group do a great job portraying the various stereotypes appropriate for the time period that sells their friendship. It is surprising to hear that there were improvised scenes in the movie due to it feeling all planned out. This feeling of purpose does run out as the movie ends abruptly in an unceremonious fashion. The reason the ending feels as abrupt as it does revolves around the movie not feeling complete. Unlike Manchester By the Sea, there was more to show but the movie didn’t have anything else left to say. It felt like the story wasn’t over and that the characters had more growing to do. This year’s Eighth Grade showed its protagonist become a different person while everyone in Mid90s felt stagnant. Fifteen minutes of wrap up is needed to give the audience closure, but instead, we get a compilation through a fisheye lens. Mid90s is definitely a expertly presented movie; what it lacks in story, it makes up in aesthetic. This is not a movie you need to go to the theaters to see, you could definitely wait for this to come out on streaming. But if any of the subject matters speaks to you, an undeniable connection could be formed as you are transported back to the mid-90s where people made fun of things being from the 80s(the better decade). 7/10
Why the fish eye lens though, honest to god why
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The one area where Halloween (2018) fails tremendously is in the horror department; it plays more like a limited action movie rather than a slasher film. This isn’t to say Michael Myers does not murder a lot of people in the movie, but the murders lack tension making each death feel like a popcorn moment. The movie makes a point to reference the first film where Michael kills five people; in the current movie, he kills at least double that amount to little fanfare. The majority of his victims are unimportant, random extras that elicit no reaction from the audience. When he finally threatens the main characters, I believed they were not in any real danger. Other than the lack of tension and overall scariness, the movie is a mixed bag. There were plenty of well framed shots that made great use of lighting and some really great ideas in the movie that made it shine. However, those moments were weighed down by dialogue that felt dated and cliche relationships that Hollywood should have left behind. Halloween (2018) wasn’t the scary movie I paid to see and it suffered for it. People wanted to be scared on a trip down nostalgia lane and good lighting won’t change their minds. If you really need to see a scary movie for Halloween, this might not scratch that itch. There is nothing that makes this movie a must see in theaters, though it’ll make a perfect rental down the road if you want to hear that theme song again. 6/10
That theme song though
know where to go after setting up all of the characters. It adds a plot line that doesn't seem like it belongs. There is a constant tug of war happening between interesting, and uninteresting plot developments. When the movie finally ends, you will not feel satisfied. Sure, you get some decent performances. The guy who works at the hotel was a sleeper hit for me and became one of my favorite performances. John Ham continues to look amazing but not create enough of a presence for me on screen. Everyone else seemed like they could be doing a better job. Whether that came down to how they were directed, how the movie was edited, or whatever their agents want to say, it all seemed weak. This movie balances out though. There are lots of small moments where the movie clicks. Small moments where characters get to strut breathes life into the movie. The aesthetic is pleasing but doesn't go as far as I wanted it to go. It tries to be a movie that plays with expectations but doesn't do enough different to come off as smart. The overall experience comes up short which makes it easy to point out all of its flaws. Bad Times at the El Royale is not a bad movie, it just isn't a decent one. 5/10
Do I have to remind you that a 5 is neutral, neither positive nor negative?
I did ask what the movie was about at one point and got my answer within 20 minutes. It's definitely a slow burn, but you have to let it take its time. I will be listening to the soundtrack for the next week because the movie has some amazing music. Bradley Cooper does a great job singing, acting, and directing here, but huge props to Lady Gaga for being able to cry on camera. Cooper had one "cry" scene and didn't even shed a single tear. Watch A Star Is Born, really good stuff. 7.5/10
The music and visuals are great but the story is lacking a true driving force
I need to address issues people have with this movie that I don't feel are justified. To the complaint about the movie being PG-13 and not rated R, buy the extended cut when it comes out on Blu-Ray. Plus, gore would not make me change how I felt about the movie. Maybe it might for others who didn't like it as much as I did, but I honestly don't believe the movie needed it. To the people complaining about the plot of the movie, sure it's pretty typical for a superhero movie, but guess what, SO ARE ALL THE OTHER MOVIES IT'S JUST LIKE. Plus, I would take this ok plot over the non-plot of Infinity War any day. My final address is to the people complaining about comic book accuracy. You are probably some of the worst people out there. You complain about these things only when it suits you. You let Marvel get away with changing things and praise them for it. Take your non-argument and shove it down your throat. Venom is fun, watchable, and is getting a bad wrap. Tom Hardy does a great job acting in it. It is totally worth a watch whenever you want to go see it. Stay for the two after credit sequences, they are pretty cool. 6.5/10
The most unbelievable thing about the movie was having a serious boyfriend, six months after being engaged. |
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