MisterJxroen Reviews

Dune: Part Two (2024)

The Visions Are Clear Now

[9/10 · 3 March 2024]

Last night I was fortunate enough to view a back-to-back screening of 'Dune: Part One' followed by 'Dune: Part Two' in the theater. It was my third time seeing part one on the big screen, and just as delightful as before. Denis Villeneuve has created some of my all-time favorite movies - 'Prisoners' and 'Sicario', so I knew I was in for a treat once again. Grand scale science-fiction that is done 'right', usually gets me hyped out of the wazoo. I'm happy to say this one had me constantly on the edge of my seat as well.

The visuals and lore of the Dune universe that Denis has transformed into film is magnificently breathtaking but most importantly of all; unique. The Harkonnen homeworld 'Giedi Prime' is by far one of my favorite planet designs (black/white light, brutalist architecture, the violent nature of its people) ever. The arena scene and introductory moment for na-Baron Feyd-Rautha got my blood pumping like a thumper.

Just like in my previous review for 'Dune: Part One', Rebecca Ferguson is one of my standouts once again. In comparison to last chapter in which she felt rather afraid and unsure, she now completely transformed into a whole different person who, to be quite frank, is terrifying. Her screen presence is absolutely captivating and mesmerizing.

In a movie with so many A-tier names, it is difficult to pick a favorite. Though, I think Timothée Chalamet's 'Paul Muad'dib Atreides' might just be it. I wasn't fully convinced last film, but his monologue in the South and the way he portrayed Paul's transformation into the Messiah he himself fears, was brilliant. The baron, played by Stellan Skarsgård, will forever be - despite his little screentime - one of my favorite villainous characters in science-fiction.

Hans Zimmer blew me away with the score for this film, more than the last. I'm a sucker for fast-paced soundtrack, and the more frequent and high-stakes action sequences in this second part allowed for Hans Zimmer to play into that with his music. The track that comes on when the Fremen ride into battle on sandworms against the Emperor's Sardauker army, is exhilarating and extremely powerful. This living legend has mastered his craft for sure.

My only reason for this film not being a straight ten-star, is the ending. I cannot judge on the accuracy between the film and the novels, since I haven't read them, but the ending left me feeling slightly hung and yearning for more. I'm not sure if I just experienced a cliffhanger that will be further explored in a third chapter, or a brutal open ending. Either way, the story is great and whether or not Denis will make this a trilogy, these past two films will go down in my list as some of the best sci-fi ever made.

Barbie (I) (2023)

A Flamboyantly Doll-lightful Adventure

[8/10 · 21 July 2023]

My mother was the only person I could convince to go watch Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" (2023) with me, and "wow" am I glad we went. It's been a while since I've seen such a genuinely fun and creative movie. Originality is what the world has been longing for!

The story is clever and manages to be remain lightheaded and witty, while also conveying influential messages for- and challenging the audience with questions about modern feminism and discovering who you really want to be, no matter who you are.

This film is colorful and 'alive', making it a joy to view upon. The set pieces, especially in Barbieland, are brilliant- and it truly makes me want to know if they actually built out a real-life Barbieland set. Did they?!

The acting was brilliant from everyone; you could tell they were all having a lot of enjoyment on set. Margot Robbie carried this film for sure, as one can come to expect from this modern superstar. It was also enlightening to see Ryan Gosling take on such a comical role while also bringing a lot of depth to the character. He has a great sense of comedic timing and humor. From what I've seen in interviews, Ryan is basically embracing his comedic genius and I love it.

I usually despise singing and dancing in movies, but in this film it put a smile on my face. Not just because it was amusing to watch, but because these people can actually perform really well on these fronts. It goes without saying that the music for this film was on point as well.

I highly recommend everyone to go see this film, though maybe don't watch it directly before or after "Oppenheimer" in case you're following the current trend. Let both films sink in for a bit because they each deserve the attention.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

The Power To Destroy The World

[8/10 · 20 July 2023]

Me and a few of my friends saw Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" on opening night, in the IMAX format for which this film was intended. The feeling I have after having watched this film is something I can't really describe, nor do I know how I feel about the film as a whole. I feel as if this movie doesn't directly try to tell you whether or not Oppenheimer was a good or bad person, but allows one to decide this for their own. Same with the dilemma of building such a weapon of mass destruction.

I think the visual portrayal of the atomic bomb was magnificent. The buildup to this moment was nerve-wrecking and really put me on the edge of my seat. And when it finally happened; quietness. It was the silence before the storm. For a moment, we get to see the beauty of it, and then we are hit with all the destruction and pain that can come with it; the shockwave. And I felt it coming too!

We as an audience get to see it mostly from Oppenheimer's perspective, as I understand it. He doesn't look at the grand scale of it, but instead seems to recognize his dreams (and nightmares) in this phenomenon; the atoms and molecules floating around in harmony, just like he envisioned.

I disliked the frequent and abrupt cutting between scenes and missed some prolonged, quieter scenes. Lee Smith's (previous editor for Nolan) absence is definitely felt throughout the film. This film also misses another genius who has frequently partnered with Nolan; Hans Zimmer. Though the soundtrack isn't on his level, Ludwig Göransson managed to deliver a beautiful score full of emotion and suspense. I'm yet to listen to it on Spotify since it hasn't released yet, but I know it'll be a great listen.

The acting was splendid from every star that featured in this film-which were a lot. Cillian Murphy in the lead role is obviously a standout, and I wouldn't be surprised if this role lands him a lead actor Oscar (nomination). Another standout for me personally is Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Lewis Strauss. I don't know anything about Strauss, but Robert felt like an amazing fit for the role.

I don't know how much of this story is completely factual, but I was intrigued and interested by it nonetheless. I can't wait to do more research about the subject matter, just like I can't wait to learn about how Nolan managed to make this film without CGI. I'm still processing this film, so for now my rating remains at a solid eight stars. Definitely an incredible thrill that one must face on the big screen.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Give 'em Hell, Indiana Jones!

[6/10 · 29 June 2023]

I was fortunate enough to view "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" (2023) in avant-première with a free snack, a drink and some fun goodies. This was my first 'Indiana Jones' cinema experience and I have to say, it was a fun adventure.

I enjoyed the take on an older "Indy" who's struggling with some very sorrow things in his life, as well as the simple fact that he has become old. The dynamic between him and his goddaughter "Helena" - played by " Phoebe Waller-Bridge" - was enjoyable, though I sometimes missed a tad bit of chemistry between the two. It definitely builds up though as the movie progresses.

"Mads Mikkelsen" as "Dr. Voller" was a formidable villain (as he usually is). The one thing I didn't enjoy much was how they utilized this villain by using a repetitive story formula: Protagonist discovers something and has to put effort into it, they find special item, villain suddenly shows up and steals it. They did this more than once. 'Mads' can do so much 'better' than that!

The soundtrack was splendid, as one would expect from the legendary "John Williams". Sound design and VFX were top notch as well. I was pleasantly surprised by the de-aging of Indiana Jones during the prologue.

Story-wise I'd say it was definitely an enjoyable rollercoaster ride, with a few clichés and of course something related to "time"; since that is seems to be the trend these days. I believe this will be a fun sequel for returning fans as well as for a new, younger audience. This one is worth the watch on the big screen with the family or some friends. Solid 6.5/10 from me.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

A Marvelous Spider-Upgrade

[9/10 · 2 June 2023]

I was lucky enough to watch 'Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' in an avant-premiere (LaserUltra) screening at the cinema. I adored the first one because of the beautiful animation, the incredible soundtrack and the refreshing storyline.

The voice acting in this movie is top notch, with my personal standouts being of course Shameik Moore as the legendary Miles Morales whom has grown a lot but still struggles with his responsibilities as both a young teenager and as New York's one and only Spider-Man. Hailee Steinfeld as the complicated character that is Gwen Stacy who gets a lot of great development in this film which I loved to see. And lastly for me, the acclaimed Oscar Isaac who plays the troubled Miguel O'Hara - a great addition to this franchise.

Each voice actor takes their role very seriously and it pays off well. The writers know when it's the right time for humor (and they have a sense of it) but also know very well when to transition to a more serious tone. The emotions don't feel unbalanced and that makes this film like a great rollercoaster with a bit of everything for everyone.

Animation wise, it's obviously an upgrade but it stills holds on to the beautiful art style from the first one while introducing new things here and there. I love the chaos that the animation often translates, almost making me afraid of having an epileptic attack of some sort. There are so many possibilities in the world of animation that live-action just doesn't have or can impossibly achieve in the same way animation can, and this film proves that by being outstanding in this department.

Something that Spider-Man franchises have always benefited from in my opinion is having multiple plots running simultaneously and slowly intertwining with each other. What makes this method of telling a story so amazing in my opinion is that all these "smaller" events merge into a massive situation that just creates a lot of hype and epicenes. Without saying too much, I think a similar tactic happened here and it - well, did exactly that; Hype!

The sound design and score was incredible once more, I dare argue even better than the first one. Of course they leaned on music from the first one (Ex. Prowler Theme) but they managed to evolve it which is nice. I can't wait to see more from this world of Miles Morales. I rate this film a 9/10. Can't wait to see what's next for this multiverse. Bring it on, Spider-Man!

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Mr. Wick Around The World

[8/10 · 23 March 2023]

I was fortunate enough to view 'John Wick: Chapter 4' in a double-bill (Chapter 3 prior to 4) avant-premiere screening at the theater with my family. I've always been a great admirer of the practical action sequences portrayed in the 'John Wick' films.

Undoubtedly, 'John Wick Chapter 1' remains my favorite, followed closely by Chapter 3. It definitely has something to do with the fact that the type of action and gun-fu felt so new back then. That is also the one main thing this fourth film suffers from in my opinion: innovativeness. Though this issue only really exists throughout the first half of the film.

The Paris sequences & pretty much all action sequences featuring Donnie Yen (as 'Caine') serve as a breathe of fresh air in this film. Some new weapons and technology such as the bow & arrow, the nunchucks and some fancy incendiary bullets make certain action scenes a joy to watch. Though the other sequences are certainly cool, I can't help but feel like I've seen it quite a few times already.

The cinematography was definitely at it's highest point in this fourth film. The movie was absolutely gorgeous. The colors are vibrant and ultramodern, almost in a science fiction-y way. The way action sequences are shot have always been amazing; from long takes to overhead shots, back to running between cars on the Champs-Elysees and dueling like it's the wild west. It's a lot of bloody fun! I'm slightly saddened by the fact so much action was shot in dark and distractingly lit environments, but overall the practicality of it all was still there.

I enjoyed the music more in the prior movies, though I haven't separately listened to the OST yet so I know what to do. Sound design, costumes and world building is another massive win for me. I love this world they've managed to create full of assassins and strange people. It was nice to explore so many different countries and 'continentals'. It really helped with making this film different from the others.

Keanu Reeves is always a joy to watch, what else can I say? I'm also very happy they brought in legends like Clancy Brown, Donnie Yen and Hiroyuki Sanada. Their skills and overall badass vibes just fit so fell in this world. Speaking of legends, I'm saddened by the recent passing of Lance Reddick, who portrayed 'Charon' the concierge. I'm glad to have seen him one last time in this role and I pay my respects.

Overall I rate this film a 8/10, on par for me with chapter 2. If you come to see John Wick absolutely kicking people's ass while also breaking his own back numerous times (you'd think), this is the right film for you. You don't really get a lot of opportunities to breathe, and I love it.

The Whale (2022)

People Are Amazing, But Not Perfect

[9/10 · 18 February 2023]

Even though it feels as if this movie has been out for a while, I was able to recently watch it in avant-premiere at my local cinema. Perhaps this is because of special screenings? Anyhow, I didn't know what to expect except for some award-worthy performances (from what I had read online). I certainly wasn't lied to.

Every single performer knocked it out of the park on this one - Brendan Fraser as much as his co-stars Sadie Sink, Hong Chau and the others. I felt awkward crying in the cinema so I tried to hold it in, but it was an impossible task - though I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one. I was very moved by their extremely human acting prestations.

I absolutely adored the lenses this film was shot thru as well as the pretty 4:3 aspect ratio. For me, the cinematography captured very well the feeling of being stuck in this house which feels like a 'home' but simultaneously like a garbage dump. I don't know how to describe it, but sometimes I felt genuine horror. I don't know exactly what was so scary; the claustrophobic feeling, the inevitability of death or Charlie's lifestyle. Maybe a combination of it all.

Furthermore, the soundtrack was just as heartbreakingly beautiful as the scenes it played along with. I also love it when certain parts of a story that might seem 'meaningless' or otherwise at random, eventually get called back to and mold together with the rest of the plot as one beautifully sorrowful story. All of it worked.

The humanity of the characters is what makes this film so interesting to me. Though to be quite honest, I don't know what this film is trying to tell me. Perhaps it doesn't want to convey a deep message, but instead just show us how nobody is perfect because they're simply human. I don't know, but I loved it. Can't wait for the next A24 project!

Hogwarts Legacy (2023 Video Game)

Magic Binds Together Our History

[9/10 · 10 February 2023]

I'm currently 25 hours into the early-access stage of the game and it's fair to say that this game is incredible. Despite not having received a day one patch yet, I have barely encountered any major bugs or issues that caused my immersion to fade away.

I'm slightly biased when it comes to open world RPG's games with plenty of customization and exploration options, but nonetheless that genre is easy to get wrong. I'm happy to say that 'Hogwarts Legacy' got it right. I also get huge "Elden Ring" vibes but with a sweet and cosy swing to it. Obviously the duels and enemy encounters aren't as difficult (at least not at the point I've reached), but they feel uniquely similar which is cool.

The world design is breathtaking. Every time I'm looking at Hogwarts or another beautiful landmark, I find myself taking a screenshot and uploading it to my Steam account. The graphics are butter smooth and well optimized, which makes this game a joy to play - even on a somewhat mid-range PC like I have myself.

Some spaces in the open world are certainly empty, but there is still so much to do. I'm quite overwhelmed by how many different side-quests and places I can visit. There is so much lore to dive into and characters to meet. I don't think I'll ever run out of adventurous fun.

The combat features are brilliant and don't get tiring for me, at least not yet. With the regular introduction of new spells and ancient magic, you constantly have the ability to create unique combos and make each duel feel somewhat authentic. Flying on a broom or magical creature feels very smooth as well, I can tell they really optimized this feature. Perhaps it is because I play with a controller.

I'm also glad they created an original soundtrack with a touch of the original theme of Harry Potter. Anyhow, I can probably say a lot more but that would transform this review into a novel. There is simply just so much to do, it's insane! So far, game of the year for me. I can't wait for more patches and updates that make this journey even longer. Well done!

Barbarian (2022)

You're My Baby Now

[8/10 · 1 January 2023]

Horror in its prime is always a delight to watch. I'm saddened by the fact that I didn't watch this film on the big screen, since the thrill and tension would've been even more enhanced than it already was watching from a laptop.

The plot was absolutely haunting due to the - sometimes very unexpected - disturbing sequences. Performances and a petrifying story kept me immersed from the beginning 'till the end. This film didn't feel like a cliché "jumpscare" horror film but instead one that keeps you on the edge of the seat with merely the thought of such scares possibly happening, or worse.

I'm glad I didn't watch any trailers for this film nor watched any reviews and plot summaries, since the film is full of juicy surprises to keep you interested throughout this crazy ride. My mind put my expectations on a different path which made the actual plot of the story feel like a welcome surprise.

What also added to my immersion and high-stress level as I watched this one is the clever cinematography. I adored the point of view shots with the seemingly natural lightning from cellphones & flashlights. The ominious set design and exploration of it while remaining - scarily enough - realistic makes the experience all the better.

I definetely recommend this one for fans of disturbing horror that don't mind a few surprises along the way.

Bones and All (2022)

The World of Love Wants No Monsters In It

[7/10 · 30 December 2022]

A very unexpected watch as I didn't know what I was getting into. I honestly thought this was going to be a film about a girl living on the brink of starvation and meeting someone she falls in love with along the way. I expected similar vibes to the film "Nomad" plus the romantic drama vibe.

As soon as Maren almost literally ate a girl's finger in the first couple of minutes of the film, I deleted all of my expectations from my mind and just sat there flabbergasted for a good minute. I think this film is best watched without knowing anything about the premise.

If one were to know more going in the film and thus shaping certain expectations around it, I can imagine this one might be disappointing and boring to some. The concept alone is very intriguing but the movie transforms that into an "entertainingly alright" watch, which isn't bad per se - just wasted potential in a way.

Though the acting was sharp and on point, from both main leads Taylor Russell & Timothée Chalamet. It was also a pleasant surprise to see Mark Rylance playing yet another fascinating (this time also creepy) character. The cinematography was neat but nothing really stood out to me, same goes for the score and sound design.

Since the story focuses a lot on the romance between our main leads, I think I should comment on that as well. I personally didn't feel much of a connection between the two characters. I wish they hadn't focused so much on this part of the story but instead had followed a darker path, like it built up in the beginning and shows off a few more times throughout the film.

The excitement surge I got from the genuine surprise I felt in the beginning slowly faded away throughout the film as it got a bit more dull yet remained perfectly watchable thanks to the performances and still somewhat interestingly unusual story. I liked it and would recommend it, but I just hope you didn't read this before watching and went in blind which made it a lot better for me personally. A decent 7/10 from me!

Tár (2022)

No Glory For A Robot

[9/10 · 30 December 2022]

Today, I very impulsively decided to watch "Tár" at work on my phone (I know I should be ashamed of that). This movie was a master class in acting thanks to Cate Blanchett's masterful performance.

When the movie was over, I went to Wikipedia to learn more about this character thinking she was real. I can't be the only one, right? This fictional character's story felt very "real" and believable. The journey these characters went on brought up a lot of different emotions in me and inner conflict.

Part of me strangely roots for Lydia and agrees with the risky points she makes and life she lives, while my counterpart despises her for the certain things she does behind the scenes or subtly without causing any physical or direct harm. This character study has plenty of depth like every human being does - the good, the bad but most importantly the grey.

The point I feel the movie attempts to make isn't one that can be responded to with yes or no. Can or should one separate the art from the artist? How far should one go in turning a blind eye? It's very much an ethical journey that puts this part of society in the spotlight and asks the hard questions that really no-one will ever truly answer.

At times I felt genuinely petrified because of the hallucinatory and paranoia sequences in the film. It really felt like a horror movie at times and I half expected the film to take a very dark turn.

This movie surely won't be for everyone and I'm afraid that it'll probably even perform badly in cinemas because of that, but I'm sure the creators are aware of that. Though I can definitely see this one getting some more awards, and I hope Blanchett wins the Oscar for best performance. Definitely a gem that might unfortunately stay hidden for a lot of people.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

This Family Is Our Fortress

[7/10 · 18 December 2022]

My experience was slightly altered because of the sad fact that my 3D clip-on glasses broke at the beginning of the movie but I do not blame the movie for that obviously. Traffic also caused me to be a tad bit late so there's that as well. Despite all of these very annoying circumstances, I think I enjoyed the movie more than I expected to. Though personally it felt like more of the same.

I fear that if the movie were seen in regular 2D, the "rollercoaster experience" that people talk of would completely disappear, and that's unfortunate. I watched the movie in 4DX 3D HFR, which was quite crazy. I felt like I was quite literally falling out of my chair a few times. It was funny but I definitely prefer just regular viewing. I'll definitely be going back to view this one in IMAX 3D to be in the right mindset (and also for the "Oppenheimer" trailer lol.)

The visuals were great, though. You can tell that people really put effort into the creation of this large world full of different species and vegetation. It was definitely and upgrade from it's predecessor, as well as from most CGI-heavy movies being released during this day and age. I can't wait to see more behind the scenes footage of how they made this film.

The way the story went felt similar to me like how "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" brought back that saga into our world. The concept being the same with enhanced visuals and 'better' action sequences. The one thing I did really enjoy was the way Quaritch's story was told and the depth they gave his character - which he was missing in the first one.

Despite the movie being over 3 hours long, I felt like our main characters Jake and Neytiri didn't really "do much" in this film. Not that it's necessarily bad, since we got to see more of their children and people around them - but it felt odd sometimes. The movie also didn't feel that long in my opinion, so I guess that makes the pacing quite perfect.

There aren't any acting standouts for me, except for Zoe Saldana's performances of when she was sad - which I feel like she was quite a lot in this film. I liked Sigourney Weaver's Kiri, though the voice didn't match the body - but I assume there's some genetic mystery which I might've missed in the beginning or is yet to be explained. I also didn't realize until I visited IMDB after the film that Kate Winslet starred in the movie, which was funny.

The soundtrack is good at times, mostly rather cliché except for the main theme. The sound design on the other hand is pristine. I think it's fair to say that the film is beautiful but I don't know where the story will go from here other than the bad guys returning to cause more suffering to which the good guys will fight back in a visually stunning battle, only to have the bad guys survive and return in the next film(s) - five more? - for me of the same. I guess we'll see. Solid 7/10 for me though.

Wednesday (2022– )

A Terrific Show Full Of Woe

[9/10 · 27 November 2022]

The first trailer had me interested, the cast and creative team had me intrigued, the first episode had be hooked and the final one has left me yearning for more.

Jenna Ortega who plays the lead of the show - "Wednesday" herself, brings such a unique performance to the role yet makes it feel nostalgic and reminiscent of those who came before her. Speaking of which, it was incredibly smart to bring back Christina Ricci for a role in this show as a nice easter egg for the fans of the prior. Ortega fully embraced the character and "became" her on another level. Time for me to check out more of her work for sure!

The cinematography is very "Tim Burton-ish" with a modern twist to it. You can feel his directive presence throughout the entire show. The writers did an incredible job as well to take an already existing iconic character - which is a bold move - and dive deeper into her personal story and life. The music and sound design was also very much like the theme of the show and the previous ones. The nailed the atmosphere and overall vibe for me really well.

I was afraid at first that they would "normalize" Wednesday too much. After all, I feel she should remain an intriguing and morbid character with surely a lot of underlying depth underneath her deadpan witty personality. She was exactly that in this show and I'm very happy about that. Wednesday remains to be an absolute boss, as she should be. She was humanized in subtle ways and with slow steps without forcing any narratives or uncharacteristic traits.

The acting was pristine. Jenna Ortega was the perfect pick for the role and she crushed it. Her co-stars manage to not disappoint either next to a presence like hers. Gwendoline Christie's character surprised me a lot. Her performance (subtle emotion, motivation, traits) elevated her character and transformed her from a "somewhat" antagonist to a beloved, awesome figure whos presence was constantly felt throughout the show. I was also presently surprised by Hunter Doohan and Emma Myers, whom respectively play Tyler and Enid. Great things await these brilliant actors.

I thought the casting of the other Addams' family members was just perfect and worked well as an addition to the show. The way "Thing" moves and communicates brought back some very nostalgic feels, I love It. The twists were great and some more unexpected than others. The detective-ish theme of the show had me hooked from the beginning 'till the end. I truly hope they'll release more seasons, which I assume they will since this show will no doubt break the internet. Not doing so would woe my mind.

Andor (2022– )

That's What A Reckoning Sounds Like

[9/10 · 24 November 2022]

From the looks of the trailers and my opinion of "Rouge One: A Star Wars Story", I was very hyped for this show in particular because I'm a big fan of a realistically gritty view on Star Wars. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed by this show at all, in fact it elevated my expectations.

"Andor" doesn't rely on excessive fan-service. I won't deny that I don't appreciate my favorite Star Wars characters showing up every once in a while or revisiting a planet we've been on time and time again, but if your story relies on it so heavily that it takes away from the quality of the writing and directing - something is wrong. "Andor" managed to create unique and fresh plots that fit well with the main story and add more depth to it.

The pacing is perfect in my opinion. I've seen people complain about how the show is "boring", but I wholeheartedly disagree. The show takes its time to tell this profound story by paying attention to details and giving the viewer time to breath while at the same time forming this cloud of suspense that you feel rising throughout each episode, as the stakes get higher and the risks get more dangerous. Everything slowly comes together and it feels massive.

Acting wise, this show is a five star. I knew "Stellan Skarsgård" wouldn't disappoint, and well - he didn't. His monologue - as well as "Andy Serkis'" - were amazing pieces of writing acted out by incredible performers. Oddly enough, it feels like "Diego Luna's" performance gets overshadowed sometimes by the many great actors around him. Not saying that he isn't great, but it definitely ain't easy for him.

The characters in this show are so unique and interesting. They're all mysterious in their own way and really do 'have' their 'own way' of doing things. Their personal visions slowly colliding is a delight to watch. A surprise favorite character of mine is "Dedra Meero". I've found myself rooting for her character despite the fact that she's an imperialist and inherently the "villain".

The story and script are pristine. They don't back down from showing the evil nature of beings and how gritty the world is underneath. This truly is a story about all the people that suffer from the consequences of the Empire and the rising Rebellion. The soundtrack is suspenseful and unique, different from the usual Star Wars OST but not a miss at all. The sound design brings me back to the prequels a bit, though I could use just a bit more of the Coruscant ambient sounds.

On location shooting pays off in this show. The grande scale of things is felt throughout each episode. Major locations like Coruscant, Ferrix, Morlana One, ... are beautifully filmed. I wouldn't mind longer shots of Coruscant from the sky like we had in the prequels when we're visiting "Mon Mothma" for example, to truly show off the beauty that looms over the underground.

I have no doubt that the next season(s) won't disappoint if they keep writing the story as they have been for this season. I hope they don't back down from adding small details and steering away from large unnecessary cameos. Thanks the creative script, bold risk taking and immaculate acting, this show receives a 9/10 from me.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

We Mourn The Loss of Our King

[9/10 · 10 November 2022]

I was lucky enough to view a double-bill (both installments back to back) avant-premiere screening of 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' in cinemas. I was very curious to see how the people at Marvel as well as the actors were going to tackle the sudden loss of our beloved Chadwick Boseman, may he rest in peace. I'm happy to say they did a phenomenal job to honor both Chadwick Boseman as King T'challa.

From a story point of view, I loved this movie even more then the first. Though Chadwick Boseman leaves behind a hole in the heart of the story, he's still there with us. His legacy, both that of him as his character - as well as his presence is constantly felt throughout the movie. I truly believe that this is the way Chadwick would've wanted this movie to be as well.

Letitia Wright did a phenomenal job despite the sad circumstances. She managed to take her emotions and blend that into an incredible acting performance, which felt real because it was real. Just like it is for 'Shuri', the events that have happened are upsetting, depressing and unbelievable - just like what has happened to Boseman. But just like it did for her in the movie, this story really helped me truly accept the losses of an awesome character and an incredible human being.

All of the other cast members managed to really up their game as well, leaving us with only pristine performances. I was very satisfied with Tenoch Huerta's portrayal of 'Namor', our antagonist. He was quite intidimating and his presence/power was felt throughout the movie, since it has been so strongly established that Wakanda is the most powerful nation in the world - and he managed to make them have a run for their money. The concept of their two powerful nations colliding because of the mistakes of others, is meaningful and suspenseful to watch.

I adored the music, both Ludwig Göransson's score as well as the features. It captures the right emotion or vibe (loss, action, evil, hope, vengeance, ...) just perfectly well to bring us even closer to that moment. Ryan Coogler crushed it once more as well as director and lead writer of the story. I hope he gets recognized more and proceeds to make many more amazing projects.

The cinematography and world building was, once again, incredible. The sight of Wakanda will never get old. Namor's city also looked incredibly unique, though it reminded me of Atlantis but that was to be expected.

It was an emotional rollercoaster with gut wrenching action sequences, powerful emotional moments and a way for us to heal. I will forever miss Chadwick as "The Black Panther", as he will remain that forever in my heart. I like to think that if he could see this film from above, he would be smiling. Just as I and all the other fans that were sitting besides me in the theater and all across the world.

The Woman King (2022)

A Mouse Can Takedown An Elephant

[7/10 · 7 November 2022]

I impulsively decided to go ahead and watch this movie in the theater, mostly because I'm a big fan of Viola Davis. I went in somewhat blind because I hadn't watched any trailers nor heard anything about the plot of the film.

Story wise, the movie was solid. The important cultural messages for society that I felt the movie was trying to give voice to came through and were a succes in my opinion. Though other than that, I wish there would've been more to it than just a revenge story mixed with quite an unnecessary love story on the side. As someone who generally enjoys revenge plots, I enjoyed this film as well but I can imagine that some people may find it a bit too common to spark their interest.

I don't know much about African culture and how accurately this movie portrayed some of that, but I did really like seeing the way the tribe for example celebrated, danced, lived together as a society, etc. For some reason it always put a smile on my face to see the sheer energy from a large group of people during a dance or celebration, which this movie truly managed to capture well. This film felt empowering and hopeful despite the awful circumstances that they had to live in.

The acting was pristine, both from objectively known and lesser known actors. I think it is fair to say that to most people, 'Thuso Mbedu' - who portrays the protagonist 'Nawi' - is lesser known than fellow castmates like 'John Boyega', 'Viola Davis' and 'Lashana Lynch'. Nonetheless, she managed to be a standout amongst these crowned actors and really step up her game. It's often easy to be overshadowed, but none of that happened here. That is also why I call her character the protagonist, because I feel like she was the heart of the story.

Though, the other three actors I just mentioned really did deliver incredible performances as well. I was most surprised by 'Lashana Lynch's' performance, whom I had only seen in 'No Time To Die'. Her character really grew on me and that made certain events in the film really have an impact on me as a viewer. 'Viola Davis' was badass as always; it makes me wish to see more of her in the future. 'John Boyega' was a pleasant surprise for me thanks to his charismatic portrayal of a king.

The cinematography is quite nice, though I didn't really feel like I noticed any outstanding shots that will stay with me for a while. The score didn't stand out for me either in the film, so I probably should listen to it separately as well in order for me to really critique it. Some transitions in the film were quite abrupt and sometimes scenes felt rushed, all the while the movie still felt quite long. These small details didn't bother me as much during my viewing but have to be mentioned.

Last but not least, the action was quite incredible. I don't know if a lot of it was practical because there were unfortunately frequent cuts during actions scenes. I wish we would've gotten some longer shots to really showcase the amazing fighting sequences even more.

The movie could've benefited from an R-rating to make the villains even more hated - as they should be, though I understand that would cut away a huge audience of younger people that could benefit from the cultural messages this movie is trying to exclaim. I rate this film 7.5/10, which for me means that it was an entertaining film with important underlying messages that here and there misses the mark on some minor cinematic points.

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)

May The Force Be With You

[9/10 · 27 October 2022]

As a lifelong fan of Star Wars - including the animated show following the age of the 'Clone Wars', I was very pleased to see more animated content announced in and around this era in this universe.

I didn't expect or even dare to hope that we'd ever get to have the pleasure to see more of 'Count Dooku', especially whilst he was still a Jedi. I have always loved his character and the duality that he faces. Speaking of that 'duality'; this show really helps to fill the gaps as to how and why Dooku turned to the dark side. Things make a lot more sense and these pieces of lore will change the way I think of him when I see his tragic character again in the prequel movies.

Fan favorites like 'Qui-Gon Jinn' and 'Mace Windu' return as well, which is lovely to see. An unexpected standout impressed me a lot, someone whom used to be no more than a background character for most: 'Yaddle'. In just the short amount of time she got, her character managed to grow on me and make me feel remorse when she passed. To that I say: great writing!

It's always nice to see more of 'Ahsoka Tano'. Her short background story was wholesome, though it didn't add much to her overall story in my opinion. The two other episodes featuring her (mainly "Practice Makes Perfect"), however, did do exactly that. The poetic fact that Anakin was indirectly the one who saved Ahsoka from dying by the hand of clone troopers as they obeyed Order 66 - thru training her and pushing her beyond her limits, is genius.

I'm glad that they aren't afraid to show how powerful Ahsoka really is by showcasing her defeating an intimidating Inquisitor with ease. It highlights once more that she was pushed much further than most Jedi by 'currently' one of the most powerful beings in the universe, being Anakin (by now Vader).

Ahsoka has through experience become a masterful Jedi and it's satisfying to see her being "a boss". Compared to characters like 'Rey Skywalker' - whom seem to somehow be at their peak right of the start, it truly feels like she has in a way 'earned' her moment through battle experience, training and most important of all: failure. One never learns without failing first.

The show also once more highlights that the Jedi weren't morally perfect compared to any other group of people, like the Sith. Firstly - as we see - using children as warriors to fight their 'wars'. Secondly claiming to preserve peace & order for the Republic whilst really only protecting the rich and powerful as the senate wishes. It makes us look at them at a much more realistic point of view.

The animation style is gorgeous as always. Voice acting is pristine once again, I'm glad the original voice actors keep returning (Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, ...) to voice their characters. Also, hell yeah Ian McDiarmid & Liam Neeson, nice to hear your awesome voices once more! The music was pretty neat as well, loved the vibes it was giving me in Coruscant. Very reminiscent of some of the eerie music used in the prequels.

The overall show is a solid 9/10 for me. I hope and expect to see more of this in the future, perhaps following tales of some Sith and/or other Jedi. This is the Star Wars content this universe and the fans need/want so it would only be smart to keep giving us more of 'this'.

House of the Dragon (2022– )

Fire & Blood

[9/10 · 24 October 2022]

I was hesitant in watching this adaption of a prequel story written by George R. R. Martin due to the way things ended on 'Game of Thrones', a show which I still dearly love but left me unsatisfied with its ending. When I started with the first episode of 'House of The Dragon' a while back, I was immedietly sold and ready for the wild ride that would await me.

The way the story is told is brilliant. As one would expect, large and frequent time skips are bound to annoy some folk. Not me, though. I find it intriguing and very fitting to this type of story: almost like a history book. This whole idea of all these different characters gradually dividing in two camps, Greens and Blacks- slowly building a grudge for one another which will undoubtedly lead to a war for the Seven Kingdoms is nerve wrecking to watch in a good way. I'm constantly on the edge of my seat!

All of the actors brought their A-game to the screen, both experienced and lesser experienced. Character personalities didn't die with the change of certain actors thru time but grew. One of the standouts is of course Matt Smith's Daemon Targaryen- and I was very pleasantly surprised by Milly Alcock's portrayal of the younger Rhaenyra Targaryen and will watch her career unfold with great interest A nod to Paddy Considine's Viserys as well, he truly embraced the character and made it his own. I hope he wins plenty of awards for his groundbreaking performance.

Ramin Djawadi crushed it once more, as expected. His music brought a lot of emotion to 'GoT' and now it does so again in 'HotD' by bringing new scores and adding hints and nods from previous score to some tracks to give us a heartfelt feeling of nostalgia. The sound design is also pristine!

The show is beautifully filmed as well, both day and night. One episode was a bit hard to watch because I believe it was filmed day for night in a way that wasn't perfect, but other than that all was good. The visual effects on the dragons is absolutely incredible which is just perfect since after all there are a ton of dragons present during this period of time in the show.

Can't wait for the next season! I hope the writers don't drop the ball and keep amazing us with their so far almost spotless adaption of this story. A solid 9/10 for me.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)

Bout Time They Chromed The F Up

[8/10 · 19 October 2022]

Back in late 2020 I had pre-ordered the videogame 'Cyberpunk 2077' for the PS4 and I have to say, it had it's problems. But the story certainly wasn't one of those, and this show proves that all the more. I binged the show in a single night and I have to say, I went through plenty of emotions in such a relatively short amount of time.

'Cyberpunk Edgerunners' is set in the same universe as the videogame and explores the story of protagonist David Martinez on his journey as he climbs the ranks in the underbelly crime world of Night City. The story that this show dares to explore is magnificent and had me invested from the get go. It's invigorating and creative, which is truly something rare in the industry these days more than ever.

The art style of this animated series is absolutely beautiful to look at. It's often very difficult to nail the look of a futuristic world in live action, so taking the anime route was definitely the way to go. World building, innovative fiction concepts and curious details is what allows this universe to thrive-

As well as it's well written characters. Just like in the videogame story, the characters in this story aren't cliché and don't back down from being an "actual character". For the most part, they all have their own complicated personalities, struggles & secrets- which makes us care for them to great extents. I wish though we got to see a bit more background on some of the main side characters to further invest us in their lives.

The visual characters designs are also mesmerizing and refreshing to see. The voice acting was great, though I can only judge on this for the Japanese version of the show and not the dubbed English one. Judging from the voice cast list though, I'm sure it was great as well.

Edgerunners isn't afraid to abide by some sort of certification mark for younger audiences and instead chooses to go the route that this story was always supposed to go as far as I'm concerned: gory, hot and dark but full of hope & love that unfortunately (just like in the real world) usually leads to trauma and pain. A lot of- pain...

Musical queue's are never misplaced and the score doesn't miss a shot either. The use of not just instruments/synths but also vocalized songs is something I don't always enjoy in television/movies, but for this show it worked well.

All in all, this show is a solid eight out of ten for me, losing one point for not creating enough background stories for important side characters (like mentioned previously), and another because the scale of events in the finale didn't feel right to me. I feel like things went a bit "too fast and chaotic" in the setting that these characters were in. Perhaps we could've built towards this more in a second season, which I hope will follow anyway.

Though, let that not distract you from the fact I absolutely loved this show and I highly recommend it for both fans and people who aren't even into Cyberpunk or anime (not if you're a child though, please look away). I'm glad that the story creators have stepped up their game and probably caused a massive amount of fans and new players to boot up/buy the game and start a playthrough. Smart move!

Better Call Saul (2015–2022)

A Lawyer You Can Trust

[10/10 · 16 August 2022]

A few years ago I binged 'Breaking Bad', which is my favorite show of all time. Though, just having finished it's spin-off 'Better Call Saul' has made me truly question which one deserves the number one spot. This spectacular universe has thrived in both shows and managed to never let me down, not even once.

There are so many things to talk about. First of all, let's start with how clever the show is. And I'm not only talking about the story itself, but also about how the story has been created. A major plot was based on just a couple of sentences from 'Breaking Bad' which is incredible to say the least.

Even though we knew the fate of most characters because of 'Breaking Bad', the show still managed to make me feel worried for them. We can thank the incredible actors for this, as well as the writing and direction. Each actor stood their ground next to each other and kept their level top notch.

The feeling of inevitability looms over the entire story which can be painfully confronting at times when you catch yourself hoping for the best.

Saul Goodman is obviously the main character, but the show has managed to establish some of the best 'side' characters in television (if we can even call them that). Their fictional lives matter and intrigue me greatly. Every significant person around Saul/Jimmy/Gene has gotten their own character study - which they righteously deserve.

Speaking of character studies; this show is obviously one major study for Bob Odenkirk's multi-layered character- and it's great. The writers take their time to add small but significant details that make the ending of his story satisfying. Having to "compete" against a legendary character like 'Heisenberg' wasn't easy but the creators of this show definetely made it seem like it was.

The cinematography in this series is unique and ground breaking. It holds onto what we know from 'Breaking Bad' and evolves into something beautiful of its own as we progress. The soundtrack is subtle but matters, as well as the sound design which is pristine.

Usage of mirrors, shadows, silhouttes, symmetry and color/lighting (for example black & white shots) tranform this show into a filmography masterclass. Locations, timeperiods and even emotions are often described with these methods - without words being present in the scene.

Every different director carries their part well and as a viewer it's obvious that they're all working together towards the same endgame for the story. The plot is clever and doesn't leave behind any plot holes that would throw the viewer of or make the universe seem uncanny.

For some it might start of slow, but it definetely rewards the viewer when we take a look at the overall story arch of all the amazing characters combined. 'Better Call Saul' is a perfect five star show for me. I couldn't have wished for anything better. I'm truly going to miss watching this masterpiece of television and I'll forever remember it, alongside it's predecessor.

Nope (2022)

What's A Bad Miracle?

[9/10 · 13 August 2022]

I was able to be present at the first avant-premiere showing here in Belgium for 'Nope' (2022) which is directed by the one and only Jordan Peele. The movie features stars like Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun. This is my personal, detailed rating of the movie based on multiple key aspects that I believe define what makes a movie good or bad. I watched the movie in cinemas (IMAX) with my brother and we found it terrifyingly amazing; almost on par with Jordan Peele's 'Get Out' which I absolutely loved and recommend.

I had watched the first trailer going into this movie and gathered from it that aliens were going to be involved one way or another. In a way I was right, but this movie took it to a whole different level. The idea of an UFO being an actual living creature is creatively refreshing and absolutely petrifying. I loved the story and the concept, along with the great execution.

The large open areas at night accompanied by no dialogue, no music, nothing- gave me this chilling tense vibe; not allowing my eyes to even blink because I was glued to the screen, waiting for something to appear. And it did sometimes, extremely vaguely. Just long enough for us to notice it, but short enough for us to not understand what we just saw.

The characters are intelligent and I love it. It's such a cliché having dumb characters doing idiotic things in horror films just to further the plot in a gory or scary direction. I love that this movie didn't have to do that. It was scary enough already. From the mysterious purple people eater in the sky to the people actually being eaten alive without the scene cutting away- which one would suspect.

The little amount of jump scares got me every time as well. Such weren't prevalent in this movie since tense atmosphere and chilling mystery is what made this movie super intense. As always, the subtle comedy was perfectly fit and gave me as a viewer a slight stress relief every now and then which was well needed most of the time. I also believe this movie has hidden meanings and 'lessons', which I could deepdive into but I won't. Let's just say that I appreciate them very much and that they're well placed- as in not forced.

Soundtrack and sound design (especially for the 'alien') were pristine. The cinematography and lighting was awesome as well. Night scenes in this film look incredible and the massive scale of the 'desert' reflect itself effortlessly thanks to the use of IMAX cameras. Speaking of scale, the filmmakers managed really well to make the main 'house' and characters feel so small on their grande property and surroundings. It makes them feel extremely trapped even though they're in this free open zone of nothingness.

Acting was on point- as always with these great actors. I'm a big fan of Daniel Kaluuya so I might be slightly biased there, but I was very presently surprised by Keke Palmer's performance since I hadn't seen her in any other movies before. All the other characters in the movie carried their parts perfectly as well next to these two leads. Not a single miss from the casting director.

I personally rate this movie a 8.5/10, losing some points because the story segments sometimes felt disjointed and I would have loved to see Jupe's story arch (involving Gordy's Massacre) play a bigger part in the overall story. It felt like a small, separate character study- which I liked, but I wish it was 'more' than that. But maybe I misunderstood. Anyway, the movie was great and I can't wait to see more from Peele in the future.

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

Life Finds A way

[7/10 · 2 June 2022]

For the first time I was able to be present for an avant-premiere, the movie being 'Jurassic World Dominion' (2022) directed by Colin Trevorrow. The movie has stars like Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum. His is my personal, detailed rating of the movie based on multiple key aspects that I believe define what makes a movie good or bad. I watched the movie in cinemas (Laser Ultra) with my brother and we found it quite good; almost on par with the first Jurassic World and much better than Fallen Kingdom.

The story was quite refreshing for a Jurassic movie, since we finally got to see what it would be like if the dinosaurs actually escaped and lived among us. This was probably the most fascinating aspect of the story for me. The genetic manipulation 'arc' was also cool, but quite cliché and it was most likely used as a component for the action sequences to lean on.

Bringing back the original characters from the Jurassic Park movies was a great move and I loved it. Seeing the original actors reprise their roles as Ellie Sattler, Alan Grant and Ian Malcolm was heartwarming. I also really enjoyed Isabella Sermon as Maisie, I thought she was really the heart of the story as well as our precious Blue & Beta

The cinematography was gorgeous. I mostly loved the scenes in the jungle/forest at night. The colors and vibe really gave me a OG Jurassic Park feels. The dinosaurs were obviously great as always and I enjoyed that there weren't any hybrid dinosaurs. Seeing some old classics return as well as our beloved T-rex and the raptors was satisfying.

The movie was scary at times which I loved. Not the point that you would scream but to the point that it would give you a good shake at least. The action sequences were groundbreaking, especially the dinosaur/motorcycle & car chase in the middle of a city. The movie also knew well when to calm the audience and prepare them for the next action piece.

I did miss an emotional attachment to the characters since I kind of knew throughout the movie that nothing super bad was going to happen to them. I miss that feeling from the original Jurassic Park movies during which plenty of important characters lost their heads and lives.

The music and sound design was on point but nothing spectacular in my opinion, though I'm yet to listen to the OST separately. The pacing and runtime was just about right to get everything in without leaving too many plotholes.

I thought the movie was very fun to watch and definitely worth a 7/10. It misses the emotional attachment and stakes for me which takes away from the suspense factor - which is very important in these type movies. But overall, great watch and I definitely recommend it for the Jurassic fans.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Maverick in The Sky

[9/10 · 27 May 2022]

Recently viewed Top Gun Maverick (2022) directed by Joseph Kosinski, starring Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller and many more. This is my personal, detailed rating of the movie based on multiple key aspects that I believe define what makes a movie good or bad. I watched the movie in cinemas (Laser Ultra) with my family and we found it very entertaining. I didn't know much about the movie nor its predecessor, but I was pleasently surprised about the concept, adrenaline inducing action and filmmaking. Enjoy the review!

I went into the theater blind, not even having watched the first Top Gun (which I highly regret). I didn't really have any expectations - though I did presume that I was going to witness some awesome practical effects. And that I did.

I loved the story. It felt classic, but not to the point of cliche. It felt like a wholesome and exciting story. The characters were all very stereotypical, which is a good thing in this case. A mix of all these stereotypes thus made for the perfect team. I was pretty much entertained throughout the whole movie and didn't once feel bored or anything like that.

Tom Cruise nailed it once again. For those including sometimes myself who might have thought at some point that Cruise is a great stuntman but not necessarily a great actor - this movie proved me wrong once again. Obviously he's still a great stuntman, but his acting is also top notch. There were points that I felt really emotional. I also liked Jon Hamm's character because I hated the character but eventually respected him.

The action was insane! Having filmed this in actual fighter jets and in the sky made this movie incredible for me. I felt real stakes and was at the edge of my seat throughout all the action sequences. The adrenaline rush that they must've felt definetely pushed through the screen into our bodies. The right amount of humor was inserted and it was nice.

The cinematography was incredible. The visuals of the film were top notch and oscar worthy for sure. I also really enjoyed the soundtrack by Hans Zimmer (and others). Definetely one to save on Spotify.

This movie surprised me in a very good way. Didn't expect to leave the cinema this flabbergasted. I highly recommend this one to be viewed on the big screen - as per usual. Finally, my rating of this film is 9/10.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

A Journey Through The Multiverse

[6/10 · 9 May 2022]

Just watched Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness (2022) which is Directed by Sami Raimi and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Xochitl Gomez and a bunch of other actors. This is my personal, detailed rating of the movie based on multiple key aspects that I believe define what makes a movie good or bad. I watched the movie in cinemas (Laser Ultra) with a few friends and I enjoyed it quite a lot. I think it's also fair to say that I'm a Marvel fan, as well as a superhero movie fan in general. Enjoy the review!

I thought the story was entertaining but not over the top good considering the possibilities they had with the multiverse. I enjoyed the story of Wanda's evil conversion into the Scarlet Witch quite a lot, even though I wish they showcased her powers a bit more and that her ending was more emotional. On another note, the introduction of the Illuminati was cool, but it felt a bit rushed.

My favorite character of the movie has to be Wanda/Scarlet Witch. I've always found her story interesting since it isn't a classic superhero arc. I think the newly introduced America Chavez was also a nice surprise, though I wish she did a bit more then just scream and run. Strange was obviously awesome as well, though I feel like as the protagonist of the story he was kind of set aside. The acting was alright, dialogue sometimes a bit cheesy but overall not too bad.

The multiverse is awesome, though they showcased so little in my opinion. It would have been awesome if we had seen more universes, even if it were just for a short time - not as short as they did during the multiverse jump. I also wanted to see more of the Mirror Dimension and the mind-bending Inception-esque visuals. I loved that the most about the first Dr. Strange movie. Aside from these remarks, the environment was pretty decent.

The vibe of the movie was a bit all over the place. I expected the horror to be a bit better, though it's understandable that it couldn't go too crazy due to the large and diverse audience that Marvel wants to attracts to their movies. The action scenes were cool but very limited. The true powers of Dr. Strange and the Scarlet Witch have definetely not been shown yet. Common sense was also missing sometimes to drive the story in a certain direction, which is unfortunate.

The cinematography and visuals were on point. The costume design was also pristine. I didn't find anything special about the score but the overall sound design was also great. I wish the runtime was a bit longer - or it was divided in a two-part movie - because this grande intended story felt rushed.

Overall I thought the movie was entertaining but it could've been a lot better considering the many epic possibilities they had with the concepts they've introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I rate the movie 6/10.

The Batman (2022)

Vengeance Is Here

[8/10 · 4 March 2022]

Last night I watched an IMAX screening of 'The Batman' by Matt Reeves and holy, what a great experience that was. I was sceptical going in due to the fact I was probably - together with a lot of other people - going to compare this movie to the incredible 'The Dark Knight' (which is by the way my favorite movie of all time). I watched a few trailers and I thought the tone of the film looked very interesting - and I was very excited to see The Riddler on screen again.

One of my favorite scenes has to be the scene when Batman is narrating about how he had managed to make criminals be afraid of the shadows. I thought it was so clever since Batman really can't be everywhere, but his overall presence in Gotham can serve as fear - which it obviously does. Another sequence I loved was the whole car chase scene. The introduction of the Bat-Mobile was bone-chilling and the whole chase was tense and spectacular. My favorite scene has to be the talk at Arkham Asylum between The Riddler and Batman. It reminded me so much of the famous interrogation sequence from 'The Dark Knight'.

That brings me to my favorite part of the movie: The Riddler. I loved the way he was portrayed by Paul Dano. He was absolutely terrifying, mostly due to the fact that he felt realistic. In a city like Gotham, I truly believe a person like this could exist and that scares me. The Riddler was the perfect villain for this movie since it brought so many opportunities for the noir-detective style of filmmaking.

In my opinion, every actor truly knew what they were doing on set and I truly felt like they studied their characters. A few standouts: Robert Pattinson as Batman was a pleasent surprise, Colin Farrell was unrecognizable as The Penguin (which shows how great of an actor he is + props the makeup department), Zoe Kravits really captured the essence of Catwoman in my opinion. Lastly I loved Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon and the way Gordon was portrayed as Batman's Robin almost. They are an incredible team together!

The cinematography was top notch! It really made Gotham into a character of it's own and helped so much with setting the overall vibe of the movie: Dark. The music by Giacchino was good aswell, though except for the main Batman theme there aren't really any standouts for me. I did really love the Nirvana music during the movie. I thought the story was great aswell, loved the underground mob stuff and everything behind The Riddler. The third act felt a bit bombastic, but in a way it worked. The hand-to-hand combat could've been a bit better in my opinion, but this movie was more of a character study than an action movie so it's not a big deal.

Overall I think this movie is a 8,5/10 for me, losing some points for the third action since I wish the close combat would've been either longer or captured better with some awesome choreography. That doesn't take away from the fact that it was amazing though! Probably my second-favorite Batman movie of all time! I truly hope we get to see more of this detective type of Batman stuff because it's amazing and so immersive. As soon as this comes out on 4K Blu Ray I'm getting it!