Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Watch the trailer Written by: Chris Terrio & J.J. Abrams (screenplay by), Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow and Chris Terrio & J.J. Abrams (story by), George Lucas (based on characters created by) Directed by:J.J. Abrams Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong'o, Keri Russell, Kelly Marie Tran Rated: PG-13
Plot After an evil Sith lord mysteriously returns, the Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga.
Verdict The final movie in the concluding trilogy totaling nine movies. I kept hoping the movie would do something that would really make me like it. The first two acts are muddled with boring dialog and numerous contrivances. The third act is great, the penultimate battles between the First Order, the Resistance, Rey and the evil Sith. I'm ultimately left wondering what this concluding trilogy was really about. Whatever it is, it missed the mark. The original trilogy was Luke choosing good, the prequel trilogy was Anakin choosing the dark side. This trilogy toys with lineage, but this movie seems divorced from The Last Jedi, ignoring plot points. The trilogy as a whole isn't cohesive. It's difficult to recommend not seeing this movie as the saga as a whole is a pop culture touchstone, but I'm left wanting so much more from this movie. It depends.
Review All spoilers will be concealed at the end of this review.
This really made me appreciate The Last Jedi more, and I had more than a few issues with that. I wonder if it will look better on the second watch after having watched IX. The Last Jedi certainly seems better in retrospect now.
I had mixed feelings coming into this, but upon first hearing the music and seeing the opening text crawl I was energized. After that I kept hoping the movie would do something to win me over after the muddled beginning. It feels like this opens somewhere in the second act. It's a muddled opening showing us Kylo Ren fighting the world, Poe and Finn on an espionage mission, and Rey training.
This movie is too steeped in nostalgia while also resistant to doing something unique, daring, or even challenging. Those notions were something I appreciated in The Last Jedi. Any risks this movie takes our quickly voided when the movie returns to status quo a scene or two later. It really cheapens the effect and any expectations I had of real consequences. There is so much contrivance and boring dialog. The Last Jedi had plenty of contrivance too. Events seem to happen because the plot requires it, not due to a logical progression of ever escalating war between Rebels and the Alliance.
I really liked the last third, the big battle, but even the wrap up to this is a bit mixed. I'm left wondering what this conclusion trilogy is even about, other than ending the thread of evil that spans all nine movies.
I love Poe and Finn's chemistry. The movie touches upon uniting everyone to defeat evil, but that seems secondary to the Skywalker legacy.
This movie ends and I wonder what it's about. I wasn't sure what name Rey was going to say, and that's a fault of the movie. It didn't build to any name. I didn't really buy that she's a Skywalker. Sure Luke and Leia trained her, but I wasn't sold.
I thought there was a lot of potential that she was a nobody especially after what was set up and that she had incredible skill in the force. As it ends up, if you aren't a Skywalker, you aren't that important. Her being a Palpatine is from left field. It's like something setup just for this movie. This entire trilogy lacks a unifying plot. This could be about Kylo Ren changing his nature, while also being a mirror to Vader. It could be a commentary on the force and heroes. A nobody can ascend to save the world, but apparently that's just not true. In a lot of ways this movie is a split from Last Jedi. What's revealed here doesn't seem like a twist as much as a completely new idea.
This movie is full of contrivance. Chewie is killed in a wild moment, but in the next scene that's undone when we're told it was the wrong transporter. That's too easy, and I don't buy it. I wonder if that was rewritten after the fact.
Poe meet Zorii who wants to kill him. A few scenes later she wants to run away with him and also has the exact item he needs to complete his mission. The movie could have easily suggested they used to be a couple, but it's first stated as purely a monetary issue.
Ochi's ship works after all this time and his droid seems like a knock off BB-8. We see Leia, Luke, Han, and Lando. That seems like a bit much. I don't know why Lando is in this other than fan service.
Kylo Ren has always been an underdeveloped character. He gets to die a few times in this movie. I like his final sacrifice, saving Rey as Ben, but I can't help but think Rey sacrificing herself too would be a better ending. This movie is scared to be bold. Zorii, who has a cool design, is supposedly killed only for that to be undone. C3PO's sacrifice is also completely undone just to emotionally manipulate the audience.
Rey has visions of succumbing to the dark side which seems like a nod to the original trilogy, but this movie doesn't really nail her conflict. She doesn't have a reason to join the dark side. Sure she has anger and rage, but even that is forced into the movie. I wonder if force powers have ever been used to heal or save people from a mortal energy. It seems like that should have some kind of cost. While it does for Kylo, Rey never seems fazed. If these powers have been shown in previous films I can't recall.
Who built Palpatine's army? Who staffed these ships? It seems like First Order troops on the ships, but if so were they just hanging out waiting for orders before? Resurrecting Palpatine seems a bit easy. Maybe I'd buy it if it was planted earlier in this trilogy, or at least hinted.
This movie seems to ignore Last Jedi. There seems to be no overarching plan for the trilogy. I want this to somehow fit into the original and prequel trilogy, but it doesn't. The original trilogy had Luke choosing the Jedi despite his father's choices. The prequel trilogy had Anakin choosing the dark side to protect his family. The conclusion trilogy is about Rey defeating Palpatine who happens to be her grandfather. She just never had any conflict. Sure the movie sets her up with this rage to kill Palpatine, but that felt like the movie wrote the end and then went back to pad it after the fact. She killed Palpatine without having to do it directly, but what's the difference? If she killed Palpatine and died doing it, would that be the end of the force? That would be a nice bookend. What if Rey had said her name was just Rey and walked off into the sunset? Kylo Ren going all the way to the dark side and then coming back to the Jedi because of the bond he has with Rey and the love he has for her seems like a more intriguing story.
Watch the trailer Written by: Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller (written by) Directed by:James Mangold Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas Rated: PG-13
Plot American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Verdict Well made from the script to the directing, acting, and production values. The racing is exhilarating and the plot is engrossing. Shelby and Miles are endearing characters trying to do the impossible, beat Ferrari at Le Mans while placating their benefactors, Ford Motor Company. This is exciting, humorous, and emotional with a great performance from Bale. It's one scene too long, but despite that this movie shines. Watch it.
Review This was titled Le Mans '66 outside of the U.S. due to regulating brand names in movie titles. I really wish that had been the name in the U.S. too. It's a much better name.
Matt Damon plays Carroll Shelby.
The movie first introduces the main protagonists, Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles, and Ford Motor Company. This opens with Shelby recalling his winning of Le Mans in 1959 just before he learns he can't race due to a medical condition. He goes on to build race cars instead. Ken Miles is a weekend racer and weekday mechanic. Ken is certainly skilled but temperamental.
Henry Ford II at the Ford Motor Company plant.
Ford Motor Company's sales are lagging and they need an idea. Lee Iacocco suggests winning Le Mans, going global and linking the Ford name to winning like Ferrari. A botched buyout of Ferrari by Ford sets Henry Ford II on a quest to avenge his bruised ego and beat perennial Le Mans winner Ferrari at their own game. Iacoccoa recruits Shelby and Shelby recruits Miles. They must build a worthy car from the ground up in a matter of months.
This is such a great movie, every aspect of it is well made and the backbone is the script. It's funny, emotional, touching, and the racing is exhilarating. It's the type of movie that makes you want to drive fast on the way home from the theater.
Christian Bale and Matt Damon as Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby.
There's certainly drama, Ferrari is tough to beat and Shelby has to build a car to do just that in a short amount of time. The ford execs don't' like Miles, seeking someone more all American that fits their image. This is flogged for more drama than it should with Leo Beebe having a personal vendetta against Shelby and Miles that isn't quite justified. It's used just to give us an unmistakable villain in a movie that doesn't really need one. The drama could stem from Ford wanting one of their guys instead of Miles. It fits with the bureaucracy getting in the way theme, while trimming some length from the run time. The move is certainly five to eight minutes too long with a final scene that inexplicably shifts the focus back to Shelby and robs the conclusion of impact.
The Ford GT40.
I love when Shelby takes Henry Ford for a ride in a $9 million dollar GT40. It's a great scene that humorous, puts the condescending Ford in his place, and shows us just how crazy this car is compared to a typical car.
This movie banks a little bit on American exceptionalism. This type of plot is often found in space movies with astronauts doing the impossible to reach the crazy dream of outer space. I wish this movie had more process included. There are a few tidbits of them using wool to test aerodynamics, but I'd like more tricks and specific instances of how they fine tuned the car.
Christian Bale plays Ken Miles.
Christian Bale is magnetic. He delivers an amazing performance, but he always manages to do just that. Miles loves racing and it's clear in the performance. Miles is an underdog and you want him to win because he's worked so hard for it. You want him to do the impossible. I'm glad the movie didn't make a villain out of Ferrari's driver. He's an opponent like any other driver.
The movie contains a lot of tropes, but that's not a bad thing when used as intended. The only trope I don't like is Leo Beebe because the movie doesn't need a villain or extra drama. Despite that, this is an exceptional movie.
Watch the trailer Written by: Rian Johnson Directed by:Rian Johnson Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Christopher Plummer, Katherine Langford Rated: PG-13
Plot A private eye investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.
Verdict This is a twisting mystery that will keep you guessing and entertained. Actors get to have a lot of fun with their roles, and the whimsy obscures just how good the writing is. It's a smart movie that has a place for all the pieces. I don't know if I enjoyed Daniel Craig of Chris Evans chewing of the scenery more. Watch it.
Review This starts off as a series of interviews with the family of the recently deceased Harlan Thrombey. The interviews are cross cut as the detective asks mostly the same questions of each family member. We learn in flashbacks that everyone is lying and thus everyone is a suspect.
Daniel Craig plays Benoit Blanc.
Benoit Blanc is a private eye helping the cops. In his first few lines he tells the family they'll hardly know he's there. That's not true, and there are a lot of subtle jokes like that in the movie and even more I'm sure I missed. All of Harlan's kids have motive as he was paying for their lifestyles and the inheritance was looking pretty good.
I was surprised the reveal came so early (I won't spoil it), but the movie doesn't end there. The reveal goes much deeper, and this movie keeps you guessing. At one point I wondered if Harlan had faked his death, as unlikely as that would be.
Chris Evans plays Ransom.
Daniel Craig is great as Benoit with his southern drawl. I anticipate his contemplation of donuts and donut holes is going to be oft quoted. At one point he's described as "CSI KFC" by Chris Evans who plays Ransom and has some great lines and nails the delivery. We don't see much of him until the second half, but he had to be having a lot of fun as he delivers insults rapid fire. He has a great entrance.
The dialog is absolutely great. With all of these established actors Ana de Armas gets a lot of screen time as Marta and does a great job. She was Harlan's nurse and friend. The family all promise they'll take care of her once they get the inheritance, but we soon see the family's greed. They're quick to turn on Marta when they think she might get a part of the inheritance. Benoit's investigation was ridiculous when it might affect them, but now they want him to turn on Marta. It was all pretense, which was easy to guess as not a one of them knows from which country she immigrated. She's "family" up until she gets in the way. Marta has a unique condition where she becomes nauseous if she lies. It's an intriguing concept for a murder mystery movie and used to great effect.
Don Johnson plays Richard.
The greed and pettiness of the family adds another layer to this mystery as they're at first presented as successful and self made until we learn that Harlan footed all the bills with little appreciation. Ransom's told by his parents being cut out of the inheritance will be the best thing for him, but when his parents are also cut out his retort of 'it will be good for them' can't be comprehended. While the mystery drives the plot, it's the character development that fuels the story.
This is mystery on top of mystery, and I wouldn't have guessed I'd be rooting for the killer. It's ingenious how Marta did, but didn't kill Harlan. She realizes after she injects him that she delivered a lethal does of morphine. Benoit points out that the reason she mixed up the medicine is that she didn't need to look at the labels. She knew by the appearance and viscosity which was which. It wasn't until she looked at the label she realized her mistake. What she didn't know was that Ransom switched the labels. Harlan wasn't close to death at all and really did commit suicide, albeit under duress.
The big reveal is great. I figured Marta was lying about Fran's status and guess her inability to lie would come into affect. I did not expect Ransom to attack her, mistakenly picking up a stage knife.
Benoit knew Marta was involved from the very beginning, but as he mentions had to find the missing piece of information at the center of this donut.
Watch the trailer Written by: Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster Directed by:Marielle Heller Starring: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Susan Kelechi Watson, Enrico Colantoni Rated: PG
Plot A journalist's life is enriched by friendship when he takes on an assignment profiling Fred Rogers. Based on the real-life friendship between journalist Tom Junod and television star Fred Rogers.
Verdict As you might expect it's a very touching movie, though it's about journalist Lloyd Vogel more than it's about Mr. Rogers. Hanks is amazing though. The movie didn't add prosthetics so that Hanks looked exactly like Rogers which avoids the distraction of trying to find Hanks under the makeup. Hanks completely captures Roger's passion for people and a lot of his mannerisms. Mr. Rogers transformed Vogel's life purely by example. That's notable when conversion is often a game of yelling the loudest. Vogel at one point asks Mr. Rogers if he is a hero. Rogers avoids the question, but what we see in this movie is a powerful testimony. Watch it.
Review Hanks really sells it as Mr. Rogers. I truly believe it when he empathizes with people. While Hanks shines every time he is on screen, this is a Lloyd Vogel movie. It's not a Fred Rogers movie, though Rogers is prominent.
Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers.
I appreciate the lack of prosthetics. Often times it overshadows the performance like Gary Oldman in Darkest Hours. I was preoccupied with trying to see Oldman underneath all the latex. It didn't help the movie was lackluster.
Matthew Rhys plays Lloyd Vogel.
The movie is framed as a Mr. Rogers episode with Rogers talking about his friend Lloyd. These bookends free the movie from feeling like a documentary. The most striking aspect of the story is that Rogers changed Lloyd without trying to convert him or preaching to him. It was pure example. Lloyd is full of anger and mad at the father who abandoned him as a kid. That weighs on Lloyd as he's a new father himself. When Lloyd is tasked with a puff piece on Mr. Rogers he's against it arguing he's an investigative journalist. Lloyd tries to get past the Mr. Rogers act and discovers it isn't an act.
This movie gets too artsy at times. Most scenes are introduced with a Mr. Rogers style model city and while cute at first after a while it became too much. There were more than a few slow camera pushes to characters that started to become distracting. There's also a strange shift in tone towards the middle of the movie that just felt out of place. It's a rather long sequence that I wont spoil. You can't miss it. It's not that the direction on this movie is bad, but the movie is so good that these miscues really stand out. There is a very powerful minute of silence in the movie. It's one of the best uses of silence I've seen in a movie.
When we first see Mr. Rogers he's talking to a child that isn't behaving and the parents are exasperated. Through his care and concern, Rogers breaks through to the kid. The kid realizes the compassion of Mr. Rogers. It happens quicker than it would in reality, but it makes the point. Similarly when Lloyd is talking to Rogers, Roger's silence prompts Lloyd to fill the void. People connect with Mr. Rogers.
Rogers and Vogel.
Rogers is impressive because when he's talking to you that's the most important thing in the world to him and I believe Hanks as he portrays Rogers. Seeing such a genuine person causes you to self reflect. How do you remain in the moment every time? How do you deal with exasperation and strong feelings? Rogers has a distinct concern with how he interacts with people, something we often ignore or take for granted. Rogers isn't naturally a saint. He works hard at it, though we don't see any of his missteps in the movie.
Rogers states he was bullied and that he never wants a child to feel the way he did. The movie doesn't delve into Roger's childhood, but it makes clear that Rogers had a passion for people. There are glimpses of the difficult topics Mr. Rogers covered because he believed kids shouldn't be shielded from tough issues.
Watch the trailer Written by: James Gray, Ethan Gross Directed by:James Gray Starring: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, Live Tyler Rated: PG-13
Plot Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across the solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, thirty years later, threatens the universe.
Verdict Great movie. The visuals are brilliant with a mix of intense action sequences and quiet contemplative scenes. The directing is outstanding and the writing is really good, aside from the heavy voice over in the beginning. That's my only complaint. This is a stellar movie. I wasn't sure the movie could deliver a satisfactory ending after such a great build up, but it completely does. Watch it.
Review I've been waiting on this film. It was originally scheduled to be released early this year and had been pushed back twice. I was concerned it was a quality issue. It's not. I really liked this movie and the more I think about it the more I like it.
Impressive visuals. It starts with Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) on the international satellite. A satellite that rises from Earth past the atmosphere. It's some subtle world building and I wish the movie revealed more about the world of which we only see glimpses. The first few minutes are intense and they show just how calm Roy is in dire situations. That's important as his entire journey is precarious. Through the movie Roy has to check in with a psych evaluation to confirm he is mission ready. It's a recurring check-in that gives insight into the character. This opening also showcases the stunning visuals the movie showcases throughout. Space is beautiful and this movie takes advantage. The first scene reminded me a bit of the opening in First Man, both are intense and grab you.
The beginning has some nice film making, and I was disappointed when the movie began to rely a bit too heavily on voice over. Roy voices thoughts that should be and sometimes are clear on screen. Thankfully that subsides in the second half. There are scenes that imply a lot without the voice over so that makes it's inclusion all the more strange. One of my favorite scenes is when Roy takes control of a space ship from a captain that's paralyzed with fear. Upon landing Roy asks, "You know why I did that, right?" That's it. Nothing else needs to be said. The movie got that right, but got it wrong more than a few times with adding voice over.
Roy's an astronaut because his dad was an astronaut, but his dad disappeared sixteen years ago. Now Roy is tapped for a top secret mission. The government thinks his dad Clifford may be alive.
This begins Roy's journey to assist in trying to make contact. He first travels to the colonized moon. We only get a glimpse, but it looks like a strip mall. Roy comments through voice over that Earth inhabitants tried to escape their problems on Earth only to build them all over again on the moon. On the moon we get a space shoot out with space pirates. It's a really cool scene though it made me wonder if this movie would be more action or contemplative. The focus is on the character, and Pitt has some really nice moments to act, close ups on his face that provide him time to emote. The directing is notable. The movie uses silence to great effect, and even then the soundtrack intruded a few times. Space is beautiful and quiet. The visuals don't need a punch up with sound. Then again the sound visuals worked together nicely in the opening.
As Roy approaches the edges of the known solar system he contemplates the choices he made in life and his role in the solar system. He wants to face his father, to either confront or leave the memory in the past. Throughout the movie Roy is Clifford's son. Despite Roy's achievements, his accomplishment is the relation to Clifford. He's lived in his father's shadow his entire life. This is his chance to put it to rest one way or the other.
This movie built up for quite an ending and I feared I would be disappointed. How could it live up to expectations? Thankfully the ending is really good. At one point I thought it could and should end earlier than it did. It seemed like a perfect moment where Roy had accomplished his goals and had a decision to make. It would be an ending that leaves you wondering just a bit, instead the movie keeps going. At one point I wondered if this was going to go the dream, space crazy, or already dead route with the ending. It doesn't, thankfully. There were just a couple scenes that reminded me of Solaris, making me think it was a possibility.
The ending we get sets up a contrast to earlier where Roy talks about his priorities. Roy feared he was too much like his father, and his journey reordered his priorities. Roy went as deep into space as anyone ever has. The ending we get is a nice book end. This movie has parts of other sci-fi movies and while it's some of those, it's also none of those.
Watch the trailer Written by: Quentin Tarantino Directed by:Quentin Tarantino Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Kurt Russell, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Dakota Fanning, Luke Perry, Emile Hirsch, Bruce Dern, Damian Lewis, Al Pacino Rated: R
Plot A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.
Verdict This is a meandering movie about two men aging out of the movie industry. Until the end I wondered what is this movie about? What is Tarantino trying to say? The conclusion crystallizes what this movie is. It's part fairy tale, part ode to the Golden Age of Hollywood, and a 'what if' of possibilities. The directing is excellent, though Tarantino gets to be quite indulgent, a luxury not afforded to most directors. DiCaprio delivers one of his best performances, and his and Pitt's characters are charismatic. The more I think about this movie, the more I like it. At three quarters in I wasn't sure I would, but that turned around with an amazing final sequence. Watch it.
Review I'm a fan of Tarantino movies. He usually delivers stylish action movies. I loved The Hateful Eight. It's easily my favorite Tarantino movie and just a masterpiece of a movie, except for the ending which was a slight step down compared to the rest of the film. Once Upon a Time is less violent (until the end) and contains a lot more feet (and all his movies contain feet) than the typical Tarantino movie.
Just a note I will hide all spoilers at the end of this review.
This is Tarantino's most cerebral film. I enjoyed every minute, but I was also wondering what it all means. DiCaprio plays Rick Dalton an aging TV western star at a time when western's are no longer being made. Cliff Booth (Pitt) is Dalton's assistant and stunt double who is getting too old to be a stuntman. We also see Sharon Tate, an emerging star.
Brad Pitt and Leo DiCaprio as Cliff Booth and Rick Dalton.
It's a contrast between the old and new, but at three quarters in I wasn't sure I would recommend this as I wasn't sure how it all fit together. The final sequence changes that. It's packed with humor and violence alike while also pulling everything in this movie together. Because of how this ends, in hindsight I like the movie more. It becomes something I would definitely recommend.
There are a few caveats. You absolutely need to know some bits of history as the movie hinges on this. Charles Manson was a cult leader during the 60s that sent some of his followers, or "family" to kill record producer Terry Melcher who Manson believed still lived on Cielo Drive. Melcher had moved from the home and Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate began renting. A scene early in the movie indicates that Rick's house being on Cielo Drive is important. I believe the name Charles is mentioned, but Manson is not.
While I can't state for certain what Tarantino wants to say, I have a pretty good idea though I can't get into that without spoilers. The ending of this movie makes a huge difference, and after the end of the movie, I liked the whole thing an awful lot.
The directing is excellent, though part of that is that Tarantino is established enough to be very indulgent, negotiating full creative control with the studio.The writing is great. Everything in this movie has a purpose, fitting together by the end. It's very deliberate and well crafted.
DiCaprio has an amazing performance as aging actor Dalton. There's a distinct difference between Dalton and when Dalton is acting. DiCaprio jumps between those two states effortlessly. Dalton is riddled with anxiety and on his way if not already an alcoholic.
Brad Pitt plays Cliff Booth.
Pitt is a likable character as Cliff Booth, though that's debatable, but he doesn't have to display the same range as DiCaprio. I like Booth. He's happy serving as Dalton's driver or repair man, but he's also completely his own man. We get a sense of him from the way he drives very fast but controlled to how he hops over walls and onto a roof. He's a stuntman at heart, but not a leading man. Maybe that's from always being the understudy to Rick. He's the opposite of Rick though they are linked by playing the same character.
Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate.
We're seeing Tarantino's nostalgic version of the 60s with lots of winking and nodding. Sharon Tate played by Margot Robbie seems to be the personification of the time. She's a rising actress, excited to see herself on screen for the first time. She contrasts with Rick who can no longer get good roles. They face an uncertain future while Tate's looks bright. The times are changing, but this movie doesn't put old and new in a relationship like this genre tends to do. Tate and Dalton are neighbors that don't meet.
There's a few plot lines in this movie. What each plot line symbolizes and how they compare and contrast is vague. It's the ending I can't talk about that pulls these plot lines together.
You have to know a bit of history to get the twist the ending has. Sharon Tate was a real actress and was killed by members of the Manson "family." The address was the target, not Tate. In this movie, Rick Dalton becomes the target. Rick Dalton is not a real actor, but a fictional character that happened to live next door to Tate.
Tate's death marked the end of the Hollywood Golden Age, not specifically but generally. In the movie history is revised and the Manson "family" are diverted to Rick Dalton's house where they encounter Cliff Booth, the man who was able to best Bruce Lee.
This turn of events is the catalyst for Dalton finally meeting Tate and ostensibly Polanski, This could be the resurgence of Rick's career. The Golden Age of Hollywood doesn't end, instead continuing. The title of the movie is the first line of many fairy tales. That's what this is, changing history to something that's not the end of an age, but a continuation.
This movie feels like a commentary on Hollywood of today through the lens of the past while also a tale of violence against three people who murdered Sharon Tate and her friends. It's a vigilante punishment for what the Manson "family" did.
I wondered if their would be an instance where Cliff is mistaken for Rick. With how crafted the plot feels, that seemed like a possibility. Everything has a purpose, the friendship, the dog, and the flame thrower but their link of playing the same character serves only to develop the characters.
Cliff supposedly killed his wife which is part of why he can't find work. That doesn't seem to matter to Rick. It's only hinted that Cliff killed his wife. We don't know the details, though we seem to see everything but the "murder." He's a likable character, but that bit really changes our perspective of the character. A character that is otherwise cool seemingly killed his wife. It may just be a commentary on actors and how they play really cool characters, but hide secrets that would change our opinion. When the Manson "family" encounters Rick, they don't recognize him at first. Rick is notable because they loved the character of Jake Cahill. Rick isn't Jake, and isn't as likable.
The final question posed is what if the Golden Age didn't end. What if Rick Dalton managed a resurgence. What would that mean for the industry?
Plot After the murder of his father, a young lion prince flees his kingdom only to learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery.
Verdict This is a very enjoyable movie, though part of that is due to nostalgia and this being a scene for scene remake. This certainly has it's moments but this movie is a pure business decision, not a creative endeavor which makes it difficult to give this movie any credence. Anything that is good about this movie is directly from the 1994 original. While the realistic CGI is very impressive, it also robs the characters of any expression. If this movie existed in a vacuum it would be great, but this remake attempts to do nothing new. Watch it.
Review Another Disney effort to republish their animated movies as live action looking CGI remakes. It's the same 1994 movie with a new look. This follows remakes of Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, Dumbo, and Aladdin. Disney is also planning to recreate The Little Mermaid and Mulan. Disney is banking hard on nostalgia and it works. I've had very little interest in the previous remakes, and while I wasn't initially interested in this movie, the trailer hooked me.
The Lion King (1994) was the first Disney animated feature to be an original story, rather than based on an already existing work. The filmmakers said that the story of The Lion King was inspired by the lives of Joseph and Moses, from the Bible, and William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Simba and Mufasa.
This relies on nostalgia. So many of the big moments I knew were coming which helps anticipation but robs all of the surprise. With such realistic looking animals, there is no emotion conveyed through facial expressions like in the animated movie. With this moving looking so realistic, I wanted some more character development.
This has very effective montages, though like most achievements in this movie I have to give credit to the 1994 movie, but these montage are also a quick summary to get to the next section. It's more telling us about the characters than developing them. Part of that is that it's easier to forgive a cartoon while the other part is that film making has evolved. I was curious about Simba's mother. She lost a husband and son, and we don't see much about her. If this movie were written today I think she'd have a bigger part. The pride lands fell into disrepair and we see none of that. I wanted a little bit more development on these parts and Simba growing up in a very unique situation as a predator living alongside prey.
Scar
I appreciate Scar had a receding hairline which helped to distinguish him, but I wonder why he didn't have a darker mane. The lionesses are hard to distinguish as they all look the same. The draw for this movie is the CGI. It's amazing. This is almost just a tech demo. It was just ten years ago that Avatar was possible to have a movie that was predominantly CGI. Now this movie exists and it's a huge leap forward in CGI. This is the 1994 Lion King with just a different animation style. Seeing the Cats trailer before the movie makes me glad this movie doesn't have human actors dressed up, or CGI'd up with fur. That's just odd.As many doors as CGI opens, some ventures should be avoided.
Timon and Pumba.
This movie makes me want to watch the original. Are both movies as similar as they seem? Timon and Pumba were a lot of fun. It felt like a lot of improvised riffing and I appreciate the movie did allow one thing to change. It just feels a bit too safe to make this a shot for shot remake. Then again if you don't, people complain things were changed and they don't like it.
Simba
This movie is a great business decision, but not a creative movie. That's my issue with this. It's a business move, not an artistic endeavor. The original is a triumph, and this is an attempt to profit. I kind of wonder how Nathanson gets a screenplay credit. It seems more he co-wrote this using the original or just reformatted the original. I wonder what Favreau directed. These are only voice actors.
While I don't know composers that well, I guessed this was Zimmer. That was without knowing he scored the original. Many portions of the score felt like something I had heard in a movie before. Effective music heightens an emotion, and the techniques work, but I felt like the score had been used in other movies. I don't know if that's because I still vaguely remember the original movie, but it feels like segments of the score I had heard from recent movies Zimmer has scored.
Watch the trailer Written by: John Lasseter & Andrew Stanton & Josh Cooley & Valerie LaPointe and Rashida Jones & Will McCormack & Martin Hynes & Stephany Folsom (original story by), Andrew Stanton & Stephany Folsom (screenplay by) Directed by:Josh Cooley Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Jay Hernandez, Joan Cusack, Kristen Schaal Rated: G
Plot When a new toy called "Forky" joins Woody and the gang, a road trip introduces old and new friends while Woody attempts to save Forky.
Verdict This movie is better than it has any right to be. When first announced I assumed this was a lazy sequel. It's not. It's a story that needed to be told, at least it feels that way.. There's a lot of depth to the movie as Woody wrestles with the prospect of becoming an abandoned toy. There are great arcs for the villain and Bo Peep. The plotting is excellent. Of course the animation is top notch. Watch it.
Review This movie has a lot of depth, not just for a kids' movie but for any movie. The plot hinges on Woody's drive to not leave Forky behind. The very first scene set up that personality trait when Woody is attempting to save a toy forgotten in the rain. It's something Pixar has done since the first Toy Story movie. The plots hinge on Woody's personality traits.
Woody introducing Forky
Woody and the gang now belong to Bonnie. Bonnie creates Forky out of trash to cope with her first day of kindergarten. I don't understand how Forky becomes sentient. The logic in Toy Story is shaky at best and Forky only serves to expose the flaws.
Woody's life is tied to being there for his kid. It's a duty in which he takes great pride. Woody is on his way to being a neglected toy, and he's in denial about that. Be it made from trash or just his general demeanor Forky wishes to be with trash and has a propensity to escape. Woody keeps Forky in line for Bonnie's sake, but this gives Woody a purpose.
This story doesn't feel like a needless sequel and I like how it felt like a final chapter. Woody has always been the protagonist and this let him ride into the sunset. I wouldn't be surprised to see another sequel though.
This movie does put all of the other characters in the backseat. It's not a bad thing, but a change in tone from the previous movies. While Buzz has a small role, it's more comic relief than anything as he discovers his inner voice.
While trying to find Forky, Woody runs into Bo Peep who is no longer tied to a kid. She's an abandoned toy. Woody can't comprehend such a thing because his self worth is tied to his duty to a kid.
Gabby
Woody does find Forky but they encounter a villain Gabby. I like how the movie treats Gabby. She's an obstacle to Woody, but she's not a villain in the traditional sense. Her actions, just as Woody's, are tied to how she values herself. Her actions root in her desire for a child's love. She's not intentionally trying to harm others as much as she's trying to help herself achieve goals.
While I can accept toys are sentient, Forky seems like a stretch. What imbues him with sentience? Is it the eyes and mouth Bonnie gave him? Is that all it takes or is it born of love? I don't know and the movie doesn't answer that as it doesn't really matter. While the toys play dead when humans are around, there are more than a few times they would have been seen in this movie.
Woody and Bo Peep
I wondered where the movie would take the Bo Peep arc. Bo claims to be happy as a lost toy and I wondered if the movie would have her realize that is just how she copes. That's not what happens.
Bonnie with Forky and Woody
Part of this movie is delving into the mindset of kids and what they see as valuable or important. Kids don't value objects in the same way as adults. Generally we put a price on it while kids put a meaning on it. An adult, and most of the toys, see Forky as trash. Woody sees an object important to Bonnie regardless of the value of the components.
Watch the trailer Written by: Derek Kolstad and Shay Hatten and Chris Collins & Marc Abrams (screenplay by), Derek Kolstad (story by), Derek Kolstad (based on characters created by) Directed by:Chad Stahelski Starring: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, Lance Reddick, Anjelica Huston, Jerome Flynn, Jason Mantzoukas Rated: R
Plot Super-assassin John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassin's guild. With a $14 million price tag on his head, he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.
Verdict It's big action set pieces nearly start to finish, and it's very entertaining. I do miss story elements and world building from the first movie, but Chapter 3 is an effective and brutal action movie. While it isn't the same leap forward John Wick was, it's a nice progression for this action movie franchise. Watch it.
Review You don't need to see the previous movies to get into this, though it definitely helps. The first one had a, or really the, story, the second was a lot of mayhem. The third is more mayhem. I do miss the story the first one had (read my review), it did a great job of world building and creating the myth of John Wick while also showing us how deadly he is. The sequels have focused on the action almost entirely. I miss the story aspect of this, but I acknowledge there isn't a good way to push the story. The franchise has moved past that.
The John Wick trilogy happens across a couple of days. This picks up right after Chapter 2 (read my review). John Wick has an hour before he's excommunicado and an open target for the underground world of assassins. He'll no longer be part of the assassin's club and afforded the amenities. At that point no one can help him, lest they pay the consequences. Parabellum means prepare for war and that's what this is, war.
In one of the first scenes, Wick is attacked in a library and there is some wild book fighting. It's one of the only one on one fights and it's a good one. The next scene is a knife fight in something that looks like a weapons museum. It's brutal, and has one of the most brutal scenes in the movie because it happens so slowly.
The story is pieced in between the fight scenes, and at this point it's the weaker element. None of the sequels have built and expanded the lore like the first movie.
There's an amazing motorcycle fight scene as Wick prepares to team up with Winston to fight the High Table. He has to get to the Continental, but there are a lot of people in his way.
The movie does a great job of distinguishing itself from other action movies towards the end We've seen one man fight off a tactical crew of men, but there's a few differences in this movie. The Wick movies are just brutal. These scenes definitely have a kick to the sound. The sound mix is good throughout. Guns are loud and the punching sounds land with a thud. It's louder than most movies, but it really ups the mood. I don't know if that's due to the theater I was in or a direct aspect of the movie.
This leaves the franchise wide open for another addition, though it's funny that John is only seriously injured in the first fight. Towards the end of the movie especially, he seems invincible.
I thought the first movie did a great job balancing story and action. It was the kind of fighting we just hadn't seen before. This movie isn't the same leap forward, but it is a nice progression.
