MOVIE REVIEW: FRANKENSTEIN

 

A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a monstrous creature to life in a daring experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, Christoph Waltz

Release Date: August 30, 2025

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi

Rated R for bloody violence and grisly images.

Runtime: 2h 29m

Review:

Guillermo del Toro's visually lavish adaptation of Frankenstein is meticulously constructed and emotionally moving thanks to stellar performances from its excellent cast.  Del Toro's film grabs you from the open sequence especially once it moves into its flashback sequences which are garishly gothic feast for the eyes.  His sensibilities are perfectly suited for his take on The Modern Prometheus with every sequence and shot carefully crafted which result in some rather mesmerizing moments that will stick with you long after the film has ended.  Plenty of credit has to be given to Dan Laustsen’s stunning cinematography along with Kate Hawley’s eye-catching costume design both of which are certain to garner awards attention when the time comes.  There's plenty to appreciate on a superficial level but Guillermo del Toro's ability to find the emotional weight and resonance to his monsters are on full display here as there's a steady sense of mournful melancholy that permeates the entire film.  It’s a thoughtful and measured approach powered by a soulful performance from Jacob Elordi which is an evocative mix of physicality and subtle humanity.   His 6-foot 5-inch frame is perfectly suited for The Creature but through all the prosthetics he manages to give his character so much emotional depth especially once he takes center stage.  Oscar Isaac gleefully bites into the role of Victor Frankenstein by bringing an unbridled sense of unchecked self-confidence and intellect particularly in the early act as he's manically trying to bring his creation to life.  Christoph Waltz's plays his benefactor funding his experience, but he's given surprisingly little to do during his limited screentime which feels like a missed opportunity.  Felix Kammerer and Mia Goth play his brother and fiancée with Goth delivering strong work.  Goth and Isaac have fun, playful chemistry together as they both find each other intellectually fascinating diversions.  Goth adds layers to a role that could have simply come off as a one note love interest.  It is hard to take your eyes off any of them as they deliver thoroughly engaging and thoughtful performances that make the film's two hour and a half runtime fly by.  Frankenstein is nothing more than a triumph for del Toro and his entire cast as they've created a seminal adaptation of Mary Shelley's work by capturing its heart and soul.  

A

MOVIE REVIEW: THE KING'S MAN

 

One man must race against time to stop history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds as they get together to plot a war that could wipe out millions of people and destroy humanity.

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Cast: Ralph Fienne, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou, Charles Dance

Release Date: December 22, 2021

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Thriller

Rated R for sequences of strong/bloody violence, language, and some sexual material

Runtime: 2h 28m

Review:

The King's Man is one of the strangest and unnecessary prequels in recent memory.  Matthew Vaughn's film is tonally off kilter with the previous entries, deciding to go for a more self serious tone that's sure to confuse fans who come in expecting a loose goofy bit of fun.  Ralph Fienne leads the film ably even if it does feel like he's a in a different franchise all together.  To his credit, Fiennes seems fully committed to the role and he makes the entire thing much more watchable than it deserves to be.  Rhys Ifans seems to be the only one who's aware of the franchise hallmarks and he hams it up as Rasputin.  His character big action sequence is a dizzying death ballet that outlandish, goofy and one of the sole bits of fun in the entire film.  Sadly, he comes and goes far to quickly and are left with a so so WW1 drama that isn't ashamed to steal scenes from Wonder Woman.  Gemma Arterton and Djimon Hounsou do solid supporting work but you get the distinct feeling that the film would have benefited from using their talent far more than it does.  Even worse, the film cast Daniel Brühl and decides to have him do nothing for the better part of the film.  The King's Man is a bizarre follow up that doesn't fit in the franchises tone or spirit and ultimately feels like a bad misstep.

C

MOVIE REVIEW: MANK

 

1930s Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing wit and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish "Citizen Kane."

Director: David Fincher

Cast: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Arliss Howard, Tom Pelphrey, Sam Troughton, Ferdinand Kingsley, Tuppence Middleton, Tom Burke, Joseph Cross, Jamie McShane, Toby Leonard Moore, Monika Gossmann, Charles Dance

Release Date: November 13, 2020

Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama

Rated R for some language

Runtime: 2 h 11 min

Review:

David Fincher’s Mank is a labor of love through and through.  Written by Fincher’s late father, it has been a passion project of Fincher’s since the late 90’s when he intended to film it after 1997’s The Game.  The fact that it has made its way to the screen after so much time is a testament to Fincher and the result is technically impressive and rather engaging especially for people who enjoy a bit of cinematic history.  Fincher gives the film a distinctive style by using cues and techniques in line with the golden age of cinema.  The dialogue also has a snappy back, and forth which make the film sing with a certain kind of lyricism.  It is a fascinating bit of cinematic alchemy which recalls 2011 Academy Award winning film, The Artist, where style is part of the character of the film.  It rises about that film with a stronger cast who are clearly having a blast in their roles.  Gary Oldman leads the film with great gusto using a voice inflection that sounds like Burgess Meredith in the Twilight Zone in the 50’s.  Oldman’s Mank is always the smartest man in the room, even when it is to his detriment.  The snappy dialogue flows naturally from Oldman as you follow this fascinating if somewhat tragic tale, he generally the most interesting person on screen but that is not to say his supporting cast isn’t more than up to the cast.  Amanda Seyfried turns in one of her best performances here, totally losing herself in the role.  She’s generally a capable actress but he she just seems far more committed than usual.  Charles Dance makes for a formidable Randolph Hearst but his scenes are few and far in between.  Similarly, I would have enjoyed a bit more screen time for Tom Burke’s Orsen Welles whose one scene with Oldman’s Mank is a late act treat.  Whether that interaction or any of them ever happened in real life is left up to the more dedicated viewer to research.  If there is a failing here is that’s while we follow Mank’s journey through his memories we are always kept at an emotional distance so that when the final scene plays you don’t feel the emotional punch as intended.  

B

MOVIE REVIEW: GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS

Members of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species-thought to be mere myths-rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity's very existence hanging in the balance.

Director: Michael Dougherty

Cast: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O'Shea Jackson Jr., David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe, Zhang Ziyi.

Release Date: May 31, 2019

Action, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rated PG-13 for sequences of monster action violence and destruction, and for some 
language

Runtime: 2 h 11 min

Review:

Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a movie at war with itself.  The obvious main attraction is the monster mayhem promised in the title and on that basis alone it succeeds.  The battle sequences are beautifully shot even if they tend to be a bit dark in spots.  Portions of the epic battle sequences almost look like some sort of insane renaissance painting of carnage.  So is that enough to make a film enjoyable if the human portion of the film feels like it was lifted out of a bad 90s summer blockbuster?  It’s difficult to tell since those portions are just so bland and terribly scripted.  The cast assembled is incredibly strong but they’re mostly wasted spouting hackneyed lines.  Character motivations vary from act to act and the logic behind some of the people’s actions are ludicrous.  To say that the film lags in spots would be an understatement since it’s a series of ups and downs in terms of excitement.  On the most basic level, Godzilla: King of the Monster works as a mindless and summer blockbuster that delivers some of the best kaiju action ever.  Sadly the overstuffed run time could have excised entire portions of the human side of the story and the film would have been better for it.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS

Death dealer Selene (Kate Beckinsale) must fend off brutal attacks from both the Lycan clan and the vampire faction that betrayed her. Joining forces with allies David (Theo James) and Thomas (Peter Andersson), she embarks on a quest to end the eternal war between the two races, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.

Director: Anna Foerster

Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Charles Dance, Tobias Menzies

Release Date: Jan 06, 2017

Rated R f or strong bloody violence, and some sexuality

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Horror

Review:

Underworld: Blood Wars is exactly what you would expect from this 5^th entry into the on going franchise.  Kate Beckinsale slips back into her latex bodysuit with relative ease but the film’s biggest failing is taking her off screen for large chunks of time to deal with an unnecessarily convoluted plot.  While Game of Throne alums, Charles Dance and Tobias Menzies, are welcome additions to the series, Beckinsale is the reason people turn out to these films.  Anna Foerster delivers the same stylish wire work action people have come to expect and I appreciate that she’s trying to deliver a meatier plot.  Unfortunately, she loses sight of the fact that this series has always been a solid B movie franchise with a singular star.  Losing focus on Beckinsale’s Selene is a major misstep and severely limits how enjoyable this film is.

C

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Hidden Figures & Underworld: Blood Wars

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a pair of unlikely bedfellows: Hidden Figures and Underworld: Blood Wars.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

 

First up: Hidden Figures.

 

A trio of female, African-American mathematicians helps put America's first man in orbit.

Things you've probably guessed about Hidden Figures: It boasts excellent performances from Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and a noteworthy supporting cast, and tells a compelling story about some unsung heroes of the early space race. Something you might not have guessed: Hidden Figures is actually a lot of fun, like, legitimate, ear-to-ear smiling fun. That's not to say the movie is without its disturbing and serious moments--the early sixties weren't a super-easy time for women or people of color in these United States--but overall I am shocked by how entertaining this picture is. Hidden Figures goes light on the math-ey details (thank goodness) and instead presents a lively tale of three determined ladies who changed the face of the nation for the better and forever. Cut with snippets of historical footage, the movie provides a timely and important message about the harmfulness of prejudice, the value of everyone's contributions, and, yes, even the importance of the right bathroom facilities.

 

Hidden Figures runs 127 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic elements and some language."

 

Hidden Figures sheds welcome light on a little-known bit of American history in uplifting fashion, kicking off 2017 in fine form. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Hidden Figures gets seven and a half.

 

Fangirl Points: Taraji (one of my best girl-crushes), and Aldis Hodge!

 

Next on the docket: Underworld: Blood Wars.

 

Betrayed by her own kind, a world-weary Selene is drawn back into the Vampire/Lycan war.

 

The most recent Underworld installment has a cheap television feel to it, right down to the "previously on..." segment that kicks it off. The story is unimaginative, with dialogue straight out of a 14-year-old's AO3 fanfic, BUT...you officially may file this movie under "so awful it's almost great." The rehash of previous installments is a waste of time--you wouldn't have trouble following this empty-headed nonsense even if you'd never seen an Underworld movie before--and the picture suffers a few dull spells where the lovely Kate Beckinsale is nowhere to be found. Theo James does the best he can with his silly, underwritten role, and Bradley James is a brooding highlight who appears poised to carry the franchise forward, should anyone feel that's really necessary. Blood Wars has a properly gloomy look and feel, with a melodramatic score and a good deal of stylized, slow-mo action, but it's always a bit disappointing when flippin' vampires and flippin' werewolves end up taking each other out with plain old handguns. Highlight/lowlight of Blood Wars: A Vampire Elder, in all his gravitas, sends off one of his warriors with a smirk and a smack on the ass, just like your garden-variety first-base coach.

 

Underworld: Blood Wars clocks in at 91 minutes and is rated R for "strong, bloody violence and some sexuality."

 

Blood Wars is dopey fun, as unnecessary a sequel as ever there was. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Underworld: Blood Wars gets five.

 

Fangirl Points: Theo James, ever since he had deadly relations with Lady Mary Crawley!

 

Until next time... 

 

 

[FULL TRAILER] UNDERWORLD AWAKENING 3D

2nd trailer is out and while I have my reservations I can’t help but say I’m kind of looking forward to it, however I can’t help but laugh a bit as Beckinsale literally burns rubber sans car……

[Trailer] UNDERWORLD AWAKENING 3D

I have a handful of franchises that are guilty pleasures, the Resident Evil franchise comes to mind but that seems more like sadomasochism at this point, and the Underworld series is always one that drags me in.

I wish I could say it was cinematic reason but it’s not, Beckinsale looks amazing in these movies and third prequel had one of my favorite genre hotties, Rhona Mitra.

This trailer looks like more of the same along with the terribly passé wirework action but its got Beckinsale looking hot again, vampires and werewolves and some other nonsense.

It comes out in January, studios dumping grounds for crap filmmaking, and I’ll be there opening weekend!