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​Musings

The Gentlemen: A Boring Rehash

2/12/2020

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I was introduced to Guy Richie through Snatch in the 10th grade. Yes, this was years after it’s release but I was a sheltered kid. The only adult movies I remember watching up until then were old James Bond films and the Die Hard franchise. But Snatch was special, I instantly fell in love with Guy Richie’s way of story-telling, his characters and his style of editing/filming. I quickly took a deep dive into all of his work before Snatch and have watched anything new since. I find his style is full of energy. If it wasn’t done purposely to keep our short attention spans engaged then kudos to him for figuring it out. So when I heard about The Gentlemen I was excited. It’s been years since Richie has written and directed a film. Eventually I would eagerly sit down with my popcorn with high hopes of another clever zig-zagging story about some criminals. Sadly I left the theatre disappointed and realizing it may be the only Guy Richie movie I don’t rewatch.
The Cast:

I will admit; the reason I watched Snatch was because Brad Pitt was on the cover. He may have brought me to the Guy Ritchie party but he wasn’t the reason I stayed. I think this movie is again trying to appeal to American audiences through a big name in Matthew McConaughey. He also pulls some UK actors from popular shows in the US like Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) and Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey). Round that out with other well-knowns: Hugh Grant (90s Rom-Com heart throb), Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) and Colin Farrell (the guy from that movie). Overall it’s an impressive cast, the a-listers and everyone else works really well together. The acting is top notch and believable, a real bright spot in the movie.
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The Recap:

Most of the movie is being told by Hugh Grant as a movie and blackmail pitch to Charlie Hunnam who plays Matthew McConaughey’s right hand man, in his big time weed empire. But it’s time for Matt to retire so he’s working to sell the empire to one drug kingpin (with another getting in the way) while a newspaper man is trying to sully his ‘good’ name. It’s a Guy RIchie film so there are lots of little stories going on with each character and we get to know each of them in interesting ways. Overall the story is pretty straightforward.

The good:
  • I will never not think of Black Mirror when a pig is involved in ‘love-making’
  • The story is cohesive, to say the least, hardly any zig-zagging at all which is both disappointing and boring but kinda nice to not feel confused at all.
  • Although already mentioned, the acting was good. Hugh Grant as a scoundrel was interesting.
  • The music fight video was awesome!
  • The sets, although limited, were well put together as were the costumes.
  • Michelle Dockery has really good aim.
  • Matt’s way of dealing with the double crossing businessman was great. I am left curious which pound of flesh he chose.

The bad:
  • The russian twist was sadly very obvious to me. But then it was dealt with really easily. A lot of build up for very little pay off.
  • The whole movie pitch premise. It provided an interesting way of showing ‘what if’ scenarios but otherwise seemed out of place. Then the ending of him actually pitching to a movie studio was just dumb. 
  • Was it just me or were there a lot of homosexual undertones, heck overtones, aside from just the flirty jokes. 
  • The scene that involved puking was way over done, too much.
Why you should watch or not watch it:

As of this writing the Tomatometer had it at 73%, Metacritic was at 51% and IMDB was at 81%. And I generally agree that it was a good movie but the overall feeling for me was boredom. I’d recommend a watch if you like a good crime movie, just don’t expect much.

Last thought:

Compared to past Guy Richie films this one felt underwhelming. Maybe because Guy Richie himself is a big wig now, but a focus on characters and settings that are very fancy and upper class rather than the underdogs I used to cheer for kept me from getting invested. I just don’t care as much about a guy trying to make a deal for billions of dollars. Now a movie with a focus on Colin Farell and his gym ‘thugs’? Now that would be entertaining!
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Next In Fashion: The Blob

2/1/2020

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The Concept:
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Netflix’s answer to people who want more Project Runway and more Queer Eye. They are obviously trying to separate themselves from Project Runway but the basis premise is the same: grab some designers, give them some challenges, put on some fashion shows. Next In Fashion has its own light-hearted tone. Tan France, who is well known as the fashion guy of the Fab Five in Queer Eye, with his cohost Alexa Chung are very playful and keep the whole show fun. They keep talking about wanting to find the next big treads and fashionable ideas but either I’m very out of touch (which could be) or there wasn’t much boundary pushing with those design concepts. 

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The Good:
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  • The hosts worked really well together and seemed to be having genuine fun.
  • No drama between the designers. The focus was on the designs so no dumb infighting, everyone seemed to get along.
  • So many different accents! The contestants are from all over the world.
  • The set! The sound stage they used meant they created a new catwalk for each show. The use of projectors on the floor itself and different props really added a feel of theatre to it.
  • The tongue in cheek use of pushing its bingeablity through end of show instructions from the hosts was fun
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The Bad:
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  • Please tell me 'extended sizes/models' isn't really a thing. I'm a fat girl and I wear plus size clothes. I'm not extended... who thought of this? 
  • The first half of the show is all team challenges. The contestants are paired off and stay in the same pair until half the people are gone. There are some contestants who just don’t get to show what they can do.
  • For a show that knows a majority of it viewers will be bingeing, it spends too much time going over the same background and showing the same pictures for some of the contestants.
  • A cellphone brand is sponsoring this show but I’m not sure which one. There were really weird moments of the contestants using the phones to take pictures or when one guy’s phone had a low battery so another contestant showed him how to use the charge from his phone. I feel it would have been better to just have the brand name/logo randomly placed throughout the room.
  • The fashion. At least 3 different designs included what looked like a plastic bag wrapped around the model, also is baggy in now? So many wide legged pants and oversized dresses and jackets. Not once was there a comment about enhancing a person’s shape. Seems next in fashion is to look like a blob.
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To watch or not to watch:

Do you enjoy Project Runway? Do you enjoy Queer Eye? Then you’ll enjoy this. Best to watch with someone who can be judgy and have fun picking apart the judges opinions and the fashions on the show. Also be prepared for so much name dropping. Might be a fun drinking game: every time a celebrity is mentioned, take a drink! 

Last thought:

I like Project Runway better. I’m looking forward to Making the Cut which is Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn’s new show on Prime.

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Unicorn Store: Dance like Nobody's Watching

5/16/2019

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The Concept:

Hot off Captain Marvel, Brie Larson makes her directorial debut with Unicorn store. A movie that by itself is a beautiful story of growing up while still keeping that fantasy childlike wonder with you. With the casting of Samuel L. Jackson many won’t be able to stop from comparing it to Captain Marvel but I urge you not to. This movie tugs at the heart strings and stands on its own. As of this writing the Tomatometer had it at 63%, Metacritic was at 44% and IMDB was at 55%.

The Cast:

Brie Larson plays Kit, a girl just desperately trying to prove herself as not a disappointment to her parents played extremely well by Bradley Whitford and Joan Cusack. As parents they handle that balance of pushing their kid out the door to adulthood while wearing very very soft gloves. Rounding out the cast we’ve got Hamish Linklater playing a very gross, handsy boss, Karan Soni playing Kit’s high school friend she feels she is being compared to and Mamoudou Athie playing Kit’s helper soon turned love interest, if she'll let me of course. Now we also can’t forget Samuel L Jackson as the Salesman who tries to help Kit find her way to be worthy of a unicorn.

The Recap:

Brie Larson’s Kit begins the movie by failing out of art school. When compared to the rest of her classmates, her style is far too colourful, whimsical and well childish. She spends some time being moopy, lying about her parents house before being compared to an old high school classmate forces her to get up and become a temp at a dull advertising firm. It is long after this that she is invited to ‘The Store’ and offered the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of having a real life unicorn.

The good:
  • Her teacher is the first artist to put a stick in a box… an apparently revolutionary move yet he can’t handle some colour and chaos?
  • Spot on temp ad: “you don’t want to be a disappointment do you?”
  • Being an adult means she drinks coffee now, makes her own breakfast and will need legal pads and highlighters… sounds right
  • The idiocy of the woman explaining the copying process was so spot on I had flashbacks to my first office job (and the first thing I did was also photocopy my hand)
  • 4 colourful invites later and she finds herself at ‘The Store” where she asks a very good question: Are you gonna murder me?
  • She does work very hard on herself to get this unicorn but of course when she tells people about it they think she is crazy. Her parents offer to get her a dog, Virgil offers to go to the cops

The bad:
  • Gary belongs in the bad category but the writing and acting surrounding his sexual harassment was done so well I did consider the good category
  • The idea of whether Kit is being asked to present her ideas based on her creativity or based on Gary’s attraction, you can see how torn it makes Kit, at one point she asks ‘Am i pretty enough to be sexually harassed?’
  • Samuel L. Jackson has some weird hair in this one, though I suppose it makes sense to be selling unicorns while also having unicorn hair
  • She heads to a lumber yard with no plans or dimensions to build a barn, but she finds Virgil who eventually builds the barn based on youtube videos, which i find believable, but by himself? I don’t find believable

Why we should watch or not watch it:

If you are watching this movie to try to rehash Captain Marvel, this is NOT that movie, quickly open your mind or turn off the netflix. Who knows you could learn a lot about unicorns, like did you know their horns are so heavy because they are filled with love? You also have to watch it to find out if she does in fact get a unicorn in the end, cause I’m not giving that away...

Last thought:

The need for unconditional love is a strong one. The fear of being a disappointment is a strong one. It is these things that make this movie relatable. The requirements for owning a unicorn are especially good to learn from: 1. Build a home worthy of a unicorn, 2. Feed your unicorn in body and soul and prove financial stability, and 3. Surround the unicorn with love - that’s like hugging right? Nope needs a good support system in the home. I saw this as things we should be doing for ourselves and that last requirement was Kit’s hardest, accepting she had love along, that Virgil was there for her, that her parents didn’t think she was a disappointment, that she had good friends. The takeaway? The most grown up thing you can do is fail at something you really care about… but keep trying.

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Avengers Endgame: Spoilers Ahead

5/5/2019

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The Concept:

Have you been following along with the Marvel universe at all? Well this movie is the big one. It is the movie to finish all movies and boy does it. There have been 22 movies so far and a whole lot of storylines and characters to remember. Unlike that lucky few I did not watch all the movies as catch up for this one. Thankfully, you don’t have to because they remind you… while making you have all the feels. As of this writing the Tomatometer had it at 95%, Metacritic was at 78% and IMDB was at 86%. Get ready for some wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff ahead.

The Cast:

Everyone. But the main guys after the snap are Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan plus Bradley Cooper’s Rocket.

The Recap:

The story starts first a few months later where with the computer and Captain Marvel’s help they find Thanos but it’s too late. So the real start is 5 years later. Everyone is trying to move on but no one can so when Ant Man basically magically appears, his type of science gives him an idea: time travel! Unfortunately it's only Tony who figures out how to properly use it and he doesn’t want to change the present, he is one of the few who has done well after the snap, specifically he has Pepper and a new daughter. But his moral compass stirs him back to the Avengers camp and they go on a time traveling adventure to collect all the stones.

The good:
  • The 3 hours run time felt right. I don’t think my bladder or my boredom made me check my watch once.
  • When everyone shows up in the final battle! (Yes they re-do the snap)
  • I really liked the quick scene when they showed all the women avengers to clear the field for Captain Marvel (despite the fact she didn’t need it)
  • The walk down memory lane with the time travel made me feel old haha wow it was a long time ago that this all started
  • Thor’s story arch was funny but also heartwrenching, also he’s Thor, so that’s what you call him.

    The bad:
  • The first openly gay character should be a big thing but the guy in the grieving group did not feel special to me
  • Humans have so much stuff! With half the humans gone boy are here a lot of cars left over
  • Easy guessing game with parts: Tony has a daughter? Guess who is dying.
  • I thought Bucky would become the new Captain America. Sam already has an alter-ego of Falcon

Why we should watch or not watch it:

If for no other reason then to watch the final battle, you must watch this movie. Remember how in the Battle of Winterfell you could follow or see or make any sense of much of it well think the exact opposite. This battle is shot so beautifully. I was in awe the whole time. You get to follow the characters has they try to keep the gauntlet from Thanos. I hope you didn’t pay full price for this seat because you’re only gonna need the edge.

Last thought:

It is tough to say goodbye to the big 6 characters; Iron Man (dead), Captain America (old), Thor (adventuring), Black Widow (dead), Hawkeye (familyman), Bruce Banner (....wait what happened to him?), but boy did they all have fulfilling endings, either happy or saving others. My real last thought? … yeah I still agree with Thanos … he should have gotten rid of half the people/stuff/maybe memories and it would have been better but I do think he was trying to make the universe better.
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Captain Marvel: I’m Just A Girl

3/25/2019

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The Concept:

The long awaited first female led superhero Marvel movie is here and it’s pretty good. It’s got lots of funny banter, riveting action scenes and of course marvel universe tie-ins. What this movie doesn’t have is the cure for misogyny. I am a feminist but that didn’t make me excited for this movie and that is not why I watched this movie. I watched it because it looked fun and I like superhero movies, plus I need to keep in the know so i’m fully prepared for Endgame. Many will have specific opinions based solely on their possible extreme views of women but let’s try to just enjoy a movie. As of this writing the Tomatometer had it at 78%, Metacritic was at 64% and IMDB was at 72%.

The Cast:

Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson (also 4 kitties playing Goose the Cat) fill out a really well put together cast. Brie brings a lot of fun to Captain Marvel while still managing to carry the weight that people have put on this movie on her shoulders. It’s very weird to see Sam Jack with both eyes and man he looks young. I have had one birdie tell me he didn’t like Sam in this one but I felt he brought the heart to this movie. There’s also Annette Bening and Jude Law plus a host of other people, who I didn’t recognize, who help support Brie to fill out the Captain Marvel’s origin story nicely.

The Recap:

There’s a war going on and Carol Danvers ‘Vers’ is going to end it. Set in the 90s Vers lands on earth after one of the feuding alien races picks her for clues on how to kills the other alien race. Vers spends the movie having everything she thinks she knows being turned upside down.

The good:
  • Brie plays a great Captain Marvel. Her angry face is subtle but fierce. She is a little stiff but I think it adds to the character.
  • Most of the humor comes from Nick Fury which is unexpected but I found this fun. He’s younger and more carefree in this timeline. Heck he’s only just met his first out of world person. Of course he’s not as serious as the other movies.
  • I knew nothing of Captain Marvel’s backstory and felt this movie explained her very well. They took their time but once they got there it made sense to me.
  • Does Captain Marvel have any flaws or insecurities? I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing but she did seem a little perfect.
  • Yes the cat Goose plays a big role in the story and is pretty fun but I did think Fury was a bit too cutesy with it
  • Great camo by Coulson! I really enjoy this guy what can I say

The bad:
  • This movie takes a minute to get going. There is a lot to set up in order to get Captain Marvel to earth and get her story really under the way.
  • Most will compare this to Wonder Woman and I think that’s fair in a sense but besides both having female leads, i wouldn’t say there is much more to compare.
  • I found it pretty sad, yet spot on, that Carol’s life on earth was full of roadblocks, no you can’t race cars or fly planes or whatever but once she’s on an alien planet she’s invited to join elite fighting squads with no care to her sex…
  • That’s how Fury lost his eye? What an epic alien battle! *sarcasm*
  • No Doubt in the middle of a fight scene? No it just didn’t work. The other music was great though


Why we should watch or not watch it:

If you’re into the Marvel universe then watch it. If you want to see a strong female lead then also yes. If you like good buddy cop movies then definitely yes. It’ll keep marvel fans and non marvel fans entertained throughout and in the end you’ll feel excited to see more of her, you just might not feel the need to rewatch the movie.

Last thought:

As a woman, yes I enjoyed seeing a female lead but one of the things I really liked about this movie is that it didn’t really matter. They highlighted life as a woman on earth and how it was tough growing up for her, living the female experience, but once she’s got her powers she’s like any other superhero. She’s got a mission, she’s learning some new information and the world is going topsy turvy. Captain Marvel would be there to save the world whether or not she had a penis.

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The Dirt: So many dirty hands

3/25/2019

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The Concept:

Have you ever wondered how Motley Crue got together? Have you ever wondered what type of shenanigans they got up to early in their careers? Then there is a book you can read to learn all about it or watch this movie too but that seems like a far less fun way to learn. As of this writing the Tomatometer had it at 44%, Metacritic was at 37% and IMDB was at 71%.

The Cast:

Hey the guy from Game of Thrones, the one chemist from Breaking Bad, the depressed guy from SNL... that’s it that’s all I recognize. Machine Gun Kelly plays Tommy Lee and he does a great job. He obviously had real enthusiasm for the role and it shows.

The Recap:

The story of how Motley Crue became one of the most notorious rock bands in history! However, this movie will not be a shining spot in their history.

The good:
  • The music, of course, was well placed and a lot of fun. I have maybe only heard their songs on the radio so it was to deciated some real ear time to them.
  • The moments where they break from the story and talk to the camera were surprising. I enjoyed it but also wanted more of it as it was too infrequent which made it jarring.
  • The actors seemed to be having as much fun as the rockers would have been. it was a little cartoonish at times but a dumb type of you kind of what in on after a few shots.
  • The darker moments seemed to come out of nowhere which was realistic. It’s all fun and games til someone dies.

The bad:
  • This movie was apparently adapted from a 400 plus page book. Condensing that much material is a feet to say the least. They obviously focus on specific times in the band’s history but I felt that they focused on maybe some of the wrong stories. Do I really care about Tommy punching a super crazy groupie over how he met Pam?
  • This movie isn’t exactly clear with its timelines. At one point Tommy’s hair looks different and I realized oh are we in a new decade?
  • Is opening a movie showing a woman squirt a good or bad thing? haha


Why we should watch or not watch it:

If you want something on in the background with good music as you clean then heck yeah this is a great mindless movie. It was fun to watch a group of guys go nuts and have fun. Didn’t show women in the best light but groupies be groupies I guess?

Last thought:

I have been researching the band members since watching the movie and I may add the book to my reading list. This movie did leave me wanting to know more so they succeeded there.



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Alita: Battle Angel: Setting Up A Franchise

3/15/2019

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The Concept:

A Japanese manga series brought to life desperately trying to make itself into a movie franchise. We are introduced to an impressively rendered futuristic world through the eyes of Alita, who goes about learning things with a childlike wonder that keeps the movie playful despite still being kick ass. As of this writing the Tomatometer had it at 60%, Metacritic was at 54% and IMDB was at 76%.

The Cast:

Christoph Waltz, whose accent I still don’t know the origin but also I haven’t looked it up, was spot on as a compassionate robot doctor/ killer bounty hunter. They developed his character slowly but surely. A couple twists regarding which family member he lost and whether he was a serial killer where played to point. Rosa Salazar breaks through the screen as Alita. Despite her being covered heavily in CGI her soul showed through and had me really connecting to her. Also had Keean Johnson, playing Alita’s love interest, who I’m pretty sure is one of the Jonas Brothers? He was pretty but otherwise one noted. Jennifer Connelly also shows up as Christoph’s ex-wife, her whole character was intriguing but otherwise unneeded.

The Recap:

Alita’s robot/human hybrid head wakes up in a new body thanks to Dr. Ido. She has no memory so she spends the movie discovering the world, finds love and motorball. While doing so she uncovers a secret ‘overworld’ in the underworld and decides she must bring them down.

The good:
  • The special effects are mesmerizing and the 3D was on point
  • It’s got some really funny moments. Alita can be almost childlike but in a good way by entering adult situations with a giddy enthusiasm that made me smile.
  • The action is violent but in a really good way. So bloody. The Punisher series should take note.

The bad:
  • The story was too much. They were trying to squeeze too much into this one movie, so obviously setting up for a franchise, that it was boogled down.
  • They killed a dog :( And now I know the blood on her cheeks in the posters is dog blood and that makes me sad
  • The story is very convoluted, why is there a floating city taking parts of people? Or not taking parts of people and also Edward Norton can jump bodies? I couldn’t really tell you.
  • Too long, get rid of like 30 minutes of unneeded characters/storylines

Why we should watch or not watch it:

Watch it but only in theatres or on a really nice TV. This movie is too be watched for the special effects. If you want to get engulfed in the story then this movie may is an introduction but go check out the manga (I assume, I haven’t actually read any of it but internet says its good).

Last thought:

I would be surprised if this gets a sequel or franchise which makes its ending really disappointing. Is it just me or does a disappointing ending make the movie feel negated which is especially too bad because I did enjoy this movie. I went in with low expectations and ended up having fun.



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The Lego Movie 2: The Slow Start

3/12/2019

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The Concept:

It’s been 5 years since we last played with these specific legos and a lot has happened. It’s gone from a story about a father and son battling over preserving verse playing with toys to a brother and sister battling over how to possibly combine very different storylines in their lego playgrounds. The reviews for this sequel have been generally good if not great. As of this writing the Tomatometer had it at 92%, Metacritic was at 65% and IMDB was at 75%. So with much skepticism towards sequel qualities let’s see how this kids movie does for adults.

The Cast:

There are so many recognizable voices in this movie but the big four are Chris Pratt as Emmet and Rex, Elizabeth Banks as Lucy, Will Arnett as Batman and Tiffany Haddish as Queen Watevra Wa’Nab. All did really well in transporting me to a make believe world. I think Jonah Hill’s voice as Green Lantern was the only one that made me think ‘oh hey there’s an actor acting’. WIll Ferrell does lend his voice but we don’t get to see him this time around instead Maya Rudolph makes an appearance as the mom trying to get her kids to play nicely together.

The Recap:

The battle between Bricksburg, now known as Apocalypseburg, and the unknown Duplo invaders still wages on 5 years later. One day an invader cordially captures Lucy, Batman and a few other to take them to a wedding ceremony. Emmett is left alone to rescue them. Along the way he meets Rex Dangervest, who has a very interesting backstory. He helps Emmett change into a more brooding master destroyer type. Is this change for the better though? Will awesomeness come back to the land? Can brothers and sister play well together? All will be answered after a catchy song and a couple heartfelt moments.

The good:
  • The look of this movie is amazing. It’s colourful, vibrant. It mixes the stop motion look, and  real world elements really well. After the reveal in the last movie that humans were in fact the ones running the story I was happy to see how well they integrated this knowledge into this movie
  • The question of why Lucy isn’t the leader/special over Emmett is raised in a great exchange between General Mayhem and Lucy
  • Bruce Willis in a air duct, he totally doesn’t live there
  • So many Batman moments, it made me want to rewatch The Lego Batman movie
  • Is stepping on a lego on par with the pain of childbirth?

The bad:
  • The very slow start, I think it wasn’t until the big reveal of the ‘lesson’ that this movie really started to pick up and make me feel things
  • Not has many laughs this time around, I think I can count on one hand the number of times I chuckled.
  • My foot was not tapping to the music in this movie sadly. The catchy song did eventually get to me, the queen’s song was clever and the end credits song was fun but I remember the music in the first movie being far more noticeable. The first half of this one almost felt too quiet.
  • I wanted to see Will Ferrell's dad character. I was really curious what giving up preserving his legos had done to him.
  • This movie was very predictable. Of course Rex is Emmett, of course Lucy will save Emmett, of course it’s a fake ending. I just wasn’t pleasantly surprised by anything this time around

Why we should watch or not watch it:

You should watch it… eventually. Unless you have kids nagging you to go, wait for the DVD or streaming equivalent. Don’t get me wrong, it’s charming and well crafted but its not especially memorable. I’d much rather re-watch the first lego movie or the batman lego movie then watch this one again. And if you are going to re-watch it, maybe skip the first half?

Last thought:

This is a very solid sequel. It is fun, heart-warming and well, after a slow start, would spark the imagination of all ages. This movie does make me want to play, sing, dance, heck be awesome again but it does that most in reminding me how good the first movie was and to maybe go back and watch it again.

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Cold Pursuit: Long but Hilarious

3/4/2019

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The Concept:

He’s got a particular set of skills… well mostly he’s got nothing to lose and some good connections. As of this writing the Tomatometer had it at 70%, Metacritic was at 57% and IMDB was at 66%. I would agree with these ratings. This movie will not be for everyone. It is weird! But it is fun and violent and really what more could you ask for?

The Cast:

So many unique and interesting characters! Luckily there are great actors to bring them to life, however, I couldn’t tell you any of their names beside Liam Neeson, Laura Dern and Emmy Rossum but you may recognize some of the others. There truly are too many wonderful performances to pick out a favourite. This is actually a good thing because a lot of this Liam Neeson movie doesn’t have him in it.

The Recap:

Liam Neeson is a snow plow driver with a high wife and a bag handler son. It’s a quiet life, the town appreciates him so much they give him an award. Everything seems totally pleasant until his son overdoses on the bad kind of drugs. Now it’s time for revenge. Mostly Liam just wants answers! His son wasn’t a junkie, he’s sure of it. It only takes a very large body count, bloody misunderstandings between crime lords, and a kidnapping to he find out he’s right.

The good:
  • It take about 30 minutes but the transition this movie takes into a dark comedy is inspired. This is not Taken, it’s also not Fargo but it’s somewhere in between.
  • Yes this is a Liam Neeson film but there is a huge focus between the two drug kingpins and their gangs that totally stands on its own
  • How they document each kill is clever and very engaging
  • At one point, Liam Neeson gets tired of punching a guy, he has to stop and take a breath.
  • Tom Bateman’s odd vegan control freak drug kingpin was totally hilarious and frightening
  • Having two of the gang members be in love with each other, awe :)

The bad:
  • This movie doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be and so it does get a bit bogged down at times. It has a slow start and some random scenes that don’t push the story along. Just need to get passed those to get to those fun cringy hilarious moments.
  • This movie is too long! It needed some real editing to tighten it up.
  • Bring a blanket this movie made me feel cold! Although the snowy backdrop of the movie is beautiful
  • Am I really supposed to believe that Liam can just carry a dead body over his shoulder?
  • Don’t sleep in the same bed as your preteen boy kidnap victim.
  • I get it, you’ve set the movie in Colorado, weed is cool there, stop banging me over the head with it. You could probably cut 10 min of dead weight from this movie by just taking out the wee references


Why we should watch or not watch it:

Did you like Fargo? Either the movie or the TV show? Then get past the first 30 minutes of this movie and you’ll be having a lot of fun. Also don’t worry there is a scene where a person is shredded...

Last thought:

This movie is apparently based on the Norwegian film Krafitidioten or, as it is known in the US, In Order of Disappearance starring Stellan Skarsgard. (And I’m gone now to go watch that film, love me some Skarsgard).



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The Punisher Season 2: The Feels

3/1/2019

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The Concept:

Season 2 finds Frank Castle being pulled back to New York to face Billy Russo now turned Jigsaw but first he’s also got to figure out what’s up with John Pilgrim. This season had mixed reviews to say the least. As of this writing the Tomatometer had it at 52%, Metacritic was at 58% and IMDB was at 86%. It seems this season is a love it or hate it situation. And I got to say I hated it. I enjoyed Iron Fist so much more than this mundane representation of The Punisher.


The Cast:

A lot of returning characters but otherwise did you recognize anyone? Also can you remember any of their names.. characters... backstories…? There was the mopey woman and her son who Frank becomes pseudo husband and dad for a day. Was anyone surprised when she ended up in the hospital? No. Then there was the escort mission for Frank in the whiny blonde girl. We’ve also got a religious zealot badguy, a senator’s dad and the russian mob all going after Castle because of a picture whiny blonde girl has.

As for the returning characters, we got to see one legged Curtis again, Karen Page and the FBI lady. Karen is basically a cameo whereas Curtis and FBI lady have some big feels this season. Lots of talking and character development for them. It’s just I didn’t really feel any connection to what they were saying.

The Recap:

This season Frank Castle has to fight Jigsaw and John Pilgrim! He’s been living on the road but gets pulled back into some bloody action after he meets whiny blonde girl in a bar. The mystery of who this girl is and why there are people after her last nearly all season. While he’s trying to keep her alive due to what I have named ‘Photo-Gate’, BIlly Russo is recovering back in New York and causing trouble for everyone involved. Both storylines meet in New York and things… come to a head?... kinda.

The good:
  • Ben Barnes does show us how acting is done, his physical scars may have been underwhelming but his portrayal of BIlly’s chronic and psychological pain was gut wrenching
  • The few fight scenes that were showcased were amazing! Crushing a guy’s head with a gym weight? Yes! Breaking a thick porcelain sink with a guy’s head? Yes! A trick double motel room shooting spree? Yes!
  • Is predictability good? Cause I saw a lot of things coming… Dr. Back Scar was always going to end up on the pavement.
  • Ok yes there was character development for Frank, Billy and Curtis but the slow pace of it made it difficult for me to pay attention to all the talking and all the feels.

    The bad:
  • Jigsaw’s so called messed up and scarred face, more like a scratch (I’ve seen cats do worse damage) and don’t get me started on that weird mask he created.
  • The violent, gruesome adult themed comic was not found this season it was slow, boring and almost family friendly. Where’s the blood?!
  • Having Castle fight two different war fronts made things distracting, all the ‘Photo-Gate’ storyline did was give Frank something to do while Billy set up his storyline.
  • A big void left by Micro. Not even the returning war buddy Curtis could fill it. Frank had no one to share on screen chemistry with this season.

Why you should watch or not watch it:
Don’t watch it. It’s slow. It’s boring. It’s safe. It’s confusing. It’s character development and storylines are lacking. But if you do want to watch it then plan on taking a lot of breaks, of holding your eyelids open and of drinking a lot coffee. Let’s just say this could have been 6 maybe 8 episodes long and it would have been better.

Last thought:
This is likely the last we will see of Bernthal’s Frank Castle and I am wholly disappointed in this farewell. The punisher deserved a much more action packed and bloodier ending. You know IF there were a season 3, at least they did find a way to bring him from a vengeance fueled machine to a crime fighting anti-hero with a job in the CIA whenever he wants it.

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