At the Movies with Kane and BN

[Kane52630]

Beneath the Planet of the Apes

Wowey wow. Such an interesting series of events. The film starts as a lame generic copy of the first movie only they subbed out Charlton Heston for a younger version of himself minus any of his signature odd charisma. For the first half, it pretty much plays more into the anti-Vietnam War undertones of the story which kind of worked but it's not as subtle as they hoped. And then it goes into some Cold War commentary that would lead into what happens at the end. A lot of it felt kinda lackluster compared to the first movie and I thought the scenes with the apes weren't as well written. It doesn't get interesting until they discover the NYC ruins and then the story really loses its mind. Everything that dealt with the nuclear bomb and the telepaths with human masks was so out of left field that it felt like you were watching another episode of the Twilight Zone. The ending of this movie for me bumps this up a rating just on the sheer WTF-ness they were able to pull off because it's up there with some of the darkest endings to a movie I've ever seen. I'm actually so interested to see how they continue with this series because there's really nothing you can go from here.
3.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Escape from the Planet of the Apes

A fun uno reverse card on the original film by having Zira and Cornelius (and Milo) be the Taylor of this story. By having them travel back in time and escaping the events of the last film, it was pretty much the only way to go. It's funny because realistically and cynically, all the humans would have gone to the nuclear ET option where they would be experimented on the moment they showed up on shore, but that's not where the story takes us. The US council/commission scenes mirror the scenes with Taylor in the original film which was pretty interesting although sometimes played for laughs as if were a sitcom. Bradford Dillman and Natalie Trundy play the human friendlies of the cast where they eventually help them out and I thought they were just okay but kinda forgettable. Kim Hunter as Zira felt more like the main focal point of the story and I thought she did it pretty well as well as Roddy McDowall. Eric Braeden is probably the most interesting character of the movie who plays the antagonist much like Dr Zaius. There's also a fun Ricardo Montalbán performance as well. There is some commentary regarding abortion and a woman's choice that felt pretty apparent. The ending here remains to be also pretty bleak and horrific considering who they killed off but I can already see where it's headed and a certain name is probably going to be mentioned. Overall, I really dug this one through.
4/5

 

[chintai80]

Escape from the Planet of the Apes

A fun uno reverse card on the original film by having Zira and Cornelius (and Milo) be the Taylor of this story. By having them travel back in time and escaping the events of the last film, it was pretty much the only way to go. It's funny because realistically and cynically, all the humans would have gone to the nuclear ET option where they would be experimented on the moment they showed up on shore, but that's not where the story takes us. The US council/commission scenes mirror the scenes with Taylor in the original film which was pretty interesting although sometimes played for laughs as if were a sitcom. Bradford Dillman and Natalie Trundy play the human friendlies of the cast where they eventually help them out and I thought they were just okay but kinda forgettable. Kim Hunter as Zira felt more like the main focal point of the story and I thought she did it pretty well as well as Roddy McDowall. Eric Braeden is probably the most interesting character of the movie who plays the antagonist much like Dr Zaius. There's also a fun Ricardo Montalbán performance as well. There is some commentary regarding abortion and a woman's choice that felt pretty apparent. The ending here remains to be also pretty bleak and horrific considering who they killed off but I can already see where it's headed and a certain name is probably going to be mentioned. Overall, I really dug this one through.
4/5

for me, this one is the 2nd best film in the original series, after the first one with heston.

i very much enjoy all 5 of original films, and i love the franchise as a whole.

but this one had such a dark and bleak ending (it has such a visceral cruely to it), it really contrasted with the light-hearted tone of the first half of the film, so it almost catches you off guard with how it ends.

 

[Kane52630]

for me, this one is the 2nd best film in the original series, after the first one with heston.

i very much enjoy all 5 of original films, and i love the franchise as a whole.

but this one had such a dark and bleak ending (it has such a visceral cruely to it), it really contrasted with the light-hearted tone of the first half of the film, so it almost catches you off guard with how it ends.

Yeah with the way it ends, I'd love to see youtube reactors react to Escape and even Beneath. Jaws will most certainly drop. I just finished Conquest and I don't know which one is my second favorite after the original.

 

[Kane52630]

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

This Ceaser had that Koba in him.

A pretty damn well sequel that is very clear on its intentions and commentary on the race protest and riots of the 60s and early 70s. It's funny how this feels more in line with how it went years later in Rises but the meaning and intentions are very different. While I think they could have added a few more scenes of Ceasar's character development early on and given him more scenes where he interacts with the other apes, this was a pretty great performance by Roddy McDowall and maybe his best of the previous three movies as an actor. And a lot of the time they gave some more screen time to Ricardo Montalbán, Don Murray, and Hari Rhodes, who were all great. The makeup and prosthetics are probably at their very best here and they do a good job moving their mouths. J. Lee Thompson, who was originally supposed to direct the original 68 movie, is here as the director and it's incredibly well-shot and directed. They do a great job showcasing the visual language of the apes vs the humans and the obvious undertones of Nazi Germany whenever they go to the scenes with the futuristic government of the 90s. And funny enough, the set design looks similar to the Empire in Star Wars which I'm sure it's no coincidence that Lucas definitely saw this movie. Overall, I really dug it and I think it edges out the last film by a little bit.
4/5

 

[chintai80]

Yeah with the way it ends, I'd love to see youtube reactors react to Escape and even Beneath. Jaws will most certainly drop. I just finished Conquest and I don't know which one is my second favorite after the original.

conquest was great too!
it's like terminator, where you can't really stop judgement day...you either speed it up or delay it.

lot of people consider battle of the planet of the apes as the weakest, but i still liked it, even when you can tell the studio cut the budget for it haha.

the whole POTA franchise, both the original and new series, are an example of when storytelling and characters are given priority.

 

[Kane52630]

conquest was great too!
it's like terminator, where you can't really stop judgement day...you either speed it up or delay it.

lot of people consider battle of the planet of the apes as the weakest, but i still liked it, even when you can tell the studio cut the budget for it haha.

the whole POTA franchise, both the original and new series, are an example of when storytelling and characters are given priority.

I do find it interesting how the storytelling of the original series so far is always based on an allegoric take on current events of the time whereas the new trilogy/series is more based on a more biblical and Shakespearean style of storytelling and more about the hero's journey.

 

[Kane52630]

Battle for the Planet of the Apes

I guess the wild ride had to come to an end in a blah fashion. This was just fine, I suppose. With how things ended in the last movie, this kinda takes a step back in tone and thematic quality and becomes something that has a wider appeal... even more than Escape. I also guess this is the movie that general audiences who have never seen any Ape movies think of what all these movies have to offer. While the movie doesn't really offer much, I did like seeing all the connections it has to the previous films and more importantly this retroactively in regards to the later reboot sequels. Other than that, by the time you get to the 3rd act, it's just one long battle scene that revolves around Ceasar, Aldo, and the humans and how it sets up the future lore which goes back to the original film. I just kinda wish they went along and gone with the darker version of the script that got scrapped where Ceasear is actually a ruthless ruler and the themes are more apparent. Overall, not bad but it's pretty lackluster compared to the previous films.
3/5

 

[Kane52630]

Unfrosted

Where the last year is probably defined with movies about products (Barbie, Blackberry, Air Jordan, Tetris, and even flamin hot Cheetos) that mostly turned out pretty well, Jerry Seinfeld decides to get into the product movie business and make a movie about pop tarts and it turns out to be everything we feared what those other movies were going to be. It's essentially just one extremely long SNL bit that runs out of steam before it hits the midway point with a ton of comedians and actors as cameos. It's nothing more than a lot of these other recent steaming comedies like Good Burger 2 and The Beanie Bubble where it's incredibly prepacked and simple and trying to cash in on a known name or brand. It almost feels like a script that was untouched in the 90s that Jerry Seinfeld trying to get made but never could where it's a lot of his stand-up jokes about 60s pop culture. That being said, there are a couple of scenes that were pretty funny to me like Bill Burr as JFK or Kyle Dunnigan as Walter Cronkite but those moments are very few and far between. Everyone else is just kinda doing themselves and it's just kinda lazy. Overall, pretty terrible and a waste of time. It so wishes to be Best in Show or This is The End or even Tropic Thunder but it ends up being more on the side of the parodies by Friedberg & Seltzer.
1.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

The Fall Guy

Crazy how the fake movie in the movie "Metalstorm" actually looks better than Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon.

This was a fun time at the theater but it's got its problems. I really enjoyed how this started and getting a behind-the-scenes look into the world of action cinema in today's age as well as Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt's chemistry which I feel like they kind of underestimated. I also really dug the inside jokes and references from other movies and most of the action set pieces from just on a technical level. There are definitely some shades of Tropic Thunder, The Nice Guys, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang but not nearly as good as any of them. To me where this movie kinda fumbled the bag is they could have just easily made this movie about Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt and not have this insane murder/missing person plot that kinda rambled on or at the very least didn't have to take over the whole second half. The movie's plot becomes kinda simple and you know where it's headed. It's a shame because there are a lot of good bits and gags they had throughout the movie and if it had been more like Tropic Thunder, I would have easily loved it so much more. Overall, it's fun but I wished it was so much more other than just paying homage to stuntpeople.
3/5

 

[Kane52630]

Tarot

Mercury retrogrades into a sh***y movie about killer astrology characters

This was some supreme horror trash that could only exist and be forgotten about within a week. It's essentially Final Destination with astrology signs and the filmmakers don't really know how to set up a movie nor give any sense of fear or build-up (except for one scene). The cast based on their acting might as well be from the CW and it's one of those where you don't buy any of them are actually friends with one or another. The movie goes right into the set up and it just keeps playing by slasher rules without any real character development and it being PG-13, this movie has no bite to it at all. There is only one horror set piece that takes place in an elevator that I thought worked really well and even then they kinda cheated. Overall, this is kinda the bad horror movie that you can have fun with if there are friends over so you can make fun of it, but other than that it's super abysmal.
1.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

The American Society of Magical Negroes

A swing and a miss. It's a movie that is trying to be a satire on the magical negro trope with a lot of things to say but it ultimately doesn't fully go there. It mostly becomes a mumblecore romcom that makes you forget the premise of the movie. The whole idea of the secret society where it feels like a cross between Men in Black and Harry Potter doesn't get as much time spent and the satire of it all doesn't land. I feel like Justice Smith is severely miscast in this if they were trying to get the point across of him being extremely uncomfortable around white people when he's really just acting like a weird guy in the movie regardless of race. I also think this movie and director doesn't really get the satire of it all and it kinda becomes the thing it wants to satirize. That being said, I thought David Alan Grier was not bad and Nicole Byer is funny as always. It could have been something interesting if they had just made this as a full romcom because An-Li Bogan was pretty great in it even though the material wasn't all there and even then where her character goes at the end was kinda lame and too on the nose. Overall, it's a shame the movie doesn't even remotely live up to the title.
2/5

 

[Kane52630]

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Love Raka, all my homies love Raka!

WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY!!! An absolutely brilliant continuation of the Apes franchise that expands the world while also taking inspiration from past films. This could have easily been a lazy cash grab that the studio mandated and got some director that would just recreate the magic of the last trilogy in a lazier way and nothing more but thankfully it's not. They couldn't have picked a better director to follow in Matt Reeves's footsteps than Wes Ball who knows how to make a post-apocalyptic epic with his Maze Runner films. He does a great job capturing what those last two films were but also adds his sensibilities while setting up a new trilogy. Now having seen all the original Apes films and not to spoil it, there are some inspirations and nods that are drawn from the original 68 film and Beneath of the Planet of the Apes that are really interesting. The CGI and practical environments continue to impress and it's incredible how much emotion they pack in. Really loved all the performances, Owen Teague as Noa was great, and can't wait to see where he goes from here. Kevin Durand as Proximus Caesar is actually an interesting antagonist whose personality is so far removed from Koba. Freya Allan as Mae has one of the best reveals in a movie and Peter Macon as Raka is so damn loveable and he immediately raises the movie every time he's on screen. It's an Apes movie where the social commentary is about the power of knowledge and how it can easily be manipulated to subjugate beings. I really loved how things went in the 3rd act and where it goes from here got me super excited. Overall, it's one of the best movies of the year and I hope I don't have to wait long for the next one.
4.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

The Last Stop in Yuma County

Jim Cummings really does look like Norman Bates.

Absolutely blown away... literally. It's a fun powder keg single-location thriller that is so inspired by other crime thrillers from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. If anything else it reminded me of films like Psycho, Duel, and Blood Simple. It's both Spielbergian and Hitchcockian in plot and filmmaking and you're best not knowing anything going in. The director Francis Galluppi does a fantastic job executing on the tension and suspense while having fun with it too. They did a great job making it feel like a movie straight out of the 70s with how certain story beats play out and the production design of the diner and motel. A lot of what makes this movie great is the cast and the performances along with a clever script. I thought Jim Cummings, Jocelin Donahue, Richard Brake, Sierra McCormick, and Faizon Love, in particular, were brilliant in this. The soundtrack was also great, loved the cinematography and I love they used the Arizona setting to great effect. Overall, for a small indie film, I absolutely loved it. It's exactly the kind of movie I love to see especially done as well as this. And knowing that Francis Galluppi will be directing the other Evil Dead movie, I can't wait to see how he pulls it off.
4.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Back to Black

The Fan4stic "say that again" meme but when Amy said, "I'm not going to rehab."

A safe and formulaic music biopic about Amy Winehouse that does exactly what you think it does. It's a movie that focuses more on her love life and drugs than her music and her fame as a singer who took over the world during those few years in the mid-00s. Because it doesn't focus on her fame, it kinda dilutes her story and it makes it feel like a much smaller film than it should be. That being said, I thought the only thing that made this movie work was Marisa Abela's performance as Amy Winehouse where she actually sang the music and did a good job at it. There's also some interesting directing and camera work that keeps it a little more fresh than the rest. But ultimately the movie just kinda ends where it should have been leading up to something bigger. Overall, it's just average, and you're better off watching the documentary instead of this.
2.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

The Strangers Chapter 1

Do you think the Strangers just leave their vinyl collection at every house they attack because they want their victims to listen to their playlist?

Absolutely abysmal. It's a piss poor remake of the original where they just run through the same plot with sh*tty actors and even sh*tter filmmaking. You can kinda see Renny Harlin inject some influences from Straw Dogs and Friday the 13th but it's clear he doesn't know how to make movies anymore. This is probably the prime example of how shooting on digital with trashy lighting cuts out any atmosphere or dread. The Strangers don't even seem intimidating and all the scares are done so cheap and lazy and the editing makes it so much worse. The two leads could not act to save their lives... however it does make for some unintentional comedy which is the only positive thing I can say. It's clear they set up a trilogy considering how this started and where this goes next, I truly do not care. Overall, one of the worst movies of the year and it makes Prey at Night seem intelligent.
1/5

 

[Kane52630]

Arcadian

Nic Cage was in one movie with Pedro Pascal and immediately thought, "I should be Joel Miller."

Surprisingly well done for a small indie horror by Benjamin Brewer who did The Trust which I loved. This is without question a Quiet Place knockoff but it's one of the better ones. There's also a tinge of Pitch Black, The Last of Us, and even Jurassic Park in this post-apocalyptic horror film. The movie is more centered around a coming-of-age story than anything else I thought it was pretty good for what it is. I thought the camera work was interesting but it's not for everyone, they definitely wanted parts of the movie to feel like you're watching a found footage movie. I dug all the performances between Nic Cage, Jaeden Martell, and Maxwell Jenkins but I thought the real star of the movie acting-wise was Sadie Soverall. I wouldn't be surprised if she lands bigger roles after this, she was really good. The other real star of this movie was the fascinating creature designs. It's the most interesting creature design I've seen in a movie since Nope or The Ritual and I really like how they use those features on those creatures for tenison. The last 30 minutes of this movie absolutely rips, it's some of the most interesting and bizarre action horror you'll see. Overall, while I wished this had more Nic Cage, I still thought this was a pretty good coming-of-age horror.
3.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

I Saw the TV Glow

Shout out to all my Fruitopia heads, iykyk.

An interesting fever dream of a psychological horror that I feel is more concerned about the visual aesthetics than telling the story. It's Jane Schoenbrun's first film after she's made the microbudget horror We're All Going to the World's Fair which has a lot of similarities but done with an A24-sized budget and camera work. I did really appreciate how she managed to capture the '90s aesthetic and the culture around being an introverted kid who just wanna watch tv. I thought in particular the show they made up for the movie, The Pink Opaque, almost feels like a mashup of Are You Afraid of the Dark? meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a little bit of Power Rangers thrown in. As far as aesthetics goes, it's incredibly well done from the cinematography to the soundtrack, it does take its time getting through the story in that Creepypasta kind of way which what's Jane Schoenbrun is known for. I thought thematically and the obvious trans metaphor was pretty apparent and it does work more than it doesn't within the movie. Brigette Lundy-Paine was great in this especially when it got towards the end and while I find Justice Smith mostly annoying when he's doing his awkward guy shtick, it makes sense here story-wise and he does get a couple of good moments. For me personally, I feel like this movie could have been even better if had more going on than just the visuals. While I really liked how it ended, I wish the rest of the movie had that same energy. Overall, I really enjoyed it but not nearly as perfect as everyone else is saying. I'm more curious to see what Jane Schoenbrun does next.
3.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Just some rewatch thoughts on the Mad Max films

Mad Max

In the context when it was made, this was a solid and scrappy indie action film that was definitely inspired by Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood as well as the oil crisis of the 70s. I still think parts of this movie work extremely well but there are a lot of moments that didn't quite work as well as George Miller wanted. If you compare this to the later sequels, this feels more like a proof of concept of what he wanted to do with the story and world but didn't have the money or resources to pull it off. It feels like they were figuring it out as they went along. Still, I think Gibson as Max was great the closer it got to the ending, and Hugh Keays-Byrne as Toecutter with his gang was fascinating to watch who would fit perfectly as a gang in The Warriors... which is funny because both movies came out in the same year. As far as the action goes, it's incredible what they were able to pull off with the low budget and a lot of those crashes were so real and visceral that it added to the film. Overall, while at the time, this was a great film, it's right below Road Warrior.
4/5

The Road Warrior

An unbelievable sequel that almost feels like a remake of the original or what George Miller wanted to do with the original but didn't have the budget to do so. It's the one that feels the most Western out of all the Mad Max films and it's the one that really brings out the Man with no Name out of Gibson's Max. It's the movie that really had an impact all over the world including the wrestling world. Kjell Nilsson as Lord Humungus is one of the best villains of the 80s just based on pure showmanship... dude can cut a promo like nobody's business. Bruce Spence as The Gyro Captain and Emil Minty as The Feral Kid inject so much fun and wonder that helps Max feel more of a character that you understand. The action and chase scenes here are probably one of the best of all time just for being the first to do it in this kind of way that feels epic in scale. It's so well thought out by Miller and it's edited and put together much better than the first film. Overall, for an 80s movie, it's right up there with any blockbuster of its time.
5/5

Beyond Thunderdome

It's the movie that is truly a tale of two halves and Hollywood being Hollywood. While this movie is the first that is actually made by a Hollywood studio, it loses most of its edge, and making it PG-13 tells you everything you need to know about this movie. Still, watching it again, I think I appreciated it a little more than last time. The entire Bartertown sequence is still pretty riveting and they did a great job setting up Tina Turner as Aunty Entity even though it still kinda feels like stunt casting by the studio so they can sell her music and the soundtrack. The movie immediately switches tones the moment he shows up to The Tribe Who Left and it becomes a pure Spielberg film like The Goonies or ET. It becomes a family-friendly 80s movie and it loses almost everything that makes Mad Max what it is. It's one of the Mad Max films that you can feel the length of even though it's under two hours. Still, I think I enjoyed it more this time around and I really dug Helen Buday as Savannah Nix. The ending when it suddenly starts acting like a Mad Max movie again was also pretty good. Overall, it's still the weakest Mad Max film but it's still better than some movies of that time.
3/5

Fury Road

I don't know what else can be said other than this is a pure masterpiece of the 21st century. It's up there with the greatest films ever made full stop. It's an action thriller on a scale, worldbuilding, and film language, unlike anything we've seen before up to that point, just like how Furiosa used a wrench as a steering wheel, this movie literally reinvents the wheel. The action and set pieces are still some of the most crazy miracles on screen. I think I've noticed a lot more people recently say this movie doesn't have that much of a plot or story and I definitely disagree with that. They used the story very efficiently and have a lot of depth and thematic qualities that don't hold your hand necessarily but are also on the margins that you can put together yourself. It's also Furiosa's movie while not really neglecting Max in the process. The editing and pacing are impeccable and you get so much out of two hours of movie. Overall, still a perfect film.
5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

If anyone wants to know who was that who shrieked in the theater when The Doof Warrior popped up for like 2 seconds, it was me.

A great but flawed prequel that spends a lot of its time trying to justify its existence when most of her story has already been referenced in the last movie. It almost feels like reheating pizza where it's still pizza but it's not as fresh as it was before. But I will say I thought they made a smart idea of not trying to copy the same structure as the last movie where it was a straight high-velocity action thriller and instead made it feel more like a revenge drama with action in between. I think the first half of this movie is probably my favorite where Alyla Browne plays an even younger Furiosa and her journey before they age her up was actually pretty well done. They really spend a big chunk of the movie showing how she manages to survive and hide as a War Boy. Chris Hemsworth as Dr. Dementus is probably the Mad Max villain with the most dialogue and I don't think it completely works 100% because it's a very similar overexaggerated schtick he's been doing as Thor only now he's playing a bad guy. I think when Anya Taylor-Joy eventually plays Furiosa, it took a little adjustment but I think she was great even if her vibe was slightly different than Charlize Theron as Furiosa. She gets a couple of really great moments towards the end that I thought were pretty brilliant. And as far as the other characters like Immortan Joe and cameos and connections to Fury Road, it's all there and it gets into the inherited prequel problem of trying to connect everything and make it all make sense even though you already know how it ends and what characters do or don't make it. The greenscreen/CGI is probably the movie's biggest downgrade compared to the last movie and I think shooting on digital made it stand out like a sore thumb. There are still some impressive practical stunts and visuals that really work but it feels like 60% of the movie where 40% is all obvious greenscreen and digital effects. As far as the action goes, it's still very present and George Miller is still a kickass director and a visionary that despite its problems, it still makes for an entertaining movie. Overall, I still really enjoyed it for the story and performances even though I don't think it came close to be Fury Road. This was supplementary material in the highest form.
4/5

 

[Kane52630]

Atlas

Netflix really took the "this was written by AI" criticism about most of their movies to heart and doubled down on it.

Pretty bad. This was a smorgasbord of derivative sci-fi movies all crashing into each other. They basically took elements from Matrix, I Robot, Avatar, Aliens, and TARS from Interstellar and mangled them together. It really does act like the fake movie from Fall Guy or a bad AAA video game from 10 years ago. It's got lots of generic dialogue, a predictable story, and some weak CGI that you'd see on the Syfy channel. Everything about this movie felt hollow and simple even down to the emotional moments that do not land at all and the scope of the story. JLO is pretty much what you expect, she kinda tries and kinda doesn't and the script doesn't do her any favors in her performance. They pretty much wasted the supporting cast and it doesn't really have that many characters. Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, and Mark Strong got an easy paycheck for phoning it in. The only thing I can say positively about this movie is I did like how every now and then they will have some practical effect that looks impressive and interesting and some of the kills were not bad. Overall, Netflix gonna Netflix and continue to pump out trash films.
1.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Knox Goes Away

I'm pretty sure to get Al Pacino on board this movie, Keaton told him that he could show up wearing whatever he had on him that day.

A decent but slow-paced neo-noir thriller directed by Michael Keaton that's centered around an aging hitman who's got dementia that's growing quickly. This definitely has some Barry and Breaking Bad influences that are obvious but without its charm and humor. The movie slowly becomes more of an elderly drama than anything else and the whole police murder investigation part kinda feels like they were in a different movie but both parts were at times entertaining enough. Michael Keaton was pretty good in it and everyone else is just doing an okay job including Al Pacino and James Marsden. Overall, it was just fine.
2.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

It's so funny to me that the dad was left out of that whole ending, very Spielbergian.

My only memory of this movie was watching this on TV 20 years ago and only watching the 2nd act of the movie from the Flesh Fair to Rouge City and never felt the need to watch the whole thing. Now seeing the whole thing, I can't believe I missed out on the best parts of the movie. While the movie is hard sci-fi, it's also a huge fairy tale story very much in theme with Pinocchio which they referenced a ton in this just in case someone didn't get it. The movie was originally supposed to be done by Kuribiak and you definitely do get the sense of it as you're watching it along with Spielberg's touch. The biggest achievement of this movie for me was seeing a lot of the effects work done by Stan Winston along with his crew and Spielberg's direction and camera work that is unreal. There were so many interesting camera shots and framing by Janusz Kamiński that kept me interested even when things get a little bit too silly at times. My only complaint is they often use too much glare and foggy visuals that cloud the film. Really enjoyed the performances by Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, William Hurt, and Frances O'Connor especially Haley Joel Osment who really had to carry the film. While we're all too used to talking about AI nowadays, they do a good job of raising questions about what is human and what is programming back then. Overall, it's a really well-made sci-fi fairy tale that kinda drags in the middle.
4/5

 

[Dr.]

Atlas

Netflix really took the "this was written by AI" criticism about most of their movies to heart and doubled down on it.

Pretty bad. This was a smorgasbord of derivative sci-fi movies all crashing into each other. They basically took elements from Matrix, I Robot, Avatar, Aliens, and TARS from Interstellar and mangled them together. It really does act like the fake movie from Fall Guy or a bad AAA video game from 10 years ago. It's got lots of generic dialogue, a predictable story, and some weak CGI that you'd see on the Syfy channel. Everything about this movie felt hollow and simple even down to the emotional moments that do not land at all and the scope of the story. JLO is pretty much what you expect, she kinda tries and kinda doesn't and the script doesn't do her any favors in her performance. They pretty much wasted the supporting cast and it doesn't really have that many characters. Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, and Mark Strong got an easy paycheck for phoning it in. The only thing I can say positively about this movie is I did like how every now and then they will have some practical effect that looks impressive and interesting and some of the kills were not bad. Overall, Netflix gonna Netflix and continue to pump out trash films.
1.5/5

I just watched this; and I agree with your assessment.

Typically, I don’t invest a lot of effort or thought in “bad” movies. Instead, I just dismiss them — or use vague euphemisms like “mediocre” or “underwhelming.” (I’d make a terrible reviewer.) But Atlas is the first movie in a long time that I thought was genuinely bad.

A minor nitpick, however: You rated Atlas as being 0.5 better than Rebel Moon Pt. 2. But by my reckoning, Rebel Moon is Shakespeare compared to Atlas. Though, to be fair, your comparative scores are pretty much in sync with the RT ones.

 

[Kane52630]

I just watched this; and I agree with your assessment.

Typically, I don’t invest a lot of effort or thought in “bad” movies. Instead, I just dismiss them — or use vague euphemisms like “mediocre” or “underwhelming.” (I’d make a terrible reviewer.) But Atlas is the first movie in a long time that I thought was genuinely bad.

A minor nitpick, however: You rated Atlas as being 0.5 better than Rebel Moon Pt. 2. But by my reckoning, Rebel Moon is Shakespeare compared to Atlas. Though, to be fair, your comparative scores are pretty much in sync with the RT ones.

I was way more miserable watching Rebel Moon part 2 than I was with Atlas and it felt so much longer even though both movies had the same length.