Rebel Moon has got to be one of the best looking films of the year. The vfx and alien worlds all look spectacular. The lore beneath the surface is itching to come out and explode into all of our faces. There is so much there that it leaves me wanting more. The characters are pretty cool, and the action is of course top notch. I do have issues with the fast pacing and hopefully the directors cut helps with that. And I know we'll know more about the characters later, but still wanted to know more of their back stories in the first part. There is inspiration from a lot of other works (not just Star Wars), but has its own identity and feel. I think this might be one of my favorite films of the year even with its flaws. It was there to mostly set up the universe and the characters. I am excited for more from this universe because by the end I just needed more of it in general. Part 2, the extended cuts, and the comic can't come soon enough!
Reviews
14 Reviews
Fantastic Film in the HP Series
8 April 2022
I was able to see this during a preview screening, and thought this film was great. First off, I just want to get the negative out of the way. This film does have some scenes that are pretty dark and can be hard to watch for some. So be aware of that. Also, I do think it was unnecessary to get rid of Johnny Depp this far into the series, and wished he was still Grindelwald. But onto what is great in the film.
In my opinion, Secrets of Dumbledore is the best of the Fantastic Beasts films, and I do like them all. The characters in this film were diverse and pretty fun. The humor is great, and even though there are a few super dark scenes, there are still a lot of lighthearted scenes as well. The storyline was interesting enough, and I was intrigued from beginning to end. Even though there is no Johnny Depp, Mads did fine as the villain. He brought a somewhat different feel to the character, but man did Grindelwald feel so evil in this Fantastic Beasts film. The performances from everyone were great honestly, and I can't really complain about any of them. I love how the film expanded the Wizarding World lore, and I find it fun to see what came before the Harry Potter films and books.
I do feel like there are some things still unknown to us, such as some stuff from the past, but am sure we'll find out more as the story continues. There were some things I wish were explained better as well instead of being somewhat vague. The new creatures in this film were, well, fantastic, and I can't wait to see what other magical creatures we'll see in the series. Overall, pretty great film in my opinion, and I highly recommend it.
In my opinion, Secrets of Dumbledore is the best of the Fantastic Beasts films, and I do like them all. The characters in this film were diverse and pretty fun. The humor is great, and even though there are a few super dark scenes, there are still a lot of lighthearted scenes as well. The storyline was interesting enough, and I was intrigued from beginning to end. Even though there is no Johnny Depp, Mads did fine as the villain. He brought a somewhat different feel to the character, but man did Grindelwald feel so evil in this Fantastic Beasts film. The performances from everyone were great honestly, and I can't really complain about any of them. I love how the film expanded the Wizarding World lore, and I find it fun to see what came before the Harry Potter films and books.
I do feel like there are some things still unknown to us, such as some stuff from the past, but am sure we'll find out more as the story continues. There were some things I wish were explained better as well instead of being somewhat vague. The new creatures in this film were, well, fantastic, and I can't wait to see what other magical creatures we'll see in the series. Overall, pretty great film in my opinion, and I highly recommend it.
Morbius
(2022)
Don't Believe the Manufactured Hate
2 April 2022
Is this film amazing? No. Is it the worst Marvel film? Definitely not. After seeing it in theaters I do believe this film is getting a lot of manufactured hate to sway viewers not to see it. It really isn't that bad. It does of course have flaws. It's low budget was obvious in it's many scenes of cgi, acting was cringe at times, some horrible humor and lines, and some of the cinematography was a little bizarre to me. Also, it suffered from a short runtime that made it so that characters weren't fleshed out as much as they could've been. But with all it's flaws, it was still a fun and entertaining film. The cgi may have been odd a lot of the time, but still looked like a really cool video game. Some of the effects (especially when flying or fighting) were pretty cool. The actors felt like they were dedicated to their parts, even with some weird lines. The dynamic between Leto and Smith was fantastic as well. This origin story was a tad generic, but I feel like MCU fans should be okay with that by now. Overall it definitely had flaws, but is nowhere near as bad as critics and certain MCU fans are trying to make it out to be. Give it a watch and judge for yourself.
Theatrical was fine, but this is better
26 March 2022
After I saw the original theatrical cut opening night, I was conflicted. I knew I still liked it but couldn't tell how much. So I watched it again that weekend. Upon my second viewing I realized I liked it a lot and gave it an 8. Still a great, although misunderstood, film. It made me think, feel, and had my favorite Batman and Superman in it (with an awesome Wonder Woman too).
When this Ultimate Edition came out though, I had to buy it and watch it right away. I was blown away. It was actually better than the theatrical cut! And seeing it several times over the years, this film has become even better than the day it released. In my opinion it is one of the most interesting, thoughtful, emotional, and beautiful superhero movies ever created. I can honestly say it changed my life, and I will always defend it.
When this Ultimate Edition came out though, I had to buy it and watch it right away. I was blown away. It was actually better than the theatrical cut! And seeing it several times over the years, this film has become even better than the day it released. In my opinion it is one of the most interesting, thoughtful, emotional, and beautiful superhero movies ever created. I can honestly say it changed my life, and I will always defend it.
The Batman
(2022)
Not Bad Actually
6 March 2022
This movie is being praised for being the best Batman movie ever. I definitely disagree. I think The Dark Knight did more for the genre and had a better villain. I also feel that Ben Affleck still embodies both Bruce and Batman the best. However, this Batman film is pretty decent. It's long, dark, and not as exciting as some action superhero flicks. But it does some things well. The story is pretty great, and performances from the cast were better than I expected (first film I actually like Pattinson in). The soundtrack was decent, although not as great as Hans Zimmer's in my opinion. It looked visually pleasing as well. If you don't like dark superhero films you might not like The Batman as it is quite dark. But overall it is a good film. Confused on how it is apparently the best Batman film, or how Pattinson is the best Batman, but it definitely wasn't bad.
Army of Thieves
(2021)
Better than I expected
28 October 2021
I was able to watch this during the virtual premier and I did not know what to expect. I knew it was a prequel to Army of the Dead, but since it's not really a zombie movie I went in with different expectations. I ended up liking the movie a lot. I do love Army of the Dead as I love zombie movies, but found this one to be really entertaining and fun. Dieter is an awesome character, and I was excited to see more of him. Great prequel and great looking movie honestly. If you like heist films that don't take themselves too seriously, you may really like this one.
The Suicide Squad
(2021)
Surprised that the first Suicide Squad is better
7 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It's confusing on why this film is so highly regarded. Why so many are saying it's the best comic book movie. Critics would destroy this film in reviews if done by anyone else other than James Gunn I feel. There was a lot of destruction in the city, not much character development, plot was just okay, cgi was good only at times, violence was there to be edgy, and characters were just dumb and had very little development. The characters from the first film were reduced to garbage and there was wasted talent. I also felt as if the humor was just not that funny most of the time, and scenes dragged on which made moments that should be funny into cringe moments. Starro was probably the best thing in the film, and I laughed at one scene. There was one good fight scene as well, so it gets stars for that. But I don't think I'll be wanting to see this film again. I think I'd rather watch Studio Squad than this. It really is perplexing that this got such good reviews when it contained a lot of things I know other films by other directors would be harshly critiqued against by bloggers and critics. It was hardly intriguing or compelling for a comic book film.
Army of the Dead
(2021)
Great film, amazing zombie flick
15 May 2021
This film does indeed have a straightforward plot that some might consider shallow. But that's okay. It is a zombie flick after all. But what is given to us feels much more. There are fun characters that you can get easily attached to, such amazing visuals, great ideas added to the zombie lore, and to top it all off, way more emotional than I had anticipated. Everyone does so great in this film, and it's so much fun. I love the world that was created, and there is so much room for more to come. More to see before, and more to see after. If you like zombies, it's a must see. If you don't like the typical zombie flick, you might just like this one! It has quite a bit to offer. The coming up content we get from this franchise can't come soon enough.
Godzilla vs. Kong
(2021)
Awesome Battles, Bad Writing
3 April 2021
This movie suffers from possibly the worst plot out of all the monsterverse films honestly. The writing for all the human characters is pretty bad. They must purposefully make the human characters ridiculous or something. There are some questionable ideas, some that leave you wondering. But even though it has really horrible writing, I can't deny how amazing most of the cgi was, and how fantastic the battles were. Definitely an entertaining movie if you go in without much expectation. If you want to just have a good time, and watch titans duke it out, I definitely recommend this film.
Zack Snyder's Justice League
(2021)
Beautiful, Visually Stunning, Hopeful
19 March 2021
After several years of campaigning and fighting for this film's release, I was so excited to see it when it launched on HBO Max! I knew a lot of what would happen in the film as I've been following the movement for years. But I was shocked by the lighter tone, and the humor. It's a bit different than Batman v Superman, and I was expecting that same tone. Upon my second viewing (I usually watch a film twice to figure out how I feel about it), I realized how emotional this film really is. So many beautiful scenes too. The message of overcoming doubts, of hope, was so prevalent in the film, and sometimes almost made me tear up. The battle scenes were epic, the soundtrack was fantastic, and this film just stuck in my mind for the whole day. It's going to be really hard for me to enjoy another comic book film after this now, because this has set the bar so high. It is definitely the film I needed in my life right now, and so glad that Zack's vision was released for everyone to see. Definitely a must watch for any DC fan.
Resident Evil: Retribution
(2012)
Best of the Resident Evil Films
15 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Resident Evil Retribution is definitely the stand out film of the series. It is smarter, with more action, more of a story, and it is more like a video game than any of the past RE films. It's surprising that it took this long to make a Resident Evil movie like this one.
First off, I'd like to say I am a pretty big fan of the Resident Evil movies, even if they lack deep characters, and amazing story lines. I like Milla as Alice, and the action is always pretty sweet. For a lot of the movie, you see what you already saw in past Resident Evil films: Alice being her bad-a self as usual, action, and zombies. And of course there are some dialogue that either makes you roll your eyes, or laugh. But, there is a lot more in this film. This RE film shows more emotion from Alice, and we see her as more of a human, and a mother figure as she tries to protect a little girl introduced in the story, therefore we can make more of a connection with her. In the other RE films, no character had development at all, so it is refreshing to finally see a character we can connect more to, and feel for. Also, the story is actually pretty cool. Simple in it's idea, but a bit more complex in how it all played out. You see Alice going through stage after stage, just like in a video with boss characters, as she and her comrades try to escape from the Umbrella Headquarters. And how this movie went "global" was pretty intelligent. You would have to see the story to understand what I mean. It's also really great to see all the characters added into this film.
Leon S. Kennedy and Ada Wong were both added into this film, and man, was Ada an amazing character! The women in this movie steal the show again, just like in the past RE films, so be aware of that if you were wishing Leon to be super amazing. He's not as cool as he is in the video game, but I was still pretty satisfied with his character, especially since they did better with Leon in this film than how Chris was in the fourth film. Unfortunately, we don't get to know all of the characters all that well, as a lot of them are still pretty shallow characters. But they still kicked butt for the most part. Which leads me to my next topic: The fight scenes in this film were the best I have ever seen in an RE film. Who cares if some of the things they do are pretty impossible. That doesn't really matter seeing as this is based off of a video game where characters do pretty crazy things anyway. The choreography for the fight scenes was well done, and much cooler than even fight scenes from Afterlife. Special effects were pretty amazing too, and probably the best out of the series.
This film also feels more like a sci fi, which I feel is because of the allusions to other sci fi films, such as the Alien series, Inception, and Tron: Legacy. Although the only thing that really reminded me of Tron was from part of the soundtrack, and there was also a part where it sounded like Inception. Seeing as I'm against putting that many spoilers in my reviews, you'll just have to watch the film to see the allusions that I am talking about. I feel like it is kind of a sci fi tribute in a way.
So pretty much to sum it up, even though this film is a lot like the other Resident Evil films in the series, which are a bit lacking in a few departments, it has even more to offer with a smarter plot, amazing fight scenes and action, and even better characters. They even made the soundtrack more epic. This is a step up, (well, maybe a few steps up) in this RE franchise, and I was pleased, and pretty content with how this film turned out. If you are one who hates the RE films, this one might (emphasis on might) make you a bit more happy, and if you are a fan of the series, this is a must see. It isn't the most amazing movie ever, but I've waited a long time to see an RE film as smart and amazing as this one. And I'm sure a lot of other people were waiting for something like this too. It's unfortunate it took this long to happen, but hey, better late then never right?
First off, I'd like to say I am a pretty big fan of the Resident Evil movies, even if they lack deep characters, and amazing story lines. I like Milla as Alice, and the action is always pretty sweet. For a lot of the movie, you see what you already saw in past Resident Evil films: Alice being her bad-a self as usual, action, and zombies. And of course there are some dialogue that either makes you roll your eyes, or laugh. But, there is a lot more in this film. This RE film shows more emotion from Alice, and we see her as more of a human, and a mother figure as she tries to protect a little girl introduced in the story, therefore we can make more of a connection with her. In the other RE films, no character had development at all, so it is refreshing to finally see a character we can connect more to, and feel for. Also, the story is actually pretty cool. Simple in it's idea, but a bit more complex in how it all played out. You see Alice going through stage after stage, just like in a video with boss characters, as she and her comrades try to escape from the Umbrella Headquarters. And how this movie went "global" was pretty intelligent. You would have to see the story to understand what I mean. It's also really great to see all the characters added into this film.
Leon S. Kennedy and Ada Wong were both added into this film, and man, was Ada an amazing character! The women in this movie steal the show again, just like in the past RE films, so be aware of that if you were wishing Leon to be super amazing. He's not as cool as he is in the video game, but I was still pretty satisfied with his character, especially since they did better with Leon in this film than how Chris was in the fourth film. Unfortunately, we don't get to know all of the characters all that well, as a lot of them are still pretty shallow characters. But they still kicked butt for the most part. Which leads me to my next topic: The fight scenes in this film were the best I have ever seen in an RE film. Who cares if some of the things they do are pretty impossible. That doesn't really matter seeing as this is based off of a video game where characters do pretty crazy things anyway. The choreography for the fight scenes was well done, and much cooler than even fight scenes from Afterlife. Special effects were pretty amazing too, and probably the best out of the series.
This film also feels more like a sci fi, which I feel is because of the allusions to other sci fi films, such as the Alien series, Inception, and Tron: Legacy. Although the only thing that really reminded me of Tron was from part of the soundtrack, and there was also a part where it sounded like Inception. Seeing as I'm against putting that many spoilers in my reviews, you'll just have to watch the film to see the allusions that I am talking about. I feel like it is kind of a sci fi tribute in a way.
So pretty much to sum it up, even though this film is a lot like the other Resident Evil films in the series, which are a bit lacking in a few departments, it has even more to offer with a smarter plot, amazing fight scenes and action, and even better characters. They even made the soundtrack more epic. This is a step up, (well, maybe a few steps up) in this RE franchise, and I was pleased, and pretty content with how this film turned out. If you are one who hates the RE films, this one might (emphasis on might) make you a bit more happy, and if you are a fan of the series, this is a must see. It isn't the most amazing movie ever, but I've waited a long time to see an RE film as smart and amazing as this one. And I'm sure a lot of other people were waiting for something like this too. It's unfortunate it took this long to happen, but hey, better late then never right?
Lawless
(2012)
Wasn't this supposed to be one of the more epic movies of the year?
8 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I walked into the theater with some friends hoping to see an amazing movie with amazing performances by the actors. What I got wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. Lawless lacks too much for it to be top of my list. But of course, it isn't the worst movie I have ever seen.
Here's the thing, if you're hoping to see an epic movie that's deep, with a great storyline, and just as amazing characters, this might not be the movie for you. This film has a storyline, but they try to fill the time with scenes and side stories that really didn't need to be placed into the film. The story wasn't really deep at all. It lacked heart, and sometimes, intellect. Well, at least their was a plot line.
The performance of the actors was actually quite dull and not too impressive. After seeing The Dark Knight Rises, I had high hopes for Tom Hardy in this film. Too bad his character was shallow and emotionless. I never really felt for his character at all, and neither for his brother Howard. By the end of the movie, I really didn't care whether they lived or died. The best performance was Shia Labeouf (whom I really don't care much for anyway). He was the only true human character I could ever feel something for. The only one I could connect too. So he was pretty much the only one I liked, despite the fact that his character was also pretty stupid sometimes. It's also a shame that such a great actor like Gary Oldman had such a tiny part in the film. And I don't know why Guy Pearce thought he could seem so tough by lowering his voice at times, and sounding like a lunatic.
The action sequences were decent, but not mesmerizing in any way. I'm glad there was a little though. Really not as epic as I was expecting. I really wasn't pulled into the film at all. It was just stuff flashing before my eyes. And some of it was pretty pointless. It seems that people are just playing favorites. They think Tom Hardy did so amazing because they love him and would like any movie he's in. Shia Labeouf fans would be the same. But when it came to acting performance, Shia stole the show. So I'm glad the creators of the film made his character more believable.
All in all, there really isn't really all the much to say about this film other than it lacks heart, conviction, great performances and characters, all the epicness a lot were hoping to see, and it was just too shallow. But then again, it did have a little there, so that is why it really isn't too terrible of a film, and definitely not the worst I have seen. Because there really are worse films out there than this.
Here's the thing, if you're hoping to see an epic movie that's deep, with a great storyline, and just as amazing characters, this might not be the movie for you. This film has a storyline, but they try to fill the time with scenes and side stories that really didn't need to be placed into the film. The story wasn't really deep at all. It lacked heart, and sometimes, intellect. Well, at least their was a plot line.
The performance of the actors was actually quite dull and not too impressive. After seeing The Dark Knight Rises, I had high hopes for Tom Hardy in this film. Too bad his character was shallow and emotionless. I never really felt for his character at all, and neither for his brother Howard. By the end of the movie, I really didn't care whether they lived or died. The best performance was Shia Labeouf (whom I really don't care much for anyway). He was the only true human character I could ever feel something for. The only one I could connect too. So he was pretty much the only one I liked, despite the fact that his character was also pretty stupid sometimes. It's also a shame that such a great actor like Gary Oldman had such a tiny part in the film. And I don't know why Guy Pearce thought he could seem so tough by lowering his voice at times, and sounding like a lunatic.
The action sequences were decent, but not mesmerizing in any way. I'm glad there was a little though. Really not as epic as I was expecting. I really wasn't pulled into the film at all. It was just stuff flashing before my eyes. And some of it was pretty pointless. It seems that people are just playing favorites. They think Tom Hardy did so amazing because they love him and would like any movie he's in. Shia Labeouf fans would be the same. But when it came to acting performance, Shia stole the show. So I'm glad the creators of the film made his character more believable.
All in all, there really isn't really all the much to say about this film other than it lacks heart, conviction, great performances and characters, all the epicness a lot were hoping to see, and it was just too shallow. But then again, it did have a little there, so that is why it really isn't too terrible of a film, and definitely not the worst I have seen. Because there really are worse films out there than this.
The Dark Knight Rises
(2012)
Christopher Nolan Shows That Batman is a True Hero
24 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The Dark Knight Rises is a really epic movie. You can tell when you watch it. There are a ton of people in it, has really amazing special effects, and great action scenes. But a movie isn't good just because of these things (even though it really helps). This movie has a lot more to offer than just a typical Hollywood action film. Most of us have learned to love Christopher Nolan's batman films, and this one does not disappoint. The performance by the actors is absolutely stunning. Tom Hardy played an excellent Bane while only using his eyes, body language, and voice. We couldn't see his whole face, which helps us see emotion. But with Hardy's great performance, we get to see and feel the emotions without seeing his whole face. He is a very creepy villain, and one of the best I have seen. Anne Hathaway also does a great job portraying Selina Kyle (Catwoman). Like most, I was afraid that she wouldn't do so well, but then I realized that Nolan always knows what he's doing, and always chooses the right actors. And he really does know what he's doing. Anne pulled it off! She played an amazing Catwoman, and was pretty darn sexy in that outfit! Great addition to the movie. And Bale as Batman was freaking cool as always. But he really shines in this film because of all the things the character had to go through and overcome. Best performance by Bale in my opinion. He really showed us that Bruce Wayne is as heroic as his alter ego, the Batman. Which brings me to my next point.
Aside from all the cool special effects and amazing acting, this movie has an amazing story. Christopher Nolan is really good at getting those emotions out there for us to feel. Also, he knows how to make a character heroic. While watching the movie, I kept rooting for Bruce, and Batman, and when he failed, I was devastated. But when Batman rose to show his true strength, and his true colors, I cheered. I was happy and excited for Batman/Bruce. I actually cheered a lot in this film. Bruce is shown more in the movie than Batman. And it's Bruce as himself that has to overcome everything before he can show the world how good Batman really is. We actually see more Bruce than Batman in this film. This made Batman seem even more human than before, and made me connect more to the film. I loved Batman, because he's human. And we got to see that. We also get to see how heroic and amazing this character is in this film as he overcomes everything to try to save Gotham and its people. The amazing emotions are also helped by Hans and his amazing score for The Dark Knight Rises. One of the best soundtracks I have ever listened to. Heavier than the past Batman films, and much more heroic at times. Not to mention super epic.
So all in all, because of the amazing special effects, with amazing acting, great story that lets us feel (and think), which is also helped by the amazing soundtrack, this film has got to be one of the most brilliant films I have ever seen. Also the most epic, and the most amazing film I have yet seen. Christopher Nolan shows us again that he can create an action film with heart, spirit, and brains (which is much needed in Hollywood these days). It is also the smartest, and heroic comic book movie I have ever seen. And the addition of special characters from the comic book also makes things even more exciting. This movie had the perfect ending for a Batman series, and one of the best and most satisfying endings I have ever seen in a movie, and in a trilogy. I am grateful to Nolan for creating this masterpiece, and I suggest that everyone sees this movie. It really is a must see. It's more than just a comic book movie. It's a film for everyone, not just for comic book fans. Shows us the worst and the best of humanity. And leaves you in aw. Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up. And you'll really see a hero rise.
Aside from all the cool special effects and amazing acting, this movie has an amazing story. Christopher Nolan is really good at getting those emotions out there for us to feel. Also, he knows how to make a character heroic. While watching the movie, I kept rooting for Bruce, and Batman, and when he failed, I was devastated. But when Batman rose to show his true strength, and his true colors, I cheered. I was happy and excited for Batman/Bruce. I actually cheered a lot in this film. Bruce is shown more in the movie than Batman. And it's Bruce as himself that has to overcome everything before he can show the world how good Batman really is. We actually see more Bruce than Batman in this film. This made Batman seem even more human than before, and made me connect more to the film. I loved Batman, because he's human. And we got to see that. We also get to see how heroic and amazing this character is in this film as he overcomes everything to try to save Gotham and its people. The amazing emotions are also helped by Hans and his amazing score for The Dark Knight Rises. One of the best soundtracks I have ever listened to. Heavier than the past Batman films, and much more heroic at times. Not to mention super epic.
So all in all, because of the amazing special effects, with amazing acting, great story that lets us feel (and think), which is also helped by the amazing soundtrack, this film has got to be one of the most brilliant films I have ever seen. Also the most epic, and the most amazing film I have yet seen. Christopher Nolan shows us again that he can create an action film with heart, spirit, and brains (which is much needed in Hollywood these days). It is also the smartest, and heroic comic book movie I have ever seen. And the addition of special characters from the comic book also makes things even more exciting. This movie had the perfect ending for a Batman series, and one of the best and most satisfying endings I have ever seen in a movie, and in a trilogy. I am grateful to Nolan for creating this masterpiece, and I suggest that everyone sees this movie. It really is a must see. It's more than just a comic book movie. It's a film for everyone, not just for comic book fans. Shows us the worst and the best of humanity. And leaves you in aw. Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up. And you'll really see a hero rise.
John Carter
(2012)
Excellent Movie
9 March 2012
Wow. So, I already went into the movie with high hopes. I knew it wouldn't be recognized by most people, and knew it wouldn't have a huge audience on opening night. But seriously, this movie didn't disappoint. Really did have superb acting, a great story (yeah, there is actually a high budget movie with amazing special effects that has a plot), and a great soundtrack. I think that everything about this movie was great. Great action as well. Totally underrated at this point. If you're looking for a great sci fi action/adventure film, you must see this one. Seriously one of the best films to come out in the past couple of years.
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