2021 Summer Movie Season - Month By Month Recaps

 

SMS Month 1 Recap (May/June)

Happy hump day followers. As of today, we have reached the conclusion of month 1 of the 2021 SMS. It was an unorthodox start to the season given its later start than usual but that doesn’t mean the films that were released lacked in value or showmanship. Before we move on to Month 2, let’s break down all the films we experienced this month in our first monthly recap of the season.

A Quiet Place Part II

The sequel to one of the most uniquely crafted films in the horror genre started the season off strong with a second chapter that expanded the world and advanced the development of its characters. This is slowly turning into one of the most intriguing franchises in the industry and one can only hope that momentum continues as the story moves forward.

Cruella

Disney’s latest live-action outing gave us the definitive origin story of one of the most twisted villains in the studio’s history. Emma Stone captured the by any means necessary vibe of the character that makes this character so entertaining and terrifying. Pair that with an equally awesome performance from Emma Thompson and Craig Gillespie’s sharp direction and you have a film that is as fabulously twisted as its title character.

In The Heights

A movie that was full of life, music, heart, and pride brought some breathtaking sense of scale and musical prowess to the table became the musical event of the summer. Lin Manuel Miranda's play turned motion picture benefited from an all-star cast of predominantly Latino descent which greatly helped with authenticity and cultural relevance as so many were able to see themselves not as stereotypes but as actual people. A strong example of the power of representation and the impact it can have on the world you want to be displayed. 

Luca

Pixar's latest endeavor showcased a unique animation style with a story that was small in scale but extremely personable in every way. Pixar continues to deliver stories that entertain, enlighten and inspire and Luca is no exception. A heartfelt film that showcases the importance of getting out of your comfort zone and living your life without fear.

F9: The Fast Saga

Dom and company returned to theaters to make up for lost time. After not being able to share their latest adventure with audiences due to COVID, the ninth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise brought the series to what I believe is the peak of its potential in terms of action. While there are a lot of loose threads that I'm eager to see tied up before the series' upcoming two part finale, F9 The Fast Saga was worth the wait and made the wait for the next installment that much harder to bare.

Here is a Numbers Breakdown on How the Following Films Did Financially and Among Critics

Best Box Office Numbers (As of June 30th, 2021)

1. F9:The Fast Saga: $412.2 million

2. A Quiet Place Part II: $249.5 Million

3. Cruella: $184.5 Million 

4. In The Heights: $30.1 Million 

Best Critical Success (via. Rotten Tomatoes)

1. In The Heights (96% Certified Fresh)

2. The Secret Life of Pets 2 (91% Certified Fresh)

3. Luca (89% Certified Fresh)

4. Cruella (74% %)

5. F9: The Fast Saga (60%)

What was your favorite movie you saw this month? Stay tuned for more recaps throughout the season as well as tomorrow's Month 2 preview. Till next time.

2021 Summer Movie Season - F9 The Fast Saga: Review & Analysis

 

Peak Power!!!!! Fast Saga's Ninth Outing Creates Questions on What Comes Next!!!!!

Review By: Brandon Porter

Viewing Method: In Theaters

Vengeance Comes Home

Story Description

For Dominic Torretto (Vin Diesel) and his wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), peacefulness has a certain ambiance to it as they enjoy their quiet life with their son Brian. Occasional visits from others from their chosen family bring additional light as this tight-knit group continues to be each other’s anchor. But a ghost from Don’s long-buried past resurfaces and threatens to destroy everything he’s fought so hard to protect. A highly skilled agent, master tactician, and precision driver has come seeking vengeance on Dom and his family. To make matters more shockingly personal, this new adversary happens to be Dom’s half-brother. With this new opponent that knows Dom in every way possible and with the cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) as his partner in crime, Dom and company will have to pull out all the stops and rely on each other and some unexpected allies including a back from the dead Han (Sung Kang) to save the family Dom has and possibly the one he’s long lost. 

After years of resentment and anger,
Jakob returns seeking retribution on Dom.

Film Review

Serving as the ninth installment of the racing drama turned all-out crazy action bonanza, The Fast and the Furious franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary with a new entry determined to top the previous installments by leaps and bounds. After seeing the movie from start to finish, F9 brings the series to a peak level that really creates the burning question...What the hell can they do now? The movie has been sitting on the shelf for a while and its release comes as a welcome overdue arrival. The movie gives a lot to the audience which is a huge positive. But, at the same time, it feels like finishing your ninth plate and realizing you have literally tried everything at the buffet line and you start to question if there is anything left to partake in. Let's get the obvious things out of the way. Vin Diesel and company are still fun to watch on screen. The chemistry between the cast is impeccable and it makes spending time with them all the more rewarding. The new players in town bring good things to the table but their presence isn't felt as strongly like in other films. John Cena is a solid addition to the cast as Jakob Toretto. His character has this tragic aura of longing that fuels his vendetta. His motivation is understandable given what he has been denied and it makes him sympathetic. But his presence has a real wait-and-see vibe to it. It remains to be seen how his character's introduction will play a role in the upcoming films but for now, it still is nice to see him joining in and becoming part of the growing story. Sung Kang's welcome return as Han was a bright spot too after him being gone for several films. However, he too has a wait-and-see vibe around him which I can accept a little bit but it really kind of leaves questions as to why things are being set up this way. 

Cars don’t fly…But they can swing.

Charlize Theron didn't get to do as much in this film as she did in 8 but is still set up to be a major player down the road. This brings me to something that excites and bugs me at the same time. For the first time since watching these movies, I'm starting to really struggle to piece together where all this is leading. As I mentioned before, there are a lot of wait-and-see elements present in this film that create questions I instantly want answers to. This usually doesn't happen when I watch this series but now I'm starting to really get antsy about where this particular road leads. That brings me to the action sequences of the film. To no one's surprise, they continue to grow in terms of craziness. Funny how we went from stealing DVD players and TVs to pulling safes through Rio and outrunning submarines and missiles. F9's sequences are super fun with notable standouts but they don't quite measure up to the franchise's previous showstopping escapades. Still, the movie delivers that signature insanity that I and the fans love including a sequence that some fans have jokingly speculated about the film doing for years now. Yes, I'm talking about THAT thing. 

Push aside all that hold you back.

But now that we have reached this point in the series, one has to wonder what else is this series gonna give us that will make us lose our minds in a way that we haven't before? Hopefully, they come up with something big as the series inches closer to the finish line. Overall, F9 The Fast Saga was a solid entry in the series that set a lot of things in motion for a future and an endgame that is fast approaching. In my opinion, Dom and the crew have checked all the boxes in terms of insanity-laced mayhem with this outing. The only question that remains is not how much gas is left in the tank but how much further can they travel on this road before they run out of track.

Rating and Final Thoughts

An installment that delivers the franchise goodness that is a staple of the series but one
that leaves lingering questions as to where it all leads to. 

All roads lead somewhere. Where will the next one
take us?

2021 Summer Movie Season - Luca: Review & Analysis

 

Silencio Bruno!!!!! Pixar's Newest Film Brings Unique Style And Undeniable Heart!!!!!

Review By: Brandon Porter

Viewing Method: Streaming (Disney +)

Hello Gravity!!!

Story Description

In the small seaside town on the Italian Riviera, a young boy named Luca (Jacob Trembley) is looking forward to the summer of a lifetime with his best friend Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer). The scooter rides, gelato ice cream, and endless helpings of pasta are all that’s needed to make this summer unforgettable. There just one problem…Luca and Alberto aren’t from around here. In fact, they aren’t even human. Luca and Alberto are in fact sea monsters that camouflage themselves as humans so they can enjoy the splendors of human life despite protest from their parents. With some townsfolk growing suspicious of their true identity, Can Luca and Alberto enjoy and survive the summer without exposure or will the anti-monster town turn their summer dream into a nightmare?!

Luca musters his courage on the top of the 
steepest hill Porto Rosso

Film Review

Pixar’s latest animated adventure takes us on a wild escapade of fun, tension, and heartfelt friendship. Serving as the studio’s second exclusive release on Disney +, Luca aims to add another notch in the belt of the storytelling powerhouse that has thrilled audiences since the mid-1990s. After seeing the film on the streaming platform, Luca is a fine addition to the Pixar portfolio despite it coming up short of some of its predecessors. Let me preface this by saying that Luca is in no way a bad film. It is a really good film. It, like some others in the Pixar Animation Studios, line up, has trouble stacking up to films that bring a little bit more to the table. But enough comparisons, let's go over what the film does right which is quite a lot. One of the things I love about this movie is its visual identity. Most of the other Pixar films have similar character models that all look the same. Luca is one of the few Pixar movies that I can say has its own unique style that caters to its world. The characters unmistakably have the Pixar finish but with an artistic touch that gives the movie its own visual language. Aside from the fact that Pixar continues to excel at CG animation and realistic renderings of real-world environments and physical elements like skin, hair, water, and even food, Luca gets full marks for not only continuing to showcase the studio's animation prestige but also standing out amongst the crowd in terms of visual identity. 

Beware The Wettness

The voice cast brought it as well. Jacob Tremblay was wonderful as the title character. He portrayed the perfect balance of hope, fear, apprehensiveness, courage, and conviction. He gives the character life which is nice for it helps make the journey Luca goes on more engaging. Jack Dylan Grazer, however, steals the show as Alberto. His confident swagger and quick-witted humor mesh perfectly with Tremblay while his character also shows a vulnerable side that shows there more under the surface of this happy-go-lucky persona he's putting up. Emma Berman was equally great a Giulia with others like Maya Rudolph, Jim Gaffigan, Marco Barricelli, and Peter Sohn rounding out a great cast of characters. As I said before, Luca is a really good movie that could get overlooked because of its predecessors but that in no way diminishes the quality of the film by any means. The movie's story about discovering the world and learning and trying new things that give you new perspectives is a refreshing one that kids and adults can relate to. The film also has some tug on the heartstring moments that are staples of the studio at this particular point in its history. All in all, Luca aims to be a simple story that doesn't try to be overly complex. Its cast, visual aesthetic, and heartfelt valor are all welcome elements that work beautifully even if they don't match others that came before. A movie that is well crafted and truly suited for the young and the bold-minded. 

Rating and Final Thoughts

A beautifully done film with a standout visual style, terrific visuals, and a fun and heartwarming story.
Not quite a Pixar masterpiece but a fine addition to the collection

Anyone have a hankering for some whale carcus?

2021 Summer Movie Season - In The Heights: Review & Analysis

 

Patience & Faith!!!!! Cinematic Adaptation of Lin Manuel-Miranda's Acclaimed Play Is A Summer Crowd Pleaser!!!!!

Review By: Brandon Porter

Viewing Method: In Theaters

Once Upon A Time In Washinton Heights

Story Description

Deep in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, Unsavi de La Vega (Anthony Ramos), runs a convenience store in the Latino-heavy neighborhood of Washington Heights. He is a pretty vivid dreamer and longs for a life that is richer and more fulfilling than his own. He is kept sane by the connections he has made with the various residents of the neighborhood from his friends Benny (Corey Hawkins) and Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV) while also catching eyes for local neighborhood girl Venessa (Melissa Barrena). When the soul of the town is threatened to be wiped away, Unsavi must be forced to choose between manifesting the dream he's always worked towards or preserving the dreams of the hood he calls home.

Unsavi chatting it up with Benny and his cousin Sonny

Film Review

Lin Manuel-Miranda is making quite the splash in Hollywood these days. From his various songwriting credits on big-time cinematic projects to on-screen appearances and voice roles, Miranda's resume is becoming quite extensive as his talent for lyrical storytelling starts to become more pronounced. His latest gift to the world is in the form of one of his most acclaimed Broadway works becoming a big-screen event. Helmed by Crazy Rich Asians director John M Chu, In The Heights brings the streets of Washington Heights to life in a vibrant and uplifting outing that aims to be the ultimate crowd-pleaser of the still young SMS. After seeing the movie for myself, In The Heights is just what the doctor ordered for anyone looking for a feel-good movie to get lost in. Given director John M Chu's background with music and dance-centric films, he feels right at home in a film that respects the Broadway source material while also making it accessible to people jumping into this story for the first time.

Your city, your hood, your pride.

From a performance perspective, it's very difficult to give the MVP to just one member of this ultra-talented cast that has been assembled. But if we're going to start, let's give the first rose to our leading man Anthony Ramos. An up-and-coming star in his own right, Ramos has solidified himself as a capable leading man with a breakout performance that is only going to propel him to new heights in his career. His swagger, musical prowess, vulnerability, and a strong sense of Latino pride make him an ideal protagonist to follow through the story. Ramos isn't alone either. It's rare that a movie has a supporting element so strong that it enhances the immersion of the story. Every supporting character is lovable and has motivations that make them more than just cardboard cutouts or stereotypes. Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Gregory Diaz IV, Jimmy Smits, Olga Merediz, and others all brought such heart and soul to these characters that it is hard to single out one standout performance to compliment the leading man. Refreshing to see a film where almost everyone is in their element and working efficiently. Does wonders for a film's entertainment value.  

Abuela Claudia surrounded by her entire chosen family.

What I really appreciated about this film is its cultural and emotional fiber made it both uplifting and poignant at times. Latino culture is unapologetically showcased throughout the film and it was a joy to watch. With discussions about representation still prevalent in the industry, In The Heights didn't think twice in reminding the audience of the importance of positively depicting the Hispanic heritage that encompasses the heart of Washington Heights. That in itself made the story more personal and authentic without it feeling like it was throwing pridefulness in your face. The musical numbers were obviously a highlight with so many standouts that were emotional, funny, uplifting, and straight-up gorgeous visually. What the film was able to do visually speaks to the advantages of adapting a broadway property into a film and using these techniques to enhance the story and world. Overall, In The Heights is a feel-good film that celebrates the culture of its characters and respects them in a way that makes them authentically human. Chu and Miranda crafted an adaptation that is a colorful and faithful adaptation of the broadway play and a love letter to the spirit, strength, and all-around heart and soul of El Barrio. 

Rating and Final Thoughts

A show-stopping musical that is brimming with soulful vibrancy, cultural fiber, and entertainment value 
that is destined to make the heart sing and dance with glee. 

Keep it cool like Piraqua!!!