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Film reviews

Rebel Moon: Part One-A Child of Fire Review

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I went in with mixed expectations with Rebel Moon-Part one: A Child of Fire. The movie’s director, Zack Snyder, is known for visual captivations and a lot of invigorating action. He always finds the right components to bring those elements to his films. A great example would be his 2007 blockbuster 300. A film where the action uses a lot of slow-motion and sounds that the audience can feel as they watch the movie. There are a few of those components in Rebel Moon-Part One, though sadly it is one of the biggest mediocre experiences of 2023. Set against a sci-fi horizon dealing with perilous forces, it looks attention-grabbing perceptibly, however its writing is scanty.

The film takes place on a distant moon where its normally peaceful existence is in danger from authorities of a nemesis force. One woman, Kora (played by Sofia Boutella) fights for survival. She is one of the strangers that knows the routes to fighting for the existence of her home and the villagers around her. She begins to assemble a team for a war. The enemy is Admiral Atticus Noble (played by Ed Skrein). The army thatassists her is made up of Kai (played by Charlie Hunnam), Gunnar (played by Michiel Huisman), Tarak (played by Staz Nair), and General Titus (played by Djimon Hounsou). Much of Kora’s team are people from different lands, outcomes, environments, and lifestyles. Each person on Kora’s team has a backstory which adds to the futuristic component of the film. Their mission is to battle with Mother World. It is a setting where galaxies have boundaries along with politics. The premise is clever, but the film is dry.

Even though this is just the first part, I will give credit in respect to its establishing the characters and their settings. It seems mostly to lay the ground for what is to come in the second film.I still lack faith going forward though. There is not much to say that is positive about Rebel Moon-Part One: A Child of Fire. It is a blur of a fictionalized storyline which could have been much more creative in its telling.

The sci-fi element keeps afloat in being superb in its technological factors. The storyline though, remains unclear and with a weak script. It felt rushed and forgettable. I was not impressed by its lack of effort to put its pieces together. I will say the one piece where I felt served a purpose was a ship hovering over a galaxy. That is a piece to the puzzle that has a form of meaning. That would be because it reminded me of District 9 (2009). This film has that apartheid vibe but tries to make itself go into the realm of a comic book type experience, but it never makes it. There is nothing special or comically intriguing about the film. The experience leads to a boredom where factors just keep falling into place without explanation. The film attempts to make up for its poor storyline with action and suspense, but it is hard to enjoy when there is no foundation established. This makes viewers wonder which piece of the puzzle they missed. Many questions are left unanswered and lead to pure confusion and frustration.

Seeing this film was a treacherous experience of exasperation. A sci-fi adventure with no surprises is no fun. It had great action and suspense with CGI galore…but no meaning to any of it. I feel that the direction of this was not looked over well enough in the process. It was as if the writing was being done as the film was being made. One out of four stars for Rebel Moon-Part One: A Child of Fire.

Film reviews

Origin Review

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Origin is a deep film which is faithful to a true story. The film is about a meaningful journey in society with moving elements as well as an inspiring purpose. The cinematography in Origin delivers seriousness and the technical environment creates tension. Origin is about the writer Isabel Wilkerson played by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. Wilkerson is the author of the 2020 novel Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, a book that was published during the beginning of the Black Lives Matter movement. Origin is the story of Wilkerson’s approach to her novel and various issues surrounding her research.

The film has a sense of tough love experienced while trying to find the right places. Origin begins with Isabel and her husband Brett (played by Jon Bernthal) and then transitions to Isabel being asked to write a piece about the Trayvon Martin case. Isabel is focused on doing research and writing the story. Herwords are her art and her voice. Many things happen in her life which cause her to feel depressed. Her husband and her mother die, and her sister Marion (played by Niecy Nash) is all she has left. The story that comes to her mind based on her research is how race and caste systems have evolved in society.

The film jumps to a narration of human divisions from prior eras when there were serious restrictions based on race. Origin is a portrait of how dynamics in society have changed over time. The inspiration for Isabel is the in-depth focus of her research and her prolific writing. Her mind boils with emotions as her goal is to write a thesis based upon her research on minorities, racism, and caste systems. Origin is a portrait of how reality has stressors that can be hard to tango with.

As Isabel begins to dive deep into her story, rising empathy grows throughout Origin. A moment of grief inspires change. A moment of loss causes a sad climax. Origin is an experience which demonstrates that life has meaning. The film’s writing and direction develop characters trying to fulfill what provides light in their lives. Isabel believes instead of soul-searching with one specific focus, she can expand her horizons. Isabel strives to connect the dots of racism and loss into a story that can inspire the world.

The mission of the film is to offer a refresher on past eras and how they have evolved. Origin reminds its audience that even though rules and systems for minorities have shifted, they still exist today. The presentation of Isabel and her research offers athought-provoking experience. The film’s honesty and sense of sadness flow throughout the story.

Racism in politics, countries, systems, and theories— all connect for a riveting story of truth in Origin. As part of her research, Isabel visits other countries, including Germany and India, to understand their political systems and their evolution over time. She finds herself in turmoil when she faces disagreement with her beliefs in other countries. Although there are “structural similarities,” each country has developed their own society in their own way which has led to different outcomes. Origin is a revelation of empathy and hope as it provides context which aids understanding. The film and Isabel’s story will touch many hearts. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Origin.

Film reviews

The Boy and the Heron Review

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The mind of director and writer Hayao Miyazaki gives his movies verisimilitude. He brings his audience into a world of wonders with strong bonds to a fascinating reality. The Boy and the Heron is a new world of wonders that left me breathless. A tale where something is lost but has a chance to be regained by taking a chance and adventuring into the unknown. With Miyazaki skillfully adding depth and emphasis to his animations, The Boy and The Heron soars with faith and ambition. The magical imagery in The Boy and the Heron is an experience that is hard to forget.

The film is set in a fantasy post-war era. The story focuses on the character Mahito (voiced by Luca Padovan). Mahito’s mother has died, and he moves to his family’s estate with his father Shoichi (voiced by Christian Bale) and his stepmother Natsuko (voiced by Emma Chan). Mahito struggles with the grief of losing his mother. Repeatedly, in his head he hears his mother calling him for help. Mahito is visited by a Grey Heron that always shows up unexpectedly and he takes this as a sign. This leads Mahito to follow the bird (voiced by Robert Pattinson). After he is told that his mother may still be alive, Mahito is in for an adventure that he will never forget. It takes him into a world of the living and the dead. Death is an end, yet there is a new start from where life leaves off. Mahito and the Grey Heron embark on an adventure where Mahito may be able to find the missing aspect in his life…his mother.

The Boy and the Heron is a journey into the unknown with an added layer of faithful significance—Mahito’s name means sincere one. Mahito is the meaning of everything that happens around him as he embarks on his adventure with the Grey Heron. A sense of disconnect surrounds Mahito as a more revealing and empathetic atmosphere gradually increases throughout the film. His experience opens up a world of possibilities. The writing of the film fulfills that aspect of despair finding hope. It does so in its fantasy elements as Mahito goes deeper in his journey.

To an extent, this is one of the most authentic animations I have seen in ages. Its presentation flows like a classic novel through vast narrations in key moments of the film. A new door is unlocked around every corner of The Boy and the Heron.

Will Mahito find his mother? Will Mahito find a new direction in life through his adventures with the Grey Heron? There are a few moments in this film that may not make sense at first, however they are where the empathy builds. It is an experience where humanistic aspects will truly touch audiences in afantastic display through the mind of Miyazaki. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for The Boy and the Heron.