Tag Archives: Film reviews

Film reviews

Godzilla Minus Zero Review

Leave a comment

A continuation from Godzilla Minus One, and the very first Godzilla film that roars with a R rating.  Godzilla Minus Zero is magnificent, spellbinding, loud, and enticing. The scenes filled with monstrous battles left me breathless, especially due to the IMAX format. I felt surrounded by the presence of monsters on the largest scale possible. There is so much to Godzilla Minus Zero that my mind was blown and the thoughts lingered with me long after the credits rolled.

Following the events of Godzilla Minus One, the Shikishima family is the focus as they face a new disaster. It has been two years since surviving the monsters, but the chaos is not over yet. In Godzilla Minus Zero, there are more creatures and additional battles.That is why the film was slapped with the R rating—there is more violence than before. The main characters (many of whom are returning from the previous film) are Noriko Oishi (Minami Hamabe), Dr. Ogata (Jun Kunimura), Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), Makoto Aoyama (Masami Nagasawa), Shiro Mizushima (Yuki Yamada), Sosaku Tachibana (Munetaka Aoki), and Kenji Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka). They will have to face uncharted territory. They survived the monsters once, can they survive again? The answers are waiting in the fighting pits.

The newest enemy is Ghidorah, a dragon with multiple heads. The newest threatening monster swarms throughout the film. There are new powers based on advanced science to be unleashed. Godzilla is the only one that can take Ghidorah down. Throughout the film, there are waves of trials and errors, and fragments of what is untold from the previous film. There is much more theory in Godzilla Minus Zero and it roars with elements that count. From the very opening of the film, Godzilla is stirring up all kinds of mayhem. 

My experience of this movie was at the Cinemark Seven Bridges & IMAX in Woodridge, Illinois. The one IMAX everyone traveled miles to experience The Odyssey on 70 MM. Godzilla Minus Zero was digital in the IMAX format, but the scenes of the film shot with IMAX cameras made all the monsters and action feel like such a spectacle of an experience.

Loud roars are mixed with cinematically daring damage in this film which loops in science to bring the two heroes together for a showdown. The other element that is well written involves the impact from Godzilla in the previous film. There is more of that ahead, but the pattern used in the writing is spot-on. Godzilla Minus Zero pulled me in deep with a strong, inspirational storyline. The message that the world will keep facing new challenges is handled effectively in this franchise. Fortunately, Godzilla Minus Zero has a director who knows what he is doing. Four out of four stars. 

 

Film reviews

The Only Living Pickpocket in New York

Leave a comment

This film is quiet and intriguing with New York city vibes written all over it. There is smooth jazz that plays at the start of the film. It is centered around stealing and making profits, while also navigating a life-challenging scenario. The film is genuine. The Only Living Pickpocket is different than what I am used to with a setting in New York. I usually expect to see something with a lot of crime and suspense—those two elements are in the film, just presented so silently. Written and directed by Noah Segan, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York is one-of-a-kind.

 

The film’s main character is Harry, played by John Turturro. He is someone that has many ways of stealing things and selling them. He does this by watching the moves of everyone around him. His motivation in doing this is to help him be able to care for his dying wife, Rosie, played by Karina Arroyave. However, he steals an item from a young punk named Dylan, played by Wil Price, and this particular theft scenario goes awry. For Harry, it becomes a life-and-death situation. If he does not retrieve the missing item to give back to Dylan, his wife will be in danger.

 

I love how the film presents negative deeds in the context of normalcy. Harry goes down to a pawnshop regularly. The man running the shop is Ben, played by Steve Buscemi. They negotiate values, worths, expenses, and many aspects of what items can be sold for. Harry needs to extract  the highest value possible from every item. At the same time though, his timing becomes limited as the life of his wife remains in balance due to one of his pickpocketing schemes.

 

As Harry runs through the streets of the city, the film is highly cinematic with New York moments. I truly value the depths of the subway systems, the moments of people watching, the hustle of a busy day–all scenes that convey times for a perfect pickpocket mission. It can be one of success or one of failure, but regardless, there is bound to be an intriguing outcome. There are moments when Harry questions his choices. They come around a lot when his wife is in peril, with the punk attitude of Dylan playing into that as well. 

 

Although truly surreal in its approach, I will say The Only Pickpocket Living in New York is a moderate classic. The writing is a bit rushed. The premise though is worthy of a masterclass that could have had more to it. Overall, I found myself in a spellbound throughout most of the film. Turturro and Buscemi deliver performances that are mind-boggling. They both convey underworld New Yorker attitudes of greed and wonders. Turturro though, steals the film. The Only Pickpocket Living in New York had me sold for a majority of the eighty-eight minuteduration. Three out of four stars.

 

Film reviews

Being Heumann Review

Leave a comment

I am on the autism spectrum and admire people who fight for what they can achieve. I also adore true stories. Being Heumann is a vivid one about the days of fighting for disability rights. The director Sian Heder is bound to be recognized for creating a moving realistic portrait. Ruth Madeley plays Judy Heumann, and she is a force of nature. The film is astonishing on all fronts.

The year is 1977 and Judy Heumann is a disability rights activist. Her journey involves an occupation that goes on over three weeks in the San Francisco Federal Building. She rallies protesters with different types of disabilities, ranging from physical to mental, as she fights for accessibility laws and equal rights.

The bill she is struggling to get signed sparks the rollercoaster. The issue is with the funding and the big boss is scared about the buzz the bill could attract. The issues she is fighting for matter, but the stalling is an obstacle that adds fuel to the fire. For individuals who have difficulty walking, need wheelchairs, or other tools to help them navigate their daily lives, Being Heumann displays the challenges for those with disabilities. The film also highlights how these same individuals can shine brightly.

The level of sacrifice makes Being Heumann so astonishing. Judy and her gang huddle and fight with passion. Some governmental entities assist, but others on the frontline are not as cooperative. The common ground is struggle. Despite the tough moments, the film is a revelation. Through times of change and misdirection, Judy does not stop fighting.

As someone on the spectrum, I fully believe in accessibility and providing all the resources possible. Whatever can be offered to help those who are limited to thrive should be available. Being Heumann showcases the element of sacrifice in a realistic way. Madeley’s performance is  a tour-de-force. In spite of many obstacles, she fights on.  

Mark Ruffalo plays Joseph Califano, the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is a disgruntled man who is part of the governmental hierarchy. However, aspects of his character come to light as the story progresses and he deals with the issues related to people with disabilities. The reporter covering the process is Evan White, played by Dylan O’Brien. I once had the opportunity to do a brief interview with Dylan O’Brien. Through that experience, I learned that he is showing increased interest in taking on more serious roles.

The era in which the fight for disabilities rights was in full swing required resilience. Those in the fights needed a drive to never give up. For Judy, her wheelchair was her weapon. She was dedicated to having accessibility everywhere, including ramps and accessible doors. Fighting for these fundamental building blocks is what I appreciated most in Being Heumann. It takes a strong voice to inspire others  to have faith. It takes a strong voice to speak out about what we need. Even those who have limitations can thrive in life when there are opportunities available to them. As an advocate for those with disabilities, I believe everyone should see Being Heumann. There is that message delivered about what sacrifice can lead to. This vibrant film promotes equality to the fullest extent. Being Heumannreminds audiences to never let other people or hard situations keep us down. Thanks to Judy Heumann who demonstrates that when there is a will, there is a way. Four out of four stars.