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The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Scuffed Matrix
Maybe its the product of time, but this movie felt like what would happen if some outsiders tried to make a Matrix movie as a B-movie. It wasnt bad. But not incredible either. The underlying hidden protagonist is time, which is kind of depressing and contains a plot hole where the Matrix world has changed as a result of time progression in the real world, which doesnt align with the concept that the matrix exists as a snapshot of society around the time it was originally filmed, explained away as this Matrix is a reboot version thanks to NEO (thanks neo). The fact the dialogue or story are still not up to par of the original story line and this one borrows so heavily as a reboot for content, just adds fuel to the fire of the conspiracy theory that the original story line was stolen from someone and the directors had to do humiliation rituals.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
It's a bad movie.
Usually a movie has a story to tell. This one felt like going through the motions of film making as a cash grab assured not to offend the easily offended or get passed the Chinese film censors. It's not completely irredeemable since there's good acting and millions worth of production budget, hence why not 1 star. It really solidifies linking star wars with a personality flaw of low brow mindless consumption that makes it a shameable offense to be any where in it's fan structure.
Ren's transformation feels rushed for time and his death cannot be explained beyond "movie magic" since he died for the production companies idea of wrapping up their film. That's a microcosm of a macrocosm that's somewhat telling since its setting a new benchmark of what makes a bad movie bad when you have to ask yourself "what did this character die from?" and the answer youre left with is the movie executives needed him to die. That's not consistent with a solid storyline or any type of world building consistency.
It just all feels like a hijacking of a franchise and a blatant cash grab appealing to the absolute lowest common denominator.Really had an underlying insidious feel to it all like a santa in the city of lost children vibe where something uncanny or unsettling is masquerading as something its discovered you might show fondness to for an ulterior agenda "but you just cant put your finger on what that is"(I can).
Im sure George Lucas has laughed all the way to the bank several times now and Imagine disney sitting there like a defeated emperor palpatine raging over their toy sales while the final scene of this film of the emperors ships falling from the "sky" is some kind of an analogy to the collapse of civilization as we know it. And Fin you've finished the 8 part sequel that is STAR WARS. you played yourself, son. It's safe to go home and die now.
Strange But True (2019)
Meh. pretty good
Meh. pretty good if you're into this sort of thing. If you sit around reading Stephen Kings "Dolores Claiborne", drink cups of herbal tea with both hands or have fallen asleep to "gone girl" in a hotel somewhere you might get a kick out of it. It had a story, the writer had an idea for a story and that story didnt feel derivative. As someone where this movie is not right up my alley of genres, I watched it and dont feel I need my hour and a half back or had any complaints with its execution as a movie.
Best F(r)iends: Volume 1 (2017)
Riveting
Right away this film reminded me of the time I purchased fabric and the guy tries to measure the width of the fabric and not the length. I should have said I wanted the entire roll since the width will always remain the same. Instead I said what I see is a scrap of fabric that is 2/3 of a yard long and he said "Ok we'll go with that" This mimics Tommy and Gregs relationship in Friendship over profit. We are all looking for golden teeth and sometimes we end up with only lemons. An absolutely stunning masterpiece that grabs your attention from beginning to end. Can't wait for part 2.
Cargo (2017)
Skip this and watch the 7 minute version unless you like killing time
I'm really torn between a 4 and a 6. When I think about the film related to the short I am disappointed about what could have been and want to rate this lower. The aboriginal SJW trope feels completely forced when it literally piggy backs on the original scene. It adds nothing and simply destroys what should be the most powerful scene in the movie. It starts out good enough until the zombies are lack luster in special effects taking a unique interpretation, if that's what you want to call that, And it's all down hill from there until you realize, like I did, it's destroying the concept of a very well put together 7 minute short, supposedly created by the same people. Save yourself some time and anguish and just watch the short.
In fact, Watch this until the car wreck scene. Turn it off and go watch the short. Every minute beyond that is just disappointing.
6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain (2017)
Balls
In my opinion this movie was desperate for content and lacking intelligence to the point of underestimating my own. Aimo Koivunen's story would have been a better choice for content of a film on this subject and includes survival meth. Aimo's story, which makes 6 below pale in comparison, indicates anything "extraordinary" could be attributed to meth. What can also be attributed to meth is the main characters entire predicament, who is eventually desperately rescued by National Guard. I found none of this heroic or inspiring. An additional slap in the face is the movie makes no mention of National Guard and instead, when faced with a movie devoid of pretty girls takes the artistic liberty to replace all that with a single pretty girl. I feel the film may have taken multiple artistic liberties to create content to the point it was hard to take seriously. character interactions where so stupid it was hard to watch at times. The true story is the protagonist was an idiot, graciously handed a second chance at life and refuses to let that act go in vain. This movie p#@#3 all over that and tries to spin a story of heroism that is so thin it's translucent bordering on endorsement of meth, which just about every military in the world also endorses. Don't take my word for it ask Aimo. I eat my scabs for fun.
Embers (2015)
A breathe of fresh air
This has a feel of old style Sci Fi of new and original ideas that are plausible. The plot is pleasantly original in the genre of post apocalyptic films. Due to the nature of the plot, it's hard for the story to be handed out on a silver platter so a lot of inference and loose ends take place. I feel these do not detract, rather add to the films brilliance. The style is out of the ordinary and unique but there is a story being told that I found both captivating and enjoyable. There is no portion on this film that wasn't expertly executed. Extraordinarily brilliant.
A Ghost Story (2017)
pleasantly surprised
This movie is not something I'd make a point of watching on face value but is worth a view. I wasn't expecting much. A indie convoluted hipster attempt at "art". I wasn't expecting this film to grab my attention, but was intrigued by the idea of a guy walking around in a sheet and on that front this movie did not disappoint. About the first 30 min. I got the cliff notes with the fast forward button the movie is slow here and not worth watching beyond developing the cliff notes. The movie really begins after that where the filmography continues the same tempo but the plot speeds up (or starts)and the movie starts grabbing your attention. I'm taking off a star for the first 30 minutes tempo almost encouraging you to give up on it. This is not a movie to go in expecting something, question or think about so I can see where the poor reviews are coming from.
For me it was an exercise in the state of now, had a story and got my attention, distracting me. I found it more entertaining then gone girl but in the same genre of movies you catch flipping through channels at a hotel relaxing before you go to sleep. May be a bit heavy for that if it actually grabs your attention. otherwise you'll be wanting your time back spending the 20 minutes afterwards poking holes in the plot.
Fear the Walking Dead (2015)
Forced Telenovela
Apparently AMC's hit show Walking dead has lice with talk shows and telenovelas and talk shows about telenovelas. We'll see how long they can effortlessly cash in on distant relationships to the original before their inability to stand on their own feet becomes painfully obvious at riding the coat tails of other shows. As a fan of the original I've been too forgiving in waiting for fear to catch their stride as a new show and well into the second season it's not improving but getting worse. It's become clear this show suffers from a severe lack of direction. Any zombie antagonist is effortlessly dismissed by camouflaging of the protagonist and what we're left with is a soap opera of idle character feelings and relationships. The multiculturism of the cast feels so forced its awkward. The writing has no direction and I imagine forced by dead-lines where the writer knows this show has no direction and is told just write something..anything. With the later episodes I'm starting to wonder if this show isn't courting telemundo with their inevitable cancellation the amount of the show that's subtitled from Spanish. I'm sure production in Mexico has a hidden benefit of being able to obtain hoards of back ground actors to appear as undead which may be cost prohibitive in the US, but it's left completely useless by the shows aforementioned direction as a telenovela. The post apocalyptic grittyness of the original is completely absent and you're left with an impression the true struggle the characters are enduring are their feels and emotion. I have a feeling everyone involved has a deep knowing they are not involved in any thing great here, has given up and are along for the ride waiting for the next project enjoying their vacation in cancun. With the exception of Colman Domingo who refuses to allow such a petty thing as a terrible show prevent him from demonstrating his prowess as a terrific actor; The one redeeming quality this show has at the end of the day.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Cinematic Masterpiece
George Miller has bested himself and risen into a status of film maker legend such as Stanley Kubrick and uh...Stanley Kubrick.. for his attention to detail and love of his art. Some movies are for profit but you get a strong sense that everyone who worked on this was aware they where participating in creating something great and Millers dedication seems to have spread like a plague. The post production was unrivaled and a thing of true beauty. The utilization of frame rates that was experimented with in the previous MM films was honed to perfection and turned into a special effect of emotions all to it's own. Due to the heightened frame rates and extensive frames more movie was packed into a smaller time frame.The manipulation of frame rate was able to subliminally transcend the protagonist plot armor barrier. If I could criticize this movie, it's in not easing up on the viewer throughout the entire film with this subliminal trick. This factor alone makes it worthy of it's R rating and fury title. George Miller is the man behind the mask of Immortus Joe and may have been possessed by similar evil spirits into creating this.
Plague (2014)
Inept
Mindless and contrived attempt at an art film. I feel someone needed to challenge the writer/directors drone like artistic process and didn't. It felt like there was a lack of a clear plot and they "winged" it hoping a movie would come out the back end if they stumbled through production. What resulted was a series of random minor plot lines that were pointless and illogical, steering away from what was supposed to be the major plot line,then loosely knitted together. The movie droned on at a steady pace and left you with a yearning for an end or actual plot line. This writer/director seems to be proud of what he's accomplished here, but what he created is an awful and misleading waste of time. Maybe he is proud of creating a film. Any film will do.