MOVIE REVIEW: I.S.S.

 

Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station when a worldwide conflict breaks out on Earth. Soon, the U.S. and Russian astronauts each receive orders from the ground: take control of the station by any means necessary.

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Cast: Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Maria Mashkova, Costa Ronin, Pilou Asbæk

Release Date: January 19, 2024

Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated R for some violence and language

Runtime: 1h 35m

Review:

I.S.S. uses its hypothetical situation and claustrophobic setting to deliver some solid moments of tension thanks, in large part, to focused performances from its ensemble cast even though it struggles to nail the landing.  Gabriela Cowperthwaite shows a steady hand throughout, delivering an efficient thriller that's laser focused on ratcheting up the tension while managing to keep the human side surprisingly grounded.  This is the type of film that could have easily devolved into a clichéd 80's cold war era film turning the characters into caricatures with little to no shades of grey.  Cowperthwaite manages to avoid most of those pitfalls thanks to a script that's elevated by its committed cast.  Ariana DeBose is solid in the lead role, giving her character far more depth than what's on the page.  Chris Messina and John Gallagher Jr. play her compatriots with varying degrees of effectiveness since certain turns are telegraphed a mile away.  On the other end, Maria Mashkova, Costa Ronin and Pilou Asbæk play the Russian crew with surprising effectiveness with Ronin being saddled with the most generic character of the group. Mashkova and Asbæk are given more latitude to give their characters more texture and humanity.  Asbæk, in particular, is incredibly watchable throughout as his character's trajectory follows an unexpected path as the film moves on.  Asbæk's performance is fascinating even as the film starts to move into goofier, anti gravity fights aren't cool looking, territory in its final act.  The last act struggles to find a way to wrap up the story, so it ends in a purposely ambiguous way that's sure to annoy more than a few viewers.  

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: OVERLORD

On the eve of D-Day, American paratroopers drop behind enemy lines to penetrate the walls of a fortified church and destroy a radio transmitter. As the soldiers approach their target, they soon begin to realize that there's more going on in the Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation. Making their way to an underground lab, the outnumbered men stumble upon a sinister experiment that forces them into a vicious battle against an army of the undead.

Director: Julius Avery

Cast: Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell, Mathilde Ollivier, John Magaro, Gianny Taufer, Pilou Asbæk, Bokeem Woodbine.

Release Date: November 9, 2018

Genres: Action, Horror, Mystery

Rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing images, language, and brief sexual content

Runtime: 1h 49 min

Review:

Overlord is a schlocky B movie that hits all the right notes.  Julius Avery directs the film with a steady hand.  The film opens with an amazing aerial sequence that will make some people think of the opening sequences in Saving Private Ryan.  As the film settles in, you get the feeling you are watching a well made World War 2 film as the film introduces us to classic war movie types.  These types could typically come off as clichéd but the performances from the cast makes them all interesting and engaging.  Avery and his cast establish an excellent sense of atmosphere and the feeling that something is just a tad bit off.  Once the film takes its right turn, which has been highlighted in the trailers, it turns into a full tilt horror film and does it quite well.  It calls to memory the reaction people had to From Dusk till Dawn, some people will go with it others will be turned off by where the film ends up.  Those that stick with it will find plenty to enjoy because as a horror film it’s an effective gory ride.  

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: GHOST IN THE SHELL

In a future in which humanity and technology have begun to merge, a cybernetically enhanced policewoman (Scarlett Johansson) hunts a mysterious terrorist who can hack into his victims' minds and control their thoughts and memories. Her pursuit eventually leads her to discover the full truth about her traumatic past. Pilou Asbaek, Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, and Michael Pitt co-star. Directed by Rupert Sanders (Rupert Sanders), Ghost in the Shell is based on a popular Japanese manga series, which was already adapted into an iconic anime film of the same name. ~ Jack Rodgers, Rovi

Director: Rupert Sanders

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, Michael Pitt

Release Date: Mar 31, 2017

Rated PG-13 for some Disturbing Images, Intense Sci-Fi Violence and Suggestive Content

Runtime: 1 hr. 42 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review:

The 1995 Ghost in the Shell anime is a personal favorite of mine so the live action iteration had a lot to live up to.  Rupert Sanders nails the aesthetic, borrowing elements from Blade Runner and A.I., throughout.  Sanders seems most comfortable replicating iconic sequences from the classic anime and he does it well.  The action set pieces are impressive throughout.  It’s hard not to be impressed by some of the shots but it’s a shame that the story was neutered.  Ghost in the Shell was always a heady meditation on souls, “ghost”, and technology so it’s not unexpected that live action story would be made a bit more palpable.  Unfortunately, it’s stripped down to a Jason Borne meets Robocop plot.  Thankfully, Scarlett Johansson is excellent as the Major even if she’s not given much narrative meat to chew on.  Still, she is always the most interesting thing on screen.  That being said decidedly multicultural supporting cast is a spot on.  Pilou Asbæk is a solid Batou even if his voice leans closer to Sin City’s Marv than it should.  Sadly, Michael Pitt isn’t given much to do as the primary antagonist since he’s just there to move the plot along more than anything else.  The live action Ghost in the Shell is an origin story, so fans should hope that future installments have a bit more meat behind the glossy shell.

B-

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Great Wall

 

 

Dearest Blog: Today it was off to Marquee Cinemas for oddball blockbuster The Great Wall. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

 

A pair of mercenaries is conscripted into battle to save a Chinese city from hordes of terrifying creatures.

 

Dear reader(s): Thanks to a painful trailer, my best hope for The Great Wall was that it would be hilariously bad and not just bad. I am pleased to report that, while it's not winning any awards anytime soon, The Great Wall IS actually a pretty enjoyable way to pass a couple hours.

 

Liberally seasoned from the cliche jar, the Great Wall is deeply, deeply idiotic. Jarringly modern phrasing and Matt Damon's weirdly stilted diction are no help with the clunky script. The most pointed attempts at humor often miss the mark, but a light tone works strongly in the movie's favor. The Great Wall boasts some lovely scenery, spectacular costumes, excellent precision battle choreography, and solid creature effects. I didn't see the movie in 3D, but there are a few dizzying scenes that I expect would make it worth the upcharge and glasses headache. Wall-to-wall (see what I did there?) action never comes at the story's expense, and is perfectly accompanied by Ramin Djawadi's rousing score.

 

The Great Wall clocks in at 103 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of fantasy action violence."

 

The story and the acting are nothing to write home about, but The Great Wall is a fun outing that's more than worth seeing on the big screen for it's extraordinary production values. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Great Wall gets five.

 

Until next time...