Cruella

 

9/10

This film follows Estella (played by Emma Stone), a small time con woman and aspiring fashion designer, who ends up working for powerful fashion designer Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson). Soon, a rivalry develops between the the two setting up the path to Estella becoming Cruella de Vil.

The best things to compare this to are Mouse Hunt or A Series of Unfortunate Events, a dark humor family film featuring a retro design style. The best way to describe this is as a heist film. Seeing the various plots by Cruella to upstage the Baroness give off an Ocean's 11 vibe. It's just fun seeing what she'll do next. 

Cruella is one o' those films where everything just comes together. (It's directed by I, Tonya's Craig Gillepsie.) The witty dialogue, the acting, cinematography, including one really impressive tracking shot, the song choices, and appearance all pop. 

The movie takes place in the seventies, allowing the film to go with it's own unique visual style that's really impressive to look at and keeps you as invested as the plot. The costumes in this are amazing! A lot of detail and creativity goes into these. This movie is definitely going to get a few production-based award nominations. 

The film had the difficult challenge of providing a villain that can live up to the same standard as Cruella de Vil, considered one of the most memorable baddies there is, plus the antagonist has to make her look better by comparison. However, they surprisingly managed the task with the Baroness. She is a commanding, disaffected, narcissist with a dry wit. Whereas Cruella's emotions run hot, the Baroness is differentiated by having hers run cold. She is a lot of fun to hate.

Years ago, when I heard Emma Stone was going to play Cruella, I just couldn't comprehend her playing it. However, now I see she was a great casting choice and absolutely perfect in the role. The very first time I saw Stone was in The House Bunny, where she played a nerdy sorority girl. She had such energy, and I knew that was someone's career to watch. However, a lot of her roles don't allow her to utilize that energy. Hear, she's allowed to chew the scenery and commands every scene she's in. She gets that Cruella's supposed to be a little nutty and even manages to include a hint of that  before Estella reaches her full potential. Though an actual English person may think differently, I found Stone's accent in this to be really good; she sounds like a completely different person and never breaks.

Of course there are the reasons why some people may be against this film. Cruella is changed from the notoriously evil villain who wanted to skin puppies to the sympathetic antihero. Whereas the first film implied and the original book straight up said she came from money, here she comes from poverty. (However, I've noticed more than one person complain about her hair being naturally black and white instead of dyed. I think that's a misconception. From what I've read, in the book her hair was supposed to naturally be that.) However, like Maleficent, I think it's best just to see the film as it's own thing, which ultimately doesn't take away from the original Cruella. 

This is pretty plot and dialogue heavy at points. Younger kids may not be able to keep their attention. 

I walked into this curious, but I didn't realize I'd end up loving this. It's one of those movies that really pull you. Next to Pete's Dragon, this is my second favorite of the Disney recent live-action remakes/spin-offs I've seen (haven't watched Mulan or Cinderella). Highly recommended.

Justice Society: World War II

6/10

In this film, the Flash (voiced by Matt Bomer) accidentally runs so fast that he ends up back in time in World War II where he encounters the Justice Society. 

JSWWII starts off promising enough. The JS members all have their personal stories, a few interesting things are thrown at us, and you get that old school war-era comics feel.   

Unfortunately, come the halfway point the whole thing becomes lackluster. The conclusion to the characters' arcs, though having weight feel a bit by the numbers, and you realize that they just do a lot of talking. Plus, everyone feels like they're going through the motions of the animated DC film formula.

The film loses the focus on the Nazi threat and the WWII theme that movie is supposed to be about. We end up with a villain that is terribly underwhelming and with hints at a background of his that is never actually revealed. 

The lack of originality to the ending really gets to me. Not one but two elements from the finales of two early 2010 DC animated films appear here and feel almost stolen. 

It doesn't help that since this movie takes place in the Forties, the movie resurrects a long forgotten plot point from the original forties' Wonder Woman run: Steve Trevor (Chris Diamantopoulos) constantly trying to get WW (Castle's Stana Katic) to marry him. This element doesn't age well. They give Trevor a better reason for this here than in the forties, but it still feels unhealthy. Also, out of the old forgotten plot elements, why bring back that one? I mean classic Wonder Women comics had the Amazons riding kangaroos. I want to see kangaroo riding, gosh darn it! (In fairness, there's a lot worse they could go with. The Wonder Woman comics don't age well. Practically every issue of William Moulton Marston's original run involved bondage and that is not an exaggeration.)

I have no complaints with the visuals. This uses the same rotoscope-esque animation style in Superman: Man of Tomorrow and it still looks pretty slick and good, especially for a made-for-DVD/streaming film. The credits go with a retro look that I liked.

Overall, I wouldn't say this movie is bad, but it ends up being forgettable. It doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from the many other animated DC works.

Girls5eva- Season 1

 

8/10

In this show on Peacock, the four remaining members of the nineties one-hit wonders girl band Girls5eva decide to put the band back together after one of their songs is sampled in a popular rap.

Girls5eva is executive produced by Tina Fey and and created by Meredith Scardino, who was a writer on Fey's The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. This has a very Fey style of writing, which might leave you feeling a little fatigued if you've seen the other shows she has made or produced. (You can only write so many jokes about New York.) That having been said, this style is still pretty funny with a lot of good, unexpected jokes. Girls5eva is definitely stronger than Mr. Mayor, Fey's own show that she recently created television season. What differentiates this program from others is a satirical look at the music industry.   

What also helps this show is that there is more of a dramatic backbone hidden beneath all the silliness. All the characters have their personal struggles. The band's manager and the industry haven't treated them poorly and you root for them as they try to regain success on their own terms. The last episode is surprisingly emotional.

The characters are good. The band includes Dawn (played by singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, best known for "Love Song"), the straight man leader, Wickie (Hamilton's Renee Elise Goldsberry). the diva, and Summer (Cougar Town's Busy Phillips), the immature one. Yeah, they're tropes, but they're all done well. Phillips is probably the best cast member as she has a wide array of exagerrated facial expressions and manages to make the character feel ditzy while still able to make her three-dimensional. The fourth member Gloria (Paula Pell), a lesbian dentist who's learned from the school of hard knocks, is a more unique character. I'm glad Pell got a leading role. She started off as a comedy writer and has occasionally appeared in small roles in comedies, such as Ron's mother on Parks and Rec and the wife of one of the writers on 30 Rock. She's got a good aura of comedic energy and it's nice to see her get more attention.

Being a show about a band, there are a lot of songs in this. Now there are a few weak ones; the very first song gives off a bad first impression. Luckily, there are several pretty funny ones afterward. The show looks at how a lot of older songs are problematic, resulting some delightfully over-the-top cringeworthy lyrics here. The best song is definitely "I'm Afraid," which is just insane and delightfully dark.

This is definitely one of the better comedies I've seen this year. Recommended.

Those Who Wish Me Dead

8/10

In Those Who Wish Me Dead, based on the novel of the same name (and by the way, I love that they kept the title), Hannah (Angelina Jolie), a smokejumper (wildland firefighter), manning a firetower out in the Montana wilderness, ends up having to protect the life of young a young Connor (Finn Little) from two professional hit men (Game of Thrones' Aidan Gillen and the X-Men prequels' Nicholas Hoult).

I found this to be a very effective survival thriller. The movie pulls all the right strings when it comes to the action and wondering what the protagonists will have to survive next. The villains are smart and deadly and provide a true threat.

I rather liked the backdrop of the wilderness. Can't remember the last time we've gotten a pure outdoors action film like Cliffhanger. There are a couple of pretty good uses of natural element threats. It did bug me that there was an overuse of digital backgrounds rather than natural scenery.

The characterization is surprisingly good here. It's really easy to root for Hannah. Though Jolie is playing a trope, the hero struggling with a tragic past incident, she plays it really well. However, I did feel that Jon Bernthal's deputy sheriff nver reached full expectations; good character, just wasn't a fan of how he was utilized.

The sociopathic killers, hellbent on completing their mission, are equally frightening and detestable. I mean they are willing to do anything, and I mean anything in order to get the job done. Yet, they are also grotesquely fascinating in their cool, efficient methods and the way they troubleshoot any setbacks.

Be forewarned that this is a darker action film, like the first Jack Reacher. If you're not big on these types of movies going crazy with the blood of the innocent, this may not be for you.

Recommended. This was better than I thought it would be and makes for a suspenseful time.

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train

 

8/10

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, the film sequel to the anime show Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, continues the adventures of demon slayer Tanjiro, his demon-turned sister Nezuko, and their compatriots as they board a train that has been the source of several disappearances. This movie is the highest grossing in Japan and the first non-American film to top the annual international box office.

This is one of those movies where it helps to see the original show or look up some basic info. at least. (I went in fairly new myself.) It is a direct continuation of the series happening right after the last episode. Whereas a lot of anime films based on shows are original works that tend not to interfere with canon, Mugen Train directly adapts a story arc from the manga. I kind of appreciated this, since a lot of those aforementioned films' stories never feel as strong as the those originating directly from the manga creators, plus the antagonists often feel subpar. This film has a backbone to it.

As someone who walked in new to this, I warmed up to the main cast real quick. Tanjiro in particular is a relatable character. You really end up rooting for him. I did not realize how emotional this movie was going to get as Tanjiro has a lot he has to struggle against. I think this might actually be as good a character piece as an action film. The main villain Enmue, a verbose, theatrical, and sadistic demon with a penchant for strategy, is the type of baddie you love to hate.  

Since the commercials don't really go int detail into what Enmue's main style of attack is, I won't spoil it. It is something that has been done before. However, it's done well enough that it didn't bother me. Heck, I think it's one of the best parts of the film, and it really helps separate this from a lot of other more traditonal shonen anime.

The whole thing looks pretty nice. The movie makes good use of the combination of 2D and 3D animation. The train speeding past the 3D landscape is particularly eye-catching. 

The fight scenes look good too, being creative and ferocious.

Going back to this being based on the manga, this situation does have its setbacks. Usually if something is adapted to film, stuff has to be changed or cut in order to make it more accessible to the audience and fit for time. However, because this film has to connect to the first season of the show and the upcoming second season, plot points and characters couldn't be tossed. The ending feels overextended, going on way past where you'd think it would end. The pacing and structure generally feel odd since the story was intended to be told episodically. 

Overall, I liked this despite not having seen the show. But, I don't quite see why this is top of the box office. It is definitely up there in the top five or ten anime films based on shows, but it doesn't stand as a great work separated from the show like, say, Castle of Cagliostro. At the end of the day, it's a traditional shonen story arc. Fans of Demon Slayer will probably love it. (Like I said, it does have a grand ending.) General anime fans who haven't seen the show, shouldn't have much trouble getting on board. But if you're not big on anime in general, this SHOULDN'T be your entry point. There's so many characters and stuff thrown at you.

Spiral

 

8/10

Spiral, the ninth movie in the Saw franchise and basically a second attempt to restart it after Jigsaw (the film, not the person) didn't take off. In it it, yet ANOTHER Jigsaw (the person, not the film) copycat killer (how many have there been by now?) is targeting crooked cops. 

I've never been a big Saw/torture porn fan. I've only seen parts of the first two films. However, I was curious about this. Comedian Chris Rock personally wanted to do a Saw movie, and this went more plot heavy instead of mostly following a person or persons navigating the traps. 

Rock as Detective Zeke Banks is probably my favorite part of this. He just does a good job as the jaded/partially-on-the-edge cop. Max Minghella is likable as Banks' fresh-eyed new partner William Schenk. The two actors both have great chemistry. Admittedly, they play basic cop tropes, but they were entertaining enough that I didn't care. However, there was something off about the police captain Angie Garza (Marisol Nichols). She felt like she was from an entirely different style of production, like a network television procedural.

The plot is interesting. There's a big mystery as to why these specific cops were targeted. It's not the most ambitious story, but it works. Effort is given to develop Banks' past and how it correlates to the mystery at hand. There is a surprising amount of humor in this.

On the other hand, there are some plot points that don't quite work when you think about it. A couple of characters you expect to go somewhere really don't. (In fairness, I've read that one kill got cut.) While the ending works for me, it is a bit abrupt for my taste. Though in fairness, the Saw movies aren't known for wrapping things up with "where they are now."

Some fans of the franchise may not like that the killer skews a bit from the typical Jigsaw killer formula. This one doesn't have a twisted need to make people appreciate their lives and isn't so much a sportsman. Still, I don't know if anyone really filled the shoes of the original Jigsaw, so it makes sense to have this new guy or gal have some wriggle room to forge their own identity.

This is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman who directed entries two through four, and he brings a sense of style. This takes place during a heat wave and the use of a harsh orange/yellow lighting scheme sells this.

Of course you're probably wondering about the bread and butter of the Saw franchise: the traps. I'll be honest. Not a fan. Too much for my taste. However if you're a fan of the traps and gore, this really cranks things up to 11. 

Overall, if you like the Saw movies, I recommend this. If you liked the first movie but were disappointed how the later films focused more on traps and violence than the story, then this might be a nice return to form for you. But yeah... If you don't like torture porn, you should definitely avoid. It gets nasty.

Maggie Simpson in The Force Awakens from its Nap

 

8/10

In this new Simpsons short on Disney+, Maggie Simpson is put into a daycare that takes place in the Star Wars universe.

This is a fairly amusing quickie (only 3 minutes). Not a whole lot of complexity, just a bunch of good-spirited Star Wars visual jokes. If I'm not mistaken, the director and writers are all from the Simpsons golden-age and this short has that classic satirical, smart feel it did back then. The short's not afraid to even poke one light jab at the franchise.

Now my memory could be playing tricks on me, but the animation doesn't feel as ambitious as the last two shorts. This is probably because it was always meant for television and not to be shown on the big screen. Definitely seems to have the same animation as the show. I do miss the perspective coming from Maggie's point of view and the adult characters' faces mostly hidden. Still, I guess it can't be helped in order to utilize the Star Wars characters.

How does it compare to the other two Maggie shorts? It isn't as strong as the The Longest Daycare, the clever first one which set up this film series, but is more original than Playdate with Destiny. Overall, I recommend it. It's an amusing, and like I said it doesn't take up too much time.