She Is Love: An Art House Rom-Com In All The Worst Ways

Summary

A woman, played by Haley Bennett, traveling for business ends up staying at her ex-husband’s hotel.

So I will give this film props for trying to do something new with the standard rom-com formula, it does try and subvert some of the obvious cliches and that is to be applauded. However, instead of presenting tired and worn cliches the film instead encompasses a bunch of pretentious art house tosh that makes little to no sense and will leave you scratching your head.

The relationship held between the romantic leads, played by Bennett and Sam Riley, is deeply toxic, though I suppose that is sort of the point of the film. Yet you never really get to understand the ins and outs of it all as the conversations and wider narrative of the film seems to want to jump between things rapidly. The effect of this jumping around is disorientating and off putting.

Overall, though it tries to do something new this film falls headfirst into the well of pretentious art house nonsense.

1.5/5

Pros.

It is short

Bennett is trying.

Cons.

It makes little narrative sense

It is pretentious

The leads have no chemistry at all

It manages to have pacing issues despite being fairly short

If you enjoyed this review, then please head over to my Patreon to support me, I offer personalized shoutouts, the ability for you to pick what I review next, bespoke film recommendation to fit you as a person and full access to my Patreon exclusive game reviews. Check it out!

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer

Paint: Wes Anderson Without The Charm Or The Heart

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A quasi parody of Bob Ross, mixed with an original story, creating a mess.

I am a big fan of Owen Wilson and so his presence drew me to this film. Upon watching it I can say that Wilson himself was good, but that he was probably the only good thing about the film ultimately.

The parody elements didn’t work, and the humour of the film felt incredibly flat. At times I didn’t know whether the film wanted me to view it as a comedy or as more of a drama as they try and put in character work, which suggests it views itself as more of a character piece, but ultimately this doesn’t help to make the film funnier or the characters more likable.

Building upon that the message of the film is all over the place, on the one hand we are told to like Wilson’s character and root for him in this journey to find new meaning in his life, but on the other he is shown to be a massive creep and all round pretty crummy, so which is it? I understand the film is shooting for the more nuanced answer of the character being bad but then turning it around, however, it just feels confused and not fully thought out.

Overall, barely even passable, if you miss this one don’t sweat it.

2/5

Pros.

Wilson

It is short

Cons.

The character work is confusing

It isn’t funny

It takes itself a bit too seriously at times

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer

Star Wars Visions: In The Stars

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Two sisters attempt to restore water to their devastated world

Much like episode 2 I found this episode to be depressing, and I know Star Wars can be depressing and can do it well look at Andor, however, even within the confines of that show there is an underlying hopefulness as the Rebellion is beginning to from, here things start out incredibly bleak and don’t get better until the end of the episode.

I thought the characters were fine, I didn’t really warm to either sister, and thought that their arc of one being naïve and plucky and the other guarded and jaded had been done better in the past. I understand where the episode wanted their arcs to go and it roughly got there but I think more work was needed to do it well.

I am finding with this second season of Visions that pacing is really becoming an issue either the idea isn’t developed enough and needs more time to tell its story or the idea is too long and needs to be better cut down. The whole season thus far could do with some better editing.

Overall, fairly boring and generic.

2/5

Pros.

A solid premise

Seeing the wide reaches of the Empire

Cons.

It is underdeveloped and the character arcs needed more time

The sister’s don’t stand out as characters and feel too familiar in terms of personality

It feels depressing and not fun to watch

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer

Star Wars Visions: Screecher’s Reach

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A group of children straight from the workhouse explore a cave system and come across an old Sith who has gone mad and is thought of by the locals as a ghost, little do the children know they have stumbled into a much darker game.

This episode was certainly not what I was bargaining for, in many senses this episode was deeply unsettling outright creepy. Normally I wouldn’t have an issue with this but in the context of the show and what Star Wars is this came across as being far too different.

Now the whole point of this show is to try and play around with Star Wars and do new things, however, I think it is a balancing act between doing something new that still feels like the brand at the same time. This I would argue crossed that line and no longer felt like Star Wars

The Sith Mother, who is the real villain behind the whole episode was a very intriguing figure that I have not been able to stop thinking about since watching this, there was just something so off-kilter and incredibly sinister about her that makes her interesting. I hope the wider Star Wars lore comes back to her at some point.

Overall, depressing and unsettling not really what I want out of a Star Wars show.

1.5/5

Pros.

The Sith Mother was interesting

It has great animation

Cons.

It is bleak

It doesn’t feel like Star Wars

It is unsettling

The narrative needed greater explanation

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer

The Mother: The Embarrassing State Of Netflix’s Action Output

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The Mother, played by Jennifer Lopez, formed a bond with a child she gave away years ago and now needs to save her.

This film was just embarrassing. It was embracing for Jennifer Lopez as try as she might she just doesn’t have the presence to be a believable action hero. I know that the straight to DVD action market is a lucrative thing, with the likes of Ruby Rose getting several nice but small paydays throughout the year for a few sleepwalked performances, but unlike Rose Lopez just isn’t believable in the role at all. They could have maybe helped her along by developing the character out into being unconventional in some way or maybe even having her as a hacker, though I question if Lopez would have fit that role either, but having her as an assassin is laughable.

It is embarrassing for Netflix that this is the quality of action film they are putting out, again very much like something that in the previous decade would have gone straight to DVD and sold at a rock bottom price. When you look at the quality of studio action films with the likes of John Wick then this film looks even more like no one cared enough to make it good or more importantly look good. Then when you further compare it to international action films like The Raid then this film looks appallingly bad.

Netflix as a studio, needs to find their niche of films and stick to it as action clearly isn’t for them, they are throwing away masses of money on films like this, The Grey Man, Extraction and so on and all of them can never get anywhere even remotely above average on their best days.

Overall, a waste of time.

1/5

Pros.

I’m struggling but it wasn’t offensive so I can’t give it less.

Cons.

Lopez is miscast

The action is awful

It is generic

It has pacing issues

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer

Planet Terror: Go-Go Gore

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The survivors of a biochemical disaster must face off against zombie like creatures and the military.

So of the two Grindhouse films this is clearly the better. Whilst not perfect, this film is far more enjoyable, both in terms of having a style and a charm that I could easily get on board with as well as having characters that I actually cared about.

I am a big fan of Robert Rodriguez, I like most of his more adult orientated content, and this film proves why I feel that way. It has such a personality and soul and never stops trying to be interesting. I liked the tone the film set and how it managed to swing between irreverent and dramatic at the same time whilst still managing to also gets some rad kills in along the way.

I really do think that Rose McGowan is terrific here. Her lead is both one that you end up rooting for but also one that is full of twists and surprises and is a very interesting character that Rodriguez should consider going back to in his future work.

My main issues with the film is that some of the ideas and themes don’t age well, as well as the fact that zombies, and yes I know these aren’t zombies in the traditional sense, feel very overdone and just boring at times. Due to this I am more interested in the army villains within the film instead, but these do end up feeling underdeveloped at times.

Overall, the better half of Grindhouse but also not without its own issues.

3/5

Pros.

McGowan

The tone and the style

The gore

Cons.

It feels dated

The zombie threat seems overly familiar and played out

This film was requested by a member of my Patreon community if you would like the chance to request films for me to review head on over to my Patreon page to find out more. Additionally, I offer personalized shoutouts, bespoke film recommendation to fit you as a person and full access to my Patreon exclusive game reviews. Check it out!

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer

The Princess Bride: Your Princess Is In Another Castle

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A story within a story about a young farmhand, played by Cary Elwes, who must go on a quest to save the love of his life, played by Robin Wright, after she is kidnapped.

For the most part I enjoyed this film. Yes, the damsel in distress plot line is played out, but I suppose when the film came out maybe it felt more fresh. That aside I found this to be an entertaining ride.

The comedy was the thing that caught me off guard, I had been expecting more of a straightforward adventure/fantasy film and as such wasn’t really expecting many jokes, but this film does have a lot of them and most of them work well. It certainly made me smile more often than not.

Additionally, I liked the meta aspects of the narrative wherein the story knows it is a story and as such is a bit more playful and knowing both within its narrative as well as its presentation towards the audience.

I think as well that Elwes and Wright have great chemistry and them together as a couple in this feel incredibly natural and rightly paired.

Overall, a lot of fun.

4/5

Pros.

The great chemistry

The jokes

The metaness

It is a lot of fun

Cons.

Some aspects of the film feel quite dated now

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer

The NeverEnding Story: A Fantasy Classic?

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A young boy, played by Barrett Oliver, soon finds himself on a quest in a magical fantasy land.

Before watching this I had never seen The Never Ending Story before, I had long heard tale of it being one of the best fantasy films ever made, but it remained a mystery to me. However, now after having watched it I can safely say that Peter Jackson’s original trilogy of trips to the Shire are safe in their spot as the best fantasy films ever made.

Now the film does have some good areas, such as the effects which hold up reasonably well, and the characters which manage to feel different enough to stand out from the generic masses of mythical beings that pad out the rest of the fantasy film genre.

However, where the film falls down for me is within it’s plot. I understand that it is adapting a book so can only do so much, but the premise is just one I have seen so many times before in a cross media context, and that genericness made me start to tune out when I realised the direction the film was heading in. Moreover, the film also suffers from pacing issues which makes it feel far longer than it is and as such far more of a chore to get through.

Overall, a serviceable film but definitely not the classic it is thought as by some.

3/5

Pros.

The effects hold up well

Some interesting and memorable characters

A good score

Cons.

The premise feels very generic

Pacing issues

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer

Death Proof: Tarantino’s Mistake

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A serial killer stuntman, played by Kurt Russell, hunts down young women in modified cars.

If nothing else this film proves no one is perfect. For as many great films as Quentin Tarrantino has made across his career there always had to be a dud, it is the law of averages, and this is that dud.

This is easily Tarrantino’s worst film, with a story that is utterly simplistic and lacks any of his usual charm or whit. I understand that it is trying to parody exploitation films and evoke those sort of ideas, but this only serves to make the film worse. The exploitation nature of the premise leads to the film quickly becoming repetitive and bland.

Worse yet is the idea that this film is a black comedy. Not only does the humour not work it really barely comes through at all. When it is present it is you laughing at the film for how bad it is, was this what Tarrantino wanted?

Overall, Tarrantino’s worst film by quite a margin.

1/5

Pros.

It gives us a few laughs at how bad it is.

Cons.

The humour doesn’t work

The exploitation elements don’t hold up

It lacks any kind of charm

It is repetitive

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer

Mafia Mamma: The Suburbs Take Italy

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

After being cheated on Kristin, played by Toni Collette, travels to Italy for her grandfather’s funeral. However, little does she know that once their she will become the head of a prominent crime family.

In many sense this is a lame wine mum esque comedy, but in truth these days that is really becoming my bag. I enjoy the sort of films where female characters get to have The Hangover style shenanigans and even more so when it is mature women doing it. This is because as many have noted once women reach a certain age in Hollywood it seems all they are good for is playing mothers to younger teen characters or even in some cases grandmother, regardless their days as the protagonist having fun adventures is over. That is why films like this are so needed.

Yes I feel like I have seen it before but at the same time there is something very comforting about a film like this. Collette plays the role to perfection and your really go on this journey with her when she comes into her power both in a sexual sense but also in terms of self-worth. At the same time we get a lot of good nods and outright parodies of The Godfather movies across the film and a lot of the gangster stuff is quite funny due to the drastic culture clash

Overall, it is a lovely feel good film boosted by a strong performance from Collette

4/5

Pros.

It is feel good

It is comforting and easy

It is quite funny and has a number of good references

Collette

Cons.

It feels a little familiar

https://www.patreon.com/AnotherMillennialReviewer