“………..alright, let’s ride.” THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT (2022) MOVIE REVIEW
Who would’ve thought that the best absolute performance Nicholas Cage has ever done....was Nick Cage? I don't think there was even one performance Cage has had that was truly terrible. I love Nick Cage no matter the quality of the movie, good, bad, or a movie that’s so bad so good like “The Wicker Man.” I was waiting for the return of our lord and savior after seeing him in a plethora of indie films such as “Willy’s Wonderland.” To appear in a big budgeted blockbuster flick after what feels like an eternity, it is so good to see Nick Cage back in the best way possible with “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.” It is directed by Tom Gormican and stars Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal.
The film is about film legend Nick Cage trying to retain relevance within the ever evolving might of Hollywood. Things don’t look too good for him, Cage accepts a $1 million offer to attend a wealthy fan’s birthday party. Things become really chaotic when the CIA recruits him on a mission that’ll change both his life and career. A movie THIS meta shouldn’t have worked, but it shockingly does. It takes a true deep dive within the mindset of the real Nicholas Cage and the version the internet has associated with for years. It does a fantastic job in showcasing the true struggles an actor goes through. It’s chaotic and sometimes kind of depressing. A lot of folks tend to forget that these actors are also people trying to make a living and they get rejected for a role or lose a role because they lose a giant cut of revenue. The kind of money that pays bills. This movie reminded me that it is also not just the actors, but everyone else involved makes a great deal of money when making one of these movies and that money goes into their living expenses.
Another thing that this movie does so darn well is the theme of brotherly friendship. Pedro “The Mandalorian” Pascal is phenomenal in this movie. He is essentially playing the fanboy that has reached his dream in becoming a friend/partner to his greatest idol. The bond both these two have throughout the course of the film is just too wholesome to bear and it makes one feel good when watching as it did for me and my best friend. I will say that the plot was a bit predictable, but that doesn’t distract from how much fun the movie is. It is actually well suited as a party type of film where you and your buddies can come together and have a really fun time. Making all the Cageisms you want while watching this movie come up with it’s own share of Cageisms. Please go see if you haven’t already.
“I will avenge you father. I will save you mother. I kill you Fjölnir.” THE NORTHMAN (2022) MOVIE REVIEW
Robert Eggers is a filmmaker that is slowly becoming another one of my new favorites. The man is a MASTER CRAFTSMAN when it comes to filmmaking. His debut feature was the 2015 movie “The Witch” and the first movie I saw of him was the 2019 Psycho-Horror film “The Lighthouse” which starred Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. It was a weird, bizarre, horrifying, and an amazing movie going experience. Unfortunately, my theater was kind of empty when I saw it back on Halloween 2019. Understandably so, it was Halloween night when I saw it and everyone was out partying while I watched Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson go absolutely bonkers in front of a 1.19:1 camera.
A couple of years later, I saw a trailer for this movie, “The Northman '' in theaters and I immediately got excited to see Robert Eggers directing this supposed “Viking Epic '' that is supposed to be the catalyst to inspire Shakespear’s Hamlet. You know, the whole king gets brutally murdered by his hateful brother and the prince vows vengeance on his evil uncle. Thankfully, “The Northman” is more than an epic take on Viking culture. Much like “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” this is the kind of movie one MUST experience in a movie theater at least more than once. The performances are too good to be true. The cinematography gives the sense of urgency and vengeance which is a core theme of the film. Please go check it out as soon as you can, it is the kind of film that is too good to be true and is one of the many stand outs to have come out in 2022.
“WHEN IN DOUBT…HOT DOG FINGERS” EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (2022) MOVIE REVIEW
When in doubt, HOT DOG FINGERS.
The last time I saw a truly creative piece of work from duo filmmakers was a little niche movie that came out in 2016 titled “Swiss Army Man.” It is a movie about a depressed man played by The Batman’s Paul Dano stranded on a deserted island, on the verge of death until he encounters a corpse that can talk, fart, and be the perfect multi-purpose tool guy played by the one and only, Daniel Radcliffe. It was a weird movie that didn’t get much love because of how weird it was. I was one of the few people that legit adored it. My friends even called me weird for liking it. That is until “Everything Everywhere All AT Once” comes out and it basically helps solidify why both this AND “Swiss Army Man.”
When the multiverse is at stake, you don’t need a magic doctor to save the day. You just need a normal everyday asian woman learning to exploit her true potential as well as encountering some really bizarre dangers that could destroy both her family and the world. Did that make any sense? I hope so because this is a movie that is just TOO hard to describe. It’s the kind of movie one needs to experience in theaters. Michelle Yeoh is phenomenal, but the absolute standout is the grown-up version Short Round from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” Ke Huy Quan. The man was genuinely fun to watch from start to finish and easily stole the show from me. Jamie Lee Curtis was also a lot of fun to watch. The multiverse stuff is also quite fun and the most unique I’ve seen compared to both Marvel AND DC.
My only issue was that the film didn’t explain the multiverse concept all that well or perhaps I need to see the movie again as I only saw it once in theaters, so I do hope to get this in 4K at some point. This is one of those movies where you NEED to see it twice. Movies like this NEED to be given more appreciation. I love those Marvel movies, sure, but it is really refreshing when a set of filmmakers that have such really weird ideas get turned into real movies and have people get entertained by that.
Movies are all about experience, it is all about imagination and when I hear people say they get turned off by weird movies like this or “Swiss Army Man” I get depressed because these are the same people that will have no problem watching a movie featuring a talking Angry Raccoon and a humanoid Tree that only says the same three words every time and make it sound like he is actually saying an actual sentence with only a select few can actually understand him. Yeah because that is NOT weird at all. Don’t discriminate against movies of any kind no matter how you feel about the actors, writers, directors, or how the movies market themselves. They all should be viewed and if you don’t like that then that is okay as well.The idea of acceptance is really hard to come by and it is weirdly one of the core themes that is presented in this movie. Like I said, I can’t explain what even happens in this bizarre fever dream of a movie. You just need to see it for yourself.
SONIC 2 THE MOVIE (2022) MOVIE REVIEW
When in doubt, HOT DOG FINGERS.
The last time I saw a truly creative piece of work from duo filmmakers was a little niche movie that came out in 2016 titled “Swiss Army Man.” It is a movie about a depressed man played by The Batman’s Paul Dano stranded on a deserted island, on the verge of death until he encounters a corpse that can talk, fart, and be the perfect multi-purpose tool guy played by the one and only, Daniel Radcliffe. It was a weird movie that didn’t get much love because of how weird it was. I was one of the few people that legit adored it. My friends even called me weird for liking it. That is until “Everything Everywhere All AT Once” comes out and it basically helps solidify why both this AND “Swiss Army Man.”
When the multiverse is at stake, you don’t need a magic doctor to save the day. You just need a normal everyday asian woman learning to exploit her true potential as well as encountering some really bizarre dangers that could destroy both her family and the world. Did that make any sense? I hope so because this is a movie that is just TOO hard to describe. It’s the kind of movie one needs to experience in theaters. Michelle Yeoh is phenomenal, but the absolute standout is the grown-up version Short Round from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” Ke Huy Quan. The man was genuinely fun to watch from start to finish and easily stole the show from me. Jamie Lee Curtis was also a lot of fun to watch. The multiverse stuff is also quite fun and the most unique I’ve seen compared to both Marvel AND DC.
My only issue was that the film didn’t explain the multiverse concept all that well or perhaps I need to see the movie again as I only saw it once in theaters, so I do hope to get this in 4K at some point. This is one of those movies where you NEED to see it twice. Movies like this NEED to be given more appreciation. I love those Marvel movies, sure, but it is really refreshing when a set of filmmakers that have such really weird ideas get turned into real movies and have people get entertained by that.
Movies are all about experience, it is all about imagination and when I hear people say they get turned off by weird movies like this or “Swiss Army Man” I get depressed because these are the same people that will have no problem watching a movie featuring a talking Angry Raccoon and a humanoid Tree that only says the same three words every time and make it sound like he is actually saying an actual sentence with only a select few can actually understand him. Yeah because that is NOT weird at all. Don’t discriminate against movies of any kind no matter how you feel about the actors, writers, directors, or how the movies market themselves. They all should be viewed and if you don’t like that then that is okay as well.The idea of acceptance is really hard to come by and it is weirdly one of the core themes that is presented in this movie. Like I said, I can’t explain what even happens in this bizarre fever dream of a movie. You just need to see it for yourself.
“GOTTA GO FAST” SONIC THE HEDGEHOG MOVIE (2020) REVIEW
The history behind the making of the first film is extraordinary. The fact that this film's original plan was around the 90’s and kept getting changed over the years until landed on Paramount Picture’s doorstep and managed to be as good as it is has managed to perplex me both since 2020 and even to this very day. This is a special case when fans of the IP managed to help make this move stand out from the crowd. It originally was supposed to release in November 2019, but got delayed because the entire internet was deeply shocked over the really really REALLY bad design of the title character. There were defenders of that monstrosity, claiming they were trying to bring a realistic angle to the character. First of all, we are talking about a blue speeding hedgehog FROM ANOTHER WORLD. Do you want to know the last time a film team defended a horrible design of an iconic monster by claiming to be more realistic? “GODZILLA 98,” it might be a decent average monster flick, but as a GODZILLA MOVIE? Absolutely NOT!
When the premiere trailer came out with that terrible design, the internet went nuts over how bad it was and was hoping that it would get delayed. Then the unthinkable happened. On May 2nd 2019, the film’s director, Jeff Fowler, announced on Twitter that the movie would get a 3 month delay and Sonic himself would get a massive redesign. Veteran Sonic artist Tyson Hesse, who worked on previous Sonic media, was brought onboard for the design and was given an added estimated $5 million to the production budget and was achieved within 5 months and ZERO overtime. That is remarkably impressive. The film came out on Valentine's Day 2020 and was a shocking success.
Sonic The Hedgehog is about a little blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds, teams up with his local town sheriff, Tom Wachowski played by James Marsden, to stop an evil mad scientist named Dr. Robotnik is played by the legendary and always gives off the best kind of laughs, JIM CARREY. WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT THAT JIM CARREY WOULD PLAY A LIVE ACTION EGG-MAN?! I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT!
It is nothing really special in terms of its plot. It’s the kind that a countless others have had over the years where a beloved cute iconic character who is known to be in some form 2D or 3D animation gets turned into a 3D character or a semi-realistic 3D character in this case and has to team up with James Marsden and go on a road trip adventure. However, what makes this stand out from the rest of the bunch is the rivalry between Sonic and Dr. Eggman. The chemistry between Sonic and Tom is OKAY. It wasn’t that spectacular, but it was definitely wholesome seeing this friendship, this father/son dynamic develop throughout the course of the film.
So in conclusion, Sonic The Hedgehog Movie is everything you’d expect for a film like this. It’s got some good action, genuinely funny moments, great use of world building, and really damn good redesigned Sonic. I guarantee you that the movie just wouldn’t have worked with that awful design. The new one is very much Sonic, but revitalized for modern movie-going audiences. It's a decent adventure for sure, but we’re just getting started alright.
“HONESTLY? Your future is pretty tragic either way…I’m kidding! I’m kidding. I’m not kidding…I’m kidding” THE ADAM PROJECT (2022) REVIEW
“Honestly? Your future is pretty tragic either way. I’m kidding! I’m kidding. I’m not kidding....I’m kidding.” Those words hit a little too deep for me I don’t know how that makes any sorta of sense, but welcome to the year where Ryan Reynolds releases a science fiction action adventure comedy regarding Time Travel directed by the guy who gave us the 2021 unexpected hit film “Free Guy” also starred Ryan Reynold and apparently they’re coming together a third time for the eventual Deadpool 3, I CAN’T WAIT FOR THAT HOLY F-
The movie is about Adam, played by Reynolds, who accidentally travels back to the year 2022 and has no choice, but to partner up with his younger 12 year old self, played by Walker Scobell, in order to save the world.
Yeah typical adventure time travel flick, I know, but what makes this Netflix Exclusive movie such a gem is weirdly enough NOT Ryan Reynolds, but more so his younger counterpart, Walker Scobell who does a scarily accurate portrayal as a young Ryan Reynolds. No joke, this kid is SPOT ON. From the inflections, mannerisms, and wittiness, this is one of the most impressive child performances I have ever seen. The kid even did a word-for-word spot on recreation of the Deadpool 2 opening monologue. The chemistry between these two is not what you’d expect when it comes to this sort of Father/Son adventure flick. It’s bizarre and wholesome, everything you want in your Ryan Reynolds Romp.
The action is fast-paced, fun and memorable, the performances from the other cast members are also really good. It’s got a really fun take on the time travel element. My only issue with the movie is the villain feels very stereotypical and the CGI work on the younger version of the villain is TRON LEGACY level bad. You’d think the de-age technology would have improved over the years and in a way it has. From Sam Jackson in Captain Marvel to Luke Skywalker in the Book of Boba Fett, but this is a sad case where it just didn’t work out. Like you can just TELL within an instant that the CGI on this particular character just didn’t work out at all.
Other than that, The Adam Project is a fun filled adventure time travel film. With great action and a stellar performance by newcomer Walker Scobell, I highly recommend you check this bad boy out whenever possible.
THE LOST CITY (2022) REVIEW
Ever wanted to see an evil non-magic Harry Potter go up against Sandra Bullock and Magic Mike on a globe-trotting Indiana Jones inspired adventure? Did you feel slightly underwhelmed by Sony Picture’s attempt at a Indiana Jones inspired adventure that in itself is already based on a beloved PlayStation video game franchise? Have you EVER wanted to have a Indiana Jones inspired adventure that also pokes fun at those rom-com tropes and sensual romantic fantasy novels, then THE LOST CITY IS THE MOVIE FOR YOU!
Sandra Bullock stars as Loretta Sage, a reclusive romance novelist/ex-archeologist, who gets kidnapped by Daniel Radcliffe, a billionaire tycoon who would work really well in an Uncharted or Indiana Jones movie, He believes that Loretta has the answers to finding this forgotten treasure hidden from this random lost city. Suddenly, Loretta’s dumb cover model named Alan, played by Channing Tatum, attempts to rescue her and the race is on for both survival and for the random hidden lost city jewel thing.
This was just an average movie with some humorous moments sprinkled throughout. I liked the cast and their respective chemistry. Some of the jokes didn’t stick in the landing for me, others did. The subplot of Loretta’s manager was so out of place and it felt highly unneeded and that alone affected the entire movie for me. All in all, it was fun, but it is largely forgettable in my eyes. Like I don’t have any urge to rewatch this at all, let alone own it on home video. I’d say I found the Uncharted movie MUCH better in comparison, at least I can remember the fun I had with that movie unlike this.
“I AM THE SHADOWS…” THE BATMAN (2022) REVIEW
They think I’m hiding in the shadows...watching...waiting to strike....BUT I AM THE SHADOWS.
In the last decade, the world of entertainment has seen its fair share of cinematic universes, with Marvel taking the helm and DC always trying to play catch up. We had almost 27 films from Marvel, most have been largely successful and on DC’s camp had about 12 projects (11 movies and one HBO Max series) and it's been a rough road for DC these past 10 years. More specifically, it’s been a lot rougher for Batman fans like myself. Since the Dark Knight Rises, we had the disastrous theatrical release of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, where almost everything about it except for Ben Affleck himself was just not worth it all. Arrow basically stole the limelight from Batman himself within the CW. The only good thing that Batman fans had to endure this past decade was the release of the critically acclaimed animated The Lego Batman Movie. Batman has not had a solo live action film SINCE 2012 and it's about time DC’s iconic Cape Crusader finally returned to the big screen, though through the lens of a filmmaker that truly 100% cared about the character.
For years, I’ve always wanted to see the World’s Greatest Detective on the big screen. Yes, he does do some detective work in the older movies, but they’ve been glossed over. Batman is more than just a dude that looks scary and beats up bad guys. Heck, there is a reason why DC stands for “Detective Comics.” I would’ve loved to see Ben Affleck at the helm and give his take on the character seeing as he also played him. Yeah, there was a period where he was supposed to direct the film, but dropped out due to a multitude of reasons. I was getting a tad bit concerned in regards to who was gonna direct this movie because it was going to be hot water if WB doesn’t hire someone real soon. Then in early 2017, it was announced that Matt Reeves (director of Cloverfield, Let Me In, Dawn of/War For The Planet of the Apes) was officially hired to direct. From then on, my concerns fled out the window because this is a filmmaker that truly cares about his craft and had yet to make a truly awful movie-going experience. I was officially on board, but I still had reservations as WB, the studio behind the film, has a not-so-great reputation when it comes to handling it’s line up filmmakers (look at the history behind the Justice League movie for crying out loud). I was worried that WB was going to hijack the production just like how they did with Suicide Squad and Justice League.That was until Reeves threatened to leave the project unless he is granted full total creative control. The film has been in production for almost 2 years and had to get constantly delayed due to the pandemic. It’s finally out and I can safely say that the wait was absolutely worth it.
The Batman stars Robert Pattinson (as Batman/Bruce Wayne), Zoe Kravitz (as Selina Kyle/Catwoman), Paul Dano (as Edward Nashton/The Riddler), Jeffery Wright (as Lt. James Gordon), and Colin Ferrel (as Oswald Cobblepot/ The Penguin). After two years of making a name of himself as this nocturnal monster that lurks from the shadows to prey on Gotham’s criminals, the Batman investigates the grizzly murders of Gotham’s Elite left by a serial killer named the Riddler, who leaves behind cryptic messages that’ll supposedly expose the corruption that has plagued over this mess of a city.
Without going into spoilers, I have only seen this movie twice and I plan to see it a lot more in the future. This, to me, is officially the greatest comic book film of all time. It is on par with Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight in almost every conceivable way imaginable. Some will say that this film was too long, hence the 3 hour runtime, but to me this was the perfect length to tell a story such as this. There is just so much to unpack from a storytelling standpoint. Everything from Greig Fraser’s gorgeous cinematography to Michael Giacchino’s haunting musical score, and Matt Reeve’s attention to his characters as opposed to the plot itself has been elevated to a standard most storytellers and filmmakers dream of achieving. Every shot and every frame is so meticulously well crafted with shadows and well light areas. Every track in the soundtrack feels like a powder keg waiting to burst. There are moments where it felt like a horror film and that doesn’t mean the horror aspects take away the fact this is primarily a detective film noir with Batman as the star player. It is a solid addition and it matches the themes this movie is presented with. Like when this film’s version of the Batmobile gets introduced, it is intense and horrifying. Like an animal growling in the darkness. Or when Batman claims he IS the shadows, bringing the fear to all of Gotham’s criminals.
The villains are more uniquely portrayed here than in other adaptations. First of all, Colin Ferrel looks NOTHING like he normally does. The make up work in this is on another level, it is that good, but his performance as this 2nd in command mob boss feels a lot more grounded than Danny Devito’s “must eat fish to stay alive” mentality from Batman Returns. I will always have a soft spot for Jim Carrey’s Riddler, but Paul Dano’s very clearly Zodiac-inspired Riddler is both over the top and downright creepy in all the right ways-helps add to that horror aspect. I was never really a fan of John Turturro, wasn't sure if he could pull off the ruthless mob boss, Carmine Falcone. However, he actually surprised me over how down-to-earth and scummy his character actually is.
Zoe Kravitz brings this sincereness to her performance as Selina. Like everything she does she believes is the right call, when it clearly isn’t and her relationship with Pattinson is well handled (More on Pattinson in a bit later). While my preferred Catwoman is Michelle Pfiffer, Zoe is my second favorite Selina Kyle as she has a lot more depth to her performance. If anything she kind of reminded me of the Catwoman from the Batman Arkham games, and I am a huge fan of those games. I knew Jeffery Wright was going to knock it out of the park as Gordon, he brought the right balance of humor in a world that is basically the absolute opposite. If it wasn’t for his version of Gordon, then this film would just be a completely depressing movie from start to finish. Andy Serkis’ version as Alfred was decent despite the limited screen time.
One thing one must know about Matt Reeves is that he isn’t in it for the plot really, but wants to bring attention to the characters he is bringing to the screen, which is probably the most important aspect for a film regarding a guy dressed as a bat. As much as I loved Christian Bale’s Dark Knight, The Batman himself, Robert Pattinson, is the definitive take on the character. I don’t want to hear the whole “this guy just can’t do Batman because of Twilight.” Everyone, Twilight was a decade ago, learn to move on. Even Pattinson himself despises both the movies AND the books despite him being in them. He clearly did those movies as means to earn a paycheck, and he has not appeared in a major blockbuster since then. Mostly worked on independent, mostly arthouse type films. The man is an amazing actor and I was one of the few that was actually excited to see his take on the caped crusader. Why? Because I learned my lesson from the likes of Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Heath Ledger, and Robert Downey Jr. It is because these are just actors hired to play a specific role and it only depends if the role in question is written well enough to spawn a genuinely good performance. In this case, Robert Pattinson over-exceeded my expectations with his performances as Batman. Despite the brutal nature of the character, he is mostly a silent stalker of the night. He doesn’t say a lot, but carries his performance through his eyes and body language. You can tell just how badly damaged this man actually is by the way he moves around. He almost seems kind of robotic, helps add that sense of the unnatural. There are a few sequences that heavily remind me of the classic and iconic animated “Batman: Mask of The Phantasm” and “Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman” where he just stands in complete silence and yet somehow tells us everything one needs to know about a certain situation, if that makes any sense. This version of Batman has a no kill rule, FINALLY! While yes, the Nolan trilogy implies that version of Bruce has a no kill rule, he still basically kills the fake Ra’s, the real Ra’s, pushes Harvey Dent to his death to save Jim’s son, killed a bunch of Talia’s henchmen and killed Talia herself-leading to one of the worst death scenes in cinema history.
While yes, this review is mostly a non-spoiler one, I need to bring light to a large complaint many have had regarding this film and that is the lack of Bruce Wayne. Yes Bruce Wayne does appear in the film, but he’s not the focus and there is a good reason why. You see, in the comics and even the Arkham video game series, Bruce Wayne in his early days was always this brash, rageful man who was OBSESSED with his creation-THE BATMAN. He sees being out in public without his batsuit as a giant waste of time. He has this unhealthy obsession of trying to fix his broken city. In this movie, Bruce Wayne doesn’t matter at all and the only thing that does matter is The Batman. There are various scenes where Bruce and Alfred are constantly butting heads in regards to who is in control-the Bat or The Man. Even when Bruce is out in public without his suit, he is still undergoing his detective work. Even without the cowl, he is still Batman. He just doesn’t care about his public appearance. The playboy look is not in for the count in this film and I am ok with that. His “emo” look helps sport the idea that he just doesn’t care about the Wayne image and cares more about the Batman. However, something happens at the end, in which I won’t spoil, where we might end up getting that classic Playboy Bruce Wayne we’re all familiar with in the sequel(s) and judging by this film’s massive success, we’re getting a sequel alright. Heck, we have two confirmed spin off mini-series, one on Penguin and one on Arkham Asylum, I can’t wait for either of these two shows.
Oh and the absolutely amazing marketing campaign this film presented us these last couple of years. The trailers and posters are gorgeous works of art, but there is one other thing that basically kept me thoroughly engaged and that is this in-universe website where you answer a bunch of riddles in hopes of looking at exclusive content for the movie. The site is titled www.rataalada.com and whoever thought this was a good idea deserves a raise in their paychecks, it is downright genius. The site itself is currently being updated with something mysterious coming very soon.
Whenever there is a comic book movie that is deemed either really good or great, we always tend to say that this film is better than Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. That’s how it was like for the past decade. And don’t get me wrong, I adore The Dark Knight and a lot of films this past decade have not come close to surpassing the Dark Knight. Heck, not even “Spider-Man: No Way Home” couldn’t beat it at all. I am completely confident when I say that this is not only the perfect Batman movie ever. To me, this is one of the greatest films ever made, that is high praise coming from me. This is a film that pushes the boundaries on the genre it belongs in. It is a film that knows what it wants to be and allows the viewer ample time to know and understand the characters. The arcs these characters go through are just riveting and they belong on the big screen. I seriously hope that the team behind this masterpiece come back to provide for the sequels and spin-offs. You can just tell that the passion behind these artists are full and present. This is what happens with a studio as big as Warner Brothers actually allows the filmmaker that has an absolutely impressive filmmaking background do whatever the heck he wants, we end up paying for some real deal art. This will be the new standard for comic book filmmaking going forward.
Okay I want to be completely honest with you, I definitely believe that Matt Reeve’s The Batman is better than Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, but that doesn’t mean I’ll outright toss The Dark Knight aside in favor of The Batman. I originally wanted to say that this movie is “better” than The Dark Knight, but that’s not entirely true. The Dark Knight holds a special place in my heart. I adore Nolan’s realistic take on Batman and I adore Reeve’s grounded take on Batman. So really, I guess I hold both The Batman and The Dark Knight in the same light for me. They are both powerful pieces of cinema and SHOULD be studied, explored, and enjoyed by many.
For Autumn- ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE (AKA THE SNYDER CUT) (2021) REVIEW
For Autumn...
In 2017, the world was treated to Justice League...a movie that was supposed to be directed by Zack Snyder, but was stolen and destroyed by the twisted demented minds of Joss Whedon and the various studio executives that just loved to do what they do best: INTERFERE. Snyder had to step down because of a personal tragedy: the death of his daughter, Autumn Snyder.
What the world got was a tonally confused disaster of a movie that butchered the characters far worse than anyone can ever imagine. If you thought Snyder was trying to damage these character in anyway, then it is clear you have not seen anything at all. Since then, a group of fans started the "RESTORE THE SNYDER CUT" because there was indeed proof another version of that movie that was supposedly way different compared to the one a lot of us watched back in 2017. There were people that believed in it and of course there naysayers out there. I was somewhere in between. Like I had a feeling that there was going to be a Snyder Cut, but I wasn't sure if it was either real or if WB had the courage to even release the darn thing considering their reservations on Snyder in general. I personally wanted to see it through because of what happened with Snyder and his family during the filming of this movie. Before, I was not even in the Snyder camp, I didn't like MOST of his movies until I heard the news about his family and I just felt really bad and I wanted to contribute and when I heard that the movement was actually going to send proceeds of the movie's profits to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, I just knew I had to get on board.
Then Zack Snyder's Justice League aka The Snyder Cut was announced as an HBO Max exclusive and it was going to be 4 hours long, that's when I started to get nervous a little, but then I was reminded that this all for a good cause. I sat through this entire four hour experience and...there was no way this story was worth telling in your standard 2 hour runtime. This film is jam packed with a lot of story and character that gets fully explored and all of the characters get heavy redemption from me. Batman is no longer the brutal killer, but the faithful protector leading the charge. The Flash is more than just a comic relief character. Superman feels like a real symbol of Hope. Aquaman isn't just some dudebro with a pitchfork (although there wasn't much character as his character does get touched on his own solo movie thankfully, but still). Wonder Woman doesn't feel like sex appeal anymore, but the role model young girls look up. Most importantly, CYBORG IS THE REAL HEART OF THE MOVIE. We follow his plight, his motivations, and his desires, it all feels personal. This is a very personally driven film for not just the actors or the characters, but the filmmaker himself. You can just tell he truly cares for these characters and makes one wonder what the heck was the studio thinking not releasing this sooner?!
The action is more brutally vibrant, the soundtrack is majestic, and the villain Steppenwolf FEELS LIKE A REAL VILLAIN! He has desires like everyone else in the film! He is a lot more sympathetic than the theatrical mommas boy we got in 2017. There is also a lot of iconic moments from this movie that was not even in the 2017 version, like the iconic Barry going back in time bit. That scene made me fall in love with the character of the Flash all over again! The fact this scene got replaced by him saving that stupid lone Russian family just BOGGLES MY MIND!
The Snyder Cut should serve as a reminder to just let filmmakers make the films they were hired to make! Unless, the film is not going as well as it should due to test screenings from real deal audiences, DON'T INTERFERE! The Snyder Cut might be 4 hours long, but to me, it is 4 hours worth it! Plus you can pause and come back to it anytime you want. Thank goodness for HBOMax! Not just that, but the fact this film help spread awareness regarding suicide prevention is really commendable. To anyone who is reading this, please, if you are going through some stuff, please talk to someone, a friend or loved one that can help you through your struggles in life. Remember, you are not alone and you are loved by many, even if it doesn't feel like that. We're in this fight together.
https://afsp.org/
Tell me…do you bleed?-BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DANW OF JUSTICE ULTIMATE EDITION (2016) REVIEW
THIS REVIEW IS REGARDING THE ULIMATE EDITION OF THIS FILM, NOT THE GARBAGE THEATRICAL CUT (THAT GETS A 1/5 FROM ME)
Tell me....do you bleed....studio interference?
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice ULTIMATE EDITION is the 2016 sequel to 2013's Man of Steel, both written and directed by Zack Snyder. It stars Ben Affleck as the DC Extended Universe's version of Batman, Henry Cavil returns as Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman, Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Jessie Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, and a bunch of others in a movie that is jam packed to the brim with content that there is a reason why a 3 hour extended cut was DEFINITELY needed for a film such as this.
2 years after the devastating attacks in Metropolis, the world is extremely split the existence of the Superman. Some believe him to be a God send from the heavens, some believe he's completely out of control, others believe him to be the spawn of the something worse. In reality, he's just trying to do the right thing no matter what the cost. Despite his attempts of doing good in the world, he's always being criticized. It doesn't help much when a lot, including one lone Dark Knight, holds him responsible for the destruction of Metropolis. At the same time Clark finds out that Bat is just as bad if not worse than the criminals he fights, so they need to come face each other to ensure what it really means to provide justice.
When the theatrical cut of the film came out, I was appalled by how bad the movie actually was. It was the most disjointed overstuffed comic book movie I have ever seen. Thank goodness of the Ultimate Edition because it provides a more thorough understanding for why certain characters act the way they are. Especially when it came to Ben Affleck's Batman. At first, I despised his Batman for how much violence he brings out. He kills A LOT and I get it, Batman does kill in film before, but it wasn't as explicit as it is in this film. However, the ultimate edition does provide a bit more insight as to why actually kills. Clark Kent is also in this a lot more, and THANK GOODNESS for that!
Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman was her first ever debut in a major cinematic adventure and she kicked major butt! Really loved her appearance, even if the still felt shoehorned in because the studio really wants to have their stinking Justice League movie (for crying outload).
There are still problems I still have with it, such as Jessie Eisenberg as Lex. Love the actor, hate the performance. I CAN'T buy him as a Luthor at all and the design of Doomsday is just....BAD, I HATED IT. The writing alone isn't all that, but you can tell there is more passion here than the stupid theatrical cut. I really do like the soundtrack and I thought Ben Affleck nailed it as Batman despite everything else in the movie. He was truly the stand out and I am looking forward to seeing his final go as the character in the upcoming Flash movie. It's a shame he hasn't had his solo adventure yet, but I think it's for the best anyway. I do think Henry Cavill gives his best performance as Superman and I am still waiting to see his ACTUAL face in a movie again dang it!
I saw this once when it came out back in 2016. The affects of the theatrical cut was still reigning all over my head and I couldn't bring myself to enjoy it as much back then and I just put this entire movie aside for so long. It was only until WB was finally being fair for once when releasing the Snyder Cut of Justice League, I decided to give this another go because it was definitely a mere improvement over the trash theatrical version of the movie. Keep in mind, I put BVS off for a good 4-5 years. The minute after I watched it, I was really shocked that it wasn't as bad as I remembered it. Then again I wasn't watching the theatrical cut. If anything, I don't even remember the theatrical cut of the movie. I basically completely eliminated all memory of that movie's existence. If you watch the Ultimate Edition with this exact mindset, I guarantee you'll have the same kind of experience as I had.
Why do we fall? -THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012) REVIEW
"Why do we fall, Bruce? So, we can learn to pick ourselves up"
That was line given to Bruce Wayne by both Thomas Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth back in Batman Begins. A constant reminder to never give up no matter what the cost and this is the theme that gets explored more thoroughly in the final chapter of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy. The Dark Knight Rises brings almost everyone back along with a newcomers such as Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Tom Hardy's Bane and Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate/Talia Al Ghul.
It's been 8 years since the death of Harvey Dent and disappearance of the Batman after taking the blame for his death and the deaths of others. No one even knows Batman anymore, relegating him as a myth once again. Bruce has become sort of a recluse and hiding from the world due to sheer guilt. It is until Bane starts reigning hell on Gotham, arming a device that could destroy this city, all in the name of the League of Shadows. Forcing Bruce to come out of retirement and remind himself what truly makes him a Dark Knight.
The third film in a series is usually the worst in the series. Some say that this is film as an example of that alone, but I'll still say that this film is one of the BETTER third films in a ongoing film series. Does it have it's issues? Yes, absolutely there is. There are a lot of plot holes and you can just tell that Nolan is getting tired of filming movies regarding Batman and wants to proceed with his own craft. However, no matter the issues, Nolan still managed to crack final magic trick. It is an epic film in all the right ways. The action, the themes, and sense of triumph is rich here and I couldn't have asked for a better finale to a brilliant film trilogy.
In terms of the newcomers, I thought Anne Hathaway was a brilliant Catwoman, I loved her theme and character arc. I liked Tom Hardy's Bane, he was much more ruthless and cunning compared to whatever the heck that was in Batman & Robin. I didn't like how HIS story ended, but it is definitely better than Marion Cotillard's Talia that REALLY let me down. Her reveal in the film was extremely predictable and her end was a lot more pathetic than Bane's was if not more so. You can make up memes regarding her character's departure, that's just how bad that scene actually, I actually laugh out loud over how pathetic it actually is. Really takes me out of the experience for an entire trilogy that was mostly known for taking it seriously.
Aside from one of the worst character portrayals ever in a comic book movie, I'll still say that The Dark Knight Rises an amazing finale to a phenomenal trilogy. The action, the story, performances, and soundtrack are all legendary. The Dark Knight trilogy stands a triumph in filmmaking, joining the ranks of amazing film trilogies such as the Lord of The Rings, the original Star Wars Trilogy, Back To The Future, and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy! Now, let's just see if Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson can join such legends with the NEW "The Batman" coming very soon, I can't wait anymore.
Why So Serious? -THE DARK KNIGHT (2008) REVIEW
From time to time, we all need to ask ourselves this one simple question. WHY SO SERIOUS?
Batman Begins might have brought back the cape crusader to the big screen, but The Dark Knight changed cinema...forever. This is comic book filmmaking at it's absolute PEAK. Every shot, every frame, every performance, every musical track screams cinema. The cinematography immediately grabs oneself in to fully grasp the realistic terror and tragedy that is Nolan's The Dark Knight. Practically almost everyone is back...except for Katie Holmes, where she is replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Along with newcomers to the cast such as Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent and the one and only Heath Ledger as THE JOKER.
Following the events of Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne investigate a series of grizzly bank robberies followed by a man dressed a clown. The banks in question are indeed owned by Gotham's mob, a faction in which Bruce seems more focused on than this Joker guy. At the same time, he is constantly trying to find a way to step away from the Batman mantel as he is introduced to Gotham's newest District Attorney, Harvey Dent, who has managed to be the city's White Knight in shining armor. Managing to clean up the streets much better than Batman ever could. However, his hopes get shattered the minute Joker's reign of destruction begins to rise, causing all sorts of problems, prompting Bruce Wayne to become something more than what he anticipated the Batman to be.
There is already way to much that has been said about the Dark Knight. It is the film to change the comic book entertainment genre completely. Packed to the brim with phenomenal performances, especially by the late and always great, Heath Ledger, who at time of this written review has been gone for 14 years. He would have been 43 to this day. The fact that it has taken this long for this movie to be top strikes me as incredible and kind of sad. People will always pick this film as the GO TO comic book when it comes to people's top 10 or top 5 lists. And can you blame them? The film is beyond incredible to comprehend from start to finish! It even ends on a dark, somber, and yet hopeful cliffhanger.
Trying to find issues is like finding a needle in a haystack. Are they're issues? Yes because NO films are perfect. However at this point, the issues in question will only lead me feeling like I am just nitpicking. Like how Batman's detective skills are used, but aren't used enough or how his "no kill code" isn't thoroughly explored in this film as much as I wanted it to be. Those feel like nitpicks not real deal criticisms. It is just that good of a film and is constantly being studied by various film classes even to this day. If you haven't done so already, which I question your sanity for not even attempting yet, please seek The Dark Knight. It must be viewed at least some point in your lives.
More than an illusion to fear- BATMAN BEGINS (2005) REVIEW
If you make yourself more than just a reboot, more than an illusion to fear...you become something else entirely...
This is the perfect example of a bring a franchise back from the dead and giving it one of the most definitive Batman experiences ever. Batman Begins is the gritty realistic reboot that was written by David S Goyer and directed by the one and only, Christopher Nolan. It stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon, Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes, Liam Neeson as Henry Ducard/Ra's Al Ghul, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, and Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathon Crane/Scarecrow. Does that look like a pretty big cast to you because it certainly does for me.
Finally, a Batman movie that goes above and beyond with its storytelling. The issues I had with Batman '89 is Batman is not being the central focus. We don't really know WHO Bruce Wayne is other than the fact his parents were killed when he was kid and...that's it. Like how did he become The Bat? When how Jack Nicholson became the Joker, but how Batman came to be was kind of unfulfilling. Batman Begins rectifies that going deep into Bruce's backstory. Showcasing has his taste for vengeance started with his FEAR of bats and how the concept of fear is the driving theme that runs this entire movie. Chris Nolan did say that the movie's main theme is all about fear and he nailed it right on the head with that concept. When Alfred asks "Why Bats?" Bruce responds with "Bats frighten me, it's time my enemies share my dread." Doesn't get anymore simpler than that.
Another Issue I had with previous Batman movies was it's inconsistent tone. Batman Begins had a consistent tone from start to finish and it's a factor that runs throughout Nolan's entire trilogy and that is so refreshing! This is a film where I can take the characters a lot more seriously because of the fact it FEELS realistic.
I rarely talked about the soundtrack to these movies because it usually flies by my head. I don't really think too much of it unless the soundtrack is really REALLY good and in Batman Beg-heck the entire trilogy as a whole it is just an example of the perfect soundtrack. I loved Danny Elfman's Batman theme, but I have more a personal connection with Hans Zimmer's take on the character. It emphasizes the dark nature of the character, but also the human-tragic side of the character.
Now for the issues, I felt that Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow was a tad-underutilized throughout the film....as well as the entire trilogy. Katie Holmes' performance felt phoned in rather than straight up genuine to me and there is that terrible use of shaky cam that happens during major fight scenes. Well it works when Batman finally makes his first appearance in the movie, but every other scene it just didn't work out that well.
Other than that, this a solid way to reintroduce a well-beloved character back to the big screen. It's well written and directed, the performances are amazing, and the soundtrack is just beyond incredible. Despite the aforementioned issues, this is exactly how to do a reboot the right way.
BEHOLD THE DEATH OF A FRANCHISE- BATMAN & ROBIN (1997) REVIEW
BEHOLD-THE DEATH OF A MOVIE FRANCHISE
Yeah, it is as bad as everyone made it out to be 25 years ago. Yeah, this movie is 25 years old. Batman and Robin brings back Joel Schumacher in the directors chair and once again we see ourselves with a new Batman actor. This time, Val Kilmer is replaced by the always great, but sadly he doesn't help this mess not one bit, George Clooney!
Batman & Robin's plot is about as messy as all of the year 2020 combined. We have multiple villains whose sole purpose is to who can out-pun one another. We have Batman and Robin bickering like an old married couple. Alfred is sick all of sudden and just so happens to have a similar disease that Mr. Freeze's wife has. Oh and lets had Batgirl in this story because why not through a 3rd side kick to the pile absurd nonsense this film's premise has to offer, who is about as interesting as watching Ben Stein simply talk about anything for an couple hours. Not to mention the fact that this movie is basically a glorified toy commercial. Virtually everything you see is simply made to sell toys. Forget about the story and deep interest in character development. We need to make as much money as humanely possible! YIKES WHAT A DISASTER!
There is a reason why this movie basically killed the comic book movie genre during the 90s. It is that just that bad...however, there are actual positives I do have to give this movie. I did like George Clooney as BRUCE WAYNE because he is basically Bruce Wayne in real life. He's got that calm charm that makes Bruce such an endearing character. The one thing this movie did end up getting right is Bruce's need to help and redeem others despite what monsters they've become and it is very evident when trying to help out Mr. Freeze and his dying wife. Clooney's Bruce even acts more like a father figure to these struggling orphaned children he and Alfred has to take care off. Does it annoy me that they change Batgirl's identity from Barbara Gordon to Barbara Pennyworth...YES, YES IT DOES. This whole movie is straight dumpster fire.
However, to Schumacher's credit, he DID indeed publicly apologize and stated that all he wanted to do was just to entertain. So let's humor that notion and say "yes the movie is just really bad, but if you view it as a movie that is soo bad that's so good, then hey he did his job really well." If you look at this as a straight up COMEDY, then this movie great! It's a funny movie and THE perfect party movie to gather your friends together and laugh at this insane mess of a movie. More akin to movies like Tommy Wiseau's The Room or most Nicholas Cage movies. However, as a Batman movie, yeah it's just REALLY bad.
It just raises too many questions… - BATMAN FOREVER (1995) REVIEW
Toning it down to more a family friendly setting despite it's initial set up was dark and moody...it just raises too many questions....
Batman Forever is the first movie NOT to be directed by Tim Burton. He has been relegated to being a producer on the film. It is this time being helmed by the late and great Joel Schumacher. It also replaced Michael Keaton as Batman with Val Kilmer. Simply because Keaton didn't like the direction they were taking the character, that's why he left the project.
Batman this time has to deal with the over-the-top Harvey Two Face Dent (played by Tommy Lee Jones), the puzzling conundrum of one Edward Nigma aka The Riddler (played by Jim Carrey) who is just as nutty as Two Face in this movie, tackling what it is like to be a mentor to a young Richard Grayson (played by Chris O'Donnell) after his family was killed by Two Face, and handling his personal romantic relationships right.
There is a lot that Batman Forever gets right. The relationships that Bruce has or has established in the film such as Alfred and Robin himself. I felt Schumacher handled the tragic backstory of Bruce a lot better than Burton did to be quiet honest with you. If anything this felt the most Batman I've seen from the 90s Live Action Batman....except the ending for what he does to Two Face.
However, despite what the movie gets right, there is a lot that the movie gets WRONG. Like the romance between Bruce and Nicole Kidman's character feels forced and contrived, like there needed to be romance for the sake of romance. That and Nicole's character just felt generic to me. Now for the villains, I am beyond disappointed especially with Tommy Lee Jones. One would figure he would make a great Dent! Yet, he is crazed, over-the-top and was basically the Joker without him being the Joker. Same with Jim Carrey's The Riddler. I love me some good crazy Jim Carrey, but he should NOT have been picked to play this character. Yes Nigma is obsessed with riddles, but he's not crazy like the Joker. The tone itself was all over the place, you can tell that movie was struggling to retain its dark tone while tackling the lighter elements and it just didn't mesh well. At times I felt like, oh yeah this is the dark brooding Batman I came to know and love since Burton came on the scene and then we get this goofball villain named the Riddler who is crazed and over-the-top and it just takes me out of the experience. Like it doesn't know what it wants to be.
Batman Forever is not a bad movie nor is it a good one. It is somewhere in between where the tones keep fighting each other for dominance. I like the performances, the action, the music, and I really do like the set design, you can tell there some form of artistry full display, but it gets overshadowed by pure studio interference, something that will get even WORSE by the time Batman & Robin comes in to play. So in the end, Batman Forever is a pretty memorable yet completely mediocre film.
Things DO change…for better or for worse-BATMAN RETURNS (1991) REVIEW
Things really do change...for better or for worse. Batman Returns is the sequel to the 1989 classic, Batman, which once again is directed by Tim Burton and this time stars Michael Keaton. It co-stars Danny Devito as Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle aka Catwoman. This time Batman has to face The Penguin who has plans to eliminate all of the first born children of Gotham, while also dealing with a Max Shreck (played by Christopher Walkin), a corrupt businessman who allies himself with the Penguin in order to bring Gotham to his very control, and Catwoman who seeks revenge against Shreck.
Did that sound like a lot? Good, because this movie is a mess to sit through. On one hand it is great to see Keaton once again as the caped crusader and Tim Burton's production design is out of this world. I love the visuals and the Penguin's design is definitely the most unique design I've seen of the character no thanks to VFX legend Stan Winston.
On the OTHER hand, I am aware that the character is known to being dark and edgy. I mean LOOK AT HIM, he's got a long flowing black cape that's shaped like a bat and operates AT NIGHT, I GET IT. Yet, why is this movie so dark to the point where it is TOO dark. When it is overdone, then it fails to make the common folk take this character seriously. Like I kind of took it seriously a little bit in the first movie, but this movie took that seriousness and tossed out the window in favor of this absurd dark comedy that is just TOO dark, even for a Batman fan like me.
Does that make this a BAD movie? No, it is not a bad movie. It has everything you need for a Batman movie: action, suspense, romance, an awesome soundtrack, etc. However, it does lend itself to less Batman-like experience and more akin to that of Tim Burton himself. If you view this as a typical Burton movie, it's great, but as a Batman movie, then NO, it could've been WAY better.
Do You Want To Get NUTS?!- BATMAN(1989)
Do you really want to get nuts? COME ON! LET'S GET NUTS!
I don't know what CAN be said that hasn't been said already in regards to Tim Burton's 1989 iconic masterpiece, Batman starring Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton as...Batman...
Yeah okay, why is the movie called Batman when the star of this film is really the JOKER? It really seemed like they kind of strayed away from it being a Batman movie and instead it being a Joker movie, but with Batman in it as well as it being titled BATMAN. Does this make the movie bad at all? No, it is still just as awesome as many have remembered, but it is deeply flawed like caped crusading superhero himself. This movie transformed that goof ball superhero from the 60s/70s to gritty dark hero we all know and love today. It's kind of crazy to think that this movie as well as the likes of Frank Miller are the reasons why most of us fans of the character fell in love with him in the first place.
That and the drama is well put together, the action is great, the romance between Keaton and Basinger is cheesy yet lovable, Jack Nicholson IS the Joker-from his facial expressions to his manic laugh, the soundtrack is iconic, Michael Keaton is a BEAST as the Bat (seriously can't wait to see him return on the big screen in the Flash movie coming soon in late 2022), the costumes like fantastic, and the bat-mobile is my personal favorite version we have ever gotten over the years.
As for the flaws, I don't like how Joker basically steals the spotlight away from Batman himself. The movie is called Batman, but majority of the most memorable scenes come from the Joker and don't get me wrong, I loved this version of the Joker. Jack Nicholson was/is the perfect for the character. However, when I go and see a movie titled "Batman" I expect Batman to be the main focused on...well BATMAN. Yes sure they did show his parents getting axed off like they during every origin tale and how his origin connects with the Joker, but this movie shows how the Joker came to be.
Aside from that, it is still a fun movie. It clearly is a movie of the times and it is indeed a timeless classic that still holds up to an extent, but as a fan of Batman, I was a bit put off over how less exposure Batman had in his own movie compared to his iconic archenemy. Other than that, I still enjoy this movie despite it's most glaring flaw.
Greatness DOES come from small beginnings-UNCHARTED MOVIE REVIEW
Greatness really does come from small beginnings. When I heard about one of my favorite videogame franchises of all time getting a movie adaptation, I had an array of mixed emotions: excited, scared, confused, and most importantly concerned. I was excited that it was getting a movie adaptation. I was scared if the movie was going to be good or not. I was confused as to why there SHOULD be a movie adaptation considering the games themselves already lend themselves to a movie-like environment already. I was concerned of how faithful the movie was going to be to the games. I remember hearing about the adaptation alone back around 2009/2010. It was only a matter of time as to WHEN this was going out come out and it finally did...in 2022. Now that I had seen it, I can safely say that the Uncharted movie directed Ruben Fleischer and starring Tom Holland as Nathan Drake and Mark Wahlberg as Victor "Sully" Sullivan (fun fact, he was originally going to be cast as Nate) is genuine turn-your-brain-off-and-have-fun kind of thrill ride.
Nathan Drake, a street-smarts thief gets recruited by fortune hunter, Victor Sullivan in a race by a corrupt billionaire Santiago Moncada, played by Antonio Banderas and his mercenary Braddock, played by Tati Gabrielle, to locate the lost treasure of the Magellan Expedition in hopes to find his long-lost brother along the way. During this adventure, he will find some form of assistance by a Chloe Frazer played by Sophia Ali.
Uncharted The Movie is everything you'd expect from an action-adventure type movie akin to Indiana Jones. It's got your fistfights, shoot outs, chase scenes, puzzle solving, impractical yet fun set pieces, and a healthy dose of betrayals. The villains are nothing to write home about. They're about as interesting as watching wet paint dry. They were there as an obstacle for Nate and Sully, nothing more.
As expected, the movie does come with its share of cheeky yet fun easter eggs, especially one for hardcore fans like myself that jumped out of my seat with excitement. Trust me, you'll know it when you see it.
On a surface level, it looks like your typical adventure film that does not do anything new and you're right and honestly that is okay. The various stories for Uncharted were never really meant to be taken seriously at all. In the games, Nate must deal with Zombie Spaniards in the first game, some possessed sasquatch monsters, and being drugged to the point where you started seeing fire-head demons.
A lot of fans like myself, where unsure of the cast, especially for Nate and Sully. Everyone felt Tom was too young to play the character even if he is in his mid-20s. Mark Wahlberg doesn't look or sound like Sully from the games. Sophia Ali is apparently a lot older than and Tom even though Nate and Chloe have a romantic history in the games. However, Tom embodied the character PERFECTLY. He has the charisma, the ingenuity, and humor that made that character so beloved to gamers everywhere. Wahlberg might not sound like him, but he did a gosh-darn good job as Sully and his relationship with Nate is exactly how they are like in the games. This is more-or less the perfect origin for Nate, Sully, and Chloe's relationship from the games despite SOME differences here and there. After all, it IS a movie adaptation.
One final thing that kind of annoyed me is the marketing and how it practically spoiled major story beats. Please, if you haven't seen the movie nor it's trailers, I recommend seeing just the teaser trailer.
If the movie captured the heart of the games and has made someone like me want to go back and start playing them all over again due to how fun it was, I'd say the movie did its job very well. I personally went into this with little to no expectations whatsoever and came out pleasantly surprised over how much fun the movie was, and I wouldn't mind if they made sequels to this. If they did make a second or third movie, I'd love to see Uncharted go a little more mystical kind like the first two games did back in the day and please make the classic theme more prominent. It was a joy hearing it in a major motion picture, but the fact that it wasn't the theme disappointed me. I love Ramin Djawadi's work, but this was the first time I was let down by his generic cookie-cutter soundtrack is. Seriously, look up "Nate's Theme" by Greg Edmonson, it is the perfect musical track to listen to before getting started for the adventure ahead. Or "A Thief's End" by Henry Jackman, which is just a more dramatic riff of Greg's theme from Uncharted 4.
Anyway, Uncharted is a shockingly fun action-adventure film. The chemistry between Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg is fantastic to watch. The action and stunt work are amazing. If only the villains and the soundtrack were as good as everything else that this movie has to offer. I hope that they improve a lot in possible sequels because let's face it, they're going to be sequels to this. I hope this the is the start of something greater....sic parvis magna.
Mission Impossible: Fallout
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Mission Impossible: Fallout is the 6th film in the Mission Impossible film series. This is the first MI movie to have a returning director. Almost all MI movies, there is always a different and unique vision, but Christopher McQuarrie has returned to write and direct Ethan Hunt's latest adventure once again. Everyone from the previous films returns (except for Jeremy Renner (you can thank Marvel Studios for that)) with the addition of Henry Cavill and Angela Bassett.
2 years after the events of Rogue Nation, Hunt and his team must track down a bunch of stolen plutonium while being monitored by the CIA after a mission goes incredibly wrong. Hunt must also suffer the consequences of letting his greatest enemy, Solomon Lane, live.
This movie actually FEELS like a follow-up. Like they actually showcase or mention the consequences of what happens in previous films. McQuarrie did a great job in turning Ethan Hunt from a generic action-packed James Bond wannabe to an actual full-fledged character with ACTUAL depth. Before I couldn't really care about Hunt as a character. All I cared about was just awesome ridiculous stunt work that Cruise does himself in EVERY movie. I haven't felt this invested in Hunt as a character since Mission Impossible 3.
You've heard of the phrase "one man's trash is another man's treasure?" Well, replace the "man" in that sentence with "movie" because of Henry Cavill and his sexy as hell mustache was, in fact, a treasure for this movie. Where Justice League messed up with Cavill's terrible CGI mouth, MI Fallout embraced that beautiful stache. That and his character is just as compelling as Soloman Lane and Hunt equally. He also presents some of the franchise's most brutal action scenes ever. That bathroom scene was his defining moment. I just wish the DCEU had this much freaking effort and care for Cavill.
SPEAKING OF ACTION, outside of Black Panther, Infinity War and Deadpool 2 (because they are both comic book movies for crying out loud, the action is pretty much a requirement), this movie is the best action since Mad Max Fury Road. I am dead serious here. The level camera and stunt work that was needed for this movie are unprecedented. Tom Cruise is not human. He is 56 years old and yet he is still pulling off all of these ridiculous stunts. I am convinced that he is either an alien or an LMD (Life Model Decoy (Robot)). He spent a couple of years training to pilot a helicopter...and that Halo jump....talk about dedication.
I have seen this 2 times. Normally, my dad would take me to see these Mission Impossible movies two times in a row during their respective releases, but I am willingly because this movie was THAT good. I honestly wasn't that hyped for this movie because I wasn't THAT big of a fan of Rogue Nation. However, this makes up for Rogue Nation 100%. This also serves as a way to wash the terrible taste out of our mouths after watching such a disastrious Cruise/Kurtzman movie called "The Mummy (2017)" (review for that shitshow coming soon).
From turning generic action heroes into compelling characters of action. To awesome mustaches and brilliant action set pieces and a story that has a purpose, this is the best Mission Impossible ever. Remember, I wasn't really looking forward to this, but I ended up loving the hell out of this! Go see it if you haven't already.