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David McK (3801 KP) rated Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) in Movies

Jan 3, 2021 (Updated Jul 9, 2024)  
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
2020 | Adventure, Fantasy
Contains spoilers, click to show
As I write this in early 2021, 'Wonder Woman' is considered to be the best of the DC Extended Universe movies (closely followed by 'Shazam!' and 'Aquaman')

Wonder Woman 1984, in contract, is currently ranked as the worst on IMDB.

While it's definitely not a patch on the original, I'm not sure it's all that bad: sure, it is hard to get past the seeming lack of concern Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman has for (mild spoiler alert!) the body/soul/whatever of the man the returning Steve Trevor has (think Quantum Leap style) while it definitely follows into the old 'Superhero loses/gives up their powers' trope a la Superman 2 or Spider-Man 2, and I still don't understand how a World War One pilot can climb into the cockpit of a jet and fly it with nary a problem ...

Having said that, set your expectations accordingly (Superman 3 level, maybe), and it's an enjoyable enough
  
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David McK (3801 KP) rated Hancock (2008) in Movies

Apr 11, 2021 (Updated Jul 11, 2022)  
Hancock (2008)
Hancock (2008)
2008 | Action, Comedy, Drama
8
7.1 (16 Ratings)
Movie Rating
"Good job" / "no, you did a good job"
You know that bit in Superman 3 (I think) where Superman goes bad?

Straightening the leaning tower of Pisa, blowing out the Olympic torch, drinking, etc?

That's pretty much how this film starts, with Will Smith's Hancock a hard-drinking, hard-living (and miserably lonely) 'superhero' more concerned about his next drink than saving the day.

However, when he recues publicist Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), Hancock soon becomes convinced to change his way of life, voluntarily surrendering himself to the authorities (who are sick of the damage he has caused and the ensuing financial implications of the same) and going to prison until the public starts missing him and the police need his help.

There is a real surprise in the third Act of the film, which does take it in a totally different direction that it had been going up to that point.
  
Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard (1988)
1988 | Action
For my money, this is Bruce Willis's breakout role as New York detective John McClane, who - when visiting his estranged wife Holly for Christmas in Los Angeles - gets caught up when a group of criminals (led by Alan Rickman, in another brilliant role) seizes control of the high-rise building in which she works.

On his own, and presenting a more everyday action hero than the like of Schwarzenegger or Stallone (who would probably walk over broken glass without flinching in one of their films), the wise-cracking McClane finds himself taking on the group one by one in the cramped confines of the high rise.

There's a reason many-a-film since has been called "Die Hard on a xxx"

In short, oft imitated but never bettered

(and, back here, McClane has not yet transformed into the almost-superhero who shrugs off injuries that would cripple a lesser man that he becomes in the alter films)