Film reviews

Masters of the Universe Review

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This is a superhero adaptation with a surrounding of nostalgia and a presence of gold written all over it, as a sword becomes the symbol of the hero. I loved the superhero He-Man growing up, so I felt I was in for a ride that would be bumpy and adventurous. I had a feeling that I would not be able to take some of the characters seriously, primarily because the cheesiness of Masters of the Universe keeps the cheese shredding with moments of brilliance that can simply fade into blurs. This is one where the silliness gets topped off and it can be a little too much.

Masters of the Universe is not horrid, but its plot is seemingly lackluster. The film’s premise surrounds a kingdom called Eternia with the villain Skeletor dwelling in this land. He is played by Jared Leto. The man who must save the army of darkness is Adam, played by Nicholas Galitzine. However, in the beginning he feels no one will believe his path is to be a hero. That is until he grabs the sword and becomes He-Man. He must fight to save Eternia, before Skeletor takes over. Not only Skeletor rules, as he has an assistant named Evil-Lyn, played by Alison Brie. The life of Adam becoming a hero is not something he expected. He rises fast though when his childhood friend Teela, played by Camila Mendes, comes in to assist.

The kingdom in shambles and a man questioning his fate make the execution of Masters of the Universe to have more moments to laugh at than to take seriously. I could not take Jared Leto or Alison Brie very seriously at all, because the persona of evil within their characters flies below the radar. Leto is already sketchy with characteristics of strange acting methods, and Brie is just too sweet and innocent to present as evil.  The fighting, however, is what stands out the most, as it rises above all the plots.

The question that comes around in the film is, “Have you seen this sword?” The moment this question is asked is where the wheels fall off and things begin to feel disastrous. It creates so much CGI and too much predictability between good guys and bad guys. Disappointingly, the technology speak louder than the storyline of the film. The sword does not spin with cinematic wonders as much as I had expected.

Quirky and almost predictable, this is an average superhero adaptation with more to come. I do give this credit for forming somewhat of a franchise foundation, but I feel that I will just go back to cartoon series of He-Man for any sort of true fulfillment.The animation classic had more meaning than this presentation, as the cheesiness of the actors in this adaptation did not make the film feel like it was flowing well. Fun with all the action and extremely witty, but so predictable. Two out of four stars for Masters of the Universe.

 

 

 

Film reviews

Weekend at the End of the World Review

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This is one of the most creative and hysterical fantasy comedies for adults that I have seen in a long while. Lots of heartbreak to get over, and plenty of portals to revelations leading to uncharted territory. Loads of fun! Weekend at the End of the World is a buddy movie that takes viewers to the edge of a new reality. Lots of laughs, annoyances, and mysteries all add up toan adventure that is not to be missed. Directed by Gille Klabinand co-written with Clay Elliott (one of the leads), nothing goes completely right or wrong in Weekend at the End of the World.

The film begins with two friends, Karl (Clay Elliott) and Miles (Cameron Fife). Karl is trying to get over a break-up, and Miles decides to take him to his cabin in the mountains. Miles comes up with the idea of selling his cabin. The audience’s response is, “IN YOUR DREAMS!” because the cabin is a mess. In addition, haunted elements emerge which begin with an eerie neighbor named Hank (Thomas Lennon).

The buddy vibe of the movie continues with loads of laughs andquirky scenes. Things evolve into a more serious/silly situation when a portal appears. Karl and Miles are placed within a portal in the home, and they realize the end of the world may be near. Miles also has a family member that comes out of the portal named Meemaw (Troian Bellisario), his grandma. Since they’re dealing with a make-believe portal, she comes out looking like she is in her 20s or 30s, which is a big turn-on for Karl. Still, the guys have their mission of going into the portal and their reality seems doomed. It is all a bit like an adult version of Dora the Explorer.

The film is witty and at moments over-the-top because it tries too hard. Overall, the outline, script, and the moving parts are genius. Absent-minded characters are written well for this film, and that alone makes the dynamic classy and captivating. There isn’t any major spectacle, yet there is an enjoyable presence of wonders throughout the film. For example, the hose that links them to the portal has purple colors and floats around. Closing the portal is complicated because it requires that Karl and Miles pay close attention. They are not the smartest cookies but are wonderful for creating laughs with their gags. In the end, the context of the story and the dangerous adventures throughout Weekend at the End of the World work.

There is a moment when the phrase “METAPHORICAL DARKNESS!” is mentioned. This indicates that the various elements of reality must come together to put a halt to thethreats. Although the threats in this film are not very serious, theapproaches to handle them are spot-on. Fortunately, they are enough to deliver new ideas and carry the weight of the comedy.There is a grandeur of bizarre concepts unraveling in a fanciful light in this film. While it is not amazing, it is artistic with dramatic tones. Three out of four stars.

Film reviews

The Messenger of Joy Review

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Artists have moments in their life that inspire their art and create unique languages. The inspiration often comes from important life events and cherished memories. The Messenger of Joy delivers cinematic wonders in the form of a documentary. Written by Mohammad Saeidian and directed by Alexander Kwanje, The Messenger of Joy takes a breathtaking look at the life and legacy of the Persian Painter Nasser Ovissi who impressed the world with his many works of art. The documentary weaves together elements of the different eras of his life. 

The prime focus of the film is the depictions of women and horses in his paintings. Throughout the deep journey, there are interviews with people he has worked with and some of his children. They all provide context around why his paintings borers semblances. Nasser’s art takes audiences to new places and is described by the words of those who worked closely with him. 

During The Messenger of Joy, art’s landscape is depicted with realistic essence. Nasser elaborates on how art was not that supportive in his life. He frequently discusses inspirations from his own youth which encouraged him to grow as a stronger painter. The documentary highlights Nasser’s creative worldwhile also including some dark moments from the past. The film peeks into the devoted mind of an artist who works his fingers to the bone to create beautiful pieces depicting civilization, history, and life events. There is a vivid portrait and meaningful message in The Messenger of Joy.

The fascinating results of the artist’s efforts come across as poetic. There is a layer of empathy in each moment of The Messenger of Joy. Various scenes are deep, like one in which he attends a college lecture which is shown from the eyes of an artist. His movements and strokes are what creates the imagery that is instilled throughout The Messenger of Joy.

There is the compelling quote from the film, “Invent a new landscape.” That sets the tone which makes this film, which is just over an hour long so moving. Abstraction is also a vivid element in the story, because every piece of art is developed from a specific context. Throughout the reflections shared, The Messenger of Joy is like taking a ride in the mind of a seasoned artist. I felt like I was floating in the mind of Nasser Ovissi and joining him in a time machine revisiting his eras of trial and error. The documentary dives into sensitive topics ranging from interpersonal dynamics to personal identity. At the same time, both good and bad experiences remind audiences that great things can be achieved through stellar ambition. 

The scenes in which Nasser speaks are sensitive. Because he is now elderly, capturing his thoughts on sacrifice and struggles is touching. It causes the audience to appreciate and honor a man who devotes himself so completely to a craft he loves even while dealing with hard aspects of his life. There is so much beauty and so much joy in this authentic project from director Alexander Kwanje. Four out of four stars for The Messenger of Joy.

Treating cinema in many forms of art!