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From Academy Award®-winning director Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave“) and co-writer and bestselling author Gillian Flynn (“Gone Girl”) comes a blistering, modern-day thriller set against the backdrop of crime, passion and corruption. “Widows” is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities. Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. “Widows” also stars Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Daniel Kaluuya, Lukas Haas and Brian Tyree Henry.
The Good:
First and foremost, if there were any doubts about whether Gal Gadot could carry a movie, she certainly should put those concerns to rest. She did a wonderful 😉 job of portraying the iconic super heroine throughout the movie. You get to see Wonder Woman's emotional growth and maturity through Gal's performance. What I really enjoyed about this movie was the fact that we finally got a DCEU movie where the character is developed and relatable in a proper way. We get to see the certain events and situations that shape her mindset and her motivations that mold her into the hero that we've all known her to be.
I personally liked the mythological background of Wonder Woman's story. As with most superhero movies, it was fun to see the different Amazonian culture, her fight training, and Wonder Woman's discovery of her powers. It was interesting to see how her background influenced aspects of her character such as her sense of duty and morality.
The movie's got some solid action scenes that will probably remind you of the film "300" almost immediately. (It's really hard not to see Zack Snyder's influence all over this movie.) Unlike in Man of Steel with the blurry and hard to follow action scenes, Wonder Woman utilizes slow motion fight scenes that were much more pleasing to the eye.
As far as the story or plot, I appreciated the fact that it was rather straight forward in regards to the origin story. We do get a surprising twist, and there are nice humorous moments that keep this movie from going too dark. Wonder Woman's social interactions are probably one of the funnier moments, especially when she interacts with Steve Trevor (played by Chris Pine). Speaking of which, Pine also does a pretty good job with his character who was surprisingly better than I expected. The Bad:
Maybe it's because I've seen a ton of comic book movies before, but the origin story does seem a little redundant. You may see some very familiar situations through her discovery of powers similar to other superheroes we've seen in films. (i.e. Spider Man, Super Man, etc.) So unfortunately this kind of made a lot of the movie a tad bit predictable. The pacing in some parts also kind of drag a bit in my opinion. Personally I would've simply wanted more time spent showing her on the Amazonian island rather than the outside world. I just think that there was a bit more to explore and learn about their culture rather than speeding up to the events of the outside world.
Another issue is probably the main villain of the movie. I can't go into too much detail about the villain without ruining things so I'll just say that I would've really preferred a different actor for the role. While the build up to the final showdown certainly was executed effectively, the actual fight itself was a bit lackluster. At one point I felt like I was watching an X-Men movie from 2006 or something. The fighting itself was a bit disappointing when you compare it to the cooler fight scenes earlier in the film. Don't get me wrong, it gets the job done at the end of the day, but the way the battle ends didn't leave me wow'd. The Reason:
I think there are couple of things to consider with this film. The first thing is that this movie was a bit cookie cutter in terms of a superhero movie. I'd probably venture to say that this was not intended to impress comic book movie fans. Instead, I think this movie is geared towards people who probably are new to superhero movies and at least have heard of Wonder Woman in general.
The other consideration is that this movie is clearly appealing to a more female demographic of all ages. That doesn't mean men can't enjoy the film. I think it's just a matter of what this movie and the character of Wonder Woman represents. She was created to be a symbol of female empowerment and a feminist (in terms of gender equality.) One thing that I realized is that there are going to probably be certain scenes in this film that will intentionally resonate with women more than it may with some men on average. I noticed this in my own screening where some women applauded and cheered during those certain scenes.
At the end of the day, whether you like this movie or not, one thing that cannot be denied is that Wonder Woman will carry an intangible quality that will resonate with fans one way or another. This movie will be a dream come true for some. It may empower others. Either way, I think it's safe to say that this is the best DCEU movie to date. As a matter of fact, Wonder Woman is what "Man of Steel" (Review) should've been. Her character is much more relatable and developed than the current Superman we have now. If I had to compare, this movie is easily Captain America: First Avenger + Thor + Man of Steel. It's absolutely worth watching in theaters.
The Rating: 8.0/10 Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?
My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best 6 = Watchable (If it's free) 5 - below = Avoid at all costs
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The Good:
Michael Fassbender gives a really effective performance. His character is by far one of the most intriguing ones to watch on the screen. He does an excellent job of displaying a wide range of emotions within his role that helps you gain insight into his character’s motivations. Along with Fassbender, Katherine Waterston continues the responsibility of being a strong feminine lead in the footsteps of Sigourney Weaver. I think I was probably the most impressed by Danny McBride's performance. If you're familiar with his comedic style, it'll be really refreshing to see him show a much deeper side when he's placed in difficult situations.
I really liked how there were a lot of religious themes throughout the film. There's a sense of tension between both logic/reason and faith. Without giving anything away, the religious themes play heavily in some characters. They really inform you as to the mental state of certain characters and their motivations.
The Xenomorph aliens are back and better than ever! These aliens were faster, stronger and so much more terrifying. They bring back the sense of horror that Alien (1979) brought to the table so long ago. Besides that, Alien Covenant does not shy away from the body gore that has made the film franchise so memorable. If you have a weak stomach then you will want to bring a vomit bag or something. Things are popping out of people, body parts flying around, and blood…lots of blood.
The Bad:
The pacing is a little long and unnecessary. Unlike in Prometheus where the slower pacing was necessary to help build the upcoming movie franchise, Covenant doesn’t need to follow suit in the same way. It was nice to see more dedication in building the mythology, but a lot of scenes, especially with the expendable crew, could’ve been cut.
Speaking of the crew, THEY WERE SO STUPID! It was almost like they were allergic to common sense. They created so many of their own problems that it's really hard to even care about them at all. Unfortunately, I have to lay that blame on the writing and directing. The characters and their dreadful situations were just really poor setups. I believe that in order to have an effective horror, you can't show us (the audience) something that we would say, “Why did you do that?!” We should see the characters doing things that we would do. That would help us relate much more with them and their state of terror. We should be able to feel sorry for them.
Lastly, the story itself is rather predictable. Full disclosure: I did end up watching a lot of the Prologue videos that 20th Century Fox has released. Unfortunately, if you pay a lot of attention to films the way I do, you'll put the pieces together really quickly. So for me (and maybe you) you may see the big reveals and plot twists coming from a mile away. I should also mention that I was really disappointed that we didn't get to see or learn too much about the Engineers either. While Prometheus teased us greatly into who/what they were, Covenant failed to deliver anything of substance to give us more information about them.
The Reason:
Alien Covenant is like Prometheus 1.5. If you didn’t know, Covenant is a direct sequel to Prometheus. If you're still confused about what order you should watch the movies in, watch my video below about "Everything You Need To Know Before Watching Alien Covenant".
With that said, it’s really important for you to watch Prometheus first. If you haven’t seen Prometheus in a while, you should still watch it again since Covenant picks up just 10 years after Prometheus. If you've never seen Prometheus, I’d recommend watching the Blu-Ray with the alternate/deleted scenes. That helps to explain more of the story. (Click here for an Amazon link)
Director Ridley Scott has previously announced that he had four more sequels to add on to this current Alien franchise. He then dialed back on that announcement and said maybe two more or so. Either way, don’t expect Covenant to answer all the burning questions you may have had in Prometheus. If anything, Covenant may raise new questions.
Alien: Covenant is definitely worth the watch in theaters. If you’ve been a fan of the franchise then you’ll probably like the fact that Covenant draws from a lot of the things that you may have enjoyed with the previous Alien movies.
The Rating: 8/10 Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?
My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best 6 = Watchable (If it's free) 5 - below = Avoid at all costs
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The Good:
Unlike the previous Godzilla 2014 film (Read my review here) we get a lot more of Kong throughout the film. Matter of fact, it doesn't take very long for him to appear on the screen either. This may be one of the best depictions of King Kong given the fact that this film doesn't really hold back with his level of destruction. The movie is only PG-13, but there are moments where the violence would make one think it was bordering the rated R level. I personally enjoyed the fact that they made Kong more expressive than just a big raging monster. You can read his emotions and can get behind him as a character.
Kong: Skull Island is truly a "monster film". The various creatures that populate the island almost give you the same feeling that you may have had when you watched Jurassic Park for the very first time. The movie includes some great camera angles and shots, but also some shocking death scenes as well. The havoc and chaos that the monsters evoke will keep your eyes glued to the screen.
As far as the characters go, I'd probably say that after seeing this film, I am now 110% convinced that Tom Hiddleston should be the new James Bond. Period. We don't need to debate this because it's already settled. He has a few moments in the film that show you the potential of being, not just suave and debonair, but fully capable of getting his hands dirty with some action scenes too. Samuel L. Jackson is exactly who we've come to expect and love with his character. John C. Reilly simply runs away with the comedic relief in the movie. His comedy was well timed and helped lighten the mood during some intense moments. The supporting cast including Jason Mitchell, John Goodman, and others were also really solid. I will also say that I was very happy to see some predictable Hollywood tropes not happen.
The Bad:
I suppose one issue is just the mere fact that there wasn't really anything ground breaking or new with this film. You've seen big monsters on the screen before. You've seen monsters fight on screen before too. It's entertaining, but like I said, nothing really all that original.
This may be a bit of nitpicking, but the film seemed to have some sort of difficulty with its character development. Throughout the film we are introduced to a variety of characters. However, it seemed difficult to really get attached to most of them. Besides that, I could've sworn they added a bunch of extra soldiers to the film to be used as collateral damage. At one point it felt like we were only dealing with about 7 characters but 20 get included in the battle scenes.
The Reason:
Kong: Skull Island was definitely an entertaining film. It's a nice stepping stone to continue building the mythos that the studios are creating with this "monster universe". For those wondering, yes, there is an end credit scene that teases a connection to future movies. It's well worth the watch in theaters, so feel free to plan your weekend to check it out. I saw the film in 2D and thought it was just fine in that format.
The Rating: 8/10
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My [Loosely based] Ratings scale 10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best 6 = Watchable (If it's free) 5 - below = Avoid at all costs
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GUEST WRITER: Don Shanahan is a fellow Chicago film critic of "Every Movie Has a Lesson." He is an elementary educator who writes his movie reviews with life lessons in mind, from the serious to the farcical. Don is one of the directors of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Association (CIFCC). Please welcome him as an occasional contributor to Eman's Movie Reviews.
The Trailer:
The Good:
When done with gusto, what makes Batman unique and special is that he works in any tone. With brooding attitude, he can be the Dark Knight. With zest and camp, he can be the Bright Knight like Adam West. Batman works in either setting because the human fortitude at the core of the character, his drive to right wrongs after personal tragedy, can be employed equally for heroic and virtuous causes and also for the vigilante and urban myth that takes matters into his own hands.
The roller coaster that can be praised without reservation or question is the technical and artistic achievement of the film’s sparklingly detailed animation. The CGI and 3D rendering is off the charts and better than “The LEGO Movie.” Every detail is so nimbly imagined, right down to the perceived-smooth LEGO surfaces with subtle chips and scratches of playtime weathering. This confection has unquestioned luster.
Another heap of praise goes to the ensemble voice cast of inspired choices, large and small. Galifianakis is a perfect frazzled Joker and Michael Cera steals scenes with his flamboyant Robin act. The real hidden gems are the clever casting matches for underlying characters, like Billy Dee Williams getting to play Two-Face nearly 30 years after playing Harvey Dent in 1989’s “Batman.” Test your ears to place the likes of Conan O’Brien, Eddie Izzard, Seth Green, Jemaine Clement, Hector Elizondo, Mariah Carey, Ellie Kemper, Riki Lindhome, Adam DeVine, Jason Mantzoukas, and plot the scavenger hunt of who they play. The Bad:
To say the narrative trajectory of “The LEGO Batman Movie” is all over the place is an understatement. This is cinematic carnival bumper cars with all of the wild tangents representing the carny food confection. Such is delicious, yet admittedly shallow and not all that healthy. Batman being a known commodity makes this tale less compelling than learning all about the new hero of Emmet Brickowski two years ago.
The film is a great deal of fun as big-screen entertainment, but is constantly frenetic with its breakneck pace. It stands as proof that you can’t make a movie entirely out of references, even if they are clever ones concocted by a five-man story team led by TV joke writer Chris McKenna (“Community”) and genre-bending author Seth Grahame-Smith (“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”). The kids should come first and most of “The LEGO Batman movie” is going to zoom over their heads. The Reason:
Chock full of more jokes, puns, and references than there are virtual plastic bricks, “The LEGO Batman Movie” is a breezy blast of unabashed fun. Twirling with dazzling animation and saturated with endless character possibilities, these two hours of zippy entertainment offer exhilarating playful engagement for young audiences and many absolute belly laughs for the adults.
The Rating:8/10
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My [Loosely based] Ratings scale 10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best 6 = Watchable (If it's free) 5 - below = Avoid at all costs
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One of the biggest strengths of this film is probably the connections that are built with the individual characters. Felicity Jones naturally stands out as the heroine female lead. My personal favorite was Donnie Yen's character, "Chirrut Imwe". His character was the only remnant of the spiritual side that acknowledges the Force, and he's probably the closest you'll get to a Jedi. (Trust me, that's not saying much though.) However, the real scene-stealer belongs to K-2SO, the android robot. Just like in the past Star Wars films the androids continue to provide comic relief throughout the film. K-2SO's pettiness and witty banter was easily one of the best aspects of the movie.
Darth Vader!!!!! While I was initially disappointed that they revealed he was going to be shown in the movie, it clearly didn't matter when he's actually shown. Granted it would've been a major surprise had they kept him a secret, he was still displayed enough to make up for it. He has one particular scene that simple legitimizes his already huge stature as one of the most famous characters in cinema pop culture. You'll know it when you see it. His major scene alone may make you literally feel the powers of the dark side.
In terms of action, Rogue One doesn't hold back either. From the ground fights, to spaceship battles, it surely encompasses all of the hard fought action that the Star Wars films brought to the table in the late 70s and early 80s. Despite probably knowing the eventual outcome of the film, there were still some great moments of suspense that will keep you engaged to the very end. The Bad:
There were some rather slow moving parts in the middle of the film. There is a lot of dialogue that will probably play more so to the dedicated Star Wars fans more so than casual movie fans. One of the biggest appeals to the film is that it is a prequel to Star Wars: A New Hope (1977). However, given that fact, if you're unfamiliar with Star Wars (1977) then there will be a lot of references and call backs that can be missed. The Reason:
If Stars Wars were to be completely erased, and rebooted, Rogue One would be the exact movie to do it. It encapsulated everything that fans loved from the original Star Wars (1977) film, except modernized it for today's audiences.
I do think that in order to truly appreciate this film, it's practically a requirement to watch Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) before watching Rogue One. Without watching Star Wars: A New Hope, I don't think that this movie will cater to casual or even new incoming movie fans the way Star Wars: The Force Awakens did. Rogue One serves a major purpose in emphasizing a lot of backbone to the story of Star Wars A New Hope. We get to see why getting the plans was just so important and just what it took to accomplish the mission.
I didn't get a chance to see this in 3-D and I was perfectly content with that. Though 3-D may have helped with some of the big star ship battles, the movie still was very enjoyable to watch without it. I would definitely recommend watching this, but as I said, be sure to watch the original Star Wars (1977) film first. If you have seen it before, it wouldn't hurt to refresh your memory and see it again prior to seeing Rogue One.
The Rating: 8/10
My [Loosely based] Ratings scale 10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best 6 = Watchable (If it's free) 5 - below = Avoid at all costs
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The Trailer:
The Good:
The acting definitely stands out as one of the highlights of this film. Bryan Cranston was simply brilliant. His acting is definitely at an all-time high in The Infiltrator. You can tell because throughout the film, he's able to convey his emotions in such a way that you have no choice but to connect with his character. I appreciated how he was able to show the real difficulty surrounding the life of an undercover agent. Rather than just showing the pretending and crime busting, they also showed how his life affects his family, and his own decision making. I should also mention that Cranston was able to build off of a very strong supporting cast as well.
A lot of characters were able to stand out on their own in a very unique way. John Leguizamo (played “Emir Abreu”) was great as well. His character fed into much of the suspicion in a film where you didn't know who to trust. Benjamin Bratt (played "Roberto Alcaino") and Diane Kruger (played "Kathy Ertz) gave noteworthy performances as well. They all shared such great on-screen chemistry together, that I almost feel bad for not being able to mention the other very unique characters.
The other highlight to this movie was the high level of suspense. There were so many scenes that were either jaw-dropping or just completely suspenseful. You almost have to sit on the edge of your seat when some situations in the movie take an ugly turn. What made it even more intense was that there were many twists and turns that were rather unpredictable. There's a decent amount of action mixed with a good dose of intrigue that will keep you interested from beginning to end. It was nice to see how the older technology was used to assist the agents do their work. However, after watching this film, I'm not sure why anyone in their right mind would ever want to work undercover for any reason.
The Bad:
My only real issue with the movie is that it felt kind of long. It is about two hours long, and there are plenty of scenes that will keep you engaged. However, it probably could've been a little shorter to help the film go by faster.
The Reason:
Overall, I really enjoyed The Infiltrator. I can understand that this film may not be for everyone. If you're a fan of the movie Sicario, American Hustle, or the Netflix series Narcos (all highly recommended), then you'll more than likely enjoy this. The story of Pablo Escobar never gets old, in my opinion, and this movie doesn't sell it short at all. I'd highly recommend checking it out whenever and however you can.
The Rating: 8/10
My [Loosely based] Ratings scale 10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best 6 = Watchable (If it's free) 5 - below = Avoid at all costs
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The Trailer: YouTube Review (Spoiler-Free)
The Good:
Let's start off with the characters. Woody Harrelson was funny given his "interesting" role in the
movie. It was nice to see more of Mark Ruffalo’s character and his past. It would appear that Ruffalo had a few similar highlights in this film similar to how Dave Franco did in the last Now You See Me. (Remember when Dave Franco had that cool magic fight scene in the last film?) With Isla Fisher (who played "Henley") not present in this film, Lizzy Caplan stepped in without missing a beat. She was both entertaining and humorous.
The biggest highlight will probably be the "Security scene" as it was the most suspenseful scene of the entire film. (You'll know it when you see it.) The first 2/3's of the movie is overall really good.
The Bad:
The story seems to have one too many forced twists the closer you get to the end. The more plot twists that were revealed, the more convoluted the story became. I was a little disappointed because the original mystery that made the story so compelling seemed to unravel rather hastily. When it came to the magic tricks, they simply didn't seem to be as grand as the last movie's tricks.
With all of the reveals of how the many tricks were done, a lot of the allure seemed to disappear. I also think that the marketing may have failed this film a bit too. The trailers, and even movie posters, all appeared to give away a major reveal that the movie tried to make a big deal; that includes some of the magic tricks or characters.
The Reason:
In all honesty, I can't say that this sequel lives up to the previous movie. However, it's a rather difficult task to exceed that surprise factor that Now You See Me pt 1 came in with. As you can probably tell in my previous Now You See Me review, I was very impressed with the previous movie. (Probably more so than others) Interestingly enough, news has been reported that the movie studios have already started working on Now You See Me 3. So maybe, just maybe, there's hope that Now You See Me 2 was just a bridge film, and there's room for more improvement down the road. Either way, I still think that this movie was entertaining and fun to watch. It's worth your time to see it in the theaters.
The Rating: 8.0/10
My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best 6 = Watchable (If it's free) 5 - below = Avoid at all costs
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The Trailer:
The Good:
From the very beginning, you're reminded of the very thing that makes George Clooney famous. His wit and charm on screen translate perfectly through his character. Even more so, both he and Julia Roberts share amazing on screen chemistry together. Their interactions give you a perfect sense of how deep their bond goes as friends.
One of the biggest highlights of this films is the level of suspense and intensity that happens almost at every turn. There were rarely any dull moments and just when you think it was about to settle down, something pulls you right back in. To many people's surprise there were also a lot of pockets of mild humor. The good thing about them was that they gave you a moment to simply catch your breath, or in my case, allow your heart to stop beating so fast.
I certainly appreciated the fact that this movie didn't always do what you expected it to do either. There's one pivotal scene in the film where the entire audience simply feels the pain of one of the characters. As a man, I think if I had been that character, a tiny piece of my soul would have shriveled up and died. :-/
Director Jodie Foster (Yeah, that Jodie Foster, the actress) did a great job with the movie's pacing and, I think, also did a good job of steering your emotions throughout the film. Another nice addition to the film was how it was able to make the entire world a character in itself. Watching how society played a part in this film was rather unique and a very interesting reflection of today's world.
The Bad:
I would probably have to say that this film's ending started drifting more towards the unbelievable rather than more realistic side of things. It was definitely a bit of a stretch, but I suppose you go with it for the sake of the movie. Also, the main culprit was rather predictable to figure out from very early on. It was built up as if it were some surprise, but it really was a no brainier.
The Reason:
One of the biggest concerns I had about this film was whether or not it would be too heavy with the financial jargon and maybe go over some people's heads. Luckily it didn't go too over board with it and still found a way to keep viewers engaged with the intense and suspenseful scenes. I personally enjoyed the fact that this film felt a little more original, and a nice break from the onslaught of comic-book movies. Interestingly enough, I couldn't help but wonder, how different would this movie had been if the gunman was maybe black, or maybe Muslim. I suppose that's a conversation for another day though. Either way, if you're in the mood for something different and a change of pace, I'd recommend checking this out.
The Rating: 8/10
My [Loosely based] Ratings scale 10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best 6 = Watchable (If it's free) 5 - below = Avoid at all costs BONUS: Money Monster Critic Reactions
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The Trailer:
The Good:
One of the best highlights of this film is probably how well the visuals were executed. The scenery of the jungle is beautiful and it’s given a lot of depth with the 3D effects. The use of the CGI quickly adapts you to the idea that these animals feel and express themselves just like humans. If you're like me, you may actually believe that animals can literally talk for that hour and a half.
With the combination of the human-like CGI infused with the animals, the addition of quality voice actors only makes the entire viewing experience that much better. Ben Kingsley (plays Bagheera the panther) and Bill Murray (Baloo the bear) are fully immersed into their characters. Idris Elba is both intimidating and terrifying as the tiger, Shere Khan. (He almost reminded me of that drunk, abusive step-dad character in movies). Neel Sethi is a perfect version of Mowgli, and Christopher Walken as King Louie the Monkey king is just a perfect casting as well.
What I personally appreciated was how this live-action remained faithful to the 1967 animated version. It seemed as though this film took all of the good parts and just went along with that. Even the songs were done pretty well without making this movie feel like a musical. It also had many humorous points throughout the film which kept the movie entertaining and fun for the most part.
Another highlight is how the movie's characters able to connect with viewers on an emotional level. (It is a Disney movie afterall) It does deal with some pretty classic themes such as not fitting in with society, the sense of family, bullying, and much more. For example, when it's time to feel the motherly love between Raksha (mother wolf played by Lupita Nyong'o) and Mowgli, you feel it. When it's time to feel tense and frightened by Shere Khan hunting you down, you feel that too.
The Bad:
I'm not sure how the 3D effects were shot but there are moments where it was just terribly blurry. It doesn't happen too often, but it was enough to notice. (Luckily the rest of the 3D effects don't overtake the viewing experience.) Besides that, the only thing I'd say is that this film's tone is a little darker than what many may expect. There are some jump scares and animal violence that more sensitive and younger audiences may want to be cautious about.
The Reason:
Well this certainly brought me back to the days when I used to watch the animated Jungle Book on VHS on repeat for days on end. If you grew up watching that film then you'll more than likely enjoy this new remake as well. I think it's well worth the watch in theaters. I can already see why Disney is already greenlighting a sequel. As I said above, be cautious with your children. While this movie is overall fun, charming, and heart-warming, the dark tones almost push the limits of the film’s PG rating. If they can handle watching Discovery channel animal fights, then they'll probably be okay for this film. So just use your best parental judgment before going in. (Or have an extra pillow ready in case someone needs to sleep next you for a few days)
The Rating: 8/10
My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best 6 = Watchable (If it's free) 5 - below = Avoid at all costs
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The Good:
Director Quentin Tarantino continues to deliver exactly what you would come to expect from a film by him. There are some excessively gory, bloody, and over the top scenes that will definitely have you going "WTF?!?". The plot is probably the best highlight of this movie. The level of mystery is such that it's almost impossible to guess the surprise twists and turns. It may be fair to say that Samuel L. Jackson is in classic form, and doesn't disappoint. He had some of the funnier highlights in the film.
The Bad:
Unfortunately this movie is almost 3 hours long. (It does include a 12 min intermission though if you watch it in theaters) The 3 hours isn't the problem though. The problem is that it takes about 1.5 hours for the movie to get interesting. The first 3 chapters of the movie is spent delivering a lot of dialogue between the characters, with some backstory as well. Some of the dialogue may cause people to lose some interest until the movie picks up the pace later on.
Oh and if you're familiar with Tarantino's work, you already know it's far from being politically correct. There are probably just as many "N-Words" dropped in this film as there were "F-bombs" said in The Departed. Unlike in Django (My Django review), that involved slavery and racism, this time around it just felt unnecessary and it became a distraction. (If it helps, Tarantino equally includes derogatory terms and actions towards women, Hispanics and white supremacists....so equal opportunities for all) The Reason:
The best way to describe this movie is to think of it as a classic western film meets Clue. You're primarily going to be invested into this film based on its mystery and ending. The film is going to be released in 70MM format in theaters, but I don't think that you have to feel pressured in going to see it. If you have time to go out, then I don't think it will disappoint if you saw it in theaters. Tarantino fans will appreciate this film, but, even as a Tarantino fan myself, I don't think this will go down as one of his best films. It's still good and worth checking out in theaters or just as a watch at home when it becomes available. If you're not into dialoge heavy films then you may want to think again about seeing this film. However, if you are a Tarantino fan, this is an automatic watch regardless of what anyone says.
The Rating: 8/10
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