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Reviews
Dune (2021)
An absolute masterpiece 10/10
I grew up reading the Dune books, exploring the lore, playing the PC CD ROM strategic game, watching and rewatching David Lynch's Dune then in 2000, watching the SyFy version countless times. Then relistening to the book when I found out Denis Villeneuve was taking the reigns of Shai Hulud and finding the cast to support it. So I will rate it without spoilers in my usual rating scheme.
Cinematography: 10/10. Absolutely jarring and immersive. You are truly a part of the action. You see the characters and feel everything they feel. It's not just because of the IMAX experience, but you truly feel like you are in an Ornithopter riding into a sandstorm, or in the mix fighting a dreaded Sardukar, or being a part of Paul's dream. You are in the action. The Cinematographer did an amazing job, and made me feel like I was on Arrakis. Truly spectacular.
Musical Score: 10/10: Hans Zimmer outdid himself. The music was in fact alien, and so unique to any other music theme in the history of cinema. His is a Dune fan himself and this was a project he had wanted to work on for years, and it showed in this film. The score was the DNA of this film, and it course through my veins and gave me the chills when moments of great suspense and action took a hold of me. Hans Zimmer made the movie a true feature to behold.
CGI/Practical Effects: 10/10. The costume design, the CGI and practical effects were believable, exquisite, and was pure perfection. Without a doubt, Denis Villeneuve had the perfect vision with the crew in mind to make this marvel possible. As he said "They did not film Jaws in a swimming pool. You truly felt like you were on Arrakis and in great peril. My God the battle scenes were unlike any other battle scenes in any science fiction movie I've ever seen. An incredible feat done by an incredible crew and visionaries to make this possible.
Acting/Voice Acting 10/10: Every actor and actress played to their strengths. There was no weakness. Whether it was Timothee Chalamet or Rebecca Ferguson, and Oscar Isaac, to Jason Momoa, and Stellan Skarsgard and Sharon Duncan Brewster, hell everyone was amazing. They were relatable and believable. Even some of the roles that were major in the book and cut down to be minor held their own in every epic way. They honed their craft and became the roles I expected them to be. Absolute perfection.
Plot: 10/10. Did it follow the book to the letter? No. Is it the closest you'll get to the book. You better believe it. There were a lot of noticeable changes as a Dune fan that I picked up on, but they were appropriate changes in my view. Denis Villeneuve had a monumental task, and I believe he conquered it. It gave a lot of context that wasn't rushed. Some parts of the story was out of order or added for cinematic necessity which I totally understand. You can argue that it's not 100% accurate to the book, but I picked up so much more after listening to the book again, that has been missing from the other two versions. There is a metric ton of material to fit into two and a half hours to make it function, but again, this is something that Denis Villeneuve accomplished, because he is a fan like all of us. The source material was the book. He referenced the book to make it make sense and gave it the necessary spin to make it all make sense in a two and a half hour movie and he did it beautifully.
Final verdict: 10/10. I have waited 2 years for this movie to come out. I have waited for over 20 for this version to be made. Each version is unique but this one is as true material as you can make it. I believe Frank Herbert would have been proud of this. Truly magnificent. I am going to watch this over and over and over again. It has become my #2 favorite film of all time. No easy feat. Stay tuned for a review on my YouTube page in the near future.
Thank you Denis Villeneuve and to the cast and crew and to Frank Herbert, for this masterpiece of a story. Now, when does part II come out?
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Miles ahead of the other Suicide Squad Movie
James Gunn has an eye for talent. This movie with it's flaws was an absolute joy to watch. Hello even Peter Davidson in his four minutes of total screen time was more relatable than half of the suicide squad in the original movie. The cast was well assembled and each person was fantastic in their own individual personality. The story while some serious plot gaps and lapse of logic, their ball busting and gaffs made this enjoyable.
John Cena has some serious acting chops and like Dave Bautista should be considered a serious actor.
It's great to see how there's not a whole lot of plot armor and how every character you see on here is just as capable of dying in the movie. Which I appreciated.
As someone who knows plans require days not minutes to execute flawlessly, the Suicide Squad executed their plan without any rehearsal which is the only think I rolled my eyes at. However, the characters made this movie an absolute joy to watch. James Gunn gets massive props for this movie.
Well done.
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Ridley rode this one off a cliff
I thought Prometheus was bad. This was worse. I honestly think they destroyed the franchise with this movie. None of it made any sense, the plot was dreary the wow factor was virtually non existent. I just do not know why they even bothered with it. Oh that's right. Money, not quality. The Alien franchise is in danger if this continues. Stick with Alien, and Aliens. Avoid Alien 3 unless you're a die hard fan. Resurrection was ok. Prometheus stunk, all of the AvP movies are atrociously bad. It's like they're not even trying anymore, but this one without a doubt is the worst of them all. Oh the spoiler starts from the beginning credits, to the after credits. They spoiled the whole movie. It stunk.
Surviving Christmas with the Relatives (2018)
Survive this movie
I honestly thought Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas was cringey. I'm willing to bet the writers and Director took notes from Kirk himself. This movie has no plot, no relatable dialogue, a dreary story that's about as heartwarming as the turkey they cooked outside in an oven with no explanation to how they cooked it.
This movie fails on all counts. You know absolutely nothing about the characters, they're not relatable, not beleiveable, and the timing/delivery of lines makes this movie even more unbearable. If someone ever gave this movie any other rating aside from a 2 and below needs to get their head examined for a possible concussion.
Christmas movies should be joyous and fun. This is the opposite of fun. This movie will kill your Christmas spirit deader than the Ghost of Christmas past and there it shall remain. Holy hell it didn't even end on a good note. The credits couldn't have shown up fast enough. At least we knew what to expect in those credits. Absolutely abhorrent. DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE. WATCH SOMETHING ELSE.
THIS MOVIE WILL SPOIL YOUR CHRISTMAS.
The Republic of Two (2013)
Shaun Kosta nailed it!!!
I consider myself a very harsh critic. No, I have no magazines, or blogs, and I do not have a degree from a film school. I do however has taste in movies. The one thing I can state is why I do believe this movie deserves the rating it got.
I did a review on my show N.Y.N.E.R (Not Your Normal Entertainment Review), after interviewing Mr. Kosta about his next project. (link at the very bottom).
We have our two main characters Tim and Caroline. Let's get one thing straight from jump street, there is nothing special about these two. They are simply ordinary people that are an ordinary couple. But here's why that's not a big deal.
They represent US as normal people. We are the normal people in everyday life. When you go to the movies, you want to hear about some guy who is struggling for love while battling alcoholism because of the trauma he endured as a child, and she is a former sex worker who has three kids. The actor you want is appealing and a very charismatic. The actress looks a mess until you doll her up in makeup. You don't get that with Tim or Caroline. You see two very normal people and that's what I think is the best part.
In my life I have met a thousand Tims and met a thousand Carolines. They are human, they have live's like you and me. What's most intriguing about them is they express the very same problems that any young couple struggles with.
For example, there is a scene where after Tim and Caroline move in, the first thing Tim wants to do is consummate the relationship. She however isn't in the mood. When he comes home from work, she is in bed waiting for him. When he doesn't show interest, she takes offense by it. She takes it to the next level of offense by storming into the bathroom to take a shower. You see she is visibly upset. Why? He was upset when she turned him down, why is she so upset?
If you don't know the answer to this, you've obviously never been in love, or you've never paid attention to her/him. Caroline is venting to him to Tim in this scene and anyone can tell that he just doesn't seem interested. He is looking at his phone and he is looking around. Of course she is going to be upset. Anyone would. Even if you space out for one second while your partner is talking/venting to you, and you're not paying attention, and then say "Oh I am listening now," you have already messed up. The damage is done. This is life. This is reality. This happens everyday in the world.
From the spontaneous moments of anger, or romance, or even when Caroline pops his pimples (Guys be honest ladies do that all the time), and how she puts her feet against his skin where Tim calls Caroline's feet "cadaver feet/teeth". If you are in a relationship and say she has never done that, I call BS. This is life in a relationship.
In this movie, it shows how a relationship can be lovey dovey, then its World War III. Its so raw, especially considering how the couple communicates with one another. Folks, Communication is the most essential part of a relationship. Even talking about your day can make a difference and LISTENING is what matters.
There is so much this movie nails when it comes to human emotion. This scares people because this isn't something they want to see. Honestly, people have to see this. Because this movie shows us, as people. Their relationship could very well be close to YOUR relationship. When we go to the movies to escape reality. When we are faced with reality in the movies, we are terrified by it. You can walk out of a movie and say "Well that was a good movie, glad that will never happen", but a movie like this, it ALWAYS happens. ALWAYS.
Sometimes we are too blind or we just missed the point of a movie like this.
Does this movie has some lacking points? Of course. But there is so much about this movie that makes it a solid 8/10. I could go on, but honestly the best way for me to share this, is by clicking the link below. Thank you all. Great Movie Shaun. Everyone did a great job in this movie, and I do mean everyone.
The Orville: Deflectors (2019)
Any yall haters watch Sci Fi before?
If you're really complain about The Orville doing stories about Moclan culture and how one Moclan happens to be heterosexual and is denounced by his whole race, you do realize this has happened many times in television. For those that said "Seth is pushing this agenda in our faces" he's telling a story and yeah it does have a lot to do with our society today. If you're uncomfortable with it that's not his problem. Find something else to watch. Point, blank, period, bottom line.
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
Sucks
Easily one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Too much budget not enough plot. Who the hell wrote this? Some intern who needs a break? Well the only thing they're continuing to break is this franchise. What's worse is Michael Bay isn't slowing down. Michael, take a hint. You're sucking at these movies. Take a step back, take a deep breath and take your time writing these movies, make them suspenseful. Don't rely on Special FX to make your movie.
Christopher Robin (2018)
Amazing
I'm a 35 year old man, and I'd like to say I can handle a lot of movies but this movie almost got me. I love the characters. Jim Cummings really brought me back to when I watched Winnie the Pooh back in the day. I felt the story was heartfelt and heartbreaking and wonderfully done. Ewan McGregor did an amazing job as Christopher Robin and I sincerely hope he enjoyed this role. Great move. Aces.