MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Freaky (2020)

Genre:

Horror/Thriller/Comedy

Rating:

R

Release Date:

November 13, 2020

Run Time:

1 hr 42 mins

Directed by:

Christopher Landon

Executive Producers:

Couper Samuelson, Jeanette Volturno 

Producer:

Jason Blum

Production Co.:

Blumhouse Productions

Divide/Conquer

Distribution Co.:

Universal Pictures

Social Media:

 

Cast:

Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton, Celeste O’Connor, Misha Osherovich, Uriah Shelton, Dana Drori, Katie Finneran, Alan Ruck

(For full cast and crew on IMDB)

Plot Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton, Blockers, HBO’s Big Little Lies) is just trying to survive the bloodthirsty halls of Blissfield High and the cruelty of the popular crowd. But when she becomes the newest target of The Butcher (Vince Vaughn), her town’s infamous serial killer, her senior year becomes the least of her worries.

When The Butcher’s mystical ancient dagger causes him and Millie to wake up in each other’s bodies, Millie learns that she has just 24 hours to get her body back before the switch becomes permanent and she’s trapped in the form of a middle-aged maniac forever. The only problem is she now looks like a towering psychopath who’s the target of a city-wide manhunt while The Butcher looks like her and has brought his appetite for carnage to Homecoming.

With some help from her friends—ultra-woke Nyla (Celeste O’Connor, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), ultra-fabulous Joshua (Misha Osherovich, The Goldfinch) and her crush Booker (Uriah Shelton, Enter the Warriors Gate)—Millie races against the clock to reverse the curse while The Butcher discovers that having a female teen body is the perfect cover for a little Homecoming killing spree.

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*My Thoughts*

The film starts with four teens being brutally slaughtered by a man in a mask, the Blissfield Butcher played by Vince Vaughn. It seems like an upfront slasher film, but the more you watch the more you will see the teen quips. Freaky (2020) plays on jump scares, teen screams, and stereotypes. The story is set in the small town of Blissfield where Kathryn Newton plays a shy teenager named Millie. She has two friends, Josh Detmer and Nyla Chones, who carry the comedy of the movie with their exaggerated expressions and screams while Millie is often cowering behind her anxiety or fears. The Butcher doesn’t make life any easier by causing everyone to go into high alert and a citywide curfew. From Millie’s encounter with the Butcher and subsequent body switch, she grows into someone openly affectionate and confident. Throughout the film, Millie and her friends try to stop the Butcher in Millie’s body and switch their spirits back into the correct body.

It’s a little cliché, but Freaky (2020) plays very well into it. There’s the stereotypical shy girl, the drama kids, a mean girl who ends up dead, and a teenage romance with a football player. While watching the film, Millie and her friends are self-aware of the situation they are in with Josh commenting how Nyla and himself were more than likely to die in a horror movie due to being a black girl and gay boy. Vince Vaugh playing an awkward teenage girl trying to stop a killer is entertaining due to the attitude he portrays in every piece of sass and squeal. Freaky (2020) makes for a nice date night option if you’re looking for something that isn’t too serious.

My rating:

JASMINE'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 NO spoilers

Well, what can I say about this... Wow! I enjoyed every minute of it. Big monsters... Check! Mediocre storyline/plot... Eh, check! Amazing cinematography... Check! Godzilla... King of the monsters... Check! After credit scene (something to make you go, Hmmm!)... Check!

🤔🤔🤔)... Ch... Check !

I grew up watching the old Japanese Godzilla movies, and since then I have been a fan of big monster movies. Yes, some remakes/reboots weren't successful at it, but there has been some that were. Given that the storyline/drama in each one was not so well-developed... Eh, what did you expect?!? An award-winning masterpiece... C'mon! Ummm, no! This is a fantasy monster film... Ha! Most fans want to see those epic monster battles/fights in the most grandest way. And, that is what we got in this installment into the monsterverse. Well, I actually would like to see a more well-developed storyline/plot, especially if you're going to have all that amazing casting.

🤯🤯🤯

Despite the amazing casting, they were so under-utilized. I mean, yah, there was a little character development and drama, but that was it. Which sucks since this film had an amazing cast. Sure the lines were somewhat cheesy/cliché and the dialogue was stiff, but what did you expect?!? In the end, the cast gave a mediocre performance given what they had to work with. I would have loved to have seen more character development given the amazing talent in this film. Seriously... There is some amazing talent in this film. Moreover, I thought it was just okay.

🤨🤨🤨

So, yeah, Godzilla: King of the Monsters definitely delivered on the big monsters alright! And, it sure looks like there is more to come. So, don't expect a deep thought-provoking, life-changing film, because this is not what this is ⏤ even with some current events intertwined into the storyline. Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a fun, action-filled film of epic proportions as fans watch epic battles among the titans that fans grew up watching from years ago. Just enjoy watching it. I did!

😆😆😆

My Rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on The Darkest Minds (2018)

Genre:
Adventure/Science Fiction/Suspense

Release Date:

August 3, 2018

DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date:

October 30, 2018

Run Time:

 1 hr 44 minutes

Rating:

PG-13

Screenplay by:

Chad Hodge

Directed by:

Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Produced by:

Shawn Levy, p.g.a.; Dan Levine, p.g.a.

Based on the novel by:

Alexandra Bracken

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Amandla Stenberg, Mandy Moore, Gwendoline Christie

See Full Cast List at IMDB

Plot Summary:

From producers of Stranger Things comes an empowering tale of teens who mysteriously develop new abilities and are declared a threat by the government. Ruby, one of the most powerful young people anyone has encountered, escapes and joins a group of runaway teens seeking safe haven. Soon, this newfound family realizes that collective power is needed to take back control of their fate and save future generations. 

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains SPOILERS

The Darkest Minds seems like an one hour and forty-three-minute metaphor for the longstanding battle of every century, the old generation versus the new generation. The premise of the movie is the government declares that kids and teenagers that have developed special powers, such as high intelligence to pyrokinesis and mentokenisis, are a threat. From the very first twenty minutes of the movie, the children are collected, categorized in camps, and either forced to work or are killed on the spot. The movie follows one special teenager, Ruby Daly, who places in the rarest category, orange, for her ability to control others. She escapes from the camp that has held her for six years with some help and is introduced to a world different from her old one. It is highly segregated between the camps that are government controlled, the League who collects children to help free them from the camps, and all the runaway kids and teenagers trying to find a new home with each other.

The Darkest Minds has a rather linear story and little character development, making it open to sequels or spin off series. The most character development the viewer will get is Ruby and her backstory. From the very beginning Ruby proves that she is brave, loving, but still insecure. She escapes her camp to reunite with her parents but later remembers that she erased her from their memories with her powers. She is then afraid of becoming close to people because of this memory erasure ability. Many of the other characters such as Zu, Liam, Lady Jane, Cate, and The Captain fill one dimensional roles and lack depth as they are given little to no history. The story to The Darkest Minds has little background, as children and teenagers developed these special powers with no explanation, no origin. The best the movie has to offer the viewer as an explanation to these special powers and how the government dealt with them is that Clancy Gray, another orange, was used as a lab rat by his father when the powers started to develop. The camps seem to simply exist to dehumanize the children and force them to become child solders. But, “why?” Therefore, like I said, it (The Darkest Minds) is open to sequels or spin off series.

The Darkest Minds has everything it needs to be an entertaining young adult fiction, action, romance between Liam and Ruby, self-discovery, some comedy, heart-felt moments, and most of all hope for the future. I enjoy the movie for what is offers and what it could represent, but of course, there is always room for story telling improvement.

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on A Dog's Purpose (2017)

Genre:
Adventure/Comedy/Drama

Release Date:

January 27, 2017

DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date:

May 2, 2017

Run Time:

 1 hr 40 minutes

Rating:

PG

Screenplay by:

W. Bruce Cameron, Cathryn Michon, Audrey Wells, Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky

Directed by:

Lasse Hallström

Based on the novel by:

W. Bruce Cameron

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, AJ Apa, Britt Robertson, Bryce Gheisar, Juliet Rylance

See Full Cast List at IMDB

Plot Summary:

Based on the beloved bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, A Dog’s Purpose, from director Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules, Dear John, The 100-Foot Journey), shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.  The family film told from the dog’s perspective also stars Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, John Ortiz, Juilet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Peggy Lipton and Pooch Hall. 

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains SPOILERS

A Dog’s Purpose is a movie where everything makes a full circle and has a satisfying end. It’s sweet, it’s tear-jerking, and it’s funny. A Dog’s Purpose takes its audience on the journey of five lifetimes through the eyes of Bailey, a dog of many breeds. Bailey has different experiences because of his repeated reincarnation where he experiences love, loneliness, death, and adventure. In each life, he learns something new and learns about his reason to live.

His first life, the shortest, is where he discovers one of his purposes, to have fun. The most important life however is his second life where he is born as a Red Retriever and meets his boy, Ethan. In this life, he feels a sense of being complete. As long as he had Ethan, Bailey felt like there was always a place in the world for him. In Bailey’s next lives though, he is not so lucky. As a German Shepard, Bailey works for the Chicago Police Department where he learns about work-ethic, how to save others, and shot while on duty. As a corgi, Bailey learns about loneliness when living with Maya, who also seems quite isolated from others until Bailey helps her into a relationship. In his fifth and final life, Bailey learns about neglect, although he didn’t exactly have a word for it. In this life, he starts as a St. Bernard, Australian Shepherd mix who is largely chained-up in a rundown urban yard until he was abandoned. This life shows Bailey’s unending loyalty when he makes the journey home to reunite with Ethan.

The voice and personality of Bailey, voiced by Josh Gad, is curious, loving, and light-hearted. He shows no regret for anything he does and it’s both endearing to Ethan and Bailey’s many owners but infuriating to those minor characters that can’t seem to get a handle on their lives, like Ethan’s alcoholic father. Because of Bailey’s narration throughout A Dog’s Purpose the viewer feels a deep connection to each life he lives through. A Dog’s Purpose truly shows how carefree dogs are and the love that they give is unconditional. It may be a dog’s life, but the viewer will feel the warmth and Bailey’s life lessons in their heart.

My rating:

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Don't miss the sequel to the sequel to the heartwarming global hit A Dog’s Purpose!

In theaters May 17, 2019!!!

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Genre:

Sci-fi/Action/Drama

Release Date:

March 31, 2017

DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date:

July 25, 2017

Run Time:

 1 hr 47 minutes

Rating:

PG-13

Screenplay by:

Jamie Moss, William Wheeler, Ehren Kruger

Directed by:

Rupert Sanders

Based on the manga:

Ghost in the Shell by Shirow Masamune

Social Media:

   

Cast:

Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, Michael Pitt

See Full Cast List at IMDB

Plot Summary:

In the near future, Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. When terrorism reaches a new level that includes the ability to hack into people’s minds and control them, Major is uniquely qualified to stop it. As she prepares to face a new enemy, Major discovers that she has been lied to: her life was not saved, it was stolen. She will stop at nothing to recover her past, find out who did this to her and stop them before they do it to others. Based on the internationally acclaimed Japanese Manga, The Ghost in the Shell.

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains SPOILERS

As a person who has only seen the Ghost in the Shell (1995) movie and fragments of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, I must say Ghost in the Shell (2017) is an adequate live action adaptation to its anime counterpart. It is entertaining with all its cut scenes, action shots, battles, and different kinds of robotics. The story starts with Major Mira Killian, played by Scarlett Johansson, as an anti-terrorism operative who questions her existence but most importantly her fragmented past. She is a human brain or “ghost” placed inside of an artificial body also called a “shell” created by Hanka Robotics. The story follows her and the rest of anti-terrorist bureau Section 9 members, Batou, Togusa, and Chief Daisuke Aramaki as they search for a hacker named Kuze. But the closer the Major gets to Kuze, the more inclined she is to discover her identity and subsequently stop the man, Cutter, that tried to erase her past from doing so to others. As a standalone movie, Ghost in the Shell (2017) has a linear plot with only a little deviation to allow Killian to discover her real name and identity, Motoko Kusanagi, but it at least sets up the world of Ghost in the Shell (2017). In comparison to the 1995 anime movie, I think Ghost in the Shell (2017) gives the viewer the same mood and atmosphere. The setting is a high-tech city where robotics and humans share one major detail, they’re both cybernetically enhanced. Both movies set up the main protagonist on a thought-provoking journey to question immortality, individuality, and the organic mind versus the digitally created mind. The biggest peeve about Ghost in the Shell (2017) that has been floating around the internet since its first release is the lead actress. While I didn’t think Johansson was the best choice for Major Kusangai, she fulfilled the role with relatively good accuracy. Based upon Ghost in the Shell (1995) and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, my impression of the Major is someone that is serious, stern, loyal, but mysterious. Johansson’s portrayal seemed a bit empty with a vacant expression and wispy voice in comparison. Kusanagi’s relationship with the rest of Section 9 was minimal at best with her only friend seemingly being Batou, while the rest of the team is forgettable. Overall, I can’t say this is an amazing movie, but it stuck close enough to the 1995 movie that I can’t complain about it.

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Bleach (2018)

 
Genre:

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

Drama

Rating:

TV-14

Run Time:

1 hr 48 mins

Release Date:

July 20, 2018 (Japan)

September 14, 2018 (U.S.)

Based on the Manga series by:

 Tite Kubo

Directed by:

 Shinsuke Sato

Producers:

Warner Bros. Japan, New Line Cinema, TX Network, Shueisha, Pierrot, UMG Japan, Dentsu, Ken-On, KDDI, Pony Canyon, GYAO!

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Distribution:

Warner Bros. (Japan)

Netflix (U.S./Worldwide)

Cast:

Sôta Fukushi, Hana Sugisaki, Ryô Yoshizawa, Erina Mano, Yû Koyanagi, Seiichi Tanabe, Taichi Saotome, Miyavi, Masami Nagasawa, Yôsuke Eguchi

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMDB

Plot Summary:

When high schooler Ichigois suddenly given reaper abilities, he really wants to give the powers back. But he'll have to reap some souls first.

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*My Thoughts*

The original allure, action, and mood of the anime and manga Bleach are brought back in the Bleach (2018) live-action movie, but could we fix Rukia Kuchiki’s’s hair or majority of the character’s hair. Their hairstyles would look weird, but Bleach isn’t exactly normal when we think about ghosts, spirits, and hollows running around. The live action version brought back slicing up hollows, shooting arrows, and the shōnen feel of Tite Kubo’s popular manga series thanks to Kubo’s involvement in the movie’s production. As a Bleach fan, I can’t complain about the storyline of the live action movie because of how closely written it is to the anime and manga. The world of Bleach was easily introduced by explanations from the characters and demonstrations of power such as when Uryu Ishida revealed his Quincy powers to a recently made substitute soul reaper Ichigo Kurosaki. The concept of hollows and lost souls were introduced in a familiar fashion for faithful fans of the series but also broken down into its simplest components for new viewers. Bleach (2018) kept the original humor in Ichigo’s repetitive interactions with his classmates, particularly who I assumed was one of Ichigo’s friends named Keigo. In a short summary, Ichigo Kurosaki got help from a soul reaper, befriended them, and the story follows his intense battle scenes to protect his friends.

The live-action film also kept the personalities of these characters, save for the short appearances of characters like Keigo. Ichigo Kurosaki was an average high schooler with a big heart but a lot of fight in him, Chad was a silent and protective giant, Orihime still had an unrequited crush on Ichigo, and Rukia Kuchiki was a serious soul reaper but was naïve to modern Japan and its trends. The Rukia of Bleach (2018) was as mysterious as manga Rukia when she was first introduced. But her relationship with her elder brother was made clear despite only a few moments of screen time together because of the sincerity of Hana Sugisaki’s performance as Rukia Kuchiki. Sugisaki’s Rukia respected Byakuya much like her manga counterpart. As Bleach’s (2018) main character, Ichigo was given the most backstory and character development for his skills and abilities. It may have seemed rushed, but the message got across. But other characters fell flat in comparison. It was easy to tell Chad and Orihime were familiar with Ichigo but they never surpassed being his classmates despite Chad and Orihime being main characters later in the original series.

When talking about Bleach, we need to keep in mind the sword clashes, monsters, bloodshed, and destruction of buildings. My commentary on the action from the movie is “it’s not cheesy.” I did not see a slow motion, in the air choreography. It felt like real-time life or death situations. Renji’s Zabimaru, the released version of his katana, flowed, retracted, and clashed with Ichigo’s over-sized katana with fluid motion. Grand Fisher was a large and destructive hollow, but it looked more plant-like rather than a hollow covered in fur. Bleach (2018) covers the most important aspects of the first arc and I’m not wholly disappointed. After Ichigo met Rukia, I wished the movie had more content like showing Chad and Orihime’s abilities. Considering it was one arc of the anime and manga condensed into a movie, the Bleach (2018) team had to wrap up the Agent of the Shinigami arc in the too short amount of a time. If they wanted to continue into the Soul Society arc, other characters could have been fully introduced and their personalities expanded upon.

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on FullMetal Alchemist (2017)

 

Genre:

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

Drama

Rating:

TV-14

Run Time:

2 hr 14 mins

Release Date:

December 1, 2017 (Japan)

February 19, 2018 (U.S.)

Based on the Manga series by:

Hiromu Arakawa

Directed by:

 Fumihiko Sori

Producers:

Oxybot,Square Enix Company,Warner Bros.

Distribution:

Warner Bros. (Japan)

Netflix (U.S.)

Funimation (U.S.)

Cast:

Ryôsuke Yamada, Tsubasa Honda, Dean Fujioka, Misako Renbutsu, Kanata Hongô, Shinji Uchiyama, Jun Kunimura, Yô Ôizumi, Ryûta Satô, Fumiyo Kohinata, Yasuko Matsuyuki

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMDB

Plot Summary:

While alchemist Edward Elric searches for a way to restore his brother Al's body, the military goverment and mysertious monsters are watching closely.

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*My Thoughts*

For what it’s worth, as a standalone movie, FullMetal Alchemist (2017) lacks much story, emotional connection, and gives a weak plot but as an anime live-action, FullMetal Alchemist (2017) is a satisfactory adaptation the anime community can rejoice about. FullMetal Alchemist (2017), although it deviates a little from the original series, has everything it needs to be a part of the popular anime and manga series, action, lighthearted moments, dramatization, and mystery. It is also a good, quick introduction to those unfamiliar with the FullMetal Alchemist manga by Hiromu Arakawa. The movie makes a quick overview of all the characters and assumes the viewers are familiar with each person in the main cast i.e. Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, Winry Rockbell, Maes Hughes, and Roy Mustang. The introduction of the homunculi Lust, Envy, and Gluttony make them a mysterious trio with influence in the military but hardly expands on their motives. The movies’ main antagonists shift from Shou Tucker to General Hakuro and then homunculi so swiftly that there is no time to hate any of them. Except for Tucker. To say the least, he’s still a selfish and depraved scumbag like in the anime and manga. The movie flows so quickly it’s difficult to properly make an emotional connection with the characters. So, it doesn’t bring the anime and manga’s original intensity and seriousness. Because of it is a quick introduction and overall mystery, FullMetal Alchemist (2017) leaves the live adaptations open to more productions.

The characters may have been swiftly introduced but I can’t deny that I liked the acting. Ryosuke Yamada makes a strong impression as Edward Elric. He had Edwards’ pipsqueak, teenage voice down to a T, Edwards’ rage when he fought Al, but I would like to say Yamada’s reactions to being called short could use more comedic rage to them. Ryuta Sato as Maes Hughes is energetic, friendly, and a loving father-figure that the Elric brothers didn’t have growing up. Overall, I believe my favorite actor is Yasuko Matsuyuki who plays the homunculus Lust. During the each of her appearances in the movie, I was fixated on how she carried Lust’s persona. Matsuyuki’s Lust gave me the impression of both 2003 and 2009 Lust, which is an interesting combination because 2003 Lust is more human while 2009 Lust is an arrogant and faithful homunculus. She was elegant and dignified with Lust’s malice in her voice but dies with an inkling of humanity in her final thoughts. Many of the others fulfilled their roles and I hope they reprise their role into the next possible live-action FullMetal Alchemist (2017), mostly for continuity. I can’t un-see the actors that have taken their role as their respective FullMetal Alchemist characters. It also has the chance to continue building the story, characters, and add more characters from the original series such as Greed, Scar, or Bradley.

Instead of looking at FullMetal Alchemist (2017) as a FullMetal Alchemist the manga and anime-based movie and more like a standalone film, the story is rushed, characters get very little to no backstory, and the antagonists are easily killed. Now going back to it as a faithful adaptation, it loosely follows the manga most notably when Lust briefly mentions the homunculi’s creator and frequently calls Edward “a good sacrifice.” The movies’ Shou Tucker plays a slightly larger role in comparison to his anime and manga counterpart by kidnapping Al and Winry. But overall, the movie seems to hint at the homunculus having power in the military and therefore sets them up as the possible major antagonist in later productions. If I had to make complaints about FullMetal Alchemist (2017) as a live-action adaptation, I wish Envy’s character in the movie had more of the sass and arrogance of the manga’s Envy. The movies’ Envy was more disgusted with humans but wholly said nothing against humanity. The movie introduces the lesser homunculi too early as the movies’ antagonist, General Hakuro, uses them in a failed plot to take over the world. I won’t say FullMetal Alchemist (2017) is a spectacular, God-sent live-action, but it certainly is refreshing.

My rating:

Japanese movie poster