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Joe_Crisan
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Reviews
Suicide Squad (2016)
Tries to Be Too Much
First, let me say I'm not a DC Comics reader. That said, I was interested in seeing this movie, because Watchmen, although I was not familiar with the graphic novels, is my #2 favorite movie of all time after Casablanca - so you never know.
Now, I have followed the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, which took about 10 years to build to what it is today (over several movies and TV shows), and obviously DC Comics is feeling the pressure and needs to come up with their own as quick as possible. So, they have the Superman movie, BvS, and now Suicide Squad.
Here's the problem: DC is trying to make an entire universe with just these 3 movies, and it shows.
The film starts out with the background of several of the characters, and takes up almost the entire first hour doing so. This is a fun show, propelled forward with a great soundtrack of pop songs, old and new.
Then, the group is brought together to rescue an unnamed High-Value Target after some terrorist activity in the city. This is where the plot actually begins. They hop on a chopper, the soundtrack suddenly changes to just a score, and the helicopter crashes (it's in the commercial). In total there will be 3 helicopter crashes, but an hour into a movie, I should be caring about what happens to at least some of these characters. Since I don't read the comics, I don't have the already "built in" care that other viewers may, but this says something about the story itself and how it's failed to capture the viewer's interest. Also, there's a really silly thing that made me laugh out loud in a crowded theater: every time the Enchantress entered or left the screen, there was a woman whispering "Enchantress" like some perfume commercial. It's ridiculous.
There's also a character who dies, and I knew it already because that character is the only one who didn't get the full treatment with a background scene. They also threw in some lady with a silly mask (named Katana), who has 1 line and 1 move in the entire movie, so I'm not sure what the point was in having her in there.
Then, somewhere in between there, I guess the director / producers realized they needed a love component (or at least friendship type of love) and made a really awkward display between two people who had literally just met about an hour before when they got on the helicopter!
The HVT was not a shocker at all, although the characters all seemed shocked, so I think the viewer was supposed to be, also. Confusion.
Throw in some awkwardly-placed, forced one-liners, and suddenly the movie turns into the final scene of Ghostbusters for the last 20 minutes, with a whirlwind of smoke and lightning, and a witch in a skimpy dress dancing in the middle the whole time. I was waiting for Stay Puft, but he never came. The plot was so forced and weak, I wonder what the production meetings were like. Add in the weird (not artistic!) use of the soundtrack, poor character development, silly mistakes (The Diablo's tattoos change as regularly as Harley Quinn's accent
Overall, this movie was a cluster of things that made it feel like they crammed a bunch of elements to create an entire universe in a single movie. And I have to say it failed at that. They could easily have introduced some of these characters in shows like Gotham or Flash, or in movies like Batman, Superman, or BvS. Then they wouldn't have to crunch in so much background stuff and could've actually had a great movie, but this failed in so many ways I think (sadly) the DC Cinematic Universe is doomed.
Gallowwalkers (2012)
Great filmmaking - camera work, score, acting, and visuals. An overall fun movie.
I truly don't understand why this movie is so badly rated. Thus was like a graphic novel come to life, with great 1970's kung-fu style cinematography (not fights, just camera work),a great, appropriate score, action, monsters, revolvers, and great acting.
Sure, the plot could have benefited from a bit of revision and tightening, but it's not difficult to follow. If taken like a graphic novel, it fits right in. Pick up some Image graphic novels and you'll understand that the way the plot is presented is very much aligned with that style of storytelling.
This gets a solid 8 because this is the type of movie you pat $13.50 at a theater for.
Into the Storm (2014)
Bad Acting, Bad Script, Bad, Bad, Bad
This "found footage" film had some promise to be a fun little escape from the everyday. However, the script and acting were so terrible that it was actually distracting. The film did not have a realistic feel (like The Blair Witch Project, which had people wondering if it was actual found footage or not). Even the tornado shots looked like SyFy channel CGI. I didn't care about any of the characters because they were annoying, unrealistically evil, or just plain stupid. And don't get me started on the moronic Obama-esque school principal.
The only reason I'm giving this a "2" instead of a "1" is because it actually ended and left little hope for a sequel with the same characters.
Gravity (2013)
Science Project
This film was more like a science project than a story on the screen; the characters were so flat that when things happen to them, despite the overly dramatic music, the viewer could really care less. And when when the ending finally arrives, I can't imagine why anyone would cheer. It was just so "blah".
First, the film opens with some superficial dialogue aimed at building character for both Clooney and Bullock. As the story progresses, the "blah" dialog continues, and really adds nothing to the story or the characters because it's so forced. Later in the movie, the director makes an attempt at bringing the initial dialog full circle to create a bond between the characters, but it again, feels so forced that it makes you want to simply hit that fast-forward button to get to the predictable ending.
The Mooring (2012)
Really?
OK, I'll keep it short.
The good?
+ The teenagers were actually teenagers. Unlike other films where the teenagers are played by twenty- or thirty-somethings, this actually used teenage-looking girls.
+ Variety. The girls were believable as a mixed group of teenagers, with none being too pretty or perfect looking
The bad?
+ The plot could have been decent, but turns out pretty thin
+ One survivor - really?
+ The ending? eh.
+ The setting - cliché.
Coriolanus (2011)
Give it 10 minutes to settle...
At first, just like the modern "Romeo and Juliette" starring Leonardo DiCaprio, I didn't like this film. However, after 10 minutes, the pace and dialogue settles in and, at least for me as a viewer, the film draws you in and doesn't let you go until you've finished it.
There is action in the film, but, like "There Will Be Blood", the true gem in the movie is the drama and the acting. Anyone can say the word "boy", but Ralph Fiennes puts his soul into it - and into every word he spews in this gritty drama.
In the end, you can't really go wrong with Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler, can you?
Rites of Spring (2011)
From Dusk Til Dawn? Not Quite
This film reminded me of "From Dusk Til Dawn" in that it had two different stories - one a crime drama and the other a supernatural horror. However, it failed to reach an interesting level in either category. Simply put, it was weakly executed.
Either story would have been OK on its own as a TV movie, and a decent film if pulled off correctly - but, alas, they both left much to be desired. The crime drama had a weak plot, not too believable or well thought out, and the horror was not horrifying nor was it gory. Nothing about this movie will keep you up at night, unless you're a film producer wondering how these people were approved and given a budget of more than $5. The monster is laughable, and the ending was rushed and truly half-cheek.
The Tall Man (2012)
Good Start, but...
Really, this starts off like all modern horror movies, but it was a relief to see a fresh take on a horror/thriller. However, this built up well and very quickly spiraled to a horrible 30-minute spoon-fed buffet of ridiculousness. What has happened to Hollywood and the horror genre in general?
Movie starts out good, with kids missing. You think it's a supernatural being, as the odd title suggests, and then you get a dose of reality. The movie should have ended when the perpetrator was caught.
However, the movie still had 35 minutes of bathroom time to go. Soon you get a conspiracy story that makes no sense, and the bad guys are suddenly portrayd as martyrs, despite the fact that, as a viewer with children, I could not empathize with the perp(s). Who is (are) the "Tall Man" to decide who is fit and what is the right thing to do to raise children properly?
Could have been a rating of "9", but the extra 35 minutes made it fall to "2". Do yourself a favor and push "stop" when the perp is imprisoned...