Transformers: The Last Knight Review

     There is no other franchise in Hollywood today that is more hated upon then the Transformers franchise. I will say that I enjoyed the first film but everyone after I have very much disliked these movies and that is primarily because of Michael Bay. I actually really enjoy Michael Bay as a director. You can see my review of 13 Hours on this blog where I acknowledge his strengths, however those strengths are not captured in these films. It's the same shticks and gimmicks over and over. These movies alway trap audiences (including me) because they always cut really exciting trailers but then audiences are ultimately upset upon viewing the film. I went it with an open mind because I always want movies to be good, especially a franchise like Transformers. Sadly, this film repeats most of the same errors that the previous films posses with no clear story direction whatsoever.

     With Optimus Prime preoccupied on the Transformer's home planet of Cybertron, the human race must figure out a solution to the disposal of remaining Decepticons on Earth. With Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) leading the way, they will try whatever it takes to make sure the planet is at a peace once again.
     I had a really difficult time typing the synopsis for this movie because the story is all the over place. It attempts to tie-in Transformers with King Arthur and WWII but ultimately just ends up with a cluttered story that has no direction. Cade, alongside Vivian Wembley (Laura Haddock) and Sir Edmund Burton (Anthony Hopkins), they will attempt to find the staff the Merlin because it destroys the Decepticons? You can make a succesfull movie with a ridiculous premise (just look at The Fast and the Furious franchise), however what bothers me is they do not try to explain to the audience whatsoever. It's perfectly okay to go into a movie and turn your brain off for two hours, we all do it but it's almost an insult to the audience when the writing does not even attempt to explain the premise.
     Another flaw with the writing, that also falls in the poor direction from Michael Bay, is the humor in this movie. It's the same perverted jokes that have been in the previous films that only middle schoolers will really only find enjoyable. It lands with a thud on every occasion.

     The only thing more poor then the writing in this movie is the editing. There is no continuity whatsoever with this thing. Audiences will easily be able to identify multiple moments in which the characters will be on side of the room and then be completely on the other side with no time in between. This film jumps locations every minute and leaves no time for the scenes to play out and breathe. The runtime is 149 minutes and you'll feel as though you've ran a marathon but with no sense of accomplishment.
     One of the perks of this movie is the action is better then the last couple of the films. It's not nearly as cluttered as the previous movies and the visual effects are top notch. I genuinely was entertained by the fights but that was really about it. This movie is a complete mess.
     Transformers: The Last Knight is a movie that you shouldn't really see in theaters. If you're a fan of all the previous films then you'll probably enjoy this one but these movies could be so much more then a waste of time with the right team. I am honestly excited for the Bumblebee spinoff movie because Michael Bay is taking a step away from this franchise.

Rating: 1.9 out of 10

Cars 3 Review

     One of my favorite studios working in the movie industry today is Pixar Studios. Pixar seems to have a clear understanding of how to make animated movies that not only kids will genuinely enjoy but will appeal to the adult demographic as well. They know how to tug on the heartstrings and play up a great story, however that's not always the case. The Cars franchise is one of those for me personally that does not quite hit like other Pixar movies. Although these movies deliver for kids, they seem to have a very generic plot and doesn't really seem to stir up emotions. The first film was decent but the second one is arguably the worst Pixar movie released to this day. Fortunately, Cars 3 is a decent step up from Cars 2, however this film still under performs in many areas.

     Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is getting up there in age and must do whatever it takes to compete with hotshot rookie,  Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer). With the help from his trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), McQueen will have to adapt if he wants to be the top racer once gain.
     The story is incredibly simple. It's a comeback story essentially. The only problem with this story though is how simplistic and beat for beat it is with every other movie that focuses on a comeback. You can see the exact direction that this movie is going from the beginning. It felt a lot like Pixar's attempt at a rehash of Talladega Nights, no joke. Without getting into spoiler territory, you find yourself trying to get behind a particular character except the execution is completely botched come third act.
     One of the problems with Cars 2 was how much Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) was in the forefront of the movie and the humor was poorly executed. Fortunately, he takes a significant step back in this movie but the humor still falls flat. They seem to throwout these reoccuring gimmicks but they do not really hit to begin with so it's just a waste all around.

     Fortunately, this movie is very much enticing when it comes to the visuals. There are some fantastic shots in this thing that make the race sequences feel very realistic. Directed by Bryan Fee, I don't think the direction is the problem here. The problems fall more on the writing side of this film. Since this movie is ultimately a comeback story, you have to touch on the training for Lightning McQueen. There are some training sequences that are really unique and fun to watch, especially when it comes McQueen's relationship with former trainer, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman). This is where I felt the film really delivered.
     Cars 3 is has its strengths and weaknesses but at the end of the day it falls towards the weaker side of Pixar. I think children will generally enjoy this but it might be a slight headache for the adults that have to take their kids.

Rating: 5.3 out of 10

The Mummy Review

     Universal has officially kicked off their Dark Universe of monsters and gods with The Mummy. Directed by Alex Kurtzman with leading man, Tom Cruise, Universal hopes to launch their newest shared universe off to a good start. When this universe was initially announced many were hesitant because it seemed like a desperate attempt by the studio to get into the shared universe craze. However when they stared to sign grade A talent for their projects such as Russell Crowe, Tom Cruise, Javier Bardem, and many others, I was very interested to see where this universe goes. Unfortunately, The Mummy is not only a dull kickoff with under utilized characters but a very forgettable story.

     When Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) accidentally awakens an ancient, evil princess known as the Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella), he will soon realize that his world is not only in danger but there is a larger world of monsters at hand. With the help of Dr. Jekyll (Russell Crowe), Morton will have to find a way to take down this monster.
     So this movie is not necessarily terrible. I do not believe audiences will leave the theater thinking, "Man, that was so cringe worthy." The story is just incredibly forgetful. Kurtzman tries to make Morton this slick, cunning character much like Nathan Drake in the Uncharted games. Unfortunately though audiences will ultimately end up disliking this character. He's a jerk and it's really difficult to get on board with his actions. The character development in this movie is very much under utilized. The relationship between Morton and colleague Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis) is all over the place and poorly written.

     One aspect the script does get right with character development is the origin of Ahmanet. Sofia Boutella is really solid in the role and genuinely creepy. There are great horror elements in this movie. At times it feels like a prologued episode of The Walking Dead and delivers in that area. Unfortunately, the tone is all over the place. The jokes in this movie fall very flat and the action pieces are incredibly average.
     Again this is not the worst movie of the year but will probably be the most forgettable. This is a kick off for a new, shared universe and Universal it seems as though they've not quite landed on the tone they want to go with. This isn't the summer blockbuster you have to rush out to see.

Rating: 4.0 out of 10

Wonder Woman Review

     The DCEU (DC Extended Universe) had a bit of a rocky start when they decided to launch their shared universe. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice received very mixed reviews and did not quite hit like Warner Brothers wanted it to. Its follow up Suicide Squad was an even bigger mess and the future of DC's movie slate was very uncertain. Audiences were introduced to this universe's Diana a.k.a. Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, in Batman v. Superman. Although Gadot was certainly a strength of that film, it was a mystery as to whether she could carry her own movie. Fortunately, Wonder Woman is not only a fantastic movie for the DCEU but it's also a great addition to the superhero genre and could help change the landscape for studios going forward.

     The film starts out of on the Amazon home-world of Themyscira during World War I. When British spy, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) washes up on the beach and informs the colony of the terrors that are going on in his home-world. Diana must join Trevor to help end this war and discover her full powers along the way.

     The biggest strength of this movie is the directing by Patty Jenkins. Jenkins directed Charlize Theron to an Oscar win with her previous film, Monster, and she certainly works great in this film with Gadot. Gadot is not necessarily chewing on heavy dialogue that will transcend acting, however I always find the best directors exhibit the strengths of their actors. Jenkins helps to display the strength and physicality that Gadot brings to the role. This movie is a bit more lighter in tone compared to the other DCEU movies and that certainly enhances it as well. 

     When Diana joins Trevor in London, she is unaware of the culture and customs which helps create really sweet moments. The movie at time feels like Will Ferrell's Elf because of Diana's innocence in a strange, new world but it definitely enhances the movie. Gadot and Pine have such great chemistry and you really buy into their dynamic. The performances are certainly strong and I think that's because of the phenomenal directing of Patty Jenkins. This is the biggest budget ever given to a female director and I hope this paves the way for more females to land big projects because it does not matter what sex you're. A good director knows how to effectively tell a story and Jenkins does just that.

     The action in this movie is really incredible to watch. There is one moment in particular that were highlighted in the trailers that is a whole lot of fun. It relies heavily on slo-mo which could of been reduced but it is made up by all the kick butt moments audiences are given. The action pieces are greatly strengthened by the musical score from Rupert Gregson-Williams. Rupert does a wonderful job of blending the score from Hans Zimmer in Batman v. Superman with a new, fresh take on the heroine. It helps to create a lot of high octane but also beautifully, tender moments.

     There are some negative aspects of this movie though. One of them being the villain. I cannot really get into it without bringing up spoilers but there is one actor that is just kind of over the top at times. It will take audiences out of the movie. The final fight is fun to watch but could have a lot more at stake if audiences were given a better backstory with the villain. I also found some of the dialogue could have been a little more polished but that's a small nitpick.

     Wonder Woman is the first female led superhero movie within a shared universe and does not disappoint. I hope Hollywood will green light more female superhero movies, as well as more female directors landing bigger projects. This is such a delight to watch and I am really curious to see where they go with the character in future projects.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

      

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Review

     The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been a box office monster since the first one was released in 2003. Although the films as a whole have certainly had their ups and downs, their box office success as been a primary strength. I was very curious to see how this one would do considering it's been six years since the last one. This is a very intriguing franchise considering every film after the original has not been too strong. Although I enjoy the second movie, Dead Man's Chest, I understand its complaints. The third, At World's End, is even worse and the fourth, On Stranger Tides, is almost unbearable. However, the trailers for the newest one, Dead Men Tell No Tales, had me curious especially with the villain, Captain Salazar being portrayed by Javier Bardem. Although Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales has some incredibly massive missteps, it has some pleasant moments and certainly takes strides in the right direction.
     When Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) takes down Captain Salazar (Bardem) and his crew. It leads to a treacherous curse for Salazar's crew so they will do whatever it takes to hunt down Sparrow and get their revenge. Sparrow has other plans in mind in which he will track down the trident of King Poseidon with the help of newcomers, Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) and Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario).

     The biggest strength of the film actually comes from the newcomers. Henry Turner is the son of beloved character Will Turner (before everyone freaks out it was in the marketing material) but is almost more intriguing. He's more cunning but certainty exhibits the determination of his father. I found his and Carina's storyline the most interesting more then Jack's. While Jack has enjoyable moments, especially involving guillotines and zombie sharks, it almost feels like he's makes his way through scene with sheer dumb luck. In the first movie, Sparrow certainly had lucky moments but he was also very clever and persuasive. It seems as though Disney kind of just forgot about that and wants to make him incredibly over the top all the time. Even Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) has a better character arc then Sparrow in this film.
     The villain for this movie, Captain Salazar is definitely one of the more better developed villains within this franchise. Although the trailers marketed the character as a little goofy, he's certainly creepy and is humor is more twisted then goofy. Bardem has a great habit of stealing every scene he is in nearly every movie and he definitely has his moments in this.

     Visually this movie relies heavily on CGI. While I think some more practical effects would of greatly enhanced the movie, the visuals effects in this are actually pretty good. There's a scene that involves a young, Jack Sparrow that is really solid. This paired with an awesome score from Geoff Zanelli creates for some really pretty scenes.
     Besides Sparrow, the place where this movie struggles the most is within all the side quests that go on. There's a side quest for Barbossa and another involving the British Navy that are just kind of there. Much like Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, it feels as though the movie bit off way more then they can chew. The runtime for this movie is a little over 2 hours and we could have cut about 15 minutes out if it weren't for these side quests.
     Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is probably the best of the franchise we've gotten since the second movie. It has some incredible weak areas, especially with Captain Jack and trying to take on too much but it could help set up a trend for future movies. That's why I am going to barely rate this as a pass.

Rating: 6.0 out of 10

Baywatch Review

     I'll kick off this review by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. I also really enjoy Zac Efron when he's in the right roles. Both of these guys are incredibly charismatic and have really solid comedic timing. So when Paramount announced they were doing a big screen adaptation of the hit TV show, Baywatch, I was actually very intrigued when they started casting. The trailers didn't do much for me but I thought The Rock and Efron would have great chemistry and make the film work. Although The Rock, Efron, and the rest of the group have good chemistry, this movie completely falls flat on all fronts due to the juvenile writing.
     The plot for this movie is pretty straight forward. The Baywatch lifeguard crew is led by Mitch Buchanan (Dwayne Johnson) who has to train hot-head, Matt Brody (Zac Efron) and a bunch of new recruits. They soon learn that there is a local drug quickly spreading throughout the beach and they will do what they can to uncover the mystery.

     I'll open by saying I wasn't expecting an award winning movie. I went in hoping to get a few good laughs. The trailers really gave me a 21 Jump Street vibe and unfortunately, that's one of the problems with this movie. It tries so hard to replicate that type of comedy with running gags that don't land and very juvenile humor. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy juvenile humor when it's done right. 21 Jump Street has plenty of juvenile or low brow humor but it's cleverly done and the setup is executed very well. Baywatch not so much. It's just constant dick and boob (pardon the language) jokes that a 7th grader could think of. Also, this movie loves to acknowledge how meta it is (much like 21 Jump Street) yet the writing is done in such a messy manner.
     There's one scene in particular that caused me to laugh and that was because of how poorly done the visual effects were. The Rock is saving passengers aboard a ship that has caught on fire and eventually explodes. The only problem with this is the fire is all done via CGI and looks like something a kid would make with an iPhone app. It's incredibly painful to watch. Part of the problem with this particular scene and the movie as a whole is the editing.
     The editing for this movie is flat out bad. There's really no continuity whatsoever and character motivations change more then LeBron James picking teams in free agency. It relies heavily on club music that all sounds the same and you feel like you're watching the same exact scene over and over again.

     The one positive aspect of this movie is the group as a whole seems to have good chemistry. However, all the chemistry that they is completely ruined by the terrible jokes. The silver lining is at least they got paid after this disaster of a movie. Audiences can certainly skip this one in the theater.

Rating: 2.0 out of 10

Alien: Covenant Review

     Ever since the first film was released in 1979, the Alien franchise has been a staple within the horror and sci-fi genres. The first two movies of the franchise are considered to be classics but ever since the franchise has been quite divisive. Alien 3 didn't hit with all fans and Alien: Resurrection solidified that the franchise might be at the end of its run. Soon after we got the abominations known as the Alien vs. Predator movies. The franchise was all but lost until original director and creator Ridley Scott announced that he is coming back to give audiences a prequel of Alien. In 2012, Prometheus was released and it caused quite the divide among fans. The movie was visually gorgeous but was heavily criticized because too much thrown at audiences and its separation from the original films. I was incredibly eager to experience Scott's follow up Alien: Covenant. The marketing for the movie looked like the franchise was heading in the right direction. Although there are some plot devices that don't quite stick, Alien: Covenant is adequate return to the horror and action roots that audiences got with the first two movies.
     Alien: Covenant tells of a colony ship with 2000 passengers that is headed for a new planet to inhabit. However, when the crew experiences some unexpected problems, they will land on a nearby planet. Upon arrival, they soon learn of the many threats that this planet holds and will do whatever it takes to escape.

     The biggest strength of this movie is the horror elements that audiences are presented. The first act of this movie feels very much like the original Alien film. It is a very generic monster movie but still enjoyable for fans. The Xenomorphs are officially back (it's in the trailer so don't whine about spoilers) and man are they creepy! There are a lot of nice callbacks to the original one that will make audiences happy. Scott does a fantastic job of building tension. The third act of this movie is much like the sequel Aliens. It is very action oriented and feels like a summer blockbuster.
     Where this film struggles the most is the second act. It is the sequel to Prometheus and if you have not seen that movie then you will be very confused by the progressions on screen. I even revisited Prometheus the night before seeing Alien: Covenant and it still confused me. There's a plot direction that is not completely fleshed out and doesn't necessarily add up with what we were exposed to in Prometheus.
     The performances in Alien: Covenant are all pretty solid. The movie focuses Daniels played by Katherine Waterston. Although she is no Ripley, she does a serviceable job and audiences will understand the motivations behind the character. The stand out surprise of this movie is Tennessee played by Danny McBride. I was worried he would just be used as the comedic relief character but he actually has the most range out of any members within the crew. I seriously hope we get more serious performances from McBride because of this movie.

     The biggest negative of this film though is the ending. The ending is something audiences will see coming from a mile away and will ultimately be underwhelmed because of it. It almost felt like the screen writers were rushed to finish the screenplay and just inserted the first generic finish that came to their minds.
     Although there are some glaring flaws and continuity, Alien: Covenant has some fun elements that will please fans of the old films. It does not necessarily bring anything new to the table but with a movie like Prometheus that I felt tried to take on way too much, Alien: Covenant was a lot more simple and formulaic.

Rating: 6.6 out of 10