Owen Wilson and Jennifer Lopez. © 2022. Universal Pictures, Nuyorican Productions, and Perfect World Pictures. Directed by Kat Coiro. Watched it on Peacock 🦚
Quick Review: I expected to be cringe but good. Well, I got that. It’s a cheesy studio romantic comedy that I haven’t seen in a long time. What keeps this film alive is the chemistry between JLO and Owen Wilson’s characters in the film. They are strong together and the other scenes felt iffy or there for runtime. The film is cliché in every element but I will tell you this, it wasn’t that bad. I wasn’t bored or mad about the filmmaking. It’s a romantic comedy and it works in that genre. It’s not that bad. I wish the conflict was a little bit more strong and more dramatic. But the resolution was good when they referred back to the beginning. Interesting. It’s cliché, good cringe, and honestly enjoyable. It’s nice to see the romantic comedy genre alive. Now Streaming on Peacock (NBCUniversal) Vizeit Score: “C+” Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
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Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal. © 2022. Lionsgate, Saturn Films, and Burr! Productions. Directed by Tom Gormican. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YHPZMj8r4 I'm Nick FUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKIIIIIINNNNNGGGGG CAGE!
This is the most Nicolas Cage film I have ever seen. It's wild, hilarious, and fun! I got to see this film on a hot spring day inside a nice independent theater and I felt like the experience was so relaxing. The film delivered what a Nicolas Cage film should be. A return to form and seeing him with Pedro Pascal is just a perfect film duo. If you are a Cage fan, this is the film you want to see in theaters before it leaves. Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage is struggling with his career after being passed over for several major film roles and is constantly pestered and tormented by "Nicky", who appears to him as his younger (and more successful) self. His relationship with his ex-wife Olivia and daughter Addy is also marred by years of emotional neglect. Following an embarrassing and humiliating event at Addy's birthday party and losing a key film role, Cage plans to retire from acting. He decides to accept a vague offer of $1 million from his agent Richard Fink that involves going to Majorca to meet billionaire playboy Javi Gutierrez and to be the guest of honor on his birthday. Going into this film, I was going to expect the typical edgy jokes and laugh my ass off. Well, I got that but double the fun. I was smiling throughout the whole film and the jokes are fucking hilarious. A lot of hilarious throwbacks to his older films like Face/Off and The Rock. Even The Croods. Love it. Everyone in the film delivered great jokes that made the film more special around Nick Cage and complimented his legacy films. The performances in the film were very great. Nicolas Cage as himself was just fantastic. He makes fun of himself of his past career and other stuff he did and makes it up. Seeing Cage acting as himself was pretty weird yet I was so into it. He shows that he cares about everyone. But he can be a dick sometimes and rage in certain moments. That's how he is but he cares about everyone and wants his family and his friend Javi for the best. Cage was fucking awesome and he was hilarious every second. He should win another Oscar for "Best actor playing himself". By the way, his clone was also amazing at replicating the younger Cage. Not just his face, but his personality. He struggles to get out of his old personality and tries to be the new Nick Cage for this cinema's generation. His younger self was hilarious and the CGI wasn't that bad. It was sometimes noticeable but I got used to it and he looked like young Nick Cage. It was pretty impressive and seeing himself talking to himself was hilarious and heartwarming to see him moving on from his past and looking toward the future. I felt like this film is kind of looking towards the future. I think this film wants Nicolas Cage to move on into a new generation of cinema and help other independent filmmakers get to Hollywood. He helped out in Mandy and Color Out of Space. I feel like this is kind of a farewell to his old career and a new hello to his current and future career. His performance kept this film alive and fresh and seeing him perform as himself was such a joy. It's not just his performance, but everyone did a very great job. The supporting cast was very funny and the stand-out was Javi played by Pedro Pascal. He was hilarious and I feel like Pascal is just acting like himself. But that's a good thing. His character was pretty developed and his friendship with Nick Cage was very strong. His chemistry was great and he was just having the best time of his life with his favorite actor. This film shows that Pascal is still a fantastic actor and he should be in more comedic roles. He was so funny and his performance was very great. The other supporting cast members were great. Nick Cage's wife and daughter were funny and Javi's cousin was funny and pretty brutal. The two CIA agents were funny as well and the other smaller supporting actors were great including Neil Patrick Harris. Everyone did a great job and the performances were hilarious. We need more Pedro Pascal. He's too good at any project. The production design was great and while the budget was small, it looks like every cent was put into the film. The cinematography is very good with the final scene being shot great. The action was entertaining and the comedic scenes were hilariously directed. The editing was solid and overall, the production was pretty great. Very solid for a mid-budget film. The directing was very good in this film. The vision is clear to have a film around Nick Cage with hilarious jokes, call-backs, and action fun. Some of the jokes didn't land for me, unfortunately. While I did like the CIA sub-plot, some of it didn't work or didn't flesh out well. I wish we got more Neil Patrick Harries in more scenes to add more comedic and serious scenes with Nick Cage. Some nitpicks here and there but overall, I still love this film. This is the comedy film of the summer and this film was hilarious from beginning to end. A uniquely fresh take on Nick Cage while having comedic drama and action at the same time. An original film that should explode at the box office but it's not, unfortunately. You guys should see this film. It's fun, original, and funny. I had a good time watching this film and I cannot wait for more Nicolas Cage content. Now Playing in Theaters. Soon on VOD June 7. Vizeit Score: "A-" Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Michael Greyeyes. © 2021. Vertical Entertainment, Logical Pictures, and Sundance Institute. Directed by Lyle Mitchell Corbine, Jr. Watched it on Digital
Finally, I got to watch this after a year it premiered at Sundance. It’s pretty interesting and the story was tense. The performances are great. Michael Greyeyes did a great job and brought out intense emotions and fucked up moments. Jesse Eisenberg is just there and it makes me laugh. I don’t know why but it’s hilarious. The cinematography is pretty good for an independent film and the directing was good as well. The intro was weak but it starts to get good in the middle. The film is short which is a problem. There could’ve been more with the story and the death scene with the kid was funny and surprising. The way the scene was executed was funny unintentionally. Bu the ending felt a little bit rushed. But the performances kept the film alive and the directing as well. It’s a well-made independent film and I was not disappointed. Can’t wait to see more of his work. Now Streaming on Kanopy. Vizeit Score: “B” Identity & Film Class Film Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Xochitl Gomez, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Rachel McAdams. © 2022. Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Motion Pictures. Directed by Sam Raimi Watched it in IMAX @ AMC Theaters
Strange, I've come to bargain. But for the madness. This film was truly madness. A cluster of a mindfuck from the visuals to the story in a good way. But it can sometimes derail from the tracks. Doctor Strange is back once again to save the multiverse but this time, he's really screwed. This film delivers the madness from the title and this film is going to divide fans for the better or worse. But this film will be pivotal to phase four and beyond. Let's jump into the multiverse! In the film, Strange protects America Chavez (Gomez), a teenager capable of traveling the multiverse, from Wanda Maximoff (Olsen). But while traveling the multiverse, he re-discovers his past and learns what's at stake for the whole multiverse. He must close it and close his past so he can move on to being Doctor Strange. Coming off from Spider-Man: No Way Home, expectations for this film was high through the roof with many cameos, many character storylines, insane action, and longer runtime. Well, fans got half of that and I wasn't disappointed. First, the cameos were amazing without saying who but it was unexpected. The Illuminati is already shown in marketing so it's not a spoiler. The Illuminati don't get to do much in the film but it helps expand the MCU and Strange gets to explore the possibilities of this universe connecting back to the main one. That whole scene was pretty great to see those characters and Wanda fighting them at their HQ. There's another cameo in the post-credit scene but the majority of the MCU fans won't recognize the character. But they will recognize the actress who was pretty clear when she made her entrance. Besides all of those crazy cameos, if it's a Raimi film, you got to have Bruce Campbell in the film and I was so happy to see him in the MCU. His cameo is so funny. But this film isn't about the crazy cameos or the easter eggs that connect to other past and future MCU films. This is about Doctor Strange and Wanda. They are the main spotlights in the film and they both affect the entire MCU with their storylines. Doctor Strange wants to help America Chavez to control her powers and protect her at all costs. For Wanda, she wants to get back with her children from Wandavision and have a normal superhero life. But Wanda realizes that Chavez has the powers she needs to get to her kids. Strange doesn't allow that and the conflict breaks in-between. Their storylines are strong in this film but Wanda's story was pretty much the main focus of the film. I think this film is her closure of Wandavision for good because of the sad ending with her children and it leaves another door open for Wanda. But for a brand new story of Wanda. As for Strange, he wants to have closure for his relationship with Christine Palmer after she got married in the main universe. But in the Illuminati universe, he gets another chance with Christine. His relationship with Christine was stronger in this film and the best scene that fits with the relationship was the dream walk scene. It shows that Christine still cares about Strange, even though their relationship is falling apart, she still wants the best for him. Her last scene with Strange was heartwarming and it gives a conclusion chapter to her storyline in the MCU for now. Plus, it helps Strange to finally look away from the past and mistakes he has done and now look towards the future and potential enemies he may have to face. Their personal storylines are the strongest writing parts of the film and it focuses on Strange and Wanda becoming better heroes. It's not focusing on a big group or huge crossover event, but focusing on them helps the character move forward. This is by far, the strongest part of the film in terms of screenplay. The story itself, it's a simple straightforward story about protecting Chavez from Wanda stealing her powers. But the story takes a turn to expand the MCU to the multiverse and introduce the Illuminati. But the story goes in many directions in terms of universes and it goes back to the main story. I still like the story going in a different direction but sometimes, the writing isn't that strong. I will go into detail in a separate paragraph. The characters are very good in this film filled with great and amazing performances. Benedict Cumberbatch is amazing as Doctor Strange. He's one of the few MCU characters I am deeply interested in and his story arc is great throughout the MCU. His performances as different versions of Doctor Strange are just great. He brings a lot of emotions and has his character suffer consequences. But he always breaks the rules to save and guide his old pals and new friends. Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda/Scarlet Witch is amazing as well. Her performance is another home run from Wandavision to this film. She delivers her character in a ruthless and scary way. Seeing her in this film was amazing and she took on becoming the Scarlet Witch. She adapted her story and character from "House of M" comics and they respected the source material. Benedict Wong is still great in this film. He's like the only serious character who gives a shit about everything even though he's comedic at some points. He's becoming the new goat of the MCU. Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez is pretty good. Her performance kept me invested in her character and her shining moments really helped her character live up to its potential. The rest of the supporting cast did a great job including Chiwetel Ejiofor and Rachael McAdams. Ejiofor had less screen time in the film but his presence made this film more dramatic and I was happy to see his character and story continue from the first one. Rachael McAdams is also great in the film and it looks like this may be her final appearance in the MCU. But nonetheless, her character was great in the film as a different Christine. Can't say about the cameos but they did a pretty good job in their roles given, especially to one cameo. Everyone did a great job in their respective roles from the comics. Can't forget about the production itself. The production is amazing. The editing was amazing in this film. A lot of unique transitions were used. A lot of overlays are appropriately used in certain dialogue scenes and lots of them are seamless. The production design is still great. The score was pretty good but not as strong as past Danny Elfman's scores. The VFX is still great but you can see some of it pretty clear or messy at some points. The costumes are amazing in this film for a multiverse film and the cinematography is visually amazing. A lot of creative shots were used in the film. A lot of horror elements are well used and yes, there are jump scares. It's more beautiful and cool in IMAX. I might re-watch it in 3D so it's going to be a lot of fun. But I cannot forget one important thing, the directing from Sam Raimi. Scott Derrickson left the project due to creative differences and they brought Raimi in to direct the film. His vision was clear in this film and he brought many of his iconic directions in this film. His horror elements, his camera angles, his cameos, his editing choices, his campiness, and his acting choices made this more awesome. I loved his references from his older films and when he films a scene that could be boring or bland, he edits the shit out of it and makes it awesome. His vision of the film was clear in many scenes and this film made me love Raimi even more. His directing is amazing and his visuals are well presented in the film. He makes almost every MCU film a mediocre one. He's truly one of the goats of the comic book film genre. This film, however, falls on its writing. The screenplay is weak unfortunately due to many moving parts. Lots of plot conventions that could've been prevented or written less. Chavez's character was so underdeveloped in the screenplay and she felt like a plot device. The only time her character develops was during the time-back machine scene and her character stepping up. Her fear was literally fear. What the fuck. That is laughable. Mordo was not used a lot in the film and from the post-credit scene in the first Doctor Strange film, we don't get to see a continuation. I know that this Mordo is a different one but I felt like he didn't have a major play in the film and I wanted to see more of his relationship with Strange. This character is very important in Strange's story but there was little impact on the bigger film. While I loved the cameos, they were too short or didn't have an impact on the overall story. There were plotlines and conventions that add the film more intensity but in the end, they didn't add enough impact. Some of the CGI is iffy in some shots. Raimi's vision was kind of held back in certain scenes and the ending felt out of nowhere. They should've added that ending to the post-credit scene instead. It felt erupted and when the post-credit scene started, it went back to normal. Too out of place. I wish the film was a little bit longer in my opinion but the film was well-paced and the runtime was great. But I wish there were more scenes to make the storylines a little much better. Overall, I really loved this film and it's another home run for Marvel Studios. Sam Raimi directed the shit out of this film. A lot of great action sequences, unique visuals, and an amazing cast. Everyone did a great job with this film and I had a good time watching this film in IMAX. This may be my longest review to date because I needed time to think about this film and well, all my thoughts are here in this long review. Thank you for reading my review and look out for my review on "The unbearable weight of massive talent" soon! Now Playing in 3D, IMAX, and Dolby Cinema. Vizeit Score: "A-" Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Alexander Skarsgard and Anya Taylor-Joy. © 2022. Focus Features, Regency, and Square Peg. Directed by Robert Eggers. Vikings everywhere. They are indeed. Robert Eggers is back in a big-budget way of bringing his mythology to the big screen. A film that no other director could've pulled off but him. It's weird, bloody, and darkly fun. The Northman pulled it off very well and this film was fucking good. A wild slow journey into madness. Let's dive in!
The plot follows Amleth, a Viking prince who sets out on a quest to avenge the murder of his father. But on arriving on an island, he discovers a woman who he knows from his past which makes his revenge much more difficult. The mythology and lore behind this film were pretty interesting. There's a lot of great imagery to show the mythology and it mixes with the fantasy elements. The film isn't 100% a Viking story but it mixes supernatural elements and fantasy scenes that make this film stand out. I don't fully know the Viking mythology but this film made it easier to understand. The revenge of the men and violence. Plus, the weird rituals, ceremonies, and family blood were very interesting but feels too fantasy in a good way. Even though I don't know fully about Viking mythology, this film makes it easier to understand for mainstream audiences. I enjoyed the imagery to make the mythology stand out and it gets very trippy in the middle, especially at the end of the film. The story is pretty great. It's straightforward but it goes in a different direction. It might or will disappoint the mainstream audience since it's not a full-on action film, but the pacing is pretty great. The film is slow but there's a lot of motion going on in the film with character development and plans to kill the villain. The story gets a little bit confusing with its mythology but the imagery really helps guide viewers who are lost. The story was overall great and there was a lot of motion within plot lines and the ending was weird yet fitting to conclude the story. The characters and the world are amazing. Alexander Skarsgard is a badass as Amleth and rips when he's on-screen. He has proven over time that he's a great actor and this is one of the best performances in his career. His physicality is insane during the action sequences and he doesn't talk that much in the film until they arrive at the island. His character relationship with Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy) was pretty strong. It takes time to set up the relationship and their relationship was strong. But those scenes...unfortunately, I was down bad. It's a dry yet effective relationship. Anya Taylor-Joy did a great job in her role and her character was effective but her character arc with Amleth was strong. Claes Bang as Fjolnir did a great job in his performance and character. He felt like a true villain and his relationship with Amleth is bleak but with this performance, he shows that he truly despises Amleth and it ends with a final epic fighting sequence. The supporting cast did a great job as well. Ethan Hawke is still great in every role he is in. Nicole Kidman's performance is great but her character is unique. She is just hiding from Amleth until she finally meets her son now older and she goes insane against him. It goes much weirder for her character but it's funny as fuck. Willem Dafoe's performance was funny and creepy and Gustav Lindh's performance was pretty good. Everyone did a great job in the film and the character development was very strong for the main characters. The production design is fantastic. A lot of practical effects and on-location were used. I loved the Viking villages and the green village sets. The costume designs are great and there was a lot of great production use in the film. They really spent every cent of the film and the film looks beautiful. The cinematography is fantastic and the action sequences are amazing. Well choreographed and the music was epic. The visual effects are pretty great but some look too fake in my opinion. But overall, I loved the technical production and this out done's The Lighthouse. I loved it. While I loved this film, it's pretty slow in its pacing in the middle. It dragged onto certain scenes for character development but that makes sense. I wish we could get more action sequences or more invasions in the film. Plus, Ethan Hawke is underutilized so I wish we could get more scenes of him. Overall, this is another fantastic Robert Eggers film filled with amazing characters, fantastic performances, beautiful cinematography and production, and bloody action. The Lighthouse is still my favorite Egger film but this is number two on the list. I haven't seen The Witch (2015) yet so my list could change at any moment. But I still love this film for being original and taking risks on a huge budget. Massive W. Now Playing in Theaters. Vizeit Score: "A" Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. |
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