Category: Blockbuster

Blockbuster Drama

“Horizon: An American Saga, Part 1”

By Brett_G on

6.5

Him – “I’m about used up.”

Her – “No you’re not. Not yet. Just lay there.” <- This may go down as one of the most awkward sex scenes I’ve ever seen…

Shaking that one off – this is a hot mess. I’m trying to give it the benefit of the doubt, but it was a struggle… and not just because it’s 3 hours long. The film is gorgeous, and the soundtrack is pure ear candy. Aside from these redeeming qualities, it feels like this would have been better as a mini-series at this juncture. There’s too much of everything here. It’s a lot to digest, let alone just make it through.

All the props in the world to Kevin Costner for putting up his own money and chasing a dream here, though. I applaud the moxie. Dude’s out chasing his dream, and I respect the hell out of it. Here’s to hoping parts 2-4 sew up some of the 400 loose ends left hanging at the conclusion of part 1.

If you’re looking for a comp with less thinking involved – go hit up “A Million Ways to Die in the West” or “Back to the Future: Part 3.”

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Action Blockbuster Romance

“The Fall Guy”

By Brett_G on

8.9

This one was recommended with a heavy helping of hype… and it exceeded every bit of it! The definition of “firing on all cylinders.”

I was sold immediately on the soundtrack, and will watch anything Emily Blunt is in. That being said, they somehow shoehorned in more meta commentary than a “Deadpool” movie, a love story, an action movie, a murder mystery, and a tip of the cap to stunt doubles for the ages! Unexpected as “Nobody” in 2021, this one I thought would be good, but blew past that to be on my current shortlist for best of the year. Holy crap.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a match for having this much fun in the cinema! Strap in and enjoy the ride!

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Action Blockbuster

“Civil War”

By Brett_G on

3.0

… And all of those points are for the soundtrack. That’s it.

53 movies in. I’m calling it. WORST of the year. In the running for worst of the decade. It’s up there with “Cats.”

I’ll save you 2 hours of your life you can never get back. Don’t do it. 2 hours is an INSANE runtime for this genre, but then they make it 2 hours of violent torture porn. I don’t need to see you sprinkling Lime powder on a mass grave. There’s no need for this movie to exist. Don’t give me any analysis about this having a deeper meaning or societal commentary. I call bullshit. This makes “The Hunt” and “The Purge: Election Year” look Oscar-worthy. A shovel to the face would have been more subtle than this movie trying to make a point. I’m actually surprised that wasn’t a scene here. I can’t drag this movie enough. A24… come on… get your shit together.

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Action Blockbuster

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”

By Brett_G on

7.2

“Godzilla Minus 1” really ruined the U.S. version of these films for me. The differences in cultural maturity and taste are so glaring now. We’ve turned a beloved Japanese figure into “Fast & Furious” with monsters. It’s popcorn flick to its core and “turn your brain off and watch the monkey fight the lizard” filmmaking at its finest. Zero stakes, zero character development, zero sense. All gas, no brakes. See it on a giant screen or in 3D if you can.

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Action Blockbuster Science Fiction

“Dune 2”

By Brett_G on

7.5

If you enjoyed the first one, you’ll enjoy this one. In the spirit of that consistency, here’s my review for “Dune 1” again, with a few numerical changes for it being part 2…

The prodigal son is cast out into the desert. Let me guess, for 40 days?

Yes, the Jesus metaphor is that on the nose for all 3 hours of the runtime.

I went into this film expecting spectacle, and spectacle I got. All three stories of the IMAX screen were bathed in the cinematic beauty of this film. The score crafted by the masterful Hans Zimmer thundering through my chest… all for me to leave the theater underwhelmed and confused. Similar to the “Hobbit” series, “Dune” attempted to be too careful not to overwhelm the audience with lore and instead errors on the side of feeling ultimately empty. The disbelief and shock on my face when I was greeted with “Part 2” immediately after the title flashed across the screen must have been a sight to see.

This cake is all frosting. Somewhere between “Star Wars” and “Mad Max,” the world they build is breathtaking. Then there’s nothing really behind the curtain. I felt like they were trying to avoid the cramped confusion of the cult-classic original film adaptation and overcorrected.

If you don’t care about the story, have at it. Just don’t disrespect it by watching on a TV or, God forbid, a mobile device. Highly recommend the most massive screen possible for the spectacle factor. Here’s to, I guess, hoping there’s enough box office success for them to fill in the gaps in part 3.

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