Movie Review: Halloween Kills

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back my Movie Review in Halloween special.

Yes, my friends, its Halloween again that im doing another horror and spooky movie again. So since some of you are thinking i should do the review on classic horror, slashers or others? Well, i feel like im having an unfinished business with the sequel that i've been for 4 years (one year since it was released).

"Halloween Kills" is a 2021 horror slasher film that was written/directed by David Gordon Green, produced by Malek Akkad, Jason Blum and Bill Block, then co-written by Scott Teems and Danny McBride.

The idea all begin after the wrap up of Halloween 2018, where Danny McBride and David Gordon Green were thinking to do a back-to-back sequel trilogy from the first Halloween (1978) if Halloween 2018 was a hit, and it does with people gave a welcome return (for the most part) and it was a huge hit at the box-office, and its not hard to see for the latter that with the success, they're gotta make a sequels after the cliffhanging ending.

When this movie came out last year, while its nice for a follow up, but critics and audience felt otherwise for the lack of creativity for the writing, though i was planned to review this movie last year, but can't because of the pandemic from the virus, meaning i had to push the film to this year, along with the recent release of Halloween Ends (that also be my plan for next year). For this review, i bought the extended cut digitally for my review, i bought around a months ago, which is i think around at the beginning of 2022.

So, with all that said, Will Halloween Kills deserves to have more fascination of chase and body kills, or is this film fall in the same category of either revealing thorns or with Busta Rhymes?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Since this is a follow up from 2018 Halloween, we expect to having a new plot of revenge against The Shape? Well, we got something new, if the writing would've make something sense without going all over the place.

The movie begins where Cameron witnesses Officer Frank Hawkins laying in bleeding from being stabbed by Michael Myers and suddenly we cut in a flashback in 1978 (the first year of Michael Myers's Halloween massacre in Haddonfield, Illinois) where we went from Lonnie being scared from witnessing Michael Myers to Frank Hawkins accidentally shot his partner from Myers's hostage before gets caught by the police (which is exaclty how this trilogy takes place after the first Halloween, ignoring any installments, as always), despite Hawkins is like in silence for what he did. Anyway, we get picked up after the ending of 2018 Halloween, where it appears Lauri Strode, her daughter Allyson and granddaughter Karen lived happily from a pickup truck, not before they notice the firetrucks drove by to put out the fire (Big mistake, guys...!), causing Michael Myers breaking out of bunker to killing firefighters. Despite this, Laurie is taken to the hospital for surgery from eternal bleeding from being cut open by her stalking nemesis, in order to be watched by both Allyson and Karen. When the news break in, the remaining survivors that we're familar with. Tommy Doyle, Lonnie, Marion Chambers, Lindsey Wallace are alerted that Michael Myers has returned after 40 years, so its up to the Nelson family members (Karen and Allyson) to not only watch Laurie in hospital to be safe (aside of Frank Hawkins got into the stretcher to the same hospital), but Tommy forming his mob group in sake of killing The Shape.

For the story of this movie, it kinda got all over with various plot elements from reminding us from the past or left off from 2018, a taken place in hospital to people in Haddonfield taking their threat against The Shape when they had enough after 40 years, which i really appreciated what they going for the latter. Where as the previous installment is all about protecting the Strode/Nelson family member to be safe if Myers has returned, here, its about the community in Haddonfield had been changed to make a threat with bounty to hunting down Myers, while questionably chanting "Evil Dies Tonight!", i understand what they going for, but the execution just failed with didn't know how to finding Michael Myers to going after the fake "Michael Myers", which really bugging easily with questionable characters decision from either writing problem or clearly making some characters look like idiots, we'll get to the characters later. But one element that really messing up is when two men, Big John and Little John bought the Myers house as their home, i mean, come on guys, you can't take over Myers house as your own, otherwise, Michael Myers will be pissed and murdering for his old home that he likes to live there, which is quite possibly the stupidest decision ever that this house got a "Death Curse" (Sorry for the Friday The 13th puns, but gotta mention it). Although they also tried to add some humor in the movie, but as far as i watched, i had a very temporary chuckle to hear some humor, i did laugh at some moment, but when they tried to make a humor line, it didn't worked out, for the most part.

While i like the idea of the people in Haddonfield trying to bounty hunting The Shape, but the writing's execution failed miserably with boring setting in hospital, dumb characters (don't worry, we'll get there), idiotic situations and the story is messy to following up or ruining elements.

The Presentation

I think its safe to say that the presentation is more likely gear towards beautiful shot and good'ol gore for the budget than the story.

For starter, this film and the final installment "Halloween Ends" are both filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina, which is is odd that most sequels are filmed in different location, despite taking place in a main place, but here, they filmed in the same place, which im assuming is to saving their costs. Of course, there were others that are not in Wilmington, remember that famous Myers's House? Due to the real Myers house being taken, they had to building a replica in the studio, as well as replicating the environment with neighbors houses, bush and tree, which is a challenging to do the replica, but i think they did a nice work to creating a replica, since again, the OG Myers' house was moved from other location and taken that its longer accepted of permission. Sucks for that, but hey, at least they did a good job for building a replica. But one location that really ruining from boredom is the hospital, i mean, i get that its similar to Halloween 2's hospital taken place, but in this movie's hospital is nowhere climactic as the Halloween 2, we didn't get to see an action, instead just a angry mobs for the sake of hunting down The Shape, depsite the mobs accusing one patient from Smith's Grove Psychiatric Hospital as a real deal, which a very idiotic move, but i digress. Of course, there's sometimes they had to hurry up, like the scene where Michael Myers killing Firefighters while the house set is on fire that they had to hurrying up before the burning house got collapsed.

The filming quality is pretty impressive view, for not-so low budget of $20 million, after all, this movie takes place in the night, which it obviously made a beautiful shot, aside with blur effect that really annoyed me that i like to watch in crystal clear, i know, blur is always common, but when they put blur a lot, you can easily, you guessed it, un-seeing the movie.

And the designs, thought its pretty limited, but the sets and design are pretty nice, despite the film takes place in 2018, as a continuity of Halloween 2018. Speaking of Which, Michael Myers looks not bad, especially for giving us a reminder that he was nearly burnt to death from the previous film to showcase his mask being half damaged.

As for the actions and killings, this one is gearing towards the gore, its the most brutal and bloodiest Halloween film i ever watch and its a good S*** to see, showcasing how The Shape is a murderous man with devils eyes with blood and gore, like using a pick-axe-like in a brutal and gory beating, stabbing in the eye or the one goes out of nowhere (and made me chuckle) where Michael Myers slams the door to letting a victim turns the gun in opposite to suicide headshot in failure attempt to make a headshot at Michael. As for the amount of dead bodies (SPOILER ALERT) if you watching Dead Meat's Kill Count like i always love to watch, it has 31 kills in the movie, easily the highest dead bodies Michael Myers ever done to killing somebody, talk about being a professional ass killer throughout the series of Halloween.

While some presentation of this movie is flawed, but at least it has a beautiful done work and of course, good'ol blood and gore that we like to see.

The Characters

Surprisingly, we have the return of some familiar characters in the first Halloween, you think that these characters will able to give them a chance to shine in order to beat The Shape? Sadly no, based on a idiotic writing.

Lets start off with Laurie Strode (reprised by of course, Jamie Lee Curtis), the main survivor from the first Halloween and now has PTSD that she wants to kill Michael Myers so badly after 40 years. Since she's the main protagonist, we expected that she'll be able to get up and fight back, right? Sadly no, after got wounded with bleeding out, she's pretty much being stuck in a hospital and barely do anything in the movie. Talk about a bid disappointment that she's pretty much doing nothing but hanging out with Frank, i mean we all know Curtis did a great work of her role (aside of wearing a wig for her haircut) but the way she appeared in the movie is just disappointing that she's more like recurring than a main protagonist.

After that, we have the main antagonist, The Shape himself, Michael Myers (reprised by both James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle), im sure we all know who he is, he's a stalking murderer since 1978 and being taken to psychiatric hospital before escape for more killing spree. I think he's pretty much nearly useful more than Laurie, and he's much as you expected, going around, killing people on his way while being targeted by the mobs in Haddonfield (despite being idiots) and also pretty much pissed that his home is owned by Johns to reclaiming his abandoned house. Despite my nagging of The Shape appears more than Laurie, but of course, JJC did a nice work of his role and nice minor acting of Nick Castle (The OG of The Shape).

Next up is Allyson Nelson (reprised by Andi Matichak) she's the mother of Nelson and the daughter of Laurie Strode. In this movie, it seems that she wants to protecting her mother safe from her vengeance in pain in the hospital and probably wanting to keep peace and quite in the hospital. In my previous review, i mentioned she's obviously meant to be the next Laurie Strode as a next gen to keeping herself safe from Michael Myers before Laurie coming in, and i also describing her as lame and cliché protagonist, but here, i think she's ok for the most part, but Andi is still did a nice work of her role.

Finally (after three main ladies), we have Karen Nelson (reprised by Judy Greer). I was mistakenly describing her as a mother than a daughter in my previous review, so my apology for my brain dead review. Anyway, she's the daughter of Nelson/Strode family that while she's also wanting to keep her grandmother safe, but she's already having a trauma from what happened that she becomes a member of angry mobs in Haddonfield. Though its nice to have her chance for her attempt to fight back, but it seems that she's probably pretty much a left over protagonist that i pretty much forgot about her. No disrespect for Judy for her nice work of her role, but her writing in this movie is poor.

Now we got the main girls and The Shape out of way, lets get to the remaining characters.

First is our old friend Tommy Doyle (played by Anthony Michael Hall, instead of bring back Brian Andrews), a man used to be babysat from Laurie and the survivor of Halloween massacre. In this movie, with Michael Myers escaped and killing spree, he forming his angry mob group in Haddonfield that its time to kill The Shape with changing "Evil Dies Tonight!", kinda over the top, but hey, at least its nice to have angry villagers trying to hunting down the murderer, similar to the angry villagers in 1931's Frankenstein. While its good to have that, but it is poorly executed for idiotic reason that sometimes he doesn't notice the difference between Michael Myers and the other patience from psychiatric hospital. While Tony Hall did a nice work for playing the older Tommy, i just wish the writing could've gone better, its as if Laurie could've take a break when Tommy should've been a main protagonist.

And last one is Frank Hawkins (played by Will Patton), a deputy who had a passed experience that he's trying to stop Michael ,but failed in his flashback and in previous film, he was stabbed by The Shape, which we though he'll be dead, but his death is retconned to let him live and taken to the hospital, i get they wanna to make a chemistry with Laurie Strode, but come on, being stabbed on the side of the neck is deader than gotten after being nearly burnt to death (Just ask Michael how he survived). While Will did a nice work of his role, but like Laurie, he's just there for waste of space.

As for the rest of the characters, while its nice to have some back, but most of them are pretty much being a chump when they trying to hunting down The Shape, there's Lonnie Elam (played by Robert Longstreet) a man who used to be a bully, getting his ass away from Myers' house from Sam Loomis (Heh, never get old from my mind from this scene in the first Halloween) and became a father of his son Cameron (reprised by Dylan Arnold), Leigh Brackett (surprisingly reprised by Charles Cyphers in his old age as 80s) the former police sheriff for seeks revenge over his dead daughter Annie, Lindsey Wallace (reprised by Kyle Richards in her age of 50s), another survivor who's also babysat from Laurie and also be with Tommy and Lonnie, Marion Chambers (reprised by Nancy Stephens) the former Loomis's assistant that she's with the mob group, Sheriff Barker (played by Omar Dorsey) who's Haddonfield's sheriff and Big John and Little John (played by Scott MacArthur and Michael McDonald) the two guys (though meant to be gay bros, but nothing to do with) bough Myers' house as their own that they could've bought the other house without putting in risk like idiots.

While its nice to have some old characters back, as well as some old and new actors, but they're nowhere safe for how they're written to be in this movie from being useless to idiots.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, Halloween Kills is easily the most disappointing sequel of the remake trilogy, while it has a good idea for the plot, beautiful view and gory kills, but its nowhere good for the final result with questionable writing, poor directions, and the characters that while its nice to have them back, but oh man, these characters are completely wasted and even being morons to dealing with suspect like The Shape...!

This is the sequel that i do not recommend this, even the previous was success, it would've been better as a sequel and even some welcome return, but its the writing and the direction ruined everything for its potential, at least until il get to the third and final of the trilogy next year. Its fine if you watch this sequel ONLY once for what we got before we got Halloween Ends.

For my rating of this sequel, il give this one a disappointingly 4/10.

So this ends of my movie review (Good god...!), if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, Happy Halloween, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: Pinocchio 2022

*sigh* Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.

You know sometimes, you just can't keep the classic down for exploiting them into a live-action remake that, like always, nobody are asking for since the overrated remake of The Lion King. After all the stupidity to making billions dollars (Somehow...!!), they decided to making remakes, into Disney+, which is good, cause we don't wanna wasting our time and money by the un-requested remakes on the big screen, but rather, another time wasting from remakes into Disney+ that no one asked for. Including this review from Disney's second historic film from the past.

"Pinocchio" is a 2022 live-action remake that was written/produced/directed by Robert Zemeckis (WHAT?!), co-produced by Derek Hogue, Andrew Milano and Chris Weitz (the latter of which is also the writer)

Like i said, it seems that Disney really love doing a live-action remakes, after brought us the remakes of "Lady and the Tramp", and Mulan, it appears Disney are not done to keep announcing more remakes, one them that they picked out of hat is Pinocchio, which was Disney's 2nd animated film after Snow White since 1940, and yes, i remember seeing it as a kid that i though it was ok (Maybe il look back that either i like it more than before or maybe im not a fan of it), though there's not much interesting info that i could find, though one part that i noticed is the changing directors, the first person for the direction is Sam Mendes in discussion for the project, but stepped down, so they brought Paul King as a second director in the making of the movie, but by the beginning of 2019, he stepped down too for "Family Reasons", so they brought the third and final director in the final product is Robert Zemeckis for not only worked as a director, but also as a producer and the writer.

So, with all that said, is this really necessary for remaking a wooden puppet in Disney+?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a movie is going to have a same following story from the original (but no, its another review that im not gonna compare between the book and the movie, because hey, its Disney's idea back in the beginning of the 40's), but apparently, despite the story is the same, but the direction that really ruining the plot...!

The movie begins with a narration from our familiar sidekick in the movie , Jiminy Cricket (aside of questioning the wall-breaking for its "necessary"), where he wanders around in the village before he secretly entering Geppetto's workshop, where he sees the owner Geppetto  carving a wooden puppet based on his deceased son (which i will admit, its nice for his reason that we feel sorry for him at the story, but its only the beginning, my friends...!), which he later calling his puppet as "Pinocchio" as we know it. Upon the night, he sees a bright star what its called "Wish star" for his wish (except he just slump his mind in this movie), despite the slump for... Reasons, the magic granted to make Pinocchio comes to life from Blue Fairy in order to teach him to be brave, truthful and unselfish with Jiminy as main puppet's conscience in order to be a real boy, despite he's a puppet (Duh!), so its up to Pinocchio to going in a new life to be honest with Jiminy for Geppetto.

The story is nothing new, its same tale is all this time (no pun attended) that we're familiar for this movie. But unfortunately, this movie is ruining the story for both the writing and the direction. Though the movie is kinda got clever to give us what we wanted like Geppetto's carving a puppet for his late son, going to the school to acknowledging, chase from escaping from Pleasure Island and that's it. But what's the problem with this movie's story? Well, it feels like a rushed job that we just done with one moment that came from movie, but just skip in either fast-forward or snatched out of nowhere. For example for the latter, there's a scene that Pinocchio has escaped from the Stromboli's coach, but then BOOM! He swiped away from another coach to rushing up to Pleasure island to meet Coachman and Lampwick, like he just escaped from Stromboli for like a seconds but then we quickly going into Pleasure Island?? Jeez, this is the example that for some reason, wanting to skipping some moments, again, its a rushed job for the story. And don't even get me started with the characters showing up and vanished like nothing happened, but trust me, we'll get to the characters later.

As for the humor, i've never had an experience that they trying too hard to be funny, but most of the jokes they trying is just failing with cringing level with my mind is a blank what they "trying" to. Sure, there's some that i kinda had a chuckle, but if there's my favorite gag, is when Pinocchio got distracted by a poop, i was gladly seen this to quoting from Ian Malcom from Jurassic Park: That is one Big Pile of Shit.

If you wanna story telling of a wooden puppet like second time since 1940's version, give us a story following without doing a rushed up, as well with a bad humor attempt...!

The Presentation

I think it safe to say that the budget is gearing toward the film's presence, which is exactly what Robert Zemeckis came in for the visual what im aware.

For starter, the film is obviously done in studio, mainly in Cardington Film Studios on England for creating a small village on Italy, from ocean (but not in the ocean, just above the surface), the inside the coach from Stromboli (as well as outside) and the Pleasure Island. I find the background looked not bad, the village itself looks pretty nice to feel like in the original version, even if it it kinda focused on some hallway part. However, the Pleasure Island presentation is pretty over-the-top, especially with the boat ride scene from boating, to half Ferris Wheel, sliding down candies to showcase with kids like to mess everything.

Like i said, i know the effects is the focus from Zemeckis. However, i've nothing against Robert Zemeckis, he's a great filmmaker with Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit (which i've already covered before since February of 2022), but the downside is ever since he's done with mocap animated film since The Polar Express, Monster House, Beowulf , A Christmas Carol and the GodAwful Mars Needs Moms with his own defunct animation studio version of "Image Movers", it seems he's rather wanting to showing off the work of CG. Yeah, i may like the CG, but its just that Zemeckis is too focus on digital visual to be "realistic" rather than story telling that we like to know. Visuals don't make a good movie, its the story development makes a good movie, which is the sign that fell apart that his latest film (except for some) didn't have the same charm as his classic films from 80's and 90's, and this movie is one of the kind that Zemeckis likes to gear towards visuals than story (Which is ironic that at the same year, Chip and Dale are make fun of mocap's effect)

With all that said, while i may appreciate the backgrounds, but when it comes to the effects and the designs, they're all over the place and they're pretty bad if they wanna remake this film, like it would've been ok if this could be done as a CG remake film than a "live-action" remake. For the effects, they're fine at first, but gotten weak (including Blue Fairy's wings that i can definitely tell it looks very bad that it makes "Once upon of Time" looks like an Emmy worthy show) with that it feels like something straight out of millennial film than a 2020's film. 

But don't even get me started with the CG character designs. Granted, it started ok for Pinocchio's look that yes, he has to be look familiar from the original version, but when they remaking the characters in a realistic look like Jiminy, Honest John and others, they look both ugly and horrible to executing, they're easily looking so bad that only Zemeckis can look at. Plus, the way when the actor playing those puppets are easily inaccurate to playing those wooden puppets, cause again, the CG is an obvious takeover. But don't even get me started on Monstro, unlike where he's an scarier dark sperm whale-like that makes Moby Dick having a nightmare, but there, not only he appeared as a monstrous whale, why not gives him some shark fin and a freakin' tentacles! So, why the hell not to make him looks like a Kaiju, along with unnecessary evil laugh...! Good god, how could you ruining this horrifying whale!?

Btw, did i forgot to mentioning out of all those coocoo clocks that Geppetto's created, how did he created all those clocks based on ANY Disney films, its pretty shameless way to showing off these clocks.

As for the songs, they're alright, while "When you wish upon a star" is a not bad cover, but the rest of those songs are average, they didn't have same charm as the original. Well, sure, they did gave us some new songs, but as far as i know, we didn't care pretty much about those new songs...!

While the presentation are ok, but its just the CG isn't just the focus of the budget, but Zemeckis's focus what he really liked to since his defunct animation studio.

The Characters

Now, you think the characters should be likable to have a similar depiction from the original vers-- Of course not...! Why did i ask for having some characters just didn't follow up from the original...!

Lets start off with Pinocchio himself (voiced by young Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), i find him to be passable, he's not are annoyingly bad or whatever, he's just remain the same as the original, though unlike the original that he's rather naive to get into trouble, he seems to be sorta acknowledging to realizing from conscience or perhaps aware, which i kinda like his change. Though he's easily passable, but sometimes he made me questioning his appearance, like how the heck he has super speed on his legs with feet scratching to make fire or even swimming faster? I mean come on, this is Dash's ability in The Incredibles, that's another shameless idea. Despite the flaws, i find the young British kid di a nice work of his role.

Next, we have Geppetto (played by Tom Hanks, aka Woody from Toy Story), as we all know, he's the creator of our main wooden puppet, though like i said before, he did this to his late son, which i gotta admit, its a nice development for why he did this. But too bad that it didn't last like that he's portrayed as instead of love and caring father figure, he's pretty much being an confused and possibly an idiotic old man. Like Zemeckis, i have no against Hank, he's a great actor that i know, but its just the way he was portrayed and written in this movie is just wrong and take away the heart of him.

And that we have Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who's Pinocchio's main sidekick to helping our main bow as his conscience. Though he remains the same, but rather than being memorable in the original, he's just coming off as either irritating or trying way too hard in order to be "Funny". Btw, i forgot to mention that yes, im aware that in the original concept, he was meant to be like a cricket, but completely changed to a small guy in a bug size with super jump like any crickets. But here, while they tried, but he looks like he's made of leaves and nearly creepy. Talk about annoyingly disrespecting one of the most memorable side character in Disney medias.

I wanna talk about few more, but they're not much else, but very badly. Even with new characters, they're not helping.

There's "Honest" John (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key) along with his pal Gideon who're nothing but failed very bad in order to be "intelligent" in order to be funny, like John being obnoxious with his Shakespearian accent, while Gideon is even more of an idiot than Geppetto, but not funny as well, but they disappeared in the rest of the movie after the first act, Blue Fairy (played by Cynthia Erivo) who's a wise fairy, but acts like if she's something straight out of self-aware fairytale movie (like say, Shrek or the embarrassingly "Happily Never After"), Stromboli (played by Giuseppe Battiston) who's a rich and selfish puppeteer who looks pretty uncomfortable for his acting (no disrespect for Battiston, but i think his acting role of puppeteer is pretty weak), The Coachman (played by Luke Evans) an overly charismatic owner of Pleasure Island that he looks like he's a pirate than a cursed theme park owner with his Cockney accent, Fabiana (played by young Kyanne Lamaya) who's a former ballet dancer turned puppeteer to helping Pinocchio for moral plot with her puppet Sabina (voiced by Jaquita Ta'le), and Sofia (voiced by Lorraine Bracco) a seagull with her cheap sassy stereotype.

While Pinocchio is an ok main character, but when it comes to the rest of the characters, they just come off as one-dimensional, annoying, unfunny and stupid, no disrespect of some of the actors, but they're not helping for this remake, even with some familiar names.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, the 2022 Pinocchio is easily the worst Disney's live action remake i've ever saw on Disney+. While it has some ok visuals, some change are fine and Pinocchio himself is passable, but everything else is a complete embarrassment, the direction of the story is a mess in a rush, the designs and some effects are either creepy and badly designed, the CG are all over the place based on Zemeckis's obsession (again, no offense for him, but no longer have the same magic back then) and the characters are forgettable for being idiot or annoying.

its no secret that this movie has no reason to be remade from Disney's 2nd animated film in history, the original one is a classic film that we all know and loved, especially with the signature song "When you wish upon a star", but here, this film feels like it came from monkey's paw than a wishful star, its horrible, its unnecessary and its a complete waste of time as a Disney+ subscriber...! Stay away from this remake, like, learn it from my mistake of my attempt to see "it" in curiosity, cause sometimes, curiosity kills our expectation...!

Im giving it a 3/10 and for the first time, this movie managed to be awarded what i call, the "Dumpster fire of Failure"!

So this ends of my movie review (Good god...!), if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: Thor Love and Thunder.

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.

Back in 2017, i reviewed Thor Ragnarok that its a very fun movie for the story of Asgard's decline, its a fascinating action, memorable characters and its funny. Looking back, i still a great third installment of Thor's standalone film, even though im ok to have this as a trilogy like Iron Man and Captain America, but rather than ended into trilogy, it looks like we have another one, which i wasn't sure at first, but give a shot.

"Thor: Love and Thunder" is a 2022 MCU Superhero film that was written/directed by Taika Waititi, produced by Kevin Feige (not surprising when we have him) and Brad Winderbaum, then co-written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.

The idea of this film begins in discussion between Waititi and Chris Hemsworth (who's Thor) for a 4th installment after Ragnorok, while they planning for the 4th film, one character who's missing from the third installment (that i haven't realized) is Jane Foster, so not only the 4th title will be "Love and Thunder" to give a romantic story with the feel of 80's adventure, but also have a story element from Mighty Thor (aka Jane Foster in Thor based on her health issue from cancer), but it got changed drastically based on the storyline of Infinity War to Endgame, which it obviously takes place after Endgame (SPOILER) where Thor joined Guardians of the Galaxy for his new life journey.

So, with all that said, will Thor is gonna make another fun adventure with reuniting Jane Foster, or is this film's love isn't the same as before?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Now, we expected that the story should be a new journey with Thor's new heroes working together from the evil threat as usual? Well, it could've gone better, along with the obvious cliché.

The movie begins in the desert with two last surviving kinds, Gorr and Love are both struggling to live, while Gorr tried for pray to the god Rapu, his daughter died, not before once he arrived to see Rapu, he heard the disturbing voice from dangerous shadow sword called "Necrosword". Once Gorr grabs it, he uses it to kill Rapu after being both rejected his request and humiliation, leaving Gorr becoming a Butcher God for killing gods on his way. Meanwhile, Thor was in meditation before have a call to save the land from Yakan in superhero's clean up with Guardians of the Galaxy. However Thor's partnership of the Guardians didn't last long, due not only starting to having a midlife crisis, but also hearing Sif was attacked by Butcher God, Gorr. While Thor is traveling back to Earth to the village "New Asgard", the village is invaded by Gorr for summoning his shadow creatures to kidnapping them into the Shadow Realm, at the same time, Thor was surprised to witnessing a reunion of his ex-girlfriend Dr. Jane Foster (who's sadly diagnosed from stage four terminal cancer) thanks to wielding his former weapon Mjolnir. So its up to Thor, Jane, Valkyrie and Korg the Kronan to leaving Earth to rescuing the children of New Asgard from Gorr.

While the story is not bad that i can say, especially for Thor has been changed back where he used after being a lumpy Thunder God in Endgame, but he's now in midlife crisis for his journey (but we'll get to the characters later), but the story pretty much running out of ideas for another rescue mission and the most obvious cliché in this movie. The parts that i finding to be wasted for the plot following is when they cut out Guardians of the Galaxy, which obviously means the team up between Thor and the Guardians is not only retconned from Endgame's ending, but pretty much a waste of time of their appearances, meaning Guardians of the Galaxy are pretty much nothing to do with the plot. Sure i do appreciating for the extra moment where Thor and his pals travels to Omnipotence City for help, while i appreciated to show us more gods, but does the helping gods is also to do with the plot? Well, yes and no. Yes, its mainly to finding Zeus's signature weapon, and no, they obviously refusing for help based on the fear if Gorr will ruined the city from the shadow's threat, despite the city is much protected to be hidden, in other words, helping other gods like Zeus and others are pretty much nothing to do for plot's goal. It feels like the writing has plenty of road block for make Thor tries to ask for help, but pretty much made him looking like idiot, in other words, the writing is not that good for its plot, along with the main cliché of this movie is "The Power of Love!", its pretty obvious to noticing the film's cliché.

Speaking of writing, as for the humor, it has a few chuckle moments that i had, but sometimes most of them just didn't turned, i know it tries, but its not as very funny as Thor Ragnarok, ranging from Thor's struggling to either his old signature hammer and his axe Stormbreaker to Thor's embarrassing situation while being startled by Zeus, which i did chuckles from the first of which, but sometimes got old rather poorly.

The writing is pretty weak for the obvious cliché, subpar humors and the story is ok for the most part for being not as original for the superhero's goal.

The Presentation

Unlike Ragnorok that it costs $180 million, this one sorta doubled the budget for $250 million. This movie's presence is a surprisingly fascinating, for the most part.

For the filming, its no stranger that it was all done in green screen at Fox Studio in Sidney, Australia. Sure they did filmed outside of studio like Centennial Park in Sidney, but its the studio is obviously the main focus of the CG background from any places where Thor and his pals in journey, but in admit, they looks pretty fascinating to visiting like in Omnipotence City, which has a shiny golden and beautiful place for the gods, New Asgard is nice to give a new generation of Asgardians, the dark monochrome in Shadow Realm.

As for the designs and quality, i think the budget is not just the CG background, but the quality in order to make an 80's vibe what they wanted, which i gotta say, its not bad, but i maybe understand they don't wanna make a cheesy quality (even if the film writing is cheesy and lazy), despite without having a cheese, it looks pretty good for the quality how the world gave us the presentation, from like i said before bright in gold in Omnipotence City to darker with monochrome in Gorr's Shadow Realm. Some quality details look amazing, but other times it could be look video game-ish for me.

Meanwhile the designs are kinda reminding me of Wonder Woman 87 based on some of the costumes' color are somewhat lighter, which i gotta say, they look pretty good that i like to see more brighter and colorful rather lacking them with just darker and silvers, don't give me wrong, i like silvers, but it just needs to have a extra layers of colors. Of course, the armors of Asgards like Thor, Jane's Mighty Thor and Valkyrie are pretty cool looking, meanwhile, Zeus's armor design is pretty basic, just give him a armor plate and a toga skirt, i know its a Greek myth gimmick, but maybe to give a little extra? Just saying. And we have Goor and his shadow monsters, they look both pretty good and pretty disturbing for the presence of horrifying how Gorr brought us, cause im sure the Asguardian kids will probably having a nightmare from Gorr being a Boogeyman.

As for the action, they're always fun to watch, the highlight is Thor and his pals facing against Gorr's shadow monsters from the beginning in New Asgard to the end, but im not gonna give more detail about the rest of action to preventing spoilers. But its not just a Thor vs shadow monsters, but also the battle between Thor and Zeus's guards and i gotta say, this may or may not be the goriest fight ever thanks to the blood bursting made of gold or something (which im assuming they using a golden paint for the purpose of the blood, just saying), even though this movie is rated PG-13, now that i think of it, this movie is kinda risky for the amount of blood and a gory kills, not just the blood, but also the killing of monsters and some stabbing, again, no spoiler details for my review.

One last thing i wanna pointing out, is because this is second Thor movie with an 80's gimmick, they brought 80's hair-metal music, the most notable one that they use is 4 songs from Guns N' Roses like "Welcome to the jungle", "Paradise City", "November Rain" and everyone's favorite "Sweet Child o' Mine", it turns out it wasn't just a marketing purpose, but its probably the reason why the director Taika Waititi loves G'N'R so much. Sure they pick others than G'N'R like Dio's "Rainbow in the dark" (which is one of my favorite), Enya's "Only Time", Abba's "Our Last Summer" and some others.

While have some flaws, the presentation looks good for the action and the style, for the most parts.

The Characters

For the characters in this movie, they're still nice to see them again, including one of them to give another chance, but some are wasted.

Lets start with Chris Hemsworth's role of Thor, as we all know, he's an axe wielding god and Avengers member to save the world since he used to live in Asgard. In this movie, he's now struggling whether or not he prefers to retire again or stay as a hero, due to his midlife crisis he's getting. Even though he's still a fun one for his changing life, but it seems that his time of hero could possibly coming to the end (or so we thought in the future as im writing this), but the whole midlife crisis is kinda lacking, he's still trying to save the day, but maybe they could've give more development of his difficulty life decision, but still Chris Hemsworth did a pretty good word of his role for almost more than decades.

Next up is Dr. Jane Foster (played by Oscar winner Natalie Portman), i've seen her in Thor's first film in MCU (maybe il review it in the future), she's an astrophysicist before eventually falling in love together before they're pretty much separated after "Dark World". But in this movie, while its good to bring back, she's sadly diagnosed from Terminal Cancer, leaving her life on the line, that was until she discovers a destroyed Mjolnir before she's eventually becoming worthy with the hammer as "Mighty Thor" and partnered with his ex-boyfriend, despite Thor's both suspicious and hesitation of her life with Mjolnir. I gotta say, its pretty nice to see her becoming the female version of Thor much like in the comic, but instead of diagnosed with breast cancer (which is not so bad), this version, her health is on the line from Terminal cancer (since there's no cure to stop this as we all know), which is obviously meant to be Foster's last ride (sorta like Iron Man for his sacrifice). Its pretty that she's dying, but Portman did a pretty good work of her role since the first and two movies of Thor, it may sounds like an obvious spoiler, but its understandable for her life ending.

After that, we have Valkyrie (reprised by Tessa Thompson), last time in Ragnarok, she was an alcoholic slave trader before eventually joining Thor as his sidekick and of course, got sober forever and of course, becoming the King of New Asgard after taking Thor's torch. In this movie, she's more brought over as still a sidekick, but she said she prefers to be a discipline than focus on war, which is where the rescuing kids is the focus of Thor and his pals goal. And they even one point planning her to be bisexual, which at first, i though she's a lesbian that i would like, but turned out to be Bi, aw well, im ok with it, but Tessa did a nice work improved Valkyrie.

And we have Korg (voiced by film's director Taika Waititi, up for the second time since Ragnarok), he's pretty much Thor best friend since we saw him. In this movie, he's just... There, but also as a small-time narrator for the plot development, its nice for that, but what's the point to having Korg being a brief narrative storyteller, he's just a Kronan gladiator to be Thor's best bud. No disrespect for Taika, he did a fun work of his role, but its just that despite being a 4th sidekick, im not so sure why he's there for purpose, but i know its for the comedy purpose.

So now we got characters we all know from the previous films, lets get to the new characters.

First is our main villain in the movie, Gorr the Butcher God (played by Christian Bale), he's a one helluva villain for plain disturbing, but honestly, i like him. Unlike most villains, he's the most darkest and nastiest villain in MCU, ever since he wields a Necrosword, he becomes a Butcher God for murdering gods, kidnapping kids in attempt to wiping out Asgard and even summoning shadow monsters. He's also playfully nasty for his goal of killing gods on his way for Eternity, which what makes him for me, a memorable villain for gruesome nature. In fact, they're many scenes of Gorr's violence act, but pretty much cut down for obvious PG-13 reason, considering how dark and nasty Gorr really is. Despite toned down, i like Gorr for memorable, dark and nasty villain, and Bale did a great work of his role, talk about playing opposite after his role of Batman.

Next up, its Zeus (played by Russell Crowe), he's the kind of Olympian and main protector of Omnipotence City with his main weapon "Thunderbolt", he's a pretty fascinating one, though pretty much either neutral and briefly appeared for Thor's asking for help but rejecting him. Its a shame for his brief appearance, cause aside of not-so original outside he's wearing, he's somewhat fascinating both for Crowe's delivery and his accent (though more like a mix between British and Greek accents).

There's Sif (played by Jaimie Alexander) who's Thor's childhood friend before got attacked by Gorr by dismembering her left arm, not much to give her, i mean i know she appears the first Thor and Dark World, but like Jane, she pretty much disappeared in Ragnarok before we eventually see her, but she's just wasted inclusion of this film, but for plot purpose as an alert of Gorr's incoming.

And finally, we have Guardians of the Galaxy, Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord (reprised by Chris Pratt, aka upcoming Mario in Illumination's Super Mario Bros), Nebula (reprised by Karen Gillan), Drax (reprised by Batista), Mantis (reprised by Pom Klementieff), Kraglin Obfonteri (played by Sean Gunn), Rocket Raccoon (reprised by Bradley Cooper) and Groot (reprised by Vin diesel). These guys shown up at the beginning where Thor was left off after Endgame, but instead, they left after the beginning of this movie, in other words, the ending of Endgame is pretty much retconned as Thor is going back on his own without his fellow Guardians, nice way to brought them up for NOTHING...!

While the rest of the characters are fine, its obviously the focus of Thor and Jane for the welcoming return, but its just that some characters that i mentioned are pretty much a waste of space, especially some are pretty much thrown in a garbage after the ending of Endgame...!

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, Thor: Love and Thunder is an ok film the action is fun, the designs and effects are beautifully done work, the main villain is memorable and i appreciated for the welcome reunion of Thor and Jane Foster.

But this movie has plenty of problems from some effect that while looks good, but could be flawed, some characters are wasted, and the writing is a serious problem from retconned ending from Endgame, not-so original story of saving kids like any distress superhero goals and of course, the big fat cliché of "The Power of love!", i mean come on, this is anime's cliché, not in MCU...!

Yeah, i think we can noticing a pattern of Thor movies, it went good, then gotten bad, it went back to be pretty good and then a disappointing film what we have, no wonder why this film flopped the box-office for not just bad timing, but obvious writing just plain cliché...! But im not saying its the worst, i may like some stuff, but this movie is just disappointingly average film for problematic writing. But im sure Thor fans will like this movie (perhaps), but this is the film that you should definitely watch once, whether you like it or not, its an ok film, but the writing could've been better...!

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 5.5/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.