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Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Mary Poppins Returns (2018) in Movies
Jun 12, 2019
Why We Go to Movies
Let me just get this “blasphemous” statement out of the way now: I thought Mary Poppins Returns was a better movie overall than Mary Poppins. I didn’t stutter nor am I taking it back. Run away now or hear me out, the choice is yours. In this sequel, Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) does indeed return to take care of a new group of kids.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 7
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
Here is what made the difference for me between the first and second movies. Consider the first film. If we’re really being honest, it primarily revolves around beautiful singing numbers with sprawling setpieces that are brilliantly brought to life on screen. Not only do you get that in the sequel, but you also get an actual conflict as well. There is an actual situation afoot that requires you to get behind the main characters and I really appreciated that aspect. Conflict is not just important, but NECESSARY to drive a story and you definitely get that here as the main family face potentially losing their home. Their struggle gives me a reason to keep watching beyond the amazing visuals and songs.
Genre: 8
This kids story is wonderful in so many different aspects. There is a magic here that’s unavoidable. As I said, I think it just edges out the original, but falls just short of other classic musicals like Singin’ In the Rain.
Memorability: 7
Pace: 7
For the most part, I was happy about the movement of the story. However, about ninety minutes in, things found themselves slowing down a bit as I was wondering when the movie was going to get to the punchline. It is refreshing that there is a solid blending of musical numbers and plot advancement and you never really feel like you’re getting too much of one or the other.
Plot: 7
Resolution: 10
Overall: 86
The musical flow of Mary Poppins Returns kicks things off properly and brings the movie to a beautiful endgame. I appreciated the attention to detail both in the real world, but especially in the alternate worlds where your imagination is really stretched. This movie is a magical reminder of why we go to movies in the first place.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 7
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
Here is what made the difference for me between the first and second movies. Consider the first film. If we’re really being honest, it primarily revolves around beautiful singing numbers with sprawling setpieces that are brilliantly brought to life on screen. Not only do you get that in the sequel, but you also get an actual conflict as well. There is an actual situation afoot that requires you to get behind the main characters and I really appreciated that aspect. Conflict is not just important, but NECESSARY to drive a story and you definitely get that here as the main family face potentially losing their home. Their struggle gives me a reason to keep watching beyond the amazing visuals and songs.
Genre: 8
This kids story is wonderful in so many different aspects. There is a magic here that’s unavoidable. As I said, I think it just edges out the original, but falls just short of other classic musicals like Singin’ In the Rain.
Memorability: 7
Pace: 7
For the most part, I was happy about the movement of the story. However, about ninety minutes in, things found themselves slowing down a bit as I was wondering when the movie was going to get to the punchline. It is refreshing that there is a solid blending of musical numbers and plot advancement and you never really feel like you’re getting too much of one or the other.
Plot: 7
Resolution: 10
Overall: 86
The musical flow of Mary Poppins Returns kicks things off properly and brings the movie to a beautiful endgame. I appreciated the attention to detail both in the real world, but especially in the alternate worlds where your imagination is really stretched. This movie is a magical reminder of why we go to movies in the first place.
Bokosuka Wars II
Video Game
"Defeat the tyrant King Ogereth!" Free your allies and lead your armies to invade the Basamu...
simulation role-playing
Gareth von Kallenbach (977 KP) rated The Suicide Squad (2021) in Movies
Aug 5, 2021
James Gunn returns with the sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad. This time, the nefarious company woman Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), returns to Belle Reve to recruit the next iteration of Task Force X. Initially, we are introduced to the new recruits: Savant (Michael Rooker), Blackguard (Pete Davidson), Javelin (Flula Borg), Mongal (Mayling Ng), T.D.K. (Nathan Fillion) and The Weasel (Sean Gunn). We meet our favorites from the first film: Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Captain Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney). They have signed on to be dropped into a small island nation, Corto Maltese.
This country, just taken over by a military coup has a lab with a 30-year secret weapon. Ms. Waller offers them years off each team member’s sentence to “Save the World”. Or, in this case, infiltrate Corto Maltese to find and destroy the project. Our hapless but highly skilled group lands and takes on heavy fire.
Meanwhile, we have Team B led by Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), Polka Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), King Shark (The physical, John Economos with the voice of Sylvester Stallone). As the separate teams go forth and bond in violence, we find out more about their personal childhood traumas that made them the criminals they have become.
This sequel has James Gunn’s DNA all over the film. He raised the bar from the first film by providing bright, visual treats. The action is violent in a cartoonish manner that buffers the impact when one looks at the many ways one can dispatch a human. The story goes from sarcasm, dry wit, demented clown to the stooges’ physical hilarity. As we watch the Squad fight their way across the island, there are points where these characters are skilled killers despite the humor in their murderous madness.
I was laughing throughout the film, it certainly felt like a panacea for these challenging times. Pay attention, there are little moments of snappy comebacks that feel like they’re from old-school Mad Magazine. The pace runs steadily which helps the dissonance become more impactful. The Suicide Squad was not boring, it was very entertaining and such a campy ride. FYI: there are TWO after-credit scenes.
The Soundtrack is so very good from the first shot, to the after credit, shotsThis Summer Blockbuster certainly delivers the entertainment.
4.75 out of 5 Stars
This country, just taken over by a military coup has a lab with a 30-year secret weapon. Ms. Waller offers them years off each team member’s sentence to “Save the World”. Or, in this case, infiltrate Corto Maltese to find and destroy the project. Our hapless but highly skilled group lands and takes on heavy fire.
Meanwhile, we have Team B led by Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), Polka Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), King Shark (The physical, John Economos with the voice of Sylvester Stallone). As the separate teams go forth and bond in violence, we find out more about their personal childhood traumas that made them the criminals they have become.
This sequel has James Gunn’s DNA all over the film. He raised the bar from the first film by providing bright, visual treats. The action is violent in a cartoonish manner that buffers the impact when one looks at the many ways one can dispatch a human. The story goes from sarcasm, dry wit, demented clown to the stooges’ physical hilarity. As we watch the Squad fight their way across the island, there are points where these characters are skilled killers despite the humor in their murderous madness.
I was laughing throughout the film, it certainly felt like a panacea for these challenging times. Pay attention, there are little moments of snappy comebacks that feel like they’re from old-school Mad Magazine. The pace runs steadily which helps the dissonance become more impactful. The Suicide Squad was not boring, it was very entertaining and such a campy ride. FYI: there are TWO after-credit scenes.
The Soundtrack is so very good from the first shot, to the after credit, shotsThis Summer Blockbuster certainly delivers the entertainment.
4.75 out of 5 Stars
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) in Movies
Dec 16, 2020
Gal Gadot: stunning (2 more)
Movie with real heart
Excellent cinematography
WW dot Well Worth Waiting for Gadot
The long delayed release of the Wonder Woman sequel has finally happened, and it is well worth waiting for.
Gal Gadot is fabulous as the Amazonian beauty (and then some) with Chris Pine reprising his role from the first thing. (Of all the WTF moments of 2020 trailers, this was top of the list.... just HOW? A McGuffin is involved, but no spoilers here!).
In brief, Patty Jenkins delivers a popcorn blockbuster than has legs (over and above Gadot's perfect specimens!): the Goblet-of-Fire-Potteresque pre-title sequence is thrilling and engaging. And the story builds cleverly through the first half of the movie. Above all, there is a heap of HEART involved here.... this is not your run of the mill supervillain showdown flick. In fact, it's a movie with TWO villain (normally a doom-laden premise for this reviewer... "Spider Man 3".... shudder), but here it really works well.
Sure, there is a requirement for a suspension of belief, but - hey - it's a DC movie. On a slight downside, the second half of the movie - for me -unfortunately doesn't quite live up to the promise of first half, blending "Bruce Almighty" with "Superman 2" and rather over-egging the pudding.
But in a morass of B-pics, this sequel is one that is gorgeous to look at (Matthew Jensen's cinematography is superb), gorgeous to listen to (an epic score by Hans Zimmer) and is genuinely engaging. There's also a nice vein of humour running through it... when Kristen Wiig is in a park, a rough sleeper on a bench is reading "Waiting for Godot".... or is it "Waiting for Gadot"??
It's such a brief scene, I wasn't sure!
Although I DEPLORE the Warner Brother's decision to release their material in parallel to streaming, here is a movie that is WELL WORTH you getting out to the cinema to see... assuming that you can find a UK cinema open (I saw this in the excellent Showcase De Luxe in Southampton).
Oh, and if you are someone who dives for the exit at the first title... resist... there is an excellent mid-title sequence featuring a wonderful cameo for us older folks!
(Please check out the full graphical review on bob-the-movie-man, which will be going live shortly. Thanks).
Gal Gadot is fabulous as the Amazonian beauty (and then some) with Chris Pine reprising his role from the first thing. (Of all the WTF moments of 2020 trailers, this was top of the list.... just HOW? A McGuffin is involved, but no spoilers here!).
In brief, Patty Jenkins delivers a popcorn blockbuster than has legs (over and above Gadot's perfect specimens!): the Goblet-of-Fire-Potteresque pre-title sequence is thrilling and engaging. And the story builds cleverly through the first half of the movie. Above all, there is a heap of HEART involved here.... this is not your run of the mill supervillain showdown flick. In fact, it's a movie with TWO villain (normally a doom-laden premise for this reviewer... "Spider Man 3".... shudder), but here it really works well.
Sure, there is a requirement for a suspension of belief, but - hey - it's a DC movie. On a slight downside, the second half of the movie - for me -unfortunately doesn't quite live up to the promise of first half, blending "Bruce Almighty" with "Superman 2" and rather over-egging the pudding.
But in a morass of B-pics, this sequel is one that is gorgeous to look at (Matthew Jensen's cinematography is superb), gorgeous to listen to (an epic score by Hans Zimmer) and is genuinely engaging. There's also a nice vein of humour running through it... when Kristen Wiig is in a park, a rough sleeper on a bench is reading "Waiting for Godot".... or is it "Waiting for Gadot"??
It's such a brief scene, I wasn't sure!
Although I DEPLORE the Warner Brother's decision to release their material in parallel to streaming, here is a movie that is WELL WORTH you getting out to the cinema to see... assuming that you can find a UK cinema open (I saw this in the excellent Showcase De Luxe in Southampton).
Oh, and if you are someone who dives for the exit at the first title... resist... there is an excellent mid-title sequence featuring a wonderful cameo for us older folks!
(Please check out the full graphical review on bob-the-movie-man, which will be going live shortly. Thanks).
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition
8.4
Rate It
Video Game
Tomb Raider is an action-adventure video game developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square...
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) in Movies
May 6, 2020 (Updated May 6, 2020)
May The Force Be With You: The Middle
Empire Strikes Back- i heard that this movie is peoples, all time greatest/best sequel and the best movie out of the oringal trilogy. To me, no. Episode 4 and 6 are better. Their are excellent sences like.. the battle at Hoth, when Han gets Frozen and the battle between Dark Vader and Luke. The rest of the movie is slow and boring.
The plot: The adventure continues in this "Star Wars" sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda. Only with the Jedi master's help will Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse).
To me their are better movie sequels than this one like.. "Back To The Future Part II", "Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers", "The Dark Knight", "Captain America: The Winter Soilder", "Toy Story 2", "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" and "Aliens". All of these sequels are 10x better than Empire Strikes Back.
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies – Nominated
AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills – Nominated
AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains:
Darth Vader – No. 3 Villain
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes:
"I am your father." – Nominated
"Do, or do not. There is no try." – Nominated
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th
Anniversary Edition) – Nominated.
Darth Vader was ranked as the third-greatest film villain of all time in the American Film Institute's 2003 list of the 100 greatest heroes and villains, and Wizard magazine selected the ending of The Empire Strikes Back as the greatest cliffhanger of all time.
The line "No, I am your father" is often misquoted as "Luke, I am your father." The line was selected as one of the 400 nominees for the American Film Institute's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes, a list of the greatest American film quotes.
I think Empire Strikes Back, even though its good. Its overrated and hyped up, to the point were its not just not as good as people say it is.
Like i said its good, but not excellent.
The plot: The adventure continues in this "Star Wars" sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda. Only with the Jedi master's help will Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse).
To me their are better movie sequels than this one like.. "Back To The Future Part II", "Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers", "The Dark Knight", "Captain America: The Winter Soilder", "Toy Story 2", "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" and "Aliens". All of these sequels are 10x better than Empire Strikes Back.
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies – Nominated
AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills – Nominated
AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains:
Darth Vader – No. 3 Villain
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes:
"I am your father." – Nominated
"Do, or do not. There is no try." – Nominated
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th
Anniversary Edition) – Nominated.
Darth Vader was ranked as the third-greatest film villain of all time in the American Film Institute's 2003 list of the 100 greatest heroes and villains, and Wizard magazine selected the ending of The Empire Strikes Back as the greatest cliffhanger of all time.
The line "No, I am your father" is often misquoted as "Luke, I am your father." The line was selected as one of the 400 nominees for the American Film Institute's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes, a list of the greatest American film quotes.
I think Empire Strikes Back, even though its good. Its overrated and hyped up, to the point were its not just not as good as people say it is.
Like i said its good, but not excellent.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Split (2016) in Movies
Oct 19, 2017 (Updated Oct 19, 2017)
A little better from M Night Shyamalan, but still not spectacular
By far, James McAvoy steals the show in this psychological thriller, in which he plays 23 different personalities. Suffering from the condition Dissociative Identity Disorder, McAvoy reveals a dark side, where he kidnaps three girls and holds them hostage to his whims, while attempting to seek help from a psychiatrist. In between, we see one girl in particular engage with him, the trauma also bringing out her own demons. And of course a mandatory cameo from the director himself.
While the story has potential, and his acting is flawless - it lacks substance somewhat. Apart from his 'transformation', the film seems to have been created mainly on the premise that there will be a sequel, so you're left in limbo at the end with a small clue of what's next.
It's not particularly scary, so I wouldn't deem it a horror movie as such. The girls' kidnapping also seems slightly pointless, like tools in the movie so that they can showcase Kevin's (the main personality) different sides and what a 'monster' he is. Disappointing, but better than Shyamalan's recent terrible films.
While the story has potential, and his acting is flawless - it lacks substance somewhat. Apart from his 'transformation', the film seems to have been created mainly on the premise that there will be a sequel, so you're left in limbo at the end with a small clue of what's next.
It's not particularly scary, so I wouldn't deem it a horror movie as such. The girls' kidnapping also seems slightly pointless, like tools in the movie so that they can showcase Kevin's (the main personality) different sides and what a 'monster' he is. Disappointing, but better than Shyamalan's recent terrible films.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) in Movies
Aug 11, 2017
Poor CGI (3 more)
Rubbish script
Uncharismatic performances
Lazy direction
Why did they bother?
You know that way when sequels to 90's movies are released and you think, "if this came out 20 years ago it might have worked, but there is no place for this in today's movie landscape?" Well this movie is the prime example of that sentiment.
Sloppy writing, lazy performances, and cheap call-backs plague this poor attempt at resetting up this franchise. The whole thing feels so dated, how can this be? CGI and filmmaking in general has advanced so much in the last 20 years, yet this piece of trash still feels two decades old.
I didn't love the original and to be honest I don't really feel that the first movie has stood the test of time very well, but next to Resurgence, the original film is a masterpiece.
Don't give this crap your time. Fans of the original will be disgusted at this sorry attempt at a sequel and folk that haven't seen the original will just see an outdated, lazy, sci-fi flopped attempt at a blockbuster.
Sloppy writing, lazy performances, and cheap call-backs plague this poor attempt at resetting up this franchise. The whole thing feels so dated, how can this be? CGI and filmmaking in general has advanced so much in the last 20 years, yet this piece of trash still feels two decades old.
I didn't love the original and to be honest I don't really feel that the first movie has stood the test of time very well, but next to Resurgence, the original film is a masterpiece.
Don't give this crap your time. Fans of the original will be disgusted at this sorry attempt at a sequel and folk that haven't seen the original will just see an outdated, lazy, sci-fi flopped attempt at a blockbuster.
JSG87 (8 KP) rated Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (2018) in Movies
Feb 22, 2019
Great animation. (1 more)
Great acting.
Long runtime. (1 more)
Not as funny as the first movie.
Ralph doesn't quite strike gold for the second time.
Thinking of Wreck it Ralph you'll usually think of the first movie and unfortunately for the sequel you'll probably still think of the first one. That's not to say that the second one is bad, it just can't quite leave the shadow of greatness that was the first movie.
The jokes fall a little flatter, and the friendship between the main duo is kinda creepy in a sense, at least when it comes to how much Ralph can't let Vanellope go. It also feels exceptionally long for an animated movie.
Moving to the good... It is at least still funny albeit not as funny as the first. Vanellope is still the main draw even though the film has the name Ralph in it. He just can't compare to Vanellope who steals all the scenes she's in.
If you like Kids movies I'd recommend this anyway and if you like Animated movies it's as good as the majority of them. Just don't go into it thinking it's gonna be as amazing as the first movie.
The jokes fall a little flatter, and the friendship between the main duo is kinda creepy in a sense, at least when it comes to how much Ralph can't let Vanellope go. It also feels exceptionally long for an animated movie.
Moving to the good... It is at least still funny albeit not as funny as the first. Vanellope is still the main draw even though the film has the name Ralph in it. He just can't compare to Vanellope who steals all the scenes she's in.
If you like Kids movies I'd recommend this anyway and if you like Animated movies it's as good as the majority of them. Just don't go into it thinking it's gonna be as amazing as the first movie.
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated Happy Death Day 2U (2019) in Movies
Apr 28, 2019
Deja vue?
I loved the original Happy Death Day. It was a great blend between horror & comedy with a really great idea - person is being stalked by slasher and has to live the same day every day usually ending up being killed by the baby mask wearing killer. So when I saw there was going to be a sequel I was glad...what was advertised was this time its not just the main character but the whole main cast being stalked and killed off. Well that lasts for about 15 mins. Then we get some silly science bollocks to try and explain things and then puts the film back to the same day as in the original focusing on the main character again. Literally exactly the same as the first film - same shots and everything!!...the ending seems rushed and the killer reveal seems lazy and tacked as an afterthought. There are things to enjoy - the characters are well played and theres some good comedy it's just such a shame they didn't evolve the story and did something different to the first film.