Review: SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Release Date: Malaysia, 07 Dec 2018

Genre: Animated / Adventure

Running Length: 1:57

Cast (Voices): Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Kimiko Glenn, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, Kathryn Hahn, Liev Schreiber

Director: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman 

Screenplay: Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman, based on characters created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko 

What's this movie about? 

The animated SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE tells the tale of how Brooklyn local teenager Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) becomes the new Spider-Man. 

As he discovers his super powers, he crosses path with other "Spider-Man" from multiple alternate universe.

Highlights and Lowlights

In all honesty, there isn't many lowlights. If I need to nitpick, then I must say the villain in this movie, Kingpin (Schreiber) isn't all that bad-ass. He is freakishly king-sized here but somewhat not menacing enough. 

The main highlight to me is of course the animation. It's a breakthrough! I can't even describe what style of animation it is; 3D? 2D? Hand-drawn? Stop motion? (the animators even played with the frame rates). Here's the official music video with clips from the movie - watch it and you'll get what I mean.

I'm glad the filmmakers didn't rush Morales' into accepting his new found super powers. In fact, he goes through many moments of push and pull before he truly accepts his new responsibility. He only donned his costume in the final act. 

And this movie is funny! The jokes are smart and self-referencing aka The Lego Batman style. Spider-Man Noir (voiced by Nicholas Cage) steals the show everytime he appears on screen.  

In summary

When I watched the trailer to SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE months ago, I was mind blown with the animation. I have not seen anything like that before. 

However, I was a little hesitant walking into this movie because there are already so many versions of Spider-Man on the big screen over the recent years. I was thinking, "This origin movie may just be another one of those forgettable style over substance outing."

THANKFULLY NO!

Not only this movie is the best animated motion picture of 2018 but it's also the BEST big screen Spider-Man to date!

The animation is a feast to the eyes. The best way to describe the experience is like you're watching a living comic book. 

Eventhough this version introduced many "Spider-Man" from the different parallel universe, the plot doesn't lose sight of the origin story of Miles Morales. When Miles' Spider-Man is fully formed and realized at the end, his hero moment was so much more impactful than Aquaman's emergence from the waterfall scene. 

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is an action film with a strong comedic overtones - the self-referential satire type. But it doesn't afraid to get serious either. 

This movie is a blast from start to finish (the trippiness starts right from the beginning with the Columbia Pictures' iconic Torch Lady to the hilarious post-credit scene)!

RATING: 9/10

Review: AQUAMAN

Release Date: Malaysia, 13 Dec 2018

Genre: Action

Running Length: 2:23

Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman, Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison

Director: James Wan

Screenplay: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall

What's this movie about?

Arthur Curry aka Aquaman (Jason Momoa), learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. He rejects the idea as he doesn't believe he has what it takes to lead. 

Predictably, circumstances would force him to accept his fate, step up and become the hero by uniting both land and sea.

Highlights and Lowlights

Let's start off with lowlights of the film. Whenever there's too much CGI, my brain desensitizes and will disengage. Think Avatar. 

As for the plot, it's overly complicated but yet predictable. It involves politicking to unite three other kingdoms to go to war against the humans, the quest to look for THE trident and everything in-between. 

Some of the acting and dialogue are just terrible especially those involving Yahya's character. 

That said, Jason Momoa is perfectly cast as our towering hero with an easy-going-surfer-dude personality. In the opening sequence, when the bad guys go after him, you know they won't stand a chance.    

The action sequences on land are more believable than those underwater. There's this kancheong (white-knuckle) rooftop chase scene in Sicily which was well executed.

I also enjoyed a semi-horror sequence involving our heroes being chased and attacked by an army of scary looking creatures.

In summary

When the trailer to AQUAMAN hit months ago, I wasn't particularly excited as it looked like it's going to be a pesta CGI (CGI fest). Some of the graphics especially the shark in the aquaria, looked really fake in the trailer. I was thinking, "I can't imagine how it would look like on the big screen".

I'm glad to report that this movie is not as bad as I imagined it to be. Not to say that it's fantastic but it didn't sink either. 

It had so much going on as though James Wan & Co weren't expecting to return for a sequel. There are monsters from the deep, an outlandish sea creature voiced by Julie Andrews (!), an army of talking crustaceans, a ring of fire under water (what?), sequences inspired by Indiana Jones movies, war sharks and war seahorses, an octopus playing drums (for reals!) and so many more batsh*t crazy scenes!

Eventhough this movie is long, it definitely isn't boring. In fact, it got better as the movie progressed.

The most memorable moment for me: When our hero Aquaman emerges from a waterfall wearing a glimmering gold armour while holding a powerful trident in one hand. Cue electric guitar riff. 

RATING: 6.5/10

Review: RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET

Release Date: Malaysia, 22 Nov 2018

Genre: Animated

Running Length: 1:52

Cast (Voices): John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Ed O’Neill

Director: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore

Screenplay: Phil Johnston & Pamela Ribon

What’s this movie about?

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET is a sequel to one of my favourite non-Pixar animation Wreck-It-Ralph (2012).

While the first movie was confined within the good old arcade universe, this follow-up expands the adventure of Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (voice of Sarah Silverman) into the huge and exciting universe of the World Wide Web.

Highlights and Lowlights

The WWW universe that the animators have produced is bright and filled with so many details per frame you need to watch it on the big screen to fully appreciate it.

And I like how the Internet is structured and presented - like this big city where every website is represented by skyscrapers and real estates of different sizes.

The most entertaining sequence involves the Disney Princesses. I LOL a few times at the tongue-in-cheek take on our beloved characters especially the importance of a “princess song.”

However, the overall story is a little laggy and draggy. In fact, some parts tend to meander and there were so many final acts I couldn’t keep up. When you think it has come to a conclusion, then there’s more.

Although it’s a bold move by the filmmakers to not include a true villain, somehow the final result was not as satisfying as say...Inside Out.

In summary

Just like the first movie, RALPH 2 is packed with pop culture references and clever product placements.

Clearly, this sequel aimed to be bigger. But in my opinion, it went a little over bloated.

Rather than going big in its storytelling, the filmmakers chose style over substance. Case in point was the unnecessary "King Kong" Ralph sequence. Personally, I would have preferred a stronger story.

That said, the central theme of the real meaning of friendship shines through towards the end. It made me shed a tear or two or maybe, three.

Note: Stay to watch two hilarious post-credit scenes (one mid and the other right at the end of the credits). Interestingly enough, the cut here included a music video by Indonesian jazz band Payung Teduh.

RATING: 7/10