Millennialprince Reviews

Starship Troopers (1997)

Clever Satire

[8/10 · 15 November 2023]

That beautiful lady singing "Into It" at the party is Zoe Poledouris the daughter of the legendary film composer Basil Poledouris. It's a very catchy rock song which I'm proud to have on my Youtube playlist. Sadly, Basil's score to this film is just passable. It's not as memorable as his previous scores for Conan the Barbarian or Robocop. But that's neither here or there. I'm talking about Paul Verhoeven's misunderstood sci-fi satire Starship Troopers. I'm not going to lie to you readers as a naïve teenager I thought this was just a fun shoot 'em up and nothing more.

Of course years later I realize that it's a satire making fun of fascism. I mean when you have something as overt as Doogie Howser wearing a SS uniform it's clear that this is an anti war film. But, when you make a war film it's going to look cinematic unless you're a hack. And Paul is no hack by any stretch of the imagination. This whole film is pure propaganda. By the end of the film you end up rooting for the space Nazis.

But once you watch this film a second time you realize that you shouldn't be rooting for them at all. Well played Mr. Verhoeven. Of course I would argue that the real villain isn't the bugs or the humans but the war itself. Anyway I digress; the film uses a lot of practical effects and CGI. The CGI for the bugs has hold up pretty well. And it goes without saying the practical effects for the bugs and the star-ships hold up great.

The CGI is only spotty in some of the space battles. But it's a film from 1997 I shouldn't be too hard on it. This is a film you should watch for the satire and the ideas not so much for the spectacle. But if heady stuff like satire is not your cup of tea you can always watch it for the spectacle and action. As for the actors they're fine. They're mostly playing two-dimensional archetypes.

And I think that's part of the joke. The only actors that stand out to me are Clancy Brown, Neil Patrick Harris, and Dina Meyer. They bring a lot of humanity to these otherwise one note characters. But on a lighter note you can play a drinking game every time Clancy Brown's character says medic. I thought that was pretty funny. I also like the newsreels scenes they feel like something that would take place in the same universe as Robocop.

And I love the fact that this is a universe where there are unisex bathrooms. What else did I like? Oh yeah, after Rico gets discipline for negligence at the boot camp he gets whipped by a black guy. Little subversive touches like that I find interesting. Honestly, after watching this film I wish Verhoeven would do more sci-fi satire. Alas, after the cold receptions to both Starship Troopers and Hollow Man, Verhoeven went back to the Netherlands. Which is such a shame, he's one of the more interesting auteurs. In conclusion, if you're a fan of his work you should definitely check it out on AMC +. Nuff said.

Dune (2021)

Solid film

[8/10 · 22 October 2021]

Slide, slide, slippery slide, I do what I want just to survive. Just say hello. Sorry, I couldn't resist, I had to make a Lakeside reference. I can't help but think of that song as Lady Jessica and Paul were doing the sand walk to avert the sandworms. Before I continue I want to point out I haven't read the 1965 Frank Herbert novel. Nor have I seen the David Lynch film from the '80s, so I'm coming at this film from a fresh perspective. You know before I watched the film, I saw all these critical blurbs on television calling Dune the next Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Honestly, after watching this film those comparisons are erroneous from my perspective.

Dune is a slow meditative story about the nature of power and how it corrupts. It's not a simplistic yarn about good versus evil. Star Wars and Lord of the Rings have their place in pop culture but Dune is a different beast altogether. Dune is a social commentary about how the thirst for natural resources splits people into political schisms. And if you want to compare Dune to anything it's Game of Thrones. The main character Paul is groomed by his parents into being a leader for House Atreides, but he's conflicted about being a leader.

He doesn't like the political machinations of House Atreides. His father the Duke wants to form a political alliance with the Fremens so they can fight the Harkonnens. Paul feels that these political calculations are dishonest and manipulative. And I like having a protagonist in a film that is conflicted; it makes him come off as more relatable and human. This film is very dense and it took me a while to get into it. The first hour of the film does a lot of world-building and planet-hopping but I was able to understand it. Clearly, spice is meant to be an allegory for oil, so the parallels to our world are easy to understand even to a plebeian like me. This film isn't perfect by any means.

Certain characters are sacrificed just to serve Paul as a character. I know this is a deconstruction of the messiah story, but I wish they would have focused on the relationship between the Emperor and the Duke more. That way when the Duke gets betrayed by the Emperor in the second act, you feel the sting of the betrayal more. But the Duke does get a badass moment, where he almost kills the Baron with poisonous gas. So I guess that made up for any story shortcomings I had with the film. On an acting level, this film is pretty solid.

This is a huge ensemble film, and I didn't find a single false note with any of the performances. Honestly, Jason Momoa stood out to me; he was so charismatic and funny that I was bummed out when his character Duncan Idaho died. I guess that's a testament to Momoa as a performer. Also on a technical level, this film is impressive. All the starships feel unique and different from other things I've seen in other space operas. I love how a lot of the starships look like dragonflies; it gives the world of Dune a very alien feeling.

They also don't overuse the sandworms in this film. The sandworms are a very powerful and looming presence. And you get the sense that whenever they show up; things might go south for our heroes. In conclusion, I would highly recommend Dune if you like more thoughtful science fiction films. Although this film has spurts of action this isn't an action extravaganza. This is more like Game of Thrones, where you have an internal political struggle between ancient dynasties. And I must say at 147 minutes the film never bored me. I look forward to seeing what Denis Villeneuve does with Dune part 2. Nuff said.

Black Widow (2021)

A perfectly serviceable Marvel movie

[6/10 · 7 October 2021]

Black Widow is one of the few characters in the MCU that I don't find interesting. To me, she's just a cudgel for Nick Fury to use for various espionage missions. I also feel like this movie is five years too late. So I went into this movie with low expectations, and to my surprise, this film turned out to be decent. It won't be in the upper echelon of the Marvel movies for me, but for what it is, it's serviceable. I enjoyed the interplay between Yelena and Natasha, for me, they were one of the many highlights of the film.

And I also enjoyed Yelena's rant about Natasha always posing, I thought that was amusing. Other characters, like Melina and Alexel, feel like a real couple, even though their relationship was a front for the Russian government. The film also does a commendable job of fleshing out Natasha's back story with Dreykov and his daughter Antonia, things that were only alluded to in The Avengers. Speaking of Dreykov's daughter, I guess that Taskmasker was Drekykov's daughter from the get-go, not because I'm super smart or anything, it just thematically fits with the theme of the film, which is the sins of the past will come back to haunt you. Alas, there are things that did not work for me. The action scenes felt obligatory and perfunctory to me; there was not a single action scene that stood out to me.

Even the culminating action sequence in the third act with the crashing air fortress, while visually impressive feels hollow to me. I get the sense that the family drama between the four characters was what the director Cate Shortland wanted, and the obligatory action sequences were what Marvel Studios wanted. But I guess that's the nature of corporate Hollywood. Filmmaking after all is the art of compromise. And I also chalk this up to me seeing a lot of MCU movies, and they do tend to get a little formulaic at times. On a more positive note, I did enjoy the sequence of Natasha liberating the female spies from Dreykov's grip in the climax. That was a very powerful moment for me.

And speaking of Dreykov, he's a nasty piece of work, using his daughter and various other women as disposable pawns for his own ends. This might be a reach, but this character feels like a stand-in for Harvey Weinstein. Which is fine by me, I think Weinstein is scum. Plus, thematically having an evil male character makes for a great foil for the female heroes. Honestly, I thought that Dreykov's inclusion in the film felt very organic to the story, so it wasn't too preachy or didactic for me. In conclusion, if you're a diehard MCU fan or just a casual fan, you might get some enjoyment out of Black Widow. Oh, I also enjoyed Malia J's cover to Nirvanna's "It Smells Like Teen Spirit" in the opening credit sequence, I thought that was a nice touch. Nuff said.

The Quick and the Dead (1995)

Fun western

[8/10 · 2 October 2021]

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of westerns. It's not because I have any kind of aversion to the genre, it's just not a genre I gravitate to. Sure, I've liked a few in my time like Maverick or Unforgiven, but they were the exception to the rule. Well, I'm happy to say The Quick and The Dead is another exception. This is not only a fantastic western but it's a fantastic film. This film excels because of two things, Sami Raimi's assured direction and the great ensemble cast.

This film is pure Sam Raimi, and he directs the film with gusto. There are some great montages of the gunslingers dying in the tournament. The montages wouldn't be out of place in a Spider-man or Darkman film. And there's one provocative image I want to point out, and that's Keith David's death. It feels like something straight out of E. C. Comics. And from what I understand Raimi had to fight the studio to keep that head shot in. And I'm glad he did, that image is awesome. Another memorable death is Gene Hackman's death, where Raimi employs a nice use of shadow. I thought that moment was pretty dope.

The film is not perfect which frustrates me. This film could have been a masterpiece if it was not for the casting of Sharon Stone. Don't get me wrong, she's fine in the role, she's just overshadowed by Hackman who steals all the scenes from her. A great actress like Robin Wright could have been great in this role. But hey that's just my opinion. Aside from Hackman and Stone, this film is inundated with a troupe of great character actors.

You have Keith David, Pat Hingle, Lance Henriksen, Gary Sinise, and Mark Boone Junior, to name a few. There's also a few rising stars featured in this film like Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. The pair of them give great performances. And this film is well paced at 101 minutes, so it never drags. So definitely check this film out, it's a lot of fun.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

Solid film

[8/10 · 2 October 2021]

You know between Get Out, Black Panther, and now Judas and The Black Messiah Daniel Kaluuya is shaping up to be a great actor. This is a powerful movie about betrayal, political corruption, and black liberation. Daniel Kaluuya plays Fred Hampton, a black revolutionary who mobilizes people not by violence but by persuasive rhetoric. You get the sense that if it were not for the insidious machinations of the FBI and the police department, Hampton would have created a rainbow coalition of all races to combat social injustice. Alas, that rainbow coalition was not meant to be. Anyway I digress, as performances go, Kaluuya knocks it out of the park. He has a tremendous screen presence and he delivers the rousing speeches with gusto.

As great as Kaluuya is, I would argue Lakeith Stanfield has the trickier role, playing William O' Neal. He has to play the betrayer sure, but he also has to play a character that is in awe of Fred Hampton, but not at the expense of his own self preservation. When you boil him down to his bare essentials, O' Neal is a cudgel for the FBI to dismantle the Black Panther movement. But I will say this: Stanfield brings a lot of humanity to a character that is not very likable which is the point. I don't have many grievances against the film, aside from some minor technical issues. I had an issue with Martin Sheen's make-up not his performance.

Sheen plays a racist prick to a tilt, but that prosthetic make-up was so distracting to me. He looked more like a Dick Tracy villain not J Edgar Hoover. The filmmakers should have let Martin Sheen play the role without make up. That's just my opinion. This movie features a great ensemble of acting talent and there's not a weak performance in the bunch. This film is about Fred Hampton and William O' Neal, and how they compare and contrast with each other. This movie is not an easy watch given the subject matter. But, it's worth watching for the performances alone, and it gives you a look at the darker parts of American History.

The Animatrix (2003)

Interesting experiment

[8/10 · 2 October 2021]

The Animatrix was a collection of nine animated short stories that was meant to promote the impending sequels for The Matrix franchise. It was a bold move this was a way for the Wachowskis to expand their universe, much like trying to do an expanded universe for Star Wars. Out of the nine stories only about seven stories appealed to me. So rather than doing a blow by blow recap of every story, I decided to focus on the seven stories that appealed to me. First up is Beyond, which is my personal favorite. Beyond is about a trio of teenagers who discover a glitch in the matrix led by Yoko.

The story starts off innocently enough. Yoko is looking for her cat Yuki, and her friends end up in an abandoned house they believe is haunted. Not only do they discover the cat they discover new abilities. I love how there's zero gravity and the gang of teens have fun with it. We as an audience know that this is a glitch in the matrix but they don't know that. So part of the fun in this story is experiencing everything through their eyes. You get the sense that this has happened a lot of times in the matrix, and you also get the sense that the agents have always kept tabs on every potential glitch in The Matrix.

My next favorite story is Program. Program is about Cis, a resistance fighter that is training in a samurai simulation. She gets tempted by a friend of hers, but it ends not the way you think it would. This particular segment is worth watching for the samurai fights alone. The next segment on the list is The Second Renaissances Parts one and two. This one is an origin story of sorts for the entire Matrix franchise. Not only do you get the genesis of the creation of A. I., you also get how mankind ended up in The Matrix in the first place.

It is a little clunky in places with the allusions to racism. Calling something the million machine march is as on the nose as you can get, but it's worth watching for the animation style and the message behind the story. It was mankind's own hubris, that led to its own destruction and subjugation by the machines. I find that very interesting as a sci-fi concept. Next we have World Record which is about Dan Davis, an Olympic runner who is something of an over-achiever. Of course instead of breaking a record he almost breaks out of The Matrix.

This segment ends with a slight ray of hope that I like. Next up you have Detective Story which is about a gumshoe P. I. named Ash who's hired to track down Trinity. If you enjoyed Harry Canyon and Blade Runner, this segment might be right up your alley. This is a quintessential noir with jazzy music and voice over. Also the animation is in glorious black and white. Lastly, you have Final Flight of Osiris. This story concerns resistance fighters Thaddeus and Jue, who must deliver a message to Zion about an impending attack from the machines.

This entire segment is in CGI, and I must say for 2003 the CGI has aged pretty well, although it does look like well polished PS2 cutscenes by today's standards. If you are a fan of the Matrix, The Animatrix is definitely worth watching, especially if you enjoy animated anthologies. Not all nine of the segments work, but they work as their own self contained stories and you get a deeper sense of the mythology of the Matrix. So by all means check it out if you haven't already.

Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)

Passable family film

[6/10 · 2 October 2021]

You know for a movie with six credited writers it's almost a miracle Space Jam 2 is as coherent as it is. I credit that to Malcolm Lee's assured direction and LeBron James' innate charisma. Although James isn't a master thespian he has screen presence, more so than Michael Jordan. The film starts with a similar framing device like the first film, where you have a quasi-autobiography involving the main character as a child. It establishes that he pushed his son to achieve and he's become something of an overachiever. He neglects his son and doesn't support his passion for video games. So the film has some emotional stakes before you get into the Looney Tune world. The Looney tune sequences are a lot of fun, and they get a lot of mileage out of the sight gags.

There are some clever sight gags like Wile E. Coyote and Road runner in the Mad Max Fury Road universe, or Lola Bunny playing tournaments in the Wonder Woman universe. This film is very similar to Ready Player One, since that you have various characters interacting with various universes owned by Warner Bros. I will concede that this is Warner Bros advertising their IP, but none of this bothers me, since a lot of the gags were plot specific. Alas, not all the gags work like the Porky pig rap, or the matrix spoof, but the film doesn't linger on this for too long, and part of the reason this works for me is that the film is very self aware about what kind of film it is. So if you're a millennial like me, and you have nostalgia for the original Space Jam, you might enjoy this film since this has the same spirit as the first film. Space Jam 2 is far from masterpiece, but for what it is it's a fun family film.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Now this is a Suicide Squad movie!

[8/10 · 2 October 2021]

I was one of the few that didn't mind the original Suicide Squad, but I concede it has a multitude of problems. Namely, the fact that the studio got gun shy and decided to re-edited the movie with a trailer company to make it more like Guardians of the Galaxy. As a result, you got a movie that was not the sum of its parts; it felt more like an assortment of music videos than an actual movie. It's only saving grace for me was the charismatic performances of Will Smith and Margot Robbie. Fortunately, this soft reboot The Suicide Squad, is leaps and bounds better than its predecessor. For starters, it's not afraid to make these characters criminals.

Sure, they have flashes of humanity here and there, but these guys are a bunch of criminals and mercenaries. The most human character is Rat-catcher 2, who throughout the movie has a bond of sorts with Bloodsport. It's not a romantic relationship per se, it's more of a surrogate father-daughter relationship which I thought was nice. It gave the movie much needed humanity in my book. Rat-catcher also gets a nice moment during the culmination of the big battle with Starro. This movie is also unpredictable . You never know who's going to die from one moment to the next.

For example, Harley Quinn has a certain dalliance with a Corto Maltese President that plays not the way you think it would. It's not a perfect movie by any means. It suffers from too many characters and subplots, and there's some spotty CGI here and there, but it has a certain irreverent charm that I like in a blockbuster. This is Troma James Gunn not Disney James Gunn, so be prepared for a lot of gore and sci-fi weirdness that you wouldn't expect from a mainstream movie. I got the sense that Warner Media left James Gunn alone and allowed him to make a 185 million big budget Grindhouse movie. If it were not for the success of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, I don't think that would have happen. So count your lucky stars that a movie as audacious as this got made.

Tenet (2020)

Fun but flawed film

[7/10 · 21 March 2021]

Tenet is about the protagonist, a CIA operative who must stop a Russian oligarch from causing nuclear Armageddon. The only snag is this madman has got access to time inversion technology. The cast is fine and the action is solid, but this whole stuff with time inversion is a bunch of poppycock. I get the sense that Nolan loves the smell of his own farts. I think his ideas are way too ambitious, and I think he needs another writer to reign him in. Also fleshing out the characters would help, they all feel like archetypes. Still it was cool to see a gonzo James Bond film with a black lead in the 007 role. And the score by Ludwig Goransson was dope.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020 Video)

Great film

[9/10 · 21 March 2021]

Man of tomorrow is a nice down to Earth take on the Superman mythos. Thematically this is about Clark wrestling with his alien heritage and his place in the world. This film has a lot of edge when it comes to the villains yet it still keeps the core optimism of Superman's character. I also enjoyed the interactions between Superman and Lex Luthor, it almost felt like a Hannibal Lecter\Clarice Starling dichotomy. Superman also plays off Jon and Lobo very well. Jon is a benevolent alien looking for a connection with Clark, whereas Lobo is a crass alien bounty hunter who sees Clark as a prize. If you're a Superman fan definitely check this movie out, it's a lot of fun.

The Invisible Man (I) (2020)

The Invisible Man

[9/10 · 21 March 2021]

Taking a hokey idea like the invisible man and making it creepy is no easy feat but this movie succeeds. It helps that you empathetic with Elizabeth Moss' character from the beginning. Her ex Adrian, is a nasty piece of work and he does insidious things to tear her life apart. Some of the things I saw coming and other things I didn't. This is a very creepy movie and it does a great job of making you feel just as paranoid as Elizabeth Moss' character. The scenes with the titular Invisible Man are visually impressive and they look just as slick as something you would see in a MCU movie. So kudos to the special effects team for creating something slick on a 7 million dollar budget. I won't spoil the ending but it was very karmic. Definitely a very fitting ending to an unsettling story.

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

Zack Synder's Justice League

[7/10 · 21 March 2021]

Well, this is marginally better than the theatrical cut but it still has the same problems. This feels less like a movie and more like a miniseries. Zack Synder's Justice League is divided into seven chapters, if you include the epilogue. I did enjoy the character interactions between the team. Simple character moments like Alfred helping Diana with tea stood out to me. And I appreciated that Cyborg had more character development this time around. I also liked the meet cute Barry had with Iris West as he saved her life from the car crash. Song in the siren plays as Barry rescues Iris, that was an especially nice touch. I still think that Steppenwolf is a boring villain, despite him having a better motivation this time around. And I was never bored during the entire 233 minutes. However, I found the Injustice epilogue kind of superfluous, it only exists to sequel bait. Personally, I thought it should have ended in part 6 with Superman showing his emblem, that would have been perfect. If you enjoyed the theatrical cut of Justice League this is definitely worth watching for the extended character moments alone. Everybody else should stay away. This is a Zack Synder movie through and through. All his quirks are on full display, from the slow mo to the desaturated color palate. But I thought it was still an interesting experience all things considered.

Doctor Sleep (2019)

Doctor Sleep

[8/10 · 18 February 2020]

Wow, this felt more like an X-Men movie than Dark Phoenix. This movie feels less like a horror film and feels more like a dark superhero movie and I dug that about it. The only chilling moment for me is when the True Knot killed Bradley Trevor. Everything else is standard horror scenes you've seen in countless other horror movies. This movie works best when it's trying to be its own thing as opposed to a sequel to The Shining. Although the Shining homages are nice, it feels more like fan service. This movie is also elevated by strong performances in the cast. Ewan McGregor makes for a great hero as Dan Torrance and Kyleigh Curran is great as his ally Abra Stone. Rebecca Ferguson is also great as Rosie the hat who makes for a very detestable villain. Now that I think about it, you can almost look at this as the modern day retelling of Dracula with Dan Torrance as Van Helsing and Rosie the Hat as Dracula. And you know for a 45 million dollar budget, this film feels very epic in places. Probably the most awe inspiring sequence for me is when Rosie astral projects over the city to find Abra. That sequence was visually impressive and I tip my hat off to Mike Flanagan for pulling that scene off. The subsequent mental battle between Abra and Rosie was also fun to watch. And trust me when I say Rosie's comeuppance in the third act was fun to watch. So in conclusion, if you want to see Dan Torrance and Abra Stone battle energy vampires, Doctor Sleep is the movie for you.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

Rise of Skywalker

[7/10 · 26 January 2020]

Oh boy if you had a problem with Rey being a Mary Sue in the previous two movies this movie isn't going to win you over. She can heal people at random now and she can invoke the spirit of dead Jedis. It also turns out that she's the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine. Now I will admit making Rey the granddaughter of the Emperor is thematically interesting, but it seems more like a plot device than anything else. Now let's talk about what a tool the Emperor is. You know for a guy that drones on and on about how brilliant and powerful he is, he's seriously lacking in critical thinking skills. Hey Einstein instead of blasting Rey with force lightening why don't you sic your hordes of clones to kill her? Now that I think about it, the ending to Rise of Skywalker kind of reminds me of Matrix Revolutions. Anyway I digress, there are things to like about this movie. I love the whole dynamic between Rey and Kylo Ren and watching them join forces in the third act is dope. I also love the interplay between Finn and Poe they have a nice rapport. This film feels more like a sequel to Force Awakens than Last Jedi. I think JJ Abrams wanted to have his cake and eat it too. He wanted to win back the audiences that hated The Last Jedi and he wanted to please the people that loved Force Awakens. Which is why this movie feels disjointed in places . Honestly, I think Rise of Skywalker could have benefited from a few more rewrites in the script department to make the film feel more coherent. This film could have been great instead of just serviceable. If you liked Force Awakens and The Last Jedi you might as well watch the Rise of Skywalker for closure. The film is exciting in places and the actors do what they can to elevate the material.

Head of State (2003)

Head of State

[5/10 · 11 January 2020]

Head of State is a movie that should be way smarter and sharper than what it is. A movie premise about a black man running for President should be rife with possibilities. But Chris Rock took the lazy way out and made this movie a broad comedy how very disappointing. A lot of the characters feel like cartoon caricatures with the notable exception of Debra Lassiter played by Lynn Whitfield and Martin Geller played by Dylan Baker, respectively. Honestly, a lot of this film feels dated, and it reminds me of very unfunny SNL sketches from the early 2000s. But the movie does have some redeeming qualities, I particularly liked the moment where Chris Rock's character tells Dylan Baker's character you get to represent yourself and I have to represent my entire race. I thought this scene was very insightful and thought provoking. I kind of wish the entire movie was like this as opposed to being a broad comedy that panders to the lowest common denominator. But on the positive side, Chris Rock has some funny zingers, and he has some great chemistry with the lovely Tamala Jones. So you can say the movie isn't completely without social merit. And today in 2020, the film serves as an interesting time capsule of sorts. Head of State came out back in 2003, five years before Barack Obama got elected as President in 2008. So I guess sometimes life can intimate art and I use the term art loosely. Honestly, movies like Bulworth and Primary Colors handle race and politics way smarter and sharper than this film ever could. So I would recommend watching those films over Head of State. In conclusion, Head of State is a rather mediocre film that's ultimately forgettable.

The Preacher's Wife (1996)

The Preacher's Wife

[8/10 · 24 December 2019]

In a day of crappy Pureflix movies and mean spirited Christian films this film is a cut above the rest. This is a very sweet movie and even the most jaded of people should enjoy this movie. Denzel Washington is great as always as the angel Dudley. And the late Whitney Houston is great as Julia the titular character of the movie. Courtney B. Vance is also great as Reverend Biggs the conflicted preacher who's having a crisis of faith. This is a perfect movie to watch around Christmas time to uplift your spirits.

Toys (1992)

Toys

[8/10 · 24 December 2019]

The much maligned Toys is a gem of a movie. Even in 2019, it's a very polarizing film that you either love or hate. It's clear that Barry Levinson was trying to do a Willy Wonka movie for the 90's and for the most part he succeeded. However, the film is still PG-13 so there's still some edge to it. There's a lot of things to like about the movie. The set design is impeccable and the soundtrack is awesome. Everything from Tori Amos to Wendy & Lisa gives this movie a timeless feeling. The cast is stellar with the late Robin Williams doing a lot of the heavy lifting. The supporting cast also includes Robin Wright, Michael Gambon, LL Cool J and Jamie Foxx, who all seem to be having fun with the material. The movie also serves as a cautionary tale about the militarization of toys and it's kind of eerie that this movie predicted drones. The film does get a little crazy in the third act and it could have been trimmed for about 15 minutes to make it tighter. Outside of that Toys is a fun movie, and despite its imperfections it captivates you with its imagination and spirit. I would call Toys an enjoyable piece of whimsy. And if there's any justice in the universe Shout Factory will release a blu-ray of Toys in the subsequent future.

Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther

[9/10 · 16 December 2019]

Black Panther has become such a contentious issue on the internet. Many people seem to be butt-hurt that it got an Oscar nomination and most people find it overrated. I swear I sometimes think overblown media hype can ruin a perfectly good movie. And I want to preface my review by saying this: if you're white and you did not like the movie that's perfectly fine I do not think you're racist. And if you're black and you did not like the movie, I don't think you're an uncle tom. Yes, as a black man I enjoy seeing myself on-screen that's a given.

But I'm still going to talk about it as a movie because this is my review. I want to start with the positives: I love the world-building of Wakanda it's fascinating for me to see an African nation unfettered by European Imperialism. And Ryan Coogler gets a lot of mileage out of playing with the Afro futurism aspects of Wakanda. You get a sense that each African tribe in Wakanda has their own history and culture, which adds a lot of texture to the movie. On the character side, you have T'Challa and Suri who have a great dynamic as brother and sister.

Suri is essentially Black Panther's Q designing his gadgets for his various missions. The film also addresses the isolationism of Wakanda and T'Challa debates with his colleagues about whether Wakanda should open its borders to countries in need. In terms of the villain the film also shines with the character of Killmonger. Killmonger is essentially a tragic Magneto figure that's been twisted by racism and turned into a monster. And I appreciate that the film doesn't shy away from the systemic racism Killmonger endured in America. However, if I find any fault with the film is that Killmonger didn't get any kind of redemption arc, he's just vanquished like any other MCU villain and that's a shame. I would have love to see T'Challa and Killmonger as allies in the sequel. There's also some spotty CGI in the last battle between Black Panther and Killmonger. For the life of me, I don't understand how a 200 million dollar blockbuster has CGI that looks like a cut-scene from a PS2 game. But small quibbles aside, Black Panther is a remarkable achievement in cinema, it made a cultural statement and was entertaining at the same time which is no easy feat.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

[8/10 · 13 December 2019]

Tarantino is one of those directors I love as a filmmaker but not so much as a person. As a personality he can be rude and obnoxious, and his handling of the Uma Thurman car crash is reprehensible. And don't even get me started with the whole Harvey Weinstein fiasco. However, as a filmmaker you can't deny that he makes entertaining films. Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Basterds are great pieces of cinema and they should be inducted in the National Film Registry if they haven't already. Anyway I digress, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is essentially a love letter to 60s cinema. Everything is pitch perfect from the cars to the clothes and overall the period detail is impeccable. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt have excellent chemistry as friends. Leonardo DiCaprio plays an insecure actor named Rick Dalton and Brad Pitt plays a devil-may-care stuntman named Cliff Booth. They're playing stand-ins for Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham and most film fans will eat this up. Margot Robbie is also great in a small role as Sharon Tate and Mike Moh is great as Bruce Lee. The fight scene between Bruce Lee and Cliff Booth is the highlight of the movie for me. Like most Tarantino films it gets very self indulgent and you get the sense that the run-time could get trimmed by 30 minutes. Perhaps we could have gotten more scenes with Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate? But as a film it's still highly watchable, and the dialogue sparkles when the characters speak. The third act gets a little crazy, but that's par for the course for most of Tarantino's films. In a strange way, this film is his most sentimental film with the way the film ends. Tarantino loves revisionist history and the ending to this film is kind of sweet. In conclusion, definitely check out Once Upon a Time in Hollywood if you're a Tarantino fan.

Silence (I) (2016)

Silence

[9/10 · 11 December 2019]

I seldom talk about religion on IMDB since it's a thorny topic and it ruffles a lot of feathers. However, since this movie deals with faith and spirituality I'm gonna talk about it so suck it up I guess. This film depicts real Christian persecution, it's not the kind of fake persecution you get in those terrible Pureflix movies. This film depicts Christian persecution in 17th century feudal Japan. The film has a lot of great performances from everybody involved including Liam Neeson and Andrew Garfield. Personally as a lapsed Protestant, I think that secular and religious people can coexist together, after all at the end of the day we're all human and we can find a common ground even if we disagree on religious matters. And I would go a step further and say this: you don't need to be religious to be a decent human being you just need to have compassion and empathy for your fellow man but I digress. Yeah this is definitely one of Martin Scorseses' best films so keep an open mind and check it out.

Coraline (2009)

Coraline

[8/10 · 9 December 2019]

Coraline is such a fun little flick. I guess you could call the film a Grimm's fairy tale of sorts for children, and it also serves as a good cautionary tale about being careful for what you wish for. The stop motion animation gives it a very otherworldly feeling. The movie is also very unsettling and this is coming from an adult. Show this film to a spoiled child and he'll walk the straight and narrow I assure you. On the plus side, the film has got a stellar cast. Teri Hatcher is great in duel roles as both Mel Jones and the Other Mother. Dakota Fanning also does solid work as the titular character Coraline. Lastly, you have the always reliable Keith David as the voice of The Cat and he's always a MVP. The Cat serves as Coraline's guide to the other world. Definitely check this flick out if you love stop motion animation. I do have one caveat though, I wouldn't show this film to any child under the age of 10. Unless of course you want to scare them straight.

Joker (I) (2019)

Joker

[8/10 · 2 December 2019]

Joker has probably one of the best depictions of mental illness I have ever seen on film. There's no point in comparing Joaquin Phoenix to Heath Ledger's portrayal, since these are two different interpretations of the character. As a character, Arthur Fleck is less of a criminal mastermind and more of a loner that feels put upon by society. And he eventually snaps like Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. And therein lies my problem with this movie, there's a lot of Martin Scorsese pastiche in this film and sometimes it can come off as a bit too glib.

But Todd Phillips is a clever enough director to do some interesting things with his storytelling to make the film engaging. The film has a very grainy 70's look that makes it feel like a grindhouse movie from that era. I also love the super rat discussions on the radio, and I love the boiling tensions between the wealthy elites and the poor people of Gotham city, you get the sense that a class war could erupt in Gotham city at any minute. I also like that Todd Phillips made Thomas Wayne a smarmy prick, he's not the saintly Wayne like we're use to seeing in the other Batman movies.

This version of Thomas Wayne is less of a philanthropist and more of a slimy politician. It was a bold choice to make this character something else entirely and it's wickedly subversive. Zazie Beetz is also great in a small role as Sophie Dumo the object of Arthur's desire.

In conclusion, I wish Joker was longer because even at 115 minutes it feels a bit rushed. Perhaps they could have fleshed out Arthur Fleck's relationship with his mother a bit more? But despite my quibbles, this is still a good movie elevated by Joaquin Phoenix's performance as Arthur Fleck. Ultimately, Joker is a character study about a deeply troubled man and this film is definitely worth seeing.

Waterworld (1995)

Waterworld

[8/10 · 23 November 2019]

Waterworld contrary to popular opinion was not a flop. It was number one at the box office back in 1995 and it grossed $264 million worldwide. But considering it had a 172 million budget the movie under-performed for Universal. But gradually overtime it has gained a cult following and it's not hard to see why. The sets are inventive and the world building is amazing. The movie also has a great jaunty score by James Newton Howard that's very memorable. This movie in spirit is pretty much Mad Max on the water and it's a sight to behold. Of course the movie is not without problems. Kevin Costner plays the Mariner as a lackadaisical Aquaman type and his character can be a wet blanket sometimes pun intended. Now I know Mariner is supposed to be a misanthropic loner but for the love of God Costner breathe some life into the role. Fortunately, the late Dennis Hopper is great as the villainous Deacon and he picks up the slack from Costner. I think had the movie had another lead it would have been amazing instead of just good. Imagine what a charismatic actor like Bruce Campbell would have brought to the role of the Mariner? Thankfully, Costner is also surrounded by great characters actors that give the movie life. On a side note, Waterworld is loosely based on a French graphic novel called Aquablue. Looking at some of the comic book panels online you can definitely see the influence. So I consider Waterworld an interesting relic of the 90's, and it's probably the closest you're ever gonna get to an Aquablue movie. In conclusion, Waterworld may be an imperfect blockbuster but it's not nearly as bad as its reputation would suggest.

Something New (I) (2006)

Something New

[8/10 · 13 November 2019]

This movie gets a high rating because of the gorgeous and beautiful Sanaa Lathan. I know that the previous sentence was redundant, but Sanaa Lathan is a gorgeous black woman and more importantly she's a remarkable actress. All joking aside, Something New is a gem of a movie that tackles race with grace and care. It shows the hurdles interracial couples face and the inherent humanity the couples have. At the end of the day we're all human, and we should stop seeing ourselves as black and white and just see ourselves as human beings. Probably, the most poignant moment for me is when Brian and Kenya are bathed in golden light as they're talking with each other, this scene encapsulates how their love connection is deeply human and transcends something as superficial as skin color. This was a beautiful piece of symbolism by the director Sanaa Hamri and I applaud her for it. Something New is definitely a movie you need to check out.

Psycho (1960)

Psycho

[9/10 · 11 November 2019]

Psycho is the iconic horror movie that created the slasher genre. This seminal film has influenced everything from Halloween to Scream. It has a great script, great direction by Hitchcock, an iconic score by Bernard Herrmann, and a chilling turn by Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. The only weak link is the exposition dump delivered by the psychiatrist in the last ten minutes of the film I found it totally superfluous. Now I know the monologue was meant to explain Norman Bates's pathology but it comes across as way too expository. I guess audiences back in 1960, needed to have that monologue to understand Norman Bates' psychosis. In today's climate movie goers are far more sophisticated, so I guess that speech was acceptable back in 1960. Anyway I digress, Psycho is a great horror movie that every film fan should check out.