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Filmprobe
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The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Surprisingly enjoyable watch from beginning to end!
The Super Mario Bros Movie was not what I was expecting, from the beginning this movie was full of humour and originality. The world of Super Mario is so vast but they included countless details and references to the franchise. I thoroughly enjoyed noticing all the little characters, noises and locations which emulated the game. Originally, I was expecting a very child oriented movie, with a simplistic storyline and little conflict but I can honestly say I was thrilled with the narrative and really enjoyed the changes they made to incorporate Mario and Luigi into the world of Nintendo.
Yes, this is a children's movie but Universal seamlessly incorporated adult humour and a more serious tone to the film which makes it easily watchable for adults, adults who actually played the games! This film was enjoyable from beginning to end, Bowser was a brilliant character and voice by an even better actor. His story arc was really fun and added genuine threat to the other characters. The overall storyline was strong, easy to follow and had excellent amounts of detail.
Although there was some hesitation around Mario and Luigi's voices, I genuinely didn't mind that they were American. It was fun to see the characters in the 'real' world marketing off of their Italian heritage, the incorporation of their plumbing business was intelligent and I thought it fitted in well.
Luigi was definitely second to Mario, as usual, but his character could have benefitted from more screen time. Toad too, he was an adorable addition but didn't have much of an impact. I was also sad to see no Yoshi, only a little egg to represent him at one point.
Overall, this film was highly enjoyable and exceeded my exceptions. When I heard the hype I thought it was unnecessary but now, after watching, I can confirm it deserved the hype. The film as a whole had a strong storyline, strong character journeys and an impactful conclusion/ending. I really enjoyed the changes they made to Peaches character, she was a strong female alongside all the strong male characters and I liked that development from the games representation of her.
I have no doubt Universal are developing a second movie as we speak, with the addition of Super Mario Land in Universal studios the world is their oyster. Mario is such a universal icon, a character which should have had his own film a long time ago, luckily the film lived up to exceptions of the public and showcased a truly likeable and positive image of Mario and his friends. I hope this film encourages a new age of children who want to play Mario Kart and get back into Nintendo.
Atrabilious
A suspenseful, non-sensical thriller with powerful imagery and all star cast!
Atrabilious is a word to describe being melancholy or irritable, Leon Addison Brown stars as a heartbroken father (Steven) who longs to find the truth behind his sons sudden passing. We follow as Steven finds himself spiralling out of control, hoping to uncover the secrets of an unconventional healing method, cocktail bereavement co-ordination, taught by a so-called psychiatrist.
The first 25 minutes slowly build up to the shift in narrative, once Steven steps foot inside the Atrabilious bar the trajectory of the film changes and the characters go on a non-sensical journey of discovery, confusion and acceptance, never fully knowing the truth. With plenty of intriguing plot points and strong character choices, Atrabilious (2023) transforms into a suspenseful thriller with stylised cinematic choices and some great uses of colourful visuals.
Parker shot Atrabilious with an impressive list of A-list actors in New York City on a micro-budget similar to his first feature, Forty Winks (2022). Considering the low budget, Atrabilious (2023) has a unique storyline with some brilliant performances throughout. It can often feel like a dream, an ambitious narrative that introduces us to a collection of unconventional characters. After an hour we finally see a glimpse into the reality of the Atrabilious bar, the film takes a leap into murder and distraction, finally giving us the thrill and suspense promised with poor Steven at the centre of it all.
Overall, Atrabilious (2023) has a unique narrative which evolves from a subdued drama into a non-sensical thriller. I recommend this feature for any fans of a slow thriller, a gradual expression of grief and loss through some compelling storytelling. If you are a film fanatic or a filmmaker it would be very beneficial to check this film out, see how much you can achieve with a smaller budget.
A special thank you to the writer, producer and director of Atrabilious (2023) William Atticus Parker (Forty Winks) for sharing his new feature with me before its official release to the public. I look forward to see what he does next.
Glass Onion (2022)
Glass Onion (2022) A Knives Out Mystery to remember?
An intelligently written and directed piece of mystery, Glass Onion (2022) is a spectacle of drama and suspense. Described as 'A Knives Out Mystery' is it hard not to compare this movie to its predecessor, also directed by Rian Johnson. Glass Onion (2022) was easily an entertaining crime drama with shocking twists and fun moments, it reminded me of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, shipping everyone off to an exclusive island where they get murdered off one by one, although Glass Onion opted for a more comedic route rather than straight suspense and mystery. I found Daniel Craig's Detective to be slightly too dramatic this time, in Knives Out he remained removed from the drama, he was the overarching voice of reason whereas in Glass Onion he fell into a sort of 'comic relief' role which didn't quite suit his character. Especially when he 'ruins' the murder mystery party by revealing the outcome instantly, I think the film could have benefited from that structure and allowed the character to participate in the game whilst Benoit Blanc investigated.
After viewing I was pleased with the outcome and the finale, I found the murderer reveal to be profoundly predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. The reveal of Helen's double cross was interesting and added another layer to the narrative which brought back my attention but overall, the film lacked any real thrill or mystery. I found the characters to be dramatic caricatures rather than relatable people, I found Kate Hudson's Birdie to be borderline annoying along with a few of the others. Overall, Glass Onion (2022) had big shoes to fill, it had a lot to live up to and had every potential to do so but sadly, didn't quite do it. The narrative was intriguing but quickly became predictable which is the one thing a murder mystery should never be, in saying that, only two people died! It was hardly a murder mystery to begin with! Overall, a great family watch for one occasion but this film didn't tick all the boxes, it should have gone for the crime drama genre hard rather than attempting it slightly.
Written by: Film Probe.