Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

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Another winner from Marvel! Apparently, this is the 29th movie in the Marvel Universe; and it compares with all of the best ones. The premise is that 1,000 years ago, a man named Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), nicknamed The Mandarin, found ten magical rings that gave him immortality and unmatched power. He then starts the Ten Rings, a terrorist organization that has spread to every country. The movie follows the son of Xu Wenwu, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) who must comes to terms with his father’s evil regime, and the underlying dynamics that hardened the Mandarin’s evil will. The writing is crisp, the sets are great, and the special effects are dazzling. However the best parts of a Marvel movie are the complex characters and witty humor which you will find and appreciate in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. If you enjoyed Dr. Strange, you will love this one, and will certainly enjoy a cameo by a Dr. Strange character. My favorite supporting character was Awkwafina as Katy, Shang-Chi’s hilarious friend, who finds her real self and is by his side in all of his adventures. Other stellar actors were Michelle Yeoh, Ben Kingsley, and Florian Munteanu who plays the menacing Razor Fist. Of course, don’t forget to stay to the very end of the credits. All in all, you will not regret taking the whole family to this one!

Jungle Cruise

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Do you want to completely escape your troubles and watch a movie that doesn’t involve any thinking what-so-ever; and yet is surprisingly entertaining? Then you are in luck, because I have the perfect movie for you. Disney is constantly coming out with movies that are loosely inspired by some of its most popular theme park rides. The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean immediately come to mind. Jungle Cruise is another one, but it is made enjoyable by the performances of Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. I was mesmerized by Emily Blunt’s performance in the Quiet Place I and II. But here she is equally engaging as a turn of the century scientist who wears pants and kicks butt. Dwayne Johnson plays a charming riverboat captain with a big secret. Paul Giamatti has a small role as the Italian dock owner Nilo Nemolato; while Jesse Plemons is the inevitable evil villain, Prince Joachim. The story is loaded with spectacular special effects, and a somewhat complicated plot with a few little twists here and there. And of course, there is the usual spooky jungle river mythos story. It doesn’t have much to do with the ride, but neither have the others! There are a number of interesting side characters (including British comedian Jack Whitehall as Emily’s brother) that really flesh out the tale and help add a touch of humor. They do a pretty good job of establishing the settings and atmosphere. No worries about me spoiling the plot, it is silly, full of holes, and really who cares? Just sit back, relax and escape.

Cruella

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There has been a continuing trend these days in television and movies to make prequels. Cruella is the latest movie to take an old favorite, in this case, 101 Dalmatians, and attempt to give us the back story. I did not hold out high hopes for a live action prequel to one of the lesser Disney animated movies. So, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Well done to all concerned! Emma Stone is excellent as Estella, a problem causing girl, who was born with two-toned hair and a rather dark side to her personality that she nicknames Cruella. She causes enough difficulties that she and her mother have to head for London – with a stop where her mother hopes for help from a mysterious potential benefactor. Estella manages to get into trouble – again!- and the dogs are set on her. She is eventually orphaned! The story follows Estella as she makes her way to London, where she is befriended by two lovable (and slightly clueless) street urchins a la Oliver Twist. Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser play these lovable petty criminals as a kind of Laurel and Hardy. After some clever and comic grifting, Emma, who with her friends is no longer a kid, moves on to pursue a career in fashion, something that was always in her dreams. Estella starts out as a janitor at an upscale clothiers, and is noticed by “THE Barroness,” a very haughty, influential clothing designer. She catches the Baroness’s eye, and favor, and works her way up to assistant before finally branching out to create her own designing company. And she’s ready to take on this Baroness. Enter Cruella! The duels between the two are lively and fierce. Emma Thompson has a field day playing the supremely arrogant and overbearing fashion designer Baroness; who eventually is revealed to be an individual much more cruel than Cruella herself as her rivalry with Estella intensifies. Rounding out the cast is Mark Strong who seems to be a henchman to the Baroness, but turns out to be something else. I wouldn’t be surprised if both Emmas were nominated for awards, their acting is just that good and so captivating! Throw in a great soundtrack, gorgeous costumes, bold effects, two cute dogs and some twists and turns and you have quite a thrilling ride. I strongly urge you to NOT watch this movie on Apple Plus. This is one of those movies that is too big for a mere TV screen. Do yoourself a favor and see this one on a big screen. You won’t be sorry.

Fantasy Island

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I think this movie might have more of a following among younger people who have never heard of the original Fantasy Island, but I doubt it.  The original T.V. show featured Mr. Roark and his mysterious butler ( assisstant? helper?) Tatoo.  Mr. Roark granted guests a wish of some kind that usually ended up teaching them a moral lesson.  They always left the island wiser, happier and very much alive.  This new version captures none of the charm of the original.  The new Mr. Roark is played by Michael Pena. I have liked him in many roles; but he’s no Ricardo Montalban, he’s just plain miscast.   He has a female assisstant who tells Mr. Roark when the plane with the guests has arrived.  The movie goes right off any relation to the original, and  completely downhill, from there.  Eventually we find out that Mr. Roark is not granting any wishes- it is the Fantasy Island itself that is sort of controlling the action via some funky water found in a cave in the heart of the island.  Unlike the original, guests can and do get hurt, and even killed.  Welcome guests, to Murder Island! But this is no Rated R horror movie, more like a cheapo  SciFi channel schlockfest.  The acting isn’t great and the plot is almost funny (but it isn’t trying to be), and more than almost murky and overly complex. *****SPOILER ALERT*****  Don’t read any further if you plan on seeing this movie in the theatre (you aren’t, are you?)  How is this for poor writing?  At the end of the movie Mr. Roark ends up with a new aide, who has become doomed to remain on this island. He is played by Jimmy O. Yang.  Mr. Roark wonders what he should call his new assistant.  It is decided he will go by the tattoo he got on his shoulder in college.  What does the tattoo say?  Tattoo of course!  Clever? Not really.

Gretel and Hansel

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Well, this “Hansel and Gretel” fit a perfect storm of what we didn’t want to see today. There were no movies playing we hadn’t seen (Parasite is the only Oscar movie I wanted to see that I never got to), and this at least started at a convenient time.  So we thought, “Why not?”  Sorry to say it, but this movie was terrible. The story follows the titular siblings leaving their shabby existence and embarking on an excrutiatingly slow walk through a forest (what, no bread crumbs?). Where are they headed? What is their goal?  An interjected and otherwise meaningless character sets them on their path. Eventually they come upon a plain looking cottage (not made of gingerbread, cake or candy even).  Apparently the cottage is owned by a weird witch who has evil intentions.  Odd, disjointed occurences and dreams happen, mysteries unexplained and never fully resolved, and nothing seems connected. Hansel leaves, Gretel stays.  The patron is left holding the bag. That is the movie in a nutshell.  Nothing much happens, it isn’t creepy, scary or even particularly gruesome. I would do yourself a favor and reread the Grimm fairy tale that it is loosly based on.