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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Repetitive. Monotonous. Unfulfilling.
Alright, I decided to write this review to see if I can put my thoughts into words.
I didn't like this movie, and I honestly think it is overhyped. It is, at best, an average film that is nowhere near as engaging and entertaining as its predecessor, "Mad Max: Fury Road."
By no means am I the biggest Mad Max fan or even a knowledgeable connoisseur of its lore and world. Nonetheless, I am a film fan who loves action and, above all, the feeling of being blown away by a story in a movie theater. I've watched "Fury Road" a couple of times now, and it deserves all its recognition and its place in the high rankings of action movies. It's memorable, epic, and revolutionary.
"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" is not.
Ever since I first watched the initial trailer for this film, I found myself slightly disappointed, mainly by the look of the movie. I held out hope they were still working on the post-production to refine the cinematography, but no-what we see in the trailer is what we get: an overproduced, highly artificial, sanitized-looking movie that distances itself, in a negative way, from the original that came out nearly a decade ago.
I can't remember where I heard it, but this sums it up perfectly: "'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' looks as if Robert Rodriguez's 'Spy Kids' was directed on a much higher budget."
That's the truth.
With that out of the way, I think the biggest issue for me overall was the story that was offered to us, or at least how it was conducted. "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" follows a plot that has been done an infinite number of times yet never gets old (if done right): it's a revenge story. However, this revenge story felt extremely dull and monotonous, lacking emotion and dragging itself through its unnecessarily long runtime.
How can a movie like this feel so tedious? I asked myself the same thing. After all, the franchise cemented itself as the gold standard of mind-blowing entertainment in 2015, right? But as we know, lightning in a bottle can't be caught twice. Repetitive and uninspired are the two words I can best use to describe the entirety of the film.
I must say it's impossible to judge this movie without paying attention to the action set pieces, as they are crucial elements of the narrative and the main driving force behind the franchise. All I can say is that after leaving the theater, I couldn't recall a single scene that kept me on the edge of my seat or truly made my heart race.
In a story where the setting diversification is already very limited, with our characters being tied only to the desert wasteland, creativity has to play a key part in order for each set piece feel distinct from the other. Here, however, it all feels like rinse and repeat. Nothing is fresh, and after the second or third action lackluster scene, you inevitably start to yawn.
I could go on about how lengthy the film is and how it shows, or how hard it becomes to connect with Furiosa as a main character since she hardly ever shows any emotion, but I would end up writing longer than I initially thought I would.
"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" is, unfortunately, a very unnecessary film. We would all have been better off with a movie that advanced Max's story or, better yet, just let "Mad Max: Fury Road" stand on its own.
I swear I just couldn't stand any more of those "impact explosions"! Where did the creativity go?!
That's just my opinion, though. I really wish I could have enjoyed it more than I did. :)
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Don't trust humans...
I'm thrilled to announce that with "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," we might have another opportunity for an exceptional trilogy. This installment, while not flawless, sets the stage for a captivating storyline, and I sincerely hope they explore certain narrative possibilities following such an intriguing conclusion.
Before delving into my key takeaways, I'd like to echo what has been expressed by many: the visual effects and CGI in this film are breathtaking. They enhance the already stunning visuals and realism from the previous trilogy, elevating them to new heights. From the wet hair on the apes to the texture of their skin and their expressions, every detail is beautifully crafted, enhancing the immersion into the story.
The plot, however, isn't the strongest aspect and is ultimately what prevented me from giving it a perfect 10/10 rating, a mark I reserve for "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," the pinnacle of outstanding quality in the franchise. The fault doesn't lie with any of the new main characters. Noa, for instance, is introduced wonderfully and immediately evokes empathy after a tragic sequence of events. He possesses a distinct personality that sets him apart from Andy Serkis' Caesar. Witnessing his gradual evolution into a leader promises to be an incredible journey. Supporting characters like Raka, Anaya, and Soona are also charming additions that contribute to the excitement of the story.
My biggest disappointment ultimately stemmed from the portrayal of the film's villain, Proximus Caesar. Throughout the story, there's an effort to emphasize, through Raka and the Order of Caesar, the values and vision that the original Caesar fought for, which paved the way for future generations of apes to thrive. I particularly appreciated how Caesar has become a religious figure, embodying a way of life and an ideology - he was the Ape Messiah. However, the film didn't make it sufficiently clear, or take the time to delve deeply into how Proximus was twisting and exploiting Caesar's philosophy for his own gain. We're left wanting more insight into his intentions and how he managed to hold influence over so many apes.
All we know is he wants to get into a vault.
Proximus is a rather shallow villain compared to the hauntingly layered Koba. We simply don't get enough time to truly understand him and feel threatened by him. While the premise for his character was promising, the execution fell short. Consequently, I believe this significantly detracted from the overall plot, as the main story ultimately hinges on his character.
Additionally, the kingdom didn't quite evoke the feeling of a true kingdom. I wish there had been a better sense of grandeur portrayed.
All in all, the ending was truly amazing. Although I didn't mention the main human character, Mae, much in this review, I thoroughly enjoyed her development towards the end. It was fascinating to witness Noa's evolution, as he developed compassion and understanding towards humans, only to be betrayed by Mae. I hope Mae returns in future installments, playing a larger role and evolving into a more complex villain figure to our hero, Noa. It would be incredible to see this new trilogy center around their rivalry, an antagonistic relationship spanning decades and filled with tragedy. With the revelation of weaponized humans communicating via satellite and planning to retake the planet, there's immense potential for a gripping narrative.
This new trilogy has all it takes to be bigger, bloodier and more powerful than the first. I am rooting for Wes Ball to continue his vision and to truly be bold!
Molli and Max in the Future (2023)
I Watched it Twice Back to Back, and...
After watching "Molli and Max in the Future" for the first time, I was left feeling a bit confused as to what I was supposed to be feeling by the time the credits rolled. A sense of confusion crept up on me, and I asked myself: Did I miss something?
So I immediately decided to watch it again.
The fact that I felt inclined to watch it one more time in less than 24 hours, and did so without feeling like it was homework, is a testament to how undeniably enjoyable the movie is. This is mainly due to the world created and put on screen by director Michael Lukk Litwak. Using the lower budget to his advantage, Litwak excels in bringing together practical and computer-generated effects to create a very unique futuristic society. It's a quirky, weird, and fun universe where humans coexist with fish-people, demi-gods lead sex cults, magic is real, and parallel universes are the newest tech commodity.
The visual effects and production design are a feast for the eyes, putting to shame the effects of some of today's biggest blockbusters. It's a lesson on how much you can achieve with so little, as long as you have a distinct and creative vision. I would love to see more of what Litwak does with his ideas within the sci-fi niche.
With that said, I can't say I loved the story. At its core, the film is a conversational romance in the spirit of "Before Sunset" (one of my favorite romance movies of all time), where we follow Molli and Max as they develop a friendship after their meet-cute and navigate through years of their lives crossing paths with each other. Beneath that friendship, however, lies deeper feelings that they both hold towards one another.
One of my biggest complaints with the story is that I just couldn't be convinced that there was any romantic tension between the two main characters. Nothing in the narrative was done to really justify the love Max felt for Molli, or vice versa. It lacked emotion. Nevertheless, the movie does successfully show how they come off as great friends but fails to prove to the audience that they belong together as anything more than that.
Finally, another gripe I had was with how much the movie was trying to preach and comment on current political and environmental issues of our society. Perhaps it may have seemed smart and funny on paper, but it really just came off as out of place, in-your-face, and excessive. Nothing is subtle, and I truly don't understand the point in stuffing the story with so many messages. The black holes created by the Cheese Company, the out-of-nowhere plague, the galactic ruler debate-it all felt forced, and personally, I didn't feel it fit or was needed.
Overall, "Molli and Max in the Future" is a very unique and stylistic film with a creative vision and some clever comedic moments. Although not the greatest love story I've seen, I still recommend it as I feel it may leave somewhat of a lasting impact.
Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
A Cult Classic for the Next Generation
As soon as I finished watching, I immediately thought to myself, "This movie will easily become a cult classic in perhaps 40 years' time," due to its very odd and wacky nature.
"Lisa Frankenstein" is by no means a great movie; in fact, I believe it sits just above the average threshold. This is mainly because, in a runtime of roughly 100 minutes, nothing much happens.
In summary, Lisa, a quirky introvert with a traumatic past, befriends a dead man, goes with him on a brief murder spree, they fall in love, and that's it. There is a very clear lack of story.
On the positives, I loved Kathryn Newton's performance, and as a huge Mike Flanagan fan, it's always great to see Carla Gugino deliver as well. The cinematography was also beautifully done, managing to capture the 80s nostalgia, as well as the soundtrack, which managed to differentiate from clichéd songs. But, unfortunately, that's pretty much it.
Looking at the comedy, I chuckled at some of the moments, but overall, the jokes felt very childish, relying heavily on slapstick humor involving vomit and stumbling around. Which brings me to Cole Sprouse, whose cadaver character I felt lacked any personality or growth. We know nothing of him, who he was, or why he is even there. All the backstory is given briefly during the opening title sequence, and that's just not enough. This makes it exceptionally hard to connect with him and, in turn, believe in whatever romantic relationship the movie is trying to sell between him and Lisa. Ironically, the dead man is indeed lifeless.
Aside from all that, the movie just played it way too safe, never really attempting to be creative with its concept and deliver memorable scenes. It's all just very bland and ultimately forgettable.
"Lisa Frankenstein" is definitely a very watchable movie, and it can be very entertaining and enjoyable. Just try not to demand too much of it, or like me, you'll end up asking yourself: how the heck did our main character come back from the grave? What really happened to Lisa's mom? What's up with Lisa's abrupt personality shift? And most importantly, is the tanning bed magic?
Poor Things (2023)
Artistic, Weird, Bold & Empowering
Writing this just having watched "Poor Things" for the first time, right out of the theater, and there is so much to say about this; but most importantly, this film is a literal piece of art.
Every frame seems as if it could be on display in a museum, from its vibrant colors to the costume design, and especially to the weird architecture (in the best way possible) that composes the set design. All of this helps immerse us into Yorgos' world and create a new and distorted reality in which these characters inhabit. In a strange way, it reminded me a lot of the feel of Netflix's incredible adaptation of "Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events".
Quick disclaimer: I'm aware that the movie is based on a novel, but I haven't read it (yet), so I will be speaking my thoughts purely based on what I watched on screen.
There is quite a lot to unpack from the story, but I guess I can start by praising how incredibly well the act of "sex" is used as a narrative tool for Bella's character journey. There are many very graphic scenes, yet all are there to serve a purpose, and they never come off as gratuitous - that is something I found to be perfectly well done. Bella's sexual experiences are tied directly to the way she gradually begins to understand the world around her; each phase of her encounters guides her deeper into her odyssey.
In the beginning, while still blind to the outside world, she pleasures herself as a way to demonstrate not only growth and loss of innocence but also to introduce her to society's shackles and inhibitions. As she learns that touching herself in public is not "polite," it leads her to question: why must she restrain herself from doing something that makes her happy? This, of course, applies to many aspects of life, in which we must always keep ourselves in check to conform to society's norms.
In Lisbon, things start to progress as she enters a different stage - sex with a partner, a pivotal moment in Bella's journey of self-discovery. She begins to recognize how society is male-driven, and women are regarded by men as only objects of desire that are there to fulfill their needs whenever they see fit. Slowly, however, she begins to transition into someone aware that they are the owner of their own self.
Bella's venture into the Parisian brothel can be seen as the final stage of her sexual voyage, where she has to deal with the lowest possible kind of male clientele. All kinds of disgusting and sickening men show up for a night with the beautiful and adventurous Bella Baxter. Yet, she is there not because she is being forced but because she wants to, and this is critical. While working as a part-time prostitute, she is able to witness men at their most vulnerable selves as they exercise their strangest fetishes and desires. This is all put in effect to solidify Bella's understanding that despite society's construction of men holding all power, she, as a woman, is in fact above all and is in the superior position.
To continue with the sexual metaphors, not only is she capable of reaching happiness on her own while pleasuring herself, as we see in the beginning, but she is also comfortable finding happiness in the company of another woman, illustrated by her night spent with Toinette at the brothel.
Bella discovers herself and grows into, or as God puts it, creates herself into a person who knows and understands her value to the world.
At least this was my reading into all of this.
To wrap things up, the use of color on Bella's dresses is another curious aspect. While I haven't delved into specific interpretations, the choice of blue, yellow, white, or orange/brown as primary colors in different moments of her journey likely holds special meanings to indicate what she is going through.
Blue is mainly worn whenever Bella is in God's house. We later see Felicity wearing the same color, and I believe it's used to represent innocence and the state of purity towards the wonders of the outside world. Yellow becomes a more prominent color when Bella gets to Lisbon and later shows up again in Paris. To me, it indicates sexuality and the happiness emanating from pleasure. White is mainly used in Alexandria when Bella is aware of poverty and death by hunger for the first time, as well as in the dinner scene with the General, where he mistreats his helpers and abuses his power with violence. Therefore, white can symbolize her vulnerability to the cruelty that lurks within society. Finally, orange, used only in a couple of scenes towards the end, both in the form of a dress and in the form of a skirt in the film's final scene is, in my opinion, used to present Bella's final form, the Surgeon - her true self - someone who is not afraid to get things done and who never cowers from doing what is morally right. Orange is the definitive Bella.
This is, without a doubt, a movie I highly recommend to anyone who loves cinema!
Wonka (2023)
If Only I Had Watched This as a Kid
If I had watched this as a kid, I just know it would have instantly become one of my favorites. Unfortunately, as an adult, it ends up being quite difficult not to be critical of some aspects of this film.
To get the positives out of the way, the entire production and costume design are outstanding, and when the story takes its time to explore Wonka and his quirky inventions, the creativity is, without a doubt, a standout (wish there was more of it!). A highlight is the shop scene with the yeti tears.
Other than that, the story just didn't quite manage to engage me. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but overall, I didn't feel drawn in. The characters all seemed quite cartoonish and over-the-top in their mannerisms and dialogue, which struck me as odd since the original (to which this one is a spiritual prequel) is grounded in realism despite its fantastical elements. The Chocolate Cartel, Bleacher, and the Chief of Police are all examples of this-uninspired and one-dimensional.
I don't want to be overly critical, knowing I'm probably not the target audience, but the songs were also forgettable, both lyrically and melodically. Finally, I wish the film hadn't relied on visual effects as much, as it ended up contributing even more to the lack of realism and made it harder for me to feel immersed. It all felt too fake.
I guess that all pretty much summarizes my thoughts. I did have a few laughs and was marveled at times by the creativity put on screen, but at the same time couldn't connect as much as I had liked to the story and its characters.
I still do recommend it though, worth a watch nonetheless.
How to Have Sex (2023)
A Realistic, Depressive Depiction of 21st-Century Youth
Just from reading the short synopsis, I was expecting to watch a lighthearted comedy sharing the DNA of films like "Superbad" or "Booksmart," but this was something completely different.
The movie distinguishes itself by doing its best to depict reality accurately - from the dialogue to the character interactions to the pandemonic party scenarios that unexplainably attract young people nowadays. And although it doesn't introduce anything new or groundbreaking, the film still manages to leave a lasting impact, carrying an important message primarily due to its diverse themes.
As we follow our protagonist, high school senior Tara, and her "best friends" to a holiday retreat in Greece on a mission to potentially meet a guy and lose her virginity, themes of friendship, self-discovery, vulnerability, and toxic masculinity are all revealed throughout the story.
Not much can be said other than that the film effectively captures the downfall of today's society and its youth - the lack of chivalry and respect from men, the absence of self-love and self-respect from women, jealousy from those close to you, and the constant pressure put on by others for you to fit in.
It's all very real. Mia McKenna-Bruce's excellent performance makes us forget we are watching fiction. Through her character, we can closely observe how easily today's society can quickly and aggressively strip away your innocence and turn its back on you.
This is definitely an important watch for everyone, reminding that you are never to be forced into anything against your will and not to be afraid to speak out.
Asteroid City (2023)
A Creative Concept, yet Awfully Uninspired
Felt the need to say a few things after finally getting around to watching Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City." As a fan of his style and artistic vision, it's hard not to get excited whenever a new film of his is announced. However, as of late, it's been quite difficult to feel taken away by his work.
To list some of the positives, the movie is undoubtedly gorgeous to look at - perhaps one of my favorites of his in terms of art direction. I feel that the minimalist scenography and the retro-pastel color palette work well together, allowing for the creation of a warm, cozy, and intimate environment, contrasting effectively with the black and white scenes. Another positive is that the fast-paced, quirky, and dry sense of humor that Anderson is well known for remains very strong and consistently present throughout the script, with a highlight being the reveal of the rather small meteorite inside the colossal crater. Additionally, whenever stop-motion is used in film, it immediately wins me over, and once again, the director implements his signature animation in a few scenes.
With that said, the execution of the story felt overall very uninspired and dull.
One of my biggest complaints is the unnecessarily large ensemble cast, comprising fantastic actors and actresses who are extremely underutilized. It bothers me that ultimately there is no need to have these big names in the movie other than to put them on the poster, sell more tickets, and attract more viewers. Not a single character is developed thoroughly, and no relationship is constructed well enough to invoke emotion or make the viewer care - it all feels lifeless. It is impossible to feel attached to anything in the story, which, to me, is critical. The fact that the main storyline we follow is actually a play within the film further detaches us.
Everything, from the uneventful story to the lack of soul and character development, makes this film painfully underwhelming.