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Showing posts from December, 2023

Film Review #038 - Aquaman: Lost Kingdom

Facts of the film Distributor: “Warner Bros. Pictures” distributed Aquaman: Lost Kingdom. Production Budget: The estimated production budget for Aquaman: Lost Kingdom was $205-215 million. It is one of the DCEU's most expensive movies, with a budget that is similar to Justice League and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The budget increased from the first Aquaman movie, which had a budget of $160-200 million. Worldwide Gross: The worldwide gross for Aquaman: Lost Kingdom is $145.3 million while the first Aquaman movie - $1.152 billion, making it the 29th highest-grossing film of all time. Originality of the Story: The story for Aquaman: Lost Kingdom is original. It was written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall, based on a story by James Wan. The film is a sequel to the 2018 film Aquaman and is set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The story follows Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) as he faces a new threat to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. Director: Jame

Film Review #037 - No Hard Feelings (2023)

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"No Hard Feelings" (2023) directed by Gene Stupnitsky, marks his second full-length feature film. The story for No Hard Feelings is originally written by Gene Stupnitsky and John Phillips. It features well known actors such as Jennifer Lawrence, who played in The Hunger Games movies, Andrew Barth Feldman, played in High School Musical series and Laura Benanti.  "No Hard Feelings" (2023) is an English-language film from the United States that came out on June 23, 2023, Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. This movie is 103 minutes long. The movie was made with a big budget of $45 million. It has done well at the box office, making $87.3 million. Synopsis : The story is about Maddie who is about to lose her home. She sees a job listing for helicopter parents who want someone to help their shy 19-year-old son become more outgoing before college. Cinematography: Cinematography is exceptional. I liked how the introduction started with a car's point of view shot an

Film Review #036 - L.A. Confidential (1997)

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Introduction: "L.A. Confidential" (1997), directed by Curtis Hanson, is a neo-noir crime film that masterfully captures the essence of 1950s Los Angeles. The film with its stars Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Kim Basinger, tells the story of three police officers with different personalities who are involved in a murder case, corruption, and mystery. Released by Warner Bros., the film had a production budget of $35 million and grossed over $126 million globally. L.A. Confidential is based on James Ellroy’s neo-noir novel with the same name “L.A. Confidential”. "L.A. Confidential" is a movie that looks at morality, justice, and the blurry distinction between good and evil in the LAPD during a chaotic time. Impressions: L.A. Confidential" (1997) captivated me from the start with its positive and hopeful introduction, reminiscent of Martin Scorsese's narrative style. The movie's music from the 1940s-60s creates a charming atmosphere. The audi

Film Review #035 - Big Fat Liar (2002)

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Introduction and Context: "Big Fat Liar" (2002), directed by Shawn Levy, is a comedy film that humorously delves into the world of Hollywood. The film stars Frankie Muniz as Jason Shepherd and Amanda Bynes as Kaylie, two teenagers involved in a quest to reclaim Jason’s stolen story idea. Distributed by Universal Pictures, the production budget of this film was $15 million and grossed $53 million at the box office. Not based on a true story, the film cleverly explores themes of honesty and integrity within the film industry. Plot and Obstacles: The story revolves around Jason, a habitual liar, whose essay is stolen by a sleazy movie producer, Marty Wolf, to be turned into a film. Jason, with Kaylie’s help, embarks on a mission to prove the story’s authorship, facing challenges and creating elaborate plans to expose Wolf's deceit. Acting: Frankie Muniz (Jason Shepherd) and Amanda Bynes (Kaylie), who were teenagers at the time, delivered commendable performances in the movie

Film Review #034 - Wish (2023)

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Wish (2023) , directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn and produced by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, is Disney's latest animated film with its 100th year anniversary. The film, which debuted nationally on November 22, 2023, tells an original story written by producer and screenwriter Jordan Fisher. It has garnered mixed reviews from critics with earning $145.5 million worldwide as of December 25, 2023 and a budget of $200 million. My personal experience with 'Wish' was outstanding, marking it as a film of exceptional enjoyment and emotional impact. Synopsis: This movie is about a young girl named Asha that grants a wish to the character called Star. Animation Quality: The animation, in my opinion, though considered imperfect by some, is actually one of the film's strengths. Even though I have watched the trailer I thought that the animation is incomplete, yet watching this in the movie theater I changed my mind; the animation style actually looks really go

Film Review #033 - Waterloo (1970)

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T he movie Waterloo (1970) directed by Sergei Bondarchuk focuses on an important time in history, specifically what happened to Napoleon after 1812 and in the Battle of Waterloo. In contrast, Napoleon (2023) by Ridley Scott is the bigger picture of Napoleon's life including his relationships with Josephine and historical battles he was involved in. This focus gives a different view on a famous person from history and an important event that affected Europe. Introduction and Setting: "Waterloo" (1970) begins with a text introduction, setting the stage for a historical epic. The film's attention to historical accuracy is evident in the script and the scenes, providing a genuine portrayal of the events. Cinematography and Editing : I liked how the movie is edited, transitions are nice and editing is very efficient. The cinematography, one one hand, especially in depicting landscapes with full camera shots, is visually stunning. The film's portrayal of the Waterloo b

Film Review #032 - Napoleon (2023)

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Napoleon (2023), directed by the talented Ridley Scott and featuring Joaquin Phoenix, is a film that captivated me for various reasons. Watching it at my local theater, the experience was enriching, especially due to the film's historical depth and cinematic artistry. Acting: Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Napoleon was a standout element. His ability to embody the cold-blooded, aggressive nature of the historical figure was impressive, and the nuances he brought to the character, especially in scenes with his wife Josephine, added a playful yet profound layer to the narrative. Cinematography and Visuals: The film's cinematography was remarkable, employing a range of shots from steady medium to full and sometimes dynamic shaky camera techniques. These types of scenes made the movie more intense, especially during the fight scenes which were even more intriguing to watch. However, I noticed that there were moments where the color palette seemed inconsistent, slightly detrac

Film Review #031 - The Boy and the Heron (2023)

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The film The Boy and the Heron (2023) is the final film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, a renowned Japanese animator and film director. The film is produced by Studio Ghibli, which Miyazaki founded in 1985. Animation and Art Style: The animation is particularly breathtaking, especially in the depiction of landscapes. The film's attention to detail in animation brings a hyperreal quality to its characters, notably the personification of talking animals like the heron with human teeth, colorful birds that act like humans. The movie also uses metaphors to express its ideas. For instance, the boy's connection with the heron represents how humans relate to nature. Music : The soundtrack, composed of piano and violin compositions, stands out with its chord progressions and hopeful melodies, enhancing the film's emotive power. The music, especially during key scenes, evoked goosebumps which I had 3 times watching this in the big cinema screens, adding to the cinematic experience. Char

Film Review #030 - Saw X (2023)

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Saw X (2023) is the tenth movie in the Saw series. It is a sequel to Saw (2004) and a prequel to Saw II (2005). It was directed by Kevin Greutert and written by Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. Saw X (2023) marks my first full-length horror movie experience, particularly in a cinema setting. Cinematography: Cinematography was surprisingly good. It has a very unique style of camera movements while it follows the basics of camera shot techniques and mostly there were medium shots and closeup shots. I like the cinematic approach when there is a full shot and camera is going backwards slowly and other scenes forwards. I've never seen this before in the movies. The use of two distinct color palettes was notable, although I found the vibrant colors in the Mexico scene to be somewhat overdone. Locations and Setting: The chosen locations added to the film's stunning visual appeal, enhancing the horror atmosphere. I loved it. Survival Scenes: As a first-time horror viewer, the mor

Film Review #029 - Wonka (2023)

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Wonka (2023) is a movie directed by Paul King, written by Simon Farnaby and Paul King, and based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Timothée Chalamet plays Willy Wonka in the movie.  The movie is a vibrant addition to the musical genre, and stands out for its engaging storytelling and strong character development. The film offers a colorful and memorable narrative, effectively balancing fun and drama. The soundtrack is a highlight, featuring a blend of joyful cover songs with a vibe reminiscent of "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" (2023) covey songs but with more positive lyrics and typical Disney musical tunes. The music, especially the piano pieces, are well made and add to the film's charm. Certain songs in the movie, e.g., the tango vibe soundtracks in the movie, are very memorable and well-performed, making a strong impact. I would watch this movie again just because of the strong base of music for this movie. The charac