Monthly Archives: August 2022

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – RRR

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Movie audiences in the United States tend to stick to watching movies that come from Hollywood. Speaking for myself, I’ll admit I haven’t seen a lot of foreign films. But over the last decade or so, movies and TV shows form other countries have found huge success in international markets. But the one that this piece is about stands out from most of them. Action, music, singing, dancing, friendship, violence, trauma, and a revolution. These are all the ingredients that make “RRR” – translated into English as Rise, Roar, Revolt – a modern movie epic.

The general premise is actually unique. It’s based on two real life Indian revolutionaries from the early 20th Century but the story in the movie is completely fictional. They never met each other in real life, so the writers and director conceived of a story where they met each other and inspired each other to lead a full revolution against British rule. They still did a lot of research to make sure the details of the world and characters were accurate to the period. But just because they cared about getting certain details historically accurate, don’t assume that stopped them from going all out in…well, everything, about the story.

There is so much about this movie that is fantastical. A lot of that can be explained by the culture of Indian film-making in general. The way they craft and tell movies is very different from the average Hollywood flick. In this movie, you will experience everything. Action scenes that go all out despite the law of physics. A dance-off at a wedding attended mainly by the British. A couple of musical scenes show up, one of them occurs when the singer is being flogged/whipped in front of a crowd. Scenes showing the true brutal nature of the British and the unspeakable acts the people of India had to resort to in order to fight back. A lot of you would probably assume there is no way a movie can incorporate all of this and still craft a well-made story. But the thing that truly makes this movie is the friendship between our leads.

This is a 3 hour movie but it knows how to utilize every minute. The first 40 minutes we spend time getting to know the initial conflict and our main leads. The British Governor has taken a young girl from one of India’s tribes at the request of his wife. This causes one of our main leads, Bheem, to head to Delhi in secret to bring back the girl to their tribe. And then there is Raju, a man serving as a police officer and is tasked with finding and arresting Bheem. Their first time meeting each other involved them teaming up to save a young boy from a train on fire by performing an insane action sequence straight out of 1980s Hollywood cinema. They don’t know who the other is and become close friends.

Like mentioned earlier, the reason so much of this movie works is because of the friendship between these two characters. It is genuine and wholesome. They have fun with each other, help the other, create a strong sense of trust. Which makes it so much more heartbreaking when halfway through the movie, Raju has to arrest Bheem. Right in the middle of another extraordinary action scene involving a small army of animals helping Bheem attack the British soldiers and the Governor’s home in Delhi. I’m just saying this now – all the action scenes in this movie are awesome.

Some people might still think that this is an over the top action film. But there is a lot more that elevates the movie. For one thing, this move doesn’t back away from the harsh reality of the time. When we find out what Raju’s secret plan is, we are treated to a flashback scene where a young Raju was forced to shoot his own father to activate a bomb and kill dozens of British soldiers. Raju is forced to whip & flog Bheem in front of the people in Delhi, his best friend bleeding because of him. The movie wants us to show how complex some of these characters are and various scenes in the movie are meant to support the universal themes of the movie. It asks us what it takes to truly start a revolution, the costs that might entail. And it also uses the villains of the movie to speak to how we should be treating one another and doesn’t back down in reminding us of the cruel things we have done to the other.

There is one more thing I want to speak on. When we are introduced to Raju, the movie gives us the title card of “The Fire”. For Bheem, the title card reads “The Water”. In regards to Raju, this can be interpreted as him being the spark to light the revolutionary fire for his people. For Bheem, he is the unstoppable storm that is coming to towards the British, and the destruction that will be created in his wake. And when these two are finally fighting together, it is beautiful and awe-inspiring. It’s said that the writers & director of this movie also took influence from Hindu myths when it came to creating the main leads. It certainly explains how they can give Hollywood superheroes a run for their money in the action.

At the end of the day, this is a beautiful epic. Elements and genres that shouldn’t work together end up blending beautifully together. The entire thing is anchored by our main leads. The ideas and themes of the movie are universal and is no doubt a big part on why this movie is so big outside of India. A modern epic like no other. Get off of your computer and witness the story of Raju & Bheem!

Comics

Archie vs Predator II – The More Bizarre Sequel

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It’s not uncommon for different comic book companies to have multiple crossovers. Hell, Batman and TMNT have had three crossovers. But to give “Archie vs Predator” a sequel seems like an odd choice. The original story left the town destroyed and only three survivors – Betty, Veronica, and the teen Predator now physically transformed to look like Archie. It doesn’t seem like there is anywhere left to go after an intense ending like that. But it turns out there is one path. Make it bigger but even more insane than first by doing whatever you want.

Right from the first page of this story, you know your in for a wild ride. Because both Betty & Veronica break the Fourth Wall and speak to the reader! To be fair, I’m not a regular Archie Comics reader. And I don’t really read the main series. But this is the first time I’ve heard of any Archie comic turn full Deadpool like this. But shortly after that, they actually introduce an idea that’s actually kind of cool & clever. Apparently, the characters of Riverdale just have to walk down Memory Lane – an actual street in their town – and it resets the town and the residents back to normal. There are details later on in the story that make me question how much they actually do that and how that actually works. As well as question if that’s always been a thing. But it for sure was utilized in the story “Archie Marries Veronica/Archie Marries Betty” about a decade before this story. And it does help a long-running comic series like Archie maintain the status quo while still keeping a bunch of random events canon to varying degrees.

But when they try to do that, it turns out the road is closed. And they immediately recognize this as them being canceled. So…there is one thing to note about the original “Archie vs Predator” story. Around the time it was being published, Archie Comics was planning a relaunch of their Archie title. Restart from the beginning and have a modern take on their characters. And when the last issue of “Archie vs Predator” came out, the first issue of their relaunch came out roughly within the same month. You can quite literally say that the original crossover killed off the Classic Archie Universe. But there is good news – all three of them get in a car and find themselves in the new modern Riverdale with their modern counterparts! We have straight up entered the multiverse within the first issue of this story!

And when I say their other counterparts are modern, I mean that their actual modern title has them more grounded as well. They have no experiences with the supernatural, aliens, or anything like that. And when you hear the stuff that Classic Betty & Veronica – including summoning THE DEVIL! – it does make them come off as crazy and over the top. But the modern counterparts to agree to help them figure out what is going on. That is, until a bunch of other Predators show up with their dogs to attack everyone at the Halloween Dance.

Time to tackle the Predator aspect of the comic. Our teen Predator spends the time in Classic Archie’s body, but it’s not the Predator’s head on top. Probably due to the skin breaking off due to the shape and size of the Predator’s natural head. In the original story, the comic would occasionally give him text balloons that only had emojis in it. It was a neat way of getting across the gist of what he is trying to communicate. This is utilized a bit more in the sequel and it does flesh him out a bit more. Doesn’t make him the most complex character, but adds a bit extra to him. The other Predators in this comic are great. But there is one flaw that is hard to overlook. In this comic, the art is more in line with the art used for the modern Archie Comics. Specifically, more in line with what you might get from the Archie Horror imprint. It works for the most part. But the art does make it hard to tell what species these other Predators are. Since our main Predator is a teen, these could just be older members of his race. But since they have their dogs, these also could be the Super Predators as seen in the movies “Predators” & “The Predator”. The art doesn’t do a great job of clarifying that for the readers, but I think they are supposed to be the Super Predators and I’ll explain why later.

Classic Betty & Veronica are trying to figure out how to help. They start trying to text people they used to know back in their universe to see if any made it. And that includes Frank AKA THE PUNISHER! You see why I question how often they use their walking down Memory Lane trick or how it works? It befuddles me why Frank would want to stay in touch with a bunch of teens in a town from a different comic book company. But that’s not the most surprising thing that occurs with our main ladies. As they are hiding from the Super Predators during their Halloween Dance massacre, there is a moment that actually took me by surprise. Classic Veronica saves Classic Betty’s life and admits to how she probably wouldn’t have saved their Archie in the same way. But then Betty gets Veronica to admit that Archie hasn’t actually been her romantic focus in years. And then Betty brings Veronica in for an embrace and kisses her forehead. From the way it is drawn in the comic – combined with a couple of other moments of interactions later on in the story – this is confirmation that Classic Betty & Veronica are attracted to each other.

I feel like this could have been a divisive moment depending on what kind of Archie Comics fan you are. The brand and title have historically been defined by the love triangle of Archie, Betty & Veronica. And while certain writers might have slipped in a joke that generally links this kind of romance between the ladies, I’m not aware of anything significant to support the theory that the two are non-heterosexual. And there is something more unique about having two girls with a strong bond like Betty & Veronica’s be strictly platonic. But…there is a strong argument for how the two of them always fighting each other yet still be friendly did lay the seeds for a realization for the two girls. And they are teenagers, which means they probably didn’t even realize who they really are in that sense quite yet. Speaking for myself, I’m fully behind this relationship pairing. Even if it is for just this story that – unlike it’s predecessor – isn’t technically canon. At least for the more modern version of the Archie title.

Anyway, while all the modern Riverdale counterparts are fighting for their lives, Classic Betty & Veronica try summoning the Devil. And he arrives and recognizes them from their own universe! Although I think in the Classic Archie-Verse, he’s referred to as Mr. Inferno. As they helplessly watch the final explosion happen with their teen Predator friend who survived, Veronica & even Betty talk about how much this miss their old home and how these modern versions might even be better than them. Mr Inferno surprisingly enough actually gives them genuine advice. He tells them they should stop being stuck in the past, trying to reclaim their glory days, and move on to new adventures. Turn into the Betty & Veronica they can truly be. And with that, Mr. Inferno resets the Modern Archie-Verse back to normal, erasing the events of the comic for them. But Classic Betty & Veronica, along with their Predator friend, are adults living in New York. And the two ladies admit that they don’t miss being eternal teenagers.

This is definitely not what I was expecting for “Archie vs Predator II”. With all the references to past events in Classic Archie and they way it’s presented, it kind of has the vibe of a Grant Morrison story. The writer of both of these crossovers, Alex de Campi, admits to how she kind of became a bit meaner & cynical in between the two crossovers. She’s a fan of the Classic Archie title and the bizarre things that happened in their continuity. But to try and do a similar yet different story that involved the more modern version was a tough thing to figure out. So she essentially turned it into a love letter to the Classic Archie-Verse. As well as tell a meta-story about growing up and finding your place in the world. This is why I think the Super Predators were used in this story. Even though the Predator films never went through a full on reboot/remake, the Super Predators were introduced in recent years and could be seen as the studio finding a way to reboot the idea and creatures. So the teen Predator fighting back against them can be seen as the original version of the creature as we know it still maintaining it’s status and fighting back against being changed to that degree.

But the commentary about growing up despite drastic changes is stronger in regards to Betty & Veronica. Which makes this story surprisingly have a lot of depth. From the first which was a surreal and delightfully twisted slasher story to this story, a bizarre multiversal coming of age story about growing up and being more sure of yourself. Again, not what I was expecting at all. But I’ll admit that this is far better than it had any right to be.

Comics

The Predator Hunts…Archie?!

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Archie Comics has had a number of crossovers featuring their title character. Archie has met The Ramones, TMNT, Glee, The Punisher…just to name a few. And recent years have shown the company isn’t afraid to get more experimental when it comes to their characters. And thankfully, that applies to their crossovers. But even though Frank Castle traveled to Riverdale, I don’t think anyone was expecting this to actually materialize. Friends, allow me to tell about the time Archie and his friends went up against…The Predator.

First things first – yes, it did take me until after I finished the comic to realize this comic can be spelled as AVP. I’m not mad, the first AVP film is underrated. But enough about that. It is truly bizarre that Dark Horse Comics (who owned the comic right to the Predator franchise at the time) was willing to do this. But one thing that took advantage of that shock was the art work. The style used is very much the traditional style utilized for Archie and his crew. This cleverly lulls you into a false sense of security and familiarity. Even when the hunter begins killing people in the first 2 issues of the 4 issue mini-series, it still feels like that somehow our main characters are going to come out of this okay.

Speaking of which, let’s talk about the characters. Even though the title is “Archie vs Predator”, our main human focus is on Betty & Veronica. Although slightly more on Betty because the Predator turns out to have a crush on her. Yes, seriously. The comic points out that this specific hunter is a teenage version of the average Predator. And they are able to establish that because apparently they have been coming to Archie’s Earth for years and the government knew they existed. Now I’m developing a theory about how this comic takes place in the same continuity as the Predator movies. Anyway, Betty actually does get several moments to shine in a weirdly darkly comedic way. Veronica is more of a supporting character in a few scenes because of that. But she makes contributions to the story, both good and bad. Bad in the sense that she got Jughead to dress up like her in an attempt to lure out the Predator as part of a trap. That did not work. Side note – the teen Predator also has a crush on Veronica.

But let’s actually get to the other person mentioned in the title – Archie. The ginger does try and take some sort of leadership as the conflict reveals itself and begins to escalate. He goes up against the alien a couple of times over the course of the series. But unfortunately…he’s killed. Yea, the Predator actually wins the title fight and survives to the end. There was an Afterword in my copy that talked about how the team were uncertain if they should kill off Archie, for fear it would seem repetitive of the then recent “Death of Archie” story. But they ultimately decided that as long as he wasn’t shot, no one would really mind. And I have to hand it to them, I didn’t think that would actually happen. Archie is killed off along with most of Riverdale and the recognizable characters.

That is except for Betty & Veronica. They do in fact survive due to the teen hunter’s surprise affection for them. And after he does help them escape an explosion, it seems only fair to thank him…as well as get a little payback. So Betty uses an advanced medical room that Veronica’s father has to not just heal the Predator’s wounds, but also TURN THE PREDATOR INTO ARCHIE! Remember how I mentioned Betty has a handful of darkly comedic moments in the comic? Turns out that’s because she is secretly unhinged! But I guess that’s predictable when you spend decades in a love triangle with two of your closest friends. That surprise is certainly insane but also manages to fit into the surreal tone and fun experienced throughout the mini-series.

Is there anything worth criticizing? If I’m going to be nit-picky…there are a couple of things. A character named Dilton has this weird speech about how he’s been jealous of the attention Archie always gets from women and how he’s the only one of the friend group that never seems to ever date or be asked out. And that leads him to reveal a robot suit he made in his free time where the head is a replica of Archie’s. It’s weird and bizarre but more in a something is off and goes against the story kind of way. And Sabrina Spellman has a small role in one of the issues. The way the comic portrays her is weird. I think they were going for a version where she comes off as a weird and disturbing goth girl. But it didn’t feel at place in this specific story.

But putting that aside, this is highly enjoyable! There is plenty of blood and violence to satisfy any Predator fan. Seeing Archie and the gang try and be action heroes is certainly enjoyable for Archie fans to see. And the ending is so delightfully twisted! Please seek out and read this comic.

TV

An Analysis of Netflix’s The Sandman

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Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman” is a comics masterpiece. It was one of the titles that defined the tone and purpose of DC’s Vertigo imprint for mature readers. It explored fascinating ideas and introduced to complex characters in ways that mainstream comics back in the late 80s to mid 90s simply didn’t. Ever since the series ran it’s course, Hollywood has been trying for decades to find a way to adapt it. Different scripts for movies and mini-series have come and gone. But now it has found a home on the Netflix streaming service. And now is also the time to see if this was worth it.

But first, something that should be addressed. When it comes to any kind of adaptations, people talk about it almost as if being adapted is some sort of validation. Regardless if the story originated from comics or books or if it’s just a transfer from a different entertainment medium (you remember the nightmare fuel that is “Cats”?), there are people who think a story isn’t truly recognized as being great until Hollywood adapts it. A similar feeling can be said about how people view live-actions movies and shows as opposed to animated versions. But I want to set the record straight – regardless of how this show turned out or how you feel about it, the original comic has been and will always be amazing. This story – or any story from any other medium for that matter – doesn’t need Hollywood’s interest in order to be recognized as such. But since this entire post is supposed to be about said adaptation, let’s focus on that.

Something you should know is that the pacing of the show and how it approaches telling it’s first season isn’t quite the same as the average show. It tells it very much like how a comic book series would tell it. Let me try and explain it better. Take a look at “Stranger Things” – season 1 introduced a mystery and threat that was resolved by the end of the season. We followed a certain set of characters throughout the entire season. And the finale left us with a cliffhanger for things that might come in the next season. And the same can be said for all the other season installments. This isn’t the same mode that “The Sandman” uses. For the first 5 episodes, there is a certain set of characters we follow. But by then end of those 5 episodes, most of them are gone from the show. After a standalone story in episode 6, the remaining 4 focus on a new set of characters. The main one of this set being briefly introduced in episode 5 but not really a part of that episode’s story. While the finale does sort of leave us with a more traditional season finale tease in one aspect, the vast majority of the season does have a different pace than what people might be expecting.

This can be explained by the fact that season 1 actually adapts the first 2 volumes of the 10 volume series. That at first seems like a lot to pack in 10 episodes where none of them go above an hour. But then you realize that if they had just stuck to volume 1, the show would be facing criticism of dragging out and padding story-lines that didn’t need it. So in reality, this approach not only stays true to the pacing and method of the original comics, but also keeps the show more focused. Many people have said that the second half of the season is better than the first half. While that is technically true, that doesn’t mean the first half is bad by any means. It’s just that the opening story-line is one so many Sandman comics fans are familiar with. And it follows the same general main character plot that can be found in numerous other stories. It’s really just an issue of the first half being so familiar and the second half focusing on material people probably would never think they would see adapted.

So now we get into the actual meat of the show. How faithful is it? Does it do the original material justice? All those questions fans of the original version will have. And if you ask me…the show is pretty damn good. The tone is very similar to the original comics, one that deals with oftentimes dark themes but approached in a mature fashion. The performances from all the characters are well done. Dream of The Endless is portrayed in a way that is remarkably similar to the comics. He may not show much visible expression, but when it does show, you can tell that it is important. And you can also pick up on the way he moves and talks and see how his mood changes based on that. And the rest of the characters are portrayed as having a fair amount of complexity to them. Even several of the antagonists of the show have a couple more layers to them than you might give them credit for.

Now, as with all other adaptations, there are bound to be some changes. But the vast majority of said changes are really nit-picky in the grand scheme of things. And keep in mind, changes regarding how certain characters appear in the show aren’t really an issue. Lucifer, Death and other similar supernatural entities like them aren’t characters that stick to certain physical attributes and characteristics. Any criticism regarding those changes just aren’t a big deal. Most of the changes in the show are done in order to keep it separate from all other DC projects going on in Hollywood. There are still various easter eggs and vague references that comic fans will pick up on. But the reason why certain actors weren’t cast or why certain character backstories are altered is to make sure newcomers can more easily watch the show. And perhaps they will be encouraged to check out the original comics and start down a rabbit hole for themselves in DC lore.

Having said that, I did pick up on two major changes that are worth addressing. One is the character of Johanna Constantine. Back when this character was cast, it was believed it was a gender-swapped version of the character John Constantine. Is this true? Well…no and yes. No because Johanna Constantine is a separate character. She is John’s ancestor and has her own encounter with Dream in the late 18th Century. And that story is shown in the first season. But I also say yes because the actress who plays Johanna Constantine in the late 18th Century also plays a different Johanna in the modern day who is a descendant. She joins Dream during a mission in episode 3 that in the comics was fulfilled by John Constantine. The most likely reason for this is, again, to keep this project separate from other projects that have included the character John Constantine. And considering the changes Warner Brothers studio is going through, is probably for the best. But the decision to have one actress play two different characters that have the both first and last name is a curious choice. The actress does a fine job, but I do wonder why they didn’t decide to come up with a different first name for the modern Constantine and have a different actress portray them. But since the actress does a good job, it isn’t a question that bugs me.

The other major change worth addressing if the nightmare Gault. She is responsible for a conflict that was originally fulfilled by two different nightmares and their motivations were rooted in desire for power. But her motivation in the show actually touches on a major theme of both the comics and the show – change. I won’t go into too much detail since the show just released at the time of this being written. But it does connect to how so much how has happened between the first and final episode. And the desire from several characters to see things change for the better. This is something that Dream ultimately recognizes and even admits that he can’t be the same as he once was. It is rather a nice way for the season to bookend his character development.

This character and story didn’t need to be adapted to prove it is a wonderful story. But the fact that it is as good as it is shows how much respect the story has from so many people. Fans of the comics should find a lot to enjoy with the show. And if you haven’t read the comics, I’m willing to bet this will still get them engaged. The original comics talked a bit about the power stories have on people. And this different yet very faithful version shows just how never-ending this particular story is.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – Prey

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The Predator franchise is unusual in several respects. One of those being that there is more good than bad installments. While there is some debate over the 2nd and 3rd installments, they are still generally considered good overall. The 2018 film “The Predator” is the only installment considered genuinely bad, or at least poor. But for a film series that has been around for over 30 years, that’s still impressive. Luckily the most recent installment continues the trend of having more good films. In fact, “Prey” is an excellent film that has both gory action and great characterization.

The first prequel of the franchise, we focus on a story that takes place in 1719 in North America. We follow a young Comanche woman named Naru that wants to become a hunter. And while we do see early on she has some skills with tracking and weaponry, we also several attempts of her failing to actually kill the creatures she hunts. But then the Predator arrives and Naru goes out to hunt the creature in order to protect her tribe.

I think one thing many people might be concerned about regarding this film is that the writing for the female protagonist won’t be up to par. There have been many films in recent years with female leads where the writing does nothing to help flesh them out as real characters. Instead, the films often portray them as flawless from the beginning and end up being somehow even more flawless. But that is not the case with “Prey”. As mentioned, we see several instances in the first act where she is unable to actually land the killing blow against an animal. There is a deer and a mountain lion in the first act the film she goes up against but fails to kill. However, we do see her practice with her weaponry and work with her trained dog named Sarii. In addition, she has skills as both a tracker and as a healer. It’s just that she never seem to have been able to actually prove herself to her tribe.

However, her brother Taabe does show support for her and does help give her a couple of chances in the hope she will finally land the kill. Their connection does end up bringing a fair deal of heart to the film and help us care for both characters. As the film goes along, Naru is shown using the skills she has and observe the events happening to eventually become the hunter and warrior she wishes to be. Speaking of characterization, there is a fair bit of it for the Predator of the film. First though, the design of the creature looks cool. It does have a more primitive design and feel in a few areas. Not so drastic it is unrecognizable from what we’ve seen in other movies, but enough to stand out as unique to this story. In the first act, we see it hunt other predators native to the ecosystem. But it always waits to see those predators make their own kills uninterrupted. Almost as if it is waiting for proof they are worthy to be killed. And even though it has a variety of weapons, it starts with using just it’s hands and a couple of blades. Showing this is a creature that does have a more personal, up close fighting style a little similar to the Comanche tribe.

Obviously this film does a great job of having characterization for both hero and villain. And managing to do so with mainly visuals as opposed to the movie telling us. But don’t worry, we still have that intense gory action. There are several kills that are brutal and blood is spilled all over the great plains. Interesting thing to note is that as we move from fight to fight, Naru does pay attention to some of the details about the Predator. The way it fights, how it decides who to go after, the way it moves. As she gathers that knowledge, she finds a way to use her skills and the knowledge of her land to go up against the creature in a final showdown that is very enjoyable. It isn’t often we have an R rated action/thriller film that also serves as a coming-of-age story. But this film has found great success in the way it blends those different styles and executes the final product.

A couple of other elements that help suck you in to the movie are the visuals and the sound. Several memorable scenes and landscapes do stick out in memory and the sound helps engage you in the action unfolding. You will feel yourself get tense during certain scenes as you try and anticipate what will happen next.

After being in production for the better part of a decade, “Prey” finally releases and sticks the landing. It even shows the franchise and the direction it probably should follow. A series of anthology films taking place in various time periods, showing how the people and culture of the times dictate how we interact with the arrival of a Predator. One of the best things of the franchise is seeing how humans and Predators react to each other, maybe even work with each other on occasion. Regardless if they go this route or maybe continue with these characters, we can rest easy knowing the franchise has remembered how to entertain us and keep us engaged.