Benz Eye View: John Wick: Chapter 4

Pros:

1.) Like the first John Wick film, this fourth iteration has an emotional conflict. John Wick (played by Keanu Reeves) wants to kill every member of the High Table after his experience with the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, but the cost is that many people are suffering from his actions. From Winston Scott (played by Ian McShane) to Shimazu Koji (played by Hiroyuki Sanada), they get into trouble, because they helped and are close friends with John Wick. The biggest threat against Wick is actually another close friend of his: Caine (played by Donnie Yen) because he is blackmailed by the Marquis Vincent de Gramont (played by Bill Skarsgård) into stopping Wick, otherwise, his daughter will suffer the consequences for not doing so. It may not be as emotional as the first film, but this film does a good job of giving a strong emotional conflict compared to the last two films.

2.) As you should expect, the action scenes are fantastic. Keanu Reeves still got it with his fight choreography to the point where I can see why he said that this film is the toughest he has ever done in terms of action since there are so many hand-to-hand, gun, car, and even horse fights. One impressive action sequence involves a moving top-down oner shot of John Wick shooting random thugs with a flare-like shotgun that looks like it belongs to a real-life video game. They are entertaining, painful, and cool to watch, and these filmmakers still got it.

3.) Whether or not you like the world of John Wick, this film lets you learn more about this assassination world a bit more. There are so many rules on how it works that it may be too much to swallow, but it is still compelling enough to learn despite that. From the Continental to bounty hunters to adoptive families, there is so much about this world that could be compelling to know if these films take a little more time (and plenty of explanation) to show it. This may not be to everyone’s tastes, but it sure is interesting to watch.

Cons:

1.) As fun as the action is, it has gotten to the point where it is getting ridiculous that John Wick survives these many encounters. Those scenes go on for a little longer, and it comes at a cost that I believe Wick is becoming a Gary Stu in a small way. There is a point where John Wick has to jump off a three-to-four-story building, lands improperly on a van, very likely to have either died or suffer severe bone injuries, and he is still running to his destination (something similar happened to him in the last movie, but at least he was saved by someone). It is so unbelievable that what happens to him at the end of the film is slightly insulting. To quote a line from a movie called Shoot ‘Em Up, “Do we really suck, or is that guy really that good?”

2.) As cool as this object is, it is getting ludicrous that the bulletproof suit is being abused here. Not only does John Wick use that so many times as an excuse for him surviving so many gun encounters, but even some of his enemies are using it as well (at least it makes a good challenge for Wick). It feels like plot armor (and literal armor) that few characters try to go around it like Caine with his walking sword stick. It was a cool invention used in this film series, but I think it has worn its welcome to the point where I am relieved that there are times when that bulletproof suit is not needed.

3.) One of the problems I have with the writing here is how disposable some of the characters and subplots here. Some of them do have a purpose and fit into the main plot, but it feels like others were just introduced just for John Wick to use to achieve his main objective, and they are never mentioned again. There are times when John knew about certain things without explanation, which is probably answered in the nearly four-hour original cut of this film (and an upcoming spin-off movie coming soon). This is not an egregious issue, but it seems to be an excuse to build up this world without much reason.

Overall:

The John Wick films have always been entertaining. The first three films showed so much action and choreography talent with a decent if a little ridiculous, story about a former assassin coming back to his roots. Needless to say, its next iteration does just as well. These filmmakers are highly talented in what they do, and the actors (especially Keanu Reeves) work hard in their performances and action sequences. There are a few issues that range from a ludicrous world to disposable subplots and characters that still cloud over this series, but they are made up with all the pros that have been around since the first film. Once again, if you love action films and especially the John Wick films, this new sequel will not disappoint since this assassin still goes down with a gunshot bang.

8/10

Benz Eye View: Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Pros:

1.) I like how this movie looked closer into Greek mythology. While the Wonder Woman movies did that, we get to see more areas and creatures from that mythology, making the DCEU slightly more compelling. While the MCU uses its Norse characters and depicts them as aliens, these Greek characters are magical/mystical beings from a realm beyond ours, making them different from their Norse rivals. From the Rock of Eternity to the Kingdom of Atlas, this is one aspect of the movie I appreciate.

2.) I also enjoyed that the entire Shazam family is in this movie. It was cool in the last film that they made an appearance at the last third, and now they are finally utilized more here. In fact, you get to see more of their adult superhero forms than the child forms. It makes it funnier (or more annoying depending on your tastes) to see these adult superheroes act so much like children. However, they do get serious when trouble calls and they tackle them head-on (for the most part). Their interactions and chemistry are great, and I like to see them more in future DCEU movies (wait…).

3.) If I have to pick one character I like, it is Freddy Freeman (played by Jack Dylan Grazer (child) and Adam Brody (adult)). The reason why is his performance and character; Jack Dylan Grazer is the emotional core of this movie and the most enthusiastic member of the Shazam family. His character loves being a superhero and wants this team to work, and while he is the most childish of the bunch, he does take things seriously when the danger is real and absolute. In some cases, he is more interesting than Shazam (played by Zachary Levi (adult) and Asher Angel (child)). Freddy is one of the best parts of the movie thanks to his actor and character.

Cons:

1.) The story for this movie is generic at best and predictable at worst. The writing is so mediocre that a child who has seen superhero media all his/her life can easily predict what is going to happen. In fact, I am willing to bet that if you have seen the trailer, you knew what is going to happen in the movie; it is that predictable. This story probably would have worked a couple of decades ago, but in 2023, this story is never going to stand out in the superhero genre.

2.) Another problem with the writing is its poor setups and structure. I am pretty sure that the filmmakers realized some of the writing issues in the previous film, and tried to fix them in the sequel, but in the process, they created several more problems as a result. Here are three I can list without spoiling anything that stood out to me: the wizard Shazam (played by Djimon Hounsou) is apparently alive somehow, and he gives a vague nonanswer on how that happened. The three villains: Hespera (played by Helen Mirren), Kalypso (played by Lucy Liu), and Anthea (played by Rachel Zegler) want revenge against humanity, but they are also in disagreement on how to deal with that to the point where it is poorly explored at worst and rushed at best. There is a MacGuffin that was quickly mentioned that the Shazam family did not know they have until they realized that they lost it and the wizard Shazam has to point it out. I can add more, but there are bigger problems with this movie…

3.) …That problem being is how convenient and illogical many moments can happen. It is writing like these where I sometimes hate movies because the filmmakers expect the audience to buy into what is happening, but it is not earned nor was it properly done well. From the villains’ generic motivations and their weak interactions with each other to the poor romantic relationship between Freddy and Anthea, this was all clearly rushed. In fact, something happens to Shazam near the end, and a literal deus ex machina comes in and fixes it, and it only made me wonder where was that all along. The writers need to do better than this, but I doubt they will get the chance anytime soon.

Overall:

Should I even bother reviewing this movie considering that the DCEU is going to be rebooted anyway? This is going to end up feeling pointless in the long run thanks to Warner Bros’s poor planning on their cinematic universe. Regardless, I should at least talk about this movie. I like the first Shazam! film and consider it one of the better DCEU films to date. With the sequel coming in, I was enthusiastic, but that waned over time with what was shown in the trailers, and James Gunn’s plans for the DCU made it feel like this movie is going to be pointless (not to mention, Black Adam did not do that well in theaters). If this is how I felt before watching this movie, imagine how I felt when I came out of the theater disappointed.

While there are some things to enjoy, the problems this movie has do not help it in any way. The story is generic, the writing has poor setups, and there are many convenient and illogical moments. The first Shazam! is much better than this, and if this is the last movie with these versions of the characters before the inevitable DCU reboot, then I am sad to say that this Shazam lightning did not strike twice, and I doubt it ever will.

5/10

Benz Eye View: Daredevil (Season 2) – MCUM Review

Welcome back to MCU Marathon with another season with the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. This time, the Punisher and Elektra enter this season, bringing some hell to Daredevil’s vigilantism. Will this show continue its remarkable streak of the first season, or will it begin to falter? Let’s find out with Season 2 of Daredevil.

Pros:

1.) This season shows another great villain/anti-hero in the MCU: The Punisher (played by Jon Bernthal). This version of the Punisher has more complexity and intrigue than the past Punisher movie incarnations considering there is more mystery to his family’s murder, he challenges Daredevil’s (played by Charlie Cox) morals and beliefs, and even he admits he is a terrible monster. Despite how many people try to bring him back to the light, mainly Karen Page (played by Deborah Ann Wolf), he still becomes a murderous vigilante who believes that killing criminals is the only way to truly stop them. The writing and Jon Bernthal’s performance make it easy to empathize with his pain and suffering as well as his murderous rampage. It is no wonder he ended up having his own Netflix show (not mainly because he is a major Marvel anti-hero).

2.) As for Daredevil himself, his arc is compelling to see considering how his morals and beliefs are being challenged by both the Punisher and the Hand. The rooftop sequence between Daredevil and Punisher is one of the best scenes this season considering that it is similar to how Daredevil and Wilson Fisk (played by Vincent D’Onofrio) had their arguments last season.

When the Hand appears once again more than halfway into the season, Daredevil has to deal with forces that he never believed existed despite how much Stick (played by Scott Glenn) has been warning him. As a result, his relationships with Foggy Nelson (played by Elden Henson) and Karen Page falter, his career is down the dumps, and the love of his life, Elektra (played by Élodie Young) dies. He is in a slightly worse place than we saw him last season, but he still protects the innocent in Hell’s Kitchen despite that, and that makes him one of the best superheroes in the Marvel Netflix shows if not the MCU.

3.) This is bloodier and more violent than the last season. Not only do you get to see Daredevil beaten to a pulp (again), but also see other people get shot in the face, stabbed in the eyes, and sharp objects pinned under a person’s fingernails. It is not overly cartoony graphic violence, but more realistic violence to keep in touch with the tone. I enjoy the fact that the Marvel Netflix series actually explores more of the darker side of the MCU by showing violent areas (and dark topics like anti-heroes) that the Avengers have not gone through yet. The violence has gotten more brutal, and I appreciate that…

Cons:

1.) …One downside to this is the action scenes are not as good as the first season’s action scenes. They are not terrible since the choreography and fights are still great, there are more obvious moments where the hits do not land or the cinematography did not do a good conveying the hits by having a punch or kick clearly going in front of a person’s face instead of being hit at the face. One big example is when Daredevil was supposed to step on a guy to knock him out, but it clearly shows him stepping on the ground and the guy reacts to getting hit and knocked out. Even this season’s hallway fight scene has more obvious cuts in its long take. The action scenes are still great, it is just the chinks are more obvious.

2.) I am not buying the romance between Daredevil and Elektra. When Matt Murdock was reunited with Elektra, he clearly hates her for tempting him to kill the man who got his father killed. Throughout their interactions, there is a clear tension between the two, but they do soften up over time. When Elektra gets injured at one point, Matt suddenly realizes that he still loves her…and I do not believe that. I can understand that he is worried about her, but his sudden change from hating to loving her was not properly explored, especially when Elektra was clearly using him for her own agenda and goals.

It does not really help the fact that Elektra, while better in the movie versions, could have been improved here. Her arc from being a deceptive woman to willingly helping Daredevil fight against the Hand is not properly handled since her change seems to be rushed and did not give her time to have her absorb what she went through for the most part. Honestly, I thought Matt’s romance with Karen Page was more believable than Matt and Elektra’s; their relationship was developed from the last season and their breakup was earned with Matt’s flaw of being secretive and saving the city on his own. All of this leads to one big issue I have for this season…

3.) …I think the conflict with the Punisher is more interesting than the conflict with the Hand and Elektra. Frank Castle and his rampage, as well as his trial, have more compelling moments compared to the Hand’s typical wanting of Elektra to lead them as the Black Sky (though they are a good challenge against Daredevil since they mask their sound pretty well). In fact, there are instances where Elektra’s arc gets put to the side (resulting in her character progression being slightly rushed) when the show follows Frank Castle or Daredevil’s conflict; a good example is when she encounters an assassin in an airport near the beginning of the episode, and we do not see her again until near the end of that same episode. This is going a little off-topic, but there is a subplot dealing with Claire Temple (played by Rosario Dawson) quitting the hospital due to their denial of the Hand’s attack feels (and is) an excuse for her to be in the Luke Cage show. I found the realistic nature of the Punisher is more fitting than a supernatural-like Hand despite being foreshadowed in the last season (and also being part of the MCU despite these shows being separate from them until recently).

Overall:

With the success of the first season of Daredevil, it is only natural for Marvel and Netflix to make another season (I seem to be repeating myself here). Rewatching the first two seasons again, I found more enjoyment in this show than ever, but I also noticed some flaws in the second season.  It is still a great season, but it is just not as good as the first. Still, if you love the first season of Daredevil, you will find the second just as enjoyable. With new and returning characters that are just as compelling, tough challenges that Daredevil has to face, and a darker tone with a couple of antiheroes in the mix, this is a season in Hell’s Kitchen that surely delivers.

Watch It

Benz Eye View: Creed III

Pros:

1.) The few matches throughout the film are much better emphasized than any of the other Rocky/Creed films. While not necessary, there are plenty of slow-motion and close-up shots of punches landing on their targets that emphasize the damage and pain that the fighter is going through. It also makes the fights seem more personal than ever, especially with the climactic fight between Adonis Creed (played by Michael B. Jordan) and Damian Anderson (played by Jonathan Majors). Also, the final fight does something interesting by replacing the typical quick montage of several rounds with symbolic imagery of these two fighters who are so completely concentrated on each other that everything around them seems empty. That is completely new to the series, and I appreciate that the fight scenes do something interesting to make it stand out over the other films.

2.) This is the most emotional conflict out of all the Rocky/Creed films with the relationship between Adonis Creed and Damian Anderson. These two were best friends akin to brothers, but something happened to them in the past that Damian seemed to get over when reuniting with Adonis years later, but it is eventually clear that he never did. Damian wanted to be a boxing champion since he was young, but he never got the chance until now, and he wants to take his rage and frustrations out on Adonis. Add to the guilt that Adonis is going through for what he did to Damian, and you got yourselves a personal issue that the Rocky films barely touched on in its six-film run. The film has fantastic writing to the point where it even did better than the Rocky films in certain aspects.

3.) This is the directorial debut of Michael B. Jordan, and he does an amazing job here. From leading the actors to cinematography choices to the fight scenes, he did a fantastic job making choices on what to do with the film. It stood out a little more than the others with some stylistic choices he did that great of a job. I have not found that many directorial flaws here, and if he directs as well as this film, I believe he will be a fantastic film director.

Cons:

1.) If I have to nitpick, there are only two minor writing issues I have with this film. First, there is a subplot with Creed’s daughter, Amara (played by Mila Davis-Kent) who wants to fight like her dad but does not really go anywhere. She has a problem with a bully at one point, so she immediately punches her in the face, but that is never mentioned again after that scene. My guess is that is supposed to be a reminder that Adonis still knows how to box since he is officially retired, but if that is the case, just remove the bully scene. Second, when Damian becomes popular in the boxing arena after his first big match and a confrontation with Adonis, the next time we see him is that he suddenly has a rich house and his own crew despite not seeing any of that being established. These are not that big of a deal, but they do slightly bother me.

Overall:

The Creed films have been great despite being a continuation of the Rocky films. While the first Creed is better than the second one, they both fit well into the Rocky universe. The release of the third Creed is directed by newcomer and star Michael B. Jordan, and this is the best Creed film I have ever seen to the point I will even say that it rivals the first Rocky film. The fight scenes are more stylized and compelling, the story is more emotional and personal than its predecessors, and the direction is impressive for a newcomer. I found little flaws in this film, and I can easily get over them. This fits well alongside both the Rocky and Creed films, and the legacy of Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed still holds strong in this boxing ring.

10/10

Benz Eye View: Jesus Revolution

Pros:

1.) This film starts out with two characters to follow: Pastor Chuck Smith (played by Kelsey Grammer) and Greg Laurie (played by Joel Courtney), both of them have their own plot lines. Chuck is biased against hippies and Greg wants to find purpose in his unhappy life. Both of these plot lines are delivered well (especially Greg’s plot line), and their growth and character arc are well done as they point out many Christians’ judgments on others (specifically hippies) and how hippies got the right idea of finding truth but looked in the wrong places. These are some compelling storylines…

2.) …and then it kept going to these people’s lives and their struggles to keep the faith despite helping so many people become Christians. While there are a couple of issues with this and its writing (more on that in the cons), I also like how the film does not sugarcoat how difficult life can be despite becoming a Christian, particularly during the time of the hippies. This is shown through Greg Laurie’s eyes since he has issues (particularly with his mom and missing dad), and the remainder of the film focuses mostly on him. It is a change from many Christian movies where their lives are hard because “all Atheists hate us” trope.

3.) I was worried since this is a Christian film that it is going to be preachy with its message, but it actually does a good job avoiding that typical problem in Christian movies. It shows, not preaches, how these people (whether non-believer or Christian) have to go through their struggles during the Jesus Revolution, and how both certain Christians and hippies can have problematic views and actions if not analyzed closely. While I do wish there would be some conflict with non-believers, I do not think that is what the film was going for, and I am fine with what it has shown.

Cons:

1.) I did say there are a couple issues with the writing, so here is the first issue: when Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie’s plot lines were resolved at the midpoint, I thought the film was over, so imagine my surprise when I realized that the film is still going. It made it seem like everything was wrapping up since these characters had their arcs over quickly (too quickly now that I think about it), and it then focuses on their struggles to keep their Jesus Revolution afloat. While what happens next is nice, it is likely going to take you a while to get over the idea that the film does not need to continue.

2.) The man who started this revolution, Lonnie Frisbee (played by Jonathan Roumie) seemed like an interesting if slightly two-dimensional, person who has influenced many of the other characters. However, during the midpoint, he suddenly has a shift of character out of nowhere. There could be small hints here and there, but not enough to justify his sudden change and a new conflict with Pastor Chuck Smith. The worst part of that is it gets resolved…in an epilogue. If he was written a little better (despite being based on a true story), then Lonnie’s conflict would have fit better.

3.) There are plenty of side characters that are seen but are put aside for the majority of the film until the plot conveniently needs them. Examples include Chuck Smith’s wife and daughter, Kay and Janette (played by Julia Campbell and Ally Ioannides respectively) play some part in the first act and are used extremely little later until certain parts of the third act. Greg Laurie’s girlfriend, Cathe (played by Anna Grace Barlow) has a sister who had a pivotal role in the first act, and she does not do much after that. I would not mind that much except you see these characters hanging around doing various actions and barely affecting the plot after their roles are done. Even Chuck Smith gets pushed aside for a while over Greg’s plotline. The film should make use of these characters throughout the entire run instead of them just waiting until they are needed.

Overall:

It is no surprise that Christian movies are not exactly popular even in Christian communities themselves. They are preachy with their messages, not well-written, amateur filmmaking, and actors who are newcomers at best (among many other criticisms). However, this film is proving to be one of the rare exceptions where it is actually great. It has some writing issues, but with what the film wants to show and provide its theme, it delivers it well. Not only do I think Christian audiences will like it, but average moviegoers may have some enjoyment here as well. This is a revolution that is worth watching, and it is a Christian film that should be the catalyst of how other Christian movies should be made.

8/10