Xolo Maridueña. © 2023 Warner Bros Pictures, DC Studios, and The Safran Company.
Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto.
Watched it in IMAX @ AMC Theaters
A New Superhero Rises, In The New DC Universe A new DC universe is now set and the foundation begins with Blue Beetle. The first Latino lead superhero film is finally here and watching this film was an emotional rollercoaster. As a first-generation Latino, this film not only really hits with its representation but also its family themes and the direction of this film. This is easily the most underrated superhero film of the year and I'll tell you why this film should deserve more recognition. Let's visit Palmera City and enjoy the breeze of fresh air until Kord Industries takes over the city. Story: When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Blue Beetle. Jaime's journey throughout this film is full of emotions, action, and excitement because of the struggles that he battles way through. Not just as a superhero, but as a young kid who is trying to make it out alive with his family. Jamie keeps getting in dangerous situations where he thinks he may die or doesn't have the capacity to become the superhero he was promised. This is the center of his story. His personal and superhero struggles. We see that a lot in superhero origin films but this feels like a breath of fresh air with the Latino representation and his character being a young adult, trying to live life. We haven't seen this being portrayed up until Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and we get to see it again but for a DC superhero flick. What makes this one even more special is his family's relationship battling it out with his new superhero life. The family dynamic is strong and authentic with the cast's performances. The chemistry between each character works very well and it adds emotional stakes between one another. Alberto Reyes, the father of Jaime, played by Damián Alcázar, is the strongest and most compelling character in the film. I really loved his chemistry between father and son with Jaime and his important scene with Jamie got me in emotional tears. In other films, it would have been weak if it wasn't the prime focus within the dynamic but the script allows both the father and son's relationship to be at the forefront of Jaime's personal journey. Plus, Alcázar 's performance rose the emotional stakes in the film which made me care about their relationship even more. That is the strongest component within the storytelling and while it feels familiar, with Ángel Manuel Soto's directing, it makes it strongly compelling. As for the other characters in the family, their dynamic with Jamie is also very solid but the father always steals the scene and it helps strengthen the core emotional stake for Jaime's journey. As for the other characters outside of Jamie's family, they are good with their performances but Bruna Marquezine's character, Jenny Kord is easily another great stand-out.
Her character and performance were very solid and her love relationship with Jaime felt natural instead of being forced. I'm surprised that they get enough screen time for their relationship to grow and it helps the emotional stake for Jaime's love interest and his family. I like the balance of those relationships and it didn't ruin the overall pacing of the film. The overall story is also solid and while the actual origin story of this character isn't different from other comic-book films with their origin story, the directing made the story unique. The plot can be predictable and straightforward, but I was still engaged with some of the unexpected twists, especially in the final act. The pacing of the story was surprisingly fast. Even though the film was two hours long, it felt like ninety minutes and it didn't waste its time. Plus, with the action in the film, it felt like a breeze and it was fun. There were a lot of action sequences which surprised me for a superhero origin story but it felt well-balanced. Well-choreographed, creative, and grounded which is somewhat of a rarity in comic book films now these days. Through Soto's direction, I liked his creative vision for the character and he delivered a lot of emotional stakes throughout the film. You can clearly see that his style is present and there is a level of creativeness throughout, unlike Marvel who are gatekeeping their directors. Soto delivered a solid origin story that is packed with good old superhero fun. Through its technical elements, with a somewhat mid-budget for a superhero film, it looks very solid on the big screen.
Originally, this film was going to debut on HBO Max (now Max) but later on, it was given a theatrical release, and production kept going as usual. With this being an original streaming movie that has been released in theaters, the film will look a bit different on the big screen. Yet, it still looks good with some clear VFX changes, color grading, sound design, and more. In terms of elements being captured on-screen, the costume design of Blue Beetle is fantastic. Probably one of the best comic book suits in film. With its blend of practical and visual effects, it looks very smooth and it does not look completely CGI compared to the Spider-Man suit in the MCU. In terms of CGI and VFX, it looks good for its budget. It is a well-shot film with interesting camera shots and coloring. Surprisingly, there is a lot of film grain but it didn't ruin the visual quality that much. The production design inside Jaime's home is very lived in with lots of unique and authentic props, art design, and homage to Latino culture, especially Mexican culture. Outside of that, there isn't much to praise except that Blue Beetle spaceship which looks pretty dope. From what the film offered originally through its technical production, it looks well-made with care behind the scenes. However, like every other comic book film, there will be flaws and this film has some of those common flaws. One of the biggest flaws that is common within some comic book films is the villain. The villain Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) was weak and unfortunately, uncompelling. I didn't like her character and while her performance was good, I wasn't digging her character that much. As for the other villain character, OMAC (Raoul Trujillo) wasn't that strong until the very end. He was just a one-side-off villain character until the last minute. I'll give credit for that but if that didn't happen, I wouldn't care what would happen to him in the end. This film unfortunately falls flat on its villains but it also falls flat on playing it safe. The film outside of its Latino representation, doesn't add much to the story. It's the typical origin story that you have seen multiple times. Nothing new, nothing crazy. It falls into some of the cliches and tropes that have been stretched out like it's nothing which numbs the film. One more flaw that not a lot of people haven't noticed is the visual clarity of the film and the VFX. It is clear by some of the night visuals and VFX visuals, it makes out that it was a streaming movie in the first place. Even with the film grain as I mentioned earlier, it makes the film look low res in some shots. I saw this in IMAX and it looks clear, night and day on screen. Even with those technical and story flaws, I still enjoyed Blue Beetle with its unique direction and Xolo Maridueña's wonderful performance of this iconic DC character. Blue Beetle is a simple superhero origin film that takes its own spin on the character and makes it as fresh as possible. It has charm, excitement, and emotional stakes that strengthen the story. Maridueña's portrayal of the character is excellent with the father-son relationship being the strongest element. Even though the villains are weak with the story being the same old origin superhero film, it still has that creative flare that makes this film unique and I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope we get more adventures and stronger stories from this character and the director as well!
Now Streaming on Max and on VOD!
Vizeit Score: "A-"
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Copyright © 2024 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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Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. © 2023 Warner Bros, Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment, NB/GG Pictures, and Mattel Films. Directed by Greta Gerwig.
Vizeit Reviews is in solidarity with the WGA & SAG, however, SAG will allow film critics to continue their normal movie critiques as usual but with certain restrictions.
Watched it in Dolby Cinema
She's Everything. He's Just Ken. After Greta Gerwig's two successful and critically acclaimed films, she's onto a new adventure by bringing dolls to life. Well...did it work? It did, in a big way. From many cinephile points of view, it's a Drive sequel because of Ryan Gosling. For the general audience, it's Margot Robbie as a Barbie. Barbie is a wonderful film for every type of audience and Greta understands the world around Barbie but also expanding what Barbie really is. Greta and Noah Baumbach really took the doll and created it something that people will relate to, no matter what you are. Let's explore Barbieland and see what all the Barbies and Kens are doing in their daily lives. Story: Set in the colorful Barbie Land, stereotypical Barbie lives a perfect life every single day. One day, she shows signs of being...a human. She decides to go to the Real World to find the cure in order to make herself perfect again. Since the announcement of this film with Greta and Noah attached to the project, I was immediately hyped to see how these indie filmmakers would tackle this project. Well, they made this film hilarious, emotional, and fun! One of the biggest elements of this film that really worked for this film is the satire of modernization. We know that Barbie is mostly for girls but it's also for some boys too with Ken being part of the collection. However, Barbie really takes it to the next level by applying modernization to kids' toys and making them hilarious yet so real and true. After the second act, we see Kens acting way different and it questions the look of men through the eyes of the world. Feminism is a big key in this film and while I'm a guy writing about a Barbie film review, it worked on both parts. I loved the way how Greta took the version of Ken and made it relatable while still making it feel real in the context of Barbie. Those ideas that Greta played with, really shaped a different story from what the trailers promoted. Right into the second act, I thought the film was going to be over but I'm happy they kept going the momentum before arriving to the third act. The main themes presented in this film really started to kick in within the third act and by the end, it's a satisfying payoff that audiences will be pleased with. I loved the ending and the way Greta directed it was emotional and right into the core of the brand. By the end, I wanted more but I feel like that is a great ending that doesn't need to overstretch its runtime. The plot overall really worked and seeing it progress from a simple story into something greater and personal really made the theme and overall message more impactful with its ending. That really made this film from great to fantastic and I was worried that this film will go into The Lego Movie route. Even though I love that film, I hope they won't do a cheap plot route on that beloved animated film. However, it took its own spin and went more deeper since this film is more lenient to audiences who grew up on Barbie. Even though it's a PG-13 film, the message is aimed at all ages and it worked great. I didn't even get to the cast of the film but everyone did a fabulous job with their roles.
The cast in this film is amazing and Margot Robbie really delivered one of her best performances since I, Tonya. Her performance captures what Barbie truly means to the fans and with Ryan Gosling as the addition as Ken, it captures the iconic duo in this crazy world of Barbie. Gosling's character goes way more campier in terms of tone while his character arc goes into an interesting route that you may never expected. America Ferrera was amazing in this film and her character really captured what older audiences missed about Barbie while Ariana Greenblatt represents the current generation's view of Barbie. It's two minds and worlds colliding into finding a route that will unite everyone who loves and hates Barbie. I really like their mother and daughter duo and Ferrera's speech was well done. The other cast members are also amazing and hilarious. The different versions of Barbie are pretty great including Issa Rae and Kate McKinnon. The different versions of Kens are also hilarious, especially Simu Liu and you cannot forget the underrated performance from Michael Cera as Allan. The cast together really brought out all the energy that the film was capturing and even with the human characters, everyone really made this film special and energetic. I bet the production was fun too because the production itself looks fantastic.
The production design is truly outstanding and it's mostly practical thanks to the production designer Sarah Greenwood. The world of Barbie is out of this world and the film captures the toy world into something grander than life. From the houses to the streets and even to the small toy details, it feels like you are living within their world. The costume design is also fabulous with each Barbie being unique to its own and seeing Margot Robbie in a cowgirl costume really made her character stand out during the real-world scenes. Even the makeup and hair design is also great for making each Barbie look different yet look the same. The cinematography here is also very great during the Barbieland scenes while still having the Gerwig visual look from her previous films. The original songs chosen here are also very good and the editing here is surprisingly very good. It's well paced and it doesn't overstay while still delivering the energetic flow of the story. Overall, the production of this film is fantastic but remember, not every film is perfect, even Oppenheimer. There are no major flaws but one of the elements that disappointed me was the visuals during the real-world scene. It looks dull which is intended but it feels dull on purpose and accidentally. I feel like the momentum was way much better in Barbie land rather than the real-world scenes but I was still invested in the journey of Barbie. Some of the jokes in the film didn't land for me and the film almost punched a needle into the politics but it did avoid that right in the final minutes of the film. That's all the negatives I have because this film really shined from start to finish. Being in Barbie land was fun but we have to move onto the nuclear test site before the nuke test starts. However, that being said, Barbie was an energetic film from start to finish. Greta captured the spirit of Barbie into something grander than life and brought some of the best material of this year and from her career. This is a outstanding third film from Greta and Margot Robbie keeps on killing it with her performances on each film she is in. Everyone did a great job in the film and I hope we get more Barbie films after this or just keep it like that because we need more female films before the studios realize it's the complete opposite. Can't wait to see what Greta Gerwig will cook next. Now Playing Only in Theaters! Vizeit Score: "A"
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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])
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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