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Film reviews

Alien: Romulus Review

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The scary creatures are deep and crawl with no mercy. Alien: Romulus trembles with screams. It is a setting where survival is life or death. For the first time, the terror fuels its audience on a different level. Written and directed by Fede Alvarez, he knows how to set up suspense where hiding is impossible. Alvarez creates nightmares that have twists. For those who were scared after his project Don’t Breathe (2016), expect that level of nightmare to crank up a notch in Alien: Romulus

My respect for Alvarez is based on how he sets up his characters who are facing peril to think otherwise. He has an eye for bringing in discoveries as the haunting unfolds. He did this well in Don’t Breathe which was set around the discovery of a blind serial killer. His approach to turmoil leaves his viewers feeling like they are in a chilling environment living on the edge where death is likely.

The setting in this film is between the era of Alien (1979) andAliens (1986). This time frame leads to lots of excitement which makes the sci-fi setting feel like the essential setup. Alvarez brings old and new audiences back to the brilliance of shockers in Alien: Romulus. The film is original and uses a different approach which appeals to younger age groups. How deep is the horror of Alien: Romulus?

In the film, there are young space colonizers on a mission. These individuals are Kay (played by Isabela Merced), Rain (played by Cailee Spaeny), Tyler (played by Archie Renaux), Andy (played by David Jonsson), Navarro (played by Aileen Wu), and Bjorn (played by Spike Fearn). They embark on a mission to get supplies for an abandoned spacecraft. Once they go on board, some creatures begin to hatch. When the ship is condemned with faulty equipment and no place to run, the tone in Alien: Romulusis set for survival to be critical.

Andy is the most resourceful character. He is an AI Robot and operates to do what ensures safety. Andy’s sense of understanding becomes the essential aspect of the heightened suspense in Alien: Romulus. Rain is related to Andy, but the rest of the gang is like her family. Not all will find the means to survive. The younger generation in Alien: Romulus creates a landscape of curiosity. Do they know what they are doing? Do they know the threats of what they are up against? How much time do they have? It is a death maze that is ludicrous and compelling.

The power punches of the lurking evils create an odyssey that never stops. The revelation of what makes an alien film enthralling has been reborn with Alien: Romulus. New characters, new setup, new environment, and a detrimental task. These vital components dig deep into the audience’s skin and leave viewers wanting more.

The frequent suspenseful shot angles create a rollercoaster ride of space and horror combined. The lack of oxygen and resources is the first factor, and the aliens are the second. Those two elements keep finding themselves in an unforgettable face-off. It does get repulsive at times but that is meant to scare the audience. The director nails that aspect cinematically well. Hedoes so with depth, characteristics of anxiety, and continued struggle with defenses.

The film leaves its audience on the edge of their seats and so people should be ready to fasten their seatbelts. Space turbulence abounds and aliens are swarming the aircraft as they continue to multiply. It is like Mad Max meets Gravity and climaxes with Alien. The characters are in continuous peril. They float and fight in the space air. The creatures follow them wherever they go.

Alvarez is a genius with his dangerous space station mind. This is one of the most thrilling Alien films I have seen. However, the biggest success factor of the film is the performance of Spaeny. She steals the film. Her attitude is to never give up. She keeps fighting and delivers her best to the masses in Alien: Romulus. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Borderlands Review

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I loved the Borderlands video game franchise. I had anticipated that the writer and director would bring in some galore of expertise. That filmmaker is Eli Roth. When Borderlands had a PG-13 film rating, my gut started to warn me there might be floppyness. The mediocrity holds. Borderlands is a tragedy. Mind of Roth does not have the creativity for in-depth tragedies or stellar violence. There is a limited amount of that in  Borderlands. That leaves the writing on the wall of this dreadful adaptation from the video game franchise. It is an adaptation where the writing and pacing do not correlate for forms of invigoration. It is one of those flicks where tolerance will be necessary.

The film gears on Lilith (played by Cate Blanchett). Lilith is a bounty hunter. Lilith has a dreadful past. She finds her way back to her home planet Pandora. For those who have played video games, it is clear how the planet Pandora would be. Lilith is on a mission to find the daughter of Atlas. Atlas is the hierarchy as an S.O.B. Lilith finds this task complex without assistance. Lilith assembles of a team. They are all cocky. Her team consists of Roland (a mercenary played by Kevin Hart), Tiny Tina (an adolescent demolitionist played by Ariana Greenblatt), Krieg (Tina’s sidekick and played by Florian Munteanu), Tannis (a quirky scientist played by Jamie Lee Curtis), and Claptrap (an egotistical robot and played by Jack Black). All these characters are fit for their bonker roles, but that cannot save the audience from the dreadfulness of the outline itself.

It is an adaptation that fails to see concepts all the way through. It tries to be in its direction for humor and escapism (from the mind of Roth), and it is muddy. With an adaptation like this one, I thought it would seem more interactive. I expected there to be more open-world roaming moments (to feel like the video game itself). This one tries to stay in its lane and care about the mishaps of humor with Hart, Black, and the rest of the poor film in and of itself. There is no seriousness to the hero vibes of Borderlands. There is only frustration.

Pacing is a trainwreck in Borderlands. There is a saying that goes, “She seems deranged.” Instead, it should be “This dynamic is deranged.” Borderlands is a band of misfits that keep making the boredom feel worse. Its setting is a low-grade Mad Max environment meeting a massive roadblock of inconsistency. Borderlands does not know its elements for an enthralling adaptation.

The obliviousness of characterizations works for the atmosphere of Borderlands. The characters are the added fixation to the plot. They deserve much better. Borderlands is not action-packed, and it is not exhilarating. Borderlands only relies on humor (which keeps it dry). The opening makes its audience think of the video game franchise. The rest of the film goes in its wrecking way. It continues to be full of cliches. Regardless, there is no justice of achievement in Borderlands. One out of four stars.

Film reviews

It Ends with Us Review

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This is a romance based on a book. The film is played out with feelings of love in a period of happiness during younger days. It Ends with Us is a title with several meanings such as disconnectand confusion which gives the audience something to think about. The most positive aspect of the film is that its two female stars are Blake Lively and Jenny Slate. Lively is the lead in the film, and Slate is in the supporting role. It Ends with Us involves falling and getting back up which is somewhat poetic. Throughout the film, there are a trail of questions that swerve and struggle to stay in their lanes.

The setup is around love. The plot is strongly set on Lively’scharacter, Lily Blum. She has lived a rough life of turmoil and abuse. Her name inspires her to open a flower shop. In the back of her mind, Lily remembers what it means to fall in love and feel a surreal connection. At one point she was in love with a man named Atlas Corrigan, played by Brandon Sklenar. Their connection made her feel safe. Later, she meets Ryle Kincaid, played by Justin Baldoni. Lily just wants to live a successful life and run her flower shop. Her friends, Allysa (Slate) and Marshall (played by Hasan Minhaj) try to be there for her. Lily continues to have reminders of the abuse due to the Ryle’s behaviors. How bad is it though?

It Ends with Us is clear in its patterns of distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy behaviors. Lily is unhealthy most of the time with Ryle. When Lily has Atlas on her mind she feels at ease. Their paths do cross again. When that happens, does Lily’s turmoil have a revelation? The positive aspect of the film being focused on Lily falls flat due to the tackiness of romance.

The film is built upon accidental moments. Those scenarios feel repetitive. This can be seen when Lily falls down the stairs when she has an argument with Ryle. After that happens, he tries to act like it does not exist. This may seem like a spoiler, but this is a pattern of repetition to expect in It Ends with Us. The conflicts keep trying to find fulfillment in a desperate romance which makes the film cheesy and predictable. However, it still has good writing, editing, and pacing which is centered on the path to happiness.

Overall, the theme of connection is what keeps being traced back repeatedly in It Ends with Us. There are moments when arevelation seems possible, but then it resorts to conflict andimmediate dismissal which is overly predictable. The romance vibes are not especially unique or special. Lively and Slate are great in their roles, but the film’s dynamics keep going awry.

With Lively and Slate playing close friends, I found magic in their relationship in terms of having a friend to talk with or figure things out with. Their friendship also paints a clear portrait that demonstrates happiness is possible. Unfortunately, too many scenes in this film lacking and there is too much predictability which is a pet peeve of mine. Two out of four stars for It Ends with Us.