bankofmarquis
Joined Jun 2006
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Did you enjoy the Will Smith/Tommy Lee Jones misfit buddy action/comedy flick MEN IN BLACK that was released way back in 1997?
If so, then you are gonna really like the Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson/Chris "Captain America" Evans misfit buddy action/comedy flick RED ONE - because it is, basically, the same movie - only this time, instead of Aliens, our misfit pair of heroes are dealing with...Mythical Creatures (you know, like Santa Claus).
Directed by Jake Kasdan (the recent JUMANJI revisits), RED ONE tells the tale of Callum Drift (get it) played by...you guessed it...The Rock, the Head BodyGuard of RED ONE aka Santa Claus (the always great J. K. Simmons). When Red One is kidnapped a few days before his big Christmas Eve ride (why?...movie reasons) it's up to Callum to team up with "non-believer" Jack O'Malley (a fun Chris Evans) to find and retrieve Saint Nick or Christmas will be cancelled.
Okay, it's not the most original premise but the charm, charisma and screen presence that Johnson, Evans and Simmons (who doesn't get nearly enough screen time) exude makes it a very enjoyable Holiday watch for the entire family. They are ably joined by the solid Bonnie Hunt (the original JUMANJI), Comedian Nick Kroll (the voice of Professor Poopypants in CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS) and Lucy Liu (TV's
ELEMENTARY) as "the boss" who has to seriously spout lines like - "Go out and bring Santa back", then add Kristofer Hivju (the bushy red-bearded TORMUND in Game of Thrones) as a mythical character (to tell who it is would be to spoil it) and the performances across the board are very professionally managed.
Only Kiernan Shipka (as a youth she played Sally Draper in MAD MEN) is oddly miscast as the main villain. Why she doesn't detract all that much from the events of the film, she doesn't add much either...and, in this type of film, you kind of want the bad guy to be a presence...or, at least, over the top "good/bad".
Director Kasdan tries, as much as possible based on his budget, to make the effects as practical as he can, but much, much of this film is CGI and it feels more like a cartoon most of the time (rather than a live-action film). You can decide whether that is a good or a bad thing.
The action sequences are fun (enough), the acting is fun (enough) and the movie ends up being fun (enough) for the whole family to enjoy when they are all together this Holiday season.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
If so, then you are gonna really like the Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson/Chris "Captain America" Evans misfit buddy action/comedy flick RED ONE - because it is, basically, the same movie - only this time, instead of Aliens, our misfit pair of heroes are dealing with...Mythical Creatures (you know, like Santa Claus).
Directed by Jake Kasdan (the recent JUMANJI revisits), RED ONE tells the tale of Callum Drift (get it) played by...you guessed it...The Rock, the Head BodyGuard of RED ONE aka Santa Claus (the always great J. K. Simmons). When Red One is kidnapped a few days before his big Christmas Eve ride (why?...movie reasons) it's up to Callum to team up with "non-believer" Jack O'Malley (a fun Chris Evans) to find and retrieve Saint Nick or Christmas will be cancelled.
Okay, it's not the most original premise but the charm, charisma and screen presence that Johnson, Evans and Simmons (who doesn't get nearly enough screen time) exude makes it a very enjoyable Holiday watch for the entire family. They are ably joined by the solid Bonnie Hunt (the original JUMANJI), Comedian Nick Kroll (the voice of Professor Poopypants in CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS) and Lucy Liu (TV's
ELEMENTARY) as "the boss" who has to seriously spout lines like - "Go out and bring Santa back", then add Kristofer Hivju (the bushy red-bearded TORMUND in Game of Thrones) as a mythical character (to tell who it is would be to spoil it) and the performances across the board are very professionally managed.
Only Kiernan Shipka (as a youth she played Sally Draper in MAD MEN) is oddly miscast as the main villain. Why she doesn't detract all that much from the events of the film, she doesn't add much either...and, in this type of film, you kind of want the bad guy to be a presence...or, at least, over the top "good/bad".
Director Kasdan tries, as much as possible based on his budget, to make the effects as practical as he can, but much, much of this film is CGI and it feels more like a cartoon most of the time (rather than a live-action film). You can decide whether that is a good or a bad thing.
The action sequences are fun (enough), the acting is fun (enough) and the movie ends up being fun (enough) for the whole family to enjoy when they are all together this Holiday season.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
The 2016 Animated film MOANA was a pleasant surprise, coming in under the radar and scoring a hit with good music by HAMILTON composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and surprisingly fun vocal performances by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and newcomer Auli'i Cravalho.
So, it comes as no surprise that Disney decided to create a sequel, but what does come as a surprise is that the powers-that-be at Disney decided to turn what was originally designed as a television series into a theatrical motion picture.
And that's where this film falls down for Moana 2 is an engaging (enough) piece of entertainment, but it feels like a series of vignettes (Episodes of TV) strung together to make a movie.
The lead performances of Cravalho as Moana and Johnson as Maui are engaging enough, but...probably because they thought they were making a tv series...writers Jared Bush (back from the original) as well as Dan Ledoux Miller and Bek Smith decided to add a whole bunch of characters to Moana's new voyage - and, while they were winning enough characters - they really did nothing to add to the events of the films. The characters were somewhat fun, but they were UNNECESSARY - a cardinal sin.
As is the music by Mark Mancina. Clearly, Miranda had no interest in returning to this project when it was going to be a TV Series, so veteran TV Composer Mancina was called in. The results were, again, fairly fun (but forgettable) songs throughout the film.
The same goes for the direction by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller - all of whom were tabbed to Direct a TV Episode and then the film was stitched together - and it shows. The Direction is disjointed and unispiring...but professionally done.
A forgettable, pleasant enough romp - one that will keep the kiddos occupied for an hour and a half - but not strong enough to warrant a 3rd film that will "complete the trilogy"...a film that was hinted at in the closing credits.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
So, it comes as no surprise that Disney decided to create a sequel, but what does come as a surprise is that the powers-that-be at Disney decided to turn what was originally designed as a television series into a theatrical motion picture.
And that's where this film falls down for Moana 2 is an engaging (enough) piece of entertainment, but it feels like a series of vignettes (Episodes of TV) strung together to make a movie.
The lead performances of Cravalho as Moana and Johnson as Maui are engaging enough, but...probably because they thought they were making a tv series...writers Jared Bush (back from the original) as well as Dan Ledoux Miller and Bek Smith decided to add a whole bunch of characters to Moana's new voyage - and, while they were winning enough characters - they really did nothing to add to the events of the films. The characters were somewhat fun, but they were UNNECESSARY - a cardinal sin.
As is the music by Mark Mancina. Clearly, Miranda had no interest in returning to this project when it was going to be a TV Series, so veteran TV Composer Mancina was called in. The results were, again, fairly fun (but forgettable) songs throughout the film.
The same goes for the direction by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller - all of whom were tabbed to Direct a TV Episode and then the film was stitched together - and it shows. The Direction is disjointed and unispiring...but professionally done.
A forgettable, pleasant enough romp - one that will keep the kiddos occupied for an hour and a half - but not strong enough to warrant a 3rd film that will "complete the trilogy"...a film that was hinted at in the closing credits.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
It is a rare feeling for me at the end of movie where my first inclination is that I want to watch the film again.
But such is the case with the John Chu film production of the Broadway Musical WICKED...or should I say the FIRST ACT of the Broadway Musical Wicked.
And, darned if it doesn't work and work well. Chu, wisely, decided to split the telling of this story into 2 movies - to give characters and situations room to breathe and grow and this decision works well for Chu is wise as to where to extend and/or dive deeper into a scene/character and where/when to move on. The resulting film is a faithful adaption of the beloved musical - keeping all songs, storylines and characters in the film while adding some color to a very familiar musical.
Wicked tells the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch and for anyone who has seen this musical by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin/Godspell), you know that this musical rises and falls on the performance, interaction and chemistry between the two leads.
And...in this film...the 2 leads interact VERY well together. Cynthia Erivo, as expected, excels as Elphaba - the misunderstood, green person who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. Erivo's Elphaba is strong, vulnerable, wise and wounded while also showing off a booming singing voice that commands that you watch her whenever she is on the screen.
She is ably supported by Grande - the biggest surprise of this film. Her Glinda is slight, self-centered and disarmingly funny. She is a bright yang to Erivo's yin and while you know she has a singing voice, it is a different animal, indeed, for a Pop Singer to sing Broadway tunes and Grande is more than up to the task.
But it is not just the leads that shine, the Supporting Roles are filled with more-than-capable performers both as singers and actors starting with veteran stage actor Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Michelle Yeoh who rounds out the slightly written character of Madame Morrible quite capably (thanks to the extra time this film gives). Oh...and don't forget the unforgettable Jeff Golblum who is perfectly cast as The Wizard (of Oz).
This film is a visual feast as well as the Costumes, Set Direction and Art Direction are fantastical and Director Chu does a remarkable job of blending the real world (or...as real as it can get) with CGI and then keeping the pace going so one has time to ingest the visuals, but not linger on them (so you cannot see the lines). He strodes that line well and this film is all the more full for it.
As good a time in the Cineplex that I have had in quite some time - do yourself a favor and see WICKED on the biggest screen possible (with the best sound system possible). You'll be glad you did.
Letter Grade: A+
The rare 10 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
But such is the case with the John Chu film production of the Broadway Musical WICKED...or should I say the FIRST ACT of the Broadway Musical Wicked.
And, darned if it doesn't work and work well. Chu, wisely, decided to split the telling of this story into 2 movies - to give characters and situations room to breathe and grow and this decision works well for Chu is wise as to where to extend and/or dive deeper into a scene/character and where/when to move on. The resulting film is a faithful adaption of the beloved musical - keeping all songs, storylines and characters in the film while adding some color to a very familiar musical.
Wicked tells the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch and for anyone who has seen this musical by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin/Godspell), you know that this musical rises and falls on the performance, interaction and chemistry between the two leads.
And...in this film...the 2 leads interact VERY well together. Cynthia Erivo, as expected, excels as Elphaba - the misunderstood, green person who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. Erivo's Elphaba is strong, vulnerable, wise and wounded while also showing off a booming singing voice that commands that you watch her whenever she is on the screen.
She is ably supported by Grande - the biggest surprise of this film. Her Glinda is slight, self-centered and disarmingly funny. She is a bright yang to Erivo's yin and while you know she has a singing voice, it is a different animal, indeed, for a Pop Singer to sing Broadway tunes and Grande is more than up to the task.
But it is not just the leads that shine, the Supporting Roles are filled with more-than-capable performers both as singers and actors starting with veteran stage actor Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Michelle Yeoh who rounds out the slightly written character of Madame Morrible quite capably (thanks to the extra time this film gives). Oh...and don't forget the unforgettable Jeff Golblum who is perfectly cast as The Wizard (of Oz).
This film is a visual feast as well as the Costumes, Set Direction and Art Direction are fantastical and Director Chu does a remarkable job of blending the real world (or...as real as it can get) with CGI and then keeping the pace going so one has time to ingest the visuals, but not linger on them (so you cannot see the lines). He strodes that line well and this film is all the more full for it.
As good a time in the Cineplex that I have had in quite some time - do yourself a favor and see WICKED on the biggest screen possible (with the best sound system possible). You'll be glad you did.
Letter Grade: A+
The rare 10 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)