F1 Review

 

F1, or as it's been marketed F1: The Movie, is a sports drama that's produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Apple Studios, Plan B Entertainment, Monolith Pictures, and Dawn Apollo Films with Warner Bros. Pictures and Apple Original Films both distributing. Joseph Kosinski directed while Ehren Kruger wrote the screenplay. Making it the second time these two collaborated with the first being the hugely successful Top Gun: Maverick.

The story is, in the 90's Sonny Hayes was a promising Formula 1 until serve injuries in the 1993 Spanish Grand Prix ended all of that. Thirty years later, the owner of a struggling F1 team convinces Sonny to come back to racing and become the best in the world. With all of the hotshot rookies just as determined to reach that spot, Sonny quickly learns this road towards redemption isn't gonna be an easy one.

Initial Reaction

At first I was excited because it seems as of late racing movies are becoming a winning formula for Hollywood. First there was the incredible Ford v Ferrari back in 2019 and then back in 2023 there was the surprisingly good Gran Turismo. So I had fingers crossed that this one would be no different. Then when I found out it was being directed and written by the guys that made the AWESOME Top Gun: Maverick I got even more excited. So I was going into this movie with some very high expectations.

Cons

I've got nothing.

Middle Ground

Now this movie and Gran Turismo share one similarly. That being pacing. Racing scenes are fast pace and exciting, with character dynamics also maintaining momentum. But we got moments where some fat could've been cut. One example being the blossoming romance between Sonny and Kate. Yeah it's a fine subplot but it didn't need to be has lengthy as it was.

Pros

Let's start off with the story. Yes, it's familiar to the sports genre, we're seen the veteran butt heads with the hotshot rookie before, yada yada yada. But like I said with Gran Turismo (wow that's twice now I've made a comparison between these two.) it's about execution. And F1 has good execution. I actually invested in Sonny's story. I actually wanted to watch his redemption from beginning to end. I was also invested in the company Sonny's working for that being APXGP and how they're struggling. The reasons why these stories despite familiar beats worked is because Ehren Kruger brought heart amidst all of the racing drama. Speaking of racing let's dive into what's probably the real reason why people went to see this that being well the racing. Let me start off with Joseph Kosinski did an amazing job with the flying in Top Gun: Maverick and despite being a different vehicle and being on the ground, he did a fantastic job with the racing. The racing is a blast! Because of Joseph's usage of an iPhone-based on board system we also feel like we're in the driver's seat, which in return brings up the intensity. It was a visceral experience and I loved every moment. And combined with Hans Zimmer's score brought up the adrenaline even more. The last bit of praise goes to Brad Pitt and Damson Idris' performance. Brad was great. He brought his usual charisma to Sonny and in doing so made the character an enjoyable focal point. Then there was Damson. I'll be honest this is the first time I've seen him in anything. I know he had a main role in FX's Snowfall, but I never watched that show. So I went in with him totally blind, and what I witnessed from him didn't disappoint. His character can be as charismatic as Sonny albeit a lot more cocky. But Damson was amazing with hidden the character's vulnerability. Then there's moments where these two share the screen and are really good. Their chemistry together helped push the rivalry between Sonny and Joshua (that's Damson's character by the way) and also kept the narrative grounded.

F1 isn't perfect but it is worth checking out. Whether you're an Formula 1 fan or not this is a fun one to see in theaters.

My final rating is, Good.

Well that's gonna close out the month of June. Due come back on Thursday, Jul 3rd for the final part of my Road to Superman (2025) with my review of the comic book storyline, Superman: The Warworld Saga. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.

M3GAN 2.0 Review

 

M3GAN 2.0 is a sci-fi action film and the sequel to 2023's M3GAN. Production was done by Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster with Universal Pictures doing distribution. Gerald Johnstone both wrote and directed.

The story is, it's been two years since the events of the first movie. During that time Gemma has become an author and an advocate for regulations on A.I. and M3GAN has been trapped in a harmless robot doll. What they don't yet realize is M3GAN's technology has been stolen and used by defense contractors to create their own military robot called AMELIA. AMELIA soon becomes self-aware and turns on her creators then plans for an A.I. takeover. Knowing the stakes are high Gemma has no choice but to rebuild and upgrade M3GAN in the hopes of stopping AMELIA.

Initial Reaction

The reason why I wanted to see/review this is because I really liked the first movie. So when I read about a sequel I was interested. Although I did go into this with skepticism because of the change from horror to action.

Cons

I've got nothing.

Middle Ground

One mix came from the humor. There are many funny moments, most of them stemming from M3GAN's sarcastic personality. Having said that there were moments that just didn't work. Like when M3GAN sings Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work". Yeah that part was...odd, very odd. Then there's the story. It's very relevant to what we're seeing and hearing about now regarding A.I. Such as the ethics and what kind of regulations we should have on it. And while it's good to see that touched on it doesn't really provide a deep commentary. What I mean by deep in this case wasn't I was hoping for something truly thought provoking, but more of something that wasn't fairly standard. While there was some interesting things said a lot of it was stuff you'd expect to hear regarding A.I.

Pros

First things first is the pacing. While there are some moments that can be a little slow, a majority of the runtime is easy to get through. But my last and best praise I'll give the movie is the performances. Amie Donald comes back to provide the physical work for M3GAN and just like she did in the first she does great. It's amazing how with only body language she's able to display M3GAN's personality. Amie provided a great balance of human-like expressions with some creepy robotic movements. And with this tremendous skill set of hers it's no surprise she nailed it with the dance choreography and the action scenes. Then we have Jenna Davis as the voice of M3GAN. Her voice gave us some hilarious, snarky wit as well as menace, and she can switch between those tones flawlessly. So Jenna adapting greatly to the more action-heavy/lighter tone. Now let's move onto the other actresses playing a deadly A.I., that being Ivanna Sakhno as AMELIA. Unlike M3GAN Ivanna delivered a far more cold performance. Ivanna brought a fantastic icy demeanor that was a perfect counterpart to M3GAN's more chaotic energy. Lastly there's Alison Williams and Violet McGraw. Whatever chemistry they had in the first was also brought here. Where they truly shine comes from the more quieter scenes. After M3GAN returns they have a believable sincerity to their argument regarding trust. These two definitely provide a more emotional depth.

M3GAN 2.0 isn't by any means flawless, you probably have more issues with than me, but for me I wasn't disappointed. While I wish the humor was better, I still found enjoyment.

My final rating is, Okay.

That's all for now. Come back on Monday, Jun 30th, for a review of another recently released movie. That being F1. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.

Road to The Naked Gun (2025) - The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear Review

 

Alright, back to The Naked Gun series. Let's see if the laughter continues with the sequel or if it falls flat.

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear is a crime comedy film and the sequel to The Naked Gun (1988), thus making it the second installment of the film series. Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker Productions did production alongside Paramount Pictures who also distributed. Pat Proft wrote the story with David Zucker who also returned to directed.

The story is, powerful energy corporations are intent to stopping eco-friendly Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer. They soon replace him with an imposter who is more than willing to do their bidding. But what the corporations didn't count on was Lt. Frank Drebin to be onto their scheme, and he's bent on putting a stop to this nefarious plot.

• Negatives

I've got nothing.

• Mix

The only mix bag was the main villain Quentin Napsburg. While he does have some entertaining moments and bits with Drebin, he's mostly just a serviceable villain. I wouldn't be surprised if people remember his face but not his name.

• Positives

One positive is the tight pacing. Much like the first the movie goes by without wasting nobody's time. You can sit back, watch, and never feel the runtime.

Then there's the cast and their chemistry. Unsurprisingly Leslie Nielsen shows off his great comedic chops and works well off of anybody. Then of course you got cast members like George Kennedy and Priscilla Presley, who also have great comedic timing and provide prefect delivers with there lines whether it's a scene by themselves or with a fellow cast mate.

The last thing I'll credit is the humor. While some jokes don't exactly land, I still found myself laughing a lot. The sequel keeps up with the first movie's use of sight gags and absurd humor, along with lines such as this bit right here.

I love how Frank thought about it for a moment 😆. But the jokes also extend to the movie spoofing environmental and political thrillers, by poking fun at corporate greed and government incompetence.

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear may not be better than the first, but it still provides great comedy thus being a good follow up.

My final rating is, Good.

I hope you enjoyed this review as that's all for now. Come back on Saturday, Jun 28th, for my review of M3GAN 2.0. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.

Road to Superman (2025) - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Review

 NOTE: JUST LIKE THE LAST TIME I REVIEWED THIS MOVIE I'M USING THE ULTIMATE EDITION BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO WATCH THIS MOVIE.

Man, I can't believe this road is almost over. Time truly does fly.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a comic book movie based on the DC Comics' characters Batman & Superman. It's the follow-up to Man of Steel and the second installment of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). DC Entertainment, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel and Unusual Films produced along with Warner Bros. Pictures who also distributed. Chris Terrio & David S. Goyer wrote the story and Zack Snyder directed.

The story is, Bruce Wayne witness the destructive events during Man of Steel and has no trust in Superman. Taking advantage of Batman's paranoia, Lex Luthor comes up with a plan to have The Man of Tomorrow fight The Dark Knight. These two titans must come together and fight against Lex or one will wind up killing the other.

• Negatives

I've got nothing.

• Mix

First there's the performances. Firstly there's Ben Affleck. I believe every great thing said about his performance has already been said. Ben was truly a great Batman & Bruce Wayne. Hell even the late, legendary, and thee voice of Batman Kevin Conroy thought so. Ben was perfect for a broken, fall from grace, and hardened edge Batman, he'll always be in my top five favorite Batman performances. Affleck balanced both this version of Batman's rage, trauma, and power. Then there's Henry Cavill. I remember back in 2016 (and sadly to even today!) when people giving Henry crap for stoic. BUT THAT'S WHAT SUPERMAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THIS STORY! Henry is supposed to play a Superman who's struggling being a hero when the entire world around is skeptical about him 24/7, and Henry played that struggle greatly. But when Henry's not playing a Superman who's having doubts, there was a few times when he has a genuine earnestness to him. Then we have Gal Gadot as Diana/Wonder Woman. It's funny, when rewatching this I remembered when people liked her, now it's seems like they want to give her crap for anything. But even of that. Now while I admit Gal isn't the strongest actress, but here she does do a good job. She has this very quiet confidence to her and can have a bit of charisma as well. Then we have supporting cast from Jeremy Irons and Laurence Fishburne. Jeremy's Alfred is a great foil to Ben's cynical Batman, and Laurence's Perry White was a fun and gruff editor of the Daily Planet. But what they both brought to the table was some levity. Yes folks, suspension to disbelief there is humor in BvS. It's just...what word am I looking for? Oh that's right, subtle! But let's address the elephant in the room, that being Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. Honestly at first I wasn't the biggest fan, but as time went by I have grown to appreciate his acting. Jesse's Lex definitely has an inferiority complex when compared to Gene Hackman (R.I.P. by the way). But I think what they should've done is tone down some of his more eccentric moments.

• Positives

Alright let's get the easiest praise out of the way first. There's no denying that Zack Snyder can truly make scenes look like they've jumped out of the comic books. If you ever get the guts to go out there and make your own big budget superhero movie, you've gotta study Snyder's work. I don't care if you love him or hate him, Snyder's shots look like comic book panels. This shot right here. 👇🏻

That alone is epic.

Then we have the tone. I can't tell you how crazy it drives me to read and listen to people complain about the tone of this movie! Guys, it's okay that this is movie is dark and serious. It was promoted like that since the very first teaser! So it's not like there was ever a bait and switch. But I digress, anyways, the tone is actually a positive. With all of the themes this movie has it'd make sense we'd have a dark film. And what's funny is this movie isn't even that dark. If you want a dark movie go watch something like Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, that'll leave you way more despressed than this movie.

The last thing I'll praise is the story. Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer crafted a great story. We've got Superman trying to figure out power and responsibility. Because of the debate of him being a savior or threat, Clark struggles with his ideals against humanity's fear. And because of this unchecked power, Batman feels the need to step in and put this power in check even at the cost of his moral compass. Speaking of fear, that's another thing going on, fear vs. hope. It's fear that was driving Batman to fall from the hero he once was to be this more violent vigilante as well as his crusade against Superman. Then there's Superman who's trying to inspire hope in people and gain their trust. That's why we get a montage of him saving people and willingly go to the Capitol and explain himself. This is a movie that makes you question something things like the nature of power. Kinda like that source material supposed fans bring up and put in their top ten best Batman or Superman comic book storylines.

Guys, I love Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, especially the Ultimate Edition. I'm wasn't ashamed to love it back in 2016 and I'm not ashamed to love it now.

My final rating is, Great.

Okay, that's gonna do it. Come back on Thursday, Jun 26th, for the second part of my Road to The Naked Gun (2025), with my review of The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.

28 Years Later Review

Finally! Finally after so many years we have a sequel to 28 Weeks Later.

28 Years Later is a post-apocalyptic horror movie and third installment in the 28 Years Later film series after following 28 Days Later & 28 Weeks Later. The studios in charge of production are DNA Films, BFI, and Decibel Films with Columbia Pictures handling distribution. Danny Boyle returns to direct with Alex Garland also returns to write the story.

The story is, it's been twenty-eight years since the Rage virus escape from the lab and infected so many. Survivors have found ways to exist among the infected. Among these survivors is a boy named Spike, and after hearing the story of a doctor Spike sets out to find in the hopes he can help his mother's illness. In doing this journey Spike will see both the horrors and wonders of the world.

Initial Reaction

Having liked both 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later I was fully pumped for this. I was especially curious where the story would go from here. Although I'll always be saddened by the fact they didn't do 28 Months Later. 😔😆

Cons

Nothing to read here.

Middle Ground

The only slight issue is the story. Now 99.99% of the time it's really good. Let's start off with all of the good aspects first. Basically the story is a dark coming-of-age tale for Spike. Who at first is going through his people's rite of passage by going out on his first scouting mission with his father. But when he's mother's condition worsens he now has to grow up quicker than he should and become the family protector. It was a very good story for him and the scenes with his mom were the best. We also see how so much as changed in the past twenty-eight years. Things are differently more tribal this time around, and I don't just mean with the humans but with the infected as well. The infected still have animalistic traits but this time around their intelligence has been slightly heightened. Which honestly that scares me more than them just being mindless killing machines. Now all that stuff was great, but then there's that other percentage. Basically the filmmakers are planning for this to be a trilogy. And because of that this one does leave a lot of questions. So while I still enjoyed the story I can't deny there's sequel baiting.

Pros

Now for the truly good stuff. First with the visuals. Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle does a fantastic job with the look of the movie. There's a lot of harsh background drops throughout. From the Spike's isolated community to a bunch of stuff like abandoned buildings & trains that's been rusting and decaying away for the past decades. However, Anthony also gave us beautiful nature settings as well. The forest is gorgeous and there's also a beautiful flower field as well. So there's this perfect balance between rot and beauty. But the biggest praise goes towards Alfie Williams and Jodie Comer. First let's start with Jodie. While playing Isla. Her character as I previously mentioned is very ill, so throughout the movie there's a very fragile side of her. So fragile in fact you're really hoping she makes it through the journey. But despite the illness Jodie also perfectly shows how Isla is still trying to be a good mother to her son. Wow, an ACTUAL compelling female character who isn't an overly annoying girlboss! I didn't think modern Hollywood writing still allowed that. Joking aside Jodie Comer is great. But the biggest praise goes towards Alfie Williams. At first he's still giving a great performance alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson. But once he has to be the main star he pushes his acting from 10 to 11. I mean it, this kid carries the entire movie and not matter what the tone of the scene has to be Alfie kills it. He does a stellar job having to balance courage, childlike innocence, and vulnerability. Not bad for a kid who only has two other acting credits before doing this movie.

While 28 Years Later for the most part has a great story, the movie truly shines with its cinematography but mostly shines with it's fantastic cast.

My final rating is, Good.

Overall a pretty good experience. So that's all for now. Come back on Monday, Jun 23rd, for my review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which will serve as the near end of my road to Superman (2025). Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.

Sin City: The Hard Goodbye Review

 

Welcome to another comic book review folks. Only this time I venture out of DC or Marvel and instead do a comic from Dark Horse Comics. Let's do this.

Sin City: The Hard Goodbye is a 1991 crime comic storyline and the first story in the Sin City comic series. The first part of the story was published in Dark Horse Presents: 5th Anniversary Special with the rest of the story published in Dark Horse Presents #51-62. Then being published in collected editions. Frank Miller was both the writer and artist.

The story is, former ex-military and professional killer Marv wakes up and sees that the woman he slept with Goldie has been killed. Now, Marv is on the warpath to find who killed Goldie and punish them for killing the woman he thought of as his personal heaven in the hell that is Sin City.

• Negatives

I've got nothing.

• Mix

It stems from the characters. Marv is a great anti-hero. He's violent but does have a moral code. And through his internal monologues he does show a slight vulnerability. But the villains he's facing are very one-dimensional. They're just plain evil. Which wouldn't be problem considering some great villains are like that, the Joker being the biggest example. But with how nuance Marv it does kinda make you wish the villains were just as complex.

• Positives

Let's start off with the pacing. The story immediately hits the ground running when Marv finds Goldie dead and starts running from the cops, and it never stops. But when we do stop it's perfectly strategic, with panels having Marv monologue trying to put the pieces together or seek help from others. This is a comic that's quick in all the right ways.

The next praise goes to Frank Miller's art. Nowadays it's so easy to rag on Frank's art. True his style isn't as polished as it was in his prime, but a lot of it isn't helped by whoever is inking and/or coloring his work, but I digress. With The Hard Goodbye his art is pretty cool. If you don't know Miller's art style is heavily influenced by noir cinema with a bit of manga thrown in as well. So while a lot of his work does come in color such as The Dark Knight Returns, his black and white art is really good. Visuals are striking because Frank has a great use of negative space and silhouettes. I'll give you just a little taste.

Now let's move onto to world building. Despite this being the city's very first appearance. Basin City or as it's called in the story Sin City feels like a character itself and that character is urban dystopia. The setting is a mess. There's seedy bars, decrepit appointments, and alleys just covered in rain. There's different types of societies. The corrupt elites rule from estates and compounds, the underclass scraping by in the gutters, and Old Town which not only showcases resistance but also hints at subcultures.

My final bit of praising goes to the story. While we get a fun revenge story there's also quite a lot going on. Marv's quest isn't just simply payback but also a warped sense of redemption. He's willing to die just because of one moment of kindness. Showing how even in despair humans still have a deep need of connection. And there's another thing I kinda failed to see the first time around but picked up on later. But there's moments where Frank Miller subtly questions if Marv's code is truly heroic or more self-destructive?

Guys, if you want to read an alternative from the typical DC & Marvel stuff, I suggest reading this. It's a fun read.

My final rating is, Great.

Well that was a good time. Anyways, come back on Saturday, Jun 21st for my review of the highly anticipated, 28 Years Later. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.

Fan Film Mondays - The Green Goblin's Last Stand Review

 

Alright the first edition of Fan Film Mondays! Now before we get into the review let me tell you something first. Whatever criticism or praise I give this movie I was strictly looking at this from a 1992 point of view. Meaning don't expect me rip apart the effects or anything because it goes without saying but, this was made long before fan films could rely on crowd funding sites like Kickstarter or IndieGoGo. So I'm only criticizing what the filmmakers had going for them at their time.

The Green Goblin's Last Stand is a 1992 fan film not only based on the Marvel Comics' character Spider-Man, but the issues #121-122 of The Amazing Spider-Man. Production was done by Dan Poole and Alpha Dog Productions distributed. Dan Poole also wrote and directed.

The story is, being Spider-Man was never simple for Peter Parker, but when his old foe Norman Osborn aka the Green Goblin unexpectedly returns from the rehabilitation clinic Peter is naturally suspicious of him but also focuses on being in a relationship with his girlfriend Gwen Stacy. Norman is trying to keep it together, but he's slowly losing himself and it's only a matter of time before he transforms back to Spider-Man's deadliest foe.

• Negatives

I've got nothing.

• Mix

One mix is the pacing. A lot of times it can be uneven. The biggest example being Norman's transformation, those parts did drag for a bit. Meanwhile other moments have a much tighter momentum.

Then there's the acting. Let's start off with our biggest stars Dan Poole as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and James Kinstle as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. Dan is pretty good. He's got a solid performance and really goes all out during the final fight with Green Goblin. But James absolutely steals the show. He's wonderfully over the top. I dare say he truly nails that old school Green Goblin from the 70's. Then we get other performers like Allison Adams as Gwen Stacy. She wasn't terrible or anything. She's very earnest which does give her some charm. But since I gotta be honest with these reviews I do admit sometimes her emotional range is limited.

• Positives

First let's praise the faithful adaptation. While some might take issue with the dialogue, it's good see Dan follow the story (also called The Green Goblin's Last Stand) even when he does put his own orif stuff in there. Which is kinda funny considering that's what a lot of current filmmakers do today with their more high budget comic book movies.

The next aspect I'll praise is the stunts. Holy shit does Dan Poole have some balls on him! It's dangerous enough that he was holding onto a car while it's moving and climbing up on buildings, but this guy this freaking guy! He swung four stories off the ground with no safety net. Let me repeat. Dan swung four stories off the ground without a safety net! I'll fully admit it, the only way I'm doing a stunt like that for a fan film if there's like three or four safety nets underneath me.

The last aspect I'll give credit to is the clear passion. When watching this I feel Dan's love for Spider-Man. Not just in the fact he embodies the action and picked a critically acclaimed story arc, but he also recreated those key moments with passion and this especially grabbed my attention was how he made this with a love letter to the moral and emotionally complexity from Spider-Man writes the biggest ones being of course Stan Lee, but also the man who wrote The Green Goblin's Last Stand storyline himself, Gerry Conway.

While it unsurprisingly has some problems, The Green Goblin's Last Stand is not only pretty good, especially for a fan film made in the early 90's, but it's a stable of fan films. It's something people should watch if they're hardcore Spidey fans and if you're curious to see just how far we've come with fan films.

My final rating is, Good.

Guys, I hope you enjoyed this first edition of Fan Film Mondays. I've got plenty more to come. But for now due come back on Thursday, Jun 19th, for yet another comic book review. Only this time I won't be reviewing something from DC or Marvel. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.

I Messed Up

 

Hey guys, so first and foremost I just want to make a statement before I get into what I mean with the post. This isn't a bait and switch! Let me reiterate, this isn't a bait and switch!

Anyways, if any of you read my review of Fantastic Four (2015), then you were more than likely expecting a review for Pixar's Elio. Well as the title has stated I messed up. I got the release dates all wrong! See I was still under the impression that it was coming out on June 13th, but I didn't know way back in February that it was pushed back to June 20th because Disney didn't want any competition with the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon.

Now some of you are probably wondering was I paying any attention to the marketing? Well truth be told, no. I was focused on other posts like comic book reviews, reviews for older movies, reviews for other recently release movies, and helping my dad replace floor boards, that any trailer and/or TV spot for Elio was completely off my radar.

Then I ran into another problem. See on June 20th not only is Elio coming to theaters but so is 28 Years Later. So I had to choose which one I should review. Then after thinking about it for awhile I decided to review a movie that I'm actually excited to see. So on June 21st I won't be reviewing Elio but I will be reviewing 28 Years Later.

So yeah, I just wanted to let all of you know what's going on around here and give you updates on upcoming reviews. I hope you're happy about this. And I mean that in a sincere way and not a sarcastic way.

Anyways, that's all I wanted to say. Come back on Monday, Jun 16th, for the first ever Fan Film Mondays with my review of 1992's The Green Goblin's Last Stand. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.

Road to The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Fantastic Four (2015) Review

 

Well, here we are folks. Our last stop, next month it's First Steps.

Fantastic Four is a comic book movie based on the Marvel Comics' team of the same name, only this time around taking more of an inspiration from their Ultimate versions. It's not only the fourth movie based on Marvel's first family but a reboot to the film series. Production was done by a whole list of companies. Those being 20th Century Fox, Constantin Film, Marvel Entertainment, Marv Films, Kinberg Genre, TSG Entertainment, and finally Moving Picture Company. 20th Century Fox also distributed. Josh Trank directed but also wrote the story along with Simon Kinberg and Jeremy Slater.

The story is, young & brilliant scientist Reed Richards has built a prototype teleporter which has got the attention Professor Franklin Storm. Soon Reed is joined with his childhood friend Ben Grimm, Sue Storm, Sue's brother Johnny, and Victor Von Doom. Just when they thought they've successfully discovered interdimensional travel with what they dubbed Planet Zero it all goes wrong. While Reed, Ben, Sue, and Johnny learn how to control their new abilities, Victor who was thought to be dead plans something that'll endanger everyone.

• Negatives

Oh it's sad how there's so many negatives. Let's start with the pacing. At first it starts off has a really good slow burn, but once we jump ahead one year later that pacing changes drastically. Now the second act is going by quick but steady then when the third act comes by it just doesn't take time to slow down.

Then there's Doctor Doom. They were setting up a really good tragic arc with him. During the early parts of the story he's set up as brilliant but disillusioned scientist. Then after the Planet Zero disaster we don't see for quite awhile. But when he finally comes back he's just a generic villain. And he wasn't supposed to be this way. When Toby Kebbell (the actor who played Doom) was interviewed he mentioned how a lot of his character building scenes were cut. Pre-transformation we would've seen his insecurities and post-transformation we would've seen his decent into madness. But since these scenes were cut by 20th Century Fox we didn't get to see this development. So now Doom has no connection to the Four and dramatic lines like "There is no Victor, Only Doom" don't work because he didn't get an organic transformation.

Now let's move onto to the tone. I forgot how much tonal whiplash this movie was. During the first act, Gee I'm starting to wonder which act was mostly Josh Trank! Anyways, during the first act it seems like we were gonna get something different from other superhero films. Yes, there is a more darker tone but, that first act felt like we were getting a good coming-of-age story with a mix of intellectual curiosity. Then we after that really good intense Planet Zero escape and we go to the Four in the hospital, it's like a freaking body-horror film and it's masterfully done. Then after the time jump to one year later, that tone just vanishes and we're left with a generic action flick.

Then there's the filmmaking, oh boy the way this movie is presented. If you thought the theatrical cut of Justice League was a Frankenstein of a movie, just watch this. I remember going to see this on opening day with my buddy Brian along with his brother and dad and afterwards I was dumbfounded by what I saw. I couldn't believe how these reshoots were ever allowed to be in this. First let me show you a photo.

Let me ask you a question. Which one looks like Kate's actually hair and which one is her reshoot wig? And it's not just Kate's hair that suffered, but also a lot of scenes/stories. At first the three members of the Four were held in containment but then we jumpe one year later they're now out of containment and their more heroic with no explanation at all. There's also the third act where it's Fantastic Four vs. Doctor Doom. There are some very jarring noticeable cuts during that fight that have scenes that might have been cut or restructured. Either way it's plain as day this movie was messed with whether you're aware of the movie's history or not.

• Mix

Now I do give credit to the cast. From Miles Teller to Kate Mara to Michael B. Jordan to Jamie Bell to the previously mentioned Toby Kebbell. They still tried, they tried their hardest to still give some good performances. And yes their performances were good it's just the poorly stitched together material was hard to work with.

• Positives

Really the only slight good thing I good say is there is a glimmer of a good movie here. But it's mixed up with a bad one.

Fantastic Four (2015) suffered from massive studio interference and I hate what 20th Century gave us, just because they decided to chase after MCU hype as suppose to standing out from the crowd.

My final rating is, Awful.

A Statement

I know this movie is gonna be ten years old in two months but I hope Josh Trank gets his Trank Cut. If Zack Snyder can get a Snyder Cut for Justice League, then Josh should have one for Fantastic Four. I don't care how it happens. Fan hashtags/movements, grace of God, planetary alignment, or a combination of all three. I want Josh to have his director's cut.

So that's gonna do for now. Come back on Saturday, Jun 14th for my review of Pixar's newest movie, Elio. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.

Ballerina Review

 

Ballerina is an action thriller movie and a spin-off to the John Wick franchise set in between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4. Summit Entertainment, Thunder Road Films, and 87North Productions did production with Lionsgate serving as distributor. Shay Hatten wrote while Len Wiseman directed.

The story is, when Eve was a young girl she and her father Javier were on the run from the Cult, during this time Eve's father was killed. Years later Eve is highly trained assassin and hasn't let go of wanting revenge. Now she sets out to find the ones who brought her misery all of those years ago.

Initial Reaction

It's very simple as to why I wanted to see this. It's a John Wick spin-off and being a fan of those movies I wanted to see this as well.

Cons

I've got nothing.

Middle Ground

There are two slight issues. One being the pacing. The first half is very focus with setup. Which wouldn't be a bad thing had it not being delaying so much of the revenge plot. Thankfully the second half onwards finds a good rhythm. Speaking of plot, let's move on to the story. I'm not gonna sugarcoat this but yes, yes it's a very simple revenge plot. But I do think it's kinda saved because you're given a lot of fun stuff. And I do say "kinda" because while I didn't hate Eve investigating of where to find the Cult, I did notice some of the clues she needed did just so happen to pop up at just the right place at just the right time.

Pros

One pro is the cinematography. Much like the mainline John Wick films, Ballerina has gorgeous visuals. And the locations look beautiful. Whether it's a neon lit or snowy like the Alpine village, the location are eye catching. But let's talk action. How is Ballerina with action? Well it does start off pretty shaky l, but as the movie goes on there's a huge improvement. It's brutal as well as stylish. I especially loved the final fight in the village. Grenades going off, bullets flying, and even the use of a flamethrower. Truly some fun stuff. But the biggest praise goes to Ava de Armas' performance. While some aspects could've been stronger Ava keeps a strong performance through and through. She brought a perfect mix of vulnerability, grace, and strength.

Overall while somethings could've used more work, Ballerina is a good spinoff. If they ever make another spinoff or sequel to this, I wouldn't be opposed. Especially if they learn from their mistakes.

My final rating is, Okay.

So that's all for me. Come back on Thursday, Jun 12th, for the final chapter in my Road to The Fantastic Four: First Steps with my review of Fantastic Four (2015). Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.