ACJayC
Joined Nov 2019
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ACJayC's rating
Firebreather is one of those childhood movies that I thought for sure wasn't gonna hold up - knowing what I know about films and storytelling, and how far the art can be taken. But I was very pleasantly surprised to give the movie two rewatches in a single week - after not watching it in about 12 or so years - and find myself enjoying and appreciating the movie more than I ever did. The movie isn't for everyone, and it's UNDENIABLY filled with the angst of teenage boys that want to be cool, but if you don't mind an action-adventure filled with kaiju then this could be your thing. There is genuinely a lot to love here.
First, the presentation. The art direction is really unique with some really cool, but eerie, kaiju designs and even Duncan himself has a really great look to him. The environments look great, from the high school to the canyons. The cinematography is also really stellar. It's slick, but keeps focus on the action in a really compelling and epic way. But then there's the animation in motion. The animation can be quite inconsistent. At times characters move really smoothly, in a believable fashion even. Then there's times when the animation is a bit janky and almost puppet-like. It can be a bit jarring.
Firebreather also has a pretty good soundtrack. A catchy theme song, that's pretty much the typical badass rock song you here in many action-fantasy animations, but with a bit more angst. The more low-key tracks, such as what we hear in the first seconds of the movie, the music we hear in the canyons and even calmer moments at the school have a mellow and almost dreamlike nature to them. The overall atmosphere of the movie is also pretty well done, as it fits with the slightly mature story. The movie juggles between light-hearted, high school teen drama and a more eerie kaiju fantasy. It's really compelling.
Finally, there's the story and writing. Firebreather has a pretty good narrative premise, but the execution leaves a little to be desired. I think the story and plot is decent. Duncan's character arc is good and he does come with a bit of nuance. What the story struggles with is the world around Duncan. There are certain things that aren't explained all too well and the worldbuilding feels a bit sloppy. But what REALLY impressed me about watching Firebreather, after so many years, is how great the writing is. The dialogue in this movie is honestly the best part of the whole thing. There's so many clever lines - backed up by great performances - and there's just a suave feeling to it. The writing is sharp, sometimes mature, and just really entertaining. Although one thing that plagues the story and writing on a slightly obnoxious level is the whole theme of 'father figures'. There are quite a few times when the conversation of growing up without father figures feels forced or heavy-handed. At times, it makes the overall theme of the story come off as kind of cringeworthy. And the story unfortunately suffers from that, too. But in more positive terms, there are also some REALLY great scenes and setpieces throughout the movie. These scenes showcase the strong animations and presentation, as well as the writing chops that the movie has going for it.
Firebreather is a good time if you're looking for an underrated gem of an action-adventure animation. It's got some great action, punchy writing, a good atmosphere, some mature themes, and a mostly great look. If you can get past some of the worldbuilding shortcomings and the teenage angst, Firebreather is a nice little treat and a forgotten Cartoon Network classic.
The movie is also based off a series of comics, if you're looking to dig deeper into the world of Firebreather. Although, said comics are a lot more gritty and unapologetic than the film, which is a bit more sanitized.
First, the presentation. The art direction is really unique with some really cool, but eerie, kaiju designs and even Duncan himself has a really great look to him. The environments look great, from the high school to the canyons. The cinematography is also really stellar. It's slick, but keeps focus on the action in a really compelling and epic way. But then there's the animation in motion. The animation can be quite inconsistent. At times characters move really smoothly, in a believable fashion even. Then there's times when the animation is a bit janky and almost puppet-like. It can be a bit jarring.
Firebreather also has a pretty good soundtrack. A catchy theme song, that's pretty much the typical badass rock song you here in many action-fantasy animations, but with a bit more angst. The more low-key tracks, such as what we hear in the first seconds of the movie, the music we hear in the canyons and even calmer moments at the school have a mellow and almost dreamlike nature to them. The overall atmosphere of the movie is also pretty well done, as it fits with the slightly mature story. The movie juggles between light-hearted, high school teen drama and a more eerie kaiju fantasy. It's really compelling.
Finally, there's the story and writing. Firebreather has a pretty good narrative premise, but the execution leaves a little to be desired. I think the story and plot is decent. Duncan's character arc is good and he does come with a bit of nuance. What the story struggles with is the world around Duncan. There are certain things that aren't explained all too well and the worldbuilding feels a bit sloppy. But what REALLY impressed me about watching Firebreather, after so many years, is how great the writing is. The dialogue in this movie is honestly the best part of the whole thing. There's so many clever lines - backed up by great performances - and there's just a suave feeling to it. The writing is sharp, sometimes mature, and just really entertaining. Although one thing that plagues the story and writing on a slightly obnoxious level is the whole theme of 'father figures'. There are quite a few times when the conversation of growing up without father figures feels forced or heavy-handed. At times, it makes the overall theme of the story come off as kind of cringeworthy. And the story unfortunately suffers from that, too. But in more positive terms, there are also some REALLY great scenes and setpieces throughout the movie. These scenes showcase the strong animations and presentation, as well as the writing chops that the movie has going for it.
Firebreather is a good time if you're looking for an underrated gem of an action-adventure animation. It's got some great action, punchy writing, a good atmosphere, some mature themes, and a mostly great look. If you can get past some of the worldbuilding shortcomings and the teenage angst, Firebreather is a nice little treat and a forgotten Cartoon Network classic.
The movie is also based off a series of comics, if you're looking to dig deeper into the world of Firebreather. Although, said comics are a lot more gritty and unapologetic than the film, which is a bit more sanitized.
The Killer is an odd action flick that might not click with everyone. It's a movie that appropriately paces itself to enhance the occupation of our protagonist. That's to say, the movie requires some patience. It starts off very slow and steadily picks up the pace, but even then it maintains a moderate pace. The movie is more of a suspenseful thriller than the typical action movie.
To add to the odd pacing, there's also the psychological storytelling and character study that makes up most of the narrative. The story is essentially a look into the mind of The Killer - an examination of his philosophies, and essentially how he struggles to keep up with his own philosophies. The inner monologues are compelling if you're into it and sometimes clever. But they can definitely be annoying or a turn-off if you're not into how frequent they are. The story is at its best when The Killer is alone and isolated from the world. The movie's presentation and direction during these moments feels more arthouse than a big budget action-adventure is supposed to feel. Now while there is an overarching plot at hand, it lacks the build up and urgency that it almost desperately needed. The story, outside of The Killer's inner monologues and character examination, is about a failed assassination that results in immediate consequences that interfere with The Killer's personal life. This enables the titular character to go on a revenge quest where goes through a checklist of antagonists. Antagonists who are quite flat and act as a poor attempt of expanding the world of this globetrotting story. It's unfortunate, because the plot here isn't bad, and the story structure works for this kind of movie and the story it's trying to tell. There's something almost video game-like about this movie (in fact, this movie shares a lot of similarities with the HITMAN video game franchise in terms of the slower pacing and The Killer's assassination methods shown in the opening sequence). But, the lack of character development for the ensemble hurts the urgency and emotional weight of the revenge quest, as well as wastes the story structure that should've been used to flesh out the antagonists more.
Some other things to note is the overall presentation of this movie. The art direction is stellar. The cinematography is sharp. The soundtrack is suspenseful - abrasive, but minimal. The sound design is punchy and the audio mixing on Michael Fassbender's voice overs are bouncy and crisp. Not only does the movie look good, but it sounds great.
The Killer is a very weird movie if you're looking for a mindless action-thriller. It's a movie that takes itself seriously and does have some complexities in its narrative when it's not focused on its promising, but fairly skeletal plot. The pacing is much slower than what many might be used to, and the constant monologues might not be everyone's cup of tea. But the real seller of this movie is Michael Fassbender's portrayal and the story's characterization of the titular character. The movie really excels when it focuses on our protagonist and his personal struggles. Outside of that, the plot and supporting characters lack nuance. But the movie is quite the looker in terms of its art direction, cinematography and locations. And the sound design, as well as the soundtrack, is rich with ear-stroking mastery.
To add to the odd pacing, there's also the psychological storytelling and character study that makes up most of the narrative. The story is essentially a look into the mind of The Killer - an examination of his philosophies, and essentially how he struggles to keep up with his own philosophies. The inner monologues are compelling if you're into it and sometimes clever. But they can definitely be annoying or a turn-off if you're not into how frequent they are. The story is at its best when The Killer is alone and isolated from the world. The movie's presentation and direction during these moments feels more arthouse than a big budget action-adventure is supposed to feel. Now while there is an overarching plot at hand, it lacks the build up and urgency that it almost desperately needed. The story, outside of The Killer's inner monologues and character examination, is about a failed assassination that results in immediate consequences that interfere with The Killer's personal life. This enables the titular character to go on a revenge quest where goes through a checklist of antagonists. Antagonists who are quite flat and act as a poor attempt of expanding the world of this globetrotting story. It's unfortunate, because the plot here isn't bad, and the story structure works for this kind of movie and the story it's trying to tell. There's something almost video game-like about this movie (in fact, this movie shares a lot of similarities with the HITMAN video game franchise in terms of the slower pacing and The Killer's assassination methods shown in the opening sequence). But, the lack of character development for the ensemble hurts the urgency and emotional weight of the revenge quest, as well as wastes the story structure that should've been used to flesh out the antagonists more.
Some other things to note is the overall presentation of this movie. The art direction is stellar. The cinematography is sharp. The soundtrack is suspenseful - abrasive, but minimal. The sound design is punchy and the audio mixing on Michael Fassbender's voice overs are bouncy and crisp. Not only does the movie look good, but it sounds great.
The Killer is a very weird movie if you're looking for a mindless action-thriller. It's a movie that takes itself seriously and does have some complexities in its narrative when it's not focused on its promising, but fairly skeletal plot. The pacing is much slower than what many might be used to, and the constant monologues might not be everyone's cup of tea. But the real seller of this movie is Michael Fassbender's portrayal and the story's characterization of the titular character. The movie really excels when it focuses on our protagonist and his personal struggles. Outside of that, the plot and supporting characters lack nuance. But the movie is quite the looker in terms of its art direction, cinematography and locations. And the sound design, as well as the soundtrack, is rich with ear-stroking mastery.
The first Project CARS was amazing. A sim racer that was an ambitious and diverse sandbox, where tools to customize your experience were accessible enough for even the more arcade racing fans to enjoy. The presentation was slick, atmospheric and serious. And the gameplay was challenging, but manageable. Overall, Project CARS was a great time.
But Project CARS 2 takes things in an even more simulated direction. The handling model is a lot more unforgiving. The customization is a lot more mathematical. It is VERY serious this time around. To a slight detriment. While the handling is a lot more unforgiving, it is undeniable that the cars slide and oversteer a lot more this time around. Project CARS felt planted, but Project CARS 2 feels sensitive and floaty. Frustratingly so. You NEED to play Project CARS 2 with a wheel to fully grasp the handling model, unlike Project CARS where I was having a blast with just the gamepad.
Also, the presentation here feels a lot more stripper down than the first game. Menus are a lot less stylish and convenient. The soundtrack isn't as memorable or compelling. And despite the addition of some new race types (off-road racing), they don't do much for the overall game. Project CARS 2 feels a bit inconsistent at times.
Even more so, it feels like a bit of a chore to play. If you're a die hard sim racing fan who's looking for something that is hardcore and technical, Project CARS 2 might be your cup of tea. But for those who liked the first game's planted handling model and slightly forgiving nature, Project CARS 2 might close you off from its new content.
But Project CARS 2 takes things in an even more simulated direction. The handling model is a lot more unforgiving. The customization is a lot more mathematical. It is VERY serious this time around. To a slight detriment. While the handling is a lot more unforgiving, it is undeniable that the cars slide and oversteer a lot more this time around. Project CARS felt planted, but Project CARS 2 feels sensitive and floaty. Frustratingly so. You NEED to play Project CARS 2 with a wheel to fully grasp the handling model, unlike Project CARS where I was having a blast with just the gamepad.
Also, the presentation here feels a lot more stripper down than the first game. Menus are a lot less stylish and convenient. The soundtrack isn't as memorable or compelling. And despite the addition of some new race types (off-road racing), they don't do much for the overall game. Project CARS 2 feels a bit inconsistent at times.
Even more so, it feels like a bit of a chore to play. If you're a die hard sim racing fan who's looking for something that is hardcore and technical, Project CARS 2 might be your cup of tea. But for those who liked the first game's planted handling model and slightly forgiving nature, Project CARS 2 might close you off from its new content.