Fresh Take - The Flash (Spoiler-Free Thoughts)

 In Theaters

Synopsis (from IMDB): Barry Allen is struck by a bolt of lightning; thus, an extraordinary power is born inside him: The Speed Force. When he uses this power to run back in time and save his mother, he creates a world without heroes and General Zod has returned. To defeat him, his only hope rests in the hands of a retired Batman, another Barry, and an imprisoned Kryptonian. 

To be honest I had low expectations going into this movie because of the drama that was surrounding it and I think most people that read this blog know what I'm talking about. That being said, I was rooting for this movie to be good and hopefully be a good starting point for the future of the DCEU. Well let's just say I wasn't impressed, that's not to say that there isn't anything good in the movie. First, I think Ezra Miller is a decent Barry Allen for what they wanted to do with how Zack Synder was presenting the DC characters. The standout to me in this movie was Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne. Also, Sasha Calle's Kara Zor-El was very interesting but I wish she got more screen time. There are a lot of easter eggs in this movie, especially in the last 10 minutes, I think some fans will find that too fun with all of the little nods to past DC movies as well as other presentations in media. The soundtrack as well was good I liked it and I thought it fit well with the film. To be fair, Ezra did a great job with the emotional scenes however, this is one the problems start for me.

If there is one major thing wrong with this movie it can be summed up in one word, consistency. From story elements to CGI this film is very inconsistent to the point where I was comparing it to the X-Men Dark Phoenix movie. Here's why I say this; number one this film borrows elements from the Flashpoint Paradox comic event in which Barry travels back in time to stop his mother from being killed. That story took years to develop and resolve. Tell me, how many Flash movies have there been before this one? Do you see the issue here, they are trying to tell a story that needs to be set up in order to work, just like Dark Phoenix. While I do like Supergirl in this movie I feel like there is a lot that is missing in regards to her. I hope they give Sasha another go as I would really like to see her back in the role. Small spoiler but there is no Reverse Flash in this movie and the resolution they came up with could be seen a mile away and in my opinion doesn't work as well. Once again this is why I believe there should have been at least one Flash movie maybe two before attempting to do Flashpoint Paradox. There is just to much that goes on in the crossover and the ramifications from the event that can be done in just one two-and-a-half-hour movie. It's like if Marvel tried to do Infinity War right after the first Avengers movie. It wouldn't make sense and I understand all of the development drama surrounding the movie as they were trying to get it done for years prior but I don't think I would have gone with what they did at least from a story perspective. 

For Parents

This movie is rated PG-13 and has a runtime of 2 hours and 24 minutes. There are 2 post-credit scenes but they don't really add anything to it. The movie is your regular superhero blockbuster so the kids will be fine if they have seen any other superhero-style films. The movie is paced well and doesn't really drag in any parts but it is really inconsistent to the point where I could tell and it was taking me out of the experience. I will say the easter eggs were a nice touch especially one in particular at the end of the movie that has something that people know about but was never released. That was unexpected to be completely honest.

Final Thoughts

This movie gets a RENTAL from me. This is one of those films that I feel would have been better if they released it on MAX to be fair. I understand why they released the movie in theaters but I probably would not have done that because I don't think its going to make a lot of money. Have you seen The Flash? Leave a comment and let's talk about it. Thanks for reading and your support.

Trailer

Images via IMDB

Just Thinkin - Prince of Persia The Lost Crown Thoughts

 Coming in 2024 on all Platforms

So I was thinking about whether or not I wanted to talk about this one because there are a lot of people who have varying opinions on this particular title that was revealed during NOT e3. When the first trailer dropped I enjoyed it, the art style, the bits of gameplay they showed, and especially the character design. I understood some of the criticism especially when it comes to the choice of music. To be fair, I don't see anything expressly wrong with the music but I do think that hip-hop is overused so I could agree with that one. Everything else though, I thought was a little over the top and melodramatic. I am still hoping that they drop a demo so people can spend some time with the game and play it for themselves.  Now I may be a little biased because I do have a soft spot for the 2D side scroller genre but I also believe that a lot of times gamers have a knee-jerk reaction to games only to turn around and love the game when they finally get their hands on it. 

Trailer

Now this is why I miss Nintendo Treehouse LIVE. I believe a 30-minute presentation would have done a better job than a 3-minute plus trailer. That being said I am still looking forward to this game even though it is releasing in early 2024. I really think the Prince of Persia series shouldn't have stopped just because Assassin's Creed became popular. Hopefully, this game will do well enough to keep the series going even if it is only in the 2D space. What do you think about The Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown? Leave a comment and let's talk about it.

Commented Gameplay Trailer

Fresh Take - Transformers Rise of the Beasts ( Spoiler Free Thoughts)

 In Theaters

Synopsis (from IMDB): Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a '90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers - the Maximals - to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth.

Four and a half years ago I enjoyed Bumblebee. I thought the story was tighter and made sense. The human characters weren't annoying and the overall feel of the film was just better. I was excited when I heard that this film was being made and even though it was a different director I was still hyped to see this one when it released. I was not disappointed. This is not like the Michael Bay films; in my opinion, that is good. The big bad for this film is Unicron, envision, Galactus but an actual robot. What I liked was that they kept him the size he is supposed to be they didn't alter him much from what was shown in the 1986 movie. One of the best things about this movie is that the focus stayed on the Autobots. Yes, humans are in the movie but the movie is called Transformers. This is probably the best they have ever written Optimus Prime in the live-action films. He comes across as a leader frustrated by not being able to get his people home and will do anything to make sure that happens. The Beast Wars side of things was also handled with respect, however, some of my favorite Maximals seem to not have made the cut. Which had me feeling a little down, not gonna lie. I have always liked the Gen 1 version of the design of the Transformers and once again this works, just like it did in Bumblebee. From a visual perspective, the movie looked great. In the action scenes, you can tell what is going on and for me, that's a big plus. Since this movie takes place in the 90s and in Brooklyn there is era-appropriate music throughout. While some may find Mirage annoying, I didn't I thought it was in line with how the live-action movies have been portrayed since 2007.

The only thing I had an issue with, was once again, the human element to the story. It was just really cliched. I really wish there was a way to do humans in stories like these where it isn't predictable but I guess that isn't going to happen anytime soon. I will say that at least in this movie both of the main humans brought something to the table outside of dumb luck. Also, the actors themselves were pretty good in my opinion, I just didn't like the story they came up with for them. 

For Parents

The movie is rated PG-13 and has a 2-hour and 7-minute runtime. There is a mid-credits stinger that is continuing to set up something that was started in Bumblebee. For the most part, this is like most blockbusters of this type. Outside of robots getting destroyed, there isn't any real gore just a lot of action. There are, however, a couple of jumpscare scenes that might be a little much but I'm pretty sure there are only two of those scenes in the movie. 

Overall Thoughts

This movie is a solid MATINEE. Perfect for an afternoon visit to the movies. The movie doesn't drag along and there is a lot of screen time with the Autobots, Maximals, and Predacons. Personally, I think the movie is very enjoyable, and keeping up the story they started in Bumblebee is the right choice as the movie now feels like a series as opposed to just standalone films. Have you seen Transformers: Rise of the Beasts? What did you think? Leave a comment and let's talk about it. 

Trailer

Images via IMDB

Fresh Take - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Spoiler Free Thoughts)

 In Theatres

Synopsis (from IMDB): Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.

This movie is awesome. No other way I can describe it. The first film, Into The Spider-Verse, was very well done and this one expanded upon it. The visual style(s) are still intact, with every dimension they visit having its own unique style. The film centers on, for the most part, Gwen and Miles as they both deal with what it means to be a part of the SpiderVerse. I thought this worked for the film as they both were good anchors for the story. The movie does introduce some new characters such as Jessica Drew and Miguel O'Hara. From a story perspective, some of the beats take a Lego Batman-style approach to some of the histories of all of the different Spider-people. If you have watched the Fox animated Spider-Man cartoon from the 90s then you probably noticed quite a few characters that showed up in that series. The soundtrack, much like the first movie, is very good with some nice set-piece music that keeps the movie flowing. The voice acting is good too. I recognized a lot of the voice actors and I think they all did a great job. The movie does end with a twist and a cliffhanger. The next film is supposed to release next year, which is a bit of a bummer in my opinion. 

If there is one thing I didn't like it was some of the emotional beats in the story. They were kind of playing off of some tired cliches that to me, just don't work anymore. It works when they are played for laughs but not so much when it is a serious moment. The villain in the movie is The Spot and he is kind of played as a villain of the week which is brought up in the film. It kind of bothered me a little bit because for the most part, he's played for comedic purposes. Also, you don't see the rest of the original Spider-people from Into the SpiderVerse until the end which was odd to me. However, if they work it out for the next film it may work out fine. It just struck me as odd that they wouldn't show up until the very end. 

For Parents

This movie is rated PG-13 and has a 2-hour and 20-minute runtime. I thought the movie was paced well and didn't drag. To be completely honest the way the movie ends I was ready to watch the next one. That's how good the cliffhanger is to me. There is a lot of fighting and slapstick comedy here.  I don't think the little ones will get bored with it and I think everybody can enjoy it especially if you enjoyed the first film. 

Final Thoughts

This movie gets a FULL PRICE from me. Just like the first film, the blending artstyles and music make for a great visual. The jokes don't drag and the movie is well paced. Miles and Gwen's stories work and they did a good job of showing both of their points of view. I really think this movie should be watched in a theatre, its that good. What did you think of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse? Please leave a comment and let's talk about it. 

Trailer

Images via IMDB