Here we go! By popular request, I'm back on the blog and reviewing movies! My movie-watching was a bit slow to start the year - I was in PhD school after all - but picked up once I got home and had free time and free movies once again.
Previous 2016 Reviews:
Unscripted Ratings:
4/4 - Buy a ticket, poster, & DVD.
3.5/4 - Buy a ticket.
3/4 - Buy a matinee ticket.
2/4 - Wait to stream/rent it.
1/4 - Consider as last resort.
0/4 - Avoid at all costs.
Zootopia: In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.
Zootopia surprised me by being as fast, funny, and complex as it was. The film reflects more traditional storytelling, but with dashes of wit, snappy visuals, and a culturally-relevant consideration of inclusivity that isn't overbearing. Disney seems to be entering a renaissance of modern animated classics with the recent Tangled (2010), Wreck-It Ralph (2012), Frozen (2013), and Big Hero 6 (2014) all being fantastic films; Zootopia continues this trend with humor, emotional weight, striking images, and absorbing storytelling. The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Buy a ticket.
Zootopia surprised me by being as fast, funny, and complex as it was. The film reflects more traditional storytelling, but with dashes of wit, snappy visuals, and a culturally-relevant consideration of inclusivity that isn't overbearing. Disney seems to be entering a renaissance of modern animated classics with the recent Tangled (2010), Wreck-It Ralph (2012), Frozen (2013), and Big Hero 6 (2014) all being fantastic films; Zootopia continues this trend with humor, emotional weight, striking images, and absorbing storytelling. The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Buy a ticket.
10 Cloverfield Lane: After getting in a car accident, a woman is held in a shelter with a man (John Goodman) who claims the outside world is infected by a widespread chemical attack.
10 Cloverfield Lane is a superbly crafted exercise in claustrophobia that proves to be as thrilling as it is interesting. Accompanied by moments of dark comedy that break the suspense, the film keeps you squirming on the edge of your seat throughout. The conclusion is admittedly somewhat jarring in its tonal shift (and more disappointing if you were looking for a clearer connection to the movie's cinematic cousin Cloverfield), but the rest is so good, with compelling plot twists and a captivating turn from Goodman, that 10 Cloverfield Lane is still worth a trip to the theater. The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Buy a ticket.
10 Cloverfield Lane is a superbly crafted exercise in claustrophobia that proves to be as thrilling as it is interesting. Accompanied by moments of dark comedy that break the suspense, the film keeps you squirming on the edge of your seat throughout. The conclusion is admittedly somewhat jarring in its tonal shift (and more disappointing if you were looking for a clearer connection to the movie's cinematic cousin Cloverfield), but the rest is so good, with compelling plot twists and a captivating turn from Goodman, that 10 Cloverfield Lane is still worth a trip to the theater. The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Buy a ticket.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Fearing that the actions of Superman (Henry Cavill) are left unchecked, The Batman (Ben Affleck) takes on the Man of Steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs.
What does Batman v Superman get right? Well, "Batfleck" was surprisingly effective, both conversing as Bruce Wayne and fighting as a more visceral Caped Crusader than we've seen on the big screen before, and Wonder Woman was similarly serviceable. What does BvS get wrong? Everything else. The story is confoundingly and infuriatingly scattershot in its direction, plot devices are laughable, Superman is completely devoid of any personality at all. The movie is so wrapped up in how lofty its motifs could be that it forgets to have any quality narrative or character development in the first place, thus falling far short of its thematic goals. The Final Word: 0/0 - Avoid at all costs.
What does Batman v Superman get right? Well, "Batfleck" was surprisingly effective, both conversing as Bruce Wayne and fighting as a more visceral Caped Crusader than we've seen on the big screen before, and Wonder Woman was similarly serviceable. What does BvS get wrong? Everything else. The story is confoundingly and infuriatingly scattershot in its direction, plot devices are laughable, Superman is completely devoid of any personality at all. The movie is so wrapped up in how lofty its motifs could be that it forgets to have any quality narrative or character development in the first place, thus falling far short of its thematic goals. The Final Word: 0/0 - Avoid at all costs.
The Jungle Book: The man-cub Mowgli flees the jungle after a threat from the tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba). Guided by the panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and the bear Baloo (Bill Murray), Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, meeting many other creatures along the way.
Disney has also been on a live-action adaptation kick recently (preceding a deluge more on the way), with generally mediocre-but-pleasant-enough results (Alice (2010), Oz (2013), Maleficent (2014), Cinderella (2015)). The Jungle Book bucks that trend in quality to deliver a film that is supremely fun, captivating, and satisfying. The CGI jungle and creatures are stunning to behold, as is the expertly crafted story that highlights and enhances some of the best aspects of the original film. Never short on spectacle, The Jungle Book is pure entertainment. The Final Word: 3.5/4 - Buy a ticket.
No comments:
Post a Comment