ajacayen-90247 Reviews

The Marvels (2023)

Better than Captain Marvel, but could've been better

[5/10 · 8 November 2023]

IT HAS BEEN a while ever since I went to a theater to see a Marvel movie. Because of how uninterested I was, let alone how Quantumania and Love and Thunder hindered my love for superhero movies, I have become indifferent with the MCU. Fortunately, because of how cool the trailers look and the return of one of my favorite Marvel heroes alongside two other characters I am unfamiliar, I am curious to see how The Marvels would turn out, which is a sequel to Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel. I would say that, for the most part, it is an enjoyable film but with major creative decisions that did not quite work with me.

Starting off with the positives, in my point of view, is Brie Larson's Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel finally having more personality. Unlike the first one where she felt too stoic and showing little to no emotions, here she was able to show off her soft side whenever she is interacting with the other two superheroes and as she tries to become a leader since she hasn't been able to manage a team yet.

Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan or Ms. Marvel was an absolute delight to see on the big screen. Even though I am aware that not a lot of people have seen her television show or may not have liked it in general, we cannot deny how much energy she brings whenever she was given the screen time. Even though some of her jokes did not land, you can see how she reacts to serious situations, striving not just to get appreciation from Captain Marvel but becoming a real superhero.

As for Monica Rambeau played by Teyonah Parris, there were moments from her that I thought she was cool whenever she was showing off her powers, especially when she is fighting together with Kamala and Danvers. But there are things that I felt were just unresolved or was like an emotional baggage towards Carol that just didn't work for me.

The rest of the cast was fine. The Khan family were all adorable and supportive to look at whenever they interact with Kamala, Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury is as good as always but Park Seo-joon felt like he was there but for no reason at all. But of course, like with almost every Marvel movie, the villain always tends to be underutilized. Even though Zawe Ashton did her best in her role as Dar-Benn, I wish she could have been better.

Speaking of "could have been better", the film's runtime, which is actually the shortest for an MCU film, truly affected the story. There are a lot of sequences that could have been expounded a lot more and the way the movie progressed felt too fast, like it wasn't giving enough time for fans to take in the information and just being spoon-fed a lot by Rambeau. This includes how the superheroes are switching in the first place and how they are able to track down following planets.

Not to mention that certain scenes in the second act felt so off and just trying to be funny for the sake of it - which is one of the major reasons why the MCU is already in a decline in terms of quality. I would not give out any spoilers but let me just say that it transitioned to genres that I did not expect and it actually turned me off for a while, just waiting for it to be over and go back to saving the universe again.

In conclusion, The Marvels is most likely going to make people even more turned off due to the creative decisions that were made, probably from the studio as shown in several videos on YouTube. But on my end, just ignoring how the franchise is being ridiculed as of this moment, I would say that the cast saved most parts of the film and in a way, was better than Captain Marvel and not as bad as people might expect - but could have been so much more.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

A Pretty Fun TMNT Movie

[6/10 · 30 August 2023]

Not the biggest fan of TMNT at all. Like, I know the existence of it but was not fanboying over the franchise. And with that, I just went into this movie having little to no expectations for Mutant Mayhem - and for the most part, I would say that the film was able to do its job in entertaining me. Even though there are some problems that I had with it, taste-wise, it did not diminish my enjoyment with the film at all.

The cast is great. Very surprised to see Nicolas Cantu, one of the voice actors of Gumball Watterson from his eponymous show, taking on the role of Leo and I thought he was really great and did felt like he matured as a leader. Out of all the turtles, he stood out as the best one. Despite this, the camaraderie among the four young actors are felt, especially whenever the comedy comes into play. The animation is without a doubt great and inspired by Into the Spider-Verse. Hopefully, other studios like Disney, with its upcoming film Wish, would follow suit. Also surprised to see a lot of references not just from Nickelodeon but even mentioned Disney and BTS. I did laugh for the most part, as well as this one song choice that I did not expect it would play.

As for things that I did not like, its how the cast of villains was played out. Like I get the story as to why they are formed as a pack but it didn't feel anything compelling at all. By far, Superfly voiced by Ice Cube felt like a danger whereas everyone else could have been villains for succeeding movies. Instead, they are all jampacked together but did not have anything special to offer in the movie. As for the message which is don't judge a book by its cover or being equal in the eyes of society, while understandable, felt forced at times. By no means its like shoving it down to us but rather being very explicit and not make the audience guess what the film is trying to convey to us. It's like this is an X-Men movie that had The Little Mermaid message in it - mutants being part of the human world.

But overall, I had a really good time watching TMNT: Mutant Mayhem. Wished I've watched this movie while eating a pizza, that could have added a better experience LOL.

Past Lives (2023)

An Interesting "What If" Trip Down Memory Lane

[7/10 · 30 August 2023]

The one thing that I expect when watching Past Lives was that it 's already Oscar worthy for categories like Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress to name a few. With all those being said, I can confidently understand why there is hype surrounding this movie, particularly on the part of the cinephiles or critics. For that reason, Past Lives is, without a doubt, an emotional trip down to memory lane.

Apart from the categories that I have mentioned, the biggest strength, for me, that this film has was the cinematography. Shabier Kirchner knows how to pan the camera when transitioning from the wide views of the cities and focus it from the faces of the characters towards objects like gadgets.

As for the cast, Greta Lee and Teo Yoo are the perfect juxtaposition of what it feels like in both living in different cultures (old and new) and the kind of timeline they want to be in (present and past). The way they interact with one another shows the power of not just connection but even sentimentality - when people experiencing something from their past once more makes it feel as if their emotions are overpowering them, thus, becomes the core of the film. John Magaro, though had a problem with how he ended up with Lee's character, was good at being the observer of the main characters' relationship.

As for my problems, its more of a personal. That would might be because of the Oscar-hype or probably how the movie was promoted. In fact, even though it is categorized as a romance, it felt more like a drama because it deals with the feelings of the characters rather than the romantic tension. While there are hints, it doesn't seem to be main part of the story at all but rather how they explore the possible lives they could have had.

In the end, Past Lives is one of those movies that I can see a lot of people love while, for this one, could not really stan with this movie at all. I would like to reiterate: this is by no means a terrible film because it has all the qualities, from cinematography, acting and story. It's really only because of the impact it had on me and I feel like this is one of those movies that when I look back on, I would say to myself that it was really good - not just amazing as people claim it to be.

Blue Beetle (2023)

A DC FILM THAT JUST WANTS TO BE FUN

[6/10 · 17 August 2023]

DCEU's 2023 has been at a dipping point. With the disappointment of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, in which the first one I really loved, and the somewhat decent of a Flash movie, it seems like the way the franchise is ending doesn't seem like a bang. Fortunately, Blue Beetle has already come out oh boy did it not disappoint.

Now let me preface this: it is by no means a classic nor is it groundbreaking in the superhero genre. At the end of the day, I just want to have a good time in the theaters and, for the most part, it succeeds in what I'm aiming for: a fun time.

Xolo Maridueña as the titular young Iron Man-like superhero, alter-ego Jaime Reyes, was really good. He brings a lot of energy to his performance filled with charisma, awkwardness and relatability because of his love for his family.

Speaking of family, everyone was really good playing in their respective roles but George Lopez was easily the standout because of how funny his lines and reactions are towards Jaime.

And the theme of the family is really at the center of Blue Beetle, it's really hard not to ignore it which is similar to Shazam. But as the film moves on, it does feel like everything that was done to make this possible was filled with heart by the filmmakers and knew just to be simply entertaining, hitting at all the right beats to make you laugh and cry.

The pacing was surprisingly good as to how they were able to fill in the runtime which doesn't make it feel like two hours at all as you are watching it. It's like it took two to three days in the story, if you look at the second to the third act. That was really impressive.

Visuals are great and the action sequences are really good to look at. Props to the director of photography, who by the way did Hereditary and Midsommar - yeah, let that sink in.

Of course, the film is not without its faults. It is cheesy at times, does feel generic and doesn't seem like it wants to outshine the rest of the films not just in DC but everything superhero in general. But my personal issue would have to be how they handled Susan Sarandoncs character and the nemesis of Jaime. While I get where they are going, it felt like it needed to be more compelling and not just some cartoony villains.

But by the end, I walked out of Blue Beetle thinking how good it was to see an enjoyable film with the message of family that hit me emotionally. Would I recommend the movie? Yes.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

The main cast shine in this multiverse comedy

[8/10 · 29 July 2023]

I have heard so much hype coming from this film even before its release. As I have finally gotten to watch it on the big screen, there are so many words that I can use to describe my experience towards the movie. And that is mostly positive things that are hard to be put into words due to how Everything Everywhere All at Once is a confusing yet a thrilling and entertaining film that I will never forget. To A24 pictures, this is probably the best that I have seen from you yet and here is why I loved it.

Michelle Yeoh, who is best known for her role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is an absolute blast to watch. She is by far the most standout but even the whole cast as well delivered when they are given screen time throughout the film. I love the fact that her bickering and being confusing makes a whole lot of sense to her because I too, as an audience member, was very confused at what's really going on. But by the time she eventually learns to acknowledge her problems and flaws towards herself and her family, she becomes a lot more relatable.

And yes, as I have stated before in the previous paragraphs, the film is absolutely confusing. In addition to this, it was a non-stop rollercoaster of craziness and off-the-top humor, particularly sexual jokes, that added more fuel to the fire of confusion that I am getting. The action sequences though are also cool and not to mention how funny the jokes delivered by everyone in the cast, in particular is Jamie Lee Curtis who I was surprised was part of this movie.

I am also happy that this is one of those films that does feature the element of the what-if routes. Seeing what Michelle Yeoh's protagonist could have been in other universes is a great and also relatable way to the audience because we also imagined what our lives would have been if we took the other choices in life.

Remember the iconic quote of Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop "whatever happens, happens" - this basically sums up my love for the movie and interpretation to reality. Just like the movie, sometimes there we always be moments that you will face a difficult situation and as you start to think that it would have been better if I lived another life, always remember that sometimes, living your life to the fullest in all the mishaps you experienced with the people you are stuck with is better than regretting everything that made you come to this point of your life.

So basically, even though I said Hustle was my favorite movie of 2022, it seems like Everything Everywhere All at Once has just topped my list. Please Oscar, nominate this film for Best Picture and give Michelle Yeoh her very first Best Actress nomination because she literally carried the film the entire way through. Yes, there is more to come in the second half of the year but I bet no film can be as standout as what the Kwans did. If you haven't seen this film, I would be very jealous of you because you are going to have an exhilarating yet memorable ride with the movie.

Nimona (2023)

Nimona is more than a fantasy sci-fi movie

[8/10 · 29 July 2023]

I had little to no expectations for Nimona at all. I watched the trailer and thought it was fun and hilarious so I went in, about to watch the film with that kind of mindset - and boy did this film offer more than what I had expected.

Chloe Grace Moretz as the titular character was the best performance that I have seen from her and should do more voice roles.

It's nice to see Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal and Rogue One) taking up voice acting and I thought he was funny and relatable in the film.

The story deals with themes such as acceptance and how society shapes the identity of a person. I highly recommend to watch film multiple times because as you peel down its layers, it's more than just a comedy action sci-fi film.

And that's what makes Nimona one of the best movies of 2023 and definitely deserving of a Best Animated Feature nomination.

Beau Is Afraid (2023)

Another Divisive Film by Ari Aster

[6/10 · 29 July 2023]

This movie is not for everyone.

If you are the type of person who loves artsy ones and ignores logic like mother! (2017), this movie is for you.

It deals with the idea of someone who has extreme anxiety. Thus, it shows how parental influence shapes a person.

As a three-hour movie, some may enjoy it as a rollercoaster of experience while others may find it an exhausting movie.

Whether you like it or hate it, one thing that the audience can agree on is how committed Joaquin Phoenix was in the film.

With all that being said, it will divide audience but can create long conversations about how people feel from this movie - which is a good thing.

Insidious: The Red Door (2023)

An Alright Directorial Debut for Patrick Wilson

[6/10 · 29 July 2023]

The first two Insidious movies were solidly good for the most part whereas the two following sequels were both alright. And with this movie, it's at par with the latter - and that's fine in my book.

It's nice to see Ty Simpkins in his older version to actually shine more considering he was not that active in the first two movies and apart from his performance in The Whale.

Patrick Wilson, as always, does a good job whenever he appears in a horror movie. As a director, while his vision and concept are good, his execution needed a lot of work.

Too bad Lin Shaye and Rose Byrne were not that much active in this film. Hoped they could have had a lot of screen time.

As a horror film, while it does rely a lot on jump scares often, the intrigue and creepy element was still there. The humor could have been toned down because it might bother some audience members.

But what made this film engaging was the father and son bonding. Their relationship between the two was evident despite what happened in their family.

Even though The Red Door is not as good as the first two movies, it is still a satisfying conclusion to the Lambert family. Definitely watch this over the generic horror movies.

The Batman (2022)

A Great Different Angle on Batman and Gotham

[8/10 · 29 July 2023]

Finally, we got a Batman movie that literally focused mostly on the iconic superhero and not just only his alter-ego. And from that first sentence I have written, I can easily say that 2022's The Batman is easily an amazing movie. The question though: is it as good as previous Batman movies and where does it rank?

Robert Pattinson, who I have admired for his performance in The Lighthouse, literally delivered a great performance as Bruce Wayne / Batman. You can see that him being a vigilante makes him broken yet fulfilled in serving vengeance against criminals.

Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman is also a great scene stealer. Although it can be a different incarnation compared to the other actresses' performances such as Michelle Pfeiffer and Anne Hathaway, she managed to make a great personality for the character.

The Penguin / Oswald Coppebolt played by Colin Farrell made a good performance being presented as a mob king. You can say from his unique voice just adds more to the acting.

Paul Dano as the Riddler, however, is easily a standout villain. You can tell that his attitude is somewhat like the Joker and does carry a dangerous plan for the city of Gotham. A person that can really get into your mind.

Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon was moderately good in acting out as the character in assisting Bruce Wayne throughout the movie. Despite being a sidekick, he also serves as the human factor of Batman, reminding him that he is the one person who puts trust in him.

I felt Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth didn't made a lot impact to me even though Serkis was good in it. Although, there is this one scene, same with James Gordon, to make sure that Bruce Wayne does not lose his human side of his life.

I'm very surprised that John Turturro was in the film Carmine Falcone. He was good whenever there are scenes of him, especially in the final act of the movie.

Just from observing the way the story unfolds, for me, Matt Reeves did got inspiration from The Dark Knight trilogy. That being said, it was a great choice for him to solely focus Batman and not just Bruce Wayne. It also felt a great addition to the franchise.

Even the lines said by the characters were also great, in particular in the final minutes of the movie where it would make audience think about how we should remain strong in the face of adversaries and hope for true change.

To imagine that Michael Giacchino scored The Batman and No Way Home back to back is literally amazing. He was able to create an iconic signature musical theme whenever Batman appears in front of the villains.

Speaking of soundtrack, whenever I hear the song Ave Maria, it is hard for me to not associate it with this film since it has been played so many times throughout its running time.

Costume designs were great. The Batman suit is great alongside the Riddler's and Catwoman, although the latter's mask could have been made better. Even the makeup of The Penguin was also great because I could not even Farrell in it.

Production design just from the Batman vehicle all the way to the setting of Gotham is stunning. It reminded of Joker because it was able to setup the ambiance for the movie.

Cinematography is on top. There are scenes wherever an object is being highlighted for the audience to see makes them anticipate the characters moving towards it. Great camerawork.

The story was overall great. The first act was able to setup what it's like to be in the city of Gotham filled with criminals alongside characters residing there. The second act was more on the mystery of the villain and exploration of Batman's character. The third act definitely delivered stakes and a satisfying yet potential follow-up.

When it's action, the fighting sequences were great. As a crime, you can see how a one significant crime served as the driving force of the film to a city-danger. Most importantly, the drama and mystery blended well with one another as it challenges Batman against no just the people but even himself.

Where it stands amongst The Batman movies if you may ask? For me, it takes second place for me just right after The Dark Knight. I know, both the first and last movies were great but The Batman felt like the follow-up The Dark Knight needed.

Overall, The Batman gets an 8.5/10. It's an amazing solo superhero movie that does explore the character and the people living in Gotham. From the characters, production design to the direction and writing, it's another great cinematic experience.

Hustle (2022)

Adam Sandler's Best Movie to Date

[8/10 · 29 July 2023]

In 2022, I rarely had the energy to continue watching in the cinemas due to the selection of films. So far, I have only seen The Batman, Multiverse of Madness, The Northman and X - all of which are extremely good. But now it seems like I found a movie, surprisingly on Netflix, that seems to top my list so far in the first half of 2022 - and that is none other than Adam Sandler's film called Hustle.

Produced by Sandler and NBA superstar Lebron James, it's a film that follows the struggles of an NBA scout Stanley Sugerman who tries to prove his worth by finding the best player for the Philadelphia 76ers. But once he thought he found an extraordinary player Bo Cruz (played by Juancho Hernangomez of the Utah Jazz) for the team, not everything goes into his favor. Now it's up to him and Cruz to train and ensure to become part of the NBA draft.

Now let me get started with the positives of the movie and that is obviously Adam Sandler. As you may have read the title of this article, he is absolutely the best part of the movie. There were a lot of scenes where you can see him trying to challenge the management of the 76ers led by Ben Foster's character Vince Merrick, co-owner of the team. Just like Uncut Gems, when Sandler is given the right role in a drama or thriller movie, he definitely shines a lot compared to his comedies.

Surprisingly, Hernangomez was actually pretty good in the movie, especially since he is a player himself in the team so I definitely saw his dynamic with Sandler was great as an agent-player relationship. And because of that, I found it easy to relate to them a lot more than from what I expected. There was this one scene where they are in a car and they both share their imperfections which led to a sense of humanity since not all people seem to have perfect lives because of their strengths.

From beginning to end, me and my dad watched it all the way through. We laughed, cried and amazed by a series of montages and scenes that even though were done in several movies, they were done a lot better because the energy never left. There was this great sequence wherein they try to reach out many people, including basketball players so that Cruz could earn some recognition by professionals from NBA.

Speaking of NBA professionals, a lot of iconic players appeared in the film which made my dad feel like in a memory lane wherein he would mention their names and I'm happy he does that.

So all in all, Hustle is so far the best movie I have seen in 2022 - and I am not ashamed to say it. The movie captured me through its heart and passion for my love of basketball and as Robert Duvall says in the film, "never back down."

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

The Way of Water Levels Up Emotions and Visuals from its Predecessor

[8/10 · 29 July 2023]

I will admit it. I am one of those people who are skeptical with the idea of having a sequel to the highest grossing yet forgettable, to some audience, of all time. That being said, I remained optimistic and hoped that it would at least be good. And boy was I surprised by this movie. The Way of Water was not only great as the 2009 technical masterpiece, but was somewhat, better than I expected.

In this movie, it does follow the same formula like the first one: you have your first act that has a lot of exposition and information needed to be made, the second act which is basically world-building around a clan, and then the third act which is nothing more than full on actions and emotions felt. Just imagine this plotline but with more emotions on high, dazzling spectacles in the bodies of water and amazing fighting sequences - that is how the Way of Water felt for me. Not to mention unlike Avatar, I was already in for the ride just from its second act which was a plus for me.

With regards to the cast, Sam Worthington as Jake Sully is greater compared to his acting from the original. I connected with him a lot more as a family man considering he puts his family as his first priority. Britain Dalton, for the most part, was a standout character especially his connection with a certain whale and how he struggles to step up like his father Jake. Stephen Lang as Quaritch was developed a lot better as a villain though his return still feels like a mixed bag alongside Sigourney Weaver's depiction as Kiri since she doesn't act like a teenager that much. I wish I could see more of Zoe Saldana's Neytiri more in the next film if ever. And lastly, Jack Champion as Spider was difficult for me to understand as a character.

But what I can say for the most part is that I was definitely enthralled by the visuals that James Cameron has done in almost 13 years of the film's production. I am inspired by him for how he was able to level up from the first movie and actually doubling down on the theme of environment. The water is definitely a great idea considering at this point of our lives, humans are also abusing the creatures and resources of the water. His activism does shine a lot and was not shoving down like other films with a social commentary would do. Not to mention there are scenes that remind you of his previous films like Titanic and even Aliens.

Overall, I had an amazing time watching The Way of Water. For me, regardless of the same formula utilized from the first movie, it is where his film shines by using a simple story and making it a cinematic experience. While I am skeptical of seeing more of this in the future, I encourage people to watch this film to support theaters and filmmakers that have a lot of passion in creating films and putting it out for the world to see.

The Whale (2022)

Brendan Fraser truly deserved the Best Actor Win

[8/10 · 29 July 2023]

This is honestly one of my most anticipated films of 2022. As Brendan Fraser comeback fever is real and the Oscars is just a few weeks away, I have decided to start my 2023 with a movie that I am dying to see. And yes, I have seen The Whale and there are some points that I would like to address about it.

Brendan Fraser as Charlie is easily one of the two best parts in the film. Fraser playing as the aforementioned character made me feel for him a lot and not just necessarily pity him but more like I wish I am in the film and could give him all the help and love he deserves. If one knows the story behind his sudden change in body weight, that would actually add to his performance even more.

As for the other best part, Hong Chau as Liz, Charlie's nurse and only friend, delivers on her role as well, making her likeable despite her moody yet caring personality towards Charlie. I am glad and agree to the Oscar nominations of both Fraser and Chau for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively.

Damn, Sadie Sink as Ellie was a really selfish and an actual evil character, more like the main antagonist in the film. As teenagers, she does fit the role well and at the same time, makes me feel as if there is really no hope for her to actually come out of that bad attitude and actually show some care to her dad Charlie despite his mistakes to her.

I was very surprised to see Ty Simpkins, the kid from Insidious, appearing in his young adult form as some sort of missionary named Thomas towards Charlie. He is one of those people you see as a very religious one who you can't help but just go with the flow even if you are not in a religion at all.

For the most part, people will be divided on how he portrayed fat people since I myself never experience this kind of predicament. Some may actually just feel sadness towards Charlie while others may criticize it for spreading fatphobia including sexuality in this time of body positivity. I will leave that judgement to you but I still find Fraser playing Charlie acceptable.

This film is indeed very hard to watch as there are scenes that will make you feel uncomfortable that includes Charlie eating a lot of food as his way of coping his depression and stress. Almost all of the characters are carrying their own emotional baggage which can make you to relate to any of them.

You can tell that as you watch the movie, it feels more of like a play since it all takes place in one apartment. It is actually based on with the same name that is written by Samuel D. Hunter including the 4x3 ratio. And this is where my issues come into play (no pun intended).

The first act is seeing Charlie as a poor fat man trying to live the most of his life in one house and there we meet Liz, Thomas and Elllie which already got me interested. In the second act, Charlie's fond of interaction with Ellie despite her attitude made it feel relatable including Liz's continuous help towards Charlie. And the final act amazingly delivered on the one last chance of redemption for not just Charlie but even Ellie as well

But overall, seeing Fraser and Chau with their outstanding performances makes The Whale a very good film. The movie as a whole may be uncomfortable to see but just seeing Fraser actually making the acting comeback of his life sold it for me no matter what.

Suzume (2022)

A Good Beautiful Fantasy Sensation by Makoto Shinkai

[8/10 · 29 July 2023]

I am very lucky enough to finally watch another Makoto Shinkai film in theaters. Last time was Weathering with You which was an amazing time for me and I regret not being able to watch Your Name. And now, as an anime fan, watching Suzume was worth the good time despite the major flaws it has.

Starting off with the positives is the animation that is without a doubt amazing. In almost all of his films, Shinkai never fails to deliver amazing visuals on screen that makes another perfect background picture to capture.

Also, RADWIMPS yet again delivered songs that were unlike the ones done before with Shinkai's two previous amazing works. They brought music that was haunting yet emotional at the same time, especially by the end of the film.

What makes Suzume somewhat different is the concept. The idea of making people remember the 3/11 natural disaster was impactful considering Japan being prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. The people who experienced those disasters will make them more emotional.

And not to mention that Shinkai managed to change the pacing of the story from province all the way to the city itself was interesting. It was like a road trip visiting the different parts of Japan such as Miyazaki and Kobe instead of focusing on Tokyo.

And through this adventure, the people they meet along the way shows how important connections are. And that accepting the past for a brighter future will truly make someone push forward despite the struggles.

But sadly, this film struggles on certain aspects. For one, the romance did not feel connected and instead forced. Like, it felt one-sided in a way that the love at first sight didn't work compared to how Your Name and Weathering did it.

Your Name made the two have an instant and explained connection whereas Weathering, while it also took just days, felt more relatable and impactful in the final act of the movie.

This has nothing to do with the age gap at all considering not only it is acceptable in Japan but there has been tons of anime that tackled on this certain topic in the romance genre.

Hate to bring up the two films in this review but Suzume also falls in the repetitive formula category considering it is predictable. Therefore, certain scenes had little emotional impact.

Souta as chair for almost the entire movie, while understandable, didn't work for me. This is just a personal problem. This includes the way the chair was able to move on high places kind of beats logic. I know, it's anime, but still.

Also, video game plots can be a hit or miss for me - and this one is a miss. While I like the road trip style, the way they figure out where Daijin (cat) is felt so easy alongside locking doors needed more.

But all in all, is Suzume worth the watch? Yes. Is at par with Your Name and Weathering with You? No, but at least it's good to watch. This is a definite recommend for every anime fans to see.

The Little Mermaid (I) (2023)

An Actually Good Disney Live-Action Remake

[6/10 · 29 July 2023]

I have never been eager to watch another Disney live-action remake - like ever. While a couple of them were actually good like Christopher Robin and Aladdin to name a few, majority of them were mostly mediocre to downright abysmal.

And now Disney brought us another re-adaptation of my most favorite film they have ever done.

Now, as a fan of Disney Renaissance's The Little Mermaid, what would I say about the latest addition to the live-action remakes? Well, I actually like it - it's surprisingly good. And here's why:

Halle Bailey is absolutely great as Ariel. I can definitely feel her whenever she is singing her heart out such as Part of Your World. Not to mention that she is the best part of the film.

Melissa McCarthy did not disappoint at all as Ursula Yeah, she still has that McCarthy behavior from her previous films but she managed to stick with her character and make her great portrayal of the villain.

As for Jonah Hauer King as Prince Eric, he works for the most part in the film. And compared to his animated counterpart, he has more personality by showing his voyager skills and love for adventure also thanks to the addition of having a mother for Eric.

Also, I loved the fact that unlike in the original classic, the film actually fleshed out his character a lot to make the relationship between Ariel and Eric. And while the relationship seemed somewhat hard to accept since it's only three days, at least it was explored more which made me feel for them.

Not gonna lie but Javier Bardem as King Triton makes more sense. While he may seem bland at times, his relationship with his daughter Ariel was expounded a lot more especially by the final act of the film.

As for the new songs, some worked with me like Hauer-King's Wild Uncharted Waters while others I am still warming up to like with Awkwafina and Daveed Diggs rap song The Scuttlebutt. The original songs sung by the cast were all good, no further explanations.

The setting was amazing for both the land and the sea, most especially for the latter that brings out great visuals like the Way of Water vibes. I really did experience both sides of the spectrum and how the film expounded on understanding the good in others despite their differences and history.

Thank goodness it is not a shot-to-shot remake like The Lion King. While the film relies on the nostalgia beats from the original, though it feels stretched out at times, it added more personality to Ariel and Eric alongside Ursula to shine more.

My only issues with the film apart from the realistic look of the animal characters Scuttle, Sebastian and Flounder, to which I got over with it, there were sequences that transitioned fast.

Overall, The Little Mermaid is, without a doubt, a good live-action adaptation of the Disney classics. Hopefully this is a start for the studio to be serious whenever it decides to adapt another film but making its own identity.

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

A Solid Sequel to the 2018 Spider-Man Animation Classic

[8/10 · 29 July 2023]

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse has since become my most favorite Marvel movie ever. Not devaluing the MCU films and even those from Sam Raimi but Into the Spiderverse always had that rewatch-ability factor and the kind of campy fun adventure but also has stakes that gives out an emotional impact to Miles Morales in becoming Spider-Man.

Now, we have a sequel to the film, part one of a two-part story mind you, that takes place one year after the previous classic wherein Miles sets his eyes on a villain called The Spot. With the return of Gwen Stacy into his life, the film follows Miles on another multiverse adventure that will lead him to, yet again, another lesson as to how difficult it is to be Spider-Man.

For the most part, this film was absolutely a blast to watch, especially if you really are a die-hard Spider-Man fan. And as someone who have come to love Into the Spiderverse time and time again, Across the Spiderverse was, without a doubt, a solid sequel and expansion to the complexities of the Spiderverse.

To kick it right off would be mentioning Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy. She was given a lot of screen tkme which is good since her story was barely touched upon. Not only does the film showcase her life as a Spider-Gwen but even how complex a character she is - balancing what she loves and what she truly wants.

Then next would be Shameik Moore as Miles Morales. It's so nice to see him back with his funny and outgoing look in life. But whenever there are scenes that are thrilling and serious, he does emote the dramatic aide of himself, trying to make sure that everyone he loves is safe no matter what.

The Spot played by Jason Schwartmann, as the main antagonist, at first, he was kind of annoying for the first 40-50 minutes of the film, showing off his genius yet goofy side of him. But during the halfway portion of the film, there comes a point that he should no longer be underestimated as he brings out the very dangerous part of him not just controlling holes and spots.

Brian Tyree Henry as Jefferson Davis, Miles' father, was also really good in the film. Like yeah he was funny but also relatable as a father in the previous film but in Across the Spiderverse, whenever he is given time to say something, he delivers it really well and better from the predecessor.

Same goes with Rio Morales voiced by Luna Lauren Velez. She was not that much active in the first movie and even though she appears much only in the first act of the film but here she gives such helpful lines and advice to Miles, just making sure that he is safe and that he makes the right choice for himself.

Now when it comes to the animation, it's hard to disprove the fact just how absolutely amazing it is. As the critics stated before, it's like an art museum as you watch this two-hour and almost a half movie There are certain scenes, especially when the Spider-Men go through different multiverse, deserves to be a wallpaper. The comic book motion style aspect of the film fits perfectly well with the film. Easily Best Animated Feature worthy.

There was this one sequence in the film wherein it felt like its own side story for this particular character and then suddenly the movie starts putting out the intro for the movie, saying that the story is about to begin. It reminds me of The Empty Man in the same way which was actually really cool.

The major theme of the film is how someone chooses their own way of telling their story and not necessarily just let fate decide on what to do. It was an emotional aspect to the story because even the audience can relate to this situation as to whether or not it's up to us to let life takes it course to make us who we are.

Just like No Way Home, the film brings back the nostalgia and memories from our childhood classics. Hence, it even gives nod to an MCU film as said in the trailer, other films from Raimi and Marc Webb, as well as the animated series of Spider-Man. It also featured other versions of Spider-Man that were so ridiculous and insane to imagine.

In terms of pacing, the film starts off slow in its first act, trying to expand on Miles and Gwen's lives and stories. It does pick up in the second act wherein it explores the real complexities of all Spider-people and how Miles react to their standards and experiences from the past. As for the final act, it does leave you hanging, wanting more from this film but sadly have to wait for March 2024 to come.

The only major flaw that I might have in regards to the sequel would probably be the fact that the film relies a lot on exposition. I get it that its best to remind and inform the audience who the characters are bht it kinda bugs me at times, especially this one long scene where it did a whole lot of explaining by Miguel O'Hara (Oscar Isaac) to Miles about the complexities of the Spiderverse.

And the last thing that will be mentioned here is that considering it's only the first part of a two-part film, it's not going to be satisfying - which makes sense since it does feel like a buildup as to how that final act will be played out in Beyond the Spiderverse. From those final scenes back and forth, it's going to be another heck of an adventure for Miles and Gwen in the Spiderverse.

So to conclude, Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse delivers once again another great story and probably one of the best for 2023. Is it as good as Into the Spiderverse? Depends if you're the type of person who loves more complex characters and storytelling and for me, Into the Spiderverse stills holds a special place on my heart. Then again, Across the Spiderverse is a necessary, ambitious and great continuation for Miles, Gwen and the gang.

Elemental (2023)

A Good Step-Up for Peter Sohn

[7/10 · 29 July 2023]

Alongside the release of The Flash, I have never been anticipated to watch a movie in theaters again. And with Elemental, it has proven to give me a great time watching it and has, in a way, revived my love for Pixar films.

Ember Lumen was easily the best part of the film because of her struggles in controlling her temper. Her inner conflict between chasing your dreams vs. Family has been a repetitive theme shown in Disney classics but this one hits home for me. Even if my parents were not immigrants, I was able to connect with where she and her family are coming from.

For a while, Wade Ripple was an annoying character because of him being a soft guy and crying too much - but that's what also made me like him a lot after watching it. Also, he delivers such romantic lines to Ember that did make me feel kilig at those moments.

Speaking of kilig, their romance, while at first did not sit well with me on how they sparked, their pairing was so cute and adorable that it's hard for me to not ship them. And in that relationship, Ember learns a lot about trying things out first and understanding people's differences to reach on a common ground which I thought was pulled off really great.

In addition to understanding differences, I loved how they featured the sides of fire and water in order to see how the two families of both Ember and Wade react to their romance - and it was also very relatable for those showing their loved one to the family.

Of course, the animation should be talked about because what Pixar has done was absolutely great. With how fire, water, air and wind was animated to such perfection, it is without a doubt deserved to be nominated for Best Animated Feature - even if it's not as amazing as Across the Spider-Verse.

As for the story, the first act sets up a lot of things very quickly which may need second viewing to get used to it. As it progressed towards the second act, Ember's relationship with both her family and Wade was easily the bes part. And how the film wrapped up in its final act, while cheesy, I felt for Wade and Ember's relationship by the end and made me feel great watching it.

Overall, it felt great watching Elemental and it is indeed one of those movies that if it comes out on Disney+, I am definitely going to check it out. But I still encourage animation lovers to watch this on the big screen because it's the better experience to enjoy this film.

Talk to Me (I) (2022)

Another Solid Horror Film from A24

[7/10 · 29 July 2023]

A24, for the most part, has been consistent with their specific releases when it comes to the horror genre. With the likes of Ari Aster's Hereditary, Robert Eggers's The Lighthouse, Kevin Smith's Tusk and Rose Glass's Saint Maud, if there is one thing in common as well as most of the films by the said studio not part of the genre, they are not afraid to take risks. In fact, while admittedly using the familiar horror tropes audience are used to seeing but they innovate them and make it as their own - just like Talk to Me.

Talk to Me is, by far, the creepiest and interesting film of 2023. Aside from Beau is Afraid which is bonkers, Talk to Me features the typical scenario as presented by Aster's Hereditary in how people use the power of exorcism and supernatural force in order to overcome grief. However, the film was able to stand on its own by actually creating a scenario of how teenagers use the creepy hand as something for fun - until it goes too far.

In terms of the cast, everyone performed well in their respective roles. Never did they feel as pretenders but rather real people. But the actor that stood out the most was definitely Sophia Wilde as Mia. Her character is someone the audience can relate to, not just because of the grief that she is trying to overcome but as to how she reacts to the horrific sequences that is happening to her and the people that are close to her.

The best thing from this film is unlike generic horror movies, it does not rely too much on the jump scares. In fact, just like Hereditary, it is the creepy vibes, disturbing imagery and unexpected gore scenes that boosts the film's horror vibes. It does not have a lot of exposition which is good considering not everything has to be spoon-fed to the audience.

As for the story, it presents an allegory of addiction (not necessarily drugs) and how it is used to overcome the depression and loneliness felt. At the beginning, it starts out slow, trying to know the characters through their conversations. But the film picks up once the hand is presented, how it influences Mia's choice and the effect of it all. From there on, the film does not hold back with its horrific elements. Despite the final act could have been better, it was an overall solid horror film.

Talk to Me is finally that horror movie that people who are fans of the genre should definitely watch in the cinema. Want something bold and original? Then this is the film that should earn more recognition.

Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, the Movie (2023)

Loved this film than the show itself

[7/10 · 29 July 2023]

A film based on a popular animated series in French, as someone who is not familiar with the lore, it felt very compact, easy to digest and had a good time watching it.

In terms of the cast, obviously, Ladybug / Marinette and Cat Noir / Adrien are the ones that carried the film whole through. Through sequences and their actions, Marinette is shown to be a shy and clumsy girl who continues to doubt herself due to her fears. And as the film progressed, it's very easy to connect with her. As for Adrien, he is charming and relatable because he too also has personal problems but related to his father. Knowing that they are the core of the movie, it is no doubt that they are filled with personalities and you can't help but feel their pairing - and they are made for one another. So long as they believe and work together, nothing can really stand in there way and that's what makes them worth rooting for - from teamwork, friendship and eventually love.

When it comes to the genre aspect of the film, the musical, for the most part, was surprisingly good. Granted, considering the original series was not, some may find it corny at times. But this reviewer found it to be really great to listen to. Out of the eight songs played in the film, seven if not including the show's theme song, three stood out as the best. Two were solos, one by Marinette and the other by Adrien and the third one when they sang it as a duo - which was very romantic. There is this one song though, that is so popular, it was so surprising that it was used in the film.

Animation-wise, unlike the series that has not-so-fluid animation, considering that it is a feature-length film, it is more smooth to look at alongside the voice acting that was really great as expected.

As for the story, it was able to flesh out the characters and didn't really need a lot of exposition to do so. Even though the film feels very rushed in order to get from point A to B, it's really hard not to enjoy the ride. Just to add, there were certain sequences, particularly in the second act, that felt very similar to other films such as Smurfs 2, Ghostbusters (2016) and Hercules - if you see it then you will understand. It's also nice to mention the Sailor Moon vibes such as the transformation as well as the typical villains. The final act, while it could have been a lot better and impactful, felt satisfying by the end. It could have stopped there but seems like there are plans for another film.

Overall, it's hard for this reviewer to dislike the film. It was fun, charming and an innocent film. Despite its cheesiness, the core of the film, Marinette and Adrien, just made the movie work because of their friendship and romance. As someone who is just a casual fan or have little to no idea about the lore at all, it was a really good time watching Miraculous: Ladybug and Cat Noir, The Movie.

Barbie (I) (2023)

It's Actually Fun to Be in a Barbie World

[8/10 · 20 July 2023]

Going into Barbie with having little to no expectations at all can be such a delight.

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling's banter with one another, even when they are on their own, are so entertaining to look at, especially Gosling who seems to have a more fun in the movie and is indeed the funniest out of all the cast members.

That being said, everyone in the cast seem to be having fun in their own respective roles, living out Barbieland and the real world. But by far the standout would have to Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters) and America Ferrera (How To Train Your Dragon), who both help Robbie's titular character when she is having an existential crisis.

As for the production design, it is without a doubt, the strongest aspect of the film, particularly in BarbieLand where it seemed like the production team really went all-out in making the world, not to mention how they really feel when young girls are playing with Barbie.

The film does carry a lot of themes of not just someone trying to overcome an identity loss but also how acceptance should start by loving yourself and not needing to live up to the norms set up by leaders.

They are thought-provoking including capitalist feminism (how ideas can make money instead of enjoyment), alongside the idea of growing up which is coming to terms with reality and letting go of the childhood you have cherished - which is well-represented in the fantasy and real world.

All the way through, as a comedy, even though some jokes did not land well, most of it are really funny and does put a smile on your face up until the very end.

Overall, Barbie continues to prove the amazing directing skills of Greta Gerwig (Little Women, Lady Bird) and alongside her writing craft with her husband Noah Baumbach. With this film alongside Oppenheimer, it is one of the standout films of 2023.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

A Bombastic Experience

[9/10 · 20 July 2023]

Oppenheimer is absolutely a testament as to how outstanding Christopher Nolan is in his art of filmmaking.

The film is indeed an epic as it presents a story about a scientist whose fascination of the creation of atomic bombs leads to a lot of complexities not just political but even in his personal life.

Oppenheimer feels similar to Studio Ghbili's The Wind Rises wherein it does deal with a man who has the love for creating something but his creation used to war. But Nolan's film takes this to a much higher degree with more comprehensive analysis on the characters, not to mention the events he went through.

It is a character study and watching the film can make audience not just relate but also bewildered as to the type of man Oppenheimer is - as a scientist, outgoing political man and an ordinary man in general. It also shows the kind of leader he is in handling the project as well as the ups and downs they went through in order to make the first ever atomic bomb.

Everyone in the cast was great but Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. Were the best ones in the film - truly deserving of Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively.

The way the production team managed to re-enact the nuclear bombs is so amazing and it's hard to believe that visual effects had nothing to do with it. Just truly insane.

Oppenheimer is already ranking at the top of Christopher Nolan's career to date. With this film alongside Barbie, it is a standout film of 2023.