Justice Society: World War II

POSITIVES…

  • When is it not entertaining seeing DC Heroes like Wonder Woman, Flash, Hawkman, etc.. as a team, doing what you love seeing them doing? Being heroes. Plus, they are fighting Nazis too? 

  • Several surprising plot reveals to keep you hooked on where the movie is going. 

  • There’s a lot to like about how the heroes are portrayed in this animated movie. Characterization is excellent. 

  • The action choreography is top-notch in this. Fantastic action sequences. 

  • Especially with Wonder Woman and Flash. Lots of really cool action beats from them. 

  • Voice actors are good in their roles, so kudos to them. 

  • Animation style has this simple but unique thing going for it. Stands out from the standard fare you normally would see. 

  • Fans will appreciate the scenes where Barry Allen Flash and Jay Garrick Flash are working together.

NEGATIVES…

  • Very reliant on it’s plot-heavy story that is unfortunately to it’s deterrent. 

  • Some will argue that the plot progression is kinda basic. 

  • Honestly could have been longer. 

  • Steve Trevor. Not to throw too much shade at the guy, but I really didn’t care too much about the running shtick they have going with him here.

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

Justice Society: World War II - watched it on VIDEO ON DEMAND

The Father

POSITIVES…

  • Fascinating movie that purposefully keeps you guessing about it’s plot progression. 

  • Perfectly disorienting narrative, that thematically fits very well with the story. 

  • Anthony Hopkins is absolutely amazing in this, and might arguably be his best work yet. 

  • Olivia Colman is truly fantastic in this, and easily takes on those highly emotional moments. 

  • Supporting cast is great as well, from Rufus Sewell, Mark Gatiss, Imogen Poots, and Olivia Williams. 

  • Dramatically profound and a stark reminder or warning about getting old. 

  • Just heartbreaking. Especially that final act. 

  • There are some nice visual directing touches to accommodate the fact this movie is set in one location.

NEGATIVES…

  • Starts off a little bit slow, and doesn’t really kick into gear until about 20 minutes in. 

  • Very much a talking heads kinda film with mostly just dialogue to listen to, which may not be engaging for some movie goers.

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The Father - watched it on VIDEO ON DEMAND

Mortal Kombat (2021)

POSITIVES…

  • Fans of the video game franchise wanted a more bloody and violent movie adaptation, and they got it here. 

  • Those gory fatalities are what the fans want to see, and there are some good ones to witness. 

  • Joe Taslim and Hiroyuki Sanada are in this, and they are pretty awesome. 

  • Josh Lawson as Kano is probably the most entertaining element of this movie. 

  • There are some cool fight set pieces to see; especially during the third act, so that’s a plus. 

  • Some nice special effects and visual flair that I appreciate seeing in this movie. 

  • Easter eggs and call-backs to the video game can be so fun.

NEGATIVES…

  • Easter eggs and call-backs to the video game can be so cringey. 

  • Story felt surprisingly lackluster and not epic enough for the world building it tries to create. Just falls under the weight of its own ambitions. 

  • Plot contrivances and just general nonsense ruins things a bit. 

  • Fight choreography seemed uninspired and not that memorable.  

  • The way the movie concludes is such a huge let down. 

  • Gotta say. Even though the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie adaptation was cheezy and cheap looking, I think I actually had more fun watching that.

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Mortal Kombat (2021) - watched it on HBO MAX

Stowaway

POSITIVES…

  • Simple but interesting and fascinating premise for a space travel film.

  • The first 15 minutes was a nice way to start things off, in a movie filled with good engaging scenes throughout, that includes the initial catalyst to the premise, those personal moments shared, to the big tense set piece during the third act.

  • Daniel Dae Kim as Daniel Kim is excellent handling some random character beats that the plot requires of him.

  • Anna Kendrick as Zoe Levenson is fun to watch in those light-hearted and heavily dramatic scenes.

  • Shamier Anderson as Michael Adams is good as the "regular guy" that is put in such an impossible situation.

  • Toni Collette as Commander Barnett is top notch at talking to a "Jim" that's speaking indistinctly.

  • There are great interactions between the characters that are undeniably one of the main strengths of this film.

  • From the careful pacing, the perfect tone, the plot progression, the musical score, cinematography, etc, there's a lot to be appreciated.

  • Considering this movie is predominantly set in one location, I give extra huge props to the set design.

NEGATIVES…

  • It's easy to criticize the main plot caveat to the premise as highly improbable. I mean seriously.

  • Just to emphasize the point, it really has some eye rolling "you've got to be kidding me!" plot conveniences, that I really could have lived without.

  • Not everybody is going to be happy with how it concludes.

  • May not be a movie that moves fast enough for some people.

  • Oh look, it has a stereotypical introduction scene about jazz. When did this trope become a… trope?

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Stowaway - watched it on NETFLIX

Thunder Force

POSITIVES…

  • As a superhero movie done with irreverent humor, that bit of satire, and has a simple enough playful premise,  it's actually okay for what it’s going for. 

  • The movie also doesn't take itself seriously at all, but it has heart when it matters, so I'll give it that recognition as well. 

  • Kudos to Melissa McCarthy for going all out with her outrageous role, and Octavia Spencer for essentially playing the "straight man" in the duo. It's easy to root for those two. 

  • Supporting cast were solid with their characters as well. Taylor Mosby, Jason Bateman, Bobby Cannavale, Ben Falcone, Pom Klementieff, and more. 

  • Gotta admit, I found the training days scenes pretty amusing. 

  • There are some running jokes that I did enjoy. 

  • I liked the soundtrack. Good choices of songs in this. 

  • If you like dumb lowbrow humor, then this movie might just be for you.

NEGATIVES…

  • It's still dumb lowbrow humor, so this definitely won't be for everyone.

  • Remember, comedy is subjective, but I'd like to say that there's a lot of jokes here that just do not land at all. 

  • There are several pop culture references, and it's cringe worthy a lot of the time. 

  • Why is the stupid "don't touch anything" joke and or plot trope still a thing?! 

  • Oh. Needless to say. The plot is pretty dumb, nonsensical, obvious, cliché, uninspired, mediocre, and pushes your buttons at how much stupid you can put up with. 

  • Action sequences aren't anything to write about either. 

  • There's all this reference to Van Halen, but I'm thinking it really should have been AC/DC instead. Thunder Force. Thunderstruck? c’mon!

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Thunder Force - watched it on NETFLIX

Night In Paradise (Nagwonui bam)

POSITIVE…

  • Has an interesting premise between the drama of the two main leads, the gang strife, and the particular location of the story. 

  • The pacing and tone fits well with the dark and violent story that’s mixed with melancholia and tragedy. 

  • Uhm Tae-goo as the serious gangster in hiding, and Jeon Yeo-been as the unpredictable woman he meets who is angry at life, both of them are fantastic in this! 

  • Supporting cast are also great in this. Seung-Won Cha, Park Ho-San, Lee Ki-young, plus more. 

  • Interactions between Tae-gu and Jae-yeon are definitely some of the highlights of watching this film. 

  • There’s this important meeting during a meal that was fascinating to watch. 

  • Several of the action sequences were nicely done. 

  • That last 30 minutes was just wow. 

  • Has some excellent cinematography here. 

  • Jeju Island is kinda like a character to itself.

NEGATIVE…

  • Yes, it’s yet another Asian movie about criminals and or gangsters. 

  • Might be too melodramatic in some of the plot points. 

  • It can get bloody violent. Hope you don’t mind.

  • Some people will not like how it concludes.

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Night In Paradise (Nagwonui bam) - watched it on NETFLIX

Insight

POSITIVES…

  • Efficient. In 3 mins, you already know the relevant background history of the main character, what he can do, and the premise. 

  • Isn't exactly breaking new grounds in the martial arts action genre, but there is a comfortable familiarity for those who like these kinds of movies. 

  • Story moves at a good enough pace, and keeps you generally engaged as much as it possibly could. 

  • The martial arts work by Ken Zheng is essentially the main reason to watch this. 

  • Kudos to Madeline Zima who is a real trooper in this. 

  • It's nice to see some familiar faces in John Savage, Tony Todd, Keith David, Sean Patrick Flannery (who looks amazing in his 50s!), and even François Chau who shows up in an almost cameo fashion. 

  • I think the concept and idea to the premise is solid enough that it could absolutely work as a procedural TV series. I probably would watch it.

NEGATIVES…

  • Cliches. Tropes. Conventional. Unmemorable. You know what to expect. 

  • There are some eye rolling plot conveniences and plot points here. 

  • Wished the camera work would have been better for the action scenes. 

  • Although understandable, this can't quite get away from looking like a film with low production value. 

  • Almost felt like it struggled a bit to make that barely 80 minutes run time. 

  • Drinking game challenge: Take a shot whenever you see or hear the name “Vortex.”

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Insight - watched it on VIDEO ON DEMAND

Chaos Walking

POSITIVES…

  • Story’s concept is definitely interesting, fascinating, and provocative. 

  • Visualization of “the noise,” and the idea behind it in the science fiction fantasy gimmick kinda way, was cool. 

  • It’s got a solid ensemble cast, from Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Mads Mikkelsen, Demián Bichir, David Oyelowo, Nick Jonas, and more. 

  • Tom Holland in particular really does the most heavy lifting carrying this movie, in that heroic way, and even as the comedic relief. 

  • The somewhat nice and comic moments between Holland and Ridley are probably the best parts of watching this. 

  • There’s a theme here about discovering things for the first time that I appreciated. 

  • Has a lot of social commentaries about sexism, ignorance, politics, survival, and many more, crammed into this one movie.

NEGATIVES…

  • There’s a lot of voice-over monologue in this that might annoy people. “I am Todd Hewitt.” YES, WE KNOW! 

  • Some big plot conveniences and one big plot hole. Don’t roll back your eyes too much. 

  • What is this, a dystopian world YA story with all the trappings and cliche plot tropes? 

  • That big stand-off set piece was just dumb. Just stupid at how it plays out. 

  • It kinda has a cynical perspective about men and women. Maybe too cynical? 

  • DoesTheDogDie.com

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Chaos Walking - watched it on VIDEO ON DEMAND

Concrete Cowboy

POSITIVES…

  • It’s an interesting take on a classic familiar premise of a trouble kid learning the real lessons of life. 

  • The history, life, and family of the Black urban cowboys in the city of Philadelphia is not fiction. Appreciated how this film brings that to light. 

  • Caleb McLaughlin as Cole is great as the main protagonist we are following in this story. 

  • Excellent supporting cast, from Idris Elba, Jharrel Jerome, Jamil Prattis, Lorraine Toussaint, plus many more from the Fletcher Street Stables. 

  • Some good scenes in this, that specifically personal one between McLaughlin and Elba, or the dynamics between the characters of Cole and Smush. 

  • All those scenes about being an urban cowboy with those horses. Good stuff. 

  • “Horses ain’t the only thing that need breaking around here.” 

  • At one point, there was an actual horse shit cam.

NEGATIVES…

  • People thinking this is a full blown Idris Elba leading movie will probably be disappointed. 

  • Moves at a slow methodical pace, but some might think it’s moving too slow. 

  • As expected, there are some familiar plot cliches and tropes. 

  • Despite the interesting parts involving the Fletcher Street Stables, there’s a very conventional plot progression here as well.

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

Concrete Cowboy - watched it on NETFLIX

Godzilla vs. Kong

POSITIVES…

  • You know why you want to see this movie. You want to see Godzilla fight King Kong. You get what you wished for. 

  • That first huge choreographed set piece when Godzilla and Kong first meet. Amazingly done! 

  • Visual effects are top notch, with Godzilla and Kong looking fantastic! The sense of scale at how gigantic these titans are still amazes me. 

  • Speaking of which, there really is some beautiful imagery to be seen here. 

  • On that note, the second half of this is filled with such wonder. 

  • Pacing moves at a quick pace, that builds up that sense of urgency that fits perfectly with the tone of this movie. 

  • Gotta give props to the screenwriting by Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein, and direction by Adam Wingard. It’s impressive at how adept they were in juggling everything going on in this one engaging story. Efficient! Doesn’t even break the two hours mark! 

  • Liked the bits of humor sprinkled here and there. 

  • "It's just so massive. It's so stupid."

  • Plot involving Brian Tyree Henry, Millie Bobby Brown, and Julian Dennison. Fun stuff! 

  • The whole thing with Kong, Kaylee Hottle, Rebecca Hall, and Alexander Skarsgård, are great! 

  • Those mini music videos that Kong gets. Love 'em!

NEGATIVES…

  • Let’s be honest here. The plot isn’t exactly deep.

  • Some will argue that there's a clear bias favoring King Kong here over Godzilla. Team Kong won’t mind, but Team Godzilla might.

  • Then there are those who would prefer this movie not have the human characters in it at all.

  • Inept security measures. Oh there's that trope again. 

  • Yeah, certain familiar plot cliches, conveniences, and coincidences, will make you roll your eyes. 

  • Sometimes you just have to wonder why they always seem to constantly put young kids in unnecessary danger in these movies.

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Godzilla vs. Kong - watched it on HBO MAX