Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grow Old Is A Haunting And Moving Portrait Of The Forgotten War

       When discussing World Wars, the one that generally gets more remembrance and discussion is World War ll simply because of the large scope of it. There are far more movies that depict World War ll than the first World War. The most recent Hollywood film to depict the first World War was DCEU'S Wonder Woman which used it as a backdrop for its story. With They Shall Not Grow Old, Academy Award Winning director Peter Jackson gives the first World War a face as he explores the people that fought and lived in the trenches, while showing how difficult the living conditions were for the troops. Receiving zero money for this project, he creates a documentary using state of the art technology, that colorizes footage from the first World War using never before seen original footage from the Imperial War museum's archives. Combined with audio from BBC and IWM interviews, Jackson chooses to share the experience of the first World War from the perspective of the British. The end result turns out to be a fantastic piece of technological achievement that's worth seeing  while carrying with it it a feel that's both haunting and powerful that's sure to leave an emotional impact on it's audience. Directed with clear passion for the source material and coming straight from the heart, Jackson using the tools that create great cinematic filmmaking, creates a moving and genius cinematic tribute to the soldiers that sacrificed themselves during the first World War and paid the ultimate price upon returning home to be deemed unhireable.

Watch the trailer here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrabKK9Bhds

      One of 2018's most overlooked movies as the film failed to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Film, They Shall Not Grow Old feels as if it literally gives the voice back to the dead as the film is essentially about the life of a soldier during what was originally thought to be the war to end all wars. With the old footage being taken and cleaned up, the experience becomes one that's immersive and deeply moving as one can tell that a great deal of research went into getting the background on all the soldiers in the film. What this documentary does which makes it a deeply affecting experience is how Jackson shows the faces, the movements, and the lives of the British soldiers in a way that has never been shown before regarding their presence in the first World War. By restoring the footage along with making it sharper than ever, Jackson both shows and gives the soldiers back their humanity while connecting the audience to the souls of that generation. Dedicated to Jackson's grandfather who served during the first World War, Peter made the documentary not only to honor him, but also to be an immersive experience about what it was like to be a soldier in that War rather than create a fictional story or a recount of the events. The inspiration for the films title comes from a line in a 1914 poem titled "For The Fallen" by Laurence Binyon which says "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old."

      What makes the documentary hit home besides the coloring of the old footage is hearing the audio testimonies of the soldiers from the War in the 1960's and 70's recounting their time on the field. One can't help but appreciate that Peter Jackson simply didn't try to recreate any events from the first World War but rather had the actual voices incorporated into the film to help narrate the story as well as explain the conditions the soldiers endured in the trenches. While the documentary itself doesn't give much information regarding the first World War, it manages to tell a story about the men in the footage, who bravely went to the trenches to fight for what they stood for. Jackson makes a point by exploring life in the trenches showing it to be one of the most miserable and degrading experiences in the world for those who lived through that experience. Examples that the documentary shows are of such a harrowing experience such as the rats running rampant through the trenches, soldiers losing limbs to frostbite due to extremely cold and wet conditions with colored images that will shock the audience, and the bad teeth that many soldiers inherited. Despite the harsh conditions, Jackson shows that the men ultimately endured and their spirits remained high, showing the audience that they are people rather than just faces in clips from 100 years ago.

      The colorizing of the film was a beautiful and noble effort that is not only technologically brilliant but brings to life the soldiers faces, their expressions, emotions, their moments of humor, their friendships, and fears. Whereas the audience grew up in history classes watching the first World War in black and white, there is something special and ultimately powerful about seeing the images in color as we can imagine those moments happening now. By using the voice over narrations of the real people with the colorizing of the footage, Jackson takes us into the battlefield, making us feel the terror the soldiers felt right before they went to battle as well as the sadness they felt over the death of their comrades. The voice acting and sound effects are edited into the film so well and overlap the footage in a way where the audience feels as if the footage was shot in this era. The way that Jackson transitions the documentary from the old black and white footage into the new colorized version gives it a Wizard Of Oz type feel to it when Dorothy left Kansas to embrace this new world that's rich in color. Not only does the stories cover the soldiers experiences in the war, they also show the confusion they faced when the war was over as they weren't sure what to do next and the discrimination they faced as soldiers coming back from War were branded as being unhireable.

      Despite the film doing such a fantastic job with modernizing old footage that's a century old, audiences can't help but feel a tad disappointed at the scope of the documentary's focus on the first World War bring so narrow. Germany's involvement in the War is barely mentioned in the story with no mentioning of America's involvement at all. The film's pacing remains pretty steady for its 100 minute running time though some of the films shots were continuously used and the slowing down of the films footage tended to drag a bit at times. Regardless of the films minor flaws, this is probably going to end up being as close as audiences will get to the full experience of living through World War l even if it's from the British soldiers standpoint. Peter Jackson's reasoning for making the scope of the War in the documentary a personal one aimed at the British makes sense as his team wanted to have an open and close book type story arc of the soldiers living through the first World War in the trenches told from their standpoint. While the end result is a beautiful and mesmerizing piece of art, it also leaves out other experiences that the audience could've had such as the War's viewpoints of the pilots, the generals, the other countries involved. and the politicians back at home.

      They Shall Not Grow Old for all intents and purposes, succeeds as being an eye-opening experience that today's generation can view (Hopefully played in history classes in schools), and understand the bravery and sacrifice that so many soldiers gave for their country. Some may find the scope of the coverage of the war to be disappointing, others will unquestionably be blown away and appreciate the heart and labor of love that went into showing an important part of history that should not be forgotten. One cannot help but question why this film didn't snag a Best Documentary Film Oscar nomination at last years Academy Awards as this film proves to be more than worthy of being nominated. The film is not just a moving experience that gives people insight into the life of a soldier, Jackson almost literally takes the audience and place them in the trenches with these men showing their struggles to remain a unified front while showing the bond that the men as a whole generated upon fighting together. One of the most underrated and overlooked films of 2018, and that's a shame. Here's hoping that the film finds a second life on home video and becomes required viewing in history classes so that future generations understand the full effects of war. For history and war buffs, this is a must see.

Final Verdict: Absolutely worth the experience, a definite Redbox rental.

Don't Listen To The Critics, Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Is A Fun Ride

      Some movies are made to leave an impact upon the audience profoundly while others are mean't to be simple pieces of entertainment. There are however some movies that are mean't to be light in the storytelling and character development department and take the audience for a ride that's both thrilling and exciting. Godzilla: King Of The Monsters is mean't to be that film whether one agrees with the filmmakers approach to place heavier emphasis on the action this time rather than give the film the Jaws treatment the 2014 Godzilla received. While that film was reasonably successful in terms of reintroducing Godzilla to American audiences after the huge disappointment Roland Emmerich's 1998 Godzilla turned out to be, audiences had certain issues with the 2014 film ranging from the lack of screentime for Bryan Cranston's character to only seeing the main title character on film for just 11 minutes total. If the 2014 movie was an attempt at balancing story with carnage, then it was met with extreme mixed results from audiences as that film opened huge with 93 million then experienced sharp drops the weekends that preceded it. The filmmakers behind Godzilla: King Of The Monsters operate with the confidence that they don't need to give much exposition this time around as the previous movie did most of the work and now the audience is free to experience the action. Under those terms, Godzilla: King Of The Monsters arrives and absolutely delivers in giving audiences the Godzilla movie they've been waiting for in American form.

      The plot for Godzilla: King Of The Monsters picks up five years where the 2014 Godzilla left off with scientists working on a device that can allow them to communicate with super-monsters. When the device is stolen by an eco-terrorist (Played by Game Of Thrones Charles Dance), he plans to let the monsters loose in order to punish humanity. Thwarting his plan is the leader of the crypto-zoological company Monarch (Played by Super 8's Kyle Chandler), and his employees coming up with a plan to preserve humanity's survival. Returning from the first movie is Ken Watanabe as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa, the one scientist that believes that Godzilla is an ally rather than an enemy of humanity when everyone thinks otherwise. The Monarch faces off against a battery of large monsters including Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis King Ghidorah, a three-headed monster. To say that the new Godzilla film doesn't have a story line is absurd, the film clearly has a plot that's layered within the action to structure the films big set-pieces while allowing the build up of suspense and the anticipation of seeing these monsters fight. The film carries with it the same environmental message that the 2014 film delivered in which humans are to blame for destroying the planet. King Of The Monsters carries themes that range from environmental concerns to science and ethics, evolution, genetic engineering, animal design, death, and sacrifice. The films overall message says that the genetic manipulation of extinct animals is dangerous, and that better ways are needed in order to protect the environment. What makes the character of Godzilla compelling to audiences is he's terrifying when he needs to be but he can also become humanity's last hope when dealing with a far greater threat making him a necessary evil. That concept goes in line with the message of the 2014 Godzilla film which said that humans can reconcile their differences while trusting nature in order to save their planet despite the message of the new film saying nature may not be the best way to preserve mankind. It only feels appropriate that the Godzilla storyline supplies a morality message about whether we should try to alter nature.

      As far as the films acting performances go, the main cast does the best job with the material given to them and all seem to be clearly having fun with the story. Kyle Chandler is no stranger when it comes to making monster flicks as he played strong supporting roles in Peter Jackson's 2005 King Kong remake and JJ Abrams Super 8. Here he does a great job playing a central role this time around compared to the previous two movies. As leader of the crypto-zoological company Mark Russell, he inserts the right amounts of drama and emotion to the part while crafting a character who viewed Godzilla as a threat to mankind at first before seeing him as mankind's last hope. Despite knowing that the central focus of the movie is going to be the monster sequences, Chandler still gives his all and manages to deliver a strong performance. Vera Farmiga does a equally good job playing Russell's wife Dr. Emma, whose working on the opposite of Chandlers team to bring the monsters together. Stranger Thing's Millie Bobby Brown does a good job playing the Russell's young daughter whose caught in the conflict between her parents. Ken Watanabe once again commands the screen as Japanese scientist Dr. Ishiro Serizawa in his endless crusade to try and convince the powers at be that Godzilla is not an enemy but actually a protector of mankind against the other monsters. Ziyi Zhang delivers an effective performance as Dr. Ilene Chen, an ally of Serizawa who also believes that Godzilla is meant to protect the human race. Bradley Whitford takes the role he has and has fun playing Dr. Rick Stanton, giving the character a similar feel to Richard Dreyfuss character in Jaws. Sally Hawkins and Charles Dance shine in the minimal parts they have with Dance proving to be an effective antagonist both in movies and television. He's intimidating, cold. calculated and brilliant with the characters he plays. As a whole, the entire cast of King Of The Monsters do a marvelous job of making their characters believable despite them feeling like standard generic ones from typical monster movies.

      The films writing and directing are the areas where much of the films criticism by critics has been directed towards. Director and co-writer Michael Dougherty and Zack Shields do an admirable job of making King Of The Monsters feel like a true second part to the 2014 Godzilla. Taking the work that was established in that film, King Of The Monsters right from the start attempts to connect the two movies together with its opening scene showing the destruction of San Francisco from the previous monsters while introducing newer characters that the audience are meant to connect with during the destruction and fights. The Russell family is portrayed as being a sympathetic yet irritating family whose actions and motives have been shaped by the events of the last film. The Russell's are shown to have lost their son during the last great monster battle leaving both parents with bitter and cynical views towards both the worlds as well as the monsters themselves. While the Russell's aren't fully developed characters as they feel like serviceable ones to hold the audience over until the next big battle arrives, they are likable enough to keep the audiences attention from experiencing boredom. The scientists and experts in the film are given comedic traits that add to the excitement of the action, even if some of the lines are cringe inducing such as the pronunciation of the monsters names. While virtually every human character in the film is flat, it helps that the director chose good actors to play the parts as they breathed some life into their roles, however limited that life is.

      On a technical note, Michael Dougherty directs this film as if its on steroids, the films CGI effects are out of this world with each monster looking breathtaking on the big screen. The monstrous fight sequences and destruction are made incredible due to the films incredible cinematography and insane sound effects. It was interesting to see the human actors in the same shots as the monsters this time around with the visual effects blending the two together well. The art-set decoration was masterfully done in a way which made every shot of the film look like a painting, especially the action sequences. The films editing was solid for the most part with some areas feeling a bit slow at times. The audio and sound effects are amazing with the roars of the monsters reaching every inch of the theater and the destruction noises leaving a large impact with the audience. The films soundtrack is also effective with choir-esque moments that makes the monster scenes dramatic while adding bits of Godzilla's traditional theme from the Japanese films. When the films technical aspects take over from the actors and story, the film truly comes alive and reaches its maximum potential. Witnessing a fight between Godzilla, King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Roden together is a dream come true for fans of the series as they waited to see this moment in the American format and as expected, Dougherty blows it through the roof.

      A movie like Godzilla: King Of The Monsters was never meant to be heavily focused on story- telling as the main event that the audience expects to see is the throw down between Godzilla and the other monsters. The 2014 Godzilla movie tried its absolute best to put the story first before the action and while succeeding for the most part, left large portions of fans disappointed at how little Godzilla was shown. King Of The Monsters however takes notice of that criticism and ditches the Jaws style build up of suspense and places Godzilla throughout the film with relentless action. This sequel not only builds upon the universe set up by the last film but also feels like a traditional Godzilla movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. If one reevaluates their expectations and goes into this film to see monsters fight with fantastic visual effects and stunning scenery, they will get an experience worth the price of admission. For Godzilla die hard fans, this movie is a dream come true as it knows what the audience wants and doesn't hesitate in being a traditional film in the series. King Of The Monsters brings nothing new to the table in terms of plot but it thrives as being a roller coaster ride for audiences, that remains thrilling throughout and ends with fans anticipating the epic battle between Godzilla and King Kong due for release in 2020. For now, audiences can take delight in the large spectacle being displayed on the big screen in all its CGI glory and spectacular sound effects. King Of The Monsters for all intents and purposes is a relentlessly entertaining film that's much better than what critics give it credit for. If you're a fan of Godzilla or the series as a whole, this is a must see.

Final Verdict: SEE IT

John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum Is The Rare Third Outing In A Trilogy That Truly Works

      The years most anticipated action movie has arrived, the third installment in the popular John Wick series titled John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum. After the tremendous success of the first two films, much expectation was placed on the third installment in the iconic series to deliver on living up to the first two films while upgrading the insane action sequences that elevated the first two films while deepening the story. Very few action movie franchises manage to remain consistent by the third outing with most instances falling short. With the release of John Wick: Chapter 3, Parabellum not only manages to meet expectations but surpasses them in almost every aspect while showing that the key to making a successful third installment in an action movie series is keeping the main character engaging while enhancing the story as well as maintaining the thrills of the previous installments.

      Building upon the story established with the first two John Wick movies, John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum centers around super-assassin John Wick being on the run after killing a member of the international assassin's guild. Breaking a rule that leaves him thoroughly unprotected with a $14 million price tag on his head, Wick becomes the target of hit men and women everywhere while searching for allies to help him survive. What made the first John Wick a surprise hit for audiences in terms of its quality, is how it took a simple revenge plot revolving around a man avenging his dog and tracking down the gangsters that attacked and took everything from him. The plot was basic for a revenge film but it delivered high-kinetic action while providing a role that allowed Keanu Reeves to not only deliver one of his strongest acting performances in years, but also receive a full career makeover. John Wick was stylish, thrilling, fast-paced, and genuinely refreshing as it presented a new kind of action star that ran parallel to Liam Neeson's character in Taken. What made it really connect with audiences outside of the insane action sequences is the drama that lies within the heart of the film mainly with the character of John Wick. Reeves was the perfect casting choice for the film has he was able to channel much of his real life traumatic experiences into the part that the audience upon reading of his real life tragedies can feel being portrayed within the role. The first John Wick film grabbed the audience by the collar almost immediately and didn't let up until the end while still leaving you wanting more. John Wick: Chapter 2 took what audiences loved about the first movie and delivered more of it while expanding on the story line of the first film. Chapter 2 really showcased more of Wicks skills while expanding on the criminal underworld elements of the story. Unlike most action sequels, John Wick: Chapter 2 defied expectations and built upon the first films universe with non-stop action sequences, that are brilliantly choreographed while having a thrilling story to back it up.

      Whereas the first two John Wick movies are the set up for Parabellum, the third movie is the big payoff as its easily the biggest John Wick movie in terms of story, scope, and action. The audience has no clue of whether John Wick will survive the bounty placed upon him in this film but take great enjoyment in the thrill of seeing him fight his way out of a nightmarish scenario with his trusty dog by his side. What director Chad Stahelski and writers Derek Kolstad, Chris Collins, Marc Abrams, and Shay Hatten do that defies the general consensus of a third film in an action trilogy is they raise the stakes higher by making the obstacles the main character faces more deadlier and harder to overcome while creating an experience that's nail biting for the audience. The filmmakers clearly understand that all the impressive action sequences and choreography in the film are pointless and boring unless the audience is connected with the main characters. The John Wick trilogy is one that continues to succeed and flourish because they understand that logic and never lose sight of the main narrative of the story. Parabellum carries with it themes that keep in line with the first two films such as chaos, honour, bounty's, contract killing, love, making amends, fate, and loyalty with a message that ultimately says that life is pain as evidenced by what the audience see's with John Wicks character. What separates the John Wick action trilogy from other action trilogies is it took a concept from the first movie which remained fairly grounded and expanded it while maintaining the shock and awe that audiences had with each previous installment. With each new installment, the story got bigger and deeper with the main character of Wick becoming more badass and sympathetic.

      In terms of the films acting, the performances are once again top notch with Reeves proving that he is the perfect choice for the part. With the role of John Wick, Reeves delivers an amazing physical performance while switching to a more relaxed yet confident state when playing it calm. His acting has really come a long way from the days of Speed and The Matrix as he feels more believable and natural in his roles while applying his emotions to the main character. Halle Berry delivers a solid performance as Sofia, an old friend of Wick that owes him a favor. Her and Reeves work well together on screen and demonstrate great chemistry. Ian McShane delivers another terrific performance as Winston from Chapter 2 who provides unsanctioned help to Wick. Laurence Fishburne delivers a strong performance playing one of Wicks allies while making audiences get a kick out of seeing a mini Matrix reunion with him and Reeves working together again. Lance Reddick and Anjelica Houston turn in noteworthy performances as individuals that Wick comes across in his path and end up aiding him. Asia Kate Dillon does a terrific job playing the films main antagonist, an Adjudicator that's assigned to look into the unsanctioned help given to Wick by allied forces. As far as the performances go, everyone delivered strong performances and clearly looked like they were having fun playing their roles while adding depth to the story.

      As far as directing goes, the stuntmen turned directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch deliver another phenomenal job with the third chapter in the popular Wick series, delivering a striking visual world that's both dark and bleak while remaining unapologetic in it's relentless use of extreme yet well choreographed violence. Instead of making fast-cut fight sequences, the takes are longer and more drawn-out to showcase the physical strength of the actors while allowing the audience to follow the fights progression. The films library fight sequence is a prime example of being so over-the-top and brutal that it works effectively as a form of deadly combat with books being used as knives essentially. Another amazing action sequence in the film is the iconic horse vs motorbike gauntlet involving swords that's so insanely over-the-top it makes the films action sequences standout while never feeling like its poking fun at itself. The film is essentially one big roller-coaster ride that once the action starts, it never lets up. The films pacing meets the action halfway as the movie never feels slow, but maintains its speed and the adrenaline that pours out of the action sequences. What makes Parabellum as well as the rest of the John Wick series unique as action flicks is how they showcase almost every form of fighting and action in general with impressive shots. Stahelski and Leitch accompany the incredible action sequences with impressive art-set designs and stunning cinematography which capture the action sequences in a larger than life format. A lot of great care and love went into this movie showing that the audience isn't just watching any standard action flick, they are witnessing a truly intense yet special experience that's made with a genuine labor of love and excitement for telling its story.

      One cannot help but wonder when Chad Stahelski and David Leitch set out to make the first movie, did they ever expect the story line for that film to become a full blown saga with a unique action revenge story that not only gave Taken a ride for its money but returned Keanu Reeves to form as an action star. Through the experience of making the John Wick movies, he has become a much stronger actor and is finally recognized as a genuine celebrity both on and off the camera. John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum is hands down the best installment in the John Wick trilogy while serving as an example that its truly possible to make a consistent action franchise that gets better with each film. Everything from this film screams top notch from the acting to the action, the amazing set designs and cinematography to the excellent choreography and brisk pacing. If you thought the gun shooting scenes and the action in the second film couldn't be topped, then you're in for a real treat with the third film as everything is bigger and better. The film also leaves the door open for a fourth installment in the John Wick series with the audience feeling more confident about it after seeing how well Parabellum was handled. The John Wick trilogy is the one action franchise that doesn't lose its touch and only gets better and better. Parabellum is easily the years strongest action movie thus far and lays a pretty serious claim for technical Oscar nominations for Best-Art And Set Decoration, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects, and Best Film Editing. John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum is an endless ride of thrills and excitement that never dies down and always keeps you wanting more.

Final Verdict: A MUST SEE

With Us, Jordan Peele Creates His Own Twilight Zone of Pure Terror And Suspense

       Riding off the outstanding success of 2017's Get Out which secured him an Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay, Jordan Peele once again tries his hand at the horror and suspense genre with another bold and creative effort titled Us. Framing his stories around a Twilight Zone style narrative, Peele once again goes against the stereotypical norms of a mystery and horror thriller, placing an ambitious and inventive story, that centers around an African American family which is something most horror movies don't bother to show. One of the most noblest traits about Peele's work is the fact that he takes an ethnic group, that for the most part has been underrepresented in the horror/thriller genre and places them front and center in the story while changing up the horror formula. What made Get Out such a breakthrough film was the creativity that went into the story as it was effective and thrilling while carrying with it important social statements regarding race in today's society. With Us, Peele continues to incorporate important societal themes into his story while placing his characters as well as his audience in another bizarre scenario. While not as strong of a film as Get Out, Us remains a very strong sophomore effort from the rising filmmaker that's bolder, more ambitious, and divisive with its audience. For most movies divisiveness is a bad thing, for Jordan Peele's films, that's actually a good thing as it allows the audience to think and reflect on the message he's trying to convey.

      The plot for Us centers around an African American family visiting a seaside home where the wife (Played by Lupita Nyong'o) grew up in. Accompanied by her husband (Played by Winston Duke) and their children, the wife becomes increasingly paranoid during their visit as she becomes haunted by a past childhood traumatic experience which happened previously on the property. They soon are attacked by masked strangers, who once unmasked reveal that they share identical physical features to the family with unusual names and personalities. One of Peele's clear sources of inspiration for telling his stories is The Twilight Zone as he brilliantly creates a nightmarish atmosphere that surrounds his characters with a steady buildup of suspense. Some of the themes that Us covers range from psychological trauma to PTSD, paranoia, tensions regarding race, people lacking a voice in society, belief in the soul and God, cloning, and reevaluating what it means to be an American.

      The ultimate message that Jordan Peele drives home with Us is that issues regarding minority oppression, religion, and cloning can bring out the dark side in American culture. While Peele doesn't hammer the audience over the head with these themes and messages, he cleverly blends them into his story while taking his audience for a ride that's dark, brutal, honest, and eye-opening while doing it in such an entertaining fashion. Unlike Get Out which carried a more straight-forward narrative, Peele doesn't spoon-feed the audience the plot this time, he makes the audience participants in the story and has them question what's happening and evaluate certain scenarios within the plot. While not every audience member will appreciate that form of storytelling, it creates a lasting impression on the film that draws the audience back to reexamine it through repeated viewings.

      In terms of acting and directing, both categories are top notch with Peele's cast delivering totally convincing performances. Winston Duke and Lupita Nyong'o deliver very strong and totally believable performances as a young married couple witnessing their vacation being turned upside down. Out of the two performances, Nyong'o steals the show and dominates the screen both as the over-protective wife Adelaide and the imposter Red. Her acting along with the rest of the cast is incredible and scene-stealing as the two main actors give their soul to the material. The child actors Evan Alex and Shahadi Wright Joseph do phenomenal jobs and help sell the illusion along with the adult actors that the Wilsons are a likable and totally sympathetic family that you want to see make it out of their dilemma safely. The films strongest acting from the main cast comes when the Wilson family meets their silent doppelgangers, showing the actors going back and forth from being vulnerable as the Wilsons to sinister as The Tethereds, demonstrating performances that are completely opposite of each other from the same actors.

       Along with the amazing work from the main cast, Jordan Peele's directing is stellar once again as he helps the actors create an appealing American family that the audience will unquestionably want to see survive regardless of how dangerous the situation becomes. Peele is clearly a Twilight Zone fan and does his best effort to create another story that imitates the style and mood of the show with a dark atmosphere and striking cinematography. Peele clearly understands what makes a horror film successful and utilizes his time in telling the story wisely as he allows the audience to get to know the family while fleshing out The Tethered. While the films narrative may not be as simple to follow as Get Out's was, the directors passion for telling a solid horror and mystery thriller remains equal.

      In the end, this directorial effort by Jordan Peele will remain heavily divisive as audiences will be left dissecting the films message and scratching their heads by the films third act. Peele takes his time developing the films story and building the suspense by creating an effective opening flashback sequence involving Lupita Nyongo's character that leaves her mentally scarred while setting up what happens later in the story. Us deserves major points for attempting to bring something new to the table in terms of puzzling and thrilling its audience. The latter it does an exceptionally good job of entertaining its audience while keeping them engaged. Jordan Peele once again demonstrates to audiences that he has a lot to offer as a filmmaker and is just getting warmed up. His second directorial debut remains as appealing and controversial as his first, although that film is easier for the audience to follow. Us is a film that needs at least two viewings before one makes a proper judgment of it as they will have questions that need answering and want to make sure they caught everything. This film was not meant to please everyone as its ambition and drive to make its audience think will frustrate some while draw others to its mystery. Us is easily one of the most thought-provoking, bold, and striking films of the year thus far as well as being one of the strongest horror movies released in 2019. If you loved Get Out, you will love this movie or at the very least appreciate it for its attempt at being creative which it does a great job at being.

Final Verdict: A MUST SEE

Tim Burton's Dumbo Proves To Not Only Be His Strongest Effort In Years But Also His Most Underrated

      

      Looking back at a career that spans roughly four decades, Tim Burton remains one of Hollywood's most unique and talented visionary filmmakers. Directing short films throughout the 70's and early 80's, Burton's success as a director began with studio hit films such as Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, and Batman which later transcended into cult classics such as Edward Scissorshands, Mars Attacks and Sleepy Hollow. Despite a highly impressive track record that represents great versatility as a filmmaker, Burton has had hits and misses with his most recent work in particular which includes Alice In Wonderland and Dark Shadows. While those films contained the visual flair of Burton's previous works, they lack the storytelling and heart that went into his other films that made them special. Burton as a filmmaker does his best work when he picks projects that focus on characters presented as being outsiders in their stories with his traditional dark and gothic mood that makes his films come off as being eccentric in the best ways. Whereas to Disney fans, it may seem odd that such a whacky and eccentric director was chosen to helm one of the studios most precious animated classics. However if one steps back and sees the outsider perspective the main character in the film evokes, they can clearly see why Burton was chosen for this project as he specializes in telling dark and sometimes heartwarming stories centered around these characters. Tim Burton's Dumbo is not a perfect film as it feels slow in certain areas due to the filmmakers effort to extend the story with his live-action effort, but it succeeds as being an effective live-action adaptation that contains both visual flair and most important element of all, a heart.

      The storyline for Dumbo plays out much like the original film with a struggling circus owner Max Medici (Played by Danny Devito), enlisting the help of a former star (Played by Colin Ferrall) and his two children to care for a baby elephant with oversized ears named Dumbo. When the family discovers that Dumbo can fly, they make him the main attraction which leads to huge crowds and revitalizing a run-down circus. When a new venture for the circus is planned, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer. Much has been said about Disney's recent strategy to remake their animated classics in live-action as some fans see the new attempt as a pointless cash grab on peoples nostalgia while others see it as an enhancement of the stories and a brilliant way to reintroduce them to a new generation of audiences in a brand new format. If the movies themselves were poor in quality, one might assume that the first group of fans complaining about the live-action movies would be correct. That is not the case though as each attempt Disney has made thus far to turn their stories into live-action have not only become box office success but ended up being strong films in regards to quality. They don't just copy the exact same film shot for shot, they ground the films with the same story but tell their own version of it adding new characters and plot points to make the experience feel full. The main difference between both versions of Dumbo is this one has human side characters, that become supportive friends and caretakers for Dumbo whereas it was a mouse in the original helping him achieve his potential. The human characters are presented as being likable and share empathy for Dumbo with the antagonists feeling like true villains in a classic Disney story. What makes the story of Dumbo special is not just that it revolves around a cute elephant but it has themes that it celebrates honorably with genuine enthusiasm such as acknowledging differences, family bonds, the need for acceptance, staying true to ones morals, and fulfilling personal dreams. The film does such a noble job of handling those themes while maintaining that childlike sense of wonder the original film had when seeing Dumbo in action.

      In terms of performances, the main cast of Dumbo all deliver strong performances with Colin Farrell and Danny Devito making their characters appealing with Farrell's performance coming across as feeling heartfelt and Devito delivering his strongest performance in years. Michael Keaton delivers an equally satisfying performance as the films antagonist along with Eva Green and Alan Arkin. The child actors Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins are especially effective and do great with the parts they have. With all the great performances combined, the audience feels the enthusiasm that the actors have for telling this story as they clearly look like they are having a blast with it while showing devotion to the concept. Everyone was awesome here with the cast outside of the films visuals remaining one of its strongest points that makes the story of Dumbo come alive. Whereas Burton may struggle in the story department with some of his latest films, he has an eye for casting and always manages to excel in that level with this film being no different from his previous ones.

      In terms of the films directing and writing, Tim Burton once again delivers his trademark visual flair to the film while giving it a pulse. He presents the character of Dumbo as being impossible to despise and sympathetic when mistreated and exploited for capitalistic purposes. In terms of directing, Burton knows what he wants to show here and does so with absolute confidence in presenting the story on the big screen. He incorporates offbeat humor to the film while presenting Dumbo as a symbol of innocence or an outsider who knows he doesn't fit in with the general crowd but wants to be taken seriously. As director, Burton goes to extreme lengths to make the live-action version of Dumbo different from the original despite moments where the film legitimately struggles. Those struggles are mostly due to the films writing making it feel slow-paced and padded in the middle portion. Screenwriter Ehren Kruger does his best job to flesh out Dumbos story by adding human characters that care for his well-being, but it sometimes feel after the first hour that the story isn't sure where to go beyond establishing the main characters and setting where the crowds watch Dumbo fly around. What Burton and Kruger do best with the script as a whole is they create an emotional experience for the audience with them witnessing Dumbos journey from his birth to his exploitation in the circus to the moment he becomes free. Whereas the original placed great emphasis on the audience learning that Dumbo can fly, the new version establishes that twist quickly and focuses on the rest of his journey along with the people that care for him along the way. Although the film carries moments of slow pacing at times where the story becomes uneventful in between the beginning and the end, Burton and Kruger deserve major props for attempting to move away from the original and be different by adding to the story.

      On a visual note, Dumbo remains just as appealing as the next live-action Disney film and Tim Burton film as a whole. It's flashy, its magical, and it draws you into the world the story takes place in with stunning art-set decoration and costume design in addition to the impressive visuals that brought Dumbo to life. In terms of music, Danny Elfman once again delivers a solid score and proves that he does some of his best work when teamed up with Tim Burton. The make-up effects and cinematography are top notch adding to the mystical feel behind the story. The CGI work on Dumbo is very good and looks great on the big screen bringing the amazing elephant to life. On a technical note, this film is a delight to watch and delivers on almost every aspect as Burton is one of the visionary masters of Hollywood. Whereas sometimes Burton leans heavier on the visuals which outweigh the storyline at times, here he successfully manages to balance out both in delivering one of his sweetest and most family-friendly films yet that serves as a worthy remake to the original classic.

      The new live-action adaptation of Dumbo is a worthy installment in the recent stream of Disney turning their animated classics into live-action. While it may not be as strong as some of their other recent live-action works such as Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book, 2017's Beauty And The Beast or Guy Ritchie's Aladdin, Tim Burton's Dumbo still proves to be a pretty good reimagining while ranking as one of Burton's best works in a long time. With Dumbo, he provides the visuals, the talented cast, Danny Elfman's heartfelt score, and the heart to make it a worthwhile experience while creating an emotional journey for the audience. It wasn't the remake that Disney fans requested in terms of being turned into a live-action story, but it proves to be just as magical and as effective as the others with a great message behind it that says that one shouldn't let others say what they can and cannot do. Dumbo is a powerful Disney tale about growing up as evident by Dumbo being separated from his mother along with the human characters that mirror his experience. The story also plays as a morality tale against greed, animal cruelty, exploitation, and the desire to set animals free in the vein of Free Willy with both endings providing hope for the audience. It may not be the best live-action Disney film to come around thus far, but its a much better movie than what critics make it out to be. Dumbo is a triumph of a film that helps reaffirm the belief that Tim Burton is still one of the best storytellers in the filmmaking business both emotionally and visually.

Final Verdict: SEE IT, One Of Burton's Best Works In Years.