Cindy Prascik's Reviews of John Wick: Chapter 2 & The Lego Batman Movie

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a highly-anticipated pair of pictures: John Wick: Chapter 2 and the Lego Batman Movie.

 

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

 

Ladies and gentlemen, dear reader(s), what follows is the historic, first-ever, perfect-nine-Weasley double-bill! Steel yourselves!

 

First on yesterday's agenda: John Wick: Chapter 2.

 

John Wick is dragged out of retirement when an old marker is called in.

 

The first John Wick was a pleasant surprise. With very little buzz and a not-quite-A-list lead, it turned out far better than the generic actioner promised by the trailers. Following up such unexpected success almost unfailingly leads to disaster, but I am pleased to report John Wick: Chapter 2 actually breaks the mold and improves upon the original.

 

Beginning with the obvious: Keanu Reeves has found the role for which he was born. Sure, the guy has all the acting chops of "Shepherd #3" in your local elementary-school Christmas pageant, but he's given us a few iconic leads over his long career, and John Wick seems destined to become one of his best remembered. Reeves works even the film's corniest lines to perfection and still manages to be the perfect stoic killing machine. A solid supporting cast includes Ian McShane, Common, Laurence Fishburne, and the suddenly-ubiquitous Ruby Rose. John Wick: Chapter 2 boasts epic fight choreography, a dark humor that always hits its mark, and stellar production design. A shootout in a hall of mirrors is a real standout, along the lines of the original's red room scene. The extraordinary body count undoubtedly renders a picture like this not everyone's cup of tea, but if you're able to set aside genre bias, you'll have to admit John Wick: Chapter 2 is one hell of a great movie.

 

John Wick: Chapter 2 clocks in at 122 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence throughout, some language, and brief nudity."

 

John Wick: Chapter 2 is a strikingly filmed, beautifully executed movie that's well served by its self-awareness. I pondered long and hard, looking for a reason to dock it even a half-Weasley, and I couldn't find one. Of a possible nine Weasleys, John Wick: Chapter 2 gets nine.

 

Fangirl points: My beloved Ian McShane! Peter Serafinowicz!

 

Next on the docket, The Lego Batman Movie.

 

The Bat goes brick.

 

The Lego Batman Movie has all the sharp colors, cool artwork, and constant motion that are hallmarks of most good animation these days, but considering it a kids' movie does it a great disservice; it is straight-up comedy gold, and I mean hilarious. I can't remember the last time I heard a cinema crowd laugh as hard or as much. The movie lovingly makes fun of the Bat-verse, from Will Arnett's sulking, self-centered Bruce Wayne to hilarious callbacks to various film faceoffs with his arch-nemesis the Joker. If Gotham's Clown Prince isn't your favorite baddie, never fear, the Lego Batman Movie not only features many of Batman's classic enemies, but cameos by villains from the furthest reaches of fiction. A rockin' score by Lorne Balfe occasionally echoes past Batman themes, underlining the movie's nods to Bat-history, while standing firmly on its own Lego feet.

 

The Lego Batman Movie runs 104 minutes and is rated PG for "rude humor and some action."

 

The Lego Batman Movie is everything a moviegoer could want, be he die-hard Batfan or casual walkup. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Lego Batman Movie gets nine.

 

Fangirl points: "Iron Man sucks!"

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: RINGS

In this third installment in the horror franchise, a young woman tries to save her boyfriend from a haunted video that kills people seven days after they watch it. However, she soon discovers that the video's secrets go far deeper than anyone has ever suspected. Matilda Lutz, Vincent D'Onofrio, Johnny Galecki, Laura Wiggins, Aimee Teegarden, Alex Roe, and Bonnie Morgan star. Directed by F. Javier Gutierrez. ~ Jack Rodgers, Rovi

Genres: Drama, Horror

Director F. Javier Gutierrez

Cast: Aimee Teegarden, Johnny Galecki, Alex Roe, Zach Roerig, Bonnie Morgan, Vincent D'Onofrio

Release Date: Feb 03, 2017

Rated PG-13 for thematic Elements, Some Sexuality, Brief Drug Material and Violence/Terror

Runtime: 1 hr. 47 min.

Review:

The horror genre is littered with massive valleys and huge peaks in terms of quality.  The original Ring film was an impressive piece of filmmaking and one of my favorite horror films of all time.  Sadly, after that a lesser sequel followed and the franchise seemingly died off.  Rings is an ill conceived attempt to restart the series.  F. Javier Gutierrez borrows heavily from Gore Verbinski’s visual style which creates an effectively moody look.  Unfortunately there’s not much else to the film since the story decides to sideline Samara for the better part of the film.  Instead we’re treated to another origin story which isn’t nearly as interesting as it was the first two times we’ve seen it.  Making matters worst is the cast that’s made up of uncharismatic leads.  It’s hard to tell if the actors are just bad or if the direction has to do something with it because even name actors like Johnny Galecki and Vincent D’Onofrio deliver incredibly stiff and uninspired performances.  Sadly, we are left with nothing more than a boring slog of a film that doesn’t even offer cheap scares to keep you awake.

F

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Space Between Us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dearest Blog: Today it was off to Marquee Cinemas to see my beloved Gary Oldman's latest picture, The Space Between Us.

 

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

 

A boy born and raised on Mars yearns to come to Earth.

 

Well, dear reader(s), I can't sugar coat it: The Space Between Us might be the worst movie I've ever seen. Almost everything about this film is so embarrassingly terrible that it's hard to know where to start, so, just to keep you on your toes, I'll start with the few things I actually liked. First, Gary looks amazing. Like, even-better-than-Air-Force-One amazing. He's in the movie a LOT more than I expected, too. I thought he'd be on the periphery of the main story between the two kids, but actually he's kinda the star, with commensurate screen time (which he already may be regretting). There's some lovely scenery as our kids traverse the country, a handful of genuinely funny/cute moments (though few and far between), and a few bits of the score that really caught my ear. That's the good news. The bad news is this movie is otherwise awful to the last detail. It sells its premise so poorly that you're laughing at the very idea before it really even gets started. Awkward, hokey dialogue sounds like it was written by someone who has never heard a real person speak before. It's hard to fault the actors, given the material, but nobody does anything to elevate this mess, either. Mostly what we've got here is two hours of smitten teens acting all teeny and adults scampering around, overwrought, in the most predictable series of events ever. On the Gary Oldman scale, it's about as bad as Lost in Space.

 

The Space Between us clocks in at an interminable 120 minutes and is rated PG13 for "brief sensuality and language."

 

As always, I encourage everyone to get out to the movies this weekend. Please just go see something besides The Space Between Us. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Space Between Us gets one, for giving me my Gary on the big screen.

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: LA LA LAND

Struggling actress Mia (Emma Stone) and aspiring jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) begin a whirlwind romance as they both pursue their dreams in Los Angeles. However, their blossoming relationship is challenged when their careers pull them in different directions. Damien Chazelle (Damien Chazelle) wrote and directed this musical love story, which co-stars John Legend, J.K. Simmons, and Rosemarie DeWitt. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi

Director: Damien Chazelle

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Finn Wittrock, J.K. Simmons

Release Date: Dec 09, 2016

Rated PG-13 for some Language

Runtime: 2 hr. 7 min.

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music/Performing Arts

Review:

La La Land is a rousing bit of filmmaking which is as fizzy and bubbly as the best champagne.  Like said champagne, it is a bit light on body.  Instead Damien Chazelle dresses up his retro musical with impressive shots and flashy choreography.  It’s an incredibly fun film, especially in the first 2 acts, with two magnetic leads.  Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone bring a dizzying sense of adorableness to their roles.  You can’t help but get sucked into this love story as their relationship begins to blossom and grow.  It’s an engrossing experience but once you peel back all the frills it’s a pretty bare bones love story tinged with a palatable sense of bitter sweetness.  Still it’s a credit to Damien Chazelle that he could take a simple story and infuse so much energy and passion into it.  Is it the best film I’ve ever seen, not even close, but it’s a still fine piece of film making.

B+

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, Gold & Lion

Dearest Blog: After missing out last week, this weekend it was off to Marquee Cinemas for four--yes, FOUR--big-screen blasts. 

 

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

 

First on my agenda: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.

 

Alice makes a last(ish) stand against the Umbrella Corporation.

 

With this ostensibly "final" chapter of Resident Evil coming so quickly on the heels of Underworld's potential finale, for me it was inevitable to draw comparisons between the two badass-broad-fronted movies. I think Resident Evil comes up on the short end, but it's still a fun watch.

 

Like Underworld: Blood Wars, RE6 kicks off with a refresher on how we got to where we are. In both cases, this proved a waste of time. These movies do a good enough job of (over)explaining themselves as they go along that a person wouldn't be too lost to enjoy, regardless of what he did or didn't remember. It's to Milla Jovovich's benefit that acting chops are immaterial, as she acrobatically faces off with living and undead. Iain Glen is about as subtle a baddie as Snidely Whiplash. Though it's hard, these days, not to see him as the perpetually-friendzoned Ser Jorah Mormont, he does his best to prove himself a Wicked, Wicked Person here. The 2D effects are nothing to write home about, and certainly nothing to recommend the 3D upcharge and headache. There's some nice disaster footage (think Deepwater Horizon, if everybody hated the undead instead of the planet), and some truly wacky stunts, but much of the action is so dark all you can do is cross your fingers and hope your favorite character is still standing when it finally gets light again. Clumsy storytelling makes the film feel overlong. There's a nice thank-you message from director and star before the show, and, if it turns out this really is The End, it's a satisfying--if hokey--finish.

 

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter runs 106 minutes and is rated R for "sequences of violence throughout."

 

The premise is less interesting and the cast less enjoyable than Underworld, but Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is big, dumb fun. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter gets four.

 

Next on the docket, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage.

 

The original Triple X is back in business.

 

Well, dear reader(s)... Now. We. Are. Talking. Were you in the market for a great, fun actioner? Well, you found it! xXx: The Return of Xander Cage is filled with absurd stunts, good-natured humor, pretty faces, and hardbodies all 'round. The plot obviously won't tax those little grey cells too much, but there are a few nice surprises wrapped around edge-of-your-seat action and a truly likable cast. And did I mention ridiculous stunts? Over the top in the most fun way. Vin Diesel knows his niche as well as any actor, and, while there may come a day when I no longer get a kick out of watching him do what he does, it is not this day.

 

xXx: The Return of Xander Cage clocks in at 107 minutes and is rated PG13 for "extended sequences of gunplay and violent action, and for sexual material."

 

It's not brain surgery, but The Return of Xander Cage is about as much fun as I can imagine having at the cinema. Of a possible nine Weasleys, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage gets seven.

 

Movie Catchup Day Two kicked off with Gold.

 

Against all odds, a down-on-his-luck prospector and a geologist strike gold in Indonesia.

Initially, Gold appeared to be another potential awards goldmine (see what I did there?) for Matthew McConaughey, but his loony performance doesn't help this too-talky tale get off the ground. McConaughey underwent another extreme physical transformation to portray Kenny Wells, a doughy dude with a receding hairline, and nothing says "Oscar bait" like a handsome actor who looks nothing like himself in a based-on-a-true-story role. Sadly, neither the performance nor the picture is very memorable, and Wells' appearance is played mostly for mean-spirited laughs. Edgar Ramirez is the film's highlight, understated as Wells' partner Michael Acosta. The picture moves slowly and is never really that interesting, thanks to unlikable characters and twists that can be seen a mile out. Ultimately it's a nasty little tale about greed and willful cluelessness, The Wolf of Wall Street without the gripping relevance. Gold runs 121 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout and some sexuality/nudity."

 

Gold is a dull, disappointing movie with little to recommend it. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Gold gets four.

 

Fangirl points: An Iron Maiden t-shirt is pretty prominent in one important scene. This is not a drill: an Iron Maiden t-shirt is in the movie!

 

The final installment on the weekend's busy schedule: Oscar hopeful Lion.

 

A young man who was lost as a child in India, then adopted by an Australian couple, searches for his birth family.

 

Lion is a moving true story of love and, if we're being honest, not a little good fortune. The film points out that over 80,000 children go missing in India each year, but this is a story about one of the lucky ones. Lost and miles from home, Saroo faces many threats to his well-being before being adopted by a childless, loving Australian couple. The setup drags on too long, and, for my money, the film would have been better served if it were trimmed a bit and/or spent more time on the young man's search for his birth family and less on the travails of his younger self. Having said that, newcomer Sunny Pawar is delightful and absolutely heartbreaking as the younger Saroo, owning the screen like a seasoned pro. Early scenes of his time on the streets are tense and uncomfortable, but effective. Nicole Kidman and David Wenham are almost too good to be true as the boy's adoptive parents, challenges touched on but mostly airbrushed like an unfortunate wrinkle before botox. (Sorry, Nicole.) As grownup Saroo delves ever more deeply into his search, Dev Patel is brilliant; eager and terrified, desperate for information, but hiding his intent from even those who might be able to help. It's a testament to the power of this story that, in an age where everyone seems to have forgotten how to behave appropriately at the cinema, there was nary a peep from my audience for the duration.

 

Lion clocks in at 118 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic material and some sensuality."

 

Lion is a sobering but uplifting tale of love and luck. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Lion gets seven.

 

Fangirl Points: Did I mention David Wenham??

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: SPLIT

An outing takes a sinister turn for three teenage friends (Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jessica Sula) when they are kidnapped by a ruthless stranger (James McAvoy) and imprisoned in his basement. They soon learn that their captor has multiple-personality disorder, forcing them to plot their escape without ever knowing which of his 23 personas -- young or old, male or female, benign or monstrous -- they will confront on the way out. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. ~ Violet LeVoit, Rovi

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Cast: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Haley Lu Richardson, Brad William Henke, 

Sebastian Arcelus

Release Date: Jan 20, 2017

Rated PG-13 for Some Language, Disturbing Thematic Content, Disturbing Behavior and Violence

Runtime: 1 hr. 57 min.

Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

M. Night Shyamalan hasn’t made a good movie in a long long while.  I’ve personally found him to be one of the most frustrating and annoying directors in recent memory.  Typically his films have an interesting premise but he can’t help but show us exactly how clever he thinks he is.  Spilt suffers from similar issues.  Shyamalan is helped greatly by some stellar performances from James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy.  McAvoy is fully committed to the role and its fun watching him switch through personalities with incredible ease.  McAvoy’s role is the center piece but Anya Taylor-Joy is nearly as impressive in a more subtle role.  Taylor-Joy continues to impress after her star making turn in last years The Witch.  She displays some impressive talent that bodes well for her in the future.  Sadly, both performances can’t save a messily made child abuse allegory.  In a better filmmaker’s hand, this could have been a special film that could have really taken advantage of the strong performances.  Instead Shyamalan delivers a heavy handed child abuse parable all the while sexualizing his young stars with some outright creepy shots and plot devices.  Like every M. Night Shyamalan there’s a twist and a pointless cameo by the director.  The twist is entirely inorganic and comes entirely out of left field, its sole purpose is to remind audiences that Shyamalan made decent films a long time ago.

C