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SugarandIce
Favorite Movies: Lord of the Rings. Aliens.
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John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)
Prepare for Amazing Action
John Wick 3 continues the series tradition with excellent action scenes. No sloppy cuts or poor CGI to be found here. In the first few minutes, the movie surpasses its previous action scenes. In fact, I'd say the first thirty minutes of this film are pure bliss for those that love excellent fight choreography. Keanu Reeves continues to perform amazing fight scenes and make his character compelling and endearing. Even better, John Wick 3 adds moments to give John Wick some depth again, nice little emotional moments which bring the film up in writing quality. The writing is also quite interesting with a few interesting twists, refreshing variety in locations, and a plethora of interesting new allies and villains for John to interact with. I will say I felt the middle section of the film was largely a waste, but I enjoyed so much of the journey, I didn't much mind. I also wish there had been another club scene with Le Castlevania playing but alas, there is not. In the end, John Wick 3 is a wonderful action movie from beginning to end. It's camera work and visuals continue to impress. And Keanu Reeves continues to be a pleasure to watch with his amazing athleticism and knack for bringing action to life.
Evolution (2001)
They don't make films like this anymore. For good reason.
I understand the love for tongue-in-cheek monster and sci-fi films. Starship Troopers... Tremors... Even Eight-Legged Freaks.... These films have fun with a history of monster b-movies and don't take themselves too seriously. However, do you know what the difference between Evolution and those films is? Those are actually good. Just because something is corny, satirical, and lighthearted does not mean its content is in anyway good. Evolution is terrible. It's not funny in the slightest. Its characters are revolting. It's effects are pathetic. It lacks any cleverness in anything, even in its attempts at satire. It's funny that one of our leads is perving on the underage athletes he coaches, right? It's hilarious that the leading lady spends most of the film being mocked for being frigid, and is subjected to sexist writing, isn't it? I wouldn't consider myself horribly sensitive, but this film was tasteless back in 2001 and it's tasteless now. It relies too heavily on CGI monsters that have no weight and appear in uninspired action scenes. I kept waiting for the film to be funny, but it never was. What's clever about a dragon chasing down a shoplifter we were introduced to a minute ago leading to her swearing off theft altogether? What's funny about a mosquito going in a man's butthole? This film feels like it was written by teenagers for teenagers, rather than by monster enthusiasts for monster enthusiasts. Please, just save yourself a migraine and go watch Tremors instead.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Saving the best for last
Everyone and their mother has likely talked about how this film is over a decade in the making so I won't bring that up to much except to say that this film, like Infinity War, relies on that history. And this is a good thing as it has a lot of new content that builds off that foundation. Avengers: Endgame is filled with some shocking twists, heart wrenching deaths, and amazing cinematic moments you will never forget. If you even slightly enjoy the Marvel films, you cannot pass up seeing this movie. If Infinity War was daring in using most of its run time for villain focus and battles, this one is unique in how different its three acts are from one another. It makes the film quite re-watchable despite its length. And it all leads up to a finale you have to see to believe. Characters like Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Captain America shine like never before, as the writing for characters is incredibly strong in this movie. I would not say this is the best Avengers film. Its pacing can seem sluggish the first time around and some characters are treated as jokes more than they ought. However, the final act utilizes even its weaknesses to deliver on a satisfying conclusion. The only question left in your mind will be "Where will Marvel take us next?"
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
Saying Goodbye
How to Train Your Dragon is a wonderful franchise as it has aged with the viewer. As you grow up, so does the series. It's final film now brings the message of growing up and letting things go. If the first film was about a child finding themselves and the second was about entering adulthood, this film is about what being a full-fledged adult means. In this film, Hiccup remains a fantastic protagonist with his passion for dragons, excellent leadership, cunning, and kindness. Astrid is also a great leading lady with her courage and bluntness. And our dragons remain as adorable and spectacular as ever, especially Toothless. The villain in this film isn't as intimidating as Drago, but he's more interesting a character.
The visuals remain utterly gorgeous. This is the best looking of the series by far with flawless character models, environments, lighting, and color. The music is also beautiful, thanks to John Powell. This film has several emotional and utterly amazing moments involving dragon flight, new locations, and sacrifices in exciting action scenes. The last thirty minutes are utterly flawless, moving, and sure to elicit tears from the adults in the audience. The film's pacing is not as perfect as the second film's and I still slightly prefer it to this one, but it's still a wonderful conclusion to the series. Thank you Dreamworks for bringing dragons into my life and also letting me say my farewells by offering an excellent conclusion.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
The best Spider-Man film in decades
I never imagined that Spider-Man 2 could have an equal or even be surpassed. Even more, I didn't expect a better superhero film than Infinity War to appear in 2018. Yet, this animated flick by Sony, of all companies, managed that.
This film is near flawless. It's a fantastic origin story for a new Spider-Man. Its utterly stylish with great character designs, comic book aesthetics, and great use of colors. The score is fantastic. The villains are scary. Did I mention it's a fantastic origin story? Newcomers to characters like Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen have a lot to enjoy with their portrayal here. That said, the older Peter Parker is extremely likable as well and shows that our original Spider-Man will always be relevant.
Every element the film displays has a purpose, whether it be establishing character motivations or setting up for the climax' culmination of plot points. This film is masterfully crafted in writing, storytelling, characterization, visuals, and sound. It truly is passionate about Spider-Man, and sharing the integral message that Spider-Man has to share: Anyone can wear the mask. Anyone can be a hero. Anyone can be Spider-Man.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Far better than I could have imagined
Even with the Russo brothers directing Infinity War, I was never certain a film could work on this scale. So many sci-fi elements, so many characters... it was so far from the grounded film the Russos made before and Marvel was going into even more bombastic territory than GOTG or the Thor films. What would decide if this film could work was going to be its villain and its usage of its characters. I'm happy to say that it succeeded in all fronts. The pacing in this film is quick and impeccable. Every character gets something to do, albeit some more than others. Its villain, Thanos, is likely the MCU's most compelling villain and the core of the film. He is not only intimidating and dread-inducing, but also sympathetic. This film is also incredibly dark with violent deaths, a grave tone, and writing that lacks much hope. This film has an emotional core, shocking themes, and amazing action. The CGI is fabulous, the score is masterful, and the visuals are eye-popping and wonderful. Infinity War is the best of the Avengers films, and will be remembered for decades as the masterful pinnacle of this cinematic universe, a decade in the making and well worth the wait.
The Shape of Water (2017)
Strange but beautiful
I have yet to see a film by Guilermo Del Toro I didn't enjoy. The Shape of Water certainly has a questionable subject matter with its interspecies romance but then again, why should that be a bad thing? This film is beautiful in every way. In its lovely soundtrack and cinematography. In its realistic practical effects and squeamish violence. In its likable, compelling characters, especially our leading lady and the main villain. It explores topics of love, ambition, authority, and abuse through a cold-war setting. It also is well-written with several fantastic plot twists and developments. The only flaw I can think of is the lack of characterization for our beloved fish man. While I consider him fully sentient, more scenes of characterization would have helped sell the authenticity of their romance.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
No more tales, I beg you.
Pirates of the Caribbean was an excellent trilogy with three solid films. For those that doubted the sequels' quality, I give you this film to show how far the franchise has sunk. This film is a zombie with no understanding of how to portray its world nor its characters. It brings in new characters to fill the shoes of Will and Elizabeth and both are anything but interesting. Jack Sparrow is at his worst. While the film justifies it as him literally being at his lowest, they forget to bring him to his highest too. Johnny Depp is clearly phoning it in throughout the film. The film seriously seems to think Jack Sparrow is a loser and truly stupid too. It thinks pirates are all stupid. Those cunning swashbucklers from the old franchise? Gone. The new villains are boringly overpowered and yet lack any of the fright possessed by Barbaossa or Davy Jones, their ships, or crews. The only saving grace in this film is Barbossa's subplot but it still felt far too rushed. All mystery has been lost in this franchise' world and at this point, any world building feels tacked on and often contradicting of previous lore. We've already seen the heights of this franchise. A time of a compelling Jack Sparrow, formidable pirate nemesis, and exciting adventures waiting on the horizon. That time is over. Now, it's time for it to fade into legend. Let your ship rest, Disney. I beg you.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Falling in love with Thor
What the Russo brothers did for Captain America, Taika Watiti has done for Thor. In place of a Shakespearean hunk, we get a humorous, likable, and compelling hunk. I also love all this film did for Hulk and Loki in characterization. And I must mention its badass and stylish new villain Hela who is a favorite Marvel villain of mine. This film is not lacking in any one thing. In its comedy, it's by far the funniest Marvel film ever. So much is ad-libbed and all else reeks of Taika's genius. I should also mention Taika voices Korg who is the funniest character ever written in a Marvel film. As for the action, this movie shows Thor at his best, far more badass and powerful than he's been in his prior films where his feats were often lacking. The soundtrack is excellent, even without the adrenaline-inducing Immigration Song. The visuals are gorgeous. Even a trash planet is a visual feast to look upon due to the color palette and cinematography. The film's writing is also subtle, with themes of colonialism underlying its plot. And for all its comedy, this film has consequences, twists, and emotional moments. This film is utterly excellent and insanely rewatchable. And now I want to rewatch again right this minute. it's just that good.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
They play ELO so this film is automatically amazing
I mean it. Other than its choice in music (which is even better than that in the first film), GOTG 2 improves so greatly on its predecessor. Characters I didn't much care for like Gamorra and Nebula get some much needed character moments. It brings in a compelling villain. It brings in fun new characters like Mantis and Ego. Even more, this film is driven by emotions and can be incredibly moving to the point it had me bawling my eyes out. Other than its excellent emotional core, the film is also hilarious and visually beautiful. GOTG brings some much needed color and visual beauty to Marvel's drabber palette, a trend future movies smartly followed. The film is a comedy first, but it knows when to be serious. Other than a few jokes that don't land, I don't have much criticism over it. I suppose the action is rather dull in the last act, but I enjoyed all else about it. Excellent work James Gunn. So glad to have you back. <3
Logan (2017)
The Last Dance
Why is it that so many of the best superhero films are the ones where the superhero elements feel secondary? Where the characters feel human first and super second? Where the story is down to earth and barely a comic-book film at all? Winter Soldier, Dark Knight, and now Logan... In truth, Logan may be better than both of those. It may be the best superhero film ever made. Then again, it's hard to say. Is it it even fair to call it a superhero film? It's more like a gritty western. This film is the perfect conclusion to the X-men films, and to Wolverine's tale. If X-men 3 ruined X-Men in the worst way, than Logan killed off the franchise (for me) in the best way possible. It broke my heart again and again. The characters I loved are at their absolute lowest and worst. The action has never been more spectacular and violent. Wolverine is at his absolute finest in brutality and in Hugh Jackman's performance. The inclusion of a new young girl mutant also brings in a great new character. This film left me in tears with all that occurred from beginning to end. It's so hard to sit through this film but I can't dislike it. Of all the X-men films, this one truly has the most heart.
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
Stylish and Kick Ass
John Wick, you sexy man, how you entertain me. Seriously, the John Wick films have such excellent action that it makes the choppy, plainly shot fight scenes in other films so much more dissatisfying. John Wick 2 takes the best parts of the first film, namely its simple plot and beautiful fight scenes, and takes it to the next level. This film is gorgeous. The choice in colors, the club music, the environments that battles are fought in, even the guns and suits are just impeccable. This film is aesthetically flawless and its gritty but fancy fight scenes are to die for. With its better take on action and visuals, I favor this one a bit over the first film. Perhaps it's only flaw is it does not give our main character many moments of characterization. This is mostly fine but I wish it had a few more tender moments for him like he got in the first film for Keanu Reeves to show his acting chops.
Shin Gojira (2016)
A film that remembers Gojira's roots
Shin Gojira understands what Gojira was meant to symbolize, not a badass kaiju hero but the fear and danger of nuclear weapons. He is the sin of war, the suffering, the hatred, and the punishment that follows. In this film, he also allows for symbolism of Japan's own lack of political swiftness and lack of control over their own defenses. This film takes such concepts and drives them over the edge into territory closer to the horror genre. While using CGI and practical effects that hearken back to classic kaiju films, its new twisted version of an ever-evolving, horribly-mutilated, abomination of a monster makes it unforgettable. The film itself follows Gojira's evolution as it rampages through Japan and various groups such as politicians and think tanks scrambles to respond. Some people may not enjoy its cheesy effects or its lack of focus on characters, but unique films like this are a breath of fresh air for me. Seeing that class 1950s film understood and re-imagined in a twisted manner was the perfect way to bring Godzilla to the modern times.
The Revenant (2015)
Masterful directing and boorish storytelling
The Revenant is a film I wish I could have seen in the theaters. It's so nice to get big films like this which make a historical setting and all it entails... feel real. You feel like you are in this time period. Everything about this film looks amazing and is shot masterfully. Leonardo Decaprio's acting is amazing, as is Tom Hardy's own performance. There's several stirring sequences and themes that are hard hitting. However, this film drags on and outstays its welcome. It's sluggish pace goes past world-building and into excess. By the time, the final confrontation is happening, you just wish it would be over. At least, I did. It can also be ridiculously over the top. It's first battle which is a one-take would be impressive it it wasn't just one person getting backstabbed and then backstabbed by another for five minutes straight. The terrifying grizzly bear sequence just keeps going, and so does the last fight scene. Movies need to know when to end and how to pace themselves. And this film does not. Despite those gripes, I feel giving this film anything less than 8 is a disservice, even if I didn't not much enjoy it. The director, the cinematographers, and the actor's truly made this film.
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Respecting the maturity of the child viewers
Kubo deals with dark themes such as loss, incapacity, and growing up. It doesn't shy away from frightening imagery. It also sports excellent characters with Kubo and his companions which are all endearing and well written. This film is complete in its themes and its intentions. It's also emotionally-stirring with several moments that made me cry. Children need to see films like this to understand challenging concepts. It might not be easy, but they do appreciate a film not treating them like they are immature or foolish. As for the animation itself, it's amongst the finest stop-motion I've ever seen, so incredibly smooth it made the people I watched it with (people that find stop-motion unsettling) completely love it. This film deserves every ounce of critical acclaim and love it gets. Please give it yours.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Hastily-Done Match Up: Dawn of Mediocrity
Batman v Superman's flaws derive not solely from script or directing, but from the movie's production. So eager to have their own Avengers, the DCEU decided Man of Steel was enough build-up to bring in Wonder Woman and Batman out of the blue, all for the sake of a battle that wasn't properly built up to. The fact of the matter is that this movie needed to be set up by another film or two for its plot to feel earned. The actual film isn't terrible, but it's ridiculously flawed. Lex Luthor is a joke of a villain. It's other villains are even bigger jokes and much of the film's last act makes the rest feel irrelevant. Even worse, the last minute of the film makes the last act feel irrelevant. There's a lot of stupid in this movie from "Jar of Piss" to the infamous "Martha" dues-ex plotpoint. This film thinks it's an intellectual and mature superhero film like the Dark Knight but it's just a dumb action film playing with themes it neither understands nor uses correctly. The only reason I don't rate it lower is because I liked Batman a lot in this film, especially his amazing fight scene which makes me not regret seeing this in theaters.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Winter Soldier + Avengers = Marvel's Finest
Civil War is not only an excellent follow-up to the Winter Soldier, it is a far better Avengers film than Age of Ultron. This film adds the stakes Marvel has been struggling with, and it does it with a nuanced but compelling villain. It adds fantastic characters like Black Panther. It takes Tony Stark and Steve Rogers' characters to new heights by bringing them to new lows. It manages to utilize dozens of characters and still does them all justice. It brings up interesting moral dilemmas and political questions. The action is also fantastic in this movie with several cinematic fight scenes being better than in the previous Avengers, but also close-quarters duels that sport excellent choreography and weight in the emotions behind them. This is a near flawless film and perhaps the best film Marvel has released. After seeing Endgame, I must say Civil War's consequences still feel relevant and it remains one of my personal favorite superhero films.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Marvel's first masterpiece
After letting Avengers age a few years, I no longer can see it as the masterpiece I did, even if it remains a fine film. However, Winter Soldier continues to be my favorite Marvel film even after five years. This film is masterful in how it vastly improves the characterizations of Steve Rogers, Black Widow, Nick Fury, and other characters. It also introduces some truly terrifying villains, excellent twists, great character moments, and witty, smart dialogue. The fight choreography also remains the finest in any Marvel film with one duel that rivals films like Ip Man and the Raid 2. And I stand by that opinion. I really want to gush about how much it made me love the Winter Soldier and become an even bigger fan of Black Widow, but you can see that for yourself. I will close this review off by saying that this film's grounded story does it huge favors as it explores topical subjects of politics and freedom, relevant to our political climate. This is not just a great Marvel film, it's a great film in general. And for that, I believe it remains the strongest of Marvel's films.
Rogue One (2016)
Star Wars has hope.
Many people are under the impression that Star wars must have a certain feel and contain certain clichés. Particularly, if they don't feel like the original trilogy, these Star Wars products are inherently bad. The thing is, Star Wars has always been much more and its various stories in novels and games have not only understood that but often succeeded because of it. I must admit it was surprising that Disney and Lucasfilm gave the go ahead on a rather unique addition to Star Wars's cinematic universe. Rogue One is not like other Star Wars films. It is a war film and contains very little of the Jedi and Force elements of earlier films. It brings back the tragedy and dark elements of Revenge of the Sith and Empire Strikes back, perhaps even darker than ever.
This is by no means a perfect film. Its characters, while sufficient and not two-dimensional, don't get the screen time they deserve. Even characters I loved like Donnie Yen's character could have used a few more minutes to go over their backstories. There are also some plot holes and poorly executed scenes, much like Gareth Edward's last film, Godzilla.
What this film does right however is take chances and largely succeeds in its efforts. It is far more ambitious than any side-story cash grab has a right to be. This film isn't afraid to show the dark side of the Star Wars universe with multiple character deaths and violent massacres. The Empire feels dangerous in this film. The world building is also fantastic, the cinematography is spectacular, and this film has possibly the best space battles we've ever seen in Star Wars. If TFA (while not a bad film) made me wonder if Star Wars had become afraid to evolve, Rogue One has made me realize there is hope for this beloved franchise.
Critically, I rate this film 8/10 and 9/10 for personal enjoyment.
Ant-Man (2015)
A breath of fresh air
After Age of Ultron (a good film) left me fatigued with the superhero genre, Ant-Man proved to be just the antidote I needed. The movie is small in scope, which is a refreshing change to the large stakes of the Avengers. It's a slick, cute film with hilarious moments and great visuals. Our lead Scott Lang is charming and likable. Dr. Hank Pym and his daughter Hope are quite compelling. The only weak link in the cast is the villain, something Marvel has always struggled with (other than Loki).
I left the films feeling very positive about Marvel's future. If they can balance their big blockbusters with creative films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man, then the next several years will prove to be a delight for the movie-goer.
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
Everything hurts
I realize now that I have personal issues. That has to be the answer. I can't think of any other reason besides self-loathing that I would put myself through nearly three hours of another Michael Bay movie. Admittedly, these movies haven't gotten any worse since Revenge of the Fallen, but that deserves as much praise as a mass murderer deciding to spare me on a whim.
I'll name the pros for this film first. The Dinobots have very nice designs. The villain in this movie is also decently competent and dangerous. There's also more personality added to the Autobots. Lastly, the obnoxious characters and humor have been toned down.
Given those were the major complaints of the previous movies, you probably think that Michael Bay has actually made a good movie right? That's just not how the world works sweetie. While the excesses of the previous movies have lessened, we are still left with a soulless CGI-fest with an obscenely bloated running time. The human characters are dull, (although Kelsey Grammar tried his best. Bless his soul), the action is constantly being cut off, and the story is all over the place. If it had been trimmed down to an hour and half, this movie might at least be considered decent. However, as it is, it's just another example of how not to direct a blockbuster.
God's Not Dead (2014)
Two idiots argue about religion and philosophy.
This is a spoiler review for those who don't have the time to watch the whole movie, but are dying to know whether Atheists have been defeated for all time. Here goes:
Hercules and model Christian boy-man figure they can end a debate that has continued for centuries in a 2 hour low budget movie. Appeals to authority, political-cartoon level straw men, and Divine Command Theory shenanigans ensue. Professor Grumpy is also really bad at being an Atheist. Remember to watch Duck Dynasty and download some Newsboys music off of iTunes today! Also, at the end God converts two atheists to Christianity and then kills them. Be sure to use these arguments when debating against Atheist philosophers. They'll be really impressed.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
It's no game changer, but it's worth your attention.
I can't love Age of Ultron like I loved the first film. Some of the appeal of seeing our heroes together for the first time has left. The jump cut action is a bit unsatisfactory this time around. The narrative has lost its streamlined perfection and yet feels incomplete. This film is filled with misfires in characterization, tone, action, and storytelling. And yet while a flawed film, it is worth a ticket price. Age of Ultron still has plenty to offer. It gives us several new characters like Ultron and Scarlet Witch that add new life to the cinematic universe, and Josh Whedon continues to avoid overwhelming the audience with his massive assemble. In the end, this is a fun, big action film with plenty of likable characters and moments. However, it also suffers heavily from unevenness of the execution. As such the sequel failed to outdo the much slicker original film.
Kaguya-hime no monogatari (2013)
An ancient legend becomes a modern masterpiece.
Even having understood its exceptional nature, this film took me a good amount of time to emotionally process and I took it upon myself consider its many themes. The result? I came to the conclusion this is a masterpiece of a film.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is far more mature than an R rated film and far more complex than the Oscar-bait films we receive year after year. This is a story of a girl having her happiness destroyed by others. It critiques patriarchy and even Feudal Japan tradition. It resonates on the human condition and both the beauty and pain brought about by life. It's heart-wrenching and tragic. It's beautiful and enjoyable. It will leave you unsure and uncomfortable, but in awe of its storytelling.
This film isn't afraid to add depth to its characters (especially its wonderful leading lady Kaguya), to present darkness and compelling themes in a medium still considered childish, and to proceed at a lengthy, but comfortable pace in order to properly explore its characters, themes, and storytelling. What we are left with is a multidimensional masterpiece that will likely be timeless.
Other objects of merit are the fantastic Japanese and English dubbing, the beautiful naturalistic art style, and the utterly spectacular soundtrack. This film, despite being well-received, hasn't received the circulation it deserves in the US. Buy this film today. You owe it to yourself to experience the emotional currents of Kaguya's tale.
Interstellar (2014)
Intelligent, beautiful, and uneven.
Nolan surprised me in that he's taken a special interest in adding emotion and heart to his latest film. This serves to humanize a very scientific plot. Unfortunately, the power of love does not mesh well with the concepts being presented here. Much of it is overdone. It also could have benefited from a trim down (especially on the Earth sections). This film overstayed its welcome, despite running out of time to tell its story. Let it be known, I have no problem with long films. I grew up watching Ben-Hur and Lord of the Rings extended editions. Yet, the length was a bothersome factor here. I also lament that it didn't give us enough time to enjoy the beauty of the cosmos. We get glimpses, nothing more.
That all being said, this is still a well-crafted, intelligent film. In beautiful simplicity it educates the audience of theory and consequences. There are also some genuinely heartwrenching scenes, some breathtaking sequences, and some heart-pounding moments. This film is one heck of a ride. The acting is a positive, as is Hans Zimmer's lovely score. Attributes and vices considered, Interstellar is a cinematic journey worth partaking in.