Film reviews

The Super Mario Bros. Movie review

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As a lover of video games and the Nintendo brand with its many consoles, my anticipation was high for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Yay! I can’t wait to see a film featuring my beloved video game characters including Mario, Luigi, Bowser. Unfortunately, my expectations were not fulfilled. There is a fine line between nostalgia and faithfulness in a project based on a video game character. That “line” involves thoroughness, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie couldn’t effectively establish action scenes or find clarity. The film simply jumps into a mode as if the audience is about to play a video game, and honestly, it’s more of that than a real movie.

In the film Mario is voiced by Chris Pratt, Princess Peach is voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy, Luigi is voiced by Charlie Day, Bowser is voiced by Jack Black, Donkey is voiced by Seth Rogen, and Cranky Kong is voiced by Fred Armisen. All are great voices in entertainment, but ones who do not define characterizations of good or bad guys by nature. Everyone’s voices seem on the feminine side, but that is beside the point. Therefore, I will continue my elaboration on the plot of this film even though it is fairly dry. The representations of Mario and Luigi are just the same as the video games, i.e., two brothers who are partners in crime. In the film, however, they own a plumbing business that goes awry. Shortly after a plumbing mistake, Mario and Luigi find themselves in Mushroom Kingdom with Princess Beach. There is Bowser who is evil and destined to make Princess Beach his true love, but Mario and Luigi play the good guys who will protect Princess Beach along with Mushroom Kingdom. Overall, the plot is generic and bland.

I went to the movie expecting a grandeur of nostalgia. While there is some nostalgia, it’s not in the form of cinematic brilliance. I felt the movie suffered an absence in foundation.There is no real setup, a lack of writing, the action just happens, and the film is rushed. Although there are some cool technicalities, they’re presented purely at fast speed with excitement that does not rise to awesome. The films could use more “awesomeness.” There could have been interestingfascinations to make The Super Mario Bros. Movie dazzle. But whatever the film’s directors tried to do for its audience did not “dazzle me.”

The one consistent element in the movie that did keep my attention was how much it reminded me of the many video games featuring Mario and Luigi. There are moments that incorporate Mario Kart, Luigi’s Mansion, Super Smash Bros., Mario Party—which represent franchising to the fullest. This is also where fond memories of Nintendo reside for fans around the world. Many moments feature Mario and Luigi on their adventures through their various universes.

Still, the pacing is not in tune which results in a true mess of disorganization. In the end, the movie does take its franchise wonders technologically seriously and has some scenes of joy, despite lacking qualities that would make it a successful film. I give The Super Mario Bros. Movie two stars.

Film reviews

How To Blow Up a Pipeline Review

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Eco terrorism is the compelling and lethal theme in How to Blow Up a Pipeline, a film where environmental activists break the law for their convictions. How to Blow Up a Pipeline spoke to me because I grew up with family and friends who worked around chemicals. The film delivers revelations that are harrowing, and a foundation that is even more disturbing.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline is about young activists who come together to sabotage an oil pipeline. The cast includes: Xochitl and Shawn (played by Ariela Barer and Marcus Scribner), who become activists because they feel oil production has negatively affected their lives; Michael (played by Forrest Goodluck), a disgruntled oil field worker who has been living in poverty; Dwayne (played by Jake Weary), whose family and property have been impacted by pipelines; Theo (played by Sasha Lane), who has leukemia from being around oil production; Logan and Rowan (played by Lukas Gage and Kristine Forseth), a couple who have been involved in numerous criminal enterprises; and Alisha (played by Jayme Lawson), who is along to support the effort.

Everyone in this film has the same perception that the world around them doesn’t care about how the pipeline affects people, and this is why they all come together to destroy the pipeline. But how far will they go while risking their lives?

As the film progresses it transitions back to each of the characters’ backstories, and it’s clear that their pasts fueled the political and economic conflicts associated with their mission. The film is set around Texas oil fields, the epicenter for the the eco terrorists’ pipeline operation. It is also the place where the political vibe proves strong for Xochitl, Shawn, Michael, Dwayne, Theo, Alisha, Logan, and Rowan. The vast dry lands can handle all kinds of damage, but the pipeline is the target to be destroyed. How to Blow Up a Pipeline becomes more politically chilling as it goes along. The group feels that the government just never cared about them. The pipeline destruction is like a protest, but times ten with the damage it can cause.

The environment is certainly a factor in the group’s decision to destroy the pipeline, but it’s more about how the oil operations has had a physical and economic impact on them. How to Blow Up a Pipeline soars with scientific destructions and suspense parallel to real-life problems. It is a ride that is unforgettable, dark, and lethally enticing.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline is a grandeur of science and environmental causes that has a voice of its own. It is a ride that goes in all kinds of dark directions. Its shocking and the outcome is inevitable. How far will the young activists go to prove their environmental and political point? What will the repercussions be? Will their reasons be validated? Will their dangerous task prove any positive point? There are many questions that holds the key to the mission of the film. Find out the outcomes in How to Blow Up a Pipeline. Four stars.

Film reviews

Tetris Review

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The backstory and the faithfulness to the world of video gaming and licensing is the epitome of an espionage tale that is a true story. Tetris is directed by Jon S. Baird. The conflicts that arise in this industry stir the plot of suspense in Tetris and make it thought-provoking and daring. Taron Egerton who we know from playing Elton John in Rocketman (2019) is Henk Rogers. Egerton takes on the role of the Businessman to bring the game of Tetris around the world which results in an inevitable ride.

Tetris is a biographical film full of suspense. The business side of making Tetris a bigger success had some dangerous and political loopholes. With the help of Tetris’ inventor Alexey Pajitnov (played by Nikita Efremov), Rogers takes chances to make Tetris a global phenomenon. The problems arise due to media proprietor Robert Maxwell (played by Roger Allam) and his son Kevin Maxwell (played by Anthony Boyle). While Rogers is supposedly on their side, they are not faithful to the deals and contracts they have signed which is why the rights to Tetris keep hitting plateaus which backtrack to Rogers. When he is in Russia trying to get copyrights signed over to help Tetris get more attention around the world, he finds himself in danger. With the political tensions and different Russia laws, Rogers is already at risk, but cannot afford to lose what he could accomplish. With one of the loyal creators Robert Stein (played by Toby Jones), it becomes clear that the dangerous misunderstandings link to the errors of Robert and his son Kevin. However, that does not mean that Tetris can’t still be a success.

The entrepreneurial mindsets are classy. There are times when the Maxwells have egotistical moments and are dismissive of the problems they have created for Rogers. That does not impact Rogers because knowing there are errors pushes him to succeed with getting the legit copyrights for Tetris. The vibe is for its hero to take what he can get in Tetris. Rogers and Pajitnov do what they can to prove what went wrong with the copyrights, but also how they can make it right.

The history of gaming makes the true story of Tetris an espionage experience. The movie features a number of discussions on the early days of computers, consoles, and even the mention of Gameboys. Tetris will blow your mind with all the innovations and steps involved in turning a profit in gaming. The political affiliations are where the film really strikes a realistic chord.

The political complications create enemies among the partnerships in Tetris. Rogers shows up in Russia, and a lot is misconstrued. There are also limited resources to help him with the language barriers and restricted access to ELORG (the company he must speak to in terms of contracts). The obstacles that surround Tetris are overwhelming. At times, the audience starts to resent the Maxwell family, because it becomes obvious that the lack of communication is because of them only caring about their own success. Clearly, they do not want to share their profits with others, but rather keep what they have to themselves. Rogers is a brainiac and knows that he is dealing with shady players. Tetris proves that taking risks is sometimes necessary to make a situation go smoothly, especially when it involves global profits with many marginal benefits.

Tetris will make viewers feel a bit hysterical because of the licensing conflicts being so messed up. The writing of the film is in-depth and includes very stressful frustrations that surround Rogers and Pajitnov. Rogers remains the bigger target since he is not a native. He lies and says he is a tourist, which is against the law. Pajitnov lives in Russia, but always wants Rogers’ presence to be limited. Tetris puts everyone on the line, both the good and the bad. How far will Rogers have to go to truly make ends meet for an amazing innovation?

What makes Tetris an experience of instigation is due to its continuity. The film is displayed in a motion of events with graphics, so its viewers feel as if they are playing a video game like ones from an Atari or an SNES Classic console. I felt the leveling up of Tetris was in video game mode due to the patterns of frustration for Rogers. In the film it is said Tetris is, “The perfect game.” I did not expect so much espionage and betrayal in the story. Although the presentation might not have been perfect, it was astounding, vibrant, and bonkers. Three and a half stars for Tetris.

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