The New Review Renewed: Reviews

Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts

Sunday, October 30, 2022

The New Review - Black Adam

Black Adam

Starring Dwayne Johnson

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra

Concept: Story of Shazam's biggest rival, and current anti-hero of the DC Universe.

Execution

Here we go...

Characters: So... this was the biggest let down. Let me explain. We have Black Adam. We have the Justice Society and 4 of the members. And some support characters. Plus a criminal organization with little explanation. Black Adam get PLENTY of backstory, or course, it is HIS movie. The JSA members were cool, but they barely got any backstory. Very very little. And I still get it... it is Black Adam's movie. And the main villain of the movie, Sabbac, was done very well. Waiting until the best point to introduce what he was... I give credit there. Score: 12/20

Presentation: Fight scenes... action... lightning... super powers... CGI... it was a run of the mill of the DC Superhero flick. Some of the CG was off. But nothing that feels like it didn't fit... just needed more polish. And not Transformers 2 level bad. And most of it dealing with Dr. Fate's magic... so... you can say it was magical. Score: 18/20

Chronicle: As mentioned before, the characters didn't get the backstory they all deserved, but the story around Black Adam was pretty good. Especially since they slightly CHANGED his backstory. That twist made this version of the story pretty good. Still sad that Hawkman and Dr. Fate didn't get a bit more story, but that it okay. The overall story was pretty good, even with lackluster support for the JS and Intergang. Almost felt like Intergang was thrown in, but they deserve another story. Score: 20/30

Impact: There are questions about whether or not Black Adam shifts the power in the DC Movie Universe. And so many say no. And... I slightly agree. But it is became a game changer in other ways. We got Henry Cavill back in the saddle as Superman. The Justice Society got established, and I would take a JS movie or series on HBO Max. And we got to see Dwayne Johnson finally do the passion project that took the better part of 15 years to get done. And... it works. The power might not have shifted, but it absolutely sets the tone for the new direction we are heading in for DC Movies. And I think it is a good thing. Score: 18/20

Extra Oomph: Because of the cameos of Superman and Harcourt(from Peacemaker), this movie established a canon connection between the Snyderverse that was, and the James Gunnverse that we are about to enter. Making Black Adam a very interesting linchpin in that transition. Score: 10/10

Final Score: 78/100

Final Grade: C+

Conclusion: It is a fun movie. And if you like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, then you will like this movie. Not perfect, but entertaining.

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: I say... go see it. Watch it. Again, it has flaws, but it is still entertaining. But it is also a passion project. The Rock could've abandoned the idea at any time, but he followed through. And that should be appreciated and supported. So go see it. If you wanna pass in the theater, then buy or rent it. It is worth it.

There you go... Black Adam has gotten a 78!!!

Not as good as I hoped, but it was still worth seeing.

Have you seen it yet? What did you think? Excited for the next phase of DC Films with Cavill back... and James Gunn at the helm?

Comment and share.

Until next time...

Don't forget...

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

The New Review - Elvis

Elvis

Directed by Baz Luhrmann

Starring Austin Butler, Tom Hanks

Concept: Stylized Elvis Presley Biopic. Enough said.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: So, there are really only 2 important cast members in this movie. Austin Butler as Elvis. Tom Hanks as Col Tom Parker. Everyone else is moot. And it was on purpose. It was exactly Elvis's story, it was Parker's. And... it was a weird obsession he had with Elvis. It makes good on the influences Elvis had. So the other characters are important, but not forefront. Tom Hanks was a bit weak compared to what he CAN do, but he made a great villain. And Austin Butler slayed at Elvis, including singing AS Elvis. That was him(for the most part... later in life Elvis had the real thing mixed in with Butler to make him sound older). And everything else that made Elvis the King... Butler deserves at least an Oscar nom. Score: 16/20

Presentation: Let's get this out of the way... Austin Butler was amazing singing as Elvis. Like spectacular. But... the rest of the soundtrack was too modern. TOO modern. And visually... Elvis was an extravagant, flashy individual. So it makes sense for his movie to be... but it felt OVER produced in the first half... and UNDER produced in the second half. Where it needed it, it didn't. Where it didn't need it, it did it anyway. And...... that first half... it almost lost me. It was prevented through the eyes of Tom Parker... and imagine a villain seeing his meal ticket through dollar signs. And... it took me out of that. Score: 10/20

Chronicle: It's the story of Elvis through the eyes of Tom Parker trying to make himself out to not be the villain of the story. Even though it was clear he was the villain of the story. And this twist to it makes the story we know about even more interesting. I learned things I never knew about Parker... that I never knew about Elvis. And... the story had to be engaging, seeing how the mismatched presentation started to lose me. Score: 27/30

Impact: Baz Luhrmann is responsible for writing and directing Moulin Rouge, Australia, Romeo + Juliet, and The Great Gatsby. Out of those 4 movies, I only enjoyed one, and that was Gatsby. And now... add Elvis to that list. But... I still don't think he should've done a biopic. The pieces of the movie(cast and story) were amazing. But it was like watching chess pieces on a flashing LED Chinese Checkers board. This movie helps Luhrmann's portfolio. And I hate that it does. Score: 15/20

Extra Oomph: I'm going back to Austin Butler. Dude... deserves at least an Oscar nom. With the fact that he did his own signing... he was able to encapsulate what made Elvis so special. A one of a kind role... made for a one of a kind piece of Rock and Roll history. No one else could've done this movie. No× one else could've played Elvis in this way. And it redeems the film in a major way. Score: 15/10

Final Score: 83/100

Final Grade: B-

Conclusion: Austin Butler shines. Tom Hanks is creepy. But there are two different halves to this movie. Up to you to determine whether it feels like it is Performance/Presentation or if it was Prime/Pre-Prime.

FINAL JUDGMENT: If you are an Elvis stan, go see this. If you are an Austin Butler or Tom Hanks stan, go see this. If you are neither, I recommend seeing it, but wait for disc or digital. Will I watch it again? Yes. But... only because of how great Austin Butler was as Elvis.

There you go, Folks. Elvis gets an... 83!!!!

If you've seen it, what did you think?

Did I mention how great Austin Butler was in this?

Until next time...

Don't forget...

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

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.

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!!!

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...

Saturday, March 5, 2022

The New Review - The Batman

The Batman

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Colin Ferrell, John Turturro, Jeffrey Wright

Directed by Matt Reeves

Concept: Yet another reboot for Batman. You know who Batman is. If not, where have you been?

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: I can gush about everyone in this cast. But here are the highlights. Robert Pattinson did excellent as Batman. Dark, depressed, brooding. Able to change voice himself between Batman and Bruce. Paul Dano as The Riddler was sad, creepy, horrifying. Like Jigsaw with an inferiority complex. Zoë Kravitz was elegant as Catwoman. And... Colin Ferrell disappeared at the Penguin. If you didn't know he was in the movie, you wouldn't know he was in the movie. And I have to praise John Turturro for getting Carmine Falcone right. Only negative I have with the Cast is Andy Serkis as Alfred. He was phenomenal... but we barely got him in the movie. Score: 19/20

Presentation: The score was soft and melancholy. The cinematography was excellent... close ups during a car chase scene to show the audience emotion was a cool idea. Gotham City had a life of it's own, and FINALLY, we get a Gotham like it should be... Pseudo-New York City(complete with Madison Square Garden), but still influenced by the Burton Gotham. The fight choreography looks like it came right out of an Arkham game. Praise Matt Reeves for this section. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: Influenced by Frank Miller's Batman: Year One and The Long Halloween. And if you know those, you can definitely see those. But if you don't, look at this movie as a Saw type murder mystery that just happens to have Batman. But it is complicated... twisty... and a false finish to the movie. The story will make you forget, and that is NOT a bad thing. Run time is nearly 3 hours, but there isn't a thing I would take out. No exposition for the sake of exposition. A world builder. All of this... in a week of movie. The only warning I have... it is almost 3 hours. Score: 28/30

Impact: This is a definitive Batman movie. One part Burtonverse. One part Nolanverse. One part Diniverse. One part JimLeeverse. One part Arkhamverse. And still etched it's own spot of the Batman mythos. It may not change the DC Movies as a whole, but... it will be carving its place in movie history. The question is... how MUCH it will change how DC movies will be made? I think... it shouldn't. Let Reeves trilogy be it's own style. Score: 19/20

Extra Oomph: Praise the casting... but I want this section to double praise Matt Reeves. He had a vision. And that vision ended up being a complete package. I'm still a little miffed that we didn't get Affleck's solo Batman vision, but Matt Reeves gets the character, and this movie shows just how much. This will be a wonderful trilogy. Score: 10/10

Final Score: 96/100

Final Grade: A

Conclusion: This a wonderfully built Batman film. And I really wrestled with this notion... this is my favorite Batman film. Beats even Dark Knight. It is the Batman film I've been waiting for. I'm proud of this movie, and I didn't make this movie.

FINAL JUDGMENT: Watch it. Now. Go do it. Now. Go watch it. Now. Go watch it. Please. Do yourself a favor. Go... watch... it...

Well... The Batman gets a 96!!!!

No... it isn't a perfect movie. But dammit, it is built so well.

What did you think? Ready for a sequel? Comment and share!!!

Until next time...

Don't forget...

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

New Review Gaming - Pokémon Legends Arceus

Pokémon Legends Arceus

Developed by Game Freak

Released exclusively on Nintendo Switch

Concept: Let's go back in time, to the region that will become Sinnoh, back before humans and Pokémon worked side by side. Not your traditional Pokémon Experience.

Disclaimer: I am finished with the story, but the game is far from finished.

Execution

Here we go...

Presentation: The first ever fully 3D single player story driven Pokémon experience. It isn't completely open world. But it is open enough. Think Monster Hunter meets Breath of the Wild. The Pokémon models are amazing to look at, the environments are beautiful... but... there is a visual issue that is bothering me. When I get into a Pokémon battle, if there is any standing grass, it is glitchy. Very much so. To the point that it is distracting. Sway in the wind, flicker on screen, the grass will vanish, and then come back. I now it is minor overall, but since you will be in enough Pokémon battles, it was happen enough to bother you all too. Aside of that, scale is wonderful, music is nostalgic. And the scenery is breathtaking for a Pokémon game. Score: 20/25

Gameplay: So... let's combine the availability of Pokémon Go and the Let's Go games, with the environments and overworld of a Zelda/Monster Hunter/Dragon Age game, and all the Pokémon battling we all know and love. The best aspect of the gameplay is easily how to obtain Pokémon in the wild. You can go the traditional route of Pokémon battles and weakening all of them OR you can go the stealth route(smoke screen, hiding in grass, baiting the Mons)... and I use... BOTH. Both methods are so much fun. And... battles are much more balanced than ever before. The Alpha Pokémon can be a bit of a bear, but that is okay too, that is the point. This is the kind or Pokémon game I've been waiting for. Score: 25/25

Chronicle: As mentioned in the Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl review, I don't usually play the Pokémon games for story. But... this is purely singleplayer experience. So... story driven. Now, I haven't completed the story. But I have a pretty good idea for the story... player character is a human from a different era helping out the Galaxy Corp create the first Pokédex. Helping the Diamond and Pearl Clans live in harmony. The Diamond and Pearl games mention a time where Palkia and Dialga reset the area. And... I think that is what is being prevented here. But... again... I'm not sure. That part aside... the main story... the main goal is finish that first Pokédex. And... that is really interesting as a story element. Story... not gameplay. Because the idea is, you are completing the entries based on how you interact and catch the various Mons... even defeating so many work from some entries... creating the mini story for each Dex entry(even though HOW you do it, doesn't effect what the entry says). Score: 18/20

Legacy: This is a great point for the Pokémon franchise. Full 3D environments, taking the concept of the Wild Area in Sword/Shield and expanding it like 100 fold. And it works... still rough and still room for improvement, but this can lead to greater things with the Core Franchise. We will see what happens after some refinement, but this is a wonderful HUGE step in the right direction to refresh this long standing franchise. Score: 18/20

Extra Oomph: They built a full single player experience. How does that work with certain Pokémon that require trades to evolve? They thought about that. So... you CAN still trade. It doesn't unlock right away, but you can. But... you don't have to. There is a new Merit system. The idea of the Merit system is that when you die, you drop items from your satchel, if you are online, your satchel will appear on the map for OTHER players. If they claim your items before you do, you STILL get your stuff back, but they get Merit points based on the value of the items. That also means THEIR satchel items will appear on your map too. Claim the items, they get them back, you get Merit(and yes... NPCs satchels will appear too for those offline). The idea is, with Merit points you can turn them in to that same vendor that sets up trading for Evolution items, like the Stones, or items like the Reaper Cloth for Dusknoir or the Metal Coat for Scizor or Steelix. No trade necessary(they can't hold the items anyway). Just use the items. But... what about Gengar? No item, but trade... they throught about that. There is a universal item for those trade Evolutions... it is a Game Boy Link Cable! Such a great touch to this new system. I hope it continues to future titles in the series! Score: 11/10

FINAL SCORE: 92/100

FINAL GRADE: A-

Conclusion: This a wonderfully fresh Pokémon experience. Story is fun, but the research aspect is pretty damn fun. It isn't just about catching them all... some research can be completed with catching a single one of that Pokémon. And that is what... makes the experience work so well.

FINAL JUDGMENT: This could be the future of the Pokémon franchise, and I hope it isn't the only one like it. It is different. It is special. And I recommend it for ANY gamer, Pokémon fan or not. Just... know this... it is a challenging game. The "boss fights" can be a bitch for anyone. Just stay with it... and it is WORTH IT!

So... Pokémon Legends Arceus has gotten a 92!!!! A-!!!

Have you played it yet? What do you think? Comment and share!

I don't know what the next gaming review will be. Might play through Guardians of the Galaxy again on the Series X and do that one. Stay tuned either way.

Until next time...

Sunday, December 12, 2021

The New Review - The Eternals

Marvel's The Eternals

Directed By Chloé Zhao

Starring Richard Madden, Selma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie

Concept: Some of Marvel's earliest players are finally in the MCU.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: There are PLENTY of characters in this movie. Maybe even too many. It makes sense, but it also doesn't. And hard to explain without spoiling some twists in the movie. The actors and actresses all do a very fine job of making their characters shine. This "team" is much different than what we have seen in the MCU thus far... and... the beginning of the movie lack enough exposition to fully introduce the characters fully... and 2 of them are killed. It makes sense in the overall scheme of things, but the lack of connection between audience and characters make it so I didn't feel anything when the two characters die. Again... it make sense overall, but in the moment, it was jarring. On a second watch I bet it'll feel different, but hindsight isn't always a good thing for a movie. Each cast member did great... it was the writing for character development that hurts... even if the movie explains it away. Score: 13/20

Presentation: This one is easy. It is a Marvel Movie. Soundtrack is excellent. Visually stunning, and that is including the Celestials. Stunning, as per the course for the MCU. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So, as with the character development issue, the story is tied directly to that. And the film does a good job of explaining why things are the way they are. A surprise twist involving a traitor(it wasn't who I was expecting). But there is this problem with the time jumps. It goes to when they landed on Earth, to Present day, back to a different era, back to Present Day, back to a different era. And it makes sense in context overall, but still feels confusing a bit. Believe me when I say, it makes sense...... but it is still jarring. Just a forewarning. Score: 25/30

Impact: So as of now, there is very LITTLE Impact on the MCU. But the potential it has could easily make Eternals the sleeper when it comes to shaping the future of the MCU overall. The implications for Marvel Cosmic are limitless. But that is the point... potential. If they end up not making a sequel, that all goes to pot. So... we have to see how much this movie/franchise has for the MCU. Because of it being POTENTIAL, I have to dock some point. I can only hope that it works out... we will see. Score: 18/20

Extra Oomph: I could talk about how the inclusion of Dane Whitman is an AWESOME thing, but he is barely in it.(I get it. Not his movie). Instead, we are going to highlight one of the implications that were briefly mentioned in Impact. The connection that Arishem has to the Eternals in the movie, it lays some very important groundwork... the blueprint on how Galactus is connected to his Heralds. It is a VERY similar relationship between the Celestials/Eternals as it would be for Galactus/Heralds... ultimately ending in similar results for the planets. If this relationship was indeed the blueprint for getting Galactus in the MCU, then dammit... this makes the movie VERY important to the MCU. I know that I docked points in Impact for potential, but since Eternals isn't the only reference to Galactus I think we've seen, it makes the Comic Nerd in me very excited. So... bonus points? Bonus points!!! Also, I would be doing a disservice to the movie if I didn't mention the LGBT representation. Phastos has a homosexual relationship with a human guy with a kid. He had a family. And... it didn't feel shoehorned in. It felt natural. It was a good spot... made sense... and gave Phastos some real stakes. It gets a bonus point too. Score: 13/10

Final Score: 89/100

FINAL GRADE: B+

Conclusion: In the face of the issues I had with the movie in real time, Eternals also explains it. I feel it does, might not do it exactly right, but it does it. The time jumps can be jarring... it DOES make sense. And deserves a watch. It's like a jigsaw where the pieces are blank to begin with, but eventually the image appears to look like what is on the box. And the best part... it is entertaining enough to keep you engaged.

FINAL JUDGMENT: I do recommend seeing this movie. I feel it will be important to the MCU(or can we start calling it the MCM now?). It is entertaining, the action sequences are amazing, and I wanna see more Kumail Nanjiani!

There it is... Marvel's The Eternals gets a B+!!!!!

Honestly, I originally didn't want to see this movie. It didn't look interesting to me. Now that I have seen it, I'm glad I did. Better than I expected, and some really cool concepts. It was worth the money.

Who has seen it? What did you think? Leave a comment. Share the post.

One more MCM movie to go, and I'm excited. And with it, 2 more chances for ANOTHER perfect score.(Matrix being the other chance).

Glad the movies are pretty much back, and I'm looking forward to the slate in 2022!

Until next time, don't forget...

Saturday, November 27, 2021

The New Review - Ghostbusters Afterlife

Ghostbusters Afterlife

Starring Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd

Directed by Jason Reitman

Concept: The Ghostbusters franchise coming back around for a Legacyquel of emotional proportions.

Execution

Here we go

Cast: Paul Rudd being his best Paul Rudd. Mckenna Grace was a great lead. And Finn Wolfard is so talented, he will be a legend some day. Surprise Bokeem Woodbine in there too! No doubt... Score: 20/20 (did you find the Josh Gad?)

Presentation: Imagine if the original movie never happened, and it was made now. You would expect better CGI and a modern soundtrack. Now... imagine that, but holding on to the spirit of the original movie. This is the modern Ghostbusters movie you were waiting for. I mean... I was waiting for...... dammit... WE were waiting for. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So, we have a bit of retread in this movie. Gozer, the Stay Puft Marshmallow man, the protagonists end up in jail. But it is also a means to an end. The original movie, they didn't destroy, trap, or DEFEAT Gozer... they sent it back to it's own realm. It is safe to say, Ivo wasn't destroyed either in the Video Game. So... we have tied it all together, a retread was a necessary journey. It was a great way to end an era from a long standing fan favorite franchise. Score: 30/30

Impact: In an era of Legacyquels, not only did it need to cap off an era in the franchise...... we need a lynchpin for where the franchise can go from here. And... that was accomplished, even more than Tron: Legacy or Blade Runner 2049. Ghostbusters Afterlife is the best Legacyquel I've seen. Period. And... sets the groundwork for future legends Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace to take over. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: I cried. There is a moment. No spoiler from me...... but if you are a fan of the franchise, you know what is coming. And...... and it still hurt. It was emotional. And... it makes up for some of the harsh words Callie and Ray have for Egon during the movie. Also... I need to highlight that I think Phoebe is on the spectrum. Which means... she is even more like her grandfather. Because Egon was on the spectrum, as well. If I were to guess, I would say Egon was Asperger's. For those who know, how much sense does that make? And that adds more depth to a character who is...... gone. Good work! Score: 10/10

Final Score: 100/100

Final Grade: A++

Conclusion: Impressive Legacyquel that could've been made years ago, but...... the story was so wonderful, it was a better build. The best Legacyquel I've seen. I need more GHOSTBUSTERS!!!!

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: A MUST SEE! If you haven't yet, make time. It is a wonderful movie. Nostalgic. Emotional. Funny. And fits the formula. This is a Ghostbusters movie. Who you gonna call?

Well, there you go! Ghostbusters Afterlife gets a 100!!!!!!!

Two 100s in a single movie season? That... happened. And we still have The Matrix Resurrections and Spider-Man: No Way Home to go.

What did you think about the movie? Did you get emotional too? Leave a comment. Share it. Go see this movie.

2021 has been good to us after the long hiatus from the theaters. Let's see if we get another 100.

Until next time, don't forget...

Sunday, October 24, 2021

The New Review - Dune(2021)

Dune

Directed By Denis Villeneuve

Starring Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Issac, Rebecca Ferguson, and many more

Concept: Frank Herbert's legendary novel that inspired decades of sci-fi epics, including Star Wars. Sci-fi mixed with geopolitical plots at the forefront of a Messiah story. Hollywood has struggled to get this movie made... and aside from one particular critically panned classic, this is the test to see if it can be done.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: A LARGE cast. Chalamet, Issac, Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, Brolin, Momoa, and did I see a David Dastmalchian? AND a Javier Bardem? AND a Dave Bautista? Stacked. And no part seems small. Even the ones that COULD be small serve a purpose. But breakout performances from Timothée Chalamet and Oscar Issac...... Score: 20/20

Presentation: An Epic score you would expect from a sci-fi epic film. One or two off CGI moments, but I saw an homage to old school sci-fi with a paper maché explosion and practical effects mixed with beautiful CGI. And if you feel comfortable enough, watch this on the biggest screen you can. Because Denis uses ALL of the screen real estate he could. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So, if you aren't aware... this is a part 1. One of the biggest issues I had with the original movie was how so much story was crammed into one movie. Sacrifices had to be made, like the nerfing of The Weirding Way. This one, however, showcases what Hollywood couldn't figure out... split it into 2 movies. Focusing on the Geopolitical portion of the story, it was built around the emergence of the heir to an empire he really doesn't feel ready for. Clever uses of premonition and foreshadowing, while making it a CHARACTER ATTRIBUTE. Even the short roles of certain characters, everyone has good to GREAT character development. Only the beginning. Score: 30/30

Impact: The Novel was the inspiration for MANY sci-fi franchises. And this movie is a masterclass on how to inspire many more. Hollywood has been afraid of making this into such an epic because of the plots and subplots throughout the first book... and well... the series of books overall. Denis Villeneuve did a WONDERFUL job at making Blade Runner 2049 as a vessel to bring Blade Runner to modern audiences...... and I TRUSTED him with making Dune as amazing as he could. And... not only did he not let me down, he exceeded my expectations. And it is an example of how if you believe in the material, you should take it... and run with it. So... not only do I hope Dune inspires more sci-fi franchises, I also hope other directors look at Hollywood's fear materials... and run with them(as much as I was okay with John Carter... I would LOVE someone else to take a stab at A Princess of Mars... I've even started a fancasting for it). Hopefully this(and subsequent part 2) inspire DECADES more sci-fi epics. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: So this one is gonna be a little spoilery, but not for this movie... for the trilogy as a whole, as compared to the original cult classic and the novels themselves. There are FIVE actors/roles I want to point out. They are Brolin/Gurney, Momoa/Idaho, Zendaya/Chari, Bautista/Rabban, and Skarsgård/The Baron. Brolin, Momoa, and Bautista... all feel a little typecast, each with only a small role this time around(at least 2 of them will get featured more going forward... up to you to figure out which 2), but each one serving a MAJOR purpose in the story regardless. And Denis did the same thing with Bautista in Blade Runner 2049. Then we look at The Baron... I thought that was Stellan Skarsgård, but I wasn't for sure the whole movie. And dammit...... I like that. And that leaves Zendaya. I credit my friend Bob for this one... because I saw it... and he put it into words. Chani isn't featured with solid lines until the end, but she was shown as the central figure in Paul's dreams/visions throughout the film(trailers spoiled that, sorry not sorry). And with that, she had MORE character development and was used in a much better way than she is as MJ in the MCU Spider-Man films. Denis Villeneuve's vision... but Zendaya's range. Zendaya has an Emmy already. I'm calling it... she will end up with an Oscar someday. And I'm ready to see what she does in Part 2. Thank you to Denis for bringing out MORE that potential in her. Score: 10/10

Final Score: 100/100

Final Grade: A++ or S-Class

Conclusion: Frank Herbert's legendary novel has been brought to life as it should be. Stunning. Emotional. Detail oriented. Fierce action met with rich storytelling that it NEVER lost hold of. Even the battles told stories(something that I feel Star Wars lost more times than not). Sci-fi Masterclass. Denis Villeneuve does it again.

FINAL JUDGMENT: I have some evaluating to do for where to put this movie in my top 10 of all time. That should tell how bad I want each of you to see...... no... how bad I want you to EXPERIENCE this movie. Come back and thank me later.

Well there you go...... Dune get a 100!!!!!!!! A perfect score!!!

Full disclosure... this was going be a make/break movie. I was looking forward to it. I had very high expectations. But... I do try to be fair. Small oopsies would've been forgiven, but this one... was important to me. So if Denis Villeneuve would've screwed up ONE part in a major way, this score might've been drastically different. But I put my faith in Denis, and he did me proud... so much so, I say once he gets through this trilogy, give him A Princess of Mars... give him any other sci-fi novel and just let him go do his thing. This was VISIONARY! And it could've gone wrong in someone else's hands.

I think the delays for release due to Covid made it that much sweeter. Great things come for those who wait...... well... get me a part 2... now!

So what did you all think? Comment down below. Share the hell of this. And if you haven't seen it... go... do... so... as soon as possible. You won't regret it.

My movie of the year for 2021. What else could top it? Yeah... nothing.

Whether you watch it at home or in the theater, don't forget...

Thursday, October 14, 2021

The New Review - Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Starring: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson

Directed By: Andy Serkis

Concept: Sequel to Sony's solo Venom outing, starting an attempt at a Sony-verse of Spider-Man characters.

Execution:

Cast: Tom Hardy reprises his role as Eddie Brock. Still done very well(but I do wanna point out... Brock in the comics felt like a brute... this Eddie is a putz). And of course, Woody Harrelson having fun, being Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady. And a shout out to Stephen Graham as Detective Mulligan with a very "Danny Reagan from Blue Bloods" vibe going on. And that is a compliment. But for reasons...... everyone else feels like a background character regardless of role. The new characters introduced get ALL of the character development. And that... is okay too. Score: 17/20

Presentation: Andy Serkis knows his CGI. A smaller budget... but still had better CGI than the first movie. Whereas in the first movie, the big fight between Venom and Riot could be attributed to colors blending together, the big fight between Venom and Carnage felt cleaner, more vibrant... and Serkis didn't shy away from better lighting. Visually, it is a STUNNING action flick. Soundtrack-wise... it was missing something. But... it is SO visually stunning for the budget that any point I would deduct for sound would be made up by visual. So... yes... Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So... the plot is paper thin. But... I like to refer to a phenomenon I call "The Expendables Effect". A movie that doesn't have the best plot, but... you shouldn't be watching it FOR the plot. This movie should be looked at as a Symbiote Smackdown and how to get there. And... that's it. Simple... why is Kasady deranged? How does he get the Carnage Symbiote? When is he gonna fight Venom? There... there is your storyboard. Sprinkled in character development. Lack of world building development. I might've been okay wit it being longer(it is a fairly short film), but it really didn't need it. Here for a good time, but not here for a long time. Score: 27/30

Impact: The movie... the movie itself doesn't feel like it has any Impact. It doesn't. I thought Sony was building their own Universe? And Venom was supposed to feel like a cornerstone of that Universe? Why didn't it feel like it? Granted, the movie didn't leave enough time FOR that... aside from Ravencroft, there isn't anything to build off of. Mulligan? But even then... that is self contained. But... mid-credit scene sets up to make the "Venomverse" part of the MCU Multiverse. And... that has some major ramifications. It is the first official non-MCU Marvel movie to be considered canon to this new Multiverse. That makes the moment extra special. But still... I'm struggling with this one. Score: 12/20

Extra Oomph: This goes to Andy Serkis. First MAJOR film he solo directed(2nd Director for Lord of the Rings and some other non-blockbuster stuff). And Serkis showed that he is the master of CGI. But there is an element that some might overlook...... this is a sequel of detailed elements(I tried to find a better why to word it). What I mean is this...... when I director gets hired to take over a franchise or to do a sequel... most of the time, it doesn't feel like the same franchise. But if you didn't know it was a different Director for this movie, would you have been able to tell? Same feel, same banter, same locations, new characters casted within the same puzzle. Look at the X-Men franchise... X-Men and X2 felt like they fit together... but The Last Stand doesn't. Different director. Andy Serkis had new puzzle pieces for Venom that he was able to cut to fit the existing puzzle. And I think that is an impressive feat. I hope he gets to do the 3rd Movie. Score: 9/10

Final Score: 85/100

Final Grade: B!!!!

Conclusion: Don't go into this movie think you are going to get this amazing plot or for it to solidify a franchise in the "Sony-verse". But... if you are looking for a fun, entertaining movie with some action and some humor, this movie has all of that.

FINAL JUDGMENT: See this movie. It is a great anti-hero romp that will keep you entertained for 90 mins. See this movie... and support any theaters. I don't care if it local or national chain. Let's all go to the movies. Especially this one.

There ya have it folks! Venom: Let There Be Carnage gets a B!

Not sure what my next review will be, but stay tuned!

Hit up your theaters. Show some love to the movies.

And don't forget...

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Renewed Top 10 - Workplace Comedies

Time for another scheduled Top 10. This is thanks to Joe(shoutout to JOE) for the idea.

This coming Monday is Labor Day, and he thought it would be a great idea to do one for Workplace Comedies! And I agree. So let's set the rules. To qualify for my list, the comedy must either take place in the workplace or be associated with a job/work.

Let's do this!

Top 10 Workplace Comedies

Here we go...

Honorable Mention 1: UHF: At one of Weird Al's peaks of popularity, he decided to make a movie about losing a TV station in a poker game and using to the trope of the "fledgling marathon" to save it. David Bowie is in it too.

Honorable Mention 2: Men At Work: As far as I know, this was the first movie brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez starred in together(I think only cameos prior to this). About garbage men who goofed up the city together until they find the dead body of a politician.

Honorable Mention 3: The Proposal: Starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, this one doesn't center AROUND the workplace, but... you get the idea. Boss Bullock is faced with deportation to Canada, so she fakes an engagement with her Assistant Reynolds. Comedy ensues. It is a pretty good movie, but it only technically involves the workplace.

10. Empire Records: A group of workers at a Record store try to stop the store from being closed down to a dumb business decision.

9. 9 to 5: Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, & Lily Tomlin play secretaries tired of sexism in the office, so they abduct their boss and take over the office. Breakout comedy for Dolly Parton and an ICONIC song!

8. Barbershop: A Comedy... that takes place... in a Barbershop. Shows off just how awesome of a comedian that Ice Cube is.

7. Horrible Bosses: An over the top comedy about a few bosses that are just... over the top. So their employees decide their lives would be better if they killed their bosses. But a plan is only as good as the minds behind it.

6. The Hudsucker Proxy: The combined efforts of the Coen Brothers and Sam Raimi, this movie is about a greedy executive wants to take over the company he works for by devaluing the company stock and buying a majority share. He hires a nobody to the company...... but surprise, the nobody made the value of the shares skyrocket. Paul Newman... and Tim Robbins!!!

5. Clerks: The artistic piece that made Kevin Smith a nerd icon. Shot entirely in black and white... it follows the story of 2 convenience store employees and the CRAZY antics they deal with.

4. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy: There is no better to put this...... this is Will Ferrell at his best, surrounded by the best.

3. Trading Places: Picture this... two Saturday Night Life alumni in their prime finally crossing paths... Dan Aykroyd playing an executive that is framed for a crime he didn't commit and replaced by Eddie Murphy playing a street hustler... finding out about the scheme, they work together to take down those responsible.

2. Office Space: The Eponymous Workplace comedy... directed by animation legend Mike Judge(Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill). Dry... funny... weird... awkward. I don't have a way to explain this movie. If you've seen it, you know. And if you haven't seen it... you should. Quotable... ironically iconic.

And... now... the Number 1 Workplace Comedy is.......

1. Tommy Boy: RIP Chris Farley. Farley was a genius. Characters so dumb they were genius. And paired up with David Spade, you had comedy gold. Owner of a dying auto parts manufacturer passes, and leaves it to his bonehead son. His evil stepmother and her son want to liquidate for the money. Tommy wants to save the company for the workers he has grown attached to growing up. So Tommy joins up with his dad's anal retentive assistant to drive across the country to sell parts. Yes... this is a road trip comedy, but because Tommy is basic a traveling salesman, his workplace is EVERYWHERE!

There you go.

You like your workplace? Could you make your own comedy IN your workplace? What do you think about the list? Comment... share...

Thank you and enjoy this Labor Day Weekend!

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Unlockable Gems - Street Fighter: The Movie

Street Fighter

Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, Ming-na Wen, Wes Studi

Directed by Steven E. de Souza

Concept: Live action film based on the 2D side view one on one fighting franchise that made Capcom ALOT of money.

Era: After the "success" of the Super Mario Bros movie, the rest of the decade was littered with B and C level video game movies. Street Fighter II was a runaway success in the arcades and eventually at home... it also inspired other arcade fighting franchises like: Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct, Primal Rage, and other Capcom arcade fighters(i.e. X-Men COTA). But did the movie do the same?

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: So, if you read my Unlockable Gems post for Bloodsport, you would see that I made a bold correlation that Bloodsport inspired Capcom to change things up with representation starting in SF2, meaning that Colonel Guile would be inspired by Van Damme's character in that movie. So... for DECADES I laughed at the idea of a Belgian playing VERY American character Guile... but if I'm right... then the casting is based on it's own idea. Making JCVD the perfect Guile. Frustrating... but I have come to terms with that. Now, to what I already knew... Raul Julia. Yes, cast a veritable Latin Legend as the villainous M. Bison... and you know what, it was perfect. And he genuinely looked like he had a lot of fun doing it(reminded me of his work as Gomez Adams). And I enjoyed the casting of Ming-na Wen as Chun-Li. That was a pretty decent casting. Kylie Minogue as Cammy was... okay at best. Some of the other casting, those were decent at best(getting Wes Studi to play a Thai kickboxer was really weird... but... Miguel Nunez? Come on)... but overall, you could see that they tried. Score: 15/20

Presentation: There is nothing memorable about the soundtrack. Nothing memorable about the set pieces. There were no real special effects to speak. Which there should've been. At least something. In a game with fireballs and flaming punches... we got... what? It was subpar. Score: 6/20

Chronicle: This is a double edged blade. The main story of M. Bison's world domination vs Guile recruiting to take him down. That was pretty decent. The side story of Chun-Li infiltrating Shadowloo to kill Bison for killing her father. That was pretty good too. And both of those pretty true to the games...... but... what the hell happened to Ken and Ryu? Why are they grifters? In the games, Ken is a very rich heir... and Ryu is a "live off the land style hermit". Also, the original game, Fighting Street all the way until Street Fighting 5, Ryu(and in effect Ken) are the MAIN characters from the games...... so, yeah... it is a bit personal... but the side story of Ken and Ryu vs Sagat and Vega just felt... out of place(Though Vega kinna worked for me). In a bloated overall Chronicle... it felt very out of place. Same with Carlos Blanka being turned into a monster. It was very... Frankensteinesque. Overall, it was okay. But it could've been much better. Score: 12/20

Legacy: Super Mario Bros came out in 1993. Was the first of the video game movies. This came out in 1994. And was deemed terrible...... but it also inspired two other franchises to try it out. Mortal Kombat and Tekken. Mortal Kombat has spawned 3 movies... two PG-13 & one R. And 1995 Mortal Kombat learned from the mistakes of Street Fighter. MK was more polished story wise, casting was more accurate, and a decent special effects budget. The sequel, however took the Street Fighter movie flaws and triple down on them. Not sure how you want to look at that inspiration... but yeah. That happened. Tekken, which came out much later, did what MK and SF couldn't do: convert the tournament feel completely. Score: 17/20

Nostalgia: This is a movie that I wasn't the biggest fan of. I liked for some parts... I hated it for other. But there are a few things that stuck with me. Raul Julia having fun as M. Bison is epic. The Bison Bucks concept is still funny to me. Guile's rambling speech to get the troops behind him, inspiring. The fight between Zangief and E. Honda through the Shadowloo City mock model with Godzilla vs King Kong sounds is still one of my scenes. But... the ONE thing that has endured for me is Zangief's thumb. It overly dumb Russian stereotype and giving a thumbs up... sideways... and the moment Guile grabs his hand to turn it up, the look on Zangief's face is gold. It really is. It still isn't that... I, to this day, still like to give my thumbs up sideways as for a gag. The ultimate nerd dad joke. That is where the nostalgia ends. Because of anime. There is an animated Street Fighter 2 movie that is 4-5 stars, easily... overall, and for one of the most memorable scenes: Vega breaks into Chun-Li's apartment while she is in the shower(anime boobs in the unrated version), but you see as she is putting her hair up in the iconic buns... and then gets attack. She kickes Vega's ass and kicks him THROUGH the outer wall. Now, I know the MPAA ratings are different, but that movie was more memorable. Score: 13/20

Final Score: 63/100

Final Grade: D-

Conclusion: This was not a good movie, but it had some really good corny moments. Even if you wouldn't like the movie overall, just consider it yet another JCVD flick with gratuitous kicking highlights.

FINAL JUDGMENT: Seriously... I would still recommend watching this horrible horrible movie. Why? Raul Julia. Next to last performance. And not only was Raul Julia a legendary actor, THIS was a legendary performance. It really, truly was. So just like my comment from the list, this performance is enough for me to recommend seeing this trainwreck of a movie.

So Street Fighter the Movie gets a score of 63!

Fitting that Street Fighter gets 1 point less that Super Mario Bros.

There it is... Street Fighter. Was it an Unlockable Gem? Yes. Funny thing is, I don't consider Mortal Kombat(1995) one. Because it ISN'T underrated. Those that have fond memories of it, love it. Those that don't, hate it. What do you think? Should Mortal Kombat be an Unlockable Gem? Lemme me know down below.

What do you think about Street Fighter the Movie? Did any of you play the tie-in video game?

Please leave a comment... share the post... and don't forget...

Unlockable Gems - Super Mario Bros

Super Mario Bros

Starring Bob Hoskins, Dennis Hopper, John Leguizamo, Samantha Mathis

Directed by Rocky Morton & Annabel Jankel

Concept: Someone decided to turn Nintendo's flashship brothers from another plumber into a dark live action movie

Era: This movie isn't part of an Era, it is the START of an Era. Super Mario Bros was the first video game live action adaptation... started a trend all of it's own.

Execution

Here we go...(now do it again in Mario's voice)

Cast: So here is where we know the casting director tried: the legendary Dennis Hopper, the lovable Bob Hoskins, up and coming comedian John Leguizamo, everyone's 90s girlfriend Samantha Mathis. And... some how, Hopper and Hoskins knew this was a shit show. Stories of Bob Hoskins drunk on set... Dennis Hopper looks like he tried, but still found a way to phone it in. And as great as John and Samantha were, they had almost no chemistry... and no chances to build any. The marquee is stacked... but they really didn't know what to do that. Score: 12/20

Presentation: Whoever designed these sets REALLY like Total Recall and the Judge Dredd comics. And for some reason, they had to have that kind of aesthetic. How does that work with Mario? Someone tell me how... Soundtrack was definitely kiddie with some tongue in cheek references("Walk the Dinosaur"). Also, for a parallel dimension with evolution from dinosaurs...... had plenty of people who didn't look the part. This is legitimately Total Recall for Kids. And... it kinna works. Score: 14/20

Chronicle: Story... hahahahaha! What story!?! It has holes... but the holes have holes. And yes, I know this was supposedly targeted to the younger gamers back in the early 90s and I'm an adult looking at it. But... even back then, I knew it wasn't good. Let's start with the meteorite. How... did only that small piece break off? How did Iggy and Spike screw up that many times? Koopa uses the machine to make them "smarter" and it failed. How did Mario and Luigi get arrested so easily and not have any other plumbers in the prison? Does the Mushroom Kingdom not have plumbers? And Lena... what? The side story between Mario and the bouncer and the most awkward sexual harassment dance scene in a video game movie ever!!! What really is this movie? Score: 2/20

Legacy: As mentioned before, it is the first live action video game movie. So of course, other companies were like "we can do it too", even though SMB DIDN'T make their budget back in theaters. And it set a bad precedent. There aren't very many good video game movies(see the lists). And it's because it has some of the same formulas that are just broken. Hell... the NEXT video game movie after this was... Double Dragon. Legendary Robert Patrick having fun and phoning it in at the same time, 80s/90s girlfriend Alyssa Milano, and no one had any real chemistry. It did worse in theaters. So, while it is AWESOME that SMB was the start of a sub-industry...... that sub-industry took 30 years to finally get things right. ------ there is more. So there are some really good corny jokes... some of them so terrible, but worthy of a cringe-laugh...... including when the worlds merge, the World Trade Center look like they had been destroyed...... yeah. NOWadays, I look at it and laugh my ass off. I like dark humor. I LOVE unintentional dark humor. Score: 18/20

Nostalgia: I'm an old school gamer. I'm a part of the target demographic when this movie came out... and it led to wanting to watch all the video game movies coming out. I was also that demographic that loved most of the TMNT adapted movies... and I was all in on that Power Rangers movie. That was me. And even now, I love this movie. I hate the movie. It isn't a great movie. It is so bad, that it is still good? No... but they knew who they were targeting. I can't say that with most of the bad list, but I can ALWAYS say that about Super Mario Bros. Weird... fond memories of watching the movie, but not of the movie itself. That is how it is. Score: 18/20

Final Score: 64/100

Final Grade: D

Conclusion: This is not a good movie. But for most, it could be a solid "so bad that it's good movie". That isn't a positive... but it isn't a negative. And seriously, there are WAY WORSE video game movies that have been made since.

FINAL JUDGMENT: If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. Yes... I said it wasn't good. But it is also good enough to still watch. See those tropes being born. And see WHY video game movies usually don't work. Games... the player has an active role in what is going on. Movies... the viewer does not. Not all types of games would work as a movie concept. And I think Hollywood is finally figuring that out. Regardless... yes, see it. But you have been warned of the flaws.

So Super Mario Bros gets a 64.

Honestly... it's better than I thought it would get. And it deserved some love for being on both the best and worst lists.

There is another that got that honor, and so check out the other Unlockable Gems from today for that one.

What do you think? Too nice? Too harsh? Any video game movies fill you with nostalgia? Share it in the comments... and share the posts too.

And please don't forget...

Monday, August 9, 2021

The New Review Renewed - The Suicide Squad

The Suicide Squad

Starring Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, John Cena, and many others

Directed By James Gunn

Concept: The Non-Sequel Sequel. A bunch of DC misfit villains are tasked with an almost impossible mission. End up having to save the world.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: There are a whole lost of people in this movie. Some take up screen time... some are just cameo... and the way the movie is done, there isn't a single one of them that feels like it was too much. A very bloated cast, but it drove home the idea of no one was safe(except maybe Harley). But I'm gonna point out 3 in particular:

1. John Cena. This is Cena's breakout role. He nailed this role. And I want to see more major studios take a chance on him. He is a funny dude.

2. David Dastmalchian. I never thought I would care about Polka-Dot Man, but now I care about him. He did a wonderful job.

3. Viola Davis. Is it just me, or was Waller worse this time? This... was a step back from the first film.

Score: 19/20

Presentation: Visually stunning. Visionary. James Gunn knows how to make impressively stunning movies. And the soundtrack was very... James Gunn. Starting the film with Folsom Prison Blues was like the cherry on top. Beautiful set pieces... wonderful music... and some very interesting set transitions, mostly pretty cool. The weird flashback transitions... I liked some of them, I didn't like all of them. But I got exactly what Gunn was doing(for example... showing what some Squad members were doing... staying with them... and then flashback 8 mins to see what the rest were doing). It was an interesting idea. And worked mostly. Not perfect. But I get it. Score: 18/20

Chronicle: A mission no one knows the details of... plenty of exposition going through it... and building the story along the way. Does feel like Bloodsport was a fill in for Deadshot, but I'm sorry to those that might not agree, but I think Idris Elba is a better actor than Will Smith. And the reason that tidbit goes here and not in cast because the Bloodsport and Deadshot story motivations were similar, but it felt more relevant in this movie. This was an ensemble action film. But it still had some great story. Double crosses. And it put together very well. The first movie, Diablo called his team a family... but this movie felt like it was building a family dynamic. Won't win any rewards, but it was very solid. Score: 27/30

Impact: The Non-Sequel. Was it better than the first? Yes it was. And not just by a little bit. It also has the honor of being the funniest of the DC Movies. I was laughing my ass off. And... it's James Gunn. The man responsible for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy movies. If you know the drama surrounding his tenure with, before, and after Disney... you know what this was. DC poached a director that Disney screwed over, and he made a GREAT movie. James Gunn was given full creative control. And look what he made? It is a shining example of why a studio shouldn't hold down the visionary directors. Hopefully Warner has learned their lesson. But I'm just not sure. And compared to Gunn's work with GotG, this was better than Guardians vol 2. And on par with the first one. Also, it shows that Hard R Rated Comic Movies DO WORK!! Deadpool started the trend... this drove it home. Score: 19/20

So here is you major spoiler section...

Ready?

Extra Oomph: So as mentioned before, this cast is bloated... but... so many got killed before the credits started. Major major casualties. And... it took the risk doing that the first movie failed to do. Sure, they killed Slipknot at the start of the first movie...... okay... cool... almost half the principle cast dies right away in this. And it's beautiful. I was so surprised by that. Kudos to Gunn for that. Also Kudos to Gunn for FINALLY bringing Starro the Conqueror to the big screen. Another DC villain I wanted to see, and BAM there it is! But...... I have to bring up Amanda Waller again. I remember her being EXTREMELY cold-hearted and rage filled(good enough to be offered a Red Ring)... and I think this Waller went too far. WAY too far. WAY too overboard. In a movie with plenty of "way too far", this was was too much. And knocks it down a peg. Score: 9/10

FINAL SCORE: 92/100

FINAL GRADE: A-

Conclusion: The Suicide Squad is a great movie. Better than the original, on par with Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy... with a similar risk of using characters the casual fan hasn't heard of. It was a great movie: funny, witty, extreme, and triumphant. Turning Waller up to 13 hurt it a little bit, but the golf club scene almost makes it worth it. Overall... one of the best movies I've seen in a while.

FINAL JUDGMENT: Not for the faint of heart... not for the squeamish of stomach... not for the kiddos. Cannot stress that enough. This is NOT a typical comic book movie. But for all the rest of you, watch this movie. Like... right now. Go support your local theater, and watch this movie. If you can't, sub to HBO Max and watch this movie. It is worth it.

Well... James Gunn's The Suicide Squad get a 92!

I really enjoyed this movie. Gonna watch it again this week.

What did you think? On par with Gunn's work? Would you watch a sequel? Hype for Guardians Vol 3? Need more Brightburn? Comment and share.

And as always... don't forget...

The New Review Renewed

Sunday, October 30, 2022

The New Review - Black Adam

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

The New Review - Elvis

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

The New Review - Chip n Dale's Rescue Rangers

Saturday, March 5, 2022

The New Review - The Batman

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

New Review Gaming - Pokémon Legends Arceus

Sunday, December 12, 2021

The New Review - The Eternals

Saturday, November 27, 2021

The New Review - Ghostbusters Afterlife

Sunday, October 24, 2021

The New Review - Dune(2021)

Thursday, October 14, 2021

The New Review - Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Renewed Top 10 - Workplace Comedies

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Unlockable Gems - Street Fighter: The Movie

Unlockable Gems - Super Mario Bros

Monday, August 9, 2021

The New Review Renewed - The Suicide Squad

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly - 2022 Gaming Edition

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