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Strange World (2022)
Some aspects good, some aspects weaker
The movie may not fully live up to its name, but the dog definitely lives up to his.
There's a lot of good elements to enjoy here, such as some really likeable characters, cool visuals, and even some commentary on climate change and our mishandling of nature that's accurate.
Unfortunately, the story is uncharacteristically weaker for a Disney movie, stretching on at times without a lot of real plot movement while also rushing through some of the better ideas too quickly. So worth a watch, but probably not a rewatch.
Also I met Dennis Quaid last year at my church of all places, which isn't important to my review but I'm definitely just flexing.
Lightyear (2022)
Actually... really great!
I seriously have no idea how anyone was at all disappointed with this movie. Great all-around movie (launched by a FANTASTIC first act) with some really cool gadgets, visuals, and the legendary master of comedy and adorableness known as Sox the Cat.
I really wish that it would have bagged a Best Animated Feature nom, this movie has truly some of the most downright absolutely stunning and gorgeous animation that you can find in a movie right now. This movie has got to be one of the biggest examples of their being a majority opinion by a lot of people and me just not understanding it, though of course, a lot of those people were only upset at a couple seconds of the movie that they let ruin the whole thing for them. That was their choice.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Utterly spectacular.
Watched it in 3D and it didn't even feel like a movie, more like an amazing dream I'll look back on.
Loved the Sully family, loved the whales, the climax was fantastic, and those visuals put pretty much every other potential Best Visual Effects contender to shame. I was in real, sheer awe for so much of the runtime of this movie. And even though it's longer than 99% of movies, the pacing was done better in this than in all the other long movies I watched this year.
A truly moving experience, better than the first, and my new favorite movie of 2022. James Cameron deserves a very long vacation.
Amsterdam (2022)
Don't think Taylor Swift's gonna shake that one off...
If this whole movie was like the first half hour and focused solely on the main trio of characters, I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more, because the main trio were definitely the highlight of the movie. Christian Bale was the best actor in this (no surprise). The themes presented throughout the film are timely but a poor story dragged down some really good characters and ideas into a confusing and meddling plot. These same characters could have starred in a fantastic movie, but unfortunately the story weighed them down. Still a good watch though, great production design and a nice poppy soundtrack!
Belfast (2021)
Kenneth Branagh's The Fabelmans
An intriguing and sometimes harrowing look at a kid's perspective of a wartime childhood. Liked the creative camerawork throughout, performances were good and the opening and closing scenes hit pretty hard. The way the movie is filmed from a lower, upward angle when focusing on Buddy's perspective is creatively done. However, the movie suffers from the plot structure being absent, instead it's just kind of a collection of happenings.
But I did like the use of color to convey movies and theater as the only escapism for Buddy in a war-torn neighborhood.
And to think this same man directed Artemis Fowl *shudders*
Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
Haven't seen the play, but this was pretty good!
I've never seen the play, so maybe my opinion would differ if I had, but I have to say I really enjoyed this movie. Ben Platt's casting honestly never bothered me. The story told here is very profound and the emotional themes definitely hit their mark for me.
I would like to say though that I thought that the songs felt awkward and could've been cut from the movie entirely (with the exceptions of 'Sincerely Me' and 'A Little Closer' which were two of the best scenes in the movie). Most of the songs felt really weird, since no lighting or camerawork change took place to signify a musical number to the point where if you muted the movie, it would look like everyone was just having a normal conversation. The weird framing of the musical numbers was my only main problem with the movie, as I think well-written monologues would've suited these scenes much better.
However, I still felt all the emotions the movie attempted to convey. The twist about Evan and the tree hits really hard, and I do think it's the right decision to not have Evan completely redeemed at the end and him not 'getting the girl' even though it's sad, because instead portraying his situation that resulted from his wrong choices slowly getting better as he starts to make the right ones effectively conveys that even when it feels like everything is wrong, a better path can be found in time. I liked the Murphy's, like Zoey and her relationship with Evan, and Mr. Murphy and how he went from sort of a not invested stepdad to a father figure of sorts a little for Evan. And even though the movie was long, I found myself enjoying that fact and thinking that I could keep watching this if it kept going.
So despite some really weird musical number execution, I really liked the movie and would recommend it. I'm surprised by all the negative reviews, but again, maybe I'd think differently if I'd seen the play.
The Menu (2022)
A tense and thrilling delight
If I had a nickel for every movie where Anya-Taylor Joy was in a group of hostages being held by a white man with an abusive childhood but she slowly earns the captor's trust and eventually is allowed to escape because she is the only one in the group who has been wronged by the world while the others in the group have never had to struggle in life and therefore are ultimately killed by the captor,
I'd have two nickels which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.
One of the most suspenseful and well-written movies I've seen in a while, keeps your heart beating fast as the proceedings play out. Also surprisingly funny sometimes, and no one's talking about the score which honestly might deserve an Oscar nom. Wish we got a little bit more clarity on what Chef's deal was though.
And yes, glad that we've established that cheeseburgers are in fact fine cuisine.
Aftersun (2022)
Quite the directorial debut from Charlotte Wells
That last shot, it kills me man.
This is a beautiful movie, one of the best-shot of the year, and it's anchored by two great performances with perfect father-daughter chemistry. These aspects make up for the lack of momentum and/or story beats in the movie, though I do understand that the story this movie is telling doesn't necessarily require a lot of momentum.
The long takes and stretches of silence make the movie feel really comfortable and lived-in, and it's jarring how this movie is disguised as feel-good while really telling a harrowing story behind the sun-soaked relaxing. I love the fact that we don't ever really know what Calum's deal is, because it puts us as the audience in the exact same place as Sophie: We spend time with this seemingly really sweet man... and then he's gone, and we're left wondering what went wrong.
The Under Pressure scene is so good but so tough.
In the Heights (2021)
A joyous musical celebration
I have to say, it is such a shame nobody saw this when it first came out, because it is an absolutely joyous blast! In The Heights combines relatable and easy to root for characters with an emotional drama and, best of all, some awesomely toe-tapping songs to create a 2 and a half hour musical journey that will take you through so many different emotions as you experience the lives of these dreamers from Washington Heights. I'd definitely recommend a watch if you haven't seen it.
A very touching musical about dreamers, battling your circumstances, and the real meaning of the places that we all call
home. Lin-Manuel Miranda never, ever misses.
Signs (2002)
The weakest of Shyamalan's early films, but still good
Shyamalan's early movies all have a feel to them that I can only describe as... somberly thrilling? I don't know if that makes sense, but The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs all have an almost tragic undertone to them as the flawed main characters make their way through the story, and it makes the thrilling parts seem more earned. For some reason, the scene that stuck out the most to me In this was the dinner table scene, as it was really sad seeing Graham finally break as he struggles with his beliefs on whether things happen for a reason after his wife's death. Those flashbacks were gut-punches.
Shyamalan's signature buildup is on display here as several suspenseful scenes scattered throughout the movie lead to the climatic night in the basement. I think that the buildup to the alien reveal was good, but I think showing us an alien fully might not have been the best decision, especially with those vfx that will only continue to age. I like the metaphors of 'signs' from a Faith-based point of view, and how the events of the film lead Graham back to his Faith. I think the ending could've been edited better, as it was being played like a big Shyamalan twist when In actuality it was more of a meager realization on Graham's part, but I still like the symbolism. Joaquin was great in this, and so was James Newton Howard for sure. Probably my least favorite of the three OG Shyamalan films, but that's not a bad thing, as I enjoyed them all.
Also, loved Mel Gibson's delivery of the 'Two Groups' monologue, fantastic writing there.
Nope (2022)
Ambiguous, but entertaining and well-crafted
Where to start...
It takes some great cinematography to make a ranch of dirt roads feel like an exciting place, but this movie pulled it off. The production design looks really great and it is a shame this movie didn't get any Oscar attention on the technical side of things. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer both delivered great performances and created a really great brother-sister dynamic with their acting. Steven Yeun and Brandon Perea were both good in their roles as well.
Any problems I have with this movie don't stem out of the craft, because it's directed fantastically and looks great, sounds great, is acted quite well... it's just the fact that after seeing the movie, I probably have just as many questions as I did when I watched the trailer, if not more. I understand using ambiguity as a tool to leave the audience thinking or to leave things up to interpretation on purpose, but in this movie, a lot of what happens is a mystery that you're waiting to be solved (The Alien, Gordy, the shoe, how they all tie together) and the film doesn't really give us answers to any of it. And honestly, that ambiguity works for the alien plot. I think the UFO chase and capture is all pretty satisfying by the end even without too many answers about the alien itself. However, the Gordy subplot, the standing up shoe... sure, they make a little more sense after one does some research after the film, but upon first finishing the movie, they feel kind of out of place with the rest of the proceedings. I think a little bit of connectivity could've been added without sacrificing the ambiguity of it all, but that's just me.
I do see a correlation between the two plots having thought about it for a while now, that "spectacle" shouldn't be contained for one's own profit, like how the studio tries to use Gordy as a sitcom actor, leading to his rampage, and Jupe trying to use the ufo as a show, leading to another pretty horrifying sequence. I just wish that the themes were a little more... there? But that's just me.
I did really enjoy the sibling story of chasing the ufo and the electronics' guy was a great addition. And though the Gordy subplot confused me a little, it was the most chilling sequence of the entire film. So all in all, an enjoyable, suspenseful film, even if the end wasn't fully to my liking.
La La Land (2016)
ETHEREAL CINEMA
I cannot get enough of this movie. I could point out a thousand things about this movie that are great, it might be my favorite of all time. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are perfection. It has probably the single-best soundtrack and score of a movie ever.
My heart beats audibly loudly every time the final 20 minutes begins. That final sequence is one of the best I've ever seen and plays off of the whole movie before it so freaking well. Though the ending is harrowing, I love the idea that even though they split apart their relationship still has worth because both of their dreams ended up coming true when they split apart whereas in the fantasy sequence when they stayed together, Seb never got to seek out his dream. Such an amazing study of love, loss, and closure.
Here's to the fools who dream.
Ant-Man (2015)
An underrated movie full of heart
Rewatching before Quantumania this weekend, and honestly this is one of the most underrated MCU movies. 8 stars might seem like a lot for this one, but when I stop and think about it it's like... why shouldn't this movie be 8 stars? Not only are the city streets level stakes very refreshing, but this movie has sooo much heart. Paul Rudd was the perfect casting to play Scott, the humor and emotion he brings elevates this movie so high.
Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas and even Corey Stoll gave better performances than I remembered, and of course, Michael Pena gave a masterclass in comedic acting. The VFX-filled action sequences are creatively used but also balanced out with down-to-earth character moments, something some recent MCU movies could do a little better. The runtime of exactly 2 hours stops the movie from overstaying its welcome, so all in all, Ant-Man is a pretty solid low-stakes MCU outing that still holds up quite well.
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
My favorite Ant-Man movie
I think this one is actually better than the first. The first movie has the job of introducing us to this cast of characters (which it does well) but this one doesn't have to handle introductions and is instead able to instantly throw these beloved characters into an exciting, hilarious, and at times even emotional mission. The bit with Janet possessing Scott will never get old. Also, the villain this time around is much less one-dimensional, as her aims also have merit and make this conflict less clearly good vs. Evil, which is always interesting.
There's so many scene-stealers: Cassie, Luiz, Jimmy Woo, even the generic gang members got some laughs out of me. I know I said it in the last movie's review too but my gosh Michael Pena is one of the best comedic actors we have, the lines are only half of it for him, his delivery is so freaking good.
So TL;DR basically is that a Disney+ series of Luiz recapping every Marvel movie is waaaay overdue at this point.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Definitely a wild ride
One of the most fun and weird movies I've seen in a while, which is mostly a compliment. I liked it! It was fun! I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer number of creatively new designs the quantum realm yielded, the probability storm scene in particular was one of my favorite MCU movie sequences of the past couple years. It really felt like a colorful comic book come to life. The blobby guy was a scene-stealer, though obviously he didn't reach the sheer comedic prowess of Luis, who was missed here. The Pym-Lang family were a great cast of characters to watch and even if the other 2 Ant-Man films may be the better two because of the tonal difference, it was still interesting to see them face a larger-scale threat, and the final battle of the civilians and the heroes versus Kang's army felt very tense and exciting.
...where has Jonathan Majors been the past decade?? This man can act like nobody's business. Kang was easily one of the best parts of the movie, his backstory with Janet was really intriguing and his unrelenting coldness in his methods was chilling, as was his massive displays of power. It'll be awesome to see him again down the road. MODOK was cool and funny, until his mask came off and I felt as though someone had poured sodium chloride into my eyeballs. Bill Murray was good but underused. I wished there was a little more time spent in San Fransisco (Jimmy Woo!) it felt like we had just barely re-established the characters before they were thrown into the quantum realm. Also, the second trailer for this movie made it seem as though Kang was going to tempt Scott with helping him regain time with Cassie that he lost over the blip, with dialogue that I'm pretty sure wasn't in the Final Cut discussing it (Kang even tells Janet at one point that he could send her back before she ever left her own family). I'm surprised they didn't go this route in the movie, instead having Kang's end of the bargain only being to not kill all of them. Overall though, the movie was really fun, weird, and visually pleasing, and a great time at the movies. The stakes felt higher than most MCU movies since we know Kang is going to be the next big villain and it felt like anything could happen with the timeline.
Now, my opinion on the MCU movie prejudice that seems to be growing and growing: People keep dissing on these movies because they're not as 'refined' or something as other movies out there, but It's unfair to compare completely different genres with each other. People that want to say the MCU is too "VFX heavy" or "Unserious" need to realize that that's exactly what these types of movies are here to provide for audiences: a colorful, funny, adventurous story filled with superpowered heroes that fight evil. And audiences eat it up every time, it's clear that MCU movies are connecting with the general moviegoing public because every single release is a hit (some smaller than others, but still successful) and people keep coming back for more. Those who want to take shots at the aspects of MCU movies that are integral parts of MCU movies should just watch something else. I completely understand disliking these movies if one thinks they contain weaker superhero stories or weaker VFX or weaker comedy than usual, but one can't complain about it the existence of these different aspects in general when they're just pillars of what makes an MCU movie that people keep on coming back to for more. Sure, Quantumania wasn't a masterpiece by any means, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a perfectly satisfying and fun romp through a superhero-filled world, which is exactly what I expected from it. If I wanted a movie without these aspects, I wouldn't watch it. Hope that made sense, and here's to more fun MCU outings.
*exhales* but anyways, cool film. OWEN WILSON!!!!!!!!!