exceladeogun
Joined Oct 2021
Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Reviews236
exceladeogun's rating
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
In this reboot, the mutant turtles join forces with April O'Neil, a high schooler, to take on another group of mutants. Together, they fight not only to protect their city but also to win the trust and acceptance of humanity.
Mutant Mayhem succeeds on all fronts, but its foundation rests firmly on four key pillars that cannot be overlooked: the screenplay, the animation style, the performances and the score.
The screenplay is sharp, concise, and engaging. The story is delightful, and even its predictable moments are executed with creativity. Its brisk runtime works to its advantage, ensuring a fast-paced narrative that doesn't drag or risk redundancy. At its core, the film's heartfelt theme of acceptance resonates deeply, while the witty, effortlessly funny dialogue keeps the energy alive throughout.
The second standout triumph of this reboot is its animation style. In an era where innovative animation has become the norm, Mutant Mayhem not only meets expectations but exceeds them. Bursting with energy and brimming with vibrant colors, the visual design is as bold and colourful as the story itself, making it an absolute delight to watch.
The voice acting here is splendid. The ensemble cast of Seth Rogen, John Cena, Maya Rudolph, Ice Cube, Paul Rudd, Ayo Edebiri, Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon all deliver wonderful voice performances.
The last slam dunk Mutant Mayhem hits is its outstanding soundtrack, which exceeds all expectations. The original score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross seamlessly enhances the film's visuals. This is further elevated by the inclusion of licensed classic hip-hop tracks, with Blackstreet's "No Diggity" standing out as a memorable highlight. Together, the music choices bring energy and nostalgia that perfectly complement the film's tone.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a thoroughly enjoyable reintroduction to the mutants and it wonderfully sets the stage for its sequel.
8-8.5/10.
In this reboot, the mutant turtles join forces with April O'Neil, a high schooler, to take on another group of mutants. Together, they fight not only to protect their city but also to win the trust and acceptance of humanity.
Mutant Mayhem succeeds on all fronts, but its foundation rests firmly on four key pillars that cannot be overlooked: the screenplay, the animation style, the performances and the score.
The screenplay is sharp, concise, and engaging. The story is delightful, and even its predictable moments are executed with creativity. Its brisk runtime works to its advantage, ensuring a fast-paced narrative that doesn't drag or risk redundancy. At its core, the film's heartfelt theme of acceptance resonates deeply, while the witty, effortlessly funny dialogue keeps the energy alive throughout.
The second standout triumph of this reboot is its animation style. In an era where innovative animation has become the norm, Mutant Mayhem not only meets expectations but exceeds them. Bursting with energy and brimming with vibrant colors, the visual design is as bold and colourful as the story itself, making it an absolute delight to watch.
The voice acting here is splendid. The ensemble cast of Seth Rogen, John Cena, Maya Rudolph, Ice Cube, Paul Rudd, Ayo Edebiri, Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon all deliver wonderful voice performances.
The last slam dunk Mutant Mayhem hits is its outstanding soundtrack, which exceeds all expectations. The original score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross seamlessly enhances the film's visuals. This is further elevated by the inclusion of licensed classic hip-hop tracks, with Blackstreet's "No Diggity" standing out as a memorable highlight. Together, the music choices bring energy and nostalgia that perfectly complement the film's tone.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a thoroughly enjoyable reintroduction to the mutants and it wonderfully sets the stage for its sequel.
8-8.5/10.
Emilia Perez
Emilia Perez is a bonkers and audacious story of identity and transformation. With its vibrant vision and daring story, the film showcases a director brimming with confidence in their craft. But does it ultimately deliver on its ambitious promise?
In this film, a Mexican cartel leader, Manitas, seeks the help of a lawyer, Rita, to facilitate not only a gender transition but also a complete disappearance. Tasked with managing the estate left behind for his family, Rita ensures the plan goes off without a hitch. Years later, now living as Emilia Perez, the former kingpin hatches a bold scheme to reconnect with her family.
Emilia Perez is an ambitious, chaotic ride that doesn't always hit the mark. The film's relentless drive to distinguish itself as unique often overshadows the core story, leaving it feeling somewhat diluted. However, its saving grace lies in its musical elements, which inject a vibrant energy into an otherwise tame story. While the musical numbers are far from flawless-occasionally rough, awkward, or even embarrassingly laughable-they embody the quirky, audacious spirit that defines Emilia Perez. These moments, imperfect as they are, are what make the film memorable.
Emilia, as a character, lacks the bite one might expect given her tumultuous past. While it's clear that her transformation signifies a fresh start, the notion of a complete reinvention feels implausible. Someone with her history would carry remnants of their former life, and this disconnect makes her portrayal feel incomplete. Furthermore, Emilia's journey seems oddly unchallenged. No one questions her identity, nor do her altruistic actions raise any suspicion-an oversight that feels unrealistic in the high-stakes world she inhabits. These gaps undermine the complexity of her character and the believability of her story.
The film's style is beautifully complemented by its cinematography. The clever use of camera angles perfectly aligns with the movie's rambunctious nature. This visual approach not only enhances the storytelling but also matches the film's chaotic charm.
The performances in Emilia Perez are solid. Zoe Saldana is a standout, delivering a revelatory performance as she seamlessly sings, raps, dances, and acts her way through the role with brilliance. Zoe doesn't play the titular character but it's as much her story as it is Emilia's- in fact, she has the most screentime. Karla Sofia Gascón serves as the emotional core of the film, embodying both facets of her character. Meanwhile, Selena Gomez, though competent, is unfortunately overshadowed by her co-stars. Her character's limitations prevent her from fully stepping into the spotlight, leaving her underutilized in the grander scheme of the narrative.
It's a musical, a comedy, a drama, a thriller... It's Emilia Perez.
7/10.
Emilia Perez is a bonkers and audacious story of identity and transformation. With its vibrant vision and daring story, the film showcases a director brimming with confidence in their craft. But does it ultimately deliver on its ambitious promise?
In this film, a Mexican cartel leader, Manitas, seeks the help of a lawyer, Rita, to facilitate not only a gender transition but also a complete disappearance. Tasked with managing the estate left behind for his family, Rita ensures the plan goes off without a hitch. Years later, now living as Emilia Perez, the former kingpin hatches a bold scheme to reconnect with her family.
Emilia Perez is an ambitious, chaotic ride that doesn't always hit the mark. The film's relentless drive to distinguish itself as unique often overshadows the core story, leaving it feeling somewhat diluted. However, its saving grace lies in its musical elements, which inject a vibrant energy into an otherwise tame story. While the musical numbers are far from flawless-occasionally rough, awkward, or even embarrassingly laughable-they embody the quirky, audacious spirit that defines Emilia Perez. These moments, imperfect as they are, are what make the film memorable.
Emilia, as a character, lacks the bite one might expect given her tumultuous past. While it's clear that her transformation signifies a fresh start, the notion of a complete reinvention feels implausible. Someone with her history would carry remnants of their former life, and this disconnect makes her portrayal feel incomplete. Furthermore, Emilia's journey seems oddly unchallenged. No one questions her identity, nor do her altruistic actions raise any suspicion-an oversight that feels unrealistic in the high-stakes world she inhabits. These gaps undermine the complexity of her character and the believability of her story.
The film's style is beautifully complemented by its cinematography. The clever use of camera angles perfectly aligns with the movie's rambunctious nature. This visual approach not only enhances the storytelling but also matches the film's chaotic charm.
The performances in Emilia Perez are solid. Zoe Saldana is a standout, delivering a revelatory performance as she seamlessly sings, raps, dances, and acts her way through the role with brilliance. Zoe doesn't play the titular character but it's as much her story as it is Emilia's- in fact, she has the most screentime. Karla Sofia Gascón serves as the emotional core of the film, embodying both facets of her character. Meanwhile, Selena Gomez, though competent, is unfortunately overshadowed by her co-stars. Her character's limitations prevent her from fully stepping into the spotlight, leaving her underutilized in the grander scheme of the narrative.
It's a musical, a comedy, a drama, a thriller... It's Emilia Perez.
7/10.
Imagine this: you, Anora, a sex worker, strike gold when the son of an oligarch falls madly in love with you. He's smitten, easy to sway, and you see him as your golden ticket out of poverty. After just two weeks of knowing each other, you get married, convinced this is your happily-ever-after. But what happens when his powerful family disapproves of the union and comes charging in to annul it? Worse still, your husband flees, leaving you to face their wrath alone. Now, that's Anora!
Anora takes you on a thrilling ride from start to finish. While the story itself isn't entirely new, the execution is fresh and utterly gripping. It's a tale of a girl determined to cling to her newfound fortune, despite having no idea how to keep it, as it slips further and further out of her grasp. It's a meet-cute born from the worst circumstances, yet one you won't soon forget. It's raw, unexpected, and brimming with a sleazy charm that feels all too real. Best of all, it's laced with sharp, clever humor that keeps you hooked.
Anora is a class commentary. It's about how the wealthy navigate relationships with those in lower tax brackets, treating them like pawns to be used and discarded, and how the poor willingly let it happen for proximity, convenience or class change. It's how the poor battle one another for the rich that don't care about them. It's about how Anora, Igor, Toros and Garnik parade the city to find a rich boy that's living his life-waiting to be swept away when they find him. But when the curtain is let down, it wraps up bittersweet-a sorrowful but hopeful resolution with a profoundly beautiful finish. It's the kind of ending that compels you to rewatch the movie, knowing it's worth every moment.
To say that Anora rides on the back of Mikey Madison would be an understatement, as she delivers an impassioned performance that's spellbinding. But Anora isn't just about Mikey Madison; it's equally defined by the performances of Mark Eydelshteyn, Anton Bitter, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan, with special praise going to no one because they all deliver the absolute best.
The story, performances, score, editing are all tied together by Sean Baker's deft direction. The seamless way he moves between the sections of the movie with their different tones whilst maintaining a balanced pacing is remarkable.
Anora provides a story that feels like it's still unfolding just beyond the screen. It's not a film that begs for your approval, but one that demands your reflection. A must watch.
9-9.5/10.
Anora takes you on a thrilling ride from start to finish. While the story itself isn't entirely new, the execution is fresh and utterly gripping. It's a tale of a girl determined to cling to her newfound fortune, despite having no idea how to keep it, as it slips further and further out of her grasp. It's a meet-cute born from the worst circumstances, yet one you won't soon forget. It's raw, unexpected, and brimming with a sleazy charm that feels all too real. Best of all, it's laced with sharp, clever humor that keeps you hooked.
Anora is a class commentary. It's about how the wealthy navigate relationships with those in lower tax brackets, treating them like pawns to be used and discarded, and how the poor willingly let it happen for proximity, convenience or class change. It's how the poor battle one another for the rich that don't care about them. It's about how Anora, Igor, Toros and Garnik parade the city to find a rich boy that's living his life-waiting to be swept away when they find him. But when the curtain is let down, it wraps up bittersweet-a sorrowful but hopeful resolution with a profoundly beautiful finish. It's the kind of ending that compels you to rewatch the movie, knowing it's worth every moment.
To say that Anora rides on the back of Mikey Madison would be an understatement, as she delivers an impassioned performance that's spellbinding. But Anora isn't just about Mikey Madison; it's equally defined by the performances of Mark Eydelshteyn, Anton Bitter, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan, with special praise going to no one because they all deliver the absolute best.
The story, performances, score, editing are all tied together by Sean Baker's deft direction. The seamless way he moves between the sections of the movie with their different tones whilst maintaining a balanced pacing is remarkable.
Anora provides a story that feels like it's still unfolding just beyond the screen. It's not a film that begs for your approval, but one that demands your reflection. A must watch.
9-9.5/10.