Reviews...
Dec. 26th, 2020 11:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Wonder Woman 1984
This was a major disappointment, and I don't think it worked on multiple levels. While the first film was admittedly flawed in spots, it did work overall and is among the better superhero flicks I've seen. But this one..meh. Kind of the comparison between Superman and Superman II, to be honest.
I could see what the filmmakers overall intent was - or what they were aiming for, but felt it was poorly achieved. And the theme heavy-handed. (I liked the theme - I just felt it was executed and delivered poorly.) This was partly due to poor casting choices in the supporting roles, specifically the villains, and the overall plot.
Gadot and her character aren't quite solid and/or charismatic enough to hold the film on her own - as evidenced by the first film - where she had plenty of support. You know there's a problem - when the best parts of the film are either in the Amazon with Robin Wright and young Diana, or after Chris Pine pops up.
The plot - oh dear, while thematically well-intentioned, was cheesy even for the superhero genre. (It kind of took comic book-y a touch too far, which may well have worked in 1980s but not so much now. Also the 1980s bits barely register. And Diana is in desperate need of a good side-kick or a less tragic romantic love interest. I was kind of disappointed with what they chose to do with Dr. Barbara Minerva (the geologist), Kristen Wigg's character. Because she could have been a good counter-balance to Diana. In the first film - we had that - a group of people who kind of counter-acted the "Goddess" - who is aloof, and counter-acted Steve. In this film, we don't have that - and it is a problem. Most superhero films have that going for them in either the Kents, Miss Potts, Jarvis, Jimmy, Gordon, Alfred or even Lois Lane. Wonder Woman tries with Steve Trevor - but it worked better in Wonder Woman than it does in the sequel. In the sequel it feels a bit awkward and you kind of know that Steve has one foot out of the door throughout.)
I should probably mention the plot in a bit more detail?
The plot centers on a geode artifact, which is donated to the Smithsonian after a heist is thwarted by Wonder Woman. At the Smithsonian, new Geologist, Dr. Barbara Minerva is tasked with examining the geode and determining it origins and worth. It looks like a tacky nick-knack that you might discover at your local flea market. They joke about it. Only to discover half by accident - that the geode will grant your wish in return for something you care about or love. Diana wishes for Steve to return to her - and in so doing, sacrifices her own power. Barbara niavely wishes to be exactly like Diana (not understanding what that entails) and in so doing sacrifices her humanity and who she is in return. And Pedro Pascal's character Gold, sacrifices his health and himself to be the stone - the ability to grant wishes to anyone and anywhere and take from them in the process.
The innovative twist here - is that Gold and Minerva aren't really villains.
They have no diabolical plan. They aren't evil in of themselves. They are both insecure and seek approval outside themselves. They both want to be great - and both feel they'll never achieve that on their own. Both envy what others have or what they think others have.
I felt sorry for them, up to a point. But both are somewhat annoying, and stereotypical in how they are portrayed. Wigg plays Barbara as the clutzy geo nerd, with a perpetual bad hair day. She totters on heels, and isn't noticed by anyone - nor memorable. Diana, appears to be the only to notice or befriend her - and she reacts with envy, and a desire to be Diana.
Then, when the geode's wish takes effect, she becomes a kind of one-note villain, filled with rage and envy. Finally...almost comical - a white human leopard with spots. Gold, alas, is no better - although we do get a mite more characterization. Dr. Minerva seems to be more of caricature of feminist rage and insecurity/victim-hood, then a character. And she's a little too stereoyptical of the geology professor. Gold - gets more background, but he's once again the bullied child with a poor upbringing who wishes to more to his son. If he can't have his father's approval - he seeks his small son's, which of course was never in contention to begin with.
And we see nothing of his son's mother or family outside of ten year old Alastair, who hangs out in his father's half empty office space.
It feels at times that the filmmakers sacrificed characterization and plot for theme - because its a theme-heavy movie - kind of hammers you over the head with its themes actually. But alas, not a lot of plot or character in there to sink my teeth into.
The plot is what I stated above - Diana has to get everyone to renounce the wishes they made to the geode to save the world, including her own wish that Steve come back to her. So, we get a repeat of the Diana/Trevor goodbye sequence, which holds less weight now than it did before. Their relationship doesn't quite work - and it is clear, even through Steve's gaze, that he doesn't belong here - especially in another body.
Perhaps I'd have appreciated this a bit better - if I hadn't seen similar themes and plots handled better elsewhere in the Marvel-verse. MCU deals with Superhero films better in my opinion than DC ever quite has - and unfortunately DC is at its best when it is quite dark in its themes, and characterizations - otherwise it falls a bit too far into campy cheese territory. MCU in marked contrast - seems to find a balance between the two.
Overall? C-, and be happy you didn't see it in the theater. I saw it on TV, for free. I don't recommend paying for it.
2. Soul - by Pixar on Disney Plus.
This was a pleasant surprise. I'd read it was good - its made a lot of critics best lists. But seeing is believing - and I agree with critics who've stated that when Pixar is good - it's really frigging good.
I was blown away by this film. It's so innovative. And it's plot while simple in structure - works so well, and feels so new. In addition, it's cast is either African-American or heavenly bodies that are definitely not of human form or structure. It gets props for the most innovative construction of the after-life, I've seen. It's not exactly an after-life - it's more a before life. We never see the great beyond. There is no hell.
No threat of hell. Just new and old souls.
It blew me away. I mean it was so creative and different. Also, it's philosophical without bogging you down with it - actually playfully so. The characters are interesting and well-developed. The main character has multiple layers. And while his goals are seemingly simple, they are relatable and layered as well.
He also goes on a definite journey.
Soul, an animated film, basically does everything Wonder Woman did wrong, right - granted they are apples and tangerines, but still.
Plot? A middle school music teacher dreams of being a jazz pianist in the clubs, when he finally gets his big break - acing the audition, he walks into a manhole. The film is about him trying to get back to his life, and what that means. And the way they go about showing it - I've not seen done before. It's funny, touching, and made me cry (in a good way)
One of the best films I've seen this year (not that I've seen that many).
The voices include: Jamie Fox, Tina Fey, Wes Studi, Phyllicia Rashad...and others.
I kind of went into it blind, not sure if that affected how I saw it or not.
Overall rating - A++
This was a major disappointment, and I don't think it worked on multiple levels. While the first film was admittedly flawed in spots, it did work overall and is among the better superhero flicks I've seen. But this one..meh. Kind of the comparison between Superman and Superman II, to be honest.
I could see what the filmmakers overall intent was - or what they were aiming for, but felt it was poorly achieved. And the theme heavy-handed. (I liked the theme - I just felt it was executed and delivered poorly.) This was partly due to poor casting choices in the supporting roles, specifically the villains, and the overall plot.
Gadot and her character aren't quite solid and/or charismatic enough to hold the film on her own - as evidenced by the first film - where she had plenty of support. You know there's a problem - when the best parts of the film are either in the Amazon with Robin Wright and young Diana, or after Chris Pine pops up.
The plot - oh dear, while thematically well-intentioned, was cheesy even for the superhero genre. (It kind of took comic book-y a touch too far, which may well have worked in 1980s but not so much now. Also the 1980s bits barely register. And Diana is in desperate need of a good side-kick or a less tragic romantic love interest. I was kind of disappointed with what they chose to do with Dr. Barbara Minerva (the geologist), Kristen Wigg's character. Because she could have been a good counter-balance to Diana. In the first film - we had that - a group of people who kind of counter-acted the "Goddess" - who is aloof, and counter-acted Steve. In this film, we don't have that - and it is a problem. Most superhero films have that going for them in either the Kents, Miss Potts, Jarvis, Jimmy, Gordon, Alfred or even Lois Lane. Wonder Woman tries with Steve Trevor - but it worked better in Wonder Woman than it does in the sequel. In the sequel it feels a bit awkward and you kind of know that Steve has one foot out of the door throughout.)
I should probably mention the plot in a bit more detail?
The plot centers on a geode artifact, which is donated to the Smithsonian after a heist is thwarted by Wonder Woman. At the Smithsonian, new Geologist, Dr. Barbara Minerva is tasked with examining the geode and determining it origins and worth. It looks like a tacky nick-knack that you might discover at your local flea market. They joke about it. Only to discover half by accident - that the geode will grant your wish in return for something you care about or love. Diana wishes for Steve to return to her - and in so doing, sacrifices her own power. Barbara niavely wishes to be exactly like Diana (not understanding what that entails) and in so doing sacrifices her humanity and who she is in return. And Pedro Pascal's character Gold, sacrifices his health and himself to be the stone - the ability to grant wishes to anyone and anywhere and take from them in the process.
The innovative twist here - is that Gold and Minerva aren't really villains.
They have no diabolical plan. They aren't evil in of themselves. They are both insecure and seek approval outside themselves. They both want to be great - and both feel they'll never achieve that on their own. Both envy what others have or what they think others have.
I felt sorry for them, up to a point. But both are somewhat annoying, and stereotypical in how they are portrayed. Wigg plays Barbara as the clutzy geo nerd, with a perpetual bad hair day. She totters on heels, and isn't noticed by anyone - nor memorable. Diana, appears to be the only to notice or befriend her - and she reacts with envy, and a desire to be Diana.
Then, when the geode's wish takes effect, she becomes a kind of one-note villain, filled with rage and envy. Finally...almost comical - a white human leopard with spots. Gold, alas, is no better - although we do get a mite more characterization. Dr. Minerva seems to be more of caricature of feminist rage and insecurity/victim-hood, then a character. And she's a little too stereoyptical of the geology professor. Gold - gets more background, but he's once again the bullied child with a poor upbringing who wishes to more to his son. If he can't have his father's approval - he seeks his small son's, which of course was never in contention to begin with.
And we see nothing of his son's mother or family outside of ten year old Alastair, who hangs out in his father's half empty office space.
It feels at times that the filmmakers sacrificed characterization and plot for theme - because its a theme-heavy movie - kind of hammers you over the head with its themes actually. But alas, not a lot of plot or character in there to sink my teeth into.
The plot is what I stated above - Diana has to get everyone to renounce the wishes they made to the geode to save the world, including her own wish that Steve come back to her. So, we get a repeat of the Diana/Trevor goodbye sequence, which holds less weight now than it did before. Their relationship doesn't quite work - and it is clear, even through Steve's gaze, that he doesn't belong here - especially in another body.
Perhaps I'd have appreciated this a bit better - if I hadn't seen similar themes and plots handled better elsewhere in the Marvel-verse. MCU deals with Superhero films better in my opinion than DC ever quite has - and unfortunately DC is at its best when it is quite dark in its themes, and characterizations - otherwise it falls a bit too far into campy cheese territory. MCU in marked contrast - seems to find a balance between the two.
Overall? C-, and be happy you didn't see it in the theater. I saw it on TV, for free. I don't recommend paying for it.
2. Soul - by Pixar on Disney Plus.
This was a pleasant surprise. I'd read it was good - its made a lot of critics best lists. But seeing is believing - and I agree with critics who've stated that when Pixar is good - it's really frigging good.
I was blown away by this film. It's so innovative. And it's plot while simple in structure - works so well, and feels so new. In addition, it's cast is either African-American or heavenly bodies that are definitely not of human form or structure. It gets props for the most innovative construction of the after-life, I've seen. It's not exactly an after-life - it's more a before life. We never see the great beyond. There is no hell.
No threat of hell. Just new and old souls.
It blew me away. I mean it was so creative and different. Also, it's philosophical without bogging you down with it - actually playfully so. The characters are interesting and well-developed. The main character has multiple layers. And while his goals are seemingly simple, they are relatable and layered as well.
He also goes on a definite journey.
Soul, an animated film, basically does everything Wonder Woman did wrong, right - granted they are apples and tangerines, but still.
Plot? A middle school music teacher dreams of being a jazz pianist in the clubs, when he finally gets his big break - acing the audition, he walks into a manhole. The film is about him trying to get back to his life, and what that means. And the way they go about showing it - I've not seen done before. It's funny, touching, and made me cry (in a good way)
One of the best films I've seen this year (not that I've seen that many).
The voices include: Jamie Fox, Tina Fey, Wes Studi, Phyllicia Rashad...and others.
I kind of went into it blind, not sure if that affected how I saw it or not.
Overall rating - A++
no subject
Date: 2020-12-26 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 02:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 03:19 am (UTC)Also I'd just seen Wonder Woman 84 - which possibly had an effect.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 09:27 pm (UTC)It's my problem generally with comic-inspired movies; the first movie is often good entertainment for adults, then for sequels, they tend to fall back to stuff that nobody over 8 or 9 thinks is acceptable, and call it good.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-27 09:50 pm (UTC)The genre is definitely an odd one - regarding quality. Part of the problem is some folks think it is a "kids" genre. (I don't know why - if they bothered to read some of the comics they'd realize it really isn't. There's adult situations in them that uhm, I wouldn't let my kids read.) As a result, we get a lot of campy kids fare. Chris Nolan kind of changed this with his Batman films - where he depicted the world of the comics as created by fan faves. Then Jon Faveru and Kevin Fiege - took up the baton with Iron Man, and the MCU films which managed to do the same, but not quite as dark. Tim Burton also did that. Whedon did as well to a degree. (Whedon's problem is his short attention span.)
But a lot of folks who do these films don't get it.
And DC, with the exception of the Chris Nolan Batman films, isn't very good at sequels for some reason. While Marvel is actually fairly good at them for the most part.
Someone else compared it to Superman IV, a truly awful film.
I wouldn't go quite that far - Wonder Woman 84 was watchable, it has some half-way decent moments. Superman IV is not watchable at all.
I saw Superman IV in a movie theater in Britain sometime during the summer of 1987, and it was possibly the worst movie that I've ever seen next to Star Trek - The Final Frontier and Batman and Robin. I think we might have walked out during it, can't remember. I just remember making fun of it.
Wonder Woman 84 was watchable - it was more like Superman II...in some respects. Although I liked Superman II more, and I have to say, regrettably, Superman II is the better film.
It is depressing, I wanted it to be good. It's really not. Don't bother watching it, it will annoy you and leave a bitter taste in your mouth.
WW moping around for 70 odd years over Steve Trevor, she desperately wanting him back, even - so I've heard - his part being noticeably better than hers)
Yeah, it doesn't quite work that Diana mopes for 70 odd years over a guy that she knew for about three or four months if that. Trevor wasn't that memorable. Making Trevor more important to her than her island, her family, or anything else - is really insulting to the character - and difficult to believe. (And I was trying to remember if they even have sex in the first film (they do in the second or its implied).)
Is his part better than hers? I don't know. Hard to say. I actually found his scenes kind of cringe-inducing. He's definitely given more to do - he gets to play a guy out of his time and in another man's body. While Diana doesn't seem to do much of anything except yearn after him, mope, and struggle to get people to listen to her.
The big mistake is the director/writers are trying to go for a light humorous touch and it doesn't work. Humor is really hard to pull off well - particularly in superhero films. And Wonder Woman doesn't lend itself to it well - without being really offensive. And this was in places.