Phil at the Movies 2023
The latest 2022-2023 theatrical feature film releases, seen in the theaters and on streaming services, plus a couple of rereleases.
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- DirectorShinji HiguchiIkki TodorokiStarsTakumi SaitôMasami NagasawaHidetoshi NishijimaAs the threat of giant unidentified lifeforms known as "S-Class Species" worsens in Japan, a silver giant appears from beyond Earth's atmosphere.I first wanted to mention, that this review is based off of the English dubbed version. I hope to see the Japanese version with English subtitles someday, because in most cases, it's better to watch these films in their original Japanese language with English subtitles. I feel the film suffers when dubbed, due to bad acting inflections, low-budget voice recordings or the producers change parts of the story, in order for it to be translated easier. However, I do want to mention, that the English voice production and voice acting talent, did a really good job in this film and the dubbing was just fine. It is one of the better voice dubbing jobs I've seen, of a Japanese film, over the last 45 years, but ultimately, I still want the original Japanese version with English subtitles.
Anyway, off of their success with Shin Godzilla (2016), director/writers Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno return for this film, Shin Ultraman (2022). I personally have not seen any of their other work, other than these two films, but from what I have seen, they do pretty good work. In an attempt to capture the MCU's magic, seen in America, by making their own shared-universe, across some of Japan's biggest intellectual properties, the Shin Universe has met the same obstacles, that were seen in America. The typical legal woes about copyrights, trademarks and who gets the profits, has made the idea of a shared-universe, pretty much in name only for now. Just keep in mind, that this may lead someday to Ultraman, finally meeting the real Godzilla, but for now, the "Shin" title, is all they really share. There also is a Shin Kamen Rider (2023), coming to Japanese theaters next.
There is a slowing down of the pacing in the middle of this film. It was the same problem I had with Shin Godzilla (2016). In that film, there were too many moments of needless dialogue, set-up and description, bogging down the energy of the film. In the case of Shin Ultraman (2022), it was handled better, in the fact that, they did have a lot of territory to cover, but it only slowed things down a little bit. This film covers, pretty much, the entire first series of Ultraman (1966-1967). It condensed 51 episodes into a two hour movie. This also includes the prologue, about the 28 episodes of Ultra-Q (1966), that is seen in the first two minutes of the film. So, there was a lot of Ultra-mythology. that had to be covered in the plot of this film and our two director/writers handle it very well. The human characters' names are all different from the original series, however the Ultra people seen in the film, the names of the kaiju and the evil alien bad guys, all have their original names. I was so proud of myself, noticing the familiar names of the bad guys and the fact that the writers changed all the names of the humans. I did miss Hayata, Ito, Arashi and Fuji, but the new group was pretty good, most notably, Masami Nagasawa as Hiroko Asami. She was the breakout character, in this film, from my perspective.
Being a huge fan of Ultraman, made it such a memorable film for me. It really did capture the magic, that the original had, with that 21st century perfection. They hit upon all the major points, made famous in the original series and string it all together with new ideas about, Ultraman's first appearance, his relationship with the SSSP (the Earth's defense force in this incarnation) and what the world would be like, if this happened in the real world. It was the same approach they went with in Shin Godzilla (2016), which I thought deviated away, too much, from the Toho Studios' Godzilla of old, that I was used to seeing. In this film they still gave you the same Ultraman we are used to seeing. It was the original, that we loved in the 1960s and 1970s. He didn't have extra powers and was the same genuine article, made famous, over the last 60 years. What he did get was a 2023 shot of adrenaline, in the form of brilliant special effects and a killer soundtrack. This film is polished compared to some of the older attempts. It is well put-together and totally keeps the spirit of the classic series. Shin Ultraman (2022), was a very good film to see in 2023.
7.9 (B- MyGrade) = 8 IMDB - DirectorOl ParkerStarsGeorge ClooneySean LynchJulia RobertsA divorced couple teams up and travels to Bali to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago.
- DirectorScott CooperStarsChristian BaleHarry MellingSimon McBurneyA world-weary detective is hired to investigate the murder of a West Point cadet. Stymied by the cadets' code of silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case - a young man the world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe.
- DirectorJ.D. DillardStarsJonathan MajorsGlen PowellChristina JacksonA pair of U.S. Navy fighter pilots risk their lives during the Korean War and become some of the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.
- DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellBrendan GleesonKerry CondonTwo lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.The symbolism in the Banshees of Inisherin (2022), is everywhere. The whole film feels like a commentary on loneliness. First off, the film takes place, exactly 100 years ago, on a tiny island, off of the coast of Ireland. The sparsely, small population, moving about, around this island, either walking, riding a bike or traveling in a horse cart, also have access to the mainland, via boats, at their tiny island port. But, the isolation is felt, all throughout the film. This isolation is the island itself, which enhances the loneliness, but maybe the isolation is a good thing, as the explosions of civil war are heard, just over the hills on the mainland. From here, the loneliness moves further into the story, as we meet our two main characters, Colm (Brendan Gleeson) and Pádraic (Colin Farrell). Colm is a musician, who lives alone with his dog. Pádraic is a boring milk farmer, who lives with his bored, lonely sister, Siobhán (Kerry Condon). She definitely needs a change of scenery. The loneliness carries over into the supporting cast, as evidenced by Pádraic's friend, Dominic (Barry Keoghan). Dominic tries to help Pádraic's situation with Colm, while struggling with his own, dead-beat father, the island policeman, Peadar (Gary Lydon). Their tragic, complicated existence takes place, in another lonely house.
Whenever the plot takes you into any of their homes, the mood feels lonely and isolated, in every scene. One day, Colm decides he doesn't like Pádraic anymore and ends their long friendship. Of course, this makes no sense to Pádraic and our story turns into a complex character study, as we try to unravel why their friendship is over. In-between funny situations and banter between the characters, the plot gets even more, shockingly interesting, as Colm has to increase his threats, because Pádraic won't stay away from him. The cast in this film does a brilliant job with their performances. It's no wonder this film was nominated for nine Oscars. Four of those were for cast members. Farrell and Gleeson, both deserve the Oscar nod, with their totally believable portrayals, of the two sides of this story. The calm clash between these two forces, is ever so incredibly polite, yet you literally feel things, unraveling even more.
This film is a comedy-drama, but it does get serious in places and sometimes does teeter on the edge of fantasy too, especially when we see the image of the island elder, Mrs. McCormick (Sheila Flitton), who resembles any of the classic gypsy-women or witches from Hollywood's past. It's also the ultimatum, Colm gives to Pádraic, that is carried out to its shocking, unbelievable conclusion, which enhances the fantastic angle of the film. This film is well-shot and the island's pale, chilly, isolated loneliness, is still depicted as respectful beauty, because of the excellent cinematography. The mood is represented just right. I totally agree, that the Banshees of Inisherin (2022), deserves its Oscar nods, but what keeps me from giving this film a 9/10, is the lack of a soundtrack, which hampers the pacing of the film, making it slow-down a little, but I did enjoy this film a lot.
8.7 (B+ My Grade) = 8 IMDB - DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael DouglasScott Lang and Hope Van Dyne are dragged into the Quantum Realm, along with Hope's parents and Scott's daughter Cassie. Together they must find a way to escape, but what secrets is Hope's mother hiding? And who is the mysterious Kang?So, I'm not going to say this is a great Marvel film. However, I also won't say it is a bad movie either. There are a lot of good things in this film, but it also has things going on within it, that could have been done better. It definitely is one of those filler-movies, Marvel has to release, every now-and-then, in order to tie things together, for the bigger MCU franchise's main plot-arc. The MCU has a problem due to this, but that problem is born from many good positives, found in the MCU's past. This problem doesn't apply to the fans, but does effect the more general audience. Marvel still needs to get to that point, when they can dazzle the audience again, with a huge block-buster, cross-over event, like Avengers: End Game (2019). In the meantime, they want to take their time and create a build-up to that next huge event. The fans are okay with that, but the general audience might not be.
In the case of Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), it makes sense, that the third film in the trilogy, should center around the quantum realm. It is part of the Ant-Man mythos found in the comic books, plus it plays a huge role in the main MCU story. We leave the setting of San Francisco, where the first two films took place and go to a completely different setting for this film. It's a quick arrival to the quantum realm too. Director, Peyton Reed gets right into it, as the plot takes us into the quantum realm, within the first 15 minutes of the film. This is where some of the problems develop in the beginning of the film. Director Reed has so much territory he needs to cover in this film, that those plot-points, took away time needed, to revisit the main characters. The Wasp was totally overlooked in this film. Other supporting characters suffer too. The beginning of the film is so quick, it looks sloppily forced at us, in order to get into the quantum realm.
The positive side to this approach is, it creates a whole new different Ant-Man film. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), contains a side to his character, that we don't get to see a lot. Rudd was tapped to bring in a comedic-side to the role, much like Michael Keaton was for Batman (1989). Both of these actors were able to sell their characters, as serious, emotional, superhero fodder, but also added that comedy splash into the design of the characters. These are great performances by both actors. It was very evident with Rudd in the first two Ant-Man films. This time however, Peyton Reed decides to tap more into the tough, brave, hero-side of Ant-Man, seen in Avengers: End Game (2019), by showing us a more mature, emotional, serious, successful, liberated Scott Lang. All of his head-aches from the past were gone, however the five year gap he lost with his daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton), weighs in on his mind.
With the comedy-side of Scott Lang subdued, some of the comedy is dished-out to Michael Douglas' Hank Pym in this film. Both of the parents of Hope Van Dyne, the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), play a big role in this film. It was their depictions of Hank and Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), that are stand-outs. Janet is tough and Hank is still cool. They are the original Ant-Man and the Wasp in this film. There are some new characters, that I thought were pretty good, like Veb (voice of David Dastmalchian), a slime creature, obsessed with holes, Quaz (William Jackson Harper), who can read minds and this cool, robot-creature, who's whole head is an energy-blaster. Can't find his name. He had no speaking parts. However, some of the new characters seemed slightly dull. What does pay-off well is the performance of Jonathan Majors as Kang, the Conqueror. His part in the film, is explained well, so the general audience should be satisfied and the fans should see some of the answers they have been looking for, since the end of season one of Loki (2021). This is a film, that is just going-through-the-motions, for the bigger picture and can be dull to some at certain moments. However, it does effectively end Payton Reed's trilogy. I'm sure, eventually, as time goes by, this film will slip down to the lower levels of MCU rankings, but for now, it sets up many interesting scenarios and new questions of things to come.
6.6 (C- MyGrade) = 7 IMDB - DirectorKenya BarrisStarsJonah HillLauren LondonEddie MurphyFollows a new couple and their families, who find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences.
- DirectorShawn LevyStarsRyan ReynoldsWalker ScobellMark RuffaloAfter accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to save the future.
- DirectorRobert EggersStarsAlexander SkarsgårdNicole KidmanClaes BangA young Viking prince is on a quest to avenge his father's murder.
- DirectorDavid F. SandbergStarsZachary LeviAsher AngelJack Dylan GrazerThe film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!", is transformed into his adult superhero alter ego, Shazam.What a difference four years can make. I'm not saying that, because it's a bad thing. I am just mentioning that, because it is important to remember how we got to this point, in order to enjoy this film a little bit more. If you recall, the DCEU had to conduct major damage control for their franchise, in the wake of the release of Joss Whedon's, disastrous film, Justice League (2017). In that wake, DC managed to roll-off a handful of successfully, appreciated features, that helped ease the pain for fans, still reeling from the Justice League film fiasco. DC had to repair its reputation with fans, after releasing a film, that was so badly executed, that it almost felt like a spit in the face. This healing started off with the successful release of Aquaman (2018) and got an even a bigger boost, with the release of this film's predecessor. Shazam! (2019), was well-liked by critics, fans and the general audience. It made a lot of cash at the box-office and was totally touted as a healing experience for most DC fans.
Shazam! (2019), helped the DCEU get out of some of the trouble it had gotten into with the unsatisfying Justice League (2017). It also helped that Warner Brothers eventually allowed Zack Snyder to complete his Justice League Snyder-Cut (2021), which has efficiently removed the specter of the Joss Whedon film from most people's minds. But then, a global epidemic in the real-world caused some problems and delays, that weren't helping the situation. Also, the rift developed between the DCEU's original visionary, Zack Snyder and Warner Brothers executives, ended with huge changes in 2022, making the future of the DCEU unclear today in 2023. There is a lot more to the DCEU's story, involving the real-world affecting this film franchise, causing those changes in direction, but it would take too long to talk about. You should read-up on the backstory of the DCEU. The change in direction for the DCEU also has, pretty much, rendered the Shazam! sequel into a stand-alone movie. Remember that when you watch Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023).
So, what does this mean for Shazam? After having a surprisingly, successful response towards the first Shazam! (2019), coupled with the weird press DC Studios has had permeating in the franchise's background the last few years, Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), means, that this sequel has a lot to cover, involving all the characters' stories, plus big shoes to fill, in order to top the success of the first film. How did Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) do? It is not as good as the first film, but it isn't any slouch either. In order to generate some energy, character development is sacrificed, in an attempt to get the audience excited, with a big fight among gods. Our new big-bad villains in this film are Helen Mirren as Hespera and Lucy Liu as Kalypso. They are 2/3 of the sisters of the titan-god Atlas, who are trying to get their powers reactivated, after they were taken away by the original Shazam Wizard (Djimon Hounsou). Once that is done they plan for, I bet you know, world domination. However, they have to get through Shazam (Zachary Levi) and Philly, before moving onto the rest of the world.
Joining Levi is the same group of young, talented actors/actresses, that showed up at the end of the first film, as Billy Batson's (Asher Angel), adopted family, who also possess the powers of Shazam. The other part of the equation comes from the other 1/3 of the Sisters of Atlas, with Rachel Zegler as Anthea, the obvious good-witch of this trio of sorceresses. It also works out great, that she looks the same age as Billy and his adopted siblings. However, there is no romantic story for Billy in this film (unless you talk about the surprise crush seen throughout the film, that I won't talk about here). In this film the romantic story comes between Anthea and Billy's adopted brother, Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer). Billy's main issue conflicting his mind, is the fear that his adopted family will let him go, once he gets to 18 years old in five months. He's worried about that next step in his life. Adding to his problems is the bad press, that he and his Shazam family garnered recently, after the accidental destruction of the Betsy Ross Bridge in Philadelphia. So, that is your basic plot, involving maturing orphans, angry god-sisters, romance for Freddy and a city of brotherly love, not really ready for its own superhero family.
Personally, for me, what I like about the Shazam movies, is the fact, that they take place in my home megalopolis of Philadelphia or south-eastern Pennsylvania, whichever is more accurate. Albeit, some of the film was shot in Atlanta and Philadelphia is created mostly with CGI, I think the idea of superheroes in a city, other than New York or fictional cities like Gotham or Metropolis, creates a new level of plot points to look for in a film. None is more evident than seeing what Billy and his family have to deal with, after the loss of the Betsy Ross Bridge and the media backlash that follows. It so represents the world we live in now. This film still captures the fun and humorous moments seen in the first film. In its attempt to generate some energy for a healing franchise, Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), tries to set-up a another group of heroes going up against another group of bad-guys, while sacrificing the idea of fleshing out the story of its main character. In fact, Billy is not in the film much. The Zachary Levi form is seen a lot more in this film, than the last film. It was a clear indication that returning director, David F. Sandberg, wasn't going to worry about the Billy Batson side of Shazam! He needed time to set this story up, explain more about the supporting characters and give, some kind of, a glimpse into the future of this franchise. Obviously, there was no way this film was going to reach Shazam! (2019), level status, especially with everything going on in the real world. It actually delivers a fun time at the movie theater and was over quickly, considering its 130 minute length. I have no idea what Shazam's future will hold, but I do know its present was still worth the price of admission.
7.1 (C MyGrade) = 7 IMDB - DirectorDavid LeitchStarsBrad PittJoey KingAaron Taylor-JohnsonFive assassins aboard a swiftly-moving bullet train find out that their missions have something in common.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsDave BautistaJonathan GroffBen AldridgeWhile vacationing, a girl and her parents are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse.
- DirectorElizabeth BanksStarsKeri RussellAlden EhrenreichO'Shea Jackson Jr.An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converge on a Georgia forest where a huge black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.
- DirectorSean McNamaraStarsDennis QuaidHeather GrahamJesse MetcalfeAfter their pilot dies unexpectedly mid-flight, Doug White (Dennis Quaid) has to safely land the plane and save his entire family from insurmountable danger.
- DirectorAaron HorvathMichael JelenicPierre LeducStarsChris PrattAnya Taylor-JoyCharlie DayA plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother Luigi, trying to save a captured princess.The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), is a cool movie. It is slightly sloppy with its plot, but overall it is quite entertaining. The voice-cast is quite impressive, which consists of Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach. To add even more flavor to the story, we finally get Donkey Kong in this film, as a major player, who is voiced by Seth Rogan. Jack Black shows up as bad-guy Bowser. He even gets to do a Jack Black-esque, rockin'-roll, music number in the film. It is good fun. Following the general idea of the Super Mario Bros., the Mario brothers are sucked away from their home in Brooklyn into the crazy world of the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser's Dark Lands. As Mario and Luigi work to get back to each other, they meet Princess Peach and many other characters, in an attempt to stop Bowser and the possible destruction of the kingdom.
Even though the film was made mostly for kids, a filmmaker still needs to remember, that they also have to entertain and not insult the grown-ups, who have to accompany the kids to the theater. Plus, the adults grew up with the Super Mario Bros. So, an adult will spot some of the mistakes seen in the film. Also, the constant CGI makes the film look more like those interactive inter-movies seen in video games, that play between different levels of the game. The film doesn't really feel like a theatrical motion picture, but more like a 90 minute video game shown on a big screen, which made part of the experience, slightly cheap. My suggestion with the next adaptation is to try a happy-medium between CGI and live-action. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), is still a good time and this film is a strong apology for the 1993 version. It will entertain the kids and satisfy the adults, who have been looking for something better since 1993.
7.4 (C+ MyGrade) = 7 IMDB - DirectorMatt Bettinelli-OlpinTyler GillettStarsCourteney CoxMelissa BarreraJenna OrtegaIn the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.
- DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattChukwudi IwujiBradley CooperStill reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.The team returns for one final installment, so they can wrap-up the story arc of this incarnation of James Gunn's modern classic. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), will also answer some of the questions, about what the future holds for these cherished characters. It's safe to say, that it's not the end, but more of a transition, because the actors might change, but the characters are part of Marvel's canon of characters. They may come back someday, but this is the end of line for this group of filmmakers, performers and this particular storyline. The main ingredient being the real-world reality, that actors age and eventually need to be replaced. If there was no such thing as aging, this group could continue forever. That is a commentary on how loved they are to the audience and fans alike. James Gunn serves up a plate of emotions in this film, that helps the audience feel included in the celebrations.
A very influential entity in Marvel's canon of characters is the High Evolutionary. He is responsible for the creation of many characters from Marvel's history, most notably, the creation of Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper). This is the point where the film takes root or maybe Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), as a launching pad for the rest of the film. It's the desire of the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), to take his evolutionary science to the next level, no matter how atrocious it may be. He needs to capture Rocket, in order to solve the mystery of the racoon's amazing brilliance. It is this part of the film, that shows how good Marvel and Gunn are. Marvel has always been known for having an important message embedded into the plot of their films and comic books. In this case, it is a commentary on animal rights, being humane and that age-old science fiction example of not playing a god. The High Evolutionary thinks he is a god and therefore answers to no one. This is why the Guardians have to stop him and save Rocket.
The set-up begins with Rocket, who becomes injured, after Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), the now, uncocooned super-creation of his creator/mother Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), tries to capture Rocket, from orders from the High Evolutionary. The injury to Rocket sets off a kill-switch inside his robotic implants, thus sending Star-Lord and the gang out to find the file download, that will turn off the switch. We are than introduced to a wide array of unique, sometimes frightening, genetically altered creatures, that the High Evolutionary has created. We also get to see what happens with all of our heroes and what their futures will be. The film has the emotions, the action, the plot, the Marvel magic and the performances of the cast, who express this intellectual property, the way it should be. The problem lies in the pacing, which slows the film down a little. It is still a very good film, but definitely ranks third out of the three films. This may be a good thing though, because the way they marketed this film as a finality, didn't really feel like an end at all, but more of a new beginning. That lack of ending made things feel more like hope. It was all in the emotions.
7.8 (B- MyGrade) = 8 IMDB - DirectorJean-François RichetStarsGerard ButlerMike ColterTony GoldwynA pilot finds himself caught in a war zone after he's forced to land his commercial aircraft during a terrible storm.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsTom HanksMariana TreviñoRachel KellerOtto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.
- DirectorBen AffleckStarsMatt DamonJason BatemanBen AffleckFollows the history of sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan.
- DirectorVasilis KatsoupisStarsWillem DafoeGene BervoetsEliza StuyckNemo, a high-end art thief, is trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn't go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and ingenuity to survive.
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsChristian BaleMargot RobbieJohn David WashingtonIn the 1930s, three friends witness a murder, are framed for it, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.
- DirectorJohn Francis DaleyJonathan GoldsteinStarsChris PineMichelle RodriguezRegé-Jean PageA charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.
- DirectorHideaki AnnoStarsSôsuke IkematsuMinami HamabeTasuku EmotoHongo Takeshi awakens to discover he has been transformed into a grasshopper-hybrid cyborg. Becoming the Masked Rider, he must fight the mysterious evil organization SHOCKER to protect all of mankind.7.2 (C MyGrade) = 7 IMDB
- DirectorChris McKayStarsNicholas HoultNicolas CageAwkwafinaRenfield, Dracula's tortured henchman, is forced to capture prey for his master and do his every bidding. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there is a life outside his boss's shadow.