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  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

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    On a $200 million budget, Black Panther broke tons of box office records, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide. Not only was it the second-highest-grossing film of the year, but it was also the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time. Naturally, Marvel Studios immediately wanted a sequel and announced it mid-2019, with Ryan Coogler agreeing to return as director. Sadly, plans were put on hold when actor Chadwick Boseman passed away on August 28, 2020, due to colon cancer. Marvel and Disney agreed not to recast the actor or create a CGI double to avoid fan backlash. The filmmakers chose Namor the Sub-Mariner for its central villain, who debuted in Marvel Comics #1 in 1939. Filming commenced in June 2021 at Trilith Studios and, due to various factors, wrapped around March 2022. While initially scheduled for a mid-2022 release, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premiered in October before releasing nationwide in November 2022.

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    Synopsis

    Following the death of King T’Challa, the world is turning its attention to Wakanda to share its resources. Despite pressure from foreign governments, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) refuses since she knows what these people can do. Meanwhile, Shuri (Letitia Wright) is still mourning her brother’s death, believing she couldn’t save him despite all her technology. Ramonda tries to help her heal when they’re visited by Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía), king of the underwater city Talokon. He comes with a request – Wakanda will be destroyed unless they find an American scientist who designed a vibranium-detecting machine. The scientist in question is MIT student Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), who gets kidnapped with Shuri by Namor’s soldiers. Ramonda recruits Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) to rescue them, leading to Talokon going to war with Wakanda. With the threat of their home’s destruction, only one thing can stop Namor: the Black Panther!

     

    Review

    It could not have been easy for the filmmakers to make this movie, given Chadwick Boseman’s untimely death. That said, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a great sequel that honors the original while doing its own thing. First, the performances all across the board are phenomenal, with every actor having their moment to shine. Angela Bassett, in particular, delivers some heartfelt monologues about what her family has lost, and she sells it. I also have to commend Letitia Wright, who’s in an unenviable position of going from supporting player to lead actor. She carries the movie through and through, and her growth as a character is well done. While most MCU villains have been forgettable, Tenoch Huerta Mejía’s Namor is one of the better villains recently. He’s the kind of villain where you disagree with his methods, but you understand his motivation. He’s a very complex character.

    Returning actors Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, and Winston Duke do exceptionally well, with Duke delivering most of the humor. Martin Freeman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus do a good job, but they’re not given much to do. On the flip side, Dominique Thorne is an excellent addition to the MCU, and I’m excited to see her grow. There are fantastic action sequences between the more dramatic moments involving car chases, sea battles, and desert fights. Ryan Coogler does a great job setting up these sequences, making them thrilling and easy to see. If I have any complaints, the biggest would be the runtime, which clocks in at two hours and 40 minutes. Usually, I don’t mind a longer movie, but some padding could’ve been trimmed to make this a good two hours. Overall, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is another fantastic MCU film that pays tribute to a fallen icon.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Buy Your Tickets on Sale to watch “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” playing in theaters starting November 11th![/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    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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  • Savage Island (1985)

    Savage Island (1985)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]When Charles Band founded Wizard Video, he acquired the rights to foreign exploitation films for very little money. Through his label, Band released titles from directors like Ruggero Deodato, Jess Franco, Sergio Garrone, Sergio Martino, and Lucio Fulci. Charles also used Wizard Video to release some experimental titles, including compilation tapes like The Best of Sex and Violence. Another experiment Band attempted was something producers like Roger Corman would do: acquire foreign films and recut/redub them. For example, Corman bought the rights to the Lone Wolf and Cub films and re-edited them into 1981’s Shogun Assassin. Band similarly acquired the rights to Hotel Paradise and Escape from Hell, two Women In Prison films from Edoardo Mulargia. Under the pseudonym Nicholas Beardsley, Ted Nicolaou shot new segments featuring Linda Blair to tie everything together. The result was the 1985 direct-to-video cheapie Savage Island.

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    Synopsis

    Having freed herself from slave labor, Daly (Linda Blair) breaks into the corporation responsible for her imprisonment. She confronts the boss, Luker (Leon Askin), and explains how her sister is still captive. We cut to flashbacks showing female prisoners forced into jewel mining, focusing on Marla (Ajita Wilson) and Muriel (Cristina Lay). When the women aren’t looking for precious stones, they’re beaten, tortured, and molested by the guards while also catfighting. One day, Laredo (Anthony Steffen) arrives to drop off more prisoners but is secretly working on starting a revolution. He helps Marla stage a prison break, frees all the captive women, and gets back at the guards. Unfortunately, things go sour when members of Laredo’s gang turn on the women and lead the remaining guards to them. No one is safe, everything is at stake, and only the strongest will survive on Savage Island!

     

    Review

    If what I just described in that synopsis didn’t make much sense, there’s a good reason for that: it doesn’t. Savage Island is one of the most confusing and disjointed movies I’ve ever seen doing this series. As mentioned in the introduction, this movie is essentially two movies re-edited and stitched together with some new footage added. What doesn’t help is that both films have very similar plots and almost the same actors playing different characters. So, an initially good character would turn heel almost randomly, and people would die and come back inexplicably. Continuity is non-existent, with scenes going between day and night and certain moments feeling out of order. What helps make these scenes somewhat watchable are the poor dubbing and some genuinely bizarre moments. Where else will you see a transgender actress biting the head off a snake used to intimidate her?

    Despite being featured on the cover, Linda Blair is only in the movie for about ten minutes. It’s easy to rag on her performance, but then again, she’s barely given anything to work with. In her defense, she didn’t want her name featured prominently as she didn’t want to fool her fans. It is worth mentioning that future magician/comedian Penn Jillette has a small part as a security guard. Ted Nicolaou, who later directed Terrorvision, Subspecies, and Bad Channels, has said that this wasn’t one of his proudest moments. To his credit, he did the best he could given the circumstances and at least made better movies later. Even at roughly 80 minutes, the film is a tedious slog that might be worth watching as a curiosity. But overall, Savage Island is a narrative mess that barely even qualifies as a movie.

     

    Buy Savage Island from:

    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 Savage Island (1985)

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  • Black Adam (2022)

    Black Adam (2022)

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    Originally debuting in The Marvel Family #1 in 1945, Black Adam has gone from villain to corrupted anti-hero. While he first appeared in Fawcett comics as Captain Marvel/Shazam’s rival, DC resurrected the character in the early 1970s. In the early 2000s, New Line Cinema began developing a Shazam movie with Peter Segal slated to direct in 2006. The studio approached Dwayne Johnson to star, but he was also interested in playing Black Adam around 2007. Production stalled until 2014 when Warner Bros resurrected the project as part of their new shared DC universe. After the success of Shazam! in 2019, New Line Cinema prioritized Black Adam, with Jaume Collet-Serra as director. Principal photography began in April 2021 and wrapped in August, with a surprise cameo filmed in September 2022. After extensive post-production work, Black Adam premiered in Mexico City in October 2022 before reaching the US later that month.

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    Synopsis

    In 2600 BCE, the tyrannical king of Kahndaq had forged a powerful item called the Crown of Sabbac. Cut to the present day, where archaeologist Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) searches for the crown to keep it hidden. Unfortunately, the Intergang crime syndicate, who’ve taken control of Kahndaq, ambush Adrianna and her colleagues searching for the artifact. During the attack, Adrianna recites a chant that awakens Teth-Adam (Dwayne Johnson), Kahndaq’s champion, who slaughters the Intergang troops. His presence catches the attention of Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who dispatches the JSA (Justice Society of America) to intercept. Consisting of Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), they confront Adam. However, they soon discover that Adrianna’s cousin Ishmael (Marwan Kenzari) is Intergang’s leader and wants the crown’s power. Our heroes must put aside their differences to stop Ishmael from obtaining the powers of Sabbac.

     

    Review

    Black Adam is a bit of a mess, but it’s an entertaining mess, largely thanks to its lead actors. Dwayne Johnson carries this movie, delivering a commanding and charismatic performance that makes the viewing experience more enjoyable. The film’s best moments are when Johnson uses his godlike powers to wipe out mercenaries in surprisingly gruesome ways. For a PG-13-rated movie, the filmmakers pushed how far they could go with the violence while barely avoiding an R-rating. The supporting cast also does a good job, with Pierce Brosnan and Aldis Hodge almost stealing the show from Johnson. When the JSA shows up, the action ramps up as they battle with Teth-Adam across the city streets. It is also entertaining to watch them argue about how the JSA doesn’t kill while Adam has no qualms. Plus, at just slightly over two hours, it gets the job done relatively quickly.

    Unfortunately, for all its spectacle and action, the movie’s story is weak, and the villain is unremarkable. The film doesn’t do much to introduce audiences to characters like Dr. Fate, Hawkman, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher. There is so much exposition dumped on you that it’s hard to track just what is happening. Unless you’re a DC expert, you will feel lost on who these characters are and what their backstories are. The movie tries to throw in a few twists into the story, but many of them are easily predictable. In terms of its place in the DCEU, the film introduces a lot that later movies can expand upon. While the story isn’t all that original or compelling, the action and performances make it worth a watch. Overall, Black Adam may not be the most excellent superhero movie, but it provides some decent entertainment.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Buy Your Tickets on Sale to watch “Black Adam” playing in theaters starting October 21![/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    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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  • Manborg (2011)

    Manborg (2011)

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    In my review of Father’s Day, I talked about the low-budget Canadian filmmaking group, Astron-6. The group included Adam Brooks, Jeremy Gillespie, Matt Kennedy, Conor Sweeney, and Steven Kostanski, all of whom had various skills. Steven Kostanski had loved movies since he was a kid, having seen Terminator 2: Judgement Day when he was six. After making a series of short films, the group decided to put together their first feature-length movie. Much of the filming took place on a shoestring budget in Kostanski’s parent’s garage, making costumes out of trash. Kostanski co-wrote the script with Jeremy Gillespie, while the other members acted, worked on visual effects, and choreographed fights. Production began in 2008, but due to extensive post-production work, the film’s release wasn’t until 2011. At Fantastic Fest that year in September, Manborg premiered to a ravenous audience.

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    Synopsis

    The forces of Hell, led by Count Draculon (Adam Brooks), are invading and laying waste on the Earth. During the invasion, a lone soldier (Matthew Kennedy) tries confronting Draculon but is killed by the firing squad. Draculon’s forces have conquered Earth years into the future, and the lone soldier has been brought back as Manborg. Part man and part machine, Manborg sets out on a revenge quest as he wanders the streets of Mega-Death City. Along the way, he meets resistance members Justice (Conor Sweeney), Mina (Meredith Sweeney), and #1 Man (Ludwig Lee). Unfortunately, they are captured and brought before The Baron (Jeremy Gillespie), who sentences them to death by combat. Thankfully, our heroes survive and join together to take on the forces of Hell and save Earth. Will Manborg get his revenge, or will Count Draculon stop him and his friends in their tracks?

     

    Review

    Considering the circumstances behind its making, it’s impressive that Manborg came together, especially on a minuscule budget. Say what you will about the movie, but you can’t deny that the Astron-6 team put in tons of creativity. Everything looks incredibly cheap, but it has a certain charm to it, like watching a movie made by friends. You can tell the filmmakers had a lot of fun making this, even if it was challenging to put together. The low-tech feel reminds me of how the effects artists for Star Wars cobbled together whatever random junk they found. There is some crude stop-motion animation, costumes made with wires and pieces of plastic, and copious amounts of fake blood. It shows how much imagination was put into this and how Astron-6 had great potential to do more. Despite everything else I will say in this review, I admire what the filmmakers tried.

    Unfortunately, despite the team’s creativity and passion put into this, the movie isn’t very good. Everyone in the cast plays their parts knowing that they’re in a cheesy movie, but not in an endearing way. It feels like a group of hipsters decided to make an intentionally bad movie that takes jabs at genre cinema. If they wanted to make a parody, that’s fine, but being self-aware doesn’t always work. For example, the cast of Blazing Saddles acted as if they were in an actual Western, making it funnier. Not only that, but even at 70 minutes in length, the film feels padded to reach feature length. A better showcase of what Astron-6 could do with a low budget was Father’s Day, which I highly recommend. Otherwise, Manborg has its moments, but it feels like one of several intentionally bad movies that end up being just bad.

     

    Buy Manborg from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3y9AxLm.

    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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  • Mutant Blast (2019)

    Mutant Blast (2019)

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    Fernando Alle is a Portuguese filmmaker who started his career making short films in the late 2000s. His first three short films were 2007’s Lucky Prime, 2008’s O Rim, and 2009’s Papá Wrestling. In 2011, he directed the short film Banana Motherfucker, which won Best Short at the Buried Alive Film Festival. The short caught the attention of Troma’s Lloyd Kaufman, who released the short on DVD and on his streaming service. Kaufman was so impressed that he hired Alle for the special effects on Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1. After working on Return to Return to Nuke ‘Em High Aka Vol. 2, Alle wanted to make a feature. With the support of Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, Fernando Alle directed his first full-length feature film. While the workprint premiered in 2018 at MOTELX in Lisbon, Mutant Blast had its US premiere in 2019.

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    Synopsis

    Undercover super soldier Maria (Maria Leite) helps free TS-347 (Joaquim Guerreiro), a genetically-modified superhuman created by the government. As they escape, a horde of zombies breaks out of the compound and swarm the surrounding area. Meanwhile, Pedro (Pedro Barão Dias) wakes up from a drunken birthday party to find his friends and family dead. He runs into Maria and accidentally gets TS-347 killed, which throws a wrench in her plans. Still, she continues after her contact informs her that a boat will be waiting for her the next day. Pedro tags along, and they encounter rapists, mutants, a giant lobster, and katana-wielding dolphin, and another super soldier. Elsewhere, some government officials launch several nukes to clean up the incident, which causes Pedro and Maria to mutate. As our heroes fight their way through zombies and mutants, they soon learn to come together as friends.

     

    Review

    Going into Mutant Blast, I had no idea what to expect, and I have to say that I was impressed. Given the low budget they most likely had to work with, the production values are remarkably well-made. While there are a few CGI blood spurts, the movie uses primarily practical effects that all look impressive. From the zombie make-up and puppets to the gore and mutant designs, there’s something for everyone. The action sequences are well choreographed, and the filmmakers shoot them in a way so you can see what’s happening. The movie makes excellent use of color as they use various filters to help accentuate the scenes. Also, the synth score by Antoni Maiovvi adds to the film’s style, which evokes elements of John Carpenter. It reminds me of a cross between early Sam Raimi/Peter Jackson and Astron-6 movies like Father’s Day.

    As over-the-top as the movie is, what makes it work is that the actors treat the material seriously. Pedro Barão Dias and Maria Leite deliver their lines as if they were in a straight science-fiction movie. Granted, they crack a joke every now and then, but the humor never feels forced or overly self-aware. Everything here feels genuine, which is a refreshing change of pace from most modern B-movies that are purposely bad. Also, Maria Leite fits her role perfectly as a badass soldier who can more than take care of herself. Conversely, Pedro Barão Dias works as the lovable idiot sidekick who means well but fumbles about. While this movie won’t appeal to everyone, fans of low-budget B-movies will get a kick out of this. Overall, Mutant Blast is a fun, exciting, blood-soaked, ridiculous romp whose insanity is only matched by the filmmakers’ passion.

     

    Buy Mutant Blast from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SAY2FU.

    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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  • Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

    Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

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    On a $180 million budget, Thor: Ragnarok grossed over $850 million worldwide, becoming the 9th highest-grossing film of 2017. On top of that, the film earned the series’ highest ratings, earning a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Given the overwhelming success, the executives at Marvel approached filmmaker Taika Waititi to direct the next installment. Though his contract stated he would retire after Avengers: Endgame, Chris Hemsworth stayed on so long as Waititi stuck around. At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Marvel president Kevin Feige announced the fourth film planned for a release in November 2021. Along with Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman agreed to return after leaving the series following Thor: The Dark World. They planned to start filming in late 2020 but pushed it back to early 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. After premiering in June 2022, Thor: Love and Thunder hit theaters nationwide that July.

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    Synopsis

    After palling around with the Guardians of the Galaxy for a while, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) feels empty and alone. However, he learns that someone called Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) has been killing various gods. His old friend Sif (Jamie Alexander) warns Thor that Gorr’s next target will be New Asgard, so he flies off. Upon his arrival, he and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) battle with shadow monsters summoned by Gorr’s Necrosword. During the fight, Thor sees his old hammer, Mjolnir, being wielded by his ex-girlfriend Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). After Gorr kidnaps several Asgardian children, Thor and co travel to Omnipotence City to recruit other gods for help. Unfortunately, Zeus (Russell Crowe) rejects their plea, so our heroes steal his thunderbolt and head out to save the children. Will they successfully defeat Gorr and rescue the children, or will they be the God Butcher’s next victims?

     

    Review

    Unfortunately, Thor: Love and Thunder is a step down in quality compared to the last movie though not without merits. For one, Chris Hemsworth offers the same level of charm and charisma we’ve come to expect as Thor. Also, Christian Bale makes for one of the better MCU villains, playing Gorr as a tragic yet terrifying figure. Surprisingly, Natalie Portman seems to be enjoying her time here, at least compared to Thor: The Dark World. While she appeared to be waiting for the check to clear in that movie, she seems much more lively here. Portman has excellent chemistry with Hemsworth, and she manages to be both all-powerful and vulnerable as a character. Like any great Marvel movie, this one has plenty of fun action sequences that get more exciting. The soundtrack is a solid blend of synth and 80s rock, particularly some of Guns N’ Roses’ best hits.

    Sadly, just like most MCU movies in recent years, this one doubles down on the humor to its detriment. Thor: Ragnarok had plenty of jokes, but Taika Waititi balanced the comedy with the more dramatic scenes. But here, it feels like five minutes of screentime can’t go by without some gag or quip sprinkled in. Admittedly, some jokes stick the landing, but even the best jokes get dragged to the ground after a while. The worst is when the heroes go to Omnipotence City, where they try cramming as many sight gags as possible. It’s another instance of tonal inconsistency plaguing many MCU movies, and I hope it gets resolved soon. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for its humor, I hope they get better at balancing the tone. Overall, Thor: Love and Thunder is enjoyable enough, but it feels like a step in the wrong direction.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Buy your tickets now to watch “Thor: Love & Thunder” playing in theaters starting July 8th![/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    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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  • Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

    Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

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    On a budget of $15 million, Top Gun grossed over $350 million worldwide and was the highest-grossing film of 1986. Critics were mixed, with Roger Ebert saying, “the good parts are so good, and the bad parts are so relentless.” Regardless, the film became a cultural icon that’s influenced numerous other movies and TV shows. In 2010, 24 years after the original, Paramount offered producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott a sequel. Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer were interested in reprising their roles, but unfortunately, plans stopped after Scott’s death in 2012. In 2017, Tom Cruise announced that Joseph Kosinski, who he worked with on 2013’s Oblivion, would be directing the sequel. The film was initially scheduled for release in 2019 but saw numerous delays for additional filming and the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, 36 years after the original, Top Gun: Maverick soared into theaters in May 2022.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”90″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Following the first film’s events, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) now works as a test pilot. He gets assigned by Rear Admiral Chester “Hammer” Cain (Ed Harris) to NAS North Island as a TOPGUN instructor. Once there, he meets with Vice Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson (Jon Hamm) and Rear Admiral Solomon “Warlock” Bates (Charles Parnell). They tell Maverick that he’s there to train some of their best pilots for an upcoming mission. Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller) is among these pilots, and he blames Maverick for his father’s tragic death. At the same time, Rooster has to deal with the overly arrogant Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin (Glen Powell). As training continues, Maverick meets up with his ex-girlfriend Penelope “Penny” Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly). With pressures rising and time running out, Maverick has to pull it together to ensure the mission’s success.

     

    Review

    As beloved as the first film is, most people can agree that it’s a product of its time. So when Paramount announced a sequel made decades later, only the hardcore fans seemed interested. More often than not, sequels made years after the fact tend to never live up to the original. Thankfully, not only does Top Gun: Maverick live up to its predecessor, but it exceeds the original in many ways. The movie uses nostalgia to draw you in, but thankfully, it’s not shoved down your throat like other legacy sequels. Even though watching the original would help, you could go into this without seeing the first one without being confused. Also, this film has much higher stakes than the first film, where the only stake was making top rank. You care here because the characters are trying to prevent a nuclear explosion that could ignite another world war.

    Like always, Tom Cruise is just as energetic and charismatic as ever, but he also has moments of humanity. It’s interesting seeing Maverick racked with guilt over his friend’s death and how it puts him at odds with Rooster. Speaking of, Miles Teller is great as Rooster, who not only looks almost precisely like Goose but acts like him. The scenes between him and Cruise are some of the best, and you can feel the tension between them. Jennifer Connelly does a good job, but her romance with Cruise falls flat like in the original. Val Kilmer also gets a scene with Cruise, and while it’s his only on-screen appearance, it’s a touching moment. The aerial scenes are even more exciting, and Joseph Kosinski does Tony Scott proud with his top-notch cinematography. Overall, Top Gun: Maverick is a rare instance where the sequel outshines the original in every way.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Buy your tickets now to watch “Top Gun: Maverick” playing in theaters starting May 27th![/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    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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  • Fortress of Amerikkka (1989)

    Fortress of Amerikkka (1989)

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    After filming Lust for Freedom for Troma, filmmaker Eric Louzil flew to their New York office to pitch an idea. His concept revolved around a group of mercenaries taking over a small American town and the citizens fighting back. While some at Troma weren’t sure about his pitch, Lloyd Kaufman fully supported Louzil and told him to make it. With a budget of roughly $100,000, Louzil planned to shoot the film in Washington state, California, and parts of Arizona. Louzil would send the dailies to the Troma offices in New York during filming and would receive generally negative feedback. However, Kaufman believed in Louzil enough that he told him to keep going and make the movie he wanted. Louzil also replaced the lead role when the original actor tried faking an injury to collect the insurance. Despite these setbacks, Fortress of Amerikkka hit video stores in August 1989.

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    Synopsis

    After serving jail time, John Whitecloud (Gene LeBrock) returns home to Troma City and immediately runs into trouble. Years ago, the Sheriff (David Crane) killed his brother, and John wants revenge to put his brother’s spirit to rest. At the same time, he runs into an old flame, Jennifer (Kellee Bradley), who’s since gotten engaged to another man. Meanwhile, a band of mercenaries calling themselves the “Fortress of Amerikkka” is forming out in the neighboring woods. Led by the maniacal Commander Karl Denton (William J. Kulzer), the mercenaries kill random passersby to prepare for a revolution. As the bodies pile up, John must lead a group of civilians to take on the mercenaries. Initially, he’s met with backlash, but the citizens band together to save their town after the mercenaries kill the Sheriff. Who will win the fight, the citizens of Troma city or the Fortress of Amerikkka?

     

    Review

    While researching Fortress of Amerikkka, I saw several people saying this is one of Troma’s worst movies. Considering the company also released Igor and the Lunatics and Carnal Monsters, I wonder what movie those people saw. Admittedly, I wouldn’t call Fortress of Amerikkka one of their best movies, but it’s nowhere near one of the worst. If you go into this expecting the same outrageousness of Troma’s usual fare, you’ll most likely be disappointed. This movie does have plenty of explosions, bloody violence, and fake breasts to satisfy any exploitation fan. Aside from that, this is one of Troma’s more straight movies, which is refreshing and the film’s main flaw. The film drags as it injects plot and character development when things aren’t blowing up, and bare breasts aren’t exposed. Thankfully, only certain moments are boring rather than the whole being a drag to sit through.

    Acting-wise, everyone plays their parts as if they were in a serious action film for the most part. In the lead, Gene LeBrock has the looks and charisma needed to make John Whitecloud believable as a reluctant hero. As the Sheriff, David Crane plays a great bad guy you love to hate, though you can understand his viewpoint. William J. Kulzer is on another level with his performance, acting over-the-top just enough to come off as menacing. Kellee Bradley does what she can with the material given, but she’s the cast’s weakest link. Thankfully, there are plenty of explosions and graphic violence to keep people entertained, and the climax is the film’s highlight. It does take a while for things to get going, but this is still an underrated gem in Troma’s catalog. Overall, Fortress of Amerikkka has its problems, but it’s worth at least a one-time viewing.

     

    Buy Fortress of Amerikkka from Vinegar Syndrome: https://bit.ly/3aao4he.

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  • Top Gun (1986)

    Top Gun (1986)

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    In the May 1983 issue of California, Ehud Yonay wrote an article about an elite school for jet fighter pilots. The article caught the attention of producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, who previously made Flashdance and Beverly Hills Cop. They hired writers Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr, who previously wrote the 1985 made-for-TV movie Izzy and Moe. After seeing his commercial work, the producers picked Tony Scott, brother of Alien director Ridley Scott, for the director’s chair. Initially, the filmmakers considered Matthew Modine for the lead role, which eventually went to an up-and-coming Tom Cruise. Paramount Pictures greenlit the project for a $15 million budget, and the producers got the Navy to offer their assistance. Filming commenced in 1985 aboard actual aircraft carriers and the Kansas City Barbecue restaurant in San Diego. After some brief reshoots, Top Gun landed in theaters in May 1986.

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    Synopsis

    Aboard the USS Enterprise, pilots Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) fly an F-14A Tomcat. During a mission, Maverick defies orders to help his wingman Bill “Cougar” Cortell (John Stockwell) land amidst a panic attack. Cougar quits, forcing commander Tom “Stinger” Jardian (James Tolkan) to send Maverick and Goose to TOPGUN Naval Fighter Weapons School. Upon arriving, Maverick catches the eye of civilian instructor Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) after learning of his inverted maneuver. He also draws the ire of fellow student Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (Val Kilmer), who becomes Maverick’s rival. As the two compete for the top spot at TOPGUN, Maverick develops a relationship with Charlie despite her reluctance. Unfortunately, things go south when Goose dies in a crash after Maverick and Iceman pursue an enemy jet. With his best friend gone, Maverick has to tackle flight school all by himself.

     

    Review

    Alongside Ghostbusters and Back to the Future, Top Gun is considered one of the most iconic movies of the 1980s. Like those movies, this one has some iconic one-liners, a memorable soundtrack, and eye-catching visuals that stick with you. Unfortunately, for as much style as this movie has, it’s also one of the more forgettable movies from the decade. While the visuals and cinematography are phenomenal, there’s not much substance to the characters and the story. We remember names like Maverick, Iceman, and Goose, but they’re more like character archetypes than actual characters. Maverick’s the typical hot-headed and arrogant hero, Iceman’s the rival, and Goose is the comic relief. It doesn’t help either that the story is more like a series of events than a cohesive narrative. Things happen, but it’s never clear how one scene ties into another, and it feels like a narrative mess.

    That said, there are a lot of elements that make this movie as memorable as it is. First, Tom Cruise still brings all the energy and charisma he usually brings to his 80s films. Anthony Edwards is likable as a good-hearted goofball, and the scenes of him and his family are endearing. Val Kilmer makes for a solid rival, though there’s not much interaction between him and Cruise. Kelly McGillis does the best she can with the material given, and she has decent enough chemistry with Cruise. Plus, it’s great to see character actors like James Tolkan, Tom Skerrit, and Michael Ironside show up. The action sequences are spectacular, and Tony Scott’s use of the magic hour makes the scenes much more dynamic. Overall, Top Gun is a flawed but fun 80s action movie that’s a good time despite its outdatedness.

     

    Buy Top Gun from Amazon: https://amzn.to/38Roqcy.

    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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  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

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    On an estimated budget of $165 million, Doctor Strange grossed over $232 million domestically and $677 million worldwide. The film also earned critical appraisal and an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects but lost to The Jungle Book. In 2017, Scott Derrickson announced that he would be returning to helm a sequel and finalized the deal in 2018. Unfortunately, Marvel and Derrickson announced in 2020 that he would be leaving the project over creative differences. Despite his reluctance due to how Spider-Man 3 turned out, Sam Raimi agreed to take on the project. Michael Waldron, who previously wrote Rick & Morty and Loki, was brought to rewrite the script with Raimi. Principal photography began in November 2020, and much of the cast was excited to be working with Raimi. After numerous delays due to COVID and rescheduling, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness hit theaters in May 2022.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”80″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    A young woman named America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), who can travel between dimensions, ends up in our world. A giant, one-eyed creature is chasing after her, which Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) sees and goes to fight. After he rescues her, America explains her situation to Strange and Wong (Benedict Wong) and asks for their help. Strange decides to visit Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) for assistance, only to learn she sent the monster after Chavez. It turns out Wanda wants America’s powers to travel to an alternate dimension where she can be with her sons. Strange refuses, so Wanda attacks Kamar-Taj, and America accidentally teleports herself and Strange to another world. Since Wanda’s power comes from a book called The Darkhold, Strange needs to find its antithesis, the Book of Vishanti. With the fate of the multiverse at stake, will our heroes succeed, and what will happen to America?

     

    Review

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is probably one of the most bizarre and insane Marvel movies. On the one hand, its out-there nature helps it stand out from the glut of superhero movies. On the other hand, its bizarre tone and convoluted plot may not attract more casual viewers. Without going into spoilers, there is so much going on in the story that it can be overwhelming. With Sam Raimi at the helm, this movie has the pulp superhero style as his Spider-Man trilogy and Darkman. Raimi also manages to work in some horror movie elements, one particular moment reminding me of Evil Dead II. For a PG-13 Marvel movie, there’s a surprising amount of carnage, with characters dying in horrifically brutal ways. They manage to go just far enough with the gore that the movie teeters the line between PG-13 and R.

    Benedict Cumberbatch is solid as the titular character, delivering plenty of charisma and wit mixed in with pathos. Relative newcomer Xochitl Gomez works well off of Cumberbatch, though she can come off as an annoying sidekick. The stand-out performance is from Elizabeth Olsen, who manages to be both terrifying and sympathetic as the Scarlet Witch. She’s one of those villains who does horrific things, but you can understand her motivation to have an everyday life. While Rachael McAdams has more to do this time around, Chiwetel Ejiofor has a much smaller role. As with any Marvel movie, the action sequences are larger than life and exciting, especially with Raimi at the helm. What helps is the score by Danny Elfman, which is probably one of the more memorable scores in the MCU. Overall, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may be a mess, but it’s an enjoyable mess.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Buy your tickets now to watch “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” playing in theaters starting May 6th![/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    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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