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Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2021)
Interesting premise
First, the animation - although a little "stiff" the character animation works. The backgrounds and tech animation is fantastic. They've done a good job of the Blade Runner aesthetic especially in the city LA scenes.
Second, the story - it started a bit slow but ramps up by the third episode. I've always been intrigued by a BR story told from the point of view of a replicant. I think the story fits perfectly in the universe.
If you like BR give this a chance. It's nowhere near as bad as the negative reviews portray. I'd say it's somewhere above average. I'd love to see more anime style BR stories.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Indiana Jones returns!
After the lackluster Kingdom of the Crystal Skull we finally get an Indy capstone movie that delivers. Will it divide fans? Probably. Face it. Harrison Ford is getting up there in age. But despite that he still delivers some great action sequences. Unfortunately I think the early negative reviews and conspiracy theories regarding leaked plot points that got twisted into an anti Disney agenda have done a great disservice to this movie. Most of those were proven false when actually viewing the movie but it seems the anti-Disney crowd has doubled down in their false accusations.
That being said, while it's not a perfect movie, it's a perfectly good chapter in the Indiana Jones saga. And as people actually get in the theater and watch it the scores have become more normalized to its actual quality.
The character was treated with respect. He was not second fiddle to PWB. He mentors her until she finally gives him the respect he deserves by the end. And she doesn't overshadow him at all in the film. It's still 100% Harrison and Indiana Jones's film. If you're on the fence go see it and judge the film for yourself.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Art, film noir and a vampire.
Caught this one on Joe Bob Brigg's Last Drive-in on Shudder. I was intrigued by the idea behind it: an Iranian take on a western themed Vampire. I was a little disappointed to learn that it wasn't Iranian at all. The actors all seem to be Iranian-American. The director is two generations away from being An Iranian. It seems that the movie was placed in Iran more as an art choice. The city in the film depicts many of the vices in Iranian propaganda about the West, so maybe that's what drove the choice. However, after saying all that I have to say that the realization that this film has no real connection to Iran at all does not diminish the viewer's enjoyment of it. It's an art film first and foremost. It's depiction of story, characters, and the Iranian town are almost dream-like and set up a surreal viewing experience. I've read reviews comparing the style to many other directors, but one that seems absent seems the most logical: Jean Rollin. It's definitely worth a look if you like vampires. It's subtle but sinister. And it's black and white film structure leaves it remarkably satisfying. People seek hidden messages in the film. I dont think it's hidden at all. It's actually spelled out when the vampire meets the little boy on the streets at night. Add what she says to the boy to the victims she chooses. Yes it's most likely a statement on the culture of her heritage but it's equally applicable in all cultures.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Wow! The Redemption of Luke Skywalker! *MILD spoilers ahead.*
This movie is going to divide. Once the hype and emotions settle I think it will go down as one of the best in the series. A definitive improvement over TFA. Like ESB (which opened to mixed reviews at the time and has become one of the most loved of the original trilogy) the good guys don't always win. Luke is broken and his Redemption fits the epic mold that it deserved. Despite Mark Hamill's personal feelings about the way the character was written for this chapter he brought his A game and really gave the audience a true connection to the character. If your expecting a by the number s Star Wars you will not like this movie. If you are okay with what Luke said in the trailer "this is not going to go the way you think" then you will leave thoroughly satisfied.
For help this is the way I'd rank the 9 Star Wars films so far:
The Empire Strikes Back
Last JEDI
Rogue One
A New Hope
Return of the Jedi
Revenge of the Sith
The Force Awakens
Attack of the Clones
The Phantom Menace
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
What the hell did I just watch?
This movie just proves to me that Nic Cage is a horrible actor. I like SOME of his movies, mostly the quirky ones with Las Vegas in the title somewhere, or Wild at Heart. But the first GR was mediocre at best. When I heard the filmmakers were aware of the flaws of the first, I had slightly higher hopes for this one. I was wrong!!!This is worse than some of the SCYFY originals I have seen! Glad I didn't pay big bucks to see it in 3D! I can't even recommend this one for rental. Maybe a late night free viewing, but I don't want to go too far. The good - not much. The effects were cool at times, but the GR face started to annoy me after a few minutes. The one scene that was somewhat cool but over the top was the second (I think) appearance of GR at the arms deal when he gets in a giant earth mover and wreaks havoc. The bad - acting. All of the actors were horrible. Even Idris Elba was just OK, but he didn't have much to work with. The horrible - Story (can't believe the story came from the guy who gave us Batman Begins and The Dark Knight!), pacing, editing, camera angles, pretty much everything else.
Conan the Barbarian (2011)
Not Arnold's Conan!
This Conan is different. The movie itself will ultimately be compared to the 80s version. How does it stand? They are very different entities. However does that make it bad? No it does not. Jason Momoa captures Robert E Howard's Conan pretty well! There will be some nitpicking (no blue eyes, straight black hair, etc), but his Conan was savage and could be brutal. I was disappointed with the revenge storyline (Arnold's movie did that better), but the rest of the movie was a great set of action pieces. The Hyborian Age was depicted much closer to REH's description than the 80s movie. The villain was good, the villainess (daughter of the villain) was interesting. Ironically the villain's motivation was to resurrect the with-queen of Acheron to become immortal, which was a plot of the previous Kull the Conqueror movie from 1997. There was some weakness with the plot itself and directing by Marcus Nispel. He is no John Milius. But the movie entertained and there was glimmer of what could be an awesome cinematic interpretation of REH's character if the franchise is allowed to continue. My biggest complaint is the soundtrack. One thing Arnold's Conan movie had was the best barbaric fantasy soundtrack any movie could ever muster. When Millennium bought the rights to the franchise, they should have gotten Basil Polidouris's thundering music to boot. If you're a fan of sword/sorcery and fantasy, don't pass this one up just because you have fond memories of the 80s Conan. This film is better than the second movie in that series and other REH adaptations (except possibly Solomon Kane, which needs to get some kind of U.S. release!)
Solomon Kane (2009)
The best cinematic interpretation of a REH character thus far.
Solomon Kane ranks as one of the best dark fantasy movies available as well. For those not familiar with the character, watch this movie. You would never guess this was made on a relatively low budget. It has the look and fell of a summer blockbuster. Is is very well acted by ALL of the cast. James Purfoy looks like Solomon Kane from the comics and books. You could feel the weight he carried on his shoulders throughout the film. Although this isn't a straight adaption of the Solomon Kane stories of REH (none of the movies based on his characters have been), it definitely captures the spirit of those stories. This movie is a must see for those who love the fantasy genre!
Kull the Conqueror (1997)
Kull is a fun-tastic fantasy movie!
Being a huge Robert E Howard fan, Kull the Conqueror isn't quite the literary version of the character, but all in all, it's nice seeing Robert E. Howard getting some screen time! (Conan fans, yes even Arnold's Conan barely resembles the literary version so relax a little). This movie is nowhere near as bad a some make it out to be. Kevin Sorbo, fresh from TVs Hercules fame, does a good job as the title character. The movie plays more like lite fantasy than epic fantasy, but still has some awesome moments. For some reason I love the scene at the end when Kull destroys the stone wall with the old laws written on it with his Axe. I've seen the movie probably a dozen times and it doesn't get old. Karina Lombard is gorgeous as Kull's love interest, and Tia Carrere does a fine job as the villainess. (Ironically, the Conan movie with Jason Mamoa (2011) uses the same villainess and a similar plot of resurrecting her.) Thomas Ian Griffith as Taligaro also does a good job as Kull's warrior nemesis. He should get more roles! Rounding out the cast with Litefoot as a priest of Valka and brother of the love interest, and you have a quest plot that resembles something like Jason and the Argonauts. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the action and the humor of Kull the Conqueror! "By this Axe I rule!"
Leatherheads (2008)
Not what it is advertised
What this movie is not: a screwball comedy about the rise of pro football. What this movie is: a liberal attack against U.S.soldiers. The first 1/3rd to 1/2 of this movie isn't bad at all, and I chuckled along with it. Then George's heavy handed rant against U.S. soldiers comes in. The lead antagonist, Carter, is a college football player who takes a break and enlists in the Great War. He returns a war hero and continues his football career. Turns out his heroism in the war wasn't exactly what it was said to be, and a reporter goes undercover to get the real story. This part wasn't offensive, as Carter didn't start the story, he just played along at the behest of his agent. However, when the truth comes out (this is where the chuckles end and the film changes stride to represent George's political agenda) Carter turns into an unlikeable weasel to protect his image. The soldier who outed him to Zellweger's character then retracts his story (seems he's a dirtbag too and takes a bribe from the agent). Clooney meets up with several soldiers in a bar in Chicago who are rooting for Carter's team. When a young boy (no more than 9 or 10 yrs old) roots for the other team (Clooney's team), the soldiers grab him up and are going to beat him up in front of his parents. This is the really offensive part. The soldiers are portrayed as loud, obnoxious troublemakers who are going to pound an innocent kid!!!!Clooney stands up to them and a brawl ensues. During the brawl, Clooney realizes he knows one of the soldiers and they quickly stop fighting and drink together. Seems George thinks U.S. Soldiers as a whole are scum and troublemakers, but every now and again there is a decent one (don't forget just moments earlier the soldier was with the group that was going to pound a 9 yr old kid in front of his parents). Clooney proceeds to trick Carter into telling the truth in front of the newly appointed commissioner of football. Then the commish basically tells Clooney he is going to force him to retire. At the end Clooney stands up to the commish (appointed by U.S. Congress and rules are written that take the fun out of football). Was this George as one man standing up against the U.S. government? Football took a back seat early on in this movie, and never comes back until a somewhat satisfying last game with Clooney squaring off against disgraced war hero Carter.
Whatever.