Scream VI Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

 

After 6 films this franchise should continue making sequels for as long as possible. Especially if you’re able to deliver something as fresh as this latest sequel did. You would think the story would be repetitive at this point but fortunately, that’s not the case with this latest chapter. There are a ton of surprises to experience that are nearly impossible to predict which makes this experience at the movie theater worth your while, and might even leave your jaw on the floor from shock. Audience members are sure to have at least a decent time at the theaters, if not amazing if they decide to take part in this at the theater. This by far doesn’t mean the film is perfect, because it still has flaws that many slasher films are guilty of, but at this point it may be as expected and will receive a pass from most of its loyal fans.

The knife-wielding Ghostface killer is back, and it’s as if he or she has powered up to near superhuman levels. As each film is released it seems that the killer instinct for violence is heightened. This time the killer is even bolder than before which makes them even scarier. Whether events are taking place during the night or in broad daylight this killer doesn’t care and will stop at nothing to kill their victims. It’s as if the killer wants to get caught and will receive pleasure in murdering multiple people while other innocent bystanders are watching. Think about this, if you’re going throughout your day and you see a masked person stabbing someone to death at a grocery store on aisle five, would the average person jump in to help as if they’re a superhero savior? You would hope so, but in reality, some would jump in, while others would run and yell in a panic. It appears the Ghostface killer has studied the psychology of the average person’s mind and took full advantage of this which makes them much more horrifying. That is all over this film, and it’s what makes this sixth film so fascinating. 

The amount of violence is raised to newer levels too. The Scream films have always been a blood fest, but the makers of this chapter have raised the bar on that front as well too. If you’re extra sensitive to brutal violence proceed with caution. It’s quite disturbing how some people can take a life with no remorse in the slightest and then carry out their day as if everything is normal. Murder is bad no matter how you slice it, but it can in some cases be understood if the person committing the act went through some form of trauma (still no excuse and these people still need professional help and punishment). The murderer here is the former having no care in the world who they harm, and for ridiculous reasons too. This makes the story even more uncomfortable to watch but still entertaining. 

There’s a great cast to continue this franchise as well. Even though Sidney’s (Neve Campbell) character is absent this time around there’re still others who are worthy of leading the franchise. This comes from Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tar (Jenna Ortega) with their sibling relationship which was fantastic. Of course they love each other dearly and want the best for one another, and it clearly shows on screen. Towards the beginning of the film, they are clashing back and forth, but you don’t know which side you want to root for. You love them both and can see where each person is coming from. They’re both right in the way they want to handle this situation and live their lives, and you can’t help but want the best for them. The dynamic between the two of them was realistic, which makes it difficult not to care about their well-being. 

Another triumph of this film is how self-aware it is. This wasn’t executed to the best of its abilities in part 5, but the filmmakers knocked it out of the park this time around. The dialogue that was constructed felt pure in how it addressed that this is the sixth film in the franchise and how the characters in the story relate to the Hollywood structure of filmmaking. It was brilliant, true, and hilarious. It was a highlight and as stated above gives more room for even more sequels in an organic way. Nothing felt forced at all, and it may even make you a bigger fan of this film franchise than before. 

Still leaning on the positives of this film, the introduction was top notch and there’s no way you would see it coming. The ending of the film is just the same. No matter how hard someone may try, it is very difficult to try to predict who the killer(s) are under the cloak and Ghostface mask. I personally am never able to guess who the culprit is, and I wasn’t able to here either. As before with the past films, I was shocked and even more surprised now by how the film kept me guessing. 

However, as mentioned above this film is not perfect by far which is so disappointing. The reason being is at one point and time this could be considered one of the best in the entire franchise. But there is one large aspect that holds it back from obtaining that crown. These are some of the dumbest characters in the world. After six films that are all linked together, it’s ridiculous how potential victims are not strapped from head to toe with weapons. You would think that if someone is trying to murder you year after year, you would have every knife, gun, or random weapon ready at your disposal attached to your hip but that’s not the case. Slight spoiler coming but there was one character who showed up to the final showdown asking where are the weapons instead of bringing their own. This is ridiculous making you not want to root for the characters anymore from their level of stupidity. You also have characters that go out of their way to separate themselves from the group. This is moronic! I could understand if this is the first film, but it’s not. Not only that, some of the characters that are explaining the severity of the situation to the rest of the group are the ones making the illogical decisions. It makes no sense at all and is painful to watch. You also have the classic horror movie troupe of when you knock the bad guy killer (Ghostface) on the ground obtaining an advantage you run away instead of monkey stomping their face with your foot until they’re dead. This happened too many times in this film. There’s also another scene that is textbook ludicrous where the killer is trapped and instead of waiting for the police, the characters decide to run away. This aspect may destroy the experience for some because it’s just that bad, but hopefully, audience members will forgive this huge misstep. 

In the end, this film also does a great job of linking this story with past films if you’re not able to remember all the details that tie them all together. There are callbacks to the first film, and it’s all relevant to enhance the story. These Scream movies aren’t for everyone and can get a little silly at times, but at the very least they’re fun and entertaining. I praise it due to the number of surprises it has and not just being a lazy cash grab from a popular 90’s franchise. It would be a shame if they don’t make more at this point, because if the filmmakers can still be as creative as they were this time around there’s no telling how far this franchise will go. I just hope that can give the protagonists a bit more common sense, because that’s the only thing holding this part 6 back from being outstanding and amazing.

7/10

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

 

After two films in the franchise from director Peyton Reed, he stated that he no longer wants the character of Ant-Man to be the palate cleanser following up The Avengers films. Even though both his previous films were well-received critically and financially worldwide, it’s difficult to blame the man. He did the hard work and now wants more. What’s great about the Ant-Man films is that they make you comfortable. They’re a huge sigh of relief with comedy infused in for a near guaranteed good time. However, Reed has big shoes to fill if he claims this third installment is on Avenger-level status. Quantumania is an entertaining film, but it may be clear that the director’s aspirations of quality ended up somewhere lost in the multiverse. 

President Kevin Feige has also expressed in the past that he designed the MCU (The Marvel Cinematic Universe) in a way that the average non-comic book loving moviegoer will be able to comprehend the story without having seen every previous movie in the entire arc. While I do praise Quantumania for delivering something different and unique to the MCU, it’s questionable whether regular viewers will enjoy themselves. There may be clouds of confusion that fill their heads instead of enjoyment. That could be an invalid assessment, but it’s said with confidence. However, as a comic book nerd like myself, there was still plenty to leave a smile on my face.

The Ant-Man series is nothing short of funny. It always is, and that’s one of the best things about it. Sometimes we do need that light-heartedness without being too over the topic with random stupidity and that’s the lane that Ant-Man has carved out well in the MCU. While the entire supporting cast isn’t back this time around, due to ninety-five percent of the movie taking place in the Quantum realm, the film is still able to deliver the comedy that makes the overall franchise great. Especially during the first two acts of this film.

While it wasn’t as strong as the previous two films, I still found myself caring about the main cast, the Ant-Man family. Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton) takes on a more central role, and while I didn’t care for her disrespectful tone towards her father Scott (Paul Rudd), I still found it to be somewhat realistic. Just for a better dynamic between the two, I wish Paul’s character would’ve checked Cassie a bit more than he did in the film as a stricter parent. However, it was a great representation that being a parent isn’t easy. Hope (Evangeline Lilly) did take somewhat of a back seat this time around, which didn’t necessarily ruin the viewing experience, but it was noticeable and may turn others off if they loved her character. The chemistry was still great between Hank (Michael Douglas) and Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer). It was actually somewhat hilarious. If anything, there should’ve been more of it between the two. 

When it comes to Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror he’s the best in the film by far! This man is a true menace and his bite is as big as his bark. Everything about his character was top-tier. The design of the costume, the makeup on Majors’ face, and the utility of Kang The 

Conqueror’s powers and/or abilities were a dream come true on the big screen. Speaking of the big screen please see this movie on the biggest screen possible, due to the majority of the quantum realm shots being filmed with IMAX lenses. Kang is truly a top-notch villain in the MCU and is easily in the top 5 and maybe in the top 3. He’s just that great, and everything this character has to deliver in the future looks promising. During the action, he didn’t hesitate to let his enemies know just how dangerous he is and deliver pain and torture if necessary. To be afraid of him is an understatement. However, that is short-lived in a sense. While his character is fantastic it was frustrating to see him stand around toward the end of the film when his base is being attacked. Other than that, the man is flawless.

With the majority of this film taking place in the quantum realm, it’s very effects-heavy. There have been times when Marvel has missed the mark in the past trying to sell realistic imagery, but they don’t have that problem here. If anything, the studio did a fine job with the visuals which is fantastic with all the negative commentary that’s been floating around the internet about the day-to-day behind the scenes. 

There are a few surprises that come into play as well, and they do their job of shocking the audience which is always great. It is also safe to say that the first two acts in the film are very strong, but the film starts to have problems during the third act. Cassie Lang appears to have some type of plot armor where she’s invincible. No matter what situation she’s in she has a very easy time escaping with little effort. This is extremely frustrating seeing that she doesn’t have much field experience, but time and time again she is able to squeeze out of nearly every situation with barely a scratch. It’s also disappointing that what makes Ant-Man so great is what hurt the film in the third act as well. That’s having to do with the unnecessary comedy during moments of battle and/or tension. I want to feel like things are taken seriously and that the characters we’re rooting for are in actual danger. When you throw jokes into the mix it takes the stakes away. Darren M.O.D.O.K (Corey Stoll) is a returning character in the franchise, and while his reintroduction into this film was funny, the character failed miserably in the third act being turned into a dumb dick joke. Why is this taking place in the middle of battle? Some of the Top MCU films don’t possess this random goofiness during their run. Save all the funny silly haha moments for the beginning or middle of the film, but not in the middle of a war. His acronym implies that he kills the victims but none of that was present in this film, unfortunately. Again, a great intro for the character, but a failed conclusion in the third act. 

In addition to that, everything about Kang was great except his army. It was hyped up so much that he has built an unstoppable empire, but that wasn’t clear enough during the film. The character is what sells with or without his armor, but not his armada. 

Quantumania is many things, and this film will for sure have mixed reactions. The runtime only comes in at two hours and five minutes, and I wish it was longer to flesh out a lot of its themes. The quantum realm is a lot to take in. That being said, it’s still a fun enjoyable film. Whether or not you like it can demonstrate where your expectations were before you began to watch. That’s with every film or tv show, but this time the director set a high bar that I don’t feel he was able to reach. Out of all of the Ant-Man films this one is my least favorite, but that’s mainly because the first two films were done so well. They’re both at least in the top 15 of the MCU, so beating that can be very difficult. Marvel sometimes goes over the top with their jokes during serious moments in their films, and that’s the anchor that holds this film down from being even better than what it is. That’s an easy fix for the future, but Marvel needs to realize how mature their audience is, and they don’t always need to err on the side of caution, because it can be detrimental.  

7/10

You People Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

 

Many would say, “If Eddie Murphy is a part of the film, sign me up!” Then you’d remember how the sequel to Coming To America (1988), Coming 2 America (2021), turned out and you might change your mind. Describing that film as a disappointing letdown is being nice. So when the trailer first landed for his next film, You People, you wouldn’t be crucified if you weren’t that excited. However, I still was, because it’s Eddie Murphy and he definitely has more wins than losses. In addition to that, he’s not the only star in this star-studded cast that’s gracing us with their presence, with talent ranging from Jonah Hill and Nia Long to Julia Louis-Dreyfus to name a few. They all came together in a wonderful romantic comedy that did its job quite well.

Everyone loves a great love story, and this one hit home in all the right places. That wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for Johah Hill, who plays Ezra. This man is funny simply put, and the character he’s playing feels like his real-life self. Ezra is the type of man that says out loud what everyone is thinking. He is the type of character that will finish your sentences in an awkward moment to relieve the tension in the room. He’s also a bit socially awkward not knowing how to reply to a normal greeting in any setting. It’s nothing short of hilarious and Hill’s comedic timing is perfect for this role. He’s paired with Lauren London as Amira, and she’s absolutely gorgeous and increases her acting skills each time she’s on the big or small screen. Ezra and Amira’s initial meet-up in the film did come across as a stretch, but once the montage of their dating life kicked off it felt cute, genuine, and true. Ezra comes off as a man that knows his potential but will still swing for the fences if the opportunity arises. It’s like he’s thinking, “I’ll try my best,” which will always be respected.

When Akbar (Eddie Murphy) finally hits the screen his delivery did come off a little weird initially. It was difficult to believe the pro-Black hard exterior that he was trying to convey (even though the concept of being pro-Black is silly). You see, Ezra is in love with Amira (Akbar’s daughter) and he wants to gain the approval of the family. The trick is both sides of the family are from two completely different cultures where ideals are sure to clash. With this being somewhat of a remake of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) in a more modern setting, deep hardened laughs are sure to come and they do. So when Ezra and Akbar finally meet and are bouncing off of each other at the dinner table it was the type of comedic brilliance that should be in entertainment even more. Their characters addressed every perceived notion, existence, assumption, and stereotype that has been thrown around for years in the Black and/or Jewish communities. Some good, some bad, and all that’s in between were addressed actually by not only those two but the entire family bringing in  Shelley (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Fatima (Nia Long), and Arnold (David Duchovny).

In reality, there are endless layers of history between Blacks and Jews, and this film makes fun of it in the best way. I thought this was handled perfectly by director Kenya Barris with this also being his directorial debut. He knew exactly how to mesh the two worlds together in an unapologetic way to again address what many people are thinking, but are afraid to say. The film also took a deep dive into each culture on what’s important and how stereotypes and other assumptions about groups of people can come across as being extremely disrespectful when the intentions were the greatest. It’s always possible for someone to try to be the nice understanding person that is open to everything, but always approaching the situation the wrong way and that’s apparent during this film. Especially with the character of Shelley (Dreyfus). She was the textbook example of cringe in the most realistic way, while also being entertaining and fun.

From a creative standpoint, Barris did get a little carried away with the editing when he was transitioning between scenes. It’s like he found a new editing tool and was eager to see how it works and may have gone overboard with all the cuts, music, and bright vivid colors. It didn’t ruin the film, but it did stand out and could’ve been toned down just a bit. There are also a number of cameos that pop up in the film from the Jewish community, who have also addressed some of these cultural norms and differences in their own platforms of entertainment, which are a highlight as well. It was an overall great mix of everything you’d want to see.  

I’m happy for director Kenya Barris as I feel he pulled this project off with flying colors. That’s great seeing that one of his last projects, #BlackAF, was an abysmal mess, this one may stand out for a lot longer than that creation. In today’s society communication and understanding are important. And while that can be difficult for some people it’s necessary and can make life much easier for us all if we make that attempt, and this film did a splendid job of pointing that out without it being too forceful or non-organic.

8/10

"A Good Day for Everybody" Review

"A Good Day for Everybody" stars Nia Dorsey ("Basketball Wives"), Bianca Star ("Trust Nobody"), David Bianco ("Circumstances" 2 & 3), and Jamal Woolard ("Notorious"). Though it starts off a bit rocky, it eventually picks up and takes you on a journey full of unexpected twists and revelations. Don't be surprised when the kidnapper is revealed less than 15 minutes in. Not only is this disclosed in the synopsis, but this is not a film centered on figuring out who the kidnapper is.

Rather, the film takes the audience between the past and present-day as it peels back what transpired that ultimately led to the death of the kidnapper's son at the hands of a cop, but also the recent history of how many of the characters are connected. The specific synopsis is: "When a cop realizes her suicidal partner has gone missing. A cocaine-addicted corrupt cop must piece together the right clues to find him before his kidnapper, who’s torturing him for killing her son, kills him– all while grappling with her own secret guilt."

With a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes, it is worth a watch to see the story of how the lives of the characters are intertwined and how that leads to the truth behind not one, but two, killings at the hand of the local PD being revealed, as well as a glimpse at how some officers choose to protect other officers over what is just and right. 

"A Good Day for Everybody" is available to stream on Tubi and Prime Video. Also be on the look out for future projects from Swift Motion Pictures, including movies, documentaries, a docuseries, and a reality show; as they continue towards their goal  described by the film's producer and co-director, Ramon “Swift” Sloan, as "continu[ing] telling stories that entertain and to deliver some with meaning. [Whether] its fiction or non-fiction, all of our pieces have gems, and touch on perspectives of the environment in which me and countless others have inhabited."

I Wanna Dance with Somebody Review

The Whitney Houston biopic, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" is now in theaters. The authorized biopic starring Naomi Ackie as Houston includes both Pat Houston and Clive Davis as producers. So of course it includes Houston's actual vocals, and the 146-minute film dedicates significant runtime to letting the audience enjoy Houston's biggest hits and performances audibly. However, while Ackie did seem to have a good grasp of Houston's mannerisms, there isn't a strong resemblance and at times it was visually noticeable that Ackie was lip-synching. While the audience would clearly know that she isn't actually singing as soon as they hear what is clearly Houston's iconic voice, it would have been nice to be able to visually not be able to tell in order to allow for the audience to truly visualize Ackie as Houston throughout the film. 

In addition to including Houston's actual vocals, the film also immersed actual footage in some scenes. In particular clips of Kevin Costner during the filming of "The Bodyguard" and Oprah Winfrey during Houston's comeback performance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." At the end of the film, they showed clips and photos of Houston going into the credit. While I understand why, it felt like the first clip's placement cheapened the film a bit and made it feel like a made for tv film or series. The first clip was footage of Houston performing the performance Ackie just recreated in the final scene, and these clips take up a square space towards the top third of the screen, allowing for final points at the end and eventually the credits. What may have been a more visually elevated option might have been to transition from Ackie's reenactment of the performance into a full-screen viewing of the actual footage. Saving the smaller-sized footage for the credits. 

The film hits all of the highlights of Houston's life and career that any fan would be at least somewhat familiar with, including her relationship with Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams). While the film did not shy away from the low points and experiences, like the drug use, being booed for singing "white" music, or her father suing her, it also didn't go into much depth there; opting instead to focus more on what made her a musical icon.

The relationship that seemed to get an unexpectedly significant amount of time was that of Houston and Davis (Stanley Tucci). Even going so far as to include what comes off as Hollywood's typical white savior trope, by having Davis be the one to sit her down and tell her she needs to go to rehab. 

Overall, the film played like a highlight reel. Which perhaps is enough for what those behind the film wanted. For any unfamiliar with why Houston is so iconic, the film will make it clear just why she is and forever will be "The Voice."

I Wanna Dance with Somebody Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

It was a very sad day when the world found out about the passing of Whitney Houston in 2012. If you weren’t aware she was considered one of the best vocalists, if not the best vocalist of all time. Her musical career touched millions of people around the world. So if you were to say trying to capture her entire career in one film would be a difficult task, that would be an understatement. Director Kasi Lemmons (Harriet, Eve’s Bayou) decided to make this attempt, and for the most part, she did a decent to on-par job, but there’s so much missing from this film to make it stand out as the definitive life story of one of entertainment’s greatest musicians. 

It starts with the casting of Naomi Ackie (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker) as Whitney Houston. She may be a diehard fan of the late star and may have tried her best. There were moments during the film where she did embody the personality and demeanor of Houston, but it wasn’t consistent during large portions of the film. What did help with the performance was the wardrobe. There are tons of key moments during Whitney’s career that she’s known for and as soon as you see an image of her still today you can remember exactly what time that was in the past few decades. Naomi was able to capture that a few times during the film that will make you smile as a fan. However, It was a back and forth see-saw game of mimicking the late hero entirely or just trying your best and falling short. It isn’t a horrible performance at all but isn’t a great one either. There was a lack of emotion during key parts especially when dialogue was exchanged with her husband Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders). He did a better job of fulfilling the role, but the story isn’t centered on his character. On a positive note characters such as Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams), John Houston (Clarke Peters), and Cissy Houston (Tamara Tunie) did have standout moments and they stole the show as far as delivery.

The best parts of the film were all of Whitney’s top songs throughout the years being recorded or performed on stage. 95% of the vocals in this film were the actual voice of Whitney, however, there still were a few moments where it was blatantly obvious that it wasn’t Naomi singing. Even if you knew it was Whitney the acting fell short. There wasn’t enough energy in Naomi’s performance to capture that magic that we all remember and love.  

The film’s runtime comes in at right under two and a half hours, and I don’t know if the film should’ve been longer or if it should’ve focused on other parts of her life. Maybe this story could be appreciated more if this was a streaming television series to cover more of her life, but you could feel the length. The pacing and editing of this film were not the best either. The director tried to cram in so much of her story that it didn’t come across as complete. So much of her story felt skipped over which is interesting with how long the film is. There were multiple times when I felt I missed something which isn’t a good feeling. This film spends time from 1983 to 2012 which is a lot. We all grow and develop as humans over the years as Whitney did. However, there were too many jumps in Whitney’s personality that didn’t make any sense, and you left asking yourself how did we get here? What events took place that made Whitney change so much over the past few years? This is never explored and leaves you wondering and lost as an audience member. It feels that your enjoyment of this film will only reach optimal levels if you know Whitney’s career inside and out. Even if that is the case, you may be still left frustrated with all of the story that is clearly left out in this film. 

The first half of this film, or at least the first act, was the worst. Showing Whitney’s parents argue was her launching pad into drugs? The film tries to suggest this, but it isn’t clear. It’s a scene that seems like it may have importance, but when looking back it’s pointless. It also may not be necessary to dive deep into Whitney’s drug use, but it felt skipped over and danced around as if the producers or someone close to Whitney was embarrassed. That aspect of her life doesn’t need to dominate the film, but these events are addressed as if you’re a little child who can’t handle the truth. For such an iconic person in the entertainment industry, the film should hit hard on everything, the good and the bad, and not shy away from it, and I feel that’s what this film did which is unfortunate. 

In the end, everything was wrapped up nicely for a great tribute to the late artist. If you were looking for the emotion, it is during this time, but it would’ve been nice if this delivery was in the film the whole time. This isn’t a horrible movie, but it’s not recommended either. Whitney Houston deserves for her story to be told, and if this film is the highlight of that it’s extremely disappointing. Kasi Lemmons did direct Eve’s Bayou, a film I haven’t seen in years, but I still remember positive things about it. But this time around it’s a huge miss. I would love to say I’m rooting for Naomi to make it in Hollywood, but to be honest this film makes it difficult to board that train. 

5.5/10

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Review

The day so many of us have been anticipating for so long has finally arrived! Tonight audiences will fill theaters to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever for the first time. No spoilers here, but they are in for a treat! 

The best sequels are the ones that take the greatest elements from the original and elevate them by making them bigger and better. This sequel did what needed to be done in that regard. The storytelling, especially sharing real shared historical experiences of groups of people, the imagery in the creation of these fictional worlds, the incorporation of real cultures and languages within the fabric of these fictional cultures, the fight sequences, the powerful women, double the genius with the addition of Riri Williams, played by Dominique Thorne (cannot wait for the "Ironheart" series) alongside Shuri (Letitia Wright),  and of course the amazing talent (loved the addition of not just Dominique Thorne but also Michaela Coel and Tenoch Huerta). Other similarities include the "villain" who some could argue isn't really a "villain," and dueling sides that have more in common than not, making who you root for/against not so clear cut. 

The tributes to Chadwick Boseman/T'Challa were executed in a meaningful, intentional, and moving way. That of course was to be expected, what may not be expected... well I won't spoil it, but there are a handful of scenes that I would just never have expected to see happen. One of the tougher to swallow unexpected scenes was shocking, but at the same time, you'll probably understand why it needed to happen for what would follow in the film. Another unexpected scene almost made me lose it in the theater out of excitement, because I just never expected to see it. And another was just such an amazing bonus, like just when you thought the film couldn't get any better it goes and adds this scene. There's just so much to love about this film. 

At 2 hours and 41 minutes, this is the 2nd longest MCU film, but it won't feel long at all. It's action-packed with a great plot, amazing visuals, and talented actors. 

10/10

 

Beast Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

 

Other than Cats (2019), in every role played by Idris Elba (The Harder They Fall) he’s a character that exudes confidence. He’s always a leader or some form of authoritative figure that always has a plan up his sleeve for success. With Beast it’s the exact opposite, making it stand out from his previous films. He’s trapped in the Savanna desert trying to protect his daughters from a savage killer lion whose primary goal is death and destruction. Most individuals would not know how to handle this situation which is understandable, being completely out of their element, but he handles it the best way he can, making this another entertaining film in his filmography.

Who is Idris playing, you may ask? His name is Dr. Nate Samuels, and he has two loving daughters, Norah (Leah Jeffries) and Meredith Samuels (Iyana Halley). The relationship they all have is not perfect, no family is perfect. There’s definitely some strife between them and how good or bad Nate is as a father. I thought this dynamic was important for the film, as it displayed the cracks in their communication, and that can always lead to problems. It’s something most people deal with in life, making their characters a bit more relatable. However, while Meredith had every right to feel the way she did, she was a person that makes it hard to root for her. She came across as disrespectful and rude at times, and also didn’t make the best logical decisions when danger is lurking around the corner. The same can possibly be said for the younger of the siblings, Norah, but as mentioned she’s a bit younger and less mature. Norah however did come through to save the day at times during moments of despair which made the audience cheer out loud in the theater. The only drawback of the character Norah is that her acting was extremely suspect at times. Unfortunately, she’s not the best actress but still was able to please a crowd. 

Another positive is the runtime of the film. Including the credits, this feature only clocks in at ninety-three minutes. Short films are always a plus if the story is told completely, and in this case, it was. So, if you’re needing a babysitter for a short amount of time, this is a film you can escape to. 

The director is Baltasar Kormákur (Two Guns) who is someone I’m not too familiar with, but I will be paying attention now. The way he used the camera was one of the best aspects of the film. As a few films have done in the past, he creates the illusion that the majority of the film was shot with one continuous take. This raises the suspense level to the highest of levels because you don’t know what’s lurking around the corner whatever the danger may be. In this case, it’s a lion and my goodness it’s terrifying. 

This is another great setup for the film, as it doesn’t take long at all to show the carnage and how ruthless this wild animal is. Imagine some of the latest shark movies or JAWS but on land, and that’s what we have here with Beast. It’s all familiar but completely different since all the surrounding characters are not in a large body of water. This is probably one of the scariest lions to ever hit the screen. There may not be many in the past to compare it to, but I’ll be skeptical to get too close to the cage the next time I go visit the zoo. At moments it felt like the lion was souped-up on cocaine with how aggressive he was, and in a sense, it’s hard to blame the lion too. There’s a reason why he’s going on this rampage, which is valid making the whole experience in the theater that much more enjoyable. Being entertaining is an understatement because that lion was truly frightening. Who was going to make it out alive in the end was a true mystery.

The only drawback besides what was previously mentioned was the final showdown between Dr. Nate Samuels and the lion. The Man vs. Beast Final Showdown was a little too unrealistic in my opinion. The lion did look great with all the CGI throughout the film, but it started to unravel itself towards the end. I respect Nate Samuels for standing up to a lion to save his daughters (most great fathers would), but it could’ve been executed more precisely to sell the realism of the situation. Suspending your disbelief into outer space may be necessary. However, it’s still an enjoyable film that I think anyone who was already interested in it should definitely see.

8/10

Day Shift Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

When you have Snoop Dogg and legendary star Jamie Foxx teaming up to hunt down vampires, of course I and many others would get beyond thrilled to witness it all. Even with all the previous vampire films that have run the mill through Hollywood, there’s still so much that can be explored for enjoyment purposes. Being a fan of both actors/entertainers, it seemed obvious you would walk away satisfied, and it wouldn’t be surprising if any, and everyone came to that conclusion. That may not be the case this time around. Don’t be mistaken though, because there are a ton of aspects that are pleasing when it comes to Day Shift, but in the end, there were too many missed opportunities for overall greatness.  

The film Day Shift is directed by J. J. Perry, which counts as his directorial debut. His filmography credits all the work he performed working on stunts from the latest action movies that have hit Hollywood within the past thirty years. Recently they range from the Fast and the Furious franchise, John Wick, The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Daredevil, and so much more. With over one hundred and forty-nine credits, it’s clear that this man knows how to coordinate an action set piece. And giving credit where it’s due, the action and stunts in this film were absolutely perfect. To be honest, it’s some of the best fighting on screen that I’ve ever seen. If you’re only looking at the stunts themselves, and not the story or context that surrounds it, it’s top-notch entertainment competing with the best. Supporting actor Scott Adkins (Ip Man 4: The Finale) even adds his own martial arts to spice the action up and it’s the perfect flavor to make it all better. Hands down the action fighting the vampires was the most entertaining aspect of the film. 

What comes in second place are the vampires themselves. These are some of the most agile and strongest vampires that have ever hit any screen. They definitely pose a worthy threat against all the protagonists in this film especially being as unpredictable as they are. If you’re not trained and constantly have your head on a swivel you’re going to die or get turned into a vampire dealing with them. In addition to that, the story goes a bit deeper with their background giving you multiple types of vampires that make it all more intriguing. Some are stronger than others, possess different abilities, and have different hunting patterns. The dialogue surrounding these vampires teases a deeper history to their lineage that could launch a new series of films if it wanted to. It will grab your attention to learn more about where they come from and what their overall goal is.

Yet that is teased, and not fully developed, unfortunately. While you’re wanting to know more about the vampires that aspect and plot point is barely delivered. Other than survival or world domination you’re not quite sure what the end goal is. What’s even more frustrating is the film asks you to sympathize with the villain more than our protagonists. You completely understand why the big bad is angry and seeking revenge, and I don’t blame them. I blame our main lead who we’re supposed to be rooting for, which makes part of this movie-going experience a bit weird. 

As far as the main lead Bud Jablonski (Jamie Foxx), his character is mediocre at best. He has a somewhat failed marriage with his soon-to-be ex-wife (if not already) Jocelyn (Meagan Good), but there wasn’t a good enough explanation as to why they are split. They don’t hate each other and communicate decently when around each other, but what’s most important is it’s clear that they still love each other. So why the separation? The film never dives into that which makes their characters feel lost and unexplained. It’s an extremely weak plot point, just thrown into the story for unknown reasons. They have a wonderful little girl together, and I don’t see the reason why they weren’t a complete loving family at the beginning living under the same roof. On top of that, J. J. Perry is not the best at directing his talent. This is Jamie Foxx here that we’re talking about. I’m not expecting the next Ray (2004) performance that won him his Academy Award, but I still want to believe his role and this time it wasn’t there. His acting on top of other supporting roles in this film was not the best. Now I do expect this from Snoop Dogg, but not Jamie Foxx and that is upsetting. Seth (Dave Franco) had a few funny moments that may make you chuckle, but the writing of his character was another huge miss. There is no logical reason why the script wants him to team up with Jamie Foxx in the field. It isn’t the safest move for survival which is a huge plot hole in my opinion.

With that being said it was difficult to care about all the characters. Towards the end of the film, there were no stakes, and it felt like everyone was going to be ok when it was all over. It was as if the movie just wanted itself to end with no motivation to be memorable. There was so much wasted material, even when it comes to some of the camera movements during a car chase scene with useless drone shots. Also, why are ramps randomly placed in the road? To make the action more intense? The audience member isn’t supposed to see these devices, and it feels like an amateur designed those portions of the film. Again, the action is great for the most part, the vampires are fierce, and there are a few moments of comedy leaving more positives than negatives with a happy ending, but so much was still wasted potential leaving this film as passable but barely in my humble opinion.

6/10

 

Bullet Train Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

When five deadly assassins meet in a small place, there’s likely nothing good that can result from it. However, being a fly on the wall to witness all the nonstop mayhem is nothing short of solid gold for entertainment enthusiasts. That’s what director David Leitch’s (John Wick, Deadpool 2) latest film Bullet Train wanted to accomplish. On the surface, it feels like a great premise, and must be since this is adapted from the Japanese novel “Maria Bettle” by Kôtarô Isaka, which was first published in 2010. The film has a star-studded cast, funny dialogue, and a plot that won’t reveal itself until the conclusion. The only question left to ask is does it all work well together for a complete narrative?

That would all depend on your expectations. This film delivers on exactly what it promises you in the marketing. Which is a wild rollercoaster of randomness mixed with occasions of order. If you’ve wanted to see a vast array of characters that would appear to be from every corner of the earth all bouncing off of each other, you won’t be disappointed in the slightest. The cast ranges from Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Sandra Bullock, Hiroyuki Sanada, and much more. While it’s an entertaining bunch to get to know, it’s hard to imagine at least half of them existing in the real world. However, that may be the point in the train ride in modern-day Japan. I did ask myself would these people really talk like this given the situation in actual reality, and I don’t presume so but it's still a bit of fun. 

Coming off the heels of John Wick it’s known that the director is fully aware of how to choreograph a great action fight scene, and he does not hold back any punches here. What’s fascinating is even when an actor has no real martial arts or fight training in real life the way the character is written and the scenes are crafted together make up all the difference. Ninety-five percent of this film takes place on a narrow train/subway so there’s not much room to navigate around with large weapons or summersault flips off the wall. But the director has each character put their environment to full use to overcome whatever situation they may come in contact with. It’s a brilliant way to see the characters use split-second decision-making skills to survive and not perish in this battle royal on tracks. This is also an extremely bloody violent movie, which isn’t a knock but a blessing. 

You do care for some characters more than others, which is fine but a balance would’ve been appreciated for better enjoyment overall. 

This film is brutally too long by far, and the pacing is not the best at times when the story takes a detour to try to deliver backstory for certain individuals. It can sometimes be a distraction ruining the flow of a given moment, but this doesn’t happen too often. However, when it does it feels like a pinched nerve, and nobody likes that feeling. After a while, that pain subsides, and you’re back fully engaged trying to figure out how it will all end. 

This film is also very self-aware. It knows how over the top and ridiculous it is and is screaming at the top of the mountain about how unrealistic some of the encounters develop and end, but again that may be the point, because a character or two do mention this in a practical way that makes sense in reality. At one point as I was asking myself in my head does all of this even make sense and is it necessary, a character on screen was posing the same exact question to the antagonist. Whether or not you’re going to accept their answer is a flip of the coin.

I will say when it all came to an end, I found myself entertained but full. I had a decent meal but had too many unnecessary desserts that made me feel a bit bloated. Just because something has a bunch of fireworks and sparkles for a distraction can still disguise a product from being what it could’ve. It’s messy at times, but not for a long duration. I just wish some of the fat could’ve been cut off before this dish was delivered, because while it was fun, I doubt it will stand the test of time, and be a blockbuster hit that’s memorable.

7.5/10 

Nope Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, Get Out (2017), was a cinematic masterpiece. It was lightning in a bottle that most filmmakers could only dream of achieving. His second time up to bat with US (2019) was not as well received, but whether or not NOPE will be praised is a daunting question that I’m still not as sure of myself. Nope takes what we’re already familiar with, and gives it an interesting spin, but has trouble connecting all the story points to make it all relevant. It’s an entertaining feature, yet still has a few missed opportunities that keep it from being magnificent. It centers around two siblings that witness a UFO in the sky, and they will make no stops until they can capture it on camera for proof, hoping to make a small fortune from the footage. It’s a superior film to US, but still is not remotely close to what made his name stand out in Hollywood with Get Out.

The best parts of the film are the performances by both the lead actors Daniel Kaluuya (OJ), and Keke Palmer (Emerald Haywood). Their sibling relationship felt real and authentic, and at the very least was something relatable. Emerald is full of energy and passion, and at first seems like a good friend to hang out with, while OJ is a very broken man after the loss of his father Otis Sr. (Keith David). He’s mourning the whole film but still tries to manage the everyday stresses of life. What’s respectable about OJ is maintaining his father’s legacy no matter the cost even if there’s an alien invasion. He seems like a man that’s willing to die for a worthy cause, but not ready at the same time. OJ could easily be considered a fan favorite as he navigates the terrain with caution. Unfortunately, I’m not as enthusiastic about Emerald going into the second act. She had some false sense of confidence and started to not come across as authentic as her brother, especially when using profanity. However, her performance was still great, and she excelled in that area by far towards the end.

On a technical level, Nope passes the bar with flying colors. Director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema (Tenet, Insterstellar, Dunkirk) has a number of captivating takes taking advantage of the IMAX camera aspect ratio. It is recommended that you see this film on the biggest screen possible for it to be worth your while. One scene in particular with one character riding a bike in the desert is what we go to the movies for. To be blown away, and this was it.

The film also has a great sense of mystery and suspense to it. Whether a threat is in the sky or around the corner on the ground, your blood pressure will raise as you’re waiting for something to pop out and frighten you. It doesn’t waste too much time to address the elephant in the room that there are aliens among us, and they’re not our friends. However, while that’s introduced early, the first half of the film is rather boring with a slow-moving pace. How it was all edited in chapter form also doesn’t help. It’s so distracting and jarring when the scene cuts to black with a giant title card about what’s about to happen next. This is unnecessary and ruins the passing of the project. 

The film comes in at 2 hours and 15 minutes which is also too long. There’s a subplot that’s dealing with Steven Yeun’s character, Ricky, that doesn’t do a great job of connecting to the overall story. Of course, there is a dual meaning to this scene, but the film doesn’t connect the dots on how it can help the characters’ overall arc in development. It was brutal and will be remembered forever, but doesn’t hold that much weight in the overall narrative.

The third act is by far the best part of the film, where mostly everything comes around full circle. That boring feeling from the first half of the film has ceased, and you’re eager to see how it will all play out. It’s a guessing game of who will live or die, and that aspect of not knowing is exhilarating. The design of the alien is unique, and not entirely what you think it would be from your first glance, but it’s all entertaining at the very least. Just make sure you pay attention to all the details to make the best of your experience.

Jordan Peele is still a talented filmmaker in my opinion even if this last film isn’t as great as his first. It will be very difficult to top that. So expectations need to be checked at the door. However, he still needs to work on delivering what’s promised in his marketing. With his last two bouts he struggled to do so, possibly leaving his audience members confused when the credits hit and full of questions. While the third was fun and picked up from the beginning I was still left wanting more and not fully satisfied. 

7/10

Jurassic World: Dominion Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

 

In this final chapter of the Jurassic Park franchise, director Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) has a huge challenge on his hands. Trying to conclude a story after six films would be difficult for anyone, especially with the first possibly being considered some of the best filmmaking of all time. Trevorrow has a great lead cast to draw in crowds to the theaters, and the majority of everyone on the planet has some fascination with dinosaurs. However, it’s still a difficult task to pull off, and, unfortunately, this ending conclusion falls short of anything great or memorable. It has a few redeeming qualities but overall ends up being a huge disappointment. 

One of the redeeming qualities is the fun tone of the film, and that’s what most audience members come to the theater for overall. There aren’t any dull moments from beginning to end, and it’s for sure going to keep your attention. Focusing on the story, the start of the film began with so much promise of how our world would look if we actually coexisted with dinosaurs. It’s a scary scenario for sure, but it’s a question most people have asked ever since we learned about these extinct creatures back in grade school. Taking on this perspective during the first act of the film will have you overjoyed to witness how our environment could change if this were a reality.

The cast in this film is nothing short of amazing. Every important cast member from the past has returned, and they all have something to do instead of just taking up space on the screen. There is an actual narrative that provides a reason why they all are back together. The nostalgic aspect of their presence is cranked up to the highest level and it is beyond glorious to see them back. Their roles are very well respected too. Once you see them you can instantly tell they’re an expert in their area of study which makes all their dialogue more believable. It will do nothing short of making you smile from ear to ear. Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm’s involvement was possibly the best. He was smooth and intelligent, and his comedic timing was perfect. The film easily would’ve suffered if he was absent during this final bout.

Those are most of the highlights of the film, which is sad due to there not being many. The worst part of the entire film is the story. It started off great, exploring a new world where dinosaurs are taking over, but that plot is abandoned for some illogical reason. This movie is NOT about dinosaurs period! They’re just large creatures that are used for action and to take up screen time. The dinosaurs are present and the characters interact with them throughout the film, but they’re second fiddle to another plot device that’s not as appealing. There’s nothing wrong with exploring new territories with different species and technology, but not at the sacrifice of the spectacle everyone wants to see. It’s sad due to the fact that we all know there’s always some mad scientist trying to play god in some large corporate conglomerate itching for world domination. It’s a great concept that we’re all accustomed to, but the film missed a large opportunity in combining that plot point with dinosaurs.

As far as the action is concerned there were no stakes whatsoever. Every character was able to escape death as if they were invincible. There were no intense edge of your seat moments where you were shrouded in suspense in fear that our heroes were not going to make it. Two characters even crash landed a plane in a sea of ice and were able to walk away with no scratches or bruises at all. Another group of characters who were surrounded by raptors and had loaded weapons decided not to shoot, but to drop their guns and run away. Seeing as at this time in the story civilians interacting with dinosaurs was becoming a normal way of life, it should’ve been common sense that you can’t outrun a raptor on foot. It's just not happening. Those are just a few examples of lackluster action scenes that took up the majority of the runtime. They weren’t boring, but were not fulfilling either. 

There were even more illogical plot holes that took up the duration as well. In some instances characters are ironclad in their decision-making, but then thirty seconds later complete a one hundred and eighty degree shift changing their mind with no explanation or with weak motivation. Also if the antagonist has a goal they’re trying to achieve they don’t always go about it in the best way. The idea is to work smarter, but they chose to make it harder. There are just too many unbelievable aspects of the plot and story that don’t make much sense and will leave you frustrated with a headache and asking “Why?” 

Overall I still had a tiny bit of fun but wanted more. This is far better than the previous film, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but that isn’t saying much at all. There was so much potential to make this film great, especially with all the money and resources that went into production. This wasn’t the cast’s fault because they were great. The story is the biggest culprit here on why this film was not as entertaining as it should’ve been. I only wish we could’ve witnessed humans teamed up with dinosaurs battling another evil group of humans and dinosaurs in an all-out war battle royal, but maybe my expectations were too high. If this film focused more on humans coexisting with dinosaurs I’m confident the end product would’ve been far more superior than what we were left with. 

5/10

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

The production for Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness hasn’t been the smoothest. After director Scott Derrickson left this sequel project due to creative differences with the studio, director Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) swung in with his signature style to manage the master of the mystic-arts. It may have been to the film's benefit. Doctor Strange 2 is far superior to its predecessor film across the board. There’s so much to enjoy about the film if you’re a comic book enthusiast. While there are a few setbacks, it’s still another great addition to this long series of comic book adaptations from Marvel Studios. 

This film is a visual masterpiece. From start to finish you’re submerged with bright colors and spectacular visual effects that you’ll remember for a very long time. The film was shot with IMAX cameras like recent MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) films so that adds more to your visual experience than the average film. It all makes action scenes pop out at you that much more, and each scene was fascinating except for one that felt a little unnecessary. The rest were nearly jaw-dropping. There was still something new to explore within the action and Derrickson delivered hands down which was a blast. The plot within the action made sense, and I recommend seeing this film on the biggest screen possible. 

It also elevates the use of powers and magic from all the leads and supporting characters too. These are not just blasts that Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is dishing out at his enemies. It is visually apparent the necessary amount of focus and dedication it takes to conjure these spells, especially with all the hand motions tied with it. Wong (Benedict Wong) as the sorcerer supreme is also upgraded in this film. When he's in the middle of battle it’s clear he’s been training diligently since the last time we saw him. The new addition of America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) did not disappoint either. She was a remarkable character full of personality and I can’t wait to get more of her. Wanda Maximoff aka The Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) however stole the show! She was truly frightening at times, and with a clear goal of destruction at all costs. She didn’t care about the amount of damage that was done, as long as she accomplished her goal. Seeing her in all her glory was scary, and she is definitely in the conversation for the best of villains in the MCU.

While all that sounds great, it came in clunks. During other parts of the film, the pacing was off, especially when important scenes of dialogue contained too many jokes. Again this is an issue that Marvel hasn’t solved yet. Which always ruins a moment of great exposition with a corny joke thrown in to cut the tension. There are moments where this is salvaged quickly by the great acting, but it still stands out and the scene does not flow as smoothly as it could. This is also titled the Multiverse of Madness, but there isn’t much exploration of the multiverse, which is a huge letdown. There was so much to dive into in this arena, but it ended up being a missed opportunity.

There are a number of great surprises that will leave fans overjoyed.  And this is by far the most violent MCU movie to date. Sam Raimi was dancing on the line between PG-13 and R rating, because he definitely cuts it close. There are a few moments that will leave you shocked by how Marvel/Disney has stepped up their game as far as what’s permitted in their films. There are so many layers to this film and some succeed far more than others. For every great moment in the film, there’s always something that pulls it back from even more greatness. Continuity issues in battles, being anticlimactic, and even at some moments boring. Those negatives are only sprinkles within the entire film, and overall there’s still so much more to enjoy. 

8/10

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

It feels like the curse of video adaptations is over because Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is a blast and so much more! Paramount accomplished this with the prequel back in 2019, and they’ve done it again here with the sequel in 2022. It’s such a breath of fresh air to be a fan of a popular video game as a child and to see that same magic properly appear onscreen decades later. Everyone involved should be proud of themselves and deserves all of the positive recognition that is sure to come their way.

To be more specific we must start with Jim Carrey as the evil Dr. Robotnik. It’s not too often to see an actor having so much fun fulfilling their role. This is some of the best casting ever whether the role was fiction or based on a true story. That may be saying a lot but it’s well deserved. Given the character of Robotnik on paper, it’s completely unrealistic, but director Jeff Fowler is able to craft it in a way to make it feel real with expert precision with a stretch of the imagination and a few lines of dialogue. He’s a rich genius inventor with tons of resources. After that’s easily established it makes all of the Robotnik’s technology appear as it really could take place in the real world. The cast is great across the board and quite hilarious at times, but Carrey steals the show without a doubt.

In addition to this, the elements from the video game run rampant from beginning to end with flying colors. Taking place on earth, any human would react in fright running into a walking talking blue hedgehog. These interactions create hilarious comedic moments as you’re saying to yourself you’d react the same given the situation. That was prominent in the first film and still continues in this sequel. The studio was also still able to pluck areas and territories right out of the game bringing it all to life as if I was playing the game as a kid again. To say this film is fun is an understatement. I felt like I was on an adventure with Sonic and his team to save the world and it felt great. 

We’re introduced to two new characters in this film, Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) and Knuckles (Idris Elba). They were both fun characters to get to know even though it was short-lived. What made Tails work was his exposition to explain the plot whether you’re a newcomer to the franchise or just to flesh out the story. It was a great combination of show and tell to make sure everyone was able to comprehend the plot. All of the characters were easy to fall in love with. Whether it was just their presence on screen, their dialogue, or their silly, goofy, and corny shenanigans. If you don’t like laughing then don’t see this film.

The film also is a few minutes over two hours, and that runtime is a tad bit long. It wasn’t necessary for the film. On the negative side, the film did spend a little too much time on the human characters instead of giving more screen time to the new additions of Tails and Knuckles. The humans were a fun part of the film, but given my particular taste, I would’ve rather had more Tails and Knuckles. 

Even the action was right out of the game. From the colors to having our three heroes communicate with each other while they're in the middle of battle was a highlight. The visual effects and strategy used to save the day were brilliant. 

After the film ended I felt satisfied, but still couldn’t wait for more. I found myself smiling from ear to ear while simultaneously hearing my surrounding audience members scream out in joy. It felt like I was at a concert and nothing could go wrong. We just witnessed a great movie that’s been beloved for years. This is easily one of the best adaptations in Hollywood, and if other studios can follow suit it will be another great achievement in the world of film and television.

8.5/10

Ambulance Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

For the majority of director Michael Bay’s film career, he’s been dragged by critics all around. His Transformers films are a large part of that, and if you’ve seen that franchise you’d probably understand why (however I thought the first film was fantastic). At one point and time Bay was my favorite director of all time, but that came to an end with Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen (2009). It started to seem as if he was more passionate about the newest technology on screen rather than developing a compelling story with rich characters you could relate to. He has his own unique style especially when it comes to explosions, but that can’t replace the necessary building blocks to make a great film. Now he teams up with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Will Sharp) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Danny Sharp) in his latest crime, action adventure which is a remake of a Danish film.

Danny and Will Sharp are brothers who are in desperate need of money, so they decide to perform a bank heist. They don’t look the same as far as race, so it’s assumed this bond commenced through the legal system. However, it doesn’t matter due to there being no chemistry between the two characters. Bay attempts to illustrate chemistry on screen with flashbacks of them as children, but it’s all wasted away with their awkward back and forth banter later as adults. The two don’t even look comfortable being around each other so it’s not convincing that their union is as strong as they’re suggesting on screen. It’s not all Mateen’s fault in the least though. When he shares screen time with Cam (Eiza González), the paramedic, it’s the only relationship that’s worth investing in. These two are pinned together in a situation that was near out of their control, and you can sympathize with the both of them. After the heist goes awry their only option for escape is high jacking an ambulance with Cam and an injured cop that’s near death already on board. Cam has a realistic view on life as far as her career and what it entails, and it appears she knows how to separate her work from her personal life in a way that will in the end benefit her mental health. Gyllenhall’s character Danny is a laughing joke. He’s a rich millionaire that’s as unstable as a house of cards in a tornado. He has so much money and resources, but unfortunately he doesn’t know how to use or maintain it properly. It would be more convincing that fire is cold than believing he’s able to control the amount of authority he demands on screen. Nothing is believable about his performance or character, and he’s quite annoying. 

I thought it would be refreshing to see another Bay film that didn’t have anything to do with transforming robots, but it appears Bay hasn’t learned his lesson. For some reason, he’s completely forgotten how to film a scene with a camera that’s legible to the audience’s senses. The shaky cam aspect was all over the first act of the film, so much that it could make you nauseous. Then to make matters worse he uses a new drone camera technology for certain shots making it even harder to understand the action unfolding on screen. It’s overused and has no real effect other than begging for attention. It’s a great idea with the camera scaling tall buildings doing 360 degree turns in mid-air, but it still fails because the shots aren’t held long enough to make a valuable impact. The scenes are cut too short which in return provides choppy editing. 

Michael Bay still knows how to craft some action scenes though. When he’s filming the middle of a firefight between the policeman and bank robbers he’s the king of intensity. Every bullet that hits a surface sounds and feels like it’s the end of the world, and that’s the exact feeling I need during any action movie. The car chase scenes are a delight as well, but after a while it does get a bit repetitive, and if that’s the only aspect your film can offer it’s simply not enough. Not all of the action is great. For some reason, cars are flipping over for no apparent reason when you consider physics, and it’s very noticeable.

I’ve never been a fan of most of Michael Bay’s comedy and that remains the same with this film as well. During serious moments full of tension he cuts away to a side character acting silly about toy flamingos. This type of dialogue is distracting and takes away from the film, and he does it more than once. It’s also a shame that he builds up characters that die randomly with no real closure to their arc. Imagine getting to know a character in a film, and liking them dearly just to have them disappear and never be mentioned again. This is a slight exaggeration of what happened during the film, but it sure does feel like it. 

The ending of the film ended up being one of his worst. There was no real happy ending, and the audience Is forced to accept it without any payoff. Especially as a Black man, I see echoes of a repeated system that doesn’t care too much for Black people. It’s an emotion that ran across my chest that couldn’t be ignored. 

There’s still a large amount of the film to enjoy if you simply want to be entertained with loud noises, but there are so many missed opportunities for greatness. The action was great during some parts, and all over the place during others. I feel this way because Bay has succeeded in some of his past films in the exact same area he failed in this one. I cared about all of the characters in Armageddon (1998) and the Bad Boys (1996 & 2003) franchise, and in both films there was more plot within the action. Not just explosions and cars flipping for the hell of it. This film had so much potential to be greater than it is, and it’s a shame it’s not. I still have faith in Michael Bay to pull things back together, and hopefully, this was just a series of bad days at the office because he’s capable of delivering much better than he did here.

The Batman Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

With Batman being so popular, there have been countless iterations of his character through the decades. There are the campy cartoonish Adam West versions all the way to Zack Snyder’s brutal take on The Dark Knight character. But now director Matt Reeves (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) wants to take it a step further dancing on the line of being rated R rather than PG-13. The question is does the film work overall? The majority of it does, with the highlight being the depiction of each character whether good or evil. It accomplishes feats no other Batman film has before but also removes many of the aspects of Batman that make him so great, which may cause the film to suffer. 

In this film, Batman acknowledges how large Gotham City is, and that he can’t be everywhere at once. He notes that each appearance he makes to the public must be calculated with precision to make the most impact within his mission. That mission is vengeance with sprinkles of justice. This may come across as common sense, but it’s the delivery of this message that makes it stand out. Batman is narrating to the audience letting us know what’s going on in his mind, which is a new and different way viewers can interpret the character. It also lets us know how inexperienced he is as Batman with this being only year two in his career, and he has a ton of psychological problems brewing around in his head. 

Now the sad part about this film is that if you’re looking for the martial arts action ninja style fighting from Batman you won’t find that here. It’s a massive disappointment I know. That’s one of the main features of Batman, that he trained for years to accomplish all of his skills and talent but that’s absent here. There aren’t many gadgets and technology that audiences are used to and that’s a huge bummer and missed opportunity in my opinion. However, what substitutes that is the detective nature of Batman within this film. He takes the boxing gloves off and decides to investigate every detail of each crime throughout this film which is a delight. We’ve never received a detective Batman like this before, and it’s one of the greater parts of the film.

As far as the cast they all had outstanding performances, to say the least. From Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), The Riddler (Paul Dano), James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), The Penguin (Colin Farrell), and of course Batman (Robert Pattinson) himself. The relationship between Batman and Gordon was a breath of fresh air. The faith that Gordon had in Batman while all his surrounding colleagues detested him added a great level of tension to the film. Catwoman’s portrayal was great too. Not only was she sexy in and outside of her costume, but she was smart, passionate, and resourceful. Seeing her kick combinations against Batman, showcasing her level of training, was another great addition to the film, especially with the way it was shot. The Riddler’s depiction was the best by far. His appearance alone nearly turned this film into a horror movie. He was so unstable it was frightening, and he held no punches when violence erupted from within. 

It's very clear that Batman has a lot to learn about being the hero of Gotham. From the beginning until the end he realizes that he may be going about things the wrong way. This leaves the floodgates open with how his character can develop over the years. He’s broken, beaten, and has barely been fighting criminals to try and clean up his corrupted city. And to say it’s corrupted is an understatement. The entire infrastructure is rotten and evil to the core. The way the story and plot unfold addressing this seems as if there’s no hope which adds even more challenges for the cape crusader. 

There’s a high number of achievements this film was able to grasp that makes it a knockout, but unfortunately, I still didn’t love it. It just comes down to the subjectivity of it all. This is still not my favorite Batman and doesn’t come close. I want my action and choreography which isn’t here, but instead, I see Batman getting beat up half the time. Some may argue that it’s more realistic, but to me, there’s nothing in past Batman films that is unrealistic. The man has billions of dollars at his disposal with some of the best training in the world. You should be able to do anything with those resources. Those parts of Batman’s mythos are nowhere to be found here, and that brings the film down, even though it still has so much to be proud of.

7/10

Moonfall Review [Brandon Keith Avery - JustMyOpinion.net]

When the name Rolland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012) is in the headlines, it used to be an indicator that a wild, loud, but fun film was on the horizon. Now that seems furthest from the truth. The king of world-ending disaster movies is back with another outlandish blockbuster film, and it seems as if each new film he directs is now getting worse and worse with his age. This time around the moon is out of orbit and on a crash collision course with our planet earth. That alone sounds fascinating, and such a premise is a great reason to go to the theater with the escapism aspect of it all. The problem here is this film not only fails at that, but also fumbled on the simple basics. Like applying common sense for problem resolution, providing likeable characters, or images that are visually appealing. These are usually things that aren’t an issue for the seasoned director, but this time it was a missed opportunity and a lack of concentration and focus overall.

Whether you thought Emmerich’s past films made plausible sense or not, at the very least you could sit back in a theater and witness some of the best CGI effects in Hollywood. Seeing an alien invasion, the earth’s crust shift, or the entire world frozen over in ice provides a multitude of possibilities that can be displayed on film. So that was a minimum expectation going into Moonfall. However, it is a mystery how the $150 million production budget was spent because it couldn’t be on the effects. When there were opportunities to show cities flooded with water from high tides nothing about it looked real. It all appeared to be shot as a miniature set, and that’s never anything an audience member should be able to notice. This same procedure was executed with laser precision during his 2012 film, but now it appears the director didn’t have the same amount of resources. So unlike the past, seeing the world fall into chaos (with this time around having space itself as a central character) with great visuals was absent throughout the entire film this time around.

Another failed attempt was creating competent characters that the audience could attach to and root for. In Independence Day Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and Jasmine (Vivica Fox) felt like family. When the bomb went off in space towards the end I was sincerely concerned about their survival (Steven & David (Jeff Goldblum)). Even in 2012 when the Russian father sacrificed himself to save his children, he wasn’t the most respected character but in the end, he showed so much love and humanity within himself that’s notable. There was nothing remotely close to this level of detail in Moonfall. Now the addition of Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson were fine, but that’s just it. It was just fine.  It’s scary to think how this film would’ve turned out if they weren’t present. The rest of the supporting cast were either annoying, cliché, or had below-par acting abilities. No one is asking for super athletes that are experienced and know what to do in every dangerous situation, but simple maneuvers such as moving out of the way instead of being washed away as a still victim would’ve been appreciated.

The only saving grace in the film is it does keep you interested. Just the thought of how a moon could crash into a planet will always beg the question of how is this even possible and why. This mysterious question is answered towards the end of the film, but it’s the most rushed exposition dump in cinematic history. There’s no payoff whatsoever unfortunately. Imagine someone combining all of the lore of The Lord of the Rings franchise and Stars Wars then condensing it down into thirty seconds of plot. Not only is that enough for another movie in itself, but you could create a whole other series as large as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Simply put, this is lazy, and it’s seems as if this plot was rushed in at the last minute. 

Then there are still lingering questions that are never answered or addressed within the film. With the plot changing every five minutes, you may walk out more confused than when you walked in. At one point it’s revealed that the government knew about certain anomalies decades in the past, but we never find out why they didn’t prepare or share the information due to an obvious future confrontation. In addition to that, it’s clear you have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy such a film, but even basic science is ignored in this film. There’s always a solution to the current problems at the time out of nowhere, which causes no stakes in the film and the notion that everyone will survive and be ok. Even when characters do perish, it doesn’t matter because you didn’t care about them in the first place. 

This is by far Rolland Emmerich’s worst film to date. It is unclear what has happened in the writing or editing room, but something is broken and needs to be fixed immediately. This could’ve easily been remembered as another great world disaster film with nostalgic factors to last for years, but now will be just a blog in time that wasted space in the latest theatrical run. It’s a shame because all of the mishaps in this film were done quite well in past Emmerich films, but this time around not only did he have a bad day at the office, he got the entire studio sick and incapable of creating anything sensical or worthwhile.

2/10