robin196 Reviews

The Iron Claw (2023)

Larger than life...

[10/10 · 22 December 2023]

I knew that this was based on a true story and I'd watched one trailer before going into it. Aside from that, I went into this movie completely blind; I'm not a wrestling fan and I didn't research anything about the Von Erichs before seeing this.

This film is so tragic that I found myself astounded by the fact that it was based on a true story. It feels like something out of a Greek tragedy or Stephen King novel. Unfortunately, it's neither: this is the story of an obsessive and unfeeling man who forced his failed dreams onto each of his sons ... and the catastrophes it caused... Everyone who talks about "The Iron Claw" is going to rave about how great of a job Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White are in this (and don't get me wrong, they're PHENOMENAL), but I was especially blown away by Harris Dickinson's portrayal of David Von Erich; he carried every scene he was in with a larger-than-life, yet supportive persona.

"The Iron Claw" is more than good enough to earn a couple of Oscar nominations next year ... but based on the recently released shortlist and strong competition, I doubt it's going to make it.

Regardless, I still recommend this unbelievable and emotional movie. I hope I'll get the chance to see it again before it leave theaters...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

Made me feel like a kid again

[10/10 · 1 August 2023]

I wasn't into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when I was growing up, so I'm not a "huge fan" or a "lore aficionado". I'm sure there's things that this gets wrong about the Turtle mythos and I'm not going to be surprised to hear people say: "This isn't my 'TMNT!'" With that being said, I've been going through a really hard time these past few weeks. I lost my job and it feels like nothing's been going my way. I've been desperately looking for something to cheer me up and make a feel a little better about the world and life ... and "Mutant Mayhem" did that... It was funny, epic, and emotional when it needed to be. I loved the soundtrack, voice-acting, editing, and animation. I loved learning about the Turtles and watching them progress throughout the story. I loved pretty much everything about it.

It's obvious that everyone involved in this project had so much fun being a part of it and I just hope that people will experience that same fun when they go to see this...

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

A fun ride that often fails to take itself seriously

[8/10 · 10 July 2022]

I went into "Love and Thunder" expecting another "Ragnarok" (the best MCU movie, in my opinion!) ... but that is not what I got.

Don't get me wrong; this isn't a terrible movie. It hasn't made me lose my faith in the MCU and there is still a lot to like. The vibrant visual effects and exciting action sequences are present ... but this movie is so focused on jokes (most of which are poorly placed and unnecessary) that you could easily label it a comedy. Marvel has always had a satisfying balance of comedy, action, and drama in its movies, but the constant and forced jokes in this film completely overpower everything else.

"Love and Thunder" also suffers from the fact that the bigger the MCU gets, the more plot holes it raises. Why didn't Thor and company go to Omnipotence City for help against Thanos? Why didn't Thor and company look for Eternity in the fight against Thanos? You seriously mean to tell me that there was not a single god or goddess in that Omnipotence City (INCLUDING THE WAKANDAN GODDESS BAST) who didn't want to help stop Gorr? These are just some of the questions that'll be running through your head if you think long and hard about "Love and Thunder".

At the end of the day, if you didn't like the darker, scarier tone of "Multiverse of Madness", you'll probably love this movie. If you're looking for a tonally-balanced MCU flick like the "Guardians of the Galaxy" movies or "Thor: Ragnarok", you're going to walk out of this one disappointed.

Superman (1978)

Magical, timeless, inspiring, beautiful.

[10/10 · 15 May 2022]

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I watch it whenever I've had a bad day and it never fails to cheer me up. It's definitely campy and cheesy, but it's also loads of fun. The performances all around are magnificent, the score is iconic, the pacing is beautiful, the special effects are incredible (ESPECIALLY when you consider the time period), it's an absolute masterpiece. Without "Superman: The Movie", we would not have the Sam Raimi "Spider-Man" Trilogy, the MCU, "The Dark Knight" Trilogy, or ANY superhero movies.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

What can I say? I LOVED it!

[10/10 · 8 May 2022]

There's exciting action from the get-go ... but "Multiverse of Madness" also is t afraid to let its guard down with several heartbreaking, tear-jerking moments. The villain's motivations are sympathetic and understandable, there are plenty of great moments sprinkled in for both new and returning characters, the visual effects are absolutely breathtaking, it was AMAZING! Easily one of my top five, maybe even top three, favorite MCU movies!

Morbius (2022)

Forgettable.

[6/10 · 2 April 2022]

This movie is the textbook definition of "meh". It's not one of the worst comicbook movies I've ever seen, but I'm not even really sure if I'd call it a good comicbook movie. It'll keep you entertained for two hours and I think its fair to say that Jared Leto and company put some real effort into this, but you're not going to be reminscing on this one or running back to the theaters to see it again.

Nightmare Alley (2021)

Del Toro does it again!

[10/10 · 28 December 2021]

"Nightmare Alley" isn't as good as "The Shape of Water" or "Pan's Labyrinth" ... but it's still one of Guillermo deal Toro's best. It's a haunting, sinister, and enthralling film that you won't be able to take your eyes off of.

Every time I walk away from a del Toro movie, end up craving more of his work; "Nightmare Alley" is no exception.

House of Gucci (2021)

VERY well done!

[8/10 · 5 December 2021]

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this one. I've heard some call it "boring" and others call it "so bad that it's good", but I didn't feel that way at all. This is a captivating and mesmerizing film that has thoughtful dialogue, fantastic performances, a unique soundtrack, and gripping visuals. I'll definitely be buying this one on Blu-ray when it comes out because I can't stop thinking about it!

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Spectacular.

[10/10 · 3 December 2021]

"The Power of the Dog" is an eerie and suspenseful ride that grabs you and never lets you go. The performances are magnificent, Johnny Greenwood's score is memorable and translucent, the cinematography is breathtaking, I absolutely loved it. I've heard so much buzz about this movie heading to the 94th Academy Awards and it's not hard to see why.

Sound of Metal (2019)

Mesmerizing.

[10/10 · 3 December 2021]

Riz Ahmed delivers the best performance of his career in this emotional and powerful film about a man who has to come to terms with a change in his life. It's captivating, it's realistic, it grabs you and never lets you go. If I was on the Academy, this definitely would've had my vote for Best Picture.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

A love letter to the original two films.

[10/10 · 28 November 2021]

"Ghostbusters: Afterlife" brings the fun and witty magic of the "Ghostbusters" franchise without relying on fan service or rewriting the canon. It's an immensely entertaining film that embodies the term "fun-for-the-whole-family".

Last Night in Soho (2021)

Not Edgar Wright's best, but still pretty damn good!

[8/10 · 26 November 2021]

I don't think "Last Night in Soho" is as good as "Baby Driver", "Hot Fuzz", or "Shaun of the Dead", but you can still tell that everyone involved in this was incredibly passionate about this project. The editing and cinematography are mesmerizing, the soundtrack's amazing, and the story is really unique and interesting. Sometimes the writing was a little too "on the nose" and at the start of the third act, things started to get really predictable ... but I would still buy this on Blu-ray and watch it again.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)

LOVED it!

[9/10 · 25 November 2021]

It's obvious that the people who made this played the "Resident Evil" games and loved them. They do make a few hiccups here and there (Leon gets dumbed down a lot, Jill takes a backseat in the story, etc.), but it's still a faithful adaptation of the games. I'd happily go see this again and plan on buying it on Blu-ray. Finally! A video game movie that isn't complete garbage!

Eternals (2021)

Not worth your time or money.

[2/10 · 21 November 2021]

This is not only the worst movie in the MCU; it's one of the worst superhero movies I've ever seen. "Eternals" is a frustrating, boring, and lifeless film that does not feel like it belongs in the MCU. It completely throws the power hierarchy of the MCU out the window and introduces SO many plot holes.

All of the actors looked bored out of their minds, the story is bogged down with exposition and pseudo-intellectual nonsense, the score is forgettable, the humor falls flat on its face, it's just an ungodly mess.

If you're looking to get caught up on the MCU, you can skip this one. It doesn't affect the current course of the MCU and the impact that it attempts to have make no sense.

Alternatively, give your money and time to movies like "The French Dispatch", "Last Night in Soho", or "King Richard": films that don't have the luxury of being under a cinematic universe and actually had to put in some effort.

The French Dispatch (2021)

Absolutely magnificent.

[10/10 · 21 November 2021]

I've never seen a Wes Anderson movie and walked away from it disappointed ... and "The French Dispatch" is no exception. A unique plot structure, fluid dialogue, hilarious humor, immersive performances, and masterful cinematography are the orchestra of this cinematic symphony. Don't miss this one!