A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy.
Director: Juel Taylor
Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier, Kiefer Sutherland
Release Date: July 14, 2023
Genre: Action, Comedy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated R for pervasive language, violence, some sexual material and drug use
Runtime: 2h 2m
Juel Taylor's directorial debut is a surprisingly funny and effective amalgam of some tried and true sci-fi tropes paired with an old school blaxploitation feel. Its gritty look and feel immediately echo those 70s films as it starts out as a fairly straight forward urban crime drama before it reveals something more insidious lurking underneath. John Boyega plays the titular drug dealer with a steely hardened facade with hints of emotional depth scattered throughout his journey. He's the straight man to Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris bigger more cartoonish roles which makes for a fun dynamic once the trio start their investigation into craziness of their situation. Foxx is in rare form here as he unleashes his comedic talents onscreen with the sort of unrestrained energy were his trademark of his early career. Parris is having just as much fun as the Nancy Drew loving, soon to be retired proustite. Their Motley Scooby Doo crew make the film work far better than it should since the reveals are fairly predictable. That's not to say the script doesn't have a lot to say, it does, but the messaging gets a bit jumbled in its messy final act which borrows bits from Black Dynamite, Dark City and Westworld. While it doesn't stick the landing, They Clone Tyrone does so much right that you can't help but appreciate this initial effort from Taylor and his cast, enough to make the tease at the end all the more intriguing.
The Woman King is a 2022 American historical epic film about the Agojie, the all-female warrior unit who protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries. Set in the 1820s, the film stars Viola Davis as a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing material, thematic content, brief language and partial nudity.
Runtime: 2h 15m
Review:
The Woman King is a bit of a throwback to old fashion historical epics. Gina Prince-Bythewood's film hits the standard beats by delivering a handful of well done action set pieces in between quieter moments that make up the larger part of the actual film. She keeps a keen focus on the characters and she gives the audience time to get to know a handful of them. Viola Davis's General Nanisca gets the lion share of the attention and for good reason. Davis's world-weary façade and imposing physicality make her tailormade for the role. She's the perfect actress to capture the ferocity of the role while balancing the quieter more vulnerable moments. Lashana Lynch and Sheila Atim both deliver solid supporting roles as warrior and confidants to Nanisca with each getting plenty of screen time to leave a memorable impression. John Boyega isn't asked do much outside of sound and look regal which he accomplishes with general ease. Thuso Mbedu plays a young woman given to the female troop with her sub plot increasing in importance as the film moves on. Mbedu does her best, but she feels miscast since she's never able to believably exude the strength her character is supposed to have. It doesn't help that the script is thin on characterization, giving each character a few traits but very little else in terms of depth. Additionally, there are pacing issues that pop up especially in the final act where the film noticeably drags in spots making it feel much longer than its 2 hour and 15 minute runtime. Even with its faults The Woman King is a solid addition to the genre anchored by a strong central performance.
The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once
more as Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron's journey continues. With the power and
knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle commences.
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John
Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams
Release Date: December 13, 2019
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action
Runtime: 2h 21min
Review:
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has a hefty
checklist of things it needs to accomplish while closing out the Star Wars
franchise at least the Skywalker saga.
For some reason, J.J. Abrams decides to do it in the most perfunctory
way possible. Massive reveals, which
come out of left field with regularity, occur throughout but none of it is
particularly engaging. It would have
been nice if there was some sort of mystery or intrigue but Abrams and the
screenwriters seem strangely disinterested creating any sort of tension at any
point during the proceedings. As such,
we move from set piece after set piece where we get some well choreographed
Star Wars action, rinse and repeat for 2 and half hours. Sadly, after this happens a few times you
really just don’t care anymore. The
dialogue shuffles between believable to outright corny leaving the characters
feeling more artificial than organic.
The cast does what it can with the characters delivering infrequent
moments of life. Daisy Ridley who seems
continuously sweaty leads the film as best she can. Her character has always been a bit of cipher
mainly because she never feels like anything more than rehash of Luke’s story line, something compounded by story choices here. Ultimately she’s nothing more than a Luke
clone in Capri pants and space Uggs.
Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren is even more uninteresting this go around. The insistence on having his angry emo boy be
the primary menace in this trilogy has always left me confused. There’s never been much intrigue in his
character much less any sort of palpable sense menace or real threat. John Boyega and Oscar Isaac do what they can
with their screen time but suffer from poor writing that never let them develop
memorable characters. You can sense
Isaac trying bring a spark of life to Poe in this film but it’s never
maintained for a sustained amount of time.
As such, we watch everyone go through the motions and move the plot from
one spot to another with a sense of inevitability as opposed to wonder. Sure
it’s great to see the late Carrie Fisher on screen one last time but even her
scenes aren’t nearly as moving as they should be, possibly because you can
feels Abrams building story around these bits of old footage for the sake of
inclusion. All this should have been
moving but it never hits with the emotional impact much like this final entry
overall.
Jake Pentecost is a once-promising Jaeger
pilot whose legendary father gave his life to secure humanity's victory against
the monstrous Kaiju. Jake has since abandoned his training only to become
caught up in a criminal underworld. But when an even more unstoppable threat is
unleashed to tear through cities and bring the world to its knees, Jake is
given one last chance by his estranged sister, Mako Mori, to live up to his
father's legacy.
Director: Steven S. DeKnight
Cast: John Boyega , Scott Eastwood, Cailee
Spaeny, Jing Tian, Adria Arjona, Zhang Jin, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Burn
Gorman
Release Date: March 23, 2018
Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence
and action, and some language Runtime: 1h 51min
Review:
Pacific Rum Uprising is one of those sequels
that feels like a lesser version of the original film.That’s not to say that Uprising doesn’t offer
some robot action because it does but it just doesn’t connect in the same way
the original did.Part of the reason is its
decision to jettison the majority of the cast of the original film.Idris Elba died at the end of the first film
so his omission is expected but Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi should have
had some sort of role in the sequel.Hunnam couldn’t participate due to scheduling issues and Rinko Kikuchi
is given a token appearance before she’s taken off the board.It’s a shame when a sequel removes nearly
everything from the previous film in order to start with a clean slate and
present us with a new cast of character.John Boyega in the lead is good fun since he’s allowed to spread his
wings a bit more than he has in the recent Star Wars films.Boyega displays some of the energetic charm
he displayed years ago in Attack The Block.Sadly the supporting cast is a solid display of blandness across the
board.Scott Eastwood may look like his
father but he doesn’t have anywhere near the same kind of screen
magnetism.The rest of the supporting
players are made up by faceless 20 something where supposed to care about but
can’t since their about as one dimensional as they come.Charlie Day and Burn Gorman returned for this
entry but sadly the magic just isn’t there.Pacific Rim Uprising is a passable sequel but you can’t help but feel
like it should have been much better.
Luke Skywalker's peaceful and solitary existence
gets upended when he encounters Rey, a young woman who shows strong signs of
the Force. Her desire to learn the ways of the Jedi forces Luke to make a
decision that changes their lives forever. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren and General Hux
lead the First Order in an all-out assault against Leia and the Resistance for
supremacy of the galaxy.
Director:
Rian Johnson
Release Date: Dec 15, 2017
Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam
Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Laura Dern
Rated PG-13 (for sequences of
sci-fi action and violence)
Runtime: 2 hr. 32 min.
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Review:
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is an
enjoyable entry into the long running series.It has some moments that feel iconic but as a whole it never really
captures a consistent feel that some of the better Star War films like The
Empire Strikes Back and Rogue One.Rian
Johnson delivers a solid entry that doesn’t deliver a bevy of familiar beats
like The Force Awakens did three years ago.Instead we get some interesting story choices that don’t necessarily hit
as well as they should have.I do give Johnson
credit for trying something different instead of playing it safe but none of
the choices really make for any sort of memorable moments.Instead we get 3 disparate storylines that
run concurrently but never seem naturally cohesive.Separating the 3 new leads robs the story of
letting these new generation characters form any sort of ongoing
chemistry.Daisy Ridley is just as
energetic and magnetic as she was in The Force Awakens.Ridley and Mark Hamill share solid chemistry
together with Hamill adding impressive range and depth to Luke Skywalker.Oscar Issac is given more screentime, to the
films benefit, this go around and Issac takes full advantage.He brings a strong sense of bravado and charm
to the role which feels like a new generation’s Han Solo.John Boyega is still a little broad for my
taste, it’s not his fault.The character
is written very broadly much to Boyega’s detriment because he’s a solid actor
but he isn’t given much to do here until the final act.Carrie Fisher delivers her final bow on film
and it’s very much a fitting swan song even if her character is taken off the
board for a large chunk of the film.My
biggest issue is still Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren whose character is nothing more
than a whiny emo man baby.There are a
few choice bits written into his character which posits some interesting ideas
about legend and legacy but it not enough for me to get past the fact that’s
the character is eerily similar to Anakin Skywalker in the prequel
trilogy.The film does boast some
impressive set pieces sprinkled throughout even though you can’t help but think
it all could have been trimmed down by a good 45 minutes.One subplot in particular feels like it could
have been excised entirely while finding something slightly more interesting
than a casino planet or the worlds slowest space chase.Star Wars: The Last Jedi is at the very least
better than The Force Awakens in that if finds its own path.It’s not the perfect entry some have made it
out to be but it’s an enjoyable entry.
Dearest Blog: 'Tis the season where I never work a five-day week, so yesterday I took advantage of a Friday away from the office to beat the (worst) crowds to The Last Jedi and Ferdinand.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers, BUT...as people are uber-sensitive about Star Wars I'm gonna say spare us all the stress and just don't read this until you've seen the movie. I might have a thought that hints at an idea that will utterly destroy your experience or something.
Normally I write in the order I see, but as a courtesy I'm going to drop Ferdinand first so parents who are wondering, "Should I take my kid to this?" don't have to wade through 2,000 words on why I've been in love with Luke Skywalker since I was ten before getting their answer.
A gentle bull called Ferdinand has to save himself and his friends from the bullfighter's ring and the Burger King.
Ferdinand is a cute, mostly benign kids' movie. I hesitate to call it a family movie because, really, there's not much here to entertain anyone over the age of ten...or most people over the age of ten, I guess, because I liked it well enough. Ferdinand's art and animation are merely decent, and the predictable story--while enjoyable--is certainly not on par with its most recent animated competition, the extraordinary Coco. A lively score from the brilliant John Powell works especially well with the film's brighter and more colorful bits. Wrestler John Cena isn't overtaxed in the lead, and, oddly, my screening seemed mostly filled with Cena fans, just one little kid among them. There's not much to say about the supporting crew other than Kate McKinnon is marginally less annoying than she was in Ghostbusters, and the animated David Tennant has WAY more lines than the animated David Tennant did in How to Train Your Dragon. To me some of Ferdinand's themes seem a little harsh for smaller kids. The film is pretty clear on what happens to the bulls, whether or not they make it to the ring, so if you still hope to feed your kids that Hamburger Helper on a busy night, maybe take a pass on this one. I don't have children and always assume kids of any age know more than I'd guess, but I also thought the language was somewhat crass for very young audiences, so, again, skip it if your kids aren't already at an age where everything "sucks."
Ferdinand runs 106 minutes and is rated PG for "rude humor, action, and some thematic elements."
Ferdinand is a passable kids' movie that offers little for the rest of the family...but I liked it.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Ferdinand gets five.
Fangirl points: David Tennant! Raul Esparza!
Okay, now onward to Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
With hope all but lost, the Resistance seeks a new hope. Erm...hang on.......
When a property is as iconic as Star Wars, it's more important than usual to offer a disclaimer on where these opinions come from, because I feel like most opinions on such things come from more than whether or not the movie itself is any good. So...I was ten when the first Star Wars came out. If memory serves, it was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. I fell in love with Luke Skywalker and have been in love with Luke Skywalker ever since. Thus, even though The Force Awakens is pretty universally well loved (and I, myself, loved much of it), it was also a bitter disappointment to me due to the lack of Luke. You can keep your Han. You can keep your Leia. For me it's all about Luke.
As advertised, The Last Jedi features a fair bit of Luke. Surly, difficult, fed up, conflicted, heroic Luke. Mark Hamill turns in an epic performance worthy of an epic installment in an epic series. Luke Skywalker, you remain my hero. The rest of the cast is great and terrible and a little bit in between. Kudos to John Boyega (who needs more to do) and Oscar Isaac, who engage with honesty and charisma. Of course Carrie Fisher is amazing, though her every appearance is a kick-in-the-gut reminder of what we've lost. Domhnall Gleeson's General Hux is a moustache-twirl away from a cartoon, but for my money is a more entertaining and menacing baddie than Kylo Ren, who always feels more like a kid sulking in his room with a comic book than a genuine threat to the galaxy. Much of that may have to do with Adam Driver, who is ineffective at portraying the conflict within this tormented character. Despite her closet full of awards, Laura Dern is about as exciting as a paper doll, and I'm only grateful her screen time is limited enough that it didn't ruin more of the movie for me. Annnnnnnd...Daisy Ridley is somewhere in between all that. Rey is so critical--both to Star Wars in particular and movies in general--sometimes I feel like the actor just doesn't do the character justice.
The Last Jedi starts fast out of the gate, but suffers great lags across its bloated runtime. In addition to my usual complaints (really, there are only so many moves that are interesting and necessary in any fight or chase scene), there are a couple places where the picture drops asides that seem extraneous and could have been eliminated with no real damage to the end result. The effects and CGI look pretty great, and much of the film is simply stunning, visually. The action is exciting and often takes unexpected turns, and there's a good bit of humor that mostly hits the mark without feeling forced. It goes without saying that John Williams' score is once again the very definition of iconic. The Last Jedi does a fine job of giving new players their due, while never seeming to shaft the old favorites, then tying both together in such a way that fans can probably envision this series going on forever, passing the baton from one generation of rebels to the next.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi clocks in at a massive 152 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi action and violence."
The Last Jedi has won over critics, while leaving the fandom bitterly divided. I found a lot to love about it, but was left without the euphoria I expected when the end credits rolled. As always, though, I beg you, dear reader(s), not to let the Internet make up your mind about this movie. Get on out to the theater and see it for yourself.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Star Wars: The Last Jedi gets eight and a half, which includes one (1) bonus Weasley for having an actual Weasley in the cast.
Fangirl points: You guys...ADRIAN FREAKING EDMONDSON is in this movie!
A police raid in Detroit in 1967 results in one of the largest RACE riots in United States history. The story is centered around the Algiers
Motel incident, which occurred in Detroit, Michigan on July 25, 1967, during the racially charged 12th Street Riot. It involves the death of three black men and
the brutal beatings of nine other people: seven black men and two white women.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Cast: John Boyega, Will Poulter, Anthony
Mackie, John Krasinski, Jack Reynor, Jason Mitchell, Hanna Murray
Release Date: Aug 42017
Genres: Crime, Drama, History
Rated R for strong violence and pervasive
language
Review:
Detroit is a tense, uncomfortable and incredibly timely
film.Kathryn Bigelow’s style of
filmmaking is perfectly suited for the story being told.Bigelow’s immersive style leaves like a fly
on the wall during the entire ordeal.It’s an intense film that’s anchored by a strong ensemble cast.John Boyega and Will Poulter really shine
throughout the film, with some of the films best moments are watching their
character’s process and think through situations.Poulter though is the real surprise here
since he’s been mostly a comedic actor.Poulter provides the character an unsettling detachment and coldness
that’s deeply unsettling.The film loses
a little steam after it moves on to the aftermath with the court proceedings
and post event stories.I was personally
more interested in what happened to John Boyega’s character but the film chose
a different direction.It’s a small
issue on an otherwise strong film that really shines a light on a dark portion
of American history.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Detroit and The Dark Tower.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or the news.
First on the docket, Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit.
During the Detroit Rebellion of 1967, a handful of city cops terrorize young people staying at the Algiers Hotel.
Dear reader(s), you know when I call a movie "must-see," it's usually gonna be some big, dumb actioner with a current obsession not *quite* getting enough screen time for my liking. Evidence: that latest Transformers movie that everybody hates? Yeah, that'll be skirting my Top Ten come year's end. However, here I must break with tradition to suggest emphatically that everyone get out and see Detroit. It is a very, very important movie and a timely reminder of what happens when we allow some people to be treated as less than others.
Detroit opens with a clever sequence that brings viewers who might not be familiar with this event up to speed, and from there it's a slow burn into chaos. The movie is never in a hurry to get where it's going, yet there are millions of things happening all at once. Point of view is personal rather than general, with dialogue so natural as to seem unscripted. I'm no fan of Bigelow's jiggly camera work, but I couldn't look away from the terrifying events playing out onscreen. There is no sugar-coating, there are no cookie-cutter characters, and the performances are uniformly extraordinary. Of special note, as usual, is John Boyega in a smart, sympathetic turn. The violence and torment are up close and personal, at times nearly impossible to watch. The movie builds to its unsettling climax with such tension you might not even realize you're holding your breath. This is no fun summer flick; it's challenging and exhausting. (For the record, I ran straight to the ladies' room and threw up when it ended, and it's had me in tears more than a few times since.) Detroit is smart enough not to leave it to viewers to distinguish between "based on a true story" and "inspired by actual events;" it freely acknowledges that its account relies on the recollections of people who were under not-a-little duress during these events. No fun summer movie, Detroit will stay on your mind long after you exit the theatre.
Detroit clocks in at 143 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence and pervasive language."
A headline I saw earlier this morning said, "Detroit is going to hurt, but it's worth it," and that's about the best way to sum up this brilliant but difficult movie.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Detroit gets eight.
Fangirl points: Not to take away from the seriousness of this picture, but I can't imagine a more beautiful human than Anthony Mackie exists anywhere in the universe. *le sigh*
Next on my agenda was the first big-screen shot at Stephen King's Dark Tower series.
The Last Gunslinger hopes to stop the Man in Black from toppling the Dark Tower, which protects the world from evil...or something like that. (I'm pretty close, right?)
Not having read this book series from Stephen King, and having heard nothing good about this adaptation prior to seeing it, I was prepared to state that--while I understood it might not meet the expectations of book fans--the movie is perfectly passable entertainment for the rest of us.
Sadly, after nearly nodding off twice in just an hour and a half, I had to rethink that opening.
The Dark Tower is just a bad movie, and that's without even being able to speak to its failings by comparison to the books. It feels like, at some point very early in its making, all the Stephen King forces in the universe decided to focus their positive energy on the remake of It and deserted this entirely. (I guess the good news is my pretty busy cinema seemed to soil its collective drawers at the It trailer that preceded Dark Tower, so King may be redeemed rather quickly.) The Dark Tower's characters are so broadly drawn you'll only care what happens to any of them if you have a vested interest in the actor(s). Shallow storytelling provides very few answers, but leaves lots of question marks, for anyone unfamiliar with the source material. Clearly this was meant to set up a franchise, but if it's to do so with any success it'll need serious retooling. Man in Black Matthew McConaughey is as bland as ever (can't spell "McConaughey" without "ugh!") as a paper-doll baddie who's about as menacing as my little Cockapoo. Idris Elba is smokin'--and I mean SMOKIN'--hot as the Gunslinger, but the role is so poorly fleshed out it scarcely taxes his ability or charisma. Effects are pedestrian at best, and the action (such as it is) is accented by a comically-melodramatic score.
The Dark Tower runs the slowest 95 minutes ev-ah and is rated PG13 for "thematic material, including sequences of gun violence and action."
I truly had hoped to buck the trend and declare the Dark Tower passable entertainment for a summer afternoon, but, sadly, it can't meet even that low bar. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Dark Tower gets two.
Fangirl points: OMG you guys...Idris Elba! (Teeny-weeny spoiler alert: When a boy says to the Gunslinger, "I dreamt about you!" I'm pretty sure I said out loud to the screen, "Me too!")
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas to join The Circle.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
A young woman takes a position with a tech juggernaut that appears to be a dream employer...but all is not as it seems at The Circle.
It was always fair to assume The Circle wouldn't be as smart as it thinks it is, but, from the trailers, it appeared it'd at least be a solid way to pass a couple hours. Sadly, appearances can be deceiving.
The Circle is a criminal waste of a really good cast, and it's important to note that the movie's failings are not on the actors. Tom Hanks and John Boyega are sadly underused, but Emma Watson does as well as can be expected carrying such sub-par material. Karen Gillan is also quite good, and, with limited screen time in what appears to be his final big-screen appearance, Bill Paxton turns in a nice performance. The Circle poses timely questions: How connected is too connected? How open is too open? In better hands, the movie might have been a chilling cautionary tale or an interesting take on personal freedom/privacy vs. the greater good. Instead, it's a plodding affair burdened with paper-doll characters, excruciating dialogue, and a "reveal" that's so ambiguous as to be pointless...a painful experience from start to finish.
The Circle clocks in at an interminable 110 minutes and is rated PG13 for "a sexual situation, brief strong language, and some thematic elements including drug use."
The Circle is a fitting closer for an underwhelming month at the movies, but, hey, at least we've got Guardians of the Galaxy next week! Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Circle gets two.
This blog is dedicated to my friend and fellow movie buff Melissa Bradley, who today lost a long and hard-fought battle with cancer. Rest well, Melissa.
Dearest Blog: yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas to see--you guessed it!--Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
In a post-Empire galaxy far, far away, the resistance fights the tyrannical rule of the First Order.
Dear Reader(s): Is there anything quite so magical as being in a dark theatre when that crawl starts and the iconic Star Wars theme kicks on?
I think not. Fortunately, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is extraordinary from the theme's opening note to the end credits' final line.
The Force Awakens is littered with enough nostalgia to keep the die-hards happy, but it's far from just a stroll down memory lane.
The new story and new characters fit the universe with nary a hiccup, well crafted enough to stand on their own without upsetting the whole galactic applecart. New leads Daisy Ridley and John Boyega (Attack the Block...YEAH!) are so terrific the naysayers will be forced to come 'round, if they haven't already, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little teary through the biggest smiles ever when my old favorites appeared.
The Force Awakens has terrific effects that seem to come right off the screen, even in 2D, and it goes without saying the score is majestic.
The movie's a hair on the long side, but that's a minor quibble with a picture that manages to please old and new fans alike, garner nearly universal support for a very polarizing director, and effectively redefine Hollywood's definition of "blockbuster."
Star Wars: The Force Awakens runs 135 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sci-fi action violence."
That rare item that lives up to the hype, of a possible nine Weasleys, Star Wars: The Force Awakens gets eight and a half. (Small bonus for having an actual Weasley in the cast!) Also, I want a BB-8!!
In this continuation of the epic space opera, a downed
stormtrooper (John Boyega) goes on a journey that brings him face-to-face with
heroes from the past (Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill). Directed
by J.J. Abrams. ~ Violet LeVoit, Rovi
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam
Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Harrison Ford,
Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher
Release Date: Dec
17, 2015
Rated PG-13
Runtime: 2 hr. 16 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is probably one of the most
hyped movies in recent memory and the question quickly arises, can it possibly
live up to the hype.It does to a
certain extent but it’s far from a perfect delivery.The good news is that J.J. Abrams brings back
the sense of fun and wonderment to the series that was sorely lacking from the
prequels.Abrams has a clear affection
for the franchise, countless youtube videos will soon be dedicated to
dissecting shots that reference the original trilogy, and it shines through the
screen and through the plot.It’s both a
love letter to Star Wars: A New Hope and a redux of it.Even if the nostalgia is a bit much at times,
Abrams knows how to keep the film fun with plenty of space battles and adventure.The new and old characters mesh surprisingly
well even if the Daisy Ridley and John Boyega scale closer to Luke Skywalker than
Han Solo.Boyega does stand out with his
comedic timing which is used throughout the film.A persistently sweaty Ridley does a solid if
unremarkable job.Oscar Isaac on the
other hand plays the most intriguing new character in the film.He’s so impressive that you can’t help but
wish that he was the main character instead of a supporting one.The returning cast does well as expected with
Harrison Ford impressively easing back into his Solo character and providing a
solid center to the whole film.Adam
Driver on the other hand is a mixed bag as the new baddie Kylo Ren.He’s world more effective when he’s in full
character.The mystique they work to
create during the first two acts is kind thrown to the wayside when he’s
unmasked and we’re left with an all too familiar whiny child with Driver’s
face.This is part of the persistent
problem with the film, it lack any real surprise because it telegraphs “surprises”
from miles away.The only way you’d
really not see them coming would be if you showed up late or fell asleep for
some reason.That’s not even to mention
the Death Star, hey lets make it huge this time that’ll work, device that used
again.Still, even with it’s faults The
Force Awakens delivers what people expected from the prequels, a fun adventure
back in this universe.
A group of London teens find themselves in the middle of an alien invasion and fight to defend their tower block from some evil extraterrestrials in this stylish sci-fi romp from the producers of Shaun of the Dead and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Joe Cornish
Cast: John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Franz Drameh, Luke Treadaway, Nick Frost, Jumayn Hunter
Release Date: Jul 29, 2011
Rated R for drug content, pervasive language and creature violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 28 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Art House/Foreign, Comedy
Review:
Some movies instantly bring a strong sense of energy to the screen. It permeates through the screen the instant it starts. While it doesn’t always mean it’s the best filmed or plotted story out there, it does have that palpable sense present throughout. Attack the Block is that kind of film, far from perfect but imbued with enough cinematic energy to make you over look some of the more glaring flaws. First time director Joe Cornish has an interesting style which gives his low budget alien invasion dramdy a fun sense of itself. Cornish moves the film along at a brisk pace but it never feels rushed. Some of the characters are a flimsily written but the performances from the young cast really helps make it easier to watch. Front and center is John Boyega, his performance is fascinating throughout. Believable for the better part of the film, he has a quiet strength that’s a real treat to watch. Luke Treadaway is a good fun as stoner college student along for the ride. Jodie Whittaker does solid work but fairly forgettable as the female lead. Attack the Block is kind of a modern day amalgam of 80’s type kid adventure films, mix with some 90’s street films, remixed and blended with aliens and a dose of self aware comedy.
