Reviews Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Cinematic Insights

The Predator Review

(1.5 / 4)

Writer and director Shane Black’s signature whip-smart dialogue and nuanced camaraderie are MIA in this brainless attempt to reinvigorate the Predator franchise.

The Predator franchise is in an interesting predicament. Much like the Alien series, the iconic creature’s image has been left in tatters after how poorly he came off in the much reviled Alien vs. Predator crossovers. With it being 8 years since a new installment featuring the intergalactic hunter, the franchise was in desperate need of a new angle to reignite interest and kickstart a new series of stories. Enter director and co-writer Shane Black to breathe some life into this once captivating monster. Between Black himself having a supporting role and helping with the screenplay of the original Predator, as well as his success in applying his subversively sharp wit to big budget spectacles like Iron Man 3, this seemed like a recipe for success. Unfortunately Black’s phenomenal track record hits a bump, as The Predator fails as a re-imagination of the franchise lacking any of the traits that made Black’s past work so manically enthralling.

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The Nun Review

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(2 / 4)

The Nun’s action and adventure focus falls flat for casual horror fans, but it’s downright blasphemous for loyal fans of the franchise.

The Nun is the latest installment in the ever-growing Conjuring cinematic universe, which brings the standout theological specter from The Conjuring 2 into the spotlight. Spinning off new stories from existing franchises is nothing new, however, the biggest obstacle these types of films face is the pressure to create something that is distinct from its predecessors, and is also a tale that warrants being told in the first place. The rather astounding solution to this quandary that The Nun employs is to shift away from the horror genre altogether and veer heavily into the action and adventure genre instead. With courageous characters physically battling ghouls and zombies for the sake of the greater good, The Nun has far more in common with 1999’s The Mummy with Brendan Frasier than the likes of The Exorcist or even Annabelle for that matter. While The Nun is indeed something different than any other Conjuring film, the paper-thin plot and emotionally bankrupt character development prevents the film from being memorable or even slightly frightening.

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Searching Review

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(3 / 4)

Engrossing cyber thriller that stretches the scope of its story as far as its style allows, at times to its detriment.

Searching is a straightforward tale of David Kim (John Cho), a single father who one day awakens to every parent’s worst nightmare when his 15-year old daughter Margot (Michelle La) doesn’t return home from her late-night study session at a friend’s house. What follows is a desperate father working with a local Detective (Debra Messing) to trace his daughter’s whereabouts via her computer. Searching is part of a long line of thrillers such as Unfriended and the Paranormal Activity series that seek to imitate real life by portraying the story’s events strictly through the electronic devices being used by the characters. By now this manner of storytelling is far from an innovative technique, however, Searching manages to have some unique tricks up its sleeve to set this thriller apart from the rest.

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Crazy Rich Asians Review

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(3 / 4)

Manages to be both a story I’ve seen countless times before as well as a film unlike anything that’s come before it.

Over the past few years it has become increasingly popular for films to present a story that breaks the mold of societal and cultural norms. As seen by the recent event films Black Panther and Wonder Woman, an incredible phenomenon is occurring in which social change is essentially being commoditized for viewers. Moviegoers are not only being drawn to the novelty of a film from a different cultural point of view, but they are also being motivated to buy a ticket and become a part of history, doing what they can to support the paradigm shifts in Hollywood standards. Despite some controversy regarding the nationalities of the actors in the film, Crazy Rich Asians features an entirely Asian ensemble and continues the propulsion towards an increase in representation and diversity whilst being presented in an elegantly enthralling package.

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Christopher Robin Review

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(3 / 4)

Winnie the Pooh proves to be the life coach you forgot that you needed.

Winnie the Pooh has touched the hearts of children for over 90 years and has maintained a connection with readers that is unlike any other children’s story. It is undeniable that a part of this bond can be attributed to the wisdom to be gleaned from Pooh’s adventures, which have resonance well into adulthood. From comparisons to the great Greek philosophers to being used as a model for simplifying the Chinese philosophy of Taoism it has become clear that despite being “a bear of very little brain” Pooh has some deep insights into the meaning of life. Christopher Robin sets out to more directly explore how Pooh’s approach to life connects to the struggles of adulthood by depicting what would happen if a fully-grown Christopher Robin were to reunite with Pooh and his friends. Unlike many of Disney’s past live-action films, Christopher Robin is a tale that feels like it fully warrants being told and justifies the live-action treatment, as it is more than a mere re-telling of an animated classic as films such as Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella have been guilty of.

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Eighth Grade Review

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(3.5 / 4)

A harrowingly intimate and oftentimes comical portrayal of the way social media has complicated the already overwhelming transition from childhood to adulthood.

Eighth Grade marks the writing and directorial debut of multifaceted entertainer Bo Burnham, and on paper, a tender film such as this feels a bit unexpected. Burnham’s work, while always hilarious and witty, is consistently laced with profanity and touches on provocative, sensitive subjects in an almost arrogant manner. If one looks beyond this exaggerated stage persona though, Burnham’s songs have always contained cutting insights into the human condition and the hypocrisy present in the world. Songs like “Repeat Stuff” offer a biting criticism of the carefully constructed nature of mainstream pop songs but also demonstrate a degree of empathy for the unsuspecting adolescent victims of this manipulation. Bearing this in mind, it makes perfect sense that Burnham has masterfully crafted a sincerely honest portrait of the angst and dread that accompany growing up, whilst delivering this message through his own comedic lens.

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Mission: Impossible – Fallout Review

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(3.5 / 4)

Fallout has accomplished the impossible as the sixth installment of a franchise spanning 22 years. It is as fun as ever with no sign of running out of steam.

I recall seeing Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol back during December of 2011 in IMAX. I would characterize myself as a casual Mission Impossible fan at best, and attended this showing purely because there was a sneak peek of The Dark Knight Rises attached to it. Much to my surprise, despite being the fourth installment of a franchise spanning 15 years, the film was incredibly engaging and fresh. It was easily one of the most entertaining films of that year. 2015’s Rogue Nation more than maintained the same level of quality and even introduced some fantastic new characters. Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) was particularly noteworthy, as she provided the franchise with a strong female presence, which was a far cry from the premiere film’s tendency to have every female character possess no discernable trait apart from wanting to be romantically entangled with Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise).

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Ant-Man and the Wasp Review

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(3 / 4)

Featuring winning performances from its titular characters and inventive visual gags, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a buzzy feel-good Summer popcorn movie, even if the story’s familiarity serves as a prime example of Marvel’s worst tendencies when it comes to sequels.

In a release strategy reminiscent of 2015’s Ant-Man, we once again find a small-stakes adventure featuring the well-meaning but morally grey Scott Lang following arguably the most ambitious and grand story yet with Infinity War. Although never critical or financial failures, Marvel has had a mixed track record in terms of ingenuity when it comes to their sequels. On one hand we have films like Thor: Ragnarok and Captain America: The Winter Solider which took risks in order to produce superior films to their prior films. On the other hand, however, some sequel efforts such as Avengers: Age of Ultron and Thor: The Dark World are almost carbon copies of their predecessors and despite being enjoyable, they end up coming off as shallow and lazy. Unfortunately, Ant-Man and the Wasp is more Thor: The Dark World than Thor: Ragnarok as it is essentially a retread of the first film’s plot points, leading to a somewhat disappointing chapter for a largely phenomenal Phase 3 of Marvel films. Yet, the film has a lot going for it, and despite being disappointing by Marvel’s standard, Ant-Man and the Wasp is still one of the more enjoyable Summer blockbusters around.

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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

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(2 / 4)

While Fallen Kingdom makes an effort to take the story in some intriguing new directions, the film disappointingly focuses on a by the numbers conflict and falls prey to the same shortcomings as the previous entry, leading to a mixed experience.

Fallen Kingdom, the follow up to 2015’s colossal box office hit Jurassic World, roared into theaters over the weekend, and with the release come some dino-sized expectations to deliver on more prehistoric action and adventure. Although not flawless, Jurassic World for the most part was able to provide fans of the franchise with thrills reminiscent of the original Jurassic Park even if the characters and overarching themes severely paled by comparison. Fallen Kingdom thankfully makes an effort to avoid falling into the common sequel pitfall of merely providing a bigger, stronger, more ferocious version of its predecessor, and attempts to take the story in some new directions. The film’s unfortunate reluctance to follow through on this initial potential, coupled with being crippled by many of 2015’s Jurassic World’s weaknesses, results in a mixed experience however.

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Incredibles 2 Review

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(3.5 / 4)

With the same embrace of unadulterated fun as its predecessor mixed with some exploration of timely issues, Incredibles 2 is a dazzling thrill proving that the extensive wait for this entry was well worth it.

Of the extensive pantheon of Pixar films, The Incredibles always seemed to be the ripest story for a continuation, as the original was a fantastic origin story that set the groundwork for more adventures with the super-powered Parr family. This made it all the more surprising to me when other Pixar sequels seemed to take priority, such as Finding Nemo, Cars, and Monsters, Inc. Although The Incredibles is quintessential Pixar with the story being unafraid to tackle adult themed stories such as marital problems and midlife crises, the series offered a distinct flavor that its peers never had, prioritizing the thrill of action and adventure over the deeper sentiment possessed by other Pixar films. Returning writer and director Brad Bird understands that this embrace of adventure and fun is what makes The Incredibles so special and Incredibles 2 continues in this spirit producing possibly the funniest Pixar film to date.

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