Change Your Image
ryanmdtrainor
Reviews
The Last of Us (2023)
Great when it was great, made glaring errors
A great story moves the plot forward with every episode, every major scene, every major character. 2/8 episodes were unnecessary flashbacks. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Bill and ?Grant lovers on their estate episode - very beautiful; but it was way too long - either have a concise but powerful section (the animated movie UP had this) or make it a separate show!
Clearly, there was the desire to be more inclusive towards same-gender relationships - that's fine. But they went waaaaay overboard and it took a lot away from the flow of the main story. Maybe this is an unpopular take? Just my opinion.
Otherwise, it was very well written, directed, and acted. The snarky exchanges between Joel and Ellie were awesome, and their arc was really enjoyable to watch progress. They nailed her character so well. Cheers.
Moonfall (2022)
I gave it a 7 to spite all the negative nancy's lol
How can people think this is a terrible movie!??? It's not that different from 2012, which was quite entertaining as far as disaster movies go, and anyone who says this movie is crazier/dumber than 2012 forgets the limo LA scene... or the van scene.... or the plane scene.... you get my point. And the last disaster movie I watched before this was "Into the Storm," which was decidedly worse than Moonfall by comparison, especially in 1 big category -
MOONFALL ACTUALLY HAS CHARACTERS I CARE ABOUT! There, I said it. And the sci-fi is decently interesting - sure, I know what we sci-fi realists want out of our sci-fi, namely that it's at least plausible in our scientific reality - but if you take a big ol slice of calm the frack down then you can find enjoyment in the sci-fi, which I have done. Otherwise, everything else was very similar to 2012 in terms of ridiculously lucky protagonists, corny (but funny AF lines - eg "Buzz Aldren") etc. And again I loved 2012.
There is a literal ocean of worse movies out there people. Get off your high elephant, hug yourself, smile, and remember that you CAN in fact enjoy life :)
Cheers!
Into the Storm (2014)
would have given a 6 if they had the balls
To kill off some of the high-schoolers in the first tornado haha
In all seriousness, if I'd give Twister a 7/10 for the plot (competition to use breakthrough tech to study tornadoes VS uhh we want cool film), the characters (they start with her dad dying in a shelter trying to save his family, the chemistry between the leads and their divorce stuff, the "family" of the teams - all leagues better than Into the Storm characters), and the cgi is honestly not bad for a 90s disaster movie. The most I can give this is 5/10, probably deserves 4/10 as I'd never watch it again tbh...
but hey, cgi firenado killing a guy and planes lifting off into an F5000 was cool.
Black (2018)
It's not black and white
Neither hating all cops or hating all black people is a solution. Wake up and realize that it is BOTH black culture of cop-hating and gang-worship AS WELL AS white culture of black=criminal that is splitting us apart. We need to come together, not apart. Don't believe media. Think before you hate.
Bad Lieutenant (1992)
So real it hurts
It hurts because you can relate or because of the evil, or likely inbetween. What an honest movie. If art is at it's best supposed to make you feel and think and question reality, this is a 10/10. In the confines of "a movie," I give it 9 because there are several higher. But make no mistake, this is a movie that will get ya. Don't watch it on a Sunday with the family. Don't go blindly into this. It is an experience that needs to be experienced. Prepare yourself. I'd give it a 9.5/10 because I'm a skeptic. Phenomenal work. Cheers!
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
I don't understand the praise honestly
For me, this was probably the worst mission impossible, although not that it was bad but that it was merely "decent," but definitely a rung lower than the usual brilliance that I'm used to seeing!
Maybe I saw another movie than everyone here, but really? The ending wasn't just fantastical, it was painfully against physics, which is something that normally is adhered to with MI movies. I mean, the hook flies through the air and snags a rock to stop the helicopter? Also, before that, it was some stroke of brilliance apparently to figure out how to take the other helicopter down except it really wasn't. It was obvious, just like most of the movie. Some scenes had that flare of originality and adrenaline but definitely not the ending, which was rather lackluster given all of the predecessors.
Also, they couldn't come up with a new villian so they used an old one, but didn't really make him seem as impressive as before.
And the cherry on top was the knowledge that they wouldn't allow Henry Caville to wear a fake mustache so that the other Superman movie producer didnt' have to spend 20 million dollars to CGI it out! That's just poor class on top of a mediocre movie.
They had better raise the bar back to their usual standards of craftiness and originality because if I just wanted to see a big budget action film, I could watch Fast and Furious or any other number of counterparts out there. But MI has always had something most other ones didn't - and frankly it wasn't in Fallout.
Cheers!
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
I'm only 45 minutes in!!
Wow! Maybe I'm giving him too much credit but this is the first film I've reviewed before I've finished it! I just couldn't wait!
It's the little things, on top of the big things, on top of the mastery of dialogue over scene splicing, on top of cinematic grandeur, on top of things I don't know how to put into words because I am uneducated in film-making, however, I feel I can resonate with; it's the little things that he adds almost playfully to his work, as if in full command of every aspect of directing, he finds this excellence still unfulfilling, and is compelled to ascend even that much higher, for the sheer joy of it! "I salute you" and give you a 10, although I feel that you don't require it, or any other acclomade; probably, you are fully content with your work because it is your true calling and you know it unashamedly; and that is an amazing thing!
The Gentlemen (2019)
This is art
I absolutely love it when a movie takes you bodily and tosses you for a ride! It's a rare thing though, because these gems of movies have to have that "POP" to make them stand out among so many 7 and 8/10 movies; have to have daring to do something different and in a novel way; and to really let the characters shine - because sometimes you can have great actors who are just cast wrong.
Honestly, I'd give this a 9.5/10 if I could. It even lives up to the name "The Gentlemen;" every carefully curated scene begs you to roll the word around on your tongue like a fine single malt scotch. It is so satisfying!
I rarely rate movies but this one is truly among the greats! Cheers!
Mortal Engines (2018)
Really a fantastic and genuine sci-fi film
This is not your typical spoon-fed hollywood drivel, I can assure you! If you're a fan of creative and outside the box production, above average character development, scenes that will fill you with awe, and even some deep and touching moments, then you won't be dissapointed!
This is a sci-fi title worthy of the genre :)
Tenet (2020)
Audiences don't deserve Nolan
Honestly people, those of you who gave this film a 1/10 or 3/10, seriously, can you do us all a favour and just throw your computer and phone in the garbage. There are plenty of "easy-watching" films being thrown in your face all the time, but just like catchy but simple pop songs and easy drinking beers, these are just familiar platitudes that rob you of so much more! - that is the chance to be amazed! To be wowed! To have groundbreaking art! For someone to dare to change the medium! Tenet was confusing as hell, but it was also invigorating, shamelessly pioneering, and larger than life! If this doesn't amaze you, well then, go on back to the commonplace drivel you've been fed all your life. Nolan and his work is too superior to receive 1's and 3's.