thomasubieda

A black comedy film that sets up an interesting satire, adding social criticism and very striking reflections. Despite being a B-movie, it is entertaining and fulfills its purpose.

"The Toxic Avenger" is a low-budget film but with absolute affection, where it may seem very cheesy and at the same time entertaining due to each of its comedic takes on the superhero world, also adding different approaches that elevate the experience and greatly support the film. It has aspects that can divide critics considerably, but there is much more that makes this movie interesting.

It is taken into consideration that being a B-series film, there are many questionable details; however, the movie deliberately explores different nuances with the intention of encompassing that satire with all possible power, thus achieving an impact that was more than evident in the following years. A very effective strategy was used that turned this release into a saga, cartoons, comics, among others.

However, from a neutral standpoint, "The Toxic Avenger" is so exaggerated that it doesn't take itself seriously; in fact, it seeks to forcefully mock many themes from the superhero world and emphasizes metaphors or social critiques that encourage a comprehensive analysis with great importance. It is there where everything seen on screen makes sense, despite having bizarre, intense, or very detailed moments, but which have that context of the absurd and realistic at the same time. I think all the work of directors Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz is good, considering the type of movie.

Now then, the continuity errors, the lighting, the sound, the plot holes, and some performances are so evident that they can take you out of the entire theme or style, yet, more than being the overall tone of the film, they leave much to be desired. However, it is not a production that defines cinema, but its importance is key for its time. It is one of those films that represent boldness, creativity, absurdity, and cleverness, breaking the paradigm at key points of humor, comedy, and satire within the genre.

Here, reflective messages such as justice, true love, bullying, work effort, mediocrity, mental health, loss of sanity, the limits of human beings due to ironic tastes, security measures, rejection, and family relationships are addressed. Additionally, metaphors are covered thru corruption, dual identity, morality, injustices, revenge, and crime. It also references pollution thru large industries, smuggling by the corrupt elite, and the increase in crime due to negligence in social security. The character of the toxic avenger is a symbol of justice and how trauma from harassment, mistreatment, and abuse in general is transformed into strength, skills, ethics, and training to do good. It is a clear example that despite appearances, your intentions with society or a specific environment can be the best, and you can also add that symbol of hope in people's problems for each of the aforementioned issues.

From my perspective, it's more than obvious that it's not perfect, but it's not garbage either; in fact, it's a great movie that includes dark humor, satire, social critiques, and other key points that have a very clear objective, which makes it an entertaining film that breaks the mold within this genre. It's 80 minutes where logic is conspicuously absent, but it's enjoyable because of those inconsistencies within the entire plot, story, or premises. It's so unrealistic that it's fun.

A movie that tries hard to surprise, but falls short due to certain executions. It had potential but it was wasted along the way.

"The Great Wall" is a film based on fantasy, fiction, and a bit of forced drama, but it has some redeeming qualities despite the various negative barriers present along the way. It is a movie that can have various opinions depending on the consumer's expectations, all because it is one of those controversial films that promote the phrase "turn off your brain."

The movie takes you on a journey where it changes the scenery in a matter of seconds, adding fiction to a plot that tries to be creative to impact the viewer. However, this is where it falls into the conventional, forced, and unbelievable, thus establishing a vicious circle of a popcorn flick with very questionable details. However, it can offer you entertaining moments and images that might catch your eye, as long as you are a fan of adventure or fantasy.

Among its positive points, I can mention many of director Zhang Yimou's approaches, where he plays with the camera and provides you with small sequences without cutting, those few seconds are entertaining and for a production like this, they work. In addition to that, how he tries to emphasize the environments, the locations, and those details that can add to the experience.

On the other hand, the use of special effects should be acknowledged, which perform well despite having slight setbacks in scenes that are saturated with many elements or mainly in direct contact with humans. I don't think they are excellent, but they are decent despite their simplicity. It is a key aspect for this movie due to its premise and the way it tells a story with a lot of fiction ahead. The aspect of the cinematography, the costumes, or the editing can also be added, which are present, do not surprise, but have a small relevance within many key scenes.

Now then, "The Great Wall" has cinematic aspects that diminish its initial potential, starting with its script, which adds unnecessary plot twists, not to mention the lack of depth or development in its characters, which may seem very mediocre, with unsustainable objectives or arguments so meager that you can't believe them. On the other hand, the musical score, the sound, the continuity errors, the plot holes, the conventional moments, the makeup, part of the CGI, and the waste of the cast are questionable, debatable, and very mediocre. It is those aspects that considerably detract from the overall quality of the film.

The situation with Matt Damon, Willem Dafoe, and Pedro Pascal is controversial, although it can be understandable due to the same script their characters have. However, the lack of connection, the expressions, the performance, and the absence of their high acting level are glaringly missing. The movie is a total waste in this regard, even tho these actors should elevate it on their own, but the result was already evident. I think Jing Tian is better than them, or if we're talking about supporting characters, Lu Han is the best of all. Simple. He is the character with the best development in the film, and that alone leaves a lot to talk about.

In another sense, the movie covers reflective themes such as unity, teamwork, trust, respect, redemption, legacy, leadership, sacrifice, self-interest, deceit, personal ideals, double morality, and survival. A metaphor is also established in reference to the wall, signifying the sense of belonging of the Chinese nation, where unity, discipline, legacy, justice, and the will of the people are present before enemies, reflecting that their traditions are a fundamental characteristic.

"The Great Wall" is not a bad movie overall. It's a popcorn flick to pass the time, and it wasn't made to revolutionize cinema either. Even tho it has a big budget, I don't think that was its main goal. It has its inconsistencies, but depending on the audience, it's fine in a simple way. Without a doubt, it could have been better, but its executions along the way diminished that potential and affected its final result. Despite that, I give it a fair approval for cinematic details that are not entirely bad.

An entertaining documentary that features revealing images that help establish a formidable connection. It has solid arguments and a crucial perspective on the Spanish national team.

"La Absoluta" is a remarkable proposal for football fans due to the window it opens to discover various details that go unnoticed, with the aim of reflecting feelings, thoughts, comments on the matter, and the emergence of a team that marked a before and after. It is a documentary that stands out from others due to the level of filming and perspective implemented to objectively accompany each step of this group of players.

Everything seen on screen contains a fairly solid foundation, is coherent, and addresses different ways of thinking to establish a quick connection with the viewers. Without failing to mention the addition of each of the elite players who were part of the team, which from my perspective is a crucial point for having a productive experience.

The filming by director Jorge Laplace seems like good work to me, that way of focusing on faces, applying zoom-outs, the environments, and everything that entails this aspect is (though simple) well implemented, which significantly complements the balance of the plot. On the other hand, the documentary has good cinematography, editing, montage, staging, and sound; I believe these are well-executed points.

Seeing players of such talent on screen is something else; it's incredible how each of them has a different aura and what they generate in the audience that loves true football. Moreover, knowing the circumstances of each and how they faced situations both in controversy and in victories. At this point, I think it's the most remarkable aspect of the documentary because it sets a scene of dissatisfaction, loss, bad comments, among others, and after that, how the rise of a team that implemented a radical change in this sport is built.

"La Absoluta" is the reflection of training, effort, dedication, taking risks, new opportunities, emergence, and the desire to move forward. It is a clear example that with determination and clear motivations, you can achieve goals you never thot you could reach. This documentary is incredibly interesting because of its premise of leadership, control, unity, teamwork, and overcoming challenges. In addition to that, it reflects all the rise that the press, the media, and social impact have. Brilliant.

I liked that all the impact of being a player for both Barcelona and Real Madrid is taken into consideration, and I emphasize the people who could see the emergence of conflict during those times. Here, a context is explained that can divide opinions, but nevertheless, it makes sense depending even on your experience watching these players in their time.

In summary, it is an entertaining documentary, it has certain surprises, and it is a refreshing reminder of the significant impact the Spanish national team left on world football. What a golden era.