Mortal Kombat (2021) 4K Blu-Ray Review

 

Why hello there 'Mortal Kombat', back already? Yes with the world becoming bricks we've had quite the wonky schedule with everything in life, including movies. Released back in late April, the reboot of 'Mortal Kombat' is now available on Blu-Ray & 4K Disc. If you missed my initial review of the movie itself, you can click HERE for a more in-depth critique but to sum it up it was a really fun action flick that suffered from character and story issues due to Warner Bros. and the filmmakers feeling the need to rebuilt the tower and including a new character not present in the games. So instead, this review will be going over the presentation of the release itself.

 

VIDEO: 

The 4K disc comes with just the movie presented in Ultra High Definition while the Blu-Ray comes in a 1080p presentation both in the film's native 2.39:1 aspect ratio. and both look wonderful. Director Simon McQuoid wanted to ground the film and part of that resulted in the colors being a bit muted compared to the games but it still looks gorgeous. The film was shot in southern Australia and everything aside from some fantasy elements are in camera making for quite the pretty picture, especially with the UHD. The 4K does seem to be a little brighter with its contrast than the Blu-Ray but aside from the smoother frame rate the two look identical so you won't be losing too much quality if you decide to stick with the Blu.

 

 

AUDIO:

 'Mortal Kombat' is presented in Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1, and Dolby Digital 5.1 along with various subtitles and languages. The score by Benjamin Wallfisch was crisp and that iconic theme song boomed through my speakers beautifully. The score also doesn't overtake the film's dialogue or sound effects either and overall this is a very balanced and smooth set of tracks. The fight scenes are a particular highlight that I would've been furious over if they'd messed this one up. You can't go wrong with any of the three tracks here, although the obvious winner goes to the Atmos track for me personally but if you don't have the system for that the 7.1 is also an excellent choice.

 

 SPECIAL FEATURES:

 Deleted/Extended Scenes: 3 scenes are included. Cole's extended nightmare & Kano dialogue, Shang Tsung and Mileena having an argument, and Lui Kang & Kung Lao discussing the fate of Sonya Blade.

The Making of Mortal Kombat: A 30 minute featurette about the film going over the various behind the scenes elements such as the costume design, filming locations, and special effects as well as a brief look at the video game series.

Anatomy of a Scene: This featurette is 7 segments focusing on the film's most memorable moments and breaking down various aspects.

Entering the Krypt: A 10 minute video looking at the various Easter Eggs hidden throughout the film although it only touches on a few leaving many for the fans to look for themselves.

 Fight Koreography: This featurette goes over the various martial arts techniques and stunt work for the film.

Fan Favorite Kharacters: 11 featurettes focusing on each fighter and their respective actor.

 

Features overall are a little light here. Sadly, we don't get any kind of audio commentary or more significant deleted scenes that could've fixed some story elements but for those interested in the craft, the behind the scenes featurettes are informational and won't take up too much of your time. The weakest features for me are the Easter Egg and Fan Favorite segments. The first one feels like an afterthought and only goes over the most obvious eggs that fans likely already saw and gives no hints or information for the others they claim to have. The second feature's issue is that it's just a dull retread of the film's characters which most people will know inside and out so this feels like a useless feature for the uninitiated but if you're not a MK fan why would you watch the special features? 

 

 

'Mortal Kombat' has its problems, but I still enjoyed it and it comes with a pretty nice presentation overall. Like the movie itself, the package isn't perfect but the audio/visual qualities are outstanding even if the special features aren't.

 

Film:

B

 

Video:

A+

 

Audio:

A

 

Features:

C-

 

Overall:

B+  

'Cruella' Is Fun & Stylish, but Parents Should Be Wary

 

 

     The newest release from Walt Disney Pictures this week "Cruella" is another addition to their latest trend of revamping their old library into sleek live-action affairs, which have been average at best. "Cruella" may not be changing that trend anytime soon because while it does deliver a much better product than previous releases like "Mulan" it's likely to be lumped in with the others and forgotten in a short few years.

The movie does have some big positives to it and audiences won't be bored, though I do feel this is not a film for the little ones to be sure. Not only is it much darker in tone, dealing with murder and revenge plots but the story has more in common with "The Devil Wears Prada" rather than the classic 1961 animated film which I think would bore younger viewers. The biggest positives I have is in the performances by Emma Stone, who humanizes Cruella De Vil and gives the character more depth than just someone who wants to skin dalmatians. Emma Thompson however is the standout as the Baroness, who you could say is a representation of the classic Cruella character. She is pure evil without an inch of remorse and seeing Cruella upstage her at every turn is always satisfying.

The film's other big highlight is of course the fashion and hair design which I'm going to call it right now and say this is going sweep the hair & makeup awards circuit. Each of Cruella's dresses and hairstyles are beautiful, creative, and of course being Cruella De Vil are over the top and attention getting. The costumes for the Baroness and her various party guests throughout the movie are also notable. The movie also incorporates music from the 1970s so of course we get one of the biggest music playlists I've seen in a while, all classics from that era and many tracks bring out that punk rock style the film is going for.

The music tracks are all solid hits, but they also are the beginning of the various issues I had with "Cruella". Typically, when one incorporates music other than a score it's usually meant as a small way to bring the audience into the world of the film. Here, we have an issue where the music is non-stop, with tracks being played almost every single scene and leaving nothing in the way of a traditional score which I think would've helped with some of the more dramatic scenes. My next topic isn't so much a negative as it's more of a warning to parents that yes, this may be a Disney film but it does carry a well-deserved PG-13 rating. It's not as extreme as the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, but as previously stated the film does open with a rather shocking scene of someone being murdered and the overall tone of revenge and implied violence do make it a bit more risque than their usual fare.

That being said, it feels like the movie is playing it too safe despite its themes and tone as if Disney was unsure of fully tilting over to an adult movie. It leaves the film a bit tone deaf overall, with scenes of slapstick mixed into a story about revenge and murder. I just wish they'd gone one way or the other, although it probably would've worked more in favor of mature audiences than family in my opinion. "Cruella" is not a bad origin story but it's ties to the animated film and the tone shifts do keep it from being a boundary breaking one. It's recommended as a fun popcorn movie but you won't leave the theater fully satisfied as some of the better Disney films.

B-

Mortal Kombat (2021) Review

 

"Mortal Kombat" is the fourth movie based on the popular video game franchise and is mainly a reboot of the original game's story, taking place before the tournament begins. We are quickly introduced to fan favorites such as Sonya Blade and Lui Kang but also a newcomer to the series named Cole who is part of a mystical prophecy saying he will unite the warriors of Earthrealm in the upcoming Mortal Kombat tournament.

For having a short length and fast pace, the movie introduces a lot of characters which is commendable but sadly commits previous film sins by giving them little to no time to develop or even for fans to get enough joy out of seeing their favorites on screen before their time is cut short. Not to spoil too much but several fighters are either obscure picks to be used as fatality fodder or some of the more well known ones are taken down only for a plot convenient line of dialog is used to pretty much hint that they'll be returning for the sequel. This does make it feel a bit lazy and shallow but in the end this is "Mortal Kombat" so it's not like I expected Shakespeare.

While the story and somewhat disjointed pace are pretty big flaws in "Mortal Kombat" I'm happy to say that the action and fights are excellent. They're well choreographed and shot so that you can see each hit and hear every blow and they weren't kidding on including the series' infamous fatalities. Some of the more popular are here and never shy away once, this is full on R-rated MK (though they may have exaggerated on how graphic they are for PR sake). The acting in this is also higher quality than I expected and the script has loads of funny lines that always got a chuckle from me. 

"Mortal Kombat" knows what it is and what the audience wants from it: gory action and fun popcorn entertainment. It's a shame the story couldn't be more focused like the games but hopefully we'll see that sequel (or sequels if a recent interview is to be believed). I highly recommend you see it in theaters for the best experience (or IMAX if available) however you can also view it through HBO Max as well. Check it out for a fun time and if you're like me be sure to look out for the dozen or so Easter Eggs I caught during my viewing.

B

I also reviewed the first three MK movies, which I have HERE, HERE, & HERE for your enjoyment. Thank you for your support on this silly little hobby I do.

Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020) Review

 

"Mortal Kombat Legends" is a retelling of the original MK story told from the perspective of series icon Scorpion. It is the first full length animation in the series and the first in the film franchise to receive an 'R' rating. This does bring the spirit of the games better but is it an overall better film? 

 In what seems to be an attempt at being a series of character themed features, the Netherrealm specter Scorpion becomes the main focus rather than the heroes of Earthrealm, even causing huge plot holes and continuity errors with his actions. In all fairness, the series is no stranger to timeline manipulation as recently seen with the release of "Mortal Kombat 11" so it's easy enough to write "Scorpion's Revenge" as one of many multiverse stories told in this franchise.

As for the movie itself, Warner Home Media again provides high quality animation seen in their DC Comics adaptations as well as some stellar voice talent. The characters are all well done though its a shame many are somewhat sidelined due to the change in focus such as Sonya Blade & Jax Briggs but the story overall will be a familiar one to fans but will likely leave casual audiences with many questions. The issue with the movies overall seemed to be that they didn't explain the world or its rules very clearly while going through them this past week, something I hope will be remedied in the upcoming new release and changing the story around like this isn't helping things either.

This may just be a theory of mine, but I have a feeling that everything was changed so drastically because the live-action reboot was originally slated for a 2020 release, just months after this one. This leads me to believe that this was a promotional film of sorts that got a smaller release due to the COVID-19 pandemic hence why they wanted it to stand out as to avoid spoilers for the new film though this again is merely speculation.

"Scorpion's Revenge" overall has little to discuss that wasn't already in previous entries. Aside from the well done animation and voice talent, this is the same fun action flick you saw in the 1995 film but with the gore and carnage turned way up to 11. I would rate it just above that flick and give it a high recommendation.

B+

You can read my two other reviews for "Mortal Kombat" HERE & HERE.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) Review

 

"Mortal Kombat: Annihilation" picks up moments after the last film where the new baddie Shao Khan and his minions have now invaded Earthrealm. Our heroes suffer significant losses and are forced to retreat and they begin to travel in hopes of finding any allies and saving the merging of Earth with Outworld.

I'll be honest and say that before this little marathon I prepared, I had never seen this one aside from some choice clips commonly used as internet memes. That being said, I didn't dread going into it at first because it seemed to be yet another 'so bad it's good' movie that could be fun to make fun of. 

I was wrong.

Unlike the first film where the cheesy elements worked in its favor due to higher production value and a good cast, "Annihilation" keeps the bad and makes it even worse to the point of cringe. Robin Shou & Talisa Soto are the only returning cast members as Lui Kang and Kitana so we're left with a new group who seem to have little knowledge of their characters and in a lot of cases seem to not understand what acting is.

Now I know that villains are supposed to be over the top, especially in video games back in the day but the difference between Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's Shang Tsung and Brian Thompson's Shao Khan is restraint. Yes, Tagawa made those iconic silly faces throughout but his performance overall was quiet & reserved, feeling very similar to Jafar from "Aladdin". Someone who's always scheming and thinking one step ahead. Shao Khan in this movie acts like a high school bully with zero intimidation or fear the character in the games give off. You do not believe for one second this guy is the most powerful man in the universe.

Then you have the minions which are somehow even worse representations of their game counterparts. I understand that back in 1997 the game series didn't have much lore to develop into a full blown screenplay but there was enough to give these characters some kind of personality. I neglected to mention this in my review of the first film, but if I though Scorpion & Sub-Zero were barely utilized properly, I only need look at the characters of "Annihilation". About the majority of them are little more than a brief cameo as this story will have its characters enter a new area, meet a new fighter, then almost immediately get rid of them either in the same sequence or the next and some just show up in one part of a scene like the picture above.

The movie is just simply trying way too hard to be ambitious with an attempt at this grand epic movie when special effects, budget, story, and the cast & crew were just not up to par. The original film had a lower budget than this and it pulled it off, taking us to some beautiful exotic locations and keeping the fantasy elements to a minimum (though the special effects in that were also a big issue). "Annihilation" is double the budget but looks a million times cheaper, something I cannot fathom how you do that.

Is there anything good about "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation"? Robin Shou's Lui Kang is still good, the fights are still good and...it did prevent the third film? It's actually hard to find much here folks this is just as bad as you've heard but for me personally it was even worse. I thought I could at least get a good chuckle or two out of it but this is a dull movie overall and the best of the worst is stuff you've already seen in YouTube clips. Avoid "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation".

F

You can check out my other reviews on "Mortal Kombat" HERE & HERE.

Mortal Kombat (1995) Review

 

"Mortal Kombat" is a name that even those who don't play video games know. It was an innovation of the industry as well as pop culture during the 1990's. It not only lead to the creation of the video game rating system but also led to game designers taking more risky and mature storytelling as the industry was no longer 'Just for Kids'. Of course with such popularity, it was inevitable the series would expand into other mediums which included toys, comics, a Saturday morning cartoon, a Live-Action television series, and of course the 1995 movie.

"Mortal Kombat" is directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and is a retelling of the first game where a chosen few are taken to a mysterious island to participate in an ancient tournament to protect the realm of Earth. The fighters Lui Kang (Robin Shou), Johnny Cage (Linden Ashby), and Sonya Blade (Bridgette Wilson) have their work cut out for them as they face off against various supernatural creatures and mystical fighters such as the cryomancer Sub-Zero and the four armed half dragon giant Goro.

The story itself is quite simple as this was when the games were still mainly an arcade mainstay and had very little time to tell its tale in between gameplay. Many martial arts fans will notice the similarities to Bruce Lee's masterpiece "Enter the Dragon" and that's really the best way I can describe this first film. It's "Enter the Dragon" but with pure B-Movie cheese and that's not really a bad thing depending on your expectations going in.

Video game adaptations were very different back then and just took the basics such as gameplay and the character models and having to fill in the blanks themselves and if you look at the alternatives of the day such as the abysmal "Super Mario Brothers" & "Street Fighter" it's easy to see why "Mortal Kombat" gained such a reputation over the years as the "Best Video Game Movie". While it's certainly a fun watch and an obvious cult favorite among gamers, I wouldn't really call this a "Good" movie really, definitely entertaining and fun but let's just say that I'm glad we're getting a more mature take on the material.

The biggest issue is the one everyone knows but I still have to discuss it so I won't linger on it too long. The film is lacking in the series' signature Fatality moves and the violence in general is completely toned down and almost seems tame for the PG-13 rating it did get. No one even bleeds from the various punches or kicks thrown and while the fight scenes are well choreographed and the cast obviously worked very hard to pull off these moves, it is missing that smoothness or over the top nature not just from the games but from superior martial arts action pictures that came before.

Okay, now that I've gotten that out of the way the film's other main flaw is its budget. I can understand that New Line Cinema was very cautious when it came to the film due to its controversy at the time and didn't want to spend too much but Paul Anderson would go on to create cult favorites "Event Horizon" & the first "Resident Evil" movies for about the same budget or less and they are visually impressive and feel like big budget blockbusters whereas here a lot of it feels like they got some cosplayers from a MK convention. The movie also utilizes some really poor CG effects which were dated back in '95 when they could've used more reliable techniques that were more fitting to their low budget and would've looked a million times better.

The biggest pro this movie has going for it is the cast, which all do an awesome job and really elevate this movie. Christopher Lambert's Raiden is a bit sillier than his game counterpart but for some reason I can't help but chuckle at his silly dialog. The film's main villain, played by Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa is a perfect fit and he is so ingrained into our head as Shang Tsung, they would use his likeness and voice talent in "Mortal Kombat 11" nearly 20 years later. Linden Ashby is another great fit as the smart mouthed Johnny Cage and it's a shame we didn't see him reprise the role (though rumor has it he has a cameo in the upcoming new film). The best quips from the movie are 99% Ashby's and next to Tagawa he's definitely the most memorable character.

Wilson's Sonya retains the character's tough persona though she sadly becomes merely a damsel for the climax which feels like a studio decision as it comes out of nowhere and goes against everything about how this character acts so it's a shame she's reduced to this as the film climaxes. The final standout is Trevor Goddard who like Tagawa would go on to influence the game studio Netherrealm to retcon and change the villainous Kano due to him being so good in the role. Sadly, the actor is no longer with us but he kills it as the character here and made a legacy for himself.

It had been a while since I last popped in "Mortal Kombat" and I gotta say it still holds up as a fun, throwaway action flick. It doesn't stand among the greats like Schwarzenegger or Stallone films of the 90's but it's a fun way to spend an afternoon. It likely won't appeal to non-fans as it does a lot of exposition dumping that will just leave people confused but if you shut your brain off you'll have fun with this silly movie.

 C+

You can check out my other "Mortal Kombat" movie reviews HERE & HERE.

"Godzilla vs Kong" Review

 

Monsters clash in "Godzilla vs Kong", the new movie directed by Adam Wingard. It's a continuation of the Warner Bros 'Monsterverse' of films and sees a group attempt to find Kong a safe haven from Godzilla, whose momentary peace with the human race has seemingly ended after he once again proceeds to rampage throughout the big cities. Desperate for any solution, the group puts their trust in Kong and the cybernetics company Apex who are hiding some shady dealings underneath the surface.

This is a perfect popcorn movie with non-stop action and a faster pace than the previous films running about an 1hr and 50min or so. While it really helps get you into the action quicker, I have to be the nitpicker and say that I wish it was a bit longer because I was so into it all. My only real gripe with the story overall is the lack of any additional lore to the film's setting. What we know about the monsters (Or Titans as they're called here) is mostly been given to us in previous entries. That being said, fans of both franchises will love the dozens of Easter Eggs throughout, with some being so obscure and others beautiful modern homages.

Wingard and writers Max Borenstein & Eric Pearson clearly have a love for kaiju and are knowledgeable of each creature's lore and gives them different advantages to make you wonder just who is going to win each fight? Many 'vs.' films of the past would usually cop out so as not to offend one side or the other but here we do get a definitive winner plus a nice final bout at the end which I'll not spoil here. The film may also disappoint some fans of the Big G as despite his name coming first, this really is more Kong's film as he is given a pretty extensive arc throughout. Godzilla is kind of the big green wall blocking his path most of the time.

My biggest gripe with the film as a whole is some of the human characters which could be contributed to both writing and the shorter length. The people who got the short end of the stick is probably Millie Brown and Kyle Chandler, returning from the previous film but are little more than cameos. Chandler is almost non-existent and Brown is unfortunately paired with the two most annoying characters drowning out her role in the process. And again I have to put down Junkie XL's score here and I have to say I'm getting sick of talking about this guy. Bear McCreary's previous work on "King of the Monsters" was amazing with little slices of the iconic Godzilla theme making for one of his best scores. Here, it's about as generic as you can get with no inclusions of either Kong's or Godzilla's themes and is overall another forgettable score from the man. 

 This is still overall the best of this 'Monsterverse' film franchise and well worth seeing in theaters if you can. It deserves the praise and hype and really gets you pumped up. "Godzilla vs Kong" is a keeper.

 

B+

"Nobody" Review

 

 

 Bob Odenkirk is the last person you think of upon hearing the story of the newest action film "Nobody" about a former CIA assassin turned family man brought back into the business but man does he do his damnedest to prove himself capable. The film comes from the writer and producers of the highly acclaimed "John Wick" series and fans of those flicks will see the similarities right away but the slight recycle of certain action set-pieces and story beats mean that "Nobody" is a simple retread. It stands alongside that series with some great action, over the top violence, and some nice added humor to make this one of the best films of 2021 so far.

Odenkirk, who most would know as Saul from the popular "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" series shows off some impressive stunt work given his advanced age. His knack for comedy writing over the years also helps him deliver some great lines throughout and most importantly his connection to his family and the struggles of adapting to a 'normal' life give the film some heart and really invests you in his character. The supporting cast does a great job as well although Christopher Lloyd and RZA probably could've had some more screen time as they work off Odenkirk really well.

Where "Nobody" probably falters most is with its central villain, which like "John Wick" and many recent action pictures is your usual generic Russian gangster who seeks revenge after his brother is killed by our hero. This is also where I'd say the film lazily recycles "Wick" the most, with very similar plot points but thankfully they do manage to change enough throughout to mostly get away with this. 

Ultimately, while it does retread on familiar beats seen in previous works "Nobody" still gives you some bloody, explosive action but with some deeper character development and humor thrown on top. It comes highly recommended.

A

 

Zack Snyder's Justice League Non-Spoiler Review

2017's "Justice League" was a huge mess to say the least, with a rushed & troubled production that saw the early departure of the original director Zack Snyder replaced with Joss Whedon, the constant re-writes which essentially threw out the film's original vision and cobbling together a cookie cutter byproduct that failed to impress fans or critics.

The movie would soon be forgotten as just another mediocre superhero film until a few years back when the fandom began an online campaign requesting for Snyder's original cut to be restored and released. The hashtag #SnyderCut would go on to become the most shared hashtag ever in social media and fans were rewarded for their passion and it was soon announced that the long-awaited 'Snyder Cut' would be released on March 17th 2021.

 

 

Now that we got that little history lesson out of the way, we'll get into the film itself. Does it live up to all the hype? Probably not. Is it a much better movie than before? That's a definite yes from me. Is it the perfect superhero film we've always wanted? That's a bit more complicated to answer, but here we go. The story for those unaware sees Batman (Ben Affleck) assembling a team of meta humans after the heroic death and sacrifice of Superman (Henry Cavill) during the climax of "Batman v. Superman". He recruits the mythical Aquaman (Jason Mamoa), Amazonian Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Barry Allen a.k.a The Flash (Ezra Miller) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and together they unite as one to take down Steppenwolf, who seeks to open a portal from our world to his and allow the big bad of the DC Universe Darkseid to rule all of earth.

The story is of course much more dense than that, as this new cut runs 4 hours in length and gives the film plenty of room to develop these characters better with special mention going to Ray Fisher's Cyborg who was infamously side-lined during the re-shoots. Here, he becomes integral to the film as a whole and as quoted directly by Snyder himself is "The Heart of The Film". The rest of the team get a bit more added to their arcs as well but some are far less than others. I would say Wonder Woman gets the raw end of the deal here, providing little more than exposition during her big scenes. Her fight scenes are by far the best however, with her being able to unleash her fury thanks to the 'R' rating and unleashing some brutal moves.

 

 

Aquaman also gets a bit more here but his extended scenes bring up various plot holes and creates huge continuity problems when connection to the 2018 "Aquaman" film. The Flash remains the comic relief and his jokes land more often than not but we also get some better insight into what motivates him to become a hero. The scenes with his father while brief help with the character immensely. Funny enough, Batman/Bruce Wayne's role remains largely the same as the theatrical cut but there was little to complain about him there anyway so this doesn't change anything major. Even the big bad Steppenwolf gets some development to his motivations and he actually has a clear goal beyond just being an evil villain. 

Superman as you may have guessed is largely absent from the film but his influence and symbolism for good is felt throughout and it was awesome seeing him return to help his friends. For the most part this all results in an obvious change in quality and the "Snyder Cut" is a better movie overall. Even with its length it moves quick and though I had to take a break between viewings, I had already gone through 3 hours before I even realized it. 

 

 

This is probably Zack Snyder's best looking film of his career. He usually has a tendency to go a bit over the top with the look and sound of his work which has divided fans over the years. While a lot of that over the top nature remains here the film also goes for a much darker, earthy look with a heavy use of orange and fiery color schemes that helps add to the bleaker tone. The film takes a different route and keeps its aspect ratio at 4.3 which was first met with skepticism from myself and others. This choice was done to keep the vision of Snyder intact and while unusual after you get into the movie you start to notice how detailed it is despite not being presented in widescreen. The 4K visuals are striking and one the best films I've seen in that format to date. Overall, it seems Snyder had a much more focused idea for this film than others he's done. 

 

Now that I've singed the praises of the film, I sadly must get to the things I didn't enjoy so much. The special effects work has been improved from the theatrical cut for the most part such as the impressive look of Steppenwolf's shifting armor and Cyborg's body. Other times the computer effects either look unfinished or rushed and I know this is due to various outside issues but it's a flaw and it has to be addressed. Junkie XL produces yet another superhero score that feels bland and overall forgettable. His Wonder Woman theme is the only real standout here which luckily gets used often. I don't really enjoy Junkie's work in the superhero genre and really miss those days of Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams taking the reigns. On that topic, why doesn't any Superman movie ever use Williams' score anymore? That could've really elevated the soundtrack.

 

 

I'm also not a big fan of the film's Epilogue, which suffers from "Lord of the Rings" syndrome. It tacks on a happy ending, the post-credits from the theatrical cut, a shoehorned in scene with Jared Leto's Joker that really goes nowhere, and finally it reaches the proper end scene which is cool and I won't be spoiling here but it really just needed to stick with this and possibly the happy ending. "Zack Snyder's Justice League" is a vast improvement that shows the power and passion of the fans and those who respected the director. It runs a bit too long, its music is generic, and it has one too many endings but for comic book fans, it's well worth the $14.99 I spent on it. The 2017 film is dead. Long live the "Snyder Cut".

B+

"Zack Snyder's Justice League" is now available on HBO Max. New users get a 7 day free trial. The film is rated 'R' for violence and language. All photos, services, and film rights belong to Warner Media.

'Venom 2' Officially Delayed to September

 

No less than 2 hours after discussing the film's fate with a family member, news has dropped that "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" has officially been delayed by Sony Pictures. Originally set to release back in October 2020, the film was then delayed to June of this year before today where its now set to release on September 17th filling yet another slate for the fall, which already is filled to the brim with major releases such as "Candyman", "Resident Evil", "Halloween Kills", and "Malignant".

The announcement shouldn't come as a surprise considering Sony would only have two months to market and make merchandise available before the film's release. On top of that, we've yet to even see a behind the scenes peek or even a teaser trailer. Recent rumors suggest we'll be getting that trailer sooner than expected but take that with a grain of salt.

The film was directed by Andy Serkis and is the follow up to 2018's hit film. Tom Hardy will be reprising the role of Eddie Brock/Venom. The film also stars Woody Harrelson as Carnage, Michelle Williams as Anne, and Naomi Harris as Shriek. The story is still currently under wraps.

'The Batman' Officially Wraps! Director Shares Set Photo to Celebrate

 

 

"The Batman" has officially wrapped production. The long delayed new film in Warner Bros' DC universe has now entered post-production and director Matt Reeves has taken to his Instagram & Twitter to celebrate. Showing off the final scene shot along with some props and other goodies some of which we've seen before in the trailer. We hope this means another look at the film is on the way sooner rather than later.

 

Not only did Reeves celebrate the end of production, but Jeffery Wright also took to his social media.

"Gordon out...for now", Wright posted today. The actor is also set to star as Jim Gordon in the HBO Max spin off show Gotham PD which is also currently in production. Needless to say for those following the film's production, it was quite the struggle getting it in the can. The film began shooting all the way back in January 2020 but was quickly shut down amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Production would soon start back up but rumors of on set drama and even the possibility of star Robert Pattinson testing positive for the virus. Thankfully, most of these proved false and the film managed to smooth things out and the film has now been scheduled for a 2022 release.

"The Batman" takes place in year two of Batman’s crusade against crime. Robert Pattinson stars as the Caped Crusader himself, Bruce Wayne/Batman, leading a cast that also includes Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman; Paul Dano as The Riddler; Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon; John Turturro as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson, Gotham’s district attorney; Jayme Lawson as Bella Reál, a mayoral candidate in Gotham; Andy Serkis as Alfred; and Colin Farrell as the Penguin. 

The film will release March 4, 2022.

New Sneak Peek of Disney's 'Cruella' Revealed!

 

 

The first trailer for Disney's retelling of Cruella DeVil made quite the stir a couple weeks back. The Emma Stone vehicle has been subject to a multitude of articles, criticisms, and internet memes liking the film's look and tone to 2019's 'Joker' and 2020's 'Birds of Prey' due to its seemingly darker look and tone than the usual House of Mouse fare.

Today, we've been given another quick look at the film and this one is a bit more on the humorous and lighter side. The trailer can be seen below and seems to give us a better idea of the overall story, which seems to be a rivalry between Cruella and a still unknown fashionista played by the wonderful Emma Thompson with some great shots such as the one above and some lighting-paced action set to Nancy Sinatra.

Overall, the issue seems to stem from Disney themselves as to who exactly this film is supposed to be for. Is it for adults? preteens? or is it more family friendly than it's marketing suggests? 'Cruella' will be released on May 28th for Memorial Day. Be sure to stay tuned for more news and eventually the final verdict on the film itself.

'Mortal Kombat' Officially Rated 'R' & Kabal Confirmed!

 

 

As if the recently released trailer of the upcoming Mortal Kombat wasn't enough to convince you the newest entry in the series wasn't skimping out on the gore or fatalities, the James Wan-produced film has today been given a certified "R"...

"STRONG BLOODY VIOLENCE AND LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT, AND SOME CRUDE REFERENCES."

On top of that happy news, we also got a brand new bus shelter poster which displays the current roster we've seen before. However, we now have confirmation of fan-favorite KABAL hanging out in the corner of the poster which you can see below. It makes one wonder just how many fighters we'll be seeing in the final cut and April 16 cannot come soon enough.

 

 

 Mortal Kombat will release both in theaters and HBO MAX on April 16th, 2021.

 

In Mortal Kombat, ”MMA fighter Cole Young, accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage—or why Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family’s safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade at the direction of Jax, a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden, an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang, Kung Lao and rogue mercenary Kano, as he prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. But will Cole be pushed hard enough to unlock his arcana—the immense power from within his soul—in time to save not only his family, but to stop Outworld once and for all?”

 The ensemble includes Lewis Tan (“Deadpool 2,” Netflix’s “Wu Assassins”) as Cole Young; Jessica McNamee (“The Meg”) as Sonya Blade; Josh Lawson (“Bombshell”) as Kano; Tadanobu Asano (“Midway”) as Lord Raiden; Mehcad Brooks (TV’s “Supergirl”) as Jackson “Jax” Bridges; Ludi Lin (“Aquaman”) as Liu Kang; with Chin Han (“Skyscraper”) as Shang Tsung; Joe Taslim (“Star Trek Beyond”) as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero; and Hiroyuki Sanada (“Ringu”) as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion. Also featured are Max Huang as Kung Lao; Sisi Stringer as Mileena; Matilda Kimber as Emily Young; and Laura Brent as Allison Young.

 McQuoid directed from a screenplay by Greg Russo and Dave Callaham (“Wonder Woman 1984”), from a story by Oren Uziel (“Mortal Kombat: Rebirth”) and Russo, based on the videogame created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Michael Clear, Jeremy Stein and Larry Kasanoff served as executive producers.

 

 

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) Review

 

 

'Raya and the Last Dragon' is the latest animated film from Walt Disney Pictures and features the voice talents of Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina. The story tells the tale of a land divided into various factions whose distrust and anger lead to a dystopian era and the release of hideous creatures who turn all they touch into stone, including the mystical dragons that once protected mankind. Several years later, we follow the titular character as she travels through the world in an attempt to save it, meeting Sisou who is the last living dragon and key to salvation.

Whatever problems I may personally have with Disney as a company, I can't deny that their recent animated features have been high quality and 'Raya' is no different. What is now known as Disney's Second Renaissance is still on a roll here with the quality you'd expect by now. The animation is a beautiful mixture of various cultures of Asia and each land is unique and memorable. The music by James Newton Howard is another masterpiece, though a bit quiet in places. The film has some big action set pieces not seen in a Disney animation in quite a while, with the high quality choreography seen in live-action films.

Overall this is a much darker story than usual with only a few moments of the typical comic relief thrown in. The story's themes of trust, revenge, and redemption are strong ones not usually seen enough of in Disney or even modern animated films and it's cool to see the studio tackle a more mature film like this. My only real drawbacks are with the usual kids film trappings such as the previously mentioned comic relief and the story feels too similar to previous films and shows like 'Moana' and 'The Last Airbender' but these really are little more than personal nitpicks.

'Raya and the Last Dragon' is an excellent film to usher in the recent reopening of theaters nationwide. I highly recommend seeing it in theaters if at all possible. It's beautiful, dark, fun, and action-packed with really positive messages to teach kids that's been sorely lacking in family films lately. And props to the opening short, which is a sweet little cartoon that tells its story in song and dance that's likely up for an award.

A+

Photo(s) & Video are the property of the Walt Disney Company.

[NEWS]: Marvel's 'Blade' & 'Punisher' Reboots May Be PG-13 and Fans are Furious

 

A while back when fans were anxious over the fate of future 'Deadpool' sequels now that they had fallen under Marvel/Disney's banner were assured that the upcoming film would be keeping it's 'R' rating and things seemed to calm down. That's all been uprooted with the recent report that Marvel's upcoming 'Blade' and 'Punisher' reboot films may not be following the same path. 

Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige was quoted at a recent event regarding the films:

"Other than Deadpool, which has already established itself as a certain genre and a certain rating, that we already said we would not mess with when we started working on Deadpool - which we have - other than that, we haven't encountered a story or a storyline or a character's journey that a PG-13, or the tone, or the ratings we've been using up to this point has prevented us... We've told all the stories that we wanted to with the tonality and the rating we have now."

Now I must remind you that this so far is heresay with no confirmed yes or no on these two projects, but the quote does seem to imply enough that fans and the internet exploded, with furious responses on various social media and online videos. The argument of the rating and certain comic properties has been ongoing for a while now. While some argue that a harsher rating would hurt profits as comic books are still seen by many as a strictly younger demographic, there's more than enough proof out there to the contrary.

2019's 'Joker' became the highest-grossing R rated film of all time, beating out Marvel's own 'Deadpool' and even 'The Matrix' as well as going on to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix. Even the upcoming 'Zack Snyder's Justice League' has been so far met with high expectation and excitement despite sporting an R sticker. 

There's also 2018's 'Venom' to consider as well which also was met with skepticism due to its PG-13 rating despite the character's more vicious qualities. The film would go on to be one of the biggest hits that year, ranking with 'Star Wars' & 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' but many critics and fans alike did point out the film's more watered down elements weren't in its favor.

But unlike the character of Venom, Blade and The Punisher are simply not family friendly characters nor have they ever been. The world of Blade is one of horror, violence, and bloodshed on nearly every page and if the film trilogy wasn't enough to convince people out there...

 

 

 The Punisher is the more baffling of the two if this turns out to be a legit choice in production. For those unaware of the character, it's quite simple: He deliberately and brutally kills villains without any hesitation, sometimes torturing them or getting the same treatment to himself. His backstory, which is of his entire family being mercilessly gunned down by mobsters in a park is too graphic to even consider showing in a PG-13 film. You can just see this comic panel I got in a random search for the character...

 

It's time to think more logically with some of this stuff and make a story that remains faithful to the source material. We don't have to water down mature comic books anymore, three of the highest grossing R films are comic properties. Marvel & DC Comics are bigger than they have ever been and everyone knows their name even non-comic book fans. They will come to the movie if you just make it well and respect the source material. We'll have to see how this story develops down the line but I wouldn't expect the fans to calm down anytime soon.

 If you'd like to contribute to the site as a reviewer or news reporter, check out the Facebook page and send a message. You can also send a sample text as well. Thank you all for continuing to read my silly little blog over these last few years.

 

 

 

Source: CinemaBlend, We've Got This Covered, MovieWeb, Marvel Studios

All images and videos included are the property of their respective owner. 

Tom & Jerry (2021) Review

 

 

Tom & Jerry, the lovable comedy duo has been entertaining kids for 80 years now with hundreds of shorts, several television specials, and a few feature films with only two making it to theaters. 1992's 'Tom & Jerry: The Movie' wasn't anything special but I grew up with it so the nostalgia does hide some the flaws there. 2021's 'Tom & Jerry' holds no nostalgic feeling and instead relies on the same modern tropes and cheap gags of what came before. Replace the two characters with Garfield, Alvin, or even Yogi Bear and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

But really another big issue here is that Tom & Jerry just don't work when stretched out to a feature length picture. The shorts hold up because they're fast-paced, full of energy, and some memorable and historic gags. Whereas the 2021 film attempts to weave a story in between multiple short sequences and while it could be forgiven that the story is cliche and dumb if the gags and banter between the two weren't as cringe or stupid. The film falls back on lazy gross out humor and when it does have the traditional slapstick of the cartoons, it botches them spectacularly. 

I'm so sick of writers and directors in Hollywood not only taking these classic cartoon icons and turning them into cheap cash-grabs, but I'm especially sick of writers and directors who think so little of kids and their parents that they refuse to give them anything but gross out humor and bad writing because kids won't know the difference. 'Tom & Jerry' doesn't seem to even care if it exists outside of taking the money of people who deserve better and that's the greatest insult overall.

And yes, the animation you've seen above and in motion throughout the film's trailer and final product is just as bad as it looks. This desire to make everything in live-action around cartoon characters isn't new but it makes everything stick out so badly. Why couldn't we have had this cel shaded style but in an actual animated backdrop? It would still look bad, but it would fit better and be a bit more forgivable. 

The movie is the first major release of the year and with very little else to satiate the movie going crowd, it's likely to make a bundle. But make no mistake, it's a bad movie. A lazy movie. A movie that has no redeemable value and will quickly be forgotten when films like 'Raya' come out because Disney actually tries with their animated fare despite their questionable practices behind the scenes. I recommend a hard pass and waiting until that film next week.

F

Mortal Kombat Red Band Trailer Has Finally Arrived!

 

 

The wait is finally over and Warner Bros has released the first trailer for their upcoming 'Mortal Kombat' film. The trailer runs about 2 and a half minutes and shows off some great action, gore aplenty, and of course some of the game's most iconic lines. I will leave the trailer below for your viewing pleasure.

Seeing the film in action, it looks to be keeping the spirit of the games but we'll have to wait until April 16th to know for sure. Are you looking forward to 'Mortal Kombat'? Will you be seeing it in theaters or on HBO Max? Let me know below and thanks for coming.

'Mortal Kombat' tells the story of a young MMA Fighter named Cole who has been one of the chosen few to compete in an ancient tournament to save Earthrealm. Summoned together by Lord Raiden, Cole and his companions will have their hands full fighting the supernatural beasts and mysterious kombatants of Outworld.

 

(c) 2021 Warner Media & Atomic Monster

Warner Bros. Has Unleashed Character Posters For Mortal Kombat! Trailer Tomorrow!

 

 

After many delays and many teases from Warner Media, we will finally be getting our first real look at the upcoming 'Mortal Kombat' in a special 'Red Band' trailer which is sure to show us all the blood and guts the series is known for.

In the meantime, the studio and producer James Wan have uploaded to their Twitter some character posters featuring just some of the roster which you view below.

 

 

These look absolutely amazing and seem to perfectly capture the outfits and personality of the game counterparts. Stay tuned to my blog when the trailer drops tomorrow and let me know your thoughts on these in the comments below.

(c) 2021 Warner Media & NetherRealm Studios

Emma Stone is 'Cruella' in First Official Trailer

 

 

 

Disney has been in a rut lately. While financially successful, the studio's recent trend of converting their classics to live-action films have been mediocre at best and 2019's 'The Lion King' at worst. However this year looks to be a comeback of sorts for the company, with the March release of 'Raya and the Last Dragon' and today's topic, the upcoming origin film 'Cruella'.

The film is directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) and starring Emma Stone (La La Land), the film will tell the origin story of the young woman who became Cruella De Ville one of Disney's most evil villains. Today, we got our first look at the film which is set to release on May 28th which has been posted below.

'Cruella' looks to be taking quite the departure from your usual Disney fare, to the point where the internet has already dubbed it 'Disney Joker' on various social media outlets. This darker angle however in my opinion makes it a much better sell than just rehashing the story of '101 Dalmations' and though humanizing villains can backfire, such as was the case with 'Maleficent' this film looks to be trying its best to stand out. 

Opinion time: My problems with these live-action remakes as of late has always been taking the material and simply redoing it even down to the script. While a remake in general isn't an ideal movie, it should at least try to change it up in a way that it can stand out as its own piece and 'Cruella' looks to be doing just that.

What are your thoughts on the new 'Cruella' film? Will you be seeing it in theaters or on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

(c) Walt Disney Corporation 2021