Tag: Mary Elizabeth Winstead

REVIEW: Birds of Prey (2020)

Theatrical Release Poster – Warner Bros. Pictures

The following is a review of Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) — Directed by Cathy Yan.

In 2016, David Ayer’s messy and displeasing Suicide Squad embiggened the then fairly new cinematic universe from DC Films and Warner Bros. Pictures. Although it somehow won itself an Academy Award, the film was rightfully panned by critics, including me. I often think back on that film as being one of the absolute worst superhero films of the last decade. Therefore, at first glance, a spin-off from Suicide Squad, which is exactly what Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey is, shouldn’t appeal to me at all. However, this film promised to not just focus on the most entertaining character from Ayer’s film, it also promised a more colorful, more fun, and more feminine approach to a cinematic universe that could benefit from some levity and brightness. Thankfully, although I have some issues with her film, Cathy Yan has successfully brought the film’s characters to life in an entertaining way. Continue reading “REVIEW: Birds of Prey (2020)” →

REVIEW: Gemini Man (2019)

Theatrical Release Poster – Paramount Pictures

The following is a review of Gemini Man (in regular 2D, 24fps) — Directed by Ang Lee.

Digital de-aging is a trend in Hollywood that we should probably get used to. Disney’s Marvel films have used this technology to make actors like Michael Douglas look fresh-faced and young. Disney has also shown that they are unafraid of bringing deceased actors’ likenesses back to the big screen like they did in Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Gemini Man, though not a Disney film, is a major motion picture blockbuster built on this not-so-cheap trick. Continue reading “REVIEW: Gemini Man (2019)” →

REVIEW: Swiss Army Man (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - A24
Theatrical Release Poster – A24

The following is a quick review of Swiss Army Man – Directed by Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert.

Swiss Army Man follows Hank (played by Paul Dano), a man marooned on a small island, who has lost the will to live. At the start of the film, we find him as he is about to hang himself. But, out of the blue, he sees that a corpse has washed up on the beach. As he tries to resuscitate the body, he notices that the corpse is farting. Soon, he uses the farting corpse (played by Daniel Radcliffe) as a jet ski.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Swiss Army Man (2016)” →

REVIEW: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster – Bad Robot – Paramount

The following is a review of ’10 Cloverfield Lane’, a Dan Trachtenberg film.

Let’s talk about expectations. The tagline of the film, “Monsters come in many forms,” is the truest representation of the film. With the original Cloverfield we were treated to a found-footage monster movie, but 10 Cloverfield Lane is a much more polished, suspenseful, and mysterious thriller. It is a very different movie, so manage your expectations. But I think I actually like 10 Cloverfield Lane more than its titular relative.  Continue reading “REVIEW: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)” →

Marvelous Monday #25 – Recast The Avengers

I'm Jeffrey Rex' Marvelous Monday - Recast The Avengers

In May 2012 Marvel Studios released Marvel’s The Avengers in theaters. It would go on to become one of the best ever comic book movies. Along the way it made $1.5 billion worldwide at the box office, and would spawn numerous other cinematic universes for other comic book characters at other studios.

You could argue, however, that a comic book movie is only as good as its leading men and women. But what if Marvel Studios never cast Downey Jr., Hemsworth, Ruffalo, Johansson, Evans, and Renner? Today, on Marvelous Monday, I try to recast the heroes in The Avengers from a pre-Marvel Cinematic Universe perspective. Continue reading “Marvelous Monday #25 – Recast The Avengers” →