Nathiri

Animated film is 10/10 but this one only gets 5/10. While largely a shot for shot remake, it falls flat overall due to some choices made this time around.

The acting is wooden with very little life given to the lines. Gerard Butler is probably the best one, but even his suffers a little. Several comedic dialogue bits are removed and what's still there is toned down, sometimes even pushed off screen and barely heard.

They removed a couple key parts to the story which end up paying off in the finale, but still kept the same finale, so it feels off.

Test Drive was the real reason I went to see it in theaters, since I did not see it on the big screen back then. Parts of it remain, and in 3D, it still looks amazing. However, my favorite moment of the film is the "whoosh" sound and the music themes coming together mid-way through, and this part is basically skimmed over to where it isnt even there. I was very disappointed. Other flying parts are still intact or improved on, but that removal brings the score and movie down in my book. They also only play night fury's iconic speeding noise once or twice and it too has a mutedness to it.

I rarely give movies a 9 but I was very impressed at the production value and pacing of the film. It's not too long of a movie (about 1 hour 40) but goes into great depth of the life of Dr Wang and his past.

The movie flips back and forth between time periods but not in a way that's jarring and is generally well-placed and adds to the story and understanding of the character.

One issue with these types a movies is that it can sometimes feel slow/drag but I never lost interest or drifted over the film's duration, even after working 10 hours earlier in the day and being awake since 2am then watching a 7pm showing.

So I definitely highly recommend this film to everyone I know.