Kung Fu Panda 4 is the fourth entry in the Kung Fu Panda franchise – who would have though wit that title, right? This entry finds Po (Jack Black) who is set to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. While searching for his successor as the new Dragon Warrior, he also faces the shapeshifting foe known as “The Chameleon.” Surrounded by an all-star cast, the fourth entry brings back more of what is to be expected from these movies.

Anytime you reach a fourth entry in any franchise, it’s more than likely for a good reason. Kung Fu Panda has found a lot of success from when it first started based on its concept, cast, action, characters, and story. Everything about it gave every reason as to why this should be turned into a franchise. Personally, I can’t say that I have been a big fan, but I do see the appeal and I support it. I didn’t know much about this one going in. I can say with full confidence that while I enjoyed it for what it was, I do believe there was potential for a better film.

What works well for this film is pretty much how I feel about the rest of the films. The cast is definitely have a great time. Jack Black’s voice is iconic in the role of Po. It was nice to see Ian McShane return. Bryan Cranston was very funny and his character probably had the best moments. To me, the most special character had to be Ke Huy Quan’s character as Han. It’s nice to see him getting more roles.

As for the animation, it’s quite impressive with what they are able to achieve. Whenever there was action, I was surprised by how seamless it all looked as it incorporated different camera techniques similar to other action films. That alone makes this an entertaining franchise. Then, there is the level of detail with the animation. The animation is clear & vibrant in nearly every scene, but there is a scene involving a city that really floored me. It’s all quite impressive.

The last positive element of the film worth mentioning is the level of humor. It doesn’t always land, but when it does, it is quite comedic. I used to be a fan of the Despicable Me movies for the same reason. I could see hints of that in this that gave the film the jolt of energy that it needed.

As for negatives, everything that I have with it all amounts to one thing – this is just a set up for another movie. Instead of getting a film where Po has finally learned all of his lessons, he is still an emotionally immature character. Yes, his ways in kung fu has advanced, but this film feels more like the character is still trying to learn, instead of focusing more on Po teaching someone else. There was potential to do that here. Instead, it serves as a set up for the next movie.

Since this is just a set-up film, the film’s biggest downfall is with its writing. For one, it’s highly predictable from the start. Once I saw the set-up, I knew what was going to happen and it did happen. I only found it to be more entertaining than it should, because the cast, animation, and action work really well. The dialogue can also be messy at times. The villain will say things like “The first role is… the second role is…” The context of what is given just comes across as cheesy and unoriginal.

The last of the negatives worth mentioning involves how the cast is treated. Awkwafina is talented, yet it seems like studios are only attaching her to projects to bring in money. I literally thought to myself at one point: “I miss The Farewell. Some of the other characters’ placements can also feel quite cheap. The return of Ian McShane serves more as a callback. Then, there is what happens at the end. Some people got excited, but it served nothing more than to end the film on a bigger note that clearly could have done more.

Overall, it’s pretty good for what it is, but the potential for a better film is clearly there. Nonetheless, I still think it’s a solid entry that you can bring the kids too that may even spark a new generation of fans. If you have enjoyed the other films, or even this type of animation, then I think you’re in for a good time.

VERDICT: Pretty Good

The year is 2017. I went to one of the emptiest IMAX theaters I have ever been to to see Blade Runner 2049. I was so surprised as I was a big fan of the first. Unfortunately, we all know how that turned out financially. Nonetheless, the film still managed to crack my top 10 favorite movies of all time. Going forward, anything from Denis Villeneuve would always be one of my most anticipated movies of the year. When Dune was announced, I remember even bringing it up in class one day back in 2018. Six years later, I am so glad to have finally seen this version come into fruition.

Dune: Part Two picks up right where part one ended. This entry finds Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalemet) uniting with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while seeing revenge against those who destroyed his family. When Paul is faced with a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. Surrounded by an ensemble cast, the film manages to balance out with its cast with spectacular visuals, a well-developed story, and action that is best seen on the biggest screen possible.

I first started listening to the audiobook of the novel back in the beginning of 2020, which may have been the worst way to do it compared to how much time was to come for the first movie to come out versus having to understand what was being told to you. For the most part, I understood it. It’s a very complex book that I believe David Lynch’s version struggled bringing to life. Seeing Villeneuve’s version brought to life expanded on what I thought I knew about the story and even made it efficient enough for viewers to understand. To me, the first movie was perfect. The sequel? Even better.

Very easily, this film was my most anticipated film of 2024, which may have worked out, because I don’t know if my brain could have processed what was better between this and Oppenheimer in 2023. Hopefully, the fact that this released so early in the year doesn’t deter from the fact that it deserves proper award recognition. While the film feels like it was shot back-to-back even though it wasn’t, the film flows seamlessly from part one to part two to make for a perfect pairing. Villeneuve has even gone on to say that he doesn’t believe that anyone needs to see the first before this one. While I would disagree, I think the better way to explain the film is that is stand out very well on its own.

The first act dedicates most of its screentime into Paul’s journey with the Fremen with hints of what’s going on with the Harkonnen family (more into that later). Paul’s journey includes having to persuade the Fremen that he is a qualified leader. Simultaneously, he is also forming a relationship with Chani. First, his journey into becoming a leader is phenomenal. Stilgar (Javier Bardem) is convinced that he is the coming Messiah that will lead them to freedom. Stilgar is already the people’s leader, so when he uses religion & prophecy’s to explain Paul’s importance, Paul has to figure out if he is a great man like his father claimed or if he becomes a powerful leader that his nightmares convey. On top of that, his relationship with Chani blossoms into something quite powerful. Chalamet is top-billed, but I would consider Zendaya as an equal necessity to Chalamet. Villeneuve really focuses on her character, which helps feel the emotional consequences of what happens later on the film.

As for the villainous Harkonnen family, the brief time we get them in the first act reminds the audience of who Paul is going against. But it’s really the second act that develops on this family through newer character and a richer story. This family is just not a family you don’t mess with. Viewers will recognize Glossu Rabban Harkonnen (Dave Bautista) and his uncle Baron Vladmir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård). Keeping these guys in the first part was a smart move to help understand how insane these guys work, because when Glossu Rabban’s younger brother & the Baron’s nephew Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Austin Butler) shows up, you clearly don’t know everything yet. Butler is in command with every scene that he is in and delivers one of the best villainous performances in quite some time. Keeping these villains as brief as possible shows how serious these guys are, but also allows the viewers to yearn for their return.

All of this develops the film’s first two acts. Throughout this time, every single technical aspect as it top-tier perfection. Seeing it IMAX reminded me of when I saw Blade Runner 2049. You get to see this whole world through close-ups and wide shots, both utilizing the needed necessecty of the scene. While it is a different director than that of the other, Denis’ vision shows that he knows what he wants captured to evoke the right emotion. Trust me, there were moments where I thought “Oh my gosh.” There were just some grand scenes that I felt lucky to see in this format.

As well as the cinematography, every technical aspect ups the game compared to the first. For a $190 million budget, it’s amazing at what they accomplish between location and the visual effects. When you add in the stacked cast, that brings the budget down even more of what they can accomplish visually. The musical score continues to transcend the film in a way that makes you connect to the film. There are selective films that can do that and composer Hans Zimmer captures the environment with the music beautifully.

Finally, I have to say that I really admire the love for the film from so many. The way the film ends is very unorthodox compared to your usual blockbuster that even left me emotionally floored thanks to the development that came before. I am used to when films are a bit slower, people will like it less. I’d say the film is equal action as it is drama. The slower moments really allows for the story & character to develop. By the time, it is even more effective by the time you see how the film concludes. Then, there are the themes that I think say a lot of today’s generations. Paul has to weigh whether or not he is the good man his father claimed and be a good person for Chani or if he follows what his elders claim he is. It offers an interesting dialogue on religion and what we pass down from generation to generation.

Overall, I feel privileged to live at a time to see this film. It’s certainly best to watch on the biggest screen imaginable. It’s grand in every way. When there’s action, it’s heart pounding. When it dramatic, the dialogue offers necessary good points that tell a deeper meaning of this world, but can often feel reminiscent to today. If you are a fan of sci-fi, Villeneuve, or even the first and the novel, you will not be disappointed at all.

VERDICT: Perfect

Directed by German filmmaker Wim Wenders and starring Koji Yakusho, Perfect Days follows Yakusho as Hirayama, a Tokyo toilet cleaner who is content with his daily life through music, books, and taking photos. Through a series a of unexpected events, more is gradually is revealed about the man. Some sites may tell you a different synopsis. While they are all true, going into this not knowing much is the best way going into this. I have been seeing a lot of reviews saying that this film just has “vibes.” That may sound vague if you are looking for a deeper meaning. While it is true of said vibes, I’d go even deeper and say that this film is an experience.

The film immediately opens up on Hirayama waking up in his small apartment. Just as he opens his eyes, he’s eagerly ready to get up, put his bed away, and start his daily routine. He waters his plants, brushes his teeth, grooms himself, and he’s out the door. Just as he opens the door to the outside, he looks up and smile, embracing the environment. Before he gets in his car, he makes a quick stop at the bending machine for his morning coffee. He then starts commute traveling around Tokyo cleaning outside public restrooms. Sometimes he plays music through his cassette tapes. Sometimes he doesn’t. That’s essentially his daily routine, yet he goes through events that make him appreciate life even more.

I start off by saying all of this as I feel like marketing this to someone would be rather tough unless you appreciate film. There are many moments where it seems redundant as he see this guy’s life on a daily basis. Here is where I believe the exception turns this film into one of the most important movies I have ever seen: relatability. Too many times do we ponder what kind of movie our life would be like if it was turned into one. This film portrays an answer that I don’t think anyone would want to answer, and that’s a film where life is repetitive, yet there’s an important piece to this that makes the film worth exploring.

Without giving much else away, more is revealed by this main characters through the way he encounters others. There is an annoying coworker who he continuously gives grace to. You can tell he gets annoyed, but he lets this person figure things out on their own and even tries to help them out the best that he can. On first glance, I couldn’t tell if this annoying coworker was a negative aspect or not. Truthfully, it brings in more relatability as it portrays Hirayama in a vulnerable place that can often by exploited.

Then, there is a young girl who has ties with him, yet I would confidently say that it takes a while to get to. Yes, it opens the past to the reason why this main character is the way he is. And I only bring this up, because I don’t want viewers to get discouraged by feeling like there is not much happening. Throughout the film, this character reminded me of different people throughout my life, and finally, he really reminded me of myself, which offered a very therapeutic experience. Too often do we see a movie where a character similar to this will go down a darker path. Instead, we see this character embracing life. He’s alone, but he is at peace, giving him the pleasure of enjoying life. He is even there for others who may not have anyone to turn to. The film’s most important theme: always be kind to others.

Just as the credits were about to roll, I knew the end was coming. Even though I already spent 2 hours with this character, I could honestly spend another 2 hours with him. The audience in my theater and I just sat there when the credits rolled. No one moved or said anything for what felt like forever. I even sat in silence in my car ride back home. I hope this is the selling point to convince you to go see this.

The daily routine and the pacing of the film wouldn’t have been possible without the lead performance from Koji Yakusho, the direction, editing, cinematography, and sound design. It is a shame that Yakusho will not get enough recognition in what has to be one of the best performances of 2023. As the camera follows him, there is not a single moment where it comes across that he is an actor. He is comfortable with the camera being very intimate with him to the point where the audience gets to feel like they are with him, which is probably why we felt the way we did when the credits rolled. We didn’t want to leave this character, yet in this fictional world, we know that he’s going to be okay.

To be honest, Wim Wenders is a name that I have only recently came across, most notably with his outstanding work in Paris, Texas. Nearly 40 years later, it is apparent that he’s able to be close enough with the talent that brings out the best of performances. As a German filmmaker, the film is the first to not be directed by a Japanese filmmaker to be nominated as the Japanese entry for Best International Feature. It’s an incredible feat that speaks volumes for the filmmaker. He’s clearly a filmmaker who wants to tell human stories from other parts of the world, showing just how universal humans really are.

I’ll wrap up my final thoughts through the other components that make the film incredible, and that is the cinematography, sound design, and editing. I would actually say that the cinematography & editing work closely hand-in-hand. We get all kind of different camera angles offering a different perspective on the character’s daily routine. The editing cuts seamlessly with the different camera angles that offer an exciting take as we navigate through each day. This also makes for an incredible pace. I only looked at my watch twice just out of curiosity of how much was left, because it never dragged. I believe the “vibes” mentioned in different reviews is all thanks to the sound design. When Hirayama is listening to his cassettes, it also brings you with him as it truly sounds like the same quality. Then, there are the moments where he is taking in life and we get to hear what he hears in the environment.

Overall, Perfect Days is unlike anything I have ever seen, yet feels all to rare. Similar films try to leave a darker impression, while this one leaves a hopeful one. Koji Yakusho delivers one of the best performances of the year as a man juggling many emotions. The title is a perfect title, because it is a perfect movie.

VERDICT: Perfect

Madame Web is the latest attempt at Sony trying to expand on their Spider-Man property through its characters. The film follows Cassandra Web, played by Dakota Johnson, who must confront her past just as she is forced into helping three young girls who are being hunted down by an evil adversary with ties to Web’s past. I had not interest in seeing the film other than the cast and the universe it has ties to. I am fully aware that Sony continues to fail badly as they are trying to expand on their own universe. I need to stop putting so much faith in a film that is clearly marked as bad no matter how good I think the cast or concept really is.

I’ll get the tiny positives out of the way first by saying that the cast truly deceives you into believing this may be a good movie. Between Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabella, Merced, and Adam Scott, the film truly capitalizes on their star power to make up for how poor everything is. Compared to the previous Sony Spider-Man spinoff, Morbius, tries it best to fleshing out more of a story and manages to even add in interest concepts that start off strong in theory, but quickly gets worse than what you can imagine.

Five minutes into the film and the writing was all over the screen. The marketing already had the writing all over the screen of how bad it was going to be. At least in bad films, the beginning could always start off strong. Nope. Not here. What we get is a bit of prologue of how Cassandra Web came to be. Her pregnant mother is out searching for spiders in Peru with a group of others. Amongst this group is Ezekiel Sims, played by Tahar Rahim, who ends up killing the group, as well as Cassandra’s mother and ends up becoming the antagonist of the film. During this opening sequence, we get sloppy editing as it cuts from all variations of cinematography creating the most overstimulating experience that only prolongs throughout the rest of the film. The camera will suddenly zoom in on characters, flip upside down, and the editing mimics the early 2000’s chaotic feeling where the camera looks like its shaking. For a film that mostly takes place in the 2000’s, it serves as no coincidence that the film decided to be an exact replica of a bad superhero movie of its time. While it could have at least been charming or fun is void of that due to what feels like way too many cooks in the kitchen.

From there, we jump into 2003 where Cassandra is now an adult working as a paramedic. Her relationship with Ben Parker, played by Adam Scott is severely unrealistic based on the way they talk and act. Maybe this could have worked under the right direction and writing… maybe. When Cassandra has a near death experience, she now realizes that she has powers where she can look into the future featuring some of the worst CGI I have ever seen. She then goes on to have scene after scene after scene where she is continuously seeing into the future. We get it, she can see into the future. We just don’t ever get the explanation as to why she can.

The villain that kills Cassandra’s mother in the beginning is living during this time at the same age due to the assumption that he had a spider bite him that gave him these amazing powers. For some reason, he has this nightmare every night where three girls end up murdering him. When we are introduced to this revelation, this wakes up his one night stand. This leads to another revelation that this one night fling is an agent (or something. I don’t know.) The cinematography here is beyond sloppy. There are Dutch shots that have both characters in the same area of the screen in their own shot, resulting in the eye staying in one spot. He then decides to kill this person for what feels like little to no reason, but perhaps that’s the best way to explain this character. He kills for no reason, because there isn’t even a good reason for him to kill these girls that he has a dream about – mind you, a dream that actually never comes close to happening. He is also able to immediately convince this girl to search for these other girls. This girl he convinces has her convictions as first, but ends up helping him due to…. well, lazy writing. The bad guy here is clearly obsessed with power. Unfortunately, his character is underdeveloped to become obsolete.

When we are introduced to Cassandra, we also see the three girls that are in this villains’ dreams. The girls play an important part as Cassandra ends up saving them due to being able to see what happens in the future. What could have been a strong action sequence ends up becoming beyond messy. Cassandra decides to get on the subway just as the other three girls also happen to be there. While it is really just coincidence, it’s probably the best way to get these characters together due to how bad the writing is. The villain is able to magically get in this superhero suit. The girls are easily persuaded into following this stranger. The police are not only quickly jumping to conclusions, it seems like the entire force is at the subway station. Just as the girls are finally able to escape, the police that was taken down is somehow able to inform the news of this within seconds.

This results in Cassandra jumping these girls off in the middle of the woods. Remember how the police was able to immediately inform the news of what happens? What’s funny is that Cassandra not only throw these girls in the middle of the woods, she ends up driving around in the taxi she stole to get away from the villain. She is still able to drive in this taxi with no troubles and even manages to fly to Peru and back with no troubles. It’s laughably bad. I don’t even want to give much else away in the story; however, it feels necessary to explain my frustrations of the film. The girls go off to do stupid stuff in a diner resulting in Cassandra doing something that is actually very immature. She even drives to the diner that ends up taking longer to get there than it did when she walked there, because driving to Toxic by Britney Spears is cooler than authenticity. I hope this is more than enough to convince you how idiotic the writing is.

It takes a lot for a film to mess up sound. I never saw its importance, mostly because films tend to manage it well. For a big studio film such as this, messing up sound like the ADR should not be tolerated. For that component to even be screwed up can really make the audience distrust you. What should be a film that transports you into another world ends up looking and sounding like a fan film. The ADR consistently has the character’s mouth moving with the dialogue not lining up with the movement. It’s a complaint that I heard plenty of going into the film and it’s much worse than I could have ever expected.

Overall, Madame Web is a movie that should not exist. Whenever it seems like the film might turn around for the best, the film manages to make it far worse than what you could imagine. The film tries its best to create something organic, yet creates more confusion as much is not explained by the end. Sony has every opportunity to make something unique between its cast and story and continue to fail miserably. I have no faith in what they try to do next in this uninspired universe that cares more about dollars than quality.

VERDICT: Awful

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay, 2023’s Origin follows author Isabel Wilkerson as she writes her next book while dealing with personal tragedy. DuVernay is the perfect filmmaker for this story as her journey mirrors this true story that she is bringing to life. The filmmaker has had a unique career thus far – she directed Selma, which was a hit at the time, but it still didn’t completely capture the attention it deserved, such as not being nominated for Best Director for Best Actor for David Oyelowo. Her career has been interesting to say the least since then. She directed the phenomenal documentary, 13th, then there was the rather critically & commercial disappointment A Wrinkle in Time, and finally When They See Us. Without a doubt, DuVernay’s resume has proven that she is at her best when tackling racial subject matters. When Netflix ended up exiting Origin, it is a confusing thing to understand between DuVernay’s relationship with the studio, plus knowing just how good the final product is.

Much of the film tackles recent history, so we are mostly aware of it. Where the film elevates that is by comparing what we have gone through in the last decade to events that happened years ago. At 2 hours and 21 minutes, there is a lot to digest. So much so, I don’t even think I could stomach a second watch; however, I believe the film is vital to show in classrooms, as well as those who are in often disagreement with the subject matter. As a white male, I have often been self aware of how flawed history has been, but I have been optimistic as to how we can learn from history to be better people. That’s where I could really connect with Jon Bernthal’s character. Bernthal is great in everything it seems like, but as much as his character knows, Bernthal also knows that he needs to be supporting the main character. He understands his place in the world, yet he knows when to stop & reflect versus knowing when to stand up and be vocal. I don’t even want to say that I can fully understand the perspective of this story, but I can say that I have faced my own trials and tribulations in life, which is why I try to be supportive to those who may be struggling. I want to be an advocate for everyone, which is why Bernthal becomes such an integral part to the story. Even more, he is integral to his wife, Isabel Wilkerson, played by the tremendous Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

There are three key aspects that bring this film together – Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Ava DuVernay’s direction, and the cinematography. I will tackle the other two aspects shortly, but I really want to give credit to Ellis-Taylor. Her performance desperately needs more accolades and shows that this is a performance that was snubbed by the Academy – something DuVernay is far too familiar with in her past work. Ellis-Taylor delivers a standout role that feels contained with all of the necessary emotions. When tragedy does strike, she doesn’t just become sad. You actually see her get destroyed. When she she is around loved one, you get the sense that she really does love this people. There is even a moment when she has to speak to someone wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat. You can see how she wants to call him out on this. Instead, she is able to better get through him by telling him an important story that will connect with him, which proves effective. She shouldn’t have to do this, but her doing this proves how connecting with others can make a different. Ellis-Taylor delivers a performance that is commanding and realistic.

As for DuVernay’s direction, this is another one that I believe to be snubbed for its deserving accolades. Her career put her on a trajectory for this film. When the film opens up, we follow what appears to just be a random stranger walking around in the middle of the night. Just as when things appear to turn for the worse, we are suddenly brought into Wilkerson’s life. As it turned out, the film goes back to who this person was in the beginning. That specific person was Trayvon Martin. Keeping Martin’s presence a secret in the beginning was the proper way to start the story as the film shows how other people react to this story as we see how people don’t quite understand what causes these events nor really understanding how to fix the problem. And what comes next is DuVernay at the top of her game.

For film that looks very independent, the way DuVernay tells its story is epic on a grand scale. When a story is being told, whether its through the Holocaust or during segregation, there is a clear through line that can help the viewer understand how evil doesn’t just suddenly happen. There is a specific scene where Nazi’s are speaking about how they can utilize American politics to get away with eliminating Jewish civilians. That is not something that I was aware of. The story ends up following two African-Americans who are visiting during this time. When things start to get worse, they travel back to America just as segregation is coming to the full front, proving how these evil actions that we instill only come full circle.

For the cinematography, it is one of the best of the year. I loved how the look was grainy. It gave an independent look & feel to the film. It’s when the film goes back and forth in time is where this strategy is most effective. Keeping this visual style represents just how consistent history has been. This style makes sense in real time, but its DuVernay’s direction when she goes back in time proves vital to the story. It may have been costly, which is the only reason I can think of why Netflix pulled out of the project.

The only things I disliked is how they handled one character’s death, plus how the back and forth in time can be a bit overstimulating. As for the one character’s death, I will omit the name, but I was completely thrown off by how this was handled. This particular death was abrupt and the film offered no conclusion as to how or why this happened. Due to feeling underwhelmed by this, I looked this up and it turns out this death was caused by something completely different than what the film conveyed. To make it worse, I actually found out more about the true life person that wasn’t even in the film. As for the structure, I do think the film relies a bit too much on going back and forth to tell its story. Instead of delivering on importance, it can sometimes be overstimulating as you have to understand what’s going on between past and present.

Overall, Origin transcends its subject matter by telling a detailed memoir that takes its time to ensure efficiency. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is terrific in the lead role that should have gotten more recognition while everyone around effectively support her. I can’t speak from the specific angle, but I have seen enough in my life to be completely supportive of the material. Viewers who can connect with it will surely find it moving. As for everyone else, I truly hope this will speak to those to help them understand a little bit more of this perspective, and know what exactly we can take from this for a better future. I don’t think this will get the recognition it deserves until it ultimately hits streaming.

VERDICT: Amazing

Argylle – yes, the movie that played the same trailer over the last several months before every movie at the theater – is finally here. Directed by filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, the film finds Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) as a famous author who writes a series of espionage novels revolving around a character named Argylle. When her stories begin to mimic real life, Aidan (Sam Rockwell) helps her evade spies and bring her to the truth of how Agent Argylle really is.

My introduction to this film has been quite interesting as I recall seeing a still image at least a year ago with Henry Cavill & Dua Lipa. Surely, the film was going to come out sooner rather than later. Fast forward a year later after countless redundant trailers of the film, the time had finally come. You may be asking: If you felt this way, then why go see it? One, I am a film critic. I will go see anything and everything (mostly). Two, I actually like Matthew Vaughn. He’s an interesting filmmaker that continues to preserve through good & bad films. Third, I got invited to this as my first press screening! Of course I am going to go!

I am somewhat of a fan of Matthew Vaughn’s filmography. I really enjoyed X-Men: First Class. Kingsman: The Secret Service has grown on me over the years, and somehow, I happen to be in the minority of enjoying its sequel even more. His last film, The King’s Man, a prequel to the Kingsman franchise was not critically liked and I happen to agree with that. So, when you get an impressively stacked cast attached to a film like this, does it warrant a good comeback for the filmmaker for a cast who trusts them or are they seeing it as being a fun experience? I think it’s a bit of both.

I would actually say the direction is so strong to the point that it makes up for the messy script. There are genuine surprises that completely shocked me. The film truly delivered some of the best twists I have seen in a very long time that makes me look forward to eventually rewatching this from a different perspective. As the film has to juggle two different storylines – the one based in the book and the one based in reality – the film can get a bit lost at times. It is abundantly clear that the cast trusts their director as they have to be goofy one moment, pull off action set pieces the next, and also be surprised when the surprises happen. In that respect, I do see this as a good comeback for the filmmaker. He just happens to make a rather messy script into quite the enjoyable film.

If you have seen the trailer, then you probably already have an idea of what kind of film you would be getting yourself into. The film starts off with introducing Henry Cavill’s Argylle in an opening scene brought to life through the reality of Elly Conway reading the story out loud from her book. Putting Henry Cavill as the top cast is a weird choice as it really is Bryce Dallas Howard in the lead role, so I think marketing as Cavill being the main character was misleading in a way that may leave viewers disappointed. Nonetheless, the film strives in this reality as it puts Howard’s character in a position where she gets writer’s block with writing the conclusion of the franchise that she has written. When she stumble across Sam Rockwell’s character, Aidan, is when the film hits all of the funny moments and Vaughn double down’s on his signature camera work that makes the film very exciting.

For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I won’t mention much else in regards to the plot as I found it to be one of the most surprising films in recent years, but I do want to bring up the glaring plot holes that were almost infuriating. For example, when Elly calls her mom in Chicago to come help her in London, her parents suddenly show up to help her out of nowhere. There isn’t much explanation of what she did in the meantime. It’s not like her parents could have showed up like that and makes the writing weak. There are also characters that come and go that make it extremely convenient for the plot to the point where you do have to turn your brain off to not let it get to you. It’s just unfortunate the film can have that kind of writing when its twists are amongst some of the smartest I have seen. Maybe that just has to do with Matthew Vaughn and how he is able to only show you want he wants you to see.

I don’t think I appreciated the cast as much as I did when I actually saw the film. Cast ensembles feels more like misses than hits as of lately, so I never got excited for the film for that. In hindsight, I should have, because every single cast member eats up every single scene. Henry Cavill plays the perfect example of why he should be the next James Bond. Bryce Dallas Howard & Sam Rockwell have fantastic chemistry together, but Rockwell can also never do any wrong. Bryan Cranston is also really good with what he has to do it and I will leave it at that to avoid spoilers. I did find it funny that Samuel L. Jackson was more or less there just to watch the Laker’s game. Honestly, respect. You get that bag Mr. Jackson. While I do wish some of the cast got more screentime and some of the dialogue can be wooden due to the lackluster script that I mentioned, I still appreciate how everyone is there to deliver something entertaining for the viewers.

On a more technical level, I have already briefly mentioned Vaughn’s signature camera work. He doesn’t do it as much as he has in the past where the camera pans in and out, he uses it more effectively in the action that can makes the hits and the punches much more exciting. That’s not to say that he doesn’t use other things that can be quite overstimulating. For example, there is an overwhelming amount of zoom-in’s on an image than zoom out to something completely different. There was also way too much POV shots from Howard’s character. It was funny at first as she can’t tell what’s real or imaginary. It does get to become too much as there are scenes where they do it when she is falling asleep and waking up. One other aspect that I enjoy about Vaughn’s work that is perhaps at its best is with the music choices. He chooses the perfect needle drops to go along with the action. There’s even the new Beatles song, Now and Then. As a fan of The Beatles, that was very exciting. There also happens to be a music-related sequence that gives me faith that Vaughn will deliver something special for that Damien Chazelle project.

Overall, Argylle feels like the best of what it could be. It can be overstimulating, overlong, and full of plot holes; however, the perfectly stacked cast, entertaining action, funny quips, and twists & turns make up for it. While I believe many might wait to see the film once it hits Apple TV+, I strongly encourage seeing this in the theater. Being in a crowded theater made this a fun and joyous experience. The film has it flaws, yet its positives allow the film to deliver something that is simply entertaining. I strongly recommend turning your brain off when you go see this and I think you will have a good time that is worth the price of admission.

Also, stick around that mid-credits scene! It’s exciting, and I think if done right for what Vaughn wants to do, might be something really unique and original.

VERDICT: Pretty Good

Directed by Jonathan Glazer in his first film since 2013’s Under the Skin, The Zone of Interest follows a German Nazi commandant and his wife who are building their dream live right next to the Auschwitz concertation camp. Earlier in 2023, I predicted that this film would be nominated for best picture based solely on the images and plot. To my surprise, I was correct, so my anticipation only skyrocketed from there up until I sat in the theater to watch this.

The film opens up on the title card, then slowly fades into a black screen where a musical score plays as the viewer sees nothing but black for what felt like 5 minutes. It’s a tactic that I have seen in other films that are intentional in its approach. As the film goes on, it only becomes clearer why we are introduced to the film in this manner. There’s not much music throughout the film. It’s almost entirely sound design based on how we hear the horrible things happening over on the other side of the camp, but never see. This opening mimics how we will never be introduced to the imagery that the music is conveying. The music is for those who lost their lives in the camp and is the best way to prepare the viewer to never seeing the mystery that is never shown, but we all know what it is.

It’s a tough film to get on board with as we are strictly following a family that we strongly disagree with. The film is never trying to get the viewer to sympathize with them. If anything, it feels like Jonathan Glazer wanted to bring out a story that has never been done before by showing the other perspective and getting us to understand why these people did what they did. At one point, the wife is convincing her husband, who has commands to transfer, to let the rest of them stay where they are as he leaves for work as it is what she wanted since they were 17, which is an important age that can set the tone for how adults will go on to live their lives. There is also the fact that the wife’s mother even tells her that she has truly made it while screams are heard in the distance. Once again, it’s never trying to get us to sympathize with the character, but make us understand how people can be manipulated into doing evil things, no matter what their intentions are.

Throughout the film, you get the sense that every single character has the best of intentions as this is what they are made to believe in order to survive. There is a segment towards the end of the film where the past meets the present. It’s almost like while these characters have these grand revelations alone, they are still manipulated by the public. With it’s PG-13 rating, the film is able to skip over graphic scenes, but we all know what happened, giving an extremely dumb feeling. This makes the film one of the most important films out there. I can even see this being shown to classes that will deliver some important topics. By having the past meet the present, the film begs the question: Do we go on to repeat the past or can we learn from the past and preserve the history to learn from our mistakes?

The film would never work without its two leads, Christian Friedel & Sandra Hüller. Friedel is convincing as a man who only follows the commands of others in order to survive and give his family the “dream” life. The film gives him many opportunities to turn around, but with his wife, played by Sandra Hüller, you can see where he goes further and further into darkness. Not that it his wife’s fault, but it’s the false reality they live in. Hüller is having an incredible year between this and Anatomy of a Fall – another 2023 masterpiece. I do believe between the two films, Hüller will go on to do more amazing work. As for Friedel, he is already signed on to be in the new season of The White Lotus. Giving the people who worked on the film more work is very deserving.

One of the most brilliant aspects of the film is the cinematography. While we know who these two leads are, what makes their presence unique is how it balances out with the rest of the fact and you can thank the cinematography for that. The film essentially plays out like a history book brought to live. The camera is always in one position, yet it never zooms in and out and it never physically moves. The fact that the editing can match each cut is truly astonishing. When these characters move and interact with others, it makes every other character extremely important. Since we are mostly familiar with the history of this event, it’s almost like witnessing a book of the other perspective that we are not always privy to. This can also show why it’s important to show the other perspective to allow viewers of what not to do. There were also some interest camera & editing techniques that I found interesting. Still not sure what to make of with those moments, but it makes for a good rewatching experience.

The other aspect that is certainly worth mentioning is the sound design – something that I was aware of going on, but also something that I didn’t know about because it is so vital to the overall story. With that being said, I will keep my thoughts on that as brief as possible. What’s interesting about the film is how it shows these people living in their own paradise as screams can be heard nearby. While the viewer has a good idea of what’s happening, it’s a genius way to present the film to how far gone these people are in order to fulfill their dreams. Lastly, there is this scene where someone plays something on the piano. Instead of saying the lyrics to the song out loud, the keys on the piano represent the lyrics, which are shown at the bottom like they are subtitles.

Overall, The Zone of Interest is both one of the most important films I have ever seen and one of the most haunting non-horror films I have ever seen. Showing the film from one perspective, while never showing the other, gives the viewer an idea at the other perspective behind the why of they do. The film will stay with you long after the credits roll.

VERDICT: Perfect

A newer vision of “Mean Girls” comes out 20 years later, which sounds like a bad idea given the popularity of the original film. But this isn’t an adaptation, but rather an adaptation of the musical based on that film. To be quite honest, I was really not looking forward to seeing this. I somewhat enjoyed the original, but the January release so far has been rough. What gave me hope, however, was how much better musicals have been getting. Between “Wonka” and “The Color Purple,” I was gaining confidence in the future of musicals. I am perhaps the most critical of musicals for various reasons that I will get into with this review. Even though there were things I liked with this, the lack of direction also gave me plenty of things to dislike within the aspects that I did like.

This film was directed by a duo directing team, Samantha Jayne & Arturo Perez, Jr. When you really think about it, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea for a musical as one can focus more on the musical aspects and the other can focus more on the non-musical aspects. The problem that lies within this is how it feels like a movie that flows well. While we can get a strong musical set piece, what follows can be lackluster and forced, and vice versa. The film actually starts off with a strong one-take scene. It actually maybe made me a bit more hopeful as I should have been as the first clear cut happened, but that’s all right. That’s not what I have a problem with. I’ll start off with the positives.

As mentioned, the film starts off with a strong and creative one-take sequence. It’s a brilliant way to start the film as you get the idea of how this film takes off. From there, it’s clear that the film succeeded with getting the right cast. Angourie Rice is terrific in her right, but casting Jenna Fischer as her mom that looks so identical was a smart move. Putting my love for “The Office” to the side, I still think her talents are worthy of more work. Then, there is Reneé Rapp, who has a terrific performance as Regina George. From her vocals to more dramatic talents, I have a feeling that her career is going to skyrocket from here. The rest of the cast is great. Newcomers are on their way to doing more and those who have more of an experienced resume are having a great time with what screentime they have.

My next point is both good & bad. There are songs that are great in their own right; however, the way they are placed can often be forced and out of place. What I liked about “Wonka” & “The Color Purple” is how the musical aspects elevated the character’s emotions that I don’t think anything else could have done the same job. Here, I don’t see why musical pieces were always needed. I can see this being enjoyable through a musical play, but adapting this into a film cannot only be forced, but create a hectic tone structure.

This brings me to the overall story. There are definitely things there from the film, but the pacing results in crazy character decisions that don’t feel fully developed. The main character, Angourie Rice, goes having to form an identity of her own when she is shown to other people her age. It makes sense why she begins to evolve into Regina George and I think the film continues to have some great themes that are relevant today. At 1 hour and 58 minutes, the musical pieces are more of a focus compared to other things that need more focus. It would have been nice to see more of that relationship with Cady’s mom, because she feels like an afterthought that is clueless as to why her daughter is acting the way she is. Other characters get thrown in and out without much more involvement with the story. Seriously, if you are a fan of Jon Hamm (I’m not), I’ve got some bad news for you.

Mentioning inconsistent things, the last thing I want to bring up is how the technical aspects can even be inconsistent. That opening one-take would have you fooled as to how good the cinematography is, because it can be very unpleasant at times. There were scenes that took place in the cafeteria that were very off-putting and really begged the question as to why the plastics felt so entitled. There’s also the ADR where I could tell where the voicing was off from the vocals sung. If the film took more time to improve on these aspects, I think this could have been at least a little bit better.

Overall, “Mean Girls” is going to be better for fans of the original & the musical, but I can’t see where anyone else would enjoy it. It’s certainly not the worst film I have ever seen. If you think you’d enjoy it, please go see it; otherwise, I don’t think you’re missing out on much.

VERDICT: Okay

Directed by David Ayer and written by Kurt Wimmer, The Beekeeper follows Adam Clay, played by Jason Statham, a retired operative of a “Beekeeper” organization who sets out to enact revenge when his closest friend falls victim to a phishing scam. This was an interesting movie to watch. Statham had a rough year in 2023. It feels like he is trying to be in the next big franchise, but it ends up failing. It has nothing to do with him, so it can be disappointing to see the end result of what he is in. When you factor in Ayer’s track record and a January release, I was confident that this would not be good. With the positive reviews I saw, I decided to check it out ASAP. In the end, I can see why people enjoyed it. Unfortunately, every positive aspect of the film is equal every shortcoming.

When the film focuses solely on Jason Statham, whether with the action or drama, is where the film shines. I was surprised to see how well directed these scenes were when you take David Ayer’s filmography since 2016’s Suicide Squad into consideration. Ayer’s last film, The Tax Collector, felt like it would be the nail in the coffin. Fortunately, you can see where he has learned from his mistakes and applies what he has learned in this film. I found every action set piece to be terrifically choreographed and the cinematography caught every bit of detail. The choreography mimicked John Wick, which is something that many will compare this to, especially with the film’s story.

When the film opens up, we are introduced to Jason Statham’ character, known as Adam Clay. Clay works for an elderly lady as her beekeeper who has seemingly taken him in. Little is known about how they met is mentioned and much more can be left to the imagination, which is something you can also say about this “Beekeeper” organization. It seems that Clay, a former “Beekeeper” has found solitude in becoming a literal beekeeper. It’s a bit corny and too much on the nose. Even worse, throughout the film, they compare actual bees to this organization. It’s like taking the world of John Wick out of the movie. While it can be a mindless time at the film, there’s more potential to make this into a franchise worth exploring.

But that’s not what I really want to talk about. What I really want to talk about the most goes off how this story is set all in motion. The elderly lady that Clay works comes across a phishing scam that she falls for. She happens to be by herself when this all happens, which creates one of the most frustrating set-ups of a story that I have ever seen. When all of her money is taken out of her bank accounts, she literally leads to suicide, which I found to be incredibly illogical, especially when you take into consideration what Clay comes from, and even worse, when you find out that this lady’s daughter works in the FBI. If she knew what Clay came from, why not ask him for help? If her daughter is in the FBI, why not ask her for help? I honestly thought that maybe someone may have came in to kill this lady to destroy the evidence, but nope. This lady even has water boiling right before she commits suicide. It’s just all very illogical for a set up. Instead of building up on its characters, the film instead finds a way to mindlessly murder people and focus more on side characters that we don’t care about.

As much as I liked the action, I did find the film to be unnecessarily violent at times. There were just too many moments where I found myself squirming due to what was happening. It felt more like a way to entertain the audience instead of just creating authentic action set pieces. There was just no point to have Statham beat up a few bad guys who didn’t do anything. I get that they were doing something bad, but sometimes, the action can really come out of nowhere and not makes it serviceable.

Then, there is the side characters. I am not exaggerating when I say that half of the film focuses on its side characters. Whenever it’s not Statham in a big action set piece, the film focuses so much on the lady’s FBI agent daughter, Verona Parker, played by Emmy Raver-Lampman and her partner. When it’s focused on Parker, I never got the impression that she was a real person. Believe it or not, the film takes place over three days and this agent never truly grieves over her mother and actually ends up working for the bad guy in the end. She knows that Clay is doing the right thing, but she is still convinced that she needs to bring the same person down who is actually avenging her mother. It’s baffling. Who acts like this? Then, there is her partner. Instead of creating a vital story of his own with the family they establish, he instead mumbles his way from start to finish with no purpose in hindsight.

I can fathom how much is dedicated to things that don’t involve Statham and how unnecessary it all is. There’s a scene were Statham goes to an underground bunker to gather information. The next thing you know, this FBI duo also has the same information immediately and easily. When you factor in how there has only been two days during this time, it’s hard to believe. We get one scene of the the FBI flying in from a different state to join a two-minute meeting (this couldn’t have just been a Zoom call like the other scene has?), and there is simply too many characters that matter. There is no point of Jeremy Irons or Minnie Driver. As much as I like their talents, there is too much going on. It’s like a John Wick knock off, but let’s have it focus more on an agency chasing this person down.

I also want to discuss the lame twist that made zero sense. We find out that Josh Hutcherson plays the big bad who funds companies to scam others. As it turns out, he funded his mom’s presidential campaign that got her into the oval office. Worst of all, she apparently had no idea where those funds came from. Really? One, I have a hard time buying that and two, who cares. I wouldn’t have much of a problem with the film if it focused more on Statham, but the film focuses so much on illogical stuff that do not matter.

Overall, The Beekeeper is a mixed bag of sorts. When Jason Statham is on screen, whether it’s with the action or drama, is where the film shines. When the film focuses on anything else is where the film loses the momentum is needs. If this is the beginning of a franchise, I wouldn’t be disappointed. You could do a lot worse, especially with what Statham has been attached to in the past. If there is more to come out of this film, then I can only hope that they can learn from the film’s downfalls to make something extraordinary going forward. After all, Statham deserves a worthy franchise to be the main star in.

VERDICT: Okay

So, this is probably how people felt when Martin Scorsese’s film The Last Temptation of Christ came out.

I knew little of the film before I went to see the early screening of The Book of Clarence during AMC’s latest Screen Unseen showing. There were always the trailers that conveyed a biblical theme to it, which in hindsight, was probably not the best way to market the film. Filmgoers either dipped out as soon as the film started and they realized what the film was or during various points of the film. I might be in the minority when I say this, but I love controversial films. The film medium is meant to evoke conversation. I can understand if that may not be for everyone. What you can get with this bold vision is a retelling of history based on present day events.

Written & directed by Jeymes Samuel, the film follows Clarence, played by LaKeith Stanfield, in A.D. 33 as he tries to pull himself from his bad luck as the next Messiah. The trailers convey a more conventional film about someone finding their faith. What you really get with the film is something of a complex character who surrounds himself with people & events that are similar today with a mix of a retelling of Jesus Christ. When you market the film as that, that’s surely not going to settle with everyone. Growing up as a Catholic, I think my review on this would have been surely different. Now that my faith is a bit different, I am older, and I have seen things from so many different perspectives, I can understand this so much better and appreciate it more. As themes can often be blurry throughout the film, I would encourage viewers to stick around for the end as it finds a way to evoke its message best.

Underrated in his own right, I am so glad to see actor LaKeith Stanfield take on such a role as this, or should I say “roles” as he also plays Clarence’s twin brother & apostle, Thomas. It’s very clear there is a clear distinction between the two: Clarence & Thomas are the antithesis of one another. Clarence relies on doing shady stuff due to his bad luck, while Thomas has it somewhat easy as one of the apostles and doesn’t have to deal with as much stuff as his brother. There’s also the fact that Clarence does have a good heart as he stuck around to take care of his mother versus Thomas who left to pursue his religion. This leads the viewers to follow a very flawed character who not everyone will be on board with; however, Clarence’s journey from down on his luck to a Messiah fraud and finally finding redemption is something that can relate to many viewers, even those outside of that particular faith, who can relate to. At the end of the day, the film is going to challenge viewers, but reward them in the end with an important message.

How the film is presented is a modern retelling of the past. As it is split into three acts, the three acts have their own energy to it. The first act really shows Clarence as someone who is flawed, yet he is trying to do better by become an apostle, an attempt that leads him to be shut out and forced into faking his way by claiming he is next Messiah. The first two acts really pack a punch between the action & humor. There’s some really unique stuff that I was surprised to see with the material and just how it was told visually. The third act leads to Clarence having to deal with the consequences of his actions, which really shows a true retelling of the past. Once again, without spoilers, I was surprised to what I saw. For a PG-13 rating, I was surprised as to what they accomplish, but glad that they did to reach more viewers with the film. By the end, what ends up happening to Clarence shows that everyone is deserving a second chance and can play an important part in a story through their own hardships.

The last thing I want to bring up before I summarize my thoughts is the fact that it looks & feels very modern instead of playing it safe. The film finds a way to integrate its cinematography & production design that looks seamless. Even when Clarence & Thomas in scenes together, you’d never know that LaKeith Stanfield was a twin. There’s also how the music is placed. It’s certainly not of its time, but placing it there allows viewers to connect with it even more. The actors also play an integral part that doesn’t overplay their screentime that gives LaKeith Stanfield the spotlight he deserves.

Overall, The Book of Clarence is a controversial film that is sure to ruffle some feathers, but if you can look past it, there is some important themes and a bold vision that feels so rare these days. LaKeith Stanfield is at his best in the film and shows why he’s one of the best actors working today. I truly cannot wait to see what director Jeymes Samuel does next.

VERDICT: Great