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Sherlock Jr. (1924)
'Sherlock Jr.' (1924): A Review
While I was reading some of the other reviews posted on IMDb about 'Sherlock Jr.,' I came to the conclusion that they all seemed to agree on the same fact- Buster Keaton was certainly a comedian who was ahead of its time. This is my very first Keaton movie I've ever seen, and after seeing it, I can now see why Keaton is viewed to be one of the greatest slapstick comedians not only in cinematic history but in comedic history too (along with Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and the Three Stooges). The plot is simple: a movie theater film projectionist (played by Keaton himself) dreams of becoming a detective. He knows everything on the subject (including how to act like one and what you should do to solve a mystery), but can't seem to find much work around town. Than one day, after an attempt to help his love interest's father find his stolen beloved pocket-watch goes horribly awry, he returns to the theater and dreams that he is in the mystery movie that he is currently showing at the theater and, better yet, that he's THE detective in the mystery movie helping to solve the crime. The plot works great on two different levels. 1. It offers moviegoers a sense of joyous wish fulfillment. I'm pretty sure lots of general everyday people, even back in 1924, wanted to star in movies, even if they knew little about the profession. So 'Sherlock Jr.,' with its plot line about a random guy becoming a part of a movie, manages to fulfill his wish all these people had. And to see this wish be seen acted-out on screen must have been a really cool experience for moviegoers back in 1924. Especially when they saw the groundbreaking sequence where the hero's "dream-self' enters the "movie" by literally walking into the screen. In this scene the movie's cinematography and special effects were on full display and while it may not look like much today, back in 1924 it was simply amazing. The funny thing about this story is that it's a commonplace story in media today. So 'Sherlock Jr.' really was ahead of its time with its story of joyous wish fulfillment and will forever have its legacy on the plot device. The story also utilizes a sort of film-within-a-film gimmick that is also commonplace in today's media and can be seen in everything from the TV series '30 Rock' to the movie 'The Truman Show.' The cool thing though is that 'Sherlock Jr.' was probably the first piece of media in history to utilize this surreal gimmick, and even though it is actually a dream sequence and not an actual full-blown "fantasy thingy," 'Sherlock Jr.' nonetheless was still pretty much the first piece of entertainment media to use this plot device (or a rough draft of the plot device, more like it) and will forever have its legacy imprinted on it. Plus, the film vs. reality theme that appears in the movie is really funny. When Keaton's character's wakes-up from his dream back into the real world you can't help but have a tragic laugh at his expense. Keaton's performance is also great. He manages to convey the role of the everyman with a big dream perfectly with that constantly glum look on his face- the result of reality wearing-down on him. And he's also funny to watch as he reacts to every situation he is put through. Now on to the comedy seen in the movie. Today, slapstick comedy has been reduced to a type of comedy only seen in crude kids movies. All the life has been sucked out of it. After 'Jackass: The Movie,' it seems like nobody can do nothing new with it. But in the 20s and 30s, slapstick was all the rage. Charlie Chaplin, Keaton, the Three Stooges, Harold Lloyd. and the Marx Brothers did wonders with it. And this movie is an example of slapstick at its finest. From the famous water-tower scene (which actually caused Keaton to fracture his neck, though he ended-up okay) to the suspenseful, trick-shot-filled, game of pool scene to the "tail your man closely" scene, the slapstick in 'Sherlock Jr.' is simply marvelous. And it just enters a new realm of quality once you remember that a lot of actors in this movie (including Keaton himself) did most of their own stunts. The movie is also full to the brim with lots of hilarious gags too, such as the introductory scene of "Sherlock Jr.'s" assistant Gillette, which is packed with wry jokes about shaving companies and the scene where the hero first meets his love interest and finds that they both keep on trying awkwardly to hold hands and the tour-de-force of gags that is the grand finale car chase scene where everything humorously keeps going the hero's way- until he realizes that his car has only two breaks and the tires on his car require four breaks to stop. The humor in this movie, looking back, is also a great example of the incongruity theory of humor, which states that most basic comedy is created out of a defiance of expectation (the game of pool scene is a great example of this) as the hero humorously never manages to hit the trick explosive ball the villains have planted for him but instead keeps on making trick shots). Now, before I close this review, I would like to talk about three more good things that this movie has: special effects, editing, and cinematography. The special effects in this movie are simply breathtaking. From seeing the hero's dream self leave his body to the scene where the hero magically jumps through Gillette's dress (he's dressed-up as an old woman) into a sliding door, special effects supervisor for this film Elgin Lessley managed to push the technological boundaries for movies at the time with the ahead-of-their-time special effects seen in this movie, which somehow still amaze to this day. He also managed to introduce several new types of special effects to the movie industry. And while the cinematography and editing in this movie aren't nearly as impressive as the special effects, they are still impressive. The wide-open-shots seen during the scene where the hero's "dream self" enters the "movie" are dimply breathtaking and the frantic, fast-paced shots of camera seen during the grand finale chase scene create a sense of, albeit comedic, suspense and intrigue. And the equally fast-paced, precise, top-notch editing makes sure that audiences are never worn-down by the amount of action happening in front of them. In conclusion, 'Sherlock Jr.' is a great, charming silent-era film with a simple yet timeless story that was also the first Hollywood movie to offer audiences joyous wish fulfillment while also utilizing an at-the-time new surreal yet entertaining film-within-a-film structure. And it keeps the entertainment up with classic slapstick, a charming, funny lead in the form of Buster Keaton, fast-paced, hilarious gags, at-the-time technologically groundbreaking, fun-to-watch special effects, fast-paced, frantic cinematography, and slick, precise editing. It is a must-see for movie-buffs, comedy-buffs, or for families who just want to find a good movie to watch for movie night.
A Dog's Life (1918)
'A Dog's Life' (1918): A Review
The late-1910s were a great time for early Hollywood icon Charlie Chaplin; they were the years when he truly got discovered (which finally allowed him to stop cranking-out crude slapstick shorts minute-after-minute for Keystone Pictures), started to get famous, and made some of his best early comedic short-films such as 'The Immigrant' (1917) and 'The Cure' (1917). And with 'A Dog's Life,' Chaplin successfully manages to continue his groundbreaking film formula that combines both slapstick comedy, melodrama, and social commentary that he established in his previous earlier works such as the two previously listed titles above. And you better believe me when I say that 'A Dog's Life' is a worthy successor to Chaplin's best earlier works, even though it may not be as effective as his previous works. The plot behind it is simple, as is the case with most of Chaplin's films: it revolves around Chaplin's iconic character "the Tramp" trying to survive the injustices and indignities of city life while also dreaming of a better life along with his dog Scraps and, later in the film, his love interest (played by his Edna Purviance, who was the usual co-leading lady in his movies). Chaplin shines, as usual, as "the Tramp"- he manages to perfectly convey a constantly down-on-his-luck everyman who the audience can both sympathize with and laugh at. And in this movie he manages to actually successfully pull-off the homeless tramp look, unlike in some of his other films where he was just an everyman with a long, nasty streak of bad luck. Edna's performance as the equally down-on-her-luck love interest of "the Tramp" was also pretty good. Watching them struggle to live in such an unfair world makes for a great warm, at-times touchy-feely story stuffed with melodrama and story moments where the audience probably just couldn't help but root for the characters. Though there was also probably lots of moments in the movie where the audience just couldn't help but have a tragic laugh at the expense of the characters when they were to fail too. Though that's okay. The melodramatic story also allows Chaplin to stuff in a lot of social commentary commentating on the living conditions of the poor people of America. Though the social commentary is actually the main thing the movie has problems with. Unlike the social commentary seen in 'The Immigrant,' the social commentary in 'A Dog's Life' is less directed and less poignant than 'The Immigrant's.' But it's still pretty decent for a movie that completely lacks dialogue. But oftentimes it seems that 'A Dog's Life' isn't really that focused on its social commentary and more focused on its comedy, which it, at times, totally doubles-down on, unlike in 'The Immigrant.' And while the slapstick comedy in 'A Dog's Life' may not be as effective as it was in Chaplin's earlier films due to the overwhelming sheer amount and while it also may be more pratfall-based, it is still, nonetheless, hilarious- with the lounge crying scene and fence police scene and the running-of-the-dogs scene standing out in particular. Watching "the Tramp" go through hilarious surreal situation after hilarious surreal situation is a joy. And I feel like 'A Dog's Life' was truly the first of Chaplin's movies to explore farcical territory, which it does brilliantly- in turn paving the way in turn for the Marx brothers and 30 Rock. Moving on though, 'A Dog's Life' also has the same simple yet surprisingly good cinematography and crisp, slick editing seen in 'The Immigrant,' but this time around it is far more subtle- which perhaps is a good thing. You don't want a simple slapstick comedy to have a lot of spectacle, after all. It would distract from the comedy. Also, kudos to whoever trained the dog in this movie who plays Scraps, because seeing the relationship between Chaplin and the dog play-out on screen is super fun to watch. Especially during the scene where "the Tramp" first walks into the lounge seen in the movie. On a concluding note, 'A Dog's Life' is a worthy entry in Charlie Chaplin's filmography that manages to successfully continue his groundbreaking film formula that combines both social commentary, slapstick comedy, and melodrama. Sure, the social commentary in 'A Dog's Life' may not be as good or even as directed-at-something as it was in 'The Immigrant' and 'A Dog's Life' might occasionally double-down on crude slapstick instead of just picking a few really good comedic moments to go with. But A Dog's Life' is buoyed by the believable relationship between "the Tramp" and his love interest and the bond between "the Tramp" and his dog seen in the movie, even more melodrama than what is normally seen in a Chaplin film, funny-if-a-little-crude slapstick, hilarious farcical situations, decent cinematography, and slick, crisp editing. It's a must-see for any Charlie Chaplin fan or for any movie-buff in general, or for any comedy-buff for that matter. See it.
The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
'The Phantom of the Opera' (1925): A Review
'The Phantom of the Opera' is an elegant and truly thrilling early horror film that was and still is an influence on all of horror cinema. One of the main reason it succeeds is because it invests largely in an eerie yet breathtaking spectacle that permeates the entirety of the film. And the movie's stunning cinematography conveys this spectacle perfectly. And if you want proof of this, just go and watch the movie and look at the stunning, dramatic shots of the opera house in mid-performance; the stunning, dramatic shots of the masquerade ball; and the stunning, dramatic shots of the underground catacombs, tunnels, and torture chambers. Truly, the cinematography is the stuff of dreams. The other aspect of this movie that helps to convey the eerie spectacle is the haunting musical score that is constantly heard throughout the movie. The way the music switches to match the movie's switching tones is great, especially when the music switches to the 'Phantom's Theme' when the 'Phantom' appears. Speaking of which, that brings me to the next part of my review: Lon Chaney's performance as the title character. While the rest of the performances in the movie were dull and forgettable, Lon Chaney's performance was magnificent and all future actors who portray the character must have their performances compared to his haunting, occasionally sympathetic, creepy, deranged, and frightening performance. Lon Chaney's two best-known performances were his portrayals of 'Quasimodo' in 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'the Phantom' in 'The Phantom of the Opera.' And boy does Chaney have a fun time breathing life into the insane, physically deformed, very intelligent, mysterious, costume-donning composer Erik and, unlike his portrayal of 'Quasimodo,' who tried to help humanity after it shunned him, portrays a man who strikes back at humanity in hatred of it after it shunned him with excellent capability. Before I close-up this review, I would like to talk about a couple more reasons why this film succeeded. Another reason why is its creepy atmosphere. Aided by the haunting musical score and the large opera hall set with its dark chambers and giant morbid underground complex (which is in turn aided by the old silent-film look with its colorless black-and-white presentation and unnerving soundlessness), the film succeeds in making us scared of whatever could be around the corner hiding in the shadows (which most of the time is 'the Phantom'). And the set complete with its flickering shadows, dark chambers, and elegant touches helps this movie maintain its elegant, sophisticated nature and also helps to make this movie even more memorable and iconic. The two things I didn't really like though was how the relationship between Christine and 'the Phantom' was ever truly explored or developed and how the film just has her jump to the role of "backstabbing bitch" immediately after she meets 'the Phantom.' I think the movie truly could've been something even more better than it already was if it had fleshed-out the relationship in a sort of 'Fifty Shades of Gray'-esque style but better executed of course. I also didn't really like the ending. I think it was too executed too quickly and came-off as disjointed and choppy in my view. But the film is still good. Despite the underdeveloped main relationship in the film, forgettable side characters, and an unsatisfying ending, 'The Phantom of the Opera' is redeemed by its breathtaking cinematography, haunting musical score, creepy yet elegantly designed set, Lon Chaney's memorable performance as the title character, unnerving atmosphere, and its fitting, soundless black-and-white aesthetic which help to make 'The Phantom of the Opera' a hauntingly beautiful spectacle that is a must-see for any film buff, horror movie buff, anybody looking for a great film from the silent-film-era to watch, or anybody looking for a great film to watch in general. Truly a masterpiece, I tell you.
The Kiss (1896)
'The Kiss' (1896): A Review
The story surrounding the early 1896 short-film 'The Kiss' is a little strange: it was made at the dawn of cinema and was one of the first films shown to the public. It was also a collaboration between the incredibly-influential early filmmaker William Heise and, yes, the legendary inventor and on-and-off filmmaker Thomas Edison (who was quite an influential early filmmaker in his own right too, as well as an inventor of a couple different pieces of filmmaking technology who eventually founded his very own film production company called Thomas A. Edison, Inc.). The film (or, the more appropriate label, short film as the movie is only around one or two minutes long) depicted a kiss between at-the-time popular Broadway actor John Rice and at-the-time popular Broadway actress May Irwin- a snippet from a play they both acted in together called 'The Widow Jones.' At the time of its release, 'The Kiss' was incredibly controversial because a lot of people held the view that a kiss was a private moment which should not be filmed and distributed for people to see and enjoy and that the short-film was "indecent and pornographic" (which just comes to show just how much people's views and society's standards have changed over around 120 years later). But origin story and stupid controversy aside, a question remains. Which is, "why should you watch this short-film?" And the reason is because even though it lacks a plot, dialogue, has very little acting, has close to no music, and lacks so many of the other elements required in movies and even though it is ridiculously short and simple, it did however introduce a lot of influential filmmaking techniques to cinema that are commonplace in movies today- such as the close-up camera angle seen throughout the movie and clear, nonstop kinetic movement of the actors seen in the movie, which was something a lot of film projectors couldn't do at the time. Also, the film was filmed in one-shot I believe, which is kind of cool too. But another two reasons why this film was important was because it was one of the first films ever made, which makes it important to see regardless of quality, and also because it managed to capture a kiss- which is an intimate and romantic moment- on screen for everybody to see, so it basically introduced the romantic movie genre to cinema as well. It was also an early example of what movies could do that other art forms couldn't, as the film managed to capture an important though everyday moment in motion, and preserving it for all to see. Though I should add that this movie is best viewed in a historical context due to its shortness and simplicity and because it is not very entertaining. Though it does have its merits and is still important for everyone to see because of the influential filmmaking techniques that it demonstrates and because it is an early example of what movies could do that other art forms couldn't do- and because it also technically introduced the world to romance movies and was also one of the first films shown to the public. A must-see for anybody studying the history of cinema and a must-see for any film fanatic in general.
The Immigrant (1917)
'The Immigrant' (1917): A Review
Before I saw 'The Immigrant,' I had never seen an actual Charlie Chaplin film or short-film before. I had certainly heard of him and his movies and his iconic character 'The Tramp' and his influential comedic legacy and his controversial political beliefs, but I had actually never before seen any of his movies. So 'The Immigrant' is now the first Chaplin movie that I have seen and after watching it, I see now why he is considered such an influential figure in both the comedic and cinematic industry. To start off, this has got to be one of his best works: A 25-minute-long comedic short-film about an immigrant (played by Chaplin in his iconic role of 'the Tramp') who comes to America on a ferry boat on which he gets 'seemingly" seasick, gets accused of theft, wins a craps game through questionable methods, and falls in love with a female fellow immigrant (played by Edna Purviance) and then arrives in America where he visits a restrauarnt overseen by a burly villainous waiter (played by Eric Campbell) where other antics soon follow. All the while though this film seamlessly mixes both legendary, hilarious slapstick and gag-based comedy (two comedic forms Chaplin himself practically mastered), biting social commentary depicting what its truly like to be a poor immigrant coming to America, and some usually added-in dramatic romantic plot elements to top it all off and to make the audience pay attention- and you should know that this is a combo that Chaplin perfected in later years and one that he often uses in most of his movies. Another reason why the quality of this film is so impressive is because only three years earlier Chaplin was making crude slapstick short-film after crude slapstick short-film for director Mack Sennett and now he was making tons of influential comedy films and short-films of which he was in full creative control of making. And brother does it show. Especially in this movie's smoothly edited footage which still is decent by today's standards (which is impressive for a movie made a little over a century ago) and in this movie's stunning cinematography (with the the first shot of the ferry boat and the shot of the Statue of Liberty standing out in particular). The performances are also really good too. Chaplin's performance as the legendary, always-down-on his-luck, poverty-stricken comedic icon 'the Tramp' is super-hilarious and full-of-life and comedically fresh-feeling as usual, Edna Purviance's performance as the female fellow immigrant and 'the Tramp's' love interest is pretty good too as the actress perfectly depicts what it is like to be dragged into all of 'the Tramp's' chaotic antics, but her performance as the female immigrant also manages to bring out the best in Chaplin's 'Tramp' and adds a touch of realism to their relationship, which is great because Chaplin and Purviance's relationship helps to balance out all of the crazy slapstick and gags seem in the movie. Lastly, Eric Campbell's performance as the evil restaurant waiter is early-cinema comedy perfection because the guy performs the role of a bumbling yet menacing comic villain just so damn well with his burly figure and meaning expressions and harsh treatment of underpaying diners. Now on to the comedy. The slapstick and gags seen in Chaplin's movie are legendary for innovating the way slapstick was done by adding fast-paced gags ad light comedic violence, and 'The Immigrant' is no exception. Every moment of slapstick and every gag in this movie is near-perfect- from the opening scene of "apparent" sea-sickness to the questionably-won game of craps and from the social-commentary-heavy "arrival at America moment" to the tour-de-force of gags that is the entire restaurant sequence, every moment of comedy is executed perfectly under Chaplin's direction. And all of this just comes to show that Chaplin really know what he was doing when it came to comedy. But moving on to the social commentary though, this is definitely one of Chaplin's more satirical works- even though almost every one of his movies had a little bit of social commentary. But this one definitely is more based around it as it depicts a lot of the negative aspects of what being a poor immigrant coming to America is like and how the system in this USA is often prejudiced against them. The famous scene of when 'the Tramp' and his fellow immigrants arrive at America and get roughly treated by immigration officials while the camera pans onto the statue of liberty is an example of this commentary. In fact, that scene later got Chaplin into a lot of trouble during a government hearing with the White House Committee of Un-American Activities. The part in this scene when 'the Tramp' lightly attacks an immigration official was used by the committee as evidence of Chaplin harboring "communist and therefore un-American sympathies" and so Chaplin was forced to leave America during the McCarthyism period of the early-50s. The scene is quite tame by today's standards, but that doesn't make it or any other bits of the commentary any less sharp or poignant. To close on the romantic and dramatic elements of this movie, 'The Immigrant' is a little more organized and story-based than a lot of Chaplin's other works. It is the tale of an immigrant who comes to America and falls in love. And the relationship between Chaplin's 'Tramp' and Purviance's character helps the film to feel more real. Also, the story sometimes even incorporates its gags to serve as moments in the story, or to explain how something happened- for instance the craps game scene showed just how 'the Tramp' got all of his money before he gave it to the female immigrant- which I think is a really cool film technique not often utilized by comedy movie directors. So in conclusion, 'The Immigrant' is one of Chaplin's best earliest works and one of his best short-films because it manages to seamlessly combine legendary innovative slapstick and gag-based comedy, sharp biting social commentary, and some interesting and warm romantic elements too while also boasting decent performances, crisp editing that still holds-up a little over a century later, and surprisingly excellent cinematography-all within a run time of about 25 minutes. 'The Immigrant' is a must-see for film fanatics, fans of Charlie Chaplin, people studying the history of cinema, or for people who just want to watch a classic silent comedy short-film. Because seriously people, this is an amazing movie- no wonder it was one of Chaplin's personal favorites.
Roman Holiday (1953)
"Roman Holiday:" One of the Most Thoughtful and Enjoyable Movies of All Times!
Before I saw Roman Holiday, I had not seen many romantic-comedy movies. In fact, before I saw Roman Holiday, the only live-action romantic movie I probably had seen was Titanic. I guess I just wasn't really that interested. But then I saw Roman Holiday, which forever changed my perspective. The movie's plot was fairly simple, which is good because that allows the movie to not get tangled in its own plot; like other romantic-comedy movies made these days sometimes do. This also allows people to easily track what is going on in the film too. The simplicity of Roman Holiday's plot also allows the film to be a little more lighthearted and breezy that other movies like itself, due to the fact that the movie doesn't allow itself to get caught up in its own plot; this also means that the movie can focus more on the two main stars and their film relationship, and not on the princess's royal obligations, which allows the film to focus on things such as the iconic motorcycle tour scene and scenes that explore the chemistry between Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck like the boat-dance and gelato scenes. But during all of this, the story still manages to create an unforgettable enjoyable love story as well, all confined within a fun-loving Roman atmosphere. The acting in this movie is just great! Hepburn is funny and charming. Peck is cool and handsome, and Eddie Albert does a great job portraying the side role of the clueless photographer Irving. They're great fun-loving characters which at times feel very, very real. What's more, they're characters that you just can't help to root for. What's good about the movie is that both of its two star actors manage to portray a variety of deft emotions throughout the film with great execution. Love, sadness, frustration, happiness, confusion, you name it! Both Hepburn and Peck perform all these emotions with terrific execution! And besides portraying emotions well, Hepburn and Peck also have an excellent chemistry which shines through the film like a flashlight. Their chemistry makes them a great duo to watch. They also balance each other out as well. And even though the acting is probably the strongest driving force behind Roman Holiday, there are other equally-important forces behind the movie's success. One of these forces is the Roman Holiday's cinematography and set design. The opening scene comprises various beautiful shots of locations in Europe and the cinematography doesn't let up there, we see beautiful shots of various Rome locations such as the Colosseum throughout the rest of the movie. And the set design is often natural looking, gorgeous, and extravagant. And if you combine these factors with decent costume design and good makeup and hairstyling, you get a rather good-looking movie. Stylish sequences such as the previously-mentioned motorcycle sequence and topical humor delivered by both Hepburn and Peck are also strong driving forces of this movie. Not to mention well-designed characters, a bittersweet moving back-to-reality ending, fun-sequences, and decent morals. If you were to combine all of these elements into one big package, you would get Roman Holiday. And then what do you do? You probably ask. Well, you watch it. And after you watch it, with a little bit of luck, you will probably find that you enjoyed it as much as me.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
"Mission: Impossible- Fallout" is Definitely One of the Best Action Movies of Recent Years.
If you were to go onto Rotten Tomatoes and search up the Mission: Impossible movies, you would probably notice that the Mission: Impossible movies that come after Mission: Impossible 3 start to get increasingly better Tomatometer scores. That is definitely true for the latest entry: Mission: Impossible- Fallout, which has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%. And I am here to tell you that the reviews for the movie are more or less true and that it is DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST ACTION MOVIES OF RECENT YEARS AND IS THE BEST MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE MOVIE EVER!!! Fallout's story is great and full of twists and some moments of genuine shock (like the scene where I thought they killed off the Pope). But then again, some. The villain's plot is decently original and introduced a new idea- what if Ethan Hunt were to become an outlaw? Tom Cruise does a great job acting, as usual. But the supporting cast does an amazing job too. Henry Cavill does a great job as tough CIA agent August Walker, Ving Rhames does a great job as Ethan's longtime assistant Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg does a great job as Ethan's other longtime assistant and joke-cracker Benji Dunn, Rebecca Ferguson does a great job playing determined MI6 agent Ilsa Faust, Sean Harris does a great job playing former Syndicate terrorist organization leader/madman Solomon Lane, Angela Bassett does a great job playing rough CIA leader Ericka Sloane, Vanessa Kirby does a great job playing radical activist/terrorist cooperator The White Widow, Michelle Monaghan does a great job playing medical worker/Ethan's former wife Julia, and Alec Baldwin does a great job of playing smart, Ethan-faithful MIO leader Alan Hunley. Also, the over-the-top stunts and action sequences were definitely the series best, without question. From the skydiving sequence to the helicopter chase sequence, this movie's stunts have it all. The cinematography, special effects, and fight choreography are also stellar. The cinematography is breathtaking, with many beautiful breathtaking shots of mountains and cities. The special effects are very modern and up-to-date. And the fight choreography is very realistic and brutal (for a PG-13 movie, that is). However, this movie's music is somewhat forgettable- but the humor isn't at all. There are lots and lots of funny moments throughout the film that lighten it up a bit. And last but not least, Mission: Impossible- Fallout also boats good editing and sound and an ending that will leave you on the edge of your seat with your teeth chattering. Despite a few very very minor setbacks, this movie features tons and tons of hair-easing action and a near-perfect story which makes it a near perfect film. One of the best action movies of recent years, without a doubt. Watch it when you have the chance, because I guarantee it will blow your mind.
Raising Arizona (1987)
"Raising Arizona" is a Hilariously Twisted, Deep, and Very Entertaining Coen Brothers Comedy
When you think about the director duo The Coen Brothers (Joel and Ethan Coen), you probably think about their more popularly known movies such as Fargo and No Country for Old Men. But what most of The Coen Brothers movies all have in common is that nearly all of them have something to do with crime. And Raising Arizona is not only one of their best movies to do that genre, but also is probably one of their best movies, period. And since Raising Arizona was only their second full theatrical movie (their first being 1984's Blood Simple), that is a pretty good achievement. The film's plot/story is great while also hilariously (and gleefully) twisted, not to mention delightfully Tim Burton Gone Southern-esque eccentric. A story about an ex-criminal and his policewoman wife who, after finding out that they cannot make a baby, steal one from a wealthy furniture store magnate whose wife recently gave birth to quintuplets, who's robbery causes their lives to become increasingly difficult due to two escaped fugitives and a biker bounty hunter, now that is wonderfully strange. The acting is strong, mainly Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter's performances as the main characters H.I. McDunnough and Ed. Though the supporting performances of Trey Wilson as Nathan Arizona, Sr., John Goodman as Gale, William Forsythe as Evelle, Sam McMurray as Glen, Frances McDormand as Dot, and Randall "Tex" Cobb as Leonard Smalls are all still equally strong and further contribute to the comedy and craziness in this dramatic screwball comedy. As I believe I already said, both Joel and Ethan Coen did an excellent job at both producing and directing this movie. They twist reality and create often odd scenarios out of ones that start fairly simple. They manage to create a surrealist, Southern dreamscape full of memorable characters and lots of deceptive metaphors. This movie actually kicked off their success as a movie-making duo- though it wasn't their first. This movie's action sequences are all ridiculously over-the-top and comical, though decently executed and featuring good choreography, cinematography, and lots of excitement In fact, some of this movie's funniest moments occur during the action sequences, the best one is probably either the introduction of Leonard Smalls or the chase scene that starts at the convenience store. Though there aren't enough to make it an action comedy, mind you. And as for this movie's humor, it's great. Raising Arizona is full of deft one-liners, humorous situations, and lots of dark/screwball comedy. My favorite line personally is "Relax, we got a baby. And they got four that are almost as good as this one." And my favorite scenario is probably the funny "could you clarify' bank robbery scene. This movie's writing is also outstanding, the characters are very memorable and charmingly quirky, the character development is slow but clear, and the movie is packed full of witty, smart-ass dialogue and crazy scenarios. And if you look a little closer, you will see that this movie also is quite deep and full of metaphors such as H.I.'s attempt to start a new life being compared to pushing through the dry Arizona mud and just how barren and rocky the wombs of the women of Tempe, Arizona are. Of course, like a lot of The Coen Brother's movies, Raising Arizona also has great jaw-dropping cinematography, exciting action-packed choreography, and great visuals. All the shots of Arizona's canyons are the best in my opinion. Last but not least, this movie's exploration of childless marriage is handled quite maturely, though a little toned-down- which makes sense because Raising Arizona is a comedy film at heart. All in all, Raising Arizona is a great, hilariously twisted, dramatic Southern comedy that is possibly some of The Coen Brothers best work and the movie that kickstarted their long-lasting success. If you like a dramatic comedy with lots of dry humor and deep metaphors and smartly hilarious dialogue, not to mention one with a heart. Raising Arizona is for you. I highly recommend it.
Bambi (1942)
"Bambi:" A Quietly Beautiful, Heartwarming, Underrated Masterpiece!
When I was at the library walking around in the movies section, looking for Bambi- I kind of felt a little stupid. You see, I had a recently made a list of essential movies that I had to see by my 23rd birthday. Bambi was the first movie in the Animated Movies section of my list. I guess the reason I felt stupid for checking out the movie is that it is a movie about a mostly happy little deer and all of his mostly happy little forest animal friends. But after watching it, I think it is safe to say that it was probably one of the best Disney movies I have ever seen.
One of the reasons I say this is because the animation is just so freakin' beautiful! Bambi's forest and all of its various locations are animated beautifully, with just the right amount of colors and a heck of a ton of spectacle. The forest is most beautiful when the movie is quite, which gives time for the beauty to sink in. And the most surprising part? The animation actually still holds up pretty well by today's standards- in a classic sort of way. The movie's cinematography is amazing too; basically every scene in Bambi oozes quiet deft beauty, especially during the April Showers sequence, in my opinion. The movie's soundtrack is also great, the song numbers sound good and also really fit their various scenes, when Bambi was just born, happy music plays and when Bambi's mom is shot by a hunter, sad music plays. The songs are also beautifully composed, not to mention. Bambi's plot is very simple, but unfolds beautifully as you watch all of the triumphs and tragedies that occur during the life of a normal deer who lives in a forest.
I also liked how this movie uses visuals to tell it's story and not a lot of dialogue, something this movie doesn't have a lot of. I can also probably guarantee that if you watch this movie, you will freakin' fall in love with this movie's characters and this movie will also probably make you feel all types of emotions like joy and sadness and many others too. The movie's messages about compassion, empathy, life, and not hunting are also very poignant as well. And last but not least, Bambi's short running time allows it to not cram in too many events- which makes it all the more enjoyable to watch.
And while I was watching this truly extraordinary film, I realized something. I realized that the reason I probably was liking this movie so much was because it was different from all of Walt Disney's movies at the time. There was no princess, emphasis on true love, king, queen, prince, or dragon. It was just a sort of short movie about the life of a normal deer in a forest and all of the sorrow and beauty in it. And by perfectly capturing that beauty, Bambi was able to become a heartwarming though underrated animated masterpiece about the quiet beauty that resides in all life.
The Meg (2018)
"The Meg" Doesn't Really Provide the Thrills, But Still Makes for a Good Dumb Over-the-Top Action B-Movie
Lately I just feel like we have been getting a lot of shark thriller movies, but instead of the good Jaws types, we've been getting the stupid Sharknado types instead. Last year when 47 Meters Down came out, it did sort of bad with the critics, but it was a surprise success at the box office, now we've got The Meg. And though I am pleased to report that The Meg was able to be over-the-top without going over-over-the-top like Sharknado apparently did, it still had a couple of problems. Though I'm not saying that I regret seeing it. First off, the story was both good and bad: One of its main problems were its reliance on plot gimmicks. Such as all of the suspense sequences started by a person falling out of a boat while the shark is near, or the fact that a decent amount of the characters who died in the movie died by falling off of a boat and getting eaten by the shark. Other plot gimmicks include the one in which the main characters think they have killed the shark, but really have not. As predicted, this movie is also very cheesy- but that is probably because it just has to be. Other flaws with The Meg's plot and story include its really bad attempts at humor and jokes, occasional questionable depictions of race, and somewhat bad writing. Though to The Meg's merit, the story and plot of The Meg are both gleefully over the top, feature strong female characters, and some decent character development. As for the acting, it was all pretty forgettable. But Jason Statham's performance was very good and screen-commanding. I also liked how the women in the movie didn't take a backseat to the men like in most action movies, the actress Bingbing Li demonstrated this fact through her character the most. Like other movies like it, The Meg has both good cinematography, special effects, visuals, and music- actually, scratch that, the music was okay but forgettable (except for that song they played at the end credits). The cinematography particularly stands out because it really does give you a sense of the scope. Particularly the difference between human and Megalodon. The action sequences in the movie were very good, stylish, and over-the-top. But still somewhat noisy and not really as suspenseful as they set out to be. Sure, there were a couple good moments of suspense, but then again, the key word is couple. Also, special note on the character development that Jason Statham's character goes through: I actually thought it was sort of good for a B-movie. All that being said, I think that The Meg is a decent over-the-top action B-movie featuring a good main performance, but is full of lots of plot gimmicks, bad humor, and lack of suspense which keeps the film from being what it wanted to be. Though if you are in the mood for a dumb, cool, over-the-top action movie- I would recommend you see it.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
"Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" is Without a Doubt, the Best Animated Batman Movie of All Time!
If you were too go and rank the top ten best movie/television portrayals of Batman, Kevin Conroy's portrayal would probably be in the top five. He voiced batman in Batman: The Animated Series which was a cartoon that ran from 1992 to 1994. He also continues to voice Batman in various animated movies such as Batman: Mask of the Phantasm- which is often considered the best animated Batman movie of all time. And after watching it, I think I could probably agree with that opinion.
I recently made a list of 300 movies I have to watch before I'm nineteen and this is the first movie I had to watch in the Animated section. First off, Batman; Mask of the Phantasm had a really good and intelligent story that had a really good final twist and also nicely retold Batman's origin story. It also explored some new narrative ground, introduced a cool new villain named Phantasm, explored Bruce's psychological issues, and had a great romantic subplot as well.
The voice acting was on par, featuring both Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill at their finest voicing The Caped Crusader and The Clown Prince of Crime. The characters were believable. Bruce Wayne dealt with some very human issues and felt very human (unlike Val Kilmer's portrayal of him in the Batman movie that came next), Andrea felt very human too. And I like how the movie examined and developed their relationship throughout the film. And Phantasm was scary, Joker was psychotic, Arthur was charming- the characters acted like they were supposed too.
The action sequences were decent through electrifying, with plenty of exciting fights and chase sequences scattered throughout. The movie also paints a dark, somber, gritty, and mature depiction of Gotham that the popular 60's live-action TV series never showed. The movie's visuals, exciting final sequence, and moral are also very good too.
And you would probably be surprised but I found nothing bad at all with this movie.
Final Consensus: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is probably the best animated Batman movie of all times featuring an interesting and mature story, good voice acting, good character development, electrifying action sequences, a gritty tone, decent visuals, great final sequence, and a good moral. It is nearly flawless, in my opinion.
Due to frequent moderate violence and consistent moderately frightening scenes, this movie is recommended for kids 9+.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is an Ambitious yet Disappointing Sci-fi Movie that Generates Cheesy Fun
Both me and my dad both like the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies a lot, though my dad probably likes them more than me. And when we both saw Fallen Kingdom, the new entry in the series, I guess we both liked it but I have a slightly different opinion than my dad on the movie. And here is my opinion now: Fallen Kingdom's story is decent. It is somewhat creative yet slightly unoriginal though it also raises some deep questions about how the choices we make about the dinosaurs affect us and the entire world. It was also sometimes shocking as well, (though i thought the twist about the girl was very unnecessary). The acting was okay as well, Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard were both charismatic in their roles as Owen and Claire. I also liked Jeff Goldblum's appearance too. The special effects and set pieces were great, as usual (which I would like to point out, are usually the only merits movies like these sometimes have). The music was decent, but it was kind of formulaic. This movie does have a couple of decent scares though. It builds up suspense at a good pace and actually packs a couple of good jump scares (most of which involve the Indoraptor at the mansion). The wit and humor was also good as well, best delivered by Pratt's character. Though the action sequences were less so, they were more formulaic and that is what makes the suspense sequences better. Also, Fallen Kingdom at times feels like it doesn't live up to its predecessors or is just an edited version of the 1997 movie The Lost World: Jurassic Park. This all adds up to an ambitious and at times good adventure flick but it also adds up to one adventure flick that is sort of disappointing and unoriginal. But it is still cheesy fun and it has some really good jump-scares. So if you see it, except a nice, schlocky, cheesy, ski-fi adventure flick.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a Flawed, Yet Solid and Action-Packed Addition to the Star Wars Canon!
If you wanted to, you could watch pretty much every original Star Wars movie and after doing so, you could probably agree with my point that they leave A LOT of questions unanswered! And that is why we have all of the prequel movies and Star Wars Story movies. Believe me when I say that we still have a lot of stories to uncover, with important characters like Princess Leia, Boba Fett, and Obi-Wan-Kenobi- but at least now Han Solo's story is fully uncovered and the uncovered story that we watched unfold before our very eyes made for a decent movie. Don't get me wrong, Solo does have its flaws, but it also has a lot of great things going for it as well. The story is even, even though it does somewhat leave too many questions to be answered (just go and see the movies and then you will see what I mean), though it is full of great moments. Such as the Millennium Falcon escaping both a space creature and a black hole, a bunch of robots fighting for equal rights, and a genuinely touching moment involving people that seem to be space pirates. The story also answers pretty much every question that we've ever had about Han Solo, so that is also nice. Solo's constant twists and double-crosses were a nice new addition, but they were both a blessing and a curse. The first few were pretty good and shocking, but it got kind of old by the end (though the Darth Maul cameo was the most best and shocking of them all). Alden Ehrenreich does a great job in the role of Han while Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Grover, and- yes, the guy who plays Chewbacca Joonas Suotamo are equally as great in the supporting roles of Beckett, Qi'ra, Lando, and Chewbacca. Whoever played the droid was probably the most funniest though. The special effects and set pieces were obviously great, as well as the movie's musical score- though it didn't really do anything new for the series. The action sequences were great. And since Solo isn't as big on Stormtroopers and the whole Jedi & Sith thing, it's able to be creative with its action. This is why we see both sword fights and just all-out skirmishes in the movie. And, in my opinion, I think it is a welcome addition and something fresh because all we usually get are Lightsaber battles and space battles. The movie also is able to create lots of funny, touching, and surprising moments due to the fact that it is exploring mostly unexplored territory. Ron Howard also did a respectable job of directing the movie too. And in the end, Solo: A Star Wars Story does end up having flaws (specifically all of the questions that turn up in the plot but are answered, the somewhat generic territory it sometimes enters, and the fact that it doesn't always bring lots of new stuff to Star Wars mythos). But overall, Solo: A Star Wars Story is a good movie with a mostly-satisfying plot with some good twists, great performances, nice moments, and fresh action sequences that manage to break into new territory for Star Wars as a whole. And it proves that Star Wars Story movies are just as important as main cannon entries. Star Wars fans need to see it!
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Infinity War is Probably One of the Best Movies Marvel Will Ever Make!
(Disclaimer: For my last two reviews on Black Panther and Ready Player One, I forgot to mention that both movies also had amazing set pieces. I apologize for that error in my reviews which do not mention set pieces).
It is finally here folks.
The movie that most people have been waiting for like crazy ever since it was announced has finally came out. And, instead of getting caught up in all of the backstories and becoming a bad movie. It turned out to be a really good movie! The story for Avengers: Infinity War is quite standard: Guy wants to destroy half the life in the universe, Avengers have to stop him blah blah blah. But while the story doesn't offer any new concepts for the MCU, it does so some pretty coo stuff. First off, the story obviously kills off a decent amount of beloved heroes. Which, due to the gravity of the films and characters, is a pretty tough decision to make, so the story does leave some emotional impact for some people who had to see their favorite hero killed off. The story is also very suspenseful; the entire film and the twist ending (which is executed perfectly) keeps the audience on the edges of their seats. The story also delves into the players and backstories a little less then other films in the MCU. Instead, the movie focuses on the characters and how they respond with just how important is at hand. You get to see how each character does under the pressure, which is sort of cool to watch. Pretty much every important character in the MCU is featured in this movie (except Hawkeye, Ant-Man, and Nick Fury for some reason), and every actor and actress playing these characters plays their character to the max! Everybody, from Chris Evans to Tom Holland. So naturally, the performances are pushed to the max! Which means, that the PERFORMANCES WERE AWESOME! Josh Brolin also shines as Thanos, the main villain. Not only is he the brutal villain that fans have been clamoring for, but he also is a sort of soft person on the inside which makes him even more terrifying. The special effects and set pieces are beyond spectacular, no need to go deep into that. And the action sequences are lengthy, but that is a necessary inclusion in order to make them feel like something. Also, they are constant and mind-blowing, which is good. The fast humor is also still here, regardless of the movie's mood, the characters still manage to impossibly crack jokes. There don't seem to be any morals, but that is because the movie wants to focus more on storytelling than teaching. The character development is good, as well as the epic orchestral soundtrack. Though the one tiny problem that this film has is that it doesn't really delve into any of the characters backstories which could make it confusing for newcomers. Though the thing about this is that there probably won't be many. The film is also directed and produced with expertise by the Russo brothers and Kevin Feige and Jon Favreau. The bottom line is- This film is so amazing its godlike, it's not at all like and better then Justice League, and you should see it if you haven't yet. 'Nuff said.
Ready Player One (2018)
Ready Player One is One of Spielberg's Best Movies of the Century, So Far!
Let's face it, Spielberg is never going to be able to top one of his classic movies (like Jaws) with one of his movies from this century (like War Horse). But that doesn't mean that just because none of his new stuff will ever measure up to his more older stuff, it isn't good. Ready Player One is an example of that. After seeing the movie, I created and stand by, my opinion that it is one of his best movies from this century. Ready Player One's story isn't super deep (in fact, quite the opposite). But it is pretty exciting (an emotion that Spielberg is good at creating, action-packed, and has some decent messages about humanity's dependence on technology, reality, and how technology can be both good and evil. The story also has a great, intertwining mystery throughout about where the Keys are hidden that keeps the audience wanting more- I think. Ready Player One also boasts great direction from Spielberg (who seems to be trying to use a new type of more modern directing which can feel a little odd at times but is still good) and some pretty good performances from both Tye Sheridan and Olivia Cooke (who play the protagonist characters of Wade/Parzival and Samantha/Art3mis) and Ben Mendelsohn and T.J. Miller (who play the antagonist characters of Noah Sorrento and I-R0k). We also get great performances from a very diverse cast of supporting actors and actresses. Such as: Lena Waithe (who plays Aech/Helen), Simon Pegg (who plays Ogden Morrow), Mark Rylance (who plays Anorak/James Halliday), Phillip Zhao (who plays Sho), Win Morisaki (who plays Daito), and Hannah John-Kamen (who plays F'Nale Zandor). The special effects are, obviously, top-notch. The CGI in The Oasis is so good at some times, it is disorienting, but the movie manages to blend the CGI and real world images effortlessly and so the switch isn't at all confusing. Also, Spielberg actually managed to make the CGI not at all cheesy, which is a very amazing achievement. The action sequences are sort of the standard normal action sequences that you would find in a standard Marvel movie, not really anything to be said about the action sequences. Also, the movie has a crazy amount of of pop-culture references. There is like a reference in every frame. Mostly it is pop culture references from the 70s, 80s, and 90s which were the decades that Spielberg was the most popular (although he doesn't reference any of his own films in the movie, which is kind of a bummer because his films defined those decades). But modern pop culture also gets referenced a lot as well (though there are absolutely zero references to Fortnite sadly). So, the references are a nice edition as well. On a closing note, the movie also has a lot of memorable moments that are worth seeing: Like an Iron Giant fighting against Godzilla and the movie quote, "IT'S F***ING CHUCKY!!! And remember this, while Ready Player One is definitely not one of the best movies that Spielberg has ever made, it is one of his best movies from this century so far. Which makes it definitely worth seeing.
Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther is the Best Movie That the MCU has Made So Far and is a Superhero Movie for the Ages!
Let's face it, the MCU is a very very successfull film franchise. For ten years, the have been cranking out movie to movie and each one is usually either great or very good and has made either a lot or a decent amount of money at the box office. But Black Panther: is something completely different. And it is a good type of different. For starters, the story is great: It blends together an amazing tale of both revenge, wonder, and a man struggling to do what is right. The story of Black Panther is also able to explore a more important idea than other superhero movies as well and also is able to explore lots of different complex but smaller ideas, like "how can a good man be a great ruler but also be a murderer" and "why does a country that can solve all of the world's problems keep itself hidden from the world?" The story is also able to explore lots of social issues (mostly race- related) and has an amazing twist that keeps the entire movie going and keeps it from getting boring. Chadwick Boseman does an amazing job of portraying the main character of T'Challa/Black Panther, he makes the character both diverse/witty/cool/serious/realistic all at the same time. Michael B. Jordan also does an equally-amazing job of portraying the movie's main villain-Erik Killmonger. He is both tough and soft, has a great backstory, and is very intimidating without having any superpowers. And at some points in the story, you will probably find yourself rooting for him as well. The supporting actors and actresses also do a great job too: Lupita Nyong'o portrays the character of Nakia with excellence giving her character a badass aura that needs to be seen on more female characters in popular film franchises. Danai Gurira does the exact same thing for her character of Okoye, and in turn she becomes a more deadly more fiercer female type of stormtrooper that could actually kill Luke Skywalker before he kills her. Letitia Wright gets first prize as funniest character though, in her breakout performance as Shuri: T'Challa's smart and witty inventor sister. And Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Basset, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis all do great jobs acting as W'Kabi, M'Baku, N'Jobu, Ramona, Zuri, and Ulysses Klaue. The only problem with the acting is Martin Freeman. What is he doing here? And why is he playing a lead character? It is just a little random, that's all. The action sequences are also amazing and expertly-executed. They look a lot like the action sequences in The Matrix with all of the slo-mo and detail. The movie's soundtrack is great as well. It combines both traditional African folk music, modern hip-hop and R&B, classical orchestra, and breezy pop. Ryan Coogler does a great job of directing the movie and, of course, the special effects and fast humor are top-notch. As well as the character development. And sure, Black Panther has its occasional problems (such as a constantly-occurring plot point and a sort of lacking final showdown between Panther and Killmonger). But all of the problems are really small and in the end, we are left with an amazing masterpiece of a blockbuster that will most likely transcend generations.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)
Maze Runner: The Death Cure is an Okay End to an Okay Trilogy, Very Fan-Pleasing
When the person sitting next to you at a coffee shop starts up a conversation with you about dystopian movies. The Maze Runner series is probably not what comes first to mind. The now-completed movie trilogy has a history of mediocre box-office earnings and mixed reviews. It is just one of those series that a non-fan could probably enjoy, which is what I'm saying simplified. And the latest and last entry (probably) in the film series, The Death Cure, does not do anything unpredictable. Mostly because it wraps up the okay film trilogy in the most predictable way possible... by being okay. The acting in the movie is on-and-off, Dylan O'Brien and Aiden Gillan do good jobs portraying the characters of Thomas and Jansen, with O'Brien giving his character a tough edge and Gillan giving his character a very sadistic dark side. But other than that, the acting is very cheesy and melodramatic; probably because most of the characters are portrayed by very little-known actors. The action sequences in this movie are very crazy and over the top and destructive, which is how I like my action sequences sometimes. Mission: Impossible has nothing on this. Though the story is... well, a different story (I apologize for the pun), literally! The movie's story is pretty much completely different from the story in the book. It also throws in a lot of random events that were unnecessary. Though the opening sequence is pretty awesome. The music is very formulaic; there is really nothing to be said about the music. The set pieces are amazing though, The Last City is especially mind-blowing. It is amazing that a movie this little-known got such funding for it to make such good set pieces. The special effects are also pretty good too. Though there are still lots of things to complain about. At times the film feels really overly dramatic, almost like a Twilight movie. And then the filmmakers just HAD to cram in a useless, though very very small, love triangle between three of the characters. Some of The Death Cure's acting, its action sequences, its opening sequence, its set pieces, and its special effects prevent it from being a bad or horrible movie. Though its story, its music, most of its acting, its feel, and its character developement prevent it from being a good, great, or amazing movie. Which means that it is stuck at okay. Don't worry though, it will please fans. By a lot actually. Though it probably wouldn't satisfy any one else who isn't familiar already with the books or films. And the book is way better anyway.