The MCU has made some films I would describe as truly fantastic, such as Thor: Ragnarok, Doctor Strange, and Iron Man 3. Black Panther by contrast was an fun movie, not a masterful piece or arts, but a mostly fun movie. Killmonger is one of the superior villains in the MCU because of the well fleshed out nature of his characters, properly established motivations, and a kick ass and sympathetic performance from Michael B Jordan. The protagonist however is simply a dull character who you simply aren't invested in, simply because of the high benchmark set forth by the MCU pertaining to protagonists.
The movie does NOT have a deep message, infact like Captain America: Civil War It masquerades itself as a deep movie by creating a moral dilemma, and then executing it in the most generic and unintriguing way possible. If you come to find enjoyment in Black panther through substance you will be disappointed. If you come for fun action sequences, some nicely done drama, and an enjoyable cinematic experience, Black Panther certainly delivers. The movie uses the facade of culture to pretend like it's not part of Kevin Feiges manufacturing line of same old variations of cinema, but ultimately the shoot em up third act pretty much exposes the fact that black panther is another fun, somewhat funny, display of popcorn entertainment from marvel.
Reviews
5 Reviews
The Shawshank Redemption
(1994)
GOOD BUT NOT GREAT
15 March 2019
How the Shawshank Redemption is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time is unfathomable to mean. Infact there are films in the prison genre which I have found to be more effectively made than the Shawshank Redemption.
Is the film bad? No, infact it's quite the contrary. The performances from the two lead characters are undoubtabely compelling, the film very effectively pulls at your heart springs, and allows you to feel sympathy for supposed criminals. The film is also well crafted from a technical standpoint, with good use of camera angles, and pleasantly crafted cinematography.
The film, however, can best be described as unremarkable. Infact, while some may find it difficult to concede, it seems as though the film weaponizes sentimentality to pander to its audience. The film about the brutality of prison, and the corrupt nature of mankind shouldn't have the tone of a cheesy soap opera, and certainly shouldn't be cleanly wrapped together like a christmas present. The inoffensive, and uncontroversial nature of Shawshank redemption is borderline cringe inducing, and perhaps this seems hyperbolized, but here's an analogy that best describes the problem with the film. Imagine if the godfather who beats up talia shires character gets killed and talia shires smiles and begins hugging her brother and talking about how she can start over her life again. That analogy pretty much sums up the operative problem with shawshank redemption. Its a good movie, well acted, technically impressive, well written, full of compelling moments, however it is simply conventional, and far too pandering. Certainly far from being one of the greatest films of all time.
The Dark Knight
(2008)
Cinema At Its Finest
15 March 2019
The Dark Knight is a film which perfectly embodies how superhero movies can be just as sophisticated and intriguing as conventional oscar bait films, and infact more so. The Dark Knight tackles the issues of human nature, duality, and morals without being pretentious or preaching to its audience.
The action sequences are perfectly filmed, and gritty, however, the technical brilliance of Nolan isn't the operative factor which brings people to appreciate this film so heavily.
It's the incredible conflict between Heath Ledger and Christian Bale, the conceptual duel between order and chaos, and the constant nail biting thrills the film provides throughout with an engrossing narrative.
The dark Knight perfectly displays how to condemn nihilism and display the magnitude of human emotions without ultimately becoming an sappy and sentimental mess.
This review doesnt need to be long because most people are already well aware of what makes The dark Knight special. The performances, the brilliant directing from Christopher Nolan, the perfectly executed themes, the memorable moments of cinema brought from Health Ledgers performance as the joker, and so forth.
It's the incredible conflict between Heath Ledger and Christian Bale, the conceptual duel between order and chaos, and the constant nail biting thrills the film provides throughout with an engrossing narrative.
The dark Knight perfectly displays how to condemn nihilism and display the magnitude of human emotions without ultimately becoming an sappy and sentimental mess.
This review doesnt need to be long because most people are already well aware of what makes The dark Knight special. The performances, the brilliant directing from Christopher Nolan, the perfectly executed themes, the memorable moments of cinema brought from Health Ledgers performance as the joker, and so forth.
Sherlock
(2010–2017)
Wow!!
15 March 2019
Sherlock will not be an show which engages all. The often leisure like pacing, intricate narratives, and exposition heavy storytelling may turn off fans of more action oriented television
However my experiences watching Sherlock can be best described as simply 'breathtaken". The chemistry between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, the various engaging plots which demand you to keep coming back for more, despite the exceptionally procedural nature of the series, and the witty writing which makes you simultaneously cheer, laugh, and cry, all make Sherlock an spectacularly enjoyable series. The series isn't perfect. Some episodes are less interesting then others. If you are to be entranced as a viewer by episode such as The Reichenbach Fall, and His Final Vow, there are a few less intriguing and somewhat dull episodes of Sherlock you unfortunately have to sit through, but even the worst sherlock episodes provide enough enjoyment to justify sitting through them.
However my experiences watching Sherlock can be best described as simply 'breathtaken". The chemistry between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, the various engaging plots which demand you to keep coming back for more, despite the exceptionally procedural nature of the series, and the witty writing which makes you simultaneously cheer, laugh, and cry, all make Sherlock an spectacularly enjoyable series. The series isn't perfect. Some episodes are less interesting then others. If you are to be entranced as a viewer by episode such as The Reichenbach Fall, and His Final Vow, there are a few less intriguing and somewhat dull episodes of Sherlock you unfortunately have to sit through, but even the worst sherlock episodes provide enough enjoyment to justify sitting through them.
Gotham
(2014–2019)
A TRUE MASTERPIECE
15 March 2019
The only thing preventing this masterfully crafted series from getting a perfect rating is the fact that its virtually impossible to have a flawless show over the phase of 100 total episodes. However to call Gotham underrated would be an massive understatement.
The brooding, yet lively aesthetics, the multi dimensional characters, the exciting action sequences, and the engaging storytelling make Gotham an must watch television series.
Robin Lord Taylor's portrayal of Penguin in particular is the standout performance, however virtually every villain, the riddler, joker, poison ivy, scarecrow etc, are perfectly portrayed, and certainly stand as the highlights of the series as a whole.
However there is a strong philosophical message inherent within the show, beyond the action and flare, about law and order, justice, moral lines, and the greater good.
The storytelling is another aspect the show perfectly nails. It isn't easy to nail an amalgamation of different narratives to create coherent television, however Gotham succeeds, engrossing the audience with its emotional resonance, and creativity.
However, despite being one of my favorite shows of all time, Gotham isn't without its flaws. There is sometimes an excessive reliance on filler and "too much" substance which prevents the narrative of the series to flow more smoothly, and occasionally bogs down the pacing of the series as a whole. Furthermore there are sometimes one too many plot elements which slow down the series resolution, and prevents the series from spending more time on critical and more intriguing story elements.
However despite the flaws inherent within Gotham, the series has all the elements which make engrossing television. Interesting characters, an engrossing narrative, and a central element which always pulls the audience to watch more, the city of Gotham, which in and of itself, with its enigma, visual beauty, and dilemas, stands as a character in and of itself.
Tell Your Friends