taj-james-holmes Reviews

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Low blow to Wonder Woman

[3/10 · 6 August 2021]

It's shocking to me that a film that'd spent so much time in pre/post production prior to release could turn out this bad. I don't understand why measures weren't taken with all of that extra time to make a better film.

Such an insult, such a character assassination and I've lost respect for a whole lot of the situation.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

The Suicide Squad we DESERVED!

[9/10 · 5 August 2021]

Good cinema grabs you by the heart and pulls you along for the ride. I don't know what else to say to encourage you to see this film other than that.

I will say that James Gunn understands this and all of these characters so see the film!

I promise you it's worth the adventure.

Suicide Squad (2016)

Tragedy or Travesty?

[4/10 · 19 May 2020]

Forcing an unlikely group of twisted, ragtag villains to work together and act against their own self-interest has all the hallmarks of a character-driven tragedy. The initial marketing boasted promise, I gave studio executives who were so clearly trying to rival another company's success the benefit of the doubt. Now I see that the joke was on me.

Scoob! (2020)

An Identity Crisis for Scooby-Doo

[5/10 · 17 May 2020]

I can see what they were going for by crossing over with other Hanna-Barbera characters, but in doing so, I think that they stripped away a lot of what makes Scooby-Doo so great. I was always drawn in by Mystery Inc's skepticism to all things supernatural and as a child, I felt that I could dip my toe into something spooky but the humour and adventure would balance it all out. Even in this film, snippets of the gang's spooky hijinks were the highlight for me and without that - I feel that there is no Scooby-Doo. In saying that, the animation was beautiful, I do love these characters and I think that Zac Efron was a perfect casting choice for Fred. I feel thankful that this has gone straight to streaming rather than a wide theatrical release, as I can only hope that a new generation finds a better entry point into Scooby-Doo rather than this film.

Twilight (I) (2008)

Undeniably Atmospheric

[7/10 · 9 May 2020]

There's an atmosphere to Twilight and that much you simply cannot deny. I can't help but be engrossed by the way that this movie captures the beauty, dreariness and nature of the Pacific Northwest. A memorable score and soundtrack heighten Catherine Hardwicke's broody, yet still enchanting tone. Elliot Davis' cinematography under her direction replicates the indie flair prominent in her other features, this is what separates it apart from the commercially realised sequels that followed. It's a hot and cold, gothic romance with just enough high stakes to enchant you until the very end. If it's raining, you can best believe that I'm slipping into something comfortable and putting Twilight on.

The Florida Project (2017)

Perfect Solution to an Impossible Situation

[10/10 · 30 April 2020]

The film's central character Moonee comes across initially as a brat, but as the film transpires you begin to understand her rambunctiousness. Her colourful gleefulness towards life emphasised by the film's vignetted storybook visuals shows how she escapes from circumstance into a magical kingdom. The film's finale depicts a perfect solution to an otherwise impossible situation and that's where it tugged on my heart strings.