20s Movie Review - Strange World

Director: Qui Nguyen, Don Hall
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu, Alan Tudyk

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 23: A DISNEY ANIMATION
 
Description: The legendary Clades are a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

Review: In “Strange World” we are introduced to three generations of the legendary Clade family, as they try to work together and navigate the unknown, treacherous land beneath their own world. Searcher is a family man who is out of his element on an unpredictable mission, he rather stays on his farm. Jaeger is Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father. Ethan is Searcher’s 16-year-old son, who secretly wants to adventure like his grandfather, much against his father’s will.

I totally missed out on “Strange World” when it first came out. It only played in theaters for a short amount of time, before it hit Disney+. And in case of “Strange World” it says something about the quality of the film. It’s one of the worst films by Disney I have seen in years. The animations are very different from what we are used to from them and the story itself doesn’t really hit any nerves. It’s all about family relationships and that has been done way too many times, and much better. The film doesn’t really connect with the viewer, because you don’t know who to sympathize with.

Strange World doesn't really connect with the viewer, because there are too many main characters, and so as a viewer you can't really choose who to sympathize with. Is it the father, the son, the grandson, mother, expedition members, etc. The out-and-out story where Strange World is now set has its origins in American and Asian cultures, but is not so familiar that it really evokes recognition in the viewer.

One thing I did like, was the LGBTQ+ representation and different ethnicities were represented as well. Kudos for Disney to bring that to the attention.

All in all, there is a reason why many people missed “Strange World”: it’s just not a very good animation, it doesn’t have a memorable story or characters and I already forgot most that happened. So you can see that even Disney has a miss ever once in a while.  

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Review - Fast X

Director: Louis Letterier
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Adventure
Runtime: 141 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Charlize Theron, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, John Cena, Jordana Brewster, Natalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, Scott Eastwood, Brie Larson
 
Description: Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family are targeted by the vengeful son (Jason Momoa) of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes.

Review: Let’s just start by saying that I’ve never been a fan of the “Fast & Furious” series. Cars are not something I’m particularly interested in, the characters I don’t care about and the action gets more and more ridiculous. Can “Fast X” change my mind? NOPE!

Movies that rely on elaborate special effects or 3D experiences are best viewed in a movie theater. The same goes for this film, because visually this movie is stunning. And lots of non-stop action. But that’s as far as I can go with the positives. I truly hated this movie.

In this already tenth installment of the series, Dante Reyes wants revenge on Dom Toretto and his family, for killing his father. He sets up a trap to get them all together and tries to kill them. But Dom fights back.  
The first film was okay, I don’t dislike that, it was about street racing. A cop versus a street racer and they became friends. But as this series has continued, the street races turned into stunt shows, with one car stunt even more ridiculous and over-the-top as the next. It’s like they are trying to make each movie even more implausible than the previous one.

This film series has almost every modern-day action star in it, from Vin Diesel to now Jason Momoa. Call me old school, but I do prefer the Schwarzeneggers and Stallones of this world when it comes to mindless, fun action flicks. An although Vin Diesel is the heart and soul of this franchise, and it’s very clear he puts everything in his role, the rest of the cast I couldn’t care less about (I barely remember the names of these characters, that’s how invested I am).

Jason Momoa is the newest addition to this series, as the villain Dante Reyes. He was the only reason I was a tiny bit excited to see “Fast X”. But even that was ruined. Momoa’s take on his villain role is pretty silly. He feels like a Joker-like villain, a cheerful psychopath. But he made it cartoonish. It kind of felt like a Roadrunner versus Wil E. Coyote cartoon, the way he was going after Dom and his family.
I also got a little tired of those let’s-bring-back-every-character-that-was-ever-in-this-franchise reveals, as some clever surprise that nobody would ever expect.  

I know these movies aren’t supposed to be taken too seriously, they are self-aware and that I can at least appreciate. But overall, “Fast X” is just not a good movie. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s crap, but I honestly can’t take another ‘Fast & Furious” movie. There will be more, for sure. Maybe next they will go to space!

Rating: 2/ 5

Book Review - The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Title: The Kind Worth Killing
Series: Henry Kimball/ Lily Kintner # 1
Author: Peter Swanson
 
Description: On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliché.

But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . . .

Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth.

Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.
 
Review: Suspense, confusion and merciless are just a few words that describe “The Kind Worth Killing”, my introduction to Peter Swanson.
 
It all starts with Ted Severson and Lily Kintner who meet at Heathrow Airport. They end up talking over a few martinis and after a while, Ted tells Lily that his wife Miranda is cheating on him with their contractor Brad. He tells her he wants to kill her and Lily unexpectedly replies that he should. And so the two make plans to kill Ted’s wife.
 
“The Kind Worth Killing” is a very well-constructed book. It is divided into three different parts and is told from multiple POV’s. You experience the story from different perspectives and this makes the book interesting.
 
The book has a lot of bad and mean characters, revenge, deception and intrigue, and many unexpected twists and turns. Author Peter Swanson really manages to construct his characters well, there is great development and they are all very fleshed out. This extensive description of all the characters and their pasts and motivations, make that this story is increasingly intriguing.
 
In “The Kind Worth Killing” nothing is what it seems. Everything unfolds in a very different way than you would expect and it’s very surprising and unpredictable. With each part you are left confused and shocked, wondering what will happen next, because the story keeps you guessing constantly. And I love it when I have no idea of what’s going to happen next.

“The Kind Worth Killing” is a definite page turner, one of the best books I read this year and definitely a new favorite thriller on my list.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

 

90s Movie Review - Kiss the Girls

Director: Gary Fleder
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Mystery/ Drama
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 1997
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Ashely Judd, Cary Elwes, Brian Cox, Bill Nunn, Richard T. Jones, Jeremy Piven, Tony Goldwyn

Description: Police hunting for a serial kidnapper are helped when a victim (Ashley Judd) manages to escape for the first time.

Review: Eight kidnapped women. All eight beautiful. All eight talented. All eight have fallen into the hands of the “collector” who calls himself Casanova. The hunt is on for him. With difficulties trying to trace him, they get the help from Alex Cross. When one of the girls, Kate McTiernan, manages to escape, she is determined to help Detective Cross in order to find Casanova and free the other girls.

I have always loved this movie and I have rewatched it many times. The story is strong, the character of Alex Cross is interesting and Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd work very well together. There is enough tension and the mystery is one to keep you on the edge of your seat. It has a vibe like “Se7en”, though not as good of course, but it has the same atmosphere at times.

Maybe the climax is a bit cliché and predictive, but overall “Kiss the Girls” is a really good mystery thriller.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Creed III

Director: Michael B. Jordan
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 116 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Michael Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad, Mila Davis-Kent
 
Description: Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life, but when a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy (Jonathan Majors) resurfaces, the face-off is more than just a fight.

Review: An underdog who keeps fighting despite many setbacks to finally walk away with the win. That is the essence of the ‘Rocky” film series, for which Sylvester Stallone wrote the script in 1976 and himself took on the role of the man also known as The Italian Stallion. Meanwhile, almost fifty years later, “Creed III” is the ninth film in this series and the part in which the torch is finally passed to Adonis Creed.

After the evens of “Creed II”, Adonis is in the prime of his life. He has since retired as a boxer and is living a happy life with his family. One day, he meets his childhood friend and boxing prodigy Damian, who has been released after a long prison sentence. Damian is eager to prove that he deserves a chance in the ring.

Sylvester Stallone has always been the heart of the series, even in the “Creed” movies where he was only a side character. Stallone is not part of “Creed III”, in any shape or form, and you can tell. You miss Stallone. And as a fan of the series, it is unfortunate that he is not featured in the film. But this did give lead actor Michael B. Jordan the chance to debut as a director and a chance to focus fully on Adonis. That certainly worked. “Creed III” is a more raw story and one in which the lines between good and evil in the form of Adonis and Damian are less obvious than in earlier films. That is one of the film’s strengths. Both sides are clearly told, which makes you understand both character’s motives.

One thing I also loved is the beautiful way they deal with Adonis’ daughter Amara, who was born deaf (as we learned in the second “Creed” movie). I love the connection between father and daughter.
I really liked how the boxing matches were designed, even though they shift in style a lot. That is something that bothered me a little bit. They should have stuck with one style to make it more coherent. The close-up shots were fantastic though.

“Creed III” is a good film that further explores the world around Adonis Creed and show him stepping out of Rocky’s shadow. But I did miss Stallone here. Which means, that Adonis Creed is not yet strong enough as a character to make me forget about Rocky Balboa.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Book Review - As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

Title: As Good As Dead
Series: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (# 3)
Author: Holly Jackson
 
Description: Pip is about to head to college, but she is still haunted by the way her last investigation ended. She’s used to online death threats in the wake of her viral true-crime podcast, but she can’t help noticing an anonymous person who keeps asking her: Who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears?

Soon the threats escalate and Pip realizes that someone is following her in real life. When she starts to find connections between her stalker and a local serial killer caught six years ago, she wonders if maybe the wrong man is behind bars.

Police refuse to act, so Pip has only one choice: find the suspect herself—or be the next victim. As the deadly game plays out, Pip discovers that everything in her small town is coming full circle... and if she doesn’t find the answers, this time she will be the one who disappears...
 
Review: “As Good As Dead” is the third and final book in the “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” series by Holly Jackson. So far, I have loved this series. I was really excited to finally read this last one. And it did not disappoint.
 
Pip Fitz-Amobi is used to online threats by now, but there is one that she can’t let go: who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears? And the threats are not just online, Pip has a stalker, but of course the police doesn’t take it seriously. So Pip does what Pip does best: she is investigating herself. As she seems to be solving cases more often then the police do. She finds a link between the stalker and a local serial killer, who is behind bars. And Pip suspects that again, the wrong person is being accused of the crime.
 
It's a Young Adult series, very popular, but also very dark. And this is the darkest one yet. It is again a whodunit, but there is a big twist at the halfway point of the book that really blew my mind and turned it upside down. It takes a completely different path, but in this case it was surprisingly good and does not follow the same path as many whodunit’s do. This is the least popular book of the three, and I think that dark twist is the reason for many. If I would have to rank the books, this would also be my number three, but mostly because I missed the mixed media element. It’s still present, don’t get me wrong, but less then the other two. That’s the only reason I didn’t give it a perfect score.
 
The book again deals with themes like friendship, justice, murder, social media, crime. But again, Jackson made everything a lot darker this time. It sometimes doesn’t even feel like a YA novel anymore. But I liked that about this book, while I can understand that fans of the series might see this as a downside. For me it felt like a logical step, because you want to avoid repetition.
 
As for that midway twist, it left me staring at the pages for a moment. I did not expect that at all, but I absolutely loved it. This book eventually plays with morals, what’s the right thing to do, did the character do the right thing? Most choices are controversial, but make this book so much better.
 
“As Good As Dead” is also the biggest book in the series, but you don’t feel it for a second. You just fly through it, it’s an intense ride of emotions. I think Holly Jackson wrote a fantastic trilogy. I’m not a series reader, but I haven’t been this invested in a book series since “The Hunger Games”. Well done Holly Jackson!
 
Rating: 4, 5/ 5

Book Review - The Marriage Act by John Marrs

Title: The Marriage Act
Series: -
Author: John Marrs
 
Description: Britain. The near-future. A right-wing government believes it has the answer to society’s ills — the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which actively encourages marriage as the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single.
But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is monitoring every aspect of our personal lives — monitoring every word, every minor disagreement — and will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honor and obey.
 
Review: “The Marriage Act” is set in Great Britain, in a near future, in the same ‘universe’ as “The One” which came out in 2016 and I read last year. “The One” is about how you can be matched to your soulmate due to DNA. In “The Marriage Act” couples take the next step: marriage. The right-wing government encourages people to get married, making it the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single. The couples who choose ‘Smart Marriage’ are being monitored and every single disagreement or struggle will be heard. This way they believe that everyone will love, honor and obey.
 
In this world, we follow five couples, each dealing with the ‘Smart Marriage’ in a different way. An ambitious vlogger who wants to use ‘Smart Marriage’ as her way to earn more followers, an elderly couple dealing with an illness, a gay couple who gets the help from a relationship responder (working for ‘Smart Marriage’), a couple who is about to divorce and a couple where one is working for ‘Smart Marriage’ and is starting to feel guilty.
 
This whole concept is actually frighteningly plausible and it does not take much imagination to see a world of surveillance and intrusion. This marriage act has taken control of every aspect of citizen’s lives. If you enter into a ‘Smart Marriage’, you get better living communities, priority in health care, all kinds of financial incentives and tax breaks, and more legal rights. But if you choose to remain single, or live together unmarried, you will be treated as second-class citizens. By upgrading, you agree to have the so-called Audite registration boxes installed in your home, and if AI determines that your marriage needs attention, different levels of support will be given. One is a relationship responder who can move in with you for a while, assessing your marriage. It’s an intrusive process that can ultimately decide whether you can stay married or not. There is one storyline, that focuses on this element of the ‘Smart Marriage’.
 
Without giving away major plot points, “The Marriage Act” is compelling, shocking and engaging to read. I simply couldn’t put it down. It follows a similar set-up as “The One”, following multiple POV’s, which I always love in books. We get to meet different people, all on a certain side of this marriage act, dealing with ‘Smart Marriage’ in their own way. Some vouching for it, others going against it, some still in doubt. You read about some really unsympathetic people, but there are a few really good people in it as well.
 
The whole scenario is absolutely horrifying, but it does who show dangerous it can be to let AI define people’s lives. You see what this marriage act does to people. “The Marriage Act” has some good social commentary. And each storyline is interesting to read about, for its own reason. There are many twists throughout the entire book and some were really shocking. Just the prologue alone, it sets the tone for the book and makes you want to never put it down.
 
If you also loved “The One”,  you will most definitely enjoy “The Marriage Act”. I did, even a little bit more. Certainly will recommend it to people.
 
Rating: 5/ 5