Movie review: Joe Rogan: Strange Times

 

 Filmed in Boston, Joe Rogan takes on pot laws, cats, pro wrestling, vegans, current culture and social sentiment in his usual outspoken style.

Joe Rogan

Back again, Joe brings his brash outspoken style to the stage once again. This time around he focuses in on everything from cats to politics with blunt force comedy including some interesting comparisons. Joe has a way of attacking, repenting, and then supporting his comedy with conclusions that are sometimes twisted but frequently obvious. The result is a lot of laughs and a roller coaster ride of emotions.

Joe delivers well and brings the laughs in this one. His stand-up is helped by physical activity that adds some depth.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are pretty much stand-up stage style and well done.

Joe Rogan isn't for everyone. His comedy does a nice job of offending most people at some point, but he usually brings it back around. Sensitive types may not enjoy this much. Those who can handle a comedian who will grab onto sensitive issues should enjoy this one.

With a fair amount of questionable material and some foul language, this should be fine for more mature teens and above.

Released: 2018
Reviewed: 1.28.19
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Comedy, Stand-up Comedy

copyright ©2019 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Pacific Rim Uprising

 

Ten years after humanity's victory against the Kaiju, ex-Jaeger pilot Jake is convinced to return and battle a new threat. Teaming up with his former co-pilot, Lambert, and 15-yr-old Jaeger hacker, Amara, they struggle to defend Earth and humanity from decimation.

John Boyega (Jake), Scott Eastwood (Lambert), Cailee Spaeny (Amara), Burn Gorman (Gottlieb), Charlie Day (Newton), Tian Jing (Shao), Rinko Kikuchi (Mako), Jin Zhang (Quan), Adria Arjona (Reyes), Wesley Wong (Jinhai).

Pacific Rim Uprising begins with some character introductions and backstory while creating the current setting and looking a lot like a Transformers movie. As Jake is pulled back into the fray to once again be a Jaeger pilot, the action gets more intense and relationships develop a bit of depth. From there the film is pretty much a CGI robot battle with focus shifted from building depth. And while seeing the original film may have helped generate interest in this one, it was at this point the film generally lost our interest.

Acting was decent from Boyega who delivered well. Eastwood was good if a bit stoic. Spaeny was fun and seemed to fit well with Boyega. Gorman was unusual as always, but it worked here. Day fit his role nicely and did well, as did Jing, Kikuchi, and the remainder of the cast.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds which were heavily integrated with CGI are pretty good. There were a few scenes where scale seemed off and at this point, CGI robots just aren't that interesting novelty they once were. Dialogue was a bit thin and could have added more depth. Sound and soundtrack are okay.

Pacific Rim Uprising is obviously aimed at teens with a lack of depth, over-the-top action, and avoidance of mature settings. Teens should enjoy this one while adults will likely be a bit disappointed.

With some intense action and violence, and a foul word or two, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2018
Reviewed: 1.25.19
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Sci-Fi Action, Sci-Fi Fantasy, Sci-Fi Thrillers, Adventure, Action

copyright ©2019 Dave Riedel