MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Barbie (2023)

Genre:

Comedy/Adventure

Rating:

PG-13

Release Date:

July 21, 2023

Run Time:

1 hr 54 mins

Directed by:

Greta Gerwig

Production Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures, Mattel Films, Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment,

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrer, Issa Rae, Alexandra Shipp, Simu Liu, Michael Cera, Will Farrell, Rhea Perlman, Helen Mirren

See Full Cast & Crew on IMDB

Plot Summary:

To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.

From Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird”) comes “Barbie,” starring Oscar-nominees Margot Robbie (“Bombshell,” “I, Tonya”) and Ryan Gosling (“La La Land,” “Half Nelson”) as Barbie and Ken, alongside America Ferrera (“End of Watch,” the “How to Train Your Dragon” films), Kate McKinnon (“Bombshell,” “Yesterday”), Michael Cera (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” “Juno”), Ariana Greenblatt (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “65”), Issa Rae (“The Photograph,” “Insecure”), Rhea Perlman (“I’ll See You in My Dreams,” “Matilda”), and Will Ferrell (the “Anchorman” films, “Talladega Nights”). The film also stars Ana Cruz Kayne (“Little Women”), Emma Mackey (“Emily,” “Sex Education”), Hari Nef (“Assassination Nation,” “Transparent”), Alexandra Shipp (the “X-Men” films), Kingsley Ben-Adir (“One Night in Miami,” “Peaky Blinders”), Simu Liu (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), Ncuti Gatwa (“Sex Education”), Scott Evans (“Grace and Frankie”), Jamie Demetriou (“Cruella”), Connor Swindells (“Sex Education,” “Emma.”), Sharon Rooney (“Dumbo,” “Jerk”), Nicola Coughlan (“Bridgerton,” “Derry Girls”), Ritu Arya (“The Umbrella Academy”), Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Dua Lipa and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”).

Gerwig directed “Barbie” from a screenplay by Gerwig & Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story,” “The Squid and the Whale”), based on Barbie by Mattel. The film’s producers are Oscar nominee David Heyman (“Marriage Story,” “Gravity”), Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, with Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Ynon Kreiz, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich and Cate Adams serving as executive producers.

Gerwig’s creative team behind the camera included Oscar-nominated director of photography Rodrigo Prieto (“The Irishman,” “Silence,” “Brokeback Mountain”), six-time Oscar-nominated production designer Sarah Greenwood (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Anna Karenina”), editor Nick Houy (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird”), Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran (“Little Women,” “Anna Karenina”), visual effects supervisor Glen Pratt (“Paddington 2,” “Beauty and the Beast”), music supervisor George Drakoulias (“White Noise,” “Marriage Story”) and Oscar-winning composer Alexandre Desplat (“The Shape of Water,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel”).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Heyday Films Production, a LuckyChap Entertainment Production, a Mattel Production, “Barbie.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and released in theaters only nationwide on July 21, 2023 and beginning internationally on July 19, 2023.

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*My Thoughts*

“This is the most over-the-top, whimsical, wacky piece of art that has touched what sliver of my soul I have left,” is the most accurate sentence I can come up with to describe Barbie (2023). The opening scene with narration and little girls playing with dolls in a desolate wasteland set the tone of the entire film. Little girls play with baby dolls in a dusty, desert scape until a giantess Barbie, played by Margot Robie, appears as a magnificent curiosity. For them, Barbie symbolizes freedom and imagination. They realize they don’t want to just play mother or housewife anymore. They want to be glamorous, confident, and career-driven women. As a babydoll is tossed into the air, the movie then transitions to Barbieland, where everything is perfect, pink, peaceful, and Barbie-centric. The different types of Barbies have their roles in society and it’s like a pretty utopia, and then there’s the Kens who coexist with the Barbie’s.

The conflict of Barbie (2023) rises when the main Barbie, stereotypical Barbie, starts manifesting thoughts outside of the norm for Barbieland, such as death and depression. Stereotypical Barbie’s world starts to spoil like milk and nothing goes right for her, like she’s in a constant state of bad luck. Fairly early in, I noticed the foreshadowing of how brilliant the movie would be from set the color scheme, environment, and the soundtrack. The bright pink and pastel outfits that Barbie normally wears start to change with her newfound conscientiousness, such as a blue business casual outfit to represent depression, muted colors, and greyscale to represent the journey to the real world where it seems colder and harsher. The soundtrack often transitions from upbeat pop music to melodious and melancholy. But let’s not forget the Kens.

The main Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, is clingy and desperate for stereotypical Barbie’s attention and approval because that’s how he started and that’s how he wanted to end. Ken follows Barbie into the real world and learns a different way of life. While he does bring more stereotypically masculine aspects back to Barbieland, monster trucks, beer, and faux fur coats, he also dismantles his homeland to become Ken’s mojo dojo casa. The major climax of Barbie: The Movie (2023) is an exaggerated fight scene and musical. To say the least, I was pleasantly confused but pleased. In the end, Barbieland incorporated the Barbies’ and Kens’ needs and desires.

Barbie (2023) plays heavily on gender stereotypes to lean into its comedy genre, and it works. After watching the movie, I understood why there was plenty of social media discourse. It hits many social issues and makes references to the history of Barbie. It is, indeed, a pink acid trip but it’s such an in-your-face masterful piece of art that you’d want to go back for more.

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Dune (2021)

Genre:

Action/Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama

Rating:

PG-13

Release Date:

October 21, 2021

Run Time:

2 hrs 35mins

Directed by:

Denis Villeneuve

Based on the novel Dune by:

Frank Herbert

Screenplay by:

Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts

Production Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Entertainment, Villeneuve Films

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO Max

Social Media:

     

Cast:

Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac,Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Dave Bautista

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

Oscar nominee Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival,” “Blade Runner 2049”) directs Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ “Dune,” the big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal bestselling book.

A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Villeneuve directed “Dune” from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth based on the novel of the same name written by Frank Herbert. Villeneuve also produced the film with Mary Parent, Cale Boyter and Joe Caracciolo, Jr. The executive producers are Tanya Lapointe, Joshua Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present “Dune”.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

Wow! What an epic film... AND, it is the only part one! The cinematography was amazing. The story was compelling and intense. AND... Oh my goodness!!! The worms.... WHOA! 😲 It was impressive! The whole time I was watching this first part, I kept replaying the Dune 1984 film in my head. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to make a comparison between the two films. I enjoyed this 2021 film, and it was just the "tip of the iceberg" into the Dune Saga. I have to admit that while not comparing this to the 1984 movie, I found some similarities in some scenes. And... It was great! Ha! Moreover, this 2021 version is not trying to cram the entire book into about two hours, and was giving viewers more details. And, that's what I really enjoyed about this 2021 version. Although the 1984 version is probably a cult classic for me, I am also loving this 2021 film.

I was absolutely blown away with the beautiful cinematography and costumes. With a strong and fascinating story, I was in complete wonder watching the story of Dune being laid out in this first part of the film series. I love when film adaptations of books get made as close to the book as possible. Although I haven't read the book series... yet, I have watched other film adaptations of books not "following" the book (that I have read), and was ruined by it. I will have to read Dune to find out... Ha! Other than that, Dune was well worth the 2 hours and 35 minutes to watch this captivating and entertaining film adaptation. And... I am so looking forward to watching the next parts in the Dune Saga.

Yup! It is only the beginning!

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

Genre:

Mystery/Thriller/Horror

Rating:

R

Release Date:

June 4, 2021

Run Time:

1 hr 52 mins

Directed by:

Michael Chaves

Screenplay by:

David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick

Story by:

James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick

Based on the Characters Created by:

Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes

Production Co.:

New Line Cinema

Atomic Monster

Safran Company

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures

HBO Max

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ruairi O'Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julian Hilliard, John Noble, Eugenie Bondurant, Steve Coulter, Shannon Kook, Vince Pisani

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they’d ever seen before, to mark the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense.

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*My Thoughts*

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It involved law, reality, and the demons or themes that when combined piqued my interest. It was based upon events from the 1981 trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson. In 1981, the Warrens were working on the case of a demonically possessed David Glatzel, Johnson’s brother-in-law. Arne, seeing that his fiancée’s brother was in pain, invited David’s demon into himself setting off the events of the movie. The atmosphere was consistently sinister by using religious symbolism, contrasting lighting, dark hallways, ominous soundtracks, and creepy glowing eyes. Throughout the movie, there wasn’t a moment to breath or take a break because the demon continued to haunt Arne and the Warrens which led to the central culprit who released the demon into the world, an occultist who become fascinated and obsessed with the Disciples of the Ram. To a new person watching a movie from The Conjuring universe, The Devil Made Me Do It was easy to follow despite jumping from scenes between Arne in prison and the Warrens who were investigating in Massachusetts. Ed and Lorraine Warren were pushed to their physical and spiritual limits as they collected evidence of demonic activity and save Arne’s soul from the demon. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It surpassed its predecessors as it not only had well timed scares but an engaging story for those interested in biblical studies or demonology.

 

The only regrettable thing in this movie is the demon being a throw away character. The demon isn’t named or given a chance to show its true form. It is an entity that could have taken a life of its own but disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Godzilla vs. Kong 2021

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Genre:

Action/Science Fiction/Thriller

Rating:

PG-13

Release Date:

March 31, 2021

Run Time:

1 hr 53 mins

Directed by:

Adam Wingard

Screenplay by:

Eric Pearson & Max Borenstein

Story by:

Terry Rossio, Michael Dougherty, & Zach Shields

Production Co.:

Legendary Pictures

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures & Legendary Pictures

Social Media:

   

Stream it now on HBO Max

Cast:

Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall,  Brian Tyree Henry, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Demián Bichir

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes the long-awaited face-off between two icons in the epic adventure “Godzilla vs. Kong,” directed by Adam Wingard.

Legends collide in “Godzilla vs. Kong” as these mythic adversaries meet in a spectacular battle for the ages, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home, and with them is Jia, a young orphaned girl with whom he has formed a unique and powerful bond. But they unexpectedly find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla, cutting a swath of destruction across the globe. The epic clash between the two titans—instigated by unseen forces—is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the Earth.

The film stars Alexander Skarsgård (“Big Little Lies,” “The Little Drummer Girl”), Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”), Rebecca Hall (“Christine,” “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women”), Brian Tyree Henry (“Joker,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”), Shun Oguri (“Weathering with You”), Eiza González (“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”), Julian Dennison (“Deadpool 2”), with Kyle Chandler (“Godzilla: King of the Monsters”) and Demián Bichir (“The Nun,” “The Hateful Eight”).

Wingard (“The Guest,” “You’re Next”) directed from a screenplay by Eric Pearson (“Thor: Ragnarok”) and Max Borenstein (“Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “Kong: Skull Island”), story by Terry Rossio (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”) and Michael Dougherty & Zach Shields (“Godzilla: King of the Monsters”), based on the character “Godzilla” owned and created by TOHO CO., LTD. The film was produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Eric McLeod, Jon Jashni, Thomas Tull and Brian Rogers, with Jay Ashenfelter, Herbert W. Gains, Dan Lin, Roy Lee, Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira executive producing.

The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team included director of photography Ben Seresin (“The Mummy,” “World War Z”), production designers Owen Paterson (“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “Godzilla”) and Thomas S. Hammock (“Blair Witch”), editor Josh Schaeffer (“Godzilla: King of the Monsters”), costume designer Ann Foley (“Skyscraper”) and visual effects supervisor John “DJ” DesJardin (upcoming “Zack Snyder’s Justice League”).

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present a Legendary Pictures Production, A Film By Adam Wingard, “Godzilla vs. Kong.” The film will be released nationwide in 2D and 3D in select theaters and IMAX on March 31, 2021 and will be available in the U.S. on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release. It is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of creature violence/destruction and brief language.

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*My Thoughts*

The point of view is that you are here for the monster fights and you wouldn’t be wrong in doing so. Godzilla vs Kong is visually stunning and entertaining. The fighting is elaborate with a sense of natural flow on either side of the battle. My favorite parts are Kong’s facial expressions. His face said everything that is needed without speech or even sign language. Things like sorrow, fear, and rage are easily interpreted. Godzilla reminds me of one giant cat, one that is tired of humanity’s shit but puts up with it anyway because he’s the only one allowed to be the best Titan. But the visuals were the only good thing about the movie. The plot is predictable simply from viewing the trailers and there is little to no character development throughout the one hundred and fifty-three-minute movie. If anything else came out of Godzilla vs Kong, it is that this movie opens a doorway to a new Kong universe to explore.

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Zack Snyder's Justice League 2021

Genre:

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

Science Fiction

Drama

Rating:

R

Release Date:

March 18, 2021

Run Time:

4 hrs 2 mins

Based on the Characters by:

DC Comics

Directed by:

Zack Snyder

Story by:

Zack Snyder, Chris Terrio, Will Beall

Screenplay by:

Chris Terrio

Producers:

Deborah Snyder, Charles Roven

Production Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distribution Co.:

HBO Max

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane 

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

Determined to ensure Superman’s sacrifice was not in vain, Batman and Wonder Woman recruit Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash to form an unprecedented league of heroes to save the planet from the catastrophic threat of Darkseid, Steppenwolf & DeSaad.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This Review contains NO spoilers

So... It has been a few days since watching Zack Snyder's Justice League. And now, after taking a few days to mull over what I had watched, I think I can put my thoughts on this movie down in this review. But, one thing I will not do is compare it to the 2017 Justice League theatrical release.

I really enjoyed this "version" of Justice League. It felt whole. Each of these superheroes stories were told which further built that character development. It just made the story tie and flow together. What I also liked was that this 4 hour 2 minute film was broken into parts or chapters. The break up made for a flow of the storyline that made sense. It was like each "chapter" was telling and setting up for the next. It was visually magnificent masterpiece!

Of course, the length of the film made for a long movie night. At least, we were able to pause for intermission... Haha! But, this was the story that I was waiting for in continuing the story of these superheroes. Be it 4 hours long or 2 hours long, the movie should satisfy viewers/fans. And, I was definitely satisfied with Zack Snyder's Justice League in telling the story for each of them: Cyborg, Flash, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman. Oh... Can't forget we got our first look at another soon-to-be Justice League member, too. 

It was so worth the wait to get this version out. And, it was so worth the 4 hours 2 minutes. 😁Thank you to all the fans for fighting for this. Thank you to Zack Snyder for completing this and allowing fans to see his vision of the Justice League.

Bottom line... I really enjoyed this amazing and stunning film. So, yeah, I am so fan gushing on this movie. Zack Snyder's Justice League told so much with it's well developed characters and narratives. There is so much more to tell, too. And... This is just the beginning for the Justice League! This was just beautiful! So damn worth the 4 hours 2 minutes of it!

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

Genre:

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

Release Date:

May 31, 2019

Run Time:

2 hr 12 mins

Rating:

PG-13

Directed by:

Michael Dougherty

Screenplay by:

Michael Dougherty & Zac Shields

Production Co.:

Disruption Entertainment, Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures, Toho Company Ltd., Legendary Entertainment

Distribution Co.:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, Ken Watanabe, Zhang Ziyi, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Bradley Whitford,

See Full Cast List on IMDB

Plot Summary:

The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains SPOILERS

It is an upgrade to Godzilla (2014). Godzilla: King of the Monsters launches the MonsterVerse into full throttle by awakening all the dormant Titans and giving its audience hardcore battles, devastation, and drama. The cinematography in Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) has incredible timing in sound score and visuals that builds suspense. And instead of different perspectives from characters ranging from civilian to U.S. Navy, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) focuses on Monarch, Monarch’s scientist, and more importantly the Titans. While not all the Titans are named, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) compensates by giving its viewers a history of Monarch and introduces a larger more dangerous threat to the planet and humanity. Monster Zero, later named Ghidorah, is awakened and released from its Antarctic prison. He is fierce, destructive, and terrifyingly commanding of the other Titans. He shows his grit when he fights and defeats the Titan, Fire Demon Rodan, and even Godzilla at one point in the film. Not only can Ghidorah shoot lightening, he can create a perpetual storm to surround himself, regenerate, and nearly kill Godzilla without batting an eyelash. Ghidorah serves as the major rival to Godzilla in this film.

But all this isn’t to say Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) is just a bunch of fighting monsters, it still maintains a heartfelt story of a broken family and some light comedy to keep the audience hooked. In the beginning of the film, Monarch paleobiologist Emma Russell succeeded in completing Orca, a device that emits frequencies that help control the Titans and tested it on a freshly hatched Mothra. Her motivation to create a better world in memory of her son who died in Godzilla (2014), helps set into motion the release of all the Titans. At first, she could control the Titans but after she and her daughter, Madison, were captured by a group of eco-terrorists that planned on using the Orca and the Titans for their personal ideals the film became more complicated. Emma’s original objective was to create a cleaner, less polluted, and overpopulated Earth by using the Titan’s radiation and destructive force, but it had all been for naught when Ghidorah decided to take control of all the Titans. In Monarch’s perspective, Mark Russell, Emma’s ex-husband and Madison’s father, were keen on finding Emma and putting a stop to her plans and the eco-terrorists. What made it worse was that humanity played itself when the Navy launched an “Oxygen Destroyer” missile at Ghidorah and Godzilla, nearly killing Godzilla, causing everything to spiral downwards for humanity.

It is one crisis after another, leading to Godzilla and Ghidorah’s final showdown. The lowest and saddest parts of the movie help build up to the final battle between Godzilla and Ghidorah. After their initial fight, Godzilla is forcibly recharged and healed by a point-blank nuclear bomb and the subsequent sacrifice of Dr. Serizawa. Madison decided to abandon her mother and escape her confinement while taking Orca with her, showing that she is brave and independent person with a strong will of her own. With this, Madison helped bring her mother and father together and gave Godzilla the time he needed to find Ghidorah. The family had a deep wound and history that helped shape Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) while making sure the film stayed focused on the Titans. 

With all that being said, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) pays great homage to the original Japanese monster movie films by including the rivalry between Ghidorah and Godzilla, the twins who seem to have a mystical attachment to Mothra, the “Oxygen Destroyer” missile, and some of the original monsters. Critics may hate it, but whether you are a new monster movie fan or an older one looking to relive your childhood through the big screen and in HD, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) is an entertaining ride.

My Rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Genre:

Action/Adventure/Sci-fi/Fantasy

Rating:

PG-13

For intense sequence of destruction, mayhem and creature violence

Release Date:

March 10, 2017

DVD Release Date:

July 18, 2017

Run Time:

1 hrs 58 minutes

Directed by:

Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Production Co:

Legendary Pictures, Tencent Pictures

Distributors:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Social Media:

   

Plot Synopsis:

In March 2017, the producers of Godzilla transport audiences to the birthplace of the most powerful monster myth of all in Kong: Skull Island, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.

When a scientific expedition to an uncharted island awakens titanic forces of nature,a mission of discovery becomes an explosive war between monster and man. Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly star in a thrilling and original new adventure that reveals the untold story of how Kong became King.

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Cast:

Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman, John C. Reilly, Corey Hawkins, Tian Jing, Tobey Kebbell

Find the full cast & crew on IMDB

**My Thoughts**

Note: This review contains SPOILERS

Kong: Skull Island (2017) takes me into a new world in the King Kong franchise. It is not a simply a film about a massive, overgrown gorilla being taken to New York to be a stage attraction, but about discovering a new island and its creatures for the sake of Monarch. Kong: Skull Island (2017) obviously focuses on Kong, but also on Skull Island with its variety of new wildlife to explore such as SkullCrawlers, huge horned bison, lanky spiders with tentacles, and man-eating birds. It still takes in small pieces of the original franchise though, for I have an inkling feeling that Mason Weaver, an anti-war photographer played by Brie Larson, is supposed to be the beauty that could have killed the beast. But luckily, in this film, the beauty saves the beast. 

The producers and director made a strong effort to tie Kong into the MonsterVerse with Godzilla and the other Titans. The film starts in 1944 World War II where the viewer is immediately introduced to Kong. He appears before two fighting soldiers that happened to crash land on Skull Island. Later, in 1973 at the end of the Vietnam War, Monarch comes into the film with agents expressing their desire to visit Skull Island, an island naturally surrounded by a perpetual storm and thus evasive. To do so, Bill Randa of Monarch enlists the help of James Conrad a hunter-tracker, Preston Packard a United States Army Lieutenant Colonel, and his team to help him on his expedition. Given the presence of actors Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L. Jackson, it includes all the entertaining traits of an action film i.e. explosions, monsters, fighting, and gun fire. There are a few jump scares when Packard’s team are killed off one by one to get a reaction from the viewer but otherwise, the entire movie is simply simmering. It is entertaining for the most part but feels somewhat like a survival video game. The expedition team travel to Skull Island, are intercepted by Kong, and have to make it from point A to point B. There are no other high points. It’s all about Kongs fight with the biggest SkullCrawler, which made the film feel flat, but I appreciate it in comparison to Godzilla (2014) that skimped out on full views of its monster battles. 

Thanks to Monarch everyone is tied together. Kong: Skull Island (2017) isn’t simply a change from the older Kong movies, it is a link to a new interweaving MonsterVerse. It takes me into a new world in the King Kong franchise while maintaining its origins. Although slow, it’s a fascinating multipart story that builds the suspense for monster mash ups.

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Godzilla (2014)

Genre:

Action/Adventure/Sci-fi/Fantasy

Rating:

PG-13

For intense sequence of destruction, mayhem and creature violence

Release Date:

May 16, 2014

DVD/Blu-Rady Release Date:

September 16, 2014

Run Time:

2 hrs 3 minutes

Directed by:

Gareth Edwards

Story & Screenplay by:

David Callaham & Max Borenstein

Plot Synopsis:

In Summer 2014, the world's most revered monster is reborn as Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures unleash the epic action adventure Godzilla. From visionary new director Gareth Edwards (Monsters) comes a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the awe-inspiring Godzilla rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless.

Cast:

Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn, Carson Bolde, Juliette Binoche, Richard T. Jones, C.J. Adams

Find the full cast & crew on IMDB

**My Thoughts**

Note: This review contains SPOILERS

Godzilla (2014) is certainly a step up from the 1954 and 1998 films in both story and, of course, visuals because a colossal lizard is not just some monster terrorizing the cities. Godzilla (2014) starts in 1999 Philippines where a uranium mine reveals gigantic bones. Sometime later in Janjira, Japan a M.U.T.O. or Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism enters a nuclear power plant causing seismic activity. Subsequently, the seismic activity kills the mother of one of the main characters, Ford. Skip ahead fifteen years later, a winged, giant terrestrial hatches from a chrysalis that has been feeding from the power plant. At this point in the movie, say thirty minutes in, I wonder where Godzilla is. The fascinating thing about Godzilla (2014) is that the story follows the perspective of different main characters, such as Dr. Ishirō Serizawa from the Monarch organization, Ford a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal officer, his wife and nurse Elle Brody, but most importantly Godzilla. It gives the viewer the entire story with the other terrestrials but because of the different perspectives, I feel like the film is slow. 

Throughout Godzilla (2014), the U.S. Navy along with Monarch scientists chase after the winged terrestrial by following Godzilla who is also chasing it. It’s a perfectly linear story with sub stories connecting to it, but this brings in a problem, “can we get more Godzilla?” But wait, if the U.S. Navy, Monarch, and Elle were not distraction enough, there is another terrestrial in Nevada that is going to mate with the first terrestrial. The terrestrials are simply the catalysts to make Godzilla appear. It takes a total of fifty-five minutes for Godzilla to truly appear in his own movie. But thanks to the terrestrials, Godzilla (2014) establishes the big guy as a benevolent protector or maybe Godzilla was just there because he’s bored. He only appears to fight, defeat the other giants, and then he simply leaves. The suspense is in the film, where we want to see more of the monsters that have inhabited the Earth, but we only get a few glimpses or close ups just as they are about to fight. It focuses more on the people follow in the film rather than establishing how devastating the M.U.T.O really are. The best view of Godzilla and the other terrestrials the viewer will get is the aftermath of his fight while he’s asleep.

Overall, Godzilla (2014) paves the way for the MonsterVerse to spread and expand. If I had a ajor complaint, it would be that the film could focus more on Monarch and Godzilla himself, so the viewer doesn’t get lost in the different perspectives. Although it is slow and may have too many characters, which the viewer may or not remember, it certainly sets high standards for other giant monster movies in terms of destructive force and mystery.

My rating: