Going to watch this in a block screening was me “getting it over with” as the trilogy had been questionable in execution thus far. I had already given up on it bearing the weight of the original trilogy’s legacy due to what the previous two films had established. I didn’t have expectations of a satisfying conclusion, but still have a mindset of wanting to enjoy it. What I got was a Star Wars film I somewhat liked, albeit with plenty of caveats.
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One of the most unique experiences I’ve had in a cinema was the end of Avengers: Infinity War. The palpable silence that followed, with everyone in the theater wondering if the movie was really over and the Avengers really lost was quite something. Unlike what I feel about whatever follows Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I was actually excited about this one. I had not been able to write a review on Avengers: Infinity War, so I’ll make up for it by doing this one. (more…)
Nowadays, it’s obvious that Star Wars has one of the most fickle fandoms in pop culture. Putting movies out over a decade after the much-maligned prequel trilogy can do that to a franchise so beloved, yet so battered by disappointments over the years. The collective love is so strong that it borders cognitive dissonance, and being able to have something to say about a new Star Wars movie is the mark of a person wanting to be seemingly in-the-know, whether they do care or not. With this review of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I shall add to that noise. (more…)
If you really want a serious Jackie Chan movie that’s actually good, watch Shinjuku Incident. Otherwise, this film isn’t that surprising for him at this stage in his career. He has always done action-comedy hybrids, so of course he would want to take some detours as he gets older and his body becomes less resilient to the wear and tear he has put himself through over his career. In any case, at first glance, I see The Foreigner like it’s Taken on Prozac. (more…)
As with most media featuring World War II as the setting, I had to take a look at this film. There are also two Winston Churchill biopics this year, and I may get to them later this year. But whatever they may be, I’m willing to bet that this film by Christopher Nolan can still blow them out of the water as it’s perhaps one of the best treatments of a WW2 event I’ve seen in cinema thus far. (more…)
There’s this thing with Marvel movies I couldn’t put my finger on until now. I had previously reviewed Doctor Strange and thought that while it was good, it wasn’t the best and was even generic in tone. It seems that there’s something about the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s signature style of storytelling that combines seriousness with levity, which worked for a good while. However, something recently came up that may put a damper on its current and upcoming films, including Spider-Man: Homecoming. (more…)
How many more Spider-Man movies should we get? At this point, I’d expect the webslinger to actually lay eggs, but that’s exactly what this film actually does as far as Spidey goes. With Marvel actually having a hand in Spider-Man: Homecoming instead of Sony just hogging it all for themselves, we finally get one that’s going to be a part of a larger continuity. The creative decisions taken with it were interesting, and the future of this Peter Parker is indeed promising. (more…)
There was a bit of a struggle in writing this Wonder Woman film review, thus the long-ass time it took for me to post this. Not only was it because I wanted to do a review video as well, but also because I had to dig deep inside of me to write this without offending sensibilities. It was so tempting to make allusions to “premature ejaculation” in describing my viewing experience. It was not I who blew my load early, but the film itself. I sincerely apologize for being crass there. (more…)
What I found myself thinking after watching Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was how much better it was than Suicide Squad. However, it was only well after I had been engrossed by the characters and how their backgrounds—established in the first movie—were expanded upon, thus making for a satisfying conclusion and an opening for what could be an epic third installment. While I still like the first one more for its cohesiveness, I do like this one for its character development and the neatness of its writing. (more…)
As I like to call it, “The Last of Us Movie: Mutant Edition.” I’ve been looking forward to watching Logan since the first trailer hit. The premise and its thematic similarities to The Last of Us are what got me intrigued. I’ve had a general disdain for the X-Men film series over the years, but this one looked and felt different right from the get-go. I knew immediately there was something special to it, despite my friends’ warnings. Perhaps it was just a well-made trailer and nothing more, but it seems my intuition was right (for once). (more…)
Superhero origin stories are formulaic in structure. The protagonists start in a position of either weakness or strength, and they’re taken to the opposite side of things in an accident or as punishment for hubris. They then go through a crisis, questioning their own identity and value system, and they then experience growth. He/she then gains something of power, which lets them transcend their own limitations and helps them save the day. They then become better both as new superheroes and as human beings. It’s no different here in Doctor Strange, but it does do certain things differently. (more…)
Continuing the DC streak (because I failed to review Captain America: Civil War), Suicide Squad seems to have as divisive as the new Ghostbusters, or maybe more as critics have been panning it. Perhaps they still have Batman v Superman in their minds and Marvel to compare cinematic successes with. Suicide Squad does deserve a fair viewing befitting its hype, which isn’t as much of an oxymoron as some of you would like to think. (more…)
