Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted anything to this site. It's also been a while since I've seen a lot of movies. For some reason, I haven't really been in the mood, lately, but I've finally pulled together a collection of things I've seen so far this year. Some are new, some are old, and some are just plain weird!
Now here's a movie that probably doesn't need a review. If you weren't already excited at the title alone, this movie probably isn't for you. However, it does represent the culmination of Legendary's own little Kaijuverse, having made three films as set up in anticipation of this one. While it is a fairly solid roller-coaster-ride of a movie, they don't really stick the Avengers-style landing.
The main problem is that they spend a good amount of time setting up some details that honestly the movie didn't need. There's a subplot about a corporation doing bad things that gets explored with some pretty uninteresting characters. Largely I think it could have been told in a more hand-wavy manner to make more room for the big monsters.
Still, the action is pretty solid, as the monsters tear all kinds of things apart in their battles against each other. There's one out at sea that's pretty solid, but the one in a big city feels a little lifeless a times. The story is predictable, but fortunately doesn't seem to care. However, when you get to the big ending, the way a final problem gets resolves is very facepalm worthy. The ending also felt a bit rushed, once the action was over.
In short, it was fun, but could have been better, especially considering that the previous film King of the Monsters was a lot more enjoyable. As for potential sequels, they did open up another world of possibilities for King Kong, but I think the rights for Godzilla expire after this one, so it remains to be seen if Legendary will make more with that monster.
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I've been hearing about this movie for quite a while, but I didn't get to it until just now. A very slow-burning, well-paced spy thriller that's much more of a mystery than the action chops of something like Jason Bourne or James Bond. While I knew Gary Oldman was the lead character, I wasn't expecting such a great cast! Everyone from Benedict Cumberbatch to Colin Firth to John Hunt to Mark Strong to Tom Hardy is in this (among others) and they all do a great job.
I also think it was very well shot. Instead of some shaky cam nonsense or over-the-top hyper editing, we see a lot of long, wide shots that let the actors move about their spaces and interact with each other in a very convincing way. It also allows for a lot of the subtleties of the actors stand out as they give their subdued performances. Oldman in particular seems almost stonefaced through the whole thing, but betrays just enough character and emotion to show that there's a lot going on underneath the surface.
That being said, I do think there a few scenes that seem out of place, and the ending seemed to fall together rather than feel like a grand reveal. Perhaps I may have missed some things, as there was a lot to keep track of, but it could also just be the consequence of having to streamline parts in the name of adaptation. Still, it was a very enjoyable watch, with a lot of attention to detail and tone, and really shows the intrigue and information-y side of spy-thrillers that we don't get too often these days.
As I was going over the movies coming out this year, I saw this title in the midst of the rest and was curious. When I learned that it would be an adaptation of the classic Arthurian legend, I was more interested. It's not like we have a whole lot of classic medieval epics these days, so I figured this would be worth checking out. I saw the trailers and was all set for a unique fantasy adventure, but when I finally saw the film, "unique" was the only word that remained.
That's not to say this movie is bad, or that it isn't what was advertised, necessarily, but it has a very slow pacing and deliberate sense of tone that makes it feel more like 2001: A Space Odyssey, or even like Ad Astra from two years ago. Instead of a heroic knight off to prove his worth and honor, we get more of a character study about a mess of a young man who seeks knighthood but isn't really willing to embody its virtues. As a result, the quest features him stumbling through the woods, dealing with robbers, ghosts, and foxes, before getting to the castle where his final temptations happen. While all the pieces of the original story are there (with a few curious additions), the interpretation is much more symbolic, surreal, and psychological.
The cinematography is also worth noting. We often have wide shots with long pans, mostly featuring wilderness and forests. However, I was impressed with how they were able to feel what was likely just some nice part of Ireland feel like an alienating fantasy realm, where anything could jump out and kill you. Overall, I had to give this movie quite a bit of thought afterward, but I eventually decided that it was actually pretty decent. This movie is definitely not a mass-market crowd pleaser, but if you're in the mood for something more serious and more subtle and more artful, you'll probably find a lot to appreciate.
I was at my parents' house recently, and we felt like watching a movie, so I recommended this one. I had seen it and thought it was fun, but it had been over 10 years, so I didn't remember much more. My family had been fans of the original films from the 70s, but hadn't seen this remake so they were on board. Rewatching it again largely confirmed what I remembered: a fun little family friendly sci-fi action film.
The story is pretty straight forward: a Vegas cab driver suddenly picks up two alien teenagers and gets wrapped up in their quest to find an artifact left behind by their parents in order to prevent an intergalactic war. Conveniently, there also happens to be a sci-fi convention in town, ensuring there will be a few "experts" helping them out. It's a pretty fun romp, with good pacing and a few solid gags to balance out the chase scenes (of which there are many).
The casting is solid, if not quite amazing. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has a pretty good time as the cab driver with a rough past, but this was towards the beginning of his acting career, so he's a little leaner, and doesn't have quite as much presence on screen as his later appearances. However, this is fine as it allows the rest of the cast to shine a little, in particular the two teenage actors playing the aliens, who both find a good mix of earnest and yet disconnected from Earth culture.
Surprisingly, the special effects have held up pretty well, but perhaps it easy to be lenient on a film that's not afraid to be a little cheesy for the sake of B-movie antics. The only real problems I think the movie has is that the villains are kind of forgettable (they're some pretty obvious stock types) and the plot and characterizations are definitely on thin side. Still, I think this is something of an overlooked gem, and worth a look when you want something fun to watch. Easily recommendable.
I don't know if I have any major plans for articles here for the rest of the year. I don't even know if I'll have a 2021 wrap up (though there are a number of films I want to see at the end of this year). We'll have to wait and see. I've been dealing with some health issues (dang smoke), but I'm surviving for now. Hopefully, you're all staying safe.