Tag: Review

REVIEW: ‘John Wick 4’ has wicked action, but wears out welcome

Starting to think this secret society of assassins isn’t too secret anymore after all the mayhem over these four films.

The latest installment starts with the titular character, played by Keanu Reeves, recovering after the events of the third film. Having gotten himself healed and in fighting shape again, Wick heads out on a mission to battle the all powerful High Table so he can once again be free of the assassin life.

Looking to put an end to Wick’s conquest is Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgard), a member of the High Table fed up with John’s antics. To do so, he hires another elite hitman who has been retired for a while. The man’s name is Caine (Donnie Yen), and he’s a former friend of Wick.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘John Wick 4’ has wicked action, but wears out welcome”

REVIEW: ‘Shazam: Fury of the Gods’ is a frustrating flop

The first “Shazam” was a rather charming superhero flick, which makes it all the more disappointing that its sequel “Fury of the Gods” leaves one frowning.

In this new adventure, Billy Batson (Asher Angel) is still turning into his super powered alter-ego Shazam (Zachary Levi) to help protect the city of Philadelphia with help from his foster siblings. While Billy still enjoys his superhero antics, though, he is growing concerned with a few things.

For one, he’s going to be 18 soon, which means he will age out of the foster system and he worries about losing his family. Additionally, his foster siblings seem to be growing apart. However, the family must come together to face a new threat with plenty of magical firepower.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Shazam: Fury of the Gods’ is a frustrating flop”

REVIEW: Poorly portrayed mental illness sinks ‘The Son’

Florian Zeller’s 2020 film “The Father” was a stellar exploration of a person going through a difficult health crisis and the impact it has on their family.

His follow-up, “The Son,” has a similar premise, but it’s not nearly as good.

Hugh Jackman stars as Peter in the film, a businessman who’s considering entering the world of politics as a consultant. Around the same time, his wife Beth (Vanessa Kirby) has given birth to their new son.

The movie picks up with Peter getting contacted by his ex-wife Kate (Laura Dern), who explains that their teenage son Nicholas (Zen McGrath) has been skipping school and seems troubled lately. Hoping to give Nick a better environment and a new school to try, Peter takes his son in, but even then, the teen has struggles.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Poorly portrayed mental illness sinks ‘The Son’”

REVIEW: Manic energy in ‘M3gan’ makes it a fun watch

Another addition to my never ending list of reasons why I fear a robot uprising.

The titular doll in “M3gan” is basically an android built by Gemma (Allison Williams), a robotics engineer working at a toy company that releases advanced products. While she’s at work on her latest project, her sister and brother-in-law are killed in a car accident.

Gemma’s niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), survived the crash and is now living with Gemma, but the girl has become depressed and reclusive. In trying to help Cady, Gemma activates M3gan to be a doll and friend to the girl. However, M3gan was still in the testing phase, and the artificial intelligence in the doll has the potential to be dangerous.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Manic energy in ‘M3gan’ makes it a fun watch”

REVIEW: ‘A Man Called Otto’ is moving, but clichéd

This film is an adaptation of a book written by a Swedish author in 2012. I have to imagine he watched 2008’s “Gran Torino” and 2009’s “Up” before putting pen to paper.

Tom Hanks stars as Otto, a man who recently became a widower and lives day-to-day thinking there’s not much left for him in the world. Otto is rather grouchy and quite particular in his old age. For example, he doesn’t want anyone driving on the private road in front of his home.

He begins to loosen up, though, when he’s approached by a young, friendly couple and their two daughters. The matriarch of the family, Marisol (Mariana Treviño), especially forms a bond with Otto, helping him to find more in life again, which leads him to start helping others around the neighborhood.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘A Man Called Otto’ is moving, but clichéd”

REVIEW: Ambitious ‘Babylon’ ends up being an obnoxious dud

Director Damien Chazelle’s last three movies have either ended up on my top 10 of the year lists, or an honorable mention.

His latest film, though, will likely end on 2022’s worst of the year list.

“Babylon” tracks the careers of three characters in Hollywood during the late 1920s and early 30s. Jack (Brad Pitt) is an experienced performer, Nellie (Margot Robbie) is a new actress on the scene and Manny (Diego Calva) is a person doing odd jobs as he works his way up the studio ladder.

The movie shows how their careers are impacted by drugs, the extravagance of the roaring 20s and the shift in Hollywood from silent films to talkies.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Ambitious ‘Babylon’ ends up being an obnoxious dud”

REVIEW: ‘The Whale’ is 2022’s hardest hitting drama

With help from talented director Darren Aronofsky, Brendan Fraser makes a hell of a comeback with a new, major starring role.

Based on a stage play with the same name, “The Whale” tells the story of Charlie (Fraser), an obese, reclusive, disabled man residing in Idaho. He lives in a depressed state, having gained weight after the death of his partner, and has an estranged relationship with his daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink).

He gets an opportunity to reconnect with Ellie, though, when she visits Charlie, wanting assistance with her homework. A college English instructor, Charlie decides to help her with essays with the hope that he can reconnect with his daughter, especially with his declining health.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘The Whale’ is 2022’s hardest hitting drama”

REVIEW: Aside from visuals, pristine looking ‘Pinocchio’ disappoints

I’m starting to think the “Pinocchio” story just isn’t for me.

In director Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of the tale, we’re introduced to Geppetto (David Bradley), a toymaker who lost his son during World War I and became depressed. One night, in his grief, he gathers some timber and builds a puppet meant to be a replacement for his late son.

While the puppet started as just something Geppetto made during a drunken night, though, the doll ends up coming to life thanks to a mystical spirit. While Gepetto initially views Pinocchio with disdain, he eventually warms up to the wooden boy. However, antagonistic forces look to take Pinocchio for their own nefarious purposes.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Aside from visuals, pristine looking ‘Pinocchio’ disappoints”

REVIEW: ‘Puss in Boots’ sequel is an enjoyable swashbuckling flick

After more than 20 years, the franchise that put DreamWorks Animation on the map is still kicking, and the latest in the series is fine addition.

As the title implies, the film focuses on the character Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas). After many dangerous adventures before and after meeting the ogre Shrek, Puss in Boots is down to his ninth and final life.

With a desire to continue living life on the edge and knowing the predicament he’s in, the feline decides to go on a quest to find a place that will grant him a wish, which he plans to use for more lives. Along the way, he’s joined by friends new and old, and is introduced to new enemies.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Puss in Boots’ sequel is an enjoyable swashbuckling flick”

REVIEW: ‘Glass Onion’ offers plenty of fun, but light on heart

As “Shrek” taught us, onions have layers, and there are definitely layers in the mystery featured during “Glass Onion.”

Similar to its predecessor, “Knives Out,” detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is once again surrounded by wealthy people gathered in one location. This time around, that location is the island of the Glass Onion, which is owned by billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton).

Miles invites many of his rich friends, as well as Blanc, to a weekend at the island for a murder mystery game. Things take a twist, though, when someone actually does die during the getaway, and suspicions mount.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Glass Onion’ offers plenty of fun, but light on heart”