Brightburn Film Review

Directed by David Yarovesky

Starring Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A Dunn

Rated R for horror violence/bloody images, and language

The most famous superhero, Superman, has a very famous origin story. Born on the planet Kyprton, Kal-El crashed into Kansas and grew up on a farm. While becoming a young man, Clark discovers his powers and decides to use them for good. 2019’s Brightburn explores this idea but with a twist, what if Superman came to Earth and decided to use his powers for destruction.

Brightburn is a horror film in which a young teenager, Brandon Breyer (played by Jackson A Dunn) discovers he harvests dangerous powers and soon starts to kill citizens of his small hometown. The film stars Elizabeth Banks and David Denman as Brandon’s parents who soon realize that their son may be a psychotic killer with super powers. As a horror movie, it plays it safe with the predictable jump scares. Yes, there are genuine jump scares but they are cheap jump scares . A clear example is a jump scare at the beginning of the film with one character trying to find another character in a barn. It’s been done before in previous horror films, it is nothing new.

The biggest mistake Brightburn makes is not exploring its interesting plot. A teenager with super powers killing people is a very intriguing idea but its just very basic. There was a perfect opportunity to have character development. The Beyer family were a regular family until a series of events breaks them apart. The screenplay could have showed the family slowly breaking apart, becoming more and more dysfunctional due to Brandon’s actions and mysterious emotions. It seems very sudden when the family does break down. Brightburn is a horror film, but having family drama would have been a welcomed change to the horror film genre. Instead it seems like the run of the mill horror film.

All of the actors do a good job with the material given, but the characters they play have some very questionable actions . For example, how did the sheriff of Brightburn jump to the conclusion of Brandon being the one behind the murders? What was Brandon’s uncle plan when he decided to drive to… well it’s never explained. It is questions like these that make the screenplay lazy and not well fleshed out.

Brightburn does have a very interesting idea but it is not executed very well. It does miss many opportunities that would have made Brightburn stand out from the other regular horror films. The film is an average horror film with some decent scares and gruesome images but in the end Brightburn feels like a let down with its compelling story.

2.5/4

Booksmart Film Review

Directed by Olivia Wilde

Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams

Rated R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking – all involving teens

Actress Olivia Wilde directs her first feature film, a coming of age film that features many laughs in Booksmart. Booksmart is in the same vein of other teen comedies such as Superbad, The Breakfast Club, and most notably, Lady Bird. Booksmart is very similar to other teen comedies but does stand out from the rest of the crowd due to its humor and surrealism.

Booksmart stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as Molly and Amy, respectively, as two best friends on their last day in school. The friends are exceptional students with remarkable grades and are ready to go to Ivy League schools. But they realized that they could have worked hard and have fun as many of their peers have done. So before school does end, the pair decide to go to a party, starting a wild night for the pair.

First and foremost, Booksmart is hilarious. Laugh out loud hilarious. It has been a long time that I have a good laugh in a comedy. The characters are each hilarious, even supporting characters such as Principal Brown (played by Jason Sudeikis) who appears in a few scenes only. There is a hilarious scene between Molly, Amy, and Principal Brown in a car ride. It is something that needs to be seen. Booksmart is filled with many scenes like this.

The screenplay is also well written. Writers Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, and Katie Silberman do a outstanding job writing for teenagers who are living in 2019. The writing does not feel forced, it feels natural and seems like what young liberal women in 2019 would be saying and doing. Because the writing is so good, it can be relatable to teenagers of today, regardless of gender. Since this is relatable to teenagers to today, this is a film that can be watched multiple times and even to future generations, just like other other coming of age films have done.

The screenplay also does have a few surprises that some may or may not have seen coming. The audience is lead to believe that one scene will happen this way but it turns out another, it was well executed. The film does also feature other well done technical aspects such as a one take shot and music that seems fitting for the 2010’s.

Booksmart is a very hilarious film that features well written characters. Director Olivia Wilde directs a coming of age film that feels like a standout in the decade with many coming of age films such as Lady Bird and Boyhood, just to name a few. If I had to compare Booksmart to another great comedy, it would be Lady Bird (which both feature Beanie Feldstein). If you like Lady Bird, then you will enjoy and laugh out loud in Booksmart.

4/4

John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum Film Review

Directed by Chad Stahelski

Starring Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane

Rated R for pervasive strong violence, and some language

John Wick Chapter 3 is the newest installment in the John Wick series starring Keanu Reeves. Reeves plays John Wick, an assassin with a bounty with a price on his head who is trying to un-excommunicate himself from an assassination organization. The entire film is Wick running from place to place trying to right his wrongs with the help with multiple characters. The entire film is also an enjoyable action film with a lead character who is a bad ass. The reason why the John Wick series is so successful is because Wick is a character who has an interesting personality.

The action and the stunt choreography is what stands out in the film. The first 2o minutes of the film consists of a very well choreographed fight in a library and a chase ensues thereafter. From the very beginning of the film to the last scene, it is filled with exceptional chases and fights and shoot outs. In the mid point of the film, two characters have a shootout against an entire force. It is a violence heavy scene filled with witty humor and is just pure action. Another stand out scene is towards the end with a fight between two characters who almost in equals. The choreography is of course well done but so is the lighting and cinematography. It was very reminiscent of a fight sequence in Skyfall (2012), in which Bond fights a henchman in Shanghai.

The film also features humor which can be a hit or miss in most non comedic films. But the humor is well done and presented at appropriate places. When the scene calls for action, we see the action. But the are many instances where humor is inserted. The humor works well because sometimes it is out of nowhere or it is a call back to the previous film. I normally do not like humor that is in action heavy films but this film does it so well, it is something that is not distracting.

Although there are many great elements in the film, there is almost some things that are unbelievable that can almost take the audience out of the film. There are many instances where a character gets hurt, which is believable, but that same characters gets back up as if he just got a paper cut. The fight scenes are great as mentioned before but it is highly improbable that a couple people can take down a hundred men, no matter how good of a killer that character is. But John Wick is an action film that doesn’t go for reasonable logic. This is not a film that you have to think but just relax and enjoy the experience.

John Wick Chapter 3 is an entertaining film and audiences will be pleased with it. From start to finish, it is filled with great action scenes that keeps the audience engaged. I highly recommend the film if you are a person who loves action film or even to the average film viewer.

3.5/4

Avengers: Endgame Film Review

Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo

Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and some language

Non Spoiler Review

Avengers: Endgame is a film that is certainly filled with many spoilers. Of course, no one wants spoilers ruined for them, therefore there will be no spoilers in this review. I will try to keep the plot brief and not mention any particular scenes.

The wait is over. After waiting a year and seeing the trailers, the posters, the ads, we are finally seeing the conclusion to the epic saga of Avengers: Infinity War. The wait does not disappoint. It was worth the wait. Avengers: Endgame is the newest Marvel film in which the Avengers have to undo what Thanos has done in the previous film, Infinity War. If you are unfamiliar with the story line, then you will feel lost. If you have not seen any previous Marvel films and just start watching Endgame, you’ll feel lost. This is a film designed for the fans. The fans will love this and so will the casual fans.

The best way to describe Endgame is that is an experience. This is more than just than just than just a film, it is an experience that needs to be seen, heard, and felt. A good director, or directors in this case, make the audience feel joy, fear, excitement when watching a film. There are many scenes that the audience feels all types of emotions. The reason why we feel these emotions is because we have seen these characters for years.

Avengers: Endgame feels like perfect note. There is nothing in which it feels pointless or slow or uninteresting. There is humor as is the usual with all Marvel films and it is perfect. The humor works very well, there is never a moment of cringe worthy humor or bad humor. Everyone from Robert Downey Jr to Chris Evans to Brie Larson brings their A game. This may sound repetitive but there is not one character that brings the story down. It’s hard to say what went wrong because there is very little that is wrong.

This is a film that needs to be viewed on the big screen. This is more than just a film, it is a film that transcends into an experience that needs to be felt. This is the best way to describe Endgame. It’s not every film that makes the audience feel this way. Endgame is a great comic book film, certainly ranks high with comic book films The Dark Knight and Logan. Avengers: Endgame is a perfect end to the Avengers saga, this is a film I highly recommend.

4/4

The Highwaymen Film Review

Directed by John Lee Hancock

Starring: Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson, Kathy Bates

Rated R for strong violence and bloody images

The Highwaymen is a Netflix original film starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson. Both Costner and Harrelson play two former Texas Rangers who are tasked with searching and capturing the infamous Bonnie and Clyde in the Great Depression era. The two pair go throughout Texas and the midwest to capture the pair before they can murder more people. The film off the bat presents itself as based on a true story. It is hard to tell what is true and what is fiction but it is interesting to tell what happened behind the scene to capture Bonnie and Clyde. The film starts off with Hamer (played by Kevin Costner) being retired and wanting no part of the manhunt at first. Then he agrees and is joined by Gault (played by Woody Harrelson) in the search.

The film does present interesting ideas such as old age can have an affect on someone. In the first act of the film, Hamer has someone throw glass bottles in the air for him to shoot it. Hamer of course misses multiple times, indicating that he may not have it in him to be a part of this case. In another scene, Hamer is chasing a kid only be outran and breathing heavily towards the end of the run. It goes to show that these characters do have their flaws in trying to prove something.

Both Costner and Harrelson do a fine job with they are given. Costner plays the straight man and is channeling his inner Clint Eastwood. Harrelson is the one with the comedic lines and is the second man. The film is ultimately a road trip movie but without a clear destination. Most of the film is the pair in a car driving around, hence the tile of the film. The pair do have good banter between back and forth but in the end there are some long, drawn out scenes. The film’s run time is over two hours, and it shows. There were a few scenes where it could have been cut or omitted such as the bar scene. I did find some interesting moments in the scene but overall was not really necessary to the plot.

The film does have missed opportunity such as Hamer’s wife only being present in the first act. The sole reason she is in the film is to have her convince Hamer to join the manhunt. Other than that, there is not much to her. Her scenes could have been omitted and it would not changed a thing. Another point is Gault is feeling the weight of the Great Depression. He is unemployed and lives in a small home. This aspect is not explored more. Maybe he has a different perspective on Bonnie and Clyde. The film does show that Bonnie and Clyde were heroes to the poor at the time since the pair were robbing banks.

Overall The Highwaymen is an average historical mystery drama. The film is not bad nor is it is great. I found it entertaining at the least due to the two leads who do a good job. If you like historical dramas, then there is enjoyment to be had but I would recommend to watch if there is nothing else to watch on Netflix.

3/4

Hellboy (2019) Film Review

Directed by Neil Marshall

Starring: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane

Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, and language

While I was watching Hellboy, I felt nostalgic for the 2004 version with Ron Perlman and Guillermo del Toro as director. When the film was over, I asked myself two questions. Why was not at home watching that version and why was another Hellboy film made without del Toro as director and Perlman as the title character?

Hellboy is a remake or re-imagining of the character based off the comic book. In this third film in the Hellboy series, Hellboy (played by David Harbour) must stop the Nimue, the Blood Queen, (played by Milla Jovovich) who is seeking to destroy mankind. The thing that works best in this film is Harbour as Hellboy. Harbour does have funny one-liners here and there and does well with what he has to work with. Also, Alice (played by Sasha Lane), who is a character who can speak to the dead, is also very well with what she has to work with. But this is as far as the compliments go.

The issue with Hellboy is that it’s just so forgettable and long. The film is a two hours long but it about ten to fifteen minutes could have been cut. In the first act of the film, there is a story arc of Hellboy having to kill three giants with men from a club having to help. This story arc adds nothing to the rest of the story nor is it interesting. The fight sequence with the three giants is filled with bad CGI. Very bad CGI. This is an issue that plagues the entire film as the CGI looks like something that would be found in a PlayStation 2 game cut-scene.

In the film, Hellboy is helped by his father (played by Ian McShane) in the quest to stop the Blood Queen. But McShane’s character plays more of a M, from James Bond, character rather than a father figure. He is just there to tell exposition or give Hellboy details of his next quest. The only way you know Hellboy and McShane’s character are related by the characters actually telling the audience that they are related. For example, one would say “thanks pops” or “hello son” . This is the only way you can tell these two are father and son due to lack chemistry between the characters.

The villain’s motivations are cliche and forgettable. The Blood Queen has been dead for hundreds of years and awakens to destroy the world. It has been done before and its not interesting nor exciting. The last act consisted of the Blood Queen unleashing demons to the streets of London in a gory fashion. When a film presents violence, I usually have no problem with it, unless its done right. This film has violence and gore just to have it, the gimmick of having people ripped apart throughout the film gets boring towards the end.

Hellboy is a bland film that is filled with embarrassing CGI. Harbour is very likable as Hellboy but the rest of the film is just sloppy and messy. The very end of the film presents an idea for a sequel, but I highly doubt that will happen if this is what we got. If there were to be another Hellboy film, then we are better off having Guillermo del Toro back in the director’s chair and Ron Perlman back as Hellboy himself.

1.5/4

Pet Sematary Film Review

Directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer

Starring: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow

Rated R for horror violence, bloody images, and some language

Pet Sematary is a remake of the 1989 film of the same name, which in turn is an adaptation of the novel written by Stephen King. In this horror film, we are introduced to the Creed family who are new to a small town in Maine (of course) and freaky and odd phenomenons start to occur when the family discovers a pet “sematary” near their home. One day the family cat, dies and with the help of their neighbor Jud, (John Lithgow) the cat is brought back to life which opens up Pandora’s box.

Pet Sematary seems to follow many of the tropes that we have to come known in horror films. The family moving to a new home that seems a nice place to get away from the city. Then on the first night things start to get freaky and odd without any explanations. The mother who sees this as trouble is wanting to go home but the father is insiting the family stays. In addition to those, we get the false jump scares, for example someone or something jumps out of no where as a wink to the audience to say “hey, we are still a horror film”. It seems very repetitive and when watching this film you can tell what would come next. This is something I have an issue with most horror films, not just Pet Sematary. Now I do understand that this film is an adaptation of the 1983 novel and maybe the novel has all of these tropes that I just described. But when making the leap from the pages to screen, something has to change and I feel that this could have been changed.

The biggest crime that Pet Sematary commits is that is just too boring. It takes a good thirty minutes before the plot starts to move along. There were many instances where I was checking my watch just because of the pure boredom that was presented on the screen. I am not asking for jump scares or action for every scene, but something interesting such as character development could be nice. Although I can give props that Louis (Jason Clarke) was not a believer of an afterlife or second chances but in the end he changes his mind. That is an interesting idea that does work in the type of situation he is in.

The film also fails to explain many of the ideas presented. Louis is a doctor who loses a patient and is haunted by that patient. It is never explained why that was happening. Was it a hallucination or was it actually a “zombie”? But Louis’ child sees the deceased patient, so that raises more questions than answers. It also doesn’t add much to the plot. Directors Kolsch and Widmyer could have cut this story arc and it would not have made the film better or worse.

But a horror film’s most important job is to scare the audience. Does it do that? Well, yes but the scares are filled in a boring film with tropes that we have seen before. If you are a Stephen King fan, I suppose you can watch it just to see how this differs from the book and the 1989 film, but I highly recommend to give it a pass. This is something that should not have been brought back to life.

2/4

Shazam! Film Review

Directed by David F. Sandberg

Starring: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action, language, and suggestive material

Everyone at one point in their lives wanted to be a superhero. When I was a kid, I always imagined being a superhero saving the day. Shazam is a film that asks the question, what if a regular kid had superpowers? Would he use them for the greater good or play around with them for fun?

Shazam is the newest DC Comics installment in which 14 year old Billy Batson (played by Asher Angel) is an orphan who is given superpowers when shouting the phrase, “Shazam!”. When shouting this phrase, 14 year old Batson is suddenly transformed into a a grown adult with superpowers (played by Zachary Levi) . But Batson is not the only person with this type of power. Dr. Sivana (played by Mark Strong) has the power to summon the seven deadly sins but is also seeking the powers that Shazam has.

Shazam is a superhero film but it is actually a family film. Batson is trying to find his mother and is placed in a foster family. Batson feels left out in his foster family and the film asks the question, how does it feel to be left out? This is also something that the villain, Dr. Sivana also faces within his own family. The family arc in the film is very heartfelt and warming, and at time emotional as each character is likable. Batson is in a foster home along with other foster children with distinct personalities. Darla is one of the foster sibling and is played very well as lovable little sister.

But when we are not focusing on the family, we see how Batson deals with his new powers. At first, Batson does not use his powers for good but for entertainment. This is something we would all do if we all had newfound powers, well at least I would do. Levi who plays Shazam brings fun and excitement when he is on the screen. His humor is what makes this film worth watching. Shazam is accompanied by his foster brother, Freddie (played by Jack Dylan Grazer). Freddie is a comic book nerd who points out what the superhero has to go through. Shazam/Billy Batson and Freddie do have good chemistry when on screen. At one point in the film. Freddie refers Billy as his best friend and I can see the two characters best friends. But the true standout is the evil Dr Sivana.

Early in the film, we see why Dr Sivana has the motivations he has. When he was a young boy, Sivana was bullied by his brother and father and eventually causes a rift between them. He wants the powers Shazam as it something he has been seeking all his life and eventually has the demons of the seven deadly sins inside him . Dr. Sivana is not your regular villain, he is a villain who is willing to kill children and throws innocent people out of a building. He is a good villain who has a tragic backstory, so there is some reasoning on why he does what he does. But in the end, it does not justify the actions he does. The kills and the demons that represent the seven deadly sins are a bit dark for a lighthearted film.

The third act with consists of Shazam and Dr Sivana battling in at a carnival and in the city. Shazam is helped with his foster siblings in a fun little twist. Although some of the CGI is not believable. I know in a superhero film there will be CGI used heavily but there are some moments that you can tell the CGI is not done well. Fortunately this is something that is not major nor does it bring the film down.

Shazam is fun, exciting, and heartwarming. I highly recommend this film, especially if you are a comic book enthusiast. The villain is memorable and the overall theme is something we can all relate to. There is enjoyment and humor to be had, in the end you will be shouting, “Shazam!”.

3.5/4

Dumbo (2019) Film Review

Directed by Tim Burton

Starring: Collin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito

Rated PG for peril/action, some thematic elements, and brief mild language

I will admit that I have yet to see the 1941 version of Dumbo. Therefore there will be no comparisons to the the original version. I although do think its unfair to compare a remake to a original version. A remake is done to introduce a film to a new generation and have a different take on the original. Dumbo is a live action remake directed by Tim Burton. I have never been the biggest fan of Burton but I can appreciate his earlier work. Unfortunately Dumbo is following the recent trend of mixed bags from Burton. Dumbo stars Collin Farrell as a father who tasked of watching the title character, who is an elephant who can fly. Farrell along with his children, played by Nico Parker and Finely Hobbins, work in a circus which showcases the elephant, along with other acts. Dumbo also stars Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton as the owner of the Medici Brothers circus and an entrepreneur who invests in the circus, respectively. These two actors reunite with Burton once again after working with him previously.

Off the bat, Dumbo is a lovable and cute elephant. Every time he is on the screen, you feel nothing but love and emotion of the animal. Dumbo is sadly separated from his mother in the film and you feel sorrow for both elephants. It is generally hard for a director to make the audience feel sadness for a non human character that is CGI, but director Tim Burton excels at making the audience do so. When Dumbo first flies, there is a sense of movie magic on the screen. Seeing Dumbo fly with a trapeze artist, played by Eva Green, takes you back to your childhood as if you are seeing something magical and are in awe of it. The beautiful score by Danny Elfman helps elevates these great scenes.

As mentioned before, Dumbo stars Collin Farrell as a father who tends to the elephant. Farrell’s character, Holt, is a World War I veteran who has recently returned from war. Upon returning to the circus, in which he has worked at before, Farrell’s character learns that his wife has passed due to illness. This is something that is not explored enough and is tossed to the side, along with another moment. Farrell’s character shows little emotion and mourns very little. He is seen later looking at and old picture of her and nothing more. Her death is not explored anymore, except a brief mentioned of the wife here and there throughout the film. I blame the writing and the direction of Burton for this poor decision.

Another tossed moment occurs towards the middle of the film. In this film, Farrell is escorting Dumbo in his first appearance in the circus. When Farrell is walking with the elephant, another man asks, “Is that Captain Holt Farrier?” Farrell immediately places a fake mustache to disguise himself. It is later discussed that Farrell is dressed as a clown because he does not want to be recognized. But why is that? Did he abandon his post or was he dishonorably discharged? It is never revealed why Farrell doesn’t want to be recognized. And later on, this is tossed to the side as he doesn’t wear a disguise and walks around in the crowd like its nothing. Why is this mentioned if there is nothing to it or its not explained the reasoning for the disguise? It is moments like these that bring down the film and just add nothing to the plot.

Dumbo is a delight whenever he is on screen but some of the human characters are not. My biggest complaint is Vandevere, played by Michael Keaton. Michael Keaton is a great actor and we have seen what he can do when he is working with great material. But his character is over the top and acts like a cartoon villain, and not a very bright one. Towards the end of the film, Vandevere is angry that another character is betrayed him. He is at a control tower and presses random buttons that ultimately causes a fire. But Vandevere keeps pressing random buttons, which a stupid thing to do. Does he not realize that he has caused a great fire and pressing any button will not stop this. I blame Burton’s direction for this over acting has this is something we have seen in previous Burton films. The reason why I bring up a scene a like this is because the stupidity of a character can make a film messy. Show, don’t tell is also something that should have been implemented as well. When you need a character to pet the title character, do it instead of saying it. This may be minor but is something that did bother me while watching the film.

Dumbo, the character, is a joy and cute elephant when he is present on the screen. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about Dumbo, the film. You can take the kids to see this one as there are some great moments but you won’t be missing much if you do skip it.

2/4

Us Review

Directed by Jordan Peele

Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss

Rated R for violence/terror, and language

Us is the sophomore effort from Academy Award winner writer and director Jordan Peele. Peele’s previous film , Get Out, was critically acclaimed due to his smart and funny screenplay that has a social message to racism of today. When Us was announced as Peele’s next project, I immediately asked how could Peele make another film as good as Get Out. Us is a film that does not disappoint in the scares.

Us is a suspended filled horror film that stars Lupita Nyong’o who is fighting off, along with her family, a group of doppelgangers who are terrorizing her. Peele brings in his sense of humor in a dark and twisted plot and it works well. Many times in horror films, we see characters who try to be funny or witty but it comes out dry or unfunny. But considering Peele’s background in comedy, his comedy in the screenplay brings light in a terrifying scene. That is what is makes Us unique and different from other horror films.

While watching Us, I was comparing this to the works of Alfred Hitchcock. Although it can be a bit unfair to compare Peele to the legendary director, there is a reason why the comparison can be made. Both Peele and Hitchcock are good at making suspense. If one Hitchcock film could be compared to Us, it would have to be The Birds. Both The Birds and Us both take place in California where an outside force start to attack our main characters and the town the setting takes place. Both films feel like something that would be apart of the Twilight Zone. But as mentioned before, it is unfair to compare Peele to Hitchcock as Peele is probably influenced by Hitchcock but wants to follow is his own path in film making.

There is never a dull moment in Us. It is a smart and intriguing film that will have the viewer on their edge of their seat. The main actors, Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, are great in Us and should be praised . But if one complaint had to be made, it is the twist ending. Without giving out any spoilers, I will say that the twist is smart and clever but it does not make sense and does not work, considering what we have been told throughout the story. Us is a funny and smart film that gives life to the horror genre, I highly recommend this one.

3.5/4