Ezra Miller. © 2023 Warner Bros Pictures, DC Studios, Double Dream, and The Disco Factory. Directed by Andy Muschietti.
Watched it in IMAX @ AMC Theaters
Worlds Collide Quick Review: We arrived at the last stop in the DCEU and it's not that bad. In terms of story, it's solid but my god, poor visual effects workers. This was an interesting trip of a film and it did deliver in certain areas but not all of them. Besides the controversy and troubled production surrounding this film, the directing of this film is solid and you can see that this is a Andy Muschietti film. However, there are certain scenes that are studio interference which killed the momentum of its emotional story. However, it's not just about cameos or the multiverse. It's about letting go of the past and moving on to a better future. The scenes with Barry and his mom are the strongest scenes in the film. Especially during their final conversation which brought a tear to my eye. The recast of Barry's father wasn't that noticeable for me but I prefer the original actor from the Snyder films. Barry's story with his parents is very crucial in the film and I'm happy they didn't stir away from that main focus. Even though the film is marketed as a huge multiverse event, it's still a story about family and love. However, there are points where they push the multiverse a little too bit but I did enjoy the two duo of two Barry Allen's'. Seeing Michael Keaton's Batman is always a joy and I hope they keep Sasha Calle as Supergirl in the future because she killed it. Besides the characters and story, the ending is a mixed bag not because of the main story but because this is where the DCEU ends. It's a weird sendoff but it will divide audiences on how they treated this old universe with this being the final film. The biggest complaint for me would be the CGI/VFX but even with that, I was still hooked on the main story and in the end, it's time to send the DCEU away for good. Overall, a solid comic book film with a good story, solid characters, and interesting directing from Andy. Even with all the controversy surrounding this film, I'm happy it got to see the light of day. Except Batgirl...why Zaslav. Now Playing in Theaters and on VOD. Vizeit Score: "B+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
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Grace Caroline Currey and Virginia Gardner. © 2022 Lionsgate, Tea Shop Productions, BuzzFeed Studios, Capstone Pictures, and Flawless. Directed by Scott Mann.
Watched it on Starz
Fear Reaches New Heights Quick Review: Skydiving can be insane but doing mountain climbing is risking your life like it's the Olympics but your family is humiliating you. However, this film mixes things up with a simple plot but with friendship drama that really works well due to the performances of our two main leads. Plus, the scope of this film seems high which paid off in the end. It's a well-made small film with very solid cinematography and pretty good sound design. The CGI can be wonky in certain scenes but with its low budget, it does work well. I loved the tension throughout the film and by the second act, I was fully into the story and the stakes get higher by the end. It's a somber film but it has a vision behind it and some great sequences caught my filmmaking attention. The biggest thing I was worried about going into this film was its pacing since it's a one-location story but with only two characters. However, they kept raising the stakes every time they tried something different with some consequences for each attempt. It's clever and there's an interesting plot twist that made me shock in a good way. The execution is done well and by the end, I was relieved. What also really made my expectation way different is that it took this simple young adult story into a dramatic grounded story that felt like real adults, especially since one of these characters is an influencer. I would say that this film still has the typical cliches that were expected in a survival duo film. However, even with those cliches and tropes, I was still invested in the characters' personalities. Virginia Gardner's character stood me out due to her influence personality and her complicated relationship with her friend in the story. However, Grace Caroline Currey's performance and character were well-written. I didn't stick well with the father subplot unfortunately but it was nice to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan in a film. Still, I really was surprised by this film's plot, and with the solid performances, I was hooked on the film. It's nice to see a small survival thriller back on a big film landscape. Next time I go rock climbing, I'll make sure I have my rope as tight as possible before I see Kratos freefalling. Now Streaming on Starz and on VOD. Vizeit Score: "B" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.Editor In-Cheif/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage. © 2023 Universal Pictures, Skybound Entertainment, and Giant Wildcat. Directed by Chris McKay.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
Dracula Sometimes Needs A Helper... Quick Review: Vampire films seem to be nonexistent now in modern cinema but it's good to have one in a while. Especially if it's a Nicolas Cage feature because that would slap. Well, we have one and it indeed slaps but with some issues along the way. This film is pretty campy and I feel like the tone really fits with this film. The campy vibes alongside the horror aspects and action were pretty entertaining. I really like the action set-pieces and it felt refreshing seeing good old bloody action scenes that are just plain fun. However, it can be overedited a lot and sometimes way too much. Still, I enjoyed it. The characters are solid. I liked Nicholas Hoult's performance as Renfield and his character is quite interesting. Throughout his character arc, we see him balance between good and bad but more on the good side. The character tropes were very present in the film, especially some of those tropes interacting with the story by making it feel cliché. Renfield as a character is still good and his soft personality really stands him out throughout the film. Nicolas Cage as Dracula is so funny and very good. I loved his campy performance and his character was well done. I loved how his character didn't give a crap about anything and just wanted world domination like any other villain. The side characters are good. Seeing Ben Schwartz as a gangster is not what I imagined and his performance was hilarious. Awkwafina was cool in her supporting role but her character was weak because it felt we have seen this type of character a lot in comedy films. Plus, the way it was set up was totally weak. It could've been much more strongly written and that's where I find my main issue. The film was pretty weak in its character set-up besides Renfield and Dracula. I couldn't find my footing until the second act. However, the performances still kept me entertained till the end. Overall, it's a solid vampire film with good performances and fun bloody action sequences. The set-up was weak with cliché tropes and a story that felt familiar yet not. Still, I had a good time watching Nicolas Cage go berserk. Now Playing in Theaters and on VOD. Vizeit Score: "B-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Joaquin Phoenix. © 2023 A24 and Square Peg. Directed by Ari Aster.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
In This World, Afraid Is Just A Stage. Quick Review: If Ari Aster makes a three-hour weird-fest with full of excitement, weirdness, and scope, I'm totally in. This film fucked my expectations in a good way due to its weird direction from Aster. This is such a weird film that not even other studios won't make but I'm glad this film exists. There is a lot of creativity and weirdness put into the film and I can tell that they put every penny into this film. The plot of this film is so weird and everywhere. Without any spoilers, it fucks with your mind and there are a lot of unexplained sequences that are well shot with huge scope, but at the same time, there's no explanation. Even with the metaphors presented in almost every scene, there are moments where I'm lost which takes me out of the film. However, the performances in the film are pretty great. I really loved Joaquin Phoenix's performance and his commitment to his character is insane. He goes from the adult side to the child side to the manic side in seconds. The side characters are also pretty good with their performances being amazing. I really liked the "antagonist" in the film and her motivations are very strong and explainable. However, some of the protagonist's motivations are pretty confusing and I was completely lost during the most important scenes in the film, unfortunately. I would say the film wasn't that long, however, some parts were really slow and unfortunately, there were some scenes that they could've cut out. However, the visuals in this film are really fantastic. I love the use of practical effects in the film including VFX. The cinematography in this film is very well done and the score is also memorable during some of the weirdest scenes in the film. Overall, it's a well-made film with great directing but with a confusing plot that will leave you sour or wanting more. The images in this film are some of the most fucked up since Men and it left me in a confusing state of mind. It's a well-made film for sure, however, if you expected a Odyssey film that will be fun, you got it, but try to set your expectations as low as possible. It's an Odyssey epic film for sure, but it will fuck up your mind. Ari needs some mental help. Now Playing in Theaters. Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, and Devyn Nekoda. © 2023 Paramount Pictures, Spyglass Media Group, Project X Entertainment, Radio Silence Productions. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
The Slashing Continues In The Big Apple.
Quick Review: Horror films are on an uprising this decade and this latest entry is amazing. This franchise is never heating down and they keep ramping up the violence while trying out new things to keep every film fresh. This film is bloody and it's insane until the end. I had a good time with this film and this cast made the horror much more fun. I feel like this movie was more of an action-horror film rather than a slasher but it still had some horror in it. The story is very good and the plot is still unique like in every entry. There are moments that are changed to make the suspense even more gripping and the opening is by far the best in the sequel. It subverts your expectations and makes you think even more about what's to come. The meta-commentary on horror films is very funny and smart. I love how they make fun of film bros and Gen Z filmmakers. Scream's social commentary keeps the series strong and their new interpretation worked here well. The cast is very great as always. Jenna Ortega gets more of a spotlight and I loved Melissa Barrera's character even more. The new cast of characters is also very good and it's nice to see the legacy characters back in this franchise. While we don't see Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) back, it's nice that we hear a mention of her character. The plot is very interesting. There are a lot of unexpected moments that will leave you questioning who's going to live or die. However, there are a bunch of plot holes that make the plot deform in the final act. The reveal was unexpected but I was half-sold on the motivations since we have seen it done before and it was kind of predictable. However, the ending was satisfying. The cinematography is a step up from the latest entry and the pacing of this film was pretty great. Overall, this film is a great entry into the franchise. While I believe last year's entry is still the best sequel in the series, this one was unique. More bloodier kills and more fun! That is what the Scream franchise is and the steam won't end. Now Playing Only in Theaters Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. |
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