movies – Page 2 – The Art Archive

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

Top Lists

Top Lists: My 5 Favourite Films of 2018

December 16, 2018March 4, 2019by N.Leave a Comment

It’s that time of the year, folks. A time to reflect on all the films we’ve watched, both the great and the not-so-great. As you can probably tell, I’m not here to talk about the not-so-great – rather, I’m here to talk about my 5 favourite films of 2018. I didn’t have much time to watch anything this year, but nonetheless… on with the show. (Please note that these are my own opinions!)

5. ISLE OF DOGS (DIR. WES ANDERSON)

Have you seen this dog?

I like dogs. I like science-fiction. I like Japanese-based dystopia. So, of course, it was obvious that I’d at least gain some enjoyment out of Anderson’s latest venture; a story involving a young boy searching for his canine companion after the whole species have been banished to a remote island after a sudden epidemic of ‘canine flu’. What I didn’t expect, however, was how much this little indie film would stick in my mind. This simple story, featuring a heroic young teen and his equally likable dog friends, all supported by wonderful stop-motion sequences and a talented voice ensemble cast, will be sure to remind you that dogs really are man’s best friend.

4. LIZ AND THE BLUE BIRD (DIR. NAOKO YAMADA)

That’s what friends are for.

You really get two films for the price of one when you watch Liz and the Blue Bird. The first is a slice-of-life story involving the Kitauji High School Music Club: will the band be able to complete their final concert piece of the year? Then there’s the more grounded story involving the outgoing Nozomi and shrinking violet Mizore, a flutist and an oboist respectively, who’ve been close friends since middle school: can the two remain coordinated in their duet, considering their strained relationship? Can the two truly survive without each other? Does friendship really last forever? Directed by the respected Naoko Yamada, it really pulls at your heartstrings, and with the combination of beautiful animation (courtesy of Kyoto Animation), touching dialogue, and seamless blending of visuals and sound, this film is more than what meets the eye – a poignant and nuanced look at music, high school, and, most importantly, relationships.

3. SHOPLIFTERS (DIR. HIROKAZU KORE-EDA)

The family that steals together, stays together.

If I had to list my favorite trope in media, it would be the ‘band of ragtag but lovable misfits who learn to place trust in one another’. This trope is definitely present in Kore-eda’s newest film, in which a family of petty thieves find and take in a little girl who’s seemingly been abandoned on the streets, is similar in tone to his other films that involve unlikely families, such as After The Storm and Our Little Sister. However, Kore-eda is a director who always strives for improvement and finding ways to be better at his craft, and this film is no exception – its bittersweet moments shine just as bright as its tender ones, and, when added to a recipe that includes some great character performances by (mostly) newcomers, amazing cinematography, and subtle yet effecting dialogue, what comes out the oven is a film that is both understated and quiet, yet deeply emotional and resonating within our human core.

2. MAQUIA: WHEN THE PROMISED FLOWER BLOOMS (DIR. MARI OKADA)

Don’t worry, mama’s here.

To segue into the next film, just like Shoplifters above, Mari Okada’s (another awesome female writer like Ms. Yamada of Liz) directorial debut also focuses on the concept of unlikely families: when Maquia, a young girl belonging to an elf-like tribe known as the Iorph, who age slowly in comparison to humans, is separated from her fellow people when the neighboring kingdom of Mezarte decide to attack their peaceful village, she finds Ariel, a baby boy who’s been left to die after a previous Mezarte ambush. Unwilling to leave him for dead, she adopts him as her own son, and, as the years go by, is faced with various adversities: their relationship, Ariel’s maturation, the growing conflict between Mezarte and the Iorph, and her own personal dilemma: what does it mean to be a mother? Okada’s film is nothing short of a masterpiece – its stellar production quality, brilliantly-realized characters, and phenomenal musical score by Kenji Kawai will certainly make you smile, laugh, and cry throughout. Nobody will be spared from Okada’s all-out attack on our hearts!

1. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR ( DIR. ANTHONY & JOE RUSSO)

The storm’s brewing…

Marvel’s come a long way. And I’ll admit it, I haven’t been with Marvel since the very beginning, nor since the beginning of their whole cinematic universe, which started with 2008’s Iron Man. But as a person who’s seen almost every single film they put out, I’ve enjoyed all of them to some degree, which is why Infinity War really got my heart pumping. Seeing all these characters, which we’ve all grown to know and love, not just as superheroes, but as people, band together to defeat a common enemy was a spectacular sight to see and experience. This is a film filled with grandiose battles and fun-filled character interactions and ideas; a film where you can find sadness in happiness, and a glimmer of hope in the most desperate situations; a bit of optimism in the cynicism, if you will. Infinity War takes everything you know about the MCU and turns it on its head – you’ll likely leave the movie feeling like a different person than you were before. Whether that feeling be a burst of joy or a stab in the heart, its safe to say that this Marvel blockbuster subverts everything you know of Marvel blockbusters, in the best ways possible.

Tag: movies

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

Movie Review – Shazam!

Movie Review: Captain Marvel (Spoiler-Free!)

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