Tag: R

Spencer (2021)

While I have never seen the Twilight films (nor do I plan to), I am aware of the aftermath of the saga’s two lead actors. I don’t refer to their personal lives, but to how the public responded to their acting talent. Before Twilight, Robert Pattinson was most known as Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter Franchise. Recently, I finally became a fan when I saw his solid work in The Lighthouse and TENET (2020). It will help his career more so now that he is about to be the latest Batman.

As for Kristen Stewart, the first film I remember her in was way back in the film 2005’s Zathura (remember that one?). While she did some great work in films such as the very underrated Adventureland (2009), there was more promise to her acting chops when I observed her in Still Alice (2014). Still, I admit to feeling uneasy when I found out she would be cast as the late Princess Diana in Spencer.

That uneasiness only lasted about ten minutes into the picture.

Tags 2021, Freddie Spry, Jack Nielen, Jonny Greenwood, Kristen Stewart, Movie Reviews, Paul Thomas Anderson, R, Radiohead, Richard Sammel, Spencer, Stella Gonet

4 Stars Movies

Last Night in Soho (2021)

“Unusual movie” was what I heard from a fellow audience member at the end of the credits of Last Night in Soho, the latest film from Edgar Wright.

I responded something to the likes of “True, but that does not make it bad.”

Tags 2021, Ant Man, Anya Taylor-Joy, Baby Driver, Diana Rigg, Edgar WRight, Last Nigh in Soho, Michael Ajao, R, Rated R, Rita Tushingham, Scott Pilgrim vs the world, Shaun of the Dead, Synnove Karlsen, The Witch, Thomasin McKenzie, Thunderball

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

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

2 Stars

Wrath of Man (2021)

I will give Guy Ritchie’s newest film this much: It is the first film I have seen in some time that revolves around the drivers of big bags of cash.

In heist films, the drivers are very much underappreciated (if not by their employers, then certainly the audience), so the Wrath of Man did have me a tad bit hopeful in that we may get a new type of action packed thriller. Sadly, that is not the case.

Tags 2021, Aladdin, Andy Garcia, Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham, Josh Hartnett, R, Rated R, Wrath of Man

3 Stars Movies

Mortal Kombat (2021)

My love for cinema truly became apparent to me in my early teen years, but my love of the Mortal Kombat video games started at the age of five.

I remember with perfect accuracy my parents’ hesitancy to get the game for my older brother Adam and I, but they eventually gave in to our wishes (provided we got along). The following years resulted in many hours playing MK 1-4 with friends (most notably my best friend Greg) on button mashing, face punching, gut kicking, head decapitating, limb ripping, organ exploding bliss. That is not to mention the 1995 original film (with a theme song that never grows old) that still delights today, despite a sequel that proved to be one of the worst films mankind has ever known.

Tags 2021, Chin Han, Joe Taslim, Josh Lawson, Lewis Tan, Ludi Lin, Max Huang, Mehcad Brooks, Mortal Kombat, R, Rated R, Tadanobu Asano

3 1/2 Stars Movies

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Post author By Mark A. Lester
Post date March 21, 2021
1 Comment on Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

IMDB may have the director of 2017’s Justice League as Zach Snyder, but that was far from his original film.

The origins of the “Snyder Cut” are now well known: When the film was being finished in early 2017, Snyder had to back out after the tragic suicide of his daughter, Autumn. Joss Whedon (who helmed the first two Avengers films for the MCU) stepped in, and the film was changed drastically. The film’s 4 hour run time was basically cut in half to two, the tone of the film was much lighter, and composer Thomas Holkenborg (better known as Junkie XL) was replaced by Danny Elfman.

4 1/2 Stars Movies

Nomadland (2020)

When it comes to name recognition, it seems like the third time is definitely the charm for director Chloe Zhao.

While I have yet to see her debut film (2015’s Songs My Brothers Taught Me), I did manage to see her second film, The Rider (2017), the story of a young cowboy recovering from a near fatal accident and needing to find a new path in life. It takes more than one movie or so to discover a director’s true voice, but Zhao certainly is going down the path of intimate film making (it also helps that her first two movies were written by Zhao), which is more than evident in her third feature Nomadland.

Tags 2020, Chloe Zhao, David Strathairn, Frances McDormand, Nomadland, R, Rated R, Three Billboards, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

4 Stars Movies

The Way Back (2020)

To describe the career of Ben Affleck as “varied” would almost be an understatement.

After making it in the spotlight by winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (with his good friend Matt Damon) for 1997’s Good Will Hunting, he stretched into the “Razzie” territory with films like 1998’s Armageddon (which Affleck has comically given his own thoughts on), Pearl Harbor (2001), and 2003’s mega dud Gigli.

Tags 2020, alcoholism, Basketball, Ben Affleck, R, Rated R, The Way Back

2 Stars Movies

The Little Things (2021)

“It’s the little things that are important, Jimmy.”

Says the veteran cop to the hotshot rookie detective, and is something heard before in other films. Sadly, the reason The Little Things turns out very subpar and forgettable is, to be honest, the little things.

Tags 2021, Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, R, Rami Malek, Rated R, The Little Things