Yes it has been done before, yes the budget is clearly a bit lower than others, yes the usual hoops are jumped through but there are also a couple of interesting morale and shocking moments. Not always well judged but also a surprise to see them addressed in a popcorn movie like this.
Easy escapist entertainment with its heart in the right place.
This one has a far better plot than the original and everything else is also improved slightly. I don't get why everyone was bitching about it when it came out.
"Put that cookie down. NOW!"
That is Arnold Schwarzenegger's best line ever.
I remember loving this movie when I was a kid. Unfortunately it has not aged very well and is pretty dated now!
Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching it and will likely watch it again next year!
Quite possibly my favourite comedy. I have seen this more than a dozen times and yet, it simply doesn't get old.
Mmmm yessss well... I'm going to need you to watch this ok? That'd be greeeat.
I get that it's useless as an adaption of the Godzilla-franchise.
But aside from that I think this movie is amazing. The plot was well structured, , and it was surprisingly scientific for a movie of this genre.
What Kong: Skull Island may lack in substance, it makes up for with sheer excitement.
Finally, a thrilling adventure movie, like in the olden days, but with the added creative possibilities offered by modern technology. Breathtaking scenery, a straightforward plot and jaw-dropping action sequences make this new Kong iteration a thoroughly entertaining movie, with Vogt-Roberts' dynamic direction not allowing for an instant of dullness. And the colors! In an era in which each movie has to be desaturated to feel epic, Kong really felt as a breath of fresh air.
The movie isn't without its faults though, mainly regarding some underdeveloped characters that are clearly cannon fodder, a bit of over-reliance on the tone contrast between comedic and tragic and some rapidly switching character motivations. It could really have used 15 minutes more.
These faults are, however, dwarfed by the pure experience. An incredible visual treat with no shortage of excitement. Solid 7.5.
Honestly after all the fuss, all the hype, all the money spent to finish this...we’ve essentially got basically the exact same movie.
Sure this fixes some of the issues with the theatrical version, removing the kinda pointless Russian family scenes for example. However instead it replaces them with other unnecessary scenes, like the Flash saving a woman who I think is supposed to be Iris West not that she ever says her name or does this have any bearing on the rest of the movie. Sprinkle in a little bit of Darkside where he wasn’t before and pad out with long slow mo sequences motion and establishment shots.
I’m not saying this is terrible, it’s not, just most of what works is already present in the theatrical cut, its just stretched out. I thought the theatrical was fine a 6/10 with some issues...this cut is the same a 6/10 improves on some aspects but is just a bit too long and replaces the old issues with slightly different ones.
Between these two different versions is a good 7/10 2 and a half to 3 hour movie somewhere.
To what purpose for the storyline was the part with Millie Bobby Brown in this movie? Completely pointless.
I had a day to gather my thoughts and I think I need to watch this again. This movie is a hot mess. The script seems so bare bones, but with so many opportunities to be biased at the same time, combined with terrible actors.
The first death, Lindsey, is shown as the girl walking home alone at night, but when she is attacked she barely tries to escape, instead deciding to stick around instead of calling security or running away. Boom, dead.
Riley, an abuse victim, is studying at a university with a long history steeped in the appreciation of men. She was sexually assaulted 3 years prior by the former head of another frat house who drugged and raped her. Unfortunately she never sought therapy, and all her sorority sisters either don't acknowledge it or tell her in so many words to get over it, coercing her into joining their shit dance number as their 4th with the knowledge that her abuser is there.
Riley seems to have some history with her teacher who singles her out during class, blaming her for a petition to fire him. In reality it is her social justice warrior friend begging students to sign the petition. She is loud and proud, however, stomps all over riley throughout the movie. She's a terrible friend.
In the sorority house, there is evidence of strange happenings but no one except Riley acknowledges it. For almost the entire movie the cat is missing. Girls are bring attacked and going missing but no one takes it seriously. Riley goes to campus security and is almost comically shut down. The guard even tries to say, boys will be boys. We get it, the movie is feminist, but just stop shoving it down our throats.
The bodies of the deceased are hidden around the school but no one even finds them until the climax. The actual twist of the movie was pretty good. I really liked it, but the getting there was so terrible and garbage. Even the camera work is shit and I don't get whats going on with the sound and echoing.
There's one particular scene where the girl with the cat gets choked and when the bad guy pulls the christmas lights around her neck, the camera abruptly zooms in like it was done post production. The same effect youtubers use for comedy.
There's a bust of the school founder and when put in a specific frat house, it activates the spirit of the founder, who encourages men to behave like alphas. Their hazing ritual includes reciting a Latin inscription and smearing a black liquid on the pledge which possesses him with the spirit of the founder. Riley has an opportunity to destroy it but just chooses to do everything so slowly.
I feel like this movie is terrible but I'm not sure.
Nice historical movie, a bit slow sometimes, but totally enjoyable. Saoirse Ronan made a great work with her performance; Margot Robbie has been wonderful as always.
Black people playing the role of british lords and asian actresses as court ladies are the big mistake of the movie. The politically correct counts more than historical facts.
An honorable mention goes to the customs, which got the nomination for Oscar 2019.
Very cheaply made. Terrible acting and story. As usual, trailer is better than the movie.
This was definitely more for Godzilla fans than it was for critics. It was way better than the 2014 film that got Certified Fresh. The film is just badass. Not perfect but....bad ass.
They do over-do the family drama again though. Especially when the family drama makes no sense. Mark Russel (Kyle Chandler) blames Godzilla for the death of his son. He wants all monsters dead.
Mark’s wife Emma (Vera Farmiga) says screw mankind. The monsters will cure the planet of Climate Change. So yeah in another words who cares if anyone else loses family members. Due to her plan to unleash all monsters.
Her daughter Madison (Millie Bobbie Brown) sticks with her. Despite her mom teaming with some bad men with guns. Who kill some nice scientists right in front of her. So yeah, Mark is the sanest one in that family.
Even if there’s too much of the humans and a silly plot. This is the best of the Hollywood Godzilla movies. Critics are just wrong. One even said the Roland Emmerich version is better. What drugs is that critic on ?
The battles are some of the best done of any monster vs monster battle. Unlike the first film this one has a ton of Godzilla history to it. It shows him way more and shows the character great respect.
I will never go Mcdonalds.
Terrible.
Update to my original 2021 review with new 2022 content. Will Smith's slap was more thrilling than this movie!
It is hard to come to a film like Psycho without at least some awareness of the likely surprises in store - the famous moment in the shower is so indelible in pop culture that it has lost its shock factor. Yet, in the context of the film it is still a surprising moment. What is so clever about Psycho is that the first half of the film suggests an entirely different genre and approach. Hitchcock creates a fascinating set-up and moral dilemma that keeps the audience intrigued so that by the time our heroine makes her decision to resolve this issue, you could be forgiven for forgetting the title of the film. But it is the arrival at the Bates Motel and Perkins’ entrance that immediately signals a change in tone, specifically a fascinating conversation between Perkins and Leigh in the motel parlour. It is Perkins’s nuanced performance throughout the film that suggest both a softly spoken innocence and a creepy underlying darkness to Norman Bates, and this is never more clear than in his introduction, as the focus of the audience shifts from Leigh’s character to Perkins. There is little to be added to the already iconic shower scene other than it is a masterclass in editing, music and performance (the shot that pulls back from the victim’s eye is still both horrifying and utterly mesmerising). The second half of the film could have struggled to live up to this and to a certain extent it does, but in the ensuing investigation, Hitchcock of course has one or two more surprises in store that are best left unspoiled and Perkins’ performance ensured that the loss of one great character would not be detrimental to the overall film. It is a shame the final scene feels the need to over explain the events of the film, but the final shot certainly leaves a great impression.
Honestly, what the hell is this?
I was smiling the entire movie. The level of detail and care that went into this film is incredible. Tributes from the first game to the last mario game. Yes, it's a children's movie, yes, the screenplay is not a masterpiece and yes, you will like it more if you are fan of the games. But it's a fun ride from start to finish.
Night is Short, Walk on Girl is a town found at the wrong stop of a strange train, where nothing is familiar and your bearings are as lost as you are. A place where you wander aimlessly, happy to be adrift and praying you won't be home anytime soon.
Based on an illustrated Japanese novel, Night is Short... is a collection of tales revolving around a young girl on a road trip through a long night that's not long enough as she meets characters who are characters and has the kind of time you'll recognise as that one special night that came together in ways you never could have planned and still feeds you memories in nights cold enough to leave you alone.
I'm not an expert of Japanese animation (the artwork here is gorgeous) but I am a connaisseur of sincerity and this film has enough to fill the strongest of nights to the brim.
I've had an amazing experience watching the movie premiere in Venice, I've been waiting for this movie for a long time and I was not disappointed in the slightest.
It's a gorgeous movie, it's disturbing but moving at the same time, violent at times, but also subtle. It's a different and fresh spin on the character and on the cinecomic genre as a whole and Phoenix delivers an amazing performance portraying a version of the Joker we've never seen before, he's not the villain of someone else's story, he is the hero and villain of HIS own story, and the audience can be orrified by him, but we can't help but feel for him at times.
Without giving anything away I would recommend to go and see the movie not expecting to go and see an action packed, but gritty cinecomic, I suggest going in and watch it pretending that it's not even about a famous comic villain, but simply a movie, I think that people will appreciate it more in that way, not comparing it to the cinecomics we've seen before, but thinking of it as a normal movie.
P.S.: People will of course compare Phoenix to Ledger, I don't think it's possible, they give a totally different percormance because they portray totally different versions of the character, and I think it's going to be hard to compare them, you either prefere Ledger's version or Phoenix's but only based on the character, the actor's performances cannot be judged by comparison, they're both great. Just enjoy the movie
Astonishing performance. It’s a really good movie and worth watching if you are both a fan and a movie lover.
This is THE DEFINITIVE Superman movie. With truly spectacular cinematography, a heartwarming coming of age story, enthralling action and perhaps the best superhero movie soundtrack ever from Hans Zimmer, this movie hits every beat for Superman fans new and old.
As a DC comics fan growing up, the critical response to this movie prevented me going to watch it at the theatre. I mean who wants one of their favourite superheroes being "humourless", "too violent", and "not epic enough"??? Well, I can truly sit here now having said "lesson learned". Never again will I allow critical response to prevent me from experiencing something I had waited a lifetime for. I will never get to see Man of Steel in the theatre, and this movie was shot for the big screen. Some of the shots are truly beautiful, especially when he wakes up in the ocean with whales, and when he learns to fly in the snowy mountains.
The story is often criticised for not having the kookiness of the original four movies with Christopher Reeve - and don't misunderstand this for hating on the first few iterations, I have nothing but fond memories of growing up with those films - but I challenge anyone to watch those movies now and claim that they still hold up. A truly great movie as well as standing the test of time, has rewatch value, and Man of Steel is one of the few superhero movies that I have watched time and time again. This requires a great story.
The story of this movie focuses on a boys relationship with his fathers, and his coming of age through those guises. His cautious and protective Earth father who tought him the morality and goodness we expect from our Superman, who sacrificed himself in order to keep his sons secret; and his Kryptonian father who encouraged him to embrace his difference and be the man Earth needs him to be.
A bonus is that the relationship between Lois and Clark doesn't seem forced. You get to see how she is a great investigative reporter and through her reporting she discovers Superman's true identity. By protecting it, you can see Clark's appreciation and the weight of not being able to talk about it to anyone - something that bothers him throughout the great flashback scenes as wonderfully portrayed by Dylan Sprayberry and Cooper Timberline - being lifted.
The character development of the antagonist, General Zod is done in a way other superhero movies can only be envious of. The message that this character, like all other Kryptonians are born with a specific purpose, in this case to protect Krypton at all costs, comes across well. From his perspective he is the superhero of his own story, trying to save his planet and his people, and that is the truest of tests for supervillain development.
And this brings me to the epic and controversial (for some reason) third act. As mentioned earlier, Superman has a strong moral code instilled in him by Jonathan Kent, which is shown throughout the flashbacks. Any observer who doesn't see that Snyders portrayal of Superman has the most morality of any Superman in cinematic history is simply not paying attention. He doesn't spin the Earth backwards to rewind time just to save his girlfriend like in the original, and he doesnt go back to Smallville and hook up with Lana because the love of his life Lois is ignoring him a little bit like in Superman III. That Superman, despite all of his displayed morality (e.g. where he refrains from fighting the bullies) feels he must kill General Zod is one of the most powerful moments in superhero movie history. He repeatedly begs Zod to give up his quest to destroy Earth and humans now that his quest to return Krypton has failed. Zod makes it clear as day that he will NEVER give up, and that he will destroy humanity at all costs as an act of revenge. What was Clark supposed to do? He was left with no choice! Add to this the fact that Zod's laser beams were inches away from killing a whole family, Superman reluctantly had to break his neck. Yet unlike other superheroes he did not gloat in victory, the pain and anguish in that scream that follows is filled with the heartbreak of breaking both his moral code and killing one of the few other fellow Kryptonians in the universe.
Overall, this movie gets better every single time I watch it. If you haven't watched it since it came out and had mixed feelings the first time, please give this movie another try without the immediate negative reviews that were extensively covered in the media at the time of release. It truly deserves it. Man of Steel is THE DEFINITIVE Superman movie.
THIS COMMENT IS REPLYING TO THE OPINION IN THE BLACK ENTERTAINMENT SECTION...You have a very skewed view of people. Why would you think the producers and writers hate black people? Are you really serious about your comments? Questioning foolish things like the lighting. You sound like someone trying to sound smart, but isn't. Does Black Panther have bad lighting also? You are the kind of person that keep black people from prospering because you just keep perpetuating the hate.
What degrading photos are on the covers of these movies? You should be glad they even made the movie. I agree that the casting for black people in the past leaves something to be desired, but that's changing. Black actors have to work also, what do you want them to do, reject a movie just to make an unknown point? You just need to lighten up, no pun intended, and try to have a better outlook on your own people.
The last 15 minutes are rushed and spoil the integrity of the entire movie, especially that unecessary ‘courtesy tap’ quote at the movies final scene. Good not great.
The Invisible Man is a car in a skid: it has suspense that just goes around in circles until it all falls apart predictably at the end.
Basically, this is a remake of every 80s movie where someone in control (stepfather, building superintendent, roommate) abuses the victim for 90% of the film until the 'surprise' ending that we saw coming so early it shouldn't be called the ending.
Too bad, really, because Elisabeth Moss gives it her all (and she's got so much to give) and the moments of suspense were well constructed.
Contains major spoilers !!!!!
Huge and utterly dissapointing. After TFA I said this movie would make or break the story. For me it broke.
Where to begin? Let´s start with my biggest problem.
After that rebel cruisers bridge was hit and Leia was thrown into space we saw her drifting in the cold empty vacuum of space. This was a powerful scene and I had tears welling up in my eyes thinking that would be a great ending for the character dying how she always lived. Fighting. I did not realise, or care, that it would have been a huge coincidence had they written this scene at that point not knowing Carrie would pass away. But as I said powerful scene. And then she opens her eyes and floated back into the ship still beeing alive. At that point I was seriously considering leaving the cinema. It´s scifi but, please, without as much as a hint of an explanation that is just awful writing. It is Disney all over it. Anyway I stayed and watched the rest but in general I was done with the movie.
There are tons of other things I didn´t like.
way to much unnessesary and stupid humor. Most of the time it does not fit and just destroys scenes. Holding for General Hux - that might have been OK once but two or three times it just becomes goofy. And there is more of this througout the movie.
the writing was all over the place. So much things going on that do little to nothing for the general plot and just add playtime. Like that whole thing with the codebreaker, going to the casino. Just sugarcoating CGI.
and speaking of playtime - way too long. About five times towards the end I thought it was over. It could have ended when the reached the rebel base- no let´s add another battle. When they realised they where trapped. With Luke going out to face Kylo. At some point I would have been OK with the movie ending with the First Order defeating the rebels, everyone dying, and the franchise done with. But of course that is not happening and the movie ends.....no, just show us a kid with a broom looking at the stars and indicate he could be the hero of a future movie.
in many ways the continuation of storylines is not satisfiying. They introduce Snoke in the first movie without an explanation who he is, where he comes from and how he got there. Would have been OK, could have done later. So now he´s dead without so much as a fight and there are questions left to be answered.
what about Rey ? Are we really to believe her parents were some drunk and drifting scavengers that sold her for money like Ren said ? That would be very stupid because how in the universe could she master the Force in ways even the best Jedis or Sith couldn´t without as much as years of training. Another void in the storytelling.
too many, shall I call them, homage scenes ? A lot of times I felt I had already seen this movie. The scene in the throne room f.e. Snoke = Emperor, Rey = Luke, Ben = Vader, the destruction of the rebel fleet playing in the background and the Ben killing Snoke is like Vader killing the Emperor. I know that was said about TFA as well but I feel it´s much worse here. The Battle of Hoth reviseted would be another thing where they re-did some scenes to a T. All that was left was tow cables.
Those are just some examples of the things I disliked and maybe there could be satisfactory explanation later. There is a lot more but it would take too much time to write it down. But I doubt I will go to the cinema for the next one.
To be fair there where some positives in this movie.
I liked the scenes with Rey and Luke althought they did not really lead anywhere. But some nice insights into Lukes story after ROTJ.
The conversations between Kylo and Rey where very interesting and I thought there was really potential to steer the story to something new and exciting. Not happening.
So overall I was not satisfied. I really like TFA, it built some expectations that where all crushed with this. As far as I am concerned I am done with this new story. I am not not very eager to find out what else the canibalise and how they try to write themselves out of this. There is nothing left.
This is my view of the movie. If you liked it I´m happy for you.
May the Force be with us. Always.
I pushed back watching this for a while now. I did not want to go through what I went through when I watched Clannad. Yet here I am... feeling so down after watching this amazing piece of art. It makes me wonder what kind of life I'm living, and why I feel so empty after watching Anime such as this one.
Friendship is an amazing thing, but not everyone gets to experience it... Anxiety, depression, social awkwardness, etc. This Anime really puts that into perspective, among many other things.
My final thoughts: If you have not watched this yet, or you are trying to decide whether you should, please know that this Anime is an emotional roller coaster, and you will likely cry or feel very depressed after watching this. I pushed back watching this because I did not want to cry, but I watched it tonight and have no regrets. Watch this masterpiece when you are ready, and don't force yourself into it. I'm glad I waited.
Better action movie than Endgame. Fite me.