ARTaylor
Joined Dec 2005
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Reviews87
ARTaylor's rating
Not since Maximum Overdrive has a movie perfectly captured the twisted dark humor of Stephen King so well, and this one is a lot better. A movie that's gory, funny, offbeat, and played to perfection.
The movie is essentially Final Destination meets Deadpool. The kills are elaborate and unpredictable, each one memorable. Of course, it's Theo James' Hal's reactions to them that make them so fun. His dry wit captures the exhaustion of someone not surprised and tired of the blood. And while Final Destination played their kills straight and over-the-top, this movie embraces the inherent silliness of the situation. So many laughs are had at the awkwardness of it all.
The two actors playing the older and younger twins both are terrific, and the film shoots them well. I really thought that Christian Convery was a set of twin actors. James is good in both roles, though the adult twins don't have nearly as much interactions.
This movie truly feels like it captured the essence of the Master of Horror. King has inspired a lot of really good movies. But Faithful Readers know that very few really capture the quirkiness that King so often brings, particularly his short stories.
The movie is essentially Final Destination meets Deadpool. The kills are elaborate and unpredictable, each one memorable. Of course, it's Theo James' Hal's reactions to them that make them so fun. His dry wit captures the exhaustion of someone not surprised and tired of the blood. And while Final Destination played their kills straight and over-the-top, this movie embraces the inherent silliness of the situation. So many laughs are had at the awkwardness of it all.
The two actors playing the older and younger twins both are terrific, and the film shoots them well. I really thought that Christian Convery was a set of twin actors. James is good in both roles, though the adult twins don't have nearly as much interactions.
This movie truly feels like it captured the essence of the Master of Horror. King has inspired a lot of really good movies. But Faithful Readers know that very few really capture the quirkiness that King so often brings, particularly his short stories.
The movie is a fun combination of classic 80s slashers and cheesy romantic-comedies. Other movies have tried it, but not as smart as this. The romcom provides motivation for the slasher that feeds into the romcom cliches.
Both elements work great on their own. Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding are good together and have chemistry. They are fun when they're both on screen. There are plenty of suspense and gory kills. HEK is an effective killer with an interesting aura.
What's really holding the film back is the third act. It goes the way of recent Scream movies. The villain reveal is predictable and underwhelming. There is too much talking and overexplaining of everything. It's doesn't quite ruin the movie, but it indulges in the cliches when the earlier scenes played with them.
While not a modern classic, it is better than it had any right to be. It's a good spiritual sequel to My Bloody Valentine, and can be an enjoyable yearly tradition.
Both elements work great on their own. Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding are good together and have chemistry. They are fun when they're both on screen. There are plenty of suspense and gory kills. HEK is an effective killer with an interesting aura.
What's really holding the film back is the third act. It goes the way of recent Scream movies. The villain reveal is predictable and underwhelming. There is too much talking and overexplaining of everything. It's doesn't quite ruin the movie, but it indulges in the cliches when the earlier scenes played with them.
While not a modern classic, it is better than it had any right to be. It's a good spiritual sequel to My Bloody Valentine, and can be an enjoyable yearly tradition.
It's no secret that Marvel has had a tough time following Avengers: Endgame. This movie had a very troubled production with numerous rewrites and reshoots. So it's amazing that the film is as good as it is. It's trying too hard to be another The Winter Soldier. Certainly not among the highs of the MCU, but an entertaining middling entry and one of the best post-Endgame entries not involving Spider-Man or Deadpool.
Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, and Tim Blake Nelson all do an amazing job. Mackie has always been excellent as Falcon. The character's turn as Captain America is about as successful as the version in the comics, entertaining even if it could never match Steve Rogers. Nelson is great as Leader, finally giving us that villainous turn promised so long ago. He's plenty fun with lots of pathos. Ford is the standout taking over for the late William Hurt. This is one of his best performances in recent years as he's too often gone through the motions like Bruce Willis did. Ford's Ross has all the emotional beats and it plays well.
One of the big problems with the movie is that it's really The Incredible Hulk 2, not the fourth Captain America film and first Falcon film. That was the most underrated MCU film and it's been sadly too long to see it properly followed up on. It is a little weird that a Captain America movie would be the one to follow it up while Bruce Banner is completely absent. Still, it mostly works. It ultimately works, providing twists and turns. It's a shame that Red Hulk was used so extensively in the promotion as his third act reveal is quite interesting.
If anything, Sam's first movie as Cap should have been what eventually became the show Falcon and the Winter Soldier. A battle for the mantle of Captain America would have been a more appropriate movie than this. One thing the show had the movie doesn't is personal stakes for Sam. They try to connect to Isaiah Bradley, the Korean War Cap, but it's never quite Sam's journey. Ross and Leader have personal stakes, but too often is seems like Sam is just there.
The new characters are mixed. Giancarlo Esposito gives his usual best, but he's doing the same thing he's done in Breaking Bad, Mandalorian, and so many others. There's a new Falcon and new Black Widow that are both forgettable. Each have moments that don't go anywhere, an indication of its constant rewrites and reshoots.
The fights are well done. It's a little hard to believe that Sam could be as skilled as Steve with the shield. Still, the fights are well choreographed. The graphics look good, particularly since so many recent MCU movies have been so clearly unfinished. Best of all, the movie really brings back the no-holds-barred Hulk damage that has been missing since Edward Norton left. The final act with Cap fighting Red Hulk delivers on some classic Hulk smashing.
There was a lot of talk before the release about how President Ross turns into raging red monster destroying Washington DC and how this may be an allegory to a certain right-wing politician. While it could be viewed that way, it's a story that works perfectly fine within the context of the MCU. It's been set up in Civil War and fits within the some comic stories. And if it was, it's not as blatant as some modern movies.
Given all the behind-the-scene troubles, this movie is much better than it had any right to be. Not perfect, but definitely feels like Marvel is making steps in the right direction.
Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, and Tim Blake Nelson all do an amazing job. Mackie has always been excellent as Falcon. The character's turn as Captain America is about as successful as the version in the comics, entertaining even if it could never match Steve Rogers. Nelson is great as Leader, finally giving us that villainous turn promised so long ago. He's plenty fun with lots of pathos. Ford is the standout taking over for the late William Hurt. This is one of his best performances in recent years as he's too often gone through the motions like Bruce Willis did. Ford's Ross has all the emotional beats and it plays well.
One of the big problems with the movie is that it's really The Incredible Hulk 2, not the fourth Captain America film and first Falcon film. That was the most underrated MCU film and it's been sadly too long to see it properly followed up on. It is a little weird that a Captain America movie would be the one to follow it up while Bruce Banner is completely absent. Still, it mostly works. It ultimately works, providing twists and turns. It's a shame that Red Hulk was used so extensively in the promotion as his third act reveal is quite interesting.
If anything, Sam's first movie as Cap should have been what eventually became the show Falcon and the Winter Soldier. A battle for the mantle of Captain America would have been a more appropriate movie than this. One thing the show had the movie doesn't is personal stakes for Sam. They try to connect to Isaiah Bradley, the Korean War Cap, but it's never quite Sam's journey. Ross and Leader have personal stakes, but too often is seems like Sam is just there.
The new characters are mixed. Giancarlo Esposito gives his usual best, but he's doing the same thing he's done in Breaking Bad, Mandalorian, and so many others. There's a new Falcon and new Black Widow that are both forgettable. Each have moments that don't go anywhere, an indication of its constant rewrites and reshoots.
The fights are well done. It's a little hard to believe that Sam could be as skilled as Steve with the shield. Still, the fights are well choreographed. The graphics look good, particularly since so many recent MCU movies have been so clearly unfinished. Best of all, the movie really brings back the no-holds-barred Hulk damage that has been missing since Edward Norton left. The final act with Cap fighting Red Hulk delivers on some classic Hulk smashing.
There was a lot of talk before the release about how President Ross turns into raging red monster destroying Washington DC and how this may be an allegory to a certain right-wing politician. While it could be viewed that way, it's a story that works perfectly fine within the context of the MCU. It's been set up in Civil War and fits within the some comic stories. And if it was, it's not as blatant as some modern movies.
Given all the behind-the-scene troubles, this movie is much better than it had any right to be. Not perfect, but definitely feels like Marvel is making steps in the right direction.