MOVIE REVIEW: SNAKE EYES: G.I. JOE ORIGINS

 

An ancient Japanese clan called the Arashikage welcomes tenacious loner Snake Eyes after he saves the life of their heir apparent. Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach him the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing him something he's been longing for: a home. However, when secrets from Snake Eyes' past are revealed, his honor and allegiance get tested -- even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him.

Director: Robert Schwentke

Cast: Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Úrsula Corberó, Samara Weaving, Iko Uwais

Release Date: July 14, 2021

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and brief strong language

Runtime: 2 h 1 min

Review:

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is a busy film serving as an origin story and franchise starter.  The fact that its serving multiple masters should be a recipe for disaster but Robert Schwentke’s still manages to deliver some enjoyable ninja action.  Schwentke’s film harkens back to cult 80’s ninja films like American Ninja with a glossy exterior.  The action sequences are well staged with a keen visual outside of some questionable overuse of shaky came.  The choreography of them is top notch and those sequences are the high points of the film.   Henry Golding and Andrew Koji make for an intriguing duo onscreen and their relationship drives the entire film.  Golding possess leading man charisma but you get the sense he could have used a tad bit more depth to make him more interesting than his counter part.  Andrew Koji performance and character is terribly intriguing as he plays him with a silent intensity that always makes him the most interesting character on screen.  Some fun supporting turns from Úrsula Corberó, Samara Weaving & Iko Uwais add some strong female punch to the proceedings with the latter two there to set up the larger G.I. Joe universe.  The film’s biggest issue is its script that doesn’t take advantage of its cast.  Everything plays out in a perfunctory manner while it checks certain boxes since its primary goal was to put pieces in place for future installments.  Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins ends up being forgettable fluff that might have excelled had it possessed some tighter scripting and direction.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC

A visitor from the future tells best friends Bill and Ted that one of their songs can save life as we know it and bring harmony to the universe.

Director: Dean Parisot

Cast: Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, Kristen Schaal, Samara Weaving, Brigette Lundy-Paine, William Sadler, Anthony Carrigan, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, Holland Taylor, Kid Cudi, Jillian Bell

Release Date: August 26, 2019

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Music

Rated PG-13 for some language

Runtime: 1 h 31 min

Review:

Bill & Ted Face The Music is a nostalgic throw back that uses the same template from the first two films with varying results.  Dean Parisot doesn’t offer up many curveballs in this belated finale.  He uses a lot of story beats fans of the original will instantly recognize but honestly it’s almost perfunctory.  The main thing all the children of the 80s wanted to see was Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves reprise their iconic roles.  Both slip back into their characters with relative ease and it hard not smile once we see and hear these two back on the screen.  Its fun to see them back in their roles but it’s also hard to ignore the fact that they are 50 year old men still talking like stoner teenagers.  Still they do a great job of capturing the optimistic spirit of the originals. Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine are both good fun with the latter delivering an impressive impersonation of her on screen father.  The story itself is a bit of a mixed bag since it’s more of a collection of fan service moments held together by the main conceit.  It’s an issue that’s kind of hardwired into their DNA of the franchise so it’s hard to blame this final entry too much. This film is only an hour and a half but it does drag in spots because of the thin story holding it all together.  Bill & Ted Face The Music is a fun albeit unnecessary series capper. 

C+

Cindy Prascik's Review of Bill & Ted Face the Music

Dearest reader(s), yesterday marked the day I knew would arrive: I had the choice of seeing a brand new release at the cinema, or paying more to watch it at home. I thought it would be a hard call, but ultimately it was pretty easy to choose staying home. I'll be interested to see if it remains so once the health threat is removed. If you were presented with the same choice, I'd be curious to hear what you decided and why.

At any rate, on the docket this weekend was the long-awaited three-quel Bill & Ted Face the Music.

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

Bill S. Preston and Ted "Theodore" Logan still struggle to fulfill the prophecy that said their music one day would save the world.

Face the Music finds our middle-aged heroes with wives, children, and suspiciously nice homes for guys who don't appear to do anything besides jam in their garages. Alas, they are yet to fulfill or move on from the long-ago prophecy that a song they've written will somehow unite and save the world. When a messenger from the future informs them that they have less than a day before time and space are destroyed, the most excellent friends embark on more time travels in the hope that their future selves have the song.

At a certain age, most things come with a whiff of nostalgia. Face the Music works not necessarily because it's the epitome of stellar filmmaking, but because it gives us characters we love in a story we need right now. The movie is sweet enough that its predictably dopey plot is easy to forgive, and — while there are some faces fans will be happy to see among supporting players — it is markedly less entertaining when Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are absent from the screen. The big finish offers few surprises, but the movie's optimism is such a delightful light in this dark year that it hardly matters.

Bill & Ted Face the Music clocks in at a quick 88 minutes and is rated PG13 for some language.

Bill & Ted Face the Music isn't a movie that'll change the world, but I can't help thinking we'd be better off if it could. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Bill & Ted Face the Music gets seven and a half.

Until next time, friends, be excellent to each other.

MOVIE REVIEW: READY OR NOT

Grace couldn't be happier after she marries the man of her dreams at his family's luxurious estate. There's just one catch -- she must now hide from midnight until dawn while her new in-laws hunt her with guns, crossbows and other weapons.

Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett

Cast: Samara Weaving, Mark O'Brien, Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell

Release Date: August 21, 2019

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Rated R for violence, bloody images, language throughout, and some drug use

Runtime: 1 h 35 min

Review:

Ready or Not is one of those film’s that just comes out of nowhere and just surprises in multiple ways.  It’s a great black comedy that’s consistently entertaining from start to finish.  While the basic premise seems incredibly basic, you can find plenty of nuance and texture in it’s dissection of the 1% and gender politics.  It’s never overly didactic because first and foremost it aims to entertain with over the top set pieces and genuine shocks.  Director’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett crafted a lean efficient thrill ride that’s incredibly fun.  Australian actress Samara Weaving delivers a star making turn as grace.  It would have been easy to play the character as a one dimensional but she adds multiple layers to her which makes her all the more engaging as she goes from frighten to fighting back.  The supporting cast is made up of a bevy familiar character actors along with Andie MacDowell being the biggest name in the whole thing.  Ready or Not feels like a mash up of Your Next and Clue while becoming a crazy special thing of it’s own.


A