Aaron R

It was... Meh, which is dissapointing not only because it could have been great but really should have been. A great cast, renouned directors, amazing source material and apparently limitless budget. But oh dear what we got was about as basic as a vanilla ice cream. Knowing the source material the film is pretty much just the visual asthetic of the book with basically none of its story which is a very grim tale told in a simple but very captivating way. What we get here is a long winded, not terribly interesting interpretation, which almost felt like it should have been a series not a film. It trudges along in a very strange discombobulated way often not making sense or laying narrative framework that either doesn't pay off or is completely ignored, forgotten or worse doesnt land the way it was intended. I found myself bored with 20 min to go and questioning, do I care about this journey anymore? These people, this plight? No, Not really. While I liked the characters in principle I didnt like the writing. Its far too hammy, and low hanging fruit in nature. It seems like they wrote it after they cast it, as if each line of dialogue was written for the person delivering the lines, and NOT for the character they are portraying. You have Millie playing a character Millie always plays saying the things Millie always says. Shes (again) the tragic yet virtuous girl boss who can do no wrong and sticks it to the man. (I love ya Mills but you gotta step outta that mold) Meanwhile Chris is another dithering hero, a whitless good guy with a heart of gold wrapped in a rough exterior Starlord Type.... The supporting cast is okay but again fall into character type for each and every actor. Giancarlo Esposito plays who you'd expect, Anthony Mackey? Ditto. Even Ke Huy Qwan is exactly who you'd think he'd be. It's a film where every person in front of the camera or voicing a character was unashamedly typecast. Then theres the cost. Had this been a 50 million dollar movie I might let more slide but at 320 million? I cant help but ask where the money was spent. Sure the CG is good, but theres nothing special or jaw dropping about it and theres certainly nothing here thats 320 million dollars better then any of the CG seen in the Avengers movies or heck even Transformers. Then theres the costuming and practical effects which look very cheap and flimsy. Its an odd dichotomy visually that when it nails the books asthetic is quite striking but when it doesn't it really doesn't. In the end overall id give it a 2.5/5. Its the definition of mediocre. Not the worst thing ever in terms of a watching expierence but its easily the most expensive waste of potential you'll likely see in a while.

Your milage might vary depending on how sacred you hold the first film but for this Beetlejuice fan it's a perfect sequel that compliments the original. I'd even dare say it's better in a few ways with an emotional core and more rounded story that I felt the first film largely lacked. Ultimately its a fun chaotic romp filled to the brim with everything you'd hope for from a Beetlejuice film. The movie has a slow burn for the first 30 min or so, BUT I was engauged in what was going on and found myself genuinely interested in these peoples lives. I never thought okay we're burning minutes here like I've done with several other films I've seen this year and actually appreciated the catching up this time. That said once things really got going it was magic. I even got goosebumps at one point when a plot twist was revealed, and by the time the credits rolled I just wanted more. I WANTED MORE! This is a film both myself and my Fiancé will go watch again, and we never do that. A special shout out has to go to the entire cast. Everyone did a wonderful job. Michael, Winona, and Catherine didn't miss a beat, Catherine is especially funny, and Micheal was on point. Jenna, Justin, Willem, and Monica were all wonderful aswell. Jenna's Astrid is the emotional heart of the story and added a surprising amount depth to the proceedings with some really heartfelt moments. Justin on the other hand embues Rory with so much slime that he's immediately the guy you love to hate. Willems, Wolf Jackson is so over the top and exaggerated that it makes you forget the fact that his story really has no bearing on the main plot at all, he's just fun to watch. You could tell they were all having so much fun and that joy makes the viewing expierence that much better. If I had to level any criticism against the film it would be that Monica was under utilized serving more or less as a pretty boogeyman, I also think the movie would have benefitted from being a bit longer and I say that because while I dont agree with the negative takes about the films "lack of focus" or "scatter shot plot points" as it all made sense to me and was largely paced well, I do agree that a few of the subplots did feel a bit rushed near the end and a little extra time might have let those stories cook a bit longer. These are minor quibbles imo though. The best part of this film is its just fun, the theater I was in was having a good time, laughing, clapping, some even sang along to some of the songs. The crowd just enjoyed themselves which is something I think we all need to do more of these days. Will this film go down as a timeless classic? Probably not, but its certainly worthy to have on the shelf next to the original.

Bantha poodoo It gets 2 stars for some pretty great fight choreography, some nice visuals and Qimir was pretty awesome. The rest is bad, poorly written, poorly acted, badly paced. I didn't care about any of the charaacters, and it had the most unlikable "protagonist" you could possibly create. Everything that matters to makeing a show great was woefully lacking here. I couldn't care less about DEI stuff this is about the fundamentals of good narrative story telling simply not existing in this show. Honestly probably would have done better as a 2 part movie, but whatever. Waste of time and energy.

An excellant film filled with a talented cast who all put on great performances. Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman really shine in their roles as they portray two individuals searching for inspiration and belonging that ultimately leads to a disastrous outcome. The film is dreamy in its asthetic both visually and audibly. The southern gothic visage suites the setting so very well and the other worldly Cinematography is lovely to look at. A haunting soundtrack enhances the proceedings. The plot of the movie isn't anything new but its riveting especially the last 20 minutes. I literaly lost all awareness of being in a theater I was so invested. The sheer raw emotion on display by the actors demands respect. Jenna, Martin, and Gideon were remarkable. The ending is open for the viewer to decide or interpret what happens. While that doesn't always work, in a story like this it does. There's simply to much nuance and lingering ambiguity to justify giving it a neat and tidy conclusion. Bottom line is while "professional" reviews are being none to kind to the film this humble vewer found it delightful. Its beautiful, moving, and emotionally devastating, Millers Girl is definitely worth a watch or 2.

Enola Holmes 2 is a great film that builds on the concepts of the first while also correcting many of its flaws resulting in a tighter, cleaner expierence full of charm, whit and a surprisingly engaging story about corruption, blackmail, and even murder, all set to the backdrop of a real historical event. The real attraction here is Millie Bobby Brown, Netflix's crown jewel star whose 4th wall breaking charisma and spunky can do attitude as Enola is infectious. Henry Cavil also returns and subsequently shines as Enolas problem solving big brother Sherlock. I appreciate that the writers decided to not make Enola the know it all of the film. She's whip smart of course but is still learning, makes mistakes misses clues, is sometimes a fish out of water and it's older brother Sherlock who often gives subtle nudges of encouragement and professional advice to his little sister. As for Cavils Sherlock he's much more humanized this go round displaying a obvious soft spot and care for his sister which is often displayed in equal parts annoyance, concern, and admiration. This is especially evident during the duos screen time together which is substantial. Their chemistry is electric, and only makes me want more. Problems? There genuinely aren't many, the writing is tight, the production values are high with great set/costume design. The rousing musical score is fitting and there are great performances from the actors all round. If I had just a few criticisms they would be that some of the scenes can feel a bit too busy and there's a particular segment at about the halfway mark that's too hurried, tidy and cliché. It feels like it should have been expanded upon to add some gravitas to the situation. As is it feels like gratuitous plot armor. Still these are minor complaints, for a movie with a runtime of 2hr 10min its paced largely very well and keeps its momentum throughout. Bottom line, Enola Holmes 2 is a really fun, well made sequel worthy of your time, theres something here for everyone. Even the big twist works in a way I wasn't sure would. All I gotta say is bring on Enola Holmes 3.

Creepy, Kooky, Spooky: From the mind of legendary Director Tim Burton (who actually directs the first 4 episodes) Wednesday is a fun, delightfuly macabre romp through the now teenaged characters life as she tries to fit in to a new school, navigate actually making friends and dealing with those pesky feelings and emotions she so desperately doesn't want to have all while trying to figure out her new found psychic abilities. She also ends up solving a murderous plot, saves everyone from impending doom and stops a hideous blood thirsty monster along the way. You know a typical day for everyones favorite goth girl. The Best: Jenna Ortega is legit, full stop. She does an absolutely fanstatic job bringing Wednesday to life with tons of nuance and subtlety. Everything from her gliding walk and stiff posture, her dead pan expressions and the fact she nearly never blinks (seriously watch her) to her deliberate way of speaking, and how she conveys most of her feelings though her eye rather than through words or facial expressions, it's a delight to witness. And for those wondering this version of Wednesday feels like a bit of a natural evolution of the Christina Ricci version from the 90s films IMO. Jenna's Wednesday feels like what Christina's Wednesday would be like 5 or 6 years older and in high school. Cut from the same cloth but ultimately different enough to stand uniquely apart. It must be said though that I actually think I prefer Jenna's version because she is a fully realized character here, shes the lead with motivations, feelings, desires and isn't just a side character used for comic relief. The Good: Snappy writing, an enjoyable who done it style plot, wonderful costume and set design, great music and a clever cast playing likeable characters make watching this show a sheer treat. Standouts include Gwendolyn Christie as principle Weems, Emma Meyers as Enid Sinclaire (who Jenna has great on screen chemistry with), Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester, Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill, and Catherine Zeta Jones as Morticia, and of course Thing... Things awesome. The Bad: It has some freshman show jitters. Theres a few writing issues, some of the CG looks a little budget, theres a bit to much filler in a few episodes, some of the supporting cast are a bit too stiff, and theres a needlessly stereotypical love triangle plot that just feels overcooked and uncesscary. Overall though theres nothing terrible or show destroying going on but you will notice these things from time to time and it may pull you out of the moment to moment of the show on occasion. Conclusion: Admittedly its got a few flaws but nothing earth shattering or outside what you expect from a first season of any show. Jenna Ortega IS Wednesday with a knockout performance worthy of praise, and Tim Burtons distinct vision for the show is stellar. Bottom line is there's alot of fun to be had here and is certainly worth a binge or two. Go watch it.

Scream 6 is a bloody good time. (Spoiler free review) Its not often that I go into a theater not really sure what to expect. Scream movies for all their campy goodness have never really been in my wheel house of films that I yearned to run out and watch but eventually ended up seeing and enjoying none the less. Still few really resonated with me. Scream 5, last years fresh albeit divisive for some "requel" as the characters call it, was the first film in the franchise that really hooked me with its young cast, whity dialogue, and interesting plot. It wasn't without its flaws but it was a darn good time. Enter Scream 6 which im happy to report is arguably one of the best in the franchise. An evenly paced, chilling at times, adrenaline rush with a surprising amount of heart and buckets of blood. One thing the previous film lacked was a deeper understanding of the characters and their bonds. Scream 6 turns 4 on paper friends into a defacto family unit, the "core 4" as they dub themselves, who are willing to do anything to protect one another and its that familial love for one another that helps the viewer really care about them and have a vested interest in their well being. Not gonna lie theres a couple characters that I was desperately afraid for at times because I love them and squirmed as they fight for their lives. And fight they do. Ghostface in this film is a brutal, scary and genuine full stop no nonsense threat. But he's facing determined survivors who aren't afraid to throw down when nessacary. Fights in this film are often full blown brawls, bloody and brutal that take place during some wonderfully shot set pieces. Great performances abound here with the entire cast putting in some fantastic work. Highlights would be Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega who do most of the emotional heavy lifting, and whose chemestry is palpable. The bond between the sisters is believable thanks to the emotional range of these two talented actresses. Part of the fun of scream films is also trying to figure out the whodunit portion. This film is filled with subversion, and while I did figure out early on who the villian was I was blindsided by some reveals that I did not see coming at all. Read herrings are everywhere, legacy characters may or may not be who they seem to be and no one is safe. The movie has a few flaws. It could have probably been about 10 minutes shorter and been a better expierence as a few of the down time scenes went on just a little to long. Then there's the ending reveal which while not bad in concept and actually quite good on paper really was perhaps a bit to over the top in execution. In a film that takes a more serious approach to its narrative then past installments, what could've been very chilling ended up being kinda goofy. Still the ultimate pay off at the end was a chefs kiss and so satisfying to witness. Seriously, it's good. In the end a true testament to the movie comes from my fiancé who watched it with me. Mind you she hates slashers and has never seen a scream film before, but she owed me for watching Dr. Dolittle with her. Hint, she got the better deal. The whole time she sat squirming with anxiety, jumping at scares, whispering her suspects into my ear, looking at me mouth agape after a kill. At the end she simply said "that was good, I liked it". What better way to end this review.

An amazing update to a Horror classic. Dead Space 2008 is one of those seminal moments in games when you just know this is something special. The games gritty visuals unique mechanics, haunting design and engaging story propelled it to instant classic status. Fast forward to 2023 and the new Dead Space Remake has arrived a game that pays loving homage to the original while also improving on it in myriad ways. This new version I dare say is the definitive version to play. Every aspect has been addressed, visuals, audio, voice acting gameplay, it's all custom built but remains true to the spirit of the original. What you Remember about the 2008 version is still here only improved, annoying aspects are removed new mechanics have been implemented where appropriate, and the core expierence has been lovingly recreated to not be drastically different but new enough to feel fresh. Go buy it is the bottom line here. Where other games have tried to imitate the original master piece nothing has even remotely come close untill now and it's the Remake of itself.

It's a great game! Story is engaging, music, visuals, voice work are all spot on. The gameplay is classic halo with fun twists. If you're a fan of Halo Combat Evolved you will love this. There is room for some improvement though. There are things that are ommited that are staples of Halo, many of these are coming but aren't here yet. Biome diversity is also not great. It's basically the level "Halo" of the 1st game and thats all. Again hopefully we'll get new biomes in the future. Finally the open world is fun but feels like "padding" that doesn't really seem to have much impact on the proceeding. Still these are nitpick. The important parts are super fun and well worth the time and money.