jolerozeerio Reviews

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Kang Is Amazing

[7/10 · 18 February 2023]

This is my favorite of the Ant Man trilogy. In this movie, the Ant Family is taken hostage and spread across the Quantum Realm, discovering a truly dangerous madman at the center of this alternate universe plotting his escape. As always, the performances were incredibly fun to watch and it was nice being able to spend time with the Langs and the Pym's as they trek across this vast and surreal landscape.

Certain characters get more play than others, which is regrettable. Evangeline Lilly feels sidelined in this film which doesn't feel right given her characters importance in these movies thus far. Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer are charming as ever, Paul Rudd feels dynamic and confident in his third solo hero outing, but the real gem of this story is Jonathan Majors and Kang the Conqueror.

Unlike He Who Remains, Kang is without whimsy. He isn't playful or charming, he is ruthless and deeply driven to escape the Quantum Realm to continue his conquest across time and space. He is played with genuine menace and arrogance, truly displaying the danger he represents to the Avengers and the multiverse as a whole.

Overall, this is a strong, albeit inconsistent start to the MCU's Phase Five with the promise of more adventure to come.

Don't Worry Darling (I) (2022)

Is your happiness worth more than freedom?

[9/10 · 13 November 2022]

Beautifully acted, directed, composed, with a powerful cast bringing a utopian nightmare to life. The less you know walking in, the better. Far exceeded my expectations, and kept me captivated in mystery and horror till the very end.

The idealistic desert paradise of Victory is a dream stolen from the distant Nuclear Age, wherein house wives and working men live in perfect harmony. What begins in beauty, friendship, and the promise of betterment ultimately capsizes into a nightmare, robbing everyone and everything of their hopes, their triumphs, their autonomy.

What is the price of happiness? Would you sacrifice your freedom, the freedom of your great love, for happiness?

The Batman (2022)

Dark, Ambitious, We'll Executed Fun

[10/10 · 4 March 2022]

Director Matt Reeves set out with a star studded cast to bring a fresh but familiar take on the Batman mythos to the big screen with style and wit, and stuck the landing. Every frame could fit in a comic book, the performances are passionate and brought to life with a slow burn neo-noir twist. The Batman is an amalgam of Chinatown, Se7en, Saw, and the Dark Knight's early adventures in Year One and Zero Year. The film justifies it's 3 hour run time, taking the audience on a shadow odyssey through crime, corruption, justice, and black revenge.

The King's Man (2021)

Engaging, aesthetic, & fun

[7/10 · 17 February 2022]

I walked into this prequel having enjoyed the last two Kingsman movies, knowing well I'd be enjoying a light action comedy with neat action sequences. I liked the cast, the fun the script had with history, and the plot meandered a bit but I knew I was watching a prequel to a spy satire and not a historical drama. Overall, I had a lot of fun with this. If you enjoyed one or both of the Kingsman movies then you'll definitely find something to like here!

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

Matrix Redone

[5/10 · 24 December 2021]

The first movie changed cinema forever more than twenty years ago, combining eastern martial arts, big budget weapon blowouts, and a question often asked by many people; What if my life wasn't my life, what if I woke up and was strong enough to fly?

I was incredibly excited upon seeing the first trailer with this small lingering worry that I'd be in for a rehash. Many studios are stuck replaying their old hits without having the boldness or talent to create something new, resulting in this film. My enthusiasm for Resurrections capsized almost twenty minutes in. Everything after that felt like a chore to watch.

I enjoy the original film, and even parts of the sequels, but I don't really count this movie as canon. It does next to nothing new, and whatever fresh ideas or new characters that are introduced seem hollow. It was nice seeing Neo and Trinity again on the big screen, but I just hope it was done in a sharper, mor poignant way.

Spring (I) (2014)

Lovely, Bizarre

[9/10 · 29 October 2021]

Wow! A genuinely well crafted, beautifully shot, amazingly acted science fiction romance that captivated me from its first scene. A grieving young man takes himself to Italy, finding love and mystery within a local woman. They begin a relationship that's full of wit and charm, wonderment, mystery, and warmth.

Everything comes together in this modern science fiction masterpiece. By the end of the movie, I found myself genuinely happy having watched an incredible story.

Vivarium (2019)

Suburban Terror

[7/10 · 25 October 2021]

This slow-burn thriller settles on a happy couple seeking a new home, only to find themselves trapped in a lethal game. The cast is small but talented, and their chemistry as a couple and increasingly distant lovers is displayed with poise, reserve, angst, and horror. Eisenberg and Poots carry the entire film through its run time beautifully, bringing characters to life as they very gradually fall into mania.

The threat of the film is an unseen force, with subtle hints pointing towards an intergalactic threat that causes menace, confusion, and maddening fear all off screen. Their horrible trap is brought to life through synthetic clouds and identical nuclear age houses all within a warping maze that seems to haunt the characters the harder they try to escape. These otherworldly cuckoos create a nightmare without drawing a drop of blood.

Highly recommend this title to science fiction/horror fans. The pace is slow and steady, but the horrors on screen become more warped and lurid the more thought is given to them!

The Sandman (2020 Podcast Series)

King of Dreams, Lord of Nightmare

[10/10 · 4 September 2021]

A masterful adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Sandman. I'm a lifelong fan of Gaiman's work, from Neverwhere to American Gods, but Sandman is my absolute favorite piece. The direction, the voice acting, the narration from Gaiman himself is top tier entertainment. Something to enjoy before the Netflix series premieres this winter!

The Green Knight (2021)

Honor

[8/10 · 23 August 2021]

I was looking forward to this movie since the first trailer came out, and followed its production delays as they happened. I thought it'd never come out! And after just finishing the movie, I can say it was worth the wait. Gaiwan isn't a very clever he never shows himself to be a great warrior. But he made his quest, and I thought it was very beautiful. I didn't mind the pacing, I thoroughly enjoyed every performance and, especially, the direction. I enjoyed watching a character learn to be honest. He traversed giants, bandits, spirits, and more magic than I initially expected and in the end..? Well. I believe the Knight'a game was just about teaching Gaiwan honor, and that was a very beautiful way to close the story.

The New Mutants (2020)

Better Than I Expected

[7/10 · 14 November 2020]

After years of reshoots and delays, I finally got the chance to stream New Mutants and...it really was not all that bad. The bare bones of this story worked for me. I liked the cast, the characters, and the acting was spot on except for a few inconsistent accents. I wish there was a way to know what the original version of this was.