sven-vanrompaey

Michael Chavez: We've got The Conjuring 2 at home.

That's about what you can expect here. A poor decoction of Wan's second, brilliant, installment. Everything feels the same....only...ordered from Temu.

I gave Chavez the benefit of the doubt, once again. Who knows, maybe, just maybe he got better...but alas.

He does not get it, and buries The Conjuring franchise in a pitiful manner.

I've seen all but one Conjuring in theaters and that was "The Devil Made Me Do It" because of the "pandemic".

But the orignal and it's sequel were an experience like no other to attend in theaters. The sheer silence of excitement, dead silence, no snack noises or giggles, the legit screams of fear, the baffled faces when people left the theater.... There was nothing like that with "The Last Rites", no screams, no excitement, people got bored, anticipated every single thing that was going to happen, because we've seen it all before.

There are no surprises, you can pinpoint exactly when you'll supposed to be scared.

Chavez' execution and timing is still as ugly and predictable as ever.

I once (or twice) mentioned Wan's use of dark corners and how they are the darkest and blackest corner you've ever seen in film. Something is hiding in there, you'll feel it, it creeps you out, but Wan never shows it...Enter Chavez to make a dark grey corner with someone standing there obvious for everyone to see.... One of many examples...

I loved The Conjuring and still consider it one of the scariest movies ever. This was my generation's "The Exorcist". And it's sequel was nearly as perfect. To see Wan give it all away to Chavez...wo proved time and time again he's not cut out for this, truely pains me. I really hoped Wan would've returned for the final chapter...But this leaves a bad taste in my mouth...The only reason I score it higher than "The Devil Made Me Do It" is because of the return to it's hanted roots.

After the debacle that was New Blood, I was very sceptical about Original Sin. Especially with the casting...this is not the Dexter cast, they are irreplacable...well...I couldn't have been more wrong. This cast alone was amazing and they clearly did their homework. That combined with typical, classic Dexter storytelling...it was simply beautiful...

If I have to nitpick, I do think they messed up a bit with the flashbacks. That kid Dexter was way older and taller...kinda bugged me, continuity wise. And maybe Slater as Harry was bit of a weird choice tho he's a great actor and did a fantastic job.

Anyway, Dexter fans are gonna love it even with the new cast!

As a movie, yes, Matt Reeves knows what he's doing. It looks and feels impeccable. But I'm here as a long-time Batman fan, and I simply hate the fact that the recent movies distance themselves further from what Batman used to be all about. It's no longer colorful, there isn't the slightest bit of humour to be found.

Nolan first brought us a modernized version of Batman and it's world which was already a bleak turn from the classic caped crusader, I never thought it would get worse...enter Matt Reeves to rip away the comic book of old from the children's hands and replace it with a depressing and dark take.

Batman used to be fun, exciting, something for children as well as for adults, but in this day and age movie makers and comic book writers seem hellbent on ripping away a hero kids can look up to.

Zack Snyder's movies were far from perfect in it's exectution, but they at least had the classic charm.

"The Batman" has none of that...An emo Bruce, a softspoken and dumber than nails Batman, a Riddler who wears a garbage bag and can't come up with one clever or challenging riddle, a trash Batmobile, no Wayne Manor or thrilling Batcave and a horendous Batsuit...this will be the Batman legacy... Cheer for the movie making, sure, but for Batman?