Movie Review: Joker: Folie a Deux

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Five years ago, I’ve covered Todd Philips’s Joker, when I first reviewing it, I thought it was good. But when looking back at it, I can definitely see the praise not just the critics, but the fans as well for the realistic approach of Joker, along with impressive performance of Joaquin Phoenix’s role that he won the Oscar of Best Actor, good for him. So much so that with the praise of this movie, along with the build up at the ending, its no stranger that we have a sequel to be even better… Right?

“Joker: Folie a Deux” is a 2024 psychological thriller… Jukebox musical…? Film that was written/produced/directed by Todd Philips, co-produced by Emma Tillinger Koskoff, and Joseph Garner, and co-written by Scott Silver.

Even though some people (yours truly included) like to have a sequel, but others prefer that Joker should stay as a standalone film. But because of the success that it earned more than One Billion Dollars, Warner Bros decided to building their own cinematic version of “DC Black”, a miniseries which is much more of darker tone. Though the potential express of sequel came from Phoenix himself that he doesn’t want to leave his Joker’s role behind, along with saying that he had a dream when his Joker role to be more menacingly evil with going on stage with jokes and singing. It was pretty skeptical for this film’s idea to having a DC R-Rated film with a mix of psychological thriller and musical, but like I said, with Phoenix’s came up that idea to Todd Philips, they went ahead, along with reuniting with the writer Scott Silver and the producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff. However, since this movie has musical, one person that made up both curious and doubtful is having Lady Gaga (yes, the modern famous Lady Gaga in musical to joining movie industry) playing as Harley Quinn, it was an odd report during the development, but hey, what can you do when Phoenix brought up to have a girlfriend element of “Female Joker”, since we already of Quinn.

So, with all that said, will Joker and Harley Quinn made a grandiose musical in their insanity, or is this idea that its just as broken down as Joker and Quinn’s relationships?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Since Joker is in Arkham Asylum (or Arkham State Hospital as it called in the movie), you think that this will be another vengeful Joker against the society with Harley Quinn jump on a bandwagon, right? NOPE…!

The movie begins with… An inspired hand-drawn Looney Tunes inspired opening sequence that it picked up a reminder from the first movie? Okay…?? After that, taking place two years after the first film, Arthur Fleck is in a custody at Arkham, which they’re about to preparing the testimony about his killings, his mental disorder (mainly Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID) and his Joker persona. While at the same time, he sees Harleen Quinzel (or Lee for short) that she’s rooting for him for the plan to escaping to be free together for the plan of chaos in Gotham. Its up to Arthur for his struggling decision for either admit his responsibility or doubling down against the society.

I find this one is fine at best that its all about a testimony for Joker’s action whether or not its his justification against the society or its all fantasy from mentally delusion. But unfortunately, the writing is so weak from beginning to end that the story is stuck in two things, chaos and even musical. And off boy, the musical parts are so forced to be the focus than the storytelling, but we’ll get to that later. Not to mention, this movie is so slow for a 2 hours long film that we wanted to see something interesting for the developments and a small action, but we got is pretty minimal due to its weak writing, though sure, the court scenes are rather fascinating to watch, but it wasn’t helping very much that the movie is trying to giving us a build up relation between Arthur and Lee, but alas, the relationship is not only lackluster, but its also downright hopeless that they’re split up from either get along or she’s going to watching a testimony, aside the fantasy scenes with, again, the forced musical. I get they’re meant to be together as neighbors, but again, because of weak writing, it feels like a cheap subplot what they’re promoting us, leaving the relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn is nothing more but a marketing over-hype.

Story is lacking and the writing is a broken down mess. Even if they gave us some interesting development, but its not helping how it feels so lacking for what we got, making it without a story and lack of development just playing boring, in fact, and im not joking, was falling asleep while watching this.

The Presentation

The movie budget is between $190M – $200M, which to be fair, despite the problematic of the writing, it looks okay at best.

For starter, the filming location is pretty good for the filming in mix of Los Angeles and New York City for their depiction of Gotham City, especially for keeping the old early 80s setting. Though there are only two locations that are focused in this movie, Arkham Asylum is filmed in the abandoned Essex County Isolated Hospital, located on Belleville, New Jersey, which is a nice place and kinda fit in. And the second is the New York County Courthouse, this courthouse in Manhattan had a couple of histories some of you know, even if im not familiar about the live filming in courthouse, but this place is famously used from Law and Order show, as well as movies like The Godfather, Goodfellas, TMNT movie in 1990 and Wall Street. And of course, they even brought back to modern famous location, the Joker Stairs, also known as “West 167th Street Step Stairs”, its located on Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx in Manhattan, its famously first using it in the first Joker, here, while im glad it brought it back, but like the relationship between Joker and Quinn, its nothing but a tease.

While the filming outdoor and some fascinating buildings are nice, but the musical scenes either on the aforementioned two buildings focus or even on set, I will say for the latter the musical scene set are pretty good and colorful, even if it can be cheesy to play almost like a Broadway style, but still, looks pretty nice.

As for the some small effects and makeup, they’re fine, while Phoenix’s Joker is still looking nice since the first Joker, whereas Gaga’s Harley Quinn is pretty much normally with random clothing choice instead of classic jester bodysuit or even the modern top and bottom jester style, though im disappointed on her makeup that they could’ve gone with nearly similar to the Joker but in Harley Quinn fashion. Though sure, we never be able to see the action, sure we have blood or even attempted escaping asylum, but those actions and bloody moments are rather minimal, even if its still and R-Rated film.

But of course, lets not forget the biggest elephant in the room, its the musicals. Though im not gonna talk about the soundtrack done by Hildur Guonadottir, I think the soundtracks are fine, but the musical parts are the focus, but good lord, they’re like all over…! Most musical films like say, Disney films there have to be about 5 songs, or others like say, one of my favorite Grease, they have to be less than 10 songs, but at least Grease is a classic film, and those songs are great. But in this movie, there are 16 SONGS from beginning to end. And guess what? 90% of them are just nothing more but a cheap cover songs sung by both Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix. Though not going to be against them, Phoenix did a nice work of his singing performance, if you’re familiar with the 2005 “Walk the Line” in his movie version of Johnny Cash. As for Gaga, there no way to take shot on, considering how big Lady Gaga is when she first popping in with her successful album “The Fame” in 2008. And before you ask, yes, I do enjoy some of her songs, some are recognizable or some are underrated. Sure, her later albums have been changed and probably aren’t the same when she used to, but when she jumped into Hollywood with “A Star is Born”, man it was a HUGE deal for her mix of acting and musical (even though I never seen this movie), though sure House of Gucci is okay from I’ve heard. But again, you can’t make this stuff up that there are 16 SONGS in the whole movie that made the story and the action less focus, especially when almost EVERY songs are covers, with the exception of one original song written by Gaga herself. They’re all over, they’re boring and they’re downright forced…!

While the filming and the presentation are good, but Holy Balls the musicals are pretty much the endurance test of patience…!

The Characters

Since this is the sequel for return to the characters, as well as the new ones, you think this sequel will be a promising improvement? None… None can help because of weak writing…

Lets starts with our main titular character, Arthur Fleck, aka Joker (reprised by Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix), as we’ve seen from the first one, rather fell on a pool of chemical that bleached his skin and raising insanity for crime wave, here, he was born in mentally ill with uncontrollable laughter and his madness in nihilism for being abandoned by the society, its understandable for going realistic, but it makes a pretty good revision of Joker. But in this sequel on the other hand, it feels like the promise of becoming a “Clown Prince of Crime” is pretty much tossed out of window into a cheap sympathetic man who admits his responsibility for his dissociative identity disorder and mentally delusional as Joker. Talk about a major downgrade that we love Phoenix’s portrayal of Joker, ranging from a build up clowny criminal to a man who takes his responsibility, like good lord, it feels like its been retconned from the first movie. Again, I’ve nothing against Joaquin Phoenix, great and Oscar worthy over the first movie, its because how the execution from the writing and forced music is just weak and barely helped for his build up that we never gonna get it, I know he came up the idea in his dream to Todd Philips, but he should’ve think twice before the execution is done right.

Next up, we have Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (played by Lady Gaga) unlike many versions of Harley Quinn who’s a former psychiatrist of Arkham before likes to following footsteps with Joker or even turning against Mister J, here, she’s a patient of Arkham Asylum that she’s deeply falling in love to see Arthur for escape plan to live free. This may sounds like a build up for not just a chemistry between her and Arthur, but also build up crime in Gotham. But alas, we never get it, its more she wants to see him win free against the society that she’s inspired by it, but we never get a promising romantic between of two, instead, their romance is made for musical purpose with those cheap ass covers. It just doesn’t work on both her and the chemistry. Like Phoenix, I’ve nothing against Lady Gage, great and inspired singer and actress, but its the writing that its easy to blame for poor character development and the forced musical parts, make it the worst version of Harley Quinn we ever have, again, not gonna blaming Gaga, just blame the execution of the writing, what you see is what we got very badly…

Though the last one I like to give is Harvey Dent (played by Harry Lawtey), its quite surprising that he’s in the movie. While like many version, he started as a district attorney for Gotham’s peace before his duality is overtaking his mind. Here, while his district attorney is there as a newly elected, but he’s in a justice against Arthur, even if he could be cynical for putting Joker down for his personal gain, a little… Too personal. Even though he’s almost having a minor appearance, but at least he’s possibly the only good character in this movie, even if we already know for when he’ll becoming Two-Face, or not. But il give a credit for Harry’s pretty good role as Gotham’s district attorney.

But the rest of the characters aren’t as much as important. Sure they can give us a development, but many of them are either having a minimal appearance or just wasting the space.

There’s Jackie Sullivan (played by Brendan Gleeson, aka Hamish Campbell from Braveheart) who’s the abusive security against Arthur in Akrham, Maryanne Stewart (played by Catherine Keener) is Arthur’s lawyer for his defense, Sophie Dumond (reprised by Zazie Beetz) who’s Arthur’s neighbor that she’s originally his love interest, but never happened, Paddy Meyes (played by Steve Coogan) is a TV interviewer personality who made an interview towards Arthur, Gary Puddles (reprised by Leigh Gill) is Arthur’s former colleague when Joker is going madness to kill Randall, Ricky (played by Jacob Lofland) who’s inmate of Arkham and Herman Rothwax (played by Bill Smitrovich), who’s the judge of Arthur’s trial.

Its safe to say, this movie doesn’t have memorable characters with Joker being a complete downgrade, while the rest are both minimal and a waste of potential.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, Joke Folie a Deux is a complete boring and worthless sequel what we’ve gotten.

While the presentation are good at best and the acting are also good, but everything else is a complete disaster for the final result with lackluster story, bad writing, hopeless characters and the musicals are forced down to our ears that ruining the story building.

Even though the first Joker was meant to be standalone, I was expecting to giving us a sequel if this will be a worth of watching with a new award worthy since earning two Oscars in the first movie, but instead, this movie is anything but award worthy for how bad they gave us! I get they wanna try something new, but the execution that failed this movie so bad that pretty much giving us a boredom for how worthless this sequel is!

This is definitely my regret of watching this. This is not worth of our time and money spending to watching this hopeless sequel, especially with those bad cover songs that it makes “Strange Magic” looks like an Oscar worthy film. So again, don’t even bother to watching this waste of potential movie, its not worth it…!

And for that reason, im giving this one a 2.5/10, along with earning the Dumpster Fire of FAILURE.

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.

Movie Review: Transformers One

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back for my Movie Review.

As a kid, there were three toys that I love to playing with, Hot Wheels, Lego and even Transformers. In case for the latter, its pretty cool to see a toys involving giant robots with their abilities to transforming into cars, jets, boombox, animals and more, its all about the good like Autobot fighting against the evil Decepticon for their power hungry to tanking over either Cybertron or even Earth for taking energy sources, they’re the flagship on Hasbro toy series, sitting next to My Little Pony (another favorite, but back when it was fun in 4th Gen with Friendship is Magic) for their ongoing run for competition next to Mattel with Barbies and the aforementioned Hot Wheels. Though unlike Mattel, Both Transformers and My Little Pony in the 1980s, while the ponies were introduced first in 1981, Transformers were debuted in 1984, three years after MLP. But I was born late as 1995 that I wish I could watching the first generation Transformers, instead I remember watching the anime Transformers from “Robots in Disguise” to “The Unicron Trilogy” from Armada, Energon to Cybertron (The latters are… Pretty cool, but a bit rich). But when Michael Bay shown up to giving us his take on Transformers, I felt underwhelmed for how BORING it is, which I was pretty much ignored them like nothing happened, or perhaps I should’ve watch more Transformers cartoons like “Tansformers Animated” or Prime. Though as I grown, I really want to get myself back into Transformers, not just for looking for toys, but also watching the shores in their different lore. But what they never have been is to have a theatrical animated Transformers after over decades.

“Transformers One” is a 2024 animated movie that was directed by Josh Cooley (the director of Toy Story 4), produced by Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Bay (Yup, its him again), Mark Vahradian and Aaron Dem, and written by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari.

The idea of this movie cam after the release of Transformers: Age of Extinction, Paramount had a discussion with one of the writer Akiva Goldsman to do the work of Transformers for hope of its promise to Michael Bay’s version, but once he worked on Transformers: The Last Knight, it was a bust. Despite that, it seems Paramount wanted more when another writers Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari joined in. BUT, rather than making another Bay’s Transformers, they wanted to have a prequel story of Transformers, not just a prequel, but an animated film, which is something that we’ve never expected to having a theatrical animated movie based on Transformers, but it wasn’t the first. Back in 1986, when the first two seasons of Transformers was such a big deal, so much so they the people behind the show decided to go all in to making their own movie as a tie-in from the show with new characters and sadly, killing off Optimus Prime. Which despite it had a potential, it didn’t turned out both the reaction and the box-office, leaving the idea of animated Transformers movie left a shadow that made the G1 into a decline, despite of selling new toys for the sake of introducing new characters, but its a long story. Anyway, once Paramount has accepted to having an animated Transformers movie in a prequel story, it had a lot of promise, especially when they hired Josh Cooley as a director.

So, with all that said, will this movie will give us more than meets the eye, or is this film felt like it was created by Decepticon?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Just to head up I may not be familiar of Transformers in Hardcore level, but I did learn for some since I briefly watched the G1 Transformers show. So with all that said, will the origin has a pretty good story? Well, for the most part, yeah, I definitely think so, sometimes for the writing.

The movie begins where it briefly explains Cybertron was born from the original kind name “Primus”. But due to Primus’s life came to at end, it transforms into a planetary form as Cybertron that we all know, along with birth of the population kind as “Cybertronian”, as well as giving cogs to the heroes that they were called “Primes”, but alas, they were gone without the most important thing in Cybertron what its called “The Matrix of Leadership” in order give more powers from planet’s energy resource called “Energon”. After the origin, we introduced Orion Pax (betefore he’ll be named Optimus Prime that we all know) who found the small documentary about the aforementioned origin, but after got himself into a hot water from being chased by Darkwing to get lost, he reunites his pal D-16 (before he’ll be named Megatron), even if they’re both working as miners to digging out Energon with Elita-1, despite after their freak accident with injuring one of worker Jazz, and weirdly demoting Elita (despite she didn’t do anything wrong). But after Orion and D been accidentally participating the race in celebration (despite they lost the race) they given a respect to heroic of Cybertron named Sentinel Prime, only didn’t last long that they’ve been thrown out by Darkwing and meet the eccentric B-127 (Even though he was named named “Bumblebee” in the movie, which il call him “Bee” for short) from down bellow. Despite thrown out, Orion found a map from Bee’s weirdly imaginary friend to finding the location that he assume there’s must be the way to seeking The Matrix. Its up to Orion Pax, D-16, Elita and Bee to find the way to finding The Matrix, along with hopefully having special cogs to transform and learn more truth.

I will say, its pretty nice to bring us back to the past where it all begin before we have Autobot and Decepticon, especially when our unlikely heroes are going out to seeking The Matrix, along with their character development build up. However, while I enjoy the origin, though it can be too simple and kinda cliché with some elements, such as being the chosen ones, the dark secret Sentinel (yeah, SPOILER ALERT, its a villain’s plot twist cliché) and it can be a bit complex in the movie throughout the movie. Even if I can be a bit nit-picky with some moments didn’t make any sense like why Elita got fired when she’s done nothing wrong, how Bee found the map without realization and why Sentinel congratulating Orion and D for nothing in Transformers version of Indy 500. Yeah, the writing can be questionable for some logic. But of course, what’s not better way to have a humors, which will say, I find some jokes are chuckle worthy that I laughed at some moments, but if only the jokes won’t get too much on Bee, sure I did chuckled some Bee’s humors, but once a limit needs to give him a limit than forced, not to mention, even though the movie is meant to be made for kids, but most of the jokes are kinda mature that we should’ve know that its a PG animated film, based toys involve robots turning into vehicles or others. However, while its not perfect, the movie also has a chemistry between Orion Pax and D-16, which I find the development between of two are like the focus and I can see why, since can feel these two are meant to be good friends, but the more you watch, the more separation build up they’re about to, which is exactly the difference between of two is day and night, you can fee Orion wants to be help in his lighter path, while D-16 is on a verge of losing respect and potentially twisted by the dark side. Especially with an appreciation about the world building about Cybertron from the aforementioned origin.

While the writing aren’t as perfect, and some jokes are mixed of chuckle worthy or forced, the story is pretty nice to bring us to the prologue that, while a bit slow, but the more we watch, the more fun and action impact it gets.

The Animation

The movie’s budget costs between $75M to $147M (though its estimated) and I will say, it looks pretty good and of course, for a theatrical film based on Transformers, its worth of update with going back to the old route.

For starter, the background is no stranger to going 80’s-like detail and the colorful chrome either inside or outside of Cybertron and I gotta say, they look colorful and amazing, the city in Cybertron looks pretty cool and probably creative for being a cite from normal side or weirdly upside down (kinda like the Hollow Earth in Monsterverse, but in futuristic city). Of course, outside of city, it also has a creative with a mix of metallic mountain formation, nature overgrown and other fascinating location design, sure it may not look vibrant, but the colors and even some effects are fascinating.

One thing that I give an appreciation is the character designs. First, I like to pointing out the animation of this movie is done by “Industrial Light and Magic”, they used to be involved with the live action character designs in Bayverse. This time, gone is the clutter with gears, pieces and stuff all over for the cheap sake of realism in Bay films, here, since this is an animated movie, they went back to the old route by having the character designs look more like they came from toys (You know what they said, movies or shows are made to selling toys since the 80s.), and I gotta say, not only its a right decision, but also the character designs are pretty good, almost like a mix of 80s and modern, sure their faces are metallic human-like, which is odd design, unless some of your are like “Hey, this is like the modern facial animation of Transformers: Beast Wars”, and you know what? By looking between of two, they kinda do. Though il give also a credit for the effects, for the characters, whether be their eyes with iris, a glowing chest once they have cogs to of course, seeing them transforming into vehicles that we love to see for obstacles and action. There’s also the Quintesson aliens, though these guys have nothing to do with the plot, but I will say, even though im not familiar with Quintisson aliens (even if they have nothing to do with the plot), but having born as an alien robot from its appearance, they look unique and kinda disturbing.

Of course, since this is Transformers movie, its no stranger that we have action scenes, I will say, those action scenes are fun to to watch, while we start out slow from Orion Pax chasing away from Darkwing, a racing with Orion and D-16, and even avoiding obstacles. But of course, like the story, the longer you watch, the more intense action impact we gotten into from creative battle with transformation, the impressive use of cinematography, to even some moments are brutal that some are either getting injured or even body counts. Keep in mind, while they gave us some cool action for kids, but its still rated PG, MCU style, but at least its a lot fun to watch than the current MCU.

Like I said, gone is the clutter and cheap stake from Bay’s films, the animation of this movie is outstanding for its bringing back to the old route, fun action and colorful design and presentation.

The Characters

When it comes to the characters, a lot are pretty much in a minor roles or minor developments, but I do enjoy the voice acting (even if its another one of those animated movies with all-star casts) along with some giving us a promising character development. I know when we saw them in a trailer, we were pretty doubtful for their roles, but keep in mind, this is the origin story of Transformers, which again, the longer we watch, the more fascination it goes.

Starting off with the main protagonist in the movie, Orion Pax, aka Optimus Prime (voiced by Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth), when we first introducing him, he’s more of a curious and adventurous miner, which he could causing troubles for being cocky that he wants to help, but as it goes on when he learns about The Matrix, he becomes mature and brave for his honor to Cybertron for peace, I know it sounds I like spoiled the movie, but easy to predict how our familiar characters will become after they learned, which is exactly how Orion grows, even though his development is more like an unlikely chosen one to be the hero, but il give a credit what they’re trying, sure its not like the same voice as legendary Peter Cullen, but Chris did a pretty good work of his role of Orion.

Next, we have D-16, aka Megatron (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry, aka Bernie Hayes from Monsterverse, and aka Jefferson Davis in Sony’s Spider-Verse), at first, he’s more of a regular Cybertronian who’s not looking for trouble, despite he’s more irritated from his fella Orion without hesitant to punishing and can be hotheaded, but unlike Orion, once he learned by about The Matrix, he’s potentially going down to the dark side, becoming injustice and menacing for his potential battle in genocide. He’s like Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars, but instead of being cocky or childish, he starts out rather realistic and down to earth to becoming ruthless and evil that we all know. Like before, sure its no stranger its not like the legendary Frank Welker, but Brian is really surprising me for his impressive role of Megatron, he goes from normal and sorta tragic to becoming pure evil after the secret is revealed.

After that, we have Elita-1 (voiced by Black Widow herself, Scarett Johansson), she’s more of a no-nonsense discipline and the only female ally of Orion’s group, despite she’s been wrongfully victimized. I find her to be not bad, she’s more of a strong and serious former superior of mining towards Orion and D-16, even if she has no problem to punishing some (without harmful). She’s almost like the Cybertronian version of Black Widow, I mean, what do you expect they’re both played by Johansson, but il give a credit for her voice as Elita, she did a nice role.

Lastly, there’s B-127, aka Bumblebee (voiced by Keegan-Michael Kay, aka Toad from The Super Mario Bros Movie, and aka Ducky from Toy Story 4), he’s pretty much the eccentric Cybertronian from bellow and the obvious comedic relief in the movie in KMK standards. Like I said, he did gave me chuckling moments, but its just the comedy is a bit too much on him in, again, fashion from Keegan-Michael Kay, sometimes it works like his hilarious rightful option of running away from mountain formation to “Badass-atron”, but other times, its too much and questionable development from the start, either that or maybe Michael Bay is not a fan of Bee, but that’s just me.

As for the rest, a lot of them are having a minor developments, some are fascinating, but some that I wish they could’ve give us more. There’s Alpha Prime (voiced by Morpheus himself, Lawrence Fishburn) who’s the last living Prime who gives us the truth about The Matrix and partially about his group and world building, Sentinel Prime (voiced by Jon Hamm) who’s the great hero of Cybertron right before we found out his dark secret. Yeah, like I said, he’s another one of those villain with a twist, though I wish they could’ve give us more screen like he’s watching over our main heroes, but again, its just me, Starscream (voiced by Steve Buscemi) is the leader of his High Guard that he’s surprisingly less cowardly and less selfish, nice touch to make him badass, then again, I would love to see him more, along with Soundwave (voiced by Jon Bailey) and Shockwave (voiced by Jason Konopisos-Alvarez). And there also some I appreciate their appearance, but in cameos (though with potential) like Jazz (voiced by Evan Michael Lee) and Arcee (voiced by Jinny Chung). If only we would like to see them in their cameos like Hotrod, Ultra-Magnus, Ironhide or some of the Decepticon’s Seekers. Aw well.

While most of almost all of them have a minor roles, but its nice for their casting, and even giving us the character developments, especially for two main characters.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, Transformers One is surprisingly a pretty good Transformers movie that they gave us.

The story is pretty good for the build up of the secret truth, the writing is good, the characters are good too, especially for the main characters’ build up, the animation is outstanding and colorful, the action are great, the humors can be good and it has a nice heart.

Sure, while I like some, but the writing is nowhere perfect with some flaws with clichés and some nonsensical logic, some humor is forced and aside the main characters, I would like to see their build up that I like, for the most part.

And to be fair, I think its safe to say that I’d rather watching this more than those godawful Michael Bay versions, sure Bay’s version can be fun, but its just flat out boring and absolute cringe. The difference is day and night, which im glad both Paramount and Industrial Light and Magic have learned after what Bay gave us to bringing Transformers back to its old route.

Despite the problems, its no stranger to be a Must-Watch film for Transformers fans and even non-fans. as a fan of animation (unlike the godawful Bay ones), I think I enjoy this movie, not perfect, but at least I enjoy this movie for all the good reasons and even appreciation to both Paramount and Industrial Light and Magic. If you’re curious about Transformers, I’d say give this one a watch, and maybe you’ll love Transformers for either actions or learning about the origin.

For my rating, im gonna give this one an 8.5/10. This is movie is so close to earning the Trophy of Success, but if it doesn’t have flaws, it would’ve been either 9 or 10. Aw well, better luck next time.

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 and Happy early Canadian Thanksgiving though.

Movie Review: The Wild Robot

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Remember last year when I was hoped when Dreamworks are going to giving us a promise, before they were tripped when they gave us Ruby Gillman? Yeah, last year was like a roller coaster ride, they gave us promising with The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, but then they went down to facing their own punishment when Ruby Gillman’s box-office got flopped. That is until when we have the next movie to giving us a hope for their return.

“The Wild Robot” is a 2024 animated sci-fi survival film that was written/directed by Chris Sanders and produced by Jeff Hermann.

If the name Chris Sanders sounds familiar to you all, its because he had been worked with classic movies, he started working at Disney as visual works and even character designs, he worked on a classic renaissance films like Beauty and The Beast, The Lion King and Mulan. Then in 2002, while Disney was in bad shape, he gave one his best work, Lilo and Stitch. But after the negotiation of American Dog didn’t go well, Sanders left Disney to Dreamworks for his passion project of The Croods (though with mixed result), he also gave us another one of his best, How To Train Your Dragon. Sanders’s next movie wouldn’t be until we have here today. Back in September 2023, they were announced to adapting from the book series with the same name by Peter Brown with Sanders brought in as both writer and director. Though this film’s idea came from Sanders’s curiosity when he found the book, he wasn’t sure at first, until he think that this will be the opportunity make a movie with Dreamworks, it wasn’t just a survival movie with a lone robot, but also feel that this will be fitting to have a heart to connect between robot and nature.

So, with all that said, will the robot lives in nature in peace, or is it unwelcoming to the wild life?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

While this movie is gonna be similar to Cast Away, but with a robot, but the story of this movie is actually both fun and actually heartwarming.

Taking place in a fictional future, we introduce the main robot named ROZZM unit 7134 who’s washed ashore to an island of wildlife from a typhoon (while unfortunately, the other ROZZUMs are broken in pieces), but after got activated by one otter out of nowhere, ROZZUM wakes up that, before discovering island, she’s pretty much in full on assistant mode with advertising services and asking for task to wild animals, which she unfortunately scaring them off and getting herself at risk from obstacles, getting attacked by a predator and worse, accidentally crushed a nest with a mother goose with one egg left. After it cracked open in birth, she’s curiously meets a baby goose as “Brightbill”, at first, she wasn’t so sure to figuring out how she’s being called a mother, until she meets a fox name Fink (despite she saw him before) to helping her for being adoptive mother to Brightbill for three task, eating, swimming and flying. However, due to bring a robot, its not easy to start to first meeting the other animals, especially for her chemistry with her and the wild animals, while at the same time, she wants to found out who she is. Its up to Roz to discovering nature to connect them and asking herself whether or not if she lives with nature or going back to the futuristic company called “Universal Dynamics”.

I find the story of this movie, again, while its similar many survival films like say, Cast Away, but the execution is actually pretty impressive and of course, well written. The movie goes to focus of Roz trying to connect with nature for her both curiosity and befriend with them without putting herself as risk, even if she’s a robot from greeting in advertising and assistant mode from the start. But the longer she stay to hanging out and helping the more emotion she’s developing that she’s interested live with, especially for her chemistry with herself, Brightbill and Fink, especially to have a mix of humor and heart. Especially with the latter, while I do have a chuckling moments, but the heart is the key to this movie, and I will say, they did a pretty good job how we can relate to her for both both outcast and castaway, along with a subplot that she needs to know who she’s supposed to be when her relationship with wild animals goes pretty difficult when they treating her as a monster, despite she’s meant to helping them without putting a harm, even if she didn’t even meant to kill Brightbill’s mother, even if without telling the terrible truth to him. Its easy to feel sorry for her that she just wants to be friend rather than being badly treated, even if when she found that she’s meant to be part of “Universal Dynamics”, leaving her an uneasy decision if she stays or got back where she belongs. Especially where she wants to be an adoptive mother to helping Brightbill for how to be like geese to eat, swimming and flying. However, if there’s a downside I have of this movie, is that the movie started pretty short when she’s quickly washed ashore of the island, which its been heard about a cargo ship was caught in a dangerous typhoon that left her, along with 5 others (but broken into pieces) left to the island, which find the opening is rather a rushed start, even if I understand that the movie’s length is less than 2 hours, but again, the opening is kinda rushed.

Aside of botched opening, the story and its writing are both outstanding for adventure to survive, a chemistry with wild animals and difficulty life with ROZZUM, especially for her developing her feeling towards animals for both helping and friendship.

The Animation

The movie’s budget is $78M, and by looks of this film’s animation, my god, its beautifully well done.

For the background design, they look pretty amazing for a movie taking place in an island of wildlife, though as I know, the forest and the landscape is done via inspiration from Claude Monet’s painting with all the nature with forest, river, a shore and others for concept background, making the background looking like painting comes to life, its beautifully amazing what they pulled with all the textures and even the effects.

Speaking of the animation and the effects, its no stranger that by looking at it, they took the same technique from previous films like The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, based on a CG with 2D-like animation that they took inspiration from Sony’s Spider-Verse, and out of the same technique they pulled, this is probably the strongest one they ever pulled. The effects of this movie is pretty good with the water effect its much more of a natural in 3D to even some lighting action like lightning and laser gun blast are like in 2D.

For animation, it goes like two roles, on one side is the full futuristic 3D with some robots, the future town, the vehicles to maybe even some humans, they’re looking pretty nice, especially with ROZZUM design. Though I know I kept saying “im not gonna do a comparison between the book and the film, cause I didn’t own a book”, but this might be an exception. If you look at the book version’s design, it looks way too simple and robotic, which I find this one to be… Too simple and kinda boring. The movie’s ROZZUM design is completely different, sure it has a same ling arms and legs, but they made her a round design and also made it simple, but also giving Roz a special ability like detachable limb and even developing her emotion, which I find Roz’s movie design look, while simple, but also giving innocent looking, which I find her pretty cute as a robot.

On the other side, there the nature and the wildlife are done in 3D with 2D concept comes to life, sure there are some may look like if they’re from other movies outside of Dreamworks, but il give a credit that they did this as an inspiration from classic Disney films to even Hayao Miyazaki films. Specically while Chris Sanders said, its an inspiration from both Bambi and My Neighbor Totoro. And I gotta say, for inspiration of the animals design and the animation, they look pretty good for the deisgn and even cute looking. Sure some action scenes with geese are done with 2D, but I can’t help but enjoy how the animation of the animals are pretty good, kinda like a Disney inspired concept arts comes to life.

Sadly, despite they did the best work and effort for the animation process and the same technique, this will be the last film when Dreamworks made their animation on their own, meaning that because of the flop from Ruby Gillman, they won’t be able to make another movie from scratch with laying off employees, which means Dreamworks need a helping hands for the outsiders for their future projects. Like I said in my list of worst movies in 2023, its pretty sad for what could’ve been their redemption, but because they’re losing money and their employees, gotta shifting away to making animated movies on outside studios at the end of 2024. Back then, Dreamworks used to be great for making best movies on their own hands, but for now on at the end of 2024, they gotta work with the outsiders for their helping hands for their future projects. Thanks a lot, Ruby Gillman…!

Despite this will be the last film that Dreamworks made an animated movies on their own, but they still did their best job for beautifully well crafted animation from the background and their inspired animation technique.

The Characters

In typical Dreamworks fashion, it has an all-star cast with past and modern names on, but based on a beautifully, fun and emotional writing, it makes the characters actually enjoy to hear and heartfelt.

Lets starts off with the wild robot herself, ROZZUM Unit 7134, or Roz for short (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o, aka Maz Kanata, aka Raksha, aka Nakia), the main robot who’s washed ashore to the wildlife island to discovering the environment to hanging out with wild animals to befriending to becoming adoptable mother, even if she may have a hard time to either live with wildlife or going back to futuristic city. While I find her design look simple, but cute, I find her pretty fascinating for her character driven, she started out as an unwelcoming outcast that they’ve name-calling her as a monster that left her difficult to get along from the start, especially when she wants to finding out who and what is she supposed to be, leaving her, again, questioning herself to either stay or go. But of course once she learns further, along with developing her emotion in her robotic mind, the more emotional and believable she’s become. That’s what makes her memorable for all of fun and tragic reason, she’s alone and being the only robot in a wildlife that she just wants to be welcomed and looking for friends or being a mother to the animals, but isn’t easy from the start in her Assistant mode, but the longer she stays, the more more character driven she’s become, and that makes her memorable and yet we feel sorry for being an outsider, and Lupita did a great job for her voice acting. Plus, this is Lupita’s first voice acting in animated film, so good for her.

Next we have Fink (voiced by Pedro Pascal, aka Mando from The Mandalorian), the red fox that, at first, when Roz tries to saving the egg, he wants to eat the newborn goose, since he’s a carnivorous like any foxes (for the most part), but he eventually get along with her to helping her for learning about the wildlife and kinda even teaching her to be an adoptive mother when she protects Brightbill. At first, we thought he could be a hostile fox from the start, but after seeing her adopting Brightbill, he chooses for not only being bad to good, but also helping her to discover the environment, which is actually pretty nice to help her as a robot. Though its also funny that he sounds almost like Nick Wylde from Zootopia, they’re both mischievous and well, they’re both red fox, though whereas Nick is being a small-time con-artist for her quick money goal before Judy Hopps shows up, while Fink is a typical carnivorous to teacher show Roz a whole new world in the island of wildlife. Which I find Fink being another memorable, he’s both funny and helpful to Roz to discover the world outside of future city. And of course, Pedro did a fun work of his voice acting.

Then there’s Brightbill (voiced by Kit Connor) a young goose who’s adopted by Roz follow her incident of her bumping and crushing ride on her discovering the land. At first, we may have a cute and sad start when Roz made a fatal accident of killing a mother goose (even though she didn’t even meant to) which Roz have not choice to be his mother to taking care of. At first, I find him to be a passable orphan that Roz teaches him with three tasks, but like Roz, he has a character driven for his build up finishing task to unfortunate revealing the dark truth for why he lost his original mother. At first with the truth revealed, it feels like he has no hope with Roz, which at least once he learns about flight and even migration, he has a motivation to live like geese with the help of Thunderbolt and even Longneck. He may have a typical cute and kinda boring starts, but once he’s developed, he eventually got motivated once he’s able to finishing the tasks from Roz to understand to be like geese and migration, which is actually nice, even I gave a pass, but again, still nice for his character driven from the execution, and Kit did a nice work of his voice role that we can rooting for and feel sorry for him for being an orphan.

As for the rest of the characters, even though they’re not much else to say, but at least they have a nice character developments to giving advice to our main wild robot as well with some surprising developments and even fun voice acting.

There’s Pinktail (voiced by Catherine O’Hara, aka Kate McCallister from Home Alone, and aka Delia Deetz from Beetlejuice) she’s the mother of her own Virginia opossum family to giving Roz an advice for how to be a mother of Brightbill and jeez, how many times Catherine plays a mother role in movies? Longneck (voiced by Bill Nighy, aka Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean), an elder goose to gives an advice to Roz for teaching Brightbill to fly by having Thunderbolt (voiced by Ving Rhames) to be a strong coach to teaching Brightbill to flying (pretty interesting to having an advice given from freakin’ Davy Jones than finding souls), Thorn (voiced by Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill) who’s at first, a menacing grizzly bear before, like a teddy bear, changed his heart for Roz (despite he slashed her…), Paddler (voiced by Matt Berry) who’s a busy beaver for the river (like any beavers) and finally, there’s Vontra (voiced by Stephanie Hsu, aka Alma Milan from The Fall Guy) is a robot who’s looking after Roz to bring her back where she’s belong, she sounds pretty friendly, despite being strictly menace against nature.

While some have a minor appearances, but these guys are both good and well-written with humors, plot development and even characters driven for how we’re rooting and our sympathy. Along with great voice acting.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, The Wild Robot is probably the best Dreamworks’ film they’ve ever made and this film is probably my new favorite next to Shrek and even Kung Fu Panda.

Despite it has a minor flaw, but this film is impressive from its beautiful animation, a very good and emotional story based on writing’s execution, memorable characters, the voice acting is great, its has its humor and its also rather emotional for our heart to a main character and rooting for one of the geese.

While its a damn shame that this is the last film that Dreamworks worked the animation on their own hands before working with the outsiders, I mean, I think those people did the best job of this while they sacrifice their business before the end of 2024. I know its sad for their changing, they did their best work for this film.

This is no stranger that its a Must-Watch film for everyone and the fans of Dreamworks. So if you guys wanna see it, get your friends and family together to watching, im sure some of you guys will love it if you eventually watching it, cause this one is probably the biggest animated film of the year. Again, highly recommend to watch it, my friends.

Because of all of good reasons that I enjoyed of watching this for fun and heartwarming it is, im gonna give this one a PERFECT 10/10, along with earning the Trophy of Success.

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.