Thoughts on The Hero

The Hero is a pretty interesting movie that seems very real to life. Sam Elliot plays an burnt out actor that is reduced to doing voice work. He is a sad character that has found out he is about to die from cancer. This is a role that seems so tailor made for Sam Elliot. I would be shocked if it doesn't get an Oscar nod.  It is a clever movie that reminds me of Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru to a certain extent. There is a charm that Elliot exudes that works for a role like this. It is a poignant glimpse of a fading star that wants to secure his legacy.

Thoughts on Spider-man Homecoming

My initial reaction to hearing about a third Spider-man reboot in ten years made me roll my eyes. At least this Spider-man movie is really good. I don’t have nearly the issues I had with the past movies. Spider-man: Homecoming features great actors bringing pretty authentic performances and a story that seems like it actually fits the character. It is charming and will be a welcome addition to the MCU.

Thoughts on Sing

I guess there isn’t a ton I’ve got to say about Sing. It was surprisingly giod and a cute little story. Not deep as Zootopia but enjoyable nonetheless.

Thoughts on It Comes at Night

It Comes at Night is a fine movie. The acting is good and the story is thrilling and depressing. It is a claustrophobic movie that could work as a stage play. The breakdown of these familes in the crisis is awful. It is the sort of movie that will leave you feeling hollow in the depressing futility it presents to you. Not for the faint of heart.

Thoughts on Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 is a good movie that with astounding cinematography. It takes the mythology created by the first film and elevates it. The acting is great and the setting is beautiful. My minor complaints are that the soundtrack is blaring to the point of being distracting and Jared Leto is weird and pointless. I still really don’t understand his motivation. It was like watching Johnny Depp ham it up when he was onscreen. As a whole it is a good movie that has a long running time that could’ve been saved in editing. Check it out if you like the first movie.

Thoughts on Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell is a decent movie. The effects are eye-popping and the acting is pretty solid. I wish it didn't have a backlash from the SJW community. The original anime was fantastic and really stands as a positive influence on science fiction as a genre. The accusations of whitewashing is probably what caused this movie to bomb so badly. To that I have to say "This shouldn't be such an issue." For years movies have cast Asians and other races for characters to to appeal to certain demographics for marketing purposes. For example Michael Clark Duncan as the Kingpin in Daredevil and the Asgardians in Thor being varied races. However, the casting of Scarlett Johansson is not an issue to me. The characters in the original Ghost in the Shell sort of struck me as not any particular race so the story is what mattered to me. It wasn't like she was in in "yellow face" like some of the characters in Cloud Atlas. Regardless of the racial problems this movie is interesting and actually is fun to watch. Hopefully, when the politically correct sticks up peoples butts relax in society it will find an audience. It is really not a bad movie and is worth a rental at the very least.

Thoughts on John Wick 2

John Wick 2 is a decent sequel. If you want just action and fun gunplay then this movie will be appropriate. The story itself is ludicrous and the ending is a bit of a let down but if you came into expecting a deeply meaningful movie than you are not going to find it here. It is a good movie for people that want popcorn action and nothing more.

Thoughts on Colossal

Colossal is a good concept with a flawed execution. A trainwreck named Gloria, played by Anne Hathaway discovers that when she goes to a playground a giant monster appears in Seoul and follows her movements. First off, Anne Hathaway is miscast. I just don't buy that she is as pathetic as she is. Even with Gloria's story arch and character development it comes off a bit phony. Jason Sudekis is really good and plays a convincing ass who is a bit over the top in his villainy but also feels real. Second, the tone is all over the place. At first it feels like a dark comedy but then it veers into symbolistic drama, with a splash of action. Essentially it is a story of an extraordinary situation involving the biggest drunken jerks in a small town who care very little for those they impact. This should have just been an elaborate episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The power mad aspect reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode called "The Little People." There is also a third act that is very odd and goes in a strange direction. Check it out if you are in the mood for something that takes a cliche theme and gives it an odd twist.