Month: April 2024

‘The Greatest Hits’ actually became ‘The Greatest Mediocre’

~ fewburnedkurnels ~ Leave a comment

Rating: Half-Full

Genre: Romance, Drama, Fantasy

Studios: Searchlight Pictures

Cast: Lucy Boynton, Justin H. Min, David Corenswet, Austin Crute and Reeta

Director: Ned Benson

Writer: Ned Benson

Producers: Ned Benson, Stephanie Davis, Shannon Gaulding, Cassandra Kulukundis and Michael London

Music by: Ryan Lott

Rated: PG-13 for drug use, strong language and suggestive materials

Release Date: 04/12/24

Runtime: 1h 34m

Tagline: Find the right song, change your past. Find the right person, change your future.

Favorite Character: David Park

Quote: N/A

Fun Fact: Played at 2024 SXSW Festival.

The Review: There are times when you will be hearing a certain song on the radio that will slightly bring you back to the moment of your past. Whatever it is, it is either a good memory you want to relive or a bad one you’d rather forget.

Both in her past and present, Harriet Gibbons (Lucy Boynton) is a music loving-ish main character who has been wearing headphones all the time. It’s not because she is trying to get lost in music. It is pretty much a opposite in fact. A couple years ago, she met and fell in love with a stranger (David Corenswet) at a music festival. As a couple years go by, it went all smoothly like it was a cheesy Hallmark movie.

Sadly, that whole Jack and Rose roleplaying ended when there was a car accident involved. Max was killed in that accident. While Harriet did survived, she ended up with some psychological scars from that moment. It was that exact horrible moment when Harriet would be like Barry Allen in the lab accident. She can time travel. No machine or fancy technology needed. All she needs was music that reminds her of her time with Max.

As much as time travel seems like a pleasing soulution, she just can’t seem to prevent the accident. And considering how much grief she’s in, she has to attend a Supporting Group (led by Reeta) of people going through loss. It is then she meets an David Park (Justin H. Min) an antique store owner mourning his parents along with his sister (Andie Ju) Sure David may be a great guy, but he cannot replace Max at least not according to Harriet.

Ned Benson’s idea of turning that moment into a time traveling feature does sound like something we all can relate to, especially if it’s the time when you are in grief. Unsurprised, it was a very thin romantic story that doesn’t cover enough romance to be consider one. The Greatest Hits, fortunately wasn’t The Greatest Miss but I think if Ned Benson could put more to the thought of the plot, then it would become The Greatest Hit with emotions. The ending was believe it or not, a good choice.

Abigail showed us that the horror genre are in good hands of the duo directors, Radio Silence

~ fewburnedkurnels ~ Leave a comment

Rating: Full

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Studios: Universal Pictures/

Cast: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Will Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Alisha Weir and Giancarlo Esposito

Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet

Writers: Guy Busick and Stephen Shields

Based on: Dracula’s Daughter

Producers: Paul Neinstein, William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, Chad Villella and Tripp Vinson

Music by: Brian Tyler

Rated: R for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, pervasive language and brief drug use

Release Date: 04/19/24

Runtime: 1h 49m

Tagline: Children can be such monsters

Favorite Character: Abigail

Quote: “I’m sorry about what’s gonna happen to you.”- Abigail

Fun Fact: 95% of Abigail’s stunts was done by Alisha Weir herself.

The Review: I’d bet horror fans everywhere are bummed about the fact that Wes Craven is gone, luckily there are two of the horror directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and have their own production company. Like other major directors, they would go off to explore other genres. Before that happens, we got another scary movie of theirs to explore.

Radio Silence’s retelling of the Universal’s 1936 Dracula Daughter tells us a different kind of a vampire story, about a talented little ballerina named Abigail (Alisha Weir, Matilda the Musical) who gave us her demo during the opening credits. There is one twist though, she is a vampire. And perhaps a talented actress too since her expression kidnapping was so real during that part. They didn’t confirm that she is a classic monster till later in the film but we all probably already knew that. We do see Abigail retiring to her bed, acting all like a human being and not a stereotypical vampire that sleeps in coffins.

Moving on to the kidnappers, The opening pulls off a stunt that makes you think ‘I thought this was a horror movie, not a crime movie’ because, well, it does feel like a crime thriller, for the first 10 minutes. The leader (Scream’s Melissa Berrera) leads the team to kidnap the daughter (Abigail) of the wealthy man and bring her to the wooden mansion, intend to have her handcuffed to bed until her father gifts them with $50 million. I love the fact that the mansion well ensembles the setting from one of Radio Silence’s other films, ‘Ready or Not’

The group wad given instructions by Gus Fri…err i mean…Lambert assigned codenames to them, preventing us from learning their real names and identities but don’t worry, you’ll find out about them later. For the first moments, Abigail will fool the kidnappers by acting all damsel in distressy. Then…Karma will take a bite on them. Let’s check the horror tropes for this movie. Lock in the mansion? Check! The group slowly getting picked off one by one? Check! The remaining survivors trying to survive and get out? Double Check!

I would like to credit Composer Brian Tyler for giving us an epic version of the Swan Lake in what perhaps is one of the best parts of the film! I am not gonna say much, you’ll have to check it out for yourself! I almost forgot to mention something. One of the members of the soon to be unfortunate kidnappers, Dean is played by Angus Cloud who sadly passed away last July. It was sweet for Radio Silence to make him a ‘In loving memory’ trope before the end credits.

This is more of a horror movie for those who enjoy more of the bloody parts than the campy jumpscares. Yes, the final film wasn’t all too bloody brilliant, but the idea of a vampire ballerina is indeed is! I mean, what horror filmmakers wouldn’t have thought of that?

Civil War wasn’t Alex Garlend’s masterpiece but it goes out with a Kaboom!

~ fewburnedkurnels ~ Leave a comment

Rating: Full

Genre: Thriller, Drama, Suspense, Adventure

Studios: A24/DNA Films

Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sonoya MizUno and Nick Offerman

Director: Alex Garlend

Writer: Alex Garlend

Producers: Gregory Goodman, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich

Music by: Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury

Rated: R for strong violent content, bloody/disturbing images and language throughout

Release Date: 04/12/24

Runtime: 1h 49m

Tagline: Welcome to the Frontline

Favorite Character: Jessie Cullen

Quote: “Okey. What kind of American are you? You don’t know?’-A soldier

Fun Fact: The decorations at the abandoned Christmas park wasn’t made for the movie. It was the real place that Alex Garlend used for one of the scenes.

The Review: A24 films just keeps getting on bigger. And just to be clear, no this isn’t a sequel to the 2017’s Captain America threequel, this isn’t even in the MCU. This is a potential ultra political reality film that tries to warn us about what may happen if America doesn’t shape up (I’m looking at you Biden).

The OG Spider-Man trilogy’s Kirsten Dunst makes a big comeback to the movies as a photographer, Lee Smith taking old fashioned black and white pictures of the unfortunate moments of the unlucky soldiers. She and her photography colleague Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) first witnessed a bombing in New York City that could slam the sound catagory for next year’s Oscars. They and the other press journalists (Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sonoya Mizuno and Jefferson White) are on the assignment to take a field trip to Washington D.C. to interview President Nick Offerman. Considering with what’s been going on in that country, He may be a worse president than Biden.

But as you may know, this road trip was no vacation! This plays out as a apocalyptic version of the Oregon Trail computer game. I am not gonna say much, and it may not be from Dysentery but expect some of the ‘you died’ moments during the journey. Yep, some or most of the reporters taking on a very dangerous adventure may not return to New York, if they do at all.

Like the Oregon Trail game, there are pit stops along the way. It’s not to trade or to look at the Big Blue River, or whatsoever, instead what you’ll see are dead bodies all over the path. Chilling. Even the Christmas Theme Park during the film isn’t all full of happiness as it should be!

I do have to say, Civil War is full of crazy stuff like the potentially real life violence and contains an IMAX worthy sounds. And I will certainly say there are gonna be some moments where you are gonna wish you could pause a movie to take a few moments to catch your breath! Maybe get a drink of water or an ICEE or some Coca Cola or whatever drink you have in your seat.

I have heard people complaining about the ending before seeing this movie. I thought, ‘What sort of ending does it piss moviegoers off?’ Now, I do admit, the ending seems to have me have mixed feelings for it. Like the ‘All of that for nothing’ kinda feeling. I really do understand, however, that this ending wasn’t exactly the point of the movie, so I’ll let that pass.

As the title states, Civil War didn’t pass Ex Machina as Garlend’s best. And it wasn’t a 100% accurate film, I mean come on, California and Texas alliance wasn’t that realistic. However, it is a really intense film full of chaos that could top 2024’s most intense film! Sounds like a challenge for the other thrillers coming out later this year!

Road House (2024)

~ fewburnedkurnels ~ Leave a comment

Rating: Half-Full

Genre: Action, Thriller

Studios: Metro-Goldwyn Mayer

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Joaquim de Almeida and Conor McGregor

Director: Doug Liman

Writers: Anthony Bagarozzi, David Lee Henry and Charles Mondry

Based on: the 1989 film by Hilary Henkin and David Lee Henry

Producer: Joel Silver

Music by: Christophe Beck

Rated: R for violence throughout, pervasive language and some nudity

Release Date: 03/21/24

Runtime: 2h 1m

Tagline: Take it Outside

Favorite Character: Dalton

Quote: “It’s been a while since I’ve been clubbing.”- Knox

Fun Fact: There is a bar next to the book store called ‘The Double Deuce Restaurant’ which obviously pays homage to the original Road House movie.

The Review: It was 1989 when Patrick Swayze became a tough bouncer in the cult classic ‘Road House’ and when they remake cult classics, chances are it won’t meet up the fans expedition. I may even make them think ‘Why did they even have to remake it?’ like 2011’s Footloose. Thankfully, Doug Liman’s take isn’t those kind of remakes.

Just like the others, there are some major changes. Instead of giving us a character that didn’t need a backstory, gives us an added story to the main character. For Gyllenhaal’s version, he portrays a UFC fighter who just couldn’t get over the time that he accidently killed one of his opponents in a match. His second chance comes when a stranger (Jessica Williams) offers him a job as a bouncer in the road house called…well…’The Road House’ in the fictional Glass Keys in Florida Keys. Things however, don’t go smoothly, where he meets new friends also meets new threatening enemies.

Watch both versions of Road House back to back and you might see the one biggest difference, where it takes place. The remake swaps a midwestern Missouri town with the one in Florida Keys. But to be honest with you, I actually believe that 2024 Road House got the location right. It’s the setting that gives the viewers vibes of the stylish 1980’s TV series Miami Vice. Or to those who had a PS2 in 2002, the controversial Grand Theft Auto Vice City. Both of these media may actually have influenced Doug Limin to create a new type of story for the 2024 remake, I’d be surprised if they haven’t.

There may be one reason you would be checking out the 2024 Road House, the brawls . And talk about some of the insane stunts! For example, the one scene where Dalton takes a nice stroll along the edge of the bridge when suddenly the truck ran him over and…I won’t spoil it for ya but it is insane! I havn’t seen the original but i have a feeling the villain would be something to take seriously. The villains in the 2024’s version is not exactly memorable except for maybe Knox (real life fighter Conor McGregor).

2024’s Road House is much more of a silly flick you’d watch for just for the heck of it. Jake Gyllenhaal was pretty much acting all douche like he’s auditioning for the role of Deadpool but he would still entertaining enough to give the old viewers a chuckle and more violent enough to feel like they are in front row seats of Wrestlemania.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

~ fewburnedkurnels ~ Leave a comment

Rating: Empty

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Monster

Studios: Warner Bros Pictures/Legendary Pictures

Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns and Fala Chen

Director: Adam Wingard

Writers: Simon Barrett, Terry Rossio, Jeremy Slater and Adam Wingard

Based on: Godzilla by Toho

Producers: Alex Garcia, Jon Jashni, Eric McLeod, Mary Parent, Brian Rogers and Thomas Tull

Music by: Antonio Di lorio and Tom Holkenborg

Rated: PG-13 for creature violence and action

Release Date: 03/29/24

Runtime: 1h 55m

Tagline: Bow to your new king.

Favorite Character: Shimo

Quote: “Is that a mini Kong?”- Bernie Hayes

Fun Fact: The baby Kong in the movie is named ‘Suko’

The Review: Last time we saw a giant ape and a giant lizard crossover, they were fighting for…i don’t even know what they were even fighting for. All I know is that film was half epic, half boredom. Perhaps this sequel will be more epic….or not.

We continue their epic with Kong, who has been acting all too human, relaxing in the spectacular Hollow Earth (I wish that place was real) while Godzilla is sleeping in Rome’s famous Colosseum and gaining radiation in France. And for the human plot, a deaf girl Jia (Kaylee Hottle) is now living with scientist Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), trying her best to be a good mother and trying to get her newly adopted daughter to live a normalized life, but when she was once part of the Iwi Tribe, it ain’t gonna be easy. Especially when you have a psychic dream about Kong.

For the major event, the sinkhole opens and with that, we are in for another monsterous adventure. The transportation dives into a beautiful new world, I can tell you the audience will be seeing the screen in awe. There should be a storyline that would match the amazing mysterious inner planet. Nope. There really isn’t. Sure there is fighting involved, I mean why wouldn’t there be? But that is all there is for the rest of the film. Just preparing to fight and fighting. Just like the previous entree.

I have never seen last years Japanese Godzilla Minus One but after getting an VFX Oscar and getting critical acclaim, it tells me that GMO’s take on the classic monster is so freshing, as for Godzilla x Kong 2, it isn’t. Mostly because the uncanny CGI was too distracting. The new monsters added to the film series is the best part of the mindless Monsterverse the two titans for this film. Mothra’s return, wasn’t too bad but could improve. Baby Kong is cute, but he and Scar King fell victim to the could-have-been-better CGI. And as much as I want to love Shimo for it’s diamond sparkly fins, it looks more like a plastic toy you buy at Target.

Crossovers are supposed to be epic. There must be a better way to get the two monsters to work together. But if you are a fan of both Godzilla and King Kong, you will cheer. Try cheering at the theater, that makes the whole experience more fun.

Dune Part 2

~ fewburnedkurnels ~ Leave a comment

Rating: Overflowing

Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama

Studios: Warner Bros Pictures/Legendary Pictures

Cast: Timothy Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, Stellan Skarsgard, Charlotte Rampling and Javier Bardem

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Writers: Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve

Based on: the novel by Frank Herbert

Producers: Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, Patrick McCormick, Mary Parent and Denis Villeneuve

Music by: Hans Zimmer

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language

Release Date: 03/01/24

Runtime: 2h 46m

Tagline: Long live the fighters

Favorite Character: Feyd-Rautha

Quote: “You may die. You may see. The beauty and the horror.”- Lady Jessica

Fun Fact: It took 44 days to film to film the Sandworm riding scene.

The Review: When it comes to franchises, sequels don’t usually live up to the original, but sometimes, it does. Some may surprise you like last years Dungeons and Dragons movie and others it actually isn’t surprising, like the part 2 of this beautiful epic sci-fi movie.

Part 2 picks up after the first one on a desert planet, Arrakis where Paul Atreides (Timothy Chalamet) and his pregnant mother (Rebecca Ferguson) are with the Fremen clan that they finally found with some help of Paul’s literal dream girl (Zendaya). Now in order for Paul to gain the Fremen’s trust he needed, he must complete some training one involving a megazilla moment of him riding on what they called a ‘Grandfather’ Sandworm. Meaning it could be the largest sandworm in the desert!

Dune 2 succeeded in bringing the audience to a new world. And these sets, I don’t know if they are real sets or CGI. Now if you aren’t familar with Frank Herbert’s story, you might at first think one of the first scenes takes place on Mars. I don’t blame you because that, my friend, is how good the cinematography is. and the part with the Emporer’s nephew (Oscar nominated Austin Butler) being the highlight of the film along with the Harkonnen’s black and white film sequence gives the film more of a specticule. That, the visual effects and score is already up to win those categories for the 2025’s Oscars (bring it on Furiosa).

You might have noticed that as we get further into the movie series or franchise or whatever, we also get further into the story that was created from the mind of Frank Herbert. For those who say the 2021’s Dune doesn’t have a plot, I can tell you that this one adds more to the plotline. Now the one negativity about the film was the whole entire movie feels like it only tells the 2nd act of the story, meaning when the film ends, the Sci-Fi chronicle still won’t be even over yet!

I can tell you, Dune Part 2 ROCKS! Totally exceeding the first one by far, but I swear if they don’t make the third one and make it like Return of the King, there will be problems for the franchise. So we’ll just have to wait for a couple of years to see if Villeneuve can properly close the book.