Annihilation Review

Annihilation
Director: Alex Garland
Cast Headliners: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Oscar Isaac
Original Release Date: February 23, 2018 (Theatrical Run USA Only)

Alex Garland has become one to watch. He already was notable for his past works including writing on 28 Days Later and Dredd but it was his directorial debut in Ex Machina which proved his knack for deep sci-fi. Annihilation, semi-loosely based upon a trilogy of novels, is his next take on material that will terrify as much as it causes wonder in its beauty.

The movie jumps around in its time-telling which is one of its drawbacks due to things being discussed “in present” before or after they occur “in the past”. Lena (Natalie Portman) is a biologist being interrogated by a group of government officials led by Lomax(Benedict Wong, who just asks a few sincere questions and not much else aside a particularly great line) after a disastrous mission.

The majority of the film shows the unfolding of this mission into the surreal rainbow-alien covered wilderness of The Shimmer. Lena finds herself at a military base outside this quarantine zone after her husband Kane(Oscar Isaac) shows up disillusioned and sick at her apartment after he was the only survivor of a previous expedition to the Shimmer with his unit of secretive government operatives. Both are abducted by the government Southern Reach task force led by psychologist Dr.Ventress(Jennifer Jason Leigh). With Kane in recovery the coincidentally all-women team of Lena, Ventress, paramedic Anya(Gina Rodriguez), physicist Josie(Tessa Thompson), and geologist Cass(Tuva Novotny) venture past the boundary wall of The Shimmer into its coastal heart to find answers on what happened to the previous team.

The movie's primary standout is its tone which isn't surprising from director Garland. Every second spent inside Shimmer-affected lands is ominous and uneasy. The forest-filled setting and at times greyed-out dark pallette , as well as the use of aliens, may remind one of the great 2016 film Arrival in many ways. Although here the use of time and its plot is more linear and traditional with increased action. Post-apocalyptic abandoned towns and installations are contrasted by quiet natural glens and beaches. There's actually some beautiful use of color and plentiful surreal trippy imagery . That's because in The Shimmer, biological matter is being slowly mutated. This leads to strange flower patterns, crystal structures, and flesh-like fungus covered trees and buildings for background. It also leads to animals both oddly serene( like flower-deers, translucent fish, and plant-shaped-imitation people) and deadly (like the alligator-shark hybrid and undead zombie-like bear seen in promotional material). The mysteries of what can happen within is a standout through this ambience and the less one knows the better.

Aside from some at times questionable use of jumping around or spending on certain sequences the plot is filled with the afromented surprise and twists. Matter, time, and sanity are questioned on what is planned by the characters to be a simple in and out mission(and which actually surmounts to more or less that … much more of a haunted alien swamp house than the constant subtleness of Ex Machina). Horror and action are words that apply to some parts of the film but not always. It more often leaves one feeling like they have been affected by alien wonder themselves and thinking upon its Lovecraftian science than pulse pounding action although be warned the terror can be terrifying at moments.

Garland's cinematography and direction is of course wonderful. Some of the special effects can be slightly less convincing but it is very slight. Music is moreso the variance with some chilling otherworldly strings and horns mixed in with out of place calm acoustic guitar or folk songs. The peak of the film comes as the human world is left behind and the hellish heart of mission's destination is reached with its shocking answers and happenings.

For all of its strengths through tone , mystery, and bizzareness the characters along for the ride are a mixed bag. Portman's Lena gives a more or less decent performance whether sincere, depressed, inquisitive , or heroic. Isaac's Kane's true self is mostly contained to some flashbacks where he has both warmth and disaffected natures...increased by his PTSD on return after which he sits the majority of the rest of the film out. Rodriguez's Anya is perhaps more or less the only other most notable role of the film bringing spunk , paranoia, and occasional humor depending on the situation. It's ironic that there is some meta reunions through both Padme Portman and Poe Isaac from Star Wars being married and Thor of the MCU's female friends Jane (Portman as well) and Valyrie (Thompson / Josie) being in the same film. Unlike that role , and others, Thompson is just kind of ...there and subdued although aiming to try. The same applies top Leigh's Ventress and Novotny's Cass. The film is about characters in some ways as their personal pasts haunt them almost as much as the Shimmer does, but this varies in effectiveness as stated.

It's surprises are at times typical, but particularly its ending will stay with the viewer. It's worth the buildup and mysterious voyage. Garland has made a solid mashup of sci-fi, horror, and drama one again that is worth for its more or less unique blend of chilling and relaxing elements. 8.25 out of 10

Black Panther Review

Black Panther
Director: Ryan Coogler
Cast Headliners: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Danai Gurira, Letita Wright, Martin Freeman, many others
Original Release Date: February 16th, 2018

          The Marvel Cinematic Universe has gone on for so long now (nearing 10 years with 1-3 films per year) that it's becoming harder and harder to be truly unique anymore.  The origin trope of “guy from the normal world gets powers, meets a larger  than life world” has had slight permutations but , aside smartly making things less about the origin and more about building their character arc, been played out in very similar ways. Black Panther's focus to have it be ABOUT the larger than life world of its own gives it a unique flair. It's also important and inspiring that, coincidentally or perhaps as it should be for the inspiration, this is the first major comic-based superhero blockbuster , PG-13 film  who is black. This makes it even a better feeling that the movie is good at that. The potential of T'Challa and Wakanda is utilized more or less as it was wanted to be.
A slickly animated intro shows the fusion sci-fi / magic basis of what the fictional MCU nation of Wakanda is. In the midst of Africa long ago, a large meteorite of vibranium (the source of captain America's shield and many other things) crashed into a mountain and granted the local people incredible technological advances . In the midst of strife, the goddess Bast gave the leader of the Wakandans the abilities to be the Black Panther through the vibranium-laced heart-shaped herb.  The country soon set itself isolated to hide the secrets from the outside. This epic background history gives the movie's titular role something unique... he is a legacy of responsibility he's known about his whole life, compared to most other MCU heroes who find their lives changed into something wild. Protagonist  T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) was born into a life that would require his heroics. Another important flashback  occurs that should be seen firsthand to show what this sometimes entails.
The present tense of the plot jumps (in one of the only ties to the larger MCU making it smartly standalone) to right after 2016's Captain America: Civil War where T'Challa had a guest introductory role. He is returning home after the death of his father to truly bear the title and responsibilities of  King of Wakanda where of course things don't go without incident. Soon met after a neat battle sequence are fellow Wakandans in is his bodyguard and top leader of the fierce Dora Milaje Okoye (Dania Guirira), his ex-girlfriend spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), his mother Ramonda (Angela Basset), and sister Shuri (Letitia Wright). Additional Wakandans include more bit roles in Zuri (Forest Whitaker) , W'Kabi(Daniel Kaluuya), and M'Baku (Winston Duke). 
This large and nigh-allstar ensemble cast is one of the highlights of the film. In what is some of the most supporting characters introduced in a MCU film at once there's almost  nothing but total admiration for every single one the characters and performances unlike other such films where there may be one or two highlights. Boseman as T'Challa , when he isn't using his awesome acrobatic and martial arts abilities through his herb powers and (new and more capable!) armor suit, has some strong character growth and confrontations. He may appear to be one of the fiercest superheroes around but he has some dramatic weaknesses and growth to attain the title including visions of his late father T'Chaka(John Kani in a bit more of a role than Civil War although still slight) in the dreamy ancestral realm; he also doesn't forget to drop a suave quip or threat at times although less than most of his peers.  Guirrira's Okoye brings with her some of the film's best action moments and morals. So too does the caring Nyong'o as Nakia or the wise-cracking (comedic highlight) Wright as Shuri. Truly everyone gets to get in on the action and plot.   The likes of  Whittaker as Zuri , Bassett as Ramonda , and Kayuula as W'kabi  are lesser involved and effective  but bring an authenticity to the accents and participation. Duke's M'Baku is a surprising highlight that has to be seen firsthand to know why.
This extends to the non-Wakandan and or villainous characters.  Also returning from Civil War is CIA Agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) who has a definitely larger role bringing some “outsider eyes”, humor, and action although at times he feels at times a bit over-the-top naive or something unneeded but he's often likeable.  Wonderfully over-the-top is one of the villains (returning from his small debut years ago in 2015's Avengers 2) in Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) who T'Challa encounters early into his fresh reign. Serkis is even more insane and evil than he was in that film. He hams and ramps up the evil madman angle and brings a unique oddball hipster take to things alongside his new laser hand cannon. It's a bit unfortunate there's not actually more to him in the long epic plot, but thats because of an even more vile force in Erik “Killmonger” Stevens( Michael B Jordan).
Jordan as Killmonger is a highlight solid role in a tapestry of solid roles. Like the best of MCU and overall film villians (which her certainly contends for being higher than lower on the chart)  he has a sympathetic motivation to his evil plans.  He is at times charming , occasionally humorous , smart, cunning, and deadly. He has an arc and meaning of his own naturally mirroring T'Challa's that unfolds its mysteries as the story goes on. He is better in combat when his face can be seen (sometimes questionably covering his unique look with armor suits etc) and at times is generic but just as much is deeply memorable while touching upon some important themes.
The story and plot is thus long but filled with some epic stakes and twists. Parts of it may remind one of Shakespearean or by extension (literally..) the Lion King-esque melodrama but it works. This is epic nation spanning stuff of tribes and royal inheritance that makes it more than just street level bank robbers. Plentiful action and excitement exists aided by this. A trip to South Korea perhaps a side distraction but in Wakanda proper, paticuliarly the end, there's some big excitement .
Ryan Coogler brings a solid directing angle to things. The best fights match his work in Creed via visceral realistic duels on waterfall for tribal rights and so on. Hand to hand with spears and the like makes things as exciting as a good boxing match or fencing duel that fits for him. So to are the lush natural landscapes of Wakanda's countryside or smaller interior spaces (more on its unique look in a moment). Larger takes vary at times but also impress. His soundtrack composing friend Ludwig Goranssen gives a truly great original score of relevant drums and strings that give it a truly African flair. Kendrick Lamar made a great original rap album for the film as well although unfortunately just a few pieces are used.
The visuals... at times stun and at other times disappoint. The movie's magical fantasy lore and sci-fi utopia ambience each impress as a whole on the surface level. This may be  the biggest Afro-futurist influenced spectacle to have ever released.. with incredible colorful costumes and dreamy spirit dimensions and giant rhinos and laser shields and spears right out of the comic world.  At times this CGI and set-design can inspire awe. But unfortunately, at other times this CGI is weaker than used to likely due to the abundance of it (although even older films such as the Guardians of the Galaxy managed to pull it off). This harms particularly so some of the fights where both heroic and opposing forces are utlizing armor suits and can look like a film from a past era than the latest in spectacle. However, the good is uniquely impressive and the flaws are not egregious to ruin it all.
As a whole, Black Panther sets out to what it wanted and needed to be more or less. The Black Panther himself dives deeper into his world both growing into it and setting things up (excitingly) for the future. This unique vision burns strong aside some typical tropes. It's an important movie while remaining fun , mystical, action-packed and of course humorous. Wakanda Forever. 8.64 out of 10