Bad Boys For Life (2020)

I've been a fan of this franchise since childhood, and I've always wanted a third one. This film had no right to be as good as it was. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence over the years were loosely attached. Directors and writers came and went. At the time of its release, it had been 17 years after the release of the second film. And yet, the third time is the charm. The first film had the best jokes. The second film had the best action. This third film had great humor and action, but it had the best story.

Mike Lowrey(Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett(Martin Larence) investigate a string of murders tied to Lowrey's troubled past, while the two are at a crossroads of their partnership. Marcus has just become a grandfather and desires retirement, while Mike isn't interested in moving on from where he is, claiming to want to "hunt down criminals till he's 100".

As the film goes on, you realize that there is a different vibe compared to the others. It's much more mature. The brutal violence is gritty and leaves an impact. It isn't as simple as when our central leads were younger to simply shoot and kill the villains. As the old guys on the block, the new team of hotshot cops, AMMO have a new way of doing things that leave them out of their element.

Michael Bay might not have directed( He has a cameo though), but his influence is still there. The sweeping shots, pretty girls, and certain camera movements that no one else does. Still, newcomers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are focus to put their gritty stamp to the franchise, rather than make a Michael Bay fan film.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are magic on the big screen together. Their banter is full of energy and aside from the constant quips, there is a real brotherhood there. Martin definitely had the biggest laughs. He has been missed from the big screen. The duo is a big part of why these films resonate with the audience. I appreciated keeping the focus on them rather than have them in the background, and focused on passing the baton to AMMO. With that said, they are great additions to the cast. I honestly hope that they return for the fourth one, as the franchise has never been great in retaining supporting characters. Joe Pantoliano is an exception, returning to play the beloved foul mouthed Captain Howard.

The action sequences are decent, but they pale in comparison to Michael Bay's signature 'Bayhem'. Though, to be fair, with its absence, narrative cohesion is present. Nevertheless, I appreciate the camera movement, the clearness of it, and the use of practical stuntwork, though despite the stakes, it feels small.

Composer Lorne Balfe is on a hot streak. I've been a fan ever since his work on Mission Impossible: Fallout. Bad Boys II had a great soundtrack of songs, but its original score fell short, so Balfe's outstanding work on this film particularly stands out. It feels so cinematic and strengthens the emotional scenes. He even brought back the original Bad Boys theme by Mark Mancina.

Bad Boys For Life isn't groundbreaking, but it is a long-awaited fun action-packed adventure, aided with unexpected emotional heft.

8/10

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) / Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Two film reviews in one? Say it ain't so. But it is. As we celebrate the one and two year anniversaries of these films, Quarantine Watch Party is hosting screenings of them with the directors and writers participating which is so cool.

It is worth noting that the MCU is the first of its kind. The narrative threads in previous films are continued, but these films are made with the expectation that you have seen the previous films. If not, you may still enjoy it, but you will be missing things. I just have the applaud the filmmakers and the writers for the massive juggling act. The two duos had to serve as the conclusion to 20+ films, and those films had different tones and styles. The fact that they are as cohesive as they are is a miracle.

The two films are about the power to change the universe and the sacrifice needed to make it happen. This applies to both the heroes as well as the villains. The six infinity stones are sources of undefinable power that our characters have encountered. The reason why they have been showing up recently is because Thanos, the mad titan is hunting for them. He plans to gain all six, installing them in his infinity gauntlet and snapping his fingers to eliminate half of all life to stop overpopulation, a fate that occurred in his homeworld. He sees that while what it does is evil, it is also an act of mercy to those that will die, and salvation for those left behind.

Thanos has been teased since The Avengers(2012) as the ultimate villain, and that he is. A smart choice from the filmmakers was to make him the main character in Infinity War. The films understand that he is a monster, but his motivations are clear, and the emotional journey he goes on is some of the best dramatic writing Marvel has ever done. Endgame puts the focus on the original Avengers, along with other allies, which was a perfect move as Endgame is a definitive ending to an era of the MCU.

The films have stakes and weight to it. Infinity War begins with half of the Asgardians dead, Heimdall stabbed, and Loki choked to death. Endgame begins with Hawkeye enjoying a peaceful day with his family, and they are suddenly killed by Thanos. Because of the groundwork laid out by the previous films, we feel the losses with the characters. The weight of it sets a tone that lets the audiences know that anything can happen. The usual superhero film formula was thrown out the window.

Robert Downey Jr and Josh Brolin are the MVPs of these films. This was a tough one for me. Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, and Zoe Saldana were close, but Robert and Josh edged out for me.

Tony Stark's journey from Age of Ultron to Endgame has been incredible to see. He, as well as Thanos, have been cursed with knowledge. We see his desire to prepare the earth from its destruction, the relationships affected due to his obsessions, and how his failures nearly break him. Robert Downey Jr has always been perfect as Tony, but he ends his tenure as the character with a bang, delivering his best work after 11 years.

Brolin's calm, considered reading of the character provides this monster with an unexpectedly emotional level, making him much more than a thick stick figure of a supervillain. Brolin plays both the Warlord Thanos and the Savior Thanos. The two have enough distinction between them, but his presence nevertheless is intimidating.

The humor is perfectly balanced with the drama. This is significant as other Marvel films fail to do so. The majority, especially Age of Ultron overload on the humor that there is no breathing room for anything else. There are moments of doubt, regret, and uncertainty, fear, along with the desire of some of the characters to move on. Rather than a mention of it, we see it and the effect that has. We also see the growth of the characters. Hulk and Thor, in particular, have the most notable changes, physically and mentally.

The battle sequences are the best that Marvel has ever done. The Battle on Titan, Wakanda, Guardians vs Avengers, and the final Battle of Earth are visually eye-popping. Repeat viewings, and I am still discovering new things. The 'war' is delivered. It fills up the frame.

There are so many ways to call these films perfect, but I'll leave it here. Yes, I recognize that I am biased. I grew up with these films. So what? Given the amount of money they raked in, a majority of you probably agree with me.

Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame are cinematic masterpieces that miraculously concludes an 11-year saga, and will satisfy long time fans by giving them everything they want and more.

10/10

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

The following review contains spoilers. Hence, why it is my longest review ever.

"Sigh" The emotions swirling in my head once I finish watching this film back in December 2019 were so strong, but I decided to wait before I wrote a review so I could sit on what I watched, and frankly, the longer I thought about what I watched, the more I disliked this film. It is the worst Star Wars film in the saga. That title used to belong to Attack Of The Clones for me, but as this film served as an ending, its failures have a more profound effect. Of course, this week, I rewatched it as I can't write a film based on a memory from 4 months ago, but it didn't improve anything.

Just to be clear, this isn't me jumping on the bandwagon. I enjoyed the last two films. I was so excited to see how this trilogy ended.

The story follows Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron as they lead the Resistance's final stand against Kylo Ren and the First Order, who are now aided by the return of the deceased galactic emperor, Palpatine. To stop them, the trio, along with C3PO, BB8, and Chewbacca set out to find an item(The name I forget), which will lead them to something or other. Honestly, it doesn't matter.

Going on a journey to find the one item that can save the day has been done before in film, but this film undoes it by the end of the second act, rendering the entire journey pointless. Speaking of pointless, why bother watching the previous films in the trilogy? This one spends almost its entire running time retconning its predecessor and adding painfully conventional 'plot twists' and patronizing reversals in the name of appealing the fans who didn't like the risks that Rian Johnson took.

The action sequences are snoozes. The battle between Rey and Kylo Ren that was teased in the trailers wasn't very engaging. There was no tension or sense of danger. The set pieces weren't that exciting, perhaps except for the opening chase with the Falcon, making those constant hyperspace jumps. Its attempts at humor fell flat. They were cringy and awkward.

Given that this is a film with a massive ensemble, you would think it would be a film with even screentime, but nope. Rey's story, which is Luke's story in the original trilogy, but a woman this time is quite frankly, boring, and it takes the majority of the run time. The whole mystery of her parents never excited me. John Boyaga's Finn was so important to me. A black man, a Nigerian no less who was chosen to be the main lead back in The Force Awakens made me feel seen. A reformed stormtrooper was an angle that excited me, but his story was wasted, being so thirsty for Rey the whole time. The fact that he was force sensitive isn't explored or used creatively. Rose, a major character in the last film barely registers here. She only has a minute of screen time. I guess if enough racist people criticize someone, the filmmakers will listen to them.

The relationship between Kylo Ren and Rey was a highlight in The Last Jedi. The force connection lead to great character drama, but by the end of The Last Jedi, Rey shut him out. Yet in this one, they are still connected. Kylo then, despite killing Han Solo and committing several other acts of evil is then redeemed when he helps Rey stop Palpatine, despite working with Palpatine in the first two acts. Then, after some bringing people back to life force nonsense, the two kiss. Then Kylo dies. What the hell?

The two had tried to kill each other several times. It made no sense. And, if you read the extra Star Wars material, you discover that it was a kiss of gratitude. This film doesn't want to satisfy anyone, does it? Honestly, when Rey takes the Skywalker name by the end of it, it's like she forgot that Kylo Ren was the last Skywalker, and by putting herself in this family, as you do, she kissed a relative. But maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.

The use of Carrie Fisher is this film, frankly, came off as creepy and disrespectful to me, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe some found it to be a sweet tribute, with her getting top billing and being present for the whole trilogy, but when she is on screen, I was constantly reminded that she was no longer with us, and the actors are playing off nothing. The scenes with her and other people came off as awkward and unnatural.

John Williams can't save this. As usual, his music was great, yet it didn't elevate what was happening on screen. The visual effects were top-notch as usual, but nothing special. Fan service done right can be very engaging, such as in Avengers: Endgame, but here, it is slapped on and serves no purpose. For example, Maz Kanata, who is a puppet in this film despite being a CGI character in the previous films (continuity at its best) gives Chewbacca the medal that he was denied in A New Hope. The moment is slapped on and is set to please the older fans, but I couldn't help but think that Maz stole that off of a dead woman.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker disappointingly ends its sequel trilogy with a whimper, leaving the overall skywalker saga with several promises broken or unfulfilled.

3/10

Trolls: World Tour (2020)

I honestly enjoyed the first Trolls back when it was released. The songs were enjoyable enough, and the story had the simple message of accepting who you are, and blah blah blah. Honestly, it is not targeted at me, and with little kids always around me, I tend not to overthink it when I watch with them.

The sequel gives us more of the colourful palate and energetic soundtrack, with brand new songs, and interesting mashups of classics. Some are inspired, others fall flat. It all depends on your musical tastes. The filmmakers went out of their way to give it a wider appeal.

The story follows Poppy, the new Queen of the Pop trolls and her best friend Branch who discover that there are other kinds of Trolls scattered over six different lands, each devoted to a different form of music: Pop, Funk, Classical, Techno, Country, and Rock. Well, those are the main trolls. There are also reggae trolls, k-pop trolls, etc. This information is revealed as the evil Queen Barb of the Rock trolls aided by her father King Thrash, wants to destroy all other kinds of music to let rock reign supreme. With the fate of different music at stake, Poppy and Branch, along with their friends set out to visit all the other lands to unify the Trolls in harmony against Barb.

From there, it unfolds exactly how you would expect it to. The silly potty humor is frequent(There is a scene where a troll poops out a cake that is fully lit), and the plot is thin. If it didn't include a lesson in diversity and tolerance, I probably wouldn't like it. Honestly, if you are looking for something to watch where you can turn your brain off and enjoy something, give this a shot. Especially if you're trapped at home with your family.

One song I enjoyed was 'It's All Love", with Anderson.Paak taking the lead. I'm an Anderson.Paak fan, so I appreciated that hip hop was represented here, as well as the other genres of music other than pop.

Overall, Trolls: World Tour is a fun animated adventure that is sure to entertain little kids, and some older with its fun songs, if nothing else.

6.5/10

Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

Brandon Davis of comicbook.com has been doing this fun thing called a Quarantine Watch Party. At 9 Pm Est, we press play on a certain movie and live tweet it. Its all in good fun and in all the events, some of the filmmakers and actors of the respective films participate. In that spirit, I've decided to review the film being played today: James Gunn's Guardians Of The Galaxy.

I'll just note that this is a retrospective review as I reviewed this back in 2014, but six years later, perspectives change, as does my writing. Back in 2014, I went into this film blind. I wasn't aware of any of the characters, nor the director. Due to its space setting, I wondered how it would connect to the previous Marvel films. It didn't, nor did it try to set up future films and sequels. That is one of the film's greatest strengths. You can watch this film for what it is without missing anything.

The film follows Peter Quill, a ravager and outlaw who forms an uneasy alliance with a group of other extraterrestrial criminals(Gamora, Drax, Groot, Rocket) who are on the run after he steals an artifact that a lot of dangerous people want for its power. Based on this description, you would think I am describing a dark intense sci-fi film, especially when it was released at a time when doom and gloom were so popular in superhero films. Not the case. When we are introduced to Peter Quill, he puts on his Sony walkman, and dances like a joyful fool to Redbone's 'Come and get your love'.

The film is shamelessly absurd, with two of their main characters a talking raccoon and a talking tree that only knows three words, and by some miracle, it works. You willingly give in to this reality and love it all the more for its differences to traditional superhero films. When the film needs to get serious, it does so that provokes an emotional response. Rather than having the characters cracking jokes constantly, they all have emotional baggage that doesn't weaken, but empowers them and has you rooting for them. Character work is something Marvel has always done well.

The visual effects are a strong component of why the film works. Rocket and Groot look amazing. Director James Gunn used practical sets whenever possible, and the mixture between the two blends effortlessly. The action sequences are breathtaking to look at.

Music is another character in this film that stands out. Composer Tyler Bates creates an amazing score that stands out, which is a rare feat. Compared to DC films, the musical compositions of Marvel Studio films when it was starting out come off as bland and typical. 'The Kyln Escape' is the most exciting piece, containing both The Guardians' theme music and exciting beats to match the corresponding action. The prewritten songs we are given from Peter Quill's mixtape are a mix of popular and underrated songs from the 70s and 80s that are fun to listen to on its own(I've done it on repeat), but they are used effectively in the film. Its use during the 'Dance Battle' scene is unforgettable.

Overall, Guardians Of The Galaxy is a distinctive hilarious, emotionally moving thrill ride that stands out as one of Marvel's best cinematic experiences.

10/10

Ararat (2002)

Given the films that I have previously reviewed on this site, this review may seem it comes out of leftfield, especially as of this review, this film came out 18 years before, but hey, as I am stuck home, I'm seeing all types of films these days.

Ararat is a part historical drama, part family drama with quite the ensemble with several interesting storylines. A history professor who is accused by her stepdaughter of killing her second husband after her first husband was a terrorist. Her son having a sexual relationship with his stepsister struggling to accept his identity. An up and coming actor coming to terms with his understanding of history. How does it all come together? Through a film production of the Armenian genocide.

The story is told through an interrogation by a customs officer, with the young man remembering how his life was changed during the making of the film. The film plays with time, to varying effect, jumping between the past and the present, the affect the history has on their characters today, and we see recreations of the genocide through the footage of the fictional film being made and the effect it has.

Atom Egoyan has made his career making experimental character studies to gage an emotion from the audience. Given his identity and where he is from, you can tell this story is personal. However, it comes off as preachy at times. The amount of historical exposition in this film, it should have been longer. As someone who doesn't have much knowledge of the event, several details were lost.

The family drama with the stepdaughter had no bearing in this film. Egoyan is known for presenting incest in his films for reasons I can not understand. The storyline isn't even properly resolved by the end. This film presents you with more questions than answers, and I feel that is the opposite effect Egoyan was going for.

Solid performances and set pieces aside, Ararat is an unnecessarily difficult film.

5/10

Quarantine Reviews

Given the amount of free time I have (Due to obviously reasons), I will be significally more active on this blog. Yes, that was what I said last year, but as of this writing, 5 reviews have been prewritten, with more on the way. Films, televison, and short films are all fair game.