Tag Archives: Film Review

Action, Adventure, Animation, No Spoiler Reviews

INCREDIBLES 2 (2018) The Things I LOVED…

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The Incredibles 2 (2018), Jack Jack
The Incredibles 2 (2018), Jack Jack

For most of Incredibles 2, it is Elastigirl who is out doing all the superhero work and dealing with a new villain, Screenslaver, while Mr Incredible is at home taking care of the Incredible children.

As far as the superhero action sequences go, I enjoyed Elastigirl’s rather thrilling second solo pursuit of Screenslaver. Overall, though, my favourite scenes in Incredibles 2 are not the moments when members of the Incredible family are in their trademark superhero attire, facing off with villains.

The biggest highlights for me are the scenes with all or most of the Incredible family together at home. I particularly enjoyed the humour and universal family dynamics during these moments. I also especially adored every scene that featured baby Jack Jack, ‘the most adorable symbol of animated cuteness,’ since the Minions (2015) first became a big deal. I can definitely sense that you agree. Yes, I know you do.

Watch Incredibles 2 because it’s good. Enjoy all the undeniable cuteness and cleverness of the creation that is Jack Jack. Definitely make time for the fun that the scenes with Jack Jack at Edna Mode’s residence will deliver. 

 Written/directed by  Brad Bird; Incredibles 2 stars Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Catherine Keener and Samuel L. Jackson.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Documentary, No Spoiler Reviews

THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS (2018): Good Documentary…

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Three Identical Strangers (2018), David Kellman, Robert Shafran, Eddy Galland
Three Identical Strangers (2018), David Kellman, Robert Shafran, Eddy Galland

Three Identical Strangers is the extraordinary story of three complete strangers who discover by chance that they are identical triplets who were separated at birth. 

It all starts from the day the first triplet is mistaken for someone else. A ‘someone else’ whom he soon finds out is his identical twin brother. The next hour or so of the film goes on to reveal plenty, including the circumstances that led to the separation of  brothers David Kellman, Robert Shafran and Eddy Galland.

Featuring photographs, reenactments, video footage and interviews with the brothers and those who know/knew them best, the end result is a well-structured Tim Wardle-directed documentary. One with a fair amount of detail about what actually happened after the brothers were born.

I really haven’t watched nearly enough documentaries in 2018 but I’d recommend Three Identical Strangers as one not to miss. It’s an unfortunate story that’s as engaging, astonishing and heartbreaking as one might imagine, and more, bringing to mind the age-old debate of nature versus nurture, among other complex issues.

My hope by the end of this film is that such cruel separations are far less likely to occur today than they were decades earlier.

Watch Three Identical Strangers because it’s good. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Mystery, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

ATOMIC BLONDE (2017) : The ThingS I Liked…

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Atomic Blonde (2017), Charlize Theron
Atomic Blonde (2017), Charlize Theron

Atomic Blonde, an action/thriller about an undercover MI6 agent on a mission to investigate the murder of a fellow agent, and recover a missing list of double agents is arguably an adequately thrilling experience.

Starring Charlize Theron and James McAvoy, what stood out most for me about director David Leitch’s film is the style – and by ‘style’ I mean the general look and feel, the colours, clothing, the exciting fight sequences, the way specific moments are shot at a particular angle, making for a more satisfying visual experience. One such example would be the way Leitch captures the scene near the start when McAvoy’s character walks up to the car that just crashed with his colleague (Theron) inside.

Watching a very capable, well-dressed female character in charge of herself and her surroundings was fun. It was an inspiring vision that quickly brought to mind another fictional character with impressive abilities and great style. Namely Sylvia Hoeks’s highly memorable work as Luv in Blade Runner 2049 (2017).

Atomic Blonde is a movie you watch for the thrilling action and mystery. It likely won’t have you with a megaphone in hand, post-viewing and trying to gather everyone to watch it immediately. Nevertheless, by the end, you may, like me, find yourself thinking, ‘yeah, that wasn’t terrible. Nor was it exceptionally memorable either, yet I have no regrets.’

Lastly, when it comes to the question of Theron’s British accent, I don’t think that she did terribly. However, my ‘expert ear’ did notice a few inconsistencies. Nothing too laughable, mind you. Thank goodness.

Watch it for the colours, fights and style. It’s even possibly, more than a little fun.

Happy Film loving, 

G

Source: JustWatch
Comedy, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

FINDING YOUR FEET (2018): The Things I Liked…

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Finding Your Feet (2018) Celia Imrie, Imelda Staunton

Finding Your Feet, the comedy/drama about a judgmental, middle-class snob, who’s forced to live with her sister in an impoverished inner-city council estate, is a pleasant serving of quintessential Britishness.

Starring Imelda Staunton, Celia Imrie, Timothy Spall and Joanna Lumley, director Richard Loncraine’s movie isn’t necessarily the most memorable and the story isn’t especially unpredictable. Nevertheless Finding Your Feet is a nice ‘easy viewing’ reminder of the gift of siblinghood, the ones you’re born into and the ones you choose. 

I enjoyed the very British dialogue and its often rather well-timed delivery. One particular line that stood out would be the words: ‘It’s not a panic attack, I’m not that sort of person. I just had a bit of a turn.’ 

Another highlight was seeing beautiful shots of places in London, England that I recognise.

For the Britishness, humour and siblinghood, etc., watch Finding Your Feet  if you’re so curious it does have a certain charm.

Happy Film loving,

G

Action, Adventure, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

JURASSIC WORLD – FALLEN KINGDOM (2018): The Things I Liked…

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Jurassic World - Fallen Kingdom (2018), Chris Pratt
Jurassic World – Fallen Kingdom (2018), Chris Pratt

As was the case with Jurassic World (2015), I enjoyed Chris Pratt’s brand of charm in this J.A. Bayona-directed sequel Jurassic World – Fallen Kingdom. Yet, surprisingly, even more than that, I really liked the screen time dedicated to the dinosaurs. In particular the way Bayona’s movie not only told us about the intelligence of the dinosaurs, but we got to see a well-executed display of said intelligence.

Another key highlight is the final and unfortunate scenes on ‘the island’ towards the end. Particularly, the way it reminded me of how the movie, Kong – Skull Island (2017), made me feel. By this I mean that both films are fun and thrilling, but they also made me sad because the creatures in both were either existing/resting peacefully until human interference.

Just like in Jurassic World, in Fallen Kingdom Pratt and Howard’s character’s romantic connection was a plot device that I found myself unenthused by.  Particularly because it felt even more unnecessary this time around.

Definitely watch Jurassic World – Fallen Kingdom, especially if you liked the first movie. It’s still quite fun overall and even more so if you like dinosaurs.

Happy Film Loving

G