Happy Halloween Scooby-Doo

8/10

Happy Halloween Scooby-Doo has the Mystery Inc. crew on the run from a horde of man-eating Jack-O-Lanterns. This was fun and definitely one of the stronger Scooby-Doo films. 

Though I like the recent run (2010-) of Scooby made-for-DVD movies, which was a definite improvement over the frequently mediocre run (2003-2009) before it. However, it feels like the series has been losing a little steam as some of the more recent titles have felt a little paint-by-the-numbers. This was a breath of fresh air. Happy Halloween is a lot more action heavy than most Scoob films. Rather than having the characters wander around looking for clues, they have to make do with figuring things out while being constantly chased. Think of this as a sort of zombies meet Mad Max scenario. It definitely feels like the stakes were higher. (If you're worried about this breaking the spirit of Scooby-Doo, yeah it's edgier but it never crosses the line.)   

Innovative part is that the big reveal at the end is a little bit different than usual.

This appears to be the third of the loosely connected trilogy that I believe was created in honor of Scooby's 50th anniversary. While I thought the last two (13th Ghost and Return to Zombie Island) were decent and disappointing respectively, Happy Halloween justifies the setup and is a great finale.

This is also one of the funnier entries. Happy Halloween is written, directed, and produced by Maxwell Atoms, creator of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy and the Bunnicula series, given his preference for the humorously spooky, he was a good choice. (The threat is very similar to the killer pumpkins from the Halloween episode of GAoBaM, but I'll give him a pass.) He took a page from the recent show Be Cool Scooby-Doo and decided to make Daphne (voiced by Grey Griffin) quirkier, and she has a string of great lines.

In the past, Mystery Inc. has had movie team-ups with Kiss, the WWE, and celebrity chefs, but this one has got to be the weirdest: horror movie host Elvira, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and Batman villain the Scarecrow (voiced by Dwight Schultz, who was Barclay on Star Trek the Next Generation). It strangely works. Bill Nye is pretty funny as an eccentric version of himself. Scarecrow serves as a Hannibal Lecter-type, serving as an intellectual rival for Velma (Kate Micucci). Elvira is the only one who doesn't pan out. Yeah, the actress herself is game, but her lines often don't work. We also get one of the better guest Scooby characters in the form of a dad who gets wrapped up in the chase and definitely wishes he was elsewhere.

The tone is a little rougher by Scooby standards as there are some mild insults thrown by characters. Unusual for the series, but again, nothing breaks the spirit of SD, and it's not like the film is mean-spirited. Happy Halloween  does carry the same issue of the last few films of Velma being so logic obsessed that she's become a bit of a pill. She does something at the beginning that definitely feels a bit too far. However, after that she does have a pretty good character journey. She's practically the star of this.   

The animation doesn't feel on the same level of the previous films. Not an extreme stepdown, but something feels off. There are too many basic camera angles and backgrounds. It might be because of interference due to COVID-19 (the second Phineas and Ferb movie had the same issues). It also may be because Atoms' experience is mostly in the more hectic output of television. (There are definitely some more cartoony eye movements that are definitely the director's stylistic choice.)   

I strongly recommend this for kids or Scooby fans.

Chester Gould's Dick Tracy (The Complete Dick Tracy) Volume 28

8/10

This collection covers Dick Tracy from 1974-1975, this being the second-to-the-last volume of Gould's original run. I'm happy to say that though the end is coming, the title remains entertaining.

What I like about the 70's strips is how they became a bit of a return to form story wise: plots run smoother and quicker than in parts of the 50's and 60's and their is a lot more focus on Tracy and the supporting cast.

Gould brings a good batch of stories here. Not a stinker or a slow one in the bunch. We also get one of the strongest post-40's succession of bad guys. Though, I felt the imposing extortionist Bulky is sadly underused.

The artwork remains strong.

Once again, Gould frequently uses the strip as a soapbox against any laws that support the rights of the accused or criminal rights, which he felt were shackles for the cops. He has already been pretty rightwing, but just when you thought he was at his most extreme, he kicks things up a notch. Now if you're a conservative and/or a big supporter of the police, especially in this current climate, who has never read this strip, these viewpoints may seem like their up your alley. However, Gould is faaaaar right and makes things weird. He is a proponent of a world without bail, habeas corpus, warrants, parole boards, defense lawyers, the right to remain silent, etc. 

Gould lets other unhealthy views appear here, too, including a shockingly unsympathetic view of the suicidal. There are also a couple kinda misogynistic moments. This is surprising considering that, especially compared to other comics writers from his era, Gould had been a rather feminist writer. He usually didn't fall into stereotypes, frequently used strong women, and added a female cop during the 1950's.

Overall, this can be recommended to any Tracy fan. Just understand that things can get odd.    

Muppets Now- Season 1

 

7/10

After the failure of the more older audience-leaning The Muppets on ABC, the popular puppets are being returned to format for a more typical tone and variety format. In this, the Muppets are hosting a bunch of viral videos with the framing device of Scooter (performed by David Rudman) editing and downloading them. It's no original Muppet Show, but it's generally entertaining.

On average, the segments are fun. The Swedish Chef (Bill Barretta) in particular remains as funny as he ever was. Doctor Bunsen Honeydew (Dave Goelz, the last OG Muppet performer) and Beaker (Rudman) have become modern day Bill Nyes. Rather than do the regular made-up science experiment gags, here they're infotaining as they perform actual science experiments. They're surprisingly engaging as things are set on fire, launched, etc..  This show carries over the one element from The Muppets: Uncle Deadly (Matt Vogel) as Miss Piggy's sarcastic personal assistant. He works wonderfully off of her; the one Muppet who understands her enough that he can push buttons without evoking her wrath. Scooter also serves as a great straight man having to deal with everyone else's eccentricities. 

There's also a pretty healthy heaping of guest star appearances throughout.     

However, this show could've been stronger. Unlike the Muppet Show or even Muppets Tonight, which constantly came up with new material, Muppets Now basically uses the same limited number of sketches. Plus, there are very few attempts at new Muppet characters, preferring to coast with what they've got. Going back to Muppets Tonight, they may not have quite nailed the Muppet Show formula, but at least they experimented with new faces. Also, you barely see some of the more popular Muppets, such as Kermit (Vogel), Fozzie (Eric Jacobson), Animal (Jacobson), and Gonzo (Goelz). Rizzo's not even in this. First they ditch him in the recent Muppet films and now this. What's with the Rizzo hate?!    

Though this doesn't go far as the The Muppets, there is a negativity. Sure, in the Muppet Show, characters would get hit, blown up, eaten, etc., but they mostly felt like a good group. Here, a lot of characters feel more selfish. Honeydew has always been self-involved in his pursuit of science, but here he seems intentionally cruel to Beaker. Miss Piggy (Jacobson) gets more skits than any other character, which was a mistake. She works better when she's not the one in charge. When she is, it's just a bunch of poorly written ego jokes. She's not quite as toxic as in The Muppets, but she can still be unbearable. Also, the sidelined Muppets all seem to be the nicer ones. 

At six episodes, this is a quick watch. I think your kids will have a good time. As for adult Muppet fans, I can't say this this is required viewing. I'd rank this above The Muppets but a little below Muppets Tonight, which left more of an impression and at least gave us Pepe the Prawn.        

The Babysitter: Killer Queen

8/10

The Babysitter: Killer Queen on Netflix is a horror comedy and the sequel to 2017's original, in which a young Cole (played by Judah Lewis) finds out his babysitter Bee (Samara Weaver) is part of a Satanic cult. In this, Cole's now a teenager (the original was filmed in 2015 and the actor has grown some) and must face the resurrected members of the cult. I liked this a lot better than the first.

The first film was a mixed bag in my opinion. It felt a little all-over-the-place. This one feels a lot more streamlined and straight-to-the-point. The last movie also tried to be a coming-of-age story, which didn't gel with me. This one dumps a lot of that and focuses more on the action and comedy to its benefit. (Not to say that Cole doesn't have an arc.)

There are some creative, madcap, bloody kills in this. Returning director McG (who did the Charlie's Angels movies) brings back his distinctive visual choices. It doesn't always land but is fun when it does. The new location, a rocky area surrounding a lake, is pretty scenic and also serves as a nice treacherous location for the characters to scramble through. 

Thing is that for a movie called The Babysitter, it has very little of the actual sitter in this. Weaving's stock has risen recently, and she's had a busy schedule these last couple of years, so apparently she was available for a limited period of time. I know that there are people who feel that Bee's relationship with Cole was one if not the biggest parts of the first film, but I'm okay with this. More time for the jokes and carnage.   

On the plus side, we get the rest of what is probably the most oddball group of Satanists one ever did see. Robbie Amell still steals the show as Max, the shirt-hating psychopath with a fondness for Cole who'll compliment him even as he's trying to kill him. Pitch Perfect's Hana Mae Lee's Sonya is still fun as the most Satan-loving and hardcore members of the group. Sadly like the last film, she is underutilized. The two more comical members Allison (Bella Thorne) and John (Andrew Bachelor), who I felt were the weak links last time, are better written, especially John. 

Melanie (Emily Alyn Lind), Cole's love interest from the last film gets a lot more to do here. I loved Lind's performance and how her character is made more interesting. We also get some new faces who fit right in.

There is one really frustrating part of this film. Everyone thinks Cole made up the events from last time. I'm sorry, even if they couldn't find any bodies, there were still so many loose threads that this doesn't make any sense. Also, the high school scenes run too hard on "high school sucks" cliches. However, most of these issues are just in the introduction and quickly fade away.  

Overall, I recommend this. This was just a lot of crazy fun. (It does help to see the first one to understand what is going on.)

Superman: Man of Tomorrow

7/10

Superman: Man of Tomorrow is about Clark Kent/Superman (voiced by Glee/American Crime Story season 2's Darren Criss), brand new in Metropolis and trying to figure out whether he should reveal his abilities to the world. I found this to be one of DC's better animated movies.

Yeah, this isn't the first Superman origin story ever told or him feeling like an outsider and trying to find his place in the world, but to its credit, this is the first time I've seen it done as feature animation. The script does a decent job of exploring the character of Clark and his fears of the world distrusting an outsider. In fact, this includes one of the best gosh-darn-likable Clark's. Heck, this includes some of the better depictions of Lois Lane (Percy Jackson's Alexandra Daddario), Ma and Pa Kent (Bellamy Young and Scrubs/The Middle's Neil Flynn), Lex Luthor (Stare Trek/Heroes' Zachary Quinto), and other Superman/DC characters. 

There are reasons I didn't rate this higher. Not every story decision worked for me. Some things seemed to happen just because the writer wanted them to happen regardless of whether they were natural. Superman has a big speech in this that is supposed to be persuasive but comes off as schmaltzy. Also, the movie felt a little too tragic and morbid with the villain Parasite (Agent of Shield's Brett Dalton). His depressing, dark storyline seemed to be at odds with the more hopeful, upbeat feel of Superman's.   

The whole things looks great. I felt that a lot of DC animated character designs, especially recently, have been so-so. Here, some sort of new process is used giving the characters a more rotoscope-type appearance. They just feel a little more detailed than a lot of character designs today. Although I miss the old-school original humanoid appearance of the Parasite and haven't been a big fan of the comics making him look more like a parasitic creature these days, I admit that this particular monstrous design is pretty good, especially his weird feet.   

Overall, I think any DC animation or Superman fan will like this.

Rogue

5/10

Rogue is about a gang of mercenaries who rescue hostages from a group of African rebels. Their exit plan falls through and end up having to protect themselves from not just the rebels but also a rogue lioness. This is one of those movies that is just there. Not particularly bad nor particularly memorable.  

I do feel a little guilty that this film wasn't doing it for me. Director and co-writer M.J. Bassett (who helmed Solomon Kane, which I feel is underrated) was definitely making an effort. This was a competently written script that generally flowed well. All the characters had clear personalities and backgrounds, even the lioness had motivations for why she isn't killing just for food. There are a couple scenes that feature some pretty good visual ideas. 

Buuutttt, nothing is knocked out of the park. The script and dialogue is adequate but doesn't stand out. 

The action doesn't stand out. The fight scenes often have way too many quick jumps to close-ups; cinematography is lackluster. This was a low-budget movie and the lioness is fairly cheap-looking. On the plus side, they do manage incorporate an actual lioness for a few shots when practical.

The acting, that's right you guessed it!, doesn't stand out. These are mostly decent actors, but they won't stay with you. It doesn't help that the mercenaries feel a little repetitive of other films about a rag tag team. When I say the actors are "mostly" decent, I am referring to a weak point: lead Megan Fox as the head of the mercenaries. She does alright at times, but falters at the more emotional parts. Also, I just can't buy her as veteran soldier.  

I'm not recommending this as there are so many stronger films out there. Although if you like those low-budget monster/killer animal movies on Sy-Fy, this is up your alley. The script is stronger than a lot of them.

Tenet

7/10

Christopher Nolan's Tenet is about a spy simply called The Protagonist (John David Washington) in the credits. He's promoted to a secret assignment in which he has to go after a villain who has access to time manipulation. This is an interesting film with distinct concepts. A combination of a spy and sci-fi film isn't something you see every day. (I mean other than spy films involving lasers, robotics, and, that one time, going into space. I mean stuff that James Bond wouldn't even touch as it would be going too far.) However, the movie can be overindulgent, I think this could've been a leaner, stronger film.

I'll get to the good points about this first. The spy stuff is done well. (There is a lot more of that in this than the trailer lets on.) Seeing the Protagonist and his associate Neil (Robert Pattison) having to cleverly break into places is one of the best parts.  

The sci-fi stuff is really, really interesting. Let me be clear that this isn't a typical "time travel" sort of movie. It's about time inversion, leading to some legit innovative concepts. The action scenes really take full advantage of this.

Tone wise think of this as kind of being the infiltration scenes from Inception matched with the action parts of Nolan's Batman movies. 

Though a lot of the script takes itself seriously, there are occasional light lines from Washington or between him and Pattison that lend a bit of personality.

The standout actor here is probably Kenneth Brannagh as the antagonist. Brannagh delivers the best performance I've seen him do. (Bare in mind I haven't seen a lot of his earlier works including his Shakespeare films and Dead Again.) He completely loses himself in this truly despicable, dangerous man.

Okay, now for the film's issues. Considering that the lead is called The Protagonist and that title of this film about time inversion happens to be spelled out the same way forward and backward, you can tell that Nolan is be trying too hard to be clever. Way, way, way too much exposition is thrown at you; I mean a crazy amount. Almost every line is a plot point. If you don't pay attention you could become lost. I got the general gist of everything, but there were moments where I had to fill-in-the-blanks and play catch up.

Sometimes the sound effects or music are too loud or the actors are speaking too quietly, making it harder to understand what is going on.

The final action scene looks nice but is far too complicated. I couldn't even tell where the bad guys were coming from.

Besides the complexity of the story, the other major issue is the length. This didn't need to be two-and-a-half hours. The middle act in particular, could've been cut down.

When this movie is good, it is good, but it could've so much more entertaining if it was shorter and some plot points whittled down. I recommend this, especially if you're a Nolan fan, as it is a unique experience. But it's something you can sit on till it is something you can sit on till a rainy day or it is more the price is cheaper.