ThoughtlessRamblings

Monster Hunter [2021] Review

I did not watch this movie with high hopes and I was unfortunately correct to have those feelings.

For a movie called Monster Hunter it’s main issue is it’s lack of actual Monster Hunting.. For those who don’t know, this film is based off a video game that, for some reason, they chose to deviate from. More than 3/4 of this film is Milla Jovovich’s character, a military lieutenant whose been transported to a different world, trying to communicate and work with someone who does not speak English. Literally. That is most of the film. Mad Max: Fury Road was able to get away with having a small amount of dialogue and still be amazing; while this film just had me questioning WHY.

It’s disappointing since the CGI of the monsters ARE NOT BAD. They actually do a decent job with that end of things and made me want more of it. I definitely wanted less of whatever the hell they were trying to go for with Ron Pearlman’s character. God, he looked ridiculous. WHAT were you thinking, Ron?!

Zack Snyder’s Justice League [2021] Review

I want to start off by saying THANK YOU to the universe [and WB] for letting this movie happen. 

I am very much a fan of Joss Whedon but I cannot say that I was impressed by the 2017 film. I felt like I was left wanting more from the characters and the film overall, so to finally see what Zack Snyder had originally had in mind was amazing.

For those who look at the run time and say FOUR HOURS AND TWO MINUTES ..... NO. Do not fret. It honestly doesn’t feel that long and can definitely be split up based on it’s “parts”. The film has 6 titled parts and an untitled epilogue. If you want to split it up, each section is roughly somewhere between 20 and 45 minutes. So if you want to take some time to watch it, go ahead a watch maybe one or two parts before continuing onto the next. But again, I did not feel the movie overly long. Although I do admit the epilogue felt like one of the longer epilogues I’ve ever seen.

I felt this movie took it’s time explaining the depth of each charter that Whedon’s did not. I felt that Cyborg was more than a whinny emo kid and Barry a talkative klutz. In fact, Barry’s character [Flash] makes MORE SENSE if you consider his part [albeit small] in Batman vs Superman. [Forgot about that, huh?] 

SPOILERS AHEAD

Barry’s powers are given more explanation in this version and you learn that when his powers are used to break the speed of light, “weird things happen” - which can include the time surrounding the event can be bent and reversed. His powers are actually put to use in the final battle scene that makes sense! 

I have to admit that the movie itself definitely had a darker tone. It includes the relationship between Cyborg and his parents and goes into more depth and make me understand his suffering more. The Amazons have a larger part, and a larger death and loss which leaves an ache inside my chest. It definitely did more justice for us Wonder Woman / Amazon fans. Additionally, you feel the loss of Superman more thoroughly with the additions added to Lois Lane’s story and their unborn child. Don’t get me started on what this story was supposed to be for the entire film series!!!! 

END OF SPOILERS

There is more I can go on about the difference between the two films, but at the end of the day I want to end with this - the movie was excellent. It gave me a better understand of these characters and their story arches and how everything was supposed to come together. This felt good.