2019 Summer Movie Season - Aladdin: Review & Analysis

Diamond Through The Rough!!!! Live Action Adaptation of Disney Classic Offer Fun, Heart, and Freshness!!!!

Review By Brandon Porter

Witness The Original Rags to Wishes Story

Story Description

Agrabah trouble maker Aladdin  (Mena Massoud) has a knack for causing mischief around town. Whether it's stealing food or outrunning palace guards, he always seems to stay one step ahead of everyone. However, his perspective changes when he encounters a beautiful woman named Jasmine (Naomi Scott) who happens to be the princess of Agrabah. In an attempt to earn her love, Aladdin is thrust into an adventure where he encounters a powerful and eccentric genie (Will Smith) who can grant him 3 wishes.  With an evil sorcerer bent on bringing the world to its knees, Aladdin must now find a way to save Agrabah and discover why he is known as the diamond in the rough.

Genie gives Aladdin a pre princess meeting pep talk

Critical and Financial Analysis

Of all the live action Disney remakes, Aladdin had the odds stacked against it at every turn. With a marketing campaign that has struggled to get people on board to people's hostility toward someone else taking on the role made iconic by the late great Robin Williams, Aladdin was in a hole with potentially no way out. Looking at the critical and public response, it is kind of a double-edged sword. The film earned a middling yet close to fresh rating of 58% from critics via Rotten Tomatoes but on the plus side earned a very strong 93% rating from general audiences... In terms of the box office, the movie captured the top spot at the box office earning $86 million in the first 3 days of the Memorial Day weekend. As of Monday, the movie is well on its way to earning over $100 million for the 4 day weekend and over $200 million worldwide. The reception can be looked at as divided but there is a lot of positive that out weighs some of the negative. The movie is on pace to be a box office hit and thanks to some positive reception from fans, Aladdin looks to truly be a diamond in the rough.

Sharing A Whole New World With Her

Film Review

Arguably one of the greatest Disney animated films is the story of the street rat turned hero. From the animation, the music, and the once in a generation performance from Robin Williams, the movie is a staple in many fan's childhoods including my own. Disney now looks to recapture that magic with Guy Ritchie leading as director, newcomers Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott as the iconic couple, and Will Smith tasked with living up to one of the greatest performances in film. it's an understatement to say that the task was tall and almost undoable. So after seeing the movie, I am actually pretty pleased with the final product. From the moment it was announced, I was worried about how this film would follow up arguably one of the most beloved films in the Disney Renaissance. It was a tall order and doing so would be close to impossible. While the movie doesn't even come close to matching it, there is enough on the surface to make this a fun and enjoyable treat. To start, we should talk about the performances. Despite being tasked with following up a legend, Will Smith does a solid job in his run as the Genie. The thing I appreciated and was relieved to see was that Smith made the character his own while still honoring Williams performance. Subtle nods to the animated movie and Smith's style make for a great balance as both a different portrayal but true to the spirit of the character. Smith deserves a ton of credit for taking on this task and delivering in his own unique way. Mena Massoud is equally great as Aladdin. Massoud plays the character with confidence, swagger, and vulnerability with a strong balance of humor and heart which is important for a role like this. He does great in scenes with Smith as their banter makes for some genuinely laugh out loud moments and his chemistry with Naomi Scott is one of the main elements that make this movie work as well as it does. Speaking of Naomi Scott, if there is a strong part in this movie, she is the hands down the one. Scott is incredible playing a more morally grounded and emotionally powerful version of the famed Disney princess. Her strength, humor, sense of self and Scott's incredible voice make this one of the better live-action Disney princess portrayals in recent memory. Marwen Kenzari as Jafar is not as strong, unfortunately. Despite understanding director Guy Ritchie's take on this version of the character, the biggest thing that this Jafar lacks is menace. It seems the bar was set to high thanks to the iconic voice work of Johnathan Freeman. Additionally, Nasim Pedrad is a straight up scene stealer as Jasmine's handmaiden Dalia. Her awkward humor and deadpan delivery made her incredibly fun to watch throughout. Film-wise, the movie also benefits from some gorgeous set and costume design and some genuinely thrilling action set pieces and cinematography. It seems that Ritchie is at his best when he is directing action and quick-witted humor and it shows in the movie. The live action versions of the iconic songs are also well done and provide significant levels of nostalgia for its most important moviegoers. "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali" are fun even if they don't match the level of the animated classic while "A Whole New World" is genuinely moving and is sure to tug on heartstrings. Overall, Aladdin is a genuine good time at the movies. It was never going to live up to the animated classic but it still managed to deliver a fun summer romp thanks to a respectful element of nostalgia while adding elements that work to the movie's benefit. It may not be the end all be all of the live-action Disney remakes, but it's still very much a trip worth taking. 

Rating and Final Thoughts

A fun, vibrant and overall solid rendition of the classic 1992 film. An adaptation that pays respect to its animated predecessor while adding its own elements that work in its favor more often than not.  

Gettin Genie Wit It!!!!

2019 Summer Movie Season - Pokemon: Detective Pikachu: Review & Analysis

Surprisingly Shocking!!!! Live Action Pokemon Film Triumphs In Video Game Adaptation Done Right!!!!

Review by Brandon Porter

The Perfect Mon For the Job.

Story Description

Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) is stuck in a rough place not where to go. Once an aspiring Pokemon Trainer, Tim now lives his life day to day as a call center employee living in the shadow of his legendary father Detective Harry Goodman. But after the mysterious disappearance of his dad, Tim stumbles across his father's Pokemon partner Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) who much to Tim's shock can actually talk. Even more stressful is that Tim is the only one who can hear him. Together, the two of them must work together to discover the whereabouts of Tim's missing father while also uncovering the mystery and surviving the wrath of a genetics experiment gone wrong. 

Tim, Pikachu, and Lt. Yashida
evaluate the situation at hand.

Critical and Financial Analysis

Detective Pikachu has slowly become one of the more anticipated films of the year thanks to a solid marketing campaign and Ryan Reynolds status fueling the anticipation. Against all odds, Detective Pikachu seems poised to potentially be the sleeper hit of the summer. Critically, the movie is receiving solid reception. The movie currently holds a passably decent  63% fresh rating from critics on rotten tomatoes despite a much more positive score of  86% from audiences. Financially, the film did impressive against major competition. The movie earned a solid total of $58 million in its first weekend nabbing the #2 spot at the box office. Coupled with an international total of $103 million, Detective Pikachu is the highest grossing movie based on a video game beating out previous champion Tomb Raider. With positive reception and a promising box office future, the first-ever live action Pokemon movie could be a changing of the guard for the Pokemon brand and video game to film adaptations.  

High Voltage Impact 

Film Review

When the first trailer for Detective Pikachu debut, I wasn't sure what to make of it. The practice of translating anime & video game properties into live action has not had a good track record so the risks were high. But thanks to a terrific marketing campaign, my faith grew and so did my anticipation. Going in, I was hoping my faith wasn't misplaced and the movie would be worth the price of admission. After watching the film, I have to say that I'm very impressed with how this turned out. The idea of a live action film about Pokemon raises a lot of red flags for anyone who has endured the likes of Dragonball Evolution, Doom, The Last Airbender, or Rampage. Thankfully, Detective Pikachu manages to succeed in areas where those movies don't. To start, the movie is visually impressive especially when it comes to the pokemon themselves. This was an element of the film that drew a lot of nervous attention but the final product proves how much love, attention, and care went into designing these lovable creatures for live action. All of them have distinct physical characteristics based on real-life animals but each of them are still easily identifiable to fans. Some of the most notable standouts are Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander, Charizard, Pshyduck and obviously Pikachu. As for the cast, it's solid all around. Justice Smith carries a good amount of the film and has a solid arc throughout. Ryan Reynolds, however, is the real star of the show. The movie picks up big time when he arrives as Pikachu. His humor and comedic timing makes things fun and loose while at the same time adding his own brand of heart as well. The chemistry between Pikachu and Tim is one that grows over the course of the movie and their bond is the essence of what makes these type of Pokemon stories stick with audiences. The supporting cast of Ken Watanabe, Kathryn Newton, Bill Nighty, & Rita Ora balance out things effectively each progressing the story in their own way. The action sequences are small scale in some respects but don't stop the movie from delivering some genuinely exciting set pieces full of tension and thrills. The thing that impressed me the most about this film is the story and plot structure. Yes, a live action Pokemon film with Deadpool as the voice of the most beloved character in the series is appealing enough. However, the movie proves that a lot of thought went into making this a coherent piece of storytelling with character development and a solid plot. As this is a mystery movie, the film keeps you guessing to the very end not sure what the real story is and who is telling the truth. The film also doesn't shy away from some fun fan service as there are plenty of easter eggs and deep cut references only the most hardcore fans of the series will catch. Overall, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu succeeded where a lot of video game and anime film adaptations fail. The amount of care that went into this movie shows that not only can a live-action Pokemon movie work but it can also be a great new avenue to tell stories in this world. Time will tell if this will be just a fun one-off or the beginning of a new era for the brand.

Rating and Final Thoughts

An entertaining mystery movie with great plot structure, a coherent story, and oodles of heart and humor. A welcome
surprise for Pokemon fans and video game adaptations alike. 

Pika Pika Power!!!!!

2019 Summer Movie Season - Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame: Review & Analysis

Avengers Forever!!!! Part 2 of MCU Culmination is Spectacularly Epic and Emotionally Satisfying!!!!!

Review By Brandon Porter 

Whatever It Takes

Story Description

With a single snap of a finger, everything changed, after the mad titan Thanos (Josh Brolin) successfully retrieved all six Infinity Stones, his conquest ended with him snapping half the universes population out of existence. Time has passed since that event and the world has become a barren wasteland of sorrow and discourse. What's worse, the surviving Avengers and their allies are broken, scattered, and unsure of where to go from here. Desperate to undo the damage and live up to their name Steve Rodgers (Chris Evans), Black Widow ( Scarlett Johanson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), Nebula (Karen Gillan) and new allies Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) must band together to change the course of history and fight to save the people they have lost. No matter what it takes.  

Off to Face Their Destiny

Critical and Financial Analysis

Never has a movie not named Star Wars generated this much hype in the spectrum of popular culture and Hollywood. Avengers Endgame represents over 10 years of storytelling buildup culminating into an event that is destined to be a defining moment in cinematic history. From a critical standpoint, the movie hits all cylinders. The film currently holds an overwhelmingly positive 95% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an equally positive score of  90% from audiences. The critical and public reception is a testament to what the franchise has accomplished and the investment of the fandom. Financially, unprecedented is hardly the word that can describe what this film accomplished. The film earned an industry shattering domestic total of $350 million dollars in its first weekend. It also shattered global box office expectations. The movie earned an astounding $859 million internationally giving the film a global total of $1.2 billion dollars in 5 days. broke several notable records as well including largest Thursday night preview opening and largest opening day, Friday and single day opening both previously held by Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It also holds the record for largest April opening of all time previously held by the movie's predecessor Avengers Infinity War. As of May 5th, the film's overall total is now over $2 billion dollars thanks to a $145.8 million dollars second weekend making it the second largest worldwide opening of all time. With little to no competition standing in its way, it's now a matter of when than how Avengers Endgame becoming the biggest cinematic moneymaker of all time. 

Time To Live Up To The Name Avenger

Film Review

For years, I have followed the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its characters for the entirety of its existence. Every moment, every character, every story has pushed the franchise forward in so many ways. After the emotional carnage of Infinity War, I was anxiously eager to see what the next part of this two-part culmination event had in store. Endgame is the final installment of this era of the MCU and the pressure was on to deliver a spectacular finale and close this storied chapter of the Marvel heroverse. After the film's conclusion, I have a heart that's full of gratitude and fulfillment on every scale. The movie's tone carries over from Infinity War putting the survivors of the snap at their lowest point. Every hero faces the aftermath in their own way. Some are grounded and heartfelt while others are hilarious yet heartbreaking. When it comes to comedy, the film is surprisingly funny in what is supposed to be a dark story. It is a bit jarring to go from the doom and gloom of Infinity War to some comedic moments that are scattered throughout the narrative. That said, some of the comedic moments hit their mark but some do miss in some respects but overall I appreciate giving us some laugh out loud moments after the emotional carnage of this movie's predecessors. The thing that actually makes this Avengers movie a cut above its predecessors is that it plays very much like a heist movie but with a twist. The quest is part multi-location heist and part MCU nostalgia trip with each team member heading to a new section of the franchise. It's fun and allows the audience to take a stroll down memory lane seeing all of the defining moments of the series. Performance wise, none of the cast held back. Every one of the cast brought everything to the table in the final bow of the MCU.  Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, and Chris Hemsworth are front and center in this movie and make the most of it as the film showcases the incredible chemistry they have developed over the last decade. A few other notable standout performances are Karen Gillan and Paul Rudd. Both really step up after continuing to progress as characters in each of their respective movies. The action in the movie takes a back seat for about the first hour to really nail home the situation that the Avengers are in and the hole both emotionally and figuratively they need to crawl out of. The action does pick up big time in the final act with some incredible cheer-worthy moments that equal parts nerve-wracking and awesome. However, nothing compares to the tail end of the final battle which is straight out of a dream and overwhelmed me with an emotional elation and overzealous joy not felt in years. The sequence is an intense, visceral and chaotic spectacle that serves as a reminder of all the MCU has accomplished and one of the defining moments in MCU history. My eyes couldn't believe what they were seeing as I experienced something straight out of a comic book. It's a moment in cinema I will never forget and never take for granted. The ending left my heart both broken and full as the stories were wrapped up in a satisfying way that made me grateful for the journey taken. It was truly an ending that is both sad yet beautifully moving as we are reminded of everything that the MCU has given us and what they could give us in the next decade of storytelling. Overall, I am both saddened at the ending of this great saga and eternally grateful for the memories and the moments it gave me. The folks at Marvel should be proud of the work they've put into this series and what they've accomplished with these two Avengers film. The generational footprint of this franchise will not be forgotten and the future that this heroverse has is bright in every way imaginable. Here's to the next 10 years and the stories that will add to this treasured franchise's lasting legacy  

Rating and Final Thoughts

An all out, no holds barred culmination event of a generation. With a full heart and true soul, the closing chapter of the Infinity Saga is an emotionally satisfying assembling of cinematic pomp and circumstance. 

To all the actors, writers, producers, directors, actors who made this universe possible...Thank You!!!