My dear reader(s), the week just passed brought us Godzilla vs. Kong, a film that — by its very name — made a return to the big screens of the cinema seem imperative.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or if you've ever watched a monster movie before.
As the title indicates, Godzilla vs. Kong pits one giant creature against another, with puny humans serving as catalysts and comic relief.
A disclaimer: I wanted to see this movie on the big screen. I had every intention of seeing this movie on the big screen. I think this movie is 100% worth seeing on the big screen. BUT...for reasons including (but not limited to) Easter weekend always being crazy busy and my cinema still having weird Covid hours, I was forced to watch it on my reasonably-large television. *sadface*
For a movie like this to meet my needs, all it really has to do is have huge creatures, solid effects, and well choreographed battles. Plot doesn't mean much, and people are merely a distraction. Godzilla vs. Kong executes its mission to a "T." Both titular titans look very big and very, very good in this film. Showdowns between the two are magnificent. There are a fair number of consequential humans ("consequential," for my purposes, meaning named characters with at least a little dialogue), but the people are mostly unobtrusive, despite being portrayed by such notable names as Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Demian Bichir, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, and Alexander Skarsgard. Sound effects are nearly as impressive as visuals; however, in order to get the dialogue even barely audible, I had my volume so high that action sequences and music rattled the walls. I find that's the norm these days, both with movies and with television, and I have to think it can't be so hard to do better. Godzilla vs. Kong is fun and well paced, a series of epic action jewels strung together with thin human string. Oh, and the *real* titan here is Elvis Presley, whose "Loving Arms" makes a...peculiar...appearance.
Godzilla vs. Kong clocks in at 113 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of creature violence/destruction and brief language."
If massive creatures, colossal clashes, and unimaginable destruction are your cup of tea, Godzilla vs. Kong is just the ticket. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Godzilla vs. Kong gets eight.
Godzilla vs. Kong is now playing in cinemas and streaming on HBO Max.
This review is dedicated to my wonderful friend David, a Godzilla scholar who has probably forgotten more about this character than I could ever know, and to my dad, who would have loved this movie more than anything.
Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous
journey to find his true home. Along for the ride is Jia, an orphaned girl who
has a unique and powerful bond with the mighty beast. However, they soon find
themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla as he cuts a swath of destruction
across the globe. The initial confrontation between the two titans --
instigated by unseen forces -- is only the beginning of the mystery that lies
deep within the core of the planet.
Director: Adam Wingard
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby
Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Julian
Dennison, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler,
Demián Bichir
Release Date: March 26, 2021
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of
creature violence/destruction and brief language
Runtime: 1 h 53 min
Review:
Godzilla vs. Kong is the type of film that
is very open about what kind of film it is and it never pretends to be anything
else. Adam Wingard’s film uses the
thinnest of a story to get the action moving.
Wingard moves the film at a steady pace so that you don’t think about
the exposition heavy human sequences too much since it’s all fairly nonsensical. Wingard is smart enough to see that people
who sit down to see Godzilla vs. Kong want to see the two titans fight in epic
fashion. He delivers some truly
impressive action set pieces between the two behemoths in well staged
mayhem. These action sequences are the
primary lifeblood of the entire film so if they didn’t work the film would be a
failure. The human side of these films
are typically afterthoughts at best and the same holding true here. The cast is populated with familiar faces who
are barely straining one ounce of talent into their roles. Demián Bichir does manage to leave a lasting
impression in the villain role that’s only missing a dash of mustache
twirling. Deft actress Kaylee Hottle
leaves the biggest impression in a small but pivotal role. Her portion of the
story with Kong is the beefiest of story threads but it’s not explored in any
great depth. Godzilla vs. Kong isn’t the
type of film that’s interested in any sort of in depth storytelling just
massive mayhem and it delivers the big dumb action you’d expect from these types
of films.
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!
On the heels of their six-time Academy Award®-winning smash, La La Land,
Oscar®-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for
Universal Pictures’ First Man, the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a
man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A
visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie
will explore the sacrifices and the cost—on Armstrong and on the nation—of one
of the most dangerous missions in history.
Director: Damien Chazelle
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey
Stoll, Ciarán Hinds, Christopher Abbott, Patrick Fugit, Lukas Haas
Release Date: October 12, 2018
Genres: Biography , Drama , History
Rated PG-13 for some thematic content involving peril, and brief strong
language
Runtime: 2h 21 min
Review:
First Man is an incredible achievement on multiple levels.Damien Chazelle’s film is a technical
achievement as it puts you in the ships and modules on a visceral and
claustrophobic level.All of the flight
sequences are just trilling but that shouldn’t come as a surprise considering
Chazelle’s talent.The quieter moments,
there are plenty, are just as engaging thanks to a pair of wonderful
performances from Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy.Gosling’s turn is understated but you can sense the simmering emotions
behind his eyes.Neil Armstrong is
always guarded but driven by past pain as portrayed by Gosling.Claire Foy is just as strong throughout; so
much so that you wished the film spent a bit more time with her but the film is
focused on Neil.It’s an introspective
yet epic tale about the man who achieved such a landmark moment in human
history.The flag controversy is
thoroughly overblown as the film couldn’t display American achievement anymore
than it already does.First Man is an
engaging character study that tries to get us into this pioneer’s headspace and
does it with class.
Max and Annie's weekly game night gets kicked up a notch when Max's brother Brooks arranges a murder mystery party -- complete with fake thugs and federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it's all supposed to be part of the game. As the competitors set out to solve the case, they start to learn that neither the game nor Brooks are what they seem to be. The friends soon find themselves in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn over the course of one chaotic night. Director: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein Cast: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons, Michael C. Hall, Danny Huston, Jeffrey Wright Release Date: Feb 23, 2018 Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime Rated R for language, sexual references and some violence Runtime: 1 hr 40 min
Game Night is one of those zany comedies with a simple
premise that just works.Director’s John
Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein craft an efficient and hilarious comedy
that moves quickly enough to avoid letting any of the misfires linger very
long.Their biggest asset though is the
cast who have great comic timing and chemistry.Leading the way is Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams who bounce off each
other easily throughout the film.Bateman
does his usual Bateman act which still works after all these years.Rachel McAdams is equally funny; her comic
timing is vastly underrated.The
supporting players are all funny in their own right with each given their chance
to shine.A cavalcade of familiar faces pop
up as things get more out of hand.Game
Night’s is a perfect turn your brain off and just laugh type of comedy.
Martin Scorsese reteams with Leonardo DiCaprio for this adaptation of Jordan Belfort's memoir about his exploits as a crooked banker. Terence Winter provides the screenplay. Jonah Hill and Oscar winner Jean Dujardin co-star. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Jean Dujardin, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler.
Release Date: Dec 25, 2013
Rated R for graphic Nudity, Drug Use, Language Throughout, Some Violence and Strong Sexual Content
Runtime: 2 hr. 59 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
The Wolf of Wall Street is an extended journey into the depraved and debauched life of Jordan Belfort. It’s an electric film with an incredible turn by Leonardo DiCaprio which should earn him an Oscar nomination at the very least. Scorsese delivers his best film since Goodfellas while using a similar structure and energy throughout. The film clocks in at 3 hours but it’s a dizzying dive into the story which beats you into submission. DiCaprio perfectly encapsulates the sleazy charisma and charm of Belfort. The Steve Madden IPO speech is an instant classic which should have ended with a title card saying “For your Consideration.” Jonah Hill is just as impressive in a supporting role which is funny and unpredictable at the same time. The film as a whole is incredibly funny with the hilarity increasing as Belfort’s life crumbles more and more. The ending is rather interesting as it seems to point the finger back at the victims. It’s a rather interesting way to end the story but fitting at the same time.
Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal, the Academy Award-winning duo behind The Hurt Locker, reteam for this drama detailing the hunt for Osama bin Laden, which stars Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain as the intelligence expert who dedicated a decade of her life to tracking down the world's most wanted terrorist. Joel Edgerton, Edgar Ramirez, Mark Strong, Chris Pratt, and James Gandolfini co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Release Date: Dec 19, 2012
Rated R for Strong Violence, Language and Brutal Disturbing Images
Runtime: 2 hr. 37 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Edgar Ramirez, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong
Review:
Zero Dark Thirty is not a jingoistic depiction about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Kathryn Bigelow takes Mark Boal script and opts for a detached documentary feel. There’s a noticeable neutrality throughout the film. It’s not the type of feel that’s going for a slant or angle; instead it decides to simply unfurl the series of events that occurred even if some are fictionalized. It’s a methodical straightforward film that keeps you engaged as you watch the frustrating and occasionally dangerous machinations of the world’s biggest manhunt. At its center is Jessica Chastain. Chastain gives her character a calculated intensity and steely resolve. She’s fascinating in her singular dedication to her task, so much so that when the task is done you have to wonder how the character would ever find meaning in another task. The supporting characters come and go as the film goes on. Due to the style of the film, we never get very close to any of the characters even the lead. The climatic raid is almost clinical but incredibly tense and powerful. The same can be said about the film as a whole.
