The New Review - Thor: Love and Thunder

Copyright by Disney/Marvel

Thor: Love and Thunder

Director: Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale

Concept: Taika's go with Thor, a sequel to Ragnarok. And the 4th in the series. And this one... we get introduced to Mighty Thor, aka Dr. Jane Foster!!!

Slightly Spoilery. That is your warning.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: Hemsworth Thors it up again. You know it. Tessa Thompson with a great support role. Natalie Portman did a great job as the hero. But the highlight of the movie is Christian Bale. His Gorr the God Butcher was amazing. Creepy. The other 3 brought their A game, but Bale brought his A+ game. Score: 18/20

Presentation: Rockin' soundtrack. Bright and colorful. But... equally depressing and dark. And one of the most depressing starts to an MCU movie do far. Straight to the heartstrings. And set a tone that permeates the whole movie. But... the humor, while expected, did take away from the movie a little bit. It wasn't OVERLY funny, like Ragnarok was. But the timing of some of it was out of place. Korg... isn't necessary anymore. Score: 17/20

Chronicle: this is movie with two stories: one for the heroes(Thor, Jane, Valkyrie) and one for the villain(Gorr). The hero story was... happy, positive with a tragic ending. The villain story was dark, depressing with a somewhat peaceful ending. And... that yin yang type works... just know, they feel like two different movies melted together. Not a bad thing... most of the time. And in this case it does, for the most part. The hero side of the story was filled with so many clichés and tropes(but not the one I expected), but it also turned one around(fridging into a hero's death). The villain side... once again, the villain's motivation was justified. But... justified in both sides(the God he worshipped personally... and then the Gods Thor went to for help). The audience understood why. But... methods are what made him a true villain. So... understandable motivations... but despicable actions. A well developed character, portrayed by one of the best actors. Yay to well developed villains. Boo to cramming in too many clichés. Score: 26/30

Impact: Taika Waititi is the first director to repeat in the Thor franchise. And... I was worried going in that Taika would fall into his own trope: overly funny until a serious tone shift. That DIDN'T happen this time. Yes... some of the jokes weren't necessary. But a few were pretty damn good.

"Call the Axe."

"You need to call the dentist." That... worked so well. But the tone was split. Colorful with happy/dark with dreary. And setting up the concept for a sequel. Taika isn't one of favorites when it comes to directors, but because he DID subvert by negative expectations, he is my only choice for the next movie. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: Let's address the negative. And then the positives. The negative... TOO MANY CLICHÉS AND TROPES IN THIS MOVIE. It was a love letter to the 80s action/adventure films. But... that means all the crap with it. And it CAN work. Just don't fill a 1 lb sausage casing with 2 lbs of sausage. It doesn't all fit. And shouldn't. It was cool. But might be too much cool. Make sense? Does to me. But... one tired trope got turned on its head. Fridging. Fridging is a trope where someone dies(usually female)to motivate the hero(like in Deadpool 2). Jane Foster dies in this movie. The power of Thor is accelerating her cancer. She chooses the let the power take the last of her strength so she could help Thor defeat Gorr. She died a hero instead of the motivation(and post credits show he joining Heimdall in Valhalla for it). And that was a great touch. And lastly, I can't say enough about how great Christian Bale was. Easily top 5 role for him(because he has so many great ones). Helps me forgive the movie for the clichés, but doesn't eraae them. Score: 8/10

FINAL SCORE: 89/100

FINAL GRADE: B+

Conclusion: The duality of the movie makes this one a bit different than the other MCU movies. And both sides are equally understandable and tragic. Overstuffed with 80s tropes without being an overly 80s movie, but balanced enough that it doesn't matter as much.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: Thor Love and Thunder is a pretty good movie with a decently woven story to tell. I was pleasantly surprised. And it is absolutely one of Christian Bale's best roles. As for the movie, I do recommend seeing it, just like most of the other MCU movies. It isn't a top 10 MCU movie, but it is one of the better Thor movies...

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There you have it folks! Thor: Love and Thunder has gotten......... an 89!!!!

Did you see it? What did you think? What would have changed about Jane's death? What would you have done about Gorr's story?

Comment and share!!

Until next time...

Don't forget...

The New Review - Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers

Logo trademarked by Disney

Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers

Directed by Akiva Schaffer

Starring John Mulaney and Andy Samberg

Concept: Cartoon characters are really actors playing parts in shows and movies. Chip n Dale are a pair of Disney Chipmunks that had a great cartoon in the 90s. And this... is the aftermath of the fallout between the Titular characters.

Execution:

Here we go...

Cast: John Mulaney and Andy Samberg are the PERFECT voices for new Chip n Dale. Voices from Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, J.K. Simmons. The only casting choice that threw me off was for Zipper. And... while it was awesome, it also felt weird. More of a "sticker shock" type thing. But it grows on you. Score: 18/20

Presentation: They tried to blend live action, CG, and cartoon animation. And... while it works for the most part, it is a bit jarring in some scenes. To do this sort of thing gives off vibes like Who Framed Roger Rabbit... which is great, but still jarring in some scenes. You might not notice, even with this forewarning. But... I did. Score: 17/20

Chronicle: The plot in this movie is... paper thin(a few papers maybe). But, that is the beauty of it. It feels like a plot from the old Rescue Rangers cartoon series. It... fits. It works. And it is simple. But it is also layered. Some real commentary about animation styles, reboots, bootlegging, and even BODY IMAGE. Score: 25/30

Impact/Legacy: Rescue Rangers is this generation's Roger Rabbit. Yeah... I brought it up again. But that is an important thing to bring it. Roger Rabbit changed how to merge animation with reality. And this movie does that with CG as well. Filled with so many references... weird cameos... and it took what Roger Rabbit did with Meta... and MADE it even more Meta. This category is split with Legacy because it is a spiritual reboot/revival. And as I mentioned in Chronicle, this movie is a fitting to be a revival of the Rescue Rangers formula, while still being something unique to it. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: Rescue Rangers is a love letter to anyone who grew up watching cartoon in the 80s and 90s. And you can see why in just a moment... I'm going to give you a small-ish list of references and cameos:

-Roger Rabbit himself

-Woody Woodpecker

-Mrs. Doubtfire

-Batman v Superman mixed with E.T.

-The Flintstones

-Pink Panther

-Ugly Sonic

-Top Cat

-Snoopy

-Randy Marsh from South Park

-Bigfoot from Goofy Movie

-Mrs. Flynn-Fletcher from Phineas and Ferb

-Little Mermaid

-Shredder from TMNT

-Wreck It Ralph

-Transformers

-Voltron

-Indiana Jones(in a Double Meta moment)

-Rick and Morty

-The Simpsons

-Bonkers!!

Let's... stop there. There are MANY MANY more. And it is wonderful. The attention to detail in these references, some subtle. It is wonderful. And I had as much fun spotting references as I did watching the movie. Score: 13/10

Final Score: 93/100

Final Grade: A-

Conclusion: As a movie, it is pretty decent. And I did enjoy it. But as a love letter to 80s/90s kids, I LOVED it. Some more references like how they were presented in Ready Player One would've been cool, but this is truly the modern era Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and... it is glorious.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: If you have a Disney+ Subscription, then you have ZERO excuse not to watch it. And if you don't... for less then a movie ticket, you can get a subscription... get to see this movie... and much more. Yes... I'm saying Sub to Disney+. But I'm also saying that if you are one of those 80s/90s kids, you NEED to see it. And... if you are one of those with kids now, this would be a good way to introduce them to The Rescue Rangers!!!

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Well there you go! Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers has gotten a 93!!!

Have you seen it yet? What did you think? If not... did this sway you?

Comment and share...

Until next time...

Don't forget...

The New Review - Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Copyright by Marvel/Disney

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Directed by Sam Raimi

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, and Xochitl Gomez

Note: I am changing how this movie should be addressed... given the noir horror nature of this movie, it is now "The Multiverse of Madness" Doctor Strange is just starring in it. It isn't his movie. It is the Multiverse's movie.

Concept: MCU Sequel for Doctor Strange... and Spider-Man: No Way Home... and WandaVision. Strange is going to travel to the Multiverse

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch should've been the only choice when they first casted for Strange, and in this film, he plays MULTIPLE distinct versions that are just him showing off how good he is. Benedict Wong was perfect... again(Wait... did I just realize that they casted a Benedict for Wong... and his last name really is Wong?!?... woah). Elizabeth Olsen shows off that creepiness we got a glimpse of in Age of Ultron, and dialed it up to 13... they leaned HARD into her being a villain. Xochitl Gomez did a wonderful job as the MCU newcomer, looking forward to seeing what more she brings to the table. And nice seeing Rachel McAdams have more involvement in this movie compared to the original. Score: 20/20

Presentation: The MCU meets Sam Raimi horror, topped with some Danny Elfman movie soundtrack magic. It is HEAVY CG, but it needed to be. Difficult to do most of that with practical effects... but to Raimi's credit, he packed some really great practical effects, that he is know for, in this movie. And for movie to be the scale of this movie, it never once feels overwhelming. Some CG moments did look a bit choppy. But... no fault to Raimi or FX crew... there would be no way to have done it more smoothly. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So... how do you make a sequel to one of the most visual impression MCU movies? And make it a sequel to a trilogy of a different franchise? While making it a bridge to other franchises? And referencing pieces of your television franchises? AND setting up the future of the MCU? Well... with this movie. Sam Raimi weaved together SO MUCH going on in the MCU(past, present, future), but it never felt like that was all going on. It felt like... a Doctor Strange Sequel. Which is what it was supposed to be. A love story, a tragedy, and a horror film all wrapped up in a neat, magic filled package. And I need to highlight that. This did NOT feel like an MCU movie to me. It felt like a Sam Raimi horror film... but doesn't at the same time. It filled a mold... but breaks the mold... without having a mold in the first place. It is... unique. And... with this being the 28TH MCU film, that is one of the best compliments I could give one of these.

All of this praise because Sam Raimi pulled off a PG-13 MCU Horror Film. Someone finally did it. It pulled off what VENOM was supposed to, but failed to deliver on. A PG-13 Superhero Horror Film. Score: 32/30

Impact: As I just said, it is unique. A mold maker... a mold breaker. And that leads me to believe that some other directors should look at as a lesson. Cookie cutter works for a share universe project, but Unique makes you stand out. And this movie stands out. And with Sam Raimi already signed up for Dr. Strange 3, you bet we will all be watching as he does it again. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: Spoiler Section here. But... it has to happen. The Illuminati cameos. Woah. John Krasinski as Reed Richards better not be a one off. We got a glimpse, we need more. Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter, that was good for my health. The use of Maria Rambeau as Captain Marvel was slick. Anson Mount IN the Black Bolt suit and fully utilizing his powers was a pay off I've wanted since they screwed up the TV series(and I caught that sign language). And... having Charles Xavier coming in with the COMICS LOOK with the Green Suit, Floating Chair, AND the X-Men '97 theme!!!! Wow. I could say how it might be a wasted scene... but it did EXACTLY what it needed to do. Created a crossroads of Comic book movie past, present, future, what if, and what we never thought we would get... without it taking ANYTHING away from the story, and without it taking a large chunk of the run time. Would I have wanted more time with these characters? Sure. But... we had character introduction, slight development, a backstory, and in the moment purpose... and still a fraction of the run time. Wow. And... not even my favorite scenes in the MOVIE!?! Score: 13/10

FINAL SCORE: 105/100

FINAL GRADE: S-Tier!!!

Conclusion: I know Sam Raimi's work. I know how good he is. I also know what can happen when the studio interferes. So I had high expectations for Sam Raimi's return to superhero movies... high hopes that Disney/Marvel/Feige would just let Raimi be Raimi. And... it surpassed my expectations. Vibrant... and dark. Hopeful... and depressing. Magical... and horrifying. Just... Wow.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!!! SAM RAIMI NEEDS THE SUPPORT!!! Go see this movie. As soon as humanly possible. You all need to see this movie. SEE THIS MOVIE!!!! Have I mentioned that you should see this movie!?! Because if not, you should totally see this movie!!!

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Well, there you have it folks... Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness has gotten...... a 105!!!

An S-Tier movie... it deserves the extra credit for the extra praise.

Extra note from me. Going into 2022, my most anticipated film for the year was The Batman. And while The Batman is one of the GREATEST DC movies I've seen... it no longer has the spot for my favorite movie of the year. And I'm saying this now, Thor: Love and Thunder won't be capable. I know... we have over 6 months left, but I might need to lock this in as my "Good" for 2022.

Extra extra note from me. All of that time making Wanda out to be the strongest superhero in the MCU... looked like it was a great lead into making her one of the strongest VILLAINS instead.

Sam Raimi. Welcome back to Superhero movies!!!

Also... thank you Sam Raimi for the 2 for 1 Bruce Campbell Cameo!!!

Thank you reading...

Until next time...

Don't forget...

The New Reviewed Renewed - Black Widow

Copyright owned by Disney/Marvel

The New Review

Black Widow

Starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh

Directed by Cate Shortland

Concept: The Avengers' resident Femme Fatale got her own movie. Explaining what she went through between Civil War and Infinity War.

Some spoilers ahead...

Execution

Cast: ScarJo is back, being her Black-Widowy self. Florence Pugh went from being a relative unknown, to being a powerhouse actress, she is the perfect counterpoint to ScarJo's Natasha. It is as much her movie as it is ScarJo's. And it works. David Harbour is pretty funny, Rachel Weiss is stoic... but both seem wasted. Explanation coming. And a great villain, and not the one you are thinking from the trailers. They needed more... but still had enough.

Score: 15/20

Presentation: The Typical MCU fanfare is what this movie was. And it likes to jump around to different locations, we don't spend enough time in any location long enough to matter. The prison break was a fun sequence, but it reminded me quite a bit of the House Party Protocol in Iron Man 3, with the scaffolding and quick cuts... just in the snow. The soundtrack... was boring, but it starts with a cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", if it was written by a depressed teenage girl...... and it sounded pretty damn good. Not enough to save the soundtrack.

Score: 15/20

Chronicle: The MCU has developed an amazingly complex spy thriller. It was called "Captain America: The Winter Soldier". Black Widow was NOT that level. Because it wasn't that complex. It was a straightforward spy thriller with extra extra action... with a bit of a broken family reunion story mixed it... and there wasn't enough of it. Definitely made to set up Yelena as the new Black Widow, and they did just that. The villain had a face(Ivan Dreykov), but the real villain was the Red Room itself. It didn't dumb down the child trafficking, and remembered the pheromone angle from the comics. But the story didn't feel like it had enough solid footing. It's a fun film, but it won't make or break any major story line. It was a spy movie... an action movie... a broken family movie... a sister film... but doesn't want to superhero. And it just doesn't do enough in any direction aside from the sister film.

Score: 19/30

Impact: The MCU BIG female character finally getting her own solo film. It will effect the MCU going forward, but the movie could've been so much better. It's nice what happened with Nat between Civil War and Infinity War... but it didn't feel like it was an important as it was made out to be. And that made up for the hype. It was self-contained, and aside from poking fun at Natasha being an Avengers, it was quite separated from the overall MCU. You knew it was MCU, but no other Avengers make an appearance. If was released when it was supposed to, it would be a much better fit. But no fault from Disney on that. So I will be lenient on that. So... recap... it will affect the MCU going forward, but still not affected by the MCU as a whole. Got it?

Score: 17/20

Extra Oomph: This is your spoiler section. First up... Red Guardian definitely wasn't a hero. Not...a...hero. And he had NO redemption in the movie. None. And I love that idea. It wasn't his movie. He doesn't need it. The mission he had making the fake family with Natasha and Yelena to cover for his real mission. Then basically giving those girls up to the Red Room, knowing what Dreykov was going to do to them...... Alexei is no hero. And they never pretended he was. Second... The Taskmaster. I went into the movie hoping it WASN'T Tony Masters like in the comics. I was hoping for a different payoff: the seemingly throw away comment with about Dreykov's Daughter from the first Avengers movie. The thought I had was... Nat tried to kill Dreykov and thought she killed his daughter as collateral damage. And... dammit... that is EXACTLY what they did. And I LOVE it. He got off unscathed, but his daughter was burned. He turned his daughter into the Taskmaster, complete with mimic skill the character is known for. And it FIT the narrative. Tony Masters wouldn't have fit... there was enough exposition, we didn't need this too. So this was the direction it was supposed to go. Even covered in clichés... this was the right call. So... it gets bonus points for that.

Score: 13/10

FINAL SCORE: 79/100

FINAL GRADE: C+

Conclusion: It's an MCU movie. So, at minimum it had to be good. But... that's it. It was good. Not mind blowing... not even great. Just... good. Happy that Natasha finally got her solo movie, but it ended up not being just her movie. It was a shared experience to "pass the torch" to her "sister" Yelena Belova. So I guess they still makes it a Black Widow movie regardless. The official start of Phase 4. But... only the post credit scene. And... it didn't do Nat justice. It should've been a much strong film...... and it wasn't.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: If you love the MCU movies, you need to see this movie. And I'm a fan. I want to watch it again. It was a good spy action film. But not good enough. I want to love it. But I can't. I can at least say I liked it. And will watch it again. And I think you all should to. Up to you if you want to do that in theater or on Disney+, I recommend it.

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So Black Widow is finally out. And it gets an 79.

Worth the wait from Covid? I'm... still not sure on that. Not the worst MCU movie. But not the best. It needed to be a mini series. More time on the individual aspects. But it was still a good enough movie to watch.

Tell what you thought. Did you see it? Gonna see it? What could they have done better? What did they do just right? Leave a comment. Share this review on social media.

And don't forget...

We Are The Audience.

No idea what the next review will be, but stay tuned for more lists and some new concept posts coming through.

Thank you for any support!

The New Review Renewed - Cruella

Copyright for the logo belongs to Disney

The New Review

Cruella

Cast: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Mark Strong

Directed by: Craig Gillespie

Concept: Explore the backstory of the Villainous Villainess of the timeless Disney animated classic, 101 Dalmatians.

Execution

Cast: Emma Stone IS Cruella. Emma Stone owns. Nearly EVERY role she takes on. Same can be said of the Uber-Villain played by Emma Thompson. You learn to hate them quickly. Support cast feels like they were pulled directly from the Animated movie. And... surprise Mark Strong is surprise Mark Strong(though, if I looked at the cast beforehand, I would've known). The only casting question isn't a question from me. They changed the races of Anita and Roger. And... it is a welcome change. Their races in 101 Dalmatians doesn't matter as much as the occupations and how they were connected to Cruella. And that...... is ever present. (Side notation at the end of the review)

Score: 20/20

Presentation: It's a live action representation of Disney's London. And it is drab... dreary... depressing. Like it came from a Tim Burton movie. For a more kid friendly "The Devil Wears Prada", the fashion choices were superb as well. Soundtrack was wonderful. Great covers backed by Disney doing Disney stuffs with their music. It's the Disney standard of Presentation.

Score: 20/20

Chronicle: This is the backstory of Cruella DeVil. Devilish Fashionista villain of 101 Dalmatians. Quite a few villain backstory tropes: surprise parental reveal, underdog kicked around story. But where it sets itself apart from the tropes is sympathy. Usually in these types of stories, they try to make you sympathetic to why the good person went bad...... that doesn't last long here. They didn't leave room for that. You genuinely dislike Stella/Cruella. And you're meant to. It's a story of how a bad kid becomes a worse adult. No redemption arc. At least in the traditional sense. The movie is smooth, but in places feels long. And while I give credit to how they weaved in the relationship between Stella with Jasper and Horace, they did that weaving too much with Anita and Roger, within them being major characters. They were always connected to Cruella... but this much? That is just another trope they hit. A couple of really good twists to traditional tropes... like the parent reveal. I thought they were going somewhere else. Glad I was wrong... but... might've untwisted that one. And it closes leading into what is the story for 101 Dalmatians... all the set up... for all the previous payoff. Too many Disney tropes... too many backstory tropes. But enough to set it apart. Immersion so well done, I almost forgot I was watching a SPECIFIC Disney movie... until the Extra Oomph...

Score: 25/30

Impact: Disney has had some hits AND some misses when it comes to adapting to live action. This one is on the hits side. Showing how to make a villain backstory... without adding sympathy into the mix(I'm looking at YOU, MCU). It doesn't break the mold. But it does make it's own. And... while it is really good thing, I'm afraid that Disney might run with it for villains we DON'T need the backstory for... does worry me.

Score: 17/20

Extra Oomph: So... the realization moment. No spoiler if you've seen 101 Dalmatians. Anyone remember WHY Cruella was a villain? What was her plan?....... if you said dognapping Dalmatians so she could make a fur coat out them, you would be correct. I... forgot. I legit... forgot. This movie MADE me forget. And then the impromptu fashion show in the park scene. The Baroness sees Cruella's coat... exposits the "did she kill my dogs(Dalmatians)?" And the scene... as it protrayed by FACIAL expressions alone(look at Jasper), the movie thinks Cruella did. I KNOW I felt my face go pale... "oh my god, did they actually do the dog murder in this Disney movie!?!?!?!" She didn't. Breathe easy. But dammit, I couldn't believe they pulled off this kind of bait and switch in a Disney movie. Animated... you wouldn't think about it. But live action made it feel so different. And THAT makes for a unique "Holy Shit" moment for the adults. Disney went there.

Score: 10/10

Final Score: 92/100

Final Grade: A-

Conclusion: This is a real dark, drab, wonderful movie. Some parts made me feel like Disney didn't make this movie. And while Disney is AMAZING at what it does, losing yourself in some of their movies is where they need to dive into more. Immersion win for the win.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat" that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: WATCH THIS MOVIE! Watch it. Go see it. Pay for it. Go see it. For the string of live action adaptation style movies from Disney, this one is one of the best. Top 2. Easily. Unlike Raya and the Last Dragon, this is a movie for movie watchers too.

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Cruella. It was a great movie. Disney strikes. Goes for blood. And it feels good. It gets a 92.

Side note: Emma Stone is an A lister. One of the best in Hollywood. Very talented. One of my favorites. Emma Thompson is an absolute legend. There is this feeling of allegory in this movie. Almost a passing of the torch. See the movie. Get it... understand it.

Tell me what you think. Leave a comment. Share the post. I wanna know what you all think!

Disney went for blood. It got it. BETTER Disney strikes again!!!!

Again!!!!

Again......

The New Review Renewed - Raya and the Last Dragon

Copyright for the logo goes to Disney

The New Review

Raya and The Last Dragon

Cast: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan

Directed by: 4 of them

Concept: Asian themed Post apocalyptic story about a Girl trying to save her world with the help of the last living dragon.

Execution

Cast: Kelly Marie Tran needs to do voice acting. She really does. I didn't realize it was her. Disney did a great job of casting Asian actors to voice Asian characters. And let me go on record saying I'm NOT an Awkwafina fan. She annoys me. But her turn as the Dragon Sisu was quite impressive. The usual Disney side humor cannon fodder was present, but Awkwafina was NOT one of them. Awkwafina is an Asian stereotype come to life... but she DEFIED that in this movie. But that is where is ends. None of the other characters were memorable. Funny. Interesting. But NOT memorable. And Disney is famous for memorable characters.

Score: 14/20

Presentation: It's a Disney movie. Disney movies are animated masterpieces. That is what it is. The score. The difference in visuals in the difference regions. Flashy. Beautiful. This is what Disney does. And... that is all anyone needed to say.

Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So... this is the downer. The story is good. It really is. Girl gets responsibility to protect world. Dad trusts wrong people. World gets destroyed. Dad "dies". Girl finds way to save world. Meets ragtag friends along the way. Um... it's a Disney movie. Cookie cutter is cookie cutting. Even though it feels different... it doesn't as much. The story arc that wins is the evolution of Sisu and the different powers she gets along the way. Each time she gets one, she exclaims that "this power is this sibling's power". That is the REAL story building in this movie. And the Closing of the movie reflects that. Raya doesn't save the world. She passes the responsibility to someone else(NOT Sisu... no spoiling here). And once the world is saved, you get closure for Sisu... but while Raya gets hers, it doesn't feel as important. It is a smooth story, but not fully supported. Not like it should've been. Like a beautiful crystal ball held up by twigs. The story is nice... but the focus feels half-baked.

Score: 21/30

Impact: Asian representation for the win! Disney really does do it's work. Researching lore, casting for their roles for these types of movies. It is on point. But even with this... it still FEELS like the others. That is a good thing for the kids. As it should be. The Disney formula. It works. But overall, it still doesn't feel like it fits among the top Disney stories.

Score: 15/20

Extra Oomph: 100%... Awkwafina. I know I stressed on it so much already, but it DOES make that much of a difference. Of the handful of roles I've seen of hers, this one is the best, at least... my favorite. If I were her, voice acting may be for her. Awkwafina is a living Asian Stereotype Caricature. And so have been her live action roles. But this one broke that mold for her.

Score: 10/10

Final Score: 80/100

Final Grade: B-/C+

Conclusion: I did like this movie. I really did. But... I was also a bit bored with it. I might have to watch it again. And I WANT to watch it again. But it was too cookie cutter for Disney. I get it... I really do. But I was able to predict how the movie was going to end within the first 30 mins. And... that isn't MY idea for a fun time. Regardless... Awkwafina.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat" that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: If you are a huge Disney Stan or have some kiddos, then I recommend buying this movie. There is potential for enjoyment here for repeat viewings for Stans and Kiddos. But if you do not fall into those categories, I would still recommend a rental. But would not be hurt if I found out you didn't see it. Disney written all over it...... and sometimes, it is TOO Disney. And here we are.

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And there is it. My first review in years. I missed this, but just couldn't get it going. But hopefully I got this.

Raya and the Last Dragon gets an 80. Not mind-blowing, but safe. And that is what matters.

Tell me what you think. Share this post... I wanna see what others think about it.

Stay tuned. A review for Cruella is incoming. Look! It's Disney again!!!

Again...