'A Quiet Place: Part II' Review

Synopsis: Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.

Runtime: 97 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for terror, violence, and bloody/disturbing images)

Who should see it? Fans of sci-fi horror and the first film.

Written and directed by John Krasinski, A Quiet Place: Part II picks up right where A Quiet Place left off. The first film snuck up on me as I was amazed that "Jim from The Office" had the sensibilities of a great horror director. Sequels are even trickier to pull off, especially in the shadow of such a fresh, original concept, so I once again tempered my expectations. The follow-up to Krasinski's 2018 mainstream horror hit was supposed to be experienced by audiences over a year ago. In fact, I had tickets to a double feature screening last March that was canceled about a week beforehand as cinemas shut down around the world in response to COVID-19. Naturally, I eagerly awaited the day I'd get to see the sequel. And I'm glad to say that day finally arrived as theaters appear to now be on the upswing!

In A Quiet Place: Part II, viewers get to explore more of the post-apocalyptic landscape teased by the first film. As the world expands, it's quite evident that the budget did as well. For one, there are more sets and locations for the family to explore, and the monsters are shown onscreen much more frequently. Krasinski also demonstrates a more refined control of the camera as the technical filmmaking gets a boost as well. Narratively, I was relieved that Part II never felt like it was retreading its predecessor. Like the first film, the story is simple but effective. Krasinski even develops a plethora of uniquely intense circumstances for his cast to face and ensure viewers are on the edge of their seats. 

Something I didn't previously consider was that fending off the monsters would seem easier this time around since the Abbott family discovered their weakness at the end of the prior installment. I was surprised to see how Krasinski ensured the characters would remain vulnerable and face plenty of hair-raising challenges. The fight is more balanced, but the odds are not always in the Abbott family's favor as they struggle to survive. Krasinski also found creative solutions that allowed for more dialogue as opposed to the few spoken words in the first film. The sound design is once again the star of this sequel, as the hushed atmosphere ushers in a feeling of uneasiness at what's to come.  

The quaint ensemble from the original film return, with a baby in tow and the notable additions of Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou. Though Emily Blunt gets top billing, Millicent Simmonds is undoubtedly the film's lead. Simmonds astounded me in the original film but continues to impress here with a remarkably nuanced performance. That said, each member of the Abbott family is given time to shine, and Blunt, Murphy, Simmonds, and Jupe lend plenty of gravitas to this creature feature. If you watch the films back-to-back, it is admittedly noticeable that Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds aged between filming. However, I prefer suspending disbelief over any uncanny digital de-aging. 

A Quiet Place: Part II may not match the emotional heights of the first, but the thrills, story, and character work are just as gripping. Without the element of surprise, Part II proves itself to be a sequel worthy of impassioned discussion. 

Film Assessment: A-

'Shazam!' Review

Synopsis: Billy Batson is a streetwise 14-year-old who can magically transform into an adult superhero simply by shouting out one word. His newfound powers soon get put to the test when he squares off against the evil Dr. Sivana.

Runtime: 132 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of action, language, and suggestive material)

Who should see it? Fans of DC and comic-book movies in general.

Shazam! is directed by David F. Sandberg, written by Henry Gayden, and serves as the seventh entry in the DC Extended Universe. In recent years, the films released by DC and Warner Bros. have been met with mixed reception from critics and audiences alike. Wonder Woman and Aquaman were both noteworthy hits carried by positive word of mouth, but everything else either underperformed at the box office or left the majority of critics and audiences unsatisfied. I suspect Shazam! will join with the former considering it's already debuted to favorable reviews and taps into the current comic-book-movie craze as an entertaining adaptation of a more obscure superhero origin. 

The novelty of Shazam! which sets it apart from the onslaught of superhero movies is the lead character's ability to freely transform from a regular teenager to a full grown adult superhero. It's essentially Big meets Superman. While that premise could have floundered as a gimmick in the wrong hands, a degree of self-awareness and creative comedic beats ensure that the novelty never wears off. The story by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke is simple, straight-forward, and self-contained, which looks to be a trend for DC in the coming years. The various members of the Justice League are alluded to via merchandise and mentions, but you don't need to have seen their respective films to understand what's going on or catch those references. Shazam! is committed to first and foremost telling a standalone story, and that's become somewhat refreshing in the age of the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The lighthearted buoyancy of the titular hero trickles down throughout Shazam!, amounting to a joyous cinematic experience. And I believe many may consider it their favorite DC movie when all is said-and-done primarily on account of its electrifying entertainment value. It's silly in all the right ways thanks to Sandberg's direction and a charming lead performance from Zachary Levi! As Shazam, Levi carries a youthful exuberance that teeters perfectly between foolish and childish, so you genuinely believe there's a teenager trapped in a superhero's body having the time of his life. 

Playing said teenager is Asher Angel, a relatively unknown actor who'll surely make it big thanks to this performance. In the role of Billy Batson, Angel exudes the scrappy attitude of an independent foster kid while his insecurities surface in select moments. Asher actually handles the character's vulnerability quite well, which makes Batson an endearing protagonist and even enhances everything Levi's doing as Shazam to an extent. Meanwhile, Jack Dylan Grazer's Freddy makes for a suitable sidekick of sorts as a disabled companion and passionate superhero fanboy. Opposite Angel and Levi, Grazer grounds the proceedings and invokes plenty of heart alongside the rest of Billy's foster family.

Frequently, superhero blockbusters get carried away with the grand spectacle and minimize the perspective of the ordinary individuals who surround the men of steel and caped crusaders. Shazam!, however, revels in championing that point of view and Sandberg bolsters this idea most via Billy's connection to his newfound foster family endearingly portrayed by Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans, Grace Fulton, Jovan Armand, Ian Chen, and Faithe Herman respectively. 

Others worth acknowledging include Djimon Hounsou's noble wizard Shazam and Mark Strong's villainous Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. Their character could have been reduced to little more than one-note archetypes, but Hounsou and Strong each elevate the personas of the magical guardian and power-hungry antagonist presented on paper. I'd even go as far to saying Dr. Sivana is one of the more developed antagonists we've seen onscreen from DC in recent years.

All in all, Shazam! is an electrifying addition to the ever-expanding roster of distinguished DC movies. Whether it's lightning in a bottle or DC's finally found their creative stride, Shazam! zaps some much-needed energy and enthusiasm into an uneven universe as a delightful, heartfelt origin story worth raving about! 

Film Assessment: A-

'Captain Marvel' Review

Synopsis: Captain Marvel is an extraterrestrial Kree warrior who finds herself caught in the middle of an intergalactic battle between her people and the shape-shifting Skrulls. Living on Earth in 1995, she keeps having recurring memories of another life as U.S. Air Force pilot Carol Danvers. With help from Nick Fury, Captain Marvel tries to uncover the secrets of her past while harnessing her special superpowers to end the war with the evil Skrulls.

Runtime: 124 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive language)

Who should see it? Marvel fans of all ages.

Carol Danvers is finally making her cinematic debut in Captain Marvel a month before the long-awaited Avengers: Endgame. Co-directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck with a script from Boden, Fleck, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Nicole Perlman, and Meg LeFauve, Captain Marvel is the twenty-first entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first female-lead feature from Marvel Studios. Thus far, I'm getting the impression that the film is being held to a higher standard by certain critics and audience members than most Marvel-fare due to this and outside controversies. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, bless your hearts as you've done well avoiding the toxic discourse. 

Getting back on track, the Avengers: Infinity War post-credits scene teased that a powerful ally would soon be joining the Avengers to help defeat Thanos and reverse the ensuing chaos which resulted from the dreaded snap of the Mad Titan's fingers. Therefore, Captain Marvel had the responsibility of introducing Danvers as someone whom audiences would consider a powerful asset for Earth's mightiest heroes. I'd go as far to say it exceeded my expectations in that regard. While it may come at the cost of audience members slinging the dreaded words "Mary Sue" and "over-powered" towards the titular character, Boden and Fleck fulfilled their duty for the most part. I believe those specific criticisms towards the character could have been avoided if she'd faced more powerful adversaries though. This isn't to say that she didn't struggle at all over the course of the film, but I wish the villains had been in the same league as her concerning her powers. Carol needs a suitable opponent, but I suspect Endgame will rectify that issue.

Though the action was somewhat standard for Marvel, the cinematography, visual effects, and production design were visually-appealing when rooted in the cosmic aesthetic established by Guardians of the Galaxy. I particularly liked the stark contrast between the dark environments and Carol's bright display of her abilities. Otherwise, I was very engaged in the core-narrative and taken aback by some surprising plot twists. It was quite refreshing that the story didn't unfold as expected. Since this is a spoiler-free review, I'm steering clear of story details, but I'd like to highlight a few aspects I appreciated. I particularly liked the narrative framing device, approach to showcasing memories, and I felt the film's female-empowerment angle was incorporated tastefully. While there were undoubtedly characters and story threads that could have been expanded upon, the script serves its purpose and the charming cast wins you over.

Leading the charge, Brie Larson captures the go-getter, spunky attitude of Carol Danvers incredibly well while we see an unfamiliar, free-spirited side to Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury who's twenty-five years younger thanks to some remarkable de-aging CGI! In their shared screen time, Larson and Jackson have an effective rapport that's best described as a delightful buddy-cop dynamic. Clark Gregg is also de-aged to reprise his role as familiar S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson, albeit with substantially less involvement than Fury. I really wish he'd been in it a bit more!

Filling out the supporting cast, Lashana Lynch and Akira Akbar play the mother-daughter pair of Maria and Monica Rambeau as Annette Bening takes the form of the Kree's Supreme Intelligence. Lynch and Akbar's mother-daughter duo are endearing additions thanks to their connection to Danvers while Bening seems not to be used to the fullest. 

Concerning "key" Kree characters, I was underwhelmed by Jude Law's Yon-Rogg and the militant Seal Team 6-esque Space Force as a whole. They're absent for large chunks of the film, so when they're suddenly pivoted as being more important, it's not an effective shift. Law plays the mentor role as best he can, but lacking screen time and development cripple the character. I held out hope there'd be exciting developments and much-needed backstory surrounding the return of Lee Pace's Ronan the Accuser and Djimon Hounsou's Korath who were last seen as the bland baddies in Guardians of the Galaxy, but alas, they were hardly onscreen for maybe ten minutes. On the contrary, Gemma Chan's Minn-Erva had some cool moments of action as the Space Force's sniper though.

It's almost impossible to discuss the Skrulls at length without spoilers, but I'll say that Ben Mendelsohn's Talos is surely a stand-out character. Caked in make-up, Mendelsohn chews up the scenery like no-one else, and it's quite glorious! I also really appreciated that the Skrulls were more complex characters than the trailers would have you believe. 

Lastly, Goose is a stand-out in its own right, with the feline providing much of the film's levity. Since Captain Marvel is set in the '90s, there's also plenty of opportunity for connective narrative tissue and nostalgia, so keep an eye peeled for references, easter eggs, and familiar characters. Not to mention Stan Lee, who gets a lovely tribute at the start of the film in addition to another trademark cameo. And there are two post credit scenes, so stick around afterward! 

Captain Marvel's unique spin on Marvel's origin story formula also serves as a satisfactory introduction for Marvel's most powerful superhero. It's not a genre game changer, but did it really need to be? I don't think so, and I give it a glowing recommendation nonetheless. Higher, further, faster baby!

Film Assessment: B+

Recollection Reflection Review: 'How To Train Your Dragon 2'

Continuing my series of How To Train Your Dragon reviews, today I'm revisiting How To Train Your Dragon 2 and I have my eyes set on soon sharing a review of How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Otherwise, you can expect my annual Oscar coverage, an Alita: Battle Angel review, and possibly my long-delayed review for Can You Ever Forgive Me? to all surface online over the weekend and beginning of next week (don't worry, I'll space it out appropriately)!

'How To Train Your Dragon 2' Review

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature.

Recollection- How To Train Your Dragon 2 Review.

Reflection- I first saw How To Train Your Dragon 2 five years ago when it was released in theaters, and I remember being quite impressed with it from the get-go! 2014 was a solid year for animation, and it was not only one of my favorite animated movies to be released that year but one of my favorite movies of 2014 as well. My opinion hasn't drastically changed, but I'm excited to further elaborate on what I love about it this time around.

Review-

Synopsis: Five years have passed since Hiccup and Toothless united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. Now, they spend their time charting the nearby unmapped territories. During one of their adventures, the pair discover a secret cave that houses hundreds of wild dragons and a mysterious dragon rider. Hiccup and Toothless then find themselves at the center of a battle to protect Berk from a power-hungry warrior named Drago.

Runtime: 102 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG (for adventure action and some mild rude humor)

Who should see it? Since there are darker story elements than the original, I'd recommend it for those ages 8 and up.

Serving as the follow-up to How To Train Your Dragon, How To Train Your Dragon 2 saw writer-director Dean DeBlois strike out on his own to continue the animated film series adapted from Cressida Cowell's best-selling children's books. In the realm of animation, DeBlois had previously partnered with Chris Sanders to co-write and co-direct the first How To Train Your Dragon and Lilo & Stitch, but he'd never directed a feature-length animated film on his own before. Sanders stuck around as an executive producer, but he and Dreamworks let DeBlois take the franchise reigns. Given the success of the original, Dreamworks was eager to make a sequel, but DeBlois remained apprehensive because he was interested in creating something original. Eventually, DeBlois agreed on the condition the franchise be a trilogy. 

One of the more fascinating aspects of How To Train Your Dragon 2 is the decision to age up Hiccup and other Vikings of Berk with the audience. Doing so enables Hiccup to be a more believable action hero and also grants him a compelling arc as he faces the expectations of becoming village chieftain. Naturally, the grown characters demand a more mature narrative with higher stakes and large-scale action. Well, Dean DeBlois delivers all this and more by leaning even further into the series' action-adventure element. This sequel is epic in every sense of the word.

Additionally, How To Train Your Dragon 2 expands its world extraordinarily well. The new locations offer elaborate ecosystems that are visually stimulating. Given the four year distance from the first film, the animation also improved tremendously. Most notably, the character designs are more refined and detailed while the environment evokes a photorealistic aesthetic. It coalesces quite nicely. Elsewhere, John Powell's sweeping accompaniment consists of varied arrangements ranging from grand and heroic to intimate and personal. All of which is an auditory delight.

Reprising their roles, Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, and Kristen Wiig each provide excellent voice work while Cate Blanchett and Kit Harington join the ensemble. Of the bunch, I'd denote Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, and Gerard Butler as stand-outs since their characters are of greater importance, and all four actors step up to the task. All the while, Hiccup's dynamic with Toothless remains a highlight, as this sequel puts their bond through the wringer for the ultimate test.

Rounding out the cast, Djimon Hounsou's Drago is a formidable foil to Hiccup. Hounsou sells the gruff, barbaric nature of the character, but unfortunately lacks the necessary screen time and development to be a memorable antagonist when all is said-and-done. He's powerful and intimidating, but his motivations could have been further fleshed out.  

Animated sequels in the same league as their predecessors are hard to come by, but How To Train Your Dragon 2 flies awfully close to the original. Though it may not measure up on all accounts, How To Train Your Dragon 2 retains the heart, adventurous spirit, and constructive messaging of the first film. It is, by all means, a worthy sequel. 

Film Assessment: A

'King Arthur: Legend of the Sword' Review

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword adapts the classic myth of King Arthur, telling Arthur's untraditional riches-to-rags-and-back-to-riches origin story. However, Legend of the Sword differs from previous Arthurian adaptations by focusing intently on the mythos behind Excalibur. 

Legend of the Sword is directed by niche film director Guy Ritchie, whom you may be familiar with for helming the two Sherlock Holmes flicks starring Robert Downey Jr. and recent The Man From U.N.C.L.E. revival. Ritchie's certainly an out-of-the box filmmaker, so pairing him with the antiquated setting of the Middle Ages seemed a peculiar choice when the film flew onto my radar. However, Ritchie manages to mash midivil realms with distinctive stylistic flourishes to great effect. Ritchie capitalizes on the frantic nature of the storytelling by peppering in fast/slo-mo and handheld chase closeups that lend themselves well to the film's vitality and pair perfectly with the film's musical score composed by Daniel Pemberton. Pemberton's score incorporates potent breathing with pitter patters of various percussive instruments and a more traditional orchestra to conjure exceptional sounds, immersing viewers in the frenzy. 

As for other technical elements, the production and costume design seemed apt for the time period but the visual effects did at times bear resemblance to what you'd expect to see in a video game. Elsewhere, the script cobbled together by Ritchie, Jody Harold, Lionel Wingram, and David Dobkin proves to be quite different from the average knight's tale due to Ritchie's taste for the unusual. Legend of the Sword trudges through its opening and drags in its finale, but the second act is incredibly enjoyable thanks to Ritchie's flair as a filmmaker. 

All the while, Ritchie's ensemble's brimming with recognizable talent. Charlie Hunnam turns in a solid performance as Arthur, bringing a charming demeanor to the unsure hero and solidifying his ability to carry the weight of a leading role in an action epic. 

On the other hand, Jude Law takes up a monotonous malevolent mantle as the villainous Vortigern. Law makes the most of his bland character but feels constrained by what little motivation the script has offer, simply another man yearning for power. Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aidan Gillen, Neil Maskell, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Bleu Landau, and Eric Bana fill out the ranks of the supporting cast with Game of Thrones' Gillen standing out as a capable and endearing archer. 

When it comes down to it, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword isn't exactly a film of legend but stands as a prime example of an epic, eccentric blockbuster, albeit a messy one. Unfortunately, these are becoming increasingly harder to come by these days so I'd say casual moviegoers would be best waiting for Legend of the Sword to roll out onto home media and Arthurian fanatics should certainly rush to the multiplex. 

Film Assessment: C+