Dear Readers,
I admit, I am a failure as a blogger. Over the last six months I have started four new posts and completed none of them. I have no real justification; work, school, life... just because things are busy does not mean I shouldn't take time to update. So today, I want to do a few paragraph film reviews and a bit of a status update.
Kingsmen: The Golden Circle
So yeah... these reviews go all the way back to last summer. I enjoyed this film as much as I did the first. It brought a vibrant, satirical voice to the typically "gritty" and "realistic" genre that spy movies have become. The plot was mustache twirling-ly convoluted, the action scenes over the top in the best possible way. The movie was also able to invoke a few heart wrenching and tragic moments, and the main villain is an interesting combination of total psychopath and "well, she kinda has a point." All in all, a fun romp through spy action flicks reminiscent of 007.
Thor: Ragnarok
One of my favorite superhero movies of 2017. This film had everything: well constructed action sequences, humor, introspection, and feels. Ragnarok continues building the relationship between Thor and Loki (which really is the heart of all the Thor movies), while acknowledging the messed up family life that brought them to their present state. Jeff Goldblum is stellar as mild antagonist the Gamemaster, and the arena battle and subsequent "bonding time" between Thor and the Hulk is very good. As with many Marvel movies, however, I have a bit of a problem with the villain. Cate Blanchett is a fantastic actress, and it feels like her character of Hela was underdeveloped and under-utilized. I understand that there were really two movies packed into Thor: Ragnarok, with the "planet Hulk-esque" arena sections, but it remains that Hela is grossly underdeveloped, her motivations are a bit unclear, her powers and limitations are undefined, and overall, the character simply felt lacking. This is a shame, because if there is anyone who can pull off the terrible, beautiful goddess of death, it is definitely Blanchett. But overall, the film was thoroughly enjoyable; an excellent addition to the MCU and to Thor's character mythology in particular.
Justice League
If Thor: Ragnarok got almost everything right, D.C.'s Justice League got just enough right to keep the struggling franchise afloat, while managing to mess up an almost ideal casting with a mess of a script, plot, and effects. Justice League changed hands partway through production, and the changes show. Many of the special effects come across as unfinished and fragmented, the obvious story changed undercut some of the main characters's big moments, and the overall product is piecemeal. For all its struggles, however, Justice League is a step in the right direction for D.C. The film shows the beginning of a transition from the monochromatic filming that haunted Man of Steel and Batman vs. Superman to a lighter, more color filled film (which honestly, is what we want from a SUPERHERO movie). Gone is the doubting, brooding Superman, buried and the end of BvsS, and resurrected in his place is a more accurate version of the character, a man who helps people because it is the right thing to do, the hero who "saves the world, makes out with Lois, flies into space, and smiles for the camera." Even with all the fallout from the stupid mustache fiasco, I was just so happy to see Superman smiling again, I was willing to forgive the weird CGI across Henry Cavill's upper lip. The excellent casting for the other characters also indicates good things in the future for the DC universe. Gal Gadot embodies the hope, power, and kindness that make Wonder Woman such a dynamic and interesting character. Ezra Miller shines as young genius Barry Allen, an enthusiastic ball of sunshine who I could easily see maturing into the emotional and moral heart of the Justice League. Both Ray Fisher's Cyborg and Jason Mamoa's Aquaman were done the greatest disservice by the films production foibles, with an apparent arc for Aquaman being sacrificed to plot changes and Cyborg's CG falling well short of industry standards for today. However, both actors brought a unique flavor to their characters, and I look forward to seeing more of them in the future. Particularly for Mamoa's Aquaman, he was able to walk the razor thin line of being a "surfer bro" and also being a total bad-ass well worthy of ruling over a domain that covers 70% of the globe. In short, Justice League fell short in many ways, but the steps it took toward improving make me very hopeful for future D.C. properties.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
If there was one major polarizing film amid the Christmas releases, it was the eighth installment in the Star Wars universe, The Last Jedi. Personally, I was of two minds about the film. Honestly, there was some really really stupid moments. The whole dilemma with the rebel fleet about to be destroyed, the field trip to a casino planet where two supporting characters free space horses and inspire the child slaves to rebel is entirely useless to the plot of the story. The whole chain of events was unfortunately set in motion by the lack of communication/miscommunication more common in Disney channel original movies or B grade rom-coms than in serious science fiction films. Seriously; if Vice Admiral Holdo had been more concerned with maintaining the safety and stability of her crew than with mothering Po Dameron, the entire rebel escape might have been efficiently accomplished; no field-trips, betrayals, mutinies, or grand gesture sacrifices necessary. All that aside, however, when The Last Jedi is focusing on Rey, Luke, and Kylo Ren, with film is incredible. It does a fantastic job of deepening the mythology of the force, while undercutting our expectations of how the story will play out. While many criticized the final battle between Luke and Kylo Ren, I love the way it defied our expectations and deepened the possibilities of the force while still remaining consistent with many of the possibilities we know the force to have. Untrained force users are able to sense each other's thoughts and emotions across exceptional distances. In the original trilogy, we see Darth Vader force choke someone through a holographic connection, across light-speed distances. It makes sense that Luke, one of the most powerful Jedi, who has spent years in mediation and contemplation, might be able to extend those possibilities to sending a visual image of himself across such a distance. All this to say, The Last Jedi was a great addition to the Star Wars universe; it had its struggles and stupid parts, but the main story was interesting and thoroughly enjoyable, and the additions the story made to our understanding of the force deepened the already fascinating mythology of the series.
The Greatest Showman
Movie musicals can be pretty hit or miss. The film version of Les Miserables caught the heart and emotionality of the original musical, but the attempts to capture the live singing of the actors undercut the quality of the music, minimizing some of the power of the show. Lala Land contained beautiful music, and an original story, but again, the singing was mediocre, and the dancing was lack-luster, especially compared to the "golden age" stories the film was supposedly imitating. But The Greatest Showman manages to hit all the targets to make a good movie musical. Like its subject matter, the film focuses of spectacle and showmanship more than on facts, portraying an idealized interpretation of the life of P.T. Barnum and the inception of the circus. The story is enjoyable, if a bit predictable in places, but the film more than makes up for it with spectacular cinematography, gorgeous costumes, incredible dancing, and catchy, upbeat songs performed with an emphasis on both quality and character. If you are a fan of movie musicals, The Greatest Showman is a breath of fresh air, embracing the traditions of the genre while also incorporating a contemporary flare in the story telling, music, and dance performances.
Jumanji: Into the Jungle
Of all the films to premier around Christmas 2017, Jumanji was one of the most anticipated, if not for the reasons one might think. I never saw the original Jumanji, however, I am a big fan of the "trapped in a video game" genre. The idea of four teenagers getting trapped in a game and having to play as their chosen avatars was immediately appealing, and was made all the more so by the excellent casting of Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart, with the added bonus of having Nick Jonas in a supporting role. Jack Black was, hands down, one of the best parts of the movie. Playing "Tiffany," a spoiled teenage diva with a phone and selfie obsession, Black uses his amazing physicality to hilariously embody the struggles and quirks of being a teenage girl in a middle aged man's body. Honestly, I think the portrayal deserved an Oscar. Dwayne Johnson was also a delight as the nerdy and neurotic Spencer thrust into the body of the heroic Dr. Smolder Bravestone. Johnson has a great sense of humor, and is particularly adept at mocking himself to get laughs. His performance is a joy to watch, and the fun chemistry between him and Karen Gillan lends a sweetness to the film. If there is one weak link in the cast, it is probably Kevin Hart. Hart has one character that he plays, and although he plays that character well, it is easy to get distracted by the lack of originality. Overall, however, Jumanji is a fast paced, fun romp through the jungle, mixing a love of the stereotypical and the absurd with a great deal of sweetness and heart to create a family movie that is a true delight.
Alright, that brings us mostly up to date. Hopefully over the next couple of days I will get a Black Panther review up, and that will get me all caught up. Thanks for reading, and please leave comments for me.
Well, back to reality!
