nightringer-76840 Reviews

You Can't Run Forever (2024)

A Film by a the Simmons

[2/10 · 19 May 2024]

So, here's the dirty fact:

• directed and written by Michelle Schumacher, mrs Simmons
• starred by JK Simmons, the husband
• costarred by Emily Simmons, the daughter.

No matter how you pook at it, JK Simmons fell from grace by starring in this PoS.

Too many messages written into the film I complain about:

• the rangers/police written as dumb and bumbers
• anti-law
• anti-parenting
• anti-medical professional
• teenager did drug

The only saving grace is JK Simmons acting is very commendably good. This, however, is a proof of bad script and bad director can't be saved by good actor.

At least Simmons has something to reply on his nagging wife now.

Immaculate (2024)

Hollywood Scare Tactics Against Catholic Church

[2/10 · 23 April 2024]

This film is clearly Hollywood attempt to scare audience from Catholic church by illustrating the traditional Catholic as tribal witchery practice.

From choice of production sets, cinematography, special effects and costumes, it was very clear that this film designed and served as scare tactics against Catholic church. Currently, more and more actora and Americans came to Catholic church to regain their beliefs and sanity back. It was scaring those in powers. They decided to bombard young movie goers with misleading information.

First of all, Catholic convents don't showcase their members' sexuality. Sweeney's dresses were desgined to showcased her body curves. It's a Hollywood way of inviting nerds and geeks to drool over Sweeney's body with sexual desire.

Then, there's the main point of the story of dealing with unwanted birth of a baby. Trying to illustrate it's the mother's choice of ending a life.

In the end, there will be more films like this produced in Hollywood because they want young people to worship the actors on screen, instead of the church's teaching. With Mark Wahlberg's film praising Catholic church, this one was desgined to recruit hatred against Catholic church.

Are you smart enough as the audience to read the intention?

Damaged (2024)

Classic Thriller with Capable Actors

[6/10 · 14 April 2024]

This is a classic mystery thriller with who dunnit games. The best thing about Damaged (2024) is the actors exchanging their art of acting. Jackson, Cassel, Capaldi, and Hannah played their roles expertly. Exchanging words while expanding their characters even further.

For those who wants action scenes, wrong film. This3 who wants intellectual games of chess, this is for you.

The director played his budget well, focussing on good actors and practical old school visual effects. Right from the start, Damaged (2024) hooked me in and I couldn't atop watching until the end, along with some 'Wait, What?" moments.

Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)

Not As Good, But Still Entertaining

[5/10 · 13 April 2024]

KFP 4 was made a gateway to a nrw trilogy with new Dragon Warrior, a cunning thief fox Zien, played by Awkfinna. Compared to the first trology, this one was weak AF. The story was too simplistic, kinda offensively annoying. The villain was plainly bad and not even close to memorable as Tai Lung. And then the rest of warriors absence was sorely missed.

So why made the 4th installment? Because Hollywood needs money and a profitable franchise. That's why they do everything to get as much as they can before everything gone rick bottom.

The buggest question.that come to me as I watched KFP4: Why did Dustin Hoffman joined KFP4? Thus was a very forgettable role with few annoying lines. Even the rests of the stars didn't even make a peep.

Solo Leveling (2024– )

Style with Substance: Tge Breakout Manhwa

[10/10 · 1 April 2024]

Manhwa is a new term among the manga and anime fans. Manhwa is manga originating in South Korea. Solo Leveling was developed in partnership between Korea and Japan production house.

What's unique about Solo Leveling is the hero Jinwoo was zero to hero journey with unusual methods of leveling up. In the world where the most jobs available are as hunters, exploring dungeons and executing quests, Jinwoo is the weakest of all hunters. Despite being an assassin (hence the short blade), Jinwoo always got hurt of cut or bleed. Then he sacrificed himself to safe what left of his team members from a devastating double dungeon quest. He reached a secret quest as he was dying and earned "Player" status. Then the craziness was started.

Jinwoo's player mission formed him into a Class A or S hunter by the end of the season by finishing daily quest thrown at him by player virtual dashboard.

What's new and unique were the quests Jinwoo must completed everyday while he keeps maintaining his status as the lowest ranking hunter class E, but in truth he probably has reached class A.

First season was very successful, maintaining South Korean action style of bloody and fast actions combined with explosive Japanese anime style. And the cliff hanger ended first season by upgrading Jinwoo to a new secret job category, necromancer. Season 2 will be exciting as Jinwoo will being his own army of dead knights with him to be summoned at anytime.

Road House (1989)

Rewatching After the Remake

[9/10 · 23 March 2024]

This is a man's man film, the Americancs way.

Swayze truly set himself apart as the gentleman's cooler in this film and a poster boy for cool cowboy-like masculinity. Always smiling in politeness and kept himself calm while sending trouble makers away. Without doing much, Dalton attracted all the women around him.

Everyone has a part contributing to the whole story.

The doctor at first glimpse was the eye candy, but turned out to be the second guessing voice of Dalton's personality. She balanced Dalton's death wish attitude into a more grounded person.

Gazzara played one heck of a villain. A type of villain who would take anything coz he simply could. Not because he defined himself as a villain, but as a powerful rich man trying to keep his territory only for himself.

Frank, or Frankie in the new version, represented the voice of the community. When pushed too far, community stroke back with a vengeance. A warning for today's power olay every where in America. Do remember, community does strike back.

Love it or hate it, Road House is a poetic film of Americans life. 1 man can sparks a fire to burn the unwanted weeds and led the community fighting back.

Road House (2024)

Unnecessary Remake?

[6/10 · 22 March 2024]

A touch of rock & blues, blood & fists, and masculine hormone. That's Road House formula, through and through.

If the original showcased the doctor as eye candy, this one injected a couple of girlboss roles which had nearly no effect on the story. In fact they were more a nuisance than supporting the main story.

Gyllenhaal portrayal of Dalton was disappointing for me. Dalton was a cool and calm person in Swayze's portrayal, making Dalton's character a man's man. While Gyllenhaal was eratic when angry, almost lunatic.

Lyman's style of action was very recognizable. The close camera and shaky AF confused me rather than engaging. What did I see in thise fights? 1989 Road House was a martial art action flick, this one was an action drama. A little too far than the high expectations.

Then there's McGregor lunatic villain. He was the comedic and horror aspects of the film. Straight forward crazy dude with murderous habits. At least he was funny.

The most annoying part of 2024 Road House was the detective investigation part of the story. This was truly unnecessary and made the film dragging its feet on the rough sand. All Lyman needed was a small over hearing conversation scene to bridge the story.

In summary, I do feel 2024 Road House could be better if Lyman kept the story straighter, without the additional drama. Stylistic wise, Lyman's shaky close scenes were more annoying rather than engaging.

The Gentlemen (2024)

Guy Ritchie's All The Way

[9/10 · 13 March 2024]

What a signature film by Guy Ritchie!

Humorous, thrilling, violent, and dramatic in Ritchie's style.

Kudos to Theo James and Kaya Scodelario for carrying a heavy burden as 2 main characters. Their chemistry made this series a delightful series to enjoy.

Theo James had made a splash on choosing the right series to star in lately. Counting The Expanse, The Astronaut's Wife, and now The Gentleman. His carried himself a tad monotonous, but very effective as the leading man.

Scodelario had not been seen in a while. At first glance, you would thought that's Aubrey Plaza. But Kaya show cased her icy cold aura and cynicism to the character brilliantly. I couldn't help myself liking her evilness.

Old friends also gathered in The Gentleman. It's weird to see Vinnie Jones without his usual yelling, but he was believable as soft spoken game master.

In short: A MUST WATCH!!!!

Spaceman (I) (2024)

A Comedy Without Laughter

[7/10 · 6 March 2024]

Sandler made an interesting movie xhoice as dramatic actor. Spaceman is an indie weird film.

For my taste in scifi film, this is one heck of a boring one. It's very lonely, even claustrophobic at times. Sandler took the route of an everyday normal guy who happened to be in a solo space mission to visit a space cloud. His characterization was actually very impressively enjoyable for a boring film.

Paul Dano, again, with his unique interpretation of vocal portrayal of a space spider was surprisingly hipnotically calming, like a pro psychologist to slowly down play the increasingly rising psychotic attacks in Sandler's mind.

Now, imagine theae 2 actors played the reverse roles, Dano as the astronaut and Sandler as the spider. It would be straight to the point comedy play. But by placing them in reverse, Spaceman became a gem.

Mulligan, however, played her own inner battle and she showcased her A game, as usual. She's the candy for the audience as short breaks in between the slower conversation pieces between Sandler and Dano.

The crazy thing was, after watching the dramatic banters, we served with a short phone call between Sandler and Mulligan. And the husband & wife reunited. And I started to realized, it's a comedy without laughter.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024– )

Good with Flaws

[7/10 · 23 February 2024]

This time around, the real life adaptation of Avatar The Last Airbender hit the right spot, even if it's not at equal par with the original yet.

The 8 episodes of The Book of Water was pretty dang close, but several points kinda missing.

Saka became a comedic but understanding character was not 100%. Having to replace his father at young teenager age, Saka has bitter and very sarcastic rude comments here and there in the original series. Here, it's just comedic one liners without offending anyone. The point of showing his rude sarcastic personality was to gradually show growth in him because he will lead the water bender regardless having no bending power.

Uncle Iroh was played okay by Soon-Hyung Lee, but missing 1 side of personality, the jolly old man side. Lee, being a dramatic actor, has all feature visually and well acted almost all part of Iroh personality, but he just couldn't do the jolly old man side right.

Daniel Dae Kim was brilliant, playing the main villain with internal doubt trying to show his son that he cared. In fact Daniel did it better than the original drawing.

The kids were great, especially Aang characterization. The challenge of playing Aang was never the martial art of childish behavior, but Aang was always filled with sadness due to missing 100 years and lost all the people he grew up with. The movie failed to illustrated this sad part.

Let's see if Netflix made the second season.

The End We Start From (2023)

Indie Film Acting Lecture Material

[5/10 · 21 February 2024]

First of all, this film is slow, very slow. It relied on the actors heavily to convey the messages of the story.

I'm not an actor nor a director, but a storyteller and this story was about a journey away and home of a mother and her baby. Location and time didn't matter, it could be in China for all I care, only the story matter.

The A list actors performed remarkably well, even at a short seconds, they immediately showcased their personalities and acting experience. However, The End We Started From is not a mass consumption commercial film, regardless names like Jodie Comer, Mark Strong, and Benedict Cumberbatch in casts. But for film students and aspiring actors, I recommend you watch this film and witness every moment the actors acted their heart out and showcased their ability.

Land of Bad (2024)

It Could Be Better!!!

[6/10 · 19 February 2024]

There is something called imbalanced in film. Land of Bad is one with bad balance that prevented the film to be better.

Everything on the premise was good, if not great. The story was promising, and half way it went down the drain. It seemed the writers and director didn't know what to to maximize the first half impact. That's why Land if Bad fell in the B Movie category.

What went wrong?

• low budget was very apparent with the number of actors involved
• the bad guy's intro was spectacular, but torture session looked like a street gang trying to look cruel
• in US Army or any other armed forces, ignoring communication in is still severely punishable, especially in a critical mission. That colonel and his goons would be court-martialed.

• anyone believe fat Russel Crowe looked like a pilot or a retired pilot? Heck, no for me.

• sat phone don't work and will never work in a tunnel, not for a well, even more illogical through a concrete air vent.

Cult Killer (2024)

It's the Trend to Fight Human Trafficking Cult of the Powerful

[7/10 · 11 February 2024]

As soon as I found out from early scene that Banderas played Irish, I found it weird.

Overall, this film is very good. Not because of the story, but because of the actors. This film was acted very well by everyone in the cast.

Banderas was very convincing as Irish PI fatherly figure. I couldn't say anything else but he was abgood father and mentor to Alice Evecs character.

Alice Eve also played her character very well like a seasoned character actor. Her moody flashbacks dropped her down and up emotionally, and she did her just right, not too much, not too plain.

The villains was surprisingly scary, not because of the violence nor the insanity of human trafficking and torture, but because they played their characters like a regular town folks.

Overall, every actor in the cast played their role very well, a proof that the director was a good director.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024– )

Disappointing

[3/10 · 7 February 2024]

This series of Mr. & Mrs. Smith is almost unbearable to watch. Let me explain.

The actors did excellent jobs making their roles lovable personalities. However, do remember these are assassins that kill, kidnap, explode etc. This series humanized assassins as if they were everyday folks. That's okay since it a TV Series, fictional characters. So don't humanize them then. They were killing machines, let them be killing machines.

The humor in the first 2 episodes were okay. Then the rests of episodes are stale, except for the episode with Ron Perlman that proved Perlman is still one heck of character actor.

Imagine watching The Brady Bunch then suddenly bulelts flying around around you, the vibe of the story was not right. Good actors can't save bad story.

BUCCHIGIRI?! (2024– )

Whiny Main Hero

[5/10 · 2 February 2024]

Buchigiri is a remake of an anime movie by the same title. I don't remember whether I've watched the previous version of film or not, but I do get annoyed a lot by the main hero being a whiny and live in his unrealistic fantasy of ideal relationship.

The supporting characters, however, were all great and enjoyable. A lotal friend who vouched and tried to protect him at all time, a genie who longed for a powerful human to sync with, a girl he fell for who was a psychotic, big brother lover, her big brother who was psychotic violence gang head, and more characters yet to introduced.

The action and humor were well timed and fun AF. The comical violence drew at minimum a smile. But the main hero being a whiny boy turned me off and less interested.

The Beekeeper (2024)

Art Copied Real Life?

[9/10 · 31 January 2024]

Imagine a redneck beekeeper trail blazed thru corporate and political organizations and eliminated the son of US President who was the ehad of a syndicate of illegal money scamming organizations.

Beekeepers are an organization built to be the watch dog of balance in political landscape. They do what must ne done to recover the balance of power players.

A retired Beekeeper (Statham played Clay) found his landlady committed suidcide after being scammed of $2 mill of her charity organization fund. He went rampaging thu the corporate organizations that acted the scam and left trail of bodies.

He found out, the son of the US President was the head of the scammer organizations. He stormed Presidential house and eliminate the imbalance of political power.

Ayer created a discussion point of a movie, an art that copied life. Statham played his regular menacing stoic retired Beekeeper. Beekeepers HUNT til the end.

Lift (I) (2024)

F Gary Gray is Back & Kevin Hart Acted

[8/10 · 20 January 2024]

The face of the film might be Kevin Hart, but the guy that orchestrated this film was F Gary Gray, the director of Italian Job. Lift has Gray's story flow and al lot of twists-turns along the film.

The robbery is still gold, but this time was up in the air. So consider this is Italian Job sequel that was never made. That's why Kevin Hart played a very toned down character, just like Mark Wahlberg played in Italian Job. Some rewriting and we have Lift.

For me Lift is a very enjoyable film, but 1 very awkward aspect of this film that broke the audience perception was Kevin Hart without panic screaming, throwing cowardice one liner, and played his character with a straight face and lower vocal tonality, which made him a very serious character. That is effing weird. Looks like I've underestimated Hart's acting ability.

Father Stu (2022)

The World Desperately Needs This Inspirational Film

[9/10 · 16 January 2024]

As a Catholic myself, I usually avoid any Catholic theme Hollywood films coz they usually overly focus on the torturous struggle and romanticize the 'torture'. I believe that Mark Wahlberg is truly inspired by the real Father Stu and this film is his way to express how he feels.

Yes, there's a struggle in Father Stu's life and Rosalind Ross and Wahlberg chose to romanticize Father Stu idea of faith is a journey to live by, instead of glorifying the pain. That takes one hell of faith to hold on and carried daily till he died.

Wahlberg's take on Father Stu's physicality us a courageous move. Funding this film on his own coz Hollywood rejected it, that's another story to write about. This is an inspirational story of a regular man who has nothing but faith to live his disease cursed body, yet he live to spread what he believed to be an encouragement for others to face their lives. The world needs this kind of film desperately, not those beautifully painted empty fantasy films.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023)

Overly Dramatic Cowboy Flick

[5/10 · 31 December 2023]

Considering Sheridan's name is mentioned in credit as producer and strong cowboy theme, this mini series is disappointing in so many level.

First, it tried to imitate Jango with over loaded drama. If you want to make drama in cowboys era with slavery as the main theme, go for it as a movie. But if you're making a cowboy flick with the main hero obsession to hunt a villain, focus on that. Bass Reeves, instead, focus of redemption of criminals which a judge appointed them as deputy marshals and told a story how they tried to uphold their integrity while chasing slaves and alave masters. Too much conflict of interest that didn't get settled and it made this series a waste of time to watch.

Second of matter is family drama Reeves' wife had to live because of her husband's absence. Here we have a group of separatist trying to build a country on their own with their own rule, but throughout the story, remained untouched by laws.

The third annoying matter is the pace was both too alow and too fast. It's like the writers didn't know how to tell the story without being overly political and how not to make strong statements. In short, pointless.

Sorry to say to Sheridan's fans, but this is his worse series.

Fast Charlie (2023)

Brosnan in His Famous Style

[5/10 · 30 December 2023]

This film basically brought back Brosnan in his most famous style, a debonair and focused man in suit. In his 70, Brosnan looked good, but his aging was certainly made him slower and tired. At least he tried his best reducing his weight so he looked good enough topless.

Morena Baccarin as the female lead down played her looks to play a street tested, crime experienced girl.

James Caan looked too old to play any movie. I didn't recognize him at first glance.

Overall, the story of gangster's right hand man rampaging to defeat a new generation of gangster was actually quite interesting. However, the director made the enemies kinda dumb make the film less exciting. Fast Charkie is good enough for TV:

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)

Brilliant Expansive Universe Created

[9/10 · 27 December 2023]

For those who hated Zack Snyder, they always expect something simple and straight forward because their imagination is very limited to Disney's spoon to mouth approach.

This is an introduction to a far larger universe than expected. A rebellion against a space empire conqueror.

For those who have watched other Snyder's film, he always illustrated a larger than life heroes like an obsession. We can see them in Sucker Punch, 300, JL and now Rebel Moon. Snyder always put his creation of hero on a pedestal of greatness and all their weaknesses, regardless of their gender. That's why his creation of Sucker Punch and Rebel Moon are so difficult to accept at first, then became iconic as time developed.

Rebel Moon is not a story about Kora, but a story about a conqueror empire and the struggle within them. Kora became the center of this initial story because of her relation Princess Issa, the presumed dead Princess.

Using 7 Samurai as inspiration and a lot of nods to successful space franchises, it gave Rebel Moon a relatable and understandable platform to introduce this vast universe. This is not shrinking world of Star Wars and Star Trek. This is not a studio dictated world of DC or Marvel. Rebel Moon showcased how vast Snyder imagination truly is.

For haters, I would like to remind them how ridiculous Star Wars A New Hope was when first introduced, how ridiculous Star Trek OG series was, and so on. But time has proven them to have fanatical followers.

Rebel Moon could be one such space saga. Learning from the failure of Watchowski's Jupiter Ascension, Snyder took his time to develop the illustration of Rebel Moon universe, a lesson learned from his Watchmen and Justice League. Why do you think Disney, Warner and other major studios are afraid of Snyder? Because Snyder can build a vast cinematic universe.

And no, AI didn't write Rebel Moon script, Snyder did.

Obliterated (2023)

3 Episodes In, It's 80s Galore & Better Than 90% of Marvel's TV series

[6/10 · 26 December 2023]

For those recently born, this series is the summary of all action sexploitation B-Movies in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Particularly 80s because this type of films is the standard wet dreams for high school boys. The actresses in this genre were graduates Playboy and Penthouse Playmates.

Story and film-wise, Obliterated stank and absolutely amateurish at best. However, the girls are pretty and boys are hung. And that is the attraction. You don't watch Obliterated for artistic film artistry, you watch it because you are bored with the world and needing some brainless actions flick, with guns and exploitative parts of human's body. Incredibly, Obliterated is more superior entertainment than most of Marvel's TV series and movies.

One tormenting yet funny AF, with Obliterated, I've seen more than enough of C Thomas Howell to last me a last time, literally from all side and condition.

The Family Plan (2023)

Script Needed Major Rewrites

[3/10 · 25 December 2023]

4 experienced and senior action flick actors: Wahlberg, Monaghan, Maghie Q and Ciaran Hinds couldn't improve the bad dialogs in this potentially good script.

The writer followed too much on horror style of writing that the story telling became stale before it bloomed. Action film must have a very snappy jokes and action scenes. The first action scene in the supermarket could have been a memorable scene, but both the director and writer overshot the script and focused too much on the action instead. Wahlberg humorous one liners became so stale that the exciting fight scene became cringing with disappointment.

And what woth Disney-fied violence scenes? All the villains didn't get killed in the first half of the film, until the big daddy baddy appeared.

Every main character looked ridiculously comical and not enjoyable at all. If you want to make a comedy action, do so but don't make a family friendly violent film. Choose your style: Home Alone or Undercover Blues? But don't do Home Alone in Die Hard style, which The Family Plan became.

Silent Night (2023)

Instant Classic John Woo

[9/10 · 25 December 2023]

Silent Night has John Woo's signature choreographed violence to the max. Unlike his old movies, Silent Night has the humanistic violence dance written all over.

The mainhero being mute created a singular unique characteristics to make Silent Night a nearly silent movie, filled with sound of violence, guns, screeching tires, metal grinding against metal, and splatters of blood and flesh.

Those who complained about how this film was not in John Woo's class had to be looking for comical violence from 80s and 90s. This is the new John Woo's style for the last 3 decades. A far more grittier atyle.

Kinnaman, as main actor and producer, understood it well. Silent Night will become a movie to talk about in the future. The dark lighting, grittier car chase and hand to hand fight (with or without guns) were amazingly choreographed.

If there's anything to improve, I would cast a better actor to play the main villain. The cruelty was there, but lacking memorable evil was very apparent.

Another signature Woo's style was the hero and another counter part in law enforcer, which played by Kid Cuddy. Cuddy played the character with cold calculative eyes and done a very good job.

One big note: Silent Night is not a movie you can watch once and to be judged how the movie quality is. You need to watch it 2-3x to understand the strange story telling approach Woo had taken and made Silent Night a strangely captivating cinematic experience.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher (2023) Season 1, Episode 1

Disney's Wanted to Say They Are UNTOUCHABLE

[4/10 · 25 December 2023]

What's wrong with this pilot series: 2 main problem

No. 1 - Casting. Disney's trying to say, they are untouchable and will always do their poisonous policy. The casting of 2 main characters are very annoying, especially when there's a previous big screen version. Mr. Brunner was played by the enigmatic Pierce Brosnan in the movie, and doen played by Disney to a black man. It's Greek mythology, that means tan European, not African American. The same as the girl sidekick that made Alexandra Dadario famous. Very, very annoying.

No. 2. The intro suppose to explain a lot more to make the pilot more enjoyable, but somehow they assumed the audience knew the story. That says a lot about the people behind the creation of this pilot episode, they have too much on their plate and ended up making a B-quality episode instead. What a waste of such opportunity.

In summary, it's Disney's ruining beloved stories, again.