Cindy Prascik's Review of The Mummy

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the opening act in Universal's new Dark Universe, The Mummy.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you haven't seen already in trailers and advertising.

 

Tom Cruise unleashes an ancient curse...on his box office, apparently.

 

Well, friends, by now I'm sure you've heard that The Mummy is terrible. A Facebook friend and fellow movie reviewer--not generally one who just parrots the opinions of "real" critics--called it the worst movie he'd ever seen, and many headlines have proclaimed it, at the very least, the worst picture Tom Cruise has ever made. I'm here to argue that, while the Mummy is not Oscar material, nor is it rocket science, it is a perfectly passable way to spend a couple hours at the cinema.

 

It goes without saying The Mummy's chief positive is Cruise, who always seems to be having the time of his life, no matter how good or bad the project. His character is nothing new, a morally ambiguous rogue pressganged into heroics by circumstance, but Cruise is so delightful it matters not how many times you've seen it before. The Mummy's leading ladies, Annabelle Wallis and Sofia Boutella, are solid enough as cookie-cutter characters, but it's Russell Crowe who steals the show in...erm...let's just say a "dual" role. The Mummy boasts decent effects, fun action sequences, a few nice jump scares, and it's quite amusing when it wants to be. It's also smart enough not to wear out its welcome. While The Mummy is certainly no unforgettable piece of cinematic brilliance, it does a fine job kicking off Universal's new Dark Universe, and I look forward to watching that play out (though I do wish it still included Luke Evans. *sigh*).

 

The Mummy clocks in at 110 minutes, and is rated PG13 for "violence, action and scary images, and some suggestive content and partial nudity."

 

If you're especially skittish about spiders or rats, or so deeply in love with Brendan Fraser you simply can't abide the prospect of this reimagining, maybe take a pass on The Mummy; otherwise, if you're in the market for some fun summer brain candy, you'll likely find it a good time...and suffice to say reports of Tom Cruise's career demise have been greatly exaggerated. Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Mummy gets six.

 

Until next time... 

 

MOVIE REVIEW: IT COMES AT NIGHT

A married couple (Joel Edgerton and Carmen Ejogo) and their teenage son (Kelvin Harrison) isolate themselves from the rest of humanity when a mysterious plague throws civilization into chaos, but their secluded existence is threatened when a young family seek shelter with them. Christopher Abbott and Riley Keough co-star. Written and directed by Trey Edward Shults (Trey Edward Shults). ~ Jack Rodgers, Rovi

Director: Trey Edward Shults

Cast: Joel Edgerton, Riley Keough, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo

Release Date: Jun 09, 2017

 
Rated R for Disturbing Images, Violence and Language

Runtime: 1 hr. 37 min.

Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Trey Edward Shults second film, It Comes at Night is being sold as a straight forward horror film which doesn’t do it any favors.  It Comes at Night is a claustrophobic paranoia themed thriller in post apocalyptic window dressing.  It’s a fantastically crafted film that just reeks of talent throughout.  Shults clearly has some talent behind the lens which is aided by some wonderful cinematography which echoes Stanley Kubrick.  It’s the very definition of a slow burn and the cast is utterly committed with each giving understated but strong performances.  Unfortunately, the story seems a tad bit undercooked.  It’s meditation on tragedy and paranoia are simplistic to say the least.  Its story is light on answers and those looking for any sort of a payoff or resolution will be let frustrated.  Perhaps it’s the point or just exemplification of Shults worldview.   Even though it’s not a film that people will be clamoring to revisit, its sparse runtime seems longer than it is, it’s a fine showcase for an impressive directorial talent. 

B-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Wonder Woman

Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas to see Wonder Woman...with a side of Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

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

 

If your world (or your franchise) needs saving...ask a woman.

 

Regular reader(s) will know I generally don't read reviews until I've written mine, though of course I've seen headlines, most of which run along the lines of "DC Finally Gets It Right!" I'm of the rare opinion that DC always gets it right (yes, even Green Lantern!), so, if this review seems somewhat less gushing than most, it's only because the awesomeness was entirely expected.

 

Beginning with the obvious, our Wonder Woman is, indeed, a wonder. Strong and stunning, charming and smart, Gal Gadot carries this picture like it's old hat; she is perfect in every way. And how about Chris Pine?? I mean, if you're only catching onto the fact that he's more than just blue eyes and a dreamy smile, well...shame on you!! He's always great, but this might be his finest performance yet. The supporting cast is extremely solid, although...does Danny Huston play Nazis weirdly often, or does he just look like someone who does? How great to see Robin Wright in a badass role like this! As Wonder Woman's super support team, Said Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner (yay!), and Eugene Brave Rock are the picture's unsung heroes, thoroughly engaging. I'm not a huge fan of all the super-slo-mo, but otherwise Wonder Woman's action sequences are well choreographed and don't run on too much. Thanks to spot-on humor, the movie never feels too dark, despite the high stakes, and I think we can all agree Wonder Woman has the coolest theme of any superhero! If I had one small complaint outside the overuse of slow-motion, it's that the movie definitely would have benefited from at least a small trim. It also feels a bit preachy at times, a side effect of its resolutely hopeful tone. 

 

Wonder Woman clocks in at 141 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content."

 

Wonder Woman (movie) often debates whether humanity deserves Wonder Woman (hero). I guess we probably don't, but I'm sure glad we got her anyway. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Wonder Woman gets eight.

 

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: WONDER WOMAN

An Amazon princess (Gal Gadot) finds her idyllic life on an island occupied only by female warriors interrupted when a pilot (Chris Pine) crash-lands nearby. After rescuing him, she learns that World War I is engulfing the planet, and vows to use her superpowers to restore peace. Directed by Patty Jenkins (Patty Jenkins). ~ Violet LeVoit, Rovi

Director: Patty Jenkins

Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, David Thewlis

Release Date: Jun 02, 2017

Rated: Rated pg-13 Some Suggestive Content, Sequences of Violence and Action

Runtime: 2 hr. 21 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review:

I’ll start off by saying that I’m terribly biased when it comes to Wonder Woman thanks to reruns of Lynda Carter’s iteration from the 70’s which led to a lifelong fandom.  Wonder Woman has always been my favorite superhero and I’ve actually read a handful of comics and watched endless amounts of Bruce Timm produced animation.  Needless to say, I can understand why it’s so difficult to nail the character.  Patty Jenkins and Batman vs. Superman scene stealer Gal Gadot had a large task in front of them.  Thankfully they nailed it.  Wonder Woman’s first foray onto the big screen is a rousing success.  Patty Jenkins layers the film with a handful of themes but they are done subtly and organically throughout.  Most importantly, it’ll all feel right for long time fans of the character.  Wonder Woman is a tough blend since she’s a warrior but also incredibly compassionate and caring.  Gal Gadot is able convey all of this with relative ease throughout, all the while showing off glimpses of some fine comedic talent.  

Gadot has a magnetic energy about her that’s just incredibly infectious.  Moving the film’s setting to World War 1 is an incredibly smart move since it gives us and Gadot a chance to show off an innocence in Diana’s character as she explores man’s world for the first time.  Chris Pine comes off as a pleasant surprise, in what is easily my favorite performance from him.  Pine and Gadot have an undeniable and realistic chemistry that’s as playful as it’s heartfelt.  Once the action moves into the battlefield, Jenkins and her cast show off an excellent handle on how to do action sequences properly.  There are 2 sequences that are sure to give longtime fans goosebumps.  If there is a minor complaint, it’s a tab bit of overuse of slow mo.  The sequences would have been better served if they’d held back on that just a tad.  Some of the minor drawbacks are the villains, Danny Huston’s character is about as one note as they come and Dr. Maru aka Dr. Poison comes a bit too cartoony for my taste.  Additionally, the third act does fall into the big battle trope most superhero films use.  A tad bit of trimming could have helped it since it overstays its welcome by a few minutes.  Regardless, when the film is done you can’t help but be impressed by how fun, emotionally layered and loving crafted Wonder Woman is by all those involved.

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES

Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar (Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea…including him. Captain Jack’s only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas.

Director: Espen Sandberg, Joachim Rønning

Cast: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Orlando Bloom, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario

Release Date: May 26, 2017

Rated: PG-13 for Some Suggestive Content and Adventure Violence

Runtime: 2 hr. 9 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, the 5^th entry in the series, is a fun bit of filmmaking but directors Espen Sandberg, Joachim Rønning can’t shake the feeling of familiarity.  A villain with a grud, a treasure and Jack Sparrow make for a decent enough time at the movies but this fifth installment never seems to find its sea legs.  With Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightly sitting this entry out, for the most part, Johnny Depp is left with some unmagnetic replacements.  Neither Brenton Thwaites or Kaya Scodelario, who looks like a young Rebecca Hall, are interesting enough to make you care about them.  Javier Bardem is good fun as the villain in the piece even if the film doesn’t seem to know how to utilize him best.  The plot is straightforward enough to keep wandering minds entertained but once it’s all said and done, I doubt anyone will give it a second thought.

B-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Dearest Blog: Yesterday (and the day before), it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the latest installment in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing of consequence that hasn't been revealed already by trailers and advertising.

 

Further misadventures ensue when Captain Jack Sparrow is enlisted for another magical mission.

 

Dear reader(s), so we're clear from the outset: The POTC franchise is my Bond, my Star Wars, my Avengers...all rolled into one. It's where Jack's compass would point if I held it in my hands. Any review is no more than one person's opinion, but my opinion of a POTC movie will never stray too far from a heart-eyes emoji and a bunch of exclamation points.

 

You may have heard that Dead Men Tell No Tales harkens back to the original POTC, the Curse of the Black Pearl, and in many ways this is true. Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) and Carina Smith (Kaya Scodelario) are a poor man's Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann on a parental quest; Thwaites even looks like a young Orlando Bloom at times. As a devoted fan of Johnny Depp, lately I've wished he'd steer clear of the "quirky guy in a funny hat" roles, but I'm powerless to resist Captain Jack. He lights up the screen like no one else can, and, if he can never duplicate that element of surprise that came with the first outing, it's clear he is an icon, still much loved by movie-goers...much like the POTC films themselves. Javier Bardem's Captain Salazar is the stuff of nightmares, and his ghost crew represents some of the most interesting CGI I've seen in many a moon, tops in a picture that's filled with plenty of huge, masterful effects. (Two words: ghost sharks.) Dead Men Tell No Tales continues the franchise's history of hilariously clever action sequences (another brush with the executioner is a highlight), and the movie keeps its secrets well enough for some nice reveals. Geoff Zanelli gets credit for POTC5's rousing score, though it features plenty of callbacks to Klaus Badelt's stunning Curse of the Black Pearl soundtrack, and one very special Will Turner cue from Hans Zimmer's work on At World's End. Fans of the franchise will be delighted to see such familiar old faces as Mr. Gibbs (Kevin McNally), Marty (Martin Klebba), Murtogg (Giles New), Mullroy (Agnes Barnett), and of course Captain Barbossa (the brilliant Geoffrey Rush). At this writing, I've seen POTC5 twice in 2D and once in 3D, and the only appreciable benefit to the 3D is that it lightens up some too-dark scenes; otherwise it’s not worth the upcharge and glasses headache. The movie is exciting enough that it doesn't seem overlong, but it does slow down juuuuust enough in the middle that a little trim might have been to its benefit. Finally, though this installment has been billed as "the final adventure," it clearly means "final adventure" in the same way the Rolling Stones mean "farewell tour." Dead Men Tell No Tales doesn't just leave a door open for more POTC movies; a great post-credits scene practically promises them.

 

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales runs 129 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of adventure violence and some suggestive content."

 

POTC5 is is a rollicking adventure filled with fun characters, terrific effects, and plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, perfect for the first holiday weekend of summer blockbuster season. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales gets all nine.

 

Fangirl points: All of it really, but how about those Middle Earth connections, David Wenham (Faramir) and Adam Brown (Ori), and of course...Sir Paul McCartney!!

 

Until next time...