Movie review: Dead Rising 2: End Game

 

 In this sequel, investigative reporter Chase Carter must navigate the quarantined zone of East Mission City to get the story of a lifetime and stop a government conspiracy focused on ending the zombie epidemic by killing millions of innocent civilians.

Jesse Metcalfe (Carter), Marie Avgeropoulos (Sandra), Ian Tracey (Hancock), Keegan Tracy (Jordan), Jessica Harmon (Jill), Billy Zane (Rand), Patrick Sabongui (Garth), Camille Sullivan (Susan), Jim Thorburn (Capt. Smith).

Dead Rising 2: End Game begins with a mild shot at relating to the original film, and almost makes it. Some mild plot setup and character introductions out of the way, the film settles into a lethargic cycle of drama, action, zombies, rinse, repeat. Sadly the plot has little depth and the poor storytelling of this film doesn't help much.

Acting was tepid for the most part. Metcalfe was okay. Avgeropoulos was solid but felt uninspired and like she was lacking energy. Zane felt like he phoned this one in, as did much of the cast.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are decent. Action scenes are okay with some good variety and gore. Dialogue is dry and predictable. Soundtrack is mild.

Overall Dead Rising 2: End Game may be a nice entry level zombie flick, but not much more. The plot is thin, technical work mild, and acting has little energy. The result is a film that has some sparks of entertainment punctuating less than entertaining dramatic scenes.

With gore and violence, save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 6.18.17
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Zombies, Sci-Fi, Action, Horror

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Arrival

 

 When 12 alien spacecraft touch down across the globe, the first challenge is communication. Led by expert linguist Louise Banks, a small team struggles to establish communications and determine the visitors intentions.

Amy Adams (Louise), Jeremy Renner (Ian), Forest Whitaker (Col. Weber), Michael Stuhlbarg (Halpern), Mark O'Brien (Capt. Marks), Tzi Ma (Gen. Shang), Abigail Pniowsky / Julia Dan / Jadyn Malone (Young Hannah).

After a mass landing of alien vessels around the globe, military leaders turn to expert linguist Louise to establish communications with the visitors and determine their intentions. After processing the aliens unusual appearance and the process required to try and speak with them, Louise quickly finds their language is exponentially complex and challenging. With the aliens intent constantly questioned, Louise realizes their language is much more and could potentially change how we view our existence.

Acting was reasonably good with Adams delivery including a slight sense of trepidation. Renner was good as always but surprisingly underused. It was nice seeing Whitaker in a less menacing role, which he managed nicely. The remainder of the supporting cast was solid and enjoyable.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds felt realistic and employed nice variety. The alien ship and other CGI was good, fit the film, and translated visually quite well. The gravity paradigm shift was particularly enjoyable. Dialogue was good and obviously geared toward the dramatic. Sound and soundtrack were mild but okay.

At the end of the day Arrival is an unusual and entertaining sci-fi that blends the visual with the intellectual to quite nicely build a film with depth. Those looking for purely intense CGI may be disappointed, while those who enjoy thought provoking stories should enjoy this one.

With some mild foul language and violence, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 6.11.17
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi Drama, Sci-Fi Thriller, Alien Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi Mystery

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Movie review: The Whole Truth

 

 Attorney Richard is asked to defend a 17-year-old accused of murdering his father, but his client literally refuses to speak. As the trial commences, Richard begins to learn disturbing details about his clients life and enlists the help of a young lawyer to help with the defense.

Keanu Reeves (Ramsey), Renee Zellweger (Loretta), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Janelle), Gabriel Basso (Mike), Jim Belushi (Boone), Jim Klock (Leblanc), Nicole Barre (Angela), Lucky Johnson (Driver).

The Whole Truth begins nicely with plot setup and character introductions right up front. As the story gets rolling the focus is on the trial with the murder investigation presented as flashbacks during courtroom testimony. We quickly realize there is much more to the story, and that we might be missing information, which can actually be found by carefully watching the film. The result was a surprise ending that many will not see coming and arguably is low quality compared to the detail and finesse found in the rest of the film.

Acting was nicely done with Reeves managing his role very well and delivering nicely. We almost didn't recognize Zellweger who did wonderfully in a role that felt a bit unusual for her. Basso fit his role nicely and though he didn't have much dialogue, was able to express himself in the film visually very well. Belushi was in-type as an abusive husband and did well along with the remainder of the cast.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were well detailed and nicely realistic, as expected of a well budgeted film such as this. Dialogue was enjoyable with nice depth and a good fit. Sound and soundtrack were solid.

While some may be frustrated by the twist at the end, or even feel cheated, this is really a nicely done crime mystery. The story is well detailed, technical work is good, and acting is engaging. Mystery fans that enjoy the mystery rather than being spoon-fed the story should enjoy this one.

With a sexual assault scene that contains no nudity, and some foul language, this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 6.7.17
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Crime Mystery, Crime Thriller

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Movie review: The Magicians

 

 Drafted into a college specializing in magic, student Quentin Coldwater and other draftees learn the mythical fantasy world they read about as children is real.

Jason Ralph (Quentin), Stella Maeve (Julia), Arjun Gupta (Penny), Hale Appleman (Eliot), Summer Bishil (Margo), Olivia Dudley (Alice), Jade Tailor (Kady), Rick Worthy (Dean Fogg).

The Magicians draws us in pretty fast with some nice sci-fi aspects, a plot with some depth, and tasty bits of sexuality. The plot is unwound in the series much more slowly than we realize, making the journey that much better. After the first few episodes the plot becomes a bit difficult and the film takes on a strange affection for assuming that the audience will assume some off-screen reactions, so it just doesn't bother showing them. The result is a strange blend in which some of our assumptions are correct and some are not.

Acting was good, and got better, as the series aged. Ralph was a bit rough at times but ended up settling nicely. Maeve was okay but needs to learn to stop looking down and that she is stunning when she smiles. Gupta fit his role nicely, as did Appleman. Bishil was okay while Dudley rocked it in many ways. Tailor, Worth and the rest did quite well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are widely varied and nicely done. Though obviously a sci-fi fantasy, the film retains a realistic feel. Action scenes and CGI are fitting and enjoyable. Dialogue is good even when slow. Sound and soundtrack are fitting.

Though aimed at younger audiences, I am enjoying The Magicians and looking forward to next season. The series is an obvious mix of Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Supernatural for older teens. Those who are older teens, or enjoy lighter role-playing type sci-fi, should enjoy this one.

With some fairly strong sexuality, violence, gore, gratuitous foul language, and a few scary things, this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 6.2.17
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: TV Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama, Horror

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Dave Chappelle

 

 Dave Chappelle is back in two new standup specials: The Age of Spin and Deep in the Heart of Texas. In the first special, filmed in LA, Dave expounds on his own errors, Bill Cosby, and O.J. Simpson. In the second special he tackles celebrity scandals, being a father, and race issues.

While Dave is without question a good comic, he also feels quite narcissistic. This makes it obvious that Dave is his own best audience, finding humor at times that doesn't translate for the audience. And he definitely wants you to know he smokes pot.
Many of his topics, and even more so his views, will be challenging to many and flat out offensive to others. Yet, most will find themselves laughing heartily at some point.

Technical work was good, and Dave presents well.

With some foul language and sensitive topics, save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2017
Reviewed: 6.2.17
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Stand-up Comedy, TV Comedies, Comedies, TV Shows

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Roger Corman's Death Race 2050

 

 The year is 2050 and due to overpopulation the government sponsors "Death Race" where competitors win points for killing people with their obnoxious vehicles. Follow along with the racers in a dystopian future that rewards murder and mayhem.

Manu Bennett (Frankenstein), Malcolm McDowell (Chairman), Marci Miller (Annie), Burt Grinstead (Perfectus), Folake Olowofoyeku (Minerva), Anessa Ramsey (Tammy), Yancy Butler (Alexis), Charlie Farrell (JB).

Roger Corman's Death Race 2050 is a tongue-in-cheek remake of the 1975 cult classic. This submission is much more focused on campy B-movie comedy than anything else, and it shows. The plot and storyline are really useless other than to support the comedy. While the film doesn't have much depth or mystery, there are a few chuckles. But only a few.

Acting was a hot mess in this one. Bennett was okay with decent delivery, as was McDowell in a smallish role. Ramsey was good, and funny, and fit her role nicely. Grinstead was hysterical in his role and managed it fairly well, as did the remainder of the cast. At the same time, acting felt rough around the edges with a lack of emotion and sincerity.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were good and fit the film well. Action scenes were over the top, obviously enhanced, and at times completely unrealistic feeling. Dialogue was campy, corny, and sparse on actual information. Sound and soundtrack were good.

Overall Roger Corman's Death Race 2050 is a mild comedy with rough technical work and serious lack of depth. Those who enjoy light campy comedies or dark humor may enjoy this one.

With pointless nudity, sexuality, violence, gore, and foul language, save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2017
Reviewed: 6.2.17
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi, B-movies, Action & Adventure

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel