Kong: Skull Island Review

     Kong: Skull Island is officially in theaters and bigger then ever. Directed by Kings of Summer helmer Jordan Vogt-Roberts, this is the next film in Kong and Godzilla shared universe. Although this film greatly differentiates itself from Godzilla (2014) in many ways, they both suffer from some the same flaws including character development and lack of intriguing story. Fortunately though, this movie is saved because of its incredible visuals and spectacular monster brawls.
     The overwhelming positivity of this movie are the monster fights. King Kong is bigger in size then ever (probably getting in shape for Kong vs. Godzilla (2020)). Having the movie take place in Skull Island enhances the film because we see all these different monsters that inhabit the island. Unlike Godzilla, we are introduced to Kong immediately in this movie and that greatly strengthens the movie because it helps audiences to root for him during all of his fights.

     It has monster vs. monster fights and human vs. monster so what more could you ask for? The biggest risk with making a monster centered movie is the visual work that comes with it and luckily this movie pulls it off quite well. Obviously your brain is going to associate the ape as CGI because 100 foot monkeys don't actually exist but there are some incredible sequences that will blow away audiences.
     It's a great movie to shove popcorn down your throat and turn your brain off. Unfortunately for me my expectations were more then that leading up and that's what led to my disappointment in some parts of the film.
     The biggest flaw with this movie is the character development. I understand when seeing a Kong movie you just want a great monster movie and that's perfectly understandable. Unfortunately for me, the marketing for this movie led me to believe that this movie could be so much more than that. This includes a star studded cast with Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman, Brie Larson, and Corey Hawkins. All their talent is fairly wasted though because the lack of character exploration. The only real character that is explored is Hank played by John C. Reilly. To me it just felt like a waste of the A-list talent that you had at your disposal.
     The dialogue in this movie is something that should also be noted as a flaw. There are moments when you can tell these stars are trying their best to deliver these lines and it will still make you cringe. It almost feels like a TV science fiction movie. The screenplay was written by Dan Gilroy who is a very talented writer but it seems as though he had a bad day at the office when writing Kong. Some the humor falls flat as well which is really surprising when you at how well Jordan Vogt-Roberts has done with humor in his previous films.
     I would recommend seeing this film in theaters because it suits the big screen very well. Unfortunately for me I built up my expectations too much to think it could be a lot better then just a monster movie in which you shut your brain off.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Logan Review

     When Hugh Jackman was cast as the iconic mutant Wolverine back in 1999, nerds everywhere cried out in panic. They thought there was no way that this tall, Australian guy could possibly pull off the beloved character. Well fast forward to 2017 and he's immensely loved by not only comic fans but movie fans as well. Unfortunately all good runs must come to an end though and James Mangold's Logan is believed to be Jackman's last appearance of the metal clawed, beast. Although the first solo Wolverine film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), was a disaster for fans even though Jackman did the role duty. Next time we saw Jackman in a solo movie was in The Wolverine (2013) and although the film was significantly better then its predecessor, fans still weren't completely fulfilled. Luckily, Logan is not only a brilliant superhero film and send off for Hugh Jackman but also an incredible film that should strike a chord with any audience that sees it.
     Logan takes place in 2029 in west Texas and things aren't quite what they used to be. Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) is struggling and needs Wolverine to help him get through the days. When a mysterious young girl arrives, Wolverine will learn there's much more to the girl then meets the eye.

     One of the best aspects of this film is how well it stands out on its own. Logan is a film that audiences will genuinely enjoy even if they've never seen any of the prior X-Men movies. It's truly a western film merged with the superhero genre and fires on all cylinders. This film is unlike all the other Wolverine films due to its R-rating and it definitely utilizes the benefits that come with. Although it takes some time to get used to all the cussing, the violence in this is what every fan has ever wanted with the character of Wolverine. The action choreography in this movie is fantastically done and the cinematography enhances it greatly. Seeing Wolverine fight with X-23 (not a spoiler since it was in the trailers) is a delight for any comic fan.
     The performances of this movie are amazing. This is Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart's last go around with these characters and they absolutely deliver. This is Jackman's best performance ever with the X-Men franchise and probably the best of his career overall. One of the surprise performances comes from the character of Laura or X-23 played by Dafne Keen. I am always worried with child actors and she was incredible in this. Although she doesn't have a lot of dialogue, her action scenes are incredible and from what I've gathered she did a lot of her own stunts.
     The pacing of the movie is very slow since it's ultimately a character piece but the payoff is well worth the wait. This is one of my Top 5 favorite movies within the superhero genre and I highly recommend you see it in the theaters.

Rating: 9.6 out of 10

Get Out Review

     Jordan Peele directing a horror film is something I would have never expected but the man has just done that with Get Out. I was very eager to see this after the trailers because it looked like such a fresh take on the horror genre. Often times horror movies are very saturated and repetitive. Although I primarily avoid the genre because I am a giant wimp, the lack of substance also plays a pivotal role. This is not the case with Get Out, the exact opposite in fact. Peele was able to create a beautifully original and terrifying movie with Get Out, while being an intriguing social commentary at the same time.

     When Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), an African-American man, visits his caucasian girlfriend's parent's home for the first time, he will quickly find out that everything is not quite as it seems. So the basic plot for this movie is quite simplistic. Chris visits his the family of his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), and they turn out to be crazy racists. But what this movie did so incredibly well was set up the tension and slowly up it. At the beginning of the film, all we really get is are passive aggressive remarks from family members and friends. Chris sees that all the workers at the family estate are African-American as well and when he tries to start up conversations with them, he also notices something is not as it should be. By the end of the film though audiences will genuinely fear for Chris' life and how he is going to escape from this crazy family.

     You can definitely identify the underlying comedic elements within this movie. Since Jordan Peele's primary strength is comedy, it's hard not to appreciate those moments in this movie. But what genuinely surprised me is how well this dude does horror. Although there are a couple of jump scares, he does not solely rely on them. He goes more the psychological horror route and does so very well. Peele also wrote this story and it never really has a dull moment because of his ability to create tension. Even the scenes where it's just dialogue, you're on the edge of your seat because you don't know what this family is going to do next. He created very well fleshed out characters for this movie and it greatly helps the movie. Although I wish the ending was a little more drawn out, it's difficult to complain at what Peele was able to accomplish with this movie.

     The performances in this movie were also good across the board. The main two characters played by Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams exhibited a great deal of range. I would not be surprised if both of them are lined up for many more projects in the future. The supporting cast was helmed by veteran actors Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford who play the parents of Rose and do so in such a nightmarish way.
      This is such a fresh take on the horror genre that I highly suggest seeing it in theaters. Peele has delivered with a highly entertaining and intriguing social commentary/horror movie that works on all fronts.

Rating: 9.3 out of 10

John Wick: Chapter 2 Review

     To quote Keanu Reeves in the first John Wick, "I am thinking I am back." And oh boy, is John Wick definitely back! Sequels within the action genre are often risky because you want to tell a fresh story without making an exact replica of the original. John Wick: Chapter 2 expands the world of assassins and does so in a beautifully action packed manner.
     John Wick: Chapter 2 picks up not too long after the original. Wick has to answer for his come back as an assassin, however we will soon discover that there are punishments and Wick is not in the clear quite yet.

     Let's talk about the obvious yet biggest strength of this movie and that is the action. Much like the first one, the action in these movies is flawless. They incorporate a style known as Gun-Fu which is a mix of martial arts and gun play which is fantastic to view. What also makes these movies so much fun is their non-reliance on lots of cuts and shaky camera. This film is full of continuous shots that enhance the action and the performances. The beauty of this sequel though is how much the audience will be able to recognize how much more the action is amped up. You can tell they have a bigger budget at hand yet they kept to the integrity of the original.
     The story in this movie is very compelling. A lot of fans including myself were hoping the sequel would expand upon this world of assassins and give us a little more insight. John Wick: Chapter 2 does exactly that. Audiences are shown how this organization is at a global level. Wick travels to Rome which gives us a new location for these assassins. Keanu Reeves, who is often a hit or miss actor for most, fits the role of John Wick quite well. Wick is a bit socially awkward and seems to have no remorse for anyone who gets in his way. These movies aren't dialogue heavy whatsoever but the physical duties that go into the action scenes can make it quite stressful for the actors. It seems like Reeves does a lot of his own stunts and is quite invested in the role.
     The dialogue in this movie is very little yet not quite the best. Luckily, Reeves delivers these lines very well because of the characterization of John Wick so it doesn't necessarily take the audiences out of it.
     John Wick: Chapter 2 doesn't have the element of surprise like the first one but is still a great action flick. If you appreciate action movies that are well done on a technical level then this film will most definitely deliver for you.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

The Lego Batman Movie Review

     Lego is back and this time with everyone's favorite caped crusader, Batman! When The Lego Movie was released in 2014, people were not quite sure what to expect. Fortunately for moviegoers it was a pure delight. So when Warner Brothers announced they would be doing a Lego Batman movie spinoff movie, it wasn't a surprise that audiences would have high expectations. I am thrilled to share that the The Lego Batman Movie does not disappoint!
     The synopsis is quite simple and funny in retrospect. Bruce Wayne (Will Arnett) has to fight the criminals of Gotham under the persona of Batman while raising the orphan he adopted, Dick Grayson. Along the way he will let Grayson fight alongside as his sidekick, Robin, but Batman will also learn of all the obstacles that comes with being apart of a family.

     The best type of animated movies are those that the jokes are not only for kids but cleverly inserts ones that adults can appreciate as well. The Lego Batman Movie does so in such a great timely manner. The humor in this movie is really well written. It makes great callbacks to Adam West's cheesy, 1960's Batman all the way to Christopher Nolan's beloved trilogy. This movie never takes it self too seriously yet has a lot of heart to it which is something that I believe the whole family can appreciate. This movie is incredibly fast paced and it flies by. The runtime is only 1 hour and 44 minutes but it feels even shorter then that.
     The voice talent in this movie is spectacular as well. Will Arnett takes the helm as Batman and gives the character such a fun take. Often times the character is very over the top and bruiting which enhances the humor within the movie. My favorite performance in this movie comes from Michael Cera as Robin. You can tell from the get-go that Cera was born to play this role. Robin is the more cheery and enthusiastic one of the duo which sets up for a wonderful dynamic between him and Batman.
     What surprised me about this movie is how fun and well shot the action scenes are. There are a lot of characters in this universe so sharing the screen time between all of them is a difficult task at hand for director, Chris McKay yet he does so quite effectively.
     The Lego Batman Movie is something that I throughly enjoyed not only as a fan of cinema but a fan of Batman as well. I highly recommend it for families or if you just want a funny adaptation of the caped crusader!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Split Review

     January kicked off with M. Night Shyamalan's newest film, Split. Split is about three girls (Anya Taylor Joy, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jessica Sula) that are abducted, however their kidnapper (James McAvoy) has 23 different personalities. With a mysterious 24th personality on its way, the girls will do whatever to escape.
     I was incredibly hesitant going into this movie because I was not sure which type of Shyamalan movie I would see on the screen. Shyamalan is a very hit or miss director. Films like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs are very well done, however he has also had some incredible duds such as The Happening, The Last Airbender, and After Earth. Fortunately, I am pleased to say that it looks as though Shyamalan has started his comeback tour because Split is quite an enjoyable movie.
     The greatest strength of this movie is evident within the performances. Strong performances from Anya Taylor Joy and James McAvoy, especially help the audience to be very much invested in the characters. If a movie, especially within the thriller/horror genre does not have efficient character setup and execution then it can be a real drag. McAvoy is essentially playing a multitude of different personalities, therefore different characters. He does so flawlessly. From body language to voices, he knocks it out of the park and differentiates the personalities so well and I think some of this stems from the directing of Shyamalan.

     Shyamalan does a great job of setting up tension and keeping it very contained. This movie waste no time getting into the meat of the story and the pacing in the first act of the story is very quick. It seems like Shyamalan thrives in these smaller thrillers and Split is a great indication of that. This story takes a direction that really worried me at first but once I saw the end result it really made sense and didn't bother me as much.
     The only part of this movie that I wasn't necessarily a fan of storyline involving McAvoy's therapist, Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley). I thought the scenes with her and McAvoy were great because they really dove into the character. Unfortunately, the scenes on her own where she's trying to figure out what McAvoy is up to just didn't quite do it for me.
     This is the best movie Shyamalan has done in awhile and I am happy to see it doing so well at the box office because it really is a unique story. This is not necessarily a film you have to see in theaters but if you're a fan of older Shyamalan movies then you'll really dig this.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (SPOILER) Review

     I was not able to go very in-depth in my non-spoilers review but luckily we have this separate post to get down to the nitty gritty of the newest addition to the Star Wars franchise. So if you have not seen the film then I highly recommend you click the back button and go to your local theatre now... Then come back and read this! Although you're more then welcome to read my Rogue One Non-Spoiler Review here.
     Often times when I see a new movie, and tell a friend that I've seen it they understandably get defensive and say, "Don't tell me anything about it!" In which I always sarcastically respond with, "Everyone dies!" Well, I've had to refrain from doing so with Rogue One because all of our characters actually do not make it out alive this time. What I really admired about this ending was how our main crew all received a valiant, hero's death. They all boldly went out fighting for a cause they deeply were immersed in. This ending was also incredibly fitting for the continuity of Star Wars because these Rebels are no where to be found in Episode IV-VI. It would have felt unsettling just to have them escape from Scarif.

     The continuity of this film is something that truly puts it over the edge. Since this lands right before Episode IV in the Star Wars timeline, it would have been a missed opportunity not to have previous characters such as Tarkin or Vader. Although the CGI in which we Tarkin is not perfected, I think its a bold step that needed to be taken considering how close this is to New Hope and how it would have felt weird to re-cast the role. It is a bit jarring at times but it's crazy to see how far this facial CGI technology has come in the past five years. I think there is still some work to be done especially near the eyes but I found it very fitting for the movie. Leia's moment is very short lived so I don't believe it's fair to really say if the CGI really delivered or not but it definitely fit within the timeline and story.
     Although seeing Leia was cool, the third act is heavily constructed with fantastic moments. The space battle over the beach planet Scarif is amazingly well shot and a visual spectacle. What I love about this movie is how it gets better and better as it goes on. The climax of the movie is arguably the best of any Star Wars film. We get a full space battle and an incredible land battle. It's a dream come true for any fan of the franchise.
     The highlight of the third act is Darth Vader though. Vader doesn't get a whole lot of screentime in this movie which is a smart move due to the focus on Director Orson Krennic and Grand Moff Tarkin. However, watching Vader ignite his lightsaber and cutting down Rebel soldiers is a thing of beauty. It's like watching Michael Jordan in his prime. It took all the willpower within me not to applaud every moment within this scene upon viewing it in the theater.

     Although the title is Star Wars, there has not really been a real war film within the franchise. Sure we had a CGI clone vs droid army in Episode II, but we were in no way attached to those characters. Rogue One changes that. Director Gareth Edwards does a miraculous job of bringing the grittiness of war within this universe. From the beginning, when Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) are sent by the Rebellion to find Saw Gerrera (Forrest Whitaker), we learn that Saw was dismissed by the Rebellion because his actions being too extreme. This is very reminiscent of Apocalypse Now and creates for an intriguing dynamic between Jyn and him due to the fact she was raised by Saw.
     Another reason I greatly enjoyed this film was due to the fact I read James Luceno's novel, Catalyst. This book is the lead up to Rogue One and helps to bridge some of the gaps especially between the relationship of Galen and Krennic. It's not necessary to read but I highly suggest doing so then giving the film another view.
     I covered my complaints within the non-spoiler review (link at the top) and gave a rating there, as well. If you have not checked that out then I highly recommend doing so! I am sure there are more spoilers I could get into but these are just what came to the top of my head. Please feel free to let me know of anything I am missing that you would like to discuss!