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ebertfan91 (1058)
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James Berardinelli review - ** out of ****
James Berardinelli review - **1/2 out of ****
James Berardinelli review - ***1/2 out of ****
James Berardinelli review - *** out of ****
James Berardinelli review - * out of ****
James Berardinelli review - * out of ****
James Berardinelli review - *** out of ****
James Berardinelli review - ***1/2 out of ****
James Berardinelli review - ** out of ****
James Berardinelli review - *** out of ****
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[quote]It's a thankless task for Anthony Mackie, who has been kicking around the MCU since 2014. Here, in his big debut as a front-line hero, he’s saddled with a lackluster story with no long-term implications or consequences. Watching this movie, I couldn’t help but mourn what the superhero movie, which was once a thing to be admired for its energy and adrenaline, has become – a black hole of creativity and originality. Brave New World isn’t the worst offender but it’s a reminder that the formulas upon which the MCU was built are no longer effective. An adjustment is needed but it doesn’t come here.[/quote]
Oh my God! Gay people exist! The horror!
[quote]At the time of its release, Jackie Brown was the subject of a controversy concerning its repeated use of the N-word. (According to Wikipedia, it’s used 38 times.) Tarantino defended it thus: “The minute any word has that much power, as far as I'm concerned, everyone on the planet should scream it. No word deserves that much power.” Spike Lee, among others, wasn’t buying it and it became a major talking point in discussions about the movie in particular and cultural appropriation in general. Samuel L. Jackson, whose character uttered many of those N-words, argued that the way Ordell spoke is representative of the way someone in his position would talk and to tone it down would be dishonest to the character. (According to Pam Grier in a 2022 interview, many of the instances of the N-word were added by Jackson to Tarantino’s dialogue.)
Tarantino offered an interesting perspective in one of the Blu-Ray extra features, remarking that the film is better after multiple viewings. “It's a hangout movie. Jackie Brown is better the second time, and I think it's even better the third and the fourth time. Maybe even the first time we see it, we go, 'Why are we doing all this hanging out? Why can't we get to more of the plot?' But, now the second time you see it, and the third time you see it, you're not thinking about the plot anymore. You're waiting for the hangout scenes.” It’s hard to disagree with that comment. I enjoyed the movie more on a subsequent viewing and was more engaged by those “hangout” scenes than the first time around. In terms of Jackie Brown’s placement in Tarantino’s overall filmography, I’d still place it in the bottom half (which speaks highly of his output) but not near the very bottom (where Death Proof sadly resides). But, especially for those who haven’t seen it in a while, it’s worth a revisit.[/quote]
[quote]Although the ending of The Karate Kid leaves a major plot thread dangling (Kreese doesn’t get his comeuppance), the movie wasn’t made with the expectation it would become a series. However, when it came time to make more movies, most of the major participants (including director Avildsen, screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen, and producer Jerry Weintraub) were involved, assuring a degree of continuity. Although neither The Karate Kid Part II nor The Karate Kid Part III matched The Karate Kid for pure entertainment, they shared several qualities with the first movie: exciting, well-choreographed fight scenes; detestable villains, and a lasting chemistry between Macchio and Morita. Those elements, combined with an overall crowd-pleasing mentality, made The Karate Kid one of 1984’s must-see summer motion pictures and allows the film to resonate long after many of its contemporaries have either been forgotten or turned into sources of retro humor.[/quote]
Ever heard the phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover"?
You have such strong opinions about a movie you've never seen.
10 ***1/2 reviews in a year is hardly "giving them out like candy".
#1 on his top 10 of the year:
https://www.reelviews.net/reelthoughts/reelthought_1735667669
#2 on his Top 10 of the year:
https://www.reelviews.net/reelthoughts/reelthought_1735667669
#3 on his Top 10 of the year:
https://www.reelviews.net/reelthoughts/reelthought_1735667669
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