These are the ten favorite films up to the summer of this year! The first is Sinners masterfully directed and written by Ryan Coogler. The most fascinating part was Coogler’s terms in first-dollar gross, final cut, and ownership of the film after twenty-five years from its opening on April 18th of this year. It is a powerful story that is part vampire horror merged with blues music all set in the 1932 period after WWI. The twins, Smoke and Stack, are twins both played by Michael B. Jordan. They are cleverly identified by red and blue. The setting up of the juke joint takes some part of the beginning and I took it as slow paced, but I suspect that there might be something that I missed watching the film. I watched many behind the scenes and analysis of the movie, but I think I would fall short of just a surface review.
I would say the same of the second film, Warfare co-written and co-directed by Alex Garland. I was just stunned by his previous movie, Civil War (2024) about war time correspondents, veteran Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) and rookie photographer, Jessie Collin (Cailee Spaeny). It revealed powerful scenes of war through the journalist witnessing them. Warfare also has Ray Mendoza, former Navy SEAL who participating in the Iraq War events, he is the co-director and co-writer. This makes for an honest and harsh depiction of war. It takes away from Hollywood conventions of a war movie. There is Lieutenant, in charge of Alpha One, Erik played by Will Poulter. Elliot Miller, the sniper, Cosmo Jarvis portrays him. Communications is handled by Mendoza played by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.
Since it is not a typical war film, the characters don’t fall into tropes, we don’t instantly get into their life stories. It really feels like a glimpse into these events and it is painful. Warfare, Civil War, and Sinners are all streaming on HBO Max. I hope to review the two new films, but just don’t feel I can write a review to do justice to them. I highly recommend these movies and will add they are challenging, Sinners has thrills, but they are all are complex films. In terms of entertainment, the finest is K-Pop Demon Hunters, it is a phenomenon similar to Barbie (2023) for that aspect. It has just invaded pop culture around the world that the casual person may know a song, characters, and basic plot. One of the drivers for its popularity is the songs, it has made a sensation of Ejae, singer and songwriter for the movie.
Then, there is the brilliance of the director, Maggie Kang, who created the concept of the movie. Next, perfect casting, Arden Cho is a standout as Rumi, Mira played by May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo playing Zoey. This film skyrocketed the creative talent to the mainstream. Beautiful animation with a story that centers on the darkness that is inside of Rumi. It transcends simple anime, but I found it fascinating that there are many anime tropes, but gives them twists and a clever story. It is of course streaming on Netflix. The next film may be less well known and had a shorter time in theaters, one day, but my fourth favorite movie is Red Sonja. This film is probably not known to most film goers, I tell others and they mistake it for the 1985 flick. For some people, after watching a movie, it drops out of their memory and they can’t remember if they have seen it. For me, fan of the character, and presented with a new version of the She-Devil with a Sword.
It just swings around my brain like a spear. I’m fascinated with this Hyrkanian world. Red Sonja is directed by M.J. Bassett who really brings a love of the character and building the world. I was stunned by Matilda Lutz’s portrayal of Sonja. Also, the comic book origins of characters reflected here. Then, we have Wallis Day as Annisia, a match for Sonja. Lastly, we have Robert Sheehan as Dagan. He makes for a great villain, there is a nice character twist for him, his innovations are about to conquer the world. Dagan’s obsession is his weakness which he doesn’t understand. The action is intense, when Sonja takes out four guards, I kept thinking she should cut a bloody swath through the empire. The movie captures the power of Robert E. Howard’s Hyperborea. The fifth movie is The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The problem with the MCU is the films and tv shows is just too much to keep track, but you can go in cold to this movie.
The problem with the MCU is the films and tv shows is just too much to keep track, but you can go in cold to this movie. This FF film also doesn’t require the viewer to know anything about the comics. In fact, expectations of Marvel’s First Family from the comics will work against viewers. My favorite part is the movie’s loving tribute to Jack Kirby. This is from the 1964 setting, the designs, and of course the character of Rachel Rozman named after Kirby’s wife, Roz. It is impressive world building with director, Matt Shakman. Then, we have a first rate cast that features Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, then Joseph Quinn playing Johnny Storm, and finally Ben Grimm portrayed by Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Plus, H.E.R.B.I.E.! I love the world of Earth-828 so much that I made a trip to Disneyland to see the FF. Even with the cosmic threat of Galactus, the Fantastic Four calms everyone and give them hope!
This of course dovetails to another superhero movie at #6, Superman! James Gunn, writer and director refreshed the super films. The film brushes away the dusty darkness to reveal the blue and red of The Last Son of Krypton. The scale has expanded beyond David Cornswet’s Superman, Lex Luthor played by Nicholas Holt, and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. There is just fun with the genius of Mr. Terrific (Ed Gathegi) and his awesome T-Spheres. Metahumans of all kinds, some world building to fill a pocket universe, and Krypto! Superman set up the second season of The Peacemaker to continue to the next movie, Man of Tomorrow! The number seven movie is The Conjuring: The Last Rites still in theaters. Review is coming up! Michael Chaves is the film’s director, his earlier horror movies just lacked the tension, but it is here in this part of The Conjuring Universe! It is of course currently playing in theaters.
The driving force of these films is the acting duo of Vera Farmiga playing Lorraine Warren and Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren. The best married couple in horror movies! This is the last film of The Conjuring movies, there are other films in the franchise, centers on the last case of The Warrens. It goes back to the beginning so we also have an ending. Clever. The daughter of Ed and Lorraine, Judy (Mia Thomlinson) also becomes important with her boyfriend, Tony Spera (Ben Hardy), ex-police officer, assisting everyone on the case. Tony is interesting with a very funny part when he proposes to Judy. Very early in the film, I felt chills, that’s all I need for a horror movie. Something demonic is within an antique mirror that was left by the young Warrens and end up with the Smurl family. Great cameos and wrap up of the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren!
Ballerina is the number eight movie for me. Personally, it ranks at the top of the Wick films. A showcase for Ana de Armas as an action hero. She was in the action comedy, Ghosted (2023) and of course was Paloma in the Bond film, No Time to Die (2021). Ballerina makes de Armas lethal as Eve Maccaro, a protector not an assassin like Wick. The film still has the fighting that is blunt and visceral like the other movies in the Wick series. Eve is an imperfect character, I love character with flaws, bent on revenge. Eve is challenged since she faces larger and multiple opponents, but her training by Nogi (Sharon-Duncan Brewster) tells her to fight like a girl! This was also the title of the Evanescence song that ran on the end titles. Like Wick, Eve becomes a figure out of Slavic mythology, the Kikimora, a night spirit that could helpful or dangerous.
The best part is that it cleverly weaves through the last two John Wick movies from Eve’s perspective. It is directed by Len Wiseman who co-wrote and directed Underworld (2003) with another powerful female lead. It has the return of many of the John Wick players, including Keanu Reeves back as John Wick, Winston (Ian McShane), Charon (Lance Reddick), his last film!, and Anjelica Huston as The Director of the Ruska Roma. So passing up this film will leave a gap in the Wick movies. They are joined by Norman Reedus (Daniel Pine), former member of a cult of assassins and Catalina Sandino Moreno (Lena), a current nember of the rogue assassins. Behind them all is The Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne)! #9 and #10 are Disney films. I’m going to put Snow White at number 9. There was so much backlash to this film, but for me, I walked out of the theater and I was smiling. It made me happy and I think that is the point of movie going.
Snow White is a fantasy adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Disney’s first animated movie, which in turn was based on the 1812 Brothers Grimm fairy tale. One adaptation should not compared to the other because ultimately you have to go back to the original. It had the queen forced to wear iron slippers and dance until she died. The character of Snow White is wonderfully played by Rachel Zegler. She was also in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023). The lead is not an innocent girl lost in a forest, Zegler brings more to Snow, she is a young woman who has lost her parents and tries to fulfill the dreams of her father and herself Zegler’s singing is great as well as Andrew Burnap who plays Jonathan. He is not a prince, but a leader of rebels resisting the queen.
Director Marc Webb has refreshed the story which may have been too far for some, but it is beautiful world building and a plus for me with the live action adaptations. The songs are by the duo, Pasek and Paul, who also crafted the songs for The Greatest Showman (2017). Next the Dwarves, there are many moments that are fun, and though I didn’t like their appearance in the first trailer, they work. The Dwarves, though, don’t figure strongly in the beginning and ending. Gal Gadot has fun as the Evil Queen who doesn’t have a name though names are important in this telling. She was Regina in the series, Once Upon a Time. The extent of her powers is unknown. What is a mystery with the story is that Dwarves mine for gems, but their relationship to the rest of the kingdom is confusing. A kind king and queen never give a look to the Dwarves? Shouldn’t this wealth be the reason for the Evil Queen’s interest? Snow White is worth a watch now on Disney+.
#Sinners, #RyanCoogler, #MichaelBJordan, #Warfare, #AlexGarland, #RayMendoza, #WillPoulter, #CosmoJarvis, #DPharoahWonATai, #CivilWar, #KirstenDunst, #CaileeSpaeny, #KPopDemonHunters, #MaggieKang, #Ejae, #ArdenCho, #MayHong, #JiYoungYoo, #RedSonja
#MJBassett, #MatildaLutz, #WallisDay, #RobertSheehan, #FantasticFourFirstSteps, #MattShakman, #VanessaKirby, #PedroPascal, #JosephQuinn, #EbonMossBachrach, #Superman, #JamesGunn, #DavidCornswet, #NicholasHoult, #RachelBrosnahan, #EdGathegi
#TheConjuringLastRites, #MichaelChaves, #VeraFarmiga, #PatrickWilson, #MiaThomlinson, #BenHardy, #BallerinaMocie, #LenWiseman, #AnaDeArmas, #KeanuReeves, #IanMcShane, #LanceReddick, #AnjelicaHuston, #NormanReedus, #CatalinaSandinoMoreno, #GabrielByrne
#SnowWhite, #MarcWebb, #RachelZegler, #AndrewBurnap, #GalGadot
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