SOLO: A Frightfully Average Story Wars Story

     Star Wars has been of course recognized as one of the biggest movie franchises of all time, which is undeniable. However, with this new movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story, they’re tackling something that is different. Not only are they doing a prequel movie, but a movie based around one of their most iconic characters, in the form of Han Solo. On paper, it may sound like something with a lot of potential, however, Solo, while not a terrible movie has unfortunately becomes a bit of a disappointment, being an all-around average film with not much excitement as there could have been for a character like Han Solo.

     The film of course centers on Han Solo, and shows the early days of his career as a smuggler, going on adventures, meeting up with characters like Chewbacca and Lando and just around the time as the empire is starting to take over the galaxy. The film has a basic story with him teaming up with a group of bounty hunters and going on a missions and trying to the save rest of the Galaxy, which could provide as a fun simple romp through the galaxy with Han and his crew. Where this movie suffers big time however that prevents it from being all that exciting boils down to three words, BY, THE, NUMBERS. Solo becomes a rather dull romp with a story that is incredibly predictable and has very few surprises woven into the film and being too simplistic. Granted, it is a hard task to create a movie that isn’t very predictable when you all know too well that Han Solo is going to make it out okay, knowing that it is a prequel film, however the film doesn’t add too much as a film, it’s a simple team getting together and rebel story and there’s not much to it outside of it. There aren’t any real risks taken with this film compared to most other Star Wars movies, which makes it honestly not very exciting with it going the exact route you would expect a movie like this to go. Even if the story was predictable, the film doesn’t have enough to sustain it further, as the writing is bland, with moments of humor that don’t land, characters that aren’t really fleshed out that entire well, and a lack of style and direction this film could have benefitted from big time. It also does not help at all that the film has a huge pacing problem, it is two hours and fifteen minutes long and it feels like a good portion of the movie could have been cut out. Rather than feeling like a three act structured movie, the film near the ends, feels more like it has an unneeded fourth act. With so much happening throughout most of the movie, there is a point where the film could easily wrap up, but it ends up going on for another 20 minutes and it’s not a very exciting 20 minutes. It just feels like Solo was wasted potential on a story that could be good, but it just became one of the most basic Star Wars films ever made.

     As mentioned earlier, the characters of Solo are somewhat lacking in this department as well, however, it isn’t to say that the actors aren’t trying their best with the material given to them. For all the flack Alden Ehrenreich has gotten for taking on the part of Han Solo, he actually delivers a decent performance. He does come across as a younger version of the character and while he isn’t given that much to work with, he does well with giving off the impression of the classic smuggler character Harrison Ford was known for. The rest of the new additions from Woody Harrelson to Emilia Clarke, while lacking as characters themselves, they are doing their best and making their characters a bit more entertaining than the script would originally let them to be. The highlight of the cast is easily Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian. Not only is the character authentic to the original version and Glover is extremely entertaining as Lando, but he is easily a part of some of the best scenes in the entire movie, especially an incredibly well edited and fascinating card game sequence with Han that might be the best moment in the entire film. As for the rest of the cast, while the actors do their best and all the characters have their moments, they kind of seem like throw away characters as they’re only there for a bit and as soon as they leave, most of them don’t leave that much of an impact, with the exception of Lando’s droid friend who has a nice subtle element to her character that gives a bit more impact to the film. The only other true standout of this character wise is a surprise cameo that was not seen coming and was actually fascinating to see, of course it shouldn’t be spoiled, but it is certainly a jaw dropping appearance if anything. But other than that, the characters do save this movie somewhat; they don’t have as much impact as they should have unfortunately due to the lack of development given to them.

     With any star wars movie, it should be expected that the film should be visually impressive in a lot of ways, and for the most part Solo does deliver. The film is visually impressive in terms of art direction, with every set, character design and just over-all aesthetics having the feeling of classic star wars. The film continues on a great trend of modern Star Wars movies using practical effects and it delivering on looking authentic, along with having some incredibly good use of CGI at point. From the sounds of it, this film seems like the perfect visually impressive Star Wars movie, however, there is an element that kind of kills It, which is an incredibly lackluster color palette. The film is shot way too dark and the impressive visuals feel honestly lifeless with the film looking too murky and gritty for its own good. There is a serious lack of color for this movie, which would be okay if this movie had a tone that matches it, but honestly, the film tone strives more for exciting and fun and this color palette does not match it at all. It could be assume that the film is trying to have a lesser color palette due to the film taking place during the reign of the empire, however Rogue One took place years after this film and it had a perfectly balance and bright color palette, so that would not be a good excuse for this film’s lack of color. It is a shame that the color palette tarnishes this films aesthetics because everything else seems right into place from the creature and set designs to the music and easter eggs that makes the film very aesthetically pleasing. It’s not an awful looking film by any means, but seeing one element that makes the film look too dark, gives a film an honestly lacking visually look.

    Solo, while far from a terrible star wars story, is honestly an unremarkable one. It has some element that makes it enjoyable for a single watch, with some fun moments and neat characters making it a bit more redeemable. But none of that can save a movie that is very lacking with a dull script, poor pacing and an unimpressive color palette that make the film less exciting than it could have been. For Star Wars fans, there is some to be enjoyed enough to view it at least once, however outside of that, it seems like a movie some could easily skip and they wouldn’t really miss much. Solo is an average star wars story and nothing more but also nothing less.

Deadpool 2: Just as fun and possibly even crazier than the first

    If there is any character that has been somewhat of a game charger in terms of creating refreshing comic book movies, it’s definitely Deadpool. Deadpool first outing in 2016 was an incredibly entertaining one, and while not an absolute masterpiece, was still a fun tribute and parody of other comic book films and also paved the way for more R-rated blockbusters to become a thing again. With its sequel simply title Deadpool 2, it luckily recreates that magic of the first along with improving some of the faults the first movie had, making this sequel over-all, funnier, better crafted and just all around a more impressive movie that is a blast to watch.

     Deadpool 2 takes place shortly after the first, only this time he’s on a mission to prevent a child mutant from getting murdered by an assassin from the future named Cable. So it’s up to Deadpool to make sure not only the kid is safe, but also make sure the future is all fine and dandy for the world. Much like the first one, the plot isn’t anything too complicated but there is a lot more going on in this film compared to the first with more set pieces, characters and events alike, however it doesn’t quite feel too alienating from the first. Which does lead into a slight issue with the sequel is that, like many, it does feel like it’s going through the same motions as the first. There are numerous moments that while are entertaining and fun to watch, feels more or less like they’re trying to recreate the magic of the first one, which can feel a bit repetitive. At least, that’s what it feels like in the first half of the film, however once the second half comes in, the film picks up majorly. Not only are the jokes much more clever and fun in the second half, but it does legitimately feel like a bigger film in the second half, with a bigger budget and more exciting set pieces compared to the first. It goes way more over the top with its violence, swearing and over-all material that makes it an extreme movie, but it’s all in a way that creates for a crazy fun experience. It’s not subtle by any means, but luckily, it knows exactly the type of movie it is to the point where it doesn’t need to be and instead just gives the audience a good time.

    What adds to Deadpool’s excessive entertainment value is that it does have a very excellent cast. Ryan Reynolds again returns as the title character and he’s just as charismatic as ever. He’s made even better in a sense where it becomes arguably less obnoxious and even has his own character arch with him trying to prove himself to be a good guy and not just some anti-hero. He is also just as Meta as ever, breaking the fourth wall numerous times that create for some incredibly clever gags. Even when a joke goes on for too long, Reynolds still delivers it in a way that makes it charming and you can’t think of anyone else who could play as him. Another highlight is most definitely Josh Brolin as Cable, outside of him looking a little fake in some areas and the disappointing lack of Thanos jokes that could have been made, Brolin is an excellent straight man to Deadpool’s wackiness. He looks cool, sounds cool and is just an all-around badass that will satisfy Marvel fans big time. As mentioned earlier, the film does pick up during the second hour and one of the reasons is also newcomer Zazie Beetz as Domino who is introduced in the second half. This character is also a blast to watch with Beetz delivering a very funny performance and also like Cable is just an all-around bad-ass that is awesome to watch, especially during some of the major action set pieces. As for the rest of the cast, the returning characters of Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Colossus, while do not have a whole lot of screen time are also very serviceable in terms of making these characters alive and true to their comic book selves. This is also a film filled with various cameos and surprised appearances from both big time celebrities and major X-men characters, so much so that it would be disappointing to reveal here, but lets just say they add to the insanity and enjoyment that Deadpool 2 provides big time.

   While on the topic of insanity, it should be fair to mention that Deadpool 2 is massive, mostly in its second act. The director know how to make an action film that is as super violent as Deadpool is known for with his work on films like Atomic Blonde and the John Wick movies and given the bigger budget, Deadpool 2 definitely shows how this film utilizes its budget to create insane over the top violence and action. It’s bloody and extreme, which makes great for the bloodthirsty action lovers who definitely would dig this sequel. And even taking the gore out of it, the action is still super impressive, with some great cinematography, excellent stunt work and even some decent CGI at points. The highlight easily being a big chase scene that goes all throughout the city which creates for an exhilarating moment and easily the best the Deadpool movies has offered to us so far in terms of action. Where the first movie definitely felt like a cheaper film compared to your average Marvel movie, this movie has much more of a budget and it proves that the studio spent it’s budget well with creating a more action packed and exciting film with Deadpool 2. It’d be hard to be an action fan and have some sort of appreciation for all the action Deadpool 2 throws at the screen.

     Deadpool 2 while not a 100% improvement of the first definitely improves on the first big time and is an all-around entertaining film to watch.  It may not break the mold of ingenious moves of the R-rated Superhero movie trend like Logan, however Deadpool 2 does prove yet again that having these current films go all the way with an R-rating was the best decision Fox ever made for their X-men property. With all of its great action, lovable characters and clever script, it’d be hard to be a fan of the first one and not find a little bit enjoyment in this sequel at all.

Tully: Jason Reitman’s and Diablo Cody’s Most Ambitious work

  Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody tend to be very recognizable as an incredibly talented duo ever since their work on Juno. With Cody’s unique use of dialogue and Reitman’s good sense of realism in his directing, they’ve helped created some very relatable but also funny films in a sense. The same goes true with their newest film Tully; however unlike most of their previous work whether it is separate or together, Tully ends up becoming a much more fascinating piece of work created by this team. It may seem on its surface as a down to earth dramedy about motherhood, and while it is most definitely that, it is also a film that is also surprisingly more ambitious and takes more of an artistic approach with its narrative, in a way that easily makes possibly their best work, being an incredibly layered film about the struggles of being a mother.

 The film’s main focus is on a woman named Marlo, played by Charlize Theron, a struggling mother of three children who is stressing about raising her newborn daughter. However, things take a turn for the better when a woman named Tully is hired to help her raise her daughter and thus, goes through this journey of motherhood with her. As with most of Reitman’s films, Tully does have a sense of realism to it, where the characters and situations feel real as it doesn’t sugar coat the whole idea of raising children. Like with Reitman’s other films where the situations feel exactly like real life, Tully showcases how struggling being a mother can truly be and how stressful it can be on a person. Considering the script was written by Diablo Cody, who is a mother herself, it is expected that there is a sense of how it makes the situation of raising a child as real as possible, without making it a complete walk in the park. What stands Tully out from the other films from this director is that, the film surprisingly has a lot of interruptive and deep themes to it, more than just the typical, “Motherhood is hard” type scenario the trailers come across. The film has layers to it, as it is a movie that has a ton of moments to interrupt and discuss upon, in terms of what Tully means to the main character and what the situation is to the main character, making this film surprisingly more artistic in terms of script. Granted, it isn’t the deepest as the film’s interpretations of what the actual film is trying to convey is fairly easy to figure out, however it is still given a lot of time and thought and is even made better upon second viewing where you can notice the subtle details of what the film is trying to convey. Not to mention that the film has many underlying themes outside of just the motherhood theme. Themes along the lines of letting go of the past and embracing the future, bonding with a child and also even a subtly told message about how a father figure should be just as important to raising a child as a mother is. All of this is told in a subtle manner through diablo Cody’s clever script that doesn’t spell things out but also doesn’t go too complex either. It’s enough to grasp but also enough to truly appreciate on a screenwriting level.

     As with most of Reitman’s films, he is a director that really excels with working with actors and in the case of Tully, it is no exception. The film has some of the most believable and alive performances seen all year so far. Charlize Theron is truly dedicated in the role, with not only changing up her appearance for the role, but also truly conveying the feeling of being a struggling mom big time. Seeing her struggle with a third new baby and a troublesome child, makes you feel very sympathetic for her as she truly looks and act like she has been going through some rough patches. The secondary lead, which is coincidently the title character Tully, is also a very fascinating character. She’s one who’s a quirky and fun character to see even if she feels like an archetype of a character made by Diablo Cody, however as the film progresses, the mystery behind her character has a lot more merit to her. The intrigue of her character becomes a lot more meaningful to the film after a first viewing and even more so after a second one as she is more a part of Theron’s character than one would expect. The rest of the cast from the child actors to the performances from the other adults such as Theron’s husband and family friends also do a fine job supporting the film’s rather small cast and are also beneficial to Charlize’s character. The husband in particular has a subtle character arch and although not fully fleshed out, it also helps emphasizes the film’s message about parenting and does it in an incredibly intelligent way that makes it heartwarming to see when it ends up the way it does.

    Tully is easily one of the most fascinating films to have come out from the team of Reitman and Cody. It has all the charming realism and dialogue we’re used to seeing from this team, making it a good film for fans of this duo, however it’s the film’s more ambitious themes and structure that makes the film a lot more impactful. It’s a thoughtful film that is worth seeing, especially for those who are struggling or even plan on becoming parents as it’s a film with a message that sticks with you for a good while. It’s an artistic piece of work that was never expected from Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman but that’s why it might be one of their best works easily.

Infinity War: A Marvel Epic that’ll satisfy any hardcore fan(Spoiler-Free)

   

     For ten year straight, Marvel has been pumping out film after film that adapts many of their beloved and iconic characters onto the big screen in the form of a Cinematic Universe. While not every film they have made has been good, there’s always a little bit of an interest towards an MCU film. With the third Avengers movie, Infinity War, there’s some doubt that this could become a disappointment and not live up to the massive amount of hype it has received. Luckily for Marvel, Infinity War just manages to live up to the hype. It’s not an outstanding movie and even for Marvel’s standards, there have been plenty of better films out there, but for the type of movie it is aiming to be, Infinity War manages to be an ambitious and over-all blast of a movie even with its shortcomings.

     Infinity War of course stars all of the major Marvel superheroes, this time all teaming up in their own ways and taking down the one big bad guy who can potentially destroy the universe, in the form of Thanos. A film with so many characters from so many different movies that have tones that are so contrasting to one another, it’s fair to be fearful that a movie as grand as Infinity War would be overstuffed and crowded with so much going on to the point of overload. To be blunt, it actually does feel slightly overcrowded unfortunately, as the film honestly doesn’t feel like one big consistent film, it feels more like 2-5 films meshed into one. With so many characters and tones that conflict with one another, Infinity War at points feels less like a third Avengers movie, but instead feels either like the fourth Captain America movie, the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie or even to a lesser extent, the second Spider Man, Black Panther or Doctor Strange movie. It does make the film a bit on overload when the shift goes from funny and light with the Guardians of the Galaxy to sudden a scene with a more dramatic tone with Captain America and his team. This might sound like Infinity War is a mess of a movie and add to the fact that the movie does feel incredibly Marvel-y; it may sound like this film is a weak Marvel movie. What saves the movie from being a mess and instead a very good film is that despite how the tones of going from Captain America to Guardians of the Galaxy can clash with one another, the Captain America and Guardians of the Galaxy movie being shown to us, is actually a good one. Even when the film has some moments that don’t pack on the emotional punch as they should and have moments where a character is cracking a joke at an inappropriate moment, there are more than enough moments where the film actually succeed in the dramatic and comedic moments. Not to mentioned, it is a film for all of its faults, takes a ton of risks. Without spoiling anything major, the film goes into a direction that is rarely expected out of a blockbuster, and for a film like that to take a bold and epic risk like that is something to be admired, and makes up for whatever faults the movie has. It’s an ending that will get a reaction out of people, especially longtime fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and when an ending like that comes around for a movie this big, it deserves to get a little bit of credit for sure.

     As mentioned earlier, the film is filled with a plethora of character to follow, so there’s also a fear where the film can’t keep up and the characters are not as well realized or developed as they are expected to be. However the film surprisingly manages to balance these characters pretty well. When a character shows up, they don’t feel different in any sort of way, they actually do feel like the character you loved and cared for in their own subsequent film, which helps gives weight to when a traumatic thing happens to these characters. Not to mentioned, this is the first major Marvel film where there are plenty of character interactions through-out with characters who have yet to meet in the MCU, and when those moments appear they are a delight. The characters interactions are written so well, that it’s a joy to see characters like Peter Quill and Tony Stark or Rocket and Thor to interact with one another just for how well written and clever their dialogue is for their character dynamic. There isn’t as much characters interaction as one would expect, but with future Marvel movies, it should be expected that element of certain characters interacting will be fulfilled in future films. The real character that should be concerning is the big man himself Thanos, a character who has been built up for so long, it’s easy to be fearful that he could be a lackluster villain, especially with his design being a big CGI Purple Shrek looking Alien. The good news is, Thanos manages to be one of the better Marvel villains, he doesn’t quite have the relatability and complexity of someone like Killmonger and him looking like he’s wearing a tank-top still looks rather silly, but the character is actually fairly well written. Thanos, isn’t just a dude who wants to take over and destroy things for the sake of it, he does have legitimate motivates that make him more interesting as a character and seeing some of his interactions and dynamics with certain characters, he ends up being more manipulative and threatening than one could ever expect a Purple Shrek look alike could ever be.

  

     While on the subject of a CGI character, it’s fair to talk about how Infinity War stacks up as a visually pleasing film and it actually is an impressive movie in the aesthetic department. As mentioned earlier, Thanos may look slightly silly with his tank top design, but the good news is, for being a giant alien, the CG is as good as it could have been for a character like him, being textured enough and also having enough scale to him to make him look more threatening than initially expected. As for the rest of the film, it is one of the best looking Marvel movies with so many impressive visuals around and it does have a ton of CG, but the effects team put in their A game giving us a film that is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, with shots and effects that make this film feel as epic as it tries to be. Not to mention, out of all the Marvel films, Infinity War might just have the best action ever seen in a film of this caliber for Marvel. Every character tends to showcase their moves incredibly well when fighting against other characters and the film is shot in a sense where not only can we see this glory through incredibly well-crafted cinematography, but also feels exactly like a comic book coming to life, seeing these characters epic moves highlighted in the same way they would in a comic book. Add in the bright colors and a pretty well done score for Marvel, this film is aesthetically one of the best looking and impressive Marvel movies they have ever done, making an already rather epic film, all the more epic.

     

     Avengers Infinity War is everything a Marvel fan could ask for and so much more. It is not the best film ever made by any means, even films like Guardians of the Galaxy, Civil War and Winter Soldier were more consistent and over-all better as a film. With that said, it is a film for all of its hyped being attached to it and all the skepticisms that were made prior to it, it is a film that has enough great things and elements that have yet to be seen in a Marvel movie like this, it’s a film that deserves some sort of respect. It takes risks, it is epic and it just an over-all exciting time to witness, especially for anyone who has loves Marvel from the moment they first read a comic from them or even seen a movie from them.