bementar Reviews

The Batman (2022)

Anti Anti Hero

[6/10 · 6 January 2023]

The best part of The Batman was seeing Batman the Detective. Detective Comics at last again!

Theme was overall intriguing. Cast wasn't bad.

The worst part of this movie is what it could have been. It almost reached it. It was in it's grasp, but then the moving kept going for another half hour.

It could have ended with the Riddler confronting Batman in Arkham. That was a good scene - forcing the similarities. Batman doesn't intentionally kill, and doesn't go after white collar crimes. Difference (at that point in the movie) ended there.

Could have just gone straight to the Joker for a closer or even post credit.

M.O.D.O.K. (2021)

Robot Chicken?

[3/10 · 3 June 2021]

Did you love Robot Chicken?

This might be up your alley. Of course, Robot Chicken was at least on occasion funny.

Patton Oswalt's portrayal of MODOK is a sad knock off of Eugene Mirman's character of the same name from Bob's Burgers.

For being the main character of the show... Patton Oswalt has proven a poor choice.

Even the current most positive user review can't sugar coat it - "the show doesn't have any laugh out load moments" - and that's from a reviewer who views the show (and Oswalt's performance) favorably.

Extreme fans of Marvel might enjoy this Lampoon. Might.

Couldn't remotely recommend to anyone else.

The Magic School Bus Rides Again (2017–2021)

Some remakes are good - not this one.

[2/10 · 20 October 2020]

There is nothing so challenging as filling a competent person's shoes.

Though, some people don't care - or worse, don't know any better (see other SNL alum Jimmy Fallon).

It is clear that Lilly Tomlin is no longer with the show - the wit (and much of the education) is lost.

If you grew up with Adventure Time maybe you might like the show? But somehow it's less educational than that.

All the charm of the original series is as gone as Little Richard.

The second star is only of merit for honor off what the show SHOULD have been and once was.

Miss Virginia (2019)

Uzo is amazing. Also - this review explains the otherwise low rating this film has.

[10/10 · 26 February 2020]

Uzo nails it as Miss Virginia. Worth a watch just for her.

The fact that the movie is good makes it even better. The fact that it's based off a true story is even more icing.

Of course, the results are still pending as to how much good it's done (since it got canned after 5 years)... See the non-written reviews (as of this writing just above 6 stars) compared to the written reviews.

That's a lot of unnecessary dissonance that reflects some of the divisiveness of politics in America.

But specifically D.C.

Former DC Mayor Walter Washington doesn't look great in this movie (though the actor is a dead ringer for him) and Mayor "for Life" Marion B didn't look good either.

The film knew it... They're elected officials? Why did they have to make up names?

The 'bad guy' DC Representative is supposed to be Eleanor Holmes Norton but looks nothing like her, nor acts incompetent enough to be her.

The 'good guy' Representative is from 'the other' party.

The film doesn't mention ANY of that. Names nor party. But you can't make the Mayor for Life look bad...

Extra info: The bill was signed into law under George W. Bush and was phased out under Barrack Obama - for more info check out the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Yesterday (III) (2019)

Kate McKinnon is JarJar

[7/10 · 13 December 2019]

From the outset this is one of those movies that you want to enjoy. A movie verging on greatness, no less. An original story... that's still good. Strong and believable title role actors. And, without spoiling the story, a wholesome merit of morals that leaves you feeling that your time wasn't wasted in watching this...

Except for Kate McKinnon. A one dimensional JarJar Binks that destroyed the willful suspension of disbelief that story tellers rely upon.

This story doesn't quite reach the greatness mark. I'm not a great enough writer to know what would bring it there. But McKinnon is the most obvious weak link whose replacement, even by the likes of Sam the Eagle, would be an improvement.

Captain Marvel (2019)

No heart. Acting, directing, or otherwise.

[3/10 · 5 December 2019]

Okay, there was the cat. That was the highlight of the movie. Seriously. The live action Dora the Explorer is better. This movie is currently the nadir of the Marvel cinematic universe.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)

Hot Tub Time Machine

[7/10 · 5 December 2019]

Yeah... it's kind of like that... I mean, by no means was it amazing or 'Oh my gosh! You HAVE to see this!' but it certainly wasn't as bad as expected. And, well, that says a lot really. Would you prefer a movie that exceeds expectations or fails them? This movie was better than it should have been. It was fresh and they clearly had fun making it. That alone made it better than most of the movies that came out in 2019 - including blockbusters.

Klaus (2019)

Instant Classic

[10/10 · 23 November 2019]

The bulk of holiday movies, especially Christmas movies, are notoriously bad and fall victim to just awful... everything.

Klaus manages to take what would otherwise be a predictable story and make it enjoyable.

It might take a second viewing - perhaps the bar is simply too low when it comes to Christmas movies. But the fact that there is a desire of a second viewing at all speaks wonders.

There is magic out there. And Klaus makes you believe in it.

Aquaman (2018)

It was better than Wonder Woman

[6/10 · 9 April 2019]

The villains were substantially better fleshed out and you substitute a 'hot dude' for a 'hot chick'.

This movie also took itself substantially less seriously which helped it out a lot.

Finally, while being far from great, this movie is at least tolerable on rewatch.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

A build that achieved the near impossible!

[10/10 · 10 February 2019]

Any good build starts with a good foundation. In this case see The LEGO Movie.

The Second Part picks up immediately where the first left off and somehow in doing so it achieves the near impossible: it was not only a worthy successor, but was able to carry a message without being preachy.

The story has a learning curve for the character and for the audience. It doesn't spoon feed it to you nor shove it down your throat. It's there for you to take or not. Like good morals usually are.

The animation is top notch like the first - and the movie will likely be criticized by some for that (as was the first). It's LEGO - a medium where the colors are often bright. This should be a surprise to no one walking into the theater.

The music and original songs were great, again living up to the high bar the first LEGO Movie set. It makes it too easy to say "Everything is Still Awesome"... even when it's not.

Does it live up to the first one? Yes! Does it surpass it? We've yet to see... How many times will I still be entertained when my kids want to watch it again? Because the truth is: the first movie is still entertaining and one of the best movies to come out this decade.

That's a great foundation to build on. And this build makes full use of it to everyone's enjoyment!

Incredibles 2 (2018)

Threading the line of for parents and their children

[10/10 · 15 June 2018]

The bar was set high.

The Incredibles 2 does not disappoint. It remains true to the spirit of the first movie without a reliance on recycled material. Perhaps even exceeding its predecessor, which is seldom a small feat.

It is a rare sequel that can stand on it's own without reliance upon the original, one that wasn't made purely as a cash grab, but for love of a story. There is no doubt that the writers, animators, and voice talent enjoyed every moment working with this film - and it was a joy for them to share their work once again with the audience.

In fact, the cast goes so far as to thank the audience for sharing in their work rather than denigrating them. This is in no way Finding Dory - and that is very much a good thing.

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Never have something so 'action packed' been so boring

[2/10 · 2 June 2018]

Is it because the cinematography is drab? Was that because of Ron Howard or Lord and Miller? Did Disney over 'disneyfy' the franchise?

All those are questions up for debate.

What isn't up for debate? The claim 'Star Wars Fatigue' is damage control. Bad damage control.

If you're curious what an over budget train wreck looks like: this is the film for you. Otherwise relegate it to the same shelf as "The Hobbit: Trilogy" and recognize it for what it is - someone just cashing in on a lucrative franchise at the financial expense of those who love everything else about the franchise.

Bright (I) (2017)

Cop Drama gets 'Medieval'

[9/10 · 26 December 2017]

Perhaps some 'critics' have an arbitrary dislike against Netflix. Others toward Fantasy or Sci-Fi - so much so they ignorantly use the two terms interchangeably. Honestly, the poor reviews of Bright made it all the more surprising to get to experience how good it actually was.

People hold grudges, we get that. Bright gets that. That might also be one of the reasons why it made some critics so uncomfortable. It put those grudges right up in the viewers face to the point that it can't be ignored.

Here's the kicker though, and what sets Bright apart from many would-be moral tales. While the ethical problems of the story's world are in your face the solutions to those ethical dilemmas aren't spelled out... Much like the world we live in.

Many claim the representation of orcs as a caste archtype was offensive - but I would place my money on it being the representation elven class that really got underneath some people's skin.

What holds this movie back? Closure. But that might not be a bad thing... I want to see more of this world. And I think Netflix is going to deliver.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Did you like Batman v Superman?

[3/10 · 1 October 2017]

James Cameron put it better than I ever could, and more favorably at that. The undo criticism that has been castigated on him is all you need to know if you're curious how this movie got such 'rave' reviews.

It's not really and action movie beyond 3 scenes. It's not really a drama, there's a profound lacking of character depth outside of Chris Pine's character, Steve Trevor. Some of that is no doubt intentional, Wonder Woman has always been naive - but that had before always been one of her more alluring traits. In this movie, it seems that's her only weakness.

Superman at least has kryptonite to give us the impression of danger. He might die. This version of Wonder Woman... only way to kill a god is by another god. Presumably Ares and Zeus are dead, so what threat is there to Wonder Woman at this point? There's no fear of 'oh my gosh! Is she gong to make it?' There's no suspense.

Steve Trevor is the hero of this story. He's constantly putting himself on the line, putting himself in danger, and is there every step of the way in the scenes where Wonder Woman decides to put him at risk by doing something impulsive and misguided.

To put it another way - take last year's (2016) Moana. There is no doubt that Moana is the lead protagonist doing the most good, even encouraging the demigod Maui when his spirit and powers were broken. Steve Trevor even fit the role of amazing navigator (remember how he sailed from the Eastern Mediterranean to London in a world where the Germans still have a navy in 1918?) like Moana. Wonder Woman fit the role of Maui, except she was a full on god who's unlocking new powers at a faster rate than Superman.

And that, sadly gives us the comparison to last year's (2016) stinker Batman v Superman which introduced this version of Wonder Woman. At least that movie had action and suspense, if similar poor execution on both. At least there was the question of 'what's going to happen next?' or 'will the make it?'.

It's understandable given outside forces that this movie was able to float. But let's not kid ourselves in pretending this was groundbreaking beyond anything other than it's revenue.

The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017)

Fun to watch, not groundbreaking, but entertaining nonetheless

[7/10 · 1 October 2017]

First off, this wasn't THE LEGO Movie (And few movies likely will live up to that accolade). The Ninjago Movie was just a movie made with LEGO. If you've ever touched a brick you'll likely enjoy this movie. If not, you're less likely to.

This isn't a groundbreaking film. I doubt it's cannon for those who are familiar with the Ninjago story line, this is a big rewrite of events. But it fits that cozy realm of watchable and entertaining.

You don't have to be a LEGO fanatic to get every inside joke, but having the childhood experience of play helps. It'll make you laugh a few times, and there are indeed lots of colors. Why professional critics think that's a bad thing is beyond me.

This movie likely isn't for everyone. And I doubt it was intended to be. It's a kids film and stays comfortably in that realm while not boring adults to death - which is more than can be said about a number of other films for 'grown ups' in 2017.

The Big Short (2015)

Everyone hates poetry

[10/10 · 7 August 2016]

Great drama moves you. It excites you. Scares you. Makes you sing. Makes you cry.

The Big Short makes you shake your fist. The Big Short is driven as much by its Iago as it is its Othello, and deservedly so.

The events in the story did happen. Many people still don't care. The Big Short gives you reason to care. That is what separates this film from being merely a documentary and turns it into high drama.

No matter your politics - mark this, like Citizen Kane, as a movie that should be seen at least once. It is not always comfortable to watch. And that is a good thing - The Big Short is a documentary of a real life horror that unfolds in slow motion, and reminds us that even after the fact - no one is listening. Because truth is like poetry.

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

I want to give it more - but couldn't in good conscience

[7/10 · 30 July 2016]

Going right into it: Star Trek can be a controversial franchise. Like so many other things many will love it or hate it simply based on the name. Add to that, that there is a legacy to uphold for the entire universe AND this is a reboot of said universe.

Those are a lot of bars to overcome. And, for the most part, Beyond achieves that - and is able to do so on its own without having to immerse oneself in Star Trek lore.

Out of the 13 Star Trek movies, this solidly belongs on the on the better half, nearer the top than not. Not inasmuch as this movie is especially great, but remember Star Treks 1,3,5,7,9,10,12. That's not to say that each didn't have their moments. But...

Beyond has a lot to offer: the acting in the crew is by far the best of the reboot. There are a lot of good action scenes and special effects and elements of sci-fi. For the 'classic Trekkie' there's also a lot to offer in the way of homages and memorial. And the sound track is as solid as its two predecessors.

That said, there are still enough plot holes to hold the movie back. And while much of the action was well done, much could have been edited away without loss to the overall film. Lastly, the film sought to accomplish more than it could - it's ambitions were high, but it still felt lacking.

Perhaps that's the hardest part to quantify. Yes, plot holes needed closing - but beyond that, I don't know exactly what the film needed to be better than it was.

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)

It wasn't terrible.

[6/10 · 17 July 2016]

Yes - it's another reboot/sequel. Perhaps the worst part of the movie was it's hype. It's not great. It might be borderline good. But anyone trying to give this a 10/10 has as much to sell you as someone giving it a 1/10.

But, while it's impossible not to make comparisons to the originals (unless of course you actually haven't seen them) this movie does stand on its own. Mind you, it doesn't fly as high as the Star Trek reboot, but it's still oceans better than Finding Dory.

There are some things Ghostbusters (2016) does right: Cameos and when the original theme song come on. Seriously, when it's Ray Parker's "Ghostbusters" playing in the background - those are the great parts of the movie. And most of the original cast add a lot without taking away the willful suspension of disbelief. And there are a few good one lines and jokes that made the entire audience laugh.

But then, there are the things it does wrong: much like watching Jimmy Fallon, there were lots of jokes that were almost funny - but the deliver/timing made for a quiet crowd for the majority of the film. Much of that has to do with several of the cast members not creating memorable characters. Perhaps if there wasn't a comparison to legendary SNL iconic characters there might be less to compete with. They knew how high the bar was, and perhaps they recognized that despite a bloated budget of special effects, they should have spent more money on better writers and editors (A long, boring, 20 minutes more than the originals) even saying "Well, that wasn't terrible." at the end.

They aren't wrong. But by no means was it that great either.

If you're a fan of the originals - you may still be disappointed, but it's at least worth watching, even if for nothing more than the cameos - and the Easter egg teaser at the end.

Finding Dory (2016)

Meh

[3/10 · 17 June 2016]

Okay - Blackfish apparently caused a rewrite of the movies ending, presumably the species of the character Destiny. Okay... Pretty sure the writers had enough time to do some research and figure out that a whale-shark is not in fact a whale, and doesn't eat fish... Why not just feed the fish into the beluga's tank? Why not have the beluga 'speak whale' instead? We get it, it's a cartoon - but willful suspension of disbelief is lost when my 3 year old is calling out this sort of stuff (granted, he's been fortunate enough to go to the aquarium in Atlanta) There is no magic in Dory - in fact, it's greatest problem may be that there's too much Dory. In the first she acted as a great foil to Marlin - here... well... There's no foil for Dory.

Watch it again - as stated earlier, got a three year old so it might happen. Pay to watch it again? No. Do it by choice? No. Allow my kid to watch it again? Sure, there's worse, but then again, there's better too: frankly, "A Turtle's Tale 2" was better, with a fresher recycled soundtrack even with a remarkably similar plot line.

Currently Rotten Tomatoes is giving it a 'certified fresh' rating - I'm left wondering if there is an octopus writing their critical reviews.