IWantECoyote

Well written dialogue, great character concepts, incredible CGI, sets and music, and excellent performances, with good direction. Yes, the plot either doesn't make sense or is a slightly tweaked version of an event from the original trilogy, or both, but this doesn't feel like a major issue until the second half. The first half of this film is an very well executed and very enjoyable adventure film. The second half of this film is a reasonably fun Marvel-ised version of A New Hope. It's worth watching and good fun, and from an execution standpoint it is amazing, but if you're looking for the level of plot/world complexity/memeable dialogue as the prequel trilogy or the uniqueness/message of the original trilogy then you might be disappointed.

The Amazing Digital Circus: the Last Act combines the released episode 8 and (at time of writing) otherwise unreleased (officially) episode 9 of the Amazing Digital Circus. I was and am a huge fan of this series, so I knew all the context going in, and my theatre experience wasn't especially positive or negative to effect my opinion on the film. I loved it. I was already aware that I would love the first half hour of it, as that is the already released episode 8, which, by the way, I would recommend watching before seeing The Last Act as a whole. The final episode to me was an emotional rollercoaster that hit harder than anything else had in the show so far. As usual, the music and animation were incredible and the characterisation and performances were perfect. Not every mystery is solved, but there is enough in the episode to piece together more theories, and plenty of answers are given. The ending, while apparently divisive according to the likes of Twitter and Reddit, was probably the best the show could have had and left me, of course wanting more and knowing no more would come, but satisfied in what we were given. The themes and messages of the show resonate throughout the final episode and the ending seems to me a fitting conclusion. While I would note that both episodes have moved more towards character and plot than humour, this didn't detract from the experience for me and there are still common humourous elements. Let's be honest, if you're here looking at reviews you are probably wondering whether to see it in cinemas rather than whether to watch it at all, as it comes out for free on YouTube on the 19th June. Speaking as someone who doesn't go outside much, seeing this in the cinema definitely made it a more memorable and special experience for me and it was amazing to see a series I cared for so much on the big screen. However, I'd still have cried my eyes out and enjoyed it if I'd watched it at home. I'm very pleased to have watched it in the cinema, but I feel it's just a subjective thing whether you would be. Also, while I loved both episodes included in the Last Act, I feel that they are best watched separately. A development in episode 8 is probably more enjoyable when given some tension before it is dealt with in episode 9. I also think the experience as a whole suffers an issue of length - not in that it feels boring by any means, but in that a series that has so far been in half an hour installments shifting to an hour and a half movie made some characters feel slightly more absent than they actually were. I expect most people who deeply care about and enjoy this show and engage with the themes and message to at least enjoy this movie, likely to maybe an 8/10 or higher. If I were trying to do a critical analysis of the film, I'd probably give it an 8/10, but my personal experience was of something incredibly special that will stay with me for a long time, so I'm giving it a strong 9/10. Also, if you go see it, look at the background art during the credits. Also also, just a note, before episode 8 begins in the film, there is a series recap. I would recommend just being clear on the events of the show and rewatching the recent episodes anyway, but the recap would be a useful refresh to anyone who can't be bothered to do that.

(Vague spoilers) This wasn't Guillermo del Toro's retelling of Frankenstein, this was Guillermo del Toro's conclusion of Frankenstein. This film is gorgeously directed - the cinematography, the costumes, the music, the sets, everything feels so wonderfully gothic but so vibrant and colourful at the same time. The performances are incredible. The dialogue flows and fits the vibe in the vast majority of scenes. From a technical aspect, this film might be the best I've ever seen. But, this film fails in one key aspect that it really shouldn't have - it answers the question. If you know anything about Frankenstein, you know that at the core of the whole thing the story is asking you who the monster is. This film explicitly tells you at the climax of the story, and then ends on catharsis in a way that felt extremely Hollywood for what had been largely an excellently un-Hollywood film. This film is phenomenal and definitely worth watching, but by the end it isn't Frankenstein anymore. Separate to those of knowledge of the story going in, most of the film still presents the same above question as the original book, acting as if it will climax on a final event that will leave you wondering, and then it closes the loop. Frankenstein 2025 is a gorgeously made film and a very engaging story, but that loses itself in the director's take on the source material in the last 20 minutes. Very enjoyable, but for a more philosophical, analytical or similar exploration the book is much better.

This film is a beautiful mess. Gone (thankfully) is the brooding, "be not afraid" Superman of Henry Cavill, and he is replaced by a human being who just happens to be an alien. Despite some inclusions in the film, there is no political messaging. The message is safe but wonderfully done, and it is simply to care for everyone. And, unlike Marvel, it doesn't feel like it means that in a stoic, "fight for your friends" way, even though that's what happens in the movie (spoilers, I guess lol). Speaking as a huge (pre-Endgame, though much of the newer stuff too) Marvel fan, this is better than most of those films. Superman 2025 is fully immersed in the zany rainbow of superhumans and doesn't once try to explain itself. It has some pacing issues here and there but ultimately this film is just fun and wholesome. No one stops to brood or make big important speeches. There are no characters in this film as far as I'm concerned, just people, with all their complexities and imperfections, and they live in this comic book world and they and us as the audience just have to deal with that. Also, this isn't a Guardians of the Galaxy movie. It's less funny and has less music (though the choices are still perfect when they show up). This film is unique and fully sincere, and it doesn't try to hide it or drown it in a modern spin. This is a silly comic book movie with a serious comic book message, and it was fun and at some points it made me cry and it didn't stop to take a breath through the whole run time. This is the first Superman movie I have watched that is not only good and not only cinematic, but genuinely fun, lovable and infectiously rewatchable. If you don't give a damn about comic book movies, you'd probably at least still enjoy this film. If you do, you'll probably love it. Unless you're a Snyder fan, in which case agree to disagree and you'll probably despise this movie.