So, Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland create this particular animated series, that gets quite famous.
They need a ridicolous amount of time writing new episodes despite a 70 episode deal they got at one point and I am sure they will never be able to deliver upon just by how much time they need for ten episodes. Then Justin has the "idea" of doing his own animated series that's copying Rick and Morty basically, just without Rick and Morty and without multiverse? Timeline is important here, Wikipedia says, the series was shelved but not for how long.
The art style is the exact same, the randomness and over the top stories are the same, several voices are the same, all that this is lacking is good writing. Solar Opposites, funny name considering the not so much "opposites", is airing on another network. In other words going into competition to R&M. Is this a very elaborate prank from DH and/or JR, even though DH isn't mentioned? Or does Justin want to piss of DH? How's this even legal from a business standpoint?
SO does scratch the R&M itch. But it's nowhere near the greatness of R&M. SO doesn't try as hard, though.
There's almost no continuity. The stories of the main characters are so random, as random as any interdimensional cable episode, there's no point in watching. You could watch any episode in any order you wish, without losing or missing anything regarding the main characters. That makes this series incredibly boring for me personally.
The most interesting subplot, with actual continuity so far that needs a certain episode order, is "The Wall". That part is the best part of this whole season 1 and really a good idea with actual fun, consistent characters. If Cherie survives for revenge in S2 it would make me gladly come back. Other than that I don't particularly care for this to get a second season.
If JR wants to do R&M, he should focus on R&M and push Harmon (and all the other writers) to do more, instead of half-assing his own stuff. Other than that I simply fail to understand why this exists other than to leech off of the success of R&M. Creating an instance of "you like R&M? You must like this, too. It's from one of the creators". But no. I do not like this. I don't hate it, but I certainly do not like it. Would this not rely on so many similarities or be a direct and open spin-off I wouldn't mind, though.
Kristen Schaal should have been cast as the voice of Jesse as well. Mary Mack sounds way too much like her and Schaal's voice would fit that character very well.
Season 2 edit:
Season 2, which is more like S1 Pt 2, has improved on a lot of the early issues.
It's still very episodic without consequences but the stories and the chaotic energy of Roiland seem to fit and work a lot better in these 8 episodes. Korvo, the most unlikable of the aliens, tones down his Jerry-ness by not being constantly obnoxious. Glad they do go forward with evolving Pupa and the Wall substory was - again - the best part of these episodes with S02E07 the best episode of this show so far. Absolutely great how that turned out. Going to bump this from a 4 to 5. First 8 episodes are meh at best (excluding anything Wall related, those parts are a 7 at worst and 9 at best), later 8 episodes are okay and overal more entertaining.
If you don't believe in Santa after watching this movie, you're just "denying your inner child."
This is my favourite Christmas film of all time. I used to watch this constantly as a kid (no matter what time of year it was!) and I still watch it every year at Christmas. It never fails to give me goosebumps, because it always takes me back to being a child, and it is an incredible reminder that magic really does exist.
I'm also a big fan of Home Improvements, and Tim Allen is equally as hilarious and entertaining here. Not only is he a brilliant comedian, but he really knows how to play those sentimental scenes that tug at your heart-strings.
Eric Lloyd who plays the young boy Charlie is fantastic throughout and can equally play a multitude of moods in a believable way to make the story flow so well.
When I was little, I always found the role of Neil, played by Judge Reinhold quite irritating, because he is too much of a grown up and his lack of understanding childhood is unreal. But now I've grown up, I understand that most adults are as stupid as his character is and so I've began to sympathise with his point of view, even though I entirely disagree with it. I understand he's MEANT to be irritatingly stupid!
Another character who deserves a special mention is Bernard, one of the Elves, played by David Krumholtz. When I was little, I used to colour in a bit of paper with a dark green felt tip pen and stick it on my forehead, so that I could have "hair" that looked like Bernard's. (I'm not sure it did look QUITE like his hair, but it was worth the effort.) I've always had a soft spot for Bernard. Even though his character can be quite bossy at times, he can also be quite endearing at other times. He has a lot of compassion for people who DO believe in magic, but doesn't have any time for people who don't.... A bit like me! And that's why I identify with him the most. Like the rest of the cast, he plays this part so well.
Both the background music and the soundtrack songs help add to the festive feel of this film, and helps bring Christmas and Santa to life. If you STILL don't believe in Kris Kringle after watching this movie, just remember this dialogue from the film:
Charlie: Have you ever seen a million dollars?
Neil: No.
Charlie: Just because you haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
NWA 70th Anniversary Show is a National Wrestling Alliance professional wrestling event that took place on October 21st, 2018. It was held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Featuring an NWA Heavyweight Title rematch between the champion, Cody Rhodes and challenger, Nick Aldis. The NWA Women’s Champion Jazz will be defending her title. And a single night tournament for the vacant NWA National Heavyweight Championship. Commentary was provided by Jim Cornette, Tony Schiavone and lead man, Joe Galli. I am watching the replay copy on FITE TV.
This was the first NWA SuperShow in ten years. It’s a low-budget production so I expected a good deal of sound and camera issues. The NWA didn’t disappoint. A lot of silent promos and audio issues. The camera work was alright but the overall production seemed rushed. The downtime in between matches seemed chaotic and unorganized. There was a random music video for some jabroni wrestler named Ricky Starks that seemed weird and out of place. But, it was funny to see Jim Cornette almost have a coronary over his segment. The Penelope Ford promo was great too. That had a fun production slip-up.
Sammy Guevara vs. Colt Cabana vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Sam Shaw - Four-way elimination match, NWA National Heavyweight Championship Tournament Round 1 (72%)
This was a fantastic bout that could have gone to any competitor. Sammy Guevara looked amazing. He showed off tremendous high-flying skills. Scorpio Sky and Colt Cabana were filler. They had some fun spots, but nothing that counted as serious offence. Sam Shaw had the most to prove and he did it. At some points, it looked like Cabana, Sky and Guevara would gang up on Shaw, but he overcame it.
Barrett Brown vs. The Laredo Kid (75%)
The second match on the card is a fast-paced light-heavyweight bout. The Laredo Kid from AAA looked great. His moonsault plancha to Barrett Brown on the outside looked crisp. Barrett Brown looked good too. Both guys showcased some interesting offence.
Ricky Starks vs. Willie Mack vs. Mike Parrow vs. Jay Bradley - Four-way elimination match, NWA National Heavyweight Championship Tournament Round 1 (68%)
This was the second four-way elimination match of the evening. This one had less star power with Starks, Parrow and Bradley, but it didn’t really matter. It was heavy-hitting. Parrow and Bradley started things off by belting eachother with bricks and putting their strength on display, before Parrow was eliminated by that slimy vermin, Ricky Starks. Bradley wasn’t much outside of that slobberknocker with Parrow. He was quickly dispatched. Then it came down to Willie Mack and Ricky Starks. You knew Starks wasn’t going to make it.
Peter Avalon vs. Tim Storm - Kiss My Foot Match (76%)
If you have been keeping up with the NWA series, 10 Pounds of Gold, then you might be familiar with this feud. “Professional” Peter Avalon stole a victory from Tim Storm on a past episode. Tim Storm “...is built like a brick outhouse,” according to Jim Cornette. He looked great in this WWE style comedy match. Peter Avalon got in some good offence and actually showcased some decent wrestling. But Tim Storm is The Perfect Storm. The after match antics were good. I loved seeing the referee make a decision that if Avalon doesn’t kiss Tim Storm’s foot, then he would have to pay $10,000.
Jazz vs. Penelope Ford - NWA Women’s Title Match (70%)
Woah! Earl Hebner is the referee for this match! Jazz looked badass in her entrance. I loved it. She even had a working pre-match hype video. It made me a fan. Penelope Ford had a boring entrance. But she still looked ready for NXT. This was a hard hitting match that both women looked great in. Jazz was bringing the heat, but Ford had the moves. Seriously impressive gymnastic moves from her. I liked this match so far the most. Then the ending happened. Yikes. Hebs needs to retire. He ruined the whole thing.
Willie Mack vs. Sam Shaw - NWA National Heavyweight Title (79%)
This one was hot right out of the gate. Willie Mack ambushed Sam Shaw during his entrance as revenge for a beatdown that Mack took earlier in the evening. Both guys put on a hell of a match. Sam Shaw is going to go places if he can develop a personality. He was impressive. He beat the hell out of Willie Mack. It looked vicious. He was mean and calculating. While, Willie Mack was high-impact and fleet footed. He looked amazing. It’s crazy to see someone that’s his size, moving like that. He wins the title with a stunner. Great match.
The War Kings (Jax Dane & Crimson) vs. The Kingdom of Josephus (Shannon Moore & Crazzy Steve) (63%)
This is another match that had hijinks setup on 10 Pounds of Gold. Josephus had challenged The War Kings and created a ruse to help debut his new team of Crazzy Steve & Shannon Moore. I was surprised. This turned out ot be an okay match. A few flubs and botches, but nothing major. Jax Dane is a powerhouse. I had always been interested in seeing his matches. I wasn’t that impressed with Crazzy Steve. Shannon Moore did alright. I think The War Kings work well together. I like them being managed by Road Warrior Animal.
Cody vs. Nick Aldis - Two-out-of-Three Falls Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship ()
All of the former NWA World Champions had come out to the ring before the competitors. It was a cool detail, but it was kind of weird to see Jax Dane out there, sweating up the joint. Nick Aldis had an amazing entrance with Kamilla Kaine. The champion, Cody Rhodes, came out to a great pop. I am a big Cody Rhodes mark. The match was average. They went through the usual spots and worked the crowd. Crisp looking moves. Aldis delivered some awesome looking suplexes. Nick Aldis wins the first pinfall and then the action really picks up. The fight moves outside in deep into the crowd. The crowd goes nuts as things get a bit hardcore. The shenanigans pick-up too. It’s unfortunate. The table spot was a bit cool, but the manager interference was not needed. Cody picked up the second fall after that table spot. It looked nasty. Their fight for the third fall was intense.
The night was so much fun. I liked seeing James Ellsworth and legends like Blue Demon Jr., Road Warrior Animal, Magnum T.A., and Dory Funk Jr. Jeff Jarrett’s speech was cringy and the NWA National Title looked horrendous, but the matches were great. Willie Mack is really deserving of the gold. He has been on the independent scene for years. Sam Shaw was really impressive. As was The Laredo Kid and Penelope Ford. The whole damn night was impressive. It was an average show, but it had some great surprises and treats for true wrestling fans.
If you are a fan of the WWE product (RAW, Smackdown, NXT, etc....) then there are a few matches for you. But please forgive the production. I know it’s hard. The silent gaps are weird and awkward. But this show has heart and it carries a lot of weight. The NWA has been on an upswing ever since Billy Corgan bought it. The web series 10 Pounds of Gold started this resurgence. If you aren’t familiar, please do yourself a favor and watch that. It helps develop a storyline that can assist fans in identifying with the competitors. This is a must watch for true wrestling fans.
Where's my breath?!
Things really explode in episode 4. The previous two episodes did feel a lot like a build up to something, and that 'something' is one hell of a detonation.
I'm really liking the storyline of Dex so far, especially when you get extraordinary scenes like the one involving CCTV. The way those deep, cold eyes stared into the camera was unbelievable and sent shivers down my spine. I just can't get over how amazing Vincent D'Onofrio is as Fisk.
I just have to mention the fight scene though. This is, without a doubt, my favourite long take fight scene of the show. It's just pure adrenaline that doesn't seem to end. It's even more realistic than the hallway scene in season 1. The effort and preparation they put into this must be off the Richter scale. Well, it looks like the show's going to pick up another Emmy nod for stuntwork... ...and just when you think your jaw couldn't fall any lower, the episode ends like THAT and proves you wrong, sending your jaw to another world. I guess it's lucky these don't release weekly, because I wouldn't be able to handle the week after this ending.
Seriously impressive stuff; I'm addicted.
Searching is the new thriller directed by Aneesh Chaganty. Widowed father David Kim (John Cho) searches for his missing teenage daughter (Michelle La) with the help of multiple laptops and hard-talking detective Rosemary Vick (Debra Messing). All the action takes place on screens; the mystery unfolds through texts, FaceTime, YouTube and video blogs.
While some may have their doubts about watching what is essentially a filmed set of screens for nearly two hours, this unusual set up soon feels natural. After all, many of us spend a lot more than two hours without looking away from a screen in our daily lives.
The portrayal of familiar online habits on the big screen is cleverly used for comic effect. The constant rewriting of messages and the replacement of the jovial exclamation mark for the famously passive aggressive full stop is fully relatable and funny to watch. Some of the visuals are also arresting because they are taken out of their familiar context. Most notably, David’s screen saver is transformed into an enormous malignant jellyfish when shown without the borders of a laptop.
The clever parallels between the title, Searching, and the extensive use of search engines (particularly Apple’s “Finder”) throughout the film invite us to look at how we use the internet. Google asks us to “Search Google or type URL,” but when the missing object is a person rather than the answer to inane questions, these words take on a much more frightening currency.
Searching maintains a fantastic tension throughout the search for Margot. The contrast of the horror of the situation and recognisable ordinariness of the technological format is extremely effective in unsettling the audience.
The twists are truly chilling. By the end, there are perhaps just too many wrenching turns, which slightly dents the believability of the film. This is the only thing stopping Searching from getting a solid five-star review. It is a wonderfully sharp, brutally tense and inventively shot thriller that shows the blossoming possibilities of technology in film.
This movie is exactly as good as you think it will be.
Remember how you were wondering how they could pull off such an ambitious movie like the Avengers and then they did some how? Well that, but again, and it is still excellent.
(this review gets a little into details, but nothing really spoilery)
When Tony Stark, a man who thinks he is justified to do anything in the name of protection shockingly goes too far and creates Ultron, a murder bot who loves murder. Ultron, who is basically evil Tony, is very quippy. But this being a Whedon flick, everyone seems really quippy (don't worry, it's not as annoying as that sounds).
One of the best things about this movie is the destruction that you see happening in the action scenes. Something about the other Marvel movies never really made the people seem in danger when everything was exploding, but there are people everywhere in these scenes, screaming in horror as the super people punch the murder robots. Many innocent bystanders die in this one. Easy. Some of the other movies just seem too "clean", no sense of danger.
I also really liked the characters in this one. The other Marvel movies always seem like maybe one or two supporting characters from the other movies show up, but this movie has so many people in it. All your favourites!
Also, it had a really great "adventure continues" vibe. This movie starts with Avengers action and ends with Avengers action. There is no more "how they came together" or "this changes the very foundation of the universe". It was an awesome addition to what is now a serial story. More of this and less of origin stories!
So in conclusion, check out this sweet indie Whedon film, you might not have heard of it but it's pretty cool.
I was disappointed at first. Then it blew me away!
Possibly the worst marketing for a tv show ever. In the first season we won't follow a crew's journey to Mars like everyone thought, but we will instead see people preparing to go there. Their struggles, problems and everything in-between. We won't see what we thought we'd see. Because of that, I was disappointed, but one episode later, I saw the real beauty of this show and what makes it (in my eyes) worth watching.
Having binged it in two sittings, I won't deny that this is a slow show or that - at times - not much happens. But what I won't say is, that it's boring. At the core, the story is about the characters and how they're dealing with the fact that they are actually going to Mars. How it affects not only their lives, but also the lifes of and the relationships to their loved ones.. It surely is more drama than sci-fi, but not in a bad way.
Along the way you'll start to care about the characters and you'll realize how well-acted this show is. With a great cast, the show tells a compelling story. You'll see incredible cinematography not many shows have. You'll appreciate the variety of music throughout; epical, magical, partly eery and mysteriosly beautiful music.
To me, this show was a real surprise and I give it a 9/10. I'm really hoping for a second season!
Together with the previously released Sicario and Hell or High Water, Wind River forms the so-called 'American Frontier'-trilogy by screenwriter Taylor Sheridan. The common denominator are the scenarios for these three films. Sheridan sketches an uncompromising picture of contemporary America, where issues such as poverty, violence and a staggering government system are the order of the day. Again delivering a blood-curdling crime thriller.
The crime scene is the Wind River Indian Reservation in the American state of Wyoming, an inhospitable area characterized by silence and especially a great amount of snow. During a tour through this environment, game hunter Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) finds the lifeless body of a young Native-American girl, kilometers away from the civilized world. What was striking is that the girl didn't wear shoes and coughed up a lot of blood just before her death. Suspicious circumstances, so let's call in the FBI. That help comes in the form of inexperienced FBI agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) who classifies the dismal scene as a murder. Together with Cory Lambert she decides to open the manhunt on the perpetrators. Although she starts the (murder) investigation with good intentions, she does not seem to fully realize what kind of world she has come to. Luckily there's always a grounded local character nearby, reminding her, "In Wind River, you're on your own."
And with that, there's no harsher moment of truth. The authorities hardly pay attention to the atrocities taking place in this corner of the United States, which means that every victim will only play for their own judge. For a thrilling like Wind River, that's nothing more than a starting point, somewhere very unpleasant, because shortly before the movie ends. We get a message about the harsh reality this movie is based on, which doesn't leave any doubt: To this day, indigenous American girls are not registered by the government if missing. That horrific notice provides Sheridan's film with unexpected urgency and social relevance.
Even without the interference of that raw reality, Wind River is an excellent film, that rises far above average. Mainly due to the sensationally good work on paper. Althought the film is an original work of Sheridan, you often get the feeling you're watching the filming of a literary novel. Constant is the psychological depth, not the effect of a complicated murder plot. In addition, the characters are not walking clichés, but people of flesh and blood, who struggle with the complex emotions about issues such as debt and loss.
Moreover, the dark and poetic tone of the dialogues fits perfectly with the images of the wild snow landscape. Just like in the western classics of yesteryear, the melancholy of times gone by is omnipresent. Yet there is a glimmer of hope between now and then. In a similar way as in Hell or High Water, sudden violent outbursts alternate nicely with dry comical moments, withouth the seriousness of the situation being violated.
Perhaps the greatest achievement is that Wind River manages to sell an emotional boost within the limited playing time of hundred-and-seven minutes. Sheridan makes it plausible that the murder investigation has a devastating impact on the live of the sleuths. Nevertheless, his film does not feel hurried or sentimental. It's as if an entire season of True Detective got put in a compressor, after which only the strong moments have been preserved. Add that to the fantastic casting of Gil Birmingham, Jeremy Renner (in perhaps his best role so far) and Elizabeth Olsen, and you have a crime thriller that will see you return to many top ten lists of film and genre lovers.
8.5/10
I just stepped out of the theatre and I'm ready to write this review for you all. So, let me start off by saying, this movie is nothing like the other Star Wars movies. I was expecting something like Rogue One, but as soon as they started making jokes I knew it was going to be something different. I liked it though, I did. It was action packed, quite funny and a bit romantic. I dig it. The action scenes were probably my favourite thing about this movie, those were very well done.
Alden Ehrenreich did Han Solo proud. I didn't really know the actor before this, but he's good! Sometimes it almost felt like I was listening to Harrison Ford. It was great to see him and Chewbacca together en find out how their relationship started in the first place. I really enjoyed seeing them bonding and all that. Woody Harrelson never ceases to amaze me, to be honest. He is a brilliant actor if you ask me. I felt like his character stayed a bit in the background throughout the movie but I think Tobias Beckett sure made an impact on Han. Talking about making an impact, let talk about Qi'Ra (probably the coolest way to write Kyra). First off, I adore Emilia Clarke. I think she's a great actress and she's absolutely gorgeous. I had to get used to the idea of her in a space movie but she did very well. Her character is still a bit of a blur, to be honest, but I think Qi'Ra could be an interesting character to explore further. Donald Glover as Lando is perfectly cast. They truly did a great job. My brother said, "I thought he was the son of the original Lando". I think when people say that, you've done a pretty great job. I liked L3 as well, she was a bit much sometimes but she brought some humour to the movie.
Overall it sure was a fun movie to watch. It all looked very beautiful and the special effects were great. The only thing that bothered me was some of the creatures they created. I think they could've been "more real". I don't know if that makes sense, but maybe you notice it too when you're watching the movie. It could also just be me, I don't know, it confuses me a bit. I really liked getting a glimpse of Chewbacca's story and a closer look at the Millenium Falcon. That's one great ship with way too many buttons, isn't it?
I enjoyed Solo: A Star Wars Story and I'm going to rate it with a solid 7. I'm pretty sure there's more where this movie came from so I will be waiting patiently till then.
So I finished Part One and had a few hours to think about it. The show is definitely interesting. It’s not perfect but I see it setting-up to something bigger in Part Two. The first few episode are a bit off, not horrible or unwatchable but, does have some questionable pacing, lack of music, and some of the more direct jokes aren’t as funny as I would like them. A lot of the “good” jokes seem to be sprinkled in the background or hidden inside of other dialog, I wouldn’t be surprised picking-up on new jokes on a second re-watch. That said episodes 1-5 would be a 5-6/10. Normally a weaker opening to a series would lean me more towards dropping, however...
The reason I say the show is interesting is that the trailer and promo material advertises the show as a comedy first with some adventure on the side, however, it’s very much a slice of life series with hints of adventure down the line in Part Two. I wasn’t expecting this and I actually like this angle more. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if Part Two was exclusively adventure focused. Most of the episodes in Part One are about the daily life of the disobedient princess and falling into situations, all the while adding a LOT of world building. Part One seems very focused on familiarizing you with the world, people, concepts, etc... While this is taking place we get short cutaways to an unknown group of wizards/sorceress monitoring the situation in Dreamland, the main location in Part One, suggesting something bigger going on.
I wont spoil anything at the end of Part One but the world building and hints towards a grandeur story definitely make this series interesting and I want to learn more. Obviously these are just promises for the moment but the care put into the world and the slower pace at the start to familiarize the characters gives me hope that this series will offer more. For now it’s a 6/10, good but until we see the rest I wouldn’t put much into the rating.
Also the 2D animation is very good. CGI blending is better than most shows and a surprising amount of the scenes have a lot of animation in areas you wouldn't expect it. Casual walks in the city treat you to scenes with plenty of bystanders moving and interacting with each others in 2D (some are 3D). Lots of other shows would offer stills & pans so this gives this show's world a lot of life.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout is the best movie of the summer. In a summer full of hits “McQ”, Cruise and the rest of the IMF crew have found a way to make their earthbound spy game, in it’s sixth iteration, hit harder than Thanos’s gauntlet, franchise veteran Brad Bird’s beautifully staged Incredibles sequel, than a CGI mutant dinosaur, than The Rock fighting a building with his bare hands. From the opening moments of Lorne Balfe’s percussive score (the best since Whiplash or at least since you discovered the kitchen pots and pans could make disconcerting noise if you hit them with a spoon) you know you’re in for something hilariously and gratefully unrelenting, a marathon of entertainment. That’s before iconic theme’s been heard or a title card’s been seen. This movie is special. It has nods for the die-hards and new wrinkles for those accepting their first mission. It is probably one of the greatest action movies ever made, one of the most technically impressive movies I’ve ever seen, and a lifetime achievement award for an actor who’s been dogged at upending our expectations for nigh a lifetime in Tom Cruise. I hope there’s more. I almost can’t comprehend how their could be. I thought we ran out of things for Ethan Hunt to jump off of two movies ago.
Nothing to say really besides: that’s how you do it!
This has without a doubt the most impressive stunts of the franchise, and it really knows how to use its characters and challenge them. There’s a lot of propulsive energy, lush cinematography and great editing. Lorne Balfe does a great Hans Zimmer impression, and Chris McQuarrie does a great Chris Nolan impression. Alright maybe I’m oversimplifying there, because I have to commend McQuarrie for doing another stylistic reinvention of the franchise, the cinematography and general feel aren’t just that of Rogue Nation 2.0. I’m not even sure if the constant evolution of this franchise comes from a place of creative ambition or commercial opportunity, but at least it keeps the films fresh. Some of its core elements will always remain the same, however. For example, the plot’s once again just a vehicle for all the juicy stuff. You could call it out for being generic or basic, but they find so much creativity and fun in these tropes that it becomes very entertaining (intrigue, the mask sequences, the craziness and constantly rising intensity). Sure, there’s a very predictable twist at the end of the second act, but more often than not, it managed to surprise me. Henry Cavill is a great new addition, bringing back Rebecca Ferguson was the best choice they could’ve made, and Pegg & Rhames remain the reliable anchors that add some heart & humour. It’s all exceptional stuff, it could very well go down as the best action franchise in history if the next films stick the landing.
9/10
[7.6/10] Solo has the scruffy confidence to be its own movie. Of the ten Star Wars films, it’s the only so far not to tie directly into the events of the main saga. That alone makes it interesting and laudable as the first real cinematic step of Star Wars ceasing to be a film series and starting to be a “cinematic universe.”
Which isn’t to say the film isn’t closely connected to its predecessors. Solo reveals how Han and Chewbacca first became a team. It features the first meeting between its title character in Lando Calrissian. It even shows how Han ended up with the Millenium Falcon. And that’s setting aside references to a “gangster on Tatooine” and hints of a growing rebellion and familiar characters popping up in unexpected places. Make no mistake -- the film is certainly interested in reminding its viewers where all these characters will be in ten years time.
But it’s also good enough not to be about that. Solo is part-heist flick and part coming-of-age film. It’s more interested in Han’s big adventure in this movie and how he gets to be the sarcastic smuggler we meet in A New Hope than it is in how he fits into the broader Star Wars Universe, to the film’s benefit. The promise of these “Star Wars stories” is that they can use the diverse, elaborate world that George Lucas and his collaborators created to spin all kinds of yarns untethered to the concerns of the Skywalker family. Solo still anchors its story on familiar faces, but tells its own tale, and comes out the better for it.
The big problem with Solo is that it has two modes: (a.) irreverent action/adventure flick filled with colorful characters and (b.) semi-serious interrogation of What Han Solo Is™, and it’s much more entertaining and effective at the former than the latter. The script, penned by Empire Strikes Back scribe Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan, does a superb job at introducing all these figures, old and new, and then letting them bounce off on another in the confines of a rickety old ship and a job pulled at various rough-and-tumble locales. But it falters when trying to use that setup to get at its title character’s true nature.
The film’s thesis on that front is a solid one -- that he is unavoidably rough around the edges, and wants to be “bad,” but deep down he’s good. That is, after all, his essential arc in the Original Trilogy, where a seemingly good-for-nothing smuggler is revealed to have a heart of gold and sympathies to the cause of the Rebellion, or at least his friends. Solo retraces that arc a bit, and weakens Han’s progression in the saga films a little in the course of that, but the Kasdans get Han: the talk that’s bigger than his paydirt, the cocksure improvisational confidence, and the innate goodness that peaks through his rough-hewn if charming exterior which he’ll deny to the end.
The film just does a much better job of showing us those qualities through Han’s actions and attitude than in having various other characters ham-fistedly comment on it and wax rhapsodic about who he’s been and who he’ll be.
The best parts work, as they must, thanks to Alden Ehrenreich, who takes over the role originated by Harrison Ford in 1977’s A New Hope. Following in those iconic footsteps is a tall order, but Ehrenreich makes it work. He doesn't stoop to doing an impression of Ford, short of a few conspicuous mannerisms, but still manages to capture the character’s rakish charm and overconfident, anything goes spirit. Yes, it’s a little hard to grok that this guy becomes 70s era Harrison Ford in ten years, but Ehrenreich absolutely works as Young Han, and the movie wouldn’t work at all without that.
The other characters that populate the film vary a bit more, but are largely fun and entertaining. Woody Harrelson’s turn as Beckett sees him filling the weathered good ol’ boy niche he’s carved out for years now. Emilia Clarke does fine as Qi'ra, who manages to be a little bit more than just Han’s love interest, but only a little. Donald Glover’s charisma carries the day as he inhabits Young Lando, but occasionally he comes across like Glover doing his best Lando impersonation than a fully convincing character (though his chemistry with Ehrenreich sparkles over that nicely). And there’s plenty of other fun, if seemingly disposable side characters, like Paul Bettany’s genteel but menacing villain, Dryden Vos, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge as a delightfully irrepressible droid revolutionary named L3. Even relative newcomer Joonas Suotamo brings character beyond the fur to Chewbacca, alongside Star Wars sound designer Ben Burtt’s traditional groans and growls.
When Solo deploys these characters well, it’s a hell of an action-filled romp. Seeing Han’s Oliver Twist-esque origins blossom into his up-and-down efforts to live on the fringes of both the law and the galaxy are fun and thrilling. The movie takes the viewer to new, scrappier corners of the galaxy, packing the frame with wild new creatures and settings that help make Star Wars feel big and diverse again.
Han’s goals and wants are clear; his compatriots are well-if-quickly sketched, and the set pieces are nicely chaotic and spontaneous, as befits the way any plan involving Solo should shake out. The pacing is off here and there, and certain action sequences extend to the point of exhaustion (likely a casualty of the hand off from the nixed boundary-pushers Phil Lord & Christopher Miller to steady hand Ron Howard). But the core setting of the film -- a band of well-traveled and wannabe outlaws does a job with pitfalls and smart remarks -- works like gangbusters.
Then, the final act hits, and the film stops being fun and starts being serious. There’s double-crosses on double-crosses, heavily sign-posted character-defining choices, and cliché, ponderous statements about who Han is supposed to be or can’t be or might have been that one time (we’re not really sure).
Solo, like its protagonist, has its heart in the right place here. It’s laudable to try to turn this adventure into something revealing about one of the franchise’s biggest characters and not just an empty-calorie escapade. But the film can’t support the weight of that introspection (not to mention all of that clunky extrospection) and becomes bogged down when trying to unravel both its less-compelling plot threads and its character study in one big convoluted finale.
But one thing is for sure. This movie is not about the Skywalkers. Despite an eyebrow-raising tie-in, it is not about the broader Star Wars Universe. It’s about Han Solo, and It is, for the first time, a genuinely independent Star Wars story. For most of its run time, Solo is a standalone (if franchise-winking) adventure from the days when Han was still cutting his teeth as a smuggler and outlaw. The film has its problems when it departs from that, but still shows the benefits, and the fun, of Star Wars movies that follow the lead of Solo himself and aim to go it alone.
“It's risky, but it's worth a try”.
At least you tried.
Even before the camera’s began rolling, this movie was met with trouble. You probably heard all about the behind the scenes drama - If not, basically Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were attached to direct, but got fired halfway through shooting, because I’m guessing Lucasfilm had no idea these guys are best known for making comedy movies, even though you hired them to add ‘a comedic touch’. Lord and Miller were replaced by Ron Howard. An acting coach was called on set for Alden Ehrenreich who’s playing Han Solo, as he was struggling to capture the spirit of Fords iconic character. Michael Kenneth Williams role was removed from the final film and new characters added in.
Just madness. However, how was the final product? Surely it must have paid off, right? Well, not quite.
‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ is a mix bag and feels unimportant. Nothing about it felt thrilling or exciting. Not to say it’s a bad movie, because it’s not. There is good things about it and surprisingly none of the re-shoots showed, it’s not visible like “Justice League”. Unfortunately, the flat jokes and an obvious cash grab for future franchises only left me cold. It adds nothing to the Star Wars universe, just exploring little things we were told about briefly in better movies. Nobody asked for it and yet here we are, so let's dive in.
I couldn't imagine the amount of pressure Alden Ehrenreich was facing. Talking on an iconic character played by the most iconic actor alive today. Must be a daunting task and the fan base didn't help either. His casting was met with a lot of negative reactions - I, however, always stood by Ehrenreich ever since he’s casting, after seeing his breakout performance in “Hail, Caesar!” gave me a little hope for the young Solo. I can safely say that he deserved a good performance and never felt like an impression of Harrison Ford. Portraying him more innocent and naive. Although, I can think of others actors who would've gotten the part and might have done it better. I must admit, there was plenty of times where I kept on forgetting he was Han Solo, but from what he had to work with, he did the best he could and I applaud him for that.
Donald Glover does a great job capturing the mannerisms and the voice of Lando Calrissian. You can tell he put a lot of effort into this role. Even trying to step into the shadow of Billy Dee Williams and he slips right in. While feeling like an impersonation at times, but makes every scene enjoyable to watch, no matter what. Comparing the two actors, you can see this younger version transforming into the older version of the character, easily.
Emilia Clarke was fine. She’s certainly better here than any other movie or role outside from Game of Thrones. I didn't fully buy the chemistry between Emilia and Ehrenreich, and yet, that never took me out of the movie, as it wasn't prequel level bad. I must say, her character could go into an interesting route if Lucasfilm kept they promise of where she could go next from the set up. I’m interested to see where it goes, to be honest.
The others cast members were also great. Thandie Newton and Jon Favreau, while having small screen time, but brought so much character into their roles that I wished both stuck around a little longer. Same thing with Paul Bettany, who could've been a fantastic villain if more development and screen time was put into his character. I mean, a space gangster with sag sounds amazing. Still, Bettany was excellent and was clearly fun with this role. I’m surprised not a lot of people are talking about Woody Harrelson, who’s great in everything and proven to have a wide range of incredible roles under his belt - Of course here, there’s no difference. Towards the end of the film, I didn't like where he’s character went, but I blame the writing on that, not the actor. What more is there to say about Woody, he’s never given a bad performance.
Ron Howard did the best he could, as a last minute replacement to fix all loose ends. The camera work during the action sequences were visually pleasing and very much his style of film making. Let's not forget the gorgeous cinematography and some fantastic set designs, creature, and droid designs.
Now for my issues with the film: Despite some nice looking shots, the dark color palette and how poorly lit this movie was really surprised me, because it didn't add anything to the story. Some may argue it adds to environment of the story, but to me just made it look worse. Every Time there was a reference, nod or wink from the original franchise it kinda felt, well…’forced’. I saw this almost a week ago and nothing super memorable stuck with me.
Oh and L3-37 is the absolute worst. The character itself is another sassy droid duplicating K-2SO from Rogue One. The difference here, she got on my nerves straight away. The droid rights sup plot kept pushing the main focus away from the actual story itself. Many have pointed out how she came across as a parody of SJW (Social Justice Warrior) and I can see the comparison. It's odd that Disney would do that, being all about diversity and equal rights would make a joke of this. Just replace L3 with Thandie Newton character and everything will be fine.
Speaking of the studios...
Lucasfilm needs to get their act together if the schedule of movies expands to 2030, from what some early reports say. It’s obvious there’s no plan with these movies and making up things as they go along. Because as I speak, this movie is under performing at the box office as fans clearly had enough. From what I have heard, that cameo at the end was only added in at the last minute. Telling the origin of a character that should have be left as a mystery. You even find out how he got his name and how that scene was presented was so cheesy.
Overall Rating: “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is a mess saved by a great cast, great production designs, impressive action scenes, and characters (except for L3). I've heard different opinions for this movie - Both sides gave solid arguments and made me realize this movie has it’s fans. Again, not a bad movie, just a decent one. Also lightsaber!
[8.8/10] Before Joss Whedon made 2012’s The Avengers and changed the caped crossover game forever, he made an incredible television series with a disarming title called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Despite its gothic overtones, Buffy had the rhythms of a superhero story, with special abilities, recurring villains, and powerful deaths and resurrections. And in its fifth season finale [spoilers for a 15-year-old episode of television], Whedon presented his protagonist with a choice: save someone you love or save the universe.
The stakes were similar to Avengers: Infinity War’s, even if the contours were a little different. A mad god was on the loose, threatening to destroy all of creation. To complete this universal destruction, she needed Buffy’s sister, Dawn, who was, through some magical meddling, the key to this grand undoing. When the crisis became eminent, friend and foe alike advised Buffy to make a hard choice and sacrifice her sister for the good of the world. But Buffy, undeterred, chose to find a different option, to rally her allies and fight this evil rather than give into it.
It’s the kind of noble choice that characters in all kinds of stories make in these situations. There’s some kind of no-win scenario, and the resourceful, occasionally Kirkian hero finds a way to overcome the odds, protect those closest to them, and slay whatever dragon is threatening their village of choice. In that episode, it was meant as a tribute to Buffy’s steadfastness and loyalty, of her devotion to her sister, and her determination to never give up and never stop fighting as long as there’s a glimmer of hope.
The only problem was that I was yelling at my T.V., “To hell with your sister! The whole universe is hanging in the balance here!”
In an odd way, that’s the message, or at least the overarching theme, of Avengers: Infinity War. The film is one giant, bejeweled scavenger hunt, with the long-teased uber-villain Thanos scouring the realms for the six titular infinity stones in order to wipe out half of all life in the universe. It’s a plan with innumerable fault points -- moments in which one hard choice, one sacrifice of someone you love, could have ended this quiet path of horror, or at least prevented the worst of it from coming to pass.
And yet, every step of the way, none of the Avengers are able to make that choice, or at least, make it in time for it to make a difference. Loki, Gamora, Star-Lord, Eitri, Dr. Strange, and Scarlet Witch each have the chance to end Thanos’s quest. But in the end, when the lives of those they care about hang in the balance, they cannot bring themselves to do it.
The arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been, broadly speaking, one of love and connection, where unlikely allies find themselves forging bonds through trying circumstances and achieving greater things through that unity and shared purpose. Infinity War frames those bonds not as the thing that allows our heroes to face the newest, gargantuan threat, but as the thing that keeps them from being able to stop it.
Because they cannot bring themselves to let go of what, and more importantly who, they love. Whether that love is familial or romantic, The Avengers cannot bear to sacrifice it. The one figure in the whole film who can and does is Thanos himself. He is the only soul in Infinity War who faces down that choice -- sacrifice who you love or see your grand plans fall to ruin -- and finds within himself the will to do it. That horrible strength is the one thing he has on our heroes, more than his powers or weapons or ingenuity, that lets him win this war. He is willing to do what none of The Avenger will or even can, and it creates one of the most devastating losses and endings in any superhero film so far.
It also creates a villain worthy of the moment. Until now, Thanos had been one big, vaguely-defined promise. A sinister smile in The Avengers, a minor appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy, and one final tease in Age of Ultron were all Marvel movie fans had to go on. The results amounted to a generic baddie who made the occasional threat and pulled strings behind the scenes, but was still largely a blank slate when it came time for him to step into the spotlight and assume the villain role for the team-up of team-ups.
Thankfully, that gave the directing duo of the Russo Bros. and the film’s writers the chance to fill in those blank spaces with a distinct and interesting character. Rather than the figure of the stentorian, megalomaniacal baddie Thanos has cut up until now, the “Mad Titan” is a quiet, almost contemplative antagonist in Infinity War. There’s a genteel, even empathetic quality to him in the film, one that makes him an unexpectedly subdued but no less effective a challenge to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Some of that comes from his modus operandi. Rather than mere universal domination, Thanos’s goal is to wipe out half of all life in the universe. But rather than tasking him with destruction for destruction’s sake, Infinity War turns Thanos into an acolyte of creative destruction, one who sees himself as a humanitarian. In a universe with limited resources, he wants to slaughter half the population not out of revenge or vindictiveness, but so that the remainder can live and live well, and avoid the devastation that his own planet faced when those resources ran out.
In that, Thanos is the MCU’s Ozymandias -- doing a terrible thing that results in the loss of countless lives, but intending for it to serve the greater good. His perspective is efficiently conveyed and surprisingly heady for a popcorn flick, dealing with notions of the extremes of a utilitarian viewpoint that blend well with Thanos’s own seemingly dispassionate but subtly affected presence in the film.
Much of that owes to Josh Brolin’s performance. There is a wistfulness, almost a sense of resignation in his voice and bearing as Thanos cuts his path across the galaxy. It would be easy for the uber-baddie of the MCU to come off miscalibrated in the attempts to find depths of character and motivation in this big purple goon, but Brolin finds a balance between menace and an unassuming warmth in Thanos that nigh-instantly makes him unique as a villain and interesting enough to justify his position as the would-be final boss of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But much of it also owes to the animators and artists who bring Thanos to life. Much of the action in Infinity War falls victim to the same, weightless CGI maelstrom that afflicts blockbuster movies of all stripes. While individual images of armies of Avengers squaring off against alien attackers, or hollow mechanical ovoids hovering over New York City stand out, too often the film devolves into quick cuts of 3D cartoons smashing into one another, without enough clarity or realism to make them more than a clash of computer-animated piñatas.
Thanos, however, is a consistent exception. More than any other computer-assisted element of the film, his gravitas and impact as a character in the film is dependent on subtle changes in his facial expression that reveal smaller shifts in mood or reaction. As much as for any other fully-CGI character on film, Brolin’s performance is captured in the slight curve of Thanos’s lip, the furrowing of his brow, the squint of his eyes.
Despite his standing as an armor-clad, purple-skinned ruffian, Thanos is a villain with a soul, one conspicuously on display even as he toys with and decimates our heroes. That alone is an achievement of performance, digital artistry, and writing that comes together to craft a villain befitting of the grand finale to a decade’s worth of adventures.
Unfortunately, Infinity War has trouble keeping up with all of the scads of characters who have accumulated on the MCU’s rolls in the course of that decade’s worth of adventures. While the Russo Bros. managed to strike a delicate balance in Captain America: Civil War, servicing a broad set of characters in a single story, they can’t quite manage the same feat for the Avengers writ large.
The opening act of Infinity War is full of throat-clearing. In addition to establishing Thanos as a challenge beyond the everyday (something the film accomplishes by having him kill the bad guy from the first Avengers flick and manhandle The Hulk with ease), the film has to check in with all the major figures from the Marvel movie roster, paying at least lip service to what they’ve been up to since we last saw them and running through reunions and updates galore.
The result is a film that is lopsided and overstuffed. Eventually, the film’s narrative coalesces into a few distinct threads. Thor, Rocket, and Groot go off to forge a weapon to defeat Thanos. Iron Man, Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, and the remaining Guardians aim to stop Thanos on his own planet. Gamora is dragged along with the mad titan himself. And the remaining, earthbound Avengers, most notably Scarlet Witch and Vision, fend off Thanos’s goons on the homefront. But the parties wax and wane over the course of these challenges, and the movie never quite finds its center as this mass of characters ebbs and flows from one scene to the next.
That extends to the crossover-based excitement promised by the very concept of the film. Some unique pairings work like gangbusters. Thor’s adulation from the Guardians, replete with Star-Lord’s instant jealousy and attempts to puff himself up, are a delight from beginning to end. Others, like the attempt to replicate Tony Stark’s combative chemistry with Steve Rogers by subbing in Dr. Strange, tend to fizzle. And others still, like the complicated dynamic between Thanos and Gamora, become the emotional backbone of Infinity War. But there’s little consistency on that front, and it helps make an already top-heavy film feel more scattered and disjointed in assembling the pieces of its grand finale.
It also tries to maintain the humorous bent of the MCU, to the point where the quipping starts to feel mandatory rather than organic. Calling Thanos “Grimace” is in the proud tradition of Buffy making fun of a bloody-lipped vampire opponent for having “fruit punch mouth.” But eventually, the bon mots start to pile up and feel shoehorned in. Levity is one of the Marvel movies’ strengths, but after a while in Infinity War, the hit rate for the jokes starts to waver, and as the stakes increase, the smart remarks begin to feel like the writers meeting a quota rather than letting the repartee emerge from the situation at hand.
The cumulative effect of all this unevenness is a movie full of tremendous moments in its first couple of acts -- the heart-to-heart between Rocket and Thor, the elaborate head-fake at Knowhere, and badass lines from the likes of Black Panther and Captain America -- but also one that has trouble finding its footing for much of that runtime. There are a ton of moving parts in Infinity War, and oftentimes the movie feels more like a twelve-car pileup than the elegant ballet the Russo Bros. mean to choreograph.
Still, despite the movie ungainliness in places, the unifying force of Infinity War are those same choices faced by different characters across the landscape of the film. Time and again, the movie depicts moments where one person could have stopped all of this (or at least severely hindered it) and cannot bear what it would take to do so. At one point in the film, Captain America tells his compatriot, “we don’t trade lives” and it’s both the philosophy that unites each of the Avengers and, in a way, dooms them.
Loki could keep the Space Gem away from Thanos, but despite all their sibling rivalry, he cannot watch his brother dying at the hands of this brute and do nothing. Gamora could deny her estranged father access to the Soul Stone, but she relents when cannot tolerate seeing her sister, Nebula, being tortured. Eitri could have refused to make Thanos the implement that makes his terrible deeds possible, but is willing to risk the fate of the universe in the futile hope of saving his people’s lives. Time and again, the people who could have prevented Thanos’s plan from coming to fruition are unable to let the ones they care about suffer or perish in order to make that happen.
Even the ones who attempt to make that choice falter or dither until it’s too late. Though Peter Quill seems the only one willing to accede to his loved one’s wishes to kill her rather than let her fall into Thanos’s hands, the Reality Stone sees that his efforts come to nought. And worse yet, it’s the same emotional connection to Gamora that causes Quill, in his grief and anger, to try to hurt Thanos, in a way that thwarts his allies’ attempts to simply stop him for the time being. Once again, that bond, reinforced and cemented here before it’s wiped away, is what causes Star-Lord, and the Avengers more broadly, to fail.
It’s the same thing that keeps Scarlet Witch from being able to quell this threat. Vision is just as direct as Gamora in asking the one he loves to let him die rather than risk the fate of galaxy. But she resists and delays and does everything in her power to hold onto her loved one even with the world in the balance. Eventually she, like Peter, relents and, in a harrowing moment, removes the Mind Stone from Vision and seemingly stops Thanos, but by then, he has the Time Stone, and in the film’s penultimate gut punch, he rewinds the clock and renders her actions moot.
Thanos himself is the only character in the film willing to make that choice and make it without hesitation. In the climax of the film’s second act, a long-absent Red Skull returns to instruct the Mad Titan that in order to obtain the Soul Stone, he must sacrificing something he loves. Upon hearing the news, Gamora believes she’s won the day, because there’s no way the father who treated her as he did, who put her through what he did, could love anything, let alone her. There are tears in Thanos’s eyes, revealing that he is not the monolithic bastion of evil he seemed until now, but someone who knows what must be done, what costs must be borne, to achieve what he believes must be achieved in order to save the galaxy from itself.
So he bears those costs. He throws his own daughter to her death and claims the fruits of the sacrifice. He offers sympathy to Scarlet Witch but undoes her own hard choice to serve his ends. He snaps his fingers and half the world comes to an end, as familiar faces shatter and blow away into nothingness. It as an emotional wallop, for the film’s heroes and its audience, as the one figure in Infinity War who most threatens the galaxy is the one willing to sever those bonds, to go to those lengths, that the Avengers cannot bring themselves to trespass upon.
Predictions are a fool’s game, but there are a few things to remember in the shadow of Infinity War’s devastating ending. First and foremost The heroes lost in this most recent Avengers outing were, largely, the new blood of the MCU. The likes of Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Dr. Strange are far more likely to anchor the next decade of Marvel movies than they are to disappear forever. It won’t take away the shock of power of the moments when they disintegrated before our eyes, but resurrection is the watchword in comic book stories, and Disney is unlikely to let the cornerstones of its next wave of cape flicks linger in oblivion for too long.
But more importantly, Infinity War is a film that seems keenly aware that it is in conversation with 2012’s The Avengers, the film that kicked this uber-franchise into another gear. And as much as the original Avengers flick was about the forging of those bonds between its heroes, it was also about self-sacrifice.
Tony Stark’s arc in the film centered on Steve Rogers’s challenge that Stark is all about himself, and never the sacrifice play. It gave Tony the extra motivation to redirect the nuclear bomb headed for New York City into the portal to another world, with no hope of returning to see Pepper, the person he loves most in the world, ever again. He survives, naturally, but it’s the choice he made that truly mattered -- the choice to put oneself on the chopping block in order to save others, and maybe to save the world.
It’s the same choice that Buffy the Vampire Slayer made in her own fateful finale. When push came to shove, and it became clear that fighting the good fight alone wouldn’t be enough to fell the mad god who threatened all of existence, Buffy still refused to put her sister on the chopping block. Instead, she stepped into that blow in her sister’s place, sacrificing her own life to stop the villain and save all that there was to be saved.
And maybe that portends the path forward for Avengers 4. The Avenger who comes closest to succeeding in Infinity War is Thor, and on the surface, that would seem to support the “connections to others only hold you back” theme of the film. Thor has a quietly harrowing conversation with Rocket where he acknowledges that he’s basically lost everyone. In a movie where every hero is stymied by their unwillingness to let the people they love come to harm in order to save the universe, it’s the one man with no one left who forms the plan and strikes the blow that nearly wins this war for the good guys.
But his is also a choice of sacrifice. When it comes time to forge the weapon that may be able to slay a god, Thor himself must put his life on the line. He has to hold open the mechanism to let the power of a star flow through him and into the enchanted metal that could create the awesome implement. He is severely weakened and wounded by the blast, but succeeds in creating something with the potential to defeat Thanos. And there, perhaps, Infinity War tips it hand.
Because even if The Avengers are not willing to trade lives, they are willing to offer their own. Even Dr. Strange, who seems to be making the same sort of choice that Loki and Gamora and Scarlet Witch did, may be playing the long game. Having glimpsed the lone, possible future where The Avengers succeed, he could be allowing events to come to pass where he disintegrates into nothing, with the hope that it will set the surviving heroes on the path to righting all that’s gone wrong.
That effort may very well require just this sort of ultimate personal sacrifice. There’s been lots of talk about how Infinity War and its successor represent a turning point, a close of one significant chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the beginning of another. It’s conspicuous how many of those who survived the terrible geometry of Thanos’s finger snap are among the original set of Avengers who broke out in Whedon’s 2012 blockbuster.
If, as Infinity War seems to posit, the thing that sets Thanos apart, that allows him to succeed when there are so many chances for him to fail, is that he is willing to give up what he loves in order to achieve his goal, then maybe what sets The Avengers apart is a reciprocal form of devotion. From Captain America letting his plane fall into the ocean, to Iron Man carrying that Nuke away from New York City, countless time our heroes have won the day by placing themselves onto the altar rather than allowing who or what they love to be forced onto it.
No one knows for sure what the next installment of The Avengers mega franchise holds in store. But it’s not hard to imagine the current generation of Avengers collectively making that sort of choice to preserve the next, not to let someone you love go to save the world, but to let yourself go to save them, and the world with it, a form of love that Thanos, however teary-eyed and mournful of prices paid, may not be able to comprehend or, accordingly, defend against.
Infinity War is not simply half a movie. It is, standing alone, a complete and harrowing story of single-minded devotion and loss, of good-hearted, courageous individuals unable to cross the line that could save everything, and suffering unimaginable losses in the process. Despite the movie’s overstuffed roster and uneven quipping, the Russo Bros., Kevin Feige, and Marvel Studios as a whole deserve to be applauded for delivering a film built around such a singular, unifying set of moral choices, that commits to the painful consequences of those actions with a conviction not seen in major franchise filmmaking since The Empire Strikes Back.
Those final moments -- where heroes young and old, and the hope for the future they represent, disintegrate and fall away like ash -- are heart-rending in the best and worst way, accompanied not by maniacal laughs or vainglorious boasts, but instead by impressionistic reflections on whether this fraught endeavor was worth it, and quiet smiles at the sunrise. It transcends popcorn thrills and pre-viz action and becomes art, by whatever definition you’d like to throw at it.
But the film is also a question waiting for an answer, a cinematic dangling participle, that makes the bold choice of leaving the viewer with the images of brave men and women fading to nothing, while implicitly gestures toward an inevitable aftermath. As the shock of those images fades, they reveal a call that demands a response.
Avengers: Infinity War tells the story of a man who will sacrifice what he loves in order to, by his own measure, save the world, when no one else can do the same. But it asks, and leaves open the question, of what the heroes we’ve been watching for ten years will do, the depths of self-sacrifice and lengths to which they will go, when there’s never been more to avenge.
I can't believe I didn't watch this movie earlier—a young girl loses her family and gets taken care by an Italian professional assassin.
Be warned that this movie has extremely graphic content and might include scenarios that will cause you to feel uneasy and possibly disturbed. I highly appreciate the film's presentation of the relationship between Léon and Mathilda. Although I found it somewhat off-putting that they were so close, I rather prefer perceiving their relationship as much more platonic. Mathilda loses a family that she already felt unconnected with. Her family was dysfunctional and she was treated horribly by her violent and abusive father. Léon made Mathilda feel like someone finally cared for her. She felt loved, and Léon—who's spent half of his life alone—enjoys that companionship. Luc Besson (Director) surely is a creep for scripting such a strangely uncomfortable relationship between a little girl and a grown man. Many people believe that this film presented pedophilia. However, I much rather perceive that the film simply demonstrated to the audience a little girl—very much miserable—crushing on a man who saved her. And a lonely man finding companionship and opening himself up to generosity.
I was missing out on such an amazing film!! You don't want to be missing out either!! MUST WATCH.
P.S. I much recommend you rather watch the Léon: The Professional 2-hour-long, international version (French).
I mean, OK… The Mona Lisa has been on permanent display in the Louvre Museum (in France, not New York) for over two centuries. All of the paintings on display are probably reproductions, anyway, which begs some questions, like whether all other copies of the Mona Lisa (including the original) now have the necklace, or just that one. Did the subjects disappear from the other copies while they were in the real world with Alex? (The shoes following The Scream back into his painting was a great gag, though.)
The physics with the charmed football (and the Atravesandus Spell in general) make about as much (or as little) sense as when characters in Star Trek series "phase" out of normal—see https://trakt.tv/comments/161466 for more of my thoughts on that nonsense. (Seriously, if the ball is charmed to pass through objects, how does it splash into the pot of soup? How do Jerry and Max even throw or catch it? Hold it? How does a charmed person breathe, even? Wouldn't their lungs pass through the air molecules instead of absorbing the oxygen? So many questions!)
I do have to admit, this is a actually pretty good episode from a story standpoint, but I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough. A great story can be (and was, in this case) let down by technical problems in how it was actually portrayed.
World Premiere Review:
If I can sum up it up in one word, it's a giant "meh." I liked all of the new Star Wars up until this point, but this one was so forced. It didn't help that they had to reshoot more than half the movie with a different director, albeit with the great Ron Howard.
First problem, no one can fill Harrison Ford's shoes, it's impossible. The new characters are boring and forgettable. Still, Donald Glover just nails Lando...they should just do a Lando stand alone movie next time. Chewie is also awesome and funny as usual. I should also mention Malla is cannon now from the Christmas Special? Just speculating that's who he kisses with when he frees his people. Lumpy will probably show up in Solo 2. I saw George Lucas shift uncomfortably in the theater a couple seats over during that scene which was amusing. The story is just ok, it's a little slow and boring. At least the action sequences are fun.
Here's my biggest peeve: L3-37 is the most forced, obnoxious Star Wars character since Jar-Jar. I was so happy when this Social Justice Robot, who is supposed to be Lando's co-pilot, gets destroyed close to the end. This attempt to be "relevant to the times" sticks out like a sore thumb and the actress voicing it made me wince every time she spoke. Hopefully that's the last we hear or see of it.
Finally, Emilia Clarke's character has the depth of a sheet of cardboard. Worst of all though was the twist at the end where fucking Darth Maul shows up now post Episode 3. She is working with him and it was so cringey and shoe-horned in, I'm so tired of him not being dead. I tolerated it in the Clone Wars with spider-maul, but he just needs to go away.
[8.6/10] It's amazing how an episode about a hot-button issue like homosexuality from ~25 years ago can still feel so well-done and relevant today, without ever seeming overly preachy. The gist of how "Homer's Phobia" accomplishes this is simple -- it delves into Homer's fears about gay people but (a.) always depicts John as a decent, charming, and endlessly patient guy, and (b.) depicts Homer's anxieties as ridiculous and harsh but also realistic for someone of his age and upbringing. It makes Homer seem believably boorish and overblown about the whole thing, while John is consistently delightful, making Homer's rudeness toward him and homophobia seem all the more misguided.
Beyond that, it's a really funny episode. John Waters is a natural as a voice actor, and he brings John to life while giving him a rhythm of speech that makes him engaging and immediately sets him apart from the rest of Spingfield. The steel mill is an all-time great sequence. And the show pokes such fun at the idiocy of Moe, Barney, and Homer trying to "stop" Bart from turning gay that it manages to make their concerns seem hopelessly backward but also wrings comedy from it.
Again, it's so impressive that an episode that tackled an issue that's changed a lot in the public consciousness over the past couple of decades still manages to thread the needle to where it seems sensitive and still funny.
First of all, I avoided ALL spoilers. Didn't see even one trailer. Never saw ANY art concept before viewing the movie. It made everything more impactful. Been doing this since Ant-Man, and it really changed my experience in the theatre.
Oh, only in the MCU. The rest are inconsequential, doesn't really matter (I'm looking at you DC with your shitty movies and at you Star Wars).
Now about the underused characters someone mentioned:
half of the heroes are dead, most of the ones that are alive now are the characters that have a trilogy (Tony, Thor and Steve) and/or are essential to the continuation of the Universe. The ones that are dead now, probably will continue the Marvel Universe when the old heroes die or retire in the next movie (more die than retire imo, and can you imagine they killing Spidey for real?).. My guess is that Tony, Cap, Thor and Doc (he saw that 1/14000000 win possibility, remember?), together with Cap Marvel (and even Gamorra's sister who knows) will work together to bring the dead back to life in the majority of the movie then, maybe 40-50 minutes of a might battle royale with the deaths of our favourites heroes and a ending sad enough to make everyone cry buckets.
Gonna be even more epic.
“It was bound to happen.”
Disturbing and hauntingly real -especially considering today’s political climate. After our screening, my roommate and I catch our bus home and didn’t talk to each other for the next 40mins. I couldn’t help it but think about the most recent news I’ve seen: white supremacy rallies, anti-racism rallies, terrorist attacks, etc. Fuelled by the news and what I had just seen in the theatre, I felt anger, excitement, fear, confusion -and somewhat determination- all at once.
NOCTURAMA is something that is happening now. The film follows 7 kids carrying out a Paris bombing and the aftermath of it. It is a modern tale of rebellion. Rebellion against consumerism and politics, of freedom and symbols, and banks. It feels like a desperate cry for people without genuine avenues of expression. In fact, we never know the true motivations behind their plans but we don’t really need to. These kids want to rebel and rip apart the system but they’re also the product of that system they’re so desperate trying to tear down, after all, in the aftermath, we see them put on suits and see mannequins dressed exactly like them. The thing about NOCTURAMA is that these kids could be everyone; they could be anyone. They want to fit in and be unique, to stand for something. They want to tear everything down but they’re also trapped in their own time and their own experiences. We see things twice or thrice from different perspectives seeing how different their reactions are, how trapped they’re in their own worlds. It is a reflection of people, but especially young people, angst. Because people are angry, but at what?
NOCTURAMA might very well be a rally against commercialism, politics and the idea that we are a free in modern society. The message of NOCTURAMA -and of modern rebellion- is that this could be you. But it is also a desperate cry for help. “Help me,” cries one of the characters. No one does. Everyone has already decided what he is and he isn’t allowed to be anything else. He isn’t allowed to be a teen, a victim, or anything else anymore. We'll never know why they did what they did because we don't want to listen, we don't want to know. He is a terrorist and so he must be removed. Right?
Maybe I Should Have Some Bread Instead
Oh No Making Breakfast Isn't Easy As It Looks
I Know Maybe I'll Have Some Cereal That's Easy
That's Not Enough
Much Better
Oh Good Mom And Dad Are Awake
Uh Oh
Look Mom I've Been Helping I Made My Own Breakfast
Sure Mom
Squish Squish Squeeze Squish Squish Squeeze
I Can Wipe The Table And Make It Nice And Clean
Bumpy Bumpy Bumpy Bump
Oh Dear Look At That Big Gray Cloud Spot
It Looks Like It's Going To Rain
Perhaps We Better Head Back Home
That Was Fun
I'm Ready Now Grandpa I Finished My Bath
Well Is Too Wet For Me Bye
Oh No It's Time To Go Home
Oops I Almost Forgot My Umbrella
Come On Everybody Up Here
What About This
Arf Arf
One Two Three Bump
It's Almost Time For Your Bath Spot
Bumpy Bumpy Bumpy Bumpy Bump
Can I Play A Little Longer Please
Alright But Just Until Your Bath Is Ready
Oh Spot Would Love A Bubble Bath
Vrrom Vrrom
Ruff Ruff
Dirt Incoming
Vrrrrroooom
Hello Spot
Hello Squirrel
Spot You're Bath Is Ready
Okay Mom I'm Coming
Here's Some Dirt Squirrel
You Better Leave Your Truck Outside Spot
Alright Mom
Hop In The Tub Spot
I Love You Mom
I Love You Too
Now Don't Forget To Wash Behind Your Ears
Okay Mom
Wait A Minute I Need To Get Something
He He He
Here You Go Fish
Not Yet Mom I Need To Get Something Else
Wait A Minute I Just Need To Sail My Boat
In My Bath
There Is A Big Sea
On The Big Sea There's A Boat
And The Boat Sails Across The Big Sea
Until It Bumps Against My Foot
In My Bath
There Is A Small Fish
And He Likes To Swim And Play
But When I Turn Into A Crocodile
Then The Small Fish Swims Away
In My Bath
A Duck Is Quaking
As He Floats Around The Tub
And If Sometimes He Goes Under
Up Again He'll Always Pop
Up Again He'll Always Pop
Quack Quack He He He He
Out You Go Spot Time For A Story Now
It Is Great Thanks Mom
Once Upon A Time
In A Land Far Far Away
There Once Lived
Hmm Oh Yeah I Forgot To Brush My Teeth Too
Oops Almost Forgot My Sleeping Bag
Green Light Go
Red Light Stop
Vrrom Vrrom
I Got It
It's Getting Late Boys It's Time To Clean Up And Put Away Your Toys Please
Okay
Okay Mom
I'll Help You Spot
Here's The Ball
Catch
Got It
Oh Look At That
Look Spot
Weee
Vrrom Truck
All Done
There Doesn't Look All Cleaned Up
It's Almost Bedtime
We Put Everything Away Mom
Very Good
I Have To Go Home Now
Ruff
Thank You For Helping Steve
Bye Spot
Bye Steve See You Tomorrow
Good Boy Spot Now Go Brush Your Teeth
But Where's My Teddy Bear
When I Go To Bed
And Turn Out The Light
I Have A Friend I Cuddle At Night
Teddy My Teddy Oh Teddy It's You
Teddy Bear Teddy
When It's Very Late
And It's Time To Sleep
I Have A Friend Who Helps Me Count Sheep
Teddy My Teddy Oh Teddy It's You
Soft And Furry Warm And Good
You'd Give Me A Hug Just Like A Bear Should
Teddy My Teddy Oh Teddy It's You
I Thought You Cleaned Up Spot
I Did But But Now I Can't Find My Teddy Bear
Look He Was Here All The Time
There You Are
Thank You Mom I'll Clean Up Again In The Morning
Alright Spot Sweet Dreams
Good Night Mama Uuuuaaahh Good Night Teddy
I'm Going To Grandma's House
My god... Does Ava DuVernay know that you can actually zoom out a camera? I've never seen so many "closeup" face shots in a single movie in my entire life. I'll never be able to get Oprah's giant-sized face out of my mind...
As for the movie itself, It's a bit all over the place. Some parts and themes are very well-done, such as Meg's journey to accept herself, while others are really half-baked (especially the relationships between Meg & Charles Wallace, Meg & Calvin, etc). Too many things just get thrown together or just suddenly happen by sheer "coincidence" without a solid lead-in or development. This could have definitely used some additional scenes and runtime to flesh characters and their relationships between each other out a bit more. Reese Witherspoon's character is actually my favorite of the 3 "Mrs."'s. Oprah and Mindy Kaling's characters definitely did not hit home.
Visuals were pretty stunning for the most part, but sometimes went a bit too overboard. Don't even get me started again on the cinematography and editing... This movie definitely had potential and I was excited to watch it, but it just misses out on some major points. It was enjoyable overall for the visual fest and seeing the world of A Wrinkle in Time, but other than that it is just an average film. I'd temper my expectations for sure. 5/10 as it is just an average movie...
Apparently this is just the third $100+ million budget movie directed by a woman. I'm not sure that Ava DuVernay's movie is going to help buck that trend...
Being a massive fan of the original Teen Titans comics that this animated film is based on, I was a lil apprehensive about how good this was gonna match up. I gotta say I think they did a brilliant job! It's not quite up there with the original but it's pretty damn close and another fine release from the DC animated universe.
What's really good about this is that you don't need to be a comic nerd like me to get into and enjoy this film. You get to know the characters straight away and the story is easy to follow tho like original story, it does throw a couple of great curve balls so for the first time viewer, you're gonna be all like "What the hell?!? Damn!!".
I can see that at the time of me writing this, this film is averaging around 8/10 but I'm gonna give it a 9...possibly biased as I loved the comic so much. Definitely well worth a look whether you are a fan of the DC animated universe or not. I would rate this up there with Justice Flashpoint Paradox which I think is the best of the DCAU.
If you're reading my review to get a sense if this film is worth watching, I think I've covered that so I'm gonna shut up now and YOU go and watch this great film!
It does not happen often these days that an anime, or any tv show for that matter manages to get such a tight grip on me. But Made in Abyss manages to do it with flying colors.
For me Made in Abyss is the complete package. The story is captivating, the characters are very likeable, the music is perfect for setting the overall feeling you are supposed to get, and above all, that feeling for wanting to experience the unknown, to venture out into the debts of the abyss (no pun intended) and that feeling you get when watching this anime in your underbelly of yearning for something more, and to press on, no matter the consequences or the dangers is in my opinion one of the absolute cornerstones of this anime that makes this a masterpiece!
The story starts off very innocent and cute. And from the first few episodes you might think that this anime might be just a light anime because of how young the children are, with some comic relief. But if you keep watching that you will see that with every episode as Rico and Reg go deeper into the Abyss the story gets more darker and more disturbing.
To be frank, i did not fully understand when Rico and Reg said goodbye to their friends in episode 3 that goodbye really meant farewell forever. But as you can see in the later episodes (at the very least for Rico) there is no coming back alive once you go down the Abyss deep enough. In my opinion that makes Rico her fortitude and resolve to venture into the unknown, and leave everything and everyone she loves and knows behind even more daring and captivating.
I really REALLY hope that this anime gets a second season. Because this anime is the very reason i watch anime in the first place. I can wholeheartedly recommend this anime to anyone. Trust me, you will not regret it.
So this movie premiered in Poland today and I just got home from the theater. I have two things to say: this is hands down the best installment in the Thor trilogy and it also definitely ranks somewhere in the top 5 MCU movies for me.
This movie was a wild ride from start to finish. The story was a ton of fun and so many things happened along the way, keeping you engaged at all times. While I do love slow movies that allow their scenes to breathe, the crazy pace of this one worked in its favor. There wasn't as much action as I had expected, but we did get some cool fights and general destruction. In the typical Marvel fashion, there were a lot of jokes and most of them were really, really hilarious. Some of the MCU movies try way too hard to be funny and I end up feeling annoyed at how many quips they cram in there, but in Ragnarok, the humor definitely worked. My personal favorites were the "Get help" scene, Thor's story about Loki turning into a snake and Bruce falling onto the Rainbow Bridge (especially Fenrir's reaction). Those had me laughing uncontrollably. And on the other end of the spectrum, there was quite a lot of emotional weight to both Odin's demise and the fall of Asgard. The movie struck a good balance between the two, keeping things exciting and light-hearted most of the time, but not being afraid to go a little deeper when the situation called for it.
As for the acting, Chris Hemsworth seemed to be really enjoying himself and while I'd often found Thor to be the blandest Avenger in the past, he had a lot more personality and charisma to him here. He was extremely likable and funny, but he was also the hero you rooted for throughout the movie. Cate Blanchett didn't get to do much as Hela, to my disappointment. She looked incredible and she did the best she could with what she was given, but in the end, the Goddess of Death didn't do much in terms of breaking the tradition of one-dimensional, evil-for-the-sake-of-it MCU villains. But she did at least seem to relish and enjoy her evilness. Tessa Thompson stole the movie for me. She was amazing as Valkyrie. She had wonderful chemistry with Thor and I like the idea of the two of them together, she's a much better love interest for him than Jane, but she was by no means reduced to that role here (thankfully!). She was a fully-fledged character with her own arc and personality. She was brash, badass and absolutely deadly in a fight while still having a more vulnerable, softer side and dealing with horrible trauma. She reminded me of Jessica Jones in that way. Watching her go from a drunken scavenger back to a mighty warrior ready to fight for her home and her king was a pleasure. I absolutely loved her and I hope to see more of her in the future MCU movies. Tom Hiddleston delivered as always, Mark Ruffalo was a great addition and Bruce's partnership with Thor was fantastic, and the supporting cast was also very good.
The soundtrack. Man, the soundtrack. 11/10, totally buying it. One of the best I've heard in a while.
The cinematography was gorgeous. So many colors, so many beautiful shots (the one with the Valkyries bathed in light riding towards Hela who was surrounded by darker colors? Holy shit, that looked like a baroque painting. Absolutely stunning). It was a pleasure to watch. The special effects were simply outstanding as well. Fenris/Fenrir was magnificent and let's just say I want ten angry, giant wolves immediately.
I had high hopes for this movie. The first Thor was pretty good, the second was meh (perfectly adequate, but painfully forgettable), but there was a lot of hype around this one and I really wanted it to be great. And it was! I had a blast watching it and I'd definitely see it again. Every standalone hero trilogy in the MCU so far has had at least one fantastic installment. Iron Man had the first one. Captain America had The Winter Soldier. Now, Ragnarok joins the circle. I'm very happy that it turned out as well as it did.
I have mixed feelings about this movie. I love DC, I love Greek mythology, and Wonder Woman movies are generally the best of both worlds, at least that last animated one was amazing. So my expectations were sky high after choosing to see this movie, over Alien, The Mummy and others currently at the box office. I was definitely disappointed, but I really enjoyed the movie. Just weird.
I wanted more from WW's mother, first of all, since she was quite amazing in her own right from all the comics and previous movies. I hated the love affair between WW and Captain Kirk, but I understand why it was so necessary for the plot. And, mostly, she was basically Captain America in DC form. Both in WWI, fighting the Germans, with a secret weapon, both on a special covert mission to end the war, both in USA colors wielding a shield to stop bullets and tank rounds, and more. I disliked the cookie cutter similarities between the Cap and WW. Lastly, I really disliked the flashbacks, within the flashbacks. Just start the story from the beginning in the first place!
Now on to the Awesomeness that is the Wonder Woman movie. Her abilities were top notch. The superhero aspect was brilliantly captured and portrayed. The animated version was ported into the real life version flawlessly. She is by far the best superhero in film, next to, currently deceased, Superman. Wolverine, Spidey, all the Avengers, Batman, Green Lantern, and anyone else with a movie franchise would easily get bitch slapped by WW. Well, having said that, I do think Thor with Hammer, has a slight chance, but without Hammer, he is a peon compared to WW, the God Killer! The fight scenes were simply amazing, the story was true to her past incarnations. And the thing I liked most about this movie above all else was the ugliness of the movie. It captured the underlying theme of femininity, excellently. This was a dreary, dirty, ugly movie. The sets were ugly, the costumes were ugly, the story/plot had a ugly feel to it. The ugliness gave such a brilliant contrast to the breathtaking beauty of the star of the movie, Gal Gadot. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her beauty was unprecedented. I know she isn't the most beautiful woman in the world, but this movie made me believe Wonder Woman was. Now the island of Amazons had some extremely attractive women on it, but Gadot was by far most beautiful of all. This movie has rewatch-ability because of her beauty alone, mix in those amazing fight scenes, and it is quite a good movie to see.
5.1/10. Sometimes it’s hard to discern the line between exploitation and embrace, especially when dealing with a film from more than eighty years ago. Freaks, a film that puts people with deformities and developmental disabilities front and center, is ostensibly on their side. The theme of the film is that these people, derided by monsters for their outside appearance, are or at least can be, kind and decent people, in contrast to the film’s antagonist who are pretty on the outside or blessed with physical advantages our eponymous heroes lack, but ugly and cruel on the inside.
The film delivers with message with what amounts to a fable set in the circus. Hans, a little person who is a part of the sideshow, is engaged to Frieda, another little person who’s in the act, but becomes enamored with Cleo, a beautiful acrobat in the circus. Cleo initially just uses Hans’s affections for gifts and attention, whilst carrying on behind his back with Hercules, the circus’s strongman, but when she learns from Frieda that Hans has inherited a great fortune, she conspires with Hercules to marry him and then poison him so that they can take the money for themselves.
The rub is pretty straightforward. Despite pretty reprehensibly leaving his fiancé, Hans wants only the best for Cleo and more importantly, the “freaks” accept Cleo into their community. The chants of “One of us! One of us!” and “Gooble gobble!” have become iconic, but what’s often left off from the popular quotation is the other third of the chant – “We accept her!” There’s a divide between the “freaks” and the “regular people” at the circus, one that can lead to mutual mistrust, but the community welcomes Cleo despite that, because, they believe, she loves one of them, and that’s good enough for her to become one of them.
This, of course, is a bridge too far for Cleo, who can’t accept the communion offered to her by this community, and reveals, if not the details of her plans, then the fact that the “romance” was an act on her part. The “freaks” are shown to be kind, welcoming people, and Cleo and Hercules, the “normal people,” are shown to be harsh and even evil. We’re supposed to root for the people with deformities and against the beautiful and the strong.
And yet, even if director Tod Browning’s heart is in the right place in terms of theme, there’s something that still feels exploitative and condescending about the film. Far from focused on this main narrative, Freaks is filled to the brim with minor subplots and vignettes about the other denizens of the sideshow. Aside from the fact these little detours practically kill the film’s already consistently-sputtering pacing, they also seem to be putting the stars of the film into the same kinds of gawking “otherness” that it implicitly criticizes the film’s antagonist for.
Most of these scenes involve focusing on the quirks of the various “freaks” for laugh or for curiosity. Whether it’s showing how a man without limbs can light his own cigarette unassisted, or taunts at a person said to be half-male and half-female, or a continuing subplot about one conjoined twin being able to feel what happens to the other and the unique hurdles of their dating life, there’s less a sense that this is a kind look at people who differ from the norm, so much as it is presented as a chance to chuckle or marvel at what is, at best, an air of exoticness, and at worst, a tone derision and oddity.
This also plays into Freaks’s difficulties as a horror movie. The film’s scariest moment takes place in its climax, where the eponymous collection of sideshow acts advances upon the villain of the piece in the midst of a horrible storm. The scene is impressively shot, with an unnerving sequence of these individuals brandishing guns and knives and other weapons and descending upon Cleo under cover of darkness. There’s something frightening and tense about the steady pursuit, that feels of a piece with the zombie films that would emerge decade later.
That, however, is the part of the problem. While Browning can charitably be said to have intended to depict a close-knit community defending one of its own against an external evil, there’s a firm sense in which the “freaks” are dehumanized in these scenes, treated as primitively tribal or animalistic. While Hans and Frieda are given full, if thin, characterization, and the benefits of some pathos (which veers into pity), the other individuals with deformities or disabilities are treated less kindly, even as the film seems to want its audience to sympathize with them.
But it also gives us two “normal” characters to latch onto: Phroso, a clown and Venus, another beautiful circus performer. Their only purpose in the film appears to be to give the audience some non-“freaks” to root for as good guys in the midst of the movie’s main plot, and the rushed story of their romance sputters on all the way to a tacked-on happy ending that shows a reunion between Frieda and Hans. It’s part and parcel with the array of go-nowhere vignettes that are spackled into the main narrative of the piece.
Still, some allowances have to be made for the time in which this film was released. While it’s easy for me to look back from the vantage point of 2016 when our treatment of such individuals has vastly approved (contrary to the programming lineup of TLC) and judge the way in which the deformed or disabled are depicted in Freaks, Browning at least has the decency of wanting the audience to like the titular group that are the selling point of his film. The tone he takes to do so may be, at times, rather patronizing or othering, but he wants the “freaks” to be people that the audience cares for rather than recoils from. While he’s still content to put the things that make them atypical on display for a buck, much the same way as the carnival barker in his frame story, there’s an attempt to make the humanity of the “freaks” shine through, which helps to soften the palpable feeling of exploitation that permeates the film.
Denis Villenueve. A solid lineup. A different take on first contact. I loved Sicario but went in expecting a cerebral epic sci-fi.
That was a mistake.
Good things:
- Some really nice visual scenes
- Interesting aliens Calligraphy aliens!
- Clear theme of communication is omnipresent
- A neat score that might be awesome in a different movie
Bad things:
- The acting
- The lack of emotional reaction to ALIENS! The students asking to turn on the TV, all of the main characters
- Lack of useful characters Only the aliens and Louise actually did anything the entire movie.
- Supporting characters are very stupid in an attempt to foil the main character slightly
- Very clumsy exposition. Genre-typical news reports, voice-overs, dumb characters asking stupid questions.
- Very slow pacing. This worked in parts of Sicario, but didn't work in this movie because there was no tension. The main characters never seemed remotely threatened.
- Lousie showing up at school thinking everyone will be there after aliens arrive and there's a state of emergency
- Why can't you translate alien language like you can translate Farsi. This is a paraphrase but in the spirit of what Colonel Weber was saying.
- Useless love interest when the costars have no chemistry.
- Ultrasecure military base lets someone steal a ton of explosives and put it in an ALIEN SPACECRAFT without anyone noticing.
- Many unbelievable plot points
- Poor dialogue Let's make a baby - real quote
- Poor handling of the major plot points Looking through time seems to undermine the fact that the aliens need help. Why did one have to die if they could see the future? Why did only one die when they were right next to each other?
- Very heavy handed moral messaging that didn't align with the rest of the movie.
- Why couldn't Ian also see into the future as he studied the language, or any of the others?
Overall extremely disappointing. I'm honestly surprised critics or general moviegoers like this. The premise was very good. It's a real shame the execution failed so miserably.
What.the.actual.fuck.
"I am the Flash, and I don't exist anymore".
Seriously, what the hell was that? Anyways, I'm not gonna say it was horrible, cause it wasn't. Sure it had some writing issues (aka Speedforce), but it's not the worst I've seen. At least we didn't go back to Barry's house the night his mom got murdered so I'm calling it a win. It wasn't as good as the other two finales, but it was entertaining and we got to see a shot of the three Flash running together which got me too hyped.
Savitar, the God of Speed, a guy who can time travel, who can vibrate his hand through your chest and kill you in a heartbeat, gets downed by a freaking bullet? Like seriously? I couldn't believe it, then I realized he's still Barry and I understood. Bullets and tranq darts got to be Barry's worst enemy.
H.R., I was ready to watch another Wells die. He's the real hero. He fucking sacrificed himself to save Iris. He alone changed the future in just a second. Like he once said, a hero among heros. Drumsticks up for him! And then, everyone was just chilling with his death? He died and they got over it too fast.
Savitar kills Iris everybody: "oh no, you horrible monster. My life is ruined. What do we do now? I'm depressed"
Savitar kills H.R. instead Everybody: "oh it's ok, everything is fine. Don't you worry, we're gonna get you some help". The only person who understood him was Tracy. She was the only one with common sense.
I'm royally pissed off that Black Flash got killed by a single cold blast. Like what the hell, RF has been trying to escape from him for a whole season and he get kaputt like that? No way in hell. And Savitar is defeated by a freaking bullet? For God's sake. RF, one of the smartest people in the multiverse couldn't figure out that freeze was the only thing he needed to survive.
Black Flash getting killed with a single cold blast and Savitar with a bullet was dumb as hell. I guess you can't lock up the darkness, but you can freeze it to death.
