2024 Summer Movie Season - Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes: Review & Analysis

 

The New Age!!!! The latest Planet of The Apes Film Builds off What Came Before While Forging an Intriguing Path All Its Own!!!! 

Review By Brandon Porter

A kingdom is on the rise

Story Description

300 years after the planet-altering release of ALZ-113, the title of dominant species on earth has dramatically shifted to the apes while reverting humans to a primal state. During the time between the fall of Simien liberator Caesar and modern times, history is preserved and altered. A young hunter named Noa (Owen Teague) is torn between what he has been taught and what is actual fact as he is eager to learn more about a world he still has yet to understand the whole history of. When a feral young woman named Mae (Freya Allan), who has the shocking ability to speak, appears to Noa and his mentor Raka (Peter Macon) looking for asylum from bounty hunters under the command of a distant tyrannical dictator named Proximus Ceasar (Kevin Durand), Noa’s whole world view gets put in a tailspin. Now torn between his moral compass and loyalty to those like him, Noa must make a drastic decision that will define his future and the course of his world moving forward. 

Noa, Raka, and Mae confront the trials ahead of them

Film Review

Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes sees the continuation of this newly changed world through the eyes of new characters as they grapple with the legacy of a fallen hero 3 centuries prior. Maze Runner director Wes Ball leads the next generation in one of the year's must-see event films. After experiencing the newest chapter of the franchise, Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes continues the momentum of its 2010 predecessors while forging an intriguing story trajectory in its own right. The rebooted Planet of The Apes series, which began in 2011, reinvigorated the 50+-year-old franchise with its stellar performance capture technology, serious and grounded tone, and unforgettable characters. Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes builds on that by crafting a story that respects what came before while also setting the stage for some intriguing conflicts in this new section of the timeline. For starters, the movie's visuals are on point. Ball really captures the essence of this world in both the production design and visuals. His eye for detail shines through in both the cinematography and the vastness of each set piece. Everything we see on the screen tells us so much about what has transpired in between eras. However, it doesn't just come through in the locals. The characters themselves bring life to the world as well. That is a great segway into our performances. Owen Teague is rock solid as our lead protagonist Noa. It is a gargantuan order to follow the iconic shoes of Andy Serkis' Caesar. But Noa still manages to be a great character to follow. Teague captures the youthful essence of Noa as well as the conflict within him regarding how he should navigate a world that has opened up for him in a variety of ways. It will interesting to see how he advances in the ongoing narrative and how his arc will transform him moving forward. The same can be said for Freya Allen's Mae. I have to say, I came out feeling different about her than I originally thought I would. I saw her as someone of importance to the plot which she was. What I was not expecting was for her to come with such complexity near the story's end. All my assumptions about who she was were flipped on their head and in turn, she has now become an intriguing wild card regarding her relationship to the apes and her obligation to her own "clan". I look forward to seeing how her decisions and her relationships with the characters around her evolve or devolve as this arc progresses. 

A violent and mad king

The supporting cast was equally engaging with several standouts including Peter Macon's Raka offering a great balance of mentoring and humor and a fun antagonistic performance from Kevin Durand as Proximus Caesar. Durand chews up the scenery delivering a great balance of camp and menace. He was an effective villain despite his limited time on screen. Another of film's strengths is the large-scale world-building it does. The 2010 trilogy relatively took place in the Bay Area. This time, it feels like the world has truly opened up and offers us a chance to really see the extent of the world. Seeing new clans, cultures, and characters flesh out the identity of not just this new section of the timeline but the mindset of the characters within it. The thematic echoes of the previous trilogy are still felt with old familiar patterns resurfacing but with new story possibilities at the forefront. Kingdom sets up a story trajectory that is hard to predict but the directions it could go make for an exciting road ahead. All in all, Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes is a terrific follow-up to the 2010 trilogy. It creates an endless plethora of story possibilities that can drastically shape what comes next. It's an exciting prospect to consider when you're talking about a series that has somehow successfully reinvented itself in this new age of filmmaking and made this cinematic world established in 1968 a worthy investment both narratively and emotionally.  

Rating and Final Thoughts

An exciting chapter in the reinvigorated sci-fi saga. A worthy installment in the series
that builds off the momentum of the 2010 predecessors and creates exciting 
narrative possibilities moving forward.

A new era has begun for the apes. How will the planet evolve?

2024 Summer Movie Season - The Fall Guy: Review & Analysis

 Picturesque!!!! Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt Action Comedy Is The Total Summer Movie Package & Earnest Love Letter To The Unsung Heroes of The Industry!!! 

Review By Brandon Porter

Somebody call for a stunt guy.

Story Description

When it comes to the best of the best in the stuntman industry, no one is more reliable or hard-working than Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling). For years, he’s constantly put his body on the line to help get the perfect shot without ever getting the recognition he deserves. His daredevil escapades and light-hearted charm make him a constant favorite amongst directors in the industry including his crush and former flame director Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). One day without warning, the star of Moreno’s upcoming film has mysteriously gone missing and top brass has, for reasons unknown, recruited Colt to find him and make sure he’s available and doesn’t cause Moreno’s potentially career-defining project to go up in flames. Upon digging deeper, Seavers discovers the forces at play here are more serious and dangerous than he thought. Now on the run from gangsters and assassins aiming to keep him silent by any means, Seavers must rely on his wit and his years of death-defying stunt mastery to solve the mystery at hand while trying not to die for real in the process.

Colt and Jody share a special chemistry off the set.

Film Review

Director David Leitch and Ryan Gosling prepare to kick off the summer season with an action blockbuster that puts one in-over-his-head stuntman in one of the most daring stunts ever. Only this time..it’s all real. A talented ensemble that also features the talents of Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor Johnson, and Winston Duke is looking to kickstart an SMS that will have its share of challenges due to a previous summer that shook the industry to its core. After experiencing the chaos of this action comedy, The Fall Guy is everything you want in a summer movie but offers so much more as well. Knowing his background as a stunt coordinator, it is very apparent that David Leitch took a very personal approach when crafting this movie. On the surface, it is a fun and fast-paced romantic action comedy with a ton of heart. Underneath it all however is a heartfelt love letter to blockbuster filmmaking and the people who sacrifice so much to make iconic moments with little to no recognition. We'll dive deeper into the nuances and at times pointed in narrative commentary later in the review but for now let's give some props to the cast for there is plenty of praise to go around. Ryan Gosling is fantastic as our lead Colt Seavers as he continues to show why he is one of the most versatile actors in the industry today. Gosling has this incredible ability to adapt to whatever thematic situation he is in and keep the audience engaged. Seavers is incredibly likable and easy to root for thanks to his quick-witted charm and self-deprecation. He brings such life to the character in addition to some heartfelt vulnerability that makes him more than just some expandable stunt guy. This film should show that Gosling is one of the top-tier performers working today. Emily Blunt is equally great alongside Gosling as Jody. Blunt matches Gosling in terms of quick-witted humor and the chemistry they share makes for some fun moments that are genuine and heartfelt through and through. Jody is also easy to root for thanks to Blunt's ability to have her be passionate and vulnerable without it coming off as arrogant or standoffish. You want her to succeed just as much as Colt and it makes their love story all the more engaging as a result. A few other standouts also make the movie an absolute blast. Winston Duke once again steals every scene he's in as he makes the most of the time he has on screen. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Hannah Waddingham are despicably entertaining as the sleazy antagonist duo of Tom Ryder and Gail. They are a great pair that really highlights the callous nature of the industry and how cruel people can be to those who they think are expendable.

So who's the real star of this show?

This brings me to one of The Fall Guy's most surprisingly profound aspects. The film has an unsubtle inner message about the blockbuster filmmaking industry and the people who sacrifice so much to make the things we love. Every person on a film set is vital to the success of a project. Unfortunately, there are times when individuals, such as higher-ups and even the stars of the movies themselves, believe that certain people who contribute to these films are expandable or replaceable altogether. The film uses that as a plot device to structure a story that is engaging but also incredibly pointed as well. It also couldn't have come at a more convenient time knowing that we are only several months removed from a recent writer and actors strike for the very issues addressed in the movie. It's an aspect of the film that I believe will spark conversation and bring necessary awareness to so many aspects of the filmmaking process that get overlooked or taken for granted. Going back to the film itself, it was so much fun from start to finish. If you're looking for a summer movie that has pretty much everything you would want, The Fall Guy has you covered. The action is fast-paced and well-choreographed which is unsurprising given who is in charge, the writing and humor is well paced and well-balanced, it has a ton of heart, and the romance is genuine. For a movie that has so much going on, it does so many things right in an effective way. Overall, The Fall Guy is a movie that really hits all the marks of what you want in a summer cinema experience. It has something for everyone while also highlighting aspects of the craft that at times get overlooked. With an industry that is still licking the wounds of its recent labor strikes, who knew a silly action comedy about a stunt guy would be a strong reminder of why the human aspect is vital to making any film feel authentic. 

Rating and Final Thoughts

Filled with fast action, wit, heart, and humor,
 The Fall Guy is a highly entertaining Swiss army knife of a
summer flick that is a treat for anyone who loves the movie making 
experience and the people who bring it to life.

Would you call that a successful shoot?

Re-Porter Blog: Summer Movie Season Special Report

 

Last year at the movies was an eventful one, to say the least. Sporting one of the most stacked lineups of the 2020s, fans had plenty to be excited about. But looking back, it is clear while there was much to celebrate, there is plenty to be concerned about. For every triumph that came with some genuine fanfare, the industry came out limping as recent events have put the state of things in flux. From below-average box office returns to the ongoing industry strikes, 2023 ended up with so much concerning baggage that drastically impacted this year and the ones following it. In this post, I want to give a retrospective on last year’s film releases, the reaction of the industry and pop culture in general, and how it has reshaped my relationship with the industry and those who claim to be its sacred gatekeepers. 

The release of Barbie and Oppenheimer
 was truly the last time that the box
office saw any significant returns.

Let me start this off on a positive note by saying that last year’s SMS was a whirlwind of fun movies from beginning to end. The sheer bevy of content was immense and kept me going to the cinema in some cases every week. It was great to always have something to look forward to at the movies. From seeing the final installment of the Guardians of The Galaxy series to the long-awaited return to the Spider-Verse, summer was a great time to be a cinephile. The pure joy I felt knowing that every week was a new adventure to get lost in on screen is why I love movies so much. However, after the Barenheimer phenomenon, things took a sinister turn, to say the least. The SAG/AFTRA strike just months after the WGA strike effectively shut down the entire industry in a shockwave in Hollywood not felt since the COVID pandemic. Productions were put on indefinite hiatus and a multitude of potential box office juggernauts were removed or pushed back 1 or 2 years. Some of those films were just released this year and will be released during this year's summer movie season. This hit several studios rather hard because, without the marketing to boost awareness and anticipation, a lot of films suffered greatly at the box office regardless of their quality. Superhero films like Blue Beetle or The Marvels became instant afterthoughts soon after release with word of mouth almost non-existent. The lack of a studio presence at SDCC can be looked at as a key culprit in a lot of pop culture movies never really gaining traction. The reliance on that community showing up really put those types of films in financial jeopardy. 

Once a hallmark of Hollywood film marketing, the strikes 
left SDCC a shell of its former self with some of the big-time
studios pulling out due to the inability to market upcoming 
releases

Needless to say, it was a trying time for the industry and those that followed it. So many "industry experts" and content creators voiced their opinions about the situation. Some gave genuine criticism to the industry and supported the WGA/SAG-AFTRA members. Others took this as an opportunity to blatantly spread misinformation and put all their exhaustive emotional baggage online in an attempt to rile people up and sow discourse. For me, it was incredibly tiring seeing these types of people create such a hostile environment. The Marvel fandom became a real pain to deal with as the levels of entitlement and hostility reached a level I haven't seen since Star Wars fans post-Rise of Skywalker. It seemed like the studio couldn't do anything right with so many demonizing things being said about actors, directors, producers, and writers. While I believe the franchise is experiencing some growing pains Post-Endgame, I still don't think the amount of backlash is warranted, especially given that so many fans are asking for something impossible to replicate. The strikes made it very hard for me to continue to want to be affiliated with pop culture fandom. I supported both strikes 100% but what I didn't support was the prospect of a collection of people just being downright despicable in how they react to things they don't like and go out of their way to damage the self-esteem of others who don't share their viewpoints. It made for some very exhausting periods of stress and frustration that really had me questioning if the idea of fandom was actually worth it. 

Despite the strikes ending, the fight continues as
so many strive for better pay and representation 
amongst the rise of AI-generated content

All that aside, my support for actors and writers in the industry is still strong. As someone who is an advocate for equal pay in Hollywood, I would call myself an extreme hypocrite if I championed actors' and writers' mental health yet in the same vein told them they should take less money than they deserve. With the rise of AI, I am even more motivated to advocate for human creators and performers for it is through them that we get content that is for lack of a better word..."human". In no way will I advertise or even entertain the idea of AI being a tool for creativity because I have a strong desire to have something that feels real. I advise anyone who truly supports the creative side of entertainment to advocate for non-AI-generated art. Some of the best work comes from a real place of emotion and realness. The more we put that at the forefront, the better the industry becomes as a whole. 

Despite all of the baggage from last year's strikes, I am still on fire for what the industry has to offer moving forward. Hopefully, studios take the lessons of these strikes and course-correct in terms of respecting those who bring the content they finance to life. Both parties are essential to creating things that truly matter. Writers give characters their voices but actors give characters their souls. Without them, what do you have? If you take nothing else from this post, I hope you come away with an understanding that you shouldn't take these industry contributors for granted. It is through them that these forms of fiction feel real. 

Re-Porter Blog 2024 Summer Movie Season - May Preview

 

Hello followers. We are just a few days away from the start of SMS 2024 so it's about time we look ahead to what's in store for us this year starting with what is on the docket in May. As you may notice, the May lineup is slightly different this year. The obvious reason is that Marvel isn’t here to kick things off on May 3rd. That said, the May lineup will have no shortage of great films to see. You'll find something for just about everyone, from action thrillers to heartfelt dramas. Let's get acquainted with the films in Month 1 in our May preview.

The Fall Guy (Universal Pictures, May 3rd)

Check The Gate

The film industry can be a cutthroat business. It can be especially for those who are seen as expendable simply because they aren’t seen on screen. But sometimes the people behind the scenes are the most important in tough situations… even if those situations involve gangsters, assassins, and common criminals. From Director David Leitch, Ryan Gosling stars as a stuntman whose life is about to take a chaotic turn when he is forced to be front and center in the action. Only this time, it’s real. You’re going to want to get all of this on camera when The Fall Guy arrives in cinemas this Friday. 

Latest Trailer

Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes
 (20th Century Studios, May 10th)

Kingdom On The Rise

Throughout every generation, the youth look to the elders for guidance and inspiration on how to move forward. But over time, the lust for power and control can cause the teachings to be muddled and twisted. What happens when the youth catch on and search for answers that put into question everything they know? From Maze Runner director Wes Ball, 20th Century Studios takes you back to a planet of apes 300 years after the passing of Caesar. A new era is on the horizon when Kingdom of The Planet of the Apes arrives on May 10th.

Latest Trailer

IF Imaginary Friends
 (Paramount Studios, May 17th)

Imagination Station

A child’s imagination is a powerful thing. There is no limit to the worlds or people they create. But what happens when these imaginary friends have no place to go once their young creators outgrow them? John Krasinski invites you on an adventure in an attempt to reconnect kids with their inner child. Reconnect with a long-lost friend when IF arrives in theaters on May 17th. 

Latest Trailer

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
 (Warner Bros. Pictures, May 24th)

Her Odyssey

Before she was the legendary warrior who liberated her people from the tyrannical Immortan Joe, she was a young orphan taken from her home and forced to do the desert dictator’s bidding. But over time, she established herself as a formidable fighter and became a symbol of admiration and fear with one goal in mind…freedom. Witness the origin story of one of Mad Max’s most iconic characters. You will know her name when Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga revs into theaters this Memorial Day weekend. 

Latest Trailer

Young Woman and The Sea
 (Walt Disney Studios, May 31st)

Making Waves

History has its share of legends. But few have defied expectations and shattered barriers like Gertrude "Trudy" Ederle, a competitive swimmer who pulled off the once thought-impossible task of swimming across the English Channel. Through sheer will and determination, Ederle changed the course of competitive swimming forever. Based on the autobiographical book from Glenn Stout, Daisy Ridley stars as Gertrude Ederle in the must-see inspirational drama of the summer. An American legend hits the waves when Young Woman and The Sea swims into cinemas on May 31st. 

Latest Trailer

A fun start to the season is here as we prepare for another wonderful time at the cinemas. Look for these films as well as their reviews for this month. Be sure to come back tomorrow for a special report and retrospective on the events that rocked Hollywood last summer.