Tag: Film Review

“The Unholy Trinity” Review: An Entertaining & Surprising New Western

June 12th, 2025

The Unholy Trinity is a new film set to release wide this weekend. It initially had its world premiere on October 12, 2024 at the Zurich Film Festival. Directed by Richard Gray & written by Lee Zachariah, the film stars Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, Brandon Lessard, Veronica Ferres, and David Arquette. Set against the turbulent backdrop of 1870s Montana, Isaac Broadway, gives his estranged son, Henry, an impossible task: Murder the man who framed him for a crime he didn’t commit. Intent on fulfilling his promise, Henry travels to the remote town of Trinity, where an unexpected turn of events traps him in town and leaves him caught between Gabriel Dove, the town’s upstanding new sheriff, and a mysterious figure named St Christopher.

Ever since I got a screener for the film Cleaner earlier this year starring Daisy Ridley, I will watch just about anything else that comes from the same individual that provides certain screeners. When I first saw the poster for this, it screamed “straight-to-DVD” energy. I didn’t even watch the trailer, but I still requested a screener for the film. I watched it earlier this week, and to my surprise, it’s not that bad!

Considering this film is getting a theatrical release this weekend, there are signs of promise that the film might do well. I would probably credit that to its star power between Pierce Brosnan & Samuel L. Jackson. Will that be enough though with the competition it faces between Materialists, How to Train Your Dragon, and Life of Chuck? I am not sure. To my surprise, there already appears to be people showing up according to the seat chart at my local AMC. I am not sure if this is the movie you need to say over the rest this weekend. If your time only lets you get to see this or if you have nothing else to watch, this is a good time.

Much like other straight-to-DVD movies, the marketing can be misleading as the real main character is someone completely random and the star power play more as supporting characters. Even though Brosnan & Jackson are supporting characters, I was surprised by how much time they are both given, especially when you factor in the 90-minute runtime. Brosnan’s performance feels restrained, showing the toll & baggage his character carries. Jackson is having a grand old time as the unhinged & unpredictable villain.

As much as I liked these performances, there is still more to be desired. For one, I don’t personally understand why Brosnan doesn’t take big roles anymore. He is incredibly talented. His career post-James Bond has always puzzled me. Jackson is a little bit more understandable since he does a little bit of it all between the bigger & smaller movies. Jackson most recently made a statement about how he’s not looking to get an Oscar, but playing roles for movies that he would like to go see. I am not sure if that statement applies to his lesser films in the past, but I got that sense here. He’s having a great time.

I think the biggest question coming out of this is whether or not the real main character played by Brandon Lessard can carry the film. Honestly, I am surprised I am not familiar with the name. He’s really good here! I feel like he should be doing more things. Sometimes, you have to grind it out before you make it big. I can see him getting there at some point.

Westerns have become a genre that I am not too sure where else it can go. I don’t think it will go anywhere. Director Richard Gray makes a strong case for the film, but you can also sense where he is relying more on the talent to do whatever they want. For example, I think Jackson’s performance could have been a little bit more restrained. Nonetheless, the guy has a vision that shows through his creative team. The haunting score works for the tone. The cinematography is sharp & dynamic. The film looks & sounds better than I could have ever imagined.

With the story, this is your basic revenge story. It requires a lot of other characters in a short runtime of a film who don’t quite get as much time to shine compared to others. I do think there is a longer, more epic film here that could have been more than just your typical revenge film. As someone who isn’t quite into the western genre, I found myself pleasantly surprised mostly due to the characters choices that occur throughout.

Overall, The Unholy Trinity is a pleasant surprise. It’s not a game changer nor is it one that you need to see in theaters over the others. If you do get the chance to watch, you do much worse. There is a lot of promise for the creative team here with whatever they decide do next.

VERDICT: 3/5 (Good)
“Materialists” Review: Celine Song Delivers an Outstanding Sophomore Film

June 9th, 2025

Materialists is a new film coming to theaters this upcoming Friday. Written & directed by Celine Song, the film stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.

To be quite honest, I wasn’t too excited for this film. Even going in, a friend asked if I was excited and I felt very lukewarm about it. Releasing only two years after her tremendous debut, Past Lives, I felt like I was the only person in the world that wasn’t just not excited for this film, but felt like this was just a retread of her first film where the lead actress has to decide between two men, only this time this was the happier version. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Where Scorsese focuses on gritty gangsters, Song finds her true calling by making romantic films that are made for the modern generation for everyone. I don’t mind romantic comedies, but I feel like this is going to be a true game changer.

The opening scene made me question if I was in the right movie. The only reason why I didn’t attempt to walk out was the fact that it had Celine Song’s name show up before the scene that we get. It’s not a particularly jarring scene, but it is something I don’t think anyone could ever guess. At first, I questioned the purpose of this scene. As the film progressed, I don’t think the film could have opened to a better scene as this sets the stage for the film’s themes.

Dakota Johnson has been an interesting actress with the roles that she plays. She hasn’t aways been in hits nor as she been a standout, in my opinion, but under the right direction, she truly shines. She is a powerhouse in this film, converting anyone who doesn’t like her into viewers who may appreciate more of what she has to offer. The energy & emotions she brings to this character allows her to say so much with so little.

Speaking of saying so much with so little, I can’t even begin to explain how good the writing is here. Aside from some of the clunky dialogue in the film’s set up, Song is able to bring so much of the story out of these characters. We learn who these characters are through natural bits of conversation that speaks on who these people are today, where they come from, and what their ultimate goals are today. There are even reveals that are shown naturally without the film having to stop and give an exposition dump.

To pull this off, Song is able to craft these unique scenes together that pull you straight into the scene. I often found myself forgetting about everything else as I felt like I was there in the scene with these characters. The film is able to accomplish this with the way it moves the camera in on a dolly. We get so many incredibly long takes with authentic production & costume design, inviting you further into this story. Song assembled a team here that not only understands her vision, but fully believes in it.

With Chris Evans being labeled above Pedro Pascal on the casting, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pascal has a little bit more of a runtime just by a margin. They both serve their purpose to the story. Personally, I think I was just surprised by the fact that Pascal was able to commit so much time to the film when he has a busy schedule as it is. Pascal continues to show why he’s in such high demand with his electrifying chemistry with Johnson. Chris Evans may have just broken his bad movies curse. The performance that Song pulls out of him requires vulnerability unlike anything else I have ever seen from the actor.

As mentioned before, my only complaint has to do with the way people speak in the beginning. It leans into the rom-com tropes with some of the exposition. Once you get past that, you see what the film is really about. It’s a clever way for Song to reach out to a broader audience, especially with some of the darker themes that are present later on. The film goes to some seriously dark places that surprised me, and I don’t think Song could have pulled that off without its lighthearted introduction.

Overall, Celine Song delivers an amazing outing through Materialists that she can add to her impressive resume of work. The rom-com nature eases you into what the film is really about, making you really feel what this film wants to tell thematically. The performances from the main trio are incredible all across the board. What Song is doing so far in her career is remarkable. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)
“Echo Valley” Review: Julianne Moore Leads an Effective Thriller

June 8th, 2025

Echo Valley is a film that received a limited release this weekend, but will be available for streaming on Apple TV+ this upcoming Friday. Directed by Michael Pearce & written by Brad Ingelsby, the film stars Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, Domhnall Gleeson, Kyle MacLachlan, and Fiona Shaw. A tragedy-stricken woman lives a secluded life taking care of horses on her farm – until one night when her wayward daughter shows up covered in someone else’s blood.

Julianna Moore is back again with another new thriller that will be releasing on Apple TV+. Her last film that released on the streamer, Sharper, premiered two years ago. If we are lucky enough, we may soon get a Julianne Moore trilogy about deceit and involving wild twists, because there is some similarity between this and Sharper. While I did not see the limited theatrical release due to where I am located, Apple TV+ was kind enough to give me early access to the film before it makes its streaming debut.

The film has a similar tone to something that reminds me of what I used to rent back in the 1990’s/2000’s. The concept and the way it moves feels like one of those movies they don’t make anymore, and simply something that only a streaming service like Apple TV+ or Netflix would take on. Between the twists and the performances, this is really not something they make much of anymore, and I am so glad they do.

Julianne Moore is electrifying in the lead role, but that should come as no surprise. She makes everything she touches even better. It seems like she has been done more things for streaming than ever before. As much as I prefer the theatrical experience, I feel like we should be lucky we get to see more of her. Her character in this film comes with a lot of baggage and unique characterization that shows how flawed she is, but also just how far she will go for her daughter. It’s a performance that feels memorable and yet something unlike Moore has ever done before.

The film does a great job at developing its story and how Moore’s character fits into all of it. It feels like it takes its time to develop her & Sweeney’s character’s relationship as mother & daughter, even if I would have liked to have seen more done with Sweeney and how she got to the way she is. The first half does have the formulaic structure where it feels like something you’ve seen plenty of times before. Instead, it does that to reel you in to deliver something completely unpredictable in its first half.

The second half completely threw me off. Never in a million years would I have guessed it go in the direction that it does. Even though it can be quite unbelievable at times, I still admire how the film tries to differentiate itself from anything else. The twists can sometimes be a stretch and characters could easily resolve certain situations sooner, but it’s still quite entertaining for what it is. With a reasonable runtime of about 100-minutes, there’s not much more that you could ask for aside from a conclusion that could have resolved one particular plot point.

Domhnall Gleeson’s career seems to be taking an interesting direction as of late between this and Fountain of Youth, both Apple TV+ movies, ironically. This is the better movie, but you can see where the actor is trying to do something new that helps push his talents into unknown territory. Unfortunately, I don’t think his direction nor his characterization quite work. His character lacks the proper motivation for the things that he does. As intimidating as Gleeson makes this character, the writing for this character often leads to him making some ridiculous decisions that don’t always work.

With such an impressive cast attached, I don’t think the film entirely utilizes them all to its fullest potential. Sweeney’s name will be an easy draw for some viewers. Based on what we have seen from her talents in the past, it feels like the film truly undermines what she can do here outside of one very intense scene with Moore’s character. Then, there’s Kyle MacLachlan who is only there as a comfort screen presence who is quickly ignored. There was more potential involving his character.

Overall, Echo Valley is an entertaining thrill ride anchored by an incredible performance from Julianne Moore. The film boasts many talented names as much as it pulls of its twists and turns. It can be quite ridiculous at times and it certainly won’t be a game changer. Name recognition might convince those to sign up for the streamer if they haven’t already. If you do have it, it’s a good one-time watch.

VERDICT: 3/5 (Good)
“Predator: Killer of Killers” Review: The Franchise is Finding Its Groove

June 7th, 2025

Predator: Killer of Killers is the newest entry in the franchise that premiered on Hulu this weekend. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the film stars Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa, Rick Gonzalez, and Michael Biehn. The film follows a Viking raider, a ninja in feudal Japan, and a World War II pilot encounter a fierce intergalactic hunter.

When it was first announced that we were getting two Predator movies in one year, I was surprised and concerned as it could have spelled the doom for a franchise that seemed to be on its way up after Prey. After I learned that it would be animated, it seemed like it could work. At the same time, it is wild that director Dan Trachtenberg made both films. That’s almost unheard of, but it does show the trust Disney has put into the filmmaker to make this work. Trachtenberg may be the saving grace for this franchise, because the film delivers.

After Disney bought 20th Century Fox, I think everyone was sure they would continue to expand on properties from the studio. They have been doing that with both the Alien and Predator franchises, and that may be a strategic thing to do when viewers aren’t feeling the same way they used to with the Marvel and Star Wars properties. Bringing director Dan Trachtenberg back for more with this franchise was a brilliant decision from Disney as Trachtenberg appears to be the only one, in a long time, to understand how to make this franchise work. With only one other film under his belt, the filmmaker is transitioning into the franchise, becoming the Kevin Feige of Predator. You’d think doing it once in this franchise might be a fluke. As he moves into animation, he proves his work is no fluke.

Animation tends to get a bad track record, making others believe it can’t be as good as it could if it was live-action. With this being the first animated film in the franchise, the film delivers on all fronts as it allows to be more creative as it spans over specific time periods and how these characters have interaction with the creature. Prey released back in 2022 on Hulu, making others including myself wish it got a theatrical release instead. Since Predator: Badlands releases in theaters later this year, I think releasing this on Hulu is the right move. It gives Badlands more marketing as this gives viewers more to be excited about, as well as gaining new viewers more to go of off unfamiliar with the property. This may be the best case scenario with studios being able to utilize their streaming services to market their theatrical movies.

With its three-act structure, each story has an identity of its own, but makes it quite clear how they each fit into this overall story thematically. By placing other warriors against the titular character, we continue to see how the predator has interacted with others throughout time. It manages to utilize its concept with giving us something new to care about throughout. Each story doesn’t run too long since the overall film runs at about 84 minutes. The three stories work itself up to a grand finale that I won’t give much away with. I honestly thought we were only going to get an anthology of stories, but it turns out they all amount to something big in the end that can set up even more stories for years to come that this franchise can go off of.

My personal favorite story in the film is the second one involving a ninja in Japan. I love the overall concept with each one taking a warrior within a specific time and pitting them against the predator. Not only does the animation start to click for me in the second story, I love how this story barely has any dialogue. That gives the viewers the opportunity to connect with the film visually, which is what works best for the film, especially when it leans into the action.

With only an 84-minute runtime, the film could have done more to beef up the runtime. This could have given the film a great opportunity to offer a prologue that invites viewers into the film’s unique concept, as well as introduce new viewers unfamiliar with the franchise. Again, it doesn’t feel like a necessity as every minute here matters, making the overall film feel longer than it actually is.

Fans of the franchise will certainly cater towards this film more than those unfamiliar with the franchise. The animation style, for me at least, took some time to get used to as it purposely looks like its lagging. It may take some time to get used to, but it eventually offers something more creative and unique than the franchise has ever done before. I just hope we continue to get more films like this. I’d love to see it.

Overall, Predator: Killer of Killers offers more great quality to the franchise spearheaded by Dan Trachtenberg. The animation style takes some time to get used to and the short runtime may leave more to be desired. There is no denying though how entertaining and unique it is throughout. I can’t believe I would ever say this, but I can’t wait to see what’s to come out of this franchise. I am hyped for Predator: Badlands.

VERDICT: 4/5 (Great)
“From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” Review: When It Works, It’s All Because of Ana de Armas

June 6th, 2025

Ballerina or From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, is a new film set in the John Wick franchise releasing in theaters this weekend. Directed by Len Wiseman & written by Shay Hatten, the film stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves. Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro, who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.

As a fan of the franchise and of Ana de Armas, I was excited. The production issues this film faced did worry me. With mostly positive reviews, I went into this feeling hopeful. I was even bumping John Wick music on the way to the movie theater. I’m afraid I should have lowered my expectations even further, because I left disappointed.

It sucks when a film isn’t quite for you that everyone else is raving about. To be fair, I didn’t like John Wick: Chapter 2 on the first watch and I thought John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum was good at best, but nothing extraordinary. On my latest rewatches of those two, my feelings changed for the better. I’m honestly not sure if I will feel the same way with this one. Even though I had a terrible viewing experience involving the guy next to me on his phone and the ceiling above me leaking water, I was still quite disappointed with the end result. I wasn’t expecting anything perfect, but I also wasn’t expecting…this.

The glowing positive aspect this film has going for it is Ana de Armas. She is exceptional in the lead role. She keeps the film alive with her charisma and energy. It’s no wonder she stole the spotlight in No Time to Die with the minimal runtime she had. Unfortunately, I don’t think this is the action franchise starter she deserves. Much like how Keanu Reeves got to start his own franchise with these movies, it would be nice for Armas to be in something original that isn’t also trying to please the fans at the same time. There is a lot of conflict with the film wanting to be its own thing versus trying to connect with this universe.

The one thing I kept hearing from early reviews is that you go to these movies for the action and not the story. Okay, that’s true to an extent. The first film does a great job at introducing this universe that is able to expand as the franchise goes on. The problem here is that it is having to connect the dots in a timeline that doesn’t quite make much sense to me.

As we follow Eve (Armas) and learn her backstory, it is very generic. There is a solid action set piece that sets the stage for the amazing action choreography the film will have, but the script feels like it was regenerated and rushed. The opening scene makes Eve obsess over a ballerina glove that she goes on to obsess over for the next 12 years. It would be like if Wick obsessed over matches. The film could have explored the life she wanted through this device, but it instead comes off so unnatural and forced that makes it feel more cliche more than anything else. Don’t even get me started on the dialogue. Some of the roughest dialogue I have heard in an action film in quite some time. There is even a random twist in the middle involving Armas’ backstory that makes no sense at all and that part is even rushed.

The structure becomes more convoluted as it tries to fit between chapters 3 & 4. Honestly, I don’t understand why this couldn’t have been a prequel to the first movie where Wick could have trained Eve in the beginning. At least that would have been more interesting. Instead, what they do is shoehorn a plot involving Wick that doesn’t make much sense to the story or his character. It makes a little bit of sense, but with the arc he’s on during this time, I have a tough time buying he was content with this little side quest. The structure can also be quite rushed. I wouldn’t recommend going to the bathroom at any point as you may be confused how the film got to its given point.

We are reintroduced to characters that make it feel welcoming to return to this world. It’s nice to see Reeves return, especially with what we see from him later on. With a smaller screentime, it’s even better, and bittersweet, to see Lance Reddick one last time. Anjelica Huston & Ian McShane look like they are sleepwalking in roles that show too much comfort and not enough conviction.

Along with Ana de Armas, there are two other additional new faces added – Gabriel Byrne & Norman Reedus. I was really looking forward to their characters as I enjoy both actors’ talents. Byrne is effective in his TV show role, In Treatment. His dialogue and mannerisms in that show could have easily made him a cunning and intimidating villain here. Nope. I get the impression he didn’t want to be there, making him perhaps the weakest villain in this franchise so far. Reedus does a great job at hyping things up such as his role in the film. Take him out of the film and you lose absolutely nothing. His talents and his screen presence felt completely mismanaged as his role feels like it was added because he’s a likable actor, but he couldn’t stay around for too long due to his obligations towards The Walking Dead. Such wasted potential between these two actors.

Then, there is the action. That’s why people coming to these movies, right? It’s easy to get swept into the action. If that’s all you are looking for, then I can see anyone having a good time. There were plenty of action set pieces throughout that made me audibly gasp. The shock factor is there and it is still very satisfying. There are several moments that continue to push the boundaries of violence that this franchise is known for with iconic set pieces between a flamethrower fight scene and a grenade fight scene.

While these set pieces are still done well due to the choreography, I get the impression that the camera could care less. There are moments where the camera feels like an additional character, much like it did with the other films. I can’t even begin to tell you the amount of time the camera just felt stationary and uninspired. What we are seeing on screen can be exciting, but I couldn’t always get into it due to where the camera is placed.

I’ve heard plenty of rumors about the production this film went through. I am not here to stay any of it is true. If it is, I can believe it. While director Len Wiseman has directed and been involved with TV projects, he hasn’t actually directed a film since 2012’s Total Recall. That’s 13 years, which is insane. It does feel like he is sometimes out of his depth in the drama. There are some action set pieces that are better than others that I think show were the reshoots came in to make them better. If this franchise wants to do well going forward though, it needs better direction to make the action feel like an actual John Wick movie, as well as make the story around it more emotionally compelling. The story here isn’t great, but it could have been even better if the right performances came out from some of the talent.

Overall, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is a mixed bag. It’s far from horrible, but it’s also far from perfect. It’s right there in the middle for me. The ambition is there with some unique action set pieces and an incredible performance from Armas. The film just needed a better focus on its story while have a cohesive direction that helped make the action & drama flow better.

VERDICT: 2.5/5 (Okay)

I do also want to point how bad my theater experience was. Theater experiences don’t typically impact me as bad as this one did. It was a packed theater. The guy sitting next to me had his phone facing upwards so main screen would light up anytime he got a notification. It’s behavior like that that makes people not want to go to theaters anymore. I have just learned it’s best to not say anything. I’ve overheard people get into fights over it. At this point, you should know better.

The ceiling above me was also leaking water. I’ve gone to that theaters for years and never had that issue. It looks like the ceiling above me was broken and water from the AC kept leaking. Luckily, it wasn’t much and I had a jacket to block it, but it was still annoying dealing with random drips of water as I was just trying to enjoy a movie.
“Dangerous Animals” Review: A Wild Ride That Delivers a Career Best from Jai Courtney

June 4th, 2025

Dangerous Animals is a new film premiering wide this upcoming weekend, but initially premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival last month. Directed by Sean Byrne & written by Nick Lepard, the film stars Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Rob Carlton, Ella Newton, Liam Greinke, and Jai Courtney. When Zephyr, a rebellious surfer, is abducted by a shark-obsessed serial killer and held captive on his boat, she must figure out how to escape before he carries out a ritualistic feeding to the sharks below.

When the first trailer of Dangerous Animals dropped, it felt like it grabbed everyone’s attention due to its unique concept. When a screening of the film was presented to me, I had to take it after hearing that it was premiering at Cannes. It seemed like fun, and that’s certainly what this film delivers. I didn’t get the chance to see this in theaters, but I can only imagine how fun this would be to experience in theaters.

Explaining this film as wild is an understatement and might not sell it enough. With a decently high Rotten Tomatoes score, it feels like everyone is embracing it exactly for what it is: fun. Jai Courtney is an actor we’ve been familiar with for the past decade or so, but I don’t think we’ve seen him deliver a standout & memorable performance yet until now. Director Sean Byrne gets this zany performance out of him that helps embrace the film’s wild tone.

There are aspects of the writing that feel familiar. We’ve seen it done plenty of times before, but writer Nick Lepard manages to subvert our expectations. The plot holes are apparent, but Sean Byrne’s direction helps keep the pace going. Sharks come and go to help suit the plot best. While these plot holes feel quite large at times, Hassie Harrison manages to also help keep the film alive through her performance.

Newcomers unfamiliar with Hassie Harrison like myself will see her more going forward. She presents so much through her characterization that makes it easy to sympathize and root for her. You can feel the weight on her. With no one else besides a guy she just met, she has no reason to really keep going. It’s a great way to put her in a position where she wants to keep living, even if I would have liked to have seen that explored more.

Speaking of the guy she just met in the film, I think this is perhaps one of the film’s weakest components. Josh Heuston plays as the love interest. He displays a lot of emotion that makes him an easy character to relate with. The problem with it comes down to believability. I would have liked to have seen more of their relationship beforehand to believe it more. Sure, he’s a good guy for trying to find her, but the risks he takes are not warranted. This plot line can be a little cliche and tiresome. It’s a strong performance. I just wish it was written better, especially with the way he was introduced. His introduction rubbed me the wrong way versus the way the film presents him throughout the rest of the movie.

One of the film’s other weaker components is the CGI. I think the film does a great job out in the water. You really feel that isolation. The CGI with the sharks could have been more realistic. It’s clear they are animated, which makes it feel less threatening. Then again, the real threat is on the boat, not in the water. When the film embraces its fun tone with these sharks, that’s when the CGI isn’t as noticeable.

There is a strong aspect of the film within the characterization of Jai Courtney’s character. The film briefly explains why he is the way he is, but it’s enough to lock in on his character. The film does a great job of explaining things, but not going overboard with heavy exposition. There is a terrific scene where the film shows what Courtney’s character does that says it all without saying anything at all.

Overall, I had a great time with Dangerous Animals. It can be quite unbelievable at times, but the performances, particularly from Courtney, embrace the film for the fun it is. I feel like this is going to play great in theaters. See it on the biggest screen with the biggest audience.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)
“Tornado” Review: A Western Slow Burn with a Scene Stealing Lead Performance

June 3rd, 2025

Tornado is a new British period action drama that initially premiered in February at the Glasgow Film Festival, but premiered in theaters this past weekend. Written & directed by John Maclean, the film stars Kōki, Jock Lowden, Takehiro Hira, and Tim Roth. When her father’s puppet samurai shows gets ambushed by a notorious gang, Tornado vows to seek vengeance and force her own destiny by stealing their ill-gotten gold.

This film didn’t get onto my radar until I saw only one screening per day at my local theater. It’s always strange when that happens. It feels like the studio has an obligation to put it in theaters, but shows no promise of it doing well. Even with its weaker films, I still enjoy IFC films. They push out about as original content as A24, only it feels more indie and smaller budget. Between Jack Lowden & Tim Roth, and the positive reviews, I had to check it out for myself when the opportunity rose. As of right now, it’s a bit of a mixed bag for me.

There is a strong movie here. I can see the vision. It just feels like the film is held back from so much due to what I am sure is a small budget. Typically when you have a small budget, it gives the filmmakers the opportunity to be more creative. Here, it feels like a borderline student project. The performances are great, but there is little to no characterization. The score is amongst one of the best of the year, but the stationary camera shots and cuts away from the violence holds it back from being even more threatening. The film has a promising & thrilling start, but the structure doesn’t justify why it’s needed.

The film’s strongest component is Kōki as the titular character Tornado. Films like this are the reason why I will always try to watch anything and everything. I truly believe Kōki’s career as an actress is going to skyrocket after this all thanks to what she puts into her character. In a film where there isn’t enough characterization, Kōki brings the character to life through her emotions and actions, making the most of what she can.

Seeing Tim Roth & Jack Lowden in a film together felt exciting, but the end result left me underwhelmed. They are both actors who are underrated in their craft. I personally don’t understand why Roth continues to be in small films like this. With the assumed small budget that I am thinking for this, I can’t even think he, nor Lowden, got paid much. It’s unfortunate too, because the film doesn’t do much with their characters. Roth is the leader of a gang, but never once comes across as menacing. Lowden proves to be a force against him, but you never quite see the purpose of this character. Take him out, you get a film much shorter than 90 minutes, so I guess it’s necessary to only add him to beef up the runtime.

Speaking of the runtime, I am glad it only runs at 90 minutes. I was already feeling tired when I started it and decided to stick it out due to how short it is. It is an easy watch that doesn’t overstay it’s welcome; however, it’s a film that deserves better. As the film throws you right into the situation, it’s easy to tune right in to see what’s going on. It only lasts so long as you start to lose interest as to what’s happening. It feels like they chose to do this to make it exciting. I’d argue that it wasn’t the right choice. When it cuts back to what happened, it doesn’t justify why this wasn’t needed. If something was more threatening in the beginning, then sure, I could see it, but that’s simply not the case here.

This year has been a strong year so far for film scores. You can easily add to the list. It is big & grand, and helps enhance the threatening nature of this world. The camera work feels very unsure of itself though. I often found myself struggling to understand the location at times. There are also some awkward close ups of faces. I would have liked to have seen the camera track these characters more versus just placing it in on stationary location. I think that could have also helped enhance the pacing. For an action film, I was also let down by how much the film cuts away from the action. It’s clear they were on a tight budget. I get it. You have to work with what you’ve got. That’s just how it goes sometimes.

The last thing I want to touch on here are the themes. For a revenge film, it’s pretty typical. Bad guys get what they deserve when someone is on a quest for vengeance. Where this one differs just a little bit is how Kōki’s performance conveys how someone so young shouldn’t do that. Everything that happens to her feels like it was all done for a reason to turn her into who she is. She just had her childhood taken from her. The overall resolution with the gang was underwhelming, but I did like how her story concludes, leading into more possible stories from the character.

Overall, Tornado works best with its lead performance from Kōki, the score, and some action scene. The small scope holds the film back from being something greater. It will do well with pushing Kōki’s career forward, but it’s probably something I won’t remember for too long.

VERDICT: 2.5/5 (Okay)
“Wick is Pain” Review: A Worthy Expansion on the Franchise

June 1st, 2025

Wick is Pain is a new documentary about the true story behind the John Wick franchise, starring Keanu Reeves. Join Reeves, director Chad Stahelski, and the extended Wick cast and crew as they go behind the scenes of this billion-dollar franchise that almost never happened. The film also stars Basil Iwanyk, Tiger Chen, and Derek Kolstad.

When I initially heard about this being released, I didn’t expect it to be turned into a documentary I would be hearing about everywhere. Between Ballerina, a fifth John Wick in the works, and a Caine spinoff in the works, it makes sense why Lionsgate chose to release this as something big as this is perhaps one of their biggest properties at the moment. With the fourth movie being released two years ago now, I can’t say I was ready to go down memory lane nor did I feel like this is something that I needed to see, although with all the hype, I knew I would see it eventually. When a screening opportunity came my way with a small screening window, it felt like a great opportunity to finally check it out, and it did not disappoint.

I feel like this is something that that I may have said before. When it comes to documentaries, they are perhaps one of the toughest genres to critique. I typically don’t always see them being reviewed. Some may think documentaries are valid as long as the information is there; however, I’d argue that they need to prove its existence through giving us something to tell with something visually appealing. That’s exactly what this documentary does. Fans of the franchise like myself will find something to enjoy here as Lionsgate works on more entries to deliver to the fans. With four solid entries with perhaps a perfect conclusion with the fourth entry, there is a lot to enjoy with this documentary.

Many know about the financial and creative struggles this film endured in the beginning. I was personally surprised to see how a camera crew was able to capture these moments in real time. Under a different title and a little bit of a different plot, the film eventually found its leading man in Keanu Reeves. At the time, the actor just got done shooting movies that were not well received, resulting in a small amount of directors to pull from. Getting Chad Stahelski & David Leitch as directors pulled off a miracle for the film.

Having these two first-time directors pull off what I believe to be a perfect movie changed the game for action movies for the last decade. Even though Leitch went on to direct other projects afterward, Stahelski stayed behind, showing that he was more than fit to direct the incredible action set pieces this franchise is known for. Between the financial struggles the film faced in the beginning and dealing with a personal matter, I was blown away to learn what he did while filming the first movie. I would have liked to have seen the film lean more into his story more, but I will take it for what it is.

When Stahelski is first introduced, I was also not expecting the film to cover his beginnings as a stuntman and how he helped finish 1994’s The Crow. I have seen that film countless times. This film actually shows the scenes he helped stand in for and I don’t think I would have ever noticed. His work on other film also added an intriguing layer that I think made him a perfect fit for director. Even though Keanu Reeves endured a lot physically during production on these films in his 50’s, his trust for Stahelski shines through.

As the film captures the franchise’s humble beginning, it still manages to add a lot of information over its 2-hour runtime. It was nice going back through memory lane as I remember where I was every single time I saw a new John Wick movie. It was also interesting to hear the actor & director talk about how they wanted to end this franchise, showing how much love they have for the character and this world. It just makes me curious as to how the fifth film is going to get made now considering what we hear from the two.

The documentary also serves as a great tribute to the stunt work. Reeves is humble enough to know the stuntmen are playing the character as much as he is. There are scenes that provide more context as to what these stuntmen do, with one scene standing out the most due to how intense it was when I first saw it. It’s a true love letter to stuntmen in general as it is a love letter to this franchise.

Overall, Wick is Pain is a great addition to this franchise that adds more context, giving something to the fans as we await for the future of this franchise. With a 2-hour runtime, the film never wastes it time, providing as much intensity as the four entries itself. If you have the opportunity to check this out, I highly encourage you to do so.

VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)
“Karate Kid: Legends” Review: A Karate Kick in the Wrong Direction

May 31st, 2025

Karate Kid: Legends is the sixth film in the Karate Kid, serving as a continuation of 2010’s The Karate Kid and the Cobra Kai television series. From director Jonathan Entwistle & writer Rob Lieber, the film stars Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Wyatt Oleff, Aramis Knight, and Ralph Macchio. After moving to New York City with his mother, kung fu prodigy Li Fong struggles to let go of the past as he tries to fit in with new classmates. When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition with help from Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso.

Aside from 2010’s The Karate Kid, I had not seen anything related to the franchise until I started watching Cobra Kai this time last year. One of my favorite content creators started talking about it, so I decided to check it out for myself. After getting caught up, I then watched the movie. My approach may have been unusual, but I loved the start to the Netflix series as it tried to turn Johnny Lawrence into the hero. Now that the series is over, I was very excited to see this franchise expand into a bigger world. After seeing the new film, I feel like I should have tempered some of the high expectations I had.

To get the pros out of the way, Ben Wang was a perfect fit for the film. He is completely innocent here. His character comes with a lot of maturity that sets him apart from any other young character in the franchise. That can also come with some baggage as his journey into what he is now feels lost. He already has a lot of experience that honestly didn’t feel like he needed additional training. Bringing his mentor, Mr. Han, and Daniel LaRusso together feels cheap in the end, especially when you realize what the film is really about.

What this film is really about feels like a disservice to what could have been and what we were promised when this was first announced. Based on what happens in the film and what we learn, it would have been awesome to see this story take a different direction by showing Li Fong take his vengeance on those who killed someone close to him. Instead, we get a somewhat similar formula where he moves to a new place and likes a girl there, except this time, the film’s first half is dedicated to him fighting loan sharks and training Joshua Jackson’s character. I’m not kidding.

I initially did not know Joshua Jackson was going to be in this. I was a little annoyed at first, because I genuinely don’t like his acting. I rarely don’t like actors acting. At the end of the day, they are just trying to work to make money just like everyone else here. I have always found his talents to be not genuine at all, and the same is presented here. Getting to see Li Fong fight his way through these criminals offers some exciting action set pieces. When he starts training Joshua Jackson’s character, a former boxer, I just checked out.

This plot dedicated to Joshua Jackson takes up half of a film that is already short at 94 minutes. When Jackie Chan comes back as Mr. Han after being quickly introduced in the beginning, that’s when the film comes back to life and does exactly what it should have done in the first place. By bringing Mr. Han & Daniel LaRusso together, the film could have deepened the lore this franchise brings. Even though Li Fong is a seasoned fighter, he still needs help from Mr. Han, but Mr. Han feels like he still can’t do train him alone. He flies out to the other side of the country to try to recruit LaRusso in what could have just been a Skype meeting. Placing LaRusso into this story was not needed at all. His character flying out to New York to train makes zero sense. This plot is just illogical from start to finish.

As mentioned, this film is incredibly short at 94 minutes. That’s ridiculous and uncalled for. The last half of this movie flies through montage after montage when it could have slowed down to focus on these two legends of the story. There’s a reason the film doesn’t promote Joshua Jackson’s story. The film focuses more on that and less on Chan & Macchio. Their presence feels like fan service, but there’s too little of it to feel justified. The writing does way too much overthinking and not enough creativity that makes use of these legendary characters.

Lastly, this film has way too many unrealistic plot points that are meant to be more callbacks rather than creating something new. If you are not familiar with this franchise at all, I could see the newer generation enjoying it for what it is. The problem is that I believed it when all of these random people showed up to these tournaments, because you could understand the importance in this world. Here, people just show up on skyscrapers for these tournaments. Not only does it seem dangerous, but why do all of these people care. I just don’t buy it. The film wants to callback to the originals so bad when it could have been more grounded in today’s world. Make it feel like something more people can relate and connect with.

Overall, Karate Kid: Legends is okay for what it is and it could have been a lot worse, but it is a huge misfire and disappointment for a new fan like myself. This franchise works best when it’s attempting to go in a new direction. Instead, this one tries to do that and offers nothing new or exciting. Even though this could have been a lot better, I’ll still appreciate some of the better offerings that has spawned out of this franchise.

VERDICT: 2.5/5 (Okay)
“Bring Her Back” Review: The Philippou Brothers Deliver Another Twisted Tragedy

May 29th, 2025

Bring Her Back is a new film from brothers Danny and Michael Philippou and is distributing wide from A24 this weekend. The film stars Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Stephen Phillips, Mischa Heywood and Sally Hawkins. A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.

When Talk to Me released in theaters a couple of years ago, I initially didn’t buy into that hype. I felt like I was still trying to transition back into horror after a dark period with the pandemic. I eventually got around to seeing it. While I do think it was a bit overhyped, I did enjoy it for what it is. I wasn’t completely sold on Philippou quite yet, but I knew I’d still be curious to check it out. Hearing how messed up their follow up was, I figured I’d go see it with a friend who likes horror even more. Even if I found it grotesque, at least it would give us something to talk about, and that it did.

The Philippou brothers rightfully have earned their fanbase. I am just not a part of it. They have a lot of commendable aspects from the way it presents its themes to the way it shows the grotesque horror. There are scene here that truly shook me to my core, but I wouldn’t say it’s over-the-top. Like their debut, this one has a horror tone, but I never quite get scared except for a few effective jump scares. The brothers have a keen eye at presents this story without having to deliver an exposition dump. You naturally learn more through the cinematography & characterization, making this a story that you can easily get invested in, even if it can be redundant at times.

At the lead is actress Sally Hawkins giving one of the best performances of her career. Whenever I think about her past work, I always think about her being a sweet & likable presence. She uses that same energy through the humor to help give the impression she is better than what she is. As time goes on, she slowly begins to unravel. Her actions are truly insane, yet due to Hawkins’ performance, she fully commits to giving a performance of a flawed human being.

At the heart of this story, you can see where this doesn’t quite feel original as the brothers’ debut. The film wears its influences on its sleeve 2022’s Speak No Evil being the biggest comparison my friend and I pointed out. The film manages to have surprises that keeps the story engaging and shocking, but the structure still feels the same. Speaking of structure, I did find the structure to be quite messy as characters are magically able to teleport from location and location. The structure also creates a lot of plot holes that are abundantly clear and doesn’t work as much as it likes to think it does.

I personally thought the plot holes were just something I wasn’t catching. I wasn’t the only one as my friend felt the same way. There are a lot of great aspects, but it ends up leaving more questions than answers. The film does a great job at presenting the fallout of when we try to get something back that we never can. The problem is that there are many variables added to the story that unfortunately do not go anywhere. I’d even say the given plot holes never make me want to rewatch this even though I did like it.

The ending, while intense, leaves a lot to be desired. It makes it point clear, but it does make me wonder how much longer the Philippou brothers can keep making films like that tackle trauma. The ending makes the point that trauma is bad, but doesn’t say much about what these characters learn from it. The themes are clear. There’s just nothing to take away from it. Only one of the brothers is credited as a writer. They each share strong direction between what they want visually and what they want from the characters. They just need something more out of the writing.

While the film may have its flaws, I do have to point out how much I enjoy the supporting cast. I could strong identify with the brother, played by Billy Barratt. He makes a strong case as becoming a great up-and-coming actor. Sora Wong presents a lot of emotion with her performance and I enjoyed how many misdirects there were with the character. Lastly, Jonah Wren Phillips is unreal as the kid who already lives with the foster mother. The young actor shows real promise at being a physically commanding presence in future projects.

Overall, there is a lot to admire with Bring Her Back. Each character has their reasoning for their flawed personalities. Every actor is great with Sally Hawkins giving one of the best performances of her career. The Philippou brothers continue to showcase their talents and what they can bring to the horror genre, but I’d like to see them go into different themes other than trauma. I wouldn’t say it’s a movie you need to see; however, if you do, I think you will find something to enjoy, or at least memorable, here.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)