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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated X-Men Origins - Wolverine (2009) in Movies
Jul 10, 2019
A low point for the X-Men franchise
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is an awful awful film, for many reasons.
Firstly - no one really seems to be too enthusiastic about what they're doing. Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, and Danny Huston do the best with the piss-poor script, but everyone else just seems to be going through the motions.
Secondly - the characters. This movie contains not one, but two fan favourite X-Men characters, making their big screen debut, just to be thrown under the bus. Gambit for starters, is a shadow of the character he is in the comic - Taylor Kitsch just being himself, whilst getting one very brief action scene that hardly shows off his powers.
The other character is of course Deadpool - Ryan Reynolds is entertaining enough throughout the opening scene - but when we're introduced to the proper Deadpool near the climax of the film... Words truly fail me, it's just embarrassing.
Thirdly - what the hell on Earth is going on with the CGI in this movie? This is the fourth X-Men film and the effects are worse than ever. Wolverines claws look like a child had just drawn over the film.
It's just terrible from start to finish. The fact that the following X-Men Origins: Magneto got cancelled almost immediately after this was released is a example of just how much of a misstep this film was.
There are a few positives though - the opening montage of Logan fighting in different wars throughout history was pretty cool, Liev Schreiber is a welcome addition as Sabretooth after Tyler Mane in the original X-Men movie, and the best thing about this film? The adaption of Deadpool was so abysmal that Ryan Reynolds took it upon himself to eventually get a proper Deadpool movie rolling.
Final thought - please don't let Will.I.Am near anymore movie sets, thanks.
Firstly - no one really seems to be too enthusiastic about what they're doing. Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, and Danny Huston do the best with the piss-poor script, but everyone else just seems to be going through the motions.
Secondly - the characters. This movie contains not one, but two fan favourite X-Men characters, making their big screen debut, just to be thrown under the bus. Gambit for starters, is a shadow of the character he is in the comic - Taylor Kitsch just being himself, whilst getting one very brief action scene that hardly shows off his powers.
The other character is of course Deadpool - Ryan Reynolds is entertaining enough throughout the opening scene - but when we're introduced to the proper Deadpool near the climax of the film... Words truly fail me, it's just embarrassing.
Thirdly - what the hell on Earth is going on with the CGI in this movie? This is the fourth X-Men film and the effects are worse than ever. Wolverines claws look like a child had just drawn over the film.
It's just terrible from start to finish. The fact that the following X-Men Origins: Magneto got cancelled almost immediately after this was released is a example of just how much of a misstep this film was.
There are a few positives though - the opening montage of Logan fighting in different wars throughout history was pretty cool, Liev Schreiber is a welcome addition as Sabretooth after Tyler Mane in the original X-Men movie, and the best thing about this film? The adaption of Deadpool was so abysmal that Ryan Reynolds took it upon himself to eventually get a proper Deadpool movie rolling.
Final thought - please don't let Will.I.Am near anymore movie sets, thanks.
Get Started in Stand Up Comedy
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LEARN HOW TO WRITE AND PERFORM STAND UP COMEDY. A new edition of Be A Great Stand-Up, now fully...
Perfectly Unfinished: Finding Beauty in the Midst of Brokenness
Andrea Logan White and Cindy Lambert
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Andrea Logan White appeared to be living the "American dream" or what many would call a "perfect...
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Feb 12, 2021
Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 4 in Books
Nov 30, 2020
This was a hella good tine, re-reading issues I have not read since they first came out in the 70s! As I immersed myself, it was actually thrilling me to remember how good the team of [Chris] Claremont, [John] Byrne and [Terry] Austin were together. Each subsequent showed the art team developing it's own style, becoming more comfortable with the characters, each set of pencils and inks that much tighter!
One thing I definitely noticed, and did not think about altogether until my wife and I started rewatching FIREFLY, was how Wolverine/Logan was like the Jayne Cobb of the X-Men. Serious similarities! Even down to how both characters would have barbs toward their respective leaders (Jayne/Mal; Wolverine/Cry-clops), but when it came down to it, both were pretty good at fighting/backing up the team.
One other observation.. I did not realize how "politically incorrect" some of the early characters were. For example, a member of Alpha Force, "the Canadian X-Men, was Michael Twoyoungmen (codename: Shaman). That is probably the WORST Native American name EVER! I am surprised they have not tried to retcon his real name! Then again, now that I think about it, I can't recall the last time any of the Alpha Flight team members were mentioned in last 10 years, other than Northstar! I wonder if that had anything to do with it.
Overall. it's good run of X-Men stories. Yeah, many times the dialogue will seem corny AF, but the overall story is what really matters, and at the end, that will really be what matters! Check it out, or miss it, but I think you will be sorry if you overlook it...
One thing I definitely noticed, and did not think about altogether until my wife and I started rewatching FIREFLY, was how Wolverine/Logan was like the Jayne Cobb of the X-Men. Serious similarities! Even down to how both characters would have barbs toward their respective leaders (Jayne/Mal; Wolverine/Cry-clops), but when it came down to it, both were pretty good at fighting/backing up the team.
One other observation.. I did not realize how "politically incorrect" some of the early characters were. For example, a member of Alpha Force, "the Canadian X-Men, was Michael Twoyoungmen (codename: Shaman). That is probably the WORST Native American name EVER! I am surprised they have not tried to retcon his real name! Then again, now that I think about it, I can't recall the last time any of the Alpha Flight team members were mentioned in last 10 years, other than Northstar! I wonder if that had anything to do with it.
Overall. it's good run of X-Men stories. Yeah, many times the dialogue will seem corny AF, but the overall story is what really matters, and at the end, that will really be what matters! Check it out, or miss it, but I think you will be sorry if you overlook it...
Lenard (726 KP) rated Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) in Movies
Dec 23, 2020
Stupid Sometimes is Different From Dumb
There is a "danger" to a 50-something year old actor playing a role that they originated as a young adult actor. Especially when the role is the one that a whole generation associates with that actor even when there are at least three other characters one could recognize as the actor's. But the analysis of Keanu Reeves's career, especially the more experimental aspects, is worthy of a blog post or podcast episode.
Bill and Ted Face the Music is the third entry in the series released 29 years after the second one. Bill and Ted are now middle-aged parents still trying to write the song that will unite the world and bring about a utopian society. But once again, that future is threatened unless Bill and Ted can fulfill their destiny. Reality is starting to unravel as George Washington is transported to another time, Babe Ruth takes his place, and Kid Cudi comes to San Dimas. Bill and Ted hijack a time machine and consult with future selves to take the song to their time.
First, I was happy to see the original actors for Missy and Col. Logan also return. Second, the actresses playing the two teenage daughters really captured the essence of Bill and Ted. Third, the couples therapy was a brilliant idea although I am not sure that medieval princesses would really consider this modern-day novelty. Lastly, it was a great idea to have different versions of Bill and Ted to cover the fact that Keanu and Alex are too old to play overgrown versions of the teenage Bill and Ted.
My only complaint was the undercooked screenplay. It had ideas but abruptly ended the threads.
Bill and Ted Face the Music is the third entry in the series released 29 years after the second one. Bill and Ted are now middle-aged parents still trying to write the song that will unite the world and bring about a utopian society. But once again, that future is threatened unless Bill and Ted can fulfill their destiny. Reality is starting to unravel as George Washington is transported to another time, Babe Ruth takes his place, and Kid Cudi comes to San Dimas. Bill and Ted hijack a time machine and consult with future selves to take the song to their time.
First, I was happy to see the original actors for Missy and Col. Logan also return. Second, the actresses playing the two teenage daughters really captured the essence of Bill and Ted. Third, the couples therapy was a brilliant idea although I am not sure that medieval princesses would really consider this modern-day novelty. Lastly, it was a great idea to have different versions of Bill and Ted to cover the fact that Keanu and Alex are too old to play overgrown versions of the teenage Bill and Ted.
My only complaint was the undercooked screenplay. It had ideas but abruptly ended the threads.
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Vacation in Books
Aug 6, 2020
Overall, this is repetitive drama billed as a high stakes thriller. Most of this book would not need to happen if Kate simply confronted Sean at the beginning of our story, instead of theatrically swanning about and playing "detective" while on vacation. I hate these sort of stories where instead of communicating, everything goes awry because the characters refuse to speak to one another.
While overall this is a quick read, the beginning feels slow. It features much of Kate's angst, over and over, as she speculates about which of her three friends is the culprit. Walks down memory lane about how good things once were. (Again, never does she really try to speak to her husband--or even honestly with any of her friends.) She is insistent, after reading a few Facebook Messenger bits, about everyone's guilt.
Of course, I cannot truly blame her, because none of these characters are very likeable. Her friends are pretty despicable and their husbands, too. All the characters treat their children rather terribly, either berating them or neglecting them for the trip. The poor kids have issues that are completely overlooked. At least Logan varies narrators throughout the story so we do get to see things from more than just Kate's panicked point of view. But it only serves to show how short-sighted these adults can be.
The story picks up later on, but, by then, it's hard to really care for anyone. I won't deny that this is a fast read and it does keep you interested with some (often predictable) twists. But it's tough to be fully invested when it's a bunch of whiny, clueless supposed grownups who think their problems are more important than all. 3 stars.
While overall this is a quick read, the beginning feels slow. It features much of Kate's angst, over and over, as she speculates about which of her three friends is the culprit. Walks down memory lane about how good things once were. (Again, never does she really try to speak to her husband--or even honestly with any of her friends.) She is insistent, after reading a few Facebook Messenger bits, about everyone's guilt.
Of course, I cannot truly blame her, because none of these characters are very likeable. Her friends are pretty despicable and their husbands, too. All the characters treat their children rather terribly, either berating them or neglecting them for the trip. The poor kids have issues that are completely overlooked. At least Logan varies narrators throughout the story so we do get to see things from more than just Kate's panicked point of view. But it only serves to show how short-sighted these adults can be.
The story picks up later on, but, by then, it's hard to really care for anyone. I won't deny that this is a fast read and it does keep you interested with some (often predictable) twists. But it's tough to be fully invested when it's a bunch of whiny, clueless supposed grownups who think their problems are more important than all. 3 stars.
The Perfect Betrayal
10.0
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'A captivating, suspenseful thriller that draws you in - with a twist that will take your breath...
Mystery Thriller General Fiction (Adult) Grief Trust
