Angry Birds 2 Review

“An unexpected pleasure with lots of laughs along way just in time for Angry Bird’s 10th Anniversary”

I’m keep it real and just say I actually never watched the first film when it came out back in 2016 (I did see clips) so I didn’t know what to expect jumping right in on the second movie. Like many video-game to film adaptations there’s always a skeptic on whether it’ll actually be good or faithful to the source material, especially if the game is just a swipe and destroy on a mobile phone.

Angry Birds 2 is a sequel centered around Red, Chuck, Bomb and the rest of their feathered friends when the pigs suggests that they put aside their differences and unite to fight a common threat. The birds and pigs come up with a scheme to infiltrate the new island attacking, deactivate the device and return to their respective paradises intact.

By far I can say I enjoyed this movie. It’s full of laughs and subtle jokes that made me laugh a lot while watching. The scenarios the characters find themselves in and the jokes hit in a way that’s relatable and hilarious. The cast is great with most returning and few new comers and they all blend really well together I felt the film kept the momentum going I wasn’t disengaged from the story. Each character has its moment to shine and they all have their own comedic moments with my favorites being Danny McBrides’s Bomb, Josh Gad’s Chuck, and the banter between Red and Leonard the Pig. The story’s premise makes the antagonist of the first film into a protagonist here and the banter between them while encountering a new foe is what makes the story feel fresh and be able to explore possibilities compared to the first film (which I only seen clips of). The trend of Angry Birds has died down but I got to admit this is work a watch, even if you have to take your kid as an excuse to see it.

If I was director, I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s crazy that some of the movies lately I’ve seen I don’t really feel like there’s anything I would do differently, mainly because I enjoyed them as they were. Angry Birds Movie 2 has enough gags and banter while keeping the plot along. A cute segment I liked was the side story of the three baby birds trying to retrieve their siblings who haven’t hatched yet after making a mistake. It was balanced to me and again that’s my opinion.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 is a sequel that has been released 3 years after the last one. I feel this to be another summer movie to just enjoy before we near the end of the season and it’s cool they decided to release it on the franchise’s 10th anniversary.

10/10

Dora and the Lost City of Gold Review

“A fun twist of adventure for all the family to enjoy”

When I first heard about this film when it was announced, I honestly just let out a sigh because why in the world is this movie being made. Then, I heard Isabela Moner was starring (she was in Transformers The Last Knight) and I was like okay, but again why and how would they do it. After that, the first trailer released. I was like okay this is stupid, but looks like they enjoyed filming it. However, once the latest trailer came out and the segment of the child version of Dora was on screen talking to the audience if they could say “delicioso” and her parents were so confused who she was talking to, I literally laughed in my bed early in the morning that day. It was right then I was interested in checking it out and all I have to say is…never judge a film by first impression.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold is obviously a live action adaptation of Dora, but with her in her teenage years. Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle, she gets taken to California to experience high school. However, her parents get kidnapped by mercenaries so she, her cousin Diego, and two friends, embark on a quest to save her parents while trying to find a lost Incan civilization.

This film is a family film all the way, for anyone who read this, and one that was different for me after literally seeing Hobbs & Shaw with my girl. I actually grew up watching Dora as a kid when I wasn’t always on Cartoon Network, watching Ed, Edd and Eddy or Code Lyoko, so seeing this obviously you hope the film at least is faithful or pays homage to it. The opening segment does not disappoint in that at all it was like watching the intro to the show and I was like “whoa, oh word? that was a good job.” The comedy of it was light hearted and funny that I will admit at times I was like I’m not cringing, but I feel embarrassed watching this character, even though I’m not legitimately there in the scene. For me, the jokes landed and they didn’t take everything so seriously either. An easier way to picture this film is this: Dora is real, but the adventures she went on in the show were all in her childish imagination (Boots talking, backpack talking or map and other animals) and that this film is about her trying to live a real life. The only talking animal was Benicio Del Toro (The Collector for MCU fans) as Swiper who was funny himself. Danny Trejo does voice Boots but in a very heartwarming segment and that’s it. For those who watched, I’ll share two of my favorite parts at the bottom cause you know…SPOILERS for those who care.

If I was director making this, in all honesty the way this was done, I can’t see anyway else and it could’ve been worse if anything. I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed watching it and the amount of laughing I did cause usually it’s rare for most family films I’d laugh at more than a few parts. The way they payed homage to the show was brilliant and she literally does have everything in that backpack even a knife I said “whoa that’s funny” (I like dark humor fyi). It’s a kid friendly film that has things also for adults to enjoy too. I guess only one thing I was skeptical about at first was the casting of older Diego, I felt like someone else could’ve played him but he grew onto me as the version who grew away from imagination and felt more ‘highschool grown-up’ and it was funny. There’s a scene where Dora says ‘you don’t look like you at all’ and I laughed cause that’s how I felt. Also Swiper, I felt was added in randomly with the mercenaries but the dialogue plays on itself mentioning that which is why this film, I felt didn’t take itself seriously which is great.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a fun film for the whole family to enjoy towards the end of the summer fun. It was a nice wind down from all the real high-octane action I be seeing a lot and this film pulled off a feat of adapting Dora that I didn’t believe was possible. It was like Indiana Jones in premise and I personally liked the representation of hispanics (being half hispanic myself) shown. Usually hispanics in media are always associated with the cartel, drugs, killing, violence, deportation and so on, but here it’s fun, family, adventure, laughter, enjoyment. All I can say is if there’s a sequel, I’d be skeptical cause it’s a sequel, but I’d be for it because again….never judge a film by first impression, until you see it all the way through. It’s crazy how it released the same day the show concluded its 20 year run.

9/10

SPOILERS!!

Okay so the first scene that had me laugh was the exact scene from the trailer. I loved how they riffed off the fourth wall break as a joke of who is Dora talking to. Like imagine in real life you just decide to break fourth wall in front of a group of people, they all gonna be like “who you talking to?”

The second scene was when Dora, Diego and the guy who helps break them out of the crate saying he’s a friend of her parents, traversing through a huge flower patch that releases a spore. The spore turns out to be a hallucinogen that makes them see themselves as their cartoon versions. I literally shouted “Yooooooo!!!!” and was wowed because that was a very clever that even Dora says “the gang’s all here” and all the characters from the show appear like the Benny the Bull, Big Red Chicken, the Troll and more. To me right there I said that is a way to pay homage to something besides hidden ‘easter eggs’.

Bonus: The guy who helps Dora escape capture in the beginning turns out to be the bad guy and it was funny because after surviving the quicksand he started crying at the fact he was alive and was shouting “I’m a bad guy. I’m a bad guy” and Dora says “you’re not a bad guy…” That was clever, took me a minute to pick that up.

Just check it out even if it’s online.

Hobbs & Shaw Review

“A spin-off I felt was so great that I wish it wasn’t already part of a franchise”

The Fast and the Furious franchise has been around since 2001 and it’s still going on all these years later. At one point I felt they just need to end it before it was being milked too much (thankfully the 10th and final installment in two years will do that) and as much as this spin-off would be considered so, I really enjoyed it a lot more than the main installments (Furious 7 was where the franchise should’ve ended).

Hobbs & Shaw is a spin-off about Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw forced to team up to stop a virus from getting into the wrong hands while trying to learn to work together after Fate of the Furious.

There’s so many elements I felt made this film work such as the chemistry between Johnson and Statham which I, and many, felt was the highlight of F8 and they bring that chemistry here. Their banter back and forth is hilarious and I felt doesn’t fall short. Director David Leitch (co-directed first John Wick, directed Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde) is not new when it comes to fast pace action and fights sequences and he brings his signature style here which brings along all the brawl and espionage you would expect in a Fast and Furious film nowadays. I understand a lot of people feel that the days before Fast Five the franchise was all about street racing but the more I looked at it, Fast and Furious wasn’t all about street racing that was just the cover for one of those Point Break undercover cop style films that transitioned to heist and international espionage. At the core of the franchise, stated by the actors, is family and car stunts so this is a fast and furious movie all in all just not with Dominic Toretto. Idris Elba, I felt for a long time should be in the franchise much like long ago when F6 was released I said Jason Statham should be in the franchise and look what happened. Another thing I liked was how they expanded both worlds of the two characters showing different and similar they are. I’ll leave the spoilers for the bottom but Hobbs and Shaw felt like a change of pace and actually capitalized on the chemistry everyone loved between the two stars.

If I was in the director’s chair, the only thing I would change is the mcguffin of the story, the virus. I feel like we always have that virus to exterminate the world type thing and it’s a repeated story just in different versions. Idris Elba’s Brixton and his history with Shaw was great and how he works for a secret organization which could stay for character development, but after knowing there was someone he worked for that controlled him, undermined his fierceness a bit as a villain. He went from Black Superman to a lacky who got terminated for failing. I think Brixton should’ve stayed that ghost from the past that was a terrorist in the shadows that Shaw’s sister, Hattie, encountered and is on the run from him which led Shaw and Hobbs, like the rest of the story, work together to find her before facing the Black Superman (hey he really is) who will stop at nothing to kill who stand in his way of his work. That’s my opinion but I’ll take what we got cause it was still cool asf.

Hobbs and Shaw was a spin-off I really enjoyed and it sucks the road to this happened the way it did. Vin Diesel refusing to have the post credits for it at the end of F8, the whole beef between him and Johnson (it’s been settled as of writing this) and Tyrese Gibson claiming Johnson of being selfish for pushing F9 back for the spin-off. The studio wanted it and I for one actually wanted to see it more than F9 or even F10 (see already that sounds like enough they better not try to reboot). For those skeptical like oh this isn’t Fast and the Furious or Dom is not in this, you should check it out there’s some surprise cameos as well. I just wished this film was actually it’s own franchise apart from Fast and Furious that would be crazy and whatever that franchise would be called I’d be all for it. Shared universe of spies and espionage, etc.

8/10

(SPOILERS!) Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Hart, and Rob Delaney join as agents who help Hobbs and Shaw along the way. They were another surprise highlight that in franchise future I hope we see again especially Ryan Reynolds (remember the Director did Deadpool 2 and Reynolds and Johnson are doing a film very soon called Red Notice)

The Lion King (2019) Review

“A quick Disney cash grab, filled with an All -Star cast playing it safe redoing the 1994 movie specifically for the coming generation to see”

For many people who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s, the Lion King (1994) has been a main staple to Disney animation. Sure it was considered original but we all know is pretty much Kimba the White Lion they just put it in Africa instead. When the (2019) live-action was announced, I was skeptical as much as anyone would be but I felt safe about it when Jon Favreau was directing because I loved what he did with Jungle Book and his previous movies (Elf, Iron Man, etc.). When the cast was announced I was interested, especially since they brought back James Earl Jones, but deep down I knew Disney was making a cash grab. However, I also realized this is a film that’s not for the generation that saw the original but more towards the upcoming generation who will come to know what Lion King is (was for ‘us’).

The Lion King (2019) much like 1994’s 2D animation is about Simba born to take to heart his own royal destiny on the plains of Africa. However, Scar, Mufasa’s brother, Simba’s Uncle, and former heir to the throne, has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba being exiled…you know from there if you’re born in the 90s/early 2000s.

What I liked about the film was it basically did recreate the magic of the original and made several modifications to fit in the real-life feeling it was meant to create. The cast was the heavy draw for me and each one stands out in their role. Like many other people, I agree Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner were great as Timon and Pumba but I do want to add the pairing duo of Eric Andre and Keegan Michael Key as well. Eric and Key were like a ‘Key & Peele with Eric Andre’ and I laughed at each moment the two were on screen together bantering. In all honesty if it wasn’t for such an all-star cast of actors this film wouldn’t really be worth rewatching.

If I was director, the main thing I would’ve done is continue modifying scenes so the film would feel like a fresh retelling for audiences compared to how people feel about the film right now. I’ll agree it’s almost exactly the same as the 1994 but there are moments that aren’t. Jon Favreau did say he couldn’t change the iconic scenes so he kept them as is for this film and I agree with his decision, because I guarantee there would be backlash. One moment in the film I felt lost it’s impact was the ‘Long Live the King’ scene. 1994 it was emotional and impactful with two brothers in a family feud for the throne but 2019 made the scene feel like they’re fighting over the last slice of pizza and I honestly laughed to the point it reminded me of this edit on Youtube:

I can understand why some people complained it was a frame by frame retelling when in actuality it wasn’t. What really was, is the story beats and majority of the dialogue like it was a Broadway show that’s been around for years with the same script just a different cast every several years (*cough cough*). I would’ve expanded on the lore that’s been established.

I was skeptical when it was announced but I came to realize this movie adaptation, much like the others, is not for us that grew up with the original animation. I still feel like this is a cash grab and part of Disney’s live action adaptation renaissance but I’m still take this for what it is due to having a great all-star cast putting in hard work into this, even if it’s a “shot for shot” remake. It’s meant for upcoming generations that will eventually only know 3d animation and live action since 2d animated movies are dying out and may not care about ‘our’ original classics. Like all remakes and etc. there’s gonna be a divide but as much as our opinions will go this movie, I feel the reaction from the kids is what should be the real say. I don’t care as much as those who are too nostalgic to accept this now exist but with many other live action adaptations on the way I feel one that will hit the mark more is next year’s Mulan. At least Disney just now admit this was suppose to be an American version of Kimba the White Lion (yes I’m one of many who feel it was)

7.5/10

Spiderman: Far From Home Review

“An epilogue to the Infinity Saga that was a change of pace”

I would like to admit, as I did in the Avengers: Endgame Review with Improvatory, after that film I was done with superhero movies. I’ve spent almost half of my life dedicated much like anyone following the storyline comic by comic and I think it’s time to move on. Then, Spiderman: Far From Home was released. I knew this movie coming for several years now and now that it’s out after Endgame, it was a nice epilogue to everything while bringing the question: What’s Next?

Spiderman: Far From Home follows Peter Parker on vacation post-Snap (aka The Blip in film) when he is enlisted by Nick Fury and Mysterio to battle The Elementals. All in all, the film I felt gave a good change of pace for Spiderman and the setting at large. Majority of the Spidey films we’ve gotten so far, they were all centered within NYC and after a time it gets old but here he’s traveling across the water and it was fun (sure he went to space too) and the scenery was beautiful that it makes me want to go travel too. Mysterio was by far the coolest part of the whole film in all honesty and I’ll be sure to keep the spoilers for the very bottom for those reading this. Jake Gyllenhaal was what got me into seeing this movie (it’s crazy cause he almost replaced Tobey Maguire for Spiderman 2) and he does not disappoint at all. The action was cool, per usual with superhero flicks, but Mysterio’s illusions are what made me as a filmmaker want to know how they shot it. Of coarse it’s CGI but camera movements and the direction in scriptwriting, that’s what makes me curious how they do it. Samuel L. Jackson’s performance as Nick Fury is well…it’s Nick Fury but for those who know his previous performances will notice something slightly different with him and that will be explained in the spoilers down below. For an epilogue to the Infinity Saga, Sony and Marvel’s shared deal did it again.

If I was directing this film, I personally feel that instead of Nick Fury as the big superhero name to help Parker, I feel like Doctor Strange would’ve been better. I’m not saying in a sense Nick Fury was a poor choice and Jon Watts and Marvel made a smart decision for the foreseeable next saga with reasons, but Mysterio being a master of illusions and magic calls for the Master of the Mystic Arts himself to show him his place. Imagine, Doctor Strange mentoring Parker to be who he needs to be while helping him realize that Mysterio was a fraud. I just felt Nick Fury wasn’t utilized as ‘Nick Fury’ much like he was in Avengers (2012) and Age of Ultron and also The Winter Soldier being the person to make Parker step up as a hero. I would’ve maybe reduced the Iron Man memorials too. I kinda got it after the third one he was dead and gone. As much as he’s the heart of the MCU, there were other fallen too they got brief mention. Again this segment of the review is my own opinion.

Spiderman: Far From Home was a change of pace after Avengers: Endgame and felt like a much needed vacation in setting and in real life from the 11 years of MCU and the question is what comes after. Black Widow is start of Phase 4 followed by The Eternals and Shang Chi so expect a taste of things to come.

9/10 Now…

SPOILERS!!!!:

First off to get this off the table as much as we all knew, Mysterio was the main baddie and the Elementals and the Multiverse were all made up shit that ironically like Quentin Beck says a lot of people would buy and we did. I felt that haha you got me moment, but I was lowkey wishing the multiverse would be a major point to show up. His illusions against Spiderman especially the first one in Germany was crazy I’m like oh shit and whoa the whole time. I liked how the guy from the very first Iron Man movie who got yelled at by Obediah Stane came back after all these years since the first Iron Man movie (you know this film wrapped up loose ends in a way). I love how J.K Simmons came back as J Jonah Jameson cause he’s only person I can see being the live action version and the fact Spiderman’s identity is revealed to the world, expect some major Sinister Six or even Peter trying to play off Mysterio lied and such about his identity cause he can’t snap that away. I wonder if Tom Hardy’s Venom would be included since Sony hasn’t ruled out that possibility in MCU. That be cool so there’s no recasts. Now, Nick Fury…he’s Talos the skrull from Captain Marvel (Soren, Talos’s wife impersonated Maria Hill). There’s hints throughout of this but it’ll be a surprise for people to go “whaaaa??!!”

In all honesty for me it begs a theory of when did Nick Fury and Talos switched places. I feel like it happened either during Winter Soldier or Age of Ultron specifically (most likely Age of Ultron) and it was Talos impersonating Fury that was decimated during Infinity War while Fury was hard at work overseeing the future with his project in space. I’m curious what Marvel Studios is gonna come up with as an explanation.

Child’s Play Review

“A reboot that makes its mark”

In all honesty, I’ve never been a fan of Chucky. As a kid I wasn’t scared of him but I didn’t find him appealing. Flash forward to when the reboot was announced and I felt the same way until I heard who was voicing Chucky, Mark Hamill. For those who watch live action may know him as the guy who plays Luke Skywalker but I know him also for his voice acting work for The Joker, Firelord Ozai, Skips from Regular Show and many more. When I heard him announce he was voicing Chucky, I got interested and I gotta say I liked the movie.

Child’s Play (2019) centers around a kid, Andy, who moves into a new apartment and has a hard time making friends when his mother gets him a Buddi doll as an early birthday gift. Little does he know there’s more to the doll than what it seems.

This reboot all in all I felt made its mark amongst the franchise as a whole and made several different decisions compared to the original besides Chucky’s new look. Instead of him being a serial killer transferring his consciousness into a Buddi doll via Voodoo, Chucky is a doll A.I whose safety protocols were erased so anything is possible once he learns. He’s more of a doll that tries to be Andy’s best friend and make him happy anyway possible. I actually was on board and I did feel for him with a few ‘awe’ moments cause he’s pretty much an innocent misunderstood robot trying to understand. For me, that made Chucky actually more appealing and enjoyable to watch, especially with Mark Hamill as the voice.

If I directed the film, honestly I’m not sure what I would change because in the direction this film was taken I felt was effective, smart, and different that stands out more than the rest of the franchise. Starring Aubrey Kate and Bryce Tyree Henry I was on board as is cause I love those actors in their previous work. Instead of this film being a repeat beat by beat story wise like the original, much like any reboot would do, this is one that changes certain elements and I can see why Mark agreed after reading the script. It doesn’t try to feel like it’s setting up a sequel either which is good too but it can leave room for more. I will say for the sequels keep the same thematic element where Chucky’s kills are justified much like they were in this film where he was only doing so for Andy to make him happy or protect him and the idea of A.I takeover.

All in all Child’s Play (2019) is a reboot not necessary but it did make its mark enough to have a place within it all. It was fresh and brought something new to the table while still giving those good ol’ kill counts. (SPOILERS) There’s only one kill I was upset about and it was Detective Mike (Bryce Tyree)’s Mom who was killed all because Chucky was upset she was made Andy’s new best friend after he was discarded. I never liked Chucky before but this one made me interested enough to watch till the end.

8/10

“You are my buddy until the end…”

Toy Story 4 Review

“So long…partner”

Toy Story is a franchise, like most, I’ve grown up to love and will forever hold with my childhood. I still can’t believe Toy Story 3 came out nine years ago (June 18th 2010) as of me writing this and for many it still feels like it came out not long ago. When the fourth film was announced after the third one came out I was skeptical cause it ended on a note that there wasn’t a need for a fourth, but I sure as hell can say after seeing this…it was well worth it.

Toy Story 4 is set not long after the 3rd one where Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie whose crated a new toy named Forky. The adventurous journey turns into an unexpected reunion when Woody’s slight detour trying to get Forky, who considers himself not a toy but trash and escapes, back into the arms of Bonnie. It leads him to finding his long-lost love interest Bo Peep. As Woody and Bo reminisce the old days, they soon start to realize that they’re worlds apart when it comes to what they want from life as a toy.

It was great seeing these characters again after so long and watching this with my girlfriend we both felt like a kid again seeing how long these characters have gone since the first movie back in 1995. For those skeptical of this being unnecessary and that the third film ended off on a good note, I can tell you as much as you feel this way, this film for sure truly gives a send off to the characters and the franchise as a whole. Full of heart, humor, and few throwbacks, Toy Story 4 definitely is the capstone to Woody and Buzz’s story that has an ending that is very emotional (No Spoilers till the bottom of this article) that I hope Toy Story 5 never happens. The new additions to the cast from Key and Peele (Ducky and Bunny), the great Keanu Reeves (Duke Kaboom!) and many others are great and add the lighthearted humor that you can tell is natural while making the franchise still feel fresh (don’t get me started on Forky calling himself trash). The story itself is small and concise that it focuses on the main character of the franchise Woody whose arc fully comes around at the end of this film. I’m trying hard to not spoil anything cause this is a movie is one you don’t I don’t care what anyone says and it’s one to enjoy.

If I was in the director’s chair, I wouldn’t even bother thinking of changing anything. For those that don’t know originally the film was suppose to come out back in 2017 but the script went through rewrites over the years. Originally it was a love story about Woody and Buzz searching for Bo Peep but they decided to scrap some of it for a story on what it means to be a toy with Bo Peep as the parallel story to coincide with the main story and none of it feels forced. I would say I wish we could’ve spent some more time with the other toys like Slinky, Ham, Jessie and the others but they have their moments too.

Toy Story 4 is an emotional sequel that pretty much brings new beginnings for the toys while ending the franchise on an emotional note. For anyone who has not seen it yet please ignore the next sentence till you see (^) seen. I wanted to cry when Woody decided to go with Bo Peep and explore as the carnival travels around leaving Buzz and the gang behind with Bonnie. It makes sense why Tim Allen and Tom Hanks teared up while recording and I know others will too. ^ From a kid till now, Buzz and Woody will forever be around I’m show my kids all four films to infinity and beyond. Let’s just hope Toy Story 5 doesn’t happen and we keep it here.

10/10

MIB/Dark Phoenix Review Mashup

“Two films that had potential but due to complications kinda fell a bit short”

I just want to start off an apologize to those who been reading since I started this but I was struggling financially that I wasn’t able to watch them upon release, but I felt I should still write a review for them both.

Both Dark Phoenix and MIB: International are both films released in June based on franchises that have been ongoing since the early 2000s. When Dark Phoenix was announced I was a bit iffy based on what happened with X-Men: Apocalypse and the first trailer proved it so. I love the cast of X-Men since their start in First Class and Days of Future past cause they were all perfectly casted and had great stories that eventually fell short after. Dark Phoenix is the final X-Men film under the Fox umbrella (besides New Mutants which I’m very interested in seeing) to be released before Disney take them into the MCU sandbox for later use. I felt the marketing after Disney took over for Dark Phoenix was great but that’s not what you’re here to read of coarse. I’m keep it brief but Dark Phoenix is a film that sadly fell short for the final Fox’s X-Men outing but the elements within the story is an improvement from Apocalypse and especially The Last Stand which the film is (kind of) redoing. However, what makes the story fall short in my opinion is the fact they tried to redo the Phoenix saga once again. Again, it’s a lot better than how the Last Stand tried to adapt it but at the same time not much new was brought to the table. If it wasn’t for the actors who played these characters so well since 2011 this movie probably wouldn’t getting a score I’m about to give it.

As far as MIB: International goes in my opinion ‘it’s a Men in Black movie’. I know that’s very bleak to say but in all honesty I wasn’t expecting some grant scale serious film like Dark Phoenix was. This one sure people can say it does not have Will Smith in it but in all honesty do you really though? I feel this film stands alone but still plays in the sandbox of the previous films of the franchise. Was it needed? No, but it was popcorn entertainment all the less. Hemsworth and Thompson who both were in Thor: Ragnarok were great choices to lead cause their chemistry is what makes it work so well and to enjoy. I feel bad the film got the reviews it did based on others but in all honesty the truth lies to what happened behind the scenes (Producer vs Director vision and rewrites during filming…the usual to a box office critical bomb) . Apparently there was a dispute on what the producer wanted the film to be (they have more control than the director does unless you been in the industry for awhile that you’ve built a good reputation as a fun fact) and F. Gary Grey wasn’t having it and eventually two versions of the film was made that the studio heads chose the the producer’s version instead. Again it’s a Men and Black film and it’s the summer…something to enjoy.

As far as if I was director and what changes I would make, Dark Phoenix I would’ve changed the story completely. It’s understandable this was suppose to be a launch pad for a new trilogy but in the light of Disney buying Fox, the story should’ve not ended with a redo of the eh X3 film. I would’ve introduced Mr.Sinister which was the original plan all along. There have been so many build ups to his arrival to no avail I felt even if the franchise was to continue he would’ve been a better launchpad. The cast was great and introduction of aliens as well but some of the rewrites based on not trying to be similar to other films (ala Captain Marvel and Cap:Civil War) and expand on the concept they brought. It was smart to have X-Men go cosmic but it didn’t go cosmic enough I felt. As far as MIB, I can’t say much due to the director’s vision being tainted behind the scenes but the story itself I would’ve probably had it where they were uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the MIB. I know that’s somewhat the general plot but it should be focused enough while having it center on the two Agents we follow. The humor at some points I enjoyed but other times felt cringey to apply to the modern times we have such as Kanye and etc. (that’s small). But again F. Gary Grey’s vision isn’t fully on the screen.

Dark Phoenix and MIB: International are both films that are mainly blockbusters however both fell short for their own reasons to audiences. I’m curious how X-Men will be integrated into the MCU while wondering ‘what-if’ Sony actually did go through with the MIB x 21 Jump Street film (MIB 23) I feel that would’ve been interesting. Why it was an idea? Who knows.

Dark Phoenix: 6/10

MIB: International: 7/10

Comment what you thought of the films if you saw them.

Brightburn Review

“A movie that’s good when superman was born bad”

Brightburn, as many assumed when the first trailer came out, is like a ‘what-if’ superman came to Earth and was already evil. Seeing the movie now, there are elements of that, but the film definitely gives moments so it doesn’t feel like a downright parody of a DC’s Elseworld’s comic. Produced by James Gunn, Brightburn was actually written by his cousins based on the exact idea of what if superman came to our planet and was already evil, and I feel they did the idea justice. As I watched the film, it didn’t feel like a downright superman parody at all especially since the only powers you see is his super strength, flight, and heat vision (unless you count the light manipulations he does to scare the victim/audience). This is a horror movie and it does show with a few jump scares and intense moments throughout that make Brandon Breyer (the kid) feel very creepy, especially with that mask.

Some points in the film you can see some cheapness such as (SPOILERS!!!!!) when Brandon drops his Earth Mom from the sky it reminds me of the scene from Get Out and the sunken place when he’s slowly ‘sinking’ except in Brightburn she’s literally suppose to be falling from the sky. That’s only a small nitpick, but it doesn’t remove you from the overall experience Brightburn gives you. For sure, what makes this movie great are the elements that are seen in the trailers repeatedly except this time you can see it entirely. His first victim after breaking Caitlyn’s arm (the little girl in the trailer) is her Mom and every single time, it makes me shake in agony when the glass shard, from the light bursting, is inside her eye and he takes it out. It’s those moments of the movie that make it great. The second one is definitely full of gore as well and to keep it brief…don’t scream and hold onto your jaw if you’re about to crash in an accident. The gore is one thing that surely gives Brightburn it’s R-rating.

As far as if I was directing Brightburn, I would change certain moments in the movie where we follow Brandon. I feel being more on his perspective most of the time is where the core of the movie is, seeing him change into the monster he is deemed to become, while keeping the perspectives of the film where the mother and father are curious about their son from the sky and the victims perspectives too. They do have this sprinkled throughout but being on Brandon and how twisted his mind is starting to become would definitely make this film a lot more creepier. One definite thing, and I felt this as I was watching, is his mask when Brandon is scaring the shit out of us, it was more terrifying when you’re not close to him enough to see the details of his mask so I would’ve kept that all the way till the moment at the end when his Earth mother faces him in the barn before her death. Again as always, these are opinions of someone if they were in the director’s chair.

Brightburn is a film that tries to create a new genre of superhero with the incorporation of horror and it lives up to it. There could be few things to expand on or change but overall I can say it doesn’t play too much on being a superman parody besides the concept. Just a theory to put out there that definitely supports this is in the beginning, Brandon is in class when they talk about the differences between bees and wasps. Brandon talks about wasps being predators and too dangerous to have hatch in their own nest so they place them in other wasps nest to be raised when born. It’s for sure a metaphor to Brandon. He was sent to Earth not because of some dying planet but because the species he comes from they can become violent in maturity and they use that to their advantage to take over other planets (definitely just got Saiyan vibes from Dragonball Z there) by having them crash land and be raised up by the native species planet to adolescence before informing them that it’s now time to “take the world”.

I’m curious to see what other superhero origins that can be twisted into a horror movie like this. (I can see that with Hulk, whenever he gets angry and turns into the green rage monster he destroys and eats people but turns into Bruce Banner he doesn’t remember a thing, little Jekyll and Hyde)

8/10