Holy moly. That was a LOT. "Alita: Battle Angel" is the first MUST-SEE-IN-THEATERS film of 2019 for me. Its story takes place 327 years after “the Fall” of all but one of the “sky cities,” with everyone left on plain old Earth resigned to only dreaming about making it up to the last existing sky city of Zalem.
In this future reality, robots live among humans, as technology has advanced enough to build them with human receptors that increase in effectiveness with every passing experience. What’s even more remarkable is that enough strides have been made to where a human brain, if kept intact and gotten to a CMD (Cyborg Medical Doctor) in time, can be melded with a cyborg body- effectively fusing human minds with robot bodies to create incredibly strong and resourceful cyborgs.
Alita is one such cyborg who was rescued and put together by one of the community’s most renown CMDs in Dr. Ido (played by the seemingly always perfectly casted Christoph Waltz). From there, the audience travels alongside Alita on her journey to “rediscover” who she used to be as well as who she wants to be currently, with a love story inevitably playing a pivotal role. The experience was like making my way through an RPG (role-playing game) controlled by an alarmingly capable gamer. The visual effects were immersive and heightened even more so by the fact that I watched them in Regal E-Walk RPX’s 4DX theater in Times Square. Much like an RPG game, the audience learns just as much as is needed to progress through the plot and keep an interest in the development thereof. And, for fans of Mahershala Ali (among which I firmly include myself), he brings another familiar face to this grandiose movie production. If that weren't enough, the actor playing the role of the main, overarching villain is another tried-and-true fan favorite whose identity I was also excited to uncover towards the end of the film.
Alita: Battle Angel is also the on-screen representation of a very long series of pre-exiting comics. So, while it will undoubtedly leave readers of the origin story wishing for more, a LOT happens in the span of 2 hours. Plus, the stage is most certainly set for at least one more film to follow. If ever there was a film worth investing the time and money into watching it on the big screen it is this one, as Alita: Battle Angel slices and dices its way to a solid 3.5 reps out of 5 for making the most out of its action scenes while bringing as much legitimacy to the story’s arch as is needed to retain the audience’s attention throughout.
Have you seen the Angel of War known as Alita yet? Are you excited for where the storyline seems destined to head next?
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Thursday, February 14, 2019
The Prodigy (watched February 12, 2019)
But, of COURSE the prodigal son of all that is “horror” had to be there for this one! Honestly, the fact that the first “scary” movie of 2019 wasn’t going to take longer than a mere 39 days to release in theaters was in and of itself a win in my book. Sure, as with any movie visit, it could range from being a massive disappointment to surprisingly satisfying; but, I live for the ride and chance to find out. After all, isn’t that what it’s all about?!
Aside from watching the trailer for it, I purposefully did not look into what The Prodigy was about because I wanted to go into this viewing with no expectations in order to fully invest in the process of finding out for myself. The audience is immediately treated to a hectic opening series of events that works to get us hooked, much in the way a prologue does. Once the opening title appears on screen, a seemingly disassociated story begins, which is itself just as intriguing, if not more so, but in a different way.
We meet a young boy named Miles (impressively played by Jackson Robert Scott) whose cognitive development is exceptional and remains so as he gets older. However, he begins to display a propensity towards violent behavior for reasons not easily understood. His family tries frantically to determine where his spotty behavior stems from, while Miles’ outbursts become increasingly dangerous. All the while, audience members are left trying to figure out the same and is treated to a handful of “jump scares” that work because of how suddenly certain developments unfold.
The Prodigy’s plot is much more thorough than I instinctively thought it would be, meaning that the lack of gore was a mere afterthought for me. I was honestly driven to try and find answers to why what was happening was happening; and, that dynamic leads to the handful of shock moments working very well. The Prodigy takes certain risks not many “horror” movies do, which is what ultimately stood out to me the most. The culminating confrontations have so much momentum behind them; and, to me, they do NOT disappoint. There is a frantic final series of events that mirrors the beginning, ties things together AND sets the stage rather directly for a sequel, should one ever be made (which I certainly hope it does). Plus, you don’t have to wait around for a post-credits scene to see what I mean.
The Prodigy runs for a very reasonable 90 minutes with very few “boring filler” scenes, making it an even easier watch. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed this film from beginning to end because of the decisions made and chances taken by its creators. And, while I will admit that it does not have to be seen in theaters for viewers to fully appreciate it, it gets a solid four reps out of five from me; and, I am glad I did see it on the big screen. If you enjoyed such films as "The Babadook" (one of my favorite recent horror/suspense/thriller movies out on Netflix), then I think you will enjoy The Prodigy.
Who out there has faced The Prodigy yet? Could you have put up the sort of fight his family did for him?
Aside from watching the trailer for it, I purposefully did not look into what The Prodigy was about because I wanted to go into this viewing with no expectations in order to fully invest in the process of finding out for myself. The audience is immediately treated to a hectic opening series of events that works to get us hooked, much in the way a prologue does. Once the opening title appears on screen, a seemingly disassociated story begins, which is itself just as intriguing, if not more so, but in a different way.
We meet a young boy named Miles (impressively played by Jackson Robert Scott) whose cognitive development is exceptional and remains so as he gets older. However, he begins to display a propensity towards violent behavior for reasons not easily understood. His family tries frantically to determine where his spotty behavior stems from, while Miles’ outbursts become increasingly dangerous. All the while, audience members are left trying to figure out the same and is treated to a handful of “jump scares” that work because of how suddenly certain developments unfold.
The Prodigy’s plot is much more thorough than I instinctively thought it would be, meaning that the lack of gore was a mere afterthought for me. I was honestly driven to try and find answers to why what was happening was happening; and, that dynamic leads to the handful of shock moments working very well. The Prodigy takes certain risks not many “horror” movies do, which is what ultimately stood out to me the most. The culminating confrontations have so much momentum behind them; and, to me, they do NOT disappoint. There is a frantic final series of events that mirrors the beginning, ties things together AND sets the stage rather directly for a sequel, should one ever be made (which I certainly hope it does). Plus, you don’t have to wait around for a post-credits scene to see what I mean.
The Prodigy runs for a very reasonable 90 minutes with very few “boring filler” scenes, making it an even easier watch. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed this film from beginning to end because of the decisions made and chances taken by its creators. And, while I will admit that it does not have to be seen in theaters for viewers to fully appreciate it, it gets a solid four reps out of five from me; and, I am glad I did see it on the big screen. If you enjoyed such films as "The Babadook" (one of my favorite recent horror/suspense/thriller movies out on Netflix), then I think you will enjoy The Prodigy.
Who out there has faced The Prodigy yet? Could you have put up the sort of fight his family did for him?
Thursday, February 7, 2019
The Upside (watched February 5, 2019)
Upon my first time seeing a trailer for this film, I was immediately delighted with the prospect of Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart teaming up on the big screen. And, while it may seem to be an odd pairing on paper, the duo worked about as well as I hoped they would.
"The Upside" tells the story of wealthy businessman Phillip Lacasse (played by Cranston) and his improbable relationship with ex-con Dell Scott (played by Hart). Phillip experienced an unfortunate accident that left him with quadriplegia, while Dell has had a tough time staying out of legal trouble as well as prison. Upon being granted parole, Dell struggles to search for employment, while Philip is searching for a “life auxiliary” to help him do all of the things his daily commitments require of him. While conducting interviews to fill the position with his manager of business affairs Yvonne (played by the ageless and timeless Nicole Kidman), Phillip takes to how different Dell is from all other applicants met with to that point. Against Yvonne’s advice, Phillip decides to hire Dell, setting off a chain of events that brings all parties involved closer together.
Their story entails a similar dynamic to the one in "Green Book," with each character learning more about who they themselves are through getting to know the other. The chemistry between Cranston and Hart is palpable throughout, making for some very funny as well as gut-wrenching moments between the two.
The film does a good job of getting its audience to invest in each individual’s story, garnering our attention out of pure desire to find out how everybody got to where they are and whether change is attainable. We find ourselves cheering for both men and even most auxiliary characters we meet throughout the movie. The Upside is another feel good movie that exemplifies just how capable we are of finding common ground, not despite; but, as a RESULT of better understanding our differences. It is as lighthearted as it is moving; and, while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend rushing to spend almost two hours to watch it in theaters, it gets 3 reps out of 5 for being thoroughly enjoyable throughout.
I would also like to shed some light on an aspect of this and other similar projects that we as moviegoers may not be aware of. While Bryan Cranston is an exceptional actor and does a wonderful job here, there are several people who firmly believe the role he played should have been filled by an actor who himself suffers from paraplegia. The reasoning behind this line of thinking is that paraplegic actors have a difficult enough time getting any roles in the business; so, when a role like that of Phillip Lacasse’s opens up, it would seem tailor-made for an actor who can relate to the character in a way that non-paraplegics simply cannot. Now, while Cranston’s possibly turning down the role would not have guaranteed a paraplegic actor’s getting it, there is still much left to be desired about the efforts made within the movie industry to employ more such actors. Cranston’s name certainly increases the film’s hype; but, the story is inspiring in and of itself; and, having hired a paraplegic actor for the role could have done much more good for this group of actors than it would have hurt a film that could have conceivably been just as good, if not better, with a different type of actor. While many great strides have been made within the film industry to be more inclusive of different types of actors, there are still many more to be made; and, to do so will take a concerted effort from creators and fans alike.
How big did you think this film’s upside was?
"The Upside" tells the story of wealthy businessman Phillip Lacasse (played by Cranston) and his improbable relationship with ex-con Dell Scott (played by Hart). Phillip experienced an unfortunate accident that left him with quadriplegia, while Dell has had a tough time staying out of legal trouble as well as prison. Upon being granted parole, Dell struggles to search for employment, while Philip is searching for a “life auxiliary” to help him do all of the things his daily commitments require of him. While conducting interviews to fill the position with his manager of business affairs Yvonne (played by the ageless and timeless Nicole Kidman), Phillip takes to how different Dell is from all other applicants met with to that point. Against Yvonne’s advice, Phillip decides to hire Dell, setting off a chain of events that brings all parties involved closer together.
Their story entails a similar dynamic to the one in "Green Book," with each character learning more about who they themselves are through getting to know the other. The chemistry between Cranston and Hart is palpable throughout, making for some very funny as well as gut-wrenching moments between the two.
The film does a good job of getting its audience to invest in each individual’s story, garnering our attention out of pure desire to find out how everybody got to where they are and whether change is attainable. We find ourselves cheering for both men and even most auxiliary characters we meet throughout the movie. The Upside is another feel good movie that exemplifies just how capable we are of finding common ground, not despite; but, as a RESULT of better understanding our differences. It is as lighthearted as it is moving; and, while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend rushing to spend almost two hours to watch it in theaters, it gets 3 reps out of 5 for being thoroughly enjoyable throughout.
I would also like to shed some light on an aspect of this and other similar projects that we as moviegoers may not be aware of. While Bryan Cranston is an exceptional actor and does a wonderful job here, there are several people who firmly believe the role he played should have been filled by an actor who himself suffers from paraplegia. The reasoning behind this line of thinking is that paraplegic actors have a difficult enough time getting any roles in the business; so, when a role like that of Phillip Lacasse’s opens up, it would seem tailor-made for an actor who can relate to the character in a way that non-paraplegics simply cannot. Now, while Cranston’s possibly turning down the role would not have guaranteed a paraplegic actor’s getting it, there is still much left to be desired about the efforts made within the movie industry to employ more such actors. Cranston’s name certainly increases the film’s hype; but, the story is inspiring in and of itself; and, having hired a paraplegic actor for the role could have done much more good for this group of actors than it would have hurt a film that could have conceivably been just as good, if not better, with a different type of actor. While many great strides have been made within the film industry to be more inclusive of different types of actors, there are still many more to be made; and, to do so will take a concerted effort from creators and fans alike.
How big did you think this film’s upside was?
Monday, February 4, 2019
Glass (watched on January 31, 2019)
FINALLY. The third and final part to the “Unbreakable” trilogy YEARS in the making has arrived; and, I found it to be nerve-wracking, jaw-dropping and entertaining to the attention-grabbing extent I was hoping for. If you recall, "Split" ends with “Beast” (played ever so magnificently by James McAvoy) still on the loose and David “Overseer” (played by the timeless Bruce Willis) seemingly poised to hunt him down.
Well, "Glass" picks up right where Split left off. Hedwig wastes no time in capturing Beast’s next meal and Overseer is hot on his trail. The first aspect of Glass that I fell absolutely head over heels with is the fact that we get more of a look into the life of one loved one of each of Beast, Overseer and Mr. Glass. This lends itself to the audience learning more about how each character’s unique relationship with his significant loved one affects him and basically drives his impulses (at least to some extent). Throughout the movie we get a deeper and deeper look into the life-altering moments that led these three characters to develop their abilities. However, Dr. Staple (played by another favorite of mine in Sarah Paulson) is introduced to the storyline as a psychiatrist whose life work has been discovering very rational explanations behind the supernatural acts the trio has exhibited.
The second thing I absolutely love about the film is the fact that McAvoy is allowed and actually PUSHED to absolutely shine by putting on display MULTIPLE identities that make up “the Horde” seemingly every time he’s on screen. Whereas in Split there is always some transition period between when one personality “comes to the light” and the next one does, in Glass, it seems as though every time McAvoy is on screen having a conversation, the audience sees him transform into a minimum of three to five different Horde identities from one sentence to the next. My jaw was literally left hanging EVERY single time McAvoy had any substantial dialogue and he juggles all of these identities so seamlessly on the big screen that it would be not only a travesty, but also a robbery, if he does not win MULTIPLE awards for his performance in this film.
More generally speaking, I feel the film also did a nice job of tying the three films together by use of multiple allusions to past incidences. In fact, there were moments in the film where I felt as though I was watching Unbreakable or Split, which speaks to the attention paid to not just using the two previous movies but actually building off of them. The real treat that keeps on giving is when two or all three of our “superheroes” engage directly with each other. Those are tangible moments where the entire history of this story pays dividends and the audience can feel like they’re being rewarded for investing its time in following along. While the film is just over two hours long, there aren’t more than a handful of scenes that seem to unnecessarily “linger,” as almost all of them serve a purpose, whether it’s to inform us about how the past has led us to where we are now or to set up what comes next. While there are things that might have worked to better set up the big “reveal” or “twist,” it still works as is and doesn’t necessarily detract from everything else the film does so well.
Glass might not be outright better than either of the two films before it; but, it might very well be the most easily enjoyable one, especially for younger audiences who probably had to watch the first film after watching Split, because of the more constant dialogue and action. Glass was an absolute blast to watch; and, easily gets 4 out of 5 MONSTER reps from this moviegoer. While waiting to watch this film at home was never an option for me, I would still recommend seeing it in theaters instead of waiting because McAvoy’s performance as well as the displays of supernatural strength deserve to be experienced on the big screen. You can thank me later.
Did Glass shatter your expectations? Were you as blown away by James McAvoy’s beastly performance as I was?
Well, "Glass" picks up right where Split left off. Hedwig wastes no time in capturing Beast’s next meal and Overseer is hot on his trail. The first aspect of Glass that I fell absolutely head over heels with is the fact that we get more of a look into the life of one loved one of each of Beast, Overseer and Mr. Glass. This lends itself to the audience learning more about how each character’s unique relationship with his significant loved one affects him and basically drives his impulses (at least to some extent). Throughout the movie we get a deeper and deeper look into the life-altering moments that led these three characters to develop their abilities. However, Dr. Staple (played by another favorite of mine in Sarah Paulson) is introduced to the storyline as a psychiatrist whose life work has been discovering very rational explanations behind the supernatural acts the trio has exhibited.
The second thing I absolutely love about the film is the fact that McAvoy is allowed and actually PUSHED to absolutely shine by putting on display MULTIPLE identities that make up “the Horde” seemingly every time he’s on screen. Whereas in Split there is always some transition period between when one personality “comes to the light” and the next one does, in Glass, it seems as though every time McAvoy is on screen having a conversation, the audience sees him transform into a minimum of three to five different Horde identities from one sentence to the next. My jaw was literally left hanging EVERY single time McAvoy had any substantial dialogue and he juggles all of these identities so seamlessly on the big screen that it would be not only a travesty, but also a robbery, if he does not win MULTIPLE awards for his performance in this film.
More generally speaking, I feel the film also did a nice job of tying the three films together by use of multiple allusions to past incidences. In fact, there were moments in the film where I felt as though I was watching Unbreakable or Split, which speaks to the attention paid to not just using the two previous movies but actually building off of them. The real treat that keeps on giving is when two or all three of our “superheroes” engage directly with each other. Those are tangible moments where the entire history of this story pays dividends and the audience can feel like they’re being rewarded for investing its time in following along. While the film is just over two hours long, there aren’t more than a handful of scenes that seem to unnecessarily “linger,” as almost all of them serve a purpose, whether it’s to inform us about how the past has led us to where we are now or to set up what comes next. While there are things that might have worked to better set up the big “reveal” or “twist,” it still works as is and doesn’t necessarily detract from everything else the film does so well.
Glass might not be outright better than either of the two films before it; but, it might very well be the most easily enjoyable one, especially for younger audiences who probably had to watch the first film after watching Split, because of the more constant dialogue and action. Glass was an absolute blast to watch; and, easily gets 4 out of 5 MONSTER reps from this moviegoer. While waiting to watch this film at home was never an option for me, I would still recommend seeing it in theaters instead of waiting because McAvoy’s performance as well as the displays of supernatural strength deserve to be experienced on the big screen. You can thank me later.
Did Glass shatter your expectations? Were you as blown away by James McAvoy’s beastly performance as I was?
Miss Bala (watched on January 30, 2019)
It took me long enough! Finally, your favorite movie PREviewer checked out his first film of 2019; and, it just so happened to be another free screening (thanks to one of my amazing brethren 
).
Miss Bala starts out with a quick look into the friendship between Gloria (played by the stunning Gina Rodriguez) and her close childhood friend Suzu (played by the equally stunning Cristina Rodlo), which spans California into Tijahuana, Mexico. While visiting a nightclub to rub elbows with the right people in light of Suzu‘s entering a beauty contest that the duo is dead set on her winning, the pair is caught in the middle of a gang-related crossfire for being in the right place at the wrong time. Once separated from her friend, Gloria frantically tries to find Suzu, at which point things go from bad to worse.
In the early stages of her search, Gloria is played by multiple sides of this war. Feeling the need to act quickly as opposed to methodically, she ends up getting deeply involved in a web of violence too deeply rooted for her to comprehend. However, Gloria’s frenetic nature changes from compulsory to calculated once she realizes just how much of a pawn she is in this game. This is when Gloria becomes resourceful and tactful, while allowing the actress to come out of her shell a bit more and engender within the audience a desire to see the protagonist navigate her way through this maze successfully.
However, this maze does not present anything overbearingly different from your run-of-the-mill cartel/drug movie plot. While there are a number of moments punctuated with loads of explosions and gunfire, nothing stands out one way or another. Ultimately, Gloria’s character is revealed as another example of female empowerment; but, Gina Rodriguez’s acting is what I came away thinking about mostly. I’m excited to see her future on-screen endeavors; but, this particular one is nothing to write home about. It only runs about 90 minutes and is a fine enough film to pass the time with; but, there’s no need to rush to theaters to watch Miss Bala, which gets 2 out of 5 reps from me.
What did you think of the shots fired by Miss Bala?
Miss Bala starts out with a quick look into the friendship between Gloria (played by the stunning Gina Rodriguez) and her close childhood friend Suzu (played by the equally stunning Cristina Rodlo), which spans California into Tijahuana, Mexico. While visiting a nightclub to rub elbows with the right people in light of Suzu‘s entering a beauty contest that the duo is dead set on her winning, the pair is caught in the middle of a gang-related crossfire for being in the right place at the wrong time. Once separated from her friend, Gloria frantically tries to find Suzu, at which point things go from bad to worse.
In the early stages of her search, Gloria is played by multiple sides of this war. Feeling the need to act quickly as opposed to methodically, she ends up getting deeply involved in a web of violence too deeply rooted for her to comprehend. However, Gloria’s frenetic nature changes from compulsory to calculated once she realizes just how much of a pawn she is in this game. This is when Gloria becomes resourceful and tactful, while allowing the actress to come out of her shell a bit more and engender within the audience a desire to see the protagonist navigate her way through this maze successfully.
However, this maze does not present anything overbearingly different from your run-of-the-mill cartel/drug movie plot. While there are a number of moments punctuated with loads of explosions and gunfire, nothing stands out one way or another. Ultimately, Gloria’s character is revealed as another example of female empowerment; but, Gina Rodriguez’s acting is what I came away thinking about mostly. I’m excited to see her future on-screen endeavors; but, this particular one is nothing to write home about. It only runs about 90 minutes and is a fine enough film to pass the time with; but, there’s no need to rush to theaters to watch Miss Bala, which gets 2 out of 5 reps from me.
What did you think of the shots fired by Miss Bala?
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