Fantastic Four (2015).

Review #2476: Fantastic Four.

Cast: 

Miles Teller (Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic), Michael B. Jordan (Johnny Storm / Human Torch), Kate Mara (Sue Storm / Invisible Woman), Jamie Bell (Ben Grimm / The Thing), Toby Kebbell (Victor Von Doom / Dr. Doom), Reg E. Cathey (Dr. Franklin Storm), Tim Blake Nelson (Dr. Harvey Allen), Tim Heidecker (Mr. Richards), and Dan Castellaneta (Mr. Kenny) Directed by Josh Trank (#152 - Chronicle)

 

Review: 

"I don’t regret any of it. It’s a part of me."

Oh sure, this is an easy target. But why not? 20th Century Fox saw two Fantastic Four movies make a little bit of money and thought they could start over, finally settling on Josh Trank to direct in 2012, as he had made quite the impression with Chronicle. While Jeremy Slater (who actually had provided a bit of input in the script of that film) was initially tabbed to do the screenplay, it went nowhere when they clashed over what they wanted the story to be as Slater wanted to go for a tone akin to the recent release of The Avengers (2012)...which Trank hated, because he apparently had only seen the 1990s animated series and wasn't exactly a comic book movie fan. Simon Kinberg was hired as a co-writer and co-producer in 2013. The movie was filmed in 2014 over the course of 72 days but Trank had a hell of a time trying to balance the workload and internal pressure, with varying level of reports over how stressful it was in production (whether his behavior was erratic is up to debate - the casting of Jordan as Storm riled a few people on message boards and Trank resorted to carrying a gun on his nightstand). The apparent first cut of the film was "morose" and not to Fox's liking which led to reshoots and re-writes; ultimately, Trank, Kinberg, and Slater were credited for the screenplay. Trank did negotiate a deal to at least make his own cut while Fox got Stephen Rivkin to make a cut assembled from certain takes, which Trank claimed were picked deliberately to be cheesy. One day before the release of the film, Trank posted on social media about having had a fantastic version of the film in mind that would probably never be seen. The movie made a bit of money but obviously did not generate desire for a sequel* while Trank didn't return to directing until Capone (2020).

I can't even tell just who is most at fault for this piece of junk. How bad was Trank's first cut that they went with a version that never actually goes into first gear? 100 minutes go by with four lead characters that have chemistry on the level of when you encounter a homeless man on the street. The movie looks and feels so dreary that it makes the 2007/2009 Fox efforts actually look like high-effort features, right down to an opening sequence that has "it's clobbering time" used first....when Ben Grimm is hit by his brother. What was the second idea, Johnny Storm having a fear of fire because his mom got burned to death? Sue Storm being afraid of being alone because of a traumatic clown experience? The movie is basically a wind-up toy that goes nowhere, says nothing, and accomplishes nothing. Apparently, Trank's experiences living in a "racially intense Los Angeles where we were used to seeing white superheroes", combined with being a director with control, led to him casting Jordan as the Human Torch (actually, he also wanted to cast a black woman to play Sue Storm too but was overruled). It's funny that the one really noted name that Trank got for the film did get to be in a successful film for 2015...with Creed, which was released months after Fantastic Four. Sure, nobody pulls off a quality performance of the four, but he probably is the least affected, I suppose. It isn't even worth crapping on Teller, what exactly is he supposed to do in a movie where he doesn't register any sort of energy? The chemistry between him and Mara actually is transparent in how thin it feels, and Mara almost does accomplish the act of seeming invisible...except for the fact that Bell accomplishes even less with a rock-man that inspires chuckles at how it looks. Kebbell has two hurdles to stumble over: a pathetic characterization of Victor Von Doom (as last played by Julian McMahon to mild results) and a Dr. Doom that is in the movie for less than 15 minutes that doesn't get an interesting motivation when he is turned into a grey-green goo man. When the most involved person in the movie is Cathey in a thankless role, you are in trouble. It can't even be a cheesy movie like the 1994 unreleased feature, no, it has to try to be a failed imitation of stuff like Batman Begins (2005). The climax of the movie is probably the most cobbled-together and it happens to have the one noted line: a stupid line about "fantastic" that became a "meme". You would think after four Fantastic Four movies, you would get one that has a friendly quartet and interesting action and production values, but oh no, not quite. As a whole, Fantastic Four (2015) is a movie fit for nobody. It is made of nonsense that will come and go with absolutely no impact except maybe to the psyche of Josh Trank. It does however make a good film to make fun of, at least.

Overall, I give it 3 out of 10 stars.

Next for Thanksgiving: A Sound of Thunder.

*Ten years later, Marvel did The Fantastic Four: First Steps, a bare minimum for a decent movie. No, I'm still a bit mad that they went with having that dopey baby in it.

Sinners (2025).

Review #2367: Sinners.

Cast: 

Michael B. Jordan (Elijah "Smoke" and Elias "Stack"), Hailee Steinfeld (Mary), Miles Caton (Sammie Moore), Jack O'Connell (Remmick), Wunmi Mosaku (Annie), Jayme Lawson (Pearline), Omar Benson Miller (Cornbread), Li Jun Li (Grace Chow), Delroy Lindo (Delta Slim), Yao (Bo Chow), Lola Kirke (Joan), Peter Dreimanis (Bert), with Sam Williams (Jedidiah), and Buddy Guy. Written and Directed by Ryan Coogler (#760 - Creed and #1050 - Black Panther)

Review:

“This film is very much me. I love anything supernatural. I’m in. I like stories about communities, about neighborhoods, about archetypes. And I love period anything. So, when you layer those things together, that does it for me.”

It sure is interesting to have a horror movie where an actor gets to sink their teeth in playing multiple roles, isn't it? This is the fifth feature film from Ryan Coogler, who had made his debut as a filmmaker with Fruitvale Station (2013) that incidentally had Michael B. Jordan as the lead (that film dealt with the shooting of Oscar Grant). Apparently, the time to make the movie from pitch to production in less than six months that had shooting on IMAX cameras; it is a co-production of Proximity Media, which I did not realize was founded a few years by the Cooglers. It was after the press tour of the second Black Panther film (2022) had ended that saw Coogler come up with the premise, in which spending time resting with Blues music reminded him of his uncle from Mississippi, stating that listening to the music felt like a way to try and bring him back to life, in a sense. After a bidding war ended with Warner Bros. distributing it, the movie was shot in roughly three months last year for apparently over $90 million and had the pleasure of not being delayed so one could theoretically watch it on Easter weekend (and, for whatever reason, in 25 years Coogler will have the rights to the film reverted to him).

Really the movie is more about community and family than just a straight vampire movie, although From Dusk till Dawn (1996) comes to mind (well, the idea of vampires having a certain type of link reminds me of Vampires [1998], but you can argue with me later). The enjoyment of the movie comes from seeing the gradual peeling of familiar layers in a slow boil of 137 minutes (complete with a certain surprise in its credits), although it probably helps to go into it with as little knowledge as possible. Sure, knowing it has vampires sure is something, because, well, don't be mad that a movie with vampires has vampires, but there is an attempt to have a worthwhile period adventure that has accompanying music for a fusion that does lend for a entertaining atmosphere. Sure, it probably is a bit too long when trying to wrap its ending up, but it will make a solid movie to at least pop in one time if you're into it. It is a movie that shows salvation with the power of making choices for oneself, which in this case means the power of music for one's soul.* The decisions made at the end of the movie are about choices made willingly without settling as some sort of "escape". The film has two actors to hold the movie in viewing the lines of music, power, and some sort of faith: Jordan and Caton (the son of gospel singer Timiney Figueroa, making his debut). Jordan gets a role that might as well be one for a lifetime: playing two folks with their distinct levels of charm within the veneer of tragedy that clearly has shaped them. It isn't merely a gimmick, he manages to make the twins distinct people that are interesting to see in their urges play out (sure, the first half of the film does split them up so one can see distinct interactions, but you get the idea). Caton plays the coming-of-age-turned-survival role with no shakiness, which means a good deal of energy and timing, particularly since it involves the blues that he handles with useful presence that doesn't fade in the background with such a stacked cast. Steinfeld** plays it generally well with the confidence that comes in sorrow that is rooted in love even when the time comes for, well, vampire glee in the eyes. Truthfully, the highlight in the supporting cast is Lindo, who is given a pretty familiar character type in "lovable drunk" that he handles with warmth that makes you smile each time he pops up on screen, although Mosaku makes a go at it with earthy presence when paired with Jordan. O'Connell makes a fine adversarial presence, one that manages to achieve some of the qualities that basically plays it as if vampirism could be its own type of religion or cult that could be an escape from problems (read: Mississippi, October 1932), complete with knowing one's memories as if it was in their own blood. It probably isn't as defined as much as it could be to really make this more than "pretty good", but the pursuit of music and "community" is interesting enough to hold the movie's second half to a certain point. The movie gets wrapped up with tidiness that wants to make it so things are pretty sealed up with each of its three characters that will leave the viewer with general satisfaction (whether it needed a certain beat to happen though is up to the viewer) with the choices that are made willingly in the name of, well, love. As a whole, Sinners is the kind of movie with commitment and energy to its subject matter of Deep South, blues, and blood that might deserve further watches down the line for what it brings to the table in style and charm.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.***

*Noted president of the Josh Allen Fan Club, among other things. Sorry, I couldn't resist, although I'll give you a link anyway.

**Okay, I will admit that the music montage...is one I had to step out in the middle of it happening because I had to pee, but I imagine that might be the standout sequence for some people.

***Correction time. On the previous review of The Family Jewels, a clerical error (i.e. idiot mistake) has now been fixed, in which that movie is a 6/10 rather than the 7/10 I accidentally scribbled first. Also, with Sinners, it is more of a 8.5/10 but I'm not sure whether to actually go with .5 ratings yet, and it seemed best to round up and maybe come back to it later.

Creed III.

Review #1997: Creed III.

Cast: 

Michael B. Jordan (Adonis "Donnie" Creed), Tessa Thompson (Bianca Taylor-Creed), Jonathan Majors (Damian "Diamond Dame" Anderson), Wood Harris (Tony "Little Duke" Evers), Mila Davis-Kent (Amara Creed), Florian Munteanu (Viktor Drago), Phylicia Rashad (Mary Anne Creed), José Benavidez Jr (Felix Chavez), Selenis Leyva (Laura Chavez), and Anthony Bellew ("Pretty" Ricky Conlan) Directed by Michael B. Jordan.

Review: 

"Creed is the first character I'm coming back to play three times. I've been daydreaming about the opportunity and had a clear vision of where I want this character to go moving forward. I'm looking forward to sharing the story with everybody."

You know, I was quite curious to see another one of these films, because they have managed to cultivate riveting entertainment that maintains interesting drama within its perspective in boxing (for the most part) ever since the original Rocky in 1976 (as inspired originally by the fight between Chuck Wepner and Muhammad Ali) and the spinoff in Creed that was done in 2015 (and its sequel in 2018). I cannot imagine which is the biggest surprise, the fact that Rocky became a franchise that exceeded its underdog foundations or the fact that there are now as half as many Creed movies as there are Rocky movies without a lingering sense of repetition being apparent. Now, once again, the respective star of the boxing series have gone on to direct a film themselves. Jordan, who has acted in television and film since 1999, is in his directorial debut with this film, one that he has stated took influence in certain shots from anime. The screenplay was done by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin, while the story was done by Ryan & Keenan Coogler, and Baylin.

This is the first of these films to not feature Sylvester Stallone, but one never finds themselves dwelling on that fact for too long. Sure, the level of predictability for a boxing film is about where you would expect, but the film manages to maintain the consistency that has defined these Creed features that have seen riveting sequences of boxing to go with solid performances that are carried most significantly by Jordan. It does this while being the shortest of the series at 116 minutes, which is basically enough time to carry an enjoyable experience within family drama and the drama of old friends who basically are talking their feelings out by fighting (at one point, their match is shown with an empty crowd, which also serves as a way to counter the usual montage to pass the time of a fight). Jordan has managed to accomplish the feat of making this character quite compelling within the meshes of what you could call a (semi)mid-life crisis in trading a boxing suit for an actual suit (he is compared to Don King at one point, although at least one won't find similarities in "manslaughter" or "alleged fraud"). only to find the past coming back to reflect upon him. He pulls off a tremendous performance that showcases a towering level of confidence needed to keep the focus firmly where it belongs in fresh drama that highlights the progression of where this character has gone in these films and what road are still important to touch upon. Him and Thompson are each trying to convey the dilemma that comes with finding new outlets to channel their energy into (as one expects with anybody growing in age), and they make for useful chemistry in making this pursuit matter more than just a diversion. This goes double for the conversations spent between them and their on-screen daughter in Davis-Kent (as told through sign-language that is subtitled). The supporting cast do just fine, with Rashad providing warmth as one would expect, while the others handle the usual expectations to go alongside moments spent in flashback, which is conveyed with suitable execution that doesn't seem tacked on.

Of course, you need a quality boxing adversary. Majors steps up to that challenge with relative ease, one who turns the pursuit of victory with nothing to lose that makes for the chaotic underdog trying to make a second-act comeback. The troubled core that comes through with him and his pursuits make for a suitable presence to counter Jordan, ones who are intertwined in more ways than one when it comes to stubborn determination. People who are into sports films that take the time to show folks at their craft in the art of training montages will naturally be right at home here, which at one point sees training done by towing a plane. Admittedly, you could draw a thin comparison between previous films in the Rocky series, mostly with the third and fifth film, since each film sees the lead actor try to cope with the idea of stepping away from the ring...only to fight again anyway (hey, if it worked for 45-year-old George Foreman...). The final fight proves electrifying as one expects, establishing that one really can't make boxing boring if they actually show perspective to go alongside choreography and a convincing execution (the other fight shown is also quality stuff in its own direction). The fact that seven out of nine of these combined films are pretty good with at least two quality standouts is a testament to the power of fair writing to accompany entertainment value that make for fun sports films, and I can't wait to see what could happen next.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Creed II.

Review #1165: Creed II.

Cast: 
Michael B. Jordan (Adonis Creed), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Tessa Thompson (Bianca Taylor), Dolph Lundgren (Ivan Drago), Florian Munteanu (Viktor Drago), Phylicia Rashad (Mary Anne Creed), Andre Ward (Danny "Stuntman" Wheeler), Wood Harris (Tony "Little Duke" Evers), Brigitte Nielsen (Ludmila Drago), Milo Ventimiglia (Robert Balboa), and Russell Hornsby (Buddy Marcelle) Directed by Steven Caple Jr.

Review: 
Creed (2015) certainly was a big surprise for numerous reasons. I certainly didn't expect another installment of the Rocky series, particularly a spin-off with Jordan in the lead role and Ryan Coogler writing and directing. The result was a film that ranks up there as one of the better Rocky films, being just as good (if not better than) as Rocky II (1979). With the resulting success that came from the film, obviously a follow-up would be expected, with a good chunk of the cast from the previous film returning alongside a few new and a few familiar faces, although Coogler now only serves as an executive producer. The writing credits certainly are different this time around, with Stallone co-writing the screenplay alongside Juel Taylor while the story was done by Sascha Penn and Cheo Hodari Coker. It certainly feels that Stallone wanted in some way to make a better sequel than the ones that had followed up the original, particularly III through V, and there are quite a few beats that seem a bit familiar. However, the best that can be said for this movie is that it is quite entertaining, with Jordan and Stallone headlining a fairly game cast that make the experience worth it. Jordan does a fine job in keeping things fresh and interesting that one would expect from a lead, handling himself in the boxing sequences fairly well. Stallone, in his eighth reprisal of the character, manages to retain the same kind of charm and quality as expected from him for the scenes he is in. Thompson also delivers a fine performance, with her and Jordan having good chemistry once again. Lundgren is fun to watch, being more of a character to watch this time around with a bit of grizzled depth - he's actually more interesting to be around with than his on-screen son (Munteanu, who does fine with the boxing sequences at least). The rest of the cast all do their parts just fine. The film is privy to a handful of cliches for the sports film (much like any of the previous Rocky films, although not as silly), being a bit predictable at times, although the boxing scenes are up to code once again, leaving a good punch. The run-time of 130 minutes is manageable, and on the whole I'm sure that this film will serve its purpose of entertainment just alright, working as a mostly solid follow-up to the first film while leaving room for the desire to want to see another one of these down the road.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Black Panther.

Review #1050: Black Panther.

Cast: 
Chadwick Boseman (T'Challa / Black Panther), Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger), Lupita Nyong'o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), Daniel Kaluuya (W'Kabi), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Winston Duke (M'Baku), Sterling K. Brown (N'Jobu), Angela Bassett (Ramonda), Forest Whitaker (Zuri), Andy Serkis (Ulysses Klaue), Florence Kasumba (Ayo), and John Kani (T'Chaka) Directed by Ryan Coogler (#760 - Creed)

Review: 
The Marvel Cinematic Universe films have had a scope and quality to them that make for a consistently entertaining series of movies, and it is hard to believe that it has been ten years since the release of the film that started it all, Iron Man (#135). While it can be argued that these comic book films do tend fall along traditional formulas, it is the tweaking of certain aspects that make for the successes that have occurred, whether with a tinge of humor or with a tinge of humanity to it. After all, this is the 18th film in the franchise, and while you could equate them to products in a line, at least they are fairly solid products. In the case of Black Panther, this is a good movie that pushes most of the right buttons to make for a solid winner. The best quote that can be said about the movie comes from itself: "Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved".

As mentioned in my review for Blade (1998), the film had originally been slated for development with Wesley Snipes in mind in the 1990s, although it languished in development for two decades, with Chadwick Boseman eventually being cast in the role in 2014. Black Panther (based off the comic book series of the same name that was originally created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby) had already been showed on the big screen prior to his own film, as he was introduced in Captain America: Civil War (#796) two years ago, and I remember he had made a fine impression on me. Obviously this film gives Boseman more time to show his character off, and he excels, managing to be an interesting hero with enough gravitas that manages to holds his own in a cast with a good deal of variety. Jordan does a great job, managing to show a good deal of charisma along with fury that makes for an interesting villain that stands out, particularly for a film universe that has not had the best of villain portrayals. Nyong'o and Gurira manage to provide capable performances that are fairly strong along with interesting to watch on screen, each having their own respective moments to shine. Freeman doesn't have much time on screen, but he does provide a satisfactory enough performance. Kaluuya doesn't have a lot to do with his character, but he does the best of what he can. Wright does a fine performance, having some clever charm along with characteristics reminding me of "Q" from the James Bond series while also having some amusing scenes with Boseman. Serkis manages to have a good scenery chewing time, for the time that he gets on screen anyway. The rest of the cast do a fine job in their respective roles and functions, such as Duke and his adversarial but crucial role or Whitaker and his mystical nature.

The themes of the film work to the film's advantage, presenting its arguments without being ham-handed in approach. There are other things deserving praise, such as Rachel Morrison and her cinematography and Ruth E. Carter's costume design, both working fairly well to complement the film, making for a worthy atmosphere to watch. The action sequences are fairly hit and miss; while I do appreciate some of the fight sequences, there are times when it feels a bit too standardized, with the climax serving as mild entertainment when not utilizing too much effects, and the resolution to the film is fairly satisfactory, with its 134 minute run-time being acceptable enough for me. I do appreciate that the movie doesn't try to tie itself to other films of the comic franchise too much (aside from a flashback or so), being a film that is interesting in just showing itself off without lingering too much on little details. Ultimately, this is a film that is a pretty good success, achieving its goals well without betraying its principles.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Creed.

Review #760: Creed.

Cast
Michael B. Jordan (Adonis Johnson Creed), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Tessa Thompson (Bianca), Phylicia Rashad (Mary Anne Creed), Tony Bellew (Ricky Conlan), Graham McTavish (Tommy Holiday), and Wood Harris (Tony "Little Duke" Evers) Directed by Ryan Coogler.

Review
Almost 40 years after the original Rocky, here we are with a spin off (or sorts), with Rocky still playing a role even outside the ring. To be honest, I had no clue on how it would be mainly because I had no clue the movie was going to be made in the first place. The four Rockys I had seen all had varying degrees of entertainment (the first being the best), and I was at least interested in seeing how Jordan and Stallone would do. As it turned out, they both did great. It rises from potentially being mired in cliches to deliver a movie that is flat out entertaining. Jordan and Stallone are excellent together, having a good rapport with Stallone (the only person from any of the past six films) passing the torch onto Jordan. Rashad, though she doesn't have a lot of screen time, is also good to watch on screen. Bellew doesn't get much personality to work with the role he plays, but he does manage to make for an interesting character for Creed to fight in the end, and he certainly looks the part. Jordan and Thompson also share some good scenes with each other that certainly make the movie a little more than just boxing, though admittedly the boxing is excellent nonetheless. It looks really well-done, even including some blood (you can't have a Rocky movie without a little blood). It's a movie all about identity, and by the end it certainly seems to have found a lasting identity and the seeds to build a legacy. I'd love to see more movies about Creed, or even just movies with Jordan in general. This is an engaging movie that manages to evoke fun and the Rocky spirit to make for a excellent movie.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Chronicle.

Review #152: Chronicle.

Cast
Dane DeHaan (Andrew Detmer), Michael B. Jordan (Steve Montgomery), Alex Russell (Matt Garetty), Michael Kelly (Richard Detmer), Ashley Hinshaw (Casey Letter), Anna Wood (Monica), and Bo Petersen (Karen Detmer) Directed by Josh Trank.

Review
Found footage films are nothing new, with success (Paranormal Activity) and some...failures (The Devil Inside, Apollo 18) This is a success, no doubt. These films can be useful done right, but if done wrong can ultimately fail. Most of these are horror films, but this time it's a science-fiction/superhero movie that starts small with some laughs but turns darker, entertaining and thrilling you. The acting is alright, as these young unknowns do a good job. The action is good, and the story is decent. This sounds like the beginning of a good mythology, and as a matter of fact, I have heard of a sequel idea to this movie, which is a good idea for a good movie.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.