It's been a while since I last talked about movies. The last thing I reviewed was in May with the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story (I wasn't letting that one slide), and the last review I put out was for a TV show! As it's turned out, I've sadly just struggled to find the time to review what I've seen this summer...but I've still seen a few things since then! So rather than waiting until the end of the year to include all of these solely in my end of year review, I decided the best way to catch up would be to give my thoughts on all of the movies I've seen this summer at once. Summer is the time of blockbusters, action and superheroes so there's certainly plenty to talk about. I've kept my thoughts on Solo in here for the sake of completeness, with a link to the full review in there as well. Otherwise though these are all movies which I've not talked about on here yet. With all that said, let's jump right in to the 9 movies which I've seen over the last couple of months. Some are great. Some are awful. And for better or for worse, some are absolutely hilarious. Let's get stuck right in (oh, and I didn't see Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again...sorry).
Deadpool 2
Although the movies drags considerably near the start, there are various shots scattered through the movie where the effects strangely come to pieces, and perhaps most frustratingly the movie seems more content to lean into clichés, it still provides ridiculous and fun popcorn entertainment. Deadpool remains as engaging a main character as always, and it is largely thanks to his humour and interactions with the other characters in the movie that the movie is as hilarious as it is. That said, this movie benefits much more than the original thanks to a developed and emotionally driven story, and David Leitch's background in action boosts the movie considerably in that department. That all being said, there is a strange contradiction to be drawn here in that this emotion doesn't always feel totally earned. Given the nature of the humour adopted in the first film and indeed in the final half of this film, the build in emotional heft feels more like the build-up to a joke that never comes. You don't allow yourself to become attached to the connection as the writers intended because it doesn't seem like the type of situation the Deadpool we've come to know on the big screen would allow himself to be in; he might love his girlfriend, but he's never come across as the type of person who needed anyone else. The character dynamics in this movie work, don't get me wrong, but the adoption of the strangely generic plot in turn weakens the movie - in trying to add heart to elevate the movie above the original, they have in turn weakened the first half of the movie. When we get back to the action in the second half, I found that my enjoyment of the movie picked up considerably, with the filmmakers considerably less anchored by the story they had to set up. In this half, just like the MCU albeit in a totally different way, the people who are making these movies completely understand and know what they are doing. They know what makes Deadpool work to ensure that he never becomes tiring (i.e. teaming him with other characters unwilling to suffer through his non-stop quips and jokes and general schtick) and they know what people want to see. They know that what we want from these movies is just Deadpool being Deadpool with some action in between, and that would be more than enough to ensure that this film made truckloads of money regardless of what any review said. With that being said, the biggest commendation I can give then is the moxy of the writers to try to go beyond this, and inject the film with some sense of stakes and emotional heft. That is works for the most part is even more of a surprise. In the end, Deadpool 2's fun blend of heart, action, and self-awareness makes sure that this is an extremely enjoyable ride that will leave you with a smile on your face...at least for half of it.
Rating: 6/10
Original Release Date: May 18th, 2018
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Zazie Beetz, Julian Dennison, Morena Baccarin, T. J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, Eddie Marsan, Terry Crews, Bill Skarsgard, and Rob Delaney
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Full Review Link: "Solo: A Star Wars Story" Movie Review - Remarkably Unremarkable
What is there left to say about this misguided and ultimately pointless movie? It's true that there are some good performances and action, while the effects are on point as always - that I cannot deny. However, that does not excuse the rest of the movie. While the issues of production design are somewhat bland, thee are forgivable and if they were the only issues I had and someone said I was reading too far into the movie then perhaps I could get past that. What I cannot forgive is this script. As I said at the beginning of this review (or maybe rant might be more appropriate for the first half), this movie began as a poor and ill-conceived idea, and was not developed from that. There was no desire to deviate from the formula of a standard adventure plot. There was no desire to find a way to develop and build on existing characters or create new ones. What the writers seemed to think was sufficient was a great deal of fan service and irritating moments where characters almost literally smirk at the camera as lines are delivered or pointless tidbits of information given out. It's just...dull. There is absolutely nothing to it and therefore as a movie fundamentally fails at a basic level. There might be cool effects or relatively fun action, but there is no rewatchability to this. What this is is a series of clips which you might want to watch on YouTube as opposed to having to sit through the other drab 2 hours. Ultimately, this is not only pointless, but it is utterly dull. Is it the worst Star Wars movie? No. Is it a particularly enjoyable movie or well-written? No. Does it have a point? No. It just exists, and it seems that is something I and the rest of the fanbase will simply have to live with. It's just a shame at the end of the day that there was potential for this story, and yet we ended up with something which is quite remarkably unremarkable.
Rating: 3/10
Original Release Date: May 25th, 2018
Starring Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Thandie Newton, Jon Favreau, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany
Ocean's 8
The Ocean's franchise was the latest series to this year be subjected to the "all female reboot/sequel" trend which is currently doing the rounds, although this movie thankfully had considerably more successful results than last years disastrous Ghostbusters. This is more successful for a few reasons. The most notable of these is the talented cast. Although the initial announcement of this movie may have been met with some trepidation, a few minds at least were calmed by the signing of big name talents such as Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway, as well as up-and-comers such as Sarah Paulson. The cast of this movie is great and thankfully live up to the expectations. Each of them knows exactly how to play their characters without them becoming grating or annoying (although Awkwafina comes dangerously close, she is thankfully restricted by less dialogue than some of the cast), and the chemistry between them is electric. Even Rihanna didn't annoy me...that much. The second point this movie got right is possibly the most important part of any movie and that is the director, Gary Ross. Responsible for the first Hunger Games movie, and also for writing Big back in 1988, Ross emulates the style of original Ocean's director Steven Soderbergh to a tee. There's a clear understanding throughout the movie that the character dynamics are the real bread and butter of the movie and the focus on these is wise. The editing is stylish, utilising the same comic panel transitions the series has become famous for, while the cinematography and shot composition is slick and well done. Where the movie doesn't work is the script. It's generic, clichéd, and often a boring slog. The heist of the movie, which involves a plot to rob the MET Gala in New York, is exceedingly simple and lacks the tension of the earlier movies in the series. While the group does encounter some problems with the plan throughout, ultimately these are overcome with very little difficulty, while also generally not requiring any specific skills a member of the group has. Effectively, you know the story of the movie going in and the beats you expect the plot to hit it routinely does. There's no real surprises in store (cameos aside), and there's no villain to add any real tension into the mix (no, Richard Armitage's ex-boyfriend does not count as a bad guy because he never encounters the group and he effectively amounts to a bit character). The humour in the movie can be very hit and miss as well, particularly when James Corden makes a late third act entry into the fray playing himself pretending to be an insurance investigator. Clearly, Ocean's 8 is a mixed bag. From a production stand point, the movie is well done, and the cast has excellent chemistry. It's the script that ultimately brings the movie down, with inconsistent humour, and the most standard by-the-numbers plot you can expect to see in this kind of movie. If you're not expecting high art, you could get some entertainment value out of this but otherwise, it may be decidedly more rough.
Rating: 5/10
Original Release Date: June 8th, 2018
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Richard Armitage, and James Corden
Hereditary
Hereditary is, above all, a victim of its own marketing. While I was lucky enough to avoid all trailers and footage for the movie side one 30-second clip that was nearly included in a video I watched (this is absolutely the experience you should aim for if at all possible, I put the trailer in for an option and for consistency), after seeing them after the film itself, as well as marketing quotes like "This generation's The Exorcist", I felt that audiences could have been strangely misled into seeing this film. Advertised as one of the scariest movies of all time and seeming to boast a slew of horror sequences, this is not really a fair representation of the movie at all. In fact, for the first half of the movie, there seems to be little to no supernatural activity. The movie initially seems to more be a comment on grief and regret, and the effect which this has on a person, especially following a death in the family. Any paranormal events in the movie at first are only seen by certain people, carrying an implication that this could be all in their heads, making the movie a much more psychological horror far away from genre tropes. The movie even opens with a shot of a doll house to suggest that everything we're about to watch is somewhat artificial, and that maybe we should not take everything we're seeing at face value. And then Toni Collette's Annie is involved in a seance sequence and the movie seems to from then on out be more content to lead into clichés and stereotypes. Indeed, the final half of the movie is much more standard mainstream horror, and almost feels studio mandated to ensure that the movie could still be watched and somewhat enjoyed by general audiences. I am certainly not going to deny that the final 20 minutes of the movie is perhaps the scariest sequence I have ever watched in a cinema, and at the very least one of the scariest sequences of all time. As with the rest of the movie, the cinematography, lighting, sound design, and music in this sequence is impeccable, and the slow escalation brings a horror that jump scare movies could only dream of achieving. The music of the movie is of particular note, given that there isn't any music for large portions of the movie, which does wonders for the slow-building nature and atmosphere director Ari Aster has sought out to achieve. This is also a movie where the explanation is one you will certainly have to think about. Again, it feels like director Aster wanted to leave the ending considerably more ambiguous but was asked to include more hints. However, this is still an extremely confusing set of reveals the audience is subjected to and it will certainly not be to all tastes. The movie is at times so brutal, so relentless, and so disturbing that I would completely understand someone telling me they didn't enjoy. I certainly didn't enjoy watching the whole thing. This wasn't helped by a bloated 2 hour runtime that feels as though it could easily be trimmed down. The acting is also worthy of a mention. All of the performances of the movie are excellent, but Toni Collette in particular gives a career-best, potentially Oscar-worthy performance which is alone worth seeing the movie for. Ultimately, there is plenty to like about Hereditary but it is certainly not to all tastes. Well-acted and produced certainly but held back by a script that at times feels pretentious and generic, this is movie that should not have been marketed as a straight horror but instead an insight into the effects of grief with psychological horror elements and a lean into those elements at the end. If you go in knowing what you're getting, and prepared for it, this is certainly an easier pill to swallow, and at the least an interesting and engaging watch.
Rating: 7/10
Original Release Date: June 8th, 2018
Starring: Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd, and Gabriel Byrne
Incredibles 2
If I had to some up this movie quite simply, Incredibles 2 is more of what you loved about the original. Hampered only by an admittedly predictable story (there's a villain reveal at the end of the second act which sticks out like a sore thumb and that you can see coming from miles away), the movie more than makes up for it by focusing on the dynamics of the various characters both old and new, and providing them with interesting motivations and conflicts. It's difficult to imagine not becoming wholly engrossed in the family drama and invested in these characters even despite this being an animated movie. All of this is helped by some stunning animation and the drama being surrounded by an onslaught of sequences which can make you laugh or provide a surprising adrenaline rush through the intense action set pieces. The action in this movie stands with this years own Infinity War as potentially some of the most heart-racing action seen in a superhero movie in recent years, using the powers of the Incredibles themselves as well as those of their allies, old and new, in tandem with a slew of interesting new gadgets and additions. Michael Giacchino's score is also excellent and provides the perfect blend of emotion and intensity in the background of the film. That's not to mention the theme songs written for Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone, harkening back to the gloriously campy superhero days of the 60s and sure to put a smile on even the most stone-hearted viewers face. As I say, it's more of the same, and that's okay ultimately. Fans have been waiting 14 years to see a continuation to these characters and this movie not only provides an immensely satisfying follow-up, but also works well as a device to introduce new audiences to these characters, as is necessary with a gap as long as we were forced to suffer. It's admirable of Pixar to have waited until they had a proper story to tell before making this movie, while also maintaining the heart of the original. In story, this is of course a different movie (and I will never understand comments arguing that this is the same movie repeated) but in essence, it's everything you know and love. Superpowers and action act as a backdrop to a story about family, and it is the dynamic of the central cast and those same themes that give the movie the heart of other Pixar movies. It's been a long wait, yes, but it's safe to say that the Incredibles are back and, with that same soul, it's like they never left.
Rating: 9/10
Original Release Date: 15th June, 2018
Starring: Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Samuel L. Jackson, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, Jonathan Banks, Michael Bird, Sophia Bush, and Brad Bird
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World was released back in 2015 with the intent to revitalise the Jurassic Park franchise with the addition of exciting new leads Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard as well as some interesting new hybrid dinos to face off against the iconic T-Rex and Velociraptors. In actuality, Colin Trevorrow's effort was met with a decidedly mixed reception although it still managed to gross over a billion dollars worldwide. A sequel was thus guaranteed, but the reins were handed this time round to horror director J. A. Bayona. A $170 million budget to a director relatively unexperienced in the action genre this new set of movies seem to be aiming for? What could go wrong? As it turns out, quite a bit, but not as much as it could have done. The visual effects are once again on point, with the dinosaurs being seamlessly melded into the real world, while the new hybrids also boast some interesting and eye-popping designs. The acting from the two leads is also good, with their characters being better written this time around, while the chemistry between the two feels considerably stronger. The action in the movie is also fun, especially in the second half, while the cinematography also feels on point. There are some particularly beautiful shots in the first half on the island, although the second half certainly is not lacking in its memorable shots (see the shot of the Indoraptor on the roof of the mansion roaring while lightning flashes in the background). With those positives out of the way, however, where the movie is let down the most is (as with most summer blockbusters this year) in its script. You may have noticed that I referred there repeatedly to a first half and a second half and the reason for that is because, unlike other movies which follow a conventional structure and try to flow naturally throughout, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom seems content to treat itself as two movies: one set on an island with an exploding volcano; and one more horror-themed segment set in a mansion (three guesses which of these is better directed going by the directors expertise). These plots are poorly bridged and tonally dissonant, and you will struggle to escape the sense that the movie switches to another halfway through, only with the same characters. Speaking of characters, aside from the two leads (although there are still lost issues there), the characters and other performances in this movie are absolutely dreadful for the most part. A number of actors are given virtually nothing to do throughout, including Toby Jones, B.D. Wong, and Jeff Goldblum. However, while they have nothing to do, they are not as annoying as a number of whose additions. Rafe Spall plays the "villain" of the movie but is an irritating presence, although the worst of the lot is Justice Smith's Franklin, who you will want to strangle from the moment he arrives on screen. That feeling does not go away. Oh, and the ending of the movie. I of course do not want to give anything away, but all excitement I might have had for the next movie in the series has died instantly. There are some good things in this movie, don't get me wrong. However, unfortunately the negatives far outweigh the positives, and generally Jurassic World is proving itself in my eyes to be a franchise of very little quality, but is never going to stop making money. That said, if they get a completely new cast, writers, director, and composer, then maybe we can have some hope for the show. Don't count on it.
Rating: 4/10
Original Release Date: 22nd June, 2018
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, James Cromwell, Toby Jones, B.D. Wong, Ted Levine, Isabella Sermon and Jeff Goldblum
Skyscraper
So from the horrors of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom we come to the hilariously awful Skyscraper. Described throughout the course of its production as an "Original Concept Movie", the plot of the movie involves the ever-entertaining Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson playing Will Sawyer, an amputee security expert, who must break into the tallest building in the world in order to save the building - and his family - from some cartoon terrorists with hammy accents seeking a secret that the owner of the building is trying to hide. If you take out the tallest building in the world aspect, and think that that sounds like Die Hard, and about as far from an original concept as you can imagine, then you would be right. This is one of the most by-the-numbers plots in a summer blockbuster in years, although it is admittedly a (somewhat mercilessly) well-paced and snappy movie. It may be clichéd and by the books, but it does not waste any more of your time than is absolutely necessary. The action in the movie kick starts fairly quickly, which you'll also be thankful for given that this is the most delightfully bonkers aspect of the movie. Have you ever wanted to see the Rock climb up a crane tower without showing any indication of being affected by the helicopters blowing wind all around him or the killer cold of the height? No problem. Have you ever wanted to see Dwayne Johnson climb one of the tallest buildings in the world on the outside using duct tape on his hands and feet? What about that same actor using a prosthetic leg as part of the action beats? In case you couldn't tell, the movie is frankly about as insane as it gets, and it doesn't let up. Credit should also be given to the Rock's committed performance. It's clear how passionate he is about this project and his performance is the only one in the movie worth watching, solely due to this. Where the movie falls to pieces is everything else. The script is dreadful, offering no character development, leaving you with, for the most part, a cast of cardboard cut-outs. Not only that, but there are so many plot holes that it is effectively a black hole, while the sheer numbers of conveniences present never ceased to amaze me. The acting for the most part offers much to be desired but then again, as I said, it's not as if the actors had much to work with. And while the action might be fun and goofy, it is mind-numbingly stupid. Oh, and who could forget the dreadful CGI. To be quite honest, I would not recommend this movie if you are not prepared to finish it with approximately half of the brain cells that you start with. The movie is ridiculous in concept and any shred of fun to be found stems from this and the action, and of course the Rock's performance. If you're looking for anything deeper, stay clear. If you don't take the movie too seriously, however, then there are plenty of laughs to be had albeit at the expense of the movie itself.
Rating: 3/10
Original Release Date: 13th July, 2018
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Roland Moller, Pablo Schreiber, Byron Mann, Hannah Quinlivan, and Noah Taylor
Ant-Man and the Wasp
It was never going to be an easy feat to be the Marvel movie to have to come off the back of the epic scale of Avengers: Infinity War. For that task, however, the studio opted to go down a (literally) smaller, and more humorous route, likely to be considered a palette cleanser after the intensity of Infinity War. Thus we have Ant-Man and the Wasp, which promises the debut of Evangeline Lilly as the titular flying insect (in costume at least), who is teaming up with Paul Rudd's Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man, who is still trying to balance his family life and his desire to help Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope through being Ant-Man. Not to mention the consequences of his actions in Civil War. It's the central dynamic between the two leads that is the big success of the movie. Rudd and Lilly have electric chemistry and it is endlessly entertaining to watch them bounce off of and bicker with each other. When the two are together on screen, the movie is at its best. The rest of the cast is, for the most part, equally excellent, although their characters are decidedly not as strong, nor is there a dynamic even close to watching that of the superhero partners. Michael Douglas is thankfully given much more to do in this outing as Hank Pym, his sarcastic comments well placed throughout the movie and always managing a laugh. Michael Peña is also great once again as Luis but he thankfully is not overused and never outstays his welcome to become tiresome. Legends Laurence Fishburne and Michelle Pfeiffer also do the best with what they are given, but strangely the script gives neither actor a character particularly worth their talents (in this movie at least, who knows what the future holds). Where the movie is noticeably different from other Marvel movies is in its villain situation, in that...there isn't really a villain. The closest we get is Walton Goggins' Sonny Burch, who has very little screen presence and fails to make much of an impression, amounting to little more than a two bit secondary villain. Hannah John-Kamen initially seems to be fulfilling villain duties as Ghost, but thankfully John-Kamen gets much more of a character to work with, with fleshed out motivation and a strong emotional backstory, leaving you not remembering her as much of a villain in the first place. The action in the movie is also extremely entertaining. Much like the first movie and indeed Ant-Man's appearance in Civil War, the shrinking and growing technology of both the Ant-Man and Wasp suits allows director Peyton Reed to get inventive with these sequences, and the use of vehicles, blasters, and other technology makes for an interesting extra dimension that the first film lacked. The cinematography, music, and visual effects are also once again excellent. Where the movie has some more problems is in its story and script. I found the humour itself to be much more hit and miss than the first film. When the movie is funny, it is riotously funny, with one sequence in a school in particular standing out. However, there are some tiring running jokes and characters that tend to make you roll your eyes more than even smile (see Randall Park's character of FBI agent Jimmy Woo for the prime example). The story is also the routine and formulaic Marvel story we've come to expect, even if the villain is not a standard addition to the Marvel rogues gallery, with the plot generally hitting all of the beats you are expecting to exactly when you expect them to. It's clear to see that the movie is saved largely by its central dynamic, performances, and action, while it is let down by a generic story and a number of underdeveloped characters. That said, there is much more to like here than there is not. Being elevated above the first film by virtue of a stronger connection between Rudd and Lilly, and of course the addition of the Wasp, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a standard Marvel movie that doesn't match the heights of this year's recent efforts, but is still a fun an consistently entertaining outing.
Rating: 7/10
Original Release Date: 6th July, 2018
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, Michael Douglas, Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins, Randall Park, Laurence Fishburne, and Michelle Pfeiffer
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
The latest movie I've seen this summer is also the best, and quite possibly the best movie I've seen this year. The Mission: Impossible franchise has now been going for 20 years and it seems difficult to imagine that the schtick of the series has not yet become stale. That said, this is a series which is helped largely by the input of different directors for each entry, giving each movie a unique tone and style, thereby keeping it fresh and interesting for the most part. So what makes this movie so special as the best movie in the franchise? This is actually the first time a director has returned to the series, with Christopher McQuarrie back on directing duties fresh off of Rogue Nation, and continuing the story he began in that movie. However, not only is this the first continuing story the franchise has seen, but it is easily the most personal. Rather than beginning the movie with the usual bombastic action sequence or show of Tom Cruise's insanity, the movie instead takes its time, spending 15 minutes to build to the opening credits, allowing us to understand the motivation of Ethan Hunt and his determination to not let any of his team die. It's easily the deepest insight we've ever had into the mind of Ethan, and it certainly gives the action and the stakes a more personal edge. By spending a small amount of time to let the audience get into the mindset of the character and understand him a little more, particularly coming off of the events of the last movie, the intensity of the action increases tenfold, as action tends to when we have a deeper understanding of a characters motivations and what is driving them through what should effectively be a suicide mission for the entire film. Speaking of action, the set pieces in this movie are phenomenal as I'm sure you've heard by now, with this film destined to be remembered as one of the great action movies of, at the very least, the decade. The visual effects are excellent and any CGI implemented into the stunt work is flawless, being completely unnoticeable if it is even there at all. The stunt work is incredible (props of course to the (impossibly) 56-year old Tom Cruise for amazing us all as always), and these sequences are guaranteed to get your heart racing as you are thrust from Paris to London to the Middle East. The cinematography is incredible throughout, capturing the beauty of these locations.The characters and acting on display are also great. Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt remains as fun a character as always while being helped by some extra development in this outing, while the dynamic within his IMF team is great once again. Particularly props to Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust, cementing herself as the best female lead of this series, Sean Harris as the villainous scenery chewing Solomon Lane, and Henry Cavill's career best performance as imposing CIA agent August Walker. The music by Lorne Balfe is also great, using a truly unique blend of tracks and instruments, but is cleverly only used where appropriate. Some action sequences, such as the bathroom fight, have no music for the most part, elevating the intensity of the scene further, and you feel every hit. All in all, this is an absolutely excellent movie that pushes itself beyond the boundaries of a typical action movie, offering not only great action but fun dynamics and characters, excellent acting, and a clear desire to tell a much more personal story than the series has ever seen.
Rating: 10/10
Original Release Date: 27th July, 2018
Starring: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Sean Harris, Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan, Angela Bassett, and Alec Baldwin
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