“Aquaman” stars Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman. Released on December 21, 2018, the film has Arthur Curry leading his people against his half-brother and a ruthless mercenary. The film is directed by James Wan, who also directed films such as “Saw”, “Insidious”, “The Conjuring”, and “Furious 7”. It is based on the DC Comics character of the same name created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris. It is also the sixth installment in the DC Extended Universe. Just because the DC cinematic universe is still suffering from its problems, it doesn’t mean that it’s willing to give up so easily. Last year, the DCEU was finally able to find some sort of footing thanks to the success of “Wonder Woman”, but later on, it fell back to square one due to the underwhelming results of “Justice League”. This year, the superhero franchise is looking to regain its footing in the form of “Aquaman”. Not only does it serve as another solo film in the DCEU, but the film also serves as the first full-length feature film centered around the DC character who’s known for swimming around with a trident and communicating with fish. Is he related to King Triton from “The Little Mermaid”? I was pretty excited to see how it turns out because I thought Jason Momoa was really enjoyable in his role in “Justice League”. Another reason is the addition of director James Wan, who proved to me that he can handle the action genre just as well as he handled the horror genre. So far, I happened to enjoy every installment in DC’s divisive cinematic universe, so let’s see if this latest chapter sinks or swims. Taking place a year after the events of “Justice League”, the story follows Arthur Curry (Momoa), a half-Atlantean/half-human who continues to live his own life. He then comes across Mera (Heard), an Atlantean warrior who seeks his help in overthrowing his half-brother, Orm (Wilson), before he sends the seven underwater kingdoms to destroy the surface world. In addition to Orm, Arthur and Mera will also have to battle a technological hunter known as Black Manta (Abdul-Mateen II). In order for them to complete this task, they’ll have to retrieve a magic artifact that belonged to the first ruler of Atlantis so that Curry can reclaim his rightful place as king. This is another DCEU installment that relies on the light-hearted and adventurous tone as opposed to the dark and violent approach that was shown in “Batman V Superman”. It does look like that DC is copying Marvel in terms of the tone, but that’s practically one of the reasons why the DCEU is still standing after taking in a few major blows to its head. I mean, it worked well for “Wonder Woman”, so why not “Aquaman”? As I mentioned before, this is the first time we see this superhero take center stage in his own film after showcasing his impressive powers in “Batman V Superman” and “Justice League”. So how in the world is he going to impress his audience again without the help of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman? Simple, by making the movie just as cool as he is, which is exactly what he did for the most part. Despite a few silly moments and its messy pacing, the film has enough charm and entertainment value to keep me underwater for almost two and a half hours, which is far more easier than actually staying underwater for two and a half hours. As for the story itself, let’s just say that this is what happens when DC made its own version of “Black Panther” and have it set underneath the sea. I know it sounds dumb, but that’s exactly what I thought of while watching this film. There were some elements I found from “Aquaman” that reminded me of “Black Panther”, including the characters using technology in a city that no one believed existed. Don’t believe me? Watch both of these films back-to-back and see for yourselves…or not, that’s completely up to you. Going back to the story, it didn’t offer anything new to the superhero genre that’ll impress anyone outside of its target audience, but that’s hardly the case since James Wan was able to provide a suitable narrative that fits well with the film’s visual style. Jason Momoa once again delivered a fresh and fun take on the DC superhero while also staying true to the character’s nature. Momoa still retains the sense of humor that he’s known for from “Justice League”, which I liked, but he never lost sight at giving his audience actual reasons why they should care about his character. Amber Heard and Willem Dafoe were also a delight to watch as Mera and Nuidis Vulko, respectively. Patrick Wilson had a few good moments as Orm, the film’s main antagonist who had a pretty understandable reason why he’s declaring war against the surface world. A bit stupid, but understandable. My only flaw with the characters is Black Manta himself, who is played by Abdul-Mateen II. I liked the character design for Black Manta, but his motives were pretty generic to me and he’s only there to set up a sequel or two if this film does well at the box office. Similar to “Furious 7”, “Aquaman” has plenty of action sequences that require Wan’s unique direction and some wide-angle panning to make them easier to follow, whether they’re fighting underwater or on the surface. The action was fun, a bit intense, and well-choreographed. The visual effects were astounding in terms of the set designs and the sea creatures, especially the horrific beings known as The Trench. Yikes, talk about nightmare fuel. The CGI can be a bit chaotic at times, especially during the third act, but everything else that relies on it will make you want to visit that world yourself. Overall, “Aquaman” was able to swim its way to the top despite its familiar elements and messy pacing. It doesn’t top “Wonder Woman” as my favorite solo film in the DCEU, but I had fun watching it, regardless. The cast worked well together, especially Momoa and Heard, the action and the visuals were top-notch, and the narrative was cliched, yet effective. Looks like the DCEU’s road to recovery is off to a pretty healthy start...again. Here’s hoping it will continue with next year’s “Shazam!”. If you’re a fan of the DC character and if you enjoyed Momoa in “Justice League”, there’s a good chance you’ll like this one as well. B
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“Roma” stars Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Fernando Grediaga, Marco Graf, and Daniela Demesa. Released in theaters on November 21, 2018 and on Netflix on December 14, 2018, the film follows the life of a middle class family and its housekeeper in Mexico City. The film is directed by Alfonso Cuarón, who also directed films such as “A Little Princess”, “Children of Men”, and “Gravity”. Netflix is continuing its strategy to release its movies in theaters before debuting on the streaming service, and it looks like it found a film that may get itself into the Oscar race this year. Serving as Cuarón’s first directorial effort in five years, this latest drama has so far received unanimous praise from critics and has earned three Golden Globe nominations, including Best Foreign Language Film, and knowing me, I always go for the ones that are nominated for the major awards. I don’t usually watch a lot of foreign language films because of time and money, but now thanks to the power of Netflix, I don’t have to worry about those things (although I still need to pay for Netflix). That’s right, this year I’m taking the chance to watch at least one of the nominees from the Best Foreign Language Film category. Luckily, I knew exactly what to watch. Based on my research, the film’s story is based on the director’s upbringing in Mexico City, so it’s possible that it is considered to be his personal project. One of the main things you should know before going into this film is that it showcases the events that occurred in the early 1970s from the perspective of the middle-class family’s maid, Cleo (Aparicio). It also moves along at a pretty slow pace so that the audience can bask in the scenery and the emotions that the characters are going through. Unless you’re OK with slow-paced films, “Roma” will make you feel like you’re playing the “waiting game”, at least during the first 30 minutes. Afterwards, the film was able to provide a deep and effective portrayal of domestic life in the 70s in terms of the screenplay and Cuarón's direction. On a technical level, Cuarón delivered another piece of cinematic gold. Shot in black and white, Cuarón succeeds in manifesting the characters’ facial expressions and the film’s luxurious sets and landscapes as if I was in that world myself. The cinematography was gorgeous to look at and the editing was simply flawless from beginning to end. Newcomer Yalitza Aparicio did a great job with her performance as Cleo. Her role as a maid who’s going through a personal issue really moved me. She didn’t try so hard to make herself stand out. Instead, she provided a more serene and vulnerable performance that’s as heart-filled and caring as her character. This is something that I should keep an eye out on during the rest of the awards season. Another thing that I should add is that the film somehow explores the importance of family and the fact that they always comfort one another even through the darkest of times. That’s pretty much what I got out of the film. I could be wrong. Overall, “Roma” may not be able to attract a lot of people due to its pacing, but for fans of cinematic art, this is a beautifully-shot portrait that’s deeply moving and quite investing. The cast was solid in their roles, especially Aparicio, the screenplay was relatable, and the cinematography was astounding. Although I think that “Gravity” is still my favorite film from Alfonso Cuarón, I managed to appreciate his latest film, both story-wise and technical-wise. I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys films like this and to those who are fans of Cuarón’s earlier works. B+“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” stars Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Liev Schreiber, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, and Lily Tomlin. Released on December 14, 2018, the film is about a teenager who uses his spider-like abilities to save the other alternate universes. The film is directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman. It is based on the Marvel character, Miles Morales, created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli. There have been many films that focus on Peter Parker and his alter-ego, Spider-Man, but what if there’s a Spider-Man film that doesn’t feature Parker as the main character? This latest take on the Marvel superhero shifts its focus to Miles Morales, a colored teenager from Brooklyn who, according to the comics he’s based on, assumes the role of Spider-Man after the death of Peter Parker. Since its first appearance in 2011, the character of Miles has been portrayed as a positive role model for people of color, especially children. However, he hasn’t had a solo film that’ll increase his popularity…until now. Since DC was successful with their animated theatrical superhero films, like “Lego Batman” and “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies”, it would make sense that Marvel wants to hop on the animation train as well, and what better way to make one than with everyone’s favorite webhead? So far, the film is receiving huge amounts of praise from critics and audiences, with most of them calling it the best Spider-Man film yet as well as the best animated film of 2018. I found this type of word-of-mouth to be surprisingly impressive, especially since it’s for something that is made by the same animation company that gave us the “Hotel Transylvania” films and “The Emoji Movie”. Now that I finally got the chance to see it for myself, is it really something that’s worth swinging for? In the same tradition as the other Spider-Man origin stories, the film follows Miles Morales (Moore), a teen from Brooklyn who gained superpowers from a radioactive spider. After discovering Kingpin’s (Schreiber) plan to access parallel universes, Miles must learn how to use his new abilities in order to prevent Kingpin and the other villains from causing a humongous catastrophe. Along the way, he teams up with the Spider-Men from the other universes, such as the lazy version of Spider-Man (Johnson) and Gwen Stacy (Steinfeld), or Spider-Gwen, whoever you like to call her. As I mentioned before, the film follows the traditional Spider-Man origin story that we’ve seen in comic books and the movies that were helmed by Sam Raimi and Marc Webb. However, it doesn’t actually retread the story step-by-step. Instead, it offered a fresh and bold story that respects the qualities that made Spider-Man one of the best Marvel superheroes of all time. What makes this Spider-Man film a bit different than the rest is that it doesn’t rely on the “with great power, comes great responsibility” scenario. It’s a film about heroism. It’s about being a hero in one’s own way, not everybody else’s. Combined with a witty screenplay by Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman and the film’s flashy visual style, “Into the Spider-Verse” has a sense of uniqueness that helped shape itself in its own image without swinging into familiar territory. What I also liked about the narrative is that it doesn’t treat itself as something that is made just for kids. Similar to the other films from Marvel, the movie is smart enough to make itself more suitable for Spider-Man fans young and old as well as parents in terms of the humor and the concept. Plus, there were a couple of scenes that might be a bit too intense for younger kids, so parents, better take some notes. Most of the films I’ve seen from Sony Pictures Animation were basically full-length cartoons designed for little kids, but it looks like the animation company finally found a film that works for both kids and adults. The cast did a swell job with their voice performances, especially Shameik Moore as Miles. Moore put plenty of charisma and heart into this role, and the result is a well-developed and likable character that kids can look up to. Jake Johnson was also entertaining as Spider-Man. At first, his voice acting felt a bit unenthusiastic during a couple of moments, but after putting some more thought into it, I think it’s how he’s supposed to sound like because of how the character is written. Let’s just say that this Spider-Man is not like the other Spider-Men from the live-action films, and that’s OK. The humor in the film was not only clever and intelligent, but it was also hilarious. There were actually a lot of good moments that adults can laugh about without feeling bad for themselves as well as moments that plenty of comic book fans might understand, including the film's post-credit scene. Another thing that I would like to talk about is the film’s animation. This has got to be the most complex and original style of animation that I have seen in my life. The animators made it their mission to transport their audience into the film’s comic book world that combines CGI with hand-drawn techniques made from comic artists, and based on what I saw, they accomplished that mission with ease. The animation is immersive, energetic, and visually striking. From its distinctive character designs to its frenetic and entertaining action sequences, the film’s style can be described as every comic book fan’s wet dream. Plus, it further proves that animation works well as a storytelling tool and not just something that’ll distract the kids. I also enjoyed the soundtrack that the film provided. It really represented the perspective of what a Brooklyn teen usually listens to. Overall, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” successfully does whatever an animated Spider-Man film can to make itself both visually appealing and uniquely thoughtful. Ranging from its fresh and heartfelt storytelling to its incredible and original animation style, the film continues to make the Marvel superhero shine on the big screen in its own way. It is extremely fun to watch, but it is also a well-deserved piece of animation filmmaking that will be adored by comic book fans, families, and animation lovers for who knows how long. If you’re planning on seeing it, make sure you see it on the biggest screen possible. You won’t regret it. A“Mortal Engines” stars Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving, Jihae, Ronan Raftery, Leila George, Patrick Malahide, and Stephen Lang. Released on December 14, 2018, the film is about a Londoner who gets caught in a personal battle between an assassin and a powerful ruler. The film features the directorial debut of Christian Rivers, who is a storyboard artist for films that were helmed by Peter Jackson. It is based on the 2001 novel of the same name by Phillip Reeve. Peter Jackson has been known for releasing some of his “epic” films around Christmas time, with “The Lord of the Rings” being the prime example, whether he’s involved as a director or a producer. This film, unsurprisingly, is no different. Serving as one of the producers, Peter Jackson is hoping that the film adaptation of Phillip Reeve’s steampunk novel will set up a new potential book-turned-movie franchise, with each new installment releasing every December or two. I enjoyed some of Jackson’s works, mostly the “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” films, because of his unique vision on the visual-heavy fantasy genre, so I was expecting him to deliver the goods with “Mortal Engines”. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where, after a cataclysmic conflict destroyed much of humanity, the remaining survivors rebuild their homes as giant city-mobiles and hunt one another for resources. Even after the apocalypse, the laws of nature still prevails. The film follows a fugitive assassin named Hester Shaw (Hilmar), who seeks revenge against the Head of the Guild of Historians, Thaddeus Valentine (Weaving), for the murder of her mother. With the help of a teenage apprentice historian (Sheehan) and a resistance group known as the Anti-Traction League, Hester will have to survive every obstacle imaginable in order to complete her mission, especially the ginormous city of London. I mean, seriously, that thing is big enough to squash Mt. Rushmore. Peter Jackson is one of those filmmakers who like to make almost every set piece epic, but never lost focus in trying to tell a decent story. Despite the fact that he’s not directing the film (that role belongs to his long-time collaborator Christian Rivers), you can clearly see that the world of “Mortal Engines” has his name written all over it and, to be honest, it’s something that I wouldn’t mind revisiting again in the near future. From its brilliant use of visual effects to its steampunk-like production design, the post-apocalyptic wasteland that was created for the film is stunning and immersive enough to be viewed on the biggest screen possible. It’s not as grand as Middle-Earth, but as its own, it’s pretty impressive in terms of the scope. As for the actual film itself, it didn’t have enough resources to provide an emotionally-driven experience. However, that doesn’t mean it deserves to get swallowed up by a giant city on wheels. Sure, the plot had a few familiar tropes here and there and the narrative can be a bit inconsistent in terms of displaying emotional depth, but it had plenty of interesting and entertaining moments to keep me invested in the film’s world-building and Hester’s quest, such as its political and social topics. Hera Hilmar delivered a solid performance as Hester Shaw, also known as the only character that I was interested in the most. This character has been through a lot during her quest to avenge her mother’s death, and some of her problems that were displayed in the film were surprisingly effective. Robert Sheehan also did well as Tom Natsworthy, even though his character development wasn’t as investing as Shaw, and Hugo Weaving did his part in making his villainous character both suitable and intimidating. I also found the action sequences to be pretty enjoyable mostly due to its visual effects. There were a couple of them that I thought could’ve been better without the shaky cam, but the rest of them gets a pass from me. Overall, the story in “Mortal Engines” wasn’t able to escape the clutches of the mobile predator cities, but it works well as pure escapism. It doesn’t compete with the likes of Peter Jackson’s Middle-Earth franchise. However, it still retains the visual scope and world-building that he’s known for. This is a mildly enjoyable revenge tale that offers plenty of eye candy and a decent, yet flawed, story. If you’re looking for some escapism during the holiday season, this film might fit your needs. B-“Bumblebee” stars Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Jason Drucker, Kenneth Choi, Rachel Crow, and Pamela Adlon. Releasing on December 21, 2018, the film is about a teenager who discovers a rusty Volkswagen Beetle that is actually an alien robot in disguise. The film is directed by Travis Knight, who is mostly known for directing “Kubo and the Two Strings”. It is the sixth installment in the Transformers film series, and it is a prequel to the 2007 film, “Transformers”. It’s been more than ten years since action director Michael Bay brought the Transformers to the big screen for a new generation of fans. While the 2007 live-action adaptation and its sequels weren’t critical masterpieces, they were able to bring in some major cash as well as keeping the brand alive. After the franchise’s latest sequel, “The Last Knight”, failed to gross as much as its predecessors, along with receiving more disgusting reviews than the ones for “Revenge of the Fallen”, Paramount and Hasbro finally noticed that it’s time for a new direction. As a result, we have ourselves a prequel centering on everyone’s favorite Autobot (besides Optimus Prime). If you’ve been following my live-action Transformers reviews, you would already notice that I’ve been a respectable follower of the franchise since I first saw the 2007 film. Even though I understand that they’re not completely flawless, I still enjoy watching them for its visuals and action sequences, and yes, as crazy as it sounds, I still don’t think “The Last Knight” was that bad. When I found out that they’re making a film about Bumblebee, my anticipation levels went straight to the top because he’s been one of my favorite “Transformers” characters for quite some time. What made me even more excited for it is that they brought in Travis Knight, the guy behind one of my favorite animated films of 2016, to direct the film. This is something that the die-hard “Transformers” fans have been waiting for because not only does it take place in the 1980s, which was when the “Transformers” animated series made its debut, but it’s also attempting to capture the same amount of charm and wonder that the first “Transformers” film was known for. Now you’re probably wondering how the heck I was able to see this film two weeks before its official release. Well, I was able to attend an advanced public screening of “Bumblebee” that was being held at my closest cinema yesterday, which was something that I couldn’t pass up. With that said, this will be a non-spoiler review in case any of you readers want to experience it for yourself when it comes out. Now let’s roll out and see if this film can save this franchise from turning into scrap metal. As I mentioned before, the film takes place 20 years before the young Autobot scout first encountered Sam Witwicky in the 2007 film, which means that you’ll get to experience plenty of 80s nostalgia throughout the story. Without giving too much away, when you combine the elements of the “Transformers” G1 series with a plot that is inspired by the likes of “E.T.” and “The Iron Giant”, you get “Bumblebee”, a film that ditches the over-the-top mayhem from the last five installments and serves as a more contained sci-fi blockbuster that relies on action and storytelling. You read it right, G1 fans, you can start throwing your worries out the window because Travis Knight just made the best “Transformers” film since the 2007 live-action film. Not only does the film offer plenty of moments that will certainly please a good amount of “Transformers” fans, but it was able to provide a heartwarming and irresistible story about friendship without sacrificing the elements that made me enjoy the franchise in the first place. It can get a bit formulaic at times, but it’s something that I’m willing to forgive because it never lost sight of being a fun and energetic film that the whole family can enjoy without worrying about the adult humor that was portrayed in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”. Speaking of which, for those who are worried about the film’s use of humor, you don’t have to worry about that either because it was both light-hearted and hilarious. There were actually a couple of moments that made me laugh hysterically like the hyenas from “The Lion King”. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what they are because spoilers. Most of the humor comes from Bumblebee and his sense of innocence and curiosity during his first adventure on Earth, which is something that made the other human-meets-alien films so special to everyone, and I thought Travis Knight displayed it perfectly. Another aspect of the film that I enjoyed was the cast, with Hailee Steinfeld being the main highlight as Charlie Watson. She offered just enough depth in her character to make me relate to her, and the chemistry between her and Bumblebee was pure magic. John Cena also had some good moments as one of the agents of Sector 7 and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. is really tolerable as Charlie’s friend. The visual effects were once again remarkable in terms of the simplistic robot designs and the action sequences. At first, I was a bit worried at how they’re going to handle the action sequences without Michael Bay, but after watching it for myself, my worries just flew away like a pack of doves. Like the other “Transformers” films, the action in “Bumblebee” is intense, hard-hitting, and extremely entertaining. Overall, “Bumblebee” is just as fun and action-packed as the last five “Transformers” films. The major difference is that there’s a superb amount of heart laying underneath its robotic core. In terms of its storytelling, this is, without a doubt, the best installment in the live-action franchise. The performances were good, the plot was extremely sweet and predictable, the visuals were top-notch, the humor was well-directed, and the action was really enjoyable. It’s not designed to be an Oscar contender or anything like that. It’s designed to be a fun and heartfelt popcorn film, and from my personal perspective, it’s exactly what it is and I wasn’t disappointed. Special thanks to Paramount for allowing me, along with everybody else, to experience this wonderful blockbuster two weeks early. If you’re a fan of the “Transformers” brand, I can assure you that you’ll have a great time with this film. A- |
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