Knock at the Cabin

 

7/10

In this new M. Night Shyamalyan thriller based on the book The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay, husbands Andrew (played by Ben Aldridge) and Eric (Jonathan Groff) and their daughter Wen (Kristin Cui) are held hostage at a cabin they're staying at by a quartet of people (Dave Bautista, Harry Potter's Rupert Grint, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Abby Quinn). They want the family to decide which one of them will be sacrificed, otherwise they think the entire world will end.

This is a competently directed and scripted film. When things get shocking, they're appropriately shocking. There's are the traditional moments of Shyamalyan character dialogue that doesn't sound natural, but there are also the traditional lines that are also really well written (the talk-heavy opening does feel a little forced, but the movie picks up after the initial few minutes). Again, the director has a very distinctive and very cinematic style to his film. There are a couple of close-ups that didn't work, but overall this is a nice looking film.

The movie is well executed, but is predictable. (It'll probably help if you don't watch the trailers). This isn't one of Shyamalyan's movies that have a twist. You can see where most plot points are and the pacing isn't too slow but isn't too fast either, and I wanted them to hurry things up sometimes. There's nothing wrong with the script, but there's nothing that compels you to rewatch, either. In fairness, I may not be inclined to return to this, because as you probably guessed by the story, this is a pretty dark work to have to sit through. 

Best part of this is the performances by the actors playing the four interlopers, who each have a distinct personality and are dedicated to their mission, but don't like it at all. The actors are able to make even the weaker dialogue work. Bautista is known for the fact that he wants to be an actor's actor and not just an action star, (though he's also realistic about the work he'll usually get based on his build). This is the best performance I've seen him give. He's very unsettling in the way he's both eloquent but menacing in his devotion to his beliefs. I also hope this is a launching point for the careers of Quinn and Amuka-Bird who both deliver, especially the latter. Cui is a very gifted actress for her young age, but that's the problem. Her delivery is too adultish in this, she doesn't feel like a regular kid.

Not particularly recommended or not recommended. Again, this is a well made, quality acted film but might bore people with its predictability. If you don't like when films get unpleasant, this definitely won't be for you.

Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye

7/10

Having already had Lupin the 3rd team up twice with Detective Conan, the studios have sought a new property to crossover and can fit Lupin's world, one from the 80's. Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye, on Amazon Prime, brings together prolific anime/manga master thief Lupin the 3rd and his gang and Cat's Eye, a trio of sister art thieves trying to retrieve all the artwork by their missing father. The two groups find themselves in competition for a trio of paintings, which the dangerous Syndicate is also pursuing.

Much how the Lupin/Conan movies felt more like they were set in the Conan world, the tone here feels more like a Cat's Eye film than a Lupin film (at least I think, I don't have a lot of experience with CE), more emphasis is put on the sisters and the movie has a more grounded tone than some other Lupin entries. Not that I'm knocking it. The tone of Lupin has varied frequently over the decades with you getting a bit more lighter Lupin movies over the years than weighty ones, and people who prefer the latter will like this. It's not a hard "adult" title like the early years of Lupin, but there are moments where the situations get more threatening than the majority of the films. 

The sisters are played pretty straight and just aren't as entertaining as the Lupin gang. Also, it hurts the Cat's Eye as main protagonists and believability as professional thieves when Lupin & co. seem quicker on the uptake than them. Lupin is the only member of his group that really gets a chance to shine, with the others just kinda being there. The best use of characters in this are definitely the pairing of Lupin's foe Inspector Zenigato and Cat's Eye's foe detective Toshio Utsumi, who serve as a sort of comic relief. They are both quite similar in goals and outlooks, but their different personalities make things interesting.

As for the basic plot itself, it's solid. I wouldn't say it's the most standout adventure, but it's up there as one of the better Lupin films. Theft/fight scenes are good and everything moves at a steady pace.

The movie utilizes 2d backgrounds with cell shaded 3D characters. Can't say this is the best looking anime I've ever seen, but competent effort was definitely put into this. Backgrounds are detailed and character designs aren't too shabby. However, the filmmakers decided to have the Lupin characters designs changed to fit more into the more realistic aesthetic of the Cat's Eye character designs. Lupin's chin is too short and it bugs me. An interesting detail is that to match the Cat's Eye world, which was very 80's, they had Lupin wear his pink jacket which he wore during that period of time on his third show. Although, I don't think the color blends well with the rest of the scenery.

Kinda recommended. Not a must-watch, but if you're looking for an adventure film, this is a good time. Does stand out a little from the plethora of Lupin films that blend together. 

Missing

8/10

In this sequel to the 2018 John Cho movie Searching, June (A Wrinkle Through Time's Storm Reid) uses the Internet to investigate the disappearance of her mother Grace (Nia Long) and her mother's boyfriend Kevin (Ken Leung) during their vacation in Colombia. (So, basically it's a flip of the first film. Instead of a parent searching for their teen child, a teen is searching for their parent). Like the first entry, the entirety of the film is shown through social media and camera feeds.

I'm a little surprised Searching got a sequel, I thought it was pretty good, but it didn't seem to leave much of an impression on the public. I'm genuinely happy it got a sequel as Missing is as good as the first film. (Though with the lack of advertising for this and being dumped in January, I'm worried this won't get a lot of attention. Although, the attendance at my showing wasn't too shabby.) This film has more surprises and general tension than the first. I didn't know where the story was going as there are some genuinely good twists and turns. (I didn't see the trailer, but I hear it spoils things. Probably best to avoid it.) Having the disappearance happen in an entirely different country and having the main character have to deal with solving the mystery remotely, was a good way to add to the original concept. Admittedly, the movie does stretch disbelief a bit considering how much June is able to accomplish online. Also, the parent-child dynamic may feel too similar to Searching for some. Though, it's only generally similar, there are a lot of differences in the specifics.

Like the first film, visually this is very creative with the directors/screenwriters coming up with new ways to impart information. This continues the trend of online screen films like Unfriended and Searching, by being able to impart the plot or characterization without dialogue through seeing Google searches or messages being scrapped. It's a different way of filmmaking, and this style hasn't inundated the market, yet.

The phone calls in this do feel a little too clear in the audio, and the dialogue doesn't feel like your usual phone calls.

Pretty good casting in this, except for maybe Amy Landecker as a friend of Grace. She isn't a bad actress, she just feels miscast, something about the delivery. Reid was a fine choice as lead as she's able to cover all the emotions. She's no John Cho, but hey, who is.  

Highly recommended. This is a well told and engaging thriller and the equal to Searching. (When it comes to which one's better, Missing is more intricately plotted and thrilling, but Searching had John Cho, so they neutralize each other. It's simple matheChotics.)

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

 

8/10

In this sequel to the first film (which was ELEVEN years ago, I'm surprised Dreamworks is revisiting the property two, but rumor has it they're trying to revive the Shrek franchise), adventuring feline Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) is on the last of his nine lives. When, he hears word of a magical wishing star, he goes forth to find it, but several other parties are also after it.

The last PiB movie was just okay. It was stronger than Shrek 3 and 4 and the montage bit was comedy gold, but it was something you watched once and had no interest in revisiting. So, I was surprised at how much better this one was. It was like the creators of Last Wish made notes of everything that didn't work the last time around.

This is one part a fantasy adventure story. Last Wish has more action to it than any other film in the Shrekverse, and the only one where the fight scenes stand out.  

Problem with the last PiB was that the quest wasn't that memorable. Here though, a lot of thought was put into the enchanted forest that Puss and company journey through. It's more creative than you'd think and has a pure unadulterated, children's fantasy feel to it that I haven't seen in a long time.

This new film revamped the the physical look a bit, which to be honest, was really needed for the human characters. The original Shrek came out during the early days of 3D animation when some films tried to make the characters realistic looking before it became the trend to go with more stylistic designs. These resulted in humans whose appearances haven't aged well. They can look kinda off-putting and uncanny valley-ish. In Last Wish, the people look decent. This movie combines 3D with sort of a 2d-ish cell shadingesque effect that makes everything look stylish and results in action scenes that work really well. 

A lot of thought went into the plot this time around. Dialogue is strong and funny, but it's really all about the characters' personal journeys. Puss has a very solid personal storyline this time, the most solid since the first two Shrek films. (Although I think it's a good story, a lot of people online love it a lot more than me. Maybe I'm dead inside. Ehhhh, I'm not going to let it bother me.) Another thing the filmmakers realized was missing from the last entry was a comic relief character. Perrito (What we do in the Shadows' Harvey Guillen) is basically the Donkey to Puss' Shrek. The super-good-natured, optimistic character has been done before, but Guillen brings such a positive warmth to the dog that he never feels cookie cutter. The relationship between the main trio, Puss, Perrito, and Kitty Southpaws (Salma Hayek), returning from the last film, feels really natural. 

Remember when I said that one part of the film was a fantasy adventure? The other part of this is basically a "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" scenario. What really makes this movie and keeps it interesting are all the other characters, with varying levels of antagonism and varying motives, who are also after the star. Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and The Three Bears are really likable. Wolf (Narcos' Wagner Moura), is the only antagonist in the Shrekverse who's a real physical threat and the only one who's ever been really intimidating. The other foe in this hasn't been shown much in the trailers, so I'll let you find out who they are, but they are definitely one of the funniest parts.

For those with younger kids, be forewarned that this has a lot more death and violence than your typical Shrekverse film.

Highly recommended. Again, the best Shrekverse movie since the first two. I'd rank it below 2 and above 1. It's just a really well told and entertaining story.

Willow (Television series)

8/10

In this Disney+ sequel show to the 1988 fantasy film of the same name (I wished they'd given this a subtitle to differentiate it from the original), Nelwyn wizard Willow (played by Warwick Davis) joins up with a group of adventurers to complete a rescue mission.

I've seen a lot of criticism of this online, but I really enjoyed this. The Willow show isn't trying to be as dramatic or takesitself as seriously as Game of Thrones or even Power of the Rings. It's trying to be a family-oriented, old school fantasy throwback, and it does a very entertaining job. Fun, it's just fun! 

Not to say this doesn't have story. I thought the world-building and multiple character arcs were handled quite well. Also, an appropriate menace is brought to the forces of darkness here. (Though, it is a bit tiresome that the show runners feel that the majority of villains have to look all messed up.)

Admittedly, the complaints that the show feels a little modern are a smidge true. There are a few elements that feel out of place for a medieval fantasy world. Also, this contains modern songs, which are even more distracting. However, I didn't consider them deal breakers.

The characters really make the movie. Davis now plays a wiser, but crankier wizard, and does a great job as the mentor figure (it's too bad that probably due to his stature the actor hasn't had as many high profile roles as he should have.) Best newcomer is definitely Amar Chadha-Patel as rogue Thraxus Boorman. He's the humorous, Han Solo-type member of the group and he always steals the show. Ellie Bamber and The Grand Budapest Hotel's Tony Revolori also do really well as a cook and prince, respectively. Unfortunately, Princess Kit Tanthalos' character does suffer from being a complainer and bit of a pill in a lot of this, but she is likable when she's kicking butt and isn't in a bad mood, and Ruby Cruz gives a good performance. 

Visually the whole program is pretty impressive looking. This feels inspired by the 80's and the whole thing has an untethered imagination feel to it.  

Recommended, this is a good time that goes by quickly.

Plane

6.5/10

In Plane, a storm causes an international flight to crash onto an island off of the Phillipines populated by separatists and militias. (They say "separatists and militias" several times. I don't know if there are two separate groups on the island or militias full of separatists. The whole thing's kinda vague.) In order to survive and protect his crew and passengers, the captain Brodie Torrance (played by Gerard Butler) teams up with Louis Gaspare (Luke Cage/Evil's Mike Colter), a prisoner wanted for murder who was being transported.

This is by no means an excellent or perfect movie. There are many action movies that standout more. It's a basic hostage/action tale that definitely ain't Shakespeare and has been done before. Torrance's desire to get back to his daughter feels especially predictable. The story and dialogue are passable, but not a lot of it pops. More could've been with the various passengers.  

However, none of these previous comments are that egregious. The move ain't half bad either. Everyone involved seemed competent and that they were coming from a good place. Thing is, there are actually some pretty entertaining and well-shot action sequences spread throughout, including a final act scene I don't think has been tried before. (Really, the action is the main seller here.) For those who love violence in their R-rated movie, Plane doesn't wear kid gloves at points. Pacing is solid. Though I mentioned more could've been done for the passengers, personalities were clearly defined for most of the characters. I also give the movie credit for making the scenes of the airline trying to locate the flight (your traditional men at desks scenes you'd find in stuff like Air One, but this time it's with the private sector) more entertaining than you'd think. 

I wouldn't say this is Butler's best performance, but his character is likable enough and he does a decent job as a man thrown into a situation above his pay grade. Interestingly, Butler doesn't play the main kill-guy in this. That honor goes to Colter who is interesting as the cool-headed guy with training who is like a one-man army and provides some of the best kills in this. (Not to say Butler's got nothing to do.) To be honest, I would've liked a little more Colter. Butler's Brodie is the focal point of the film, not Colter's Louis. This also has Ghost's Carl Bruner who brings a certain confidence to his role as the airline's fixer. 

Plane appears to have been made on a moderate budget, but the crew clearly made the most of what it had.

Kinda recommended. Again, not a perfect film and kinda silly, but when the movie works it really works, and the final fight is definitely something. Not a film you need to see in theaters, but this is definitely the sort of thing you'd like when you're working or want to see something light, mindless entertainment.

M3gan

8/10

In this new horror comedy, toy designer Gemma (played by Girls and Look Out's Allison Williams) invents M3gan (voiced by Jenna Davis and performed by Amie Donald) a robotic doll equipped with advanced AI. Gemma's niece Cady (Violet McGraw), who just lost her parents, becomes the test user for M3gan.

Yeah, both the whole evil robot and whole evil doll thing have been done to death. Doesn't help that there are also the natural comparisons to the Child's Play reboot a few years back. Yet, M3gan does a surprisingly good job of being entertaining and fresher than you think. It's not like this doesn't follow the very basic framework of the AI slowly goes bad story, but script is more robust than you'd think, featuring some effective plot points. The movie looks at  a career-focused woman who suddenly has the responsibility of raising a kid and struggles with the task. It's also a look at people's reliance on using technology to raise their kids that's smarter than you'd think. 

What really makes the this work is M3gan herself. You don't see a lot of big talkative/personality-heavy horror movie killers, probably because it's easier to make a silent or hide-in-the-shadows villain scary. M3gan is a villain that stays in your memory thanks to her personality. She's also a lot more understandable and relatable than your usual killer AI. She's definitely the most persuasive. I found myself agreeing with her point of view on several points. 

Physically, she also leaves an impression. Unlike Annabelle or reboot Chucky, she looks like an actual doll that kids would want. Yet, she still manages to be disconcerting due to her uncanny valley face and inhuman body movements and innovative kills. (I'd actually advise you avoid the trailers if you haven't seen them yet since most of the really good parts are spoiled.)  

As a comedy, this works well enough. Not the funniest film of the year, but it has it's moments. This is more lighthearted than the average horror film and it's nice to see an entry like this or Happy Deathday just having fun.   

A couple caveats: M3gan's supposed to be smart, but I found the timing and planning of her kills feel sloppy. Although, the majority of this is strong, the very conclusion feels cookie cutter.

Allison Williams does a pretty good job of playing a programmer who's more interested in what they can do rather than what they should, but also manages to bring a human element. (This is her third horror movie. After Girls, could anyone guess this is where here career would head? Or playing Peter Pan for that matter, but that feels like less of a jump.) Davis does a phenomenal job voicing M3gan. On the comedy side, The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng gives a reliable job as the ridiculous CEO of the toy company that makes her. 

Highly recommended, this is one of those popcorn/let's-have-fun movies and it really works. Plus, it looks like M3gan may be one of the top new horror monsters of the decade.