guskeller

Jurassic World: Dominion misses its opportunity. The story is needlessly convoluted, sidelining the dinosaurs (and their release) for a mediocre corporate scheme. There are multiple narratives that don't intertwine until the third act. Jokes misfire, plot points are convenient, and motivations are flimsy. Action sequences are messy and unrealistic, defusing their suspense. There are cheesy one-liners, lame fan service attempts, and inept villains. Still, the biggest issue is the missing protagonist or theme. Dominion is overstuffed, with no primary message. Plus, the actors are dull, especially Pratt. Only Goldblum is any fun. Overall, Dominion is emotionally draining and cluttered.

Technically, Dominion is inconsistent. There are abundant animatronics, but the CGI is occasionally goofy. Reuniting the original cast is impressive, but less charming when they're past their primes. The cinematography uses decent lighting, angles, and extended shots. However, the sound coasts off of the originals without adding anything new. There is generic music, impersonal production design, and scattered direction. Tonally, Dominion attempts everything and lands very little. Lastly, the editing is bloated, boring, and unfocused. The film never gains momentum and feels like a chore. Whether it's excessive exposition, contrived drama, or numbing action, Dominion isn't engaging.

Writing: 2/10 Direction: 3/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Acting: 4/10 Editing: 3/10 Sound: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack: 5/10 Production Design: 5/10 Casting: 7/10 Effects: 8/10

Overall Score: 4.9/10.

Revenge of the Sith fittingly concludes a disastrous trilogy. Although it has a protagonist arc, its writing remains abysmal. The tone is erratic, dialogue is blunt, character choices are confusing, and the narrative is needlessly convoluted (a flaw worsened by the prequel's predictable nature). Specifically, side characters and plotlines are unproductive filler. Really, this story should've focused on Anakin's unraveling, allowing him to evolve naturally. Instead, he's consistently angsty and deprioritized behind illogical politics. Thus, Anakin's descent is faint and the script is disengaging. Despite centering around a downfall, Revenge of the Sith fails to emotionally connect.

Meanwhile, familiar technical issues continue. Revenge of the Sith has some cinematic lighting and composition, but its visuals are predominantly stale. Dream sequences provide insert edits and abstract sounds, but they're sparse. Fundamentally, Revenge of the Sith presents minimal effort and basic craft. The production design remains sterile, the atmosphere lacks detail, and the pacing is monotonous. Plus, CGI overuse is still distractingly obnoxious. Clearly, the goal was merchandising, not artistry. Therefore, Revenge of the Sith is predictable, apathetic, and pointless. Ultimately, there's more entertainment in a single scene of the original trilogy than this entire film.

Writing: 3/10 Direction: 1/10 Cinematography: 3/10 Acting: 4/10 Editing: 3/10 Sound: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack: 7/10 Production Design: 2/10 Casting: 6/10 Effects: 3/10

Overall Score: 3.9/10.

Attack of the Clones amplifies its predecessor's mistakes. Anakin has mild depth as the protagonist, but he's generic and static. He never develops or shows layers behind his angst. Instead, his repetitive dialogue announces his feelings. Plus, his romance with Padme is cringey because there's no emotional connection. They have no chemistry, influence, or warmth. Meanwhile, the plot is disengaging. Politics are silly, information is limited, and the result is emotionally inconsequential. Viewers won't care when the narrative is needlessly illogical, confusing, and unrelatable. Furthermore, the actors struggle with this trite material. Thus, Attack of the Clones is lifeless.

Technically, Attack of the Clones is painfully dull. The exception is John Williams' score, which struggles to overcome every boring scene. The sound design is iconic, but utilized without intention. Also, the editing and cinematography are incredibly plain, never conveying meaning or influencing emotions. Additionally, the production design is fully cartoonish and sterile, abandoning Star Wars' gritty origins. This issue is exacerbated by floods of CGI, making the film look fake, empty, and stifled. Finally, the tone is a mess. Corny humor neighbors tragic drama, creating emotional whiplash. Overall, Attack of the Clones fundamentally fails as entertainment.

Writing: 2/10 Direction: 1/10 Cinematography: 2/10 Acting: 4/10 Editing: 2/10 Sound: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack: 7/10 Production Design: 2/10 Casting: 6/10 Effects: 2/10

Overall Score: 3.4/10.