Nobody Review

 When thinking of action heroes, the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger always come to mind. A name that does not strike this moniker is actor and comedian Bob Odenkirk. Among his versatile resume, Odenkirk’s most notable role is on the hit television series Breaking Bad as well as its the series spin-off Better Call Saul-where he plays the title character. Needless to say, Odenkirk’s demeanor is not something you would expect for an action star, but that is precisely the point in the new movie: Nobody. Directed by Ilya Naishuller, Nobody takes the concept of an average guy turning out to be a skilled killer. Truth be told, this was not a movie I was anticipating-in fact I hardly knew anything about it even when I headed to the theater. Regardless I decided to see the movie and much to my surprise Nobody had much to say as an action movie.

Read the full review here and for more Cinematic Content head over to Something Cinematic.

Justice League Review

Three years ago, a team of superheroes united on the big screen. The Justice League, DC Comics iconic team, made their debut in the 2017 blockbuster that continued the events of Man of Steel and Batman v.Superman: Dawn of Justice. It should have been a triumphant moment for the filmmakers and fans alike, but the final product ended up being nothing more than a beautiful lie. After director Zack Snyder left the project due to a personal tragedy, the studio tried to make its release date by hiring Joss Whedon (director of Marvel’s Avengers) to finish the project. What transpired was an altered version of the movie that was met with both criticism and controversy. Now, thanks to the efforts of Release the Snyder Cut movement, Justice League has been restored as Zack Snyder returned to the director’s chair to finish what he started. Though this director’s cut did not debut in theaters, it did however find its way to viewers thanks to WB’s streaming service HBO Max. Trying to watch the film was an adventure in of itself for me, but after several delays I was able to see this massive blockbuster. While I am not a major detractor of the theatrical cut (though it has not aged well for me) I will definitively state that not only is Zack Snyder’s Justice League the superior version, it is one of the best superhero movies ever made.

Read the full review here and check out more cinematic content on Something Cinematic. 

Raya and the Last Dragon Review

In the realm of Disney, the studio have created a variety of magical worlds. From enchanted kingdoms to whole new worlds, the house of mouse have enticed moviegoers with a number of magical realms and it is a concept that the studio utilizes even to this day. This is certainly the case with the studio’s latest film: Raya and the Last Dragon. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada, Raya and the Last Dragon started off as the project Dragon Empire (which was being handled by a different team) until it eventually changed into the feature presentation in question. The film was originally slated to hit theaters last November, but (as the story goes) the movie was pushed back due to the pandemic. Now after cementing its new release date, as well as premiering on Disney+, the movie has made it to theaters; and like many films before it, Raya and the Last Dragon turned out to be a standout movie for Walt Disney Pictures.

To see the full review, click here and head over to Something Cinematic for more cinematic content. 

Update: A New Beginning

Greetings. It's been sometime since I've posted anything on this blog and there has been a reason for it which I explain in this long overdue update. You see Something Cinematic has a new site which I've been working on for a few months now. While it's not 100% complete the site is live and you can see it here (https://somethingcinematic.com/).  There I will post all new content which will include written reviews and upcoming videos. 

So what does that mean for this blog? Well ultimately it means that this site will be discontinued, but I will not take it down. All of my previous reviews will remain on this site and I may use this blog as a backup in case of emergencies. For those who have visited this site I want to thank you for your support over the years and I hope you join me on this new adventure. 

Cinematic Adventures: The Adventures Continue

The Adventure Continues: At long last Cinematic Adventures returns! Or does it?! Yes it does...but don't tell Timdiana!

Christopher Robin Review: Pooh's Return is a Delightful Experience

When Disney is not producing animated or superhero films the studio is busy retelling their classic tales in a live action format. From Cinderella to Beauty and the Beast the studio continues to take their animated classics and breathe new life into them with these new retellings. The latest title to take in this live action leap is not an adaption of a classic movie but rather a film that centers on a particular character; and in this case it is the bear from the Hundred Acre Woods Winnie the Pooh. The stories of A.A Milne and E.H Shepard have played a pivotal part in Disney as the tales of Winnie the Pooh have been told in a variety of films as well as other mediums such as television. Now the iconic bear and his friends return to the silver screen in the film Christopher Robin. Directed by Marc Forester Christopher Robin takes a different approach on the Winnie the Pooh series as, rather than reflecting the books, the movie takes a page from the likes Hook and 2010's Alice in Wonderland and centers on a grown up Christopher Robin. While this idea is nothing new this direction could bring new life into the classic series.After watching the movie I can say that Christopher Robin is as much a homage to the series as it is a delightful adventure.

As noted the movie is about Winnie the Pooh (Jim Cummings) reuniting with a grown up Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) who venture to the 100 Acre Woods to find Pooh’s missing friends all the while dealing with Christopher’s personal conflict. At its core the story of Christopher Robin is about rediscovery. Despite being a familiar concept, even when it comes to Disney films, the movie uses this idea to the best of its ability. Rather than being cliche with it morals the story takes a subtle approach to its themes and grounds them in a realistic fashion. Along with this niche direction was the story’s adventure which was enjoyable, but rather standard in hindsight. The plot’s structure and pacing was understandable but it prevented the adventurous aspect to flourish and left points, such as Christopher and Pooh’s journey through the Hundred Acre Woods as well as the return to London, to feel limited in their execution. The story of Christopher Robin was a tame one and while it did have much going for its simplistic nature held the movie back a little bit-but only a little.

Ant-Man and the Wasp Review: Sizes Up as A Entertaining Sequel

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe many heroes have risen to stardom. The likes of the Avengers and Spider-Man being major players is no surprise, but this movie continuum has also featured more obscure characters such as Doctor Strange and the Guardians of the Galaxy; and they have proven to play a vital role in this shared franchise. Among the MCU alumni is none other than the minuscule Avenger: Ant-Man. Ant-Man made his cinematic debut in the 2015 blockbuster and managed to make an impression as his solo film was filled with wit and style. Needless to say that it would not be long before moviegoers would see Ant-Man again as the character not only appeared in Captain America: Civil War but the small time hero received a sequel in the form of Ant-Man and the Wasp. Once again directed by Peyton Reed, the sequel features Ant-Man teaming up with his iconic partner the Wasp. The film has been receiving good buzz (a shocking revelation if I’ve ever heard one) as the likes of critics have praised the movie for its sense of fun. Yet the prospect of a Marvel movie being fun is not enough to sway this Film Adventurer. Truth be told I have not been ecstatic for Ant-Man and the Wasp as details surrounding the film have made me skeptical. Regardless I journeyed to the cinema to see this new superhero film, and after it was all said and done I have to say that Ant-Man and the Wasp was...enjoyable.

The story of Ant-Man and the Wasp deals with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) teaming up with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) who seek to enter the quantum realm in order to find the long lost Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeifer). The story of Ant-Man and the Wasp is perhaps the weakest part of this movie. The story’s concept was not bad but when it came down to it there was little to no substance within the plot itself. The main conflict lacked impact and the story had a tendency to rely on tropes and conveniences too much. Yet this was not to say everything about the story was disappointing. The plot’s adventurous aspects, for the most part, was enjoyable while certain dilemmas ,like Scott dealing with his house arrest, gave the plot a grounded nature. It was these factors that made the plot an enjoyable experience even if the lacking details prevented the superhero tale from reaching its full stature.