Spider-Man: Far From Home Is The Much Desired Dessert Audiences Craved After Endgame

       After a successful reintroduction of the character in Marvel's Civil War and a strong solo film with Spider-Man: Homecoming, the journey of Tom Holland's Peter Parker/Spider-Man continues with Far From Home. With a total of four appearances up to this point, Tom Holland has left a strong impression with audiences with many ranking him as being one of the best Spider-Man's (If not the best) ever put on film. Far From Home has the distinct honor of being the first Marvel film currently that takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame, giving audiences a glimpse of the aftermath while using Peter Parker's journey as a vessel towards setting the next stage of the MCU. Unlike The Amazing Spider-Man movies, Spider-Man: Homecoming succeeded in successfully rebooting the character for the Marvel universe, making him fun-spirited, heroic, and relatable to audiences while bringing him a lot closer to the comics in terms of accuracy. Fast-Forward two years later with Far From Home, the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming not only is a stronger and better film than its predecessor, its one of the best Spider-Man movies ever. Period.

      The plot for Spider-Man: Far From Home continues after the events of Spider-Man: Homecoming along with the events of Avengers: Endgame with Peter Parker struggling to cope with the worldwide death and destruction from the events of that film. He agrees to go on a school field trip to Europe with his classmates including his friend and romantic love interest MJ. During the field trip, Parker is recruited by Nick Fury to team up with a former superhero named Quentin Beck, aka Mysterio, to battle a series of new enemies called The Elementals from destroying Europe. What seems like a genuine friendship at first, Peter soon discovers that Mysterio is not the person he appears to be but is full of trickery and illusion. Far From Home's story had the distinct challenge of not just following the end of Homecoming, but also continuing from where Endgame ended with audiences seeing Peter Parker's struggling to cope with the loss of Tony Stark and feeling the pressure of trying to step into his shoes. The sequel maintains much of the heart and charm of Homecoming while delivering new themes to the story that flesh out the character of Peter Parker such as him struggling to take responsibility as well as the fear of stepping into someone else's shoes while not feeling worthy enough to do so. The film also explores Parker's desire to have a normal life with him making plans to express his true feelings to MJ while being asked by Nick Fury to help save the world. Deception, teen angst, and life choices all play important parts to the story as the audience witnesses the character of Peter Parker grow from the events of Endgame as he continues to morph into the young hero that comic book fans know him to be. Much like Homecoming, Far From Home as well as that film both feel like Spider-Man films as well as sitting down on a Saturday morning and watching one of the episodes of the iconic animated show that aired on Fox. Add to that a sizable dose of teen romance and stylish superhero action, Far From Home is a true gem of a Spider-Man movie that serves as Marvel's response to the brilliant animated Into The Spider-Verse.

      In terms of acting, the cast does a terrific job playing their roles and appear to be having a blast with their characters. Tom Holland proves once again that he's the perfect choice to play Peter Parker and carry on the mantle from Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. For young Marvel fans, Holland's Parker and Spider-Man is the most relatable out of the three and down to earth. He stole the show in both Infinity War and Endgame with his end scenes and does a great job once again in the title role. Jake Gyllenhaal is fantastic as usual playing the films main antagonist as he comes across as being warm, compassionate, deceptive, twisted, and sinister all rolled into one. He's the perfect Mysterio and delivers an awesome performance here while demonstrating great chemistry with Holland. Its also nice to see him in a superhero film as he nearly landed the role of Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's trilogy. Zendaya proves to be an unique yet great choice as MJ with her character being completely likable, smart, and funny. Its no mystery why Parker is head over heels for her as the two showcase great chemistry together with the sequel expanding on their relationship. Samuel L. Jackson delivers a strong supporting role as Nick Fury being both hilarious and intimidating as he pushes Parker to choose between his normal life and being the next Iron Man. Marisa Tomei proves once again to be a clever choice for Aunt May despite being younger than the actual May in the comics. Fans will get a kick out of seeing where the end twist of Homecoming brings her character and Peter. Other noteworthy supporting roles are Jacob Batalon delivering a hilarious performance as Peters best friend as well as being one of the few that knows his secret, J.B Smoove as Mr. Dell, and Martin Starr as Mr. Harrington, both teachers and guardians to Peters class. It's not a question of whether anyone delivered a bad performance, everyone is excellent here and brings large amounts of enthusiasm and excitement to their parts. The audience gets to know these characters, shares numerous laughs with them and ultimately cares for them in the end.

      As far as directing and writing goes, director Jon Watts from Homecoming returns as director for the sequel and once again brings his A Game. He once again blends superhero action with character development and humor that feels real. He even makes the audience care about the side characters such as the teachers, Flash, and Happy. For the films scope, Watts doesn't try to outdo Endgames which would be impossible to do and disastrous, but brings things down to a more human and personal scale with Parker's character struggling to lead a double life while fighting to accept his true destiny. Instead of ignoring how Endgame ends, the film builds off that movies climax and shows the emotional toll that the events of that film took on Peter with him losing someone who was essentially a father figure. As far as the teen romance in the film goes, Watts gives a sense of innocence to it that almost feels like something one would see on the Disney channel that appeals to young audiences while blending it with a solid villain and exciting action sequences that keep the adrenaline an thrills going. After Sam Raimi, Watts is easily the best director to helm a Spider-Man film as he clearly understands the character and re-establishes him in a way that audiences can connect with. Homecoming writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers return to the sequel bringing the same kind of creativity and freshness, that made the previous film such a rewarding and surprise experience for fans. The duo writers do a very good job of creating and expanding on what's essentially a coming of age tale that revolves around loss and love, despair, hope, betrayal and trust. The writers brilliantly weave all of these themes and ideas together while creating a story that has relation to the audience while sprinkling healthy doses of humor throughout the film. Perhaps the reason why so many Marvel fans consider this Spider-Man to be the best one is because he's do down to earth and easy to understand and connect with.

      On a technical note, the films visual effects once again are top notch and are not to be missed on the big screen especially IMAX. The films action set pieces are stunning especially the films insane third act which relies heavily on CGI. The cinematography is solid with the costume designs of both Spider-Man and Mysterio looking realistic and falling in line with the rest of the MCU. Mysterio is impressive here and looks like a comic book and cartoon character (If you grew up watching the Fox animated show), brought to the big screen in a larger than life form. The score by Michael Giacchino remains impressive once again though it can't beat Danny Elfman's trademark Spider-Man theme from the Sam Raimi trilogy. The films editing is masterfully done, keeping the story moving without it feeling slow or drawn out. The audience gets time to connect with Parker and his friends before he's pulled away to tackle the next big threat. On a technical note, Far From Home is one of the most ambitious and impressive Spider-Man films to date with Marvel continuously raising the bar in terms of what can be done with the story on both an emotional and visual scale.

      Once again Marvel beats the odds and shows audiences that they know how to properly bring these characters to the big screen and know what makes them work. Tom Hollands Peter Parker is no exception as his Spider-Man is perhaps the most human of them all giving the audience the impression that they could be the ones under the mask being put in the same shoes as him. Director Jon Watts and the writers understand that and chose to craft a set of Spider-Man movies that are not only exciting visually but remain grounded on a human level. Far From Home is easily one of the best superhero films of the year and the best Spider-Man film since 2004's Spider-Man 2. For long-time fans of the character, this is the film they've been waiting for as it manages to top Spider-Man: Homecoming and bring a new villain to the screen. With all the impressive action, the heart of the film lies with the main characters and the performances delivered by the actors. Far From Home maintains the energy, the lighthearted tone, the excitement, and teen romance that was introduced in Homecoming with the film capitalizing on Hollands perfect casting as a young Peter Parker whose struggling to balance out two lives, one that allows him to be an ordinary kid with a crush and the other following the path that Tony Stark laid out for him. His story remains compelling enough that makes audiences want to see what happens to him with the next Spider-Man outing. Far From Home is the Spider-Man 2 of the Homecoming trilogy with the brilliant after credits scene raising the stakes for the next film. For all Spider-Man and Marvel fans in general, this film is a must see.

Final Verdict: SEE IT

Toy Story 4 Is A Totally Unnecessary Sequel that Earns Its Rightful Place In The Series

      Was anyone really asking for a Toy Story 4? The last time audiences saw these characters on the big screen nearly ten years ago, the ending to the third film felt like a genuinely satisfying finish to the franchise as audiences watched the gangs former owner Andy hand his unique collection of toys off to their owner named Bonnie. Watching Andy bid the toys farewell as he drove away and seeing Woody saying goodbye to his former owner, the door to the franchise as a whole was properly closed making for perhaps the most beautiful and consistent animated trilogy of all time. The book was essentially shut on the Toy Story universe, which made the news of a fourth film both confusing and frustrating for fans as the series essentially had the perfect ending with no one wanting to see it potentially become ruined with what appeared to be an obvious attempt at a cash grab. As far as making sequels go, Pixar's track record for the most part has been successful with their only true misfire being Cars 2 (Which they made up for nicely with Cars 3), giving fans confidence along with hope that they could find a way to make a worthy installment to what's already a perfect trilogy while making it relevant to the rest of the franchises narrative without feeling pointless. Now that Toy Story 4 has been released, it can be said with absolute assurance that the fourth installment in the iconic series is not only as good as the other films, but feels important to the narrative of the story while carrying emotional weight to it.

      The plot for Toy Story 4 takes place several years after the events of Toy Story 3 with Woody, Buzz, and the whole crew going on a road trip with their new owner Bonnie, a little girl in Kindergarten who creates a new toy called Forky. During the trip, Forky goes missing prompting Woody to find him which leads to an unexpected reunion with Woody's old friend and former property of Andy's named Bo Peep. While the two reconnect while searching for Forky, revelations and life-changing decisions come into realization as the two realize how big the world can be for a toy. Choosing the story for Toy Story 4 was always going to be tricky as Pixar had to make the case for continuing the series past the third film without making it feel empty and unnecessary. Choosing to focus on the characters of Woody and Bo Peep was a clever choice as audiences were left wondering what happened to the latter character as she was left absent from Toy Story 3's story. The filmmakers chose to give audiences an explanation of what happened to Bo Peep's character as well as showing how her relationship with Woody ended by solving those two issues with the films heartbreaking opening sequence. The films opening gives audiences the feeling that no time has passed since they last saw these characters on the big screen despite the story jumping back to the past to show what happened to Bo Peep while forwarding to the present with the gang now under Bonnie's household. The story also develops Bonnie's family making them more relatable to the audience as they didn't see much of them in the previous film. Out of all the Toy Story characters returning from the previous film, Woody once again takes the center stage and completes a new arc for his role in the fourth film.

      It wouldn't be a true Toy Story film if it didn't tackle mature and adult themes that the audience can connect with while carrying a message to it. The film carries themes that pertain to family, friendship, loyalty, faith in oneself, teamwork, choosing new paths, old flames rekindling, discovering new purpose, and taking the initiative. Without giving away major spoilers, Toy Story 4 expands on the toys being passed onto a new child while also carrying over some of the themes from the previous films such as abandonment, loneliness, the desire for acceptance, friendship, and loyalty. The message that Toy Story delivered when all was said and done is that regardless of the situation, true friends stick together. Toy Story 4's message places emphasis on the fact that toys can help children to navigate the challenges of life while creating lifelong memories. Director Josh Cooley doesn't try to neglect the themes and story arc established by Toy Story 3 but rather embraces its emotional core and molds the fourth film to be a true continuation of that film. The fourth Toy Story  maintains the fun-spirit and heart of it's predecessors, crafting another adventure for Woody's gang while delivering another poignant message that audiences can connect with regarding finding one's purpose in life as well as navigating the uncertainty as everyone finds themselves searching for their own purpose and trying to understand what each persons individual meaning of life is. The film shows Woody's struggle to remain relevant in Bonnie's life as the audience see's that she doesn't have much use for him other than keeping him in the closet with the other toys, which draws him to feeling the need to look after Forky and make sure he's there for her. The writing of the film is brilliantly done to where it doesn't feel like a forced or tacked on sequel but that it carries purpose and emotional weight to it that keeps the series both fresh and inspiring.

      As far as the voice acting performances go, the entire cast delivers fantastic performances with both Tom Hanks and Tim Allen proving to be perfect choices for their roles. It never feels as if they are bored or tired of playing their parts and bring the same kind of energy and enthusiasm to the roles of Woody and Buzz that's present in the previous films. Annie Potts returning to the series as Bo Peep is a great addition to the cast as Toy Story 4 feels like a continuation of Woody and Bo's story. Potts definitely appears to be having fun returning to the part and for fans of that character, its a real treat to see Peep get the character development and attention she deserves. Tony Hale does a fine job playing Forky, breathing life into a new character that manages to steal the show and is an appealing addition to Woody's gang of toys. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are surprisingly good in their supporting roles as toys Woody comes across in his trip to find Forky. Christina Hendricks does a solid job playing the films antagonist Gabby, making her character to be both creepy yet sympathetic for audiences. Keanu Reeves shines in his first animated role playing daredevil racer Duke Caboom. The returning cast from the previous films such as Wallace Shawn as Rex, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head in a posthumous performance, and Estelle Harris as Mrs. Potato Head. As far as the cast goes, all the actors and actresses deliver fun and energetic performances showing genuine enthusiasm for their roles while making the best of each persons time in the story.

      On a technical note, the films animation is simply breathtaking as the technology is more beautiful to watch on the big screen compared to the first film 24 years prior. Each shot of the film and each character is drawn out and created with a genuine passion and excitement for bringing the story to life. When you think that Pixar can't top themselves in the animation department, they prove the audience wrong as the animation feels real and larger than life. The films editing is quick moving the film at a brisk pace while never feeling like the story is dragging. One doesn't know how Pixar manages to make their Toy Story films feel fresh again but they pulled it off once again, and is sure to leave a smile on the audience face before and after the film. Pixar and the team behind the fourth Toy Story truly enjoy being in the company of these characters and creating their story, even going to great lengths of perfection to make sure the audience once again has a blast with these characters. From the moment the audience see's the main characters again, their gripes about there being a fourth installment in what's essentially a perfect trilogy is easily brushed aside as they become excited and happy to see these faces again.

     In the end, it wasn't a sequel that Toy Story fans were asking for as the story was essentially completed with the third film but Toy Story 4 manages to rise above expectations and justifies its existence within the series. Its not as good of a film as Toy Story 3 as that one was more of an emotional roller coaster ride, but this one flies above Toy Story 2 although you can't beat the first one unless its Toy Story 3. What Toy Story 4 is a celebration of a great animated tale that's nearly 25 years in the making and has remained consistent with each new installment. The film is funny, charming, heartfelt, romantic, emotional, and has something to say about finding ones station in life. The movies end scene though not as powerful as Toy Story 3's will still send tears down fans cheeks as its not only bittersweet but brilliant. One of the things that makes this series stand the test of time is much like the audience watching it, the story and characters have grown with each installment making them invested in the adventures Woody and his team encounter. The new characters are fresh and entertaining to watch even though they tend to overshadow the older ones throughout the film as it feels like they take a backseat to cameos. While that might be understandable given some of the actors who voiced the old characters such as Jim Varney as Slinky and Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head have passed away, it may leave some audiences uncomfortable that the newer faces play more active roles in the story this time.

      Was Toy Story 4 a necessary sequel that fans of the original trilogy needed? No, as good as the film is there's no real justification for a fourth film as the story could've easily been left alone at the third and fans would've been just as happy. However, that doesn't mean that those who love the first three films shouldn't bother watching it, its more than worthy of their time and money as it gives an extension of the franchise that not only makes sense but evolves the characters further despite not being necessary. Toy Story 4 for all the right or wrong reasons it was made, is a richly satisfying film that will please most fans of the series while giving another epic conclusion to the franchise that's honorable and downright touching. For fans who question whether it was worth the effort to make, see the film for yourself. It will surprise you as much as it did this fan.

Final Verdict: SEE IT

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