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Film reviews

The Furious Review

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There is kung-fu with vengeance and a rapid rollercoaster of writing that continuously boils the pot. The Furious fuels with flames of rapid violence and intense action. I felt the punches; I heard the sounds from far away. The conflict kept me in full-on attention mode. The Furious is a gut wrencher of an experience. Directed by Kenji Tanigaki, there is criminality that electrifies in The Furious.

The Southeast Asia setting spotlights the criminal underworld of operations in a rough setting that includes kidnappings for profit. To defend it  there is lots of kung fu and karate-type action. The story surrounds a father named Wangwei (Xie Miao) and his daughter Rainy (Enyou Yang). Enyou is abducted by a group of evil kidnappers in a dangerous operation. If Wangwei can save his daughter, he can save many other children as well. The film immediately jumps into streets of chaos and violence. The motor starts running as soon as the kidnapping occurs. 

I adore the fatherhood theme in this story, especially the way Wangwei teaches his daughter Rainy how to fight. Much of this happens in the beginning  before all the mayhem starts. The foundation of defense creates shields for the wild battles to come in The Furious. The film explores the components of teamwork while also being brutally violent. For some, the violence may be too much to handle, but I still felt the movie provided a stellar experience.

Everyone is connected, that is why the fighting continues between police forces, wealthy men, and allies, The Furiousthrows everyone in the pool in a one-of-a-kind way. The outcome is a war of martial arts that is both revolutionary and thrilling. Overall, viewers are taken on a  dazzling ride of surreal entertainment that cannot be missed. I loved every aspect of this film. Despite how overly violent it is, the characterizations and the plot offer hurdles of spellbinding brilliance.

The twist to the film is that there are two individuals seeking the same thing. Wangwei ends up teaming up with Navin (Joe Taslim) because Navin is looking for his wife who went missing. However, the criminals around them are all dangerous and  skilled in evil tactics. The displays of martial arts continue to rock this film making the action too perfect to look away. From cars with individuals dangling to fights with hammers. The experience felt like cinematic hammers banging on my head wanting more action. 

The criminality adds to the excitement in The Furious. There is no looking back due to the complex operations and bad people that Wangwei and Navin keep facing. There is much more than they anticipate, but somehow the way they team-up leads to the success of the film. There are lots of invigorating moments which add up to surreal brilliance. The Furious is an epic adventure that will keep audiences enthralled. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Michael Review

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The story is true and faithful. Musical success is showcased while chronologically highlighting a superstar’s growth over a lifetime. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, this is Michael. For those who love the many songs of Michael Jackson, this is a biopic that is one-of-a-kind. The film is unique in the way the story is approached. So many of the important scenes come from grand and monumental moments in the musical journey of Michael Jackson. His sensational talent keeps audiences enthralled throughout his riveting rise to fame.

Since I grew up with parents who often had Jackson’s music playing, I have long been familiar with his lyrics and catchy beats. What always spoke to me in his music is the importance of having a good heart. That side of his spirit is presented repeatedly in Michael. Overall, there is effective direction in every part of the film. There is never a reason to completely give up in Michael. In Jaafar Jackson’s role as Michael Jackson, he shines with empathy, encouragement, and an active display of faith in reaching his goals.

The film starts during Michael Jackson’s childhood. The younger version of Michael is played by Juliano Valdi. While growing up with his brothers, they lived with a demandingfather, Joseph Jackson (Colman Domingo), and a loving mother,Katherine Jackson (Nia Long). Michael quickly emerges as the golden boy destined for fame. But his father’s abuse and intense focus on achieving success in the music business interferes with Michael’s ability to find a positive light in the world of fame. Although fame is within his reach, Michael does not want it in the ways his father has arranged. Therefore, Michael embarks on a journey of emancipation to pave a way to the music he personally created.

Popular well-known songs ranging from Beat It to Billy Jean to Thriller all correlate with dancing moments and visual effects that make the story feel larger than life. There are times, however, when the film drags a bit. But overall, the foundation provided by the music is clear as crystal. The world becomes shinier when Michael hires the manager, John Branca (Miles Teller) which allows Michael to maintain personal ownership. The film focuses on this new realm where the stages glow and audiences continue to rock due to the freedom Michael was experiencing. Michael offers a fascinating inside glimpse at the man and the music the world loves.

The film is dazzling and touching. It effectively explores the inner life of Michael. The pressure he endured from his father and the hardship it caused was the source of much inspiration. The dynamic between Domingo and Long as parents helps to paint a realistic portrait of Michael’s life. The juxtaposition between tough love from his Dad and tender love from his Mom is relatable. These two different kinds of love are reflected in his music which connects with adoring fans around the world. Michael is emotional, but the music uplifts audiences and leaves them feeling inpired. Three out of four stars for Michael.

Film reviews

Beast Review

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This is one of the most audacious films about the subject of sportsmanship. There is a lot to lose and a strong backstory in Beast. Directed by Tyler Atkins, he brings his audience into a boxing match of vengeance where redemption rises in the ring. There are many errors in the search for glory. I walked in with mixed expectations and left asking for more because Beast exceeded my expectations.  

There is a sense of brotherhood and fatherhood that prevails due to various components in the story that are torn and lost. Some things have occurred around the ring and others outside of the ring, involving those who left the glory days of MMA. The story has a purpose—one of resilience. Beast is monumental at almost grade A level.

The main character is Patton James, played by Daniel MacPherson. His father is Sammy, played by Russell Crowe. His brother is Malon, played by Mojean Aria. Between the brothers and their father, the dedication to MMA is strong, but choices have led them to make sacrifices and incur debts. Patton is the one who made “sacrifices” and Malon is the one with the “debts.” Patton finds himself in a position to help his brother redeem himself by getting back in the ring. Over time, there are hurdles that do not make the return easy. This gives the underdog story of Beast brilliance.

In the sport of boxing, there is the drive to never give up. There is also the need to build mental toughness, and Patton is the king of that area in Beast. Given the complicated relationship he has with his father Sammy, he redeems himself by continuously putting his efforts into making strides to fight again. The films backstory has a harsh dynamic. However, it effectively displays the strong sense of purpose required to make a return.

Patton wants to fight to compensate for the problems in Malon’s life. However, he wants to be able to be the best father to his family as well. He wants to be the primary example of excellence to all those in his family. To do so, he must learn to channel his emotions to truly fight and win in the ring.Throughout the movie there is the repeated message that the ring is the place to be the king. The demonstration of sportsmanship flies like a rainbow of sadness surrounding brotherhood.

The depiction of madness in the narrative is inspirational and nearly flawless. The dynamics in the performances of Crowe and MacPherson are well executed. Beast is an underdog story, where falling and getting up again occur repeatedly. Winning brings out the best of the dramatics in Beast.

While this story has traction which is enhanced by a nemesis which makes the storyline even feel more enticing. That nemesis is another fighter, Xavier Grau, played by Bren Foster. He breaks the rules inside the ring and only cares about his title because it can bring him big bucks. Regardless of his choices,his hits have no impact. For Patton, on the other hand, his hits so have an impact. They count since they are meant to save those around him and give them a better life. That is why the fight is the epicenter of Beast. Three out of four stars.