Viola Davis. © 2022. TriStar Pictures/Sony, Entertainment One, and TSG Entertainment II. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Watched it in IMAX @ AMC Theaters
A Warrior Becomes A Legend. Hollywood loves to try out new things and sometimes, it doesn't work. But for this film, it does indeed work. It does so by minimalizing the clichés and focusing on story and drama while keeping up with the great action. But also not trying to piss off history students and telling them that society is destroyed. But why are we talking about history? It's because history can be rewritten in film but it has to have a purpose. Sometimes, they do it right or they do it to push their agenda to audiences. This film doesn't do that but it embraces it in a serious tone and giving us an actual purpose of why. That's why this film succeeds and it's awesome in its own way that many films tried in the past. Only a few films succeed and The Woman King is one of them. Click the link below to start reading my review of this film. Thank you for supporting my independent film website and check out my other content! Let's go in this review and explore the alternate history world of Africa. Plot: In the 1800s, a group of all-female warriors protects the African kingdom of Dahomey with skills and fierceness, unlike anything the world has ever seen. Faced with a new threat, Gen. Nanisca trains the next generation of recruits to fight against a foreign enemy that's determined to destroy their way of life. This film really delivered what the trailers promised. A drama-action packed film with an interesting alternate history that stars badass female actors. Now that's a great package and importantly, well done. The cast of this film is really great. Viola Davis really brought her character to life and she overtook every scene she is in. She's the main scene stealer and she was badass in every moment. Her character arc is strong and with the interesting twist between an important character, that's where her character really grabbed me. It made the film more intense and dramatic which leads to a great epic final battle. Viola Davis continues to show that she's badass in every film. The supporting cast also did a great job as well. Thuso Mbedu as Nawi did a great job being the true main character of the story and her arc is great. Her character connection with General Nanisca was natural and it really paid off in the end. The other leaders in the film like actresses Lashana Lynch and Sheila Atim are great in this film. I really enjoyed their performance and Lashana Lynch was my favorite of the leaders. Her scenes with Nawi worked very well. John Boyega as King Ghezo is also great in the film. His character was kind of a dick but I understood his purpose and his scenes with Viola Davis are just great. I'm glad that John Boyega gets to do more roles while Daisy Ridley is still trying to find the lightsaber of acting work. Overall, the cast is great with Viola Davis being the strongest one and potentially earning an academy award nomination for lead actress. Her performance felt Oscar-worthy or screamed Oscars and I feel like she's going to get nominated. But besides the characters, the plot is also pretty great. The pacing didn't drag that much and it is a suitable runtime for the type of story it's trying to tell. The plot thickens between the British arriving in Africa and Nawi investigating the area. There are some interesting racial story points that really went into a certain character since the film takes place in the 1800s. Plus, seeing female warriors beating men warriors really turned the tables and they did it right. The action sequences are intense and amazing. The sound design in this film is a potential Oscar-worthy nomination and the cinematography is very great. The costume design and production design are amazing and it felt like a $100 million dollar project but in reality, it was $50 million. That's dedication to utilizing production budgets well. The directing in this film is also great. Gina Prince-Bythewood continues to deliver great films and this is a great second action film from her. She makes the action sequences believable and brutal in many ways. The somewhat unexpected twists really worked for me and grabbed me emotionally which is a major plus. The production is amazing, the story is great and the cast really brought their character to life to make this film amazing. I still have some slight nitpicks still but it didn't ruin the entire film. When this film showed its first trailer, people were split and I really didn't care about it that much. But what really bothered me was some of the inaccurate facts or representations of events. I searched up some critical facts and while some of them were true to this film, some didn't and it could be for dramatic purposes. But I felt like some of it wasn't used that well, unfortunately. Another critique is the character Malik felt like his purpose in the movie was 50/50. It felt like he was there to make the racial problem more clear in the film and the other is a straight-up Disney channel-written character material. One of my buddies pointed it out and while having that thought during the film, I picked up the writing clichés and performance. That really ticked me off but I'm glad the final scene with him was well thought out, without saying any plot spoilers. It's a character decision between another character in the film. While there were some points the film felt very slow, the pacing picked back up and it became an action ride. This film is an action ride from start to finish. Amazing performances, crisp action sequences, and great directing from Gina Prince-Bythewood. I really enjoyed this film, especially watching it on IMAX with a couple of friends and I hope we can get more films like this. This is what female lead action films should be. The 355 didn't capture that but this film really captured it by focusing on a great story and well-written characters. But also utilizing them in many creative and dramatic ways. I cannot wait for more films like this. All thanks to Black Panther. Now Playing Only in Theaters. Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
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Sam Worthington. © 2009/2022. 20th Century Studios/Fox and Lightstorm Entertainment. Directed by James Cameron. Re-Watched it in IMAX 3D @ AMC Theaters
Quick Review: This film is phenomenal in theaters. Especially in 3D! The VFX still holds up including the CGI. While the VFX now looks a little bit outdated, it is still magnificent and James Cameron knows his shit. The action sequences are fantastic, the story is still great and the final hour of the film is legit cinema. After re-watching this film, I can notice flaws in the narrative. But the social commentary in this film is not shown but you can clearly tell what’s the message behind it. James Cameron knows how to make something old into new and fresh to make it adaptable into a blockbuster. I cannot still believe he pulled this off for almost 10 years and yet, he knows his shit. Plus, I got to see new footage of Avatar: The Way of Water and it looks legit fantastic. The VFX/CGI are heavily improved and the film is going to blow our minds. This was a fantastic cinematic experience and it felt like I was watching this film for the first time. I cannot wait to watch the sequel! Now Playing in IMAX 3D, RealD 3D, and Dolby Cinema including 3D. Vizeit Score: “A” (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan. © 2022. Searchlight Pictures, DJ Films, and TSG Entertainment. Directed by Tom George. Another Case In The Good Old City of London.
It looks like murder mystery films are on the rise again after the success of Knives Out. But I will tell you that this film was pretty great within the mystery genre. It's totally a whole new different film and tone but the story is pretty much your basic murder mystery story with a few twists and turns. Sounds cliché but that's the genre. Cliché with tropes but done differently with the director's vision. This film was surprising and it met my expectations. It's a film that you definitely want to watch with your friends and then play Among Us till midnight. It's a British Among Us server but in real life. Join me detective into this review and let's find out who really killed my crewmate's pet. Plot: In 1950s London, plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered. When a world-weary inspector and an eager rookie constable take on the case, they find themselves thrown into a puzzling whodunit within the glamorously sordid world of underground theater, investigating the mysterious homicide at their own peril. Being a murder mystery film, there will be a ton of twists and surprises. That's what I got out from the plot and it worked very well. Without giving spoilers for the plot, the story was well executed. It's a small story that expands one character after another and the story doesn't drag or give a lot of clues. This story wants the audience to think deeper into the visuals and to make it for fun, the story acts like your part of this investigation. You try to find out until they find the true killer and the motivation behind it and it was paid off well. I loved the unexpected twist and it's a risky twist that not many writers use. Besides that, the characters were all great. I really liked the two main leads and their detective roles were great. Saoirse Ronan stole the film with her lovely performance. She brought a lot of energy to her character making this film more fun. Sam Rockwell is also amazing as always and his character is drunk 24/7 but he still kind of cares about his partner. His backstory is sad but his character arc was strong and I love how it explores friendship with grief and acceptance. The side characters and suspects were also great as well. I like how when you suspect that person killed him, they get killed right away which makes the experience more interesting. I love the meta-commentary of filmmaking with clichés and audiences wanting something new or factory-made to please them to come back to the cinemas more. The foreshadowing in a particular scene really made me love this film more when it comes in full circle. I loved the cinematography and production design of this film. It really reminded me of Wes Anderson and it has that spark of style in this film. There was a lot of creativity put into this film like the two shots at once edits and the classic transition effects. This film was very creative within its presentation and the cast was very strong in the film. This film is really a murder mystery film and they accomplished that. But I still have some nitpicks about the film. Some of the flaws I thought about was that the film used a lot of clichés. Some are in the right and wrong moments. The clues hinted at the real killer were very minimal. They barely touched on that and by the time the film reveals the murderer, it's surprising yet you don't feel it. Even with the quick exposition, you feel like you don't buy it until the very end. It's not Knives Out level of storytelling, but it's still unique because of its presentation. Some of the characters were underutilized and I felt like this story has been done many times. But that's a good and a bad thing, depending on the direction of the film. Besides that, it's a strong murder mystery film. Watching the cast speculating on each other while someone dies at a random place was a treat. I had a good time watching this film. A lot of great twists and turns and an amazing presentation of the film. It felt like a Wes Anderson film but with a spice of murder and comedy. It's a film that the general audience will enjoy and it's a film that should be seen in theaters. I'm happy that independent cinema is still growing and watching these types of films in theaters is a true joy. Now Playing Only in Theaters. Vizeit Score: "B+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Mia Goth. © 2022. A24 and Little Lamb. Directed by Ti West. Experience the X-traordinary origin story!
After the premiere of X, this film got announced right away which was a surprise, and watching the film itself was indeed a surprise. This is legit one of the best performances I've seen all year and my boy Ti West is still thriving. I can't believe two films in the X universe were released in the same year and yet alone, it was filmed right after the first one. This is an interesting film that you may want to watch X for context but as a solo film, it's a watch. Join me in this review and let's explore the world of X and weird crazy shit. Plot: Trapped on her family's isolated farm, Pearl must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Hoping for a more glamorous life, Pearl's ambitions, temptations, and repressions all collide to horrific effect. The biggest takeaway from this film is Mia Goth's performance. She was amazing in this film and terrifying too. This is definitely her best film yet and she really carried this film. This film is basically a character study on Pearl and I really liked how they explored each part of her emotional path and why she is acting so weird. Her complications with her mother are clear from the start and you start to care about her. You want her to be happy and live a better life but at the same time, you want her to lose that goal. The story wants the audience to be split and choose sides and I love that. That's so great about this film and it gives audiences clues on what she will do next and what actions lead to the next scene or even lead to X. Her character was well written and the long 6-minute monologue is Oscar-worthy. The supporting cast was pretty good as well. The mother's performance was pretty great and I like how the actress wants the audience to hate her character so much yet still have some sympathy for her actions to protect Pearl. The projectionist was also good and the themes of this film really connect to the entire X trilogy and Pearl's journey. I really like how these two films really show how the progression of adult films really grows from just straight up you know what to somewhat art house cinema. By the time the third film comes out, it goes into the modern adult film industry and criticizes the industry as a whole. I really like this overall theme and social commentary. Few filmmakers like Ti West and Sean Baker touch on those subjects and it creates a whole new perspective on it. Besides that, the directing is strong as always. I'm loving Ti West's style and he manages to make his films feel like mid-budget films which is insane since it cost only one million dollars. The cinematography is great. There are a lot of creative angles and shots in the film and the coloring of this film is just so beautiful. The set design and costumes are well made, especially for a 1 million-dollar film and the horror is pretty good. Try not to make your expectations high with the horror and slasher style but it's there because of Pearl. There are some scenes that might distribute you and that's great because the character is going down the drain and by the end of the film, it's legit pretty terrifying. As an A24 film, it's very strong within its character story and amazing production. But I still have some nitpicks as well. There are story elements that really didn't work for me that well or clicked with me. The side plot with the projectionist wasn't that strong. Their relationship was weak and it didn't go anywhere. The father wasn't strong as I hope for. While his performance was small and good, his character didn't add much to the end result of the story. I wished they touched on Howard a little bit more and what he did after what Pearl did to her parents. The film's pacing was a bit slow in some parts and I wished they could've added more within the dynamic between Pearl and his mother. Also maybe include a prelude of Pearl and her boyfriend Howard. I will admit My expectations were a little too high but this film still really worked because of Mia Goth's performance and Ti West's directing. While X is still by far his best film yet, this film is still very solid and delivers what the previous film worked well onto this film. Overall, this film was very strong in its presentation and character storytelling. I really loved Mia Goth's performance and solid direction from Ti West. Still unbelievable that this film was made for 1 million dollars and it proves that sometimes, Hollywood is paying a shit ton of money. Great lead performance, amazing production, and great thrilling build-ups. It's definitely an A24 film and it was worth it watching this film in theaters. I cannot wait for the third film to complete the X trilogy. Now Playing in Theaters. Vizeit Score: "B+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Georgina Campbell. © 2022. 20th Century Studios, Regency Enterprises, Vertigo Entertainment, and Almost Never Films. Directed by Zach Cregger. This Ain't Your Average Airbnb.
When watching the trailers of this film, I thought it would be a psychological thriller with some cliché moments, but I was wrong. 100% wrong. I didn't know the plot of this film and I was completely surprised. This was a wild fucking ride. One of the most surprising horror films I've seen in a while and this film should be supported. This film is something special and I have a lot of thoughts about this film. Let's go into this weird house in the middle of Detroit and explore the depths of this underground basement. Also, why in the middle of Detroit? Pretty bad innit. Plot: The film follows a young woman who finds out the home she rented was double-booked with another man, and discovers a dark secret in the house. That's all I can say about the plot because I want you to go blind as possible when going into this film. At least watch the first trailer and you will see if it's your cup of tea or not. But I'm telling you that this film is wild and it will disturb you in many ways. Without going in-depth with the plot, the story is straightforward and it explores the underground of the house. The protagonist Tess played by Georgina Campbell was very great in the film. Her character was basic but her performance really sold her personality. Plus, by the middle of the third act, you will start to root for her for the entire film. The other supporting actors including Bill Skarsgård and Justin Long were great in the film but Justin Long was hilarious in the film. His character was strong in the film and it comes in full circle about his mistakes and it will lead to interesting character decisions. Bill Skarsgård was also great in the film and his character is a little bit mysterious. But I liked his performance and by the time you get to know his character, you will feel bad in the end. But those three actors did a great job and they really made this film more fun and thrilling! Besides the characters and the main story, the plot really delivered the film and it's more of plot over horror. While it's a horror film and it has your typical gore, jump scares, and dumb moments, it's played well in a smart way. Plus, the horror plays into the plot and that's where the plot takes over the film in a much bigger way. I can't say specifics but the plot works very well and it's a well-written story. It opens a lot within the lore of the house and by the end, you want to investigate or leave an interpretation about the ending of the film. I also really liked the social commentary about relationships and the feeling that you are "the bad guy" but you're a good person. A good person just doing a bad thing. It's a nice message but they play it around and it can be taken seriously or funny. I found it to be serious but it can be taken funny because of the outcome of that message. There's so much I want to discuss but I can't because I want you to experience the madness of this film first. But I can talk about the filmmaking. The directing and writing of this film are very solid but the directing was great. I really loved how the scenes were directed in the final act of the film and the tone of the film is well balanced. There are comedic moments and they are done right. The score still haunts me as of this writing. I really loved the production design and when it gets to the final act, the production design goes full in. I was legit surprised by the final act and at that point, I was already loving this film. The cinematography is very slick and great. I loved the color palette of the film and it switches to a surprising new aesthetic that really got me hooked. I loved the production of this film and it really surprised me as a filmmaker. This film was very strong and it captures what a horror film should be in contemporary cinema. I still have some nitpicks, unfortunately. One of those nitpicks are the horror clichés. There are some dumb decisions that could've been quickly solved but they did it because it's a horror film. Plus, the film could've filled more of that weird sequence in the final act with potentially more scenes. There is one unexplained moment that I still theorized about what really happened during that specific scene. But besides those weird character decisions and unexplained scenes but still cool, I really loved this film because of the horror ambitious, and interesting plot. This film really exceeded my expectations. This film really exceeded my expectations and it was nuts from beginning to end. Great performances, great original plot, amazing filmmaking, and an insane amount of horror. If you want to see a horror film that focuses on the plot over horror but still has the horror thrills, this is the film you should see. This is a film that the horror genre really needs and I'm happy that this film exists. What a wild ride and I cannot wait for Zach Cregger's next film. By the way, he's the same director who acted in the Lincoln skit on The Whitest Kids U' Know. That's pretty hilarious. What a director. Now Playing Only in Theaters including in Dolby Cinema. Vizeit Score: "A" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. |
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