Tag Archives: Movie Review

SKYSCRAPER (2018): The Things I Liked…

Skyscraper (2018), Dwayne Johnson
Skyscraper (2018), Dwayne Johnson

I definitely enjoyed Skyscraper much more than I expected to. Part of the reason is that I feel Johnson acted well in his role as Will Ford, an assessor of the security of skyscrapers, and a man who finds himself framed when suddenly the safest building in the world (The Pearl) is on fire.

Written/directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, I liked the story, the pace and the fact that I was engaged throughout. The action sequences were thrilling, which meant I had so much fun overall that I maybe almost didn’t notice the truly unbelievable number of near-death scenarios that Ford and his family seemed to conveniently escape.

Another thing that stood out for me as Skyscraper played is how much the young actors playing Ford’s kids looked like they could actually be Johnson’s children. I also noticed how little they looked like Ford’s wife (Neve Campbell). Lastly, I was surprised to find myself less annoyed by the instances of product placement than I usually would be. In fact, I doubt that I can think of Skyscraper in the future without remembering the products in question.

In addition to thoroughly thrilling me, Skyscraper now has me wanting to visit Hong Kong even sooner than previously planned. Before you start worrying though, I promise I’m very much aware that The Pearl isn’t real.

Also starring Pablo Schreiber, Roland Møller and Chin Han; watch it for the thrills, and so you can see how far Johnson has come as an actor.

Happy Film Loving,

G

MAZE RUNNER – THE DEATH CURE (2018): The Thing I Liked…

Maze Runner - The Death Cure (2018). Dylan O'Brien, Giancarlo Esposito, Dexter Darden, Rosa Salazar
Maze Runner – The Death Cure (2018). Dylan O’Brien, Giancarlo Esposito, Dexter Darden, Rosa Salazar

Maze Runner – The Death Cure, the final instalment in the young adult science fiction trilogy set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world, is generally OK. 

Having already seen the first two Maze Runner films and also finding them mainly adequate, I wanted to watch The Death Cure to finish what I’d started. I also wanted to see that the main actor, Dylan O’Brien, had truly recovered fully following the serious 2016 on-set accident.

Even though I’m not in love with this film, I don’t regret having sat through it for reasons including the fact that the acting isn’t terrible overall, I like the consistent pace, and there are a couple of in-air stunts that had my attention. Beyond that, though, I’d say that director Wes Ball’s movie is an easy distraction that doesn’t ask too much of you. In which case, perhaps hit that play button for a casual viewing.

I’m sure that big fans of the books (I’ve never read them) probably wouldn’t sit down to this movie ‘casually.’ Nevertheless, every movie has its place, anywhere from ‘this deserves my undivided attention’ to ‘I’m definitely skipping that.’ 

Happy Film Loving,

G

FIFTY SHADES FREED (2018): It’s…

Fifty Shades Freed (2018), Dakota Johnson
Fifty Shades Freed (2018), Dakota Johnson

Knowing as I do that 2017’s Fifty Shades Darker did very little to improve on the original Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) movie, I was ready for this third instalment, Fifty Shades Freed, to be, in no way, a step up. And it isn’t at all. I do, however, feel as though the trilogy shifted from ‘bad’ and ‘definitely still bad’ to something that resembles a much less tame romantic Hallmark film. To be clear, Hallmark movies are not great either, even though they’re not always as bad as ‘the worst.’

Starring Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Rita Ora and directed once again by James Foley; in Fifty Shades Freed, Anastasia and Christian get married, but their troubles with people from Christian’s past are far from over.

Just as was the case with the previous two movies, ridiculous and not well-written or well-acted things happen in Fifty Shades Freed. Yet, I may not have been in a movie theatre, but I still sat and watched it all. Firstly, I felt like I needed to see the whole trilogy through to the end. Second, I really wanted a glimpse at the wedding. Third, I wanted one more look at a depiction of the ever-intriguing lifestyles of the super-rich, and last but certainly not least, Rita Ora’s gorgeous face, acting.

The Fifty Shades movies always had little chance of being good because of the not-so-great source material. Even still, that was never going to be enough to stop many of the millions of fans of the book, fans of Dakota Johnson, fans of Jamie Dornan or fans of Rita Ora (me) from watching the films. It also won’t stop some romantics (like myself) who need a very far from taxing romance film to play semi in the background as they sit still, while doing other equally non-taxing things.

Whatever your reason to watch or not, your decision is probably right. Also, if you start and promptly abort, you cannot and will not be blamed.

Happy Film Loving.

G

JUMANJI – WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (2017): The Thing I Liked…

Jumanji (2017), Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Kevin Hart
Jumanji (2017), Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Kevin Hart

Starring Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Karen Gillan, I found Jumanji – Welcome To The jungle to be OK. It’s just the kind of silly fun that kids will likely love most. It’s well modernised and there were some amusing moments, especially courtesy of  Jack Black’s portrayal of a teenage girl and Kevin Hart’s one-liners.

The reason that Jumanji is OK and not great is because by the end, I felt as though something was missing from the movie. Perhaps it’s substance, heart, character development or a mixture and then some, but for me, the amusing and clever moments aside, something is definitely missing at the very core. It doesn’t help that I wasn’t wholly convinced of Nick Jonas’s acting skills.

As I watched the film, the jungle setting did have me reminiscing about how much fun I had while watching Kong Skull Island (2017).

Overall, I say watch Jumanji – Welcome To The Jungle if you’re curious enough. It may just be the kind of silly fun you need.

Happy Film Loving,

G

THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US (2017): The Things I Liked…

The Mountain Between Us (2017), Kate Winslet
The Mountain Between Us (2017), Kate Winslet

The Mountain Between Us, a story about two strangers whose plane crashes into a remote snow covered mountain is a movie I tuned into to find out if and how the strangers survive. I also just had to see Idris Elba and Kate Winslet on screen together.

Directed by Hany Abu-Assad, The Mountain Between Us did enough to keep my attention, especially during the first four fifths of the film. I specify four fifths because the last fifth leading up to the final conclusion moved slower than my impatient self would have liked.

As for the onscreen chemistry between Elba and Winslet, any sparks that flew certainly weren’t bright enough to blind me for a second. As such, I’d say that the chemistry was adequate at best. Perhaps I know too much about the actors to buy their characters fully as a couple. It could also have been the semi- awkward love scene. On the other hand, perhaps the story somehow just didn’t give me all that I needed to believe in the central relationship. Whatever the answer, something was a little off for me.

The Mountain Between Us (2017), Idris Elba
The Mountain Between Us (2017), Idris Elba

If I were to watch The Mountain Between Us again, it’d probably be just a little chunk or two to reference the Elba/Winslet’s chemistry. A second reason might be the beautiful shots of the snow-covered mountain and the surrounding landscape.

Additionally, I may not have loved the song choice for when the credits started to roll (ZAYN – Dusk Till Dawn ft. Sia), but I’ll always have time for another glimpse of the way Elba’s surgeon character is dressed when we first meet him. Two thumbs up to that look, ALWAYS!

Applause to the film’s costume department aside, the moment that impressed me the most in The Mountain Between Us is actually the inevitable plane crash scene. It just felt so believable to me. More so than most, I think.

Overall, I see Abu-Assad’s movie as an OK film that’s worth seeing if something about it appeals enough. It’s also a movie that forced me to contemplate the benefits of having a dog… someday, probably, maybe.

Happy film Loving,

G