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Film reviews

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review

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A franchise that has stamina set amongst apes. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes roars. This film is directed by Wes Ball. Thefuturistic setting is spot-on in a world of apes that are in the process of rebuilding. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has vivid scenery during a new beginning.  This movie is an adventurous ride with a story that combines both humans and apes. Who is to be trusted?

The main ape in the film is Noa (played by Owen Teague). Noa is living in the past after Caesar’s day. The apes’ villages have been tormented. He is determined to learn the ropes whichincludes getting to know humans. Noa embraces an adventure to find the answers with the help of another ape, Raka (played by Peter Macon). Their adventure leads to all different kinds of hurdles. The apes are in an apocalypse where their kind faces uncharted territory.

The writing combines the humans at the right time. Noa meets Mae (played by Freya Allen), and she is a human survivor. She knows the foundations, the background, and what went south. For Noa, however, there is still a lot to learn. How did the world get to such a tormented place? What caused an apocalypse? Why was the faith of Caesar betrayed? There are a whirlwind of questions where the answers are unknown. The emperor/enemy is Proximus Caesar (played by Kevin Durand). He has taken the thrown and made allies in politically incorrect ways. He has created apes to be slaves for the wrong purpose and thrownhumans under the bus. Noa must retain his allies who have survived the apocalypse. He must rebuild the kingdom to restore its sacred meaning for the apes and humans alike.

The story takes a turn for the worst when the apes find tools to be used for harm. The enemy apes use taser sticks as a tactic to injure others. Apes also have access to machinery and slowly learn how to use them. This film takes its time with establishing the foundation of where things went wrong in the franchise’s continuation. It is more suspenseful and enticing. New kingdoms will rise, old apes will fall, and new ones will evolve.

I truly love the background of the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Things are not the same for the apes or anyone else in thisenvironment. The film is creatively designed to build a puzzle. Wes Ball directed The Maze Runner films, and he takes a similarapproach of innovative escapes which are visually enthralling in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Ball’s field of expertise lies in creating the foundations of kingdoms which have collapsed and finding the pieces to fill in the missing parts. In some parts the writing was weak, but still this film is deserving of a considerable amount of respect as a new addition to the ape franchise. Three out of four stars for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Film reviews

I Saw The TV Glow Review

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I Saw the TV Glow operates within the context of spellbinding fascinations with hobbies and moments of connections searching for understanding and empathy.  The film was written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun. Schoenbrun’s direction is audacious in its grandeur and colorful revelations. The film is experimental and worthy of awards. I Saw the TV Glow made my head spin in a positive way. The film centers on a reality TV show and its impact on a set of viewers throughout their lives.One that will build connections and memories that will mesmerize the minds of its audience.

The film’s focus is on the social disconnect of its main characters in the beginning. One is a boy with this feeling namedOwen (played by Justice Smith). Owen finds love and connection to the other, his close friend Maddie (played by Brigette Lundy-Paine). They are both fixated on a TV show called The Pink Opaque. It is a reality TV show based on the supernatural. It brings Owen and Maddie closer to their hearts and their feelings of where they sense they are meant to be. Owen has always struggled with loneliness. Maddie is also disconnected, but she tolerates being an introvert. The Pink Opaque builds a certain power within Owen. One that he will carry with him for years. Ultimately, his love for Maddie and his love of the TV show is where he feels there is meaning to life.

The era of the VHS days is portrayed in this film. Looking back at the era of having to watch programs in their scheduled time brings its audience back to a more structured reality when television viewers had to plan out when to watch the shows they loved. Owen collects VHS tapes of recordings of The Pink Opaque. He says, “I watched these tapes over and over again, and they never got old.” The fascination with a TV show is just the beginning of the story in I Saw the TV Glow.

The time when technology was limited in repeated views paints a portrait of how special this show is for Owen and Maddie in the film. It creates their bond of closeness in a surreal and experimental direction. The direction is breathless. The film shines with radiance. The friendship of Owen and Maddie thrives indefinitely in correlation to their love for a show they are obsessed with together.

The direction of Schoenbrun is artistic in its creation of an atmosphere where sharing an obsession creates a euphoric world. The presence of Owen and Maddie’s relationship brings a sense of urgency to what they have shared for years. Their love for The Pink Opaque goes to the horizons of imagination with sparks of wonder. Schoenbrun knows the depths of experimental value among in exploring aspects of personalities that bind and are inspiring. 

In the performance of Lundy-Paine, I saw the loving side of her wonderful aura in I Saw the TV Glow. It brought me back to her performance as Casey from the series Atypical. She has that personality where hardship in personal life is something she tolerates with a firm attitude. Her attitude is even firmer and revolutionary in I Saw the TV Glow.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? What are the chances of discovering the hidden treasures that tempt the characters in I Saw the TV Glow? This mesmerizing and in-depth trail of fear and friendship compounded by reality is off the charts. A true and surreal film that feels scientific in its search for a light of truth to the highest perception. Four out of four stars.

 

Film reviews

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2024: In a Violent Nature Review

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 In a Violent Nature is a slashing film that tests the boundaries of violence. This is a low budget horror film in which the boundaries of graphic violence are crossed in vivid ways. The element of rampage and the concept of being reborn are subtle yet evolving. This movie will blow audiences’ minds. 

The film was written and directed by Chris Nash and takes place in the wilderness. A monster lies within and once he rises from the ground, his killing spree begins. A group of friends are on vacation staying in a cabin. The friends are Johnny (played by Ry Barrett), Kris (played by Andrea Pavlovic), Colt (played by Cameron Love), and the Ranger (played by Reece Presley).Their vacation turns to terror as the film follows an unnamed masked man. It is like a new era of Friday the 13th with lots of slasher vibes waiting to be unleashed.

The editing of the film truly delivers in that audiences know that terror is about to lead to consequences. The film has no music, and that heightens the fear factor. The killer is constantly on the move and doesn’t stop in its tracks. In a Violent Nature has numerous surprises that really scared me and delivered the horror experience well.

In a Violent Nature is the terror that audiences have been waiting for. The film may look like it is shot in low quality, but that heightens the realism of what is about to be experienced. My mind was invigorated by the film. I was gasping in much of its continued slashing moments. Three out of four stars.