The Babysitter (2017) directed by McG

Since its release, this film has been on my Netflix list patiently awaiting my arrival. After finally making time to see this film, I realized I could have better spent that hour and a half taking a nap, wasting time on Twitter, or staring at the ceiling with an empty brain. Any of these activities would have provided a better use of my time. I was physically speechless after watching this film, but definitely not because it had any good value. The Babysitter is one of the most confusing, ineffective, and poorly-directed horror comedies of all time. This movie suffered from just about every negative aspect a movie could suffer from, and it is a miracle that its story ever saw the light of day from Netflix.

The absolute biggest issues with this film were its writing and its directing. The story throughout the film took many turns and was extended for way too long of a time. This idea would honestly work better for a comedy short film, and not the half-assed attempt of a horror-comedy that this was. The story, I have to admit, was very interesting and engaging in the beginning. The characters of Cole, played by Judah Lewis, and Bee, played by Samara Weaving, were very interesting characters. They seemed to have great chemistry together and their relationship was already pre-developed, which boded well for both of them. The start of the plot was quite creative: a kid who wonders what his babysitter/best friend does after he goes to bed. Obviously, the writing was setting the audience up for something to go wrong, but instead, it was the entire film that was erred. This was a very original idea for a film, but was executed painfully. After Bee invited her group of friends over, everything went to hell. Once the initial sacrifice was made, that is where any common sense screenwriting fell apart. The story then followed Cole as he attempted to escape his crazy babysitter and her friends who are all trying to kill him. The root of the problem with the writing is that a certain tone was never established. Given that this film was trying to be a horror-comedy, it did not utilize that genre at all. Movies like The Cabin in the Woods or Zombieland blend the two aspects excellently, but The Babysitter could not even get one of the genres right. There were moments throughout the film that were very out-of-place and did not fit with the tone of that specific scene. This included all of Cole's humor in his dire situations and the actions of the teenagers trying to kill him, which were ridiculous. The group of teenagers wanted to kill one little boy, but their ludicrous behaviors did not fit their roles one bit. And this is, painfully, only some of the problems with this movie.

The other massive problem with the story was that there were a lot of pieces that just did not fall into place and made no sense whatsoever. Cole was being hunted by these teenagers, and in his quest to survive, ended up killing all five of them. I understand that it is legally self-defense, but there were no consequences at all for his personal actions. No parental, moral, or legal consequences, just an awfully-placed cheesy line to top off the final scene. The teenagers, before they were killed, seemed like they were picked out of other movies and thrown together at random. Maybe High School Musical 4 and a real estate commercial were filming the same day, and they decided to waste time by making this movie. The teenagers' stories were so weak and the motives behind their actions were nonexistent. The only thing that they had in common was the fact that they were all performing this Satanic ritual. But even then, there was no explanation or even minimal background as to why Bee and her friends needed all of that blood and why they decided to summon Satan. The final thing that made no sense was the romantic subplot between Cole and his neighbor Melanie, played by Emily Alyn Lind. Her character solely existed as a plot device to provide safety for Cole and there was absolutely no substance behind her. At this point, I must assume that all of the budget for this film went straight to the special effects and use of blood, because it definitely did not go to the screenwriters. Even then, the effects were extremely cheesy and gratuitous. The only decent aspect about this film besides the first ten minutes was its camera work and editing. The cinematography was halfway-decent, and the editing actually kept me involved. It reminded me of Edgar Wright's early style, incorporating quick cuts and lots of movement, and surprisingly did work well for this movie.

The Babysitter is a jumbled mess of a film, and failed to provide any entertainment in the horror-comedy genre. The writing was disgusting and made no sense in the slightest, among many other problems. I would not recommend this film at all, and for once, Bella Thorne actually wasn't the cause of the trouble.

My Rating: ★

The Florida Project (2017) directed by Sean Baker

The Florida Project, which I had been wanting to see for months in anticipation of this Sunday's Oscars, is one of the most gripping and engaging social dramas I have ever seen. Chronicling the life of a little girl over one summer in Florida, this film discusses so much and is not afraid to show the harsh realities and relationships that many kids of lower-class descent have to face. Rich with astounding performances and themes throughout, this film is definitely worthy of all the praise it has received and, after watching it, I can see why many were upset over its Best Picture snub.

I will start off with saying that I have no negative, or even constructive, feedback about this film. This movie was so well-made and enriching in its own sense that there are no parts that could have been made better, only topics that were made open for discussion. The performances in this film truly made the emotion throughout. Breakout star Brooklynn Prince played Moonee, a little girl living in a motel just outside the reach of Disney World in Florida. The performances and relationships between the mother, played by Bria Vinaite, and the motel manager, played by Willem Dafoe, were some of the best parts of this movie. Willem Dafoe's character Bobby, as strict as he was, was more of a father figure in this little girl's eyes than a motel manager. He played such a pivotal role in shaping this girl's life, especially over this particular summer, and was around for her more than her own mother. The mother Halley still loved her daughter more than anything and tried her best to provide for her, but her own problems caused a lot of trouble throughout the film. These relationships and the writing that created them were portrayed excellently by this cast, and brought out a lot of hidden emotion, even inside me, who can not personally relate to much in the story. The story brilliantly opened a lot of new doors in storytelling, including the child's perspective, lower-class struggles, and childish innocence. This film was told mostly through Moonee's perspective, and contrasting her childhood innocence with the harsh realities of the world around her was fascinating. Moonee did the best she could in her situations to remain naive, but especially in the final scene, her world came crashing in around her. This dynamic was great to see, and was done very well with that continuous tone through the entire film. The story also provided a lot of context to the kind of world Moonee was living in, as she grew up in a lower-class life in the motel. It was riveting to experience what Moonee did as she grew up poor and still had to make do with what she had. All aspects of the story were fantastic, and the awesome performances absolutely added to that.

Some of the more technical aspects of this film that I adored were its colors, locations, themes, and a few very powerful moments that I have never seen in a movie revolving around a child. The design in this film was beautiful, and the scenery of Florida contributed to this as well, enriching a lot of the color in practically all of the shots. It is always great seeing a knowledgeable crew working on the design, as it was as memorable as the story itself. Since this film mostly took place in the motel near Disney World, it added that extra level of wonder to the childrens' lives. This extravagant theme park was just out-of-reach and expensive for these characters, which created a sort-of theme of "personal paradise." Although Moonee has a lot more to explore in life, this looming fact created that goal-oriented mindset in her which was exciting to see. That Disney World motif was brought into an even greater light with the final scene, which quite honestly made me tear up quite a bit. As Moonee was being taken away from her mother, her and her friend Jancey ran off towards the theme park. The score behind this scene and the context surrounding it made for an extremely moving scene. As the girls ran into the theme park, they had finally reached their "impossible" goal. They had reached their personal happiest place on Earth, even in the midst of Moonee's new, incoming reality. This scene was preceded by a fantastic shot of Moonee standing in front of the doorway, bawling her eyes out to Jancey. This shot alone was worth a thousand words, as it really broke down her character. Through the whole film, we had known Moonee as a tough and rambunctious little girl that can't be tamed. But in this shot alone, the audience is shot back to the fact that she is still a young girl and has emotions and responses like any other. This was exemplary acting from Prince, and extremely impressive, given she is only seven years old.

The Florida Project was written, directed, AND edited by Sean Baker, which is an accomplishment in itself. This film is an absolute masterpiece in storytelling, and shines light on lots of controversial topics while providing an amazing narrative about a little girl's summer. One line in particular stood out to me, and that is when Moonee took Jancey to her favorite tree. "Know why this tree is my favorite? Because it's bent but still growing." This line, for many reasons stood out to me, as it symbolizes the everlasting effort to become the best versions of ourselves, no matter our flaws. This was truly the goal for all the characters in the film, regardless of their pasts. Rich with many powerful themes, performances, and beautiful cinematography, this film really outdid itself in every aspect.

My Rating: ★★★★½

Black Panther (2018) directed by Ryan Coogler

If at this point in time, you haven't decided that Black Panther is your favorite Marvel film, then you are undeniably in the wrong. This film is an absolute must-see in not just the superhero genre, but for any fan of masterful filmmaking. With a beautiful, amazing cast and powerful themes throughout, Ryan Coogler has truly created one of, if not the best, Marvel film of this generation.

There are countless aspects of this film worthy of praise, including its remarkable performances, perfectly-developed characters, and spectacular directing. The characters were casted perfectly, and the entire cast performed well beyond their abilities. Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, and Letitia Wright excelled in their roles. This fantastic diversity was obviously a first for a superhero film, and it worked well, especially given Coogler's personal experiences that have been represented in his films. The characters throughout the entire film were very well-developed, especially Jordan's Killmonger and the women in the story. Killmonger was one of the best-written villains I have ever seen, and was as gorgeous as he was evil. This character was as memorable as T'Challa, and his story was as well-written too. I believe that every hero is defined by his villains, and their stories were developed side-by-side excellently. Killmonger was outstanding because his background was very familiar to many people. Lots of people can relate with his more Americanized story as well as T'Challa's African origins. These two stories going hand-in-hand provided a great dynamic and contrast between the different black experiences, which worked beautifully for this film. It also made the audience, especially people of color, question which side they could relate to the most. The females in this film were the other force that absolutely drove it home. All of the women were just as powerful as the men and put them in their place when they needed to, rightfully so. Breakout star Letitia Wright's Shuri was my personal favorite character, and I loved the fact that she was confirmed to be the smartest person in the Marvel universe. I desperately crave a scene in Infinity War with her, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner where she destroys their egos with her sheer intelligence. Shuri was definitely the scene-stealer in this film, and I can not wait to see more of her development in future films. Also, the way Shuri's technology added to the general aesthetic of the film was stunning. The blend of traditional African customs with afrofuturistic technology made for a wildly pleasing aesthetic tone throughout.

Other parts of Black Panther that I adored were its political tones and action sequences. While this film was obviously expected to be the most political of any superhero film, I don't believe that it was as politically charged as most say it was. While there are obvious intentions in this filmmaking and a few lines in the film that paved way for discussion, the main focus the entire time was definitely not on racial issues. This film did a great job with blending representation and an engaging story together without putting too much emphasis on either. The one obvious line that stood out to me the most was Killmonger's final line. You could hear the entire theater gasp as he uttered his last remark, and it was so brilliantly powerful. Martin Freeman's character Everett Ross was the supporting white character, and while he tried to help out in any way he could, his character was handled very well. None of the focus was put on him while he simultaneously aided the story well. Also, the inclusion of M'Baku's vegetarian tribe was a pleasant surprise. The other part that was done very well were the action sequences. The choreography during the royal challenges was awesome, as well as the train fight scene and the car chase after the auction. My only problem was that it got a bit too CGI-y in a lot of areas. In Civil War, Black Panther's suit seemed more realistic and grounded than the one in this film. Even though it was more technologically-advanced, it seemed a bit over-the-top in certain scenes.

Ryan Coogler, a talented, young director has smashed it out of the park with this film, as it may well be my new favorite (Disney) Marvel film. The entire cast and crew excelled in every aspect of beautiful filmmaking with this film, and I am excited to see where else they go with this gorgeous franchise. While this film was not as political as I believed it to be, its tone still worked well within the overall universe while still being a powerhouse blockbuster of its own. I would wholly recommend this film, as your mind will truly be blown by every aspect of its impressiveness.

My Rating: ★★★★½

Focus (2015) directed by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

A year before the disastrous Suicide Squad, Will Smith and Margot Robbie played crime-partners-turned-lovers in this film, Focus. This movie has some very good parts, including an interesting story and awesome performances from the two mega-stars. While it was much better than many of the mediocre crime stories that have been released, this film just doesn't hit the mark with a few aspects, including pacing and the countless twist endings.

The best parts about this film were definitely its performances and story. Will Smith and Margot Robbie portrayed Nicky and Jess, a professional conman and his apprentice who is learning the tools of the trade, respectively. It is apparent throughout the plot of the entire movie, whether they are together or not, that Smith and Robbie have fantastic chemistry. I feel that this film was more of a screen-test for their work together in Suicide Squad, in which their two characters were undeniably the only decent parts of that movie. These two artists work very well together, and this definitely shone through. I also appreciated the diversity in the film, not just in Will Smith, but in his father, the antagonists, and many of the supporting cast members. The cities in the film were lined with people from the correct heritage and not just extras that were casted. The main cast was full of varied people of color, and was not focused on appealing to one race, which was fantastic. The writing of this film was great as well, as it had a story that was original, for the most part. While it did not add anything extraordinary to the crime drama genre, it was a good addition. The final piece of this film that really stood out to me was the initial gambling scene at the Super Bowl. B.D. Wong played a professional gambler who tempted Nicky back into his old habits. Seeing Nicky's transition from calm and collected to frantic and desperate was an awesome thing that really showed off both Smith's ability and the writing's ability to catch an audience. This scene was the highlight of the movie, and stressed me out just as much as it did get me excited.

The biggest issues with Focus, however, were its pacing, blandness, and twist endings. The movie began very abruptly, and while that can be a great technique for some films, it wasn't for this one. The blunt introduction to the world and its characters had no context or explanation, and I was very lost for quite some time. Because of this strange pacing, it took me a while to figure out what was going on with Robbie's character. This lack of background is only utilized well with certain filmmakers who are known for it (like Tarantino) but it simply did not fit the tone of this film. Once I got further along into the film, however, it began to pick up and the pieces were put together. Lack of coherence makes a movie seem like an assorted collection of test footage, and that is exactly how this film suffered. Along with the confusing beginning, the tone was very bland throughout the entire story. This film did not attempt to do anything new in the genre of crime drama, and because of that, it drew away my interest during a lot of the movie. The last problem that I had with the story was that the twist endings and surprises in the final scene seemed like way too much. The writing though the movie was cohesive and understandable, but the last scene appeared to factor in a lot of subplots that were never there to begin with. There were too many twists and realizations in the last ten minutes that did not seem necessary. Instead of making me go "ohhh! So he's the one that blah blah blah", I just sat there trying to piece together everything. It almost seemed like the writers had a lot of different endings built up and couldn't decide which one to use, so they incorporated all of them.

Focus is a fun, sexy drama that is very generic and confusing at times, but hits the general mark nonetheless. It does not provide any groundbreaking writing of any kind, but is entertaining, which is more than can be said for most films. Smith and Robbie are fantastic actors that work extremely well together, but I feel that a more riveting story wouldn't have done them as dirty.

My Rating: ★★★

Watchmen (2009) directed by Zack Snyder

Long before his days of modern DC films, Zack Snyder created one of the greatest comic book films ever. Watchmen is one of the earliest "special effects-era" superhero films and has so many appalling elements that will leave the audience shocked and uncomfortable. In the best way possible, of course. Based off of the 1980's graphic novel by the same name, this film adaptation has done nothing but cause controversy and shock since its release. While it remains one of the most impactful movies of its time, there is much to discuss about it, including its fantastic characters and mind-blowing story.

The main premise of this film revolves around a group of heroes (if you can call them that) that have faded away after an "anti-masks" law in a different timeline of the United States. In this alternate timeline, an unknown assassin is hunting down the superheroes and villains one by one, so members of the Watchmen decide to get back together and find out who is after them. The story is the most appealing part of this film, because throughout and after the film, it truly makes you question so much about your own values and personal beliefs. The entire point of the film is to make viewers uncomfortable with many of the choices the characters make, and it definitely succeeds in that. This movie pushes the boundaries on many touchy topics, including vigilantism, rape, and interpersonal values. None of these sensitive topics are done in tasteless ways, however, as Snyder is a genius when it comes to utilizing the camera to artfully convey his messages. There are honestly too many issues that were addressed in this film that one must watch the movie themselves to formulate their own opinions.

Some of the most tendentious parts of this movie included the uncomfortable rape scene and the initially confusing plot. The writing in this movie is fantastic, and hides the fact that Ozymandias was the killer very well. Many of the plot points throughout this movie are thrown at the viewer very aggressively and it can honestly feel very overwhelming with how much is going on. All of the different characters have their own struggles, and this can get stressful to watch. However, the reveal of Ozymandias made me, personally, connect everything in my head. The writing does very well with putting all the character arcs back together, as strange as they may be. The other part of this film that is most controversial would be the attempted rape scene between The Comedian and Silk Spectre. While no person in their right mind should ever possibly condone rape, this scene provided a lot of lurid context. This scene occurred in the 1940's, and while The Comedian was punished for his misogynistic advances, it was important to really push the limits on viewers' comfort level. While this scene is in the original graphic novel, I feel that it was a trademark part of Snyder's filmmaking to include it. It was absolutely disgusting and horrendous to watch The Comedian's abusive actions, but it was handled in a good way, not giving power or forgiveness back to him. It is later revealed that The Comedian was actually Silk Spectre II's dad, which added yet ANOTHER level of intrigue. These challenging topics along with the alternate universe made room for plenty of dispute. This did not necessarily make the rice hats worn by the Asian soldiers in the war scene acceptable, however. No matter what timeline, that design choice did not seem necessary at all.

While there were many uneasy parts of this film that challenged the audience's beliefs and sparked interesting debate, there were other parts that Snyder undoubtedly succeeded in. These parts involve the costume design, performances and characters, and the special effects. All of the costumes and sets in the film were absolutely gorgeous and unforgettable. Snyder did a great artistic job in deciding the color schemes and design of this dark America while maintaining an interesting story. This also includes the special effects and motion capture that was used for Dr. Manhattan. While his character may seem a bit CGI-heavy, it was awesome for a film that came out almost ten years ago. I'm not quite sure if it was necessary to include that many shots of his huge, blue dick, though. The other part that I loved were the characters and the performances. None of the performances were absolutely outstanding, but the entire cast seemed to be dedicated to their roles regardless. And the treatment of the characters was awesome, no matter their gender or background.

Watchmen is a riveting and important film in the superhero genre, and like many of Snyder's early films, was very ahead of its time. A Watchmen TV show is in the works at HBO, and I feel that this is a very smart move on their part, as the length of this film was also a turnoff. I agree that it would be paced better in episodes instead of a 3-hour film. Despite its length and minor design flaws, this movie is an incredible feat in superhero filmmaking.

My Rating: ★★★★

Deadpool (2016) directed by Tim Miller

Deadpool is that rare film that surpasses your expectations. Not your expectations of quality, but rather your expectations of what the hell is even going on. This film is a raunchy, action-packed, R-rated comic book movie that has some of the funniest writing and most interesting characters ever seen in this genre of film. An interesting story was blended in with the perfect amount of humor and action, making this (extremely) NSFW movie the gem that it is.

The best part about this film was what the character of Deadpool is known for: his extreme sense of humor and breaking the fourth wall. These two pieces went hand-in-hand the entire time, which left me in fits of laughter and, at times, discomfort. But that is what was intended, I suppose. The writing in this movie is some of the funniest that you will ever see; not just in a superhero film, but most other genres as well. The fourth wall-breaking also added to this level of humor, as the constant references and nods toward the camera made this character so much more charming and multi-sided. The R-rating that Ryan Reynolds petitioned for boded well for this film, as the writing was able to say and do a lot of things that would normally earn a movie an X-rating. This film definitely pushed the boundaries for what could and couldn't be done in a movie, as just about every aspect of adult material was included: foul language, bloody action, ridiculous sex, and offensive content. The great part about this content, however, was that none of it was overused to the point where it could be considered gratuitous. The action scenes were very intense and grotesque, but not to the point where you would have to turn away. It was a very good blend of all the elements, as to not bore anyone into thinking "that's just a typical action film" or "the humor gets old." The final part of this film that made it so engaging was its characters. Wade Wilson, Vanessa, Colossus, and Negasonic Teenage Warhead were some of the most creative and well-developed characters in a superhero film. They wildly broke from the norms of the typical hero, hero's girlfriend, and supporting characters as they were all very three-dimensional and had depth to them. I loved how much effort was put into writing the characters, how diverse they were, and how it made them work very well together, despite the dire circumstances many of them faced.

While this is one of the most controversial and hilarious films in years, there are a few personal issues that I had while watching it. One of my problems with it was that it used humor in almost every scene. I understand that it is supposed to be a comedy and that Deadpool is one of the funniest comic book characters, but in certain spots like the "cancer reveal" scene and the "leaving Vanessa" scene, I really didn't feel like humor was necessary in those parts. I suppose it is good to take your focus off of the real problems affecting Wade, but it felt very forced and uncomfortable. Another of my issues is that at the root of the movie, the plot was absolutely boring and predictable. It was a textbook version of the superhero origin story: hero's life is good, something bad happens, hero loses girl, hero fights bad guy, hero gets girl back. I feel that this movie is basically your average PG-13 superhero story with a lot of exaggerated adult content. I love this character and this film very much, but it offered nothing new to the genre in terms of origin stories.

Despite its minor flaws and surprisingly short run-time, Deadpool is a fantastic comedy/superhero film that brings one of Marvel's most beloved characters to life for the first time. This film is hilarious and Ryan Reynolds embodies the character of Wade Wilson like no other actor possibly could. You will laugh, you will cry (probably not), and most of all, you will be begging for more of Deadpool's ridiculously fantastic antics.

My Rating: ★★★½

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) directed by Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino's second installment in the Uma Thurman-driven series has its ups, but the downs unfortunately outweigh them. This film is still watchable and entertaining, but seems to be quite a change of pace from the first. Much of the writing style was altered and there was a shift in focus very apparent throughout the entire film. Much of the plot was very predictable and underwhelming, which did not conclude this epic series in the way that I expected it to. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 provides a lot of closure to the story of The Bride, but overall lacks the same thrilling style that made the first film so memorable.

While there was still plenty of action to fuel the thrill-seekers in the audience, there was not as much focus on that as the first. In fact, this film was much more concentrated on character development and closure than the action or humor that made Vol. 1 so fantastic. While I would normally completely support this kind of development, especially in a complex character like The Bride, I simply did not agree with Tarantino's pacing in this film. This film's purpose was obviously to give closure to many of the questions raised in its predecessor, and while it did do that, made for a dull story throughout. It did not feel like the same aesthetic style as the first, and that disappointed even me, who typically judges the story first. This abundance of closure included the reveal of her having a daughter, her true name reveal (Beatrix), and the full story behind her wedding where she was shot in the head (and somehow survived? I still don't understand that). The writing in this film was great in that aspect, but like I said before, did not the same aesthetic as the first. It is a sort of double-edged sword because while it did not contain the same brutally beautiful elements of Vol. 1, it did give room for a lot better writing, which it excelled at. The change of pace took me by surprise, and not in the good way either. This was the main problem with the film, but there were still other smaller parts that made me uneasy. The main one being the portrayal of the Asian martial arts trainer on the mountaintop. While he was played by an Asian actor (Chia-Hui Liu), his characteristics were uncomfortably exaggerated. The long, white mustache and stereotypical accent were not necessary by any means, and could have been toned down a bit.

While this film was a total tone turnaround, there were still some memorable parts. Uma Thurman and David Carradine's performances were absolutely fantastic. Since the writing in Vol. 2 was much more geared towards Bill and The Bride's relationship, it provided their characters with amazing character development. They definitely stole the show throughout this entire film, even though the final scene was unsatisfying as hell. I definitely expected a larger battle between the two, seeing as what they had gone through together, but the "five point palm exploding heart technique" was all she needed to end their conservation, and a minute later, his heart. This was honestly disappointing, given the nature of the violence in Vol. 1 and most all of Tarantino's films.

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is, to many people, probably the best of the two films. While a lot of closure and development that was desperately needed was indeed provided, this simply did not feel like a proper Tarantino film. Love him or hate him, Tarantino developed his own trademark style that will be admired and studied for years to come. I would still recommend this film if you need closure from the first film, just be ready for a completely different pace and style.

My Rating: ★★★

Ant-Man (2015) directed by Peyton Reed

Among the ranks of the large-scale Marvel films, Ant-Man is definitely one of the smallest and most underappreciated films. This movie is full of devoted performances, great humor, and a creative new twist on the superhero genre. This film is one of my favorite Marvel films, and I truly believe that it does not get as much attention and love as it deserves.

The best aspects of this film include the performances, story, and special effects. Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Peña were the leading lights of this movie and brought so much life to their characters, no matter how minuscule they seem in the larger universe. Even though this film is focused on one specific character, the entire cast worked together very well and had great chemistry, reinforcing the likability of them all. I personally love Paul Rudd as a comedian, and upon hearing news of him casted in this role, I was originally very skeptic. However, Marvel is bringing a lot of characters into the more humorous light in many of their most recent films, and it is working very well for them. Rudd was a great casting choice, and he filled the role beautifully. Accompanied by legendary actor Michael Douglas, the two played Scott Lang and Hank Pym, respectively. Their relationship was a sort of forced mentorship but in the end, it made sense for the story and worked out. The story was the other part of this film that I adored very greatly. The writing was excellent, and did not follow the typical superhero origin story that everyone is used to. Bringing in a criminal and forcing him to become a superhero while dealing with reintegrating into society and his daughter's life was a very interesting combination of plot points. They worked together, however, to make a very original and compelling story. This film was more of a heist film than an action-driven CGI fest and while plenty of that was still used, it was done in good taste. The cinematography and effects were very nauseating, in the best way possible. It showed how massive the world is in the eyes of an ant and developed Rudd's character very well. It gave him a new perspective on the entire world and a new purpose, which furthered his story smoothly. The humor in this film is the final positive element, as it was one of the funniest Marvel films ever made. The perfect amount of small jokes were present while not making it too unbelievably cheesy, which was suitable for the characters.

This film had many amazing parts that makes it stands out among many of the other generic superhero movies. However, there were still a few parts that could have definitely been improved upon. One of the main things is the whole controversy with Edgar Wright's creative vision. Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead) is my favorite director of all time and was originally slated to direct Ant-Man. However, due to creative differences, Marvel decided to drop him as director and hire someone else. Wright still got credit for producing and writing the screenplay, but decided to move on and create Baby Driver (thank god), so it was a blessing in disguise. I would honestly give away my first child to see Wright's original vision for this story, as much as I already love it. Another of the problems that this film had were its minor representation issue and an iffy relationship towards the end. The entire cast is predominantly white, with the exception of Michael Peña's character Luis, T.I.'s Dave, and Anthony Mackie's Falcon. These roles, however, were very minor and were the stereotypical "sidekicks" of sort. It was not much of a problem as they were treated well as characters, but hopefully they have bigger roles in the sequel coming out later this year. The other issue I had with the film was the relationship between Scott and Hope in the conclusion of the film. It was a relationship that any audience member could see coming, but there was no substance behind it prior to the humorous kiss scene. It seemed forced for the most part, but was handled decently because of the humor that was utilized afterwards.

In conclusion, Ant-Man is a very creative and exciting film that adds a new fresh flavor to the Marvel universe. The writing is the biggest draw-in, as the heist story is one of the most interesting parts of the film. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone looking for a movie that is out of the ordinary bounds of the superhero genre.

My Rating: ★★★★

The Cabin in the Woods (2012) directed by Drew Goddard

Imagine your typical horror film. Cocky jock. Dumb blonde. Nerdy virgin. These stereotypes have been apparent in horror films for decades, and are still played out in many current movies. The roles they typically fill fuel the story behind The Cabin in the Woods, which is one of the most clever and mind-bending horror films ever written. Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon wrote this film with one goal in mind: to play on the typical character types and then turn them around in a very creative way to absolutely shatter your expectations. The aspect that many moviegoers did not understand about this film was that it is very self-aware of being a scary movie, which was a simple plot device that helped Goddard and Whedon create my favorite horror movie of all time.

The part of this film that stands out the most is the story. While the performances and editing were decent, the writing is what makes this film the gem that it is. This film utilizes two different plots at the same time to make for a fun and engaging story. It is arguable which plot is considered the main plot, but that is what makes the movie so good. The first plot followed the office workers running the show behind the scenes and the second plot followed the five stereotypical college kids going to a secluded cabin in the woods. While these stories were equally interesting, the way that they worked together to form the "twist" of the film was so entertaining. There is not much for me to say in terms of what to expect from this film, besides that it is one of the most creative and ingenious films ever written. You truly have to experience it yourself in order to see how much of a masterpiece in horror parody this film is. My only problem with the film was that there was a bit of a lack of representation. There was only one person of color in the film, and ironically, he was not the first one to die. This subverted the usual stereotype which was a clever move on their part, but once again, just proves that this entire film is extremely clever.

There is nothing about this film that I would change, to be quite honest. The entire premise is completely original and skillfully executed, which was surprising given that it was produced and written by Joss Whedon. While Whedon seems to be known today for his misogynistic views and unnecessary sexualization of women (i.e. Justice League, Age of Ultron), there seems to be none of that influence in this film, which was earlier in his career than those previously mentioned. Whedon did a great job handling the characters in this movie and I'm glad about that. The other thing that worked very well for this film was its use of humor and irony. The scene towards the end when all of the nightmare monsters was something out of CGI heaven, and while it may be excessive to some people, I think it was the greatest scene of the film. Along with that scene, there was a shot where one of the office workers (who always voted for the Merman) was mauled by the Merman. This use of irony was apparent throughout the entire movie and was utilized very well. The final thing that was awesome about this film was the cameo in the end. Sigourney Weaver plays the constantly-referenced "Director" in the film and it was a pleasant surprise role for her.

The Cabin in the Woods is a fun and exciting horror film which is perfect for any moviegoer that is tired of seeing the same old stereotypes. This film is engaging, clever, and one of the best ever written in the horror genre. While there was talk of a sequel for some time, it doesn't make sense, given that the literal hand of God reaches from the ground and destroys the Earth in the last shot of the film. As much as I would love a sequel, I am very happy with the standalone film that it is. This movie is truly one-of-a-kind, and I would definitely recommend it.

My Rating: ★★★★½

The Cloverfield Paradox (2018) directed by Julius Onah

The Cloverfield Paradox is the third film in J.J. Abrams' Cloverfield franchise, and arguably the worst one. My favorite monster film of all time is 2008's Cloverfield, and with the release of 10 Cloverfield Lane in 2016 (which was an astounding thriller), I had very high hopes for this futuristic, monster universe that Abrams had created. For a few years now, there have been only rumors surrounding the third installment, but during Super Bowl LII this last Sunday, the first trailer aired for the film which dropped later that night. This was an extraordinary marketing stunt by this team, and it got me, and I'm sure millions of others, very excited for the new movie. However, while this film explains (?) where the monster Clover came from, it is riddled with a painfully dull plot and nothing much to bring to the table except for a few good performances.

The biggest problems with this film included its predictable, boring plot, and the weak connection to the other films in this universe. The plot of the film revolved around a crew of astronauts who were sent into space in order to test a particle accelerator to create unlimited energy for their world, which was suffering from an energy crisis. The problem with all of that, though, is that it worked just like any other typical sci-fi movie. Things go wrong, there was a lot of unnecessary suspense, and most of the crew ends up dead. The story brought absolutely nothing new to the genre, even though this film is part of a bigger universe. Or multiple universes, as this film suggested. The other confusing aspect of the plot was that the multi-verse and how the monsters and aliens came was never fully explained. The crew of the ship jumped from universe to universe and back again, and this was apparently the entire background given to the creatures. This did not remotely explain the existence of Clover in the original film or the aliens that were in the final scenes of 10 Cloverfield Lane. My main issue is that J.J. Abrams wants to keep too much of his larger vision a secret, and leaves practically everything up to the fans to speculate. While a certain level of teasing and theories are typical and expected from any fanbase, it seems as though Abrams wants his entire audience to guess critical plot points in the franchise. This is not a good way to run a successful series, because all the fans want are answers and creative explanations. I would personally think that J.J. Abrams, being the talented visionary that he is, would have a better plan for these films. Compared to the previous two movies, this one is definitely the weakest, and the writing did not do it much justice.

While the lackluster story was the central issue plaguing this movie, there were still a few notable aspects that made the movie worth the watch. The best part of this film was its performances by the cast. Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Daniel Brühl led the amazing cast of this film with their strong roles and excellent acting. Even though the crew of the ship all came from different countries on Earth, I very much appreciated that the majority of the cast were people of color. It is fantastic to see more and more directors become aware of lack of representation and decide to fix that problem. In fact, the best performances in this film came from Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo, both people of color. They truly embodied the spirit of a sci-fi thriller, and performed brilliantly. Other things that I love about this film include the genre switch and the final shot of the movie. One of the most compelling things about the Cloverfield franchise is that each film takes on a completely different genre. From a "found-footage" monster movie to a secluded thriller to a science-fiction drama, this series does well with incorporating multiple styles of filmmaking. This has always been the biggest draw-in for me, but unfortunately this film let me down. The final shot, however, got me very excited to see what other films are in store, as we got a quick glimpse of the best boy in the monster universe, Clover. While I am not sure which version of Clover this one was, it was nice to get that flashback to what started this entire world.

The Cloverfield Paradox is a very underwhelming addition to Abrams' universe that lacked a story engaging enough to keep me awake. While it had great representation and performances from the cast, it was simply not enough to sustain my interest. I am disappointed by this film and sincerely hope that whatever future Cloverfield movies Abrams produces are more clear-cut and interesting than this one.

My Rating: ★★½

Hostiles (2017) directed by Scott Cooper

I am not at all a fan of westerns, and I was initially very reluctant to see this film. The trailers depicted the typical "cowboys and Indians" scenario and that always turns me off from the genre, as it is so typical. However, I guess I shouldn't judge a book by its cover (or a movie by its trailer), because Hostiles is an engaging film full of beautiful cinematography and a decent story with great character development. While many of the performances are very bland, the interesting plot makes up for the lack of other elements.

Although this film has two of the biggest stars in Hollywood: Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike, their performances were nothing to write home about. The best parts of this film lie in the development of their characters throughout the story. Christian Bale plays Joseph Blocker, a Cavalry leader who is in charge of rounding up the Native Americans to keep as hostages. On the opposite side of the story is Rosalie Quaid, played by Rosamund Pike, whose entire family is killed by Native Americans and she vows to get revenge on any that comes into her sight. This causes problems, of course, when Blocker is assigned to escort a Native American family to their home in Montana, called the Valley of the Bears. Blocker and his crew come across Quaid in her burnt-down home and decide to rescue her and play the typical "hero" types, of course. The development in both of these characters were very interesting to see, as that was the most intriguing part of this film. Blocker and Quaid both began as "Indian-hating" Americans who would do anything to protect their "homeland" from the tribes. One thing I did not know about this film before watching it was that the director Scott Cooper was aiming to create a more liberal-friendly western film involving Native Americans. This was a pleasant surprise, and was obviously seen in the development of these two main characters. Over the course of the film, Blocker changed from the hardass military hero to a more compassionate and accepting man. Because of the trials he was put through throughout this film, he learned to love the Native Americans for who they really were, and realized that they were not savages, but rather misunderstood people simply looking to peacefully regain what was rightfully theirs. This development was also seen in Pike's character as well, as she transitioned from hating the Native Americans, to loving what they stand for, even sewing and cooking with them towards the end of the film. However, Pike and Bale did not necessarily deliver the most amazing performances of their careers. In fact, they were both quite stoic and generic the entire time, not giving much life to their characters. The only scene regarding performances that stood out to me was Bale's conversation with Thomas Metz, played by Rory Cochrane. As Metz lay on the hospital bed, Bale delivered a very emotional monologue about their friendship and careers that really caught my attention.

Smaller elements that stood out to me the most in this film were the cinematography and a few cameos. The camera work was gorgeous and the locations that they used were perfect for the tone of the movie. Even though the editing and pacing were very generic, I appreciated their use of spatial awareness and framing in many of the shots. Some great cameos that surprised me were Adam Beach, Jesse Plemons, and Timothée Chalamet. Adam Beach played the son, Black Hawk, and while he did not have many lines, he had a very strong presence that was captivating. Much better than his insignificant role as Slipknot in Suicide Squad, of course. Plemons and Chalamet played Rudy Kidder and Phillippe DeJardin, respectively. Their inclusions in the film were both surprises to me, and since they were my favorite characters, of course they had to be the first two to die in Blocker's crew. I have awful luck with connecting with doomed characters in movies.

While there were many great aspects of this film that I thought worked well for its tone and story, there were a few parts that did not come quite up to par. My main problem with this film was its lack of resolved plot points. Examples include the scene with Blocker scorning one of his crew mates for falling asleep on the job. From the writing, there seemed to be history between the two but none of that was ever flushed out. The other point was the very ending of the film with Blocker and Quaid arriving at a new location. They seemed to be starting a new life together, but that did not ever come up in the writing or in the dialogue at all. This also brings up my other issue with the film, which was the extremely generic, vanilla, romantic subplot. Even after Quaid's husband and three children were murdered, she was apparently ready enough within a few weeks to get attached to Blocker. This was very poor writing, and definitely did not do the main female character any justice. I feel that these many poorly-attempted subplots were due to the length of the film, clocking in at 2 hours and 14 minutes. This was far too long for the film, as it only paved the way for the main plot to diverge into several other confusing points. Besides the fact that the main plot was very predictable, there were also many time era errors. The use of the word "fuck" was very excessive, and I do not think that was typically said back in 1894, as well as the small talk in one scene about cancer. In this secluded town and areas of the Old West, I do not believe that there was much extensive knowledge about those kinds of topics. These small errors very much bugged me, and this was very lazy writing on their part. Don't get me started on the fact that they re-used the same set for three different locations throughout the film.

Hostiles is a good western film for as good as that genre can be. While the liberal undertones were a pleasant and innovative surprise to me, there was simply nothing else to this movie that really drew my attention. Multiple subplots were severely underdeveloped and the characters, while slightly more developed, were mostly one-sided. I would recommend this film only if you are a die-hard fan of the genre and merely want another Christian Bale-led dirt romp.

My Rating: ★★★

Happy Death Day (2017) directed by Christopher Landon

I had been intrigued by this film ever since I saw the first trailer for it. Groundhog Day meets campy horror? Sign me up! However, after hearing only negative reviews about this film, I decided to stay away. Flash forward 3 months and I rented this film on Redbox. I soon learned that I should not have waited to rent this film, and instead seen it in theaters. Happy Death Day is a great horror film that incorporates comedy, character development, and a strong female lead that is hard to match, especially in this kind of genre.

From the start, I was informed that this was a Blumhouse Productions picture (the same studio that produced Get Out), so I knew that I was in for a treat given the wild success of Jordan Peele's film. The points that this film excelled in were its character development and the tone throughout the film. This movie turned out to be more of a horror-comedy than a horror film, and it worked surprisingly well. The writing throughout the movie made the comedic tone work very well, as none of it seemed out of place or forced. This was very important, especially to the plot of the movie, which involved a girl getting killed on the same day over and over again until she solves her own murder. This is a tough subject to keep dramatic and suspenseful, and I am very glad that the creative directors decided to embrace the humor. The other best part about this film was the development of the main character Tree, played by Jessica Rothe. She began this film as a very uptight and rude character, written very stereo-typically as a teenage sorority girl. She was condescending of everyone on the campus, and had the very high maintenance lifestyle that is normally portrayed in that archetypal female. But throughout this film, and throughout what happened to her, the development was done very well. She began to care about her surroundings and become appreciative of everyone, as the audience becomes appreciative of her as well. The writing definitely did her character justice, and I am delighted that she did not take on the generic "dumb blonde" trope that is grossly misused in film.

While this movie performed excellently in the areas previously mentioned, there were still some minor issues in the writing. There were scenes that seemed to be taken straight out of the "how-to-make-a-horror-movie" textbook and scenes that were superb. Some of the less-than-mediocre scenes, however, were very predictable and easily written in a matter of minutes. I do appreciate how clever the writing was, as it progressed from being very simple and typical to more complex and attention-grabbing. The problem was the predictable scenes were scattered in random places throughout the film, where it erred the pacing as well. Even though the writing was weak in a few spots, the screenwriters did a fantastic job of hiding the poison cupcake twist and the reveal of the killer. I never would have guessed that (spoilers) her roommate would have been the one to attempt to murder her. This brings up another of the questionable writing moments too. What kind of teenage girl would attempt to murder another over the assumed "stealing" of her boyfriend? While the writing hid the reveal brilliantly, it did not further the cause of "young women are more than just petty and dumb."

Happy Death Day is a very entertaining and engaging film that I would definitely recommend to any fan of horror. Or comedy. Or both. While the writing did not excel in all areas, it was supported by a great performance by Rothe and an interesting storyline. Overall, this film was very enjoyable and I would definitely re-watch it with friends. I do wish I had seen this in theatres because I know it would have been a very fun group experience, but for now, renting it from Redbox is good enough.

My Rating: ★★★½