Tag: DC Comics

Movie Review: JOKER – A mesmerizing performance from Joaquin Phoenix charts the rise of a villain, not an anti-hero.

On By ANDREW HOPEIn Movie Reviews5 Comments

Image result for joker movie poster

I have to go back to the summer of 1985 to a movie that inflamed so many Loud Voices to compare the phony hysteria currently surrounding the latest DC movie, Joker.  That movie was Rambo: First Blood Part 2.  The sequel to one of the greatest action movies of all time crossed the Atlantic on a tidal wave of what we now identify as hashtag-outrage.  Ireland banned it, the rest of mainland Britain did not, so I was able to see it … and wonder what the fuss was all about.  After today’s viewing of Joker, my reaction is basically the same.

Continue reading “Movie Review: JOKER – A mesmerizing performance from Joaquin Phoenix charts the rise of a villain, not an anti-hero.” →

Movie Review: SHAZAM! takes a lighter approach than recent DC movies, but the script is a horrendous, weak mess.

On By ANDREW HOPEIn Movie ReviewsLeave a comment

You’d be forgiven for not knowing this is the second Captain Marvel movie released this year, even though Brie Larson’s titular character was never actually called by that name, and Zachary Levi’s character doesn’t even have a name – but yes, the guy in the red costume and yellow lightning bolt is actually named Captain Marvel.  Marvel Comics won the copyright battle on that one, and so from that day, he’s been referred to colloquially by his activation word, Shazam! I will not even try to give you a canned history of the character, as I didn’t grow up reading him and don’t have any particular affinity for him either.  In fact, the only personal relationship I have to a version of this character is to the British rip-off character, Marvelman, so a little more of that later.  But right here, all you get is the movie.

Continue reading “Movie Review: SHAZAM! takes a lighter approach than recent DC movies, but the script is a horrendous, weak mess.” →

Movie Review: Like Venom, AQUAMAN has done amazingly well at the box office – like Venom, I have no idea why.

On By ANDREW HOPEIn Movie ReviewsLeave a comment

I was way off in my prediction last year that Aquaman, starring Game of Thrones‘ Jason Momoa, would be a disaster.  In fact, it’s made around $1 billion worldwide.  That’s one billion dollars.  So what do I know?  Nothing.  I don’t even think my prediction was based on the trailers, just an opinion that formed after watching Justice League, a movie that I didn’t hate,  but didn’t care for either, but when I did catch the trailers, I felt pretty justified in thinking the way I did.  Box office bomb waiting to happen.  Nope.  Again: One Billion Dollars.  But like Venom, which has also made a ton of money, receipts don’t equal quality.

Continue reading “Movie Review: Like Venom, AQUAMAN has done amazingly well at the box office – like Venom, I have no idea why.” →

Movie Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE – DC’s answer to the Marvel juggernaut is phenomenal only for the sheer lack of quality.

On By ANDREW HOPEIn Movie Reviews2 Comments

I finally saw Justice League last night – on the backs of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Wonder Woman, I can’t say I had a lot of interest in seeing it on opening weekend, and from its relatively disappointing opening domestic gross ($90 million), I wasn’t alone in putting it off.  As it turned out, it was the worst possible night to see it: winter finally roared into the Twin Cities, and driving back to my new home was a tense nightmare, thanks to 25 feet visibility and an icy, sleety mess.  Serves you right, the elements seemed to say, serves you right …

Continue reading “Movie Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE – DC’s answer to the Marvel juggernaut is phenomenal only for the sheer lack of quality.” →

Movie Review: WONDER WOMAN – Gal Gadot’s fine turn as the titular heroine prevents the movie from complete mediocrity, but only just.

On By ANDREW HOPEIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I don’t want to say that Wonder Woman is a politicized movie, but for some odd reason, it’s become a lightning rod for people on both sides of the gender divide.  I suppose it’s inevitable in this sociopolitical climate that any genre movie with a lead female character is going to become this year’s feminist icon – I remember the massively overblown praise for Mad Max: Fury Road, as an “important” feminist action movie (I saw a movie with that title, but I don’t recall that version), and even the mostly awful Ghostbusters remake was hailed for pretty much the same thing.  Well, now it’s Wonder Woman’s turn, and when Marvel eventually get around to toplining Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, the same plaudits will be flung around then too.

Continue reading “Movie Review: WONDER WOMAN – Gal Gadot’s fine turn as the titular heroine prevents the movie from complete mediocrity, but only just.” →