armandicoag Reviews

The Color Purple (2023)

Release

[6/10 · 19 April 2024]

I don't have much to say about the film, I know that it is a remake or something similar of a film that deals with the difficulties that African Americans have to integrate into a society until recently I considered them as outcasts, however, when doing it in the form of a musical I feel that it takes away the seriousness and depth of the characters in the story and we are left with only the most superficial layers that each character can give us. I don't dislike musicals, on the contrary, I want to think that I like them, but it is unwise to occupy them in a story that could have been so interesting. I'll watch the original movie and I think it will be a good starting point.

With this film in mind, we begin with the promise of knowing the story of several women: sisters with an abusive father, a singer with a religious father, a liberal woman, etc. They all suffer and we hope to see how they overcome their adversities, but instead, it seems that they magically solve their problems so they can move on and tell us that they always believed, that they always had faith. This without telling us why they endured and why they had faith. In addition to the protagonist, the other characters do not seem to have development or growth or anything that warrants their problems being resolved, it seems as if everything happens by magic, but with the real implications that the resolutions of the problems can bring.

Unfortunately we live in a world that is not magical, on the contrary, it is cruel and it seems that the film intends not to demonstrate cruelty towards one of the groups that perhaps historically have been most punished by human cruelty, it only strives to show us the cruelty that the same group has among themselves.

The Iron Claw (2023)

Finish The Story And Fulfill Dad's Dream

[8/10 · 19 April 2024]

I have to be very honest and say that I am at a point in my life where I don't know if I can be completely objective about this film. After nearly 10 years of leaving the world of professional wrestling as a spectator, in recent times I have rediscovered my love for sports entertainment and WOW! I couldn't have chosen a better time to see this movie.

I don't know when you are reading this, but today that I see the movie (March 2024) along with the story of this movie, professional wrestler Cody Rhodes has been back in WWE for just over a year, after a series of adventures and misadventures that he had with his family, with the WWE and in other wrestling promotions, and he is about to finish his (cinematic) story and fulfill the dream that his father could never fulfill, conquering the world title most important event of the company, in the biggest and most important event of the company in recent years, all this before the most dominant champion we have had in the last 35 years and the biggest superstar that WWE has created, how can I not see with pure love that movie?

Human relationships in any story always tell us how to feel things, seeing how children want to satisfy their father at the expense of even their own dreams is something so common in many films that it could fall into cliché, but in addition to the disgust that this can create in children, I think we hardly see the negative consequences that not doing what you want can bring and how at the same time we are incapable of admitting disagreements and we try to justify everything as "a family curse."

What an incredibly good film, the story of the Von Erich children leaves nothing to the imagination in terms of anger, frustrations, pleasure, displeasure and happiness. Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Holt McCallany handle their family interactions, good and bad, with complete mastery. There is no way not to empathize with them, you want everyone to do well, for everyone to achieve their goals. When you understand that the brothers, despite everything, always wanted the best for all of them, just to be together, that for them that was worth everything, it was worth all the sacrifices, you can't help but feel a terrible frustration at how the parents were not interested in doing things. Nothing for them, they only saw for themselves.

How beautiful to know that, even in this fiction, the Von Erich brothers are together waiting for Kevin.

As Zac Efron has grown as an actor, I don't think there is anything he can't do.

Robot Dreams (2023)

Knowing How To Let Go Or Insist Enough

[8/10 · 19 April 2024]

I must admit that it was difficult for me to start watching this movie, I think that knowing that it talked about human relationships made it difficult for me to humanize the robotic characters and although the story of the characters envelops you from the first minutes, the reality is that it ended up completely connecting with you. The movie until it shows you at the end and you discover how everything makes sense and how everything has to do with each other. What a powerful scene, what a powerful music, what a powerful message, it seems incredible to me that the best way to talk about human relationships is in a universe of humanoid animal beings and robots, that only confirms a phrase that I always say: "Human relationships They are complex", something that this film manifests wonderfully. You can empathize and justify each act of the protagonists, even if it seems that it does not make sense or if you think that there is another better way to do things, even so, you enter into despair of not being able to do more or even what could have been done. Made.

When other characters begin to interact with the protagonists you feel that they are the villains because they distance them from the main objective of meeting again, but you realize that this is life, the paths do not take you where you thought, not things as one would like, always. There will be a thousand and one factors that can interfere with reaching the end and this may not be what you expected... Speaking of relationships, of course.

It is a fun film, full of fun references and with a brutal choice of soundtrack, because I forgot to mention it, it is surprising that today when animation is being judged so harshly and part of the industry wants to relegate it to "for children", a film animated can convey so much to you without a single dialogue, without a single damn dialogue.

It's not perfect, I had problems with the length because at some point it was difficult for me to know if I would finish it or not, but to be honest I don't know what I would take away from it since I believe that all the elements help to create and understand the different relationships that are created or not. And how ephemeral you can be. The only thing I would do is try to change the pace somehow.

The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story (2023)

Superheroic Anxiety

[7/10 · 19 April 2024]

If any of us in our daily lives with normal problems face fears, stress, anxiety, etc. I can only imagine what Miles, being so young and inexperienced, may be facing, but, although Miles does not always remember or keep it in mind, he counts on his dad who always, despite everything, has time for whatever his son needs.

In this universe the animation is fabulous and on this occasion the way in which they occupy it in the protagonist's environment to make you feel his emotions is brutal and scary. Besides that, I don't have much to add, being such a fan, having any extra of the spider-verse is always appreciated, but unfortunately the short film is so short that I don't even have time to enjoy it.

Tangled (2010)

And This Flower?

[7/10 · 27 March 2024]

On my list of movies to see there are 2 Disney animated movies that are highly acclaimed by the general public that I have not had the opportunity to see, this is one of them and now I understand why it is so loved.

The story, although classic of the princess with a wish, the bad lying witch and the charming hero, on this occasion tells us how the innocence of a pure and innocent soul can transform a town, a family, even a thief and wonderfully to a horse.

Being a film aimed at children, of course the plot has the classic conveniences of this type of film. I will never understand how the magical golden flower could be emulsified in a tea or give its powers from the hair, how Mother Gothel could not continue to occupy her power at the same time as share it with the queen to avoid being discovered or even obtaining some benefit, but hey, things in life.

I make special mention of Flynn's decision to cut Rapunzel's hair knowing that he would surely die, but knowing that it would free the princess from Mother Gothel's control, that's being a hero.

Noche De Bodas (2024)

Don't See It

[1/10 · 27 March 2024]

I can only talk and remember how much I didn't enjoy this movie.

I went to see it with my grandmother who is a 84 year old lady, generally when I go out with her I think that only a bad meal can ruin our day, well, this movie could have been something that will ruin our very special day if not It was because the moment came when my grandmother told me how bad she thought it was and we decided to just laugh at how ridiculous the whole show we were watching seemed to us. It is unreal to me to think that there is a government institute dedicated to giving money to companies to encourage them to make films and they decide to invest in this type of films. Where can one file a complaint about this?

I have a great appreciation for Ludwika Paleta, in my mind she is a person who has done a lot for the entertainment industry in Mexico, so I really hope that they paid her a ridiculous amount of money, so that it was worth having her name be in this movie.

I give it half a star because it is literally impossible to give it zero and for it to be settled with that rating.

The Holdovers (2023)

The Forgotten Will Always Be Forgotten

[7/10 · 26 March 2024]

From the title of this film I understand that it tries to make a simile of how society separates certain groups or certain people to continue functioning, neglecting them regardless of their fate; The mother whose son has just died, the failed teacher and the fatherless and motherless are people that society does not want to deal with and simply forgets them.

However, the only thing this film gives me is not how they join society, how they try to function in it or how society should get them back, the only thing it gives me is the knowledge that only among themselves can they find a group. Of support to face the adversities to which they are immersed due to this system that abandoned them. If that is indeed the message of the film, it is sad to know that in such a vast and diverse society, the forgotten will always be forgotten.

I think this is the first time I've seen Paul Giamatti in a dramatic role, he does it wonderfully.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

I Hope It's A Successful And Long-Lasting Franchise.

[10/10 · 26 March 2024]

Although today, without having reviewed it, I am aware that it was not like that, during my childhood it seemed to me that dozens of years passed between installments 4 and 5 of Harry Potter, this because with the economy as limited as it can be Having a child of approximately 10 years old, I raised money to purchase the first trilogy of the saga and a godmother gave me the fourth film when it was just released. Without exaggeration, I saw those movies hundreds of times, without fear of being wrong I could say that I know them almost by heart from so many days I saw them. I never took into account the future releases that were coming and when I learned of their existence, my excitement and my love for cinema began to flourish.

That's exactly what I want to do with Dune and Dune: Part Two, I want to watch them again and again and again until I wear out the digital copy on Max or whatever platform they're going to be released on in a few months. I want all my friends and people close to me to see them so I can talk about them and understand things that I may not have even paid attention to at first.

I was simply delighted with everything this film gave us, technical aspects, story, script, acting, etc. But as always, mainly when I tell the story of Paul Atreides and how well it is told, I have nothing more to say than praise for the production.

It is the second audiovisual material (the first was the Invincible series) that I found so good that I had or have the need to visit the source material, solely to learn more about this universe.

The Zone of Interest (2023)

We Live In An Already Super Perverted Society

[7/10 · 26 March 2024]

For me personally it is always a difficult moment when I have to choose to watch a film that is being praised for its technical aspects and not for its story, which is what I like and enjoy most about films in general.

The winner of the 2024 Oscar for best foreign film tells the story of how the family of a Nazi general lives luxuriously and comfortably next to the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Second World War and tries to criticize how the people who live In that house they got used to hearing the atrocities that happen only a few meters away from them. I understand that a few years ago that would have been a very powerful message and worthy of reflection, however in a time in which we share memes when a public figure is wrong, in which we spread gossip faster than we can truly understand and even in which we spread fake news without even having the minimum criterion of verifying the information or anything, I think that this message lacks deep meaning and is definitely not something that is important or relevant today, just like in the movie, People today care more about their lives and status, and continuing with them, than what happens to their neighbor. I think it is sad and disgusting that this is our reality, but unfortunately or fortunately that is how it is.

As for cinematographic aspects, I am left with the comparison they make at the end of the film of how we are capable of ignoring the desensitization that our subconscious shows us today and has not pointed out since then and since we continue to do it, the film is simply a reminder of how Society is sick today and will hardly be cured In case I needed to mention it, I watched this movie from home, so I can't say it's the best way to do it because of the sound aspect for which this movie is praised, but I honestly don't think it's an impediment to watching it either.

I wonder... What would 18 or 15 year old Armando have thought of this movie?

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training (2024)

More Of The Same

[7/10 · 26 March 2024]

It is always a pleasure to see the effort that the designers put into the animation of this series, everything they do allows a series with a story just above average to become something majestic because of the way they show it, Unfortunately, since it is simply 3 chapters of a series that we have already seen together, little more can be said about what has already been observed.

More than an experience going to see a movie, it is watching a series on a gigantic screen, of which unfortunately 90% of the story they tell you you already know and you are only left wanting more. Not that this is bad. Just what is what is.

Poor Things (2023)

Dr. Frankenstein In Acids

[8/10 · 30 January 2024]

I don't know how I feel after having seen this movie.

Although actions and photography appreciate that good, production seems to me but questionable. I understand that scenarios such as the cliff with poor on the side of the Millionaires hotel tries to demonstrate a point but for the universe in which they are developing the film, it does not seem functional or real.

I understand the madness that Bella causes in all for its naivety and beauty and that is why Stone will take the Oscar for best actress, but in general it seems to me the story of Dr. Frankenstein but in drugs, in a wonderful world they are incredible characters, But the same story of the doctor and his creature.

Anyone But You (2023)

Love Story With A Poorly Executed Ending

[8/10 · 30 January 2024]

What a fun movie, enjoy how the entire romantic roller among the protagonists was developing. I liked how they approached that people so stereotypically beautiful, have the same problems as others when trying to establish a love relationship.

Although the relationship that marries me a good excuse to reunite the protagonists, I feel that the behavior of other family and friends is not credible and takes you out of the "transe" to remember that your film.

The latter and the badly executed clichés of the end of the movie, make you have a good time but you are not sure whether it was a good movie or not.

When Evil Lurks (2023)

The Best Horror From Latin America

[9/10 · 13 January 2024]

What a good way to tell a story in a horror movie, it left me with the feeling that I understood nothing and at the same time I understood everything.

I don't know how common it is but how wonderful that the same writer can direct the film and project his idea as it should have always been conceived.

I have always loved movies that without explaining it make it clear that they have a huge universe already established, they leave you wanting to know more, in this case about the embichodos, the hunters/monks, etc.

I will have to watch more country and style films. By far the best horror movie of 2023.

Society of the Snow (2023)

Old Memories Of An Excellent Story

[8/10 · 8 January 2024]

Talking with my brother about this film, which coincidentally we were watching at the same time without knowing it, reminded us of the surely dozens of times we saw "I Am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash (2010)", a documentary by #BradOsborne that recounts the same tragedy. A documentary that was shown on History Chanel that in our childhood was when we consumed too much.

I have little to say about the film, it tells you wonderfully about the vicissitudes of the survivors and I liked the development of the moral dilemma they faced, comparing it with the documentary, I like how it tells us the story of all the passengers from one point. From a general point of view and not from the point of view of the group leaders, the desperation felt by the majority of the group and how they resolved internal conflicts.

Priscilla (2023)

It's The Story Of What Elvis Wanted As A Wife

[7/10 · 8 January 2024]

The film is entertaining in general, telling Elvis's life as a couple, but I feel like they are telling us her story, rather it is the story of what Elvis wanted as a wife.

It's incredible that after so many years living together, the only time Cilla does something she wants is when it is hinted that she talks to the Colonel to get Elvis to give up the spirituality books. Apart from that, the film only shows us living in the same house. Shadow of the King In the end, when the relationship is broken and she starts making decisions and doing things for herself, you can't even taste it because the movie ends up leaving us wanting to know more.

And being on the progressive side, I understand that they have to show what their life was like at that time, but the unfortunate way in which they showed their redemption is going to make a certain sector of the audience likely to be upset, rather than dissatisfied.

The Boy and the Heron (2023)

Pleasant Meaningless Discovery

[7/10 · 8 January 2024]

It is the first film from the studio and the director that I have seen and understand the reason for its success. This year I plan to see the most iconic ones to soak up more of his art.

As for the film, it gave me vibes of old drawing with modern animation, I really liked that style.

The stories of universes, time travel and different worlds are still present today and this film knew how to execute it very well, although there are things that I feel are not explained or not 100% (or maybe I did not understand them) I do not feel that They do not affect the characters and their relationships in any way to describe their identities.

I find the characters who are in the protagonist's house to be some of the funniest, with a special mention to the Warawara.