US

Release Date: Malaysia, 21 Mar 2019

Genre: Horror / Thriller

Running Length: 1:56

Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker

Director: Jordan Peele 

Screenplay: Jordan Peele 

Get Out was my #02 film of 2017 so I was naturally excited to see Jordan Peele's next film. Eventhough I was told that his follow-up US has more horror elements compared to his directorial debut, I dragged myself to watch it. 

For those who know me, I don't enjoy the straight out horror genre (I HATE JUMP SCARES!). I would only go watch one if the filmmakers have something fresh and creative to tell. For example, Get Out is a social commentary in the horror genre. 

So was Us fresh?

Packed with symbolism and metaphors, this movie is trying to say something...but I don't know what. 

"Kids, don't play with fire"

Whereas Get Out was a focused movie, I felt that Jordan Peele was too busy preaching a variety of topics to the viewers in this one; the current political red-blue divide in US ("US" get it??), the marginalized, free will etc. 

What's the plot about? 

A family of four wishing to spend some pleasant vacation time together is disrupted when a group of four people who look like them showed up on their front door and start terrorizing them. I mean, "terrorizing" is an understatement because halfway through the movie, things just go absolute bonkers. 

"Hello neighbour, can we borrow some salt?"

This is a horror movie after all. So was it terrifying? 

Well, there are some memorable moments like the home invasion sequence but overall, it's actually pretty tame. There are some mild gory moments played for laughs.   

As for the performances, both Lupita and Winston are very good here as the couple (they both appeared in Black Panther). Lupita is very believable as the anxious and paranoid mother while Winston is the comic relief. 

In summary, despite its puzzling and thought-provoking premise (I was pondering about it over two days), Us was somewhat mixed for me. That said, I will still be anticipating Jordan Peele's next movie as I admire his "social thriller" approach to his creations. 

RATING: 7/10

CAPTAIN MARVEL

Release Date: Malaysia, 06 Mar 2019

Genre: Action / Adventure

Running Length: 2:04

Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Clark Gregg, Annette Bening, Djimon Hounsou, Gemma Chan

Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Screenplay: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck & Geneva Robertson-Dworet

CAPTAIN MARVEL ranks at the bottom half of the MCU standalone movies. It's not as weak as the recent Ant-Man and the Wasp but it's no Black Panther. To be fair, it's because the bar is already set so high up for an already overcrowded field of MCU movies, this film felt...generic.

The movie opens in outer space. When we are first introduced to Brie Larson's character, she is part of the heroic Kree team (led by Jude Law's character) looking to take down the shapeshifting villainous tribe called the Skrulls in the Kree/Skrull war. We soon learn that she has no memories of her past except the occasional flashback of her in various ages on planet Earth.

During one of her missions to take down a group of Skrulls, she ended up on Earth (the year is 1995). That's when she meets the younger looking Nick Fury (Jackson) and Agent Coulson (Gregg). By the way, the de-aging effects is amazing.

Wanting badly to know her past, she goes on a journey to discover who she really is and ended up uncovering more than she expected.

I'm not doing a one-piece bathing suit costume like in the comics.

As far as Brie Larson is concerned, the actress is fine as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel. She has the dramatic chops for the quieter moments. In fact, I find her performance much more interesting during her character's amnesia stage as her powers were still repressed. But once she learns how to "unlock" her seemingly limitless powers, Larson somewhat lacks the charisma to carry the god-like presence of Captain Marvel.

That said, the most inspiring part of the movie is during the "unlocking" of her powers moment, represented by a montage of Carol Danvers suddenly finding her inner strength.

  

There are plenty of big visuals and actions with humorous quips; thanks to a very youthful and animated Samuel L. Jackson. And speaking of Jackson's Fury, we learn a lot more about his character here and how he ended up wearing the signature eye patch. Plus, the 90s music throwback is a nice touch especially one fight scene choreographed to the tune of No Doubt's Just A Girl.

Last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye.

There are some nice tribute scenes too; one involving a Star Wars chase sequence (accompanied by a John William-ish soundtrack) and an Indiana Jones moment played to laughs.

In summary, Captain Marvel is no Wonder Woman (the most obvious point of comparison). And Brie Larson is no Gal Gadot. The latter movie has heart, vulnerability and power and as a result, it could easily connect emotionally to its audience. Nevertheless, Captain Marvel is still an important watch as it gives us a clue to how next month's Avengers: End Game would come to an end.

  

(Just like any MCU movie, stay back for two end credit scenes; one mid-credit and the other right at the end involving Goose the Cat)

RATING: 7/10