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Category: New Releases

  • Pet Sematary (2019)

    Pet Sematary (2019)

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    While critics were divided on the film, the original Pet Sematary was still a hit with audiences and fans. Given its success, director Mary Lambert returned to do the 1992 sequel, Pet Sematary Two. Unfortunately, the sequel was a disappointment at the box office and received negative reviews from both critics and audiences. As the decades rolled around, there were more Stephen King adaptations, but none matched the quality of what came before. However, interest in adapting King’s work was renewed thanks to the massive success of 2017’s It. Thanks to its success, many more Stephen King works are being readapted for the big screen. One such work is Pet Sematary, which is being helmed by the directors of 2014’s Starry Eyes, an underrated gem. Now, 30 years after the original film came out, we have the highly-anticipated remake/readaptation, Pet Sematary.

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    Synopsis

    Much like the original, this movie is about the Creed family moving to home in a small Maine town. The daughter Ellie (Jeté Laurence) stumbles across a pet cemetery in the backyard, and meets old-timer Jud (John Lithgow). The two become friends, and he’s soon introduced to the rest of the family, including father Louis (Jason Clarke). Like before, Louis works as the doctor at the local university and runs into hit-and-run victim Pascow (Obssa Ahmed). Pascow warns him not to go beyond the pet cemetery, but when the family cat Church is killed, things change. Jud suggests they burn him in the Indian burial site beyond the cemetery, leading to the cat returning. Soon, Ellie is killed by a truck, which drives Louis to want to bury her in the burial ground. She comes back to life, but not the quite the same as before.

     

    Review

    I apologize for spoiling Ellie being the one who comes back, but the trailer spoils it anyway. Comparing this to the original, it’s better in some ways, yet worse in some ways. For one, the acting overall is slightly better here, especially Jason Clarke as Louis and Amy Seimetz as Rachel. In addition, Jeté Laurence does a good job as Ellie, especially in the second half when she’s resurrected. Also, I appreciate the filmmakers trying to go in different directions as opposed to just recycling the original. Much like the original, this movie has a great mood, with lots of rolling fog and spooky woods. Tone-wise, this version is more consistent than the original, playing it more seriously and not adding odd bits of comedy. While not necessarily too scary, this version does have a very creepy and ominous vibe about it.

    Unfortunately, for all this version gets right, there’s also a lot this version gets wrong, which is disappointing. For one, while John Lithgow is a good actor as always, he feels underutilized here, only serving to provide exposition. Also, while the original established a friendship between Louis and Jud, here it feels like they meet circumstantially. And despite Jason Clarke’s good acting, his character comes across somewhat bland and uninteresting, not really offering anything compelling. Plus, while it’s heartbreaking to lose a young child, it was more impactful when Gage was killed in the original. Without getting into spoilers, the third act, especially the ending, leaves much to be desired. The ending does play out differently than the original, but its execution isn’t very strong. That’s the best way to describe this remake: done differently but not executed well. Overall, this Pet Sematary tries but doesn’t recapture the original’s charm.

     

    Buy Pet Sematary from Amazon: https://amzn.to/43upnRd.

    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 Pet Sematary (2019)

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  • Us (2019)

    Us (2019)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][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=”{}”]Jordan Peele has had a very interesting career to say the least, having gone from comedian to horror filmmaker. Peele first entered the scene when he joined the cast of the sketch comedy show Mad TV in season nine. After the show’s cancellation in 2009, Peele, along with fellow cast member Keegan-Michael Key, created a new sketch comedy show. The show, Key and Peele, was a huge hit with viewers, and many of its skits became viral hits online. While ultimately cancelled in 2015, Key and Peele did team up again to star in the 2016 comedy film, Keanu. But then, in 2017, Peele made history with the release of his directorial debut, Get Out, which was massively successful. Not only was it one of the highest grossing films of the year, but it even got several Oscar nominations. Two years later, Peele released his highly anticipated follow-up, Us.

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    Synopsis

    In 1986, young Adelaide Thomas wanders off while with her folks at Santa Cruz, encountering something that leaves her traumatized. Several years later, an adult Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) and her family take a trip to their summer home for vacation. She’s accompanied by her husband Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke), daughter Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph), and son Jason (Evan Alex). After going to Santa Cruz beach with her family triggers her past trauma, Adelaide wants to leave right away. That night, they’re visited by a family dressed in red that looks almost like them but slightly off. The doppelganger family attacks the main family, and soon similar doppelgangers show up seemingly out of nowhere and start killing. After their neighbors Josh (Tim Heidecker), Kitty (Elisabeth Moss), and their daughters are killed, the Wilson’s run for the hills. Will they survive, who are these doppelgangers, and what do they want?

     

    Review

    Us is definitely one of those rare instances where a relatively new director strikes gold twice in a row. Compared to Get Out, this is much more of a pure horror film with some thriller elements thrown in. Much like with Get Out, what makes Us work so well are the performances, especially from the lead actors. Lupita Nyong’o does a phenomenal job as always, definitely giving one of the best performances of the year so far. Winston Duke, who typically plays heavies, is convincing as your average dad who cracks jokes and cares for his family. The kids also do a good job, as do the rest of the supporting cast, given they’re playing dual roles. What’s most surprising is how they’re able to play two different versions of the same character and make it believable. There really is no performance that falls flat or drags the movie down.

    While there are plenty of tense and frightening sequences, some moments are slightly ruined by comedic moments. Granted, Get Out similarly had comedic moments mixed in, but here, they seem to clash with the more intense scenes. That said, some of the more comedic elements do work, especially with how well the cast delivers it. Much like Get Out, while the premise is fairly simple, there’s a lot more going on under the surface. As the story unfolds, Us gives us some answers, but leaves the rest up to your imagination. Suffice it to say, you’ll be thinking about this well after seeing it, and you’ll have plenty of questions. Hopefully, I won’t jinx things by saying this, but Jordan Peele is on a roll with two hits behind him. Overall, while the tone is slightly off at times, Us is still a great horror film that deserves its acclaim.

     

    Buy Us on Amazon: https://amzn.to/40xkuWY.

    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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    Where to watch Us (2019)

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  • Happy Death Day 2U (2019)

    Happy Death Day 2U (2019)

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    When the first Happy Death Day came out in 2017, I was intrigued, but put off by the PG-13 rating. Once I started seeing people whose opinions I trust saying positive things about the film, I got curious. While I did not see it in theaters, I eventually rented it and was pleasantly surprised. On the surface, the movie seemed like nothing more than a horror movie version of Groundhog Day. What I wasn’t expecting was a great lead performance from Jessica Rothe, some pretty emotional moments, and some fun scares. Admittedly, the PG-13 rating did hinder the film for me, but not enough to where I wouldn’t have recommended it. Given that this was a Blumhouse production, it seemed natural that a sequel was bound to happen. So, two years later, we get Happy Death Day 2U, with most of the returning cast and crew from before.

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    Taking place immediately after the first film, Ryan (Phi Vu) has been working on a new quantum reactor at school. Unfortunately for him and his friends, Samar (Suraj Sharma) and Dre (Sarah Yarkin), their project gets shut down. Suddenly, Ryan gets murdered, only to wake up reliving the same day again, much like what happened before. After Tree (Jessica Rothe) brings him and Carter (Israel Broussard) up to speed, they agree to help Ryan. They manage to stop the killer, but through a series of events, the reactor is triggered and everyone’s knocked out. Tree ends up waking up back in Carter’s bed reliving the events of the last movie, only things are different. Turns out Ryan’s reactor somehow got Tree stuck in an alternate dimension, and she needs to get back. With the help of Ryan and his friends, Tree must return to her dimension while avoiding the killer.

    Without getting into spoilers, I’ll first address the fact that this movie is more science-fiction than horror. While there is a killer on the loose and there are some intense moments, there’s very little horror here. That said, the first one combined horror, comedy, and drama, so it doesn’t seem that out of place. For the most part, this movie has more sci-fi and comedy elements, mostly in the form of slapstick. Some of it does fall flat, but most of it works thanks largely to the talented cast. Much like the last film, Jessica Rothe is easily the highlight here, thanks to her energy and charisma. Also like before, she really sells both the funnier moments and the more dramatic moments she has. The rest of the cast also does their job well, though they’re not quite as strong as Rothe.

    Returning director Christopher Landon also takes over writing duties, and he takes the story in some interesting directions. It seems like he wanted to make more of a Back to the Future type film than straight horror. Thankfully, the film is written in a way to where it respects the continuity of the first film. This really does feel like a sequel that the people involved wanted to make rather than just a cash-in. While I wasn’t too put off by the lack of horror elements, I can see some people being disappointed. That said, this is a much smarter and more inventive follow-up than you would usually get. Plus, I can respect their decision to go in a whole new direction rather than just retreading the same ground. Overall, while not as fresh or frightening as the previous film, Happy Death Day 2U is still a good time.

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  • Captain Marvel (2019)

    Captain Marvel (2019)

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    In 1967, Marvel introduced the character Dr. Walter Lawson, aka Captain Marvel, in Marvel Super-Heroes #12. Created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan, the character was given his own series in 1968, but without much success. However, in Marvel Super-Heroes #13, a side character named Carol Danvers was introduced, who eventually became the superhero, Ms. Marvel. She was given her own series in 1977 and was considered socially progressive for its time. Over the years, she’s been rebranded and given new names, such as Binary in 1982 and Warbird in 1998. Eventually, Danvers would become the new Captain Marvel in Avenging Spider-Man #9 in 2012, and joined the main Avengers team. Of course, there was another Captain Marvel published by DC, but for obvious reasons, the character was renamed to Shazam. So, with that brief history out of the way, let’s look at the movie version of Captain Marvel.

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    On the planet Hala, Starforce member Veers (Brie Larson) keeps having recurring dreams of a past life on Earth. However, she has no memory of this past life, and she keeps questioning what it all means. She is a member of the Kree, an alien race that is at war with the shapeshifting Skrulls. During a rescue mission, Veers is kidnapped by the Skrulls, who scan through her mind for information. She manages to escape into an escape pod that crash lands on Earth in 1995, specifically in Los Angeles. Her presence attracts the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D agents Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Now being pursued by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Skrulls, Veers has to track down a Dr. Lawson before the Skrulls do. Over time, she starts to piece back her memories and soon learns that not all is as it seems.

    That’s the basic setup we’re given, but trust me when I say that this movie plays with your expectations. Honestly, I’m shocked at the hate this movie’s getting because I thought it was pretty amazing. While it’s cliche to say every new MCU movie is the best one, this is easily one of the best. First off, major props to Brie Larson, who is funny, charming, instantly likeable, and can throw a punch or two. Plus, the chemistry between her and Samuel L. Jackson is great, as they have some good banter with each other. Speaking of Jackson, the CGI deaging used for him and Gregg is some of the better-looking CGI I’ve seen lately. The rest of the cast does a great job too, especially Annette Bening, Jude Law, and Ben Mendelsohn. Also, Goose the cat easily steals the whole show.

    As with many great MCU movies, the action sequences are a ton of fun, enhanced by some great 90s music. Speaking of, I’m glad that this film didn’t force feed how this is set in the 90s. While there’s some fun 90s references here and there, the main focus is on the story and characters. Beyond the fun action and cute references, this is a very inspiring movie, and it has tons of heart. Our lead is always told to stay down and never fight back, but she keeps getting back up every time. Plus, what makes this stand out from other superhero origins is how different the structure and pacing are. It’s definitely unlike any of the other MCU movies, and I’m excited to see Captain Marvel return in Avengers: Endgame. Overall, Captain Marvel is an entertaining and heartfelt superhero movie and is easily one of the MCU’s best.

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  • Green Book (2018)

    Green Book (2018)

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    In the 90s, filmmakers Peter and Bobby Farrelly were best known for their quirky and often low-brow comedies. Their first big hit was 1994’s Dumb and Dumber, which also helped launch Jim Carrey’s career into superstardom. They followed that up with Kingpin and There’s Something About Mary, the latter of which helped solidify Cameron Diaz’s career. The 2000s had its ups-and-downs for the brothers, with hits like Me, Myself, & Irene and bombs like Osmosis Jones. Unfortunately, the 2010s were not as kind to the brothers, ultimately leading to what many consider their worst, Movie 43. The two made somewhat of a comeback with the sequel Dumb and Dumber To, but clearly comedy wasn’t working anymore. Now, Peter has gone off on his own to direct a film that, while somewhat comedic, is surprisingly a drama. That film is the biographical comedy/drama, Green Book.

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    In 1962 New York, Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) has unfortunately lost his job as a bouncer. While looking for work, he gets an invitation to meet a Don Shirley at Carnegie Hall. Turns out Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) is a black pianist who is very well-spoken, classically-trained, and highly intelligent. He wants Tony Lip to be his driver as he goes on tour through the Midwest and the Deep South. Naturally, Tony has reservations about driving a black man through the Deep South, but he decides to take the job. This leads to a road trip where Tony and Shirley get to know one another and grow as people. Shirley even helps Tony with writing letters to his wife Dolores (Linda Cardellini). Along the way, they have to contend with racism, prejudice, and class issues. Their journey will change them for the rest of their lives.

    What makes the film work as well as it does is the two leads, Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. Both have phenomenal chemistry with each other and play their roles as if they were the real people. It’s interesting seeing the contrast between Ali’s more soft-spoken eloquent personality and Mortensen’s more wise-guy street-wise attitude. Also, unlike most films of its kind, this is a film where both characters learn to change as people. Tony learns to maintain his dignity in the face of opposition, and Shirley learns to appreciate his race’s culture. This movie tackles several issues, whether it’s racism, prejudice, homophobia, cultural stereotypes, breaking down barriers, and being more accepting. While Mortensen and Ali certainly dominate the film, the supporting cast all do a good job with their given roles. Leaving aside the issues it deals with, this is just a really fun and heartfelt road movie.

    If I do have any issues with the film, they’re very few and minor considering how spectacular this movie is. The only major issue I have is more of a tonal issue, namely how it goes between comedy and drama. At times, the movie doesn’t seem to know whether it wants to be serious or be funny. Granted, both the comedic and dramatic scenes work really well, and the actors help make it work. Also, while the film tackles some pretty heavy issues, it never seems to go deep enough into those issues. There are scenes where an issue is addressed, only for it to be tossed aside and never mentioned again. I would go into the liberties taken with the story, but that’s the nature of true story movies. Overall, Green Book is fantastic film with a great story and two solid lead performances.

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  • The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

    The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

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    When The LEGO Movie was released in 2014, no one expected it to be as good as it was. Not only was it a financial success, making over $400 million worldwide, but critics were generally positive towards the film. It was even nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards for the insanely catchy Everything is Awesome. Naturally, with that kind of success, more LEGO movies were sure to come out, including a much-anticipated sequel. The first major LEGO spin-off was The LEGO Batman Movie in 2017, focusing on Will Arnett’s character from the original. Later that same year, The LEGO Ninjago Movie was also released, but neither were as successful as the first. So, five years after the original film, a sequel has finally been released, the original cast and crew returning. With that out of the way, let’s talk about The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part.

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    After the ending of the first film, the world of LEGO has become a post-apocalyptic wasteland ala Mad Max. Turns out the residents of the Systar System, known as Duplos, have been invading and destroying everything in sight. Our heroes now reside in a makeshift town called Apocalypseburg, where everyone is tough, gritty, and brooding. One day, a visitor from the Systar System named General Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) arrives to deliver a message. Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish), ruler of the Systar System, intends to marry their leader so as to join forces. Mayhem captures Wyldstyle, Batman, UniKitty, Benny, and Metalbeard, and it’s up to Emmett (Chris Pratt) to save them. He soon runs into Rex Dangervest (Pratt), and the two fly off to rescue Emmett’s friends and stop the Queen. With the threat of “Our-Mom-Ageddon” looming, will they succeed or will something more sinister be revealed?

    If you’ve read my review of the original film, you can surmise that I was more than excited for this. Before going into more detail, this sequel definitely met my expectations, though it also fell short in some aspects. First off, all the returning characters from the first film are just as fun and enjoyable as ever. Unfortunately, many of the fun side characters from the original aren’t given as much screen time as before. However, many of the new characters introduced, such as General Mayhem, Queen Watevra, and Rex Dangervest, are welcome additions. Also, like the first film, this has plenty of meta humor, mostly at the expense of the previous film. Plus, the scenes between Emmett and Rex’s velociraptors are easily more enjoyable than Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in its entirety. That alone should make this film a more enjoyable watch, or at least a better sequel.

    While the film has some great jokes, some of them don’t quite land and some even seem slightly dated. For example, one inhabitant of the Systar System is a sparkly vampire who’s sensitive and talks about unrequited love. Obviously, this is meant to be a jab at the Twilight series, but in 2019, this joke feels very dated. Also, while the new songs here are fun and catchy, they don’t quite resonate as well as Everything is Awesome. However, much like the original film, this one presents a very positive message that kids and adults can relate to. And just like the original, this one still has tons of heart and is brimming with creativity all throughout. While it seems like I was pretty negative, I still really enjoyed this film in spite of its problems. Overall, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is a fun and enjoyable time.

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  • The LEGO Movie (2014)

    The LEGO Movie (2014)

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    In the 1930s, Ole Kirk Christiansen started a toy company he called “Lego” from the Danish phrase for “play well”. Originally making wooden toys, the company started making plastic toys in 1947, and introduced new interlocking brick toys in 1949. Known as the “Automatic Binding Bricks”, these simple toys would go on to become a worldwide sensation. Throughout the 20th century, Lego’s have become one of the most popular toy lines still to this day. There are all kinds of licensed Lego sets, there are theme parks, competitions, video games, and, of course, movies. Warner Bros. first became interested in the idea after purchasing Traveler’s Tales, the company responsible for many Lego video games. Writers Dan Lin and Kevin Hageman penned the script, and directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were onboard to direct. And so, in 2014, we were given what was simply called The LEGO Movie.

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    Synopsis

    Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) is a simple LEGO construction worker who enjoys following the rules and fitting in with others. However, one night after work, he finds a mysterious woman searching in the construction site and follows her. After falling into a cave, Emmet finds an object known as the “Piece of Resistance”, giving him weird flashes. Upon waking up, he’s captured by Good Cop/Bad Cop (Liam Neeson) who starts asking him The Piece. Soon, Emmet is rescued by the mysterious woman, named Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), who further elaborates on what’s going on. Years ago, the villainous Lord Business (Will Ferrell) stole a super-weapon known as “The Kragle” to take over the world. Only the Piece can stop the Kragle, and it’s prophesied that he who finds the Piece is “The Special.” Along with the old sage Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), they must stop The Kragle before it’s too late.

     

    Review

    Right off the bat, just the very idea of a movie based on LEGO’s seems like a bad idea. It’s based off something with no story, and it might come across as a shameless plug for the toys. However, thanks to the talented people working on it, this film exceeds all expectations and is actually very heartfelt. First off, the animation is stunning, at times almost seeming like stop-motion animation, but on a much bigger scale. Also adding to the charm, everything is made of LEGOs: the clouds, the water, fires, explosions, smoke, etc. What’s also surprising is how funny it is, both the more kid-friendly humor and the more subtle adult humor. There’s some very biting social satire, especially with all the rules Emmet goes through at the start. There’s rules like, “Root for your home sports team”, “Drink Over-Priced Coffee”, “Listen to Popular Music”, and plenty more.

    As with any great animated movie, this one has really fun and loveable characters, all of them very well-acted. Chris Pratt is funny as always, Elizabeth Banks does a great job, and Morgan Freeman’s voice is perfect in anything. Will Ferrell makes for a surprisingly funny, charismatic, and sinister villain, and even has more emotional moments towards the end. There’s also Will Arnett as Batman, Nick Offerman as Metalbeard, Alison Brie as Unikitty, and Charlie Day as 80s spaceman. Each of these characters is given their moment to shine, and not one of them falls flat. If there are any problems, the action and humor sometimes move too fast without much room for breathing. Also, the movie can’t seem to stick to one plotline for more than a few minutes, always jumping forward. Despite that, The LEGO Movie has heart and creativity, and appeals to audiences young and old.

     

    Buy The LEGO Movie from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4oMclqa.

    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 The LEGO Movie (2014)

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  • Glass (2019)

    Glass (2019)

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    After the critical and commercial success of Unbreakable, rumors of a sequel started to emerge. However, despite Willis, Jackson, and Shyamalan being onboard, the studio opted not to move forward. While working on that film, Shyamalan had created a character known as “The Beast” that was scrapped for balancing issues. Eventually, Shyamalan incorporated the character into the 2017 thriller Split, naming him Kevin Wendell Crumb. Because he wanted the two movies to link, Shyamalan added Willis’ David Dunn character at the end. This eventually led to Shyamalan deciding to make this into a trilogy, assuming that Split would succeed. Thankfully, the film was such a hit that Shyamalan was able to move forward with his third entry. However, with Disney owning the rights to Unbreakable, an agreement was made for them to work alongside Universal. So, after much anticipation, 2019 brings us Shymalan’s third installment, Glass.

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    The film takes place 19 years after the events of Unbreakable and three weeks after the events of Split. David Dunn (Bruce Willis) runs a security store by day, and stops crime as “The Overseer” by night. With the help of his son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark), Dunn is tracking down Kevin, aka “The Horde”, (James McAvoy). After freeing some high school cheerleaders Kevin kidnapped, the two fight it outside until being stopped by authorities. They’re placed in a mental institution where they meet Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson), who believes they’re suffering from psychosis. At the same institute is Elijah “Mr. Glass” Prince (Samuel L. Jackson), who has been catatonic for years. Dr. Staple tries to convince the three that they don’t have superpowers, but are suffering from delusions of grandeur. But soon, Glass starts planning his escape with help from The Beast and David has to stop them.

    First off, let me discuss the things about the movie that I did enjoy, as there’s a lot to like. For one, the acting in the movie is quite strong overall, not a single one falling flat. Like in Split, McAvoy still gives a stellar performance with his multiple personalities, each one distinguishable from another. Jackson, when he actually has something to do, does a good job as Elijah and still comes across as intimidating. Bruce Willis, who’s lately been sleepwalking through his roles, seems to actually care here and delivers a good performance. Sarah Paulson does a good job as she usually does, but her dialogue scenes tend to drag on and on. Also, in addition to Spencer Treat Clark, both Charlayne Woodard and Anya Taylor-Joy return and have some good moments. In addition to the acting, the action sequences are well-choreographed and exciting to watch.

    Unfortunately, while Shyamalan clearly tried since he had wanted to do this movie for years, the movie kinda falls flat. At times, the movie seems to not know if it’s a sequel to Unbreakable or to Split. It almost comes across like Shyamalan couldn’t figure out how to combine the two movies together and make it work. Also, while the first act is pretty solid, things start to drag in the second act, almost to a halt. It does start to pick up in the third act, but the ending leaves a lot to be desired. Without going into spoilers, I’m very conflicted about the ending, in that it’s interesting but it’s also kind of upsetting. While it does set up some interesting ideas, it also comes across as a bit of an insult. So overall, Glass has some good elements, but falls flat as the end of a trilogy.

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  • Split (2017)

    Split (2017)

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    With the back-to-back releases of The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, M. Night Shyamalan became a household name. Many critics lauded him as one of the best directors at the time, even comparing him to Spielberg and Hitchcock. In 2003, Shyamalan released the sci-fi film Signs, which was another critical and commercial success for Shyamalan. But then, things changed with 2004’s The Village, which was very polarizing despite being a financial hit. After this began a dark period where Shyamalan’s movies got worse and worse, many now debating his filmmaking skills. Between 2005 and 2013, he released Lady in the Water, The Happening, The Last Airbender, and After Earth. However, when hope seemed lost, he came back swinging 2015’s The Visit, which surprised many with how great it was. After that film’s success came Shyamalan’s next surprise hit, 2017’s Split, a psychological thriller about man with 23 different personalities.

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    After attending a party, teens Casey Cooke (Anya Taylor-Joy), Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula) are kidnapped. When they wake up, they find that they’ve been kidnapped by a man calling himself Dennis (James McAvoy). While trying to come up with an escape plan, they’re greeted by the same guy now dressed as a woman. Turns out the man’s real name is Kevin, and he’s suffering from dissociative identity disorder, having 23 distinct personalities. Aside from the kidnapped girls, we also meet Kevin’s psychologist Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley), who specializes in Kevin’s condition. We get to meet several of Kevin’s personalities, including 9-year-old Hedwig, who ends up befriending Casey, thinking her a girlfriend. However, these personalities talk about a 24th personality simply known as The Beast, who the girls will be sacrificed to. It’s a race against time as the girls try to outsmart Kevin and escape.

    While most teen girls in these movies are usually insufferable, they’re all three-dimensional characters that you root for. Anya Taylor-Joy is easily the strongest of the three, which isn’t to say the other two are terrible. When the movie makes Casey the main heroine, she really gives it her all and delivers a solid performance. Betty Buckley, who was also in The Happening, is another highlight in the cast, clearly believing she can help Kevin. Of course, the one who ultimately steals the show is James McAvoy, who makes the price of admission worthwhile. Given the role, this could’ve gone horribly wrong if given to a lesser actor, but McAvoy really sells it. He honestly makes you believe when he goes between different personalities as he doesn’t play any of them the same. He runs the gambit between being funny, sympathetic, intimidating, and terrifying.

    Shymalan’s direction is on-point and the cinematography from relative newcomer Michael Gioulakis perfectly sets a very eery presence. While the score isn’t as great as that of regular collaborator James Newton Howard, West Dylan Thordson’s score still works. Like many of his past films, Shyamalan does have a cameo, but it’s not as intrusive as it could’ve been. Of course, this being a film about a mental disorder, it isn’t the most accurate representation of DID. But, so long as the movie does its job well and it isn’t insulting to the disorder, it’s all good. Also, as is common with many Shyamalan, there is a slight twist towards the end that I won’t spoil here. Between this and The Visit, it seems that Shyamalan has learned from his mistakes and really made a comeback. Split isn’t the most original thriller, but it’s still engaging thanks to James McAvoy’s performance.

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  • Aquaman (2018)

    Aquaman (2018)

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    After the success of Batman and Superman, DC comic book writer and artist Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger created Aquaman. First appearing in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941, Aquaman first gained pop culture fame with the 60s animated series. While he’s one of the founding members of the Justice League, he’s often been the subject of ridicule and jokes. Many simply look at his abilities to breath underwater and communicate with fish, and they don’t go much further. Because of this, future comics tried to reinvent the character to be more brooding and series with less-than-stellar results. He even had a video game in 2003 called Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis, one of the worst games ever made. With the introduction of the DCEU in 2013, the character was reintroduced in Batman v Superman. Played by Jason Momoa, he reappeared in 2017’s Justice League before getting his own movie.

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    During a thunderstorm, lighthouse keeper Thomas Curry (Temuera Morrison) rescues a woman who’s washed up on shore. After being restored to health, she reveals herself as Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), a princess from Atlantis fleeing an arranged marriage. They fall in love and have a son together named Arthur, but she is soon forced to return to Atlantis. Years later, Arthur (Jason Momoa) has grown up to become Aquaman, who recently joined up with the Justice League. He’s visited by Mera (Amber Heard), who warns him about his brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) and his plans. Orm is planning to start a war against the surface world, and only by becoming king can Arthur stop him. While reluctant initially, Arthur agrees and they visit Vulko (Willem Dafoe), who tells them to find the Trident of Atlan. With time running out, the two must find the trident and stop Orm before becoming Oceanmaster.

    While I am generally a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, much of the DC Universe has been very underwhelming. Man of Steel was mediocre, Batman v Superman was dreadful, Suicide Squad was a mess, and Justice League was meh. However, 2017’s Wonder Woman was surprisingly good if somewhat flawed, so things seemed to be looking up. Much like Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa was one of the better elements of the movies, especially in Justice League. And just like her, his spinoff movie is easily one of the best entries in this series. This movie has an overall sense of fun and they take full advantage of just how ridiculous the premise is. At times, it feels like a live-action 80s Saturday morning cartoon, even with the casting of Dolph Lundgren. The big battle sequence in the last act perfectly emphasizes how over-the-top this is.

    Jason Momoa, much like in Justice League, is easily the best part of the movie, thanks to his overwhelming charisma. Amber Heard, who was a nothing character in Justice League, is much improved here and given more to work with. Patrick Wilson makes for a great villain, and he even has his moment of redemption towards the end. The rest of the cast, including Kidman, Dafoe, and Lundgren, all do their jobs well and make this more grandiose. James Wan, primarily known for horror films like Insidious and The Conjuring, directs the film well and has great ambition. If there are any flaws, the runtime could be much shorter and the pacing is a bit messy. Also, sometimes it can be hard to keep track of what’s going on with all the exposition and backstories. Despite those flaws, Aquaman a fun superhero adventure that does the character justice.

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