Avengers: Endgame – 2019

Score: 10/10

Marvel Scale Score: 10/10*

*Since it seems that really Marvel can do no wrong, I have decided to implement a special scoring scale just for Marvel Movies. So while the first score is the absolute one compared to any other movies outside Marvel, the second one is strictly comparing this one to other Marvel Movies.

 We have come to it at least, the great movie of our times! Avengers: Endgame is by far the best movie that Marvel has ever made to date, edging a little bit in front of its predecessor, Avengers: Infinity War. It is an epic movie from start to end and you will go through a rollercoaster of emotions that you rarely get to experience in a movie theater. I can definitely say already that this will be the best movie of 2019 and it is one that you can’t afford to miss. It doesn’t matter if you like the genre or not, this one is a MUST SEE for everybody on the face of this planet…

The story is interesting. Everybody was anticipating it and yet we were all taken by surprise, at least in parts. Some characters die, some characters retire, but everything is done in a decent way, a way that does them justice. There is nothing here that will leave fans angry, everything is handled with grace and there is simply no fault in the story. Everything makes sense, everything clicks and you just want to see this one over and over again…

The characters are the ones we know already, the ones we love so there is nothing more I need to add here. Marvel is and always has been the king of casting, every actor seems born for the role and they prove it once again here. Absolutely stellar performances from every single member of the cast and since they are so many, I will skip the usual listing of their names. I mean it’s impossible to list them all without basically writing another page and none of them deserve to be left out… Brilliant, absolutely brilliant acting!

The road here was long, and if you want to really enjoy the movie to the maximum level, you will have to go back and watch every other single film released in the MCU. But trust me, it’s worth it, the saga is amazing from start to finish. This was the 22^nd movie in the universe and it manages to capture the essence of all the others and distill it in 3 hour marathon that leaves you satisfied and wanting more at the same time. Truly a showcase of how to build a universe from the ground up with patience and attention to detail.

The special effects, the music, the dramatic moments, everything comes together so good here, it’s just mesmerizing to see every single element completing the others and offering us something epic. Epic is the perfect word to describe this film, as it has so much emotion and so much panache and basically it moves you regardless if you are a fan or not. There is so much to learn here, so much to think about and even though it is only fantasy, it says so much about us as a race and about the things that are so important for us.

Since this is the review, I do have to mention some tiny flaws, that even though are not enough to affect the score in any way, still managed to annoy me a tiny bit. Firstly, the beginning of the movie is long and boring, it starts with a lot of drama and not much action and it got a bit stale at points. I was waiting for it to start already and thank God it made up for it when it finally fired on all cylinders. The other thing I have a problem with is the all women come together in the battle scene. I mean yes, it was done well, yes, it was fun, but seriously Marvel, did we really need that scene there? To what? Show us that women save the day? It took me completely out of the movie because it feels so forced… I’m sure glad that all the female characters managed to come together in that exact same spot in the middle of a hectic fight just for the movie to showcase a feminist moment, so glad I tell you… :)))))

In conclusion, there is simply nothing to take away from the perfect score this movie gets. Whether you like superheroes or not, what Marvel has managed to accomplish over 22 films is epic and never before seen. It is truly the best superhero movie ever made and I will not be surprised if in a couple of weeks it will become the highest grossing film of all times, I will not be surprised at all… Marvel deserves it fully and I can’t wait to see where they go from here and what new roads filled with amazing experiences they have in store for us. Thank you Marvel for offering us Avengers: Endgame, it is the only thing appropriate to say… Thank you!

Hereditary – 2018

Score: 9/10

Finally, I mean finally I get to see a horror movie the way horror movies are supposed to be. Hereditary is an amazing movie from start to finish and one that truly makes you shiver at every turn. It is one of the best horror movies I have ever seen and it is a must see, regardless if you are a fan of the genre or not. It is simply masterful and you will bask in awe at the beautiful pacing, the amazing music, the acting… Everything clicks here, everything falls into place and I can honestly say that this is one of the best movies of 2018 regardless of genre. It is simply a treat from start to finish!

The story is great, it is interesting, novel, you don’t know what is going to happen next. It is actually the scariest part of the movie, and that in itself is something special and something that we are not used to seeing in horror movies of late. The story scares you, imagining yourself in that universe makes you shiver, and that makes it great. Yes, it’s a little bit slow paced at the start and it has for me a subpar ending that leaves many questions unanswered, but overall, it’s really done well.

The characters are amazing, each one has its own quarks and particularities, the acting is on point and they just give up a creepy vibe, which for a horror movie is a blessing. You just know that something is off with all of them, you can just feel the terror of what’s going to happen slowly creep into you because of the way the actors perform. Speaking of actors, brilliant performances here from: Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd and Mallory Bechtel.

Finally I get to see a horror movie that is god damn scary without having jump scares. Not a single jump scare in the entire movie was like a dream to me. I hate jump scares, I abhor them and this film was proof that you can create tension and horror and dread without something flashy jumping out from the screen at you. All the tension is pure, it is built up very well and you are actually getting scared by the story and by realizing what is happening on screen as opposed to jumping out of your seat because of some loud noise.

There is one little thing that prevented me from giving this movie a 10 out of 10. The problem for me is that it kind of takes a while to get going. I mean don’t get me wrong, it is full of tension and you can feel that something horrible is about to happen and all the little things and the music and everything contributes to the movie giving you a certain state of mind, but at one point I just wanted for something to start happening already so that we can really get going. It did and it was awesome, but the road there seemed a little bit longer than it had to be for me…

In conclusion, Hereditary is a brilliant movie that will leave you in awe. Scared and horrified yes, but in awe of the power that it has to induce you those feelings, especially towards the ending. Everything is done right here, you feel the actual horror in your stomach, it makes you edgy, it makes you question things and your own reality. It is really one of the best horror films ever made and it will go down in history as such. I know audiences maybe didn’t fully appreciate it, and I can respect that, but trust me, this one is a definite must see. And seriously, invoking the spirits of the dead is not good, say no to spirits! :)))

Venom – 2018

Score: 7,5/10

I have said it many times and I have to say it again, boy do movie critics suck ass! Venom was simply trashed by almost all the critics, I was expecting it to be terrible. And yet, not only it isn’t terrible, it is a bloody good movie. It was a very nice surprise for me and I have to say it proved it at the box office. Of course, it’s not perfect, it does have problems, but overall it is an enjoyable experience and I definitely recommend it to everyone!

The story is an origin story so it does come with the drawbacks of that. There is some filler, there is a lot of character development early on and it does go off the rails at times. I will not say the story in itself was bad, because it was actually enjoyable for me, but I have to say that there are a lot of really infuriating moments that are not explained. I mean come on, he is on top of a tree surrounded by security personnel on an island and you just cut to him arriving at his apartment? A symbiote just has a vacation for 6 months in Malaysia doing nothing? And I could go on… Seriously? This is the best you could Sony?

The characters are interesting, although I have to say there are a lot of clichés here. The only thing I am going to complain about is that I’ve seen it all before in countless other Marvel movies. I get that these are film based on comic books and there is sort of a formula when it comes to those, but seriously, try to do something different in the future or it risks becoming very stale. Despite that, the performances from Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze and Reid Scott are amazing.

One of the highlights here is the banter between Eddie Brock and Venom. It is by far the best thing about this movie and the relationship they develop is actually pretty intense and fell thought out. It’s no wonder that Sony jokingly marketed the DVD release as a romantic comedy between Brock and Venom. They gel well together, they complement each other and on more than one occasion they are funny as hell. Without those comments on the background, a lot of the action scenes would have been very boring…

There are also flaws here, this is not a perfect film. The first big problem with it is that it waits far too long to introduce Venom. The first third of the movie is full of backstory and personal stuff about the main character, and while I get that we get to know him that way, I really felt it was over the top. I mean come on Sony, I wanted to see a movie about a superhero symbiote that does badass things, not Tom Hardy drinking whisky in a bar and complaining about how life has unfairly treated him… Seriously… Oh, not to mention the other small problems in the story department, like weird jumps between scenes, weird transitions and stuff like that…

In conclusion, Venom is definitely a must see film. Even though it maybe lacks a little bit on the story side compared to other Marvel inspired movies, it is still great and will manage to make you laugh and feel invested in what happens. Venom might not be everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to superheroes, but he is done justice here and personally, I can’t wait till the sequel comes out and we get to see more of our symbiote friend. Until then, always remember, without arms, legs and a face, you will just be an armless, legless, faceless thing that rolls on the street… Like a turd… In the wind… :)))))

Incredibles 2 – 2018

Score: 9/10

We had to wait 14 years for this movie and my God it was worth every second. Incredibles 2 is a worthy sequel that manages to showcase once more all the best of Pixar. It is great from start to finish and it is definitely a treat, for the children as well as for the adults. It is one of the best animated movies of 2018 and right up there with the best of all time. Considering that last year wasn’t the best when it comes to animated movies, this one was a welcome breath of fresh air let me tell you!

The story is simple and yet engaging. Everything works, it seems real, it seems like something that could happen in a world like that. Nothing seems forced, the characters are left to develop and grow in a natural and fluent way, and that makes the movie very easy to follow. You can just relax and go on a ride, you don’t have to stress about hidden messages or some weird symbolic shit we see in so many animations today… This one is simple and it’s very refreshing to see!

The characters are great. They are complex, they interact very well and without realizing, you will quickly start to root for them. The situations they go through are so realistic that you are definitely going to relate to almost everything that happens during the movie. And considering this is an animated film about superheroes, that is no small feat. Great performances here by Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Huckleberry Milner, Eli Fucile, Nick Bird, Samuel L. Jackson, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, Bill Wise, Brad Bird, Jonathan Banks and Michael Bird.

This movie didn’t get a 10 out of 10 because of two simple reasons. The first one is that towards the end, I don’t know why, it seems to drag a little bit. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still awesome, but I just got the distinct feeling that there was some filler here, there were scenes that didn’t need to be there. The second reason and this I have to say was the only thing that I found to be really annoying is that the big villain reveal is very predictable. It’s so obvious who is really the bad guy that I was actually insulted by the movie jumping up and down expecting me to be surprised. I know, I know, it’s a kid’s movie in the end, but still, considering it wanted to surprise us and failed, that has to lower the score.

The animation is brilliantly done. We are used to this from Pixar, but here, director Brad Bird offers something truly extraordinary. I mean honestly, I have not seen animation done this way in a long time. Everything clicks, the action flows, the colors complement the characters, everything just pops from the screen and you are really there. You are there alongside your favorite superheroes saving the world. It is a joy to behold and it is right up there with other visual classics from Pixar like Toy Story or Coco…

In conclusion, Incredibles 2 is an amazing movie, one that you can’t afford to miss and one that will definitely stand the test of time. It’s funny, engaging and it manages to tackle some very important issues is a relaxed way. It makes you laugh out loud and it makes you think at the same time, which is one quality that is paramount for animated movies today. They have to be fun for the kids but they also have to be interesting and worth it for the parents of the kids. And this one delivers on all fronts. I have to stress again, you cannot afford to miss seeing this one and the only thing I wish is to not have to wait another 14 years for another installment in this amazing franchise… Come on Pixar, I believe in you! 🙂

Sicario: Day of the Soldado – 2018

Score: 5,5/10

Sicario: Day of the Soldado was for me a huge disappointment. The first movie was brilliant, I loved it, I felt it right to the core. So naturally, I was expecting the same here. Unfortunately, this is not what we get. Everything is messy, it doesn’t have any sort of logic, it’s all just scraped together in an effort to capitalize on the success of the first installment and on some political happenings. It just doesn’t work well and it is obvious to me that this sequel was not planned as it should have been. Since they are gunning for a third one, I really hope we will get to see an improvement there…

The story is bad. It’s convoluted, it doesn’t flow, it’s insulting in parts. It does not have the mystery and the appeal of the original and it just seems to want to impress you without actually bringing anything to the table. It really doesn’t help the movie, it doesn’t fit the amazing action scenes and it offers no emotion at all. It seems like the director is just going through the motions. There is nothing new and original here and my God, the pacing is absolutely horrendous. I had never in my life imagined I would be so bored by a movie about drugs, cartels and the CIA… Honestly…

The characters are bad. And it’s all about the script and the way the movie is written. The absence of Denis Villeneuve is felt a lot here, and there is not one character that you can get attached to. You end up not caring about anything or anyone and that spells disaster for a movie like this. Now don’t get me wrong, despite the horrible script, the actors bring it, and that is why I have to congratulate Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner, Jeffrey Donovan, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine and Raoul Trujillo for their performances.

The one good thing that in part redeems this movie, at least a little bit, are the action scenes. It is the one thing they managed to replicate from the first movie and the one thing that keeps you in the seat. The music is ominous, the scenes are powerful, there is a lot of force there, everything seems real. And this reality underlines the brutality of it all, the struggle that we can find in the real world, just outside our door. It’s gritty, it’s messy and it’s done very well. These have to be some of the best put together action scenes of 2018. What a shame that the story just couldn’t live up to them…

There is no consistency here and nothing gets explained. This is the main problem of this movie, because it is not a standalone. It follows another film, one that has already established the rules of this world. And this one doesn’t respect those rules, it actually goes against many of them. The main character acts totally different here. I mean come on, a dude that actually murdered a child in cold blood in the first movie is going to risk everything to protect the daughter of the man that killed his family? For real? Why, because his daughter was deaf? I mean come on movie, nobody buys that shit. Not to mention the ending which is infuriating to say the least. I mean yes, of course it makes sense to basically mentor the teen that shot you in the face because he wanted to impress some narcos… Yes movie, that totally makes sense…

In conclusion, Sicario: Day of the Soldado is not a terrible movie. Yes, it could have been much better, yes it has a lot of flaws, but bottom line, it is not a terrible movie. So, if you saw the first one and enjoyed it, then you should also give this one a shot. It will not be as good or as engaging, but there will be flashes of the original’s panache here and there. There are moments in this movie when you really feel that you are there, present, a part of the action. Unfortunately boredom and a very slow pacing drown out those moments and end up leaving you with a very bad taste in your mouth… Still, it’s not the worst choice for an action movie. Oh, and for the love of God, make those helicopter noises softer, they take the whole fun out of the movie…

Solo: A Star Wars Story – 2018

Score: 5/10

It finally happened… As a huge fan of Star Wars I never thought it would ever come to this, but here it is, the first time when I can say a Star Wars movie is bad, boring and pointless… Fine, the score might not signal out just how bad I found it, because in the end, this is Star Wars and I simply love this franchise too much. But trust me, compared to every other Star Wars movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story is truly disappointing. I can’t tell you to skip this one because come on, it’s Star Wars, but seriously, why? Why did a movie like this had to come out, why after so many great successes we have to reach this low point…? I think for me, personally, this has to be the most infuriating movie of 2018…

The story is boded well, it’s flowing… But unfortunately it flows towards a very predictable and essentially boring end. Yes, there are no major flaws here, there is nothing to complain about. But there is also nothing to praise and that is simply unacceptable for a Star Wars movie. I think the best word to describe it is bland. It’s a bland story and it offers no surprises. It might be shocking, but a predictable story that flows well is no longer enough for a movie to impress it’s audiences in the current cinema climate…

The characters are interesting, but you simply don’t care about them, you are not invested into them. The supporting cast is brilliant, they work well, they gel very nicely and they truly bring something good into the narrative. The problem here is that Han Solo is poorly casted. Not because Alden Ehrenreich is not a good actor, he just doesn’t bode well with the previous portrayal of the character by Harrison Ford. But besides Han Solo, the rest of the characters are amazingly done, so congratulations for that to Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo and Paul Bettany.

The lack of purpose is amazing here. The movie has no ambition, it is not trying to surprise you or to challenge you in any way. I was expecting some surprises, some twists, something to make this movie less predictable. But alas, that was not the case and everything here runs according to a script, predictable from the first scene to the last. No, my mistake, at the end of the movie you do get the reveal of Darth Maul and that is quite a surprise. But unfortunately it was the one and only moment when I was scratching my head… And that is not enough… Not nearly enough…

The lack of Star Wars in a Star Wars movie to me was baffling. I mean there is almost nothing that reminds you about the scope and scale of the previous movies, and that to me was the biggest problem. Nothing seems to matter on the grand scale, the story is small and its limitations are felt throughout the scenes. The world of this film is small and the actions, while trying to connect with the overall narrative arc of the series, mostly miss the mark. There is nothing here to make you feel suspense, nothing makes you root for the characters, especially since you know that the main ones will survive.

In conclusion, I really don’t know what to say about this one. I mean yes, you have to see it, it’s Star Wars. But I truly believe that in order to have any chance of enjoying it, you have to try and think about it as a standalone movie. Just don’t think of it as being part of the universe you have grown to love and maybe, just maybe you will be able to sort of enjoy it. It lacks the big focus of the previous installments, it lacks any sort of magnitude. Sure, there are some decent action scenes, it can be interesting, but I was expecting so much more from it, especially considering its huge budget. Overall, one of the most disappointing movies of 2018… The Force was clearly not with Solo: A Star Wars Story… 😦

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation – 2018

Score: 7,5/10

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is exactly what is has to be in order to appeal to its core audience and that makes it a fun and entertaining movie even for adults. It is not complicated, it’s simple and goofy and it gets straight to the point. I found it actually better than the second one in the series and even on par with the original, and that is by no means a weak feat. You should definitely see this one as it will make you feel like a kid again.

The story is simple, full of the usual clichés and tropes. I guess it doesn’t matter so much for this type of movie though, so that is why I chose not to focus too much on it for the final score. The action flows, the motives make sense to a certain degree. The only problem I found story wise is that it gets unnecessarily complicated, especially toward the middle part. It goes off in all directions and it focuses on too many side plots and quests that end up nowhere. Cut all that filler out and you actually have a decent line of story progression.

The characters are the ones that we are already used too. They don’t seem different at all from the previous two movies, and this lack of development starts to bother the viewers towards the end. Also I have to mention that the villain seemed very weak and clichéd to me and it could have been done better. Nevertheless, the actors do a nice job and I have to give it to Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Keegan-Michael Key, Molly Shannon, Fran Drescher, Kathryn Hahn, Jim Gaffigan, Mel Brooks, Asher Blinkoff, Sadie Sandler and Genndy Tartakovsky.

The most important thing about a comedy is of course how well the jokes land. So, do they land here? Personally, I laughed out loud on a couple of times and the overall feeling I had was that of having fun. So yes, from my point of view, the humor in the movie works. Sure, there are some missteps here, there are mistakes, but overall it clicks, it makes you care about the characters. And also, since this is a movie targeted to kids, I have to mention that the humor also works for adults, which is always a bonus when you take your children out to see something. It’s not groundbreaking, but it works, which is honestly most that you can expect from a third installment of a franchise like this.

This series still has some juice left into it, but they do have to shake it up in a serious way if they want to keep going, because it is starting to get repetitive. It feels like most of the jokes and the situations the characters end up in are taken straight from the first two movies, and while that might not bother the young audiences so much, it most definitely will start to affect the box office results at some point. So while yes, this series still works and it has a certain appeal for the public, they do need to come up with improvements if they want to go on.

In conclusion, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is exactly as advertised, an animated comedy they you will not remember, but that will manage to entertain you over its 97 minutes. Don’t expect it to leave you mind blown, but do expect to laugh and have a great time. It is one movie that I really enjoyed and in a cinema world that is getting more complicated and obsessed with politics and deeper meaning, this one was definitely a breath of fresh air! You can’t go wrong with this one! 🙂

Batman Ninja – 2018

Score: 7/10

Batman Ninja is truly a weird one. It’s good and at the same time you feel at points that it is too much. I guess I should have expected it considering it’s a Japanese movie and those are usually like this, but still, it managed to be too much at times for me. Nevertheless, the overall experience is very interesting and I highly recommend you see it. It will shock you in many aspects, it will be something totally different than what you are used too, but that is actually the point. Get ready to immerse yourself into the world of feudal Japan at the side of your favorite villains and superheroes…

The story is amazing, the best thing about the movie by far. It works, it makes sense, it doesn’t seem forced, it flows easily without trying too hard to be serious. This movie is not serious and you should not try to watch it in a serious mode or you will ruin it. Watch it with a big smile on your face and accept some of the ridiculous things that happen on screen as just another part of the fun. Japanese movies have a certain appeal and you can definitely see that here, in full splendor… It’s fast and it will not make apologies… Just flow with it!

The characters are a very engaging part of this film. You get cool presentations, you get believable roles for each of them and they manage to gel very well. You discover known names that you have missed and having them all together in one movie is a blast. Also, I have to say that the daymo elements are fun as hell and putting the action into the middle of the warring kingdoms of Japan was a stroke of brilliance. In short, it works, it works very well and the performances (English version that is, couldn’t find the original Japanese voices) from Roger Craig Smith, Tony Hale, Grey Griffin, Tara Strong, Adam Croasdell, Fred Tatasciore, Yuri Lowenthal and Will Friedle are very good.

But seriously, did we need mechs? Did we seriously need robot palaces in a Batman movie? I get that it’s Japanese and they have a cultural fascination with things like that, but alas, I really felt that it completely took me out of the cultural setting. It is the biggest flaw of the movie by far and it really lowered its score. Why? Because it’s useless, it doesn’t make sense and it’s a pointless addition to what could have been a very fast paced animation. I mean honestly, why? Maybe someone can explain it to me because I sure as hell can’t explain it to myself…

The graphic style might take time to get used to, but in the end, I have to say I got into the groove. It’s very fast paced, very cartoonish and you get a lot of emotion from it. It is typical for Japanese films but a novelty truly for the DC universe. And I have to say that it works, it makes it more fun, it makes a movie from DC feel light and funny instead of the usual doom and gloom we get. I want more films like this in the future and I truly believe that this universe will be enlightened by more efforts like this…

In conclusion, Batman Ninja is definitely worth it, it’s an amazing animation that makes you remember fondly one of the favorite characters in history. Batman fits almost perfectly into that environment and this one is a rollercoaster from start to finish. You can’t go wrong watching this and you will enjoy its pumping adrenaline all the way. It’s engaging, it’s powerful and most importantly, it’s totally different than what you are used to from the characters. I mean seriously, how could you want to skip a movie that says “Battoman” so often? I mean come on… How awesome does “Battoman” sound?  :)))

Ocean’s Eight – 2018

Score: 5/10

Why? Seriously, why? This is the first question that springs to mind when I think about this movie. I mean fair enough, it’s not a reboot per se, they made it as sort of a spin-off/sequel, but you do get an entire new cast and very few connections with the original trilogy. Which means that it could have gone an entirely different route than its predecessors. Alas, this is not the case and what we get here is just a rehash of the same old things. I get it, everything is better today with an all women cast, but unfortunately Hollywood, if you don’t have a decent story to back that cast and you just use old clichés that we are already tired of, you will get a movie that will leave audiences simply meh! So I ask again… Why Hollywood, why?

The story is weak, convoluted, and it lacks the panache and awesomeness of the original. Things seem rushed and very slow paced at the same time, and the outcome is obvious from the start. There is no pressure here, no tension, everything happens as you would expect it too. Yes, like a true Ocean’s movie, you get some twists and some surprises that work, but overall, the flow of the action is very predictable. The original shocked people because it was something different, but 11 years after the same things will never work. The story is by far the weakest part of the movie and it’s simply a shame they were not able to make it better.

The characters are interesting, they complement each other well and they do manage to lift up the movie. The only problem here is that there are too many of them to handle for a 110 minute film and we end up with rushed development and the feeling that things are missing. Nevertheless, in a movie that doesn’t impress with its story, the characters are a breath of fresh air and performances from Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Richard Armitage and James Corden are really marvelous to watch…

There are too many things that don’t make sense here, from a rational point of view. The movie skips over much of the details, trying to wow and to entertain us, but unfortunately that only ends up breaking our suspension of disbelief. I mean seriously, in what world can ex-cons get fancy equipment they can use to commit the same robberies they were in jail for with no effort and with nobody noticing? And that is just one example of the many many things that fail here, a lot of details that are simply glanced over and never explained. You can’t expect your audiences to be engaged when you don’t offer them reasons to care. If anything goes and anything can happen, then there simply is no pressure, there are no stakes.

Overall, the movie is enjoyable, it’s direct, it’s light, it’s even funny in certain parts. But that does not manage to make it reach its potential. Unfortunately, while you do get amazing moments scattered throughout, the lasting feeling at the end is that of disappointment. The movie doesn’t manage to bring anything new to the table and gets bogged down by its own mythos. It was supposed to be new, to feel different, but in fact it ends up feeling as nothing more than a bad copycat…

In conclusion, Ocean’s Eight could have been a far better movie than it turned up to be. And that’s a shame, because it did have a lot of potential. The originals had something going for them, they told a certain story that seemed interesting and captivated audiences. This one tries to draw from the same well, unfortunately without the same level of success. If you like heist films you should give it a try, but do not expect a lot from it. And thank you very much movie, now you made me want to go to the Met Gala at least once in my life… Thank you so much for that :)))))

The Nun – 2018

Score: 4/10

The Nun is in essence a boring ass movie that is punctuated with absurd jump scares. I honestly don’t get how it managed to do so well at the box office and I really hope that if they plan to do another one of these, they will try to make it better and to actually put a little work into the script. Everything moves at a snail pace, and aside from the final ten minutes, you will be left yawning and laughing, which are not good signs when you are watching what is supposed to be in the end a scary film. Hell, that stupid trailer with the jump scare was more frightening that the entire 96 minutes of this travesty.

The story is the weakest part of the movie, the one thing that almost brings the entire pointless exercise crumbling down. It is filled with clichés, boring, formulaic, and the one twist that it does have, while interesting, makes everything before that moment seem even more pointless and stupid. You will just be amazed of how stupid the characters are and while that might work on a comedic level, when it comes down to the horror department, you can’t be really scared when it is impossible to identify with the characters…

Speaking of them, the characters are bland, boring, and they don’t transmit anything. I also have to say that the inadvertencies and the clichés bring down the movie very fast. I mean sure, I can believe that the Romanian villagers talk English amongst themselves at the local bar, but seriously, the movie is not content with that, it tries to actually pretend that they know English. We are not stupid movie so stop trying to make everything fit to the point of being absurd. Horrible casting here and you can see that Demián Bichir, Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Bonnie Aarons, Charlotte Hope and Ingrid Bisu are clearly out of their depth.

The pacing of this one is infuriating, absolutely infuriating. And I am not only talking about the way it is filmed, with long anticipatory shots that lead towards……… absolutely nothing. I am also talking about the characters, the way people follow every single noise but walk as slow as possible, everything is way too chilled for what is supposed to be a horror movie. I mean for fucks sake, nobody walks in a haunted monastery like me or you walk when we take a stroll down to the park… Seriously Hollywood, if you want your horrors to instill fear, please try to populate them with humans that actually behave like humans! I know, shocking, right…?

The one positive thing about the movie, and the reason it gets a score of four is the last sequence. The last 10 minutes of the film are amazing, well-paced, full of action and really entertaining. I was almost shouting in the cinema because I was excited by what was happening on screen. And at the same time, I wanted to shout and scream in frustration thinking about how awesome this movie could have been if only the rest of it was similar to the last 10 minutes. I mean oh my God, it would have been great, it would have been a horror to remember… But alas, 10 minutes is all you get here, and while that might be enough for a bloody good orgasm, it is definitely far below par for what I would expect from a decent horror movie in 2018.

In conclusion, The Nun is worth seeing if you are a fan of this franchise or if you really like horror movies. In fact, regardless of the reasons, you should check this one out, because it was a big box office success and that means there are elements here that people all over the world appreciated. Don’t expect too much out of it though, because it does miss the mark on many aspects. And especially towards the middle part, get ready to experience boredom on an astronomical level… In fact, as many in the theater audience confirmed by laughing out loud, go into it expecting a lot of unplanned comic scenes and you will do very well with it. Heck, maybe that is the trick to enjoying horror movies like this… Treat them as comedies and they will not be so boring… Hmm, who knew…