Pages

Friday, April 29, 2016

My Ratchet and Clank review

My Ratchet and Clank review


Intro: Let's see a video game movie that's animated check. The company that's behind the game is involved with this movie check. Good writing X. Marketing X. I wish I could say two out of four is not bad. 

Ratchet and Clank: This movie is centered on a lombax name Ratchet who works as a mechanic but wants to do more with his life. Ratchet gets his chance when he learns about a plant-destroying weapon thanks to a robot name Clank. So, he joins the Galactic Rangers in order to stop this weapon. That task becomes difficult when there is tension among the ranks. S, Ratchet and Clank have to do what they can to stop this weapon before it's too late.   

This movie is a shameless Star Wars knock-off! I wouldn't have minded this if A we didn't get the force awakens. B If this movie was a parody of Star Wars but it wasn't. For the most part, I don't consider this movie funny. Part of the reason why is because the movie makes jokes about modern culture, it feels out of place in this setting to me. The changes this movie made from the game it's based on makes no sense and doesn't help the movie. I like the idea of the brains of the team resenting the field members. Sadly, the movie wasted that idea. The story is so lazy that I wish the writers would do something to subvert our expectations. Whenever there is a twist or a plot point it doesn't surprise you or it goes nowhere. The movie is also lazy with its theme if it has one. It's hard to care about the characters because we don't spend enough time with them to appreciate their dynamic with each other. plus, most of them are childish or dumb. Why is this movie called Ratchet and Clank if we don't get a lot of screen time with them together? 

Ratchet is kind, ambitious and adventurous. What bugs me about him is that he is not like his video game counterpart. In the game, he was a reluctant hero and a jerk. Making him like his video game counterpart would give him character development. The writers could have done something with him being the last of his kind. I mean how does he feel about that?  

Clank has on personality beyond being the straight man. The movie set him up to be intentionally funny, but the writers don't capitalize on it.  

Capt. Qwark is a self-centered idol! Seriously, how is this butt chin the leader of the Galactic Rangers? I'm also mad that he is not like his video game counterpart. Well, he kind of was but the movie did go all the way with it. 

Drek (the main villain) is suppose to be manipulative and ruthless. But he's not too bright. We don't know why he's blowing up plants.      
 
Dr. Nefarious is the typical mad scientist. What annoys me about him is that he shouldn't be in the movie because he overshadows Drek.   

Besides The animation, references to the PlayStation and a few laughs there is nothing else I like about this movie. Overall, this was another failed attempt to give us a good video game movie. That's a shame because the story in the first game could have worked as a movie. 

Rating = Rental  

Monday, April 18, 2016

My review of The Jungle Book 2016

My review of The Jungle Book 2016 

Image result for the jungle book 2016 poster 


Intro: Come on! Do I really have to explain why I'm against this movie? First of all this is a remake to the 1967 animated film, Hollywood hasn't mastered the art of remakes for the most part. Second this movie is live action why? Does it cost more to do a movie in live action? ( If the answer is no then I stand corrected.) What made me give this movie a chance is the trailers this movie looks different from the animated version. (I know trailers are not reliable these days however I'm willing to take a leap of faith for time to time.) 



Plus the book that this movie is based on must be popular since there are so many versions of this story. 


Related image
Related image




















Also I'm not crazy about the cartoon version, I'll explain why later. So is this movie just like the animated version or worse? Let's find out... 


The Jungle Book 2016: This movie is centered on a boy name Mowgli who lives in the jungle with the Wolf pack, he learns how to survive in the wilderness plus fit in with the other animals. That becomes difficult for him when a Tiger name Shere Khan shows up and wants to kill Mowgli because he's afraid that he'll pose a threat to the other animals. So Mowgli has to leave the Wolf pack and go to the man village before Shere Khan can find him.    


This movie is a good example of how to do a remake! I say that because this movie is different from the 1967 version, do to better characterization, adding details to the story and a darker tone. These alterations help improve the story and make it easy for both kids and adults to watch this movie. That’s what bugs me about the cartoon version it was hard for me to take the story seriously because of how goofy that movie was. 

Don’t get me wrong I don't think that version was bad however when you have a story about a Tiger trying to kill a boy and you put songs and comedy in it it’s distracting. Don't worry the movie has lighthearted moments and humor. The premise may sound simple but it's not, there are obstacles that get in Mowgil's way and they make him reconsider where he belongs? The visual effects are impressive the animals almost look real.       

Mowgil is mature for his age and smart. I'm impress with what he can invent with his environment. My beef with him is that he never question his heritage. 

Bagheera is Mowgil's mentor he teach him what he needs to know in order to survive in the jungle. 

Baloo is just like the animated version as far as being carefree. 

King Louie is the Godfather of the jungle however he's still silly. I like this interpretation of the character because it shows that the animals can be a danger to each other. 

Shere Khan ( the main villain.) is bloodthirsty and clever. He could have been sympathetic if he didn't carry himself as threatening. My gripe with him is that I'm not crazy that he's connected to Mowgil's backstory because it doesn't add any emotional weight for Mowgil. Also Shere Khan is not as charismatic as the animated version.    

My problems with this movie is the way it ended because the ending undermines the story. Because the animals are more realistic it’s hard to know what they think or feel due to their lack of facial expression. The climax is short and the songs in this movie feels force and out of place. This movie could have done a better job with the nature vs nurture theme. 

I can't say that this is the best adaptation of the jungle book however this is the best movie I've seen so far this year. If the rest of the Disney live action remakes did the same thing this movie did I wouldn't mind watching them again. 

Rating = Worth seeing

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Are flat characters bad?

Are flat characters bad? 

 

Do I really have to explain why I'm asking this question? For those of you who don't know a flat or static character is it's a character who don't change from the beginning to the end of the story. Characters like this get a bad rap for not being interesting, unrelatable, they're for kids and they would work better as supporting characters. It's understandable why people feel this way about these characters, cynicism is viewed as wisdom and optimism is viewed as naive. Being optimistic is not bad as long as it's based on something, if you have hope to the point where you don't avoid trouble when you see it that's not hope. Just because you expect the best out of people and they don't live up to that, that's not naive. Being cynical is not a bad thing either however you don't want to alienate everyone around you. That's what Batman does I mean he has a plan for everyone he meets if they betray him. He violated their trust by doing that in an underhanded way, so Batman doesn't get the moral high ground here. Yes! People you know or don't know will let you down however is it reasonable to expect that not to happen? If the answer is no, then you shouldn't be surprised with it does happen when you didn't set boundaries. My point is this there needs to be a balance between the two. 

Another reason why these characters are not popular with the general public is our culture. I mean we live in a time where we feed off of negativity. Don't believe me then why do people bad-mouth each other online and on Twitter? Why are there so many reality shows? When you're at a stand-up comedy show and the comedian is not funny do you boo him or her instead of leaving? If the answer is yes, then that's the problem we kick people when they're down. We also let the news manipulate us by having it prey on our fears. Why do you think the news talk about all the bad things that's happening in the world? You don't hear about the good things unless you're watching the local news, I could be wrong about that. This is why I don't watch the news because what's going on in the world has nothing to do with me and I can't do anything about it even if I wanted to. So, what's the point of me knowing about it? I just watch the weather channel. I don't get it how can you say you don't like how the world is when you encourage the world to be this way by being complicit or enabling the world to be this way?     
 
With all that said this is why we need noble characters to set the example of what we should strive to be. How is striving to do better a bad thing? Yes! The stander is unrealistically high however it has no value if everyone can live up to those exceptions. Couples don't stay married until death do them apart these days does that mean we should change the foundation of marriage? Three-point shots are hard to make in Basketball does that mean we should get rid of them? This is why it bugs me that Hollywood would change characters like Superman, I understand why they do that to make them marketable however if you can't sell these characters as they are then don't use them. What's the point of asking for diversity if you don't apply it in storytelling? Flat characters are not the problem this problem is how they are written. Doing the right thing can be an uphill battle if no one is on your side or willing to do the right thing. Also, we have characters that strive to do the right thing that are likable such as Spider-Man, Luke Skywalker and Malcome Reynolds from Firefly

Also, the writers are not coming up with stories to challenge or reinforce their points of view. This was done in Captain American the Winter Solider, Superman vs the Elites, Speed Racer and The Incredibles. The thing I like about Superman killing Zod in Man of Steel is that he won't sacrifice lives because of his principle that's what heroes do make sacrifices, a person who sacrifices lives because of principle isn't noble. Also, no one said that these characters don't have flaws. You can have that character be aware of those flaws but be comfortable with them too so that others can do the same. The writers can also have the characters overcome those flaws without compromising his or her integrity. You can also make a static character an underdog story as far as having him doing things to better the world and no one recognize it.      

That's what static characters do they change the world they don't let the world change them. Joker in the dark knight is a prime example of this, in that movie he expose that everyone has a dark side. (Speaking of the Joker why didn't he get any crap for being a flat character?) Another thing I'm not fond of how they're treated as a joke by other character types, look at the Arrow and the Flash team-ups for example. My point is characters like this should be reconstructed not deconstructed. Judging how things are getting worse in the world we need flat characters now more than ever.

Friday, March 4, 2016

My Agent Carter series review

My Agent Carter series review




Intro: You know for a so called strong female character she has a thing for men that most women don't want.  

Agent Carter: This series takes place one year after the events of the first Captain America movie and Agent Carter is now working for the SSR. One day she learns that Howard Stark is accused of treason and the SSR are after him. So, Agent Carter decides to help clear his name before the SSR finds out. 

This series is OK to be fair I wasn't expecting a lot for it. I'm impressed with how it captured the time period of the 40's from the set, clothes and music. This show doesn't have a lot of episodes that helps the writers focus on the story. The series also has entertainment value and I like some of the far fetch inventions in this time period. We also get an in-depth look into Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow's upbringing.        

There is much to say about Agent Carter because we don't know much about her. She seems to be a noble character, but we don't know if she was like that before or after she met Steve Rogers. I'm fond that she has to earn her stripes with her co-workers because that's what you have to do if you want men to change how they see you. We do get her backstory in one episode however I wasn't impressed with it because first of all it needs more context to how she when from point A to Point B. Second the episode that aired her backstory doesn't connect to the episode. The only gripe I have with her is the love triangle because it wasn't done well. 

Edwin Jarvis is Howard Stark's butler, he's the comic relief character. 

Daniel Sousa is one of Agent Carter's co-workers who's honorable and sticks up for her. What bugs me about him is that he didn't try hard enough to win her over. 
  
Of course, I'm annoyed with the feminist vibes in this show, is it really that hard to make a series with a main female character without making the men look stupid? Also, why didn't her male co workers have the same training as her? I'm also letdown that we didn't see how S.H.I.E.L.D. is formed in this series well to be fair we only got two seasons. Due to that I'm not crazy about how the last episode ended. Overall, this is a solid series I would recommend this if you enjoy female-led shows.         

Friday, February 12, 2016

My rant about pranksters

My rant about pranksters

Image result for april fools comic


Is it me or are these prank videos going too far? I'm surprised at how popular they are on the internet because some of them are getting out of hand. For example, there is a prank channel where a guy is asking girls for a kiss if he wins a challenge. You can tell it's fake because none of them turn him down. Heck, all of the pranks are fake as far as I know. Not knowing if a prank is real or not is going to be a problem because their impressionable people on the internet. Then again, it's the parent's job to make sure they know what is or isn't OK. 

Another reason why it's hard to tell if these pranks are fake is because I saw this at my Walmart

Image result for walmart shoplifting prank policy

The purpose of a prank is to make people laugh not break the law or provoke people. There are pranks where the Pranksters assault people, steal from them, tell the public there's a bomb in the building and waste law enforcement time. I'm glad that got arrested for doing that I don't care if the arrest is fake or not what they are doing isn't OK. Whenever someone is about to knock them off for harassing them, they hide behind it's a prank. That's what really bugs me about these prank videos is how it makes Black people look. Whenever a prankster step on a Black man's shoes fart on him or say something offensive they want to fight them. Really you mean to tell me that no other racist would be offended by the things I mentioned. 

I saw one of the pranksters on the news and he said he was looking for a violent reaction with that said we shouldn't feel sorry for whatever outcome that comes from them provoking people. How is antagonizing people funny? My point is if you're going to prank someone do it to someone you know, when you do, don't be crazy about it. Don't prank the general public because you don't know how they will react.       

Thursday, December 3, 2015

My thoughts on Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice

My thoughts on Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice 

Image result for dawn of justice poster 


Why is there a v in between Batman and Superman it's not like they're fighting a court battle.

I would have been excited for this movie if Batman wasn't in this movie. Judging from the trailers it looks like this movie is going to deal with the destruction from Man of Steel. The people blame Superman for it to the point where they either want him gone or dead. That would be an interesting direction to go with Superman because this is a situation he can't fix with his powers. The writers can use Lex Luthor to fuel the people's hate for Superman and damage Superman's credibility.

That's what I like about Lex Luthor he's the type of villain you can't touch but he can troll you. Speaking of Lex Luthor, I don't like how he's portrayed in the trailers because he seems like a comic relief character. If the writers can build a story around the collateral damage, Superman winning people over and Lex Luthor making him look bad then this would be a good sequel. Heck, this story can get people to relate to Superman's situation. But no WB have to pull an Iron Man 2 on us to remind us that they're making a Justice League movie. Before I talk about Batman, I want to address the elephant in the room and that's Ben Affleck.

When it was announced that he was going to play Bruce Wayne/Batman people were giving him a hard time about this, they even bring up how bad he was in the Daredevil movie. Really, you're going to blame Mr. Affleck for how bad that movie was instead of the writer, director or the person who cast Mr. Affleck? It's been over ten years since that movie came out, we don't know if Mr. Affleck's acting has improved since then, if it hasn't then it's not completely his fault.

I don't know what role Batman will play in this movie heck I don't know why he wants to fight Superman. I'm sorry he said he could wipe out the human race. Why is he worried about that, I mean Superman did nothing that justify you wanting to fight him.


I didn't read a lot of Batman and Superman crossover comics because I'm sick of writers overcompensating Batman to the point where everyone else is useless.


                                                        

In the cartoons and animated movies Batman and Superman have an interesting dynamic, they work well together but they don't see eye to eye on everything. Batman sees Superman as a Dumb Jock who don't look before he leaps. Superman sees Batman as a ends justify the means Vigilante, who has no compassion for the people he saves and uses his no-kill rule to justify doing every terrible thing but kill. Despite their differences, they both have the same goal and that is to inspire people to be better. I'm not crazy about the fight between these two because A we all know who's going to win this fight or who we want to win this fight. B There's no build-up to this fight this feels like fan service. Also, this wouldn't be a fair fight because Superman hasn't fully mastered his powers and Batman has been around for 20 years. That's another thing how can he keep up with the other Justice League members if he's past his prime, heck he couldn't do that when he was in his prime.

I don't like how this movie drops Batman into the movie. I understand why the creators did it because batman is marketable, however, were not familiar with this Batman. If it was up to me I would make another Superman movie, a Batman movie and then have these two meet. Overall, I have no interest in watching this movie.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

My thoughts on the Star Wars special editions

My thoughts on the Star Wars special edition


Image result for star wars special editions 


Since Mr. Lucas doesn't have the rights to Star Wars anymore, I think this is a good time to talk about the special editions

I'm not going to rant and rave and how the changes hurt the original trilogy because A there's nothing new I can say about them that's already been said, and B these are Mr. Lucas's movies. He has the right to do whatever he wants with them if he isn't happy with the finished product; however, when you present your movies to the general public and they're not happy with them, it's not your problem anymore. Instead, I will talk about some of the changes I like. I can't do that without talking about the man himself.  

I wouldn't mind that he did his own thing with this trilogy if he releases both the original and special editions on Blu-Ray and DVD. (I know they released the original alongside the special editions in 2006, but they were not the best quality.) By Mr. Lucas not giving the fans or people who want to see the original trilogy a chance to buy them, he's betraying the fan's memory of these films and the impact they had on pop culture. I can understand why people accuse him of ruining their childhood to a point. Side note, this is what annoyed me about Disney editing MMPR at the time when they had rights to Power Rangers. They add new effects to the show, which makes it look even goofier than it already is. By Mr. Lucas not releasing the original trilogy and changing them it makes him look worse as a director and insecure about his work. He shouldn't be embarrassed by his work because it was well-received and the franchise continues to grow and gain a large fan base. I can understand him not being happy with what he had to work with at the time, but what happened to less is more?   

I understand that he's upset that studios don't let directors have their way with their movies; however, they don't always have the best vision for the film or know how to put it on paper. He showed that when he had his way with the prequels, and look at how they turned out. Heck, he was behind schedule releasing the first Star Wars movie. Another reason why Mr. Lucas is doing his own thing with the original trilogy bugs me is that he's being a hypocrite. How can he tell people you shouldn't alter films or history when he's doing it? Mr. Lucas is a polarizing figure to me. It's hard for me to respect someone who acts like a victim, carries himself as if he worked on Star Wars by himself, and doesn't admit to the fans that he made mistakes. What's messed up about that is some of the people who helped him bring Star Wars to the big screen are dead. 


Here's an example of what I'm talking about. Start this video at 3:33 and end it at 3:56. 


 


Do you see what I mean about him playing the victim? Did he forget how popular Star Wars was at the time? Whenever fans ask him about releasing the original trilogy, his response was Grow up, these are my movies. WOW! I guess he never heard of the saying Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Well, he did listen to the fans when it came to Jar Jar Binks by limiting his screen time in the last two films. As far as him signing his rights to this IP, I don't have enough information to comment on that. It would be interesting to see how this franchise is handled in different hands. I hope he didn't do it because fans gave him a hard time with the prequels. That's all I have to say about Mr. Lucas now. Let's get back to the subject at hand. 

If there was anything in the original trilogy that need to be altered is the picture quality; this change helps me see the details in the movies. Well, they drop the ball with the colors in the movie. I also like the additions to the Death Star X-wing attack because we get to see more X-wings. The same thing goes for Cloud City; the additions made the city look better. Look, I don't mind Yob Nub as the victory celebration score, but I think John Williams score is better because it makes the ending feel like an ending to this franchise. The Emperor looks better now than he did the first time around in episode 5. My favorite change in the special editions is Han running into an army of stormtroopers because his reaction to running into five of them is over the top when you look at it in hindsight. Including one of Luke's friends in the last act of Star Wars was a good idea because it reinforces what he said about them going off doing their thing. I kind of wish we saw him sooner, and Luke have a reaction to his death.  

Those are the special edition changes. I like what do you think?        
   

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

My Serenity review

 My Serenity review


Intro: Man! This series can’t catch a break.  


Serenity: This movie takes place sometime after the events of the series, and the crew of Serenity have gone their separate ways. They’re reunited when an assassin of the alliances is after them, and the crew learns a dark secret about them. So, they have to decide if they will continue running or will they stand their ground 


This movie is a good addition to this series! The fact that this movie exists is a milestone, I mean, how often do canceled TV shows get a movie? This movie made this series look a lot better. It answers some of the unanswered questions about this series, like why is the alliances are after River, we get backstory on the reavers, we have a reason to despise the alliances, and two crew members finally get together. Freedom vs control is still a theme in this movie; however, the movie handles it in a way that’s not black and white. There is also an underlying theme of faith. What the Alliances did made them look like they have a GOD complex. The movie proved high stakes for our characters. I can’t elaborate on that without spoiling the movie. I have nothing new to say about the characters because the movie hasn’t done anything thing new with them. I like the Operative (The Assassin) because he knows what he's doing is wrong, but he believes it’s for the greater good.   


The problem I have with this movie is that it doesn’t give us all the answers we are looking for in this series. I don’t like what happened to one of the characters. I’m going to leave it at that. I notice some editing issues. Overall, this is one of the rare movies that is just as good as the series itself, and fans will not be disappointed with this movie.  


Rating = Worth Seeing 


Monday, August 10, 2015

My fant4stic review

My fant4stic review 

 


Intro: Is anyone else tired of directors trying to outdo Christopher Nolan?

Fant4stic: This movie is about Reed Richards trying to invent a teleportation device. He gets his chance when he gets the attention of Dr. Franklin Strom, who offers him a scholarship. With the help of other people, he was able to build it, so they decided to take it for a test ride. That didn't go well because their bodies are altered from the experience, so they have to figure out how to get back to normal?   

The third time is not the charm for this franchise. I'm holding 20th Century Fox feet to the fire on this because they didn't pick the right director to work on this movie. I say that because Josh Trank (the Director) didn't work on a lot of movies, and he was out of control during production, allegedly. If the rumors of how he behaved are true, then I'm disappointed in him. I mean, he should have known that studios would undermine him; this is not new. Despite this movie being loosely based on the Ultimate comics of the same name, the director didn't want this to be a Fantastic Four movie. Do you see what I mean about trying to outdo Christopher Nolan?  

This movie feels like three different movies spliced together, not in a good way. Unlike the 05 movie, this is latterly an origin film. I say that because the characters are in their late teens and early twenties in this movie, why!?! I wouldn't mind this if the creators were setting them up to become a family, but that didn't happen due to them not sharing a lot of screen time together. The movie tried to give us a scientific explanation of how they got their powers, but it doesn't work because their powers are connected to their personality flaws. When they do get their powers, the movie doesn't explore how it affects them. 

Going back to flaws, these characters don't have them because they're not like their comic book counterparts, what the fudge!?! I wouldn't mind the serious direction this movie takes if it had humor to light up the mood, but it doesn't. We could've had a different bad guy if the writers didn't written him or her out of the movie at the last minute. The way this movie ended is unbelievable. It's going to be hard to talk about the characters because they don't stand out. The climax was contrived. 

Reed Richard may be brilliant, but he's a dull character. I don't buy his friendship with Ben Grimm because we don't have scenes with these two reminiscing about their friendship or hanging out. He also did something to Ben that was messed up. I can't blame Ben for being mad at him for that. I was hoping that this movie would set up the romance between Sue and Reed, but that didn't happen either. 

Ben Grimm is suppose to be the tough guy of the group, but he doesn't carry himself like one. Also, his rough upbringing seems to have no effect on him, so why does the movie show us that? I don't like how this movie incorporates his catchphrase. I'm having a hard time believing that he's smart enough to help Reed because he doesn't show his intellect. When he turns into the Thing, he doesn't have any pants, which makes me ask questions about his body that I shouldn't be asking. 

Susan Storm is an outcast because she thinks everyone is predictable; she sees nothing but patterns. She's right to a point, but I would like to see someone challenge her worldview. Also, if she truly feels this way about people, why is she happy to see her brother Johnny? 

Speaking of Johnny Storm, he's the rebellious one of the pack, but he doesn't have the personality. I can understand why I mean, if he did, he would outshine everyone else. He's the only one who's fine with his powers, but he's not excited about them. As far as Johnny being Black goes, I can understand why that bothers people; you can't change a character for no rhyme or reason without a response. Also, what's the point of Susan being adopted if it doesn't add anything to the story?  

Victor Von Doom is an outcast by choice because he doesn't trust authority. He's a smart man with an ego and only sees the worst in humanity. We learn things about him, but the movie doesn't explore them, like he used to work for Baxter (The place where Dr. Storms works) and he has feelings for Susan. The reason why he's called Doom is that he's all Doom and gloom, you can't be serious! He shouldn't have been in the movie, not because I'm tired of him, it's because the movie doesn't know what to do with him. Also, is it me, or does he look like a burned crash dummy? 

Dr. Storm is a mentor to the group. He believes that everyone is good and has the potential to do better. This plays a role in why their tension between him and Johnny. It's a shame that the movie didn't give him more screen time.               
 
I like that the origin story is different. If you're going to retell the origin story, change it up. I understand why the creators changed the title to separate it from the other films; however, it's a joke. I don't mind this movie being dark and a cautionary tale. Not every Fantastic Four story is a family adventure. The group, being outcasts and coming together, could have worked if it was done well. 

All in all, this is the worst Fantastic Four movie I've seen so far. Don't take my word for it, ask Stan Lee why he didn't make a cameo? You can say what you want about the other films, they got certain aspects of the comics. One more thing, if this or any other studio makes a Fantastic Four movie, don't let it be an origin story, and do have Dr. Doom as the villain. 

Rating = Trash      

Friday, July 31, 2015

My Waterworld review

My Waterworld review


Intro: I can see the budget for this movie wasn't spent on the writing. 

Waterworld: The movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where Earth is mostly covered in water. The survivors are looking for dry land. That becomes difficult when a group called the smokers is after a girl who may know the location of dry land. The girl and her guardian escape with a drifter called the Mariner, and the three of them have to find dry land before the smokers.   
This movie was a huge disappointment to Universal and me. I say that because more could have been done with the concept of the Earth mostly covered in water. Instead, we get a generic action movie. This movie makes me want to give a backhanded compliment to Titan AE; that movie was better than this movie. (That's saying a lot.) 

Heck, there are video games that handle this concept better. 

 

 





Really, this movie should have been animated if the budget was such an issue. One of the problems with this movie is that the conflict over finding dry land makes no sense. It could've made sense if the land could only hold a hundred people, or the Smokers want to secure it so that they could make money off of it. Also, more could have been done with the world-building. For example, I kind of understand why dirty is a currency, but why kill off anyone who can get you more of it? Also, how many people have died because they can't swim? Do they teach people how to swim? Where do mutants come from? 

The Mariner, the main character, is another issue I have with the movie. First of all, he doesn't have a name. Second, he's a mean-spirited loner. I get that he's suppose to be the reluctant hero, but the movie handled that archetype in one of, if not the worst possible. The director must be high if he thinks anyone will root for a character who has no problem pumping out a woman for resources and tormenting a child. ( He should get a Razzies for that alone, but I digress.) 

There isn't much to say about the rest of the characters. Enola, the girl, is spunky and an enigma. The Deacon leader of the Smokers is the comic relief. I do like seeing how humanity adapts to this environment and the look of it. How people react to seeing things from the past and the action set pieces. If the main character was tolerable and there was a reason for the race to find dry land, I wouldn't have minded this movie. 

Sadly, this movie was messy. With that said, I would recommend it to fans of this kind of film. 

Rating = Trash               

My review of The Incredibles

My review of The Incredibles 

Image result for the incredibles 


Intro: Pixar should consider doing more superhero movies. 

The Incredibles: This movie is centered on two superheroes called Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl getting married. After that the Government banned superheroes do to there actions, they manege to live normal lives for 15 years despite being unhappy. One day, Bob Parr/ Mr. Incredible gets the chance to be a hero again when someone offers him a mission. Later on he learns that someone from his past wants him dead as a part of his plan, so Bob's family has to save him before it's too late. 

This is the best Fantastic Four movie I've seen so far! I like how this movie borrows from different comic book characters, stories and movies. I love the movie's joke about capes, I'm surprise no one thought of it before. The villain's plan is brilliant, it doesn't involve world domination or destruction. There are times where this movie feel like a Bond movie and there are intense moments. (Don't worry they won't scare the kids.) 

I appreciate the social commentary on mediocrity because this is a issue that's getting out of hand. Well it hasn't affected sports or the Olympics. There's no simple solution to this problem however people need to have a better attitude about it but I digress. My favorite scene in the movie is where Helen Parr tells her kids about how serious the situation is. I favor this scene because I wish parents would have this conversation with there kids when it comes to what they watch.      

Bod Parr/Mr. Incredible is a stoic character with a temper. He tries he's best to help people even if it gets him and his family into trouble. 

Helen Parr/Elastigirl is a typical housewife.  

Dash Parr ( HA! HA! Very funny.) has the same character traits as the human Torch. Just like his father he wants to us his powers. 

Violet Parr is the oldest child, she's shy and keep to herself. She not crazy about her powers because she wants to be normal girl.  

Lucius Best/Frozone is Bod's best friend and the comic relief. 

Edna Mode is the fashion designer for the heroes, she also hilarious.  

Buddy pine/ Syndrome ( the main villain.) will remind you of Edward Nigma from Batman Forever. My gripe with him is that he didn't need to be a villain and there is a part of his plan that I don't buy. Also he could have killed Mr. Incredible sooner if he didn't let his ego get in the way.  

Overall this is one of the best superhero movies I've seen. I would recommend this if you want to see one that isn't DC or Marvel.  

Rating = Treasure Chest 


Friday, July 17, 2015

My Fantastic Four review

My Fantastic Four review 

 Fantastic Four (2005) - IMDb 


Intro: How can you screw up a simple premise? 

Fantastic Four: This movie is about five people going into space to study a cosmic cloud that's close to Earth. That trip was short-lived when the group got hit by a cosmic cloud a learn that they have superpowers. So, they have to figure out how they can become normal again. 

Despite this movie not being well-received, I enjoyed it. What really hurts this movie is that it lacks a good story. The movie bounces back a fourth about the group dealing with their powers and their personal problems. Showing their origin story serves no purpose in this movie; the director should've told it in the opening credits, the way it was done in Spider-Man 2. One would think that after learning that you can turn invisible or turn into fire, you would freak out, but no, they react like it's no big deal. Why!?! The dynamic between the Fantastic Four would have been better if they had talked to each other and hadn't acted impulsively. The characters do have arcs, but the movie doesn't have enough time to flesh them out. 

Johnny Storm/ The Human Torch is an immature hothead who doesn't think before he acts. His antics may be amusing at times, but they also give him a punchable face.  

Dr Reed Richards / Mr Fantastic reminds me of myself, as far as he thinks, but never acts. ( However, I think before I do anything, for the most part.) He's so caught up in his work that he doesn't notice anything around him or in front of his face. 

Susan Storm/ Invisible Woman is the voice of reason in the group. My gripe with her is that she doesn't tell Reed that she wants him. Word to the wise, ladies; if you like someone, tell him don't drop hits, give him a lap dance (My editor had me in a headlock.) I mean, be direct with him. 

The writers made Ben Grimm/ The Thing sympathetic by default. I say that because of how his wife reacts to how the cosmic cloud affects him, to be fair, a lot of people would react that way because looks do matter.    

Julian McMahon/ Doctor Doom (the main villain) is not a good adversary for the Fantastic Four. I say that because the movie doesn't do much with him. Plus, he reminds me of the Green Goblin; he would have been a better villain if he was more manipulative towards the Fantastic Four.       

The movie has funny moments, it embraces the source material, and the group plays off each other well. This movie could have been better if it had been rewritten and if things weren't so simple. Overall, this is not the worst superhero movie I've seen because of its entertainment value. I would recommend this if you like
Batman 1989

Rating = Rental 

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

The Flash season one review

The Flash season one review 

 



Intro: So we have another Superhero with a tragic backstory but he isn't a brute, what are the odds of someone going through a traumatic event and still being perky? Did I just say Perky? Darn it! Now everyone is going to think I grew up watching Teletubbies. When I first learned that the CW was going to make a Flash TV show I had mixed feeling about it. On one hand, I was excited because they have a chance to make The Flash relevant outside the comics. Even though this character had a live-action TV show over twenty years ago and the general public is not familiar with him. I mean they don't know this character like they do Batman and Superman.  

Part of the reason why is because four characters took the Flash mental. With the Justice League movie coming out WB has a chance to expose these characters on the small screen instead of us having to wait three or four years for the movies to come out. On the other hand, I was worried about this series because the creators of Arrow are also working on this show, doing a show like Arrow is hard enough and I'm worried that they're taking on too much too soon. After seeing how season three of Arrow turned out my fears were justified. With that said let's get into what I think of this series.   

The Flash: This show is centered on Barry Allen/The Flash who is a forensic scientist at the Central City Police Department. One day he gets Super-Speed after being struck by lighting from an explosion at S.T.A.R lads, that explosion also created metahumans who misuse their powers. With the help of S.T.A.R. lads, Barry decides to stop the metahumans and get closure for what happened in his past.  

I'm surprised that this show was well received because I didn't think people want to see a light-hearted series, considering the lack of love Superman is getting these days. You can tell that the creators of Arrow are behind this show, I mean both shows have similar intros, same number of episodes per season, flashbacks and the public gave the Flash nicknames. OK, it wasn't as bad as Arrow they only gave him two nicknames they are the streak and the blur. Wait! The blur? Is that a Smallville reference? The pilot episode was OK, I wish the creators would make jokes about Barry learning how to control his power in the pilot but that would have been too cliche. I only like one of the crossover episodes. No! It's not the Flash vs Arrow episode. The fight between the Flash and Arrow was contrived. The mystery in this series was handled well even though we know who did what because we don't know the whole story behind his or her actions. The way this season ends will get you hooked for season two.   

Barry Allen/the flash is basically DC's version Of Peter Parker, as far as being smart, awkward and having a strong moral compass. I would like him more if he had a backbone when it comes to women or people in general but I digress. I'm I the only one who thinks it's sad that Barry can still be late even with Super-Speed?  

Cisco Ramon (one of the members of Star lad.) is the comic relief and inventor. He reminds me of one of the guys from the Big bang theory.  

Caitlin Snow ( another member of Star lads.) is cute I mean a doctor and a good supporting character due to her compassionate nature. We learn that she was affected by the explosion in an emotional way. What bugs me about her is that there is one episode that gave us the idea that she's into Barry but that went nowhere.  

Dr. Wells ( the head of star lads.) is Barry/the flash's mentor. He's also the most interesting character on the show, I say that because he's an enigma at first but we learn more about him later on. 

Iris West ( the love interest) is dead weight, besides being a Lois Lane clone I mean a reporter she's a damsel in distress. Also, her attitude rubs me the wrong way. I don't get why Barry is into her, considering that she plays with his emotions. I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole.  

Joe West is a Central City Detective and Iris Father/ Barry's Guardian. He didn't make the best impression at first but later on, you see that he care about Barry. He's Barry's voice of reason and he can be funny at times.  

I don't have much to say about Eddie Thawne ( Joe's Partner/Iris boyfriend.) because we don't know much about him. The only thing we learn about him is that he has a connection with one of the villains. He seems to be a stand-up guy. I feel sorry for him because of how he's treated in this season. I'm fond of how the love triangle between him, Iris and Barry was handled for the most part.   

Leonard Snart/ Captain Cold is the only villain that stood out to me, he's a jewel thief who's crafty, ruthless and patient. Whenever Captain Cold and the Flash face each other Captain Cold outsmarts him. He should have been the main baddie, heck he should have been the villain to stop in the Arrow and Flash crossover episodes. 

The Reverse-Flash (the main Villain) is scary and threatening. I'm impressed with the way he manipulates everyone, well almost everyone. It's hard for me to consider him a baddie because he doesn't want what villains want like power, revenge, world domination and destruction. He does want to kill someone however that's not his main objective. My gripe with him is his plan has flaws and we don't know what motivates him to do certain things. 

The problems I have with this show are the plot holes, episodes can be repetitive and the show's theme. the theme of this season is moving on, some characters in this series have lost someone or something and they have to learn how to move forward, the way this show handles that theme was hit or miss. Episode 15 made me mad, when you watch the episode you'll understand why. 

Overall this is a good first season and I'm glad that it's getting another season. I would recommend this if you like mysteries and science. You'll have fun figuring out if the science in this show is legit.