ThePhasmid

My original post stands then. Ant-Man and the Wasp will be devoured in the next couple of weeks after a very LOW opening in terms of Marvel status.

Your confidence is duly noted.

The Rock and Tom Cruise are going to utterly destroy this middling MCU entry. Domestically, at least.

That action sequence is so badass that I managed to finish it in spite of the extremely annoying dub/narration. HOLY SHIT. Tom Cruise's motorcycle skills have certainly improved since M:I II and Rogue Nation.

It lacks the horror element that permeated the original, but I still found it to be a very well crafted action thriller. There's seldom a moment where the film slows down. The finale ratchets up the suspense to another level, and I was certainly gripped by it. Furthermore, the grenade toss sequence near the end is one of the more hilariously macabre sequences I've seen all year. The final 20 minutes is what I would call a very, VERY bad day. I think the lukewarm reaction is due to the fact as to how different it feels compared to the original. This is slightly more derivative and straightforward with its narrative. However, everyone (including the fresh director) brought their best.

I am going to have to check out this Baskin film ASAP.

You people rating De Palma's masterpiece so low have not experienced the second half of that film in theater. It's OK. It's...OK.

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation Ghost Protocol Mission: Impossible III Mission: Impossible II

Judging by the level awareness, this madhouse of a film should just go to VOD for me to enjoy in silence.

Trailer: From the director of Beyond the Black Rainbow (son of legendary 80s machismo action director Goerge Cosmatos). I wasn't particularly a fan of Beyond the Black Rainbow, but its striking visual style clearly caught the attention of a small but vocal fanbase. However, this looks like it could be a memorably wild trip through a demented and surreal horror landscape. Box office prospects are obviously not good as this is not going to cater to a general audience. It does look like an incredibly fresh vision that appears to have stuck its landing better than the director's previous work. *crosses fingers*

Spoilers Ahead The second half does present some interesting parables about genetic cloning, which I thought was better utilized during the dinner discussion in the original. However, my brain was fighting so hard to find the logic of selling captured dinosaurs IN A MANSION surrounded by a dense forest. I know this is a series that has always required a suspension of disbelief, but c'mon maaaaan.

Absolutely.

I was questioning the general consensus for the first 40 minutes of the film. Bayona staged some spectacular set pieces during the first act. The volcano chase calls back to Lost World's biggest suspenseful sequence with the baby T-Rex. A seamlessly edited action spectacle of Murphy's Law in full swing. It then hits a massive wall as soon as they leave the island. Nearly an hour's worth of exposition and villainous scheming go by only to be unceremoniously "rewarded" with a ridiculous final act that makes Lost World's San Diego rampage look amazing by comparison. In short, it goes from great adventure to boring filler, and finishes with some extremely face-palm inducing silliness.

Deep Rising will always remain my favorite tongue firmly planted in cheek sea monster film. However, this is looking like it may top Deep Blue Sea as a close second. Advertisement suggests they're in on the joke, but not in a way that cheapens the product.

Ironically, I think this will perform better than expected due to sequel fatigue from other genres. Call me insane. I know. I love Cruise yet despise Scientology. The conflict is real. PS: Ghost Protocol > Dark Knight Rises

I thought this would do better on OW, but now...

I'm pleasantly surprised they didn't overplay the Drago element in this first trailer. That's likely to change when the marketing campaign truly ramps up, but I believe less is more.

Agreed. These men are as tired and weathered as the super power nations they represent. I don't know about physical jabs as Rocky is still recovering from cancer treatment, but verbal jabs are inevitable and welcomed. If anything, it'll be more nuanced than Rocky IV, which still has its own unique charm as a staple of 80s excess.

Stallone is not one to shy away from topical issues infused with genre trappings. I think this is a perfect time as any to reintroduce Drago to the series. Furthermore, it was more of a matter of coincidence than anything else.

Coogler is still producing, and the cast is still there. However, I feel that Ludwig is a perfect choice as a composer for the film. I'm not saying he's the best composer in the business, but his style perfectly meshes with the vibe of South Philly. I just wish we knew who was doing the soundtrack to get me fully on board.

It's up there with Alien: Resurrection as one of the most off kilter creature features of the 90s/early aughts, and not in a good way. The green screen parasailing scene coupled with Grant's mid-flight nightmare was a foreshadowing of the sub-par cinema that was about to follow. I was actually kind of rooting for the film to be good, because I did enjoy most of Joe Johnston's work before JP III. Damn, it was a major misfire on all fronts.

It's hard to compare what CGI can achieve today versus what Spielberg/ILM achieved in the original. The original was a game changer. I remember sitting in that theater seat back when hype was mainly relegated to short TV spots, trailers in cinema, and magazines like Empire, Entertainment Weekly, Fangoria, etc. I wasn't prepared. Too young to be, and not showered with a barrage of information beforehand. Needless to say, it was a rare moment of visual nirvana that would seldom be matched. Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park showcased Hollywood a new and powerful tool. A tool that hasn't truly been able to replicate that first time experience again. So, it's kind of unfair to the artists on this film to compare their work to the original. They lack the precedence, work on a tighter schedule, and a don't have a consistently proven master at the helm.

Nice. On the topic of drones, Kosinski created one of the coolest drones committed to cinema in Oblivion. Arguably the best character(s) in the film.

I know it might be too topical for what might be a highly stylized and slick piece of semi-jingoistic entertainment, but I'd like for them to comment on jet pilots vs. drone pilots. It kind of reminds me of a scene in Skyfall between Q and Bond. "Every now and then a trigger has to be pulled." "Or not pulled. It's hard to know which in your pajamas."

Kilmer and Cruise in my city right now? The best film ever filmed in San Diego (minus Traffic) gets its icon(s) back. I hope to see the dude at a local beach this summer. Preferably playing volleyball. PS: Will they pimp this out at Comic Con? Not exactly Comic Con material, but Cruise will be in the area per work. Maybe some early promotional stuff going on?