Bill Nighy adds some class here.

    For Pokémon fans, this will be a treat as there are tons of recognizable Pokémon all throughout. One of the more interesting aspects of the film is the world-building and seeing how humans and Pokémon work together. For instance, we see Squirtles helping put out a fire, a Machamp redirecting traffic, and a Ludicolo that’s a bartender. We also see an underground Pokémon fighting circuit, where one can assume it works the same way as cockfighting. While all of the Pokémon are CGI, they all look pretty good and fit in with the world perfectly. The mystery is interesting, though it’s fairly easy to guess where it’s going, and the plot is fairly standard. Despite its flaws, you can tell the filmmakers really cared about the material and wanted to do it justice. Overall, Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a fun if flawed adventure for fans and non-fans alike.

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  • Tolkien (2019)

    Tolkien (2019)

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    John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, aka J.R.R. Tolkien, is one of the most famous and acclaimed authors of the 20th century. Tolkien is probably best known for his high fantasy novels, namely The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Even though fantasy novels weren’t unknown back then, Tolkien’s work led to a massive resurgence in the genre. His works have gone on to inspire numerous artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers, Tolkien considered the “father” of high fantasy. In 1978, animator Ralph Bakshi brought Lord of the Rings to the big screen, followed by Rankin-Bass in 1980. Between 2001 and 2003, a series of live-action films directed by Peter Jackson were released to critical and commercial success. This was followed by a series of films between 2012-2014 based on Tolkien’s The Hobbit novel. Flash forward to 2019, where we now have a biopic of the man behind the novels himself, Tolkien.

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    Synopsis

    After their mother dies of an illness, brothers J.R.R. and Hilary Tolkien are taken in by Father Francis (Colm Meaney). He enrolls the two into King Edward’s School, where J.R.R. soon forms a group of friends called the T.C.B.S. In addition to Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult), there’s Geoffrey Smith (Anthony Boyle), Robert Gilson (Patrick Gibson), and Christopher Wiseman (Tom Glynn-Carney). The four dream of changing the world, hanging out at the Barrows Store for tea, and sharing their artistic talents. Soon, Tolkien meets Edith Bratt (Lilly Collins), a young and independent woman who plays piano, and they fall in love. Tolkien takes an interest in the history of languages, and he studies etymology while attending Oxford University. Overtime, he starts drawing and writing stories based on the fantasy tales his mother told him as a child. Eventually, he and his friends go off to fight in WWI, changing their lives forever.

     

    Review

    While I’m not exactly a huge Lord of the Rings fan, I certainly acknowledge and respect their influence and legacy. Going into this, I knew next to nothing about Tolkien, so I thought going into this would be interesting. Unfortunately, while this movie isn’t terrible, it’s a pretty standard biopic whose subject deserves much more, making this a disappointment. I don’t want to say too much negatives about this film since there’s clearly a lot of effort put in. The cast does a serviceable job, Nicholas Hoult and Lilly Collins are good together, and the three friends are enjoyable. Colm Meaney is fine if underused, though Derek Jacobi has some fun moments as a professor at Oxford. Dome Karukoski’s direction is good, though the visual style is on par with any other period piece. The movie cuts back and forth to Tolkien in WWI, and those scenes are competently done.

    I’m sorry if this review is somewhat disappointing since there hasn’t been much discussed about the movie. Honestly, that’s the biggest problem with this film: it’s so ho-hum and average that it’s hardly worth talking about. There were actually times while I was watching this in the theater that I started to doze off. I feel like a really interesting movie could have been made about Tolkien’s life, but this was just meandering. This feels less like an in-depth biopic and more like the cliff notes version of Tolkien’s life. Obviously, a biopic isn’t going to be 100% accurate to real life, but this just hits on the main points. If you’re a huge Lord of the Rings fanatic, you’ll probably get something out of this film. Despite its intentions, Tolkien is a fairly dull biopic with some good performances and a competent if uninteresting visual style.

     

    Buy Tolkien from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3K1MRGN.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Tolkien (2019)

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  • The Intruder (2019)

    The Intruder (2019)

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    If there’s a fear that’s universal, it’s the fear of someone breaking into your home while you’re all alone. Even the toughest people can still be frightening by the thought of having their home invaded by some terrible people. Over the years, there have been numerous movies involving ordinary people having their homes broken into and trying to survive. Some notable examples include 1965’s Wait Until Dark, 1971’s Straw Dogs, and even 1968’s Night of the Living Dead. Whether it’s a serial killer, angry villagers, or zombies, it’s scary to think of what you’d do in that situation. Given how universal the fear is, we tend to see at least one home invasion movie released every few years. In this case, we have writer David Loughery (Lakeview Terrace) and director (Meet the Blacks) Deon Taylor up to bat. Together, they’ve brought us the latest home invasion thriller, The Intruder.

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    A young married couple, Scott and Annie Howard (Michael Ealy and Meagan Good) want to buy their dream home. It’s a quaint little lodge located in Napa Valley that’s very rustic and has a nice feel to it. They meet the owner, Charlie Peck (Dennis Quaid), who’s more than eager to sell them the house and befriends them. However, Charlie has an odd fixation with the house, namely with the way it’s treated and wanting to maintain it. Even after selling the house, Charlie keeps dropping by to mow the lawn, do various chores, and see the house. While Annie seems more understanding, Scott is more hesitant and insists that Charlie not tread on their property. Before too long, Charlie starts taking an interest to Annie, and we soon learn just what Charlie’s deal is. Soon, Scott has to man up and protect his home and wife from Charlie.

    Going into this, I didn’t necessarily have low expectations, but I wasn’t expecting some great new groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece. Honestly, what I ended up getting was a fairly by-the-numbers and predictable home invasion thriller that has nothing to it. Even if you haven’t seen tons of home invasion movies, you can pretty much guess where the plot is going. The couple gets a new house, the owner is charming but off, things start getting weird, you know the rest. Deon Taylor’s direction isn’t terrible, as there are some decent shots here and there, but there’s nothing special about it. The weakest aspect is the writing, as David Loughery’s script feels cobbled together from other, better home invasion movies. It doesn’t help that the rap soundtrack tends to make the tone really confusing, right from the opening sequence. There’s also tons of cheap jump scares you’ll see coming a mile away.

    Honestly, this movie would be pretty forgettable, except for one thing that makes it mildly entertaining, but only slightly. While most of the acting is just average, Dennis Quaid’s performance almost makes the movie worth it. He goes from being charming and likeable, to being absolutely insane and even terrifying in several sequences. Quaid is giving a much better performance than this movie truly deserves, and I think that’s what’s most disappointing. It almost reminds me of Nicolas Cage’s performance in Deadfall, another equally forgettable movie, save for his wild performance. Granted, this movie is at least better made than Deadfall, as this one at least has Quaid all throughout. Frankly, Quaid’s scenes are gold, but the scenes he’s not in are pretty dull and don’t offer much. There’s some drama between Scott and Annie’s marriage, but that’s quickly dropped. Overall, The Intruder is pretty forgettable save for Dennis Quaid.

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  • Avengers: Endgame (2019)

    Avengers: Endgame (2019)

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    It’s amazing to think that it’s been over a decade since Iron Man kickstarted the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While superhero movies existed well before 2008, no one would’ve expected an interconnected universe of superhero movies could be done. But long-time producer Kevin Feige took a chance on a cinematic universe and it proved to be immensely successful. People forget that when The Avengers came out in 2012, audiences had never seen anything like it before. As is tradition, each of the MCU movies have had a post-credits scene teasing future installments. Since The Avengers, the arrival of the Mad Titan Thanos has been hinted at and foreshadowed going on six years. All that build-up led to what seemed like a massive undertaking, Avengers: Infinity War, but that was only part one. After a year of speculation and rumors, part two has finally been released, titled Avengers: Endgame.

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    Following the events of Avengers: Infinity War, half of the universe’s population has been snapped out of existence. The remaining heroes are trying to deal with many of their fellow Avengers and loved ones gone in different ways. Many of them have disbanded to try and find hope, while others are working to cope with the massive loss. Meanwhile, Thanos (Josh Brolin) has retired to a garden in a far off region of space having accomplished his mission. With hope seeming lost, the remaining Avengers hatch a plan to track down Thanos and retrieve the Infinity Gauntlet. However, things don’t quite work out the way they want it to, and it may require some additional planning. Eventually, some of the heroes that were thought lost come back together to help the Avengers find a solution. With so much hanging in the balance, the Avengers must undo the damage Thanos caused.

    I know that I’ve been very vague with summarizing the plot, but that’s only because I’m trying to avoid spoilers. I’ll do my best to remain spoiler free throughout this review, but I can’t make any promises. That being said, I can honestly say that, with no hyperbole, this movie is phenomenal and a vastly entertaining ride. The first hour really shows how defeated the characters are, and just how hopeless the situation is. It’s interesting to see how these events have affected these characters, some working towards a solution, and others turning bad. Every single character goes through their own massive arcs, and even some less-developed characters are given more development. For instance, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye is given more of a character arc here than he has before. There’s also quite a few twists and turns that audiences will not see coming, so prepare for the feels.

    Of course, while audiences go into superhero movies for the great characters, they also want massive and epic superhero action. Without giving too much away, the final hour delivers on the superhero action and then some on a massive scale. While many people criticize when a movie adds fan service, this one has fan service that feels earned and heartfelt. The fan service here feels like the filmmakers really wanted to give the fans a shoutout and deliver the goods. There are so many cheer-worthy moments in this last act, your hands will be sore from all the applause. Of course, as amazing as this is, the movie isn’t entirely perfect, as there are some flaws, namely the pacing. While the three-hour runtime goes by fairly quickly, there are a few dragging moments that could’ve been shortened. Despite those flaws, Avengers: Endgame is a satisfying conclusion to a huge series.

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  • Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

    Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

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    Ever since the release of The Avengers, the series has been teasing the arrival of a major villain: Thanos. Known as the Mad Titan, Thanos was created by writer-artist Jim Starlin and debuted in The Invincible Iron Man #55. Considered one of the strongest villains in Marvel history, Thanos has been a looming threat throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While mostly staying in the background or just being mentioned, Thanos has always been there, watching over the galaxy. Not only has Thanos appeared in numerous post-credit scenes, but they’ve hinted at his appearance with the Infinity Stones. Each of the stones controls different aspects of existence and the universe: Time, Power, Mind, Space, Reality, and Soul. Following the successful Captain America sequels, the Russo Brothers were tasked with bringing nearly all the Marvel heroes together. 2018 saw the release of this massive crossover event titled Avengers: Infinity War.

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    Having taken the Power Stone, Thanos (Josh Brolin) has attacked a ship carrying the remaining population of Asgard. After killing Heimdall (Idris Elba) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thanos takes the Space Stone, leaving Thor (Chris Hemsworth) to die. Back on Earth, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) has returned to warn the Avengers of Thanos’ arrival. As Thanos searches the galaxy for the remaining Infinity Stones, the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy form separate teams. Thor, Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Groot (Vin Diesel) venture to forge a weapon capable of killing Thanos, the Storm Breaker. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), and the remaining Guardians go off to face Thanos head on. Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Falcon (Anthony Mackie) travel to Wakanda to help Vision (Paul Bettany). It’s a race against time to stop Thanos from wiping out half of the universe’s population.

    Given that this was set up for over a decade, Avengers: Infinity War is, no pun intended, a marvel. It’s a real testament to the Russo brothers how well they can balance several characters in one film so well. Every single one of them does a great job, and each is given their own moment to shine. However, the real spotlight is on Josh Brolin, who embraces the character and gives him a lot of depth. What makes Thanos such a unique villain is how he truly believes that what he’s doing is right. Plus, he has moments where you can tell he’s not necessarily evil, making certain choices he deeply regrets. As dark and dire as the film overall is, they manage to inject the right amount of humor in. Thankfully, most of the humor doesn’t feel out of place and flows nicely with the hard hitting drama.

    Speaking of the drama, when the movie gets more serious, it’s very impactful and you really feel for these characters. Of course, most people go into superhero movies wanting huge action sequences, and this film more than delivers on that. There’s a massive action sequences at least every fifteen minutes or so, each one just as thrilling as the last. What makes these scenes work is the great camerawork, the well-done fight choreography, and Alan Silvestri’s epic score. Given the stakes presented here, you genuinely get worried that a character you love might not survive to the end. Without going into spoilers, this movie has quite a few moments that come out of nowhere and will surprise you. My only complaint is that sometimes the action can get slightly excessive and some surprises are pretty easy to see. Even still, Avengers: Infinity War is something truly special and worth watching.

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