malmevik77 Reviews

The Avengers (2012)

Pure comic book to big screen genius.

[9/10 · 25 May 2024]

The Avengers

At long last, the first phase of the MCU comes together in the sixth film, the Avengers. Long time fans of the superhero team got their patience rewarded. Marvel's creative team really shines here as they paid so much attention to the details from the source material and their own films.

What I loved most about this movie is that they continued all the stories of the first 5 films in this one without making the audience feel that there was too much going on. Maria Hill is also introduced, increasing the character appearances. Even Natalie Portman's face appears as Jane on a screen showing that she wasn't forgotten about either.

We learn so much more about the characters and what it's like to see them struggle to work as a team. And Loki knew that would happen. The theme of linking strengths and not flexing ego is explored in depth all while Loki exploits it to his very successful advantage. Think about this for a minute. Loki's plan required a great deal of "distraction" that an ensorcelled Hawkeye asked for. Had the squabbling not taken place, I see a much different ending.

Knowing what we know comes later, it is even more painful knowing that maybe we need to take a step back and not just assume all will be well because they're superheroes.

I remember seeing Thanos for those 2 seconds at the end of the movie and becoming lost in magical wonder about what Marvel would do with the stories I knew. Years and years of joy were to follow but I didn't know that. I just knew that my 30 something year old body still was a kid enjoying these cosmic adventures.

Stan Lee dismissing superheroes in New York is funny but not that funny haha. I loved the shawarma scene at the end of the credits and I love that you can buy them at Disney California Adventure. They're good too!

Since I am reviewing the film by itself, I'll stop here but from here on out, the films get very intertwined and it'll be more difficult to do that. I'll be reviewing by also connecting what is being shown to what has been shown.

Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (2011 Video)

A bit pointless, but cute

[4/10 · 24 May 2024]

Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer

This wasn't the best of the one-shots. It gives us a chance to Coulson being all badass as a S. H. I. E. L. D. agent by defeating two guys robbing a gas station convenience store. I guess this was to give him some action instead of just seeming all snooty government officialish. There was a reference to Roxxon on the gas pump which was nice, but nothing much else to see here.

I wish they had included more characters in the sequence that are known to the audience or the comic book fans instead of random people. I much rather prefer seeing Coulson in the Agents of S. H. I. E. L. D. tv show being badass instead of here.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

One of the best films of the MCU

[9/10 · 24 May 2024]

Captain America: The First Avenger

My personal favorite of the pre-Avengers movie, Captain America: The First Avenger has the first appearance of the greatest gift to the MCU, Peggy Carter. Oh yeah, and Steve Rogers, blah blah blah. Just kidding. The 5th movie of the MCU showed us how scrawny Steve became the athletic Captain America as the first successful Super Soldier during World War II. To tie this all together, this program was hinted at in The Incredible Hulk, being a scientific experiment to try to recreate it.

Basically, the audience gets to learn a bit of Cap's history in the comics with the Red Skull, Dum Dum Dugan, Bucky Barnes, and the delightful patriotic dancers during Cap's visit to Italy. Steve tries to enlist in the army, but has too many medical problems. He is given a chance and shown to have grit, determination and self sacrifice to save his comrades in arms. He is then chosen to try the serum to develop his body, but he keeps his patriotic and brave mind and heart.

The Red Skull, on the other hand, used a prototype of the serum, and it didn't quite work the same. He also discovers "The Tesseract", which becomes very important in later film, in order to utilize its power to make weaponry to destroy cities. Battling the Red Skull is what dumped Cap into the icy waters of the arctic, keeping him preserved until the present day.

I love WWII movies because most of them show how ordinary people did extraordinary things to fight for what they believe in, and to fight for the lives of their friends and families. That's all Steve wanted to do. He didn't know he was going to be enhanced. The army tries to bench him due to him being the only person to receive the serum, but he breaks free of the prancing around as a symbol and saves hundreds of lives. Once proven, he goes on mission after mission to successfully turn the tide against the Nazis, and the mysterious Hydra. As in the comics, not everyone can be saved, and Cap suffers a horrible blow in the loss of his best friend.

When Cap wakes up in the present, he's a bit shocked by the time loss, but seems to take it in stride after he meets Nick Fury. It's time to assemble!

This movie's Stan Lee cameo had him waiting with other military figures to see Cap, who is a no show, and Stan mistakes the messenger for Cap commenting that he thought he would be taller, haha.

You can really tell that the MCU is taking off as the Avengers is the next film in the series. The streaming copy of Captain America has a teaser trailer of the Avengers in a post credits scene.

Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant (2011 Video)

Short pieces that reward fans by further connecting the universe

[8/10 · 23 May 2024]

Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant

During the first phase of the MCU, Marvel released these very short pieces to help bridge some of the other gaps, or connect characters that might have been forgotten about. In the Consultant, there is talk that the Abomination from The Incredible Hulk (2008) was being considered to be an Avenger. Obviously that doesn't happen, but it's cute to see a rerun of Tony Stark's talk with General Ross in the bar from the end of that movie. Comic books are well known for telling vast stories that can last decades, but every once in a while a "one-shot" book will be released just to paint a fuller picture. There are others, and I will review them in the order that they were shown to audiences. This one took place between Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.

Thor (2011)

Lots of info dump for those not familiar, but a solid intro to Thor

[7/10 · 23 May 2024]

Thor

Robotics, science and government have been tackled in the MCU, but the 4th film in the MCU, Thor, brings in mysticism and alien beings. Marvel had used Norse mythology decades ago when writing the series Journey Into Mystery, which evolved into the adventures of Thor pretty early on. As it was clear by this point that the Avengers were coming together, it wouldn't be right to not involve our favorite muscled Norse god from Asgard. It was time for his "origin" film, explaining who he is, who his cast of characters are, and how the universe continues to expand.

S. H. I. E. L. D.'s references to "trouble in New Mexico" during Iron Man 2 are revealed to be a powerless Thor, and his unmovable hammer, making a dramatic entrance by falling from the sky. Jane Foster (played beautifully by Natalie Portman), is joined by MCU original characters Darcy (love love love her) and Dr. Erik Selvig in finding Thor while researching changes in the constellations due to the transportation system used.

The movie spends a big chunk of time info dumping all of Thor's mythology for the audience, introducing all of those characters, Loki, Odin, Freya, Heimdall, the Warriors Three, and Lady Sif, plus of course our favorite hammer, Mjölnir.

The rest of the movie is a cautionary tale of letting one's arrogance and bravado overtake compassion and decency. Thor is tossed to Earth (Midgard) because his father doesn't believe he is fit to wield such power while being a colossal brat. Jane Foster helps him realize what a brat he truly is, and rah rah rah, all is well. Hawkeye also makes a short appearance as an operative of S. H. I. E. L. D., like Black Widow in Iron Man 2.

I think it's not an uncommon experience for someone to be told their entire life that they are perfect, and will use those skills when they're older. However, that can lead to a big head, and a very black and white outlook on what is right and wrong. The literal translation is a form of racism dumbed down to good vs evil.

As usual, the good guys are good looking humans, and the bad guys are dark blue skinned creatures, not as good looking of course. Loki, Thor's brother, living in his brother's shadow, goes rogue when learning of his own connection to the "bad guys" even though he can change his form between the two races. This sets Loki against Thor because of this "us vs them" mentality and we see this rivalry continue throughout the entire movie series for the next decade.

One more origin story to go folks, then we get to the Shawarma! Thor's Stan Lee cameo involved him using a truck to try and drag Mjölnir out of its landing point. I love looking for these cameos as I review these films.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

A setup movie for the Avengers. Not horrible but not great.

[7/10 · 22 May 2024]

Iron Man 2

This film is almost the red headed step child of the early part of the MCU. Iron Man 2 took the origin story of the first, and then evolved it into a set up movie. It had great positive moments, suffered from a bit of bloating and had a forgettable set of villains, all leading to the continued hinting of the Avengers Initiative with S. H. I. E. L. D.

After the governmental interference in The Incredible Hulk, it only made sense that the U. S. Government wishes to take over Tony's Iron Man suit before the rest of the world catches up on the technology. The official private company contracted by the government is run by a horrible human being, Justin Hammer, who would rather live the high life than do actual scientific research. As the viewers should have expected, another threat emerges with similar technology much faster than the characters anticipated.

As this is now the third film in an ever expanding shared universe, with the first two doing well enough to green light the project, more comic book characters emerge dropping hints of what will happen next. S. H. I. E. L. D. Director Nick Fury and agent Coulson both speak of something going on in New Mexico, Fury reveals that Howard Stark was a founding member of S. H. I. E. L. D. and Fury plants Agent Romanov (the Black Widow's first appearance) on Stark's staff. You see, Tony is dying because his arc reactor is poisoning his blood.

While it is fun to see Howard Stark in a Walt Disney role describing his view of the future, the sudden insertion of Howard's corrupt Russian counterpart and revenge driven son Ivan Vanko felt forced, especially since there really isn't a comic book counterpart besides an alternate version of Whiplash. These films shine when adaptations are made on the original source material to give a nod to the fans, which was done with Justin Hammer, albeit a younger version.

Also, in typical drag-it-out fashion, Tony won't communicate to the people he cares about (Pepper, Happy, Rhodes) that he is dying, and acts out instead. His choice to cope by using alcohol begins the chain reaction leading to Rhodes stealing a suit and taking on the moniker of War Machine, after a sarcastic comment by a drunken Stark. In addition, Howard Stark didn't communicate to his son how important he was to him, leaving only a throw away comment on an unedited piece of film. Once that is all cleared up, including Tony fixing his blood poisoning problem, the plot can climax bringing everyone back together again.

Themes of science versus government, corruption and greed leading to revenge, and terrible communication are explored but ultimately aren't very interesting.

Obviously I still recommend this because the viewers wouldn't have full understanding of later films, but it's not the greatest. One last thing: Stan Lee's cameo is adorable as he is mistaken for Larry King.

I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

A perfect representation of mental illness

[10/10 · 21 May 2024]

I Saw the TV Glow

How do you experience life when you feel empty inside? I Saw the TV Glow takes the theme of using fantasy to forget about your troubles and catapults it to an extreme. The two main characters, Owen and Maddie, spend their teen years watching a Buffy the Vampire Slayer like show called The Pink Opaque. Both of them are loners, and in my opinion, autistic characters that have trouble with their parents, and classmates.

After several years, and seasons of the show, Maddie runs away coincidentally after the series finale of their show, leaving Owen to maneuver through life with extreme anxiety and solitude. His mother died of cancer early in the film, and his father was distant and lacking of understanding of his son's inability to cope.

I won't spoil what happens next, but it causes you to think. What if what you perceive as reality is but a myth? What if the fantasy that you use to escape is more than fantasy? What if you feel suffocated from depression that changing realities is your only way to survive?

I often write about my struggles with mental illness, and my love of seeing it in mainstream media being treated with respect. This film goes above and beyond respecting people's conditions, and going to the aforementioned extreme of a person's inability to work with it, or have a support system. Go see this movie. As the POV happens from a character with mental illness, it shows a different side of the disease. A lot of films feature other characters helping out, but what if there was no one to help but yourself? Perception becomes reality, and reality can be not something that can be dealt with. This gets scary, and knowing how people feel can be all the difference.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Much better in retrospect.

[7/10 · 21 May 2024]

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

With Universal flexing their distribution rights, The Incredible Hulk (2008) was notably absent in Marvel's MCU on Disney+. It also seemed, for years, that this movie wasn't quite a part of it either. Thankfully, Disney regained those rights in 2023, and the movie made it to their streaming services. I haven't seen the movie since it was originally released, and I have now watched the second film in the MCU and found a new appreciation.

Edward Norton, in his only appearance before Mark Ruffalo took over, did a better job of playing the Hulk than I think he was recognized for. I know that he was difficult behind the scenes, and was all ridiculous about refusing to continue the role, but I still liked his Bruce Banner.

The film introduces Thaddeus Ross, the Abomination, Betty Ross, and a freaky Ty Burrell that all I could see was Phil from Modern Family. Bruce is on the run after using an experimental super-soldier serum on himself, causing him to transform into the Hulk, an uncontrollable and unstoppable creature. In this film, instead of gamma ray exposure, the MCU ties this together with the same program that created Captain America. In fact, Tony Stark, in a cameo, even mentions that the program was "on ice", a nod to Steve Rogers' fate after World War II.

Stan Lee's hilarious cameo was the impetus for Ross finding Bruce hiding in Brazil. Blinsky (later the Abomination) becomes exposed to the same serum after failing to contain the Hulk allowing for a legitimate fight between two unstoppable creatures.

The film gives Bruce and Betty, his former girlfriend, a romantic touch when she immediately works to aid in Bruce's quest to remove the Hulk from his body. It's a little clunky, but as a comic book fan, it was fun to see. Betty, being General Ross's daughter, also brings more dramatic tension as she disagrees with her father's methods.

In typical Marvel fashion, the themes of scientific progress being weaponized by the military / government bring to mind the Manhattan Project, which was also referenced in Iron Man. Blinsky and Ross discussing that scientists don't deserve to be a weapon, instead of soldiers, continue this theme of arrogance.

With another reference to the gathering of "Avengers" at the end, the movie ties into Iron Man, which was a nice touch. Now knowing that the characters pop up throughout later films, my referenced appreciation above allowed me to place the film back into the greater narrative after initially dismissing it.

Cruella (2021)

Perfect example of an over the top performance for an over the top villain

[10/10 · 20 May 2024]

Cruella

Another live action Disney movie based off of their animated film, and the book that inspired that, Cruella is a prequel, showing how her life evolved from orphan to extraordinary fashion designer with a love for Dalmatian fur.

Disney has made the perfect movie by casting Emma Stone and Emma Thompson in the two lead roles, and giving them the freedom to express themselves with dry wit, sarcasm, vicious one liners, and adult themes not normally seen. The movie is rated PG 13 for a reason.

This is not a film for young kids. The death of Cruella's (originally named Estella) mother near the beginning of the film is quite traumatic. She blames herself and goes about living her life as part of a petty street gang in London, while dreaming of fashion design. As she gets older, she impresses The Baroness, a woman whose narcissism is unparalleled.

Once Cruella's full personality emerges out of Estella's hopes and dreams, the special effects and fashion, coupled with a spectacular 1970s rock score, the film shines. Cruella, plus Horace and Jasper and their dogs, conduct capers to ruin the Baroness and promote Cruella into superstardom.

In addition, the character of Artie, is an openly gay fashion designer who sells vintage clothing. For Disney, this is groundbreaking as he is the first openly gay character in one of their live action films. It is not a blatant, in your face, portrayal, but one that makes sense to the narrative.

I cannot praise this movie enough. It is fun, over the top, beautiful and refreshing. Disney needs to make more films like this. Go see it, but not with young children that cannot handle the suspense and adult themes.

Back to Black (2024)

A perfect biopic that revealed more pain than I knew

[10/10 · 20 May 2024]

Back to Black

Amy Winehouse was a tortured poet and talented singer in reality, and brought to life on the big screen in Back to Black with great respect. A woman who enjoyed the jazz music of past decades, she wanted to live the life that would inspire the writing of her songs, and give a delivery with such emotion that you felt you were a part of that life.

The film, like Amy, moved fast and tumultuous. I felt her pain and sadness as many traumatic experiences coupled with her inability to cope without drugs and alcohol addiction was very relatable. Expressing her feelings through songs only made things worse as her intense shyness made it difficult to perform for the world without worsening that addiction.

Marisa Abela, as Amy, performed all of the songs to perfection. Her close resemblance to Amy almost made me feel that Amy was still alive and portraying herself. Her ability to emulate a woman tortured by loss and addiction was nothing short of uncanny.

I highly recommend this film if you are a fan of her music, or just curious about the life that tragically ended at the age of 27. I have been inspired to take another listen to her music, now knowing more details about the life that brought it to the world.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

Disappointing, repetitive from the other films, nothing new

[5/10 · 20 May 2024]

Mission Impossible: Fallout

Mission Impossible: Fallout continues the franchise's work at keeping the same plot moving, instead of the earlier entries of one off spy movies. The cast returns, except Jeremy Renner, from Rogue Nation to uncover a nuclear threat to the planet.

My issue with this movie is that doesn't offer anything new. The heads of the spy agency are not pleased with the way Ethan and the team handle their work. The plutonium needed for the nuclear threat is taken during their failure to stop it leaving suspicion that, once again, the team has gone rogue and allowed it to happen.

Two and a half hours of movie are filled with one action sequence after another as the team scrambles to stop the Apostles (a reborn Syndicate) from using the plutonium. Of course, the world doesn't end, so the audience isn't quite on the edge of their seat as in prior installments. The filmmakers had lost sight of the spirit of these films. While the spy action scenes are fun to watch, and full of explosions and car chases, the villains' goal is too extreme for me to care.

The film isn't horrible, and had the scheme been plausible, it would have been excellent. The continuing dangling unresolved status of Ethan's marriage from the third film gets wrapped up nicely, which is a huge positive.

There really isn't much else to say as no other development occurs. It's an action movie, so that's not unexpected, but it would have been nice for a bit more.

Iron Man (2008)

Marvel Studios entry into popularity and success

[8/10 · 20 May 2024]

Iron Man

The movie that began a media franchise, brought Marvel's comic book storylines to the mainstream, and birthed the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man brought a lesser known character to the big screen. Over the years, Marvel's characters had been licensed to other movie studios. But with Paramount distributing the film, Marvel Studios finally had their chance to make it their own.

Iron Man fans got to see Tony Stark brought to life by Robert Downey, Jr., starting out as an indifferent and ambivalent war profiteer, using his great intellect to manufacture weapons and military technology. His vast fortune allowed him to hide from the moral questions by losing himself in women and drink. Tony's alcoholism was a major plot point in the comics decades ago continuing Marvel's groundbreaking work with bringing elements of reality into a fantasy world.

The parallels to Batman have always been clear as Tony has no supernatural abilities, but only his intellectual genius. In order to be of use, that intellect aids him to build a suit of armor. The movie pays homage to his earliest comic book appearances when the suit was gray and clunky.

Marvel Studios movies are different than other comic book adaptations because the superhero plot also serves as metaphor for various social, mental health or moral issues that have always affected me as they are all relatable. At the beginning of the film, Tony is kidnapped in Afghanistan after being severely wounded by shrapnel. The device used to save his heart is implanted at this time. Instead of building the weapon demanded of him, he builds the aforementioned clunky suit and escapes. While it takes his personal trauma to develop his character from indifference to involvement in world affairs, Tony seems to genuinely embrace his change. His original naivety ironically leads to strengthening his decision to change his outlook, as he uncovers betrayal in the company that bears his name.

Also, in perfect comic book fashion, this movie is only the beginning of a long term storyline that has gone on for over 15 years at the time I wrote this. In order to maintain continuity, other characters are introduced from the comic books including Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, Lt. Colonel James Rhodes, the organization the Ten Rings, Phil Coulson and Obadiah Stane. Stan Lee also continues his tradition of providing cameos in Marvel films. The audience must then pay full attention to the details as they are used throughout the other films.

With that, Nick Fury, S. H. I. E. L. D and the Avengers seeds are planted. Buckle in folks; you're in for a long ride.

Irena's Vow (2023)

Courageous, risky, anxiety ridden, but not a totally great film

[7/10 · 18 May 2024]

Irena's Vow

Other than beating the tar out of Nazis, the other kind of WWII movies I enjoy are the ones that feature the unsung heroes that were able to rescue small groups of Jewish people. Irena's Vow features Irena Gut, a Polish woman forced into service by the occupying Germans in the city of Tarnopol (now in the Ukraine as Ternopol).

While working for Major Rügemer, she is assigned to supervise the laundry, and then as the housekeeper for his villa, seized from a Polish family. When she saw that all the people in the laundry were to be executed as part of Hitler's plan, she schemes to hide them in the very house that the Major now occupies.

If this wasn't a true story, I wouldn't have believed a word of this. It was so poorly acted, I felt like I was watching a modern film with costumes, instead of a film to transport us back in time to the mad era of Nazi insanity.

It becomes quite clear, sort of, early on that Rügemer has a thing for Irena, but it catapults forward when he discovers that there are Jews hiding in his home. The speed and transformation of superior to inferior to Polish lover was so fast, it just didn't make sense in the narrative.

Sophie Nélisse, as Irena, did a great job of emoting the compassion, the panic, the fear, the horror and the bravery all needed to survive. After witnessing a child get murdered on the street by yet another disgraceful "German", she really dove into her risky plan to save as many Jews as she could.

I wanted to love this due to the bravery in the depths of despair, but it wasn't completely well done. I don't know, nor can I put my finger on it, but I felt it could have been done better. I'm just glad it really happened and the people went on to live full lives. The notes in the credits were really sweet.

Scream 4 (2011)

Rebooting the franchise with a movie about horror movie reboots

[8/10 · 18 May 2024]

Scre4m

After the original trilogy, I was a little wary of an 11 year later sequel, but after seeing it in 2024, Scre4m did a great job exploring a horror franchise reboot. The movie brought back Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and her now ex-husband David Arquette to bring out nostalgia, in addition to a new cast.

As in the first movies, there's lots of slasher murders caused by Ghostface, and a mystery as to who their identity really is. Since this is a reboot, plenty of tropes are used to tie in the modern audience with the original one from 1996. The spoof film Stab from the original films has now expanded to 7 titles, yet another jab at how the same routine is used over and over again.

But this works. I enjoyed the blatant rip offs of the first films including how some of the murders are done, staged, or presented. They even brought back the infamous garage door, but at least not with a dog door this time. (I'm looking at you Rose McGowan).

It is a bit ridiculous in the uninspired ways some die, and it is repetitive of the earlier films, but that is the point. The idea that films, especially in the horror genre, tend to go on and on, and then reboot themselves years later, is the main theme of the film. I wish Jamie Kennedy had somehow appeared, even supernaturally. I liked how he was used as a "chorus" of sorts to explain what horror movie tropes were being used, as he did in the first three. I joked with a friend that he would be the killer, but alas, I was wrong.

I wish I had seen this sooner, but I'm glad I got to see it. I enjoyed it a lot, and I look forward to more in the franchise.

The Fall Guy (2024)

A hilarious homage to stunt people

[9/10 · 15 May 2024]

The Fall Guy

A self proclaimed love letter to stunt men and women, The Fall Guy, delivers on hundreds of stunts that work well with the lunacy that is the main plot. A stunt gone wrong at the beginning of the movie leads to stunt man Colt Seavers breaking his back, hiding for 18 months and shutting out the world including camerawoman Jody Moreno who he was being nauseatingly cute with.

After those 18 months, Jody is now a director and her producer brings Colt back to help with some shenanigans going on behind the scenes. For the rest of the two hours, it gets sillier and more over the top and I ate up every second.

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are so cute together. Their on screen chemistry is undeniable. And Ryan is absolutely jacked as the super athletic stunt man, adding plausibility to some of the more physical stunts.

The film continues exploring their relationship, and the truth behind what was happening, by stringing together stunt after stunt. You can truly feel the love that the movie shows for all of those people that make action films so exciting. So many explosions! And watching that car flip so many times that it earned a Guinness World Record was so cool.

I was disappointed that the fisting joke from the trailer was cut from the movie. Boo.

Lastly, the movie does push for the theme of honesty even during the toughest of times. Ryan channeled his rom com charms in pretty impressive ways, and hallucinates about unicorns at the same time.

A Taylor Swift song is featured quite significantly near the beginning and I couldn't stop laughing in how it was used.

Go see it. Support the stunt people. And watch for the Lee Majors cameo in the credits. Yes I'm old.

Tarot (I) (2024)

So stupid I couldn't help but laugh

[6/10 · 14 May 2024]

Tarot

Tarot is a pretty predictable horror film that takes an old deck of Tarot cards and brings the grotesque paintings to life, as revealed in the trailer. College kids find the deck in a mansion rented for one of their birthdays, and decide it would be fun to use them. Using divination, one of them, who naturally has experience reading cards, tells each of the friends how their horoscope combine with the tarot cards into warnings or guidance of their lives.

Then, it gets weird. Each of them starts to be confronted, literally, but the card character that they received, coupled with, again literally, aspects of their reading.

This movie is pretty bad. The acting was bad. The behaviors of the characters trying to not die were just so dumb. The fact that some of them are in disbelief of what's going on, and then suddenly are hardcore believers gave me whiplash. And don't get me started how multiple characters make a 4 hour drive, not concurrently, and it's still night time out.

However, I loved this movie. It was so dumb that it was funny. I enjoyed it as it was just plain fun. I kind of expected this from the preview, but I was pleased that I was enjoying it. It's more slasher than horror, with a few jump scares and quite a bit of macabre moments. You know you're in trouble when a Victrola is used to freak out the characters.

Go see it with your brain turned off. There really are no redeeming qualities because even at the end, stupidity abounds. Two perfectly drivable cars are available to the survivors, yet they walk away down country roads to get back to civilization. What...?

Boy Kills World (2023)

Slapstick revenge film

[8/10 · 14 May 2024]

Boy Kills World

I had the good fortune to see Boy Kills World because it's just ridiculously fun. The main character, Boy, had his tongue removed, and his ears damaged so that he is deaf and mute. In his head, H. Jon Benjamin (of Archer and Bob's burgers fame) plays the voice that he feels he must sound like. That man is absolutely hysterical, and I can't imagine him ordering fast food in the drive through.

The Boy witnessed his mother and sister murdered in a ritualistic killing by the matriarch of a despotic government family. He was then raised by a shaman who trained him for revenge. Once he is old enough, the fun begins.

Ridiculous is a word I will use again because, oh my goodness, some of the things that happen in this movie (who knew a cheese grater was so versatile?) were genuinely laugh out loud moments that keep on going.

Throughout the film, Boy hallucinates his dead sister who he can speak to, and this is partially explained by the use of an abundance of drugs forced upon him by the shaman. It is quite sad actually the amount of suffering and plain torture that Boy must endure before going out into the world to get his revenge.

There's a big twist at the end of the movie that is mostly predictable but still satisfying. This isn't Shakespeare, but it's a revenge "video game" film that adds a lot of humor that was refreshing in the era of John Wicks and The Beekeepers.

Don't bring the kids, but bring the open mind of fast talking silliness during the bloodbaths. I mean seriously, the cheese grater, hahaha.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Most faithful adaptation of the classic video game series

[8/10 · 30 April 2024]

The Super Mario Bros Movie

The Super Mario Bros Movie is absolute perfection as a video game adaptation. Yes, I am starting my review with that statement. I am old enough to have lived through the horrible 90s movie, and the cheesy but fun live action tv show. Starting the movie with that theme song as their plumbing commercial gave me all the nostalgia feels. I was 12 again and I just started singing along to a song I hadn't heard in 30 years.

The animation is so bright and vivid, and very colorful. The voice acting is very well done. There are so many references to all the video games as well. Plus: Peaches peaches peaches peaches peaches.

The plot is the usual, Bowser is trying to take over the mushroom kingdom because, of course, he's in love with Princess Peach. Hilarity and chaos ensue as Donkey Kong Country and Mario Kart elements are incorporated into the plot.

Luigi is underused, but at least he is next to the delightful emo blue star thing, haha. I need more of that in my life! There are so many characters, locations, abilities and banana peels in this movie, I can't praise it enough. I like to watch a movie, write about it, and move on, but this one I want to see it again, it was so much fun.

There's nothing really redeeming about it, however. It relies completely on nostalgia, the music from the games, and all the other elements in the games, and it works. I loved it.

Trashed: The Secret Life of Plastic Recycling (2023 TV Special)

18 month study of the myth of recycling in America

[8/10 · 29 April 2024]

Trashed: The Secret Life of Plastic Recycling and Trashed: The Secret Life of Plastic Exports

ABC News spent the last 18 months following the trail of what happens to plastic bags after they are dropped off in those green boxes that say recycle. What is discovered is criminal, unethical and killing people. Apparently the corporate greed coupled with "Big plastic" pushes all of our recycling to other countries where they're either abandoned, or incinerated, pushing forth toxins into the air. And nobody cares. The interviews done with Walmart are just infuriating. They don't answer the questions. They talk about irrelevant topics. It's on Hulu. Watch it, but beware, it'll change your perception about recycling. I know that when I buy things in plastic, I think about how I'll just recycle the packaging when I'm done. Since recycling is a myth, this is making me want to reduce my use of plastic as much as possible.

Take Your Pills: Xanax (2022)

It's unnecessary scare tactics for those that don't have experience

[8/10 · 29 April 2024]

Take Your Pills: Xanax

Netflix followed up the original Take Your Pills documentary on Adderall, and pivoted to another overprescribed set of drugs: Xanax and the other benzodiazepines such as Klonopin or Valium. Anxiety happens to all of us. The documentary really pushes forth the theory that instant communication through cell phones has forced anxiety on the world. I call bull on that as it seems like an excuse for people to ask for drugs.

I have never taken Xanax, especially since everything in this documentary has been known for years. The interviews of people who used the drug, the ones still alive anyway, are striking. Folks: medication can be useful and appropriate. Don't go buy street benzos, possibly laced with Fentanyl, just because you can't handle anxiety.

The worst part of the information given is how deadly these drugs can be. Like the Adderall documentary, uneducated young people follow their celebrity heroes, and take these drugs thinking it's the wonder drug that'll fix everything.

I write what I want in these essays, so here's my soapbox. Anxiety is real. ADHD is real. Mental health issues are real. Medication, meditation and mindfulness together are very helpful tools that can be used with therapy to help be functional and peaceful. We don't need to be a culture that pops pills, sometimes way above prescribed, in order to cope with every day life. This leads to addiction, health problems and even death.

Regardless, the documentary is well done, going into the history of benzos and how they were originally used, morphing into the epidemic today. There was a lot I didn't know, and since I've used Klonopin and Valium before, I'm more upset by the folks that don't know what they're doing, versus someone watching the documentary who's never used these before.

This writer is happy to listen if anyone wants to talk about mental health awareness. There's alternatives to abusing drugs. Please be careful out there.

Take Your Pills (2018)

Fearmongering for the ignorant, but cautionary for those that don't abuse

[8/10 · 29 April 2024]

Take Your Pills

The Netflix documentary, Take Your Pills, describes the use and also potential abuse of Adderall. Through interviews with those who were either prescribed the drug, or those that buy it illegally, the viewer gets to see the ugly side of "pep pills".

What's fascinating is learning the full history of Adderall, plus other amphetamines or stimulants used to treat those diagnosed with ADHD. For years, high school and college students would abuse Adderall to keep up with their classes, and maintain energy to work or worse, go drinking with their friends. It's absolutely insane to see how this drug has wormed its way into American culture.

This writer has ADHD, and I take low dose extended release Adderall. It does not give me crazy boosts of energy. It does not interrupt my sleep. It does what it's prescribed for. Instead of being scatterbrained and paralyzed by indecision on an overwhelming amount of tasks, I have the ability to breathe, pick a task, and focus completely on it.

This documentary really needs to be required for anyone with a loved one, or themselves, that might have ADHD. With an overprescribed population, it is very important to know when or when not to be put on medication. It must be used properly, or there can be painful withdrawals or consequences. It's scary. Being on the drug, I just can't understand the explosion of abuse, even after watching the interviews.

Challengers (2024)

Tennis as metaphor and very well done. Captivating love triangle.

[9/10 · 27 April 2024]

Challengers

Fire and Ice. Best friends since they were 12, Patrick and Art are rising stars in tennis during the senior year of high school. At the US Open, they meet Tashi (the amazing Zendaya who really can do anything) and are both captivated. It is quickly noticed by Tashi that Art and Patrick seem to be more than best friends.

Challengers takes us back and forth through time, bouncing rapidly just like a tennis ball crossing the court. When the two men both pursue Tashi, it is very clear that Tashi is the tennis ball during the intense relationship between the two men. She mentions early on that tennis is more than just a game, and boy does this film work those themes hard.

The previews left out the fact that LGBTQ+ themes are explored, but with subtlety. The sexual tension between Art and Patrick is so thick, I was left wondering where their relationship was headed. Both men wanted Tashi, but only Art succeeded in marrying her.

The tennis metaphor, and the literal matches, fill the movie with excitement and tension that never gets old or tired. Be prepared to pay close attention because of the rapid fire changes between the three leads. I know Zendaya gets top billing, but I still say that she's the tennis ball; being served between Patrick and Art.

Also, I have to point out that my favorite soundtrack artists lately, Trent Reznor and Atticus Finch (yes Nine Inch Nails) did the music. They are popping up a lot lately in films, and they never disappoint.

This movie was more of an erotic thriller than I thought it would be, because the previews barely touched on the real film. This is a movie worth talking about with friends, so please feel free to engage me. There is a lot left open for interpretation, and a couple of plot holes that weren't filled. One big example is Patrick shows signs of bruising near a vein in his arm. That's an obvious sign of drug abuse, but it's never mentioned other than it being noticed.

Highly recommended film. I'm biased because I love tennis, but I'm a sucker when a literal theme is used as metaphor as well. Go see it. And seriously, hit me up afterwards, I'd love to hear other viewpoints, especially about the Fire and Ice.

Baby Reindeer (2024)

One of the hardest and most beautiful shows I have ever experienced

[10/10 · 24 April 2024]

Baby Reindeer

This essay contains spoilers and thoughts on the mental illness of the writer of the Netflix show, Baby Reindeer. Come back and read this after you've seen the show if you so choose.

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The heartbreaking, soul wrenching, painful Baby Reindeer, a true story, will chew you up, spit you out, make you cry, make you cringe and fill you with dread and anxiety. My choice of using a run on sentence was purposeful. The writer puts out into the public his own trauma from a psychotic stalker, a drug induced rape, a deep questioning of his sexuality and Stockholm syndrome so powerful, you'll be left befuddled and stunned. The entire show is a run on sentence.

While the story begins because he gives a free cup of tea to a stranger in a moment of compassion, it's not really a beginning.

That seemingly minor moment lit the long fuse of a stack of dynamite so high, it's a miracle he is still alive.

How can all this happen? How does a person find themselves, repeatedly, suffering the same anguish and pain? How does a person become addicted to these feelings with a passion so strong that that's all they know? Why, when a person uses drugs to escape from pain and horror, would a person paradoxically and willingly go towards the pain and horror to use drugs with that person? Donny is date raped. Donny loses his sexual identity and engages in god awful risky encounters. Donny is the victim of the cruel, manipulative and unhinged woman (Martha), but who was truly insane?

A question is raised throughout the series. Does extensive physical and mental trauma bring forth one's real persona, when the body responds to it? Donny struggles with this question for years, becoming fearful and skittish that all he knows about himself may be wrong, which leads to Martha's stalking being successful. Donny takes a very long time to go to the police because he is ashamed of admitting what happened to him, and how he had been destroyed by it.

This show is very difficult to watch. I almost stopped near the beginning due to the behavior and inaction of Donny and not Martha. Donny's mistakes, which seem obvious to the viewer, all seem preventable and only cause harm to himself, his family and his trans girlfriend. But that's the point, isn't it? You have no idea what lies underneath, and I am guilty of making a snap judgment on something I knew nothing about. People are always struggling, and those that struggle the most are those that you don't know about. Shame is a very powerful emotion, and it will eat you alive until there's nothing left. Thank you for reading.

Abigail (2024)

Delightful, silly, and gory. Enjoyable. Minor spoilers.

[7/10 · 24 April 2024]

Abigail

A delightful horror movie about a ballerina vampire, Abigail surprised me with some of its mystery and suspense. There are clear Agatha Christie parallels, and then literally one of her books is mentioned.

Seeing Dan Stevens (with a horrible accent) play an ex-cop that partakes in kidnapping Abigail is such a jarring change from the Beast or Matthew in Downton Abbey. It's also so sad to see Angus Cloud in this movie as he passed away from an accidental drug overdose some time ago.

There are some dramatic themes introduced in the movie, also surprising to me. Each of the characters involved with "babysitting" Abigail has their own pain, or mental illness. Some of them have suffered or are suffering from addiction. Others are allowing themselves to feel shame from mistakes that include hiding from their own children, which translates to Abigail's trauma.

This is not to say all the characters are sympathetic. This is a horror movie after all. Jump scares, gore, interesting explosions (you're going to die when you see the serving tray scene) and a subtle mythology make this very enjoyable. There are lots of easter eggs scattered throughout the film that provides a back story to the audience, but it's indirect.

It's not a perfect movie. There are some problems with parts of the acting, and dialogue that is quite cringeworthy. But I still enjoyed it. Enjoy the silliness, the intrigue, the human emotional trauma, and a cute ballerina vampire who enjoys playing music on an old Victrola.

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

Great themes, gorgeous cinematography and score, beautiful ending

[8/10 · 22 April 2024]

War for the Planet of the Apes

The third installment in the Planet of the Apes modern reboot shows that the xenophobia of the humans against the apes has not yet abetted, especially after the disaster that happened at the end of the second film.

In this chapter, Caesar is still left to pick up the pieces after Koba's instigation of war. The remaining human military continues to skirmish and kill the apes with the still tired excuse that they were somehow responsible for the disease that nearly wiped out humanity. And to make matters worse, some of the survivors are starting to morph into primate-like creatures unable to speak.

Enter a crazy colonel, tragic deaths during the war, enslavement, and a very explosive conclusion. I liked the movie for the soundtrack, the moving story of Caesar's quest for revenge, the battle scenes and the introduction of humanity's regression. Caesar, as leader, chooses to abandon the apes to pursue blind hatred and revenge, only to find himself enslaved back with his tribe that weren't able to escape as planned.

Watching Caesar put aside his ever growing resentment for the colonel to make sacrifices for his family is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Caesar has spent his entire existence defending humans, and wishing to coexist peacefully, even when others try to talk him out of it. Time after time, peace is defeated, but he holds his head up and tries again, until he finally breaks in this movie.

The movie has an epic conclusion with a very tender finale that need not continue. In 2024, a sequel will be released that truly isn't necessary, but with the 300 year time gap, I believe it won't be too much of a distraction.