Redhead_Reviewer
Joined May 2023
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Redhead_Reviewer's rating
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Redhead_Reviewer's rating
I sat on this movie for a week, kind of thinking about it but not really. Because honestly, there's not much to say about it. In a summer packed with movies, from drivers to dinosaurs and superheroes to slashers to Smurfs, there's not much that Sketch has to offer.
One positive I can give is some character details and especially a scene at the end tying into the movie's core theme. It was fairly sad, and the acting was pretty good in it. Otherwise the acting all around was okay. The movie has a lot of focus on three kids, and while I'm not gonna harp on them because of their age, I have seen better kid performances. (In this year alone we've had Wolfman, The Monkey, and especially The Life of Chuck.) And the creature designs are fine. Their creativity comes more from the premises given about their designs, but the decision to translate the drawings one-to-one at least helped the VFX not look as cheap as they could have. Except for a cat, which literally just looks like a cat with weird filter to make it look animated.
While the story has interesting ideas about the processing of grief, it's not that interesting of an exploration. Part of that may have to do with the fact that so much of the movie has characters at odds with each other. Whether it's family dynamics or the annoying classmate, everyone feels distant from each other. This would be good at the start, and for a second-act closing beat, but they only really feel close at the end of the film. For the rest of it they're either fighting or focused on something else. And when the big breaking moment comes from the kids, it doesn't wirk as well because they've been acting the same throughout the whole movie. And the pacing doesn't help either, as it's not too interesting during the monster chase scenes and very slow during the others. Some of the jokes were alright, but most fell flat (at least with me; a few people laughed in my theater).
Strangely enough, my biggest complaint isn't the story or the pacing. It's the music. It's so bland and generic, with absolutely nothing unique to offer. I expected the credits to say the music was from some royalty free program. This summer we've had uses of old classics in Superman and Jurassic World, work from Hans Zimmer in F1, and an immediate new classic in the Fantastic Four: First Steps theme by Michael Giacchino. To go from those to this is a major downgrade.
If you're looking for a movie theater experience with your family, I suggest going to see The Bad Guys 2. I haven't seen it yet, but the animation style will certainly wow the kids, even if the story is underwhelming. Or go and see Superman or F4 if they're still in theaters, assuming you'd let your kids watch PG-13. But I don't recommend watching Sketch.
One positive I can give is some character details and especially a scene at the end tying into the movie's core theme. It was fairly sad, and the acting was pretty good in it. Otherwise the acting all around was okay. The movie has a lot of focus on three kids, and while I'm not gonna harp on them because of their age, I have seen better kid performances. (In this year alone we've had Wolfman, The Monkey, and especially The Life of Chuck.) And the creature designs are fine. Their creativity comes more from the premises given about their designs, but the decision to translate the drawings one-to-one at least helped the VFX not look as cheap as they could have. Except for a cat, which literally just looks like a cat with weird filter to make it look animated.
While the story has interesting ideas about the processing of grief, it's not that interesting of an exploration. Part of that may have to do with the fact that so much of the movie has characters at odds with each other. Whether it's family dynamics or the annoying classmate, everyone feels distant from each other. This would be good at the start, and for a second-act closing beat, but they only really feel close at the end of the film. For the rest of it they're either fighting or focused on something else. And when the big breaking moment comes from the kids, it doesn't wirk as well because they've been acting the same throughout the whole movie. And the pacing doesn't help either, as it's not too interesting during the monster chase scenes and very slow during the others. Some of the jokes were alright, but most fell flat (at least with me; a few people laughed in my theater).
Strangely enough, my biggest complaint isn't the story or the pacing. It's the music. It's so bland and generic, with absolutely nothing unique to offer. I expected the credits to say the music was from some royalty free program. This summer we've had uses of old classics in Superman and Jurassic World, work from Hans Zimmer in F1, and an immediate new classic in the Fantastic Four: First Steps theme by Michael Giacchino. To go from those to this is a major downgrade.
If you're looking for a movie theater experience with your family, I suggest going to see The Bad Guys 2. I haven't seen it yet, but the animation style will certainly wow the kids, even if the story is underwhelming. Or go and see Superman or F4 if they're still in theaters, assuming you'd let your kids watch PG-13. But I don't recommend watching Sketch.
While the reputation of Netflix originals seems to have declined in public perception, their record for making adaptations is strong. The MCU shows they originally had are some of the best content in the franchise, they produced the visually and emotionally beautiful Violet Evergarden anime, the live action One Piece series faithfully delivered, and Castlevania and Castlevania Nocturne are a masterpiece and great respectively. Likewise, their new Devil May Cry series is extremely fun. I haven't played the games so I can't comment from that perspective, but like Castlevania I am now interested in getting into them.
For starters, the voice acting all around is excellent. While there are no bad performances and only a few weird lines here and there, the obvious standouts are Johnny Young Bosch as Dante and Kevin Conroy as William Baines. Bosch's performance singlehandedly sells the fact that Dante is a carefree mercenary who deflects from all the heavy stuff in life--trauma, emotional connections and heartbreak, etc--and delivers wisecracks and quips perfectly. And channeling the gravitas of his two decades playing Batman, Conroy's voice adds a layer of tunnel-visioned determination to Vice President Baines, his quest to fight demons, and his religious zealotry. Trust me, if there's anyone you want referencing Scripture at the audience, it's the man who delivered the iconic "I am Vengeance" line.
One of the most fun things about this series is the number of easter eggs to other Capcom games. As someone with minimal knowledge of their games, it was fun to see nods to Street Fighter, Mega Man, and a quick line acknowledging Resident Evil. The more lighthearted tone of the show makes these references feel right in place, as opposed to a sudden clash in emotions where someone might, say, namedrop Dr. Light during a tense moment. Regardless of the tone though, the easter eggs to other games and such are part of what make these video game adaptations fun.
As an action game, the adaptation is likewise an action show. And for the most part, I would say that the action is superb. With only one or two exceptions, the sequences are well-choreographed and hard-hitting. Even with the few lackluster ones, they at least provide a variety of types so the entire series isn't just repeating itself. Sometimes demons are fought in a basement, sometimes in the sky, sometimes through an apartment complex. In one instance they're fought in a bike chase while Papa Roach's "Last Resort" is playing in the background (my personal favorite fight).
Finally, the stuff going on with some of the characters is very interesting. The character of Mary Arkham is front and center in this regard, acting as the loyal soldier who faces off against Dante the most. She has half an episode showcasing her past, intertwined with the White Rabbit, who is a decently fleshed-out antagonist. In addition, the series does something with the demons that serves to make them more than just standard monsters. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is a development original to the show, and that there are plenty of people--fans and newcomers alike--who detest this decision, but I found it to be mostly well-realized.
As for negatives, regarding characters the scope of interesting specific characters is limited. While Arkham and Baines are well-realized and feel like people, the rest of Arkham's strike team is very one-note. They all have cool designs and seem like they have something there, with the exception of a rookie named Anders they're all very one-note. The prominent henchman demons are somewhat the same. While their lack of character doesn't feel as disappointing as the Darkcom agents, many of them are unfortunately designed with CGI. And while it's not truly bad CGI, it is very noticeable when they are intercut with scenes of the 2D characters.
While I like the character of Mary Arkham plenty, I do feel that her use of swear words was a bit overdone. There are several times where it's very warranted, either as a cool line or as her way of letting off steam when stressed. But there are also plenty of times where it just feels like they're trying to get the R-rating when all the blood and gore does that fine, or like they're trying to sell Arkham as a no-nonsense badass when the show already does that to great effect. As for the humor of the show, I feel that your mileage may vary regarding a character named Enzo, who is the primary funnel for the funny moments. I found him funny enough, but some might think he's overused. And finally, my biggest negative isn't a criticism so much as a lament that Dante and Baines only have a few scenes of direct confrontation. Part of what sold me on this show was the thought of Ichigo Kurosaki and Batman butting heads and constantly arguing. And unfortunately, due to Conroy's untimely passing that has now become a missed opportunity. The few times we got that are everything I was hoping for; I just wish we could have gotten more.
Even with the lack of direct conflict between its two biggest names, this show is still a great fun time, and I'm looking forward to seeing the second season. Especially after the ending stinger, teasing good things to come.
For starters, the voice acting all around is excellent. While there are no bad performances and only a few weird lines here and there, the obvious standouts are Johnny Young Bosch as Dante and Kevin Conroy as William Baines. Bosch's performance singlehandedly sells the fact that Dante is a carefree mercenary who deflects from all the heavy stuff in life--trauma, emotional connections and heartbreak, etc--and delivers wisecracks and quips perfectly. And channeling the gravitas of his two decades playing Batman, Conroy's voice adds a layer of tunnel-visioned determination to Vice President Baines, his quest to fight demons, and his religious zealotry. Trust me, if there's anyone you want referencing Scripture at the audience, it's the man who delivered the iconic "I am Vengeance" line.
One of the most fun things about this series is the number of easter eggs to other Capcom games. As someone with minimal knowledge of their games, it was fun to see nods to Street Fighter, Mega Man, and a quick line acknowledging Resident Evil. The more lighthearted tone of the show makes these references feel right in place, as opposed to a sudden clash in emotions where someone might, say, namedrop Dr. Light during a tense moment. Regardless of the tone though, the easter eggs to other games and such are part of what make these video game adaptations fun.
As an action game, the adaptation is likewise an action show. And for the most part, I would say that the action is superb. With only one or two exceptions, the sequences are well-choreographed and hard-hitting. Even with the few lackluster ones, they at least provide a variety of types so the entire series isn't just repeating itself. Sometimes demons are fought in a basement, sometimes in the sky, sometimes through an apartment complex. In one instance they're fought in a bike chase while Papa Roach's "Last Resort" is playing in the background (my personal favorite fight).
Finally, the stuff going on with some of the characters is very interesting. The character of Mary Arkham is front and center in this regard, acting as the loyal soldier who faces off against Dante the most. She has half an episode showcasing her past, intertwined with the White Rabbit, who is a decently fleshed-out antagonist. In addition, the series does something with the demons that serves to make them more than just standard monsters. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is a development original to the show, and that there are plenty of people--fans and newcomers alike--who detest this decision, but I found it to be mostly well-realized.
As for negatives, regarding characters the scope of interesting specific characters is limited. While Arkham and Baines are well-realized and feel like people, the rest of Arkham's strike team is very one-note. They all have cool designs and seem like they have something there, with the exception of a rookie named Anders they're all very one-note. The prominent henchman demons are somewhat the same. While their lack of character doesn't feel as disappointing as the Darkcom agents, many of them are unfortunately designed with CGI. And while it's not truly bad CGI, it is very noticeable when they are intercut with scenes of the 2D characters.
While I like the character of Mary Arkham plenty, I do feel that her use of swear words was a bit overdone. There are several times where it's very warranted, either as a cool line or as her way of letting off steam when stressed. But there are also plenty of times where it just feels like they're trying to get the R-rating when all the blood and gore does that fine, or like they're trying to sell Arkham as a no-nonsense badass when the show already does that to great effect. As for the humor of the show, I feel that your mileage may vary regarding a character named Enzo, who is the primary funnel for the funny moments. I found him funny enough, but some might think he's overused. And finally, my biggest negative isn't a criticism so much as a lament that Dante and Baines only have a few scenes of direct confrontation. Part of what sold me on this show was the thought of Ichigo Kurosaki and Batman butting heads and constantly arguing. And unfortunately, due to Conroy's untimely passing that has now become a missed opportunity. The few times we got that are everything I was hoping for; I just wish we could have gotten more.
Even with the lack of direct conflict between its two biggest names, this show is still a great fun time, and I'm looking forward to seeing the second season. Especially after the ending stinger, teasing good things to come.
Ah, Valentine's Day. Love is in the air, chocolate is everywhere, and fights ensue every five minutes. Great holiday.
The biggest draw to this movie is likely going to be Ke Huy Quan, beloved 80's kid star and recent Oscar winner. He is clearly giving it his all, both acting- and action-wise, with a performance I can best describe as friendly, making Marvin Gable someone you'd root for no matter what. Everyone else in the movie does well as well, with the other notable standout being Ariana DeBose as Rose. Other than a few lines that feel a bit over-the-top, she brings a fun presence to the movie.
The other big sell, the action, is another reason that's worth the price of admission. Director Jonathan Eusebio, known for stunt coordination on several other projects including John Wick, manages to make the fights a joy in every situation. The camera isn't steady all of the time, but unlike most shaky cam, it works in a way to make the fights feel chaotic while still maintaining a clear sense of what is going on. It also helps that there are several unique setpieces to the fights, including the weaponry of choice by Mustafa Shakir's character The Raven.
Besides the leads and the action, the story is admittedly very light. While the trailer's hook is interesting, there isn't much going on in the plot save for one minor subplot that isn't expounded upon, but I thought had a neat little payoff for all the little details throughout. It does work to the movie's favor as a quick 80-minute action flick, but those hoping for more substance will undoubtedly be disappointed. The other criticism I have is that there are several moments of handholding throughout. There will be a focus on an object or setpiece, then a character will say something to the effect of "I can use this" or "Ah, I recognize this" rather than letting the visual cues clue the audience in.
If you can look past the empty-calorie story, I recommend this, especially if you're looking for a Valentine's Day date at the movies. It's an easy watch that pairs well with a dinner afterward. Not much else Valentines-themed this month anyway. Unless you like slashers, in which case Heart Eyes may be more up your alley.
The biggest draw to this movie is likely going to be Ke Huy Quan, beloved 80's kid star and recent Oscar winner. He is clearly giving it his all, both acting- and action-wise, with a performance I can best describe as friendly, making Marvin Gable someone you'd root for no matter what. Everyone else in the movie does well as well, with the other notable standout being Ariana DeBose as Rose. Other than a few lines that feel a bit over-the-top, she brings a fun presence to the movie.
The other big sell, the action, is another reason that's worth the price of admission. Director Jonathan Eusebio, known for stunt coordination on several other projects including John Wick, manages to make the fights a joy in every situation. The camera isn't steady all of the time, but unlike most shaky cam, it works in a way to make the fights feel chaotic while still maintaining a clear sense of what is going on. It also helps that there are several unique setpieces to the fights, including the weaponry of choice by Mustafa Shakir's character The Raven.
Besides the leads and the action, the story is admittedly very light. While the trailer's hook is interesting, there isn't much going on in the plot save for one minor subplot that isn't expounded upon, but I thought had a neat little payoff for all the little details throughout. It does work to the movie's favor as a quick 80-minute action flick, but those hoping for more substance will undoubtedly be disappointed. The other criticism I have is that there are several moments of handholding throughout. There will be a focus on an object or setpiece, then a character will say something to the effect of "I can use this" or "Ah, I recognize this" rather than letting the visual cues clue the audience in.
If you can look past the empty-calorie story, I recommend this, especially if you're looking for a Valentine's Day date at the movies. It's an easy watch that pairs well with a dinner afterward. Not much else Valentines-themed this month anyway. Unless you like slashers, in which case Heart Eyes may be more up your alley.