Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – 2018

Score: 8/10

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is exactly what it is supposed to be. It’s big, it’s loud, it’s funny, it has you on the edge of your seat! It’s the perfect example of what a summer blockbuster should be and it manages to tick almost all the boxes needed to be a huge success. The box office results speak for that and you have to see this movie, you just have to see it. You will actually root for the dinosaurs towards the end (that’s a first for a Jurassic Park movie) and you will be satisfied with the progression of the characters. This one is truly a refreshing surprise for me and I can honestly say it deserved its success!

The story is interesting, especially towards the end, because for the first time we get to see the dinosaurs in the real world. The sequel, slated for 2021, will be the first Jurassic movie that will take place in the openness of the world instead of a controlled environment and I can’t wait to see what new possibilities that will open. It is a nice stepping stone on the journey to a different type of movie and it manages to be entertaining and emotional as well. Could it have been different? For sure! But for now, I am happy with what we got and I just hope that this is just the first step towards something even better!

The characters are good, developed, engaging and, most importantly, relatable. You understand their motivations and whether you agree with them or not, you are invested. This is a great achievement of the film, that it manages to make you care about every single character. An amazing job here by the cast, and I have to praise Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, James Cromwell, Toby Jones, Ted Levine, B. D. Wong, Isabella Sermon, Geraldine Chaplin and Jeff Goldblum for their performances.

Now, you are probably wondering why just an 8 if it’s so great. Well, the movie is good, but the problem is that we have seen most of it before. And while that worked for the first installation of this new series, it is simply starting to become stale and boring the second time around. I get it, there is always a kid who likes dinosaurs, there is always a bigger dinosaur taken out by a smaller one… It’s always the same and I swear I felt at times that I was watching previous movies. It still worked here but it’s the last time. For the sequel, come up with something new please or the fans will simply not show up anymore… And trust me on that, we won’t…

As CGI and special effects go, this one nails it! I loved the design of the dinosaurs, the world felt real and engaging and there was an air of majestic beauty surrounding most of the scenes. I did want more outside action, as the last part of the movie felt a little bit stuffy and dark, but nevertheless, as a whole, the effects work and they are a definite improvement on previous instalments. Couple that with the witty banter from the two leads and with the amazing musical score and you get the perfect recipe for a blockbuster that has managed to fascinate audiences all around the world.

In conclusion, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is definitely a must see. I am sure it will end the year in the top 5 highest grossing movies of 2018 and that is exactly where it deserves to be. It was hugely popular and rightly so, because it brings some of the excitement of the first movies back to the big screen. If they manage to fix some of the errors and they stop repeating every theme over and over, I can honestly see this series producing at least another trilogy. And while some critics find that idea repulsing, if you are a normal and honest human being, you can’t say that you are not excited about it! So let’s see what the future holds in regards to our ancient friends and in the meantime, does anybody know of a place where I can buy a Blue of my own? 😀 Seriously, I need one, I really do… 😛

Ready Player One – 2018

Score: 10/10

Hmmm, I give out 10 out of 10 scores very rarely because I think that a movie should truly be special in order to receive one of those. And yet, here I am, for two reviews in a row, giving out a perfect score. And trust me, I really tried to find fault with Ready Player One, I really tried to find something that doesn’t work or to hate it… But I just couldn’t so I have to give it the credit it deserves and to say it is a freaking amazing movie from start to finish and one that proves once again that Steven Spielberg is truly a master.

The story differs in many places from the book and I actually think it managed to improve the source material. Everything happens naturally, you don’t feel that the movie is forcing you to care, you don’t feel suffocated by all the references. The themes are deep and engaging but the journey is lighthearted and full of joy. I smiled a lot while watching this and I can honestly say that I can’t wait to see it again.

The characters are interesting, relatable and they act according to the teenager in all of us. You will understand their motivation, you will understand why they choose the way they do and you will become invested very fast into their stories. Yes, the villain is kind of weak and predictable but you understand at the end that it wasn’t about him at all. This movie is about us and performances from Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, Philip Zhao and Win Morisaki will really make you think about your own life…

The special effects seem full of joy. I don’t have a better word to describe them, they are amazing and they manage to make you feel good while watching this. There are a lot of colors, there are a lot of different worlds coming together and the end result is credible and engaging. Spielberg manages to bring a lot of pop culture icons and make them click and work well together and that is a huge achievement on its own!

Many critics and movie goers complained about the love story and especially about it happening so fast. But they are just hypocrites that don’t want to accept themselves. We all fall in love like that, because that is how chemistry actually works, fast. Yes, it might seem corny and even creepy, but think about it, didn’t you want to tell your soul mate that you loved them after the first day? You didn’t of course because you didn’t want to scare them off, but just admit that the feelings where there. So no, it’s not happening too fast, it’s happening in an ideal and impossible to attain in real life way, unfortunately. But I like seeing that in a movie, I like seeing the world as it could be! Deal with it…

For a pop culture fan like me, this movie is a treasure, an amazing journey through many of the movies and series and games of my childhood. And everything seems to come together nicely, everything seems to flow very well together, nothing is forced. Spielberg resisted the temptation to put only his movies here and instead gave us the big picture. You will find everything here and if you don’t resonate with any of the references than I can honestly say there is something wrong with you… It is as simple as that…

In conclusion, Ready Player One is an amazing movie about a future that can actually happen. It has good acting, amazing action scenes, great visuals and enough Meta references to satisfy even the biggest fan boys. It is a gamer’s dream and it has enough humor and flashy lights to not disappoint non gamers. A great effort from a great director and one that will definitely stand the test of time. And, because it also has a great message overall, I will remind you here, at the very last line of text, that THE ONLY REAL THING IS REALITY! Never forget that!

The Hateful Eight – 2015

Score: 8/10

I can’t say I am a big fan of Quentin Tarantino. I have never been and I most certainly have a lot of problems with many of his movies. So I have to say that I went into this a little bit biased. But The Hateful Eight managed to change my mind and I ended up loving it. It is harder to see than most films, but if you manage to get to the end and think about it afterwards, you will discover that the experience was totally worth it. I would see it again and that alone says a lot about the inner quality of it.

The story is a little bit convoluted, but you can expect that already from a Tarantino movie. Nevertheless, it is interesting, it has twists and it manages to keep you alert. This is a great movie for someone who likes to talk and most importantly for someone who likes to discover people through the small things they say and the idiosyncrasies they display. The dialogue is carefully constructed and there are almost no continuity errors here. A great story, and a unique one at that, which is not easy to do!

The characters are amazing, beautifully created and highly relatable. You really feel you are in the Old West and you can’t help but root for not one, but almost all of them. It is amazing to see such a talented cast at work, and the names here will leave you speechless. It is one of the most impressive casts I have ever seen, and I have to commend performances from Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, James Parks, Dana Gourrier and Zoë Bell.

The overall style of the movie is typical Tarantino. A small and almost impossible to identify silver line and a lot of hidden symbols that you have to understand in order to enjoy the experience fully. And here is my problem with this movie. Because of his style, Tarantino manages to make his films feel longer than they actually are. It is the same case here, because on a first viewing, I was almost pushed to the limit. You could argue that is because the 168 minutes running time, but I really think it’s the way everything is shot, with a lot of pauses and a lot of “art”. Too much art can hurt a movie and destroy your immersion, and I really hope Tarantino will stop doing this in the future.

The music, oh my God the music. It is by far the best thing about this movie, and although I was expecting something like this from a legendary composer like Ennio Morricone, I have to admit that he actually managed to surpass every single expectation I had. He is a true legend of cinema and any movie in the world would be enhanced by his atypical and powerful scores. It is a joy from start to finish, and especially in the open credits, the cross scene will leave you breathless… Simply breathless…

In conclusion, The Hateful Eight is definitely a movie worth watching. It tries to be a classic western and it manages to be totally different from whatever you have seen before. It moves slowly but at the same time the action makes you jump from your seat in more instances than one. Overall, I would say that it is a unique experience, completed to perfection by the atmosphere that Tarantino creates, by the amazing musical score from Ennio Morricone and by the spectacular performances of a stellar cast. Oh, and the constant swearing and racism is simply adorable. Now who doesn’t love listening to over 200 hundred swear words in one single movie? 😀

Dunkirk – 2017

Score: 10/10

Oh my God! Dunkirk is hands down one of the best movies of 2017, maybe even the best (you will have to wait until next week when I will be releasing my top 10’s of the year to see if that is the case). It is a thrilling experience from start to finish, it is the perfect length at 106 minutes, and it manages to resonate deep inside its viewers, bringing to light one of humanity’s finest hours and doing it total justice. You can’t watch this movie without being amazed at the power of humanity, as director Cristopher Nolan offers up another masterpiece of epic proportions that cements his place once and for all in the gallery of cinema legends. He is maybe the best director of his generation and this is perhaps his best film to date…

The story is simple, powerful and emotional. There are several narrative treads that intertwine and the perspective between them is constantly shifting. Nolan also plays with the temporal aspects of the story and although it may seem a little bit counterintuitive at first, by the end everything falls into place and you discover that the scenes click, they pop on screen and they keep you in a permanent tension. I could not take my eyes off the screen because the rhythm is frantic and I did not want to miss even one second of this amazing story.

The characters, oh my God the characters. Every single one of them seems to be taken straight out of the battlefields of World War 2. The movie oozes realism at every turn, every actor portrays the time period perfectly, even down to the little mannerisms and idiosyncrasies specific to that era. It is an amazing example of acting and of how a cast can come together to offer the viewer a phenomenal and immersing experience. There are not many big names here, but every single one of them deserves a mention. Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, Barry Keoghan, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance and Tom Hardy offer perfect examples of how war affects people and brings out the best or the worst in them.

The cinematography is great, Nolan changes perspectives and angles very fast and manages to make you feel you are actually there. The scenes are brutal, the transitions are seamless and you get the sense of an epical clash as well as the personal dramas that unfold around it. The effects are pristine, not over the top but yet filled to the brink with raw emotions. Nolan used a lot of practical effects here and their quality is evident. It is one of the best shot movies of 2017 and right up there with other legendary war pictures like Saving Private Ryan or Apocalypse Now.

Hans Zimmer, as usual, offers amazing music, that helps enhance the action and makes you feel every single dramatic moment right to your core. It is chilling, it is majestic and it is one of the best scores that this legendary composer has created. Some of the survivors that are still alive have said that the movie is louder than the actual battle was, and this makes your experience even more powerful. Combining the music with the sounds of war is one of the reasons this movie will most likely make you cry and shiver in awe.

In conclusion, Dunkirk is a movie you can’t afford to miss. Everybody has to see this movie because it is a visual testament to the power of humanity in front of insurmountable odds. An amazing film that fully deserves a 10 out of 10 and its place on every list of greatest movies ever made. Rejoice at the wonder that Nolan created and always remember those famous words that have shaped the history of our world:

“We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!”

Lights Out – 2016

Score: 6,5/10

I am going to just come out and say it, Lights Out is terrifying. The idea behind it is terrifying and it plays very well on one of the biggest fears of human beings. We are all weary and afraid of the dark because it takes away sight, one of our most important senses. And the movie manages to make you feel blind, it manages to make you feel uneasy and I must confess I looked behind me more than once while watching it in my house, alone, at night (I know, I know, I am a masochist that way, I know…). It is one of the better horrors I saw in recent years and it manages to transmit raw emotion to the viewer at every single turn.

The story is interesting, based on a novel idea that director David F. Sandberg previously explored in a short film of the same name. It is frightening to the core and it actually manages to hold up, being realistically and relatable. I mean, to be honest, as realistic and as relatable as a story can be in these types of movies. It is a supernatural horror film in the end and nobody is going to expect perfect realism from something like that. But still, as stories in horror movies go, Lights Out offers us something good, bordering on amazing.

The characters are unfortunately the weakest part of the movie. They all seem so bland and uninspiring and they do not manage to click or to create any sense of reliability. You can’t identify with any of them and the whole film rests on the shoulders of Diana, the spirit, who makes any scene truly suspenseful and terrifying. It is a shame really, but I think this was purely a casting problem. The actors are mostly unknown and it is obvious they do not rise up to the levels of the story. Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander DiPersia, Billy Burke and Maria Bello try their best, but sadly, their best here was simply not good enough.

Lights Out has flaws, it is by no means a perfect movie. The jump scares start to get repetitive after a while and you can sense the next one approaching without effort. The movie has a great impact at the beginning, but as time passes on and you start to learn more about the spirit and about the way everything works, something seems to disappear. There is not sense of dread in the movies final act and it really hurts your immersion.

The cinematography is on the other hand amazing. Everything is filmed to perfection, the camera insists on little details that turn out to be important to the plot and you really think you are there, in the darkness, running for your life. It is a testament to the skill of the director and it really makes the story come to life. Couple the visuals with the good musical score and with a perfectly designed set and Lights Out really identifies as one of the well thought out horrors of 2016. I can’t wait for the sequel, and considering how much money this first movie made they are bound to get a bigger budget. I am really curious how that will impact the quality of the next installment.

In conclusion, Lights Out is definitely a movie to watch, especially for horror fans. I wouldn’t recommend it too much to other audiences, because it is creepy, it has jump scares and it plays on your fears, and so will trouble you if you are not very familiar with the genre. Nevertheless, if you want an evening of sheer terror and to sleep for a week with your lights turned on, you can’t go wrong with this movie…