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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Darkest Hour (2011) in Movies
Jun 2, 2018 (Updated Jun 2, 2018)
Ferociously generic hot-young-things-are-chased-by-high-concept-monsters movie. (Winston Churchill does not appear, by the way.) Various American, Australian and Swedish characters bump into each other in a Moscow nightclub, hit it off (or not), then find the evening takes a bit of a turn when aliens made of invisible electricity arrive and start eating people. Lots of sneaking about and tension; it's not that difficult to guess who the aliens are going to chow down on before the end of the film, and in what order.
I suppose it looks okay, and many members of the cast have gone on to marginally better things (remakes of Judge Dredd and Robocop, plus TV work for Marvel), but the whole thing seems to be actively trying to be as forgettable as possible. The film's big innovation - the Moscow setting - ends up contributing nothing to the film, really; actual Russian characters are kept peripheral. Ultimately just a very, very bland film: Olivia Thirlby deserves some kind of mention for actually making you care slightly about her character. Apart from that this is the kind of SF film that brings science fiction into disrepute. And science. And quite probably fiction, come to that.
I suppose it looks okay, and many members of the cast have gone on to marginally better things (remakes of Judge Dredd and Robocop, plus TV work for Marvel), but the whole thing seems to be actively trying to be as forgettable as possible. The film's big innovation - the Moscow setting - ends up contributing nothing to the film, really; actual Russian characters are kept peripheral. Ultimately just a very, very bland film: Olivia Thirlby deserves some kind of mention for actually making you care slightly about her character. Apart from that this is the kind of SF film that brings science fiction into disrepute. And science. And quite probably fiction, come to that.
David McK (3557 KP) rated Star Wars: Vader Down in Books
Jan 28, 2019
The first cross-over event since Marvel took over the Star Wars franchise, this ties together both the 'core' Star Wars comics, alongside the seperate Vader side-issues, and sees Vader being froced to crash land on a nearby planet when he comes out of hyperspace into the middle of a rebel fleet while searchign for Luke Skywalker (who, remember, does not yet know his relation to Vader as this is set between 'A New Hope' and 'The Empire Strike Back').
A fleet that he proceeds to decimate single-handedly, until Skywalker deliberately crashes his X-Wing into Vader's own TIE.
After crash-landing, the rebels on that planet - led by Princess Leia - then throw everything they have at the Dark Lord of the Sith: once again, and in some dramatic art, Vader is again easily able to defeat everything they send against him.
Meanwhile, Han Solo and Chewie are also on the search for the crashed Luke, in a race both against time and against Dr Aphra, who wants to capture Luke herself for Vader so she can prove she didn't lead him into a trap.
I found this a quick and rather-enjoyable read which (finally) goes to show just why Vader was feared so much by the Rebel Alliance!
A fleet that he proceeds to decimate single-handedly, until Skywalker deliberately crashes his X-Wing into Vader's own TIE.
After crash-landing, the rebels on that planet - led by Princess Leia - then throw everything they have at the Dark Lord of the Sith: once again, and in some dramatic art, Vader is again easily able to defeat everything they send against him.
Meanwhile, Han Solo and Chewie are also on the search for the crashed Luke, in a race both against time and against Dr Aphra, who wants to capture Luke herself for Vader so she can prove she didn't lead him into a trap.
I found this a quick and rather-enjoyable read which (finally) goes to show just why Vader was feared so much by the Rebel Alliance!
David McK (3557 KP) rated Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev: Ultimate Collection, Book 1 in Books
Jan 30, 2019
So: Daredevil.
AKA MAtt Murdock: Blind Lawyer by day, Vigilante by night.
And a character that, unlike (say) your Superman or Spiderman or Batman's, only really came to my attention with the (so-so) 2003 movie of the same name, and the more recent (and better) Marvel Netflix series'.
I'd also never read any of the comics/graphic novels before, although I knew that the TV series, in particular, drew heavily from that source, but had heard good things about them. With all that said, I thought I would take a risk on this particular collection (purchased, and read, via Comixology on my iPad) to see what all the fuss was about.
And, at first, I wasn't overwhelmed - I found the first story arc just so-so, and couldn't really get to grips with the art-style.
However, things picked up (for me) once the collection went back to a more conventional art style, with the whole story arc around the attempted coup against the Kingpin, followed by his estranged wife's revenge, then by the outing of Murdock's secret identity (wow!) and the trial of the Costumed Superhero (not him) that follows a succession of whammies (for want of a better word) one after the other ...
More, please!
AKA MAtt Murdock: Blind Lawyer by day, Vigilante by night.
And a character that, unlike (say) your Superman or Spiderman or Batman's, only really came to my attention with the (so-so) 2003 movie of the same name, and the more recent (and better) Marvel Netflix series'.
I'd also never read any of the comics/graphic novels before, although I knew that the TV series, in particular, drew heavily from that source, but had heard good things about them. With all that said, I thought I would take a risk on this particular collection (purchased, and read, via Comixology on my iPad) to see what all the fuss was about.
And, at first, I wasn't overwhelmed - I found the first story arc just so-so, and couldn't really get to grips with the art-style.
However, things picked up (for me) once the collection went back to a more conventional art style, with the whole story arc around the attempted coup against the Kingpin, followed by his estranged wife's revenge, then by the outing of Murdock's secret identity (wow!) and the trial of the Costumed Superhero (not him) that follows a succession of whammies (for want of a better word) one after the other ...
More, please!
Erika (17789 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies
Dec 22, 2018 (Updated Dec 22, 2018)
I was expecting this movie to be a clusterf*** if I'm being honest. the trailers made it look really hokey. BUT, this movie was super entertaining. Of course, it was predictable, as most mainstream films are, but I wasn't super annoyed by it. It was a big, slightly dumb, fun film.
The action was good. The VFX/CGI made this entire film, and... cough, cough, Marvel take note because the CGI in the last 3rd of Black Panther and last battle scene in IW were a cluster from a VFX standpoint.
Do you want fighting underwater? Some dude in a weird helmet with daddy issues? A slight Indiana Jones vibe for around 30 minutes? Some big d*** energy from Aquaman? Then, this is the film for you.
I don't even like Amber Heard, but she was one of my favorite characters. I don't think Aquaman really had to save her throughout the movie. Jason Momoa was definitely the right person to pull off Aquaman without making him super weird.
The only weird casting decision was Patrick Wilson... Anytime I see him in films, I think of that super weird/awkward sex scene in Watchmen, which forever scarred me...I will gladly go see this at least one more time before it leaves theaters.
The action was good. The VFX/CGI made this entire film, and... cough, cough, Marvel take note because the CGI in the last 3rd of Black Panther and last battle scene in IW were a cluster from a VFX standpoint.
Do you want fighting underwater? Some dude in a weird helmet with daddy issues? A slight Indiana Jones vibe for around 30 minutes? Some big d*** energy from Aquaman? Then, this is the film for you.
I don't even like Amber Heard, but she was one of my favorite characters. I don't think Aquaman really had to save her throughout the movie. Jason Momoa was definitely the right person to pull off Aquaman without making him super weird.
The only weird casting decision was Patrick Wilson... Anytime I see him in films, I think of that super weird/awkward sex scene in Watchmen, which forever scarred me...I will gladly go see this at least one more time before it leaves theaters.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Men in Black International (2019) in Movies
Jul 3, 2019
Disappointing
Like many films nowadays, this is yet another sequel that we didn't need. The first two MIB sequels were let's face it pretty poor, and I'm afraid to say this 4th installment is not much better.
It was nice to see MIB back on the big screen, however the problem with this film is that it doesn't have any of the magic of the original. It's lacking in humour, a decent plot and some funny and unique aliens. Instead we get a few odd jokes that raise a brief smile, a predictable and done to death plot and a lot of rather silly, pathetic and rather irritating aliens. They've tried to recapture the pairing of Thor and Valkyrie with the casting of Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, but the issue is this film just doesn't have the scriptwriters that Marvel has to give such a great cast something good to work with. The cast in this is truly fantastic and they do the best they can, it's just a shame that they've been let down by a very poor script with some cliched and predictable character types.
This isnt terrible by any means and it is at least vaguely enjoyable, but altogether a rather disappointing return for MIB to the big screen.
It was nice to see MIB back on the big screen, however the problem with this film is that it doesn't have any of the magic of the original. It's lacking in humour, a decent plot and some funny and unique aliens. Instead we get a few odd jokes that raise a brief smile, a predictable and done to death plot and a lot of rather silly, pathetic and rather irritating aliens. They've tried to recapture the pairing of Thor and Valkyrie with the casting of Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, but the issue is this film just doesn't have the scriptwriters that Marvel has to give such a great cast something good to work with. The cast in this is truly fantastic and they do the best they can, it's just a shame that they've been let down by a very poor script with some cliched and predictable character types.
This isnt terrible by any means and it is at least vaguely enjoyable, but altogether a rather disappointing return for MIB to the big screen.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Avengers: Endgame (2019) in Movies
Nov 12, 2019
This is not cinema?
A hero of mine recently said this is not cinema. Is it the same as a pop puppet singing a song someone else has written with no emotion or soul? Well no actually. Good cinema is good art and art makes you feel things. Endgame will make you ride emotions from start to finish. Ok it is s visual feast but it's full of messages and commentary as well and the overall ethos is, well pretty much "for the many not the few", take that what you will. There is also that incredible moment when all the most powerful ones line up and they are female and you go "wow, go kick ass". They have been brave. They don't care if some spotty fanboy cries into his jerk off sock because captain marvel had a vagina, they wanted a strong female character so they did it. It is brave cinema.
It's almost as though they knew the people would leak spoilers too so they make the sentiment of the film and character start at the beginning almost as if they are mocking themselves. Brave.
Did I enjoy the actual film though I hear you ask? Yeah, it was great.
It's almost as though they knew the people would leak spoilers too so they make the sentiment of the film and character start at the beginning almost as if they are mocking themselves. Brave.
Did I enjoy the actual film though I hear you ask? Yeah, it was great.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated The Wolverine (2013) in Movies
Jul 30, 2019
An ok film that could have been so much more.
Here we have the 6th entry into the X-Men franchise, and the second solo outing for Wolverine.
I, like many comic fans, was thrilled when it was announced that this film would be diving into Logan's time in Japan. It's arguably one of the strongest solo Wolverine storylines from the comic!
The finished film however misses the mark. Not completely - remnants of the comic are left intact, buts it's clear that the studio meddled once again. When The Wolverine is concentrating on the dialogue heavy scenes, it's good. When it throws Logan against ninjas, it's (mostly) good.
However, FOX obviously didn't have enough faith in this as a whole, and opted to push James Mangold in the direction of dodgy CGI orgies.
The climatic battle against a massive CGI robot ninja (referred to as Silver Samurai - the bloody cheek), is so out of place, that it nearly ruins the whole film.
I feel that James Mangold is not to blame. He clearly has respect for the source material, and isn't about big CGI blowouts - he would go on to direct the stellar Logan a few years later.
A wasted opportunity then, and a storyline I really hope Marvel Studios revisits again in the future
I, like many comic fans, was thrilled when it was announced that this film would be diving into Logan's time in Japan. It's arguably one of the strongest solo Wolverine storylines from the comic!
The finished film however misses the mark. Not completely - remnants of the comic are left intact, buts it's clear that the studio meddled once again. When The Wolverine is concentrating on the dialogue heavy scenes, it's good. When it throws Logan against ninjas, it's (mostly) good.
However, FOX obviously didn't have enough faith in this as a whole, and opted to push James Mangold in the direction of dodgy CGI orgies.
The climatic battle against a massive CGI robot ninja (referred to as Silver Samurai - the bloody cheek), is so out of place, that it nearly ruins the whole film.
I feel that James Mangold is not to blame. He clearly has respect for the source material, and isn't about big CGI blowouts - he would go on to direct the stellar Logan a few years later.
A wasted opportunity then, and a storyline I really hope Marvel Studios revisits again in the future
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life
9.0
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