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Review: Rob Marshall's 'The Little Mermaid' Enriches the Original
Yet another Disney live-action remake, yet another short preamble about the original flick before diving into this new one. For me personally, The Little Mermaid from 1989 was not an animated movie that marked my childhood. The memorable songs, underwater musical sequences, and the iconic animal characters kept my recent rewatch enjoyable enough, but unfortunately, the superficial, abrupt narrative and the extremely underdeveloped character arcs leave a lot to be desired. These are some of the details that I hoped might be improved in the modern live-action remake, which contains an extra hour on its runtime… Claiming that a remake matches or surpasses the original will always be controversial. And if it's related to movies that deeply impacted different generations, the nostalgia factor comes into play and blinds viewers who feel the almost uncontrollable need to protect "their film" against any other positive opinion about the new version.
› Posted on May 31 in Review | 5 Comments
Review: 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' is a Satisfying Conclusion to Gunn's Trilogy
We have arrived at the 32nd MCU movie and the end of a trilogy started in 2014 by the filmmaker James Gunn, called Guardians of the Galaxy, based on the comic book series created by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning. The Marvel franchise has generated several debates about quantity vs. quality in the last few years, but the truth is that the vast majority of its projects continue to be well-received by general audiences and critics alike. That said, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is one of the most anticipated movies of this new saga and might actually revitalize the enthusiasm of most fans who have been disappointed with the latest MCU installments. For me personally, it has further strengthened my passion for this cinematic universe.
Review: Ari Aster's 'Beau Is Afraid' Warrants the Love-Hate Reception
Filmmaker Ari Aster returns with his third film, following the highly acclaimed Hereditary and the also well-received Midsommar. These two movies established the filmmaker as one of the most original voices currently working in Hollywood, despite being far from a commercial director. The target audience for his stories is a niche public that appreciates out-of-the-ordinary storytelling, experiences that leave the most observant viewers totally perplexed and, in many cases, needing multiple viewings to understand everything the auteur wants to convey. That said, Beau is Afraid has quickly become the year's most divisive film…
Review: Chris McKay's 'Renfield' is Precisely What It's Expected To Be
Purposefully exaggerated, extremely caricatural, or simply ridiculous movies aren't really a type of film that the general audience enjoys very much. Nicolas Cage is one of the most iconic actors in modern cinema, and the absolute king of performances usually described as "over-the-top" (OTT) – that is, excessive at all levels. Again, there's a big division between viewers who can enjoy this type of presentation and others who find this unbearable. Renfield is the nth adaptation of a story about Count Dracula and, regardless of what can be written about the movie, it delivers precisely what it promises - another entertaining "over-the-top" Cage performance in a fun comedy about Dracula's "familiar" breaking free from his abusive relationship.
Review: Illumination's 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' Left-A-Me So Happy
Illumination Entertainment isn't exactly an animation studio I appreciate that much. From their animation style to their various movies made before this year, I was never really convinced by the company, especially when it comes to being able to make some of the best animated flicks of the year. That said, my expectations for The Super Mario Bros. Movie remained incredibly high during all of these months of anticipation leading up to its release. Neither the divisive critics' reception nor the permanent doubt surrounding the voice cast reduced the enormous excitement I had for this film. And I was right to stay true to my feelings.
Review: 'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' is a Delightful Surprise
Fantasy is undoubtedly one of my favorite genres. With incredibly iconic franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, everything that involves fantastical, imaginative adventures captivates me in a special manner. However, my knowledge of the famous tabletop role-playing fame that originates this big screen adaptation is honestly little to none. I'm familiar with the concept and structure of the game itself, but I've never participated in any campaigns. My own personal expectations increased with the especially positive early response to this movie, making me hopeful for a new fantasy flick I might genuinely enjoy. So I am pleased to report that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a delightful surprise.
Review: 'John Wick: Chapter 4' is a Masterclass on Action Filmmaking
The first John Wick film came out almost a decade ago, and its success had a tremendous impact on the filmmaking industry, redefining the action genre in Hollywood with an internationally successful franchise. Over the last few years, there has been a gradual evolution in the dedication, time, and budget spent on stunts, mainly intricate fight scenes. Nowadays, every action flick has at least one moment where stuntmen have the opportunity to truly shine. The question surrounding the next sequel, John Wick: Chapter 4, is the same as for the other films: does it manage to elevate the already exceptional level of its predecessors' stunt work even further, or has it lost the initial enthusiasm that conquered so many fans originally in 2014?
› Posted on March 27 in Review | 2 Comments
Review: 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' Falls into the Typical Sequel Trap
"Stick to saving the world, kid!" I believe that the enjoyment of a movie inherently depends on the time at which it's released. Some films don't quite work on the first viewing, but after a revisit sometime later, we're often surprised by a much better movie than we remembered – and also vice versa. In 2019, Shazam! was a breath of fresh air in a DCEU (DC Extended Universe) marked by its inconsistency, providing viewers a lighter environment and more charismatic characters. However, any enthusiasm for Shazam! Fury of the Gods was low during the last few months of anticipation… Was this sequel able to surprise me once more?
Review: Radio Silence's Horror Sequel 'Scream VI' is Satisfying Enough
We live in the Franchise Era, and I doubt that anyone would attempt to claim the opposite. Nowadays, if an original film without any intentions of creating a new saga of sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, ends up with the slightest commercial and financial success, it's only a matter of time before rumors of follow-up movies become a reality. The horror franchise Scream rising from the ashes is hardly a surprise, but its return last year (with the entry titled Scream from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett) was so well received that many – myself included – consider it the best sequel in the franchise. One year later, does Scream VI live up to expectations or does it fail to capitalize on the wave of enthusiasm that its predecessor created?
Review: Elizabeth Banks' 'Cocaine Bear' Delivers What it Promises
There are several factors that influence a viewer's decision to go to the theater or press "play" on a streaming service to watch a recent movie. Nowadays, it's extremely rare to see an audience exclusively persuaded by a mere premise – Cocaine Bear may be one of those uncommon gems. The title doesn't lie in the slightest: Jimmy Warden's script is inspired by a (very short) true story transformed into a kind of animal slasher wrapped in a dark comedy environment. Actress / filmmaker Elizabeth Banks ventures into directing for the third time (following Pitch Perfect 2 and Charlie's Angels), but can she handle such a crazy premise?
› Posted on February 23 in Review | 1 Comment
Review: 'Ant-Man: Quantumania' is a Disappointing Start to Phase Five
Despite much discussion about MCU's Phase Four - from its structure to the ever-complicated quantity vs. quality debate - the truth is that it was generally well received. Personally, I prefer this last "Phase" to the other(s), but either way, the adventures of Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) never really impressed me. If the original is a generic yet decent origin flick, the sequel is one of the few movies in the MCU that didn't get a positive review from me. Considering this and the fact that the "big bad" of The Multiverse Saga is introduced – on the big screen – in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, expectations weren't exactly easy to define.
› Posted on February 17 in Marvel, Review | Comments
Review: Dave Franco's 'Somebody I Used to Know' Misses the Mark
For me personally, Dave Franco was never an actor that carried such an aura that automatically made a film or series tremendously more interesting entirely due to his presence. That said, his feature directorial debut, The Rental (from 2020), left a good impression, despite the movie itself being far from perfect. On the flip side there's Alison Brie (best known from "Community", "Glow", Horse Girl, Spin Me Round). The actress has also ventured into producing and writing in recent years, and now joins her husband to star in the film Somebody I Used to Know, handling the lead role and sharing a screenplay credit with Franco.
› Posted on February 9 in Review | Comments
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