As a future war between the human race and artificial intelligence rages on, ex-special forces agent Joshua is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI. The Creator has developed a mysterious weapon that has the power to end the war and all of mankind. As Joshua and his team of elite operatives venture into enemy-occupied territory, they soon discover the world-ending weapon is actually an AI in the form of a young child.
Director: Gareth Edwards
Cast: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Sturgill Simpson, Allison Janney
Release Date: September 29, 2023
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated PG-13 for violence, some bloody images and strong language
Runtime: 2h 15m
Gareth Edwards The Creator is a sprawling sci-fi epic that's got a distinctive visual style that echoes its massive scope. Edwards mines a variety of sources such as Blade Runner, District 9, Children of Men, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and a small dash of Kubrick's 2001 in the final shot. The result is a cornucopia of fully realized settings that feel lived in and real that keeps the film from feeling too artificial. Story wise it's equally expansive and grounded even as it traverses some well worn story threads, particularly the child messiah idea from The Terminator but opting to flip the script. It’s a dense story that throws a hefty amount of thematic ideas that makes the film work both as something literal and as a more allegorical tale which the best kind of sci-fi tends to do. Needless to say, it’s the kind of hard sci-fi that we rarely see these days especially on the scope and scale that Edwards delivers. Its deadly serious from start to finish with performances that are equally committed to their roles. John David Washington leads the film with a heartfelt, driven performance which gives him ample time to shine. He serves as the anchor of the film, keeping everything tethered to the emotional core of the story. Newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles, who plays Alphie the child AI, is impressive throughout with her and Washington sharing strong chemistry together even as the script starts to thug on heartstrings a tad too much in the final act. The supporting cast is solid even if they do take a backseat to the central relationship with Ken Watanabe and Allison Janney leaving the biggest impression. Watanabe gets his moments, but the film would have been smart to take better advantage of his talented presence. Janney does get more screen time which she uses to deliver an icy, stone cold killer turn that could have come off as cartoonish in lesser hands. She makes for a compelling villain, but the script doesn't give the character a ton of depth outside of a few passing lines of dialogue early on. Its one of the minor issues that peppers the film in addition to pacing issues here and there that make the film feel longer than its actual runtime and some fairly noticeable logical leaps the story ask you make at various points in the plot. Still, The Creator is an achievement on multiple levels from its stark visuals to its ability to take well worn tropes feel fresh again.
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.
Yesterday I abandoned my coworkers, turned my back on the best weather day of the budding summer, and hid inside a dark cinema with a monster monarch and pop music king.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from trailers and clips.
First on my agenda, Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
With Earth threatened by Titans and eco-terrorists, it's the King of the Monsters himself to the rescue.What I expect from a Godzilla movie, first and foremost, is for the monsters to be huge and impressive. Godzilla: King of the Monsters delivers that in spades, and I didn't even see it on the biggest/best screen at my cinema. I can only imagine how spectacular it looks in IMAX! The CGI sleek and effective, and the light effects on various creatures add some punch to a movie that, overall, is rather dark and sometimes hard to see. The disaster and even weather effects are also a sight to behold. A cast that boasts names like Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, and Ken Watanabe might ordinarily be relied upon to elevate a movie beyond "just a monster movie," but, unfortunately, this monster movie is the equivalent of cement shoes on its actors. I was a little embarrassed to watch such quality talent utter this poorly-crafted dialogue, and I groaned out loud more than once at putrid attempts at humor. That aside, Bear McCreary's score smacks of old-school Godzilla pictures, and solid wall-to-wall action makes for a fast-moving couple hours of summer escapism.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters runs 131 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of monster action, violence, and destruction, and for some language."
It's not the best Godzilla movie ever, but King of the Monsters certainly isn't the worst. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Godzilla: King of the Monsters gets six.
Next on the docket, a movie for which it feels like I've been waiting forever: Rocketman, a musical fantasy based on the life of Elton John.
Dearest reader(s), I am utterly in love with Rocketman. I want to talk about this movie. I want to talk about this movie a LOT. If you don't care to dive right into the thousand words that will undoubtedly follow, just get off the couch, put away the laptop, and get out to the cinema now. Do it. If you *do* want to dive right into my thoughts on Rocketman, well, here ya go...
The first words I said to anyone about Rocketman were: "That's not just the best movie I've seen this year; that's the best movie I've seen in ten years." While it'd take a bit more careful consideration to see how close that statement is to actual fact (it's only been nine years since two new entries, The Social Network and How to Train Your Dragon, jumped into my all-time top ten), I'll stand by the enthusiasm. Rocketman is a truly extraordinary cinematic achievement.
Rocketman is staged like a Broadway musical, with John recounting his childhood, rise to fame, and difficulties with addictions and relationships through musical numbers. The film moves deftly from heartbreak to passion to euphoria without ever feeling disjointed or like it's lost its way. Though the real strength of the musical numbers lies in John's timeless tunes, the staging bursts with fantastic choreography and brilliant costumes. John's story is fascinating enough in its own right, but here it's brought to life with a theatrical flair reminiscent of Bob Fosse's brilliant biopic All That Jazz, another of my all-time top-ten movies, which I was disappointed to discover recently is not available for rental or streaming...if I want to watch it, I have to dig out my old DVD. How very 1998!
Rocketman features top-notch work from a delightful cast. Taron Egerton gives up every inch of himself to *become* Elton John, and if I had the whole of the Internet I couldn't say enough about his performance. Masterful, exceptional, and entirely expected of Egerton, who is unfailingly extraordinary. He does his own singing here, too, in case anyone was wondering. If Egerton perfectly captures the cacophony of Elton John, Jamie Bell's stalwart Bernie Taupin serves as the movie's quiet cornerstone. Bell has been turning in brilliant performances literally since he was a child, and this one moved me to tears more than once. The remainder of the cast, particularly Richard Madden as John's sexy, sleazy first love and manager John Reid, fantastically fleshes out the highs and lows and brights and darks of John's world, nary a weak link to be found among them; even the young kids are terrific.
Following so quickly on the heels of the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, comparisons are inevitable, so, for whatever it's worth, here's how the two films stack up for me. Throwing no shade at Bohemian Rhapsody, which I loved, Rocketman is a much better film. The most objective and therefore critically relevant reason is simple: It's just more self-aware. Bohemian Rhapsody wanted so very badly to be taken seriously, and ultimately it succeeded, but for my money it skimmed too lightly over the dark times and hard questions to earn it. Rocketman was only ever billed as a fantasy, so, though it's based on some real-life people and happenings--and not all happy ones--it could always be whatever it wanted...and it is EVERYTHING. More subjectively, though I'm a big fan of Rami Malek, I've always believed Taron Egerton could do anything, and in each and every project he proves me right. Malek was terrific as Freddie Mercury, but Egerton inhabits Elton John in a way I've seldom seen, not even from the most experienced and decorated performers. Finally, Queen made some epic, legendary music and I love all of it, but it's never moved me in the way Elton John's music does, and that's allowing for the fact that my favorite Elton John songs--Madman Across the Water and Funeral for a Friend/Love lies Bleeding--are unrepresented in this picture. So...if you're going to make the comparison, for me it's not a hard call: Rocketman is a better movie than Bohemian Rhapsody by far and in every way.
Rocketman clocks in at 121 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout, some drug use, and sexual content."
Rocketman will break your heart and mend your soul. I haven't stopped smiling since I saw it, and I can't wait to see it again. There aren't nearly enough Weasleys to give this movie the rating it deserves, so I'm just going to beg you: GET OUT AND SEE ROCKETMAN NOW!
Dearest Blog, after dodging the bullet last weekend, yesterday I
decided to suck it up and see Transformers: Age of Extinction. It would
be less than forthright not to admit that I went mostly because I'd
heard Luke Evans' Dracula trailer was running before it, and because I
wanted to see Jersey Boys again and don't like begging a ride for less
than a double-feature.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
A down-on-his-luck mechanic lands in hot water when he buys a beat up old truck that's not quite what it seems.
I
love Transformers and was genuinely excited for this sequel...until I
heard it was over two and a half hours long. Despite almost universally
negative reviews, I think Age of Extinction would have been quite a lot
of fun at 90 minutes or even an hour and 45, but it does nothing to earn
its Middle Earthy runtime.
A cast of familiar faces is
unremarkable to either the good or the bad, though Mark Wahlberg is a
definite improvement over the unlikable Shia LaBeouf, and I, personally,
am always delighted to see Titus Welliver in a movie that does good
business. The storyline doesn't hold any real surprises, and the
dialogue is almost impressively stupid at times. Let's face it, though,
dear reader(s), a Transformers movie is never gonna be about the people
or the script, am I right?
It's about giant alien robots and big loud
effects and maximum destruction. Age of Extinction does pretty well on
all those counts, and, even at my most drowsy, I was utterly caught up
in the big machines, if not so much in the daddy/daughter drama.
I
elected to see this in 2D, not wanting to waste any more money on it
than I had to, but it left me no doubt the 3D would be worth it.
Transformers:
Age of Extinction clocks in at a very bloated 165 minutes and is rated
PG13 for "intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language, and
brief innuendo."
It has all the components for a great summer
blockbuster, but instead it proves that the only thing that's really
extinct in Hollywood is the art of editing.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Transformers: Age of Extinction gets four and a half.
Until next time...
PS: No Dracula trailer. Curse you, cinema gods, for depriving me of big-screen Luke!
PPS: If you haven't seen Jersey Boys yet, go see it. If you have seen it, see it again!
The Transformers film series continues with this fourth entry from director Michael
Bay and executive producer Steven
Spielberg. Mark Wahlberg and Jack Reynor star. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Michael
Bay
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Stanley
Tucci, Ken Watanabe, Peter Cullen
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi
violence and action, language
Release Date: Jun
27, 2014
Run Time.
2 hrs. 37 min
Genres: Action/Adventure
Review:
Transformers: Age of Extinction is going to have a lot of
batred shot it’s way most of well deserved.It’s an over bloated mess that’s got way too many storylines at play to
make any of it cohesive.Had it stuck
with the most interesting angle, secret government agency taking out all
Transformers, it probably would have been one Bay’s better films.As is, it’s a absurdly log slog through
action set piece in between bits of story with more story followed by action
set pieces and more story etc… So is it even worth your time?Sort of.As a superfan of the cartoon, I’ve found plenty to like in the previous
efforts even the Revenge of the Fallen.The frustrating part about Extinction is that it fixes a lot of issues
from the previous films.The human side of
the story is actually bearable thanks to the addition of Wahlberg, Tucci and
Grammer.Mark Wahlberg is solid as the
lead even if it stretches the imagination that he’s some sort of genius
inventor.Kelsey Grammer is fairly solid
as the human villain, he poses a creditable threat throughout.Stanley Tucci proves why he’s a great actor;
taking a silly role and making it work.Another
aspect that’s much improved is that the transformers villain, Lockdown, is
actually interesting this go around, something they failed to do over 3 films
with Megatron.Additionally, the Autobots
at Prime’s side have some characterization that makes them likable and makes
this feel the closest to the animated series and any child of the 80s will get
chills when the dinobots makes their appearance.It’s the Bay oddity that this is probably his
best Transformers film even though it’s filled with the worse he has to
offer.Sadly, the animated Transformers
The Movie is still the best cinematic entry.
Dearest Blog, yesterday I headed to the cinema to see Godzilla with the rest of the known universe.
Spoiler level here will be mild, pretty much nothing you wouldn't know or have guessed from the trailers.
The fate of the world hangs in the balance when giant monsters do battle.
Well,
dear Blog, I gotta say this is the first time I ever wished I had a
video blog so I could make the video and audio out of sync for this
review. My version of an homage. Sorry, best I got.
Godzilla's
latest screen outing has a bit of a split personality. The titular
monster does not make his first real appearance until almost exactly
halfway through (I checked the clock) and the first and second acts are
like night and day.
Act one is our setup, and it's a little slow
and "peopley" for my taste. The cast boasts some noteworthy names: Bryan
Cranston, Juliette Binoche, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Sally
Hawkins, and David Strathairn. Whatta we got, an Oscar and a handful of
nominations there? For all that acting juice, nobody is really worth a
mention either way, other than to say, if you were thinking of seeing
this movie just because you love Juliette Binoche...um...maybe don't,
m-kay?
Act two: MONSTERS. Woot! I can't speak for anybody else,
but I sure as hell didn't see Godzilla because I thought Bryan Cranston
might be looking for an Oscar to go with his Emmy. I saw it because I
like monsters...big, scary ones that look like they're coming off the
screen at me. And let me tell ya somethin', people: if I'd seen this in
3D, I might have wet myself. The monsters are phenomenal, absolutely
everything for which I'd hoped, imposing with just the right touch of
silliness here and there. The disaster effects are great too, authentic
looking and presented in such a way that the mass destruction never
wears thin. (Are you paying attention, Man of Steel?) Though the first
hour does feel a bit long, once the action gets rolling, you won't
care...or even remember.
Godzilla clocks in at 123 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of destruction, mayhem, and creature violence."
If
Godzilla's first act feels a little sluggish, I'm pretty sure I was
grinning from ear to ear for the entire second hour. Of a possible nine
Weasleys, Godzilla gets seven.
The king of all monsters gets a reboot with this Warner
Bros./Legendary Pictures production helmed by Gareth Edwards, who gained
critical attention with his intimate twist on the giant-creature genre with his
feature-film debut, Monsters. Frank Darabont (The Mist) and Max Borenstein
provide the script. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Gareth Edwards
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston,
David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of destruction, mayhem
and creature violence
Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla is filled with top level acting
talent.So much so that Juliette Binoche
stops by for a cup of coffee and is gone before you notice it.Bryan Cranston is there, makes an impression,
and is gone.Then there’s Ken Watannabe
and David Strathairn looking stern and concerned for the majority of their
screen time.Throw in Aaron, is his
voice really still cracking, Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen for good measure and
you have a lot of recognizable faces who really don’t matter in the grand
scheme of this film.This film is name
Godzilla for a reason after all.Edwards,
shooting a visually beautiful film, shows a level of restraint that’s rare for
big budget blockbuster.His slow reveal
of the titular monster is like watching a monster mash version of a burlesque
show, lots of tease before the payoff.The human stories are clichéd but interesting enough to keep you
entertained in between some massive set pieces that feel fresh but
familiar.The monster on monster action,
which includes destroying some fun vacation spots, is top notch with excellent
CGI throughout especially Godzilla himself.Some of the battles do lose a tad bit of their luster since Pacific Rim
ran through some similar sequences but there are plenty of moments which are
filled singular Godzilla greatness that’ll bring a gleeful smile to anyone
raised on the original films.Be sure to
watch it on a massive theater screen.
The first teaser trailer for Gareth Edwards redux of Godzilla is out and it does its job perfectly, setting up tone and atmosphere.
We don’t get a clear view of Godzilla but it sure looks like it’ll actually be Godzilla and not some unrecognizable beast like the 1998 film, which also had an excellent teaser trailer I might add. For now, I’ll give Gareth Edward the benefit of the doubt…..
Visionary filmmaker Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Dark Knight) writes and directs this psychological sci-fi action film about a thief who possesses the power to enter into the dreams of others. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) doesn't steal things, he steals ideas. By projecting himself deep into the subconscious of his targets, he can glean information that even the best computer hackers can't get to. In the world of corporate espionage, Cobb is the ultimate weapon. But even weapons have their weakness, and when Cobb loses everything, he's forced to embark on one final mission in a desperate quest for redemption. This time, Cobb won't be harvesting an idea, but sowing one. Should he and his team of specialists succeed, they will have discovered a new frontier in the art of psychic espionage. They've planned everything to perfection, and they have all the tools to get the job done. Their mission is complicated, however, by the sudden appearance of a malevolent foe that seems to know exactly what they're up to, and precisely how to stop them. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page
Release Date: Jul 16, 2010
Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and sequences of action
Runtime: 2 hr. 22 min.
Genres: Suspense/Thriller
Review:
Christopher Nolan’s Inception is like watching someone play make-believe on an epic scale. Everything is large about this film, heady themes mixed with aggressive visual and multilayered story arcs crisscrossing about that one could easily be lost by sneaking out to a quick bathroom break. Nolan’s persistent dedication to playing with the audiences perceptions is very much at play here in this sci-fi thriller that is a really a heist movie at its heart. While Nolan crafts an impressively complex and intriguing storyline it’s also one that bears a lot of hallmarks of previous films, clearly showing Nolan’s inspirations for this endeavor. Sadly, this makes certain aspects of the film fairly predictable. It’s original and derivative at the same type, perhaps a purposely imposed paradox from Nolan. The cast is all in fine form and each make the most of their roles regardless of how limited it maybe in some cases. Leonardo DiCaprio is appropriately dour and determined throughout. He doesn’t quiet let this character breathe as much as he should making his realization at the end come off as a tad artificial. Marion Cotillard is clearly having the most fun in the entire film as she gets top play varied versions of the same person throughout. Her performance runs the gamut of tender and heartfelt to mildly terrifying and selfish. She commands the screen every time she’s on it and makes the strongest impression throughout. Ellen Page gives the smart ass shtick a break and plays her character well with a nice sense of wonder and discovery. Joseph Gordon Levitt, Ken Watanabe and Tom Hardy are all quiet strong in supporting roles each giving their characters recognizable traits in limited screen time. Cillian Murphy isn’t given much too do outside of looking like a mark. As a whole this is another win for Nolan’s increasingly impressive resume, even if he couldn’t resist an open ended finale.
A-
Bluray quality; Video is nearly perfect showcasing the wonderful visuals throughout; Sound mix is impressive across the board, extremely active.
I was hand-selected to be a member of Blu-ray Elite, a beta program from Warner Home Video which has graciously sent me this free Blu-ray disc.
