Black Widow - Movie Review - A little too overdue

Although I do like the Marvel Cinematic Universe quite a bit, I have been reasonably fine with the relative lack of new content over the last two years. In the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, it felt kind of suitable to let some time pass before continuing the series. That and because I feel it was the point where the franchise would peak, I'm somewhat disinterested in seeing what's going to happen next, which has impacted some of the Disney+ shows we saw earlier this year. But, with cinemas back up and running and studios less hesitant to release their new offerings, a cinematic return to the MCU was here and I was keen to see it, Black Widow.

I've always enjoyed the character of Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow. Scarlett Johansson has always done a great job making her extremely likeable and charismatic, and she does have an interesting backstory / conflict. Unfortunately, she has usually been in the background of the conflicts of other characters such as Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, which is a shame. But, before we say farewell to her after she heroically sacrificed herself in Endgame, we delve into her backstory in greater detail. In this film, set shortly after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Romanoff confronts her past and seeks to rid the world of what made her history as troublesome as it was. 

First off, I have to say, it was rather wonderful to be watching a new MCU movie in the cinema. The last time we had one of these was over two years ago, with Spider-Man: Far From Home, so it had certainly been a while. Seeing the glorious Marvel Studios logo on the big screen once again after all this time was magnificent; it gave me chills and put a big smile on my face. So, despite how I may slowly be losing interest in this franchise, my love for it felt kind of reinvigorated here.

Black Widow offers much of what I like to see from this franchise. While being a very action-heavy movie, it does take its time to tell a thoughtful story, this one regarding things such as sisterhood and family, which is very heartfelt at times. Additionally, it has all the things you've probably come to expect from this franchise, namely great characters and exciting action. The characters are great here mostly because of some really terrific performances - Scarlett Johansson is as good as usual in this role, Florence Pugh continues to show she is a wonderfully talented actress, as if Little Women and Midsommar weren't enough, but the standout for me was David Harbour as the Red Guardian; he gave an extremely fun and consistently entertaining performance throughout the film. They all have a really enjoyable dynamic, namely Johansson and Pugh, who frequently bicker with one another as you'd expect siblings to. The action is slightly bland and does rely a little too much on CGI and fast editing for my liking, but on the whole was still enjoyable. So, it's evident that Black Widow has plenty to offer and is undeniably good. 

My biggest problem with the film was that I wasn't really engaged in it overall. This isn't really the fault of the film itself, I think it's purely down to timing. As I said, this takes place just after Civil War, but it's being released at a time when we've seen how all the conflicts in that film are resolved. As a result, I couldn't really bring myself to care much about what was happening. I'm not really interested in any part of this franchise pre-Endgame as we've seen how it all ends up, so I wasn't really interested in this movie as an addition to that part of the story. Had this come out shortly after Civil War, I'd probably have enjoyed it more because it would have felt a lot more in the moment and timely, but because we're seeing it over five years after (an issue exacerbated by COVID), it almost feels like old news. 

This is especially annoying when considering that the film does successfully build on Natasha's character, and had we seen this film before Endgame, it definitely would have made her death feel more impactful. So, in this sense, the film is partially a victim of circumstance. Obviously, this isn't a criticism I can see being valid for long. If someone were to discover the MCU ten years from now and watch all the films in the Infinity Saga in chronological order, they'd obviously watch this film in the right spot and the fact that it was released way after the rest of the bunch would be irrelevant. Still, it's annoying for people like myself who are following along with these stories as they're being told and having things being added to established aspects. 

I've also heard the criticism that the film is solely a vehicle to set-up future elements, particularly involving Yelena, Florence Pugh's character. I only take issue with this when the film doesn't offer much else to compensate, such as Captain Marvel, which to me felt as if it existed solely to set-up things in Avengers: Endgame and didn't have much else about it that was compelling. But, Black Widow had enough to keep me entertained throughout, so the fact that it might only exist to service whatever comes next didn't bug me as it wasn't so obvious. Additionally, the post-credit scene in this movie (which I won't spoil) did get me quite excited for what's on the way.

All things considered, I was mostly satisfied by Black Widow. To say it was a disappointment feels a little harsh as it has all the attributes of a solid Marvel offering and my key issue with it wasn't to do with the film in itself, so I don't really feel that applying that label is suitable. It's a well-acted, charming, heartfelt, and generally enjoyable film that'd probably have gone down better if we'd seen it a little sooner. Don't give it a miss if you're a fan as I'm sure it'll be able to fill the MCU-movie-shaped hole in your life to some degree. 

I'm going to give Black Widow a 7.0/10

All 2021 Films I've Seen So Far Ranked

Well, we're just about to reach the halfway point in 2021, so it's about time to reflect on the movies we've seen so far. Honestly, it hasn't been too bad a line-up all things considered, especially when comparing what we'd seen from 2020 this time last year. There's been a fair share of great films, a couple of weak ones, and some inbetween. Nevertheless, let's take a look at all the ones I've seen so far, ranked from worst to best! I'm going to be a lot less detailed with the things I've reviewed already so just read my reviews of them if you'd like more detail. Let's get going!

15. Malcolm & Marie

This is a really weird movie, and simply for the reason that it doesn't feel like much of a movie. Malcolm & Marie has almost no plot - it is just back and forth dialgoue, usually in the form of monologues, for 90 minutes. That's not inherently a bad thing, but it hindered my enjoyment of the movie more so than added to it here. I was so bored, I was literally just watching two people rambling about stuff, most of which was as loud as possible. Yelling about something as loud as possible doesn't automatically equal dramatic brilliance, I know that just from doing drama at school. I can understand why someone might like this movie; John David Washington and Zendaya are both great actors, the aesthetic of the film is very stylish, and some of what is being discussed is interesting. I thought I'd like this movie for all these reasons, but I didn't because it made no effort to give me a reason to care about what I was watching. So, it's the weakest thing I've seen so far this year, and I'm pretty sure it's going to stay at the bottom for the rest of the year.

14. The Woman in the Window

I don't really know why I watched this movie, but I like a lot of the cast members and the plot sounded intriguing, so I guess that was enough. But, this was sadly another boring movie for a lot of the time. I will say that the talents of the actors shone through better here than in Malcolm & Marie, and at least this movie does have a plot, but I just wasn't really that engaged in the story or keen to see what would happen. It may sound like I'm a little short of things to say with this movie, and honestly, that's purely because I genuinely cannot remember anything about it. Let's just move on, there's not much to say here. It's fine but hardly worth your time. 

13. Army of the Dead

Once again, this movie did nothing but bore me. I think Army of the Dead is also fine - the characters are all passable, and the set-up is kind of decent, but my goodness everything else was just so forgettable, especially the action scenes. On top of that, as I've seen many people say, it is most certainly far too long. Not every damn movie has to be an epic two and a half hours, there's nothing wrong with making something that does its job in no more than 90 minutes. I'm honestly getting really tired of zombie movies, Shaun of the Dead is excellent and Zombieland is decent, but I just think it's an idea that has been explored about as thoroughly as possible. Stop making more. Anyway, as for this movie, it wasn't awful but I can safely say I will never watch it again.

12. Cherry

A surprisingly over-hated movie in my opinion. I didn't know what to think of Cherry going into it, but I like Tom Holland and the Russos so, what could go wrong? While I definitely think this is far too long and generally not the sort of thing I'd want to revisit again, I actually enjoyed it a fair bit. The plot was very engaging and I thought it very naturally progressed the main character's transition from ordinary teen to criminal. On top of that, Tom Holland is great in the movie; he's a much better actor than I previously gave him credit for, and I hope he goes on to appear in more low-key / indie stuff similar to this once he's done with his more big-budget gigs like Spider-Man, as I think it could make way for some great stuff. So, yeah, not the best film I've seen, but I enjoyed it a fair bit. 

11. Fast & Furious 9

Just another Fast & Furious movie. Some fun action and some likeable stars but nothing creative is being done overall and nothing memorable can be found, except for one particular set piece. Still, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a good time with it, definitely more so than all of the afore mentioned films. Read my review if you want elaboration.

10. Godzilla vs. Kong

This is just so much fun; it does exactly what it says on the tin by delivering all the chaotic, large-scale action you could possible want based on the title, even if it does get a bit tiring after a certain point. Read my review for more detail.

9. The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Huh, another movie with 'vs.' in the title. You've probably heard a lot of praise about The Mitchells vs. The Machines, and rightfully so. However, in all honesty, I didn't love it as much as I was hoping. The premise of a family taking on an army of robots just didn't seem too interesting to me, it felt kind of stretched out with its nearly 2-hour runtime, and (unpopular opinion) I don't know how keen I am on the animation style. That being said, I still really enjoyed this movie for the most part. It is extremely funny with how it reflects how modern society is so swarmed by technology and how it has changed the family dynamic in many ways, especially with how it depicts parents who cannot wrap their heads around how it all works (completely accurate might I add!) In addition, I really like how amidst all the chaos, it does tell a really heartfelt and wholesome story. Overall, when looking at the other contributions Lord and Miller have made to Sony Pictures Animation, this isn't as good as Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs or Spider-Verse in my opinion, but still a really solid film that I very much enjoyed and wouldn't mind watching again. 

8. Luca

Luca is another solid outing from Pixar. It's heart is definitely in the right place and it manages to be really visually enjoyable despite going to many familiar places with its story. I don't really care to see what Pixar does next as I'm certain they've shown us all they can do by now, so hopefully we can just see more simple and plainly good stuff from them like this if anything. I've written a review if you'd like a little more detail.

7. Nobody

Like Godzilla vs. Kong, Nobody does exactly what it says on the tin. The trailer shows Bob Odenkirk punching some baddies, and that's basically what the movie is - it is the Bob Odenkirk punching, shooting, and driving into baddies for 90 minutes movie. But, you know what, I am absolutely fine with that. This movie works because it just is what it is. The action is really well done and really enjoyable, and on top of that, it's made extra enjoyable when considering Odenkirk's character is just a Dad who suddenly starts beating some baddies up, which is a really fun set-up. Not sure if I'm rushing to see this again, but I would happily do so should the opportunity arise.

6. The Dig

This was a very gentle and slow film, but one I really enjoyed. The Dig features some really solid performances and has a plot that was quite interesting. I was a little ticked off by some strange camerawork and editing here and there, and I don't know if I really would want to watch this again, but I really enjoyed it. I can't really remember much about this movie so it may well not be as good as I thought. One thing I do remember taking away from it was the fact that at one point some of the characters are eating a lemon drizzle cake, which it turns out wasn't invented until the 1960s, and thus wouldn't have been around on the eve of World War II, when the film takes place. Funny little detail, eh?

5. Judas and the Black Messiah

Chances are you've probably also heard a lot about Judas and the Black Messiah and how great it is, and again, rightfully so. But, also once again, I didn't enjoy this as much as I was hoping to. Despite that, I still admire and respect so much about this film. It goes without saying that Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Steinfeld are both excellent, giving their all and truly becoming these characters rather than just playing them. Other than that, what I liked most about this film was how it had such great themes, exploring selfishness vs selflessness during the civil rights movement with the two lead characters, among many other things. I just wasn't emotionally engaged in the film nor was I really on the edge of my seat throughout. Still, that didn't stop me from picking up on some truly exceptional aspects of what is a really strong film.

4. Cruella

This is definitely the biggest surprise of the year for me, and kind of the only surprise to be honest. Cruella is just such a fabulous movie, anchored by some great performances, and featuring some stunning work in terms of costumes, hair and make-up, cinematography, and more. It's not groundbreaking, and it does feature way too many pop songs, but I just enjoyed it ever so much. Read my review if you want to hear me elaborate on some of this. One thing I will add here is that I have subsequently rewatched the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians from 1961, and I really liked it! The animation is really nicely stylised and doesn't go overboard with its cartoony nature, and it's just a really sweet and charming watch. I especially love the idea of all the dogs in and around London knowing each other and helping one another, that's so wholesome.

3. Raya and the Last Dragon

At the start of the year, this was one of my most anticipated movies for sure. I was so excited to see Disney back to doing something original that looked so unique and as if it was going to be a grounded and truly epic film. I wasn't so keen on spending £20 to watch it at home when I only had to wait an additional 3 months to do so for free, so I ended up waiting and catching it as soon as it became free on Disney+. As a whole, it wasn't quite as amazing as I'd hoped it might be but I think it's still pretty damn good. Of course it looks and sounds beautiful, but what I really liked most was the excellent world building on a level not usually seen in one-off films like this, and the really well implemented theme of trust. At times it felt like it had the grandeur of something out of the Studio Ghibli library like Princess Mononoke, however, what really bogged the movie down for me was the really frustrating humour. Not only was it simply not funny a lot of the time, but it felt kind of ill-fitting in the landscape of this story. If this movie took itself more seriously and wasn't afraid to be a bold and dramatic animated movie, I can safely say it probably would've been one of Disney's very best, because as it is, it's tonally very similar to almost everything they've made before, which is a little disappointing given everything else the movie had going for it. Still, I really cannot complain too much because I'm always delighted to see a solid animated movie from this company even if it's not a spectacular one, and even if it wasn't as good as it is, original work from Disney is also very welcome for me. 

2. In the Heights

Not really that surprised that the most joyful, feel-good and upbeat thing I've watched from this year happens to be one of the best. I have no connection to the original In the Heights stage musical, but I thought the film was ever so good. I smiled, I laughed, I tapped my feet, I just had such a great time with such a wonderful cast of characters. I've also got a more detailed review of this film, so be sure to read that if you want to know more. But, simply put, I really really really liked this.

1. A Quiet Place Part II

Yeah, there wasn't really much competition for the top spot. A Quiet Place Part II is just awesome. You've definitely heard many great things about this, and I've written a review spreading the word of those very great things, so I won't waste your time repeating myself here. Just see this movie if you haven't already, it is absolutely worth your time. 

Well, that's all that I've seen so far. Based on how things are going at the moment, I'm hoping that we will continue to see consistent new releases as the year goes on. There's still much to look forward to on the 2021 calendar, with Black Widow, Dune, No Time to Die, Last Night in Soho, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The King's Man, Shang-Chi, The French Dispatch, and much more, so I can't wait to hopefully see more great stuff.

Fast & Furious 9 - Movie Review - Finally time to hit the breaks with this franchise

I like the Fast & Furious movies - I've said it before, but I have no problem with sitting down and watching something ridiculous purely because it's entertaining and nothing more, and this franchise is basically the pinnicle of stupid but fun entertainment. In preparation for the newest installment, I went back and rewatched all the previous entries (excluding the spinoff Hobbs and Shaw) and my current thoughts are that 1 and 2 are average, 3 is quite mediocre, 4 is alright, 5 is great, 6 is decent, 7 is the best, and 8 is okay. They're at their best with action and set pieces that are just the right amount of bonkers as well as memorable and with the cast being extremely likeable and charismatic. So, I didn't have amazingly high hopes for 9, I was just hoping it would be another round of the same fun. 

In the film, Dom and Letty are living a seemingly normal life, but are called back into action when a new threat arises in the form of Dom's long-lost and vengeful brother. That's essentially all the plot that the film has. 

After watching the entire saga of Fast & Furious films, I've deducted that the main problem with them, the most recent ones in particular, is that they generally seem to add nothing. They aren't building on what the previous films established but rather just giving us more of the same. This one is probably the most guilty of all, as it just retreads familiar ground in terms of themes and character arcs, that being that it's about family and never turning your back on your family, something that literally all the last four or five films have been about. As a result, it's just reiterating what it has already said as opposed to doing something new, which make it a little uninteresting. By the end of this film, it doesn't feel as if we're anywhere new compared to where we were at the start of it, so the film ends up feeling quite superfluous, which is also a problem I had with the last installment. 

That being said, this isn't inherently a problem, especially for the Fast & Furious franchise. I and presumably many others don't watch these movies for the narrative / thematic elements, we watch them because the action and set pieces are really good fun and the stars are likeable. You can make the argument that every sequel in this franchise has been pointless, but the best ones feel worthwhile because you have such a fun time watching them, most notably 5, 6, and 7 for me. Unfortunately, this movie isn't really all that good when it comes to these aspects. 

The action and set pieces are quite bland; just CGI-heavy nonsense that doesn't feel distinct or too different from what's already been. Again, the best films in the series have memorable action scenes, such as the bank vault being dragged through the streets of Rio, or the tank chase on the highway, or the cars jumping out of a plane and deploying parachutes, or the car jumping through the skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi. This film doesn't really have much memorable action. There's a lot of cars and other vehicles crashing into things and blowing up, but that's kind of all there is to it. 

There is one set piece that was on par with the best of the previous films, and that was the (minor spoiler) bit where Tej and Roman went to space; not in a rocket, but in a car with a rocket booster strapped to the roof. Sure, it's utterly nonsensical, even by Fast & Furious standards, but that's exactly why it was so much fun, on top of being absolutely memorable. Other than that, the action wasn't bad, it was all fine and enjoyable enough, but unfortunately dull and forgettable.

On top of that, I wouldn't even say the cast was firing on all cylinders in this movie. The main saving grace of the eighth movie was the chemistry / banter between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham which was just so much fun. It's no surprise that they then became the main characters of a spinoff movie, and that it was such a fun movie. But, they're not here, which is really annoying! There's not really much left when you cut them out. I mean, Tej and Roman are always fun and likeable, and while they are a lot more tongue in cheek in this movie which was enjoyable, especially in the space sequence, it does feel as if they're just going through the motions at this point. 

Han is also in this movie, and I enjoyed him here as much as I've enjoyed him in the other movies, but it continues this annoying trend in movies nowadays where not just presumed dead but very clearly dead characters are somehow alive all of a sudden. Seriously, can movies stop doing this? It really undermines dramatic moments, and I hate that. But, despite that, he's a very welcome presence. I like how they've continued his character trait of always having a snack. 

Beyond these guys, none of the other actors were particularly fun to watch. John Cena is the notable new addition to the cast, but I wouldn't say he was that much fun. He felt like he was taking it all a bit too seriously, similar to Vin Diesel, which is kind of a shame. Then again, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham initially felt as if they were taking their roles a bit too seriously, but they managed to ooze a little bit of charisma before eventually lightening up through and through. Perhaps Cena will lighten up a bit down the line, should there be any more sequels. 

As a whole, Fast & Furious 9 has enough of what I want to see from one of these movies for me to say I enjoyed it, with some decent action and some likeable performances, but there's not quite enough for me to say I liked it that much. It continues the Fast & Furious tradition of doing little to justify its existence by hardly developing or building on what the previous films have established, and it doesn't have much that's memorable about it nor does it have all the charm it once had to compensate for that. It is ultimately just another Fast & Furious movie, and based on the fact that I have similar issues with the eighth film, I think it's safe to say that the franchise is starting to run out of steam, because now it's just repeating itself. Like I said, I think there's still enough here to have fun with, but not much that makes it feel worthwhile. A passable time for sure, but I doubt I'll be coming back to it any time soon when 5, 6, and 7 are all far better. 

I'm going to give Fast & Furious 9 a 6.5/10

In the Heights + Luca - Movie Reviews - The summer movie season in full swing

I have seen not one but two new releases this week, and because I don't have a lot of time on my hands or too much to say about either, I thought I'd discuss the pair of them in one go.

First of all, In the Heights, the film adaptation of the stage musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man behind Hamilton. I have no connection to this musical whatsoever, I purely went to see this because I'm a fan of musical films, and also a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda's work, especially Hamilton and Moana. Additionally, it did look pretty amazing anyway. The story centres on the Latin American community in the New York neighbourhood of Washington Heights, including Usnavi, who owns a shop and is debating whether he should return to the Dominican Republic and fulfil his father's dream, Nina, who has been struggling at college and wishes to dropout to her father's dismay, Vanessa, who works at a salon but dreams to be a fashion designer, and Benny, who may be losing his job, all of which raise concerns that the community as they know it may be changing forever.

Despite my lack of connection to the film's origins, I really really really enjoyed it. The best part for me was definitely the musical numbers, and they were truly excellent. While the songs are obviously the product of the source material, with all the energy and lyrical genius we've come to expect from Miranda, they were brilliantly executed in such lively and upbeat ways, with some great choreography and cinematography, as well as some wonderful visuals. Even the weaker ones of the bunch were still really solid, and the best of them were simply amazing. My favourites were the opening, 96,000, Blackout, and Carnaval Del Barrio, with Blackout probably being my favourite as it's the one that's been stuck in my head the most since seeing the film. 

But, beyond that, I think the story is also really engaging, and the characters are so loveable, portrayed by some great actors and actresses. There is some social commentary in the story and some very grounded aspects amid the fantastical nature of the musical numbers, but what's so good about this is the fact that the film doesn't feel preachy, but just genuine. The characters feel like genuine people going through genuine struggles, and that is what conveys the social ideas so effectively. On top of that, it isn't drab as a result of its grounded themes, as the fact that it's such an upbeat musical makes the film feel like a celebration of the culture and community at the heart of it, which only strengthens what it's trying to say and also makes it far more enjoyable. I can safely say that, after watching this film, I've fallen in love with this community and all the people within. 

As far as negatives go, I really don't have too many. I'm usually one to complain about a long runtime, but I didn't take issue with this film being 143 minutes as I was so wrapped up in what was happening that it just kinda flew by, similar to La La Land. In fact, when it finished, I was kind of sad as I could've easily continued watching it for a bit longer! I suppose some scenes could've been shortened and, as I somewhat hinted at earlier, not every musical number worked for me. I also got the sense that the plot was often repeating itself and going in circles at points, which made some parts a little uninteresting. But, other than that, I can't really pinpoint much that didn't work for me. Because of my distance from the source material, I obviously can't comment on any changes made and how they might weaken the story / musical numbers, which is where a lot of criticism tends to come from with adaptations, so I might be more positive in my outlook than fans of the original show. That being said, the general reception seems to be very positive, so maybe there isn't any negative discussion to be had in terms of changes made. Again, I wouldn't know. 

Overall, I was very satisfied with In the Heights. It has a great story with some great characters as well as a delightfully celebratory tone that is elevated by some spectacular musical numbers. I'd absolutely love to see this again as I just had such a good time with it, and I'd also like to familiarise myself with the source material at some point to see if the film improved or weakened anything. But, until then, know that I thought this was splendid. 

I'm going to give In the Heights an 8.5/10

Now, let's move onto Luca, the latest offering from Pixar. As of late, I've kind of given up hoping for Pixar to make another film on par with the amazing stuff they put out during the late 90s and 2000s. I don't really think they have much left to prove as a studio, and unlike studios such as Laika, Cartoon Saloon, and Netflix, I'm not really eager to see what they do next anymore. So, I'm more open to the idea of them just continuing to make films that don't aim particularly high. So, Luca seemed like a very fitting place for them to go next, as it looked like something that would just be plainly good instead of anything special. The story follows a sea monster named Luca, who is told by his parents to never go to the surface. But, after meeting a fellow sea monster named Alberto, who is obsessed with the surface, he begins to learn more and more about the world beyond his own. 

As I'm sure you can probably tell from that brief summary, Luca has many plot beats that we've seen time and time again, even from Pixar themselves. The central idea of an initial reluctance to become acquainted with the human world being overcome is straight out of Ratatouille, the underwater aesthetic is very reminiscent of Finding Nemo, and the plot also goes to places that seem derivative of films such as Coco, Cars, and Monsters University. This made the film kind of predictable and it often felt like it was going through the motions which made it a little tiring. 

However, Luca still has enough going for it. One of the best things about it in my eyes is the animation. This is something we often take for granted in a Pixar production, but what I really admired about the animation in this film was how perfectly it aligned with the tone of the film. I usually complain about animated movies being cartoony and more comedic as it adds to the idea that it's just a medium to appeal to children, but because the film is very light-hearted, it was all very appropriate and not ill-fitting, unlike some other recent animated films *cough* Raya and the Last Dragon *cough*. I also very much like how nicely stylised it was, giving it a very unique appearance compared to other animated films. Additionally, it's quite difficult to dislike as the film definitely has its heart in the right place. Luca and Alberto are both very amiable, and the other characters they encounter are also very fun. Plus, the story and themes of the film are very sweet, even if they are kind of unremarkable. 

As a whole, this absolutely falls short of many other Pixar films, but on its own, Luca is very charming. It's visually and tonally sound with some endearing ideas at its core. Even if it isn't anything special it's still a pleasant watch and an adequate outing for this studio.

I'm going to give Luca a 7.5/10

A Quiet Place Part II - Movie Review - Worth the extended wait

A Quiet Place from 2018 is one of the best films of the last decade, especially one of the best original films. It's such an exceptional exploration of a simple but terrific concept with some impeccable acting, strong direction, remarkable craft, all in a very concise ninety-minute runtime. So, news of a sequel was obviously very exciting for me. At the start of 2020, the movie line-up wasn't a particularly strong one, but A Quiet Place Part II was by far my most anticipated movie, so it was ever so annoying to be forced to wait an additional year and a bit for it to finally be released because of COVID. However, it's here now, and I've seen it, so let's talk about it.

Following the events of the original, the Abbott family leave the relative safety of their home and search for help in continuing the navigate their world overrun by aliens that kill you if you make a sound. That's basically all that needs to be said in terms of plot. 

The first thing I want to talk about is the opening sequence - a prologue depicting a flashback to the first day that these sound-sensitive aliens arrived on Earth. Oh my goodness this was an extraordinary opening. The best way to describe it is to think of the opening to Endgame, with Hawkeye and his family, except it's 5-10 minutes instead of 2. Seeing the Abbott family happily living a normal day but with the knowledge that it's not going to last is profoundly disturbing. Once the aliens do arrive, the action is terrific. It's gripping, tense and has some excellent cinematography that captures a lot of it in single, continuous takes. As a whole, I'd say it's better than any individual scene in the first film, it's truly spectacular. It's a little shame it was the opening as it meant the film peaked before it really got going, but that's not a big issue. The rest of the action in the film is really solid, always exciting and edge-of-your-seat.

What I really liked about A Quiet Place Part II is how naturally it continued on from the first film. It expertly continues the familial themes as the two children of the family take centre stage this time - they can't rely on their parents anymore, especially after their father sacrificed himself to keep them safe, so they have to become more independent and take responsibility, which they do during the film, and that feels like such an organic route to take after the first film mostly had their parents trying to keep them safe. I also like how the film expands on the world of the original in ways that are also natural, especially with the character played by Cillian Murphy. While the Abbott family represent those trying to make the best of the apocalyptic situation they live in, he embodies the pessimistic attitude in which there's no hope for survival or things getting better, serving as a direct contrast, which is such a fitting aspect to explore. It also introduces us to other societies which was interesting too. So, narratively and thematically, everything the film does feels so in line with what the original set up, to the point where it seems reasonable to believe that this was the plan all along, even though it wasn't. It makes sense why it's titled "A Quiet Place Part II" instead of just "A Quiet Place 2", as it feels like this is the logical next part in the story.

Aside from that, most of the merits of the first film are apparent here too. All the acting is strong and really sells the situations that these characters are put in, especially from the two children who are both outstanding, as well as established talents Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, and Djimon Hounsou, briefly. The craft behind it all is also great, with some beautiful cinematography, amazing production design, and some genius sound mixing / editing, all of which immerses the audience in the film so masterfully. One of the most remarkable things about both of these films is the involvement of John Krasinski - I find it really awesome that the guy who started off as just Jim from The Office, comedy on the small screen, has now not just starred in but directed and written two magnificent horror / thriller movies. He's such a versatile talent and I cannot wait to see what he does next.

One last thing I really liked about the film was the runtime - it's only ninety-seven minutes. If you saw my recent Top 10 films I watched for the first time during COVID, you'll know that I think the ninety-minute film has become somewhat of a dying art as of late. More often than not, films feel a need to be long and epic when they really don't need to be and end up outstaying their welcome, especially blockbusters. I like how this movie, like it's predecessor, is extremely concise, managing to do so much in a short amount of time. That's not to say I wouldn't have liked this if it was longer, I mean, when it ended, I'd have happily continued watching another thirty minutes or so, but I'm glad that for once a film accomplished all that it needed to as quick as possible.

Are there problems? Well, a few. The original only has a couple of issues in the form of the ocassional plot hole as well as some contrived plot points, both of which are less apparent here. However, because the first film has a very insular scope, focusing on a few characters over a short space of time, the greater breadth to what is going on here makes it feel slightly baggier from a narrative perspective. Still solid for sure and definitely what it had to be as a sequel that expands the world, but seemingly lacking what made the original as great as it was. The film also partially suffers from feeling a little repetitive after some time, as a lot of the action and encounters with the aliens are the same as what we'd seen in the first film with little variation. While this is obviously consistent, it made certain points less interesting even if they were tense.

Well, I have to say, it was worth waiting that extra year and a bit. A Quiet Place Part II didn't disappoint. It keeps up the momentum of the first film with a lot of the same greatness and builds on the foundations it set from a narrative and thematic viewpoint in very organic and satisfying ways. I wouldn't say it quite matches the brilliance of the first film, as the broader scope hinders it from replicating that wonderfully tight and concise nature, but I would definitely say it's a worthy follow-up that does everything a sequel ought to do, and it also has an entire sequence better than any individual scene in the original. 

I'm going to give A Quiet Place Part II an 8.5/10

Cruella - Movie Review - A Disney redo worth watching

I'm not particularly a fan of the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians from 1961; I've seen it a couple of times and I remember liking it enough, but that's kind of where it ends for me. I also haven't seen the remake of it starring Glenn Close, as well as the sequel to that remake, so I'm really not attached to this property in any way. Based on that, what would be drawing point for another interpretation of this for me? It wasn't nostalgia or personal fondness that brought me to see Cruella. Instead, it was because I thought it simply looked intriguing. Emma Stone is one of my favourite actresses and this looked like it was actually doing something interesting and unique, quite rare of modern Disney. Additionally, I'll eat up any big new release now that cinemas are back up and running in the UK - this was my second trip back after they've reopened. 

The film follows Estella, a girl who has had a rough childhood and dreams to become a fashion designer. After managing to make her way into the industry, a series of revelations prompts her twisted alter ego, known as Cruella, to come out more often and cause mayhem. 

Right away, I really enjoyed this movie, and I enjoyed it for a number of reasons.

First of all, the performances, all excellent. Emma Stone continues to prove that she is just an exceptional performer. While she has definitely appeared in better films, this is probably one of the best examples of her becoming the character that she's playing beyond just acting as them. She gives off the coniving, maniacal energy you want to see from the character of Cruella ever so well, and was just a joy to watch from start to finish. Also, like in The Favourite, her English accent is genuinely flawless, to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if you told me she simply was English. On top of that, she just has the most amazing eyes in all of Hollywood at the moment. The supporting roles, especially from Emma Thompson and Mark Strong, were very solid and enjoyable too. 

The craft behind the film is also very commendable. The production design, costume design, hair and makeup and so on are all really impressive - I know very little about these fields of the filmmaking process but what I can say is that they all certainly made the film visually stunning and sumptuous. The cinematography also stood out to me as exciting and inventive; it always added a brisk pace to many scenes.

But I think the best thing about Cruella is the fact that, as a reimaginging of an existing property, it doesn't rely on what has been established by previous versions. Why do you think people regard remakes such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King as bland and forgettable? Because they are simply doing exactly what their original counterparts did with few changes. Because we've already made a connection with these elements, there's little to no reason for us to experience something that's only going to offer them again. Sure, there may be some differences between the two, such as the aesthetic, but more often than not, the remakes are simply worse in the differences they make. To me at least, the beauty of animation is rarely matched by anything in live action. So, after that is factored in, the remakes are really just inferior versions of the same story, and if we like that original version, which more often than not we do, we'll always want to go back to that, and thus we forget about the remakes while we always revisit the originals.

So, doing something different immediately gives it an advantage. Think about the better Disney remakes, such as The Jungle Book, Cinderella, and even Dumbo, they all offer something different to what the originals did, thus giving us something worthwhile. This is also the case for Cruella, but to the greatest extent. I like how this film delves into an aspect of a story that wasn't previously given any attention, it gives it a lot of value right away. This can happily co-exist with previous iterations of this story / character because it's adding something to it and not just repeating what's been done already.

Additionally, the film doesn't capitalise on the audience's nostalgia. Almost every Disney remake so far is guilty of this in some way, and I expected this to do so as well because it so easily could have. I mean, Cruella de Vil's theme song is extremely iconic and so closely associated with the character, even in my eyes as someone who is quite distant from the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians. But it only turns up in this movie briefly at the very end! It definitely could've been used a lot more to win over the audience by reminding them of how this character has been presented before, maybe by having the tune implemented into the score in some way, but it isn't, at least to my awareness. This just solidifies to me how the movie has confidence in its own aspirations and didn't feel a need to appeal to the audience via cheap means.

There are some flaws with Cruella, but not really anything that is typical of other Disney remakes. One thing that consistently bugged me was the excessive use of pop songs in the soundtrack. I honestly lost count of how many were used in the film, and half of them are ones that've been used to death in a plethora of other movies. It's kind of a shame because the fragments of original score that were in the film were actually quite good and somewhat unique, so I'd definitely have preferred it if that was mostly used instead. Also, there is some CGI used in the film, and some of it was quite noticeable, which isn't a major issue but it still ticked me off a bit.

I've seem some comments about the tone of the film and how dark it is - I won't elaborate on these elements as that'd be going into spoiler territory, but I personally didn't have a problem with it. Some may see that 12A certificate instead of a PG and be a little worried but, honestly, this film is kind of tame compared to a lot of Disney's back catalogue. Come on, this is the company that made movies like Bambi and The Lion King, both of which are really dark when you stop to think about it, and both have U certificates. I've also seen some concerns about making such a morally questionable character the protagonist of a film, similar to Joker from a few years ago, but I don't think that's an issue either as the film doesn't want the audience to sympathise with Cruella per se; it acknowledges her wickedness but makes it fun to watch, which I believe it succeeded at because of how enjoyable Emma Stone was in the role. It also avoids the actual issue of making clothes out of dog skin, so it doesn't show a stance on that.

As a whole, I thought Cruella was rather fabulous. It's visually engaging, has an impeccable level of craft behind it, features some magnificent performances, and differentiates itself from previous iterations of this story / character to make it feel worthwhile as a remake. I recommend you check this out if you can - it might not be £20 on Disney+ levels of worth it but if you do get the chance to catch it then do, especially if you're tired of remakes that don't try at all.

I'm going to give Cruella an 8.0/10

Yet Another Top 10 Films I watched for the first time during COVID

It is an exciting time here in the UK, as those magical places you go to watch films on a big screen among many other audience members are reopening tomorrow! Wait a minute, haven't we done this already?

Last Summer, we were in a very similar position when the first lockdown began to ease, and to mark the occasion, I listed off the 10 best pre-existing films I'd come across while in lockdown. Well, here we are at the easing of another lockdown, but this case is slightly different. Last year, my last trip to the cinema prior to lockdown was in the middle of March, and my first trip back afterwards was at the end of July, amounting to around four and a half months of no cinemas. Now, the last time I went to the cinema was at the end of October, so it has been over half a year of no cinemas, which is very sad indeed.

But, all that time of no new things and no cinemas meant I could whizz through a bunch of pre-existing things I'd never seen before, and in this lockdown in particular, I finally got round to watching a bunch of things I'd been desperate to watch for ages, more so than the previous ones. So, I thought I'd deliver another list of some of the best. If you have a Letterboxd account, I highly recommend you follow me (Jack W) as I have an extensive list with all films I watched for the first time during COVID, with many things I haven't talked about on this blog as well as the things I have discussed in an ever-changing order. If you don't have an account, get one! It's a great app for film lovers.

10. Mulan (1998) 

With the live-action remake of Mulan coming out, I thought it'd be good to catch the original version, as I had never seen it before. So, when getting Disney+, it was one of the first things I decided to watch. Fortunately, although I wouldn't say it was amazing, it was about as good as I hoped. I'm not such a big fan of the comedy in the movie but I thought the main character was really likeable, the oriental aesthetic was nicely distinct from many other animated movies, the songs weren't the strongest bunch but Reflection and I'll Make a Man out of You were both bangers, and overall it was exciting and visually appealing. I have also seen the remake and, yeah, it wasn't great. Just another inferior retelling to add to the pile, though not as bad as some of the others.

9. Game Night (2018) 

You know, it's great when you stick on a random flick on Netflix and it turns out to actually be pretty damn great. Game Night is a really good movie for two main reasons - firstly, it's conceptually great, with a really hilarious set up, and secondly, the execution is terrific, as it is ever so funny. It does feel kind of frothy and not like the sort of thing I'd come back to immediately, but if I do ever catch it again, I know I'll be in for a good time. Not much else to be said about this one, but I definitely suggest you give it a watch.

8. Arrietty (2010) & When Marnie Was There (2014)

These are both movies that I actually watched for the first time during the first lockdown in 2020, but in 2021 I've decided to watch at least one Studio Ghibli movie for every month of the year, so I revisited them both, and because I have similar things to say about each, I thought I'd put them together here. Arrietty and When Marnie Was There are such bafflingly overlooked and underrated movies in the Ghibli library for me; the former is a really charming and visually inventive albeit simple adventure, and the latter is a really heartfelt and resonant story (especially for introverts like myself) with some of the best animation in any of these movies. Honestly, these are both very high on my Ghibli ranking, only behind what I consider the three movies that will always be their best - Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and Princess Mononoke. I get that they are comparatively more recent thus aren't regarded as classics yet, but I really think you're missing out if you love this company, or simply just love animation or movies in general, and haven't checked these out.

7. Cast Away (2000) 

One of two Robert Zemeckis films on this list, both of which are funnily enough some of the films I'd been wanting to watch for ages. Cast Away has a simple story but executes it very well. I'm not so keen on the length and just how much it takes its time, as certain scenes definitely go on for longer than necessary, but that doesn't matter when you have Tom Hanks being his expectedly fabulous self and in a really engaging survival situation. It kind of reminded me of The Martian, which is one of the my favourite films of all time, with how it puts the main character in a situation where they have to solve problems and work out what to do and such in order to survive, and that's the sort of thing I always enjoy. The set-up is actually really scary if you think about it, and kind of makes me happy that I haven't flown on a plane for over a year now!

6. Eighth Grade (2018) 

For any Americans who may be reading this, the title of this film translates to 'Year Eight' over here in the UK. I really liked this film, and not because it really resonated with me personally with its themes / messages, as they are generally quite standard coming-of-age fare that has been explored before, but because I admired how well it managed to capture the stress and awkwardness of this stage of all our lives in a way that is so genuine, honest and, as a result, really funny. I'm also really glad that it managed to be so contemporary without ever feeling out of touch; I have no idea what actual 12/13 year-olds would say to this 3 year-old movie in 2021, but to me as a 17 year-old it didn't feel behind the curve or as if it was trying to pander to the youth in really cringeworthy ways, as it easily could have. So, as a whole, just a really solid movie on the whole, and something I'd happily revisit.

5. Midnight in Paris (2011) 

Midnight in Paris is also a simple concept executed really well. Not only is it really funny and clever with how it intertwines the story of the protagonist with all these famous figures of art and literature, as well as being very well shot with some great production design too, but it has such wonderful themes of nostalgia and materialism, making it a very thoughtful watch as well as an entertaining one. The performances are great too, Owen Wilson is just such a naturally likeable screen presence, and I can't really think of someone who'd fit this role better than him. What I also love about the film is the runtime - it's only 90 minutes. Honestly, the 90 minute film feels like a dying art, why? Don't get me wrong, I love an epic story that takes it's time and has a lot going on, but so many films nowadays end up overstaying their welcome in trying to be a grand picture when they'd be much better off as a nice, breezy watch like this, being able to do a lot in a short amount of time. So, there's much to love here.

4. Se7en (1995) 

Definitely the best David Fincher movie I've seen aside from The Social Network. Se7en had me on the edge of my seat in ways that few other movies have, with such a tense and brilliantly constructed story as well as some excellently thrilling moments, especially that chase through the apartment block as well as basically everything in the last 20 minutes. It's also thematically a lot more intriguing as well as more distinct overall than most crime / cop movies. To top it off, Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman are both terrific as usual. I don't know how keen I am to rewatch it; at times it was a bit dull and I don't know if it'll have the same wow factor when I know the outcome, but I am so pleased that I enjoyed it as much as I did because I was ready for it to really test my patience.

3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) 

Like Cast Away, of all the films I watched for the first time during COVID, this is one I'd been dying to watch for the longest time, so imagine how elated I was when I saw that it was on Disney+. Thankfully, it did not disappoint at all. This movie was basically tailor-made for me, I'm not the hugest fan of 'golden age' animation, but I do love 2D animation, and seeing cartoony characters whizzing around and interacting with the real world was just so delightful. It's also very surreal at times with how all these characters from different companies share the screen, seeing Daffy Duck and Donald Duck performing on stage together was such a peculiar but hilarious sight. It makes me wonder how a film like this would ever happen nowadays based on how distributors have become so strict about who owns the rights to what. On top of that, a murder mystery is always fun, and putting a ridiculous twist on many elements was very enjoyable. I do think the climax is a little drawn out, and it is certainly all over the place at times, but I just couldn't help but love this movie for the most part. I really wish I'd grown up watching this as I'd probably love it more.

2. Booksmart (2019) 

I had basically no excuse for missing Booksmart when it was in cinemas. It came out around the time I was finishing my GCSEs as well as secondary school overall, everyone was going on about how good it was, and it's about the nerdy kids going on a crazy night out, how could I pass such a genius concept??? So, when it came to Netflix, it was an instant watch, and such a delight. I laughed while watching Booksmart in ways I have not laughed at any film in a while, it's such a hilarious series of events that I just couldn't help but giggle at almost every turn. In addition, both of the protagonists are awesome, they're so likeable and made for such an enjoyable duo, and when their friendship does get tested at points, it feels so genuine. The way the third act plays out felt a little odd, and the ending didn't make a great deal of sense, but I just had such a good time with this, and unlike something like Game Night, this has that extra zing factor that makes me really keen to come back soon.

1. Whiplash (2014) 

Wow. I mean WOW. This was absolutely astonishing. Whiplash is simultaneously the most stressful film I've ever watched and the most satisfying film I've ever watched. The depiction of someone going borderline insane and irrational as they try to achieve perfection is almost horrifying. So many scenes were really painful to watch, in the best possible way. But, it isn't completely dark and depressing from start to end, as there is a great energy to the film that keeps it feeling upbeat all throughout, and the outcome also feels so earned and well built up to. J.K. Simmons is phenomenal in this film, all because he somehow manages to portray the most evil human being I have ever seen in such a naturalistic film, while also being so charismatic and fun to watch. Seriously, how did he do that? He's just a treasure, and any time he appears in a film it makes my day. He should just be in every movie that is ever made from now on. In terms of Damien Chazelle's films, I personally prefer La La Land over this, but that's purely because I tend to gravitate towards anything that's joyful and lifts my spirits, so I can definitely understand if you hold this in higher regard. I like how both of them are ultimately just tonally different takes on similiar themes of sacrifice in the pursuit of success, in fact, even Chazelle's weakest film, First Man, can somewhat be applied to this too. On top of all this, Whiplash is another great example of a film that's the perfect length - it's just shy of 100 minutes but does everything it needs to do in that time while also feeling like it goes by in an instant. On the whole, I don't know what else can be said that countless others have said already, just watch Whiplash, even if you've watched it already, watch it again, it's just sensational. One of the very best things I discovered during COVID.

Hopefully, based on how things are looking in the world, I won't have to add to my list of things I watched for the first time during COVID for much longer. That being said, should all this bother continue, so will I in sharing the news of the good things I've encountered, as I've had much fun doing so. But, as of now, I'm off to get ready for a triumphant return to the pictures, and since I'll be 18 years old very soon, I'll be able to see literally anything that's released! I might just start off by seeing whatever 18 rated films are on because I can now.