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Jason (7 KP) rated Wonder Woman (2017) in Movies
Jul 9, 2017
Formulaic and predictable
Maybe it's just me but every superhero film seems to follow a very similar plot - the discovery of the power, the learning how to use it, the token love interest, the token bad guy, the token big fight scene and the predictable ending.
This film did not disappoint in the predictability sense. It was a bit overblown and looked as though it wanted to yell 'girls can fight too you know'.
Unless I missed it, the was no explanation about how the love interest came into the picture in the first place but from there on in, it stuck to the rigid predictability well! Fight scenes were as you'd expect given the budget but nothing to really write home about and I was left feeling like I hadn't seen anything new.
It's a a bit of fun and it'll please those into the DC and Marvel universes but not really for me thanks.
This film did not disappoint in the predictability sense. It was a bit overblown and looked as though it wanted to yell 'girls can fight too you know'.
Unless I missed it, the was no explanation about how the love interest came into the picture in the first place but from there on in, it stuck to the rigid predictability well! Fight scenes were as you'd expect given the budget but nothing to really write home about and I was left feeling like I hadn't seen anything new.
It's a a bit of fun and it'll please those into the DC and Marvel universes but not really for me thanks.
Jarom Solar Norris (186 KP) rated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) in Movies
Feb 13, 2019 (Updated Feb 13, 2019)
You may have heard that Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse is a cinematic marvel, a first-of-its-kind blockbuster that innovates on animated styles in incredible fashion. Not only does it do a bunch of crazy things that all work and look amazing, but a lot of it has been documented on Twitter. Just look at this: https://twitter.com/NickTyson/status/1076942124921151488
You can find a lot of cool stuff on the twitter of animator Nick Kondo, and even the composer Daniel Pemberton has written threads on how the movie was made, and that’s awesome. While watching the movie I had a thought strike me that “This kind of story could literally only be told in animation.” And everything it does is finely-crafted work, it makes you care about the characters just as much as the people making the movie did. We can all cross our fingers that it means we’ll be seeing more animated movies in the years to come.
You can find a lot of cool stuff on the twitter of animator Nick Kondo, and even the composer Daniel Pemberton has written threads on how the movie was made, and that’s awesome. While watching the movie I had a thought strike me that “This kind of story could literally only be told in animation.” And everything it does is finely-crafted work, it makes you care about the characters just as much as the people making the movie did. We can all cross our fingers that it means we’ll be seeing more animated movies in the years to come.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Captain Marvel (2019) in Movies
Mar 8, 2019
Predictably solid Marvel brand-extension is another of those movies where the main character is never actually referred to by their superhero codename, which is a little odd as the film is unafraid to embrace the silliness of its subject matter elsewhere. Slightly convoluted plot concerns Brie Larson's character, who is a fierce alien warrior or a feisty USAF jet pilot (finding out exactly who she is is central to the plot). Aliens infiltrate Earth in 1995, Larson has to team up with Samuel L Jackson (pre-eyepatch) to stop them.
Generally pretty good fun, especially once you get past the (intentionally?) cryptic first act. Good jokes, good action, and the film's big moments are well staged. Larson, Jackson, and Ben Mendelsohn all contribute thoroughly tongue-in-cheek performances which are exactly what the material demands. Dances lightly around the potential girl-power subtext, although arguably misses a trick by not putting the Spice Girls on the soundtrack. Maybe next time.
Generally pretty good fun, especially once you get past the (intentionally?) cryptic first act. Good jokes, good action, and the film's big moments are well staged. Larson, Jackson, and Ben Mendelsohn all contribute thoroughly tongue-in-cheek performances which are exactly what the material demands. Dances lightly around the potential girl-power subtext, although arguably misses a trick by not putting the Spice Girls on the soundtrack. Maybe next time.
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated Captain Marvel (2019) in Movies
Mar 9, 2019
Mar-Vel-ous
At this point Marvel can really do no wrong. When it comes to their movies (esp original ones) they have a formula that's worked well so far so why change it. Really we've not had a bad MCU movie since iron man 3 & thor 2 and even they were watchable and in parts mildly enjoyable. Here we have excellent action with just enough comedy to give people laughs without being silly and considering this is about shape changing aliens, silly was a possibility. But theres a good story at its core and nice character development with a few twists and turns to keep everyone interested. We also get Goose - the greatest space cat since Jonesy from Alien!!...2 good post credits scenes as per normal - 1 serious story one and 1 funny but worth sticking around for. The next month or so needs to fly past.
Glen Banyard (13 KP) rated X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) in Movies
Jun 9, 2019
Action scenes (1 more)
Story
Underwhelming end to the arc
So after X-Men First Class we got Days of Future Past, which led to Apocalypse, and now Dark Phoenix, While the first three were good entertaining movies, and even though Apocalypse wasn't the strongest it still entertained, and the came Darl Phoenix, which is sadly and wholly underwhelming 1 hour 54 minutes.
Sophie Turner should have shined in the film, the performance felt stilted and in place, painful to watch, the knock on effect from this, you feel no empathy for Jean Grey.
One scene is more laughable than tense when Jean/Dark Phoenix with with Erik/Magneto.
As the house of mouse now owns Fox I suspect a reboot may not be as far away with, on general, Disney / Marvel knowing how to do a great superhero movie.
The best bot about this film ? the badges you can get at Frankie and Benny's
Sophie Turner should have shined in the film, the performance felt stilted and in place, painful to watch, the knock on effect from this, you feel no empathy for Jean Grey.
One scene is more laughable than tense when Jean/Dark Phoenix with with Erik/Magneto.
As the house of mouse now owns Fox I suspect a reboot may not be as far away with, on general, Disney / Marvel knowing how to do a great superhero movie.
The best bot about this film ? the badges you can get at Frankie and Benny's
Marqees (17 KP) rated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) in Movies
Jan 20, 2018
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a hilarious romp of a superhero movie. Chris Pratt and friends return as the titular Guardians a few months or so removed from the first film. This time Star-Lord and friends must figure out the mystery of Ego The living planet and Star-Lord's origins. Writer/Director James Gunn strikes gold once again in this highly anticipated sequel. The way he has portrayed this ragtag team has set them apart from other heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. My only issues would be the retread of the whole "we are family" story. Vol. 1 already established that they became tight-knit through their trials on Xandar. The other would of course the weak villian of the film with the whole take over the universe plot point. Other than that it is a solid film.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Marvel's Jessica Jones - Season 1 in TV
Mar 14, 2018
film noir style (3 more)
amazing character development
strong female characters
perfect casting
She'll kick your ass, steal your wallet and all without spilling her drink
Jessica Jones Season 1 was such an amazing take on the comic books and really just gave me what I've been missing from the Marvel Universe. Krysten Ritter was not someone I would have picked to play Jessica Jones but she took the role by the horns and really just blew me away.
The show has some of the not only best female characters I've come across but has some of the best relationships between female characters which a lot of tv shows and movies miss out on for some reason.
For me though David Tennant was just the one that stole the entire show every time he was on screen he just drew you in and you just could not look away from him.
The show has some of the not only best female characters I've come across but has some of the best relationships between female characters which a lot of tv shows and movies miss out on for some reason.
For me though David Tennant was just the one that stole the entire show every time he was on screen he just drew you in and you just could not look away from him.
Mike Carlson (115 KP) rated Marvel's Iron Fist - Season 1 in TV
Mar 16, 2018
Rand vs. Hand
This show isn't nearly as bad as I had heard. It does have its moments, though.
Throughout the season, Danny Rand swings between two opposing mentalities. He's either moving forward in self-righteous pursuit (one born of being the Iron Fist) or wracked by crippling doubt (which happens whenever he's proven, or told, that he is wrong). That, combined with a shell game of villains, makes this show a little more difficult than the others (Netflix/MARVEL) to concentrate on. I found myself easily distracted while viewing at times.
On the plus side, the action was decent. The villains were good, as numerous as they were (it's almost like they took their turns), and even some of the featured Hand fighters offered promise. There were a couple that I wished had bigger roles than just set-piece obstacles.
All in all, it was entertaining. Hopefully a second season will offer a more captivating story.
Throughout the season, Danny Rand swings between two opposing mentalities. He's either moving forward in self-righteous pursuit (one born of being the Iron Fist) or wracked by crippling doubt (which happens whenever he's proven, or told, that he is wrong). That, combined with a shell game of villains, makes this show a little more difficult than the others (Netflix/MARVEL) to concentrate on. I found myself easily distracted while viewing at times.
On the plus side, the action was decent. The villains were good, as numerous as they were (it's almost like they took their turns), and even some of the featured Hand fighters offered promise. There were a couple that I wished had bigger roles than just set-piece obstacles.
All in all, it was entertaining. Hopefully a second season will offer a more captivating story.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) in Movies
Feb 12, 2018
Third time's a charm
Wasn't it Oscar Wilde who said that to cast one actor as Spider-Man is a sound artistic choice, but to cast three in only fifteen years is possibly taking the mickey? Hey ho. Marvel Studios bring all their usual skill to this latest addition to the series, and the result is as entertaining as you'd expect.
They do make quite a big deal out of the fact that Spider-Man is back in continuity with the Avengers (et al), much more so than happens in the other MCU films, but I suppose it's forgivable. The movie's two big innovations are to basically tell the story as a goofy 80s-style high school comedy, and to actually have a genuinely strong and memorable villain (Michael Keaton makes a real impression as another sort of birdman). Solid script; also very funny; doesn't quite supplant memories of the Sam Raimi-Tobey Maguire films, but stands comparison to them very well.
They do make quite a big deal out of the fact that Spider-Man is back in continuity with the Avengers (et al), much more so than happens in the other MCU films, but I suppose it's forgivable. The movie's two big innovations are to basically tell the story as a goofy 80s-style high school comedy, and to actually have a genuinely strong and memorable villain (Michael Keaton makes a real impression as another sort of birdman). Solid script; also very funny; doesn't quite supplant memories of the Sam Raimi-Tobey Maguire films, but stands comparison to them very well.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Jurassic Park (1993) in Movies
May 31, 2018
Why do we like dinosaurs so much?
Just when Spielberg was on a minor low after the critical and box office disappointment of "Hook" in 1991, he decided to make not only A movie about dinosaurs, but THE movie about dinosaurs to turn things around.
The original Jurassic Park is a modern marvel of cinema in many ways, but mostly the ground-breaking visual effects. Yeah, there had been other movies with prehistoric beasts, but none that integrated them seamlessly with human actors before this film.
What a great idea (based on the book) of having human beings visit a remote coming soon amusement park and watch what happens when everything goes wrong.
There are so many iconic scenes, I can't even begin to list them. The T-Rex, the raptors, the spitting ones. It was all just magic.
The tension build to the ultimate climax will never be beaten even with the 27 sequels.
The original Jurassic Park is a modern marvel of cinema in many ways, but mostly the ground-breaking visual effects. Yeah, there had been other movies with prehistoric beasts, but none that integrated them seamlessly with human actors before this film.
What a great idea (based on the book) of having human beings visit a remote coming soon amusement park and watch what happens when everything goes wrong.
There are so many iconic scenes, I can't even begin to list them. The T-Rex, the raptors, the spitting ones. It was all just magic.
The tension build to the ultimate climax will never be beaten even with the 27 sequels.