Justice League - Review

Before we start talking about Justice League in-depth lets talk about the superhero genre. Its been a few years since superhero/comic book films have genuinely excited me and the only example to come close was Batman Vs Superman purely because of what the title and the project as a whole meant. So here we are in 2017 and there is a Justice League movie but I must ask, where was the hype? I know that I bring this up a lot with recent cinema but where was the sense of scale and not just within the film but as an event itself. Batman and Wonder Woman were going to share a $200mil plus movie with other superheroes that people care about, yet where was the hype?

As a person that takes an interest in the behind the scenes and someone who just knows about film production via osmosis I knew why this film was not being hailed as a masterpiece or an event but why wasn't the popular culture hyping this film to nth degree. The most I saw was bus stop posters and that was it. Keep in mind that I saw Justice League on the Friday following its release and you would not have known a Justice League film was showing other than a usual quad poster.

Justice League, in my opinion, marks the end of Warner Bros attempting to build a universe and honestly I think in order for the DC brand these films need to fade away for a few years. We have had 5 films within this universe and only one of them has truly found an audience, there were 5 Marvel films before the Avengers and at least all of those were enjoyable whereas DC currently have Wonder Woman and that is it.

Justice League should be the cautionary tale for any studio looking to build a shared universe without earning it or at least having somewhat of a cohesive plan in place. Why WB did not just identify the characters they wanted for their Justice League movie and make solo films of said characters, in the same fashion to how Marvel did it, then when the time was right build an epic 150 minute spectacular is way beyond me. So is Justice League any good?

Heck no, Justice League might be one of the worst budget to quality ratio's in the history of cinema. I understand the reason it went so over budget but I cannot ignore the poor writing, visuals, acting and just tone of the project. This film is a mess and to be honest I can't see anything within this chopped up Frankenstein's monster of a film that could have been better or even great if Zak Snyder got to finish his idea.

The story of Justice League does not work at all, the film starts halfway through a story that we have no concept of other than the dream sequence in BVS and what is told to us after the first scene. The first act of the film is trying to be mysterious by building up strange symbols but  then just drops it so that two of the characters can just say "this is what is happening" and everyone else just goes with it and it all just leads to a worse version of the New York battle in the Avengers. This film infuriated me with how lacklustre the story was, I know I was not expecting much but dear lord this film does not even try for bare minimum. It turns out that there are three cubes and they are being hunted by a tall guy who looks like the villain from the Medievil PS1 game. Seriously this is as bare-bones as the plot gets.

You could argue "the story may not be great but what about the characters?" Trust me $300 million is not worth a what if episode of The Big Bang Theory if they became the Justice League. This film stinks of desperation especially the character of The Flash who is clearly there to appeal to the general audience to make quips that feel really out of place he is easily the worst character in the film. Every character is made to be sarcastic, which is certainly an addition from Joss Whedon but it does not fit with the rest of the film. The next part will include spoilers.

Superman gets his own section because this could have made the movie so much better but WB and the screenwriters dropped the ball hard on this one. The resurrection of Superman, arguably the most important character in these movies, comes in the middle and is resolved in 10 mins. He is brought back to life, goes evil for a second then is turned good by Louis Lane. Why bringing back Superman was not the entire focus of this story I don't know but it would have made for a far more interesting film. Just imagine a film where the members of the Justice League have to team up to bring back Superman, that is gold but instead we get 10 maybe 15 mins and then its back to the plot about the boxes.

On the technical side of this film is where I seriously got frustrated with the film. It appears that everything about this film is wrong from a cinematography stand point. So the first Justice League film ever made, a budget of $300 million and we open on... cameraphone footage of Superman. I can't think of a worse way of opening your tent-pole blockbuster of the year, it set the tone for the rest of the film. The aspect ratio was something I noticed from the trailers and the cynic in me immediately knew why the film was in 1.85:1 and that is because the Avengers was shot like this but the aspect ratio really does affect the look of the film. Most scenes feel empty with the characters having huge amounts of space between them, this choice is odd. The decision to adjust the colour in post is jarring and makes everyone stick out, again this was a way of making the film be more "fun" but it does not work in the slightest.

Overall Justice League is awful and I don't recommend seeing it, the film is an unfinished mess which was rushed to meet its release date even though it needed a lot more time. Boring story, bland action, annoying characters and whole chunks missing make Justice League unworthy of its title and budget.

4/10

Written by
Ashley Harvey

Blade Runner 2049 - Review

I must apologise for this delayed review and the lack of content in general but I will continue to review and discuss movies on this blog.

Lets start by saying that Blade Runner is my favourite film and I do consider it to be one of the best ever made so this can tell you something about my anticipation and expectations for the sequel. When the first teaser dropped I was surprised by how much it felt like Blade Runner and you could say I was looking forward to the film. As time came closer to the release the marketing kept ramping up and the trailers and marketing started to put doubt in my mind and then seeing Alien: Covenant was when my worry for Blade Runner went into overdrive. I am so happy to say that all my worrying was for nothing because Blade Runner 2049 is the best film of 2017 so far but I am very confident in saying that it will not be topped.

As of the time of writing this review I have seen 2049 twice now which is a good sign because I enjoyed it both times. I can see people being very apprehensive of this film due to its run-time of 2 hours and 40 mins but personally I prefer films that break the 135 min barrier especially a film with a budget north of $120 million. Saying that the film does not feel its length, it can be considered slow but slow does not mean bad and 2049 has time to breathe and let the audience soak in the world and atmosphere of Blade Runner.

 In terms of story I think that 2049 does provide a decent story and does not make the mistake of just retelling the same story but with different characters. It asks questions and does have the feel of a classic sci fi film rather than just a mindless action spectacle which most modern science fiction films have become. There are moments within the film that does reference the original in a slightly annoying fashion but they are few and far between and the average viewer wont be able to spot most of them although there is one big thing, which is a spoiler, that almost ruined the film for me but for the casual viewer this wont be the biggest issue in the world.

Its funny to think that we are now at a stage where special effects don't wow us anymore and I am so happy to say that 2049 was impressive visually which is a massive achievement, one thing that I would like to point out is the movement of the camera when moving around L.A and how it elegantly glides around the landscape allowing the audience to become immersed in the world. Colour is also a very important part of this film because everything pops and the film is lit very well and there was one instance where I was impressed with a set which to the average person would not be a big factor but for someone like me this really impressed.

Performances on the whole were rather good with Ryan Gosling making a perfect replicant and Harrison Ford looking like he gave a damn. Everyone else ranges from decent to good nothing really bad but it could have been better.

The score for this film is excellent, nowhere near as good or memorable as the original but this is something else and its so refreshing to have a score that wants to be noticed. The crashing electronica sounds on show are so mesmerising and elevates the film, its so distinct and immerses the viewer into the world. I love how the visuals and the score compliment each other so well.

Overall Blade Runner 2049 is one of the most impressive films of the past couple of years due to the care put into the film. Everything mixes well and provides an excellent viewing experience that does not disappoint especially for fans of the original. Definitely watch Blade Runner 2049.

8.5/10

Written By
Ashley Harvey

American Made - Review

Where do I start with this one? Well I think you should go see American Made because it is a genuinely good film, not great, but I would say it is my favorite film of the year surpassing Dunkirk. Although I think Dunkirk is a far superior movie on a technical level I just can't deny how much I enjoyed American Made.

In this current climate the popular culture seems to have an affection for all things "80s" and Pablo Escobar so I was hesitant when going in on American Made but I love Tom Cruise, and that is a deep and completely heterosexual way and I don't think Doug Liman is as cynical as most directors working today which I think helped American Made.

American Made does have its problems and most of them come from Liman's direction. This film has a very handheld and off the cuff approach to shots with a lot of cuts and shaky shots but as I have always said if your movie is good I can forgive a bad camera which is very true for American Made. Other than the cinematography I feel as if the film could have been edited a little better and by that I mean by trimming some of the fat, not saying that it is loaded with unnecessary scenes but some do just hinder the film from keeping a good pace.

It is very easy to get lost in this film which is something that a lot of recent movies has been lacking because I became invested in what was going on. Scenes actually meant something and drove along the story and my god does this film have some tense scenes. Another criticism I have would be the ending, both this and Dunkirk just ended that one or two extra minutes too late but as I have said this is a very good movie so these problems are far less obtuse because the film grabbed my attention.

This film is hinged on Tom Cruise and I am glad to say that he does give one of his better performances in recent memory, not to say that he has been bad but this does feel like a different role to Ethan Hunt or Jack Reacher. I do have to say that Domhnall Gleeson is very good in this movie and it is nice to see him crop up in films that I like this dude just knows how to fill a role. The other performances are good but nothing too special.

I do praise the films soundtrack because it does attempt to stray away from your typical "retro" songs for more of a focused approach which again works in the films favour and does help it break away from something like a Guardians of the Galaxy which uses music as a tool rather than letting the music compliment the film.

Something I notice amongst new screenwriters is a trend to have every other line have a characters name in it. This film does suffer from this trend nothing too major just thought I would mention it.

Overall I highly recommend seeing American Made because its been a while since we had a good drugs movie and this is certainly better than ninety percent of movies in cinemas at the moment. Good story, good acting and an all round fun time.

7.5/10

Written By
Ashley Harvey

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets - Review

Before we get into the review proper I would like to warn everyone that I will be making many comparisons to The Fifth Element. This is because Valerian and The Fifth Element are very similar especially because Luc Besson has directed both of them and that The Fifth Element is heavily inspired by the Valerian comics.

Valerian is one of the better films of 2017 which makes it sad that it has tanked at the box office because I would love to see a sequel to this film but unfortunately we may never get a sequel. In short Valerian is a movie that feels like a movie and that is more than can be said for other films within the past eight months. Valerian is by no means a perfect movie and I was ready to discredit the entire film from the first frame because it played a David Bowie song but as the film went on I found myself engaged in the film. Here is the big thing about Valerian it has an identity which, again, is more than can be said for the majority of recent films. Valerian feels like its own film which is heavily inspired by other movies including Besson's own Fifth Element but the film has colour, it builds a universe and most importantly to me it feels big.

I do have negatives towards Valerian but most of them are quelled by the positives I have with the film but problems do exist. Some of the camera work could have been better with many of the shots feeling loose and having a strange micro zoom which was odd, the other major problem I have with this film is that it can drag at points especially towards the end where it just keeps going and going which I feel could have been tightened but like I said the rest of the film makes up for this.

The story of Valerian is decent enough and does do a good job of keeping the audience somewhat engaged in the film but its the visuals that are most impressive with this film, nowhere near the pinnacle of visual effects but certainly very good and interesting. Although I feel the visual style of Valerian is lacking when compared to The Fifth Element which really felt like a realised world and universe whereas Valerian does feel a lot more generic but good nonetheless.

The performances in Valerian are mixed but overall no one was bad other than Ethan Hawke and Rihanna who were not as solid as the others and their scene really stops the film and kills all the pace just to show off that the film has a pop star, you could compare it to the Ruby Rhod character in The Fifth Element but at least that works within the context of the film and does add to the world whereas in Valerian it does kill all momentum of the story. The two leads were fine but I felt lacked any charisma that could have elevated this movie just think of Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman in The Fifth Element. Other than that the performances were all serviceable and did not detract from the film.

Overall Valerian is a film I enjoyed but does have problems with pacing and acting but it is an enjoyable film that you should at least watch once. If you have seen The Fifth Element it would be worth checking this out because it does feel like a watered down Fifth Element. Certainly give Valerian a watch. Just don't expect the next Star Wars.

7.5/10

Written By
Ashley Harvey

Atlantis: The Lost Disney Movie

Before I say anything specific about Atlantis just know that you should watch this film as soon as you can because in all honesty it may be one of the best Disney movies and certainly one of the biggest surprises I have had in a long time. I am honestly shocked that people do not discuss this one as much as they would discuss Pocahontas or Tarzan, not to say that those films are bad but Atlantis is far more interesting of a movie than those are certainly does not feel like a typical animated feature from Disney.

This is one of Disney's most striking animated features both on a story and visual level and I think might be the high point of Disney animation. This film is very different tonally to other Disney animated films because this deals more with discovery and adventure instead of a traditional love story, it does have romantic elements but the majority of the film is centered around Milo and his obsession with finding Atlantis. In terms of visuals there is something about Atlantis that just sets it apart, I think colours play a major part in the unique visuals of this film especially the look of the Atlantians with their grey skin and white hair,  its really rather striking and this is what makes Kida such an interesting Disney Princess. Her look is so visually stunning yet Disney have forgotten her and it appears that they will no effort to remind people of this film which is a shame because this is one of the better Disney movies.

I think this film is unfairly treated by Disney because if they did put out merchandise for this film, especially in this culture of collecting, I think that they could do a lot with Atlantis. As I have said before Kida is the most unique Disney Princess because of her design and her character and introducing this character to a younger audience could allow Disney to make more money on merchandising.

Overall I think that everyone should watch Atlantis because it does deserve a second chance, if you allow yourself to understand that this is not Tarzan or Mulan then I truly think that more and more people will highly rate Atlantis. I just find it funny that the film about something lost in time became lost itself.

8/10

Written By
Ashley Harvey

Dunkirk - Review

This is the best film of the year so far and overall I had a good time watching the film yet only few small problems keep this film from being great. Keep in mind that I think that the film is good and that any problem I have with it is minor compared to the majority of films I have seen in 2017.

Of course any Christopher Nolan film is going to peak many moviegoers interest since he is one of the more consistent film makers in Hollywood and I don't think he has made a "bad" film. Some are of course better than others but none of them are infuriating to watch, even Following is interesting enough as to make up for its lack of polish. So where does Dunkirk rank among his films? Its on the lower end of the scale just below Interstellar, which is a film I personally love, but is nowhere near as good as Inception or The Prestige.

About a week before Dunkirk was released I discovered the run-time which surprised me clocking in at only 106 minutes, in my head I thought Nolan making a war movie would be at least 150 mins, which dampened my excitement which is silly I know but it just did not sound right to me. To my surprise I think the film is a little bit too long which is crazy when paired with my last statement but I think the ending should have ended sooner but I will go into further details later on.

Lets start with what was good about this film, first off the sound design is amazing and is on par with Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line, which is good company to be in, with the Spitfires absolutely rocking the theatre and the explosions actually having bass to them which has been lost in recent years. The use of real extras and practical effects really helps a film of this calibre I have always appreciated how Nolan would rather do something practically or in camera and only using CG as a last resort or as a way to enhance what is already there. Costumes and the look of the film is brilliant and that is down to it being shot on 70 mm which looks great and its a shame that most cinemas use digital projection because a film like this would really pop with a proper projector. Overall there is nothing "wrong" with the film in fact it has been a long time since I was so invested in a movie in the cinema. The only problems I have with the film are minor at best and play more into personal preference rather than the movie itself. 

The ending is the biggest problem for me and its the reason why I have decided to not award it a higher score, I personally think the film should have ended when the soldiers left Dunkirk and Kenneth Branagh looks over the channel but instead the film drags on as we follow the men back home and it feels unnecessary and tacked on for "emotional" effect. The acting overall was fine for a movie of this type but no one really stood out as amazing but again this is not the film where someone will win an Oscar for best actor. My biggest complaint is something that most people would not even consider nor care but I feel as if the cinematography does not correspond with the use of 70 mm. The film was very close quarters and this may just be due to watching in a cinema, that frankly does not care about image quality, but the shots felt compressed and cramped, without many wide shots which, for me, defeats the purpose of the bigger film stock. Those are my only real issues with the movie and I think that this is going to be the film of the year for me.

Overall Dunkirk is one of the most suspense filled movies I have seen in the cinema in recent memory and I recommend that everyone go see it. I do have problems with the film which does take a toll on my rating for Dunkirk but these are down to personal preference and most people would not even notice. Definitely go see this one and see it in 70 mm if you can I can imagine it would be an amazing experience. 

7.5/10

Written By

Ashley Harvey

Why I Walked Out Of Spider-Man Homecoming

This is not a review of the entire film because to be honest I did not sit through the film and for that I do apologise but this film drove me to the breaking point and in all fairness this is not even the worst film of the year so far but this one broke me. Recently we have been going through this "faux" 80's phase which is annoying in itself but I can deal with if done right, the other trend is having an abundance of references within the film to either make the filmmakers feel better about themselves or they put them in so that a select few audience members can pat themselves on the back. The reason I know this was because I was one of those audience members when I was younger, when I saw The Avengers in 2012 I laughed at the Galaga reference but as the years have gone by and my thoughts on how films should be made and written so has my attitude towards this type of content and to be perfectly honest I have come to resent it. A big reason why I feel as if this has been a major negative on modern movies is the lack of subtlety and direction, who are these for?

So how does this relate to Spider-Man Homecoming? Well within the first 40 minutes which was all that I could stomach there were so many moments that just irked me, lets start off with the use of Can't You Hear Me Knocking by The Rolling Stones and how the use of this song in any film after David O Russell has touched it has lost all credibility. This song would be fine if it was not tainted by wannabe Scorsese filmmakers who want to use rock 'n' roll tracks in their movies. Then there is the dumb humour during the high school scenes and how "Penis Parker" is the phrase that is used several times. The Vlog portion of the opening also contributed to how this film has dated itself already and it only came out this month, my argument with this point and many of my other points is, who is this for? Using the Vlog at the beginning is clearly marketed towards a demo of under 27's whereas the Ferris Bueller reference in both homage and then ruining it by showing the film, who is that supposed to appeal to? It's this content that ruins movies for me now. Spiderman (2002) never had a scene where Peter Parker was watching Superman The Movie, I know that analogy came from nowhere but it does make sense in the context. Why is it that 15 years later we can blatantly do this and no one bats an eyelid. It is clear to me that many film makers are not too concerned with legacy and that is disappointing this is not to say that all contemporary media is bad, not at all but if you were given the opportunity to make a film based on an iconic character why would you rely on all of this auxiliary content to make people like the film. Why can't we just make good movies that stand on their own?

Anyway that was just a rant about why Spider-Man Homecoming forced me out of the cinema. I am not saying that you should not watch the film this was purely for me to vent about the mistakes of modern big budget movies.

Written By
Ashley Harvey