MOVIE REVIEW: THE ODYSSEY

 

Odysseus embarks on a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca following the Trojan War, encountering treacherous creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus and Sirens.

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, Charlize Theron

Release Date: July 17, 2026

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Rated R for violence and some language.

Runtime: 2h 52m

Review:

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is an epic in every sense of the word as he manages to meld the grandeur of classic sword and sandal epics and elements of Ray Harryhausen into something that’s as engrossing as it is soulful.  The film is filled with massive set pieces that are meticulously set up and shot to deliver something impressive due to the sheer scale of the endeavor since any one of these moments could have served as a finale in any other blockbuster.  There are a multitude of sequences that are sure to capture the imagination of this generation much in the same way 1981’s Clash of Titans became embedded in the zeitgeist.  Much like that film, Nolan doesn’t shy away from indulging in some of the more horrific elements of the story especially during Odysseus’ encounter with the Cyclops where he gives us a living recreation of the famous painting depicting Saturn Devouring His Son.  His run in with Circe is sure to make a segment of the audience squirm as it leans heavily into David Cronenberg style body horror.  Those moments leave a lasting impact, but they’re balanced by more grounded elements like the sacking of Troy which is revealed slowly as its intertwined into the overall narrative.   Those sequences possess a certain level of tension even though the outcome is well known a testament to the staging and brevity that leaves the story thread linger in the air until Nolan comes back to it much like he did in his breakout film Memento.  Through it all there’s an undercurrent of humanism as Odysseus is rightfully portrayed as a complicated man who gives in to his hubris at various points during his journey.  Matt Damon is able to balance the character’s intellect and brashness with impressive ease as he recounts his journey to a Charlize Theron’s nymph Calypso.  He gives the older version of his character a tangible sense of mournful regret as he reflects on where his intelligence led him, his men and his family.  It’s an impressive turn across the board that’s propped up by strong turns from the film’s galaxy of A list stars.  Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway hit the right tone for both characters as they await Odysseus and deal with suitors.  Holland brings his earnest, hopeful energy to Telemachus while Hathaway adds layers of doubt and anger to Penelope that gives the character more nuance and depth especially in the film’s final act.   Robert Pattinson and Corey Hawkins get the lion’s share of the screentime, focusing on the suitors with both giving their characters an appropriate level of unearned smarmy entitlement that makes their comeuppance feel all the more cathartic during the final act.  John Leguizamo and Samantha Morton both make the most of their screentime with both delivering memorable supporting turns for different reasons.  The use of modern vernacular for the dialogue, with the cast using their natural accents, takes some getting used to and it never quite gels with the visuals thrown onscreen with it proving to be a minor distraction throughout the film.  Purists will likely be disappointed with these abridged versions of events and along with some portions of the story changed entirely.  Minor nitpicks aside, The Odyssey succeeds on so many levels to deliver the kind of cinematic epic we rarely see nowadays, cementing Nolan’s place as one of the top directors of this generation.

A

MOVIE REVIEW: UNCHARTED

Nathan Drake and his wisecracking partner Victor "Sully" Sullivan embark on a dangerous quest to find the greatest treasure never found while also tracking clues that may lead to Nate's long-lost brother.

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg,  Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle,  Antonio Banderas

Release Date: February 18, 2022 

Genre: Action, Adventure

Rated PG-13 for violence/action and language

Runtime: 1h 56m

Review:

The Uncharted video game franchise is known for it's cinematic style and plotting so its rather baffling to see the live action take hit the big screen in such a bland vehicle.  I will say that I only have a passing familiarity with the game series but it does seem like a perfect franchise to make the jump to the big screen successfully.  Sadly, the film that ends up on screen feels like a copy of a copy as it delivers retreads of better action adventure films but never delivering anything new or exciting.  Ruben Fleisher's film feels like it's been through multiple focus groups resulting in the most generic action and characters.  The script doesn't help much since it's content with following the path of least resistance leaving very little mystery since you can see every turn coming.  Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg do the best they can with the material but neither can be accused of elevating any of it.  Their central relationship never really works the way it should even though some of the interactions are fun.  Sophia Ali and Tati Gabrielle do more with limited screen time but both of their characters are woefully underdeveloped.  Antonio Banderas is criminally underused as the film's main villain even though he seems game to ham it up.  Uncharted isn't the worst video game adaptation out there but it could have been much better and more memorable.

C

MOVIE REVIEW: CHAOS WALKING

 

In Prentisstown, Todd has been brought up to believe that the Spackle released a germ that killed all the women and unleashed Noise on the remaining men. After discovering a patch of silence out in the swamp, his surrogate parents immediately tell him that he has to run, leaving him with only a map of New World, a message, and many unanswered questions. He soon discovers the source of the silence: a girl, named Viola.

Director: Doug Liman

Cast: Daisy Ridley, Tom Holland, Mads Mikkelsen, Demián Bichir, Cynthia Erivo, Nick Jonas, David Oyelowo

Release Date: March 5, 2021

Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi 

Rated PG-13 for violence and language 

Runtime: 1 h 49 min

Review:

Chaos Walking is a prime example of an enjoyable film that still feels like a missed opportunity.  Doug Liman's troubled production, originally filmed in 2017 and pushed back multiple times, is a visually appealing hybrid of a couple of genres.  There's the standard dystopian base mixed with a western, paired with some lovely pacific northwestern vistas which gives the film a distinctive look.  Linman tries his best to keep you from noticing the clichés that make up the skeleton of the plot while using some impressive effects to visualizes the film's primary conceit, the noise.  The "thoughts" are visualized as personalized auras or projections occasionally which keeps the proceedings from lagging even in slower moments.  The cast does the best they can with the script which seems interested in larger themes like sexual politics and zealotry but never delves into any of them with any serious depth.  Daisy Ridley's female character is the kicking off point of the entire story but her character feels painfully underwritten, as such she's relegating to reacting to situations and not much else.  Tom Holland's character fares better mainly due to his general boyish likeability which works so well for as Spiderman.  Holland's interactions with Ridley are the lifeblood of the film and makes markedly more watchable than it deserves to be.  Sadly, there is a bevy of a excellent actors who are short changed by the script.  Mads Mikkelsen can play passive aggressive villainy in his sleep but the film doesn't really give him much to do outside of looking at people menacingly.  Faring even worse are Demián Bichir, Cynthia Erivo, & David Oyelowo whose character seem much more nuanced and interesting than the script allows them to be.  Ultimately, Chaos Walking is a forgettable miss that could have been so much more.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: ONWARD

Two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, go on an journey to discover if there is still a little magic left out there in order to spend one last day with their father, who died when they were too young to remember him.

Director: Dan Scanlon

Cast: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer

Release Date: February 29 2020

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements

Runtime: 1h 42min

Review:

Onward is a fine addition to the Pixar catalogue even if it’s not quite a classic.  Dan Scanlon does some solid work with a fun bit of world building using all types of D&D creatures.  It makes for a fun journey through this gentrified mystical world.  Most scenes are full of gags and jokes making it a rich and vibrant world.  At its center are Tom Holland and Chris Pratt who both are perfectly suited for their roles.  They work well together and really give the film its heart which drives the whole thing.  Julie Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer have a fun buddy comedy side story going which makes the film even more enjoyable.  The story itself is fairly basic even though there is a healthy bit of heart in it.  While there is plenty to appreciate all around, the film is kind of forgettable.  Pixar films are usually so memorable when one doesn’t quite leave a lasting impression you are left wondering why it didn’t work as well as it should have.  That’s not to say that Onward is a total misfire, because it’s not, but just that it didn’t quite reach the level of Pixar’s prestigious back catalogue. 

B

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Spider-Man: Far from Home

Yesterday I took an (involuntary) break from back-to-back Rocketman screenings to check in with my friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

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

To no one's surprise, Peter Parker's plan to participate in a school trip like any normal teen goes awry.

Like almost all Marvel product, Spider-Man: Far from Home trades heavily on the capital of its star's charisma and real-life personality. Tom Holland is an absolute jackpot in this regard, having proved as charming off-screen as on, and--while Andrew Garfield remains my perfect Spidey--the more age-appropriate Holland carries a big franchise film with the ease of someone far more experienced. His supporting cast is fleshed out this time with the always-wonderful Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as recurring turns by Marisa Tomei, Zendaya, Samuel L. Jackson, and Coby Smoulders. The movie's got flaws, but not a single member of this cast is among them.

Far from Home represents a sort-of torch-passing, following the events of Avengers: Endgame. The film features spectacular disaster and creature effects, yet somehow Spidey himself looks weirdly CGI-ed even when it's probably a live actor or stunt person performing. The movie is never boring, precisely, but it's too long before it even gets out of its first hour. There's a big "twist" that manages to serve its purpose while probably not being much of a surprise to most fans. Some great action sequences, an engaging cast, and spot-on humor make Far from Home a fun movie, but, ultimately, it's nothing special.

Spider-Man: Far from Home clocks in at an excessive 129 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sci-fi action violence, some language, and brief suggestive comments."

Far from Home is another fun-but-unremarkable outing from Marvel that you'll forget before the next fun-but-unremarkable outing from Marvel. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Spider-Man: Far from Home gets seven.

Fangirl points: My best boyfriend Jake (obvs.)! Martin Starr! The Ramones!

MOVIE REVIEW: SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.

Director: Jon Watts

Cast: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, J. B. Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr, Marisa Tomei, Jake Gyllenhaal

Release Date: July 2, 2019

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments

Runtime: 2 h 9 min

Review:

Spider-Man: Far from Home has the simple task of tidying up the events of Avengers: Endgame while also moving forward Spider-Man character’s story.  It’s a hefty task and the film’s only partially able to pull it off, even though it’s at the cost of other elements.  Jon Watts’ film is a light and breezy affair with nary an air of heft or weight to it. They’re never any moments where you wonder if the hero is in any real danger, which is a common occurrence is these single character films but here it feels even more obvious.  That’s not say to there isn’t plenty of superhero action to go around along with some impressively staged sequences, particularly in the third act.  Tom Holland is still excellent as Parker/Spider-Man but while he gives more angst teen drama this entry, it feels more inorganic and stilted than it did in Homecoming.  Zendaya is relegated to a more standard love interest role than she did before and no amount of snark can hide it.  Jake Gyllenhaal is an interesting addition to the film but he’s a retconned villain from Spider-man villain who could just wear a sign around his neck stating “Don’t Trust Me” during the first half.  His reveal is interesting and it’s hard not to see the screenwriters taking swipes at a certain someone in the current political zeitgeist with the villain’s primary motivation.  It’s an interesting take and something that would have been more interesting if it’d been explored more but as is it’s a solid film.  Ultimately, it does close out this “phase” of the Marvel universe but does so in a workman like function.  That being said there are 2 post credit sequences that actually have bearing on the film you’ve finished watching so it’s worth staying all the way through the credits in this one.   

B

MOVIE REVIEW: SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine -- distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.

Director: Jon Watts 

Cast: Tom Holland, Marisa Tomei, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey, Jr., Donald Glover

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments

Release Date: Jul 07, 2017

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review:

Spider-Man: Homecoming was going to have an uphill battle being the  3^rd iteration of the character in so many years.  Thankfully Tom Holland is a great fit for the role, really taking the character back into the high school world in earnest.  Holland has a great gee whiz charisma that fits the film and this take on the character.  The story itself is a solid coming of age tale that feels familiar without becoming burdensome.  It’s a fun story which makes good use of Robert Downey Jr. in the mentor role which seems like a logical fit being Marvel’s first hero.  Michael Keaton makes for a solid villain, a rarity in the Marvel movies, with his motivations making more sense than your usual bad guy.  Keaton uses his low key intensity to great effect here even though the film could have used some focus in terms of conflict.  At times it almost feels like Keaton’s villain is secondary to other plot lines in the film.  It’s a shame because it’s a decent character that could have made a larger impact if the film had allowed him to.  A few quibbles aside, Spider-Man: Homecoming is a fun film that avoids the entire “origins” trope by basically sidestepping it entirely and doing it’s own thing.

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of Spider-Man: Homecoming

 

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Spider-Man: Homecoming.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you haven't learned already from trailers and clips.

 

Young Peter Parker works his way through high-school angst, frustration with his mentor, and part-time hero-ing.

 

Well, dear reader(s), I am fond of saying I always keep an open enough mind for something to surprise me. Usually that's a positive, but this weekend, unfortunately, the opposite is true.

 

I adore Spider-Man. He's my third-favorite superhero, behind The Tick and Batman, if anyone wondered...okay, probably not. Thanks to solid trailers, good word on the street, and an entertaining appearance in Captain America: Civil War, I had high hopes for Spider-Man: Homecoming, and it hurts me deeply to declare it a disappointment. Still, the movie has a fair few positives, so I hope to focus mostly on those, beginning, as I usually do, with the cast. Tom Holland is a great Peter Parker, perfectly embodying that challenging age when young adults are certain they're capable of more than the grownups think. It helps that Holland, barely old enough to drink, is within (web) shooting distance of our high-school hero's age. While both effectively play younger onscreen, and both, for my money, were terrific Spideys, Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield were in their mid- to late-20s when they put on the tights, so at some point they were bound to feel a bit removed from those difficult-but-exciting teen years. The supporting cast is filled with awesomeness in the forms of Marisa Tomei, Donald Glover, Tyne Daly, and the now-obligatory appearance by Robert Downey, Jr., but it's Michael Keaton, as the film's chief baddie, who really steals the show with what might be the best performance in any Marvel movie, ever. Keaton's can't-look-away work is worth the price of admission all on its own. (For the record, on the subject of RDJ, Homecoming never feels like Iron Man 3.5, as the trailers sometimes promised/threatened.) Spider-Man: Homecoming features some really great CGI as well as some inexplicably wonky CGI. There are times when you'd believe Spidey was actually swinging through the sky above you, other times when he might as well be a Colorforms that someone's moving across the board by hand. (Does anyone remember Colorforms? Do I need to change that analogy?) Some of the worst of it comes at the expense of the climactic Staten Island Ferry scene hinted at in the trailers, which can't help but leave a bad taste. Also on the subject of visuals, even brighter scenes are a bit dark, leaving dark scenes too muddy to see much of anything. A bit of darkness is an understood side effect of seeing 3D product in 2D, but if a movie is showing in both formats, then filmmakers and cinemas really need to figure that out. Marvel's forced cheekiness is getting old as well; they're like that Facebook friend who's constantly posting the same duck-face selfie and expecting a hundred likes; it's just not as cute as it thinks it is, and the Stan Lee cameos are ho-hum, at best, these days. Ultimately, though, if you're wondering what makes this movie so disappointing, the answer is simple: It's boring. Homecoming is only slightly overlong (a 15-20 minute trim would have done it a great service), but it seems to go on forever without getting anywhere. The first half is insufferable, and the second act cruises towards its finale without ever gaining much momentum. Big action pieces are dropped between funny or heartfelt exchanges among Peter, his classmates, Aunt May* (*hottie version), and Tony Stark, but it's all too familiar and forgettable. There's a mid-credits scene that's worth your sticking around, but the final post-credits stinger is a waste of time that, again, isn't nearly as cute as it thinks it is.

 

Spider-Man: Homecoming runs an interminable 133 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sci-fi action violence, some language, and brief suggestive comments.”

 

If you're a fan of the genre who plans to see Spider-Man: Homecoming regardless, big-screen is definitely the way to go for this effects-driven extravaganza. If you're just looking to go to the movies this week, go see Baby Driver instead. (If you've already seen it, see it again.) Of a possible nine Weasleys, Spider-Man: Homecoming gets five.

 

Fangirl points: Mostly musical this time, with soundtrack appearances by the Ramones, The English Beat, and A Flock of Seagulls, as well as the classic Spider-Man theme. 

 

Also a cute nod to Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

 

Until next time... 

 

MOVIE REVIEW: IN THE HEART OF THE SEA,

Director: Ron Howard     

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw, Tom Holland

Release Date: Dec 11, 2015 RealD 3D    

Rated PG-13 for intense Sequences of Peril, Intense Sequences of Action, Brief Startling Violence 

and Thematic Material.    

Runtime: 2 hr. 2 min.    

Genres: Action/Adventure    

Review:

In the Heart of the Sea is a serviceable film that sadly never achieves the epic scope it aspires to.  Ron Howard, workman as always, diligently directs his film with a clear earnestness which shines through the filming.  It’s a fine looking film, occasionally bogged down by some shoddy looking CGI, that does nearly everything we ask from our films but it just seems to be missing something.  The characters and tension is poorly drawn with little to no depth on either end.  Chris Hemsworth looks the part but his character, the proto Ahab, isn’t very compelling or interesting.  The supporting characters is a venerable whose who of strong actors and all of them end up in thankless roles, particularly Brendan Gleeson and Cillian Murphy.  The film does perk up a bit during the pivotal whale act which is much more thrilling than the rest of the film combined. 

C+