FinalSmash1689

PROS: This is the 90's Superman Animated Series come to life!

David Corenswet really sold the hope and humanity of Superman.

Nicholas Hoult is my new favorite cinematic Lex Luthor.

Rachel Brosnahan is fantastic as Lois Lane.

The Justice Gang was surprisingly fun.

The Final Superman/Lex scene perfectly encapsulates their characters.

CONS: The story is a little unbalanced.

The CGI is wonky at times.

The supporting cast don't get enough screentime, especially the daily planet cast.

Krypto is a little overused.

I was apprehensive going into this movie. The online discourse has been intense, to say the least. But I'm happy to say I walked out of the theater having had a genuinely good time.

This is a fun, hopeful Superman movie that captures the spirit of the 90's Superman Animated Series in the best way. Corenswet's Superman is very much the Big Blue Boy Scout, trying to do his best in a world manipulated into fearing him. He absolutely nails Clark's humanity and optimism.

Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor is pitch-perfect. He embodies Lex's jealousy and hatred without being too cartoonish. I adored Brosnahan's Lois Lane. She's tough and very human. I appreciated that the film explores her doubts about whether she and Clark can make their relationship work, even as she fights to save him.

While the movie juggles a lot of elements, at its core, it's a "Superman vs. Lex Luthor" story and I loved the final scene between them. Superman's refusal to give up on anyone, even Lex, really landed for me.

I had a few nitpicks, like with the CGI in a few spots. I do think the supporting cast was underused. We could've used more time with the Kent's and the Daily Planet characters. I did enjoy Krypto, but I felt he was a bit overused. Overall, I had a great time. I loved this take on Superman, and I hope we get to see more of these characters on screen. 8/10.

PROS: -The Cinematography is Spectacular!!!

-The T-Rex sequence is TERRIFYING!!!

-Heavy "Jaws" influence during the Mosasaur sequence.

-The Dinosaur effects are great.

CONS: -I'm really tired of mutants/hybrids in my Dinosaur Movies.

-Script tries to undo the fallout of "Fallen Kingdom/Dominion".

-All the characters feel like caricatures.

-The inclusion of an annoying family and a baby dino.

This was a frustrating experience. For every positive in the film, there was a corresponding negative. Gareth Edwards is always on point with cinematography and shot composition. The fact that this was shot on film was noticeable in a positive way. The visuals looked bright during the day, avoiding that blue-tinted filter most blockbusters use these days.

The Mosasaur and T-Rex sequences are actually thrilling, with the T-Rex being legitimately terrifying for the first time since "The Lost World". The effects for the dinosaurs were great, though I do miss the use of practical effects. What I don't miss is the inclusion of mutants and hybrids. I go to these movies to see dinosaurs, not monsters. There are plenty of other franchises for that. The Mutadons and D-Rex serve the same narrative purpose as the raptors (who got completely sidelined here) and the T-Rex. If they had simply swapped them out for those two in the third act, I'd have been much happier.

Also not helping were the characters. The family subplot could-and should-have been removed entirely. They add nothing to the story and waste screentime. The expedition team are all stereotypes, but Mahershala Ali at least stands out. Honestly, I think he would've been fantastic as the lead here instead of Scarlett Johansson.

All that said, I went in with no expectations and still found myself mildly entertained. I can't help but smile when the John Williams "Jurassic Park" score plays and it made a few welcome appearances here. This is definitely a 'paint-by-numbers' Jurassic movie, but I wouldn't be upset if Gareth Edwards got another chance to direct one. 7/10.

PROS: -The Entire film is an exercise in building tension.

-All the Actors are locked in.

-Cruise can do so much acting with zero dialogue.

-The overarching threat feels terrifying and real.

-Does a great job of tying into previous "Missions"

-The Sub sequence will trigger your Thalassophobia.

-The Plane sequence is a MASTERCLASS in Stunt Work!!!

-Feels like a fitting conclusion to the Franchise.

CONS: -The 1st Act is all over the place.

-Lacks the tongue-in-cheek humor of the series.

This is one of my favorite film franchises. It's evolved since the 1996 original, but that's the fun of the series. These movies take the espionage genre then sprint out of a building, dive out of a plane and land on a highway while enemies give chase. The Mission Franchise has become the blueprint for how to excel at telling a story through its massive stunt sequences and this eighth (and final?) film aces what this series does best. Director McQuarrie does a spectacular job of creating tension throughout, setting the stakes right at the top of the film and never letting up. His and Tom Cruise's commitment to the practical stunts really sets these films apart from any other in the genre. The Final Reckoning feels like it's tying a bow on the Mission movies by tying it deeply to the other entries and if that's the case, I'm okay with it. This film has a sense of dread hanging over it, that I'm not sure another Mission could top. I do miss the humor from the previous films, but it would be out of place in this "two minutes to midnight" story. The Plane sequence in the finale is pure adrenaline and kept me literally on the edge of my seat. I had an amazing time watching this in the theater. A true class act in how to build tension, thrill the audience and execute stunts. 8/10.