Movie Review - Heart of Stone

Director: Tom Harper
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Jing Lusi, Paul Ready, Enzo Cilenti, Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighöfer, BD Wong, Glenn Close
 
Description: An intelligence operative (Gal Gadot) for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency races to stop a hacker from stealing its most valuable and dangerous weapon.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 41: A NETFLIX ORIGINAL MOVIE
 
Review: Rachel is part of a small spy team, but secretly of a larger secret organization created to keep global peace. That organization uses the most powerful software in the world, so whoever controls it is basically the supreme world leaders. Someone has discovered that and is going to try to steal that power.

The film opens with an action sequence in which an arms dealer in hiding must be captured. Rachel is the computer wizard of this small theme, her team members not knowing yet that she is part of a larger organization where she does way more than just hack a computer.

The title is supposed to make sense, but Rachel’s last name is Stone and she works for Heart. So Stone of Heart would have been more accurate. But that’s just nitpicking. The overall film is really just so-so. Which is not the fault of Gal Gadot. She is an extremely skilled actress, very good as an action hero as well. The script is the real problem. Is uninspired. It feels like a lame rip-off of the “Mission: Impossible” movie series. The film tries to add some twists, but you at that point, you really don’t care anymore. Zero surprises.

Jamie Dornan is also not that great. I never really liked him as an actor, but he impressed me in “Belfast” and managed to portray a very convincing villain in the TV-series “The Fall”. Here, he is just as uninspiring as the script. I did like Alia Bhatt. Her character still has some conflict with a bit of layering, and she conveys it well.

I don’t think you’re missing out if you don’t watch “Heart of Stone”. Mediocre action flick that lacks inspiration.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Review - Death on the Nile

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russel Brand, Emma Mackey, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Letitia Wright, Sophie Okonedo
 
    
Description: While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh_ must investigate the murder of a young heiress (Gal Gadot).

Review: Detective Hercule Poirot attends a cruise of a newlywed coupe on the Nile River. During this cruise, someone is mysteriously murdered. Who is the culprit?
“Murder on the Orient Express”(2017) was an enjoyable detective-thriller. Based on the book of the same name, director Kenneth Branagh managed to keep the story engaging. It was a solid whodunnit. This stand-alone sequel, “Death on the Nile”, once again features Poirot as a detective (also portrayed by director Branagh) who must solve a new case. This time on the river Nile.
We know what to expect thanks to “Murder on the Orient Express”, so the wait until something actual happens now feels longer. It takes over an hour for the first murder to occur. Before this, the films makes an attempt at character development, but because of the many characters, they all remain superficial. Added to this is the fact that the cast of its predecessor was many times stronger. Unfortunately, the cast of “Death on the Nile” cannot match this.
The film gets off to a slows tart and the final murder mystery is not as strong. One wise choice was to focus on detective Poirot. We see a glimpse of his backstory and tries to highlight the sympathetic side of the man. Kenneth Branagh is also the highlight of the film, because he shines as Poirot. And he also very well directed this film.
“Death on the Nile” is a bit long, the build-up is a slow and the final murder mystery is not as strong as in its predecessor. As a viewer you are also puzzling for answers and these are fairly predictable and obvious. Fun to watch once, but that’s all it is.
Death on the Nile is a bit long, the build-up is slow and the final murder mystery is not as strong as in its predecessor. As a viewer you are also puzzling for answers and these are fairly predictable and obvious, if I say so myself. This is a typical case of a film that is fun to watch once, but that's all it is.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Review - Red Notice

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Comedy
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Rita Arya, Chris Diamantopoulos

Description: An interpol agent (Dwayne Johnson) tracks the world’s most wanted art thief (Ryan Reynolds).

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 48: AN ADVENTURE MOVIE
 
Review: “Red Notice” is not only an action comedy starring big stars Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds, but it also has the signature renowned comedy director Rawson Marshall Thurber. Add to the fact that the budget for this film is insanely high for a production from a streaming platform. And sky-high expectations were created. Sadly, it didn’t meet those expectations.
The central heist story has many recognizable elements. There is an ancient mythical work of art: the third golden egg of Cleopatra. No one knows exactly where it is, let alone whether it is entirely certain to exist at all. Some wealthy underworld figure must and will have this shiny gem and has put a ridiculous price tag on it. For master thieves such as the extremely sarcastic Nolan Booth, played by the ever sarcastic Ryan Reynolds, a prime opportunity to score a treasure of reputation.
Although Booth is successful enough in his job to have his entire Balinese home filled with world-famous art, he is constantly trounced in his greatest moments by an archenemy. This is a thief who regularly outsmarts him and is considered the most wanted art thief in the world: The Bishop. The hunt for the golden egg naturally degenerates into a spectacular quest, in which Booth finds an unlikely accomplice in FBI agent John Hartley. Indeed, the two share a desire to see The Bishop disappear from the scene. Exactly how this works in policy or legal terms, the film covers with the cloak of comedy.
More importantly, the pairing of this unusual twosome should make for a funny dynamic. Set against the backdrop of a Roman museum, a Russian prison or a Spanish bull-fighting arena, this makes for lighthearted jokes and witty one-liners. That this works with these tow actors can hardly be a surprise. Unfortunately, this premise, Ryan Reynolds forming an unlikely duo with a gruff antagonist and constantly being buffoonish, sarcastic and bland, does feel familiar by now. Recent comedies like “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” and of course “Deadpool” are examples of this. In “Red Notice” it’s getting old. At first funny, but it quickly becomes too routine and overused.
“Red Notice” has a great cast, but the movie is kind of bland. It’s all been done before, much before too. The film tries to be surprising by adding a plot twist at the end, which an average moviegoer already could have expected earlier on the movie. Which didn’t make the movie better. There are much better films on Netflix you can check out right now. A perfect popcorn flick, but very forgettable.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Review - Wonder Woman 1984

Director: Patty jenkins
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ science Fiction
Runtime: 151 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen

Description: Diana (Gal Gadot) must contend with a work colleague (Kristen Wiig) and businessman (Pedro Pascal), whose desire for extreme wealth sends the world down a path of destruction, after an ancient artifact that grants wishes goes missing.

Review: Compared to the first theatrical adventure revolving around superheroine Wonder Woman, the sequel offers mostly repetition. Despite the generous running time, the filmmakers never make it clear why the film had to be set in the year 1984. Where the first “Wonder Woman” film had us all applauding DC again, “Wonder Woman 1984” sadly doesn’t.
“Wonder Woman 1984” revolves around Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman. This superheroine lives an anonymous life, trying to forget her late love Steve Trevor. When she hears about the Dreamstone, a relic that allows dreams to come true, she wishes her great love would come alive. The financially troubled Maxwell Lord also covets this stone. Meanwhile, Diana’s shy and geeky co-worker Barbara Ann Minerva also makes use of the magical object and transforms into the monstrous Cheetah. However, the Dreamstone has a dangerous side and takes its toll on all its users.
Director Patty Jenkins unfortunately failed to meet the success of the 2017’s “Wonder Woman”. This is due to several factors. First, the story. “Wonder Woman 1984” tries to be more light-hearted and comedic, and in that Jenkins fails quite a bit. The choice was made to set the story in 1980’s, but I believe the sole purpose is just the fashion and neon colors. Chris Pine is a great example, as he is mainly used to walk around dressed in strange clothes. He is supposed to be the comedic note and has little depth, whereas his return is supposed to be emotional.
Cheetah’s origins is also a negative. The caricatured Barbara, stereotypical geeky girl with glasses and frizzy hair. She wishes to be as strong and confident as Diana, and after losing the glasses and changing her outfits, all of a sudden all heads turn and she is smoking hot. Jenkins doesn’t manage to avoid clichés here. And when Barbara eventually turns into Cheetah, it doesn’t look great either.
“Wonder Woman 1984” lacks heart. But Gal Gadot is still a perfect Diana Prince. Her charm, charisma and warmth are what somewhat save the film from being a total fail. She makes Diana sympathetic. However, this isn’t enough to captivate for the full runtime.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Ralph Breaks the Internet

Director: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore
Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal gadot, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Ed O’Neill

Description: Six years after the events of “Wreck-it Ralph”, Ralph and Vanellope, now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure.

Review: With the arrival of Pixar and the incorporation of this studio by Walt Disney you would almost forget that Disney still has its own animation line. Meanwhile the canon, which started with "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and includes titles like "Bambi", "Pinocchio" and "The Lion King", has over seventy titles. The latest addition is “Ralph Breaks the Internet”, the sequel to the successful animation film Wreck-It Ralph.
Disney has continued its own series despite the fact that the studio has almost completely switched to the computer as its main drawing tool. In 2012 we were able to get to know the very well-built and very strong Ralph, who acted as the main character in his own arcade game. Actually, Ralph was a bad guy whose mission was to destroy pretty much everything with his enormous fists. But Ralph was done with it to be a villain.
In the inevitable sequel, the characters from the arcade games see a new enemy looming. The internet is full of unknown secrets and temptations. Ralph's former enemy, but now best friend Vanellope, is bored to death in her richly coloured racing game in which nothing exciting ever happens again. Ralph tries to break the rut by introducing a bonus level in Vanelope's game. The daring race that follows ends hopelessly wrong and the steering wheel of Vanellope's classic arcade game breaks.
Because the game is no longer being made, there is no other option than to go deep into your pocket for a new steering wheel. The only place where the attribute is still available is on the internet. Ralph, Vanellope and their computer friends have to raise money online to get their hands on the wheel via eBay. Due to a stupid action by the impulsive Vanelope, the price has also risen considerably.
In terms of approach and set-up, this second movement, Wreck-It Ralph, is reminiscent of the hopelessly flawed “The Emoji Movie”. Here it turns out once again that everyone can animate pictures very well, but all that stands and falls with a good story and finely worked out characters. Moreover, it is wonderfully refreshing when the makers seek out contrasts. Ralph and the overly cute Vanellope suddenly end up in a very rough racing game. Exactly the fun Vanellope was looking for, but it's also an unfamiliar world where danger lies in every corner. The dark, ominous colours form a wonderful alternation with the multicoloured shades with which the worldwide web has been designed.
As in the previous film, "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is full of videos, references and allusions. This is most obvious at times when Disney is taking a beating about the bush. By far the most successful scene is the one in which a whole army of Disney princesses make their appearance. Even the translation to the digital canvas is a success, and on top of that all the princess interpreters who are still alive have flown in to speak to the voices of the princesses. The makers also play with the clichéd and often unemancipated appearance of the heroines.
Precisely because of its capacity for self-mockery and its ability to address the modern digital world in which communication takes place in a very special way, this second part of Wreck-It Ralph is a successful animation adventure with layers for both young viewers and a mature audience. The main criticism is the crowded plot and the sometimes very fast action and chases. They are small blemishes on an otherwise almost undamaged blazon. It remains to be seen whether Ralph Breaks the Internet will go into the books as a classic. A plus point is a new song by Alan Menken, the man who, with his magical music, also pulled Disney out of the doldrums at the end of the eighties.

Rating: 4 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 78: Wonder Woman

Director: Patty Jenkins
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Ewen Bremner, Lucy Davis

Description: Before she was Wonder Woman she was Diana (Gal Gadot), princess of the Amazons, trained warrior. When a pilot (Chris Pine) crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and true destiny.

Review: DC isn’t doing as well as Marvel at the moment. “Batman V Superman” and “Suicide Squad” both disappointed, and “Man of Steel” got mixed reviews. Well, leave up to the women, because “Wonder Woman” is an amazing film. Director Patty Jenkins didn’t have an easy task, but she did a fantastic job.
The biggest strength of “Wonder Woman” is portraying believable, human heroes in an extravagant world.
Gal Gadot has a lot of room to develop Diana Prince. She grows up as a strong woman, wanting to fight for justice. A bit naïve she goes into the world to end World War I. Gadot is very charismatic, gorgeous and impressive in her role as Diana Prince. Chris Pine is her love interest and the two have amazing chemistry. The dialogues between the two are great and the romantic elements are kept to a minimal. And the humor is subtle.
The film is action packed, but it’s the right amount of action we get. There is only violence when it really matters. There is more room for character development. But whenever there is an action sequence, it impresses. Sometimes you see Zack Snyder’s influence, especially in those slow-motion moments.
Did I like “Wonder Woman”? No. I loved it. I always love watching strong female characters come to life on the big screen, it just happens that this one is also physically strong. And that a film like this is directed by a woman is also something that makes me happy. “Wonder Woman” is what DC needed right now and what I needed.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 90: Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Director: Zack Snyder
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 151 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons, Laurence Fishburne, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot, Scoot McNairy, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kevin Costner

Description: Fearing that the actions of Superman (Henry Cavill) are left unchecked, Batman (Ben Affleck) takes on the Man of Steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs.

Review: Let’s be honest: the DC comics is a little behind on Marvel when it comes to their movies. Marvel had their standalone films for Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor and Captain America and eventually teamed them up in “Avengers”. DC Comics is now bringing Superman and Batman together, two of the biggest superheroes ever.
Bruce Wayne saw his building for Wayne Enterprises fall and many people died because of it. This battle was fought by Superman and ever since then Bruce wants justice. Superman is still loved by people, but also hated by many others.
The character of Superman feels dynamic and human. Henry Cavill carries this role very well. Ben Affleck plays Batman for the first time. He is an excellent Bruce Wayne, but he didn’t completely convince me as Batman. And I don’t know if it’s just me, but his voice as Batman really annoyed me. We are introduced to Wonder Woman, who doesn’t really get a lot of screen time. But what we get is good. Jesse Eisenberg is a good villain.
“Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” is the spectacle that we were promised. And it’s visual very stylish. This film has hardly any humor in it, it’s a very dark and serious film. But the movie feels a little but messy at some points. And the emotional climax is overshadowed by the promise of a Justice League film.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challene 2016 - 78: Triple 9

Director: John Hillcoat
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul, Anthony Mackie, Norman Reedus, Gal Gadot, Teresa Palmet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Clifton Collins Jr.

Description: A gang of criminals and corrupt cops plan the murder of a police officer in order to pull off their biggest heist yet across town.

Review: Just like in other big American cities, the police in Atlanta works with codes. The 999 code means that a cop has been shot. A group of bankrobbers is about to cause a triple 9.
Michael Atwood has to return a favour to some Russian mobsters. In his group there are the two Welch brothers and two corrupt cops. Irina Vlaslov, leader of that Russian mob, calls the shot. On the other side of town detective Jeffrey Allen is dealing with this gang and tries to get his cousin Chris to get ready for it.
“Triple 9” doesn’t have many surprises. Not in the plot, motives or backgrounds. And there are too many characters to actually make them interesting or deep enough. The atmosphere is perfect, but the screenplay is the problem. The movie doesn’t interest you from beginning till end.

Rating: 3/ 5