Rogue One Standing By

You should know that I'm a big Star Wars fan. Big enough to wax intellectual about the films but not enough to have blind love for any of the films, i.e. thinking they are above criticism. There are parts I like and parts I really don't and a whole world in between. So what did I think of Rogue One?  Read on.

The Plot
TV's Hannibal Lecter is one of the scientists who designed and built the Death Star. Yes. The first one from A New Hope. He's pretty much doing it as a prisoner to the Empire and to protect his daughter who has been hidden away somewhere he doesn't even know. When he sends a message to her informing her that he built a weakness into the Death Star, her ragtag group must launch a rescue mission and later a heist to steal the plans. Yes. Those plans that Leia smuggled out in Artoo. Will they succeed?
Well we all know that do. But how is it done? Aye, there's the story.

What Worked
1. K-2SO - the new droid is hilarious providing much of the comic relief in the film. And not in a Jar Jar way. More of a cross between Threepio and Han Solo's dry sardonic humor.
2. Donnie Yen - I'll be honest in that the thing that excited me the most when I first heard of this film was that Yen was going to be in it. And he didn't let me down. He was the insight into the Force for this film.
3. Easter Eggs - the film is filled with cameos and links to the original trilogy, A New Hope in particular. It's fun catching all of the fan service in the film.

What Didn't Work
1. The pacing/editing - the first and second act are so full of exposition that any momentum established in the film grinds to a halt. I've heard people comparing this film to war. And if that means long stretches of boredom broken by small bursts of excitement, then I suppose the comparison is apropos.
2. The music - Star Wars is known for its music. It's just as much a character in the film as any Skywalker. And I'm normally a huge fan of Michael Giacchino. But his score was simply forgettable. He does his best to ape the sound and instrumentation of John Williams with none of the playfulness or melodrama that makes Williams' themes so memorable. The only times his own sound came out was during the action scenes, when it was much more percussive. I wish he had gone more with his piano sound to deliver the emotional moments rather than strings, which is what Williams does. Just blah all around.
3. The CGI - it was maddening. There were some really good CGI, and then there were some awful uses. There are characters that appear in the film that are in the original A New Hope and they are done with CGI. Just not good CGI. And it's odd because it's not like every character from ANH are treated this way. There are a few that are played by new actors and then there are a couple that are CGI. Why?
4. The Writing- the characters are likeable enough as written, just very poorly developed. Motivations are sloppy and characters change at the drop of a hat. There are long instances of monologues that really mess up the pacing. And then there are a couple lines that might have sounded cool in the writer's room but are awful when performed (Vader's pun). Sure, the dialogue may not be "I hate sand" bad, but it's pretty bad in parts.

In Conclusion
I really wanted to love the film. I really did. There were just too many issues that made it impossible. As it is, I liked the movie. Definitely more than Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones but not as much as any film in the original trilogy. It probably ranks up there with Revenge of the Sith, maybe slightly lower. If you love Star Wars, you definitely need to see this film at least for the third act which is action packed and full of drama. It almost makes the rest of the film worth it. Almost.

Good to be Bad: Suicide Squad Review

So...Suicide Squad.  When the cast was announced, I was excited. After the first trailer, my excitement peaked. As a big fan of the Joker, I was approaching this film with trepidation as Jared Leto had some big shoes to fill following Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson. And after the disappointing Batman V Superman and the bad critic reviews of this film, my excitement had cooled. So how was it? Read on, true believer. I try to keep the review as spoiler-free as possible.

The Plot
If you've seen the trailers, you know the basic gist. The government puts together a team of the worst villains to take down an even bigger threat. The team is  completely expendable and the leash holders have maximum deniability. The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of thieves and killers. What could possibly go wrong?

What Worked
1. Will Smith - No. Seriously. This is the best I've seen Smith in a long time. His character is layered and nuanced. Yes he's a stone cold killer but you also relate to him and his relationship with his daughter. He also has one of the best action scenes in the film. Smith does for Deadshot what Chris Pratt did for Star-Lord. He may not play the character exactly like the one from the comics but he infuses his natural character into it and makes something better.
2. Margot Robbie - when she was announced as Harley Quinn, I knew the character was in good hands. And she did not disappoint. She's batshit insane, sexy, sad, and playful, sometimes all at once. I could watch a movie with her and Deadshot as the leads and be perfectly happy.
3. Jay Hernandez - El Diablo is a pretty forgettable character and the way he was written could easily have gotten melodramatic fast. But Hernandez is the heart of the film, infusing the role with melancholy and regret.
4. The Music - not since Guardians of the Galaxy have I walked out of a movie and immediately wanted to buy the soundtrack. The pop songs are all well chosen and go with each scene perfectly, even though they're all different genres and from different time periods. Great work.
5. Jared Leto - I know that Leto's performance is a point of contention for a lot of critics but I think it's unfair criticism. Leto's Joker, unlike Ledger and Nicholson, is not a main character. He's basically an extended cameo. He doesn't get a story arc and not a lot of scenes to explore him as a character. Which is a shame, really as what's there is ridiculously good. In every scene he's like a coiled snake ready to strike. But you don't know if he's going to kill you or kiss you. This is actually the first Joker I've seen that I could completely believe would shoot Barbara Gordon in the spine and torture Jim Gordon. I can't wait to see him as a main villain.

What Didn't Work
1. The Plot - as you can see above, 4 out of the 5 things that worked were performances by the actors. That's because the plot is terrible and very predictable. It's basically the original Ghostbusters without the snark or sarcasm. The movie is literally saved by the character relationships and performances.
2. Generic Villains - yes I just praised the characters but that doesn't extend to the villains. They aren't developed at all. You don't really know what their doomsday machine does or why they want to take over the world. There's no background and no motivation. But hey, at least they're in good company with the weirdo elf from Thor 2 and Ronan from Guardians of the Galaxy.
3. The Pacing - no, the pacing isn't Batman V Superman bad but it's still pretty bad. It almost feels like 2 different movies that were Frankensteined together: a gaudy music video like movie in the first 20 minutes and a slower character piece later. So there are times when it feels fast paced and then it slows to a crawl unexpectedly. Characters come and go without notice or fanfare. I suspect there was a lot left on the cutting room floor.

In Conclusion
I actually really liked the movie. For all its flaws, the actors and their characters really helped me overlook them. The movie is fun with great protagonists and fantastic music. I'm not quite sure why it's gotten such a beatdown by the critics. Is it perfect? No. But the good far outweigh the bad, in my opinion. I know I said no spoilers but there is a scene at a bar near the end of the film in which the characters really open up about themselves. The scene is funny yet painful and honest. I would watch an entire film with scenes just like this, that's how good it was. As it is, the movie is good enough that I'm really looking forward to what else is in store for this band of misfits. Sometimes being bad can be so good.

To Infinity and Beyond: Star Trek Beyond Review

I love me some Star Trek. Original Series. Next Generation. And yes, even the new "Kelvin" timeline. I went into this film with a lot of trepidation, however, as the last film, Into Darkness, was a bit of a disappointment and Justin Lin isn't exactly known for brainy fare. That's not to say I don't like the guy's work as I'm a fan of his stuff on Community and the Fast and Furious franchise. So let's get on with the review. Again, I will try to keep this spoiler-free.

The Plot
The crew of the Enterprise are 3 years into their 5 year mission, exploring the far reaches of space. They take a much needed break at a new fancy outpost called the Yorktown when an emergency in an uncharted nebula sends them on a research/rescue mission. Completely cut off from the rest of the Federation, they are ambushed and left trapped on an unknown planet by a villain hellbent on unleashing a biological weapon of mass destruction on the Federation. Scattered around the planet, will the crew find each other in time to stop this vengeful madman?

What Worked
1. The Cast - the franchise really lucked out with this cast. They gel really well together and they feel like a family. Pine is perfect as Kirk and his relationship to his crew it's well done, particularly with Quinto and Urban. Also, Idris Elba turns in a really good performance despite being hidden under a ton of makeup.
2. The Pairs - the film splits the crew up into pairs that haven't really been explored in past films: Kirk with Chekov, Bones and Spock, Uhura and Sulu, and Scotty and the newcomer Jaylah. For the most part, this makes for some interesting dynamics on which each character gets a chance to shine.
3. The Music - I'm a big fan of Michael Giacchino's Star Trek work and he does not disappoint here. This time around he uses a lot of drums and timpani, almost recalling some music from the Original Series as well as a bit of Planet of the Apes.

What Didn't Work
1. The Cinematography - for the most part, the camera work is good, with Justin Lin melding his very dynamic moves with Abrams use of canted angles. However, there are scenes, particularly at night, in which the shots are too close or not lit well and the action on-screen is hard to see. It's very distracting. Not lens-flare bad but still.
2. The Villain trope - I don't want to give spoilers but the trope used for the villain is very tired and I think could have been handled better. Elba acted the hell out of the role but his motivations could have been stronger and not so cliche.

In Conclusion
I really liked this film. It was fun and had a lot of heart. While it didn't necessarily cover heady themes like Undiscovered Country, it was more in line with First Contact and The Voyage Home. What's more important is that Lin really captured the camaraderie of the crew, not surprising considering his experience on Community and the Fast and Furious films. He nails the relationships that were the core of the Original Series films. And that more than makes up for a spotty villain and some dodgy cinematography.

Batman v Superman Review

I realize it has been a LONG time since I have posted. I offer no excuses. A lot has happened in the meantime and I might post about that someday. But that day is not today. Today I have bigger fish to fry. Mainly, my thoughts on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The first thing I want to make absolutely clear is that I didn't actually hate the movie. Disappointed? Yes. Hate? No. I wouldn't devote that much energy to this film, or any Zack Snyder flick for that matter.

I will also warn you that this review has spoilers. The movie has been out for over a week already and, based on box office returns, the people who originally wanted to see the movie have done so. But if you haven't and don't want to be spoiled, then stop reading now.

The Plot
For a movie that is over 2 and a half hours long, there really isn't much of a plot. We open on Bruce's parents being murdered. Again. For, like, the 4th or 5th time on film. Then we flash forward to the events of Man of Steel but this time we watch it from Bruce's perspective, watching all the destruction and trying to save lives. And this is where the problems start. We are supposed to get that Bruce develops a seething hatred and distrust of Superman. Why? Since he wasn't totally responsible for ALL the destruction...the movie doesn't really explain it. You are just supposed to accept that he hates Superman and will stop at nothing to stop him. Even if it means killing him. The movie then interweaves the story of a Senate subcommittee hearing on Superman and his obligations to humanity, Lois trying to solve a mystery, and Lex Luthor plotting...something. It's not exactly clear what. The only thing clear is that Lex hates Superman as well. Why? Well, that's not really explained either. In fact, nothing really is. You just have to accept things at face value. And ultimately it really doesn't matter. It's all an excuse to try to get the two heroes to fight each other. And if you've seen the trailer, you know that they eventually team up with Wonder Woman in tow to fight Doomsday.

What Worked:

1. The Music - Junkie XL and Hans Zimmer really outdid themselves with the score. The rhythmic portions with electric guitar in particular were a highlight. It added a nice sense of urgency even when parts of the movie dragged.
2. Wonder Woman - she stole the entire last 30 minutes of the movie. Though she wasn't given a lot to do in the role, Gal Gadot was a breath of fresh air whenever she was onscreen. That being said, I don't know how she will handle a full film where she is the main character. I don't know if she has the acting chops for that.
3. Jeremy Irons as Alfred - he was one of the few parts in the film that provided levity. He had a great world weariness and plenty of sarcasm that is reminiscent of Alfred from the Batman Animated Series

What Didn't Work:

1. Zack Snyder's understanding of the characters - It was made obvious to me in Man of Steel that Snyder does not understand Superman or the Kents. He cemented that opinion here. Superman is as dour and humorless as ever. He seems to save people not because it is who he is, but because he is obligated. It is a chore to him. There is nothing in his character that would lead me to believe that he is a figure of hope. The basic problem is that Snyder keeps comparing Superman to a God, and of course that is indeed his powerset. But the best thing about Superman is that despite having the powers of a God, he is basically a farmboy from Kansas. And the Kents aren't any better. Snyder tries to do a rewrite from Man of Steel by having Clark say that he was trying to be Superman to fulfill his Dad's dreams. Uh no. Your dad wanted you to let a bus full of kids die. He didn't want you to be a hero but instead to hide your powers. Stop trying to rewrite history Zack. And then Martha, in a great pep talk about going in front of the Senate subcommittee ends this inspiring speech by saying you don't owe them a damned thing. Great job Martha. Way to ruin a moment. Zack Snyder hates Superman and everything he stands for. He apparently also hates Batman. Instead of choosing to show the Batman that has appeared in the comics for over 70 years, he focuses on an interpretation of an Elseworld's tale in The Dark Knight Returns aka the Batman teenagers like because they don't quite understand the world yet. This Batman is tired of the world and brutal. He's so brutal, in fact, that he straight up murders people. Not just in collateral damage but actually flipping a gun and using it to shoot someone in the face. But even in this interpretation, he didn't understand the character. The Batman in The Dark Knight Returns was definitely brutal but he still had a line he would not cross. It's a big point in the story that he cannot bring himself to kill the Joker. He uses rubber bullets to take down the mutant gang. Even in a point where it seems that he shot a gang member holding a child hostage straight in the face, it is revealed that he hasn't killed anyone by the news reporters. But hey, Snyder isn't one for accuracy so what the hell.
2. Lex Luthorberg - As I stated above, Lex hates Superman. But we never establish why. He just does. Jesse Eisenberg just spends the movie doing a bizarre Joker impersonation with a bit of Frank Gorshin's Riddler thrown in for good measure. And then his plan with Doomsday doesn't make sense. He unleashes Doomsday without a back up plan on how to shut him down. What is he supposed to do with an unstoppable monster if Batman and Superman are unable to take him down. Once Doomsday took out Superman, what was his plan going to be? And in the end, Luthor is revealed to be working with/for Darkseid. So it was all a plan to kill Superman to make way for Darksied? It still doesn't explain what he was going to do with Doomsday.
3. Batman is a moron - Luthor reveals that he has been manipulating Bruce Wayne to fight Superman. And Batman really has no idea. Not only did Luthor figure out who both Superman and Batman are in their real lives, but Bruce Wayne struggled to find out that the White Portugeuse was a ship. Like running that name up against databases wouldn't have been a thing that Bruce should have tried. And Bruce completely leaves logic behind in pursuit of rage. Again, his rage is really unsupported. I get that he blames Superman for a bunch of destruction but even when faced with the fact that Superman actually does a bunch of heroic acts, he still believes he is a danger and must be stopped. For what? Oh yes, because he stopped thinking and is just angry. ALL. THE. TIME.
4. The world is dumb - Superman is being framed for an event that went down in Nairobi. Except that the only trace of Superman doing something messed up is by ramming a dude through multiple walls (he's not dead. technically. not that we see him to confirm). Everyone is dead by gunshots which isn't exactly known to be Superman's MO. So why does everyone suddenly believe he was responsible? It wasn't even made to look like he was. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
5. Things just don't make sense - None of the characters have motivations that make sense. And if Batman has been operating in Gotham for over 20 years, why is this the first time that Superman has a problem with him? I mean, the damned Bat symbol can be clearly seen from any building in Metropolis.
6. Martha! - The climax of the fight is resolved when Superman reveals his mom, Martha, is being held captive by Luthor's goons. And of course, Batman is taken aback because that was his mom's name. And suddenly they're best friends and Bruce makes a Bro-mise that Martha won't die that night. Even though he just tried to RAM A KRYPTONITE SPEAR into Superman's chest. But it's all good, bro. Martha!

Conclusion

It is obvious that Zack Snyder hates superheroes. He doesn't want them to be heroic. In fact, he doesn't want them to show any emotion other than anger. He is also averse to showing affection. Superman saves Lois THREE times and he quickly flies away afterwards. No extended hug. No kiss. It's like Zack Snyder is perpetually stuck in the mindset of a 13 year old boy. Let's have Batman brutally kill people because it looks cool! Explosions! Ew romance! More explosions! And apparently the only powers Superman has are flying and eye beams. And this is the guy that the WB has entrusted with the Justice League. Great. This movie could have been good. Great even. But Snyder doesn't understand the characters he's trying to portray. Instead, he reverse engineered a plot that would lead to the title fight and Doomsday. None of it makes sense. None of the characters are relatable. They are simply cogs in a plot machine. He definitely throws in a lot of Easter eggs for fans but it all feels hollow. He adapts part of the Death of Superman without the context or the buildup so when Superman dies it doesn't resonate as well as it should. We deserve better. I've read many people claim that this was Snyder's love letter to comic fans. If that's the case, I think it's time to break up.