bradykitchen-33648 Reviews

Fury (2014)

Gonna disagree with most people

[10/10 · 21 December 2023]

Alright so my immediate reaction after this movie ended was holy crap that was good. I was in literal awe of the films ability to portray the brutality of war and how when it's all set and done it's not a bunch of medals and celebrations. When it's done it's grief and despair and trauma after everything that just happened. They show how this affects people, how it turns good people bad and forces them to become something they're not. Then I went online and read a few things that said that they didn't care about the characters cause they were "bad people". In my opinion those people completely missed the mark of the film.

This isn't a war film where you're supposed to like the characters. This is a war film that shows what war does to people, and what you have to become to survive it. Logan Lerman is the perfect example of that. His character Norman comes in as this scared shitless angel kid who's never done a wrong thing in his life. But over the course of the movie he sees what happens in war and how brutal it is and eventually becomes cold hearted and ruthless. That is what this film is. This isn't a "let's root for these lead characters because they're the heroes" film, this is a brutal telling of what actually happened during those wars and what it did to people.

The other big criticism I saw was how bad of a person Jon Bernthals character was. That was the point, everyone handles killing people over and over differently, they need to trick themselves into believing they are the kind of person who does. That's what Bernthals character is.

On a more technical note this film is almost flawless. Acting is across the board phenomenal, action sequences are stunning, music is perfect, story is top notch. I don't have anything negative to say her. Just incredible.

Barbie (I) (2023)

Barbie: Review

[6/10 · 7 August 2023]

Good movie not a great one.

My hopes for this movie were not all that high and the little light of hope for me was the fact that Greta Gerwig would be in the directors chair but as I had suspected she was not given 100% control of the film. I guarantee that every single second of this film was signed off by Mattel and you can definitely tell in some spots where they were the final say.

Overall the story is ok, the setup is absolutely horrendous but after that the story becomes better and more interesting. The theme of feminism is very obviously woven throughout and does a decent job of bringing some of the issues the women face to life.

The greatest achievement is the production and costume design as Barbieland is a very immersive experience but where it falls short are the scenes in the real world which just don't compare.

The acting was all around good and had a couple of standouts including Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera. The big surprise was honestly Margot Robbie's performance which was far from the best in the film. Not to say Margot was bad just surprising considering she is the lead.

Overall Barbie is good and will definitely get some nods for production and costume design during award season. Greta Gerwig was already a rising star in Hollywood but after taking on a film of this magnitude her phone will be ringing off the hook.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

Oppenheimer Review

[10/10 · 24 July 2023]

This is my most anticipated film of 2023 for a single reason and that reason is Christopher Nolan. He is easily my favorite director and when I saw the first trailer for this film I was stunned. I have not seen many new releases this year but from what I have seen this film is the best by far and when Oscar season rolls around this is going to win everything.

Christopher Nolan direction is phenomenal and that fact that he said he used zero CGI is a monumental achievement. The visuals in this film are phenomenal and they need to be seen on the biggest screen you can find to thoroughly understand how great they are.

This is the best all around cast I have seen in a while. Every single person brought they're A game and I could see multiple people picking up nominations and possibly a couple of wins. Cillian Murphy, oh my god, if this guy doesn't win best actor I will be shocked. This in my opinion is his best performance and possibly the best performance of the decade so far. But he is not the only stud in this film Robert Downey Jr. Was phenomenal as well, and could very easily get a win for best supporting actor. The rest of the cast was incredible, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and more all do amazing jobs.

The story is emotional, impactful, and extremely well executed. The score is beyond phenomenal. Everything in this film screams give me an award, and I cannot wait for this to receive the praise it deserves.

A+

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 review

[9/10 · 16 May 2023]

The MCU lately has definitely had its ups and downs. Since the release of Endgame there has been a lot talk about whether the MCU is good anymore. I myself believe that as a whole the franchise has take a downturn but I still think it's good. Certain projects I think are great such as NWH, Shang-Chi, Loki, werewolf by night, but I also think they're are quite a few duds such as she hulk, Thor love and thunder, Quantumania, Eternals. To me the biggest issue is them trying to force in too much which causes a lot of character issues as well as rushed plots and resolutions. Even the films that and shows that said were great were brought down a notch because of those issues. But here we have Guardians 3, made by James Gunn who is one the only filmmakers that Kevin Feige and the rest of the studio for the most part can't influence and that is why This film is above everything released since Endgame.

This film is the perfect conclusion to the trilogy, it raps up storylines for each character all while delivering an emotional roller coaster packed with comedy, action, and all around great storytelling.

The performances are some of the absolute best in the MCU including Chris Pratt who definitely stepped it up for this film. The Villain played by Chukwudi Iwuji is top notch and I would consider him to be the best in the trilogy.

This to me is the best film in the trilogy and I hold Guardians 1 very highly. But this film elevates in every way and makes for one of the best films in the franchise.

My only gripe is one that I am guessing may not have been James Gunns choice. Adam Warlock was bad, I mean really bad. He was used for nothing but comedy and most of it wasn't that good. He didn't have any real impact except for at the beginning and he didn't have an impact again until a certain spot towards the end but other then that he felt very much like a characters that did not need to be there.

But overall this is an excellent film and I hope that one day we will at least see these characters return in another film.

A.

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Evil Dead Rise Review

[8/10 · 30 April 2023]

I am reviewing this movie as someone who has never seen a Evil Dead movie so, if you are a die hard evil dead fan and this movie didn't live up to your expectations please don't me mad that I throughly enjoyed this film.

Lee Cronin has a very interesting imagination and I say interesting because what must go on in this guys head is absolutely horrifying. I mean this entire movie had me quite literally on the edge of my seat. It has scary, it was tension filled, it was bloody, it was just completely sadistic. Which is what makes this movie great.

The visuals are amazing and I wouldn't be surprised if the effects and makeup crews get some nods at the award season. Corbin's direction is top notch as well with some great cinematography throughout.

Speaking of award season, I haven't seen many new movies this year but Alyssa Sutherland as of April 29th 2023 should be the front runner for best supporting actress. She is incredible in this film and time she is on screen the energy is insanely horrifying. The rest of cast is top notch also but Sutherland was definitely a stand out.

In terms of gripes some of the pacing is off and probably could've been quickened up in certain areas specifically during the first third but after that it was great. My other gripe is the very beginning and ending of this movie don't really relate to what went on in the core of the film and just seems off or misplaced.

Overall great film and if you are a horror fan I would definitely recommend watching Evil Dead Rise.

A-

Creed III (2023)

Creed 3 Review

[9/10 · 8 April 2023]

Adonis has been thriving in both his career and family life, but when a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces, the face-off is more than just a fight.

Over the past two or three weeks I have been throughly enjoying every movie in this franchise (except for the 5th Rocky). So, going into this film all I wanted was something just as good as the last two Creed films and that is exactly what I got.

This film is easily the most unique of the franchise and that is mainly because this film gave us what I believe to be the best antagonist in the franchise. We haven't seen an antagonist this fleshed out before, we really got to see what makes him tick and understand why he does what he does. Not to mention Jonathan Majors is an amazing in this role.

The other thing that makes this film so unique is the direction from Michael B. Jordan. The fight scenes are some of if not the best we've ever seen in any combat sport movie. Their extremely unique and incorporated a lot of anime style fights.

As usual the rest of the cast was top notch and although I did miss seeing Rocky I felt that for the most part it made sense that he wasn't included.

I do think there is a plot line that seemed to have been built in the beginning and didn't get touched on again until the end. As well I feel the transition to the third act was rushed .

Overall this is an excellent installation in the franchise and I really hope we get to see Michael B. Jordan in the directors chair soon.

A.

Scream VI (2023)

Scream 6 Review

[8/10 · 8 April 2023]

In the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.

This franchise holds a special place in my heart and to see it get handled this well is a pleasure.

Scream is easily my favourite horror franchise and might be in my top 3 favourite franchises period. I love every movie and even though they aren't the best movies out there they are all consistently great. Last years scream was in my opinion the best since the original and it made me very excited to experience another instalment with Matt Bettnelli-Olson and Tyler Gillet running the show.

This scream to me is the most unique, the kills are more brutal and even the opening sequence is much different from the rest. Ghostface extremely intimidating and might be my favourite yet.

As always the self awareness is great and comedy is on point. The cast is great across the board but Ortega and Barrera are again the standouts and I am really confident in them be the focus going forward. I was worried that there would be a Sidney shaped hole but I didn't feel that at all, in fact I kind of feel that Gale was a little pointless. It might be time to move on from the legacy characters all together.

I know many people said that they predicted who Ghostface was but I didn't see it coming at all and I really liked the motive. My problem with the movie consists of a spoiler so I won't mention it in detail but I feel they were far too hesitant in this film.

Overall this is another great entry in the franchise and makes me even more excited for the next film.

A-

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

[7/10 · 8 April 2023]

Going into this movie I had my doubts as did most people and although I don't think this is a great movie I don't think is inherently bad either.

When the film really leans into the nostalgic aspects such the environment and sound it is phenomenal and any Nintendo fan will be throughly impressed by what they accomplished.

I know there was a lot of worry about the voice cast and I had the same feeling when the first trailer was shown but the closer we got to the release the less worried I was because I gained an understanding. In every Mario game the dialogue is very minimal, of course you have your classic voice lines like "it's a me Mario" or "wahoo" but that's about it. So for them to try and mimic that exaggerated voice into full blown dialogue would've been bad. To me the voice cast was excellent and in fact when the time is right and Mario is delivering a classic voice line Pratt does a very good impression.

One issue I did have though was their handling of Bowser. Jack Black was excellent and some of what they did with the character was comical but as a whole Bowser was very much geared towards the target audience which was kids. This is a kids movie through and through so for me someone who wanted to see a dominating Bowser it was somewhat disappointing but I completely understand why they chose the direction they did.

My biggest issues with the movie are mainly to do with the movie making aspect as a whole rather then their tribute to the games. I feel like the film needed an extra 15-20 minutes, there were certain plot points that weren't explored or explained and it felt lacking in some areas. My other issue is the use of music that was not Mario related, it takes you out of the world when all of a sudden thunderstruck starts playing.

Overall I'm impressed and feel that they did a great job with bringing a childhood classic to life but I do feel that certain movie making aspects could've been handled better.

B.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Avatar: The Way of Water Review

[8/10 · 24 December 2022]

Many years following the events of the first Avatar film, Jake Sully has built quite the life for him and his family, but when a familiar threat returns to Pandora they must take refuge with a different clan.

I watched the first Avatar film for the first time last weekend and I thought it was good. I felt that visually it was incredible but from a script perspective it was ok. So my only real hope for this film was that it gave me a great theatre experience with a more organized and thought out script. Did it do that, let's see.

First and foremost James Cameron is the man when it comes to visually pleasing audiences. Every single shot of this film is extremely well crafted and is probably the most visually pleasing film I've ever watched on a big screen. The underwater shots in particular were phenomenal. I had a hard time telling what was CGI and what was not, which is just another testament to Cameron as a director.

The action sequences looked incredible and I couldn't help myself from comparing the action in this film and the action in the latest Black Panther. Both have major action scenes on and in water as well as a whole lot of blue people. The difference here though is that the action in this film is substantially better than in Black Panther. They used every aspect of the environment and created some epic action scenes.

The other thing James Cameron excels at is immersing you into this world of Pandora. All the different elements that he showcases with his incredible cinematography are mesmerizing, he makes you feel like you're in the movie.

From a writing and storytelling perspective I thought it was much improved from the original. The story focuses a lot on Jakes kids, which are all very compelling characters and the development was great to see. Jake and Neytiri take a little bit of a back seat, Neytiri far more so than Jake but I was intrigued enough by the kids that it didn't bother me. That's not to say we don't get some great moments from Jake as he has to balance life as a father as well as a leader. The antagonist was handled far better this time around, he was actually given some development outside of the regular "kill them all" mentality from the first.

I did feel there were a couple of under developed storylines that seem to have been important when they were introduced but by the end of the film didn't seem to have that big of an impact. Obviously this is spoiler free so I can't share what those subplots are but I think viewers will notice them. My other issue with the story is once the film is done there didn't seem to really be a resolution. We get this big conflict and that specific conflict does end but what the movie was setting up was not resolved. It felt like a midseason finale more so than the end of a film.

Overall Avatar: The Way of Water was an improvement upon the original. With James Cameron providing a phenomenal theatrical experience and a better written story fans of the first should be excited to watch this on the biggest screen they can find.

8/10.

Wednesday (2022– )

Season 1 Review

[8/10 · 27 November 2022]

As Wednesday Addams begins at her new school Nevermore, she finds herself attempting to thwart a series of monstrous killings all while attempting to navigate her new relationships at school.

When I heard that Tim Burton would be directing and producing an Addams family spinoff starring the phenomenal Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams I nearly fell out of my chair. It immediately became one of my most anticipated shows of the year and after finishing it did not disappoint.

Jenna Ortega has possibly the most potential amongst the younger actors and actresses working today and to see her in what looks like the role she was born to play is truly incredible. Every scene she is in is phenomenal, and her ability to take over a scene with showing basically no emotion and focusing on acting with her eyes and body is phenomenal.

Burton is known for his dark, gothic style of directing and it shows in this first season. Every scene involving Wednesday is given a feel unlike the rest. Even if they are in a place such as a coffee shop or a classroom if Wednesday is present Burton adds a gothic style that is perfectly well done.

The plot itself is a well written mystery. It keeps you guessing throughout the season as clues are discovered and killings continue. My only real issue with the script is the the writing for some of the side characters. I found that anyone under the age of 18 who is not named Wednesday were not super well done. When the story shifted towards a character for the purpose of a subplot rather than using them within the solving of the mystery I found that I was less interested. That being said if they were used in the context of the mystery I didn't mind their character and thought it worked well. Enid on the other hand is an exception to that, I thought she really worked as a counterpart to Wednesday and I felt her subplot was well handled. It was characters like Bianca, Tyler and Xavier that I felt could have been handled better. The older side characters on the other hand I really enjoyed. Gwendoline Christie as Larissa Weems is amazing, there is one scene in particular where her and Wednesday are in her office and she gets a little agitated and leans towards Wednesday it gave me goosebumps.

The final thing I will touch on is the use of the entire Addams family. I won't go into into spoilers so I'll make the blanket statement of I liked the castings and I liked how they were used.

Overall Wednesday is everything I wanted it to be, a great showcase of Tim Burtons style using a childhood classic piece of fiction all while Jenna Ortega gives what may be her best performance to date in a well written murder mystery.

8.5/10 A-

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Wakanda Forever Review

[8/10 · 12 November 2022]

Following the death of King T'Challa, Wakanda finds themselves face to face with a unknown nation that threatens their home.

Ryan Coogler, was probably dealt the absolute worst hand as a filmmaker. Having written the entire script, then having to mourn the untimely death of your lead character is probably the most painful experience as a director. That being said he did an excellent job with the film and paying his respects to Chadwick Boseman.

The first thing that I'd like to touch on is the story itself specifically how they dealt with Bosemans tragic passing. Cooglers method of handling it made sense throughout and created a lot of great emotion. The emotion throughout the film was top notch and it wasn't just the emotion involving T'Challa, there were plenty of elements that allowed the cast to showcase their talent and give quality performances.

The acting across the board is fantastic. Letitia Weight did an incredible job stepping up to the leading role and I can't praise her enough. Angela Basset was phenomenal in this film and gave her all in every scene. Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong's were both excellent in their respective roles.

The rest of plot for the most part hit it's mark, but there was a subplot involving Martin Freeman's character that I felt didn't need to be there at all. Removing that element probably would've cut a good chunk of that 2 hours and 40 minute run time.

Now the thing that I was most concerned about going into this film was Namor. The MCU has a history of poorly handling their villains so I had my doubts going in. In my opinion Namor is one of the best MCU villains to date. They actually gave him proper development and a motivation that makes sense.

Although Namor was great his nation as an entirety was not as threatening. I didn't get the feeling that they were this all powerful nation that they kept describing them as. To me Namor was the threat and there were very few times where I felt that his nation had the upper hand to Wakanda.

The final thing I'll touch on is Ironheart, on a surface level I like her character, obviously this isn't her film so she doesn't get that much development but at face value her character is cool. That being said if they were to take another look at the script I think they would've been able to write her out or reduce her involvement fairly easily. She has a crucial role at the beginning of the film but after that she is very much a tag along character and was only used as a comic relief. She does get some extra attention towards the end but nothing that really justified her involvement throughout. This isn't a big issue considering I did like her character, just something to note.

Overall this is a great film. The emotional impact of Bosemans death and the development of our core characters is handled with grace, and the addition of Namor is extremely well done.

8.5/10 A-

Ready or Not (I) (2019)

Ready or Not Review

[8/10 · 22 October 2022]

On the night after her wedding a bribe discovers that her in-laws are stranger then she could ever have imagined.

I haven't wrote a review in a while so excuse me if the quality isn't great.

This movie is nothing short of a wild ride. It's extremely fast paced and provides everything you could want in a modern horror/thriller.

The best part of this film is the cast. Everyone is extremely good in their role and every character has something memorable about them. Samara Weaving is the clear stand out as she puts her talent on film display. Adam Brody was also extremely good and his character has the biggest character arc in the film.

Speaking of character development this film does something strange. Samara Weaving is the lead but she doesn't get much development. The development is all focused on the other characters. It didn't bother me too much but from a writing standpoint it's a negative.

Next to the cast the most enjoyable part of the film is the dark humour. It was extremely well handled, and didn't pull any punches on what to turn into a joke.

The entire story is a really cool premise and the execution for the most part is excellent. I do wish we could've seen a little more fight back moment from Samaras character, there is some of that but I feel they could've done a little more and it would've been the cherry on top.

Overall this film is great. The mixture of genres between horror and comedy make for an extremely entertaining watch.

8.5/10 A-

Shutter Island (2010)

Shutter Island Review

[10/10 · 6 September 2022]

When a U. S Marshall heads to a psychiatric facility to investigate the disappearance of a patient he begins to wonder if there is more at play.

This review is being written after only watching this film once, which means that I do not have a complete understanding of this film.

The acting is across the board top notch as Leonardo DiCaprio leads a all around solid cast. Leo is amazing as the lead and Mark Ruffalo plays his partner very well. Ben Kingsley also has a very significant role which he plays very well.

Martin Scorsese is phenomenal. Whenever he directs a film it is always amazing, and this film is no exception. Although this is much different from his usual crime dramas it did not faze Scorsese in the slightest.

In terms of story be ready for a complete mind melt. There is no possible way you will understand this film on your first watch through and Scorsese himself said that this film requires multiple watches to understand what exactly happens.

Overall this film is incredible and there's not much more to say.

10/10 A+

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Review

[9/10 · 22 August 2022]

When the remaining surviving humans come across Caesar and his tribe of apes trust between apes and humans hangs by a thread.

This film is incredibly good, I genuinely did not expect such an incredible movie when I went to watch this. I'm blown away.

Matt Reeves is a phenomenal director. Every single scene is enthralling and full of emotion. The action scenes are incredible specifically a shot of Koba riding in some sort of tank, it looked incredible.

Andy Serkis is the king of motion capture. Every single time he does motion capture I am blown away by his performance. Caesar is such a great character and if Andy Serkis wasn't the actor behind him it wouldn't be even close to being as good.

What really improved from the first film was the use of human characters. They were far more interesting this time around than in the first film. We get to see this conflict between them as they debate how they want to handle the apes. It is very clearly a message to racism and other forms of bigotry, which lifts this film to a whole other level. I have one gripe and that is a character named Carver played by Kirk Acevedo. He is very unnaturally woven into the story as a character that has zero redeeming qualities. He is there to make the audience mad and that is his only purpose. But outside of him the rest of the human characters are excellent.

This film is incredible and that is because of the fantastic direction from Matt Reeves and the phenomenal performance from Andy Serkis.

9.5/10 A+

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review

[8/10 · 22 August 2022]

In an attempt to cure Alzheimer's a substance is designed that can increase the intelligence of any human or ape it comes in contact with.

I remember watching this film when I was young but I didn't really remember specifics so I was excited to relive this film and see if it's as good as I've heard.

What makes this film so good for me is Andy Serkis as Caesar. The film drags a fair bit until Caesar is established as the main character and from that point on I was enthralled in his story. Andy Serkis is the king of motion capture. His ability to act without any dialogue is incredible and big congrats to the CGI team that worked on this film. There were many times where I wasn't sure if I was looking at CGI or if it was a real ape which shows how well done the visuals were for this film.

The rest of the cast are also good. James Franco is solid as the lead human character and John Lithgow is great as his father. As I said Caesar is what makes this film great which as a result makes any scene not involving him not as entertaining. That's not to say the human aspects of the film weren't well done but whenever an ape is on screen the film is at a whole other level.

The story itself is quite interesting as we see Caesar grow and become increasingly intelligent, but also the background development of this virus is quite interesting and really becomes relevant during the mid credit scene.

Overall this film is great. Andy Serkis brings an extremely intriguing ape to life in a well written sci-fi drama.

8.5/10 A-

The Edge of Seventeen (2016)

The Edge of Seventeen Review

[9/10 · 20 August 2022]

The life of a high school student gets even worse when her best friend sleeps with her brother.

I did not have a very uneventful 4 years of high school, and to be quite honest I did not even remotely enjoy my high school years. I think that is why I love this film as much as I do because it is very relatable.

Hailee Steinfeld gives her best performance as the lead character Nadine, who may be the film character I relate to the most. What makes this film so great is it explores high school from the view point of someone who does not enjoy high school, so for adults watching this film they can pick out a moment or two where they can really relate to Nadine.

Kelly Fremon Craig did an amazing job at bringing her script to life. Every scene feels genuine and the entire film is filled with great emotional moments that will make you laugh or toy with your emotions.

The rest of the cast is great too, in particular Woodie Harrelson as Nadine's teacher. His character does say some inappropriate things which leads to his character to be a bit unrealistic, but his chemistry with Hailee is extremely good.

In terms of gripes the film is predictable, you'll find yourself guessing fairly early on what is going to happen so it does take a lot of the genre cliches to heart.

Overall the film is amazing, I've never seen a film explore the world of a lonely high schooler so well before and that is what makes this film.

9/10 A.

John Wick (2014)

John Wick Review

[9/10 · 16 August 2022]

A ex-hit-man comes out of retirement to hunt down the gangsters that killed his dog and took everything from him.

This film has been recommended to me a lot over the years and yesterday I finally decide to watch it. Did it live up to the hype let's see.

For starters this film is extremely well directed. Chad Stahleski created a extremely intriguing world that I've never seen done before in a action film. John Wick is of course the story of a man avenging his pet but there is a lot more at play. We get to see this underground world of criminals develop and it's a extremely well done.

Every action scene is packed with intensity and urgency and a huge part of that is the performance given by Keanu Reeves, he is incredible. The way he Carrie's himself is unlike any performance I've seen him give and it may be his best.

The rest of the cast is great as well. The villain played by Michael Nyqvist was great which is not something I usually say about action films.

In terms of gripes the ending is a little weird. They add a couple of scenes that I feel were cool to watch but from a storytelling perspective the film probably could have ended a little earlier.

Overall John Wick is Awesome, the film is packed with quality direction and provides us with possibly Keanu's best performance yet.

9/10 A.

The Fallout (2021)

The Fallout Review

[8/10 · 14 August 2022]

For this review I am not going to include a synopsis because I feel that if you know what this movie is about beforehand the impact it has isn't as significant.

I went into this film knowing only that the reviews were positive and the lead was Jenna Ortega. Once I finished the film I went and watched a trailer for it and felt that the emotional impact wouldn't have hit as hard if I knew the plot beforehand.

That being said all I want you to know is that this film is great. It takes you on a emotional roller coaster as it explores a very relevant topic and how that topic affects a person. The cast is across the board incredible and Jenna Ortega gives her best performance to date.

One specific I will mention is the use of gen z culture. This is the first film I've seen to really explore what life is like for someone in gen z and I felt that they did a great job.

My only real gripe with the film is that it can drag, it is through and through a character driven film and even though the run time is only 90 minutes I definitely felt that certain moments were unneeded and repetitive.

Another thing to mention is that there will definitely be certain themes and messages that go over your head specifically at the end of the film. If you do find yourself missing something I would highly suggest going to YouTube and watching an explanation as there are many videos that will help.

Overall "The Fallout" is a great film. Jenna Ortega leads an amazing cast as we get an excellent exploration of a situation that affects a lot of people today.

8.5/10 A-

Only Murders in the Building (2021– )

Season 1 and 2 Review

[9/10 · 13 August 2022]

Only Murders in the building follows a trio of tenants as they try to solve a murder that took place in their building.

I was not at all expecting to like this first season as much as I did. The show was something I looked at but was never really interested in, I saw it as more of a parody of sorts so it didn't appeal to me. That being said when I saw a critic I deeply respect praise the second season I figured I should give it a go.

What I like most about the first season is the mix of genres. This is through and through a dramedy, but it takes that genre and blends it with a murder mystery so not only does it take you on a roller coaster of emotions it continuously keeps you guessing at who killed Tim Kono.

The core trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez have some of the best on screen group chemistry I've seen in a modern day show. Each one of them plays off of the other extremely well and it's a lot of fun to watch.

In terms of gripes I don't really have many, the only thing that slightly annoyed me was that their were certain subplots, that I feel could've been explored more so that when they came to and end it would've felt more earned.

Overall "Only Murders in the Building" season 1 is fantastic. With a stacked cast and a extremely talented group of writers this show is far better than I expected.

9/10 A.

After another murder occurs in the building our core trio are under the spotlight as the prime suspects

This season is just as good as the first and honestly I feel the exact same way as I did the for the first season, so I'll keep this short.

The core trio of Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin are what make this show their chemistry is off the charts and it's awesome to watch.

The story unfolds in a very well structured manner. The twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat while the character development is strong throughout.

This show does have a theme of underdeveloped subplots which isn't a big deal because they are subplots but something to mention.

Overall season to is just as good as season 1. It's filled with great chemistry and quality writing.

9/10 A.

Nope (2022)

Nope Review

[9/10 · 23 July 2022]

When a horse trainer sees something strange in the sky he and his sister are determined to get a quality video of whatever is up there.

At this point in time I have seen Get Out but have not seen Us. Get Out is in my opinion of the best horror films ever made which is why I was so excited to see this new Jordan Peele film.

Jordan Peeles ability to create such an immersive and intense experience is phenomenal. The film keeps you locked in the entire time and has somewhat of a slow burn feel to it. This isn't a horror movie which is not at all a bad thing, this film is much more of a sci-fi thriller and it hits the the majority of its marks.

The visuals in this film are outstanding as we see a number of different camera techniques that all blend together to make one of the best cinema experiences of the past decade.

The acting is top notch across the board but Keke Palmer is the standout. Daniel Kaluuyas is incredible as well but his character is far more reserved than Kekes character which is why she is able to shine. Brandon Parea is an actor I've never seen before but he did a great job in his role as well.

I really only have one issue with the film and it involves a certain side plot that serves no purpose. They set it up at the beginning and revisited it here and there but by the end of the film I realized that it didn't really amount to anything relevant.

Overall "Nope" puts Jordan Peeles film making on full display by giving us one of the most mesmerizing films in recent history.

9/10 A.

The Black Phone (2021)

The Black Phone Review

[9/10 · 21 July 2022]

When a 13 year old boy is abducted by a sadistic killer, he comes in contact with the killers previous victims.

This is one of my most anticipated films this is year and it took me a while to see it but I was finally able to see it last night. The trailers were extremely appealing to me and I could not wait to see it, but did it live up to my expectations let's see.

What makes a good horror movie for me isn't the jump scares or all the gore it's the consistent sense of fear while watching. The Black Phone does just that, once the boy is kidnapped the entire film is haunting as the film takes us through the ride of will he or won't he. The woman who was sitting to my left was hyperventilating during a fair bit of the film so that right there indicates how well done the horror was.

The core story is about a kid trying to escape his kidnapper which is fairly simplistic but the added element of supernatural makes for a story that builds tension right until the end so we get what I consider the best film ending of the year.

The acting is across the board top notch. Ethan Hawke was amazing as the psychotic grabber, the role shows how good of an actor he is and why he needs more roles like this. Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw give two outstanding performances for actors of their age. To be honest every child actor was incredible I genuinely don't know where they find these kids.

I have one gripe with the film and it involves a certain adult character that was misused and felt unneeded.

Overall "The Black Phone" is incredible every ounce of this film is tension filled and backed by amazing performances from both kids and adults.

9/10 A.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Thor: Love and Thunder Review

[7/10 · 10 July 2022]

Thor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct.

Thor: Ragnarok is not only the best Thor film but one of the best MCU films in general, so Taika Waititi had his work cut out for him in Thor: Love and Thunder. So did it live up to Ragnarok let's see.

The cast is all around great and the chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman is on full display. They really brought their relationship to life in this one and I feel they handled it much better then the first two Thor films. But I do feel that certain plot points involving their characters were rushed and didn't deliver the emotional punch the writers were looking for. Christian Bale is the standout for me (which is exactly what I expected), his performance as the gritty intimidating Gorr is amazing and why I wish we got more of it. The vast majority of Marvel films have the issue of not focusing on the villain enough and this film is no exception. Every scene involving Gorr is incredibly well done and if they were to have given me more of that it may have been the best MCU film but the constant shift in tone taints the overall quality.

Every scene that didn't involve Gorr was very comedic and I felt that the comedy was not handled well for a number of reasons. First when you set up a movie with a villain as dark as Gorr, you need to keep the tone consistent and this film did no such thing. There were a lot of well written jokes but they didn't at all mix with the overall story. Gorr has one goal and that is to kill all the gods and he does some pretty messed up stuff to achieve this goal so to take that premise and intertwine it with a romantic comedy you get what is a very weird feeling movie.

The visuals are across the board great and one fight sequence in particular may be one of my favourite from the MCU. The music is very on point throughout the entire film as they pair the awesome action sequences with amazing classic rock hits.

Overall Thor: Love and Thunder is a good film. Thor and Jane finally receive their deserved development and Christian Bales Gorr is nothing short of menacing. But the lack of a consistent tone makes for a weird and at times frustrating watch that taints the overall quality of the film.

7/10 B+

The Guilty (2021)

The Guilty Review

[8/10 · 5 July 2022]

When a demoted police officer is sent to dispatch he finds himself trying to locate an abducted woman the night before his court hearing.

When I turned on Netflix last night I had planned on watching peaky blinders but when I saw the promo for this film I was hooked.

This film great film in my opinion and the main reason for that is Jake Gyllenhaal. He is outstanding in this role and the fact that he still has not received any recognition for his talent is mind blowing to me. He is the reason you are constantly on the edge of your seat and what makes the film suspenseful.

The direction from Antoine Fuqua is incredible as he delivers us a technically flawless film. The rest of the cast are mainly voice actors that include Ethan Hawke, Riley Keough, and Peter Sarsgaard but each one do an incredible job in their supporting role.

The film for the most part keeps you on the edge of your seat mainly due to Gyllenhaals stellar acting, that being said there are quite a few moments in the film that are repetitive and slow. Even though the run time is only 90 minutes the pace could've used some tweaking.

As I said Jake Gyllenhaal is phenomenal in this film but his character is quite irrational at times as we see him yell at people over the phone and yell at people he works with. This to me is fairly unrealistic considering Gyllenhaal is playing a police officer.

Overall "The Guilty" is a great film that really showcases the talent of Jake Gyllenhaal and Antoine Fuqua.

8/10 A-

Elvis (2022)

Elvis Review

[8/10 · 25 June 2022]

Growing up a poor child in Tupelo, Mississippi Elvis found his calling in the form of Music leading him to become one of the greatest solo artists of all time.

Elvis Presley in my opinion is the greatest solo artist of all time, and that is why I was so excited to see this film. After viewing it I can honestly say that I throughly enjoyed the film and am satisfied with what they made.

The direction from Baz Luhrmann is extremely good and he really brings that time period to life and encapsulates you in this film.

Austin Butler is phenomenal as Elvis and is the main reason why I enjoyed this film as much as I did. Every aspect of his performance feels like Elvis and by the time the film ends and they show clips of the real Elvis you almost forget that what Butler did was just a performance.

Tom Hanks character is where my gripes for the film begin. I don't necessarily dislike the character but I do feel that they made him seem cartoonish at times. A good chunk of the film focuses on Him and I am completely ok with that considering how involved the Colonel was with Elvis's career but his portrayal was very childish at times.

The storytelling itself is for the most part very well done. You really get a deep dive into Elvis and the life he had being as famous as he was. They also do a deep dive into the inspiration for his music and it's explored perfectly.

My second criticism of the film is that they use montages far too much. This is bad for two reasons, first it moves the story too quickly and you lose some important development. Second it can be tough to tell how far ahead in time they have moved.

My final criticism is the use of modern music, this is my biggest gripe. If you're going to make a biopic about a musician one of two things need to happen, either the musicians music needs to be used exclusively or you use other musicians music from the same time period.

Overall Elvis is a good solid biopic with great direction and a phenomenal performance from Austin Butler, but certain writing choices taint the overall quality of the film.

7.5/10 B+

Lightyear (2022)

Lightyear Review

[7/10 · 20 June 2022]

While attempting to return home Buzz Lightyear finds him self with a group of space rangers trying to survive the army of robots controlled by Zurg.

I am not someone who grew up with Toy Story, I enjoyed all of the films and thought they were great but I wouldn't consider them amongst my favourite movies growing up. So all I was looking for in Lightyear was a good solid movie and I am glad to say that is what I got.

Chris Evans does a great job as Buzz and the movie does a great job of making you connect and root for this new version of the character. The rest of the cast are also solid but I would have liked to see Taika Waititi play a more pivotal role instead of being the comedic relief. Peter Sohn was the standout voice actor for me, Sox was easily my favourite character as he had a role to play and was constantly humorous.

The story really takes a turn at about the half way point and it kind of feels weird considering how they were setting up the plot. It also drags a few times and my 10 year old brother found himself bored a fair bit.

The visuals are great throughout and I very much enjoyed all of the action sequences the film provides.

Overall Lightyear is a good film, it won't blow you away but you won't find yourself wasting your time.

7.5/10 B+