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Dune: Part Two (2024)
Temper your expectations...
Hear me out: I love sci-fi, and Denis Villeneuve is very skilled at creating Dune Pt. 1, Blade Runner 2049, and Arrival. Now we have Dune Pt. 2, which I just saw in IMAX at an early screening last night. It is, as you might expect, a technical marvel with a stacked cast who all bring their A-game. Like The Two Towers or Empire Strikes Back, it expands on the lore, worldbuilding, develops the main characters and introduces new ones. Most of what was set up on the story and character front is paid off to some degree here. The battle sequences are incredible and creative in places. I think it's safe to say that if you liked the first movie, you'll like this one. BUT, it's easier to admire than to love, with the characters at arms' length, even by the time the credits rolled. Keep in mind that while the movie is very good, it still has pacing issues and is too long. In fact, there is so much going on here that it feels like two movies' worth. This is not as great as the hype makes you believe (masterpiece, next LOTR, etc.). But as a sequel to Dune, it works well enough to entertain while suffering from that middle-chapter syndrome that most second chapters do.
Oblivion (2013)
Why the hate??
I am a sci-fi nut; I love this genre. In 2012, "Prometheus" disappointed/angered hardcore fans of the "Alien" franchise. Did it answer all the questions that it raised? No, but I think we were left to grapple with them. Why do I bring this up? Upon initial release of "Oblivion" the following year, it drew some comparisons to that movie in that area. Both feature spectacular visuals (this one successfully blends F/X and gorgeous locales). Both have good to great performances from its leads. Sure, Freeman isn't given enough to do, and I was left scratching my head in the second half, and especially at that final shot. But it doesn't deserve the 54% on Rotten Tomatoes. I liked it more than the original "Top Gun", which is a case of being beloved by so many who are blinded by nostalgia.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
The Closest Shave, Guaranteed!
I love a good musical, and Tim Burton's adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's classic is amazing. In fact, Sondheim was heavily involved in the production, right down to approving the casting choice of Depp and Bonham Carter. Burton's penchant for Gothic horror tones, ghoulish makeup, collaborating with Depp again and playing to the actor's strengths instead of going over-the-top actually work here as we see two soulless individuals go down an increasingly darker path.
Yes, this is an extremely violent and tragic story about the cost of revenge, so temper your expectations. Thematically, it feels like it could have been inspired by Dickens, with class struggles and young boys asking for more food (only it's meat pie instead of gruel). Don't expect a happy ending and prepare yourself for LOTS of gore that earned this movie its hard-R rating (comparisons to Kill Bill would not be far off!). But the strong performances from the amazing cast, especially Depp, Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman, are excellent. Even the child actors are perfectly cast. There is also just the right amount of black comedy here, too. The songs from Sondheim's stage play are wonderful, with only a few of them cut.
It's very rare to see an adaptation of any form of entertainment, from books to graphic novels to video games to popular stage plays, that are NOT disowned by the writer, creator, etc. However, Sondheim approved of this incarnation, loving it. It will not be for everyone, but I can say that it is one of my favorite musical adaptations ever put to screen.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Don't really get the hype...
Critics and general audiences are comparing this to The Dark Knight and saying that it's not just one of the greatest animated movies ever made, it's the best comic book movie EVER. I respectfully disagree with those statements. Having watched it last night, and as not only a huge Spidey fan but someone who loved Into the Spider-Verse enough to put it on my Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2018, I have been looking forward to this follow-up for years now.
First, the good: the animation is as good (and in some ways even better) than Into the Spider-Verse. It's like a beautiful painting unlike any other art style out there...even Pixar. Characters like Miles and Gwen get a deeper, richer treatment, with some extremely satisfying development, and the voice acting is convincing. In fact, my favorite scene was one that integrated the characters creatively with the artistic choices.
So why didn't I give this a higher rating? Because the plot is too often buried underneath fan service and Easter eggs that honestly will only be understood by hardcore Spider-Man fans. Especially once our heroes go into the Multiverse filled with hundreds upon THOUSANDS of various Spider-Men, Women, etc., it becomes too busy and flashy for its own good! I feel that it's only decent to warn you: even if you DON'T have headaches or seizures, this movie might just induce one! A coherent plot is necessary for a movie that is not only the second chapter in a trilogy, but the first of a two-parter. Throughout the TWO HOURS AND 16 MINUTE runtime, you are constantly bombarded with all the stuff I just mentioned, and I felt exhausted by the end. Why do blockbusters, especially two-parters, feel the need to become longer and longer these days? I could excuse some of the older movies, made decades ago, for being 3 and a half or even four hours if they earned it. But just consider this: Into the Spider-Verse was almost 20 minutes shorter than this one, and while I understand that sequels tend to go bigger and bolder, they NEED to justify the runtime. Unlike Infinity War (which was longer by 20 minutes), I didn't walk out feeling any real urgency to see the next movie.
So did Across the Spider-Verse make me laugh, smile, and even occasionally give me the feels? Yes, but it proved to be WAY too much of a good thing. And it could have been great. I went in not only wanting to like it, but LOVE it maybe.
P. S. There are no post-credits scenes, so no need to stay when the movie ends unless you are in love with the animation.
Knock at the Cabin (2023)
An Apocalyptic Ordeal...
What happened to Shyamalan? Look, I get it: every director eventually loses his touch (like Lucas or Spielberg), but M. Night gave up after just a few very good to great movies. Dave Bautista is the best thing about KATK, and the other performances are pretty good. The home-invasion premise with its apocalyptic setting, in addition to arguments about what you believe, are closest to Signs.
No spoilers, but the first half is the best. I don't understand the people who claim this is an "edge-of-your-seat" thriller. I just felt bored. And why is this movie even rated R if it cuts away from the most violent scenes? One more thing: I understand that this is based on a novel, and that Shyamalan deviated from the source material in the end. I've never read the book, but if you watch the movie and then read a plot synopsis of the book, it feels like a missed opportunity. Didn't hate it as much as Old, The Last Airbender, or LITW, but a disappointing entry especially considering the potential.
The Mentalist: Ruby Slippers (2012)
Predictably Political...Where did the fun go??
First off, I understand where these people are coming from. Real people like this young man certainly exist, and often their pain comes from insecurities or even some form of trauma/abuse. So don't tell me I don't "get it"; I do. But whereas The Mentalist as a whole has been a series that I've enjoyed so far, I unfortunately found myself wondering, "Where's the fun?" Mrs. Doubtfire was funny because of Robin Williams' talent, and the story was heartwarming. However, these drag queens creeped me out from the start, and the mystery kept getting more disturbing. The worst part was the "big twist": the young man FAKED his own death, decided to become the "tragic hero" that so many stories of this kind frame the victims as...and neither Jane nor Lisbon have the courtesy to tell his own father that he is alive. Instead, the father lives out his days with the guilt of thinking he murdered his son, while the two detectives enjoy watching the boy perform "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". THAT is truly poor taste, especially in a show that has proven to be better than this!
Better Call Saul (2015)
Vince Gilligan and Co. keep delivering the goods!
As someone who loved Breaking Bad from the start, but took a couple of seasons for this series to really impress me, I can safely say that time has made me appreciate it more. Yes, it's not as fast-paced as that show, but it's like comparing apples and oranges. The writing, character development, cinematography, action (when it comes), are all just as great (and in some ways better) than Bad. Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, and the rest have all honed their craft, and the result is something that just keeps getting better. The premiere of S6 alone is a testament to how they can balance the humor and drama, while the show feels more like Breaking Bad than ever now.
Psych: The Movie (2017)
Fun, but frustrating...
OK, let me begin with a disclaimer: I love Psych. I've just always been a huge fan of mysteries and detective stories (although I still prefer Monk over this, because this show prioritizes shenanigans over procedure). I also love a great buddy comedy, and Psych nailed that perfectly with James Roday and Dule Hill as Shawn and Gus. It helps that they're friends in real life. Steve Franks' theme song, sung by his band The Friendly Indians, is perfect for the show, and the pineapple gag is wonderful.
All that said, you would think I would be totally ecstatic about a movie/holiday special...right? Well, Psych: The Movie has me torn for a number of reasons. First, it doesn't actually carry over Shawn's defining "psychic" shtick, and there's hardly a coherent mystery (more on that later). Sure, it's great to see Shawn and Gus back together again, but Lassiter is reduced to a cameo on an iPhone (Tim Omundson suffered a stroke). Additionally, most of the jokes just didn't land for me; most of them were preoccupied with "dongle" references...and those got old REAL fast.
As for the inside-the-beltway mystery, they have always been silly or nonsensical. Again, "Psych" is more about the silliness, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't put some effort into the case. Without spoiling anything, even die-hard fans may be left scratching their heads with this one.
All of this brings me to my final point. This is basically an extended "Psych" episode, but even "Psych: The Musical" was a better movie. This is definitely not for casual viewers looking for something to watch, because they will be lost. It certainly does some things right for "Psych-Os", but at the end of the day it doesn't really feel like "Psych", because it's lacking Shawn's goofy crime-solving shenanigans.
Dune (2021)
Impressive, but indulgent...
Let me preface this by saying I have never read the book, or seen the other adaptations. Critics saying that it works well enough on its own to explain the world and lore should be good enough for me. The big problem here is that the ad campaign is misleading: this is a Part One (of two), and Zendaya's character who is prominently featured in the trailers only shows up at the end to say, "This is just the beginning." That said, the first HOUR of this is setup and tedious exposition. Many scenes are Timothy Chamalet just sitting there watching holograms full of exposition, or we would be told about events that would be much more effective to see. Fortunately, the story does take shape and things start moving forward a bit, with lots of Villeneuve's trademark epic spectacle and scope, dazzling visuals, strong performances, and great action scenes. But then Dune just struggles to figure out how to end, and only does so just when the main characters and story are getting interesting. Sure, I'm no "Dune" scholar, and adapting epic literary works to screen is challenging, but judging this as a movie, I wanted to like it a lot more, considering the promise it held.