Lookingforheart

Who is this movie even for? It's not rated for kids, and it isn't up to par for adults Can't fault the cast - they are very good. It is very pretty. But was it written by an algorithm, or by those whose minds simply function that way? All of the inclusion rider boxes are checked, and for no apparent reason whatsoever. It's a mess, particularly if you actually know the region. Regardless, disappointing. Wanted to leave halfway through out of tedium, and the previews were so good. Wouldn't waste your time and unless you would like to explain what 'murder' means to your young kids - stay away. Very disappointing on all levels, from writing, to the top notch cast that was hired. My, how the mighty have fallen, especially Emma Thompson and Hugh Jackman. Whither, 'The Tall Guy', or even 'X-Men'?

This movie is terrible. I am beyond parsing the reasons why modern movies are terrible. Nothing original and the writing is just freaking awful. Nothing happens in this film to counter that. The original Tron was groundbreaking and holds up surprisingly well as a film; this is some kind of weird cash in that makes zero sense, a la the Marvel universe. Shame on Disney; really: shame on you. This is sh**.

This movie blows. And that is pretty much all. Do not waste your time. It isn't just the content, it's the spirit; Disney seems to be intent on making movies no one will ever remember or particularly care about. Skip it.

Really: this movie is quite good. There are hiccups in the script, controversies after the fact with cast members, but this is gripping and awesome, and it's a shame the DCU couldn't have continued in this direction, even if imperfect. Really a great modern action film, a good DC film, and it's a shame it was so reworked for release.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Black Bag is yet another very well funded, well acted, and well produced, but utterly boring film. I've read the reviews that call it 'adult', or 'grown up', and apparently refreshingly so in that regard. Maybe if you are under 35 and only have imaginings of what any of that actually means or translates to. This does not hold up to scrutiny or viewing; I found all of the characters smug and unlikeable, and if we are at a point when the protagonists are considered to be 'adult' simply because they are not as deviant or laissez-faire as their even more shallow compatriots - sheesh. Anyone over 40 is going to find this representation of 'adulthood' absurd, that it's also a boring script does not help matters. That said, the base plot could have been penned by an algorithm,, and though I get the interplay of the themes of betrayal and trust; they just aren't presented well or compellingly; this is a caricature of 'adulthood', and a sure as heck boring 'spy' movie watching the characters very bizarrely get to the conclusion. As with so many films these days, performances are good, production is good, but the bones, the story - are we farming scriptwriting to junior high schools at this point? Because in its larger themes, this movie is that juvenile. Deep as a bottle cap. Skip it.

It's true; Disney managed to not make this a ball of woke CGI nonsense. But that doesn't make it a good movie, which it really isn't. It starts out strong, and the characters are likable enough, but 3/4 of the way through it descends into gen z whining that no actualized adult could ever hope to relate to beyond their teen years. We overcome challenges in life, we do not label them mental illness in hopes that'll make them go away or justify our personal capitulation to problems, and we do not wish for super heroes to save us. Even the really hard stuff we have to deal with; and the issues here that have made a protagonist crumble are child's play compared to horrors some have had to face, and have faced successfully. Unless for some reason you are some kind of MCU completist, this is totally skippable, in spite of great performances and good direction. Read: it's the writers and the studio execs, Hollywood. The level of disdain many modern filmmakers have for their audiences, the willingness to pander - it is truly mystifying. This was not a great movie, and certainly not a good Marvel movie. Are they going to start handing out diapers at theater concessions in the future?

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

It is a tale as old as time, unfortunately,, but in 2025, Disney/Marvel just doesn't seem to understand that no matter how much money or hype they pump in - their movies ****. This one is no exception. Watch it for free on streaming later, but honestly: why would you? This is very highly financed garbage. No offense to the cast, but this is utter and complete ****, and those of us old enough to know better are still alive. Can someone please 'reimagine' Disney?

Really, what this amounts to is a glorified tech demo; though the concept was good, the story isn't particularly engaging, and the use of generative algorithms is not remotely the leap that the introduction of CGI was years ago, nor is it particularly compelling. This stuff seems mainly to be impressive to people developing it or profiting from it; let us hope it isn't the future of movie making because in actual practice, it's pretty bland.

I actually had high hopes for this given it was a personally funded passion project. Sorry to report, this movie is bloody terrible, a discombobulated mess. I understand the metaphors in play, and it is indeed very well made, but wow - this, frankly, ****. I can't believe Coppola was sitting on it for decades. No matter how you twist it, or try to make it allegory, or art - this movie is two hours of terrible. Do not waste your time, and believe me, I wanted to support an independent, artistic vision from a famous director. If you actually *want* an incoherent, vain and terrible movie, watch Zardoz with Sean Connery instead; there is at least some entertainment value there in the bat**** awfulness and you'll have some laughs.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

I didn't read the original work, so I have no idea how this is in relation to it, but as a film - so many have done this so much better. The film has a great cast and they deliver good performances, but the script, which touches on our over-reliance on technology, to our complacency in the 21st century, to the fact that yes, we do have enemies in the world - and all incredibly clumsily and with the depth of a petri dish - make for a fairly vapid, shallow experience, particularly if you were of cognizant age during the Cuban Missile Crisis or the Cold War. You could fast forward through large swaths of this and not be confused at the end, but oh! the ending, which I suspect was intended to be clever: it will likely be met with a sigh or a grunt or a, 'You're kidding me, right?', and you'll forget you just watched a movie at all shortly thereafter. Yawn, and I want my two hours back. Totally skippable, utterly shallow, and yet another in a long line of Netflix Originals that are a master class on how not to make an engaging or compelling film. Even without being preachy (which, in fairness, this one isn't), their movies are generally like listening to cardboard. If the film *is* representational of the novel it was based on, then that goes for the book as well. No heart, no soul, and certainly no brains. Watch literally any other allegorical film of similar subject from any other era for a better experience. Even as recently as the original 'Red Dawn' or 'Wargames', heck, even 'They Live', dated though they may be, are more fun than this. Skip it!

Terrible. If you thought Crystal Skull was bad, brace yourself; Disney seems to be intent on redefining 'bottom'. Harrison Ford, what is the matter with you? Other recent roles of yours have been fantastic. This is exactly what Disney did to Star Wars, shameful. There are only three Indiana Jones movies, and that ended in 1989. Save your money, and don't bother streaming. Just awful. Modern Disney is irredeemable, IMO. This is the last time I give them a cent.

Sigh. What in the hey is wrong with Hollywood? The DCU actually took a good turn with the Wonder Woman films, Shazam, even The Joker and the Snyder cut of Justice League. Who wrote this tripe? A junior high school kid? This film is long, the writing is pretentious bordering on parody, resulting in *actual* parody at times, and even though the cast is great and it is well shot, it just can't save it. I think comic book movies, just like actual comic books, are done. Modern Marvel movies are no better, and have actually been worse for some time. This movie is just straight up terrible, and if you make it through the olympic marathon run time, you are a greater man than I, Gunga Din. One star for production values. The writing is the worst I've ever seen, as a very longtime fan of such, in a super hero film. That is it. Please stop inflicting this cr*p on us. We have had enough.

I usually wait until the hype dies down to see films like this, and I have to say: believe the hype. This is a real film, cast your superhero apprehensions aside. To say that Joaquin Phoenix is superlative in his performance is the understatement of the decade - he is brilliant. The score, cinematography, the direction, and script are equally so. I don't know what we did to deserve a film of this caliber, or how on earth it got green lit in this day and age, let alone in the comic book arena, but thank your lucky stars that we did. Joker is a masterpiece of filmmaking, it is easily the most poignant comic book movie I've ever seen. It is all at once sad, tragic, deep, uncomfortable, yet never truly gratuitous - it is very nearly a perfect thing. Between this and the excellent Wonder Woman and Shazam, DC is on a roll. Thank you to everyone involved. You have created a timeless piece of cinema with this film, truly, and I hope that it continues with your future endeavors. Highly, highly recommended, but definitely not for kids, even if simply for the depth of its themes, that they will definitely not understand, this is no Avengers film. There are no cookie cutters in this movie, it is all nuance, and there are a few scenes that border on brutal. It is art in an artless age, it will make you think and it will stay with you. I for one am grateful that it exists. Well done. Well done, indeed. A very easy 10/10, this took a lot of courage to make in 2019.

Have you ever seen 'Spinal Tap'? In that film, a reviewer gives one of their albums a two word summation. The album is called, 'Shark Sandwich', the reviewer sums it up as, '**** Sandwich.'. This movie is a **** sandwich. No matter what Disney may say in their hopes for more filthy lucre, this series is done, there's no going back. One company single handedly decimated an entire franchise and legacy with its greed and pandering. This movie is bull****, and I want my money back. I hope George is proud of himself for selling out. Your prequels weren't great, but they were high Shakespeare compared to this crass tripe. I long for the halcyon days of Jar-Jar. The film is unwatchable, even as a non-Star Wars film - that is a low that is difficult to achieve. So bravo, Disney, on making the dregs of abject sewage something attainable for all of us. Pathetic, in the extreme. Everyone involved in this should be ashamed of themselves. As an aside, it's no surprise that first twenty or so reviews are 'tens' showering praise and that falls off immediately afterward. You aren't fooling anyone, Disney (and other studios should take note), and the critics need to check themselves, big time. This was not a good film. It was an absolutely *terrible* Star Wars film. I'm no cynic - I appreciate good film making. This was the opposite of that. That it is supposedly 'Star Wars' makes it doubly insidious. Go to the fiery place, Disney.

I'm late to the game on this one, due in part to the film's co-option by nutty snowflakes. Now that I've seen it, I am convinced that half of the most vocal, they never did. I didn't detect a whiff of feminist agenda - this is just a heartfelt story. Wonder Woman is a superb film, regardless of whether or not you are into super heroes, and it manages to balance the character's origins beautifully with a modern reinterpretation. The script is excellent, the performances are top-notch, and it is a thrill to the end. I won't spoil anything, but I have to extend my gratitude to everyone involved in this production - very well done, folks. If this and the excellent 'Shazam!' are where DC is headed with its films, I am all in (and I say that having not cared much for their more recent Batman/Superman offerings). Seriously, this is probably the best thing that has ever been done with the Wonder Woman character, and if you have even a modicum of interest, you will be delighted. I am really looking forward to the sequel. Lastly, barring Endgame, Marvel of the past few years should be ashamed of themselves.

I actually really like things that challenge me. This does not challenge me. This film is utterly mindless and incoherent virtue signaling drivel. You know, to create something so fiercely and blatantly tokenistic, one has to accept that there is some truth to stereotypes to begin with, and I am not a big enough cretin to do that. Director DuVernay can shriek, 'Patriarchy!', until she's blue in the face, it will not make this a good movie in anything resembling objective terms. Once again Disney should be ashamed of themselves for this arrogant insult to our collective intelligence, but as usual is likely just laughing all the way to the bank. Don't bother with this one. If you loved the book series, double don't bother. If you would like to see Oprah Winfrey in a truly awesome role, see 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' instead.

Wow. Unwatchable does not begin to cover it. I don't have anything to say about this joke of a film except that this time around, Disney must have not only paid the critics but bought them all their own private islands to have garnered such reviews. To true Star Wars fans: avoid at all costs, and Mr. Lucas, you have my deepest apologies and sympathy. Very expensive trash, and it worries me that Disney will now own 21st Century Fox, too. Will people even remember what a good film that has depth of story rather than pushes a weak and manipulative agenda is anymore in ten or fifteen years? This is junk, plain and simple. Disney has thus far tanked Marvel (compare the first X-Men film to the latest Spider-Man), Pixar (compare Ratatouille or Up to anything from the past five years), and Star Wars (the prequels were genius compared to this). Is Star Trek next on the chopping block? Doctor Who? Will they only be content after they have bought and destroyed every beloved property that has ever existed and twisted it into something crass in the name of their bottom line? Not only will I no longer shell out for Star Wars, but for any Disney-owned property. This is a disgrace. Full disclosure: Love the OT, liked in my own way the prequels (at least they had narrative and drama), didn't like TFA, not at all, but this is beyond the pale. Puerile, predictable, and clearly designed by committee or algorithm to generate the most possible profit from the least common denominator. If you must see it, wait for streaming, and make sure you don't pay extra for it.