movieman6-413-929510
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Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is the sequel to the first film from 2023, directed by Emma Tammi, who also directed the original. Mike (Josh Hutcherson) and Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) have kept the true events at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza a secret from Mike's younger sister, Abby (Piper Rubio).
Still, Abby feels connected to the pizzeria's animatronics and tries to reach out to them again. She soon notices that something is wrong with the animatronics, which now behave in a darker and more hostile manner toward her. Together with Mike and Vanessa, she must figure out what's going on before the animatronics become a danger to them and others.
Thanks to the financial success of the first film, this sequel received a bigger budget. It attempts to address complaints about the first installment and is made more recognizable for fans of the video games. For these fans, the sequel is therefore more enjoyable and familiar. People who are not familiar with the games, however, may find the references and hints less meaningful.
Unlike the first film, this sequel contains more frightening moments and makes greater use of jumpscares, a horror element that the video games are known for. The film also leans more on horror clichés, such as characters making poor decisions or investigating strange occurrences alone.
As with the first film, the animatronics are well-executed. Most of them were again created by the Jim Henson Creature Shop, using real actors and mechanical puppets instead of CGI. Some creatures were digitally added, however, which can sometimes look less convincing next to the practical animatronics.
Due to the standard horror script, both returning and new cast members fail to make a strong impression, making it hard to care about them during the film. Fans of the video games may feel more connected to the characters because they know them better. Well-known actors also provide the voices for the animatronics, but they generally do not get enough space to make their voice performances stand out.
Still, Abby feels connected to the pizzeria's animatronics and tries to reach out to them again. She soon notices that something is wrong with the animatronics, which now behave in a darker and more hostile manner toward her. Together with Mike and Vanessa, she must figure out what's going on before the animatronics become a danger to them and others.
Thanks to the financial success of the first film, this sequel received a bigger budget. It attempts to address complaints about the first installment and is made more recognizable for fans of the video games. For these fans, the sequel is therefore more enjoyable and familiar. People who are not familiar with the games, however, may find the references and hints less meaningful.
Unlike the first film, this sequel contains more frightening moments and makes greater use of jumpscares, a horror element that the video games are known for. The film also leans more on horror clichés, such as characters making poor decisions or investigating strange occurrences alone.
As with the first film, the animatronics are well-executed. Most of them were again created by the Jim Henson Creature Shop, using real actors and mechanical puppets instead of CGI. Some creatures were digitally added, however, which can sometimes look less convincing next to the practical animatronics.
Due to the standard horror script, both returning and new cast members fail to make a strong impression, making it hard to care about them during the film. Fans of the video games may feel more connected to the characters because they know them better. Well-known actors also provide the voices for the animatronics, but they generally do not get enough space to make their voice performances stand out.
Nuremberg is a new historical war drama, directed, written, and partly produced by James Vanderbilt, for whom this is only his second time in the director's chair, following Truth from 2015.
In 1945, shortly after the fall of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Third Reich, German political and military leader Hermann Göring surrenders to the American army. Prosecutor Justice Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon) wants to give him the fairest trial possible, hoping to prevent future global conflicts.
Psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) is assigned to evaluate Göring in order to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial for his war crimes - crimes that Göring partly denies, or claims to know nothing about.
This is an interesting film, one that attempts to show the brutality of the Second World War and the suffering inflicted upon the Jewish people. Despite overwhelming evidence, some Nazis continued to deny or feign ignorance of their actions. Because Germany had been heavily punished after the First World War - a factor that contributed to the rise of the Second World War - America and the other Allied nations chose not to impose an equally harsh penalty after 1945. However, the higher-ranking Nazis still had to face the consequences of their actions and the horrific aftermath they caused.
Although James Vanderbilt does not yet have extensive experience as a director, he has considerably more background as a writer - though his work has previously been focused mainly on action and horror films. A serious war drama is therefore new territory for him. This occasionally shows, particularly when the film suddenly shifts into lighter comedic moments. These scenes can feel misplaced, especially in contrast with the later sequences that present real archival footage of concentration camp victims - raw and confronting material.
The film also feels somewhat overcrowded, as it follows too many characters. Besides the psychiatrist and Göring, the story also focuses on the prosecutor's preparations, the examination of other Nazi prisoners, and even internal rivalry between psychiatrists and prosecutors. These shifting perspectives often result in characters overshadowing one another, which at times leads to confusion or a dragging pace. Had the story focused more exclusively on the psychological cat-and-mouse game between Douglas and Göring, the narrative might have felt tighter and more impactful.
Russell Crowe gives a compelling performance as a Nazi figurehead who, despite defeat, clings to his pride or simply continues to deny the reality of what happened. A future award nomination would be well-deserved. Rami Malek and Michael Shannon also deliver strong work, but due to the constant narrative shifts, the actors sometimes overshadow each other. As a result, the time spent on one of them can in hindsight feel somewhat unnecessary.
In 1945, shortly after the fall of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Third Reich, German political and military leader Hermann Göring surrenders to the American army. Prosecutor Justice Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon) wants to give him the fairest trial possible, hoping to prevent future global conflicts.
Psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) is assigned to evaluate Göring in order to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial for his war crimes - crimes that Göring partly denies, or claims to know nothing about.
This is an interesting film, one that attempts to show the brutality of the Second World War and the suffering inflicted upon the Jewish people. Despite overwhelming evidence, some Nazis continued to deny or feign ignorance of their actions. Because Germany had been heavily punished after the First World War - a factor that contributed to the rise of the Second World War - America and the other Allied nations chose not to impose an equally harsh penalty after 1945. However, the higher-ranking Nazis still had to face the consequences of their actions and the horrific aftermath they caused.
Although James Vanderbilt does not yet have extensive experience as a director, he has considerably more background as a writer - though his work has previously been focused mainly on action and horror films. A serious war drama is therefore new territory for him. This occasionally shows, particularly when the film suddenly shifts into lighter comedic moments. These scenes can feel misplaced, especially in contrast with the later sequences that present real archival footage of concentration camp victims - raw and confronting material.
The film also feels somewhat overcrowded, as it follows too many characters. Besides the psychiatrist and Göring, the story also focuses on the prosecutor's preparations, the examination of other Nazi prisoners, and even internal rivalry between psychiatrists and prosecutors. These shifting perspectives often result in characters overshadowing one another, which at times leads to confusion or a dragging pace. Had the story focused more exclusively on the psychological cat-and-mouse game between Douglas and Göring, the narrative might have felt tighter and more impactful.
Russell Crowe gives a compelling performance as a Nazi figurehead who, despite defeat, clings to his pride or simply continues to deny the reality of what happened. A future award nomination would be well-deserved. Rami Malek and Michael Shannon also deliver strong work, but due to the constant narrative shifts, the actors sometimes overshadow each other. As a result, the time spent on one of them can in hindsight feel somewhat unnecessary.
Sisu 2: Road to Revenge is the sequel to the first Sisu film from 2022. This follow-up is directed and written by Jalmari Helander, who also directed the first installment.
After the war, Finland is forced to cede territory to Russia, including the area where Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) lives. Aatami decides to take back his belongings, but by doing so he risks becoming a target of the Russian army, which is eager to take revenge on him after their last confrontation.
The Russians therefore send Igor Draganov (Stephen Lang) after Aatami, who, with his own army, tries to take him out before he can reach the Finnish border again.
This second Sisu film is once again an entertaining action movie. Aside from the fun action scenes, however, this sequel does not offer a particularly strong or unique story. Due to its events, the film sometimes feels reminiscent of other action films such as John Wick, Mad Max, or Top Gun. Compared to these titles, Sisu 2 lacks real character development, making it harder to empathize with Aatami beyond the fact that he's the hero fighting bad Soviet soldiers.
The film does, however, offer an interesting angle on the historical context of Finland having to cede land to the Soviet Union after World War II. A similar scenario now seems possible again in the war between Russia and Ukraine under the American peace plan.
Aside from the entertainment value of the action scenes, most of them remain predictable, allowing you to roughly guess what will happen. Not all explosions look entirely realistic either. Fortunately, the injuries that the characters sustain in the fights do look convincing.
Jorma Tommila performs well in the action scenes and feels almost like a Finnish John Wick, though with less background information, making it harder to truly connect with him. Stephen Lang makes for an enjoyable villain, although he mostly sends Russian pawns after Aatami while he watches from the sidelines-until the final confrontation.
After the war, Finland is forced to cede territory to Russia, including the area where Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) lives. Aatami decides to take back his belongings, but by doing so he risks becoming a target of the Russian army, which is eager to take revenge on him after their last confrontation.
The Russians therefore send Igor Draganov (Stephen Lang) after Aatami, who, with his own army, tries to take him out before he can reach the Finnish border again.
This second Sisu film is once again an entertaining action movie. Aside from the fun action scenes, however, this sequel does not offer a particularly strong or unique story. Due to its events, the film sometimes feels reminiscent of other action films such as John Wick, Mad Max, or Top Gun. Compared to these titles, Sisu 2 lacks real character development, making it harder to empathize with Aatami beyond the fact that he's the hero fighting bad Soviet soldiers.
The film does, however, offer an interesting angle on the historical context of Finland having to cede land to the Soviet Union after World War II. A similar scenario now seems possible again in the war between Russia and Ukraine under the American peace plan.
Aside from the entertainment value of the action scenes, most of them remain predictable, allowing you to roughly guess what will happen. Not all explosions look entirely realistic either. Fortunately, the injuries that the characters sustain in the fights do look convincing.
Jorma Tommila performs well in the action scenes and feels almost like a Finnish John Wick, though with less background information, making it harder to truly connect with him. Stephen Lang makes for an enjoyable villain, although he mostly sends Russian pawns after Aatami while he watches from the sidelines-until the final confrontation.
