Hellboy (2019)

POSITIVES…

  • David Harbour as Hellboy is easily one of the best things about this reboot film.

  • Besides the main plot itself, the movie goes in so many crazy different directions, and that’s a compliment.

  • There are some good action set pieces that were fun to watch.

  • The monster design work is amazing in this.

  • Gotta say, the ultra gore and horror violence actually services this movie in all the right ways.

NEGATIVES…

  • That ultra gore and horror violence is going to turn some people off, because they are quite hardcore.

  • The CG work for the monsters aren’t always the best.

  • While the general plot, pacing, and direction of the movie are suppose to be exciting overall, somehow it just doesn’t feel like it.

  • The filmmakers clearly worked so hard here to make you care about what you’re seeing, but it took some effort to actually be invested with what’s going on with the movie. If you even get to that point.

  • Somehow, the most confidently good parts of the movie, literally happens in the last five minutes of it. That part was the fun kind of action-adventure-fantasy I’m feeling people were actually looking for, and not what came before that.

  • For a movie that adapted a comic book property, the majority of my theater audience left as soon as the end credits started, despite the fact there’s a mid-credits AND end-credits sequences. The movie they saw just didn’t make them care enough to bother I guess.

P.S….

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Pet Sematary

POSITIVES…

  • Despite not being as flashy as modern horror flicks, this is a solid interpretation of the Stephen King novel, and a good remake of the original film adaptation.

  • The tone of creepiness and bleakness is done really well.

  • While the pace is confidently moderately moving, it successfully creates this build-up of tension, that leads the way into the incredible final act.

  • This film may have some effective jump scares, but there are some lingering quieter suspenseful scares that are probably even more effective.

  • The whole cast here is great in their roles. Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, and Jete Laurence, all showcased some great subtle emotional acting when needed.

  • I dare say that I actually liked the direction and changes this adaptation made over the original.

NEGATIVES…

  • Changes from the book and from the previous film adaptation might irk some people.

  • Others might feel like it’s too much of a slow burn, and doesn’t “wow” you enough.

  • Some plot turns and reveals might come off as a little too sudden.

  • There is one character in the movie, that I think the movie could have absolutely lived without.

  • Depending on how you feel about it, conclusions to the many plot threads might not be satisfying enough.

P.S….

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Shazam

POSITIVES…

  • Zachary Levi as the superhero Shazam is highly entertaining to watch in the role, and is a huge reason as to why this movie works the way it does.

  • Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman is also highly entertaining to watch, and is a scene-stealer in his own right. The chemistry he shares with Zachary Levi is great.

  • Asher Angel as Billy Batson does a good job in keeping his character interesting to watch.

  • The rest of the cast; which includes Mark Strong, are all fantastic in their roles. Kudos to Faithe Herman for her delightful role as Darla.

  • As for the story itself, it’s combined mix of fun escapism, comedy bits, and appreciative themes, all helps keep you from losing interest. 

  • How much fun is it seeing Billy Batson learn how to use his superpowers? Very fun.

  • The surprises! There are several surprising plot reveals that I thought were awesome to see play out.

  • Got to love all the little Easter Eggs thrown in, like a certain nod to a giant keyboard; a la the movie “Big.”

NEGATIVES…

  • While entertaining in all the right ways, there is still a certain simplicity to this origin story, that borders on being a bit too predictable at times.

  • Although they are both technically the same person, there doesn’t seem to be that much effort by Zachary Levi and Asher Angel to keep up with that premise. It’s like they really are just two different characters. Kinda disappointing.

  • There is a specific plot detail that runs throughout the movie as a gag, that is clearly leading up to a conclusion. Never happens! Talk about a let down.

  • Some of the plot turns and some thematic resolutions seemed a little too awfully unbelievably convenient.

  • Your suspension of disbelief is required more times than not.

P.S….

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Dumbo

POSITIVES…

  • Dumbo is a cute CGI character that earns my attention. They also did a good job making him fly.

  • Danny Devito is widely entertaining when he is on screen.

  • Alan Arkin is also widely entertaining when he is on screen.

  • When the movie is hitting all the right notes, it’s fantastic. A lot of that has to do with the parent-child-family relationship theme throughout the whole premise.

  • The main story connection between Dumbo and the Milly Farrier character, is one of the better plots that drives the movie.

  • Pleasantly surprised at the direction they took with the story of Dumbo, as well as some of the commentaries.

  • I actually appreciated the thematic messages of the movie, and was probably the main reason I wanted to see it through until the end.

NEGATIVES…

  • Despite some good ideas, the majority of the movie is filled with plot cliches, after plot cliches, after plot cliches.

  • Colin Farrell’s character is simply not that interesting, short of one significant plot device.

  • The way the story handles Eva Green’s character and story arc, is disappointingly haphazard.

  • Michael Keaton’s character is too much of a cartoon cliche to be taken seriously.

  • They must have thought they were pretty clever having Michael Buffer do a cameo…

  • The CGI elephants don’t always work on screen at certain times either.

P.S….

  • I didn’t see any bats or penguins easter eggs…

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The Dirt

POSITIVES…

  • If you’re a fan of Motley Crue, then this movie is made for you.

  • If you’re a fan of rock music biopics in general, then this movie might just be worth checking out.

  • From the opening scenes of outrageousness and horrible behavior, this movie successfully establishes itself as a biopic that isn’t afraid to show you the sex, drugs, rock n roll.

  • The accompanying Motley Crue songs is of course one of the best things about this movie.

  • The whole sequences on how the band got together and started having gigs, are the high points of this movie.

  • The actors they got to play the role of Sixx, Lee, Neil, and Mars, are fantastic in this! Their portrayal of these rock stars are one of the best things about his movie.

  • Then the other things people are going to want to watch this movie for, are the recreation of the more outrageous moments as told from the book that this is based on. Like that infamous pool scene.

NEGATIVES…

  • Besides the outrageous content, this is more or less a by-the-numbers musical biopic that occasionally breaks the 4th wall.

  • Despite the momentum provided by those outrageous content during the majority of the movie, there’s a mellower, more serious, arguably more boring, 4th act, that the movie just limps towards the end credits.

  • Speaking of outrageousness, is this movie exploitatively outrageous just for the sake of being outrageous? That’s a question you’ll find yourself asking throughout the movie.

  • Although there’s an understanding that the band mates are close to each other, there some emotional more dramatic moments during the second half about how much they mean to each other, that didn’t really feel as believable as it probably should have been.

  • Speaking of understandings, this movie does expect you to have some knowledge of the rock era this movie takes place in, because it doesn’t make too many attempts to explain who or what you are seeing on screen. Some might find the use of rock history short hand inadequate for certain plot details.

P.S….

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Watch it now on NETFLIX

Us

POSITIVES…

  • As a horror suspense thriller, Writer-Director Jordan Peele has given us an exhilarating and entertaining movie.

  • It’s not the scariest movie around, but Peele knows how to build up and create tension, and successfully put me on the edge of my seat for a lot of it.

  • Set pieces. Fantastic thriller set pieces here, and there are several of them.

  • Visually, the movie is amazing to look at. From the cinematography, the symbolically iconic looking images, to several memorable moments that I won’t be forgetting. Gotta love some of the camera angles chosen for certain scenes that I’m not going to spoil.

  • Story-wise, this has a great premise. The idea of a plot that you might have in your head just based on the promotional trailer isn’t enough to describe what actually happens in the movie. I was definitely invested to see the whole movie through.

  • In terms of themes, metaphors, symbolism, this movie is layered as heck. There are so many things to discuss with what happens in the story, to what it’s really all about.

  • Amazing cast of actors here, with a stand-out dual-role performance by Lupita Nyong’o. Evan Alex, Shahadi Wilson, Winston Duke, Tim Heidecker and Elisabeth Moss, were all fantastic! As expected, Winston Duke gets to be the funny one most of the time.

NEGATIVES…

  • As much as I liked some of the humor bits, it felt out of place at times, and took me out of the movie.

  • There were moments that I just didn’t believe what the characters were doing, which also took me out of the movie.

  • I have to point out that there is one particular plot point that I wished was actually addressed, because it felt like a glaring plot hole to me that fundamentally would have changed the film.

P.S….

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Climax

POSITIVES…

  • This movie opens up with a beautifully framed shot, with a hint that something horrific happens, and successfully puts you on guard to be weary about what you’re about to see.

  • There’s an ominous tone throughout that is established from the opening shot, as well as an unnerving feeling like you’re watching real life video evidence of a terrifying event that you shouldn’t be witness to.

  • Those familiar with Gaspar Noe films should be pleased with the downward spiral of the narrative, from the mesmerizing beginnings, into the twisted and traumatizing plot turns.

  • One of the main highlights of seeing this are the electrifying dance sequences, and the energy the dancers put on screen; especially considering the majority of them are not seasoned actors.

  • We’ve got electro dancers, voguers, krumpers, and waackers here, and they perfectly fit with the toe-tapping head-bopping soundtrack of the film.

  • This movie is visually hypnotizing, and contains incredible imagery, with some creative camera work and editing that brings you further into the experience. It’s especially effective during the more nightmarish scenes.

  • Kudos to Gaspar Noe for once again creating an unforgettable film. A film that parents can use to scare their kids into avoiding going to dance parties, because bad things could happen there.

NEGATIVES…

  • There were several shocking scenes and dialogue in this movie, but sometimes they felt shocking just for the sake of being shocking.

  • Due to the very shorthand way of developing the characters, I only really cared for possibly less than a handful of them. The impact to the tragedies did feel a little diffused because of that fact.

  • Some people will not have the patience to put up with the narrative structure of this movie.

  • Speaking of patience. Expect a lot of indulgence given into several scenes, and that includes a nine minutes long dance sequence, to characters sluggishly walking back and forth through the hallway going out of their minds.

  • Is this simply style over substance? In many ways yes, but in some ways no.

P.S….

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Captive State

POSITIVES…

  • There are some perfectly acceptable plot ideas in this story.

  • The huge ensemble cast sure seem to be super committed to their roles.

  • I liked the alien creature design.

  • I also liked the look of the alien spacecraft, which is like a flying rock.

  • I dug some of the alien sci-fi gadgets featured in the movie.

NEGATIVES…

  • The premise isn’t exactly the most original thing around. However, it’s so meh, I didn’t really care.

  • There is so much plot and parallel storylines going on here, that I still couldn’t find myself caring about any of that in the movie.

  • For a huge ensemble cast working their ass off here, I still didn’t care what happens to any of them.

  • There are two tones in this movie. Despair, and suspenseful tension. Nope. Still didn’t care.

  • Stupid things happen. Didn’t care for it.

  • Plot reveals that should have been clever, but really wasn’t. Care, I did not.

  • For those of you looking for some cool humans vs aliens action sequences will be disappointed. Who cares?

P.S….

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Triple Frontier

POSITIVES…

  • Super strong cast here, and they are all good in their roles. Oscar Isaac, Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund, and Adria Arjona. That’s quite the casting.

  • One of the main strengths of this movie is how these five ex-special forces unit, interact with each other. They have good chemistry together, so that’s always a good thing.

  • As a heist film, I thought the movie offered some good ideas for it’s plot progression, and for the themes it wanted to showcase.

  • The opening sequences, and the heist itself was entertaining enough to watch.

  • What happens after the heist is arguably the most interesting, suspenseful, and dramatic thing about this movie.

NEGATIVES…

  • People going into this thinking it’s going to be an action-fest will be disappointed.

  • It’s a slow burn the majority of the way until the end, and some people are not going to dig that.

  • Although I think it was necessary thematic-wise , I’m still disappointed with some of the stupid decisions some of the characters make in this movie.

  • As interesting as the premise and characters can be, I don’t think the movie completely sticks the landing, for me to get fully invested with it.

P.S….

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Available to watch on Netflix

Furie

POSITIVES…

  • Easiest description would be that this is the Vietnamese Female version of “Taken” and “John Wick.” That’s obviously a big compliment for fans of action movies.

  • Veronica Ngo is amazing as Hai Phuong. The Mother you don’t want to cross because she can and will kick your ass.

  • Cat Vy also deserves credit for playing Hai Phuong’s daughter; Mai. Gotta love her spunkiness.

  • Besides the ass-kicking, Veronica Ngo actually gets to showcase a whole range of emotions in her acting. Incredible performance here.

  • From chase scenes, hunting scenes, to those hand-to-hand martial arts scenes, this movie is an exciting action thriller, that is oh so enjoyable to watch.

  • The plot is admittedly not that unique or deep, but it serves its purpose to string along the fight sequences.

  • Besides the simplicity of the story, it has a really strong thematic message that I really appreciated.

NEGATIVES…

  • There are some scenes that I felt were kinda manipulative.

  • There are definite moments of plot conveniences and situations that require a heavy dose of suspension of disbelief.

  • There are also some scenes that I thought embarrassingly panders to the audience.

  • There’s a certain character in this movie that I thought embodied a predictably familiar plot device that this movie could have lived without.

P.S….

  • Even after all these decades watching action flicks, this might actually be the very first Vietnamese martial arts movie that I’ve ever seen.

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