Movie Reviews

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

This is a movie based on one of the best and most well-known rappers of all time, Marshall Mathers, AKA Eminem. His accomplishments are ridiculous, and this is a great film illustrating what he went through before fame. Eminem's accolades include an Oscar for Best Original Song for this movie, winning with a song called “Lose Yourself,” which some of you might have heard of. World Records, including holding the record for most successive US No.1 albums by a solo artist. Grammy Awards, Eminem is a 15-time Grammy winner with 44 nominations. And lastly, he has sold over 220 million albums worldwide with a whopping 46 billion total streams on Spotify alone. Holy shit, right.

Anyway, the main character of this movie is actually not named Marshall Mathers for some reason. The main character of this movie is named Jimmy Smith Jr., AKA “B-Rabbit”. So weird. Anyway, Jimmy Jr. begins his story in this movie in complete shambles, with his life at home and life outside of home completely falling apart. He is forced to move back into his mom's crib back in the 8 Mile trailer park, and with that, he just got completely embarrassed at his most recent rap battle. Jimmy Jr. starts off down bad. Through this beginning, you get an inspiring look at what the journey of a man at the top of his industry went through to get there.

To start off, I am going to say the one thing that frustrates me about this movie, which is Eminem's acting. Eminem is obviously a rapper and not an actor, so he obviously does not have even close to as many hours as most actors here in this movie, and with that, most actors in general. Despite this, Eminem fucking killed this shit. Straight up, just not fair how someone is not only one of the best rappers of all time but also extremely talented at acting. Most people ain't good at shit, and it's just so fucking annoying how great he is at both. Other rappers who have done very well on both sides as well, I want to note here, are Tupac, Will Smith, Snoop Dogg, and Queen Latifah.

To say what I did like, I liked just about everything because this movie had just about everything. There was action, comedy, romance, suspense, and so many things that led to a fun ride and a great ending to this movie. Also, all the characters were great. Through Jimmy's journey here, he had his gang of friends who all had very distinct personalities that all blended together to help Jimmy forget about the struggles he was going through. This added something to this movie that kept it fun and constantly enjoyable.

On top of this, I appreciated how simple this movie was. They really did not try to go crazy with lines trying to say all these thought-provoking things, and with that, they did not try to do something too complex in terms of the structure of the story. This made this movie a very easy watch, and I believe the simplicity of this film made this movie as fun as it gets.

I would recommend this movie to anyone for sure, and especially any Eminem fan. And well, if you are an Eminem fan and still haven't seen this, I would recommend you stop wasting your time reading stupid shit like this and go watch it right now.

Favorite Quote:

“Jimmy Smith Jr: If something needs to happen with this shit, it needs to happen now.”

This movie forsure is a cut above average, but at the same time, there are some aspects that left me feeling meh.

First and foremost, what truly shines in this movie is Joaquin Phoenix's performance. He owns the screen and delivers an astonishing portrayal of Napoleon. He succeeds in creating a genuinely believable character by showcasing Napoleon's fears, doubts, and impulses alongside his long reign in France. This added depth, humanizing his character allowing you to better understand the man behind the name.

Another notable aspect of the movie is its battle scenes. Right from the start, Napoleon's clever tactics are on display, helping him secure victories that seemed unlikely. These tactics are well set up, leading to some impressive and thrilling war sequences that are a joy to watch. Furthermore, witnessing Napoleon himself take to the battlefield, despite his visible fear, added to the character's depth and made the battles seem way more bad ass.

However, there are certain aspects of the movie that didn't quite hit the mark for me.

One issue is the lack of compelling secondary characters. While Joaquin Phoenix and his wife Vanessa Kirby deliver exceptional performances in and out of the bedroom, the supporting cast doesn't really feel like it is there. Sure it was not because of the acting, but it was definitely because of the lack of depth of anything else.

Additionally, I found myself losing interest at times during the film. Some scenes were overly drawn out, and a few felt unnecessarily extended.

In all this film stands as a definite step over the average, and I would recommend it if you're seeking an engaging cinematic experience.

Favorite quote:

Napoleon: I found the crown of France in the gutter. I picked it up with the tip of my sword and cleaned it, and placed it atop my own head.

Although the Roman Empire fell 1,540 years ago, people still love talking about it. Why? Because it was a awesome time to live. That Julius Caesar guy was from the Roman Empire and even that Marcus Aurelius guy. But eh, those are just a couple people. Other than those “people”, there were these types of people called Gladiators. Gladiators might have had the wildest profession of all time. Some days they fought to survive against another man. Some days they fought against a monkey. Some days they even went against a lion. Crazy to think about, but I guess it happened. Thank you Ridley Scott for creating something that takes us back to a time where people did stuff like that AGAIN.

Prior to the Gladiator II film we had a historic film called Gladiator lead by two goats, Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. This was a film that did a great job of showing the brutality of gladiators but also the brutality of the politics during the time of the Roman Empire. This brutality was definitely something that was interesting. This brutality was so interesting it led millions to look back into this period of time. People found interesting parallels that still relate to things that go on today and this film led people to actually want to become gladiators themselves. So of course they made another one.

Although this film was released 24 years after the first, the events of this film take place 16 years after the events of the end of the original Gladiator. The end of the original film was unreal making it bound to have nothing that comes close to it. The biggest task for Gladiator II had to be the huge responsibility in making a character that came somewhere close to as badass as Maximus Decimus Meridius. Thankfully Ridley Scott made this one.

With Gladiator II It looked like the main goal was to make something similar to the first gladiator but with a different feel. Many people who are huge fans of the original film definitely believe there was nothing that Ridley Scott could do to exactly match that story of the first so Ridley Scott knew he should take a different angle. In taking a different angle you get a film at a 10x larger scale, you get a movie with 10x more action and you get a movie with not just 2 great actors but 3 great actors.

In terms of the acting in this film, after watching you learn how Paul Mescal is going to be a big star one day. Denzel Washingtion did a great job on his behalf of course and was probably the best character of this film, but just know Denzel set up Paul Mescal for greatness here. Paul Mescals character is so fucking badass. I honestly think he would've been able to take on Maximus and it was great to see him carry all the action scenes from beginning to end. I thought it was a huge gamble making him the lead with this being his first action movie. Ridley Scott gambled here and he won.

I think everyone has a little bit of gladiator in them. Whether you are applying consumer based solutions across multiple platforms to align with company values or if youre just a  mailman. This movie will unleash the gladiator out of you. This movie is truly badass, truly awesome and definitely something worth watching.

This story is about McDonald's! If you have never heard of McDonald's, it is a real estate company that started in Des Plaines. This real estate company has been the king of fast food for years and currently serves 69 million customers a day across 40,000 locations globally. But how did this happen in Des Plaines? This movie tells the story of McDonald's beginnings.

Without spoiling anything, the movie begins with Ray Kroc, a persistent salesman with a history of failures. He has attempted to sell product after product, and although these products are clever, he has yet to make significant profits from any of them. This doesn't stop Ray. Eventually he stumbles upon a burger shop named McDonald's, created by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. He thinks this burger shop is the future of the restaurant industry and is more confident than ever in bringing it success. Unfortunately, he doesn't actually own McDonald's and is only a partner, so his capabilities are “limited”.

Through this story, you get a realistic view of what the business world can often look like. As stated in the movie, business can be kind of like WAR. This movie shows how difficult decisions are being made constantly and, obviously, how there can be casualties in war. McDonald's was a company built by a person who understood that business can often be like war. Ray Kroc was a general, and although not one with the best values or morals, he was one with some of the most success.

In terms of the film itself, I think this movie is decent. You get a powerfully small cast with Michael Keaton, John Lynch, and University of Illinois legend Nick Offerman, who combine for good acting and a unique dynamic. However, beyond that, you get a side story and fluff that make this movie a bit long. I feel like it should have been about 30 minutes shorter. This could have been achieved if they had cut out some of the stuff with the wife and other blubber.

You should still watch this movie though. This movie is very interesting, very believable, and will leave most viewers believing they learned something after finishing.

Favorite Quote:

Ray Kroc : Now, I know what you're thinkin'. How the heck does a 52-year-old, over-the-hill milkshake-machine salesman... build a fast-food empire with 16,000 restaurants, in 50 states, in 5 foreign countries... with an annual revenue of in the neighborhood of $700,000,000.00... One word... PERSISTENCE. Nothing in this world can take the place of good old persistence. Talent won't. Nothing's more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius won't. Unrecognized genius is practically a cliche. Education won't. Why the world is full of educated fools. Persistence and determination alone are all powerful.

I remember watching this film when I was younger and picturing it as pretty good but at the same time pretty terrifying. 

I think my love for it now and then is because this films unique approach to aliens.

First off on the bad side of these crusty musty aliens, you see some of the most terrifying looking things  you you will ever lay your eyes on. Absolutely disgusting, absolutely gross and not something that is enjoyable to look at. AT ALL.

On the other hand the aliens also acted a lot like a version of our society but just a lot uglier. They have established communities, have jobs and even have kids. But sorry they just look absolutely disgusting and dangerous.

What if a alien was ur neighbor ? What if this alien offered to plow ur driveway? What if these things were taking you to work? So many questions arise when really looking at if you would want to emerge with aliens. This movie really makes you sit there and think.

Anyway , apart from that awesome story the main guys acting was  pretty darn good but sadly no one else stood out really.

In general the story itself  is very action packed and interesting but that’s definitely not specifically because of the characters.

What happens within the world of the movie as the movie progresses and the way it makes you think is what makes this a great film.

Highly recommend for a cool take on aliens!

Favorite Quote

Automated MNU Instructional Voice: When dealing with aliens, try to be polite, but firm. And always remember that a smile is cheaper than a bullet.

In the beginning, I appreciated how the movie quickly built suspense around the shark. I tend to prefer movies that jump into action fast, I dislike the years it takes for some movies to setup. 

Thankfully, this film not only delivered action promptly, it also crafted an intense opening scene that showcased the sheer terror of a shark. The creators of the film did this in a way that made me feel anxious whenever characters approached the water as the movie unfolded any further.

Also this fear had nothing to do with my swimming abilities, the shark was actually terrifying.

By the looks of of the shark you may be more scared of it then you thought. I had expected the shark to appear unrealistically cheesy, assuming that they lacked the technology or resources to make the attacks enjoyable. However, I was very wrong.

Especially considering the era in which it was made, the shark looked remarkably convincing, and Spielberg did an outstanding job of maintaining its scary look throughout the movie.

In terms of the story, it met expectations and then some. I would have been satisfied with a straightforward plot centered on just some unstoppable shark that kills everyone and everything but this movie was definitely so much more than that.

Spielberg was able to add elements that not only kept us interested in the shark but also genuinely invested in the town's affairs and the relationships between the characters. This movie striked a balance no one knew was coming.

And i'm not suggesting that the non-shark scenes were the most captivating, but I was pleased that there was always something intriguing actually  happening. Many action movies just think about the action and not the plot, Spielberg devoted considerable time to both aspects clearly.

With all that there are some things that I wished were different

First off, I wish they had developed the character of the shark hunter way more thoroughly. He had his moments forsure, but I believe they could have delved deeper into his character to create an even more engaging storyline through him.

Lastly I also wished the movie was longer so that we could have fleshed out a few more things on top of the fisher hunter dude.

This is a complaint I rarely make, but after seeing what transpired following the characters' final encounter with the shark, it would have been interesting to see an extended director's cut or additional scenes. While not essential, it could add more depth

Favorite Quote

Ellen Brody: What am I going to tell the kids?

Brody: Tell them I'm going fishing.

Train to Busan, a foreign film set in modern day Korea is a must see for any zombie fan.The film begins with a father who is a hedge fund manager that works way too much. This creates for his ass to get divorced in the past and it creates for his daughter to resent him because he does not spend much time with her or anyone else.  In the mix of all of dat for a Christmas present the father promises his daughter a ride to Busan to visit their mother and takes off work. Sadly there is also a whole ass zombie apocalypse starting because of a lab leak that creates a train ride full of excitement.

Upon this train ride you get a zombie story that is way more interesting than usual and way more believable than a usual. Although they do this by using the stereotypical humans as more of monsters than the zombies, I think this is a story that is a whole lot deeper and meaningful than most zombie movies as the dad proves his love for his daughter and as he proves he truly cares about others while trying to survive.

To finalize all of this if you want to try a foreign film and have already seen parasite this is the one. Although you will be basically reading a book the whole time with all the subtitles you gotta sit there and read this is actually a very good “book” and a very interesting exploration of the zombie genre.

Favorite Quote:

"Sang-hwa: Hey, asshole. Felt good to see your kid thanks to me? Are you grateful or what?

Seok Woo: Why is your ringtone so tacky?

Sang-hwa: What's wrong with it?

[pause]

Sang-hwa: How do I change it?"