Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Grade: A

(Note: This review will briefly discuss an element in the movie that has already been shown through a lot of promotional material. However, said element is kept a mystery for a little bit of the film and if you're coming in completely cold turkey to this, you may want to avoid this review if you want to be completely surprised).

In the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie, Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) and friends must confront the mysterious and dangerous Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves) who is angry at the world.

3 differentiates itself from the last two movies by being the franchise's Empire Strikes Back. This is noticeably darker and contains more mature, tragic elements. (Since the movie features Shadow, they drew a lot of the story from his premiere game which had his origin story Sonic Adventure 2, one of the most serious games in the franchise. Yes, there are more serious Sonic games).  This culminates in a touching and well told story about loss and about how we deal with our past. 

Using the Sonic games anti-hero Shadow was always going to be a bit of a risk as they had just already used an equally fast rival to Sonic in the form of Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Of course there was the risk of Shadow being just more of the same, but he manages to feel fresh. Whereas Knuckles was goodhearted but misguided and had a silly side to him, Shadow is bitter and angry and is played completely straight. He works as a great opposite to Sonic. He's also a boss when he fights, being faster than Sonic and friends and has a wider skill set than them, featuring some style of fights that haven't been done before.

As much as I've talked about the darker elements, that's not to say this movie doesn't have jokes. Honestly the more serious parts and the humor manage to coexist really well. That all having been said, I did think they could've cut down on a few of Sonic's snarky lines.

The whole story culminates in the most impressive final battle in the series. It knocks the other two out of the park as it goes full EPIC.

Admittedly due to the movie being plot heavy and having a lot of characters, some scenes and elements felt like they were sped through too quickly. Also, some of the human characters from the previous films don't have much screen time. (I know some people complain about them, but I like 'em).

Shapiro remains a great casting choice as Sonic. He's an expert of displaying bravado in a fun manner, but when it comes the time for Sonic's more emotional side, he's able to pivot so easily. 

Yes, Jim Carrey as Sonic's enemy Dr. Ivo Robotnik, and this time also playing his grandfather Prof. Gerald Robotnik, continues to be one of the highlights with his comic performance. I was worried that Gerald would be played too similarly to his grandson, and while there are similarities between the two, the guy really feels like a separate person. While in the previous, Robotnik has basically been played as a cartoon villain, this movie dives into his past and what makes him tick, and for the first time Carry gets some more dramatic material, and he really manages to knock it out of the park. (Given that in the past Carry hadn't been a fan of making sequels and that he'd said recently that he was planning to retire, the script here makes it completely obvious why he decided to come back as it gave him more to do).

Highly recommended. Director Jeff Fowler and his writers have reached that extremely rare achievement where all three films in a trilogy are good and there is no quality degradation. 3 manages to be as good as its predecessors but in a different way. 

Arcane- Season 2 (Final)

Grade: A

The events of last season have their fallout as tensions between Piltover and Zaun heighten and Jinx (voiced by Fallout/Sweetpea's Emma Purcell) goes on the run pursued by her sister Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and a determined Cait (Kaitie Leun, Cho Chang in the Harry Potter movies).

It was a long wait between seasons, but we finally got it, and I found it to be worth the wait. Events get crazier, and we get a lot more storylines that are high concept. Since the characters have already been introduced, the writers get the luxury to make this a more fast-paced entry.

There are a lot of complaints that this season is too fast paced, and I confess that this could’ve been split into two. Admittedly, too much may be going on and too quickly. The creators cannot give every element and character as much focus as they should. Plus, a lot of cast do not get to interact as much since some of the storylines are so separated. (The relationship between inventor Jayce (Fire Country/Lucifer's Kevin Alejandro) and politician Mel (the Frasier reboot/The Neighbor's Toks Olagundoye) is barely touched on).

Of course, it's the multifaceted characterization that still makes this work. The large cast continues to be diverse and interesting. There are few shows that get you to like and feel for characters as you do for this, and even if they are antagonists or just make bad decisions, you get where they are coming from. One of the episodes that made me say "they're doing this storyline again!" worked because of the characters.

The briefly introduced general Ambessa (EastEnders' Ellen Thomas) becomes a major player. She's one of those confident warrior types that are very verbose about the art of war and is one of the most cunning people in the room. Singed (Mistresses' Brett Tucker), the underworld doctor and a minor character last season, also gets more to do. There is more than what meets the eye to the guy. Plus, figuring out his goals and actions makes him super captivating. (There may be a lot of complaints online, but no one seems to have issue with Singed).

The destructive Jinx continues to be one of the main draws. What's nice is that she just isn't doing the same "sister-issues" stuff she did last season. She does not really know what to do after what happened in season 2, and it is nice to see her being genuinely pathless, not knowing what she wants anymore, which allows her quieter and more personal moments (though its Jinx, and she still blows things up a lot). Ella Purnell is still killing it as her, fluctuating between devil-may-care and self-hating. To think she got the role right before her career started taking off, back when Hailee Steinfeld was the only big, big name on this (not to disrespect the various experienced actors involved).

Cool street urchin Ekko (Blaze and the Monster Machines' Reed Shannon), continues to get the short end of the stick as he is once again underutilized, but at least he gets his very own focus episode.

Some character actions do feel a little forced for the plot. Cait’s decisions change really quickly here.

I appreciated that the last season of the show didn’t go crazy with random shock deaths. Unfortunately, this did not carry over here. Several deaths feel unearned and too random in the manner that has been popular with shows since Game of Thrones.

The animation is still some of the best ever done for television. (Apparently, this is the MOST expensive animated show ever). Again, colorful and beautiful . The animators even get a little experimental for certain scenes. There isn’t as much time spent on the settings and their details and nuances due to the faster-paced plot, but there are more creative-looking places and devices.

Recommended. Season 1 was stronger, I do not deny, and I’m not saying there are no legitimate criticisms, but this is still highly engaging television and knocks a lot of other shows out of the park.

Sunny- Season 1

8/10

In this new Apple TV+ show, Suzie (played by Parks and Recreation/Angie Tribeca's Rashida Jones), an American living in a future Japan where robot technology has advanced, is grieving the death of her husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and her son in a plane crash. A coworker of Masa gifts her a robot named Sunny (voiced by Joanna Sotomura) that he created, which is a surprise to Suzie since she didn't know Masa worked in that field. Sunny turns out to be different than other robots with a stronger personality and more independence. Soon, Suzie and Sonny begin an investigation into the robot's creation, Masa's past, and his death.

This is a very unique work (not surprising that this produced from indie studio A24). It's a quirky combination of comedy, thriller, and science fiction. It's also a look at grief and loneliness. It isn't a show where everything is predictable. 

Sunny has a wide of array of varied and well-defined characters. Jones gives what may be her best performance as Suzie and really sells her depression and grief. Judy Ongg stands out as Suzie's mother-in-law Noriko, who contrasts with her daughter-in-law by dealing with her loss by keeping busy instead of being angry.

As for the Sunny the robot, Sotomura makes the character instantly personable with an upbeat voice, but her switch to anger feels just as natural. Sotomura just has this punch to her. The design for Sunny is rather different than your usual TV/movie robots. She has this cute circular, minimalist look to her with a screen that provides her facial expressions.

Visually, the show looks nice with the use of colors. The creators seemed to have a good time with the Japanese sets and locations. There is a lot of Japanese culture in this, naturally since this takes place in the country, which serves as world-view for the unfamiliar. (I mean, I hope it's accurate. White American here. If this show is inaccurate or is a thin example of Japan, I apologize.) 

Some may find Suzie's personality to be a bit standoffish, but I feel it works as part of her character and journey. The squeamish should understand that this is one of those shows where there isn't much violence, but when there is the show doesn't hold back.

Highly recommended. If you're looking for something new and engaging, check this out. 

Alien: Romulus

8.5/10

In a time between Alien and Aliens, a group of teens or young adults (they weren't specific), want to run away from the mining space colony they lived in. In order to achieve intergalactic flight, they steal some equipment from an abandoned space station. Unfortunately, said station was the host to research on a certain horrifying species.

This kind of feels like a greatest hits album. I'm not saying this does anything to break the mold or put itself on the exact same pedestal of the first two films, but this movie does the Aliens formula particularly well. The plot and characters are solid. The movie pays homage to a lot of the films in the franchise without feeling like it's derailed by nostalgia baiting (with the exception of one very obvious scene). 

But of course, being an Alien film, it's all about the look and the scares. And yeah, this does it pretty well. Alvarez works well with how disturbing the Xenomorphs are. Though I called this a "greatest hits, the movie does have a few scenes, one involving the Xenomorphs blood in particular, that are creative.

Alvarez feels most inspired by the desolate technology aspect of the first film. The space station is a Ridley Scott-esque work of genius. It is detailed and elaborate with a cold and overwhelming feel to it. The station itself is just as scary as the Xenomorphs. The music also really adds to the ambience.

Acting is decent but the real standout is Industry's David Jonsson as Andy, a member of the group of runaways. I won't give any spoilers about the character, but he steals all the scenes.

 Highly recommended. I feel this is the third best Alien movie, and a nice return to form if some of the last few weren't working for ya'.

AfrAId

5.5/10

In AfrAId, a family becomes hosts for a prototype of the new digital assistant AIA, an AI that is far more advanced than the likes of Siri and Alexa. Soon, the patriarch Curtis (played by John Cho) becomes suspicious of her attentions.

This is one of those movies that has good ideas but isn't consistent. In it's defense, all the movie's commentary on the negatives of AI and an increased attachment to technology work. And yeah, M3gan also addressed technology recently, but not as strongly as the very aspect of AI itself (this is the first film to take advantage of how creepy poor AI art can be.) Also, for a movie about the dangers of technology, it doesn't feel as cookie cutter as you'd think it would.

But, it's when you get to the rest of the movie that quality fluctuates. There are good lines in this, but a lot just don't work. The movie tries to provide personality for the family members, but they aren't interesting enough. Also, the backstory and personality of Meredith (Fantastic Beasts' Katherine Waterston), the mother, is disseminated in an oddly unnatural and slipshod way. The first act in particular feels boring, because we haven't gotten to those AI shenanigans yet.

Can't fault the cast for this film, who are all doing the best with what they're given. This actually has a few solid actors in this, including several that made me say, "Oh, I like them." I have high hopes for the future career of Isaac Bae, who plays the youngest child of the family; kid has a presence. Bottoms/No Exit's Havana Rose Liu does an especially good job of voicing and expressing AIA. Yeah, she's another rogue computer program, but she definitely has personality. (She's no M3gan, but there's no shame in that.)

The film is very conservative with showing us the avatar representing her true form. Usually they do that because its scarier if the monster isn't over utilized, but here it felt more like they realized AIA's appearance wasn't working. I don't think I've been as disappointed with a monster design as I am with this in a long time. If you saw the part of the trailer where AIA says she's going to show her true face, they don't include that here. It feels like someone on the film said, "We can't have a prolonged shot on her. She looks awful!"

A soft not recommended. Like I said, there are interesting parts to AfrAId and it isn't as cookie-cutter as you'd think, but I can't in good faith say this is a must-see. 

Deadpool & Wolverine

9.5/10

In the new Deadpool movie, Deadpool (played by Ryan Reynolds) is called in by the Time Variance Authority (TVA) and learns of a threat to his universe/timeline. In order to save it, he enlists the aid of a Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) from another timeline/universe for his adventure.

The previous Deadpool movies were definitely funny and and the most loose of the 20th Century Fox films, but the preexisting X-Men rules of the world still kept the elements Deadpool could interact with kinda grounded. Now that MCU owns his film rights, the character has access to the more wild and funny elements he couldn't have before. This is hands down the funniest, most creative, and just plain fun of the trilogy. The whole multiverse aspect gives Deadpool carte blanche to work with whatever Marvel characters or crazy content the writers want to. I know some people may be tired of the multiverse, but I'm still having fun with it, and they've managed to keep it fresh in my opinion; this movie is meta in way the other multiverse works weren't. (The only Marvel multiverse film I thought was unnecessary was the Doctor Strange movie. Felt manufactured and it completely threw out the build up in the last movie of Mordo's path to villainy.) The D&W does an exceptionally good job at surprising you with what happens next, and who'll pop up.

This is the MCU's first R-rated movie and that Deadpool humor stays completely intact in it's shift over to Disney. Given that Wolverine and DP have healing abilities and are almost immortal, the writers can really unload the violence upon them. 

This movie is also surprisingly a love letter to the end of the 20th Century Fox movies in a way that feels genuine and not mean-spirited.

Unfortunately, Deadpool's supporting cast from the previous movies get very little screentime. Deadpool's girlfriend Vanessa (Gotham/Serenity/V's Morena Baccarin) is again treated kinda like an inconvenience despite the fact that Deadpool's love for her is the main focus of his life. Domino from DP2, who I genuinely liked and I thought had a great rapport with the lead, isn't even in this at all. (Neither is DP2's Cable, but I can take or leave him. Honestly with Wolverine in the picture, we don't need an additional grumpy straight man.) 

Especially in the first half of the movie, Deadpool's constant quips and train-of-thought lines feel too frequent and like overkill when compared to the previous films. At a little over two hours, this could've been shorter just by cutting some of the guy's material.

It feels like every film they have to give DP an emotional conflict/journey, and this one feels pretty forced. I think it can be okay for DP to go on an adventure just for the sake of an adventure.

Jackman was good enough to go back on his decision to never play Wolverine again, was game for whatever insanity was thrown at him, and still brings on the pathos when the film calls for more serious moments. However, this movie is definitely Deadpool with Wolverine instead of Deadpool & Wolverine. It isn't really until the third act that the focus is on him as equally as on DP.

A couple of the best performances are from newcomers. Succession's Matthew Macfayden is pretty funny as TVA official Mr. Paradox, who manages to give a delivery that is distinct from DP's but manages to work alongside it. The Crown/Murder at the End of the World's Emma Corrin's Cassandra Nova is one of THE best MCU villains. I'm a little surprised they went with her as a Deadpool enemy as she's a fairly big enemy of the main X-Men team (she's more recent if you're unfamiliar with her), but they really managed to fit her in this story. She can both be creepy and threatening, but also has a sassy side to her. Too bad she isn't in this movie more. (She's kind of like Oogie Boogie in Nightmare before Christmas or the Joker in Mask of the Phantasm in that she is a threat encountered along the way instead of being the instigator of the main crisis.)

The movie looks great and has its moments of visual creativity. I don't think the MCU gets enough credit for how fun the designs look when compared to a lot of other blockbuster pictures. Also, there's a great selection of songs in this. Plus, we finally get to see Wolverine's classic comics costume, and it translates to real life pretty well.

Highly recommended. Even if DP talks a little too much by even his standards, this is still a highly creative and entertaining film that I recommend everyone to see. Unless you don't like R-rated humor or violence. That is fair, and this is DEFINITELY not for you.

My Adventures with Superman- Season 2

8/10

In the new season, Superman (voiced by The Boys' Jack Quaid) uncovers the truths of his origins while still being the target of the government agency Task Force X, now run by the far more zealous and dangerous Amanda Waller (MadTV alumni Debra Wilson). 

Glad to say that the show keeps up the quality. MAwS gets more serialized and serious. The final bad guy is appropriately hateable and dangerous and superior to season 1's Parasite.

MAwS continues to do what makes the show strong: solid new takes on Superman. The whole Superman origins thing isn't exactly anything that hasn't been done before when it comes to the general plot points, but yet they somehow managed to make it feel fresh and entertaining. Same applies to the season finale final battle. It doesn't do anything that hasn't been done before, but it's done so well. A lot of animated shows these days are signed up for two seasons due to how long the animation process can be, and I think the writers were perfectly willing to let this be a series finale and a gratifying conclusion if the show didn't do well. They really nail the emotional bits here with characterization being a real strong point.

Though I mentioned that the show gets a little more serious, the comedic aspects and more light-hearted feel to the world than compared to some DC adaptations sitll exist. The writers are definitely having fun with the cast of characters they've created. They clearly seem to love writing for goofy sports reporter Steve Lombard (Vincent Tong). Unfortunately due to the smaller number of episodic stories, the supporting characters don't get as many chances to pop up; so, not that much Steve overall, which trust me is a bad thing.

I also like how ambitious they are with the end credits animation, changing it to fit with each episode's plot.

The biggest weak point is that the characters' struggles feel a bit obvious and trite. Lois Lane's daddy issues are just really basic and so many shows have done this already. Though the idea of Superman being seen as a threat due to his being alien is a compelling idea, the way they handle it isn't. The dialogue of those who don't trust him never feels how someone would talk about it in real life. (In fairness though this is an Adult Swim show, MaWS was originally meant to be a family show and appeal to children.)

Recommended. I preferred the first season a little better, as the episodic episodes tended to be the more enjoyable, but this is just a well-written, animated, and acted Superman show where everyone cared about the final product.

Doctor Who (2023-)- Season 1

8/10

Here's the first season of the new Doctor Who (on Disney+ in America). Yeah, I think it's weird they decided to treat the show as a reboot considering that the last season was in 2021 (with some specials in between). But, I believe the show is trying to course correct and distance itself from the controversial last Doctor's run with this being a soft reboot and trying to build a new audience. In this new show, the fifteenth incarnation of the Doctor (Sex Education's Ncuti Gatwa), the alien Time Lord who travels throughout time and space, going on more adventures, and tries to solve the mystery of the secrets of the past of his new traveling companion Ruby Sunday (Coronation Street's Millie Gibson) who was abandoned as a child.

In order to revive the show, they brought back the nuWho's creator Russell T. Davies, and that does appear to be working. The show is more fun to watch than it has been in a while. The last several seasons felt like they were trying a little too hard to be dark and/or serious. Thing is, this writing in several of the episodes this season feel darker/more mature than Davies' original run, yet the show feels more positive and the darker episodes more natural than they have in a long time. Davies knows how to do scary/serious stuff while also having fun and focusing on the positives of humanity. (The previous Christmas special and the first episode might make people feel the show may be getting too kiddish, but I assure you the tone changes quickly. As with the earlier seasons, Davies is trying to make this appeal to kids and adults.)

And really, I haven't seen such strongly written episodes of Doctor Who in a while. The couple lighter ones are fairly diverting, and most of the darker ones are pretty well written, I won't spoil which episode it was, but Davies does what is probably the cleverest writing of his in the entire show's history. Another episode probably has the best original individual villain (in contrast to group villains like the Weeping Angels) created for nuWho. Also, that penultimate episode really knows how to build tension.

Now, not to say there aren't a few weak points this season. Davies made the mistake of putting three of the heaviest episodes back-to-back. In the past, the show knew how to pace the lighter and darker episodes, but here we really needed breather episodes in-between. Also, the resolution of the final fight and the season-long mystery may end with you going, "Wait, that's it?" Also, I was not a fan of the episode 73 Yards. What has the promise of being perhaps one of the most interesting episodes increasingly loses momentum as it goes on and becomes the most frustrating episode in the end.

I thought Gatwa and Gibson had promise but hadn't completely sold me in the Xmas special. Beginning with the first episode, it's clear they're both quite good. Gatwa has now made my top 3 Doctors list, alongside David Tennant and Matt Smith. He feels like one of the most human Doctors and his boundless optimism and kindness is infectious. However, when it comes time for the Doctor to be afraid or upset, MAN does Gatwa sell emotions. It's the fact that this Doctor is so predominantly good-natured (even more-so than many a previous Doctor) that when his mood changes, you definitely know he's serious.

Giving the Doctor another younger assistant might feel a bit obvious, but Ruby did feel like she had her own distinct voice, and Gibson really sold her lines, plus she just has a very compelling voice. (Also, all the credit should be given to the actor who played that villain I previously mentioned. Wonderful performance.) 

Due to the BBC's arrangement with Disney+, the budget has never been bigger and the effects look a lot stronger. (Though I still wouldn't call it MCU/Star Wars TV show-level budget.)

Highly recommended. Yes, it's not perfect, which to be fair can be said about most seasons of Doctor Who, but the whole is stronger than the parts.

Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation

7.5/10

In this Disney Channel/Disney+ movie, the Greens, a family of farmers living in the big city, end up going to space in order to farm space crops for rich scientist Gwendolyn Zapp (voiced by SNL's Cheri Oteri).

The first half or so, admittedly, does feel a little like a stretched out version of the show. Usually, an episode has a traditional someone-learns-a-lesson-after-letting-things-go-a-little-nuts structure which takes up fifteen minutes. Here, we have the same blueprints trying to be applied across a full hour and twenty-two minutes. However, things really pick up in the second half when the conflict kicks into motion. The outer space and sci-fi technology setting really make for a good physical threat for the Greens, plus it is something that elevates this as a movie and something a little different from the show. 

The movie includes the show's trademark humor: the sometimes silly and sometimes clever kind that works for adults and kids. (This show doesn't get enough credit for being arguably the best written children's comedy currently on.) There are even a few delightfully dark bits.     

This is yet another episode where Green son Cricket (voiced by show co-creator Chris Houghton), ends up causing chaos when he purses something he's told not too. Usually, the formula works because his scampishness doesn't usually cross the line too much. Here however, he goes too far and feels a little too selfish. This is used to make a point in order to create a more emotional storyline than usual, but I don't feel the movie properly condemn him for his behavior. 

Houghton does still excel at Cricket's high energy and confidence, and Marieve Herington still excels with her unique salt-of-the-Earth accent as empathetic but odd Green daughter Tilly. We get a newcomer in Hamilton/Girls5eva's Renee Elise Godlsberry, who is clearly having fun with a commanding voice as stickler-for-the-rules space captain Colleen Voyd (one wishes she had more time in this).

If you've been watching the show and have been disappointed that Zapp hasn't been in any recent episodes, you'll be pleased with her presence here. (Though some may be disappointed that the movie doesn't include the show's main baddie Chip Whistler, but I give the creators credit for going with what chaacters fit the story.) Zapp is a nutty lady whose priorities are much different than others. I feel a little bad that Oteri's career after SNL kinda plummeted, because between her delightfully wacky vocal inflections matched with the character's goofiness and unpredictableness, Zapp makes for the most entertaining person in the film. 

The movie focuses on the main characters, which is a good call when you're trying to write a tight script and don't want to focus on too many of them. However, that means popular recurring faces don't appear or are given very little to do. 

I wouldn't say the songs in this are the greatest ever, but there are some solid ones. I've relistened to them several times.

The animation is like that of the show but a little better. The color seems to be a little brighter and there appears to be a greater frame rate to the characters' movements. The action scenes are pretty fluid for a made-for-television budget.

Recommended. I wouldn't say the movie is as good as some of the show's best episodes, but it definitely is a fun time and your kids will probably like it.

Ninja Kamui

7.5/10

In this new anime show available on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and Max, Joe Higan seeks revenge on his former ninja clan for killing his family. 

Can't say that this story is a ninja action anime story that breaks the mold. The basic plot feels derivative of previous works, but to the show's credit, it is a competently told story. Although, I feel that some of the backstory could've been introduced a bit earlier and a few more elements of what spurred the ninja clan to change its methods been added, overall Ninja Kamui is very well paced. None of the thirteen episodes feel wasted at all. It feels like there is just the right amount of characters and story in this that the show is neither too fast or too slow. 

The characters also, aren't the most unique or best written, but they mostly work. Higan makes for a capable and determined protagonist. Probably the best character is the FBI agent Mike Morris, he's the honest everyman who might be getting too old for this but won't back down, which is stuff we've seen before, but he does make for the most relatable character. (Also, props should be given to his voice actor Shawn Hamilton, who is hands down the best one in the dub.) Another strong point is that the head of the ninja clan makes for a solid antagonist. He is one who you don't agree with their methods, but you understand their point of view and how they are trying to do this for the greater good. He's also one of those smart antagonists, who don't fail by making mistakes. 

Be forewarned that one of the villains is the "really filthy-mouthed, raunchy one". He's just too much without any subtlety, but he doesn't dominate the entire show.

The animation in this is quite nice. I'm always impressed with when animators can go with more realistic-looking characters and make them move smoothly rather than when animators go with more simplistic designs because it's easier to animate. If you're looking for anime ninja action, this is fits the bill. I think this is one of those anime that was commissioned by Adult Swim, and fells specifically aimed towards American action lovers. The ninja's cyber suits, which are a combination of 2D and 3D, are neat.

Recommended. Ninja Kamui makes for a simple but well told story.  

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

8/10

In this sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong, King Kong, now living in Hollow Earth, comes across a new threat to the surface world. Meanwhile, something seems to have Godzilla on the move, but what?

This transitions really nicely from the last film by focusing on the Hollow Earth that King Kong has found himself home in. The last couple KK films have focused on the loneliness of finding a place for himself and searching for any remaining members of his kind. His journey is interesting affair as he finally gets to encounter other giant gorillas. He's actually strangely the most appealing character, saying so much without dialogue. He never starts anything in this and just wants to live his life, and you kind of feel for him as has to put up with everyone else just looking for trouble.  

Understand that this is the Kong movie featuring Godzilla. The big G really doesn't do much till the grand finale. Though, it's understandable. I've read that Toho has several rules on what cannot be done with Godzilla (which, given how off-brand the 90's American attempt was, it's understandable). They want him to remain a force of nature, which means ixnay on the human-like facial expressions.

I won't speak much about the main villain here (the first original creation since the Mutos in the first Godzilla film) since their appearance is an Oogie Boogie-style slow burn, but they may be one of the best antagonists in the series, having a fun design and having more personality and being cleverer than other giant monsters.

I've heard complaints about the human subplot (a small group traveling to Hollow Earth in order to find out what's bothering Godzilla), but I'm not seeing it. I felt it was interesting enough. This movie builds a lot more upon the relationship of scientist Ilene Andrews (played by Rebecca Hall) and her adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the last of her tribe, and the now older Jia dealing with her identity. Whereas the last film had the novel decision to have two completely separated groups of heroes for each monster's subplot, this one consolidates the group, dropping several characters. Out of team G, they retained one of the more standout members, podcaster and conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry), whose comical elements seem to have increased a little in this. (I will miss the his other members and am surprised that the guy who leads the monster observing organization Monarch doesn't even have a cameo, but I understand that director Adam Wingard (who also the last film, the most recent Blair Witch, and Your're Next) probably didn't want to oversaturate the story now that it was simpler and more time was needed for Kong's story. On the Kong team's side, they're mostly back, but the scientist guy is replaced with another guy, Trapper (Downton Abbey/the live-action Beauty and the Beast's Dan Stevens). I don't see the reason for the change (the last guy wasn't irreplaceable per se, but he did well and had a good rapport with Ilene and Jia). Trapper serves as the "speaks for the natural order" guy, and he does well enough. Thing is the script has both him and Bernie be the odd, funny guys, and it feels like the movie only needed one. Though, there a few moments where the "weird guys but in different ways"interaction energy pays off.

Course, most people are here for the action, and like the last film, this one delivers. Wingard exercises a little more creativity with the fight choreography and the effects look great. Although, I think that the last film was slightly superior when it came to intensity. However, it also feels like Wingard and the writers really didn't care about putting the monsters out of harms way (even less than last time). If you have issue with rooting for the big G and KK when they are also trampling a lot of people, this might not be for you.

The special effects are even better than last time. The entire look of Hollow Earth might be one of the most impressive science fiction/fantasy landscapes of this decade (real 70's/80's fantasies vibes).

Last thing to say is that like the last movie the epilogue wraps up too quickly. Would've liked a little more explanation.

Highly recommended. Very entertaining and the overall story feels tighter and more interesting than last time.

The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy- Season 1

8/10

In this new animated comedy on Amazon Prime, alien doctors Klak (Nope's Keke Palmer) and Sleech (Everything Everywhere all at Once's Stephanie Hsu), known for breaking the rules, try to find a cure for anxiety.

This is a very creative show. With animation as a medium, you can go much farther with bringing imagination to life. There are so many bizarre, unique aliens in this. (If you have a low weird tolerance, this isn't for you.) The show doesn't really have any humans in this, which makes it a nice change from sci-fi comedies like Tripping the Rift or Futurama. There's no asking yourself why you hear so many topical human references being made by everyone including aliens but not a lot of references to other cultures. The world of SBHitG may have similarities to us but never feels like the writers are copying humans verbatim. 

The jokes are fairly funny (there's also a solid mix of dark and light humor), but I wouldn't say the greatest. It's the stories and overreaching plot points that make this entertaining. The character's lives and the situations they find themselves in is what makes this show. The cast may be wacky but they all have solid flaws, fears, dreams, etc.

I was on the fence for the first episode; too much introduced too quickly. I recommend you stick till the third episode before passing judgment. 

The animation is one those recent adult animation types like you find on Max that kinda look like they were out of an adult indie comic. It hasn't worn out itself out yet and makes a nice relief from super-simplified character designs. The world is very colorful, detailed and distinct.

Palmer is known for usually playing confident characters, so it's nice to see her show her range by doing the opposite and giving a very believable portrayal as a person suffering from anxiety. You know who also surprised me in their performance? Maya Rudolph as Dr. Vlam, an intern and centuries old robot. She gives a completely different and slightly more grounded portrayal than anything she's ever done before. I didn't know it was her until I looked it up.

Recommended. This might be a little too odd for some, but this is a compelling work.

Dune Part Two

8.5/10

In part two of this adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel, exiled space nobleman Paul Atreides (played by Timothee Chalamet) allies himself with the Fremen rebels, who want to wrest control of the planet Arakis back from the Harkonen family.

I liked the first one, but this one is stronger as we get to the payoff and more stuff seems to be happening. As Paul is considered to be a prophet by many Fremen, we get a well-designed look at how religion can be used to control, not to mention the long-term affects of colonialism and how radicalism amongst the natives can develop in response to it.

Overall, this is a mostly well told movie. It's long, but for the first two acts it does a really good job of moving a plot and balancing all the political machinations. Only weak point might be that by the final act, you do have a few characters repeat voicing their goals/concerns a little too much, especially Paul (we get it, you're conflicted by your role as a false prophet.) 

We continue to have a wide cast of interesting characters, old and new. Although, the Harkonen's evilness for the sake of evilness is ramped up to a 100, and they were already really evil. They kill so many of their own people that it gets cartoonish, and it's hard to believe how they don't have any rebellion within their ranks.

Chalamet really sells a character that is trying to do good but must struggle with the weight of his responsibility. Zendaya as Fremen Chani has chemistry with Chalamet and her character serves as a solid voice of reason amongst people consumed by their goals. Ferguson continues to shine as Atreides' mother who masterfully manipulates the populace in order to survive, and Javier Bardem continues to be a great performer as a very religious Fremen who wants to believe in Paul. Elvis' Austin Butler debuts as Feyd-Rautha Harkonen. He overshadows his already larger-than-life family members as a psychopath with a strange honesty about his violence and a charisma to him.

Director Denis Villeneuve's direction continues to be amazing. This will definitely be remembered as one of the best looking films of 2024, continuing the original film's memorable 60'/70's sci-fi aesthetic (particurlarly that type of sci-fi design that specifically seems to come from European directors). Though one could argue that the Harkonen's all black aesthetic feels a little too simplistic.

Highly recommended. The message gets slightly worn near the end but this is still top-notch cinema.

Madame Web

 

5/10

In Sony's continued quest to mine whatever Spider-Man characters they own the rights to, we get a tale about the psychic Madame Web which serves as a Spider-Man prequel (but doesn't appear to take place in any specific movie timeline). EMT Cassandra Web (Fifty Shades of Grey's Dakota Johnson) discovers she can see the future and tries to save the lives of three teens (all three to become different spider heroines) from being assassinated by the spider-powered Ezekial Sims (The Mauritarian's Tahar Rahim).

Little surprised they went with MW as the first female lead and used some of the less prominent Spidey women (no offense to Julia Carpenter and Anya Corazon fans). Black Cat, Silver Sable and the first Spider-Woman should've been the logical choices. Oh well. Just musings. Not an attack on utilizing the character. I think anyone can properly be utilized if given the right direction. (The Riddler had only two appearances before in the comics before he was used in the 60's Batman show and look what that did to his popularity).

Here's an actual criticism. Again, this is a Sony Spidey film that feels like it was from the 2000s. (An excellent film to compare this to is Elektra). I don't know why Sony keeps taking this basic serious route when the fun ones, the Tom Holland and Spider-Verse films, are doing so well. The MCU films may be too quippy and DCEU films too dark and serious but at least they had a solid identity. 

The is very uneven. There are a few good comedy bits but there is also a lot of dialogue that just doesn't work. I give the movie credit for naturally introducing multiple characters. However, the movie drops the ball in the third act completely. It feels choppy with odd choices just there to advance the plot. 

I give credit for giving each of the teens a backstory, but the kids-with-sad-lives tropes feels really worn out by now. (Didn't need it in Stargirl and didn't need it here.) Also, I don't feel like any of the trio completed a character arc.

We got a good cast who just can't make the bad script work. There are a couple exceptions, especially Park and Rec/Severance's Adam Scott, who deserve an award for sounding natural, but most can't. Johnson is pretty good in the funny parts but that's the best she can do. 

Credit should be given to the movie for at least basically knowing what it is and having an identity compared to recent superhero films that are messy or feel derivative. Web doesn't have super strength or other offensive powers, only her psychic abilities which makes for a very different dynamic when going against a villain.

Faring the worst is Rahim. He has the worst lines and you can tell he was poorly ADRed at times. To be honest, Sims feels like an odd choice to use as a villain. He wasn't really an antagonist in the comics. (You'd think that they would've learned from the outrage of Psylocke being made a villain in not one but two X-Men films). The sad thing is that Sims in this had the DNA to make a decent baddie. You understand his motive and was pretty competent in his strategy if only he was better written.

Going back to the 2000's feel this has a bland white lighting scheme. However, the action and the look of Webb's vision powers are actually pretty good.

Not particularly recommended or not recommended. This is messy and this is definitely not a must-see. However, I don't think this is bad as some say. It's distinct in its way, and I don't regret watching it. Have no plans to rewatch but would stay in the room if someone else had it on.

Rebel Moon: Part 1--A Child of Earth

5.5/10

In Zack Snyder's new film on Netflix, a small village on a moon face the threat of a warship from the galactic empire known as the Imperium, which wants their crops. To save themselves, villager Gunnar (played by Treme's Michiel Huisman) and newer resident with a mysterious past Kora (2017's The Mummy's Sofia Boutella) go in search of warriors to help fight back.

This is a very derivative sci-fi space film. The plot is basically Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven in space, and they already did that in the early 80's with Battle Beyond the Stars. The Imperium feels a lot like the military in Dune. The empire's soldiers dress way too similarly to Nazis. (At least the military uniforms in Star Wars were "generally" fascist.)

Almost all the Imperium soldiers are way too one dimensional super, super EVIL. Gets exhausting.

There isn't much special about this movie, but there are moments where there are clever ideas.

Snyder has always been know for style over substance, and has delivered some truly epic visuals that most aren't capable of achieving. So, I'm disappointed to say that this is one of his least impressive looking films. The sets in particular just don't feel that ambitious. In fairness, credit should go to the digital effects teams because their detail work when it comes to space ships or cities is pretty good.

No complaints about the casting here. The actors aren't given much to work with but they do their best. This feels like Boutella's main lead role in a major motion picture, and she steps up to the plate even if she is the typical "tough female warrior". I hope this advances her career. Though he plays a cliched fascist, Ed Skrein is clearly having fun playing the warship's commander. Credit should also be going to Mishuis, who does a good job of displaying Gunnar's noviceness, but not ignorance, when dealing with the world outside his village. (Also, props to Ant-Man's Corey Stoll as the village's leader, a role very different form his usual ones. The guy is almost unrecognizable; didn't realize he had that range.)

The best you can say about Rebel Moon is that it is a film. The movie isn't particularly weak but there is barely anything original about it. Can't recommend but can't say you need to avoid either.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

 

7.5/10

In what is considered the last film in the DCEU, Aquaman/Arthur Curry (played by Jason Momoa) is now the king of Atlantis and has to juggle between that position and as a family man. Soon, all that Aquaman holds dear is threatened when his vengeful nemesis Black Manta (the 2021 Candyman's Yahya Abdul Mateen II) returns with a dangerous new weapon and plot. In order to track him down, Aquman must recruit Orm (Insidious/The Conjuring's Patrick Wilson), the villain of the first film and Aquaman's half brother.

I feel that the DCEU is gonna out on at least a decent note. There is nothing about AatLC that breaks the mold, but it is a fun ride. Got some decent jokes in this and entertaining sci-fi/fantasy fight scenes. The best part of this is the depiction of Atlantis/the underwater world in general. The design looks really eye-catching.

The last film focused on a lot of drama about the court/royalty-side of Atlantis. There was all this backstory about Aquaman and setup for the whole kingdoms of the ocean that it did feel a little bloated and soap opera-ish. I like that this film is leaner and focuses more on the adventure. However, this movie did not need to be so long. A lot of the story is Aquaman and Orm pursuing Black Manta to a location, fight a threat and rinse and repeat.

The core of this is Aquman's relationship with Orm. They work well off of each other with Aquaman being a chill jokester and Orm being the uptight but intelligent one. Though Orm was a straight up #$@! who wants Aqua Man defeated in the last film, he was given enough dimension to show why he was the way he was, and this film does a good job of bridging that gap to where he's working with his half-brother. (In fact, the two movies flow into each other really cohesively. Unlike the Shazam sequel, this actually pays off the previous setup.) Orm's seen his dreams and expectations destroyed, so he is still arrogant but more accessible and since his actions, though twisted, were for protecting his kingdom, his ability to see the bigger picture makes working his half-brother seem reasonable. That having been said, it does feel questionable of the filmmakers to try to freshen up Orm's image considering that he's killed many innocents.

Fresh off the Boat's Randall Park has the honor of being one of the most entertaining performances in both the Marvel films and the DC films as Dr. Stephen Shin, a scientist forced to work with Black Manta and constantly worried about what he is doing. He brings the perfect combo of humor and humanity.

I did miss the chemistry between Aquaman and his love interest Mera (Amber Heard). She's barely in this, and it feels like they basically substituted Orm for her as someone more serious to work off of Aquaman. Director James Wan claims the story was always going to focus on the brothers, but considering the recent controversy about Heard, one cannot but feel that there is a different reason for her absence. If the latter is true, one cannot wonder if they couldn't have just recast.

Recommended. AatLK a good time-waster and popcorn film. 

Doctor Who- 60th anniversary special trilogy and Christmas special

9/10

For the start of Doctor Who's move to Disney+, we get a trilogy of specials for the 60th anniversary of the show and a Christmas special. In the trilogy, the Doctor has surprisingly not regenerated into a new form but into a previous one, his Tenth (played by David Tennant). He ends up running into his old companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) which places her in danger again. The two end up going against three threats. Then, we get the debut of the new 15th Doctor (Sex Education's Ncuti Gatwa) who will be helming DW's upcoming season. In his Xmas special, The Church on Ruby Road the Doctor goes up against baby-napping goblins.

Russell T. Davies, the creator of the recent DW and show runner of the first four seasons is back. When he originally left, I was okay with it and ready to give the next guy a chance. Davies could be silly/childish, maybe have the Doctor be a little too emotional at times, and throw too many ideas into one episode. However, I realized I took Davies for granted and didn't appreciate what I had with him. Davies understood this was a show for the young and old and though death always follows the Doctor, this is a show about hope. The other show runners forgot that and could forget the human element or go too dark and/or nihilistic. 

The human element definitely feels back here. Donna's married now, and it's been so long that we've seen her that she's now got a daughter Rose (Heartstopper's Yasmin Finney). It used to bug me that every companion had to have a full family attached, but I realized this keeps them grounded, and I missed the feeling of family that Davies effortlessly brought. I particularly realized how much I missed the Noble family in general. Tate hasn't missed a beat as the sharp-tongued Donna, and Jacqueline King as her mother Sylvia is very watchable when you see her in her protective mode and her sheer dislike of putting up with another of the Doctor's adventures. The Doctor generally cared for Donna and her grandfather, and his reactions to reuniting with the Nobles feels really pure here. Tennant and Tate have still got it and they work off of each other so well.

Though the specials of the new Who are a resetting of the tone, Davies doesn't brush aside previous show runners' decisions (including those two very controversial decisions from last season) under the rug and does a surprisingly good job of running with them. The whole crux of these specials is Tennant's Doctor dealing with his baggage in a surprisingly meaningful and emotional way. 

The humor of the early years is back and it is infectious.

As for the three specials themselves: The first is just a fun adventure in Davies' vein of DW. The second is one of the "ominous threat" style of episodes. If you love those, you'll like this as it's very well done. The second is a big finale and is an excellent combo of heart, grandeur, and scares. Not to mention that this has one of the best villains/villain performances in the entire show. That third episode is simply one of the most satisfying finales in the history of DW.

Now to the Xmas special. Only one episode in and I'm already liking Ncuti. He's more of an openly high energy life-loving/good-natured style of Doctor. His new companion is Ruby Sunday (Coronation Street's Millie Gibson). I do fear we may have some companion fatigue as her persona does feel a little derivative of previous companions. That having been said, Gibson does ain't too shabby in the part, especially when she's being enthusiastic.

The special isn't as fun as the last three, but it still makes for a solid episode. The goblins make for silly but still threatening foes.

What all four specials have in common are improved special effects due to the show's deal with Disney+. Yeah, the recent seasons have been looking pretty good for British television budgets, but the effects are at another level here. There is a whimsical splendor to some of the sets/digital backgrounds here.

Highly recommended. The 60th specials in particular are must see and the third may be one of the best in the show's history. If you once loved DW but lost interest after Davies left, you may want to return, because what you originally loved about the show is back.

Villains of Valleyview- Season 2

6.5/10

The second season of the Disney Channel sitcom continues the misadventures of the Maddens, a retired supervillain family, as they live in modern suburbia.

Best part of this continues to be the friendship of the polar opposites bad girl Amy Madden/Havoc (played by Isabella Pappas) and the sunny Hartley (Kayden Muller-Jansen). They work so well off of each other. The rest of the cast remains strong, the humor is still decent and something kids will probably enjoy, and I like the effort they put into the costumes.

Though the family loves each other, the writers lean in even more on the insult humor between each other even more this season. Parents may not love the example it sets, and besides that, it gets a little tiresome.

Youngest child Colby/Flashform (Stuck in the Middle's Malachi Barton) continues to feel unnecessary. Don't get me wrong, Barton delivers his A-game, but as the youngest the writers always feel at a loss as to where to put him. He doesn't get to associate with many his own age and is mostly relegated to B-plots where he interacts with his parents.

The show started with the characters trying to change their ways and seeing the value of good, but this season went in a weird place. The way they portray villains as being mostly lineages has resulted in them being shown  a little as a mistreated class, which seems to disregard the importance of moral choices. A little weird for my tastes and again not a great message for kids.

Kinda recommended. I think your kids will really like it. As a show by itself, it's got a lot of good things going for it, but it's also hampered by its weaknesses. 'Course I might be giving a Disney Channel show too much thought.

Doom Patrol- Season 4 (Final)

9/10

In the final season of Doom Patrol on Max (which took forever to release the second half of the show due to the big shakeup in Warner Bros.' regime change), the ill-fated members of the titular Doom Patrol find themselves the targets of a sinister undertaking.

Though I'm sad to see this wonderfully weird and well-characterized and -acted show end, I felt it left at the right point (they were stretching the group's trauma a bit thin by this point; they have to completely grow eventually). The ending, though it may not be what everyone wants is a very emotional affair with the characters we've all grown to love (those that actually watch this criminally underrated show anyway). I especially like how natural the journey of Crazy Jane (Encanto's Diane Guerrero) has been. Out of all the cast, her progression has been the most natural, relying less and less on her other personalities. (If you were disappointed that they really weren't using Crazy Jane's special abilities that come with each personality anymore, prepare to be equally disappointed here. To play devil's advocate, it both conceptually makes sense and showrunner Eric Carver (the American version of Being Human and seasons 8-11 of Supernatural) probably had pressure from the producers to cut down on special effects). Both Robotman/Cliff Steele (played by Riley Shanahan and voiced by Brendan Frasier) and Elasti-Woman/Rita Farr (April Bowlby) have some great moments, but the show continues its nasty habit of leaning too hard on their negative characteristics: Robotman making too many dumb decisions and Elasti-Woman hindered too often by her vanity and stubbornness. The latter's journey feels particularly choppy as her character sorta goes back-and-forth throughout.   

Again, the show earns it's title as the most bonkers superhero show out there. The various scenarios the gang are thrown into are unique and entertaining. I admire how the writers were able to squeeze in most of the  the remaining villains from the original 60's run. One of the more recent Doom Patrol members Casey Brinke/Space Case (Madeline Zima) finally makes it to the show. If you liked the character, you probably won't be disappointed here. She has this pep to her that other cast members don't have. 

Course for a show where the writers throw out one crazy idea after another, don't expect everything to stick. Once again, I felt there was too much emphasis on the amoral government agency The Bureau of Normalcy, which has really worn out its welcome. Remember the killer butts? Well, they're back. Yeah, yeah, it's a funny concept, but again they've worn out their concept (I think the butts are the one part of the show that got TOO weird), and the writers feel way too enamored of their creation. 

Doesn't help that it feels like the writers had trouble fitting in the butt subplot. There's so much going on that things may feel rushed and that not every concept may get its due. Also, be prepared that some of the supporting characters you've grown to know may not get as much time as they should. The writers focus on the main cast almost to a fault.

Recommended. Yeah, they definitely could've cut down on the characters feeling bad about themselves, but this remains a truly unique experience and deserved send off for the show. I shall miss it, but I'll remember the good times. 

Loki- Season 2 (Final?)

9.5/10

In the second and probably final season of Loki on Disney+, Norse god Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston) tries to save the fate of the TVA (The Time Variance Authority).

I mostly liked the first season, which was pretty inventive and the look to the headquarters of the whole TVA was so unique, but I had my criticisms. The story felt a little dragged out, there was too much organizational shadowiness, and though it was fun to see the narcissistic Loki in a situation he didn't have control over, it became exhausting to see him be under the foot of one constant bad situation after another. This season though, it has all the strengths of season one but none of the weak points. (Also, if you were disappointed with the cliffhanger for season 1, it pays off a lot better than you'd suspect.)

This is nothing but great sci-fi creativity, excellent set design (I love the window shots of the massive retro-futuristic world of the TVA so much), and wonderful characterization. The human drama and stakes are so well done here. The finale with the exception of Avengers: Endgame is the best ending in the entire MCU.

Loki continues to be the main strength to this show. Here, the writers have worked most of the redemption stuff out of the way, and for all of those who saw potential for good in Loki, this really paid off. Hiddleston delivers a fantastic performance as a focused and serious-minded Loki trying to do the right thing despite all the odds. His relationship with TVA agent Moebius (Luke Wilson) continues to result in one of the best duos in television history. Wilson delivers one of his best performances, and Moebius' everyday ability to be congenial even alongside someone like Loki works so well. 

The writers seemed to like TVA desk jockey Casey (Eugene Cordero, who's one of those comic actors who's popping up more and more) enough that they upped the role, and he works well when given more serious material to work with. There was always something a little suspicious about Miss Minutes (voiced by prolific voice actress Tara Strong), the TVA's holographic AI in the form of a 1950/60's cartoon clock (brilliant idea by the way), who started to seem a bit suspicious as to her motivations last year. Here we understand what makes her tick as she's become an antagonist and makes for a rather interesting character (although they don't spend much time with her.) I also felt they did a better job with the characterization of rogue TVA judge Ravonna Renslayer (Belle's Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and her motivations.

We get a couple new characters. Ke Huy Quan, whose stock has really risen since Everything Everywhere all at Once, is the TVA's science guy Ouroboros. Quan brings his trademark likableness as the guy who is way too easy going with what's going on.  Jonathan Majors plays yet another variant of the multidmensional warlord Kang, scientist Victor Timely. You're curious as to what role he will play in everything as you're sort of charmed by the smart but awkward man, but know that he has the potential of going bad.

The only weak point to this is that sometimes, especially with the last episode, the writers are trying to be a little too clever with the time travel laws. It can be a little confusing.

Highly recommended, this is one of the best recent MCU entries and one of THE best period. This is just six hours of pure entertainment and superb storytelling.