Cobra Kai- Season 4

(NOTE: Review may slightly spoil how last season ended.) 

9/10

In the fourth season, Johnny Lawrence (played by William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) join forces in order to beat Cobra Kai in an upcoming tournament.

Four seasons in and this show still manages to deliver what everyone likes about it: karate soap opera dramedy. Though the ten episode length does make the show feel dragged out at moments, overall this season is pretty tight. A lot of character stuff happens. Yeah, the Johnny and Daniel arguing with each other routine has been done to death and there's a lot of this here. However, it's fun to see them actually try to work together. Plus, Zabka and Macchio both do a great job of both being frustratingly stubborn while also making you see where they're coming from. (Yeah, Daniel does get a  little high and mighty in this at times, but everyone in this is ready to step in and disagree with him.) Zabka continues to do an excellent job of making you feel for him during the emotional moments.

The big tournament finale is worth the wait. This may be the most satisfactory of Cobra Kai finales as a lot happens and things get pretty interesting. The karate fighting is really on point this season.

I'm happy to say that Robby's switch to Cobra Kai doesn't just have him replay Hawk's shift to the dark side in previous seasons. Robby (Tanner Buchanan) hasn't completely drunk the punch like some of the other students of antagonist John Kreese (Martin Kover) and it's interesting seeing him be more interested in winning rather than being completely enveloped in the whole karate rivalry situation. It's also nice to see Cobra Kai member Tory Nichols' storyline matured. She has a sympathetic lousy situation, taking care of her dying mother, that explains her angry behavior. But, there's been a lot, lot more focus on her poor decisions and borderline psychoticness in the show. A lot more focus is put on the human side of her character here. 

After feeling like an afterthought in the first three seasons (I don't think he was even in season 2), the writers actually do something with Daniel's son Anthony (Griffin Santopietro). He's still a totally unlikable, spoiled kid (even more so now), but they do do something interesting with him. There's a new kid Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young), and you might say there are already too many cast members already, but he does have an interesting story line.

Of course, the biggest thing about this season is the return of villain Terry Silver (Michael Ian Griffin, who was kind enough to come out of a fourteen-year acting retirement). Karate Kid 3 is generally considered the weakest of the first three films, but the one element most people generally liked was Terry, the over-the-top, crazed rich guy and sensei. Since he was a co-founder of Cobra Kai, for years fans of the show have speculated on whether he'd make an appearance, and finally we get him. And he's here all season, no guest appearance for this guy. It's no longer the eighties, so they had to tone him down (plus Griffin may not be able to copy quite the energy he had decades ago.) However, the writers and the actor understand the assignment. He's still got the charisma and is able to see the bigger picture and understand the ways of the world far more than Kreese, who's stuck in his ways. Yet, you get flashes of Silver's trademark sinister smile, the old Terry peeking from beneath the surface, bringing chills down your spine. The show does a surprisingly good job of explaining his previously cartoonish behavior and where he is at now in his life. They make him a truly tragic character in this, looking at him as more than a guy who's psychotic, but as a man who was deeply mentally damaged by the war. Not to say that original baddie Kreese is overshadowed, the character gets some of his best material here. 

Highly recommended. This is the best season since the first one.

The King's Man

8.5/10

In this prequel to Kingsman, we look at the creation of the Kingsman spy organization, which involves the Duke of Oxford (Ralph Fiennes) and his son Conrad (Harris Dickinson) seeking to stop a shadowy organization starting World War I.

Writer/director Matthew Vaughn, who handled the last two films, had a lot of fun basically doing whatever he wanted and going over-the-top with the era, details, and historical figures of the great war. The costumes and especially the sets look amazing.

The fight scenes all are really well executed and look great, especially the first major one.

Vaughn seems to have taken to heart the fact that The Golden Circle wasn't as popular as the first film. Whereas GC went further in the direction of comedy, The King's Man is the most grounded of the trilogy. I mean by the terms of its universe; there's still humor (overall more a sense of playfulness than many straight up jokes) and Vaughn still has that distinctive British anarchic style of writing, though this film will probably be the closest in line in the trilogy to an American sense of the regular blockbuster. 

The real backbone to all this is Oxford's storyline. There are a lot of twists and turns to this and you really become involved with the character's goals. Fiennes is unsurprisingly excellent in his performance as the kick-butt, classy, and philanthropic nobleman. I'm really surprised no one hasn't put him an action film before (maybe it's because he has a very upper bureaucratic upper management face).

There is an excellent group of villains in this based on historical figures. In a monocle, Daniel Bruhl is fun and just spiffy looking as the manipulative Erik Jan Hanussen. However, it's Rhys Ifans' Rasputin who steals the show. Before I saw this, I was annoyed that Rasputin was used YET AGAIN as a villain. He'd already been used multiple times over the years in film and television (including Anastasia and Hellboy). I didn't see the point of using him again. Boy did this movie prove me wrong. Ifans is excellent in his humorous yet unsettling performance as a weird hedonist.

However, the main villain just isn't as interesting as his subordinates. I don't understand why they all follow him so loyally. I don't see how his goals benefits them or why'd they work with someone with such a short temper. Also, hiding this guy in the shadows was so completely unnecessary.  

Running at two hours and ten minutes this movie may be too long for some. (One man in my theater fell asleep.) Though I thought the movie did a good job of balancing the action and dialogue parts, it still takes a while to see plot points meet their conclusion. I think Vaughn got a little too involved in the entire timeline of World War I. They could've cut some parts.

Recommended. Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable action film, and being a Vaughn title manages to not be downright cookie cutter.

Crossing Swords- Season 2

 

8/10

Season 2 of this stop-motion show on Hulu continues the crazy misadventures of squire Percy (voiced by Nicholas Holt) as he has to deal with the selfishness of King Merriman (Lukie Evans) and generally everyone around him.

This season really carries on smoothly from the last one with consistently funny jokes. The writers come up with a lot of creative scenarios to toss Patrick into.

The lead's three siblings' roles have been cut down. They still appear regularly throughout, just not as much. I'm fine with that as the writers seem to realize the real strength of the show: Patrick's interactions with those directly involved in the royal court.

I'm amazed at the amount of talented people they got to voice the characters in this. I really can't believe that's Evans doing Merriman's voice; doesn't sound at all like him, and it's fun to see that Evans was completely game for something so low-brow.  

I'm amazed with the stop-motion. Yeah, the fact that they use Fisher Price figuresque characters makes it easier to do character animation, but since they don't have arms, anything they're holding has to be suspended in air. Not to mention the amount of jumping and stuff the characters have to do. Suspending things in the air (or at least giving the illusion of) must take a lot of work.

Recommended. I had a lot of fun with this season.

South Park: Post COVID, the Return of COVID

8/10

In this direct sequel and conclusion to South Park: Post COVID, future adult Stan (voiced by co-creator Trey Parker) and future adult Kyle (other co-creator Matt Stone) try to travel back in time in order to mend their friendship. 

This "movie" (really a special) maintains the quality from the original Post COVID, providing more prime South Park jokes. Admittedly, some of the gags felt repeated once too often.

Recommended. This wraps up the Post COVID story pretty well and gives South Park fans what they want.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

10/10

(NOTE: I'm not including any spoilers per se. I will be talking about stuff that's already in the trailer. However, if you haven't seen the trailer, I won't deny that this may be one of those films where it may be beneficial if you watched it completely clean. Also, I will be briefly mentioning the outcome of the last Spider-Man movie if you don't want to know about it.)

In this, Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland), wants the world to forget he's Spider-Man. He turns to Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a spell to make everyone forget. The spell goes wrong and a transdimensional crisis occurs.

Wonderful script. Very creative, surprisingly heartfelt and dramatic (this is definitely the darkest of the MCU SM trilogy), while successfully blending in the comedy without taking away from the serious aspects. If you felt the Tom Holland SM strayed too far from the traditional concept of the hero struggling in a world against him, this is more of a return to form. (Though, I understand if you didn't want that and felt the concept overused). The ending hits home, I mean man oh man does it leave an impression. However, it might not be the ending everyone wanted.

Running at two hours and twenty-eight minutes, the length does raise its head during the last act. However, I can't decide what should've been cut. That's how good all the material is. Also, there are some plot points and character choices that don't make complete sense if you stop to think about them.

Excellent character work. Director Jon Watts and the script does an excellent job with even minor cast members. (The world feels really populated.) Parker, MJ (Zendaya), and Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) are the perfect trio in this. (The latter two are utilized a lot more in this than the last two films.) They work so well off of each other and each brings something to the table. The more knowledgeable Dr. Strange works really with the more inexperienced, younger Peter Parker. (It's also just fun in general seeing the main three dealing with the world of magic in general.)

The idea to bring in the Spider-Man villains from the last two SP franchises was an idea of genius. (We would think this movie would feel repetitive given that Into the Spider-Verse did the multiverse not too long ago, but this feels surprisingly fresh.) First, we finally get to see the Sinister Six brought to screen. (Well, it's five here. Good enough for me; there's already a lot of characters in this, anyway. To be honest, they didn't need Sandman (Thomas Hayden Church) and the Lizard (Rhys Ifans) in this.) Second, we get the privilege of seeing the talented Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, and Jamie Foxx act alongside each other. The writers realized the weak points of Foxx's Electro from Amazing Spider-Man 2, who was a fairly  cliched nerdy guy who goes bad trope, and managed to strengthen the character's dialogue. The creators of this realized that the majority of SP villains started as good people who had something horrible happen to them, and they use this fact to bring something important to the table. 

The effects look great with the usual MCU budget. Action scenes are really well done. The fact that there are so many villains with so many different powers leads to a lot of impressive moments. 

Highly recommended. Definitely the best of the Holland trilogy, one of the best Spider-Man movies in general, and the best MCU movie of the year. This is just one of those films that pull you in and are highly entertaining.

Encanto

 

9/10

This new Disney movie follows the Madrigals, a family gifted with magic powers. However, the magic seems to be fading. Mirabel (voiced by Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz), the only family member not gifted with powers, takes it upon herself to find out what's causing the trouble.  

This is definitely one of the more different Disney movies. There's no main villain, including a last act twist one. This is a surprisingly character-based film. I'm impressed by the sheer amount of world building in this. A lot of thought went into the characters and the backstory of the magic. That having been said, the movie does suffer from from having to juggle one too many family members; Mirabel's cousins felt like they had more dimension to them than her own sisters. 

This is a Disney movie, so it's no surprise this is well animated. The detail is strong enough that I could see the hairs on the back of a character's neck.

The songs are from Lin Manuel-Miranda and their really good. Now, I wouldn't say they're Hamilton level. Also, I wouldn't say the totality of the songs are as catchy as some of the best known entries, Disney such as Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. But that's just in comparison to other works. Again, really good songs that should entertain you. Also, "We Don't Talk about Bruno" is a true earworm. 

Highly recommended. This is something the entire family can enjoy. 

West Side Story (2021)

9.5/10

This is the second film adaptation of the popular 60's musical which itself was based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It follows two star-crossed lovers associated with the rival gangs the Puerto Rican  Sharks and the Polish Jets.  

I didn't see much of a need for remaking one of arguably the most well known movie musicals of all time and an Oscar winner. This isn't one of these musical adaptations where the original Broadway story was altered or some of the good songs were cut (to the best of my knowledge this is one of those rare examples where all the songs were kept). The trailers made this feel like it wasn't doing much different fromm the original. I'm pleased to say how wrong I was.    

This is directed by THE Steven Spielberg and he brings everything's he's got into this. This is arguably the best film he's done since Saving Private Ryan. (In fairness, I've never seen War Horse, Munich, or Lincoln.) The movie is amazing to look at. The sets and locations are wonderful. The editing works so smoothly and this has some of the best shot musical numbers I've seen in a while. Spielberg avoids heavy switches between clips allowing everything to flow smoother. Visually, an insane amount of effort went into every camera angle, detail, and character movement.

This includes the classic songs from the original, which are pretty much all great without trying to update them and messing with the formula. These may be old-fashioned for some, but that's their only issue. I'm especially pleased that Spielberg didn't bother adding a new song in order to qualify for an Oscar nomination (like so many movie musical adaptations do.)

Acting is FANTASTIC all across the board. The one most likely to get an Oscar nomination is Ariana DeBose as the girlfriend of the leader of the Sharks. She doesn't seem to be acting but living her character. Rita Moreno, who was in the original film and won an Oscar for it, plays a shopkeeper in this. What could've been just stunt casting is also a pretty strong performance for her. (She could also get an Oscar nomination, though I don't think she has a chance in beating DeBose.)

The story follows the same beats as the original, but manages to do the dialogue and scenes differently enough that it becomes its own thing. The script adds more gravitas and modern sensibilities to what's going on. Characterization is definitely improved. Chino (played by Josh Andres Rivera) who was basically just a living plot point in the first film is given an actual personality in this.

The movie makes the interesting choice of not having the Spanish dialogue subtitled. (It's not that much and you can infer from context what's going on. Don't worry about it.) Brings a real world feel into it and I applaud it.

This is an interesting mix of 60's and current storytelling. Some visual choices, the songs, and the comedy particularly feel old fashioned, but other subject matter is handled more strongly than they could do in the 60's. Again, the old-fashioned stuff could take people out of the movie, but I also think it really balances with the darker side of it. If you're completely unfamiliar with the original, this is ultimately not about happy stuff. You may have seen pop culture humorously depict West Side story as the one where gangs dance and snap their fingers but there is a lot of pretty serious material. There is one moment in particular, that is arguably the darkest moment, may not be for everyone, and is handled even more intensely than the original film. If you're walking into this expecting a fun musical, be forewarned. 

Admittedly, this does suffer from adhering to the story beats too much and embodies the flaws of the storytelling of West Side Story's original decade. The romance happens and forgiveness is given to characters way too quickly.  

Overall, this is such an excellently done film that has that classic Spielberg magic and is reminiscent of classic film-making. Highly recommended.

South Park: Post-COVID

8/10

This is the first of the South Park movies being made for Paramount+. (Feels more like a special; it's only 59 minutes long and the animation doesn't seem any different from the show. But, they're calling it a movie, so alright.) Taking place forty years after the show where COVID has just ended, the characters reunite when a tragedy occurs and they become embroiled in a mystery.

The humor really pops here. The setting of the future is really used to its full comic potential. They do something particularly creative and amusing with what adult Cartman's life is like. 

The one weak spot is that like a lot of recent South Park episodes this film features a little too much of Stan's dad Randy (voiced by Trey Parker). Show creators Parker and Matt Stone seem too enamored of their creation. The basic assumption seems to be "Randy being dumb and selfish" = "Funny." Randy is simply overextended by now and his bits definitely feel like more of the same.

Overall, this is one of South Park's more solid entries and fans of the show should like this. It's definitely fun to see the kids as adults.

Beebo Saves Christmas

7.5/10

In this animated CW Christmas special starring Beebo (voiced by Ben Diskin), the toy who's appeared in the show Legends of Tomorrow, the titular fuzzy character gets a form letter in reply to his letter to Santa. Fearing that something is wrong he goes to find Santa Claus (voiced by Ghostbusters' Ernie Hudson).

This was a rather well made Christmas special. Not one of the greatest of its kind, but it definitely gets the job done. Script is lighthearted, and most importantly, smartly written. You think the special may go down the path of the traditional tropes of people getting too caught up in the modern age and forget the importance of Christmas, but I was pleased to see this have a less suspected endgame. 

Beebo makes for a pleasant lead. They make him upbeat and optimistic but never naive or simple-minded, so when he reacts to things he never feels cutesy or saccharine.   

Strong vocal cast, including some experienced actors. LoT alumni Victor Garber lends his rich voice to the position of narrator. I don't think anyone's really pictured Hudson as Santa, but he lends a fresh take on the Yuletide figure.

Only weak point of this are the songs. They're not particularly strong.

Recommended. This is something that can entertain and is appropriate for the whole family. It's too bad this didn't get much advertising from the CW. This definitely deserves more attention. 

Annie Live!

8/10

If the name didn't tip you off, this was a live filmed presentation of the popular musical Annie, about orphan Annie (played by Celina Smith) whose life changes when she meets billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Harry Connick Jr.).  

To the best of my knowledge, they don't change much from the original music. I've forgotten how pretty simple the story is but that is rather its strength. Annie has a rather nostalgic quality to it: an unrestrained innocence and optimism.

Musical contains all the original songs except "You Won't be an Orphan for Long," which to be fair is no one's favorite. After two theatrical films and one made-for-TV, I'm so pleased to see a filmed adaptation of Annie not cut out "We'd Like to Thank you Mr. Herbert Hoover." It's a pretty fun number. Annie Live includes a few songs created for the original Annie movie as well. (Sorry if you're a fan of "Dumb Dog" or "Let's go to the Movies," you're out of luck.)

Great cast in this, especially the main trio of Smith, Connick, and Nicole Scherzinger as Warbuck's assistance Grace Farrell. Smith definitely has the pipes and brings the traditional determination associated with the titular orphan. Scherzinger brings the expected class and warmth to her character. I don't think anyone thought of Harry Connick Jr. when they think of Warbucks, but man does he nail the character's self-determination and controlled businessman personality. (He's no Albert Finney, but who is?) The only weak point is Taraji P. Henson as orphanage manager Miss Hannigan. She's too cartoonish. Every line is delivered as a high with no mediums or lows. She does do a great job with the singing, I'll give her that.

The whole thing was performed solidly. This isn't one of those live musical performances like Grease or Hairspray that got ambitious with what it was trying to do (which is completely understandable given the COVID situation); it's a modestly made production. I liked how they handled it. This used a larger stage than your traditional theatrical production and made good use of the wide are by being able to switch between backdrops and movable set pieces. The dancing and ensemble players all did well, too.

Recommended, it doesn't do much new when it comes to Annie but does it well and is just a genuinely fun way to spend a few hours.

Army of Thieves

7/10

This Netflix prequel to Army of the Dead tells how safe/safecracking enthusiast Sebastian Schlencht-Wohnert (played by Matthias Schweighofer, also the director) would become professional safecracker Ludwig Dieter. Not a perfect movie, but I had a fun time.

I like that this is a very different film than Army of the Dead and is trying to be it's own thing. (Say what you will about how Zack Snyder handles films, but I've realized from interviews that when it comes to him creating shared universes he always gives complete respect to the other directors' visions and in case of the zombies' verse gives ample control of other director's films to the director.) The zombies are barely referenced (this takes place in Europe far from the outbreak in Las Vegas). The kills in Amry of the Dead that are gone. This isn't an action horror/ heist film, this is a pure heist comedy movie.

As for the plot itself, it's generally entertaining. There's nothing that original about it, but it's fun and confidently directed. The middle act could've been shorter. The film's major strength and weakness is Sebastien. Promoting supporting comic relief to a lead role always has the risk of the character being overextended and becoming tiresome. (I think most of us agree that Fat Amy pulled focus in Pitch Perfect 2 and 3. The original worked because of the ensemble not just her, gosh darn it!) That's kind of the issue here. The character and the actor's performance proves that Sebastien is interesting and likable enough to take center stage. However, way too many lines are given to the guy. If Schwighofer (man, the names were a pain to spell this time around) just exercised restraint, this would've been a stronger work.

Kinda recommended. This is a nice way to spend your time, it's just not something you have to see immediately.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

9.5/10

In the third installment of the original Ghostbusters universe, Callie (played by Carrie Coon) and her two kids move into the house of her late, absent father. There they find his link to the titular ghost trapping team.

I'm pleased to say that this is the best Ghostbusters film since the original. (Not to knock the other two. They were entertaining but had their flaws.) It understands what worked for the first two films (which the reboot didn't understand): great humor juxtaposed with a serious threat and a sincere dedication to the backstory of said threat. (This is directed by original director Ivan Reitman's son Jason who clearly is doing his all to be reverent toward the franchise).

But this film also realizes that changes needed to be made. The biggest mistakes of 2 and the reboot were just recycling the story beats. After 3 whole films where the characters have to start or restart their careers while going up against skeptics, this movie refreshingly skips that. I mean, we're here to see people fighting ghosts and not having to sit through the minutiae. We also finally get a film happening someplace other than New York. And you can't do much more different than the large city than a small country town used here. The rustic landscape looks really good. (Also, it's got to be a lot more cost effective to film in the county than than the city.)

The best change about this is that it's more character-driven and sentimental than the other films, tackling character emotions with a depth never before seen. The movie also provides an excellent nod to Egon, whose actor Harold Ramis sadly passed away. There are three characters that standout: smart, but socially awkward Phoebe (McKenna Grace), the Egon of the film, talkative podcaster Podcast (Logan Kim), and good-natured science teacher Gary Guberson (Paul Rudd). Phoebe and Podcast make the film as both their actors nail their delivery. They have excellent chemistry together and sell being two eccentrics whose friendship is built on neither being judgmental of the other.  Rudd excels in being goofy and charming.  

Love the cinematography and special effects for this. I don't think I've seen a movie come so close to feeling like it was made during the 80's. Also, the opening and ending to this are so excellently done. The former in particular is something you could show in film school on how to properly shoot a scene.

I do admit the editing could've been better. This is one of those films where it's definitely clear more stuff was shot, but it got cut. There's a few characters in this that feel like they were supposed to have more to do then barely show up. There is one person in particular, whose usage is so disappointing, it probably would've been easier if he or she was cut. Though I do like the finale, I do admit it ends abruptly. 

Even before I saw the movie, I heard complaints that there were too many nostalgia throwbacks. When I watched the film, I thought "Huh, I'm not seeing it." Then the third act hits and you're hit by a flood of references, like the reference dam opened. However, I still wouldn't call this a dealbreaker. There's too much to enjoy in this for the nostalgia baiting to bring it down.

Highly recommended. I think this is the type of Ghostbusters that people have been waiting for for a long, long time.

Home Sweet Home Alone

5.5/10

In the 6th Home Alone installment streaming on Disney+, Max Mercer (played by Archie Yates) predictably finds himself home alone for Christmas when his family and extended family misses him when they go on a trip. He ends up protecting his house with the usual HA traps from couple Pam and Jeff McKenzie (Rob Delaney and Kimmy Schmidt's Ellie Kemper) who are trying to retrieve a valuable doll he took from them.

HSHA suffers from being a rather basic children's film, which like all the sequels just couldn't quite match the magic of the original. (To be fair, I think HA3 is underappreciated.) Though this definitely has a bigger budget and cast behind it than the last two made-for-TV versions that you may not have even known existed, this movie still has a very-made-for-TV feel to it. It doesn't help that Max is a straight up rude brat, not simply rough around the edges like the original Kevin McCallister. 

To make it clear, I'm not saying this is a downright bad movie, just mediocre. I see a lot of people online hating this, but I think it's fault is being unable to make the material sparkle rather than bad writing. This is written by SNL actor/writer Mikey Day and College Humor alumni/SNL writer Streeter Seidell (they co-wrote the popular David S. Pumpkins sketch) and it feels like they were trying. There are some fun lines in this and one laugh-out-loud moment near the end. Also, the movie does have a sweet scene in this that actually manages to fill the expected HA touching moment quota without falling into the hole of simply replicating the misunderstood old man moment that 2 and 3 did. 

I'll give the writers this, they definitely knew how to handle the setup. Rather than predictably spend a lot of time watching Max getting frustrated with his family like in the first film, they go through it quickly, because we all know how this goes. (Admittedly, we barely get a feel for what Max's father is like.) I'm also pleased that this avoids the bullying older sibling trope that appeared in the first three films. The script also does a surprisingly valid job of explaining why Max isn't picked up by the cops when his parents realize he's missing. 

The best part of this are definitely the foils the McKenzies. Of all the pretenders to the Wet Bandits' thrown, I've got to say that these are probably the franchise's best home invader replacements. (Not to knock the quartet from HA3, again underrated, who weren't half bad themselves.) The movie breaks from formula by making them sympathetic and not villainous crooks like in previous entries. Heck, a lot more time is spent on the McKenzies and their family than Max. Which I prefer because they're more interesting than the lead and have the best lines. (Though, I admit that the subplot about Jeff's brother's family visiting for Christmas wastes time and could've been cut.) They're practically the protagonists, and Max is kinda the antagonist. Delaney does a good job as a guy who's slightly awkward, and Kemper is even better as she brings her traditional energy to the more driven half of the couple.    

The slapstick and traps in this isn't half bad if not as memorable as the first film, especially considering that you just can't go as violent as you could in the 90's.

The movie features a pleasant number of guest appearances from established comedic actors. (Say what you will about this but casting's not it's weak point.) Kenan Thompson shines as a real estate agent. They link this movie to the original with a brief appearance from Kevin McCallister's brother Buzz (Devin Ratray) (I'm not spoiling anything; he's in the trailer) and his role fits in organically, plus he's fun. 

Overall, this isn't a must see. However, your kids will probably like it, and there's nothing disagreeable with the film. If a family member was watching this or it's decades later and my memories have gotten hazy, I'd probably watch it again. If you're a Rob Delaney and/or Ellie Kemper this will probably be up your alley.

The Simpsons in Plusaversary

 

6/10

In this five minute special made specifically for Disney+ Day, Homer Simpson (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) and other residents of Springfield hang out with various Disney-owned characters.

This entry is sadly weak. There are three pretty good jokes in this but as a whole the writers surprisingly couldn't do a lot with all these Disney properties. Also, the whole thing ends in an odd place that just doesn't work.

On the plus side, I'm impressed how the Simpsons managed to feature multiple big name Disney cartoon characters. I'm really surprised the company gave the go ahead, especially considering that it features these children's characters hanging out and in Moe's Tavern and actually drinking beer. The best part is probably seeing Goofy (Hank Azaria) hang with Homer as they weirdly work well together.

So, yeah, this isn't must-see Simpsons. However, it's an interesting curiosity if only to see Disney+'s equivalent to Warner Bros.'s Space Jam: A New Legacy in terms of shameless self-promotion.

Animaniacs- Season 2

8/10

This second season of the reboot on Hulu brings more Warner siblings shenanigans and mice Pinky (voiced by Rob Paulsen) and the Brain (Maurice LaMarche) continue trying to take over the world.

Again, the writers on this do a very good and funny job. The Animaniacs reboot has a sense of smart humor to it that a lot of children's comedies don't (rather fills in the gap left by Phineas and Ferb.) There are a couple of particularly fun jokes in this where the show gets self-referential. That having been said, the writers squeeze in a LOT of references. I'm worried that a lot of children won't get what's going on and lose interest. (Yeah, the original show had these too, but they were more subtle. It wasn't like the original writers felt like they needed to insist on references.) The Trump jokes are getting old.

I've seen people online say this was stronger than the last season, but I'm not quite sure. I thought that one had a few more original ideas. The second half is definitely stronger than the first. 

Last season, the writing on the Brain got a little off, having him be more immoral than amoral by doing a couple things that felt a little too far for him. I think the writers got feedback as he's a lot closer to form here. I'm especially impressed with the writing of the Pinky and the Brain segments this season. The writers really managed to play around and do more with the old formula of two mice always failing to rule the world than you'd expect.

Even though this show cut most of the other segments and their characters from the original Animaniacs, I like that the writers have made the effort to build their own recurring characters within the Warners and P&B segments. Intensely success-driven and sour CEO Nora Norita (Stephanie Escajeda) really comes into her own here. She steals most of the scenes she's in with some pretty expressive facial animations. She even manages to outshine veteran players Ralph (Franke Welker) and Dr. Scratchansniff (Rob Paulsen).  

Animation-wise, the yellowish tinge to the Warners' faces has been noticeably lessened, but not quite gone. Still don't know why the animators can't go straight white like the classic designs.

Overall, highly recommended for adults. I know I said I felt the last season was stronger, but the difference isn't by much. This is just a lot of fun.  However, I'm honestly not convinced kids' attentions can be kept through all the references.

The Harder They Fall

8.5/10

In this Netflix Western featuring fictionalized versions of existing notable African Americans from the Wild West, bandit Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) seeks out also-bandit Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), who killed Love's parents.

This is a Tarantino/The Quick and the Dead-esque western that's heavy on style and low on historical accuracy. It's mostly having fun, where the audience is invited to see how various situations will work out. It does have one really well done dramatic scene.

What really makes this work is the wonderful cast and characterization. Not a dull character in the bunch, and there a lot of players in this. Majors is really charismatic as Nat. The recent Power Rangers movie's RJ Cyler as Jim Beckworth gives a humorous performance. The villains in here may actually have more three-dimensionalness to them than most of the heroes. Elba manages to bring a controlled but very intimidating presence whenever he's on camera. LaKeith Stanfield's Cherokee Bill, though he definitely does bad things and is loyal to Buck, is an interesting change-of-pace for a villain. He's world weary and just tired of violence and people who try to prove themselves by taking him on. 

Though the pacing mostly works, this is a two hour, ten minute movie that may have tried to squeeze in too many characters. At one point during the big, traditional final confrontation, I asked myself "How long does this go on?" 

Director Jeymes Samuel has a wonderful visual touch, using pans, close-ups and other tricks. There is a train scene with some beautiful countryside shots. Full of modern music, which rather fits the tone of the film.

This looks like one of those films that clearly had a decent budget, especially when it comes to the cast of notable/experienced actors but wasn't HUGE. The sets aren't cheap, but you never forget that they are just sets. (In fairness, this may be due to modern digital film and it's greater detail making it so much easier to notice when something isn't real. In the first scene of the film, I immediately noticed that the food looked plastic.) The audio is too clear. It takes you out of the film when you can hear every footstep and other movements. 

Recommended. This was a pretty entertaining popcorn western.

Eternals

10/10

In this movie, the titular Eternals are immortal beings who have lived on Earth for centuries. The group, who have been scattered, reunite when their old enemies the people-eating Deviants return.  

The buzz about this film is that it was going to be different for a Marvel film and go for more of an epic feel. I'm very pleased to say that this met my expectations and really did feel different. Don't get me wrong this is still an MCU movie; it's got jokes and CGI fighting. However, it tweaks the formula a little.  There is a lot less fighting and a lot more focus on story and characters and their interactions. I know I've seen complaints about the length and pacing, but it was never an issue for me. I thought everything was done and revealed at a steady stride. I liked everything I learned as the movie goes on. It's got a large cast, but the movie makes the wise choice of not having everyone immediately meet at once, giving more time to let characters breathe. 

I give this movie credit for doing a few things you don't usually see in Marvel films. This is one of their entries that takes itself more seriously. A lot of thought is given than expected. We get the usual big fight, but it has more of an oomph than your traditional MCU finale.

The special effects in this are pretty good. Some great cosmic creature and sci-fi design. I wasn't initially sold by the Deviants' design in the commercials, looked like basic green CGI creatures, but there is a surprising amount of detail to them. No Deviant is alike and I appreciate the variety. 

Strong cast and group of characters. For 10 Eternals, all the characters' are fairly well developed, some more than others, but even the less prominent ones have distinctive traits. My favorite Eternals are probably Kumail Nanjiani's Kingo, the most humorous member of the group, and the technology-oriented Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), who has one of the more interesting life paths. Game of Thrones' Kit Harrington has only a small part as the boyfriend of Eternal Cersei (Gemma Chan), but he shines as a more human element and generally likable guy. 

 Highly recommended. I know I might be a bit vague, but I don't want to spoil anything. This is a really entertaining superhero/god-like being epic. Definitely the best of the Marvel phase 4 films so far.

Last Night in Soho

 

7.5/10

In Last Night in Soho, fresh new design school student Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) rents an apartment in London. Soon she begins to dream about Sandie (Queen's Gambit's Anna Taylor-Joy) a woman from the 60's, Eloise's favorite time period. Though she is initially fascinated with Sandie's life, things soon get darker and dangerous. The movie's got two decent acts followed by a final one that knocks it out of the park. 

LNiS is competently run throughout. It's directed by Edgar Wright and he knows how to bring in the style. The 60's London and paranormal stuff are shot so well, including an excellent use of lighting and colors and just the setup of the dream/ghostly stuff. There are a few scary/action scenes in this that are some of the best looking of the year. The basic messages of the plot, the importance of mental health and how women can be preyed upon by men, are both well handled. (In fact, the latter concept is a great example of how the second Black Christmas should have been handled. It's able to address the message of women's exploitation by men in a way that's done naturally while also telling a good story).   

However, the first two acts may be kinda a drudge for many viewers' taste. I wouldn't say any scene is too slow or boring, but there is a lot of exposition and set up. I could predict where things are going way ahead of time, and then it became the burden of waiting to see things happen. It doesn't help that mean Eloise's fellow fashion student Jocasta (Synnove Karlsen) and her clique are too one dimensional and cliched and Eloise's love interest John (Michael Ajao) feels pretty underdeveloped. 

My issues with the film disappear with the third act. I mean it completely wowed me. It's no longer predictable. Pacing, suspense, and the visuals run at 11/10. Admittedly there is one big plot hole at the end, but I didn't consider it a deal breaker. 

Great casting in this. McKenzie does a very good job playing a character going through a gamut of emotions. We get a couple solid performances from some experienced actors. Terence Stamp plays a man connected to the dreams. From what I've seen at least in his American films, he often plays serious characters, so it's nice to see him play someone more lively: a clever sort whose presence automatically makes the watcher uncomfortable. The late Diana Rigg in what is her last film shines in a smaller role as Eloise's old-fashioned, no-nonsense neighbor.   

Wonderful soundtrack, featuring multiple classic 60's hits.

Overall, I think this is worth watching. It definitely could've been improved but comes from a good place, and when it impresses it impresses. Really nails the classic supernatural thriller formula.

Scooby-Doo, Where are you now?

7/10

This special on the CW looks at the long history of the Scooby-Doo franchise and has the Mystery Inc. crew interviewed by Pretty Little Liars' Janel Parrish and, not unexpectedly, have to deal with a monster haunting the studio they're in. 

This does a good job of going over the over fifty-year-old franchise in approximately forty-five minutes. It manages to look at the series' staples and provides some fun facts about it's creation, including preliminary sketch art. Plus, equal time is shown to clips from the shows' various incarnations over the years. (Well, the better liked ones. I don't think I saw the likes of The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo or Scooby-Doo and Shaggy get a Clue. As has been the practice in later years, not a word is mentioned of Scrappy. A little unfair. I'm not fond of the character, but you can't deny that he had a significant affect on the course of the show for a while.) I like that there is a fair amount of interviews with the behind-the-scenes talent, like directors or voice artists instead of just interviews with public personalities. 

The characters are represented with their original 70's character designs. I find it nostalgic to see these brought back. I would've thought they'd gone with the style they've gone with the for the last decade of the made-for-DVD films and the Supernatural crossover.

However, this is still light CW filler. There are a few fun lines, but many of the attempts at humor don't really land, especially quickie interviews with other cartoon characters.

Parrish does not make for the best host. Her interactions with characters who aren't really there is pretty awkward. Her talking to the audience isn't that great either.

It's a decent time-waster and fans of Scooby-Doo will like this, but it's not required viewing.

Star Wars: Visions

9/10

This Disney+ anthology contains nine Star Wars-themed, non-canon anime short tales.

This is a really, really good looking show. The nice thing about short animation projects is that you can visually achieve stuff and fluidity you're less likely to get in a long form project. Each episode has a distinct look. The most stylish and best executed one is the first The Duel, which goes for a black-and-white old-school film look with excellent fighting scenes.

Admittedly, most of the episodes want to focus specifically on Jedi and lightsaber fighting rather than keeping the content more varied. (I know that Tatooine Rhapsody, about a space band, is the least liked episode, but I liked that this was the only one that really went for something different.) However, every episode manages to do things differently enough that this never becomes an issue (okay, there are two pairs of episodes that cut too close to each other in basic story, but I still liked them all). In fact, I think all the ideas here are decent. I particularly recommend The Ninth Jedi, Akakiri, and The Elder.

The English dub cast is surprisingly strong, including many known names, such as Lucy Liu, Henry Golding, and Joseph Golden Levitt.

The music to this is all pretty good, too, and definitely has that Star Wars/John Williams feel to it.

Highly recommended. This is a short and entertaining program that one can quickly breeze through.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine- Season 8 (Final)

7/10

In the final season, the cops of the Nine-Nine end up going through changes in their lives.

It's B99, so the show brings the same sense of humor it's known for and does a decent job of wrapping things up and bringing back recurring characters for final bows. (No Vulture surprisingly. And, would it hurt to show Terry's wife or Boyle's longtime girlfriend one more time after years of being forgotten?) However, like the last couple of seasons, the show is no longer it's prime. It's still B99, but it sometimes feels like it's going through the motions and the jokes don't have the punch they used too. Also, there's an episode about Boyle's close-knit, weird extended family, a joke that I think has been ground to a fine dust by this point and definitely didn't need a whole A plot for.

One admirable change of this season is that it has a few episodes addressing the lack of accountability for police. Sure, the cast has grappled with cynical, corrupt, or selfish other members of the force before, but it was in a TV show-ish non-political way. With the exception of one episode about racial profiling, the show has shied away from real world controversies with police abuse of power. I give them credit, albeit belated and their hand may have been forced due to the current climate, for actually addressing hard issues.

This season has a new antagonist, police union president Frank O'Sullivan (played by Scrubs' William McGinley). On the one hand, the character feels too similar to other rivals within the force that the characters have had. Plus, he's a momma's boy, and all the jokes about that are as old and predictable as you'd guess. On the other hand, he does have some fun lines and McGinley is a comic delivery pro.

Though this season was mostly just alright, they nail the annual heist (which always risks running out of steam but never does) and the final episode is done really well. This finale tries for tugging at the emotional heartstrings like its creator Michael Schur's earlier show Parks and Recreations did. This doesn't quite hit that mark but doesn't miss by much.

Also if you're a fan of Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker), I must be the bearer of bad news: probably due to COVID, his screen time is teeny tiny. 

If you're a fan, you probably will want to see this. It's not one of the best seasons, but it ends the show well enough.

Venom: Let There be Carnage

7.5/10 

In this sequel, the alien symbiote Venom and his host Eddie Brock (both played by Tom Hardy) have to go up against the deadly symbiote Carnage and his host and serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson).

The first film felt like an older pre-Dark Knight/the MCU superhero movie> this also feels like it was made before the golden age of these films, but it feels like a movie that was made closer to that period. Let There be Carnage manages to avoid the flaws of its predecessor, such as a poorly written villain. This is a leaner, quicker-paced film. 

The filmmakers realized that what everyone liked about the last film was the comic back-and-forth between Eddie and Venom. It can be pretty entertaining; the symbiote can be so delightfully weird. However, the movie spends waaaaayyyy too much time on them. They don't even do much fighting in this (really, just in the final act.) It's just a lot of them arguing with each other. This seems to be at the expense of other characters. I like the character of Brock's ex Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) in these films, but she's given so little to do here. Also, they lean a little heavily on Brock getting in trouble with everyone.

BUT, all the scenes with the villains are loads of fun. Harrelson really pulls off the psychotic, and strangely interesting killer really well. He nails the body language. The most underrated character in this may be Naomie Harris' Frances Barrison/Shriek, Kasady's equally crazed lover. (The trailers really didn't pay her much attention.) Harris does the best character work in this. She and Harrelson have excellent chemistry as the crazed Bonnie and Clyde types. (I haven't seen Stone Cold Killers, so I can't say how similar Harrelson is to his character in that.) Also, I love their clothes in this.

As for Carnage itself, the movie really does the Venom's greatest enemy justice. His savagery and the versatility of his powers are really captured here. I mean he may be one of the best "monsters" in a superhero movie. If you're worried about the fact that the final villain of the last movie was also a symbiote, you don't need to worry about  rehashing. Carnage leaves far more of an impression. This is directed by Andy Serkis, best known for his long history of motion caption acting, and he appears to bring a real sense of movement. Carnage is a very flexible, fluid being, and the movie plays around with what he can do as much as it can. Heck, all the cinematography choices in this are really good. Harrelson and Harris's first scene together is truly something. 

The fact that this movie is about a serial killer should give you a heads up that this leans toward the dark. It's PG-13, but pushes the envelope as far as it can. If you haven't seen the first film, understand that Venom is an antihero. The film can feel didactic as it both shows him trying to be a hero while also doing some indefensible stuff.

Recommended. Definitely better than the first but still far from perfect. The back-and-forth bits can be trying. However, it's worth it for the villain scenes and the fights. They are really worth watching.

Nine Perfect Strangers- Season 1

 

9/10

In this Hulu show based on the book by Big Little Lies' Liane Moriarty, nine people, each with their own emotional baggage/damage, visit Tranquilium, a wellness retreat, lead by the charismatic but enigmatic Masha Dmitrichenko (played by Nicole Kidman). She is said to get results, but her methods soon get controversial. 

I didn't set high expectations when I walked into this. The trailer looked interesting, but I didn't quite know what to make of it. I'm pleased to say this show really took me by surprise. The writing's really good. All the characters and all their personal issues gel. Dialogue is strong.

I like that this is a "dealing-with-your-demons" story, but it isn't trying to be too serious or dark. There's sad stuff in this, but this show isn't about being defined by it. It's also refreshing to see a mystery show that is also not trying too hard to be serious or dark, which feels like a rarity these days. Shocking, kinda trippy, unexpected stuff does happen, mind you, and you're definitely kept interested in what happens next. Though you may be able to guess some of the characters' story arcs, you won't be able to predict all the ways this story will go.   

I do think the show does go a little overboard with Masha's indecipherableness and her quasi-new ageness. There's a subplot with her and her employees that felt like too much.

Has an amazing cast full of big names and familiar faces. Besides Kidman, there's Michael Shannon, Melissa McCarthy, Samara Weaving, Luke Evans, Bobby Canavale, Regina Hall, and The Good Place's Manny Jacinto, (who proves to be very versatile in a completely different role than his humrous Jason Mendoza character). They're all good. Shannon and Asher Keddie here are the real acting heavyweights as a couple with tragedy in their past, and the former gives one of his best performances. Weaving as an influencer and Hall as a woman trying to restart her life give the best character work I've ever seen them do.

Highly recommended. This is a very interesting show. I can't say there are a lot exactly like this.

Foundation- Episode 1

 

6/10

In this Apple+ TV show based on the Foundation books by Issac Asimov, the known universe is ruled by an intergalactic empire.  Mathematician Hari Seldon (played by Jared Harris) has made a prediction about the empire's future and angers its emperors. 

I decided not to continue watching after this episode. I wouldn't say I disliked it, but I already have a lot of shows on my plate, and Foundation didn't do enough to convince me to keep watching. (I haven't read the original books, so I can't say how this compares to them. I've heard this is fairly different.)

This is an impressively developed, complex world the audience is dropped into. The backstory and culture of the empire and its various worlds is really well thought out. However, the show tries to juggle way too many things. A lot of plot points feel glossed over, and it's easy to lose track or be confused. 

This is a space opera and at times I feel like it's trying too hard to feel grand and important. It bugs me that for a show trying to take itself seriously, it suffers from a villain, Emperor Day (Lee Pace), who feels a little silly. Pace does a great job acting, and the character is clever with some good lines. But, he seemed to suffer from inconsistent writing. Like they try to have him be both smart and controlled, but also be a bit of an entitled brat but not in a convincing way. There's something he does in this that feels very arbitrary.

Seldon and his new pupil Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) are likable protagonists, and their respective actors' performances are one of the strongest parts of the show.

Visually, the pilot episode is fantastic. Practically movie quality in terms of special effects. The technology and architecture of the planets in this really work.

Overall, I think there is an audience with this. Like I said, this does epic sci-fi well and impressive in its world-building. However, I think others may be bored with it and think it's just a bunch of stuff thrown at you.

My Little Pony: A New Generation

8/10

This new MLP movie on Netflix (intended to sell the new toyline and kick off a new show) takes place in the land of Equestria, presumably long, long after the events of the Frienship is Magic TV show. Magic no longer exists in the land, and the three different types of ponies no longer co-exist and each live apart from each other in fear and distrust.  One earth pony Sunny Starscout (voiced by Vanessa Hudgens) meets and befriends a unicorn Izzy Moonbow (Kimiko Glenn), and the two team up to bring magic back to the land. 

Friendship is Magic became an unexpectedly big hit because it went above and beyond what you'd find in your usual girls cartoon in terms of world building, writing, and characterization. To the best of my knowledge, none of the show's writers worked on this. So the question, is this new world on the same level as the FiM? No, it doesn't quite have the magic it did. Feels a little simplified. It particularly shows in the ponies living in three specific places whereas the show made it clear that many towns and cities existed. (To be fair, the movie's only an hour and thirty minutes, and you can only do so much.)

However, this movie doesn't trail behind the original show by that much. Effort definitely went into this. The script is fun and there are several good lines. Thought is given to the world here. The pegasi mountain city is the most impressive. 

Some genuine heart is given to Sunny's storyline. Her loyalty to the memory of her father, who taught her that all the ponies once lived in harmony, and desire to get the ponies to all get along feels honest and earnest. 

The computer animation in this ain't too shabby. This was originally supposed to be a theatrical release before COVID hit and there is clearly a decent budget. My compliments to the scenery designers; being MLP, the animators are given carte blanche to be as colorful and whimsical as they want. (There is one scene with a tree in a field of flowers that's really pretty.) The direction and camera angles felt very basic. Though, there is one shot in the first act that bridges sudden changes in mood really well.           

Songs are decent. None of them are memorable, but they're not bad.

Recommended for kids or general MLP fans. Again, not on the same level as FiM. Not the most unique work, either. But it is a well made, good-natured work. 

Cinderella

6/10 

Found on Amazon Prime, This is the general tale of Cinderella (played by singer Camilla Cabello) except the lead is more interested in starting her own business than finding her one true love.

I'll be honest from the start, I'm not the audience for this. I've never been a big fan of Cinderella, any adaptation. I've always found this fairy tale kinda slow and uninteresting to me, probably because the lack of any action to it. So, bear this in mind as you read on.

Considering that this is written and directed by Pitch Perfect's Kay Cannon and featuring some big names, this doesn't feel like a big film. The whole thing feels like a made-for-TV movie you'd find on Hallmark. The story is so-so. Not bad, just doesn't leave a lot of a lasting impression. It doesn't help that you can tell where the story is going way ahead of when it happens. The modern flairs given to this feel predictable as well as Cinderella's journey. (Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to poo-poo the message of her story of female self-empowerment, I'm just saying it is done in a very unoriginal manner.)

The film is weirdly bipolar. It tries to both have characters act in a modern way, but it also tries to incorporate medieval social standards, and the two don't mesh. Cinderella is very a free spirit and willing to speak or stand up to anyone, except she's suddenly in the more traditionally downtrodden role when it comes to her stepmother (Idina Menzel) and stepsisters.

Jokes are hit-and-miss. The ones that do work are pretty good, though.

The sets and locations feel like a bit of a letdown.  Feel a little medieval/fairy tale bare minimum. I know this is more of a comedy, so the budget may not be that high, so it may be unfair of me to judge. Outfits are good.

This is a jukebox musical. (I believe two are original pieces.) I liked the song selections. The choreography is decent and vocals are great (not surprising since Cabello and Menzel are in this.)

No complaints about the casting. Everyone's giving their all (and Pierce Brosnan as the king is really rocking the beard.)

Again, not for me. Feel it's an unoriginal rehash of a worn-out story, plus I think it's odd they'd revisit the tale not too many years after the Disney live action one came out. But, I don't dislike this the way many critics are. I can't say it does anything downright wrong; it's just light viewing. My sister loves this, so there's got to be an audience for it. If you like the Cinderella story, romantic comedies, or jukebox musicals, this may be for you. Just don't walk into this with high expectations.

Malignant

 

6.5/10

In Malignant, Madison Mitchell (played by The Mummy (2017)/Annabelle's Annabelle Wallis) keeps having visions of people being killed by the mysterious Gabriel.

This movie is a mix of good  and bad stuff. First the bad. Dialogue is pretty weak, attempts at serious moments can be silly, attempts at humor can fall flat (though in fairness there's a  good line here and there), and there are a couple moments where stuff needs to happen regardless of the real world logic. At least it's dumb in a "the filmmakers were trying to have fun" sort of way and not a "trying too hard to be serious or dark" sort of way which can be a far more painful viewing experience.

However, the movie has a lot of things I really dug. There are a lot of moments where things go bonkers in a good way. There are reveals you don't see coming and more importantly there is Gabriel. The trailers make him look like your traditional specter/demon haunting someone type, but that's not the case here and he's so much more. Gabriel's one of the more unique horror movie killers I've seen in a while. I want to keep things vague, but he has a very 80's feel to him like he was meant to sell toys. 

Director James Wan is known for his visual, cinematic horror and he doesn't disappoint here. Unlike many of his other movies, there isn't as much emphasis creepy atmosphere, but he makes up for it with some truly impressive kills and fight-the-villain scenes. There's a chase scene in this that is simply one of the best thing's he's ever shot. His choice of sets also work; there are certain buildings that build a larger-than-life feel and also evoke the 80's.

The cast isn't able to make the weak dialogue work. However, I wouldn't say anyone here is a bad actor either.

This is hard to recommend or not. I think that many people will love the Gabriel stuff enough that it'll make up for the bad stuff. But, Gabriel may be too much for some people (like I said, this movie gets nuts) or won't be enough to make up going through the bad dialogue and less interesting points. If anything, I think this movie will definitely leave an impression on you.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2021)

8/10

Not to be confused with Kevin Smith's other Masters of the Universe entry this year. Mattel went with an interesting strategy: go with a show for the more adult audience (MotU: Revelations) and this, a show specifically for the children. This is a complete reboot of the MotU universe where the Masters of the Universe are now teens. In this, amnesiac Adam (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal) has been raised in the forest by the Tiger Tribe for some time. One day he encounters witch and thief Teela (Kimberly Brooks) who has stolen the Sword of Power and is on the run from villainous foes who want the power for themselves. This all sets up a new journey for Adam as he becomes the hero known as He-Man.

For a redo of He-Man, I thought this was well done. Now, this was clearly made to entertain children and sell toys. Story isn't ambitious with the story (by children's show standards) like the recent She-Ra reboot was. However, it's a fun story. The world building isn't too in-depth, but the writers did made an effort. All the characters are pretty fun and likable. 

Visually, this looks really good. I mean television 3D animation still isn't able to match the larger budgeted theatrical films, but it's amazing the leaps and bounds it has taken. Everything looks sharp, clean and colorful. The design of the world is really strong and sells the fantasy world. The city of Eternus is especially impressive. I mostly liked the new decisions for the character designs and costumes. There are a some rather radical departures, but I felt they worked. (The nose part on the helmet for Adam's tiger friend Cringer (David Kaye) is a bit flat and off for my taste.) As I said, this show looks like it's selling toys, and these characters all will make good ones. They took the basic concept of He-Man, a really ripped guy and multiplied it to 11. He's basically a mountain of muscle and it works. The main players all have superpowered forms/costumes, which probably is a fun concept that the kids will probably like.  

I think grown MotU fans can have fun with this and children will definitely love it. This does have a very basic 80's Saturday morning cartoon adventure feel and there's nothing wrong with that. This makes for nice light watching.

Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog

 

8/10

In Straight Outta Nowhere (yeah, I don't know why the Scooby franchis is doing a Straight Outta Compton pun either), Scooby-Doo (voiced by prolific voice actor and original Fred, Frank Welker) is affected by a strange frequency compelling him to seek it out, leading him and and the Mystery Inc. gang to the town of Nowhere where they meet Courage the Cowardly Dog (voiced by Marty Grabstein). Soon the cast find themselves attacked by giant cicadas.

For those too old or too young, Courage the Cowardly was an early 2000's show about the titular dog who'd encounter scary or unwanted situations. I'm kind of surprised a crossover hasn't happened before. (I mean earlier on. This is a property that's been dormant for a while, so it's a little surprising they're dusting it off now.) Scoob and Courage have so much in common, they're both good-natured but easily frightened dogs. (But there's also enough difference between how the two act that it doesn't feel like they're the exact same characters.) The two of them work so well off each other. Beside, it's just nice to see Courage back. One major strength of the character is that he is just so big-hearted. He's a delight to follow throughout. And it's nice to see Muriel (voiced by Thea White who sadly died after recording), probably the kindest, gentlest of all animated elderly women. She gels surprisingly well with the Mystery Inc. gang.   

In fact, the whole movie does a good job of paying homage to Courage's show. (This is definitely more of a Courage entry than a Scooby one.) The Scooby made-for-DVD movies/Courage style blend together unsuspectingly well. It helps that the producers/director learned a lesson from Scooby-Doo and the 13th Ghost and Return to Zombie Island: that if you incorporate a property with supernatural characteristics it's a bad idea to not use said supernatural characteristics. No Daphne being a killjoy and explaining everything away here.  

Now if you're a fan of the darker, creepier Courage episodes, you may be disappointed. This film follows the recent trend of the Scooby movies focusing on the humor and not putting much emphasis on spookiness or the foe being threatening. In fairness, Courage had its fair share of lighter episodes, so the tone still feels like the show. Plus, the jokes work though I think a lot of adults may find the last scene a little too frivolous.

In the earlier seasons of Courage, the star would occasionally speak in dog gibberish peppered with the occasional short sentences or single words. As the show went on, Courage ceased speaking at (to the best of my memory anyway, been years since I saw the show.) I believe the writers realized he worked better as more of a visual character. However, this movie has Courage revert back to speaking. Feels weird now, like Oscar the Grouch being orange or Grimace having four arms again. 

The animation in this is pretty good for a non-theatrical film. The design really blends the two properties really well. The opening credits are one of the better looking ones in a while. There is a song in this that feels completely out of place. Really stops the momentum of the entire film.

Recommended. This has a lot to offer for Courage fans. I think kids will really enjoy the wacky highjinks in this.

Come From Away

9/10

Found on Apple+, this is a televised recording of a performance of the successful musical Come from Away. It retells how when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred multiple planes had to be grounded. One of those landing spots: an airport in Gander, Newfoundland. Soon the town and other surrounding ones had to pay host to approximately seven thousand people for a few days.

I really liked the choices here. This is one of those minimalist musicals that does a lot with a little. It doesn't rely much on fancy props, clothing, and sets. The majority of props here are chairs and tables. The story is mostly given through the dialogue and performances of the actors. Great cast by the way, they have the unenviable position of performing multiple roles they often have to switch immediately. I'm not sure how often they get the chance to leave the stage if at all. The band is onstage off to the sides mostly.  

If you're not a fan of musicals in general, I could see how the style could potentially annoy some. It's so intentionally "performancey" and giving exposition directly to the audience that it could feel a bit artificial. When I first started this it almost felt a little like a skit making fun of educational music performances, however that feeling quickly passed as I got wrapped up in everything.

The driving force here is the story. It is one of unexpected basic generosity and kindness during times of struggle. Of course, since this story is specifically related to 9/11 the musical also deals with the loss, initial confusion, and general fear and anxiousness of the event. The entire logistics of all the planes having to land and the care and housing of the passengers was interesting of itself. 

I admit that most of the songs in this aren't earworms and the styles are similar enough that they can run together. Don't get me wrong; they are good songs and help drive the mood of the whole thing. There is a sort of vaguely folk music/local color feel to them. In terms of musical performance, credit should especially be given to Jenn Colella as pilot Beverley Bass who has the most demanding solo performance.

Highly recommended. This is just a really well put together and entertaining and interesting work.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

9/10

In this film, Shang-Chi (played by Simiu Lu from the Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience) is an unambitious fellow working as a valet with his best friend Katy (Awkwafina). However, Shang-Chi's past comes to haunt him as he is pursued by the criminal organization The Ten Rings to which he has ties.

This film proves once again that the MCU is going to do just fine after the shakeup of Endgame. This is even a stronger entry than Black Widow. It's not one of those Marvel films that tries to switch up the tone a little. It is just a good ol' fashioned action-packed audience-pleaser. If you're a little tired of the Marvel formula, I'd like to say in defense of this movie that it is really well executed.

Some of the fight choreography is really impressive, especially the bus scene. And yeah we have the traditional big budget battle at the end that the MCU is also known for, but it's a very impressive final battle.

There are a lot of Chinese mythical creatures in this. I really appreciate the amount of detail and color that went toward them. However, it's clear the creatures are computer animated as the amount of detail is a little at the expense of realistic quality.  

The story in this has a different feel about it. It really is based around the main character's personal life and how it relates to his journey even more than the likes of Black Widow or Thor. The whole general backstory is really well thought out (especially when it comes to using the Mandarin/Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung) without wandering into the general area of the Yellow Peril/Fu Manchu stereotype that the comics character originally was.) 

The script is one of the more humorous Marvel films and has two jokes that are just laugh-out-loud funny.

Though this movie makes good use of comprehensive flashbacks spread throughout to build the story, there are a lot of them and some could find them exhausting. I felt that the character of Xialing (Meng'er Zhang) wasn't always properly utilized in the last act. She needed more interaction between characters and it felt like her backstory didn't get a resolution in a way that would've felt natural. If you saw the character Death Dealer (Andy Le) in the trailers and thought he looked neat, be forewarned that he's basically Boba Fett, cool design but sadly underutilized. Plus, comics fans might be disappointed that they've significantly limited the abilities of the Mandarin's rings, which originally each had their own unique power.

Simiu makes for a likable lead. Think of Shang-Chi as kind of a goofy average Joe like Ant Man, except he's more sensible and a chill dude. However, it's Awkwafina who really steals the show. She's funny and entertaining, but she never feels like she's forced in and works well with the more serious moments of the film. Leung makes a good antagonist, one of the most sympathetic and sorta fleshed out villains in the MCU. 

Highly recommended, just an all-around entertaining movie.

Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage

9/10

This installment of the HBO documentary series Music Box looks at Woodstock 99, the third and so far last of the Woodstock concerts. It was intended hit to the zeitgeist of the nineties music scene by hosting a huge amount of big names at the time and had an audience of 400,000. However, it didn't properly plan for the heat, water and bathing conditions. In the end, there was massive violence/vandalism, including multiple counts of rape or other sexual harassment, and one man died of heat stroke. Eventually the police had to be brought in to clear it up and MTV News, which was covering the entire thing, had to vacate.

This is just a really well orchestrated doc. It carefully follows each day of the festival and does a great job of carefully building toward and explaining how things went nuts. This is one of those narrationless documentaries where everything is set up by the interviewees dialogue. 

I remember the MTV/news coverage of the chaos and this really brings it all back for me. (They even got MTV's Carson Daly to interview. Unfortunately Kurt Loder, the network's other major face to at the concert to the best of my memory doesn't participate.) It is also just an excellent all-encompassing glance into the nineties culture in general.

I thought this was a better done concert-gone-wrong documentary than those two Fyre Festival ones. This felt more comprehensive of the situation. Also, I felt it more interesting to see an ill-fated concert that should've worked in theory run by guys with experience than the overtly ambitious and untested dream run by guys new to concert promotion. 

Speaking of the organizers, co-producer John Scher makes himself the perfect villain. He goes out of the way point the finger towards anyone besides himself and just insultingly tries to avoid the blame in general. There is one remark from him that may have you yelling at the screen.  

The doc definitely earns its TV-MA rating. This is a very honest portrayal of what went on at the festival, by which I mean there is a crazy number of boobs and dicks. I mean a lot. There is one of photograph of the inside of the occupied women's shower, and I don't feel comfortable with it. I'm pretty sure that not every if not all women were aware and/or gave their consent for that. Cringey choice by the director. 

Highly recommended. Really covers the concert and its time period. Great for both people who remember it and the younger generation if they want to know more.

The Green Knight

7/10

In this movie based on the Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain (played by Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel), nephew of King Arthur (Sean Harris), accepts a challenge from the mysterious Green Knight (Ralph Ineson). The challenge doesn't turn out to be what Gawain thinks it is and he ends up having to accept a second part of it that causes him to go on a journey on what may very well be a suicide mission.

This is one of those movies that are hard to rate. I mean it looks great. This is one of those Blade Runneresque films where it's really characterized by it's look; maybe the most visually arresting film of the year. Director/writer David Lowery (who also did the Pete's Dragon reboot) brings a great eye to this with wonderful shots of creative medieval architecture and clothing and sumptuous pastoral scenery. He is one of those directors that has a truly confident hold on all their shots. The treelike Green Knight is a great-looking design, imposing but in a fascinating way. Glad Lowery didn't go with CGI. The makeup still allows Ineson some facial expressiveness. (There is a little CGI in another part of this that feels dodgy, but it doesn't last long.) The medieval-esque music also really helps capture the feel of the film.

It's the plot where my opinion of this becomes complicated. When this movie started I would've rated it higher, but my opinion got lower as it continued. Running at two hours and ten minutes, the movie runs feels tired out by the third act. This is a travel film where Gawain encounters many distinctive characters and unexpected situations on his way. They're hit and miss. Some things stuck with me, while others tried my patience. For an artsy film, I found this accessible at first, but as the movie goes on (again it's the third act where issues are really prevalent) the movie reeks of Lowery trying way too hard to be clever and adding psychological depth and modern sensibility to the original tale. (Don't get me wrong, this isn;t one of those art films that the average Joe won't be able to get into at all. You can tell where Lowery's going with this.) It just feels like a bit much.

Acting's good. Patel does a decent job of portraying a flawed character in contrast to the more noble Gawain of lore. Harris steals every scene as a sickly, thoughtful take on Arthur. Ineson really manages to give a partially mysterious, unknowable but oddly courteous feel to the Knight.

I can see some people being bored with this or at least a little disappointed with the third act. However, when you get a lot of films these days based on popular franchises or traditional formats or concepts, it's nice to see something that feels truly original with a distinctive director's voice. If anything, the visuals are worth seeing.