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Reviews78
ARTaylor's rating
An unmemorable movie that represents the current state of Disney. It started out as a Disney+ show and definitely feels like a pointless side quest made to add content.
Moana has no arc and there is nothing new with her. She already achieved her goal in the first film and there's little go forward with. Her plot is about finding other people, but there's no reason for her. She's lacking nothing, beloved by all, and gets everything her way already. There's no reason to root for her.
Maui also hasn't changed. He's still the same smarmy guy from the start of the first, basically undermining any meaningful development that could have been had following his terrific arc last movie. The movie does lighten up when he has friendly banter with Moana, but they're away from each other so much it's hard to care.
The other new characters don't fare much better. There's more added to the crew but they're one-dimensional rip-offs of the sidekicks from Pixar's Lightyear. They are nothing more than the fat one, the old one, the geeking out fanboy, and the brainy woman who knows more mechanical knowledge than people today could.
The villains are horribly misused. There's the bat-woman who is treated like a big deal in the first half only to disappear completely by the second. The movie builds her up as something just to fail on that promise, obviously she was intended to be a bigger deal in an intended second season. The primary villain, Nalo, falls prey to something that has killed a lot of franchises recently: a villain that's all setup and no pay off. Between Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and Sony, fans are tired of seeing potential villains built up only to have to wait for a possible sequel just to pay it off. It's tired and cliched.
The songs are another disappointment as none are memorable. The first movie had one really good song and some others that grow on you after repeat viewings. Lin-Manuel Miranda's style is overused, but these songs sound like a bad imitation.
The animation looks good but only because it's the same stuff the first movie used. The only sequence worth remembering visually is the final battle in the storm. Otherwise, everything else is more of the same. Where other studios are emboldened to take animation into new styles, Disney seems content to just play it safe and reuse assets.
The movie screams that it's just going through the motions. It's enjoyable to sit through, but something that will be completely forgotten by the end of the credits.
Moana has no arc and there is nothing new with her. She already achieved her goal in the first film and there's little go forward with. Her plot is about finding other people, but there's no reason for her. She's lacking nothing, beloved by all, and gets everything her way already. There's no reason to root for her.
Maui also hasn't changed. He's still the same smarmy guy from the start of the first, basically undermining any meaningful development that could have been had following his terrific arc last movie. The movie does lighten up when he has friendly banter with Moana, but they're away from each other so much it's hard to care.
The other new characters don't fare much better. There's more added to the crew but they're one-dimensional rip-offs of the sidekicks from Pixar's Lightyear. They are nothing more than the fat one, the old one, the geeking out fanboy, and the brainy woman who knows more mechanical knowledge than people today could.
The villains are horribly misused. There's the bat-woman who is treated like a big deal in the first half only to disappear completely by the second. The movie builds her up as something just to fail on that promise, obviously she was intended to be a bigger deal in an intended second season. The primary villain, Nalo, falls prey to something that has killed a lot of franchises recently: a villain that's all setup and no pay off. Between Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and Sony, fans are tired of seeing potential villains built up only to have to wait for a possible sequel just to pay it off. It's tired and cliched.
The songs are another disappointment as none are memorable. The first movie had one really good song and some others that grow on you after repeat viewings. Lin-Manuel Miranda's style is overused, but these songs sound like a bad imitation.
The animation looks good but only because it's the same stuff the first movie used. The only sequence worth remembering visually is the final battle in the storm. Otherwise, everything else is more of the same. Where other studios are emboldened to take animation into new styles, Disney seems content to just play it safe and reuse assets.
The movie screams that it's just going through the motions. It's enjoyable to sit through, but something that will be completely forgotten by the end of the credits.
A sequel that is an enjoyable time on its own and worthy successor but suffers in comparison to the first.
The movie looks fantastic. It continues the grand epic scale of the first film. The set design and costume are reminiscent of classic sword-and-sandal epics we all love.
The acting is all terrific. Paul Mescal doesn't have the gravitas of Russell Crowe but does a great job in the lead. Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger are fun as the psychotic emperor brothers. Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington give their usual good performances even if it's nothing different than their other roles. Connie Nielsen, one of only two returning actors, gives the best performance building off her character's story from the first.
The story is good and works well as a follow-up to the original. Even if it too often feels like a copy of the original. Hero is forced to be a gladiator while fighting his way to seeking revenge. The fights are exciting, but Lucius' story isn't as emotionally impactful as Maximus'. If anything, it's the stuff outside the arena that is the most interesting. Acacius torn between his duty to the empire and desire to do good. Lucilla trying to organize a revolution. Macrinus making his way to the top of society. It's the political fights that are the most engaging, along with plenty of commentary about modern society.
It may not reach the heights of the first film, but it's a great movie on its own. And it does continue the story in an interesting way.
The movie looks fantastic. It continues the grand epic scale of the first film. The set design and costume are reminiscent of classic sword-and-sandal epics we all love.
The acting is all terrific. Paul Mescal doesn't have the gravitas of Russell Crowe but does a great job in the lead. Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger are fun as the psychotic emperor brothers. Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington give their usual good performances even if it's nothing different than their other roles. Connie Nielsen, one of only two returning actors, gives the best performance building off her character's story from the first.
The story is good and works well as a follow-up to the original. Even if it too often feels like a copy of the original. Hero is forced to be a gladiator while fighting his way to seeking revenge. The fights are exciting, but Lucius' story isn't as emotionally impactful as Maximus'. If anything, it's the stuff outside the arena that is the most interesting. Acacius torn between his duty to the empire and desire to do good. Lucilla trying to organize a revolution. Macrinus making his way to the top of society. It's the political fights that are the most engaging, along with plenty of commentary about modern society.
It may not reach the heights of the first film, but it's a great movie on its own. And it does continue the story in an interesting way.
A well made movie focusing on a little-known part of history. For so long all Germans have been portrayed as villains during WWII, so it is nice to see more movies featuring those within Germany resisting authoritarian rule.
The movie does a good job balancing religious themes with quality storytelling. Another studio would have either lessened the story of the church to make it a generic spy thriller or increased it to preach to the choir. This movie knows that the story is about the real purpose of the church while condemning the certain religious leaders and politicians who would use the church for their own selfish means.
Along those lines, it's hard not to see certain parallels to modern society. Not that it sets out to tell a particular story about any modern politician. But it's a reminder that certain things are bound to repeat.
The story is mostly well done. It's not entirely historically accurate, though which movie is, like showing him involved in an assassination attempt on Hitler. It works well enough for the movie that people should get interested in finding out more of what really happened. There are times the movie rushes through several events, like having some deaths occur offscreen and then only briefly mentioned. Maybe there's a larger cut that lets these moments just breathe.
The actors are all good, made of mostly unknowns. I only recognized one actor just because he was in Alien: Romulus early this year. Jonas Dassler is terrific as Bonhoeffer, going from the bright-eyed youth to vengeful spy to peaceful preacher. Though it's August Diehl as Martin Niemöller who is the real standout. His delivery of the "First They Came" poem is probably the best scene in the film.
It may not be the most exciting or thrilling WWII movie. But it is a good reminder that there have always been evil people who would use the church for their own means as well as good people willing to oppose them.
The movie does a good job balancing religious themes with quality storytelling. Another studio would have either lessened the story of the church to make it a generic spy thriller or increased it to preach to the choir. This movie knows that the story is about the real purpose of the church while condemning the certain religious leaders and politicians who would use the church for their own selfish means.
Along those lines, it's hard not to see certain parallels to modern society. Not that it sets out to tell a particular story about any modern politician. But it's a reminder that certain things are bound to repeat.
The story is mostly well done. It's not entirely historically accurate, though which movie is, like showing him involved in an assassination attempt on Hitler. It works well enough for the movie that people should get interested in finding out more of what really happened. There are times the movie rushes through several events, like having some deaths occur offscreen and then only briefly mentioned. Maybe there's a larger cut that lets these moments just breathe.
The actors are all good, made of mostly unknowns. I only recognized one actor just because he was in Alien: Romulus early this year. Jonas Dassler is terrific as Bonhoeffer, going from the bright-eyed youth to vengeful spy to peaceful preacher. Though it's August Diehl as Martin Niemöller who is the real standout. His delivery of the "First They Came" poem is probably the best scene in the film.
It may not be the most exciting or thrilling WWII movie. But it is a good reminder that there have always been evil people who would use the church for their own means as well as good people willing to oppose them.