Thursday, May 31, 2018

Solo: A Star Wars Story Review

Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard, mostly
 Cast Headliners: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke,  Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover, Chewbacca
Original Release Date: May 25th, 2018

  Another year...no wait, another 5 and some days months and another Star Wars film is here already. Can the world handle it this quickly, can we still be stunned and excited.. and is there justification to know everything abut Han Solo's past in a film. Well, the answer is... mostly. Solo: A Star Wars Story marks Disney's second attempt at a non-”Skywalker Saga” film with something slightly lower stakes than ever. It's a different kind of feel and attempt on Star Wars while still sticking to a lot of families for better or worse.  But as with the smuggler, there's a lot of fun to be had.
Timeline wise, this film lies even earlier than Rogue One did but also after the Revenge Of The Sith in an lore era that Disney seems invested in more than any other which makes it about 13-10 years before Episode 4. After some kind of fusion of the main film's title crawl and R1's lack of one, the movie jumps (perhaps just  a bit too vaguely) into the life of a young Han (Alden Ehrenreich). On the famous lore but slummy construction yard city planet Corellia he steals cars for an alien gang along his first love Qi'Ra (Emilia Clarke).  Events transpire that send him on a galactic journey as he deals with the criminal underworld of  gangster Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany) and his rivals, the Empire, and meeting the likes of faces to audiences familiar (like Chewbacca(Joonas Suotamo) and Lando Calrissian(Donald “Childish Gambino” Glover)) along unfamiliar like Tobias Beckett( Woody Harrelson), Val(Thandie Newton), Rio(Jon Favreau), and L3(Phoebe Waller-Bridge).
It's a cast that ends up having a heart as tight-knit as any other famous crew to ride the Millenium Falcon and others, after that vehicle's inaugural and clean-looking voyage. Now sincehe movie is about Han an incredibly important question is how good is his younger replacement and what is his arc like. He's far from a Harrison Ford, but Alden E tries his best. He only vaguely looks like him (we can hope 10 more years in the Stars changed his face somehow) and his voice drifts between being nothing at all like Ford to an admirable impression attempt. However, there are times where he captures just a fraction of the right kind of charisma. It may make sense that he's a bit of a incompetent person and broken as he's this youth thrust into the world like some of his other peers in the franchise. This allows for moments both touching... and foolish. Stripping away the fact that he's Han Solo (one will see the, perhaps silly,  importance of his last name) he'd be an alright lead in anything else. But when comparing to a character so iconic, he certainly falls just a bit short. 
It's good that (some) of the cast around him make up for this. Particularly, in his classic friendships with Chewbacca and Lando who are each great for different reasons. Joonas S' time as Chewie has been firmly put in place, as the younger agile actor moves all over the place as the walking furbag to great action and smiles. His introduction , his bickering and bonds with Han are swiftly and gladly put in place just like the old times and its neat to see them first get to know each other. This is honestly some of the best awesome and humorous Chewie moments of all the films. Likewise, Glover's Lando has some uneasy connections to Han once he shows up(deep timewise into the film at that). Glover gives a fantastic impression as Billy Dee Williams, looking and even moreso dressing the stylish part dripping with swagger. He's not perfect as he lacks some punch in moments, but he his slightly cheese of hamming it up leads to some great humor and memorable moments.
The entirely new allies  and foes are.. a mixed bag. Harrelson's Beckett is arguably one of the most important characters of the film to Han. He's... decent at Woody just being typical Woody but that's rarely a bad thing. He's got some wise words, quips  and is fearsome in battle but ultimately his importance both to Han and the film is just to a middling extent. Clarke's Emilia is in similar turf luckily offering some more of her charming side than what the rest of Hollywood has attempted to user her for. It's most likely due to a kind of rocky script for this whether humorous or romantic...not the Star Wars best.  Newton's Val and Favreau's monkey alien Rio have some laughs and heroic moments but aren't around enough for much impact.  It doesn't help that there's all kinds of (admittedly cool looking ) aliens and criminals that do the same. Lastly in the most center,  Waller-Bridge's L3 brings some of the most humorous lines as well , a sort of radical droid-pride unhinged character (and the most prominent female droid to date).  She has some of the most memorable jokes yet also some of the most awkward ones and may not land with every viewer.  I also must be noted that this “sassy AI “ stereotype has been done before both in R1's K2 and the game's HK not to mention Bender from Futurama. While it can be enjoyable (and she has some slight dramatic stuff to share with her owner Lando) it's familiar turf.
The villianous roles tie to the arguably scatter brained, shenanginsy nature of the plot. Its hard to call anyone a strong central antagonist (if this is to be compared to R1 as well, perhaps a pattern of a weaker point when compared to the legends old like Vader and newer like Kylo Ren). Bettany's Dryden  is.... there. He has some threats, some suave quips and has a uniquely fancy side to him that wouldn't feel out of place in a James Bond film (although, once again seen even as recently as Episode 8's Canto Bight.. the patterns start to become more clear as the frequency goes on). He actually doesn't appear that often or in too central of scenes, perhaps a victim of reshoots.  But it's more of a film about the beats along the way then the story itself. Trailers have also hinted at surprises including the heavily armored warrior Enfys Nest and their gang. This character and some others mainly act as additives to the action but have some alright greater meanings.  It's also neat to see the Empire in just a tertiary role with the stakes being more personal than galaxy saving.
On direction and reshoots, that must be noted. After controversy Ron Howard ended up being the one to do most of the directorial work on this film and cross the finish line after the Christopher Lord and Phil Miller duo departed. Luckily, this does not feel like a film of clashing visual ideologies. It feels like, aside from being very typical Star Wars (as it's hard not to be), general Howard..... basic but effective.  There are some crisp practical effects and close shot along with some nice vistas and CGI effects amidst the various alien worlds (if high in quantity, a bit low in imagination with some very big exceptions). 
This is a movie that becomes more about the action than the characters or started. A film in broad strokes more than much other Star Wars. There's great battles and thrilling sequences, from train heists in snowy mountains to war torn Empire frontlines. Even some “sabacc” card games offer unique excitement.  The film manages to be both smaller than ever and also some of the biggest spectacle to date.  And of course the “Kessel Run” is every bit as exciting of a space sequence as any.  The music by John Powell is , like his peers in other Star Wars works who aren't the legend, just an attempt at repeating the style John Williams has done but nothing non-commendable. There's some extra good sound editing and vocal filters than ever.
To a layman, this is bit of a more simple and standalone Star Wars film. To a fan however, its neat to see how many references and lore appear here. It's not just in ways that are logical (and smartly not in non-logical ways as has happened in some of the other Disney works) but in subtle things. The planets and occasions have been mentioned, but keep an ear out for names and such that will excite how things are so connected.  There's sequel hints that may mean this is not the end of the “Solo” era, with some more exciting than others.
As a whole, Solo is mostly well worth it. There's always the question of why it needed to exist since Harrison Ford gave the character such a cinematic career. However, the swagger related to what Han is and the formative unseen parts of his life give a seed that more things can be worked off of. Here this is to some great and also more mundane things, but it is interesting and fun. Don't expect a new favorite or something crazy cooly fresh but the Star Wars itch is scratched. Now , the long wait ahead to the next isn't minded..and may the edges be pushed to more than less success as well. 7.95 out of 10

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Deadpool 2 Review

Deadpool 2
Director: David Leitch
 Cast Headliners: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Zazzie Beatz, Julian Dennison, Stefan Kapcic, several others
Original Release Date: May 18th, 2018


    The Deadpool film that released just a couple years back was such an event of its own way and so eventfully wonderful that news of a sequel of course brings excitement but also a solidly high bar to live up to.  It showed that R-rated  blockbuster / superhero films can be just as successful and mainstream as their less ...colorfully worded compatriots and gave nothing but nigh-perfect respect for the source while delivering a film that was well made in so many ways. The sequel decides to take that and make things just as crude and rude while dialing the action, spectacle, meta-nature and laughs even more higher than ever before. It's certainly noticed for a rush of a time in all ways.
Note that it helps to have seen most X-Men, MCU, DC movies around before viewing this aside the first of course. Not in that the plots connect but moreso in that the humor is that much more enjoyable for it. Within minutes Deadpool / Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) mocks the details of 2017's Logan as he attempts to do something drastic so as expected the manic mood is set once again.   Essentially after various (action and blood packed of course) shenanigans with mercenaries and his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) he finds himself brought into the  (obviously just as small in number as the last Deadpool outing had) “X-Men” once again for an even more series of shenanigans.
If there's one drawback in this film compared to the first, others,  and objectively on its own is that the plot kind of has tenuous things keeping it all together. That may fit, as the first did, the erratic nature of the insane merc and wacky friends but some elements come through as half-thought.  Essentially, Deadpool and supporting friends find themselves dealing with a mutant “Firefist” boy Russel (Julian Dennison) with dangerous potential and a fierce cyborg warrior from the future Cable (Josh Brolin) with a quest of his own.
Of course the highlight of the film is its humor. The laughs are plentiful and certainly R-rated with swears and obscene content almost constantly. The script and writing is so sharp and wacky and nearly every moment has a memorable silly line or occurrence. As mentioned it helps to know X-Men and etc related otherwise other pop culture but the delivery makes it all work.  The cast helps this from faces old and new.
Of course front and center is Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool. He continues to give a perfect performance with enthusiastic , spastic voicing and one-liners. There's also a dosage of emotion and drama as well although there's often even laughs through those. The movement, the costume, the action and etc continues to be perfect to what one would want although a big portion has been seen before.  This multiplication nature is present in his friends too. Minor roles like his former roommate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) and bar owning friend Weasel (TJ Miller) bring some typical kind of laughs with a bit less of a role this time. The same applies to X-Men Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) who now has a joke of a partner in Yukio (Shiolo Kitsuna). Wade's own girlfriend in Baccarin's Vanessa has some good rapport again although joins the lessened crowd . It's greatly pleasing to see the roles of X-Men member Colossus (Stefan Kapcic) and taxi-driver Dopinder (Karan Soni) increase to brilliant comedic effect this time.
  Now the promotional materials sells Deadpool 2's “X-Force... totally derivative” team that he ends up forming as a bit more of a focus this time but ultimately they're not given much focus beyond aiding in the action and having some lines with one exception. It works fine for the context to no loss really but it's good to have these further supporting roles via mutant recruits electric-using Bedlam (Terry Crews), acid-spitting Zeitgeist (Bill Skarsgard), acrobatic alien Shatterstar (Lewis Tan), and … one has to see what the “Vanisher” and Peter (Rob Delaney) can do.  A highlight, and fittingly most important to the comics , member is Domino (Zazzie Beatz) who's suave nature , sarcasm, and luck-based aura give many great moments once she appears in the late game. There may be some more surprise people that must be seen firsthand from cool to hilarious.
On the side of well anyone who's not Deadpool's direct friend there is much less in both quantity and effectiveness.  Aside various thugs and the anti-mutant Headmaster(Eddie Marsan) who are fittingly generic there's the importance of both Russel and Cable. Dennison's Russel gives some great laughs and even for a youth has some of the most cusses and grit of anyone around although at times its a bit of extreme / hamming it up overload.  It's good to see some of his stuff with Deadpool but due to circumstances he ends up being mainly a MacGuffin on the move.  Now, Josh Brolin  as Cable is arguably one of the most important things to Deadpool as a character from the X-Men universe due to their many, many comic issues together as foe like here and otherwise. Brolin gives a committed performance as always with a powerful demeanor not too dissimilar to  Thanos from Infinity War (ironically two Marvel films released by different studios weeks apart... perhaps expect a joke on this somewhere ). He's got a slick cyborg arm and technology and drives most of the film's action. His serious nature is a great canvas to pair off on with others for humor and its great once and whenever he is featured more and more. It's just only minor unfortunate that due to everything else going on his backstory, motivations, and chance to shine by himself are glanced over a moderate bit. But he does what he can to bring justice to what the character is and should be. All of these elements and additional characters begin to drive Deadpool 2 into slightly new turf for ambience more like his other superhero film peers but its an increase that mostly works and makes sense.
Previous director Tim Miller stepped away for this one, with his replacement being David Leitch. Leitch does a solid and nigh-spot on replacement job for this. Everything is brisk and snappy with action sequences feeling as they should with many sweet moments whether viscerally realistic or fantastical mixed between the typical kind of stuff. At only moments there's some rough CGI but as with the first film that kind of adds to its charm and occurs with most effects-heavy genre films these days.  For music, the most notable thing is that there is much more licensed retro, pop, rap, rock etc classic songs used here (almost like the rate of MCU's Guardians of the Galaxy but with an understandably more comedy bent). It does nothing but aid to the laughs although this cinematic technique is far from fresh anymore. There could have also been some more stretching the bar of how surreal imagery happens but that is a minuscule presence or lack thereof.  Although that "insert franchise sequence) was a great parodic fusion of those elements.
As a whole, fans are going to love this once again. It delivers more of the same and expanded Deadpool hard R action and laughs with the amount of everything doubled up on for mostly better and seldom worse. As the trailers say “they probably won't even do a third one” and if that's the element of what one is looking for it certainly does its best to aim for and meet it. Walk away with a smile, after the credits of course, having enjoyed the fun both dumb and brilliant ..intentional and just the way it turns out again .  8.75 out of 10