Community Reviews

Source

Its been a minute since I have watch a TV Series that made me want to write about it, either they were not good enough or they were bash by other people because its not inline with their thoughts ruining for everyone, its just entertainment. I just watch the first episode of “The Penguin” a few nights ago, it is one crazy show that will wanting more but not in a desperate way, the pace is excellent, its very cinematic, does gives you that Gotham Batman vibes. This new HBO series is a spinoff of Matt Reeves "The Batman" and I am have been very excited ever since I saw the trailer.

Let me get this straight, this show is an offspring of Scarface, The Sopranos and The Batman. It’s got that raw, mafia don feel combined with the ominous undertones that are characteristic of the show, Gotham. The series begins only a week or two after the events of ‘The Batman,’ leaving Gotham still recovering from the Riddler’s attack. We are plunged directly into the midst of things, with newscasts summarizing the carnage and tension and establishing the conflict between the ruling body and the rebels that is about to start.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18177528/

• Platform: MAX

Source

The episode S01E01 is called “After Hours” and develops around the life of one of the many Gotham bad guys, Oz Cobb, better known as the Penguin. Now that Carmine Falcone is gone, there’s a huge power void and everyone is desperate fighting for the position. Oz, being the clever penguin that he is, does not see this as a chance to climb the ladder but grab it, but things are not going to be so easy as he is very impulsive, same reason why everything falls on his hands once he kill Falcone son Alberto after he was called names while they were having a drink. Now everyone is trying to find out where is Alberto and Oz will have to work with Falcone’s daughter, Sofia Falcone who is not so much mentally balanced.

This episode is a thrilling ride as we watch Oz struggle to gain power in the Falcone family and also bury the fact that he had just killed Alberto, Sofia’s brother. It is like watching a battle between two masters of chess where the only difference is that they carry guns and don’t meassure their words as a single wrong move gets you killed. We watch Oz negotiating, bribing the council members and even visit Blackgate Prison to speak with the Sal Maroni who is Falcone's old enemy. It’s a story of power play and survival and it really felt so good to watch everything evolve.

Source

Source

Now that we have touch on the plot and what happen during the episode lets talk a bit about the cast because its fire. Colin Farrell is brilliant in his portrayal of Oz Cobb, he possesses this disposition of a villain and a hero at the same time, which is hard to explain I would say more of a villain because Penguin might help or work with the Police or anyone else as long as its on his best interest and that is not so much heoric, but you find yourself supporting him despite his misdeeds, he is not yet the big guy. How he walks like a penguin in that purple coat and threats to kill people, one of Farrell's best performance. I still could hardly recognize Colin Farrell under the makeup, I could barely take off my eyes from his scar face and golden teeth when ever he was on screen.

Cristin Milioti who plays the role of Sofia Falcone is one strong and wild woman, she also seem to have very cold blood when it comes to family business and has that look in her eyes that you never know when she is going to blow up, got a temper. The chemistry between her and Farrell is very smooth and I am eager to see how their characters will further develop within the series. The rest of the supporting cast is also good, especially Rhenzy Feliz who portrays Victor, Oz’s new apprentice, they have a great chemistry going on there, but I have to say that it felt a bit weak how their relationship started, very vague and cant think of other way it could happen.

As per my observations on social media and as per my friends circle people are just loving this show, fans are enjoying the no holds barred approach to describing and developing Gotham’s criminal environment and how it fits into the Batman franchise without the Dark Knight himself as the protagonist. I thought it would compare to “Gotham” and stating that is much more straightforward and has a more mature theme, but it would take time for this series to get to that level too, with Gotham the bar is high so probably its a matter of time.

Source

Source

But what got me most, is how they develop Oz, he is such a complicated character and the show try to humanize him and make him seem like he has flaws without making him seem like he is helpless or a full blown villain, like a regular guy trying to get a promotion at work. Specially the scene where he visits his mother, we see his other face but she is like the one playing the puppet, incentivizing him to take power from others in any way possible he can, its like she still teaching him how to survive.

The climax of the episode was the best part, when we witness Oz putting the blame on the Maronis for Alberto’s murder, distracting Sofia for the time being and what will become the foundation of his place in the family? or will he replace the family?. It is an excellent strategic move although a bit improvise, Sofia is not an idiot and there is no way that she would allow this to continue being like this and slowly but surely will get to the truth when Penguin makes mistakes here and there, it creates a nice setup for a future episode.

As you can tell I personally had a great time watching this episode, it is so tense to the point you don't know when someone is going to die or get discovered, and the focus is just incredible. All the scenes from the dirty streets of Gotham city to the luxurious house of Falcone look quite realistic but still having that Gotham vibe. The start with a The Batman similar theme really made it shine and the ending of the episode was really smooth, almost like a its all for today folks, doesn't feel force or leaves you hanging, its like baby steps, we had to take some risks but we improvise and adapt, everything work out.

I think it is fair to say that “The Penguin” is going to be one hell of a ride, a series that has a bit of everything. It has drama, action and an element of the bizarre, and all the plot twists you could take out of the good old Gotham. I have notice people complaining that from all the villains it had to be The Penguin but the truth is why not? yes he is not a leader but that is what makes it interesting, just as how the Penguin on Gotham started as an umbrella guy, opening doors and serving others until he start climbing the lather, taking power form others with his own hands, this time around he starts on a higher position that gives him access to be violent from the start. If you are a lover of crime drama or Batman series, then definitely it is for you, I would like to give it 8.5/10 to the first episode.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #penguin, #batman, #gotham, #falcone, #crime, #hbo, #colin, #farrell, #sophia, #alberto, #maroni, #drops, #riddler, #arkham, #mob, #carmine, #victor, #easter, #eggs, #scarface, #sopranos, #blackgate, #ozzy, #cobb, #umbrella, #flixfinder

Posted Using InLeo Alpha

Tom Nichols is a hardened New England detective, unflinching in his pursuit of a case where nothing is as it seems and it begins to dismantle the illusions in his own life.

Genre:

Director: Grant Singer

Writers: Grant Singer, Benjamin Brewer, Benicio Del Toro

Stars: Benicio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Eric Bogosian

Benicio Del Toro. An actor with a style! I am not sure if I would watch it if it was not for him, but at the end - It was a good film. (I did not fell asleep, hahaha)

I’ll admit, I was a bit hesitant when I saw Reptile was a two hour-long film. It was also late at night and I really thought I would fall asleep.

But curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to give it a shot.

From the very start, the film pulls you in with an intriguing opening. It is enough to get you going!

Despite its runtime, there were not many points where I found myself feeling bored. Many of the scenes are filled with suspense and tension, good enough to keep you engaged.

The film (and its director of course) does a good job maintaining a mysterious tone throughout. I would say it is a solid pick for fans of the genre.

You can watch the trailer here:

According to imdb, the score by its users is 6.8 - and I agree. I would give it 6.5-6.8 If it was a bit shorter, it may even be worth a 7.0

If you enjoy mystery movies, Reptile is one I would recommend. I was not so enthusiastic with the script, and the photography was simply ok - but it was worth my time. If you pay attention to the details—there are subtle clues that lead you toward the truth, even though it is not straightforward.

It's challenging to piece everything together, but it is enjoyable to try solving the mystery!

Please make a recommendation or let me know your opinion if you have already seen it!

It was the weekend and I had some time to burn down a few hours with couple of movies I had on my bucket list, I just watched a very recent Indie action movie and it’s called Kill (2023) and I actually had a great time to be hones, in terms of a film that keeps you wanting more, not letting you catch your breath, this one is recommended. It is as if John Wick decided to board a train in India and everything went south really fast but with more chop chop and lot of blood, not a horror movie but a very gory action movie.

There is this army commando named Amrit, played by Lakshya who is in love with a girl named Tulika, your classic love story, but not really since Tulika’s family has other ideas, they want to arrange her marriage. Amrit doesn’t take no for an answer so he and his friend Viresh follow Tulika and her family onto a train with the intention of kidnapping her and making her his bride, this movie is not suttile in any of its fronts. But here is where the movie takes a turn for the worse, at least for the lovers, a group of bandits with the most notorious of them being Fani, chooses to rob the train, Fani imo set the bar high and makes your average movie villain look like a kitten.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28259207/
• Platform: Amazon

RottenTomatoes Rating

I mean, the action sequences in this movie are just crazy, its mostly knife and machete fighting so it really goes down to the basic levels of killing and mutilation. The director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat is well aware of how to create chaos in limited locations, usually this type of movies where there are few characters and tight spaces require something to keep the audience awake if not it turns boring very quick. There are knife fights, fistfights and some unique ways of using household items that will change the way you look at fire extinguishers. It’s not the shaky camera work that makes it hard to understand what’s going on, they’ll tell you right to your face, it is raw, it is violent and it is utterly brutal.

But the most impressive was Raghav Juyal as Fani, this man is scary and had that crazy look. He portrays Fani as a man who is a walking bundle of confusion and one expects him to explode at any given time, a very volatile character that can be ok for five minutes acting natural and the next he is doing something so vile that you are compelled to look but you don’t want to., it’s the sort of performance that stays in your memory even once the movie is over, I have been wanting someone to come close to Ledger Joker, I'm not trying to say its a fare comparison but its similar in a way.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #kill, #action, #train, #violence, #amrit, #tulika, #fani, #bloodshed, #commando, #bandits, #romance, #brutal, #fight, #knife, #gore, #melodrama, #hijack, #revenge, #lakshya, #indian, #raid, #twist, #adrenaline, #claustrophobic, #unpredictable, #flixfinder

Posted Using InLeo Alpha

Its weekend and since Friday I have been watching a good amount of content and taking yesterday almost off when it comes to post long form content, actually to watch some movies and tv series. This time around I wanted to watch Kevin Costner's latest passion project, "Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1”. This movie has been in the works in Costner’s mind for almost four decades and that too is evident here, whether for the better or for the worse. It is now 2024 and all we have is the first part of the four part epic Western franchise. Sounds ambitious, it’s like Costner took every western cliche that he could imagine and mix it up, the results is a three hours cinematic blend of brilliance and irritation but of that will talk about latter, the movie is not bad but for many many will feel boring, that's how western movies are for the most time to be honest.

The film is located in the territory of the United States during Civil War, the main plot revolves around the story of the brave mother Frances Kittredge by Sienna Miller, who has to start her life again, having survived the attack of Apache. Another plot is about Hayes Ellison by Kevin Costner, a rather vague character of a former gun man who comes to the place and gets involved in the local disputes. It also shows a wagon train, commanded by Matthew Van Weyden by Luke Wilson, moving west and Native American tribes who are forced to fight for their land. The movies does show various aspects of frontier’s violence, settler’s aggression towards Native Americans, the realism of westward expansion, the relations between the US army and settlers and indigenous people, there is a ton to grasp from those times on this story. The film is about the survival, vengeful actions, love and the some what ethical issues of the Old West.

I went into this movie with pretty high hopes. I mean, it is Kevin Costner doing a Western, but as I mention it's somewhere in between. The plot or should I say plots?. It’s so complex we’re talking about multiple story lines bending and mixing up, we have settlers fighting against Apache Indians, a drifter caught in the conflict of a small town, a wagon train trekking through the territory and enough clan conflict to make the Hatfields and McCoys look like buddies.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17505010//
• Platform: Amazon

RottenTomatoes Rating

In the center of it all is Horizon, a town that has been through more than its fair share of shootouts and saloons full of drunken cowboys demanding their pay. We’re discussing apache raids, army interference and all sorts of tragedy that would make you stand up in the middle and say “Hey guys, chill out a little”. There is also a little touch of a gang of scalp hunters for the sake of it. I'm going to share some information on the cast and the movie over all without trying to spoil although it has been release for quite some time now, the cast is like its own entity as you expected way more considering who are the actors but the pace kinda town the movie down a bit. This movie is full of stars, it seems like there are more stars in this movie than they actually put to use. We have Costner on board as Hayes Ellison, a protagonist who arrives at the party at the correct time, when the movie is half way through. Sienna Miller plays the role of Frances Kittredge, a rough and raw mother who has been through the mill. We see Sam Worthington as a Union Army lieutenant, which welcomes such esteemed members of the cast as Jena Malone, Danny Huston, and Michael Rooker.

The actors and actresses have exceptional records for the most part, all these actors are professional and they are doing what they can with what they have. The problem is that there are so many characters and plot lines that it is hard to feel that any of them really gets their due. It’s like seeing a group of race horses locked up in a starting block that will never fully spring open. Still, Costner seem to be reaching for more than he can actually grasp on this movie as he writes, directs, produces and acts and you can sense his drive in every scene, but when he’s on screen, he’s the epitome of what people expect of Costner, but he is also missing in action in large portions of the film, which is sort of strange given that he’s the star of the film, I find that curious when actors direct a movie where they are the star?!

What I’ve seen so far is that many people are hailing the movie for its scale and grandiosity, you have to clap for Costner for going all out here, trying to hit a home run, with a FOUR Chapter set of movies, Chapter 2 is schedule to be release on September 2024 after it was postpone, originally planed to be release on August. But as I mention I kept shaking my heads over the pacing and the quantity of plots and subplots involved, last year remember watching Billy The Kid TV series and it was quite exciting although a bit slow at times but they manage to keep a balance while on Horizon not so much and both are Western Theme productions although their story are not so much similar or the same. I'm kinda torn, on one hand I have to give props to Costner for the passion he put into this production. This is clearly a labor of love and you can sense his passion for the material in every single shot, a very cinematographic movie. It’s stunning to look at, there are scenes of the American West that will make you want to ride off and become a cowboy yourself, makes you imagine many things about those time, from what people use to do on their daily and how was life during those times, makes you feel is the entire purpose of a movie and this one does provoke feelings and thoughts.

So, would I recommend it? if you are a fan of Western or a fan of Costner, then yes you should watch it. Still, there is enough here to keep you going, at least for the wrong reasons, most of the time. But if you are in search of a tense, well constructed movie experience, then you might need to ride on down to another western theme movie. In the end, I'd give "Horizon: I gave “An American Saga – Chapter 1” a 7 out of 10, as I mention its not bad but I like the movie but I know its flaws. It’s not the masterpiece that Costner was clearly striving for but it is a good attempt and for all its shortcomings is rather compelling.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #flixfinder, #horizon, #costner, #western, #epic, #saga, #ambitious, #sprawling, #frontier, #apache, #cinematography, #characters, #storylines, #violence, #landscapes, #pacing, #dialogue, #performances, #cliffhangers, #settlers, #cavalry, #wagontrain, #gunslinger, #passion, #boxoffice, #controversial

Posted Using InLeo Alpha

Every time this movie would appear to me, I would move to the next one. I did not feel like watching it.

At first, the name Otto reminded me of Otto Rehhagel (If you do not know him, I am referring to a German football coach, who was coaching the Greek Team and won the Euro 2004, 20 years ago!)

But it was a different Otto.

This movie was suggested to me as a comedy. I also saw a cat starring with Tom Hanks.

I got all the reasons I wanted to watch a movie. Tom Hanks, an awarded actor, a cat and a movie to make me laugh!

Alas!

I did not laugh, but I did smile at a few points. But I cried, I cried during at least 3 timeframes of a movie.

But do not let me spoil this for you, let us start from the beginning.

Overview - Who is Otto

Otto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.

Before I watched the movie, I did not read about the synopsis, I did not check the rating or any other information - I just cared about it being a comedy.

So when I first sat down to watch the movie, I was prepared for a lighthearted comedy. What I experienced, however, was quite different— a film with sprinkles of humor and a number of dramatic elements.

The story opens interestingly, centered around a grumpy old man, Otto, who seems constantly annoyed with life and the people around him.

In the movie, we may even recognize someone that we already know in our neighborhood. (Note, this is an adaption of a novel) We see many scenes of his everyday life, as he gets into small fights with neighbors.

Out of the blue, a lively, smiling, and pregnant woman moves in next door with her family, and this is the point where Otto's world starts to shift.

Could there be a kind heart hidden beneath all his bitterness? Why did Otto become so hardened in the first place? All these (and more) questions, leave us wondering about life itself, and how pain can transform people's life.

While it wasn't the comedy I expected, A Man Called Otto pulled my emotional strings and made me think of several issues from my personal life.

Imdb rating is 7.5 out of 10. I would put 6.7 out of ten and as a movie genre, I would put drama.

Not sure if I would watch this again, at this part of my life - I prefer more light films and when possible - action, mystery or comedy ones.

Let me know if you have watched it and feel free to watch the trailer here

Link to imdb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7405458/

Posted Using InLeo Alpha

Posted Using InLeo Alpha

Source

Rob Peace (2024) probably one of the best movies I have seen this year, I say one of the best because its not perfect and not the best, cant say its better than Dune: Part Two as a movie itself even though they are not on the same genre. Chiwetel Ejiofor the director of this film is none other than the lead actor of "12 Years a Slave" and it is a true story that will touch your heart and stimulate your brain. I went in with this movie only knowing its based on real events and nothing else, I left feeling as if I’d been through the ringer. This movie is multi leveled, starting from the fact that it is a story about Rob who tries to survive in a society that is against him, but if you look a bit deeper it is posing some fundamental questions about destiny, kin and the rags to riches narrative.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10740926/
• Platform: Amazon

RottenTomatoes Rating

It’s the late 1980s in East Orange, New Jersey, not the nicest neighborhood, there is the protagonist Rob Peace, a highly intelligent young man but he’s definitely in a lets say "not the best" circumstances you can imagine. His mom Jackie is working her life away to make ends meet by working several jobs while his dad Skeet is involved in some illicit activity. But here is the hook, Rob has the mind that could revolutionize this world if given an opportunity to apply it. We follow Rob on the journey from New Jersey through to the collegiate Yale University, he gets a full scholarship at one of the most prestigious schools in the United States, but there is where things get tricky. As Rob is preparing to fly he is informed that his dad has been arrested for the double murder, the moment his bring future is about to start there is this big bump on the road to success.

Now for Rob on one hand, he is going to study molecular biology in Yale University and wants to cure cancer and become a man who will make a difference, on the other hand he is struggling to establish his dad’s innocence and secure his release from prison. It must be hard for anyone been able to concentrate at any point with such pressure, its murder, double murder, that's an easy life sentence we talking. The movie is also very effective in illustrating how much of the time Rob is torn in various directions between his life and his fathers. He is one moment teaching at Newark with students who have never probably had to think twice about where their next meal would come from and the next moment he is in his old neighborhood trying to scam some dough for his dad’s lawyer fees, talk about having your life upside down for someone else acts.

If you know a bit about movies and you see the faces of the cast and the director you know the crew is fire. Jay Will as Rob, he got it, he has the makings of a star, pulls a great job with his role, his acting looks natural, never force, he just flows with the character. Rob’s mom, is Mary J. Blige, she really sings and she’s not just pretending to act. There is this scene where she is trying to make Rob to look forward into the future and you could sense her love and her fear for him passing through the screen, may be this is just Ejiofor passing all this great acting into the cast hands. And Chiwetel Ejiofor doing double duty as the director of the film and being Rob’s father, talk about a powerhouse. He has successfully managed to portray Skeet in a way that you can at the same time like him and at the same time want to strangle him for putting Rob through all that pain and suffering.

From my interpretation of the movie I think its a great example about how it exposes the issues of the racism system and the extremely high expectations that are put on children from troubled background when they manage to get into a prestigious school like Yale, in this case also dealing with the family struggle of Rob who is studying and trying to take care of his family and of course been force into some sort of side business due to life situations, in Rob case its suffice to say that he has a very unique way of earning for his lawyer fees. A multi level movie that strikes you from different angles, in the surface it’s the story of Rob who is trying to succeed in a world that is out to get him, bu also if we look a little closer, it is posing some pretty profound queries, like how far does our background determine how our life will turn out to be? Is it possible to run away from one’s past? But then when does our responsibility towards family become more of a burden rather than a motivation to succeed?

There are a lot of scenes in this film that made me emotional, you know there’s a scene where Rob is in a Yale class and all the kids around him are probably never had to worry about such mayor problems his father puts him through and you can just see the pressure of two worlds on his shoulders. This made me wonder about all the Rob Peaces out there, struggling to overcome barriers that are difficult to overcome. But the ending of this movie really brings in closure to everything in it, you know the one which is both a punch in the stomach and yet completely expected. This is the kind of climax where movie has been leading from the start, even when you are desperately wanting things to turn out otherwise. It puts one in a position to consider how the world can sometimes be against you even when one is intelligent and a hardworking individual.

Something that got me by surprise is how all of the sudden the movie start connecting all the problems we have seen Rob faced its so simple and logical but with movies now days its like asking too much, but again this might be just Ejoifor art at his best. It is like all those strings, his intelligence, his commitment to his family, the force of his roots, everything comes together on this perfect storm. This movie at the end makes you think and feel there is still hope in our society and to some will probably leave you with the feeling that we can still make a difference and at the same time makes you feel said about it when you reflect on it, then put up your phone, open any social media app and everything comes back down, its not an easy world the one we living in today and the older you get, you things happening are impossible but its like humanity is going backwards.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #robpeace, #yale, #newjersey, #biopic, #drugs, #education, #family, #struggle, #brilliance, #tragedy, #racism, #chiwetel, #jaywill, #maryjblige, #science, #prison, #identity, #ambition, #poverty, #crime, #fatherhood, #expectations, #injustice, #potential, #sacrifice, #flixfinder

Posted Using InLeo Alpha

Once again a remake try to top out its 90s predecessor and you just can't, you had actors like Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, Ernie Hudson, that is a fkn hard task, so let’s talk about the newest Hollywood movie remake “The Crow (2024)”, I was rather skeptical about this one. I already had in mind this was not going to be better than the OG, on one hand I wanted to know how they would re create the movie which appeared in 1994. In the other hand I was concerned that they might interfere with something that in fact didn’t require interference, trying to reinvent the wheel, after two hours of watching this movie, I can state that my concerns were not completely groundless. The lights go out and the movies takes you to a world which is meant to be gloomy, mysterious and full of teenage Gothic depression, what you end up with is a film that is trying to be as dark and serious as it possibly can and fails more times than not.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340094/
• Platform: AppleTV+

RottenTomatoes Rating

The main character of the story is Eric Draven portrayed by Bill Skarsgard and we first see him in some sort of a rehabilitation center and I do not mind giving characters a history but this seemed to be taking it to another level for what seems like forever we get stuck with watching Eric sulk and relive a childhood memory of a dying horse. I get that his character might be very traumatic and probably tortured by the idea but it had to do more than just that, feels like writers ran out of ideas.

Then we got the main character’s love interest Shelly played by FKA Twigs who is also a patient in this rehab center, she is being followed by some bad guys and there is obviously a lot of chemistry between her and Eric. They run away from the facility; I must say that the security of this place is laughable at best, and fall in love instantly, which is as complex as a children’s fairy tale. It’s all about getting tattooed, going clubbing and kissing at the same time trying to hide from the rest of the world. It’s as if one sat down and watched a number of music videos from the early 2000s and said, “Yes, that’s how true love is”.

Their happiness does not last very long because this is “The Crow” we are talking about here, they are killed mercilessly by Vincent’s goons which are portrayed by Danny Huston, the main antagonist of the movie. Now, here’s where it should get good and the supernatural kicks in, Eric rises back from the dead, boosted by the spirit of the Crow and is all set to bring the heat down on those who crossed him and his beloved. That may sound good and dandy in theory but the real thing is a bit boring, predictable and a bit of cliche, this two remind me of Carnage and his Girlfriend, that couple fall flat too.

Lets land into the cast, even an actor like Bill Skarsgard, who has shown that he can be downright terrifying in ‘It’ here looks out of place, not that this is a full blown horror movie but at least look menace, he has been provided with some of the most cheesy lines and even the best of talents cannot do much about such lines as, "If you ever find me hard to love, please love me even harder" (something along that line) and that's for both Eric and Shelly, who wrote this stuff? FKA Twigs is not bad in her first acting role, but given her character is as shallow, there’s not much she can do.

Source

Source

It is also important to mention the role of the villain Vincent is played by Danny Huston which is probably the biggest disappointment, this is an actor who can go hard on a role, remember him from a few movies like Wrath of the Titans (2012) and Wonder Women (2017) to name a few, but here he is hands tight in a character that is suppose to be menacing although falls dry too. This man is presented as an immortal agent of Satan but this man seems more like a businessman who is irritated because he has other places to be.

Although I have been very negative on my latest posts but to be honest there is not much to watch lately and had to go through a set of backlog that I put aside for a reason, they are mediocre or less. On The Crow (2024) not all was lost and there were a few great scenes that I cant denied, I am only able to recall a scene in this movie that made me feel the thrill. It is a opera house and it’s seen when Eric, fully transformed into Crow, goes on a rampage that can only be described as savage. There were a couple of scenes which I hoped, “Ah, this is where the action starts!” but nope, it was just a false dawn in a slow moving movie.

For all the flaws the movie has the loyal fan base that are this point are mostly over 30 years old so you cant teach us new tricks, have not receive this movie in a positive way to say the least. I have heard of people walking out the theater, but for me that's is just too dramatic and reason why for some movies I just wait to drop on "streaming" platforms since I would be left with the feeling that the movie did not meet my expectations. There are those who are offended to what they consider a sacrilege and then there are those who are bored to death, but again just too dramatic for my taste. The audience online did murder the movie rating and there was no chance its coming back from the death.

Source

Source

Here's the thing that really gets me about this remake: It is entirely d of the essence that made the first “The Crow” film so effective in the first place. Despite the 2024 version been more appealing to the eye because of how far the industry has gone in tech and visual effects still the 1994 version had more depth, acting, its everything about those days where the environment and the scenery felt more natural and real, it was also a story that was filled with love, the loss of a dear one and the effects of taking the law into his own hands. There is something about taking justice by your hands that need to be shown lawless and that everything goes mix with anger, its not easy to be believable while acting like this. This new version? It is all show and no go looking very modern and candy eye type, it can only be likened to them saying: Okay, lover story, be predictable, guy comes back from the death, John Wick 4 bad guy in....GO GO GO GO. May be I'm been too harsh on it but I'm also too soft on my reviews most of the time so just give me this one.

The ending of The Crow (2024) is quite different from the ending of the 1994 film and that's upsetting too, although it has left some space for the possibility of sequels while at the same time giving Eric his due finale. Finally, Eric kills Vincent Roeg and after the climax, sacrifices himself and stays in the afterlife in order to bring Shelly back to life. Shelly is however resurrected from dead by the paramedics at her apartment, what appears to be just a few minutes after her death. This resurrection seems to give the impression that the clock is turned back and some of the incidents that happened during Eric’s rampage of vengeance are erased.

The ending of the left me with questions regarding the nature of afterlife in the movie, this is me again been soft on the movie so lets say because of the supernatural topic at hand they could interpret his retribution and acts of self justice erased because of his sacrifice, something like what Constantine did when he calls the devil himself to pick him up. While Shelly is revived, Eric stays in the purgatory like world between the life and the death with the company of the magical crows, this ending also allows for sequels, since Eric may appear as a ghost to fight evil in future films of the series, this movie could probably been better into a TV series if they wanted to change or extend the story that much. Director Rupert Sanders said that there is a satisfactory ending to the story of Eric and Shelly and at the same time, the ending is open ended to allow for a sequel, I doubt after the audience reception this movie would get a sequel but hey there is The Watchers!!.

In conclusion, “The Crow (2024)” is perhaps an example of what may be referred to as style without substance, it’s got all the gothic, tortured anti hero details you could want, but none of the path, acting and depth from the characters which made the original movie so good.

Posted Using InLeo Alpha

Source

I watched the new Netflix thriller “Sector 36” two nights ago and I have some things to say about it, this movie was certainly tone compare to what the true story is but I personally understand the topics the movie touch on can trigger people and its a movie not a documentary after all, they have to make money out of it. This is a 2024 movie based on the Nithari killings and the movie had me in suspense and tension for quite a couple of scenes, I had mixed feelings about it and would like to clear out my opinion about it, did enjoy and would recommend it as long as you are not so familiar with the over all case that happen in real life, this movie is based on real events.

I got no problem with watching movies with subtitles and honestly hate dubbed versions, the movie is situated in a crowded Indian market area which had children disappearing mysteriously. You know, something that may be a beginning of every parents’ nightmare, I have seen it happen, parents calling their kids in the park with no answer back. That is exactly what “Sector 36” delivers while adding a pinch of dirty police officers and a hint of cannibalism. Yep your blood pressure goes high when you mix those to words "children and cannibalism", you are not dreaming. As far as the raw material of life goes, this movie doesn’t shy away but then again, it does to an extent. It is as if they intended to do a very grand job, but at the last minute, second thoughts struck them or something put a stop to go all savage mode with the movie.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21626774/
• Platform: Netflix

We have a cop, Ram Charan Pandey, which is portrayed by Deepak Dobriyal, he is not exactly going to win any “Officer of the Year” awards at first. He cares more about taking bribes and talking about Newton’s law than solving cases, but when a kid’s hand appears in the sewer, he cannot close his eyes and pretend that he did not see anything wrong, especially when he himself nearly loses his very own daughter to this man, this is what one would call a rude awakening. On the other side, we have Prem Singh portrayed by Vikrant Massey. Prem is the kinda guy you’d never think is a serial killer, been a happy go lucky fellow pretending to be a servant in this big beautiful house, but behind closed doors?! Let’s just say he has some very sick and twisted interests which include children and a meat cleaver. This are the kind of thoughts that would make you shut down the the TV depending on your "taste" on movie, I love horror movies but even for me this is a wtf territory but what kept me watching is that some of this stuff happen in real life so I wanted to know more about it, see I'm the type of guy who watch the movie first and then read the news to not spoil the story for myself and then double check how real the dramatization was.

The movie falls into this cat and mouse game between Pandey and Prem while in the middle of lots of corruption and hush money. We are referring to corrupt businessmen, influence, policemen turning blind and society that appears to be programmed to favor those who are evil, its sad but its true and that is how I interpret the movie, it is quite annoying to observe, but for sure its what keep most of the audience glue to the screen to find out what happens next.

Let me pause and talk a bit about the performances because that is the most important aspect in this movie since its part fiction based on real events. Deepak Dobriyal as Pandey, he nails the role, I think you can clearly see this transition from this lazy, corrupt cop to a man with a purpose. It is such an interesting thing to watch a person gain a backbone in real time. There is this scene where he is torturing Prem and the expressions of his face when he is hearing all the details? It is very easy to smell his hatred and his resolve through the screen.

I must say that Vikrant Massey who played Prem was the most impressive among all the actors, this man might have a quick cameo on your next nightmare after this movie, he performed like a madman. He moves from being friendly to scary within the shortest time possible, I remember when he was saying that he did all this and that, it is so dramatic that one feels like looking away but cannot. What Massey does to Prem is to bring to him this eerie sense of calmness that makes him even more creepy, I think that is some next level acting, people. The rest of the cast is equally good as well and they all give their best in this movie, although the story is fixed between very few characters and that's good because there are not a lot of side stories to follow and get lost in between. Akash Khurana as the disgusting businessman Bassi, made me want to cringe and Darshan Jariwala as the corrupt DCP, gives the perfect impression of ‘I am just obeying orders’ that helps the darker side to prevail.

I feel like there are reactions to both sides of the rope, everyone is talking about the cast and their acting skills especially that of Massey. The tension and atmosphere are also being complimented a lot as well, but here is the rub, some people are of the opinion that the movie did not go far enough. They were expecting it to go further into the actual event that the film is inspired from, to get into the horror and socio political aspects of it but the truth is how far can you go and still be possible to make a profit and legal to be on TV, specially without getting a big backlash for been just too savage and raw. I sort of understand where they are coming from, it raises some serious issues, social differences, police brutality, how fragile young are, but doesn’t go as far as it should. It’s the case of not want to go to real life and be too raw. I understand some people might have wanted to see more of the raw aspect while other viewers are probably thankful that it was not portrayed fully. I think it was rather wise that they did not overdo it with the gore. This is not a slasher movie, its about sending a message to parents. But on the other hand, there is the feeling that they could have used the horror of the event as a real life to the maximum, or at least more. As you can imagine, the movie kinda skirts some of the darker edges which is entirely explicable given the subject matter but it also makes it feel a little lest say cleaner? sanitize? not sure what would be the best word to describe it.

Let me be clear, however, it remains a good old fashion thriller. I have to admit the way they establish suspense is excellent since during the entire movie there is always this feeling of fear and anxiety in the background that makes you always alert. And the visual style with the gothic and gloomy which is quite appropriate given how the story develops.

But here's where I think they stumbled a bit, the ending is a very good example of the show’s attempts to make audiences happy and I don’t want to give too much of it away, it just felt a little convenient but then again movies are suppose to make money so I get why they kept it commercial, as if they wanted to continue the series rather than try to give the shows some sort of closure. I felt that there was lack of enough closure, enough justice for the victims, this did not leave me with this but an uneasy feeling and not in the intellectual, provocative way which was expected.

I give it 7. 5 out of 10. It is okay, quite often even outstanding, but it is not outstandingly outstanding its not "Dune" masterpiece level. It is that kind of movie that will make you leave your couch feeling like you’ve been through something, provoked thoughts and most likely engage in some debates with your friends and family, oh wait until my wife watch this movie, she will talk about it for days.

Posted Using InLeo Alpha

Blink Twice a movie where I enjoy very much Channing Tatum and Christian Slater aka "Mr. Robot" acting, both are some of my favorite actors, this movie is a psychological thriller that Zoe Kravitz directed, as her debut into the film industry as director; the film targets the audience’s attention on the issues of power, consent and gender roles. It is a film that proves Kravitz’s directing abilities, has great performances and has an interesting concept, it is far from being a perfect movie and is a rather mixed and intriguing one.

The plot develops around the character of Frida, played by Naomi Ackie, a cocktail waitress who goes on a trip to the private island of tech billionaire Slater King portrayed by Channing Tatum with her friend Jess portrayed by Alia Shawkat. In the movie Frida becomes more enchanted with Slater and the rich life he has, she starts seeing some things that tell her that not all is well in this Hawaiian life. The basic concept of the movie brings in the comparison and the power dynamics that usually happen between the ultra wealthy and those who want to make that jump and get to the same level, as well as the ways in which women are often objectified and manipulated in such environments.

• IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14858658/
• Platform: AppleTV+

RottenTomatoes Rating

Kravitz, who co wrote the script with E. T. Feigenbaum, deals with such issues as power relations and the distinction between pleasure and danger. While the film has several suspenseful moments, the early scenes are especially good in setting the mood of growing discomfort and confusion, which is helped by Kravitz’s direction. The vibrant and tropical surroundings of the island environment to the plots of the movie are quite striking and as the movie progresses from light comedy to mystery and thriller, the environment itself moves from bright to start taking a more darker tone almost menacing. This approach in combination with the disturbing sound design shows that Kravitz is more than capable of setting the tone and atmosphere.

In my opinion, the cast is one of the film’s assets, especially Naomi Ackie as Frida. Ackie gives layers of interest to her character and captures both the kind of slight obsession?! that Frida feels at the start of the show and the conflict that the protagonist experiences as she becomes more and more uncomfortable. Finally, Channing Tatum, who is quite typecast in his films, does a credible job as Slater King, being both charming and potentially dangerous at the same time, a guy you know you cant fully trust. The rest of the cast members are also quite good with Adria Arjona as the fellow guest Sarah and Christian Slater as the mysterious friend of Slater, Vic.

One of the few problems I have with the movie is that it does not have a smooth flow and coherency as it goes through the different scenes, almost like separate chapters. The tempo of the film can be slow at some moments in the first half of the movie and some scenes do not have the sense of tension which is needed, been the biggest asset of the movie, the unknown and whats going to happen next. While it can be useful in creating tension in the course of the film, at times it ends up as a sort of fatigue in the film’s energy, some of the twists and the characters’ actions in the second part of the film look rather artificial and do not seem to make much sense, which weakens the movie’s dramatic effect at times.

On one hand, this approach to develop and express the film’s themes is very promising and engaging; on the other hand, sometimes it looks like the director does not pay enough attention to the perception of the message he tries to express. Despite the elements of Kravitz and Feigenbaum’s script that concern the themes of consent, power relations and objectification of women’s bodies the movie does not always go as deep into these themes as you might have expected. At the same time, some of the messages of the film in regard to these issues might be rather obvious and crude, especially in terms of male characters, they are often depicted as one dimensional and stereotyped. I never felt that the movie was trying to push a message into peoples head or trying to change anything that we see and experience probably on our day by day depending on you work or life environment but I can understand how people might think it is the case.

The movie is not lacking of some philosophical reflections and the scenes and sequences that can definitely prove that Kravitz is a filmmaker worth watching, for Frida it gets to those moment where she actually start to believe that there is another world, although its just not the same world she lives in, thats the effect that power gives every human within society, one of the most engaging moments of the movie is a scene of a group dinner where the atmosphere gradually becomes tense and the scene becomes almost surreal to demonstrate the relations of power between the characters and the position of the female characters as the objects of manipulation and domination. Such scenes are perfect examples of how Kravitz can make scenes that are raw and leave a feeling that can be felt by the viewers.

The scenery of the movie is very effective, with the combination of lighting, vegetation, the dangers of the island and they all just sitting there knowing nothings is going to happen and having a good time, its that privacy, satisfaction and assurance that power gives. I think both the cinematography and the sound design was on point to create this type of environment where again, looks like out of another world, its just the same planet but different realities for some of the characters in the movie.

The twist at the end is the main focus of the movie I believe, from the start we already know the topic and how it might develop, very predictable if you ask me. As the movie progress it brings up issues of trauma, power, and revenge. When Frida and the other women in the island discover that they have been raped by Slater King and his friends while they were being drugged, they rebel in a very brutal manner. In the midst of all this confusion, Frida realizes she has been there before which is true because she was once a victim of Slater’s con which saw her memories wiped off. This revelation goes further to make the situation more horrifying as it already is.

In the end, Frida does not shoot Slater dead, an action which at first makes no sense why she didn't blow his head. The film then moves to the future presenting Frida in what seems to be a romantic relationship with Slater and managing his business, big time wtf moment but this is not a fairy tale ending or even Stockholm syndrome. It is an intentional twist of events that Frida has woken up and started fighting her abuser. She has been administering the same drug which erases one’s memory to Slater and other victims including herself thus putting him in a permanent state of confusion and obedience. Frida has now acquire the aspects of Slater’s life in terms of money, authority and the company and turned it against him, remember when I mention "want to give that jump", well she does.

This ending is very ambiguous with moral tones, not going full woke on you although I hate that word so much, but the ending refer mostly regarding the nature of vengeance and justice for the abused. Even though Frida has gotten the better of the man and avenged herself she is also just as much a part of the abusive relationship as the man. I would conclude that we are left to decide whether Frida’s actions are right or she has been transformed into a vengeful person by the events that happened in her life, I would not judge her for her reaction but then where is justice?.

Posted Using InLeo Alpha