Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Lee Cronin
Starring: Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies
Running Time: 97'
Verdict: ⊗⊗⊗⊗

I skipped Evil Dead, I wasn't even aware it was released. But I will definitely watch it to catch up with this great franchise. I understand it is loosely connected to the original trilogy, but watching Evil Dead Rise assured me that the filmmakers know what they want and how to make it. From it's amazing title shot until the end, the movie is gripping, brutal, gory and very bloody. There is a lot less comedy than I expected, but much more well executed horror elements that improved my opinion on the modern version of the genre. There are great performances from everyone (even the kids), but specially from Alyssa Sutherland as a crazed, possessed mother employing some impressive physical and facial acrobatics. The movie also explores motherhood in a surprisingly refreshing way. Introduction of the Necronomicon to the story felt a bit clunky and I'm still a bit unclear on the rules of the evil forces, but that doesn't really take too much from the movie. It is kind of a limited-setting film, as most of it is set in an old apartment building that is creepy enough by itself. I would actually say that the building is a character of itself, in a way. Evil Dead Rise is a very entertaining movie that revived my interest in horror movies and I would very much like to watch it again.

Rokin

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård
Running Time: 169'
Verdict: ⊗⊗⊗

This is still a classic John Wick film, but feels watered down, in part because of its too long runtime, in part because of too prolonged action scenes, and in part because of a rather weak and anticlimactic story. There is also less story, and the action scenes just don't flow like before. There is more of them, which means more action, which sounds great for an action flick, but they became quite repetitive, and I found myself yawning during a middle of one. Trying to keep it fresh for the fourth time, some of the stuff in the movie is bordering ridiculous. John Wick is "realistically" killing so many bad guys that I'm amazed at how many incompetent assassins exist in this universe. He really heavily relies on his bulletproof suits, which are incredibly effective, not even flinching when getting hit. The movie introduces a blind assassin, played by Donnie Yen, who admittedly has some great scenes, but seems like a superhero while deflecting bullets with his sword. Skarsgård's character is creepy and villainous enough for the most of the movie, but doesn't deliver at the end. We also have a bounty hunter with his attack dog that he is too attached to for being in the business he is. His whole arc is unnecessary and it just feels like the dog is more important than him, just as a nod to the first movie in the franchise. Even Fishburne's character, the Bowery King, feels superfluous and out of place, as most of the movie takes place in Paris and not in underground New York. There is enough action to tickle your vicariousness, but the film unintentionally points out how creators didn't really know where to go with Wick and just focused on one part of the experience, stretching it out for four movies. Still, it's better than Taken.

Rokin

Scream VI (2023)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
Starring: Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Jack Champion
Running Time: 122'
Verdict: ⊗⊗

Quickly released and skipping the number 5, Scream VI adds nothing new except for Roman numerals, and New York as the new location. Somehow, all surviving characters moved from Woodsboro to the big city, for whatever reason. For the most part, this is just another Scream movie but with a novelty setting that is kind of pointless except for maybe one or two scenes. Even in that new setting, hardly anything feels different. There are still parties during a killing spree. Characters are again suspicious of their closest friends, but still keep hanging around them. There is a lot of phone calls and a lot of survived stabbings that should've been fatal. Along with its mild self-awareness, the best part of the Scream movies is trying to guess the killer. This time, movie mostly forces the self-awareness part and neglects the guessing. The ending is not really satisfying nor feels relevant. It is actually a bit silly, even as far as Scream movies go. The movie is not very imaginative and hardly moves the series forward. It obviously wants to continue the franchise further, but with milking the Woodsboro killings dry, the franchise already feels like beating a dead horse. I feel there is still more to get from the Ghostface mythos, but maybe it's time to move away from existing characters, like it already moved from Woodsboro.

Rokin

Babylon (2022)

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva
Running Time: 189'
Verdict: ⊗⊗⊗⊗

Babylon is a bold, colorful and often entertaining movie about making movies in the early 20th century, covering the transition from silent to sound films, rise and fall of the movie stars of that age, and their lifestyles full of debauchery, deviance and duplicitousness. However, while the movie industry part is interesting and lifestyles of movie stars are thrilling, their stories are neither. With the movie being over three hours long, it could easily cut an hour by trimming down the individual storylines and focusing on the actual theme. There is too much focus on the characters, even though the film is obviously about a period of filmmaking. It glorifies movies and movie making, but then gets bogged down in character development and tries to implement several stories that they are not as interesting as their backdrop. It's really hard to like or sympathize with most of the characters. There is some really good acting from three leads, but a lot of great performances come from supporting characters. Specifically, I was super impressed with Flea as a hard, intimidating movie producer, and P.J. Bryne who flat out steals one scene. The movie also features an amazing soundtrack, and some impressively choreographed and filmed scenes. Babylon desperately wants to be more than it is, and in a lot of aspects it succeeds. It is occasionally very funny, occasionally very dark and occasionally very profound. Sometimes it is extremely exciting, and sometimes it simply drags on for too long. Like its characters, Babylon promises a lot from the start, but gets significantly less fun towards the end.

Rokin

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Genre: Fantasy
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver
Running Time: 192'
Verdict: ⊗⊗⊗⊗⊗

Many years after the events of the first movie, Jake Sully is raising his four Na'vi children, as humans return with another invasion. This drives his family away from their tribe, in search of a new home. So Avatar: The Way of Water moves from forests of Pandora to the oceans and introduces a new race of people, one in harmony with the water and water creatures. The movie is beautiful and visually impeccable. Perfect animation and a great, almost magical worldbuilding are the definite highlights of the film, surpassing the original. The nature is surreal yet familiar and even industrial scenes on human settlements are impressive to look at. However, this comes at expense of the story, as there is nothing original or creative about it, and some characters suffer for it. Interestingly, the villain is (more or less) the same one as in the first movie, but with more compelling character development. Even though the story centers around Jake Sully, his mate and his nemesis, to me the story is about their children and some shitty parenting. It is the children that are trying to find themselves a place in the new surroundings and their parents are ones who are pulling them back. Also, while I might be racist for saying this, for a good part of the movie it is hard to differentiate the blue people, most importantly Jake Sully's children. But after a few hours, you learn to. You don't get much choice, as the movie is over three hours long. I don't usually mind that for epic movies of this scale. The movie is strongest in the second act, when is introducing a lot of new worldbuilding elements and displaying many gorgeous scenes, but doesn't rush through the first and third act which are significantly less entertaining, and maybe it should. In the meantime you can try to watch barely dressed blue bodies for nip slips. I wouldn't say Avatar: The Way of Water feels like 13 years of progress, but it is an improvement, or at least is more entertaining, although still somewhat predictable. For example, it finishes most plot points, but still obviously stays open enough for the sequel(s).

Rokin

The Menu (2022)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Mark Mylod
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult
Running Time: 106'
Verdict: ⊗⊗⊗⊗

It is difficult to describe The Menu through a genre, or even several. It doesn't really blend genres as it quickly skips between them, leaving you puzzled and trying to catch you off guard. It is a horror film with (almost) no gore. It is a thriller with the end revealed early, but still managing to keep the suspense. It is a dark comedy with few punchlines, that relies more on borderline absurd situations. And it is a food movie with surprisingly little food in it. It doesn't excel in any of these genres, but mixes them in a well-crafted ride that engages you, and creates mystery from a very limited palette of ingredients. Maybe in the core, it tries to be a love letter to food and restaurant culture, but that really falls to the sidelines as whimsically dark setting and overarching air of mystery clearly lead the film. Still, the movie sometimes asks you to not to take it too seriously, as some plot points and character choices are hardly believable. Also, The Menu is sort of a "limited setting" film, where a large part of is is set in a single location, and I would love if it played more with that concept. With the exception of the chef, characters are incredibly uncomplex and cliched, but colorful and in most part entertaining. So The Menu is quite unique and fresh, and definitely worth the watch. It is an unexpectedly funny, well acted, solidly written and cleverly directed movie that might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it will keep you interested in it throughout the watch.

Rokin