shaky-cam and zoomed-in framing make it very difficult to follow what is going on. Another facet of the movie that doesn't work is the story. While trying to mash The Matrix with Hardcore Henry, the end product is as bad as you expect. I never felt attached to any of the characters, didn't care what they cared about, or ever wanted to see them again. Even when a character grows a conscience, it comes across as desperate to keep the plot moving and artificial. At least it's wrapped in references lifted out of Fight Club and even calls itself out for the Reservoir Dogs one. There are three things that I did like about Bloodshot. First, Lamorne Morris injects some much-needed humor in this drag of a movie. I would love for him to get more roles so I can see him in actually good films. He shows up right before the third act, so he's not the brightest light at the end of this very dark tunnel. Second, Eiza Gonzalez continues to be a strong actress that doesn't stand out but makes a mark in her roles. Finally, some of the set design and costumes were very nice. This movie proves that you can dig into the genre and make it look great on a big screen. At one point, a character puts on a rectangular metal helmet, and it looks incredible. So like I said before, Bloodshot is not worth potentially getting COVID-19 over, so don't go to the theater to see it. If you are looking for movies to stream and come across it there, then it might be worth your time if you really want to see it. Other than that, I can't see a world in which this would be an acceptable way to spend an hour and forty minutes. 2/10
There were inconsistent aspect ratio and lenses used which became really distracting
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While Bad Boys for Life won't offend anyone, at least I hope so, it doesn't inspire confidence in me. With this reboot shooting for the stars as it tries to become a regular series, it doesn't do a good enough job easing back in. Martin Lawrence was always the heart in the middle, grounding the movies in a ridiculous fake reality; by sidelining him, the movie slots into the emerging low-big budget category. This is where the John Wick series and many others reside as tentpole films have left studios with under $100 million budgets to share. The good thing is when Lawrence is on screen he does a great job being the comedic relief.relief. I can't whole-heartedly recommend this movie. While it does do away with Michael Bay's signature shaky cam and depicts action more clearly, there just isn't enough here. If you've already seen the award season movies, then this actually might be the slight fun you need if you're bored out of your mind. It's another old franchise that started in the 90s trying to modernize, what did you expect? 4/10
There was a shot where they forgot to set the muzzle flashes to screen and it was hilarious
The quaint and hominess that this movie exudes harkens back to a time of a different sensibility. Halfway through the runtime, you can tell it feels like a classic. Even though the original story came out in 1868, the film brings its message into the 21st century. Without devolving into preaching or propaganda, Little Women is able to balance its fantasy with stark realism. It even injects humor in a way to help release tension while not robbing the plot of its intensity. Little Woman utterly surprised me. The attention to detail, the proficiency in its craft, it all screams of a seasoned director. I think Greta Gerwig's knack for emotional literacy and her ability to craft scenes that let the audience experience the complexity of real relationships is unparalleled. While everyone is perfectly cast and there is praise to go around, I cannot stress enough how integral Gerwig was to making it all work. As director and screenwriter, this seems to be a unique vision that could have only come from her. I highly recommend the heartbreaking, funny, touching, and beautiful Little Women. 9/10
Greta Gerwig is officially one of my favorite directors
by absurd dialogue. In second place again is Gillan as she continues to be the rock that is the foundation for the story. Since the cast expanded for the sequel, it would be remiss not to acknowledge Aquafina, who, at the ending of the movie, does the best acting. Everything else just doesn't work. The story is worse this time around, which completely boggles my mind. There is too much filler, which usually comes from scenes designed to make the audience laugh without any actual substance. It can all be traced back to the plot's inability to have motives for its characters' actions. This lack of direction that slows everything down brings the pacing to a crawl. Instead of being a tight fun movie, Jumanji: The Next Level ends up being a frustrating experience that is nowhere near as enjoyable. I know that for some viewers, the changes made to characters and pacing won't be a problem for them. But I would implore them to ask if the sequel really is as good as the first. It honestly felt like I was on an amusement park ride as I was whisked to different locations with little prompting. Though there are some funny moments and there is fun to be had, it just doesn't come close. It's not like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was an impeccable movie that knew what to do, but it was better than this. I was very excited about this film; I thought that I was going to get more of everything I saw from the first, and in a way, I did. Since the ending hints at a third Jumanji movie, I would like to advise for that not happen. They should have focused on this installment being fun instead of trying to make a Jumanji franchise. 3.5/10
It's time to stop
At first, I thought adding more people to the isolated incidents of the original would quickly make the story feel too crowded. Thankfully, the trailers are more extreme in this department, and the new additions don't drag the movie down. If anything, Zoey Deutch was the perfect thing to add, keeping everything fresh; she has some really great lines and interactions with the rest of the cast. The outcome of her performance overcame a lot for me, though, I could never shake the feeling that she was putting on an act. I could tell this was not her real personality. It threw me off at the start, but the material was so good that I just accepted it. The rest of the cast does a good job too. No one seems to have missed a beat during the ten year hiatus. This is mostly a shout out to the screenwriters, as writing characters that were defined by 2009 could have been tricky to continue in 2019. The temptation to sanitize a role that screams balls and dicks all the time would have been powerful. I could have done without the slow-mo intro, the same trick they used for Deadpool, but it wasn't egregious. Overall, Zombieland: Double Tap spiritually feels like the first, and that's good enough for me. It definitely lacks the tight storytelling and has pacing issues, but makes up for it with its charm. It gets you laughing and has quite a few scenarios to do so, making it very entertaining. The worst part is the ending, as it doesn't play to the movie's strengths, but as a whole, it delivered. This result was probably the best I could have asked for. 5/10
Might be fully tapped now
In his ninth film, Tarantino has proved he really likes making movies about things that interest him. He loves the golden era of Hollywood and successfully transports the audience there. Following around an actor and his stunt double make for a really interesting setting. His craftsmanship is on full display as everything seemed perfect, from the lighting to camera movements, it was all top tier. A huge part of making it all work came down to the acting though, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt elevate the material they are given and breathe as much life as possible into the movie. Even with its flawless presentation, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood is hard to watch. The truth is, there is a severe lack of tension to push the plot forward, nothing is ever really being built up to. Aside from the realistic depiction of Hollywood as a business and the handful of great scenes that will be clipped out and be put on YouTube, the movie is aimless. Other critics might site that they love how the film is a collection of moments, that the break from narrative structure is to be applauded, they are just making up reasons to defend a bad script. With a runtime of two hours and forty minutes, there needs to be something to string the audience along. Just having a good third act doesn’t absolve the rest of the film from all of its sins. Tarantino proves once again that he is a first-rate director when it comes to the act of making movies, from a technical standpoint there is little to complain about. Whenever you decide to watch one of his films, you will be treated to a curated selection of music that perfectly intertwines with the visuals on-screen. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood could have been really great. but with all the things that it gets wrong, there is little reason to see it. It still features great acting and scenes which still don’t make it a must watch. Edit: As more time has passed, I realize the appreciation I have for the craft and quality that Once Upon a Time In Hollywood exudes. I can't forget about the aspects of the movie I do like and all of the nuances that story takes its time planting. If I had known the movie was almost three hours before going to see it, I might have had a better reaction to it. I definitely plan on seeing it again, but probably not in theaters. 5.5/10
I guess fairy tales aren't true
In so many ways, Far From Home is exactly like Homecoming; its structure and ideas are more similar than you might initially notice. Overarching ideas are woven into the very fabric of what makes the story tick, and it becomes unsettling when a Venn diagram comparing the two is almost a circle. These repeats of the first movie do have quite a few positives. The critical conflict of having Peter Parker's normal life clash with being a superhero takes center stage. Trying to juggle being a teenager with being the only Avenger abroad takes its toll as Parker has to decide what is more important. Far From Home retains an emotional core while being able to up the ante, making sure that there is enough action to keep viewers satisfied. It's able to focus on relationship issues and hardships while still injecting tons of humor in between, striking the perfect balance. It is the recipe that MCU movies have perfected yet forgotten for any large group movies. However, the retread of material does come along with some baggage as it does not work for all situations. Trying to have a twist with Mysterio doesn't work the same way the reveal of The Vulture, even though both are supposed to be equally shocking. Having the villain and hero connect also didn't work out well in this instance since there weren't enough scenes of them together. Trying to force their friendship was a mistake due to it being so underdeveloped. Overall, Far From Home doesn't have any barriers when it comes to recommending it for theater viewing. There are enough action set pieces audiences have come to expect and plenty of laughs that will keep you entertained. Obviously, if you don't want to see a movie about Spider-Man or superheroes, this won't change your mind. I can say, that Far From Home did pull at my heartstrings a little, but that's because I am very partial to a particular character. I guess I haven't seen many Indies this year because this ended up being one of the best films I've seen this year. 7/10
The neighborhood just got a whole lot bigger
audiences have come to expect from the franchise. In a way, it strictly tries to follow the MIB formula but ends up being bogged down by bad dialogue. Surprisingly, this movie didn't suffer from bad CGI. All of the special effects were very crisp and clear. From the distortion of everyday items to close up of aliens, there was a lack of washed out images commonly found in other blockbusters. To be honest there isn't too much else to say without giving the plot away. Just know that sometimes the film works and other times it doesn't, but mostly it's medium. Along with sequences that are edited poorly and an underwhelming ending, it just doesn't scream summer blockbuster. There were nice nods to the original trilogy like music and references which were subtle enough not to get annoying. It's not something worth rushing to see in theaters and could easily be enjoyed at home, or playing in the background while doing something else. 4.5/10
Still waiting for a good summer movie
the people around him. This is a slight complaint, and a compliment, in comparison to the thing that really hurts the movie for me. Since it starts out so strong, it makes me sad to say that the quality does dip. There are two moments where the visuals and soundtrack create amazing moments that the story does not support. Miles' relationships with most characters are thin, so when the film asks you to care, it can be hard to fulfill that request. It does a great job of showing how hard life can be when you want to become Spider-Man. It nails the crushing experiences with the mantra "get back up no matter how hard you get pushed down". In committing to that great message, it never shows the growth from learning that lesson. Miles goes from zero to hero in the span of a couple of minutes. As a character it makes sense, but to become a full-fledged veteran Spider-Man overnight was hard to buy. It still ends up being the best movie I've seen this year. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is labeled by many as "the best in the series" or "the best Spider-Man story". To me, I realize that this movie wouldn’t work without all the other mainstream Spider-Man stories; comparing them wouldn’t be fair. You should look at this movie like this: Spider-Man is a popular property; it now has an animated movie that tells a story about what it would be like if YOU were chosen to be Spider-Man". Ironically, that's the message of Spider-Man anyways, but this movie is built upon respecting legacy without you even needing to know any of it. I can't wait for the sequel if it's this good. 8.9/10
The voice cast did a great job, but next time leave Peter Porker at home
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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