Change Your Image
chenp-54708
All Ratings and Reviews are my opinion.
NOTE: I have seen lots of movies before I made this account on August 2020.
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againAll watched in Order
Reviews
Moana 2 (2024)
This New Disney Sequel, it's Not Great.
Okay, I'll cut to the chase. I wasn't very big on "Moana" as while I loved its colorful animation and finding the concept to be pretty good, I found myself feeling disconnected with its themes and found the characters to be uninteresting to connect with. With this sequel, while its colorful animation remains high and there are some new concepts that I do appreciate (like exploring some different cultural aspects within the world of Moana) I found myself having the same problems as the first one.
For starters, Disney once again provides wonderful character designs, sound designs, colors, and animation models as there are some gorgeous background colors. Many of the voice performances are solid with their emotions and personalities expressed. Regarding its writing, there are some new concepts I do appreciate and thought were pretty good, but unfortunately, it ends up being too simple that it ends feeling too safe and engaging to fully sink into the world of Moana.
I never really connected with the characters. Don't get me wrong, the character of Moana is definitely a good inspiration for children and I understand the creator's intentions and their goals, however, I found most of the characters to be uninteresting or pretty annoying, particularly the character of Maui who I can't really stand. The writing is bland as certain concepts could have been explored a bit differently but failed. As a musical, most of the music writing and singing are surprisingly pretty bad. Many of the music notes and the lyrics are pretty bad and none of the music, unlike the first one, had much memorable scores.
Overall, Disney sequels are rarely done well as they never really seemed to re-capture the essence of what made the first one good. As much as Disney is showing some improvements within this year, I found myself feeling that the real magic of Disney is pretty much faded.
Memoir of a Snail (2024)
One of the most beautiful, emotional, and human animated movie I have seen in quite some time.
Ouch....this one really hits home with me.
After his masterpiece on Mary and Max, Adam Elliot comes back with another wonderful, beautiful, and humane animated movie that explores sibling bonding ship, hardships, complex life, and society.
Filled with weird but interesting claymation designs, Elliot approaches on the narrative, tone and atmosphere, on a more darker level compared to his previous work. Exploring the dark aspects of society, while still remaining joyful, touching and emotional. Elliot's approach to the animation, characters, and themes are well-explored and thus creating a great character study of a piece. Being focused more on the complex of society and how characters are forced to deal with their surroundings and environment.
Many of the voice performances are fantastic. As I mentioned, many of the characters are well-explored as you feel engaged with the characters and connect with them on an emotional level. What I love about Elliot's work is that he uses animation and character engagement in a unique way. Most animator's usually tend to focus on traditional approaches but Elliot explores more human and serious, as if this is what a real life experience is.
With the writing, the dialogue is great, the soundtrack is good, and many of the themes and emotional elements really hit hard. I haven't felt this emotionally connected with an animated movie since Wolfwalkers, where a movie I genuinely cared about the characters and really feel for them.
Unfortunately, I have a good feeling this movie won't be discussed a lot due to the heavy subject it explores and adult animation is rarely appreciated from the general medium. But, for sure, this is one of the best movies of 2024.
Wicked: Part I (2024)
I didn't get Wicked Enough.
For starters, I have seen the original Broadway Play of Wicked and I really like it. I love Wizard of Oz growing up and I thought it was a good interesting take of the world and setting.
As a film, I was always curious to see how it would be adapted. While I do appreciate it's faithfulness to the source, there are some good aspects but also not so good. Throughout, the costume designs, the production and the sound designs are amazing. It helps to build the world of Oz and create it's vibe. Including the musical score and singing that offers a vibrate, energized and colorful vibe.
However, as a whole, the dull presentation and it's stretched out narrative really seems to fail for me to fully engage with it's power. Writing wise, the narrative is interesting but being stretched out and added with unnecessary characters and moments makes it dried up. Causing some of the characters to be boring and not fully engaging.
The dialogue is pretty bad and there are some poor noticeable uses of CGI that kills away the magical vibe and feel of Oz. Most of the performances are just fine but they never really wowed me in anything particular. Because as a whole, I feel it's a bit overhyped.
The Piano Lesson (2024)
Solid adaptation of August Wilson's Work
August Wilson's work has been an important part of theater work in the Black Communities. Achieving many themes and style approaches that other plays haven't approached before hand.
With the Piano Lesson, while not perfect, it still remains an intense dialogue-filled journey. Throughout, the ambitious direction and atmosphere of The Piano Lesson is successful with it's narrative setting and ground. Exploring themes of slavery, trauma, horror, and Black American society that are interesting. With solid camerawork, production designs, and strong performances from the entire cast, especially Danielle Deadwyler whom I believe will get more recognition in the near future.
The narrative, although it feels a bit long and dragged on some components, it achieves as it's characters and good dialogue moments are investing and engaging. The presentation color is a bit dull, some of the pacing was a bit too dry, and the worst aspect was the musical score, the score felt overdramatic and at times, ruined some of the best scenes that could have been a bit more impactful.
Overall, I do recommend it for those who love August Wilson.
Mistress Dispeller (2024)
Relationships, Cheating, and Crisis
Managed to Catch This at DOC NYC.
No doubt this is an interesting concept. A character who works to break up those who are involved with affairs in the country of China. That's quite unheard of, almost as if it's fictional, yet it exists.
Filmmaker Elizabeth Lo does a pretty great job on exploring this concept balancing both funny, emotionally, and being raw with it's heavy subject. Shot beautifully of the landscapes of China and fitting score, many of it's themes are interesting as the cultures of China, relationships, and respect are well presented throughout. Many of the participants involved with the movie offers a good insightful conversation and tone for what they are going through, which allows the audience to fully invest with their lives and their roles throughly.
Documentaries in China are rare due to their culture and political aspects, so it was very interesting to see a heavy subject, well-explored within the setting and control. This really stood out towards me.
Emilia Pérez (2024)
Weird yet interesting take on the tale of drug dealers, corruption, transgender identity and singing
You can't expect what Jacques Audiard offers. Audiard is a filmmaker whom always surprises me with his works as he makes stories that are interesting and very different to other movies I have seen. An concept of a musical about Mexico, drug dealers, gender identity, and corruption is very strange, and it's kind of messy, yet with Audiard's direction and approach, it still worked.
Audiard's direction, writing, and atmosphere approaches are well thought-out. The writing explores the characters journeys and it's inventive style really adds a lot to the setting. Many of the characters, while they certainly aren't all likable people, at the same time, you still are engaged to observe these characters and observing what they are and their purposes.
With good camerawork, production, and musical score, all of the performances are great, particularly Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón as both provided outstanding performances. As a musical, the song-writing is pretty good as there are some really memorable songs that are still burned into my head. Although some of the singing and songs didn't fully work, as a piece, it offered. I do appreciate the film using the themes of transgender identity and depth blended with the musical moments pretty well!
The writing is good, but I have to admit, I wasn't sold with every aspect as I found certain aspects to feel messy and a bit too melodramatic.
Overall, this isn't my favorite from Jacques Audiard but one thing is for sure, this is something unique and memorable.
Small Things Like These (2024)
Quiet, reserved, yet compelling
What Director Tim Mielants brings is a meditative, yet, compelling and bleak portray of corruption behind the Catholic Church and the infamous Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, splashed with a good sense of atmospheric setting and an enrich performance from Cillian Murphy.
The approach on the writing, tone, and themes are sensitive but approached appropriately, without feeling overdramatic nor out of place. Creating the sense of realism of the time period and challenges of it's topic. The camerawork, production designs and direction helps establish it's setting. As said, Murphy's performance is good but Emily Watson is just as good as always.
It's simple narrative, yet powerful theme and subject carries out it's bleakness and the true nature of human nature out is well-explored. Including good soundtrack, dialogue, and an interesting character from Murphy.
Some criticisms have been said that Murphy's character wasn't interesting and the movie should have focused on the Magdalene Laundries and the girls. I understand where the perspectives are coming from but, the idea from an ordinary outsider, seeing the dark sides of the reality and seeing the truth is also an interesting perspective. We are providing what ordinary people are able to see and how it shapes them.
Overall, a great movie.
Heretic (2024)
Good Psychological Thriller
A24 once again strikes another good thriller/horror flick with a great sense of atmosphere, interesting concept, and strong performances from the entire cast. Filled with a good balance between some dark comedy and tension, the writing provides interesting themes and character dynamics that helps to establish the atmosphere surrounding them. Including some impressive camerawork and production designs despite being a more simple setting.
The performances are great, particularly Hugh Grant as he is wicked, hilarious, and creepy at the same time. Alongside some good dialogue, musical score, and direction throughout. The characters I found to be interesting, although I do wish some of the characters could have been a bit more explored at times. Including some certain choices with the narrative (especially the third act) that I thought could have been a bit better. But as a whole, A24 knocked it out of the park again.
Blitz (2024)
Probably Steve McQueen weakest movie to date
Having enjoyed many of his works, McQueen continues to demonstrate his directing and talents as his approach with this WWII drama offers some interesting atmospheres and beautiful presented atmospheres. Many of the costumes, sound designs, dialogue and soundtrack is very good and fits the era of its setting. Regarding the performances, all of the performances are really good, particularly Elliott Heffernan and Saoirse Ronan as Heffernan and Ronan gave a fantastic performance.
Narratives about WWII have been overdone in the past and while McQueen provides a new approach and observation of the time period, I found myself feeling a bit underwhelmed with the story as unlike McQueen's usual style and approach, it felt more tamed and really predictable that ends up being a bit of a bore at times. Because of this, it caused the character engagement to feel lacking nor fully engaging to connect with. It almost doesn't feel like a Steve McQueen movie at times.
While some pacing moments could improve as well, as a whole, it's still interesting at times and I always look forward to seeing what McQueen could bring to the table.
Anora (2024)
Cinderella Fiction Turns into a Nightmare
Having won the Palme d'or at the Cannes Film Festival, I'm very happy to hear Sean Baker is finally able to get the recognition he deserves because this movie might be Baker's magnum opus to date. Crafted with strong direction, themes, and writing, Baker creates a wild tale of romance and fantasy turned into nightmare with great themes, strong dialogue, and engaging characters.
Baker takes a simple romantic concept and is able to explore great themes and characters surrounding the environment which helps pack up a high investment and study amongst the characters. Balancing out between dramatic and humorous approaches perfectly without feeling messy or bloated. With the dialogue and character developments being great, all of the performances are fantastic, especially Mikey Madison who provides a strong and wonderful personality and energy.
Including great camerawork, strong dialogue, tenseful atmospheres and a strong sense of pacing that doesn't allow a single moment to feel dull or a snore. At the end of the day, Baker deserves the recognition and I am looking forward to seeing what Baker is able to provide within the future of his filmmaking career.
Here (2024)
Good concept that has some promising moments but it's mediocre and sappy atmosphere fails to fulfill it's creativity
Man, whatever happened to Robert Zemeckis. In the past, Zemeckis created classic works like "Forrest Gump, Back to the Future Trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Polar Express" and many other great works I have grown up with. However after The Walk, his works have been disappointing and disappointing to say the least. This movie has a really ambitious and intriguing concept, but unfortunately, despite some solid and interesting moments, Zemeckis fails to experiment with the concept properly and ends up being tedious and underwhelming.
The concept of the camera staying in one place and the narrative feels ambitious and creative. With themes that are interesting and could be innovative on exploration, but Zemeckis' direction and the lack of emotional depth of the movie ruins what could have been a good movie. Filled with bloated plot lines, unbalanced structure, and characters that aren't fully developed, the emotional weight and engagement becomes more of a snooze fest. Almost as if Zemeckis saw The Tree of Life but kind of missed understood what made The Tree of Life amazing and made this more mediocre and dull. Provided with some rough dialogue and pacing issues.
The production designs and the camerawork is really good, alongside with the uses of the CGI of the face swap being pretty solid with the colors and movements. All of the performances are good as it's nice to see Tom Hanks and Robin Wright together again as they have good chemistry and scenes together. But it didn't work because of the sloppy and ham-fisted approach that really fails to do justice.
Robert Zemeckis will always still be one of my favorite directors. I grew up during my childhood, but unfortunately, his prime years are long, long behind.
Keyke mahboobe man (2024)
Persian and Powerful
A simple yet powerful movie about the social politics and commentary of Iran and women. The filmmakers are able to accomplish with a story that is pretty basic, yet, achieving with strong dialogue and characters that helps develop the setting, atmosphere, and purpose of it's story. The observation of the characters and dialogue chemistry provides a good insight to what the lives of women encounter in Iran and the politics and commentary that it wants to explain. Unfortunately because of it's themes, the filmmakers were not welcome backed to their original country.
Filled with good production and performances, it offers both comedy and tragic moments that warms the heart and soul to it's viewers. While some of the length of it's movie tends to get a little tedious towards its second act, it's another great work from Iran.
Juror #2 (2024)
Gripping premise that doesn't really fully shine with Eastwood's direction
Managed to catch a screening of this at the AFI FEST 2024.
Okay, I'll get right to it. I have seen many of Clint Eastwood's directed works and while I liked Million Dollar Baby, I was never a fan of his directing works and approach as I find myself not being able to stand the way the themes, atmosphere and tone is handled. Juror No. 2 is an interesting concept and has a wonderful cast, but unfortunately, it's a narrative that feels predictable and uninteresting character engagement doesn't really do much of the service.
Eastwood's direct approach to the narrative and structure is simple and doesn't really have anything special ongoing. An observation from the juror perspective is interesting but unfortunately, Eastwood doesn't really offer any good insight to the characters and with a story so predictable, it causes many of the characters to feel dull and makes it pretty difficult to believe a single word they are saying. Known for his one or few take direction approach, the direction feels aimless and lifeless, as if he was directing an empty chair. Including bland camerawork presentation and some rough dialogue moments.
The performances are all solid with none being terribly acted. The musical score is pretty good and there are some moments in the third act that I did find to be a bit strong. It's a concept and scenario that is interesting, but if the movie has been handled better with the directing and writing, then it might have been a better movie.
Overall, undeniably Clint Eastwood is definitely a talented person. But his prime times are completely over at this point.
Conclave (2024)
The Pope's New Groove
An engaging religious thriller that explores the behind-closed doors of the Catholic system with wonderful camerawork, direction, and performances from the entire cast members.
Catholicism and its religion has some very dark moments that I personally dislike but Conclave is able to explore its themes (including some ballsy themes traditional religious works wouldn't explore), atmosphere, and tone approach strongly. Edward Berger's direction is pretty good with his choices on the approach of the writing and the tone being strong. Many of the performances from the cast members are great and there are some characters that I found myself being invested in.
While the narrative is pretty simple and it does have some of the Oscar Bait Levels surrounding, the undeniable passion on the direction, performances and the dialogue does help to keep the engagement throughout to be strong, tenseful, and enjoyable.
Side note, the people who call this movie "woke", please, sit down and close your mouths :)
Feng liu yi dai (2024)
Zhangke's most experimental work to this date
What I like about Jia Zhangke is that his works of Chinese cinema is highly interesting and something that feels so different to any other filmmakers in China. In many ways, using strange digital camera approaches, approaches on themes, the music, the characters and setting. This movie feels like a statement of his career, in a documentary and fiction fashion, it's a mesmerizing experience.
Using archive footage and blending both non-linear fiction and non-fiction, Zhangke presents a melancholic and avant-garde narrative and atmosphere that is filled with wonderful presentations and themes explored. Presenting characters, performances, music, and dialogue that feels realistic and almost as if you are observing the daily lives of an individual and nature of human beings.
Zhao Tao continues to shine with her natural performance and language with each scene she is displayed on, the soundtrack choices are interesting, and the whole fiction vs nonfiction scenario, while it will put off many viewers, I found it to be interesting and a great experiment of a story.
I don't suggest this as the first movie to watch for Jia Zhangke though, but I say it's amazing.
Rumours (2024)
Interesting satirical political narrative from Guy Madden
Canadian filmmaker Guy Madden has made some strange experimental movies that I have enjoyed. Working with his collaborators Galen and Evan Johnson, Madden provides a strange and satirical political that offers some really strange narrative and character choices, that is pretty funny and interesting.
While some of the humor and the themes feel a bit tedious as it seems Madden and his buddies are a bit messy with handling it's balance, undeniably, Madden always offers something that is really different and unique with the narrative, themes, and style. The camerawork and presentation is great and all of the performances are pretty good.
The dialogue is intentionally written strangely and due to it's non-serious tone, the characters are pretty engaging and found myself laughing on the themes of political circle-jerk and the insanity it offers.
Of course it's not Madden's best work but it's a good surrealist type movie.
Uzumaki (2024)
Junji Ito deserves better
For those aren't familiar, Junji Ito is a horror manga artist and writer known for creating some of the most genuine horrifying and creepy manga works ever made. His style approach on body and cosmic horror, dread, obsession, and unnatural livings are quite an achievement that no others are able to do so. Uzumaki being one of his most well-known works of his career. This series adaptation has been delayed for five years due to COVID and other production related reasons. After five years, unfortunately, what could have been a really good adaptation, ends up being more of an inconsistent and disjointed mess.
Throughout, the animation presentation and designs are really mix bag. Some of the animation, particular Episode 1 is beautiful and creepy that helps approach the horrifying atmosphere and tone. Unfortunately, there are also some really awful animation, especially episode two as rather being beautiful, it felt cheap and lackluster. It's mixture animation approach causes the tone to feel unbalance where it suffers from some unintentional hilarious moments due to it's structure.
Narrative wise, I do appreciate that the series is faithful to the original manga and not creating a mess on the source. There are some really good moments within the episodes from the original manga that I really enjoyed, particular the hospital sequence and the first three chapters portrayed in this series. But, as four episodes, it really feels disjoined as if the writers were cramming everything altogether at once, which causes a big pacing issue. Making things feeling aimless and unfocused with it's setting. The characters are interesting but the series doesn't do justice to give them enough development to fully connect with them like the manga did.
The sound designs are pretty good and all of the voice performances are really great. Colin Stetson musical score once again is brilliant as Stetson saxophone horror score creates a good horrifying atmosphere.
It's honestly a shame because for five years, this was a really highly anticipated series I was looking froward to but unfortunately, once again, it's clear people continue to misunderstood what made Ito's work great and fails to capture his horror works properly. However, knowing the production drama that has happened behind the scenes, it's sad and I don't blame the animators nor the workers at all for this, rather the studio or who is control of making the decision for this to come out.
Episode One started strong but then as it continues, it really falls apart.
Dane-ye anjir-e ma'abed (2024)
A brave, tenseful, and dark psychosocial drama of the current politics of Iran
What Mohammad Rasoulof has created is something risky, yet, courageous and brilliant. Rasoulof crafts what is a riveting familial social psychological drama that explores the recent protests in Iran, the values, the politics, and themes of paranoia that remains strong and tense.
In the past, I have really liked many works from Rasoulof and this one might be one of his best works in his career. Ranged with good atmosphere, dialogue, and camerawork, Rasoulof handles the characters, settings and atmosphere perfectly to demonstrate it's tense and environment. Accompanying with strong performances, direction, and the writing, especially sequences that revolve around interrogation and tense family conversations that are filled with strong dialogue and performances throughout. Many of the characters were interesting and thought-provoking to observe.
Rasoulof uses real-life footage of the protests and violence that was happening in Iran in the 2022 and the uses of the footage felt purposeful and really powerful within it's setting. Creating an almost meta-fiction scenario and realistic portray of the current situations.
The uses of it's sound designs and tense direction captives every moment that makes it important. I have heard some criticisms revolving around it's third act having some tone shifts, however, I personally found it to be useful and purposeful.
Overall, while it's definitely going to be ban from Iran, no doubt, this is a very brave film to be made.
The Apprentice (2024)
Succession: Trump Edition
Filmmaker Ali Abbasi creates an interesting observation of Donald Trump and doesn't shy away from showing the dark and notorious aspects of what Trump was and currently is.
I am not usually big on the modern takes on the biographical movies and while this movie is following the standard format, what seems the movie is it's unapologetically portray of narcissism and greed, strong writing and direction, and stellar performances from the cast members, particularly Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan. Many of the dialogue interactions, emotions, and the chemistry between the actors showcases the eerily levels of narcissism, greed, and the dark sides of humanity, in the best ways it could be done. The characters of Trump and Roy Coen were both eerie yet fascinating to observe from the beginning and end.
Presented in a 1:33:1 aspect ratio, it's camerawork, editing style, and musical score creates a good atmosphere of it's tone and setting. Including good make-up, costumes, and pacing. The only complaint I had was that the tone approach feels a bit strange as it does struggle at times whether it wants to be serious or a comedy at certain levels.
As a whole, my expectations were quite low originally since this movie was announced but honestly, I liked it more then I thought.
Krazy House (2024)
A satirical parody that ends up falling short and poor
The concept about a satirical action on a 90s sitcom and religious figures is an interesting concept but unfortunately, despite the performances from the cast, production designs, and the effects are pretty good, it's over-long excessive use of humor, messy structure, and annoying tone really does a disservice to the movie.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy silly and over-the-top narratives but this movie fails to understand how to balance out the satire and over-the-top themes properly and it feels as an edge lord wanted to make a forced comedy and story, rather it being clever. It's unbalanced structure causes the characters to feel excessively uninteresting and some really rough dialogue choices. Even if it was intentional, it felt forced.
The performances are good as Nick Frost and Alicia Silverstone are both great. There are some decent action moments that are well-done and the special effects are really good. I do appreciate the concept to be creative but, this movie really doesn't work.
It's What's Inside (2024)
While flawed movie, yet it's creative and an original horror concept
While some of it's millennial presentation and writing feels slightly messy and slim, no doubt filmmaker Greg Jardin has created a new original horror concept that is both comedic and entertaining with good direction, camerawork, and strong performances from the cast members.
Filled within a macro-scale setting, Jardin is able to use the location effectively with an interesting concept that explores some interesting themes like online influencer, toxic relationships, and conflict. Including some great RGB filter editing and tone approaches. Many of the performances are pretty good and the characters, while at times they have become a bit too annoying to fully connect, have some good material to invest.
Colorful presentation and some of the costume designs are pretty solid as well. The narrative and pacing does lose some steam half-way and it does feel like it could been a shorten a bit with it's runtime. No doubt, the creative and original idea still made it entertaining and Jardin has talents that I do look forward to see what else he could offer in the future.
Hold Your Breath (2024)
Sarah Paulson strong performance fails to engage with it's meandering narrative
Despite a really interesting concept and some really good camerawork, Hold Your Breath is once again an horror movie that doesn't really do a good job on being creative with it's interesting concept and ends up feeling basic, dull, and predictable in it's way.
Gothic and old folk country side horror is interesting and there are some good camerawork and sound designs throughout. Unfortunately, it's awful color presentation, bland writing and uninteresting characters doesn't really do a service to it's creative setting. The performances are solid and Sarah Paulson continues to be great with her personality and emotional depth acting.
For a first time directing, I can see the filmmaker having some talents and passion within this movie. But there is a lot of work to be done.
Megalopolis (2024)
A gorgeous looking train wreck from a masterful filmmaker
Francis Ford Coppola crafted some of the best movies in American cinema and movies that have influenced many modern works today. While his recent works have been pretty rough, after a long hiatus from filmmaking, Coppola brings an epic sci-fi story and....it's a massive train wreck of a mess in both impressive and unimpressive ways.
The narrative and structure of the movie offers some interesting concepts and ideologies explored but the overblown and crazy atmosphere and style causes it to feel quite full of itself as if Coppola didn't know how to connect and organize all of the themes together. I do appreciate the new original concept and there are some aspects that I thought were pretty cool. But unfortunately Coppola really seems to not understand consistency and balanced structure with this movie. Which causes the characters to feel uninteresting and providing pretty awful dialogue. Whether it was intentional to be done purposely messy as a satire, it doesn't fully work.
On the positive note, many of the production colors and sets are fantastic and provided with some really good camerawork. There are some really good visual effects and presentations that are memorable for sure. Most of the performances are mostly solid but nothing too mind-blowing or fantastic I could say. The soundtrack is pretty good and I say is one of the best elements of this movie. Unfortunately, the good aspects are overshadowed with poor structure and unbalanced narrative. But because of how much of a mess it is, there are some really good unintentional hilarious moments.
This movie proves that Coppola will still one of the most talented filmmakers out there but his primetime has been long far gone. However, I can imagine this would become a cult classic someday in the future.
This movie is genuinely the perfect 5/10.
The Wild Robot (2024)
One of Dreamworks Animation's best original works in quite some time.
Dreamworks is a MAJOR hit and miss for me because they have made some amazing works, yet some really awful stuff. After Dreamworks created two disasters for 2024 (Megamind 2 and Kung Fu Panda 4 still hurts my soul), I'm glad to say this movie is a refresher as a reminder of what made Dreamworks great. With gorgeous animation, character designs, and concepts, this charming, cute, and feel-good narrative about robots, the wild-life, and the environment holds strong with its sweet characters, atmosphere, and very great voice performances from the entire cast members.
It's colorful animation, wild-life nature, and relaxing vibe reminded me a lot of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (which being one of my favorite childhood movies), in a good way, and its direction on the tone, the characters, and the atmosphere is really strong. Powering with a good message for the children to learn and having some nice sweet emotional moments. Many of the characters are interesting and found myself invested and genuinely caring about the characters purpose, emotions, and personalities.
While certain dialogue choices were a bit questionable, nevertheless, I love to see more original and new animated stories come to light.
The Damned (2024)
Slow Yet Beautiful Mixture of Fictional and Documentary Approach of the Era of the Civil War
Roberto Minervini is known for his dramatized yet documentary approach of American rural life. Filled with beautiful camerawork and a meditation study amongst the Civil War era and it's characters, Minervini provides a interesting new approach on discussing the aimless and dreadful journey of soldiers wondering and observing their environment and the battles of war.
Strong sound designs, natural performances, and camerawork helps to establish the tone, atmosphere and environment. Including good direction used throughout and some of the battle sequences being well-directed and presented. Although some of the dialogue ends up feeling off-putting that destroys the realism aspects at times. As a whole, it's beautiful and mediative approach on the Civil War is something I found interesting.
I know this one isn't going to be on many people's liking but I like this a lot. Guess I am a bit pretentious lol.