Author: Mark A. Lester

Venom: Let there be Carnage (2021)

Post author By Mark A. Lester
Post date October 4, 2021
No Comments on Venom: Let there be Carnage (2021)

Despite my qualms I had with the first Venom film, I did have some high hopes with the upcoming sequel when I saw the first film’s post-credit scene.

While I have stated I am not an expert in comic book lore, I feel I know enough to know that Woody Harrelson would be the perfect actor to play the villainous Cletus Kasady/Carnage. Even with him added on to this universe, the result is still a basic run of the mill action packed CGI fest. It is a shame, since there are a decent amount of moments in Venom: Let there be Carnage that had me smiling almost like a symbiote invested entity would.

Tags 2018, Andy Serkis, Carnage, Comic Book, Marvel, MCU, Michelle Williams, Movie Reviews, PG-13, Rated PG-13, Tom Hardy, Venom, Venom Let there be Carnage, Woody Harrelson

4 Stars Movies

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)

Post author By Mark A. Lester
Post date September 30, 2021
2 Comments on The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)

It seems worth mentioning that anyone’s opinion of a biopic will definitely depend a lot on how well that person knows the source material. The more one knows, the higher the expectations.

To put it candidly, I knew virtually nothing of Tammy Faye Baker, other that she, along with her husband, was one of the more popular televangelists of the 1970s and 1980s (just before my time). At many points of The Eyes of Tammy Faye (based off of a documentary from 2000 of the same name), I realized they were the reason I would see other televangelists as a kid when I would be flipping through channels early Sunday mornings (paving the way for the likes of Joel Osteen).

Tags 2021, Andrew Garfield, Biopic, Cherry Jones, Jay Huguley, Jessica Chastain, Michael Showalter, PG-13, Rated PG-13, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Vincent D'Onofrio

1 1/2 Stars Movies

Dear Evan Hansen (2021)

(Not long into Dear Evan Hansen, I realized the best audience I could write to would be myself as a High School Senior.)

Dear Mark A. Lester (circa 2005),

Tags 2021, Amandla Stenberg, Amy Adams, Dear Evan Hansen, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Movie Reviews, PG-13, Rated PG-13, Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wonder

3 Stars Movies

Cry Macho (2021)

This truly seems like uncharted territory. I mean, when was the last time you saw a movie where a nonagenarian directs themselves in the lead role?

While I admit to not seeing all of his films (both in front of and behind the camera), I have seen more than enough to know that Clint Eastwood has long since made his mark not only as cinematic legend, but an American relic. Regardless of what age he is in the movies, he still plays the no-nonsense, hard lined tough guy as good as anyone ever has. No one else ever looked more terrifying when holding a gun.

Tags 2021, Clint Eastwood, Cry Macho, Dwight Yoakam, Eduardo Minett, Fernanda Urrejola, John Ford, Natalia Traven, PG-13, Rated PG-13, Westerns

2 1/2 Stars Movies

Malignant (2021)

It seems that director James Wan is indeed who one should go to if you want to make a horror movie.

Admittedly, this is a director that, although talented, is not one I am familiar with. I have only seen three of his previous films (two of which, Mortal Kombat and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me do it, came out earlier this year), but am able to recognize his influence on 21^st century horror films, thanks to movies like Saw (2004), Insidious (2010), and Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013).

Tags 2021, Aquaman, George Young, James Wan, Maddie Hasson, Malignant, Mortal Kombat, R, Rated R, The Conjuring

1 Star Movies

Cinderella (2021)

If your movie is based on the world’s most popular fairy tale, then it can be understandable why you would want to put a twist or two on the story. Whether it was told by Disney (animated or live-action) or the lead was either Hilary Duff or the 90s pop star Brandy, Cinderella was always about a story enchanting girls and young women with the dream that they would one day be swept off their feet by that special someone. The newest version of Cinderella likes to add on that Ella can be her own woman and does not need a man to have her dreams come true. This of course is not a problem, but it was never what the source material was about.

They may as well have called this CRINGErella.

Tags 2021, Billy Porter, Cinderella, Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, Movie Reviews, Pierce Brosnan, Rated PG

3 1/2 Stars Movies

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Post author By Mark A. Lester
Post date September 5, 2021
1 Comment on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

As the second film of the MCU’s Phase 4, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings also holds the distinction of being the first true origin story film of the MCU since 2019’s Captain Marvel.

Of course, one could argue that Black Widow was also an origin story, but we have seen Natasha since 2010’s Iron Man 2. Shang-Chi is a character we had no interaction with until now. Like a good amount of the films in the series, it showcases a character that only true comic book fans know something about (I can still remember when non fanboys like myself needed the movies to introduce the likes of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thanos, Black Panther, and even Iron Man.)

Tags 2021, Awkwafina, Black Widow, Brie Larson, Captain Marvel, Destin Daniel Cretton, Disney, Just Mercy, MCU, Michelle Yeoh, PG-13, Rated PG-13, Simu Liu, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung

5 Stars Movies

CODA (2021)

The story has been told many times, in many movies.

A teenager/young adult is the odd one out of their family as he/she tries to follow their passion that will be in direct conflict with their family, despite the family being a loving one. These are movies such as October Sky (1998), Billy Elliot (2000), Bend it Like Beckham (2002), Sing Street (2016), and Blinded by the Light (2019). Even if the movies were good to some degree (as are the previously named films, in my opinion), we know the formula so well that it is near impossible not to predict what will happen.

Tags 2021, Amy Forsyth, Apple TV, Bend it like beckham, Billy Elliot, Blinded by the Light, CODA, Daniel Durant, Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Marlee Matlin, Movie Reviews, October Sky, PG-13, Rated PG-13, Sing Street, Troy Kotsur

3 Stars

Respect (2021)

Toward the end of 2010, Rolling Stone released a list of the top 100 vocalists of all time. I remember at the time being a bit shocked that Elvis was not at the top of the list (he was 3). When I saw that #1 was Aretha Franklin, I thought to myself “Oh, well, okay. That makes sense.”

People who think Aretha was not a good singer are people who most likely do not exist, or at least people I have not met or heard of. Right from the beginning of Respect, we know she is being told at a young age that her voice is a gift from God. The movie is clear in telling us this, but not entirely in giving us much more.

Tags Biography, Biopic, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Movie Reviews, Musical, Musical Biopic, PG-13, Rated PG-13, Respect

4 Stars Movies

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Even though it is the definite article used in all English language, I admit I did not think just adding “The” in a movie title could be a big improvement to a sequel.

Still, that change will help you remember which of the two Suicide Squad films is the superior one.

Tags 2021, Comic Book movies, Idris Elba, John Cena, Movie Reviews, R, Rated R, Suicide Squad, Tarantino, The Suicide Squad