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Category: New Releases

  • Bumblebee (2018)

    Bumblebee (2018)

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    In the early 80s, the Japanese toy company Takara produced a line of transforming robot toys, namely Diaclone and Microman. Fresh off the success of the G.I. Joe toyline, the American toy company Hasbro purchased the rights to the toyline. Along with the new toyline, which they dubbed Transformers, there was a Marvel comics series and a cartoon show. The toys became insanely popular thanks in part to the animated series, which even spawned a theatrical film in 1986. Overtime, new toy lines were introduced and various tie-in animated series were created, but there never was another movie. Then, in 2007, Paramount hired director Michael Bay to helm the first live-action Transformers movie, which became a massive success. This led to four sequels, each one costing more than the last and making millions at the box office. However, with the franchise losing steam, we’ve been given a new spin-off, Bumblebee.

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    On the planet Cybertron, the evil Decepticons have all but won as the heroic Autobots lead a resistance force. During a particularly intense battle, Autobot leader Optimus Prime orders his fellow Autobots to escape and establish an off-world base. One of these Autobots, dubbed B-127, is sent to the planet Earth, where he first meets Agent Burns (John Cena). Burns’ men start firing on B-127, believing him to be a threat, leading to a fight with the Decepticon Blitzwing. B-127 manages to defeat him, but loses his speaking ability in the process, and he soon collapses, his memory fading. We soon meet teenager Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), a car enthusiast who is recovering from her dad’s death. For her 18th birthday, she gets an old VW Bug from a junkyard, only to find it’s B-127. Dubbing him Bumblebee, she must protect him from the military and two Decepticons hunting him.

    When the first live-action movie came out in 2007, I enjoyed it for what is was, despite some dumb moments. As the sequels came one after another, the series just got worse and worse, and hope seemed lost. They were too long, the Transformers took a backseat to the worst human characters ever, and the humor was cringe-inducing. I had all but given up all hope on there being a decent live-action Transformers movie, until this came out. After several loud, bombastic, and confusing failures, this is the breath of fresh air the series so desperately needed. Instead of over-complicating things and having so many characters that look so similar, this one drastically simplifies things. Plus, the robots have a very distinctive look, are distinguishable from one another, and have their own unique personalities. From the opening scenes on Cybertron, it felt like the live-action Transformers movie everybody wanted.

    What also helps is that the human characters are both likable and better acted than the previous films. Hailee Steinfeld does a great job in the lead, and her scenes with Bumblebee are both fun and touching. John Cena, while a villain, is still understandable in his actions and eventually realizes the error of his ways. The two main Decepticons, Shatter (Angela Bassett) and Dropkick (Justin Theroux), make for great villains and are insanely ruthless. Unless the previous films, the action sequences are pulled back enough to where you can see what’s happening. But as good as the action sequences, what really makes this movie so special is how much heart it has. The only major flaw here is that it borrows probably too much like ET and has almost the same plot. Aside from that, Bumblebee is easily the best Transformers movie since the ’86 original.

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  • Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

    Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

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    In 2012, Walt Disney Animation Studio released the 3D animated movie, Wreck-It Ralph, a send up of retro arcade games. It was the story of Wreck-It Ralph, the villain of a popular arcade game called Fix-It Felix who wanted more. Having grown tired of always being the bad guy, he decided to go into other games to be a hero. Eventually, he winds up in Sugar Rush, a candy-themed racing game, where he meets Venelope Sweet, a spunky young racer. Together, the two learn a valuable lesson in growing as people and taking pride in who they are. When it was released, the film was well-received by both critics and audiences, and was a major financial hit. Given its success, naturally a sequel was to follow, but it would take six years for one to happen. Flashforward to 2018, where the sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, has been released.

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    For six years, things have been good for Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman). However, Vanellope is getting bored doing the same thing again and again, and she yearns for something different. Things take a turn for the worse when Sugar Rush is threatened to be sold for parts when it breaks. With few options left, Ralph and Vanellope decide to travel to the internet to try and find a replacement part. They manage to find the part they’re looking for on eBay, but they need the money for it. Along the way, they stumble into a violent racing game called Slaughter Race and meet Shank (Gal Gadot). Soon, they meet the algorithm Yesss (Taraji P. Henson) who helps Ralph become a viral hit. While Ralph becomes popular enough to earn enough money, Vanellope wants to stay in Slaughter Race, feeling more at home there.

    While I did enjoy the first film, I wasn’t as crazy over it as a lot of other people were. My biggest issue was that it started as a Wreck-It Ralph movie, but then became a Sugar Rush movie. I was really hoping the whole movie would be Ralph hopping between multiple games, but he only goes into two. That said, I still thought it was an enjoyable enough movie, and I understand why so many loved it. This one does have some of the same problems as the first one, but they’re not as bad as before. For one, while the plot does somewhat revolve around Vanellope, there is a fair balance between her and Ralph. They both go through their own characters arcs and enough time is devoted to both that it works well enough. It also helps that Vanellope is not as annoying as before.

    When it was first announced what the concept of the film would be, many compared it to The Emoji Movie. Thankfully, this is movie isn’t nearly as bad or as cynically-made as that was, and it has something to say. For one, while The Emoji Movie seemed to glorify the internet, this at least addresses some of the lesser aspects. There are jokes about annoying pop-up ads, negative internet comments, viral video trends, online gaming, and internet viruses. Of course, this being a family film, there’s no way they could portray the really awful parts of the internet. The only part that felt cynical was the Disney website, which seemed like Disney flaunting all the properties they own. Granted, it only takes up about 10-15 minutes of screentime, and it does help to advance the plot. In summation, Ralph Breaks the Internet, much like its predecessor, is decent at best.

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  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

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    In 1962, comic book writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko introduced the character Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15. After his introduction, Spider-Man soon became one of Marvel’s most popular characters and has remained popular to this day. While there had been both live-action and animated versions of Spider-Man before, his first feature-length film wouldn’t be until 2002. Directed by Sam Raimi, the film was a massive success and led to two sequels in 2004 and 2007. After the disappointing reactions to Spider-Man 3, the series was rebooted in 2012 with The Amazing Spider-Man. A sequel followed in 2014, but it received similar backlash to Spider-Man 3 and was rebooted again. After being introduced in Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man introduced the character to the MCU with Spider-Man: Homecoming. Now, after Sony’s somewhat disappointing spin-off Venom, we now have the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

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    Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is a typical teen living in Brooklyn adjusting to life at a new elite boarding school. Things change however when he gets bit by a radioactive spider and starts developing similar powers to Spider-Man (Chris Pine). One night, Miles uncovers a secret lab being overseen by Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin (Liev Schreiber), who has big plans. Turns out Fisk has developed a machine to access parallel dimensions to try and bring back his wife and son. Unfortunately, Spider-Man gets killed by Fisk, but not before handing Miles a thumb drive that can deactivate the machine. Soon, the machine is activated and suddenly an alternate Spider-Man (Jake Johnson) arrives and reluctantly agrees to train Miles. Before long, more arrive, including Gwen Stacy, aka Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld), Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage, and Spider-Ham (John Mulaney). Together, they have to stop Fisk and try to repair the altered dimensions.

    Given that plot synopsis, there is so much to this movie that my summary only scratches the surface. This is by far one of the most imaginative, breathtaking, and visually stunning animated movies I’ve in quite some time. It’s very stylized and blends different types of animation together, including anime, Warner Bros. era cartoons, and pulp-style animation. Sometimes, movements appear somewhat jittery and it seems like the frame rate drops, but overall it’s not a deterrent. With how much life and energy there is in the animation, it’s easy to overlook some of the minor flaws. Overall, this movie perfectly captures the look and feel of a comic with its vibrant colors and creative character designs. Not only does this work as a fun animated superhero adventure, but it also provides great Spider-Man fan service. There are so many easter eggs and references sprinkled throughout that fans will gush over.

    Shameik Moore does a great job making Miles feel like a real kid trying to figure his life out. Not only does he have funny moments, but he also excels at the more dramatic moments. Jake Johnson lends his great comedic timing to make Peter B. Parker feel like a real loser who’s given up. Hailee Steinfeld exudes confidence in her portrayal of Spider-Gwen, perhaps being the best Spider-Man out of everyone here. Nicolas Cage has some of the best lines given how out-of-touch Spider-Man Noir is, especially when using a rubix cube. Liev Schreiber makes for a great Kingpin, and Lily Tomlin is one of the best Aunt May’s seen so far. The action sequences are a sight to behold, and the animation makes them all the more breathtaking. Overall, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse not only pleases fans but also pleases anyone looking for a fun animated adventure.

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  • Creed II (2018)

    Creed II (2018)

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    Given how successful Creed was, even getting Stallone an Oscar nomination, naturally a sequel was to soon follow. However, both Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan went on to make the highly successful Black Panther, delaying the sequel. While Jordan was able to reprise his role, Coogler stepped down as director and was replaced by Steven Caple Jr. Caple got some attention with his feature film debut, 2016’s The Land, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It seems like they wanted to hire an indie director similar to how Coogler got to direct the first film. Anyway, most of the cast from the original film returns, with Dolph Lundgren returning as Ivan Drago from Rocky IV. This film would be about the son of Apollo Creed going up against the son of Ivan Drago. So how does this sequel compare to the original film that helped revive the franchise?

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    After losing the big fight against “Pretty” Ricky Conlon three years ago, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is rising up. He manages to accumulate several victories under his belt, and even beats the current World Heavyweight Champion. Meanwhile, former Soviet fighter Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) is living in exile after being defeated by Rocky several decades ago. He’s been training his son Viktor (Florian Munteanu) in the hopes that he can become champion and redeem their name. When an opportunity arises for Viktor to fight Adonis for the World Heavyweight Championship, Adonis agrees much to Rocky’s disapproval. Feeling betrayed, Adonis goes on to fight Viktor and subsequently gets pounded into oblivion, though Viktor is ultimately disqualified. Now broken physically and emotionally, Adonis must pick himself back up and realize what’s most important in his life. Eventually, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) decides to help Adonis retrain to take down Viktor for good.

    Given how great the previous film was and how it reinvigorated the franchise, this had some big shoes to fill. First thing to mention is the performances, once again, are phenomenal, especially from returning actors Jordan, Stallone, Rashad, and Thompson. In addition, it’s great to see Dolph Lundgren return to the role that made him a star in 1985. Speaking of, while not as intimidating as Lundgren was, Florian Munteanu is still an imposing figure that dominates his scenes. Much like before, what really makes this film work are the more human elements and the hard-hitting drama. Given the circumstances behind the fight between Adonis and Viktor, there’s much more at stake than simply the championship title. It’s interesting to see how these characters from a very cartoonish entry like Rocky IV have evolved and grown. You really feel for why the Dragos are as vengeful as they are.

    If there’s any negatives to the film, they’re few and far between and very minor compared to the positives. For one, the movie can be somewhat formulaic and copies some elements from the previous films, especially II and III. Still, even if it does borrow from the other films, it still does it well to stand on its own. Also, while the first Creed had a very real urban quality to it, this one is sorely lacking in that. Despite those negatives, this is still a fantastic film and a great continuation of what the first film established. Like before, there’s a great father-son relationship between Rocky and Adonis that’s also paralleled with Ivan and Viktor’s relationship. While there most likely will be a third film, it’s going to be tough to follow up the previous films. Overall, Creed II is somewhat formulaic but still succeeds as a follow-up.

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  • Creed (2015)

    Creed (2015)

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    After the success of Rocky in 1976, Sylvester Stallone went from a nobody to becoming a household name. The success of the first film led to a series of sequels that ranged from good to cartoonish to dull. While some were better than others, none of them managed to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle feeling of the first film. Stallone eventually returned to the franchise’s roots with Rocky Balboa in 2006, but for him, that was the end. That is, until a newcomer named Ryan Coogler emerged on the scene with his feature film debut, 2013’s Fruitvale Station. After that film became a critical darling, Coogler approached Stallone with continuing the franchise with a spinoff film. While initially reluctant, Stallone agreed to reprise his role, but as more of a mentor figure than a fighter. With Coogler’s actor friend Michael B. Jordan in the lead role, that spinoff would become Creed.

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    In 1998, young Adonis “Donnie” Johnson (Alex Henderson) is serving time in a youth detention center for his violent nature. One day, he’s visited by Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), who reveals that he’s the son of boxer Apollo Creed. She takes him in, despite not being his true mother, and we soon cut to 15 years later. Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) quits his job at a financial company to pursue a career in boxing like his father. After being turned down by the Delphi Boxing Academy, Adonis goes to Philadelphia in search of Rocky Balboa. While initially reluctant because of past experiences, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) finally agrees to train him and get him some fights. While Adonis finds a girlfriend in singer/songwriter Bianca (Tessa Thompson), he feels like he’s living in his father’s shadow. Despite some setbacks, Adonis works to make a name and a legacy for himself.

    Like most audiences at the time, I was initially skeptical about the idea of a Rocky spin-off about Apollo’s son. With how Rocky Balboa perfectly finished off the series, I didn’t think there was any story left to tell. However, after seeing Creed, I can definitely say that I was proven wrong and amazingly surprised by what I saw. Not only does this work as a standalone film, but it also honors what came before it, good and bad. Not only does Rocky training Creed’s son bring everything full circle, but it helps continue Rocky’s story well after retirement. It helps that this movie has some fantastic performances, especially from veteran Sylvester Stallone and newcomer Michael B. Jordan. The two have fantastic chemistry and have a great relationship that transcends just a simple trainer-trainee relationship. Rocky is almost like the father figure Adonis never had before.

    Also, Ryan Coogler’s direction is fantastic, as he gives the film a real gritty and urban vibe to it. When it comes to the boxing scenes, they are shot as if they were done by a seasoned veteran. You feel all the blows, punches, and hits that the fighters take, and you’re constantly on edge all throughout. Of course, a Rocky movie wouldn’t be complete without the more human element, and that’s where Creed shines. Adonis and Bianca’s relationship is really sweet, almost parallel to Rocky and Adrian’s relationship in the first film. This is a true underdog story, through and through, as you really feel for Adonis and want him to succeed. Admittedly, the movie does borrow perhaps a bit too much from the original film, but they still do it well. Overall, while not fully capturing the magic of the first film, Creed is still a worthy successor.

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  • Sorry to Bother You (2018)

    Sorry to Bother You (2018)

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    Raymond Lawrence Riley, aka Boots Riley, has had quite the illustrious career as a community organizer, activist, and hip-hop artist. His first major claim to fame was founding the hip-hop group The Coup, whose songs were very politically charged. Many of their albums tackled capitalism, politics, police brutality, racial issues, and even working at menial jobs. As time went on, Riley decided to transition from music to filmmaking, even directing some music videos for The Coup. Eventually, Riley started working on a screenplay based around his experiences working as a telemarketer in the Bay Area. Having finished it in 2012, he decided to generate some buzz around the screenplay by releasing a tie-in album. In 2014, Riley got invited to the Sundance Institute development labs to learn more about being a first-time writer/director. Cut to 2018, where his dream project, Sorry to Bother You, is released upon the world.

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    Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) is struggling to make ends meet between having no job and owing hundreds in rent. Luckily, he has the support of his artist girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) and his friend Salvador (Jermaine Fowler). Things start to change for Cassius when he gets a job at a telemarketing firm, but he has no luck. He gets advice from an older coworker named Langston (Danny Glover) to use his “white voice” to fool the customers. With this, Cassius becomes an overnight success and eventually moves up the food chain and becomes a power caller. However, at the same time, his former coworkers, led by Squeeze (Steven Yeun) go on strike and demand better pay. As time goes on and things start spiraling out of control, Cassius finds himself torn between success and his morals. Once he learns what’s really happening, Cassius must make a decision.

    I know I was somewhat vague on what exactly the plot of this movie was, but there’s a reason. There’s so much that happens in the movie, especially in the second half, that I really don’t want to spoil. This is a movie that’s best to go in blind because, believe me when I say, you will be surprised. This movie revels in its absurdity and has great social commentary, almost a cross between Office Space and Idiocracy. This being Boots Riley’s first film, he has great potential as a filmmaker and I’m excited for his next project. Lakeith Stanfield does a great job as Cassius Green, being instantly relatable and likable as someone wanting to succeed. He has a real vulnerability that shows throughout as he struggles between finding success and keeping his friends and morals. The rest of the cast also does a great job and compliment themselves.

    If there are any issues with the film, it’s mostly just nitpicks and how others might respond to the movie. Given how weird and out there this is, I can see some audience members being put off by the absurdity. But if you’re willing to go along with it, you’ll find some great social satire and a fun ride. Much like Office Space, this movie shows how miserable and soul-crushing working at an office job can be. Also, like Idiocracy, there’s plenty of social satire that serves as a warning/commentary of the society we live in. But while comparable to other movies, this is still a very original film that stands on its own. Even if you’re not a fan of this movie, there will still be something here that will stick with you. Overall, Sorry to Bother You is a uniquely absurdist dark comedy that’s worth a watch.

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  • Widows (2018)

    Widows (2018)

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    Not to be confused with the famous leading man of the 60s, Steve McQueen has been gaining a great reputation. He first became interested in film while attending Goldsmiths College at the University of London while studying art and design. His first film was a short in 1993 called Bear, which was shown at the Royal Art College in London. From then to 2007, McQueen mostly did short films until 2008, when he made his first feature film, Hunger. While not a huge hit commercially, it was very well-received by critics, and McQueen won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes. McQueen followed that with 2011’s Shame, which got a limited release for its NC-17 rating, and was also well-received. Then, in 2013, he made 12 Years a Slave, which was both a major critical and financial hit. Now, after a 5-year hiatus, McQueen returns with the heist-thriller, Widows.

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    A group of thieves, led by Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson), gets gunned down after a robbery gone wrong. Turns out Harry and his crew stole $2 million from crime boss Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry) and he’s upset. He starts threatening Rawling’s widow Veronica (Viola Davis) to deliver the money within two weeks or things will get worse. She soon finds Harry’s notebook, which details each of his heists, including plans for what would’ve been his next heist. With this in hand, she recruits the widows of the other heist members, Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Alice (Elizabeth Debicki). At the same time, Jamal is running for aldermen against Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell), whose family have historically always won. As the widows continue planning their heist, several twists and turns occur that shake up their plans. Will they pull off the heist or will they get more than they bargained for?

    On the surface, many would say this is very similar to Ocean’s 8 released earlier in 2018. But while that was a female counterpart to the Ocean’s 11 films, this feels like the female cast is incidental. This honestly feels like it would’ve more or less been the same no matter who was cast, male or female. For me, this is the right way to cast this film, focusing less on gender and more on talent. Speaking of, every single cast member brings their A-game here, all giving Oscar-worthy performances that will stick with you. Viola Davis is phenomenal in the lead role, and Michelle Rodriguez and Elizabeth Debicki work great alongside her. Brian Tyree Henry is effectively threatening and intimidating, and Daniel Kaluuya is just as menacing even if slightly over-the-top. Performance-wise, there really are no false notes and any one of them deserves tons of critical acclaim.

    Given McQueen’s work on his last film 12 Years A Slave, he’s effectively shown he can do really gritty material. Here, not only is the grit on display, but he shows that he can also effectively do intense action. There’s a car chase/shootout with the police early on that’s on par with a similar scene from Robocop. Granted, this isn’t necessarily a nonstop action thrill ride, but the few action scenes here are done amazingly well. Of course, it helps that we care about the characters and want to see them make it out alive. At its heart, this is a film about women who’ve lost their loved ones trying to take their lives back. Sure, it may seem like a product of the #MeToo movement, but that shouldn’t detract from this movie’s high quality. Overall, Widows is an effective thriller and character drama, and one of 2018’s best.

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  • Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

    Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

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    In June of 1997, British author J.K. Rowling released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone through the publisher Bloomsbury. Retitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for American audiences in 1998, the book gained widespread critical acclaim. It was a massive hit, leading to several more books until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows in 2007. This led to the movie version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001, which became a massive success. This led to seven more films, and the franchise has gone on to be the third highest-grossing film series ever. After the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011, a new prequel series was started. Released in 2016, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them received favorable reviews and grossed over $800 billion worldwide. Following its success, we got a sequel entitled Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

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    Following the events of the previous film, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) is being transported from America to Europe. While being transported, one of his followers, Mr. Abernathy (Kevin Guthrie) helps free Grindelwald, who kills the guards and escapes. Meanwhile, magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) tries to restore his right to travel after losing it in the last film. The Ministry will only allow it if he joins them in tracking down Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller) who has resurfaced. Newt rejects the offer, but is soon summoned by Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) to find Credence in Paris. Newt accepts once he finds out that Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) is in Paris also searching for Credence. Also searching for Credence is Grindelwald and his minions, who believe Credence is the only wizard capable of killing Dumbledore. It’s a race against time to find Credence while he searches for his identity.

    Now while I’m not super obsessed with the franchise, I generally do enjoy the Harry Potter movies. While some are better than others, they’re generally well-done and entertaining movies with fun characters, interesting stories, and great action. And while I don’t remember much of the first Fantastic Beasts, I do remember thinking it was quirky and fun. With that in mind, it pains me to say that I honestly did not enjoy this movie much. I will say that this movie, on the whole, isn’t awful, and there are some things to like here. For one, David Yates’ direction is well-done and it has great production design and fun spectacle here and there. Also, the performances are generally strong, with Jude Law easily being the best part as young Dumbledore. And every now and then, there is some of the quirky charm that made the first film enjoyable.

    Aside from that, the biggest issue I had with this movie was just how insanely boring it was. After the opening sequence, which admittedly was entertaining, a majority of the runtime is devoted to exposition dumps. There is so much explaining and backstory given that, after a while, I just stopped caring about what was happening. Plus, it’s one of those sequels that undoes what happened at the end of the first film. For example, the end of the previous film had the memories of the non-magic users erased of what happened. However, we learn here that Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) had his memory restored with the explanation being “it didn’t work”. Things like this and how much meandering there is really bogs the movie down and ruins whatever potential it had. Overall, hardcore fans might enjoy it, but for me, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is a pass.

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  • Overlord (2018)

    Overlord (2018)

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    Love him or hate him, JJ Abrams has become one of the biggest names in Hollywood working today. Abrams first gained traction with his successful TV shows like Felicity, Alias, and especially with Lost. He gained further traction producing and directing films like Cloverfield, Super 8, Star Trek, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. While having a hand in some of the biggest franchises, he’s also helped give up-and-coming filmmakers a shot. In 2016, he produced 10 Cloverfield Lane, directed by Dan Trachtenberg after directing the short fan film Portal: No Escape. After that film’s success, Abrams brings us another up-and-coming director, this time Australian-born Julius Avery. Having first gotten attention from his short films, his first feature film was 2014’s Son of a Gun. The film was nominated for Best Film at the London Film Festival, which got Abrams’ attention. Now in 2018, Avery and Abrams bring us Overlord.

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    Synopsis

    It’s June 1944, the day before D-Day, and a paratrooper squad is being sent to destroy a German radio tower. Things immediately go south when their plane is shot down over enemy lines and only some of the paratroopers survive. The survivors include Private Boyce (Jovan Adepo), Corporal Ford (Wyatt Russell), Tibbet (John Magaro), and Chase (Iain De Caestecker). As the troops make their way through enemy lines, they stumble across a young French woman named Chloe (Mathilde Ollivier). She leads them to her village, where the radio tower is located, as well as something more sinister going on. After having to take SS Hauptsturmführer Wafner (Pilou Asbæk) hostage, the soldiers soon learn what the Nazis are up to. Turns out the Nazis have discovered a strange liquid under the village and are using it to perform experiments. Will the soldiers stop their plans, or will the Nazis succeed?

     

    Review

    Going into this, I knew almost nothing about the movie other than the WWII setting and the action/horror tone. With that in mind, I think that is the best way to go into this. First thing I should note is that, despite what the trailers show, this isn’t exactly a Nazi zombie movie. In fact, the horror aspects of the film don’t really come into play until about halfway into the movie. That might disappoint some, but I actually like that they took the first half to develop and humanize the characters. Jovan Adepo is instantly relatable as a regular guy thrust into a dangerous situation trying to do the right thing. Wyatt Russell seems to be taking a page from his father Kurt Russell, since his performance almost echoes Snake Plissken. Pilou Asbæk also makes for a great villain, being very intense and intimidating all throughout.

    The rest of the cast all get their moment to shine, with Mathilde Ollivier as Chloe being the biggest standout. The practical effects used here are pretty top-notch, especially in the design of the creatures and monsters seen later. Admittedly, there is some CGI that really sticks out amongst the practical effects, but it’s not as distracting as others. Once the action kicks in during the second half, it becomes a full on extravaganza of B-movie goodness. But like I said, because they took time out to develop the characters, you actually care about what’s happening. Sure, this probably won’t win any awards come Oscar season, but this is still an enjoyably fun movie. Granted, this is definitely not for everyone, but it’s great for those who enjoy B-movies that mix different genres. Overall, Overlord is bound to be one of the most underrated movies of 2018.

     

    Buy Overlord from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Xw9XbD.

    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 Overlord (2018)

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  • Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

    Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

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    In the late 1960s, British students Brian May, Tim Staffell, and Roger Taylor formed a small band called Smile. Unfortunately, in 1970, Staffell ended up leaving the group to join the band Humpy Bong. Luckily, a plucky young art student named Farrokh Bulsara was a fan of their music and soon joined the group. Farrokh, preferring to be called Freddy, encouraged them to change their name to Queen and brought on bassist John Deacon. Soon, Farrokh changed his full name to Freddy Mercury, and Queen slowly but surely started to find success. The band released several albums that became major hits, and many of their songs are regarded as the best ever. Even after Freddy Mercury’s death in 1991 from AIDS, Queen is still considered one of the all-time greatest rock bands. Now in 2018, a new Queen biopic has been released named after their most famous song, Bohemian Rhapsody.

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    Synopsis

    The movie more or less tells the story of Queen’s formation, but mostly focuses on Freddy Mercury (Rami Malek). It goes into how the band got started, Freddy’s relationship with Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton), and the band’s struggles. The band has their first major success with Bohemian Rhapsody despite objections from EMI executive Ray Foster (Mike Myers). Eventually, Freddy ends up breaking up with Mary once he comes to terms with his homosexuality. As the band continues finding success, tensions start to mount between Freddy and the other band members. Driven largely by ego, Freddy leaves the band to start a solo career only to realize the mistakes he’s made. He also learns that he has contracted AIDS, which leads him to wanting to rejoin Queen and go out strong. Everything ultimately culminates in the band’s iconic performance at Live Aid in 1985.

     

    Review

    Ever since I first heard a Queen biopic was being made, I was excited considering my love of classic rock. I was skeptical going in given how movies based on true stories tend to stretch the truth. That being said, I walked out of this movie fairly entertained and impressed at what they were able to do. The first thing I have to talk about is Rami Malek’s amazing performance as Freddy Mercury. He really dives deep into the role and you can tell that he did his homework in capturing Mercury’s mannerisms. The cast overall does a great job and they really looked like the real-life people they were portraying. Given the subject matter, the music is amazing, using songs recorded by Queen as well as the actors. And in terms of historical accuracy, they got a lot of details right, with a few exceptions.

    Now, anyone who’s been following this knows of its many production problems, and that ties into some problems it has. First, there’s the fact that original director Bryan Singer was fired after some disagreements on set and extended absences. This led to a new director being hired, who did reshoots and additional post-production, which you can tell in. Throughout the first act especially, much of the story is condensed into montages that conveniently advance time over several years. Also, there was concern that the movie would focus more on Freddy Mercury than on Queen as a whole. While Mercury certainly has a major role, the other bandmates are given ample screen time and contribute quite a lot. Lastly, with this being a PG-13, it feels somewhat watered down, and this could’ve benefitted from an R-rating. Problems aside, Bohemian Rhapsody should please fans and even non-fans of Queen.

     

    Buy Bohemian Rhapsody from Amazon: https://amzn.to/49s47zr.

    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 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

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