Search the site...

COLME AARON
  • Movie Reviews
  • Yearly Top 10
    • Top Movies of 2021
    • Top Movies of 2020
    • Top Movies of 2019
    • Top Movies 2018
  • About
  • Movie Reviews
  • Yearly Top 10
    • Top Movies of 2021
    • Top Movies of 2020
    • Top Movies of 2019
    • Top Movies 2018
  • About

Movies In RevIew

THe Old Guard - Review

7/10/2020

Comments

 
Picture
Released: July 10, 2020
Good Enough

​It's the middle of summer, and theaters should be packed with families excited to see the next big blockbuster. This year has been a little different, and there haven't been any for people to see. Streaming has been a drip-feed of content that has satiated some, but everyone is looking for something that reminds them of the more explosive fanfare. While The Old Guard from Netflix does not fit that description, it might be enough to tide some over, at least for the next week. This familiar movie takes tropes and adds a little panache to keep things fresh. It won't be the next big thing, but it's just enough to keep you invested for a couple of hours. 

While the overall story will be very familiar, details mixed into the plot helped distinguish this film from the rest. Character tropes were provided with a unique context that changed the intention of the story. These changes helped to make the ideas presented more interesting, and by embracing modern sensibilities, they provide an extra layer of complexity. These concepts and the characters that embody them were the most interesting
things about the movie.  Even though it's billed as an action flick, that was the least interesting part for me. While there was nothing wrong with the action scenes, they just aren't why you should watch it.

The parts that really took away from my experience were the plans of this story continuing—the multiple setups for a potential sequel cement the picture as an off-brand comic-book movie. It feels like 6 Underground was mashed together with any of the fantasy garbage that floods the ancillary market. The Old Guard is better than most of those, but nothing kills the mood more than impossible promises. I don't even want a sequel, nevermind that there will probably never be one.

The reason why a sequel won't work is that Charlize Theron anchors the whole thing, she carries the film on her back. There is nothing that makes this movie or story unique. While her involvement in a sequel is possible, I can't believe it would be with the same presence. While she is not the only standout, two members made a considerable impression with their relationship that I enjoyed; she is the most important.

Overall, The Old Gaurd is a good enough couple of hours. The sequel teasing might not annoy you as much as it did me, but the mid-tier action scenes might. The mythology is interesting, and the perspective given to century-old people is pretty well thought out. It works and is included in your Netflix subscription, so why not give it a shot.
5.5/10
A week later, I am struggling to remember what I liked about this movie. Mostly forgettable 
Comments

Hamilton - Review

7/3/2020

Comments

 
Picture
Released: July 3, 2020
Wow

The most famous Broadway show in the past half-decade, Hamilton, amassed a large following. It felt like if you hadn't secured a sold-out ticket, you listened to the soundtrack on Spotify. For about a year, it was the most talked-about thing people wanted to go and experience. Having been released on Disney+, it is now available to all and just in time for the 4th of July weekend. While I can't answer if this matches up to seeing the musical in person, as I never had the chance to, I can recommend this version. 

One of the many advantages of going to a live production is choosing where to look. A set designer can try and focus the audiences' gaze, but it's ultimately up to the individual where they decide to look. This was the first hurdle I struggled with when the program started. I tried to focus on the set and the ensemble cast, but the camera's focus was on the main singer's face. When there was a moment that allowed me to see more of the stage, there would be a cut to a different angle. Eventually, I gave up on this endeavor and stuck with where the camera was pointing, but this is because the
set never changed. There were no background replacements, meaning there was never a reason to look back around. There was also a lack of engaging choreography for a production that had a lot of actors moving around. These factors helped to translate the experience to the more edited version that is now available.

The bulk of my entertainment started to manifest after the first hour. While that first part is fine, the momentum really picks up afterward. There is much more drama in the second half, and the quality of the music goes up as well. What really ties everything together is the recurring pieces of music that narratively build up characters and their motivations. When the curtain call happens, I looked back at and appreciated my time getting to experience the musical. It earned my time, and I felt good having watched it.

Hamilton is a great watching experience despite the more focused approach. While the music is good, it was the performance of Daveed Diggs and the small appearances of Jonathan Groff that made me believe in seeing it rather than listening to it. Aside from the historical aspects, it's a well-told biography that's engaging and keeps you interested. It earns the runtime, and you can finally understand why people wouldn't stop raving over it, though you might not end up as enamored as they did.

7.5/10
​The best thing to come out since quarantine started

Comments

    Categories

    All
    20th Century Fox
    A24
    Action
    Adventure
    Amazon
    Animation
    Annapurna
    Blue Sky
    Blumhouse
    Comedy
    Comic Book Movie
    DC
    Detective
    Disney
    Disney+
    Disney Animation
    Drama
    DreamWorks
    Fantasy
    Focus Features
    Foreign Language
    Horror
    Illumination
    Kid's Movie
    Laika
    Legendary
    Lionsgate
    Live Action Fairy Tale
    Lucasfilm
    Marvel
    MGM
    Monster Movie
    Musical
    Neon
    Netflix
    Paramount
    Pixar
    Science Fiction
    Sony
    STX Entertainment
    Thriller
    Universal
    Video Game Movie
    War Movie
    Warner Bros.
    Western Japan Movie
    Zombie Movie

    Archives

    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.