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Review – Black Adam

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A big reason why comic book movies are so popular is because people who grew up reading some of these characters are finally being adapted for the big screen for everyone to see. The chance to see your favorite characters do what they do best, giving people who don’t read comics a chance to see how great they are, it can feel pretty awesome. I will admit to getting on the hype train for this movie because I love the character, as well as the Justice Society of America. I want to see these characters done right, to see them in a whole new format and be awesome. And now that the movie has finally arrived, I can declare it…an okay movie.

Let me make something clear. I don’t get paid to review movies. That must come as a huge shock to…honestly, no one if you know me or have become familiar with this site. I’m just a guy who has seen and enjoys a lot of movies. But I will say that because I watch so much, I’ve started to notice the same story outlines and lines of dialogue being used over and over again. And I was starting to feel a lot of familiar tropes in this movie. But tropes & cliches aren’t inherently goo or bad. It comes down to how they are presented, how they are delivered, and if anything new and/or unique is done with them. As far as this movie goes, they utilize the familiar tropes like an average movie. No surprises are thrown in to make them feel driven.

But a lot of that can be somewhat forgiven if the acting is good enough. I’ll admit right off the bat that Dwayne Johnson puts in a great performance as Black Adam. Our first scene with him is a fight scene and we do get to see him deliver out some ruthless hits. Admittedly, it would be cooler if the movie is rated R, but that’s a whole other issue with comic book movies we don’t have time to get into. Another aspect of Black Adam that works well is some of the comedy directly involving him. You can probably predict that Black Adam faces a “fish out of water” scenario where he is adjusting to how the modern world works. And most of the jokes that are based on that do land. While still keeping him a pretty intimidating and powerful force.

As for the supporting actors in this movie, it can be hit or miss. The character of Adrianna is performed well. Her son, Amon, does admittedly have some annoying scenes. He plays the kind of character you probably expect him to have when it comes to interacting with Black Adam. As for the members of the Justice Society…I’m afraid there is more disappointment. As for how they all look, their costumes are pretty good. And part of me is always happy when the JSA get adapted in a major project like this. But of the four members in this movie, two of them aren’t essential to the story. The younger members – Cyclone & Atom Smasher – can be replaced or written out entirely. And unfortunately, Atom Smasher is written to be the comic relief that is in every comic book movie these days. Probably the most annoying character in the movie.

But let’s move onto the older members of the Justice Society. Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate is great. A major highlight of the film. As for Hawkman…it’s underwhelming. He looks great, and as a reader of JSA comics, I’m excited this character has a chance to go up against Black Adam. But the writing for him is severely lacking. He is made to be the leader of the team, working with Amanda Waller and views Black Adam as someone who needs to be stopped. Except we don’t know anything about his backstory. What is his origin story? How long was he a crime fighter before the events of this movie? If he stopped for a while, what made him decide to pick it back up again? How and why did he decide to work with Amanda Waller? And why is he stubborn and so insistent that Black Adam is a bad guy? All we get regarding that is “heroes don’t kill people.” But we don’t know anything about this version of the character to have that carry any weight. If he had a backstory that elaborated on his beliefs, that would be something. But as is, he is a character that I want to like more than I actually do.

And finally, we have that villain that doesn’t appear until the final act. The type of villain that simply wants to take over the world and do the usual evil things. He looks a little cool, but you can replace him with so many other villains from a lot of different comic book movies. What’s so funny is that the plot that eventually introduces this villain can be taken out entirely out of the movie. They could have done something similar to Deadpool 2 and have no clear cut bad guy. Have the conflict be entirely about heroes with conflicting perspectives and fighting about it. They could have expanded on Hawkman’s backstory, give the younger heroes of the team a story where they decide that it isn’t the JSA’s place to say if Black Adam can be free or not. Create a conflict that puts the JSA against each other, make Hawkman the on screen bad guy with Amanda Waller the background villain that can continue to go up against Black Adam in future projects. But no, we have the plot that introduces a standard villain where both the JSA & Black Adam team up together to take down. It’s a very standard plot.

Having said all of that, there is stuff in this movie I liked and appreciated. As mentioned, the JSA heroes all look good and the performance from Dwayne Johnson is great. There are some fight scenes that are cool to watch and Black Adam does get a chance to showcase some of his ruthless behavior. And the movie does shine a small spotlight on how the people of Kahndaq view these heroes. They jeer Hawkman for saving the lives of a couple of Intergang members, a group that has invaded and controlled their country for many years. But when Black Adam kills them, they cheer and support him. And Adrianna points out how the JSA has never once been to their country, despite their claim that they are supposed to fight for global stability. And she points out the only reason they are here is because a country that isn’t the United States now has a superhero, one that could potentially a threat to whatever interests or agenda the US government has on an international level. If the movie had delved into this a lot more than it did – in addition to the story change I previously mentioned – the movie would have a lot of intriguing questions for the audience to discuss.

At the end of the day, this movie turned out to be all right. Definitely not one of the worst comic book movies ever. But certainly not one of the best. The movie does start going down the right path in a few areas. It has elements and pieces that could serve the foundation for a much stronger, unique movie. But it does ultimately turn out exactly how you expect it to. Hopefully, these characters get a chance to really push things down the road. And fans of these characters can truly see them in a story that captures everything amazing about them, not just some.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – The Exorcist III

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The Exorcist is rightfully seen as one of the most iconic films of the Horror genre. It was even nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, the first film from Horror to do so. Which is why it was odd when John Boorman was selected to direct the second film, considering he didn’t find the original scary. That said sequel, subtitled The Heretic, ended up being negatively received by critics and audiences. Better off ignored, the third film had a lot to prove and live up to. You don’t hear many people talking about the movie, which is tragic, because it is a truly great film worth of the original’s legacy.

This film takes place 17 years after the events of the original. We focus on a police Lieutenant – William Kinderman – as he investigates a series of murders. The crime scenes seem to have disturbing similarities with the murders of an infamous serial killer, the Gemini Killer. But the problem with that is that he was executed 15 years prior. While at the hospital during his investigation, he meets an unnamed patient discovered by the staff, someone who seemed to have amnesia. As the Lieutenant sits down with the patient, it becomes clear that he is something else entirely. He appears to be Damien Karras, the Father who sacrificed himself in an attempt to kill the demon. However, he is not alone or in control of his body. It appears as though the Gemini Killer and that same demon are using his body to continue their killing spree.

Something about the original film helps it stand out from a lot of mainstream Horror flicks. While the look of a possessed Reagan can be outright creepy and scary, it was a Horror movie focused more on the implied meaning of an evil such as the demon possessing a young girl. What that existence of such a creature means to someone like Damien Karras and how that can change a person. The third movie takes more influence from the original than the second film did. Focusing more on the mood & atmosphere it was presenting. And while we do have a few kill scenes, the true fear can be induced by the acting of our killer.

Jason Miller returns to portray the character of Damien Karras, a once heroic man now being used by evil itself. But he isn’t the only actor who gets to play the Gemini Killer. While a number of scenes show Lieutenant Kinderman talking to Damien and that actor, the movie will sometimes switch him out with the man we must assume is the true Gemini Killer, portrayed by Brad Dourif. The back-and-forth between these two actors – often in the same scene – is fairly seamless and helps bring intensity and intimidation to this character. For a little while in the movie, the movie lets us wonder if this is actually real or the imagination of other characters run wild. But it does seep in that this is real and how out of his depth this policeman truly is. Despite that, he does get a chance to fight back and help assist in exorcising all of the souls of his former friend’s body.

It is by no means a flawless film. But it is a film that needs more attention. It focuses on the psychological effects the evil has in the movie, a much more character focused story than the second movie. Not to mention a powerful performance by Miller & Dourif, going up against a strong performance from George C. Scott as the Lieutenant. This is a movie where Biblical Evil is real. And it can put fear into men of strong will, sometimes even use them as tools. But as long as good men continue to fight back as best as they can, it can be held at bay. And that is why this is an underrated movie that everyone should put on when the leaves fall from trees.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – Halloween Ends

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Well…I guess technically this title isn’t a lie. It is the end of this studio’s run on the franchise. But we all know that after a few years hibernation, this franchise & Michael will come back. The one rule that applies to Horror movie villains & Hollywood is that nothing ever stays dead. But I’ll give props to the marketing of this installment. The trailers and TV spots focused on the fight between Laurie & Michael without actually telling us what the plot is. I have to give credit for that. More trailers should try to actually keep their movies & shows in as much mystery as possible. Enough about that though, we need to actually discuss the film.

Four years have passed since the events of the previous two movies, as well as the last time Michael was seen by the people of Haddonfield. Laurie & Allison are moving on as best as they can, trying to reclaim some resemblance of normalcy. Then one day Allison runs into a young guy named Corey who due to a freak accident, is viewed by many people in town to be a monster himself. But Allison sees the good guy he is trying to be and the two form a connection. But something seems to have start encouraging Corey to give into his darker impulses. To embrace the darkness in in and get back at the town that has tortured him for son long.

Honestly, the story and stuff surrounding Corey is some of the best stuff seen in this franchise. It’s really fascinating to see a character like and get a chance to explore some questions that can relate to this franchise. What makes someone snap? Is evil created or is it always around, waiting for the right chance to come out? The actor who plays Corey does a great job portraying someone dealing with inner torment, struggling to find some meaning in his life and figuring out how to move forward. And I enjoy his connection/romance with Allison. Granted, it is a tad rushed considering how long the events of this movie take place. But a lot of movie romances are and it doesn’t really harm the story.

One connection Corey has that is more interesting though is the one he has with Michael. I’ve never seen Michael act this way with anyone from any of the previous films. It’s genuinely new and still manages to keep him intimidating. And while the people behind this specific trilogy never outright confirm Michael is supernatural, I personally think it’s the only way to explain some of the stuff he does over the last few films. Especially when it comes to a few choice scenes from the first half or two thirds of this installment. And yet this specific depiction feels much more natural for Michael than whatever they were doing in something like Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.

But you are probably wondering about the actual climax of the movie. Laurie & Michael have another clash, obviously. And while I feel like it’s still a kind of repeat of the 2018 film, it does admittedly feel different enough to feel exciting. As for what they do with Corey towards the end, I do feel unsatisfied. The movie was playing up that Corey might become the next Michael Myers, and I was actually on board for that idea. But the way he meets his end feels like it goes against what this movie – and what this trilogy – was about in terms of themes. They could have easily changed the way he died. Do it in a way where maybe Allison does bring Corey back just in time for him to go up against Michael, a depiction of love & kindness being stronger than evil. Corey could still die, but Michael will be weakened enough where he can still meet his fate at the hands of the Strode family.

But that version of what I wanted didn’t play out. The actual fight between Michael & Laurie is, again, still fun to watch. And the actual clash does feel conclusive. But what happens following that clash is a twisted funeral procession that feels really silly. It does harm the movie and is one of the more noticeable weaknesses of the movie. A few others include how this movie – like the last one – has too many scenes of people talking about the original film and the past two films. We already know the events of these movies! Stop wasting time repeating stuff that we’ve already re-watched in anticipation of this movie. And there are still scenes where it goes for comedy but it feels tonally jarring. That’s an issue that has persisted throughout this trilogy. The 2018 film manages to not be harmed by that problem, it’s more persistent in Halloween Kills where it still somehow manages to make it at least an enjoyable, entertaining mess. But here, it just feels awkward.

At the end of the day though, this is still better than Halloween Kills. It’s still one of the better sequels to come out of this franchise. This trilogy would have been stronger though if these filmmakers took more time to really plan things out. Spread out ideas and development across both of these movies and make it feel more connected. Because while Halloween Ends is a solid movie, the trilogy overall is pretty weak. But that shouldn’t stop you from checking this movie out. I know a lot of people feel like this was unsatisfactory for one reason or another. But for what it is and what it does successfully do, I was able to enjoy it – the good stuff, the awkward scenes, & the bloodshed. All the way to the end.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – Halloween Kills

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There is one thing we can all agree regarding this movie. That the title isn’t a lie. Yes, it takes place on Halloween. And yes, there is a lot of killing. But back on that former comment, this movie picks up right where the previous left off. Laurie is being taken to the hospital by her daughter and gran-daughter. But as firemen go to Laurie’s home to put out the fire, Michael Myers emerges and begins to take on all of them. And he makes his way through Haddonfield, killing those he comes across. Meanwhile, word of Michael has spread and a mob has formed to take on the Boogeyman once and for all.

A lot of criticisms have been thrown at this movie. First of all, the marketing made it seem like there would be another Laurie & Michael showdown. But that doesn’t happen. In fact, Laurie doesn’t really play much of a role in the movie. Another major criticism is that this mob that’s being formed is confusing. By that, I mean the script is confused about what it is trying to say by including a mob like this. I think it’s supposed to be against this kind of mentality. But then there are scenes where it seems like it’s supporting the mob and their actions. This won’t be the first time a Halloween sequel has seemingly supported the idea of a militia group. And that is a weird thing to say.

As far as human characters go, most of them just aren’t that interesting this time around. The two best ones are Laurie and Deputy Frank Hawkins, both of them on hospital beds following events from the previous film. Characters like Karen & Allyson aren’t bad, but nothing is really done to develop them or make them stand out in a significant way. And somehow Allyson’s boyfriend didn’t die last film and he’s a main character in this one! In other words – good characters have little screen time, previously good characters are average, and unlike-able characters get more screen time. Another major criticism is that this movie has tonal issues. There were moments from the last one that sort of had that issue. But it is amplified in this one and it occurs throughout the entire story.

I will admit there is stuff I still liked. Michael kills a lot of people. And all of those kills are enjoyably brutal. Some of the best moments in this movie involve Michael just tearing into someone with no restraint. There is still some atmosphere that helps elevate the darker or suspenseful parts of the movie. Not enough to put them on par with what was seen in the last film. But make them enjoyable. There’s also this one section of the film that plays out almost like it’s a separate short film. In the old Myers home, it’s occupied by a gay couple and they are known as Big John & Little John. That’s actually how they refer to each other and it’s funny while not being too against the darker tone. They have a little fun telling a couple of kid tricksters about the story of Michael and the old house. But then Michael sneaks in and the two try and find him to take him down. There’s a moment between one of them and Michael where you feel like there is just as much being said in silence as in the actual dialogue. And the way Michael places both bodies together afterwards does kind of make me think he didn’t really hate them or disliked them. That’s he more sorry that they got in his way.

But the issues in this movie are far more noticeable than in the previous one. It seems to imply Michael might truly be a supernatural killer in the climax because he somehow survives a beat down from the mob and takes out everyone there. I think he even survived being shot at point blank. And the ending leaves us with this jump scare that raises more questions and confusion as opposed to scaring us. This is an unfocused and uneven film. But I’ll say that this isn’t the worst Halloween film, not by far. If your looking for a Michael Myers film where you don’t mind the characters being stupid and just want some violence, well…this might be the flick for you.

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Review – Halloween (Returns) 2018

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I need to get this out of the way. Why the HELL is this movie just called Halloween? This isn’t a remake! It’s a sequel to the 1978 John Carpenter film. I know Hollywood has seemingly given up on coming up with fun sequel titles, usually they just add a word like “the” to the title. But this is incredibly lazy and not to mention confusing to people who want to talk about the movie. This should be called Halloween 2 or given a subtitle like Halloween Returns. In fact, that’s how I’m going to refer to this movie from now on!

Aside from the incredibly lazy title, this movie is actually worth checking out. This wipes out the events of all the other Halloween films except for the first. Taking place 40 years after the first film, the main characters are the 3 Strode women. Laurie, who is distant from her daughter and her family due to how she acted as a parent. Karen is Laurie’s adult daughter, who has gone the opposite parenting direction and tried to create a more optimistic home life for her family. And there is Allyson, Karen’s teenage daughter and Laurie’s gran-daughter. However, when a bus transporting patients of a mental institute crashes, Michael Myers breaks free. And he returns to Haddonfield to bring havoc to everyone who lives there.

This film does a great job building suspense and creating a dark atmosphere, especially when Michael is the focus in the scene. And while this movie wipes out all the other sequels, there are little easter eggs that reference certain things from those other movies. But the story stands completely on it’s own. It does this by showing us how Laurie’s life went afterwards and how it has impacted those closest to her. As well as have a number of scenes and shots that are ambitious from a cinematography perspective. Something that had been severely lacking in other Halloween sequels. That’s only bolstered by the beautiful original score provided by the master of Horror himself, John Carpenter.

The acting for the most part is pretty good. I will say there are a couple of characters who just aren’t that like-able. Those would be Allyson’s boyfriend and his associated friend who tries to make a move on Allyson later in the story. Allyson’s female friend and her boyfriend are better, but you can also tell that they are there to die. Another issue that might get in the way with some viewers is the tone in certain scenes. This movie comes from David Green and Danny McBride, and they both inject in some humor into the script. There are moments where it does help make the characters more relatable and get us to root for them. But there are other moments where it can feel out of place and conflict with the darker tone the movie is going for. Having said that, most of those moments are short and are out of the way during the first act.

One thing I’ve felt like a lot of the Halloween sequels were missing was atmosphere. There are standalone scenes and moments spread throughout. But a sequel with a haunting atmosphere during most if not the entire runtime just didn’t exist until this movie. That’s what I appreciate the most from this movie. You feel like Michael Myers is an actual threat and menace. The confrontation between him and Laurie is tense and exciting. It’s shot in a darkly gorgeous fashion that can be seen throughout the flick. No, it’s not a perfect movie. But it is a really good movie. And that easily makes this the best Michael Myers sequel.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – Hellraiser (2022)

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After years of hoping and begging, the Hellraiser remake has finally moved out of development Hell. But more importantly, we finally have another good Hellraiser film! In this Hulu exclusive, the puzzle box falls in the hands of Riley, a woman struggling with drug addiction. Once she accidentally starts playing with the puzzle box, the Cenobites make themselves known, putting Riley and her friends in danger.

Let’s get some basic stuff out of the way. While some people were hoping this would be a theatrical release, having it be a streaming movie is actually a big step-up from being straight-to-DVD. A lot of streaming movies have large budgets and people put a lot of care into the best ones. And you can tell this is one where the filmmakers cared, because it looks gorgeous. Some of the best visuals since the first two films. Speaking of visuals, the Cenobites look amazing. And Jaime Clayton as Pinhead, or The Priest, is a major highlight. Her look and scenes are very memorable. And the fact the puzzle box actually acts more like a puzzle box – including changing shape into multiple configurations – feels long overdue. It also stabs the person working it, taking some blood after completing each configuration, which is also a great addition. A lot of these changes are welcome and feel faithful to the Hellraiser lore.

Now let’s get into the meat of this review. A lot of reviews for this film have mentioned how this feels like a tame Hellraiser film. Mainly pointing to how the first act or even first half focuses more on the human characters figuring out what’s happening. Speaking for myself, this didn’t bother me. This movie isn’t meant to actually remake the original. It’s more of a remix of the first trow original films, telling it’s own story. This is a new beginning and needs to establish how it is different. That also means when the Cenobites are on screen, it feels that much more special. I will even argue that the Cenobites probably have more screen time in this film than the original. As for the actual gore, that’s admittedly trickier to determine. The original had the difficult job of showing amazing practical effects/body horror while not feeling exploitative. And the best Hellraiser films always knew how to make the gore feel meaningful. The same can be said for this film. Again, I will argue this probably has more gore in terms of screen time. But I’ll admit that while the new film has some good stuff, mainly inspired Cenobite designs, the gore in the original does feel more iconic and memorable. With all of that addressed, let’s dive a bit deeper, shall we?

A major reason the original film is so memorable was because it as focused on sex, more specifically the power people can have in a sexual relationship. And it also explored how far sexual appetites can go. That can be seen in the general design of the Cenobites, where they wore leather in addition to having parts of their bodies mutilated. Their general designs were inspired by outfits from various S&M and BDSM sex clubs in the real world. While the reboot still has a sexual element to it, it’s not as focused on that. This can be explained by how the general world’s attitude towards sex has changed. There are still issues, but overall the world isn’t as conservative regarding sex as it was when the original film released. But in that case, what does the reboot explore?

With the human characters, we see them being driven by their vices and obsessions. The human villain, Roland Voight, was the one to actively seek out the puzzle box and the Cenobites. He sought them out to satisfy his hunger for pleasure and power. And it is during that pursuit where he is ultimately changed, no longer recognizable and never able to go back. For the other human characters like Riley, they struggle with their vices. Trying to better themselves but ultimately drawn back to indulging in them for bliss. It can be argued that their personalities, tied to their past behavior, is what pushes them further down their paths as seen in the film. As for the Cenobites, they are still the beings who seek out experiences that mix pain and pleasure. That’s why in the film, they don’t wear leather, but multiple beings do seem to wear their torn and altered skin as a form of clothing. That change in addition to further body mutilations shows a different focus on their motivations. That their reasoning for doing these things are actually driven by religious reasons.

It’s more accurate to call the Cenobites a cult than a major religion such as Christianity or Islam. But the bigger focus on flesh and them pushing the characters to solve each configuration and provide a sacrifice shows a different kind of devotion than the original film. Riley and company see the Cenobites taking them as killing and capturing. But the Cenobites see it as freeing them. They encourage and force the characters to keep solving and offering sacrifices to their God, Leviathan. A better example of what I’m trying to get at is a scene from a movie. Riley is in a situation where a Cenobite is forcing her to offer herself or her friend in order to move onto the last configuration. But she ultimately selects the Cenobite, stabbing it with the box for the blood as required. There is a moment where the Cenobite and a nearby Pinhead pause, and you wonder what’s going through their minds. Will they try and use a loophole to take one of the humans instead? But no, the stabbed Cenobite actually freely offers itself up to be sacrificed. We see Pinhead give a vague smile, happy for her fellow creature. And then the Cenobite is torn apart. The scene feels like how a brainwashed member of a cult is unexpectedly selected for a deadly ritual but is more than willing to proceed.

This is a version of the lore where it explores how so many people are explored by the darker impulses we submit to. And yes, a lot of the time that has destructive results, as demonstrated in this film. But within those vices and obsessions we can find our true selves, an escape of the version we are expected to conform to. And when we fully deny ourselves what we desire for…what does that leave us? While Roland suffers and is unprepared for what happens to him, he ultimately gets what he has always wanted. And while Riley makes it out at the end of the movie, there is doubt about if she truly got what she wanted. The Cenobites seem to pity Riley’s desire to return to her regular life, struggling to stay away from the things that bring her pleasure and bliss. It can be argued that a reason Riley has done drugs, or briefly returns to them in the beginning of the movie, is to feel something, anything. At the end, she seems to feel empty. Going through everything for nothing.

While this movie is an exploration of how dangerous our various obsessions and vices can be, the movie also implies that a life full of denying yourselves pleasure is one not worth living. The original first two films are masterpieces, the first being one of my personal favorite films of all time. While I still like the original over the reboot, this film is worthy of being in the same league as these two films. And it explores truly fascinating ideas worth talking about and discussing during future viewings. This is truly a great film that any Hellraiser fan should seek out.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – Hellraiser: Judgment

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I know what your probably thinking already. But no, “judgment” is indeed spelled correctly. I know, I was thrown off by it as well. Just thought I’d address that so that it’s out of the way. Actually, that’s kind of a similar attitude Dimension Films had when it came to this franchise. Just make another sequel so they can be done with it and hold onto the franchise rights. It would explain why most of the straight to DVD sequels took pre-existing scripts and inserted Hellraiser characters into them. However, not only is this one of the few always meant to be a Hellraiser film, but this is actually pretty good for what it is.

This movie focuses on two brother who work as detectives. They are trying to capture an active serial killer known as The Preceptor. One of the brothers, Detective Sean Carter, finds himself face-to-face with the supernatural. But the beings he are first introduced to aren’t technically Cenobites. This is a movie that actually introduces new creatures & characters in the franchise that add to the world’s lore. Pinhead is still involved, don’t worry. And this time around, he’s played by Paul Taylor, who is much better than the actor from Hellraiser: Revelations. Some might argue that this actor might be underplaying it a bit in certain scenes. But this is an actor that still cares. He even picked up smoking to get the voice right and took late night walks in the dangerous neighborhoods in his hometown to control his fear. I don’t think either of those actions were necessary, but I’ll give credit for dedication.

And that’s what separates this film from the other straight to DVD sequels. The people making it did actually care. Gary Tunnicliffe worked on the make-up effects for the series ever since Hellraiser: Hell on Earth. While he did write for Revelations, I put the blame on the rushed production rather than him. Because he also wrote this film, in addition to directing it and even playing the Auditor character, a new supernatural being working with Pinhead. He actually does a great job as the character and I’m actually curious about what he might have done in a follow-up. The effects in this film are well done, they definitely help form a dark and gritty atmosphere. A feeling of dread based on blood and physical pain. There is a lot to appreciate in this film.

Having said that, there are still flaws. The acting from the human characters are decent, but nothing to really praise. And it’s easy to identify who the serial killer is in the movie. This is still a straight to DVD sequel so the budget can only help the effects so much. And while the addition of certain supernatural beings does add to the lore, there is one addition that does complicate things. The character’s inclusion does set-up interesting ideas and questions. But the movie doesn’t have the time or the ability to really take advantage of it. If a follow-up was given the green light, it would have been intriguing to see where the characters go from this point on. But finally, the series is being rebooted with a new approach which is ultimately for the best.

As someone who absolutely loves the original first 2 Hellraiser films, it was sad to see where further sequels took this series. On the other hand, some of the other sequels do have some cool things about them if your willing to adjust your expectations. And this is the film that is arguably the best of all the straight to DVD sequels. For me, it’s actually my third favorite Hellraiser movie overall. It’s one that is more focused on the Cenobites than the humans and has people who do love the series involved in it. If your feeling nostalgic for these kinds of sequels as the reboot approaches, this is the one that will satisfy you the most.

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Review – Clerks III

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In 1994, the movie Clerks would silently jump-start Kevin Smith’s film-making career. It was a solid first film with humor on a very relatable level that garnered a loyal audience. Over a decade later and Clerks II was released. It has its fans and a handful of important moments for Dante & Randal. Aside from that, it really isn’t talked about much among Kevin Smith fans and usually not in high regard. Now nearly a decade after that film, the third film that has been teased for a few years has finally released. Dante & Randal are the owners of the Quick Stop and still running it. But when Randal suffers a heart attack, he gets motivated to make his own movie. That movie ends up being – you guessed it – the first Clerks.

Obviously, this movie has some meta humor. Which can be seen in the trailer. But if your concerned that the humor is mostly focused on that, you can rest easy. The vast majority of the meta jokes are in the trailer. Even then, they are spread out appropriately and do fit in considering the context of the story. As well as the overall directing & writing style of Kevin Smith. I think at this point people know what to expect from one of his films. And loyal fans of his work will be well rewarded with easter eggs and references to Smith’s past projects.

It might have been nearly 30 years since we first saw Dante & Randal, but both of the actors still know these characters very well. Jeff Anderson is so familiar with the character Randal that just his facial expression or a quick reaction is enough to get laughs. And you can tell he is enjoying the story his character gets and puts in the effort. We get a lot of the classic dialogue you expect from this kind of movie, a character talking about movies & Hollywood as just your average guy. Now Brian O’Halloran makes a return as his character Dante and he is just as good as he’s ever been. His frustration and more straight man-like reactions to certain things is just as entertaining.

But in regards to Dante, this does bring up a noticeable criticism. There are a couple of more dramatic focused scenes early in the story that aren’t quite hitting the mark. One in particular is when Dante goes to a cemetery. When you see it play out, it feels more like he’s demonstrating what to feel in the moment, but not actually feeling it. Or at least not enough for me to truly invest in the moment. And the musical score, while soft, is sort of trying to push you to have that emotional investment. So there are a couple of moments like that in the first half. But then there is this one scene towards the end that makes up for that several times over. Without giving too much away, Dante initiates a drunken confrontation while filming one of the scenes. No music, no jokes, but Dan acts like never before and you feel how intense and serious he is as it happens. It’s probably the best scene of the flick and it kick-starts the climax.

The drunken confrontation elevates the rest of the movie to the dramatic level it needs to be at in order to end strong. And it’s during this climax that you really start to look at yourself. This movie does get you to look at your own life in a similar way. Where you’ve been, where you are, and where you hope to be in the future. And the meta humor does actually support that and feeds into the more serious moments some of time. This movie is sort of a demonstration of how Kevin Smith himself has changed. Maybe not significantly, he’s still fundamentally the man we know. But changed enough. While visually the movie could have more variety in how it is shot, the actual story takes a surprising extra step. The way the climax starts off is something that needed to happen and is expected. But how it ends was actually kind of surprising. However, it works and does keep that movie at that dramatic level.

Ultimately, this is a good movie, even bittersweet in some areas. It’s not a flawless movie, A few dramatic scenes early one aren’t quite hitting the mark. There might be a few jokes that won’t land for certain viewers. But a lot of the jokes do land. And the dramatic stuff that works is some of the best in any of Kevin Smith’s projects. It’s self-reflective for the director but also gets the viewers to reflect on themselves. I would argue this is the best of the Clerks movies. But even if you don’t agree, this is certainly worth the wait.

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!

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.