Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

R rated 2 hours 21 minutes

Seen at Patriot Place 09/26/2017


This movie was funny, very much a  popcorn movie. Park most of your intellect at the theater door, plus bring a load of snacks. It was slow in spots (I checked my cell twice). And yes we needed way more Channing Tatum. While I liked Halle Berry in her IT (information tech. not clown) role, she seemed to be channeling the pre-catwoman character she played in Catwoman (2004), Patience Phillips. The first Kingsman was much smarter with better character development and a much more concise plot.  Some characters needed more screen time while others need less screen time.  One or two actions scenes went on too long. The first Kingsman movie was much smarter. As for the insertion (numerous times) of the Elton John "cameo"(not sure that his appearances were cameo format)...why? I am guessing that Barry Manilow Wayne Newton and Celine Dion were either too busy or too expensive. There are a couple of scenes in the last act of this movie, (1) involving Elton John and CGI with the other (2) involving a President and a well-known right-wing news channel.  Both had me laughing out loud.  Unfortunately I was alone in that emotional outburst at a matinee showing with about 15-20 total in the theater audience. 

  
Additional thoughts:

There has been some internet buzz on how a certain person in the White House strongly resembling a certain past president had his head explode in the first Kingsman movie. People who that think Matthew Vaughn went soft politically on the this second Kingsman should pay particular attention to a scene towards the conclusion of Kingsman 2. It involved the NON TRUMP PRESIDENT along with a particular news agency reporting a piece of news concerning that NON TRUMP PRESIDENT. It had me laughing into tears.

NEO YOKIO

Watched on Netflix (09/25/2017)
An original anime with 6 episodes of 20 - 24 minutes = Season One

While this anime is somewhat underwhelming, it has some good points. The concept is interesting with a futuristic city, basically a modern, Japan-like New York, with the highest level of society including the wealthy, the beautiful and along with a group of exorcists. These exorcists are paid to keep demons under control.  The plot also involves a fascination with ratings (as in a Top Ten list of bachelors) and fashion. While the bachelor/fashion themes are played for laughs, the demon theme does not get enough screen time. There is good world building. The city of Neo Yokio is more intriguing than its human inhabitants. There are indications that this future city may not be the paradise that its publicity indicates.

The artwork is vibrant and holds attention.  The voice acting is a mixed bag.  The lead character, Jaden Smith (as Kaz Kaan) has the most problematic, least charismatic vocal talent of this anime. Kaz Kaan's dialogue is also the weakest, especially odd as besides being an exorcist, Kaz Kaah is a fashion blogger. The best voice acting is done by Jude Law (as Charles/the mecha), Jason Schwartzman (as Arcangelo Corelli), Susan Sarandon (as Aunt Agatha) along with Steve Buscemi (in only 2 episodes as The Remembrancer) and Stephen Fry (in only 1 episode as the Headmaster of Easton).  The rest of the voices are serviceable. Tavi Gevinson (as Helena St. Tessero) has potential, but her character needs better dialogue. The soundtrack is operatic which successfully underscores the satire of superficial behavior along with fashion-centric themes.

The last episode had what should have been an exciting car race. The animation was lacking in any intensity. In the episode’s conclusion are hints that one of the major characters will develop a drastic personality change along with possible political issues in rising up in Neo Yokio. I would like to see the loose ends, tied up successfully, however this series does need more interesting plot  and some vocal cast changes.

A Man Called Ove (2015 & released in USA 2016)
PG-13 l hr. 56 min.

subtitled format, currently streaming on Amazon Prime (watched 09-22-17)

While I had heard about this film, I had not never viewed it, until a recommendation on an episode (on YouTube) of Collider Videos-Movie Talk (09-22-2017 edition). My impression from just briefly reading reviews in 2016, was that it was slow-moving story about a grumpy old man. While it does contain those two factors, this film is so much more.

A Man Called Ove was funny, clever, great dialogue, beautifully shot scenes and even a great soundtrack for the movie's conclusion. This is a Swedish movie, so there is angst, bittersweet themes and more acting than action. It is very nationally telling that in Sweden, this film is considered a comedy. While it did go dark and emotional, it never pandered. The humor was blended smoothly into the story. My attention was held throughout the entire runtime. Ove's journey from childhood, to a newly wed and finally an old man flowed smoothly even with the occasional flashbacks. These breaks from the current timeline of Ove's old age were expertly inserted by the director (Hannes Holm) and editor (Fredrik Morheden) with no unnecessary exposition. Every actor portrayed a believable human,not just a manufactured character. Tom Hanks' production company, Playtone, will be remaking this film with Tom Hanks attached to star as the Ove character. While Tom Hanks is probably the best choice for Ove, I hope that this remake does not become a pale copy of the original film.

Friend Request  (2016)


Thoughts on this movie.  I only saw trailers NOT the movie itself.




I hate jump scares, they are such a cheap, lazy way of scaring viewers. Jump scares are like exclamation points and CAPS, if used selectively they lend emphasis and meaning, but if used frequently in ONE TWO HOUR PERIOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!! they are disruptive and annoying.


Coming after Unfriended (2014), this movie was doomed by its name. The lack of decent plotting, dialogue and conclusion, well that is just a lucky extra for those of us who like to riff off streaming movies. Just check out the "bottom" listings of Netflix's film inventory, now that is HORROR.

Wind River (2017)
R - rated

directed/written by Taylor Sheridan

Very good movie with the leads and the supporting characters all thoroughly mesmerizing. The real crime was in the information given just before the end credits, it shocked me.

mother!
R - rated
Miscellaneous Thoughts - I have NOT VIEWED this film.


From all the reviews I have read (not seeing MOTHER! in theater), sounds like Darren Aronofsky has cleaned his hard drive, purged the spam, eliminated the viruses and upgraded his system. It will be interesting to see his next film. We already know who he is dating.

This movie sounds like it has lots and lots of allegories, but for me the location of the house gave it away, no road, no driveway, in the middle of nowhere....so no poem, no note, no money for my ticket.

As far as I can tell from the reviews and trailer, Javier Bardeem is God, the house is the planet, Jennifer Lawrence is Gaia (mother earth) and the baby she has is Jesus. Those symbols, along with environmental themes, make up the entire movie. However,this movie was promoted as something in the thriller/horror genre. Mother! was put into a theater where people go to watch talking yellow thumbs (minions) and a shapeshifting clown (IT). Why was Darren Aronofsky and Paramount Pictures not more candid and forthcoming about this film's themes? Maybe the marketing department at Paramount went on meditative sabbatical. Didn't the press screenings have "cheat sheets", to assist in understanding the film? I also heard that there was a poem handed out to the press after the film ended. I hope someone posts it online. I would LOVE to read it. However, "regular" (defined as being non-news individuals) movie goers deserve just as much honesty and explanation before they invest time and money in a movie.

My problem is the way this film was marketed, not the movie itself. This is not the first time a trailer has mislead its audience. However, this is an arthouse film, not a general release film. Maybe Darren Aronofsky's/Paramount's motivation was for us "to take our medicine" (aka golden nectar = change and resurrection?). With many movie theaters noticing a reduction in their ticket sales and trailers which very often spoil a good film or incorrectly advertise another film, it is resulting with a large pool of film goers losing both confidence and patience.

It
(based on the Stephen King novel)

R rated
2 hours 15 minutes running time

This film was amazing. IT was more of a thriller than a horror movie (except for the opening scene), but  I was fine with that as ordinary clowns bother me. The 2 hours and 15 minutes sped by.  Due to my clown and jump scare issues, I did scan book summaries and tried to de-sensitize myself with many trailers/reviews. In this movie, Pennywise was more of a vector for the evil permeating the town with the horrific and/or neglectful adults, monstrous bullies and terrified children.

The directing by Andy Muschietti was on point. Most of the characters in this film were children.They were all totally believable. While some of that is talent, the director and writers (Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman) also performed their duties masterfully.