Who would've thought it would be 2018, and Rocky Balbao would still be in a movie hitting theaters. Thankfully, the iconic sports franchise got a reboot three years ago that surpassed all expectations. With that kind of success, it shouldn't have come as a surprise that we'd be getting a sequel to Creed with the stakes even higher. This time, the son of Apollo Creed would be facing off against the son of Ivan Drago; the man who killed his father in the ring. The much anticipated story was put in the hands of up and coming director Steven Caple Jr., with the responsibility of not only bring back an iconic villain, but also stepping into the shoes of the talented Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Creed). No pressure Steven, no pressure at all.
As a stated above the film follows the now champion of the world Adonis Creed, son of famed boxer Apollo Creed. With things looking good in both his personal life with his girlfriend Bianca, and his career, Donny is blindsided by a challenge to fight Viktor Drago. The raw and unknown Viktor has been training in Ukraine with his father for the right opportunity to take on Donny in front of the world, giving boxing fans the match of their dreams. With his father's death at the hands of Viktor's father to motivate, Donny is now left with the chance to finally do what his dad couldn't and beat a Drago once and for all.
One of the biggest challenges the film has to tackle is taking the over the top story of Rocky VI and grounding it in realism. Caple Jr. and co. manage to pull this off perfectly, specifically in the way they've added depth to Drago's character. You really feel like this was a man who has been shunned by his own country and even those close to him, and that motivation is made clear through scenes between him and Viktor. While I could've used more scenes developing the relationship between Ivan and Viktor, its made clear that the later Drago is tough on his son. Making Viktor a more quiet character who showed little emotion around anyone aside from his father also was key to showing this, and helped make his character even more intimidating and hard to read. Does he really share a strong hatred for Creed, or is he just doing all this to please his father?
Once again the standout performances come from Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan. Stallone's further exploration into Rocky's own past mistakes and loses feels genuine, and he gets some great emotional scenes with Donny and Bianca. Stallone plays Rocky as an even more calm and wise figure in Creed's life then in the first film, and it mirrors how Rocky trusts Donny to make his own life decisions. While there unfortunately isn't too many scenes between Stallone and Lundgren, the tension is felt whenever the two are starring each other in the eye. The film makes it clear that Stallone as Rocky is passing the torch to Jordan as Creed, and this is made clear by his slightly more distant presence in the movie.
Jordan brings the dramatic scenes to life every time he's on the screen, truly helping the audience feels the frustration and mixed emotions Donny is going through. The contrast between Jordan's portrayal of the character's soft side when he's around Bianca and their daughter, to the anger filled scenes when he's face to face with the man who killed his father is remarkable. Some of the movies most emotional scenes are taken to another level by his performance, and his chemistry with both Stallone and Thompson is certainly a huge factor.
As for the direction of the movie, Steven Caple Jr. does a great job injecting his own style while still making it feel like a continuation of what Coogler did the first time around. Unfortunately some of Coogler's signature touches such as the one-take fight scene, as well as the perfect incorporation of the soundtrack in certain scenes aren't present here. Some of the fights in particular probably really would've benefited from Coogler's direction, but I feel Caple Jr. really shines with how he handled personal character moments. There are smaller scenes in the movie and exchanges between characters in the movie that may not seem all that important to the plot, but give us a much better idea of how they interact. In a movie that puts so much focus on parent-child relationships, this is something that needed to be handled well, and it was.
Although the absence of Ryan Coogler doesn't go unnoticed, Creed II is a more than worthy successor to the original movie. It gives closure to some of the most famous story lines in past Rocky movies in a way that doesn't feel fake or forced, and instead feels like a natural progression of boxing history. What the movie likes in some of its style and fight scenes, it makes up for in important dramatic and character moments that further the arcs of the main three characters of this series. Rocky fans and casual movie goers alike won't be able to resist moving to the edge of their seats when Drago and Creed are in the ring together, and that just proves Caple Jr. and the cast have done their jobs well.
I give Creed II 4 out of 5 stars:
So what did you think of Creed II? Did you think it was better of first then the first movie? Would you like to see another sequel? Let us know below!
This one has been a long time coming. After years of development hell, and a horribly inaccurate appearance on the big screen, the merc with a mouth has finally gotten his time to shine. It may have taken some leaked footage and pressure from fans to get this movie off the ground, but it was definitely worth it. Besides, desperate times call for desperate measures, even in Hollywood. Fans of Deadpool will be pleased to know that this R-rated comedy doesn't hold back; and more importantly, pays much overdo service to the fans. Equipped with fourth wall breaking, cursing galore, and its fair share of references, Tim Miller's Deadpool provides fans with everything it should have and needed to do.
Set in the X-Men universe, Deadpool follows the story of former mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) and his life as crude anti-hero. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Wilson seeks desperate measures to save his own life. The result of these measures leaves him with mutant powers, as well as a horribly mutilated face at the hands of fellow mutant Ajax (Ed Skrein). The now masked and super powered Wilson seeks revenge on Ajax and co. for ruining his life, and does so in the most humorous and violent ways possible.
My main concern going into this film was that its sense of humor and references would only appeal to a select group of people, specifically comic book and Deadpool fans. But I was pleasantly surprised to see that the movies humor was handled in a way that could be enjoyed by everyone for the most part, and much credit goes to writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Zombieland) for pulling off that difficult feat. That being said, the movies brand of humor still isn't for everyone, and some of the references may go way over people's heads. I thought the references to the X-Men universe, Green Lantern, and the characters portrayal in X-Men Origins: Wolverine were particularly the most clever.
While the writers and director Tim Miller certainly deserve a lot of the credit for keeping Deadpool's personality and humor intact and accurate to the comics, Ryan Reynolds also deserves recognition. Reynolds take on Wade Wilson in this film is literally right off the pages of the comics, and its almost impossible to think of any one else playing this part. Reynolds does a fantastic job at the fourth wall breaks that address the audience, along with the dirty humor Deadpool is none for, his delivery of all the character's clever one-liners, and even down to his expressions and voice tonality under the mask. Reynolds certainly gives voice actor Nolan North a run for his money as THE voice of Deadpool for now on, and its one of the best superhero casting choices made in the last few years.
The rest of the films cast sort of takes a back seat to Reynolds and Deadpool's huge personality, which was expected from the get-go. There are some characters I felt were slightly underused including Gina Carona's Angel Dust, Leslie Uggam's Blind Al, and to a certain extent Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand). Some of the great surprises of the film's cast are T.J. Miller's Weasel, who gets some great scenes of dialogue opposite Reynolds, and of course Morena Baccarin's Vanessa, who isn't your by the numbers superhero love interest (Which is fitting for someone like Deadpool).
Ed Skrein's Ajax ends up being a pretty basic superhero villain, but he does a great job at truly making you hate his character and makes you understand Deadpool's motivation to want to kick his ass. But for me the real surprise performance of this film was the now finally comic book accurate Colossus voiced by Stefan Kapičić, who truly provides a great contrast to the rude and brash personality of Reynold's Deadpool. He gets some great lines and scenes, as well as some hilarious moments of his judgement of Wilson's morals and means for handling situations.
The music of the film is also certainly worth noting as well, and is a pleasant fresh approach to the typical superhero film score. Junkie XL (Mad Max: Fury Road) proves that he's one of the best new composers in the business, and he goes for a very different sounding soundtrack that matches the fun of the Deadpool character, and gives the movie an even more upbeat and unique tone. There's also a great inclusion of other well known songs throughout the film, that are incorporated perfectly and help increase the hilarity of certain scenes rather than just being thrown in there for the hell of it. And props to the Deadpool rap, which even included sound bites of Reynolds' voice and was also cleverly incorporated in the film.
The costume and set design also deserves some attention here, as Deadpool himself may have one of the most comic book accurate superhero suits seen on screen (And certainly in the X-Men universe). The inclusion of the animated CGI to show Deadpool's expressions also was a subtle yet very important addition that helped make Reynolds' portrayal as close to the comics as possible. The CGI for Colossus and classic suit designs for him and Negasonic Teenage Warhead are also very well made and fitting for the film. For being on such a small budget, the film impresses effects and cinematography wise, with only a couple of scenes here and there looking a little dodgy. The action scenes are also of note, as they're all very well filmed and orchestrated to the level of Marvel's recent Daredevil series.
Despite reluctance from the studio and some concerned fans, Deadpool ends up being everything a movie based on this character should be. Its very self aware and doesn't hold back on its humor, and is written in an extremely witty and referential manner. While the plot is a little played out, and some references may only appeal to a certain audience of people, the movie is impressive in every other aspect. Reynolds does the character (And his career) justice with an excellent and hilarious performance, and you can't help but wonder how much crazier things will get in the film's confirmed sequel. First time director Tim Miller also solidifies himself along with writers Reese and Wernick as guys to look out for in coming years, and they provide us with a breathe of fresh air from the standard comic book movies we've become accustomed to.
I give Deadpool 4.5 out of 5 star:
So what did you think of Deadpool? Did it live up your expectations? Is it the comic book movie to beat this year? Let us know below!
A film that was nearly scrapped by director Quentin Tarantino is both a fun time at the movie theater, yet just doesn't feel as fantastic as it was claimed to be. A well cut out story falls apart when it needs to define itself the most, and a plot twist that was as vaguely awkward as it gets.
Director Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained) is back with a 70mm camera and a story that starts out as a "Who Dunn It in the Old West" and then evolves into a traditional Quentin Tarantino film. The cast is comprised of Samuel L. Jackson (Marvel's The Avengers), Kurt Russel (Furious 7), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Channing Tatum (Magic Mike), Tim Roth (The Incredible Hulk), Walton Goggins ( Justified), Bruce Dern (Nebraska), all of which do a solid job at conveying their roles.
The plot consist of Samuel L. Jackson's Major Marquis Warren being stranded due to a arriving blizzard and receiving a ride to a travelers lodge from Kurt Russell's John "The Hang Man"Ruth. Upon arriving at the lodge, the film turns into a mystery of what happened to Minnie, the owner of the lodge, as well as who is in association with Jennifer Jason Leigh, and trying to get her free. The films major connection with the audience is trying to convey which individuals are involved and which are innocent bystanders. The is film is broken into six chapters and has the fifth chapter serve as the big reveal for the film.
In essence the film is over done in the style of Tarantino at the very most and almost spoils the good taste of the film.The film felt as though Django was taken and smothered in Tarantino sauce once again, when it didn't have to be, doubling the gore, sexual jokes, mistreatment of women, and a whole lot of bloody gun play and you have The Hateful Eight. The cinematography does do the film justice in a widescreen scenario but at the same time the film feels better justified as a play.
In Django Unchained (A film that will constantly be referenced in comparison), the audience roots for Django to find freedom and rescue the love of his life. Yet in comparison, The Hateful Eight does not know who exactly they want the audience to root for at this point. The film attempts to rotate the audiences respect between each character and attempts to have us develop their motives for saving the captive, Yet this is where the film fails because most of the characters seem one dimensional and each feels as though they were barely explored in depth
It is sad to say that the film does nothing to develop the world of TheHateful Eight, only to give us a glimpse of what the character holds through dialogue that reveals minimal back story, that is almost pointless when you are trying to figure out who is lying among them.
Ambitious and enjoyable, yet not a memorable and ground breaking film that it attempted to be. Just like how it split audiences down the middle,
Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight shoots its way to a 2.5 out of 5 stars
In the year 2015, gun violence and African American culture is a topic in which is heavily being expressed through both the news and social media. Director Spike Lee sought to express this idea through a film to describe the outcries of the time in a highly stylized film, and ultimately the result is a mess. Instead of creating a timeless films expressing the struggles in the struggling communities of Chicago, we were delivered a film that simply assimilates all the problems of the time and puts it in a 2 hr film.
Teyonah Parris(Dear White People),Samuel Jackson (Hateful 8), Nick Cannon(Drumline), Jennifer Hudson (Dream Girls) ,Wesley Snipes (Blade), John Cusack (Love and Mercy) , Angela Basset (American Horror Story), Dave Chapelle (The Chapelle Show) are a cast assembled by Director Spike Lee is so convoluted that is beyond recognition. Beyond Teyonah Parris , everyone else in the film feels as though Spike Lee was filming and called up some friends who weren't busy on his contact list. The dialogue is a satirical musical drama which is the worst possible choice for a film like this which needs to create the clearest possible message which is....
This leads to the second biggest problem with the film which is trying to figure out the problem in which the film is trying to address. The plot revolves around Teyonah Parris character attempting to solve gun violence in Chicago by having the women of two clashing gangs by refusing to have sex as long as gun violence is present. The film from there is smothered with dialogue utilizing sexual innuendos that feel off or outdated. A lot of scenes could've been broadened upon, while others could've been drastically cut.
For the first time in a long time, I feel as though no performances in this film moved me or made me seek out change in the community. The film was tedious and made it difficult to watch as serious
moments were cluttered by what seemed to be jokes thrown in by the cast.
In a time where a serious film that demands change is needed, a film like Chi- Raq attempts to make a difference without being blatantly clear on what its trying to say. Without a clear voice the film feels as though it is just another lost whisper against the ever growing sounds of gun violence reigning through the U.S. Spike Lee has delivered some timeless classics filled with emotion and creativity, yet I am not sure this was the film appropriate to try and do the same.
In a era where films use explosions and gun fire in order to attract audiences, The Revenant uses old fashion story telling in order to provide a great thrill that you don't often see in cinemas. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who also directed one of 2014's most creative films, Birdman. The Revenant stars Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street, Inception), Tom Hardy (Legend), Will Poulter (The Maze Runner), and Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), all of which I would say deliver standout performances.
The plot of the film revolves around a group of frontiersman who were pushed away from the settlement, from here we watch DiCaprio take lead battling Nature, the elements, other Frontiersmen, Native Americans, and the harsh reality of the world surrounding him.
To say the least, Leonardo DiCaprio did the up most possible in order to convey a convincing Hugh Glass through the various events in which he faces. Dialogue is key, but more of the body language conveyed as well as the little things that DiCaprio does in the film help form a convincing character to the audience.
Through out the film Tom Hardy also gives a great performance as a disturbing John Fitzgerald , a frontiersman who was partially scalped by Native Americans, and holds a chip on his shoulder for anything that doesn't involve money. To say the least, the cast was phenomenal throughout the film.
A big key factor that also makes this film one of the best is the cinematography. The principal filming was initially suppose to take place in Canada, yet due to weather circumstances, and the purpose of green screens seeming too unrealistic, the filming moved its location. Instead they used places such as Argentina, parts of the United States, and British Columbia, all of which are seamless when looking at the transition between sets.
The subtle looks upon nature as well as the score composed by Japanese artist Ryuichi Sakamoto in addition to Bryce Dessner help convey the grand nature of the film truly making it a standout. This film is definitely a film worth watching in IMAX in order to get the full effect of the film.
A film that exploits the danger of nature and the harsh frontiers of the 1800's, with Leonardo DiCaprio displaying why he is one of the all time greatest actors, The Revenant is one of the must see films of the new year.
Films
about space exploration and mishaps in the farthest regions of the galaxy have become
a bit of a trend in Hollywood lately. Some of the today’s most acclaimed
directors such as Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity),
Christopher Nolan (Interstellar), and
Duncan Jones (Moon) have taken a
crack at the genre, so it was only a matter of time before Ridley Scott (Alien) himself gave it a shot. With The Martian, Scott takes a break from
the usual science fiction extraterrestrial films he’s known for, and tackles a
much more groundedand
realistic space adventure story. The result is a captivating film that sports a
cast who bring their characters to life, along with a story that is packed in
suspense and never offers a dull moment.
The film follows the crew of the Ares III; a
team of astronauts who are ready to set back home after their mission to mars.
But just prior to leaving, a storm hits leading the crew to believe that one of
their members; botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon), was killed during the storm.
It isn’t until once the Ares III has departed that it is revealed Watney did in
fact survive the storm, and has now been left alone to fend for himself on the
deserted planet of Mars.
Every time there is a film that follows a
person on their own or stranded in a place without any other humans, there’s
always a risk that film’s narrative me be boring or not captivating enough for
the audience. There’s also a tremendous amount of pressure on whatever actor is
playing the title role, as they have to practically carry most of the film on
their own. In The Martian’s case,
that responsibility falls onto Matt Damon, along with screenwriter Drew Goddard
(Cabin in the Woods). Both Damon and
Goddard do a fantastic job at making Watney into an entertaining and relatable
character whose eyes we are able to see the film’s events through.
While it may have seemed like the film was
going to be two hours of Matt Damon alone on Mars, Scott keeps the audience’s
attention but constantly cutting back to what is taking place back on Earth.
Watney may be the most developed character in the film, but several other supporting
players get their time to shine, and are portrayed fantastically by some
familiar faces. Standouts include Jeff Daniels (Newsroom) as the NASA director, Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) as the man in charge
of the Mars mission, and Sean Bean (Lord
of the Rings) as a fellow head employee for NASA. Every character
introduced in the film serves a purpose, and adds something extra to the flow
of the film’s story. The dialogue between these characters was especially
impressive, with some witty remarks reminiscent of that of Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network).
But the real stars of the show here are the
crew of the Ares III themselves, who all really provide the emotional anchor of
the film. While a majority of the film is seen through Watney’s eyes as we
experience his emotions, seeing the psychological effects of leaving a
crewmember through his fellow astronauts adds an entirely new layer to the
film. Michael Pena, Jessica Chastain, and Kate Mara specifically stand out, and
share some great scenes alongside each other. Although it would’ve be nice to
have had more screen time between these characters and Watney himself prior to
them leaving, we’re giving a good idea of their personalities and what their
relationships with Watney were like through some great dialogue scenes.
The soundtrack of the film was another
surprising standout, and really helped give the film its own identity. The
film’s score is definitely a lot more lighthearted than expected for a film
about a guy left alone on Mars. This actually suits the movie well, and is a
great reflection of Watney’s optimism throughout the story. There is also a
great amount of 70s music in the throughout, which is a running gag in film.
Those who are fans of disco music will really enjoy it, while those who aren’t
will feel Watney’s pain.
In this day and age where space adventure
films are a dime a dozen, and each film is trying to reach a further region of
space than the last, The Martian is a
breathe of fresh air. Everything about the film from its visuals and its
beautiful use of colors, the avoidance of clichés, down to the spectacular cast
that was assembled all really help it stand out from its predecessors in the
genre. The Martian is a return to
form for Ridley Scott, as well as another brilliantly acted film led by Matt
Damon himself, and is sure to be a contender for an Oscar in visual effects
next year. Those who are looking for a grounded space film that isn’t named Star Warsor Star Trek should look no further than this brilliant take on the
future of human space travel.
I give The Martian 4 out of 5 stars:
So have you see The Martian? What did you think of it? Let us know below!
Upon visiting the movie theater to watch the newest installment to a film franchise that has been around for years, the thoughts of the movie were very limited. With the "King of the Monsters" being shown in only wisp within the trailer, many could not fathom whether or not they would truly get to experience Godzilla in all his glory. Many fans still haven't completely recovered from Roland Emmerich's ridiculous 1998 attempt at bringing the character back in a mainstream blockbuster. But thankfully, to give an honest perspective on the matter: this film gives you what you need and handles it perfectly.
Godzilla follows a chief engineer at the Janjira power plant in Japan named Joe Brody, and husband and father he begins to notice abnormal seismic behavior. As a result of this, the plant suffers a major meltdown, causing severe damage. Five years later, Brody finds himself still looking for answers, obssessed with figuring out what truly caused the accident at Janjira. Once Brody takes things too far and is arrested, his son Ford (A member of the US Navy) most travel to Japan to set his father free. But along his journey, Ford realize's their may be more to his father Joe's theories than anyone originally believed.
To begin touching upon the acting, Bryan Cranston as Joe Brody was not bad, at times it seemed that his emotional concern did not necessarily touch the audience, for example: "You guys are hiding something and I have the right to know" was a moment that should have emotionally hit the audience, yet it was simply blown over due to the lack of character importance. Yet other than that he served as a good introduction to the film and the worlds perspective on Godzilla. Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the film felt emotionally dull, in certain situations where he should have been freaking out or leaving streaks within his pants, he simply seemed immune to the situation occurring around him. After a while I found myself asking whether or not he was Batman because despite him being a veteran in the field for 14 months, nothing can really prepare you for seeing enormous monsters clashing across various towns.
Probably my favorite actor of the film was Elizabeth Olsen, who provided the most emotional scenes. A mother in the wake of destruction looking for her husband and trying to make the right decisions in order to keep her son safe as well, she is showing amazing range as a actor. Ken Wantanabe as Dr. Ichiro Serizawa was questionable, at times he felt under used and could have provided more emotional depth if they placed him in the wake of the destruction, but he was still good along with the rest of the cast. Only problem with the cast that was the age of Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen. As believable parents, it was somewhat tough to swallow, they seemed more of the young couple just getting married type, not married with kids type, therefore it will be interesting to see how well they are used in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
But what was truly the stand out of this film, hands down, no complaints at all, was the cinematography. Many people feel as though we should have seen more of the fights between Godzilla and M.U.T.O Spoiler ahead (There is one male that can fly and one larger female) end spoiler, yet this was handled perfectly. Instead of consistently showing you these fights every second, we receive the destruction around them either through news broadcasting or distance first person views. What this then does is raise your anticipation levels, which in turn delivers majorly in the film at the end. IT IS MANDATORY (by Turbo Exp standards) that you view this film in order to get the full effect.
The sounds and sights in this film are breathtaking, to put in a short amount of words. There are multiple scenes that can be touched upon, yet those shall be covered later on in the article. One scene shown in the trailer that truly made the audience go insane was a scene in which the entire theater becomes mute, all sounds are removed, we see a tale move through the mist, and then Godzilla releases a roar that will leave you in ah. In terms of visual scale of the beast, it is perfection, giving you not a just large monster running around a city, but a massive beast that crashes into buildings and steps on all things that lie beneath it, just as it logically should.
The score was fitting and made the film seem more monumental in terms of all the actions that occurs, and Alexandre Desplat takes many ques from John Williams' score for Jaws with how he builds up the film's action. Rather than going for a louder theme for the film like many of it's fellow blockbusters have, Desplat decides to go with a much more eerie and mysterious sound to his take. Also auditory sounds of the film were handled almost to perfection, yet for the visual aid it is nearly a automatic Oscar nomination for this film.
To conclude, Godzilla is a film that has rejuvenated the franchise and deserves a sequel (Possibly with Mothra, King Ghidora, and Maybe even a varied incarnation of Godzilla. Destroyah should be used if the film decides to continue , being that he is the most menacing looking Godzilla villain, and he comes at a key point in the life of Godzilla. Other than that Godzilla is worth the IMAX 3D price, a freakishly long review, as well as a buy on Blu-Ray and two thumbs up.
