Reel Vibes

A friendly blogger sharing thoughts on all things pop culture.

[reelvibes91]

Does Brand New Day fix some of the Past Mistakes?

After No Way Home, Marvel had a tough task of figuring out what comes next for Spider-Man. When you achieve an event level film of that nature, going back to basics feels like the best choice. In the case of Peter Parker/Spider-Man it absolutely was. This film and his growth as an individual character are all the better for it.

After a montage showcasing how much the world has moved on from Peter, we jump 4 years into the future. He has become the full fledged Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man we all know and love. It was time we saw this from a street level perspective. This felt genuinely like the most faithful adaptation of the character so far within the MCU. It doesn't feel as forced to have him be involved with the bigger picture. This felt absolutely like a Peter Parker story that deserved to be told.

Destin Daniel Cretton was tasked with taking over the franchise and he did a lot well. He crafted some very cool looking action sequences that may be the best since Andrew Garfields first turn in the role. You could see him building upon what the other films did that worked while putting his own spin on it via the mutation storyline. A story that has never been one of Spider-Man's best worked very well here because it played to the ideas of trauma and mental health. Seeing Marvel focus heavily on the emotional side of being a Superhero has really helped their internal writing struggles. Finding that balance has always been a sweet spot and Marvel has missed that mark outside of Thunderbolts* recently.

Grounded in absolutely every sense of the word. This is the first MCU Spider-Man movie that felt like New York City mattered as well. A city we have seen depicted countless times on screen, that many know has a life and culture of its own. Peter Parker has always embraced NYC and seeing the film take that into account felt special. 

Going into this film there were some major questions on my mind. How would they convert Frank Castle to PG-13, who is Sadie Sink playing and how will this film realistically keep MJ and Ned as part of the story. Those seem to be the widespread concerns and frequently asked questions. For obvious reasons hearing this version of Frank Castle was coming to a PG-13 rating was concerning. We had a heavy rumor from Day One that Sadie Sink was going to be the first bridge to the new iteration of the X-Men.

First off, my man Frank Castle keeps the core of what makes him such a unique individual and character. Jon Bernthal is the definitive Frank of this generation and clearly has a love for this character that is unmatched. He fought for the character to be treated with respect on Born Again and that led to him fighting for the Special that was released earlier this year. Getting to see Jon and Tom (who famously speak of their audition process together) finally share the screen in these respective roles was amazing. Frank grows to care for the kid and you can see particularly near the end how his way of doing things nearly cost him again. It was brilliant how Frank made Peter more emotionally aware of what he was giving up when not expressing his true feelings. Frank will never heal the trauma he has felt but allowing someone like Peter into his life can finally bring him something worth living for again.

Now is time to really go into what is considered Spoiler territory. So please don't keep scrolling through this review unless you have seen the movie or don't care.

It is confirmed. Sadie Sink is Jean Grey and it was the worst kept secret in the industry. She did steal the show but at the same time Marvel didn't even try to keep her involvement a secret. Which led to this speculation for the better part of the last year. Most people had it clocked as for sure as soon as we learned what was happening in terms of the plot. Sadie Sink absolutely did shine though and her origins and motivations make absolute sense when we finally learn them. Jean along with Peter and Frank has faced hardships and major trauma. Peter is the one who breaks through those walls and helps her. Tom Holland really helped elevate those scenes. He was a tremendous scene partner for absolutely everyone else and brought out the best in all of them.

There definitely was a way this core film could have existed without MJ and Ned but having them here also didn't feel out of place. Especially when they are used to help draw Peter out and create tension with Jean Grey. There is a scene near the last act that is absolutely diabolical between Peter and an inhabited MJ. It was a trifecta of acting brilliance by a vulnerable Tom Holland, Zendaya getting to shine as the middle ground displaying the fake emotions and Sadie Sink stealing the scene from the perspective as the third party.

Brand New Day was the showcase of brilliant writing placing these characters in situations that played to their strengths. Jean Grey, the film's primary antagonist for ¾ of it, is actually the hero of it all. Seeing her power set in full effect was brilliant as well. We get a glimpse that one day she will essentially have unlimited power once she can gain more control over herself. I absolutely as a fan of her character can't wait to see Jean is brought back and eventually seeing her relationships form with the X-Men as well. This was the movie we needed to restore faith in the Marvel brand that they can handle the X-Men. If they handle everyone else with the careful precision they handled Jean Grey with there are limitless possibilities for the X-Men stories they can tell.

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X-Men 97: Apocalypse Echoes Through Time and the series Levels Up

Marvel animated series of the 90s were staples of every child hood. Evenings after school it was run home and watch X-Men as quickly as possible to see what would happen next. For many as well who have become fans of the characters the animated series from 92 became a strong starting point for their fandom.

Now we have the continuation series titled X-Men 97 which has just premiered their second season with three episodes. Episode one which sees half the team in the future was a solid start but a step back in a lot of ways. It felt predictable despite featuring stellar animation. It didn’t feel like the quick paced start we needed. That's not to say it is weak as it was still very enjoyable. There were such high expectations for this storyline in particular and it just felt slightly underwhelming.

Episode 2 was the exact opposite of Episode 1. Intense story, which heavily features Jubilee as she becomes a member of X-Force. Her powerset was on full display and it was stunning to behold in animation. Her desire to find a way that did not include violence added morality to a story line that is heavy with consequences. Each time period must play their role in helping to stop Apocalypse from rising and making Cable and Jubilee the two most important characters in this episode really elevated the time travel plotlines. It showcases just how much Nathan Summers aka Cable is important in this battle.

The final and third episode of the premiere brings us all the way back to ancient Egypt where we see the other half of the team taking on En Sabah Nur. The name En Sabah Nur translates to “First One” as he is the very first known mutant. He does later become known as Apocalypse and as Xavier explains here is the most formidable foe of the X-Men. There is a lot of world building in this episode and another major villainous tease. While these episodes felt lighter on the action compared to season one it was definitely heavy on broadening the world. It is much needed to say the least even if it does at times sacrifice the action for explanation. 

Season One was very good. Season Two is already on the right track. All they have to do now is fully flesh out this story and stick to the landing. Which is easier said than done in a lot of modern stories especially in the comic book adaptation genre. Marvel has played at this storyline before ultimately choosing a different path with the upcoming Avengers films. There is a lot of potential here for this to become the best story a Marvel product has pulled off to date. If they are able to do so, it also serves as a redemption for the prior failed attempts. In the coming weeks we shall see how this inevitably turns out. As with the storyline, time will tell us if the story was the one we deserved or if that one exists in a different timeline.

[reelvibes91]

Friday Night Lights Turns 20

In terms of leaving a last impression there are multiple ways to do that across film and television. Iconic performances, a timeless action sequence or a series that sends a message about humanity. Friday Night Lights does the latter and still to this day has a lot of powerful messages about life.

One big reason is the cast. There are so many recognizable faces among the cast. When the show first came out there was no guarantee these cast members would become amazing stars in various ways. They simply put everything they had into these characters and these performances throughout the show's 5 season run.

Lead by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton as Eric and Tami Taylor, their undying love for each other is the heart of the series. They are always presented as real. They fight, they argue but they always find a way to come together and support the people around them. Presented as the very definition of ride or die, at some point throughout the series each and every key character has a powerful moment with one of them.

As the show progresses we get a myriad of characters come and go. Some who play football, some who are cheerleaders, others who are extended family of those who are involved in the team. We get glimpses into the various ways of life these characters come from. Matt Saracen, a humble boy being raised by his grandma. Tim Riggins, party animal with a heart of gold who has never had the parental figure he should have had. Julie Taylor, book smart and quiet, led by the inspiration her parents have created for her. Brian “Smash” Williams, confident, in your face and the most talented player on the team. These are just some key examples of the characters that make up a series that relies on the ensemble cast.

Characters come and go after season 3. Which truly is what makes the show special. We always have new people introduced into the mix as students begin to graduate and think about the rest of their lives. Each obstacle these characters overcome feels like watching someone you care about achieve their goals. That is thanks in large part to the beautiful writing this show has. It truly is grounded with realistic scenarios and outcomes. 

A show like this feels like lightning in a bottle to some degree. Especially when many of the stars have become notable names including Jesse Plemons, Taylor Kitsch, Michael B. Jordan, Jurnee Smollett, Minka Kelly among others. Of course when this show aired 20 years ago absolutely no one could expect the cultural impact it would go on to have. Everyone knew Football was massive, especially in Texas and the message of hard work paying off was universal for anyone who tuned in.

Friday Night Lights is a character study and a culture study. It is a time piece of American culture before the technological boom in the 2010s. It is set during an era where so many people who love the series had their formative years (Myself included). I would have been in high school at the same time as many of these characters. Perhaps that is why it is so easy to connect with the series. So many of these actors had their careers changed by this series. So many people saw themselves in these characters and felt connected to the stories this series told through amazing three dimensional characters. There are shows that just get everything right from the pilot onwards. Friday Night Lights is one of those shows that will stand the test of time.

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Spider-Noir Rewrites the Canon: Nic Cage, 1930s Vibes and Quirky Writing combine

It is mind boggling that Sony can produce both the Spiderverse films and the Spider-Man man villain films. They are definitely a major contrast in story telling quality and overall production value. Now comes Spider-Noir, a spin-off adjacent to what the Spiderverse films have established. With Sony's track record there are absolutely no guarantees one of the Spider-Centric concepts will turn out. Now that Spider-Noir has landed on Amazon Prime, where does it land?

There is a lot to love about this series. Immediately setting the tone apart from anything else Spider-Man related was their best idea. The 30s really came to life quickly in this story. Watchable in both color and Black and White, seeing this in Black and White definitely has more of an authentic feel to it. That era is absolutely one of my favorites on screen and old school mafia stories help illustrate just how different things were back then.

In terms of Spider-Noir being a show on its own merits is definitely entertaining. It is different than most anything else within the genre and that happens for a couple of different reasons. One is this is a fresh take, where they can take the characters in any direction they desire. Distancing themselves from the Peter Parker moniker was also smart. You don't have to jeopardize any pre-existing character notions people have surrounding a fan favorite. In choosing Ben Reilly they gave themselves a blank canvas to recreate the prohibition era with a comic booky feeling.

Nicolas Cage is the perfect choice to be a play a man burdened by a lifetime of drinking and heartache. His aging Spider definitely is visible and that helps you feel more in tune with the action sequences. They felt more practical and less grandiose in that regard. The scope felt smaller as we weaved into Ben's world and the unfortunate set of circumstances that lead to the Spider persona being born. Cage was both hilarious and heartfelt when needing to be and that carries a lot of weight in a series like this. Being able to laugh at his quips while still simultaneously realizing he is inches away from death most moments is truly a balancing act. One that requires the gravitas that a veteran actor like Cage brings to the role. You never want to lean too heavy and Cage being known as quirky and capable throughout his career definitely expands that structure here. 

It is engaging on a Spider-Man level as well. Here we have Brendan Gleeson as Silvermane, an Irish mafia man running the streets of New York. Gleeson is such a presence and his take no prisoners Silvermane definitely is a highlight of the series. Alongside Silvermane we have Flint Marko/Sandman, Lonnie Lincoln/Tombstone and Dirk Leyden/Megawatt. The three henchmen and their abilities are all well done. Their powers look incredible and their fights with the Spider felt authentic. 

The wry humor mixed with the comic book action is well portrayed. This show is a testament that Sony really is capable of a solid live action take on these characters if they want to take the time to craft them well. The Spider is definitely one of the most unique takes on the Spider-Man lore, the origin story is something out of an old school horror flick and the aftermath was compelling enough to fill 8 episodes. 

When a project of this nature comes along it is proof there is still so much life in these beautiful and long existing characters. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box a little bit and fully commit to doing something different. 

[reelvibes91]

The Punisher is back!

Frank Castle has always been one of my favorite Marvel characters. The sheer brutality within his character and the emotional resonance of his origin story are raw and very real. Even more so for me now as I have a family of my own.

Frank is back in The Punisher: One Last Kill. What we get here is Frank burnt out from chasing the last known connection to the murders of his family, the Gnucci crime family. Bernthal is impressive when showcasing Frank in and out of reality as he navigates all the pain that has surrounded him for this long. What happens next for Frank is all but up to him. He has been so ingrained in killing anyone who had ties that he has nothing left. Bernthal has always crushed the quieter moments and the same thing is true here. 

In terms of action, the brutality associated with The Punisher is also back. We needed to see that as well. Trying to show us anything watered down makes no sense. Not when it pertains directly to Frank seeking and exacting revenge on those responsible. Even here we see him talking directly to his family as he visits their grave sites. In doing so he talks to his daughter and says he met someone who reminded him of her. Frank is clearly a man who will forever be broken by his tragedy but has the ability to help so many who have nowhere else to turn. 

That is what has always made Frank a uniquely positioned character.  He doesn't have the same moral compass someone like Matt Murdock or Peter Parker possess. He doesn't draw the same lines they will when it comes to brutality. Peter could very well cross those lines as well but often shows restraint in many iterations. Frank shows no restraints whatsoever and holds no reservations over it. That is what we saw here. A Purge/The Raid style action sequence where people are coming for him and Frank just executes them one by one. Without flinching. Without a second's hesitation. He just pulls the trigger. Something he has been doing for so long. 

I do hope this is a step forward for Frank and stops being just a catalyst for violence and more of a neighborhood symbol of protection. Someone who will do what the law won't when needed. Someone who chooses the violence carefully but is still not afraid to get his hands dirty. There are still so many Punisher villains that I would love to see Bernthal’s Frank square off with. Ma Gnucci was someone I have been wanting to see for a long time and there is potential to only go bigger from here. Being the fan I am of this character I would welcome it with open arms.

[reelvibes91]

War Machine: Smart Decisions, Strong Results

Alien invasion movies have been a major Hollywood staple for years. There still seems to be life left in the genre as we get a new take on the genre at least once or twice a year. The latest is a film for Netflix called War Machine. Where does it fall among other films that have tackled this subject matter before?

A smaller scale story helps the progression of this film from the early stages. We see the Army Rangers already deep in training when the first wave occurs. It sets up the tension well creating a true fear among the core set of characters at the forefront of it all. 

Alan Ritchson is likable in this lead. The opening sequence gives us a reason to care about his character as the film and story carry him through these events. While it is not the deepest performance ever put to screen it does not need to be. It simply needs to allow us a reason to buy into what he is attempting to accomplish and that is what happens here.

Obviously with a film of this style some suspension of belief is required to fully engage with what you are watching. As soon as we see the alien or machine we do believe in the credibility of the threat level. It is a one v one approach as it is man vs machine scaled down to the elements and the survival instinct required to try and outsmart an unknown threat. 

One of the film's bright spots is isolating the core crew from the rest of the world. It gives the film a sense of claustrophobia that helps you want to see if this is one issue or a larger scale fight. It provides the feeling you are along for the ride and part of the crew.  When a film can make you feel like part of the group and you are actively cheering and suggesting tactics from your living room it has hooked you.

Sometimes realizing what you have in a concept is the best play. This film does not need to go large scale because that would have killed the atmosphere it was trying to set. The life or death scenario always helps amplify the survival aspect. We have seen before how a plot designs specific scenarios to make a threat feel weaker to allow the characters a chance or survival. That is not done here and the tactical ways our characters attempt survival make sense to their training and the scenario that they find themselves in.

If you are looking for a solid book end to your weekend this is a good one. Watch it with friends or watch it in the quiet comfort of your home and you may just find yourself enjoying this one more than you had planned to. We don't always need to see everything. We can leave a film open ended and still engage with the true low-key story it attempts to convey. That is what works here. 

[reelvibes91]

Lanterns: The Concern Fans Can’t Ignore

Lanterns is a highly anticipated series from DC Studios. Mainly because the 2011 Green Lantern movie starring Ryan Reynolds did so much damage to the brand. Now we have the newest iteration of the DCU trying to lay their claim to the Lantern Corps.

If there is one thing about DC Studios so far that has been consistent it is that first looks and teasers have disappointed me. Superman did turn that around with the final product. Peacemaker disappointed big time with season 2 compared to the first season. The first look at Supergirl with the teaser just made me see every other Space adventure of the past.

Now we have Lanterns that should be a space adventure but for some reason opted for a more grounded approach. Many online comparisons have it being closer to True Detective and Yellowstone than a traditional Green Lantern comic. Initially it makes me wonder why we don't get any images or scenes that can be directly tied to a specific Green Lantern comic book story. Truly the only thing that impressed me about the trailer was that Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre are both more than capable actors. 

An aging Hal seems like another mistake this series has made. It doesn't align with what we have come to expect from the character. While Chandler is a very talented actor he just doesn't strike many as the one to take it over after the debacle that was Reynolds taking on the character. It feels as if they are afraid to do anything that could remotely resemble that movie in any way. One thing that felt different when Gunn first started working for DC was that he said he wouldn't do that. That being said this is only the 200th time he has said something and gone back on his own word not long after.

One argument that has been presented is that it is not a James Gunn project. Yes it is. He has said nothing enters production until he is satisfied which means he may not have written or directed it but he did ultimately sign off on it. Nothing with DC studios happens without the blessing of James Gunn. We can't pick and choose what gets labeled a “James Gunn Project” when he wants to parade social media 24/7 needing to answer absolutely every fan idea or theory out there. He has made it clear he is the architect of the next generation of DC for better or worse. We had Snyder and now we have Gunn. Two distinctly different visions but both have full control over the direction. 

Lanterns could possibly be saving the best for the actual show. That would truly be the best case scenario. It just does not sit well with me when I have read comics based on these amazing characters and only one line of the entire trailer felt accurate. That was the line where Hal mentions Ch'p. That was the one and only moment that felt hopeful and directed at die hard comic book fans. The rest felt like another way to target casual fans and bring them into the DC brand. While that approach may be the best for big budget tentpole films, HBO Max is where you can take more risks and reward the fans that have been waiting.

The Lantern Corps and their stories are highly regarded among the comic book fandom. A show that should be an intergalactic adventure being dubbed the next True Detective or Yellowstone feels wrong. There is no shade meant to be thrown on either of these spectacular series. It's just not anywhere what Green Lantern comic fans would say those stories resemble. Let's hope the next look at the series is much more rewarding and does not play it as safe in that regard.

[reelvibes91]

Paramount’s Risky Play for Power

Just last week it seemed like Netflix was poised to be the new owner of Warner. Bros. Discovery. Now in the midnight hour, Paramount Skydance has swooped in and made the best deal on the table. Netflix has now essentially bowed out of the bid and that leaves Paramount standing victorious on the mountain top. What does it mean moving forward for the industry?

Two things come to mind. Massive debt and Sustainability. This merger is for 110 Billion and that immediately sets Paramount at 79 billion in debt as it is only partially funded. The Ellison family along with RedBird Media have funded 47 billion in cash. 54 Billion remains owed to the banks and other lenders. That creates a massive hole to start in which makes return on investment a lot harder to sustain in a quick manner. 

The only real upside to this once the merger goes through is that Paramount will have lucrative IPs to add to the library such as DC, Harry Potter and all the classic HBO series. The plan is to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into one app. Given what Paramount already owns and the additions to the catalogue this will be one of the best streaming services on the market. It remains to be seen if they can compete with Disney, Netflix and others that are already way ahead in the races and content output. 

Of course there is the ever looming debate about the Ellison family and their political stance and the creatives coming over from WB who don’t align with their views. They are vocal supporters of Trump and many people view that in a negative light. Despite what people say it will have an impact on the content and the message within that. Netflix was far more open with what they want to include in their stories. Some people have voiced their own concerns with Netflix but open stories are much more needed than a close minded studio stuck in the past. If there is a vocal group who takes issue with certain content they can choose what suits them best. 

For those currently working in the industry the biggest of all seems to be the potential for massive job loss and budgetary cuts. Entire subsidiaries are on the chopping block to consolidate and cut back in order to make sure there are no redundancies within the company. With the current state of the economy losing a job with stability can create other issues. Such as an influx in other markets becoming over-saturated with applications and could have a massive implication on the rental and buyers market for housing.

There is also the chance that this deal never sees the light of day due to regulatory issues. Making sure this does not create a power issue within Hollywood is one of the biggest debates. One of the major differences in this deal and deals of the past is the current financial stability of Paramount going into the deal. Disney was in a much more stable place when it purchased Fox in 2019. Since then the laws pertaining to these kinds of transactions have also strengthened to avoid this type of consolidation. 

So much needs to fall in line before we see this deal finalized but right now there are definitely pros and cons depending on which side of the fence you fall on. If you lean in the same political direction of the Ellison family this is the outcome you are hoping for. Anyone who does not align with their views may be hoping that the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission step in and block the deal. Either way this conversation is far from over at the time being and we will continue to see massive developments for the foreseeable future. Stay involved and continue to voice concerns and monitor the situation for more updates as they break.

[reelvibes91]

Ghostface Deserves a Sharper Script

Any film that is 7 films in deserves to be praised for longevity. That is an amazing accomplishment in today's economic landscape. While horror does tend to have a smaller budget, seeing Scream turn 30 while the 7th entry is being released was fun. Does Scream 7 have enough gas left in the tank to keep the franchise alive? Or does it leave fans scratching their heads as to why this was the story they chose?

Let’s start with what was done well. The Evans family dynamic was immediately established and Tatum was a large part of that. She is independent and often referred to as timid in comparison to her mother. Which she vehemently despises because she doesn’t know her mother the way she has been depicted in countless books and movies (in universe). Watching Tatum struggle with this as her mother’s past comes crashing down was stellar writing. We see the simple family dynamic rooted in years of trauma and how it impacts every single decision with the household.

Neve Campbell and Isabel May carry the film in terms of acting. Sidney Prescott being an over protective mother was a phenomenal way to keep her character interesting. It provides a bigger set of stakes now as she is not only worried about herself but her own daughter. Neve Campbell is provided new ground to showcase the fear and anxiety of a Ghostface encounter. Isabel May is a name to keep on your radar going forward as we will definitely be seeing more of her. 

The build up is done well until it isn’t. Which is a quick and sudden fall off that needs to be studied. This film's final act is atrocious. It one by one makes a suspect of each new character before quickly dissolving each one. Then what we get is the lamest Ghostface reveal in the entire franchise to date. Their motivations were lackluster and had very affiliations with Sidney and her past whatsoever. It didn’t fit the way Scream has become known. Insane motivations and even more brutal outcomes for the thrilling conclusion.

This is a small spoiler to anyone who has not been following the media related to this film. Seeing Matthew Lillard back in any capacity was so heart warming. I adore him as an actor and seeing him in the franchise that made him a star was amazing. The issues with how it was done plot wise do not fall on him at all. The door has been left open as well as it always is with horror franchises unless the rule is followed. We see them get shot in the head. 

Overall a film is only as good as the conclusion and this film does not have a good one. It just falls flat. There were no unpredictable kills or sequences that made me sit up and give it my undivided attention. The story felt too isolated with most of the returning legacy characters feeling shoehorned in for fan service only. Gale and the twins could have easily been removed and the plot does not really change all that much honestly. Legacy characters deserve better treatment than that. One of them should have provided the catalyst for the no one is safe concept Scream has always been known for. 

No mincing words this was just not the film that long term fans wanted. Especially where Sidney sat out of Six and then returned. They easily could have gone bigger and bolder and simply chose to think her presence alone would be enough to carry the film. Those days have passed. 7 films need fresh perspectives and wild ideas. This final act just can’t be the best idea they had on a white board. That just can’t be true. My friend and I had better concepts in our daily chat on What's App. You mean to tell me this was the best idea Williamson could bring to realization? I hope when 8 happens it is much better than this. Scream 8 should serve as the end of Sidney’s story. Every good franchise needs to know when the time is right to craft a finale. Scream has reached that point for Sidney Prescott.

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Paradise: An Unmissable Apocalyptic Experience

Paradise was a surprise hit when it premiered. Everything about it was phenomenal from the story down to the cast. When the show was picked up for second season the focus shifted from can this story be good to how do they maintain this momentum. Fast Forward and we have the three episode premiere to begin to form those answers and debate where Season 2 is going to take us.

Adding Shailene Woodley to the cast was a great way to start. Her character of Annie was given the majority of the screen time in Season 2, Episode 1 and she did not disappoint. Annie was a lonely former tour guide of Graceland (the home of Elvis Presley) and that is where she ended up taking refuge during the volcanic eruption and subsequent fallout. Woodley does a great job showcasing the isolation of the early days and the paranoia that extended to this new world. Annie’s story is particularly relevant because at the end of the first episode she finds an unconscious Xavier Collins.

Sterling K. Brown is such a brilliant actor and episode 2 really gives the star the chance to shine brightly. We get much more time spent on his back story with his wife Teri, who he is currently on a mission to find. We see them bond and it is truly a showcase of how unpredictable a love story can be. One aspect that was done very well was how real and authentic it felt. It also truly showcased that Xavier is the ultimate good guy and consummate gentleman. He goes above and beyond when called upon. It makes you want to invest in their reunion but also kept it up in the air by extending the time frame in which it may or may not happen.

These episodes tie the narrative together well by having episode three be about the bunker and a secret project based on Quantum Entanglement drawing the resources meant to keep civilization alive. Episode one has a character going by a code name Link looking to destroy something simply known as “Alex”. In episode 3 we get the flashbacks that showcase how Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond is involved in that.

The best part about these three episodes is how they were able to keep most of the cast from season one around. They did so through various flashbacks that allowed actors like James Marsden, Jon Beavers and Gerald McRaney to keep appearing. That was one of the big questions. We knew Woodley was joining the cast but how do three amazing actors stick around or how does the show replace them? It seems like they are not replacing them but using them more sparingly to fill in the gaps of the story.

As for what is in store this season in particular, it appears as though we are going to concurrently get both narratives. We will see Link again at some point and likely it will lead to a thrilling confrontation when the time comes. In what capacity that will occur is still very much a mystery and that is the best way to go about it. Continue adding obstacles and layers to make this more intriguing. It is genuinely one of the most fascinating shows currently available. The ensemble cast is a list of familiar faces and talent that genuinely helps build the intrigue. One episode at a time things become more and more intriguing and that is how you want it to be. 

Over the course of the next 5 weeks we will see that mystery unfold. Creator Dan Fogelman originally said this was a three season plan. We shall see if that has changed but as of right now we stay the course and see where season 2 will leave off. Count me in on that ride. I can’t wait to see what this show does next. 

[reelvibes91]

56 Days Had the Setup for a Great Thriller—So What Happened?

Crafting a thriller/mystery series can be tricky work. There are multiple components that go into making sure it is successful and continues to pique curiosity for the entire run.56 Days is the latest attempt to create a tense thriller with characters who have questionable motives. The entire series dropped in one go on Amazon Prime on February 18th.

It is very bingeable even if the early episodes linger a little too long on the aspect that each character is harboring a secret. Ciara and Oliver, the two lead characters don’t really get much in the way of development until the back half of the season. The first 4 episodes are strictly about creating the illusion that anything is possible but that does hinder progression in the slightest.

Once we get the big reveal both Avan Jogia and Dove Cameron are given better material to showcase their range. The first bit of the series felt like all they wanted to was showcase two attractive individuals in very sexual sequences. Truthfully that never sells me in terms of creating an atmosphere. The mystery should have been the immediate tension but honestly during those first few episodes it became an after thought due to the extreme sexuality on display. 

That is not to be negative towards the series. Episodes 6-8 are phenomenal viewing experiences and do look at trauma and suicide which are deeper themes. That is when the actors truly begin to shine and it becomes an ensemble effort to effectively convey heavy hitting themes. 

It is a shame to be fair that they squandered so much of the first half because this could have been an early candidate for show of the year. It is just too jarring in tone and switches up too often to make that case for itself. When your two lead characters are two of the weakest characters until episode 6 it does paint a slightly messy portrait of the events. It just does not become the best version of itself and it is a shame when writers squander the opportunity. 

One aspect of this show that was really well done was what I call the 500 Days of Summer timeline. It’s when a show or film delivers scenes in a non linear fashion over a period of time. In both cases the days are the timeline length. It works to see how Day 22 played into the outcome as information was revealed. Then it was cool to flash back to the earlier days when Ciara and Oliver had a heart to heart that capitalized on driving the narrative forward. 

Some of the tension becomes a little awkward when the truth is revealed and it makes some of the early episodes feel even more cringey. It does not flow well in terms of an overall structured story. Episodes 6, 7 and 8 feel like their own miniseries in comparison. It just doesn’t find that solid foundation that it needed to build upon. Which makes the rest of the building blocks it places rocky from the moment they are placed. It is the very definition of having a superficial look and having no substance at the core. It’s just hollow with two very good detective characters trying their best to solve a murder mystery.

[reelvibes91]

Bugonia Wastes Its Momentum

When a film fully commits to the conspiracy plotline some unexpected concepts come to fruition. Sometimes those films carry a heavy weight of creating a commentary people need to hear. Other times they just do crazy things to try and find themselves some shock value within a culture over saturated with images after image. 

Bugonia is the latest attempt to tackle the alien conspiracy plot line. It does so rather well for the first 2/3 s of the runtime. Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone are world class talents and when they play off each other for the effect it truly works. Stone is very convincing in her role. Plemons as well, but the entire conspiracy plot works because of the subtlety in which Stone can play the “What is the truth here?” bit that carries the better part of the film.

It definitely takes a bit to get going but the actors make staying worth the while. That is until we get very close to the end of this one. From this point on there will be spoilers. This is one of those films that is impossible to discuss without deep diving into what actually happens and why you like or dislike it. Turn back now if you have not watched this movie.

At a certain point we get an Emma Stone monologue about how her character is in fact an alien. She delivers it with a calculated precision that gives you chills. That is the exact moment this film peaks. You know one way or the other they have to find a resolution to all of this. That ends the back and forth debating between her and Plemons and sets up the film's final act. Contacting the mother ship on the night of a lunar eclipse.

The reason why after this point it falls apart is because they just go off the rails. Stone’s monologue still held the weight of her simply saying what he wants to hear. From there we get confirmation she was telling him the truth. We then see her go back to the ship and the alien race debate the merit that the human race is messed up and just decide to end the planet on a whim. Nothing more, nothing less. We then see bodies everywhere in every possible situation for the final minutes of this film.

A bleak ending is one thing but an ending with complete finality like this was just pointless in my opinion. It felt like commenting that society is so messed up that we would be abandoned by aliens was just a little too hard hitting right now. It was just pointless to shove this rhetoric down our throats because most of us can see examples on a daily basis. While this is obviously a fictional look at a possible outcome, fiction needs to have more of a point than society is doomed so end it. That doesn’t scream a powerful message about adapting and doing better. It spells out an ending that results in zero hope. 

There are a lot of films that end on a negative note for their story and those films are still good. The discourse about how much society had changed and why the aliens felt like we have crossed lines was much more powerful than watching them pull the plug on society as an entirety.

As noted above there were moments just prior to that ending that could have served as a better conclusion to the points they were trying to make. When you take a step and it is too far there is no coming back. This film definitely took that step and it just left me thinking, boy this is a film that I will never watch again. That’s how bleak this ending felt when the topic of discussion should be about two of the best actors of this generation and the masterclass they just pulled off. One script decision can completely change the direction of a story and this may be the new shining example of that. 

[reelvibes91]

A New Fog Rolls In: The Mist Remake Has Massive Potential

There was a recent announcement that Mike Flanagan would be writing a remake of The Mist which is a classic Stephen King story. The Mist has already been adapted twice, once by Frank Darabont and another time as a series which only lasted one season. There are plenty of King works to choose from that have never been adapted but The Mist is a great story that could benefit from the remake treatment.

The Frank Darabont movie is very cheesy. While it does build the tension necessary it does so in a quick manner. It often leads to scenes feeling jarring and sudden. Almost every character in the film is exaggerated for dramatic effect and while it does work, a slow burn build would definitely work better for this type of movie. The isolation of the Supermarket is definitely a tone setter and should be utilized better in a remake.

One thing the film does do which is definitely good for a story like this was confirm the military involvement. It adds another layer to what could possibly be happening outside the walls of the supermarket and why. It showcases there are so many things the general public are unaware of and that is scary in itself.

Since the film was released the debated topic seemed to be the difference in the endings. The novel opts for more optimism while the film opts for a dreary and depressing decision. One that showcases the pure irony of the unknown. King himself prefers the film ending and generally King is a good judge of horror. This is the one instance where the disagreement has to come in. They decided to leave the supermarket knowing there was a danger. They would have known gas was not infinite. They absolutely knew the danger this presented and decided to go anyway. It made no sense for them to simply drive until they ran out of gas and then just give up like this. The film had been building that divide. The religious extremists deciding this was the end of days vs finding out what still lies out there.

The timing of the scene and the deliberate finality of it just didn’t resonate with me. It didn’t shock me. It just made me feel like it was needlessly violent and deceptive to simply send the message that “See sometimes the timing of our choices is just terrible.” Except there is one major thing they do wrong. We never get to see the fallout. David simply leaves the carnage behind and roll credits. The story ends, the damage was never touched upon. For many reasons it was a lackluster ending. Shock value endings that go against the main characters hardly ever work. 

The atmosphere is what Flanagan needs to capitalize on. The idea that people either slowly begin to crumble into insanity or they learn to adapt and try and create a viable new world. We need to see the larger scope of the decisions right from the opening minutes until whatever his ending choice is. Whatever he decides to do with the ending, it needs to feel earned and not just a swerve to be cool and different. All endings must fit what best serves the overall narrative we have been watching. 

There is plenty of potential with this remake. He can improve upon the things that did not quite go right in the last film adaptation. He can make it more of a tense thriller perhaps utilizing different set pieces to make this his own version of the events. The Mist feels grander than just a singular supermarket and hopefully this time around we can see more of that. In doing that, perhaps we will get more fleshed out character arcs and less cartoonish villains. Make the antagonists feel morally questionable and less outright evil and the conversations will start themselves among the movie goers.

[reelvibes91]

The Strangers: Chapter 3 — Staying the Course

When a film series announces from the get go that it has a three film storyline, audiences need to be patient. Diving right in and complaining just seems futile. Expecting immediate payoff by the end of the first film often feels disingenuous. Also using the entire film just as set up feels the same way. When The Strangers: Chapter One dropped it faced heavy criticism. Most of which felt entirely forced. It still feels the same way heading into Chapter Three.

Let’s set the record straight. If you absolutely felt like the first two were awful horror films, why even show up for the third? Just to be able to say you saw it? That has always been an interesting point of conversation. It feels like a pre-determined feeling that you went in and just checked off a box. It does not feel like those people even wanted to see if the finale had any redeeming qualities to it whatsoever. This one did.

Chapter 3 is easily the best of the bunch as we explore the back story of the town and the people involved in these heinous acts. For those screaming it is supposed to be strangers and not be explained. Did you honestly think they were not going to fill in those gaps? The story would have been very loose and people would have complained that it just became a repetitive game of cat and mouse. This way it became something more sinister. Something explained by tragic decisions to keep it going and not explore other avenues to get someone help. 

The dark and twisted reveal was genuinely frightening from a story perspective. Simple and effective to convey a message that sometimes people cover things up and they shouldn’t. It was well acted in terms of giving off finale vibes, as we see just how much has been taken from Maya by the end of it all.

If you want to be a hater that option is certainly on the table. It is for any film to be honest. More people choose to be pickier about horror than any other genre. It does misfire quite a bit and often receives lower audience scores than other genres. That does not mean a film is bad. It just leans more to the genre being a specific niche genre for many. Those who dabble do so frequently and those that don’t likely maybe only watch the occasional scary film come Halloween. 

Anyone who is arguing that this film definitely didn’t need a three part story has obviously not been around horror much. There are a plethora of franchises that literally utilize a very similar story through many sequels. It’s a staple of the genre. Cheaper productions across the board, finding ways to up the kill count and create more blood and gore. It’s not a new thing for the genre to see a three part story of this nature. It is rare to announce it in advance like this before waiting to see how the first one plays out first. However it is widely known they shot all three back to back and made the production more straight forward.

No one was heading into Chapter One expecting Academy Awards material but if you stop for just a second these movies are solidly entertaining in terms of telling a story in long scale format. We don’t need everything to be auteur or sleek. Sometimes a good old fashioned slasher can get the job done and keep the audience wanting to see how it plays out. During the finale, it never bored me or made me groan in disappointment. It was exactly the story they set to execute from the beginning and it had the payoff it needed to have. Viewing it from the lens of how it stacks up with the other two is the only play. It does not have to be the best thing in town. It simply needed to wrap this story up and it sure does do exactly that while giving us the context we needed for it all to make sense. 

[reelvibes91]

Every Leonardo DiCaprio Oscar Nomination, Ranked and Revisited

Leonardo DiCaprio is a front runner this year for best actor. He has been nominated quite a few times prior to this and for a wide variety of performances. While each one of those films earned him the year's highest honor which is the nomination, how do those performances stack up against each other? What performance from his long list of award favorites stands tallest among the others. 

7. One Battle After Another- His most recent performance is probably the one where he could have been most easily replaced. He was not even the first or second best performance in the entire film. That belongs to Sean Penn and Chase Infiniti in whatever order you want to place them in. If you took any reputable actor around the same age as Leo and placed them in this role, the film would not be weaker for it. That is not by any means saying Leo is not one of the best actors of all time, just that this particular role did not feel like it was game changer on his resume.

6. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood- Another performance where the sum of the parts felt larger than his individual part in the film. It is a Tarantino film so that by definition makes it grandiose and overt. While it is a good movie in terms of technical appreciation there is absolutely nothing memorable about the film and the work in particular that Leo does in the film. It is an ode to old school Hollywood and the weird vibe of the Manson family murders as they took place. It tries to do too much and ultimately does very little.

5.Wolf of Wall Street- Leo does show his range here a bit more than in the previous two entries but ultimately length hinders this one. It just really is not the style of film that lends well to a 3 hour run time and does no favors to the ending act to have been that long. Most of the work Leo had done just feels tedious by the time you reach the conclusion. All that is remembered from it is the comedy and not the message about the illegal activities of Jordan Belfort and the people he surrounded himself with. So while Leo did a great job the films message did not land.

4. The Revenant- Easily one of the better performances on the list that requires Leo to his most physical acting as he can’t rely heavily on dialogue. He does a phenomenal job of creating the fear and tension necessary to convey the films overall heavy themes. The brutality of certain scenes does not go unnoticed. It truly was a demanding performance from beginning to end. The issue is the Academy has a history of awarding long over due actors who have been multi nominated prior and it always begs the question if it is truly the actors greatest work. In this case it is arguable that it is not.

3. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape- Never count out young Leo when discussion arises about his best work. For this one we head all the way back to the early 90s and he delivers a top notch performance in this film alongside Johnny Depp. In this film Leo is tasked with accurately portraying a mental disability. He does this by crafting a speech pattern and physical mannerisms that accurately depict the day to day life. Even to this date this is highly seen as one of the most challenging roles of his career and rightfully so. It deserves all the praise and all the accolades thrown the film's way.

2. The Aviator- DiCaprio’s career changed for the best when he started working with Martin Scorsese and that was more apparent than ever in The Aviator. Howard Hughes has a complicated legacy and Scorsese and DiCaprio were able to capture that perfectly and balance the professional legacy along his mental health struggles. DiCaprio captured the OCD and Germaphobia Hughes suffered with while keeping the film grounded when dealing with the mental health struggles that were widely unknown at the time. This film helps highlight the eccentric nature of the rich and famous and how people can perceive that in their own way. Especially during the early to mid 1900s. 

1. Blood Diamond- This is the one instance DiCaprio fans can point to where he starts off as the film's villain as opposed to the hero. In this film he stars as Danny Archer, a South African Diamond Smuggler/Mercenary. Danny has lived and breathed war since a young age and presents a cynical look at humanity and the people who find themselves involved. As the film progresses Danny has the chance to learn the error of his ways and help Solomon Vandy reunite with his family and to help American Journalist Maddie Bowen tell the story of the Diamond trade in Africa. DiCaprio in the run time of this movie showcases a ruthless and manipulative mindset along with a softer side as he realizes there are people who truly want to make a difference. It is a bold and engaging performance and one you can’t picture anyone but Leo pulling off.

[reelvibes91]

Good Action, Same Story: What Greenland Keeps Getting Wrong

An end of the world story comes with ramped up tensions. Usually you just need to create a serviceable character and a believable enough story for that to be made into a movie that is entertaining.Greenland dropped in 2020 and it was surprisingly good at the time. Not great but it did create decent enough characters and a situation that gave them the chance to overcome the impossible.

In doing so, Greenland became a sleeper hit. It was action packed and tense enough that you cared about the outcome for these characters. The objective was simple and the story gave them enough believable road blocks to create more tension. Butler and Baccarin also did their jobs well in adding the family dynamic. It really was a basic story elevated by the destruction. A solid way to spend 2 hours.

Fast Forward six years and a sequel has dropped. Quite frankly this film does nothing to add anything to this franchise and had it never been greenlit, nothing would be different in terms of how the first one is perceived. This was the exact same story. The comet has fallout, storms and radiation force them to relocate. They once again put blind faith that the crater caused by comet Clarke will have reformed life. That is essentially the same exact story. Trusting in blind faith that the outcome will be what they want it to be.

It made every action sequence less believable this time because we knew once again it would just be a roadblock they made it through. Through two films they essentially made every side character expendable while the leads make it through by the skin of their teeth. It is just a bad way to develop a franchise. It worked in the first one because we knew the world was ending and if they didn’t make it the outcome would be bleak. Here we didn’t really care because we knew other pockets of civilization existed but remaining there was just more dangerous. It didn’t have the same dramatic effect because it was not life or death. It was just a hopeful scientific outcome based on rumors. 

There were better ways to craft this sequel if they truly wanted to make one. How does the world rebuild? How do we recreate necessary medicines for survival? At no point was it addressed how Nathan continued to have enough insulin over a 5 year period. How do people find medications when medical emergencies arise? How do they plan on building structures for houses in this new world? 5 years is a long time to just basically it all became normalized. The time jump felt unnecessarily long when it was established that 75 percent of the world was destroyed. It wouldn't look all that much different one year later compared to 5. The extra 4 years didn't enhance the plot. It just made those questions linger more. 

Stories like this are created from a concept as simple as “What if a family had 48 hours to get to a bunker in Greenland?”. While that does make for an intriguing plot, the ending of the first one was very ambiguous and easily could have served as a rebirth situation where anything is possible. Now we definitively received that answer and honestly it doesn't feel like it got any payoff whatsoever. To be fair the small civil war among French cities was a more interesting storyline than the one we got. 

When all plot points align for our leads to be the only characters that succeed it definitely removes you from this story. This one just didn't match the level of creativity the first one brought because of the copy and paste formula the writers opted for. Visually it didn't even really offer anything the first film didn't do already either. No wheel reinventions happened here. As this new society forms it seems like creativity was a very scarce resource.

[reelvibes91]

Wonder Man: A Master Class in Acting With a Surprisingly Human Core

Not every project has to be massive in scale to create an amazing atmosphere. Creating the back story and adding in great characters is often the most effective way to produce an interesting movie or series. So many people are conditioned to expect a certain stylistic choice when they read the name Marvel as the production studio. It does not mean everything they release should be or needs to be on the same level as The Avengers. Wonder Man proved such is the case and did so in an amazing way.

Simple and effective. The story here is Simon Williams played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is a struggling actor still awaiting his big break. Trevor Slattery, once known as the Mandarin, is tasked with proving Simon has super powers and is volatile and unstable. Trevor either does this or goes back to prison. 

What we get after this is a masterclass of acting. Sir Ben Kingsley and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II do acting within acting and completely layer these performances to pure perfection. They are both phenomenally talented and we get to see the full scope of that here. Kingsley bearing the brunt of the comedic and satirical views and Abdul-Mateen II having to deal with the burden of Simon’s secret.

Focusing on Mental Health within their characters has become a strong point for Marvel as of late and it really resonates. Truly this is the first time in a long time where the MCU felt larger than just a bunch of people in tights saving the world from an alien invasion. We are reminded here that there are every day people dealing with superpowers and trying to figure out how to navigate that. This show highlights it in a way that makes us see that someone who feels different will always feel hidden and wonder if people like them for their true selves. 

At various points throughout the series, Simon worries tremendously about what his secret means for his career and we even get a full episode about how a prior event made the industry scared of powers. This show is very rich with the character studies it brings forth and even while still poking fun it does have a great theme that is truly relevant to what we are seeing now everyday in the news. Simon is more of a reflection of the current state of affairs than most films deliberately trying to say something. He is scared and lonely about his true nature coming out and those who know try and keep the secret for him and minimize the risk. 

So much of this series can be studied and held to a deeper understanding than a lot of what Marvel has been producing as of late. While those who are saying it lacks the action are correct, it was also never advertised as the latest action packed Marvel thrill ride. Anyone who was expecting that set themselves up for failure in terms of what they thought their screen would show them when they hit play. Marvel is not in the big time superhero action game, they are in the production game. This is a super hero product at the end of the day. More so than a lot of characters Marvel has made series or films about. Many people arguing this show is not a superhero series just sat back and eagerly anticipated the Born Again Season 2 trailer. Which is ironic because Simon Williams displays more traditional super powers than Matt Murdock. 

My idea is not to belittle Born Again or Daredevil as a character. It is to make sure we are careful with the criticism of shows that don’t hand us what we are accustomed to seeing on a silver platter. In suggesting that it should, we run the risk of art becoming boring and repetitive and that is not something anyone benefits from. This was a breath of fresh air for Marvel. It was nice to care again and not see the outcome from a mile away. It was beautiful to see two veteran actors displaying a love letter to the industry that has given them their careers. It was great to see Marvel step outside of their own comfort zone and dare to challenge people with deeper thought and connections to the material. 

All of the things Simon deals with in this series are real. People everywhere deal with anxiety and worry. Adding in the element of super powers made it relatable to those who have been going to the movies their entire lives watching these adventures. This was more about the process of those adventures than the adventures themselves. Sometimes that change of pace can truly result in a magical final product and Wonder Man is exactly that. A spectacular look at mental health and how it changes our perceptions of every day tasks masked a love letter to the industry we all spend so much of our time enjoying. Wondrous.