Fantasy Island [2020] ★★
If you bought a ticket to Blumhouse’s “Fantasy Island”, you probably know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. As an avid fan of horror films, I can tell you straight away that this movie isn’t great, not by a long shot, but it has a few intriguing ideas, starting with the plot itself: 5 guests arrive to a remote island where an enigmatic host (played by Michael Pena) promises to fulfill their fantasies during their stay. You probably know where this is going so I’ll cut right to the chase: the island…wait for it… isn’t as magical as it appears to be. Ok Ok, no surprises there, but in between, we get a few solid twists that make you go “oh”, and some good scares as well. Alas, that’s pretty much it. While I enjoyed watching the mystery unfold, I still hoped for a better climax. No such luck. But fans of B-horror films might still get a kick out of this island and its peculiar characters. Just know straight away that it won’t fulfill your fantasies.
As someone who didn’t fully embrace Robert Eggers’ directorial debut “The Witch”, I thought his latest effort was a much superior exercise in psychological terror. “The Lighthouse”, co-written by Eggers and his brother Max and starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as lighthouse keepers trying to maintain their sanity while living on a remote island, is a gripping tale that keeps coming at you. Pattinson and Dafoe are absolutely sensational as two men who know almost nothing about each other but have to work together anyway. Early on, Pattinson’s Ephraim Winslow starts having visions of death and destruction. Dreams? Hallucinations? More series of vivid nightmares (beautifully shot by cinematographer Jarin Blaschke) only intensify his will to get out of this island. But at what cost? That’s exactly what the film explores, with a keen eye for detail and superior acting. Eggers has crafted a unique piece of cinema, one that keeps its distance from the Hollywood formula. His movie dares to take its time, and that can certainly turn some people off. But if you’re a patient viewer, “The Lighthouse” is a rich and rewarding experience.
As someone who, swimming against the current, didn’t care much for the first “Maleficent” movie, I thought this sequel was far more enjoyable. While the first film focused on retelling a classic story, this one has some new ideas that kept me entertained at every turn. Angelina Jolie reprises her role as the title character, and she nails it again. Years have passed since the events of the first movie and her goddaughter Aurora (Elle Fanning) is about to marry Prince Philip (Harris Dickinson), an alliance that could bring peace to both Kingdoms once and for all. But his mother (played with spite and malice by Michelle Pfeiffer) has some other ideas. It’s a wickedly fun premise that doesn’t always stay on track, but still gets the job done with a beautiful make-believe environment and with some of the funniest lines you’ll hear in a “Maleficent” film (I’m just as surprised as you are). Everyone gets a chance to shine here, but I especially enjoyed watching Michelle Pfeiffer create mayhem and chaos in a role she was probably born to play. So yes, while “Mistress of Evil” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it still offers enough visual entertainment to justify its existence. I believe kids and their parents will have a good time with it.
I know I’m a bit late coming to this movie, but having heard a lot of things about it ever since its release on Netflix earlier year, I finally decided to give it a shot. If you’re not familiar with it, “Bandersnatch” is supposedly the “first” interactive movie in which you get to decide the fate of the characters involved as well as the events that take place. It’s an ambitious move for sure, but unfortunately, I thought it was poorly executed. Set in 1984, this extended “Black Mirror” episode (because that’s what it really is) follows a young programmer who finds his life turn upside down when he starts developing a video game based on a fantasy novel. It’s an intriguing premise, especially for someone who is an avid retro gamer, but that’s pretty much it. From that moment on, the movie sinks into a sea of confusion while trying to rip-off the 1983 classic “Videodrome” (a terrific movie by the way). Even worse is the interactive feature, which adds nothing to the experience (trust me, it gets boring after a while). I know a lot of people who heaped praise on this ambitious Netflix project, but I can only be honest in expressing my feelings: I thought it was a complete misfire.
It lacks the freshness of the first movie, but “The Crimes of Grindelwald”, the second installment in the “Fantastic Beasts” series (and 10th movie if we’re including the Harry Potter films) has all the right ingredients to satisfy diehard fans. I say that with full confidence because all the fans at the worldwide premiere I attended were cheering as soon as the credits started rolling. Having introduced an array of colorful characters in the first film, this sequel takes a “darker” approach, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As soon as the movie opens, we feel that there’s something at stake: powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) has escaped custody and Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) has enlisted his former student Newt Scamander (once again played by Eddie Redmayne) to take him down. We are carried along on this journey by the soulful performance of Redmayne, who is a joy to watch once again. And he is surrounded by a first rate cast that includes Johnny Depp, Ezra Miller, 
Familiar as though it may be, there’s something charming and irresistible about Disney’s version of “The Nutcracker”. From the beautiful production design to the eye-popping visuals, I was in constant awe. Here’s a movie that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible, even if the story borrows a lot from other Disney films (I’m aware that it’s based on a classic fairytale, but there’s something special about Disney’s way of handling these stories). It’s Christmas eve and young Clara (Makenzie Foy) receives an unusual gift from her late mother, one that requires a one-of-a-kind key to unlock. In true Disney fairytale fashion, she also discovers a parallel world that leads her to a beautiful but mysterious place called “The Four Realms”. If you’re sensing “Narnia” and “Alice in Wonderland” vibes, then perhaps you’re not completely wrong. As a result, I suspect younger audiences who aren’t familiar with these movies or the source material to enjoy Clara’s adventure in the Four Realms. I especially enjoyed seeing Helen Mirren here, although I wish she had more screen time. My biggest complaint? The story plays it safe and never truly rises above the familiar. No matter. It may be imperfect, but “The Nutcracker” provides lively entertainment for the entire family. After all, isn’t this what Christmas season is all about?
First the good news: “Venom” isn’t as bad as some early reviews led me to believe. The “Catwoman” comparison caught me off guard, but now that I’ve seen it, I can definitely vouch for “Venom”. Unlike Halle Berry, Tom Hardy makes a believable Eddie Brock, the everyday reporter who turns into Venom following a lab incident. Hardy’s likable persona enables us to root for his character, especially as he finds himself with unusual powers overnight. Now that that’s out of the way, the principal problem with this movie is that it doesn’t take its time to deal with this transformation properly. The whole thing feels rushed, underwritten, and downright ridiculous at times. It would have helped if the movie was R-rated, or if it had a less generic villain. No such luck. Instead, we’re left with half a good story (and the movie’s first half is actually fun), that turns into a chaotic mess in the final third. The best thing about it? I guess I’d have to say the bromance (if we can call it that) between Brock and his alter-ego. Many times I found myself laughing myself silly, which felt like a breath of fresh air in a movie that’s meant to be “dark”. But at the end, it’s the finished product that matters the most, and this one simply isn’t original enough. As much as I wanted to love this film, I can’t help feeling disappointed. But wouldn’t it be great if the inevitable sequel to this movie turns out better? One can only hope.
If you’ve seen Jack Black in “Goosebumps”, then you probably know what to expect from “The House With a Clock in its Walls”, a fun-filled family film with a dose of “spooky” to keep the adults just as entertained. Black is in top form once again as good old uncle Jonathan, who takes in his nephew Lewis (Owen Vaccaro), following his parents’ death in a car accident. His house, as you might have guessed, is filled with clocks, and wait until you see what happens at night. Based on the acclaimed 1973 children’s novel by John Bellairs, “The House With a Clock in its Walls” sounds like the last movie Eli Roth would direct. Mostly known for his gory horror films (have you seen “Hostel”, kids?), it was refreshing to see him tackle something completely new for once. And with a lavish production, eye-popping visuals, and a sense of humor that is damn near irresistible, the movie kept me entertained at every turn, despite a somehow familiar storyline. Oh and I especially enjoyed seeing Cate Blanchett as Black’s neighbor, a woman with “unusual” powers of her own. There’s a secret buried somewhere in the house, and what follows is non-stop fun ready made for Halloween. Roth, knowing his target audience, let’s it rip. It’s a fun time at the movies for the whole family.
Guillermo Del Toro makes movies like no other filmmaker. If you’ve seen “The Devil’s Backbone” and “Pan’s Labyrinth”, you probably know the scale of his vision. But nothing could have prepared me for his latest masterpiece: a beautifully crafted, visually stunning love letter to cinema that ranks among his best films. Other Hollywood movies may boast great special effects, but Del Toro has created a world of wonder, and I found myself completely immersed in it. How many times can you say that these days? Sally Hawkins (in the best performance of her career) plays a mute woman who works as a cleaning lady in a top-secret government lab . The year is 1962, the Cold War is in full force, and the government is experimenting on a South American sea creature, which holds many mysteries. One night, Hawkins accidentally meets our amphibian man, which leads to a series of incredible events. I know I’ve said the word “immersive” before but that’s the best way to describe the way I lost myself in this film, with its captivating story, terrific performances, and wonderful music by Alexandre Desplat. Del Toro has said that he found inspiration for this movie when he was 6 years old, and it’s been a long process ever since. In a perfect world, “The Shape Of Water” will swipe every Oscar out there. At the very least, it will show audiences what a great filmmaker can do when he is truly inspired by his material. If you find yourself looking away for one second, you’d be cheating yourself. This is a beautiful movie you’ll want to savor, from start to finish. It truly is the stuff that dreams are made of.
Let's Talk About Movies 