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Brandon Pile (1507 KP) rated Alita: Battle Angel (2019) in Movies
Jun 2, 2020
AF
A Family Affair (Cassandra Palmer, #4.1)
8.5
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Book
"A Family Affair" is a novella set between Curse the Dawn, Cassie Palmer #4, and Hunt the Moon,...
urban fantasy
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) in Movies
Oct 7, 2021
Suffers from Sequel-itis
If you ever heard of the term “Sequel-itis” and wondered what a good example of film suffering from this malady would be, look no further than VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE.
The sequel to the surprisingly well made - and well acted - 2018 VENOM that introduced audiences to the (sometimes) villain, (sometimes) anti-hero, VENOM and the human/symbiot that he has bonded to (it makes sense in the first film) - this sequel looks and feels like a quick “money-grab” that is keeping this character “warm” for bigger things (I hope) down the road.
Directed by famed motion capture expert, Andy Serkis, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE feels like a movie that was directed by a Special FX veteran for this film is long on special effects and short on what makes a film work - plot and character.
And that’s too bad for the 2018 VENOM film was a surprise in that while it had it’s CGI moments (and plenty of them), it also had interesting plot and characters and took full advantage of two of the better actors working today - Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams.
The sequel looked promising enough as both Hardy and Williams were back and Woody Harrelson was cast as the main villain (with Naomi Harris along as the villain’s sidekick) so some of the ingredients were there for a quality sequel.
Unfortunately, this sequel leaned heavily into the CGI-ness of the first film and made the CGI Alien Venom the focal point of the story, relegating the humans to the back. No actor was pushed further to the back than Williams who was stuck with a weak “damsel in distress” arc while Harrelson and Harris take turns over-acting the other making their pair of villains some of the weakest in recent comic-book movies memory.
And then there is the performance of Hardy as Eddie Brock. He is sleepwalking his way through this film, looking like he has very little interest in what is going on and just wants to grab his paycheck and get home.
Some of these sins could be forgiven if the CGI elements - and the battles between Venom and Carnage - are interesting. Unfortunately, they just are not - they are “fine”, but nothing interesting or original, so this film is destined to get washed off the shore (and memory) as quickly as a sandcastle is washed away on a beach.
If you are going to check out this flick, make sure you stay for the “end credits” scene (which is only, thankfully, about 2 minutes into the credits), it is the best part of this film.
Letter Grade: C+
5 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
The sequel to the surprisingly well made - and well acted - 2018 VENOM that introduced audiences to the (sometimes) villain, (sometimes) anti-hero, VENOM and the human/symbiot that he has bonded to (it makes sense in the first film) - this sequel looks and feels like a quick “money-grab” that is keeping this character “warm” for bigger things (I hope) down the road.
Directed by famed motion capture expert, Andy Serkis, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE feels like a movie that was directed by a Special FX veteran for this film is long on special effects and short on what makes a film work - plot and character.
And that’s too bad for the 2018 VENOM film was a surprise in that while it had it’s CGI moments (and plenty of them), it also had interesting plot and characters and took full advantage of two of the better actors working today - Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams.
The sequel looked promising enough as both Hardy and Williams were back and Woody Harrelson was cast as the main villain (with Naomi Harris along as the villain’s sidekick) so some of the ingredients were there for a quality sequel.
Unfortunately, this sequel leaned heavily into the CGI-ness of the first film and made the CGI Alien Venom the focal point of the story, relegating the humans to the back. No actor was pushed further to the back than Williams who was stuck with a weak “damsel in distress” arc while Harrelson and Harris take turns over-acting the other making their pair of villains some of the weakest in recent comic-book movies memory.
And then there is the performance of Hardy as Eddie Brock. He is sleepwalking his way through this film, looking like he has very little interest in what is going on and just wants to grab his paycheck and get home.
Some of these sins could be forgiven if the CGI elements - and the battles between Venom and Carnage - are interesting. Unfortunately, they just are not - they are “fine”, but nothing interesting or original, so this film is destined to get washed off the shore (and memory) as quickly as a sandcastle is washed away on a beach.
If you are going to check out this flick, make sure you stay for the “end credits” scene (which is only, thankfully, about 2 minutes into the credits), it is the best part of this film.
Letter Grade: C+
5 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Scream 2 (1997) in Movies
Nov 1, 2018
“By definition alone, sequels are inferior films”
As much as this sequel tries to be very clever and for the most part succeeds, you can’t help realising that the line uttered by Randy about sequels being inferior films and the ensuing discussion in the film class, pretty much sums up this entire film.
Released only a year after the original, this sequel keeps most of what made the first one great - just sadly in lesser amounts. Yes it’s funny, witty and has some great film references, but it just isn’t quite up to the level of the original. There are some shocks and lots of blood and gore, and the ending is still a little unpredictable (but not as much as the original. Great cast again, both returning and fairly well known faces. The opening scene too is just as disturbing even if it’s missing the signature Ghostface phone call and I loved the entire scene set in the film class. The debate about life imitating art is a shame relevant now as it was when this was made over 20 years ago. It amazes me to think this film is 21 years old, and aside from the retro technology, it doesn’t feel dated in the slightest.
For a sequel, this is definitely one of the better ones out there. Yes it doesn’t have quite the impact of the original, but it definitely doesn’t suck and at least sticks to Randy’s rules to create a successful sequel. Shame 3 and 4 couldn’t do the same...
Released only a year after the original, this sequel keeps most of what made the first one great - just sadly in lesser amounts. Yes it’s funny, witty and has some great film references, but it just isn’t quite up to the level of the original. There are some shocks and lots of blood and gore, and the ending is still a little unpredictable (but not as much as the original. Great cast again, both returning and fairly well known faces. The opening scene too is just as disturbing even if it’s missing the signature Ghostface phone call and I loved the entire scene set in the film class. The debate about life imitating art is a shame relevant now as it was when this was made over 20 years ago. It amazes me to think this film is 21 years old, and aside from the retro technology, it doesn’t feel dated in the slightest.
For a sequel, this is definitely one of the better ones out there. Yes it doesn’t have quite the impact of the original, but it definitely doesn’t suck and at least sticks to Randy’s rules to create a successful sequel. Shame 3 and 4 couldn’t do the same...
Darren (1599 KP) rated 2 Lava 2 Lantula! (2016) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Verdict: Lacklustre Sequel
Story: 2 Lava 2 Lantula starts as the characters from the first film are living off their fame as Colton West (Guttenberg) now trying to be a big movie star once more. When the Lavalantulas return Colton must work with Marty (Winslow) to try and save his stepdaughter Raya (Weaver) and kill all the Lavalantulas before they take over the world.
2 Lava 2 Lantula does everything you want it too but unlike the Sharknados this time we get a sequel that knows it is a sequel but it feels like it is once movie too early to be acting like this already. I will say this is a fun easy watch but you do feel like this could be really clutching at straws with trying to give us new ways to create kills in the world created. We don’t get too much original material to work with but it is easy enough to watch.
Overall: This isn’t the greatest addition to the film and it doesn’t reach the levels the first did.
https://moviesreview101.com/2016/08/22/movie-reviews-101-midnight-horror-2-lava-2-lantula-2016/
Story: 2 Lava 2 Lantula starts as the characters from the first film are living off their fame as Colton West (Guttenberg) now trying to be a big movie star once more. When the Lavalantulas return Colton must work with Marty (Winslow) to try and save his stepdaughter Raya (Weaver) and kill all the Lavalantulas before they take over the world.
2 Lava 2 Lantula does everything you want it too but unlike the Sharknados this time we get a sequel that knows it is a sequel but it feels like it is once movie too early to be acting like this already. I will say this is a fun easy watch but you do feel like this could be really clutching at straws with trying to give us new ways to create kills in the world created. We don’t get too much original material to work with but it is easy enough to watch.
Overall: This isn’t the greatest addition to the film and it doesn’t reach the levels the first did.
https://moviesreview101.com/2016/08/22/movie-reviews-101-midnight-horror-2-lava-2-lantula-2016/
Bird (1704 KP) rated T2 Trainspotting (2017) in Movies
Nov 13, 2017
Intelligent script (5 more)
Robert Carlyle as Begby is back and as brutal as ever
The 'King William' scene
Avoids the obvious pitfalls of a sequel (21 years in the making)
Iggy Pop and Underworld revisited within a brilliant soundtrack
A nod to Transpotting without being too sentimental
Quite long (1 more)
Totally unrealistic in parts
Choose Trainspotting!
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Enchanted, Inc. (Enchanted, Inc., #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
I loved this book, there wasn't a thing I would change about it. Katie was extremely likeable, Owen was adorable, and everyone else just added to the story. This was just the perfect book for me: magic, fantasy, romance (well, kind of), clever, and a totally fun read! I cannot wait to read the sequel!
Peter G. (247 KP) rated Escape Plan (2013) in Movies
Jun 5, 2019
Gillian (3 KP) rated Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) in Movies
Jan 27, 2018
Survival of the Fittest
Oh my goodness. This movie was a riot. I have never laughed so hard in my life. It was awesome from beginning to end. I was always curious on how they will tie the original Jumanji to the Sequel, but the execution was perfect. I recommend everyone to watch it.