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Maestro (2023)
Slightly superficial yet worth a watch
The film starts off with an amusing display of its technical aspects. The dazzling cinematography with its precise editing sets the expectations high. And fortunately, the film keeps up its style, often jumping between beautiful wide shots to intimate close ups. The way characters speak and the set design are all accurate to the time period. Cooper sometimes goes over the top with the accent, but his performance was good for the majority of the film. None of the performances are subtle, yet they are emotional and raw. However, the conversation scenes sometimes get tedious and repetitive.
Despite having the qualities of a good period piece, "Maestro" lacks in its biopic aspect. Other than exploring his identity as a closeted gay man, Bernstein's personal life was never explored deeply. The film takes us through events and occasionally touches upon his internal conflicts; but ultimately, the film's constant reminder of his sexuality gets distracting. His relationship with characters such as his daughter and his ex-boyfriend never got a satisfying closure. The film has potential. And it's clear that its crew made it with passion, but it depicted Bernstein's life on a surface level instead of exploring him as a living person.
Mortal Kombat (2021)
An adaptation that doesn't meet expectations
The opening scene of the film looked promising. It sets the tone of the film with Scorpion's past and the fight scenes are well choreographed. However, the same cannot be said about the remainder of the film. The idea of a Mortal Kombat film is fun, but this film is not what it should look like.
The first act is full of explanatory dialogues that introduce too many characters and events at the same time. Most of it won't be understood by viewers who are not fans of the game. And the choice to make a new character the protagonist is baffling. His character is bland and fans don't care about him at all. Making a familiar character such as Scorpion or Kung Lao the protagonist would be far more entertaining.
The dialogues are sometimes spoken so flatly and over the top that it takes away from the seriousness of the film. Even though the game can be cheesy, a film should differentiate from a game especially when the tone is set to be serious in the first scene. The film struggles to find its identity. It puts in too much fan service while at times emphasizes that it's something new by adding new characters.
The Killer (2023)
Another character study from David Fincher
"The Killer" is David Fincher's film centered around an assassin's journey to revenge. Michael Fassbender's portrayal of the Killer is full of subtle facial expressions and great dialogue delivery. However, unlike "Fight Club" the narration doesn't always drive the plot and seems excessive at times. But it does further explores the Killer's character. The plot is fairly simple, the first 20 minutes show the protagonist's routine on his job. The second half of the film is focused on him traveling around the world to hunt down people related to the events following his failed assassination. The pacing is slow at first, but once the story leaves France it becomes entertaining.
The film has Fincher's perfectionism, along with the stylistic editing and cinematography choices. The film gives ideas to audiences through dialogue and narration, which isn't a choice accepted by every audience. The ending is slightly out of place with the rest of the film and doesn't fully fit the tone. But the film's attention to detail and well crafted screenplay makes the watch a unique experience.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
A disappointing finale to the classic franchise
"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" is a weak film. Although the film attempts to recreate the fun of the classic action adventure films of the 80s, it never reaches its expectations. John Williams' score does make the film more emotional, but the magic of practical visual effects is replaced but the excessive amount of CGI. The chase scenes no longer feel as thrilling as the one in "The Last Crusade" because of the green screen. The idea of Indy slowly fading away as he enters modern society is sad but appropriate for this film. It's nice seeing Harrison Ford as his iconic character again, except some action scenes obviously had stunt doubles.
"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" is a weak film. Although the film attempts to recreate the fun of the classic action adventure films of the 80s, it never reaches its expectations. John Williams' score does make the film more emotional, but the magic of practical visual effects is replaced but the excessive amount of CGI. The chase scenes no longer feel as thrilling as the one in "The Last Crusade" because of the green screen. The concept of a tired and aging Indy trying to blend into the 60s is an appropriate setting for this film. And it's nice seeing Harrison Ford as his iconic character again.
The side characters are not fun or remarkable the ones in the previous films (not including "Crystal Skull). Instead, side characters such as Helena just appear annoying and unrealistic. Their motivations are ambiguous and they are just not likable characters. The moments that work are often moments that remind the audience of the previous films. Indy deciphering puzzles in a tomb and the chase scene at the beginning are some of the most entertaining scenes. However, out of all the ways Indy could've ended his last adventure, the film chooses to go with the most abrupt and unfulfilling one. It's a shame that this film did not use its plot and characters to their fullest potential. The film is never really bad, it's bland and unoriginal. But it occasionally preserves a bit of the magic of the original trilogy.
Onoda (2021)
Remarkable and emotional despite its length
"Onoda" is intentionally slow at times but also intense when it needs to be. The run time is filled with seemingly boring scenes depicting the soldiers' every-day lives. But those scenes also tells the audience how slow time goes by for them. Director Arthur Harari with writers Bernard Cendron and Vincent Poymiro are capable of showing a new aspect of war and what a soldier will believe in just for his mission. The transformation of Onoda from an inexperienced young to a numb old man is beautifully shown with the editing. Actors Yuya Endo and Kanji Tsuda know the character well and can portray each of Onoda's phases perfectly.
The cinematography works well reminding the audience of the realism of the film and the tone of the film. Even the shootings and the bombings shown in the film are cruelly realistic. It's impressive to see the soldiers come up with their own theories and plans and dismissing everything that is being told to them by the outside world. Every element of this film works together to bring an unforgettable and emotional experience despite the film's length.
No Time to Die (2021)
Not a disappointing ending to a franchise
Even though "No Time to Die" is not a failure, it's not a good James Bond film either. Although this film is more emotional and well-written than the previous installment of the franchise-"Spectre", it still has many prominent flaws. The flat villain, Safin, barely has any motivation for his actions. And none of his background are explained other than his family was killed by Spectre members. The audience doesn't feel anything, despite the film attempting to write him as a complex character.
It is hard watching Bond's past friends and enemies die, but some deaths are too hurried. It's as if the film is trying to give the audience an end to every character. Although the idea of Bond having a child is new, and it added a new aspect to the character, it doesn't really work with the film. The past versions of the character are all films that are more focused on the plot and action rather than studying Bond. He is a larger than life person who deals with absurd events, and that's why the audience likes him. But in this film, the emotions sometimes feel stiff and bland. But it's certainly interesting seeing the film try new things.
The action sequences are all well-choreographed. The sound design makes every punch impactful and every gunshot threatening. And the special effects are also realistic. The cinematography, along with the lighting, gives the film a wide and modern look. It is not a bad film, but it's not the best Bond film in the franchise either. However, it does provide Bond with a well-deserved conclusion.
Eternals (2021)
Both unique and weak
"Eternals" is a stylized movie directed by Chloé Zhao. And her style is partially what makes this film feel like no other Marvel movie. Like most of her works, this movie feels realistic; partly due to the use of natural light and no slow motion. Making the lighting look natural makes otherwise absurd scenes look slightly more realistic.
The use of appropriate visuals also make this movie look better-beautiful golden edges for each Eternal's superpower and grand, larger-than life visual effects for the Celestials. Every design from the costume to the sets are made to convey the film's tone of a grand epic.
However, it does get chaotic. Even with its unique style and tone, it's still a Marvel film. A blockbuster with too many new characters and too much happening. The narrative that switches back from the past to present does help make the storytelling more interesting, but the audience still can't make true connections with the characters. The stiff dialogues and weak character motivations are also problems. But it is a film that's decent for what it is.
Chang jin hu (2021)
Loud and Chaotic
"The Battle at Lake Changjin" is a movie with little to no soul. The visual effects look fake at first glance, although it's supposedly one of China's most expensive movies. And the portrayal of U. S. soldiers is stereotypical to say the least. The sound mixing is painfully loud, it tries to imitate the chaos of war by adding as many elements to ur as possible; the bad visuals don't make this movie a better at all. It's just a painful experience to sit through.
However, the main problem is its writing. Instead of capturing the cruelty of war, it decides to portray war in an almost heroic and glorious way. And the deaths don't feel moving in any way at all. In fact, everything that happens feels like it's being emotional for the sake of being emotional, there's no real character behind it. And many symbolic objects just get forgotten in the third act, where everything turns into a Michael Bay style blockbuster. Most events that happen during action sequences don't make sense. The writing is also bland and formulaic. However, the actors did an average job based on what they're given.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Relies on visuals, lacks story
It is impossible to replicate the astonishment the first "Avatar" brought the audience thirteen years ago. CGI and 3D are now common amongst blockbuster movies.
The film expands the world of Pandora. With new technology, Cameron is able to show the audience more aspects of the planet. The idea that water connects everything isn't the most innovative, but it works well in this movie.
However, the antagonist, Quaritch, still needs a stronger motivation. The pacing at the beginning is rushed, and some action scenes just drag on for too long. But no director can incorporate beautiful visuals with epic action scenes like James Cameron. All the action sequences are epic and stunning.
Even though the themes of family and responsibility are suppose to be a big part, it can be too surface level at times. And finally, the film just doesn't work during scenes that are obviously trying to make you cry. It seems like Cameron is more interested in the technology than the actual story. Just like the first "Avatar", this is a film that relies on its visuals rather than acting or writing. It's still a nice experience that falls apart for certain parts.
Avatar (2009)
Remarkable experience
James Cameron is capable of making films that are both visually stunning and emotionally convincing; "Avatar" is no exception. However, this film is different from many of his other films simply due to its large scale and influence. The film demonstrates one of the best world-building in films to this day. Every aspect of Pandora feels imaginative, exciting, and realistic. Amusing sights like floating mountains and small details such as the Na'vi language are all what make the world so elaborate and realistic. By working with experts of different fields, Cameron has created a breathing planet. And of course, the use of 3D adds to the immersive experience.
The characters are also an interesting aspect. Even thought the third act is more action centered, the emotions are still there. The audience can feel the devastation the Na'vi feel during throughout the film. And its comments on colonialism is also remarkable. The characters are developed well and the ending is very emotional yet hopeful. This is truly one of the most influential modern movies.
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
The art of racing
"Ford v Ferrari" is an artistic mainstream movie. One one hand, the story is compelling yet straightforward. One the other hand, however, the racing sequences are full of action and energy. It's during the racing sequences where the audience is immersed in the intensity of the race. It's the suspense of what will happen next and who will become the winner that makes each race a spectacle. Each vehicle displayed in the film is a machine that possesses both power and beauty. For the two protagonists, racing is an obsession so great even death cannot conquer.
The relationship between the two protagonists is formulaic, but it works. The contrast between Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and Ken Miles (Christian Bale) plays an important role in the human aspect of the film. Bale and Damon have a lot of chemistry. The supporting characters are also well written. In fact, everyone in the movie feels real because the writing is very compelling. The ending adds a whole new level to the meaning behind Ken Miles as a character. Other technical details such as sound mixing and cinematography also bring the experience to a whole new level. It's just an old-fashioned and fun film.
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Childish and dull
The 80's aesthetic that the trailer promised is barely in the actual movie. The most it does is Thor's costume and some soundtrack. Other than that, "Thor: Love and Thunder" is just another empty movie. No matter how epic and colorful it tries to be, nothing will cover up its empty core.
Taika Waititi is a great director, most of his movies are entertaining and touching. However, the humor in this movie is simply too immature and dry. The movie doesn't seem to take itself seriously. The plot is rather loose, but the main problem is still the humor. There are seemingly serious moments in the movie that are interrupted by humor right in the middle. The movie would be hogging for a dark tone for a second then immediately switch to an unfunny joke. The actors are trying too hard to be funny rather than in-character. Some visual effect shots look ugly because of the color palette. Thor and Janes's reunion is rather light-hearted and lacks any impact. All characters lose their complexity and they just turn into plot devices. As mentioned, it feels like the movie just doesn't care about anything.
The only positive thing is Christian Bale's Gorr. Sometimes, Bale is trying to hard to be silly and funny, but his performance is mostly menacing. The opening is one of the best scenes in the entire movie. Bale certainly cares about his role and actually tries to be the menacing God Butcher. Unfortunately, that character is another victim of bad humor. But Bale always does his best with the material he's been given. Other than that, nothing worked in the movie.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Watchable but empty
"Rings of Power" has stunning VFX and beautiful production design, yet it feels like an empty blockbuster. The cinematography immerses you into Middle Earth and every shot is a spectacle. Yet one cannot simply replicate the success of the original trilogy (not even Peter Jackson himself). This show is in a weird position of trying to be something yet still uses nostalgia. The first episodes are bloated with plot and never ending scenes of elves and history of middle earth. It's trying to build a grand world with only two episodes. The production design is overwhelmingly similar to Jackson's films, yet everything about the series is insisting that it's an original story. There is potential for a great show, and maybe it will get better.
The Black Phone (2021)
Great performances and average writing
"The Black Phone" is a film directed by Scott Derrickson, the director of "Sinister". This movie has a nice balance between horror and drama.
The first act is character-centered; the protagonist and his family very well by the end of the first act. However, the other characters like the Grabber and other supporting characters are very flat. That shows especially when the movie is trying to tell a proper story about the bond between kids and abuse. And some of the deceased kids on the phone feel like NPCs. Some have a motivation to help Fin, but others act mysterious and strange for the sake of creepiness. There's also a character named Max who's a plot device.
With all that being said, the movie still has a lot of highlights. Every performance is great. Although Ethan Hawke never show his face, you can still feel his menacing presence. The way they show Fin's conversation with the dead is very effective. And the use of the 70's time period is nostalgic while still being used effectively. Most importantly, this movie is not just another cheap gory horror. Instead, it's able to tell an intense story while still being entertained.
Finch (2021)
Unoriginal but enjoyable
"Finch" is a post-apocalyptic movie with a unique feel. Unlike other movies in the genre, this movie has a slow pace, small scale, and a simple story. There are only three main characters-Finch, Jeff the robot, and a cute dog. By the end of the movie, you get to witness the growth of Jeff as he becomes more human and more responsible; and you can fully understand Finch as a person.
The cinematography is beautiful and engaging. Tom Hanks' emotional acting makes every situation believable. In fact, his acting is one of the elements that holds up the entire movie. Although not many huge CG shots are included, but the ones used are undeniably realistic. However, the story is inconsistent and a bit unoriginal.
With its small flaws, this movie is still enjoyable and uplifting.
No Sudden Move (2021)
It has its flaws
The thing with Soderbergh is that he likes doing different things. And "No Sudden Move" is certainly a unique film. The entire movie is very well-written. The plot is certainly unpredictable; every dialogue feels natural and engaging. But at the same time, the story is a bit messy. None of the characters have a lot of background, but you can still feel the characters. Benicio Del Toro and Don Cheadle have impressive performances. They are so into character that you don't feel like you are watching actors anymore. The same doesn't apply to every actor, some actors don't feel as engaged as Dem Toro or Cheadle.
However, the wide lens really takes you out of the film. The edge of the frame is distorted because dog the lens, and whenever a character stands on the edge of the frame, that person looks weird. It's very distracting and even annoying to some degree.
The movie has its flaws, but that doesn't make this less amazing. It's Soderbergh's better movies.
The Lion King (2019)
Lifeless and pointless
It's another lifeless and pointless cash-grab. Certainly not the worst movie ever made (especially with its impressive visuals), but it takes the life out of the original characters. The animators of the original "Lion King" animated each character with distinct traits and lively facial expressions. So how can a movie that's meant to look realistic embody the silly and exaggerated characters? It can't. Because the original "Lion King" wasn't meant to be realistic; it was made for entertainment. The style simply doesn't match the story.
Although the animated animals in "The Lion King" 2019 do look excellent, and animators worked incredibly hard for it to look so realistic; it still can't cover up the fact that the rest of the movie is soulless. The original movie was great, nobody needs the same story with all the life taken out of it.
Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Overall, boring movie
People watch Jurassic movies because each movie promises the audience a fun time with dinosaurs. And "Dominion" is highly anticipated by many fans because not only does the movie have dinosaurs, it also explores the idea of dinosaurs and humans coexisting in the same world. It's disappointing to not only see the movie exploring that topic very lightly, but also because there's not enough dinosaurs. This movie has many elements to it-evil corporation, rescue mission, even a commentary on reality. But because it's trying to be too many things all at once, the movie loses its main focus on dinosaurs.
The movie does have many cool components. Instead of having CG dinosaurs, are some real puppet ones. And the old trio getting back together is always fun to watch. However, that's it. The rest of the movie is dull and lacking creativity. Most importantly, the tension of dinosaur attacks are nowhere to be found. The T-Rex scene in the first "Jurassic Park" film was so brilliantly shot that the audience felt the fear and tension. Now, it's just dinosaurs being loud in front of the camera. The flat characters and bad dialogues only makes the movie worse.
It's really disappointing to see the "Jurassic World" franchise end in such a unremarkable way.
Zodiac (2007)
A thrilling and special movie
David Fincher is a great crime movie director. But "Zodiac" is certainly a special crime movie. This movie digs into the minds of the investors. Each character cares about the Zodiac Killer for a reason. There's no specific reason as to why everyone wants to find the killer, but the desire to fill in the blank is the biggest motivation investigators have in this movie.
Every scene involving the Zodiac Killer is suspenseful. Fincher's style of editing, camera movement, and color palette makes this one of the most gripping and thrilling crime movies ever. The pacing of this movie is very appropriate for a crime movie like this-there are intense sequences, but there are also breaks in between those sequences.
David Fincher perfectly captures emotions of characters that would otherwise be a very hard to understand; after all, we as the audience is only the observer. But somehow Fincher did it. He can turn complicated emotions and a sense of duty into something the audience can relate to. And that makes this movie a great movie.
Rogue One (2016)
One of the best Star Wars movies ever
"Rogue One" is one the most outstanding modern Star Wars movie. This movie fills in some plot holes and introduces events leading up to the opening of "A New Hope". But unlike other Star Wars movies, this one is refreshing. The film acknowledges the look and feel of different planets, making this an entire new experience. Gareth Edwards is the director, and he is capable of having unique beauty and some emotional weight in a blockbuster. The audience can absolutely feel the impact of characters getting killed off one by one; and the moment of desperation when the green ray of the Death Star tears through an entire planet.
With all that being said, the whole movie has a sense of realism to it. Edwards uses CGI so appropriately that each explosion or minor scene has impact. Each leap or slip feels intense. Although the CG faces don't always look realistic. And the realism isn't solely because of the CGI; emotions also play a big part. Each fresh individual character has a unique personality. The audience spends a solid amount of time before the movie daringly kills off everyone (which is very uncommon in a Star Wars movie). But emotional ending could've had way more impact if the protagonists had spent more time together. There's barely time to settle down and develop significant character before another fight scene. Sure, everyone has a personality, but the characters can feel dull and not fully fleshed out. In the end, the characters still feel more realistic than most Star Wars characters.
Lastly, I just want to say this film is absolutely worth watching. The film is not overly reliant on nostalgia or other IP if the franchise, which is so rare for Star Wars nowadays. The theme on surrendering is also memorable. Everything about this is so unlike Star Wars, and that's what makes "Rogue One" one of the best Star wars movies ever.
Matchstick Men (2003)
Well-acted and clever
This is one amazing movie that has a good balance of emotions and complexity of plot. I would say that this movie is less about the crime and more about the people behind it. And the characters develop so rapidly that you'd expected the movie to be chaotic or uneven. But surprisingly, everything feels just right due to Nicolas Cage's energetic performance and a great screenplay. Nicolas Cage delivers one of his better performances. He is psychotic when he needs to be and calm or emotional at the right time. Sam Rockwell's performance, while being a bit less dramatic, is still very on the spot. The chemistry between Nicolas Cage and Alison Lohman is also worth watching.
The movie itself is also about many topics such as a well planned crime, a man lost in life, and a person who brings something new to the man's life. And the complexity of the movie can be truly felt during the last thirty minutes of the movie. You can observe how Cage's character, Roy, falls apart and goes through a breakdown. But you can still sense hope when you see the last shot of the movie. Everything, down to the details of Roy's house, is so cleverly constructed. This movie proves that Ridley Scott can handle dramas when working with a good script. The ending might not be exactly PERFECT but it doesn't need to be any better either.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Soulless and certainly not magical
This movie is certainly for the Harry Potter fans who will pay for anything Harry Potter related. The Fantastic Beasts franchise started with two extremely mediocre but still acceptable movies. The second movie already feels boring and clueless. The main problem with the franchise is that it simply doesn't feel like it knows what it's doing. The characters in Harry Potter have proper background stories, whereas characters in Fantastic Beasts just pop in and out. Especially Tina, who slowly fades into the background and becomes an unimportant character as the movies progress.
Then there's the unevenness of the tone. The first movies is a semi light-hearted and fairly entertaining movie. Then the second movie's pacing is way too slow. But there's a finale that kind of explains some plot. But this movie is just a political drama with a bad fight scene at the end. And most importantly, where are the beasts?
This movie has too much Dumbledore, to a point where the beasts just become sole really unnecessary subplot. The opening sequence is decent, but everything just goes down from there. Lastly, Grindelwald turned from an ambitious and wild wizard to a wannabe political leader. The change of character is too sudden and it doesn't make sense. I know this is due to Johnny Depp (unfortunately) being replaced by Mads Mikkelson, but at least make the change logical. Grindelwald can't turn from a white haired cult leader to a British gentleman. It feels like Warner Bros and J. K. Rowling are trying to profit off of the Harry Potter fan base.
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Lazy movie
This movie looses the magic of The Matrix. Everybody who's seen the previous three Matrix movies will be very disappointed. Everyone expects something similar to the famous bullet doge, or Neo vs. Smith, or even the final fight in the rain. But the movie delivers none of that. Every fight scene is full of fake-looking CGI, neither Neo nor Trinity really does any physical fighting. Instead, they just use their Matrix powers. You can't feel any impact during fight scenes. The majority of epic sequences are already in the trailer. The tone and pacing feel weird and there's very little chemistry between some of the new characters. The movie also has a lot of dull conversation while attempting to bring back nostalgia. This movie is overly reliant on the previous movies. There would be a reference to the trilogy once in a while, sometimes there will even be a scene directly from the trilogy. The whole movie just feels lazy. The only good sequence is towards the finale, when Neo and Trinity are motorcycling through the city.
Moonfall (2022)
Can't even laugh at it
It's another classic Roland Emmerich disaster movie. That means there's going to be a family, something that will destroy earth, and an incredible amount of illogical events. This movie took all that way too far. It's fair to say that this is Emmerich's worst movie. First, NASA took an old spaceship from a museum to fly to the moon. And they realized the moon is empty and that it's actually a secret base for ancient civilization. Characters can also run out of oxygen for 5 minutes and be perfectly fine. But before all that, the first 50% of the movie is just characters dragging on about family and space logic that makes no sense. And the amount of plot holes and unprofessional language will make you question the writer. The pacing towards the end is also terrible. You can never focus on the adventures on the moon because there are always unimportant side plots. For example, the trio goes into the moon, and it would cut to a car chase on earth. Then there would be a big reveal at the end presented to you by a voiceover in the worst way possible. Then a character sacrifices himself and everyone there reacted in the most boring and unrealistic way possible. At the end, earth is saved and there's an Easter egg hinting a sequel.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
A superficial ad for Queen
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a film that doesn't aim to study the legendary Freddie Mercury, but instead displays a fictionalized account of his life. Scenes such as parties and concerts flash by in the film for the sake of depicting impressive sights. The problem with having original band members produce this film is that the account is biased. Bassist John Deacon seems unimportant in the film just because he left the band. On the other hand, Brian May and Roger Taylor always seem to get Mercury together after he goes through difficult times. It's a film that does not provide insight into its subjects life.
The standard music biopic formula is applied to this film, and it somewhat works. However, the writing fails to show Queen's uniqueness and innovation in music. The cinematography is also bland. The biggest issue is the rapid editing which creates bad pacing for most scenes. "Bohemian Rhapsody" had potential, especially with an interesting band as its story. However, the attempt of making the film acceptable to most audience made it another forgettable biopic.