film – Page 2 – The Art Archive

Top Lists: My 5 Favourite Films of 2019

December 27, 2019December 27, 2019by N.Leave a Comment

It’s that time of the year again, folks. As I did last year, I will be ranking my 5 favourite films of 2019 (in no particular order), just like every other person that calls themselves a ‘film critic’ is doing. This list was a little difficult to make, mainly because I think there are a few films that I would likely put here (such as The Aeronauts or Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women) – except for the fact that none of the cinemas around me are showing them and they’ll probably be released too late into the year to make this list, but nonetheless, this will have to do. (Please note that these are my own opinions!)

5. Burning (dir. Lee Chang-dong)

Screen Shot 2019-12-17 at 5.40.25 PM.png

I’ll be real with you guys for a minute: I only watched this film because it was an adaptation of a Murakami novel. But it’s definitely a lot more than that: it’s a character study, a murder mystery, and a psychological thriller in one. Combined with great performances from all the actors and an equally as great soundtrack by Mowg, this film both meets and subverts expectations. I don’t know if Murakami watches the adaptations of his films, but I think he’d be proud.

4. If Beale Street Could Talk (dir. Barry Jenkins)

It’s rare that I watch a romance film and even rarer that I recommend one, but this is most definitely an exception. Based on a novel of the same name and directed by the acclaimed Barry Jenkins, this story follows New York couple Tish and Fonny, whose lives are flipped upside-down when the former is arrested for a crime his family is certain he didn’t commit. Amidst tested relationship and a chase to prove his innocence is a fantastic love story, punctuated by great drama, heartfelt moments, and superb acting by every cast member (especially Regina King, who won Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars). A must-watch whether you like romance or not.

3. Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel II. lost butterfly (dir. Tomonori Sudou)

XWHVTJcAPj2uLuMHQx8I_18_b9832726080cbf23a5192b0010cb6e01_image.jpg

Despite the picture you’re seeing right now, lost butterfly is not some typical romance story. It’s not even a romance story.. not really. The second installment in Type-moon and Ufotable’s adaptation of Fate/stay Night’s third route is definitely a spectacle. While the first movie did a great job at establishing the characters and tone of the visual novel’s darkest and bleakest story, lost butterfly builds on that greatness and cranks it up to eleven. Of course, ufotable‘s animation gets better with each passing movie, and the talented voice cast give it their all. Although the Fate franchise is difficult to get into, this movie certainly shows what has the power to be. Perhaps the third and final movie will be on next year’s list?

2. Children of the Sea (dir. Eiko Tanaka)

It’s not an end-of-year list unless it includes two animated movies, is it? Set on one fateful summer vacation, Ruka becomes unexpectedly intertwined in the lives of two boys, Umi and Sora, whose connections to the water contains astonishing secrets. While the three get closer, a strange occurrence is discovered: ocean life is disappearing. With her two new friends in tow, Ruka sets out to fix this problem. Based on a popular manga, this movie is no slacker in adaptation. Consisting of beautiful animation, likeable characters, and a wonderful atmosphere, this is one coming-of-age story I’ll never forget.

1. Avengers: Endgame (dir. Anthony & Joe Russo)

Has it really been more than a year since Infinity War came out? It’s felt like so long since I put it on last year’s list. As it turns out, the hype for this film totally paid off, both literally and figuratively. Despite its moments of comic book silliness and drama, Endgame improves upon its predecessor in almost all aspects, including epicness. Not only is this an entertaining experience for Marvel fans, but for the general public as well – you can’t really say that for a lot of superhero movies. That’s an achievement in and of itself. It’s safe to say that people will still be talking about this spectacle for years to come, mark my words!

Movie Review

Movie Review: Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker (Spoiler-free!)

December 24, 2019by N.Leave a Comment

So, it finally happened. Six years, two (canon) movies, two (spin-off) movies, and millions of dollars have led to this very moment. Thousands of hours have been spent planning the ending to this grand saga, one that, six years ago, hadn’t been seen for over a decade in the Star Wars universe. It’s definitely been a wild ride, with epic highs and lows (see: The Last Jedi) and leaps and bounds. All that being said, now that it’s finally over, how was it really?

First off, I’d like to say: wow, this movie is not kind to people who have epilepsy. My goodness. Watch at your own risk; my eyes still hurt. By now, I assume you all have a general idea of how the plot will go: Emperor Palpatine (yes, that Palpatine) is back, so buckle up. Rey is growing stronger, but she still is afraid of who she really is. Kylo Ren’s loyalty to the dark side is being tested by the minute, and the Resistance is ready to take a final stand. Amongst tested loyalties and uncertainty, which side will emerge victorious?

Let’s start by listing what I liked about this movie. It’s visually stunning, whether you watch it in 3D or not. The action scenes are intense (if not a bit too fast-paced) and some of the cinematography is downright stunning, which sounds weird when talking about a movie where people fight with giant glowsticks, but it is true. Our main three have some great interactions with one another, which is certainly more than I can say for The Last Jedi, where the main trio was separated for most of the film. Aside from our main trio, the other cast members do a good job as well, with Adam Driver definitely being my favourite new actor from this trilogy. Whether you like Kylo’s ending or not, you have to admit that he’s giving it his all. For old-timey and hardcore fans, there’s plenty of fanservice and cameos, which you will likely enjoy if you’re into that stuff. Overall, there is a lot going on in this movie, but that’s where my problems with it begin.

Due to (I think) the mainly negative response fans had to The Last Jedi, this film feels like JJ Abrams and co. were rushing to undo it by doing pretty much the opposite of what TLJ at least tried to do differently. In short, there’s a bit too much of what hardcore fans like – returning characters, old settings, and epic space battles. Moreover, because the previous story was a bit slow in its plot, this film is trying to cram everything of what I just mentioned above and more into a two-hour and a half runtime. New settings, characters, and plot devices are introduced every moment, and the editing department is trying to finish this story so quickly that you rarely ever get time to breathe before you’re shown the next plot point or chase scene. Aside from a few quiet moments of reflection here and there, the whole film is more or less like this, which left me very confused as to what I was actually supposed to focus on. Personally, although TLJ left me feeling quite conflicted as to how this trilogy would end, it was hard for me to dislike something that honest and ambitious. With this movie, although it doesn’t have the same low points as TLJ, it never hits the same high points as TFA, leaving it feeling bland and watery.

In conclusion: Rise of Skywalker isn’t as terrible as some people make it out to be. On the whole, it’s a serviceable conclusion to this trilogy, and regarding fanboys, there’s a lot for them to enjoy. However, despite the team’s best efforts, its oversaturation of fanservice, action, and story beats leave it feeling lackluster, and I doubt that, ten years from now, people will look back on this finale as fondly as they’ll look back on, say, Avengers: Endgame.

Final score: 6.5/10

Movie Review

Movie Review – Spider-Man: Far From Home

July 9, 2019July 10, 2019by N.Leave a Comment

After pretty much everyone on the planet saw Endgame and put in their two cents regarding the franchise’s biggest blockbuster (including myself), questions began turning to the next anticipated Marvel release – the sequel to the first film that really introduced Tom Holland as Spiderman – Far From Home. Once fans and the general populace heard that it would be set after the events of Endgame, questions turned to speculation and theories. After the incredible epic that was Endgame, how would other films in the MCU even compare? What could possibly be a bigger threat than Thanos? Could Peter Parker of all heroes pick up the pace?

But not too fast. What exactly happens in Marvel’s next film after their biggest and boldest hit yet? As it turns out, it’s quite simple. Peter Parker, still recovering after the effects of Thanos snap and dealing with average high school problems, is excited about the class trip to Europe – finally a chance to relax, hang out with his friends, and who knows, maybe even confess to MJ! However, his plans are thwarted when mysterious beings known as Elementals start showing up all over the world and causing mass destruction… even his school trip becomes a target! Nick Fury and other agents fully trust Peter to deal with the issue, but he’s conflicted – with great power comes great responsibility after all. Things are made more complicated when an empathetic hero called Misterio offers to work with him and is even willing to understand Peter’s issues. But is Peter ready to leave his ‘friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’ persona behind?

To start off, one thing that I’m glad this movie addresses is the effects of people coming back from the ‘blip’ on society (i.e people being made homeless because of the ‘blip’ and some coming back the same age but with previously younger family members now being older than them) and the mental toll of both the snap and the loss of his father figure Tony Stark have on Peter. I personally feel like Far From Home handles Peter’s mental state and conflicting emotions very well, and it’s easy to both sympathize and emphasize with him – we’ve all had to deal with choosing between our responsibilities and what we really want. Moreover, we can understand why Peter doesn’t exactly want to be involved in all this Avenger stuff, since at the end of the day he’s just a friendly high school kid in a spider-themed mask who can do cool backflips. Tom Holland’s portrayal of the character gets better with every new release, and even the members of the supporting cast get their own moments to shine. Because this is a Spider-Man movie and by law it should be light-hearted in tone, it is filled to the brim with hilarious jokes and gags, but it still takes the time to let the hard-hitting scenes pack a punch.

Despite this film having come out after the very well-received Endgame and thus some were expecting it to be a letdown in comparison, it is pretty good. But it does have some issues. While I will admit that the visual effects and CGI in Marvel films are improving all the time (and this movie is no exception) and are cool to look at, this one in particular has a ton of action sequences and big epic battles that go on for a long time and leave you wondering when there’s going to be a scene that won’t make your eyes hurt. Also, some characters have returned from the snap with their personalities changed – for example, Nick Fury and the new agents of S.H.I.E.L.D as a whole don’t command as much authority as they used to and Fury is more of a comedic relief than anything (though he still has moments of awesome). Oh, and Misterio’s costume is so ugly it makes my eyes bleed.

In conclusion, Spider-Man: Far From Home is certainly no Endgame, but it doesn’t have to be. As long as you don’t mind a teen high school comedy mixed in with your superhero fare, Far From Home is a surprisingly thematic and engaging film, with plenty of hilarity and fun times along the way. As the first movie to set the stage for the next phase of the MCU, it’ll be interesting to see where this franchise is headed next.

Final score: 7.5/10

Anime Review

Anime Review: I Want to Eat Your Pancreas

June 5, 2019June 5, 2019by N.1 Comment

Before anyone asks: Yes, that’s the actual title of this film. I know. It’s a weird and silly enough title to turn one completely off on watching it. At first, I was only willing to give it a passing a glance and go “Huh, that’s anime for you” and never touch it again. However, having seen one of my acquaintances watch it and highly enjoy it, I decided to save it for a rainy day and hopefully get around it at some point. As you can clearly tell, I did get around to watching it; otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this review. But before we get into it, what’s this even about?

Directed by Shin’ichiro Ushijima and adapted from a former web-novel of the same name by Yoru Sumino, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (Kimi no Suizō o Tabetai in Japanese) follows the life of a introverted and reclusive high school boy (who makes it a point never to say people’s names out loud or reveal his own) and his accidental meeting with Sakura Yamauchi, a bright and peppy girl in his class (also his disinterested library assistant). This boy-meets-girl story is twisted upside-down when he realizes that Sakura has terminal pancreatic cancer – and he’s the only person outside her immediate family who knows. Not wanting to waste a moment, Sakura immediately invites him to be her “partner” in her bucket list escapades, to which he hesitantly agrees – but will he be able to stay by her side until the end?

I’m personally not the biggest fan of the whole “sickness romance” genre, and the last I remember consuming of it was when I read The Fault in Our Stars all those years ago. However, this film is surprisingly interesting and subversive in that sense. The relationship between our MC and Sakura is slowly but carefully built up, and it never tries to be too dramatic or melancholic. Sakura herself isn’t all moody about her condition either, and her excitement in crossing items of her bucket list is well-matched with the more down-to-earth MC, who always reminds her of the reality but is never overbearing or annoying about it. This ying-yang pair influence each other in various ways throughout the almost two-hour long film, and their influences can be understood. The animation, although not anything overly special or bombastic, remains consistent throughout, and there are a a few scenes that stand out as being especially beautiful.

Despite this praise, there’s more things that may annoy one about this film other than the oddball title. If the almost two-hour runtime doesn’t already make you bored, it should go without saying that the first third or so is quite slow-paced, and it takes a while before the MC is able to break out of his book-covered shell and get the ball rolling. Moreover, there’s a few extended scenes that consist of little more that characters contemplating in either silence or with soft piano music playing in the background (great soundtrack, by the way) that may leave more than a few people spiritless. However, if you’re willing to stick through these minor issues, it’s an ultimately rewarding experience.

In a way, this film is less about coming to terms with dying but more about coming to terms with living and what that all means. Even though you may not understand it or where its all going at first, everything will make sense in the end. And who knows, you may even have a changed perspective on life!

Final score: 8/10

Movie Review

Movie Review – Avengers: Endgame (Spoiler-Free!)

April 30, 2019May 2, 2019by N.Leave a Comment

Ladies and gentlemen and others, we’ve finally made it. After 11 adventurous years, 22 feature-length films, many sold-out tickets, and much hype, the second part of Infinity War and the final film in Marvel’s Avengers series has finally arrived, and our long, arduous journey has come to a close. Now featuring more characters than ever before, speculation-fueled trailers and 181-minute runtime, everyone was both excited and anxious for the ultimate ending to cinema’s ultimate superhero series. After all, the last hurdle’s always the highest. I was able to see it the day after it came out in Vietnam (thankfully), and destiny said that a review must be made. So, how was Endgame?

For the sake of keeping this review as spoiler-free as possible, I am forced to keep the wall of text that usually serves as a plot recap short, but I will try nonetheless. To quickly recap the last film, everyone’s favourite evil purple man Thanos acquired all six of the Infinity Stones and wasted no time going along with his plan: wiping out 50% of the population of Earth and every planet in the galaxy, leading to the deaths of many of our beloved heroes. Now, despite their grief over lost partners, family members, and friends, the remaining Avengers realize that they must set aside their anguish for a chance – just one chance – of bringing back their comrades and ending Thanos’ plans once and for all.

Firstly, many have complained about the three-hour runtime being too long, but personally I did not find it to be that big of an issue, though I think it could’ve been shorter. Whether the scenes in the movie are action-packed or not, each one is able to deliver something that can make you smile, laugh, or cry throughout. Although not every character is given the same amount of screen time (for obvious reasons), every character is given a moment to shine, whether in battle or in dialogue. As always, the special effects and CGI were stunning (no doubt, as this is the most expensive Marvel caper to date), and the action sequences paired with Alan Silvestri’s iconic score are top-notch, giving the best that Marvel has to offer. Also as usual, every actor in this film is putting on a great performance, some that are so great that it made me wonder if it was illegal to have so many actors have such good chemistry and interactions with one another. Despite being marketed as the ultimate, craziest, and coolest superhero flick, it’s genuine heartfelt moments and hilarious call-backs to previous entries in the MCU that remind you how much effort has been put into the series and how this finale really is a love-letter to all Marvel fans.

Of course, being a three-hour long movie, there were bound to be a few slip-ups here and there. A few of the jokes don’t land as well as they should or sometimes feel a bit inappropriately placed, and despite me being one of those people who can sit through long runtimes, I do feel like this film could’ve used a few cuts and edits here and there to make it seem like less of a slog. While most people complained that the first half felt too long for them, I had no problem with the first half as I think that it sets up the story pretty well, but it was the ending that felt a bit dragged on – I almost thought I was watching Return of the King again.

In conclusion, the grand finale of Marvel’s Avengers series may have its setbacks, but it is on the whole a film worth watching – whether you’re a Marvel fan, casual observer, or something in-between. It is a movie that manages to entertain both sides of the spectrum, through great action, heartfelt moments, comedic dialogue, unapologetic comic book-ness, and an ending that will no doubt touch the hearts of many.

Final score: 9/10

Movie Review

Movie Review – Shazam!

April 24, 2019April 24, 2019by N.Leave a Comment

In general, it’s no secret that the newer DCEU films have not been well received, per se. With many complaints and criticisms of the films being (or trying to be) darker and grittier, DC seemed to have realized this, and decided to try a blend of action-comedy instead. Their first foray into this new style, Justice League, was almost universally panned, while their next attempt, Aquaman, got a little more appreciation for its attempt at making the character more engaging to viewers, since the “man who talks to fish” is mostly viewed as a bit of joke. Speaking of jokes, DC’s latest, Shazam! (yes, you have to add the exclamation point), advertised itself as a mostly comedy-oriented, feel-good family film. But how good can a DC movie be?

Taking place in modern-day good old Philadelphia, foster kid Billy Batson spends most of his time trying to search for his missing mom and evading various crimes – at least, he does until he is put in yet another a group home, comprised of a family of several fun members, one of which is the superhero-obsessed Freddy Freeman, who Billy initially dismisses along with the rest of them. However, one day Billy is suddenly summoned by no other than Shazam himself, who chooses him as his successor and the ‘new champion’. When he returns home, he discovers that he has become not only a superhero, but also an adult! With all these new powers in store, Billy and Freddy team up to discover all the amazing things he can do. Meanwhile, a mysterious businessman, Sivana, has more nefarious motivations – he’s become the vessel for the Seven Deadly Sins and is planning on exacting revenge upon whoever dares stop him. Does Shazam dare stop him, and how on Earth will he do it?

Because Wonder Woman was, at that point, the only DC film that I liked, I went into this movie cautiously, unsure of what I’d think of it. Of course, my use of the past tense in that last sentence should tell you that that is not the case any longer. Truth be told, this film was a lot better than I expected. The main character, Billy, has all the zest of teenager and his friendship with Freddy is one of the best aspects of the whole thing, portraying two completely different guys bonding over shared dreams and desires with surprising emotional depth for a family film. Of course, neither of the two are perfect virtuous angels, and they make a point of showing us that, something rarely seen in these types of superhero films. Once the supporting cast of Billy’s foster family was introduced, I was worried that they would bog down the story as well, but they surprisingly add to the experience, giving us the humanizing, down-to-earth depiction of a family who, despite differences, really do care for each other.

The film was surprisingly hilarious, with jokes that both humorously parodied superhero movies and felt fresh at the same time, with many jokes that end up being cleverly re-incorporated at later points. And, despite advertising itself as a comedy, it has surprising moments of emotional weight and actual depth, handling serious subject matters with subtlety and nuance, as well as showcasing what it really means to be a family and the (literal) power of friendship.

However, like all movies, and especially all superhero movies, it does have its flaws. Being a more ‘family’-like film compared to DC’s other fare, some moments stand out as being a bit too silly and cartoonish amongst their handling of more realistic and mature themes. Speaking of mature themes, while some are handled well, others are placed in the most out-of-place moments you would expect, which leads to quite a few moments of total mood whiplash in the film. And yes, there are moments of genuine hilarity, but a few of these moments go on for a while, enough to make me wonder when the joke was going to end.

In conclusion, while the misguided and awkward moments in the film are noticeable, they do not distract from the sum of its parts. Whether you like or dislike DC and their superheroes, or perhaps you don’t really care at all, Shazam! is definitely worth watching – despite its flaws, it’s a heartwarming and eye-opening story about the meaning of family and the nature of being a superhero, wrapped up in a bow of genuine fun and self-depreciating comedy.

Final score: 7.5/10

Movie Review

Movie Review: Captain Marvel (Spoiler-Free!)

March 10, 2019by N.Leave a Comment

After the exhilarating and hard-hitting ride that was last years’ Avengers: Infinity War, fans and non-fans alike were left with several theories and questions in regards to the film and its successor (coming out this April) left unanswered, one of which being: “Who was that person that Fury paged during the end credits sequence?” Of course, die-hard fans of Marvel would recognize the logo on the pager as belonging to no other than Captain Marvel, who has now received her own stand-alone movie as of right now, becoming the first film in the MCU with a lead female character.

I feel that I can’t reveal too much of the actual plot without going into spoiler territory, so lets keep it as brief as possible – the film follows Vers (Brie Larson), a noble warrior from the planet Hala, which is in the middle of a galactic-scale conflict. However, during a mission, Vers is ambushed and brought to mid-90s Earth, where she meets the younger Nick Fury and embarks on a new kind of mission: bridging the gap between her lost memories.

With the plot out of the way, how does the actual movie hold up? Let’s begin with the good stuff: Brie Larson is certainly no stranger to acting, and she did a pretty great job despite what she was given to work with – more on that later. As always, Marvel takes their visual/digital effects and CGI up to eleven in every film they make; this one is no exception either. Most of the character interactions are definitely enjoyable to watch, be it Fury and Vers talking like they’re in an 80s buddy-cop movie or Fury’s normally no-nonsense composure turning to mush when he meets Goose the cat. Moreover, if you’ve read my Black Panther review, you know I consider many ‘origin story’ films (not specifically Marvel) to be quite formulaic and cookie-cutter. However, this one decides to mix the recipe up a little bit and as a result, there are a few interesting plot twists to be seen – although I can’t tell you about them!

Nonetheless, there are several aspects of this movie that I found to be lacking, so I must go over the flaws in the system. First, despite Larson’s performance, Vers isn’t all too compelling a character, and she generally feels like she’s just there to keep the plot moving along. To add to that, the movie as a whole never really made me feel anything, which is a shame, because a character of her caliber and importance has as much potential for an emotional core as any other MCU character does. My last point is about the whole movie in general, and it is that this Marvel movie is one that was (mostly) made out of necessity, not necessarily because they were passionate about this character or story and felt the need to share it. I felt that this here film was only released to fulfill one purpose, which is to introduce a character that will (seemingly) be important in the second part of their biggest hit yet, and that without this purpose it would simply have never been released.

In conclusion, despite the flaws I mentioned above, Captain Marvel is an overall entertaining experience which, although could use some polishing, shines just enough to be a somewhat fun and lively distraction from life.

Final score: 6/10

Tag: film

Movie Review: Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker (Spoiler-free!)

Movie Review – Spider-Man: Far From Home

Anime Review: I Want to Eat Your Pancreas

Movie Review – Avengers: Endgame (Spoiler-Free!)

Movie Review – Shazam!

Movie Review: Captain Marvel (Spoiler-Free!)

Recent Posts