(film review) [STREAMING] - Rebel Moon part 1: Child of Fire

Trash? I would not say trash, but maybe I am giving one of my "favourite" directors a pass? Maybe I am being too lenient on Zack because most of his movies, I have seen and enjoyed. This film has a few problems, but the problems it does have, are major problems. Everything else is fine and in some cases, great. True Zack Snyder storytelling, but the problems stick out like a sore thumb and some people may not be able to cast that aside. I am not saying that I happily cast aside the problems, not at all, but I feel I can identify the problems, separate them from the other good/great moments and give my opinion on what I think of the movie overall. I'll explain.

Kora is an ex-soldier, who defected from the Imperium, an infantry, part of The Motherworld a militaristic empire who seek to rule the universe through centuries of conquests and war. Living a quiet life on a distant moon on a farm helping out the locals, the imperium comes knocking and Admiral Atticus Noble seeks out the moon and it's dwellers. Knowing how Noble will operate, Kora decides to help the farmers out by rallying a team of warriors to help her take down the Motherworld and stop their tyranny.


Very cut and dry. A simple story of good vs bad. We have a protagonist and we have an antagonist. Before this movie was released, I heard that this film was proposed to Lucas Film (now at Disney) as a Star Wars movie and Lucas rejected it. Netflix took it and allowed Zack to make the movie he wanted. There is a very high possibility that nobody oversaw his work and let Zack get on with it because if I am honest, it shows. Zack is a great storyteller with a visual flare that dwarfs Michael Bay. I have said this many times here in many reviews. I am not a Zack fanboy but I do like his movies, so maybe I am being a bit biased here, but I would not say the movie is straight-up trash. It just feels like a movie made specifically to be a part 1, than a movie that happens to be a part 1. If that makes any sense! For example, this year alone we have had two movies I can draw from that felt like a whole movie but ended on a cliffhanger because they were part 1 of 2; 'Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse' and 'Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1'. Both films were lengthy, told a story with minimal flashbacks and were split into a three-act structure. You are introduced to the characters, we are told as to what is to be done and how to do it, and we go about trying to achieve that goal. This movie does not quite do that. We are introduced to the characters, we are told what is to be done, we spend time looking for more characters and given even more back-story of the main character (exposition) and then a fight ensues, finished, the end. The entire film felt like a first act including part of a second act with nothing but flashbacks and slow motion. Or better yet, more accurately, the film could have been a series and this was the end of Season One. The film generally felt unengaging because of this, slightly disjointed, and rushed, although still operating at a slow pace not really getting anywhere and everything simply felt surface level. It spends a lot of time trying to get somewhere but ultimately getting nowhere. The film reminded me of playing an RPG game, you've got your main character and they are on a quest, they pick up an assortment of different characters who will help you in your fight and each of them look very different from each other with different skill sets. Not terrible, but not executed in a way that made the characters stick out. The characters do not really sit with you either. It is very exposition-heavy for the main character. These are the issues with this film, along with the main actress being OK and the dialogue also being, just OK. The villain was trying to be menacing, but...was not that menacing at all, the film just felt very brief and chopped.


The music, and the action, are all superb. It is funny how a lot of the action is in slow motion so you can see the detail and what is going on, a Zack Snyder staple; the problem is, it was just a little overdone in my honest opinion, just a little too heavy-handed. Visually the movie is great though, something you can never take away from Zack. The music is also really good as it gave me Man of Steel vibes in places. The special effects could have been a little better considering 'The Creator' looked amazing on a shoestring budget, but it is Netflix, I am not going to cry over the special effects here. The acting from most of the characters was good. Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein and Charlie Hunnam were the standouts, but I just feel these characters could have been given more. Maybe if there were less slow-mo and more and better dialogue, the characters would have connected with the audience better, but then this leads me to the part 1 of it all.

Of recent, I have heard that Zack has a director's cut of this first part which makes me think 1 of 2 things happened here. Netflix stepped in and was actually involved in overseeing his work and told him to strip the movie down to a respectable time (because we all know Zack cannot make short films), so Zack did a lot of chopping and what he cut out of it, IS in fact in the directors cut which will tell more story OR, Zack and/or Netflix came to the decision of having a director's cut because "Release the Snyder Cut" was a movement and maybe Netflix thought they could capitalise off the back of that, either way, the film feels rushed and it ends awkwardly. The characters are touched on at a surface level, if that and the story hardly had any meat on its bones. It would have been nice to have the characters more fleshed out and memorable because the movie simply comes across as a fetch quest.


But did I enjoy the movie overall? Yes and no. I made 3 attempts to watch this movie and each time I tried, I was tired and I did fall asleep. All. Three. Times. Being ill and tired is one thing, but the main character is cool, but not really engaging. All the flashbacks and exposition got tired and boring. The slow motion, the visuals and the coolness of the film does not do enough to keep your attention because, well...we have seen it all before, you know. Sophia is nice and all, but they tried too hard for her to be badass but could have done more with her character if they took her in another direction. Like, she was the reluctant hero, with the charisma of a grape, but giving out forced speeches that had the weight of a feather which was meant to influence people to help her with her plight. Maybe it is her delivery. Maybe it is just how it is written. Maybe Part 2 will be better (because the trailer actually does look better) and maybe this film should have been one long 7-hour movie (I kid). Zack is a great filmmaker, but he does really need to know how to use better executions when directing. He is not trash by any means, but his misses are usually centred around the same things, all the time. Where is 300 Zack or Man of Steel Zack? There were glimpses of him here, but not enough. More Suckerpunch Snyder I'm afraid. Good but not as engaging with the characters overall lends to the film feeling hollow. The visuals, action and music are good though, but just not enough.

(trailer review) - Mr. & Mrs. Smith

 

Let me get this somewhat straight. The film Mr. & Mrs. Smith starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were about two secret agents who did not know each other were secret agents and find out that they were both secret agents when they were tasked to take out each other and other secret agents or mercenaries were sent to their home to kill them both...from their own secret agency? Am I accurate? I pulled that from the deep depths of my brain and I really feel I am on the money with it. However, this trailer seems to have taken the name of Mr & Mrs Smith, to have two people who do not know each other, who are from the same agency, working together to carry out a mission but they need to pretend that they are a married couple whole they fulfil their assignment. Why not just call it something else?

There was a part in this trailer that made me laugh, and that was when they were sitting at the table and the woman across from them asked, "what is your sexual life like?" I am not utterly sure why I found that funny but I guess I have my own reasons. Donald looks amazing in this, dress and body-wise. Is that a white polo neck? Giving me Archer 'The Wind Cries Mary' vibes. If I am honest, the series looks cool and this is only a trailer, I am simply caught up in the name at this point. Also, I just need a little more to be fully interested because as of right now, I just feel like they are banking off the name/title itself to give us something that is lacking. With that said though, Donald Glover I'd producing and has helped to create, I can only assume as it is a action, drama-comedy, spy thriller, with other great actors such as Parker Posey, Ron Pearlman, John Turturro and Michaela Coel, I should have faith in this from these actors alone? I'll wait for another trailer.

(series review) - Blue Eye Samurai

 
I love anime, but if I am honest, I am the anime watcher of yesteryear. I loved Manga when I was growing up. I collected Guyver on VHS, New Dominion Tank Police, I had Project A-Ko and Akira is an absolute classic. Unless I am mistaken, Anime is the "new" Manga and I am not really into it. I am not caught up and I do not watch them all some interest me and some don't. I simply want something to capture my attention and satisfy my anime-watching needs occasionally. I used to watch The Boondocks and Afro Samurai. I got into Attack on Titan (but fell off), I watched Castlevania and watched Troll Hunters (but fell off), I don't know. I just need something a bit more engaging. When I heard about Blue Eye Samurai, I kept hearing good things so I decided to give it a go.  It is great!

In the time of the Samurai around the 1600s and the Edo period of Japan, a mixed race/bi-racial child was born. Frowned on by the locals, discriminated against, bullied and called names like demon and monster, the child was seen as an outcast which left them bitter and resentful. Not knowing who their father was, they made it their life-long mission to seek revenge on the man who made them this way, no matter who gets in their way.

I do like samurai movies and anime. There are a few Samurai-inspired games I am also interested in such as 'Ghost of Tsushima', 'Black Myth: Wukong' and 'Rise of the Ronin'. Afro Samurai was great and this series also reminded me of that, in some ways. A tale of revenge, not unlike most samurai stories, but this one is told through a few flashbacks here and there through the different stages of the warrior's life, what led them to where they are, what they are doing and what the warrior did in a challenging situation. I kid you not, there is a long sword fight which leads to the best long sword build-up I have ever seen in life. It was absolutely amazing, as well as clever. I want to go into it, but I also do not want to spoil it. Long Sword fight!

What I also liked about the show, was the characters. Well thought out and well voice acted. The way the story is told, you have a bad-ass samurai and you are shown how bad-ass they are, but you are also shown that the samurai is not invincible and I loved that. Getting a few punches here and there is one thing, but when your character is shown to be human rather than achieving the impossible, you tend to like and connect with the character more, well at least I do.

Clever, and witty with great music and animation. There is a top-down view I have NEVER seen in animation before and with the lighting and movement of the characters, I can only stress how visually entertaining and stunning this show is. They also took a few liberties in how they would also tell the story with the flashbacks, some were told in puppet fashion whilst others were in "black and white" with splashes of blood, a lot of blood. This series is gory, so expect to see blood splash everywhere. I am hoping for a season 2 because, I can only assume (due to the storyline) we can have 3 seasons, but if any of the other seasons are like this one, I will definitely be back to watch it. Bring on that trailer!!!

(trailer review) - Dune: Part 2

 

Star Wars is one of the best "sci-fi" franchises out there, next to Alien, Terminator and Predator. However, Dune is something that came out back in the day as well and if I am honest, nobody really talks about it? Was it well received when it came out? Maybe, but people talk about Blade Runner which came out 2 years before. Alien 5 years before that and Terminator, a year after Dune. So, why didn't Dune do well? I could not answer that as I have not seen it and I am not sure if I really care to, but I have watched the most recent remake and it is phenomenal. Denis Vilenue directed something I feel, is just short of a masterpiece. Maybe it is my bias towards sci-fi, but everything in that movie was simply, well told, well acted and well visualised. It was a long movie, but you did not feel it. The ships looked amazing and the shear size of them. A story that is only starting to begin with the sequel. The film did a lot to show us who the main characters are, the side characters, the "villains" and the world/universe we are inhabiting while we watch. This trailer is simply no different. 

This trailer elevates the previous film. This trailer looks amazing. The last trailer, wow, but this is the third trailer and although I do feel a third trailer is a bit much for a movie coming out in March (but the strikes and such), this is a nice reminder to what will be in store so the film does not slip by us. It looks like we are going to see a divide between Paul and Channi. There are more players involved and people who will challenge Paul who is trying to fulfill his destiny which will bring about a prophecy he does not seem to be ready for. The fighting, the war, the sand worms. The first trailer showed Paul calling for a sand worm and riding it, this trailer, has the fremin riding them and it simply looks awesome. Do not get me wrong, this movie could face plant and be terrible...but, I think I trust in Denis to deliver at this point. I mean, if everything with the prequel went soo well, how can you lower the bar?

(trailer review) - The Boys: Season 4

I tell you what is interesting, there has been a lot of talk about Superhero fatigue, that people are tired of superhero movies, shows etc, it is everywhere. However, if this was correct, a show like this would not have the buzz and hype surrounding it. No, it isn't just the blood and gruesome kills. It is not the adult language or sexual content, it is the storylines. It is the drama behind the visuals. The Boys find a way to teach/say or even address issues other comic book shows and movies would not even dare to even think about. So with that said, there is a quality and execution issue and The Boys, three seasons deep and a spin-off show, Gen-V, does not suffer from that.

Numan is running for Presidency, Billy is dying, Homeland has his kid back and it also seems he is going to trial due to his behaviour back in the previous season, not to mention that large crowd of Homelander or Supes supporters. With new superheroes emerging as well, season 4 of The Boys seems as though it is going to take us on another 'The Boys' ride. If we are lucky, maybe, just maybe we will also have some people from Gen V come and join this season, especially when Homelander showed up in the last episode of Gen V. The showrunner behind this series knows what they are doing and they have not dropped the ball yet!

(trailer review) - Fallout

I got onto the game series Fallout when I purchased Fallout 3. I did not see a Fallout 1 or 2 on the Xbox Elite, so I took the game as it was and I played it. A Role-Playing game unlike others I had played before (Final Fantasy) and if I am honest, it might have been due to some good words about the game, plus the box cover looked cool enough which led me to purchase it. I played the game and I really enjoyed it. Your character is part of a colony who have chosen to live in an underground bunker to protect themselves from a nuclear fallout. After many years, you decide to leave the bunker and step into the world which is now a wasteland. You are essentially a wanderer travelling from town to town meeting and helping various people and also trying to stay alive within a hostile environment. This trailer seems as though it has captured (to an extent) what the game is about. I say to an extent because there are many people in their vault onesies whereas in the game, there are not many vault people left alive.

Now from my understanding, Fallout 3, 4, 76 and New Vegas were different stories with different people in different cities/states who leave their vaults and go on adventures. The creatures, ghouls (people who lived in and through the nuclear fallout), mutants and such are essentially the same in each game with minor changes here and there. There are robots, people labelled raiders and different factions and groups such as the Brotherhood of Steel, the Enclave & Brotherhood Outcasts etc, so all games are different although they all tend to start the same.
What I will expect from this show, is exactly what I have seen in regards to what I have mentioned above, but a brand new story from the perspective of this female protagonist. Seeing the robots and the ghouls looked cool, but it would be interesting to see how far they take it, with Feral ghouls, mutants, super mutants, Mirelurks and Death claws. Let's see what this show has to offer. So far, a little dodgy looking in regards to special effects, but it does look like it will be pretty decent, if executed well, of course. That Power Armour though, wow! Spot on.

(trailer review) - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

I remember hearing George wanted to do a Furiosa movie and that Anya Taylor Joy was going to be cast. I might have even heard Chris Hemsworth as well, but honestly, I feel the news since, had disappeared into the sandstorm for a few years only to spit out this trailer. If you recall from my Mad Max: Fury Road review, I said "This film is AMAZING. What a spectacle. Vibrant colours, camera angles and visuals, explosions, insane looking vehicles, characters and appendages. The film is soo insane with soo many moving parts, you can't help but follow Max in his journey." And it seems as though George Miller has done the same thing, AGAIN! Have you not watched this trailer? Whilst I have not seen the other movies (and I have mentioned that before so please do not scould me - and yes, I did say I will watch the others since Fury road, I tried, I really did. I'll try again), I am not sure if some of the styles used in Fury Road was used in previous movies, but I can see them here in this trailer and it looks amazing. When I saw the trailer before the trailer yesterday, I was happy. As some people will know about me, nothing gets me excited, but this trailer, THIS TRAILER! Remembering how the first film left me, I simply feel that this movie is going to do the same thing and from this trailer alone, I do not believe I am going to be wrong. As the kids will say, "I am gassed". Do they still say that? Anyway.

From the trailer, it looks like Furiosa will get caught or she will try and save a kidnapped girl from that evil guy with the pipes (Immortal Joe) and his goons. She will be on the run and taking out as much people as she can whilst trying to get back to her home. Well at least it seems that way. This is a prequel (obviously) and it also looks as though Chris Hemsworth's character will be the main antagonist after Furiosa, just like Nicolas Hoult's character Nux in Fury Road. I think it is hilarious that Chris Hemsworth who plays Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has a red cape and there is a point in the trailer where he looks like he is riding a chariot, very warrior/gladiator-like. The visuals, the colours, the imagery, the angles, I can tell this is going to be great. What I will say, I will be slightly annoyed if the film seems loosely, beat-for-beat as Fury Road since there are a lot of similarities regarding style, colours and shots, but as long as the story is somewhat decent, who really cares. If you have seen the artistry that is Fury Road, if even half of it is replicated here, I am totally down with that. The opening shot reminded me of Fury Road's opening shot with the angle, Max standing there and stepping on a lizard, whilst with this one, it has Furiosa stumbling off in the distance with her bike behind her, but the bike is closer to the camera and Furiosa is in the distance. It also looks like we will see how she gets her arm too. Bring on a second trailer so I can get excited again. Do you remember the guitar guy and the speakers and flames? Bring on the weirdness and wildness. Bring on the creativity. Bring on Furiosa!