Short Attention Span Review - Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Short Attention Span Review - Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

I don't know how Marvel is doing it at this point.  I'm a lifelong fan of their comics, so it should come as no surprise that I'm a big fan of their box office dominance.  More importantly, I love the way they've brought their characters to life on the big screen in such remarkable fashion.  Yet it's hard to fathom how they keep managing to kick things up a notch.  Perhaps it's because they have recently grown accustomed to taking chances, and those chances are paying dividends.  Much like Guardians of the Galaxy, this venture represents a major gamble in terms of tone, with comedy being a huge part of the proceedings.  Marvel has seen great success with the comic relief they have inserted into their films from the start, but as with GOTG, this one is just as reliant (if not more reliant) on laughs than thrills.  However, while I would say that Thor: Ragnarok is 50% comedy, it is also 50% action-packed, and the God of Thunder has never been so badass.  Bonus points: "Immigrant Song" has long been my favorite Zeppelin track, and it seems about ten times cooler now.  Thor: Ragnarok is a big win across the board.  You will laugh, you will be thrilled, you will marvel (forgive me) at the kaleidoscope of color and sound that takes a familiar property on a trippy new ride that goes big often and delivers the goods at every turn.  The cast is insanely good--Hemsworth has never been so fun to watch or so damn gnarly, and Ruffalo makes stealing the show look easy no matter what he's asked to do these days.  Cate Blancett makes for a nasty villain, Tessa Thompson is ridiculously good as Valkyrie, Idris Elba is Idris Elba (and Idris Elba is cool as shit), Jeff Goldblum has too much fun and slays it, and my man Karl Urban has a surprisingly potent turn as one of the more conflicted characters in the film.  I know, I know, I'm gushing, but Thor: Ragnarok is totally fucking rad, dudes.  This kind of kooky shit excites the hell out of me.

Final Grade: A+

It's too early for me to make a definitive ruling in this matter, but as a diehard Marvel fanboy, I can assure you that is entirely possible that Thor: Ragnarok is the the best movie the MCU has given us.  It is easily Top 5 on that front, it's not too early to make that call.

Short Attention Span Review: Stranger Things 2 (2017)

Short Attention Span Review: Stranger Things 2 (2017)

Sure, it's a bit too familiar.  Okay, maybe in addition to recycling beats from the first season, the show is even more derivative this time out.  Who cares?  The first season was epic, and a powerful nostalgia vibe is one of the biggest keys to this show's success.  Recycling is cool, and Stranger Things 2 is a wicked good time.  In terms of style and enjoyment, this breakout series easily skirts a sophomore slump and instead keeps the good times rolling for Netflix.    Everyone's back for another kooky voyage loaded with fright and intrigue, and there are some new faces in the mix to keep things fresh.  One of these, Dacre Montgomery, is a revelation as Billy, bringing a lot of beefcake and even more in the way of charisma to his part.  Billy is equal parts picture perfect 80s heart throb and despicable sociopath, and Montgomery makes the most of his screentime, damn near stealing every scene that he's in.  However, the biggest surprise for me was Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, who has somehow evolved from the most repulsive tool in Hawkins, Indiana to perhaps the show's most courageous and likable character.  Of course, Millie Bobby Brown continues to kill it as Eleven, and there's really no point in going down the list as all of the players are wisely given lots to do, and everyone puts forth a worthy performance.  Matt and Ross Duffer continue to impress with Stranger Things 2, another mindbending spookshow with a wealth of charm that fires on all cylinders and rewards viewers with a fantastic story populated by rich characters.  The score is pretty damn nifty too.  Hell, everything about this franchise is pretty damn nifty--if you're not watching it, you're missing out in a big way.

Final Grade: A

 

Short Attention Span Review: Train to Busan (2016)

Short Attention Span Review: Train to Busan (2016)

Wow!  I had heard good things about Train to Busan, so when I sat down to watch it I was expecting big things of this landmark zombie thriller from Korea.  These lofty expectations were appropriate--I can honestly say that I was totally blown away by this fast-paced rampage.  In what may or may not have been a nod to Romero, the picture was ripe with social commentary, and it was also host to some well-drawn characters with emotional arcs, but this never kept it from racing down the tracks.  Gory, exciting, intense, and moving, Train to Busan is easily one of the finest zombie movies that I have ever enjoyed, and that's one hell of a statement coming from yours truly.  Director Sang-ho Yeon did a marvelous job of keeping things popping while telling a story with an awful lot of heart to go along with all the blood and guts splattering the screen.  The cast performed flawlessly, and while there were a few cliches in the mix, everyone had a lot to do and I felt that each performer made the most of their opportunities to shine.  Leading man Yoo Gong nailed it, and young Soo-an Kim did a remarkable job in a demanding part with a lot of depth and nuance.   Yet it was Dong-seok Ma who stole the show, combining grit and warmth to tremendous effect.  Eui-sung Kim gave us a horror movie dickhead for the ages, and eagerly anticipating his demise greatly bolstered my viewing experience.  In closing, I found Train to Busan to be thoroughly effective on every level, and it is not only my favorite horror film from 2016, but I will reiterate that it has to be one of the best zombie films out there.

Final Grade: A+

While Train to Busan succeeds on many fronts, in the end it is the well-drawn characters who propel it to greatness.

Short Attention Span Review: Kingsman (2014)

Is Kingsman the best film that was released in 2014?  I'm certainly willing to entertain that notion.  This is a movie that will provide viewers who aren't easily offended with a plethora of thrills, chuckles, and some of the zaniest and most visceral action sequences ever seen.  It comes c/o gifted English filmmaker and producer Matthew Vaughn and boasts a number of stars (Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Firth, and Mark Strong) as well as a number of spunky new arrivals (most notably Taron Egerton and Sophie Cookson).  The picture is somewhat of a James Bond satire on speed, complete with a maniacal villain (Jackson) armed with an evil plot that threatens the world (bonus points: he also has a badass sidekick), a clandestine agency with a wealth of high-tech gadgets, and some of the most inventive action bits you're apt to see.  There are plenty of laughs and surprises in the mix, and though Kingsman frequently pays homage to the pictures that inspired it, it remains fresh and exciting.  There isn't a dull moment to be had and viewers will find themselves absorbed in the colorful plot and invested in the characters and their efforts to save the day--or remake the planet in their own image.  Colin Firth's dapper gent is an ultimate badass.  Samuel L. Jackson's demented madman can't stand the sight of blood.  Taron Egerton is a plucky street kid who knows a good pug when he sees one (well, kind of . . . ) and this unlikely hero may just have to save the world in the closing reel.  To say that I enjoyed Kingsman immensely would be a bit of an understatement.  I honestly felt that the picture was rather sublime; it isn't often that you see something that is charmingly familiar yet so bold and different--or something  that is fun, vibrant, and absolutely thrilling in equal measures.  Kingsman is a splendid effort that shouldn't be missed.  After all, you don't want to piss off Colin Firth, do you?  Trust me: you don't.

Final Grade: A+

Colin Firth loses his cool in what may be the most violent
action scene ever filmed.  Yes, you read that correctly. 
People underestimate Colin Firth at their own peril.