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Reviews
F9 (2021)
The Continuation of a Downward Tread
56/100
F9 is somehow the most outrageous film in the F&F franchise, while at the same time being the weakest and least interesting of the batch. The film is just not what viewers come for, and unlike every other film in the franchise, it's not even a great "turn your brain off" action film, as there aren't many action scenes at all. Along with the lackluster plot and action scenes, as big of a budget as F9 has backing it, the special effects are at times brutal, looking comical and not for a single second realistic. The one saving grace of F9 that prevents it from being a complete waste of time through and through is that the final act pulls out all the punches and delivers outrageous action familiar to all of the other films. Over the last two or three installments of F&F, the films have continued to tread downward and get worse and worse, partially because with each new film released, they try to one-up the last and do something viewers have never seen before, and with now 9 films in, there's not much left to do. Given how much money these films make, I don't see the franchise ending anytime soon, and at this rate it might just dig itself into the grave over time.
Fatherhood (2021)
Hart More Vulnerable Than Ever Before
76/100
with now a second venture into the "dramedy" category of movies, Kevin Hart follows up 2019's The Upside with Fatherhood, a movie with a melancholy plot and storyline that gets uplifted from Hart's constant presence of positivity and comedy, much like what he did in The Upside. This film is not groundbreaking or monumental in any stretch of the terms, but it's simply a feel-good film that appeals to a wide range of audiences and can provide a sense of relatability for many and uplift people from rough parts of their life. Kevin Hart is really starting to prove his doubters and nay-sayer's wrong with his recent performances, toning in his well known comedic style and jokes, while also committing himself to much more serious roles that require a lot from him, and that growth is exactly what you want to see from actors in today's constantly changing Hollywood landscape.
Luca (2021)
Pixar Better Than Ever
86/100
Luca is yet another example of Pixar flexing its muscles as a studio and showing how they can make animated masterpieces out of nearly any material that is handed to them. The animation teams at Pixar recognize the true beauty and art of animation and how much more can be added to a scene through vibrant landscapes and colors, and there is simply not much like their work at all. Luca reminds me of 2017's Coco, as it is a true love letter to the culture and background surrounding the characters in the film, making it diverse and inclusive of other cultures, giving many a sense of relatability and connection to the film from start to finish, while introducing an entirely different group to a culture and lifestyle that they may not be familiar with, and as a result uniting many different groups of people in our world. That right there is the true magic of movies and storytelling, and it takes masterwork of a craft and true passion and dedication to accomplish it effectively. Luca is a tale of growing up, finding oneself, and accepting others for who they are on the inside rather than simply what you see on the outside, and is the perfect film for educating the youth of our world today and as a reminder for older audiences.
In the Heights (2021)
The Combination of Two Creative Geniuses
98/100
In The Heights is a near perfect combination of two of the best creative minds in the industry in Lin Manuel Miranda and John M. Cho. The film provides viewers a reminder of why Miranda is so respected in all communities of Hollywood as he as a mastered skill in developing a plot with strong intrigue and emotion through the beauty of music. Following up on his success of Crazy Rich Asians, Cho once again immerses the viewers into a strong, beautiful and passionate environment that adds on to the film even more and tells a truly heartfelt story. In The Heights has a story to tell at every second of the film, and with a lengthy run time in 143 minutes, viewers never feel bored or as if things are being dragged on. Every scene and shot in the film has a purpose that allows for an entire community to have their own story and purpose that creates an audience attachment to each character and for the community as a whole. From the lyrics, texture and instrumentals of the music to the eye-grabbing set design and perfect plot and choreography, this film has the power to make audiences laugh, cheer and cry while also uniting all communities and celebrating diversity and life.
Cruella (2021)
Cruella is, simply put, phenomenal.
89/100
Cruella is simply put, phenomenal. A beautifully and artistically styled film that sets the perfect mood for the dark and cynical title character, the film just feels rebellious and makes you want to root for a true villain and horrific person. Emma Stone shows once again why she is so highly praised in the film community alongside a great performance from Emma Thompson who inserts her greatness in acting throughout the films entirety. Director Craig Gillespie has earned all his stripes in the film industry with films like I, Tonya and now Cruella, as his direction never fails to have intricately designed sets, costume designs and music choice. Gillespie truly knows what has to be done to truly fully immerse an audience in a story and environment and shows it off to perfection with this film. There is no doubt for a single second that Cruella is the best of the Disney live-action adaptations to date, and it will likely stay that way for many years to come.
Wrath of Man (2021)
Ritchie and Statham Never Fail To Impress
75/100
at the surface level, Wrath of Man is your run of the mill Guy Ritchie film. Like most of Ritchie's work, Wrath of Man acts as a puzzle, taking its time to develop and put itself together for the viewer, but as time goes on everything starts to connect, building up to a long-awaited finale that goes all out. I feel that the film could have been a bit better if some certain plot holes were addressed to a deeper level and if it's pace picked up a bit quicker, but overall viewers will get exactly what they want out of the film. There's just something about Jason Statham going to town unloading bullet clips that gets the people going.
Mortal Kombat (2021)
Just What We Asked For
76/100
high quality fight sequences and over the top gore- Mortal Kombat 2021 provides everything that the doctor ordered and delivers with a gut punch.
Stowaway (2021)
Another Mediocre Netflix Space Film
56/100
Stowaway is yet another bland, mediocre and brutally average Netflix original film taking place in space. Following suit of The Midnight Sky from 2020, Netflix once again proves that having identifiable names in the cast of a space film do not automatically make it interesting or good. There is no part of Stowaway that grabbed my attention or engaged me in any way, and the film's plot and pace simply drag on and bore the viewer for its entire duration. Toni Collette is not given nearly enough opportunity to shine and show off her skills while Anna Kendrick is given far too many chances to display her average at best acting. At the end of the day there's really nothing bad about the film in its technical areas like sound mixing/editing and cinematography but those aspects of a film are worthless and get wasted without a good and compelling plot.
Vanquish (2021)
Worst Movie of All Time
5/100
Vanquish is easily the worst movie i'll see in 2021, and will likely be the worst movie i ever see in my life. The script, the acting, the plot, and most of all the awful editing are all at the same quality of a middle school multimedia project. I had no clue what the movie was about half the time, and nearly every character has no importance whatsoever. A truly abysmally bad movie that i'm clueless as to why it was even made and released.
The Father (2020)
A Truly Daunting and Devastating Ride
82/100
The Father is a truly mesmerizing, seamless and devastating placement into the perspective of an aging and mentally ill man. all of the twists and turns faced by Anthony in the film are just as daunting and confusing for the viewer as they are for him in the film, and it makes this film a brutal but addicting watch. The movie is a seemingly endless episode of The Twilight Zone and i could have been captivated by it for at least another 30 minutes of added runtime. Hopkins and Colman both deliver master class and award-worthy performances as one would expect, just adding on to the greatness of the film
Project Power (2020)
The Best Of The Bunch Of The Recent Action Netflix Originals
Did this movie take place in New Orleans or something??
the overload of New Orleans sports references was a bit TOO noticeable at points in this movie, but it's still the most fun i've had watching people pop pills since The Matrix. i feel like it would have benefitted a bit if Foxx and JGL's characters crossed paths earlier than halfway through the movie, but their chemistry together, along with that of Dominique Fishback's, make this film very enjoyable. it's a turn your brain off action flick, and that's what Netflix has been cranking out relentlessly over the past year. of the Netflix Original action movies such as 6 Underground, Extraction, and The Old Guard, Project Power won me over the most and has me the most excited for a potential sequel in the future. this movie won't change the game by any means, but it succeeds in being an entertaining summer blockbuster.
Clerks (1994)
One of the most real and genuine movies out there
The authenticity of this film is so timeless and genuine. Smith uses his first film to introduce his audience to his personality in such a real way. the lengthy and continuous shots throughout the film make it feel as if the viewer gets thrown into the environment, and the characters in the film have no clue that they're being watched. the situations that Dante and Randall get themselves into are so avoidable and outrageous, but at the same time seem as if they can happen to anyone. this movie is just a hilarious good time, and takes advantage of every second of its runtime.
Spree (2020)
Not perfect by any means, but has a lot to say
70/100
let's be honest, this concept of film, although new and innovative, has been done before. from the fails of the Unfriended films, to the truly great Searching starring John Cho, this idea of making a film that consists of shots all based off of the internet, whether it's via phone, computer etc., is very complex, and difficult to make a coherent and engaging movie with. Spree does feel a little crammed with too many things going on at once at certain points, but that's what the creators are going for, as it makes the viewer uncomfortable and makes it hard to watch, while still dragging you in and making you beg for me. the film gets off to a shaky start and struggles to find out where it's going at first, but around the halfway point, Kurt begins to go truly off the rails, which improves the story so much. the acting is by no means perfect, as many small side characters deliver poor, cringeworthy performances, but Joe Keery and Shaseer Zamata steal the show as the headline roles, and create a truly haunting and tense atmosphere. this movie is by no means perfect at all, but it successfully does what it was trying to do, and delivers a very real message about how the internet is starting to consume our society for the worse.
Stranger Things (2016)
Stranger Things 3 (spoilers)
I thought this was easily the best season out of all 3, which really shocked me. This show masters the concepts of character development, atmosphere, and combining horror with comedy.
You genuinely feel for every character in this show, even for Billy who is part of the attempt to take over the human race. The relationships built between Elle and Mike, Max and Lucas, Nancy and Jonathon, as well as with Hopper and Joyce are simply top tier and you begin to support every single one. you feel for the internal struggles of the characters growing up and being confused, whether it's Mike not quite understanding relationships and girls and having trust issues, or Will struggling to grow up with the rest of his friends and accept change. It's real word stuff, and the relatability of it makes it great.
The atmosphere of this show is like no other. it really genuinely makes you think these kids are from the 80's, even though they were all born post 2000. The outfits, the music, the pop culture, the environment they live in is all perfect. The thing that really made me extremely appreciative of this season is the addition of Star Court mall. the amount of time spent in this mall throughout the season really makes you notice just how much detail the creators of this show put into the setting of it. every last inch of that mall is straight out of the 80's. we've seen the kids in arcades and other iconic 80's locations before, but the addition of the mall just hit different and really solidified this series as a phenomenal piece of art, able to bring anybody back in time. I know that the guys on the pod always joke about Finn Wolfhard only having roles where he is riding his bike all over town, which is very true to this point in his career, but there's just something about the way he presents his characters. He has an aesthetic about him that makes him fit into any retro themed role, and he presents such depth and emotional performances in his roles that he makes you feel for his character every time. I don't think he'd be the same actor that many people love if he just played a kid in a modern setting.
The last thing i'd like to point out is the comedy and horror combination that this show provides. Viewers can watch this show and laugh like crazy while still becoming tense and scared of all the darkness that the show provides. A big factor to the comedy is the chemistry between these characters. The actors are truly all best friends and spend a major potion of their time together, and because of this, whenever the characters make fun of each other or make jokes it's always hilarious because it seems like something you would do with your best friends. The really great part about the comedy of this show however is that you can be presented the scariest, darkest situation of how the world is about to be destroyed, yet they are still able to throw other situations and jokes in there that make you laugh. Perfect examples of this are towards the end of the season, with Dustin and Susie as well as Steve and Robin. At the time of the comedic relief of Dustin and his long distance girlfriend Susie, we are at the most suspenseful and important part of the series, where Joyce, Hopper and Murray are executing their plan against the Russians to destroy their machine. When Dustin is asking Susie for the code to unlock the safe and she keeps playing with him I found myself actually screaming at the TV. But then out of nowhere they bring the most charming moment of the series in my opinion, and break out singing The Never Ending Story, which you can't stop yourself from bringing a smile to your face. The directors are able to make you go from frightened and worried for the characters to laughing at the bond of Dustin and Susie in the matter of seconds. With Steve and Robin, they have their lives at stake with the Russians, and viewers are under the impression that they are going to die, and even they begin to reminisce on life as if they're living their last moments. But then they get drugged, and the funniest moments of the series follow suit. These characters are in huge trouble and could potentially die at any moment but you can't help but laugh out loud at their interactions with each other and the bond built when they're both under the influence. Another perfect example of taking a scary and suspenseful situation and making it watchable for any viewer by lightening it with comedy. I never watch TV shows and always think they're too long and stretched out no matter what, but somehow the creators of this show get me hooked for 8-10 one hour long episodes every time they release a new season. It's truly perfect television in my eyes.
Glass (2019)
A Pure Masterpiece
Yes, I know what you're thinking when you see the title of my review. You think I'm crazy and delusional, and that there is no way this movie is a 10/10 from a director like Shamylan who often takes risks that don't pay off. Yes, the fact that I'm a giant fan of Unbreakable and Split, and consider them on my list of favorite movies does make a little difference. The job that Shamylan does in this whole trilogy with character development is unmatched by any other in my opinion. You feel for Elijah, David, and Kevin, no matter what they've done in their lives. Shamylan shows you their past and what made them who they are today. Elijah never has known his place in the world and never felt he has fit in anywhere. David a man going through a struggling family life. Kevin coping with the fact that his mother abused him as a child and his father left. You feel for all of these characters and have an emotional connection with them. Glass takes two of my favorite movies of all time, and turns it into arguably my favorite movie of all time. I understand those hating on this movie and saying it's "weird", but that's what it's supoosed to be. It's a Shamylan movie, it's not supposed to be mainstream, and not everyone is supposed to like it. But if you have connected with this series of movies as much as I have, you will love this film. The acting is superb, 10/10. Mcavoy gives one of my favorite performances of all time. You genuinely think this man is insane and he's perfect for this role. As in Unbreakable, Willis and Jackson KILL it, but we expected no less from two legends. The plot is so unpredictable, and you never know exactly what is going to happen. I have seen many, many movies over the years, and am always critical and find a few holes in them that keep them from a 10. But I honestly see no holes or things I didn't like in this. The ending was the perfect ending to this series in my opinion, and I was SO satisfied. This is my first 10/10 star movie I have ever done, and this is definitely the movie that deserves it. Purely amazing.
The Upside (2017)
Do not believe the hate for this movie!!
This is coming from a non Kevin Hart fan. I've never liked Kevin Hart that much and have always thought his comedy is forced and exaggerated, and just not real. However, this is the first Kevin Hart movie where I can say I left the theatre VERY pleased, and saying "this is actually a great movie". Kevin Hart plays his most serious role yet but adds comedic relief at points, but it works because the movie isn't ocersaturated with comedy. Brian Cranston plays a phenomenal role and you actually really start to connect with and feel for Phillip. Nicole Kidman also has a great performance in this film. Anyone saying that this movie is bad just because it's a remake of a 2011 film are just stubborn and don't want to like this movie heading into it. If you go in with an open mind and no negative expectations, it's great!! I'm very pleased with this being the first movie I saw at the movies in 2019