Everything Everywhere All at Once

Something that many big franchises are doing recently is dealing with stories involving the multiverse, whether it's the MCU or the DCEU, due to the complexity of alternate worlds and how you could have old versions of characters come back. That doesn't mean that smaller works wouldn't be able to tell stories involving this concept, and Everything Everywhere All at Once is one such movie. With the Russo brothers as producers and Michelle Yeoh in the lead role, there's already a guaranty of it being highly imaginative and kick ass. The story starts out simple enough with a Chinese-American immigrant, Yeoh's Evelyn Quan Wang, dealing with a struggling laundromat, a failing marriage, her ill father, having a hard time accepting her daughter's lesbianism, and being audited by the IRS. Things start to go crazy when her husband is taken over by an alternate version of himself who reveals the multiverse to Evelyn, how she can gain the skills and memories of alternate versions of herself through odd acts, and that she is key to saving all of reality. The threat to the multiverse is an alternate version of Evelyn's daughter, Joy, who grew to resent her mother for not accepting her and how the multiverse experiments caused her to experience all versions of herself all at once. With only a budget of 25 million dollars, this is a highly imaginative, crazy, and fun film that can compete with those with a budget of over hundreds of millions. The writing and directing team of Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert craft an absolute banger of a movie with well shot and creative action choreography and such a fresh take on a decades old trope that is used to not only be funny and dramatic, but often changes genre and style mid way through and is used to deal with themes of parental abandonment and existentialism. One big flaw with their writing, however, is that the ending and its message takes a bit forever to get to its conclusion. What makes a lot of the multiverse concept work is Larkin Seiple's incredible work in the cinematography, capturing the styles of 70s kung fu movies and the vibrant looks of Wong Kar-wai's work that exemplifies the various realities. But of course, all of that would not matter if not for the strong performances that Yeoh and the rest of the cast, such as James Hong, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan, all give. They all manage to give their alternate characters their own styles, methods, and personalities in such a way that no two versions ever feel the same. Everything Everywhere All at Once proves that smaller, more independent films can handle huge concepts just as well as the bigger budgeted franchise ones. Over all: 100%

2022 top list so far:

1. The Batman

2. Dog

3. Everything Everywhere All at Once

4. X 2022

5. Scream 2022

6. Uncharted

X 2022

100 word review challenge:

X 2022 is a slasher about the cast and crew of a 1979 porno being killed off by a creepy old couple. Directed and written by Ti West and having Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Kid Cudi, and Martin Henderson. Cast is incredible, with Goth playing two distinct characters, one with impressive old makeup. Great throwback to classic slashers and takes its time before the first kill. Cinematography captures the era, with colorful and unique look. Even though it's rather simple, much like how the characters feel about their film, X 2022 is a lot more than just sex and violence. Over all: 100%

2022 top list so far:

1. The Batman

2. Dog

3. X 2022

4. Scream 2022

5. Uncharted

Uncharted

Based on the successful and popular video game franchise from Naughty Dog, Uncharted has Tom Holland take on the role of globe trotting fortune hunter Nathan Drake. Drake is recruited by Sully Sullivan, a seasoned fortune hunter played by Mark Wahlberg, to look for the lost treasure from the Magellan expedition that Sully had once searched with Nathan's long lost older brother Sam. Along the way they reluctantly team up with Chloe Frazer, a former associate of Sully's, and have to contend with rivals and mercenaries looking for the same prize. While it's written well, the story itself isn't too remarkable and doesn't have anything new or unique separating it from other similar films, like say the Indiana Jones films. The performances from the cast is really strong, with Holland and Wahlberg having a great dynamic between each other. While I never played the games, from the videos I've seen I do know that despite Holland giving a good performance, his portrayal is a lot different from the video game version. In the games, Nathan is a gun totting action hero who likes to crack jokes and enjoys sarcasm, with Holland's portrayal often not the best with action and a bit hyper. While one could see it as far from a perfect adaptation, Holland playing a younger Drake could mean we eventually see him grow in to the more well known character from the games. As one expects with director Ruben Fleischer, the action in this movie is well shot, choreographed, and well edited thanks to Chris Lebenzon and Richard Pearson. The crazy and over the top set pieces that the games are best known for are brought into this adaptation and work really well. Special mention towards the final action scene involving centuries old ships being lifted into the air by helicopters with Drake and Sully fighting villains while flying. The cinematography from Chung-hoon Chung wasn't anything special but does a good job at portraying different places with their own distinct looks. A fun moment that is a nice reference to the games is a cameo from Nolan North, the voice of Nathan in the games, who briefly interacts with Holland's Nathan. While Uncharted may not be the best video game based movie or elevates the genre, this is still a fun, though very flawed, ride that could lead to sequels that fix some of those issues. Over all: 80%

2022 top list so far:

1. The Batman

2. Dog

3. Scream 2022

4. Uncharted

The Batman

Originally envisioned as part of the DC Extended Universe with Ben Affleck not only reprising his version of Batman, but also him cowriting and directing, The Batman was changed to be a separate entity from the rest of the DCEU due to problems in Affleck's personal life. Matt Reeves took over directing and cowriting duties, alongside Peter Craig, while Robert Pattinson inherited the cape and cowl alongside new actors playing Gordon and Alfred. Taking cues from Year One and The Long Halloween and inspired by Hitchcock films and thrillers like SE7EN, this first entry in a new trilogy sees Pattinson's Batman, in only his second year, solve murders perpetrated by the Riddler. To catch him means solving the criminal's riddles, puzzles, and other games that exposes Gotham's corruption throughout its history. Along the way Bruce Wayne has to learn how to be more involved and use his influence to inspire people, recruits Selina Kyle to expose corrupt politicians and cops, and learns the connection between his parents and mob boss Carmine Falcone. While I would have loved to see Affleck in his own standalone film as the Caped Crusader, this reboot's fresh start feels needed due to the writing often making Ben's take hard to connect with. Pattinson, thanks to Reeves's and Craig's writing and direction, gives us a Bruce Wayne who starts out detached while relying more on the fear aspect to his superhero persona and perfectly develops into someone who becomes more open and realizing that hope is just as effective as fear. While he isn't afraid to beat criminals to a pulp, he's smart enough to not kill them knowing they'll be afraid when they see the Bat Symbol. The rest of the cast also deliver and give some of the most unique characterizations compared to previous versions of them. Jeffrey Wright's Gordon is rather laid back and at times comical due to how he talks with Batman, Andy Serkis plays an Alfred that keeps secrets from Bruce, the Selina played by Zoe Kravits perfectly balances vulnerability and badass, Paul Dano portrays one of the most disturbing Riddlers ever brought to the screen, and Colin Farrell is unrecognizable and brilliant as Penguin. As a director Reeves is perfect due to the dedication he gives towards Batman's detective skills as much as the heroics. His action and fight scenes are well shot and choreographed, while the Bat Suit is tough but shows some good wear and tear. The writing is incredible and manages to give us a fresh and unique take on the franchise despite how many times the character has appeared onscreen. Despite how serious the story takes itself, there are still some genuine funny moments that lighten up the movie and feel perfectly placed. One good note is how Bruce is still learning to be Batman, between learning to spread hope for the people of Gotham and not just fear towards criminals and some of his gadgets not always working when he needs them. Compared this to most other live action interpretations, this entry masterfully captures the detective angle that Batman is best known for in the comics. One would think that a movie telling a murder mystery at nearly three hours would feel long, but thanks to editors William Hoy and Tyler Nelson the film felt brisk and well paced. If a superhero film was ever shot by Roger Deakins it would be a powerful competition against Greig Fraser's exquisite cinematography that captures Gotham's desolate bleakness in such a way that is so beautiful. For every new version of Batman, there's always new music to go along with it and for this, and hopefully the rest of the trilogy, we have Michael Giacchino. A lot of the music, whether Giacchino's score or the songs chosen, perfectly fit this movie and often elevates the story. Giacchino's main score for Batman, in particular, has a horror vibe to it that when he appears often makes him seem like a horror villain in the vain of Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees. One issue with it however is how overplayed it gets and while great, isn't as memorable as Danny Elfman's or the Dark Knight Trilogy's. Between the story, cast, direction, and so many things, The Batman is more than just a superhero film, it's a phenomenon. Over all: 100%

2022 top list so far:

1. The Batman

2. Dog

3. Scream 2022

DC First: Flash/Superman #1

Part of a series of one-shots in the early 2000s, DC First: Flash/Superman #1 is a story that partly retells the original race from the 1960s between the two superheroes. With this comic, however, Superman races against the original Flash, Jay Garrick rather than Barry Allen, to save the current Flash, Wally West. After the futuristic magician, Abra Kadabra, escapes from prison he places a curse on the three heroes in which Superman and Jay have to race against each other to save Wally who is aging at a rapid rate. The race, caused by their powers, causes them to travel into the future wherein they manage to fix the curse and capture Abra. This one-shot's story isn't entirely unique or does anything that's truly remarkable, but Geoff Johns's writing is still well told and the dialogue is good and kept at a minimum so that the artwork can also tell the story. Speaking of the artwork, it's pretty much expected from a comic book of 2002, but with great lighting and detail. That work by Rick Burchett as well as the coloring and shading from Prints Rollins, James Sinclair, and Digital Chameleon also add to the good art. The art and writing both work together to give us a fun story that isn't afraid to tackle some of the sillier aspects of superhero stories while still having a lot of serious moments. Not every comic everyone reads needs to be expected to be something huge and important, some just need to be fun and well written as DC First: Flash/Superman #1 is. Over all: 100%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:
1. Superman: Secret Identity #1 (of 4)

2. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers FCBD 2018 Shattered Grid Special

3. Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1

4. Fantastic Four: Reckoning War Alpha #1

5. Savage Avengers (2019-) #1

6. Action Comics Vol. 1 #800

7. Aliens: Dead Orbit #1

8. DC First: Flash/Superman #1

9. Aliens: Defiance #1

10. Iron Man (2020-) #1

11. Free Comic Book Day 2018: Riverdale

12. Free Comic Book Day 2018: 2000 A.D. Regened

13. DC Universe: Legacies #1

14. Free Comic Book Day 2017 I Hate Image

15. Shang-Chi (2020-2021) #1 (of 5): Brothers & Sisters Part One

16. Champions (2020-) #1

17. Infinite Frontier (2021) #0

18. Green Lantern Vol. 2 #76

19. DC Retroactive: Green Lantern - The 70s #1

20. Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020-) #1
21. Showcase (1956-1978) #17
22. Werewolf By Night (2020-) #1 (of 4)

23. Free Comic Book Day: Bongo Comics Free For All 2018
24. Free Comic Book Day 2017: Riverdale
25. Marvel Comics (1939) #1

Dog

Channing Tatum and his regular producing partner Reid Carolin have their feature directorial debut with Dog. In this, Tatum stars as Jackson Briggs, a U.S. Army Ranger suffering PTSD and whose injuries have kept him out of the battlefield. To prove himself and being accepted by his superiors, Briggs has to take Lulu, a military dog his unit worked with, to the funeral of her handler and one of his unit members. It's no easy task as Lulu also suffers from PTSD and her violent tendencies have led to the decision of euthanizing her after the funeral. Throughout the long road trip, Briggs is initially annoyed by Lulu's antics, the two get in some predicaments, start to bond from their similar issues, and as she learns to trust him Briggs sees that there's more to life than fighting in the battlefield. For first time directors, Tatum and Carolin prove that they're more than capable of giving a very moving and emotional story. Carolin's script is well thought out in giving us well written characters with a good blend of drama and comedy that doesn't feel forced when either is in play. All the while Tatum gives one of his strongest performances by giving us a man who wants to fight but isn't afraid to be vulnerable and isn't portrayed as a grunting muscle man. Briggs doesn't have to be a gun totting Rambo to be considered memorable, he just needs to show that those with PTSD are just as human as any other person. Editor Leslie Jones should be given credit for such a lush and quick process that helps keep the movie from feeling too slow or too fast. While the cinematography from Newton Thomas Sigel isn't extraordinary but how he captures the majestic landscapes and backgrounds throughout the trip is such a wonderful thing. If Tatum and Carolin made something as incredible as Dog, I for one am exited for whatever comes next from them. Over all: 100%

2022 top list so far:

1. Dog

2. Scream 2022

Fantastic Four: Reckoning War Alpha #1

As with many event stories from either DC, Marvel, or any other publisher, the beginning has to be big and surprising to draw the readers in. With Fantastic Four: Reckoning War Alpha #1, you get just that and more in Marvel's latest universe shattering tale. Starting simple enough, Nick Fury, now a herald of Uatu, warns the Watcher about various alien civilizations being gifted with powerful weapons from a mysterious force. As Uatu warns his people of an impending danger, his base on the moon is attacked, causing a bombardment of moon fragments to fall down on Earth. With Manhattan heavily bombarded by pieces of the moon, numerous superheroes like Spider-Man, the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four save as many people as they can while also dealing with an invasion from the Badoon. Meanwhile, the Silver Surfer is called upon by the abstract entities of the universe to aid Eternity, the living embodiment of the universe, as he has been poisoned by such large scale violence. During Earth's invasion, the Fantastic Four head towards Uatu's domain for answers but end up finding Fury. Fury figures that an unknown group known as the Reckoning is behind not only the moon's destruction but also the large scale violence across the cosmos. With a device that held the history of the Watchers, Reed learns about their history and how their early influence in the early days of the universe led to the first known war and it nearly destroyed everything. The Reckoning is what's left of the civilizations that took part in that war, wanting revenge against the Watchers for separating them from the rest of the universe and leaving them with nothing. Epic is the best way to describe this comic, and how can it not be as the moon is destroyed, various alien armies are preparing for a large scale war, we delve deep into the early years of the Watchers, and Earth is being invaded. The writing from Dan Slott does a phenomenal job at setting up what's to come in the Reckoning War, though even at 40 pages some of it does feel rushed, like some of it could have been put in later issues and other ideas better elaborated on. But most of what there is, Slott delivers with a combination of great dialogue and informative exposition that appears when needed. With an epic story like this, this issue of course has incredible artwork to go along with it that includes good use of shadows, detailed characters, and great colors. One unique aspect to the art is how different it is in the few pages that look at the early history of the Watchers, having an ethereal look to it. All this thanks to the collaborative works of Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Fonteriz, Carlos Magno, and Guru-eFX. If Fantastic Four: Reckoning War Alpha #1 is just the beginning, then hopefully the rest of the storyline will be just as epic. Over all: 100%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:
1. Superman: Secret Identity #1 (of 4)

2. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers FCBD 2018 Shattered Grid Special

3. Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1

4. Fantastic Four: Reckoning War Alpha #1

5. Savage Avengers (2019-) #1

6. Action Comics Vol. 1 #800

7. Aliens: Dead Orbit #1

8. Aliens: Defiance #1

9. Iron Man (2020-) #1

10. Free Comic Book Day 2018: Riverdale

11. Free Comic Book Day 2018: 2000 A.D. Regened

12. DC Universe: Legacies #1

13. Free Comic Book Day 2017 I Hate Image

14. Shang-Chi (2020-2021) #1 (of 5): Brothers & Sisters Part One

15. Champions (2020-) #1

16. Infinite Frontier (2021) #0

17. Green Lantern Vol. 2 #76

18. DC Retroactive: Green Lantern - The 70s #1

19. Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020-) #1
20. Showcase (1956-1978) #17
21. Werewolf By Night (2020-) #1 (of 4)

22. Free Comic Book Day: Bongo Comics Free For All 2018
23. Free Comic Book Day 2017: Riverdale
24. Marvel Comics (1939) #1