If you had told me that one of the best movies of 2018 would be a Mission Impossible movie, I would've said that you were insane. But here we are, in 2018, and one of the best movies of the year is a Mission Impossible movie. Here are my thoughts on Mission Impossible: Fallout.
22 years ago, the first Mission Impossible movie premiered. Tom Cruise portrayed Ethan Hunt, an agent who has been framed for the murder of his entire Impossible Missions Force (IMF) and thus must solve the mystery and clear his name. It was a box office success, but only received mixed reviews. However, it spawned the ever expanding Mission Impossible franchise, and with the exception of one movie (the dreadful second one), each new movie that's released is better than the last. As impossible as it may seem (pun intended), Fallout is undeniably the best in the series. So why is this movie so good? Well for one, Tom Cruise is the man. He is just so incredibly good as the dogged protagonist Hunt. While he's always been good, he's never been this good. It helps that Hunt is fleshed out and humanized in this movie, rather than just being portrayed as a one-dimensional action hero. Not that he hasn't been before, but the concept of Hunt the human being is much more emphasized in this movie. He's seen as a caring and loving individual who would do anything to protect the ones he love, which ultimately ends up being the reason why the conflict happens in the first place in the movie. Tom Cruise also proves that he is the most physically fit 56 year old man I've ever seen in a movie, performing most of his own stunts (which definitely left me saying "oh my god" many many times throughout the movie). Of course, it wouldn't be a Tom Cruise action film without a Tom Cruise running sequence, and man can this guy run. It made me run out of breath just watching him. While Tom Cruise is good, the rest of the supporting cast help bolster the excellence of the film. Returners Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Alec Baldwin, Sean Harris, and Michelle Monaghan are great, as well as newbies Henry Cavill and Angela Bassett. It should be noted that Ving Rhames, who plays Hunt's loyal friend and partner Luther Stickell, is the only person other than Tom Cruise to be in every Mission Impossible movie. He has proven himself to not only be Hunt's conscience and confidant, but also a fan favorite in the franchise. Also, I just really love Ving Rhames, so the fact that he's still in the franchise after all this time makes me happy. The camaraderie between Pegg, Rhames, and Cruise is on full display in this film, playing off the best qualities of each of their characters and simply how well their chemistry works together. A lot of action movies nowadays have quick choppy editing and insane amounts of CGI to ruin the whole experience. Fallout, thankfully, does not fall into either of these categories. The action sequences are so well shot and choreographed, thanks to director Christopher McQuarrie's great eye for action and Tom Cruise's full commitment to the scene. Every scene also left me on the edge of my seat, literally putting my hands on my head in disbelief with every punch, every kick, and every car (or helicopter) chase. Here's where this movie succeeds the most with the action sequence: each sequence doesn't feel cheaply or poorly made or out of place, but rather an essential part of the story and the movie. It never slows down, doesn't bog down the pace, and, simply put, it's a mile-a-minute thrill ride. As much as I liked the last Mission Impossible film (Rogue Nation), I did find, at least to me, that the story was a little hard to follow at times. This time, Fallout's story, once again written by McQuarrie, is still just as methodical as Rogue Nation, but it is laid out in a much more friendly summer blockbuster formulaic manner (basically it's easier to follow). However, the complexities of the plot are not sacrificed and the story is enhanced by the excellent cast and the beautifully shot action as stated before. Mission Impossible: Fallout is without a doubt one of the best action movies I've ever seen. It's unbelievable to think that one of the best action movies in the last decade is a Mission Impossible film, a franchise that started 22 years ago with only an okay movie. But over time, this franchise has grown into one of the best cinematic franchises, blending complex stories with absolutely dynamite action sequences. The acting is phenomenal. The cinematography is top notch. The music, all based around Lalo Schifrin's iconic theme, is incredible. I would never ever say this unless I meant it, but I hope that this franchise never dies because I need it. Rating: 10/10 Top 50: #48
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This is quite simply the best Star Trek movie. Here are my thoughts on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a forgettable bore, and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan makes no mention of it whatsoever, which is probably for the best. While the first movie was ambitious and looked great, it had none of the Star Trek magic that made the show so great. Thankfully, the second movie righted that wrong, and boy did it succeed. In 1967, Star Trek aired an episode called "Space Seed". It featured one of the more memorable foes of Captain James T. Kirk: Khan Noonian Singh, a charismatic and dangerous genetically altered superhuman that helped spark the Eugenics War in the 20th Century (it should be noted that that was about 200 years before the episode takes place). In the episode, the Enterprise stumbles across the Botany Bay, the vessel carrying Khan and his followers, all of whom have been put in suspended animation. After reviving Khan, chaos ensues as Khan plans to continue what he had been doing back on Earth: conquer mankind. After unsuccessfully trying to steal the Enterprise, Kirk banishes Khan and his followers (along with his soon-to-be wife) to Ceti Alpha V, a desolate and harsh planet. At the end of the episode, Spock remarks that it would be interesting to see what Khan makes of his life on the planet, the "space seed" that has been sown. Well, 15 years later, and Kirk and crew once again stumble across Khan's path, and this time Khan is out for cold-blooded revenge. He has not forgotten what Kirk has done to him and plans to take him down at any cost. What we get is an extremely memorable and iconic Captain Ahab/Moby Dick-like story that has action, suspense, drame, and good ol' Star Trek magic. First of all, the acting is phenomenal. Everyone is firing on every cylinder. William Shatner, criminally known for his pompous overacting, is at his best as the newly minted Admiral Kirk, yearning to be back in the captain's chair. His performance is heartfelt, powerful, and, yes, a little over the top (that iconic scream), but it is by far the best performance that Shatner has given (and will give) in the franchise. Leonard Nimoy and DeForrest Kelley are fantastic as Spock and McCoy. The rest of the crew (James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Walter Koenig) are great in their roles. Everyone is allowed to actually BE their characters, unlike the first movie where everyone just didn't seem like themselves at all. The rest of the supporting cast is fantastic as well. Merritt Butrick gives a great performance as Kirk's son David. Even Kirstie Alley is great as Saavik, the curious stone-faced protege to Spock. But nothing, NOTHING, can compare to Ricardo Montalban's commanding performance as the madman Khan. He snarls and gnashes his way through every scene, stealing the entire show. Watching Khan consistently outsmarting and outmatching his foe is just brilliant. While it's Kirk that ends up being the hero, Wrath of Khan is Khan's movie, none of which would be possible without Montalban's swagger and macho charisma. While some of the performance may be a bit over the top at times (okay, a lot of it is over the top), the movie simply would not be the same without Montalban and his impeccable bare-chested abs. What makes this movie brilliant is the suspense and tension built throughout the course of the story. The Reliant chasing down the Enterprise allows for some exciting starship battles. The terrifying rescue mission on the Regula I station contain some of the most frightening moments in Star Trek history. The scenes of Khan and Kirk's matching wits with each other proves to be some of the most thrilling scenes in the movie. Even the beginning Kobayashi Maru test-"the no-win scenario"-is drenched in anxious-ridden sweat, perfectly setting the stage for the movie and also signifying that this will end up being a "no-win scenario". (Also, the Ceti Eel ear-dwelling scene still gives me the creeps every time I watch it) What also makes this movie brilliant is that it FEELS like a Star Trek movie. One of the best things that they did was connect the old with the new: introducing a new audience to an old well-known villain from the original series and amping him up to be the ultimate foe for Kirk and crew. One of the big problems with the first movie that I didn't even mention was that there was no clear-cut or fleshed out antagonist for the Enterprise to battle. In TWOK, there is a very clear and well-defined antagonist, one that turned out to be THE quintessential Star Trek baddie. TWOK contains all the elements that made Star Trek stand out so much: science fiction blended with drama, action, sharp dialogue, relatable characters with relatable problems, and emotion (and trust me, there is a lot of that to go around). But what's also great about this movie is, although it does feel like a Star Trek movie, it's a well-crafted story that's easily accessible to a wider audience. It's a great science-fiction movie for everyone, and although it does achieve a LOT of fan service, I would go as far to say that anyone can watch it without getting completely lost and still enjoy it. Something the movie miraculously avoids is shoving in a regular throwaway MacGuffin, a device that only acts a trigger for the plot. In this case, the MacGuffin is the Genesis Device. Built by Kirk's old lover Carol Marcus and their son David, the Genesis Device is a terraforming machine that can generate life over the course of a night, but can also be used as a deadly weapon. McCoy of course freaks out about it, thinking that it's going to end up in the "wrong hands" (which it does). Khan ends up stealing it, wanting to destroy Kirk and the Enterprise, and while he does end up using it, it instead creates brand new life and the Genesis planet (as well as resurrects a certain Vulcan). All of this will end up playing a huge role in the next movie (which I will talk about tomorrow). There are great Star Trek movies. There are great science fiction movies. This movie is the best of both worlds. The direction from Nicholas Meyers and the writing from Harve Bennett and Jack B. Sowards is nothing short of genius. It has well-executed suspenseful action scenes with great acting, great dialogue, and great science fiction elements that everyone can enjoy. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a triumphant return to form and is the best Star Trek movie to date, as well as being one of my favorite movies of all time. Oh and bring your tissues. I cry every time I get to the end. Rating: 10/10 Top 50: #11 If you want me to be completely honest, this is the best Pixar movie to date. Here are my thoughts on Coco:
That first sentence was not an exaggeration on my part. It is by and far the most emotionally charged and incredibly beautiful movie Pixar has done. The thing is, Pixar is so good at toying with emotions (I mean, they made a whole movie about feelings with feelings), but this one continuously tugs at the heartstrings and doesn't stop. The visuals are stunning (even more so than usual) and illuminates the wonderful Mexican culture and all of its traditions. There's nothing in this movie that feels cheap or like a cop out. Everything is laid out in a well-structured and well-paced story that contains some of the best writing that Pixar has done. The theme of family, a concept that is always present in every Pixar movie, is executed beautifully, so much so that I did shed a few tears by the end of the film. The theme of death is also prominent in the film, something that Pixar hasn't explored in depth in their past films. However, it's engineered beautifully and handled in a way that is accessible to kids and adults alike. It could've been heavy-handed or melodramatic, but it never comes across that way. But what sets this apart from all of the other Pixar movies is the MUSIC and the role that it plays. Music can mean so much for one person. I am a musically-driven person and a musician. Like me, music plays a huge part in Miguel's life, something that his family wants to rip away from him because of their family history. But in the end, music is what saves the day and I absolutely love that aspect of the movie. The songs are gorgeous and wonderfully written, especially "Remember Me", probably one of the best songs I've heard in any Disney related movie. One of the best things that the movie executes well is the transformation of "Remember Me", starting as a lavish theatrical production and changing into a heartfelt ballad. It's funny what emotions can be conveyed through the meaning of a one song, whether it's changing tempo, instrumentation, and the overall context, and this movie is able to encompass an array of emotions using those tools for the journey of the song. As I said earlier, this is Pixar's best movie to date and it's going to be very hard to top this at the moment. I've never fallen in love with a Pixar movie so quickly nor have I been as emotionally invested in a Pixar movie before. Just a perfect movie that all ages should be able to connect with. Rating: 10/10 Top 50: #22 Who would've thunk that a little movie called Iron Man would've led to all of this? And now, 10 years and 18 movies later, we have reached the climax. And never have I left the theater in such shock and awe before. Here are my thoughts on Avengers: Infinity War.
I was expecting some twists and turns, but I wasn't expecting this. I was expecting that sacrifices had to be made, but not to this extent. I won't spoil anything because that would be unfair to everyone obviously, but I'll just say that any expectation or preconceived notion that you may have about this movie: throw it out the window now. This isn't Age of Ultron, which I was so hoping this movie WOULDN'T be. This is Infinity War. This is in a league of its own. First off, Thanos is the ultimate Marvel villain, at least in the MCU. In the past, Marvel has been criticized in their lackluster villains (do you remember the villain from Thor: the Dark World? Because I sure don't) and how forgettable those characters and overall performances were. Loki and Killmonger were great, sure, but you've never seen anything like Thanos. I wasn't ready for him. Sure, he's been teased a couple of other films, but he's front and center in this movie. He's not some flat one-dimensional paper thin villain. He's THANOS, one of the most powerful and terrifying villains I've ever seen, not only in a Marvel movie, but on the big screen in general. His plan isn't some generic run of the mill rule-the-world type of deal. It's a universal game changer. Josh Brolin owns the role as Thanos and delivers a fantastic and mesmerizing performance. While the heroes have their time to shine, it's truly Thanos who steals the show. This movie belongs to him and he makes sure that you know that. What I was expecting was that the movie was going to seem long and uneven because of the almost 3 hour runtime and the million storylines that were happening at once. However, it felt like no time passed at all, everything was well balanced, and the pacing, at least in my opinion, was perfect. I never felt like anything overstayed its welcome. Certain characters may have had less screen time than others, but it would've been impossible to have every character share the exact amount of screen time. I think they did well balancing the colossal cast and I know that certain characters will more than likely play bigger roles in the next film. The real MVP's of the movie are Dr Strange and Thor. They were AWESOME in this movie. Chris Hemsworth is great as always as Thor, but this movie sold me on Benedict Cumberbatch being the perfect man as Strange. He's funny, smart, witty, and the perfect foil to Stark's pompous ego. His accent may be a bit iffy, but it's never made me stray away from the fact that Cumberbatch is great as Strange. I cannot express how much I loved this movie. The Russo brothers have delivered a movie for the ages. Not only that, but this has truly changed the game for the entire MCU. I don't know where this is going to go next. I can't even begin to predict what happens next. What I do know is that if you love the MCU movies, you need to see this. Just don't go in with expectations because they will be destroyed. Oh yeah, and that soul-crushing ending. Jesus. Rating: 10/10 Top 50: #46 |
AuthorBuster Bigelow: 30 year old lover of movies, cinema, and music. Whether you agree or disagree with my reviews, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments! Archives
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