Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Godzilla: King of the Monsters & Rocketman

Yesterday I abandoned my coworkers, turned my back on the best weather day of the budding summer, and hid inside a dark cinema with a monster monarch and pop music king.

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

First on my agenda, Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

With Earth threatened by Titans and eco-terrorists, it's the King of the Monsters himself to the rescue.What I expect from a Godzilla movie, first and foremost, is for the monsters to be huge and impressive. Godzilla: King of the Monsters delivers that in spades, and I didn't even see it on the biggest/best screen at my cinema. I can only imagine how spectacular it looks in IMAX! The CGI sleek and effective, and the light effects on various creatures add some punch to a movie that, overall, is rather dark and sometimes hard to see. The disaster and even weather effects are also a sight to behold. A cast that boasts names like Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, and Ken Watanabe might ordinarily be relied upon to elevate a movie beyond "just a monster movie," but, unfortunately, this monster movie is the equivalent of cement shoes on its actors. I was a little embarrassed to watch such quality talent utter this poorly-crafted dialogue, and I groaned out loud more than once at putrid attempts at humor. That aside, Bear McCreary's score smacks of old-school Godzilla pictures, and solid wall-to-wall action makes for a fast-moving couple hours of summer escapism.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters runs 131 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of monster action, violence, and destruction, and for some language."

It's not the best Godzilla movie ever, but King of the Monsters certainly isn't the worst. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Godzilla: King of the Monsters gets six.

Next on the docket, a movie for which it feels like I've been waiting forever: Rocketman, a musical fantasy based on the life of Elton John.

Dearest reader(s), I am utterly in love with Rocketman. I want to talk about this movie. I want to talk about this movie a LOT. If you don't care to dive right into the thousand words that will undoubtedly follow, just get off the couch, put away the laptop, and get out to the cinema now. Do it. If you *do* want to dive right into my thoughts on Rocketman, well, here ya go...

The first words I said to anyone about Rocketman were: "That's not just the best movie I've seen this year; that's the best movie I've seen in ten years." While it'd take a bit more careful consideration to see how close that statement is to actual fact (it's only been nine years since two new entries, The Social Network and How to Train Your Dragon, jumped into my all-time top ten), I'll stand by the enthusiasm. Rocketman is a truly extraordinary cinematic achievement.

Rocketman is staged like a Broadway musical, with John recounting his childhood, rise to fame, and difficulties with addictions and relationships through musical numbers. The film moves deftly from heartbreak to passion to euphoria without ever feeling disjointed or like it's lost its way. Though the real strength of the musical numbers lies in John's timeless tunes, the staging bursts with fantastic choreography and brilliant costumes. John's story is fascinating enough in its own right, but here it's brought to life with a theatrical flair reminiscent of Bob Fosse's brilliant biopic All That Jazz, another of my all-time top-ten movies, which I was disappointed to discover recently is not available for rental or streaming...if I want to watch it, I have to dig out my old DVD. How very 1998!

Rocketman features top-notch work from a delightful cast. Taron Egerton gives up every inch of himself to *become* Elton John, and if I had the whole of the Internet I couldn't say enough about his performance. Masterful, exceptional, and entirely expected of Egerton, who is unfailingly extraordinary. He does his own singing here, too, in case anyone was wondering. If Egerton perfectly captures the cacophony of Elton John, Jamie Bell's stalwart Bernie Taupin serves as the movie's quiet cornerstone. Bell has been turning in brilliant performances literally since he was a child, and this one moved me to tears more than once. The remainder of the cast, particularly Richard Madden as John's sexy, sleazy first love and manager John Reid, fantastically fleshes out the highs and lows and brights and darks of John's world, nary a weak link to be found among them; even the young kids are terrific.

Following so quickly on the heels of the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, comparisons are inevitable, so, for whatever it's worth, here's how the two films stack up for me. Throwing no shade at Bohemian Rhapsody, which I loved, Rocketman is a much better film. The most objective and therefore critically relevant reason is simple: It's just more self-aware. Bohemian Rhapsody wanted so very badly to be taken seriously, and ultimately it succeeded, but for my money it skimmed too lightly over the dark times and hard questions to earn it. Rocketman was only ever billed as a fantasy, so, though it's based on some real-life people and happenings--and not all happy ones--it could always be whatever it wanted...and it is EVERYTHING. More subjectively, though I'm a big fan of Rami Malek, I've always believed Taron Egerton could do anything, and in each and every project he proves me right. Malek was terrific as Freddie Mercury, but Egerton inhabits Elton John in a way I've seldom seen, not even from the most experienced and decorated performers. Finally, Queen made some epic, legendary music and I love all of it, but it's never moved me in the way Elton John's music does, and that's allowing for the fact that my favorite Elton John songs--Madman Across the Water and Funeral for a Friend/Love lies Bleeding--are unrepresented in this picture. So...if you're going to make the comparison, for me it's not a hard call: Rocketman is a better movie than Bohemian Rhapsody by far and in every way.

Rocketman clocks in at 121 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout, some drug use, and sexual content."

Rocketman will break your heart and mend your soul. I haven't stopped smiling since I saw it, and I can't wait to see it again. There aren't nearly enough Weasleys to give this movie the rating it deserves, so I'm just going to beg you: GET OUT AND SEE ROCKETMAN NOW!

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: BOOKSMART

Academic overachievers Amy and Molly thought keeping their noses to the grindstone gave them a leg up on their high school peers. But on the eve of graduation, the best friends suddenly realize that they may have missed out on the special moments of their teenage years. Determined to make up for lost time, the girls decide to cram four years of not-to-be missed fun into one night -- a chaotic adventure that no amount of book smarts could prepare them for.

Director: Olivia Wilde

Cast: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Will Forte, Lisa Kudrow, Jason Sudeikis

Release Date: May 24, 2019

Genres: Comedy

Rated R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking - all involving teens

Runtime: 1h 42min

Review:

Booksmart can easily be written off as a female version of Superbad but it’s actually much more than just that.  Oliva Wilde directorial debut is a smart and funny even if feels familiar.  The coming of age story is well worn and it can be difficult to bring something new to the table.  Wilde brings a nice bit of visual flair along with likable characters.  The central duo of Kaitlyn Dever & Beanie Feldstein share great chemistry and strong comedic timing.  The supporting cast is made up of a steady stream of familiar faces who all make the film better though I do wish we’d gotten a bit more of Jason Sudeikis.  Billie Lourde does stand out as a recurring character that’s constantly everywhere.  Overall, the story has a strong sense of inclusiveness and heart at its center adding depth to the raunchy romp.  It’s likely to join the list of the great coming of age movies much like Superbad.

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: BRIGHTBURN

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.

Director: David Yarovesky

Cast: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones, Meredith Hagner

Release Date: May 24, 2019

Rated R for horror violence/bloody images, and language.

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi

Review:

Brightburn feels like a “what if” issue of a comic book series.  David Yarevesky plays up the Superman motif at multiple points during his gory superhero/horror hybrid.  Jackson A. Dunn fills the creepy kid well with Elizabeth Banks and David Denman doing strong work as his adoptive parents.  The conceit is solid but even as the film moves into darker territory you get the feeling that they don’t quite get the most out of the idea.  The film isn’t really scary per say, just gory in parts, even though Yarovesky does set up some genuinely tense sequences.  Sadly, there’s not a ton of surprise in store and most everything plays out exactly like you think it would.  The finale does hint at the possibility of a sequel which could be interesting in its own right depending how they decide to play the story.  As an origin story, it’s solid if slightly uninspired.  

B

MOVIE REVIEW: JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM

After gunning down a member of the High Table -- the shadowy international assassin's guild -- legendary hit man John Wick finds himself stripped of the organization's protective services. Now stuck with a $14 million bounty on his head, Wick must fight his way through the streets of New York as he becomes the target of the world's most ruthless killers.

Director: Chad Stahelski

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, Lance Reddick, Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane

Release Date: May 17, 2019

Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller

Rated R for pervasive strong violence, and some language

Runtime: 2 h 10min

Review:

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum somehow finds a way to up the ante on the action franchise.  It’s dance like choreography of the action sequences are truly something to behold.  Here director Chad Stahelski delivers a bevy of action set pieces that are just as jaw dropping and as they are audacious.  It’s a cornucopia of variety as well which keeps the sequences from becoming stale or repetitive.  Keanu Reeves is at the center of the whole thing of course and in his usual Reeves way he moves the film along even with the barebones plot.  The plot itself is strangely complicated and simplistic at the same time.  The story does open up the world and mythology but rarely gets bogged down too much keeping the focus on the action that everyone has come to expect from the franchise.  If there is a slight issue, it’s that this entry seems slightly more tongue in cheek than the previous entries.  The villain is an interesting take which may or may not work depending on how serious you prefer your big bad.  Ultimately, it’s not a major miscalculation because the film as a whole is just a load of mindless fun.  The visuals and choreography are the stuff of popcorn fueled dreams.  The door is left open for another sequel which would have a high mile marker to surpass.    

A-

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of We Have Always Lived in the Castle & John Wick, Chapter 3: Parabellum

This weekend offered a home/cinema split double-bill of We Have Always Lived in the Castle and John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum.

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

First on my agenda, a Friday-night home screening of We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

The reclusive life of two sisters and their uncle is disrupted when a mysterious cousin turns up on their doorstep.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is an atmospheric thriller that should be properly creepy but, sadly, it's just rather dull. The story crawls along at a snail's pace, sabotaging any hope of achieving a menacing tone, and dropping its big reveal like an Acme anvil on Wile E. Coyote's head. There are some nice performances from Taissa Farmiga, Alexandra Daddario, Crispin Glover, and especially Sebastian Stan, and the film looks absolutely stunning, but that can't save it from being a bore.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle runs 90 minutes and is unrated. (The movie features adult themes and some violence.)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a thriller that's just not very thrilling. Of a possible nine Weasleys, We Have Always Lived in the Castle gets three.

Fangirl points: Sebastian, darling, please stop making crap movies.

Next up, John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum. Having been "excommunicated" for violating the sanctity of the Continental, John Wick finds himself on the run for his life, minus his support network.

When it comes to entertainment, a project being self-aware and being more than it has to be can be mutually-exclusive. Under normal circumstances, the best you can hope for is one or the other, but the John Wick franchise somehow manages to be both.

On the surface, John Wick is your garden-variety action series with a one-note lead, and you know what? It absolutely knows it's that. It is not pretentious in any way. It lets Keanu Reeves be Keanu Reeves. More than that, it absolutely *needs* Keanu Reeves to be Keanu Reeves. BUT...these films also boast some of the most exquisite production values you'll see on a big screen, masterful fight choreography, and crafty turns that almost never fail to surprise.

After taking out an enemy on the sacred ground of the Continental in Chapter 2, Chapter 3 finds John Wick in mortal peril and minus the network that, in the past, has provided his weapons, gadgets, intel, and safe haven. Amidst almost non-stop action, he finds exotic locales and new allies and adversaries in familiar faces such as Halle Berry and Jerome Flynn. Reeves is genuinely fantastic in the lead, perhaps not the best actor in the world, but the ONLY actor for this role. The movie finds its dry wit mostly in his deadpan reactions to extraordinary circumstances, and it always fits like a key in a lock, never forced or out of place. Parabellum maintains a terrific air of tension from beginning to end, though, if I have one small quibble this time around it's that some of the fight scenes do drag on a bit. They are beautifully and uniquely choreographed, but, with the movie running well clear of two hours, a trim here and there might have done it a favor. However, it's a very small complaint with a picture that otherwise is clever, engaging, and utterly glorious to behold.

John Wick, Chapter 3: Parabellum clocks in at 130 minutes and is rated R for "pervasive strong violence and some language."

Parabellum is another strong installment in a series that I truly hope goes on forever.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, John Wick, Chapter 3: Parabellum gets all nine.

Fangirl points: Ian McShane! Until next time...

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Tolkien & Pokemon: Detective Pikachu

This weekend it was off to the cinema for the disparate duo of Tolkien and Pokemon: Detective Pikachu.

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

First up: Tolkien, chronicling the early years of one of the world's most celebrated and beloved authors. Regular reader(s) will know I make a point of not reading reviews until I write my own, but headlines I've seen in passing tell me most folks, including the Tolkien family themselves, don't like this movie.

Since the Tolkien family isn't noted for liking much of anything, I suggest putting that aside and giving the picture a fair shake. It's really not bad at all.

First we have a likable cast, fronted by Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins. The material won't win anyone an Oscar, but the performances are quite enjoyable. There are plenty of nods to the things Tolkien fans will want to see...Balrogs and Nazgul and of course very powerful rings. These come mostly in the form of Tolkien's fevered battlefield imagination. Other influences come from Tolkien's real world, most obviously three close friendships formed in his school days. The references aren't exactly subtle, but the movie doesn't constantly beat you over the head with them either. Tolkien does not follow a linear timeline, but rather jumps back and forth between the author's school days to his World War II experiences and beyond. (It's worth noting that some of the war sequences do get a bit gruesome.) The film's meandering pace makes two hours seem a bit long, but it's an engaging enough story that it never lost my attention.

Tolkien clocks in at 112 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some sequences of war violence." If Tolkien isn't an especially memorable movie, it's a serviceable biopic that won't bore you, either. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Tolkien gets six.

Next on the docket, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu.

After his detective father is killed in an apparent accident, a young man happens upon the father's Pokemon partner and a mystery involving the two.

If Pokemon: Detective Pikachu were the worst movie ever, it would have every right.

The concept feels pretty thin, and little--if anything--I've seen at the cinema lately has been as jarring as Deadpool's voice coming out of that adorable little Pokemon. Curiously, though, each trailer got funnier and funnier, and, as it turns out, the finished product isn't half bad.

Let's start with Ryan Reynolds. Yeah...that voice probably still wouldn't be what I imagine for Pikachu, but this version of Pikachu is all Reynolds, and it's pretty hilarious. Justice Smith capably plays the straight man to Reynolds' wisecracking yellow cutie. Ryme City is loud and colorful and looks every bit the sort of bustling, progressive burgh where humans and Pokemon would live and work side by side. Action sequences are well choreographed and don't run on too long. The movie is great for kids, but there's a fair bit of grownup humor to entertain adults as well. Pokemon: Detective Pikachu runs 104 minutes and is rated PG for "action/peril, some rude and suggestive humor, and thematic elements."

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is a fun movie that's a lot better than it should be.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu gets six and a half.

Until next time...