Ezen Baklattan Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 11 minutes ago, 4815162342 said: TWO LONELY BOUNTY HAMSTERS Reveal hidden contents The follow-up to the breakout animated space adventure comedy tackles its most insidious villain yet: the rigors of bureaucracy-imposed standardized testing. Also the pitfalls of teenage anxiety, "nice guys", work-life balance, and the quest for pizza rolls. Charlie Day and Sophia Lillis keep up the dysfunctionally functional tag-team chemistry with aplomb, though they do spend a fair amount of the film off on their own separate paths. It's already been said, but Ryan Gosling brings the right amount of pathetic charm and passive-aggressive rage to the role of Flithbert, someone we feel both sympathy and contempt for. What I liked about the film a lot is that it didn't feel the need to really up the stakes or scope compared to the first film. For much of the ride it's rather close-quarters and narrow-focused, about a couple messed-up heroes fumbling through life and trying to make it work as best they can, while also saving the day. Bringing in Noelle Stevenson to co-direct was a good decision, as she helps lend a hand of grace and realness to the relationship aspects, particularly Sophia and Sylphina's awkward courtship. There are some issues with the movie. I think the sudden shift to bad guy wanting to brainwash the galaxy kind of short-circuited the more personalized and focused run the movie was having up to that point, where it became less about getting through to everyone's personal anxieties and insecurities and back to "well we do need a big setpiece I guess." Some of the jokes don't quite land great, but that is the thing about comedy, very personalized. But overall, it's a very good outing that, if it is any indication, shows we'll have a nice battle in Animated World this game year. As for that cameo scene...it bordered right on the edge of trying too hard, but I enjoyed it. You came close, Pasta. 8.2/10 Thanks for the strong review! Spoiler I admit that I think the biggest issue with the film is that at times, it tries to alternate between touching on more genuine topics in a sensitive, poignant way and being an all out wacky action comedy, and I think the transition between the two (namely your main issue with the sudden climatic swerve) falls more in the nonsensical comedy kinda overtaking the attempts at more clear cut sincerity. However, the big cameo scene does try to reinforce one of the film's major themes, albeit in a very over the top way. Also, I'm pretty sure BH was #25 in your Y2 top 25, while this would have likely gotten around a top 10 ranking in the same year, so I'm guessing you liked this go a good bit more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4815162342 Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) He-Man III: The Horror of Hordak Spoiler Let's be honest, there's really only one thing we want from a He-Man film, and this movie learns from the slip-up of its predecessor and jumps right into the action with a fast and furious pace, only catching its breath momentarily to recharge before launching back into action. The plot is incredibly simple (Evil Alien Warlord Invades) and aside from a few scenes about He-Man's insecurity and fear of losing comrades, the character development is essentially stagnant. The film also throws a few curveball twists to shake things up, which is not unwelcome as it helps keep the film from being too much of a mindless hack and slash. It's a fun ride, mostly a dumb one, but the production values and sincere cheese and corn help. Third act spoiler: Spoiler Also, for a film called the Horror of Hordak, it ends up really being the Sneaky Strike of Skeletor 7/10 Edited March 20, 2019 by 4815162342 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4815162342 Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 6 minutes ago, Spaghetti said: Thanks for the strong review! Reveal hidden contents I admit that I think the biggest issue with the film is that at times, it tries to alternate between touching on more genuine topics in a sensitive, poignant way and being an all out wacky action comedy, and I think the transition between the two (namely your main issue with the sudden climatic swerve) falls more in the nonsensical comedy kinda overtaking the attempts at more clear cut sincerity. However, the big cameo scene does try to reinforce one of the film's major themes, albeit in a very over the top way. Also, I'm pretty sure BH was #25 in your Y2 top 25, while this would have likely gotten around a top 10 ranking in the same year, so I'm guessing you liked this go a good bit more. I think the film went in a more mature direction most of the way rather than just repeat the first one's antics, which accounts in part for the grade bump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezen Baklattan Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 3 minutes ago, 4815162342 said: I think the film went in a more mature direction most of the way rather than just repeat the first one's antics, which accounts in part for the grade bump. Spoiler Basically after the Christmas movie and the third film, the series will end. Trying to move towards a more mature yet also sweeter feel for the finale. STORKS, while not an amazing film otherwise, does actually a pretty decent job of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 So TSW2 tomorrow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4815162342 Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 American Dragon: Flash Point Spoiler The conclusion (?) to the American Dragon saga gets off to a slow and kinda meandering start, with a lot of time spent on Jake showboating, WWE stand-in, and just relative innocuous stuff. However once Jake and his friends are captured by Chang, the film takes off and gets a lot more interesting and involving. There are still bits of slow pacing, but the pieces are falling into place and when we reach our third act showdown in Hong Kong at the Thousand-Year Assembly, oh boy does the film unleash upon the audience. I've accidentally deleted stuff or lost stuff before after putting a bunch of work in, so I know the frustration Xillix. Let me say though that the fact that you did a more simplified bullet-point style to summarize the big showdown doesn't detract from it. It still conveys very well the scale, energy, and intensity of the clash with the Dark Dragon, and the thrilling showdown helps bump this film up a few notches. I would have liked to see a little more development with Jake and Rose, but I understand the plot need to have them separated for a sizable chunk of the movie. I also would have liked to see more involvement from Lao Shi, the character does feel somewhat underutilized until the climax. It's a solid way to go out, if this is indeed the end. 7.5/10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4815162342 Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 7 minutes ago, cookie said: So TSW2 tomorrow? Not a chance I am getting to that tonight. But these comments others are making about Ben Foster has me curious about him being similar to a person in a film I wrote for this year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) 3 minutes ago, 4815162342 said: Not a chance I am getting to that tonight. But these comments others are making about Ben Foster has me curious about him being similar to a person in a film I wrote for this year... Not having read POE2 I can't answer for those comparisons but haven't you been pretty open about the alt-right element in the movie? Edited March 20, 2019 by cookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezen Baklattan Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 2 minutes ago, cookie said: Not having read POE2 I can't answer for those comparisons but haven't you been pretty open about the alt-right element in the movie? Hell, even TLBH is an indictment of incel culture. Is this the year we just all decided to fight neo-nazis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4815162342 Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) 6 minutes ago, cookie said: Not having read POE2 I can't answer for those comparisons but haven't you been pretty open about the alt-right element in the movie? True. Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character is very much a stand-in for a shiller of America First Populism preaching to the masses. Edited March 20, 2019 by 4815162342 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4815162342 Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 @cookie I'm also curious to see about the dynamic between Drunkcina and the Bug Harem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blankments Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 19 minutes ago, Spaghetti said: Hell, even TLBH is an indictment of incel culture. Is this the year we just all decided to fight neo-nazis? Y’all are just jumping on the bandwagon after a divisive satire somehow became a blockbuster and walked away with 3 big oscars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4815162342 Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 Just now, Blankments said: Y’all are just jumping on the bandwagon after a divisive satire somehow became a blockbuster and walked away with 3 big oscars Keep telling yourself that 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rorschach Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 2 hours ago, 4815162342 said: Sylphiana remarks to herself that she could watch that all day, and finding out that Quavio filmed the incident, they share a kiss. Boy wouldn't have that been the cinematic twist of the century. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xillix Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 @4815162342 Spoooooilers in that He-Man review! Sheesh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4815162342 Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 18 minutes ago, Xillix said: @4815162342 Spoooooilers in that He-Man review! Sheesh I'll put a spoiler tag inside the spoiler tag 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4815162342 Posted March 20, 2019 Author Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) Here the reviews for tonight: The Scavenger Wars Part II Medusa The Epsilon Syndicate: Union of Thieves In the Valley Tomorrow night: Bambi: A Life in the Woods A Woman in the Crowd Sabrina After that I go dark and read everything, and then Stage 3 happens. Edited March 20, 2019 by 4815162342 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezen Baklattan Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 Very curious as to what you think of Epsilon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I'll be watching your verdict on MEWcina with great interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YM! Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I pray you’re merciful on Medusa. It really deviates from the origin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
