eric bellamy

What a trip! Pretty in pink, poppin' award-worthy production and costume design. With a catchy Ryan Gosling musical number that I'll be singing for weeks. There are some spot-on laugh-out-loud moments. Although it was a little uneven in deciding the direction of comedy they are aiming for. Greta Gerwig struggles a little in hitting some of the emotion needed for the dramatic beats, but the existential crisis is quite entertaining and the joy of all the actors involved quickly gets you along for the ride. There are plenty of great messages and social commentary that are delivered bluntly and surprisingly don't feel preachy. You even get some big crowd-pleasing cheering moments. I would have cut ten minutes, 5 from a slapstick chase scene and 5 from the final scene, which leads up to a good punchline to close out the film. I think it would have worked without it. Suitable for kids under 13 however the younger ones may not like that she isn't happy all the time like in the animated show. Overall, it works and you will get some laughs. Very pink and very fun.

Possibly the best Christopher Nolan script ever. The story is expertly crafted. The dialog flows in a natural, unpretentious manner, and yet every sentence is poetic while containing information and at times humour within its sentence structure. Although there is a large chunk of physics discussions, he manages to convert them to laymen's terms while making the words sound believable coming out of a scientist's mouth. Nolan's favorite time manipulation plot device is back again, and he has found a way to make it easier to follow through the use of cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema's creative choices. The film looks gorgeous, especially thanks to the use of practical effects and IMAX cameras. The score by Ludwig Göransson is, in one word, epic. When combined with the sound design, the sound mix is perfect. This is not his usual action film, It is 95% dialogue, and you can hear every word even during the full-throttle audio scenes. There are some very powerful nightmare sequences where the sound shakes you to the core. The cast is one of the most impressive assembled, with incredible performances all round. For myself, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt manage to stand out from the pact and heighten my enjoyment each time they are on-screen. Robert Downey Jr. finally gets a chance to remind us what a great actor he is. Although the editing serves the story perfectly, the film is, and feels, very long. There is so much story to tell that it never becomes boring. You get Cold War spy thriller, army comedy, love story, family drama, and political intrigue. There is a lot to unpack and you can feel the length. However, there is nothing that you can cut without damaging the perfect way it all unravels in the climax. I would almost prefer this to be a 6 part HBO limited series. All of his prior films were building towards the perfection presented in this project. There will be award nominations to go around for every category. From a technical perspective, this is Nolan's best film. From a personal enjoyment level, I can find three or four that I find superior, but with that said, there is plenty here to enjoy, admire, and be captivated by. A must-see at least for the history lesson. Maybe we will finally stop repeating mistakes.

Visually astonishing. Wes Anderson continues to find new angles and colour combinations to deliver frame after frame of exquisite images. The story is extremely simple to a fault, lacking any room in the script, to pursue the possibility of allowing us to form any emotional attachment to the characters. It still manages to deliver the comedy thanks to the comedic timing of the A-list ensemble cast. They are all clearly happy to be involved in the project and ready to chew the scenery together. This is quite restrained as far as quirkiness goes for a Wes Anderson film. I would not use this as an entry point for the director's work. It is a little more style over substance, but It's an entertaining, easy watch that is a feast for the eyes. A must for any Wes Anderson fan.

A clever story with a threat that is easily believable and therefore even more terrifying. They incorporate plot twists that blow your mind without relying on suspension of disbelief. The cast is great. When they have the whole team working together, the film is at its best. The editing and the script's timing in balancing humour and action, most notably in the first half, are effectively executed and do a great job handling the pacing of the hefty 165-minute run time. The production quality is fantastic. Tom Cruise and his psychotic stunts make the film stand out from the action movie pack. Doing all the action set pieces in-camera (practical stunts vs CGI) makes all the difference. I can understand why he promotes seeing this on the big screen, it can be quite exhilarating. Especially when combined with the sound design, most notably in the car and train set pieces. The action sequences are very elaborate and lengthy. The car chase is indulgent and destructive. I did find the hand-to-hand combat scenes less effective, and simply a serviceable plot device. There are some infuriating character development points that ruined some of my enjoyment. However, the climax and fashion in which they avoid a cliffhanger while still managing to set up part two left me satisfied and thoroughly entertained. The film stands on its own despite the 'part one' subtitle. Another successful entry in the franchise. Worth the money.

Adventure has a name and it is still Indiana Jones. James Mangold has provided us with the palate cleanser we needed after the last entry and restored the honour of the franchise for this final hooray. Harrison Ford is as charming as ever. It's great to hear John Williams' anthem heavy score again on a large Sound system. The sound design of the trademark "thump" of the punches slaps a smile on to your face. The opening action set piece is classic Indy. Nothing better than kicking Nazi butt. The rest of the set pieces remain firmly in Indy reality and don't go off the rails like the last film, although the climax teeters on the verge. Not all the jokes land as hard as intended, but they don't tank either, thanks to the chemistry and the quality of the performances. Phoebe Waller-Bridge makes an excellent partner. They do throw a lot of "member berries" at you. Almost too many and they don't all work. However, when they do, they squeeze a smile and a tear out of you. They could stand to shave 15 min off the film, but the script is well-written enough that they keep the story moving, and it doesn't become dull. The de-aging is FINE. We still aren't there in the quality to completely accept it, but they have done their best, and they try to keep him in low light as much as possible. I would have preferred simple old-school makeup for the second flashback. The very last shot of the movie is a perfect way to close out the Indiana Jones saga. It would have been great if this entry returned to the full quality of the first 3, but James Mangold did a respectful job. Plus, Harrison Ford is 80 years old, and he did an Indiana Jones movie not using a wheelchair, so give him a break and be happy that you got this. Don't overthink it. Get a large popcorn, sit back, and have fun.

A mix between the fun and wonder of 'Richard Donner's Superman' films and 'Back to the Future'. Director Andy Muchietti showed us with "It" that he knows how to get the character development and emotional weight needed to get the action to matter. He has made lightning strike again. You get the right balance of laughs, tears, and edge-of-your-seat action. Plus the proper amount of fan service Easter eggs. There is one deep dive that is such a well-deserved welcomed surprise as well as a running joke film fans will really enjoy. For comic book fans, this is a perfect live-action adaptation of the classic Flashpoint storyline. It's not as dark but considering the corner they were backed into by which characters they could use etc, they did a great job of capturing the important parts of the story and translating it to the big screen. Equally, anyone can walk into this film without seeing any other film within the canon or adjacent. It is essentially a self-contained story. Tim Burton Batman fans also get the sequel they deserve. There isn't much Supergirl or Iris West, however, they fulfill the purpose of the story and Andy's editor keeps the film tight by illuminating most side stories and focusing on the situation at hand. Looks great in IMAX. Although, we still seem to have a ways to go before we can perfect humans in CGI. The first Supergirl appearance looks a little like 2010 special effects. The speed force looks excellent. Nice sounds design and the score has a great mix of score themes, pop hits, and a Rosalía track. One amusing post-credit scene. Thoroughly enjoyable. Love the baby shower!

Spectacular achievement in filmmaking. This is "The Empire Strikes Back" /" Two Towers" of the Spider-Man trilogies/franchises. They managed to raise the bar and surpass the innovative animation of the first film without sacrificing the quality of the story and relationships. They nailed the"bigger and better" card. The script is easily better than most live-action films. The voice acting brings these characters to life, making them as realistic as possible. It easily packs the emotional weight needed to push this film and raise the bar. This film is not for children under 12 unless they are into character development and deep, meaningful conversations, especially about mortality. Do not be mistaken, there are plenty of laughs, spider-cat, and action scenes that are bombastically beautiful. The madness works because of the successful character development and creating stakes that you care about. The film has a meaty run time for an animated film, and you do feel it, but in a good way. There is never a dull moment. There is so much story to tell that you do not want to leave the 'worlds'. This story is built to have a long arc. Also, thanks to the impressive, effortlessly integrated, diverse and inclusive cast, there is no shoehorning here. It is all done naturally and with specific storytelling intention, the way it should always be. Spicy Jamaican beef patties are the best! The score by Daniel Pemberton is huge, with a Daft Punk Tron vibe. The soundtrack is stacked with tracks from the who's who of current hip-hop artists, double what was included in the last one. There are a mind-blowing number of Easter eggs that you can't even really call Easter eggs because they are everywhere. They are expertly integrated to serve as narrative details to assist in world-building. So watch on the biggest screen possible to catch as many as possible. This movie warrants multiple viewings, and I am certain that it will only get better each time. This is one of the top ten animated films I've ever seen, anime included. My only fear is the follow-up to this, I have difficulty seeing how that's possible, and I am happy to not be a part of that production crew. Stress levels are through the roof! There are no post-credit scenes. In fact, it is actually an entirely extra movie they have planned instead. Worth every premium theatre experience dollar. Emotional rollercoaster. Absolutely stunning.

Incredibly entertaining, tongue-in-cheek, crowd-pleasing, glorious bloodbath of an action film. John Wick meets The Northman in 1944 Finland, with a little less sex appeal and told against a Mad Max /Western style backdrop. Tightly choreographed action scenes are captured with frenetic yet steady, crisp cinematography. Each scene is wilder and dirtier than the next. All the while staying as firmly grounded in reality (at least of this world) as possible. Visceral, raw performances with the despicable, easily hateful villains. Within the first ten minutes, you are empathizing with the protagonist, and not long after, you are chomping at the bits for the bad guys to get their comeuppance. The action scenes are edge-of-your-seat stress tests. Topped off with finely honed editing, bringing it all together in a lean, trim 90 min, which helps keep things moving along. The script is very simple. Light on the dialogue, with perfectly timed sprinkles of humour, ensures there are no slow portions. They say what is needed and steer clear of stock action movie dialogue. The acting and all the technical aspects of the film, down to the score and makeup, are what elevated this film above most action fare. Overall, it reminds me a lot of the first original Mad Max film, in a very good way. Left me in a fantastic mood and with a big smile at the end. A fine, laugh-out-loud, stand-up and cheer good time at the movies.

Exceptional performances lift this film from bland to enjoyable. Halle Bailey gives you goosebumps and takes your breath away each time she sings. Her performance is captivating, and she delivers the emotion needed to get the by-in for this story's emotional ark. She is a superstar. Melissa McCarthy is phenomenal. She is terrifying and simply cool. Prince Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King, is better than I expected. The couple has some chemistry, and she doesn't act him under the table. The rest of the cast is serviceable. The script does a fair job of fleshing out the same dialog from the animated film and adding a lot of new dialog, but doesn't break any ground and isn't exactly deeply layered. If it weren't for the leads, it would have fallen flat. A perfect example of making the lackluster script work is her sidekick trio, voiced by Daveed Diggs, Akwafina, and Jacob Tremblay. They nail the necessary comedic timing and keep the iconic flavour of the animated characters, consistently bringing chuckles and keeping the film moving. Plus, the animal CGI works much better than expected. Although it's not Avatar, the underwater effects are well rendered and the character designs are not only vibrant but an upgrade over the design of what we saw in the animated film. I will say it was hard to deal with certain elements like... 'How do they have paper underwater?' Disney. Suspend believe and just sing along. The action scenes are tense and well-orchestrated, with a few surprising jump scares. Although the new songs aren't horrible, the stand-out is clearly Akwafina's hip hop number 'The Scuttlebutt' which is pure lyrical Lin Manuel Miranda rapid-fire perfection. The rest are serviceable and forgettable. They could have cut those songs and shortened the movie by 15 min. Although it's not dull, you can feel the runtime, especially with those songs. It really could have benefited from the trim. This may not be the best Disney live-action adaptation, but far from the worst. It would have been nice if they took some chances and added some fun adult sub-context to elevate the experience for the whole family. The super diverse cast is enough to make everyone feel seen and able to partake in enjoying the magic. I must say though, King Triton comes off as quite the player considering his seven daughters are all from different races! I enjoyed the film overall, and it's a safe watch for the whole family's enjoyment. I'm not a huge fan of the animated version, therefore I can't say that this is better or worse, and its existence doesn't offend me. Although I must say I do personally prefer this mermaid due to the attitude she has, I found it easier to sympathize with the way she is played. I think both films in the end are pretty equal in my appreciation and score. This film version may play better for today's youth.

Sticks the landing. Fabulous production design. Wild costume design. Rockin' 90s soundtrack. Tight, imaginative, well-choreographed action set pieces. Classic Guardians comedy. Topped off with a despicable villain and emotional manipulation worthy of two or three Kleenexes. The balance between comedy and deep family drama is perfect. Drax and Mantis are my standouts. They are delightful. The overall character arcs and family dynamics development feels natural and extremely satisfying. I do feel my buddy Will Poulter as Adam Warlock Gets a little shortchanged on screen time and character development, but they seem to have plans for him and when he's on-screen he's hysterical. A well-needed, more evenly-paced step up over Vol 2 and an emotionally satisfying closing to the trilogy, even with two post-credit scenes providing a glimpse into the future.